Chapter 56: Immortal Official Xiao Changyuan

The counties of Yuehu Commandery were the areas most severely affected by this drought disaster.

Therefore, three immortal officials were dispatched to each county. After resolving this matter, one would remain in each county, while the others would proceed to county towns in other commanderies.

Xiao Changyuan was one of these three immortal officials, coming from the Xiao family in Longjiang Commandery City.

At this moment, he stood beside the small lake the Xu family was excavating, staring blankly with both eyes.

"Don't tell me this also needs to be filled?"

The main task for the immortal officials coming to Yuehu Commandery's county towns this time was to use techniques to bring down water and replenish water sources.

As for crops and fruit trees that had already withered and died, they were equally powerless.

After all, although immortal cultivators could be called supernaturally powerful, they weren't omnipotent either.

Sun Fugui was the steward overseeing this lake excavation. Suddenly seeing a strange young master standing on the embankment, he observed that the man wore brocade robes with a jade belt, had a face like jade, and naturally carried three parts nobility between his brows.

Xiao Changyuan's face showed a puzzled expression. "Now in this great drought when water sources are already insufficient, why are you still undertaking lake excavation? Could you be hoping to dig down to underground water sources?"

Sun Fugui's lips held a smile. "If we truly could dig down to them, that would be heaven's blessing. If not, that's also fine. As for the purpose of this undertaking, that's not something I can know. This was ordered by my master household."

"Who is your master household? To actually have such appeal, recruiting so many people?"

"If they can eat their fill, who wouldn't want to come?" Sun Fugui squinted his eyes and laughed.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Changyuan's heart stirred slightly. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the jade pendant at his waist.

Now in this year of great drought, a dou of rice was as precious as pearls and jade. Ordinary households couldn't even sustain themselves on chaff and bran, yet before his eyes, over a thousand laborers could actually receive three meals daily.

This was an astronomical expense.

There was actually such a household in Qingjiang County's countryside?

"The master household is surnamed Xu. Young master, you're clearly from outside. In Qingjiang County, there's almost no one who doesn't know the Xu family name. Take our First Young Master, celestial demeanor, grandmaster seed. Before even twenty, he's already innate stage."

This matter was already known to everyone in Qingjiang, which is why Sun Fugui dared speak of it to others.

If it were something the Xu family had specifically instructed about, anyone who talked too much would face death as their fate, and those related would also be expelled from the Xu family.

Grandmaster seed?

In such a remote frontier area, to produce such a martial arts genius, it probably took seizing this region's martial fortune for several hundred years to create one.

"Could you take me to pay a visit?"

Xiao Changyuan looked at him, seeing his bearing and manner were both extraordinary, yet he lacked the stinking temper of Qingjiang aristocratic family young masters. This made Sun Fugui scrutinize him a bit more.

Hearing this, he nodded slightly and led him toward the Xu family.

When Xu Chuan heard a servant's report, he guessed it might be that the immortal official had arrived.

He immediately went out to greet him. After seeing the visitor, he invited him into the great hall and chatted warmly with him.

"I am Xu Chuan, serving as the Xu family head. May I ask how to address you, young master?"

"My surname is Xiao, Xiao Changyuan."

"Young Master Xiao has extraordinary bearing. At a glance, one can tell you're no ordinary person. I imagine you come from the commandery city?"

"Family Head Xu has keen eyes. This Xiao comes from Longjiang Commandery City." Xiao Changyuan spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, his manner calm.

"I've heard a bit about it. Longjiang Commandery is even wealthier and more prosperous than our Yuehu Commandery. The Black Dragon River winds and flows for over a thousand li, its currents sometimes rapid, sometimes slow, with many strange peaks on both shores, renowned far and wide."

"Oh, I didn't expect Family Head Xu's knowledge to be so broad. My Longjiang Commandery is separated from Yuehu Commandery by several commanderies."

"Just heard a bit about it." Xu Chuan smiled slightly, staring into Xiao Changyuan's eyes. After a moment, he said, "Over half a month ago, our Qingjiang County office had a public announcement that Great Wei would dispatch immortal masters to be stationed in county towns to prevent natural disaster calamities."

The corners of Xiao Changyuan's mouth rose slightly, as if this question had long been within his expectations.

"It seems Family Head Xu has already guessed this Xiao's identity. This Xiao is indeed one of the immortal officials who came to Qingjiang this time. There are two others, but they're only temporarily staying here. After the drought ends, they'll leave and proceed to take up other posts."

"Then wouldn't Immortal Official Xiao be Qingjiang County's only immortal official?" Xu Chuan immediately cupped his fists respectfully. "I've been quite remiss. Please don't blame me, Immortal Official Xiao."

Xiao Changyuan waved his hand with a light smile.

"Family Head Xu, although this Xiao is an immortal official, I'm not fond of the ways of officialdom. We immortal cultivators should single-mindedly pursue the great Dao. However, this place is ultimately Great Wei territory, and we cannot but comply with its commands."

"Then why not leave Great Wei?"

Xiao Changyuan shook his head with a smile. "How could it be so easy!"

"We immortal cultivators, being in Great Wei territory, are also protected by Great Wei. Leaving Great Wei, setting aside various difficulties, resource scarcity alone is enough to make people shrink back. Fighting with others daily, struggling with demon beasts, it's better to live peacefully in one corner and plan slowly."

"Of course, the price is having to obey Great Wei's commands. As long as they're not suicidal orders, we aristocratic families basically all comply."

"Independent cultivators are exceptions. They come and go freely. Wherever they go, they're independent cultivators, not bound by constraints."

"The only thing that can command them is benefits."

"This Xiao heard that when Great Wei expanded recruitment of immortal officials this time, many independent cultivators joined precisely because of the monthly spirit stone salary."

Xu Chuan cupped his fists again, speaking solemnly. "Immortal Official Xiao has resolved a great puzzle for me."

Xiao Changyuan nodded slightly. Remembering the lake from before, he said, "By the way, Family Head Xu, although we immortal officials came to bring down water and replenish water sources in response to Great Wei's summons, as for the lake your Xu family is excavating, I'm truly powerless to help."

"Haha, that's natural." Xu Chuan said with a smile. "I ordered the lake excavation only because, having experienced this drought disaster, I have lingering fears, to guard against another drought disaster descending in the future."

"Family Head Xu thinks far ahead. Although this lake hasn't been completely excavated yet, this Xiao has seen its scale. If filled completely in the future, even if another such drought comes, there won't be any worry of water source shortage."

"Just as Immortal Official Xiao says." Xu Chuan said, "As for filling it, the heavenly way has its own patterns. Heaven can't possibly never rain. This lake will have a day when it's filled."

"Heavenly way patterns?" Xiao Changyuan raised an eyebrow, his face showing surprise, then spoke with approval. "Family Head Xu's insight is truly extraordinary."

After a moment, "Thanks very much for Family Head Xu's hospitality this time. This Xiao should also go execute this trip's duties. Today, after resolving your Dongxi Village's water source, I still need to go to other villages."

Seeing Xiao Changyuan rise, Xu Chuan also immediately stood up and cupped his fists. "Immortal Official Xiao, I've always been curious about immortal cultivation matters. May I be permitted to observe your technique casting?"

"You may."

Xiao Changyuan was slightly stunned, but then inwardly felt amused.

That's right, how many among the mundane weren't curious about immortal cultivation technique casting?

They just happened to meet someone as easy to talk to and cultured as me.

If it were other independent cultivators, they probably wouldn't agree.

Xiao Changyuan had quite a good impression of Xu Chuan. He would be stationed in Qingjiang County for quite a long time in the future. The Xu family had substantial wealth, so he'd probably have plenty of dealings with them.

After all, leaving the Xiao family to take up the post of immortal official externally, the Xiao family basically wouldn't provide much more assistance.

Moreover, separated by thousands of li, they couldn't reach even if they wanted to.

Xiao Changyuan came to a square pond dried and cracked like a turtle's back. His right hand formed hand seals as magical power within his body flowed through.

A beam of blue light shot skyward.

In a moment, dark clouds gathered densely above the square pond. After a brief time, bean-sized raindrops fell from the dark clouds.

The area covered by these dark clouds was very small, only extending to the pond's boundaries.

Rushing sounds~

In an instant, the ground of the square pond became moist, then gradually accumulated water. The water level began to slowly rise.