The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Taicang Academy.

The reporting had already ended, but Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi were still busy. They were preparing for the next stage of the academy examination.

Both Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi had military responsibilities and took their duties seriously. Occasionally, they would observe various treasure sites to check on the comprehension progress of the new recruits.

They would even use this information to modify and adjust the upcoming academy assessments.

"The Myriad Forms Earth Palace has appeared again," Zuo Zizhi said helplessly, looking at the status of the Seventy-Two Earth Palaces, "Marquis Gong Wu, despite his age, still hasn't lost his playful spirit. He's toying with these new recruits again."

Lu Bang glanced at the elusive Earth Palace and couldn't help but chuckle. "It's good that he's willing to visit Ten Suns Cave-Heaven. If the other army generals knew, they'd be eager for him to come and stir things up."

Zuo Zizhi said, "True. He's an honorary vice dean of the Di Li Academy, an old Marquis who became famous three hundred years ago, and a third-grade powerhouse. People would beg for his guidance… It was only because of the military's invitation, along with the commanders of the nine stationed armies pleading, that he agreed to visit Ten Suns Cave-Heaven."

"He's been here for three years, and the Myriad Forms Earth Palace has only appeared a few times during the early stages of the new recruit training," Lu Bang said. "Honestly, I'd love to go and study it myself, but we're not allowed."

"Exactly. Anyone above eighth-grade won't even get to see the Myriad Forms Earth Palace appear," Zuo Zizhi added with a hint of frustration. "And no one has been able to open the gate of his Myriad Forms Courtyard for years. Too many people tried to disturb him, so he directly banned anyone from approaching. Truly eccentric."

"The older people get, the more childlike they become," Lu Bang remarked. "Who knows how strange we'll be if we live to be seven or eight hundred."

"Seven or eight hundred?" Zuo Zizhi shook his head. "I'd be happy to make it to five hundred."

The two continued chatting, not taking the appearance of the Myriad Forms Earth Palace too seriously.

However, as the days passed and the Myriad Forms Earth Palace continued to appear more frequently, Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi started to find it unusual.

"Hmm? It's the two from Shenwei Army, Zhao Xing and Han Bing?"

"Is the Myriad Forms Earth Palace lingering for them?"

"Look! Zhao Xing has closed his eyes… is he smiling?"

"Could it be that he has comprehended a technique?"

[You have spent several days comprehending before the Myriad Forms Earth Palace and have mastered the intermediate-level technique 'Divine Travel Guard (Special).']

[Divine Travel Guard: Intermediate Technique]

[Progress: Fourth Transformation (4253/18000)]

[Effect: A fusion of Earth Palace Guardian Technique and Mysterious Earth Guardian Technique. Upon activation, it forms an octagonal palace centered around the caster. The palace can also sink into the earth and travel through ground veins. At the fourth transformation, Divine Travel Guard allows movement through the earth veins of soil, metal, wind, and lightning.]

"It's a Myriad Forms Earth Palace. No wonder it was so difficult," Zhao Xing said as he opened his eyes.

Having comprehended the technique, everything became clear to him.

The Myriad Forms Earth Palace was somewhat similar to the myriad techniques in a grand technique diagram.

However, this method was even more advanced than the grand technique diagram.

Of course, it couldn't truly be considered a technique of all types, as it only incorporated Earth Palace and Mysterious Earth techniques.

If it were a true Myriad Techniques Earth Palace, it would include techniques from the Earth Buried, Earth Palace, Ground Shattering, and Mysterious Earth categories, covering everything.

This palace clearly hadn't reached that level.

"The Myriad Forms Earth Palace is already incredibly powerful. The fusion of two techniques, Divine Travel and Earth Palace, must have been created by at least a third-grade expert," Zhao Xing thought.

By mastering the Divine Travel Guard, Zhao Xing had effectively learned both the Divine Travel Earth Palace Technique and the Earth Guardian Technique.

Because of the fusion of these two techniques, the difficulty level was much higher, making it a very special technique.

Its upper limits far surpassed those of ordinary intermediate techniques.

"With eighteen transformations, it could even rival a high-level technique."

"This kind of technique is rarer than most high-level ones."

Why is it rarer?

If you were to place Divine Travel Guard next to a high-level technique and bring them to the Lihuo Dao Academy for an honorary title exam, Divine Travel Guard would undoubtedly be chosen.

The learning threshold for Divine Travel Guard was lower, but its power was equivalent.

Divine Travel Guard could be gradually understood from lower levels, from one transformation to the next.

But a high-level technique had a much steeper learning curve, starting at the difficulty of a tenth transformation.

"Traveling through ground veins… with this octagonal palace, my safety during such travel will be significantly enhanced," Zhao Xing thought.

He recalled the person he had seen traversing the earth veins in the Ten Thousand Li Thunder Pool.

If that person was walking a tightrope, then Zhao Xing was riding a cable car.

If the two were to fight or chase each other while traveling through the ground veins, Zhao Xing's speed would be superior. In battle, if he used Divine Travel Guard to collide with his opponent, the other party would be annihilated.

"This trip was worth it."

Zhao Xing smiled. The anxiety of the past few days had transformed into joy.

Even though he had spent eight days, comprehending the fusion of the two techniques from the Myriad Forms Earth Palace and reaching the fourth transformation was absolutely worth it.

"I wonder who the master of this Myriad Forms Earth Palace is."

A powerhouse like that surely wouldn't be unknown.

But he didn't dwell on it too much.

"Han Bing is still comprehending," Zhao Xing thought, looking at Han Bing's figure still immersed in pursuit. "I hope he can understand what he's seeking."

Without disturbing him, Zhao Xing quietly left.

With the Minor nine Heavens Gale at the third transformation, Rolling Thunder at the fourth transformation, and Divine Travel Guard at the fourth transformation, Zhao Xing had completed his foundational training as planned.

After a hearty meal, he immediately set off to another location to continue his advanced training.

"Fifteen days remain."

"I'll aim to push one of these techniques to the seventh transformation."

"If I manage to get one to the seventh transformation, I'll consider the advanced training complete."

"If I get two, that'll be a pleasant surprise."

"Getting all three to the seventh transformation is unlikely."

Comprehension should be gradual, and Zhao Xing didn't want to pressure himself too much.

Sometimes, a mindset that's too rushed can prevent the desired results.

"To increase the power of my techniques, comprehension is one thing, but I also need to study the Seasonal Qi Command, Earth Returning Technique, and Yin-Yang Self Technique."

The Seasonal Qi Command and Earth Returning Technique were both methods of increasing one's power.

The Shennong Diagram could create a more favorable environment for techniques, and the Earth Returning Technique could also alter the terrain, adding another layer of enhancement.

As for the Yin-Yang Self Technique, it refined the inner five elements. Zhao Xing planned to study it after the academy assessments were over.

By the sixteenth day, at midnight, Zhao Xing had arrived at the Di Li Academy's Mysterious Earth Prison.

This prison held numerous subterranean beasts.

Each one was terrifyingly powerful, enough to make anyone tremble at the sight.

These beasts, which lived underground, had natural abilities that closely resembled the Earth techniques.

Many human techniques had been created by observing these creatures.

Zhao Xing now stood outside a massive cell, watching a multi-limbed beast in a frenzy.

"The Five-Colored Centipede, native to damp, dark swampy areas, is extremely venomous and adept at hiding. Its antennae move like the wind, and its power is immense."

"It's one of the more ferocious beasts that dwell underground and can live up to a thousand years, reaching the fifth grade."

"Its innate ability can distort ground veins, softening even the hardest rocks. Its ability subtly utilizes the earth, water, and metal elements within the ground veins."

Zhao Xing watched quietly, comparing what he saw with his comprehension of Divine Travel Guard.

The Five-Colored Centipede was male, and its partner, the Blue Water Centipede, had been female.

The Five-Colored Centipede was now in a frenzy because a Mirage Pearl displayed the scene of the Blue Water Centipede's death.

[You observe the Five-Colored Centipede's innate ability and gain insight, Divine Travel Guard progress +25]

[You observe the Five-Colored Centipede's innate ability and gain insight, Divine Travel Guard progress +55]

[You observe the Five-Colored Centipede's innate ability and gain insight, Divine Travel Guard progress +35]

After half an hour, the Five-Colored Centipede calmed down.

It couldn't be allowed to stay in a frenzy forever, as it needed to be reused.

After half an hour of chaos, it had done its job.

Zhao Xing moved on to the next cell.

On the twentieth day, Zhao Xing left the Mysterious Earth Prison.

[Divine Travel Guard: Intermediate Technique]

[Proficient: Sixth Transformation (6005/18000)]

"Four days of observation yielded considerable results. Though it only improved by two transformations, this technique is a fusion of two techniques."

"Even though it seems like only two transformations, my mastery of Divine Travel Earth Palace and Earth Guardian has both improved by two transformations. Even my Boundless Earth Palace is almost at the ninth transformation."

With the fusion of two techniques, the power was naturally greater, and his understanding of the technique's mysteries was much deeper.

"Time to head to the Earth Vein Hall."

Zhao Xing flew toward the east.

"The Earth Vein Hall contains nineteen Earth Vein Diagrams, which depict over ten thousand ground veins from the nineteen provinces."

"Comprehending these diagrams is akin to studying a transmission painting with unlimited access."

"Whether I can break through to the seventh transformation depends on this."

If he had to choose a technique to push to the seventh transformation, Divine Travel Guard was the most practical.

It combined offense, defense, and mobility, and its power exceeded that of ordinary intermediate techniques.

As Zhao Xing hurried to the Earth Vein Hall, suddenly—

His Earth Mirror trembled.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing curiously took out his Earth Mirror.

[Captain Fan Zhaoliang of the Dianong Forces has stabilized the Time Essence and Earth Energy of the 'Inverted Peak Mountain' within a three-hundred-mile radius of Ten Suns Cave-Heaven over the course of two years, transforming the region into a treasure land.]

[From today, Inverted Peak Mountain will yield eight types of fourth-grade fruits and one fifth-grade treasure, the 'Heaven Serpent Fruit.' For his effort, Fan Zhaoliang is rewarded with 1 billion points! Congratulations to Captain Fan Zhaoliang!]

[The armory has added a new fifth-grade treasure, the 'Heaven Serpent Fruit,' priced at 400,000 points per piece.]

"What? Someone transformed a wasteland into a treasure land and earned 1 billion points?" Zhao Xing raised his eyebrows.

"They stabilized the Time Essence and Earth Energy to produce Heaven Serpent Fruits?"

"A three-hundred-mile radius transformed into a treasure land… impressive."

Zhao Xing knew how difficult it was to convert a wasteland into a treasure land.

Destruction was easy; creation was hard.

It was undoubtedly a long-term battle.

"Two years and 1 billion points… I doubt it was just Fan Zhaoliang alone; it must have been a team effort," Zhao Xing mused.

Each grade higher a treasure was, the more its value increased exponentially.

Fourth-grade treasures that could be mass-produced usually went for under 10,000 points.

If they couldn't be mass-produced, their price would certainly exceed 10,000, sometimes reaching tens of thousands.

Fifth-grade treasures that could be mass-produced generally cost over 10,000 points, and if they couldn't be mass-produced, the price could reach up to several hundred thousand.

The Heaven Serpent Fruit was a native treasure, meaning it could only be produced in Ten Suns Cave-Heaven.

At first, since it wasn't fully mass-produced yet, a price of forty to fifty thousand per fruit was reasonable.

Once mass production began, the price would decrease.

Mass production made the feat valuable, and a reward of 1 billion points wasn't excessive.

"If Fan Zhaoliang were the sole recipient of that many points, the military would've promoted him by now. At the very least, he'd be promoted to a free-rank general."

Zhao Xing put away his Earth Mirror and continued toward the Earth Vein Hall.

For now, these matters were far beyond him. The most pressing task was preparing for the academy assessments at the end of the month.

On the twenty-fourth day, in the Earth Vein Hall.

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged before a wall painting.

Many people sat in the vast gallery, silently contemplating the wall paintings.

For those practicing Earth School techniques, studying the many ground vein flows of the nineteen provinces could provide invaluable insight.

[Divine Travel Guard: Intermediate Technique]

[Proficient: Sixth Transformation (6995/18000)]

"Comprehending these Earth Vein paintings has significantly advanced my progress. In just four days, I gained 990 points."

"But I've already been here for four days."

"Still, my Divine Travel Guard hasn't broken through to the seventh transformation yet."

"I'm only five points away from breaking through. Why are these last five points so difficult?"

Though studying the Earth Vein paintings hadn't been fruitless, the progress came mainly in the first three days.

The entire day today had yielded no results.

"Free things aren't always the best," Zhao Xing sighed.

This was nothing like a fourth-grade transmission painting, which produced astonishing results.

Though the free resources offered significant help to the new recruits, these public treasure sites had their limitations.

Reaching the seventh transformation for a dual-technique like Divine Travel Guard in such a short time was exceedingly difficult.

"I only have just over a thousand points. That won't buy me any fourth-grade paintings from the armory."

Zhao Xing browsed the Earth Mirror.

Transmission paintings at the fourth-grade or higher were the only ones that would be useful to him now.

But each fourth-grade transmission painting cost at least 3,000 points!

This was already discounted because the military's prices were lower than those outside.

When Lu Qian and Zong Shichang had purchased their paintings, they had paid over 3,200 points each, and Lu Qian's Myriad Technique Diagram had cost more than 6,000 points.

"If I want to break through Divine Travel Guard, I need two transmission paintings—one for Divine Travel Earth Palace and one for Earth Guardian. So I need at least 6,000 points."

"But I can't even take on high-paying missions right now. Where would I get that many points? Should I try betting?"

Betting meant finding someone to spar with, using points as the wager.

Now that more than twenty days had passed, many people were looking for opportunities to earn points by challenging others.

But after thinking about it, Zhao Xing dismissed the idea.

"Everyone's broke. New recruits only start with 100 points, and after more than twenty days, they've probably already spent them. Betting for ten or twenty points isn't worth it."

"And I might not even win against those with thousands of points."

"When are Long Xiao and Old Chen going to send my package? It's been so long."

Zhao Xing had entrusted his Blood Spirit Needle and Blood Fiend Pearl, both fourth-grade treasures, to Long Xiao and Old Chen.

Ten days ago, he had received a letter from Old Chen saying they would send something soon.

But for some reason, it still hadn't arrived.

"Maybe something came up."

"Well, I'm only five points away. I might not need points to break through after all."

Zhao Xing continued staring at the painting.

Time passed, and Zhao Xing remained in the Earth Vein Hall for another four days.

His eyes hadn't left the painting in front of him.

This particular painting depicted the seven main ground veins of Pinghai Province. Each vein corresponded to one of the elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning.

Each ground vein was incredibly stable, flowing so slowly that it was nearly imperceptible unless observed closely.

"To shake the ground veins of an entire province… what an impossible feat."

"Boundless Earth Palace and Divine Travel Earth Palace can collapse small ground veins in some areas, but the ground veins of the nineteen provinces are on a completely different level. Even a fifth-grade powerhouse would struggle to affect them."

"Strong, stable, nurturing all life."

Zhao Xing watched quietly.

Without realizing it, he activated his acute perception technique, seeking to see more clearly.

And at that moment, a shooting star seemed to streak across his vision.

The massive, stable ground veins suddenly flowed faster, and Zhao Xing glimpsed a second layer of the veins.

"I see."

Zhao Xing smiled and stood up, leaving the Earth Vein Hall.

[Divine Travel Guard: Intermediate Technique]

[Progress: Seventh Transformation (7001/18000)]

On the twenty-eighth day, Zhao Xing successfully broke through to the seventh transformation of Divine Travel Guard.

"With only two days left before the academy assessments, reaching the seventh transformation for Divine Travel Guard means I've completed my advanced training plan."

Zhao Xing was satisfied with the outcome.

Although Rolling Thunder and Minor nine Heavens Gale remained at the third and fourth transformations, respectively, those levels weren't bad either.

Expecting to master every technique to perfection? To be both a genius and an all-rounder? That would require a significant amount of time and resources.

At that moment, Zhao Xing's Earth Mirror trembled once again.

He flipped it over to see Long Xiao contacting him.

"Has he arrived in Ten Suns Cave-Heaven?"

The Earth Mirror only worked within Ten Suns Cave-Heaven, and Long Xiao and Old Chen had previously sent letters.

Now that they were contacting him through the Earth Mirror, it meant they had arrived in person.

"Zhao Xing, where are you? I'm here with your delivery!"