From Celestial Official to Great Celestial Venerable

Chapter 1 Qinchuan Middle Road

Chapter 1 Qinchuan Middle Road
Qin Chuan woke up with sleepy eyes.

I instinctively reached under my pillow for my phone.

After several attempts, I came up empty-handed.

Sensing something was wrong, he immediately rolled over on the simple bamboo bed. The hard thing he had just seen was a simple pillow made from a bamboo tube split in two.

The blanket covering me smelled damp.

ba da~
Rain was still dripping outside the bluestone house.

Suddenly, the cold rain pattered against the window, and a gust of cold wind rushed into the room through the cracks, making Qin Chuan shiver violently.

The feel of the bed and the biting cold wind made him wide awake, completely waking him up!
"Where is this?"

Look around.

Inside, there was a water tank, a wooden table, a plastic basin, a plastic thermos, an enamel mug, and an old, dilapidated wooden cabinet with a kerosene lamp on top.

A yellowed New Year picture hangs on the wall. It is a festive poster with a chubby baby, a bib, the character "福" (fortune), a golden longevity lock, a big goldfish, and a lotus flower.

Looking up, I saw dilapidated beams and cobwebs.

A yellowed light bulb and its cord fell from the ceiling.

The use of both kerosene lamps and electric lights was clearly a way to save money.

Looking at the wooden bed beneath me and the worn-out bedding, it felt like stepping back into the countryside of the 1980s.

There seemed to be people busy washing and talking outside.

When I was feeling lost, I heard a sound outside:
"Chuan Ya Zi, your third uncle is here. Hurry up and get ready to come out and greet him."

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan immediately recalled many fragmented memories... Lushan Blessed Land, Jiuchuan County, Guniu Town, the ordained Taoist... Dongsheng World... the cultivation world!

This is a world where one must pass an exam, be granted a certificate, and receive a license before one can comprehend the Dao and cultivate immortality!

He, on the other hand, was a test-taker from a small town who dreamed of passing the civil service exam.

The two sets of memories intertwined, as if it were always him, yet he was completely different.

"Su Hui?"

My brow is a little sore.

He was about to rub it with his hand when he was surprised to find a black mark in the palm of his right hand. It was shaped like an incense burner, about an inch in size, very delicate, and the details were very distinct.

"what is this?"

He was surprised.

It was because in both lifetimes, I seemed to have never seen this mark on my palm, like a birthmark.

But as he tried to examine it more closely, the mark on his palm gradually faded away.

If Qin Chuan hadn't been staring at him, it would have seemed as if there had never been any incense burner mark on his palm.

"What happened? It disappeared?"

He examined his palms repeatedly, but he couldn't make the black incense burner mark reappear.

Just then, a deep, displeased old man's voice came from outside:

"This kid is spoiled by you. What time is it? He's still sleeping, as if he doesn't know I'm here."

"No, no, Third Uncle, please don't misunderstand. The child is studying scriptures diligently at night, so..."

It was the voice of a middle-aged man with a deep, honest voice. He seemed to be very submissive to the elderly and spoke without much confidence.

The old man scoffed, "What's the use of studying hard every night? You've taken the exam for three years in a row, and you've failed every year. This is the fourth year now... Do you really expect our Qin family's ancestral graves to emit auspicious smoke, and a golden phoenix to fly out of this mountain valley?"

Hearing the noise outside, Qin Chuan quickly put on his coat, wiped his face briefly, opened the door, and went out.

When he came out, he saw two people standing in the yard. The middle-aged man, dressed simply with a patch on his clothes, was his father, Qin Geng.

The old man, dressed in simple, unpatched clothes and wearing boots, was his great-uncle Qin Fengnian, a member of the same clan.

In this town of Guniu, there are many clans, all with the same surname, and the Qin surname is one of them.

However, compared to Qin Chuan's family's financial difficulties, this third grandfather lived a much more comfortable life.

"Third Grandfather has arrived." Qin Chuan entered the courtyard and respectfully bowed to the old man.

As soon as I stepped outside, I saw the old man carrying two sacks on his back, with a cart parked behind him. A piece of flesh was sticking out of the sacks, and the cart was filled with three bags of grain and several cans of food.

Seeing the handsome young man in simple clothes bowing respectfully to him, Qin Fengtian's displeasure lessened slightly, but he still said calmly:

"What I just said to your father wasn't kept from you, Chuan Yazi. You're eighteen this year, and there are some things you need to see clearly."

Grandpa has something unpleasant to tell you today.

Back then, your grandfather, me, and your second grandfather each received more than ten acres of land. It was fine when it came to your father, but in the past few years, because you wanted to take the Taoist exam, how much money did you have to spend?
You are aware of these things.

"I am clear."

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan sighed inwardly; what he said was true.

But before he could say anything...

Qin Geng, who had previously been somewhat meek and submissive, raised his head and stubbornly said:

"Third Uncle, Chuan Yazi is qualified."

"Hmph! Ever since the Taoist examination was opened up, the examination for Taoists has become like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge! A county can only release a dozen or so Taoist positions each year, but the number of people taking the exam is tens of thousands."

Third Master Qin's eyes narrowed.

"Qin Li passed the exam back then... My Chuan boy is no worse than him," Qin Geng said sullenly.

He knew his child was smart; from a young age, he could memorize things several times faster than others.

Qin Chuan remained silent, but he knew in his heart where his father's resentment stemmed from. Qin Li was a clan uncle in his family, and he was the "other people's child" that his father had been talking about back then.

"Qin Li? That's a child from the eldest branch of the imperial family. How much land does the eldest branch own? How many Taoist scriptures, cinnabar, talismans, and compasses can they afford? What about your branch?"

Third Master Qin questioned.

Before Qin Geng could say anything, he turned to Qin Chuan and said:
“Your father is stubborn. You’re a smart man. Look at what your family has become. Don’t forget, you have a younger sister. If you keep taking the exams, your father will have to sell the house to support you.”

Listen to me, Third Uncle. Don't take the exam next year. I can use my connections in the clan to find you a job in the county town. In two years, I'll find you a wife. We mortals have to accept our fate.

Qin Chuan remained silent, then turned to look at the kitchen, where a little girl of eight or nine years old was helping her mother tend the fire, glancing occasionally at the yard.

This is his younger sister, Qin Kui.

The little girl was playing with a fire poker, poking at the fire.

Qin Chuan knew that he should just verbally agree with the old man's words, "It's for your own good."

After all, there are so many people in the clan, and this third grandfather's concern was not just lip service; he really brought a lot of food to help his family get through the winter.

"Third Grandfather, don't worry. If I fail again this year, I'll find another job. I won't let this family be ruined by my exams."

Qin Chuan looked at the old man intently.

Although he has awakened his memories of his past life, he yearns even more for cultivating immortality, especially for orthodox cultivators who can be ordained by the Heavenly Court.

But having diligently studied the Daoist canon for four years, he also understood:

If one cannot be ordained and registered in the Heavenly Court, one can actually take another path: the 'talisman'.

However, although talismans can also be used for cultivating immortality and refining qi, they can only be considered as for independent cultivators. No matter how high one's cultivation level is, the talisman does not contain any 'rules and heavenly laws'.

The difference between a rogue cultivator who relies on talismans and a Taoist priest who possesses celestial registers is like the difference between a merchant and an official.

Great wealth is not as good as great honor; no matter how great one's supernatural abilities, they cannot defy the will of Heaven.

Seeing that his son had actually taken his words to heart, Qin Geng frowned and glared at Qin Chuan, but he couldn't lash out because Third Master Qin was there.

Third Master Qin stroked his beard, satisfied with Qin Chuan's answer, then tossed aside the satchel on his shoulder and said:

"Good, I understand." Having said that, he ignored Qin Geng, lit his pipe, took a puff, and said casually towards the kitchen:

"Qin Geng's family, don't cook lunch today. The clan chief's great-grandson is having his first birthday celebration, and there's a banquet set up outside the ancestral hall. I brought you food today to inform you to come and eat at the banquet."

……

Qin Family Ancestral Hall.

Amidst the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers.

Upon arriving outside the ancestral hall, dozens of tables were set up for a continuous feast.

When Qin Geng and his son arrived, they saw the eldest patriarch of the Qin family standing outside the ancestral hall, holding a chubby baby, his face beaming with joy.

This is Qin Youde, the head of the Qin family, who sees Qin Fengnian, Qin Geng, and Qin Chuan, three people of different ages.

The old man waved to Qin Fengnian and said with a smile:

"Quickly, Fengnian, look at your great-grandson."

The old man was of the same generation as Qin Fengnian, only more than ten years older.

After greeting Qin Fengnian, the old man pointed at his great-grandson and asked Qin Geng:
"Ninth Brother, is Chuan Yazi still taking the exam? How's it going this year? Is there any hope?"

Qin Chuan's father, Qin Geng, was the ninth among his brothers of the previous generation.

Qin Geng replied vaguely, "There should be."

The old man smiled upon hearing this, but didn't say anything more, and went back to playing with his great-grandson.

Shouldn't? Then there's no way!

How easy is it to become a Taoist priest?

Talent, aptitude, money, and training are all indispensable; it's another fierce competition where thousands of troops have to cross a single-plank bridge.

In the Qin family, such a large clan, only their third son has emerged over the decades. He now works at the Jing'an Police Station in the county, responsible for capturing demons and thieves and dispatching city patrol soldiers. He is a Taoist with the cultivation level of the seventh level of Qi Refining and eats immortal food.

Before long, people of all ages from Guniu Town came to the ancestral hall to congratulate Grandpa Qin on the completion of four generations of his family.

Grandpa Qin held his great-grandson, said many happy things, and finally, amidst everyone's eager anticipation, shouted in a strong voice:

"Let's not talk about anything else, let's begin the feast!"

Amid the festive atmosphere, people tacitly split into two groups.

A small group of people followed Grandpa Qin San into the ancestral hall, which was the 'inner hall'.

The other group, represented by Qin Chuan and his son, mostly stayed at the banquet outside the ancestral hall.

This is an invisible difference in status and position, especially in the ancestral hall, where it appears even more solemn.

Those who remained outside the ancestral hall found seats and took their places.

Qin Chuan did not sit with his father.

At his age, he was still studying scriptures and had not yet started a family, so he could only sit at a table with some other boys and children of similar age from the same village.

Qin Geng, the father, sat at a table with his parents and other elders, chatting and laughing.

But Qin Chuan observed that at his father's table, the others didn't pay much attention to his father. Even when they did talk, they didn't initiate conversation with him, as if they were afraid of being bothered by Qin Geng and then asking them for something after drinking too much.

Qin Chuan sighed softly.

Now that I've awakened to my innate wisdom, I need to find a way to ensure my family lives a better and more dignified life.

The banquet was in full swing, and various dishes were served on the table.

Qin Chuan remembered to bring his younger sister some delicious food, so he didn't join in the conversations of his peers. He just stared at the dishes on the table while thinking about his future plans.

"Qin Chuan, why aren't you eating?"

There was a chubby boy on the table with his mouth stuffed full of oil. He looked at the chicken leg that Qin Chuan had snatched and actually wrapped it in a bag.

"For my sister."

Qin Chuan answered.

Ancestral halls are family temples, and women are not allowed to approach them except for some respected women like the matriarch. So, Kui'er could only rely on her older brother to bring back some good food from the banquet.

Suddenly, someone shouted:
"Oh dear, it's the Third Young Master back!"

The Qin family's farmhands recognized a robust man from afar, whose hair was glossy and who exuded a vibrant and powerful aura.

This was Qin Li, the third young master of the Qin family, who was the only member of the Qin family to pass the Taoist examination in the past few decades.

"Hey, why are there so many people following behind the Third Young Master?"

"Could they be here to arrest someone?"

After someone mentioned it, everyone's expressions became tense.

Jing'an Bureau is a local guard unit responsible for protecting the area. They solve cases of all sizes and apprehend evil spirits and heretics.

Suddenly, everyone at the banquet outside fell silent, watching the Third Young Master Qin lead seven or eight people toward the ancestral hall.

Qin Chuan also curiously sized up this clan uncle who had received the Heavenly Register.

In my memory, after this uncle was ordained, he rarely returned to the town. He had already bought a house and settled down in the county town. In addition, he was busy with official duties at the Jing'an Office, and he was often absent even during the New Year's ancestral worship.

Today this is...

Under the tense gaze of everyone, an elderly uncle from the Qin family, relying on his seniority, asked:

"Qin Li, what are you doing bringing so many people with you, all so aggressive?"

Qin Li ignored them, his tiger-like eyes scanning the people at the dozens of tables of banquet. Soon, he locked onto a direction and led the people behind him there.

"What, they're really here to arrest someone!"

This imposing manner only made everyone else nervous and misunderstand.

Who in our clan has committed a crime?

Qin Geng's expression changed drastically.

He saw his cousin, who had always been superior to them since childhood, vanish from his spot in a single step, and then...

He actually appeared in front of his own son.

Qin Chuan didn't react at all, but saw his uncle in the distance suddenly appear in front of him with a gust of wind.

Teleport?

"This is what cultivators are like?"

Before he could even finish processing the thought in his mind...

Then I heard the imposing uncle standing before me utter a few words:

"Chuan Ya Zi, you've won."