Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 52: Gathering Essence Fourth Rank, Receive Magic Again!

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Gathering Essence Fourth Rank, Receive Magic Again!

[Gathering Essence Third Rank: 9999/10000]

Under the Tianyuan Pear tree, Zhao Xing sat cross-legged.

Primordial energy flowed around his body, the vortex in his dantian swirling like a nebula, its speed increasing faster and faster.

At this moment, the primordial energy had already reached the limit of the Gathering Essence Third Rank, only a final bit of energy was missing.

But this last bit was not just a matter of quantity; it was the key to triggering a qualitative change.

Chen Shijie, seeing the situation, was about to turn and leave because integrating Gathering Essence into the body to break through a rank required a considerable amount of time; it meant adapting every inch of flesh and blood to the new level of primordial energy.

Even for the final step, the transformation could still take one or two hours.

His right foot stepped into the study, left foot still unraised, Zhao Xing opened his eyes and stood up from beneath the Tianyuan Pear tree.

"Hmm? Failed?" Chen Shijie noticed the movement, turned around, and frowned.

But Zhao Xing’s blood and energy appeared sufficient, his spirit vigorous, not at all like someone who had failed.

So, he cast the [Five Elements Observing Objects] spell to look at Zhao Xing.

"The Five Elements are in balance, yin and yang are well-matched, a step up from before. This is a successful breakthrough at such a speed; this boy’s innate talent and spirit are extraordinary," Chen Shijie thought with some surprise.

He had originally believed that Zhao Xing had a high comprehension in spells, with only average innate talent and spirit, but it seemed he was mistaken.

"His innate talent and spirit would be mid to upper level even in Nanyang County."

"As long as his luck isn’t too bad, reaching the eighth-grade rank within five years should be no problem."

"If his luck is too poor, like my past ’troubled destiny,’ who knows how many trials he’d have to endure; not everyone has a general as kind as mine to revise their fate." Chen Shijie reminisced about his past with some sentiment.

"What is the lord thinking about?" Suddenly, a voice brought Chen Shijie back to the present.

"Now that you’ve broken through, I am thinking of how to punish you," Chen Shijie huffed.

"If punishment is to be dealt, why not punish us for more offenses at once? Brother Shen and I shall pick more pears first," Zhao Xing said with a cheeky grin and picked a few more pears with a backhand.

Shen Zhui stood dumbfounded. "Brother Zhao, you really dare to say and do anything!"

But Chen Shijie just went along with it.

He came from the military, was only in his thirties, and wasn’t one of those old-fashioned types. If Zhao Xing treated him with excessive formality and courtesy, he wouldn’t like it.

This way, Chen Shijie felt like he was dealing with a mischievous younger brother, and he quite enjoyed this feeling.

"You sure have thick skin. Take the pears and get lost; I don’t want to see you again today," Chen Shijie said with a smile.

"Then I’ll come again tomorrow, farewell."

"Get lost!"

.......

Until they had walked far away from the Chen Mansion, Shen Zhui, holding two pears in his arms, still hadn’t gotten over his surprise.

"Brother Zhao, your surname is Zhao?"

"Brother Shen, isn’t that obvious?"

"Are you really not surnamed Chen?"

"Do I look like I resemble Chen Shijie?"

Shen Zhui scrutinized Zhao Xing for a moment and nodded, "A bit."

Zhao Xing laughed, wiped a pear, and took a bite. "You might as well say I look like this pear."

Shen Zhui thought about it and realized it wasn’t quite the same. Chen Shijie’s face was slightly square, with light eyebrows, and small eyes and nose, not very striking in appearance, but he had fair skin typical in West Mountain County.

Zhao Xing, on the other hand, had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a high nose bridge, distinct facial lines, and was much taller than Chen Shijie; he could almost be considered a handsome young gentleman if not for his wheat-colored skin, which made him appear more sunny.

Their temperaments were different too; Chen Shijie had a tenacity forged through trials, while Zhao Xing had a more relaxed vibe.

Realizing this, Shen Zhui couldn’t help but feel envious. "Are all the relationships between superiors and subordinates this harmonious in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision?"

"Why? Are you not on good terms with Master Wang Long?" Zhao Xing asked back.

"Not really," Shen Zhui shook his head. "Lord Wang treats me very well, just more sternly, without much humor."

Zhao Xing had no intention of explaining his relationship with Chen Shijie further. Passing Government Street, he parted ways with Shen Zhui. "Brother Shen, I’ve broken through to Gathering Essence Fourth Rank and want to go to the divine temple to learn new spells. See you tomorrow at the Chen Mansion."

Shen Zhui tucked the pear into his chest, freeing his hands to cup them in a farewell gesture. "See you tomorrow, Brother Zhao."

........

According to the usual practice, the Minister of Agriculture Supervision made the application, the county government approved it, and then they went to the divine temple to receive the spell.

Xue Wenzhong naturally approved it swiftly because he knew that although Zhao Xing advanced quickly, his foundation was solid.

The Minister of Agriculture’s lifeblood spells, the Four Heavenly Time Techniques: moving clouds, bringing rain, summoning lightning, and raising the wind, Zhao Xing had respectively reached the Ninth Transition, Seventh Transition, Seventh Transition, and Eighth Transition.

Someone like Xue Wenzhong, who could summon the ’Three-foot Heavenly Thunder’ and ’Move Clouds with a Palm,’ was beyond Zhao Xing’s reach.

But his control over these spells was no worse than some newly entered Ministers of Agriculture.

Xue Wenzhong naturally had no worries.

Upon reaching the county government, there were a lot of people handling affairs.

The waiting hall was filled with people coming and going, hardly any room to set foot.

"Strange, why are there so many people today," Zhao Xing wondered, but still queued up.

After a while, he saw someone approach him from the side. It was an old acquaintance, Pang Fei.

"Brother Zhao, let’s talk over there."

"Alright." Zhao Xing left the line and followed Pang Fei.

Pang Fei led him directly into a small parlor adjacent to the waiting hall, then asked, "Brother Zhao, if you need any documents to be signed, just hand them over to me."

"Mr. Pang, is this convenient?" Zhao Xing thought to himself that this was essentially cutting the line.

Pang Fei chuckled lightly. "Brother Zhao’s matters are special, this is also something the County Venerable instructed."

Since Zhao Xing had achieved top ranks three times in a row, he had a name in the County Venerable’s mind, and Pang Fei had become Zhao Xing’s ’dedicated customer service.’

While others still had to wait for approval, Zhao Xing could cut in line directly.

"Thanks, Mr. Pang," Zhao Xing handed over the documents and casually asked, "Mr. Pang, why are there so many people handling affairs at the county government today?"

"Not just today, it’s been very busy these past few days," Pang Fei replied. "The Mountain Opening during the autumnal equinox on East Lake Mountain is approaching. Many people have come to acquire treasures and learn new spells."

"I see." Zhao Xing realized the significance. The Mountain Opening during the autumnal equinox in Gu County was a major event, even people from Nanyang County came to join the excitement. He had been so focused on his studies that he forgot autumnal equinox was near.

........

After obtaining the approval from the county government, Zhao Xing made his way to the divine temple.

The divine temple had more people than usual as well.

Especially the Caoxi True Monarch Temple, where a long line had formed.

There were even tourists with accents like those from out of town, worshipping from a distance in the plaza outside the temple.

"Caoxi True Monarch once constructed the Pinghu Thirteen Canals and used the Earth Advantage Sect Magic ’Ksitigarbha Returning Origin,’ then set up the Guiyuan Water Wheel, causing the primordial energy to become more concentrated. He turned water disasters into blessings, and that small hill by East Lake grew taller and taller, finally becoming the famous Spirit Mountain."

"With the Mountain Opening on the autumnal equinox approaching, who knows who will obtain the spiritual beauty from the mountain..."

Zhao Xing waited for half a day and saw that the line at the Caoxi True Monarch Temple hardly moved.

"After all, it’s just receiving an initial stage spell, it’s about the same wherever," Zhao Xing said to himself and went to the All Saints Hall, which could accommodate more people.