Chapter 54: The Cold Wind Enters the Dream

Military agricultural officers are more versatile than regular agromancers because their selection process is far more rigorous. Someone who can farm might not be able to fight, but a military agromancer who can fight will definitely be able to farm!

In the entire Agromancy Bureau, only Chen Shijie was capable of teaching Yin Wind and Ice Rain spells. This was because he had previously served as a military agromancer, ranking as a 'military official', but was later transferred to the rear and became a 'civil official' due to certain circumstances.

"You truly are a promising candidate for a military agromancer. You haven't even reached a formal rank, yet you've already comprehended Yin Wind and Ice Rain after receiving the temple's initiation."

The next day, Chen Shijie was quite pleased when he heard the news, feeling that he had not misjudged Zhao Xing.

"Once a basic spell reaches seven revolutions, you'll have the opportunity to comprehend an intermediate spell."

"If basic spells reach nine revolutions, their corresponding intermediate spells will also increase in power."

"Therefore, if you wish to master Yin Wind, Ice Rain, and Summon Lightning, you must not neglect your basic spells, as they can mutually reinforce each other."

"The stronger your foundation, the easier it will be for you to comprehend these abilities."

After a brief explanation, Chen Shijie began a live demonstration: "A normal wind-raising spell typically conjures 'Yang Wind', which always originates from the sky. Even when cast in the dead of winter, it is still considered 'Yang Wind'."

Chen Shijie gestured, and a warm breeze enveloped Zhao Xing.

"Heaven is Yang, Earth is Yin. Yin Wind, on the other hand, originates from the earth."

Before Chen Shijie finished speaking, a cold wind immediately arose from below, sweeping over Zhao Xing's entire body, as if threatening to blow his very soul away. No matter how his qi and blood circulated or how his vital energy surged, it was all useless.

"Yang Wind can be blocked by the physical body, armor, or magic robes, but Yin Wind can render most defensive treasures useless, relying entirely on the soul's resilience."

"Naturally, those with stronger physical bodies also possess stronger Yang essence and thus greater resistance. However, even a ranked martial artist, when struck by this Yin Wind, would uncontrollably shiver, and their control over their body would significantly diminish."

"In severe cases, it can even directly blow a person's soul from their body, turning them into a wandering spirit. This spell is exceedingly sinister; aside from military agromancers, other agromancers generally cannot learn it, and even if they could, the imperial court would not permit its transmission."

"To learn the Yin Wind spell, you must first know how to capture the Yin Wind from the earth's meridians underground."

Chen Shijie withdrew the wisp of Yin Wind, and then a soothing warmth flowed through Zhao Xing's body, helping him recover.

"Since you've studied spells from the Geomancy School, getting started should be straightforward for you. Now, try exploring the earth's meridians using the Comprehensive Earth Essence method, and then conjure wind from underground."

Zhao Xing nodded, then a wisp of vital energy from his fingertip sank into the ground.

According to the Five Elements theory, Wind overcomes Earth, Earth generates Wood, and Wood generates Wind. However, the power of earth meridians can also reverse this cycle, meaning Earth can generate Wind, Wood can generate Earth, and Wind can generate Wood.

To raise wind from the earth's meridians, he had two options. One was to use vital energy to reverse the power of the earth's meridians and effortlessly conjure wind. However, he hadn't yet reached that level of mastery and couldn't do it as casually as Chen Shijie. The second option was to capture the naturally occurring Yin-attribute power within the earth's meridians. Simply mobilizing this power, rather than reversing the principles of Five Elements generation and subjugation, would be much easier.

The first wisp of vital energy entered the earth, but was completely exhausted before it could even explore the Yin-attribute power.

Seeing this, Chen Shijie joked, "Don't rush; a man's first attempt is often less than satisfactory."

Zhao Xing was speechless. "What are you even talking about?" he thought.

But accustomed to Chen Shijie's personality, he simply ignored the remark and continued to send out a second wisp of vital energy. The second wisp of vital energy was again exhausted, and he still failed to conjure the wind.

It wasn't due to Zhao Xing's incompetence; rather, the earth's meridians within Gu City were exceptionally stable, making them difficult to capture. Furthermore, even after the White Dew solar term, the weather remained intensely hot, with Yang energy strong and Yin energy weak. Conjuring Yin Wind from underground was therefore even more challenging.

The best solar terms for practicing Yin Wind spells are 'Major Cold' and 'Minor Cold', followed by 'Qingming'. If these specific solar terms are missed, it's best to practice at night.

"Forget it for now; you won't be able to do it at this time," Chen Shijie said with a slight smile. "You just need to understand the principles of the spell."

Zhao Xing, however, paid no mind. If Old Chen hadn't chuckled at him, he might not have been so determined, but Chen Shijie had actually told him he couldn't do it. Could a man possibly admit he was incapable?

Seeing this, Chen Shijie stopped trying to persuade him and leisurely entered his study for an afternoon nap. Zhao Xing, meanwhile, continued to squat on the ground, trying again and again.

At noon, the sun was scorching, but Zhao Xing felt no fatigue. If he was thirsty, he'd eat a Heavenly Origin Pear; if his vital energy was depleted, he'd eat another. He was now at the fourth stage of energy gathering, allowing him to rapidly digest Heavenly Origin Pears.

"The fluctuations of the earth's meridians often reveal Yang but conceal Yin," Zhao Xing thought. "I must be more focused and patient to capture the Yin-attribute power within them." He then simply lay down on the ground, plunging his five fingers into the earth.

Before falling asleep, Chen Shijie glanced out the window and, seeing Zhao Xing so utterly unconcerned with his image, couldn't help but smile. It was as if, when one perceived brilliance, everything appeared favorable. He didn't see Zhao Xing as stubborn; instead, he saw a resolute heart.

"The General will surely be pleased to see him," Chen Shijie murmured to himself. He closed the window and lay down on his sleeping mat for a brief nap.

Dim light, a stifling atmosphere.

A distorted woman's face appeared before Chen Shijie. "You accursed bastard! You brought death upon your father and mother, and now you want to harm us too?"

"If you have any conscience, run away tonight and never appear before us again. Our family will absolutely not raise you! Do you understand? I'm talking to you! Bastard!"

"Auntie, it hurts..."

A chipped bowl, a cold steamed bun.

"Hey, where are you from? Don't you know the rules? How dare you beg for food in our territory?!"

"My name is Chen Shijie, from Chenjia Village, Xishan County..."

"I don't care where you're from! Brothers, beat him up!"

*Clang!*

The broken bowl fell to the ground, and the steamed bun slowly turned red.

"Master Chen, Master Chen? Old Chen, what's wrong?"

Chen Shijie felt someone shaking him.

"Hmph!"

He suddenly sat upright, startled awake from his dream. A thick wave of killing intent spread out, his fingers curled into a sword-like shape, striking towards Zhao Xing.

*Thump, thump, thump!*

Zhao Xing retreated several steps, rubbing his shoulder with a look of bewildered uncertainty. "Damn, Old Chen, you're not trying to kill me in my sleep, are you?"

"Huh? It's you." Chen Shijie came to his senses, withdrawing his strength at the last moment as the vital energy at his fingertips swirled back into his body. "You—what are you doing in my room?"

"I conjured a wisp of Yin Wind from underground and directed it at you," Zhao Xing explained. "You said I could use you for practice, and I thought you weren't asleep. I didn't realize I'd given you a nightmare..."

Only then did Chen Shijie realize: *So, it was you, you rascal, who caused this!* Zhao Xing's Yin Wind wasn't strong enough to blow away his soul, but it had indeed given him a nightmare.

"A nightmare? Who said I had a nightmare?" Chen Shijie snorted. "Your meager abilities are still incapable of affecting me. In the future, don't carelessly approach a sleeping military agromancer. This time, it's fortunate I controlled myself, or your shoulder wouldn't just be aching. I'm not teaching any more today. Go back and practice on your own."

"Yes, I understand," Zhao Xing said, cupping his hands in farewell.

Watching Zhao Xing's retreating back, Chen Shijie couldn't help but purse his lips. *This fellow's progress is truly fast. It's not even the end of noon, and he's already managed to conjure Yin Wind? Hmph, I'll have to praise him less in the future. This kid is getting a bit full of himself, calling me 'Old Chen'?!*