Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

The banquet was over, and everyone sat around the brazier on the ground.

Taking a sip of warm soup, Grandfather Zhao Mu looked at Zhao Xian and smiled, "You've been in the village for ten days now. How are you getting along with the village officials?"

"The gentlemen in the village were very humble and courteous, and treated Bozhang with great care!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian respectfully responded.

"Ha, the officials are cunning. Although you are highly regarded by Lord Chen, you must be extremely careful in your actions and avoid causing trouble!"

Grandfather chuckled softly, but then gave detailed instructions.

"Bozhang understands!"

Zhao Xian responded respectfully once again.

Grandfather nodded slightly and then fell silent.

Uncle Zhao Li, standing to the side, smiled and said, "This morning, I went down the well and took out the jade bowl. The spiritual dew has been accumulating for ten days, and there is already a shallow layer at the bottom of the bowl."

"I drank it all in one gulp; the spiritual dew entering my body is truly extraordinary!"

At this point, Zhao Li could not hide his excitement. He looked around at everyone and solemnly said, "With the help of spiritual energy, I have reached the pinnacle of skin refining in the well!"

Congratulations, Uncle!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian, Zhao Zheng, Zhao Ji, and the others immediately offered their congratulations.

"Uncle, what is the state of perfection?"

Zhao Xian, who was unfamiliar with martial arts and qi cultivation, asked out of curiosity, as did the others.

"The so-called perfect skin training is called the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, meaning that a martial artist's skin is like an immortal's robe, protecting them without any flaws!"

Zhao Li immediately explained in a low voice.

"It's that amazing!"

Zhao Xian was startled and immediately asked, "Can the Water and Fire Immortal Robe withstand a barrage of immortal artifacts and arrows?"

"The power of magical artifacts and arrows is so great that even Foundation Establishment cultivators must be careful!"

"Not to mention a third-rate martial artist at the skin-refining level!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Li immediately smiled helplessly.

"It's really just like wearing a layer of iron-plated leather armor, and it can only last for a moment at most. I've seen this a lot in the army," Grandfather Zhao Mu explained, then looked at Zhao Li, a cold glint in his eyes, and continued, "The secret technique for perfecting skin refining is mostly hidden in aristocratic families. I've been in the army for many years, but I haven't been able to accumulate enough merit to exchange for such a secret technique. Where did you obtain it?"

"I had my suspicions when you asked Ah Xian for the elixir last time!"

"Do you know that if such secret techniques were leaked, the destruction of your family and clan would not be an exaggeration!"

"Father~"

Zhao Li mumbled something but did not answer.

"Of the four great martial arts techniques at their peak, how many levels have you mastered?"

Grandfather Zhao Mu asked again in a stern voice.

"Only two types of training are needed: skin training and tendon training!"

Seeing that Zhao Mu no longer pressed for details about where he got it, Zhao Li quickly replied with a fawning smile.

"Of my seven grandsons, Ah Xian and Ah Sheng cultivate the path of Qi cultivation, while the other five grandsons have no spiritual root aptitude and cultivate the path of Qi and Blood martial arts."

"This secret technique~"

At this point, the grandfather paused slightly, looked at Zhao Li, and said nothing more.

"Once A-Zheng and A-Ji have recovered from their injuries, I will help them both reach the realm of perfection!"

"As for A-Duan and A-Hong, they still need to lay a solid foundation. It's not too late for them to cultivate after they've entered the Dao!"

Zhao Li quickly spoke up, then looked at the three people seated above him, rose, bowed deeply, pointed his halberd to the sky, and solemnly said, "Father and elder brothers above, and my three nephews below, I, Zhao Li, have absolutely no intention of holding back!"

"This secret technique was not even told to my wife and children."

"My family is merely a small, unremarkable clan in the countryside. Even the three most prominent families in the village—Yan, Xu, and Cao—may not possess such secret techniques. If they were to be revealed, it would surely bring disaster upon my family!"

"Now, in our family, A-Zheng and A-Xian are both officials, especially A-Xian, who is highly regarded by the sons of prominent families in the county, and his future is bright!"

"Another sacred well has been unearthed; this is an omen of our family's prosperity!"

"If that weren't the case, I wouldn't dare ask Ah Xian for the elixir to cultivate this secret technique!"

After saying this, Uncle Zhao Li knelt down and touched the ground with his forehead!

Zhao Zheng and Zhao Ji quickly got up and helped Zhao Li up.

"Uncle, you risked your life to save your nephew at the pavilion, how could we dare to doubt you!"

Along with Zhao Xian, the three brothers also knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and said.

"Squeak!"

The door opened, and Auntie walked into the room carrying a pot of hot soup. She saw the three people kneeling on the ground and Zhao Mu and the others with solemn expressions.

The aunt immediately stepped forward, put down the earthenware pot, poked the uncle with her finger, and laughed, "Although I am a woman and not very knowledgeable, I know that when nephews and nieces make mistakes, it must be due to the fault of their elders in teaching them!"

"What are you doing sitting here like a wooden puppet, acting like an elder?"

After saying that, he went out again and closed the door.

Upon hearing this, his uncle sighed and said solemnly, "The three of you, rise."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian and the other two slowly rose and stood there respectfully.

"Ali, just as you said, this matter is the seed of disaster. Apart from my family, is there anyone else who knows this secret technique?"

Uncle Zhao Ren looked at Zhao Li with a solemn expression.

"When I was traveling in Xiao County, I accidentally obtained this secret technique from a refugee. As for that refugee, he has long since passed away."

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

"Father, Ali has never made a mistake in his work!"

Uncle Zhao Ren turned to look at Zhao Mu and said in a deep voice.

"Sanlang, now that you have mastered this secret technique, pass it on to Azheng and the others." Grandfather nodded slightly, looked at his uncle, and then looked at Zhao Zheng and Zhao Ji again, instructing them, "Do not divulge it!"

"We will obey our grandfather's orders!"

The two of them responded in unison.

Zhao Xian did not hesitate and handed over the secret sword technique manual given to him by Chen Yuancheng to his uncle.

Compared to Zhao Xian, this sword technique was most effective in the hands of martial artists like his father, uncle, and elder brother.

After everyone took their seats, they chatted for a while before heading home.

......

The next morning, as dawn broke, Zhao Xian got up to practice his boxing techniques and, incidentally, taught his father the "Chasing Wind and Slaying Spirit Blade".

Zhao Hong waved the wooden stick in his hand and imitated it in a very serious manner.

After breakfast, Zhao Xian, along with Zhao Hong, took the farming tools and distributed them to each household of the clan.

Of the thirty farming tools, Zhao Xian gave two to his uncles and two to his own family, kept two for his own household, and gave the rest to his clansmen.

A piece of ironware costs anywhere from thirty to fifteen coins, which is quite a good price for ordinary people in the countryside.

Moreover, Zhao Xianchu was just a minor official and didn't have much money. His meager token of appreciation was appreciated by his clansmen, who were understanding and gratified.

After a flurry of activity, it was nearly noon. Zhao Xian visited several clan elders one by one, and after receiving their encouragement, he prepared to leave.

As he led his horse toward the inner gate, he happened to run into several of his elder brothers from the clan.

Seeing Zhao Xian leading his horse over, the others also gathered around.

"Fourth brother!"

Zhao Xian bowed to the young man Zhao Cheng, who was at the head of the group, and said with a smile.

"When will Jiulang return? Is he going back to the village again?"

Zhao Cheng immediately smiled and asked in response.

"I returned yesterday and have already visited my great-uncle and several other elders today. I am now preparing to return to my hometown."

Zhao Xian immediately replied with a smile.

"This horse looks familiar."

Another person looked at the old horse in front of him and said with great doubt.

"This was a gift from Mr. Chen."

After saying this, Zhao Xian told the people in front of him about what happened at the Yan family that night.

"Jiulang is indeed a master archer! In this year's village archery competition, Jiulang will surely bring glory to our clan!"

Several people immediately praised him, and after a brief chat, Zhao Xian led his horse away.

Watching Zhao Xian disappear outside the inner gate, several clansmen sighed with emotion, "Jiulang has made something of himself; he will surely bring glory to our clan in the future!"

"Hey, why is Ah Cheng home already?"

While the group was discussing, Zhao Cheng had already returned home.

Grandfather Zhao De sat upright in the courtyard, his eyes slightly closed, as if he were falling asleep.

Seeing this, Zhao Cheng also carefully went over and covered him with a thin blanket.

"You're back?"

Suddenly, Zhao De opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Cheng.

"I just bumped into Ah Xian at the inner gate and chatted with him for a while."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng immediately smiled and said...

"Ah Xian is honest and kind. He returned home yesterday and today delivered ironware to the poor clansmen. He just came to visit me." Zhao De nodded slightly, then looked at Zhao Cheng, sighed, and said, "Now that you have come of age, you must work diligently in the fields and refrain from making a fuss in the future."

"Your son will remember your words, Grandfather!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng also knelt down and kowtowed, saying...