Celestial Official!

The cold night was as still as water, a silvery light outlined the sky, and a clear blue glow was cast down.

The snow-covered paths winding along the mountainside, illuminated by the sunlight, all gleamed with a saturated, salty sheen.

Leaving the Forging Institute, walk along the Salt Frost Path for about three or four hundred steps, and you will see a large courtyard surrounded by bluestone walls. In front of the courtyard gate stands a stone tablet with three powerful characters: "Grinding Institute".

The Gold Melting Valley comprises three departments: Quarrying, Forging, and Grinding. Each department has its own specific duties and procedures, with the mission of forging the "Yanli Sword" and the "Kunshan Seal." It is a resource-rich area shared by the cultivators of the Eight Meridians.

The Engraving Hall is the most crucial place for converging all kinds of magical artifacts. All kinds of magical artifacts are stamped and signed here before being sent to the Three Valleys and Eight Veins. This place must first be strictly inspected to ensure that there is no problem. Even the slightest oversight is absolutely not allowed.

As the supervisor of the Engraving Institute, Lü Mao naturally faced immense pressure.

Because of his usual diligence and responsibility, he had already developed gray hair at the young age of thirty, with a deep crease on his brow and a tired appearance.

After finishing work at the carving workshop at 5 PM, he took an oil lamp and carefully inspected the ritual implements that would be delivered the next morning.

After confirming that everything was correct, they returned to the warm house.

I plan to rest for half an hour first, and then recheck the production quota needed for the next construction period, to be discussed with the other two tomorrow.

"The higher-ups just talk, while the lower-ups are working themselves to the bone. The valley's casual remark about 'increasing production capacity' completely ignores the difficulties faced by us at the grassroots level..."

"Production capacity is determined by materials, manpower, and skills. How can it be increased just by saying that it can be improved?"

"I wonder what big plan they're plotting... Sigh, what a mess!"

Wearing a bright yellow cloak, Lü Mao, with a furrowed brow and a heavy heart, pushed open the gate of the warm house.

"Brother-in-law! You're finally back!"

The moment the door was pushed open, a tall figure leaped out from the dark courtyard.

Lu Mao's thoughts were disrupted, and caught off guard, he took several steps back and almost fell. Fortunately, he stopped in time to avoid embarrassment.

By the dim light of the oil lamp, Lü Mao could see who it was, and his expression immediately turned helpless. He sighed:

"Didn't I tell you already? When we're up in the mountains, you should be called 'supervisor.' Besides, you've already joined the Forging Academy, so you shouldn't be coming here so often anymore. If your sister finds out, she'll scold you for not keeping a good eye on you down the mountain!"

"Brother-in-law... no, Supervisor Lü's words are always on my mind, but I do have something to ask Supervisor Lü for advice!"

As they spoke, the two entered the warm house one after the other.

As Lü Mao removed his bright yellow cloak, Xu Hui immediately stepped forward, eagerly trying to take it from him, but Lü Mao slapped his hand away, saying impatiently:

"Speak quickly if you have something to say, don't beat around the bush, I still have things to take care of."

"...Alright, alright."

Xu Hui stared at the bright yellow cloak, then looked away, gave an awkward smile, paused for a moment, and tentatively asked:

"Brother-in-law, my sister wrote to me the other day saying that you are only focused on your work and neglect spending time with her, which makes her feel empty and bored."

"So in the letter she said she wanted me to go to the market to keep her company... But brother-in-law, you know how it is; as a mortal servant, how can I just go down the mountain? So..."

"So you're asking if you have a chance to take over that lucrative position as manager of Cui Shu Lou?"

Lu Mao's sharp eyes glanced at Xu Hui standing to the side.

"My brother-in-law and I are completely in sync!"

Xu Hui nodded repeatedly, and pressed his advantage, saying:

"These past few days I've gone through the entire roster of ordinary servants in the three academies. Those with good backgrounds don't cultivate as fast as I do; those who cultivate fast aren't necessarily capable; and those who are capable aren't necessarily lucky!"

"Therefore, I believe that among the three academies, I am the most suitable person to succeed as the manager of Cui Shu Lou!"

"The Jade Comb Pavilion is not as simple as you think."

Lu Mao glanced at him coldly and said in a calm tone:

"On ordinary days, the defective and waste products that are inspected and screened out by the Gold Melting Valley, or the bad pills and waste pills that are made incorrectly by the Danlan Valley, are all packaged and sent to the Cui Shu Lou for sale."

"In the eyes of those unsophisticated heretical cultivators, it is a top-quality item that they cannot obtain. Even if it is priced at tens of thousands of magic coins, it will not lack admirers!"

"Therefore, Cui Shu Lou is a very lucrative and leisurely job, and now that there is a vacancy, I don't know how many people have already set their sights on it."

What makes you think you can stand out?

Xu Hui chuckled and said:

"Of course, we still need to rely on my brother-in-law. I know that Cui Shu Lou is backed by Rong Jin Valley and Dan Lan Valley, and my brother-in-law has a good relationship with Cui Yuan of Bai Cao Yuan."

"Perhaps my brother-in-law could smooth things over with Cui Yuan and ask him to put in a good word for me with the head of Danlan Valley."

"As for the Gold Melting Valley, I have discussed it with Supervisor Qu and Supervisor Yan."

"They taught me a method to improve the production capacity and quality of sword blanks in the Forging Institute. I'm waiting for the people from the valley to come and inspect soon, so I can casually show it off and amaze everyone!"

"As long as this matter reaches the Gold Melting Valley, it will surely gain the favor of Senior Sister Zhu. With the help of Danlan Valley's arrangements, the mere manager of Cui Shu Lou will be easily within reach."

"I have now completed six cycles of Qi cultivation and will soon enter the first level of Qi Refining. At that time, I will need the 'Qi Guiding Technique' to assist in my cultivation."

"Unless I become the manager of the Emerald Comb Pavilion and escape my mortal life, how can I possibly have the opportunity to cultivate the Dao and reach the third level of mastery?"

"Improve the production capacity and quality of sword blanks?"

Lu Mao paid little attention to his brother-in-law's boastful words, but this one sentence immediately piqued his interest, and he eagerly asked:

"What method is it!?"

With a smile on his lips, Xu Hui quietly repeated what Qu Ying had told him.

Lu Mao's brows furrowed slightly, and he began to speak:

"This method... can be considered barely usable."

……

Two days later, at night, in the courtyard of Fan Yi.

"The original idea was to take advantage of the principle that 'water can extinguish fire' by filling the sword furnace with water-containing ores, thereby reducing the fire and minimizing iron consumption..."

"It's quite a clever idea, it must have been difficult for Supervisor Qu and Supervisor Yan."

"I really don't know what Xu Hui's abilities are that make the three supervisors all fawn over him!"

Yan Chen, dressed in a clean cotton robe, sat cross-legged on the bed. His gaze swept over the lines of golden, flowing cause-and-effect information. His brows were calm as he secretly made plans in his heart.

A moment later, he gently raised his hand and dispersed it.

I will keep firmly in mind only the few pieces of information that are most crucial to me right now.

"Inspecting the Melting Gold Valley, filling vacancies at the Emerald Comb Pavilion, and practicing the Qi Guiding Technique..."

"With three paths before me, how should I plan and act to stir up trouble and pave a path to success?"

Yan pondered for a moment, then suddenly felt a headache coming on. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply.

"The so-called 'Qi Guiding Technique' must be related to the cultivation after the 12th cycle of the Heavenly Cycle. Right now, I am just a mere mortal, so I will not think about it for the time being."

"As for the position of manager of Cui Shu Lou... there is no need to worry too much. According to the information of cause and effect, the competition for such a lucrative position can be described as 'ten thousand people vying to cross a single-plank bridge'."

"It would be a lie to say that I have no interest in it, but we must also consider reality and not indulge in wishful thinking."

"In that case... we'll just have to focus our attention on the upcoming 'Golden Valley Patrol'."

Yan silently recited the Qi-absorbing incantation of the "Crimson Glow Bright Fire Control Technique," causing the Bing Fire Qi within his body to circulate, blazing intensely, reflecting in his eyes as bright as stars, as if dyed with the morning glow.

"Compared to 'water can extinguish fire,' this kind of inferior method is self-destructive."

"I do have another method that can balance the furnace fire and increase the success rate of the rough blanks."

In the blink of an eye, the causal information belonging to Wang Guian once again poured down before his eyes like a golden waterfall.

"We can never repay Steward Wang's kindness!"

……

Silent all night.

The next day, outside the Gold Melting Valley, in the sky.

A fiery cloud shuttle, carrying five-colored clouds and trailing a blazing tail, headed straight for Danlan Valley.