After a minor interlude, Zhao Xing continued planting rice seedlings, finishing the last acre of public land he was responsible for before sunset.
Basic and low-tier Spells leveled up very quickly in the early stages; the proficiency of the low-tier Spell 'Vigorous Growth' had already accumulated 200 points.
Looking at the neatly arranged, lush green fields, Zhao Xing straightened up and clapped his hands in satisfaction.
When he finished work, he habitually glanced at his panel.
【Name: Zhao Xing】
【Realm: Unranked】
【Luck: Derived One】
【Spells: Basic Cultivation (Max Rank)】
【Vigorous Growth: Low-Tier (201 / 9999)】
【Flowing Cloud: Low-Tier (352 / 9999)】
【Gathering Origin: First-Tier (58 / 100)】
Since he hadn't changed professions, his panel data was quite rudimentary.
These would change with the acquisition of a profession and version updates, but even from this limited data, Zhao Xing recalled a lot of additional information.
“After the Great Zhou Grand Ancestor unified the nineteen states, he made a grand vow: 'All heroes under heaven shall enter my grasp; my Dao shall be the Dao for all ages.'”
“He unified the Cultivation Realms, establishing 'Nine Ranks, Thirty Tiers.'”
“Below Fourth Rank, they are divided into Primary, Secondary, Upper, and Lower. Above Fourth Rank, there are only Primary and Secondary.”
“Then, with immense Divine Ability, he bound the Dynasty's Luck, setting a rule: 'Only citizens of my Zhou Dynasty may Cultivate.'”
“And in the nineteen states, he built temples and spread all Daos.”
“This system was used until the Revival version, or until players broke through the Rank limit, allowing for updates.”
In the early days, this system was often mocked by players on forums: “This is even worse than 'Half-Step Peak Great Perfection'!”
Since he hadn't changed professions yet, his Realm was 'Unranked'.
The Luck system was divided into forty-nine Ranks.
It took its meaning from 'Great Derivation Fifty, Heavenly Derivation Forty-Nine'.
Derived One Luck was basically the standard for billions of commoners.
It also affected the efficacy and success rate of certain Spells, such as the 'Flowing Cloud' he just cast, which had a 'Great Success' possibility, purely dependent on Luck.
The three Spells were 'Techniques', and Gathering Origin was 'Cultivation Technique'.
Billions of commoners could 'Gather Origin' to strengthen their bodies, increase longevity, and enhance good fortune. This was another achievement of the Great Zhou Grand Ancestor.
Before the large-scale revival of Spiritual Qi, civil and military officials could even use the slightly weaker Origin Qi to cast powerful Spells.
“Cultivation is like building a towering skyscraper; the Great Zhou Dynasty's Luck can help people build the foundation and add bricks and tiles. A single imperial decree can make them rise swiftly, extend their lifespan, change their fate, and go straight to the First-Rank Realm.”
“If they don't become officials, they are limited by Aptitude, stuck at a Bottleneck until they die of old age, while others soar. The unified Luck Dynasty, with this official-centric Cultivation system, truly achieved 'all heroes under heaven shall enter my grasp.'”
“However, the drawbacks are also very obvious. The same imperial decree can also cast them into the abyss, stripping away their Cultivation along with it, and returning the Luck to the court.”
“I remember there was a way to eat the sugar coating and throw back the cannonball… but it's too early to think about these things now.”
“In this current era, the Great Zhou is in invincible mode. It's currently the Jing Emperor's period; after the Martial God, the invincible Great Zhou will begin its decline. At that time, this Luck Dynasty model will show more and more flaws…”
Thinking of this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but shake his head and smile, not out of pity for the Great Zhou, but a self-deprecating smile.
He didn't even know if he could survive past the Martial God's period; right now, he hadn't even received a profession change quest.
The Zhao Family of Gucheng was a prominent Family in Nanyang Commandery, known for its virtuous reputation.
Every few years, they would fund the imperial institution 'Ciyangyuan' (Benevolent Nurturing Institute), and even send Family members to personally adopt orphans displaced by natural disasters. Zhao Xing was one such example.
The Zhao Family's industries encompassed clothing, food, housing, and transportation, as well as highly profitable sectors like machinery and forging.
As a large Family, donating money to other government agencies carried the suspicion of collusion between officials and merchants, easily drawing criticism.
But when doing charity, the voices of doubt were much fewer.
Zhao Xing's adoptive father was Zhao Ruide, from the Donghu branch. In his early years, he worked as an escort and guard for merchant caravans, living a comfortable life.
Unexpectedly, at the age of forty-five, he lost his Family; his wife and only son drowned while on a boat trip.
The old injuries accumulated from traveling north and south were diagnosed by a doctor as making it very difficult for him to have more children. Thus, under the Family's arrangement and persuasion, Zhao Ruide adopted 6-year-old Zhao Xing from the Ciyangyuan, taking him as his adopted son.
Initially, he was quite fond of Zhao Xing, but things changed in recent years.
Because six years after adopting his foster son, Zhao Ruide's concubine actually gave birth to a boy!
Zhao Ruide, like an old tree blooming, was overjoyed. He immediately elevated his concubine to the status of his wife, and at the same time, gave all his affection to his biological son. In recent years, he had gradually grown distant from Zhao Xing.
Looking at the Zhao Family courtyard before him and recalling the original body's various experiences, Zhao Xing sighed slightly in his heart, then pushed the door open and entered.
Zhao Ruide was cooling off under a willow tree, fanning a child who was dozing on a mat. Seeing Zhao Xing walk in, he quickly made a shushing gesture, only pointing towards the kitchen, indicating for him to go eat by himself.
Zhao Xing didn't mind that the Family hadn't waited for him to eat. He cupped his hands and walked towards the kitchen.
Logically, an adoptive father and son shouldn't be so distant, but Zhao Xing joined halfway. He hadn't experienced the years when Zhao Ruide doted on the original owner the most, so maintaining a superficial respect was the comfortable way for him to interact.
As for Zhao Ruide, his thoughts weren't on Zhao Xing. Previously, there had been disagreements over Zhao Xing's employment—he wanted Zhao Xing to practice martial arts or engage in business, but Zhao Xing insisted on joining the Ministry of Agriculture.
How much money could a Ministry of Agriculture official make? How much future could he have?
In the end, he couldn't win and tacitly agreed, but the relationship between them grew even more distant.
If his relationship with his adoptive father was distant, then his relationship with his second wife, Lady Cai, was cold.
Just as he entered the kitchen, Zhao Xing heard a sharp voice from outside the door.
“Is his nose like a dog's? It's really sharp! The Family stews meat and he comes back. Did the smell of stewed meat float all the way to the Ministry of Agriculture?”
“Hush, say less. Zheng'er just fell asleep after playing… A few pieces of meat won't make much difference; our Family isn't so poor we can't afford it.”
“I'm not bothered about the meat, but he's eighteen or nineteen, and doesn't give any allowance to the Family. Which other Family's child doesn't know to show filial piety to the Family?”
“Master, you raised him, but he doesn't even listen to you about what he does, insisting on joining that Ministry of Agriculture. That's fine, but it's been almost a year, and he still hasn't entered a Rank. I'm afraid he'll come back to contend for the Family's… with Zheng'er…”
“Are you done or not? Why are you saying this? I'm not dead yet!”
“Wuwu…”
“Sigh, crying again, so annoying. Look, you woke Zheng'er…”
Then came the sound of a child crying and a woman wailing.
“Lady Cai, Lady Cai, I've already made it clear that I won't divide Zheng'er's Family property in the future. Why don't you believe me? This crying makes me feel ashamed.”
Zhao Xing thought to himself, but his body was honest. He quickly uncovered the pot lid and ate rapidly and heartily.
Zhao Ruide had a small fortune and was a martial artist. There were four large pots on the kitchen stove, three of which contained meat dishes.
The Ministry of Agriculture didn't provide breakfast or dinner. Minor officials had no salary, only some allowances.
To improve the proficiency of the 'Gathering Origin' Cultivation Technique, simply put, it meant finding every way to absorb Origin Qi from heaven and earth, strengthen one's vitality and blood. Eating well was the first priority.
A son eating from his father is only natural! Even an adopted son!
Ministry of Agriculture players were all pragmatists, thick-skinned and freeloading, so Zhao Xing had to freeload first!
The louder the crying outside, the faster Zhao Xing ate.
By the time the sounds gradually subsided, he was full.
Seeing that the progress in the Gathering Origin section had increased by 3 points, Zhao Xing wiped his mouth and walked out of the kitchen, feeling satisfied.
With the person in question coming out, Lady Cai also stopped making a fuss; after all, she still had to give her husband some Face.
Zhao Xing was used to it. He cupped his hands towards the two: “Greetings, Adoptive Father, Lady. I'll return to my room to rest first.”
Zhao Ruide nodded lightly, signaling Zhao Xing to leave quickly, wanting some peace.
Lady Cai, however, started muttering again: “Every time he comes home, he eats and then sleeps. He doesn't even play with Zheng'er for a while. Are all the people the Ministry of Agriculture takes in good-for-nothings…”
“…”
This was truly unfair to Zhao Xing.
He went back to his room, but he wasn't really planning to sleep.
Closing the door, he lit three incense sticks, then ground special Materials into ink.
Next to the desk was a wastebasket, filled with many crumpled yellow papers.
What Zhao Xing needed to do now was to obtain a sub-profession—Talisman Maker.
“Fortunately, in this era, Cultivation Techniques are complete, Materials are cheap, and there are many ways to acquire them, so it doesn't take much effort.”
Zhao Xing dipped his brush in ink and began to draw Talismans on the yellow paper.
Perhaps he had tried too many times, or perhaps his Origin Qi was growing daily, but this time it was unusually smooth.
Just as the brushstroke was about to finish, Gathering Origin activated, and a brilliant light passed from his fingertip to the brush handle, extending onto the yellow paper. The entire yellow paper emitted a faint glow, which then completely converged within it.
【You have successfully comprehended the Dao of Talisman Making, and have created a Guiding Talisman】
【You have gained the sub-profession 'Talisman Maker'】
【Basic Guiding Talisman (1 / 1000): When worn, it can accelerate the absorption of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi】
“There are over five hundred people in the Ministry of Agriculture, but less than five regular positions each year. For scions of prominent families like Li Chengfeng, with ample wealth, to compete with them, I need to overtake them on a curve.”
Could becoming a Talisman Maker make him a fortune and help him get ahead?
Clearly not. Zhao Xing believed that if he went out to sell at this level, customers would overturn his stall, and he simply couldn't compete with other Talisman Makers.
So his goal was not the sub-profession at all.
Seizing the good feeling, Zhao Xing began to try drawing a second Talisman.
Soon, he obtained a second basic Talisman.
【You have successfully comprehended the Dao of Talisman Making, and have created a Soul-Soothing Talisman】
【Soul-Soothing Talisman: Possesses the effect of soothing the soul and calming the mind】
“It's done!”
Zhao Xing placed the Guiding Talisman on his abdomen and the Soul-Soothing Talisman on his forehead, then lay on the bed in a strange, bent posture, muttering:
“Student Zhao Xing, I humbly request the Great Dream Academy to open its doors for study.”