Chapter 122: Three Great Secret Manuals — Mandatory Training Content Revealed (Third Update)

【Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit】

【Grade: Fourth-Rank, Mid Quality】

【Effect: Contains dense and easily absorbed Yuan Qi, with a marrow-cleansing effect on the physical body.】

【Armory Price: 3000 points, Buyback: 2400 points】

Zhao Xing compared the prices of treasures in the armory and discovered that this Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit was actually a native treasure of the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven.

"There's also a fifth-rank Heaven Essence Vermilion Fruit, priced at 30,000 — ten times more expensive. But that one is at least for eighth-rank to dare take; normally seventh-rank uses it for cultivation."

"If a ninth-rank took the Heaven Essence Vermilion Fruit, they'd probably burst from it."

Tian Shan sent a total of 10 Earth Essence Vermilion Fruits.

Clearly he had done his homework beforehand, knowing Zhao Xing's Yuan Gathering was only at the fifteenth tier, so what he sent was exactly what Zhao Xing needed.

"My comprehension of the Dao is already sufficient. As long as my Yuan Gathering goes up, I can completely break through to eighth-rank." Zhao Xing looked at these ten Earth Essence Vermilion Fruits, overjoyed. "Tian Hou really knows how to give gifts."

Once the branch academy ends, it doesn't matter what rank you are. At this stage, many whose realm is already sufficient will choose to raise their Yuan Gathering tier and break through to eighth-rank.

Of course, those with poorer resource treatment will probably need a period of time before they can break through.

【Hundred Beasts Throat Pill】

【Grade: Fourth-Rank, Lower Quality】

【Effect: Made from the vocal cords of a hundred kinds of exotic beasts; after consumption, it strengthens the throat.】

【Armory Price: 2000 points, Buyback: 1600 points】

【Earth Fiend Lung-Forging Pill】

【Fourth-Rank, Lower Quality】

【Effect: Contains the power of Earth Fiend; consumption tempers and refines the lungs.】

【Armory Price: 2000 points, Buyback: 1600 points】

"Hm? Why these two things?" Zhao Xing's expression turned somewhat strange.

The Hundred Beasts Throat Pill and the Earth Fiend Lung-Forging Pill were not unfamiliar to him, because during a certain period as a Si Nong, he had taken them with extremely high frequency.

But did Tian Hou sending this meeting gift hide some meaning?

"Could it be related to the training that comes after?"

"Could the first mandatory training course of the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven be 【Inability Training】?"

Zhao Xing felt it was very possible.

But there was still plenty of time, so he temporarily set aside the 3 Hundred Beasts Throat Pills and 2 Earth Fiend Lung-Forging Pills.

"First, take the Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit."

Zhao Xing picked up a bright red, fist-sized fruit and began to eat it.

Hot, extremely hot.

After Zhao Xing swallowed the Vermilion Fruit, he immediately felt his whole body burning up.

As if he had a high fever.

"The Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit, besides the dense Yuan Qi, seems to also carry a force of the fire element, forging my physical body."

"Right, it has some marrow-cleansing effect."

Zhao Xing did not resist, nor did he use any spell to cool himself down, letting himself sweat profusely.

As this scorching force spread out.

His whole body began to sweat, his muscles and skin turning bright red.

But the effect was also very evident.

The moment he took it, Zhao Xing's Yuan Gathering progress jumped upward.

【You have consumed an Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit. After initial digestion, your Yuan Gathering progress increased by 501.】

【Yuan Gathering: Fifteenth Tier (7525/10000)】

"What a powerful effect — the moment I took it, it raised my progress by one-twentieth."

"And this is just the beginning."

Zhao Xing closed his eyes, circulated his Yuan Gathering technique, and controlled the Yuan Qi to flow throughout his body.

【You have consumed an Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit. Further digesting the fruit's efficacy, your Yuan Gathering progress increased by 1521.】

【You have consumed an Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit. Deep-level absorption of the fruit's Yuan Qi, your Yuan Gathering progress increased by 1022.】

【You have consumed an Earth Essence Vermilion Fruit. Deep-level absorption of the fruit's Yuan Qi, your Yuan Gathering progress increased by 852.】

【Yuan Gathering: Sixteenth Tier (881/10000)】

"Hoo~"

Zhao Xing exhaled a breath of turbid air. Seeing that the fruit's efficacy was fully digested, he then cast a spell to clean the grime off his body.

"The Vermilion Fruit's efficacy after the breakthrough had 920 points left over, but converted to Yuan Gathering Sixteenth Tier, it only gave 881 points of progress — a decrease of several dozen points. Still, the effect is fairly strong."

Although the upper limit of each tier is numerically 10,000, in reality this limit has risen. Each time one breaks through, gaining progress points becomes harder.

The numbers don't change, but the value they represent has gone up.

"If I reached the 50th tier, taking ten thousand Earth Essence Vermilion Fruits probably wouldn't raise my progress by even 1 point. But I'm only ninth-rank, so the diminishing effect is very weak."

Zhao Xing rested for a while, waiting for that burning sensation to fade.

"Time to write a letter to Old Chen and the others, to report the good news."

Zhao Xing found paper and brush to write a letter, then placed an order on the Earth Mirror to summon a messenger.

Not long after, a mechanism artisan riding a bamboo horse with a pack on his back appeared at the courtyard gate.

"Rush delivery?" the mechanism artisan asked lazily.

"How do you charge for rush delivery?"

"Normally it takes ten days to deliver to Xi'er Commandery, but expedited is three days. However, the fee goes from 1 point to 3 points."

"Letters I send to the army cost that much too?"

"What you're sending is a private letter. If you want to switch to the military dispatch channel, you can go to the temple and submit it yourself."

"Then forget it, I'll go myself."

The mechanism master didn't say much more, and rode off on his bamboo horse with a clatter of hooves.

Zhao Xing happened to be heading to the temple to receive teachings and study the three great secret classics.

Public resources were wasted if not used, and it was just a matter of stepping out for a walk. After all, three points were money too!

Within the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven, there was also a temple, right inside Yangcheng.

Compared to the temple in Gucheng,

the temple here was clearly different—much larger in scale and of a higher grade.

When Zhao Xing entered the temple, the feeling was clearly different as well.

The statues enshrined in the temple were mostly fierce and vicious in appearance.

"All of them are armored and armed, in a combat stance."

Zhao Xing silently scanned all the divine statues, and finally settled on Wu Cheng.

Wu Cheng was the Grand Minister of Agriculture during the Founding Emperor's reign, a first-rank official.

In life he was ennobled as Duke of a State, and in death he is also a first-rank Yin God.

Wu Cheng's temples in the capital and Nan Zheng are both at the duke level.

But the avatar enshrined here is only fourth-rank, and the statue's appearance is relatively younger.

"Minister of Agriculture Zhao Xing, requests the teaching of the 'Solar Terms Decree.'"

After burning incense, Zhao Xing knelt on the cushion, muttering incantations under his breath.

"Om~"

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms diagram appeared in his mind.

Unlike when he was in Gucheng, the Twenty-Four Solar Terms diagram that appeared this time was clearly much sharper, without that blurry feeling.

Twenty-four patterns rotated in his mind.

If he mastered one of them, the visualization diagram would hover within his Origin Dantian.

The method merged into the dantian, condensing a Solar Terms Decree.

At this stage, the caster could employ one of the Solar Terms Decrees to alter the surrounding environment.

This meant he could initially command the solar terms.

"The Solar Terms Decree greatly enhances spells, and one can also comprehend new methods from the solar terms, even using them to break through limits."

"The twenty-four Solar Terms diagrams have boundless wondrous uses and can benefit one for a lifetime."

"Thank you, True Lord, for bestowing the teaching!"

After obtaining the complete visualization diagram, Zhao Xing stood up again to burn more incense.

To request the second secret classic.

"Minister of Agriculture Zhao Xing, requests the teaching of 'Hou Tu Return to the Origin.'"

Then he concentrated his spirit and calmed his breath, keeping his mind firmly guarded.

After a moment, another grain-of-sand phantom appeared in his mind.

One grain of sand was a miniature continent.

On the continent, hundreds of millions of earth veins flowed.

All of them were condensed within the rice-grain-sized sand phantom.

"If Yuan Gathering is cultivated to the fiftieth stage, and one thoroughly comprehends the operation of forty-nine state-level earth veins, one can condense pure Yuan soil within the dantian."

"Hou Tu Return to the Origin and King Di Zang Return to the Origin are two different secret classics. The former is about comprehending and mastering earth veins; the latter is about utilizing them."

Hou Tu Return to the Origin analyzes the essence of the Great Dao, while King Di Zang Return to the Origin is a teaching method, the manifested application of the Dao.

"Thank you, True Lord, for bestowing the teaching!"

Zhao Xing stood up once more and lit the third stick of incense.

"Minister of Agriculture Zhao Xing, requests the teaching of the 'Yin-Yang Benwo Scripture.'"

The Benwo Sect also has two spell classics: one is the 'Myriad Things Growth Diagram,' and the other is the 'Yin-Yang Benwo Scripture.'

The Myriad Things Growth Diagram observes the growth trajectories of all things externally; by observing the essence of life, one then breaks through the shackles of life.

Zhao Xing's mid-tier spell 【Wild Growth】 and beginner-tier 【Vigorous Growth】 are both contained within the Myriad Things Growth Diagram.

The Yin-Yang Benwo Scripture, on the other hand, is about observing oneself internally, cultivating the internal five-element circulation.

Using the power of the five elements to strengthen the five organs.

At this time Zhao Xing was only ninth-rank, so naturally he chose the Yin-Yang Benwo Scripture, which was more effective for himself. As for the Myriad Things Growth Diagram, that could wait; the time to truly put in great effort to comprehend it had not yet come.

"Om~"

Golden light from the statue projected forth, enveloping his entire body.

At this moment, Zhao Xing immediately entered a state of 【Internal Observation of Self】.

From a unique perspective, he saw his own heart beating and his spleen and stomach churning.

Gradually, these organs became ethereal, transforming into five different kinds of 'Qi.'

Guided by the golden light, the five different kinds of Qi converged and dispersed, connecting with the outside world.

Between each breath was the rhythm of the Qi of life.

"Yin-Yang Benwo, five elements cultivate the body."

"Maintain the balance of the internal five elements at all times; while circulating the Qi of the five elements, one can gradually discover the wonders of the body."

Zhao Xing was immersed in inner observation of himself.

During the previous clerk-to-official assessment, he had still been unable to perform inner observation.

But now, with Jin Guang's guidance, he accomplished it easily.

"Hoo~"

Zhao Xing let out a long breath, and the breath actually carried a faint burning sensation.

"My five-element Qi isn't balanced. I didn't notice it before, but now that I'm observing inwardly, I've become aware of it."

"That's the residual fire-element power from taking the Earth Yuan Vermillion Fruit."

"By adjusting through the inner five-element circulation, this wisp of residue can be expelled."

Zhao Xing looked at his panel.

【Gathering Yuan: Sixteenth Tier (971/10000)】

After expelling it, the Gathering Yuan progress grew by another 90 points.

"All medicines are three parts poison, let alone a treasure with such a tremendous boost."

"But now that I've cultivated the Yin-Yang Self Scripture, I can observe inwardly at all times and expel any Qi harmful to the body."

"After focusing my spirit in inner observation and circulating internally for several days, the inner celestial time has taken initial shape."

"From now on, I won't need a almanac to check the hour."

Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Through inner cultivation of the Yin-Yang Self, one's perception of time becomes extremely precise.

Even in the era of the Qi-Dynasty, the Yin-Yang Self Scripture possessed many wondrous aspects.

"Thank you, True Lord, for bestowing the method!"

Zhao Xing cupped his hands in a bow, then walked out of the divine temple.

Obtaining the method was only the first step.

To truly enter the door, one still had to rely on one's own enlightenment.

"The 108 stone steles of the Celestial Time Court, the Primordial Dao Field of the Taicang Court, and the 36 water channels of the Pinghuai Court can all aid in comprehension."

"I can enter free of charge twice."

With Class-A Upper treatment, the treasured grounds of one's own court allow three free comprehensions, while the other branch courts allow two free entries.

"But I'm not in a hurry to go now. I'll wait until I hit a bottleneck, since these opportunities are hard to come by."

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms visualization diagram and the Hou Tu phantom in Zhao Xing's mind were still clearly visible.

If someday during visualization he felt a layer of dust settle over them, that would mean he had fallen into a bottleneck.

"Almost forgot, the letter to Old Chen hasn't been sent yet."

Zhao Xing had just stepped over the threshold when he turned back.

But this time he didn't go to the Wu Cheng Duke of the Nation Hall; instead, he went to another great hall.

"Divine Travel Marquis, Dai Zong."

Zhao Xing looked at the statue standing in that great hall.

The statue was posed mid-stride, with carved floating clouds beneath its feet and a mailbox on its back.

"Please deliver the message, True Lord."

After Zhao Xing lit a stick of incense, he dropped the letter into the incense burner.

"Hoo~"

The flames in the burner leapt up and quickly swallowed the letter whole.

Zhao Xing glanced at it; seeing no ash appear and nothing being ejected, he knew the letter had already been sent.

"Thank you, True Lord, for delivering the message."

After dropping off the letter, he left.

A Yin God of Dai Zong's caliber delivering a message arrived in an instant.

However, the letter would take time to reach Old Chen and the others, and reading and replying would also take time.

Zhao Xing didn't wait; he left the divine temple directly.

A quarter-hour later, Xi'er Commandery.

The Divine Might Army's Marching Hall.

"Hoo~"

Inside the hall was a row of wall hearths burning year-round, each about a meter tall, enshrining various divine statues.

At the first position on the left, the flames at Dai Zong's divine statue suddenly flared up.

Then a secret letter was spat out.

"Hm? A secret letter from the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven."

Chen Shijie, who had been doing a deduction with Long Xiao in front of the sand table, immediately turned around and walked to the hearth.

"Thank you, True Lord, for delivering the message."

After giving thanks, Chen Shijie picked up the secret letter and read it.

He discovered the sender was actually Zhao Xing.

"A secret letter from the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, from which department?" Long Xiao asked curiously.

"It's Zhao Xing." Chen Shijie laughed and scolded, "This kid is too reckless, actually using the intelligence channel to send a personal letter. Didn't you give him a Lei Ting Stone? How is it that he can't even bear to send an urgent letter, and has to trouble Dai Zong to deliver it?"

"Next time I have to remind him not to use military channels for personal letters."

Long Xiao argued sophistically: "He's a key cultivation talent. How is his growth journey not a form of intelligence?"

"......"

Chen Shijie actually felt that Long Xiao made a lot of sense.

He opened the secret letter and looked, and a faint smile immediately appeared.

"What is it, what is it? What did it say?!" Long Xiao's gaze shifted from the sand table, curious. "Don't just grin, what exactly did it say?"

Chen Shijie tossed the letter over: "See for yourself."

"Huh! The first trial of passing information along—this test method is way too underhanded."

"In the Cloud-Strife Duel, he taught that Li Feng of the Tiger Jiao Army a lesson, and even knocked out the guy ranked sixth in the internal selection? Satisfying, hahahaha!"

"Thunder Law Hunting, ranked ninth?"

"Rain Law trial, ranked third, and in the end he entered the Earth Advantage Academy and got Grade-A-Upper training resources!"

Long Xiao read the letter, gesticulating wildly, as if he had personally witnessed Zhao Xing clear trial after trial.

"He actually got into one of the Four Great Academies. Phew, good thing the Agronomists aren't just Han Bing alone." Long Xiao was quite happy after finishing it. "He's done us proud! Even Han Bing only got Grade-A-Middle resources."

"He has done us proud." Chen Shijie smiled too. "I brought him into the Divine Might Army, skipping so many procedures—plenty of people outside have been gossiping. Now he's entered the Earth Advantage Academy, taken Tian Hou as his master, and gotten Grade-A-Upper resources. Hmph, let's see who dares say anything now."

"Of course they'll dare!"

"Hm?"

"Won't they have to say a few words about Old Chen having a good eye?"

"Hahahaha."

April 7th—in the blink of an eye, three days had passed since the academy division.

Although the academy division had been settled, Yangcheng seemed even more bustling.

Because the vast majority of people were dissatisfied with their own academy assignment.

Why does someone else get a one-on-one teacher giving them private lessons, while I have to share a public class with a bunch of stinking men?

We all have two shoulders carrying one head—am I not worthy of having a place of my own?!

Grind! Grind hard!

In those three days, the reserve Agronomists had all geared up, frantically adding extra training for themselves, hoping to change their current situation in the upcoming mandatory training.

"It's really packed out there." Zhao Xing stood inside the Earth Palace, looked at the crowd outside jammed like dogs, and couldn't help but laugh.

He was currently comprehending inside the Seventy-Two Earth Palace; it was very spacious here, and all told there were only twenty or thirty people.

Not only reserves, but also some active-duty Agronomists.

"I feel like the people outside look at us with killing intent." Zhao Xing glanced at Han Bing beside him. "What do you think, if I went out for a stroll, would someone throw stones at me?"

"If you really did that, you might get a face full of pee." Han Bing said coldly.

"Isn't peeing prohibited?"

"But bringing a pee-pot isn't prohibited." Han Bing said flatly, "If I splash you in the face, that doesn't count as peeing, right?"

"Hiss, that works too?"

"I don't know if it works either. How about you go try it."

"Then forget it."

……

In terms of spells, Earth Palace Method and Mysterious Earth Method were the focus of Zhao Xing's comprehension.

Especially Divine Movement Guardian, the fusion of the two methods, was even more his top breakthrough priority.

This spell had great potential. After Zhao Xing obtained the quota to enter the Earth Palace's interior, he immediately called Han Bing and rushed over together to comprehend.

"Divine Movement Earth Palace, Mysterious Earth Guardian. The two combined can actually form an Earth Palace stealth within the earth veins." Zhao Xing sat at a spot inside the Earth Palace, observing the internal structure of 【Divine Movement Earth Palace】.

"Marvelous, truly marvelous."

The Divine Movement Earth Palace Method broke through to the Eighth Revolution on the fourth day after the academy division.

The Mysterious Earth Guardian Method broke through to the Eighth Revolution on the fifth day.

On the sixth day, Zhao Xing completed the fusion of the two methods, causing Divine Movement Guardian to break through to the Eighth Revolution.

The Earth Palace comprehension trip came to an end.

On the ninth day, the sixth Earth-Origin Vermilion Fruit was consumed.

Zhao Xing's progress in the Gathering Yuan rank reached past the halfway mark of the eighteenth stage.

It was also on this day that he came to Tian Hou's Fuchun Garden and heard the news about the mandatory training.

"The first mandatory training is 【Lawless Training】." Tian Shan introduced. "The content has been confirmed."

"The training will last one month. During the process, the use of any spells is prohibited; combat will be purely physical."

"The purpose is to improve the Agronomist officials' hand-to-hand combat ability in extreme environments where spells cannot be used."

"One month later, the training results will be tested."

"This 【Lawless Training】 targeting Agronomists will also bring in martial artists from various armies as sparring partners. They won't hold back at all. If you don't want to get beaten black and blue, in these next twenty days you need to do more preparation and break through to Eighth Rank as soon as possible."

No fourth update today, see you tomorrow!

Tomorrow I'll try to post earlier, no later than midnight.

Considering I'm updating fifteen thousand words a day, let's all just pretend nothing happened【fn=12】

Thank you all for your support.