The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"Hm? They're about to open the mountain?" Zhao Xing, who had been feeling listless, perked up upon hearing the commotion among the crowd. He looked up expectantly.

To understand the mountain-opening technique, one must first understand the mountain-sealing technique.

During the Spring Equinox, Zhao Xing had witnessed Chen Shijie perform the mountain-sealing technique, which required the use of both spells and incantations.

At the time, Chen Shijie's incantation went:

"Rivers long to flow endlessly to the seas, mountains wish to remain eternal and unchanging. I, by the mandate of the Grand Ancestor, summon the gods to guard this mountain."

"The first command is for the Mountain God to guard the Five Elements, thus creating and nourishing all things. The second command is for the Earth Mother to harmonize Yin and Yang, blending them to nurture true spirits. The third command calls upon the Eight True Sovereigns to guard the Dao. Paths may be traversed, but no harm shall come to the flora. The mountain may be entered, yet no wild beasts shall be seen. Now, seal the mountain!"

Zhao Xing was very familiar with this mountain-sealing technique, but this version of the incantation differed from the one he had learned, as it lacked the first part.

In truth, the first part wasn't necessary for the technique to work; it was mainly for explaining to the public why the mountain was being sealed and to reference that this mandate was from the Grand Ancestor.

The first part essentially conveyed the reasoning behind the sealing—following sustainable practices, preventing people from hunting, gathering herbs, or cutting wood year-round.

The second part, however, was the essential incantation.

Since the incantation invoked the protection of the Yin gods, after the mountain was sealed, travelers could still pass through its paths but couldn't harm any of the mountain's flora or fauna. Hunters who sneaked in wouldn't find any wild animals.

This was the mountain-sealing technique.

"In the Fortune Dynasty's version of the mountain-sealing technique, the Yin gods are involved. However, in the Revival Era's version, the gods aren't necessary, and it's far more advanced, even including the ability to capture and purify demonic entities and filth."

"There's even a mountain-sealing variant called the 'Snow Mountain Command,' but it likely can't be performed now," Zhao Xing mused.

He recalled the Snow Mountain Command incantation he had used in his past life:

"At the first watch, mist and dew fall.

At the second, heavy frost descends.

At the third, a great snowstorm blankets the earth,

and at the fourth, snow upon snow piles again."

"When the rooster crows at dawn,

the trees crack and groan under the weight of the snow.

The dragon retreats its claws,

the tiger sheds its skin,

and the Black Bird loses its plumage."

"Ancestors' spirits scatter in the mountain,

leaving only white snow to cover the world."

The Snow Mountain Command was called an annihilation technique because it could kill an entire spirit mountain. Even a True Dragon would retreat and degenerate into a mere serpent. A White Tiger would lose its skin, and the heavenly Black Bird would shed its feathers. If a royal ancestral spirit was in the mountain, it would be obliterated, leaving only the snow behind.

Under the Snow Mountain Command, everything would turn to nothingness.

This sealing technique was arguably the strongest weapon of the Revival Era's Shennong Division.

As Zhao Xing reflected on the past, he came back to his senses just as Chen Shijie began his ritual.

Sealing a mountain was complex, but opening one was much simpler.

"...The Five Elements and Yin-Yang reverse, revealing the true spirit of the Dao. The Eight True Sovereigns disperse, and the Mountain God and Earth Mother return to their rest. I, by the mandate of the Grand Ancestor, hereby open this mountain!"

Chen Shijie held his official seal and recited the incantation. A golden light shot from the seal into the depths of Donghu Mountain.

The other ninth-rank Shennong officers repeated the chant four or five times before their golden lights appeared.

Seeing this, Zhao Xing immediately understood that Old Chen's rank was not as simple as it seemed.

"He's either hiding his true strength or has been demoted in the past. Otherwise, the gap in power between a regular ninth rank and his wouldn't be this significant," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Once the golden lights entered Donghu Mountain, an invisible wave of energy rippled out from the mountain.

Zhao Xing activated his Clear Sight technique and immediately saw faint starlight scattering from the mountain, along with a few ethereal visions.

He glimpsed a rare purple flower blooming, a massive tree bearing crimson fruits, and a pale golden glass lantern.

These were the only three visions he could make out clearly; the rest were too vague.

"Having maxed out my Clear Sight technique has its advantages. At the very least, when I encounter these treasures, I'll recognize them," he thought with satisfaction.

With the ritual complete, Li Wenzheng took the stage again, announcing that the government would send out the first group of people to explore the mountain and clear any dangers.

He also reminded everyone that ascending the mountain and harvesting its treasures would serve as part of the assessment for all government officials.

"Charge!"

"Climb the mountain and collect its essence!"

"Don't you dare steal my treasure!"

The moment the restriction was lifted, many rushed madly into the mountain.

It was clear from their behavior that they were mostly brute warriors.

Zhao Xing, however, took his time, walking leisurely with his Wenzhu Box on his back.

Donghu Mountain was vast, far too large to explore in just three days.

It wasn't about who ran the fastest—it was mostly about luck.

And when it came to luck, Zhao Xing had quite a bit of confidence.

"Zhao 'Triple-Top,' why aren't you rushing?" a colleague who knew him well asked as they passed by.

"I'm just here to enjoy the atmosphere. I don't expect much; you all go ahead," Zhao Xing replied with a smile, acting as if he wasn't interested in competing.

His voice wasn't quiet, and soon many who had been watching him shifted their attention elsewhere.

"I heard he's some kind of genius from the Shennong Division in Gucheng. Is this all he's got?"

"There are plenty of powerful contestants this time. I heard he's only at the third level of Essence Gathering; it makes sense he doesn't want to compete."

"At least he knows his limits."

"Hmph, maybe he's just pretending! Look at that Wenzhu Box he's carrying—no one carries something that heavy just to 'enjoy the atmosphere.'"

"Whether he's pretending or not, it doesn't matter. He's no threat."

"Let's go, we need to climb quickly."

The voices—some from other counties, some from within Gucheng—were mixed. Some believed Zhao Xing was faking it and still intended to compete for treasures, while others thought he was wisely keeping a low profile and only participating to go through the motions.

Gradually, the crowd moved ahead, leaving Zhao Xing at the back of the group.

As he continued walking, Zhao Xing spotted a familiar face.

"Young Master Zong, what are you doing sitting here?"

It was Zong Shichang, resting in a pavilion just past the mountain entrance.

"I got up too early and forgot to eat," Zong Shichang replied.

He, too, had a bamboo box on his back, but it was mostly filled with food. He even pulled out a bowl of steaming noodles!

"Are you here for the assessment or a picnic?"

Seeing Zhao Xing's gaze, Zong Shichang, thinking he was hungry, generously offered another bowl. "Want some? It's top-grade beef broth with fine noodles made from premium yuan rice. It's delicious."

Zhao Xing hadn't intended to eat, but the aroma was too enticing. He sat down to enjoy a bowl at the pavilion.

Might as well—why pass up free food from a rich man?

"How is it?" Zong Shichang asked, satisfied as he slurped his noodles.

"Pretty good," Zhao Xing admitted.

"Want some wine?" Zong Shichang offered, pulling out a bottle.

"I'll pass on the wine."

"Suit yourself. It's no fun drinking alone," Zong Shichang said, putting the bottle away. "Why are you so far behind?"

Zhao Xing wiped his mouth. "No need to rush. It's not about who gets there first. What about you?"

Zong Shichang laughed. "Do I look like someone who needs a bit of mountain essence? If it weren't for my father forcing me to come, I wouldn't even be here."

You really like showing off, don't you?

Is it necessary to flaunt your wealth in front of a poor guy?

"Well, I'll be on my way," Zhao Xing said, standing up with his bamboo box.

"Let's walk together," Zong Shichang said, rising as well. "At least we can chat along the way—otherwise, it's too boring."

"I'm fine on my own," Zhao Xing declined politely.

"Don't be like that. My father has quite a bit of influence in Nanyang County. If we run into any strong competitors from other counties, having me around is an extra layer of protection."