Gathering Yuan Third Stage

Just one bite immediately increased Zhao Xing's yuan energy by 25 points.

His body was like a parched sponge, his flesh and blood greedily absorbing this energy.

"Crunch, crunch, crunch~" Zhao Xing quickly ate the Heaven Yuan Pear clean, even crushing the core between his teeth to suck out its juice. The Heaven Yuan Pear's seed was useless to him; he simply could not grow a third-order high-grade seed yet.

Before long, the panel kept flashing with records, and Zhao Xing felt something strange happening to his body. He actually felt stuffed!

"Ugh, so cold." After feeling full, Zhao Xing felt an icy chill spread through his entire body and shuddered.

The Heaven Yuan Pear was cold in nature. To prevent its effects from dissipating, he had eaten it in a hurry.

The third-order high-grade cold-element yuan energy immediately made him feel as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Focus your mind, calm your heart, gather yuan into the body!" Zhao Xing hurriedly sat cross-legged and began digesting it.

His blood and qi surged within him as the vigorous fire energy began neutralizing the yuan energy.

Round after round, Zhao Xing's originally deathly pale face gradually turned rosy.

It took a full half hour before he had digested most of it and opened his eyes.

"Whew~ Now that's something. It really is third-order high-grade." Zhao Xing breathed out a long stream of frosty air.

He had eaten too quickly. If he had eaten it at the Gathering Yuan First Stage, he would likely have come down with a chill illness and damaged his body instead.

Even at the Gathering Yuan Second Stage, it would have been safer to slice it up and eat it piece by piece. But once cut and left sitting, the Heaven Yuan Pear's effects would weaken. Zhao Xing was unwilling to waste it, so he could only endure an "ice bucket challenge."

"It was a little cold, but the effect is incredibly obvious. After fully digesting this one pear, I gained 195 points!" Zhao Xing looked at the panel.

Gathering Yuan Second Stage: 955/1000

"The Dao Embryo Pill is truly outrageous." Zhao Xing was not praising the pear, but the Dao Embryo Pill.

He had eaten plenty of Heaven Yuan Pears in his previous life, so this was nothing remarkable to him.

When taken at the Gathering Yuan Second Stage, the standard increase in yuan energy was around 70 points. This was data confirmed through countless trials by millions upon millions of players.

Because everyone's physical aptitude differed, their absorption efficiency varied as well. Some yuan energy would dissipate or be expelled after consumption.

An absorption efficiency seventy percent above the standard was considered excellent; more than double was exceptional.

The Dao Embryo Pill had raised Zhao Xing's absorption efficiency to three times the standard, nearly reaching the limit of the yuan energy contained within this Heaven Yuan Pear!

"Could I have already attained the legendary leakless body?" Zhao Xing could not help fantasizing, but quickly dismissed the thought.

The Dao Embryo Pill could not possibly transform him to that extent. It was merely because the treasure's quality was not high enough that he could achieve nearly "perfect absorption."

"Looks like I'll reach the Gathering Yuan Third Stage within a few days."

Satisfied, Zhao Xing closed the box and stored the remaining Heaven Yuan Pear.

This thing could not be eaten consecutively. Eating one every other day was optimal.

Otherwise, Chen Shijie would not have given him only fifteen per month. He had also taken Zhao Xing's current tolerance into account. With Chen Shijie's pear orchard at his disposal, giving thirty would not have been a problem.

Ever since gaining the nickname "Zhao Second Rank," Zhao Xing's home had become much livelier. Colleagues often came calling to cultivate relationships.

And just as Zhao Ruide had said, social obligations were truly unavoidable. When people came to visit, they generally brought gifts with them.

He could hardly refuse to even offer them a meal or a drink.

Eating at home was still manageable, but dining out cost even more.

"Mother, Mother, Big Brother said to prepare enough food for four more people at noon." Zhao Zheng found Madam Cai and tugged at her skirt.

"What? Again!" Madam Cai's brows shot up. "It's one thing for him to eat by himself, but now he's bringing people home too? I tolerated it the first two times, but now he's even sending you to order me around? Outrageous!"

"Go tell him that I—"

Before she could finish, Zhao Zheng took out a small pouch containing some loose silver.

"Hm? Where did you get this silver?"

"Big Brother gave it to me," Zhao Zheng answered honestly.

"What does he mean by this?" Madam Cai took the pouch first, then asked.

"Big Brother said Mother has worked hard these past few days. He also received support from an official and seems to have become a Gong member. He gets five taels of silver every month... This is to show filial respect to you."

Madam Cai had initially worn a cold expression, but she froze when she heard those words.

Then, when she saw the silver and realized she would not be cooking for nothing, her attitude immediately improved!

She did not know exactly what use this Gong member status had. She only remembered something about five or ten taels of silver every month.

In any case, Zhao Xing could at least earn money now. The chance of him fighting Zheng'er over the family property had greatly decreased. Perhaps he might even help Zheng'er in the future. After all, if he truly became an Agriculture Official, he would still be an official of some standing!

"Zheng'er, go tell Zhao... your big brother that I'll start cooking right away!"

A few days later.

"My cooking is rather crude, so I don't know whether it suits your tastes. If my hospitality has been lacking, that is entirely my fault. Please do not blame my Xing'er." Madam Cai smiled warmly as she spoke gently to the guests.

After the meal, the clerks who had been chatting immediately rose and cupped their hands.

"Auntie, please do not say such things. We are the ones disturbing you."

"That's right, Auntie. Your cooking is superb. I've never eaten anything this delicious!"

"..."

Zhao Xing stared dumbfounded at Madam Cai's gentle, virtuous demeanor.

She even kept calling him Xing'er, as if he were her own son!

Money's charm was simply too great! Zhao Xing was more accustomed to her stingy manner. Seeing her like this now felt wrong no matter how he looked at it.

Over the past few days, Madam Cai had even started chatting with others about him.

"My Xing'er..."

"You have no idea how hardworking Xing'er usually is..."

Please, Master, stop. Stop talking already!

Two days later, Zhao Xing ate the second Heaven Yuan Pear.

After breathing out the cold energy, he had already reached the Gathering Yuan Third Stage.

Gathering Yuan Third Stage: 10/10000

After reaching the Gathering Yuan Third Stage, the proficiency of all his spells, including the Straw Man Art, increased slightly.

The stronger the yuan energy within a person's body, the more comprehensively their qualities were enhanced. Naturally, this included the brain, which in turn gave them a deeper understanding of spells.

"Many people become obsessed with increasing the strength of their yuan energy, practicing spell techniques only until they are usable."

"When fighting, they are loose and unrefined. It is not entirely because they are short-sighted, but because people make different choices. In peaceful times, there is no such urgency in pursuing spell techniques. Not everyone will step outside their comfort zone."

"If I had a family background like Young Master Zong's, relying on resources to easily gather yuan, I would probably slack off too, thinking I could practice my techniques tomorrow. And once you think that way, who knows how many tomorrows will pass."

Zhao Xing looked toward another box on his desk. It was a gift Zong Shichang had sent someone to deliver. He truly was lavish; he had casually sent a box of ten third-order low-grade Gathering Yuan Pills.

Though they could not compare to Heaven Yuan Pears, ten pills together were still quite valuable.

Young Master Zong might have been somewhat self-centered and overbearing, but he was a man of his word and had not gone back on his promise.

"Gathering Yuan Third Stage. I'm a little closer to becoming official, and a hundred million tiny steps closer to immortality."

"After Start of Autumn comes Limit of Heat, and only then comes White Dew. But because Limit of Heat has the customs of Releasing River Lanterns and Sacrificing to Departed Souls, the Limit of Heat solar term examination is skipped. The next examination will be at White Dew."

"Limit of Heat is not only for Releasing River Lanterns and Sacrificing to Departed Souls; it also includes assessments for the early divine professions of 'spirit writing' and 'ritual sacrifice.' I could go take a look."

"But I still need to raise my Bright Eyes Night Vision spell to a higher level. Otherwise, I won't be able to make out anything at all—not even a ghost's shadow."

"There's a good chance the White Dew solar term will be a theory examination. Perfect—I can study and practice spells at the same time." Zhao Xing opened his bookcase, lit a lamp, and studied deep into the night.