Chapter 104: People Also Await Change, and the Dao Also Has Its Rules!

"When the five elements' balance is broken, in an instant yin and yang transform into true spirit, and the species undergoes a transformation."

"When a kingdom's fortune turns into the four seasons, and one becomes an official in a single morning, a person also undergoes a transformation."

Zhao Xing flipped open a page of the *Shangluo Benwo Scripture* and suddenly saw this passage.

The Zong residence had a large collection of books. Zong Zong Shichang didn't like reading, but Zhao Xing did.

Last night, after drinking and putting Xiao Ze, Wen Nanxing, and Zong Zong Shichang to bed, Zhao Xing stayed in the Zong residence's library to read.

The *Shangluo Benwo Scripture*—the name sounded impressive, because Shangluo was not only a place name, but also an ancient sage of the Agricultural Sect.

But the one in Zhao Xing's hands was actually a miscellaneous book.

It wasn't even written by Shangluo; it didn't involve any specific techniques, only mentioning some insights or odd tales from the Benwo Sect's thought.

Hitching a ride on a sage's fame to sell books—this kind of trick was commonplace for booksellers.

Zhao Xing had indeed been lured in by the clickbait title.

Anyway, with nothing better to do, Zhao Xing casually flipped through it.

He hadn't expected to see a passage like this.

"When a kingdom's fortune turns into the four seasons, and one becomes an official in a single morning, a person also undergoes a transformation—this view is rather interesting."

"Due to drastic changes in the weather, certain individuals within a species will undergo drastic changes."

"But this book uses the Benwo Sect's thought to explain species transformation."

"It holds that species transformation occurs because the balance of the inner five elements within the species is broken very thoroughly."

"Returning to that single instant when yin and yang merge and give birth to true spirit."

"Thus causing the bloodline of life to completely transform." Zhao Xing read carefully.

"The book also uses a Qi Fortune Dynasty's appointment of officials as an example."

"The compiler believed that the inner five elements of the human body are vast as a world; when a dynasty's Qi Fortune enters the body, it is like the four seasons' solar terms operating within the body's inner five elements—and operating violently."

"Therefore, before and after becoming an official, the gap between entering a rank and not entering a rank is enormous."

"It's just that the entry of a dynasty's Qi Fortune into the body is controllable; it is a gentle 'human transformation.'"

Zhao Xing thought it over and found that this book really did have something to it!

The "world within the body" mentioned in it truly existed in later times.

Even now there was evidence: after the fiftieth stage of Gathering Origin, a patch of "Pure Origin Soil" would appear within the Origin Dantian, allowing "Dantian Seed Cultivation"—carrying miraculous plants to fight alongside oneself.

But viewed in the present, this thought was too far ahead of its time, because no one could reach the state of forming a world within the body, so it was considered heretical nonsense.

Zhao Xing looked at the book's cover, found no author's name, smiled lightly, and thought: just as expected.

"Young Master Zong loves collecting these improper books; it's normal for them to appear in his residence."

As long as one didn't privately print and distribute them, reading banned books oneself would at most result in a fine.

As for the theory of species transformation mentioned in the book, whether it was the Heavenly Timing Sect, the Dili Sect, or the Benwo Sect, several factions within each were debating whether the human race should be included.

Scholars opposed to classifying the human race argued that across the Nineteen Provinces, no powerful human had ever exhibited a physical-form change.

Even if there were differences in build, in essence they were still of the genus Homo; it could not be called transformation—becoming stronger was the result of conforming to the Heavenly Dao through cultivation.

Scholars in favor of classifying the human race also had counterarguments:

Across the vast Nineteen Provinces, with earthly treasures and heavenly splendor, guarded by Qi Fortune Dynasties, the transformation produced by the human race was gentle and controllable.

But in the barren lands beyond the Nineteen Provinces, among the Eight Wastes' alien races, they were human when weak, yet the more they cultivated, the less human they became.

Take the Barbarian race, which posed the greatest threat to Great Zhou—some of them would grow twin horns, some would grow twin wings. In the lands beyond the realm, bitter and harsh—could it be said that they too were cultivating in accordance with the Heavenly Dao?

"The phantom I saw when accepting office—a hundred-zhang tall golden-light giant represented Emperor Jing, and in reality, Emperor Jing truly can become that tall."

"Kingdom's fortune becomes the heavenly timing, yin and yang within the inner five elements, a person also undergoes a transformation… I have to say, this *Shangluo Benwo Scripture* does speak with some reason."

When Zhao Xing was a player, he never thought about these theoretical things—just a snap of the head and charge ahead, that was it.

Now, however, he felt that the miraculous sights he had seen in his previous life had some basis.

Perhaps it could help him explore certain places in the future.

"Regardless, the changes in an ordinary person before and after accepting office are indeed quite large."

Zhao Xing looked at his panel.

【Name: Zhao Xing】

【Realm: Sub-Ninth Rank, Upper】

【Life Soul: Ninth Rank, middle period】

【Profession: Si Nong】

【Qi Fortune: Yan Three】

【Gathering Origin: Thirteenth Stage (557/10000)】

【Extra Lifespan: 75 years】

"The restriction that prevented improvement has disappeared."

"The original extra lifespan was 53 years; now it's 75 years. This time accepting office increased the extra lifespan by 22 years!"

Becoming a Ninth Rank official normally added about ten years to one's lifespan. During Emperor Wen's reign, this number was above 10; Emperor Jing was rather stingy, and Ninth Rank lifespan increases were basically under 10 years.

Zhao Xing doubled that, because he himself had already reached the Ninth Rank Realm.

The foundation was already laid, so the dynasty's Qi Fortune didn't disperse much toward the rank.

Previously, when Zhao Xing came down the mountain, he was at 6 points of the Thirteenth Stage of Gathering Origin.

Before the Temple Examination, he was at a little over two hundred points of the Thirteenth Stage. In the more than three months in between, he only gained a little over two hundred points, mainly due to the restriction.

Now he was at 557 points of the Thirteenth Stage of Gathering Origin—a gain of less than three hundred.

The dynasty's Qi Fortune entering the body went mostly into 【Lifespan】, which was the result Zhao Xing wanted.

As for personal Qi Fortune, it hadn't increased and remained at the Yan Three level.

Reaching the level of Yan Three, wanting to continue improving, is extremely difficult. Not to mention this time, even advancing to Sixth Rank might not necessarily yield a breakthrough.

【Beginner Spells (Perfection):】

【Thrive, Moving Clouds, Rising Wind, Thunder, Spreading Rain】

With the grade restriction gone and no longer a vague barrier to spell comprehension, that very night Zhao Xing had a beginner spell break through and complete its advancement.

The common spell Bright Eyes disappeared from the beginner spells and appeared among the intermediate spells.

Taking its place was 【Keen Sight】.

It retained the effects of the beginner spell, and additionally gained a lie-detecting function.

"The Bright Eyes spell, when advanced to high level, is called 【Mind-Reading Bright Eyes】. As long as you stare into someone's eyes, you can know what they're thinking. Against those below your realm, it works a hundred out of a hundred times; against those of the same realm, it's a bit harder."

The six straw-man techniques showed no change, but 【Five Elements Observation】 went from seven revolutions to perfection.

The beginner 【Earth Vein Origin Gathering】 went from six revolutions to perfection.

After the restriction was lifted, he achieved a breakthrough in a single night.

Among the intermediate spells.

【Wild Growth】, in one night, went from seven stages to nine revolutions.

【Lightning Summon】 and 【Yin Wind】, originally only ten or twenty progress points short of perfection, had also reached perfection after one night.

As for 【Ice Rain】 and 【Sleep Bug】, they were already intermediate perfection before the appointment, so there was no change this time.

Dream Storage is a life-soul secret art, strengthening along with the life-soul's realm. With this appointment, the life-soul showed no change, still at Ninth Rank, middle period.

The self-created intermediate spell 【Thunder Noose】 went from eight revolutions to nine revolutions.

【Thunder Giant Palm】 went from seven revolutions to eight revolutions.

【Cloud Swallow】, 【Boundless Earth Palace】, 【Five Elements Earth Splitting】, and 【King Di Zang Origin Return · Human Path】, due to having only recently been comprehended and then having jumped greatly through the transmission paintings, were still at their original realms.

Respectively: Cloud Swallow eight revolutions, Earth Palace eight revolutions, Earth Splitting seven revolutions, King Di Zang six revolutions.

【Fourth-Rank Treasure: Han Bing Pearl (Lower Grade)】

【Wind Crystal Earrings: Third-rank, upper grade】

【Sixth-Rank Treasure: Soul Armor】

【Pet: Mountain Cat (Ninth Rank Perfection)】

【Plant: Tian Yuan Pear Tree (Growth Period)】

The little mountain cat, from the time it came down the mountain at the Autumn Equinox, had been following Zhao Xing around scrounging food and drink, reaching Ninth Rank perfection, but it was still in its juvenile beast period.

"Among the items I possess, only the Soul Armor, Han Bing Pearl, and Wind Crystal Earrings remain."

"The Blood Spirit Needle and Blood Sha Pearl were handed to Old Chen and Long Xiao to deal with."

"The Tian Yuan Pear Tree Chen Shijie gave me has finally reached its growth period, but it won't be long before I have to leave." Zhao Xing gazed at the bright moon outside the window, not knowing if it was from drinking too much, but a sense of melancholy welled up in him.

"Gucheng can be considered my hometown too; everything needs to be properly arranged."

Without realizing it, Zhao Ruide's family had already occupied a considerable place in Zhao Xing's heart.

"Brother Zong, are you awake?" The next morning, when Zong Zong Shichang opened his eyes, he saw Zhao Xing standing beside him.

"Mm, until what hour did we drink last night?"

"Not late. It was only at the Hour of the Ox that you all collapsed."

"You can't blame me for that." Zong Zong Shichang shook his head. "It's that Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze who couldn't hold their liquor. Tell me, didn't I drink more than them?"

"Absolutely."

Hearing the answer, Zong Zong Shichang immediately nodded in satisfaction, then called for a servant to bring fresh clothes and attend to his washing up.

But before the servant could enter, Zhao Xing stopped him: "I'll do it."

The servant hesitated, then said: "But the washbasin hasn't been brought in yet…"

"It's fine, you don't need to worry about it."

Zhao Xing carried the folded clothes and Mao Jin to Zong Zong Shichang's bedside.

"Hm? Which bastard dares to make you, Brother Zhao, do this kind of work?!" Seeing Zhao Xing doing a servant's task, Zong Zong Shichang flew into a rage.

"We're brothers, what's the big deal?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Zong Zong Shichang patted his face. "But what about the basin?"

"Simple." A flash of Jin Guang appeared at Zhao Xing's fingertip, and cloud qi immediately condensed into the shape of a basin.

"Splash~" Clear water welled up inside.

"I'm not used to washing my face with cold water."

"Easy to fix." Zhao Xing gave his wrist a light shake; Lei Ting flickered within the cloud basin, and the clear water immediately warmed up, steam rising from it.

"Awesome, Brother Zhao. If you ever get demoted in the future, you could work as a servant at Wanxiang Tower and never go hungry."

"Brother, can you wish me a little better?"

"Haha." Zong Zong Shichang buried his face in the cloud layer and rubbed it, then took the Mao Jin Zhao Xing handed him and wiped himself clean.

Zhao Xing also brought him a cup for rinsing his mouth. Seeing Zong Zong Shichang's hair was wet, he even summoned wind to dry it for him… truly attentive service.

"Brother Zhao, if you have something to say, just say it directly." After sobering up, Zong Zong Shichang also realized what was going on. "As long as you don't want my life, everything's negotiable."

"Brother Zong, once I leave, I don't know when I'll be able to return." Zhao Xing bowed with cupped hands in a formal salute and said solemnly, "I ask you to look after my family."

"What are you doing?" Zong Zong Shichang hurriedly rose to support Zhao Xing's wrist. "Even without you saying it, I would keep this in my heart."

During the Yin God question selection stage, Zong Zong Shichang answered that he wished to serve in his hometown, anywhere within Nanyang Commandery would do.

If it were another profession, the likelihood of it being granted wouldn't be great, but the position of Si Nong was different. Serving as an official in a familiar environment would allow him to be more effective; at least during the Ninth Rank official period, it was very possible to be allowed to remain in his hometown.

For instance, Old Si Nong was a local of Gucheng and had served there for decades.

Zhao Xing thought it over, and only Zong Zong Shichang had the ability to look after his family; everyone else either lacked the ability or couldn't be trusted.

"Rest assured." Zong Zong Shichang gripped Zhao Xing's wrist tightly. "Your family is my family. If they have any problems at all, take my head, Zong Zong Shichang's, and use it as a chamber pot!"

Zhao Xing activated 【Keen Observation】, stared into Zong Shichang's eyes for a moment, and only then rose.

He hadn't done all this for nothing. In the future, if Old Zong ever faced a moment of indecision and recalled the scene of Zhao Xing bringing him a basin and delivering his clothes today, it would add a bit of goodwill to the ledger in his heart.

Zhao Xing also made a promise: "Brother Zong, if you ever encounter some major matter in the future, be sure to write and notify me. You only need to stall for a bit, and I will come to lend you a hand at the fastest speed possible."

Zong Shichang laughed and said: "What major matter could I possibly have? If there really were one, it would be calling you back for drinks — best of all, drinking the wedding wine of me and Miss Liu, hehe."

"Hahaha, good! I will sit in the Divine Might Army and wait for your good news."

The Temple Examination begins on the day of Start of Spring, and afterward takes a total of six days.

By the eleventh day of the second month, Gucheng already had people selected and transferred to take up posts elsewhere.

On the thirteenth day of the second month, Shen Zhui hosted a banquet for Zhao Xing and his close friends in the Martial Office, because his own transfer had also received a result — on the fifteenth he was to depart and take up his post at the destination.

"A martial artist has no more than three paths: first, the Office of Justice, in charge of criminal punishment and investigation; second, the Patrol Inspector, managing local public order; third, joining the army, expanding territory for the nation."

"I originally wanted to join the army, but I worried about my old mother at home. After joining the army, I couldn't come and go freely, and wouldn't have time to visit her often, so I chose to enter the Patrol Inspectorate."

"The Divine Temple has issued my transfer order, commanding me to take up a post at the Patrol Inspectorate of Sanjiao Commandery. Going by land takes a month, by water fifteen days. If there's an emergency, taking a flying boat back only takes five days — it's not too far."

"Brother Zhao, you harbor great ambitions; going to join the army, you will surely accomplish something. Let us raise this cup to wish you smooth advancement in the army, to be made a general and enfeoffed as a marquis!" Shen Zhui raised his wine cup.

"Take care, Brother Shen." Their cups clinked together, and they drained them in one gulp.

On the sixteenth and seventeenth days of the second month, Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze also departed one after another.

The eighteenth day of the second month, Rain Water.

The river ice broke, wild geese returned north, grass and trees began to sprout.

Zong Shichang had his wish fulfilled, directly filling the vacant post of Assistant Official in the Gucheng Agricultural Monitor. There had originally been three vacancies here, so now he counted as a colleague of his teacher Gao Linong.

On the twenty-first day of the second month, Lu Qian and Liu Muqing came to the Zong residence as guests. Zhao Xing did not attend. Lu Qian regretted this, because she and Liu Muqing were to leave the next day for the Heavenly Sound Dao Academy, but Zhao Xing had gone with his family to Fragrant Mountain in the neighboring county for an outing. Lu Qian could only leave a letter for Zong Shichang to pass on.

On the twenty-third day of the second month, Zhao Xing accompanied Zhao Ruide, Zhao Zheng, and Lady Cai back from Fragrant Mountain.

It was also on this day that he broke through to the lower official Ninth Rank (the late stage of the Qi Gathering Realm in the ancient system).

"My spell tiers are sufficient. When Qi Gathering reaches the fifteenth stage, it is naturally judged as the realm of the lower official Ninth Rank."

"With my current comprehension of spells, up to the Eighth Rank Spirit Bridge Realm, there is no bottleneck — what I lack is only the physical body's realm, that is, the tier of Qi Gathering."

Zhao Xing's current comprehension of the Dao and the Law actually exceeds the standard of an ordinary Ninth Rank; what he lacks is only the physical body's Qi Gathering.

In truth, the speed of his physical body's Qi Gathering isn't slow either — it's just that compared to his comprehension of the Dao and the Law, it appears a bit slower.

Having been subtly transformed by the 'Dao Embryo Pill', having obtained much Yuan Fa Ling Xiu, having used the Dao-Transmitting paintings… in terms of the tier of comprehension of the Dao and the Law, Zhao Xing is comparable to many veteran Eighth Rank officials.

As long as the tier of his physical body's Qi Gathering rises, his advancement in rank has no bottleneck — at least up to Eighth Rank there is no situation of being stuck at a bottleneck.

"Agricultural Officials are indeed a bit slower than martial artists in this aspect. My Qi Gathering has already reached the fifteenth stage, and here in Gucheng, every method I can think of has already been used. This already counts as extremely fast. To go faster, I can only go to the army."

"I wonder when Old Chen will have news. I've already waited more than half a month, and he's still in the selection process."

No news meant he couldn't just sit around and wait.

Zhao Xing headed toward the Divine Temple.

Now that he was a formal official, he could cultivate the Agricultural Official classic secret repositories such as the 'Solar Terms Decree', the 'Myriad Things Growth Chart', and the 'Post-Earth Return to Origin'.

Inside the Divine Temple, Zhao Xing sat cross-legged.

The twenty-four visualization charts of the 'Solar Terms Decree' flowed through his mind.

"They first made the curtain of heaven and earth, and wrote the brush of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The mysteries of the Heavenly Timing School are all contained within these twenty-four Solar Terms charts."

Among the twenty-four visualization charts, the clearest in his mind was 【Rain Water】, followed by 【Start of Spring】.

Because the current season was the Rain Water solar term, and Start of Spring was the beginning of the cultivation of the Solar Terms Decree.

ottkanoco

"Visualizing the Solar Terms charts at different hours brings different changes."

"Each Solar Terms chart has three realms: Knowing, Fixing, and Altering."

"Knowing the term, fixing the term, altering the term." Zhao Xing felt that what seemed like a simple Rain Water chart was actually brimming with infinite mysteries.

"The first realm, Knowing. One can comprehend the related spells from the Solar Terms chart."

"The second realm, Fixing. When enough spells have been comprehended, one gradually internalizes the Solar Terms chart, and it no longer changes with the hour — whenever one looks, it is the same. Because one already understands it sufficiently, one has reached the realm of 'Fixing'. This counts as an initial mastery of the solar terms, and one can issue commands to heaven and earth."

"The third realm, Altering. The solar terms change at will as one wishes. The mountain is still the mountain, but one is no longer bound by form — one has achieved true comprehension."

"When all twenty-four Solar Terms charts reach the third realm, are fully comprehended, and mastered as one whole, one will surely enter the First Rank Realm, and may become a Grand Agricultural Official!"

Zhao Xing attempted to comprehend the 【Rain Water】 chart. His 【Ice Rain】 spell was at max level, and using it as a foundation to visualize the 【Rain Water】 chart, a host of mysteries immediately welled up in his heart.

However, every time it seemed he was about to gain something, the Rain Water chart before his eyes would blur into a haze, and the spiritual light would completely vanish.

"Hmm? What's going on?" Zhao Xing opened his eyes, full of doubt.

He had clearly felt he was on the verge of comprehending a spell, yet at the crucial moment it was suddenly interrupted.

Why would such a situation occur?

He walked to the altar, picked up a sheet of yellow paper, wrote down his doubts, then rose and walked before the True Lord's statue, lit three sticks of incense, and burned the yellow paper.

As a formal official of Great Zhou, Zhao Xing could use this method within the Divine Temple to ask the True Lord to resolve his doubts.

The difference between a clerk and an official lay right here. Clerks could only receive spells — whatever spells they obtained carried a degree of randomness, and afterward they had to rely on themselves to comprehend.

Formal officials could ask the True Lord to resolve their doubts. Of course, it had to be a True Lord who had transmitted the Law to them many times before; Yin Gods who had never transmitted the Law before generally would not pay attention to you either.

In a short while, Cao Xi's statue came to life, transforming into the figure of an old farmer wearing hemp clothes.

"I pay my respects to the True Lord." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"The problem does not lie with you yourself." In Cao Xi's hand was a sheet of yellow paper — precisely the one Zhao Xing had just thrown into the incense burner, with his doubts written upon it.

Not with me? Then where is it?

"Please True Lord, resolve my doubts." Zhao Xing humbly sought instruction.

"You used the 【Ice Rain】 spell to comprehend the Rain Water chart, and what you comprehended were all methods of killing. You are not a military Agricultural Official; when you observe the Rain Water chart, it will automatically conceal those spells with great killing power," Cao Xi explained. "Therefore you cannot truly comprehend it — it is not a problem with you yourself."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Then why was I able to receive the spells Yin Wind and Ice Rain before?"

Cao Xi smiled and said, "You were only a minor clerk before, your Gathering Yuan was merely at the third tier, and the Yuan Qi in your body was no more than a trickle. It was by chance that Captain Zheng Lun of the Loyal Manifest Guards passed the Yin Wind, Thunder-Drawing, and Ice Rain techniques to you. He sensed what you sought in your heart and saw that you had a fair talent for combat methods, so passing them on to you was no great impropriety."

"Now you have reached the official Ninth Rank, Lower, and several mid-tier spells have already been brought to Perfection, and the Yuan Qi in your body already has the momentum of a rushing torrent. If you do not become an Army Si Nong, it will be impossible to let you comprehend any more formidable methods."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood—it was just like a county-level Patrol Inspection Bureau, where a martial artist's standard issue of third-tier bows, crossbows, blades, and armor was more than enough.

When you catch a petty thief, you can't be issued a God-Slaying Cannon, can you?

Treasures have their standard specifications; different duties and posts are equipped differently. For instance, in a heavily fortified northern sea region, a commandery-level Si Nong can wield sixth-tier treasures and has the protection of a Mo Shou boundary.

Spells follow the same set of rules!

For example, the 【King Di Zang's Return to Origin · Human Dao】 method is, in theory, also forbidden from being used within the Great Zhou realm.

Zhao Xing was currently in a selection-assignment state; without becoming an Army Si Nong, there was no way for him to cultivate those formidable spells.

"You can change your approach and try using the Rain-Summoning to comprehend the Rain Water Diagram; that way, the situation from just now won't occur," Cao Xi said. "The progress of your Dao comprehension will still accumulate in the same way—it just won't let you master those formidable spells."

"Understood. Many thanks, True Lord, for resolving my doubts." Zhao Xing cupped his hands in a bow, then ended the Q&A.

People wait for change, and methods too have their rules. Although he now understood what was going on, dragging things out like this was no solution. Zhao Xing decided to go to Old Chen's residence and ask about the situation.