Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 50: Pursuit and Sparring

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Pursuit and Sparring

When Chen Shijie brought in the young man with double iron rulers on his waist, wearing a coiled palm hat on his head and stepping cloud boots on his feet, Zhao Xing immediately recognized him.

"Mr. Zhao, is it you?" Shen Zhui was also somewhat surprised to see Zhao Xing.

"It seems you know each other?" Chen Shijie asked with a smile.

"Of course. Chief Shen is the youngest and most outstanding catcher in the Military Class Room." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"I don’t dare claim such a title. The Military Class Room is full of experts; I’ve merely completed a few more tasks by luck." Shen Zhui behaved very modestly in front of Chen Shijie. "I know Mr. Zhao mainly because the area he oversees for land taxes, Anping Town, is also under my jurisdiction for public security."

The Minister of Agriculture Official had the responsibility of encouraging farming and inspecting land taxes, while the catchers from the Military Class Room were in charge of local security.

When Zhao Xing went to the towns, he had a few interactions with Shen Zhui and had a good impression of him.

"Since you know each other, I don’t need to introduce you." Chen Shijie laughed, "Shen Zhui, Zhao Xing, you two go ahead and chat."

Chen Shijie gave the two young men some space. Shen Zhui looked at Zhao Xing and spoke first, "I didn’t expect the person I’m supposed to protect would be you, Mr. Zhao. It seems like fate."

"Protect?" Zhao Xing was puzzled. "Is Chief Shen’s directive to protect me? Is Xuantian Sect causing trouble again?"

Shen Zhui adjusted the iron rulers at his waist and explained, "It is related to the Xuantian Sect. The officers of various counties in Nanyang County have been captured, bringing about serious consequences. While they have vanished without a trace, many strong individuals have taken advantage of the chaos, committing numerous murders, making it truly unsettling."

"Moreover, with East Lake Mountain about to open, security has been significantly tightened all over Gucheng."

Listening to Shen Zhui, Zhao Xing finally understood. Chen Shijie not only found him a sparring partner but also a bodyguard from the Military Class Room.

Old Chen is truly someone reliable; when there is trouble, he sincerely helps out.

"Then, I’ll be troubling Chief Shen for a while," Zhao Xing said.

"It’s my duty, no need to be polite," Shen Zhui replied.

........

Although he had a bodyguard, Shen Zhui was not providing round-the-clock close protection.

When Zhao Xing went to the Minister of Agriculture Supervision for duties or study, Shen Zhui didn’t need to go. Unless Zhao Xing left the city, then he would accompany him.

Additionally, at Zhao Xing’s request, they sparred for two hours each morning and afternoon.

The location was set at the Chen Mansion, as it was spacious enough and allowed for the use of spells.

Their first sparring session was akin to a game of cat and mouse.

One person fled, the other chased, within the confines of the Chen Mansion.

Shen Zhui stood in place, waiting for Zhao Xing to cast a spell first.

He was a martial artist, and since the training ground was only so big, if he made the first move, Zhao Xing would have nothing to play with.

The rule was that after Zhao Xing cast a spell, Shen Zhui could start the chase on the tenth breath.

"Bring the wind!"

Zhao Xing cast a spell, and the wind swept up sand, not to attack but to obscure vision.

Whoosh~

Shen Zhui squinted his eyes and pressed down on his coiled palm hat.

Although he couldn’t see Zhao Xing’s position with his eyes, his martial artist’s sense of human Primordial Energy allowed him to still sense Zhao Xing’s location.

But the next moment, a trace of surprise flashed across Shen Zhui’s face.

"He disappeared?!"

On the training ground, Shen Zhui stood in place, surprised as he looked at the dark clouds overhead.

"The moving clouds concealed his Qi fluctuation? But when did these clouds form? I didn’t even notice."

"One Breath, Two Techniques? Completed the moving clouds while bringing the wind?"

Just as they started, Shen Zhui felt that Zhao Xing, this Minister of Agriculture, was clearly different from the others he had encountered.

However, he was still mistaken. Zhao Xing used Three Techniques in One Breath, not just two.

In an instant, he cast moving clouds, bringing the wind, and to bring rain.

"Pitter-patter~"

Raindrops fell on Shen Zhui’s coiled palm hat, and before the ten breaths countdown ended, it had turned into a torrential downpour!

"Splash~"

The rain thoroughly blurred Shen Zhui’s vision, reducing visibility to within five meters.

"Swish, swish, swish~"

The iron rulers vibrated, locked onto a direction, and suddenly emitted two beams of white light that swiftly penetrated the rain.

The beams cleaved through the rain curtain for twenty to thirty meters, providing a moment of clear sight. A sharp glint flashed in Shen Zhui’s eyes as he locked onto a vague figure.

The ten breaths countdown ended, and he began the ’chase.’

Zhao Xing, hiding behind a willow tree in the eastern part of the training ground, started his second spell—the Grassman Skill.

"I just sacrificed a Divine Movement Grassman, which should have drawn his attention, but to escape the chase, one Grassman is not enough."

Zhao Xing gently broke off a willow branch while carefully listening to Shen Zhui’s movements.

........

"Mr. Zhao, the game is over." Shen Zhui jumped down from a rockery, instantly surpassing the vague figure.

"Is it?" The vague figure emitted Zhao Xing’s voice, "Chief Shen, why don’t you take a closer look?"

"Grassman?" Shen Zhui was stunned.

"Chief Shen, it’s still too early."

The Grassman disintegrated by itself, for its mission ended upon making contact with Shen Zhui. The Grassman couldn’t possibly defeat Shen Zhui, unless it was two or three dozen Vigorous Vajra, but this was a Divine Movement Grassman, made of ordinary willow branches.

"I was actually tricked by a Grassman? His Grassman Skill is so exquisite it can even produce sound?" Shen Zhui’s eyes began to change.

He knew he was Gathering Essence Seventh Rank, while Zhao Xing, according to Chen Shijie’s introduction, was only Gathering Essence Third Rank!

As the strongest talent of the Military Class Room, being played by a Gathering Essence Third Rank spell of the Minister of Agriculture Supervision?

Shen Zhui drew both iron rulers out.

He was going to get serious.

..........

"Tap, tap, tap~"

The stepping cloud boots struck the rain rhythmically.

But Zhao Xing also noticed something amiss. After the first Grassman disintegrated, Shen Zhui’s movements became harder to track.

After two breaths, Shen Zhui’s footsteps disappeared.

Or rather, they didn’t disappear; they completely blended into the rhythm of the raindrops.

Zhao Xing controlled the moving clouds with Primordial Energy in micro-operations to change the rain’s rhythm.

But each time, Shen Zhui could adjust his movement technique within two breaths, quickly blending into the environment.

Thus, during rapid movement, Zhao Xing couldn’t determine Shen Zhui’s exact location.

To Zhao Xing, Shen Zhui had vanished too.

"His movement technique has reached the Nine-Turned Micro level. Chen Shijie surely found me a good sparring partner." There was a hint of excitement in Zhao Xing’s eyes.

This was precisely the intensity of confrontation he wanted; in such a match, his efficiency of Primordial Energy purification would also increase.

"Repeating Grassman, arise!"

Soon, the second Grassman appeared under the willow tree, about the same height and build as Zhao Xing.

"Go!"

Zhao Xing commanded the Grassman to hide elsewhere in the Chen Mansion, to confuse Shen Zhui’s sight.

Another ten breaths passed, and the third Grassman was formed.

But as the third one started to move, it stepped on two dry branches.

"Crack~" The dry branches broke with a crisp sound.

Though soon smothered by the rain, in Zhao Xing’s ears it was piercing.

Simultaneously, in the rain, Shen Zhui, noticing the anomaly, revealed his form and dashed over.

"Not good." Zhao Xing’s expression changed slightly. He immediately abandoned making the Grassman and ran in another direction.