The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

The era of New Dawn is followed by the reign of Great Prosperity, with at least a few decades in between.

The Xuantian Sect, a chaotic faction, has always harbored ambitions of overthrowing established powers.

When Zhao Xing had first heard about them, it was during the Great Prosperity era under Emperor Jing. The sect had lain dormant during the rule of Emperor Wu, but reemerged towards the end of his reign, ultimately flourishing during the Revival Era.

What made the sect stand out in Zhao Xing's memory was its tendency to stir trouble, something that was particularly troublesome for peaceful Shennong players who just wanted to cultivate their fields.

After pondering it for a moment, Zhao Xing decided to set the matter aside. He didn't have a quest board like he did in his previous life, only a personal status screen. Back then, he would dive into any potential quests to earn rewards, no matter how small.

But in this life, he was just a small figure, and there was no "respawn" option. For the Zhao Xing of today, as long as something didn't interfere with his farming and pursuit of longevity, he wasn't going to get involved.

"It's best not to pry too much into the affairs of society. As long as the Xuantian Sect doesn't mess with me, I don't care whether it's them or some other chaotic sect."

With the official document in hand, Zhao Xing bid farewell to Pang Fei and headed straight to the temple.

He avoided paying respects to Duke Donghu, lest the deity urge him to take up martial arts training again, and instead went directly to Cao Xi Zhenjun's Temple.

The temple guardian was surprised to see him return so soon.

"Didn't you just come not long ago? How are you here again?"

"There's no issue with the paperwork. Go on in."

"Thank you."

Zhao Xing quickly entered the temple and sat cross-legged on a cushion. There were still about seven or eight people inside the temple, from various professions, but no one spoke. Each quietly focused, receiving their own teachings.

As Zhao Xing closed his eyes, he felt a flash of golden light. In an instant, he found himself standing in the middle of a vast grassland.

The setting for receiving teachings varied depending on the spell, and Zhao Xing couldn't yet tell which spell this particular setting represented. Silently, he prayed, "I need Rainmaking, please, Zhenjun, don't make a mistake. I beg of you…"

As if in response to his plea, a dark cloud began to gather above the grassland.

"Boom!"

Thunder rumbled.

The drizzle started slowly, and Zhao Xing felt a cool sensation wash over him, as though the rain was falling directly into his mind.

"Drip, drip..."

The rain fell harder and harder.

Cloud Summoning, Thunder Summoning, and finally Rainmaking—the three spells unfolded in sequence, repeating continuously in Zhao Xing's mind.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he finally opened his eyes, a new spell had been etched into his consciousness: Rainmaking.

Rainmaking: Beginner-level Spell

Progress: (0/9999)

Effect: Precise control over rainfall.

After bowing respectfully to the statue of Zhenjun, Zhao Xing quietly left the hall.

The temple guardian, watching him leave, murmured to himself, "How strange. He prayed for Rainmaking, and he actually received it. Zhenjun truly answered his request."

Now that Zhao Xing had obtained the Rainmaking spell, his mood was significantly lighter.

A Shennong who couldn't make it rain wasn't much of a Shennong at all!

"The key to Rainmaking lies in the word 'control'—it allows precise regulation of rainfall. If it were any other profession, they would be at the mercy of the heavens, unable to control the amount of rain."

Other professions could also cause rain, but their spells were not as effective or versatile as a Shennong's. For instance, the temple guardian had a spell called Petition for Rain, but it didn't allow for precise control. To get the desired effect, they would need to perform a full ritual with offerings, and even with a simplified version, they'd still have to prepare yellow paper talismans.

"Master, I've just learned Rainmaking. Please instruct me," Zhao Xing said as he returned to the Shennong Division's Huailiu Courtyard.

Old Shennong Xue Wenzhong smiled, "You certainly are lucky. Whatever you wish for, you seem to get. You've now mastered all four weather spells."

My luck isn't just by chance. After inheriting part of Da Li's fortune, I've reached Fortune Level Derivation Two. In all of Gucheng, how many can boast that? Only the county magistrate and a few key officials might come close.

"Rainmaking has no shortcuts," Xue Wenzhong continued. "You just need to practice consistently. Start by mastering the sequence: Cloud Summoning, Wind Summoning, Thunder Summoning, and then Rainmaking. The key is to practice controlling each of these spells until you can regulate them with precision."

"The only challenge lies in external factors," Xue Wenzhong explained. "For example, in the Huailiu Courtyard, where it's always the Beginning of Spring, moisture is abundant. When you perform Rainmaking, the rainfall might be greater than expected.

"If you were in the east suburbs, where the climate is dry, the rainfall might be less than anticipated."

Zhao Xing already knew this. In his previous life, Shennong players had to deal with far worse conditions during the Era of Calamity and had been frequently caught off guard. The lessons learned then had come at a heavy cost.

In fact, Zhao Xing had even developed an entire formula to account for environmental factors, which allowed him to maintain minimal errors during even the most Shennong-unfriendly patches of the game, like the infamous Essence Tide expansion.

He wasn't sure if the same tricks would work in this life—after all, he wasn't a player anymore.

The next stage was practice.

Zhao Xing spent the rest of his time at the courtyard refining his Rainmaking spell.

The first time he cast it, Xue Wenzhong stood nearby, offering guidance.

By the third attempt, Xue had stepped onto the porch.

By the tenth, he was sitting on a bench, watching lazily.

After that… Xue Wenzhong was sprawled on a reclining chair, half-asleep.

There was no need to teach Zhao Xing any further. In all his years, Xue had never seen someone learn this quickly.

"If this boy doesn't become a Shennong, the heavens will surely punish him," Xue Wenzhong mused after practice, deeply impressed.

But aloud, he mostly offered encouragement. "Your Rainmaking is still far from perfect. The environment can hinder you, but it can also assist you."

"Why not utilize the small water puddle in the corner to conserve your essence? Why do you always insist on opposing the environment?"

Zhao Xing opened his mouth, but there was no good way to explain his reasoning. He couldn't exactly tell Xue that future environments would become so harsh that any assistance from the surroundings would be a luxury. The fact that he could even maintain control under those conditions was already remarkable, and discussing such matters at this stage seemed premature.

"You are right, Master. I will take your teachings to heart."

There was still half an hour left in their session, but a servant suddenly appeared, urgently calling for Xue Wenzhong. The old Shennong kept his composure, but his words were laced with unease. "Today's additional practice ends here. I may not be available tomorrow, so continue practicing on your own."

With that, Xue Wenzhong left in a hurry, following his servant.

What could have happened?

Zhao Xing was puzzled, but since no explanation was given, he decided not to pry.

That night, as Zhao Xing lay in bed, he felt restless, an unshakable sense of unease gnawing at him.

He didn't want to be curious, but Xue Wenzhong was key to his promotion. If something were to happen to him, the other Shennong officials might not be as willing to recommend him.

"I need to investigate this tomorrow. If there is indeed trouble, I'll need to plan accordingly," Zhao Xing thought to himself. With that resolve, he placed two talismans by his side and tried entering the Grand Dream Academy. Finding nothing unusual, he left and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Little did he know that by morning, troubling news would already be waiting for him.