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

The master is transmitting the Dharma?!

The minor officials who were watching were all green with envy.

Master Zheng is an eighth-rank cultivator; receiving his guidance will surely be of great benefit.

"Yes."

They weren't stunned.

Song Li walked quickly with small steps, obediently following behind Manager Zheng, towards the only two-courtyard house in the farmhouse.

A faint rumbling sound.

The courtyard gate was pushed open.

This courtyard gate is made of rare wood. Although it is only thin, it is incredibly heavy and extremely sturdy. It can even withstand a blow from an ordinary ninth-rank martial artist. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a defensive magic weapon. Just by listening to the sound it makes, it far surpasses the creaking of an ordinary farm official's gate.

"This is what it means to be an official."

Looking at Zheng's spacious courtyard, Song Li couldn't help but feel envious.

Right.

If one is devoid of emotion and desire, then one should become an ascetic Taoist priest in a celestial sect. Why should one become an official?

"I heard that Manager Zheng has a house in the city, with a wife and daughters. He usually works in this house and returns to his house in the city after his shift ends."

Song thought.

Although I don't live there often, I have everything I need.

In the front yard alone, you can see two or three pretty maids tending to the flowers and plants.

"Master Zheng must be almost eighty by now."

"Still going strong even in old age!"

Perhaps sensing Song Li's gaze, Steward Zheng surprisingly offered an explanation: "I have cultivated my character and temperament over the years and have long since given up those desires; they were all sent to my residence by others."

"Of course I believe it."

Believe it or not.

Manager Zheng rolled his eyes.

As Zheng led Song Li into the main hall, the steward had barely sat down when Song Li swiftly picked up the teapot from the table and poured tea for him.

As soon as Manager Zheng's hand rested naturally on the wooden table, a wisp of white steam rose from the warm tea.

"Good lad, you're quite clever."

Zheng, the steward, chuckled lightly.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then spoke: "Song Li, I remember you were almost forty when you came to the farmhouse, weren't you?"

Thirty-five.

Song Li gave an honest answer.

This information was already recorded in the archives. As the head of the farmhouse, Zheng Yue had the authority to access information on all the farm officials. It didn't matter how much he said.

"Yes, it is a bit too big."

Manager Zheng nodded.

If it were anyone else in the farmhouse, they might have been dismissive of Song Li because of his age, but Song Li could sense that Steward Zheng did not.

Ask about age.

He was pondering how to transmit the Dharma.

A good master will not treat everyone the same.

The teachings given to a farmer who started practicing at the age of ten and a farmer who only started practicing at the age of thirty-five will naturally be different.

The former focuses more on potential, while the latter emphasizes immediate combat effectiveness.

"Song Li, it's not that I look down on you, but you started cultivating too late, so passing on my techniques to you wouldn't be very meaningful. I have a technique here called the Flying Leaf Technique."

"It can be infused with spirit into leaves, and its power is quite good."

"This is not a law of the imperial court, but something I obtained by chance in my early years, and it does not require approval from the Ministry of Rites."

"It's of little use to me now, but if you'd like to learn, I can teach you."

Remembering Song Li's amazing sword strike, Chief Zheng unusually spoke a few more words to a newly appointed agricultural official.

Plucking leaves to make a knife?

Song Li's eyes lit up.

What he lacks now is combat magic. The Divine Rainbow Flying Sword is a second-best option. If he had proper combat magic, he would naturally be eager to obtain it.

"Study, study."

He nodded without hesitation.

He didn't have the confidence to keep shouting "I won't learn!" like some monkey.

The corners of Zheng's mouth lifted slightly, and his impression of Song Li improved even more.

He had seen many newly appointed agricultural officials.

Almost everyone harbored arrogance, dreaming of obtaining a superior cultivation technique to see the view from the top. They were unwilling to learn magic, and even if they were willing to suppress their arrogance, they would at least try.

In contrast, Song Li was much more straightforward.

Having self-awareness is not a bad thing.

He has seen too many people who only think about climbing higher, only to fall and be shattered to pieces.

"How high is considered high?"

Manager Zheng smiled and shook his head, his impression of Song Li improving even more: "You should cultivate diligently. If you can master the Flying Leaf Technique to a minor level after entering the rank, I can offer you a position in the Agricultural Guard."

"Thank you, Manager Zheng!"

Song Li bowed deeply.

Although it's still just a promise, the fact that this strict and old-fashioned old man, Zheng, has agreed means that he's not bad in Zheng's eyes.

If they're not even willing to draw a pie in the sky, then there's truly no hope.

Not long after.

A maidservant then retrieved the "Flying Leaf Technique" from the back room.

Zheng, the head steward, took it and personally handed it to Song Li.

Song Li said some empty promises, such as "This humble servant will definitely work hard to cultivate and repay the farmhouse," before leaving Zheng's courtyard.

He glanced at the vermilion gate.

"I want to live in a house like this someday!"

......

......

"Brother Song, you've defeated Liu Ding?"

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Hui rushed over.

He looked shocked.

He also regretted that if he hadn't gone out today, he would have witnessed his family's treasured sword, buried for many years, finally revealing its divine power once again.

Song Li: "I must thank Brother Zhao for his ancestral sword; otherwise, I would not have been able to defeat Liu Ding."

Zhao Hui was even more delighted and immediately said:

"Keep this sword, it'll just be wasted here anyway."

He changed the subject, his eyes showing concern.

"Although Brother Song won, Liu Ding is, after all, Zhang Kun's brother-in-law from the Martial Arts Department. We should still be careful, otherwise we will be the ones who suffer."

Zhao Hui was afraid that Song Li would suffer retaliation from Zhang Kun.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zhao."

Song Li nodded. He had naturally thought of this long ago. Although the government offices would not openly break into houses and kill people like some demonic sects, they had many insidious methods hidden in the shadows.

For example, a certain instructor surnamed Lin was imprisoned for mistakenly entering the White Tiger Hall.

It would be quite easy for Zhang Kun, a mere deputy director, to deal with him.

but.

Manager Zheng was already at odds with the people in the martial arts ward, so as long as Manager Zheng was in the farmhouse, nothing would happen.

of course.

Song Li would never entrust his life to someone else.

It was the off-season for farming.

He also acquired the Flying Leaf Technique and planned to go into seclusion to cultivate it to a minor level before venturing out again once the storm had passed.

After seeing Zhao Hui off.

After eating at the farmhouse canteen, Song Li went straight back to his room. Even when some farm officials heard about his deeds and tried to talk to him, he brushed them off.

......

......

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

During the off-season, farmhouses are very quiet and there's hardly anything interesting to do. The story of Song Li defeating Liu Ding with a single sword strike is still a hot topic of conversation among farmers and officials.

at this time.

in the room.

Song Li sat cross-legged on the bed, his palms facing upwards.

suddenly.

Her long hair moved without wind, and a golden light was faintly visible three inches below her navel through her clothes.

Look inward at yourself.

A golden nugget was being nurtured in the dantian.

"It's done!"