I Have A Dual World Seal-Chapter 664 The Provincial Exam Begins Again

Since he was already there, Lu Zheng stayed at White Cloud Mountain for about ten days. He then spent some time in the Scripture Pavilion, learning about the books related to the production of Dharma Artifacts associated with White Cloud Temple.

After coming out of the Scripture Pavilion, Lu Zheng visited a few senior figures on the back mountain who weren't in seclusion, had tea with them, played some chess, and then took his leave, riding the clouds to return.

... 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Upon returning to Tonglin County, before Lu Zheng even descended from the clouds, he noticed more scholars of varying ages in the city.

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed, "Is the annual local exam starting again?"

Concealing himself, Lu Zheng landed at the door of the county academies, where he saw scholars queuing up under the guidance of governmental officials, undergoing body searches, and entering the venue to prepare for the exams.

"It's already started?"

Lu Zheng's heart skipped a beat, unable to contain the curiosity swelling within him. Thus he didn't even go home but directly flew to Yizhou Prefecture.

"I want to see if Zhu Yushan, who hasn't left his house for half a year waiting for this exam, will still miss out this time?"

Lu Zheng flew over and soon arrived above Yizhou Prefecture. Unexpectedly, before he could sense Zhu Yushan's presence at the academy, he sensed Chu Jin hovering above the prefecture government office.

"Lord Chu?"

"Young Master Lu!"

Upon seeing Lu Zheng arrive on the clouds, Chu Jin moved to greet him, "Young Master Lu is visiting Yizhou Prefecture, may I know the purpose of your visit?"

Lu Zheng bowed and replied harmoniously, "No particular purpose, just came to take a look."

Chu Jin, hearing this, couldn't help but be curious, "Just to take a look?"

"Yes, exactly." Lu Zheng nodded earnestly and said.

The matter of Zhu Yushan consistently missing his exams was known among his friends and family, but not widely in the cultivation circles, so Lu Zheng couldn't frankly tell Chu Jin.

Therefore, Lu Zheng could only say, "I just returned from White Cloud Mountain, saw many scholars preparing for the exam in the county, it was quite lively, thought the prefecture would be even more lively, and I also wanted to eat Anhe Shop's pastries in the city, so I decided to come over, and bring some pastries back along the way."

Chu Jin couldn't help but laugh, "Young Master Lu indeed leads a leisurely life."

Lu Zheng chuckled twice, "I'm a bit unambitious, sorry to amuse you."

"Not at all!" Chu Jin said solemnly, "In cultivation, talent and mental state are indispensable. Young Master Lu's disposition is easygoing and tranquil, matching the Daoist path of balance, harmony, and naturalness, aligning with Dao heart. Without pursuing Dao Practice, cultivation instead rapidly advances, truly a model for us."

Lu Zheng, "..."

Jade Seal, "..."

Impressive, such convincing words, if not for the Jade Seal in my mind, I might have truly believed it.

"Lord Chu is..."

Chu Jin said, "Today is the state exam, with countless scholars here; to prevent any abnormal people from causing trouble, I am stationed here for a day to guard the entire city."

"I see, that must be tiring for you!"

"Receiving the king's salary, performing the king's duty." Chu Jin laughed, "Exams are significant local events, though a matter for ordinary people, the prefecture government office, Anomaly Suppression Bureau, and City God Temple all mobilize together to prevent any incidents."

Lu Zheng glanced around and indeed saw hundreds of governmental officials patrolling the streets, experts from the Anomaly Suppression Bureau were stationed everywhere, and the City God Temple faintly emitted golden divine light, intimidating ghostly beings from all directions.

Thus Lu Zheng said, "Then I won't bother Lord Chu anymore, I'll wander down, buy some pastries, and then return."

Chu Jin cupped his hands, "Young Master Lu may proceed, pardon Chu Mou for not providing adequate hospitality."

"Not at all, please!"

After bowing in return, Lu Zheng landed in a secluded alley, deactivated the Invisibility Technique.

Walking out of the alley, directly opposite was the State Academy where the state exam was held.

Lu Zheng stood next to the academy for a moment, then his expression turned odd.

He had just sensed but didn't find Zhu Yushan's presence in the academy, meaning Zhu Yushan missed the exam again.

Lu Zheng was speechless; just what happened this time?

Was it losing track of time, or encountering unexpected incidents on the road again? Now that Zhu Yushan was already a master of hundreds of years in Dao Practice, it shouldn't be ordinary matters delaying him anymore, right?

Lu Zheng felt exasperated, thus he walked past the exam venue, and then arrived at Anhe Shop, spending money on several bags of pastries.

These pastries were made with traditional craftsmanship, supplied with ample ingredients, and priced expensively. In terms of taste, they rivaled modern Daoxiang Village.

Carrying pastries, Lu Zheng walked past worried young attendants, stewards, maidservants, and servants worrying about their young masters, then moved and disappeared into the blind spot of everyone's sight.

Leaving through the east gate of the prefecture, Lu Zheng put the pastries into the gourd, then looked around while walking, soon arriving at Lushui Ferry, yet still not seeing Zhu Yushan.

Raising an eyebrow, Lu Zheng shook his head, activated the Water Avoidance Technique, then descended in Lushui, arrived at Lu River God's Mansion, and saw a luxurious cart pulled by two catfish parked outside the sumptuous mansion.

"Oh?" Lu Zheng's eyes flashed, "Guests at Lu River God's Mansion, perhaps this is the reason Zhu Yushan missed the exam?"

"Who goes there!"

As Lu Zheng approached, two members of the Aquatic Race approached from the left and right.

"Young Master Lu?"

"Greetings, Young Master Lu!"

"Are you looking for our lady and lord? I will report right away."

The two members of the Aquatic Race recognized Lu Zheng, and while talking to him, the doors of the Lu River God's Mansion opened with a creak. The River God couple and Li Hanyu came out with three others.

"Young Master Lu?"

"Uncle Li! Madam Li!" Lu Zheng cupped his hands to the River God couple and nodded to Li Hanyu, "Greetings Sister-in-law."

"Brother Lu, timely arrival; let me introduce you." Li Hanyu pulled another young, beautiful woman and said with a smile.

"This is Lu Zheng, a disciple of White Cloud Temple, gifted and with profound Dao practice."

"This is Wan Yuan River God's family, who recently took office; this is Miss Huang, Yu Ying, and I have become fast friends."

Lu Zheng revealed his body of White Cloud True Qi, cupped his hands in greeting, "Greetings everyone!"

"Greetings Young Master Lu!"

Wan Yuan River God's family quickly returned the greeting, feeling that Lu Zheng's revealed cultivation was much higher than theirs. They complimented Lu River God for having such a wide circle of friends during his hundred-year tenure.

"Young Master Lu is here, surely for something important, we won't intrude."

After exchanging pleasantries, Wan Yuan River God spoke to Lu River God, then bid farewell to everyone, got into the catfish car, and left with the protection of four Aquatic Race guards, using Water Manipulation.

On the other side, the Lu River God family looked at Lu Zheng, Li Hanyu asked, "Brother Lu, any business?"

Looking around, Lu Zheng couldn't help asking, "Is Brother Zhu here?"

Li Hanyu smiled, "Today is the state exam, didn't Brother Lu know?"

Lu Zheng blinked, appearing confused, then asked again, "So Brother Zhu went to the exam?"

Li Hanyu nodded, "Yes! Uncle Huang's family came over this morning, my parents greeted guests, and I had to host Miss Huang, so Yushan went alone to the prefecture."

Lu Zheng, "..."