After Feng Yuanbai and Feng Xi left, Chen Xu commenced his true seclusion and intensive studying.

He consumed 100 Fireworks Value to enter the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, where he read, cultivated, and cooked Spiritual Food, regulating his breath and spirit, cycling and advancing.

Time was very tight, but for Chen Xu, due to the unique space of the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, time was actually relatively ample.

He even had a leisurely sense of fulfillment, feeling that the days of seclusion and intensive study were peaceful and serene, bringing calm and reassurance.

The items in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen were also very interesting.

Such as the [Bright Heart Gourd], [Primordial Qi Jade Dew].

Also, there was [Three Maces of Heart Fire Divine Lotus], in addition to the newly acquired [Spiritual Cicada Jade Robe Fragments], and [Ghost Blood Blade].

The Bright Heart Gourd is used to store wine, and exposed to moonlight at night, it can produce fine brews.

Chen Xu still had some Fengli Wine soaked with Blood Agar on hand, as well as a few jars of fine wines newly acquired today.

For example, the Flowing Clouds Wine sent by the Cui Family.

In terms of wine quality alone, this naturally surpassed Fengli Wine by far.

After comparing, Chen Xu decided to pour both jars of Flowing Clouds Wine into the Bright Heart Gourd.

This small gourd was no larger than a palm, and with a gentle application of the Water Control Technique by Chen Xu, the clear wine formed a thin stream, pouring into the small gourd like a rainbow bridge.

Yet, this palm-sized small gourd was evidently much larger inside than it appeared.

Ten catties of wine in total were stored inside, but when Chen Xu held the gourd in his hand, it still felt light, with no change in weight.

Picking up the gourd and gently shaking it, one could hear the faint sound of water.

Chen Xu held it in his hand and carefully sensed it, discovering that there were actually three layers of space inside the Bright Heart Gourd.

Each layer could store about a hundred catties of wine, which wasn't very large, but it was known that the fine wine in the Bright Heart Gourd, if exposed to sufficient moonlight for ten years, could become Immortal Brew!

What kind of wine could truly be considered Immortal Brew?

Chen Xu currently had no way of knowing, but obtaining Spirit Wine in half a month was easy to verify.

The entry for the Bright Heart Gourd is: [Brews three maces worth of moonlight overnight, fine brew in three days, Spirit Wine in half a month, Jade Liquid in a month, Jade Dew in a year…]

Chen Xu decided to pour all three types of wine he had on hand into the Bright Heart Gourd, the three spaces for the three wines, brewing them for half a month and then distinguishing them.

Afterwards, he checked the [Primordial Qi Jade Dew].

This substance can be consumed one drop every twelve hours, refining True Qi, expanding meridians, and solidifying one's foundation.

One ounce of Primordial Qi Jade Dew contains thirty drops.

It's exactly the spiritual object Chen Xu urgently needed right now.

He could stay in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen for twelve hours each time and consume one drop of Primordial Qi Jade Dew, thereby aiding his cultivation.

In real time, it would take only five or six days for him to use up all the Primordial Qi Jade Dew.

Although entering and exiting the Fire and Smoke Kitchen too frequently each day could cause some discomfort.

But since it was about seclusion, intensive study, and cultivation, one must spare no effort.

[Accumulated Likes: 6379]

[Free Attribute Points: 89]

[Fireworks Value: 3850]

[Cultivation: Meridian Passage Realm Early Stage 53%]

[Cultivation: Meridian Passage Realm Early Stage 58%]

...

Afterwards, Chen Xu used the Three Maces of Heart Fire Divine Lotus to make [Three Taels of Red Dust Pastry], which aids in breaking through obstacles and resolving puzzles.

Chen Xu did not need it for the moment, but it's better to be prepared.

The [Spiritual Cicada Jade Robe Fragments] required exposure to the purple energy of the morning sun to be of use, and like today, weren't needed either, so it could wait till tomorrow.

The thing, though it's used as an ingredient, Chen Xu kept it mainly for its divination ability.

As for cooking and consuming it, considering his current cultivation, it was not feasible, so there was no rush.

The same went for the Ghost Blood Blade, which was a good blade, and Chen Xu happened to lack such a blade.

Outside the inn, in the sky, the sun gradually moved across the sky.

Chen Xu frequently entered and exited the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, deeply immersed in cultivating and studying, paying no heed to the passage of time.

Late at night, at setting interval, when the streets and markets surrounding the inn were under curfew, in the quiet of the night, Feng Yuanbai paid a secret visit.

He brought his personal seal, along with a lot of books for Chen Xu.

Many of these books were from his personal collection, including contemporary historical records, some government reports, and numerous exclusive commentaries on the classics of ancient sages.

These books were absolutely difficult to find at any bookstores outside; ordinary academies and schools did not teach these.

As for the County School, Chen Xu found it difficult to read history even there, which indicated how precious these books were.

The era seemed to be flourishing with literary culture, academies abound, but truly important knowledge remained monopolized by a certain class.

Fortunately, Feng Yuanbai taught faithfully, without any reservation.

Listening to the lectures of an Advanced Scholar, Chen Xu realized he seemed to have read plenty, but for the exams, he was still lacking in many areas.

Memorizing the classics wasn't an issue for him, but his commentaries inevitably had some deviations.

His writings on classical meanings also had flaws, not because he couldn't write, but because what he could write was not wide enough, not broad enough, not insightful enough.

As for policy essays, Chen Xu's writing was actually the best.

It's just that some of his theories went too far beyond the norm, easily running afoul of taboos, which is why Feng Yuanbai needed to guide Chen Xu carefully.

Chen Xu had already started to feel deeply ashamed, he always prided himself on his talent and knowledge, yet realized he was just a frog in the well.

Blaming it on being wronged by crooked people, having been unable to enter the examination hall for years, this is why he repeatedly failed to become a Scholar.

Yet, thinking back now, even if he was indeed allowed into the examination hall back then, would he truly have been able to pass?

Chen Xu felt ashamed, introspectively cautious, thus became ever more diligent.

Unaware that Feng Yuanbai's back was already drenched in cold sweat, barely managing not to reveal anything in front of Chen Xu.

Chen Xu's memory, comprehension, and ability to infer from one thing to know ten were all frighteningly strong.

His weaknesses were simply because some information was locked within certain classes, which he hadn't been able to access before, leading to his shortcomings.

But even so, from Feng Yuanbai's perspective, it should be no problem for Chen Xu to pass the Scholar exam even before.

Feng Yuanbai's presence here was not offering charcoal in a snowstorm, but adding flowers to the brocade.

The two had their own perceptions, yet shared the same feelings, working diligently.

For a time, things were remarkably harmonious.

Besides learning exam-related knowledge from Feng Yuanbai, sometimes the two would engage in free-spirited chats.

Talking about history, the present, geography, and the principles of cultivation.

Through this, Chen Xu gradually perfected his understanding of the world, learning a lot.

In this way of intense studying and cultivation, several days passed in a blink.

Chen Xu's cultivation improved once again.

[Cultivation: Meridian Passage Realm Early Stage 71%]

The stream of Innate Qi almost doubled, and his perception of the world around expanded from thirty feet to thirty-seven.

That night, Feng Yuanbai came with a slightly serious expression on his face, telling Chen Xu news.

"Someone tried to break into the dungeons at night and almost castrated Wang Ji."

Chen Xu spat his tea out with a sputter, unable to hold it in.

"Didn't succeed?"

It wasn't surprising that Chen Xu asked this way, as Feng Yuanbai's implication was just that.

Feng Yuanbai laughed, saying: "How could anyone be castrated in the dungeons? If something had to happen, it would certainly have to be outside."

In a turn of conversation, he added with a hint of laughter, "I plan to release Wang Ji tomorrow, as there isn't enough evidence after all…"

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