Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 71 Breakthrough Failed
With the crowds testing their spiritual roots gone, things weren't so hectic at the Ascension Pavilion, especially since it was currently the summer harvest and planting season.

Shen Wenxing then stayed at home for a few more days.

On the one hand, it was to spend time with his wife, and on the other hand, it was to help his parents with more chores.

As the summer harvest drew to a close, a group of officials appeared outside Jinliu Village, beating gongs and drums.

The head constable approached Yang Changlin, the village head of Jinliu Village, and asked, "Are there any families with the surname Shen here?"

Yang Changlin was slightly taken aback, realizing that these officials must have come to see Shen Yuan.

"Reporting to the superior official, yes, yes, yes!"

"Does the Shen family have a child who has joined a celestial sect?"

"Have!"

As Yang Changlin respectfully led the way, he said, "The eldest son of the Shen family works at the Shengxian Pavilion in Anyang County, and the fourth son recently joined the Immortal Sect."

Upon hearing this, the official nodded slightly and smiled, "We are here on the Emperor's orders. Please take us to the Shen family."

Yang Changlin repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting: "The eldest son of the Shen family was awarded a title in the army back then, and the whole family has now moved to Blackwater Pond outside the village."

"Please come with me, sir."

Led by Yang Changlin, the group of officials hurried toward Blackwater Pool with gongs and drums.

Upon hearing the commotion, many villagers in Jinliu Village rushed out to see what was happening.

"With drums and gongs beating in unison, the Shen family is about to rise to prominence!"

"Of course! Yuan Ge's son has joined a celestial sect, so the reward he'll receive will definitely be substantial!"

"What 'this kid' and 'that kid'? When Xiao Wen'an joins the Immortal Sect, you'll have to address him as an Immortal the next time you see him!"

"Yes, yes, an immortal!"

Accompanied by many villagers, the large procession quickly arrived at Blackwater Pool.

At the courtyard gate, Shen Wenping was reciting the chapters of "The Book of Rites: Elegance" with Shen Wenyan. Hearing the noise, the brother and sister both looked into the distance.

"Second brother, there are so many people."

Shen Wenyan, holding the book behind his back, glanced at the officials and said, "Sister, go and call my elder brother and father here."

A moment later, several family members arrived at the courtyard gate.

The officials had already arrived.

“Ah Yuan, these are high-ranking officials from the capital.”

Yang Changlin rushed over to explain.

Shen Yuan nodded slightly and then stepped forward with Shen Wenxing, bowing respectfully.

"Shen Yuan greets all the senior officials."

The official smiled and nodded, reaching out to support his arm, saying, "Master Shen, there's no need for that."

"His Majesty was overjoyed that your son had joined the Immortal Sect and sent us with an imperial edict and gifts."

As he spoke, he gestured to his entourage to unload the gifts from the carriage one by one.

"This is a plaque, written by Meng Sheng himself at Meng Xueya in the Confucian Temple."

The officials tore down the red cloth from the plaque, revealing two powerful characters: Shen Mansion!
Upon seeing the plaque, Shen Yuan's face lit up with joy.

The imperial plaque signifies that from this point forward, the Shen family has become a recognized noble family by the imperial family.

"Here are also some tribute items, such as porcelain, cloth, and tea, bestowed by His Majesty."

The official pointed to the various boxes behind him and introduced them one by one.

The attendants opened the boxes in turn, revealing the exquisite items inside.

"This last box contains one hundred taels of gold bestowed by His Majesty."

The attendant opened the last wooden box, revealing a row of glittering gold ingots.

The villagers who had gathered around were all astonished when they saw the gold.

The common currencies in Dayu were copper coins and silver. Although gold was also a form of currency, it was rarely seen by ordinary people.

Now, with a hundred taels of gold laid out before them, the shimmering golden light was truly an eye-opener.

Looking at what was in front of them, everyone in the Shen family wore expressions of joy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!"

Shen Yuan and Shen Wenxing exchanged a glance, and the father and son immediately cupped their hands and bowed respectfully.

"Master Shen, please don't thank me yet, there's more."

The official took out a silk scroll and handed it over, saying, "This is His Majesty's edict. I will not read it aloud on the spot. Patriarch Shen can read it himself later."

There was also an imperial edict?

Shen Yuan respectfully accepted the scroll, then handed it to Shen Wenxing, and bowed to the official, saying, "Your Excellency has had a long journey. Please come into the mansion and rest for a while." The official waved his hand, "I am under imperial command and dare not delay. There are still two other disciples of the Immortal Sect in Anyang County whose rewards need to be delivered as soon as possible."

"Master Shen, farewell."

Watching the group of officials depart, Shen Yuan glanced at the various rewards laid out before him and couldn't help but sigh.

"Ah Yuan, congratulations."

"Bestowed with an imperial plaque, from then on, the Shen family could be considered a prominent family."

Yang Changlin smiled and came over, cupping his hands in greeting.

He knew very well that from now on, the Shen family would no longer be under his jurisdiction as the village head.

Shen Yuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then looked at the group of villagers from Jinliu Village not far away and said loudly, "It just so happens that you are all here today. I plan to hold a banquet in three days, and I would like to invite all of you to come and support me."

"Just come and eat, no need to bring any money!"

Upon hearing this, the villagers happily echoed their agreement.

Some young commoners helped carry the gifts into the courtyard.

After everyone dispersed, the Shen family members gathered around the rewards and carefully examined them.

"Mother, this fabric is so beautiful and smooth!"

Shen Wenping stroked the exquisite fabric and exclaimed.

"Like it?"

"I like to ask my mother to make you some clothes."

Shen Yuan patted her head and looked at Hu Yufen, saying, "Put everything away."

Hu Yufen nodded, and with the help of Shen Wenping and Huang Lingxiu, she carried all the items into the house one by one.

"Father, this imperial edict..."

Shen Wenxing handed over the silk scroll.

Shen Yuan took it and slowly opened it.

moment--

"What did His Majesty say in the edict?"

Shen Yuan smiled faintly as he rolled up the imperial edict and said, "Two things."

"First, after we became a prominent family, we were exempted from land taxes."

"The second thing is that His Majesty has appointed Anu as a mathematics teacher at the official school in Yunshui Town, but he is still confined to his home and is only allowed to travel between the school and his home."

Shen Wenxing's expression turned strange upon hearing this; he couldn't quite understand the current Emperor Yu's plans.

He vaguely understood why the official was unwilling to read the imperial edict aloud in public; it was probably because "a ruler's word is law." He had just confined his younger brother, and doing this now would damage his own reputation if word got out.

However, could this be considered a gesture of goodwill from the Emperor of Yu towards his own family?

"Father, there's nothing much going on at home right now. I'm going back to the Ascension Pavilion tomorrow."

Shen Yuan nodded: "Go back. Your father is here at home, so don't worry about him."

After dinner, everyone went to sleep, and Shen Yuan came to the courtyard alone, holding the porcelain bottle containing the Qi-Nourishing Pill in his hand.

He already had the insights his eldest brother gained when he broke through to the Innate Realm in his mind. What he was lacking now was the power of heaven and earth to reach the Innate Realm.

As long as he can absorb enough power from heaven and earth, reaching the innate realm will be a natural outcome for him.

Shen Yuan poured out a Qi-Nourishing Pill from the porcelain bottle, hesitated for a moment, and then put it directly into his mouth.

The powerful effects of the medicine surprised him.

Feeling the energy transformed from the Qi Nourishing Pill surging within his body, Shen Yuan quickly controlled it according to the breathing technique's incantation.

Time passed little by little, and soon the strange phenomena that Shen Wenxing had experienced when he broke through appeared around him!

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers and slowly seeps into the flesh and blood through the acupoints of the whole body.

Shen Yuan sat cross-legged, immersing himself entirely in absorbing the power of heaven and earth.

A moment later, however, he opened his eyes with a furrowed brow.

"Failed?"

"Is the power of heaven and earth here still insufficient?"

When he broke through, he could clearly feel that the speed at which the surrounding天地力 (heaven and earth power) gathered could not keep up with the speed at which he absorbed it.

As a result, these energies of heaven and earth were unable to circulate through the body for a complete cycle and gradually dissipated.

Do I need to take two Qi-nourishing pills?
Looking at the porcelain bottle in his hand, Shen Yuan hesitated.

(End of this chapter)