Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 79 - 73: The Way of the Cloud Method, I Alone Am Supreme! (Third Update)_3

Chapter 79: Chapter 73: The Way of the Cloud Method, I Alone Am Supreme! (Third Update)_3

Zhang Boran said helplessly, "Let’s just take it one step at a time."

....

"Anyone else got a problem?" Zhao Xing called out again.

This time, no one on the square dared to make a sound.

The one who had just been struck was a Gathering Essence Eighth Stage martial artist, thick-skinned and tough enough not to die, but he had lost his ability to fight with that one blow.

Because of Yang Junxiong, the number of Gathering Essence Ninth Rank had decreased by three, and now, the number of experts willing to challenge was even fewer than last night.

Just this Seventh Turn Lightning Summoning Technique alone could take up four sticks of incense! Not to mention, around Zhao Xing was a group of martial artists gathered by Zong Shichang.

"Damn it, that bastard is too arrogant!" Lu Qian didn’t see the person but recognized the voice; it belonged to the same guy who had kidnapped her before.

"Qian’er, you’re being so strange today, why do you keep losing your composure, what exactly happened?" Liu Muqing noticed something was off, "Do you have a past encounter with the person speaking?"

"No, not at all." Lu Qian’s eyes darted around evasively.

"Then where is your Sparrow Feather Robe?" Liu Muqing pointed at Lu Qian, "Surely you haven’t lost it while bathing, have you?"

"...Well, that, there’s a reason for it." Lu Qian’s face turned red with embarrassment, stammering without being able to explain clearly.

....

"Mr. Zong, send someone to get the incense sticks," Zhao Xing instructed, making a gesture to Zong Shichang, seeing that no one dared to oppose him.

The latter found Zhao Xing increasingly pleasing to his eyes because he always spoke directly to him, instead of discussing with Uncle Cang or Uncle Hu.

That’s exactly the sense of importance Mr. Zong wanted!

"Alright, get the incense!" Zong Shichang waved his hand excitedly.

Two Gathering Essence Eighth Stage martial artists leaped up and each snatched four incense sticks.

Then they spun and landed, easily dissipating the force with the ground.

"Brother Zhao, thank you." Uncle Cang passed an incense stick to Zhao Xing, the gold light was emanating from it.

"Don’t mention it," Zhao Xing took the incense offered for worshiping.

In total, there were four sticks of incense, one share for Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu.

The third share was in Zong Shichang’s own hands.

"Yuan Bo, I’m counting on you to deliver it inside," Zong Shichang turned to the middle-aged man beside him, the third expert who had been silent all along.

When Zong Shichang asked, the man just nodded.

Zhao Xing glanced at him just as their eyes met, causing his heart to skip a beat.

In the other’s eyes, there lay a Divine Statue!

This was actually a clergyman!

"Zong Shichang, how rich exactly is your family to be able to afford a clergy’s services?"

This time, many officials participated in the mountain climb, representing various departments, but the clergy from the divine temple were very few and far between.

Because the clergy of the divine temple are special, they don’t need Spiritual Beauty, their spell and power progress isn’t through the normal promotion path. Moreover, the clergy are famously pure of heart and free from desire, indifferent to fame and fortune.

Having excessive contact with the Yin God makes one’s stray thoughts very few, and all kinds of desires significantly recede.

"Let’s wait over there."

"Let’s go."

.....

Having taken the four incense sticks, Zhao Xing also dispelled the Cloud Method.

Too much incense has no use; there’s only one opportunity per night.

And there will be a second wave, and a third wave of incense coming out.

There were still many experts on Heavenly Altar Square, but they hadn’t made a move at the first opportunity. If he had not withdrawn, it would mean making enemies with everyone there, which was unnecessary.

"Yang Junxiong and Du Jiaojiao haven’t decided the winner yet?"

After leaving Heavenly Altar Square, he saw two beams of light still entangled in combat ahead.

Yang Junxiong fought with a spear, and so did Du Jiaojiao.

One red, the other silvery-white.

They were blocking the entrance to the temple.

"Bright Eyes Skill allows one to observe the minutest details, but I still can’t make out their movements, I can only see the light and shadows; these two are probably already at the refined rank," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He had his own fortuitous encounter, so it’s possible that others had as well.

Yang Junxiong had taken the first incense yesterday evening, and Du Jiaojiao the second; praying at the temple could at least secure the whereabouts of ’Spiritual Beauty’ of medium quality or the method to harvest Spiritual Beauty, and they might even touch upon high-quality Spiritual Beauty!

Both were already at the Gathering Essence Ninth Rank, so it was quite normal for them to ascend to the refined rank after obtaining Spiritual Beauty.

After Zhao Xing left, a fierce competition erupted on Heavenly Altar Square.

Only three sticks of incense were left, but there were still dozens of people.

Praying in the temple, the first ten sticks of incense yield the best results.

They could be blessed with the presence of a True Monarch, who would reveal the location of Spiritual Beauty or impart the method to obtain it.

The indications would become vague for those behind, no longer clearly revealing anything.

Zhao Xing quietly watched the square, using the Bright Eyes Skill to observe.

One pairing caught his attention.

"Liu Qin accompaniment, the War Dance Da Shao?"

A melee broke out on the square, but two individuals stood out amidst the chaos. Zhao Xing recognized one of them; it was none other than Lu Qian, whom he had previously captured.

She was dancing a wildly ferocious dance, while another young girl with a Liu Qin provided the musical accompaniment.

This dance master and musician duo was performing one of the "Six Songs", the Da Shao.

Legend had it that Da Shao was created by the ancient music officer Kui, who used music and dance to simulate the laws of heaven and earth, attracting all creatures to bow down, and even the phoenix to descend from its nest, in praise of Emperor Xia’s achievements during Ancient Times.

Da Shao was both a war dance and a piece of music.

"Majestic are the multitude of beings, the law manifests with each day. Wishing to hear of your beginnings, the profound seal is shrouded in mystery..."

Liu Muqing strummed the Liu Qin and chanted, as Lu Qian danced.

As the two of them performed, half of the martial artists on the square suddenly began to attack their comrades uncontrollably.

The other half joined the dance, enhancing the power of the Da Shao even further.

Only two or three individuals managed to stay clear-headed, but their spells and martial techniques were severely distorted.

In the end, they had no choice but to let the two sisters each take an incense.

Having proven their strength and having received the incense, Lu Qian and Liu Muqing stopped performing.

They bowed towards Heavenly Altar Square, not out of politeness, but because the ceremony of the "Great Maestro’s Ritual" mandated it.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, music and ritual could not be separated.

Without this concluding ritual, the benefits of their performance (namely the improvement of their proficiency) would not have manifested.

"Both music and dance alone can perform Da Shao, and to have such power, that is indeed a rare sight," said Zhao Xing.

"I’ve known them for a long time, how come I never knew they were so formidable?" Zong Shichang asked curiously.

Zhao Xing explained, "Among the Six Songs, Da Shao is supreme among the war dances, because it requires a great number of participants and musical instruments. Following that are ’Yunmen,’ ’Da Juan,’ ’Wui Wu,’ ’Daqing,’ ’Da Zhang.’"

"I’ve also seen Da Shao performed, but it wasn’t as formidable as you describe," Zong Shichang said.

Zhao Xing teased, "I’m talking about the authentic tradition, was what you saw really authentic?"