Chapter 53: Thunder Summoning, Yin Wind, and Ice Rain
After waiting for a moment, Zhao Xing entered the Holy Temple to seek a Method. There were no statues here, only plaques, and the place was slightly less grand than the solitary worship of the Yin God. However, since he was only seeking mid-level Magic Arts, it didn't matter much.
Finding a secluded corner, Zhao Xing sat cross-legged on a mat. "I have no particular preference, any Magic Arts from any sect will do. Whichever True Lord is willing to grant a Method, I will learn it," Zhao Xing silently prayed. His prayer conveyed a single meaning: no preference!
It seemed as if his prayer was heard, for soon a gentle breeze blew around Zhao Xing's body. Unconsciously, Zhao Xing closed his eyes, a sign that the Method was about to be imparted.
At the same time, on a densely packed spirit tablet in the Holy Temple, a tablet named 'True Lord Zheng Lun' began to glow faintly.
"Kill!"
"Boom boom boom!"
"Hoo-rah!"
"Enemy attack!"
Clouds shrouded the valley, the forest darkened. Golden armor and iron horses shouted, shaking the heavens.
Zhao Xing found himself standing on the Thread of Heaven Valley, pushing a grain cart, while rocks, logs, and arrows rained down from both sides of the valley. Normally, this would make Zhao Xing eager to learn the Method, but he realized he seemed to be in an illusion.
Arrows pierced through him without causing any harm.
"So this is the battlefield scene of receiving a Method and comprehending the Dao. It seems the True Lord imparting the Method was a military commander in life," Zhao Xing thought. Comprehending the Dao often involves encountering battlefield scenes, indicating that the person was likely a military commander or achieved significant merit on the battlefield, thus earning their title.
"Boom boom boom~" Arrows fell like rain.
However, this grain transport team was not entirely defenseless. The soldiers transporting the grain exerted a little force, and the grain cart was overturned. They quickly crawled under the cart, beginning to move it along with them.
"Is this a Soul Restoration Cart?" Zhao Xing immediately recognized it.
"Soul Restoration Cart, quickly form a defensive formation! Archers, block the enemy's line of sight!" A shout spread with the wind, and upon hearing it, the attacked grain transport team began to defend themselves.
Zhao Xing looked towards the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged man wearing a golden raincoat and a Hundred Flowers Hat, issuing commands. Wind swirled around him, and arrows veered away three feet before reaching him.
Around him were several similarly dressed commanders, their faces unclear, beginning to perform Methods.
"Loyal and illustrious commander, grain officer Zheng Lun," Zhao Xing's mind naturally revealed the man's name, rank, and the honors he received.
"It seems this True Lord is imparting the Method to me," Zhao Xing focused intently, carefully observing Zheng Lun's Method.
Clouds and mist obscured the enemy's view from both sides of the valley, and the number of arrows decreased significantly. Ten breaths later, the arrows, rolling stones, and logs completely stopped.
Because thunder began to rumble within the cloud layer, if they didn't run or hide, they would be struck down by Zheng Lun's thunder.
But even so, it was too late to escape.
"Boom!" Thunder crashed down like a thread, striking the enemy on the mountain top, shattering them. Even those hiding behind rocks were struck by the lightning's arc.
"Kill!" The pressure from above slightly eased, but two more battalions of soldiers charged from the front and back of the valley.
"Great Warriors?!" Zhao Xing recognized these ancient soldiers, each wielding a three-meter-long great spear. The soldiers were fully armored, even their faces covered, with only their eyes exposed, and a pair of horns on their helmets. As they charged, even fist-sized rocks were crushed underfoot, causing the ground to tremble.
The Great Warriors were fierce and robust, with a military flag on their backs, countless strands of energy converging on it, forming a rainbow that shot into the sky.
"Hoo~" The cloud layer above the valley was pierced, creating a gap.
"Boom boom boom boom boom boom~" The soldiers in the Soul Restoration Cart began shooting arrows in return, but the arrows couldn't penetrate the armor.
Seeing the Great Warriors approaching, Zheng Lun acted again.
"Wind, come!" A fierce wind rose in the valley, brushing past Zhao Xing, startling him awake. He looked at Zheng Lun, seeing a storm of black wind raging in his eyes.
At the same time, this strange scene was reflected in the eyes of the Great Warriors.
"Thud!" The first row of Great Warriors fell without warning, as if they were paper figures blown over by the wind.
Row after row, like wheat flattened by a great wind, nearly five hundred Great Warriors were wiped out in the blink of an eye.
The remaining Great Warriors, witnessing this bizarre scene, began to collapse and retreat along their path.
"Hmph!" Zheng Lun turned and pointed, the cloud quickly following.
"Boom!" Heavy rain poured down, slowing the Great Warriors as if they were trapped in mud.
"Pursue and kill the retreating enemy!" Zheng Lun ordered, and all the soldiers emerged from the Soul Restoration Cart, turning to chase the fleeing remnants.
The grain transport team had fewer than 500 people, but the enemy soldiers, front and back combined, exceeded 1,500. Yet, they couldn't take them down and were instead routed.
"So strong," Zhao Xing couldn't help but praise upon seeing this scene.
In the heavy rain, enemy soldiers fell one after another, their bodies stiffening, their faces turning pale.
Zhao Xing seemed to understand something. He realized what Magic Arts this military commander was imparting.
At that moment, everything suddenly stopped.
The cold and stern Zheng Lun turned to look at Zhao Xing, the 'outsider,' as if encouraging him.
"Thank you, True Lord," Zhao Xing bowed respectfully, and the scene shattered completely.
[You have received a Method in the Holy Temple, comprehending the mid-level Magic Arts 'Thunder Summoning.']
[Thunder Summoning: Mid-level Magic Arts]
[Effect: Summon thunder to strike enemies]
[Proficiency: 0/9999]
[You have received a Method in the Holy Temple, comprehending the mid-level Magic Arts 'Yin Wind.']
[Yin Wind: Mid-level Magic Arts]
[Effect: Yin Wind blows, scattering souls]
[Proficiency: 0/9999]
[You have received a Method in the Holy Temple, comprehending the mid-level Magic Arts 'Ice Rain.']
[Ice Rain: Mid-level Magic Arts]
[Effect: Rain turns to ice, freezing blood and qi]
Zhao Xing opened his eyes, looking at a certain row of spirit tablets he had worshipped, bowing once more before leaving the Great Hall.
He hadn't expected that this visit to the Holy Temple to receive a Method would yield such unexpected gains, learning three mid-level Magic Arts, all of which were offensive.
Under normal circumstances, Thunder Summoning is relatively easy to learn, but Yin Wind and Ice Rain are exclusive to military commanders, rarely learned before formal appointment.
"Thunder Summoning, Yin Wind, Ice Rain, these three are advanced versions of the Four Heavenly Methods. It seems I am adept at combat, which is why this military commander noticed me and imparted these offensive Magic Arts," Zhao Xing thought.
This perfectly compensated for Zhao Xing's lack of offensive power. He was no longer just a commander who could only hide and dodge but now possessed formidable killing power!
Returning to the Department of Agriculture, Zhao Xing told Xue Wen about receiving the Method. The old commander couldn't help but sigh, "I can teach you Thunder Summoning, but I don't know Yin Wind and Ice Rain. You'll have to find Commander Chen for those."
Magic Arts proficiency numbers don't matter much; otherwise, in the later stages, numbers like 10 billion and 8 billion wouldn't make much difference. Therefore, each level starts counting from zero. The difficulty of gaining proficiency increases accordingly, as does Gathering Essence.
(End of Chapter)