Chapter 92: Earth Palace Technique, Earth Store Technique, Ten Thousand Techniques Cloud

He pulled out the scroll, and beside it was a small slip of paper, like an instruction manual.

"A fourth-grade mid-quality Dili Sect technique, containing Earth Palace techniques within, can be comprehended four times."

Zhao Xing glanced at the instruction manual, then set it aside.

What Xue Wenzhong had shown him back then was a fourth-grade lower-quality Dao-Comprehension scroll painting called the Myriad Things Growth Chart, which belonged to the Benwo Sect's technique compendium, with a broader scope of comprehension.

And what Zhao Xing had obtained now were all specialized Dao-Comprehension scroll paintings, which could guarantee comprehension of a certain category of techniques.

"Young Master Zong really put thought into it; Dao-Comprehension scroll paintings of Earth Palace techniques are rare, second only to Mysterious Earth techniques in difficulty to obtain." Zhao Xing opened the scroll with some anticipation.

A fourth-grade mid-quality Dao-Comprehension scroll painting, its first use brought an even stronger impact than the previous observation of the fourth-grade lower-quality "Myriad Things Growth Chart."

The moment Zhao Xing's gaze fell upon the scroll, he was immediately drawn into it.

"Hum~"

When his eyes saw it, his mind was also drawn into it.

"Whoosh whoosh~"

Falling~

Endless falling~

Zhao Xing felt his body become incomparably heavy.

Falling at a terrifying speed.

During the fall, an intense squeezing force accompanied him, as if drowning; the deeper he went, the stronger the oppressive pressure of the water pressure.

But this oppressive pressure differed from drowning—at least when drowning, one could still feel that the surrounding water was gentle.

But now, that oppressive pressure was sluggish, carrying a painful tearing sensation.

He didn't know how long it had been before the first stage of falling finally ended.

Zhao Xing's entire body slammed hard onto a hard ground surface, his whole body bound by force, unable to move.

He lay on the ground, barely raising his head, and saw ahead a faintly glowing, semi-transparent palace.

"Earth Palace."

Zhao Xing was involuntarily drawn to the phantom image of the palace.

The palace was enormously large, yet its foundation was not built on the ground, but rather rested upon a stream of cyan-colored river.

"That is an earth vein."

Zhao Xing had a sudden realization in his heart.

He just lay on the ground like that, observing the earth vein and the Earth Palace.

Earth veins were hidden deep, very hard to sense above ground, but underground, they could be seen clearly, and in this scene—

The earth veins were not only clearly visible, but also flowing, extremely active.

A Profound-grade earth vein, its quality was extremely high; this Earth Palace felt as if it had naturally formed from the active flow of the earth vein.

Its profoundness made Zhao Xing, lying on the ground, completely forget the binding and oppression, immersed in watching that flowing earth vein.

"The earth vein merely flows naturally, yet its channels actually formed a palace?"

"Truly a marvel crafted by divine hands."

"Hmm?"

Just as Zhao Xing had a moment of comprehension, the ground beneath him also began to flow, swiftly pulling him toward the Earth Palace.

"Boom~"

His entire body seemed to shatter, absorbed by the flowing cyan earth vein.

At this moment, his 'perspective' vanished, leaving only a wondrous sensation.

As if he had become part of the earth vein, flowing along with it, and in the process of this flow, becoming part of the Earth Palace.

"Vast, heavy, boundless—this Earth Palace is simply too enormous."

Zhao Xing now felt the most fundamental characteristic of the Earth Palace.

It sometimes became a handful of earth, sometimes a supporting pillar, sometimes a brick or tile of the Earth Palace…

He didn't know how long it had been.

"Hum~"

All scenes rapidly receded, and Zhao Xing felt himself detach from the earth vein and Earth Palace.

In an instant, his consciousness returned.

"Too wonderful for words."

After detaching, Zhao Xing did not look at the scroll painting, but subconsciously extended his fingertip, sending a streak of Jin Guang into the ground.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, he sent out a second one.

Afterwards, the interval between each one grew shorter and shorter.

Between the eighteenth and twenty-fourth, they were almost fired in rapid succession.

"So that's how it is, Boundless Earth Palace, this is the Boundless Earth Palace…"

Zhao Xing smiled; it was the joy of having comprehended the true technique, from the heart.

"Hum hum~"

At this moment, the side room of the Tingshui Pavilion suddenly began to shake.

"Crack crack crack~"

Cracks suddenly appeared on the surrounding walls.

The floor also rapidly split open, the beams and pillars supporting the side room cracking quickly, as if unable to bear the weight.

"Not good, it's going to collapse."

Zhao Xing immediately rolled up the scroll painting and box, and ran out swiftly.

The instant he ran out.

"Boom!"

The wing room at Listening Water Pavilion collapsed with a rumble, turning into a pile of rubble in an instant.

Moreover, it was shattered so thoroughly that not even a single intact tile or piece of wood could be found.

"What's going on? An earthquake?"

Zong Zong Shichang walked over, cradling a mountain cat.

Steward Tang hurried over with several servants.

"Sorry, Young Master Zong." Zhao Xing said with some apology, "I wrecked your house."

"No worries, it's just a wing room… wait." Zong Zong Shichang's eyes went wide. "You're saying you did this? That was top-grade red pine timber! The foundation is solid, extremely sturdy!"

"It really was a bit careless… Hey, don't go over there!" Zhao Xing was speaking when he saw one of the Zong household's servants run toward the rubble, seemingly to inspect it.

But the moment he walked over, he dropped to his knees in agony, his breathing grew labored, and finally, as if unable to bear the weight, he collapsed flat on the ground.

"Disperse!" Zhao Xing immediately pointed a finger, causing the spell to dissipate.

"Hoo~ hoo~ haa hoo~" The servant stood up, gasping for breath in great gulps. His face flushed red; when he loosened his collar to look, blood had already seeped from the pores all over his body.

"This…" Zong Zong Shichang was stunned. These servants of his were all martial artists at the fourth or fifth stage of Qi Gathering — they weren't some pushovers.

How had they ended up like this just from getting close?

"His internal organs are injured. Do you have any organ-nourishing medicinal ingredients here? Give him some to take." Zhao Xing had used the Five Elements Observation technique and could already see that this man's five viscera and six bowels had all shifted slightly, with some fine wounds as well.

"That serious?" The martial artist was terrified. He felt much better now, but he hadn't expected the injury to have reached his internal organs.

"Trust me."

"Uncle Tang, take him to get treated." Zong Zong Shichang naturally trusted Zhao Xing.

After the servants had all dispersed, he asked curiously: "What method was that?"

"A type from the Earth Palace method, called 'Boundless Earth Palace'."

Zhao Xing explained: "This spell uses the earth's veins as its foundation to create a spell-based earth palace that can capture all external things. When the Earth Palace method is cultivated to a profound level, it can even capture gods and demons."

"In legend, there is a method called 'Divine Demon Earth Palace' — even powerful gods and demons can be drawn into the earth palace, trapped and refined to death."

"After refining gods and demons, they can also serve as nutrients to be absorbed by plants."

"There's a spell like that?" Zong Zong Shichang's eyes went wide. "How come I never knew about it."

There's plenty you don't know about… Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"It's an ancient legend, of course it gets exaggerated however the teller likes." Zhao Xing said casually. "The Earth-Splitting method, the Earth Store method, the Earth Palace method, the Mystic Earth method — known as the Four Great Sacred Arts of the Dili Sect — are all related to earth's veins and legends of gods and spirits."

"What are the effects of your Boundless Earth Palace?" Zong Zong Shichang asked.

"As you can see." Zhao Xing pointed at the ruined house. "Its capturing force can crush anything and anyone that enters the earth palace's area."

Zong Zong Shichang looked and, sure enough, the foundation of the wing room had sunk down as a whole, sitting three chi lower than the surrounding ground.

In the rubble, there really wasn't a single good tile or brick to be found — it looked as if everything had been ground to pieces.

"You're looking more and more like a Military Agricultural Officer." Zong Zong Shichang sighed. What proper Agricultural Officer would know this kind of spell? "Are you planning to join the army?"

"Mm." Zhao Xing nodded. "I have that idea."

"The Military Agricultural Officer exam isn't easy." Zong Zong Shichang said. "You becoming a full official through Nanyang Commandery only counts as a Civil Agricultural Officer. But if you want to go into the army, depending on the different army standards, you'll have to go through different selections."

"Even if you get in, your official post still starts from the ninth rank. And I've heard the conditions for Military Agricultural Officers are harsh — you're constantly being sent to those bitter, cold places to work. Your appointment as an official is already a certainty, so why go suffer like that?"

Zong Zong Shichang said: "These days, civil officials have it easier and more comfortable."

"Find a fertile, stable place to serve as an Agricultural Officer — no natural disasters, no extra work, and since the weather and environment are good, the harvests are naturally plentiful."

"Muddle along for a few years, grease the right palms up and down the ladder, sit back and wait for promotion — wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Most scions of noble houses followed this path. Zong Zong Shichang was a typical noble scion; he simply couldn't understand why Zhao Xing wanted to become a Military Agricultural Officer.

"Each person has their own aspirations." Zhao Xing smiled. "What you say is certainly one path, but it doesn't really suit me."

Fat postings are so few — how could ordinary people without connections or wealth possibly get assigned to such good places?

Stable is stable, but it's too stable — the pace of advancement is too slow.

Besides, in this period, Emperor Jing has been constantly draining the noble houses. Wanting to walk this path in peace and stability isn't really going to work anymore either.

"Alright, I'll find you another room." Zong Zong Shichang didn't say any more.

"Just find an open patch of ground." Zhao Xing followed after him.

【You observed the fourth-grade mid-quality Dao-Transmission painting 'Earth Palace Phantom', comprehended the mid-tier spell 'Boundless Earth Palace'. Remaining comprehensions: 3】

【Boundless Earth Palace: Mid-tier Spell】

【Progress: Third Turn (3548/9999)】

【Effect: Using the earth's veins as foundation, forge a Boundless Earth Palace, releasing a powerful capturing force. Can stack up to three layers.】

"Worthy of a fourth-grade mid-quality Dao-Transmission painting." Zhao Xing nodded in satisfaction.

Why did he buy Dao-Transmission paintings instead of receiving the teachings at a divine temple?

The reason was right here.

Receiving teachings at a divine temple is random — you can't have whatever you wish for, whatever you want. Some spells you can't even learn; there are thresholds involved, such as certain spells only being learnable by those with specific official posts.

Secondly, receiving teachings at a divine temple only gets you in the door. Some with poor talent can't even get through the door.

Dao-Transmission paintings are different — they're highly targeted. If you want to learn a specific spell, the certainty of using a Dao-Transmission painting is much greater.

Secondly, Dao-Transmission paintings condense the comprehension of the Dao into the painting. Observing a Dao-Transmission painting doesn't just get you in the door — those with better talent can even quickly skip the entry stage and directly push the spell up several turns.

Zhao Xing's comprehension, talent, and innate constitution, after over half a year of refinement by the Dao Embryo Pill, meant that the effect of this Dao-Transmission painting had basically reached maximum efficiency.

"Money well spent." Zhao Xing was very satisfied.

The Earth Palace method was essentially the creation of a domain.

Within the area covered by the Boundless Earth Palace spell, enemies would find every step difficult, their speed sharply reduced — it was like fighting under triple gravity.

Its speed and primal energy consumption would greatly increase, its techniques would warp, and its combat power would be drastically reduced.

"An advanced Earth Palace art—any spell cast will be immediately drawn into the Earth Palace, unable to hit anyone at all, and in the end it can even capture gods and demons, turning them into nourishment… this art, I must keep practicing it all the way up." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

The Earth Palace art's transmission painting still had three comprehension chances left; afterward it would not impart new types, but would keep strengthening the comprehension of 【Boundless Earth Palace】, advancing one's realm, dedicated art for dedicated use.

Zhao Xing put the painting away—comprehending within a short period would suffer some discount; he'd learn the others first.

"The second painting, fourth-grade mid-quality, King Di Zang art."

Zhao Xing opened the painting, and instantly an expanse of vast land appeared before his eyes.

The land was a yellow-grey color, with countless mountains, rivers, and streams, like lines, weaving and flowing before his eyes.

This seemed to be a high-altitude overhead view… Zhao Xing thought to himself.

But immediately he felt something was off.

"Hm? Why does it look a little familiar?"

Zhao Xing pondered, carefully observing the yellow-grey lines.

After a moment, Zhao Xing suddenly understood.

The viewpoint also shifted from high in the sky to appearing upon the land.

When he appeared on the ground, Zhao Xing found himself stark naked, the soles of his feet planted in the soil.

? ttkan? ￠o

Then his whole body slowly sank in, leaving only his head above.

Warmth, moisture, surges of vitality welled up from beneath the earth.

"I am a tree."

Zhao Xing's mind was completely filled with this notion. At first he still couldn't immerse himself in it, but gradually, he truly felt himself become a tree, with countless streams of vitality drilling into his pores like flowing water.

He began to grow vigorously within the earth.

As he "grew," his body slowly moved out of the soil, until finally he stood upon the ground, with only a layer beneath his soles still planted underground.

"Hum~"

The observation ended.

Zhao Xing came back to himself.

"No wonder it felt so familiar—it's the 'human version' of Earth Vein Synthesis."

Zhao Xing looked at the panel record.

【You observed the fourth-grade mid-quality transmission painting 'Earth Vein Frenzy', and comprehended the mid-grade spell 【King Di Zang Return to Origin · Human Path】. Remaining comprehension chances: 3】

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【King Di Zang Return to Origin · Human Path: Mid-grade Spell】

【Progress: Third Cycle (3885/9999)】

【Effect: Steal the primal energy of earth veins, absorb it for one's own use, making primal energy endlessly self-renewing and spells cycle without end.】

The beginner version of Earth Vein Synthesis targeted plant life.

The mid-grade and high-grade versions are both called King Di Zang Return to Origin, only with more refined divisions based on effect and power.

The Human Path version of King Di Zang Return to Origin is specialized for humans.

"Just as plants absorb the power of earth veins, human life can also absorb it—only the absorption is more complex."

"The Human Path King Di Zang and the Plant King Di Zang still differ greatly, and compared to Earth Vein Synthesis, it's also more complex." Zhao Xing was savoring the differences within.

This spell, even officials couldn't learn in the temples, nor would it be transmitted.

Don't forget—Earth Vein Synthesis, King Di Zang Return to Origin, this whole series, has another nickname: the "Origin-Stealing Art."

If everyone went to learn this spell, the result would be cultivating a huge bunch of backstabbers.

This spell is both highly covert and hugely destructive—if anyone could learn it, everyone would go 'stealing crops.'

"The Human Path version of King Di Zang Return to Origin can aid cultivation, and can also be set up in advance when facing enemies. But I must practice it in secret too—only after becoming a Military Agricultural Official can I use it openly, otherwise there'd be some trouble."

Zhao Xing didn't even dare practice it in the city; if discovered, he'd be invited in for a 'chat.'

Strictly speaking, this spell is even forbidden to practice on Great Zhou's soil, regardless of whether it's your own land.

But why does it still exist? Because when Great Zhou expands outward, this spell is just too useful—they really can't help but use it!

"This was found by Lu Qian—looks like someone in the noble houses is secretly practicing it. This prohibition really is 'the magistrate is free to set fire, but the common folk may not light a lamp.'" Zhao Xing pursed his lips, just like the rich in his past life taking private jets, building private pools, emitting massive carbon, wasting water in huge quantities, yet calling on ordinary people to love the environment and conserve water resources.

"Says who? I'm going to use it! And practice it hard!" Zhao Xing thought viciously.

After comprehending these two spells, the sky had already gone dark.

Zong Zong Shichang warmly urged him to stay the night at the residence, and Zhao Xing didn't stand on ceremony with him, gladly agreeing.

Steward Tang sent a young servant to Kangping Ward to inform Zhao Ruide, then arranged dinner for the young master and the honored guest.

"In the distant age of old, when first the people were born, proud and self-sufficient, embracing the unadorned, holding the true. Once wit and craft arose, reliance and aid ceased. Who then provided for them? In truth, it was the wise men." Zong Zong Shichang finished reciting and raised his cup in a gesture toward Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing smiled slightly and likewise raised his cup: "Who were the wise men? It was Hou Ji, in his time. How did he provide? Truly by sowing and planting. Xia himself plowed, Tang also tilled. Nearer in the Zhou rites, of the eight policies, food came first."

The two were reciting the "Encouragement to Farming Song," each taking a section—whoever couldn't continue had to drink.

Zong Zong Shichang racked his brains and haltingly said: "Bright and bright their noble virtue, lush and lush the plains and lands. Flowers and trees flourish, the gentle breeze is pure and still. Bustling men and women, racing after the season. Mulberry women rise by night, farmers lodge in the fields."

Zhao Xing continued: "The seasons pass easily, but gentle moisture is hard to last. Ji Que took his mate, Jǔ and Nì paired as companions. Look at those worthy and wise—they still toil in the fields. How much more these multitudes, with trailing hems and folded hands."

Zong Zong Shichang picked up his cup and recited: "The people's livelihood lies in diligence; with diligence there is no want, no want… what comes after that?"

Zhao Xing picked up and filled his cup for him: "Stop thinking, drink!"

"Damn it, lost again." Zong Zong Shichang drained it in one go. "No more, no more—can't outplay you."

"Life in this world must be diligent; with diligence, food and clothing are never wanting. Greedy for ease and comfort, by year's end one's livelihood is hard to maintain." Zhao Xing continued Zong Zong Shichang's muttering for a few lines, "In doing things as a person, one must still be diligent. With so many diligent people around us, how could you and I, drinking and making merry here, not feel ashamed?"

Zong Zong Shichang laughingly cursed and picked up the wine pot: "You bastard, stop pretending—come drink! And be diligent again tomorrow!"

Zhao Xing burst into laughter, forgot all his troubles, and drank his fill with Zong Zong Shichang.

Early the next morning, Zong Zichang was still fast asleep, but Zhao Xing was already awake.

He had been woken by the mountain cat's piercing cries.

"Aoo! Ooo!!" The sound was a wail, as if it had been struck.

"Alright, alright." Zhao Xing got up and opened the door. "It's not even breakfast time yet, what's the rush? Anyone who didn't know would think I was abusing you."

"Meow~" Seeing the door open, the mountain cat instantly became docile, its voice as sweet as a cutesy voice.

"Look at the way you carry on." Zhao Xing helplessly opened the bamboo-patterned chest and took out half a large yellow croaker fish jerky: "Here, eat up."

"Nyam nyam nyam nyam~" The mountain cat tucked in heartily.

After feeding the mountain cat, Zhao Xing went outside his room.

He found a rockery and began to open the chest containing the scroll.

Upon seeing the note beside the scroll, Zhao Xing couldn't help but pause: "Hm? This is a fourth-grade supreme, the Ten Thousand Laws Cloud Diagram?"

On the small note was a line of graceful, delicate handwriting: I gift you the Ten Thousand Laws Cloud Diagram, may all your wishes come true.

"Sigh, if you're going to give it, just give it — why leave a little note. Women only slow down my spell-casting…" Zhao Xing casually tossed the note aside, steadied his Dao heart, and began to study the scroll.