"True Master, if that's the case, the chances of me passing the assessment on my own should be slim to none, right? The difficulty is comparable to the imperial examinations.
No, it's even harder!
Aside from that, is there really no other way?"
After a moment of silence, Ding Yun was still unwilling to give up.
The female immortal Yunqi shook her head and sighed:
"Alas, you are born at the wrong time. Things are different now. If it were decades ago, the batch of grain you donated would have been enough to get you a 'Du Di' (ordination certificate) issued by the court.
But now, it's no longer possible.
The two methods I mentioned are already the simplest and most direct ways to obtain a Du Di.
As for other methods.
They are basically accidental and unrepeatable. For example, twelve years ago, the abbot of Anhua Temple prayed for the Empress Dowager, and soon after, the Empress Dowager recovered. The Emperor was overjoyed and specially bestowed ten Du Di on Anhua Temple. Three years later, Tengyun Temple, seeing the Empress Dowager seriously ill, tried to copy the deed, but the Empress Dowager passed away.
Tengyun Temple was almost wiped out.
Let alone receiving imperial favor.
These shortcuts are not that easy to take."
As she spoke, Yunqi paused again, hesitated for a while, and then said with a conflicted tone:
"Actually, I missed one point earlier.
Theoretically speaking, if one makes a great contribution to the court, one can also obtain a Du Di. For example, four years ago, Wan Caiquan, the wealthiest man in Huaiyang, donated one million taels of silver when the imperial treasury was empty due to the war with the Kingdom of Qianxiang.
His Majesty was delighted and considered him loyal and patriotic.
He specially intended to grant him a noble title.
However, the officials objected, and then Wan Caiquan, going with the flow, declined this favor, saying he dared not claim merit but only wished to become an Imperial Merchant.
Not only did the ministers no longer object, but His Majesty also found an excuse to step down. Thus, he successfully became an Imperial Merchant, and was even bestowed a plaque for 'Loyal and Righteous Family' by His Majesty, the current Supreme Emperor.
Theoretically, if you also have great merit.
Asking for a Du Di is not difficult.
It's just that it's really not cost-effective.
An Imperial Merchant not only enhances reputation and influence, but can even be considered a kind of protective charm.
But a Du Di is just an identity document.
How can it be worth a million taels of silver?"
"So you should focus on your studies first.
I'll write you a few letters of introduction. You can take the letters and your travel permit to other Taoist temples to study and consult. This is not just for you to improve your Taoist studies, but also to accumulate some connections and gain some reputation in advance.
At least let people know you exist.
It's the same principle as poets gaining fame through their poems.
This way, whether you apply for a Du Di in the future or find ways to buy one, your chances of success will increase. If you ultimately fail, and you still wish to become a monk, I will leave my Du Di to you. What do you think?"
Yunqi said this because she had seen Ding Yun's hard work during this period. She was now treating Ding Yun as a direct disciple, even promising to leave her Du Di if things didn't work out.
Ding Yun, however, had not dared to count on Yunqi's Du Di. She was no longer as fixated on obtaining a Du Di as soon as possible. It wasn't that she had given up, but rather her urgency to obtain a Du Di and officially join the clergy in the shortest possible time had lessened.
What she was more eager to do now was to clear her farm inventory so she could continue planting. If she couldn't continue planting and upgrading, she wouldn't be able to write her trial reports. Therefore, what she currently wanted most was the freedom to travel.
To travel to different cities.
Whether she had a Du Di or not was irrelevant. Or rather, from the very beginning, Ding Yun didn't want a Du Di, but the right to travel the world with a Du Di.
Therefore, even though the information she learned today was disappointing, Yunqi's final offer to write her letters of introduction and a travel permit.
Still managed to lift her spirits from her earlier dejection.
She suppressed her inner joy with difficulty and put on a facade of having no other choice, replying calmly:
"In that case, I'll trouble you, True Master.
When will the letters of introduction be ready? I can't wait to learn new knowledge and obtain a Du Di soon."
"That's easy. I can write the letters of introduction for you later. As for the travel permit, I'll go down the mountain to the prefectural office tomorrow and get it for you.
However, you are still young. Is it too dangerous to travel to other places through mountains and rivers?
Perhaps we should postpone it.
Let's do it when you're older.
Or I can hire a security firm to escort you."
Most people are not malicious towards those who are eager to learn. Yunqi now found Ding Yun to be quite good, kind-hearted and studious.
However, this world is not one where everyone is honest and no one picks up lost items. Therefore, she was worried about Ding Yun's safety and proposed some protective measures.
Otherwise, she would not be at ease.
Ding Yun, on the other hand, could not refuse this kindness. So, she immediately bowed gratefully:
"Thank you, True Master, for your concern.
There's no need to specifically hire a security firm. I'll see if there are any security firms going to the places where you introduce me to the Taoist temples, and I'll travel with them. Traveling with security firms and goods is less conspicuous.
Hiring a security firm specifically to escort me.
Would be too eye-catching!"
"You have a point.
Then you can go and ask the security firms yourself. Let me know which one you choose, and I'll put in a good word for you. I know most of the security firms in Jinling City and have some connections. If I speak to them, they'll be able to take better care of you on the road.
If you have nothing else, start making preparations.
Don't bring jewelry. Bring more gold and silver. And don't hide ten or twenty tael gold and silver on you. Try to bring small denominations like one or one-tenth of a tael, and hide them separately.
Also, get some hairpins and bracelets that look cheap but are actually hollowed out to store banknotes and gold certificates. The outside is not like home. If you lose your money at home, you can still walk back. If you lose all your money outside.
You won't be able to move an inch.
Therefore, you must have more contingency plans.
Also, try not to show off your wealth in front of outsiders, even those from the security firms I've spoken to.
Wealth attracts hearts, and no one can guarantee that someone won't be tempted by greed and take risks.
Oh, and I still have some life-saving hidden weapons that might be useful. Since I rarely go out now, they are of no use to me. I'll go and look through the storeroom. Remember to come find me tonight, and I'll give them to you and teach you how to use them."
It must be said that Yunqi was truly kind-hearted. She trusted people completely. Seeing Ding Yun's firm resolve, she did not stop her.
Instead, she began to actively consider her well-being, thinking of all possible dangers, and sharing all her past experiences.
She was afraid that Ding Yun might encounter real danger outside and be unable to protect herself.