Chapter 73: The Way of Cloud Arts, I Alone Stand Supreme!

The Way of Cloud Arts, I Alone Stand Supreme!

Unlike the many variations of other spells, Cloud Arts has always walked the path of dominance.

In the internal war between Si Nong, seizing control of the air is the first priority.

Zhao Xing gathered his clouds once more, and before Cao Qiushui could counter, swiftly organized a second attack.

The edges of the cloud layers stacked layer upon layer, forming a cloud mountain, like a boulder blocking the way ahead. Cao Qiushui's flowing clouds were split apart, showing signs of being divided in two.

This move truly startled Cao Qiushui.

Si Nong who dare to Dengshan make up the smallest proportion among all professions, and those who dare to compete for the first incense are even fewer.

On the first night, Cao Qiushui had not encountered any decent opponents of the same profession at all.

But now he knew — he had met a formidable foe!

In a flash, the instant Cao Qiushui's flowing clouds were split by the cloud mountain, the flowing clouds on both sides swirled and rolled, rising swiftly like rivers, climbing over the peak, and reuniting atop the cloud mountain before the split could complete.

"Flowing Cloud 'Suspended River' style — this Cao Qiushui really reacts fast." Seeing this, Zhao Xing knew his plan for a quick strike had failed.

He had absorbed the cloud Qi of four people, intending to take advantage of the moment after Cao Qiushui dealt with the others but before he had steadied himself, to quickly cut him apart.

Then, repeating the earlier tactic of the small defeating the great, he would devour Cao Qiushui's cloud Qi as well.

But Cao Qiushui reacted quickly — not only did he defuse the crisis, but the flowing clouds climbing atop the cloud mountain also formed a cloud mountain of their own, attempting to crush Zhao Xing's cloud layer with it.

In a contest of spells, the situation changes in the blink of an eye.

Mid-tier Cloud Arts were indeed stronger in spell intensity than beginner-tier ones. Seeing this, Zhao Xing had no choice but to disperse the cloud layer below, break the whole into parts, shrink back a stretch, and then recondense.

"What? This…" Cao Qiushui was stunned.

He thought he had crushed Zhao Xing's cloud layer, but he hadn't expected the opponent's cloud control to be so masterful — under the heavy pressure, he had barely lost any.

Breaking cloud Qi into many parts is easy, but recondensing it is far too difficult — just like feigning a retreat on the battlefield, a move only high-ranking generals can play with; one careless step and it becomes a true rout!

Simultaneously controlling countless portions of cloud Qi, making them swiftly evade the enemy's attack and regroup — how difficult is that?

Cao Qiushui was confident he could hardly do it himself, let alone with a realm gap between them.

Zhao Xing's move this round truly showed him up!

"I feel his Moving Clouds hasn't reached true mid-tier power, but this control technique is beyond me by I don't know how much."

"A master — this is a true master!"

When an expert makes a move, you instantly know whether it's the real deal.

After three clashes in the span of a breath, Cao Qiushui understood — his opponent was no simple man.

Relying on Cloud Arts alone, he could not defeat the other party in a short time.

Zhao Xing had seen this even earlier, because his Moving Clouds was only beginner-tier nine revolutions, while Cao Qiushui's Flowing Cloud Art was mid-tier four revolutions.

Although his own control technique was stronger and his experience richer, to defeat a greater force with a smaller one, he had to quickly gain an advantage — otherwise it would work against him.

So Zhao Xing once again employed a 'trick outside the rules'.

"Yin Wind, rise!"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and the Yin Wind from underground arrived in an instant.

Yin Wind rises at Zi hour — quick and effortless.

The Yin Wind's nature is stealthy; other professions couldn't see it at all, and even the other defeated Si Nong on the Altar Square had not noticed it.

A gust of Yin Wind passed through the crowd, blowing precisely toward Cao Qiushui.

Just then, Zhao Xing's brow twitched.

He pushed off with both feet and immediately leapt aside.

Where he had just stood, a pit half a meter wide and two meters deep suddenly collapsed.

"Dili Sect's Split-Earth Art?" Zhao Xing stared at the pit, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but then he understood.

Cao Qiushui had also thought to use a trick outside the rules — he was a descendant of True Monarch Cao Xi, and Cao Xi specialized in Dili Sect spells.

Cao Qiushui was in the middle of casting when he suddenly shivered; the spell was broken and interrupted, and the Split-Earth Art did not unleash its full power.

Immediately after, his vision began to blur, and his whole mind turned hazy, as if he had labored for three days and three nights without rest.

"Hum~" The gray straw cloak on his body lit up with a glow, and the jade pendant at his chest also flashed brilliantly, channeling a stream of heat into his body.

Only then did Cao Qiushui come to his senses.

"This is… Yin Wind Art?"

Cao Qiushui's scalp instantly went numb.

He had never imagined that among the Si Nong who came to Dengshan this time, someone had actually mastered Yin Wind spells!

Moreover, the spell's intensity was extraordinarily great — far beyond the level of one or two revolutions.

He wore a third-tier upper-grade soul jade on his person; the once smooth jade pendant was now covered in cracks! Dull and lusterless!

"C-Cao… admits defeat!"

Cao Qiushui uttered these words trembling, hastily withdrew his cloud layer, and leapt out of the Altar Square in two or three steps, signaling that he dared not compete with him any longer.

"What? Brother Cao, why is this?!" The members of Cao Qiushui's team looked at him in utter astonishment.

A Si Nong could not come to compete for the first incense alone — even if Cao Qiushui seized the incense, as long as a martial artist guarded the stone steps, he still couldn't get up. So many people on the Altar Square huddled together for warmth, forming small groups to compete for the incense.

Cao Qiushui's team had three martial artists at Gathering Yuan seventh-tier; the Si Nong supported while the martial artists charged. Last night they had won two sticks of incense — two of them had entered the temple as the fifth and seventh respectively.

After offering incense, they had sought guidance from the True Monarch and received spiritual inspiration, and their harvest during the day had not been small.

Who would have thought that on this second night of competing for incense, Cao Qiushui would perform like this — completely different from his bravery last night!

He was even trembling!

"Don't ask why — trust me, this round, don't compete." Cao Qiushui gazed at the seven clusters of Jin Guang floating in the air and murmured to himself. "Can't win against it — at least seven revolutions of Yin Wind."

Cao Qiushui's retreat shocked everyone dumbfounded.

"What? The son of the Cao family actually lost?!"

"Who was it? Who defeated him?"

"Cao Qiushui was already at the ninth stage of Qi Gathering, and there's someone stronger than him? Why didn't they show up last night?"

"Cao the Third knows three mid-tier spells, each with the power of four or five revolutions — that's already extremely rare. An ordinary ninth-stage Qi Gathering warrior wouldn't dare take them head-on, yet he still lost?"

"Is there someone whose spell tier is even higher?"

In the dark of night, countless people cried out in astonishment.

But everything happened so fast — from the temple gates opening to Jin Guang appearing.

From the warrior soaring into the air to landing again, it took only three breaths.

And from Zhao Xing and Cao Qiushui dealing with the opponents at their respective sides to their clash producing a result,

the whole process took only a dozen or so breaths.

Because of the two men's fluid exchange of blows, countless thunderclaps and lightning flashes were produced, so that no one dared rise into the air to snatch the incense.

A ninth-stage Qi Gathering Si Nong wasn't someone to be trifled with. Cao Qiushui and another were contending evenly — that meant two ninth-stage Qi Gathering cultivators were fighting for the favor of the heavens. Who would dare go up and take heavenly thunder?

Mid-tier spells are no joke!

Based on Cao Qiushui's performance last night, everyone was waiting for him to win, then send people to take two sticks of incense — that matched his faction's strength. Only if someone wanted to grab more would others step in to stop them.

But no one expected Cao Qiushui to actually lose — and to lose to another unknown Si Nong.

"The descendants of the Cao family do have some skill." Seeing Cao Qiushui retreat decisively, Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Being able to block the Nine-Revolution Yin Wind and withdraw unscathed, realizing the enemy couldn't be taken by force — that was already remarkable.

Those who know the times are the true heroes; moreover, Cao Qiushui had even managed an effective counterattack against him.

Too bad he ran into me.

"Zhao Xing, you — you actually beat Cao Qiushui?" Zong Dashao was utterly shocked.

At this moment, Zhao Xing's cloud layer had completely covered the Altar Square. Lightning was gestating within the clouds, held back from release, radiating terrifying power.

Gust after gust of wild wind swept through, lightning densely spread, warning everyone in the square not to act rashly.

"Lucky, lucky." Zhao Xing brushed it off casually. "Zong Shao, how many sticks of incense were you originally planning to take?"

"Two sticks," Uncle Cang picked up the thread. "At the very least, get two people into the temple."

"I'll help you grab those two sticks of incense, and the two hundred taels are wiped clean. Do you agree?" Zhao Xing looked toward Zong Shichang.

"Deal! Damn right it's a deal!" Zong Shichang slapped his thigh. "Quick, quick, quick! Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu, jump up now! Go get the two sticks of incense!"

"Wait — grab four sticks." Zhao Xing said lightly. "I want one for myself, and I'll throw in an extra one for you. Five hundred taels — take it or leave it?"

"Deal!" Zong Shichang answered immediately. "But will this actually work?"

There were only seven sticks of incense left on the field, with so many people watching. If they tried to scoop up four at once, would they be ganged up on?

"Whether it works or not, we'll know once we try."

Zhao Xing waved his hand, his voice carried by the wind: "Young Master Zong and I are taking four sticks of incense. The remaining three are for the rest of you to divide."

"I've said my piece. Who's in favor? Who's opposed?"

His voice was calm, yet it radiated an overwhelming confidence.

Beside him, Zong Shichang stared at Zhao Xing's back, wishing he could rush up and kiss him.

Zhao Xing was far too generous — showing off and dragging him along for the ride.

Zong Shichang had never felt that a few hundred taels could be so well spent!

Thrilling — absolutely thrilling!

"Right, right! Who's got a problem with it?!" Zong Shichang also raised his voice to shout.

Too bad he won't remember it once he gets down the mountain — otherwise he could brag for a whole year!

Young Master Zong and I went on a rampage at the Altar Square! Crushing all the heroes beneath us!

"Who are you, sir, to dare claim four sticks of incense?!" From the darkness, someone laughed coldly. "Zong Shichang is nothing but a waste, and the three experts he hired are only at the eighth stage of Qi Gathering."

"Your cloud technique is indeed impressive, but if we all rush you at once, can you still hold your ground?"

Some questioned Zhao Xing's strength, because cloud techniques had little killing power — at most they served in a support role.

Cao Qiushui's cloud technique and earth-splitting technique were both mid-tier at four or five revolutions, putting heavy pressure on warriors — but it was only pressure.

In the end, he still had to coordinate with the warriors in his team to bring out his faction's full strength, and even so he only dared ask for two sticks of incense.

Where did you pop out from, to dare ask for four sticks?

"Boom-crack!"

Zhao Xing raised a finger, and a bolt of Lei Ting immediately descended from the clouds above, streaking straight toward the source of the voice.

Mid-tier spell, Seven-Revolution Thunder Summoning!

The man who had just spoken let out a scream and collapsed, his whole body scorched black.

Amid the thunder and lightning, everyone saw his wretched state.

Zhao Xing answered his doubt with a spell — directly!

Only, the price of that doubt was a little steep — the man was struck down and lost all fighting ability on the spot.

Zhao Xing used action to make clear that he was not Cao Qiushui — he was far stronger!

Cao Qiushui's spells leaned toward support, but Zhao Xing not only possessed offensive spells, his spell tier was also higher than Cao Qiushui's!

"Seven-Revolution Heavenly Thunder?" Wenzhao shook his feather fan, looked up at the sky, and couldn't help his pupils contracting. "Boran, with my help, could you withstand it?"

Zhang Boran rolled his eyes: "Even if you layered two more spells on me, I still might not be able to take it."

"He absorbed the cloud Qi of eight people — he can bring down dozens of bolts at the very least. How many layers of spells can you stack on me?"

"Unless your He Li can make him disperse the cloud layer, I'll go all-out and rush in, hoping to reach him. Those two eighth-stage Qi Gathering warriors from the Zong family — even if they team up, I'm confident I can beat them."

Wenzhao's face drained of color at the words: "Damn — I burned his straw effigy before. He won't hold a grudge, will he?"

Zhang Boran said helplessly: "We'll play it by ear."

"Anyone else not convinced?" Zhao Xing spoke again.

This time, no one on the plaza dared make a sound.

The one who had just been struck down was a martial artist at the eighth stage of Essence Gathering; his thick skin and rough flesh kept him from dying, but he lost all fighting ability in one blow.

Because of Yang Junxiong, the number of ninth-stage Essence Gathering cultivators had dropped by three, so now there were actually fewer experts daring to compete than last night.

That single Seven-Turn Thunder-Drawing technique alone was worth four sticks of incense! Not to mention Zhao Xing still had a group of martial artists gathered around him by Zong Shichang.

"Dammit, that bastard is way too arrogant!" Lu Qian hadn't seen the person, but she recognized the voice — it was the very fellow who had once tied her up.

"Qian'er, you've been acting so strange today — losing your composure again and again. What on earth happened?" Liu Muqing sensed something was off. "You've had some encounter with this person speaking?"

"N-no." Lu Qian's eyes darted away.

"Then where's your Que Ling ceremonial robe?" Liu Muqing pointed at Lu Qian. "You can't tell me you lost it while bathing?"

"... This, um, anyway, there's a reason." Lu Qian's face flushed red, stammering and unable to get the words out.

"Young Master Zong, send someone to fetch the incense." Seeing no one dared object, Zhao Xing signaled to Zong Shichang.

The latter found Zhao Xing increasingly pleasing to the eye, because he always spoke directly to him rather than negotiating with Uncle Cang or Uncle Hu.

That sense of importance was exactly what Young Master Zong wanted!

"Got it, fetching the incense!" Zong Shichang waved his big hand enthusiastically.

Two eighth-stage Essence Gathering martial artists leapt up, each taking four sticks of incense.

Then they spun and landed, easily dissipating the impact with the ground.

"Brother Zhao, many thanks." Uncle Cang split off one stick of incense and gave it to Zhao Xing — the golden glow was emanating from it.

"Don't mention it." Zhao Xing took the god-worshipping incense.

In total four sticks of incense — Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu got one share.

The third share, Zong Shichang held himself.

"Uncle Yuan, I'll be counting on you to carry it in." Zong Shichang looked at the middle-aged man beside him — the third expert who had remained silent all along.

When Zong Shichang asked, he merely nodded.

Zhao Xing glanced over, and their eyes happened to meet — he couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat.

Hidden within the man's eyes was a divine statue!

This was actually a divine officeholder!

"Zong Shichang, just how rich is your family? You can even hire a divine officeholder?"

This Dengshan climb had many participating officials from all kinds of departments, but officials from the Divine Temple were exceedingly rare.

Because Divine Temple officials were special — they didn't need Spirit Wonders; their law, their merit, none of it came through normal advancement paths. Moreover, divine officeholders were famously pure of heart and few desires, indifferent to fame and fortune.

After prolonged contact with Yin Gods, their stray thoughts would dwindle, and all kinds of desires would greatly fade.

"Let's go wait over there."

"Let's go."

Having taken the four sticks of incense, Zhao Xing also dismissed his Floating Cloud.

Too much incense was useless — there was only one chance per night.

Besides, there would be a second wave and a third wave of incense offerings coming out.

There were still quite a few experts on the Heaven Altar plaza, they just hadn't struck at the first opportunity. If he didn't dismiss it, he'd be making enemies of everyone — there was no need for that.

"Yang Junxiong and Du Jiao Sect still haven't decided a winner?"

Descending from the Heaven Altar plaza, he saw two streaks of light ahead still tangled in combat.

Yang Junxiong used a spear, and Du Jiao Sect also used a spear.

One crimson, one silvery-white.

They were blocking the entrance to the temple.

"Even with Bright Eyes observing down to the finest detail, I still can't make out their movements — I can only see the streaks of light. These two have probably both already entered the ranks." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He had his own fortuitous encounters, but so might others.

Yang Junxiong took the first incense last night, Du Jiao Sect took the second. Burning incense to worship the gods could at least yield the whereabouts of a 'Mid-grade Spirit Wonder' or a method to harvest one, and might even involve a High-grade Spirit Wonder!

Both were already ninth-stage Essence Gathering cultivators, so reaching the ranks after obtaining a Spirit Wonder was perfectly normal.

After Zhao Xing left, fierce fighting broke out on the Heaven Altar plaza.

Only three sticks of incense remained, but there were still dozens of people.

For entering the temple to worship the gods, the first ten sticks of incense had the best effect.

All could receive a True Lord's sacred manifestation, revealing the location of a Spirit Wonder or granting a method to obtain one.

After that, one would only receive vague hints, not clear revelations.

Zhao Xing watched the plaza quietly, activating his Bright Eyes technique to observe.

One particular pair caught his attention.

"Liu Qin accompaniment, Battle Dance Great Shao?"

A melee had broken out on the plaza, but two people stood out from the chaos — one of whom Zhao Xing had seen before: Lu Qian, the one he had once tied up.

She was performing an extremely wild dance, while another young woman beside her played the willow zither as accompaniment.

This dancer-and-musician duo was performing "Great Shao," one of the Six Songs.

Legend has it that "Great Shao" was composed by Kui, the music official of antiquity. Through dance and music it enacted the laws of heaven and earth, drawing all beasts to bow and the phoenix to alight — it was composed to praise the achievements of the ancient 'Xia Huang.'

Great Shao was both a battle dance and a piece of music.

"Vast and mighty the elephant-forms, day by day the law takes shape. Would you hear of my beginning? The dark seal lies in the dim and deep…"

Liu Muqing plucked the zither and chanted, while Lu Qian danced.

As the two performed, half the martial artists on the plaza suddenly lost control and began attacking their own people.

The other half joined the dance, which further increased the power of the Great Shao.

Only two or three people could stay lucid, but whether it was their casting motions or combat techniques, all were severely distorted.

In the end, there was no choice but to let the two sisters each take one portion of the incense.

Having proven their strength and obtained the incense, Lu Qian and Liu Muqing stopped their performance.

They bowed toward the Heavenly Altar Square — this was not mere politeness on their part, but a procedure required by the *Rites of the Grand Music Director*.

Rites and music — in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the two were inseparable.

Without this closing rite, their performance this time would not have brought about an increase in cultivation (that is, proficiency advancement requires this procedure).

"A single music and single dance able to perform the Great Shao and still possess such power — that is indeed a rare sight," Zhao Xing said.

"I've known them for a long time, how come I never knew they were this impressive?" Zong Shichang asked curiously.

Zhao Xing explained: "The Great Shao, one of the Six Songs, is the foremost of war dances, because it requires a great number of performers and a great number of instruments. Next come the *Cloud Gate*, the *Great Scroll*, the *Sole Martial*, the *Great Chime*, and the *Great Manifest*."

"I've seen the Great Shao too, so why wasn't it as impressive as you say?"

Zhao Xing teased: "What I'm talking about is the proper way of the art — was what you watched the proper version?"