Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Chapter 311 Competition

Therefore, the ability to tame beasts is an added bonus for cultivators.

Only powerful cultivators can subdue formidable demonic beasts, which is essentially the same as subduing a weak cultivator as a follower. Those who are not strong enough can only raise some docile spirit beasts.

If elders are to subdue demonic beasts and protect the younger generation, it would be better to simply send one of their own cultivators to guard them!

Therefore, the practice of taming beasts also exists in the cultivation world.

Even individual sects would establish separate mountain peaks for spirit beasts to inhabit.

However, it is not a systematic approach.

It's somewhat tasteless to eat but a pity to throw away. As for whether it's useful or not, it really is useful; the resources used to cultivate spirit beasts might have a more significant effect if used to enhance one's own strength.

Therefore, its function as a decorative element may outweigh its practical value.

After reading the book "The Real and Fake Heiress", Zhou Fa had a sudden thought of retiring from the world and going into farming and animal husbandry.

Even without considering the differences between the "beast taming" mentioned in the text and the beast taming in the real world.

Keeping a long-lived spirit beast as a companion doesn't seem like a bad idea, does it?

Fortunately, Zhou Fa finished reading the storybook before the others from Beixuan City!

Otherwise, not only have the prices of chickens, ducks, geese, and birds in the mortal realm risen, but even the spirit beasts circulating secretly in Beixuan City have recently been in short supply.

Parrots, in particular, are highly sought after.

Who wouldn't want to own a parrot just like Shi Huai's!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Song Kezi also thought so.

He's someone who loves to join in the fun.

These past few days, the storybook of Little Dingdang has become quite popular in the Star-Picking Tower. How could Song Kezi, who always pays attention to this wonderful world, possibly miss it?

"This storybook is getting weirder and weirder the more I read it..."

Song Kezi scratched his head, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu about this storybook.

The plot involving Shi Huai and Shi Jin, in particular, where they become enemies due to various unforeseen circumstances and there is no turning back, is so unsettling to watch.

He did know that storybooks rely on all sorts of inexplicable misunderstandings to drive the plot forward.

But the name "Butler Song" still made Song Kezi feel like he was being addressed by name.

However, as the story unfolds, it becomes quite plausible and surprisingly smooth that Steward Song, acting on orders from other collateral branches, is plotting to seize the main branch's assets...

"Am I overthinking it...? But I still feel a little uneasy..."

Fortunately, the design of the beast taming system that follows is quite brilliant.

Song Kezi slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed in admiration:

“This is good!

"If I have enough spirit stones, I will definitely make a similar magic artifact. The first task I will give is to randomly select a fellow disciple to poison, and the reward will be a top-grade cultivation technique!"

"When the person who finds the magical artifact is about to poison someone, the artifact will start shouting—'I'm poisoning! I'm poisoning!'"

"hey-hey!"

Zhu Wuyao acted exceptionally swiftly.

Having decided to publish "The Way of the World," he wrote a short story that very night, and the next day he took the manuscript with him, intending to make a trip to Beixuan City.

Walking through the Star-Picking Tower, she kept nodding and smiling the whole way.

This is popularity!

Seeing everyone's bright smiles made my day much better.

Sure enough, as long as I confront the world with violence, the world smiles at me.

We are walking forward.

Suddenly, I saw Song Kezi, holding a copy of "Canglang Anthology", strolling by.

Zhu Wuyao suddenly felt a little guilty.

The character of Steward Song in the story was actually based on Song Kezi.

There's no other reason than that Song Kezi is just too much like a perfect villain.

Vicious and unique.

Zhu Wuyao even decided that from now on, all the villains in storybooks would have to be surnamed "Song"!

Until the idea that the surname Song is synonymous with villain is thoroughly ingrained in people's minds, perhaps the fellow disciples of Zhaixing Tower will subconsciously be somewhat wary of Song Kezi.

Song Kezi strolled by slowly, then slowly retreated.

I greeted Zhu Wuyao.

"Junior Sister Zhu, what are you going to do?"

She glanced at the storybook in Song Kezi's hand, and immediately said without changing her expression:

"I'm going to the river to wash some clothes. Goodbye!"

"Oh? Junior Sister Zhu, will you take me with you? I want to go fishing in the river!"

Hearing Song Kezi calling from behind, Zhu Wuyao ran even faster.

If he finds out that he is Doraemon, what will happen?

As the saying goes, too much talk leads to mistakes.

But I won't talk nonsense.

Looking at Zhu Wuyao's back, Song Kezi was quite puzzled. He wanted to ask what happened with that passive sword strike!

"Ugh, nobody likes me at all. Why doesn't anyone want to play with me?"

Song Kezi, weak and helpless, hugged himself and huddled on the stone bench in front of the Star-Picking Tower, staring blankly at the ever-changing purple aura.

He felt utterly miserable.

Before long, a junior sister also sat on the stone bench next to her, gazing intently at the purple aura atop the Star-Picking Tower.

Song Kezi hugged himself for a while, then turned to speak:

"Junior sister, are you like me, without any friends?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Since the last ambush, Zhu Wuyao has become much more cautious.

We battled wits with the air the whole way.

Finally, we arrived at Mohen Bookstore before dark.

She found Gu Lang with practiced ease and immediately began to speak:

"The way you've cut this out is absolutely outrageous!"

Gu Lang, fanning himself with a folding fan, said confidently:

"Don't worry, Miss Zhu! Everything is under control!"

After Gu Lang's explanation, Zhu Wuyao finally realized that Mohen Bookstore was actually going to hold a reading comprehension competition based on the content of the storybook!

Zhu Wuyao then learned that during the years she was trapped by the demon race, the city management office of a certain city had even used stories from "Outer Gate Servant" as test questions when selecting scholars.

Gu Lang drew inspiration from this.

They plan to hold a competition, inviting scholars from Beixuan City to participate, and the rewards are quite generous!

As he spoke, Gu Lang took a test paper and placed it in front of Zhu Wuyao.

She looked down and saw that the Xuan paper contained a description of "Azure Water Elixir".

"This is a small item, only good for keeping out water. If it were to undergo endless changes, it would bring endless calamities. It is a useless thing, but it can stop fighting and protect your life."

Q: What should be interpreted as the "usefulness of uselessness" mentioned in the text?

Zhu Wuyao feels like she's losing her ability to control her facial expressions...

How should it be interpreted?

It certainly expresses the author's homesickness!

"Uh... how did others solve this problem?"

To ensure fairness, after the essays were written, all the exam papers were posted for public viewing, and the Ink Trace Bookstore naturally sent someone to copy them.

Gu Lang had been studying the competition recently, and upon hearing Zhu Wuyao's question, he immediately pulled out a stack of documents and said:

"It wasn't just the answers from back then! After the news spread, many scholars got itchy to write down their opinions and sent them all to various Ink Trace Bookstores!"

Zhu Wuyao stared at the top answer sheet, its densely packed handwriting leaving her utterly astonished.

That was just a description of a magical artifact!