Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Upper Tiger Pavilion, a refined residence in the backyard.

"Zhao Xian pays his respects to Lord Ting!"

Standing at the bottom of the steps, Zhao Xiangong spoke in a loud voice.

"Jiulang's here! Please come in!"

A gentle voice came from inside the room.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhao Xian immediately stepped forward respectfully and entered the elegant residence.

Chen Yuancheng sat upright behind the desk, holding a scroll of green bamboo slips in his hands, examining it carefully.

Upon seeing Zhao Xian enter, Chen Yuancheng put down the bamboo slips in his hand and invited Zhao Xian to sit down.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xian immediately sat down at the lower left, his expression quite respectful.

"Kuro has come here today~"

Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian, smiled, and spoke, then paused abruptly, looking Zhao Xian up and down before exclaiming with delight, "Congratulations, Ninth Brother, on reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining!"

"If it weren't for Lord Ting bestowing upon him the Essence Pill, how could Jiulang have advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refining so quickly!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately rose from his seat, knelt on the ground, and respectfully replied.

"Jiulang, please rise quickly!"

Chen Yuancheng quickly got up, stepped over the table, went to Zhao Xian, and helped him up.

"The Essence Pill was obtained by Jiulang after he killed the traitors; what does it have to do with me!"

Chen Yuancheng feigned displeasure.

"Today is the first day of the second month. If nothing unexpected happens, the decree appointing me as the head of Wohu Township has been signed and issued, and it will reach Wohu Township within a day or two."

"At that time, I will personally report to the county government and recommend Jiulang for the position of official!"

Chen Yuancheng patted Zhao Xian's shoulder lightly and said with a smile.

"Jiulang thanks Tingjun deeply, and vows to follow him to the death!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately bowed again.

The two then returned to their seats and continued their conversation.

"Ting-kun, Jiu-lang has a favor to ask!"

After a moment, Zhao Xian's face turned serious. He glanced at the door for a few breaths, then looked at Chen Yuancheng and spoke in a deep voice.

"What is it?"

Seeing his appearance, Chen Yuancheng's expression also became more solemn.

"Please, Mr. Ting, save my family's lives!"

Zhao Xian immediately got up and knelt on the ground, calling out in a low voice.

"Ninth Brother, tell me quickly!"

Immediately, Zhao Xian recounted in detail how his family had dug a well.

Upon hearing that the well Zhao Xian's family had spent months digging contained a faint spiritual energy, Chen Yuancheng was also quite surprised.

If word were to spread that a well imbued with spiritual energy were to spread in this rural area, the people of Shanghuting Six Miles would surely be constantly at odds over it!

Zhao Xian's family, who legally own the well, will likely become the target of public criticism!

"No wonder Jiulang is so serious!"

"This is a really big deal!"

As Chen Yuancheng pondered this in his heart, he looked at Zhao Xian, who was kneeling on the ground, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He had already made up his mind.

"Jiulang, this is a trivial matter, why panic! Fill in this well and find another place to dig one!"

"If you don't take what Heaven offers, you'll suffer the consequences!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately replied in a solemn voice.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuancheng's expression turned serious, and he looked at Zhao Xian solemnly, saying, "How dare a humble countryman speak presumptuously of divine favor!"

Zhao Xian lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold dirt, but his voice showed no hesitation: "Reporting to Lord Ting, although I am a humble and uncultured person, I still know the principle that fortune and misfortune are interdependent."

"Since this well originated from our family's land, it is an opportunity for our family, and also an opportunity for the Zhao clan of Yangping Village!"

Zhao Xian slowly raised his head, a solemn expression on his face.

"Our clan is but a small, rural clan, barely surviving in this barren land. Although the spiritual energy of this well is thin, if we use its water to irrigate the spiritual fields, each acre of spiritual land can yield an extra two or three bushels of spiritual rice per year."

"Over time, this will be enough to make the Zhao clan of Yangping Village live comfortably."

"We beg Lord Ting to have mercy on us common people!"

After speaking, Zhao Xian kowtowed again.

"If Heaven bestows something and you do not take it, you will suffer the consequences. But do you know that if you take it improperly, disaster will follow in an instant?"

Chen Yuancheng sighed softly and earnestly advised him once again.

"Wohu Township is located in the far west of the county and has always been a barren place. This small spiritual water well is not enough to attract the powerful clans in the county to seize it."

"Just be wary of the powerful clans in the village and the local gentry coming to rob us!"

"Our clan is not afraid of the disputes among the people of Tingbu, but we are wary of the powerful clans in the village who covet our territory. We beg Lord Ting for your assistance! Our clan is willing to serve as Lord Ting's henchmen and follow in your footsteps!"

Zhao Xian kowtowed deeply to the ground.

"I have not yet taken office as the head of the Wohu Township government. Even if I do take office, what can I do? My foundation is shallow, far inferior to the deep-rooted and complex families in the township."

"If Jiulang hopes that I can withstand the pressure from the powerful clans in the village, Yuancheng truly has the will but not the power!"

"The ground is icy cold; Jiulang, please get up first!"

Chen Yuancheng pondered for a moment, then said with a wry smile.

"Tingjun, how could Jiulang dare to have such a wish!"

Zhao Xian rose, but did not return to his seat. Instead, he stood below the hall and said in a low voice, "Lord Ting, I have heard of magical artifacts that are specially designed to gather spiritual energy. If such an artifact were placed in the well, it would gather the spiritual energy and prevent the well water from overflowing!"

"A spirit-gathering artifact!"

Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian with considerable surprise, not expecting that this country boy would know such things.

"Gathering Spirits~"

Chen Yuancheng murmured to himself, lost in thought.

Zhao Xian stood below the hall, holding his breath and concentrating, not daring to disturb, and waited respectfully.

"A low-grade spirit-gathering artifact can gather spiritual energy within a radius of ten feet, and is worth about a hundred spirit stones. The bottom of the well is only a few feet in diameter, so there is no need to use an artifact."

"A single talisman inscribed with spirit-gathering runes will suffice!"

After a moment's thought, Chen Yuancheng suddenly smiled and looked at Zhao Xian.

"Kuroro, do you believe in God's will?"

Chen Yuancheng looked Zhao Xian up and down with a meaningful expression, then smiled and spoke.

"Um?"

Zhao Xian was slightly taken aback. He first shook his head, then nodded.

"Jiulang, belief is belief, and disbelief is disbelief. What is the meaning of this?"

Chen Yuancheng looked surprised and smiled helplessly.

"I believe it's fate, but I'm even more willing to fight for human will to overcome destiny!"

Zhao Xian said solemnly.

"Man can conquer nature; Jiulang is quite similar to an old friend of mine."

Chen Yuancheng shook his head and sighed softly.

"This is a piece I made when I first learned how to forge weapons. The bottom of the bowl is engraved with spirit-gathering runes, which can gather spiritual energy within several feet and condense spiritual dew."

"It can't be considered a magic weapon; it can only be considered a talisman."

Chen Yuancheng took out a small jade bowl, about the size of a palm, from his sleeve, tossed it to Zhao Xian, and said with a smile.

Zhao Xian caught the jade bowl steadily with both hands, a look of surprise on his face.

"If you wish to conceal the fact that the well contains spiritual energy, you can place this small bowl in the well to gather the spiritual energy."

"As for the condensed spiritual dew, it can be consumed and refined directly."

"Depending on the amount of spiritual energy in the well, it may take several days to condense a single drop, or as long as a single drop can be condensed in a day."

"Fifteen drops of spiritual dew are comparable to a low-grade spirit stone."

After saying that, Chen Yuancheng picked up the green bamboo slips on the table and began to read them carefully by himself.

Zhao Xian placed the jade bowl aside, then knelt down again, saying in a deep voice, "Lord Ting, I cannot express my gratitude in words, so I will not refuse. In the future, if you have any requests, my family and clan will repay you with all our might!"

After speaking, Zhao Xian kowtowed again, and before Chen Yuancheng could speak, he got up and quietly left.