Chapter 111: Riding the Wind-Shas, Traversing the Ley Lines—Entering the Farmer Supervisor's Rankings

"Such heavy thunder-aspected force—it's terrifying." Zhao Xing stared ahead.

The thunder-aspected force here couldn't even be called dense; it gave one a crushing sensation.

Looking from outside, one wouldn't notice, but truly entering the thunder zone brings a feeling of being unable to catch one's breath.

"Unless I draw Yuan Qi from the ley lines, the Yuan Qi in the air has all been pushed out by the thunder-aspected force—can't absorb a single bit of it."

"Even within the ley lines, only a small portion of Yuan Qi exists, and it's mixed with a massive amount of thunder-attribute."

Zhao Xing had only walked a few steps when he noticed his hair floating upward, like cotton fluff drifting skyward.

"Run!"

His footwork instantly sped up; Zhao Xing knew this stretch was about to be struck by lightning, and he had to leave quickly.

"Whoosh~"

Pushing off with his foot, Zhao Xing leapt through the valley like an ape.

The moment he jumped away, a bolt of lightning appeared at his original landing spot.

Silently, Lei Ting sank into the stone, and that thousand-jin boulder instantly crumbled to powder.

"Terrifying—countless times stronger than my thunder arts. The two thunder techniques I've comprehended are nothing before such a horrifying celestial phenomenon."

Zhao Xing's scalp went numb.

Truly numb, because another lightning bolt was about to come crashing down.

"Moving Clouds!"

Zhao Xing pointed with Jin Guang, and the spell shot straight for the sky, intending to prop up Moving Clouds.

The cloud layer unfurled; the Cloud-Devouring Art was about to gather the cloud Qi from the heavens.

But a scene that shocked Zhao Xing unfolded.

The cloud layer he had propped up turned purple-black in an instant.

Lei Ting gestated within it, flashing wildly, as if about to explode.

"What's happening? I didn't even cast a thunder art…"

Seeing the bad omen, Zhao Xing immediately leapt away from beneath his own cloud layer.

"BOOM!"

The explosion rang out; the thundercloud detonated directly, lightning splashing like scattered water. Zhao Xing let out a muffled grunt, and the Yuan Qi within his body dropped by a tenth.

"This is the first time I've lost control of my Cloud Art."

"No good—forcing my way through like this won't work."

Zhao Xing had originally thought that relying on the Cloud-Devouring Art, he could quickly pass through the thunder zone, but now it seemed his idea was a bit naive.

"Hoo~"

Zhao Xing accelerated himself, searching through the valley for a place to take shelter.

Soon he found a separating rock.

The rock was wedged diagonally into the mountainside, extending dozens of meters long and seven or eight meters thick—a natural shelter.

"Any rock that can exist within the thunder zone is no simple thing. This one is magnetic storm rock—material used by the Craftsman faction when forging weapons and mechanisms."

Zhao Xing immediately flew over, and amid the baptism of Lei Ting, he took cover beneath the magnetic storm rock.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM!"

The thunder outside had never ceased; lightning rained down from the heavens as if it were precipitation.

A textbook Ten Thousand Thunder Heaven Pull.

Seeing he was briefly safe, Zhao Xing began to recall what had just happened.

"Once my Cloud-Devouring Art was cast, it uncontrollably absorbed the thunderclouds in the sky."

"In an instant, it absorbed up to the extreme threshold."

"That's the reason it exploded out of control."

Zhao Xing quickly identified the source of the problem.

The Cloud-Devouring Art could indeed slice and devour cloud Qi—extremely domineering.

But facing this terrifying ten-thousand-li Lei Chi, the Cloud-Devouring Art couldn't swallow it either.

Because the thunderclouds were too heavy, Zhao Xing's cloud layer, the moment it condensed and before it could be transformed, was already burst apart.

It was like a balloon being inflated to its limit in one second—that's why it exploded.

"Try once more."

Hiding beneath the rock, Zhao Xing sent out his spell's Jin Guang, and at a level parallel to himself, began condensing a cloud layer.

The second casting was far more cautious; he controlled it with all his might, compressing the Cloud Art to its absolute limit.

Only a cloud layer eight meters across appeared.

Cloud-Devouring was the eighth revolution of the spell, and also the limit of Zhao Xing's control. Though he couldn't achieve palm-sized Moving Clouds, that veteran Farmer had bitterly cultivated for a full sixty-year cycle, focusing solely on a thunder art and a cloud art.

How long had Zhao Xing practiced? From receiving the Dao-transmission painting to now, reaching the eighth revolution of the spell, it had only been three or four months.

"Even compressed to the limit and controlled with full strength, it's still unstable." Zhao Xing gazed at the trembling cloud layer ahead.

Teetering on the brink of collapse, ceaselessly quivering, with faint signs of breaking apart.

"An eight-meter cloud layer can barely hold steady, but if a thunderstrike hits it, it'll still be shattered."

"Let's see how many strikes it can take."

Zhao Xing controlled the cloud layer, deliberately drifting it toward the thunder zone.

"CRACK!"

A bolt of lightning struck the Cloud-Devouring.

In that instant, the Cloud-Devouring expanded from eight meters across to sixteen meters at once.

"Contract!"

Sensing that the Cloud Art was about to collapse, Zhao Xing concentrated fully and ordered his cloud layer to contract.

The cloud layer shrank again from sixteen meters to ten meters.

But immediately, the second bolt of Lei Ting came crashing down.

The cloud layer expanded again to twenty meters.

Zhao Xing controlled it to contract once more.

The third heavenly thunder came down, and the cloud layer expanded from fifteen meters to thirty meters.

"Boom-crack!"

On the fourth time, the cloud layer burst open directly.

"Still no good. Using the Cloud-Swallowing Art to hold up the cloud layer, I can last at most three heavenly thunders."

"However, this is the situation of relying purely on the Cloud Art for protection."

"What I know is far more than just the Cloud Art."

Zhao Xing performed the Cloud-Swallowing Art once again.

Still an eight-meter cloud layer.

"Crack!"

The Lei Ting struck, and it instantly expanded to seventeen meters.

But just at this moment, Zhao Xing also moved.

"Thunder-Drawing!"

Within his own cloud layer, a bolt of Lei Ting poured down to the ground.

Hum~

The Cloud-Swallowing cloud instantly shrank back to eight meters in size, returning to a stable state.

"Boom boom boom!"

After that, many more bolts of Lei Ting struck into the Cloud-Swallowing.

But they were still discharged by Zhao Xing through 【Thunder-Drawing】.

"With Thunder-Drawing at Perfection, I can discharge the power of Lei Ting within the cloud layer, and I can control the direction."

Zhao Xing revealed a faint smile. With this, he could walk through the thunder zone.

This is the coordination of multiple spells!

If he only knew the eight-revolution Cloud-Swallowing Art, not only could he not swallow the thunder clouds above, but the moment he cast it, it would immediately explode, and it would be very hard to hold on.

But with an additional 【Thunder-Drawing】 at Perfection,

The problem was solved at once.

This is the benefit of broadening the scope of one's spells.

Thunder-Drawing being slightly weaker still wouldn't work.

If it were below seven-revolution, he would find it very difficult to use Thunder-Drawing to discharge the power of Lei Ting.

"Continue on the way."

Zhao Xing walked out from beneath the rock wall.

He began to head forward along the direction of the valley.

"Rumble rumble!"

Lei Ting struck.

The dense Lei Ting had a one hundred percent chance of landing right above Zhao Xing's head.

But every time it struck, it was first absorbed by the Cloud-Swallowing Art.

After absorbing it, Zhao Xing, who had sensed it, immediately used Thunder-Drawing to discharge the Lei Ting within the cloud layer to the ground beside him.

"Bang!"

Lei Ting splashed everywhere, and shattered stones flew.

But it could not reach Zhao Xing beneath the cloud layer.

"A cloud layer overhead catching heavenly thunders, sparks and lightning all the way—truly flashy enough."

Looking at his surroundings, Zhao Xing summoned another gust of wind to protect his body, repelling the flying shattered stones outside.

"Still need to hurry."

"If the Three Suns in the Sky completely shifts from its proper position, the might of the Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi will increase somewhat."

In this kind of place, Zhao Xing's luck was of no use at all.

Because the probability of being struck by lightning was one hundred percent!

For fortune to take effect, there at least needs to be some probability. In a place like this, if one's strength is insufficient, it's certain death with no way out. No matter how strong one's fortune, if one's own strength is lacking, that's just seeking death.

Having solved the problem of advancing, Zhao Xing also had the leisure to observe the Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi.

The Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi was also the best place to comprehend thunder arts.

Such terrifying power of Lei Ting, released naturally, densely packed—every flash was like a demonstration of thunder arts before Zhao Xing's eyes.

As Zhao Xing drew thunder on one side and observed on the other, his comprehension of thunder arts unconsciously grew.

Earth-Fire Plains.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Zhuo Li, covered in dust and ash, took off his conical hat and greedily breathed in the cool air around him.

As he coughed, the fire poison was also being expelled rapidly.

"Finally passed through this third isolation belt. If I hadn't cultivated the Yin-Yang Self-Nature Scripture, which enhanced my organs' endurance, even if I'd made it past the Earth-Fire Plains, my mobility would have dropped drastically."

Zhuo Li glanced back.

Originally, the Earth Fire Plains wouldn't have caused him this much trouble.

But the fellow ahead had somehow turned the Earth Fire Plains into this state.

However, upon seeing so many people still trapped in the third isolation belt,

his heart felt much more balanced.

At least he had made it through!

"The one who cast the spell must be quite strong. I wonder who it is. If I get the chance, I should have a bout with him." Zhuo Li muttered to himself.

He didn't actually hate the one who cast the spell.

Because if he had the chance, he would have done the same.

"Hmph, mediocrities only know how to complain."

"If they can't even get past the Earth Fire Plains, it's better to eliminate them directly."

"Fewer people means fewer training resources to divide."

If you can't even pass the reporting stage when joining the training,

then go back to wherever you came from!

"Time to speed up. Can't disappoint Helian Lie and the others."

Zhuo Li immediately quickened his pace.

At the Ten Thousand Li Lei Chi, before a mountain valley where the cloud layer was relatively thin.

Li Feng wearily patted the ice chunks off his straw raincoat, then tossed aside his already scorched conical hat.

"Smack~"

The conical hat slammed heavily onto the ground.

Yu Chunwu lay not far from the conical hat. The straw raincoat on his body had been completely burned away, exposing large patches of scorched muscle.

He Yu and Peng Ran, meanwhile, had their lower halves frozen solid, unable to move at all.

Yang Yang sat cross-legged not far away, recovering from his injuries. His entire body had become a blood-soaked figure, blood seeping from his skin—utterly horrifying.

As for the other group, they had long since collapsed on the ground, lost their fighting ability, and fallen into unconsciousness.

"Li Feng." Yu Chunwu, He Yu, Peng Ran, and Yang Yang all stared fixedly at Li Feng.

"Skill is inferior, nothing to say. Kill me or flay me, whatever you wish."

Li Feng glanced at them: "You're fools. You were used and didn't even know it. I really don't know how you served as Military Agricultural Officers in your original armies."

Then he laughed self-deprecatingly: "I'm also a fool, to be so impulsive. I really played right into his hands."

Now that Li Feng had calmed down, he also realized he had been rash.

However, he did not regret his actions.

He had arrived early and made a name for himself at the outpost outside the Grotto-Heaven, but this also invited jealousy.

In that previous situation, only by fighting to a clear winner could his words be taken seriously.

Otherwise, anything he said would be useless.

"What do you mean? We were used?!" Yang Yang was stunned.

"Hmph, think about it carefully yourself. Who benefited the most?" Li Feng no longer paid them any attention.

"Crack, crack, crack~"

He crushed the ice beneath his feet, walking step by step toward the valley.

Yu Chunwu, He Yu, and Peng Ran all heaved a sigh of relief.

Actually, after Zhao Xing broke free from Li Feng's Blood Cloud technique and entered the valley, they also realized they had misunderstood Li Feng.

But everyone had truly worked themselves into a fury. Without determining a winner, there was no way to stop.

Li Feng couldn't possibly humble himself to explain to them, and they couldn't possibly grovel and beg Li Feng for forgiveness.

This was just like war—once it began, only by fighting to a clear winner would it reach the stage of peace talks.

"Damn it, being used as someone else's weapon. I've memorized that person's appearance. Once I get to the Agricultural Office, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!" He Yu said hatefully.

"Don't you guys think Li Feng is terrifyingly strong?" Yu Chunwu's mindset was quite calm. He didn't pay much attention to Zhao Xing—using such underhanded tricks only proved that person's strength was nothing special. Instead, he felt Li Feng was the one worth taking seriously.

"He fought our combined forces alone and wasn't even seriously injured. Only such a competitor is worth taking seriously."

"Indeed terrifying." Peng Ran licked his lips, a hint of fighting spirit in his eyes. "I've long wanted to have a match with him. This time I only dared to fight him by borrowing the courage of the three of you. I didn't expect him to really be this strong."

Each of them carried pride in their hearts—they had all been geniuses in their original places. Now seeing another, even stronger genius, they naturally all had itchy fists.

As for who had harmed them, who had caused them to misunderstand Li Feng—did that matter?

For Peng Ran, it didn't matter. Even without that person, they would probably still have fought Li Feng.

Of course, if they got the chance later, they would still get payback from that person.

"Three friends, I'll take my leave first. See you at the Agricultural Office!" Yu Chunwu recovered first, stood up, and cupped his fists toward the three.

"Brother Yu, farewell." The others, having joined forces to fight Li Feng, also felt a certain mutual admiration.

Yu Chunwu was also the strongest among the four, so naturally he earned their recognition.

After he left, a flame suddenly swept over Peng Ran's body, melting away the ice: "Two brothers, I'll also take my leave first. Farewell."

"Farewell."

【Three-day deviation returns to position, Lei Ting strikes!】

The almanac in his bosom trembled slightly. After Zhao Xing detected the change of the three days, he immediately began looking for a place to take shelter.

Because at this time the power of the Ten Thousand Li Lei Chi would increase. Of course, it was also because he had already traveled most of the journey, continuously casting 【Lightning Attraction】 to deflect force, his Yuan Qi was also largely depleted—he had to stop and recover.

"Past the Earth Fire Plains and the Ten Thousand Li Lei Chi, the road ahead will be smooth sailing. Just thirty more li and I'll enter the relatively stable Yangcheng city and territory."

"Past the boundary marker, it's only a dozen or so li to the Agricultural Office."

Leaving the Earthfire Plains, after passing through the Gang Wind Mountain Range or the Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi, there are no longer any harsh environments or terrains.

The path near the Dao is difficult, but the distance is much shorter. Compared to other routes, it saves several minor checkpoints.

"The two thunder techniques I created have both improved somewhat over this short ten-li stretch." During his rest, Zhao Xing also noticed that the proficiency of both thunder techniques had increased significantly.

Although he had not yet broken through, it was not far off.

"Not only can I train my thunder techniques, but along the way I also vaguely sensed the presence of treasures — that is the intuition brought by a third-tier fortune… I wonder if it's those few treasures. I'll have to come here often in the future." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

The shrouding of the Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi also caused many natural treasures to form in this region.

Of course, Zhao Xing was not going to divert his energy to treasure-hunting now. The current Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi still differs somewhat in terrain and geography from what he had seen in his previous life.

Even though he sensed something faintly, he had no intention of going to seek out any treasure at this moment.

Reporting in is the main business, and besides, his strength was still too weak right now. He was being extremely cautious even just walking through; to go exploring for treasures in a terrifying celestial phenomenon zone would be courting death.

"King Di Zang's Return to Origin!"

Zhao Xing sank half his body into the earth, absorbing Origin Qi from the earth veins.

The Human Dao version of King Di Zang's Return to Origin draws power from the earth veins to recover quickly.

Although the Origin Qi in the earth veins was all mixed with vast amounts of thunder-attribute power, making the absorption so intense it made his scalp tingle, under the current circumstances he could only endure it.

"Hm?"

While recovering Origin Qi through King Di Zang's Return to Origin, Zhao Xing suddenly sensed through the fluctuations of the earth veins that something was approaching at high speed.

Within a purple earth vein that flowed like a river, Zhao Xing suddenly "saw" a similarly purple humanoid figure rapidly traveling underground.

"What? Borrowing the earth veins to travel stealthily? This is… the Earth Escape from the Mysterious Earth Technique?!"

The Splitting Earth Technique, the Underground Palace Technique, the King Di Zang Technique, and the Mysterious Earth Technique are known as the Four Sacred Techniques of the Dili Sect.

Zhao Xing had dabbled in the first three, but the Mysterious Earth Technique he had not yet learned.

Among the Four Sacred Techniques, the Mysterious Earth Technique was the most profound and the most difficult to cultivate.

He had not expected to actually see someone here executing the Mysterious Earth Technique!

"Reservists are all ninth-rank, and a ninth-rank has actually cultivated the Mysterious Earth Technique to such a profound level? Truly, geniuses are everywhere." Previously it had always been Zhao Xing astonishing others; now he finally let out a sigh of admiration himself.

The thunder-attribute power in these earth veins was utterly violent; yet someone could still travel stealthily in such a place — only the Mysterious Earth Technique could accomplish this.

A low technique realm alone wouldn't suffice either; one would need to master at least two Mysterious Earth Techniques, both above the seventh revolution, to have any chance of traveling stealthily through extreme earth veins.

At the same time Zhao Xing discovered the other party, the stealth-traveling figure also discovered the King Di Zang's Return to Origin that Zhao Xing was executing.

"Hm? Someone actually using King Di Zang's Return to Origin in the Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi to recover Origin Qi?" Zhuang Ziqing was also somewhat surprised. "Interesting — isn't he afraid of the Origin Qi in his Origin Dantian going into chaos?"

The two minds brushed past each other within the violent earth veins, neither wasting time on greetings or probing.

Once he had rested enough, Zhao Xing charged out of the Ten-Thousand-Li Lei Chi in one go.

The view before his eyes opened up, and the sky became warm and clear.

"Whoosh~" In the distant sky, a cyan whirlwind advanced in a spiral, swiftly sweeping past his eyes.

"Riding the wind to travel? That's someone coming from the Gang Wind Mountain Range — another expert."

"I just got converted to a full member and came straight to training without having systematically studied the many techniques of the Military Si Nong — I'm at a bit of a disadvantage… I wonder what my ranking will be?"

"I entered at You hour, and now it's already the tail of Hai hour — I have to hurry."

Glancing at the almanac, Zhao Xing immediately cast a technique as well. He executed the Cloud-Swallowing Technique, then stepped on Rising Clouds, borrowing the power of wind and clouds to rush toward Yang City.

Before long, he crossed the boundary marker, and Yang City was already in the distance.

"Whoosh~"

After crossing the boundary marker, Zhao Xing noticed that the figures around him had also increased.

There were people hurrying on ahead, behind, and to both sides.

Everyone was bringing out their best skills to charge toward Yang City.

"The Si Nong Bureau is in that direction!"

Zhao Xing, wrapped in his fortune, stepped on the clouds.

Those behind were madly chasing, and he too was madly charging forward.

"Whoosh!"

With a gust of wind, Zhao Xing and another figure entered the Si Nong Bureau at the same time.

At this moment, a huge mirror was placed on the plaza of the Si Nong Bureau, displaying the reporting-in rankings.