Chapter 73: The Way of Cloud Magic, I Alone Am Supreme

The way of Cloud Arts, absolute dominance!

Unlike the varied nature of other spells, Cloud Arts consistently follow an overbearing path.

Among the Diviners, internal strife for aerial supremacy is the top priority.

Zhao Xing re-gathered his cloud energy, and before Cao Qiushui could counter, he quickly organized a second attack.

The edges of the clouds layered and stacked, forming a cloud mountain, like a bedrock, blocking the way. Cao Qiushui's flowing clouds were split, showing signs of dividing into two.

This move truly astonished Cao Qiushui.

Among the various professions, Diviners who dared to climb the mountain were the fewest, and those who dared to compete for the first incense stick were even rarer.

On the first night, Cao Qiushui hadn't encountered any formidable opponents from his own profession.

Now, he knew he had met a strong rival!

No sooner said than done, the very next second after Cao Qiushui's flowing clouds were separated by the cloud mountain, the clouds on both sides swirled and, like river currents, rapidly ascended, climbing over the mountain peak, and recombined above the cloud mountain before being fully separated.

"'Flowing Cloud 'Hanging River' style, Cao Qiushui's reaction is truly fast.'" Seeing this, Zhao Xing knew his plan for a quick attack had failed.

He had absorbed the cloud energy of four people, originally intending to quickly cut off Cao Qiushui before he could consolidate his position after dealing with the others.

Following his previous strategy, he intended to use a smaller force to conquer a larger one, devouring Cao Qiushui's cloud energy as well.

But Cao Qiushui reacted quickly; not only did he resolve the crisis, but his flowing clouds, upon climbing the cloud mountain, also formed a cloud mountain, aiming to crush Zhao Xing's cloud layers.

Spell combat is ever-changing and unpredictable.

Mid-tier Cloud Arts are indeed stronger in spell power than beginner-tier ones. Seeing this, Zhao Xing had to disperse his underlying cloud layers, breaking them into scattered pieces, taking the opportunity to retreat a bit, and then re-condensing them.

"What? This..." Cao Qiushui was stunned.

He thought he had crushed Zhao Xing's cloud layers, but he didn't expect the opponent's cloud control technique to be so powerful; under heavy pressure, he didn't lose much at all.

It's easy to break cloud energy into scattered pieces, but re-condensing it is extremely difficult. It's like feigning a retreat on the battlefield, a tactic only high-ranking generals can pull off; a slight misstep can lead to a true rout!

How difficult is it to simultaneously control countless portions of cloud energy, making them swiftly bypass enemy attacks and regroup?

Cao Qiushui admitted it would be very difficult for him to achieve, let alone considering the realm difference.

This move from Zhao Xing truly showed him up!

"'I feel his flowing clouds haven't reached true mid-tier power, but his control technique is far superior to mine.'"

"'A master, this is a true master!'"

A true expert's skill is evident the moment they act.

After three quick exchanges, Cao Qiushui understood that his opponent was not simple.

He wouldn't be able to defeat his opponent relying on Cloud Arts in the short term.

Zhao Xing had realized this even earlier, because his own Flowing Cloud Art was only at beginner-tier ninth rotation, while Cao Qiushui's Flowing Cloud Art was at mid-tier fourth rotation.

Although his control technique was stronger and his experience richer, using a smaller force against a larger one required quickly gaining an advantage, or it would be detrimental to him.

So Zhao Xing once again resorted to an unconventional tactic.

"'Netherwind, rise!'"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and a netherwind from underground instantly arrived.

Netherwind emerging at midnight is quick and effortless.

The netherwind's characteristics were subtle; other professions couldn't perceive it at all. Even the other defeated Diviners in the Altar Square didn't notice it.

A gust of netherwind passed through the crowd, blowing precisely towards Cao Qiushui.

Just then, Zhao Xing's eyebrow twitched.

He pushed off with both feet and immediately jumped to the side.

His original position suddenly collapsed into a pit half a meter wide and two meters deep.

"'Earth Advantage Faction's Earth-Rending Art?'" Zhao Xing stared at the pit, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but then he understood.

Cao Qiushui also thought of using an unconventional tactic. He was a descendant of True Monarch Caoxi, and Caoxi specialized in Earth Advantage Faction spells.

As Cao Qiushui was casting his spell, he suddenly shivered, and his spell was interrupted, preventing the Earth-Rending Art from unleashing its full power.

Immediately after, his vision blurred, and he felt muddled and disoriented, as if he had been toiling for three days and three nights.

"Buzz!" His gray straw cape glowed, and the jade pendant on his chest sparkled, transmitting a warmth into his body.

Only then did Cao Qiushui regain his senses.

"This is... Netherwind Art?"

Cao Qiushui's scalp instantly prickled.

He never imagined that among the Diviners climbing the mountain this time, someone would have mastered Netherwind Arts!

Moreover, the spell's intensity was incredibly great, far beyond the level of one or two rotations.

He wore a third-tier top-grade soul jade, and the formerly smooth jade pendant was now covered in cracks! It was dim and lusterless!

"'I, Cao... Cao, concede defeat!'"

Cao Qiushui uttered these words tremblingly, swiftly dispelled his cloud layers, and in a few steps, leaped out of the Altar Square, indicating he dared not contend with Zhao Xing again.

"What? Brother Cao, why is this?!" Cao Qiushui's team members looked at him with immense surprise.

Diviners couldn't compete for the first incense stick alone. Even if Cao Qiushui won the incense, as long as a martial artist guarded the stone steps, he couldn't ascend. So, many people in the Altar Square gathered together, forming small groups to compete for the incense.

Cao Qiushui's team had three martial artists at the seventh-tier Gathering Yuan stage. With the Diviner providing support and the martial artists charging, they secured two incense sticks last night; two of them were the fifth and seventh to enter the temple, respectively.

After offering incense and seeking guidance from the True Monarch, they received spiritual insights, gaining much during the day.

Unexpectedly, on this second night of competing for incense, Cao Qiushui's performance was completely different from his valor of last night!

He was even trembling!

"'Don't ask why, trust me, don't contend in this round.'" Cao Qiushui murmured, looking at the seven clusters of golden light floating in the air. "'We can't win; it's at least a seventh-rotation Netherwind Art.'"

Cao Qiushui's retreat left everyone dumbfounded.

"What, the Cao family scion actually lost?!"

"Who, who defeated him?"

"Cao Qiushui is already at the ninth-tier Gathering Yuan stage. Is there someone stronger than him? Why didn't he appear last night?"

"Cao Laosan knows three mid-tier spells, all with four or five rotations of power. This is incredibly rare; ordinary ninth-tier Gathering Yuan martial artists wouldn't dare to confront him head-on, yet he still lost?"

"Is there someone with a higher spell tier than him?"

In the darkness, countless people exclaimed in awe.

But everything happened too quickly, from the temple gate opening to the golden light appearing.

Until the martial artists ascended and then landed again, only three breaths of time passed.

As for Zhao Xing and Cao Qiushui, from dealing with their respective opponents to the clash yielding a result, the entire process only took a dozen breaths of time.

During this period, the clash of their flowing clouds produced countless thunderclaps and lightning flashes, causing no one to dare ascend to snatch the incense.

Ninth-tier Gathering Yuan Diviners were not to be trifled with. Cao Qiushui and another person were locked in an evenly matched contest, meaning two ninth-tier Gathering Yuan cultivators were vying for the opportune moment. Who would dare to go up and face divine lightning?

Mid-tier spells are not something to joke about!

Given Cao Qiushui's performance last night, everyone was waiting for him to win, then to send someone to take two incense offerings. This was commensurate with his group's strength; only if they became too greedy would anyone interfere.

But to everyone's surprise, Cao Qiushui actually lost, and to another unknown Diviner.

"The Cao family descendant still has some tricks up his sleeve." Seeing Cao Qiushui's decisive retreat, Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Being able to block a ninth-rotation netherwind, retreat intact, and realize he couldn't contend with it was truly remarkable.

A wise man knows when to yield, and Cao Qiushui even managed to mount an effective counter-attack against him.

It was a pity he encountered him.

"Zhao Xing, you, you actually defeated Cao Qiushui?" Young Master Zong was utterly shocked.

At this moment, Zhao Xing's cloud layers completely covered the Altar Square. Lightning was brewing within the clouds, held back but emitting terrifying power.

Gusts of fierce wind swept through, and lightning flashed profusely, warning everyone in the square not to act rashly.

"Pure luck, pure luck," Zhao Xing casually replied. "Young Master Zong, how many incense sticks were you originally planning to take?"

"Two incense sticks," Uncle Cang interjected. "At least to send two people into the temple."

"I'll help you secure these two incense sticks, and your 200 taels debt will be written off. Are you willing?" Zhao Xing looked at Zong Shichang.

"Yes, absolutely yes!" Zong Shichang slapped his thigh. "Quick, quick, quick! Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu, jump! Go get two incense sticks!"

"Wait, take four incense sticks," Zhao Xing said calmly. "I want one for myself, and I'll give you one extra. Will you exchange for 500 taels?"

"Deal!" Zong Shichang immediately said. "But can we actually do that?"

There were only seven incense sticks left on the field, with so many people watching. If they tried to grab four at once, wouldn't they be ganged up on?

"Whether it works or not, you'll know once we try."

Zhao Xing waved his hand, his voice carried by the wind: "Young Master Zong and I will take four incense sticks. The remaining three, you all can share."

"I've said my piece. Who agrees, who opposes?"

His voice was calm, yet it revealed a powerful confidence.

Zong Shichang, standing beside him, looked at Zhao Xing's back, wishing he could rush over and kiss him.

Zhao Xing was too generous; he even brought him along to show off.

Zong Shichang had never felt that a few hundred taels could be spent so worthily!

What a thrill, what a thrill!

"That's right, that's right, who dares to defy?!" Zong Shichang also shouted at the top of his lungs.

It was a pity he wouldn't remember it once he left the mountain, otherwise he could brag about it for a year!

Brother Zhao and I absolutely dominated the Altar Square! Overpowering all heroes!

"Who are you, to claim four incense sticks?!" In the darkness, someone scoffed. "Zong Shichang is nothing but a good-for-nothing, and the three experts he hired are only at the eighth-tier Gathering Yuan stage."

"While your Cloud Arts are indeed impressive, if we all rush you, can you still stand your ground?"

Someone questioned Zhao Xing's strength, as Cloud Arts generally lacked destructive power, serving mostly as support.

Cao Qiushui's Cloud Art and Earth-Rending Art were both mid-tier, fourth or fifth rotation, greatly suppressing martial artists, but only suppressing them.

Ultimately, he still needed to coordinate with the martial artists in his team to unleash their full team strength, yet he only dared to claim two incense sticks.

Where did you come from, daring to claim four incense sticks?

"Boom! Crackle!"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and a bolt of lightning instantly descended from the clouds above, striking directly at the source of the voice.

Mid-tier spell, seventh-rotation Lightning Conduction!

The person who had just spoken immediately let out a pained cry, falling to the ground charred black and unable to rise.

Amidst the lightning and thunder, everyone saw his tragic state.

Zhao Xing directly answered his doubt with a spell!

Unfortunately, the price of that doubt was quite high; the person was directly struck and lost his combat capability.

Zhao Xing demonstrated with his actions that he was not Cao Qiushui; he was much stronger!

Cao Qiushui's spells leaned towards support, while Zhao Xing not only possessed offensive spells but also had a higher spell tier than Cao Qiushui!

"'Seventh-rotation divine lightning?'" Wenzhao fanned himself with a feather fan, looking at the sky, his pupils contracting. "Boran, with my help, can you withstand it?"

Zhang Boran rolled his eyes. "Even if you cast two more layers of spells on me, I still might not be able to withstand it."

"He's absorbed the cloud energy of eight people; he could summon dozens of bolts of divine lightning at least. How many layers of spells can you stack on me?"

"Unless your Harmony and Rites can make him disperse his cloud layers, allowing me to charge forward and reach him. Even if the two eighth-tier Gathering Yuan martial artists from the Zong family team up, I'm confident I can defeat them."

Hearing this, Wenzhao immediately turned pale. "Oh no, I burned his straw effigy before, he won't hold a grudge, will he?"

Zhang Boran said helplessly, "Let's take it one step at a time."

"Who else is unconvinced?" Zhao Xing spoke again.

This time, no one in the square dared to utter a sound.

The person who was just struck by lightning was an eighth-tier Gathering Yuan martial artist. Being thick-skinned, he didn't die, but he instantly lost his combat capability.

Due to Yang Junxiong, the number of ninth-tier Gathering Yuan cultivators decreased by three. Now, the masters who dared to contend were fewer than last night.

This single seventh-rotation Lightning Conduction spell alone was enough to claim four incense sticks! Not to mention the group of martial artists Zong Shichang had gathered around Zhao Xing.

"Damn it, that scoundrel is too arrogant!" Although Lu Qian didn't see the person, she recognized the voice; it was the same guy who had tied her up.

"Qian'er, you're so strange today. Why are you losing your composure repeatedly? What exactly happened?" Liu Muqing noticed something was off. "Have you had an encounter with this person speaking?"

"No, no," Lu Qian said evasively.

"Then where's your Peacock Plume Robe?" Liu Muqing pointed at Lu Qian. "You didn't lose it while bathing, did you?"

"...This, this, well, there's a reason for it," Lu Qian stammered, her face blushing, unable to speak clearly.

"Young Master Zong, send someone to get the incense." Seeing that no one dared to object, Zhao Xing motioned to Zong Shichang.

The latter found Zhao Xing increasingly pleasing to the eye, because Zhao Xing spoke directly to him about everything, rather than consulting with Uncle Cang or Uncle Hu.

What Young Master Zong wanted was precisely this feeling of importance!

"Alright then, get the incense!" Zong Shichang eagerly waved his hand.

Two eighth-tier Gathering Yuan martial artists leaped up and secured the four incense sticks.

Then they spun and landed, easily neutralizing the impact with the ground.

"Brother Zhao, thank you." Uncle Cang gave one incense stick to Zhao Xing; the golden light emanated from it.

"You're welcome," Zhao Xing said, taking the incense for worshipping deities.

Of the total four incense sticks, Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu received one portion.

The third portion, Zong Shichang kept for himself.

"Uncle Yuan, I'll rely on you to take mine inside." Zong Shichang looked at the middle-aged man next to him, who was the third expert who had remained silent.

When Zong Shichang asked, he merely nodded.

Zhao Xing glanced over, and their eyes met, causing his heart to skip a beat.

In the other's eyes, a divine statue was hidden!

This was actually a Divine Official!

"Zong Shichang, just how rich is your family, to be able to hire a Divine Official?"

Many officials from various departments participated in this mountain climb, but officials from the temple were exceedingly rare.

This is because temple officials are quite unique; they don't require spiritual insights, and their arts, merits, and all their advancements don't follow normal promotion paths. Moreover, divine officials are famously pure-hearted, with few desires, and indifferent to fame and fortune.

With increased contact with Yin deities, distracting thoughts become minimal, and various desires greatly diminish.

"Let's go wait over there."

"Let's go."

After taking the four incense sticks, Zhao Xing also dispelled his flowing clouds.

Having more incense offerings was useless; there was only one opportunity per night.

And there would be second and third waves of incense offerings.

There were still many masters in the Altar Square who simply hadn't acted immediately. If he didn't dispel his clouds, he would be making an enemy of everyone, which was unnecessary.

"Yang Junxiong and Du Jiaojiao, still haven't determined a victor?"

Descending from the Altar Square, he saw two streaks of light ahead, still entwined in battle.

Yang Junxiong used a spear, and Du Jiaojiao also used a spear.

One red, one silver-white.

They blocked the temple entrance.

"My Bright Eyes can observe minute details, but I still can't see their movements clearly; I can only see streaks of light. These two have probably already reached a higher rank," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He had extraordinary encounters, but others might as well.

Yang Junxiong took the first incense stick last night, and Du Jiaojiao took the second. By offering incense and worshipping deities, they would at least receive information about the whereabouts of 'mid-grade spiritual insights' or methods to obtain them, possibly even involving 'top-grade spiritual insights'!

Both were originally at the ninth-tier Gathering Yuan stage, so it was normal for them to reach a higher rank after gaining spiritual insights.

After Zhao Xing left, an intense struggle broke out in the Altar Square.

Only three incense sticks remained, but there were still dozens of people.

When entering the temple to worship deities, the first ten incense sticks yield the best effects.

All of them could lead to the True Monarch manifesting, revealing the location of spiritual insights or granting methods to acquire them.

Subsequent ones would only provide obscure enlightenment, not clear revelations.

Zhao Xing quietly watched the square, activating his Bright Eyes spell to observe.

A particular duo caught his attention.

"Lute accompaniment, and the Great Shao War Dance?"

A melee broke out in the square, but two individuals stood out from the chaos. Zhao Xing had seen one of them before: Lu Qian, whom he had tied up.

She was performing a very wild dance, while another girl holding a liuqin provided musical accompaniment.

This dancer-musician duo was performing the Great Shao, one of the 'Six Songs'.

Legend has it that the Great Shao was composed by Kui, an ancient music official. It uses dance and music to interpret the laws of heaven and earth, drawing all beasts to worship and phoenixes to nest, in praise of the accomplishments of the 'Xia Emperor' from ancient times.

The Great Shao is both a war dance and a musical composition.

"Dense multitude of forms, daily revealing laws. To hear of My beginnings, profound and hidden..."

Liu Muqing played the liuqin and chanted, while Lu Qian danced.

As they performed, half of the martial artists in the square suddenly started uncontrollably attacking their own allies.

The other half joined the dance, further enhancing the power of the Great Shao.

Only two or three individuals remained clear-headed, but their spell casting actions and combat techniques were severely distorted.

In the end, there was no other choice but to allow these two sisters to each take one incense stick.

Having proven their strength, Lu Qian and Liu Muqing stopped their performance after obtaining the incense.

They bowed towards the Altar Square. This wasn't out of politeness, but because the 'Ritual of the Grand Master of Music' stipulated that this procedure was required.

Ritual and music, in the Great Zhou Dynasty, were inseparable.

Without this concluding ritual, their performance this time would not have increased their cultivation (i.e., this procedure was necessary for proficiency to improve).

"A single musician and a single dancer, able to perform the Great Shao and achieve such power, is indeed a rare sight," Zhao Xing said.

"I've known them for a long time; how did I not know they were this powerful?" Zong Shichang asked curiously.

Zhao Xing explained: "The Great Shao, one of the Six Songs, is the supreme war dance because it requires a large number of performers and many instruments. Following it are 'Cloud Gate', 'Great Scroll', 'Only Martial', 'Great Qing', and 'Great Chapter'."

"I've seen the Great Shao too; why wasn't it as powerful as you describe?"

Zhao Xing teased, "What I'm talking about is the proper way. Was what you heard legitimate?"