Chapter 56: Autumn leaves open the mountains, and the mountains are beautiful
Three quarters of an hour later, Zhao Xing was finally caught.

Under a rockery, Shen Zhui breathed slightly and nailed the iron ruler on Zhao Xing's head.

Zhao Xing was slightly stunned, then put away his magic.

"Brother Shen, you win again."

Shen Zhui took back the iron ruler, his eyes a little surprised: "Brother Zhao, you have improved too fast. This is only the third time we have sparred, and you have already been able to attract lightning, and this strange rain... It actually took me three quarters of an hour to catch you."

"Losing is losing, Brother Shen, you don't need to comfort me."

Shen Zhui shook his head and said, "I'm telling the truth. After the first quarter of an hour, my energy consumption was three times greater than last time. After two quarters of an hour, my body movements were no longer accurate."

Ice rain consumes a lot of energy and blood. After all, this spell is known to freeze vital energy. For example, when Zheng Lun used it in an ambush, the halberd warrior was directly frozen into an ice stick.

Of course, Zhao Xing had just gotten started and didn’t even have a first-level spell, so his suppression power on Shen Zhui, who was at the seventh level of Ju Yuan, was not that exaggerated.

"But in the third quarter of an hour, your strength suddenly increased dramatically. You completely ignored the influence of the icy rain and merged into the rain. Brother Shen, what's your trick?" Zhao Xing asked.

Shen Zhui smiled and said, "It's the secret skill 'Qian Yuan Burning Blood'. It can take my strength to a higher level in a short period of time, and my control over my body will be even stronger."

"Only in this way can we withstand the erosion of rain and the bombardment of your thunder."

Zhao Xing suddenly realized: "It seems that I still can't force Brother Shen to use his full strength."

Shen Zhui laughed and said, "You didn't use your full strength, did you? I didn't even see you use the wind this time."

"My style is more difficult to deal with. I haven't mastered it yet, so it's not easy to use it on Brother Shen."

It's not a life-and-death fight, but just a sparring match, so there's no need for Zhao Xing to use Yin Feng on Shen Zhui.

Even this ice rain spell failed to exert its true power.

It is autumn now, and it is still scorching hot, with the yang energy being strong.

The effect of the Freezing Rain spell is halved.

If it is late winter or early spring, the Ice Rain spell will work normally.

But there is no way around it. Si Nong can take advantage of the right time and place, but he will also be affected by it.

Unless he has reached a certain level, Zhao Xing will begin to practice the "Solar Terms Order" and master the winter solar terms. Then he will no longer be restricted by the environment, and ice and rain will be able to exert their maximum power.

The two were chatting when Chen Shijie walked out of the room.

"You two should stop sparring for the next few days. The day after tomorrow is Autumn Faction's departure from the mountains. Go back and recuperate, and prepare well for this assessment."

"Yes." Shen Zhui and Zhao Xing said goodbye together.

The "Lingshan Law" of the Great Zhou Dynasty stipulated that "all counties with Lingshan must follow the cycle of heaven and earth, close the mountain at the spring equinox to nurture life, and open the mountain at the autumn equinox to collect its spiritual beauty."

Donghu Mountain in Gucheng is a thousand feet high. It is a natural wonder with condensed vital energy, making it a true "sacred mountain".

After Zhao Xing and Shen chased out of Chen's house, they started chatting.

"Brother Zhao, the day after tomorrow will be the day when Autumn Leaves the Mountain. You should be very busy these few days."

Mountains, rivers, lakes and land are all under the management of the Sinong Supervisor, so Lingshan is naturally also under the supervision of the Sinong Supervisor.

When serving in a place with a "sacred mountain", the Minister of Agriculture must also know the "method of opening the mountain" and the "method of closing the mountain".

Because the mountains are closed during the Spring Equinox and opened during the Autumnal Equinox, both require the Si Nong to cast spells.

Zhao Xing said with a smile: "What does it have to do with me if the Minister of Agriculture opens up the mountain? How many methods do I know? It's not like I need to perform the method of opening up the mountain."

Shen Zhui asked, "Brother Zhao, will you go to the mountains to collect spiritual treasures?" Zhao Xing said without hesitation, "Of course I will go."

To nurture the spiritual beauty of the mountain, and then to harvest the 'spirituality', this is the meaning of closing and opening the mountain.

The beauty of mountains can bring different benefits to people.

Some people have their lifespan increased, some have their luck increased, some have their vitality boosted, and some have their magic skills taken to a higher level.

A big reason why Ji Tianling Caoxi was able to be enfeoffed as a lord after his death was because he created a sacred mountain called Donghu Lake.

Since the birth of Lingshan Mountain in Gucheng, the assessment of officials on the day of the Autumnal Equinox has been linked to Donghu Mountain, which has become a tradition.

"The assessment for the Autumnal Equinox is to climb the mountain and collect spiritual beauty after the mountain is opened."

“Ranking is based on harvest.”

"The beauty of the mountains can be divided into three levels: high, medium and low."

"The best one is the Qiyun Lingxiu, which can increase your luck."

"The middle grade is for the essence of the law, which can either lead to a breakthrough in realm or a breakthrough in spells."

"The lower grade is Longevity and Spiritual Beauty. The increase is very small and not obvious."

"If you get the best spiritual talent, you will be rated A, if you get the middle spiritual talent, you will be rated B, if you get the lowest spiritual talent, you will be rated C, if you get nothing, then your score will not be counted."

Shen Zhui said with a hint of envy: "I heard that during the great opening of the mountain ten years ago, someone went straight into the eighth level from the first level. It's really enviable."

There are different periods of mountain opening and closing, with the shortest being one year and the longest being ten years.

However, of the nine sacred mountains in Nanyang County, very few were sealed or opened on a large scale. The one Shen Zhui mentioned was only sealed for three years.

"There are nine sacred mountains in Nanyang County. Although Donghu Mountain is only ranked fifth, that year not only did officials from this county actively participate, but officials from other counties also came."

Zhao Xing said: "Brother Shen only sees the lucky ones, but he doesn't know that there are also people who die without a burial place. Climbing the mountain to collect spiritual beauty is not only beneficial, but also dangerous."

Shen Zhui said: "Climbing Lingshan Mountain and collecting spiritual beauty, all people in Nanyang County can participate, but from September 22nd to September 24th, only officials are allowed to enter, and no experts will enter the mountain."

The day after tomorrow is the autumnal equinox, but by this time the post station in Gucheng is already full, and many officials from other counties want to try their luck in Donghu Mountain.

The county government office was also overcrowded because out-of-town references required advance notification.

Gucheng was relatively good, but the number one spiritual mountain in Nanyang County, Yuanping Mountain, had many people. The competition was also greater, and many officials had already reached the ninth level of Juyuan, and some had even reached the realm of Rupin, but had not been formally accepted as officials.

Zhao Xing shook his head and said, "I mean that mountain climbing itself is somewhat dangerous."

When climbing mountains to collect spiritual objects, competition among officials is limited. They can rob, but killing and maiming are not allowed.

However, the mountains and rivers are dangerous, especially the newly opened Lingshan Mountain, which is inherently dangerous and people have died there.

Shen Zhui gripped the iron ruler at his waist and said firmly, "Even though it's dangerous, I'm going to give it a try this year. Otherwise, who knows how many competitors there will be next year? They say it's getting harder every year."

For officials, climbing mountains to enjoy the beauty of nature is an opportunity to overtake others. For those who are already ahead, they must participate even more to prevent being overtaken.

After a pause, he looked at Zhao Xing: "Will you go?"

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Of course I will go. I am a local. If the mountain god doesn't bless a local like me, will he bless an outsider?"

This is of course a joke. Although people go up the mountain to worship gods during the Autumnal Equinox, the gods do not care whether you are a local or a foreigner. As long as you are a citizen of the Zhou Dynasty, you will be treated equally.

"Hahaha, then let's meet at Donghu Mountain the day after tomorrow." Shen Zhui laughed and left.

(End of this chapter)