Zhao Xing was happy, but Madam Cai was not.
She wanted to save the meat for next time, but it was already in the pot and awkward to fish back out. So she simply added more. Otherwise, wouldn't Zheng'er go hungry? The child had already begun training; his nutrition had to keep up.
"Eat, eat, eat. Eat yourself to death, you mud-legged peasant." Madam Cai glared viciously into the pot, chopping against the cutting board with a rhythmic clatter, as though the meat were Zhao Xing.
The commotion in the kitchen had clearly grown louder, but no one paid attention.
That was because Zhao Ruide was teaching Zhao Zheng martial arts in the courtyard.
He was holding a stance, and no one knew how long he had been standing there. Yet he remained utterly motionless, like a green pine.
Though he was nearly sixty, his breathing was still deep and steady, his blood and qi as dense as mercury. The richness of his vital essence far surpassed Zhao Xing's.
Mountain Sitting Stance. Stand like sitting upon a mountain. It barely counts as a mid-third-rank martial stance, yet he has trained it until it feels like a high-grade technique. It seems that as long as one trains long enough, even a minor spell can wield great power. Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Whether martial techniques or spells, they could break through their established ranks and produce new insights. It could be said that there was no limit.
Of course, such cases were rare in the current version. First, there were many ways to obtain spells and martial techniques, so after reaching Nine Turns, with proficiency maxed out, people would generally choose something more advanced to cultivate. Second, the rules of heaven and earth imposed limits. Only in the Revival Version would such situations become common.
Zhao Ruide held his stance seriously, his posture upright and proper. With every breath, vital essence flowed in and out. Zhao Zheng beside him, however, was completely listless.
One moment he shifted his feet, the next he twisted his waist, scratching his ears and cheeks. His mind was clearly nowhere near his training.
The moment he saw Zhao Xing return, his eyes lit up. It was as though he had 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 avoid martial training!
Bring over a dog right now, and he would call it big brother too. The little rascal was sharp.
With that, he got up and tried to slip away.
"Get back here! Who told you to move?!" Zhao Ruide barked.
Zhao Zheng ran off with a grin, not taking Zhao Ruide's words seriously at all.
Zhao Xing found it amusing. Fathers rarely taught their sons martial arts, because they could never bear to be too harsh. Especially Zhao Ruide, who had fathered Zhao Zheng late in life and doted on him greatly. At most, he would say a few harsh words. What kind of training was that?
"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 jolted and immediately ran over.
"Father never said you were done, so why were you running? Keep standing!"
Zhao Zheng's little face immediately fell. With drooping brows, he reluctantly stood beside Zhao Ruide.
"Bend your knees, straighten your chest, keep your hands in position!" Zhao Xing mercilessly kicked the bend 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 spoiled him. Even when he made mistakes or misbehaved, no one had ever truly laid a hand on him.
Only this big brother was different. He really hit him, and he always hit where it hurt most.
When Zhao Zheng complained to his father, his father still only said a few things.
When he complained to his mother, she could not even argue Zhao Xing down!
Though they were not related by blood, Zhao Zheng somehow felt as though he were being suppressed by bloodline.
As a result, whenever Zhao Zheng saw Zhao Xing, he behaved as meekly as a quail.
Dinner was eaten 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 such minor details either. The courtyard was cool, so they ate there.
With Zhao Xing around, Zhao Zheng ate much more properly. Still, after a while, he could not sit still anymore. "Mother, I'm hot."
Although he said it to Madam Cai, Zhao Zheng's eyes looked expectantly toward his big brother.
"Mother will fan you." Madam Cai immediately put down her chopsticks and went to fetch a palm-leaf fan.
"No need for that trouble." Zhao Xing raised a hand and pointed. Dark clouds immediately appeared overhead, just enough to block the setting sun.
At the same time, a refreshing breeze rose. Zhao Zheng's eyes sparkled at the sight.
Even Zhao Ruide was somewhat surprised. "You can already make the wind rise? And those clouds are much bigger too."
Zhao Xing nodded. "I've made some progress recently."
It was far more than just some progress. Zhao Xing's Cloudcalling proficiency had already surpassed five thousand. In insider terms, that meant Cloudcalling at Five Turns, capable of covering five thousand meters.
Zhao Ruide was experienced. He could clearly sense the improvement in the spell, and Zhao Xing's effortless manner was completely different from before.
"Do you have a chance of securing an official post 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 take him as a disciple, they had not formally acknowledged the master-disciple relationship in public. How much effort Old Sima Nong would put into recommending him remained unknown. Besides, Old Sima Nong alone might not be enough.
Securing an official post mainly depended on the assessment, but recommendations also carried some weight, especially when several candidates tied or had nearly identical scores.
Zhao Ruide nodded and did not ask further.
Over the following days, however, Zhao Xing noticed that the quality of the family meals had suddenly risen by a level. Most of the food nourished vital essence.
At the Ministry of Agriculture, while the sky was only beginning to brighten, Zhao Xing had already arrived at Xue Wenzhong's Locust Willow Courtyard.
Rumble-crack! Rumble-crack!
A dark cloud only three meters wide circled five meters above Zhao Xing's head.
Thunder rumbled without end, and flashes of lightning made Zhao Xing's face alternate between light and shadow.
A moment later, the dark cloud dispersed.
Zhao Xing looked at the panel.
Thunderclap: Basic Spell Progress: (3005/9999) Effect: With Cloudcalling as a prerequisite, thunder can sound from within the clouds.
"Thunderclap has already reached Three Turns, and its power is getting stronger and stronger. Old Sima Nong really is a treasure trove of an old man," Zhao Xing sighed.
He had only 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 had also greatly contributed to his rapid improvement.
For example, just now, Xue Wenzhong had made him control his Cloudcalling to around three meters before casting Thunderclap. This method of casting tested one's control immensely, but its training effect was tremendous.
In other words, it gave a great deal of proficiency!
"Palm Cloudcalling, Three Feet Heavenly Thunder. This is something I devised myself." Clouds appeared in Xue Wenzhong's palm, while serpentine lightning writhed within them.
"The court spreads countless methods, and everyone may learn them. But finding the best, most effective casting method suited to oneself—that is what 'art' is."
"Think it over carefully. This morning, practice in the rear courtyard while you think. After I finish teaching, 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 become arrogant. You still have a great gap between yourself and the outstanding students of the other courtyards. Every one of the thirty people on the Grade A List is stronger than you."
"Yes, Teacher. I will remember." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
Before you continue