Chapter 105: Li Huo Dao Academy, Borrowing the Path

"Waiting impatiently?" The moment Long Xiao saw Zhao Xing, he knew why the other had come.

"If I don't leave soon, my family will be sick of me," Zhao Xing said. "Who can keep up a tearful farewell for a whole month?"

He had already eaten several farewell meals with the old Senior Agricultural Official.

Zhao Xing was already tired of saying goodbye to his family.

Whether it was going to work or not, he needed a straight answer; waiting too long for a transfer was never a good thing.

If something went wrong with the Divine Might Army and they couldn't transfer him, Zhao Xing would have to prepare for the Military Agricultural Official examination.

There was a fixed time for the exam every year, mostly concentrated in the spring; miss it, and he would have to wait another year.

Given Zhao Xing's situation, he felt that even if he took the exam now, he might not necessarily fail; he just lacked the opportunity.

After all, his insights into magic arts already rivaled many veteran Eighth-Rank Agricultural Officials; his Four Heavenly Time arts and Earthly Advantage magic arts were mostly at the Eighth or Ninth Turn level, with very few even at the Seventh Turn.

He even had self-created magic arts!

Compared to true Eighth-Rank officials, Zhao Xing only lacked in the rank of Qi Gathering and Life Soul.

Long Xiao spoke up: "Crossing jurisdictions to process paperwork is relatively slow, and transferring you also spans across both civil and military systems, but rest assured, I stake my life on it—it will definitely happen."

With things said to this extent, Zhao Xing felt relieved; as long as it could be done, he didn't mind waiting a few more days.

"Whoosh~" Just then, a gust of wind swept past outside the door.

Chen Shijie's figure appeared in the main hall.

"No need to wait."

"We leave the day after tomorrow."

Long Xiao looked up: "You have news?"

Chen Shijie nodded: "Yes, just received the letter. The Marquis wants us to arrive at Xier Prefecture by the second of the third month."

Long Xiao said: "The time is a bit tight; we can only rush there via the Divine Altar of the Li Huo Dao Academy."

Chen Shijie said: "I have already contacted the branch academy in Dayuan Prefecture. We will activate the Li Huo Divine Altar the day after tomorrow and borrow the path to Xier Prefecture."

Long Xiao pointed at Zhao Xing: "What about his matter?"

Chen Shijie took a document from his bosom: "I just happened to pick up your transfer order from the county government office. You have been transferred to the Divine Might Army, though according to procedure, you must first complete training in the Military Realm before you can take up your post."

Zhao Xing took the document and looked at it; it was the transfer order issued by the Military Department: "Which grotto-heaven will I be going to?"

Chen Shijie said: "The Divine Might Army's grotto-heaven garrison has been changed to another location; there are eight other armies within this grotto-heaven."

In the last Military Realm Legion Grand Exercise, the Divine Might Army ranked 587th; they didn't have a separate grotto-heaven garrison and had to share with other garrisoned troops.

With only eight armies, that was considered few.

In some places, over a hundred armies shared a single grotto-heaven; just thinking about it made one feel cramped.

But there was no help for it; there were more wolves than meat.

To enjoy a grotto-heaven exclusively, one had to rank in the top three hundred in the Military Realm Legion Grand Exercise to be qualified.

Because a grotto-heaven was not just a training ground, it also had many benefits; garrisoning within it naturally meant being the first to enjoy the benefits inside.

"Not in Jinting or Danxia anymore? What is the name of the new grotto-heaven? What is special about it, and what benefits can it offer?" Long Xiao asked.

Chen Shijie said: "Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven. I don't know the specifics, and the Marquis didn't elaborate in the letter. Anyway, we'll arrive at the beginning of the third month, and we'll know once we see it."

Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven?

Zhao Xing's heart stirred.

Chen Shijie and Long Xiao didn't know the situation of Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, but he did.

"Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven was discovered in the tenth year of Jingxin. It is now the sixteenth year of Jingxin, which means it has been discovered for just over five years and is in the early stages of development, with vast areas yet to be explored."

"The Divine Might Army garrisoning Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven is probably not as simple as just being a training ground; they will also have to shoulder exploration tasks. I actually know the locations of many treasures..."

Zhao Xing controlled his emotions well this time; even his thoughts were only slightly recalled before he reined them in.

Ever since mastering [Clear Insight into the Finest Details], he had been particularly careful about these details. One had to know that high-level powerhouses were terrifying when using this magic art; not only could they discern lies, but they could even grasp the psychological activities of those at lower realms.

It would be one thing if he just knew some other things, but if he were also intimately familiar with a newly developed grotto-heaven like Ten Suns, it would be impossible to explain.

"Then I'll go back and prepare." After appropriately expressing his curiosity about Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, Zhao Xing left the Chen residence and returned home to prepare.

Kangping Ward, Zhao family.

"The transfer order has come down. I will set off with Chen Shijie the day after tomorrow for Xier Prefecture," Zhao Xing mentioned during lunch.

"Xier Prefecture..." Zhao Ruide pondered for a moment. "That's tens of thousands of miles away from home."

Zhao Xing said: "Yes, still in Pinghai Province, but in the upper reaches of the Canglan River; the round trip will be over forty thousand miles."

At that time, Long Xiao had traveled via the Li Huo Dao Academy's Divine Altar fire-escape, and the straight-line distance was already 20,000 miles.

If by land or water, it would be even further.

Now that the Divine Might Army's garrison had changed, the distance would likely be even greater.

"Be careful in everything. If you have time, come back and visit often." Zhao Ruide only gave a simple exhortation; after all, over the past month, what needed to be said had been said many times.

Everyone's emotions were relatively calm now.

Zhao Zheng, the little brother, had gone from the initial reluctance of "Brother, don't go, I will definitely practice martial arts well" to the current disdain of "Brother, why haven't you left yet? Stop bothering me with my martial arts practice."

"Brother, I can't bear to see you go!" Zhao Zheng said. "But Father says a man's ambition lies in the four corners of the world. I will definitely miss you!"

"Stop pretending, your mouth is already grinning to your heels." Zhao Xing pinched the little brother's cheek. "Don't think you can slack off on your martial arts practice after I leave."

"Foster Father, I have invited someone from Zong Shichang; from now on, Zheng'er will go there to practice martial arts every day, so you don't need to worry about it."

Zhao Ruide nodded. Madam Cai opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

Although she couldn't bear to see her son suffer, seeing Zhao Xing's glorious momentum over the past month, she had slowly changed her mind.

Who wouldn't want their son to get ahead in life?

Only Zhao Zheng disagreed with this. "No way, Brother, how can you do this to me? I object!"

"Objection overruled. Eat!"

"Sigh..."

The twenty-fifth of the second month.

Chen Shijie resigned from his post as the head of the Agricultural Official Supervision, with Xue Wenzhong temporarily filling in.

Chen Shijie's mansion in Gucheng and his other assets were all left to Gui Niang, including that Tianyuan pear orchard.

Only then did everyone discover that Chen Shijie still had a sweetheart in Gucheng.

But no one dared to covet the Tianyuan pear orchard.

It was not only because the laws were strict, but also because of the prestige Chen Shijie had accumulated in Gucheng over the past five years.

Plus, Chen Shijie also had connections in the prefecture, so although his family wealth was not small, no one dared to harbor any evil intentions.

Of course, the most important thing was that Chen Shijie also left behind the Dharma-protecting grass dolls that had once been used to protect Zhao Xing.

The twenty-sixth of the second month, Mao hour.

Zhao Xing shouldered his literary bamboo box and left his home in Kangping Ward.

When he arrived at the Chen residence, a Flowing Cloud Flying Boat was already waiting on the drill ground.

Chen Shijie steered the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat to circle Gucheng three times in the dark night, then headed straight for Dayuan Prefecture.

Dayuan Prefecture was located in the south of Pinghai Province and was also the superior institution of Nanyang Prefecture; the Prefect was a Third-Rank official.

The Li Huo Dao Academy had established a branch in the eastern part of the prefecture city.

As one of the seventy-two Dao Academies of the Great Zhou, the Li Huo Dao Academy only set up branch academies in prefecture cities.

Even so, the number of its branch academies was spread across nineteen provinces, and its influence could be said to radiate throughout the entire Great Zhou.

Taking the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat from Gucheng to the prefecture city only took half a day.

After entering the city, the three of them headed straight for the Li Huo Dao Academy branch.

"The predecessor of the Li Huo Dao Academy was the Li Huo Sect; its ancestors were also wealthy, ranking ninth among the Divine Sects."

"After the old sect system was broken, the Li Huo Sect submitted to the Great Zhou, no longer calling itself a sect, and changed its name to Li Huo Dao Academy."

"The Great Ancestor was the honorary dean of all Dao Academies, and later, he successively allowed his descendants to hold important positions in various Dao Academies."

"Today, the vice-dean of the Li Huo Dao Academy is the royal clansman 'Ji Changkong'; he is the Son of Heaven's cousin and was enfeoffed as the Prince of Liyang five hundred years ago."

"The dean of this branch in Dayuan Prefecture, 'Ji Qingshan', is also a royal clansman, but he is still very young, only two hundred and one years old, and is the Son of Heaven's grand-nephew."

"Two hundred years old is still considered young?" Zhao Xing asked, feigning surprise.

"At the Third-Rank realm, two hundred years old is indeed young," Chen Shijie explained. "A Third-Rank official, counting life extension and their own Qi Gathering level, can live to five or six hundred years."

"Life has only passed one-third; isn't that young?"

"That's true."

…………

The Li Huo Dao Academy covered an area of more than five thousand mu, and there were even spiritual mountains and spiritual lakes within the academy.

The recruitment mechanism of the seventy-two Dao Academies of the Great Zhou was very unique; the vast majority set up Dao child academies, only recruiting children under 10 years old.

And there would be special people patrolling everywhere for seedlings with excellent aptitude and bone structure.

It was also divided into inner and outer academies, and both inner and outer academies had upper and lower divisions.

Those who performed excellently in local academies and schools could be admitted to different levels of the academy for study.

Back then, in order to make the sects submit, the Great Ancestor established the Dao official recruitment system; all graduates of the seventy-two Dao Academies could go directly to various places to become officials—in other words, graduation meant guaranteed placement.

In the old sect system, the relationship between master and disciple was very deep, even exceeding blood relationships; "child disciple, child disciple" referred to the master treating the disciple as if he were his own son.

Disciples could not betray their masters for life or switch to other sects.

But in today's Dao Academy, although they still emphasize respecting teachers and the Dao, the titles have changed; there are only teachers and students.

Teachers do not have to be responsible for the student's personal future, only for completing the teaching tasks assigned by the imperial court. Students do not have to learn only one teacher's methods, and there is no such thing as betraying the sect.

Of course, some Dao Academies still retain some old customs and will have master-disciple relationships.

But as long as they don't do things like "cleaning up the sect" or killing students for disobedience, everything is done according to the Great Zhou laws, and the imperial court doesn't care about your personal relationships.

…………

The gate tower of the Li Huo Dao Academy was very tall and grand, and very ancient.

Because credentials were required for entry, Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao were all waiting at an entrance for someone to pick them up.

"The teachers of the Dao Academy are divided into five levels: Hundred Arts Mage, Preaching Mage, Scripture Doctor, Vice-Dean, and Dean."

"The Marquis knows a Scripture Doctor at the Dayuan Prefecture branch, and he will send someone to pick us up," Long Xiao introduced.

The relationship between the Divine Might Army and the Li Huo Dao Academy seemed quite good; not long after, a youth in a yellow robe flew out and landed in front of the three.

He held half a jade pendant, which was the same as the half in Chen Shijie's hand.

"Are you two Lord Long Xiao and Lord Chen Shijie?" the yellow-robed youth asked.

"Exactly."

"My teacher ordered me to pick you up and take you to the Li Huo Divine Altar." The yellow-robed youth glanced at Zhao Xing: "Hmm? Why is there an extra person? And a cat?"

"He is also from my Divine Might Army."

"Can it withstand the True Person's Dao?" The yellow-robed youth looked at the mountain cat, somewhat puzzled. He was just a student of the lower academy, and his eye for detail was average; he couldn't see the mountain cat's rank.

"This is an exotic beast, a mountain cat, Eighth-Rank," Chen Shijie explained simply. "Don't worry about it."

The yellow-robed youth nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

"Please follow me, the three of you."

The Li Huo Divine Altar was located in a depression surrounded by five small fire-red hills.

There were fire ponds in the depression.

When Zhao Xing arrived near the Divine Altar, he felt a wave of dry heat.

He was no stranger to this place.

The Li Huo Divine Altar was a sophisticated teleportation array that also incorporated escape techniques.

In the era of the Qi Luck Dynasty, the Li Huo Divine Altar's ultra-long-distance teleportation, with low side effects, was a unique existence.

Other Dao Academies also had similar means, but the side effects were ridiculously large; in the era when spiritual energy had not yet recovered, the price to be paid was too high, or the cost was extremely high, or there were thresholds for users, or there were strong side effects.

In contrast, the usage conditions for the Li Huo Divine Altar were very low.

Borrowing the path to travel, no matter how far you teleport, you just walk double the distance.

After arriving at the destination, you just brush your steps to "repay the path," which couldn't be more user-friendly.

"We're here." The yellow-robed mage pointed to a spot in front: "Fire Pond Number Nine will open in two quarter-hours."

"After it opens in a moment, just walk straight in. I see this brother is also carrying a cat; is it your first time?"

Zhao Xing nodded: "Yes."

The yellow-robed youth said enthusiastically: "Then I'll give you a few more reminders. When borrowing the path, don't move around randomly, and don't try to comprehend the Dao of Fire. After you go out, repay the path as soon as possible; it's best to complete it within a month, otherwise there will be some bad influences."

"Many thanks." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"You're welcome." The yellow-robed mage said a few words and then stopped speaking, waiting silently for it to open.

Zhao Xing looked around; there were several fire ponds burning with red flames, and from time to time, people would come out of the flames, and some would go in, but after each entry and exit, the flames in the fire pond would shrink significantly.

And the shrinking flames would turn into lines, circling around the user's body.

Just as they were waiting quietly, someone suddenly approached, and the voices of several people came at the same time.

"Lord Helian, we're here. This is Fire Pond Number Nine... Eh? Why is there someone here?"

Zhao Xing turned his head and saw another youth in a yellow robe leading five people to the waiting area of Fire Pond Number Nine.

Among the five, two looked to be in their early forties, wearing armor and military boots. Three were younger, two men and one woman, only Ninth-Rank.

Chen Shijie and Long Xiao also noticed this scene, and the two looked at each other, their brows slightly furrowed.

"Friend, what's going on? Fire Pond Number Nine is already occupied; why are you leading people here?" The youth next to Zhao Xing couldn't help but ask.

"There's no reason," the tall and thin youth opposite said, puzzled. "I checked the fire register two quarter-hours ago; Fire Pond Number Nine to Datong Prefecture was vacant at the fourth quarter of Chen hour."

"Then did you register?"

"This, I should have registered..." The yellow-robed youth opposite changed his expression.

"Impossible. If you had registered in the fire register, I couldn't have registered a quarter-hour ago," the yellow-robed youth on their side said. "Friend, you are too careless. Hurry up and take your distinguished guests to find the next suitable time."

"I'm sorry, Lord Helian, Lord Lei, it's, it's my mistake." The tall and thin yellow-robed youth apologized hurriedly.

Helian Lie's voice was low: "Besides Number Nine, what other vacancies are there for fire ponds that can accommodate five people to Datong Prefecture?"

"Seems, seems..." The tall and thin yellow-robed youth stammered, clearly looking not very bright.

The yellow-robed youth next to Zhao Xing couldn't stand it anymore and answered for him: "There are also Fire Ponds Number Fourteen, Twenty-Six, and Forty-Nine that can accommodate five people to Datong Prefecture."

Helian Lie looked over: "When will they open?"

The youth thought for a moment and said: "Fire Pond Number Fourteen is tomorrow at Mao hour, Twenty-Six is tomorrow at Wu hour, and Fire Pond Forty-Nine will be the day after tomorrow."

"Too late." The man surnamed Lei next to Helian Lie shook his head: "After arriving at Datong Prefecture, we still have to travel for six hours to reach the grotto-heaven entrance; we will miss the military deadline."

Helian Lie looked at the yellow-robed youth next to him: "Is there any other way? Temporarily coordinate a channel."

The tall and thin youth was almost crying: "Lord, this, this seems impossible..."

Helian Lie immediately fixed his gaze on Long Xiao and took a jade pendant from his bosom: "I am Helian Lie, Brave Captain of the Fierce Sun Army. We have military orders and need to rush to Datong Prefecture. Please let the three of you let us five go first. This Dragon Crystal jade pendant will serve as compensation for the three of you."

Fierce Sun Army? Long Xiao and Chen Shijie looked at each other.

The Fierce Sun Army was another garrison in Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, and its ranking was even higher than the Divine Might Army.

In terms of rank, Helian Lie, this Brave Captain, was one level higher than both of them.

This was not a coincidence, because the military department had issued the assembly order to the nine garrisons inside Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven for the same date.

To avoid trouble, Chen Shijie also reported his own background: "I am Chen Shijie, a Ninth-Section Military Agricultural Official of the Divine Might Army, and this is Captain Long Xiao of the Yiwei."

"I'm sorry, we also have military orders and need to rush to Datong Prefecture as soon as possible."

"Heh, so it's the military order of the Marquis of Boping County." The middle-aged man surnamed Lei next to him suddenly chuckled. "Is the order of a Third-Class County Marquis greater than the order of a Martial Marquis? Does the Divine Might Army rank higher than our Fierce Sun Army in the Military Realm Legion Exercise? I think you should let us go first! Our military order is more important!"

"Fart! Isn't my military order a military order?"

A trace of anger flashed in Long Xiao's eyes, and the scabbard behind him trembled incessantly.

Insulting him was fine, but insulting the Marquis and the Divine Might Army was not.

At this moment, he really wanted to draw his sword and fight this person to the death!

Chen Shijie held Long Xiao down, shook his head slightly, and then said: "The two of you, please look for another way. Don't waste your breath, otherwise, you will only waste your own time." ===== CHAPTER 106 =====