I just passed the imperial examination, what the heck is this "Celestial Official System"?

Name: Song Li

[Realm: Ninth Grade (Second Level of Juyuan Realm)]

[Exercise: Everlasting Spring Exercise]

[Spells: Sharp Metal Spell, Sweet Rain Spell]

[Fortune: 38/100]

"It's a real breakthrough."

Song Li's lips curled up slightly.

Generally speaking, unless it's a breakthrough in a major realm, if it's just an improvement in a minor realm, a cultivator's perception may lag behind.

The level of cultivation is determined by the abundance of one's spiritual energy.

There won't be an intuitive numerical sense of it.

Among cultivators, it is common to hear cases where people mistakenly believe they have broken through to a higher level, when in fact it is just a fluctuation of spiritual energy.

Song Li doesn't have this problem because he can make a judgment directly through the panel.

"It's been about forty days since the product was put into production?"

Song Li estimated.

This breakthrough speed is truly astonishing.

Even though it was an unexpected windfall of five spirit stones, it was still frightening.

In summary...

It's because he absorbs spiritual energy more efficiently than other cultivators. For example, a spirit stone has ten units of spiritual energy, while most cultivators can only absorb five or six, but Song Li can absorb close to eight or even nine, which is why he can cultivate so quickly.

"High-level cultivation techniques are truly useful."

Song Li sighed with emotion.

No wonder the protagonist in the story accidentally obtained a divine skill and was able to soar to the heavens.

He also experienced that feeling firsthand.

......

......

The year-end is approaching.

The town of Shannan is becoming increasingly lively.

But the more bustling the city is, the more desolate the farmhouses are.

It is already the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

There are hardly any people left in the farmhouses; most have gone home to prepare for the New Year.

Although according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Spring Festival holiday is only ten days long, after thousands of years, no one follows that rule anymore. Even the Ministry of Rites, which has the strictest rules, gives people a holiday well in advance, not to mention the farmhouses that are far from the rules outside the city.

at this time.

Apart from the one agricultural health clinic that remained on duty.

Only Song Li and two other agricultural officials remained in the farmhouse.

In another day or two, he'll probably be the only one left in the farmhouse.

Song Li was originally a farmer. His parents had passed away long ago, and he remained unmarried even in his thirties in order to pursue fame and fortune.

I have no home.

Therefore, there is no need for family reunions and staying up all night on New Year's Eve.

Song Liru secluded himself in his room as usual.

suddenly--

A series of urgent knocks sounded on the door.

Song Li frowned slightly.

Who would be so reckless during the Lunar New Year?

He patiently pushed open the courtyard gate.

Upon seeing the person at the door.

He was stunned for a moment.

"Master Zheng."

Song Li bowed.

The person leading the group was Zheng Yue, the head of the farmhouse, while the person who had knocked on the door was a veteran farm official.

Song Li remembered that when they met a few days ago, the old farmer-official said he was going back to the city and would return to his farmhouse after the New Year.

We met again today.

Manager Zheng didn't seem to be in a good mood either. He said in a low voice, "Make preparations, we'll depart at 5 PM."

"So urgent?"

Song Li was somewhat surprised.

It's almost dusk, which means he has at most fifteen minutes left.

Huo Zhun, who was familiar with him, spoke up at the opportune moment:

"It was the military clerk who discovered the remnants of the Rong'an Marquis's mansion on the mountain in the eastern suburbs."

"The magistrate ordered that all nine branches of the family must send people."

"Our farmhouse also needs to send four people."

Song Li suddenly realized.

They also knew why Master Zheng looked unwell.

You can tell just by thinking about it.

A retired cadre was making great preparations for the New Year when he was suddenly called to fight to the death in the wilderness. No one would be happy about that.

obviously.

Huo Zhun and another old agricultural official were both temporarily arrested.

"it is good."

Song Li readily nodded.

We will gather in front of the farmhouse at exactly 15 minutes past the hour.

At that moment, he had no right to refuse.

Moreover, since all the strongmen from the Nine Houses have been mobilized, as a farmer cultivator, there is no need to be at the forefront, and the risk factor is not high.

......

......

"Where are we going?"

We left the farmhouse.

The group headed towards the deep mountains in the eastern suburbs and soon found themselves in the jungle.

Experienced hunters generally dare not venture into this place easily, but because they are all practitioners, they can walk on flat ground as if on flat ground.

Song Li was curious about where to go to hunt down the remnants of the Rong'an Marquis's mansion.

Manager Zheng walked at the front, not wandering aimlessly, but rather with a clear purpose.

Of the group, he was the most familiar with Huo Zhun, so he asked.

"I don't know either, but the people from the Martial Arts Department and the Criminal Affairs Department went into the mountains a long time ago. Master Zheng followed the marks they left behind."

Huo Zhun replied.

"I see."

Song Li stroked his chin, somewhat curious about how Steward Zheng had seen the mark and why he himself couldn't.

"It's a spiritual energy imprint; only cultivators of the eighth rank or higher can see it."

Huo Zhun seemed to sense Song Li's confusion and answered in a low voice.

"Thank you, Brother Huo."

Song Li nodded, then glanced at the old farmer official walking ahead.

Obviously.

It wasn't that Chief Zheng approached him because he had no one else available. Both the old agricultural official and Huo Zhun were among the most capable workers in the farmhouse.

As for him...

It was probably after defeating Liu Ding that he caught the eye of Master Zheng.

While talking to Huo Zhun.

The voice of Manager Zheng rang in my ears: "Remember, we're just going to make up the numbers this time. Don't risk your life for some vague and unattainable achievement."

"not worth."

"Yes, Manager Zheng."

Song Li nodded in agreement.

After Zheng finished speaking, he stopped talking. He probably wouldn't have said anything to anyone else. But if someone wanted to die, no amount of talking could stop them. He just thought Song Li was clever and didn't want the farmhouse to lose such a decent young man.

Not long after.

Suddenly, a cluster of torches lit up the scene, illuminating the dark forest in a fiery red glow.

There were at least a hundred people.

Song Li could barely make out that the majority of the people were from the Martial Arts Department and the Punishment Department, and there were also quite a few cultivators from the Rites Department and the Workshop.

These four departments were also among the county government offices known for their combat prowess.

"Lord Zheng."

A strong man saw the four people appear at the farmhouse and went forward to greet them.

"Lord Zhang."

Zheng nodded indifferently. At his age, he was usually indifferent to the county magistrate, so he certainly didn't have a good attitude towards Zhang Kun.

Not bad.

Standing before Song Li was Zhang Kun, Liu Ding's brother-in-law, who was in charge of the matter.

His cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Gathering is quite remarkable, and he may even have the potential to challenge for the position of head of the Martial Arts Department in the future.

It can be said that he has a very promising future.

Liu Ding certainly has the right to be arrogant.

Zheng, the head of the department, and the other heads of the departments went to a distance, while the people from the farmhouse stood aside and listened. Song Li occasionally glanced at Zhang Kun, who had not gone far.

So strong!

His perception was already stronger than that of other cultivators, so he could sense Zhang Kun's fierceness just from the aura he exuded.

Zhang Kun's reprimand reached his ears.

"We have surrounded the eldest and second sons of the Marquis of Rong'an. We are just waiting for everyone to arrive before we search the mountain and leave them with nowhere to go."

"eldest son?"

Song Li's heart stirred slightly.

The woman he killed earlier, Shi Ying, was merely Rong Anbo's illegitimate daughter.

"The eldest son should have more luck stones on him..."

While I was pondering this.

A loud shout rang in my ears.

"They're trying to run away!"