The crowd testing for spirit roots has dispersed, and there aren't many matters in the Ascension Pavilion, especially now during the summer harvest and farming season.

Shen Wenxing stayed at home for a few more days.

On one hand, to accompany his wife, and on the other, to help his parents with more work.

As the summer harvest was drawing to a close, a group of officials appeared outside Jinliu Village with gongs and drums.

The head official approached Village Chief Yang Changlin of Jinliu Village and asked: "Is there a family with the surname Shen in this area?"

Yang Changlin was slightly taken aback, knowing these upper officials were likely looking for Shen Yuan.

"Yes, there is!"

"Does this Shen Family have a child who has been admitted into the Immortal Sect?"

"Yes!"

Leading the way respectfully, Yang Changlin replied, "The eldest of the Shen Family works in the Ascension Pavilion in Anyang County, and the fourth one was admitted into the Immortal Sect a few days ago."

The official nodded slightly and smiled, saying: "We have come by imperial order, take us to the Shen Family."

Yang Changlin repeatedly bowed, saying, "The eldest of the Shen Family earned a title in the army years ago, and now the whole family has moved to the Black Water Pool outside the village."

"Please, follow this old man."

Under the guidance of Yang Changlin, the group of officials headed noisily towards the Black Water Pool with gongs and drums.

In Jinliu Village, many villagers came out after hearing the commotion, following along to see the excitement.

"With gongs and drums, the old Shen Family is about to prosper!"

"Indeed, Brother Yuan's boy joined the Immortal Sect, surely the rewards won't be small!"

"Call him this boy, that boy, Xiao Wen'an joined the Immortal Sect, you must call him an immortal later!"

"Yes, indeed, an immortal!"

The villagers followed, and the grand procession soon reached the Black Water Pool.

At the gates of the courtyard, Shen Wenping was reciting chapters from "The Book of Rites·Feng Ya" with Shen Wenyan, both looking towards the distance upon hearing the noise.

"Second Brother, there are so many people."

Shen Wenyan, holding a book with hands behind his back, glanced at the officials and said, "Little Sister, go call our eldest brother and father."

After a moment, several family members gathered at the courtyard gate.

The officials had also arrived at the front.

"Ah Yuan, these are upper officials from the Royal City."

Yang Changlin hastily ran over to explain.

Shen Yuan nodded slightly and, together with Shen Wenxing, stepped forward to bow and salute.

"Shen Yuan greets all the upper officials."

The official smiled broadly and, reaching out, supported his arm, saying: "No need for this, Patriarch Shen."

"Your son joining the Immortal Sect pleases His Majesty greatly, so we were dispatched with an imperial decree and rewards."

As he spoke, he signaled his subordinates to unload the rewards from the carriage one by one.

"This is a plaque personally inscribed by Meng Xueya from the Confucius Temple."

The official pulled down the red cloth from the plaque, revealing two vigorous characters — Shen Mansion!

Seeing this plaque, joy appeared on Shen Yuan's face.

The imperial plaque signified that henceforth, the Shen Family was officially recognized as a Noble Family by the Imperial Family.

"Here are some porcelain, cloth, tea, and other tributes rewarded by His Majesty."

The official introduced the various sized boxes one by one.

The escorts opened the boxes in order, revealing the exquisite items inside.

"The last box contains one hundred taels of gold rewarded by His Majesty."

The escort opened the last wooden box, revealing rows of shining gold ingots.

The surrounding villagers who saw the gold were all astonished.

The common currencies in Great Yu are usually copper coins and silver; although gold is also currency, it's rarely seen by ordinary commoners.

Now with a hundred taels of gold right before them, the shimmering golden light was truly a sight to behold.

Looking at the items before them, everyone in the Shen Family wore expressions of delight.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the rewards!"

Shen Yuan and Shen Wenxing exchanged a glance, and the father and son immediately cupped their hands in a respectful salute.

"Patriarch Shen, don't rush to thank us, there's more."

The official took out a silk scroll and handed it over, saying: "This is an imperial decree from His Majesty; I will not read it aloud now. You, Patriarch Shen, can review it later on your own."

Another imperial decree?

Shen Yuan respectfully took the scroll, then handed it to Shen Wenxing, bowing to the official: "Upper Official, you've had a long journey. How about resting in the mansion for a while?"

The official waved his hand: "By the emperor's orders, I do not dare to delay. There are two other Immortal Sect disciples in Anyang County whose rewards must be delivered promptly."

"Patriarch Shen, farewell."

Watching that group of officials depart, Shen Yuan glanced at the array of rewards before sighing softly.

"Ah Yuan, congratulations."

"With the imperial plaque, from now on, the Shen Family is also considered a Noble Family."

Yang Changlin, with a friendly smile, cupped his hands in greeting.

He well understood that from now on, the Shen Family would no longer be under his village chief jurisdiction.

Shen Yuan returned the courtesy, then looked towards the fellow villagers of Jinliu Village not far away and laughed loudly, saying: "It's coincidentally everyone is here today, I plan to host a banquet in three days, and I invite all of you elders and villagers to come and celebrate."

"Just come to eat, no need to bring cash gifts!"

Hearing this, the villagers happily agreed one after another.

Some young commoners helped move the rewarded items into the courtyard.

After everyone dispersed, the Shen Family members gathered around the rewards for a closer look.

"Ah Mother, this cloth is so beautiful, so smooth!"

Shen Wenping exclaimed, feeling the exquisite fabric.

"Do you like it?"

"If you like it, your mother will make you a dress later."

Shen Yuan patted her head and said to Hu Yufen: "Let's put these things away."

Hu Yufen nodded, and with the help of Shen Wenping and Huang Lingxiu, they moved the items into the house one by one.

"Ah Die, this imperial decree..."

Shen Wenxing handed over the silk scroll.

Shen Yuan took it, slowly unrolling it.

A moment later—

"What does His Majesty say in the imperial decree?"

Shen Yuan, smiling faintly, rolled up the decree and said: "Two things."

"First, now that we have become a noble family, the taxes on our farmland are exempted."

"The second matter, His Majesty wants Ah Nu to serve as a mathematics teacher at the official school in Yunshui Town, but he still must be confined, only allowed to travel between the school and home."

Shen Wenxing listened and looked puzzled, unable to understand the intentions of the current Emperor Yu.

He vaguely understood why the official didn't declare the decree publicly; presumably, it's "a ruler's word must be kept," just after confining his brother, now doing this might harm his own reputation if it spread.

But does this count as Emperor Yu showing favor to their family?

"Ah Die, there's nothing much at home now, tomorrow I'll return to the Ascension Pavilion."

Shen Yuan nodded: "Go back, your father is here at home, no need to worry."

After dinner, as everyone went to bed, Shen Yuan alone came to the courtyard, holding a porcelain bottle containing the Qi Nourishing Pill.

He already had insights from the eldest's breakthrough to the Innate Realm, and now he was just short of the Power of Heaven and Earth.

As long as he could absorb enough of the Power of Heaven and Earth, reaching the Innate Realm would be a natural outcome for him.

Pouring a Qi Nourishing Pill from the porcelain bottle, Shen Yuan hesitated a moment before putting it directly into his mouth.

The potent medicinal power surprised him.

Feeling the energy from the Qi Nourishing Pill surging in his body, Shen Yuan hurriedly controlled it according to the Breathing Technique's incantation.

Time passed little by little, and soon the same phenomenon appeared around him that occurred when Shen Wenxing made his breakthrough!

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered and slowly seeped into his flesh through his acupoints.

Shen Yuan sat cross-legged, fully immersed in absorbing the Power of Heaven and Earth.

However, after a while, he opened his eyes with furrowed brows.

"Failed?"

"Is the Power of Heaven and Earth here still insufficient?"

During the breakthrough just now, he clearly felt that the speed of gathering the Power of Heaven and Earth around him could not keep up with his absorption.

As a result, the Power of Heaven and Earth couldn't complete a full circulation within him before slowly dissipating.

Should he take two Qi Nourishing Pills?

Looking at the porcelain bottle in his hand, Shen Yuan hesitated a bit.

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