Chapter 146: New Celestial Time Three Methods, Nine Section Daoist Altar

The Nine-Section Military Farmer specializes in warfare.

Initially, when "Military Farmer" was mentioned, it exclusively referred to the Nine-Section Military Farmer, as they were not responsible for the army's food supply but purely for fighting. However, with the development of the Qi-Dynasties, battlefields typically moved beyond national borders, taking place abroad. This led to higher demands on Military Farmers and greater specialization within their roles.

After leaving Fuchun Garden, Zhao Xing took out his Earth Mirror and examined the specific information about the Nine-Section Dojo as he walked. By the time he returned to the Eighteen Locust-Willow Courtyard, Zhao Xing had committed all the relevant information about the Nine-Section Dojo to memory.

Dojos are training grounds where soldiers of the military realm can conduct practical combat drills. The Nine-Section Dojo is a sub-category, specifically prepared for Military Farmers to train. The dojo uses a victory-point system: draws yield no points, wins grant 1 point, and losses deduct 1 point. It offers various combat formats: one-on-one individual battles, ten-person squad battles, hundred-person team battles, and ten-thousand-person army battles. Above these, there are even larger-scale legion battles. The grandest event for legion battles is the Great Legion Martial Arts Exhibition of the Military Realm. However, the dojo in the Ten-Yang Grotto-Heaven only offers up to "ten-thousand-person army battles."

The Nine-Section Dojo has spent a great deal to set up various environments using magical arrays, providing over ten thousand combat maps.

"The dojo's setup originates from a peerless divine weapon, the 'Dao Origin Pearl'. Its preciousness is comparable to that of the Grand Dream Academy, and this peerless divine weapon harbors a great secret," a trace of greed flickered in Zhao Xing's eyes. However, he extinguished the thought in an instant. "It's too early to think about such things now. Even if I become a first-rank Grand Military Farmer, the Dao Origin Pearl wouldn't be entrusted to my command. To acquire the Dao Origin Pearl, I'd have to wait until after the Martial Emperor Dynasty, until the Qi-Dynasties show signs of collapse."

Zhao Xing applied for practice access to the dojo on his Earth Mirror. Once general dojo access was granted, the Nine-Section Dojo would naturally also become available.

Divine Might Army's Zhao Xing, you have been granted dojo access (Ten-Yang Grotto-Heaven) and can now enter the dojo for various types of training.

Here is your personal information:Name: Zhao XingAffiliation: Divine Might ArmyMatches: NoneRating: Currently N/ADojo Points: None

"I'm just a blank slate now," Zhao Xing said as he put away his Earth Mirror. "No rush to go in. I should practice a bit first; otherwise, I'll easily get curb-stomped."

Individual training in the Nine-Section Dojo involves random opponent matchmaking, drawing from all Military Farmers across the entire Ten-Yang Grotto-Heaven. The random allocation rule attempts to match opponents of the same rank for sparring. Although Zhao Xing is in the reserves, he is currently an eighth-rank official, making it possible for him to be matched against some regular Military Farmers.

Zhao Xing wasn't fighting for ranking points; his main purpose was to verify what he had learned and to comprehend the three great secret texts.

A rapid patter of footsteps sounded. Just as he reached the entrance of the Eighteen Locust-Willow Courtyard, he heard the sound of a bamboo horse galloping behind him.

"Old Gao?" Zhao Xing asked, looking at Gao Ming, who was carrying a large package on his back. "I didn't buy anything."

"A letter," Gao Ming replied. "It was sent from the outside, with the mailing address Nanyang Commandery, Gucheng, delivered through the county yamen's channel."

"A letter?" Zhao Xing looked puzzled. Gao Ming had called it a letter, but he handed over a box instead.

"I'm off," Gao Ming said, trotting away.

Zhao Xing pushed open the courtyard gate, entered, and opened the box. Inside were a Mirage Pearl and two letters. The first letter was signed by Zhao Ruide. The second was signed by Zong Shichang.

Zhao Xing first unsealed Zong Shichang's letter and read it:

"May this letter find you well and smiling, as if we meet again. Since our parting in Gucheng, several months have passed. Brother Zhao, how have you been lately... Is this really written by Zong Shichang? Brother, did you get a scribe to write this for you?!"

Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh. Sure enough, becoming an official makes a difference; even his letters were now drafted and refined by a scribe.

The letter's content was brief, because the real message was contained within the Mirage Pearl.

Hum. As instructed in the letter, Zhao Xing infused a wisp of primal energy into the Mirage Pearl to activate it. The next moment, light shimmered within the Mirage Pearl, projecting a three-dimensional image into the room.

The first thing that appeared was Zong Shichang's face. He was wearing a ninth-rank lotus carp robe, and from the background, it looked like his own residence. As the image began to move, Zong Shichang was still looking down, dusting off his sleeves. Until an off-screen voice called out, "Young Master, it has begun."

"Oh, oh." Zong Shichang quickly looked up and cleared his throat.

"Zhao Xing, I've been transferred back to Nanyang Commandery! Heh heh, check out this lotus carp robe—I'm a proper ninth-rank official! Now I'm the same rank as Old Military Farmer! Isn't this young master impressive? It only took me three months to get transferred back to Nanyang Commandery, and I even got a promotion! How are you doing in the army? Have you gotten a promotion or made a fortune? You need to work hard, or the next time we meet, you'll have to call me Lord Zong, hahahahaha..."

Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile at Zong Shichang's smug demeanor. Honestly, Young Master Zong did have some talent. In just a few months, he not only got promoted but was also transferred back to Nanyang Commandery.

"Alright, my turn, my turn."

"Second Brother Zong, are you done yet?"

Just then, another off-screen voice chimed in. Seeing this, Zong Shichang waved his hand forward. Immediately after, a figure bounced and skipped into the frame. It was Zhao Zheng.

He was wearing a white training uniform with bandages on his feet. He looked a bit thinner but had grown taller.

"Big Brother! I..." Zhao Zheng opened his mouth, then suddenly seemed unsure what to say. After calling out "Big Brother," he simply stood still.

"Why aren't you speaking? Weren't you just clamoring to talk to your Big Brother?" Zong Shichang rubbed Zhao Zheng's head.

"But I'm not talking to Big Brother, I'm talking to Uncle Tang," Zhao Zheng scratched his head. "Facing Uncle Tang's face, I really don't know what to say."

"That's going too far," Zong Shichang lightly tapped Zhao Zheng's head. "Steward Tang isn't ugly."

"Ah, I didn't mean that..." Zhao Zheng didn't know what to say. He suddenly shook off Zong Shichang's hand, ran a little closer, and said, "How about I perform a set of punches for Big Brother!"

With that, Zhao Zheng began to meticulously practice his boxing techniques.

"Hoo-yah!"

"Big Brother, watch closely! This is called the 'Tiger Subduing Fist!'"

Zhao Zheng, with his body aligned and powerful, charged forward and punched a pillar in Zong Manor. His movements truly had some impressive flair, but he somewhat ran out of the frame. Steward Tang adjusted the angle, and only then could Zhao Zheng be seen again.

However, the next second, Zhao Xing laughed. Zhao Zheng was squatting by the pillar, clutching his fist and blowing on it repeatedly.

"Hahahaha... Why would you hit *my* pillar? It's made of century-old hardwood, you silly boy!" Zong Shichang mercilessly mocked him.

"Oh, Second Brother Zong, why didn't you say so earlier...?" Zhao Zheng was in so much pain that tears welled up in his eyes.

After Zong Shichang finally managed to calm Zhao Zheng down, Steward Tang reminded him that the Mirage Pearl's recording time was almost up.

Zong Shichang quickly said, "Zhao Xing, I'll be brief. Everything is fine back home; the Profound Heaven Sect hasn't reappeared, and your family is healthy and safe. The martial arts master I hired for Zhao Zheng is very dedicated. Don't let his current cries of pain fool you; he's already reached the second stage of Energy Gathering. You don't need to worry. Train well in the army. If you need anything, write back and tell me; just use the county yamen's channel. My father also has some connections in the military... Xiao Zheng, do you have anything else you want to say?"

Zong Shichang tilted his head and asked.

Zhao Zheng, with tear-reddened eyes, walked over and leaned close to the Mirage Pearl. "Big Brother, when will you come back to see me? I miss you."

Hum. The image ended there.

Zhao Xing had been smiling, but when he heard Zhao Zheng's final words, he couldn't help but freeze for a moment. He rubbed the Mirage Pearl with his fingertip a couple of times, then a faint smile reappeared on Zhao Xing's face.

Putting away the Mirage Pearl, he then unsealed Zhao Ruide's letter. The content was also relatively simple, mainly discussing trivial family matters. The letter also mentioned the Xue family. Old Military Farmer's temporary position was made permanent, promoting him from ninth-rank superior to proper ninth-rank inferior. Zhao Xing estimated that Xue Wenzhong had benefited from the dismantling of the Profound Heaven Sect's hideout. In his old age, he had become a leader, and his grandson Xue Bai had found a proper job. Now, Old Military Farmer's health was surprisingly improving, and his spirits were much better than last year.

In the letter, Zhao Ruide also complained about Lady Cai, saying that she checked daily to see if the Heavenly Origin Pear Tree had bloomed, caring for it more diligently than she cared for her husband, and so on.

After finishing the letters, Zhao Xing wrote two replies. He also recorded a message using the Mirage Pearl, briefly describing his situation. In essence, it conveyed four words: "Everything is fine."

After writing the letters, he placed an order on his Earth Mirror. Soon, Gao Ming trotted back to the outside of the Eighteen Locust-Willow Courtyard.

"Need it expedited?"

"Yes, please."

Zhao Xing still had plenty of points; with 5,000 new points deposited for the month, he didn't care about the small cost.

"You're quite generous," Gao Ming said with a smile, taking the box. "You're using expedited delivery for such a short distance. But then again, you're a top-tier A-grade genius; a few points mean nothing to you."

Pausing, Gao Ming asked again, "By the way, is it true that you only sleep for one *shichen* a day? And spend all the rest of your time cultivating?"

Zhao Xing paused, "Who told you that?"

Gao Ming replied, "Everyone in the Military Farmer Supervisory Office is spreading that rumor. Is it true or false?"

Zhao Xing nodded, "More or less."

Gao Ming gave a thumbs-up. "You're amazing! Many people in the Four Great Academies are now ordering invigorating and refreshing items to aid their cultivation. I think they're trying to emulate you. You Military Farmers are really dedicated."

Zhao Xing shrugged. "You Artificers aren't much better; you often work yourselves bald. But you, on the other hand, are an exception."

Gao Ming rubbed his head. "I'm not skilled enough, so I can only run these errands to earn some points. Alright, enough talk, I'm off."

"See you around."

In the Heaven's Time Academy, within a magnificent hall, stood one hundred and eight stone steles. Each stele, forty to fifty meters tall, was inscribed with profound and intricate patterns. Different steles emanated distinct auras; some were fiery hot, others icy cold. Zhao Xing sat cross-legged fifty meters from one of the steles, quietly comprehending the "Start of Spring Stele."

"Start of Spring (Lichun), the first of the twenty-four solar terms. Here, the Qi of the Five Elements, those that have passed and those that are coming, continue; and the Qi of spring wood begins to arrive, hence it is called 'Start' (Li). The Start of Spring Stele, along with the twenty-six surrounding steles, all depict the spring season.

The first layer of the Solar Term Decree is the Comprehension Realm. What does it mean to comprehend the Heaven's Time? It means understanding the Five Element changes within the solar terms, understanding the Three-Phase transformations within the solar terms, and understanding the effects of Heaven's Time spells during different solar terms. Spells, Phase Transformations, Five Elements. The Comprehension Realm has nine turns: the first three turns are for comprehending spells, the middle three for comprehending Phase Transformations, and the final three for comprehending the Five Elements.

The six Solar Term Decrees I had previously condensed, including Start of Spring and Start of Summer, had both reached the second turn of the realm. After three days of comprehension here, I completed the remaining eighteen Solar Term Decrees and also advanced the Start of Summer and Start of Spring Solar Term Decrees to the third turn of the realm. It truly lives up to its reputation as a treasure ground of the Heaven's Time Academy."

Zhao Xing had two opportunities for comprehension. After finishing his second training session, he finally used one. The effect was remarkable. Now, twenty-four ethereal Solar Term Decrees floated in his dantian, with the Start of Spring and Start of Summer Decrees being the most solidified, revolving around the Hou Tu sand grains.

"The third turn provides a boost to spells. Through comprehending the steles, I could witness plant growth, perceive naturally formed Heaven's Time techniques, and even grasp three new Heaven's Time spells. However, I still couldn't discern very obvious phenological changes."

Zhao Xing knew it was time for him to leave. Further comprehension wouldn't yield significant progress in a short time.

"To the Nine-Section Dojo."

Zhao Xing left the Heaven's Time Hall, concluding this session of comprehension. Stepping out of the grand hall, he activated his Cloud-Treading Boots, rising on clouds and flying towards the northwest of Yang City.

"Three new Heaven's Time spells: Heaven's Frost, Heaven's Fire, and Mist Concealment. Each spell, once comprehended, is at the seventh turn of the realm. They were comprehended from the Start of Spring, Start of Summer, and Frost's Descent solar terms. These three Heaven's Time spells are also most powerful during these three solar terms. I'll start practicing with these three spells to verify the insights I gained over the past three days. These three Heaven's Time spells are also a manifestation of phenology. If I can perfect them, I might have a chance to enter the fourth turn of the Comprehension Realm and master phenological changes."

The dojo's entrance was in the northwest of Yang City. After flying for about half a *shichen*, Zhao Xing arrived at the dojo entrance. It was a colossal cloud gate, a hundred meters high and fifty meters wide, its frame entirely formed from condensed clouds and mist.

"First, I'll register."

Zhao Xing took out his Earth Mirror and found the Nine-Section Dojo Selection and Training Course. This course was overseen by a Military Farmer named 'Cen Sanji'.

"For C-grade geniuses, the Nine-Section Dojo Selection and Training Course requires achieving a seven-star rating within one month. B-grade geniuses require fourteen stars within one month. A-grade geniuses are required to achieve a twenty-one-star rating within one month. During this month, Cen Sanji will occasionally lecture and even personally demonstrate on the plaza outside this cloud gate. Three days have passed, and over two thousand five hundred people have completed the selection and training," Zhao Xing observed the information on his Earth Mirror. "However, most of them passed as C-grade."

Many people had gone to train at the Nine-Section Dojo as soon as they arrived and had already reached the required level, so they could directly pass this selection and training course.

"Seventy-five people passed as B-grade, and currently, only twelve people passed as A-grade."

The dojo's rating system is seven stars per rank, meaning Zhao Xing needed to reach a third-rank rating within one month to get points for the selection and training course.

"I wonder about the difficulty. Logically, with all the reserves training at the dojo now, there should be plenty of novices," Zhao Xing mused, watching the figures entering and exiting the cloud gate. "I'll go in and try it."

Whoosh! Zhao Xing also followed the flow of people and flew into the cloud gate.