The academy is different from the university.
A state-level academy is not an expanded version of a county-level academy, and there will be no scene of hundreds or thousands of second-level cultivators studying together here.
You have to understand that every second-tier cultivator can be considered an elite, so how could they still be like a first-tier cultivator who has just started?
As a result, the academies at the state level were basically defunct in name only, serving more of a management role than a function of communication.
After all, people can exchange ideas on fundamental topics.
But at a higher level, any skill or technique becomes a closely guarded secret of each school and sect.
Not to mention that disciples from outside the family cannot learn, even disciples from the main family must formally become apprentices to receive instruction.
This teacher-student relationship is no longer the distant teacher-student relationship found in academia, but has returned to the traditional teacher-student relationship, which is like that of father and son.
At this point, finding a good mentor becomes extremely important.
This is also the fundamental reason why Lin Zhengyang didn't let Lin Yi study at Cangyuan Academy. Since he wouldn't learn anything worthwhile, why waste his time?
Lin Yi continued forward, and after turning a corner, a magnificent palace came into view.
"Zhengyang Palace".
At the bottom of the steps, two young Taoist boys stood guard.
Upon seeing Lin Yi approaching, the two young Taoist disciples stepped forward, bowed, and said in unison, "May I ask if you are the Venerable Lin Yi?"
Lin Yi nodded and said, "That's right."
"Please come in, layman. My master is waiting inside the hall," a young Taoist priest said.
"Okay." Lin Yi said, and walked into Zhengyang Palace.
The main hall was very spacious, and inside was a statue of the Supreme Taoist Ancestor.
A Taoist priest sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, facing the statue of a deity.
All Lin Yi could see was a back view.
His figure wasn't tall, but he gave the impression of being able to hold up the entire sky. It was like looking up at a towering master, naturally giving rise to a feeling of insignificance.
Lin Yi's footsteps echoed in the main hall. When he approached, he bowed and said, "May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings. I, Lin Yi, a junior student, have come to participate in the assessment."
"Bring me your identity jade talisman." A faint voice rang out, seemingly coming from beyond the heavens, or perhaps emanating from the depths of one's heart.
Lin Yi took out his identity jade talisman and placed it in his palm.
The Taoist priest raised his right hand in a sword-finger gesture, and a ray of divine light shone forth, landing on the jade talisman in Lin Yi's hand.
As the divine light disappeared, Lin Yi saw that a treasure cauldron mark had appeared on the back of his jade talisman.
From then on, he became a second-tier cultivator recognized by the Great Xia Dynasty.
If one is willing to serve the imperial court, one can not only become the head of a hundred schools of thought in various regions, but also choose to join a hundred schools of thought as a teacher, or join the army, and so on.
Different choices naturally lead to different benefits and treatment.
Lin Yi was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected the assessment to be so simple. Coming to his senses, he bowed and said, "Thank you, senior."
The next moment, a voice came and said, "No need to thank me. Once you become a second-tier cultivator, you have already passed the test. Coming to the academy is just a formality."
In addition, it also serves as an inspection to prevent the Northern Frontier Demon Sect or cultivators from the Western Sacred Continent from infiltrating the heart of the Great Xia and causing trouble.
Of course, she wouldn't tell Lin Yi any of this. A mere second-tier cultivator didn't need to know these inside stories.
After leaving Phoenix Mountain, Lin Yi immediately set off back to Lechun County.
There are some things that need to be understood.
………………
Sow in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, and store in winter.
Lin Yi returned to Lechun County as autumn drew to a close.
Qingxia Palace remained as desolate as ever, and Lin Yi saw Chen Jingming once again.
"You're back."
"I'm back."
The simple conversation warmed Lin Yi's heart.
He was feeling homesick.
Some people believe that homesickness is a sign of weakness, and that a good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown.
Some say that home is a source of longing, a place of refuge, and a responsibility. A person truly matures when they can shoulder this responsibility.
"Let's go back to Dayan Temple and take a look," Chen Jingming said.
Lin Yi nodded, turned around and left Qingxia Palace.
The autumn wind is bleak, and fallen leaves are drifting down.
Lin Yi arrived at the back of Xiaoqingshan, where Dayan Temple is located.
The grave is intact.