Chapter 159: Sixth Level, Final Battle

"You're actually first?" Zhuang Ziqing gnashed his teeth. "Didn't you say you only had two seven-revolution effigy techniques?"

"That's right," Zhao Xing shrugged. "You asked about seven-revolution effigies, and indeed there are only two of those."

"I'm going to fight you!" Zhuang Ziqing made as if to strangle Zhao Xing.

"Brother Zhuang, calm down, calm down," Cao Shuang quickly smiled and held him back.

Cai Jin also chimed in, "Yeah, even I, from Taicang Institute, haven't said anything. Why are you so agitated?"

Han Bing bluntly asked, "Brother Zhuang, why didn't you ask him how many revolutions his other effigy techniques were?"

Zhuang Ziqing paused, then asked, "Oh, right! What about the others?"

"There are two nine-revolution ones."

"Damn it, brothers, beat him up!" Cao Shuang, Zhuang Ziqing, and Cai Jin immediately pounced on him.

Zhao Xing's rapid progress astonished these top-tier geniuses.

"For the next seven days, I'm also going to cultivate at the Primordial Dao Sanctuary!" Zhuang Ziqing declared. "I still have two unused opportunities, and I won't let Zhao Xing get those 50,000 points for free this time!"

"I used to think the rumor about Zhao Xing only sleeping two hours a day was just a legend, but now I believe it," Cai Jin said. "Brother Zhuang, let's go together!"

"Han Bing, you stay and keep an eye on Zhao Xing. Don't let him secretly practice extra," Cao Shuang instructed.

"No need for that much trouble. The four of us can just team up and beat him half to death first," Han Bing said expressionlessly.

"Hiss, you Divine Might Army folks are ruthless. I was just thinking of locking him up with the Underground Palace Technique."

After the rankings for the fourth test were announced, the geniuses all flew off to comprehend effigy techniques.

The top-ranked geniuses, including Shi Yong, were all stimulated by Zhao Xing.

The main campus of Taicang Institute was howling with indignation!

The spring breeze blows, the war drums roll! We swear not to return without claiming first place!

If Zhao Xing, a genius from the Geomancy Institute, took first place in their institute's selection training, how could they ever face anyone again?!

Brothers, one word: practice!

Inside the main hall of the Myriad Laws Palace.

Lu Bang looked at the fourth test rankings and couldn't help but shake his head. "This is outrageous! Not a single person from Taicang Institute managed to claim first place. Did they take the resources and run off to practice other techniques?!"

Liu Tianning smiled faintly. "The agronomists from Taicang Institute didn't perform too badly. They held half of the top ten spots, and most of the top twenty came from Taicang Institute. Your students, Cai Jin and Feng Qi, are both very good."

"Just 'very good' isn't enough," Lu Bang retorted. "I truly regretted introducing him to Marquis Tian back then. How good it would have been if he had stayed at Taicang Institute."

"Forcibly keeping him wouldn't necessarily make him willing to cultivate our primary institute's techniques," Liu Tianning said. "It's better to think of ways to attract them."

Lu Bang chuckled. "Of course, I understand that principle, but I don't have your skill, Brother Liu. Your effigy techniques are unrivaled in all nineteen prefectures."

After being improved by Liu Zonghai of Taihe Commandery, the Liu Lineage Compilation Method became widely recognized as the world's foremost effigy technique.

It was widely promoted during Emperor Taizu's reign, but its difficulty was too high. Coupled with the lack of wars during Emperor Wen's reign, effigy techniques gradually lost their practical use. Later, a simpler version had to be adopted, while the Liu Lineage Compilation Method was retained within the military.

With the decline of effigy techniques, only nine relatively simple ones were fully promoted during Emperor Jing's reign.

The Liu family had always wanted effigy techniques to regain their former glory, and Liu Tianning was the most outstanding among them.

Lu Bang deeply admired Liu Tianning.

"After Brother Liu's effigy training course, I expect a large number of military agronomists will be attracted to cultivate effigy techniques."

"So many people have gone to Taicang Institute's treasure grounds for comprehension."

"Hmm? Even Shi Yong went to Taicang Institute's most precious treasure ground, the Primordial Dao Sanctuary, to comprehend?"

As one of the directors of Taicang Institute, Lu Bang naturally knew the movements in all the treasure grounds immediately. Upon learning that Shi Yong had also gone to the Primordial Dao Sanctuary of Taicang Institute for comprehension, he broke into a grin.

"Shi Yong has always been first in various trainings. For so long at the branch institute, his cultivation in his free time wasn't diligent; compared to others, he could even be called a bit lazy."

"He hasn't even used the free opportunities available to top-tier geniuses for the Primordial Dao Sanctuary and the Thirty-Six Waterways, not even once."

"Now, four people have surpassed him, especially the first-place Zhao Xing, who isn't even a genius from Taicang Institute. It seems Shi Yong has also been stimulated."

Liu Tianning nodded. "Zhao Xing's talent in effigy techniques is indeed extraordinary. If he can continue to practice, he is bound to achieve something significant in this path in the future."

Lu Bang raised an eyebrow, surprised that Liu Tianning held such a high opinion of Zhao Xing. "That's good. Let Zhao Xing spur on these geniuses so they don't neglect the practice of our institute's techniques."

In the fourth test, half the participants were eliminated.

Of course, this elimination was only for the point reward assessment; they were not forbidden from learning.

The remaining individuals could still enter the Myriad Laws Palace to study, and those who had been in the first and second tests could also come to the third test to comprehend and earn basic points for the third test.

Some agronomists felt that effigy techniques held great promise, and even if there were no points to be gained later, they still chose to spend more time cultivating them.

The vast majority, however, left after earning their points.

After all, the Heavenly Timeliness school and the Geomancy school were the mainstream, and other selective training courses also offered points, so they were naturally unwilling to waste more time on effigy training.

As for the fifty people who passed the fourth test, they all seized the time to cultivate effigy techniques.

They aimed to perform well in the fifth test, 'Multi-Technique Fusion'.

"Technique fusion, a realm that should originally only be approached after reaching the seventh rank, is already being undertaken by many of the agronomists in the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven, who are the best of the best." Zhao Xing arrived at a plaza behind the main hall.

Unlike the single-technique demonstrations in the front hall plaza, the effigies appearing here were manifestations of multi-technique fusion.

"Flying Explosive Effigy."

Zhao Xing's gaze fell before a firecracker grove. A gentle breeze swept through, and firecracker materials quickly formed an effigy. Unlike a normal explosive effigy, this one had a pair of wings as thin as cicada wings on its back.

Then, the effigy transformed into a blur and leaped up violently.

In an instant, it crossed a distance of over ten meters, appearing a hundred meters away after two leaps.

"Bang!"

In the deep pit, the effigy exploded.

The pit was clearly scarred from countless previous explosions. Under such immense power, it merely showed a scorched area, not even stirring up a speck of dust.

"A single Explosive Effigy, though powerful, is quite difficult to get close to an opponent because its speed is relatively slow. Even an Explosive Effigy mastered at the intermediate level would struggle to quickly approach an eighth-rank opponent."

"Usually, Explosive Effigies are deployed in multiple numbers to encircle and annihilate," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "However, this makes them less cost-effective."

If it took dozens of Explosive Effigies to kill one eighth-rank, even if the agronomist could produce firecrackers themselves, the cost would be too high.

Many military agronomists didn't avoid effigy techniques because they didn't want to learn them, but because this combat style was simply too expensive.

"If I spend all that effort researching Explosive Effigies, I might as well just go to the Heavenly Craftsman Workshop and buy a fourth-tier Soul-Shattering Crossbow."

"If a martial artist gets close, two shots from that crossbow would be enough. The Heavenly Craftsman Workshop has plenty of these 'equalizer weapons'."

Of course, some people didn't see it that way.

Weapons from the Heavenly Craftsman Workshop were, after all, external objects and required consumable replenishment.

The materials for effigy techniques were part of one's inherent ability and didn't need to be sought externally.

"If I can fuse two techniques, like a Flying Explosive Effigy, the cost-effectiveness would be much higher."

"Rushing over to embrace an opponent, a martial artist at eighth-rank completion, if they don't have exceptionally strong protective treasures, would be dead or crippled if caught without protection."

The Flying Effigy technique was an advanced form of the Swiftness Effigy.

A Swiftness Effigy could only move on the ground, but a Flying Effigy not only ran fast but could also perform low-altitude leaps.

Eighth-rank martial artists could briefly manipulate air to fly. With a Flying Effigy combined with an Explosive Effigy, and since martial artists couldn't burrow underground, they could only endure the explosion if caught.

Of course, a Flying Explosive Effigy would be less effective against mage lords.

"Unless it's a three-technique fusion: Flying Guardian Explosive Effigy, using a Guardian Effigy to store the burrowing technique."

"With a three-technique fusion, there would truly be no escape to heaven, no path to earth."

Many tactical combinations immediately appeared in Zhao Xing's mind.

Effigies with multi-technique fusion also had a longer duration.

They could be produced in large quantities and possessed great power, making them truly useful even in this era.

"Once the fifty-level Pure Essence Soil forms, I can hide a whole army of effigies in my dantian. A fifth-rank killing a fourth-rank would be effortless."

"Agronomists like Liu Tianning, who are proficient in effigy techniques, are rare. But once he establishes his power, even kings would respectfully bow and address him as 'Lord Liu' when they saw him."

Liu Tianning was feared by so many during Emperor Wu's reign not because of the emperor's favor, but because he himself was incredibly formidable!

The key was that his 'Self-Effigies' were also incredibly potent. He was the one who attacked you; if you destroyed one of his Self-Effigy clones, it didn't bother him at all.

Why was Zhao Xing so wary of this person? Liu Tianning had done many terrible things later on. Countless nobles wished him dead, and there were several assassination attempts in which Zhao Xing had participated a few times.

Yet, even though Liu Tianning was half-mad, he remained alive and well. Zhao Xing followed along in assassinations, but failed to kill him, instead dying multiple times himself and being tortured to near death.

Later, the vengeful Old Master Zhao endured through several developments and became formidable. He wanted to go and kill Liu Tianning but never managed to do it. It wasn't until the imperial court announced Liu Tianning's funeral that he learned the fellow had died of old age in a grotto-heaven.

To have offended so many people and still die of old age was truly a miracle.

"I won't join your ranks, and I'll keep my distance from you in the future, but I will thoroughly learn your effigy techniques!" Zhao Xing thought to himself, then began to observe the practice of the Flying Effigy in another location.

To achieve two-technique fusion, he naturally had to master the Flying Effigy first.

Time flew by in a flash, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

At the Weather Institute, Ge Jinsong was in his Seven Cedar Mountain Courtyard, lecturing to students from Pinghuai Institute who had come for guidance.

These students were Grade B from Pinghuai Institute and could seek his guidance by spending just 50 points.

"The techniques of Heavenly Timeliness, when applied to flood control, are usually chosen during the solar terms from Winter Solstice to Qingming."

"If other solar terms are chosen, which are within the flood season, it would instead amplify the natural forces of water between heaven and earth."

"However, techniques must also be applied according to local conditions. Assuming a flood has already formed, its natural disaster power is surely irresistible. At this point, using Heavenly Timeliness techniques is no longer suitable. One should first apply strong measures using Geomancy techniques, either dredging or blocking, to first resolve the issue of human survival, and then consider other matters."

"The Thirty-Six Waterways of Pinghuai Institute can demonstrate the essence of various flood formations. If you accumulate enough points, you can enter to comprehend. If not, you can also go to the Geomancy Hall for observation at the Geomancy Institute and seek out the Nine Provinces Water Vein Map for comprehension."

"The Weather Institute will also open a Natural Disaster Training Course later. All right, today's lecture has been two hours long. You may return now and digest what you've learned." Ge Jinsong waved his hand.

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Teacher." The students from Pinghuai Institute bowed and departed.

Afterward, Ge Jinsong met with several other students who came for guidance.

Soon, dusk began to fall.

"Strange, Shi Yong hasn't appeared for three days. What's he doing?"

As the top genius of the Weather Institute, Shi Yong's courtyard was located with the agronomist masters, where the Heaven-Earth vitality was denser.

Ge Jinsong used to often see Shi Yong sleeping in his courtyard, but now he hadn't seen him for days.

He stopped a passerby and asked, "Do you know what Shi Yong has been doing lately?"

"Replying to Mr. Ge, *hiccup*," the passerby almost let something slip but quickly pretended to burp, then clasped his hands in apology before replying again, "Lord Ge, Shi Yong went to Taicang Institute and signed up for the currently popular effigy training course."

"He has already passed several tests and has now gone to the Primordial Dao Sanctuary for comprehension."

"Oh, you may go." Ge Jinsong simply said "Oh" expressionlessly, then let the passerby leave.

He took out his earth mirror and began to check the details of the effigy training course.

Upon seeing the ranking results for the fourth test, his gaze involuntarily sharpened.

Ge Jinsong was speechless for a long time.

He finally understood why Shi Yong hadn't appeared for three days!

Given Shi Yong's temperament, he had always been first. From the very beginning of his entry into the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven, no matter what it was, he had never lost.

Now, being surpassed by four people, he was naturally stimulated, especially since the first-place Zhao Xing was not a genius from Taicang Institute.

"This is good too. Shi Yong has never been particularly diligent. Now that someone is catching up, it might serve as an inspiration for him."

"It's just... my reputation and Old Cheng's..."

Ge Jinsong recalled the passerby's reaction earlier and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He never expected that a single misstep back then would lead Zhao Xing to soar and rise steadily, practically slapping him and Cheng Qingming in the face.

He anticipated that this matter would be brought up repeatedly during this military agronomist training session. Sigh...

"I at least gave him a Grade A-medium, but Old Cheng gave him a Grade A-low." Ge Jinsong put away his earth mirror and began walking towards Cheng Qingming's courtyard.

He couldn't be the only one feeling vexed; Old Cheng needed to know too.

Inside the Myriad Laws Palace, in a pavilion.

"Slap!"

A Flying Effigy rushed over and smacked Zhao Xing on the shoulder as he rested at a table.

Zhao Xing seemed to sense it, and quickly leaped to the side.

"Slap!"

A palm print was instantly imprinted on the pavilion platform.

Seeing Zhao Xing awake, the Flying Effigy immediately stood still, no longer moving.

Zhao Xing rubbed his cheek.

He had set an alarm for himself, but it was a 'Flying Effigy' version.

Before sleeping, he had instructed the effigy to wake him after two hours, and also to sharpen his alertness.

"Only two hours? That was fast."

Zhao Xing leaped to a high spot and summoned a 'basin-sized cloud'. He buried his head in it and washed his face.

Feeling it wasn't enough, he simply pointed his finger again, transforming the 'basin-sized cloud' into a 'swimming pool-sized cloud'.

"Rumble and flash!" Lightning flickered and thunder rumbled in the clouds, and the cold water turned hot.

He then jumped into the cloud and took a bath.

"Splash!"

After a satisfying bath, Zhao Xing dropped out of the cloud.

As he descended, the aetheric wind blew, and by the time he landed, his clothes were dry, and his entire body felt in a state of supreme comfort.

"Keep working hard!"

Zhao Xing summoned two effigies.

They were an Explosive Effigy and a Flying Effigy.

The Explosive Effigy was mastered at the intermediate level, while the Flying Effigy was at the eighth revolution.

"Shhh!"

The two effigies rapidly disintegrated, turning into floating materials, but their general humanoid framework could still be seen; they hadn't been completely reduced to a pile of loose sand.

"Flying Explosive, combine!"

Zhao Xing pointed his finger, and the frameworks of the two effigies slowly overlapped. Plant materials such as firecrackers, Wind Spirit Branches, and Golden Thread Leaves began to disentangle and intertwine, weaving together under the golden magical light of the technique, reconstructing a new effigy.

Its body was slightly larger than a single effigy, and the wings on its back were bluish-gold, with only some linear patterns visible, while the rest of the wings were transparent due to their extreme thinness.

"Go!"

Zhao Xing pointed his finger, and the Flying Explosive Effigy immediately flapped its wings, transforming into a gust of wind and charging towards the training target Zhao Xing indicated.

The target was a fourth-tier wooden stake made of Gold-Rock Wood, engraved with defensive formations, and was equipment used by the Artificer school to test power.

The Flying Explosive Effigy covered a hundred meters, appearing before the target, its arms crossed.

Its entire body instantly turned dark red.

"Bang!"

Fragments flew everywhere.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The power of the fragments even traveled over a hundred meters, shooting towards Zhao Xing.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Zhao Xing retreated behind a Great Shield Effigy, and the fragments all struck the Great Shield Effigy's broad chest.

Next to the Gold-Rock stake was a crystal ball displaying a line of text:

*Discrimination Test Type: 'Explosive Effigy'**Explosive Comprehensive Lethality: 'True Eighth Rank Upper', Maximum Lethality: 'Lesser Seventh Rank Lower' (one spot).**Comprehensive Lethality Coverage: within 20 meters radius, attenuates to Ninth Rank Lower after 50 meters.*

Zhao Xing read the test results next to the wooden stake, then looked at the crystal ball on the left side of the track.

The crystal ball on the left was simpler.

It only showed four characters: 0.35.

This was a speed test based on the speed of one *ming*, which meant the speed of sound.

Typically, one needed to reach the sixth rank to break the sound barrier.

Eighth-rank martial artists, in a short burst, could reach about 30% to 40% of the speed of sound.

Spellcasting professions were roughly at this same standard.

Of course, geniuses were different, especially with certain techniques that could achieve faster travel in a short time.

For example, Zhao Xing's Swiftness Guardian was already at the tenth tier, comparable to high-tier techniques.

In short bursts, it could approach the speed of sound.

This was because high-tier techniques were also generally mastered only at the sixth rank.

"The Flying Effigy at eighth revolution, when combined with the Explosive Effigy at completion, didn't fully display its speed advantage. This is because of the overall weight increase, and the flying technique being suppressed by the explosive technique."

"After two-technique fusion, the speed of the Flying Explosive Effigy is stronger than a single Explosive Effigy but weaker than a single Flying Effigy, only reaching the seventh revolution level in terms of speed," Zhao Xing mused.

"The power of the explosion is also affected, not matching the performance of a single technique at completion, only reaching the ninth revolution level."

"But overall, the effect of two-technique fusion is still stronger than a single technique. However, to truly achieve perfect fusion, both techniques must reach completion."

"If a third technique were perfectly fused again, the difficulty would increase exponentially," Zhao Xing thought.

Truly perfect three-technique fusion was something no one among the reserve agronomists could achieve.

After all, perfect two-technique fusion was already comparable to high-tier techniques.

Perfect three-technique fusion would be as difficult as cultivating a high-tier technique to the ninth revolution!

As for perfect four-technique or five-technique fusion, that was already skill approaching the Dao!

It was a level only achievable by someone like Liu Tianning, who also had to be proficient in the Self-Effigy technique.

But if five-technique fusion could be achieved, then fusing further techniques would become easier.

To achieve five-technique fusion, one's understanding of the Way of the Five Elements must already be terrifying. Effigy techniques also couldn't deviate from the Way of the Five Elements, so progressing further, using effigies to fuse all myriad techniques, would actually be less difficult than the current fusion process.

Of course, in the Era of Dynasties of Fortune, only two or three individuals could truly be said to have fused all myriad techniques with effigies.

"The Flying and Explosive Effigy techniques, in essence, combine yang fire with yang wind. To achieve perfect fusion, I still need to cultivate the Flying Effigy to the ninth revolution."

Zhao Xing summoned a pile of Flying Effigy materials and focused on studying the Flying Effigy.

At noon on the fourth day, his Flying Effigy broke through to the ninth revolution.

At the *xū* hour (7-9 PM), the Flying Effigy reached completion.

Zhao Xing then began to concentrate on two-technique fusion.

On the fifth day, at the *wèi* hour (1-3 PM).

The two techniques were perfectly fused.

Liu Tianning, who was in the main hall of the Myriad Laws Palace, couldn't help but look in Zhao Xing's direction.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

As his main body moved, countless Self-Effigies around him immediately looked over.

Zhao Xing's senses were sharp. Based on his ingrained impression of Liu Tianning as the 'Agronomist Slayer', his heart skipped a beat.

"Lord Liu, do you have any instructions?"

"No, no need to be nervous," Liu Tianning offered a faint smile. "I was just taking a look at you."

"You are very good. After this training course, you can often come to Myriad Laws Palace to find me, no need to announce yourself. If anyone in the military troubles you in the future, you can also come to Myriad Laws Palace to find me."

Let me come often?

Zhao Xing looked around, seeing dozens of Self-Effigies smiling at him. He forced himself to say, "Thank you for your high regard, Lord Liu. This humble official will certainly visit more often in the future."

"Mm, continue your cultivation," Liu Tianning said. "Effigy techniques are profound and extensive; they are indeed a grand path."

"Yes." Zhao Xing cupped his hands. Seeing that Liu Tianning was merely showing appreciation for talent, he finally relaxed.

On the evening of the fifth day, Zhao Xing began attempting a third technique fusion.

However, he only tried briefly before giving up. Because his Flying Explosive Effigy was already perfectly fused with two techniques, adding a third would disrupt the perfect balance, causing the effect to decline.

So, Zhao Xing instead began to research combinations of Flying, Valiant, Great Shield, Invisibility, and Illusion effigy techniques.

After repeated attempts, he finally found a direction that suited him.

"Explosive and Flying are perfectly fused, but for those that are not perfectly fused, adding a third technique can be more effective."

"For example, with Valiant, Flying, and Invisibility effigies, even though no single aspect is as good as the individual technique after fusion, the practical combat effect becomes much better after fusion."

The tier might decrease, but the practical combat effect was better because some effigy techniques were inherently strong in support.

For instance, an Invisibility Effigy, when combined with any other technique, could play an excellent role in actual combat.

Thus, Zhao Xing no longer fussed over the technique's tier but instead focused on achieving 'practical combat effectiveness' when fusing the effigy techniques he had learned.

Immersed in comprehension, time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the fifth test.

The fifth test was still the same as the first in terms of assessment method.

Fifty people gathered in the Technique Demonstration Plaza, competing for materials, creating effigy techniques, and then entering the palace for evaluation.

During the fifth test.

Zhao Xing only created one effigy, then stopped.

He could tell from Liu Tianning's attitude that his perfect two-technique fusion would definitely rank among the top.

Given this, there was no need to waste more time on the fifth test; he could directly prepare for the final sixth test.

When the rankings were announced, Zhao Xing still held first place, and Cai Jin remained second.

However, Shi Yong rose to third, while Feng Qi, who was originally third, dropped to fourth.

Zhuang Ziqing climbed to fifth, Guan Junyang was sixth, Li Feng remained seventh (no change from last time), and Cao Shuang rose to eighth.

The rest of the rankings saw relatively minor changes, with Taicang Institute geniuses still dominating the top twenty.

Only Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, Cao Shuang, and Guan Junyang, the four geniuses who had comprehended high-tier techniques, saw their ranks improve.

Those strong in the comprehension of the Dao, who diligently studied effigy techniques, made significant progress in a short period.

For others, whose understanding of the Dao was not significantly different, and who were equally diligent, it was difficult to create a large gap between themselves and others.

After the fifth test, only twenty people remained.

Those ranked 21st to 50th were confirmed, each receiving 3,000 points.

For the next seven days, everyone prepared for the final practical combat assessment.

"First place, 50,000 points reward.""Second place, 30,000 points reward.""Third place, 10,000 points reward.""Fourth to tenth place, 8,000 points reward.""Eleventh to twentieth place, 5,000 points reward."

"Just a bit more effort, and if we get into the top ten, we'll have 8,000 points! If we can make it to third, that's 10,000 points!"

"Techniques are techniques, practical combat is practical combat. If properly combined, we might just win against those ahead."

"I've always researched effigies with strong combat power, and the final test is all about combat power!"

Among the remaining twenty people, some were full of confidence.

Because the fifth test assessed two-technique fusion, some of those who ranked higher had fused effigy techniques with little offensive power, such as Invisibility, Illusion, Great Shield, and Flying.

But for actual fighting? It still depended on Explosive, Valiant, Mystic Weapon, and Guardian effigies.

However, when these geniuses saw Zhao Xing and the effigies beside him, they couldn't help but sigh, feeling they could only gaze up at Zhao Xing's back in the effigy technique training course.

"Two-technique fusion, and a perfect two-technique fusion at that, just one effigy was enough to secure first place," Guan Junyang sighed. "Before, I had to look up to Shi Yong; now, in this course, I have to look up to Zhao Xing. When will it be my turn to get first place and feel proud?"

Since there weren't many people left, everyone had the energy to observe each other's spellcasting during the fifth test.

Zhao Xing only created one effigy but still firmly held first place, making it easy for people to guess that it was a perfect two-technique fusion.

Otherwise, Liu Tianning would not have ranked him first.

"A perfect two-technique fusion, combining wind and fire elements. No, it's not that simple." After seeing the rankings on his earth mirror, Shi Yong couldn't help but turn his gaze to the effigy beside Zhao Xing.

Whoosh! Shi Yong flew off once again. This time, he began searching for breakthrough opportunities throughout the Myriad Laws Palace.

"I've never seen Shi Yong so busy before."

"He always seemed so relaxed."

"It seems this time, he's truly treating Zhao Xing as a rival."

Inside the main hall of the Myriad Laws Palace, Lu Bang watched the scene in the plaza with a smile.

"Shi Yong's talent is quite good," Liu Tianning commented. "However, in terms of effigy techniques, he's still a bit behind Zhao Xing."

"I think he's going to waste his efforts this time, unless Zhao Xing's practical combat ability is too poor in the final assessment."

"Zhao Xing has no experience as a military agronomist, but Shi Yong has experienced countless battles before."

"In effigy techniques, this is the only point where he might win."

"The rest are not even comparable to Zhao Xing."

Upon hearing this, Lu Bang couldn't help but chuckle. "My student is still in second place, Brother Liu, you're not giving me any face at all."

"But when it comes to practical combat, Zhao Xing might not be weak either."

"Brother Liu, you may not know, but during his first mandatory training, this young man was praised by Fang Wu of the Martial Affairs Department. He once said that if leading troops into battle, his first choice would be Zhao Xing, and second would be Shi Yong."

"Although that was martial arts training, it still shows that Zhao Xing's practical combat experience wouldn't be too weak."

"Oh?" Liu Tianning's face showed a hint of curiosity. "Then I'll have to take a good look."

Seven days passed in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the final test of the effigy training course.

"The sixth test is also the final test."

"The test rule is a one-on-one decisive battle, with a single match determining the winner."

"You will draw lots randomly to match opponents."

"The winners of the first round will be the top ten, while the losers will receive the 5,000-point reward for ranks eleven to twenty."

"The battle location will be right here in the Technique Demonstration Plaza."

After Liu Tianning finished speaking, twenty command tokens flew towards the plaza.

The tokens were enveloped in golden light, making their specific content invisible.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Everyone immediately used wind techniques to pull a command token into their hands.

Once held, those who drew the same numbered token immediately felt a connection.

"Damn it, such bad luck? I actually drew Zhuang Ziqing!"

"You have bad luck? I freaking drew Cai Jin!"

"Heh heh, Fang Yi, I'm sorry, brother's sending you on your way!"

"Hmph, it's not certain who will win or lose yet!"

The drawing of lots concluded, with some jubilant and some troubled.

Zhao Xing looked at his token, which bore the number one. The moment he held it, he immediately sensed the other person holding token number one.

"Isn't this a destined encounter?" Upon seeing his opponent, Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile. "This kid and I have a karmic connection."

Because his opponent was precisely Li Feng.

"Zhao Xing?" Li Feng also saw Zhao Xing, and his expression changed. During the fourth test, he still harbored hope that he could surpass Zhao Xing.

After the fifth test, he knew it would be difficult to win against Zhao Xing.

"If my Mystic Weapon Effigy has a combat power of five thousand, then his Valiant Effigy has at least ten thousand!"

"Please, don't let me draw this jinx."

Li Feng silently prayed during the drawing, but his fears came true. He drew Zhao Xing, and it was for the first match.

"Those who drew number one, please stand on the east and west sides of the plaza. Everyone else, please exit."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The plaza was instantly left with only Zhao Xing and Li Feng, and the protective formation barrier immediately activated.

"Damn it, this person really is my jinx!" Li Feng inwardly grumbled, deciding that he had to stay far away from Zhao Xing in the future. "I'll give it my all!"

The duel began, with both Zhao Xing and Li Feng simultaneously casting techniques.

At the tenth breath, Li Feng secretly glanced over and saw that Zhao Xing had not yet created his effigy, which slightly eased his mind.

But then, his expression changed, and his entire body flew into the air.

"It's an Invisibility Valiant Effigy! He truly is insidious!"

Li Feng's effigy had just formed in front of him at that moment, but he no longer had time to issue commands, because the Invisibility Valiant Effigy Zhao Xing had created directly knocked Li Feng unconscious.

"Combat concluded. Zhao Xing, wins."