Chapter 146: Straw Man Method

Zhao Xing was puzzled and clicked on the course description, then he suddenly understood.

"It seems that this straw man method has become a key support project of the imperial court."

The straw man method is a spell of the ego school.

Those who understand will understand the current situation of the ego faction.

The straw man method is a rather embarrassing existence in the ego school.

Why? Because the Si Nong of the Xiu Ben Wo sect generally focuses on farming.

Cultivate crops with stronger reproductive capacity, grow materials suitable for craftsmen to build equipment, and study the medicinal value of plants...

But few Si Nong who focus on the "ego faction" go to fight.

In the past, there was no option called "Taicangyuan" among the military agriculture departments.

Because the supply is not under the jurisdiction of the military agriculture department, the agriculture department I sent to the rear is responsible for it.

It was only added later because the needs of the army became diversified.

But few of the spells of the Id School are used for fighting.

If Si Nong wants to learn attack spells, he usually follows the method of timing and location.

The straw man method is one of them, but the Si Nong of the ego school rarely wastes energy to learn it because there is no need for it.

If you want to be a military minister of agriculture, you have to follow the faction of geographical advantage or the faction of timing.

Therefore, the status of the straw man method seems somewhat awkward.

No one in the Self School learns it, but as for other schools, if they want to learn the Straw Man Technique, they have to study the spells of the Self School.

The straw man method is a relatively delicate job that requires a lot of time to produce results, and it is difficult to see results in a short period of time.

In the earliest times, the straw man techniques passed down in the temple were quite complete, but gradually only nine types remained.

However, many prefectures and Taoist temples have regulations: Agricultural officials who learn the straw man technique can receive five taels of silver per month, and the amount increases according to the level of their official rank and magic skills.

Therefore, the imperial court still does not want this kind of magic to be lost.

"If the imperial court does not spend resources to support it, no one will be willing to study the Straw Man Method."

"We specifically raise the points reward so that this type of technique won't be lost."

“In later generations, the Straw Man Method became more powerful with the rise of the Self-Faction School. I never thought that in this period, it would still have to rely on the Zhengce to be passed down.” Zhao Xing sighed.

He looked at the elective course carefully.

However, there is a rule for the points reward of this course: for the Straw Man Training Course, all kinds of points can only be obtained if the spells are learned. If the spells cannot meet the standard, even if they rank first, they will not get the points reward.

This is to dissuade those who want to gain points.

Only those who really study this method with all their heart and achieve something will get reward points.

Otherwise, the last 50,000 points will be awarded to the first place, and the first place will use the second-level straw man method, and this correct strategy will be meaningless.

"The Straw Man Method is difficult and time-consuming to learn. If we don't give points, no one would sign up. But now there are more people." Zhao Xing took a look and saw that the number of people who had signed up had exceeded five thousand.

There will always be brave men when there is a big reward, and encouraging positive policies will still be effective.

"First place, reward 50,000 points."

"Second place, reward 30,000 points."

"Third place, reward 10,000 points."

"4th to 10th place will receive 8,000 points."

"Ranked 11th to 20th, the reward is 5,000 points."

"Ranked 21st to 50th, the reward is 3,000 points."

"Ranked 51st to 100th, the reward will be 1,000 points."

"After the top 100, as long as you meet the basic standards during the learning process, even if you are not in the top 100, you can get a reward of at least 50 points and up to 800 points."

Zhao Xing looked at the points reward rules for the Straw Man Class. Due to the generous rewards, the number of signups increased dramatically.

The elective courses that were once unpopular have become the first choice.

"The surname of the minister in charge of this training course is Liu. Could he be from the Liu family in Taihe County?"

The founder of "Liu Chuan Bian Fa" passed on to Zhao Xing by Xue Wenzhong was Liu Zonghai from Taihe County.

The Liu family of Taihe County is a thousand-year-old family. From the time of Taizu to the present, there have always been people who served as high-ranking officials in the court. Liu Zonghai even became a second-rank official.

"There is no other way to obtain points now, so I must complete the straw man training course." Zhao Xing said secretly.

He looked at the other elective courses again. All the elective courses that appeared now had point rewards.

However, few rewards can compare to the straw man training courses, and most have not yet started.

"Sign up!"

Zhao Xing signed up quickly.

The introduction of the Straw Man Class has caused many people to start cramming and flock to Taicangyuan to learn the magic of the ego school.

Standing on a tall building, looking at the crowded crowd below, Lupin couldn't help but sigh "the hustle and bustle, the coming and going of people".

"Many people rarely came to Taicangyuan to meditate before. From March to now, July, the four months of training, this is the busiest time for Taicangyuan."

"The rewards are huge. Even geniuses like Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, and Zhao Xing have signed up."

"Brother Liu, you'll be busy this time."

Liu Tianning stood next to Lupin. He looked only middle-aged, but he was actually 125 years old.

He is slightly plump, but his fingers are slender and white as jade, and even his skin is as white as jade.

Hearing Lupin speak, Liu Tianning said: "Although there are many people, I don't know how many of them are really learning."

"As for being busy, that's not a problem for me. Have you forgotten what I teach?"

"The one who is talking to you is not me."

Lu Pin tilted his head in astonishment: "Brother Liu, this, this isn't your real self? It's amazing, I can't even tell the real thing from the fake one."

Liu Tianning smiled slightly.

"But you are not the real one, why are you drinking my wine? It's a waste to give it to a straw man." Lupin snatched the wine jug from his hand.

"How can I deceive you, Lu Songting, without drinking? Your Fire Jade Wine contains rich Five Elements power, which will be of great benefit to my straw man. Don't be stingy, bring it to me quickly."

When Zhao Xing signed up for the straw man training course, Tian Yan was the first to know about it and contacted Zhao Xing through the ground mirror.

"The Straw Man Technique is easy to learn but difficult to master. The first and second level Straw Man Techniques are easy to learn, but the third level Straw Man Technique is difficult."

"This method is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Just sign up for this course and get enough points to meet the requirements. Don't waste too much energy."

Tian Yan's words show the status of the straw man method, but Zhao Xing has his own plans and will not follow Tian Yan's arrangements completely.

Of course, he still had to deal with it verbally: "Teacher, don't worry, I know my limits. If I don't achieve anything in my studies, I won't be obsessed with this path."

"Well, I'm glad you know what's going on." Tian Yan nodded. After spending many days together, he realized that Zhao Xing was a man with strong opinions and was always on the right path. Tian Yan didn't need to worry about him at all.

It was only now that the Straw Man class was launched and I saw Zhao Xing signed up that I said a few more words.

Putting down the floor mirror, Zhao Xing stood in front of a closed door in Taicang Courtyard and looked around.

Thousands of people have signed up. How should this course be taught and how should the scores be calculated?
Liu Tianning’s approach is to teach and test at the same time.

"The Straw Man Training Course, this is the first level and also the first lesson."

"The south side of the square is where the materials are placed. You can choose from the first and second level materials."

"In the west of the square, there is a straw man teaching method, which is one of the nine methods promoted by the court."

"There is a straw man drill in the east of the square. You can watch it for yourself."

"To the north of the square is the Trial Palace. Anyone who has learned the Straw Man Technique can summon their own Straw Man and enter it. If qualified, they can fly to the next location and receive the next stage of training. Each time you complete a level, you will receive corresponding points."

Liu Tianning's voice was played in the square through the conch shell. Zhao Xing looked at the sign and went directly to the south where the materials were placed.

There are all kinds of materials, some placed on the ground and some floating in the open space.

There are all kinds of flowers, plants, trees, bamboos and rattans.

But they are all first- and second-level materials.

"Whoo~"

Zhao Xing used his strong wind to randomly roll over a bunch of materials.

He looked at them, picked out a few, and put the rest back where they were.

"Every tree and grass is an enemy. Rise!"

Zhao Xing pointed a golden light at a bundle of grass and leaves in front of him.

Things are different now. He doesn't have to weave at all.

One thought can make the Dharma come true.

"Squeak~" "Squeak~"

The vines, grass stems, and branches seemed to come alive, moving and interweaving on the ground. In just a moment, the material disappeared, replaced by a gray-black straw man standing in the same place.

A second-level magical straw man.

The people nearby were attracted by this scene and looked over immediately.

"How come it's so fast, a breath of enlightenment?"

"Such a strong control. Not much of his materials were wasted."

"What kind of straw man is this? It's woven very beautifully."

"Of course it looks good. The method is in line with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. The lines of the weaving straw man have the mystery of Tao. You are not looking at the straw man, you are observing the Tao."

"I didn't expect Zhao Xing to be so accomplished in the art of straw figurines. When I look at his straw figurines, I can vaguely feel their charm, as if they were alive."

“No wonder, the straw men next to me are so ugly, just like the person who cast the spell.”

"Brother, you can say I'm a good cook, but saying I'm ugly is too much."

"..."

Zhao Xing rolled up the walking straw man, ignored the gazes from around him, and quickly came to the north of the square.

Then he ordered the walking straw man to walk into the palace.

"Om~"

As soon as he entered the palace, a golden light swept across the walking straw man.

Then the ground beneath the straw man's feet began to rotate.

It was like a treadmill with a huge range, and the walking straw man had to run to avoid being thrown away.

"If you can hold out for a quarter of an hour or reach the other wall of the palace, you will pass."

“If it’s a strong straw man, the test is like hitting the stake. With each punch, the fist mark must penetrate the stake half a finger.” Zhao Xing looked at the rules of the trial palace.

Different types of straw men correspond to different tests.

The first level is neither difficult nor easy.

If you have never learned the straw man technique before, it will take a lot of time to learn it now. Zhao Xing can see that many beginners around him make straw men of all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Some of them broke their limbs after walking a few steps, some had three heads and six arms, and some were just a shape and could not move at all, so the magic could not work inside the straw men.

Some are even stranger, with triangular heads, arms at the neck, and arms hanging down to the ground...they can't be considered human shapes at all.

"The first lesson is something to learn. It's not easy to get points."

The fast-moving straw man in the trial palace runs very fast. If you can't meet the speed requirements of the straw man technique, you won't be able to pass the next level.

Of course, if you can learn and pass the first level, you can get 50 points.

It would be a waste not to take it, so there are already seven or eight thousand people crowded at the first level.

"Zhao Xing of the Divine Might Army, your Straw Man has passed the test. Please proceed to the next location."

A voice reached Zhao Xing's ears.

"Yes."

Zhao Xing did not take back the walking straw man, but flew directly to the next place.

The second level still has the same layout.

But the number of people is much smaller.

In the class that just started today, many people were stuck at the first level of learning, and less than a thousand people were able to reach the second level.

"There are already more than 8,000 people who have signed up to participate in the Si Nong, but less than 1,000 have passed the first level. It seems that few people have studied the Straw Man Method in the past."

"It means that only one person out of seven or eight people will learn it."

I have learned so little, let alone studied it carefully.

Zhao Xing passed the first level and also assessed the difficulty of the first level. If any straw man technique could reach the fourth level, one could pass the level. However, many people were blocked in this way.

"The fact that you have reached the second level proves that you have learned the Straw Man Method before and put a lot of thought into it."

"The second level is still the nine kinds of straw man method promoted by the court."

"If you pass the trial, you will get 400 points."

Liu Tianning's voice echoed in my ears.

There is no difference between the second level and the first level. There is still one place for materials, one place for demonstration, and one place for teaching.

Zhao Xing still created a magical straw man, and then ordered the straw man to enter the trial palace.

The test of the walking straw man is the same as the first level, with the ground rotating, but the speed of the treadmill is faster.

Moreover, the ground became uneven, and it became more difficult to maintain running speed and stability.

It is very difficult for a fourth-level straw man to pass the level, and you need a fifth-level to be absolutely sure.

Zhao Xing's magical straw man still passed the test quickly.

"Zhao Xing of the Divine Might Army, you have passed the second level and obtained 400 points. You do not need to learn the content of the second level anymore. Please proceed to the next location."

Zhao Xing looked at the ground mirror and found that he had indeed gained 400 points. The sender was the Sino-Agricultural Supervisor Liu Tianning. Adding the 50 points from the first level, he had earned 450 points in just a short while.

"It's great to study law and earn money."

Zhao Xing learned the next location and immediately took off into the clouds.

The third level was played in a different location, a manor nestled in the mountains and surrounded by water.

This is also where Liu Tianning lives.

"Whoo~"

The clouds and mist dissipated, and Zhao Xing landed at the gate outside the manor.

"Please come in."

As soon as he landed, a figure appeared at the door and extended an invitation to Zhao Xing.

"Thank you, teacher." Zhao Xing thought that Liu Tianning came out to greet him personally, and he was a little surprised. But after a closer look, he found that it was not Liu Tianning himself, but just a straw man.

But this straw man was too lifelike, with eyes and nose, and even wearing clothes, and the exposed skin was flesh-colored. When Zhao Xing first saw it, he thought it was a real person and felt it was a bit weird, so he used the Five Elements to see the clues.

"Follow me." Liu Tianning's straw man turned around and jumped forward, and soon arrived at the foot of the mountain. Zhao Xing saw his agile movements up the mountain, moving and dodging between the mountain roads, just like a warrior performing his body skills.

"Liu Tianning must be a big shot who is good at the straw man technique. He must have some unique skills. I must learn it from him." Zhao Xing thought to himself and couldn't help but quicken his pace.

(End of this chapter)