Chapter 92: Earth Palace Method, Earth Treasury Method, Ten Thousand Laws Cloud Chart

As he pulled out the scroll, there was a small slip of paper beside it, similar to an instruction manual.

"A fourth-tier mid-grade Earthly Benefit faction spell, containing the Earth Palace spell, can be comprehended 4 times."

Zhao Xing glanced at the instructions and then set them aside.

The fourth-tier low-grade Dao-transmission painting Xue Wenzhong had shown him back then, the "Ten Thousand Things Growing Picture," belonged to the Self faction's general outline of spells, offering a broader scope for comprehension.

But what Zhao Xing had obtained now were specialized Dao-transmission paintings, which guaranteed comprehension of a specific category of spells.

"Young Master Zong really put in the effort. Dao-transmission paintings of the Earth Palace Method are rare; their acquisition difficulty is second only to the Profound Earth Method." Zhao Xing opened the scroll with some anticipation.

As a fourth-tier mid-grade Dao-transmission painting, its initial impact was even more powerful than the fourth-tier low-grade "Ten Thousand Things Growing Picture" he had observed last time.

Once Zhao Xing’s gaze fell upon the scroll, he was immediately drawn in.

"Hum~"

As his eyes saw it, his mind was also pulled into it.

"Whoosh, whoosh~"

Falling~

Endless falling~

Zhao Xing felt his body become incomparably heavy.

He was falling at an astonishing speed.

During the descent, he was surrounded by an intense squeezing force, as if drowning; the deeper he went, the stronger the pressure from the water became.

However, this pressure was different from drowning; when drowning, one could at least feel that the surrounding water was still soft.

But now, that pressure was stagnant, carrying a painful, tearing sensation.

He did not know how much time had passed, but the first stage of the fall finally ended.

Zhao Xing slammed hard onto a solid ground, his entire body bound by force, unable to move.

Lying on the ground, he struggled to lift his head and saw a translucent palace ahead, emitting a faint, shimmering light.

"Earth Palace."

Zhao Xing was uncontrollably drawn to the phantom of the palace.

The palace was vast, yet its foundation was not built on the ground, but sat atop a cyan river.

"That is an Earth Vein."

A realization dawned in Zhao Xing's heart.

He lay there on the ground, observing the Earth Vein and the Earth Palace.

Earth Veins are deeply hidden and hard to sense on the surface, but underground, they can be clearly seen, and in this scene,

the Earth Vein was not only clearly visible but flowing, extremely active.

A Profound-grade Earth Vein is of very high quality; this Earth Palace felt as if it had formed naturally from the active flow of the Earth Vein.

Its profoundness made Zhao Xing, lying on the ground, completely forget the binding and pressure, mesmerized as he watched the flowing Earth Vein.

"The Earth Vein is merely flowing naturally, yet its veins actually formed a palace?"

"Truly a work of supernatural craftsmanship."

"Hm?"

Just as Zhao Xing gained some insight, the ground beneath him began to flow as well, rapidly pulling him toward the Earth Palace.

"Bang~"

His whole body felt as if it had shattered, absorbed by the flowing cyan Earth Vein.

At this moment, the 'perspective' vanished, leaving only a strange sensation.

It was as if he had become a part of the Earth Vein, flowing with it, and in the process of this flow, he became a part of the Earth Palace.

"Vast, heavy, boundless—this Earth Palace is simply too large."

Zhao Xing now felt the most fundamental characteristic of the Earth Palace.

It would at times turn into a handful of soil, at times into a support pillar, at times into a piece of brick or tile of the palace...

He did not know how much time had passed.

"Hum~"

All scenes rapidly receded, and Zhao Xing felt himself detach from the Earth Vein and Earth Palace.

In an instant, his consciousness returned.

"Indescribably wonderful."

After detaching, Zhao Xing did not look at the painting but subconsciously extended his fingertip, sending a golden light into the ground.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, he sent out a second one.

Afterward, the interval between each strike became shorter and shorter.

By the time he reached the eighteenth to the twenty-fourth strike, they were issued almost in a continuous chain.

"So that's it, Boundless Earth Palace, this is the Boundless Earth Palace..."

Zhao Xing smiled; it was the joy that comes from the heart upon grasping a true method.

"Hum hum~"

At this moment, this wing of the Water-Listening Pavilion suddenly began to shake.

"Crack, crack, crack~"

Cracks suddenly appeared on the surrounding walls.

The floor also split rapidly, and the beams and pillars supporting the wing cracked quickly, as if unable to bear the weight.

"Not good, it's going to collapse."

Zhao Xing immediately rolled up the scroll and the box, running out quickly.

The moment he ran out,

"Boom!"

This wing of the Water-Listening Pavilion collapsed with a roar, turning into rubble and ruins in an instant.

Moreover, it was pulverized so finely that one couldn't even find a complete tile or a whole piece of wood.

"What happened? What happened? Was there an earthquake?"

Zong Shichang walked over, holding his mountain cat.

Steward Tang and several servants also rushed over quickly.

"Sorry, Young Master Zong." Zhao Xing said apologetically, "I collapsed your house."

"It's fine, it's just a wing... wait." Zong Shichang’s eyes widened, "You said you collapsed this? This was top-quality red pine wood! The foundation was solid and very sturdy!"

"I was indeed a bit careless... hey, don't go over there!" As Zhao Xing was speaking, he saw a servant from the Zong manor run toward the ruins, seemingly to check them.

But as soon as he walked over, he knelt down with a pained expression, his breathing became difficult, and finally, as if unable to bear the burden, he collapsed onto the ground.

"Disperse!" Zhao Xing immediately reached out and pointed, causing the spell to dissipate.

"Hoo~ hoo~ ha-hoo~" The servant stood up, gasping for air. His face was flushed, and when he loosened his collar to look, blood was already seeping from his pores.

"This..." Zong Shichang was stunned. These servants of his were all fourth or fifth-tier Qi-Gathering martial artists, not some weaklings.

How did they end up like this just by getting close?

"His internal organs are injured. Do you have any medicine for nourishing the organs? Give him some." Zhao Xing checked with his Five Elements Observation and could already see that the man's internal organs had slightly shifted, with some fine wounds.

"That serious?" The martial artist was terrified. He felt much better now, but he hadn't expected his internal organs to be injured.

"Trust me."

"Uncle Tang, take him to get treated." Zong Shichang naturally trusted Zhao Xing.

After the servants dispersed, he asked curiously, "What kind of method is this?"

"One of the Earth Palace Methods, called [Boundless Earth Palace]."

Zhao Xing introduced it: "This spell uses the Earth Vein as a foundation to create a spell-based Earth Palace, which can capture all external objects. When the Earth Palace Method is practiced to a profound level, it can even capture gods and demons."

"Legend has it there is a method called 'Demon God Earth Palace,' where even powerful gods and demons can be captured into the Earth Palace, trapped, and refined to death."

"After refining gods and demons, they can even be used as nutrients for plants to absorb."

"There's such a spell?" Zong Shichang’s eyes widened, "How come I don't know about it?"

There are many things you don't know... Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"Ancient legends, of course, are exaggerated as much as possible." Zhao Xing said casually. "Earth-Splitting Method, Earth Treasury Method, Earth Palace Method, and Profound Earth Method are known as the four holy methods of the Earthly Benefit faction, all related to Earth Veins and legends of gods."

"What are the effects of your Boundless Earth Palace?" Zong Shichang asked.

"As you can see." Zhao Xing pointed to the ruins of the house, "Its capturing force can crush people and objects that enter the Earth Palace area."

Zong Shichang looked and saw that the foundation of the wing had indeed sunk by a section, three feet lower than the surroundings.

In the ruins, one truly couldn't find a single good tile or brick, as if they had been crushed.

"You are becoming more and more like a Military Agricultural Official." Zong Shichang sighed. A proper Agricultural Official wouldn't know such spells. "Are you planning to join the army?"

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded, "I have that thought."

"It's not easy to pass the exam for a Military Agricultural Official." Zong Shichang said, "Your official appointment in Nanyang Commandery only counts as a Civil Agricultural Official. To go into the army, you have to undergo different selections based on the specifications of different armies."

"Even if you get in, your official rank will still start from the ninth grade, and I hear that the conditions for Military Agricultural Officials are harsh; they are often sent to bitter, cold places to work. Your official appointment is already a certainty, why suffer this hardship?"

Zong Shichang said: "Nowadays, it's better to be a civil official; it's more comfortable."

"Find a fertile and stable place to be an Agricultural Official; no natural disasters, no need to do much work, and because the weather and environment are good, the harvest is naturally sufficient."

"Muddle along for a few years, pull some strings, and sit back waiting for a promotion—isn't that wonderful?"

Most aristocratic family children follow this path. Zong Shichang is a typical aristocratic child; he simply couldn't understand why Zhao Xing would want to be a Military Agricultural Official.

"To each their own." Zhao Xing smiled, "What you say is indeed a path, but it doesn't suit me."

Good positions are limited. Without connections or financial resources, how could an ordinary person get such a good place?

It is stable, but it is too stable, and the rate of advancement is too slow.

Furthermore, during this period, the Emperor is constantly draining the blood of aristocratic families. Trying to walk this path steadily is not very feasible.

"Alright, I'll find you another room." Zong Shichang didn't say anything more.

"Just find me an open-air place." Zhao Xing followed him.

[You observed the fourth-tier mid-grade Dao-transmission painting 'Earth Palace Phantom' and comprehended the mid-grade spell 'Boundless Earth Palace'. Remaining comprehension attempts: 3]

[Boundless Earth Palace: Mid-grade spell]

[Progress: Third Turn (3548/9999)]

[Effect: Use the Earth Vein as a foundation to cast the Boundless Earth Palace, releasing a powerful capturing force, stackable up to three times.]

"As expected of a fourth-tier mid-grade Dao-transmission painting." Zhao Xing nodded with satisfaction.

Why did he buy Dao-transmission paintings instead of receiving the method in a temple?

The reason is right here.

Receiving a method in a temple is random; you can't always get what you want. Some spells cannot be learned, involving thresholds, such as certain spells that only specific official positions can learn.

Secondly, receiving a method in a temple only leads you to the door; those with poor talent might not even be able to enter.

Dao-transmission paintings are different; they are highly targeted. If you want to learn a certain spell, the certainty of using a Dao-transmission painting is much higher.

Furthermore, Dao-transmission paintings condense the insights of the Dao into the painting. Observing them not only allows one to enter the door, but those with good talent can even quickly skip the introductory stage and directly raise the spell by several turns.

Zhao Xing's comprehension, talent, and root bone, after more than half a year of transformation by the Dao Embryo Pill, basically allowed the effect of this Dao-transmission painting to reach maximum efficiency.

"This money was well spent." Zhao Xing was very satisfied.

The Earth Palace Method is equivalent to creating a domain.

Within the area covered by the Boundless Earth Palace, enemies will find it difficult to move, their speed will be sharply reduced, equivalent to fighting under triple gravity.

Their speed and Qi consumption will increase greatly, their techniques will be distorted, and their combat effectiveness will be greatly discounted.

"Advanced Earth Palace Methods can capture any spell as soon as it is cast, making it impossible to hit anyone, and eventually, they can even capture gods and demons, turning them into nutrients... I must continue to practice this spell." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

There are still three comprehension opportunities for the Earth Palace Method Dao-transmission painting. Afterward, he won't comprehend new types, but he will continue to enhance his insights into [Boundless Earth Palace], raising his realm, specialized for the method.

Zhao Xing put away the painting; the comprehension effect would be discounted in the short term, so he would learn others first.

"The second painting, fourth-tier mid-grade, Earth Treasury Method."

Zhao Xing opened the painting, and suddenly a vast expanse of land appeared before his eyes.

The land was yellowish-gray, with countless mountains and rivers, appearing like lines, intertwining and flowing before his eyes.

This seems to be a high-altitude perspective... Zhao Xing thought to himself.

But immediately he felt something was wrong.

"Hm? Why does it look a bit familiar?"

Zhao Xing pondered, carefully observing the yellowish-gray lines.

A moment later, Zhao Xing suddenly realized.

The perspective also shifted from high altitude to the ground.

When he appeared on the ground, Zhao Xing found himself naked, his soles stepping into the soil.

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Afterward, his whole body slowly sank in, leaving only his head above.

Warmth, moisture, and waves of vitality surged from underground.

"I am a tree."

Zhao Xing's mind was completely filled with this thought. At first, he couldn't immerse himself, but gradually, he truly felt he had become a tree, and countless vitality surged into his pores like water.

He began to grow vigorously in the ground.

As he 'grew,' his body slowly moved out of the ground, finally standing on the surface, with only the soles of his feet still stepping underground.

"Hum~"

The observation ended.

Zhao Xing came back to his senses.

"No wonder it felt so familiar; it's the 'Humanized Version' of the Earth Vein Synthesis."

Zhao Xing looked at the panel record.

[You observed the fourth-tier mid-grade Dao-transmission painting 'Earth Vein Surging' and comprehended the mid-grade spell [Earth Treasury Returning to Origin · Human Dao]. Remaining comprehension attempts: 3]

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[Earth Treasury Returning to Origin · Human Dao: Mid-grade spell]

[Progress: Third Turn (3885/9999)]

[Effect: Steal Earth Vein Qi, take it as one's own, making Qi endless and spell circulation continuous.]

The introductory version of Earth Vein Synthesis is aimed at plant life.

The mid-grade and high-grade versions are both called Earth Treasury Returning to Origin, but they have more detailed divisions based on utility and power.

The Human Dao version of Earth Treasury Returning to Origin is specifically aimed at the human race.

"Just like plants absorb the power of the Earth Vein, human life can also absorb it, but it is more complex to absorb."

"Human Dao Earth Treasury and Plant Earth Treasury are still very different, and compared to Earth Vein Synthesis, it is also more complex." Zhao Xing experienced the difference.

This spell cannot be learned by clerks in the temple, nor will it be taught.

Don't forget, the Earth Vein Synthesis and Earth Treasury Returning to Origin series also have a nickname: "Qi-Stealing Method."

If everyone learned this spell, the result would be cultivating a bunch of 'old sixes' (sneaky people).

This spell is highly concealed and destructive. If everyone could learn it, everyone would go 'stealing vegetables.'

"Earth Treasury Returning to Origin Human Dao version can assist in cultivation and can also be set up in advance when fighting the enemy. However, I must practice it secretly; I can only use it openly after becoming a Military Agricultural Official, otherwise, it will be a bit troublesome."

Zhao Xing didn't even dare to practice it in the city, otherwise, if discovered, he would be invited to 'drink tea.'

Strictly speaking, this spell is even forbidden to be practiced on the land of the Great Zhou, regardless of whether it is your own land or not.

But why does it exist? Because when the Great Zhou expands outward, this spell is too useful; they really can't help but use it!

"This was brought by Lu Qian; it seems someone in the aristocratic family is practicing it secretly. This ban is truly 'only allowing the governor to set fires, while forbidding the common people to light lamps'." Zhao Xing curled his lips, just like the rich in his previous life taking private jets, building private pools, and having massive carbon emissions and water waste, yet calling on ordinary people to protect the environment and save water resources.

"Why? I'm going to use it! And I'm going to practice it hard!" Zhao Xing thought viciously.

By the time he comprehended these two spells, it was already dark.

Zong Shichang enthusiastically invited him to stay overnight at the manor, and Zhao Xing didn't stand on ceremony and gladly agreed.

Steward Tang sent a servant to inform Zhao Ruide in Kangping Ward, and then arranged dinner for the young master and the distinguished guest.

"In the distant ancient times, when the people first came to be, they were proud and self-sufficient, holding fast to simplicity and truth. Once cleverness and artifice sprouted, they relied on resources without cause. Who shall provide for them? Truly, one must rely on the sages." Zong Shichang finished reciting and raised his wine cup to signal Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing smiled slightly and likewise raised his cup: "Who are the sages? It was Houji in his time. How did he provide for them? By sowing and planting. Xia practiced farming in person, and Tang did the same. Nearer to us, the Zhou rites state that the eight policies begin with food."

The two were reciting the "Song of Encouraging Agriculture," each taking a stanza; whoever couldn't continue had to drink.

Zong Shichang pondered deeply, then stammered out: "Prosperous is the virtuous rule, lush are the plains and lands. Flowers and trees flourish, the gentle breeze is pure and serene. The bustling men and women compete in the passing of time. The mulberry-picking wives rise at night, the farmers sleep in the fields."

Zhao Xing continued: "The seasons pass easily, but peace and bounty are hard to sustain. Ji Que brought his spouse, Ju and Ni paired off. Look at those sages and worthies; they still labored in the fields. How much more so for the common folk, who merely trail their robes and fold their hands?"

Zong Shichang raised his cup and recited: "The people's livelihood lies in diligence; with diligence, there is no lack... no lack... what comes after that?"

Zhao Xing picked up the wine and filled it for him: "Don't think about it, drink!"

"Damn it, lost again." Zong Shichang drank it all in one gulp. "No more, no more, I can't play against you."

"Life in this world requires diligence; with diligence, food and clothing will not be lacking. If one covets pleasure and seeks only ease, it will be hard to sustain one's livelihood when old age arrives." Zhao Xing continued the recitation for Zong Shichang. "In life and work, one must still be diligent. With so many diligent people around us, how can you and I not feel ashamed while drinking and making merry here?"

Zong Shichang laughed and scolded, picking up the wine pot: "Damn you, stop pretending, drink! Let's be diligent tomorrow!"

Zhao Xing laughed out loud, forgetting all his troubles, and drank to his heart's content with Zong Shichang.

Early the next morning, Zong Shichang was still sleeping soundly, but Zhao Xing had already woken up.

He was woken up by the shrill cries of the mountain cat.

"Howl! Woo!!" The sound was roaring, as if it had been beaten.

"Alright, alright." Zhao Xing got up and opened the door, "It's not breakfast time yet, what are you rushing for? If people didn't know, they'd think I was abusing you."

"Meow~" Seeing the door open, the mountain cat immediately became well-behaved, and its voice became like a 'clip-voice' (cutesy).

"Look at your behavior." Zhao Xing helplessly opened the bamboo box and took out half a dried yellow croaker: "Here, eat."

"Nyanyanyanya~" The mountain cat began to feast.

After feeding the mountain cat, Zhao Xing came outside the room.

He found a rockery and began to open the box containing the scrolls.

Upon seeing the note beside the scroll, Zhao Xing couldn't help but be stunned: "Hm? This is fourth-tier top-grade, Ten Thousand Laws Cloud Chart?"

On the small note, there was also a line of elegant, delicate handwriting: Gifting you the Ten Thousand Laws Cloud Chart, wishing you all your wishes come true.

"Hey, if you're going to gift it, just gift it, why send a small note? Women only affect the speed of my spellcasting..." Zhao Xing casually threw away the note, firmed his Dao heart, and began to observe the scroll.