I am dying of old age, and I have awakened to the character of longevity.

Hu!

Xie An exhaled a breath, which turned into a vast white mist, shooting out more than a foot away.

Xie An revealed an extremely comfortable smile and brought up his stats panel.

[Current Longevity Attribute: Level 1!]

[Five Animal Frolics: Strengthens Internal Organs (1/100)]

[Fetal Breathing Technique: Three Forms (90/100)]

[Remaining Lifespan: 26 years]

"The Five Animal Frolics and Fetal Breathing Technique have improved greatly, but the lifespan increase effect has obviously slowed down a lot..."

However, holding twenty-six years of remaining lifespan, Xie An was no longer so panicked.

As long as he worked hard, he could slowly increase his lifespan.

"Level 1 Longevity Attribute... Does that mean there's a Level 2 Attribute?"

"I wonder what miraculous effects a Level 2 Longevity Attribute would have."

After more than half a year of hard training, Xie An's mind became more and more calm and confident, and he was full of expectations for the future.

"I'll try the stone lock..."

Xie An walked to the five-hundred-pound stone lock, gripped the handle with his right hand, and squatted into a horse stance. With a sudden exertion of force, he easily lifted the five-hundred-pound stone lock over his head.

It wasn't very strenuous, and he could even rotate and wave it around.

"The family's conditions are limited, and there aren't that many professional stone locks and other training equipment. I estimate that I can lift close to six hundred pounds with one hand. Breaking a thousand pounds with both arms shouldn't be a problem."

Six hundred pounds with one hand, not to mention comparing it to ordinary people, even for a martial artist in the Copper Skin Realm, it was already quite perverted!

Moreover, what Xie An increased was not only strength, but also speed and endurance. He had very precise control over his limbs. With this foundation, even if he hadn't practiced martial arts, he possessed considerable combat power.

Xie An felt that with his current self, even if he encountered a martial artist who had just entered the Copper Skin Realm, he could easily defeat them with his strength.

Xie An, an old man who didn't practice martial arts, had reached this level through health cultivation techniques. It was extremely outrageous.

The only regret was that Xie An hadn't started practicing martial arts yet.

It wasn't that Xie An didn't want to practice, but mainly that he didn't have enough money. All his money was barely enough to buy the unique medicinal formula. Not to mention practicing martial arts.

Buying a secret manual costs a dozen taels of silver, and that's just the starting point. Next, he would need to buy various medicinal supplements. A single dose of medicine would cost more than a dozen taels of silver, and he would have to take it regularly. He would also have to spend money to find a teacher to learn from...

It was simply not something Xie An could afford at this stage.

"What I lack... is still money!"

Xie An sighed.

Knock knock knock.

There was a burst of rapid knocking on the door.

Xie An put down the stone lock, put on his clothes, and went to open the door. He saw He Chunli standing outside the door, opening his mouth with an excited expression, "Master, tonight's New Year's Eve dinner is hosted by Master Li. He wants us all to go."

Xie An couldn't help but be curious, "In the past, during the New Year, Master only rewarded us with some broken copper coins and asked the kitchen to add a few bowls of meat. What's wrong this year?"

He Chunli said, "I heard that the Young Master has successively passed the county exam, the prefectural exam, and the academy exam. He has obtained the title of Martial Scholar in one fell swoop. Master Li is happy this year. He said he wants to give us servants a raise in New Year's money."

Xie An secretly clicked his tongue.

This Young Master Li of the Li family really had some skills.

The imperial examination system of the Great Qian Dynasty was similar to the ancient times of Xie An's previous life, except that the Great Qian Dynasty valued martial arts, and the imperial examination was both civil and military. It even placed more emphasis on the military examination.

Taking the civil examination as an example, ordinary people who passed the county examination could obtain the qualification of a student, and society would recognize you as a scholar.

Students who passed the county examination obtained the qualification to participate in the prefectural examination. Those who passed the prefectural examination and then passed the academy examination obtained the qualification of a scholar and also obtained the opportunity to study at the Imperial Academy.

A scholar was considered the most basic title. They could be exempted from paying taxes and were not required to bow to officials.

Becoming a scholar gave one the qualification to participate in the provincial examination. Those who passed were called Recommended Men. This was very impressive and was definitely a matter of bringing glory to their ancestors. Generally, they could become an eighth-rank official. If they managed their relationships well, they could even become a seventh-rank official. They could also continue to participate in the metropolitan examination and strive to become a Jinshi...

The path of the military examination was also the same.

A small place like Wuzhen Town produced a Martial Scholar. It was truly a matter of bringing glory to their ancestors. If the Young Master passed the examination again and managed things well, he could become a magistrate at a young age.

No wonder Master Li was so excited.

Thinking of this, Xie An couldn't help but sigh.

Society values young people. If he were thirty years younger, he could also participate in the military examination. Getting a Martial Scholar wouldn't be easy? Give himself a few more years, and getting a Recommended Man wouldn't be a problem either. How good would it be to be a magistrate then?

The civil examination has no age requirements, but the military examination does. An eighteen-year-old Martial Scholar has a bright future. But a fifty-year-old Martial Scholar... is meaningless in the eyes of the Great Qian Imperial Family. It's not worth cultivating at all.

They don't have many years to live, so how can they charge into battle? How can they contribute to the country?

The world looks down on old people, and Xie An can only choose to join a Jianghu sect and muddle along...

Damn world, it's too unfriendly to old people.

Xie An didn't let He Chunli see his thoughts and showed a smile, "The Young Master passing the examination is a great thing. I'll go change my clothes and go. By the way, where's Han Li?"

Three months ago, Xie An's other disciple, Han Li, returned to work at the pawnshop.

Han Li was not born well, but he was efficient, handled things properly, and was also smart. With him and He Chunli in the pawnshop, Xie An saved a lot of time.

"Master, did you call me?"

A sturdy young man with a height of 1.7 meters poked his head out from the back door of the pawnshop, and then ran over with a smile, "Yo, Master, your spirits are getting better and better. It feels like you're rejuvenating."

Compared to He Chunli's dull honesty, Han Li's mind was much more active. He was actually more suitable to take over the shop. But Xie An was more fond of He Chunli, perhaps because he took care of him wholeheartedly during his illness.

Xie An said with a smile, "It's getting dark soon. You guys go and check the pawn tickets and items. Close the shop early and go to Master Li's house for New Year's Eve dinner."

"Okay. Xiao He, let's go, let's work."

Han Li pulled He Chunli to work.

...

At dusk.

Xie An closed the pawnshop and took his two disciples out the door, heading towards the Li residence.

The shops on both sides of the street in Wuzhen Town were hung with big red lanterns, and many shopkeepers and clerks had put up couplets and set off firecrackers in advance, hoping for a good harvest and good luck in the coming year.

There were also some naughty children throwing firecrackers at each other on the street, chasing each other, making it very lively.

Although it was a small town, it was full of New Year's flavor.

Han Li held He Chunli's shoulders, pointed to the two children throwing firecrackers at each other in front, and laughed loudly, "Xiao He, do you remember? When we first became apprentices, we also played with firecrackers like this. You were beaten by me to the point of crawling on the ground, begging for mercy."

He Chunli snorted, "Wasn't it because you stuffed a fake firecracker into my crotch to scare me on purpose? Otherwise, how could I have admitted defeat?"

"Hahaha... Why don't we go buy some firecrackers and have another go?"

Cough cough.

Xie An opened his mouth appropriately: "Eat first. We'll talk about playing with firecrackers later."

Han Li stuck out his tongue, "Since Master spoke today, I'll let you go for now. Consider yourself lucky."

He Chunli said, "As long as you don't play tricks, who's afraid of who?"

"Okay, that's what I wanted to hear."

Arriving at the Li residence, there were red lanterns and colorful cloths, and a full red carpet in the hall. Four large tables of banquets were set up in the living room. Xie An and the three were servants, so they naturally sat at the end of the table. The food on the table was not as good as the master's, and even the tables and stools were shorter than the master's tables and chairs, showing the difference between master and servant.

Even so, for Xie An and the three, this was already a rare and sumptuous feast.

Chen Yuan was not a slave, so he naturally sat at the same table as the master. And Miss Chunlan, although she was a big maid, could only sit at the same table as Xie An.

In this world, the hierarchy is strict, and it is reflected everywhere.

Han Li and He Chunli naturally didn't think much, only caring about eating their fill.

Xie An was thinking: I have to take advantage of this big festival during the New Year to mention the matter of redeeming myself to Master Li.

Although Xie An mentioned redeeming himself when he was seriously ill before, Li Ru would definitely agree. But Xie An didn't mention it at that time because he thought that he might not live better if he left the Li family, so it was better to develop steadily.

Now that his body is healthy, Li Ru may not be willing to let him go if he mentions redemption again. But Xie An's strength has also improved, so he can't help but let Li Ru let him go.

After all, strength is the greatest reliance for gaining a foothold in troubled times.