Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 56: Autumnal Equinox Mountain Opening, Spiritual Beauty in the Mountain

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Autumnal Equinox Mountain Opening, Spiritual Beauty in the Mountain

Three quarters later, Zhao Xing was still caught.

Under an artificial hill, Shen Zhui slightly panted, pressing the iron ruler against the top of Zhao Xing’s head.

Zhao Xing was briefly stunned, then put away his spell.

"Brother Shen, you have won again."

Shen Zhui took back the iron ruler, his eyes somewhat surprised "Mr. Zhao, your progress is too fast; this is just the third duel and you can already summon lightning and this peculiar rain... it took me a full three-quarters to catch you."

"A loss is a loss, Brother Shen, there’s no need to comfort me."

Shen Zhui shook his head "I’m telling the truth; after the first quarter, my Primordial Energy consumption was three times higher than last time. By the second quarter, my movement technique was no longer subtle."

The Ice Rain consumed a lot of vital energy, after all, this spell could freeze Primordial Energy. When Zheng Lun used it in an ambush, the Big Spear Soldier was directly frozen into an ice stick.

Of course, Zhao Xing had just started learning and can’t even use One Turn Spells. Against Shen Zhui, who was at the Gathering Essence Seventh Rank, the suppression wasn’t that exaggerated.

"But in the third quarter, your strength suddenly surged, completely ignoring the effects of the Ice Rain and blending into the rain. Brother Shen, what technique is this?" Zhao Xing asked.

Shen Zhui smiled "It’s a secret technique ’Qianyuan Burning Blood,’ which can increase my strength temporarily and enhance my physical control."

"That’s how I withstood the rain’s erosion and your Heavenly Thunder attacks."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood "It seems I still couldn’t force Brother Shen to use his full strength."

Shen Zhui laughed "And you didn’t use your full strength either? This time, I didn’t see you use the wind."

"My wind technique is tricky and not fully mastered, so it’s not good to use it on you, Brother Shen."

Since it wasn’t a life-and-death fight, only a duel, Zhao Xing didn’t find it necessary to use the Yin Wind against Shen Zhui.

Even the Ice Rain spell hadn’t been fully utilized.

It was now autumn, still unbearably hot, and the Yang Qi was strong.

The effect of the Ice Rain spell was halved.

If it were late winter or early spring, the Ice Rain spell would show its normal effects.

But it’s unavoidable; the Minister of Agriculture could borrow the Heavenly Time and Earth Advantage, but he too was influenced by it.

Unless he entered the grades, Zhao Xing began to practice the ’Seasonal Order,’ mastering winter’s seasonal qi, then wouldn’t be limited by the environment, and Ice Rain could exert its full power.

As they chatted, Chen Shijie came out of the room.

"Both of you should stop dueling these few days. The day after tomorrow is the autumnal equinox Mountain Opening. Go back and rest up, prepare well for this assessment."

"Yes." Shen Zhui and Zhao Xing said together and bid farewell.

......

The Great Zhou’s ’Spirit Mountain Technique’ stipulated "Any commandery with a Spirit Mountain must follow the cycle of heaven and earth, sealing the mountain in the Spring Equinox to nurture life; opening the mountain in the autumnal equinox to harvest its Spiritual Beauty."

East Lake Mountain in Gucheng, a thousand feet high mountain created by heavenly transformation, with condensed Primordial Energy that didn’t dissipate, was a proper ’Spirit Mountain.’

After leaving Chen Mansion, Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui began to talk.

"Mr. Zhao, the day after tomorrow is the autumnal equinox Mountain Opening ceremony. You should be very busy these days, right?"

Mountains, rivers, and lakes, all were under the management of the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, naturally including Spirit Mountains.

In places with ’Spirit Mountains,’ the Minister of Agriculture had to know the ’Mountain Opening Technique’ and ’Sealing Mountain Technique.’

Because the Spring Equinox sealing, and the autumnal equinox Mountain Opening both required the Minister of Agriculture to perform spells.

Zhao Xing laughed "The Minister of Agriculture Supervision will open the mountains, what does it have to do with me? I only know a few spells. It’s not up to me to perform the Mountain Opening Technique."

Shen Zhui asked "Mr. Zhao, will you go to the mountain to harvest Spiritual Beauty?"

Zhao Xing answered without hesitation "Of course I’ll go."

Nurturing the mountain’s Spiritual Beauty and then harvesting it is the significance of sealing and opening the mountain.

The mountain’s Spiritual Beauty could bring different benefits to people.

Some gained longevity, some increased their Qi Fortune, some had a surge in Primordial Energy, and others had their spells elevated to a higher level.

Land Register Commander Caoxi was posthumously granted a noble title largely because he nurtured East Lake Spirit Mountain.

And ever since the Spirit Mountain was born in Gucheng, the official assessment on the autumnal equinox tied to East Lake Mountain had become a tradition.

"The autumnal equinox assessment involves ascending the mountain and harvesting Spiritual Beauty."

"The ranking is based on harvest yield."

"The mountain’s Spiritual Beauty is divided into three grades: superior, middle, and low."

"The superior grade is the Fortune Spiritual Treasure, which increases one’s Qi Fortune."

"The middle grade is the Primordial Magic Spirit, which can either elevate one’s realm or improve spells."

"The low grade is the Lifespan Spirit, which increases longevity but not significantly."

"Gaining a superior grade spiritual treasure will ensure an ’A’ rating, middle grade for a ’B’ rating, and low grade for a ’C’ rating. Failure to gain any will result in no grade."

Shen Zhui, slightly envious, said "I heard ten years ago during a grand Mountain Opening, someone ascended from an ungraded state straight into the eighth-grade realm. Truly enviable."

Mountain Opening and Sealing were categorized by size, ranging from one year to ten years.

However, the nine Spirit Mountains in Nanyang County seldom had grand-scale events. The event Shen Zhui referred to lasted only three years.

"Nanyang County has nine Spirit Mountains. Although East Lake Mountain ranks fifth, that year not only did the local officials eagerly participate, but also many from other counties." Zhao Xing remarked.

"Brother Shen only sees the lucky ones; little did you know, some people met their end with no burial place. Ascending the mountain to harvest Spiritual Beauty not only brings benefits but also danger." Zhao Xing said.

Shen Zhui responded "Ascending the Spirit Mountain and harvesting Spiritual Beauty, anyone in Nanyang County can participate. But from September 22 to September 24, only officials are allowed in the mountains, ensuring no experts disturb them."

The autumnal equinox was approaching, but Gucheng’s inns were already filled with many officials from other counties wanting to try their luck at East Lake Mountain.

The county government was also overcrowded, as outsiders needed to register in advance.

Gucheng was manageable, but Yuanping Mountain, the top-ranked Spirit Mountain in Nanyang County, was different. More people, fiercer competition, with many officials at the Gathering Essence Ninth Rank, some even at the entry-grade level but not yet officially appointed.

Zhao Xing shook his head "I meant that ascending the mountain itself has inherent dangers."

Officials’ competition during the mountain ascend was limited, allowing for snatching but not killing or serious injury.

However, the treacherous mountains, especially newly opened Spirit Mountains, inherently posed dangers, and people had died before.

Shen Zhui grasped the iron ruler at his waist, speaking firmly "Even if it’s risky, I must try it this year. Heaven knows how many more competitors there will be next year? It’s said to be getting harder every year."

For officials, ascending the mountain to harvest Spiritual Beauty was an opportunity for a breakthrough. Those already ahead also needed to participate to prevent others from overtaking them.

After pausing, he looked at Zhao Xing "Will you go?"

Zhao Xing smiled "Of course I’ll go. I’m a local; if the Mountain God doesn’t bless me, who will he bless, the outsiders?"

It was, of course, a joke. The autumnal equinox included mountain worship, but the Yin God didn’t care if you were local or an outsider. As long as you were a citizen of the Zhou Dynasty, you would be treated equally.

"Ha ha ha, then see you on East Lake Mountain the day after tomorrow," Shen Zhui laughed as he left.