Chapter 122: Strange Scene

March 6th, 9:15 AM.

Zhao Xing was running in the Eighteen Locust-Willow Courtyard.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound.

A ball of flame erupted from his body, forming a mysterious pattern. Through the flames, Zhao Xing saw a golden figure within.

"It's True Monarch Lihuo's Dao-Establishing Dharma Body!"

Zhao Xing quickly cupped his hands in a salute.

"Thank you, True Monarch, for lending your path."

"The 20,083 li journey has been repaid. All karmic ties are settled."

As soon as he finished speaking, the flames vanished into thin air.

Zhao Xing let out a long sigh of relief.

"It's finally done."

Because he ran with weights for at least four hours every day, the repayment of the Dao was completed earlier than expected. In just over six days, he had fully repaid True Monarch Lihuo's Dao.

Zhao Xing felt utterly exhausted by this process of repayment. After all, the training pushed his body to its limits daily.

"But exhaustion has its benefits," he thought. "I've now passed the halfway mark in my Gathering Essence Tier 15 progression."

Before entering the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven, Zhao Xing had just reached Gathering Essence Tier 15 with a long way to go, but now the distance had significantly shortened. More than six days of extreme training had pushed his physical potential far more than before, as this period was conducted entirely at a martial artist's training intensity. Don't underestimate weighted running; as the saying goes, "the greatest Dao is the simplest." It's a method that can train the entire body and mobilize its full strength.

"With sufficient comprehension of the Dao, every ten tiers of Gathering Essence lead to a promotion in rank. My Dao comprehension has long been enough. Now at Tier 15, I'm five sub-tiers away from Rank 8," Zhao Xing mused.

Gathering Essence is the process of physical enhancement, condensing vital energy, and developing the physical body. Most magical professions find their physical bodies lagging behind their Dao comprehension. This is because a significant amount of time daily is dedicated to Dao comprehension (cultivating spells), which doesn't directly enhance the body's seven souls. Martial artists, however, inherently train their seven souls through their martial arts practice.

"Martial artists are relatively weaker in the early stages, but they find it easier to enter the Rank 4 Essence Soul Realm later on. However, reaching Rank 3, they become slower than other professions, as the Spirit Soul Realm demands very high levels of Dao comprehension."

"But Military Agri-Officials also highly value physical training. I wonder if there are any body-strengthening training programs here."

Based on Zhao Xing's past life experiences, many Military Agri-Officials began training their seven souls early on. This was due to the extremely harsh and dire conditions of the Catastrophe Era. Often, the situation was so extreme that even Heavenly Timing Laws and Earth Advantage Laws became completely ineffective! To survive and cope with such extreme circumstances, they chose to train their physical bodies and seven souls early. At the very least, when those extreme situations truly arose, they wouldn't be completely without combat capability. Carrying a large machete, a Military Agri-Official could even swing it to fight when necessary.

"Rolling Thunder has advanced to the fourth revolution, and True Monarch Lihuo's Dao has been fully repaid."

"Basic training is complete; it's time to begin advanced training."

Zhao Xing washed up, opened the courtyard gate, stepped onto auspicious clouds, and flew out.

Basic training involved purchasing inexpensive spell texts from the Martial Repository and reaching the introductory level through one's own comprehension. Advanced training, on the other hand, involved utilizing the various precious locations within the Ministry of Agriculture, comprehending within them to further improve.

Zhao Xing was now heading to the Earth Advantage Institute.

"The Earth Advantage Institute has three precious locations available for free comprehension."

"First is the Earth Vein Hall, which contains nineteen maps of earth veins, depicting tens of thousands of earth veins across nineteen provinces. Comprehending it is like observing a Dao-preaching painting with unlimited viewings."

"The second location is called the Seventy-Two Earth Palaces. These seventy-two earth palaces are infinitely mysterious, built directly upon exposed earth veins. Observing them from a distance also offers opportunities for Dao comprehension."

"The third is the Black Earth Prison. The Black Earth Prison holds various subterranean creatures, strange beasts captured during the development of the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven. The magic arrays in the Black Earth Prison stimulate the beasts inside every hour, causing them to go berserk and instinctively unleash their innate abilities. Observing these subterranean beasts display their talents also aids in understanding the Dao."

Zhao Xing decided to visit the Seventy-Two Earth Palaces first. Fewer people were there compared to other places, and he planned to visit the other two locations after dark when crowds thinned.

After flying for a while, Zhao Xing landed before a city wall. The Seventy-Two Earth Palaces were enclosed by a city wall with a magic array.

How dangerous would it be for earth veins to be exposed on the surface? Just like the Fiery Plains, where the earth veins rose too much, Zhao Xing's casual spellcasting caused a Tier 5 rampage there. Therefore, the Seventy-Two Earth Palaces were heavily protected by multiple magic arrays.

There were also rules for those visiting the palaces.

"To enter the Earth Palaces for comprehension, you must wear this Essence-Locking Bracelet. Apart from using a wisp of vital energy to activate the Cloud-Treading Boots for travel, no other spells can be cast," the guard at the city gate explained the rules to those entering.

"No one is allowed within one hundred meters of any Earth Palace. Observation is only permitted from the periphery. Anyone violating this rule will have their visitation rights permanently revoked."

"Nor are you permitted to throw anything exceeding Tier 3, such as fruit pits or elixirs, towards the Earth Palaces. Violators will be dealt with under military law."

"Defecation and urination are strictly prohibited within the area."

The rules were strict, some even absurd. However, behind every absurd rule lay a real-life case. For instance, the rule about throwing fruit pits — Zhao Xing estimated that someone had done it before. He was quite familiar with this particular rule. In his previous life, some players, disbelieving the warnings, deliberately threw things in, and stealthily at that. A fruit pit exceeding Tier 3 itself possessed vigorous life force. By sheer coincidence, the fruit pit grew into a seedling, began absorbing the power of the earth veins, causing an uprising in the Earth Palace and leading to extremely severe consequences.

The queue moved quickly, and soon it was Zhao Xing's turn.

"Please present your secret seal."

Zhao Xing handed over his personal secret seal.

"Please read the rules on the signboard and confirm that you understand the regulations for comprehending the Earth Palaces."

Zhao Xing took ten seconds, then nodded: "Confirmed."

The guard handed him a device resembling handcuffs: "Please put on the Essence-Locking Bracelet."

Zhao Xing expressionlessly extended his right hand. As the mechanism closed, nine needles extended from within the heavy handcuffs, piercing Zhao Xing's skin. He checked his status panel; his vital energy value was temporarily reduced to 1 point. Aside from using the Cloud-Treading Boots, he couldn't do anything else.

"Alright, you may enter."

"Thank you."

As Zhao Xing passed through the city gate passage, he immediately felt a scorching sensation.

The first sight that greeted him was an entirely dark red palace, its roof fully covered with glazed tiles, and a fiery bead pinnacle at its center. Around the treasure pinnacle, what appeared to be waterfalls flowed down from the eaves. Zhao Xing looked closely and realized it wasn't a waterfall at all; the power of the Fire Element earth veins was so intensely concentrated that it flowed like a river!

"Old Chen's Fiery Prison Earth Palace bears some resemblance to this one," he murmured. "But his Fiery Prison Earth Palace isn't even one percent as real as this."

The more realistic an Earth Palace spell was constructed, the greater its power! Zhao Xing gazed at this Fiery Prison Earth Palace; aside from that "waterfall," he couldn't discern any part that was merely an illusion of earth vein power.

"Every brick and tile seems real. Impressive."

Zhao Xing didn't linger long before this Earth Palace. The Boundless Earth Palace he was studying was completely different from this one; gaining insight required a similar fundamental direction. Following the auxiliary path for visitors, Zhao Xing observed the distant palaces one by one. There were Fiery Prison Earth Palaces, entirely engulfed in flames as if surrounded by a fire; Crystal Earth Palaces, composed entirely of water elemental power, almost completely transparent; and Wind-Thunder Earth Palaces, flashing with tornadoes and lightning... The seventy-two types of Earth Palaces held the profound mysteries of the five elements of earth veins.

Zhao Xing kept walking, never stopping, until he turned a corner—

"Hmm? This Earth Palace..."

After turning the corner, Zhao Xing felt a tug at his heart, his gaze involuntarily drawn to a structure ahead.

"Is this an imperial palace?"

Zhao Xing didn't stop, as he realized this palace was very small, barely even deserving the title of "palace"; it was only the size of a single room. Its shape was more like an octagonal cage, and it was constantly moving. Zhao Xing quickened his pace. Though the octagonal palace appeared to move only short distances, it was actually quite fast. If it weren't for the octagonal palace circling the auxiliary path, and with him being over a hundred meters away, Zhao Xing might not have been able to keep up.

"What kind of Earth Palace spell is this? I've never seen anything like it. So strange..."

Zhao Xing observed as he ran. Fortunately, he had grown accustomed to this method of comprehension over the past few days. He activated his Bright Eyes, continually fixated on the octagonal palace. The light golden octagonal palace, after circling Zhao Xing once, suddenly sank into the ground.

"Vanished?"

As Zhao Xing watched, he suddenly turned his head sharply and discovered the octagonal Earth Palace had reappeared from another location.

"Huh? This isn't just an ordinary Earth Palace spell; it's a combination of Earth Palace Law and Profound Earth Law?!"

Zhao Xing's eyes lit up. He yearned to fly into the air, to rush closer to the Earth Palace for a detailed look. Drawn in by this magical Earth Palace, he instinctively tried to cast a spell to fly over, but his Cloud-Treading Boots didn't lift off, and a sharp pain shot through his wrist.

"Hiss!" Zhao Xing gasped. "It actually made me almost instinctively cast a spell; I was involuntarily drawn in."

"I must seize this opportunity!"

Zhao Xing didn't know the origin of this Earth Palace, but he had never encountered anything like it among the Seventy-Two Earth Palaces. An inexplicable intuition told him he absolutely couldn't miss it.

*Thump-thump-thump*, footsteps sounded.

Zhao Xing wasn't the only one who discovered the octagonal palace's marvel. Seven or eight other people had also noticed it and were chasing after the octagonal Earth Palace.

*Bang!*

Due to their intense focus, three people in front actually collided.

"My apologies."

"It's nothing."

Another person completely ignored the one who bumped into him, maintaining a cold expression, not even glancing at the two, and continued his pursuit.

After thirty minutes, six of the eight pursuers had already given up. Comprehension was too difficult. Firstly, they were unaccustomed to comprehending while running. Secondly, the octagonal Earth Palace was too profound and kept disappearing suddenly. Zhao Xing also felt a bit annoyed. Just as he was about to discern a bit of its essence, it would immediately vanish, as if his comprehension was being interrupted. It was like the octagonal Earth Palace was playing a "stop-short challenge" with people!

However, he remained patient and continued his pursuit. The more difficult it was, the more it proved that this octagonal Earth Palace was extraordinary, and it resonated somewhat with the Boundless Earth Palace he was studying. Zhao Xing naturally wouldn't give up easily.

Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed. For three days, without eating or drinking, barely resting for a moment, Zhao Xing continuously chased the small octagonal Earth Palace. During this period, participants came and went. Now, still quite a few people were chasing it, but they were no longer the original group. Only the cold-faced youth who had been bumped into at the beginning, like Zhao Xing, still hadn't given up.

*Bang!*

The Earth Palace suddenly made a turn. The two, who were already not far apart and had noticed some clues, immediately collided. Zhao Xing reacted quickly and wasn't injured by the impact. However, the person opposite him, perhaps due to intense focus, hit his head directly on the edge of a hard stone. His eye corner split open, and a gash appeared on his forehead, instantly gushing blood.

"Brother, are you alright?" Zhao Xing finally pulled his attention back to the present. Seeing this, he was startled.

"I'm fine," Han Bing said, shaking his sleeve, wiping at the wound, and then stood up after a quick dab.

*Is this guy's head made of iron? Even like this, he wants to continue comprehending?*

"Perhaps you should stop the bleeding," Zhao Xing urged, pulling him slightly. "This will affect your comprehension. One blink, one moment of inattention, and you'll miss something."

Han Bing considered it: "Alright." He pulled out a white gauze plaster from his pocket, tore it open, and slapped it onto his head. Zhao Xing recognized it as military-grade healing ointment, made by apothecaries for treating external injuries. Seeing his actions, Zhao Xing felt a bit strange. *How accustomed is he to getting injured? He came here to comprehend, bringing military healing ointment?*

Seeing that he truly seemed fine and wasn't much for conversation, Zhao Xing cupped his hands, intending to continue walking. Unexpectedly, Han Bing took the initiative to ask, "You've also been watching for three days. Have you recognized what kind of spell this is?"

Zhao Xing also remembered that this person had persevered the longest, so he stopped. "I guess it's a combination of Earth Palace Law and Profound Earth Law. For the Earth Palace Law part, I've seen some clues; it should be the Divine Movement Earth Palace. I haven't figured out the Profound Earth Law part yet."

Han Bing looked up in surprise: "How could it be Divine Movement Earth Palace? It's clearly a Cold Current Earth Palace."

Zhao Xing was also a bit surprised; he immediately thought of a possibility.

"What did you see?" Both asked simultaneously.

Han Bing had also realized something, and they both spoke at once.

"You go first." Both said.

"No, no, you go first." Both replied.

Zhao Xing and Han Bing stared at each other, thinking, *Are we that in sync?*

Finally, Zhao Xing gestured with his hand, indicating for Han Bing to speak first.

"Alright, I'll go first," Han Bing said, pointing to the newly surfaced Earth Palace. "What I see is the shape of a shipyard, somewhat like a miniature version of a Dragon Head Lou Ship. Although its patterns are unpredictable, it consistently moves along different earth veins according to the sequence of Earth, Water, Earth-Fire, Earth, Metal, Earth, Wood."

Zhao Xing said, surprised, "What I see is a single room. Its shape is a bit strange, like an octagonal cage, with no doors, as if it's completely sealed. The pattern I see is also different from yours. It moves according to the sequence of Earth-Wind, Earth-Metal, Earth-Fire, Earth-Thunder, Earth-Water."

After listening, Han Bing also fell into thought: "No wonder so many people collided earlier. I thought everyone was just too focused on observing and ignored their surroundings."

"Now it seems it's entirely due to this Earth Palace itself."

Zhao Xing smiled and nodded: "I've realized it too. My apologies earlier, brother. I'm Zhao Xing, from the Divine Might Army. And you?"

Han Bing's expression showed some surprise: "Divine Might Army, Han Bing."

*Divine Might Army Han Bing? The tenth one to report? What a coincidence?*

"So you're one of us. My apologies, Brother Han," Zhao Xing said, cupping his hands.

Han Bing's demeanor was no longer as cold as before, becoming a little more lively: "No need for formalities. I think if either of us gains further insight later, we can exchange notes again."

Zhao Xing nodded: "That's a good idea. Shall we continue, then?"

"Mmm."

In a flash, another two days passed.

During this time, many people came to try observing the elusive Earth Palace, but most chose to give up. After all, with only a month available, spending too much time comprehending something uncertain was simply not worth it.

However, neither Zhao Xing nor Han Bing gave up. Zhao Xing persisted because he had never seen this Earth Palace before; he hadn't even heard of such a thing existing in the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven in his previous life, so he naturally refused to quit. Han Bing, on the other hand, was stubborn, possessing a tenacious resolve that wouldn't rest until his goal was achieved.

Thus, the two occasionally exchanged notes.

Another three days went by.

"It's the eighth day."

Zhao Xing now felt hungry and exhausted. He hadn't brought any food, mainly because he hadn't expected to stay up for so long without rest! It was Han Bing who gave him two fruits to eat, as if he habitually carried provisions.

"It's already the eighth day. Since the fifth day, I've had a faint feeling that I'm on the verge of comprehending a spell, but I always lack that final spark of inspiration." Zhao Xing felt a touch of anxiety. "Is it truly that I'm about to comprehend, or is it just an illusion, or is the master of this Earth Palace deliberately playing tricks?"

Such a possibility wasn't out of the question. There were many masters in the Military Domain, and some weren't compelled to teach; the military wouldn't order them to. These were generally old fellows who had lived for hundreds of years, so encountering one with an eccentric personality was normal.

"If I haven't comprehended it by the end of today, I'll have to leave." Zhao Xing had a training plan, and that plan had already been slightly disrupted.

"I'll stay for three more hours. If I can comprehend it, good; if not, I'll leave. Am I so desperate for this small opportunity from you?" Zhao Xing calmed his mind, quickly adjusting his mindset.

With his mindset adjusted, Zhao Xing was no longer anxious. He walked slowly, no longer chasing as frantically as before. In any case, when the time was up, he would leave, regardless of success. When the Earth Palace disappeared underground, he even went to look at other places, no longer bothering himself with this mysterious Earth Palace.

It was with this state of mind, near midnight, just before the Hour of Zi, that Zhao Xing, ironically, comprehended.

When he saw the octagonal Earth Palace reappear, a door suddenly appeared in his vision.

The octagonal Earth Palace had originally been completely sealed, though its exterior walls had various elemental powers flowing, forming profound patterns. But at this moment, on the side facing Zhao Xing, a door suddenly opened. It was as if a door had also opened in Zhao Xing's mind.

"So that's how it is," Zhao Xing said, sitting cross-legged and closing his eyes.