Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

All cultivation methods in the world, though varied, do not deviate from the same principle.

It is nothing more than the sixteen-character mantra: refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit to return to emptiness, and refining emptiness to unite with the Dao.

The Qi Refining stage is the starting point for refining essence into Qi. Chen Yuancheng once gave Zhao Xian a detailed analysis of this realm.

The Qi Refining stage is truly a path of accumulating and increasing magical power.

The first level of Qi Refining grants one unit of magical power, the second level grants two units, and the third level grants four units...

And so on, progressing step by step.

Why is it necessary to reach the seventh level of Qi cultivation to control weapons and cast spells?

There's nothing special about it; it's simply a matter of accumulating magical power, leading to a qualitative change through quantitative accumulation.

As for the first to ninth levels of Qi Refining, in Chen Yuancheng's eyes, there were no bottlenecks.

If there is any, it's simply a bottleneck in a cultivator's wealth—being short of money.

Chen Yuancheng once told Zhao Xian about a genius cultivator from the Yunlan Sect who had forged his Dao foundation in a hundred days and extended his lifespan by sixty years.

Everyone exclaimed that his talent was unprecedented and unparalleled, but in Chen Yuancheng's view, it was only natural that he was born into such a prestigious family and could achieve Foundation Establishment in a hundred days.

Suppressing his thoughts, Zhao Xian calmed his mind and carefully guided the two streams of magical power, allowing them to slowly circulate through his meridians.

At this time, it is absolutely crucial not to be greedy for quick success or act rashly.

We need to wait until the newly appeared magical energy becomes a little thicker before speeding up the flow of magical energy!

This was also the secret Chen Yuancheng passed on to Zhao Xian.

It has been a full month since I began my practice.

With the help of a bottle of Nourishing Essence Pill, he stepped into the second level of Qi Refining, and his progress was not bad.

Without this elixir, Zhao Xian estimated that he would have had to cultivate diligently for three months to reach this level.

Tomorrow, I will go to the pavilion to report the good news to the pavilion master.

Having pondered this, Zhao Xian slowly finished his practice and went to sleep fully clothed.

......

The following afternoon, inside the pavilion.

When Zhao Xian met Chen Yuancheng, he noticed a worried look between his brows.

"Master Ting, it seems you have advanced to the second level of Qi Refining. I've come to report this good news!"

Zhao Xian bowed respectfully to Chen Yuancheng.

"Ah~"

"Kuro's here!"

Chen Yuancheng was startled out of his reverie, and immediately looked at Zhao Xian, sizing him up and down, a look of delight spreading across his face.

"Did Jiulang reach the second level of Qi Refining last night?"

"It is indeed Lord Qibingting!"

Zhao Xian replied respectfully once again.

"Excellent, excellent! Reaching the second level of Qi Refining in just one month, even with the aid of the Nourishing Essence Pill, is still quite impressive!"

Chen Yuancheng gave a compliment, then looked at the rather respectful Zhao Xian in front of him, and immediately realized what was going on.

He slapped his forehead and immediately said with a wry smile, "These past few days I've been worried about the poor Daoist people of Tingbu lacking food and clothing, but I forgot that Jiulang's Nourishing Yuan Pills have already run out!"

After saying that, he reached into his sleeve and handed a brand new porcelain bottle to Zhao Xian.

Zhao Xian bowed in thanks, put the porcelain bottle into his robes, then looked at Chen Yuancheng and said solemnly, "Lord Ting is kind and has taken we common people to heart."

"The people of Shanghuting are deeply grateful!"

After speaking, he bowed deeply.

Chen Yuancheng helped Zhao Xian up and sighed, "Ninth Brother, it's getting colder these days. I've been patrolling the six miles these past few days and I've seen many Daoist people still wearing only thin outer garments."

"Even worse, several family members, dressed in rags, huddle together on a heated earthen bed for warmth."

"As the head of the village, how can I not be worried about the poverty of the people under my jurisdiction!"

At this point, Chen Yuancheng sighed heavily once again.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian's expression also turned solemn.

He was well aware of the situation.

Of my childhood playmates, less than half lived to be fifteen or sixteen.

The rest either froze to death, starved to death, or died of illness from drinking polluted water.

Having been born and raised here for over a decade, he had long since become accustomed to it.

"Since taking office as the head of Shanghuting, Tingjun has traveled to various villages to train the local people and allowed them to eat and drink at the pavilion."

"Furthermore, various rewards have been bestowed, which have already saved many people of the Dao."

"Otherwise, by the time October arrives, many people will starve to death!"

"Now no one has starved to death, all thanks to Lord Ting!"

Zhao Xian remained silent for a long while, then said softly.

"Moreover, without Tingjun's training of the Daoist people, countless Daoist people would have died tragically at the hands of the bandits on the night of their invasion."

"When that time comes, bandits will ravage the villages, and I fear there will be no one to control them!"

Zhao Xian then bowed deeply to the Pavilion Lord, solemnly saying, "I earnestly hope that the Pavilion Lord will take good care of himself, worry less, eat more, so that he may continue to protect us common people!"

"Jiulang, please rise quickly!"

When Chen Yuan was established, he helped Zhao Xian up, a hint of relief on his face, thinking to himself, "He has finally lived up to my sincere trust!"

"It is my good fortune to have met Jiulang since I took office at Huting!"

The two spoke frankly and chatted for a while longer.

As Zhao Xian was about to leave, he turned back at the door and said, "Lord Ting, if it's only to help the poor Daoist people get through the winter, perhaps... we could dig a hole in the ground?"

"Digging a hole in the ground?"

Chen Yuancheng pondered for a moment, then fell into deep thought.

Zhao Xian said no more, turned and stepped into the cold wind, heading towards Yangpingli.

A cold wind howled, blowing straight into his cotton robe, and Zhao Xian couldn't help but shiver.

The meager magical power at the early stage of Qi Refining is insufficient to resist the severe cold. If one wishes to be immune to both heat and cold, one must at least build a solid foundation for the Dao.

Digging a hole in the ground might provide shelter from the severe cold, but the constant dampness and heat would likely cause the people living there considerable hardship.

However, it's still better than freezing to death or dying suddenly.

While Zhao Xian was pondering, he had already arrived at Yangpingli. Zhao He, the prison warden, was no longer squatting under the wall basking in the sun; he had already crawled back into the bullet room to warm up.

Back home, the rice porridge was already cooked, and my younger sister Zhao Yu had served everyone a large, steaming bowl.

The family sat together, enjoying a very comfortable meal of fermented soybeans and pickled vegetables.

As night fell, a Nourishing Essence Pill worth three hundred catties of millet was put into Zhao Xian's mouth. Feeling the wisps of spiritual energy seeping into his meridians, Zhao Xian held his breath and focused on his cultivation.

Today, Tingjun has already revealed the news to me: if I can advance to the fourth level of Qi Refining before the beginning of next spring, I can be promoted to a minor official position in the village.

Township clerks and minor officials, like village soldiers, were the lowest-ranking clerks, but they still needed to report to the county government for appointment.

However, by then, Chen Yuancheng had already become the head of Wohu Township, the head of the township, and he still had the power to promote others to minor official positions.

If I could become an official and receive a salary, my family would be able to relax a bit, at least saving one person's food.

Next year he will be seventeen, and his second brother Zhao Hong will be fifteen. They are at the age where "half-grown boys can eat their fathers out of house and home."

With only ten or so acres of meager land at home, it's already difficult enough to support a few people, let alone support several others in their spiritual practice.

"I will definitely reach the fourth level of Qi Refining!"

Having made up his mind, Zhao Xian gradually immersed himself in cultivation.

Unfortunately, although there is now a magic pill to help, the magic rice porridge that used to be served three times a day is gone, and it has been replaced by ordinary rice for two meals a day.

The speed of cultivation is indeed slower than before.

Zhao Xian was also powerless to help, as the family had little savings. Although his father was supposed to be recuperating at home, he never stopped taking his medicine.

The road ahead is difficult and the journey is long and arduous.