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

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

While the farm officials of the farmhouse brigade were just getting up, Song Li had already almost finished working in the fields.

"This ridge-laying technique is really effective for hoeing the land."

Song Li felt that the power of hitting people with a hoe should be better than that of a longsword.

Hoeing is a skilled job.

Skillful farming and weeding can increase the spirituality of a sacred field by at least 30%.

The basic version of the farming technique has minimal effect, while the advanced version is too difficult to learn, so almost no one practices it in the farmhouse.

Only one or two people in the entire farmhouse knew the secret, and Song Li learned it by accident.

Having this spell is equivalent to having the ability to independently cultivate spiritual fields.

The spiritual fields of the farmhouses are not naturally formed, but rather cultivated and developed by generations of farmers.

This reclamation is not like the ordinary farming of breaking ground and clearing wasteland, but rather it enhances the spiritual power of the land so that spiritual plants can grow.

A skilled farmer who understands the art of land reclamation will undoubtedly become highly valuable, as he is a key figure who can accumulate wealth for a clan or family.

Good morning, Brother Song.

Zhao Hui waved from afar.

Since it was just the two of them in the spirit field, Song Li joked, "Hasn't your father-in-law returned yet?"

Zhao Hui: "No, we're still in Xiahe Township. Wei'er said that Manager Zheng sent a message, so it will probably be at least half a month."

The sound transmission stone is a special magical artifact that can transmit sound over long distances, but it is also extremely expensive, and only eighth-grade cultivators can afford it.

"Half a month."

Song Li seemed to be deep in thought.

The rat demon Flying Ancestor who dared to break into the prison must have been incredibly powerful and intelligent. He must have realized he was being set up, which is why he hasn't shown up yet.

Or perhaps it's no longer within the Shannan region.

Who can say for sure?

Song Li guessed that Zheng and the others were not unaware of this.

However, each of them had someone watching them, so even though they knew the rat demon wouldn't come, they still had to put on a good show.

Even if you don't have any merit, you still have to put in some hard work.

"Oh, by the way, I saw someone posting a notice on my way here, so I went over to take a look, and guess what?"

Song Li remained silent.

Zhao Hui also learned Huo Zhun's skill of keeping people in suspense.

Zhao Hui chuckled: "It's the county exam. The county magistrate has scheduled it for January. We'd better hurry up and prepare."

"I heard a rumor that someone might be recommended to take the exam at the government office this time. If they pass, they can get a job there!"

Zhao Hui lowered his voice very much when he said the last sentence.

"That's good news, but it doesn't really concern us."

Song Li smiled.

Zhao Hui was also somewhat sullen: "That's right, they all guess that Deputy Director Zhang of the Martial Arts Department and Director Bai of the Rites Department are the most likely candidates."

There have always been two paths to promotion for county government officials.

Firstly, it naturally involves climbing the ranks within the government office, progressing from a minor official to a deputy chief clerk, then to a chief clerk, and finally to a county magistrate.

Besides that, there is another way, which is to go to the government office.

Every year, the prefectural government would recruit some capable officials from the county government, since the prefectural government couldn't just be full of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). However, the number of such positions was extremely limited. The last person from Shannan County to go to Huanglong Prefecture was eight years ago.

After all, it's not enough to be outstanding in one county; one also needs to surpass the geniuses recommended by other counties to win.

Moreover, the government office has age restrictions for candidates, requiring officials to be under fifty years old. This requirement alone has screened out most of the nine chiefs, so in previous years, most of them were deputy chiefs.

Song Li remained unmoved.

As Zheng, the head steward, had already advised, the matter of going to the prefectural government office could not be rushed; it might take two or three years, or even seven or eight years.

After all, he has only been employed for less than a year. Even if a benefactor is willing to help him, it is too early, unless a high-ranking person of the sixth rank or above steps in.

It's very difficult.

......

......

Zhao Hui's words came true.

It wasn't until half a month later that Manager Zheng returned to the farmhouse.

Just as Song Li had predicted, the rat demon who called himself the Flying Ancestor was not lured out. However, perhaps the destruction of the rat demon's lair had a good deterrent effect, and there were no further reports of monsters wreaking havoc on the village.

Manager Zheng has returned, but he is often not at the farmhouse.

Li, the executive director, was directly promoted to permanent staff member.

Not only Zheng, but Zhao Hui also appeared less and less frequently.

Song Li isn't a fool.

Of course, I knew that good things were coming soon.

Without the threat of demonic beasts, Nongwei was actually quite comfortable. He only needed to patrol for an hour each day, and he could find any excuse to go and cultivate on his own the rest of the time, and no one would care.

After Grain Rain.

It's noticeably hotter now.

noon.

The blazing sunlight streamed onto the windowsill, where an old dog belonging to a farmer lay panting heavily with its tongue lolling out on the doorstep.

Song Li sat cross-legged on the bed.

The spiritual energy of Changchun Gong circulated throughout my body, feeling as cool as if I were in a clear stream, without feeling hot at all.

"Zhu Ran is a good friend."

He gave the rat demon's tendons and bones to Zhu Ran.

I originally thought I would have to wait until I refined the Spirit Mansion before I could repay it.

Just when Song Li was about to forget about it, Zhu Ran sent someone to deliver three Qi Gathering Pills to him.

Although the Qi Gathering Pill is not as good as the previous Yuan Gathering Pill.

But elixirs are never cheap.

Three Qi Gathering Pills are worth a full ten low-grade spirit stones.

That's equivalent to two years of his salary, and it's entirely worth the rat demon.

"It should be about the same."

Song Li did not have the habit of keeping the elixir under the bed.

He picked up a Qi-gathering pill with two fingers and put it in his mouth.

The spiritual energy exploded in his dantian.

Circulate the Changchun Gong.

With the help of the Qi Gathering Pill, five small cycles were completed in just half an hour.

"When I was consuming the Gathering Yuan Pill, I circulated it for more than thirty cycles."

"Based on this conversion, one Gathering Yuan Pill is roughly worth six Gathering Qi Pills?"

Song Li made a rough estimate.

Three days later.

The medicinal power of the first Qi Gathering Pill was completely absorbed.

The second one.

The third one.

Three Qi Gathering Pills are equivalent to a month of cultivation.

The meaning is still unfinished.

Song Li's cultivation level improved at an extremely rapid pace.

The county exam is approaching.

Just seven days before the county examination, Song Li, who was meditating cross-legged in his room, slowly opened his eyes.

Name: Song Li

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

[Exercise: Everlasting Spring Exercise]

[Spells: Sharp Metal Spell, Sweet Rain Spell, Flying Leaf Spell, Mound-Hoeing Spell]

[Fortune: 75/100]

"It's done."

Looking at the panel.

A smile appeared on Song Li's face.

Originally, it was estimated that he would need to break through in August after the autumn harvest, but because of the elixir, it was achieved four months earlier.

"The Elixir Fruit is truly a wonderful thing."

He was filled with emotion.

of course.

If you think that you can improve your cultivation level indefinitely by having elixirs, then you are sorely mistaken.

Many old farmers in the farmhouses never even reach the threshold of Qi Gathering Level 5 in their entire lives, not because they can't accumulate spiritual pills, but because of a bottleneck.

Song Li did not have such concerns for the time being.

He is at the fifth level of Qi Gathering, in addition to his identity as a farmer and guard.

"Finally, it's starting to look official."