Chapter 56: Autumn Equinox Mountain Opening, Spiritual Elegance Among the Peaks

After three quarters of an hour, Zhao Xing was still caught.

Under a fake mountain, Shen Zhui exhaled slightly, pressing an iron ruler against Zhao Xing's head. Zhao Xing flinched slightly, then withdrew his Magic Arts.

"Brother Shen, you've won again." Shen Zhui retracted the iron ruler, his eyes showing a hint of surprise: "Brother Zhao, your progress is indeed fast. This is only the third time we've sparred, and you can already summon Thunder, and there's this mysterious Rainwater... I actually had to chase you for a full three quarters of an hour to catch you."

"A loss is a loss, Brother Shen, no need to console me." Shen Zhui shook his head and said, "I'm speaking the truth. After the first quarter of an hour, my Yuan Qi [vital energy] consumption was already three times greater than last time. By the second quarter, my body was already unable to sustain the Method."

The Ice Rain technique consumes a lot of Qi, after all, this Magic Arts is known for freezing Yuan Qi. If Zheng Lun used it in an Ambush Battle, even a Great warrior would be frozen into an ice stick.

Of course, Zhao Xing had just started learning it, and hadn't even completed one cycle of Magic Arts, so against Shen Zhui, who was at the seventh stage of Gathering Essence, the pressure wasn't as overwhelming.

"But in the third quarter, your strength suddenly surged, completely unaffected by the Ice Rain, merging into the Rain. Brother Shen, what technique is this?" Zhao Xing asked.

Shen Zhui smiled slightly and said, "It's a secret technique called 'Dry Yuan Burning Blood', which can temporarily elevate my strength by a level and enhance my control over my body."

"That's how you withstood the erosion of Rainwater and your Heavenly Thunder strikes." Zhao Xing realized, "It seems I still couldn't force Brother Shen to use his full strength."

Shen Zhui laughed and said, "You didn't use your full strength either, did you? I didn't see you use the wind this time."

"That wind is quite tricky, I haven't mastered it properly yet, it's not suitable to use against Brother Shen." Since it was just a spar, Zhao Xing didn't need to use Yin Wind against Shen Zhui. Even the Ice Rain Magic Arts hadn't shown its true power.

Now it's the autumn season, still hot and difficult to bear, with Yang Qi [positive energy] flourishing. The effect of Ice Rain Magic Arts is halved. If it were late winter or early spring, the Ice Rain Magic Arts would show its normal effect.

But there's no way around it, Sinoong can borrow the advantage of the weather and earth, but they also have to be influenced by it. Unless one enters the realm of mastery, Zhao Xing begins to cultivate the 'Seasonal Order', mastering the winter seasonal Qi, then he would no longer be limited by the environment, and the Ice Rain could exert its greatest power.

As the two were chatting, Chen Shijie walked out of the room.

"You two shouldn't spar anymore these few days. Tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox Mountain Opening, go back and nurture your energy, prepare well for this assessment."

"Yes." Shen Zhui and Zhao Xing replied in unison.

The Great Zhou's 'Spirit Mountain Technique' stipulates: "Wherever there is a Spirit Mountain in a county, it must follow the cycle of heaven and earth, sealing the mountain in spring to nurture life, and opening the mountain in autumn to harvest its spiritual elegance."

East Lake Mountain in Valley City, standing a thousand feet high, is naturally formed, with Yuan Qi gathering and not dispersing, belonging to the rare 'Spirit Mountain'.

After leaving the Chen residence, Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui continued their conversation.

"Brother Zhao, tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox Mountain Opening, you must be very busy these days."

Mountains and lakes are managed by the Department of Agriculture, and Spirit Mountains naturally fall under their jurisdiction. In places with a 'Spirit Mountain', Sinoong also needs to perform the 'Mountain Opening Technique' and 'Mountain Sealing Technique'.

Because sealing the mountain in spring and opening it in autumn both require Sinoong to perform the Method.

Zhao Xing laughed and said, "What does the Department of Agriculture's Mountain Opening have to do with me? How many Methods do I know? The Mountain Opening Technique doesn't require me to perform it."

Shen Zhui asked, "Will Brother Zhao go to climb and gather the spiritual elegance?"

Zhao Xing replied without hesitation, "Of course I will go."

Nurturing the Mountain's Spiritual Elegance and then harvesting the 'spiritual elegance' is the meaning of sealing and opening the mountain.

The Mountain's Spiritual Elegance can bring different benefits to people. Some gain longevity, some increase their Qi fortune, some greatly enhance their Yuan Qi, and some elevate their Magic Arts to a higher level.

The late Cao Xi of the Tianling family was posthumously honored as a marquis, largely because he nurtured an East Lake Spirit Mountain.

Since the birth of the Spirit Mountain in Valley City, the assessment on the day of the Autumn Equinox has become a tradition linked to East Lake Mountain.

"The assessment on the Autumn Equinox involves climbing and gathering spiritual elegance."

"To compete for rankings."

"The Mountain's Spiritual Elegance is divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower."

"The top-grade is the Qi fortune spiritual elegance, which can increase one's Qi fortune."

"Middle grade is the Yuan Method spiritual elegance, which can either break through realms or enhance Magic Arts."

"Lower grade is the longevity Yuan spiritual elegance, which offers minimal and subtle benefits."

"Obtaining top-grade spiritual elegance is rated as excellent, middle grade as good, lower grade as passable, and gaining nothing is not counted as an achievement."

Shen Zhui, with a hint of envy, said, "I heard that ten years ago, during a Great Mountain Opening, someone went from not entering the ranks directly to the Eighth Grade realm, truly enviable."

Mountain Opening and Sealing have major and minor cycles, the shortest being one year, the longest ten years.

However, among the nine Spirit Mountains in Nanyang County, very few have a Great Sealing and Great Opening, and the one Shen Zhui mentioned only sealed for three years.

"Nanyang County has nine Spirit Mountains, and although East Lake Mountain ranks fifth, that year not only local officials participated, but many from other counties also came."

Zhao Xing said, "Brother Shen, just look at the lucky ones, but don't forget there are also those who died without a burial place. Climbing and gathering spiritual elegance not only has benefits but also dangers."

Shen Zhui said, "Climbing Spirit Mountain and gathering spiritual elegance is open to everyone in Nanyang County, but from the 22nd to the 24th of September, only officials are allowed to enter, so there won't be any masters entering the mountain."

Tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox, but the inns in Valley City are already full, with many officials from other counties hoping to try their luck at East Lake Mountain.

The county office is also crowded because outsiders need to register in advance.

Valley City is still manageable, but the 'Yuanping Mountain', ranked first among Spirit Mountains in Nanyang County, is truly crowded. The competition is even greater, with many officials already at the ninth stage of Gathering Essence, some even reaching the threshold of mastery, just not officially recognized.

Zhao Xing shook his head and said, "I mean the climbing itself has some dangers."

Climbing and gathering spiritual elegance, the competition among officials is limited, they can snatch but not kill or maim.

But mountains and rivers are treacherous, especially a newly opened Spirit Mountain, naturally dangerous, and people have died there.

Shen Zhui gripped the iron ruler at his waist, speaking firmly, "Even if it's dangerous, I will try this year. Who knows how many competitors there will be next year? They say it's getting harder every year."

For officials, climbing and gathering spiritual elegance is a chance to leap ahead. For those already leading, it's even more important to participate to prevent being surpassed.

After a pause, he looked at Zhao Xing, "Will you go?"

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Of course, I'm a local, aren't I? If the mountain god doesn't bless a local like me, would it bless outsiders?"

This was, of course, a joke. Although the Autumn Equinox involves climbing and worshipping the gods, the spirits don't care if you're local or from elsewhere, as long as you're a subject of the Zhou dynasty, they treat everyone equally.

"Hahaha, then I'll see you at East Lake Mountain tomorrow." Shen Zhui laughed heartily as he left.

(End of Chapter)