Chapter 106: Nakao, Transfer, and National Fate Entering the Body (Final Chapter of This Volume)

The officials from the county seat were still in Heavenly Heart Plaza. However, their number had increased from four to sixteen, now including representatives from the Military Directorate, the Imperial Workshop, and the Directorate of Manufacturing, in addition to those from the Directorate of Agriculture.

Since the civil service examination for junior officials concluded, they had seemingly turned into statues, simply waiting for the appointed time to reopen the Heavenly Heart Hall.

“Why is time passing so slowly today?” Xiao Ze rubbed his hands, his palms slightly sweaty.

“It’s not that time is slow; you’re just too anxious,” Wen Nanxing whispered beside him.

“Aren’t you anxious?” Xiao Ze asked. “If we don’t pass, we’ll have to wait another year. Who knows what next year will bring?”

Wen Nanxing had no reply; he was indeed feeling restless and uncertain.

“The one who’s probably sure to pass is Zhao Xing,” Wen Nanxing said, looking at Zhao Xing’s back. Zhao Xing was chatting cheerfully with Zong Shichang.

“Zong Shichang doesn’t seem anxious at all. Does he also expect to pass?” Xiao Ze wondered, looking ahead and subtly straining his ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“I don’t really have much confidence,” Zong Shichang said, dusting off his sleeves. “But I don’t necessarily have to pass this time. Passing next year would be just the same.”

Zhao Xing chuckled, “What if you still don’t pass next year?”

Zong Shichang replied nonchalantly, “It doesn’t matter. My father will intervene, and I can still become an official through other means. Our dynasty isn’t limited to only the civil service examination system for appointing officials.”

“If I really can’t pass, I’ll transfer to Xiangshan Commandery and serve as an official under Prince Xiangshan. After accumulating a few years of administrative achievements, I’ll find a way to transfer back to Nanyang.”

Zhao Xing smiled, “I really want to compete with you noble scions.”

Becoming an official through the civil service examination system was one path, while serving as a vassal in a princely domain was another. In Nanyang Commandery, although the temple enshrined the Prince of Nanyang, he was a figure from a millennium ago. His princely title was not hereditary, and after a thousand years, only an earldom remained. Although they could still collect taxes and owned considerable land, it was merely a ‘revenue fief,’ with no actual feudal territory. A true feudal territory allowed one to recruit soldiers, select vassals, and levy taxes, granting significant power.

The Prince Xiangshan mentioned by Zong Shichang was Emperor Jing’s cousin. Although not a close relation, he was a genuine prince who could establish his own government office and military staff. Taking the vassal route meant first becoming a vassal of Prince Xiangshan, serving as an official in Xiangshan Commandery. If one performed well, they could still be transferred to become a court-appointed official. This path required connections and influence, making it impossible for ordinary people to pursue. During Emperor Wen’s reign, many noble scions took this path to become officials, and it was relatively easy. Once they became officials, were they afraid of not achieving political accomplishments? However, now under Emperor Jing, who was strict not only with officials but also with his own relatives, this path had become much more difficult. Nevertheless, it was still easier than the formal examinations.

“Why compete with me?” Zong Shichang said. “After you enter officialdom, it won’t take many decades for your family to flourish, for you to rise in rank and title, and your Zhao family will also become a prominent clan in Nanyang Commandery. You can’t very well fight against yourself.”

“That’s true,” Zhao Xing nodded. Connections were everywhere. Just as Long Xiao had said, if Zhao Xing wanted to become an official in the Divine Might Army without connections, he wouldn’t even be considered for selection during the assignment process after entering officialdom. He could wait a thousand years and still not be chosen; he would have to continue trying for a military agricultural official position. But with his connection to Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, he could directly bypass the examination process during the assignment waiting period. Because although Yang An was only the Marquis of Boping County, his reinstatement as the Divine Might Army’s commander-in-chief granted him the authority to select personnel from other areas. As long as there were vacancies, he could generally choose ninth-rank officials, regardless of whether they were civil or military.

“Passing directly would be ideal,” Zong Shichang muttered. “If I really had to go down the Prince Xiangshan path, my family’s assets would shrink by half.”

“How was your practical examination?” Zhao Xing asked. “Did you recognize the Twelve-Hour Grass? Identifying the exact time is quite difficult.”

“Who are you looking down on?” Zong Shichang said, surprised. “Identifying the exact time is challenging, but I went to Shangluo with my father when I was a child, and we even grow Twelve-Hour Grass at home. How could I not recognize it?”

Zhao Xing was dumbfounded, then burst into laughter.

“Stop chatting; it’s almost time. Maintain silence,” Chen Shijie admonished.

Li Wenzheng was even more direct; he initiated a mass silencing spell. The area outside the plaza instantly fell silent.

Precisely at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the officials, who had been like statues, reopened the Heavenly Heart Hall.

“Whoosh.” The massive bronze incense burner inside the hall burned with a golden flame. Moments later, a list floated out from it. The list was released, then floated out of the hall and unfurled in mid-air. Names immediately became visible, one by one. Everyone instinctively looked up.

Zhao Xing, Top Grade.

The first name was Zhao Xing. Chen Shijie smiled, and Xue Wenzhong nodded with satisfaction. As for the others, they all looked on with envious gazes. Although it had been widely assumed that Zhao Xing would pass, nothing was certain until the results were officially released. Now that it was seen, the matter was finally settled.

“Top Grade means he must have gotten a perfect score in one subject. He really wasn’t lying; he passed the practical examination with full marks,” Gao Linong mumbled, somewhat dazed. Fortunately, he hadn’t been rude three days ago, or his face would be swollen now.

“For junior officials to become regular officials, only those on the A-grade list are selected, categorized into upper, middle, and lower tiers.”

“In this temple examination, tens of thousands of junior officials participated, but only a tiny handful received a Top Grade rating, which gives them a significant advantage during the assignment process.”

“Those with Top Grade will certainly be assigned to a fertile and prosperous region as officials.”

“Truly enviable.”

The list fully unfurled. Zhao Xing focused his gaze. Four people from the Directorate of Agriculture were on the list. Besides himself, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Shichang all received a Lower Grade rating. As long as one received any A-grade, they passed. Zhao Xing hadn't expected Zong Shichang to actually get a Lower Grade. Although he couldn't speak, Young Master Zong was radiating pride, his chest puffed out. If he hadn't been silenced, he would have called his servants to hand out celebratory money to everyone.

“Four out of fifteen, roughly one-third, which is consistent with previous years’ ratios,” Zhao Xing thought to himself. Although the questions were more difficult, the imperial court’s appointment ratio wouldn’t fluctuate significantly.

As for the other directorates, Shen Zhui from the Military Directorate also received a Top Grade, and eighteen others received an A-grade. The Directorate of Rites had ten successful candidates. The Imperial Workshop had eight A-grade recipients, and the Directorate of Manufacturing had six. The Divine Temple, however, only had two. This was primarily because, among the various directorates, the Military Directorate had the most participants, followed by the Directorate of Rites, then the Imperial Workshop and the Directorate of Manufacturing. The Directorate of Agriculture had the second-fewest participants, and the Divine Temple the fewest.

“If this were a commandery seat, there would also be professions like physicians, musicians, and dancers, but Gucheng is only a county, so it doesn’t have these professions,” Zhao Xing mused.

At this moment, the area outside the plaza remained very quiet. Because the release of the list was only the first step. Next was entering the temple to receive the baptism of the national destiny.

“Will those whose names are on the list please enter the Heavenly Heart Hall.”

Hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately stepped onto the platform and entered the hall. Although a group of people entered, once inside the Heavenly Heart Hall, each person could only see themselves, unable to perceive others. Upon re-entering the hall, there was an additional statue and a memorial tablet. The statues were of the Grand Ancestor and Emperor Taizong, while the memorial tablet was for Emperor Jing. Since Emperor Jing was still alive, no divine statue was erected for him, only a meritorious memorial tablet. Zhao Xing, following the procedure, bowed and paid respects to the statues of the Grand Ancestor, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Jing’s memorial tablet.

After three bows, both statues and the memorial tablet emitted specks of golden light, which quickly filled the entire Heavenly Heart Hall. As the golden light entered his body, Zhao Xing felt a majestic and solemn power flowing into him. In a trance, he saw a Heavenly Gate. Behind it, palace complexes stretched endlessly, with civil and military officials arrayed in court. A colossal golden giant sat on an enormous throne, gazing down upon heaven and earth. The giant gently pointed, and auspicious clouds carried Zhao Xing, flying past the Heavenly Gate and towards that magnificent palace.

As soon as he passed through the Heavenly Gate, Zhao Xing felt a layer of obstruction vanish. His comprehension of Five Elements magic, which had previously seemed veiled by a blurry shadow, became suddenly clear after passing through this gate. Immediately after, his life soul was stirred. He involuntarily closed his eyes and inwardly perceived the existence of his life soul. Beneath his life soul’s feet, a thin layer of golden light suddenly unfurled. The previously empty and desolate void instantly became warm and bright.

“Golden light spreading beneath my life soul means the national destiny is entering my body, forging the foundation of my Destiny Palace,” Zhao Xing realized. However, he had already cultivated to the 'entering the ranks' stage, and his foundation was already solid. Thus, this golden light merely coated his feet. The vast majority was absorbed by the life soul itself. Part of it increased his lifespan, and part increased his luck.

A hum filled the air. Zhao Xing’s internal perception of his life soul and the foundation-building phase of destiny did not last long. For those with lower cultivation, not yet 'entering the ranks', the process would naturally be more complex, as it would supplement them to at least the level of a ninth-rank lower official.

Opening his eyes again, Zhao Xing was already inside a grand hall. Looking around, civil and military officials stretched endlessly, seemingly infinite. He stood near the hall entrance, merely a lowest-ranked ninth-grade official. His body was also of normal size. However, the closer to the front, the larger these ethereal figures appeared. As for the impossibly vast, unique golden giant, that was Emperor Jing.

Zhao Xing understood. From the moment he entered this hall, he had formally stepped into the system of the Great Zhou, a dynasty sustained by destiny.

“Your subject, Zhao Xing, respectfully thanks Your Majesty!”

“May Your Majesty live forever!”

Only this part of the entire process required kneeling. Zhao Xing had no mental burden and immediately knelt to express his gratitude. With this, the process of the national destiny entering the body concluded.

The next moment, mists swirled. Zhao Xing reappeared inside the Heavenly Heart Hall. Now was not the time to check his panel, as there was still something to do. That was the Spirit Inquiry Selection. After being appointed an official, one didn't immediately receive a post; instead, it was a selection and assignment phase. First selection, then assignment. After entering officialdom, one would be asked where they wished to serve, but by now it had become a mere formality, a perfunctory step. It was impossible to get what one truly desired. Because officials were now as numerous as ox hairs; this wasn't the era of the Grand Ancestor's reign, when there were so many vacancies. It was already good to have a place to go; did they still want to choose?

A hum filled the air. Within the temple, a benevolent figure with kindly eyes appeared. He wore hemp clothes, looking like an old farmer. It was precisely True Monarch Caoxi, who had imparted cultivation methods to Zhao Xing.

“Greetings, True Monarch.”

Caoxi, with a gentle tone and a smile, asked, “Zhao Xing, you are now a formal official. The court has sent me to ask you, where do you wish to serve?”

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and said, “I wish to join the military and be placed on the selection list for the Ministry of War.”

Caoxi seemed unsurprised by this answer: “You received a Top Grade in this examination, so becoming a military agricultural official can omit some procedures.”

“First, I ask you, have you decided which military unit you wish to join? You can select three to ten armies. Once chosen, your name will appear on the alternate lists for these armies, and if you are deemed suitable, someone will come to assess you.”

“The Divine Might Army.”

Caoxi closed his eyes, then opened them after three breaths, shaking his head slightly: “Although you achieved a Top Grade in the examination, you have not yet reached the threshold for entering the Divine Might Army. The possibility of being selected is extremely low. I can only place you on the alternate list for the Pacifying Barbarians Legion.”

Zhao Xing said, “Thank you for the reminder, True Monarch. My choice remains unchanged.”

Hearing this, Caoxi said no more, and his figure vanished. The Spirit Inquiry Selection phase concluded, and Zhao Xing left the Heavenly Heart Hall. He was now in a state of awaiting assignment. The other officials also exited the Heavenly Heart Hall.

By now, the area outside the temple was bustling. Congratulatory voices were everywhere.

“Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao, wait!”

Zhao Xing was about to leave but was stopped by three people. It was none other than Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Shichang.

“Is something wrong?” Zhao Xing turned and asked.

“Brother Zhao, please accept our bow.” Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze simultaneously clasped their hands and bowed ninety degrees to Zhao Xing.

“What are you doing?” Zhao Xing was bewildered. Why are you bowing to me out of the blue?

After bowing, Xiao Ze rose and said with a smile, “For the last question of our theoretical examination, we all used Brother Zhao’s original answer.”

Wen Nanxing sighed, “Brother Zhao’s answer was truly a model essay. This examination was tricky and difficult. If I hadn’t scored on that last question, I might very well have failed.”

Zhao Xing understood, and cupped his hands in return to Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze: “There’s no need for this, gentlemen. Your success in the examination is due to your own abilities.”

Zong Shichang grinned, “Me too, but I won’t bow to you. After this, come to my house for a meal. Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, you two must come as well. If you don’t, you’re disrespecting me, and I’ll hold a grudge!”

“Hahaha, then we shall respectfully obey.”

“Young Master Zong, I’ve long wanted to feast at your house. Now I finally have the chance! Even if you didn’t invite me, I’d still go!”

“Then I must skip two meals and save my appetite! Brother Zhao, wouldn’t you agree?”

The four descended the steps, chatting and laughing. Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing had previously held a slight grudge against Zhao Xing due to their past rivalry, but now that they had become officials and received Zhao Xing’s favor, that bit of resentment completely vanished. Instead, they could frankly discuss their past petty thoughts.

“Brother Zhao, you might not know, but during that examination, you used Earth Vein Core to steal our vital energy, both mine and Nanxing’s. We were criticized by Minister Chen for being too careless.”

“After going back, Nanxing got completely drunk and was even shouting your name in his sleep,” Xiao Ze said.

“Nonsense, why exaggerate so much?” Wen Nanxing retorted with a laugh. “Besides, weren’t you also dead drunk, vowing to avenge your previous humiliation? How dare you talk about me?”

“Gentlemen, you have a chance for revenge tonight,” Zong Shichang chimed in. “There will be drinks at my manor tonight. You two can do your worst, and you don’t have to worry about retaliation afterward. Zhao Xing, isn’t that right?”

“Forget two; even if all three of you combined, you might not be able to outdrink me,” Zhao Xing challenged. “Tonight at the Zong manor, let’s see who truly stands victorious in the cups!”

“What arrogant bluster! Tonight, I, Xiao Ze, shall certainly humble your prestige!”

“Let’s go, let’s go! Hahaha.”

After leaving the Heavenly Heart Hall, Zhao Xing received congratulations from all directions. Gucheng County Magistrate Li Wenzheng, Military Directorate Commander Wang Long, Divine Temple Ritual Master Meng Yun, Imperial Workshop’s Gongsun Yang… The path from inside the temple to outside was very short, but Zhao Xing was surrounded and it took him a full hour to finally exit the temple.

Chen Shijie and Long Xiao didn’t say much, only reminding him to visit their manor in two days.

After Zhao Xing exited the temple, he had intended to check his panel to understand the detailed changes. Now that he had officially entered the system of the destiny dynasty, the shackles were gone, and his lifespan and luck should logically have increased. However, before he could check, he heard Zhao Zheng’s voice.

“Big Brother!”

“Big Brother is out!” Zhao Zheng immediately rushed over. “Congratulations, Big Brother!”

Zhao Xing rubbed Zhao Zheng’s head and asked, “Where’s Father?”

“Over there,” Zhao Zheng said, pulling his brother and looking in one direction. “Waiting for you to come home for dinner.”

Zhao Ruide had been waiting for a long time, and Lady Cai stood beside him. Upon seeing Zhao Xing emerge, both their faces lit up with joy and happiness.

“Come on, let’s go home.”

(End of this volume)

***

**Author’s Note:**

This volume, ‘The Junior Official of Agriculture,’ has concluded. Zhao Xing has formally entered officialdom, and we will now begin the new volume, ‘Ten Suns Cave Heaven.’

There were many shortcomings in the content of this volume, but I have truly done my best. Every day, I wake up, write, and then go to sleep… I believe whether the writing is good or not is one thing; attitude is another.

Originally, I promised an update volume of 8,000 to 12,000 characters, but since its release on May 1st, I’ve delivered 15,000 characters daily, and updates have been quite punctual. Only today was there a slight delay due to other matters, but I still didn’t miss an update.