Chapter 138: Reopening the Class

“What?! Really?! No exams at all? Not even one single test paper?”

“Fellow Daoist, you must be joking—doesn’t Qingyang Temple specialize in exams?”

“Did the new instructor fall ill? Hurt their hand, perhaps?”

“I don’t care what you all say—I don’t believe it! I can already feel the tears from all the upcoming essays!”

“Same here, no way this is true…”

Then someone chimed in:

“It’s true! I’m a disciple of the Celestial Masters Hall. The other day, when Master Yun came to collect the final exams with another senior, I was helping move the papers. I personally heard that senior say: ‘These test papers are indeed intricate, but the art of talismans does not allow for so many variations—it’s hard to design new exams.’”

“So it’s true! Class Four really won’t have exams! This is paradise!”

“What kind of godly instructor is this?!”

“Thirded—sign me up for worship!”

“…but wait. I don’t major in talisman craft.”

“Crap, me neither! I can’t enroll in Class Four!”

“Is it too late to switch disciplines?!”

“Same thought!”

“Count me in!”

“……”

Yuan Jiang, who had just received the group message: “…”

He wasn’t sure why, but even though his future students all seemed to adore him already, he somehow felt extremely annoyed.

Also—didn’t Little Martial Niece Yun say he was just going to advise a few of her friends’ disciples? Then why, when he probed the spiritual signatures linked to his teaching charm, were there over four hundred of them?!

Four hundred!

(￣△￣；)

Still, he swallowed the impulse to fling the charm out the window and, in the end, began the lecture anyway. Because…

A message appeared in the group chat:

“Now, now, fellow cultivators—let’s be reasonable. Masters Yun and Bai may assign a lot of exams, but think about it! After every one, haven’t our cultivations improved? Haven’t we grasped new techniques? Each test brings enlightenment! They do it for our own growth. If we heap praise on the new instructor just for not giving exams, won’t that hurt Masters Yun and Bai’s hearts? And besides, this new instructor might not even teach as well as they do.”

The group went silent for two seconds.

Then—

“You’re right… we understand the reasoning. But… we still don’t want exams!”

“I know they mean well, but… I still don’t want exams +1.”

“No exams +100!”

“Count me in—NO exams!”

“Fine, you’ve convinced me. I don’t want exams either! But I am worried the new teacher might not be as good as the others.”

“Same worry!”

“Me too!”

“……”

Yuan Jiang, after reading the entire chat: “…”

Aside from his master, no one had ever made him feel so insulted before.

Fine.

You’ve successfully earned this immortal’s full attention!

He wouldn’t assign written exams—but he would make them draw talismans until their hands ached and their souls trembled!

From now on, one hundred talismans a day—miss one, and you redraw three hundred!

(///￣皿￣)○～

Meanwhile, Yun Jiao had no idea Yuan Jiang had taken his new teaching role so passionately.

Before the Celestial Masters Hall could even deliver the final student list, he had already volunteered to start early, smiling serenely as he declared:

“Teaching and resolving doubts is a meritorious deed. The sooner, the better. If some disciples need extra help later, I can always extend the course. No need to rush through it in one month.”

And with that, he began preparing his lessons—earnestly, even happily. More diligently, in fact, than the old man who had taught Class Three.

Yun Jiao had to hastily coordinate with the Celestial Masters Hall to finalize the official schedule and collect the fourth class’s tuition fees ahead of time.

After that, every time she passed the study hall, she would see Yuan Jiang smiling warmly, his tone patient and gentle as he explained each talisman’s purpose, formation, and technique.

His calm, teacherly voice contrasted sharply with the old man next door who frequently bellowed things like—

“Do you all have rocks for brains?! How can you draw this wrong AGAIN?!”

Yun Jiao couldn’t help but feel touched.

Her uncle was so reliable!

Unlike someone else who only ever snuck into classes for free.

With a sigh, she refocused on her current study—examining countless spiritual techniques and formation scrolls.

Because of that oversized XXXXXXL mystic meridian, Yun Jiao had become a special kind of Celestial Master—one who could charge for two hours but only cast for five seconds.

She needed to find a way to extend her “output time.”

She wanted techniques she could maintain without draining herself dry in one go—something sustainable and practical for emergencies.

Unfortunately, the standard Taoist spell manuals contained nothing that suited her. So she had borrowed various scriptures and manuals from the Celestial Masters Hall and several sect masters, poring through them carefully.

Days passed with little progress. She was even considering designing her own method from scratch when she was suddenly interrupted.

She looked up and blinked at the visitor.

“Ancestor Master? It’s not meal time yet. What’s the matter?”

“Mm.” Ye Yuan nodded slightly, eyes flickering. After a long pause, he hesitated—then placed a round ceramic jar on her desk. “It’s empty.”

“So fast?” Yun Jiao blinked. She assumed he’d come just to return it. Taking the jar, she automatically turned and set it back on the shelf. “Thank you, Ancestor Master. Next time, just send the old man or me to pick it up—no need to come yourself.”

Ye Yuan’s gaze drifted away, his expression oddly strained. His fingers flexed by his side before he muttered in a low voice, “There’s… more.”

“What?” Yun Jiao tilted her head, taking a step closer.

Ye Yuan abruptly turned his head aside, refusing to meet her eyes. “More jars,” he said quickly—and with a wave of his hand—

Clatter!

In an instant, rows upon rows of brown ceramic jars appeared, covering the entire floor—rolling and bumping into each other. Some were labeled “Ye Yuan,” others “Old Man Bai.”

Every single one—empty.

Yun Jiao: “…”

All… all of them?!

Spotless. Not even a crumb left. Including the ones she’d swindled from the others!

Her temples throbbed. Taking a deep breath, she said with forced calm,

“Putting other things aside… Ancestor Master, just the cookies alone—I remember making a full three months’ supply!”

“Mm.” He looked up at the ceiling.

“It’s only been one month!”

He kept his gaze fixed upward and replied with perfect seriousness,

“You fainted that night and didn’t make dinner.”

“…”

So you decided to compensate by eating three months’ worth of food in one week?!

And weren’t you supposed to have transcended the need for food ages ago?!

Do you think this household runs on spiritual flour and goodwill?!

Yun Jiao could actually feel her soul leaving her body.

Ye Yuan, sensing her silence and the dangerous aura radiating from her, poked her shoulder nervously.

“There’s flour in the kitchen,” he whispered.

“You can… make more.”

“……”

Make your sister more!

Yun Jiao was truly angry this time.

But—he was still her elder. She had to be calm, rational, harmonious… civilized.

She reminded herself—she was a party member.

Still, this couldn’t go on. If she didn’t fix this now, she’d spend the rest of her life as his personal cook.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the incorrigible foodie by the wrist and dragged him toward the door.

“Ancestor Master,” she said evenly,

“You’re coming with me.”

(End of Chapter)