Chapter 123: Dual Magic Integration, Divine Travel Protection, Express Delivery from Xier Commandery

Taicang Academy.

Reporting for duty had already concluded, but Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi were still busy. They were responsible for overseeing the next stage of the academy's assessment. Both Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi held military duties and took their responsibilities seriously. Thus, they occasionally observed various cultivation grounds to see how the new recruits were progressing with their comprehension. They would even modify and adjust the subsequent assessment stages based on these observations.

“The Myriad Forms Underground Palace has appeared again,” Zuo Zizhi said, looking at the situation in the seventy-two underground palace cultivation grounds with a helpless expression. “Martial Marquis Gong is quite old, but he still has the heart of a child; he’s teasing these new recruits again.” Lu Bang glanced at the elusive underground palace and couldn't help but smile. “It’s good enough that he’s even willing to come to Ten Suns Cave Heaven. If other military commanders knew, they’d be eager for him to come and play.”

Zuo Zizhi responded, “That’s true. He’s an honorary vice-dean of the Earth Lake Dao Academy, a veteran Martial Marquis who gained fame three hundred years ago, and a Grade 3 expert. Others can’t even get him to come. It was only at the Military Department’s invitation, and after the commanders of the nine garrisons repeatedly pleaded with him, that he finally agreed to visit Ten Suns Cave Heaven.”

“He’s been here for three years, and the Myriad Forms Underground Palace has only appeared a few times during the early stages of recruit training,” Lu Bang remarked. “Don’t even get me started, I’d love to go and comprehend it myself, but it’s forbidden.” “Indeed,” Zuo Zizhi added helplessly, “If anyone above Grade 8 tries to approach, the Myriad Forms Underground Palace won’t even show itself. You know, he lives in the Myriad Forms Academy, and for all this time, no one has managed to knock on his door. When too many people disturb him, he just issues a direct order prohibiting anyone from approaching. He’s truly eccentric.”

“The older they get, the more they resemble children,” Lu Bang said. “You know, ‘old children.’ When you and I are seven or eight hundred years old, who knows how eccentric we might become.” “Seven or eight hundred years old?” Zuo Zizhi shook his head. “I don’t aspire to live that long. I’d be perfectly content just to live five hundred years.”

As they chatted, neither of them gave much thought to the appearance of the Myriad Forms Underground Palace. However, a few days later, the Myriad Forms Underground Palace was still present and appearing with increasing frequency, which surprised Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi.

“Hmm? Are those the two youngsters from the Divine Might Army, Zhao Xing and Han Bing?”“Is the Myriad Forms Underground Palace lingering for them?”“Look, Zhao Xing closed his eyes. Is he smiling?”“Could it be that he’s comprehended a technique?”

*You comprehended before the Myriad Forms Underground Palace for several days, understanding the intermediate spell 'Swift Travel Protection' (Special).**Progress: Fourth Transformation (4253/18000)**Effect: A combination of Swift Travel Underground Palace Art and Profound Earth Protection Art. After casting, an octagonal palace instantly forms centered on the caster. The underground palace can also sink into the earth, allowing for stealthy movement through earth veins. The fourth transformation of Swift Travel Protection allows for stealthy movement through earth, metal, wind, and thunder elemental earth veins.*

“It’s actually a Myriad Forms Underground Palace; no wonder it was so difficult,” Zhao Xing said as he opened his eyes. After comprehending the technique, he immediately understood. The Myriad Forms Underground Palace was somewhat similar to the Myriad Arts Spiritual Beauty and Myriad Arts Cloud Map. However, this method was more advanced than the Myriad Arts Cloud Map. Of course, it couldn’t be called a true Myriad Arts technique; in reality, it only encompassed the Underground Palace Art and Profound Earth Art. A true Myriad Arts Underground Palace would combine the four major categories of Earth Repository, Underground Palace, Earth Rend, and Profound Earth, being all-encompassing. This one clearly hadn’t reached that level yet.

“The Myriad Forms Underground Palace is already very powerful. With the fusion of two arts, Swift Travel and Underground Palace, this must have been created by at least a Grade 3 expert,” Zhao Xing thought to himself. By learning Swift Travel Protection, Zhao Xing had effectively learned both Swift Travel Underground Palace Art and Profound Earth Protection Art. Because these two arts are combined, the difficulty is much greater, making such spells very unique. Their upper limit is far higher than that of ordinary intermediate spells.

“With 18 transformations of a spell, it’s fair to say I’ve learned a technique comparable to a high-level one,” he mused. “These types of spells are even rarer than high-level spells.” Why rarer? If Swift Travel Protection and another high-level technique were presented together to the Blazing Fire Dao Academy for an honorary title examination, Swift Travel Protection would definitely be chosen. This is because Swift Travel Protection has a lower learning threshold but the same power. Swift Travel Protection can be gradually comprehended from a lower threshold, progressing from one to ten. However, high-level spells have a direct comprehension difficulty of ten.

“With this octagonal underground palace, my safety coefficient for stealthy movement through earth veins has significantly increased,” Zhao Xing thought to himself. He recalled the person he had seen previously moving stealthily underground in the Ten Thousand Mile Thunder Zone. If that person was walking a tightrope, then he himself was riding a cable car. Assuming the two were to fight or pursue/evade each other while moving stealthily underground, he would be faster. In a fight, a single collision from Swift Travel Protection would cause the opponent to fall.

“This trip was truly worthwhile,” Zhao Xing smiled, his anxiety of many days turning into joy. Although eight days were "wasted," comprehending the Swift Travel Protection, a fusion of two arts, from the Myriad Forms Underground Palace, and reaching the fourth transformation upon initial comprehension, was absolutely worth it. “I wonder who the owner of this Myriad Forms Underground Palace is,” he mused. Such a powerful expert surely wouldn’t be unknown. However, he didn’t dwell on it.

“Han Bing is still comprehending,” Zhao Xing said, looking at Han Bing’s back, who was still immersed in his pursuit. “I hope he can comprehend what he’s looking for.” Without disturbing him, Zhao Xing quietly left.

Minor Nine Heavens Astral Wind at the third transformation, Rolling Thunder at the fourth transformation, and Swift Travel Protection at the fourth transformation. Zhao Xing’s basic training had already met his planned objectives. After returning for a hearty meal, he immediately hurried to another location for comprehension, beginning his advanced training.

“Only fifteen days left.”“Out of the three new spells I’ve learned, I’ll strive to get one to break through to the seventh transformation.”“If one spell reaches the seventh transformation, then the advanced training goal will be considered complete.”“If two do, that would be a pleasant surprise.”“All three reaching above the seventh transformation is unlikely.”Comprehension also requires a gradual approach, so Zhao Xing didn’t set overly strict targets for himself.

Sometimes, being too eager might not yield the desired results. “To enhance a spell’s power, comprehending individual spells is one aspect, but another is cultivating the Seasonal Decree, Return to Primordial Earth, and Yin-Yang Self-Existence Scripture.” Seasonal Decree and Return to Primordial Earth are also forms of comprehension. Seasonal maps can create more favorable celestial conditions for spells, and Return to Primordial Earth alters the terrestrial advantage, essentially providing an additional layer of amplification for spells. As for the Yin-Yang Self-Existence Scripture, it focuses on cultivating oneself and the ‘Inner Five Elements,’ which Zhao Xing planned to comprehend after the academy assessment concluded.

On the sixteenth day, at midnight, Zhao Xing arrived at the Profound Earth Prison within the Geo-Advantage Academy. This prison held numerous subterranean beasts. Each one was incredibly powerful, making observers tremble with fear. The innate abilities possessed by these subterranean beasts were similar to geo-advantage spells. In fact, many human spells were created by observing these very beasts. Zhao Xing now stood outside a giant, ten-meter-high cell, watching a multi-limbed beast inside thrash wildly.

“The Five-Colored Centipede thrives in damp, dark marshlands. Its venom is potent, it’s exceptionally good at evasion, and its tentacles wield power like the wind.”“Among subterranean beasts, it’s considered quite fierce, capable of living up to a thousand years and reaching Grade 5.”“Its innate ability can influence and twist earth veins; even the hardest rocks soften before it. Its innate ability subtly utilizes the earth, water, and metal energies of the earth veins.”

The Five-Colored Centipede and the Azure Water Centipede were a male and female pair. The Five-Colored Centipede was raging because there was a Mirage Pearl in the adjacent cell, which preserved the scene of the Azure Water Centipede’s demise.

*You observed the Five-Colored Centipede using its innate ability, gaining comprehension. Swift Travel Protection spell progress: 25**You observed the Five-Colored Centipede using its innate ability, gaining comprehension. Swift Travel Protection spell progress: 55**You observed the Five-Colored Centipede using its innate ability, gaining comprehension. Swift Travel Protection spell progress: 35*

Half an hour later, the Five-Colored Centipede calmed down. It couldn’t be allowed to rage indefinitely; it needed to be used repeatedly. Half an hour of commotion was just about right. Zhao Xing walked to the next cell.

On the twentieth day, Zhao Xing left the Profound Earth Prison.*Progress: Sixth Transformation (6005/18000)*

“The past four days yielded significant gains. Although I only advanced two transformations, this spell is a combination of two arts,” he mused. “It may seem like just two transformations, but in reality, both my Swift Travel Underground Palace and Profound Earth Protection have advanced by two transformations. Even the Boundless Underground Palace is close to reaching the ninth transformation.” With two arts combined, the power is naturally different, and his understanding of the spell's mysteries has deepened.

“Time to go to the Earth Vein Hall.” Zhao Xing flew east.

“The Earth Vein Hall contains nineteen earth vein maps, depicting tens of thousands of earth veins across the nineteen provinces,” he thought. “Comprehending it is equivalent to observing a Dao-Imparting Painting with infinite uses.”“Whether I can break through to the seventh transformation depends on it.”If he had to choose one spell to break through to the seventh transformation, Swift Travel Protection was naturally the most cost-effective choice. It combined offense, defense, and travel, and its spell power was also greater than that of normal intermediate spells.

Just as Zhao Xing was hurrying to the Earth Vein Hall, suddenly—His Earth Mirror vibrated.“Hm?” Zhao Xing took out his Earth Mirror in confusion and looked at it.

*Agricultural Commandant ‘Fan Zhaoli,’ by fixing the celestial conditions and changing the opportune timing, transformed barren land into a treasure. After two years, he converted the three-hundred-mile radius of ‘Inverted Peak Mountain’ in Ten Suns Cave Heaven into a cultivation ground. Effective immediately, Inverted Peak Mountain can stably produce eight types of Grade 4 fruits and one type of Grade 5 native treasure, the ‘Sky Serpent Fruit.’ Therefore, Fan Zhaoli is awarded 1 billion points for his efforts! This announcement is specially issued to congratulate Commandant ‘Fan Zhaoli’ on his achievement!**The Armory has added a new Grade 5 treasure, the ‘Sky Serpent Fruit,’ priced at 400,000 points per fruit.*

“What? Someone transformed barren land into a cultivation ground and was rewarded with 1 billion points?” Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow.“Able to stably produce Grade 5 native treasures, the Sky Serpent Fruit?”“The celestial conditions and earth veins within a three-hundred-mile radius have all been transformed; that’s truly remarkable.”Zhao Xing knew how rare and difficult it was to convert barren land into a cultivation ground. Destruction was easy, transformation was hard. Undoubtedly, this was a protracted battle.

“Two years, 1 billion points. I estimate that these 1 billion points aren’t just for Fan Zhaoli alone; it must be a team effort,” Zhao Xing thought to himself. Each time a treasure advances a grade, its value increases by a notch. Grade 4 treasures that can be mass-produced usually cost less than ten thousand points. If they cannot be mass-produced, the price definitely exceeds ten thousand, with high-end ones even reaching tens of thousands. Grade 5 treasures that can be mass-produced also generally exceed ten thousand points, while those that cannot be mass-produced might reach hundreds of thousands. The Sky Serpent Fruit was a native treasure, meaning it could only be produced in Ten Suns Cave Heaven. It was normal for the price to be four to five hundred thousand per fruit since it hadn’t reached full mass production yet. Once mass production was achieved, the price would drop. Achieving mass production was a huge accomplishment, and a reward of 1 billion points was truly not excessive. “If that many points were just for Fan Zhaoli alone, the Military Department would likely promote him. At the very least, he’d be promoted to an unattached rank.”

Zhao Xing put away his Earth Mirror and continued walking towards the Earth Vein Hall. It was still too early for him to get involved in such matters. His most important task right now was to prepare for the one-month academy assessment.

On the twenty-fourth day, in the Earth Vein Hall. Zhao Xing sat cross-legged before a mural. Many people were currently seated in this spacious mural corridor, engaged in comprehension. Anyone cultivating geo-advantage spells could gain insights by observing the various earth vein flows across the nineteen provinces.

*Progress: Sixth Transformation (6995/18000)*

“Comprehending this earth vein mural has indeed yielded significant progress. In four days, my progress increased by 990 points,” he noted. “However, I’ve already been comprehending here for four days.”“But Swift Travel Protection still hasn’t broken through to the seventh transformation.”“The progress bar is only five points short—the final five points, is it that difficult?”

Although coming to the Earth Vein Hall to comprehend the murals wasn't entirely without gain, his progress did increase from 6005 to 6995. However, that was the gain from the first three days. Today, he hadn't gained anything at all. “Free stuff really isn’t that good, after all,” Zhao Xing shook his head. It was nothing like a Grade 4 Dao-Imparting Painting, which had astonishing effects. The freely exhibited resources did help new recruits, but these free cultivation grounds also had an upper limit.

Breaking through a dual-art combined spell to the seventh transformation within a short period was extremely difficult. “I only have a little over a thousand points, and I can’t buy a Grade 4 painting in the Armory,” Zhao Xing thought as he browsed his Earth Mirror. For a Dao-Imparting Painting to be effective for him now, it would need to be at least high-grade Grade 4. But each high-grade Grade 4 Dao-Imparting Painting cost three thousand points! And this was even with some military discount, as things were cheaper in the military than outside. The ones Lu Qian and Zong Shichang bought back then cost over three thousand taels, and Lu Qian’s Myriad Arts Cloud Map even exceeded six thousand taels.

“For Swift Travel Protection to break through, I’d need at least the corresponding Dao-Imparting Paintings for Swift Travel Underground Palace and Profound Earth Protection, meaning I’d need at least six thousand points.”“I can’t even get any missions right now, so where would I get the points? Should I duel someone?”Dueling meant challenging someone to a spar, with points as the wager. Now that over twenty days had passed, many people had taken this opportunity to earn points from others. However, after some thought, Zhao Xing dismissed the idea. “Everyone is dirt poor; new recruits only start with 100 points, and after more than twenty days, they’ve probably long used them all up. Betting ten or twenty points is pointless.”“And those with several thousand points might not even be able to win the bet.”

“Why haven’t Long Xiao and Old Chen delivered my goods yet? It’s been so long.” Zhao Xing had given the Grade 4 treasures he obtained earlier, the Blood Spirit Needle and Blood Fiend Pearl, to Long Xiao and Old Chen. Ten days ago, he had received a letter from Old Chen saying that he would send some items over. Now, for some reason, they still hadn’t arrived. “Perhaps something delayed them.”“Never mind, it’s only five points of progress missing. I might not even need points to break through.”Zhao Xing continued observing the mural. Time flowed on, and Zhao Xing stayed in the Earth Vein Hall for another four days. His eyes never left the mural.

Before him now were the seven major earth veins of Pinghai Province. These seven major earth veins corresponded to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Thunder. Each earth vein was incredibly stable, flowing so slowly that it was imperceptible without close inspection. “How incredibly difficult it must be to shake the earth veins of an entire province,” he thought. “The Boundless Underground Palace and Swift Travel Underground Palace can collapse some smaller earth veins in certain areas, but at the level of the nineteen provincial earth veins, let alone Grade 9, even a Grade 5 expert would find it hard to shake them.”“Powerful, incredibly stable, embracing all, nurturing all life.”Zhao Xing observed quietly. Unconsciously, he activated Keen Observation, wanting to see more clearly. At a certain moment, a meteor suddenly streaked across his vision. The massive and stable earth veins suddenly accelerated their flow, and Zhao Xing saw the second layer. “So that’s how it is,” Zhao Xing smiled, stood up, and walked out of the Earth Vein Hall.

*Progress: Seventh Transformation (7001/18000)*

On the twenty-eighth day, his Swift Travel Protection successfully broke through to the seventh transformation. “Only two days left until the academy assessment. Successfully cultivating Swift Travel Protection to the seventh transformation means I’ve completed my advanced training plan,” Zhao Xing thought. He was quite satisfied with this result. Although Rolling Thunder and Minor Nine Heavens Astral Wind were only at the third or fourth transformation, that wasn’t too bad. Wanting to master every spell? To become a versatile genius? That would require immense time and resource accumulation.

*Buzz*

Just then, the Earth Mirror in his embrace vibrated. Zhao Xing flipped his hand and pulled out the Earth Mirror, discovering that Long Xiao was contacting him. “He’s at Ten Suns Cave Heaven?” The Earth Mirror could only be used for communication within Ten Suns Cave Heaven. Previously, Long Xiao and Old Chen had sent letters. Now, contacting him via the Earth Mirror naturally meant they had arrived in person.

“Zhao Xing, where are you? I’ve brought your goods!”