[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dao-lord-of-shennong":3,"chapter-dao-lord-of-shennong-shennong-dao-lord-chapter-143":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Shennong Dao Lord",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2219385,3971,"Chapter 143","shennong-dao-lord-chapter-143",143,"\u003Cp>Following the straw man to the mountainside, the terrain became flat. A palace appeared ahead, surrounded by multiple plots of land planted with flowers, grasses, and trees, ranging from the second to the fourth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the one good thing about Agricultural Officials: large-scale construction is quite easy. As long as an Agricultural Official is slightly capable, whether their residence is luxurious is one thing, but it is certainly large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking forward along the bluestone path, there was a plantation on the outskirts of the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were straw men holding hoes to dig the earth, straw men holding saws to fell trees, and even a straw man carrying a bundle of firewood walking past them with the speed of a flying athlete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the palace walls, straw men on the drill ground were hacking at each other with sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing by a pond, there were straw men fishing by the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through a veranda, a straw man suddenly popped out from underground, holding a golden, glittering stone in its hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a pavilion in the distance, there were even straw men holding a scroll of books to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Zhao Xing was well-informed, his scalp tingled a little at the sight of this scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because these straw men, without exception, were all in the likeness of Liu Tianning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, some 'Liu Tianning' figures looked quite strange; broken arms and legs were standard, and some even lacked heads, yet they were still walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although their appearances were the same, some 'Liu Tianning' figures had a cold temperament, some were sunny, and others looked foolish, or even manic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Grade 5 Agricultural Official who has reached the Pure Origin Realm—the spiritual energy is indeed abundant, and supporting so many straw men is nothing, but just how obsessed is this Liu Tianning with the Straw Man Technique, and to make them all in his own likeness...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing suspected that this big shot had some mental problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either a genius, a madman, or a genius-level madman!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving in front of a palace, about a hundred people had already gathered on the square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing's arrival did not attract the slightest attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because these people were all watching the straw men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place is called the Myriad Dharma Palace. I use straw men to perform ten thousand techniques, never resting throughout the four seasons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On the Dharma Performance Square, there are eighteen types of intermediate straw man techniques that are not among those promoted by the imperial court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You may observe and learn here, or you may go to various parts of the palace to observe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to get point rewards, you must master one intermediate straw man technique and practice it to the fourth turn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Passing the test of the third stage can earn you eight hundred points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One month later, there will be a ranking competition based on straw man techniques. The first place can win 50,000 points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have any other questions?\" the straw man asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" Zhao Xing shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you have questions, you can come here to ask,\" Liu Tianning smiled. \"If you are just asking for directions, just look for the straw men with the character 'Liu' pasted on them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Zhao Xing cupped his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the straw man turned and left, blending into the vast crowd of straw men; in a short while, it was impossible to distinguish which one had led him here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing did not immediately start to comprehend, but first looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast majority of straw men were acting according to fixed trajectories; for example, those hoeing the ground kept hoeing, and those watering flowers kept watering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were Repeating Straw Men, which only acted according to fixed instructions, but they were completely different from the ones Zhao Xing knew; the operation of the Five Elements within them was very exquisite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also some straw men with a high degree of freedom, who could not only speak but also see and hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all had a 'Liu' character pasted on their clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Myriad Dharma Palace, Myriad Dharma Palace... So he is that 'Half-Mad Liu' from the Wu Di era.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So many 'Self' straw men, no wonder he went mad. He started from now, and he had already created so many 'Self' straw men...\" A trace of shock flashed in Zhao Xing's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had encountered a familiar figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the current Liu Tianning looked similar to the later one, that sinister and manic temperament was completely different from now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Zhao Xing did not recognize him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not remember Liu Tianning's name, but he remembered his nickname and characteristics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he heard the name Myriad Dharma Palace, he remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tianning shocked the world with his straw man technique. During the Wu Di era, he was once a Grade 2 Transport Commissioner, responsible for the grain and forage supply of the Ten Great Imperial Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not the military Agricultural Official for a specific Imperial Guard, but rather responsible for the grain and forage of all ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, Liu Tianning was also the 'Three Armies Inspection Commissioner,' personally bestowed with the supreme treasure, the Nine-Section Staff. If any military Agricultural Official below the fourth rank committed illegal acts, Liu Tianning could execute them first and report later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his peak, the number of troops Liu Tianning was responsible for exceeded one hundred thousand, and his power radiated to the four major barbarian-conquering legions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His marching palace was called the Myriad Dharma Palace, and his straw man technique was peerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the Agricultural Official who controlled the most straw men; no one could compare to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why the scope and quantity Wu Di let him manage were quite large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"During the first expedition against the barbarians, Liu Tianning became mad. In the later stages of the conquest, more than a million Agricultural Officials died at his hands, and more than two hundred Martial Marquises died at his hands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for players? That was uncountable; Zhao Xing had been slashed by Liu Tianning's straw men several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why slash them? Most were for trumped-up charges, being wronged or implicated. By the end of the first barbarian conquest, Liu Tianning had earned the nickname 'Half-Mad,' and facts proved that his mental state had indeed gone wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he was dismissed and transferred to the 'Creation Dao Academy,' where he was occasionally clear-headed and occasionally manic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normal teaching was impossible, so Wu Di could only send him to guard the mountains in the blessed spiritual lands to recuperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mi Fu was commissioned to replace Liu Tianning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liu Tianning must have been internally practicing the Hou Bian Technique and crazily studying the 'Self' straw men. He is now a Grade 5 Agricultural Official; even if he self-cultivates, influenced by the Qi-Luck Dynasty system, his realm will not exceed the Grade 4 Origin Soul Realm, not even the Grade 3 'Primordial Soul' Realm, yet he created so many straw men... If you aren't mad, who is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is a 'Self' straw man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 'Self' straw man is also called a Clone Straw Man or a Myriad Dharma Straw Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the straw man technique, it belongs to the high-level technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It focuses on strong controllability and strong expandability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on the three straw man techniques of reconnaissance, repeating, and great strength, the caster can use the straw man as a clone to speak, observe, and even fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is strong controllability? A 'Self' straw man can do too many things; it is just like a second body. Other straw man techniques simply cannot achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strong expandability means it can fuse all straw man techniques!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the 'God-Speed Straw Man' and 'Great Strength Straw Man' that Zhao Xing knows now—if he continues to study, he can achieve 'Dual Technique Fusion,' appearing as a 'God-Speed Great Strength Straw Man,' or even fuse three or four techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But other straw man techniques combined can only handle three or four at most. The Myriad Dharma Straw Man is based on the 'Self,' and its internal Five Elements operation mechanism completely mimics the self; theoretically, it can fuse infinitely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Myriad Dharma Straw Man is also the ultimate goal of the straw man technique school—to accommodate ten thousand techniques, and even accommodate the three souls!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The physical body withers, but the three souls are transferred to the straw man, thereby achieving immortality! Eternal existence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ideas of the 'Self' school have always been quite bold, and the straw man technique school is the delusional one among them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting aside these illusory ideals, the 'Self' straw man also places a heavy burden on the mind. Over time, it will even cause irreparable damage to the Life Soul, because to control ten thousand 'Self' straw men, one needs to practice the 'Soul-Splitting Technique,' splitting the Life Soul to strengthen the mind's control over the straw men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more techniques a Myriad Dharma Straw Man fuses, the higher the requirements for the Life Soul, and the greater the burden on the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many millions of straw men was Liu Tianning controlling at that time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He didn't catch up with the later recovery period and couldn't break through that layer of shackles to let his mind transform into Divine Sense and his three souls ascend. Relying solely on the protection of the Life Palace, madness was a matter of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liu Tianning should have been invited to the Ten Suns Cave Heaven. This guy should still be considered normal... right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to avoid this person in the future; I can't be slashed again in this life.\" Zhao Xing shrank his head. He only had one life now, and this person was favored by Wu Di at his peak, slashing even Marquises and Imperial Princes as he pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After observing for a while, Zhao Xing began to look for straw men on the Dharma Performance Square to observe and comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The straw man techniques Zhao Xing learned in Gucheng before all belonged to the elementary level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elementary straw man techniques are quite dependent on 'materials.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, a Great Strength Straw Man made with ordinary origin rice stalks might not even be able to beat an adult man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only chase away grain-eating birds or something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it were made of Vajra Bamboo, the Great Strength Straw Man would be very powerful, comparable to the strength of an entered-rank martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Great Strength Vajra Straw Man has simple actions and no skills to speak of; it just charges blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straw man techniques rely on quantity, focusing on 'swarming.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But intermediate straw man techniques are different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They value techniques and materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Materials can raise the upper limit, and the power and effect lower limit of the spells are also very high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like what Zhao Xing is observing now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Invisibility Straw Man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing touched a mass of air. Although there was nothing in front of him, his hand touched soft straw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even with the most ordinary first-rank straw materials, the straw man created can be invisible. This is the function of the technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Invisibility Straw Man essentially practices the 'Invisibility Technique,' using the power of the Five Elements to hide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But human concealment is much harder than that of dead objects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 'Invisibility Technique' practiced by the human race belongs to high-level techniques because humans are alive. Their life fluctuations, blood fluctuations, origin energy fluctuations, and Five Elements power fluctuations are all very complex and ever-changing. How to hide?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But relying on a straw man, it is only an intermediate technique; the straw man only involves 'Five Elements power fluctuations.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is relatively easy to use this to deceive enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Combining the Invisibility Straw Man with the Reconnaissance Straw Man—an intermediate technique combined with a low-level technique—is relatively easy. Using it for reconnaissance is both secretive and avoids risking oneself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it can be combined with the God-Speed Straw Man technique, three techniques in one, that would be the best scout.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Invisibility Straw Man was walking back and forth, repeatedly walking around the flower beds, the square, and the soil around the square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To facilitate the learners' comprehension, this Invisibility Straw Man was constantly adjusting its orientation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using 'Clear Insight' and 'Five Elements Observation,' Zhao Xing could clearly see its existence and observe the changes within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Integrating into the Five Elements power between heaven and earth, changing as the environment changes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing also followed the Invisibility Straw Man, walking back and forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About a quarter of an hour later, the Invisibility Straw Man automatically disintegrated, turning into a pile of straw scattered on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, a golden light flew out from the palace and landed on the straw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hum~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scattered straw recombined, and step by step, slowly formed the Invisibility Straw Man again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the final step was completed, the straw man became completely invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing watched it once and had a vague realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because his 'Clear Eyes' technique had reached the intermediate perfection, and 'Five Elements Observation' had also advanced to the intermediate level; this technique is called 'Five Elements Observation' all the way to the high level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Clear Insight] combined with [Five Elements Observation].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing was looking at the essence of the Invisibility Straw Man; as for the weaving steps, they were secondary, and he could master them just by looking casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After the third stage, there will be a ranking competition. I guess there will be a contest. Although the Invisibility Straw Man has no combat power, this technique cannot be missed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Learning it will make it easier to learn the 'Invisibility Technique' in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Liu Weaving Transmission\" taught by Xue Wenzhong contains the Invisibility Straw Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing had seen Xue Wenzhong demonstrate it at the time, but he couldn't learn it then and only wrote it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling it now, he found that the old Agricultural Official and Liu Tianning were very different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Agricultural Official was only Grade 9 himself. He learned this technique from the external path of 'weaving,' following the pattern and using techniques that would not make any mistakes to stabilize the internal Five Elements operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Invisibility Straw Man here at Liu Tianning's place demonstrates from the essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if one or two straws were pulled out, it wouldn't matter. Zhao Xing even vaguely felt that even if an arm were cut off, it could remain invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Agricultural Official's method wouldn't work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a hair fell off, the invisibility would be broken. This couldn't be blamed on the old Agricultural Official; it was mainly because the gap in their understanding of Dao techniques was too large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Zhao Xing could be sure that Liu Tianning was a proper person from Taihe Commandery and a direct descendant of Liu Zonghai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You observed the straw man drill and comprehended the intermediate spell 'Invisibility Straw Man.']\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Invisibility Straw Man: 1\u002F9999]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Effect: Body follows the Five Elements, hidden between heaven and earth.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rise!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the straw man scattered again, Zhao Xing did not wait for the golden light to fly out from the palace but cast the spell himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hum~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scattered straw quickly combined into shape, and a rather sloppy straw man slowly became invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why sloppy? Because its head was crooked and its feet were pigeon-toed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that didn't prevent it from being an Invisibility Straw Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a bit ugly, but it's still usable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take two steps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing ordered the Invisibility Straw Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The straw man walked shakily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still some problems.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing was thoughtful, because when the straw man walked from the flower bed to the square, there was a half-second lag in the Five Elements conversion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For half a second, a blurry shape was revealed. Without using spells carefully, the naked eye could also see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing ordered the straw man to scatter, found another set of materials from the side, and continued to practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Myriad Dharma Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tianning glanced at a corner of the square, showing a look of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Analyzing the essence, learned it after just one look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the first time casting the spell, although the straw man looks ugly, it already has the effect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This child has quite a talent for the straw man technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How high was Liu Tianning's vision? He saw at a glance that Zhao Xing had great talent for the straw man technique; he didn't even need to watch for long, just by seeing his first attempt at learning, he could judge it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Zhao Xing's learning was to analyze the essence, and he could do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most others couldn't do it and practiced starting from 'learning the form.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm? What is he doing?\" Liu Tianning glanced, then chuckled and shook his head. \"This kid, mischievous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually using an Invisibility Straw Man to pull someone's belt.\u003C\u002Fp>",2835,"2026-06-17T16:13:07.318Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","f5a680855544c3cf580f9d087a0ad56db71fa9d3b470c6d896d3aec5df4b183c","shennong-dao-lord-chapter-144","shennong-dao-lord-chapter-142",666,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshennong-dao-lord-cover.jpg"]