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Chapter 94: A Month of Preparation and Progress, Winter Has Arrived!
🕑 Added 2024-10-12 06:42:48 +0000 UTCAs Zhao Xing left the Chen residence, he was still in a state of shock.
He hadn’t expected to meet an old acquaintance here.
Nor had he anticipated that Long Xiao and Chen Shijie would be on such good terms.
Even more surprising was that Chen Shijie wanted to take him to join the Shenwei Army, which would later be disbanded!
“Should I really follow Old Chen?”
Joining the military was definitely in his plans, as he had originally intended to become a Shennong officer.
If he wanted to rise through the ranks quickly, the army was undoubtedly the fastest route. With his foresight, he was confident he could thrive.
“The Shenwei Army was once famous, but later suffered significant losses while fighting the barbarian tribes, to the point of losing its entire structure.”
“The Martial Emperor’s campaign against the barbarians was largely because his father had suffered a major defeat against them in his later years.”
Zhao Xing recalled that Marquis Shenxiao, Long Xiao, harbored a deep hatred for the barbarian tribes. Perhaps this was due to his experiences in the Shenwei Army.
Long Xiao had risen to prominence in the final years of Emperor Jing, earning his title of Martial Marquis for his contributions during the great campaign against the barbarians under the Martial Emperor.
In Zhao Xing’s plans for the future, Long Xiao was one of the people he intended to invest in.
If Zhao Xing became stronger before Long Xiao's rise, he could lend him a hand as an investment. If Long Xiao gained power before Zhao Xing, then he would follow Long Xiao’s lead.
“Right now, it’s still the mid-period of Emperor Jing. After his reign, there’s Jingxin and then the Great Prosperity Era. There’s roughly two hundred years to go.”
As Zhao Xing listened to Chen Shijie and Long Xiao chatting, he learned that while the Shenwei Army had some local fame, it was still confined to one province and hadn’t yet made a name for itself nationally. It had only recently been reactivated.
“There’s an advantage to joining now. Since the Shenwei Army has just been reinstated, there will be plenty of opportunities to earn merit. As for the future? If it doesn’t work out, I can always leave. After all, Long Xiao managed just fine.” Zhao Xing shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it further. He still had a few months to make up his mind.
He would assess the situation more thoroughly. If by then he judged it unwise to join, there would still be plenty of other options for him.
For now, the priority was to deal with the Xuantian Sect. Once he officially became a Shennong officer, then he could decide his next steps.
Sanwan Town, Maple Leaf Manor.
Maple Leaf Manor had a rock garden with a secret passage leading deep underground.
At this moment, within the underground chamber was a small altar.
The altar stood in a pool of blood, the crimson liquid covering half of the statue.
The two heads of Sanwan Hall, Chen Deshun and Wu Mei, knelt below, waiting anxiously.
The Falcon Protector knelt beside the pool, offering prayers to the statue.
Chen Deshun and Wu Mei were uneasy.
It wasn’t supposed to be a time for sacrifices, but they had received a premonition from the revered one a few days ago.
Upon their return, they reported to the Protector immediately.
Any slight disturbance while in hiding had to be taken seriously, and Falcon was no exception. He promptly came to the altar to pray to the deity and inquire about the reason for the warning.
“Gulugulu~” The statue emitted a faint red glow. The light projected into the air, showing the scene of Chen Deshun at the Niu Family Manor.
Then the statue quickly sank into the blood pool, and the vision disappeared.
The Falcon Protector bowed once more and then slowly descended from the altar.
“Protector…!” Chen Deshun had just opened his mouth to ask what had happened when Falcon slapped him and Wu Mei, sending them flying. Blood spurted from their mouths, and Chen Deshun even lost two teeth.
The two of them were terrified. After falling to the ground, they quickly crawled back on all fours and knelt obediently.
“You two fools!” Falcon glared at them coldly. “I sent you to Anping Town to scout, but what did you do? How did you get exposed?!”
“What?” Chen Deshun was shocked. “We were exposed?”
Wu Mei was equally panicked. “Protector, please see clearly, we didn’t do anything!”
Falcon's gaze was icy. “Still trying to argue? The revered one’s premonition indicates that someone has been using secret techniques to trace the two of you.”
“What?! How is that possible?” Chen Deshun and Wu Mei were horrified, completely unaware of how this had happened.
They had been hiding in this underground altar for the past few days, sensing something was wrong, but they hadn’t expected things to be this serious.
“Your current identities are no longer usable,” Falcon sneered. “Enter the Blood Spirit Pool.”
“Y-yes…” The two, trembling with fear, stepped into the altar’s blood pool.
Then, Falcon gestured, and a man and a woman approached.
They were both naked and knelt respectfully before Falcon. “Greetings, Protector.”
Falcon spoke slowly, “It is now a time of crisis, and I need you to make a great sacrifice for our cause. The day will come when the Xuantian Sect will reward you with eternal peace and golden bodies.”
The man and woman gazed fervently at the statue. “We are willing to die for Xuantian!”
They then stood and leapt into the blood pool.
“Gulugulu~”
The blood pool emitted a faint red glow. After a short while, the man and woman emerged from the pool once more.
Falcon observed the two of them. “For the next month, do not take any action. Get familiar with your new identities.”
“Yes.” Chen Deshun and Wu Mei’s voices replied from their new bodies.
October 7th, Cold Dew.
The weather in Gucheng was growing colder. The Huailiu Courtyard in Xue Wenzhong’s residence no longer displayed the vibrant colors of spring, instead reflecting the same seasonal changes as the outside world.
Xue Wenzhong pointed to the wisps of fog spreading through the air.
“Three days after the Cold Dew, one must seek a bridge to cross water.”
“The pure, crystalline dew begins to turn cold, almost freezing. This is the seventeenth law of the Seasonal Almanac.”
“By practicing the Seasonal Almanac, you’ll begin to clearly sense the Earth Vein’s yin energy during this period. Many of your spells will Vigorous Growther as a result, like your Yin Wind and Ice Rain techniques.”
“The Cold Dew seasonal law has seven major natural phenomena. Each of these phenomena can cause seven types of ordinary beasts to transform into exotic beasts, and seven types of ordinary plants to evolve into spiritual plants. Similarly, it can also cause exotic beasts to degenerate or spiritual plants to wither.”
“Unfortunately, my aptitude is poor, so I can only achieve the Cold Dew Three Transformations. It’s sufficient for Gucheng, but for someone with ambitions of joining the military, it’s lacking. In the future, you should ask Chen Shijie—he’ll be able to teach you how to use it better.”
Zhao Xing nodded. Once he was officially promoted to Shennong officer, he could practice the Seasonal Almanac. At that point, his range of spells would increase significantly due to the imperial office’s bestowed fortune, although this benefit only applied within the borders of Da Zhou.
The Seasonal Almanac wasn’t just about controlling the weather or adjusting it. It also came with various mystical abilities, like enhancing spells or harnessing natural phenomena.
This was especially useful in military campaigns. When the army entered unfamiliar wilderness, determining which animals were safe to eat and which weren’t was the job of the military Shennong officer.
But the world was vast, and its species were countless, even the most experienced military Shennong officer couldn’t know everything.
By using seasonal transformations, they could pick out what was edible from the wilderness.
For the military Shennong officer, there were only two categories: “edible” and “find a way to make it edible.”
At this point, Xue Wenzhong had little else to teach Zhao Xing in terms of specific spells, so he mainly spoke about the Seasonal Almanac, which only official Shennong officers could practice.
Knowing his time with the old Shennong officer was limited, Zhao Xing listened attentively, even if much of what was said felt like grand principles.
October 9th, Chen Residence.
At this time, Chen Shijie was busy preparing traps.
Most of the pear garden had been cleared out, with many of the young saplings uprooted and replaced by new plants.
Zhao Xing curiously wandered over and was stunned by what he saw. “Are you planning to blow the Xuantian Sect sky-high?”
Chen Shijie calmly replied, “The Earth Vein environment in Nanyang County is somewhat lacking. These things won't reach their full potential here.”
Long Xiao added, “No worries. I’ve had some premium goods shipped over—one hundred sections.”
Zhao Xing nervously asked, “About what rank?”
Long Xiao raised five fingers. Zhao Xing’s face turned pale. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Chen Shijie explained, “We don’t have a choice. The two from Sanwan Town are already dead, and their house has been burned down. These Xuantian Sect demons are no joke. Their alertness is exceptional, and they’ve definitely changed their identities.”
Long Xiao laughed, “Relax, it’ll be fine.”
Zhao Xing sighed. “When the time comes, I’ll need to stay far away from you two.”
After a moment, he added, “Could you give me some smaller ones?”
“Hahaha, you think these are useful, huh? Sure, no problem!”
October 15th, Zong Residence.
Zong Shichang handed a box to Zhao Xing.
“I searched for a long time, but I only found a third-grade top-quality Sandalwood Soul Box. I hope it’s enough for your needs.”
Zhao Xing examined it. “It’ll do.”
Despite the cold weather, Zong Shichang still fanned himself dramatically. “Aside from storing soul-calming pills, I can’t see what else it’s good for. Are you going to tell me?”
Zhao Xing smiled. “Don’t ask. I don’t want to lie to you, so let’s leave it at that.”
Zong Shichang closed his fan. “Fair enough. I appreciate your honesty. Should we have another drink today?”
Zhao Xing shook his head. “No drinking, I need to prepare for the Beginning of Winter Examination.”
Zong Shichang looked surprised. “Do you really need to work so hard? Your spot is already guaranteed—who could possibly outshine you in Gucheng?”
Zhao Xing gazed toward the sky at a forty-five-degree angle. “True strength is measured by competing with oneself.”
Zong Shichang laughed and cursed, “Damn, you’re full of it. You’re better at putting on airs than anyone!”
October 23rd, Frost's Descent.
The weather in Gucheng had grown even colder. Every morning, a thin layer of frost covered the ground.
During this seasonal period, Zhao Xing could clearly feel the strength of his Ice Rain and Yin Wind techniques increasing.
Compared to the Autumn Equinox, the power of his spells had risen by at least thirty percent.
“Seasonal changes have a significant impact on spells. Once I officially become a Shennong officer, my first task will be to cultivate the Seasonal Almanac. It’s like creating the perfect battlefield for myself.” Zhao Xing wrapped himself in his autumn coat and went to check on the back garden.
The Tianyuan Pear Tree had already been moved to a corner.
The effects of Earth Vein Consolidation had completely nourished several other plants.
The vegetable patch in the back garden was now shrouded in a layer of mist, obscuring it from view.
From the outside, no one could see what was going on inside.
“Not bad.” Zhao Xing glanced around. “Hopefully, I won’t need to use this. Best-case scenario, Old Chen and Long Xiao can handle everything, and I can just reap the rewards.”
October 28th.
“Whoosh~”
The fourth-grade Dao Transmission painting, Phantom Earth Palace, burned away, signaling the final opportunity for insight had been used.
Zhao Xing checked his panel.
[Boundless Earth Palace: Mid-grade spell
Proficient: Eight Transformations (8012/9999)
Effect: Constructs a Boundless Earth Palace using the Earth Vein as its foundation, releasing immense suppressive force, capable of layering up to eight times.]
[Earth Vein Consolidation: Human Path: Mid-grade spell
Proficient: Seven Transformations (7215/9999)
Effect: Earth Veins surge violently, creating chaotic attacks with random Five Elemental Earth Vein energy.]
[Devouring Cloud: Mid-grade spell
Proficient: Eight Transformations (8523/9999)
Effect: A mid-grade cloud technique that can devour various types of cloud qi and gain the effects of the devoured clouds.]
[Earth Repository · Human Path: Mid-grade spell
Proficient: Six Transformations (6536/9999)
Effect: Arranges an Earth Vein formation to absorb Earth Vein energy, replenishing vitality and enabling continuous spellcasting.]
“In this month, I’ve used up all four Dao Transmission paintings, and the four spells have all made great progress,” Zhao Xing reflected. “As for the other spells, aside from the Sleep Bug, they haven’t changed much.”
Over the past month, Zhao Xing had selectively focused on training certain spells. The four new spells had all reached seven or eight transformations, thanks to the solid foundation provided by the Dao Transmission paintings. The effect of paying for progress was certainly strong.
However, the spell Zhao Xing had spent the most time on was the Sleep Bug technique from the entry-level Great Dream of Spring and Autumn.
Sleep Bug: Mid-grade spell
Proficient: Nine Transformations (Perfected)
Effect: Extracts the Sleep Bug from the Life Soul from a distance.
“The Sleep Bug in my Sandalwood Soul Box has turned such a deep purple it’s almost black,” Zhao Xing thought as he patted the box in his pocket. “I’m afraid even Long Xiao and Old Chen won’t be able to resist it. Once hit, they’ll collapse into deep sleep.”
November 1st, the fifteenth year of Jingxin, arrived, marking the last solar month of the year.
The clerks of the Shennong Office were growing busier again.
Beginning of Winter was approaching fast.
The Four Seasons and Eight Festivals always included an examination, and this would be the penultimate exam before the year ended.
Most clerks knew they had no chance of being promoted, but even if they weren’t aiming for the exam, their performance was tied to their stipend.
Who wouldn’t want a little extra year-end bonus?
At times like this, everyone had to at least put on a good show.
“Big brother.”
“Brother!”
Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong caught up with him in the corridor.
“Qian Dong, Ziyu,” Zhao Xing turned to look at them. “Up so early today?”
“Big brother, Ziyu and I are always up this early. You’ve been getting lazy lately,” Qian Dong joked.
“Yeah, brother. Where have you been recently? We haven’t seen you around, and your house is always shrouded in mist. We don’t even know what you’ve been up to. Uncle Zhao says you’re not taking visitors, so we didn’t dare disturb you,” Chen Ziyu asked.
“I’ve been preparing for the Beginning of Winter exam,” Zhao Xing had his excuse ready. “I’ve only had four top-level grades this year. My previous results were just average, so I’m still not confident about my promotion.”
Of course, this was just an excuse. After the Autumn Equinox, Ji Ming had personally requested that Zhao Xing take part in the Winter Examination.
This meant that Zhao Xing’s spot was guaranteed in the report sent to Nanyang County.
Li Wenzheng had already discussed it with Chen Shijie—ensuring Zhao Xing’s success was a must. They almost explicitly said to leak the exam questions to him.
For the county-level exam, the head of the Shennong Office would set the questions, with Li Wenzheng acting as the supervisor. If the two of them conspired together, even a fool could pass.
Of course, this was also because Zhao Xing was genuinely talented. If Li Wenzheng and Chen Shijie had recommended an incompetent person to the county, it would have caused problems.
With the backing of his sponsors, top grades, and genuine skills, Zhao Xing only needed to focus on his performance in the national exam.
The real reason he had been avoiding guests was to prepare privately.
“No wonder you’re doing so well, brother. You really work hard,” Chen Ziyu said with admiration.
“Come spring, we’ll be waiting for good news from you, big brother,” Qian Dong laughed. “Ziyu and I congratulate you in advance.”
“Thanks for the good wishes,” Zhao Xing smiled.
“Alright, big brother, we’re off. The old Shennong officer is about to start class, so we’d better get going.”
November 5th, the Beginning of Winter Examination was announced, along with the location. On the same day, the year-end exam details for the Workshop, Military Office, Weaving Office, and Temple were also published.
Chen Shijie, Li Wenzheng, Gongsun Yang, and other leaders of the various Gucheng departments had an impromptu idea to combine the exams of several different professions into one grand event. Thus, warriors, engineers, Shennong officers, weavers, and priests would all take their exams at the same location: Anping Town.
When the exam details were released, the clerks complained bitterly, cursing Chen Shijie and Li Wenzheng for coming up with such absurd ideas.
However, no matter how much they grumbled, it couldn’t change the decisions of the two leaders. They had no choice but to prepare diligently for this bizarre joint exam.
On November 5th and 6th, large numbers of clerks arrived early in Anping Town and began inspecting the examination grounds—a deserted forge on the outskirts of the town.
November 7th, the temple in the county city and the Gucheng Shennong Office rang their bells.
It was as if they were announcing to the people of Gu County that winter had arrived.
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