Chapter 52: Gathering Yuan Tier 4, Receiving the Spell Once More!

【Gathering Yuan Tier 3: 9999/10000】

Beneath the Tian Yuan pear tree, Zhao Xing sat cross-legged.

Yuan qi flowed around his body; the vortex within his Origin Dantian, like a nebula, spun faster and faster.

At this moment, the yuan qi had already reached the absolute limit of Gathering Yuan Tier 3, lacking only the final trace.

But that last trace was not merely a question of quantity—it was the key to triggering a qualitative change.

Chen Shijie saw the situation and was about to turn and head inside, because drawing yuan qi into the body and breaking through a rank required considerable time—every inch of flesh and blood throughout the body had to adapt to the yuan qi of the new tier.

Even the final step would take one or two hours to complete.

His right foot had just stepped into the study, his left foot not yet lifted, when Zhao Xing opened his eyes and stood up from beneath the Tian Yuan pear tree.

"Hm? Did he fail?" Chen Shijie sensed the movement, turned around, and frowned.

But seeing Zhao Xing's qi and blood full, his essence vigorous, he didn't look like he'd failed.

So he activated the 【Five Elements Observation】 spell and looked toward Zhao Xing.

"Five elements balanced, yin and yang in harmony, a level above before—this is a completed breakthrough. At such speed, this boy's root bone and aptitude are extraordinary." Chen Shijie was pleasantly surprised.

He had originally thought Zhao Xing's comprehension of spells was quite high, but his root bone and aptitude merely average; now it seemed that view was wrong.

"His root bone and aptitude, viewed across all of Nanyang Commandery, would rank upper-middle."

"So long as his fortune isn't too poor, reaching the official Eighth Rank within five years is no problem."

"If his fortune is too poor, like my own once 'battered road of fate,' who knows how many trials he'd have to endure. Not everyone is as kind-hearted as the General, helping me change my luck." Chen Shijie recalled past events and was quite moved.

"What are you thinking about, my lord?" Suddenly, a voice pulled Chen Shijie's thoughts back.

"Now that you've broken through, I'm thinking about how to punish you." Chen Shijie snorted.

"If you're going to punish me, better to punish all crimes at once. Brother Shen and I will pick a few more pears first." Zhao Xing said with a grin, reaching back to pluck a few more pears.

Shen Zhui was dumbfounded—Brother Zhao, you really dare to say it and really dare to do it!

But Chen Shijie actually fell for this approach.

He came from a military background, was only in his early thirties, and wasn't the rigid old-fashioned type. If Zhao Xing treated him with reverence and politeness, he actually wouldn't like it.

As things stood now, Chen Shijie felt like he was facing a mischievous younger brother at home throwing a tantrum—he quite liked this feeling.

"You've got a thick skin. Take the pears and get far away from me. I don't want to see you again today." Chen Shijie laughed and cursed.

"Then I'll come again tomorrow. Farewell."

"Get lost!"

Even after walking a good distance from Chen's residence, Shen Zhui, with two pears tucked in his arms, still hadn't quite come back to his senses.

"Brother Zhao, you... surname Zhao?"

"Isn't that obvious, Brother Shen?"

"You really don't surname Chen?"

"Do I look like I resemble Chen Shijie?"

Shen Zhui studied him for a moment, then nodded: "A little."

Zhao Xing smiled, wiped the pear, and took a bite: "You might as well say I look like this pear."

Shen Zhui thought about it and still didn't see the resemblance. Chen Shijie's face was slightly square, his brow lines faint, his nose bridge and eyes both small—outwardly not particularly striking—but his skin was fair, the common Bai Xi complexion of Xishan Commandery.

Zhao Xing, on the other hand, had thick brows and large eyes, a high nose bridge, sharply defined facial lines, and was much taller than Chen Shijie. If his skin weren't wheat-colored, he could be called a handsome, dashing Young Master, but the healthy wheat color made him look all the more sunny.

Their temperaments were also different. Chen Shijie had a kind of resilience forged through trials; Zhao Xing carried a more relaxed air.

Thinking of this, Shen Zhui couldn't help feeling a bit envious: "Are superior-subordinate relationships in your Agricultural Bureau always this harmonious?"

"Why, are you and Steward Wang Longwu not on good terms?" Zhao Xing countered.

"Not really." Shen Zhui shook his head. "Lord Wang treats me well, he's just relatively strict and never jokes around."

Zhao Xing had no intention of further explaining his relationship with Chen Shijie. Once past the manor's gate street, he took his leave of Shen Zhui: "Brother Shen, I've broken through to Gathering Yuan Tier 4 and want to go to the Divine Temple to learn a new spell. See you at Chen's residence tomorrow."

Shen Zhui tucked the pears into his arms, freed his hands to cup his fist in farewell: "See you tomorrow, Brother Zhao."

Same old routine—the Agricultural Bureau submits the application, the County Office approves it, then one goes to the Divine Temple to receive the spell.

Xue Wenzhong naturally approved it at top speed, because he knew that although Zhao Xing advanced quickly, his foundations were solid.

The Four Spells of Heaven's Timing that an Agricultural Officer relies on for livelihood—Summon Clouds, Summon Rain, Summon Thunder, Summon Wind—Zhao Xing had reached nine cycles, seven cycles, seven cycles, and eight cycles respectively.

He couldn't compare to veteran Agricultural Officers like Xue Wenzhong, who could perform 'Three-Foot Heavenly Thunder' and 'Cloud-Walking in the Palm.'

But his control of these spells was already no worse than that of some newly-ranked Agricultural Officers.

Naturally, Xue Wenzhong had no concerns.

Arriving at the County Office, there were quite a few people handling business.

The Affairs Hall bustled with people coming and going; there was hardly a place to stand.

"Strange, why are there so many people today?" Zhao Xing was a bit puzzled, but he still joined the back of the line.

After waiting a while, he suddenly saw someone approach his side—it was his old acquaintance Pang Fei.

"Brother Zhao, come this way to talk."

"Alright." Zhao Xing didn't bother queuing and went straight with Pang Fei.

Pang Fei led him directly into the small reception hall beside the Affairs Hall, then asked: "Brother Zhao, is there any document needing signature or reply? Just hand it to me."

"Brother Pang, is this appropriate?" Zhao Xing thought to himself that this was clearly cutting in line.

Pang Fei chuckled lightly: "Brother Zhao's matters are handled as special cases—this was also instructed by the County Magistrate."

Ever since Zhao Xing had earned three consecutive top grades, he had made a name for himself in the County Magistrate's mind, and Pang Fei had become Zhao Xing's 'dedicated customer service.'

Others still had to queue and wait for approval, but Zhao Xing could cut in line directly.

"Thanks for your trouble, Brother Pang." Zhao Xing handed over the document and casually asked, "Brother Pang, by the way, why are there so many people handling business at the County Office today?"

"Not just today—it's been busy these past few days." Pang Fei said, "The autumn equinox opening of East Lake Mountain is approaching, so more people have come to purchase treasures and learn new spells."

"So that's how it is." Zhao Xing realized with a start. The Autumn Equinox mountain-opening was a major event in Gu County—even people from Nan Yang Commandery would come over to join the excitement. He had been studying and training so hard lately that he had completely forgotten the Autumn Equinox was approaching.

The county office obtained the official document, which was passed along and finally arrived at the temple.

At this moment, the temple had far more people than usual.

Especially the Hall of True Lord Cao Xi, where a long queue had already formed.

There were even tourists whose accents sounded like out-of-towners, paying worship from afar in the plaza outside the hall.

"In his day, True Lord Cao Xi cultivated the thirteen canals of Pinghu, spread the Dili Sect's spell 'King Di Zang's Return to the Origin,' and set up Return-to-Origin water wheels, causing the primordial energy to gather ever more densely, transforming floods into blessings. The small hill by East Lake also grew taller and taller, eventually becoming the famous spirit mountain known far and wide."

"The mountain-opening at the Autumn Equinox is just days away—I wonder who will obtain the mountain's spiritual excellence…"

Zhao Xing waited for a long time and found that the Hall of True Lord Cao Xi had too many people; the queue showed no sign of moving at all.

"It's only a beginner-level spell anyway, so it doesn't matter much who I receive it from."

Zhao Xing switched to a different place, heading to the Hall of All Sages, which could accommodate far more visitors.