Celestial Official!

The candlelight in my humble abode was dim, and there was only a stove with firewood burning brightly.

Inside the bedroom, a small table was placed on the couch, and it was filled with various kinds of food and drinks.

Xu Hui sat on the couch, wolfing down the fragrant spirit grains in his bowl. Every now and then, he would grab a crispy chicken leg, tear it into it, and his mouth would be dripping with oil. He looked quite content.

"Look at you, you're like a starving ghost reincarnated. Don't you eat at the Forging Academy every day?"

Sitting on one side of the bed was a plump woman, who looked to be in her thirties. She was wearing a plain cotton robe and had a pretty face with curved eyebrows and charming eyes.

She was Xu Hui's older sister, named "Xu Shuying".

"Sister, you have no idea how tough life is at the Forging Academy! That guy Lü Mao doesn't even look after me. Sister, you're so carefree and comfortable!"

"Didn't you always want to become the manager of Cui Shu Lou? Didn't that idiot Lü Mao help you?"

"He contacted the supervisor of the Hundred Herbs Academy for me, but we need to pay some money for the road. Now we're just short 10,000 coins. I thought it wouldn't be a problem, but who would have thought..."

When talking about what angered him, Xu Hui, holding his rice bowl, couldn't help but pour out his grievances.

He recounted all the conflicts he had with Qu and Yan.

"Did Qu Ying and Yan Mo really refer to our 'Azure Saint Sect' as 'Tribulation Cultivators' to your very face?"

Beside the plump woman, a tall and imposing middle-aged man slowly stood up.

This man had fierce eyebrows and piercing eyes, dark and shiny skin, and a thick beard that reached his temples. He was around forty years old, wearing a fur coat and a long, wide-backed sword at his waist. He exuded a desolate and murderous aura, and was not someone to be trifled with.

"Absolutely, brother-in-law! Not only are these two unwilling to support me, but they've also falsely accused our 'Green Saint Sect' of stealing their Dharma funds. It's utterly despicable!"

Upon hearing this, the dignified middle-aged man's eyes darted around, a smile spreading across his face, and he said:

"No need to rush, our ship is on a roll. If they try to jump ship now, they'll be smashed to pieces!"

"As for the ten thousand coins you need, that's not difficult to obtain!"

"Brother-in-law, do you have a solution!?"

Xu Hui's eyes lit up.

The middle-aged man nodded slightly and asked:

"Didn't you say you were going to cultivate land for resources in a few days? Do you know exactly which area?"

Xu Hui frowned and pondered for a moment before replying:

"Lu Mao mentioned it to me, I think it's... Mount Gumang!"

"Mount Gumang? That makes things much easier!"

The imposing middle-aged man named Zeng Deyan's eyes lit up, and he laughed loudly:

About half a month ago, one of my disciples robbed a caravan of mortals. If all the loot were sold, it should be enough for ten thousand magic coins.

"Coincidentally, he is currently near Mount Gumang. I will write him a letter now, asking him to prepare the money for the ceremony and give it to you there."

"While we're at it, let's gather the 'Holy Cult Disciples' to cooperate from within and without, steal resources from the Jade Sleeve Sect, and strengthen our 'Azure Holy Cult'!"

"My brother-in-law is so cunning!"

Xu Hui clapped his hands repeatedly and exclaimed in admiration:

"According to Lü Mao, those who went to the resource area this time were all newly recruited mortals who had not yet entered the first level of cultivation. How could they possibly be a match for the disciples of our 'Azure Saint Sect'?"

"Alright, alright, stop flattering your brother-in-law!"

Xu Shuying covered her mouth and laughed.

Xu Hui said solemnly:

"What I said is all true and sincere. My brother-in-law is already at the second level of Qi Refining in his forties, and he is also a leader of one of the altars of the 'Qing Sheng Sect'!"

"Compared to Lü Mao, who hangs out in the Ninth Academy, he is far superior!"

"It's just that my sister suffers. She has to spend a few days each month pretending to be friendly with that guy. It breaks my heart to see her like this. If I could become the manager of Cui Shu Lou, I would definitely..."

Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the humble abode, while outside, the ground was frozen and the weather was bitterly cold.

A fierce wind howled, and a curtain of snow fell like silk. In the black and white world, a figure seemed to linger before the wooden gate for a long time.

After an unknown period of time, the person turned around, swaying and stumbling, disappearing alone into the vast night, leaving no trace.

Things are people and nothing is done, and tears shed first.

……

The next day, at dawn.

Last night, a heavy snow fell, turning the world into a pristine white. Rows of ordinary courtyards were all covered in silver, with snowflakes hanging like waterfalls from the eaves, dazzlingly bright in the sunlight.

Yan Chen gently pushed open the door.

In an instant, a gust of wind, frost, snow, and dust swept in fiercely, slapping against my face.

Yan Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, neither dodging nor avoiding, letting the biting cold wind blow against him and seep into his collar and cuffs.

Compared to usual, I don't feel cold at all; instead, I feel a sense of lightness and tranquility!

"Is it really that different now?"

Yan Chen strode forward, his cotton robe billowing in the wind.

As the sleeves rolled up, it seemed as if wisps of fiery energy surged forth, melting ice and snow and dispelling the chill.

Before long, they arrived at the Forging Institute.

As usual, Li Xuanyi arrived at the Forging Institute early.

Upon discovering that Yan Chen had been admitted to the hospital, they were about to greet him.

But then his expression faltered slightly, as if he found it hard to believe, and he asked in surprise:

"Junior Brother Yan has reached the first level of Qi Refining!?"

Perhaps because he was too surprised, Li Xuanyi did not deliberately suppress his voice.

Several ordinary servants immediately looked over upon hearing the sound, and seeing Yan Chen, who seemed even more spirited than before, they felt a strange mix of emotions.

Having joined the Jade Sleeve Daoist lineage for only half a month, he has already completed twelve cycles of Qi cultivation and reached the first level of Qi Refining!

Therefore, it seems that Junior Brother Yan's ability to figure out a method of forging materials and to be valued by Senior Brother Wang Fu of Melting Gold Valley was not due to luck, but because he truly had the skills to rely on!

Thinking of this, some people looked at Li Xuanyi with a hint of envy.

Everyone in the Forging Academy knows that Junior Brother Yan and Li Xuanyi are the closest of friends.

If it had been one of them who had guided Yan Chen back then, they would have been able to share in the glory and good fortune when their junior brother Yan rose to prominence.

"It was just luck; we have to thank Senior Brother Li for that pot of 'Jade Nectar'."

Yan Chen had no intention of showing off, but the pure appearance that appeared after his body was completely tempered after reaching the first level of Qi Refining was impossible to conceal.

Li Xuanyi, being at the first level of Qi Refining, was naturally able to see through the clues at a glance.

"Junior brother is too modest. Although 'Jade Nectar' is good, it is not some kind of celestial elixir."

"Your success in breaking through is simply due to a combination of talent and hard work!"

"What Senior Brother Li said resonates deeply with me!"

Yan Chen sighed deeply and nodded in deep agreement.

As the two were talking, many ordinary servants in the Forging Academy arrived one after another.

Strangely, Supervisor Qu was not present to oversee the work today, and the person relaying the message was still that middle-aged man.

Unlike in the past, in addition to the forging matters, the other party also formally announced the reclamation of resource land, and announced names in turn to select and dispatch ordinary servants.

As Yan Chen had predicted, most of the mortal servants selected by the Melting Gold Valley this time were new recruits from the previous round, totaling five people including him.

The resource-producing area we are heading to is a place called "Gumang Mountain", which mainly produces minerals and timber, both of which are in high demand by the three hospitals.

"Even including the other two departments, there are only fifteen people. How much resources can they cultivate?"

Yan Chen muttered to himself.

"Junior brother, you are unaware of this. The so-called reclamation of resource-rich land does not actually depend on us ordinary laborers. You will know the specifics when you arrive."

Li Xuanyi was clearly quite experienced in this matter. He tried to speak several times, but seemed to have some reservations and ultimately failed to explain in detail.

Seeing this, Yan Chen didn't ask any more questions, suppressed his doubts, and continued working.

……

As the golden bells flew and the jade pendant flew away, it was already dusk.

The cold wind howled, causing the cotton robe to flutter low.

Yan Chen walked slowly, his eyelids slightly drooping, as if he were deep in thought.

But then, lines of tiny, tadpole-like characters appeared in his eyes, like a flowing golden ocean current.

Ten hours have passed, and the karmic information belonging to Qu Ying has arrived!