Rising Wind, Thunderclap, Every Tree and Bush an Enemy

Zhao Xing sat on the cushion before the statue, relaxed his body, closed his eyes, and emptied his mind.

Before long, a breeze brushed his face, accompanied by peals of thunder.

Then he felt himself standing in a primeval forest, danger lurking on all sides.

The Ceremonial Official guarding the hall sensed something and looked at the statue of Cao Xi True Lord before shifting his gaze to Zhao Xing's back. "He learns quite quickly."

When all the strange phenomena vanished, Zhao Xing opened his eyes to find that he had gained knowledge of three spells.

They were: Rising Wind, Thunderclap, and Every Tree and Bush an Enemy.

The first two belonged to the Celestial Timing Faction of the Agrarian School and were prerequisite minor skills for the "Solar Terms Decree." The latter could be classified under the True Self Faction's "All Things Growth Chart."

In his previous life, he had only needed to slap a skill book to learn a spell. Now, however, he needed to comprehend genuine knowledge and study it deeply. From that perspective, every player had been a peerless genius.

After sitting for a while, he found that the mysterious sensation had not returned. Knowing that this was all he could learn for now, he rose and cupped his hands. "Thank you, True Lord, for granting me these spells."

Rising Wind: Beginner Spell

Progress: (0/9999)

Effect: Summons a powerful gust of wind.

Thunderclap: Beginner Spell

Progress: (0/9999)

Effect: With Cloudcalling as a prerequisite, causes thunder to sound within the Clouds.

Every Tree and Bush an Enemy: Beginner Spell

Progress: (0/9999)

Effect: Uses plants as soldiers to launch attacks.

Rising Wind was an independent spell, but Thunderclap required Cloudcalling to be cast first.

Before changing professions, this skill had sound but no offensive power. At most, it could give someone a scare.

Guiding Thunder was the one with real offensive power, capable of drawing lightning from Cloudcalling to attack.

The beginner version of Every Tree and Bush an Enemy only sounded intimidating.

At present, Zhao Xing could only use specially prepared plant materials to make plant soldiers. To cast without external materials—to wave a hand and turn every blade of grass and every tree around him into soldiers—he would need to keep advancing the spell.

Since he had not used them yet, their proficiency was at zero.

Spellcasting was prohibited in most parts of the city, lest it disturb the residents.

Especially for petty clerks like them. If they accidentally blew away some old man or old woman's drying underwear, or soaked someone's grain seeds, they could just wait for their pay to be docked! What? You still wanted to become a full official? Go cool your heels somewhere else!

To practice, he either had to leave the city or go to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture had the Earth Treasury Return to Origin Formation laid out within it. Petty clerks like them could make as much of a mess as they pleased.

Past the Ministry of Agriculture's gate arch stood a Wind and Rain Tower Ship, five or six meters tall. Its ram was shaped like a dragon's head; the flying dragon spat water that could nourish a thousand li of land. Its sails were embroidered with Yujing and could summon fierce winds. It was one of the classic treasures of the Minister of Agriculture profession.

Naturally, tiny Gucheng did not possess such an advanced treasure. This was only a model; the real thing could only be found at a Ministry of Agriculture at the commandery level or above.

Still, the county-level Ministry of Agriculture had plenty of good items as well. In the treasury at the northeastern corner were treasures such as the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat, Return to Origin Waterwheel, Golden Raincoat, and Hundred Flowers Hat.

Zhao Xing knew the place like the back of his hand because Great Zhou's official buildings all followed largely standardized layouts. Memorizing one was basically the same as memorizing them all.

Moreover, in his previous life, he had often joined groups to attack county towns. The moment they entered a town, they would rush straight for the Ministry of Agriculture. Zhao Xing even knew exactly where to trigger the mechanisms and which hidden passages to take.

"Stop! This is the treasury. Entry is forbidden!" A voice suddenly shouted at Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing looked around and realized that he had unknowingly wandered near the treasury. From the gatekeeper's scrutinizing gaze, he knew his expression must have looked extremely suspicious.

Ah, his occupational habit had acted up again.

"Sorry, I got distracted." Zhao Xing cupped his hands, suppressed the urge in his heart, and turned to leave.

"No rush. Once I'm ashore, I'll have everything."

After comforting himself, Zhao Xing passed through the medicinal herb area and arrived at the courtyard district where the official staff lived.

The Ministry of Agriculture had only one ninth-rank Minister of Agriculture.

There were several subordinate ninth-rank officials, each overseeing granaries, the iron market, state fields, price regulation, and equitable transport.

Border cities also had Military Sima Nong, who accompanied the army on campaign and created favorable conditions for the troops.

The ninth-rank Minister of Agriculture was the head of the agricultural office and generally did not bother instructing petty clerks—unless the clerk had influence or connections.

Subordinate ninth-rank Ministers of Agriculture, however, had an obligation to provide instruction internally.

Gucheng had positions for nine subordinate ninth-rank Ministers of Agriculture, but only seven currently held office.

Each had a certain number of petty clerks under them, who were both subordinates and students.

"Brother, brother, wait for me!" As he walked through the covered corridor, a familiar voice called from behind him.

He turned and stopped. It was Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong, both carrying baskets on their backs.

"Why are you two here so early as well?"

"Isn't Brother here early too?" Chen Ziyu said with a smile.

Putting on an inscrutable air, Qian Dong said, "Ziyu, look. I told you I was right. Brother really has been secretly studying behind our backs these past days, coming so early to visit Teacher Xue. Huh? Brother's complexion is much better than it was a few days ago..."

Zhao Xing's mouth twitched. Could they stop bringing up his complexion?

"Enough chatter. Let's go."

Zhao Xing's superior and teacher was named Xue Wenzhong. He had more petty clerks under him than anyone else.

It was not because he was particularly capable. It was simply because Xue Wenzhong was the Ministry of Agriculture's resident nice guy.

Other Ministers of Agriculture were selective when choosing petty clerks. They valued their time and were unwilling to take too many, and for the sake of their achievements, they considered family background and aptitude during selection, snapping up all the promising seedlings. If one of their subordinates became a full official, it counted toward their record.

Xue Wenzhong was kind and simple-hearted. He only knew how to work and never cared about his prospects. When his colleagues refused to take those of humble status and mediocre aptitude, he took on the task himself. Of the Ministry of Agriculture's more than five hundred petty clerks, an astonishing two hundred and four studied under Xue Wenzhong!

Though Old Sima Nong worked diligently, he had too many students to teach them all properly. The attention allotted to each person naturally became less, while wealthy young men like Li Chengfeng progressed rapidly under careful instruction.

By the time they arrived at Xue Wenzhong's courtyard, forty or fifty people were already waiting before the hall.

Old Sima Nong was giving a lecture on the "Hundred Explanations of Celestial Timing" from a raised platform. Everyone listened intently. Even those who occasionally walked in or out moved on tiptoe, bent at the waist with their heads lowered.

A subordinate ninth-rank Minister of Agriculture already possessed extraordinary abilities. It was now Start of Summer, yet peach blossoms still flourished in the courtyard, and the air was as warm as spring.

Yet the occasional coughing proved that this Old Sima Nong seemed rather advanced in years.

Minister Xue is already ninety-eight years old, and his health is not very good. The benefits granted to officials during the Jing Emperor's reign were not particularly generous. Two life-extending blessings were already the limit for a subordinate ninth-rank official. Who knows how much longer he can live? Zhao Xing thought.

Old Sima Nong, please don't die this year. If you kick the bucket, I'll be short one superior to recommend me. Where am I supposed to find someone to give me that final push? It'll only cause more trouble.

Perhaps his prayer worked. Xue Wenzhong really did stop coughing. When Zhao Xing looked up again—

Oh. The lecture had ended, and it was time for free questions.