Chapter 8: Courtyard Spell Practice

To save time, the free consultation sessions were conducted in groups, with friends who had similar issues seeking advice together.

Xue Wenzhong moved through the crowd, sometimes explaining and sometimes letting the clerks practice the spells themselves.

Gradually, wind, clouds, and thunder arose in the courtyard, along with a light rain, making the scene lively.

While waiting, Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong couldn't help but start teasing the colleagues around them who were practicing spells.

"Brother Zhou, why does your [Wind Rise] always blow into people's crotches? You must have used this trick to tease a lot of young ladies, right?"

"Brother Ye, your [Thunder Strike] is pretty average. The sound isn't even as loud as your snoring. You need to practice more."

"Hey, Brother Cao, your [Rainfall] is like a woman peeing, and it even splits... hahaha!"

"..."

The surrounding laughter continued, and those being teased didn't get angry but joined in the banter, adding some fun to the otherwise dull practice.

However, as the young men chatted, the conversation veered off course and gradually turned to matters of men and women, becoming increasingly excited.

"Speaking of this year's Spring Festival, I passed by a village house and heard a man's low voice shouting, 'The treasure is almost out, just a bit more effort~' Then a woman's soft voice complained, 'With the old man above and me below, how can I exert myself? Why don't we switch places?'"

"Intrigued, I moved closer to see what was happening. Guess what?"

Qian Dong winked and made faces at the surrounding young men, deliberately pausing to build suspense.

"Eh? The old man and the daughter-in-law? Could it be a pervert? Brother Qian, stop talking, don't dirty our ears."

"Brother Cao, you were the most attentive just now, but now you're pretending? If you don't want to listen, go away. I'm a commoner, I love to listen."

"You're killing me, Brother Qian, just tell us already."

The group laughed and chatted, taking it quite seriously. Zhao Xing, however, couldn't help but shake his head, not because of them, but because the old agrarian official Xue Wenzhong had unknowingly walked behind Qian Dong.

"What did you see?"

The elderly voice suddenly appeared, startling the young men. Qian Dong turned around, his face turning pale and red, stammering, "N-nothing."

Xue Wenzhong's face was creased with a half-smile, half-frown. "If they can hear it, why can't I? I must hear it, or none of you will get off easy. All of you go to the back mountain to cut grass for me."

Qian Dong stammered, Chen Ziyu avoided eye contact, and the others turned their heads, while Zhao Xing watched the commotion as if it didn't concern him.

Seeing this, Xue Wenzhong called out, "Zhao Xing, since they can't say it, you tell me."

Zhao Xing calmly replied, "Old Xue, what Qian Dong said was just a common occurrence. It was the old man and his daughter-in-law digging up a silver box left by their ancestors in a dry well. He was just making a fuss over nothing."

"You're a smart one." Xue Wenzhong smiled.

Hearing this, Qian Dong quickly said, "Ah, that's exactly what I meant to say."

"Right, right, that's what we heard too." The other young men chimed in.

Seeing that the old agrarian official wasn't going to make things difficult for them, Qian Dong quickly changed the subject. "Old Xue, recently when I cast [Cloud Movement], I always feel it's not smooth, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, very unstable. Could you please give me some guidance?"

"Show me your spell."

Qian Dong didn't hesitate, pointing his finger at a spot two meters above his head. Instantly, a grayish-white cloud appeared, swaying like an umbrella held by a drunk person.

Xue Wenzhong observed for a moment and then waved for Qian Dong to stop. "Your essence energy is not well-controlled, causing the spell's effect to fluctuate."

Qian Dong listened obediently.

"However, you don't need to worry; this is normal." Xue Wenzhong grabbed Qian Dong's hand, feeling his wrist twice before letting go. "You are almost at the second stage of Essence Gathering, just one step away from breaking through."

"The same goes for the rest of you. Most of you are either close to or have already encountered this stage. Don't panic; just focus on controlling your essence energy, and you'll be fine soon."

"Thank you, Old Xue."

"Hmm?" When his gaze fell on Zhao Xing, Xue Wenzhong let out a light exclamation and pulled Zhao Xing's hand.

The others, not understanding, looked over.

After a moment, Xue Wenzhong's frown relaxed, and he smiled.

"Good, you have indeed reached the second stage of Essence Gathering, faster than the others."

The others looked at Zhao Xing with envy. Chen Ziyu was delighted for his brother, and Qian Dong secretly nudged him, giving a look that said, "I knew it."

Zhao Xing remained calm. He had the panel and knew the moment he broke through, unlike the other clerks who were still uncertain about their progress.

Next, each of them asked their questions. When it was Zhao Xing's turn, he mentioned that he had obtained three new spells from the temple and requested Xue Wenzhong's guidance.

"The feeling of [Wind Rise] and [Cloud Movement] is the same, both involving gathering essence energy and controlling the forces of nature through a fixed spell route. However, [Wind Rise] is slightly more difficult due to the directional aspect, requiring more precision in the casting process. Try using one-third of the essence energy for [Cloud Movement] to control the wind, starting with the north wind."

Zhao Xing immediately began casting the spell.

He directed the essence energy from his fingertips toward the north, and soon a breeze blew.

Initially, it was just a gentle breeze, but gradually it grew stronger, making people's hair stand straight.

Xue Wenzhong looked surprised because Zhao Xing's control over the wind was very stable and strong, not at all like a beginner.

If it were a beginner, the wind would have made people's hair fly wildly, not stand straight.

"Why didn't I notice his talent before?"

Xue Wenzhong, now interested, said, "Try the other directions."

Zhao Xing nodded and pointed his finger in turn to the east, south, west, and north. The north was relatively empty, but the other directions had other clerks practicing, causing significant interference.

However, the initial effects of the Dao Seed Pill had improved Zhao Xing's control over essence energy, allowing him to dominate and exclude the interference.

In the courtyard, only the wind Zhao Xing summoned came, while the others were left in disarray.

"Good, that's enough." Xue Wenzhong, satisfied, asked Zhao Xing to stop.

The other clerks, initially puzzled, saw the unusual occurrence and continued their practice without much thought.

Next, the old agrarian official had Zhao Xing try casting [Thunder Strike].

"Cloud Movement involves yin and yang, clear and turbid energies. Controlling essence energy, heavy energy forms rain, and combined energy produces thunder. The key lies in..."

"Boom!"

Before he could finish, a thunderclap echoed through the courtyard.

The thunder was so loud it seemed to explode right next to their ears.

Everyone in the courtyard looked over.

Above Zhao Xing's head, a grayish-white cloud formed, with gray and white rapidly colliding like chariots.

In the next moment, a purple flash appeared, followed by another thunderclap!

"Brother Ziyu, isn't your brother's thunder a bit too loud?" Qian Dong stared at the sky in amazement.

"I think so too. Could the difference between the first and second stages of Essence Gathering be so great?" Chen Ziyu was dazed, mostly due to the shock of the thunder.

Xue Wenzhong opened his mouth but couldn't find words to respond.

He had said too much earlier.

If it weren't for Zhao Xing's application document, he would have thought Zhao Xing had been practicing for a long time.

From just these two spells, Zhao Xing didn't seem like a beginner at all.

"Old Xue, please give me your guidance." Zhao Xing stopped the spell and waited for Xue Wenzhong's advice, but the old man smiled and said, "Your talent in [Wind Rise] and [Thunder Strike] is evident. You've already grasped the basics. What I would say is just a repetition of what I've taught before. With a bit more practice, you'll be proficient."

"As for the [Grass and Trees Become Soldiers] spell... follow me."

(End of Chapter)