Chapter 2: Clouds Drift, Rain Spreads

After the brief interruption, Zhao Xing continued transplanting rice seedlings, finishing sowing the last acre of the communal field he was responsible for before sunset.

Basic and elementary spells level up quickly in the early stages; his proficiency in the elementary spell "Vigorous Growth" had already reached 200 points.

Looking at the neatly lined, verdant fields, Zhao Xing straightened up and gave a satisfied clap.

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

[Name: Zhao Xing]

[Realm: Unranked]

[Fate: Yan One]

[Spells: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)]

[Vigorous Growth: Elementary (201/9999)]

[Cloud Walk: Elementary (352/9999)]

[Energy Gathering: Stage One (58/100)]

Because he had not yet changed professions, his panel data was quite simple.

These would change with obtaining a profession and version updates, but even this limited data helped Zhao Xing recall a great deal of additional information.

"After the Great Zhou’s founding emperor unified the nineteen provinces, he declared a grand aspiration: all the world’s talents shall be gathered in my urn; my method shall be the method of ten thousand generations."

"He standardized cultivation realms with a 'Nine Ranks, Thirty Levels' system."

"Below rank four, there are divisions of principal, subsidiary, upper, and lower. Above rank four, only principal and subsidiary."

"Then, with unparalleled divine power, he bound the dynasty’s fate, decreeing: non-subjects of the Great Zhou shall not cultivate."

"He established divine temples across the nineteen provinces and disseminated myriad techniques."

"This system lasted until the Resurrection Update, or until players broke the level cap, when it was revised."

Early on, this system was often ridiculed on forums by players: “This is worse than the ‘Half-step Peak Perfection’!”

Since he had yet to change professions, his realm was 'Unranked.'

The fate system was divided into forty-nine levels, inspired by the ‘Great Yan Fifty’ and ‘Heavenly Yan Forty-nine.’

Yan One fate was standard for billions of commoners.

It also influenced some spells' effectiveness and success rates—for example, the recently cast “Cloud Walk” could have a “great success,” which was largely a matter of luck.

The three spells were “techniques,” while Energy Gathering was a “skill.”

Billions of people could practice Energy Gathering to strengthen their bodies, extend life, and increase fortune—another of the founding emperor’s achievements.

In a world where spiritual energy had not yet extensively revived, civil and military officials could wield powerful spells with only slightly superior vital energy.

“Cultivation is like building a towering skyscraper; the dynasty’s fate helps lay the foundation and add bricks. A single imperial edict can elevate one rapidly, extend life, change destiny, and soar to the first rank.”

“If one doesn’t become an official, limited by talent, stuck at bottlenecks until death, while others ascend swiftly—the unified fate dynasty, through this officialdom-centered cultivation system, truly gathers all the world’s talents in its urn.”

“However, the downside is obvious: the same imperial edict can cast one into the abyss, stripping cultivation and fate, and be used politically.”

“I remember there’s a way to swallow the sugar coating and send the cannonball back… but it’s too early to consider that now.”

“In this era, the Great Zhou is in invincible mode; it’s the era of Emperor Jing. After Emperor Wu, the once invincible Great Zhou will begin to decline, and the fate dynasty system will reveal more and more flaws…”

Thinking this, Zhao Xing shook his head with a wry smile—not pitying the Great Zhou, but mocking himself.

Hell, he didn’t even know if he could live past Emperor Wu’s reign. He hadn’t even received a profession change quest yet.

***

The Zhao family of Gu City was a prominent and respected clan in Nanyang Commandery.

Every few years, they sponsored the imperial "Charity Orphanage" and even sent family members to personally adopt orphans displaced by natural disasters—Zhao Xing was one such example.

The Zhao family’s holdings covered all necessities of life, including lucrative trades like machinery and forging.

As a great family, donating to government institutions often drew suspicion of collusion with officials, inviting criticism.

But engaging in charity reduced such doubts considerably.

Zhao Xing’s adoptive father, Zhao Ruide, was from the East Lake branch. In his youth, he worked escorting and guarding merchant caravans, living comfortably.

Unexpectedly, at forty-five, he suffered the loss of his only son and wife, who drowned during a boat trip.

The accumulated emotional wounds made it difficult for him to have another child. Under family arrangements and persuasion, Zhao Ruide adopted six-year-old Zhao Xing from the orphanage.

Initially, Zhao Ruide doted on Zhao Xing, but in recent years, things changed.

Six years after adopting Zhao Xing, Zhao Ruide’s concubine bore him a son.

Overjoyed at this late flowering, Zhao Ruide elevated the concubine to wife and showered all his affection on his biological son, gradually growing distant from Zhao Xing.

Standing before the Zhao family mansion and recalling his past experiences, Zhao Xing sighed softly and pushed the door open.

Zhao Ruide was resting under a willow tree, fanning a dozing child on a bamboo mat.

Seeing Zhao Xing enter, he hurriedly gestured for silence and pointed toward the kitchen, telling him to eat by himself.

Zhao Xing didn’t mind that no one waited for him at the table. Bowing slightly, he headed toward the kitchen.

Though adoptive father and son, their relationship was distant—Zhao Xing joined the family midway and missed the years when Zhao Ruide most doted on the original owner. Maintaining superficial respect was the mode of coexistence he found comfortable.

Zhao Ruide’s mind was elsewhere; they had clashed over Zhao Xing’s employment—he wanted Zhao Xing to practice martial arts or commerce, but Zhao Xing insisted on entering the Bureau of Agriculture.

“How much money can a Bureau of Agriculture official make? What future is there?”

In the end, Zhao Ruide relented but their relationship grew colder.

If his relationship with his adoptive father was distant, his rapport with Lady Cai, Zhao Ruide’s new wife, was outright cold.

Just as Zhao Xing entered the kitchen, sharp voices could be heard outside the door.

“Does his nose belong to a dog? So sharp! The moment the stew’s ready, he’s back. Could the smell have wafted all the way to the Bureau of Agriculture?”

“Shh, say less—Zheng’er just fell asleep after playing... What’s a few pieces of meat? Our family’s not starving.”

“I’m not worried about the meat. He’s nearly twenty, and he doesn’t support the family at all. Whose child doesn’t care for their parents?”

“You raised him to adulthood, but he won’t listen to you, insisting on that Bureau of Agriculture nonsense. Fine, but after almost a year without ranking up, will he come to compete with Zheng’er for the family inheritance?”

“Enough! What are you babbling about? I’m not dead yet!”

“Waa…”

“Sigh, crying again, what a nuisance—you woke Zheng’er…”

Then came the child’s sobbing and the woman’s lament.

“Lady Cai, Lady Cai, I’ve made it clear he won’t share Zheng’er’s inheritance. Why don’t you believe me? This crying makes me ashamed.”

Zhao Xing thought this while his stomach told a different story; he swiftly lifted the pot lid and began eating heartily.

Zhao Ruide had some savings and was a martial artist; the kitchen stove held four large pots, three filled with meat dishes.

The Bureau of Agriculture provided no salary, only some subsidies.

To improve Energy Gathering proficiency meant absorbing as much natural energy as possible to strengthen stamina and vitality, so diet could not be poor.

Children eat from their parents’ food—that was natural, even for an adopted son.

***

Players of the Bureau of Agriculture were practical; shamelessly freeloading, Zhao Xing had to seize the opportunity.

The louder the crying outside, the faster he ate.

When the noise subsided, he was full.

Seeing the Energy Gathering progress bar rise by three points, Zhao Xing wiped his mouth, satisfied, and left the kitchen.

Once he appeared, Lady Cai stopped making a fuss—after all, some respect must be shown to the head of the family.

Zhao Xing was used to it and bowed to both of them. “Greetings to my adoptive father and Lady Cai. I will retire to my room.”

Zhao Ruide nodded gently, signaling for him to leave quickly; he sought peace.

Lady Cai muttered again, “Every time he comes home, eats, then sleeps—can’t even spend time playing with Zheng’er. Does the Bureau of Agriculture only recruit good-for-nothings?”

“…”

Zhao Xing was truly wronged.

He wasn’t going to sleep in his room.

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

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

What Zhao Xing needed now was to obtain a secondary profession—a talisman craftsman.

“Fortunately, at this time, cultivation methods are complete, materials cheap, and acquisition methods numerous. It won’t require much effort.”

Dipping his brush in ink, he began drawing talismans on yellow paper.

Perhaps from too many attempts or increasing vital energy, this time it went unusually smoothly.

As his brushstroke neared completion, Energy Gathering activated; a bright light passed from his fingertips to the brush, extending to the paper, which glowed faintly before the light was absorbed.

[You have successfully comprehended the Way of Talisman Crafting and created a Guidance Talisman.]

[You have obtained the secondary profession “Talisman Craftsman.”]

[Basic Guidance Talisman (1/1000): When worn, it accelerates the absorption of natural energy.]

“Five hundred plus people work at the Bureau of Agriculture, but fewer than five are promoted annually. For someone like Li Chengfeng from a wealthy family, with plenty of money, competing with him means needing to overtake on a curve.”

Becoming a talisman craftsman could be very lucrative, but would it help him get promoted?

Obviously not. Zhao Xing believed his level wasn’t good enough to sell talismans—clients would toss him out, and he couldn’t compete with other talisman crafters.

So his goal wasn’t the secondary profession itself.

Riding the momentum, Zhao Xing tried to draw a second talisman.

Soon, he produced another basic talisman.

[You have successfully comprehended the Way of Talisman Crafting and created a Soul-Calming Talisman.]

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

“Done!”

Zhao Xing placed the Guidance Talisman on his abdomen, the Soul-Calming Talisman on his forehead, then lay on the bed in a strange posture, murmuring:

“Student Zhao Xing respectfully requests the Great Dream Academy to open the gates of learning.”