From Celestial Official to Great Celestial Venerable

Chapter 52 Rune Array
Shi Hu knew his apprentice Yue Chen's character well.

This honest and simple young man was originally a coal miner in Dachuan Township. Because of his down-to-earth work and meticulousness, he was taken in by the man and sent to study Taoism. He was also recommended to go to a blessed land to specialize in archaeology.

Over the years, Yue Chen has always maintained that honest and kind demeanor, never uttering a falsehood.

This is why Shi Hu was even more surprised and suspicious—just what kind of amazing talent Huo Laoguai's disciple had shown in the pit that made Yue Chen not hesitate to say such an unseemly thing as "poaching talent"?

When asked what Qin Chuan's exceptional qualities were, Yue Chen's tone was unmistakably grave:

"Teacher, you don't know, this Junior Brother Qin... he mastered two archaeological tools in just one hour. With just a little guidance from me on the principles of soil and miasma, he was able to apply what he learned to other situations, analyzing the soil layers in the pit clearly, just like a master who has been immersed in this field for more than ten years!"

He took a deep breath, as if he wouldn't give up until he brought Qin Chuan to do archaeology:
"This guy is clearly born to be a farmer! He's a natural archaeologist! Teacher, you can't let such a talent go back to farming; it would be a huge loss to our archaeological field!"

Shi Hu's eyelids twitched as he listened: "What you're saying is too much... Are you exaggerating even a little bit?"

Yue Chen said earnestly, "Why should this disciple speak presumptuously? Teacher, you will know the truth when you go and see for yourself tomorrow."

Shi Hu remained silent.

Since Yue Chen has said so, there is no doubt about this matter.

But... does such a prodigy truly exist in this world?
In just one day or an hour, one can master a skill that others cannot acquire in several years.
Recalling Huo Yuanjue's boast in the General Knowledge Talisman that he had obtained a "once-in-a-millennium genius," his heart was stirred once again.

But he needs to verify it thoroughly before making a decision.

……

Meanwhile, Qin Chuan returned to the county town aboard the archaeological team's flying boat. He sat cross-legged on the kang (heated brick bed) in the He family courtyard and placed the jade slip containing the "Earth Emperor's Mountain-Crushing Cannon" between his eyebrows.

In an instant, a profound and mysterious incantation flooded into his consciousness.

This method involves drawing upon the earth's spiritual energy, condensing and aggregating it within the body to generate powerful true energy, like gunpowder exploding, and even solidified earth thunder.

When true energy erupts, its power is overwhelming, and it can even blast neat cubic craters into the ground—this is the origin of the crater behind Yue Chen after the fight.

With this skill, Shi Hu became a sought-after figure in civil engineering projects across Jiuchuan, and was invincible in splitting mountains and rocks.

Qin Chuan recalled the domineering aura that Yue Chen displayed when he used this technique, which was as powerful as splitting mountains and shattering rocks, and longed for it.

However, after studying for an hour, he still couldn't get the hang of it, and the Tianyun Furnace panel was not included.

It seems that this method has a high barrier to entry.

He wasn't in a hurry, as he had intended to linger with the archaeological team for a few more days—the method for refining the gold bottle seal hadn't been fully developed yet, and the artifacts in the other pits were also making him very eager to try them out.

The next day, Qin Chuan arrived at the Nongling Temple experimental field, only to find his two mu of Ling oranges being divided and transplanted. He frowned and went forward:

Where are we moving to?

Pu Hui from Longhu Fudi turned his head upon hearing the voice. The burly man grinned and said, "Brother Qin, don't worry. We'll just move the three groups of Lingcheng oranges to the newly established experimental field according to the grouping plan. It's indeed inconvenient for four groups to be in the same field. Separate cultivation will make observation easier. I'm skilled in soil cultivation, so I can guarantee a smooth transplant."

Seeing the sincerity in his words, Qin Chuan's expression softened slightly: "Thank you for your trouble."

The die is cast, and further discussion is pointless.

Before long, Feng He arrived with three disciples to transplant the second group of spirit oranges, but they didn't even say hello, and even dug up a few more trees before leaving.

In the blink of an eye, only about seventy of the original hundred or so orange trees remained.

"It's all for work, for Jiuchuan."

Huo Yuanjue's voice came from behind him.

Qin Chuan turned around and saw the old man handing him a classic book:
"This is the 'Guide to Cultivating Spirit Rice,' a treasured book in the temple. It is the culmination of the life's work of the grain master Gu Suilai a hundred years ago, and may be helpful in your assessment of the True Man Xuanji."

The moment Qin Chuan received it, the Heavenly Essence Furnace already sensed it:

[Item: Spirit Rice Planting Guide]

[Jiuchuan Grain Master Gu Suilai's 20 years of breeding experience includes "grain cultivation" techniques, which can be refined or recycled into 20 points of Dharma Essence.]

He was overjoyed and quickly thanked her. "Feng He has prepared even more lavishly for his disciple, even using the Five Elements Essence from the Agricultural Academy."

Huo Yuanjue waved his hand and said, "I only hope to increase your chances of winning. I have done my best."

Qin Chuan was deeply moved, then turned to look at Tanaka Lingcheng:
"Isn't Master Xuanji going to transplant the seedlings?"

“The spirit orange was just a pretext for him to stay here; he didn’t really care about it.” Old Huo took out another compass. “The maintenance will still be done according to your method. This is the spirit-gathering array plate that we applied for. How to coordinate it with the Yi Wood True Qi is something you and I, master and disciple, need to study and refine carefully.”

Just as Qin Chuan reached out, the Heavenly Essence Furnace sent another message:

[Item: Spirit Gathering Array Plate]

This is a ritual implement from Nongling Temple, capable of gathering and drawing spiritual energy from the earth's veins within a ten-mile radius. Having been used for generations, it contains techniques for "spirit gathering" and "spirit gathering arrays," which can be refined or recycled into 300 magical essences.

He was shocked – it contained two skills at the same time!
In particular, the techniques of gathering spirits and forming arrays are exactly the benefits that one dreams of on the path of cultivation.

This achievement far exceeded expectations.

Immediately, he followed Huo Yuanjue's words and said, "Please allow me to familiarize myself with this array first, and then I will discuss a plan with you, Master."

Huo Yuanjue had no suspicions, so he gave Qin Chuan some time to be alone and went to rest in the cabin first.

Qin Chuan found an excuse and began studying the "Guide to Spirit Rice Cultivation" and the Spirit Gathering Array Plate alone by the spirit field. In reality, he was secretly activating the Heavenly Essence Furnace to quietly refine the magical essence within.

Three hours passed quietly, and the sun was already beginning to set. Suddenly, three clear streams of insight flowed into my mind:

[Grain Cultivation Techniques (Intermediate Level) Successfully Extracted]

[Spirit Gathering Technique (Fourth Level) successfully extracted]

[Spirit Gathering Array (Tier 1) successfully extracted]

In an instant, all the key points about grains, climate, soil, water, pest and disease prevention, breeding and germination, the methods and secrets of gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and even the profound principles of setting up a first-order spirit-gathering array, were as clear as the lines on the palm of my hand.

These new insights corroborated his existing second-tier talismanic skills, and he suddenly understood everything. Not only did he have a complete plan for the cultivation of the spirit oranges, but he also had a clear understanding of the questions for Xuanji Zhenren's essay and the cultivation plan for the Five-Colored Spirit Valley.

He immediately took out his talisman brush, applied for cinnabar talisman paper from the temple, and began to apply the talisman.

Little did he know that while he was diligently drawing talismans and arrays...

behind.

But an old man with white hair and beard arrived silently.

It was none other than the True Man Xuanji.

He possessed a Daoist certificate of a fifth-rank Vice Grand Scholar in Xiaoxiang Cave Heaven, and was already a professional Daoist cultivator at the Golden Core stage. It would be too easy for him to remain hidden to the side without attracting the attention of a Daoist in the Qi Refining stage.

Master Xuanji was initially attracted by Qin Chuan's talisman-drawing skills. After all, he had heard the plan that day and knew that Qin Chuan and Huo Yuanjue would use the Yi Mu Qing Tian Jue in conjunction with the Gathering Spirit Technique to nurture the spirit orange.

He had assumed that the plan would be devised by Huo Yuanjue, the old farmer, but he never expected that it would be Qin Chuan, the fifth-level Qi Refining kid, who was doing it.

Without realizing it, I walked over, and once I saw it, I was immediately drawn to it.

At first, he thought Qin Chuan might have written down some ideas on paper, but upon closer inspection, he realized...

This kid is actually drawing talismans!
No, he didn't just draw talismans. He finished drawing one talisman very quickly, and then he started drawing a more intricate spiritual energy structure.

Unbeknownst to him, Master Xuanji's gaze swept over the exquisite brushstrokes of the "Yi Wood Azure Sky Gathering Spirit Talisman," and upon closer inspection of the intricate structure of the "Yi Wood Azure Sky Gathering Spirit Array" diagram, he couldn't help but speak, his fingertips trembling slightly as he pointed at the talisman array diagram, his voice changing tone:

"This...this...this is something a Qi Refining stage Taoist could draw?!"

Qin Chuan was startled when a thin, bony finger appeared in front of him, pointing at the blueprints.

Where did those fingers come from?!

(End of this chapter)