Chapter 115: Two Techniques Combined, Divine Movement Protection, a Delivery from Xier Commandery

Taicang Academy.

At this time, the registration period had long since ended, but Lu Bang and Zuo Zijhi were still busy; they still had to preside over the next stage of the academy branch examinations.

Both Lu Bang and Zuo Zijhi had military duties and took their tasks very seriously, so they would occasionally observe the various treasure lands to see how the new recruits were comprehending them.

They would even modify and adjust the subsequent branch examination stages based on these observations.

"The Myriad-Form Earth Palace has appeared again." Zuo Zijhi looked helplessly at the situation in the seventy-two earth palace treasure lands. "Marquis Gong Wu is getting on in years, yet his playful spirit remains; he’s come to tease the new recruits again."

Lu Bang looked at the elusive earth palace and couldn't help but smile. "It’s a good thing that an elder like him is willing to come to the Ten Suns Cave Heaven. If the commanders of other armies knew, they would be begging him to come and play."

Zuo Zijhi said, "That’s true. He is an honorary vice-dean of the Earth Lake Dao Academy, a veteran Marquis, famous for three hundred years, and a Third-Rank powerhouse; others couldn't even dream of inviting him... It was only because of the military department's invitation, and the commanders of these nine garrisons begging him, that he agreed to sit in the Ten Suns Cave Heaven for a while."

"He’s been here for three years, and this Myriad-Form Earth Palace has only appeared a few times during the early stages of recruit training," Lu Bang said. "Don't tell me, even I want to go and comprehend it, but it’s forbidden."

"Indeed, if anyone above the Eighth Rank goes, the Myriad-Form Earth Palace won't even manifest," Zuo Zijhi said helplessly. "You say he lives in the Myriad-Form Courtyard; it’s been so long, and I’ve never seen anyone manage to knock on his door. If too many people disturb him, he directly issues an order forbidding anyone from approaching. It’s truly eccentric."

"The older one gets, the more like a child one becomes," Lu Bang said. "Old age brings second childhood; by the time you and I are seven or eight hundred years old, who knows how strange we’ll be."

"Seven or eight hundred years old?" Zuo Zijhi shook his head. "I don't aspire to live that long; if I live to five hundred, I’ll be very satisfied."

As the two chatted, they didn't take the appearance of the Myriad-Form Earth Palace to heart.

However, a few days later, the Myriad-Form Earth Palace still existed, and its appearances were becoming more frequent, which surprised Lu Bang and Zuo Zijhi.

"Hmm? Are those two little guys from the Divine Might Army, Zhao Xing and Han Bing?"

"Is the Myriad-Form Earth Palace staying for them?"

"Look, Zhao Xing closed his eyes, and he’s smiling?"

"Could it be that he’s comprehended a technique?"

[You have comprehended the intermediate spell 'Divine Movement Protection' (Special) after meditating before the Myriad-Form Earth Palace for several days.]

[Divine Movement Protection: Intermediate Spell]

[Progress: Fourth Turn (4253/18000)]

[Effect: Formed by combining the Divine Movement Earth Palace Technique and the Profound Earth Protection Technique. After casting, an octagonal palace is instantly formed centered on the caster. It can also cause the earth palace to sink into the ground, using earth veins to move stealthily. Fourth-turn Divine Movement Protection allows for stealth movement through earth, metal, wind, and thunder earth veins.]

"It was actually a Myriad-Form Earth Palace; no wonder it was so difficult." Zhao Xing opened his eyes.

After comprehending the technique, he understood it immediately.

The Myriad-Form Earth Palace was somewhat similar to the Myriad-Technique Spirit Radiance and the Myriad-Technique Cloud Chart.

However, this method was more profound than the Myriad-Technique Cloud Chart.

Of course, it couldn't be called a true 'Myriad-Technique'; in reality, it only contained the Earth Palace Technique and the Profound Earth Technique.

If it were a true Myriad-Technique Earth Palace, it would combine the four major categories of Earth Repository, Earth Palace, Earth Rending, and Profound Earth, and would be all-encompassing.

This one clearly hadn't reached that level yet.

"The Myriad-Form Earth Palace is already very strong. Combining two techniques—Divine Movement and the Earth Palace Technique—this must have been created by at least a Third-Rank powerhouse," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Having learned Divine Movement Protection, Zhao Xing was equivalent to having learned the Divine Movement Earth Palace Technique and the Profound Earth Protection Technique.

Because the two techniques were combined, the difficulty was greater, so this type of spell was very special.

Its upper limit was much higher than that of ordinary intermediate spells.

"With the spell at eighteen turns, I can say that I’ve learned a technique comparable to a high-level one."

"This type of spell is even rarer than high-level spells."

Why was it rare?

If one were to put Divine Movement Protection and another high-level technique together and take them to the Lihuo Dao Academy to compete for an honorary title.

Divine Movement Protection would definitely be the one chosen.

Because between the two learning thresholds, Divine Movement Protection was lower, yet the power was the same.

Divine Movement Protection could be comprehended step-by-step from a lower threshold, from one to ten.

But the difficulty of comprehending a high-level spell was directly at ten.

"Moving stealthily through earth veins—with this octagonal earth palace, my safety factor for stealth movement has greatly increased," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He remembered the person who had been moving stealthily underground in the Ten Thousand Li Thunder Zone.

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

Suppose the two were fighting or chasing each other while moving stealthily underground.

He was faster, and if they fought, one collision from Divine Movement Protection would mean the opponent's demise.

"This trip was not in vain."

Zhao Xing smiled, his anxiety from the past few days turning into joy.

Although he had wasted eight days, comprehending the dual-technique combined Divine Movement Protection from the Myriad-Form Earth Palace, and reaching the fourth turn upon comprehension, was absolutely worth it.

"I wonder who the owner of this Myriad-Form Earth Palace is."

Such a powerhouse would certainly not be unknown.

However, he didn't dwell on it.

"Han Bing is still comprehending." Zhao Xing looked at Han Bing's back, who was still immersed in the pursuit. "I hope he can comprehend what he wants."

Without disturbing him, Zhao Xing left quietly.

Small Nine Heavens Gang Wind at the third turn, Rolling Earth Thunder at the fourth turn, Divine Movement Protection at the fourth turn.

Zhao Xing's basic training had already reached his planned expectations.

After returning and having a big meal, he rushed to another place to comprehend, beginning his advanced training.

"Fifteen days left."

"Of the three newly learned spells, I’ll strive to have one break through to the seventh turn."

"If one breaks through to the seventh turn, the advanced training goal will be considered complete."

"If two break through, that would be an unexpected joy."

"The possibility of all three breaking through to the seventh turn is not high."

Comprehension also requires a step-by-step approach; Zhao Xing didn't set his goals too rigidly.

Sometimes, being too anxious can be counterproductive.

"To increase the power of a spell, comprehending the individual spell is one aspect; the other is cultivating the Solar Term Order, the Profound Earth Return to Origin, and the Yin-Yang Self-Nature Sutra."

The Solar Term Order and Profound Earth Return to Origin are also about comprehending the Dao.

The Solar Term Chart can create weather more favorable to spells, and Profound Earth Return to Origin changes the geographical advantage, which is equivalent to adding an extra layer of amplification to the spell.

As for the Yin-Yang Self-Nature Sutra, it is about cultivating one's own body and the 'Inner Five Elements'; Zhao Xing planned to comprehend it after the branch division ended.

The sixteenth day, Zi hour.

Zhao Xing arrived at the Profound Earth Prison of the Geographical Advantage Academy.

Many underground exotic beasts were imprisoned in this jail.

The strength of each one was extremely terrifying, making one feel fearful just looking at them.

The innate techniques possessed by these exotic beasts living underground were similar to geographical advantage spells.

In fact, many human spells were created by observing these exotic beasts.

At this moment, Zhao Xing was standing outside a huge cell over ten meters high, watching a multi-legged exotic beast inside going berserk.

"The Five-Colored Centipede likes damp and dark swampy areas; its poison is fierce, it is extremely good at hiding, its antennae wave like the wind, and its power is very strong."

"It is considered a rather fierce exotic beast in the underground; it lives for a thousand years at most and grows to the fifth rank."

"Its innate technique can influence and distort earth veins; no matter how hard the rock is, it becomes soft in front of it. Its innate technique invisibly utilizes the power of the earth, water, and metal elements of the earth veins."

Zhao Xing watched quietly, cross-verifying it with the Divine Movement Protection he had learned.

The Five-Colored Centipede and the Clear Water Centipede were a male and female pair.

At this moment, the Five-Colored Centipede was going berserk because there was a Mirage Pearl next door, which preserved the scene of the Clear Water Centipede being killed.

[You observed the Five-Colored Centipede performing its innate technique, and you had a realization in your heart; Divine Movement Protection spell progress +25.]

[You observed the Five-Colored Centipede performing its innate technique, and you had a realization in your heart; Divine Movement Protection spell progress +55.]

[You observed the Five-Colored Centipede performing its innate technique, and you had a realization in your heart; Divine Movement Protection spell progress +35.]

Half an hour later, the Five-Colored Centipede calmed down.

It couldn't be allowed to go berserk all the time; it had to be reused.

Tossing about for half an hour was enough.

Zhao Xing walked to the next prison cell.

The twentieth day.

Zhao Xing left the Profound Earth Prison.

[Divine Movement Protection: Intermediate Spell]

[Progress: Sixth Turn (6005/18000)]

"Four days of time, and the harvest is not small. Although it only increased by two turns, this spell is a combination of two techniques."

"It seems like it only increased by two turns, but in reality, both my Divine Movement Earth Palace and Profound Earth Protection have progressed by two turns, and even the Boundless Earth Palace is almost at the ninth turn."

With the two techniques combined, the power is naturally different, and the understanding of the spell's mysteries is more thorough.

"Go to the Earth Vein Hall."

Zhao Xing flew toward the east.

"The Earth Vein Hall contains nineteen earth vein charts, which map out tens of thousands of earth veins across the nineteen provinces."

"Comprehending it is equivalent to observing an infinite-use Dao-preaching painting."

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

If one had to choose a spell to break through to the seventh turn, Divine Movement Protection would naturally be more cost-effective.

It combines offense, defense, and travel, and the spell's power is greater than that of a normal intermediate spell.

Just as Zhao Xing was rushing to the Earth Vein Hall.

Suddenly—

The Earth Mirror trembled.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing took out the Earth Mirror in confusion and looked at it.

[Agricultural Commandant 'Fan Zhaoli', by fixing the solar terms, changing the solar terms, and turning waste into treasure, has spent two years transforming the 'Inverted Peak Mountain' area of the Ten Suns Cave Heaven, covering a radius of three hundred li, into a treasure land.]

[Effective immediately, Inverted Peak Mountain can stably produce eight types of Fourth-Rank fruits and one type of Fifth-Rank native treasure, the 'Heavenly Snake Fruit'. Therefore, Fan Zhaoli is awarded 1 billion points! To reward his labor! This announcement is issued to congratulate Commandant 'Fan Zhaoli'!]

[The Armory has added the Fifth-Rank treasure 'Heavenly Snake Fruit', priced at 400,000 points each.]

"What? Someone transformed a treasure land and was rewarded with 1 billion points?" Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow.

"Able to stably produce Fifth-Rank native treasures, the Heavenly Snake Fruit?"

"The solar terms and earth veins within a radius of three hundred li have all been transformed; truly remarkable."

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

Destruction is easy, transformation is difficult.

Undoubtedly, this was a protracted battle.

"Two years, 1 billion points; I estimate that this 1 billion points is not just for Fan Zhaoli alone, but should be for a team," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

For every rank a treasure increases, its value goes up a notch.

Fourth-Rank treasures that can be mass-produced usually don't exceed ten thousand points.

If they cannot be mass-produced, the price is certainly over ten thousand, and high ones can even reach tens of thousands.

Fifth-Rank treasures that can be mass-produced are basically over ten thousand, and those that cannot be mass-produced can have an upper limit of several hundred thousand.

The Heavenly Snake Fruit is a treasure native to the area, meaning only the Ten Suns Cave Heaven can produce it.

At the beginning, before it was fully mass-produced, a price of four or five hundred thousand each was normal.

Once it can be mass-produced, the price will come down.

Being able to mass-produce it is a great merit, so a reward of 1 billion points is really not much.

"With so many points, if it were just for Fan Zhaoli alone, I’m afraid the military department would have promoted him. At the very least, he would have been promoted in rank."

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

For now, he was still far from such matters. The most important thing at the moment was to prepare for the one-month branch division examination.

The twenty-fourth day.

In the Earth Vein Hall.

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged in front of a mural.

At this time, many people were sitting in this wide mural corridor, comprehending.

Anyone who cultivates Geographical Advantage Academy spells and comprehends the flow of the various earth veins of these nineteen provinces can gain some realization.

[Divine Movement Protection: Intermediate Spell]

[Progress: Sixth Turn (6995/18000)]

"Comprehending this earth vein mural has indeed made significant progress; in four days, the progress increased by 990 points."

"However, I have already been comprehending here for four days."

"But Divine Movement Protection still hasn't broken through to the seventh turn."

"The progress bar is only five points away; the last five points, is it that difficult?"

Although coming to the Earth Vein Hall to comprehend the murals was not without harvest.

The progress had increased from 6005 to 6995.

But that was the harvest of the first three days.

Today, for the whole day, there was absolutely no harvest.

"Free stuff really isn't good quality."

Zhao Xing shook his head.

It was nothing like a Fourth-Rank Dao-preaching painting, which had amazing effects.

Resources exhibited for free are indeed helpful to new recruits, but these free treasure lands also have an upper limit.

It is quite difficult to break through a dual-technique combined spell to the seventh turn in a short period of time.

"I only have a little over a thousand points, and I can't buy a Fourth-Rank painting in the Armory."

Zhao Xing was browsing the Earth Mirror.

Dao-preaching paintings need to be at least Fourth-Rank high-grade to possibly have an effect on him now.

But each Fourth-Rank high-grade Dao-preaching painting costs three thousand points!

And that was already discounted, as things in the military are cheaper than outside.

The ones Lu Qian and Zong Shichang bought back then cost over three thousand taels, and Lu Qian's Myriad-Technique Cloud Chart cost over six thousand taels.

"If I want Divine Movement Protection to break through, I need at least the corresponding Dao-preaching paintings for both Divine Movement Earth Palace and Profound Earth Protection; that is to say, I need at least six thousand points."

"I can't even get any missions now; where will the points come from? Should I find someone to gamble with?"

Gambling is finding someone to spar with and using points as a bet.

Now that more than twenty days have passed, many people have used this opportunity to fish for points from others.

However, after thinking about it, Zhao Xing discarded this idea.

"Everyone is poor as a church mouse; new recruits only have 100 points, and after twenty-some days, I’m afraid they’ve already used them all up. Gambling for ten or twenty points is meaningless."

"And those who have thousands of points might not necessarily be easy to beat."

"Long Xiao and Old Chen, why haven't they come to deliver the goods yet? It’s been so long."

The Blood Spirit Needles and Blood Fiend Beads that Zhao Xing obtained back then were Fourth-Rank treasures, which he had handed over to Long Xiao and Old Chen.

Ten days ago, he had received a letter from Old Chen saying he would send some things over.

Now, for some reason, they still hadn't been delivered.

"Maybe they were delayed by something."

"Forget it, it’s only five points of progress; I don't necessarily need points to break through."

Zhao Xing continued to watch in front of the mural.

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

His eyes never left the mural.

At this moment, in front of him were the seven main earth veins of Pinghai Province; these seven main earth veins correspond to metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and thunder.

Each earth vein was very stable and flowed quite slowly; if one didn't look closely, one wouldn't even notice it.

"How difficult it is to shake the earth veins of a whole province."

"Boundless Earth Palace and Divine Movement Earth Palace can collapse some small earth veins in certain places, but for the level of the nineteen provinces' earth veins, let alone the Ninth Rank, even the Fifth Rank would find it difficult to shake them."

"Powerful, incomparably stable, inclusive of everything, nurturing all vitality."

Zhao Xing watched quietly.

Unknowingly, he cast 'Clear Observation of Autumn Details', wanting to see more clearly.

And at a certain moment, a shooting star streaked across his field of vision.

The massive and stable earth veins suddenly increased in flow speed, and Zhao Xing also saw the second layer.

"So that's how it is."

Zhao Xing revealed a smile, stood up, and walked out of the Earth Vein Hall.

[Divine Movement Protection: Intermediate Spell]

[Progress: Seventh Turn (7001/18000)]

On the twenty-eighth day, his Divine Movement Protection successfully broke through to the seventh turn.

"Only two days left until the branch division; being able to successfully practice Divine Movement Protection to the seventh turn level is already considered completing the advanced training plan."

Zhao Xing was quite satisfied with this result.

Rolling Earth Thunder and Small Nine Heavens Gang Wind, although only at the third or fourth turn level, were not too bad.

Wanting to be proficient in every spell? To become a genius who is a master of all? That requires a huge amount of time and resources.

"Hum~"

Just then, the Earth Mirror in his bosom trembled.

Zhao Xing flipped his hand to take out the Earth Mirror and found that it was Long Xiao contacting him.

"He arrived at the Ten Suns Cave Heaven?"

The Earth Mirror can only be used to contact within the Ten Suns Cave Heaven; Long Xiao and Old Chen had previously only written letters.

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

"Zhao Xing, where are you? I’ve come to deliver the goods to you!"