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Chapter 145: Breaking Through the Straw Puppet Technique Trials
🕑 Added 2024-10-22 06:52:49 +0000 UTCZhao Xing, filled with curiosity, clicked on the course description and soon understood its significance.
"So, the Straw Puppet Technique has become a key project for the imperial court to preserve, huh?"
The Straw Puppet Technique was a fundamental part of the teachings of the Self School.
Anyone familiar with the current state of the Self School knew that it wasn’t in the best condition.
And the Straw Puppet Technique itself was in an awkward position within the sect.
Why? Because most Shennong practitioners who studied the Self School’s teachings typically focused on farming and agriculture.
Their goals included cultivating crops with better reproductive capabilities, growing materials suitable for crafting, or researching the medicinal value of plants...
However, very few Shennong practitioners, especially those from the Self School, studied combat techniques.
In the past, there was no such option as the Taicang Academy for Military Shennong.
This was because the supply logistics weren’t managed by Military Shennong, but rather by Shennong practitioners from the rear lines who followed the Self School.
It was only later, when the army's needs diversified, that the Self School became integrated into military operations.
But even then, there were very few combat-focused techniques in the Self School’s arsenal.
If a Shennong wanted to learn combat techniques, they typically turned to the Tianshi Sect or the Dili Sect.
The Straw Puppet Technique was one such combat-related technique, but even among Self School practitioners, few bothered to learn it—simply because they had no real need for it.
If you were going to become a Military Shennong, it was more practical to follow the Dili Sect or Tianshi Sect paths.
Thus, the Straw Puppet Technique found itself in an awkward position.
Since no one in the Self School wanted to learn it, how could other sects be interested?
Moreover, the Straw Puppet Technique required great precision and was a time-consuming process. It wasn’t something that could show results quickly.
At one point, the Straw Puppet Technique had been well-preserved in the temple’s teachings, but gradually, only nine forms remained.
However, in many state academies and government institutions, there was a policy that if a Shennong official studied the Straw Puppet Technique, they could receive a monthly stipend of five taels of silver. The stipend increased with the level of mastery in the technique.
This showed that the imperial court was intent on preventing the technique from being lost.
"If the court didn’t provide resources to support it, no one would bother studying the Straw Puppet Technique."
"They’ve even raised the points reward to make sure this technique doesn’t become extinct."
"Straw puppet techniques gained great prominence later when the Self School rose to power, but I didn’t expect that in this era, they would still require government policies to keep them alive." Zhao Xing sighed, reflecting on the situation.
He carefully examined the details of the course.
However, there was a stipulation: To receive points for this Straw Puppet Training Course, participants had to demonstrate a degree of proficiency in the technique. If they didn’t meet the required standards, even if they placed first, they wouldn’t receive the reward.
This rule discouraged those who merely wanted to take the course for the points.
Only those who truly dedicated themselves to mastering the technique could earn the rewards.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense to award 50,000 points to the first-place winner if they only knew a basic second-stage straw puppet technique.
"The Straw Puppet Technique is tedious to learn and requires a long time to master. Without points as a reward, no one would sign up. But now, the number of participants has skyrocketed." Zhao Xing noticed that over 5,000 people had already registered for the course.
With such rich rewards, many people were eager to take on the challenge.
"The first place reward is 50,000 points."
"Second place, 30,000 points."
"Third place, 10,000 points."
"Fourth to tenth place, 8,000 points."
"Eleventh to twentieth place, 5,000 points."
"Twenty-first to fiftieth place, 3,000 points."
"Fifty-first to one hundredth place, 1,000 points."
"Beyond the top 100, anyone who meets the basic standards during the learning process will still receive a reward ranging from 50 to 800 points."
Looking at the rewards for the Straw Puppet Course, Zhao Xing saw why the number of participants had surged.
What was once an unpopular optional training course had now become the top choice for many.
"The instructor for this course is named Liu. Could he be from the Liu family of Taihe County?"
The Liu Compilation Method that Xue Wenzhong had passed down to Zhao Xing was created by Liu Zonghai, a renowned figure from the Liu family of Taihe County.
The Liu family was a thousand-year-old aristocratic family. Ever since the founding emperor, they had consistently held high-ranking officials in the imperial court. Liu Zonghai himself had risen to the second rank of government officials.
"With no other way to earn points, I have to take on the Straw Puppet Course and secure a good score," Zhao Xing decided.
He scanned through the other optional courses. Although some of them also offered point rewards, few could rival the Straw Puppet Course in terms of reward value, and many hadn’t even begun yet.
"Sign up!"
Zhao Xing quickly registered for the course.
With the Straw Puppet Course now offering lucrative rewards, many people began scrambling to study the Self School’s techniques at Taicang Academy.
From atop a tall building, Lu Bang observed the crowded courtyard below and couldn’t help but reflect, "So much bustle, driven by gain."
"Many of these people hardly ever came to Taicang Academy to study before. We’ve been training for four months since March, and this is the busiest the academy has been since then."
"With such generous rewards, even geniuses like Shi Yong, Zhuang Zhiqing, and Zhao Xing have signed up."
"Liu, you’ve got your work cut out for you this time."
Standing beside him, Liu Tianning, who looked like a middle-aged man despite being 125 years old, nodded.
He had a slightly plump figure, but his hands were slender and fair, and his skin was smooth like white jade.
Upon hearing Lu Bang’s comment, Liu Tianning responded, "Though the crowd is large, how many are truly here to learn with sincerity?"
"As for being busy, it won’t be a problem for me. Have you forgotten what I teach?"
"And by the way, the person you're talking to isn’t my real self."
Lu Bang looked surprised, turning his head. "Liu, this... this isn’t your real self? Amazing. I couldn’t even tell the difference!"
Liu Tianning smiled faintly.
"But if you’re not really here, why drink my wine? Giving wine to your straw puppet is such a waste!" Lu Bang snatched the wine flask out of Liu’s hand.
"How could I deceive you, Lu Songting, without drinking your fine wine? Your Fire Jade Wine contains potent five-element energy, which greatly benefits my straw puppet. Don’t be stingy, bring it back," Liu Tianning teased.
After Zhao Xing registered for the Straw Puppet Course, Lord Tian soon got word and contacted him via the Earth Mirror.
"The Straw Puppet Technique is easy to learn but hard to master. The first and second-stage straw puppet techniques are manageable, but the third stage is difficult."
"This technique is time-consuming and exhausting. You’ve signed up for this course, so aim for the minimum passing score and don’t waste too much energy on it."
Lord Tian’s advice highlighted the status of the Straw Puppet Technique, but Zhao Xing had his own plans and wouldn’t blindly follow Lord Tian’s guidance.
However, he still replied diplomatically, "Rest assured, Master. I have a sense of what’s reasonable. If I can’t make progress, I won’t stubbornly pursue it."
"Good. It’s important to have a clear plan," Lord Tian nodded. After spending much time with Zhao Xing, he had recognized his disciple’s strong sense of judgment. Zhao Xing had consistently chosen the right path, leaving Lord Tian with little to worry about.
It was only when the Straw Puppet Course was launched, and Zhao Xing signed up, that Lord Tian offered some extra advice.
Putting down the Earth Mirror, Zhao Xing found himself standing outside one of Taicang Academy’s gates.
With thousands of participants, he wondered how this course would be taught and how points would be distributed.
Liu Tianning’s method was to teach and test at the same time.
"The Straw Puppet Technique Training Course will begin with the first trial, which also serves as the first lesson."
"To the south of the square, you’ll find materials. First and second-stage materials are available for selection."
"To the west, there is instruction on the nine forms of the Straw Puppet Technique promoted by the imperial court."
"To the east, you can observe fully formed straw puppets in action."
"To the north is the Trial Palace. Once you’ve learned the Straw Puppet Technique, you can send your straw puppet inside. If it passes the test, you will proceed to the next stage of training. For every trial completed, corresponding points will be awarded."
Liu Tianning’s voice echoed across the square, transmitted continuously through an Echo Conch.
Zhao Xing glanced at the instructions on the notice board and headed directly to the southern materials area.
Various types of materials were laid out, some placed on the ground, others floating in midair.
There were plants, vines, trees, and bamboo.
But they were all first and second-stage materials.
"Whoosh~"
Zhao Xing summoned a gust of wind, gathering a bunch of materials toward him.
After a quick inspection, he selected a few and returned the rest.
"Grass and wood, rise!"
Zhao Xing infused golden light into a bundle of grass and leaf strips before him.
Times had changed, and now he didn’t need to manually weave the materials.
With just a thought, the technique would form.
"Sshh—ssh—"
The vines, stalks, and leaves seemed to come alive, moving and interweaving on the ground. In just a moment, the materials vanished, replaced by a grayish-black straw puppet standing in place.
A second-stage Swift Straw Puppet.
The onlookers were drawn by this scene and quickly turned their attention to Zhao Xing.
"How did he do it so quickly? One breath and it’s done?"
"What incredible control! He barely wasted any material."
"What kind of straw puppet is this? It’s woven so beautifully."
"Of course it looks good. The technique aligns with the principles of heaven and earth. The lines of the puppet’s body contain the mysteries of the Dao itself. You’re not just looking at a straw puppet, you’re witnessing the Dao!"
"No wonder my puppets look so ugly, just like the ones who made them."
"Brother, it’s one thing to say I’m bad at the Straw Puppet Technique, but calling me ugly is too much."
"..."
Ignoring the comments around him, Zhao Xing took his Swift Straw Puppet and headed north to the Trial Palace.
He commanded his straw puppet to enter the palace.
"Buzz~"
As soon as the puppet entered, a beam of golden light scanned it.
The floor beneath the puppet began to move, becoming something like a giant treadmill. The Swift Straw Puppet had to run to avoid being thrown off.
"If it lasts a quarter-hour or reaches the far wall, it passes the trial."
"If it’s a Mighty Vajra Straw Puppet, the trial involves breaking wooden stakes. One punch has to leave an impression half a finger deep." Zhao Xing read the rules of the trial palace.
Each type of straw puppet faced a different challenge.
The first trial wasn’t particularly difficult, but it wasn’t easy either.
If you had never studied the Straw Puppet Technique before, it would take considerable time to learn. Zhao Xing noticed that many beginners had created strange, haphazard straw puppets.
Some fell apart after taking just a few steps. Others had three heads and six arms. Some were simply lifeless, unable to move as the technique wasn’t properly integrated into the puppet.
Then there were the especially bizarre ones, with triangular heads and arms attached to the neck, dragging along the ground. These puppets could hardly be called "human-shaped."
"The first lesson alone offers plenty to learn. Earning points here won’t be easy."
The treadmill that the Swift Straw Puppets ran on sped up significantly, and any technique that wasn’t up to par wouldn’t make it past this trial.
However, if a puppet could pass this first trial, the student would earn 50 points.
With nothing to lose, over 7,000 people had crowded into the first trial.
"Shenwei Army’s Zhao Xing, your Swift Straw Puppet has passed the trial. Please proceed to the next location."
A voice reached Zhao Xing’s ears.
"Yes."
Zhao Xing didn’t retrieve his puppet but instead flew to the next location directly.
The second trial had the same layout as the first.
But now, the number of participants had decreased significantly.
The course had just begun, and many were still stuck on the first trial, leaving fewer than 1,000 people in the second trial.
"Over 8,000 Shennong practitioners registered, but fewer than 1,000 have made it past the first trial. It seems most had never bothered learning the Straw Puppet Technique before."
"That means, out of every seven or eight people, only one had studied it."
If so few had even learned the technique, even fewer had thoroughly practiced it.
Zhao Xing passed the first trial and gauged its difficulty. Any straw puppet technique at the fourth transformation would pass, but even so, many participants had been eliminated.
"Making it to the second trial shows that you’ve studied the Straw Puppet Technique and have put in some effort."
"In this second trial, the same nine forms of the Straw Puppet Technique promoted by the court are tested."
"Passing this trial earns you 400 points."
Liu Tianning’s voice echoed around them.
The second trial was much like the first, with one area for materials, another for demonstrations, and another for instruction.
Once again, Zhao Xing created a Swift Straw Puppet and sent it into the trial palace.
The challenge was the same as before: the ground rotated like a treadmill, but this time, it was much faster.
The ground had also become uneven, and the puppet had to maintain both speed and balance. The difficulty had increased considerably.
A fourth-transformation straw puppet could barely pass. Only a fifth-transformation puppet could ensure success.
Zhao Xing’s Swift Straw Puppet breezed through the challenge.
"Shenwei Army’s Zhao Xing, you have passed the second trial. You have earned 400 points and are exempt from further study at this stage. Please proceed to the next location."
Zhao Xing checked his Earth Mirror and confirmed that 400 points had been added, sent by Liu Tianning from the Shennong Division. Along with the 50 points from the first trial, he had earned 450 points in just a short time.
"Learning techniques and earning points—it’s the best of both worlds."
Zhao Xing noted the location of the next trial and ascended into the clouds.
The third trial took place in a manor nestled by a mountain and a lake.
It was also Liu Tianning’s residence.
"Whoosh~"
As the mist cleared, Zhao Xing landed at the manor’s gate.
"Please, come in."
The moment he landed, a figure appeared at the gate and welcomed him inside.
"Thank you, Master." Zhao Xing thought that Liu Tianning had personally come to greet him and was slightly surprised. But upon closer inspection, he realized this wasn’t the real Liu Tianning—it was a straw puppet.
However, the puppet was so lifelike, with detailed facial features and even wearing clothes, that Zhao Xing had mistaken it for a person at first glance. Only after using Five Elements Observation did he realize the truth.
"Follow me," the straw puppet said, leaping ahead. It moved nimbly along the mountain path, navigating the terrain as smoothly as a martial artist using a body technique.
"Liu Tianning must be a true master of the Straw Puppet Technique. He must have some exclusive secret techniques. I need to make sure I learn something valuable from him," Zhao Xing thought to himself, quickening his pace to follow.
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