Furthermore, a person’s potential determines their maximum level cap. For instance, if a player’s potential is Tier 4, they can reach level 49 without any bottlenecks. To break through to level 50, they must overcome their limitations by participating in advancement trials. While difficult, the path forward still exists, which is a significant advantage over those with potential below Tier 6. However, if someone has Tier 9 potential, they face no bottlenecks before level 99, which creates a massive gap.
However, the difficulty of leveling up in the "Mythical Three Kingdoms" China region is, for players, at a hellish level.
……
If potential limits the level and the increase of base attributes, then destiny limits the quality of one's talents.
When a person’s destiny enters different destiny palaces, the talents they trigger differ.
In Lin Mu’s view, the [Central Destiny] and [Heaven-Changing Destiny] are relatively superior destiny palaces, while the [Eastern Destiny] is common; it is the one most frequently triggered by ordinary players and NPCs, accounting for the largest proportion of the total.
In his past life, Lin Mu’s destiny was the [Eastern Destiny] entering the [Noon Horse] destiny palace. The talent he triggered was mediocre, not even worth mentioning.
He hoped to have a fortuitous encounter in this life to activate a better destiny palace and talent. As for potential, it could be improved by consuming elixirs and rare treasures of heaven and earth.
Lin Mu’s thoughts returned from the shocking attributes of Feng Zhong, and he clicked on Chang Yin’s attributes with great anticipation
Name: Chang Yin, Courtesy Name Yuanjian Potential: Tier 9 [Heavenly Image] (Sealed) Loyalty: 100 Profession: God-tier Scholar Divine Title: None Fate/Luck: 1.16 Yuan Identity: Village Cao Congshi (Administrative Assistant) Merit: 0 Level: 0 (0%) Command: 10, Might: 10, Intelligence: 10, Politics: 28
[Derived Attributes] Combat Power: 1000 Command Power: 1000 Divine Strategy Power: 1000 Internal Affairs Efficiency: 308% (100% (Scholar profession special bonus) + 28% + 180%) Stamina: 200 Speed: 26 Defense: 100 Morale: 100
Talent: [Innovation Pioneer] Skills: Bountiful Harvest, Favorable Weather, Cultural Harmony, Peace and Prosperity Specialties Specialty 1: Advanced [Tuntian] (Military Colony Farming) specialty. Those who possess this specialty increase grain production by 10% when performing farming operations. Specialty 2: Master-level [Pioneering] specialty. Those who possess this specialty increase the overall effect by 100% when leading villagers in land reclamation and similar activities.
Internal Cultivation: "Natural Sutra": God-tier cultivation method, twelve layers in total. Each layer studied increases Politics by 2 points. Once successfully studied, it greatly enhances the effects of strategist and scholar-type skills and provides special bonuses to territory operations such as farming, afforestation, mountain excavation, lake digging, and mineral collection. Currently studied to the ninth layer, increasing Politics by 18, territory operation bonus effect by 180% (20% per layer), and scholar-type skill bonus effect by 900%.
Equipment: Cloth Clothes, Straw Sandals, [Ancestral Protection] Wealth: 191 Fate Gold Coins, 39 Gold Coins
After reading Feng Zhong’s attributes, Lin Mu wasn't as excited looking at Chang Yin’s. Moreover, Chang Yin’s skills and equipment were relatively ordinary. Lin Mu was very familiar with territory status skills like Bountiful Harvest, Favorable Weather, Cultural Harmony, and Peace and Prosperity, so he didn't examine them one by one.
Lin Mu clicked on the special equipment [Ancestral Protection] and the talent [Innovation Pioneer] to take a look
Item Name: [Ancestral Protection] Grade: Heirloom Type: Accessory Attributes: Contains the entire inheritance of the ancient sage [Chang Xian], can only be passed down to his descendants. Description: Legend has it that this is the heirloom of the Chang clan, carrying the clan's legacy. It can only be used by descendants of the Chang clan's bloodline. Inside are earth-shattering strategies and cultivation methods like the "Natural Sutra."
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[Innovation Pioneer]: Tier 9 [Heavenly Image] talent. With destiny entering the Heavenly Image star, the success rate of research and development in departments led by the user increases by 30%.
Lin Mu wasn't surprised by [Ancestral Protection]. After seeing Feng Zhong’s attributes, he had already guessed that Chang Yin might be a descendant of the ancient sage [Chang Xian].
However, upon seeing the Tier 9 [Heavenly Image] talent [Innovation Pioneer], Lin Mu’s mind roared! This was too overpowered! A 30% increase in research success rate—if he established a research institution, how many new skills, illustrations, and items would be created? That research department would become a cornucopia! Lin Mu could already see himself counting money until his hands went soft in the future.
Lin Mu remembered that the highest research department bonus previously was only 5%, which was the effect of an expert-level building—already a very impressive figure. Compared to [Innovation Pioneer], it was the difference between Mount Tai and a feather.
Lin Mu had previously thought Chang Yin was just a God-tier scholar focused on production volume. He never expected this [Innovation Pioneer] to turn his territory into a city of innovation. Constant innovation would enhance the foundation of the territory. Lin Mu was truly stunned by this massive surprise.
Technology is the primary productive force, and innovation is the source of technology.
As an ambitious man, he immediately had a detailed plan the moment he saw this talent.
Haha, like a tiger with wings added!!!!
Lin Mu didn't care about anything else now; he was immersed in the immense surprise.
Chang Yin’s Tier 9 [Heavenly Image] talent was already so formidable; he wondered what Feng Zhong’s Tier 9 [Wu Qu] talent [Power of Suppressing Gods] was like?
So looking forward to it!!
Lin Mu wasn't surprised that Feng Zhong and Chang Yin practiced God-tier cultivation methods. As a player who understood the Mythical Three Kingdoms world, he knew that God-tier generals like Lu Bu and Zhao Yun all practiced God-tier methods, held God-tier weapons, and rode epic-tier mounts—high-end, atmospheric, and classy.
That the two auxiliary NPCs rewarded by his system could be on par with such figures was truly extraordinary. He also marveled at the overpowered nature of the God-tier Village Building Token.
If someone else had gotten this token, it would be a nightmare for him. Fortunately, he was the one becoming the nightmare for others. Why did that feel so good?
Lin Mu hadn't heard of many of Feng Zhong and Chang Yin’s skills, but their descriptions suggested extraordinary effects. It seemed he would need to pay attention to them in the future.
What was more important to players were weapons and equipment—God-tier weapons. This was the greatest pursuit in gaming. In ordinary games, players' desire for equipment and weapons was the strongest; defeating various bosses and clearing dungeons were all for the sake of gear.
In "Mythical Three Kingdoms," equipment grades are divided into five levels: God-tier, Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow—namely God-tier equipment, Heaven-tier equipment, Earth-tier equipment, Mysterious-tier equipment, and Yellow-tier equipment. There was also ordinary equipment. The cloth shoes Lin Mu possessed were ordinary trash; they were fine for walking, but if he encountered intense combat, the low durability of those cloth shoes would cause them to shatter quickly.
However, Lin Mu remembered a special kind of straw sandal: the ones made by Liu Bei!
Before he rose to power, Liu Bei’s secondary profession was a tailor, specializing in making straw sandals. But these weren't ordinary straw sandals. Lin Mu remembered very clearly that their attributes were heaven-defying: Speed +5, Speed +100%, and durability that automatically recovered.
Three attributes, each extremely precious. These were the legendary indestructible straw sandals!
……
God-tier equipment being sealed was understandable. Haha, it was too overpowered; the system imposing restrictions was a testament to its power. Lin Mu didn't have much resentment toward those sealed items. The stronger, the better, haha... After finishing the attributes of Feng Zhong and Chang Yin, Lin Mu, like a child who had received immense satisfaction, began to tremble, his face full of smiles, and his laughter gradually grew louder.
Lin Mu’s laughter caught Chang Yin’s attention. He asked, "Lord, Lord... My Lord, is there some happy event? Can you share it with your subordinate?" Chang Yin asked a few times, as Lin Mu was still immersed in his state of great joy.
"Ah, Yuanjian, it’s you. It’s nothing, nothing!" Lin Mu waved his hand, snapping out of his surprise.
"It’s just that seeing your attributes, they are so outstanding. With you and Fengjin, I am like a fish in water, like a tiger with wings! Great fortune, great fortune! Haha..." Lin Mu usually addressed those he was familiar with by their courtesy names, which signified closeness. If they didn't have one, he would use their given names. Although it was their first day meeting, Lin Mu and Chang Yin and Feng Zhong seemed very familiar, as if they were "colluding together"! Phew! I mean, like-minded!
"My attributes are not very impressive, just average!" Chang Yin didn't show any pride, remaining as calm as water.
"By the way, you and Fengjin both have heirlooms. Are you descendants of the ancient era? Can you tell me about the deeds of your glorious ancestors?" Lin Mu noted the [Ancestral Protection] and [Feng Hou Protection] in their equipment.
"Reporting to my Lord, my surname is Chang, and I am a descendant of [Chang Xian], an auxiliary minister under [Emperor Xuanyuan]! And Feng Zhong, Feng Fengjin, is a descendant of [Feng Hou], also an auxiliary minister under Emperor Xuanyuan! Therefore, it is only because of the protection of our predecessors that we are who we are today! We must not be proud or boastful!"
Sure enough, Chang Yin and Feng Zhong were both descendants of gods. Glorious identities, honorable bloodlines—truly extraordinary. Having their assistance, the future would be easier and more glorious!
Who was [Emperor Xuanyuan]? He was one of the Human Emperors, who established the great merit of unifying the Central Plains and created countless tools and products that benefited future generations. [Chang Xian] and [Feng Hou] were both his capable ministers who made huge contributions!
Ancient sages generally had bloodline inheritances, but unfortunately, in the current mythical world, such things seemed to have disappeared from the world.
"The [Yellow Dragon Token] that the Lord obtained previously is the City Heart of the supreme imperial dynasty established by [Emperor Xuanyuan]!" Chang Yin suddenly revealed a secret, bringing a huge shock to Lin Mu.
Supreme, Imperial Dynasty, City Heart... Lin Mu’s mind was in chaos. It was actually that person’s item. Suddenly, Lin Mu felt a wave of fear and asked urgently, "Is Emperor Xuanyuan dead? Will he come back to take the [Yellow Dragon Token]?" Lin Mu didn't believe Emperor Xuanyuan would die. The mythical world was mysterious, and a person of such earth-shattering greatness would certainly not fall so easily. But Lin Mu couldn't help but ask.
"My Lord, rest assured, the Emperor will not take back the [Yellow Dragon Token]. It is now your private property; you have already bound it with a drop of blood. No one can occupy or demand it! As long as you are unwilling, even gods cannot!" Chang Yin knew Lin Mu’s worries and joked slightly. However, he didn't answer the question about Emperor Xuanyuan’s status, effectively avoiding it. But Lin Mu was currently in a state of great anxiety and didn't press further.
"That’s good, that’s good. Good, I’m relieved!" Lin Mu had his own thoughts. If someone took the [Yellow Dragon Token] away, he would lose his greatest advantage. Then what was the point of talking about dominating the world? He wasn't a dragon-wrapped chosen one or a descendant of gods. He was completely on a different level from people like Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Yuan Shao. He was just an ordinary player who gained 4 base attributes per level.
An ordinary player only had the social status of a scholar from a humble family in the Han Dynasty.
Lin Mu hadn't completely let go of his worries. With great gains come great costs, and he would have to shoulder more responsibilities or obligations, he just didn't know it yet...
Sure enough, there is no free lunch in the world. It seems there will be a different path ahead...
Lin Mu wasn't worried about Chang Yin and Feng Zhong deceiving him. Their loyalty had reached 100, a state of absolute loyalty, which would not decrease for any other reason.
Absolute loyalty is a special state, the highest realm for players recruiting NPCs. Once this state is reached, the NPC will never betray their Lord.
Regardless, he had to develop with a low profile, not be proud or slack off. As long as he became stronger and his territory developed better, no one could bully him, and no one could make him compromise. Lin Mu secretly made up his mind.
Having figured this out, Lin Mu felt refreshed and incredibly relaxed. The conversation with Chang Yin had truly shocked him.
(End of chapter)