Cultivation is just so scientific!

"Father, to achieve second place is already more than I could have hoped for. How could I possibly ask for more?" Li Shiming said to his father, Li WenYuan, with a smile.

He also understood that, based on the examination papers during the Imperial Examination, if there were no other factors, there would have been no problem for him to achieve the top scorer position.

From what Li WenYuan said, because of his status as the son of a Magistrate, the chief examiner had considered the need to avoid suspicion and hence changed his deserved top scorer recognition to second place.

"I've seen your answers. That top scorer was not just a little better than you!" Li WenYuan said, shaking his head.

Li Shiming was, of course, well aware of this. Not to mention his understanding and application of classics, even the final policy discussion paper was obtained from a former top scorer in another era.

Using a top scorer's paper in the Imperial Examination to outperform all other candidates was a normal occurrence.

"Initially, your participation in this Imperial Examination was just meant to give you more experience for the one three years later. I didn't expect that at just fifteen years old, you would have to leave home for the Central Capital, and I can't leave Nanling Prefecture to accompany you!" Li WenYuan continued, sounding somewhat worried.

This was indeed a happy worry. Participating in the spring examination at fifteen and, should he pass and become an Advanced Scholar, it would indeed be considered a good omen at the court. While he was happy as a father, he couldn't help but worry about his young son leaving home.

"Father, I am not a child anymore!" Li Shiming quickly said. He didn't want his father's worries to affect his plans to go to the Central Capital.

"I am not stopping you from participating in the spring examination. This time going to the Central Capital, I will arrange for a naval officer's ship and bring along a team of escorts. Bring Si Qin and inkstone as well, and when you arrive, stay in our old home there. I will write a few letters on your behalf, to pay visits to some of your uncles!" Li WenYuan rambled a bit, lacking his usual authority.

But Li Shiming felt his father's sincere affection. Having merged with the memories and emotions of his original body, to him, Li WenYuan was his father in this world.

"Ah, here, I personally roasted this tea, and it turned out quite well. You can drink it regularly, and I'll also respond when you do!" Due to the slightly awkward atmosphere, Li Shiming changed the subject, pointing to the three tea canisters he had brought as he stood up to take his leave.

Li WenYuan watched Li Shiming leave, shaking his head as he picked up a tea canister; he did not believe that Li Shiming could produce any decent tea.

Still, it was a token of his son's thoughtfulness, so he brewed some.

The aroma of the tea diffused, reaching deep into his heart and spleen.

As a tea lover, Li WenYuan could immediately discern the quality of the tea.

He picked up the cup, took a sip, and found its flavor mellow and delicately sweet, with a lingering fragrance, but he could not identify the type of tea.

After swallowing a mouthful of tea, a warm feeling spread from his stomach throughout his body.

He felt a comforting sensation in his long-seated body, and his mind cleared.

"Oh!" Even without knowing what tea it was, he realized there was something extraordinary about it.

A single cup of tea had him feeling as though he was soaked in warm water and had had a good sleep, leaving his body extremely relaxed and filled with energy.

He hurriedly locked up the other two canisters, along with the one he had opened, carefully in a cupboard.

"This child, why didn't he explain clearly!" he complained lightheartedly, his face betraying his smile.

Li Shiming had been without a mother since he was young; it was Li WenYuan alone who had raised him. Seeing his child still thinking of him while having such good things made him very happy as a father.

Li Shiming returned to the courtyard, his thoughts turning to his impending journey to the Central Capital.

The day he set out for the Central Capital was not too far away, he needed to consider his safety once he left the protection of Li Wenyuan.

In Nanling Prefecture, his identity was a natural protection, but once he left Nanling Prefecture, even with the protection of escorts, he could not find peace of mind.

Previously, he had encountered Chief Escort Wang, as well as Shi Ximing, whom he had blown up with nitroglycerin, and two Immortals whose whereabouts were unknown. In his short time in this world, he had encountered so many terrifying beings.

Of course, if he were to encounter Chief Escort Wang now, he had some ability to respond.

But if he were to encounter an Immortal again, how would he face it?

Although the possibility of encountering an Immortal was small, based on the frequency with which he had met Immortals, he felt not the slightest bit reassured about the odds.

With this in mind, he pulled out the longsword Magic Artifact that he had obtained from Shi Ximing from his storage bag.

When he first obtained the longsword Magic Artifact, because he had too little Spiritual Energy inside him at that time, he had not researched the few Magic Artifacts he obtained.

He carefully examined the longsword Magic Artifact, made of iron, but when he used his senses to observe and gently tap it, sending the sensation into the large IBMz15 server, he analyzed that this type of iron had a completely different internal structure from ordinary iron.

With his current lack of knowledge in Cultivation, he could not rely on the IBMz15 to make accurate judgments and could only analyze to this extent.

He tried to use the longsword Magic Artifact to slice a stone, leaving a deep, ten-centimeter cut in it.

He hadn't used much strength, showing just how terrifyingly sharp the longsword Magic Artifact was.

In any place, this longsword Magic Artifact could be considered a divine weapon.

He then tried to channel a bit of Spiritual Power, and immediately the longsword Magic Artifact glowed with Spiritual Power, feeling as if it had come alive, possessing an indescribable charm.

Li Shiming used the glowing longsword Magic Artifact to slice the stone again, with roughly the same force as before, but this time he easily cut the stone in half, even feeling no resistance from the stone.

He looked in shock at the stone cut in half; if it were to slice a person, even if that person was wearing armor, the result would be the same.

After sheathing the longsword Magic Artifact, he decided to have a scabbard made for it and carry it with him since it was a major lethal weapon.

Although he at the Qi Refining Second Level had not learned any Swordsmanship, with his body's response, strength, and speed, holding the longsword Magic Artifact meant that even if he encountered a strong opponent, he could unexpectedly kill him.

He then thought of defense and took out the white robe, which also had similar Spiritual Power fluctuations as the longsword Magic Artifact; it must be another Magic Artifact.

With prior experience, he channeled a bit of Spiritual Power into the white robe, and it emitted a faint white glow.

He didn't dare to test it with the longsword Magic Artifact, instead taking a pair of scissors and proceeded to cut and stab at the white robe, discovering that all were blocked by the robe.

He guessed that the white robe Magic Artifact must be a defensive Magic Artifact. Of course, without real contact with the Cultivation World, all his tests were based on mundane knowledge.

The accuracy of this judgment could not be guaranteed, but at least he could use these two Magic Artifacts now.

With a bit of decoration, the white robe could completely pass as a Confucian robe, and with the longsword hung at his waist, this could very well be the classic attire of many scholars.