Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 168 - 1: People Also Transform, Magic Also Has Rules!_3

Chapter 168: Chapter 1: People Also Transform, Magic Also Has Rules!_3

All these things he did were not done in vain. In the future, when Old Zong hesitated, recalling the scene of him bringing a basin and delivering clothes today would add some emotional weight.

Zhao Xing promised: "Mr. Zong, if you encounter any major event in the future, be sure to write and inform me. Just delay for a while, and I will come to assist you as quickly as I can."

Zong Shichang laughed: "What major events could I have? If anything, it would be to call you back for a drink, preferably for the wedding of Miss Liu and me, hehe."

"Hahaha, good! I will await your good news in the Divine Might Army."

....

The temple examination started on the day of the Start of Spring and lasted a total of six days.

By February 11th, Gucheng already sent people abroad for official appointments.

On February 13th, Shen Zhui hosted a banquet for Zhao Xing and friends from the military department because his posting was finalized. He was to depart on the fifteenth to take up his new position.

"Martial artists have three paths: one, the Ministry of Justice, which oversees penal inspections; two, Inspectors, who manage local security; and three, joining the army to expand the country’s territory."

"I originally wanted to join the army, but I worry about my elderly mother at home. Once enlisted, I wouldn’t be able to come and go freely to visit her often. So, I chose to join the Inspection Bureau instead."

"The divine temple issued my orders, appointing me to the Inspection Bureau of Sanjiao County. It takes a month by land and fifteen days by water to get there. In emergencies, I can return by a Flying Boat in just five days, which isn’t too far."

"Mr. Zhao, you have high aspirations. Joining the army will surely allow you to make your mark. Let this cup of wine bless your swift rise in the military to become a general and marquis!" Shen Zhui raised his cup.

"Take care, Brother Shen." Their wine cups clinked together, and they drank it all in one go.

....

On February 16th and 17th, Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze left one after another.

On February 18th, Rain Water.

The river ice broke, geese returned north, and grass and trees began to sprout.

Zong Shichang got his wish and was directly appointed as an Assistant Officer of the Gucheng Minister of Agriculture Supervision. There had originally been three vacancies, so he was now colleagues with his mentor Gao Linong.

On February 21st, Lu Qian and Liu Muqing visited Zong Mansion. Zhao Xing did not attend, to Lu Qian’s regret, as she and Liu Muqing were to leave the next day for Tianyin Daoist Academy. Zhao Xing, however, went to Xiangshan with his family. Lu Qian had to leave a letter for Zong Shichang to pass on.

On February 23rd, Zhao Xing returned from Xiangshan with Zhao Ruide, Zhao Zheng, and Mrs. Cai.

On that very day, he broke through to Lower Ninth Grade (late-stage Gathering Essence Realm in the ancient system).

"My spells were sufficient. When Gathering Essence reached the fifteenth rank, it naturally got determined to be the Lower Ninth Grade Realm."

"With my current level of insight into spells, reaching the Eighth Grade Spirit Bridge Realm has no hindrance, except for the physical body realm, which is the rank of Gathering Essence."

Zhao Xing now had insight into the Dao and spells that surpassed the usual Ninth Grade standard. What he lacked was only the physical body’s Gathering Essence.

In fact, the speed of his physical body’s Gathering Essence was not slow, but compared to his understanding of the Daoist skill, it seemed slower.

With the subtle transformation from the ’Tao Embryo Pill,’ along with many Primordial Magic Spirits and having used Preaching Paintings... in terms of level of understanding of Daoist skill, Zhao Xing was comparable to many old Eighth Rank officials.

As long as his physical body’s Gathering Essence rank increased, he would have no bottlenecks in advancing to higher grades, at least not to the eighth-grade.

"The Minister of Agriculture is generally slower in this regard than martial artists. My Gathering Essence has already reached the fifteenth rank. Here in Gucheng, I have used all conceivable methods, and it’s already quite fast. To be even faster, I must go to the military."

"I wonder when Old Chen will have news. I’ve been waiting for over half a month, still waiting for a posting."

No news should not mean waiting idly.

Zhao Xing headed to the divine temple.

Now that he was an official, he could study the "Seasonal Order," "All Things Growth Map," and "Earth Return" among the classics of the Minister of Agriculture.

In the divine temple, Zhao Xing sat cross-legged.

In his mind flowed the twenty-four meditation diagrams of the "Seasonal Order."

"Initially, the heavens and earth were like a curtain, handling spring, summer, autumn, and winter with a brush. The mysteries of the Heavenly Time Sect were all within these twenty-four solar diagrams."

Among the twenty-four meditation diagrams, the clearest in his mind was [Rain Water], followed by [Start of Spring].

This was because it was currently the Rain Water solar term, and the Start of Spring was the beginning of Seasonal Order cultivation.

"Visualizing the seasonal diagram at different times of the day results in different transformations."

"Each seasonal diagram has three levels of realms: Knowledge, Stability, and Transformation."

"Knowing the season, stabilizing the season, transforming the season." Zhao Xing felt that a simple Rain Water diagram was imbued with endless mysteries.

"The first realm is Knowledge, where one could gain related spells from the seasonal diagram."

"The second realm is Stability. When many spells are comprehended, one starts to introspect the seasonal diagram, which no longer changes with the time of day. Whenever you look at it, it’s the same because it’s understood enough to reach the ’Stability’ realm. It’s a preliminary mastery of the season, allowing orders to be given to heaven and earth."

"The third realm is Transformation, where the season changes freely. When looking at a mountain, it’s still a mountain, but without being confined to form, achieving true insight."

"All twenty-four seasonal diagrams reaching the third realm, fully comprehending them all, would undoubtedly place one in the First-Grade Realm, qualifying for the role of Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

Zhao Xing attempted to gain insight into the [Rain Water] diagram. His [Ice Rain] spell was at full level, using it as a foundation to meditate on the [Rain Water] diagram brought numerous profound secrets to his mind.

However, whenever he seemed to be on the verge of understanding a spell, the Rain Water diagram before him would blur, and all the inspiration would completely disappear.

"Hmm? What’s going on?" Zhao Xing opened his eyes, filled with doubt.

Despite feeling close to comprehending a spell, the attempt was suddenly interrupted at the critical moment.

Why would this be happening?

He walked to the temple platform, picked up a piece of yellow paper, wrote down his doubts, and then stood before the True Monarch statue, lighting three incense sticks before burning the yellow paper.

As an official of Great Zhou, Zhao Xing could seek answers from the True Monarch for himself in the divine temple through this method.

The difference between clerks and officials lay here. Clerks could only receive spells, with some randomness in gaining spells, and then they had to rely on their own understanding.

As an official, he could consult the True Monarch to resolve doubts. However, the True Monarch who provided teachings didn’t always respond unless they had previously imparted knowledge.

Before long, the statue of Caoxi became animated, transforming into the image of an old farmer dressed in burlap.

"Greetings, True Monarch." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"The problem does not lie within you." Caoxi held a piece of yellow paper, the same one Zhao Xing had burned. On it were his written doubts.

The issue was not within me? Then where?

"Please enlighten me, True Monarch." Zhao Xing humbly sought teaching.

"With your [Ice Rain] spell, you comprehended the Rain Water diagram, and all you’re realizing are spells of killing. Since you are not a Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, observing the Rain Water diagram will automatically obscure those high-damage spells," explained Caoxi. "So, you could not truly comprehend them. It’s not a problem with you."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Then why could I previously receive Magic Yin Wind and Ice Rain?"

Caoxi laughed: "You were merely a small clerk before, with your Gathering Essence not even reaching the third rank, your Primordial Energy just a trickle. Captain Zhongxian Zheng Lun passing you Yin Wind, Thunderstrike, and Ice Rain was a matter of chance. Sensing your heartfelt desires and your innate talent for battle spells, he taught you with no harm."

"Now, at Lower Ninth Grade, with your various mid-level spells near perfection, your Primordial Energy is already surging. If you do not become a Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, you can no longer comprehend more powerful spells."

Zhao Xing realized, this was like a county-level Inspection Bureau. The standard equipment for martial artists was third-rank bow, crossbow, blade, and armor, which were sufficient.

When catching a petty thief, they couldn’t provide a Destructive God Cannon, could they?

There were standard specifications for treasures, and different duties had different allocations. Like the critical North Sea town, the county-level Minister of Agriculture could use six-rank treasures, protected by Mo Shou’s Realm.

Spells followed similar rules!

Like the [Ksitigarbha Returning Origin·Human Path] spell, it was theoretically prohibited from use within Great Zhou Territory.

Zhao Xing was currently awaiting a posting; unless he became a Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, he could not cultivate those powerful spells.

"You could change your approach and try comprehending the Rain Water diagram by attempting to bring rain. This way, the situation you just encountered won’t occur," said Caoxi. "The progress in understanding the Dao will still accumulate, but it won’t grant you mastery over powerful spells."

"Understood. Thank you, True Monarch, for resolving my doubts." Zhao Xing cupped his hands again and ended the session.

People could change and so could spells. Despite understanding how things worked, continuing to delay wasn’t a solution either. Zhao Xing decided to visit Old Chen’s Mansion to inquire about his situation.