The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

After the brief interlude, Zhao Xing resumed planting rice seedlings, managing to finish planting the last acre of public land before sunset.

Basic and beginner-level spells upgraded quickly in the early stages. The beginner spell, Vigorous Growth, had already accumulated 200 proficiency points.

Looking at the neatly aligned, lush green fields, Zhao Xing straightened up and clapped his hands in satisfaction.

As was his habit at the end of the day, he glanced at his status panel.

[Name: Zhao Xing]

[Cultivation Realm: Not Ranked]

[Luck: Derivation One]

[Spells: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)]

[Vigorous Growth: Beginner (201/9999)]

[Cloud Movement: Beginner (352/9999)]

[Gathering Essence: First Level (58/100)]

Since he hadn't yet changed professions, his status panel was fairly simple.

When he acquired a profession or when the game version updated, these stats would change accordingly. But even with this limited data, it helped Zhao Xing recall a lot of additional information.

"After the Great Zhou's founder united the nineteen provinces, he made a grand vow: 'All the world's talents shall be under my command, and my laws shall last for eternity.'"

"He standardized the cultivation realms, establishing the 'Nine Ranks and Thirty Levels' system."

"Below the fourth rank, there were primary, secondary, upper, and lower levels. Above the fourth rank, only primary and secondary levels existed."

"He then bound the dynasty's luck to this system with an incomparably powerful divine ability, establishing a rule: 'Only citizens of my Zhou dynasty may cultivate.'"

"He also built temples in the nineteen provinces, passing down countless methods of cultivation."

"This system was used all the way through the Revival Version, until players broke through the level cap, prompting an update."

In the early days, this system was often ridiculed on the forums: "This isn't even as good as 'Half-Step Peak Perfection'!"

Since Zhao Xing had not yet changed professions, his cultivation realm remained Not Ranked.

The luck system was divided into forty-nine levels.

It was based on the principle of the Great Derivation of Fifty, with Forty-Nine Manifesting in Heaven.

Derivation One Luck was the standard for the billions of common folk.

It also affected the effectiveness and success rates of certain spells. For example, when he cast Cloud Movement earlier, the spell experienced a "critical success," which was purely a matter of luck.

The three spells Zhao Xing had were categorized as "techniques," while Gathering Essence was a "skill."

Everyone in the Great Zhou could practice Gathering Essence, which strengthened the body, extended lifespan, and brought prosperity. This was another of the Great Zhou's founder's accomplishments.

In the absence of widespread spiritual energy revival, even the civil and military officials could rely on this lower-tier essence to wield powerful spells.

"Cultivating is like building a towering structure. The luck of the Great Zhou Dynasty helps people lay their foundation, adding bricks and tiles. One imperial decree can allow someone to rise swiftly, extend their lifespan, and alter their fate, propelling them straight into the first rank."

"Without an official position, one's talent is limited, and they'll be stuck at bottlenecks until they die of old age, while others soar upward. The unified luck of the dynasty, through its official-centric cultivation system, truly ensures that all the world's talents are gathered under its control."

"But the downside is equally obvious. The same imperial decree can plunge someone into ruin, stripping them of their cultivation along with their fortune, transferring it all to the dynasty."

"I remember there was a way to eat the sweet coating and return the bomb… But it's too early to worry about that now."

"In this era, the Great Zhou is in its 'invincible' phase. Right now, it's the reign of Emperor Jing, but after Emperor Wu, the once-invincible dynasty will begin its decline. At that point, more and more flaws will appear in this luck-based system..."

Thinking of this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, not out of pity for the Great Zhou but as a self-mocking gesture.

"Damn, I don't even know if I'll live to see the era of Emperor Wu, and I haven't even received my profession change quest yet."

The Zhao Family of Gucheng was a wealthy and well-respected household in Nanyang County.

Every few years, they would donate to the Charitable Care Home, a governmental institution, and even send family members to personally adopt orphans displaced by natural disasters. Zhao Xing was one of those cases.

The Zhao family's business spanned various industries, from food, clothing, and housing to the highly profitable sectors of machinery and forging.

As a prominent family, donating to governmental institutions like the Charitable Care Home avoided the suspicion of corruption that might arise from donating directly to other government agencies.

Zhao Xing's adoptive father, Zhao Ruide, was from the East Lake branch of the family. In his early years, he had worked as a guard for a merchant caravan, earning a comfortable living.

However, when he was forty-five, his wife and only son drowned while on a boating trip.

The accumulated injuries from his years of travel made it unlikely for him to have any more children, according to the doctors. Thus, under the persuasion and arrangement of the family, Zhao Ruide adopted the six-year-old Zhao Xing from the Charitable Care Home, accepting him as his son.

At first, Zhao Ruide doted on Zhao Xing quite a bit, but in recent years, things had changed.

Six years after adopting Zhao Xing, Zhao Ruide's concubine gave birth to a son!

Overjoyed at this unexpected blessing, Zhao Ruide immediately promoted the concubine to his official wife and showered all his affection on his biological son. As a result, he became increasingly distant from Zhao Xing.

Looking at the imposing Zhao family mansion ahead and recalling all the experiences of his original self, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental as he pushed open the gate and entered.

Zhao Ruide was sitting under a willow tree, fanning a child who was napping on a cool mat. When he saw Zhao Xing enter, he quickly made a shushing gesture and pointed to the kitchen, indicating for him to go eat on his own.

Zhao Xing didn't mind that the family hadn't waited for him to eat. He bowed respectfully and headed to the kitchen.

One might think that such formality wasn't necessary between an adoptive father and son, but Zhao Xing had boarded this ship mid-journey. He hadn't experienced the years when his adoptive father doted on the original owner, and maintaining a respectful distance seemed to be the most comfortable way for them to coexist.

As for Zhao Ruide, his mind wasn't on Zhao Xing. The two had clashed over Zhao Xing's career choice — his adoptive father wanted him to either practice martial arts or go into business, but Zhao Xing insisted on joining the Shennong Division.

"How much money can a Shennong official make? What kind of future could he possibly have?"

In the end, Zhao Ruide reluctantly accepted his decision, but their relationship became even more distant.

If Zhao Xing's relationship with his adoptive father was distant, then his relationship with his stepmother, Madam Cai, could only be described as cold.

Just as Zhao Xing entered the kitchen, he heard a sharp voice coming from outside.

"Does he have a dog's nose or something? He always comes home right when there's meat cooking. Could it be the smell reached him all the way at the Shennong Division?"

"Shh, keep it down. Zheng'er just fell asleep... It's just a few pieces of meat. We can afford it."

"I'm not worried about the meat. It's just that he's almost nineteen, and he hasn't brought home a single bit of income. Every other family has sons who contribute to the household."

"Master raised him to adulthood, yet he doesn't listen to a thing you say. Insists on joining that Shennong Division. Fine, whatever. But it's been nearly a year, and he's still not even ranked. Do you think he'll end up competing with Zheng'er for the family fortune?"

"Enough, stop talking about it. I'm not dead yet!"

"Waaah..."

"Sigh, he's crying again. It's driving me mad. Look, now Zheng'er's woken up..."

What followed was the sound of a child crying and a woman wailing.

"Madam Cai, Madam Cai, I've already told you clearly that Zheng'er won't have to share the inheritance, so why don't you believe me? This crying is making me feel guilty."

While Zhao Xing was thinking this, his body was moving fast. He quickly lifted the lid of the pot and started eating at full speed.

Zhao Ruide had some savings, and as a martial artist, his kitchen had four large pots, three of which were filled with meat.

The Shennong Division didn't provide breakfast or dinner, and clerks didn't receive salaries, only small subsidies.

To increase his proficiency in Gathering Essence, Zhao Xing had to find ways to absorb the world's essence, strengthen his vitality, and boost his energy. Good food was essential for that.

A son eating his father's food was only natural, even for an adopted son!

As a Shennong Division player, practical considerations came first, and thick-skinned as he was, Zhao Xing had no problem taking advantage where he could!

The louder the crying outside, the faster Zhao Xing ate.

By the time the noise subsided, he was full.

Seeing that his Gathering Essence proficiency had increased by three points, Zhao Xing wiped his mouth, satisfied, and walked out of the kitchen.

Once he emerged, Madam Cai stopped her fussing, as she had to give her husband some face.

Zhao Xing had grown used to it. He bowed to both of them and said, "Greetings, adoptive father and Madam. I'll head back to my room to rest now."

Zhao Ruide gave a slight nod, signaling for him to leave quickly, as he wanted some peace.

Madam Cai, however, started muttering again, "Every time he comes home, he eats and then goes straight to sleep. Can't he play with Zheng'er for a bit? Does the Shennong Division only recruit useless people?"

"..."

That was unfair to Zhao Xing.

He wasn't going to sleep.

Once back in his room, he closed the door, lit three incense sticks, and ground some special materials into ink.

Next to his desk was a wastebasket filled with crumpled yellow paper.

What Zhao Xing was trying to do now was obtain a secondary profession — Talisman Maker.

"Fortunately, in this era, techniques are abundant, materials are cheap, and there are many ways to acquire them, so it doesn't take much effort."

Zhao Xing picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began drawing a talisman on the yellow paper.

Perhaps it was because he had tried so many times before, or maybe it was due to his increasing energy, but this time, the process was surprisingly smooth.

As he finished the final stroke, the Gathering Essence skill activated, sending a burst of brilliance from his fingertip to the brush, extending onto the yellow paper. The paper emitted a faint glow before the light slowly faded into it.

[You have successfully comprehended the art of talisman-making and created a Guiding Talisman]

[You have acquired the secondary profession of 'Talisman Maker']

[Basic Guiding Talisman (1/1000): When applied to the body, it enhances the absorption of the world's essence.]

"The Shennong Division has over five hundred people, but fewer than five get promoted each year. People like Li Chengfeng, with their abundant wealth, will be tough to compete with. To surpass them, I'll have to take a different route."

But could becoming a Talisman Maker bring him great wealth and success?

Clearly not. Zhao Xing knew that at his current level, trying to sell talismans would only get his stall flipped by unsatisfied customers. He couldn't compete with other talisman makers in the market.

So his goal wasn't the secondary profession itself.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Zhao Xing started drawing a second talisman.

Soon, he successfully created a second basic talisman.

[You have successfully comprehended the art of talisman-making and created a Soul Calming Talisman]

[Soul Calming Talisman: Has the effect of calming the mind and soul]

"It's done!"

Zhao Xing placed the Guiding Talisman on his abdomen and the Soul Calming Talisman on his forehead, then lay on his bed in a strange posture, muttering:

"Student Zhao Xing humbly requests the Grand Dream Academy to open the door to learning."