The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Zhao Xing was in high spirits, but Madam Cai was less so.

She had originally intended to save the meat for another meal, but since it was already in the pot, it would be too much trouble to take it out. So, she decided to add a bit more to ensure that Zheng'er wouldn't go hungry. The boy had started his martial training, and he needed proper nutrition to keep up.

"Eat, eat, eat—let's see if you can eat yourself to death, you mud-legged peasant," she muttered under her breath, glaring at the pot as if Zhao Xing himself were simmering in it. She banged the chopping board with a rhythm as if venting her frustration on the food.

The noise from the kitchen grew louder, but no one else paid attention to it.

That was because Zhao Ruide was busy training Zhao Zheng in martial arts in the courtyard.

Zhao Ruide stood in a martial stance, seemingly motionless, like an ancient pine tree, steady and firm. Though nearing sixty, his breathing was long and steady, and the density of his internal energy far surpassed Zhao Xing's.

"Seated Mountain Stance—standing like a mountain," Zhao Xing thought. "This technique, though a mid-rank martial stance, has been cultivated by Father to the level of a top-rank art. It seems that with enough time and effort, even a basic technique can produce great power."

Whether it was martial skills or spell techniques, it was possible to transcend their original grades through deep understanding and continuous practice. There was no true limit to what could be achieved. However, in the current version of the world, such instances were rare. This was largely because there were so many ways to obtain new techniques, and after mastering a technique through the "Nine Transformations" (reaching full proficiency), most people would simply move on to more advanced arts. The world's rules also imposed limits on such breakthroughs, and it wasn't until the later Revival Era that these occurrences would become more common.

Zhao Ruide's stance was solid and disciplined, his breathing in sync with the energy flow, while Zhao Zheng was slacking off nearby. He shifted his feet restlessly, twisted his waist, scratched his head—his mind clearly not on training.

The moment he saw Zhao Xing return, Zhao Zheng's eyes lit up, as though he had found the perfect excuse to stop training. "Big Brother, you're back! Father, why don't you two talk while I go grab towels for you?"

This little rascal clearly wasn't enthusiastic about his brother's return—he just wanted to escape training. At this point, even if a dog walked by, he'd probably call it "brother" if it gave him an excuse to take a break.

"Get back here! Who told you to stop?!" Zhao Ruide bellowed.

Zhao Zheng simply grinned and darted away, completely ignoring his father's orders.

Zhao Xing chuckled at the sight. Martial training seldom worked well when a father taught his son—it was hard for a parent to discipline their child too harshly. Besides, Zhao Ruide doted on his late-born son and would only scold him lightly. At this rate, training was going nowhere.

"Zhao Zheng, come here," Zhao Xing called out.

"Uh… Big Brother…" Zhao Zheng hesitated, looking conflicted.

"One, two…"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Zhao Zheng jolted into action and ran over immediately.

"Who told you to stop? Get back into stance!"

Zhao Zheng's face fell, his shoulders slumped, and he reluctantly took his place beside Zhao Ruide.

"Knees bent, chest up, arms straight!" Zhao Xing barked, giving Zhao Zheng's legs a kick to correct his posture.

"I've got it, Big Brother, I'm standing properly now," Zhao Zheng said with a sheepish smile, not daring to get angry.

Zhao Ruide pretended not to notice his younger son's pitiful demeanor. It wasn't entirely Zhao Zheng's fault. He was spoiled by both his parents. Even when he misbehaved, he was only lightly scolded. The only person who treated him differently was Zhao Xing—who wasn't shy about handing out real punishment when necessary. And no matter how much Zhao Zheng complained to his parents, they never sided with him. Though not related by blood, Zhao Zheng still felt an instinctive respect, or even fear, toward Zhao Xing.

Dinner was served in the courtyard. Zhao Ruide didn't stand on ceremony, and Madam Cai, having been a songstress, cared little for formalities. The evening air was cool, so they all ate outside.

With Zhao Xing around, Zhao Zheng's behavior at the dinner table improved significantly. However, after a while, he started to fidget again. "Mother, I'm hot," he said, though his eyes were fixed on Zhao Xing, hoping for a reprieve.

"I'll fan you," Madam Cai immediately put down her chopsticks to fetch a fan.

"No need for that," Zhao Xing said, pointing his finger toward the sky. Instantly, a cloud formed, blocking the setting sun's rays, while a gentle breeze blew through the courtyard. The sight made Zhao Zheng's eyes sparkle with admiration.

Even Zhao Ruide was surprised. "You've mastered Wind Summoning already? And your clouds are much bigger now."

Zhao Xing nodded. "I've made some progress recently."

In truth, he had made more than just "some" progress. Zhao Xing's Cloud Summoning had surpassed 5,000 proficiency points, reaching what was called "five transformations," allowing him to cover a range of five kilometers.

Zhao Ruide, who had a wealth of experience, immediately recognized the significant improvement in the spell, and he could tell that his foster son had grown much more capable, exuding a calm confidence that hadn't been there before.

"Do you think you'll make it to official rank this year?"

Zhao Xing put down his chopsticks. "I'm about eighty percent sure."

"And what's missing for the other twenty percent?"

"Good mentors and strong recommendations," Zhao Xing replied after a moment's thought.

Although Xue Wenzhong had agreed to take him on as a disciple, the official apprenticeship ceremony hadn't yet taken place. It was uncertain how much support the old Shennong Official would offer, and even if he did, one mentor alone might not be enough.

While exam results were the most important factor in becoming an official, recommendations still played a role—especially when candidates had similar scores or were closely ranked.

Zhao Ruide nodded, asking no further questions.

In the following days, Zhao Xing noticed that the meals at home had become much richer, featuring more ingredients to boost vitality.

At the Shennong Division, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Zhao Xing arrived at Xue Wenzhong's courtyard.

"Boom! Boom!"

A small cloud, only three meters wide, hovered five meters above Zhao Xing's head. The sound of thunder rumbled continuously, and flashes of lightning lit up his face intermittently.

Moments later, the cloud dispersed.

Zhao Xing checked his progress.

Thunder Summoning: Beginner Spell

Progress: (3005/9999)

Effect: Can summon thunder within clouds created by Cloud Summoning.

"Thunder Summoning has already reached three transformations. The power is increasing. Old Official Xue truly is a treasure of a mentor," Zhao Xing mused.

He had only recently learned Thunder Summoning, but in just a few days, it had already reached three transformations. Apart from the benefits of the Dao Embryo Pill and his good fortune, Xue Wenzhong's personalized guidance was a significant factor in his rapid progress.

For instance, just earlier, Xue Wenzhong had instructed him to keep his Cloud Summoning within a range of three meters and then cast Thunder Summoning. This method required precise control, but it was an excellent way to train his skills—and it provided a large boost to his proficiency points!

"Clouds in the palm, thunder within three feet—that's a technique I came up with myself," Xue Wenzhong said, conjuring a small cloud in his palm, where lightning crackled and coiled.

"The Imperial Court may teach many techniques that anyone can learn, but finding the best, most suitable casting method for yourself—that's where true mastery lies."

"Think about it carefully. Spend the morning practicing in the back courtyard. I'll come check on you after I finish teaching. I heard you earned A+ in the Minor Heat exam a few days ago. Don't get cocky. There's still a big gap between you and the top talents from the other divisions. Among the thirty people on the A list, every one of them is stronger than you."

"Yes, Teacher, I will remember that," Zhao Xing replied, bowing respectfully.