Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

"Big brother, you are mighty!"

"Big brother, you are mighty!"

A shout came from the crowd not far away.

Zhao Xian turned around and saw his second younger brother Zhao Hong and his younger sister Zhao Yu cheering him on.

"Lord Ting, Jiulang has acted rashly, shooting ten arrows in succession, violating the rule that you are only allowed to shoot three arrows. Please punish him!"

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Xian bowed to Chen Yuancheng and presented the bow and arrows with both hands.

"Today's archery practice saw Jiulang emerge victorious. Does anyone have any objections?"

Seeing Zhao Xian's respectful attitude, Chen Yuancheng was very pleased. He immediately stepped forward to help Zhao Xian up, looked around at the Taoist priests in front of him, and asked with a smile.

"We have no objection!"

In the blink of an eye, ten arrows hit the bullseye. Among the Daoist people, there were many whose cultivation surpassed Zhao Xian's, but they all admitted that they were inferior to Zhao Xian, so naturally none of them had any objections.

"Ten arrows all hit the bullseye; a reward of fifty coins shall be given!"

"Today's archery practice saw Jiulang achieve the best result; his reward will be doubled!"

After saying that, Chen Yuancheng reached into his sleeve and raised his hand again, revealing a thumb-sized, crystal-clear jade stone in his palm.

"Spirit Stones!"

You Daomin let out a low exclamation, then stared intently at the spirit stone.

A low-grade spirit stone is worth 100 talisman coins and can be exchanged for 5 catties of spirit rice.

One can also buy a bushel of fine rice, enough to feed a family of three for a month; if one only seeks to survive, it can last for three months.

In just a short time, he earned enough to feed a family of three for a month. How could others not be envious!

Chen Yuancheng was quite satisfied to see the envy in the hearts of the Daoist people; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

As for a mere low-grade spirit stone, he didn't even consider it a threat!

"Ninth Brother, you are new to the path. Do you know how to draw the spiritual energy from spirit stones into your body?"

Looking at Zhao Xian again, Chen Yuancheng's eyes showed more appreciation, and he immediately asked with a smile.

"Lord Ting, Zhao Xian is unaware!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately replied respectfully.

"Has he attended the county school and can read Taoist texts?"

"Zhao Xianling is a student at a lower-level school, not meeting the county's admission requirements, and his family is too poor to support him!"

Zhao Xian replied respectfully once again.

"Would you like to learn the Daoist scriptures?"

Chen Yuancheng's expression suddenly turned serious, and he asked in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the pavilion were taken aback, and then they all looked at Zhao Xian with envy in their eyes.

This is simply a stroke of good luck!

Zhao Xian was momentarily stunned, his face filled with astonishment.

"In that case, I will not give you this spirit stone."

"Consider this as payment for your studies. After your training is complete, you may come to the pavilion, where I will impart the Daoist scriptures to you!"

"He's still just a country boy, and he'll need to be tempered in the future," Chen Yuancheng thought to himself, and then took it upon himself to speak.

"Lord Ting is kind! He doesn't consider us commoners to be unworthy. We will repay Lord Ting with all our might!"

Zhao Yi, his uncle Zhao Ren, Zhao Zhong, and other members of the Zhao clan immediately bowed to Chen Yuancheng and shouted loudly.

"Lord Ting is kind!"

The officials and other Daoist priests from various clans also praised it in unison.

"Not only Jiulang, but all the Daoists of Shanghuting who are interested in learning Daoist texts are welcome to come to the pavilion to study. The tuition fee will be considered as a low-grade spirit stone."

Looking around at everyone, Chen Yuancheng smiled faintly.

"Lord Ting is kind; we will repay him with all our might!"

Upon hearing this, all the Daoists present, including Zhao Xian, showed respect and bowed to Chen Yuancheng.

The spectacle was quite impressive, attracting passersby on the official road to stop and watch.

With the people's support in hand, Chen Yuancheng was quite encouraged and immediately returned the greeting.

In this world of cultivation, most high-level cultivation techniques are written in Daoist script.

Dynasties rose and fell frequently in the mortal realm, and the written language changed accordingly.

Even though immortals and mortals live together in the world, cultivators will never use the same script as ordinary people.

As a result, Daoist script became a script passed down only among sects, aristocratic families, and powerful local figures in this world.

For commoners to learn Taoist texts, they need to have excellent spiritual roots and a wealthy family background before they can enter the county school to study Taoist texts.

Of course, as time went by, countless powerful families and influential clans in counties and prefectures were destroyed and fell into ruin.

Countless prominent families have wandered into the countryside, making a living by teaching the Dao, rendering this law meaningless.

Even so, Daoist texts cannot be learned with just a low-grade spirit stone.

This is why the Daoist people of Tingbu were so excited when they heard Chen Yuancheng's words—the transmission of Daoist texts gave these ordinary people and clans a chance to defy fate and improve themselves!

The shooting practice continued, and more and more people from the village came forward to try shooting.

After returning the ox-horn bow, Zhao Xian returned to his unit and watched quietly.

"From this day forward, Ting-kun has complete control of the Ting Department!"

Outside the pavilion, several figures stood still, one of whom, a scholar in a green robe, remarked with considerable emotion.

"Teacher Liu, Tingjun is such a good person!"

Upon hearing this, a woman standing nearby said with gratitude.

Upon hearing this, the scholar in the green robe simply smiled faintly and turned to walk down the official road.

"Father, you also know Taoist texts, why don't you teach them in the private school?"

A handsome young man behind him asked in a low voice.

"Do you know that privately imparting Daoist texts is a capital offense?"

The scholar in the green robe walked forward on his own, talking as he went.

"Isn't that mean Lord Ting is knowingly breaking the law?"

The young man pressed for an answer, puzzled.

"Lord Ting comes from a prominent family in the county. Although he is from a collateral branch, he is still far beyond the reach of us commoners!"

"To privately impart Daoist texts is a capital offense for us commoners, but for Lord Ting, it's merely a matter of being reprimanded."

"Moreover, it's not just Tingjun; there are many experienced scholars in this county and township who have been teaching for years. Who in the county would dare to investigate?"

The scholar in the green robe sighed as he finished speaking.

"Can't people in the county school learn from the township school? Can't they learn from the common folk in the countryside?"

The young man asked again.

"Stop talking nonsense! You're just a commoner too, can't you learn that?"

"Don't cause trouble!"

......

After lunch, they practiced boxing and spear techniques for a while in the afternoon before Chen Yuancheng ordered the Taoist priests to disperse.

Mixed in with the crowd, Zhao Xian, carrying a bow made of mulberry wood and a quiver of arrows at his waist, returned to Yangpingli with his father, uncle, and other clansmen.

"Kuro!"

A gentle voice reached his ears, and Zhao Xian turned around abruptly, only to see Chen Yuancheng gesturing to him from a distance, beckoning him over.

Zhao Xian whispered a few words to his father, then handed him the mulberry bow and quiver, before turning and walking quickly toward Chen Yuancheng.

"Zhao Xian pays his respects to Lord Ting!"

Upon reaching Chen Yuancheng, Zhao Xian immediately bowed respectfully.

"Are you in such a hurry to go back? Have you forgotten what I just said?"

Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian and made a joke first.

"It seems you think you'll begin learning Taoist texts tomorrow."

Zhao Xian touched his head and smiled sheepishly.

"Haha, the Daoist scriptures are profound and complex; they cannot be mastered in a day. They require persistent and meticulous effort!"

"Come with me back to the pavilion first!"

After saying that, Chen Yuancheng walked towards the pavilion.

Zhao Xian, however, was quite perceptive. Upon seeing this, he immediately went to the side and helped the pavilion officials move the archery targets and other training equipment.

"Uncle Twelfth, let me help you!"

I saw a thin man, about thirty years old, carrying a bundle of spears on his shoulder and a dozen ring-pommel swords in his hand.

Zhao Xian quickly stepped forward and took the dozen or so ring-pommel swords.

"Lord Ting has summoned you! Why aren't you hurrying back to your quarters with him? What are you doing doing these chores!"

The thin man smiled with satisfaction when Zhao Xian offered his assistance, but then whispered something.

"It's alright. Tingjun has had a long day, he should go back and freshen up first. Jiulang is quite strong, so naturally he should help the elders first!"

Zhao Xian explained with a smile.

"Haha, last year Jiulang's archery skills were already top-notch in Tingbu, and this year he is already number one in Tingbu."

"When we practice archery in the village next year, Jiulang will surely win first place for Shanghu Pavilion!"

Someone nearby immediately smiled and praised him, noting that he was also a soldier.

Each pavilion has a pavilion chief, under whom are pavilion fathers and thieves; below these three are pavilion soldiers.

According to the rules, the head of the pavilion must be someone from outside the pavilion, while the pavilion master, the thief hunter, and the pavilion soldier must all be people from the pavilion itself.

Shang Hutingting's father was named Liu Quan, who was fifty years old. He sought to steal from Wang Jia, who was about forty years old.

In addition, there were four guards, each from a prominent family in the area.

There are five major surnames in Shanghuting: Wang, Zhang, Li, Zhao, and Liu. These five surnames have many members, and the officials and clerks of the pavilion all come from these five surnames.

The thin man whom Zhao Xian called "Uncle Twelfth" was from Yangping Village. His name was Zhao Ze, and he was the twelfth in his clan.

Zhao Xian's father, Zhao Yi, was the sixth son in the clan, so Zhao Xian called Zhao Ze his twelfth uncle.

Before long, the group had cleaned up the area and then returned to their pavilion.