Experiment Failed

He had made cultivation seem far too simple in his mind.

Lu Zheng read through the "Dao De Jing" and the "Diamond Sutra," then willed away a wisp of Light of Luck. All it did was let him recite both scriptures backward and forward without a hitch.

Immortal cultivation? Dream on! Still unwilling to give up, Lu Zheng traveled to the Great Jing Dynasty again, but the Jade Seal remained unresponsive.

Web novels had done him deep harm! May those damn authors die miserable deaths! "Several possibilities!"

"First, the Buddhist and Daoist systems of the Great Jing Dynasty differ from those of the modern world, so these two books are completely useless."

"Second, these two scriptures aren't cultivation manuals, merely lofty theoretical guidance. After all, the same theory can yield different results in different environments."

"Third, these two scriptures can be cultivated, but someone has to guide me through the entrance. I can't understand them at all right now. In truth, I have zero foundation."

"Fourth, these two scriptures are too profound and unfathomable. To make progress, the very first step requires a vast amount of Light of Luck. My little bit was only enough to memorize the scriptures."

The first possibility was the worst. It meant that all the Buddhist and Daoist texts Lu Zheng could so easily obtain in the modern world were useless.

The second possibility was a little better. At least they could serve as support, and with theoretical guidance, it would be easier for Lu Zheng to understand genuine cultivation manuals.

This was also the most likely possibility.

As for the third and fourth possibilities, they were fine for web novels and daydreams. Don't take them seriously, or it would be easy to go mad.

Since neither the "Dao De Jing" nor the "Diamond Sutra" worked, Lu Zheng had no interest in seeking out other Daoist collections or Buddhist scriptures full of theory, much less cultivation manuals of uncertain authenticity.

There were ready-made ones in the Great Jing Dynasty anyway. Once he got started over there, he could turn around and look for usable materials in the modern world. Wouldn't that be much more efficient? Having made up his mind, Lu Zheng set cultivation aside for the moment and began pondering the Light of Luck again.

"I spent more than ten days in the Great Jing Dynasty without triggering any Light of Luck."

"Then I met the Old Beggar. I gave him a chicken leg and a meal, and received five wisps."

"I dragged a Flower Plucking Thief to the County Government Office, which counted as changing his future fate, and only then did I receive one wisp of Light of Luck."

"Hiss!"

"This Old Beggar isn't ordinary! Could one meal really bring such a great increase or decrease in luck?

Or was it because my meal gave him an instant enlightenment, increasing his own luck?"

"But if that's the case, wouldn't increasing the Light of Luck require changing other people's fates on a broad and massive scale?"

"Then how am I supposed to develop quietly? In this era, lying low is the kingly path!"

"Or should I focus on those with immense luck?"

"If I quietly take out a protagonist favored by heaven and earth, would I become a saint on the spot?"

"A villain route?"

"Or... become some nameless old grandpa and give the 'Dao De Jing' to potential rising stars or supervillains, increasing their luck?"

"A mastermind-behind-the-scenes route?"

"This is too hard. There are too many Qidian genres. It's really impossible to choose!"

In a daze, Lu Zheng fell asleep.

Early the next morning.

The first thing he did was check the Jade Seal in his mind. The second was check his phone balance.

Ring, ring, ring!

"Hello."

"Hello, is this Mr. Lu Zheng?" The voice on the other end was sweet, clearly not a robot.

"Yes."

"I'm your dedicated customer service representative at China Merchants Bank. We noticed that you have eight million in idle funds, and our bank has recently launched—"

Beep, beep, beep...

Hmph! No matter how sweet her voice was, she couldn't have his eight million!

After hanging up, Lu Zheng put away his phone and, with a thought, arrived in the Great Jing Dynasty once more.

"Uncle Li!"

"Young Master!"

"Is everything at home still sufficient?"

"It is! We lack neither vegetables nor rice and flour, and there's still purchasing money left from what you gave us. It will be enough until next month. My wife has kept all the accounts!"

"Good!" Lu Zheng nodded, then prepared to go out for his usual stroll.

"Young Master, someone came from the East Street clothing shop yesterday and delivered the sets of clothes you had custom-made there. I saw that you weren't here yesterday, so I put them in the west Side Room."

Uncle Li had grown accustomed to Lu Zheng's occasional comings and goings like a ghost.

But as a servant, so long as the master's household did nothing unlawful, he would not ask what he should not ask. Living a better and better life was the proper path.

"Oh? The clothes are here. I understand."

When Lu Zheng first arrived, he had been wearing imitation ancient clothing bought in the modern world.

Though it was supposedly professional, there were still subtle differences in the details compared to the Great Jing Dynasty, not to mention that the fabric was thoroughly outclassed.

If no one paid attention, it was one thing. But once they did, the difference was easy to spot.

So after buying the residence, Lu Zheng had immediately gone to a clothing shop and bought several ready-made outfits. Then, after being sweet-talked by the shop owner, he had custom-ordered several more sets.

"Not bad. I'm a rich man who can wear custom tailoring now."

Lu Zheng returned to the west Side Room and inspected the clothing that had been delivered.

Two sapphire-blue tussah silk straight robes, two moon-white cotton round-collared robes, three sets of black cloud-cotton trousers, two crimson gauze belts with round floral patterns, and one black brocade cloak.

Tsk, tsk, exquisite! After changing into a custom-fitted outer robe, Lu Zheng felt that every lift of his hand and every step he took fit perfectly. When he returned to the modern world and looked in the full-length mirror, he was undeniably a refined Young Master amid a sullied world.

"What cosplay company can be as extravagant as mine? Entirely ancient weaving techniques, tailored by an ancient craftsman, hand-sewn—the one and only set in the entire twenty-first century!"

After admiring himself happily for a while, Lu Zheng traveled back to the Great Jing Dynasty.

He had been too excited the previous night, and that morning he had tried on clothes again. By now, it was almost noon. The morning storytelling session at Qing Sheng Teahouse had already ended, and the afternoon was for opera performances.

Lu Zheng could not understand many modern theatrical productions, much less those of the Great Jing Dynasty.

So Qing Sheng Teahouse was out.

That left preparing a gift for his visit to White Cloud Temple, as well as figuring out how to increase his Light of Luck.

Six wisps of Light of Luck: one for strengthening himself, one for computers, one for memorizing the scriptures. At this point, only three wisps remained.

Was it much? Not much at all. He had to use it sparingly.

"Should I go back to the modern world and prepare something, then give White Cloud Temple a treasure worthy of being its temple's greatest relic? If White Cloud Temple truly possesses supernatural wonders, then it can surely alter luck, and I could get a share of it too."

"No rush. Play it safe. I'll give them a few strings of cash first and see whether White Cloud Temple truly has the skill. Randomly giving modern gifts would draw too much attention."

As soon as he thought of it, he acted. Lu Zheng returned to the modern world, took several strings' worth of Treasure Notes from a folder and carried them on his person, then called Uncle Li to go out with him. They headed for the city's carriage and horse station, intending to rent a donkey cart for the journey to White Cloud Temple.

Though it was still morning, Shaotong Mountain east of the city was less than twenty li from the county seat. But the roads were difficult, and if they went on foot, they likely would not make it back even by nightfall.