Cultivation: From Poor Peasant to Celestial Lord

With the Merit evaluation complete, the solemn atmosphere that had built up over many days finally dissipated.

As winter twilight fell, a thin layer of snow coated the streets of Anping County.

Chu Bai found a restaurant in the city and booked a private, window-side table, inviting Lü Qing for a private reunion.

A stove burned brightly. Warmed Spirit Wine in a copper pot released its mellow fragrance, and a few exquisite side dishes steamed gently.

Lü Qing raised his cup, studying the man across from him. After a long moment, he shook his head with a sigh, his eyes filled with unconcealable shock. "Junior Brother Chu, when we graduated from the Daoist School, we were both at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. In terms of family resources, I even figured I had a slight edge over you.

But it’s been just over half a year, and you’ve already entered the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. Progress like that is truly going to leave the rest of us classmates in the dust."

Lü Qing himself was only at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, and still in its initial stage. By his own estimates, it would take him at least another six months of arduous cultivation just to touch the threshold of the fifth layer.

Chu Bai smiled humbly and refilled Lü Qing’s cup. "The local posts may be tough and dangerous, but slaying demons and devils forges your will. It’s true that you gain insights easily when you’re on the line between life and death. I suppose you could call it a kind of opportunity."

"An opportunity you have to be alive to seize."

Lü Qing drank his cup with a bitter smile, his words tinged with envy. "My current position, though it bears the name of the Merit Department and seems glamorous, actually requires me to run my legs off visiting the various counties. If I just stick to the routine, I estimate it’ll take another two or three years to gain enough seniority for a promotion to Regular Ninth Grade.

It’s nothing like your situation. You’re already a Demon Slaying Officer with real power. When you speak in Anping County, your words carry more weight than those of the Noble Races."

After a few more rounds of drinks, the conversation naturally shifted to the topic at the heart of every Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty Cultivator’s concerns: Receiving Talismans and the future.

Lü Qing set down his cup, his expression growing serious. "Junior Brother Chu, we both know that while being an Immortal Official is good, the ceiling for a White Talisman is pretty much locked at the Junior Eighth Grade.

For example, if you receive an ’Outstanding’ rating this year, and you stay in Anping County for another two years to gain enough seniority, the higher-ups might grant you the title of Seal Master of the Evil Suppression Department. That’s a cushy Junior Eighth Grade position, and you’d have no problem living a stable and comfortable life."

The Great Zhou Laws were strict. One’s Talisman Position determined the upper limits of their power and resources.

If a White Talisman Cultivator didn’t advance further, the highest rank they could ever achieve was Junior Eighth Grade.

After all, the authority wielded and responsibilities shouldered at any higher rank were on a completely different level.

"But judging by your ambition, Junior Brother, I’m sure you aren’t content with that."

Lü Qing looked at Chu Bai. "The Cyan Talisman Celestial Examination is held every five years. It’s our only chance to leap the Dragon Gate. The next one is only three years away, and all the prodigies in Qingzhou will gather in the State City for it."

At the mention of this, Lü Qing sighed, a bit dejected. "Three years... I know I won’t be ready in time. The opponents in the Qingzhou examination will all be experts in Late-stage Qi Cultivation, not to mention the old monsters who have been polishing their skills in the Ninth-Layer Perfection of Qi Cultivation for more than a decade.

I plan to play it safe, wait another five years for the next cycle, and then go to the State City to attempt to climb the Celestial Ladder and fight for a chance at Foundation Establishment."

With that, he looked at Chu Bai and asked tentatively, "Junior Brother, you aren’t... planning to participate in the one three years from now, are you?"

Chu Bai set down his cup, his gaze fixed on the snowflakes drifting outside the window. His eyes were calm but resolute. "Reaching Qi Cultivation Perfection is difficult, but if I don’t try now while my ambition is at its peak, then when I’m older and my spirit has faded, I fear the Cyan Talisman will become nothing more than an unattainable dream.

In three years, I want to give it a shot."

"Such spirit!"

Lü Qing exclaimed in admiration, though he also felt a thrill of awe at Chu Bai’s ambition.

’If he really managed to win a Cyan Talisman in three years, it would mean that Chu Bai would cross the threshold to becoming a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator in his early twenties.

At that point, not only would his Cultivation soar, but his official rank would also jump past the Eighth Grade, placing him directly among the middle echelons of the Immortal Dynasty.’

Over their drinks, the two reminisced about their days at the Daoist School and discussed the current situation in the Great Zhou.

When they were finished drinking, Lü Qing had to leave for his evaluation duties in other counties, and Chu Bai needed to return to the department to report.

"Junior Brother Chu, I’ll be waiting for news of your success in three years!"

At the restaurant entrance, Lü Qing clasped his fist in farewell, then donned his cloak and vanished into the swirling snowstorm.

...

「Half a month after parting with Lü Qing.」

The snow in Anping County had lessened, but the chill had grown deeper.

On this day, the evaluation documents from the Prefecture City’s Merit Department, delivered by a swift courier, finally arrived at the Government Office of the Evil Suppression Department.

The atmosphere inside the Government Office instantly grew restless as everyone began to take stock of their merits and failures from the past year.

When Pang Song learned he had received a "Good" rating, he collapsed into his chair, a great weight lifted from his shoulders, and let out a long sigh of relief.

He had been on pins and needles for days, worried that his rejected gift to Lü Qing had left a bad impression on the impartial, iron-faced Merit Envoy and would jeopardize his evaluation.

Now that his "Good" rating was confirmed, not only was his position secure, but his stipend for the coming year was also set to increase.

As for Chu Bai’s rating, no one in the entire department was surprised: Outstanding.

Inside the County Captain’s Office, Zhang Cheng’s eyes were full of approval as he looked at Chu Bai and personally handed over the rewards.

"Chu Bai, you’ve earned this."

Zhang Cheng said in a deep voice, "The Evil Suppression Department awards you three hundred taels of silver. Furthermore, you may select one Secret Technique from the Prefecture’s repository. This is the department’s reward for how you turned the tide and restored order over the past year."

The silver reward was common enough, but it was an ironclad rule that Secret Techniques were only bestowed for exceptional merit.

However, the main event was yet to come. Zhang Cheng then produced a stone box affixed with the crimson seal of the Merit Department. With a solemn expression, he said, "And this is an Earth Treasure, specially bestowed by the Merit Department upon those who receive an ’Outstanding’ rating."