There is a saying: 'Understanding the Spell but not the Dao leads to a lifetime of emptiness; understanding the Dao but not the Spell leads to ten years of wasted effort.'
Theory is also a very important part of the assessment.
To surpass other minor officials, one must be more comprehensive. If Spell performances are similar, the one with superior Spell theory will be appointed.
Zhao Xing casually picked out a book from the shelf titled "Seventy-Two Pentads of the Monthly Ordinances." It was included in the ancient agricultural text "Explanations of Seasonal Training," and its original author is untraceable, having been re-edited by Wu Cheng, the Grand Minister of Agriculture during the reign of the Great Ancestor.
"In the first pentad of the first month, the east wind thaws; Yang Qi arrives, and the frozen solidity disperses."
"In the second pentad, hibernating insects begin to stir; to stir means to move."
"In the third pentad, fish ascend, carrying ice. To ascend means to accumulate, to rise, to be high. The Yang Qi has moved, and fish gradually swim upstream, approaching the ice."
Zhao Xing activated his Bright Eyes and Night Vision, beginning to read meticulously.
Ancient agricultural sages, in their pursuit of stable celestial phenomena, sought to find stable and long-lasting patterns, thus creating many theories.
"Seventy-Two Pentads of the Monthly Ordinances" is one such theory.
It divides the year into pentads of five days, three pentads forming a Qi, six Qi forming a season, and four seasons forming a year, totaling seventy-two pentads for the "twenty-four solar terms."
Each pentad corresponds to a specific natural phenomenon, called a "pentad response."
Among these, plant pentad responses include the sprouting of buds, flowering, and fruiting of plants; animal pentad responses include the stirring, chirping, mating, and migration of animals; non-living pentad responses include water beginning to freeze, thunder sounding, and the earth becoming moist and humid.
"In the first pentad of the second month, peach trees begin to blossom; Yang Qi begins to manifest, and from this point, it gradually strengthens."
"In the second pentad, orioles sing; these are yellow orioles."
"In the third pentad, hawks transform into doves. Hawks are fierce birds. At this time, hawks transform into doves, and by autumn, doves transform back into hawks."
The Seventy-Two Pentads of the Monthly Ordinances recorded many miraculous phenomena.
For example, 'hawks transform into doves' in the first pentad of the second month.
'Mice transform into quails' in the first pentad of the third month.
'Sparrows enter water and become clams' in the last pentad of the ninth month.
These are 'species pentad changes' caused by seasonal shifts, superimposed with environmental and Origin Qi fluctuations.
The above are not particularly exaggerated.
The ancient version of "Explanations of Seasonal Training" also recorded that in some places, the first pentad of the fourth month would see 'earth Dragon earthworms transform.'
That is, earthworms would transform into hundred-zhang-long earth Dragons!
In the first pentad of the eighth month, 'swallows transform into Xuanbirds,' ordinary swallows could transform into 'Heavenly Mandate Xuanbirds'!
In the last pentad of the twelfth month, in the Northern Darkness, there was a 'Kunpeng transformation,' where Kun fish would ascend overnight, transforming into Great Peng of the Nine Heavens!
Ordinary 'pentad changes' are measured in years; above that, there are 'ten-year pentad changes,' 'hundred-year pentad changes,' and 'thousand-year pentad changes.'
The version compiled by Wu Cheng only recorded 'ten-year pentad changes,' with a brief mention of hundred-year pentad changes.
As for the almost legendary 'thousand-year pentad changes,' they were omitted.
Because a Minister of Agriculture would never witness a thousand-year pentad change in his lifetime, and after the establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Origin Qi fluctuations were no longer so drastic, making the possibility of such examples increasingly rare.
Another reason was to avoid taboos.
Such as 'swallows transform into Xuanbirds,' 'Heavenly Mandate Xuanbirds, descending to give birth to Yin.'
It is said that the Great Ancestor of the Yin Dynasty was nurtured by a Heavenly Mandate Xuanbird, so if another Heavenly Mandate Xuanbird appeared in someone's family, it might cause unrest.
"In my previous life, I witnessed the 'Kunpeng transformation' twice in the North Sea, but I can't recall the exact time. As for the Heavenly Mandate Xuanbird, I've only heard of it and haven't witnessed it firsthand. I wonder if I'll have the chance in this life."
"However, such thousand-year pentad changes don't seem to have occurred during Emperor Jing's reign. At most, there were hundred-year pentad changes. When and where did they happen again?"
Zhao Xing thought for a moment, his memory somewhat blurry, only vaguely recalling that it seemed to be related to certain events.
"When people arrive, the earth thrives, and yellow earth turns into true gold."
"Among the Five Elements, earth is noble, not contending for fame with fire."
Zhao Xing then read "The Five Elements and the Four Seasons" for a while. This is another classic work, a theoretical doctrine that unifies the Five Elements with the four seasons, achieving internal consistency.
"It's easy to match the Five Elements with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, but matching them with the four seasons truly vexed the agricultural sages and tormented the agricultural students," Zhao Xing said with a smile as he looked at the book.
He had taken many exams on the theory of the Five Elements and the Four Seasons before. A genuine Minister of Agriculture who Cultivates "Seasonal Ordinances" must understand the principles of the Five Elements and Yin and Yang; otherwise, the seasonal commands and the transformed seasons would be neither fish nor fowl.
"Currently, the most popular theory is 'Earth Reigns in Late Summer': spring wood, summer fire, late summer earth, autumn metal, winter water."
"The Five Elements matching the months in this system is still imperfect; the corresponding time for the Fire Element and Earth Element is too short, which is inconsistent with the idea that the Five Elements should be equally balanced."
"But I'll make do with reading this for now and see what questions come up before making further plans," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
He understood many perfected theories from later generations, but the version was too advanced and might not be applicable to the current era.
As a county-level official, if he were to write some world-shaking theory, the temple examination might cause a great stir. Being too high-profile might not be a good thing, so he had to take it one step at a time.
After a night of hard study, Zhao Xing only put down his book when the golden rooster crowed.
He looked at his panel, where a series of records had already appeared.
【You read in the dark, Bright Eyes Spell proficiency +2】
【You read in the dark, Bright Eyes Spell proficiency +3】
【You in the dark...】
The Bright Eyes Spell is easy to Cultivate, with proficiency increasing almost by the minute.
Studying tirelessly day and night, Zhao Xing focused on the Bright Eyes Spell and quickly saw significant results.
After one night, the Bright Eyes Spell had Breakthrough to the fourth turn.
Bright Eyes and Night Vision; night vision is merely the introductory effect of Bright Eyes.
To achieve the effect of 'Bright Eyes and Night Vision seeing ghosts and gods,' four turns are still not enough.
"It seems I'll have to take a shortcut," Zhao Xing said. He left his house and went to a pharmacy in the market, buying a pile of mugwort leaves and a box of high-quality tung oil.
At the same time, he also purchased 'yellow paper,' 'bright sand,' 'heavenly heart grass,' and other items.
After a major shopping spree, he returned home.
"I should have remembered the quick method for Bright Eyes correctly. I truly wonder which ruthless player summarized it."
Zhao Xing muttered, lighting the mixture of mugwort leaves, bright sand, and heavenly heart grass.
A line of smoke rose like a pillar, condensing without dispersing.
Zhao Xing leaned over the smoke, beginning to fumigate his eyes.
"Hiss~"
The smoke wasn't choking; instead, it had a faint fragrance, but it really stung his eyes!
Soon, Zhao Xing felt a burning sensation. After enduring it for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had to move away.
Then he applied tung oil to his eyelids, and a cool sensation spread, making him feel much better.
【Bright Eyes and Night Vision Spell proficiency +20】
【Bright Eyes and Night Vision Spell proficiency +30】
The hardship was not in vain; Spell proficiency began to jump.
Zhao Xing followed the above procedure, practicing repeatedly.
Every day, besides going to the Agricultural Supervision Department to Cultivate the Heavenly Timing and Earthly Advantage Cultivation Spell, he would spend his evenings focusing on the Bright Eyes Spell.
Finally, before August 22nd, Zhao Xing had Cultivated the Bright Eyes Spell to the ninth turn.
"Tomorrow is the Start of Autumn solar term. We'll release river lanterns and offer sacrifices to the departed. I wonder if I can gain any benefits from it."