After that day, many scholars came to the academy to consult Shen Cuiyu about the Dharma altar.
Those who came to consult could be divided into three types. The first type were truly eager to learn. The second type were skeptical and wanted to find out the truth. The third type simply came for fun and to see something new.
"Junior sister, when I set up the altar, my finger gestures were clearly in perfect order, but I always felt a sense of blockage and had difficulty succeeding..."
"I'm at the Earth Rank, but after I activated the altar, my spiritual energy was very scattered, like a stone sinking into the sea. I wonder what the reason is?"
Shen Cuiyu didn't decline, but she wasn't overly enthusiastic either. She just listened quietly, occasionally looking up at the speaker with a calm and indifferent look in her eyes, as if she could immediately see the root of the problem.
Her way of giving guidance was also very special. She didn't say much, but her words always hit the nail on the head.
"The spiritual energy follows the seal. You're pinching your finger gestures too tightly."
"Concentrate for three breaths before reciting the incantation, focus your mind on the center of the altar, and you'll naturally feel something."
Her words were plain and there were no obscure terms. It was as if Shen Cuiyu had experienced all these problems before. Her guidance was even clearer and more straightforward than that of the teachers.
Those who came for advice would often be stunned for a moment, and then suddenly have an epiphany, like the clouds parting to reveal the moon. They would hurriedly clasp their fists in thanks and leave in a hurry.
"Thank you, young miss, for your guidance! Truly... truly a single word has awakened me from my dream!"
From then on, the nickname "young miss" became more and more popular. Although there were still some people who looked down on Shen Cuiyu's Yellow Rank status, more people thought that this Miss Shen was unfathomable.
She clearly had amazing knowledge, but she never showed off. She always seemed gentle and harmless. She was truly unprecedented and very mysterious.
...
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed since the scholars entered the academy, and they were facing their first assessment.
The five major courses and the main course were not difficult for Shen Cuiyu. What gave her the most headache was the elective course she had accidentally chosen.
On the day of course selection, because the time of the main course conflicted for Shen Cuiyu and Zhong Shengwan, they had to trouble Dongfang Xiao to help them choose courses.
Unexpectedly, he accidentally chose a course with a very low pass rate!
After Zhong Shengwan learned about this, she was so angry that she laughed. "I told you to choose 'Introduction to Alchemy', how did you choose 'True Explanation of Ancient Talismans' instead?!"
Dongfang Xiao didn't care. "They're both four - character introductory courses. I thought there wasn't much difference."
"The difference is huge!" Zhong Shengwan sneered. "The teacher of the alchemy course is always kind - hearted. Almost all the students pass the usual assessments! But this one... he's notoriously pedantic and stubborn. If we choose his course, the three of us will just wait to fail!"
Shen Cuiyu was stunned and frowned slightly. "It can't be that bad, can it?"
"Have you never heard those sayings circulated in the Myriad Phenomena Academy? Cherish your future, stay away from He Peng! Once you enter the world of ancient talismans, passing the exam will be a distant dream..."
As they were speaking, a thin figure walked slowly past the corridor. Teacher He Peng didn't stop. He just gave a cold look into the room. The three of them were like they had been silenced by a spell and immediately sat up straight.
Dongfang Xiao hadn't really cared before, but when the class officially started, he finally understood why He Peng was so disliked.
In the lecture hall, as soon as the bell rang, He Peng picked up a stack of books as thick as city - wall bricks and started lecturing. His voice was flat, and his thin lips moved without even taking a breath!
Ancient talismans were already boring. With his way of teaching, all the scholars' faces turned green. They wanted to sleep but didn't dare to. It was extremely torturous!
And this was just the beginning. When the monthly exam was approaching, the three of them truly experienced what it meant to be in great distress!
Not only was the content of He Peng's lectures extremely long, but the most hateful thing was that he didn't mark the key points for the exam. The scope of the assessment was actually half of the thick book!
So in the few days before the exam, the Langchen Pavilion was almost full. If you went a little late, you couldn't even find a seat.
The people sitting next to each other glanced at each other. When they saw the "True Explanation of Ancient Talismans" on the other person's desk, they all forced out a pale and understanding smile. So, another unlucky person who had chosen He Peng's course!
During the exam preparation, everyone looked haggard.
In this new life, Shen Cuiyu finally experienced the feeling of studying by the lamp all night!
Zhong Shengwan always memorized books quickly. She locked herself in the room and silently memorized without making a sound.
As for Dongfang Xiao, he made full use of every moment to memorize books. Even when he was eating, he would put the scroll beside him and take a few glances from time to time.
After a meal, it was unknown how many things he had memorized, but the scroll had already been soaked in the oil...
The assessment lasted for a full two days. At the moment it ended, sighs and cheers from the examinees rang out in the classrooms of the academy at the same time!
The bright afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, and everyone felt a kind of relief as if they had survived a disaster...
After this exam, the Mid - Autumn Festival was approaching. The academy was merciful for once and gave a five - day holiday. After the festival, they would go to the Wenshi Hall to officially receive their tasks.
Before they parted, more than a dozen familiar disciples rented a private room in the Kuailü Pavilion. They drank to say goodbye and celebrated the end of the exam.
Shen Cuiyu's eyes swept across the private room, but she didn't see the usual elegant and lazy figure.
Pei Yu didn't come.
It made sense. With his personality, he would probably only find this gathering noisy and annoying.
Shen Cuiyu could almost imagine him slightly frowning with a look of disgust on his face. The corner of her lips curved silently.
At first, everyone still observed the academy's etiquette and was a bit reserved. But after a few cups of fragrant osmanthus wine, the atmosphere gradually became lively. The place was brightly lit and very bustling.
But after a few rounds of drinks...
Those who were vomiting, those who were singing, and those who were acting drunk all gathered together. The scene was really chaotic.
Shen Cuiyu knew that her alcohol tolerance was low and originally planned to drink only a little. However, the osmanthus wine tasted sweet when it entered her mouth, and she couldn't taste the pungent smell of alcohol. She was talking to Cui Rui and unknowingly drank three cups.
She always adhered to self - restraint and propriety. Although she felt a slight throbbing in her forehead at the moment, she still maintained a clear - headed posture.
On the other side, Dongfang Xiao hugged an empty wine jar and let out a long howl at the gradually full moon outside the window.
"You're all going home... I also want to go home. I miss the moon in Southern Chu. I miss my grandma..."
Zhong Shengwan had never seen Dongfang Xiao show his sadness so openly. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and gently patted him. "Hey... don't be like this..."
Hearing this, Dongfang Xiao turned around hesitantly.
"Uh... vomit—"
The people around reacted quickly and quickly took a half - step back. But Zhong Shengwan, who was closest to Dongfang Xiao, wasn't so lucky. Her robe was instantly splashed with some filth.
The whole world seemed to be silent for a moment.
Those who were drunk just now were all sobered up a bit by Zhong Shengwan's gloomy and murderous expression. They silently shifted their gazes and stayed away from the battlefield.