vncnus Page 31
Page 31
"Yes, Tian Zhong did not sleep in his own room last night, but returned from outside in the early morning."
Lu Ni reported softly. She knew exactly when to speak and what tone to use. No wonder Wei Wuji could entrust his back to her with such confidence.
"Given Tian Zhong's personality, there aren't many things that would make him stay out overnight..." Lu Wei analyzed Tian Zhong's character, and considering that the autumn harvest festival was to be held tomorrow, he figured it would probably be the Tian brothers...
Tian Meng, Tian Hu.
"Should I investigate Tian Zhong's purpose?" Lu Ni suggested, seeing that Lu Wei had not spoken for a long time.
As her investigation into Tian Zhong deepened, she naturally learned why her master wanted to eliminate him.
Therefore, she secretly tried to figure out Lu Wei's thoughts.
"There's no need to take the risk."
However, Lu Wei waved his hand and refused. He got out of bed and put on a long robe: "Just find an opportunity to get rid of him as soon as possible!"
"Yes!" Lu Ni nodded in understanding. After waiting for about ten seconds and receiving no further instructions from her master, she silently left the room.
Professionals are professionals!
While Lu Wei was pleased with how well his new subordinate was doing, he also kept in mind how Lord Xinling had died.
After a quick wash, Lu Wei went out and headed straight for the main hall.
Ever since his conversation with Zhou He that night, this Master Zhou would occasionally ask him to come over for a chat or to spar with him.
Lu Wei did his best to satisfy him, but Zhou He was still hesitant about whether to push him out to compete against Tian Zhong.
Having already secured Lu Ni's hand, Lu Wei had other plans for this matter and was therefore not in a hurry, which earned Zhou He's approval from another perspective.
"Such a temperament is indeed much better than that of Zhou Zhang and Xu Qiu!"
In the past, he would go to see Zhou He empty-handed, but today he brought a fine iron sword: Master Zhou wanted to practice his sword skills today.
Lu Wei would not spoil his mood, especially since he had just acquired a purple sword technique: "Maple Forest Sword Technique"!
The last time I got a purple-quality skill from the daily treasure chest was almost two years ago, the "Cease of Breath" technique. I haven't used it intentionally many times since I learned it.
After more than 600 days and 600 draws, I can finally learn a free purple skill again.
With Luqiu Pavilion as his backing a few months ago, he could have afforded most of those purple-level skills if he had gone all in on the system shop.
However, firstly, his own martial arts skills were not yet fully mastered, and Flying Snow was a bottomless pit that required further study. Lu Wei understood the principle of not trying to do too much at once.
Secondly, with his internal energy cultivation techniques, fist and palm skills, swordsmanship, lightness skills, and even mental attack methods, his entire set of skills has no obvious weaknesses, so it's best to save up the points in the store for now.
Who knows, maybe one day when there's an urgent need, I can still act extravagantly.
However, since we've gotten a new sword technique for free, we might as well learn it. The Butterfly Sword Technique has its own unique characteristics, focusing on light and gorgeous flashy skills.
He quickly skimmed through the Maple Forest Sword Technique and discovered that this sword technique was better suited to combining with internal energy to attack with sword energy, catching opponents off guard.
When one reaches a high level of skill, the sword energy can leave the body, like a maple forest in autumn shaking off the wind, with thousands of 'red leaves' fluttering down to attack the enemy.
These two sword techniques complement each other well. If they could be combined, they would be even more adept at using them.
However, with his current level of swordsmanship, it would be a pipe dream to achieve the integration through independent research and development.
After all, it is common knowledge among swordsmen that those with exceptional talent spend ten years honing their skills.
Lu Wei possesses a clear and discerning mind, and his sensitivity to martial arts surpasses that of ordinary swordsmen. It would take him at least nine years to hone these two swords into a single, unified style.
------
With a series of clanging sounds, in the backyard of the main hall, after exchanging more than twenty blows with Zhou He using the Butterfly Sword Technique mixed with the Maple Forest Sword Technique that she was learning, both of them sheathed their swords together.
"You mentioned yesterday that you had comprehended a new sword technique, and today you can use it quite well. Such talent is truly extraordinary."
Zhou He arrived at the stone table in the backyard, handed the long sword to his disciple, and stroked his beard, praising Lu Wei's performance.
"You flatter me, Master." Although he had shown some different feelings towards Zhou He, it did not prevent him from being shy and modest. "The way of the sword lies in enlightenment. Once you understand it, you will know the sword in your hand!"
"I was just lucky."
Lu Wei, who had just copied the Maple Forest Sword Technique yesterday and then immediately swallowed the San Yi Pill to cheat, said this.
I bought this pill a long time ago during a newbie discount. Its effect is to increase the learning experience of a certain skill by a fixed amount.
It's only worthwhile to consume this stuff when you're just starting out with a skill; once you've mastered it a little, its value drops drastically.
The original price was 500 gold coins, which was very expensive.
Zhou He laughed heartily at the other party's feigned humility and genuine arrogance. His personality reminded Lu Wei of Tian Guang, whom he had spent some time with.
“If I weren’t going to enter the Tomb of the Six Sages in two years, I would definitely take you, with your precious talent, as my disciple.”
"Master..." Completely unexpectedly, Zhou He suddenly revealed his abdication date. Lu Wei instinctively followed the rhetoric from the book "The Complete Guide to High Emotional Intelligence" he had previously read:
"A teacher for a day is a teacher for life. I have long regarded the head of the hall as my true master!"
"You brat..." Zhou He was taken aback, then, remembering the boy's temperament, he smiled and shook his head: "I won't do anything to mislead young people, but the reason I brought this up today is indeed to pass on two things to you..."
"Master, please give your instructions." Lu Wei stood ramrod straight, just like Lu Ni when she was receiving his orders, his eyes flashing with the words 'I am listening attentively'.
"A severed hand due to the spring chill, and immunity to all poisons!"
Chapter 43 Autumn Harvest Festival
That's it?
Lu Wei solemnly accepted the Spring Cold Severed Palm Manual and the Elixir of Immunity to All Poisons. After bidding farewell to Zhou He and leaving the main hall, he couldn't help but let his face fall.
These two things are, firstly, the signature skill of the Gonggong Hall, a martial arts manual that all high-ranking members of the Gonggong Hall must learn; and secondly, the unique physique of the Farmer Clan, which is well-known to outsiders.
However, for Lu Wei personally, his evaluation of them is only:
"Neither fish nor fodder..."
First, let's talk about the Spring Cold Severing Palm. He had seen this insidious palm technique before from Xu Sheng. Although it had its own merits compared to his own Frost Palm, it was really not worth Lu Wei's extra effort to study it carefully.
A person's energy is limited. Of all the martial arts skills he possesses, only the Rejuvenation Skill can operate on its own without his special attention. The other skills require him to set aside time each week for dedicated practice.
Yesterday, he added the Maple Forest Sword Technique to his repertoire, leaving no room for the Spring Chill Severed Palm Technique.
After learning this palm technique, it should be able to complement the Frost Palm, but for the time being, it'll probably just gather dust...
Secondly, there is the secret medicine that makes one immune to all poisons. By taking the secret medicine for multiple courses of treatment, the disciples of the farming family can acquire a constitution that makes them immune to all poisons.
Legend has it that this was passed down after Shennong, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, tasted hundreds of herbs. Many people in the martial arts world are extremely envious of this: being immune to all poisons makes traveling all over the country so much more convenient!
This secret medicine has always been a gift from only the highest-ranking members of farming families, and it has never been passed on to outsiders for hundreds of years.
However, immunity to all poisons is actually another form of poison, using its own poison to devour the poison of others; this is the essence of immunity to all poisons.
It also has an awkward side effect: people with this constitution will develop a high degree of resistance to other medications. Therefore, when they are injured and need treatment, or actively seek out certain miracle cures, the effects will be extremely limited...
Of course, despite this, for most people, this physical condition is still a positive one.
But Lu Wei is not one of the 'majority'.
With the internal energy of the Rejuvenation Skill protecting his body, there are not many poisons in the world that can harm him. Once the orange-quality Rejuvenation Skill is mastered, unless the internal energy is sealed, it is an 'immune to all poisons' without any side effects!
On the other hand, if one's internal energy is sealed, would an enemy still need to use poison to kill them?
It's a complete waste of money, absolutely useless.
Let's save this for later as a reward to those who have made great contributions...
------
On the first day of the autumn harvest festival, we must worship Shennong, the ancestral master.
Before dawn, the entire Dazeshan Mountain had already awakened.
The night before, Lu Wei instructed Lu Ni to carefully paste the portrait of the God of Grains on the wall, making sure it wasn't blown down by the wind within seven days.
He himself went to the main hall and lined up in front of the Shennong statue to receive the "Five Grains Abundant Harvest" offering. By the time he returned with a small bowl containing hemp, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans, it was already broad daylight.
There are tens of thousands of disciples from the Farmers' School across the land, and Dazeshan has gathered 20,000 for this Autumn Harvest Conference. Averaging out the six halls, that's more than 3,000 each, making the queueing process quite grueling.
These people are all skilled in martial arts. Although they lack military training, if the leader of the bandits were to give an order, it would not be a problem for them to take down several small towns in the surrounding Qi Kingdom.
The gray-wood-colored Five Grains God affixed to the wide door frame; when passing under it, one must bow one's head and walk quickly.
The walls inside the house were covered with pictures of grains, symbolizing the teaching of the farmer's disciples to be grateful for the abundance of food and clothing brought by these grains.
After offering the small bowl of grains to the wooden Shennong statue on the table, bowing and reciting the first chapter of the agricultural classic "Shennong," "Establishing Agriculture," in its entirety, the morning's personal sacrificial ceremony is complete.
Today, the students of the Farmer's School will have breakfast on the ground along a field ridge, below which lies a large wheat field.
The golden wheat grains swayed precariously; this vast 'golden' area was the site of the second rural sacrificial ceremony.
The September sun was still scorching, and 20,000 farmers gathered and sat in the open air, sweat automatically streaming down their faces.
Lu Wei was a four-star steward, and his position was relatively close to the front of the wheat field. Not far in front of him, Tian Zhong was sitting at the head of the Gonggong Hall disciples' area.
Since the hall masters have not yet arrived, the hall stewards are the overall persons in charge of their respective halls.
When Tian Zhong inadvertently made eye contact with Lu Wei, a sinister smile appeared on his lips: he certainly still remembered this Lu Qiu Pavilion disciple who had insulted him a few weeks ago.
After a while, once I officially become the hall master, Luqiu Pavilion will cease to exist!
Tian Zhong wasn't in a hurry to seek revenge. He glanced at the other party, convinced that as long as he didn't make any mistakes now, what was meant to be his would eventually be his.
Completely unaware, behind Lu Wei lurked a pair of slender, phoenix-shaped eyes, plotting to kill him...
At the moment when the sun was at its fiercest, the six hall masters finally arrived.
Lieshan Tang Tianmeng, with thick, bushy eyebrows and slightly narrowed eyes, looked extremely gloomy, having recently lost his wife and children.
Chi Youtang Tianhu, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and flowing hair, walked with a breezy gait, living up to his name.
His right eye was not blind at this time, and it would not be blind in the future. From this point of view, Tian Hu should be very grateful to Lu Wei.
Zhu Jia of Shennong Hall, a short man known for his thousand faces, is wearing a mask of joy today.
Chen Sheng of Kuiwei Hall, a burly and powerful man who had just taken over as the hall master last year, was muscular, upright, and his hearty laughter indicated that he was in a very good mood.
Situ Wanli of the Four Mountains Hall is a merchant who rose to the position of hall master through seniority. The fabric of his clothes is the softest among the hall masters. You could say he is a successful version of Xu Qiu.
Zhou He of Gonggongtang was an old acquaintance of Lu Wei, so there's no need for further introduction.
The hall masters did not carry any weapons today, but each held a sickle. They were about to harvest the wheat field surrounded by their disciples.
This ritual uses the example set by the head of the hall, requiring all six heads of the hall to bend over and harvest wheat, thereby encouraging their disciples to work hard and not be lazy.