During that county exam, and the subsequent provincial exam, all the students from Lingxian Sect's private school had made it onto the rankings.
Although none of them took first place, nearly half ranked near the top, which was an astounding achievement for a private school that had only been in operation for a little over two years.
As a result, the private school's reputation in the Liaojufu area skyrocketed, drawing the attention of many scholars and their families.
Before this, even though the private school was run by Sun Yigao, a former top scholar from the academy exams, and backed by the well-known Lingxian Sect, many still hesitated to send their children there. After all, being well-versed in books didn't necessarily mean someone could teach well, and while Lingxian Sect was impressive, the immortals themselves spent most of their time cultivating on the mountain, offering little practical help to ordinary scholars. Thus, many families with children seeking education preferred to visit Xiushui Village for sightseeing rather than actual studies.
After the private school's students passed the Tongsheng exam, however, everything changed.
Many scholars, especially families with children ready for schooling, flocked to Xiushui Village. These families were not as wealthy as the more established families with long traditions of education, yet they sought more than the average countryside folk, and for them, the quality of education was paramount. Every penny had to be spent wisely.
For Sun Yigao, educating the people was just as important as providing for their basic needs. While he knew it was impossible to ensure everyone had enough food or that everyone could learn to read and write, he was determined to take things step by step. And now, he was well on his way to realizing his ambitions.
After making his inquiries about the school's expansion, Sun Yigao continued in his message to Qin Jianghe:
"Recently, after discussing with my master, we've decided to have Tong Jialiang enter the Path of Introspection for treatment. However, given his special circumstances, we're not sure how long the process will take. So, I'm planning to refine a batch of superior-grade fasting pills tonight, and I'll need some Rui Xing grass for the process. Could you help by retrieving it from the stores?"
Rui Xing grass was an essential ingredient for refining superior-grade fasting pills. Lower-quality pills didn't require it, as it was a rare herb with demanding cultivation requirements, making it expensive. Superior-grade fasting pills were also higher-tier pills, not something a beginner alchemist could easily make. As a result, there wasn't a high demand for Rui Xing grass in the market.
Such herbs were not grown within Lingxian Sect, but Qin Jianghe always made sure to purchase them whenever he traveled to the cultivation city of Yuanling. He would stock up on herbs that weren't available in the sect, just in case the alchemy department needed them.
Most of the time, this was to supply Sun Yigao, who, under the guidance of Elder Liao, often experimented with different alchemy techniques. While he was careful with costs, research and experimentation inevitably led to some wastage, and the herbs were consumed quickly.
After the voice transmission ended, the small ball of spiritual light in front of Qin Jianghe dissipated. He quickly replied to Sun Yigao, confirming that the Finance Hall would fully support the academy's expansion. He then pulled out the key to the sect's treasury and prepared to retrieve the Rui Xing grass, along with other herbs that might be needed in the alchemy lab.
Meanwhile, down in the village, Sun Yigao received the response, smiling slightly as he glanced at the students inside the classroom, diligently reviewing their lessons. With a soft smile, he quietly left the academy.
Standing outside the academy's entrance, Sun Yigao looked up at the signboard above the door.
The four large characters that read "Lingxian Academy" stood out boldly against the light background, exuding a dignified presence.
One day, he thought, his dreams would be fully realized.
With that thought in mind, Sun Yigao set off toward Xiushui Village.
When he arrived at the Lin family's courtyard, he knocked gently on the door.
The door creaked open, and Baojian, who answered it, broke into a smile upon seeing who it was.
"Mr. Sun, you've come!"
Sun Yigao nodded warmly, "As I mentioned before, traditional medicine has had some effect over the past three years, but it has ultimately been limited in its effectiveness. After further discussion with my master, we've come up with a new treatment plan. I'm here to explain it to you in detail."
Baojian stepped aside, inviting Sun Yigao in as he spoke, "We've been indebted to you for all the effort you've put into Jia Liang's treatment over the years. If you believe this new method will work, we are more than willing to try. No matter the result, I am forever grateful for your care."
The small courtyard was spotless, a clear reflection of its inhabitants' diligence in keeping it tidy. A water barrel stood full to the brim, and faint crackling sounds came from the kitchen, where wood was being burned. The smell of rice gently drifted from the cooking pot, suggesting dinner was already being prepared.
For the past three years, Baojian had been living in the Lin family's home, taking care of Tong Jialiang.
Han Weishu, who had been living with them for half a year, was taken back to the Qinghe Sect by her father, Sect Leader Han, two years ago after the defeat of the Jishi faction in Huaiyou Kingdom. In gratitude for the Lingxian Sect's help in rescuing his daughter and providing a safe place for her to stay, Sect Leader Han had maintained friendly relations with Lingxian Sect ever since, even though they were located in the far south of the kingdom. He often sent gifts on holidays to express his appreciation.
In contrast, the nearby Shangyang Sect remained indifferent, pretending not to notice their new neighbors, as if showing their disdain for the Lingxian Sect by ignoring them.
However, despite this attitude from Shangyang Sect's leadership, the lower-level disciples held a favorable opinion of Lingxian Sect. After all, without Lingxian Sect's intervention to kill the Nascent Soul cultivator Wei Hai, many of Shangyang Sect's abandoned disciples would never have escaped his grasp.
As a result, when Shangyang Sect disciples encountered Lingxian Sect members carrying out missions to assist the common folk, they were generally friendly and eager to build relationships.
Thus, there was a surprising amount of camaraderie between the lower ranks of Shangyang Sect and Lingxian Sect, with members frequently exchanging small, inexpensive gifts as tokens of goodwill.
As for the distant Yunyan Sect in the west, they had no interactions with Lingxian Sect whatsoever.
Upon entering the house, Sun Yigao saw Tong Jialiang sitting by the window. Dressed in clean, soft cotton clothes, his eyes stared blankly into the sky outside, lost in thought.