Tokens and Almanac

You obtained the Thousand Mile Transmission Token!

Thousand Mile Transmission Token (Specially Made)

Quality: Third-tier high grade

Effect: Once triggered with vital energy, it automatically sends a distress signal to a designated location and marks the recipient's bearing.

You obtained the Evil Aversion Almanac!

Evil Aversion Almanac (Specially Made)

Quality: Third-tier high grade

Effect: It can issue warnings based on the user's fate level. The higher the level, the stronger the effect. The maximum compatible level is "Derivation Three."

Having received the treasures, Chen Shijie gave them a few reminders. The group thanked him and took their leave.

Zhao Xing held the two treasures, somewhat surprised.

He had never expected the Profound Heaven Sect's appearance to let him obtain these two treasures ahead of time—and specially made versions at that.

"The Thousand Mile Transmission Token has an additional automatic tracking and positioning function compared with a Thousand Mile Voice Transmission Talisman. Sometimes, when things are urgent, there's no time to speak at all. This token is far better than a single-use talisman." Zhao Xing examined it. Red, blue, and green beads were embedded in its surface.

They corresponded to different levels of emergency. Red represented extreme danger, usually something on the level of an enemy state invasion. Upon receiving such a signal, at least a small military unit would have to be dispatched to investigate.

Thinking of the East Lake Army Wang Long had mentioned earlier, Zhao Xing felt that this token had likely been specially made by the military.

Its grade alone made that clear. An upper-grade third-tier treasure was difficult for ordinary people to possess.

Almanacs, on the other hand, were common. Ordinary households had them, but most were ungraded.

Any that possessed a grade generally had miraculous effects.

Like this Evil Aversion Almanac.

"It isn't a complete almanac, but it's also a specially made version. The fortune-seeking effect has been removed, while the danger-avoidance effect has been strengthened."

"The higher one's fate level, the more obvious the effect."

A complete almanac was extremely difficult to obtain, because the complete version was kept within the imperial palace. It was a super-grade "rare treasure."

All almanacs in the world had been derived from that super-grade "treasure."

The ranking of that treasure was no weaker than the later Cloud Dream Academy. Of course, it still fell somewhat short of the Great Dream Academy, which was a treasure that safeguarded the state.

Even so, obtaining the Evil Aversion Almanac was quite good.

Almanacs with a fortune-seeking effect were exceedingly rare. They had to be fourth-grade or above, and to produce truly powerful effects, they needed to be of seventh-grade quality.

Dynasties of Fate generally imposed such restrictions. Why? To keep people from using such things for evil, and to prevent anyone from gaining without labor.

Besides, if everyone could "seek fortune," it was equivalent to no one being able to do so.

"The impoverished and suffering cannot obtain a 'fortune version' almanac, while its owners are either wealthy or noble. They generally wouldn't use it for profit."

"Mm, my fate level is Derivation Two. The Evil Aversion Almanac's effect should be quite good... Hm?" Zhao Xing had just left the Ministry of Agriculture and was planning to inspect his fields in the Eastern Suburbs when the almanac suddenly began flipping by itself without any wind.

Rustle—the almanac flipped open, then stopped on a certain page.

Jingxin Calendar, Year Fifteen, seventh month, twenty-second day, yuzhong, Third Quarter of the Si Hour.

Danger-aversion warning: Medium Omen; travel due east, danger lies hidden.

That was what the almanac displayed.

At the same time, a notification popped up on the panel.

You used the third-grade treasure "Evil Aversion Almanac." Based on your fate level and known information, you received the following prompt:

You set out during the Si Hour and traveled to the Eastern Suburbs. At a tea stall, you encountered hidden followers of the Profound Heaven Sect and inadvertently drew their attention. Your survival is uncertain. Do not go!

"Damn, danger lies hidden. Could those lunatics from the Profound Heaven Sect really have come near Gucheng?" Zhao Xing looked at the almanac, compared it with the panel prompt, and found himself at a loss for words.

Ominous signs were divided into four levels: minor, medium, major, and extreme.

Under normal circumstances, the latter three were relatively rare.

He had not expected a medium-level ominous sign to appear right after obtaining it.

Because Zhao Xing himself already knew of the Profound Heaven Sect and much other information, the panel's presentation was more detailed.

Was his fate really this useful? It had given him a prompt like this the moment it appeared?

"No traveling during the Si Hour, danger lies hidden. I'm out of here." Zhao Xing decisively chose to avoid the east. He would not be going to the Eastern Suburbs today.

As for reporting it? Impossible. There was too little information. There were so many tea stalls in the east—who knew which one housed those heretics? Even if he knew the details, he could not do that right now. How would he explain it? The Evil Aversion Almanac was not nearly that detailed.

Great Zhou had no sects. The sects of old had all been driven out of the Nineteen Provinces. "Drive the sects beyond the realm"—that was said to be one emperor's achievement.

Thus, once the system of a unified Dynasty of Fate had been established, there was essentially no ground for evil gods, licentious worship, sects, or heretics to survive. At most, there would be some small-scale activities that could not bear the light of day.

"Yet under such circumstances, the Profound Heaven Sect has managed to cause trouble from time to time across several dynasties, making its presence known. Its power is truly frightening. It is also one of the few ancient sects whose disciples remain active even in the age of dynasties."

"The main sect is mostly sealed off and dormant, but the remaining believers and followers are still a force not to be underestimated—at least for me right now," Zhao Xing thought.

"I don't know whether the others will notice, but if followers of the Profound Heaven Sect really are lurking around the public fields right now..."

Turning around, Zhao Xing returned to the Ministry of Agriculture and found Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong.

"Zi Yu, Qian Dong, what are your plans for later?"

"Zi Yu and I are planning to go to the Eastern Suburbs, then go home for lunch before heading back there afterward." Qian Dong spoke lazily. "The Ministry of Agriculture's food doesn't suit my tastes."

"It's already the Great Heat season. To regrow Yuan Rice, we have to keep using the 'Cultivation' spell just to keep it alive. It's such a hassle. Sigh..." Chen Ziyu wore a miserable expression.

"By the way, big brother, why did Chen Shijie summon you?" Qian Dong asked.

"He said heretics have been causing trouble, specifically abducting clerks from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Heavenly Craft Workshop. Chen Shijie told us to be careful and gave us some items for self-defense." There was nothing to hide; word had already spread.

Public security in Nanyang County was quite good, or at least that was the general impression, so neither Chen Ziyu nor Qian Dong paid much attention. Instead, upon hearing that Zhao Xing had received two treasures, they clamored to see them.

Zhao Xing was more than happy for them to abandon their plans to visit the Eastern Suburbs. The three simply ate in the city. When afternoon came, he took out the almanac and headed east. Seeing no warning appear, he immediately felt much relieved.

"No warning appeared. They must have left? Perhaps they only came to scout the area? I heard Li Chengfeng and the other Grade A List junior clerks didn't take it seriously at all. They even deliberately went to the Eastern Suburbs in groups, hoping to earn merit. I wonder whether anyone went missing." At that moment, Zhao Xing was even hoping the Profound Heaven Sect would cause some trouble and capture some of those on the Grade A List. With fewer strong competitors, wouldn't his chances of becoming a regular official be much higher?

But that hope was destined to remain wishful thinking. Until the beginning of the eighth month, no one went missing. Gucheng remained peaceful, and even some of the East Lake Army withdrew.

On the second day of the eighth month, Old Sima Nong, Xue Wenzhong, returned to Locust Willow Courtyard after ten days of sick leave. Everything seemed to have changed very little.

The people of the Ministry of Agriculture soon forgot about the matter as well, because the Start-of-Autumn Examination was about to begin.