Chapter 225: Fortune and Spirit, Fire in Water

A crowd of powerful figures and nobles gathered outside the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave, each filled with anxiety.

They all understood the immense benefits of the Heaven-Cave upgrading to a Blessed Land, but the prohibition came from the Three Kings, and no one dared to force their way in.

Those already inside the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave were even more anxious, as 99% of them were confined to the 'Yang City' area.

Without the qualifications of an 'Investigator,' no one could take a single step out of Yang City, unless they wished to leave the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave entirely.

But at a time like this, who would leave the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave?

Anyone who left would be a fool!

However, being inside yet confined to Yang City felt incredibly frustrating.

"Rejected again! I applied three times for 'Entry-Level Investigator,' and my application range was merely the already explored areas like the Geothermal Plains and the Ten Thousand Mile Thunder Pool, yet they still rejected me!" Inside a courtyard in Yang City, Yi Yue pounded the table in a frenzy.

"Even if I'm a martial artist and not a Ministry of Agriculture official, an entry-level investigator shouldn't be so strictly controlled, right?"

A handsome young man beside him glanced at Yi Yue. "Why are you pounding the table at me? If you're so capable, go fight King Rahu."

"What did you say!"

"Alright, Nangong, Yi Yue, stop arguing," Qi Yuanjun interjected. "You'd be better off spending this time looking for connections. Even if we can only form an entry-level investigation team for now, it wouldn't be a wasted trip."

Qi Yuanjun was also very annoyed. It was like a delicious cake was laid out before him, but he couldn't eat it, only drool incessantly. This feeling was torturous.

Even standing at the border monument of Yang City, one could feel the astonishing spiritual energy permeating the world. It was unimaginable how many opportunities lay in the areas outside.

"News!" Suddenly, Yi Yue sprang to his feet.

He frantically tapped his Earth Mirror, and a phantom image projected into the room.

It was Wei Hong, son of Wei Yuan from the Tigerflood Army.

"Old friend, you've finally sent news. I was so anxious," Yi Yue said.

"My apologies, Brother Yi." Wei Hong showed a hint of embarrassment. "I don't have good news. My father could only secure a Mid-Level Investigation Team, and there are only eight people in the team; it's already full with our own Tigerflood Army members."

"What?" Yi Yue's mouth fell open, his eyes full of disappointment.

Seeing his reaction, Qi Yuanjun said, "Brother Wei, you've done your best in this matter. We were imposing on you."

Yi Yue also came to his senses and quickly reined in his expression. If a friend couldn't help, he shouldn't be blamed. Whether he succeeded or not, he tried, and that was a favor.

"Yes, given the current situation, Brother Wei can't be blamed. I lost my composure."

Wei Hong said, "Brother Qi, Brother Yi."

"Although I can't arrange for you to join a team, I can tell you three some inside information that might be helpful."

Qi Yuanjun cupped his hands. "Brother Wei, please speak."

Wei Hong said, "Currently, among the various military units, departments, and influential figures who have entered Yang City, there are about a dozen people who can apply for slots, or who already have slots and possess allocation rights."

Qi Yuanjun, Yi Yue, and Nangong Ye's expressions changed.

This was good news from Wei Hong.

They were trying to find people but didn't even know whose connections to seek.

Because everyone was very tight-lipped.

"First are the three Feudal Kings of the Military Domain: King Rahu, King Lingde, and King Tianyan. They all have the right to let people in and approve slots."

This was stating the obvious; everyone knew these three Feudal Kings were in charge of the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave. The prohibitions were issued by them.

But if they could reach these three Feudal Kings, what would there be to talk about?

Wei Hong continued, "Next is King Liang. King Liang submitted a memorial to His Majesty, reporting the auspicious signs of the Blessed Land, and was also granted a portion of management authority by His Majesty."

Yi Yue gave a bitter laugh. "Brother Wei, please don't mention these kings. My brothers and I can't reach them."

How could they, mere sixth-rank officials, curry favor with feudal kings?

Even if they did, they would only be insignificant soldiers under their command.

Indeed, Qi Yuanjun, Yi Yue, and Nangong Ye were all geniuses.

But the Great Zhou Dynasty never lacked geniuses. How many geniuses had appeared over the past thousand years?

"Okay," Wei Hong said. "To what extent can the connections you find reach?"

Qi Yuanjun, Nangong Ye, and Yi Yue exchanged glances and said, "The general went to great lengths to get us in. At most, we can ask the general to seek a favor from a regular fifth-rank official."

The commanding generals of the three Heaven-Caves were also at the Martial Marquis level, but Qi Yuanjun, Nangong Ye, and Yi Yue were merely soldiers under their command, not their sons.

To get them in this far was already the utmost benevolence.

Wei Hong pondered. "Currently, in the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave, the only regular fifth-rank officials who might have slots are probably those in the Ministry of Agriculture. The others are hard to say."

The Ministry of Agriculture naturally controlled the changes of heaven and earth, and the Heaven-Cave's upgrade to a Blessed Land was also announced by the Yang City Bureau of Agriculture.

Most fifth-rank agricultural officials, like Zuo Zizhi, Ge Jinsong, and Cheng Qingming, were likely unqualified.

"For the Four Academies—Heavenly Time, Earthly Benefit, Grand Granary, and Flat River—you at least need to find officials at the level of 'Nong Zheng' (Farm Overseer) or 'Jian Zheng' (Superintendent)."

Wei Hong still provided some solid information. He listed several names: "Fan Zhaoli, Lu Bang, Mei Zhiru, Tian Yan, Liu Tianning, Zhang Song, Gong Tiansi. These individuals definitely have slots."

"You don't need to waste your efforts on anyone else," Wei Hong said.

"Good. Thank you, Brother Wei." Qi Yuanjun cupped his hands. "I wish Brother Wei a bountiful return."

"It's a small matter." Wei Hong nodded, then ended the communication.

Qi Yuanjun, Yi Yue, and Nangong Ye quickly entered their respective rooms to contact their patrons.

An hour later.

The three emerged from their rooms one after another.

"How did it go?" Qi Yuanjun asked.

"The general has agreed to try with Fan Zhaoli, but he can't guarantee success," Nangong Ye said.

"Marquis Yan intends to try with Zhang Song and Lu Bang, but also didn't give a definite answer," Yi Yue sighed.

It was difficult, extremely difficult, to get a piece of such a major opportunity, especially in the initial stage when countless people were scrambling to get in.

Nangong Ye and Yi Yue exchanged glances, full of helplessness. "Try" was as good as saying nothing.

"I did make a discovery, though," Qi Yuanjun said. "You won't believe it until I tell you."

"The general told me there's an official from the Ministry of Agriculture in the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave named Liu Tianning. He's a member of the Military Domain's Inspection Department and also concurrently serves as a Farm Overseer in the Grand Granary Academy, responsible for training soldiers."

"The general said that Liu Tianning's backer seems to be one of the Three Kings, and he also seems to have ties to the royal family, controlling a large number of slots!"

"Hmm?" Nangong Ye and Yi Yue wondered, "Is that Liu Tianning from Taihe Commandery?"

"Yes," Qi Yuanjun confirmed. "The general just contacted Liu Tianning. The result truly surprised me. The general said Liu Tianning told him to seek Zhao Xing for a slot."

"Zhao Xing?" Nangong Ye was stunned. "Are you talking about Zhao Xing from the Divine Might Army? What does this have to do with him?"

"Yeah, how did Zhao Xing get involved?" Yi Yue was also confused.

"Zhao Xing is Liu Tianning's disciple," Qi Yuanjun explained. "Liu Tianning created a Top-Tier Investigation Team, with a maximum of 30 members, and he actually handed over most of the slots to Zhao Xing to manage."

"What?" Nangong Ye and Yi Yue were shocked. "A top-tier investigation team, just handed over to him?"

"I heard from the general that Liu Tianning values Zhao Xing highly, even willing to give such a favor to his disciple," Qi Yuanjun remarked with emotion.

Nangong Ye and Yi Yue's eyes turned red with envy upon hearing this.

What kind of incredible teacher was this?

"It's too difficult to persuade Liu Tianning directly. The general heard that we know Zhao Xing, so he told us to contact Zhao Xing ourselves and see what price is needed to get a slot," Qi Yuanjun said.

"Then what are we waiting for? Contact him quickly!" Nangong Ye swiftly took out his Earth Mirror.

Yi Yue also took out his Earth Mirror. At this moment, he felt fortunate that he had only fallen out with Liao Rulong from the Divine Might Army and hadn't criticized Zhao Xing. He wondered if this connection could still be used.

In the Daofeng Mountains, Zhao Xing sat in the internal room of the Qilin Flying Boat.

Before him was a 'phantom' figure in blue dragon-scale armor and a blood-phoenix cloak.

"Your subordinate, Zhao Xing, greets 'King Xin'," Zhao Xing saluted.

This was a non-royal prince, and the third marquis to contact him today.

King Xin, Liu Yong, was the Prince of Pinghai Prefecture. He had gained merit in opening up the Nine Heavens Responding Yuan Mansion during the middle of the Dingxin era, was promoted from Martial Marquis to a Feudal King, and later married one of Emperor Jing's cousins, making him an imperial relative.

However, King Xin was very old, over six hundred years old. Looking at King Xin's appearance, one could tell he didn't have much longer to live.

King Xin was at the Grade 3 Soul Realm, but his hair was white, and his face was covered in many wrinkles.

This indicated that his physical body's seven spiritual organs were nearing exhaustion, sustained purely by a strong 'life soul' nourishing them, but this couldn't last much longer. At most fifty years, King Xin would die of old age. His princely title was not hereditary; upon his death, his fortune would not fully pass to his descendants but would be downgraded, with some returning to the imperial court and another portion calculated according to the system of aristocratic succession.

"Zhao Xing, your teacher said the Top-Tier Investigation Team has been entrusted to your management," King Xin's voice was gentle, giving a refreshing feeling even through the Earth Mirror.

"It's all my teacher's kind favor."

King Xin wasted no words and went straight to the point:

"I have thirteen sons in total. My other sons have already forged their own paths. Now, the only one I'm worried about is my youngest son."

"He's not very capable. As a father, I want to find a future for him."

"If you are willing to make this concession and grant him an 'Advanced Investigator' slot, name your price."

Zhao Xing did not answer immediately.

King Xin added, "I have been a soldier for many years. Although I am nearing the end of my lifespan, I still have fifty years to live. Among my other twelve sons, two have joined the Golden Hawk Guard, and seven are regular fifth-rank officials, primarily serving in Pinghai Prefecture and Shenzhou."

Liu Yong spoke very plainly. At his age, there was nothing he couldn't say.

He was practically telling Zhao Xing directly: "I still have fifty years to fight. You don't need to worry that I'll die immediately after you grant this favor.

Even if I die, some of my sons are capable, so you don't have to worry about not being repaid for this favor."

King Xin did not mention money, as transactions of this magnitude were rarely exchanged for mere currency.

Zhao Xing did not ponder for long and immediately cupped his hands. "Since it is King Xin's promise, I have no hesitation. Please inform me of the young master's residence, and I will personally pick him up."

"Good." The white-haired King Xin showed a hint of a smile. "I will instruct him to wait at your Eighteen Scholar Trees Courtyard."

With that, King Xin Liu Yong disconnected the communication.

"Whew." Zhao Xing let out a long breath and stepped out of the cabin.

"How many have you dealt with now?" Xia Jing asked.

"This is the third," Zhao Xing sighed.

"Why are you sighing?"

"Dealing with marquis is stressful."

"My brother, I'd be willing to bear that stress for you."

"Hahaha, I can still handle it for now. I don't need help just yet."

"Hmph." Xia Jing gave Zhao Xing a disdainful look.

"What, has someone else contacted you?" Long Xiao walked over, holding his Earth Mirror. "Another person has joined the investigation team. This is the fourth."

"Yes. I'll handle it first," Zhao Xing said.

His teacher had let two people in.

Today, he had also released two slots.

Counting King Xin's son, that made five.

However, he didn't need to return, as his 'self-made straw figure' was present. He just needed to have the straw figure stationed in Yang City go and pick up Liu Yong's son.

"How are Old Chen and Brother Ji doing with their search?" Zhao Xing looked towards a waterfall ahead.

Below the waterfall was a cold pool.

When the Heaven-Cave upgraded, the world underwent unusual phenomena. They had previously followed these phenomena to find this cold pool.

Of course, mages were better suited for things like burrowing into the earth or water.

So, Long Xiao and Xia Jing, being martial artists, stayed on the boat, and Zhao Xing, being busy with matters, hadn't personally gone down to search.

"They've been down for two hours," Xia Jing said. "I wonder how it's going."

"You two stay here and don't move," Zhao Xing said. "I'll go down and take a look too."

Zhao Xing rose on clouds and quickly flew to the base of the waterfall.

"Water from the heavens without a source... this waterfall isn't visible from outside."

Zhao Xing felt the terrifying water pressure.

"Rumble!" The waterfall, over a hundred meters high, crashed down into the deep pool below, and the pool water emitted bursts of cold air.

"Splash!"

Zhao Xing leaped into the water, fighting against the negative pressure, and began to descend.

His Divine Movement Guard allowed Zhao Xing to move even in water, though the speed was much slower than underground.

It was cold. The chill continuously permeated his Eight-Cornered Underground Palace.

The deeper he descended, the greater the pressure, and the higher the magic consumption.

"Hmm?"

Upon reaching a certain depth, Zhao Xing suddenly spotted specks of blue light appearing in the dark, profound cold pool.

"What's that?" Zhao Xing swam towards it.

A moment later, he approached.

"Thousand-Year Cold Crystals?"

"So many?"

Zhao Xing looked at the blue ghostly light around him.

"Old Chen, Old Chen."

Zhao Xing transmitted a message to Chen Shijie via water pulse.

A moment later, the water rippled, striking Zhao Xing's Eight-Cornered Underground Palace with a unique frequency.

"Why did you come down too?"

"You and Brother Ji, come to my location and collect the Thousand-Year Cold Crystals."

"Okay."

Fifteen minutes later, Chen Shijie and Ji Ziqin swam to Zhao Xing's side.

Ji Ziqin was protected by a spherical water shield, while Old Chen had a faint blue membrane clinging to his body.

"It really is Thousand-Year Cold Crystals! And so many?" Ji Ziqin was also a bit shocked. "What luck do you have? You just got in the water and found Thousand-Year Cold Crystals? We've been searching for so long and only found some hundred-year-old ones."

"My luck has always been good," Zhao Xing said cheerfully.

Actually, this wasn't purely a matter of luck.

Zhao Xing also practiced divination and deduction.

Once underwater, he activated 'Five-Finger Heavenly Fate,' a fate-based spell that inherently had 'luck enhancement.' With Zhao Xing's 'Qi Luck Derive Four' combined with 'Five-Finger Heavenly Fate,' he was already in the right place; not finding anything would have been truly unusual.

"Hurry and collect them, don't waste time," Zhao Xing said.

"Okay."

The three began rapidly collecting the Thousand-Year Cold Crystals underground.

Half an hour later.

"Splash!"

The three emerged from the cold pool, surrounded by blue starlight.

A burst of cold air erupted.

Then, the cold pool fell silent, losing its mystical qualities.

"They're up!" Xia Jing and Long Xiao's eyes lit up, and they quickly rushed over.

"How did it go?"

"Finally, a big haul," Ji Ziqin said.

"Not bad," Zhao Xing said simultaneously.

"Not bad?" Ji Ziqin's eyes widened. "These are Grade 6 Thousand-Year Cold Crystals!"

Ji Ziqin felt that Zhao Xing's standards were too high. After two days of searching with Zhao Xing, he increasingly had the illusion that Zhao Xing was the Prince's heir, while he himself seemed like an unworldly bumpkin.

"Thousand-Year Cold Crystals are refining materials; we can't absorb much of them," Zhao Xing said.

Thousand-Year Cold Crystals could be used for cultivation to enhance talent in 'ice-type spells' and increase resistance to ice power.

Among the five, Zhao Xing absorbed two and a half, Ji Ziqin absorbed two, and Old Chen one and a half.

Long Xiao and Xia Jing, however, only absorbed half a piece each.

"My water-element spells have greatly improved!" Ji Ziqin exhaled a wisp of cold air. "They truly are good stuff."

Thousand-Year Cold Crystals were extremely difficult to obtain, taking a thousand years to form.

And now, there were over three hundred of them here!

"We can only absorb one or two, but these things can be used to submit for investigator missions," Zhao Xing said.

"Investigator missions?" Ji Ziqin was confused; he had been in the Ten Suns Heaven-Cave for a short time and wasn't clear about the intricacies.

"Brother Ji, you might not know. These investigator slots aren't given for free," Zhao Xing explained. "I expect the Military Domain will soon issue mission requirements to all investigators and investigation teams."

"If we bear this title, we have to perform tasks. What do investigators do? Of course, they find and submit treasures."

"Every few days, we'll have to submit something. If we fail, we'll be demoted. If an entry-level investigator is demoted, they'll have to leave."

Ji Ziqin realized, "Indeed, that makes sense."

Zhao Xing said, "Being an investigator was originally a thankless job. Dean Fan once toiled diligently in the Daofeng Mountains for three years and finally transformed an area of heaven and earth, allowing it to continuously produce native spirit fruits, for which he was rewarded with 1 billion points."

"However, apart from formidable teams like his, other entry-level and mid-level investigators generally had a tough time."

Consider that Gao Ming, a sixth-rank engineer, had to moonlight as a deliveryman, an armory counter, and a ritual supervisor.

In the Military Domain, earning points was not that easy.

Officials under Emperor Jing did not enjoy high welfare. To live well or get promoted, they had to work hard and outcompete others.

When Zhao Xing first proposed forming a top-tier investigation team to Liu Tianning, why did Old Liu hesitate?

Because it wasn't a good assignment; it would unnecessarily add burdens and distract from cultivation.

"But precisely because being an investigator was a tough job, after the Heaven-Cave's upgrade, the existing investigator slots were not recalled, and officials who held slots were allowed to recruit people freely."

Ji Ziqin sighed, "Now a tough job has become a lucrative one, which is a reward for diligent and hardworking officials."

"Countless people now want to obtain a slot, but it's as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"Alright, Cousin, stop reminiscing," Xia Jing laughed. "Let's move quickly and continue searching for opportunities."

"Good, let's go!" Ji Ziqin smiled.

Over the next three days, Zhao Xing received no more requests from marquis.

This was because Liu Tianning had filtered them, only allowing suitable ones to contact Zhao Xing.

Then, on the fifth day after the Three Kings issued the prohibition.

Indeed, as Zhao Xing had expected, the Military Domain began to increase the mission requirements for all levels of investigators.

"Low-level investigators must find ten types of Grade 5 treasures and submit at least one hundred pieces of each, every three days."

"Mid-level investigators must find ten types of treasures no lower than Grade 5 and submit them every five days."

"Advanced investigators must submit Grade 6 treasures. Failing the mission three consecutive times will result in demotion." Long Xiao couldn't help but say, "As expected, there's no such thing as a free lunch. This will be exhausting."

"If you don't do it, plenty of others will be scrambling to," Chen Shijie said.

"All treasures must be submitted," Zhao Xing said. "That's the rule."

"It's tiring, but the benefits are immense."

"For example, the spiritual mushrooms, fruits, and Thousand-Year Cold Crystals we found previously—you can use as much as you can consume, as long as you have the ability to digest them."

"Indeed," Xia Jing nodded. "We are all soldiers of Great Zhou. The meat will rot in the pot anyway."

Zhao Xing said, "With the Thousand-Year Cold Crystals, the five of us won't have to worry about submission tasks for ten days. Next, we won't look for treasures."

"Then what will we look for?" Long Xiao asked.

"Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence, such as Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Essence, Fortune Spiritual Essence, Longevity Spiritual Essence... these are the best things for us."

"Brother Ji, you mentioned seeing fire in water before. Was it in that direction?"

"I think so," Ji Ziqin mused.

Zhao Xing controlled the flying boat, made a turn, and immediately flew in the direction Ji Ziqin indicated. "Old Chen, Xia Jing, Long Xiao, keep an eye on your surroundings."

"If you see winged, ape-like strange beasts appearing in the sky, or fruits resembling infants... whenever you see these anomalies, we'll immediately pursue them."

"Okay."

After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he activated his Heaven's Eye and scanned the surroundings from the flying boat.

The Qi Observation Technique from the Great Evolution Scripture could not only observe a person's luck but also locate where 'Fortune Spiritual Essence' lay!

Fortune Spiritual Essence was fundamentally a type of fortune, formed by the condensation of the fortune of mountains and rivers in the world.

According to Ji Ziqin, that 'fire in water' was very likely Fortune Spiritual Essence.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, in Zhao Xing's Heaven's Eye vision, a flash of red light flickered.

"Long Xiao, lower altitude. Southeast, to the valley at the ninth latitude."

"Understood!" Long Xiao immediately perked up, controlling the flying boat to descend.

Upon reaching the location, all five were invigorated.

Because in the valley below, there was a hot spring emitting steam, with flames flowing in the water. It was clearly extraordinary at first glance, and at the same time, all of them experienced a 'premonition.'

"Found it, this is it!" Zhao Xing's eyes burned with excitement.