Chapter 22: The Dao-Transmitting Painting

Cultivation-type spells have casting targets, and different plants give different proficiency.

To grind proficiency for 【Robust Growth】, it's best to find a plant with a short cycle to practice on.

What Zhao Xing was looking at now was a plant called 【Tooth Grass】.

"Under natural conditions, Tooth Grass goes from seedling stage to maturity, blooming and bearing fruit, in less than a month. It's usually used to feed cattle and sheep, but it's rare in the south. The old Agricultural Officer's courtyard really is a treasure trove."

Zhao Xing immediately ran over to the Tooth Grass.

Primordial Qi radiated outward, enveloping the Tooth Grass, and the 【Robust Growth】 spell glowed faintly.

Immediately afterward, the Tooth Grass began to grow at a speed visible to the naked eye.

【You cast 'Robust Growth' on Tooth Grass. The plant has advanced from seedling stage to growth stage. Spell proficiency +50】

【You cast 'Robust Growth' on Tooth Grass. The plant has advanced from growth stage to maturity stage. Spell proficiency +150】

Primordial Qi was dropping rapidly, but the proficiency of Robust Growth was shooting up.

Early-stage spells aren't high in rank; pick a good practice target, and the proficiency can skyrocket.

Of course, this also has to do with innate talent and comprehension.

If not for having taken the Dao Embryo Pill, Zhao Xing couldn't have gained this much proficiency either.

"Using the Five Elements Observation can also make this Tooth Grass grow faster." During the casting process, Zhao Xing vaguely gained some insight.

The Tooth Grass before his eyes appeared in a semi-transparent manner, its internal roots and veins all clearly displayed.

Where to direct the Primordial Qi so that the Tooth Grass grows faster and more smoothly... this is the function of the Five Elements Observation!

With the 'Five Elements Observation', it's like prescribing the right remedy; the Robust Growth spell works more precisely, and cultivation efficiency is greatly enhanced.

【You cast 'Robust Growth' on Tooth Grass. The plant has advanced from seedling stage to growth stage. Spell proficiency +50】

【You cast 'Robust Growth' on Tooth Grass. The plant has advanced from growth stage to maturity stage. Spell proficiency +150】

A wave of emptiness washed over him, and Zhao Xing stopped casting, because his Primordial Qi had hit rock bottom.

The plot of land before him was already completely covered with Tooth Grass, and it had even spread to the adjacent area.

"Gulp gulp~"

Zhao Xing drew some well water, took several big gulps to relieve his fatigue, and sat by the well feeling quite satisfied.

【Robust Growth: Beginner Spell】

【Progress: (3210/9999)】

【Effect: Accelerates nutrient absorption, shortens the time for a plant to reach maturity.】

"Robust Growth has reached three revolutions, and it's not even half past morning, yet it's already climbed two tiers."

"Let's try this old pagoda tree."

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and Jin Guang spun three times in the air before sinking into the old pagoda tree.

The old pagoda tree didn't even tremble, indicating that his magic power was utterly insufficient.

The panel showed no response either.

"The old pagoda tree is deeply rooted. The Five Elements Observation can see its growth rings and veins, like an impregnable wall. My meager Primordial Qi simply can't help it break through its growth shackles."

Cultivation is inherently a gradual process, and Zhao Xing wasn't surprised.

"I'll just honestly cultivate Tooth Grass. Let's set a small goal: before the Start of Autumn Minor Exam, first practice Robust Growth to nine revolutions!"

Time passed, and soon it was the day before the Start of Autumn Minor Exam.

For these six days, Zhao Xing did nothing but lock horns with Tooth Grass.

Plant it, pull it out, pull it out, plant it again; when the soil fertility ran low, he'd switch to another plot.

He even made use of his nighttime hours.

【Robust Growth: Beginner Spell】

【Progress: (9010/9999)】

【Effect: Accelerates nutrient absorption, shortens the time for a plant to reach maturity.】

"Finally nine revolutions."

A sense of relief washed over Zhao Xing's heart; as the joy faded, deep fatigue set in.

Without a care, he found a bamboo mat in the side room of the rear courtyard and fell asleep the moment his head hit it.

Xue Wenzhong came to the rear courtyard, looked at the piles of weeds covering the ground and the soundly sleeping Zhao Xing, and nodded slightly.

Then he reached out with a beckoning motion, and a gentle breeze spiraled up beside Zhao Xing.

Though the movement was slight, the force was not small; it actually lifted Zhao Xing up directly.

Before he knew it, Zhao Xing had been carried by Xue Wenzhong to his own bedroom.

When he woke again, Zhao Xing felt an unprecedented sense of ease. While sleeping, it was as if a breeze had been blowing over him the whole time; despite it being the Great Heat solar term, he felt as though he had slept in spring.

"Mmm~" Stretching lazily, Zhao Xing sensed something was off. Hadn't he slept outside? How did he end up in a bed?

"Looks like the teacher carried me in, but my clothes are still covered in dirt..."

Looking at the summer mat he'd made filthy, Zhao Xing wanted to find something to wipe himself down with.

Looking up, he caught sight of a painting hanging on the wall.

In an instant, Zhao Xing's gaze could no longer look away.

The scroll emitted a faint glow, as if enchanted; he unconsciously walked up to the mural, feeling as if his entire soul was being drawn into it.

In the painting, clouds and mist parted, green sprouted from the earth, and countless plants burst from the soil like bamboo shoots after rain. The Primordial Qi, so hard to grasp in reality, seemed to take shape here between heaven and earth, clearly visible.

From beneath the ground came a series of unique frequencies, like breathing.

"That is... a ley line?" Zhao Xing gained some understanding.

Life and Primordial Qi merged at this moment; the yin and yang of heaven and earth's Primordial Qi combined, and plant after plant appeared clearly before his eyes—from seedling, to maturity, to blooming and bearing fruit...

"Hum~"

He didn't know how long had passed before Zhao Xing pulled himself out of the illusion.

The painting before his eyes was still a painting, but it no longer held any miraculous quality.

"So this is a Ten Thousand Things Growing Scroll, a classic work of the Benwo Sect." Zhao Xing realized at once. "But this artistic conception is far too strong — what rank of copy must it be?"

He looked at the panel, and sure enough there was a record:

【You have discovered 'Ten Thousand Things Growing Scroll Copy' (Fourth-Rank, Lower Grade)】

【This treasure is a Dao-transmitting work, remaining uses: 1】

【You observed 'Ten Thousand Things Growing Scroll Copy' (Fourth-Rank, Lower Grade); Vigorous Growth has reached max level.】

【You have comprehended the mid-tier spell 'Wild Growth'.】

【You have comprehended the beginner spell 'Earth Vein Origin Convergence'.】

"Hoo~"

The painting hanging on the wall suddenly self-ignited and vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Eh?" Zhao Xing hurriedly reached out to grab it, but it burned too fast — it turned to ash in barely a second.

"The Dao-transmitting painting only had one use left, and I used it up." Zhao Xing felt a little uneasy inside.

A fourth-rank treasure was no common trinket, let alone a relatively rare 'Dao-transmitting painting' — how was he going to explain this to the old Minister of Agriculture?

Just as he was thinking this over, the old Minister of Agriculture's voice came from outside: "It's getting late, the food is ready. Eat before you leave."

"Yes, Teacher." Zhao Xing sat down at the table in some anxiety. Facing Xue Wenzhong, he said guiltily, "Teacher, I just got up and accidentally saw a painting in your study, and then it self-ignited."

"Painting? What painting?" Xue Wenzhong narrowed his eyes and glanced at Zhao Xing. "I don't know what you're talking about. Eat."