Chapter 135: The Gambler's Tactics Pay Off

Xia Jing fell silent, but his body could still move.

After recovering slightly, he wiped his tears, stood up, and bowed with cupped fists toward Zhao Xing in the sky.

Though he said nothing, his attitude was crystal clear: I yield!

Xia Jing had truly been broken of his stubbornness.

First the third-tier Numbing Fish Fruit, then the fourth-tier Fire-Glare Bluegold.

Both numbing, fishy, and spicy... that sour tang was simply too much to bear.

Chen Fang, Hu Bing, and Zhang Jie were right—there were still twenty-seven days of mandatory training left! If this kept up, even if his body could endure it, his mind would be left scarred.

Even if others said nothing, Xia Jing had no intention of continuing to talk tough.

Seeing this proud heir of Hou Fu bow his head, Zhao Xing finally felt at ease.

He cupped his fists and said, "You brothers flatter me. Zhao Xing is shallow and unlearned; these three days of seed selection have been unsatisfactory. From now on I shall choose more carefully, to do my part for your Gluttony Method training."

These words made it clear he had no intention of continuing to make things difficult for them, and the matter of Xia Jing was considered settled.

After all, it was never a big deal.

Zhang Jie, Chen Fang, Hu Bing and the others lit up with joy, repeatedly cupping their fists: "Many thanks, Brother Zhao!"

How the Gluttony Method was practiced was practice either way.

If Zhao Xing, this Military Agricultural Officer, chose supplies with care, they could train the Gluttony Method while suffering less torment.

Take the Numbing Fish Fruit, for instance—the accompanying dead-fish smell served no training purpose at all, it was purely unpleasant.

Zhao Xing could perfectly well choose another kind of supply for them, and the training effect would be just as good.

Hearing this, Xia Jing also felt a great weight lift.

Truth be told, he would rather have a life-and-death battle with Fu Ying than ever smell dead fish again.

As for yielding to Zhao Xing, when this Hou Fu heir thought about it now, it really wasn't shameful.

One was an Agricultural Officer, the other a martial artist—entirely different professions, what was there to compete over?

Zhao Xing's three days, three kinds of supplies—not only was the yield astonishing, the quality was also high. Xia Jing was genuinely somewhat impressed.

Thinking this way, his mind became clear and unblocked.

"I won't disturb your training further. Farewell."

Once Zhao Xing left, Liu Yongli continued arranging the troops' training.

Zhou Ming watched cheerfully for a while, then ran off as well.

High above, aboard the Cloud Rain Tower Ship.

Lu Bang watched the scene through his Earth Mirror and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hahahaha, this Xia Jing has finally yielded."

"I thought he was going to keep talking tough."

Zuo Zizhi set down the Earth Mirror and smiled as well: "If he'd kept talking tough, Zhao Xing certainly wouldn't have let him off."

"Zhao Xing saw through everything at a glance, noticed that Xia Jing dislikes strong flavors, and kept picking on him like this—eventually he'd have been given a psychological shadow. Better to yield early."

"Still not early enough." Lu Bang said, "If he were clever, he should have yielded when eating the Numbing Fish Fruit. Not everything requires fighting for the upper hand."

"He is the Hou Fu heir after all." Zuo Zizhi smiled. "Xia Hou has so many sons—choosing him as heir means he must be competitive and eager to win, how could he not be?"

"Mm." Lu Bang nodded: "Considering this, he can still take it up and put it down—his temperament is actually not bad."

"The third day is about to pass. Have the rankings for the four Agricultural Officer courtyards' geniuses come out?"

"It's roughly visible now." Zuo Zizhi tapped the Earth Mirror. "Of the top twenty-one, top-tier geniuses occupy seventeen spots."

"Four people have temporarily been surpassed by those below."

"Han Bing and Feng Qiu of the Divine Might Army—these two, originally rated mid-tier, have surged upward."

"The other two are your student Cai Jin, and another who isn't from the four main courtyards—Li Feng."

The gap between mid-tier and top-tier ratings isn't actually that large. The courtyards have been operating for two months; some have had their talents erupt, some have comprehended new methods, and may have surpassed those above them.

"Cai Jin—he's genuinely learning the Benwo Sect's arts. The first three days' environment isn't very harsh, the demands on Heaven-Timing and Earth-Benefit methods aren't high, so his surge isn't unexpected." Lu Bang commented on his own student.

"Li Feng joined the Late Spring Courtyard, and found a good teacher there. His original strength in the Tiger Jiao Army was already decent, so now he's returned to a normal level."

"The gap at the front is also relatively small; only the top three have pulled away somewhat." Zuo Zizhi said. "Shi Yong's score remains firmly in first place, two hundred and twenty points higher than second-place Zhuang Ziqing."

"Zhuang Ziqing is one hundred and eighty points above Zhao Xing, and Zhao Xing is one hundred and twenty points above fourth-place Feng Qiu." Zuo Zizhi said. "Behind them, the score gaps are all within a hundred points. No matter how capable Shi Yong is, he hasn't pulled away by much. For now, no obvious gap is visible."

A few hundred points—the gap really isn't large. A thousand jin of second-tier supplies is already a hundred points.

"The first three days' environment has its ceiling right at Shi Yong." Lu Bang nodded. "It's not his doing—the environment has reached its limit. He already condensed twenty-four Solar Term Tokens long ago; we just don't know the tier."

"Whatever his tier, if he wants to pull away, it has to be in the middle ten days." Zuo Zizhi smiled. "After that, he can't pull away either—it's all the same."

"Mm." Lu Bang nodded. "Condensing twenty-four Solar Term Tokens is relatively simple—normally about a year's work suffices."

"Before entering the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven, the vast majority had already cultivated the 'Solar Term Token'. However, these youngsters will learn later that their 'Solar Term Token' power is only useful outside—it cannot shake the Heaven-Timing of the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven at all."

"The next ten days, they'll probably just be able to stare helplessly, hahahaha."

………………

The third day, approaching the zi hour.

Liu Yongli and the middle-aged physician brought ten martial artists aboard the flying vessel, preparing to head to the next location.

The ten martial artists all entered the cabin.

As for Liu Yongli and the military physician, after a while they both came out again.

"Why aren't you sitting inside? It'll be a while yet." Zhou Ming said.

"You tell me why?" The military physician covered his nose. "Cast a wind technique on me."

"Alright." Zhou Ming glanced at Zhao Xing, smiled, and summoned a gust of wind, applying a layer of air filtration to the military physician.

The military physician let out a long breath.

As for Zhao Xing, long before the martial artists boarded the flying vessel, he had already used wind techniques to form a swirling wind tunnel, channeling fresh outside air into the half-meter radius around himself.

It was essentially putting a protective shield over himself.

He had no choice — all ten martial artists reeked of dead fish.

Getting close was unbearable.

"What about me, Brother Zhou? Don't forget about me!" Liu Yongli was anxious; he had been holding his breath the entire journey.

"Forget it, too much hassle. I'll just seal the cabin door." Zhou Ming simply deployed a wind wall, blocking the cabin door shut.

"Much better now." Liu Yongli greedily breathed in the fresh air.

After the Flowing Cloud Flying Vessel had flown for half a shichen, Zhao Xing felt the air suddenly turn crisp and cold.

He saw three round moons hanging in the distant sky.

"No idea where we've ended up." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

"We've arrived." Zhou Ming called out, steering the flying vessel to begin its descent.

"Crunch~" Zhao Xing leapt off the flying vessel; a scraping sound came from beneath his feet. Looking down, it was actually snow.

He pulled out the almanac and checked — it displayed 【Minor Cold】.

The second training environment was a stretch of frozen earth.

"Everyone off the ship!" Liu Yongli shouted toward the cabin door.

The ten martial artists filed out one after another.

"An ice and snow environment?"

At this moment, a wind was blowing outside. After disembarking, a wave of cold swept in, and all ten martial artists instinctively rubbed their shoulders.

They were dressed very thinly, unlike Zhao Xing who had a straw raincoat for protection.

"This place is near Pine Snow Lake," Zhou Ming explained. "The cold level is three, so your Origin Qi consumption will double, and training will be more exhausting."

Then he looked at Zhao Xing again: "Your planting area is within five li of here, but there's no boundary marker on the south side. You can draw water from the frozen Pine Snow Lake, as long as you can manage it. Check the specific environment yourself."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded, immediately soaring into the sky to begin his survey.

Rising to a high altitude, the wind and snow grew heavier, the surroundings turned foggy, and the Bright Pupil spell was greatly diminished — visibility was extremely low.

Just surveying the environment within five li took a full shichen.

"Whoosh~"

Zhao Xing flew back beside the flying vessel.

He wanted to check the conditions of the ley lines.

But it wasn't a good time to cast the Mysterious Earth technique.

Because the ice layer was blocking the way, he had to clear the ice first.

"Hoooowl~"

A tornado appeared; the gale-force wind drilled through the ice layer beneath his feet like a drill bit, boring through and sending the ice flying.

"Had to dig a foot through ice just to reach the ground?"

"The training is starting to ramp up in intensity." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

"Mysterious Earth Guardian!"

When Mysterious Earth Guardian reaches above seven revolutions, one can travel through the seven types of ley lines: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Thunder.

Zhao Xing's Divine Movement Guardian had reached eight revolutions, so naturally his Mysterious Earth Guardian had also reached eight revolutions.

"The speed of subterranean travel is slower than normal, because this is frozen earth — the Water-element power in the ley lines has transformed into 'Frost Power.'"

"If it were below seven revolutions, I wouldn't even be able to burrow through." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

If one hadn't learned the Mysterious Earth technique, even a Si Nong with the Terrain Favor technique would find it very difficult to clearly inspect the ley lines under such conditions.

Even after learning the Mysterious Earth technique, one must raise its level to seven revolutions, enabling travel through all Five Elements plus Wind and Thunder, in order to resist the interference of abnormal environments.

After traveling through the ley lines for half a shichen, Zhao Xing emerged onto the surface.

"The Fire-element power in the ley lines is deeply hidden; the Water-element power is overwhelmingly strong, and it has mutated."

"Metal and Earth are below normal levels; Wood-element power is significantly below normal levels."

"This environment is far harsher than the Gravel Slope." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

After confirming the environment, he began selecting seeds from the Wenzhu Box.

"In a place where Water-element power overwhelmingly prevails, aquatic seeds are the first choice for breeding."

"But this place is bitterly cold — there aren't many things that can be grown here."

Zhao Xing searched and searched, but couldn't find any suitable target.

Growing third or fourth-tier supplies here would be quite difficult.

"The environment must be altered."

"Otherwise, even if they survive, the quantity won't be enough."

Zhao Xing visualized the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Diagram.

At this moment, within his Origin Dantian, there were six phantom images of Solar Term Tokens.

Before the second mandatory training, he spent four shichen each day at the Heavenly Timing Institute contemplating the Solar Term Stele.

In half a month's time, he had condensed six Solar Term Tokens!

Normally, from first learning the "Solar Term Token" to condensing all twenty-four Solar Term Tokens takes a full year.

Zhao Xing condensed six in just half a month — first, thanks to the effects of the Dao Embryo Pill's transformation; second, his innate comprehension was already excellent; and combined with his contemplation of the Solar Term Stele at the Heavenly Timing Institute, his speed was naturally far faster than normal.

The six phantom Solar Term Tokens in his Origin Dantian now were, respectively, 【Beginning of Spring】, 【Beginning of Summer】, 【Beginning of Autumn】, 【Beginning of Winter】, 【Rain Water】, and 【Pure Brightness】.

"Each Solar Term Token is above 'Knowledge Realm First Revolution.'"

"Beginning of Spring and Beginning of Summer have reached Knowledge Realm Second Revolution."

"Given the current situation, jumping straight to 'Start of Summer' is too difficult. Let's see if we can first establish 'Spring'."

"Celestial Season Decree, manifest!"

Zhao Xing pointed with his hand, and the Start of Spring solar term decree in his Origin Dantian immediately trembled faintly. Golden light emerged from his fingertip, forming a small, pointed, slender command token.

Looking closely, the token contained a blurry miniature pattern within, with a few tender green branches sprouting out, depicting an early spring scene.

The golden light decree rose high into the sky, then spread outward, merging into the void.

But it lasted only a quarter of an hour before beginning to tremble.

Zhao Xing gritted his teeth and persevered, but after two quarter-hours, the golden decree still collapsed.

"Can't establish it."

"The might of the celestial phenomena is too powerful. Out in the open, I could do it easily, but this is inside the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven small world." Zhao Xing shook his head.

If the Start of Spring solar term won't work, then the others are even less likely to, because the span of change is greater, and naturally the difficulty is greater too.

Zhou Ming watched Zhao Xing shaking his head there and couldn't help but smile slightly. If it were easy for the Minister of Agriculture to borrow the advantage of celestial timing, then this training would have no effect at all.

"Kid, your Celestial Season Art still needs much more practice." Zhou Ming lit the stove and began warming wine.

At this moment, Zhao Xing was not discouraged.

Since the Celestial Season Art won't work, then switch to something else.

"Can only try the Earth Advantage Art."

"Even if I cast King Di Zang's Return to Origin now, the effect won't be ideal. I can only use the mad-dog gambling tactic."

Zhao Xing thought it over and decided on the technique he would cast next — the Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art.

"Right now Water is in great flourish, Fire is deeply hidden, and Metal, Wood, and Earth are all unusable. Then I'll use the mad-dog gambling tactic to reshuffle the deck here first."

"No matter how chaotic it gets, it won't be worse than now. As long as it's a little better than now, I can use King Di Zang's Return to Origin to regulate the ley lines afterward."

Zhao Xing rode the gale wind and rose into the air.

"Five Elements Earth-Splitting! Open!"

Whiz whiz whiz~

Streak after streak of golden light sank into the ground.

Zhao Xing began bombarding the ground frantically.

The Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art's effect is unknown and random. At this moment he was like a gambler desperate from losses, madly slamming the gambling table.

"Crack crack crack~" Zhou Ming looked at the cracking ice fissures ahead of the flying boat and couldn't help feeling puzzled: "Is this the Water Element Earth-Splitting Art?"

"No, wait… the Wood Element Earth-Splitting Art?" Zhou Ming saw a sprout emerge from underground and changed his mind.

"Boom boom rumble~"

The flying boat began to shake, and a fissure split open in the earth.

Caught off guard, Zhou Ming nearly lost his footing, and even the wine pot he had just been warming spilled.

"Hm? This is the Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art?!"

Zhou Ming saw the flying boat about to fall into the fissure and immediately, swaying unsteadily, pulled the flying boat upward.

"Crack crack crack crack~"

The ice cracks began spreading outward from this fissure, and very quickly the fissure grew larger and larger, and the surrounding area even began to quake.

"Damn, how is this kid's Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art so strong?!" Zhou Ming, drenched all over, stared wide-eyed at the ground.

Woke up at 5:30 AM from a centipede bite.

At six I posted a single chapter. It hurt for half an hour. I wiped it with medicinal liquor and dealt with it, and thought it was nothing serious so I deleted it.

But as a result I didn't sleep well all day, my foot kept aching faintly, and my head was foggy and heavy.

Only now did I manage to put out one chapter.

Sorry, everyone.

I still won't break the streak today, it's just that the update will be later. Everyone doesn't need to wait.