Chapter 6 - Background
The lightning seemed utterly indifferent to Zhang Xiaoloong's contemplations. It was as if a thousand cannons were bellowing above his head, while the cracking of the sky echoed with one thunderclap after another.
Had anyone been outdoors, they would have witnessed bolts of lightning converging upon the roof of Zhang Xiaoloong's residence.
To his surprise, this time, Zhang Xiaoloong felt as though he had been zapped like a firework, his heart going numb. Unlike last time, he didn't lose consciousness. Though somewhat painful, the process wasn't excruciating.
Beyond his initial anxiety, he made yet another discovery. As the lightning struck him, a significant portion of its force was absorbed by the shadow of the small black cauldron in the dense earthen yellow glow. This probably explained why the damage wasn't as severe.
The thunder's rumble endured for a quarter of an hour before eventually subsiding. When the thunder ceased, so did the rain. Even the somber clouds promptly vanished from the sky.
A sizable hole had appeared in the roof of Zhang Xiaoloong's home. A plume of black smoke continued to waft from it, yet he appeared entirely oblivious. He was engrossed in the massive and intricate influx of information flooding his mind.
Another quarter of an hour elapsed, and at last, Zhang Xiaoloong discerned a thread of understanding. Simultaneously, he was profoundly astounded by his own experience.
As he had surmised, the day he journeyed to the county town, he encountered Lei Pi. Subsequently, he remained unconscious for over a month. This was not solely due to the lightning strike; it was also related to the frequent appearance of a small black cauldron on Zhang Xiaoloong's chest, which coincided with the divine lightning's impact.
This diminutive cauldron had a remarkable lineage. It was a treasure once wielded by the ancient Shennong. The Shennong clan, with impeccable timing, cultivated the five valleys and even sampled a plethora of herbs and remedies. Not only was Shennong regarded as the God of Agriculture, but also the God of Medicine. And this little cauldron was the immortal vessel Shennong had employed to refine herbs into remedies.
When Shennong ascended to the heavens, he harbored concerns that the denizens of the lower realms might struggle against natural calamities. He encapsulated his knowledge and a fraction of his mystical prowess within the divine cauldron. He clandestinely departed from the mortal realm, awaiting the destined individual to acquire it. Yet, somewhere along the way, something went awry. The divine cauldron vanished for millennia in an instant. It was only on that fateful day that it ruptured the space-time fabric and collided with Zhang Xiaoloong, the chosen one.
According to Zhang Xiaoloong's investigations, the reason why many had gathered here… The Shennong Tripod had exclusively chosen him, possibly due to his character and intellect. In essence, Shennong had harnessed his transcendent powers to impose various constraints, ensuring that the Divine Cauldron could only resonate with purity and benevolence within his heart. Simultaneously, those of extraordinary acumen also had access to it.
If one's temperament was flawed and the divine cauldron fell into the hands of a malevolent individual, it would not only fail to alleviate suffering, but it could also be turned into a tool of wrongdoing. If one's intellect was inadequate, they would be unable to inherit Shennong's legacy in its entirety. Ultimately, it would come to naught.
Zhang Xiaoloong digested these memories incrementally. Among them, the most prevalent were matters of agriculture and medicine. Additionally, there was a cultivation technique that sounded impressively potent — the Imperial Dragon Spell.
“Xiaoloong, are you alright?”
In that moment, hurried knocks resounded from outside. Zhang Xiaoloong finally snapped out of his trance. He glanced at himself once more and hurriedly tidied up.
Zhang Daniu and his wife were so anxious that they practically pounded on the door.
The thunder, splitting the sky like a crack, startled them as well. Yet, they brushed it off as strange weather, only truly worrying when the rain ceased. Stepping out, they discovered smoke billowing from their roof, struck by the thunderbolt. That was when genuine concern set in.
Their house might have been replaceable, but their son remained inside.
Just as Zhang Daniu was steeling himself to break down the door with all his might, the creaking door swung open from within.
Rubbing his eyes, Zhang Xiaoloong stepped out of the room in a daze. He let out a yawn and said, “What's the matter, Dad? I was just taking a nap. Why'd you wake me up?”
“Sleep?” Zhang Daniu and his wife exchanged puzzled glances. The thunderclap just now was as loud as a cannon blast. How could anyone fall asleep through that?
“The lightning caused some smoke from the house. We were worried you might have been hurt inside,” Liu Mei explained hastily.
“Oh?” Zhang Xiaoloong turned around, feigning surprise. “That was close. Good thing I was asleep. Otherwise, it might have hit me again. This lightning wasn't drawn to me, was it?”
“Don't talk nonsense. The important thing is that you're safe,” Zhang Daniu scolded, a hint of concern in his voice. “Remember, our roof is already damaged. It wasn't the lightning that caused it.”
There was a village rumor that Zhang Xiaoloong might be possessed by a spirit. After he had just managed to calm things down for a few days, news of the roof being struck by lightning could easily lead to more trouble.
Realizing this, Zhang Daniu hurriedly found materials to patch up the hole in the roof and then covered it with a tarp. This served the dual purpose of preventing rain from coming in and concealing any signs of the lightning strike.
He hadn't anticipated that his roof would indeed get repaired. After a short while, the rain began again, persisting for three days and nights.
This time, Zhang Daniu's concern shifted from the house to the crops in the field. Every day, he returned from the field with a sigh.
“Dad, what's bothering you? The crops in the fields can't escape. If it rains a bit now, it'll rain a bit. When it's time to plant wheat again, we'll have enough water,” Zhang Xiaoloong reassured his father upon seeing his deep worry.
“What do you know?” Zhang Daniu's worries escalated as he explained. “Our family's corn hasn't been harvested in time. It's been raining for three days. Even if the rain stops, the ground will be a muddy mess. We won't even be able to set foot on it. When can we harvest it… I'm afraid the corn will start sprouting on the plant.”
Zhang Xiaoloong instantly understood. Due to his recent coma, the family had been preoccupied. Even the corn in the field had reached the harvest time, but there hadn't been a chance to bring it in. While the rain was a boon for other people, relieving them of the chore of watering the field, it was causing headaches for their family.
Going by his father's explanation, if the corn on the ground indeed sprouted, this season's harvest would go to waste.
“Don't worry, I'll go check it out,” Zhang Xiaoloong said as he fetched an umbrella.
“The rain is pouring down heavily. What do you need to see? Everything is already flooded. What else can you do?” Concern for his son's well-being prompted Zhang Daniu to shout and halt him.
“It's alright. Just wait for me at home. I'll be back shortly. There's no need to worry,” Zhang Xiaoloong said without even looking back. He dashed outside with long strides.
In the past couple of days, Zhang Xiaoloong hadn't displayed any unusual symptoms. He had also come to understand the events that had transpired before.
The Shennong Tripod was a divine artifact, and though it had chosen him as its master, the process of fusion demanded a substantial amount of energy. Thus, he had waited until a few days ago when he had absorbed ample lightning energy. Only then could he consider the fusion attempt successful.
Post-fusion, Zhang Xiaoloong had encountered numerous remarkable changes. A peculiar Qi emanated from the small cauldron, enveloping his body with warmth. Over these two days, his skin had grown much smoother, and it even possessed a subtle radiance akin to warm jade.
After mastering the Imperial Dragon Spell, his whole demeanor transformed in tandem. Once exceedingly simple, now an even more sublime, otherworldly aura infused his simplicity.
Presently, not even a light drizzle could unsettle him, and enduring two hours frozen in ice wouldn't render him ill.
Soon, Zhang Xiaoloong reached his destination. The neighboring family lands on either side had already emptied, their occupants awaiting the cessation of the rain. In just a few days, they would commence sowing seeds.
His own cornfield, however, stood isolated in the rain. Upon stepping into it, Zhang Xiaoloong found the ground as yielding as mud. It was so saturated that even with pressure, it wouldn't budge.
Surveying the scene, even if the rain halted right at that moment, it seemed unlikely to clear up immediately. Two or three days at the very least would be required to salvage the cornfield. Delayed like this, the fully ripe and dried corn would be trapped within its husks, at risk of spoiling despite not sprouting.
Crouching down, Zhang Xiaoloong touched the mucky earth, contemplating how splendid it would be if he could draw out some of the waterlogged soil.
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