Chapter 106: Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven: The Military Agricultural Commissioner's Training Regulations

Chen Shijie's words were calm, his tone simple.

Helian Lie glanced at the middle-aged man surnamed Lei beside him. The latter shook his head slightly and transmitted his voice in secret:

"He didn't fall for it. That military Agricultural Commissioner across from us is no simple matter. We still need to send people in, so we can't waste any more time. Let's find another way."

"Mm." Helian Lie tucked away the jade pendant and quickly left with the three young men and the man surnamed Lei.

"Those Fierce Sun Army bastards are too arrogant!" Long Xiao watched their retreating backs. "What do they mean, their military order is more important than ours? They're outright insulting Divine Might Army. I really want to run him through with my sword, that son of a bitch…"

"Long Xiao!" Chen Shijie barked sharply. A gust of cool wind swirled beside Long Xiao's ear: "Snap out of it! You've fallen into their trap."

"Hm?" Blown by the cold wind, the fury in Long Xiao's eyes faded, and his expression shifted slightly.

"How did your vigilance get this bad?" Chen Shijie frowned. "You really need to go back and train properly."

This time Long Xiao did not argue. He nodded seriously: "Mm, I'll remember that."

Zhao Xing asked, somewhat puzzled: "Was that a Rites cultivator just now?"

"Correct, a military strategist." Chen Shijie said, "To use one's own clarity to make others muddled. That Rites cultivator just now used the provocation technique."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood: "That's truly damn underhanded."

The so-called provocation technique, in the hands of a Rites cultivator, is far more than mere verbal taunting.

It is a method within the 'Manifest Wisdom Method' that can, without one's awareness, shake a person's intellect soul and wisdom soul.

Causing the opponent to become muddled and dull.

"If Long Xiao really couldn't hold back and struck them, regardless of who arrived at Fire Pond Number Nine first, we would all be expelled from the Dao Academy, and they would have gotten what they wanted."

Long Xiao cursed: "Rites cultivators are truly treacherous and deceitful. I'm completely done with these bastards."

Chen Shijie said: "You've dealt with Rites cultivators too little these past five years. Once we reach West Er Commandery, go find Brother Jia and train with him properly."

Long Xiao immediately looked a bit glum: "Can I pick someone else? I'll go find Brother Chengxin instead. That Jia谱 fellow likes to use the 'Intelligence-Reduction Method', and his mouth stinks too. Every time I finish training with him, I feel like a complete idiot."

"Suit yourself."

Zhao Xing asked curiously: "Speaking of which, why didn't that person cast his technique on me? I'm clearly at a much lower realm than Long Xiao."

Chen Shijie shook his head: "He's at the same realm as Long Xiao. If the provocation technique works, then it's simply a case of being outmatched, nothing to say. Sparring and competing between soldiers is very common, and afterward we wouldn't go make trouble for them."

"But if he had targeted you, that would go beyond the bounds of normal sparring, breaking the rules. If we went to confront him afterward, he would be punished for it, and the whole army would be laughed at."

Zhao Xing nodded. No wonder that person had chosen Long Xiao as his target instead of himself.

The yellow-robed youth listened and was equally baffled, but he was far cleverer than the previous one. He simply pretended he hadn't heard anything. After all, he was just a mere Dao boy; being a wallflower was the best approach.

After a while, the flames of Fire Pond Number Nine rose, exceeding the previous highest flames by a meter.

Seeing this, the yellow-robed youth was immediately delighted: "Lord Chen, Lord Long, someone has returned the Dao at Fire Pond Number Nine. The fire pond formation is enough to carry you to Datong Prefecture. You may enter ahead of time, no need to wait any longer."

Seeing this, Chen Shijie cupped his hands toward the yellow-robed Dao boy and said: "Thank you. Please convey my gratitude to your honored master for his assistance."

"I will certainly pass it along." The yellow-robed youth nodded.

Immediately after, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Zhao Xing walked along the slope toward the fire pond in the hollow.

"Whoosh~"

The flames were thick, but the temperature was not high—only slightly higher than human body temperature.

"Soothe the mountain cat, tell it not to be afraid. The process is very quick." Chen Shijie looked at Zhao Xing: "Just walk straight in and relax your body. Long Xiao, you demonstrate for him first."

"Understood." Long Xiao walked into the center of the fire pond and was quickly swallowed by the flames.

Zhao Xing observed as the flame-like thread patterns on Long Xiao's body thickened by another layer.

Once the second layer finished wrapping around him, the next moment, Long Xiao's entire body sank downward.

"Poof~" With a soft pop of the flames, Long Xiao vanished into the fire pond.

Then the height of the flames dropped by two chi.

"Meow?!" The mountain cat's eyes went wide, as if asking: Where's the person? Where did that huge person just go?

"You go in." Chen Shijie said, "I'll be watching you."

"Alright." Zhao Xing cradled the mountain cat and walked into Fire Pond Number Nine.

Sizzle sizzle~ Fire tongues licked at Zhao Xing's skin, his clothing seemingly ignored entirely.

Yet the clothing was not set ablaze.

The mountain cat squirmed restlessly in his arms, but under Zhao Xing's soothing, it endured as the flames wrapped around its body.

"Poof~"

With a soft pop, Zhao Xing and the mountain cat vanished instantly.

The height of the flames dropped by another two chi.

After Chen Shijie entered and vanished.

The flames in the fire pond dropped by three chi, now less than a meter tall.

………………

Datong Prefecture, Departing Fire Dao Academy, the fire pond area where the altar stands.

"Whoosh~"

A flame that had originally been only a meter tall suddenly surged upward, revealing a human figure.

Long Xiao walked out from within.

He glanced at his hands: "Had to return the Dao eighty thousand li. Once I'm back, I'll have to run like mad again."

Immediately after, the flames flickered again, and Zhao Xing and the mountain cat also walked out.

"Truly miraculous."

"The quality of this Five Elements power is extremely high, and the formation is incomparably exquisite—it seems to harness the power of the fire-attribute ley lines, allowing rapid traversal through them." In his previous life, Zhao Xing had also passed through fire ponds, but had felt nothing remarkable.

Now, however, he sensed the wonder of it.

"A layer of fire-attribute power is wrapped around the body, and it carries a unique force as well."

"Ethereal and elusive, yet it truly existed, as if directly linked to heaven and earth. If you don't follow the rules ordained by fate to complete it, the pattern formed by the intertwining of fire-element power will keep reminding you, and the pressure will grow greater and greater."

After borrowing the path, one must complete double the distance of the borrowed path relying solely on oneself, without magical arts or external aid.

Completing the path-return within one month has no effect whatsoever.

If it exceeds one month, the oppressive pressure brought by the mysterious pattern will cause any magical arts or secret techniques to deform when cast.

The severity will keep increasing — what if it exceeds a year?

Then you can forget about returning it for the rest of your life.

"We've arrived at Datong Prefecture?" Zhao Xing asked. "Half a quarter-hour to cross twenty thousand li?"

"Mm." Long Xiao nodded. "To be precise, twenty thousand and eighty-three li."

"After you enter the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, it's best to finish within one month — no magical arts, no external aid, purely relying on your physical body to walk double the distance. The little cat is the same."

"Meow?!" The small mountain cat was a bit dumbfounded.

Doesn't that mean walking over thirteen hundred li every day?

It'll simply tire this cat to death!

"Woo woo~" The mountain cat nuzzled against Zhao Xing's chest.

Can I not walk?

"Do you want to become a dead cat?"

The mountain cat's ears immediately flattened down.

Forget it, thirteen hundred-plus li a day isn't that far.

"Puff~"

Chen Shijie also walked out from the fire pit.

Afterwards, the three left the altar fire pit and exited this branch courtyard.

Taking a Flowing Cloud Flying Boat at Fucheng, the three continued on their way.

"The westernmost edge of Datong Prefecture is West Er Commandery."

"Then why is this one flying east?"

"Long Xiao and I are going to West Er Commandery to see Wu Hou. You go to the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven first."

Chen Shijie said: "You need to complete the new recruit training, including the Military Agricultural Officer's training regulations."

"We'll first send you to the grotto-heaven entrance on the east side, then hurry on to West Er Commandery."

Zhao Xing understood. He looked at the mountain cat in his arms: "Can I bring it in with me?"

Chen Shijie said: "The training schedule is very full; you won't have the energy to take good care of the mountain cat. Let me raise it for you first."

"Alright." Zhao Xing didn't hesitate, directly handing the mountain cat over to Chen Shijie.

Anyway, having previously freeloaded at Chen's residence, they were already familiar with each other. The mountain cat didn't resist this decision either, just a bit reluctant to leave Zhao Xing.

"If you need anything in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, just let us know." Chen Shijie said slowly. "The Military Agricultural Officer's assessment training is extremely strict, with fierce competition."

Long Xiao also said: "There are currently nine garrison troops in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven. The number training alongside you will surely not be small. If someone bullies you with their greater realm, we'll definitely help you get even."

"If you lose to someone of the same realm, then we won't intervene."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Don't worry, I will absolutely not bring shame to the Divine Might Army."

The Flowing Cloud Flying Boat flew east for half a day, crossing many cities and towns, then began entering a stretch of Dashan.

"The entrance to the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven is in the Wanfeng Mountain Range of Datong Prefecture. We've already entered the military-controlled zone."

"Look, there are already many people hurrying this way."

Zhao Xing looked up and saw many Flowing Cloud Flying Boats appear. Using his bright eyes to gaze into the distance, he could see at least a hundred or more around them, all heading in the same direction.

"Roar!"

Just then, a faint clear sound of a dragon's cry suddenly came from the clouds behind.

Hearing this, Chen Shijie immediately controlled the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat to lower its altitude while veering to the side.

"Whoosh~"

A moment later, the clouds a thousand meters behind were suddenly stirred up.

A massive dragon head suddenly poked out from the clouds.

A small vortex formed in the dragon's mouth; the surrounding clouds were shredded along with it, kicking up gust after gust of wild wind.

The dragon head was already huge enough, but it was still just the Bingshan — a tiny fraction.

Zhao Xing discovered that the dragon head was growing from a long ram nearly a hundred meters long.

Then slowly the deck, the hull, and the nine-story pavilion on the hull were revealed.

A colossal behemoth!

Looking at this dragon-head tower ship, Zhao Xing had only one thought in his mind.

"That's the banner of the Tiger Jiao Army," Chen Shijie introduced. "Among the nine armies garrisoned in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, it ranks the highest. In the last legion martial display, it placed three hundred and ninth. The commander of the Tiger Jiao Army is Ming Wu Hou."

"Let's let the dragon-head tower ship pass first."

Encountering a dragon-head tower ship, one can only keep well out of the way, because the dragon-head tower ship inhales and exhales wind and clouds, and with such a massive size, if you get too close, a small Flowing Cloud Flying Boat would be flipped over.

As the dragon-head tower ship passed, Zhao Xing watched from afar the rows and rows of soldiers standing on that deck, their qi and blood mighty and vigorous — even from a great distance they seemed majestic and extraordinary.

The Tiger Jiao Army's banner was also extremely eye-catching. That fierce Tiger Jiao flag, bared fangs and spread claws, flapped violently in the wind as if it had come alive, shaking people's very souls.

"Let's go, continue on our way."

After flying for another small half a quarter-hour, the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat finally began to descend.

In the mountain range below, a huge lake appeared. Surrounding the lake, camp tents stretched continuously for dozens of li.

"Whoosh~"

The Flowing Cloud Flying Boat landed in front of a small palace at the center of one of the camps.

"We're here. This is the Divine Might Army's outpost on the outer perimeter, and this palace is one of the Divine Might Army's armories. I'll take you to get your equipment first," Chen Shijie said.

After Zhao Xing became a ninth-rank official, some of his Agricultural Official equipment hadn't been issued yet. Having been transferred to the Divine Might Army, naturally he came to the army to receive it.

"Long Xiao, Chen Shijie, it's been a long time." Upon entering the palace, they quickly saw an elder wearing everyday clothes.

"Uncle Fang." Chen Shijie and Long Xiao immediately cupped their hands and bowed to the elder.

"You're delivering people rather late this time. The new recruits from all the other divisions have already been sent in." Fang Hong said with a smile. "Is this the Zhao Xing you brought from Nanyang Commandery?"

"That's right," Chen Shijie said. "Quick, greet Uncle Fang."

"Zhao Xing of Gucheng, greetings to Lord Fang." Zhao Xing bowed. Before coming, he had also learned that this Fang Hong was the Armory Steward.

"Everything has been prepared for you." Fang Hong cheerfully had someone bring over a chest. "The standard kit for a ninth-rank Agricultural Official is all here."

Zhao Xing opened the chest and inspected the items one by one.

Besides the familiar Evil-Repelling Almanac and the Wenzhu Chest, there were four new pieces of equipment.

【Golden Straw Cloak】

【Quality: Third-Grade Upper】

【Effect: A dharma robe woven from Five Elements materials. Repels water and fire, blocks sharp weapons, and enhances perception of the earth's veins.】

The Golden Straw Cloak got its name because its woven materials presented a bright yellow color.

The Five Elements materials combined metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, possessing the abilities to repel water, insulate against heat, fear neither blade nor sword, and also enhance perception of the earth's veins, boosting the effects of Benwo Sect techniques.

【Hundred Flowers Conical Hat】

【Quality: Third-Grade Upper】

【Effect: Woven from a hundred kinds of flowers and grasses from the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. Enhances all Heavenly Timing Sect techniques.】

【Cloud Rain Pearl】

【Quality: Fourth-Grade Lower】

【Effect: Can collect large amounts of rainwater and cloud qi.】

【Cloud-Stepping Boots】

【Quality: Third-Grade Upper】

【Effect: Treading upon rising clouds, moving like a phantom through the fog.】

The Cloud-Stepping Boots allowed Agricultural Officials to perform short-distance flight. When using the treasure, a swirl of cloud and mist would rise beneath one's feet.

Not only could one fly, but when encountering danger, the cloud and mist also had the effect of obstructing the enemy's line of sight.

Zhao Xing was not unfamiliar with the four new pieces of equipment, so he merely glanced at them briefly before storing them in the Wenzhu Chest.

The new Wenzhu Chest was also a third-grade upper treasure.

Besides its constant-temperature storage function, its internal space could also expand to a certain degree. It looked to be only half a person's height, but if one really stuffed it full, it could stretch to three meters tall and two meters wide.

In addition, all four sides of the Wenzhu Chest were inscribed with Engineering Sect formations, which could help reduce the burden on the person carrying it.

"How about it, do you need some time to familiarize yourself?" Chen Shijie asked.

"No need." Zhao Xing swiftly packed the items into the Wenzhu Chest. "When does training start?"

"It starts at the You hour on the first of March," Chen Shijie said.

"Today is already the first of March, and it's now the Wu hour." Zhao Xing glanced around in surprise. "We haven't reached Ten Sun Grotto-heaven yet, have we?"

"No, but training begins from the outpost outside the grotto-heaven," Chen Shijie explained. "We can only escort you to the outside. Entering the grotto-heaven, including finding the training camp, is all part of the Military Agricultural Official training regulations."

"We rushed here from Nanyang Commandery and arrived rather late. You only have two hours now to look over this small map." Chen Shijie took out a scroll and handed it to Zhao Xing. "The moment the You hour strikes, you and all the participating officials from the nine garrison armies will enter Ten Sun Grotto-heaven together."

"You have to find the Agricultural Official Bureau inside the grotto-heaven and report in on your own."

"The environment inside Ten Sun Grotto-heaven is complex. Here's a booklet that records the terrain and geographical features of Ten Sun Grotto-heaven, as well as its special celestial phenomena."

Zhao Xing nodded. "I'll read it now. Go on."

Chen Shijie continued: "To motivate the various armies, the Army Headquarters has set up a points reward for the officials participating in training."

"For example, in this session, among the officials from all armies participating in the Military Agricultural Official training, whoever is the first to arrive at the Agricultural Official Bureau will be rewarded ten thousand points."

"That many?" Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised. He knew that training in the Soldier Realm had rewards, but Ten Sun Grotto-heaven rewarded far too much—ten thousand for first place?

One had to know that army points were very valuable; a fourth-grade treasure was only worth two or three thousand points.

Just being the first to report in could earn ten thousand points?

Long Xiao smiled and said: "Ten Sun Grotto-heaven is a newly emerged grotto-heaven in the Soldier Realm. Besides serving as a training ground for the garrison armies, each army also has exploration and development missions."

"If they didn't give more, where would the energy to work come from?"

"To speak frankly, there are some areas inside Ten Sun Grotto-heaven where I'd rather fight the barbarians outside for three days and three nights than stay inside for half a day."

Why was Ten Sun Grotto-heaven called Ten Sun Grotto-heaven? Precisely because within this small world there were ten miraculous existences similar to 'suns'!

Some places could truly roast a person to death. Under such extreme conditions, if the rewards weren't set higher, no one would be willing to do this kind of work.

Of course, Zhao Xing was currently just a 'recruit'. Exploration missions in cruel, extreme areas were not yet the turn of these reservists to undertake.

"Among the nine garrison armies, roughly how many reserve Military Agricultural Officials are there?" Zhao Xing asked without raising his head, still reading.

"Reserve Military Agricultural Officials are relatively few. The nine garrison armies combined probably have just over ten thousand."

"……"

That's not a small number, you know!

"Not all reservists will ultimately become Military Agricultural Officials," Chen Shijie said. "If after this round of training the Army Headquarters decides you're not suited for it, they won't grant you the position of Military Agricultural Official."

"According to convention, probably only about one in ten will be granted the position; the rest can only slowly endure and wait until next year."

…………

The two hours flew by. As the time drew near to the You hour.

Zhao Xing followed Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, riding a Flowing Cloud Flying Boat, and arrived above the enormous lake.

"Can you fly a bit lower? Aren't you afraid he's afraid of heights?" Long Xiao said to Chen Shijie.

"I'm not afraid of heights," Zhao Xing said.

"When you jump down later, don't close your eyes. After hitting the lake surface, you'll be inside the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven. Use your Cloud-Stepping Boots to steady yourself as quickly as possible," Chen Shijie said. "Adapting rapidly to unfamiliar environments is a basic quality of a Military Agricultural Commissioner."

"Understood." Zhao Xing licked his lips, a little excited. This was far more thrilling than the assessment in Gucheng, and so many people were doing it together.

"Hm? Look over there — aren't those the two scumbags we ran into at Fire Pit Number Nine?" Long Xiao suddenly looked in one direction. "So they came to send people off too?"

Not far away, another Flowing Cloud Flying Boat hovered, with Helian Lie and that Ritual Cultivator standing beside two men and one woman.

My sleep schedule is flipped — it's a bit hard to handle.