Zi Lü

"Great is our ancestor, who first opened primordial chaos; cultivating virtue and rousing martial might, of noble virtue and gracious conduct. He raised up writing and created laws, adorning the nine heavens and casting down their signs; he taught farming and mastered arithmetic, illuminating ten thousand ages with soaring words. The common people pray and beseech; the Emperor watches over all spirits. Society to the left, millet to the right; the Land Gods are numinous. Each takes their place in every direction, guarding homes and households. We take refuge in the highest sage: primal, prosperous, beneficial, steadfast."

Lord Shang looked at the passage recorded on the bamboo slip in his hand. The corners of his lips lifted slightly. After softly reciting it, he handed it to his eldest son and asked, "This is an incantation passed down by that immortal Yu Chen. It is rather interesting. Take a look."

The grown Shang Jia stepped forward at those words and respectfully accepted the bamboo slip Lord Shang handed him.

Because Lord Shang had just recited it, the words on the bamboo slip now flowed with dense incantation power, brightening and dimming like breath as they echoed with the earth beneath his feet.

"This incantation is indeed interesting. It is neither immortal nor divine, neither sacrifice nor spell. By praising His Majesty the Human Emperor, it strengthens one's connection with the land. Yet this incantation still requires power to drive it. It is one thing for divine descendants like us to recite it—every word and phrase contains divine power, allowing us to wield a few earthly divine abilities. But those citizen slaves have inferior bloodlines. They would have to chant it for years before they could even cross the threshold, gaining a trace of incantation power and slightly influencing the circulation of