"The balance of the Five Elements breaks, in an instant Yin and Yang transform into True Spirit, then species undergo transformation."
"The national fate transforms into the Four Seasons, once a person becomes an official, they too undergo transformation."
Zhao Xing turned a page of "Shangluo’s Self-Scripture" and suddenly saw this passage.
The Zong Mansion had many collections of books, Zong Shichang did not like to read, but Zhao Xing enjoyed it.
Last night, after drinking and knocking out Xiao Ze, Wen Nanxing, and Zong Shichang, Zhao Xing stayed in the Zong Mansion’s library to read books.
"Shangluo’s Self-Scripture" sounded quite impressive, as Shangluo was not only a place but also an ancient sage of the Nong Family.
However, the book in Zhao Xing’s hand was actually a miscellaneous book.
It wasn’t written by Shangluo at all, and it did not involve specific spells, only some insights or anecdotes from the Self Sect’s thoughts.
Using the sage’s fame to sell books was a common tactic among booksellers.
Zhao Xing was indeed deceived by the sensational title.
Anyway, he had nothing else to do, so Zhao Xing casually flipped through the pages.
Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon such a phrase.
"The national fate transforms into the Four Seasons, once a person becomes an official, they too undergo transformation, this viewpoint is quite interesting."
"Due to drastic weather changes, certain individuals within species undergo drastic changes."
"But this book explains species transformation through the Self Sect’s thoughts."
"It suggests that species transformation occurs because the balance of the Inner Five Elements within the species is thoroughly broken."
"Returning to the moment of the fusion of Yin and Yang, nurturing the True Spirit."
"Thus resulting in the complete alteration of the lifeblood." Zhao Xing carefully savored these words.
"The book even uses the appointment of officials in the Fortune Dynasty as an example."
"The compiler believed that the Inner Five Elements of the human body were as vast as a world, and the entry of national fate into the body operated like the Four Seasons within the Inner Five Elements of the body, in a turbulent manner."
"Hence, the difference between before and after becoming an official, between being ranked and not being ranked, was significant."
"However, the entry of national fate into the body was a controllable process, a mild ’human transformation.’"
Zhao Xing pondered and found that this book indeed had some substance!
The ’inner world’ mentioned within did later become a reality.
Even now, there was evidence: After reaching the Gathering Essence 50th Rank, a piece of ’Pure Essence Soil’ would appear within the Dantian, allowing ’Dantian cultivation,’ carrying magical plants into battle.
However, at present, this idea seemed too advanced, as no one could reach a state where their inner body transformed into a world, so it was considered heretical and absurd.
Looking at the book’s cover, Zhao Xing found no signature and lightly smiled, thinking it was indeed so.
"Mr. Zong loved to collect such unorthodox books, so it was normal for them to appear in his mansion."
As long as he didn’t privately print and promote them, reading banned books would only result in a fine at most.
Regarding the species transformation theory mentioned in the book, scholars from the Heavenly Time Sect, Earth Advantage Sect, and Self Sect had several groups debating whether to include the Human Clan.
Scholars opposing the inclusion of the Human Clan argued that in the land of the Nineteen States, no strong individuals among the Human Clan had shown physical changes.
Even though there were differences in body types, essentially, they remained human, and couldn’t be called transformation, their strengthening was a result of following the Dao of cultivation.
Scholars supporting the inclusion had rebutting evidence:
In the vast land of the Nineteen States, with its treasures and blessings, and under the protection of the Fortune Dynasty, transformations in the Human Clan were mild and controllable.
But in the barren lands outside the Nineteen States, the Alien Races of the Eight Desolations, while small and human-like at first, as they cultivated further, they no longer resembled humans.
Take the Barbarian tribe, which posed the greatest threat to the Great Zhou, for example, some grew dual horns, others sprouted wings. In such harsh and cold lands, could these transformations also be said to follow the natural Dao of cultivation?
"The illusion I saw during the appointment, the hundred-zhang golden giant representing Emperor Jing, and in reality, Emperor Jing could indeed become that large."
"The national fate transformed into Heavenly Time, within the Yin and Yang of the Inner Five Elements, thus humans also underwent transformation... I must admit, this Shangluo’s Self-Scripture does have some truth."
When Zhao Xing was a player, he never thought about these theoretical details, he just rushed in without second thoughts.
Now, however, he felt the mystical scenes he witnessed in his past life had some foundation.
Perhaps, it might help him in future explorations.
"In any case, the changes in most people before and after becoming an official are indeed quite significant."
Zhao Xing looked at the panel.
[Realm: Secondary Ninth Rank]
[Life Soul: Mid Ninth Grade]
[Occupation: Minister of Agriculture]
[Qi Fortune: Yan Three]
[Gathering Essence: Thirteenth Rank (557/10000)]
[Additional Lifespan: 75 years]
"The restriction on improvement has disappeared."
"Originally, my additional lifespan was 53 years, now it’s 75 years, becoming an official added 22 years!"
Becoming a ninth-rank official usually extended lifespan by about ten years, during Emperor Wen’s period this number was above 10, but Emperor Jing was rather stingy, with ninth-rank lifespan extensions usually below 10 years.
Zhao Xing doubled this, because he had already reached the Ninth Grade Realm.
The foundation was already laid, so the national fate did not disperse much into his rank.
Before leaving the mountain, Zhao Xing was at 6 points of the Gathering Essence Thirteenth Rank.
Before the Temple Examination, he had over two hundred points in the Thirteenth Rank. It took over three months to increase by just over two hundred points, mainly due to restrictions.
Now, it was 557 points in the Gathering Essence Thirteenth Rank, an increase of less than three hundred.
The national fate entered his body, mostly adding to his [lifespan], which was what Zhao Xing wanted.
As for his personal qi fortune, it did not increase, still at the Yan Three level.
Reaching the Yan Three level, further improvement was extremely difficult. Not even this time, even rising to the Sixth Rank, there might not be a breakthrough.