Palm Cloud Movement, Three Feet Heavenly Thunder

Zhao Xing was delighted, but Madam Cai was not.

She wanted to save the meat for next time, but it was already in the pot, and it would not do to fish it back out. So she simply added more. Otherwise, would Zheng not get enough to eat? The child had already begun martial training, so his nutrition had to keep up.

"Eat, eat, eat. Stuff yourself to death, you mud-legged peasant." Madam Cai glared viciously at the pot, chopping against the cutting board with loud clacks as though the meat were Zhao Xing.

The commotion in the kitchen had clearly grown louder, but no one noticed.

That was because Zhao Ruide was teaching Zhao Zheng martial arts in the courtyard.

He was holding a stance. No one knew how long he had been standing there, yet he remained perfectly still, like a green pine.

Though he was nearly sixty, his breathing was still deep and steady, his blood and vitality like mercury. The density of his primordial energy far surpassed Zhao Xing's.

The Mountain Sitting Stance. Holding a stance like sitting on a mountain. This barely counts as a mid-third-grade martial stance, yet he has trained it to feel like a top-grade one. It seems that as long as one trains long enough, even a minor spell can wield great power. Zhao Xing mused inwardly.

Whether martial techniques or spells, they could break through their inherent ranks and produce new insights. It could be said that they had no limits.

Of course, such cases were rare in the current version. First, there were many ways to obtain spells and martial techniques. After reaching Nine Turns—maxing out proficiency—people would generally choose something more advanced to cultivate. Second, the laws of heaven and earth imposed restrictions. Only in the revived version would such cases become common.

Zhao Ruide held his stance with focus, his posture upright and proper, primordial energy flowing in and out with every breath. Zhao Zheng, on the other hand, was completely listless.

One moment he shifted his feet, the next he twisted his waist, scratching his ears and cheeks. His mind was not on training at all.

The moment he saw Zhao Xing return, his eyes lit up. He seemed to have finally found an excuse to stop training. "Big Brother's back! Big Brother! Father, you two talk. I'll go prepare towels for you!"

This little brat did not truly like him that much. He simply wanted to escape martial training!

Right now, they could drag over a dog and he would call it big brother. The little rascal was sharp.

With that, he got up and made to slip away.

"Come back! Who told you to move?!" Zhao Ruide barked.

Zhao Zheng ran off with a grin, paying no heed to Zhao Ruide's words.

Zhao Xing found it amusing. Fathers rarely taught their own sons martial arts, because they could never bear to be too harsh. Zhao Ruide had fathered Zhao Zheng late in life and spoiled him greatly. At most, he would scold him a few times. How was that supposed to accomplish anything?

"Zhao Zheng, come here."

"Huh? Big Brother..." Zhao Zheng stood where he was, somewhat conflicted.

"One, two..."

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Zhao Zheng shuddered and immediately ran over.

"Father hasn't said training is over. Why are you running off? Keep standing!"

Zhao Zheng's little face immediately fell. With drooping brows, he unwillingly took his place beside Zhao Ruide.

"Bend your knees, puff out your chest, straighten your hands!" Zhao Xing showed no mercy as he kicked the back of Zhao Zheng's knee.

"I'm standing properly, Big Brother. I'm standing properly." Zhao Zheng did not dare get angry and even gave him a fawning smile.

Zhao Ruide pretended not to see his younger son acting so pathetically.

But Zhao Zheng could not really be blamed.

His mother doted on him and his father loved him. Even when he made mistakes or acted naughty, they had never truly laid a hand on him.

Only this big brother was different. He really hit him, and he always struck wherever it hurt most.

When he complained to Father, Father would only say a few words.

When he complained to Mother, she somehow could not outargue him either!

Though they were not related by blood, Zhao Xing somehow gave him the feeling of being suppressed by bloodline.

As a result, Zhao Zheng was as obedient as a quail whenever he saw Zhao Xing.

They ate dinner in the courtyard. Zhao Ruide was not particular about such things, and Madam Cai had once been a songstress, so she did not care about minor formalities either. The courtyard was cool, so they ate there.

With Zhao Xing present, Zhao Zheng was much more well-behaved at the table. But after eating for a while, he still could not sit still. "Mother, I'm hot."

Though he said it to Madam Cai, Zhao Zheng's eyes were hopefully fixed on his big brother.

"Mother will fan you." Madam Cai immediately set down her chopsticks and went to fetch a palm-leaf fan.

"No need to go to such trouble." Zhao Xing pointed upward, and dark clouds immediately appeared overhead, just enough to block the setting sun.

At the same time, a cool breeze began to blow. Zhao Zheng's eyes sparkled at the sight.

Even Zhao Ruide was somewhat surprised. "You can already summon wind? And those clouds have grown quite a bit."

Zhao Xing nodded. "I've made some progress lately."

It was far more than some progress. Zhao Xing's Cloud Movement proficiency had already exceeded five thousand. In professional terms, that meant Cloud Movement at Five Turns, able to cover five thousand meters.

Zhao Ruide was knowledgeable. He could clearly sense the improvement in the spell, and Zhao Xing's casual ease was completely different from before.

"Do you have a chance of entering official service this year?"

Zhao Xing set down his bowl and chopsticks. "I'm eighty percent certain."

Zhao Ruide asked, "What are the remaining twenty percent?"

Zhao Xing considered it. "A good teacher, and a recommender."

Although Xue Wenzhong had agreed to accept him as a disciple, the apprenticeship had not yet been publicly acknowledged. How much effort Old Sima Nong was willing to put into recommending him remained unknown. Besides, Old Sima Nong alone might not be enough.

Official selection primarily depended on the assessment, but recommendations also carried some weight, especially when several people had tied scores or scores that were nearly identical.

Zhao Ruide nodded and did not ask further.

Over the next few days, however, Zhao Xing noticed that the family meals had suddenly risen by a level, filled mostly with things that nourished primordial energy.

At the Ministry of Agriculture, Zhao Xing had already arrived at Xue Wenzhong's Locust Willow Courtyard when the sky had only just begun to brighten.

"Crack-boom!" "Crack-boom!"

A dark cloud barely three meters across circled five meters above Zhao Xing's head.

Thunder rumbled without cease, while flashes of lightning cast Zhao Xing's face alternately into light and shadow.

A moment later, the dark cloud dispersed.

Zhao Xing looked at the panel.

Thunderclap: Beginner Spell

Progress: (3005/9999)

Effect: With Cloud Movement as a prerequisite, thunder can sound from within the clouds.

"Thunderclap has already reached Three Turns, and its power is growing stronger and stronger. Old Sima Nong really is a treasure trove of an old man." Zhao Xing could not help but sigh.

He had only just learned Thunderclap a few days ago, yet it had already reached Three Turns.

Aside from the Dao Embryo Pill and the Blessing of Luck, Xue Wenzhong's personal guidance was also a major reason for such rapid progress.

For example, Xue Wenzhong had just made him control his Cloud Movement to around three meters before casting Thunderclap. This method of casting greatly tested one's control, but its training effect was immense.

In other words, it granted an enormous amount of proficiency!

"Clouds in the palm, three feet of heavenly thunder—this is something I devised myself." Clouds appeared in Xue Wenzhong's palm, with serpentine lightning writhing within them.

"The court spreads countless methods, and anyone may learn them. But finding the best, most optimal, most suitable casting method for yourself—that is 'art.'"

"Think carefully about it. Spend the morning practicing while you think in the rear courtyard. After I finish teaching my class, I will come inspect you from time to time. I heard that you earned Grade A in the Lesser Heat Assessment a few days ago. You must not grow arrogant. There is still a great gap between you and the outstanding students of the other courtyards. Every one of the thirty people on the Grade A List is stronger than you."

"Yes, this student will remember." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.