New Treatment Regimen

In that county-level examination and the subsequent prefectural examination, every student from Lingxian Sect’s academy made the list.

None of them had come first.

However, nearly half had placed near the top. For an academy that had only been established a little over two years ago, this was an astonishing achievement.

After that showing, Lingxian Sect’s academy became famous throughout Liaoju Prefecture, immediately attracting the attention of countless scholarly families.

Before this, although the academy had been overseen by Sun Yigao, who had once ranked first in the academy examination, and although Lingxian Sect’s reputation drew many visitors, being able to study did not necessarily mean one knew how to teach. Moreover, cultivators generally spent their time practicing on the mountain, and offered little practical help to scholars. Thus, while many scholars and families with children in need of schooling would visit Xiushui Village for sightseeing, not all of them were willing to send their children there to study.

After all, in the Kingdom of Pushi, there were still many poor families who did not dream of currying favor with the powerful or seeking immortality and the Dao. They only hoped that studying might afford them a somewhat better life.

But after every student at the academy passed the Elementary Scholar Examination, the situation changed.

Many scholars came because of the academy’s reputation, though most of the newcomers were families whose children needed an education.

These families could not compare with established clans possessing deep foundations, yet they aspired to more than ordinary villagers and townsfolk. To them, the quality of the academy was the most important thing. Every copper had to be spent where it mattered most.

As for Sun Yigao, helping the people meant two things: ensuring that they had enough to eat, warm clothes, safe homes, and stable lives—and educating them.

At present, he certainly could not ensure that everyone would have enough to eat and wear, nor could he make sure that everyone could read and write instead of remaining illiterate. But everything had to be done step by step, did it not?

Right now, he was already walking step by step along the road toward realizing his ideals and ambitions.

After asking that question through the voice transmission talisman, Sun Yigao continued, “My master and I discussed the matter recently, and we have decided to let Tong Jialiang enter the Path of Heart Inquiry for treatment. His condition is rather special, however, and we have no idea how long he will need to remain inside. Therefore, I plan to start the furnace tonight and refine a batch of supreme-grade Fasting Pills. I would ask Jiang He to retrieve a stalk of Ruixing Grass for me so that I can use it during the refinement.”

Ruixing Grass was an essential ingredient for refining supreme-grade Fasting Pills. It was completely unnecessary when making lower-grade pills of the same type.

The herb was not especially popular in the cultivation world. Most people who needed Fasting Pills were Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment cultivators. Once a cultivator reached the Golden Core stage, they could completely free themselves from their body’s dependence on food.

Moreover, Ruixing Grass was expensive because its cultivation requirements and planting techniques were highly demanding. Supreme-grade Fasting Pills were also supreme-grade elixirs—not something an alchemist who had only just begun could refine successfully with ease. As a result, market demand for the herb was limited.

Usually, only wealthy elders from prestigious clans or powerful sects would prepare some for their favored juniors.

Lingxian Sect did not grow the herb itself, but whenever Qin Jianghe went to the cultivation world to purchase supplies, he would buy a little of every medicinal herb unavailable in their sect but sold in Yuanling City, keeping them in reserve in case the alchemy hall needed them.

In truth, he mainly did this to supply Sun Yigao.

Under Senior Liao’s guidance, whenever Sun Yigao thoroughly studied a formula and came up with new ideas, he would often conduct additional research of his own.

Although he did his best to keep costs under control, waste was unavoidable during research and experimentation. Consequently, the medicinal herbs were consumed at a considerable rate.

When the voice transmission ended, the small ball of spiritual light before Qin Jianghe dispersed.

He took out a voice transmission talisman and sent a reply to Sun Yigao, telling him to expand the academy however he wished and assuring him that the Finance Hall would provide full support. He then took out the key to the sect treasury and prepared to retrieve the Ruixing Grass. While he was there, he planned to take out a larger quantity of other medicinal herbs as well and send them to the alchemy hall.

Down below the mountain, Sun Yigao received Qin Jianghe’s reply. He glanced at the students in the classroom beside him, who were earnestly reviewing the material from the lesson they had just attended, and smiled faintly before quietly leaving the academy.

After stepping through the academy gate, he turned around and looked at the plaque above it.

The four dark-ink characters, “Lingxian Academy,” looked dignified and imposing against the pale background.

One day, his ideals would become reality.

With that thought, Sun Yigao set off toward Xiushui Village.

When he arrived outside the Lin family residence, he gently knocked on the door.

The courtyard gate creaked open from within. Upon seeing who stood outside, Baojian’s face lit up with delight.

“Mr. Sun, you’re here!”

Sun Yigao nodded and said warmly, “I told you before that although traditional medicine has had some effect over the past three years, the results have ultimately been minimal and it has been unable to cure him. My master and I have discussed a new approach, so I have come to explain it to you and discuss the matter.”

As Baojian stepped aside to invite him in, he replied, “You’ve gone to great lengths to treat Jialiang these past few years. Please try whatever new method you have in mind. Whatever the outcome, Baojian will always be deeply grateful to you.”

The small courtyard was clean and orderly. It was clear that its occupants spent a great deal of time keeping it that way. A nearby water jar was filled to the brim, while the occasional crackle of burning firewood drifted from the kitchen. The faint fragrance of rice wafted through the air as well, suggesting that rice was being steamed.

For the past three years, Baojian and Tong Jialiang had been staying at Lin Xiao’s home.

Han Weishu, meanwhile, had been found by her father, Sect Leader Han, two years earlier, when he hurried back after the campaign to suppress the Jishi faction of the Huanyou Kingdom had ended. He then took her back to the Qinghe Sect.

However, since his daughter had once been rescued by Lingxian Sect and had lived on their territory for more than half a year, Sect Leader Han—who was based in the far south of the Kingdom of Pushi—had maintained occasional contact with Lingxian Sect over the past two years.

For instance, he would send gifts during festivals.

The Yangyang Sect, which lived next door to Lingxian Sect, was the opposite. It behaved as though the new neighbor did not exist, seemingly using that attitude to express its disdain for the upstart sect.

Yet no matter how the upper echelons of the Yangyang Sect behaved, they could not prevent the sect’s lower-level cultivators from feeling favorably toward Lingxian Sect.

After all, if Lingxian Sect had not intervened and killed the Nascent Soul cultivator Wei Hai, those people whom the Yangyang Sect’s leaders had abandoned might not have escaped Wei Hai’s clutches.

Thus, whenever Yangyang Sect disciples encountered Lingxian Sect disciples carrying out missions to help the common people, they were generally friendly and eager to make friends.

As a result, the lower-level disciples of the Yangyang Sect and the people of Lingxian Sect maintained fairly good personal relations. They often exchanged inexpensive little gifts to express their goodwill.

As for the Yanyan Cult far to the west, it had no connection with Lingxian Sect whatsoever, so there was even less to say about any interaction between them.

After entering the house, Sun Yigao saw Tong Jialiang dressed in a clean, exceptionally soft-looking cotton robe. He was sitting by the window, staring blankly at the sky outside with empty eyes.