Zhang Deming shared many of the substantive insights he had gained after compiling the Little Cloud Rain Skill.
The people below went from paying him no mind to listening intently to Zhang Deming's lecture, their expressions serious.
The plaza under the banyan tree gradually fell silent.
"Alright, that will be all for today."
Half an hour later, Zhang Deming had finished his systematic explanation of the Little Cloud Rain Skill, drawing from his own insights to make the complex topic easy to understand.
The many servants, who had never attended a formal magic course, all felt they had gained a great deal.
"Brother Ming, you're really incredible. You're almost as good as the Senior Brothers who teach in the Outer Sect."
"With this kind of skill, you'll do great for yourself when you get to the Outer Sect, Brother Ming."
Lü Guo said, looking at Zhang Deming.
"Just keep laying it on thick," Zhang Deming said, rolling his eyes at Lü Guo. "You talk as if you've actually attended a class in the Outer Sect."
"Don't dismiss it, Brother Ming. I'm serious."
"I even think you explained it much better than the Advanced Apprentice Senior Brothers who teach the classes."
Seeing Lü Guo's earnest expression, Zhang Deming asked in surprise, "At the high price of one Spirit Stone per class, you really went? You were willing to spend that much? That's half a year's earnings."
"Besides, I've heard you don't get much out of attending just a single class."
Lü Guo nodded. "I knew it might not work, but I couldn't accept my situation, so I bit the bullet and went once. As for the result... well, you saw what happened."
Zhang Deming shook his head and said, "I once considered that path myself. After all, besides the class..."
"...you can also get to know many of your peers, expand your network, which is a big gain in itself."
"But I did a detailed analysis. Take the most basic Little Cloud Rain Skill, for example."
"The course is a set of three classes, and attending all of them costs three Spirit Stones."
"If you can learn the skill from it, the investment is definitely worthwhile. It would be worth not just three Spirit Stones, but even five."
"But for those who attend, the success rate of actually learning the skill is less than one percent."
"Rather than betting on those odds, it's better to save your Spirit Stones, wait for your cultivation to break through, and then worry about learning magic after you've entered the Outer Sect."
"Sigh, I didn't think that far ahead back then. I wasn't as thorough as you, Brother Ming," Lü Guo lamented. "I just got my reward, got excited, and went on impulse."
"I just thought, 'If others can do it, why can't I be one of them?'"
'Just because others can do it, doesn't mean you can.'
Zhang Deming shook his head and said, "The way you get excited the moment you get your hands on a Spirit Stone... you'll never save up even half a stone in your entire life."
"When the time comes for a cultivation breakthrough and you need Spirit Stones, we'll see you crying when you find your pockets are empty."
"I... Holy shit!"
"Holy shit!"
"Oh my god!"
"What the hell!"
"Is this... Has another master emerged?"
Their conversation was instantly interrupted by a chorus of exclamations, and Zhang Deming looked up, stunned.
Overhead, a thin, white cloud was slowly taking shape.
'So someone really did get incredibly lucky and succeeded just from my lecture?'
Dozens of people turned in unison, their faces a mixture of shock and astonishment, to look at a young man in the crowd whose hands were a blur of rapid movements.
Peng Tuan, nineteen years old.
An apprentice for seven years, a rice farmer for seven years.
He had achieved Qi Sensing four years ago, had been cultivating for four years, and had been trying to comprehend the Cloud Rain Skill for four years.
The young man's information instantly surfaced in Zhang Deming's mind.
Now, thanks to Zhang Deming's lecture, he had finally broken through that last paper-thin barrier.
Many people watched with envy as his hands flew through the gestures and he chanted under his breath.
Others turned their fervent gazes toward the front, where Zhang Deming stood, not having left yet.
It was as if, in that moment, Zhang Deming had become their last hope for successfully mastering their own techniques.
It was evening, during the rest period before dinner, so many people were in the area. The commotion caused by the Cloud Rain Skill was quite noticeable.
Moreover, for someone to master the Little Cloud Rain Skill in the public plaza—this was a first in many years.
This so-called technique exchange had always been treated by everyone as a place to shoot the breeze and show off.
In a corner of the plaza, near the entrance to the dining hall, a few stewards from Little Qing Mountain were gathered. They watched as another rice farmer successfully completed a casting.
One of them turned to Feng Mingyou and said, "Congratulations, Old Feng. Another one has mastered a technique. This makes the fifth from your courtyard, doesn't it?"
"Looks like your reward for cultivating Outer Disciples will be quite substantial this year."
"A few more successes like this, and in less than ten years, you'll have gathered enough resources to attempt a breakthrough to the Tai Chi Stage, won't you?"
Feng Mingyou just smiled faintly, not taking the compliment to heart.
Instead, his gaze turned deep and thoughtful as he looked toward Zhang Deming, standing before the crowd under the banyan tree.
He had been standing there since Zhang Deming's lecture began.
He had heard everything, from beginning to end.
He had to admit, he couldn't see through this servant who had remained inconspicuous under his watch for ten years.
Not only was the young man's comprehension astonishing, but he was also a very skilled lecturer.
This level of proficiency, on a first lecture no less, was even more profound than that of most senior disciples who took on official teaching assignments.
As such, he wasn't surprised at all that someone had managed to comprehend a technique from it.
'Unfortunately, I was too shortsighted back then,' he thought. 'I was focused on trying to curry favor with the Elder. Even though I knew the chances were slim, I couldn't help but hope for a lucky break.'
'As a result, I chose the wrong approach and missed out on a true opportunity.'
'Although he doesn't seem to mind what happened during those two years, the fact remains that for my own benefit, for a gamble, I chose to be harsh and take personal measures, using an eight-year-old child as my pawn.'
'Even if he's magnanimous enough not to hold a grudge, I've completely lost any chance to get on his good side and ride his coattails.'
He understood this very well, which was why he had made no attempt to cozy up to Zhang Deming today.
'After all, if I put myself in his shoes, the most I would do is not hold a grudge. Help me out after he becomes successful? That's just wishful thinking.'
...
On the small plaza, under the banyan tree, everyone watched eagerly as Peng Tuan performed the casting.
But the moment Peng Tuan completed the casting, Zhang Deming froze.
A small, golden speck of light had flown directly into his inventory.
Moreover, the white Qi Fortune Light Ball that had just formed had now regenerated by nearly half.
'An unexpected bonus, perhaps?'
As Peng Tuan completed the casting, trickles of spiritual rain drifted down from the thin cloud overhead.
Because no water had been prepared, the rain was extremely light—the kind that would barely even dampen one's hair.
After completing the casting, Peng Tuan suppressed his excitement, turned, and bowed deeply to Zhang Deming.
He spoke with great solemnity, "Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang, for the grace of your lesson today. This junior brother will remember this debt."
Instantly, his words drew the gaze of everyone in the plaza back to Zhang Deming.
Zhang Deming smiled. "Junior Brother Peng, you give me too much credit. I can't take the credit for this; you were already just one step away."
"I just gave you a little push. Your success in mastering the Little Cloud Rain Skill is entirely due to your own hard work."
"No," Peng Tuan said earnestly. "If not for your guidance, Senior Brother, I don't know when I ever would have been able to take that final step."
"It could have taken another day, or it could have taken another ten years. So, I will be sure to remember your kindness, Senior Brother."