Chapter 16: The Rain Summoning Spell
After the era of Jingxinyuan was the "Great Governance," separated by several decades in the middle.
The Xuantian Sect, as a chaotic force, has always sought to subvert the existing order.
Zhao Xing first heard of them during the "Great Governance" era under Emperor Jing. Their activities subsided during the reign of Emperor Wu but picked up again towards the end and flourished in the revived version.
Their impression was profound because this chaotic force loved to stir trouble, which was particularly unfriendly to the Agrarian players who preferred stability.
After some thought, Zhao Xing decided to set aside these concerns.
He didn’t have a mission panel now, only a personal panel. In his past life, he would have jumped at any task for the benefits, no matter how small.
But now, he was just a small ant, and without the resurrection feature. For Zhao Xing in this life, as long as it didn’t interfere with his pursuit of eternal life through farming, he would stay away from the hustle.
"It’s best to stay out of societal matters as long as they don’t affect me personally. What do I care about Xuantian or Xuanditians?"
After receiving the official government document, he bid farewell to Pang Fei and headed straight for the temple.
He didn’t even bother to pay respects to the Earl of Donghu, to avoid being detained for martial training, and went directly to the hall of True Lord Caoxi.
The temple steward was surprised to see Zhao Xing again so soon, "No issues with your paperwork, go on in."
"Thank you."
Zhao Xing quickly entered the hall, sat down on a meditation cushion, and closed his eyes. At that moment, a flash of golden light appeared before his eyes, and suddenly, he found himself in a vast grassland.
The difference in the transmission scene also meant a difference in the spells learned. Unsure of which spell this scene represented, Zhao Xing silently prayed, "I need the rain summoning, please don’t get it wrong, honorable True Lord…"
It seemed his prayer was heard, as soon clouds gathered above the grassland.
"Boom!"
Thunder roared and rain began to fall around him, almost as if it was pouring directly into his mind.
"Whoosh!"
The rain grew heavier.
Moving clouds, thundering, and rain summoning—the spells displayed one by one in his mind, cycling repeatedly.
After an unknown period, Zhao Xing opened his eyes, his mind enriched with a new spell: 【Summoning Rain】
【Summoning Rain: Beginner-level spell】
【Progress: (0/9999)】
【Effect: Precise control over rainfall.】
He bowed to the True Lord and left the hall quietly.
The temple steward watched Zhao Xing’s departing figure, puzzled, "It’s strange. He prayed for rain, and he actually grasped the spell. Does the True Lord really grant whatever he asks for?"
【Summoning Rain】 now in hand, Zhao Xing felt exceptionally good.
What kind of Agrarian doesn’t know how to make it rain?
"The key to 'Summoning Rain' lies in the ‘summoning’ part, which allows for precise control over the rainfall. If it were any other profession, how much rain falls would depend on fate."
Other professions can also summon rain, but their spells differ in name and effect, and are not as convenient as those of the Agrarian.
Like the temple steward they had just met, who had a spell called 【Pray for Rain】, but controlling the exact amount of rain is difficult. To achieve that, one must 【Open a Ritual Altar】, and even the simplest rituals require some yellow paper.
"Teacher, I have newly grasped 【Summoning Rain】. Please guide me." Eager to learn, he rushed back to the Agrarian Bureau’s Willow and Locust Courtyard.
Old Agrarian Xue Wenzhong smiled, "You’re quite lucky, getting exactly what you wished for. The Four Methods of Heaven, you’ve now got them all."
My luck is certainly good, inheriting some of the fortunes of the Li Dynasty, and I’m already at the second generation. How many in Gu City can say the same, apart from the county magistrate and heads of departments?
"There’s no shortcut to the art of 【Summoning Rain】; it just requires practice. Moving clouds, summoning wind, calling thunder, and summoning rain—deploy these in order and fine-tune your control over the spells to achieve precise rainfall."
"The only thing to consider is external influences," Xue Wenzhong explained. "For instance, the Willow and Locust Courtyard is always in the season of early spring, with plenty of moisture, so the actual rainfall might exceed your expectations."
"If you were in the eastern suburbs, where the climate is dry, the amount of rain you summon would likely be less."
Zhao Xing was well aware of these factors; in his past life, Agrarian players faced even harsher conditions during the Era of Natural Disasters, often getting tricked—bringing tears just to think about it.
For this, Zhao Xing had devised an ‘Influence Factor’ formula, which even in the most unfriendly ‘Vital Energy Tide’ version, maintained minimal errors.
But whether it still worked now, as he was no longer a player, remained to be seen.
The practice continued.
Zhao Xing practiced 【Summoning Rain】 in the courtyard.
The first time, Xue Wenzhong stood by his side to guide him.
The third time, Xue Wenzhong stood on the steps.
By the tenth time, the old Agrarian was sitting on a bench.
Afterward… Xue Wenzhong simply reclined on a lounge chair, resting his eyes.
Because Zhao Xing simply didn’t need teaching; he had never seen anyone grasp it so quickly.
"If this child wasn’t an Agrarian, it would truly be a crime against heaven," Xue Wenzhong mused from deep within.
But verbally, he still encouraged, "Your Summoning Rain still has many flaws. The environment can be a disturbance but also an aid."
"That little puddle in the corner, couldn’t you utilize it to save your vital energy? Why do you always opt for confrontation?"
Zhao Xing opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but couldn’t say much.
He couldn’t just say that future environments would be so harsh that utilizing them would be difficult. It was still too early for him at this stage to talk about maintaining opposition.
"You are correct in your teaching."
Half an hour of practicing other spells was still scheduled, but suddenly a servant came rushing to find Xue Wenzhong, saying something urgently.
Xue Wenzhong’s expression remained unchanged, but his words revealed unease, "Today’s extra practice ends here. I might not have time tomorrow, so you should practice on your own."
With that, Xue Wenzhong followed the servant away.
What had happened? Zhao Xing was puzzled.
But since it wasn’t disclosed, he didn’t inquire further.
That night, Zhao Xing lay in bed unable to sleep, feeling uneasy.
He initially didn’t want to pry, but the old Agrarian was key to his official appointment; if something were to happen, the other Agrarians might not be willing to recommend him.
"I must inquire tomorrow. If there really is a change, it's better to prepare early." Decided, Zhao Xing affixed two talismans and entered the Great Dream Academy for a look. Finding no activity amidst the clouds, he exited and tried to sleep.
Unexpectedly, early the next day, he heard some bad news.
Posts
Comments
Post a Comment