Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 73: Mountain Fire Herbal Cuisine

It’s the start of the new term at Jixia Academy, and professors and instructors who need to teach have begun appearing throughout its halls.

Lu Chang’sheng had just entered the Martial Artist Institute when Instructor Qu came over with several others to ask about his courses.

"Scholar Lu’s erudition is certainly on par with ours, but as the saying goes, ’Among three people, one is a teacher.’ If we all study and learn from each other, you’ll no doubt reach new heights in the upcoming Advanced Scholar Examination!"

Instructor Qu said with a smile.

If it were any ordinary Advanced Scholar, they’d have enough confidence to teach. But Lu Chang’sheng was far too renowned, and had even earned the title of Top Scholar—most instructors and professors didn’t quite have the confidence to claim authority as his teacher.

"Thank you all for your efforts!" Lu Chang’sheng did not refuse.

Once he’d become an Advanced Scholar, his days were no longer like those of a Child Scholar; he didn’t have to report in every day and sit through lectures.

"Also, the Mountain Master and other professors welcome Scholar Lu anytime you’d like to seek wisdom—just visit whenever you have time!"

Instructor Qu added.

The Mountain Master, at minimum, was an Advanced Scholar himself and had served in office for years—he certainly had enough knowledge to teach Lu Chang’sheng.

"I understand, many thanks for your guidance, Instructor Qu!" Lu Chang’sheng replied, though secretly he sensed that the Mountain Master and Xu Yuan might not be allies.

"Political struggles in officialdom are like hidden currents beneath the water—surging, dangerous. Best to avoid them as much as possible!"

Instructor Qu, having said his piece, glanced at the Martial Artist Institute and left a last word: "The Institute’s path is the way of military officials, and martial training demands exceptional root bone. Scholar Lu, be mindful of where you stand—don’t lose something major for a minor gain."

"Of course!"

When the group walked off, Lu Chang’sheng headed deeper into the Martial Artist Institute.

Inside, it was mostly training grounds, along with dedicated alchemy labs and cultivation rooms.

The alchemy labs were specifically for brewing medicinal soups and healing medicines needed for martial training.

And only those officially registered in the Martial Artist Institute had the right to assign people in the labs to prepare such medicines.

After a little while, Lu sat down on a wooden chair, with an elderly man standing in front of him.

This man was Guan Fu, the steward of the Institute.

Lu Chang’sheng looked at the paper list before him, which marked the martial arts techniques and their corresponding medicinal diets.

Among them, he noticed the corresponding medicinal soup for the Flood Stake.

It was called "Mountain Fire Herbal Cuisine."

And there was Old Turtle Herbal Cuisine for the Immovable Stake.

Eight-Headed Herbal Cuisine for the Bright King Stake.

······

"There are so many different Pile Skills in the Institute?" Lu Chang’sheng exclaimed in surprise.

Guan Fu nodded, "Indeed, but the strongest among them is the Divine Power Stake—many officials train in just that!"

Lu Chang’sheng looked toward the final line on the list.

"Divine Power Stake, medicinal diet: ’Dragon and Tiger Eight Treasures.’"

Compared to the other herbal cuisines, this pile skill’s diet was on another level entirely.

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng hesitate with interest, Guan Fu hurried to say, "Still, I don’t recommend that Scholar Lu try to train this Pile Skill!"

"Why not?"

"Divine Power Stake is great—but plenty of people are after it, too. And the Dragon and Tiger Eight Treasures cuisine is especially rare and expensive. When the time comes, there’ll be a lot of folks fighting for it."

As soon as he heard this, Lu Chang’sheng understood.

Guan Fu was telling him plainly—afraid that if he couldn’t get the Dragon and Tiger Eight Treasures later, Lu would blame him for it.

Might as well be upfront from the start.

"There’s only a set amount of Dragon and Tiger Eight Treasures every season. If you insist on training that pile skill, you should talk to the Dean and negotiate first!"

"Alright!"

Lu Chang’sheng already had a plan in mind.

What he sought was longevity—not necessarily the sheer strength of a pile skill.

Besides, the stronger the skill, the harder it is to cultivate, and the more it demands of your root bone. With his current bottom-rung root bone, learning that particular skill would be a waste.

"These medicinal cuisines are really expensive!"

The Institute’s herbal diets aren’t all free; except for some basic pile skills, the rarer ones require you to pay the difference.

Thankfully, the Flood Stake doesn’t require any extra cost. But still, only one portion per person per day is provided.

If you wanted more, you’d have to pay up: one tael per serving.

Compared to the "hundred taels" price for Dragon and Tiger Eight Treasures, Lu Chang’sheng thought it was a bargain.

"I’ll just keep cultivating Flood Stake for now!"

Next, he went to Dean Hong Yuan to officially register—making his induction into the Martial Artist Institute official.

"Scholar Lu, why not focus on reading and passing the imperial exams? Why waste time and energy in the Martial Artist Institute?"

Dean Hong Yuan scrutinized Lu Chang’sheng, brow furrowed.

As an experienced True Qi Realm expert, it didn’t take much to see the quality—rather, the lack—of Lu Chang’sheng’s root bone. Hong Yuan was not impressed.

If he was just here for a class or to train and boost his health, that’d be fine. But the real problem was, some scholars even compete with other students for the medicinal resources.

And those herbal cuisines aren’t limitless; every single serving was obtained with considerable effort.

To Hong Yuan, giving these resources to those with poor root bone was a massive waste.

But upon seeing that the pile skill Lu Chang’sheng chose wasn’t one of those coveted ones, Hong Yuan’s expression softened a bit.

"Scholars must also exercise and strengthen themselves. Without that, your Essence, Qi, and Spirit will lag, and you’ll get only half the results no matter how hard you work," Lu Chang’sheng sighed.

"Scholar Lu, you have true talent. I’ll allow it. Still, let me remind you upfront about the Institute’s rules—let’s avoid any misunderstandings going forward!" Hong Yuan said.

Lu Chang’sheng’s root bone was so poor that if he didn’t have official status, Hong Yuan would never have allowed him into the Institute.

"The Martial Artist Institute runs examinations every three years, three exams in nine years. If you can’t achieve Great Success in your pile skill, you won’t be able to keep enjoying the Institute’s resources!"

"No worries!"

Lu Chang’sheng took a token from Dean Hong Yuan—this would grant him free access to the Institute.

As he was leaving, Lu suddenly asked, "There’s something I’d like to ask you, Dean Hong Yuan!"

Since Lu Chang’sheng chose the ordinary ’Flood Stake’ skill, Hong Yuan was in a good mood and said, "Ask away, Scholar Lu."

"In this world... are there such things as immortals?"

Hong Yuan frowned. "Scholar Lu, why would you ask that? Of course not—there are no immortals!"

Lu Chang’sheng nodded and turned to leave.

Inside the office, Hong Yuan’s brows were still tightly knotted, his gaze deep and distant.

······

Two days later, on a street in the western part of Black Mountain Prefecture, a conspicuous wedding procession drew eyes from all around.

"What a show! Wonder which family is getting married?"

"Must be some big household! Whose daughter is lucky enough to be marrying into the wealth as a concubine?"

······

All along the route, crowds of onlookers chatted among themselves and followed the procession up the street.

You really couldn’t blame them—the western streets of Black Mountain Prefecture were poor. If a family had a pretty daughter who caught the eye of a big household, it’d usually just mean she’d become a concubine.

Everyone knew: big households cared a lot about family background. Not a single one would ever marry a woman from a poor home as a wife.

So folk watched with envy, but not much jealousy. Spotting two young ladies in red on either side of the procession tossing candies, they kept pace, wanting to see which family had got so lucky.

The groom, riding a tall horse at the front, stopped outside one household not long after.

Everyone stared, instantly uncertain and confused.

"Wait... are you sure this is the right address?"

"I was thinking the same. If this were five years ago, I’d get it— but now, Xu Yuniang is already getting old. What kind of big household would even be interested?"