Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

As for the well-digging process, it is necessary to first use a wooden shovel to dig down to the rock layer.

Then, using an iron chisel, they slowly chipped away at the rock layers to continue digging deeper.

After digging several meters deeper, thick wooden planks need to be laid on top to prevent collapse.

Zhao Hong and the others watched from the sidelines, while Zhao Li and Zhao Xianxian took turns shoveling soil.

Today the sun is shining brightly, and although it's a bit warm, there's still a gentle breeze.

With nothing else to do, the three teenagers, Zhao Xian, as the elder brother, instructed them to each practice some boxing to warm up.

The uncle was so engrossed in his work that he didn't bother with the three boys. When Zhao Xian spoke up, the uncle was naturally happy to see it happen.

Zhao Mu's branch of the family had seven grandsons, with Zhao Xian ranking third and ninth in the clan.

Therefore, the clansmen mostly called Zhao Xian "Ninth Brother", while his uncles sometimes called him "Third Brother", and his parents naturally called him "Eldest Brother".

Compared to the brothers Zhao Zheng and Zhao Ji, who were five or six years older, Zhao Xian was closer in age and also closer to his three cousins ​​from his two uncles' families.

Now that Zhao Xian has killed more than ten bandits in the night, Zhao Duan and Zhao Bing naturally have even greater respect for Zhao Xian.

Upon hearing Zhao Xian's instructions, the Zhao brothers immediately assumed their stances and began practicing.

Zhao Hong originally did not want to practice, but after being glared at by Zhao Xian, he had no choice but to start practicing.

After practicing the "Pine and Crane Nourishing Vitality Boxing" three times, the three of them warmed up and then started playing around in the fields.

"Ah Hong's boxing skills are somewhat superior."

Zhao Li stopped, rubbed his hands together, glanced at the three people playing in the distance, gave them a thumbs up, and then continued shoveling soil.

"A-Duan and A-Bing are both kind-hearted. In another three to five years, Uncle will be able to enjoy the company of his grandchildren."

Zhao Xian replied with a smile, but his hands did not stop working.

"Uncle, how did you manage to kill three bandits that night?"

As the uncle and nephew chatted, Zhao Xian couldn't help but voice his doubts.

"The thieves were cowardly, so I quickly gave chase and killed three of them!"

Hearing Zhao Xian's question, his uncle smiled and explained.

"Even the King of Thieves, Jia, has only killed three bandits."

Zhao Xian emphasized it again.

"Those bandits are just poor country folk who can't make a living. They don't have any advanced skills. Once they lose their courage, they're no different from chicks."

"Fortunately, our county magistrate is merciful; otherwise, many of the Daoist people in Shanghuting would have become outlaws and hidden in the mountains."

At this point, Zhao Li sighed again.

Looking at Zhao Xian, who was engrossed in his work, he hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Sanlang, you are still young. Don't think that this is a peaceful and prosperous era."

"Outside of Rongtai County, countless people have become outlaws and sold their children."

"The bandit stronghold we wiped out that day was inhabited by people from another county, judging from their accents."

"If one could survive, who would abandon their family and home, hide in the mountains, and live like a wild beast?"

Having said that, Zhao Li glanced at the three children playing in the distance and began to speak at length.

When Zhao Li was young, he also wandered around for several years, and even went as far as Cang County and Xiao County.

Cangjun was the seat of the prefecture, and it was the most prosperous of all the prefectures in Qingzhou.

Xiao County is located south of Qingzhou. The main battlefield of the great war that affected both Qingzhou and Nanzhou decades ago was in Xiao County.

Now, decades after the war, Xiao County has still not recovered its vitality, and the people under its jurisdiction are displaced and struggling to make ends meet.

Zhao Li stayed in Xiao County for two years, and after that, he returned to Shanghuting and never left again.

My aunt was brought from Xiao County by my uncle Zhao Li, which saved my grandfather Zhao Mu a lot of money on gifts.

Zhao Xian and Zhao Hong had to help their uncle's family with their work for a few days every year, so they naturally knew their aunt, who was a rather beautiful woman.

Unfortunately, he has health problems and cannot do heavy work.

After working for about half an hour and digging about three feet deep, the uncle and nephew put down their wooden shovels and called Zhao Hong and the other two to come and continue digging.

By noon, the five men had dug more than five feet deep. Below that was the rock layer, which they had to chisel away little by little.

Zhao Xian and Zhao Hong still needed to go to the pavilion to study the Daoist texts, so they bid farewell to their three uncles, carried their wooden shovels, and went home first.

Watching the two men walk away, the brothers Zhao Duan and Zhao Bing were quite envious.

"What, you two also want to learn Taoist texts?"

Zhao Li looked at the two brothers with a smile and asked.

Upon hearing that they wanted to learn Taoist texts, the two immediately shook their heads. They had no desire to learn Taoist texts; they just wanted to go out and play.

"If you want to learn, then have your mother teach you both!"

"I won't learn, I won't learn!"

The two brothers quickly answered and then jumped down into the pit, ready to start digging.

Be careful!

Zhao Li asked with concern, then glanced in the direction Zhao Xian had left.

My nephew is quite thoughtful, but unfortunately his spiritual root is lacking; otherwise, he would surely bring prosperity to the family.

His two simple-minded sons were nothing like their mother; they took after him instead, having no spiritual talent whatsoever.

With a sigh, Zhao Li uncorked the water bag, drank several mouthfuls, and sat down to rest for a while.

......

Time flies, and more than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Shanghuting was not attacked by bandits again, and neither were Dahuting and Xiahuting.

However, he would occasionally learn from Liu Yu's messages that other villages had been plundered.

Rongtai County had four patrol officers, with Liu Yu serving as the western patrol officer, responsible for inspecting the western villages and towns within the county.

After Shanghuting was attacked by bandits, Liu Yu was punished by the county magistrate and barely managed to keep his position.

During this period, he was quite diligent, inspecting the villages every day without daring to stop for even a moment.

If another bandit attack occurs, he will have to resign from his post before the county magistrate can even speak.

The position of patrol officer, with a salary of 100 shi (a unit of grain), carries considerable power and is mostly filled by local officials. There are quite a few people eyeing this position.

With the situation at Shanghu Pavilion stable, Zhao Xian was also able to focus on his cultivation.

Unfortunately, due to the need for his studies at the pavilion and the training of the local people, Zhao Xian could only spare half a day every two days to help his uncle dig a well.

Zhao Hong, on the other hand, went to help every day before noon.

The group worked hard, but the rock strata were really hard, and they had only dug about 15 or 16 feet so far.

We haven't seen a trace of water vapor yet, so we probably need to dig several more meters deeper before we can find water.

In winter, there's not much farm work to do; all you have to do is work hard!

As Zhao Xian's Qi cultivation progressed, he was nearing the second level of Qi cultivation after exhausting a bottle of Nourishing Essence Pills.

The moon was high in the sky, and all was quiet.

Zhao Xian sat upright on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, his expression quite calm.

The magical power traveled swiftly through the meridians, flowing unimpeded wherever it passed.

Suddenly, two messages entered my mind.

"Six Yang Technique Proficiency +1!"

"Six Yang Techniques (Mastery: 1/10000)!"

In an instant, the already rapidly advancing magical power became three times faster.

Suddenly, the magical power in the meridians trembled slightly, and a trace of almost imperceptible magical power was peeled off from them.

Compared to the robust magical power beside it, that magical power was like a sapling compared to a towering tree.

Qi Refining Level Two, achieved!