Chapter 114: Ten Yang Cave Heaven, Military Logistics Training Regulations

Chen Shijie's words were calm and simple.

Helian Lie glanced at the middle-aged man surnamed Lei beside him. The latter subtly shook his head and whispered a message: "He didn't fall for it. That Military Agriculturist across from us is not simple. We still have people to deliver, so we can't waste any more time. Let's find another way."

"Understood." Helian Lie put away his jade pendant and quickly departed with the three young people and the man named Lei.

"Those Blazing Sun Army guys are too arrogant!" Long Xiao watched their retreating figures. "What do they mean their military order is more important than ours? They're practically insulting the Divine Might Army! I really wanted to stab that dog with my sword..."

"Long Xiao!" Chen Shijie snapped, a cool breeze circling around Long Xiao's ear. "Sober up! You fell right into their trap."

"Huh?" As the cool breeze swept over him, the anger in Long Xiao's eyes faded, and his expression subtly changed.

"How did your vigilance become so poor?" Chen Shijie frowned. "You really need to train properly when you get back."

This time, Long Xiao didn't argue. He nodded seriously. "Yes, I'll remember that."

Zhao Xing asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice, "Was that an Etiquette Cultivator just now?"

"Indeed, a military strategist," Chen Shijie replied. "Using their clarity to befuddle others – that Etiquette Cultivator used a provocation tactic."

Zhao Xing realized, "That's truly insidious."

The so-called provocation tactic, when employed by an Etiquette Cultivator, was more than just verbal taunting. It was a technique from the *Enlightenment Law*, capable of subtly unsettling one's Wisdom Soul and Insight Soul, causing the opponent to become muddled.

"If Long Xiao had really lost control and attacked them, regardless of who arrived at Fire Pit Number Nine first, we would have been expelled from the Daoist Academy, and they would have succeeded."

Long Xiao cursed, "Etiquette Cultivators are truly treacherous and cunning. I can't believe those sons of bitches."

Chen Shijie said, "You've had too little interaction with Etiquette Cultivators in the past five years. When we get to Xier Commandery, find Brother Jia and practice with him properly."

Long Xiao immediately looked distressed. "Can't I pick someone else? I'll find Brother Chengxin. Jia Pu likes to use the *Intellectual Debilitation Law*, and he has a foul mouth. Every time I finish training with him, I feel like an idiot."

"Suit yourself."

Zhao Xing asked, somewhat curious, "By the way, why didn't that person use his spell on me? I'm clearly at a much lower cultivation level than Long Xiao."

Chen Shijie shook his head. "He and Long Xiao are at the same level. If the provocation tactic had succeeded, it would simply be a matter of one being inferior in skill, and we couldn't complain. It's common for military personnel to spar and compete; we wouldn't cause trouble afterward."

"But if he had acted against you, it would have gone beyond the scope of a normal spar, breaking the rules. If we pursued it afterward, he would be punished, and his entire army would be ridiculed."

Zhao Xing nodded, understanding why the man had chosen Long Xiao as his target instead of himself.

The yellow-robed youth was also utterly bewildered, but he was much smarter than the previous one, so he pretended not to have heard anything. After all, he was just a small Daoist acolyte, and being inconspicuous was the best option.

A moment later, the flames in Fire Pit Number Nine rose, exceeding the previous highest point by one meter.

Seeing this, the yellow-robed youth was immediately delighted. "Commander Chen, Commander Long, someone has completed their return journey at Fire Pit Number Nine! The Fire Pit formation is now sufficient for you to reach Datong Prefecture. You can enter early; there's no need to wait."

Observing this, Chen Shijie cupped his hands toward the yellow-robed acolyte. "Thank you. Please convey my gratitude to your esteemed master for his assistance."

"I will certainly convey it," the yellow-robed youth nodded.

Immediately afterward, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Zhao Xing walked down the slope toward the fire pit in the hollow.

"Whoosh!"

The flames were intense, but their temperature wasn't high, only slightly warmer than body temperature.

"Reassure the civet cat so it doesn't get scared; this process is very quick," Chen Shijie said, looking at Zhao Xing. "Just walk straight in and relax your body. Long Xiao, you go first and show him."

"Alright." Long Xiao stepped into the center of the fire pit and was quickly enveloped by the flames.

Zhao Xing observed that the flame-like thread pattern on Long Xiao's body had become an additional layer.

Once the second layer finished coiling, the next moment, Long Xiao plummeted downward.

"Poof!" With a soft burst from the flames, Long Xiao vanished into the fire pit.

The height of the flames then decreased by two feet.

"Meow?!" The civet cat's eyes widened, as if asking, *Where did the human go? Where did that big person just disappear to?*

"You go in," Chen Shijie said. "I'll watch you."

"Okay." Zhao Xing, holding the civet cat, walked into Fire Pit Number Nine.

Hissing tongues of flame licked at Zhao Xing's skin, yet his clothes seemed completely unaffected. His clothes, however, did not ignite.

The civet cat squirmed uneasily in his arms, but under Zhao Xing's soothing touch, it bravely endured the flames coiling around its body.

"Poof!"

With a soft burst, Zhao Xing and the civet cat instantly vanished.

The flame height decreased by another two feet.

After Chen Shijie entered and vanished, the flames in the fire pit dropped by three feet, now less than a meter high.

Datong Prefecture, Lihuo Daoist Academy, the Fire Pit area where the altar was located.

"Whoosh!"

A flame, originally only one meter high, suddenly surged, revealing a figure.

Long Xiao stepped out from it.

He glanced at his hands. "I'll have to return 80,000 *li* of borrowed path. I'll be running like crazy again when I get back."

Immediately after, the flames flickered again, and Zhao Xing and the civet cat emerged.

"This is truly amazing."

"The quality of this Five Elements power is extremely high, and the formation is incredibly precise. It seems to utilize the power of the Fire Element Earth Vein to rapidly travel through the leylines." Although Zhao Xing had passed through fire pits in his previous life, he hadn't felt much. Now, however, he truly felt its marvel.

"A layer of Fire Element power is coiled around my body, and it carries a unique force."

"It's ethereal yet tangibly present, as if directly linked to heaven and earth. If one doesn't complete it according to the rules set in the unseen, the pattern formed by this coiled Fire Element power will keep reminding you, and the oppressive force will grow increasingly stronger."

After borrowing a path, one must, without relying on spells or external forces, complete double the borrowed distance purely by oneself. Completing this "return journey" within a month has no adverse effects. If it exceeds one month, the oppressive feeling from the mysterious pattern will cause any spells or secret techniques to deform when cast. The severity will increase. If it exceeds a year? Then one might as well not bother returning it in this lifetime.

"Have we reached Datong Prefecture?" Zhao Xing asked. "We crossed twenty thousand *li* in just a quarter of an hour?"

"Yes," Long Xiao nodded. "To be precise, it was 20,083 *li*."

"After you enter the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, it's best to complete the journey within a month. No spells, no external forces, purely relying on your physical body to complete double the distance. The civet cat too."

"Meow?!" The little civet cat was a bit dumbfounded. *Doesn't that mean it has to walk over 1,300 *li* every day? It's going to be exhausted to death!*

"Mew mew," the civet cat rubbed against Zhao Xing's arms. *Can I not walk?*

"Do you want to become a dead cat?"

The civet cat's ears immediately drooped. *Fine, 1,300 *li* a day isn't that far after all.*

"Whoosh!"

Chen Shijie also emerged from the fire pit.

The three then left the altar's fire pit and exited this branch academy. In the prefectural city, the three boarded a Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat and continued their journey.

"The westernmost part of Datong Prefecture is Xier Commandery."

"Then why is this boat flying east?"

"Long Xiao and I are going to Xier Commandery to see the Marquis. You'll go to the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven first."

Chen Shijie explained, "You need to complete your recruit training, which includes the Military Agriculturist's training program."

"We'll take you to the Grotto-Heaven's eastern entrance first, then head to Xier Commandery."

Zhao Xing understood. He looked at the civet cat in his arms. "Can I take it inside with me?"

Chen Shijie replied, "The training program is very packed. You won't have the energy to properly care for the civet cat. Let me take care of it for now."

"Alright." Zhao Xing didn't hesitate and simply handed the civet cat to Chen Shijie. Since it had already gotten used to freeloading at the Chen residence, the civet cat didn't resist this decision, though it was a little reluctant to leave Zhao Xing.

"If you need anything while you're in the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, just let us know," Chen Shijie said slowly. "The Military Agriculturist's assessment training is very strict, and the competition is immense."

Long Xiao added, "There are currently nine garrisons in the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, so I expect quite a few people will be training alongside you. If anyone tries to bully you because they're stronger, we'll definitely help you get even."

"But if you lose to someone at the same cultivation level, then we won't intervene."

Zhao Xing nodded. "Don't worry, I won't bring shame to the Divine Might Army."

The Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat flew east for half a day. After crossing many cities and towns, it began to enter a large mountain range.

"The entrance to the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven is in the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range in Datong Prefecture. We've now entered a military-controlled zone."

"Look, many people are already heading this way."

Zhao Xing looked up and saw numerous Cloud-Flowing Flying Boats appearing. With keen eyesight, he could discern at least a hundred vessels in the vicinity, all heading in the same direction.

"Roar!"

Just then, a faint, clear dragon roar suddenly echoed from the clouds behind them.

Hearing this, Chen Shijie immediately lowered the Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat's altitude and veered to the side.

"Whoosh!"

A moment later, the thousand-meter-thick clouds behind them suddenly began to swirl.

A colossal dragon head suddenly emerged from the clouds. A small vortex formed in the dragon's mouth, tearing apart the surrounding clouds and stirring up gusts of fierce wind.

The dragon head was massive enough, but it was still just the tip of the iceberg. Zhao Xing noticed the dragon head was attached to a nearly hundred-meter-long ramming prow. Next, the deck, the hull, and the nine-story pagoda on the ship's body slowly became visible.

A leviathan!

As Zhao Xing gazed at the Dragon-Head Pagoda Ship, only one thought came to mind.

"That's the Tiger-Flood Dragon Army's flag," Chen Shijie introduced. "They are the highest-ranked among the nine armies stationed in the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven. In the last Legion Combat Drills, they ranked 309th. The Tiger-Flood Dragon Army is commanded by Marquis Mingwu."

"We'll let the Dragon-Head Pagoda Ship pass first."

When encountering the Dragon-Head Pagoda Ship, everyone had to give it a wide berth. Because the massive Dragon-Head Pagoda Ship swallowed and exhaled wind and clouds, if a small Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat got too close, it would be overturned.

As the Dragon-Head Pagoda Ship passed by, Zhao Xing observed from afar the rows of soldiers standing on its deck. Their vitality was formidable, and even from a distance, they exuded an extraordinary martial presence.

The Tiger-Flood Dragon Army's flag was also extremely striking; the flag, featuring a menacing tiger-flood dragon, flapped ferociously in the wind, as if alive, captivating the soul.

"Let's go. Continue our journey."

After flying for another short while, the Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat finally began its descent.

In the mountains below, a massive lake appeared, surrounded by continuous miles of military encampments.

"Whoosh!"

The Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat landed in front of a small palace at the center of one of the encampments.

"We've arrived. This is our Divine Might Army's outer base. This palace is one of the Divine Might Army's armories. I'll take you to collect your equipment first," Chen Shijie said.

After Zhao Xing became a Ninth-Rank official, some of the Military Agriculturist's equipment hadn't been issued yet. Since he had been transferred to the Divine Might Army, it was natural for him to collect it here.

"Long Xiao, Chen Shijie, long time no see." Upon entering the palace, they soon saw an old man dressed in casual clothes.

"Elder Fang." Chen Shijie and Long Xiao immediately cupped their hands and bowed to the old man.

"You're a bit late in bringing your recruit. All the other divisions' new people have already been sent in," Fang Hong said with a slight smile. "Is this Zhao Xing, whom you brought from Nanyang Commandery?"

"Yes," Chen Shijie replied. "Quickly, pay your respects to Elder Fang."

"Zhao Xing of Gucheng bows to Lord Fang." Zhao Xing saluted. Before coming, he had learned that this Fang Hong was the Director of the Armory.

"Everything's ready for you," Fang Hong said with a chuckle, having someone bring over a box. "The standard equipment for a Ninth-Rank Military Agriculturist is all here."

Zhao Xing opened the box and inspected the items one by one. Aside from the familiar Amulet Calendar for averting evil and the Bamboo Scroll Box, there were four new pieces of equipment:

**Golden Straw Raincoat**Quality: Tier 3 SuperiorEffect: A magical garment woven from Five Elements materials, it repels water and fire, blocks sharp weapons, and enhances earth vein perception.The Golden Straw Raincoat was named for the bright yellow color of its woven materials. The Five Elements materials combine metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, allowing it to repel water, insulate against heat, resist blade chops and sword thrusts, and also enhance earth vein perception, boosting the effectiveness of spells from the Self-Cultivation School.

**Hundred Flowers Bamboo Hat**Quality: Tier 3 SuperiorEffect: Woven from a hundred types of flowers and herbs from the twenty-four solar terms, it enhances all Time-Cultivation School spells.

**Cloud-Rain Pearl**Quality: Tier 4 InferiorEffect: Capable of collecting large amounts of rainwater and cloud essence.

**Cloud-Treading Boots**Quality: Tier 3 SuperiorEffect: Cloud-treading flight, misty swift movement.The Cloud-Treading Boots allow the Military Agriculturist to perform short-distance flight. When using the item, a cloud of mist rises beneath one's feet. Not only does it allow flight, but in times of danger, the mist can also obscure the enemy's vision.

Zhao Xing was not unfamiliar with these four new pieces of equipment, so he only gave them a brief look before putting them into his Bamboo Scroll Box.

The new Bamboo Scroll Box was also a Tier 3 Superior treasure. Besides its constant temperature storage function, its internal space could also expand to a certain extent. While seemingly only half a person's height, if forced, it could stretch to three meters high and two meters wide. Additionally, the four sides of the Bamboo Scroll Box had artisan-crafted formations inscribed on them, which could help reduce the burden on the wearer.

"How about it? Do you need some time to get familiar with them?" Chen Shijie asked.

"No need," Zhao Xing quickly packed the items into his Bamboo Scroll Box. "When does the training begin?"

"It starts at *You* hour on the first day of the third month," Chen Shijie said.

"Today *is* the first day of the third month, and it's already *Wu* hour," Zhao Xing remarked, looking around in surprise. "We haven't reached the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven yet, have we?"

"No, but the training begins at the base outside the Grotto-Heaven," Chen Shijie explained. "We can only take you to the outside. Entering the Grotto-Heaven and finding the training camp are all part of the Military Agriculturist's training program."

"We came from Nanyang Commandery, so we arrived quite late. You now only have two hours to look at this small map," Chen Shijie said, handing Zhao Xing a rolled-up map. "As soon as *You* hour strikes, you and all the participating officials from the nine garrisons will enter the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven together."

"You'll need to find the Military Agriculturist Bureau within the Grotto-Heaven yourself and report."

"The environment inside the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven is complex. Here's a booklet containing information on its topographical features and unusual celestial phenomena."

Zhao Xing nodded. "I'll read it now. Please continue."

Chen Shijie continued, "To motivate the various armies, the military headquarters has set up point rewards for participating officials."

"For example, this time, the first official from any army participating in the Military Agriculturist training to reach the Military Agriculturist Bureau will be awarded ten thousand points."

"That much?" Zhao Xing was surprised. He knew there were rewards for training in the military world, but the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven offered too much. Ten thousand for first place? One should know that military points were very valuable; a Tier 4 treasure only cost two or three thousand points. Just being the first to report could earn ten thousand points?

Long Xiao chuckled. "The Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven is a newly discovered grotto-heaven in the military world. Besides serving as a training ground for garrisons, the various armies also have exploration and development tasks."

"If they don't offer a good incentive, who would have the motivation to work?"

"To be honest, there are some areas within the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven where I'd rather fight barbarians for three days and three nights outside than spend half a day inside."

Why is it called the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven? Because this minor realm contains ten miraculous existences resembling 'suns'! Some places are genuinely hot enough to kill people. In such extreme environments, if the rewards aren't high enough, no one would be willing to do that kind of work. Of course, Zhao Xing was just a 'recruit' right now. The exploration tasks in harsh and extreme areas weren't yet for these reservists.

"With nine garrisons, about how many reserve Military Agriculturists are there?" Zhao Xing asked, still reading without lifting his head.

"There are relatively few reserve Military Agriculturists, probably just over ten thousand across all nine garrisons combined."

That's quite a lot!

"Not all reservists will ultimately become Military Agriculturists," Chen Shijie said. "If, after this round of training, the military headquarters deems you unsuitable, you won't be granted the position of Military Agriculturist."

"According to custom, only about one-tenth will be formally appointed. The rest will have to slowly endure until next year."

Two hours passed swiftly. As *You* hour approached, Zhao Xing, accompanied by Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, traveled by Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat and arrived above the massive lake.

"Can you fly a bit lower? Aren't you worried he might have a fear of heights?" Long Xiao said to Chen Shijie.

"I'm not afraid of heights," Zhao Xing replied.

"When you jump down in a moment, don't close your eyes. Once you fall into the lake, you'll be inside the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven. You'll need to quickly use your Cloud-Treading Boots to stabilize yourself," Chen Shijie instructed. "Rapid adaptation to unfamiliar environments is a fundamental quality for a Military Agriculturist."

"Understood." Zhao Xing licked his lips, a little excited. This was much more thrilling than the assessment in Gucheng, and with so many people participating.

"Hm? Look, aren't those the two jerks we met earlier at Fire Pit Number Nine?" Long Xiao suddenly looked in one direction. "They were here to drop people off too?"

Not far away, another Cloud-Flowing Flying Boat hovered, with Helian Lie, the Etiquette Cultivator, and two men and one woman standing beside them.