Chapter 58: The Mountain Opening and Sealing Techniques

"Hmm? They're going to perform the Mountain Opening?" Zhao Xing, who had been rather uninterested, perked up upon hearing the commotion and looked over with curiosity.

To discuss the Mountain Opening Technique, one must first mention the Mountain Sealing Technique. Zhao Xing had witnessed the Mountain Sealing Technique during the Spring Festival, performed by Chen Shijie. Both of these magical arts required the accompaniment of incantations.

At that time, the incantation Chen Shijie recited was: "The river wishes to return to the Four Seas unendingly, the mountain desires to endure naturally for long, I follow the Great Ancestor's command, and invite the gods to protect this mountain."

"The first command is for the mountain gods to guard the five elements, harmonizing to give life to ten thousand things. The second command is for Mother Earth to adjust Yin and Yang, merging to conceive true spirits. The third command is for the Eight Directions True Lord to protect the Dao, allowing passage without harm to grass and trees. The mountain can be entered, but no beasts will be seen, thus sealing the mountain!"

Zhao Xing was familiar with the Mountain Sealing Technique, but this version of the incantation was slightly different from the one he knew, lacking the first segment.

In reality, whether the first segment was included or not made little difference; it was merely for the public to hear the Dao principles and to emphasize that this method was ordained by the Great Ancestor.

The first segment explained why the mountain needed to be sealed, which was to adhere to sustainable development, preventing hunting, herb gathering, and logging throughout all four seasons of the year.

The truly effective part was the second segment. Because it invited the protection of the Yin gods, after the mountain was sealed, travelers could still pass through the mountain paths without harming a single blade of grass or tree. If hunters sneaked in, they wouldn't see any wild animals at all. This was the Mountain Sealing Technique.

"The Qi Dynasty's version of the Mountain Sealing Technique requires the aid of Yin gods, but the Fusu version does not, and it's more advanced, even possessing the ability to capture and purify evil spirits and pollution."

"There's another type within the Mountain Sealing Technique, called the 'Snow Mountain Order,' which is an extinct magical art, though it should be ineffective at this time." Zhao Xing recalled the Snow Mountain Order incantation used by the previous generation:

"First, the mist descends, second, the frost thickens, third, the Great Snow falls, and on the fourth, snow is topped with more frost. On the fifth, the rooster crows, and the trees in the mountain echo with a deep blue. The dragon retreats its claws, the tiger sheds its skin, and the mysterious bird loses its feathered coat. If there are ancestral Yin spirits in the mountain, they too will disperse, leaving only white snow in the human realm."

The Snow Mountain Order was called an extinct magical art because it could kill a Spirit Mountain, forcing even a true dragon to retract its claws and transform into a worm, the White Tiger to shed its tiger skin, and the celestial mysterious bird to lose its feathers.

If there were ancestral Yin spirits in the mountain, they too would scatter, leaving only white snow. Under the Snow Mountain Order, everything was illusory!

This Mountain Sealing Technique could be said to be the Fusu version, the strongest killing move of the Sinoong profession.

Zhao Xing reminisced about the past, and when he returned to his senses, Chen Shijie had already begun the incantation.

Sealing the mountain was complex, but opening the mountain was much simpler.

"...The five elements and Yin Yang reverse, the art reveals true spirits, the Eight Directions True Lord disperses, the mountain gods and Mother Earth return, I honor the Great Ancestor's command, and hereby open this mountain!"

Chen Shijie held the official seal, chanting once, and a golden light flew into East Lake Mountain.

The rest, from the Ninth Grade Sinoong, had to chant four or five times before any golden light appeared.

Zhao Xing observed this and knew that Old Chen's rank was certainly not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"Either he's hiding his true strength, or he's fallen from his rank, otherwise, a Ninth Grade wouldn't have such a great disparity," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

The golden light fell into East Lake Mountain, and shortly after, an invisible wave spread from the mountains.

Zhao Xing used the Bright Eyes Magic Art and immediately saw starlight scattering from the mountain, along with illusory phenomena.

There was a purple flower blooming magnificently, a great tree bearing vermilion fruit, and a faint golden glass dome.

He only caught these three phenomena, unable to see more clearly.

"Having Bright Eyes at full level is indeed beneficial; at least if I encounter something, I won't fail to recognize it as a treasure," he thought.

After the ritual, Li Wenzheng appeared again, announcing that the government would send the first group of people to climb and explore, opening the path for the common people and clearing away dangers.

At the same time, climbing was also part of the assessment for various officials.

"Charge!"

"Climb and gather spiritual treasures!"

"Don't fight with me!"

As soon as the prohibition was lifted, many people couldn't wait to rush into the mountains. They were clearly rugged martial artists.

Zhao Xing did not rush but leisurely walked with his Wenzhu Box on his back.

East Lake Mountain was vast, and to explore it thoroughly, three days would not be enough. It wasn't about who was faster but also about luck.

Regarding luck, Zhao Xing had some confidence.

"Zhao Top Three, why aren't you rushing?" A familiar colleague ran over, curiously asking.

"I'm just here to join the excitement, not expecting much. You all can go ahead," Zhao Xing replied with a smile, showing that he wasn't here to compete, just to watch the excitement.

His voice wasn't low, and many who had been watching him withdrew their gazes.

"I heard he's the genius from the Valley City Department of Agriculture who's been in the limelight recently, is this it?"

"This time, there are experts of Gathering Essence at the eighth or ninth level, and he's only at the third level. It's normal not to dare to compete."

"At least he has self-awareness."

"Hmph, maybe he's just pretending? Look at that Wenzhu Box, it's not light. If he were just here for the excitement, who would carry such a big thing?"

"Who cares if he's pretending or not? The strength is there, nothing impressive."

"Let's go, quickly up the mountain."

The voices in the dark were from both outsiders and locals, some thinking Zhao Xing was pretending, while others believed he was self-aware and only here to fulfill a duty.

Gradually, the crowd surpassed Zhao Xing, and soon he was at the very end.

As he walked, Zhao Xing unexpectedly encountered a familiar face.

"Young Master Zong, why are you squatting here?" He saw Zong Shichang sitting at a pavilion near the mountain entrance, resting.

"Got up too early, forgot to eat, and now I'm hungry," Zong Shichang replied, also carrying a bamboo box, but his was filled mostly with food. He even took out a bowl of hot noodles!

"Are you here for the assessment or just a leisurely outing?" Zong Shichang, seeing Zhao Xing staring, thought he was hungry too, generously offered another bowl: "Want some? It's beef soup with finely ground rice noodles, delicious."

Zhao Xing hadn't intended to eat, but the aroma changed his mind, and he sat down at the pavilion to eat.

"A dog doesn't eat for free," he thought.

"Ha~" Zong Shichang sighed contentedly, asking, "How is it?"

"It's indeed not bad," Zhao Xing nodded.

"Want some wine?" Zong Shichang pulled out a bottle, uncorking it.

"I'll pass on the wine."

"Then forget it, drinking alone isn't fun," Zong Shichang said, crossing his legs. "Why are you so far behind?"

Zhao Xing wiped his mouth: "Rushing is useless, climbing isn't about who runs faster. What about you, Brother Zong?"

Zong Shichang laughed: "Do I look like someone who lacks spiritual treasures? If it weren't for my father insisting, I wouldn't have come."

"You're really jumping far in the toilet, overdoing it."

"Is it really good to pretend to be poor in front of a pauper?"

"Then Brother Zong, feel free. I'll be on my way," Zhao Xing said, preparing to leave with his bamboo box.

"Let's go together," Zong Shichang stood up too. "At least there's someone to talk to, otherwise, wouldn't it be boring?"

"I'm not bored alone," Zhao Xing politely declined.

Zong Shichang continued, "Don't be like that. My family has some influence in Nanyang County. If we encounter experts from other counties, with me around, you'll have more protection."

Requesting a monthly ticket, just over a hundred away from a thousand this month, let the author win a prize. (End of Chapter)