Shennong Dao Master

After the minor interruption, Zhao Xing continued planting rice seedlings, rushing to finish sowing the last acre of public field before sunset.

Basic and initial spells upgraded quickly in the early stages, and the proficiency of the initial spell 'Thriving Growth' had already accumulated to 200 points.

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

As he finished work, he habitually glanced at his panel.

[Name: Zhao Xing]

[Realm: Unranked]

[Qi Fortune: Derived One]

[Spell: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)]

[Thriving Growth: Initial (201/9999)]

[Cloud Shaping: Initial (352/9999)]

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

Due to not having switched professions, the panel data was quite simple.

Upon acquiring a profession and as versions updated, these would change accordingly, but even from this sparse data, Zhao Xing recalled a lot of additional information.

"After Great Zhou's Grand Ancestor unified the Nineteen States, he made a grand vow: 'All talents under Heaven into my grasp, my law for a thousand generations'."

"He unified the cultivation realms, setting the 'nine grades and thirty levels'."

"Below the Fourth Rank, it was divided into primary, secondary, upper, and lower. Above the Fourth Rank, there were only primary and secondary."

"Then with miraculous divine skills, he bound the dynasty's Qi fortune, setting a rule: non-Zhou citizens shall not cultivate."

"He built divine temples in the Nineteen States and spread myriad laws."

"This system was used until the Revival Version, or players broke through the level limit, allowing updates."

Early on, this system was frequently ridiculed on forums: 'This is worse than 'Half-step Peak Perfection'!'

Since he hadn't switched professions, his realm remained 'Unranked.'

The Qi fortune system was divided into forty-nine levels.

It derived from the concept of 'Great Evolution Fifty, Heaven's Evolution Forty-nine.'

Derived One Qi fortune was basically the standard for billions of commoners.

It also affected the efficacy and success rate of certain spells, like the recently cast [Cloud Shaping], which had a 'Great Success,' purely based on luck.

The three spells were categorized as 'spells,' while Gathering Essence was 'cultivation.'

Everyone could 'Gather Essence,' enhancing physical strength, longevity, and blessings. This was another achievement of Great Zhou's Grand Ancestor.

Before the large-scale revival of Spiritual Energy, civil and military officials could wield powerful spells using weaker Primordial Energy.

"Cultivation is like building a skyscraper, the Great Zhou's Qi fortune helps lay the foundation, brick by brick. An Imperial Decree can elevate one to great heights, extending life and changing fate, straight to the First-Grade Realm."

"Without official status, constrained by one's aptitude, stuck at a bottleneck until old age, while others soar. The unified Qi fortune dynasty, with this official-centric cultivation system, truly achieved 'all talents under Heaven into my grasp.'"

"However, the drawbacks are obvious. The same Imperial Decree can send one into the abyss, stripping away cultivation and redirecting it to the court."

"I remember there was a way to take the sugar coating and shoot back the cannonball... but it's too early to think about that now."

"In this era, Great Zhou was in invincible mode. Currently, during Emperor Jing Period, when Emperor Wu follows, the undefeatable Great Zhou will start to decline. At that time, more flaws in the Qi fortune dynasty model will appear..."

Thinking of this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile, not out of pity for Great Zhou, but a self-mocking smile.

He didn't even know if he could survive the Emperor Wu Period, let alone completing his job transfer task.

........

The Zhao Family of Gucheng, a prominent household in Nanyang County, was well-known for its benevolence.

Every few years, they would support the court's institution 'Charity Home,' even personally adopting orphans displaced by natural calamities. Zhao Xing was one such example.

The Zhao Family's ventures covered various essentials, including mechanisms, forging, and other lucrative industries.

As a large family, donating money to other government institutions risked accusations of collusion with officials, easily criticized by others.

But engaging in charity drew much less suspicion.

Zhao Xing's adoptive father, Zhao Ruide, was from the East Lake branch. Earlier, he worked in escorting and guarding for a merchant caravan, living comfortably.

Unexpectedly, at forty-five, he lost his child; his wife and only son drowned during a boat trip.

The hidden injuries accumulated from years of travel made it difficult to have another child, according to doctors. Thus, under family arrangement and persuasion, Zhao Ruide adopted six-year-old Zhao Xing from the Charity Home as his foster son.

Initially, he was somewhat doting on Zhao Xing, but things changed in recent years.

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

Overjoyed by the old tree blooming, Zhao Ruide immediately promoted the concubine to wife and gave all his love to his biological son. In recent years, he became increasingly distant from Zhao Xing.

Looking at the Zhao Family's grand estate and recalling his original self's experiences, Zhao Xing felt a slight pang of sentiment as he pushed the door open and entered.

Zhao Ruide was cooling off under a willow tree, fanning a sleeping child on a mat. Seeing Zhao Xing enter, he quickly made a shushing gesture and pointed to the kitchen, signaling him to eat by himself.

Zhao Xing didn't mind not being waited on for dinner, respectfully bowing before heading to the kitchen.

Due to boarding the train later, the relationship with his foster father wasn't that close; Zhao Xing missed out on the years when Zhao Ruide doted on the original self. Maintaining surface respect was his comfortable way of interacting.

As for Zhao Ruide? He wasn't focused on Zhao Xing; they had a previous dispute over Zhao Xing's career choice—Zhao Ruide wanted him to practice martial arts or do business, but Zhao Xing insisted on joining the Minister of Agriculture Supervision.

How much money can a Minister of Agriculture Official make? What future prospects?

Ultimately conceding, their relationship grew even more distant.

If his relationship with his foster father was distant, then his relationship with the second wife, Mrs. Cai, was cold.

Just as Zhao Xing entered the kitchen, a sharp voice came from outside.

"Does he have a dog's nose? How sharp! As soon as there's stewed meat, he's back. Did the smell waft all the way to the Minister of Agriculture Supervision?"

"Hush, say less. Zheng'er just fell asleep from playing… eating a few pieces of meat won't hurt, we can afford it."

"I don't mind the meat, but he's eighteen or nineteen now, without contributing a penny to the household. Whose family wouldn't know to show filial piety?"

"The master raised him to adulthood, yet he doesn't listen to him at all, insisting on joining the Minister of Agriculture Supervision. Even so, he hasn't even ranked in nearly a year; is he planning to compete with Zheng'er over the family…"

"Enough, why say this? I'm still alive!"

"Boo hoo..."

"Oh dear, she woke up Zheng'er again, crying is so annoying…"

Followed by a child's crying and a woman's wailing.

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

Thinking in his heart, Zhao Xing's body was honest, quickly uncovering the pot lid and eating rapidly, in large bites.

Zhao Ruide had some savings and was a martial artist. Three out of the four large pots in the kitchen were filled with meat.

The Minister of Agriculture Supervision didn't provide breakfasts or dinners, and clerks had no salaries, only some allowances.

To improve the proficiency of the [Gathering Essence] cultivation, it boiled down to absorbing Heaven and Earth Qi, strengthening one's essence and blood, so eating couldn't be skimped.

A child eating their father's food was justified! Even if he was adopted!

A practical player of the Minister of Agriculture profession would shamelessly freeload; Zhao Xing had to freeload first!

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

By the time the noise faded, he was full.

Seeing the progress of Gathering Essence had increased by 3 points, Zhao Xing wiped his mouth, satisfied as he walked out of the kitchen.

Seeing him, Mrs. Cai stopped making a fuss, after all, she had to give the master some face.

Zhao Xing was used to it, bowing to them: "Greetings to my foster father and madam, I'm going to rest."

Zhao Ruide nodded lightly, signaling for Zhao Xing to leave quickly, seeking some peace.

Mrs. Cai, however, began to mutter again: "Every time he comes home, he eats and sleeps, never playing with Zheng'er. Are the clerks at the Minister of Agriculture Supervision all rice buckets…"

"..."

This was truly unjust to Zhao Xing.

He returned to his room, not intending to sleep.

After closing the door, he lit three incense sticks and ground a special material into ink.

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

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

"Fortunately, in this period, cultivation techniques are complete, materials are cheap, and acquisition methods are abundant, sparing much effort."

Zhao Xing dipped his brush in ink, starting to draw talismans on the yellow paper.

Perhaps from repeated attempts or increasing Primordial Energy, this time it went exceptionally smoothly.

At the moment of closing the brushstroke, Gathering Essence initiated, a halo of light transferred from his fingertips to the brush handle and spread onto the yellow paper, causing it to emit a faint glow before being absorbed.

[You have successfully comprehended the Dao of Talisman-making, creating a Guiding Talisman]

[You have obtained a secondary profession 'Talisman Maker']

[Basic Guiding Talisman (1/1000): When affixed to the body, it accelerates the absorption of Heaven and Earth Qi]

"With over 500 people in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, fewer than five can be regularized each year. For someone like Li Chengfeng from a major family, wealthy and resource-rich, the only way to compete was to take the fast track."

Could becoming a Talisman Maker help him earn lots of money and rise quickly?

Clearly not; Zhao Xing knew he couldn't compete with other Talisman Makers at his current level and would be overturned by customers.

So his real goal wasn't the secondary profession.

While feeling good, Zhao Xing began to draw a second talisman.

Soon, he had another basic talisman.

[You have successfully comprehended the Dao of Talisman-making, creating a Soul Calming Talisman]

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

"It worked!"

Zhao Xing placed the Guiding Talisman on his abdomen and the Soul Calming Talisman on his forehead, lying on the bed in a strange position, chanting:

"Student Zhao Xing, beseeching the Dream Palace to open the gate of learning."