Becoming a saint begins with the infinite accumulation of destiny.

Wuhe City.

The sun was high in the sky, and the heat was intense, as if it were about to bake the earth dry.

"Last night, the Qin family in the suburbs, dozens of people, were all killed! The sight was horrific... their heads were smashed open, tsk tsk..."

"Good riddance! I've always disliked that shrew from the Qin family..."

"How can people not die in this world..."

Inside the clothing shop, several middle-aged noblewomen, dressed in fine clothes, with their hair adorned with jewels and swaying with affected mannerisms, were whispering among themselves.

Just then, one of the beautiful women, dressed in a purple robe with her legs slit high, revealing half of her shapely, fair thighs, lowered her voice:

"My deadbeat husband said it's a river ghost causing trouble..."

"A water ghost??"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shisheng, who was cutting fabric nearby, stopped abruptly and frowned.

He looked toward one of the beautiful women, and a white phantom appeared in his vision, on which was written: [Like a hungry thirsty man (white): He can suck up the earth while sitting, like a wolf or a tiger. His desires are greatly aroused.]

Chen Shisheng had traveled here three months ago and was gradually adapting to life here. This was entirely an ancient world, but not any ancient Chinese dynasty.

The central government collapsed, powerful families and clans stood side by side, wars raged, and exorbitant taxes and levies led to widespread suffering among the people.

His father and elder brother were conscripted into the army and sent to the front lines, their fates unknown. He was also assigned to a military household and was ready to go to the front lines to fill any vacancies.

There was only his sister-in-law, Liu Yun, in the family, who made a living by doing needlework.

He went to work as a shop assistant in this clothing store, earning one tael of silver a month, without meals, barely enough to support his family.

However, Chen Shisheng was not without support in this world.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a glimmer of light flashing deep within them, and a blue square, visible only to him, appeared.

Name: Chen Shisheng

[Destiny: None]

[Destiny Sign: Skillful and Dexterous (White)]

This panel was brought here by Chen Shisheng when he traveled through time, and its functions are extremely powerful.

It can absorb the fate of others, and the combination of these fates can unlock new destiny patterns, making it extremely powerful.

With this in mind, Chen Shisheng had an idea, and his gaze focused on the skillful hands.

A detailed message immediately appeared.

[Dexterity (White): Agile fingers, meticulous mind. Memory boost, increased hand speed.]

This was the omen he obtained from a tailor who died of illness three months earlier.

Fate signs can be divided into seven levels: red, purple, blue, green, cyan, and white.

Its special effect can change his physical condition to a certain extent, which is why Chen Shisheng was able to become an apprentice here.

After all, increased hand speed makes cutting clothes incredibly fast.

Those with this destiny are born to be tailors.

The conditions for obtaining one's destiny are also very simple.

Accumulation of energy, and the death of those who bear the destiny.

To accumulate energy, one mainly relies on eating, obtaining excess essence from food and gradually replenishing it.

When the panel turns from gray to black, it can absorb the life force of the deceased.

Of course, the dead cannot remain so long. He had tried going to the mass graves outside the city, but found no signs of life to draw upon.

Moreover, it's not easy to find someone with a destiny symbol on their head; he hasn't seen one for a long time.

This was the second time he had seen this beautiful woman, and he was [as hungry as could be]...

This is really not suitable for him.

"The Blackwater Gang's operating tax is going up again this month!"

Besides Chen Shisheng, there were several other teenagers of similar age in the shop. Upon hearing this, they all looked worried and sighed deeply.

All of them, like Chen Shisheng, were military households, specifically used to supplement the army's manpower, and were basically exempt from corvée labor and taxes.

But this flexible tax is an exception....

Living tax, living tax.

As the name suggests, taxes are what people have to pay to survive!

Despite its name, it's actually just a scheme to collect protection money.

The government colluded with them, acting in concert, turning a blind eye and allowing them to be bullied.

Once the rumors about the water ghosts spread, the Blackwater Gang will definitely use this as an excuse to raise taxes and squeeze a lot of money out of them.

"My sister... went to a pleasure boat last night."

The short, thin Liu Ergou spoke in a low, hoarse voice, choked with sobs, his eyes slightly red.

Upon hearing this, the others' expressions changed slightly, and they fell silent for a moment.

They all knew what the pleasure boats were for, and that none of the women who went there ever had a good ending.

Although Liu Ergou's older sister was thin due to long-term malnutrition, she was quite pretty and treated everyone like her younger brother. They were childhood playmates and had a very close relationship.

Now, however, he's been forced by the Blackwater Gang to work on a pleasure boat...

This world... it really doesn't give people a way to survive!

"If some of us... were to become conscripts and serve as soldiers in the army, wouldn't our families......"

The tall, dark-skinned young man, named Zhang Qing, couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

His father was a medicinal herb farmer who was away from home for long periods of time. His older brother went to the front lines and his fate was unknown.

"I do have a place to go. I plan to spend some money to get rid of this scout status. I heard that Young Master Wen of Wenyangfang is recruiting retainers, providing food and lodging. It's much easier than here."

Liu Ergou, who had been silent for a long time, spoke again, a smile on his face, clearly showing off.

"really?!"

The group was slightly surprised, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

But then he thought about it again. His older sister had gone to the pleasure boat, which must have been part of the family's plan to help him find a way to make a living.

In this world, a person's fate is entirely determined by fate; honor, disgrace, nobility, and lowliness are all ordained by heaven.

The descendants of the nobles remain nobles, and the descendants of the common people remain common people.

The class system was extremely strict. Without family lineage and titles, ordinary people could not even learn to read, let alone acquire other skills.

But the retainers were an exception.

The retainers were not like those in the previous life, possessing extraordinary skills; rather, they were sponsored and nurtured by noble sons who provided financial support.

Moreover, Wen Yang, the young master, is a member of one of the three most prestigious families in the inner city and has a good reputation in the outer city. It would be quite good to work for him.

"What are you muttering about?! Hurry up and get to work!"

At that moment, a slightly sarcastic and harsh voice came from behind them.

He was Liu Tong, the son of the clothing shop owner.

He wore a black short jacket that revealed his strong, muscular physique, and his eyes, sharp as blades, scanned the apprentices in the shop.

"Everyone behave yourselves and don't offend these important people."

Liu Tong reprimanded them in a low voice, his face conciliatory as he approached the middle-aged noblewomen from before.

The crowd dispersed and began to get busy.

Time flew by, and it was evening.

Everyone finished work.

Surrounded by everyone, Liu Ergou's face no longer showed the sorrow of his sister going to the flower boat during the day; instead, he was all smiles, enjoying the praise from the crowd.

"Brother Er Gou, don't forget about us in the future."

"Yeah, Brother Er Gou, if you find a way out, help the brothers out."

As they walked, they flattered each other all the way, and eventually arrived at their residence, a dilapidated area of ​​low-rise bungalows.

Looking around, only a few houses had their lights on, and the darkness of the night was somewhat frightening.

Inside the dark street corner, figures could be seen moving about from time to time, but it was unclear what they were doing.

Chen Shisheng bid farewell to everyone and walked towards his house with his head down.

The road was rough and uneven, littered with garbage, and you could even see human excrement and animal carcasses.

Chen Shisheng shifted his gaze slightly, scanning his surroundings, and his peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of the alleyway entrance to the side.

There were several pairs of dark eyes inside, constantly scrutinizing passersby. His heart tightened, and he quickened his pace.

He reached into his waistband and gripped a small knife. In this world, not only children and women could be sold, but underage boys were also bought.

As for what to do with it....

Chen Shisheng had no idea.

His home was located on the edge of this slum. He walked in for a short while, passed through an alley, and arrived at his home.

A mud house with a small courtyard, surrounded by a fence, which was already dilapidated.

The neighbors all kept their doors and windows tightly shut, leaving only a small opening for ventilation.

Chen Shisheng carefully avoided the stinking corpse of some unknown animal on the ground, quickly walked into the house, and knocked on the somewhat dilapidated wooden door.

"Who?!"

A woman's wary voice came from inside.

"Sister-in-law, it's me."

Chen Shisheng said in a low voice.

The wooden door opened quickly, and the woman's expression relaxed slightly when she saw Chen Shisheng.

"Shisheng, come in quickly!"

Liu Yun smiled, slightly loosening her grip on the wooden stick.

Only when her brother-in-law returned, and she had someone to rely on, did she feel less anxious and apprehensive than during the day.

Chen Shisheng entered the room, which was simply furnished with a few wooden stools, a wooden table with an oil lamp, and some needles, thread, and fabric. In the corner was a makeshift stove covered in soot.