As the saying goes, understanding magic without understanding principles is futile, understanding principles without understanding magic is a waste of ten years' effort.
Theoretical knowledge is also an extremely important part of the examination.
To stand out from other clerks, one must be more comprehensive. If the performances in magic are similar, then the one with better understanding of magical theories will be appointed an official.
Zhao Xing randomly picked a book from the bookshelf, titled "Seventy-Two Phenological Phases Recorded in Monthly Commands." It was included in the ancient Nong Family's book "Interpretation of Seasonal Training," and its original author was untraceable. It was recompiled by the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Wu Cheng, during the period of the Grand Ancestor.
"First stage of the first month, the east wind thaws the land; yang energy arrives, and the strength dissipates the ice."
"Second stage, hibernating insects begin to shake; shaking means movement."
"Third stage, fish rise to the surface with ice on their backs. Rise means accumulate, ascend, and elevate. The yang energy has already activated, and the fish gradually swim upwards close to the ice."
Zhao Xing activated his Bright Eyes Night Vision Technique and began to read carefully.
Ancient sages of the Nong Family, in pursuit of stable astronomical phenomena, tried to find stable and long-lasting adaptable patterns, thus creating many theories.
"The Seventy-Two Phenological Phases Recorded in Monthly Commands" is one such theory.
It divides each year into seventy-two "phenological phases" based on every five days, with three phases making up a solar term, six solar terms making up a season, and four seasons making up a year, resulting in "twenty-four solar terms."
Each phase corresponds to a particular natural phenomenon, referred to as a "phenological response."
Among them, plant phenological responses include sprouting, flowering, and fruiting; animal phenological responses include initial movements, initial vocalizations, mating, and migrations; non-living phenomena include initial freezing of water, the sound of thunder, and moist soil in the hot summer.
"First stage of the second month, peach blossoms begin to bloom; initial stage, peach blossoms begin; the yang energy is born, and it gradually flourishes from here."
"Second stage, orioles sing; yellow orioles."
"Third stage, hawks transform into doves. Hawks are predatory birds. At this time, hawks transform into doves, and in autumn, doves transform back into hawks."
The Seventy-Two Phenological Phases Recorded in Monthly Commands documented many wondrous phenomena.
For example, in the first stage of the second month, hawks transform into doves.
In the first stage of the third month, mice transform into coots.
At the end of September, sparrows enter the water and transform into clams.
This is the transformation caused by the changing seasons, combined with drastic environmental and primordial energy changes, leading to "phenological transformations of species."
The above is not particularly exaggerated.
The ancient version of "Interpretation of Seasonal Training" also recorded that in some places, in the first stage of April, earthworms transform into Earth Dragons.
This means earthworms transform into Earth Dragons of a hundred feet in size!
In the first stage of August, swallows transform into Mysterious Birds; ordinary swallows and sparrows can transform into the "Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird!"
At the end of December, in the land of Beiming, there is a transformation of Kunpeng, where Kun Fish ascend in one night, transforming into the Nine Heavens Great Peng!
Ordinary "phenological transformations" are calculated in years, and there are "ten-year transformations," "hundred-year transformations," and "thousand-year transformations."
The version compiled by Wu Cheng only recorded the "ten-year transformations" and briefly mentioned the hundred-year transformations.
As for the near-legendary "thousand-year transformations," they were eliminated.
This is because a Minister of Agriculture Official might never witness a thousand-year transformation in their lifetime, and since the establishment of the Great Zhou dynasty, the changes in primordial energy were not as drastic, making such occurrences increasingly rare.
Another reason is that it was considered taboo.
For instance, "swallows transforming into Mysterious Birds," "Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Birds descended and gave birth to the Yin dynasty."
It is rumored that the Grand Ancestor of the Yin dynasty was raised by the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird. If another family produces a Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird, it could potentially trigger unrest.
"In my previous life, I saw the transformation of Kunpeng twice in the North Sea, but I can't remember the exact times. As for the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird, I've only heard of it, never witnessed it in person. I wonder if I will have the chance in this life."
"But such thousand-year transformations did not seem to happen during Emperor Jing's period, at most there were hundred-year transformations. When did they occur, and where?"
Zhao Xing pondered, his memory a bit hazy, only vaguely recalling that it seemed to be associated with certain events.
.........
"When a person arrives, the earth turns to true gold."
"Among the Five Elements, earth is noble and does not compete with fire for fame."
Zhao Xing spent some more time reading "The Theory of the Five Elements and Four Seasons," another classic work that unified the Five Elements with the Four Seasons in a coherent theoretical framework.
"Matching the Five Elements with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches is easy, but matching them with the Four Seasons truly troubled the sages of the Nong Family and caused suffering for their examinees." Zhao Xing laughed as he looked at the book.
He had taken many exams on the Theory of the Five Elements and Four Seasons. A genuine Minister of Agriculture needed to understand the principles of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang thoroughly; otherwise, the Seasonal Orders they issued would be incongruous.
"Currently, the most popular idea is the 'Theory of Earth's Supremacy in Late Summer,' with Spring Wood, Summer Fire, Late Summer Earth, Autumn Metal, and Winter Water."
"This system's allocation of the Five Elements to months is still imperfect; the corresponding times for Fire and Earth elements are insufficient, and it contradicts the notion of balanced status among the Five Elements."
"But for now, I'll make do and see what kind of questions arise during the exam." thought Zhao Xing.
He understood many refined theories from later ages, but they were too advanced and might not apply to the present.
He, as a county-level clerk, writing some earth-shattering theories could potentially cause a huge uproar during the Temple Examination. Being too flashy might not be beneficial; he had to proceed cautiously.
.........
After studying diligently throughout the night, at the rooster's crow, Zhao Xing finally put down his book.
He glanced at his interface and saw a series of records.
[You read a book in the night, Bright Eyes Skill proficiency +2]
[You read a book in the night, Bright Eyes Skill proficiency +3]
[You read a book in the night...]
The Bright Eyes Skill was easy to practice, with proficiency increasing almost by the minute.
Studying tirelessly day and night, Zhao Xing focused on the Bright Eyes Skill and quickly saw significant results.
After a night, his Bright Eyes Skill had broken through to the Fourth Transition.
Bright Eyes Night Vision - night vision was just the entry-level effect of the Bright Eyes Skill.
To achieve the effect of seeing ghosts and gods, four transitions were still not enough.
"It seems I have to take some shortcuts." Zhao Xing went out, ran to the market, and bought a pile of mugwort leaves and a box of high-quality tung oil.
He also bought "yellow paper," "bright sand," "sky heart grass," and other materials.
After a substantial shopping spree, he returned home.
"The quick method to master Bright Eyes, I must have remembered it right. I really don't know which ruthless player summarized this." Zhao Xing muttered as he ignited the mixture of mugwort leaves, bright sand, and sky heart grass.
A line of smoke rose like a column, remaining intact.
Zhao Xing approached the smoke and began to fumigate his eyes.
"Hiss~"
The smoke was not irritating, instead, it had a slight fragrance, but it really stung the eyes!
After a while, Zhao Xing felt a burning sensation. He endured it for the time to drink a cup of tea before he had to move away.
Then he applied tung oil on his eyelids, feeling a cooling sensation that was much more comfortable.
[Bright Eyes Night Vision Skill proficiency +20]
[Bright Eyes Night Vision Skill proficiency +30]
The suffering was not in vain, the proficiency of the skill started to increase rapidly.
Zhao Xing followed the above operation and began to practice repeatedly.
Every day, except for going to the Minister of Agriculture Supervision to cultivate the Heaven and Earth Cultivation Skill, he spent time practicing the Bright Eyes Skill at night.
Finally, before August twenty-second, Zhao Xing cultivated the Bright Eyes Skill to the Ninth Transition.
"Tomorrow is the Chushu solar term, lighting river lanterns and sacrificing to the departed souls. I wonder if I can gain any benefits."