Chapter 53: 引雷、阴风、冰雨

After a brief wait, Zhao Xing entered the Hall of Sages to seek spells. There were no statues of deities here, only spirit tablets, whose status was slightly lower than that of individually worshipped Yin Gods. However, since he was only seeking mid-to-low-tier spells, it didn't matter.

He found a secluded corner, and Zhao Xing sat cross-legged on a prayer mat.

"This disciple has no preference; any sect's spells will do. Whichever True Monarch is willing to impart knowledge, that is what this disciple will learn," Zhao Xing prayed silently. The thought conveyed only one meaning: no preference.

As if hearing Zhao Xing's prayer, a gentle breeze soon wafted, enveloping his body. Zhao Xing involuntarily closed his eyes; this was a sign that the spell transmission was beginning.

At the same time, among the countless spirit tablets of the sages, one named 'True Monarch Zheng Lun' glowed faintly.

"Kill!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

"Neighs!"

"Enemy attack!"

Dark clouds hung heavy, and the valley was eerie. The clash of weapons and thunder of hooves, with shouts of battle shaking the heavens.

Zhao Xing found himself in a narrow gorge, pushing a grain cart, while rolling stones, logs, and a rain of arrows descended from the cliffs on both sides. Instinctively, Zhao Xing immediately wanted to cast a spell, but he realized he was illusory here. Arrows passed through his body, leaving him unharmed.

"So this is a scene for receiving spells and enlightenment," he thought. "It seems the True Monarch who is imparting the spell was a Military Minister of Agriculture in life." Encountering a battlefield scene during enlightenment usually meant the person was a Military Minister of Agriculture in life, or that their primary achievements were gained on the battlefield, which is why they were conferred their title.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~" Arrows rained down.

However, this grain convoy was not without means to fight back. The soldiers transporting the grain exerted a little force, overturning the carts in front of them. They quickly burrowed under the carts and began to move, cart and all.

"Is this a Spirit Shield Cart?" Zhao Xing recognized it at a glance.

"Spirit Shield Carts, quickly form a defensive formation! Lieutenant Congyun, immediately block the enemy's vision!"

A roar spread with the wind. Upon hearing it, the attacked grain convoy began to defend. Zhao Xing looked towards the source of the sound and saw a middle-aged man wearing a golden straw cape and a hundred-flower bamboo hat, giving orders. Wind swirled around him, and arrows automatically veered off course within three feet. At the same time, several other ministers of agriculture, similarly dressed with obscured faces, began to cast spells.

"Lieutenant Zhongxian, Grain Officer Zheng Lun." Naturally, this person's name, official rank, and conferred military rank appeared in Zhao Xing's mind.

"It seems this True Monarch is imparting the spell to me." Concentrating intently, he began to carefully observe Zheng Lun's spellcasting. Clouds and mist obscured the vision of the ambushing troops on both sides of the gorge, and the number of arrows immediately decreased.

Ten breaths later, arrows, rolling stones, and logs completely stopped. Thunder began to rumble within the clouds; if they didn't flee or take cover, they would all be struck dead by Zheng Lun's lightning. However, even so, it was too late to escape.

"Boom! Crack!" Lightning descended like threads, directly shattering the enemies on the mountaintop. Even if they hid behind rocks, the lightning could curve to strike them.

"Charge!"

The pressure from the attacks from above slightly eased, but two more contingents of soldiers rushed out from the front and rear of the gorge.

"Great Halberd Warriors?!" Zhao Xing recognized them as an ancient troop type: the approaching soldiers each wielded a three-meter-long great halberd. The soldiers were all fully armored, even their faces covered by visors with only their eyes visible, and a pair of ferocious ramming horns adorned their helmets. As they ran, fist-sized stones were crushed underfoot, and the earth trembled.

The Great Halberd Warriors possessed abundant vigor and blood. Among the soldiers, a military banner shone brightly, and innumerable strands of vigor and blood from the soldiers converged on it, then a streak of rainbow light shot up into the sky.

"Buzz~" The clouds above the gorge were torn open, creating a gap.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish~" The grain soldiers inside the Spirit Shield Carts began to return fire with arrows, but the arrows could not pierce the armor.

Seeing the Great Halberd Warriors drawing near, Zheng Lun acted again.

"Wind, come!"

A fierce wind rose from the flat ground within the gorge. Zhao Xing shivered as the wind swept past him. He looked at Zheng Lun, only to see black storms raging in the other's eyes. At the same time, this unusual sight was also reflected in the eyes of the Great Halberd Warriors.

"Thump!" The first row of Great Halberd Warriors collapsed without warning. As if they were paper figures, they were easily blown down by this strange wind. Row after row, like straw flattened by a strong wind, nearly five hundred Great Halberd Warriors were annihilated in the blink of an eye.

The other contingent of Great Halberd Warriors, seeing such a bizarre sight, began to break ranks and retreat the way they came.

"Hmph!" Zheng Lun turned and pointed, and the clouds quickly followed.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~" The rain poured down, and the Great Halberd Warriors' speed immediately slowed, as if they were trapped in mud.

"All troops, pursue and kill the enemy!" Zheng Lun gave the order for all soldiers to emerge from the Spirit Shield Carts and turn to pursue the remaining enemy troops.

The grain convoy numbered only 500 men, but the ambushing troops on both sides, plus those in the front and rear, totaled over fifteen hundred. Yet, despite this, they failed to conquer the convoy and were instead routed and scattered in all directions.

"So strong," Zhao Xing couldn't help but exclaim in admiration upon seeing this scene.

In the pouring rain, enemy soldiers fell one after another, until their bodies stiffened and their faces turned pale. Zhao Xing had an epiphany. He understood what spells this Military Minister of Agriculture was imparting.

It was at this moment that everything suddenly froze. The stern Zheng Lun turned around and looked at Zhao Xing, the 'outsider', seemingly offering encouragement.

"Thank you, True Monarch." Zhao Xing cupped his hands and bowed, after which the scene completely shattered.

***

You received the spell in the Hall of Sages and comprehended the mid-tier spell 'Lightning Bolt'.

Lightning Bolt: Mid-tier SpellEffect: Summons lightning to strike the ground, attacking enemies.Proficiency: 0/9999

***

You received the spell in the Hall of Sages and comprehended the mid-tier spell 'Shadow Wind'.

Shadow Wind: Mid-tier SpellEffect: Shadow wind blows, scattering souls.Proficiency: 0/9999

***

You received the spell in the Hall of Sages and comprehended the mid-tier spell 'Ice Rain'.

Ice Rain: Mid-tier SpellEffect: Raindrops turn to ice, freezing vigor and blood.

***

Zhao Xing opened his eyes and looked at a certain row of enshrined spirit tablets, bowing again according to the procedure, then walked out of the hall. He hadn't expected this visit to the Hall of Sages for spell reception to yield such unexpected gains: learning three mid-tier spells consecutively. And all of them were offensive spells.

Under normal circumstances, 'Lightning Bolt' was relatively easy to learn, but 'Shadow Wind' and 'Ice Rain' were exclusive to Military Ministers of Agriculture, with an extremely low probability of being learned before officially becoming an officer.

"'Lightning Bolt', 'Shadow Wind', and 'Ice Rain' are all upgraded versions of the Four Spells of Heavenly Timing," he mused. "It seems I am adept at combat, which is why this Military Minister of Agriculture noticed me and imparted these offensive spells."

This perfectly compensated for Zhao Xing's lack of offensive power. He was no longer a Minister of Agriculture who could only hide and evade using straw figures, but one with formidable destructive power!

Upon returning to the Ministry of Agriculture, Zhao Xing told Xue Wenzhong about his spell reception. The old Minister of Agriculture was taken aback. "'Lightning Bolt' I can still teach you," he said, "but for 'Shadow Wind' and 'Ice Rain', I don't know them either. You'll have to go find Chen Shijie."