Chapter 2: Clouds and Rain

After the brief interlude, Zhao Xing continued transplanting rice seedlings, finishing the last plot of public land he was responsible for before sunset.

The proficiency in basic and beginner-level spells increased rapidly in the early stages, and the proficiency in the beginner-level spell "Rapid Growth" had already accumulated to 200 points.

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

At the end of work, he habitually glanced at his status panel.

【Name: Zhao Xing】

【Realm: Unranked】

【Fortune: Derivation One】

【Spells: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)】

【Rapid Growth: Beginner (201/9999)】

【Cloud Movement: Beginner (352/9999)】

【Gather Essence: Level 1 (58/100)】

Since he had not chosen a profession, the status panel was quite simple.

These would change when he obtained a profession or when the game version was updated. However, even from this limited data, Zhao Xing recalled a lot of additional information.

"Emperor Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty unified the nineteen states and made a grand vow: 'All talents in the world shall be in my control, and my laws shall be the laws for all generations.'"

"He unified the cultivation realms, setting the 'Nine Grades and Thirty Levels'."

"Below the fourth grade, there are four sub-grades: Principal, Associate, Upper, and Lower. Above the fourth grade, there are only Principal and Associate."

"Then, with great divine power, he bound the dynasty's fortune, setting a rule: 'Only citizens of the Zhou Dynasty may cultivate.'"

"He also built shrines and spread the laws in the nineteen states."

"This system has been in use until the revival version, or until players break the level limit, allowing for updates."

In the early days, this system was often criticized by players on forums: "This is worse than 'Half-Step Peak Perfection'!"

Since he had not chosen a profession, his realm was "Unranked."

The fortune system was divided into forty-nine levels.

It was based on the concept of "Great Derivation Fifty, Heaven Derivation Forty-Nine."

Derivation One fortune was the standard for billions of commoners.

It also influenced the effectiveness and success rate of certain spells, such as the "Cloud Movement" spell, which could have a "Great Success," purely depending on luck.

The three spells were classified as "Techniques," while Gather Essence was a "Cultivation Method."

Billions of commoners could "Gather Essence," strengthening their bodies, increasing their lifespan, and bringing good fortune. This was another achievement of Emperor Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Before the large-scale revival of spiritual energy, officials could use powerful spells with a slightly weaker essence.

"Cultivation is like building a skyscraper. The fortune of the Great Zhou Dynasty helps lay the foundation and add bricks and tiles. A single imperial edict can make one rise to the top, extend their lifespan, and change their fate, reaching the First Grade realm."

"Without an official position, one is limited by their talent, stuck at a bottleneck until they die of old age, while others soar to the top. The unified fortune of the Great Zhou Dynasty, through this official-centric cultivation system, truly achieved the goal of 'all talents in the world shall be in my control.'"

"However, the downside is also obvious. The same imperial edict can also cast one into the abyss, stripping away their cultivation and returning their fortune to the dynasty."

"I remember there was a way to eat the sugar-coated bullet and fire it back... but thinking about these things is premature at the moment."

"In this era, the Great Zhou Dynasty is invincible. During the reign of Emperor Jing, the invincible Great Zhou began to decline. At that time, the flaws in this fortune-based dynasty system will become increasingly apparent..."

Thinking about this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but shake his head and smile, not out of pity for the Great Zhou Dynasty, but out of self-mockery.

He didn't even know if he could survive the reign of Emperor Wu, let alone having not received any profession quest yet.

The Zhao family of Gu Cheng was a prominent household in Nanyang Prefecture, known for their virtue.

Every few years, they would sponsor the government institution "Ciyangyuan," even sending family members to personally adopt orphans displaced by natural disasters. Zhao Xing was one such example.

The Zhao family's business covered clothing, food, housing, and transportation, as well as lucrative industries like machinery and forging.

As a large family, donating money to other government institutions could be seen as collusion, inviting criticism.

But doing charity work received much less criticism.

Zhao Xing's adoptive father, Zhao Ruide, was from the Donghu branch. In his early years, he worked as a guard for merchant caravans, living a comfortable life.

Unfortunately, at the age of forty-five, he lost his only son and wife when they fell into the water during a boat trip.

The accumulated injuries from his travels were diagnosed by a doctor as making it difficult for him to have more children. Under the family's arrangement and persuasion, Zhao Ruide adopted the six-year-old Zhao Xing from Ciyangyuan and raised him as his adopted son.

Initially, Zhao Ruide was quite affectionate towards Zhao Xing, but things changed in recent years.

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

Overjoyed, Zhao Ruide immediately made the concubine his official wife and lavished all his affection on his biological son, gradually becoming distant with Zhao Xing.

Looking at the Zhao family courtyard, Zhao Xing recalled the various hardships of his past life, feeling a slight sense of melancholy as he pushed the door open and entered.

Zhao Ruide was cooling off under a willow tree, fanning a child who was napping on a mat. Seeing Zhao Xing walk in, he quickly made a gesture for silence, pointing to the kitchen to have him go eat.

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

Adoptive father and son shouldn't be so distant, but Zhao Xing had joined the family later in life. He hadn't experienced the years when Zhao Ruide was most affectionate towards the original Zhao Xing. Maintaining a respectful surface relationship was the most comfortable way for him to interact.

As for Zhao Ruide, his thoughts weren't on Zhao Xing. There had been disagreements over Zhao Xing's career choice—Zhao Ruide wanted him to learn martial arts or business, but Zhao Xing insisted on joining the Ministry of Agriculture.

How much money could a Ministry of Agriculture official make? What kind of future could he have?

In the end, Zhao Xing's stubbornness prevailed, but their relationship became even more distant.

If his relationship with his adoptive father was distant, his relationship with his stepmother, Lady Cai, was cold.

As soon as he entered the kitchen, Zhao Xing heard a sharp voice from outside.

"Is his nose a dog's? It's so sensitive! He comes home as soon as the meat is stewed. Could the smell of the stew have reached the Ministry of Agriculture?"

"Shh, say less. Zheng'er just fell asleep... Eating a few pieces of meat won't hurt anything. We can afford it."

"I'm not worried about the meat, but he's almost nineteen and doesn't contribute anything to the family. How many others don't show filial piety?"

"Sir, you raised him, but he doesn't listen to you and insists on joining the Ministry of Agriculture. It's been almost a year, and he hasn't even reached a rank. Is he going to compete with Zheng'er for the family's future?"

"Are you done? What are you saying? I'm not dead yet!"

"Wah wah..."

"Ah, crying again, what a nuisance. Look, you've woken Zheng'er up..."

Then came the cries of the child and the woman's wailing.

"Lady Cai, Lady Cai, I've already said I won't take Zheng'er's inheritance. Why don't you believe me? This crying makes me feel ashamed."

Zhao Xing thought to himself, but his body acted quickly, lifting the pot lid and eating rapidly and heartily.

Zhao Ruide had some savings and was a martial artist, so the kitchen had four large pots, three of which contained meat.

The Ministry of Agriculture didn't provide meals, and clerks had no salary, only some subsidies.

To increase the proficiency in the "Gather Essence" cultivation method, one needed to absorb the essence of heaven and earth, strengthen their vital energy and blood, and eat well.

Feeding off the family was a natural right, even for an adopted son!

Ministry of Agriculture players were practical, and Zhao Xing had to start by freeloading.

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

By the time the noise subsided, he was full.

Seeing the progress in the "Gather Essence" section increase by 3 points, Zhao Xing wiped his mouth, satisfied, and walked out of the kitchen.

With the protagonist present, Lady Cai stopped her fussing, still giving the old man some face.

Zhao Xing was used to it, bowing to both of them: "I wish my adoptive father and Lady Cai well. I'll go rest in my room now."

Zhao Ruide nodded lightly, signaling Zhao Xing to leave quickly, wanting some peace and quiet.

Lady Cai, however, started muttering again: "Every time he comes home, he eats and sleeps. He doesn't even play with Zheng'er. Are they all just lazy at the Ministry of Agriculture...?"

"..."

This was truly unfair to Zhao Xing.

He wasn't planning to sleep when he returned to his room.

Closing the door, he lit three incense sticks and ground special materials into ink.

Beside the desk was a wastebasket filled with crumpled yellow paper.

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

"Fortunately, in this era, the cultivation methods are complete, the materials are cheap, and there are many ways to obtain them, requiring no effort."

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

Perhaps from too many attempts, or perhaps from the increasing essence, this time it went exceptionally smoothly.

As he was about to finish, the "Gather Essence" skill activated, a brilliant light passing from his fingertips to the brush, spreading to the yellow paper, which then emitted a faint glow before fading away.

【You have successfully comprehended the art of talisman making and created a Guidance Talisman】

【You have obtained the secondary profession: Talisman Maker】

【Basic Guidance Talisman (1/1000): When attached to the body, it can accelerate the absorption of the essence of heaven and earth】

"The Ministry of Agriculture has over five hundred people, but fewer than five are promoted each year. With someone like Li Chengfeng, from a prominent family and with ample resources, to compete with them, I need to find a shortcut."

Can becoming a Talisman Maker help him make a fortune and get ahead?

Clearly not. Zhao Xing knew that at this level, selling talismans would get him kicked out by customers, and he couldn't compete with other Talisman Makers.

So his goal wasn't the secondary profession.

Taking advantage of the good feeling, Zhao Xing began drawing a second talisman.

Soon, he obtained 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 soul and stabilizing the mind】

"Success!"

Zhao Xing attached the Guidance Talisman to his abdomen and the Soul Calming Talisman to his forehead, lying in a strange position on the bed, muttering:

"Student Zhao Xing, I request the Great Dream Academy to open the door of learning."

(End of Chapter)