Cultivators Are So Weak in This World

Chapter 607: 567 Void 3

Reopening imperial examinations??

Zhang Rongfang was taken aback.

This is not a trivial matter. Confucianism has always been opposed to gods and Buddhas, and was deliberately suppressed and diminished back in the day, forced into hiding like rats.

Even the top Confucian scholar Chen Junchen was defeated and went missing.

With figures like Chen Junchen gone, how does Confucianism have the sway to create such a big movement?

The first thought that crossed Zhang Rongfang’s mind was precisely this.

Upon hearing that Yue Shi was rendered speechless and retreated to the Celestial Sincerity Palace after a debate, his immediate reaction was that Old Yue surely had issues.

Either there was major leniency involved, or Confucianism produced an exceptional figure who surpassed all.

But for such a character to emerge without a hint beforehand is unlikely—the only possibility is that someone deliberately pushed Confucianism to the forefront.

As for whether this person was Old Yue or someone else... it’s unclear.

Pushing aside these thoughts, no matter what, he himself was actually from Confucian background. Being singled out and placed alongside monks and Taoists means that both he and his sister’s background has fundamentally improved. It’s a good thing.

In fact, throughout history, whether past life or present life, intellectuals like those of Confucianism being demeaned this low have always been rare.

Because it doesn’t align with common logic.

In such times, those who hold knowledge and literacy shouldn’t be this humble.

That’s why this moment should be deemed normal.

Zhang Rongfang then asked the others about various Confucian matters.

"Brother Zhang, how have you been all these years?" Wanyan Road suddenly interrupted and asked.

"Not bad. How about you? Have you found a satisfactory Ruyi husband?" Zhang Rongfang asked with a smile.

Though he had long since surpassed his level from the Tan Yang days, such a reunion with the past felt like returning to the time when he helped her lose weight.

That faint sense of familiarity made them instantly close the somewhat distant gap.

"No, since leaving Tan Yang, I’ve become a disciple and learned martial arts, later entering Chongyang Academy... If it hadn’t been for Brother Zhang, I probably wouldn’t have come this far." Wanyan Road’s pretty face turned slightly red, and as she spoke, she began to bow slightly, seemingly a bit shy.

Back then, when she was undergoing Zhang Rongfang’s weight loss program, she was almost completely seen and massaged all over her body.

Though 600 pounds didn’t hold much allure, thinking back now....

Seeing this scene, the surrounding people showed slight changes in expression, especially Zhang Shuoyang, whose love for beauty was universal. He previously hadn’t imagined Wanyan Road would become this beautiful and thus missed the chance.

But now, there’s still time to remedy!

Yet he didn’t expect that before he could make a move, Wanyan Road visibly harbored feelings for someone else, complicating matters.

The other two young men felt discomfort too. Though they had no particular thoughts about the beauty, the inexplicable reality that their team’s beauty showed no interest in them and was suddenly taken by an enigmatic fellow was disconcerting.

This feeling was equally unpleasant.

"Brother Zhang, may I ask where you are positioned? Can we get acquainted?" Zhang Shuoyang immediately took initiative, standing up and looking at Zhang Rongfang.

His sudden rise seemed somewhat abrupt, disrupting the subtle atmosphere between Zhang Rongfang and Wanyan Road.

"I wouldn’t call it a position, just living peacefully in a small town, running a small clinic." Zhang Rongfang answered with a smile.

"Clinic? From your accent, you seem to be from Pingyu Road too. Could it be Taihe Medical Hall or Chongsheng Clinic?" Zhang Shuoyang pursued.

These two clinics were well-known chain clinics in Pingyu Road.

Their operations spanned the entire road and even much of the province.

"I must say, my father often drinks with the chief officer of Taihe Medical Hall. Would you happen to know him?" His casually-revealed background left others envious, with no choice but to surrender and submit.

"Taihe or Chongsheng? Neither, just an ordinary small clinic." Zhang Rongfang explained with a smile.

He noticed Zhang Shuoyang’s hostility but was indifferent to it.

"Alright, you all enjoy your meal, I’ll go back and rest."

Having gathered the information he wanted, his purpose was achieved, and he was ready to leave.

Seeing this, the academy’s members thought he was surrendering, retreating in defeat to avoid losing face in comparison.

Zhang Shuoyang’s eyes showed a hint of confident satisfaction as he looked at Wanyan Road.

Wanyan Road, both anxious and angry, knowing Zhang Ying’s true identity, listened to the discourse nervously, fearing any dispute might anger Zhang Ying.

Seeing Zhang Ying ready to leave, she felt relief yet an inexplicable twinge of reluctance.

"Brother Zhang," she suddenly called out.

"What’s the matter?" Zhang Rongfang turned back.

"Can we... stay in touch regularly?" Wanyan Road earnestly asked. "I... ever since leaving Tan Yang, I’ve been missing my elder brother."

"Of course. But... be careful." Zhang Rongfang smilingly tossed her a black jade pendant.

The pendant contained a drop of his blood, usable for location and as a token.

Bloodlines could sense the blood’s presence within. Currently, it was the standard mark of the Human Immortal Temple.

Holding the pendant, Wanyan Road wanted to speak further but saw Zhang Rongfang had already returned to his fire pit.

She sighed, recalling the massages from Zhang Ying, feeling a resonant ripple in her heart, her cheeks naturally suffused with a rosy blush.

Her demeanor accelerated the heartbeat of several young men present, lowering their gaze, afraid to look further.

Zhang Rongfang meanwhile studied the final bit of mural, confirming the assembly order and procedure.

He got up and walked towards the temple’s rear.

Behind the temple was a small vegetable garden, suggesting the inhabitants cultivated their own food here in the past.

But the fields now lay barren.

’Are you planning to start now?’ White Scale whispered in his mind.

’Naturally. By the way, will the people outside be affected?’ Zhang Rongfang inquired.

’No, they’re too weak to perceive or engage in this level of awareness and combat.’ White Scale replied.

’Then let’s begin.’

Listening to the faint chatter from the temple, Zhang Rongfang walked to the far end of the garden, along the temple’s base wall.

He unearthed a copper-colored irregular shard from the soil beneath his feet.

It was the final fragment of the White Scale core idol he’d discovered earlier.

Then, from the pack he carried, he retrieved various statue fragments he’d previously collected.

’Assemble according to the pattern on the wall mural outside.’ White Scale reminded.

’Alright.’

Zhang Rongfang felt a subtle sense of anticipation in his heart.

Recalling the content of the mural earlier, he pieced together the fragments from bottom to top, completing them one by one.

There were more than thirty pieces in total, and it took less than half a minute.

Click.

At the instant the last piece was perfectly joined.

White Scale couldn’t help but let out a long, joyful chant.

’Are you ready?’ she asked loudly in Zhang Rongfang’s mind.

’Of course.’ Zhang Rongfang had spent so much time for this step.

’Be careful, once you enter the Void, you will act with your own physical body. If you get injured in the Void, you will receive double damage in reality. Be cautious!’ White Scale warned.

’Even in your Void, you need to be careful?’ Zhang Rongfang asked, puzzled.

’The Void is the place where I live. It’s a realm of cautious thinking. I’m not sure what changes will occur when you enter. After all, you are different from others.’ White Scale answered truthfully.

’Alright.’ Zhang Rongfang looked up at the sky, which was overcast, with a bit of drizzle already starting to fall.

’How long will it take?’

He lowered his head to look at the statue of the one-eyed white python.

’Uncertain.’

’Then, let’s begin.’ Zhang Rongfang focused his mind, carefully sensing his surroundings.

Soon, from the center of the statue’s brow, a faint silver-pink spiritual line slowly emerged.

The spiritual line shattered, evaporated, and turned into gray-white mist.

These wisps of mist slowly enveloped Zhang Rongfang, quickly transforming him into a misty figure.

Moments passed, ten seconds, or maybe twenty seconds.

The mist gradually dissipated, leaving only emptiness inside, with nothing else.

Only the core statue belonging to White Scale remained standing quietly.

"Brother Zhang?" Not long after, Wanyan Road came around from the front temple, his eyes filled with a certain mysterious expectancy, softly calling.

He turned around the back courtyard but didn’t find any trace of Zhang Rongfang.

The statue of the one-eyed white python in the corner of the wall was considered just a fixture of the temple by him; he thought it was always there and didn’t pay much attention.

"Strange, he was just here..." Wanyan Road murmured with slight disappointment, confirmed Zhang Rongfang was indeed not present, and then turned back to the front hall.

*

*

*

In the darkness, nothing could be seen, nothing could be heard.

Only the infinite darkness.

Eyes seemed to lose their function and purpose, as if even existence was no longer perceivable.

Zhang Rongfang fell into this state the moment the mist dispersed.

’Is this the Void? Indeed.... Utterly ultimate, void of void. There’s nothing, even light is absent, so it’s named the Void.... Truly fitting.’

Though he could see nothing, his body’s sense of touch subtly felt that he was falling.

Falling quickly downwards.

Not knowing how much time had passed.

Ten minutes, half an hour, or perhaps an hour?

Zhang Rongfang finally saw a bit of white light below.

It was circular, rapidly approaching—a white circular light ring.

Or rather, a white circular exit.

Whoa!

In an instant, he surged through the circular exit, as if entering a cool wave of water.

Phew!!

The light before his eyes brightened instantly.

Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes wide, carefully observing the surroundings.

It was a dark metal corridor on both sides.

Right in front of him was a door, with a clear engraving of a one-eyed white python pattern on it.

The pattern glowed white, soft and bright.

’Come inside.’ White Scale’s voice echoed in his mind. ’Don’t worry about the surroundings, you can’t get past them; that’s also part of the Void.’

Zhang Rongfang squinted his eyes, examining both sides carefully.

The corridors were large and tall, with the floor showing a slight curve; his vision could only reach the end of the corridor’s twists.

The whole metal corridor was over ten meters high and equally over ten meters wide, round on top and flat below, likely a semicircle in cross-section.

Here.....

Zhang Rongfang’s gaze flickered, and with his night vision, he spotted a special symbol similar to those found in the Sea Dragon God’s fragments in a corner of the corridor.

That symbol, he couldn’t understand or recognize, but felt unusually familiar.

’Come inside quickly, you can’t stay in the gap for too long, or you’ll be forcibly sent back.’ White Scale urged.

’Okay.’ Zhang Rongfang extended his hand, grasped the metal door handle in front, and pushed forward.

Click.

The door opened inward.

In an instant, a powerful force pulled Zhang Rongfang inside.

With a stumble, his view flickered, and he was already stepping on a slope filled with vibrant flowers and chirping birds.