Chapter 1235
Chapter 1235 - 1221: Future Dao Disciple
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8 min read
In the eyes of those who were familiar or unfamiliar with Lu Ping’an, the young man’s lifestyle was actually quite Buddhist.
As the leader of a power, he sometimes had a very low presence because, except during war, he never gave speeches or study sessions and had no interest in flaunting his presence or favor in front of his employees.
Not to mention mind control, he hadn’t even spoken about corporate spirit, much less like other corporate bosses and founders, who would have their portraits or statues displayed everywhere.
But everyone knew him, and knew his thoughts...
"Trade is the main theme of Rebirth Commerce? No, fair trade is..."
Lu viewed the enterprise as a relationship of employment and cooperation, so he never spoke about spirit and dedication, always considering the relationship between the employees and the Chamber of Commerce as "equal trade"... I pay you money for your service to the Chamber, I won’t ask for your dedication beyond your salary, but don’t try any tricks beyond your work.
This was actually not a qualified management method, and even seen by many as an overly idealized result... Contracts, shares, mind control, overtime, performance appraisal—all these modern marvels have proven their astounding effects in squeezing profits. Perhaps they are not good things, yet for "capitalists," they are excellent tools.
The stability of Lu Ping’an’s society was merely because he indeed was the core, with a courtyard that was a welfare treatment hardly anyone could refuse,
However, as his companions followed him all along, they found that they were quite accustomed to this calm and stable way of working.
𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
No need for slogans or any corporate spirit, just do your job well and take your fair share of the rewards...
"Sometimes, I doubt whether you are aspiring to become the deity of ’trade’ or ’fairness’... But after a longer association, I realized maybe you just purely enjoy it."
Someone had once said this.
But the response that Lu Ping’an gave at that time was quite reflective.
"Actually, it’s not contradictory. Personal paths and personal preferences cannot conflict."
The person who heard this at the beginning did not pay much attention, but what Lu said was a lesson learned... a lesson from the Balance Disaster Beast, Chris.
When her "self-will" conflicted with the "World’s Reason" she pursued, no matter how she hypnotized herself, how fervently she believed or how thoroughly she schemed, destruction was the only outcome.
Looking back, it was not because her "pursuit" was too unjust that led to her failure... there were plenty of other Evil Gods more outrageous and extreme than her.
"Her resolve in her own path wavered..."
This was the fundamental reason.
Even though she never admitted it, Lu Ping’an could guess that her "reason" was determined at the moment her world was destroyed and her people were nearly annihilated; she embarked on the extreme path of "Since I have no other path, I will devour everything and leave no path for others."
And once she had everything on Earth... not to mention anything else, just the existence of those "sisters," especially since she did not actually consume her sisters according to her own "reason," doomed her to have no future.
When the last "sister" also departed, and she, having nothing, attempted a forced Ascension three years later... failure was simply a matter of course.
"From the beginning, my path had to align with my values and goals..."
With the biggest lesson in front of him, Lu Ping’an naturally became cautious.
And now, he had come to the point where he must make a choice.
"Scholar, I feel advancement is imminent..."
This was undoubtedly the most incomprehensible to him.
Because he was a Pure Scholar, and becoming a Pure Scholar was extremely challenging... Reaching a fourth-tier Scholar was already beyond his expectations, a result of the feeding back from other Decree-level professions, but now, he felt he could step into the realm of a fifth-tier or even sixth-tier Pure Scholar anytime he wished.
The reason? Actually quite simple, the courtyard had been very well nourished.
In some sense, the courtyard was his true entity; the addition of "Wisdom" directly increased its progress and limit, with even the aftermath compelling him to consider advancement.
During these two months of truce, after reaching the fifth tier on the main path of Gardener, Lu Ping’an had also caught up other professions a bit. However, considering the limited time, and the relatively delicate position of the "fifth-tier," most took a mature path.
But being a Scholar was a different story, you get what you pay for. It required both accumulation and talent. Lu Ping’an really couldn’t rush it and had to temporarily let it be.
Now, it seemed he could take a huge leap forward at any moment, but he had chosen to stop...
"Just hesitate a little longer...."
Lu Ping’an could feel that he seemed to be able to advance at any moment, and climbing higher seemed very simple for him.
But Big Cat’s lesson had told him that some things just couldn’t be rushed.
"Can’t find the direction, do another set of questions, calm down a bit."
Although he was constantly cursing at the cat internally, when he truly lost his way, he still sought out the cat.
This time, Big Cat took out a set of exercise papers....
"Isn’t this for newbies? To determine their future direction?"
When professionals just start out, if they don’t have a clear choice of path, they do this kind of test that’s similar to a personality and profession assessment.... It’s not very significant, more of a reference for occupational choices.
"Sounds like you’ve done it before?"
"Er.... No, I’ve actually never done it."
Taking the paper, Lu Ping’an glanced over it and saw that it was somewhat different from the usual newbie test.... At least, newbie tests would not ask about your views on Deities or question the essence of Life itself.
The majority of the questions were multiple-choice, mostly unrelated to knowledge and more tied to one’s "worldviews."
Lu Ping’an quickly browsed through it and confirmed that most of it related to concepts of "Order," "Death," and "Reform."
"This is the prototype of the newbie test, originally meant to help strongmen aiming for higher ’rules’ to clarify their hearts. There are the Decree and newbie versions as well, but actually, they aren’t of much help to them...."
Since Big Cat said so, Lu Ping’an took it a bit more seriously.
The test was quite thick, a good thirty-plus pages with over a thousand multiple-choice questions. Lu Ping’an knew this thing was about first instincts, so he quickly began to fill it in.
After more than half an hour, Lu Ping’an finally finished, and Big Cat spent a good ten minutes grading it against some materials.
The final result was a compatibility list with plus and minus 20 points, basically determining a professional’s inner "desire."
"That’s kind of interesting...."
But when the results came out, Big Cat covered her mouth with a light laugh, then glanced at Lu Ping’an from time to time, also cross-referencing, as if she saw something amusing.
"The first label is a traditional faction identifier, Travel Canine, Night Light, lavender, and such.... You, however, are the unqualified one, the conclusion being ’positivity -19 points, not suitable to be a professional’."
This first test made Lu Ping’an feel it was too unreliable.
But if he really looked back, if he hadn’t encountered all this and was just a regular person facing this new era, what choices would he himself make....
".... It’s quite accurate. If not for a twist of fate, I would have chosen to be a regular person."
"Don’t tell me you like a peaceful and quiet life? Sheesh, hearing that from you is kind of sickening."
".... No, it’s just a simple cost-benefit analysis. Being a professional has a high mortality rate, and although the earnings are good in the days that follow, the average life expectancy is too low. It’s a profession that’s all about numbers with no cost-effectiveness, yet the winners take all.... I would choose to be a Civil Servant, that would be better for me and my family."
At those words, Big Cat fell silent for a moment.
This choice fit so well with her understanding of him that she found it hard to say anything in response.
Fortunately, the second label was far more interesting.
"If you absolutely had to be a professional, you’re not suitable to be a Gardener, not even fit for the Life system, the most suitable for you is...."
When Big Cat spoke, this time it was Lu Ping’an’s turn to disbelieve.
He directly took over those papers and saw the marking on them.
"Gardener’s adaptability is +3, Life system overall is +1, basically bearable to learn but with near-zero compatibility, the highest... Ah, +20 full score, Craftsman?!"
— End of Chapter 1235 —