Old Sima Nong wanted to personally instruct someone, leaving many people envious. Especially since he had left in the middle of the lesson before the teaching was even over—his behavior was rather unusual.
Some of the more perceptive clerks began to speculate. Had Old Sima Nong grown restless after too long at peace and decided to take on a formal disciple? Or did he want to compete for the merit of making a recommendation?
Zhao Xing did not think much of it and honestly followed Xue Wenzhong to the rear courtyard.
The front courtyard was warm as spring, while the rear courtyard was dry and hot as summer, as though they belonged to two different seasons.
To the south of the courtyard stood lush green locust trees. To the north was a neatly arranged woodshed. Several golden haystacks sat to the east, while a small vegetable garden filled with all kinds of flowers and plants lay to the west. A vine trellis had been erected beside the garden, covered in bluish-purple vines.
Old Sima Nong practically treated the office as his home. You were far too dedicated.
Thinking this, Zhao Xing followed Xue Wenzhong and stopped before the haystacks.
"Every Tree and Bush an Enemy is a spell that uses plants as its medium. Based on this spell, many advanced spells can be developed and evolved, though they are mainly offensive in nature."
"It is usually a foundational spell that every Military Sima Nong must learn. There are also spells such as Fold Grass into Arrows, Willow Leaf Golden Blades, and Scatter Beans into Soldiers."
"The temple teaching you this spell means you may have the potential to become a Military Sima Nong. If you become an official Minister of Agriculture in the future, you may consider taking this path."
Zhao Xing naturally knew this, but he was still grateful for Xue Wenzhong's reminder. "Yes, thank you for the reminder, Elder Xue."
Xue Wenzhong grabbed a handful of dry grass from the haystack and handed it to Zhao Xing. "That may be true, but you have yet to become an official Minister of Agriculture. By the rules, you cannot learn those military spells yet. I will teach you how to make Straw Puppets instead."
Zhao Xing nodded. Every Tree and Bush an Enemy was currently only a prerequisite spell. He had to expand its applications and master more intermediate and advanced spells on that foundation before he could truly achieve Every Tree and Bush an Enemy.
It was not bad to learn the Straw Puppet skill from Xue Wenzhong either. This spell was highly practical.
"The key to Straw Puppets lies in two things: technique and materials. What agricultural texts have you read?"
"Herbal Classic, Grand View of Trees, and Compendium of a Hundred Things. I have dabbled in all of them," Zhao Xing answered modestly.
To his surprise, Xue Wenzhong frowned. "What do you mean, 'dabbled'? Have you memorized everything, or have you failed to memorize it all?"
An honest man was just that stubborn. When it came to professional matters, there had never been room for ambiguous standards. Zhao Xing knew modesty would not work here. He had to let Xue Wenzhong know exactly what level he was at.
So he answered again, "I have committed them all to memory."
Xue Wenzhong rebuked him, "If you have memorized them, then say you have memorized them. When you study under me in the future, do not use such vague words. If you cannot identify the materials properly and use poisonous ingredients by mistake, the straw puppet you make could cause very serious consequences."
"Yes, this student understands."
"This is Yuan Rice Dry Grass. Ten stalks make one handful. I will teach you the Liu Tradition Weaving Method. This method contains eighty-one techniques. It is not especially profound, and if there is no straw puppet question on the exam, then so be it. But if there is one this year, it will certainly fall within these eighty-one methods. Follow me and learn."
Xue Wenzhong made use of the materials at hand and began teaching beside the haystack.
Zhao Xing's eyes lit up. The Willow Transmission Eighty-One Methods had become incomplete later on, and by the time of the revival version, only forty-nine methods remained.
Straw puppets were extremely practical. Whether in combat, escape, ambushes, or support, they could produce remarkable effects. Minister of Agriculture players often posted on the forums, wishing they could travel back to the early days of the game and obtain the complete version.
In his previous life, Zhao Xing had exhausted every means just to collect seventy-two methods. Even now, the imperial temples only taught nine methods. Great Zhou taught its officials according to practical needs. For inland officials, knowing nine methods was enough to deal with most situations. Teaching more would only divide their attention and increase their burden. Military Sima Nongs might have ways to learn a few more.
He had never expected Xue Wenzhong to possess the complete version. For now, learning more might not seem particularly useful, but once the times changed, some spells would grow stronger along with the revival version. Straw puppet spells were a classic example!
My luck is really incredible.
"Look. This is the first weaving method. Did you see the technique clearly?"
"I didn't."
Zhao Xing answered honestly. Xue Wenzhong had made the first straw puppet too quickly. On top of that, Zhao Xing had been thinking about some things and had failed to keep up completely.
"No matter. I will demonstrate it again. This time, I will go slower." Xue Wenzhong nodded. Straw puppet techniques were rather difficult. It would be strange if he had learned them after only one viewing.
So Xue Wenzhong patiently demonstrated it a second time in slow motion.
Zhao Xing stopped thinking about anything else and focused completely, copying Xue Wenzhong's movements.
The Yuan Rice Dry Grass seemed like needle and thread, weaving nimbly between his fingers.
Once a person truly focused, they could accomplish twice the result with half the effort. Besides, after taking the Dao Embryo Pill, Zhao Xing's memory, control over his vital energy, and comprehension were all gradually improving.
When Xue Wenzhong finished, the straw puppet before Zhao Xing gradually took shape as well—limbs, torso, head...
"Not bad, not bad." Xue Wenzhong glanced at it and could not help praising him. "Only three mistakes."
"Huh?" Zhao Xing was bewildered. Where had he gone wrong? They clearly looked identical!
Xue Wenzhong did not explain. Vital energy appeared at his fingertips and entered his own straw puppet.
"Gahh~" The straw puppet waved its limbs as though it had come alive, moving in sync with Xue Wenzhong's actions.
Zhao Xing sent a thread of vital energy into his straw puppet, but it did not move at all.
"The Liu Tradition Weaving Method constructs a framework through which your vital energy can travel and circulate. Yuan Rice grass is like the meridians of the human body. One stalk too many or one stalk too few will obstruct the straw puppet's meridians and prevent the spell from passing through."
Zhao Xing finally understood. No wonder his panel had given no prompt and his proficiency had not increased.
So he really had failed.
Xue Wenzhong reached out and pulled one stalk each from Zhao Xing's straw puppet's chest, abdomen, and armpit, tossing them away. He added another stalk to its head and rewove it before saying, "Try again."
Zhao Xing sent a second stream of vital energy into the straw puppet. The next moment, it began to move. Its golden body seemed to be coated in a layer of light, followed by a faint connection forming between him and the puppet.
You have comprehended "Liu Tradition Weaving Method · Fragment" and mastered one method of making straw puppets. You have created a Straw Puppet (Repeating). Every Tree and Bush an Enemy Proficiency +1 Straw Puppet (Repeating) Proficiency: 1/9999 Effect: Moves upon command, repeating in cycles.
Elder Xue is amazing! Zhao Xing shouted inwardly.
He had not expected to recover, so quickly, the divine skill he had once possessed while playing the Minister of Agriculture class.
Repeating Straw Puppets had been one of his survival and escape techniques in his previous life! From marching into battle to conducting trade and business, Repeating Straw Puppets had an exceptionally wide range of applications.
Of course, this spell was currently limited by the era and still weak in effect. But one day, it would regain its former glory!
"Practice it a few more times here. I will go check on the front courtyard, then come back and teach you the second method."
Before you continue