Chapter 175

"Out?" Long Xiao looked happily at the light blue vortex, only to see a tall figure slowly flying out from it.

"Zhao Xing!" Long Xiao waved and shouted.

Zhao Xing nodded at Long Xiao, then bowed to Lu Bang: "Thank you, Master Lu, for your guidance."

"No need for formalities, it’s all your own effort." Lu Bang smiled slightly, then pointed at Long Xiao: "This kid has been waiting anxiously, go ahead."

Zhao Xing bowed and quickly flew out of the Great Granary Academy with Long Xiao.

"Zhao Xing, you seem different." Long Xiao looked at Zhao Xing’s appearance; although he looked the same, his temperament was completely different from when he was in Yuncheng. Before in Yuncheng, Zhao Xing’s temperament was fierce and sharp, like a sword out of its sheath, and his killing intent was heavy.

Now he had a sense of being out of the world, his entire aura was completely restrained. Sensing carefully, Long Xiao could feel the astonishing vitality, like a volcano ready to erupt.

"There are some changes." Zhao Xing nodded; he himself was very clear about it. Before, because he had just stepped into the Earth-Evil Realm, both his physical seven souls and his Qi had not been able to completely refine the evil energy, naturally giving people a very fierce and sharp feeling.

However, after more than a month of tempering and enlightenment, especially after coming out of the Original Dojo, he had been able to control the evil energy completely and achieve perfect fusion.

The hidden danger of upgrading too fast was finally resolved by him.

"Lu Bang said you were enlightening the Dao. What exactly did you enlighten? It took so long." Long Xiao asked curiously.

"A high-level spell of the Self-Nature school, Instant Original."

"I haven't heard of it."

"It belongs to the high-level Analysis Technique, few people know it." Zhao Xing explained. "It can break through the growth shackles of plant life."

Long Xiao nodded half-understandingly: "I hope this spell of yours is really powerful. Because of it, you’ve delayed quite a bit of time, the Pacify-Barbarian War Merit List has been open for more than half a month!"

"No rush." Zhao Xing laughed, "Sharpening the knife doesn't delay the wood-cutting, right? How far can it advance in half a month?"

The war below Grade 5 had been fought for several years, and missing this half a month didn't hinder anything at all.

"How far can it advance? Heh, you really underestimate the strength of the Great Zhou."

"The 50,000-mile boundary line, advancing comprehensively, the front line has advanced 10,000 miles in half a month, and the section slightly closer to the boundary line has also advanced 4,000 miles." Long Xiao said, "South of the Canglan River, excluding the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion, more than 3,000 new cities have been built!"

"In terms of territory alone, five Yingyuan Mansion lands have already been taken!"

Long Xiao thought he would be anxious after hearing this, but Zhao Xing had no reaction.

A distance of 10,000 miles was indeed very far when he first entered Grade 9, but now that Zhao Xing’s mobility had greatly increased, he naturally knew that this 10,000 miles was not a very long distance.

In addition, the 3,000-plus cities were purely 'Jing Emperor-style reporting'.

The report couldn't be said to have moisture, the numbers were definitely true.

The Craftsman school built cities fast, but Zhao Xing estimated that most of these 3,000 cities were grain cities used for supply, baggage cities, or cities occupied under the command of the Southern Barbarian Royal Courts.

This war result, for the Pacify-Barbarian War, could only be said to be for fun.

It wasn't time for Zhao Xing to be anxious yet.

If there were large-scale casualties for Grade 6 and 7, then Zhao Xing should really be anxious, because that represented the window period for fishing for merit was about to pass.

"Where was I assigned?" Zhao Xing asked, "What is the new appointment?"

"You were in seclusion, how could you be assigned?" Long Xiao said, "The Marquis didn't let anyone disturb you, waiting for you to come out."

"Now the combat sequences of all camps have been allocated, and there are not many left that fit your Grade 7 official position. The Nine-Section Commanders are completely full, and I estimate you won't have much chance to fight."

"Establishing merit doesn't necessarily mean being a Nine-Section Commander." Zhao Xing was open-minded. In this Pacify-Barbarian War, there was no lack of opportunities to establish merit at all.

With Aotian Meow, Zhao Xing and Long Xiao took the Swordfish flying boat and headed to Xier City, the Divine Might Army station, at full speed.

Zhao Xing now belonged to the Divine Might Army, and he was here to see Yang An.

Six hours later, the two descended on Xier City.

Yang An lived in a mansion in Xier City, named Boping Mansion.

Boping Mansion was heavily guarded, with spears like a forest, and the two arrived at the Military Machine Palace, which was where the main general handled military affairs during peacetime.

Outside the palace was the drill ground, with swords, spears, swords, and halberds placed densely all around. Every soldier wore battle armor and battle robes, with iron helmets on their heads, and their faces were serious.

On the steps outside the palace, Jia Pu held a treasure sword, the hilt inlaid with gems, emitting a gloomy light in the sun.

He was motionless, like a statue, and when the passing soldiers looked at him from the corner of their eyes, they couldn't help but look at the door.

They knew the military advisor was waiting for an agricultural official named Zhao Xing, and had been waiting for three hours in advance.

I don't know what ability this Zhao Xing has to deserve such treatment.

"Here." Jia Pu suddenly raised his head, and the figures of Long Xiao and Zhao Xing appeared at the door.

He immediately walked down the steps.

When Zhao Xing and Long Xiao approached, Jia Pu also happened to arrive at the bottom of the steps.

"See the Divine Might General." Zhao Xing bowed after seeing Jia Pu. Because Yang An had demoted himself to a small soldier, the person currently acting as the main general of the Divine Might Army was the one in front of him.

"Zhao Xing." Jia Pu smiled and helped him up, "No need for formalities, you have been in seclusion for many days, what have you gained?"

"Back to the General, a little success."

"That’s good." Jia Pu said, "The Marquis is not in Xier County now, so your appointment is issued by me on his behalf. Is there any place you want to go?"

"It is all up to the General’s instructions." Zhao Xing said. "Wherever the General tells me to go, I will go."

"The Marquis specifically instructed me, saying that Zhao Xing is an all-around talent in the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, who can both fight and farm, so I must listen to your thoughts first." Jia Pu took out a Mirage Pearl from his arms, "This records the camps of my Divine Might Army in the Southern Wilderness, you can choose at will."

"Choose at will?" Long Xiao muttered, the combat sequence was clearly full, did he want to set up an extra camp for Zhao Xing?

Zhao Xing saw this and no longer stood on ceremony, looking at it seriously.

The Divine Might Army now had many Grade 6 soldiers fighting on the front line, and they were also casting cities in the Southern Wilderness as supply and rest places.

The fastest one fighting now was a captain named 'Liao Rulong', who commanded eight camps including Five Elements, Divine Machine, and Nine-Section, totaling 12,000 people. Chen Shijie, including Long Xiao, were working under Liao Rulong.

Now, Liao Rulong was resting in a place called 'Machang City', having penetrated 6,000 miles into the Southern Wilderness, and was fighting the 'Wolf God' tribe under the Golden Feather Royal Court, because Machang City was originally the territory of the Wolf God tribe.

"Report to the General, the subordinate wants to go under the command of Captain Liao Rulong." Zhao Xing gave the answer. He wanted to go to a stronger team, and since Old Chen and Long Xiao were both there, having acquaintances was naturally better than going to a completely strange team.

"Under Liao Rulong’s command, the Grade 7 martial general position is only the Grain-Transporting Order left. In other captains' commands, there are Nine-Section Commander positions." Jia Pu said, "If you want to master a camp yourself, I can also arrange for you to be the main general."

Zhao Xing shook his head: "The subordinate’s ability is shallow, it is better to go and familiarize with the environment first."

Old Chen and the others fought too deeply. Although military agricultural officials could grow food, that was only for temporary eating. Many supplies could not be grown quickly in harsh environments.

That was why the military world would cast cities in the Southern Wilderness. The duty of the Grain-Transporting Order was to cast key treasures needed by the army such as 'medicinal materials', 'Craftsman school equipment materials', and 'recovery supplements', and organize people to send them to where the army was located.

This position was very important. The Southern Wilderness’s large-scale retreat was to lengthen the front line to consume the Great Zhou.

There were too many opportunities for the Grain-Transporting Order to establish merit, even more than those fighting in front, because various tribes in the Southern Wilderness would sneak attack supply cities from time to time.

Furthermore, Zhao Xing going to be the backup for Chen Shijie was also to prevent this brother from dying in the Southern Wilderness.

"Since that is the case, follow me!"

Jia Pu took Zhao Xing into the palace, where a statue stood.

"Zhao Xing, take the order!"

"The subordinate is here!"

"By the decree of the military world, you are enfeoffed as the Grain-Transporting Order of the Divine Might Army under Liao Rulong! Responsible for the army’s grain and supply, effective immediately!" Jia Pu reached out and summoned a golden document from the furnace below the statue, then Jia Pu stamped the main general seal of the Divine Might Army.

"Obey the order!" Zhao Xing knelt and bowed to the statue, respectfully receiving the document.

The transfer of Grade 7 officials in the army required the military world’s approval. If the transfer order was too outrageous, such as letting a Grade 7 martial general charge the camp of the Golden Feather Royal Court, then the military world would have a Yin God question the rationality of the transfer order.

Of course, under normal circumstances, the military world would not ask.

After the process was completed, Jia Pu said seriously:

"Zhao Xing, Long Xiao, go to the Southern Wilderness, do not tarnish the reputation of the Divine Might Army."

"Yes."

On June 20th, they came to Xier County to accept the appointment, and on the same day, Zhao Xing and Long Xiao crossed the river with the appointment.

"Yuncheng has now become the hinterland of the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion."

The Swordfish flying boat shuttled in the high sky, and Zhao Xing looked down.

He had been in seclusion for one month and twenty days, and the Pacify-Barbarian War Merit List had been open for eighteen days, and the changes were indeed not small.

Originally, Yuncheng was the border city of the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion.

But at this time, 120 mountain cities had been opened south of Yuncheng, and strong men had changed the Heavenly Time around them.

It looked like they intended to turn this area into mature land.

"South of Yuncheng, six counties have been circled, and they are not playing around, they have already moved the boundary markers and started to set up county-level temples."

Great Zhou’s opening of territory, whether it is raw land or mature land, depends on whether a temple has been set up!

If no temple has been set up, or the temple specification is not high, it proves that it is raw land, representing that this land may have repetitions, or it is easy to be captured, or the environment is found to be harsh, and it may be abandoned in the future.

"3,000-plus cities, 30% are mature land, and they are still expanding rapidly." Zhao Xing thought to himself, "The Southern Wilderness wants to lure the enemy deep and lengthen the front line, and the Great Zhou is swallowing the territory city by city, shortening the supply line, no one is stupid."

"Let’s look at the war merit list."

Zhao Xing took out the Earth Mirror and opened the war merit list.

【Divine Might Army Zhao Xing: Grade 7 Lower】

【War Merit: 0】

【Ranking: 5,518,712】

The war merit list jumped in real-time, and in the next second, Zhao Xing was adjusted down by several hundred places.

"No merit established, directly at the bottom." Zhao Xing thought to himself, "Even a small soldier has a higher ranking than me, but as long as I go to the 92nd Grain City, I will rise quickly."

His starting point was Grade 7 Grain-Transporting Order, as long as he started 'daily military affairs', he could rise by hundreds of thousands of places in a day.

"Let’s see who is number one."

Zhao Xing turned to the front.

【War Merit List First: Divine Thunder Army Lu Yuanwei; Grade 6 Upper; War Merit: 1,041,015】

"Already a million war merit?" Zhao Xing secretly clicked his tongue, "So fast. This name Lu Yuanwei, seems a bit familiar. Divine Thunder Army... a descendant of the King/Marquis of Lüliang State?"

"Long Xiao." Zhao Xing pointed to the first place on the war merit list, "This Lu Yuanwei, do you know who he is?"

"Doesn't it say here, he’s from the Divine Thunder Army."

"……"

Truly a word from a gentleman.

"Is he from Lüliang State?"

"How would I know, I don't pay attention to these." Long Xiao shook his head, "Should be, the Divine Thunder Army ranked 116th in the last military world exercise, it’s not simple to be a captain in such a strong army."

"Fine, go stroke your cat." Zhao Xing knew it was useless to ask, so he looked at it himself.

He skipped the Grade 6 ones and looked directly at the classification list for Grade 7 martial generals.

The promotion of officials is ultimately based on the list to pick the best.

So as long as Zhao Xing can rank among the best in Grade 7, he can be promoted to Grade 6 in the phased enfeoffment.

Other grades are the same.

In addition, war merit also involves land, titles, scattered ranks, and various glory titles.

Grade 7 and above, with outstanding war merit, even their families will be rewarded together.

For example, if Zhao Xing can take first place in the Grade 7 list, his wife or mother, according to the 'Life Lady' level, can be enfeoffed as 'Grade 7 Martial Splendor Lady'.

Such enfeoffment can also increase lifespan, destiny, possess the right to cultivate, and even help improve the gathering-yuan rank.

The first to fifth-grade ladies of honor also have very strong combat power because their grade follows their husband’s position.

"In Grade 7, there are so many unfamiliar names?"

"Xia Jing, actually ranked outside the 2,000th place."

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised.

Xia Jing is now also Grade 7 Lower, but his position on the war merit list is more than 2,800.

However, Xia Jing’s rising speed is very fast, rising three places in the blink of an eye.

"Huge competition."

"New generation Grade 7 and old Grade 7 are all fighting together."

Zhao Xing saw Long Xiao and suddenly understood.

Because Long Xiao’s ranking is higher than Xia Jing by 500 places, he is a Grade 7 Upper Brave Captain.

Furthermore, combat power and war merit list are not the same thing. Maybe luck is a bit bad, assigned to a hard bone, it is possible to have no merit for more than ten days.

In addition, war merit is not only increasing but also decreasing.

If you lose the war or have heavy losses, war merit will be deducted.

"The military world stipulates that in war, if casualties exceed half, war merit will not be increased, and war merit will be reduced depending on the situation, except for special circumstances."

Zhao Xing looked at the top ten of the Grade 7 list again.

After the 50th place, the ranking changes are relatively frequent.

But the top 20, the ranking is relatively stable, and it may not change for a few days.

【War Merit List (Grade 7):】

【1: Zhaoyuan Army 'Qi Yuanjun', Grade 7 Upper, War Merit 272,142】

【2: Yuanhua Army 'Yi Yue', Grade 7 Upper, War Merit 250,145】

【3: Huanyou Army 'Nangong Ye', Grade 7 Upper, War Merit 242,514】

【4: Zhaoyuan Army 'Pang Zheng', Grade 7 Upper, War Merit 240,211】

【5: Yuanhua Army...】

……

【10: Tiger-Dragon Army Wei Hong, Grade 7 Upper, War Merit 215,475】

【20: Lieyang Army Helian Lie, Grade 7 Upper, War Merit 172,451】

Until the tenth place, Zhao Xing saw a familiar name.

"Wei Hong, is Wei Yuan’s fourth son, he is also in the Tiger-Dragon Army."

"Helian Lie and Wei Yuan, both came to recruit me before."

Zhao Xing remembered these two people, among whom Wei Yuan and his teacher Tian Shan were old friends, and he naturally had an understanding of Wei Yuan, and Wei Hong was Wei Yuan’s fourth son.

His first three sons all died on the battlefield in the early years of opening up the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Mansion.

"The rankings of the armies in the other four grotto-heavens are all higher than the eight armies of the Ten Suns Grotto-Heaven, and only the Tiger-Dragon Army can be on par with the strong armies of the other four grotto-heavens. The Profound Armor Army, Lieyang Army, and Sea-Suppressing Army rankings are all lower."

"Shi Yong and Zhuang Ziqing are also doing well in the Tiger-Dragon Army, and are about to enter the top 10,000 of the Grade 7 list." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"Compared to Grade 6, there are more people in Grade 7, and being in the top 10,000 is already considered not bad."

As for Grade 6, estimating from the total number of Grade 6 participating in the war in the five grotto-heavens, the total number of Grade 6 is probably around 50,000.

It is mainly that the Grade 6 of the strong army is more numerous. If it were placed in a weak army, Grade 6 could hold the power of the main general this time. However, in a strong army, there even appeared Grade 6 as commanders. In the Divine Might Army, generally, Grade 8 is the commander level.

After crossing the river, the Swordfish flying boat still maintained a very fast speed.

Because the Pacify-Barbarian Army is advancing comprehensively, the military world is not impatient, and the front lines are all pushed forward together.

From Yuncheng to 4,000 miles south, it is basically safe.

The slightly dangerous area is the area beyond 4,000 miles.

The progress of each army is different, and it is very likely that the four royal courts of the Southern Wilderness will bypass the strong army and break the defense line of the weak army with points.

About four hours, Zhao Xing had already crossed the '4,000-mile' safety line.

The Heavenly Time began to change unpredictably.

Long Xiao also walked out of the cabin: "Any situation?"

"No discovery for now."

Zhao Xing shook his head.

"If there is a situation, stop and stop." Long Xiao said, "To find you, I delayed for several days, if you encounter small enemies, don't let them go, those are living war merits."

"Rest assured, I’ll watch for you." Zhao Xing smiled.

His and Long Xiao’s combination, even if they encounter a team of all Grade 7, as long as it doesn't exceed 500 people, it is basically bullying.

Of course, if the opposite side also has geniuses, that’s another matter.

However, in the 4,000 to 8,000-mile front line, it is unlikely to appear.

Because the Southern Wilderness’s general policy at this time is to fight while retreating, the four royal courts are unlikely to send out the kind of geniuses who are one in ten thousand, if they are damaged, it will be very painful.

Flying another thousand miles safely.

At this time, Zhao Xing had lowered the altitude of the Swordfish flying boat to a low altitude of less than 3,000 meters.

Because above 3,000 meters, there are occasional gales, and Grade 7 Earth-Evil Realm is very difficult to fight in this environment.

The Southern Wilderness environment is harsh, not all for innate reasons, but also because the Southern Wilderness’s Heavenly Witches actively cast spells, deliberately destroying the Heavenly Time, as a protective belt to hinder Great Zhou’s advance.

The Swordfish flying boat is a Grade 5 low-grade warship, flying in the gale, the speed will decrease, and the core drive materials of the warship will also be consumed faster.

After half an hour, Zhao Xing lowered to an altitude of 1,000 meters.

At this time, he had reached the front line of more than 5,500 miles.

Originally, Zhao Xing could see many Great Zhou cities on the way.

But now the number of cities has decreased, and according to the map, it takes a long time to see one.

Just when Zhao Xing thought he would arrive at the 92nd Grain City safely.

"Hm?"

Zhao Xing suddenly moved in his heart and looked at the horizon ahead.

"Long Xiao, come out quickly!"

"Swish~"

Long Xiao rushed out immediately.

"Any situation?"

"Yes."

Zhao Xing pointed in a certain direction.

"Look to the southeast, raise it by a hundred meters, the enemy’s traces have appeared."

Long Xiao looked up, but looked at nothing.

Zhao Xing didn't explain, immediately turned the flying boat’s direction, moved forward rapidly for ten miles in the southeast direction, and flew a hundred meters higher, reaching the 'Gale Layer'.

"Whoosh~"

Zhao Xing cast a cloud spell to form a long and narrow cloud path, sticking to a certain place in the sky.

"Change!"

Zhao Xing ordered the cloud spell to turn blood red—this is the 'Blood Cloud Mimicry' in the Cloud-Swallowing Technique.

"Do you see it?"

Long Xiao was excited: "Saw it, it’s the tail trace of the Nether Flame warship."

"Not bad." Zhao Xing nodded: "The Southern Wilderness’s Nether Flame warship, its craftsmanship completely imitates Great Zhou’s 'Flame-Splitting warship', its Yang Wind Sail and Fire Cloud Sail, as well as the Five-Element Flag, can cover the traces for the spaceship, even in the gale, it can achieve concealment."

"But the Southern Wilderness uses Nether Rock, which has a flaw, that is, it will leave a shallow cloud mist at the tail of the spaceship, just like a ship sailing in water, the water at the tail will be pushed away, and the movement is very large."

"Although the Southern Wilderness has improved many times, the traces have been disguised very well, and now it is only a 20-meter-wide navigation trace, but within an hour, it can still be detected."

"If it exceeds this hour, I can't detect the abnormality of this gale layer, because it will soon be blown away by the gale."

Long Xiao is also a man who has fought many times with Chen Shijie. Once Zhao Xing said it, he understood: "That is to say, an alien warship just flew past, less than an hour?"

Zhao Xing looked at the long navigation trace and pondered: "Looking at the width and concentration of the cloud mist diffusion, it should have passed half an hour ago."

Long Xiao immediately turned out the map and slid his finger on the map: "Within 300 miles in the southeast direction, there is a military city supply, which is the Sea-Suppressing Army."

"800 miles ahead, there are three supply cities in total, which are the Sea-Suppressing Army and the Profound Armor Army."

"Good guy, these supply cities are not low-level, we have encountered a big cargo!"

Zhao Xing nodded: "That’s right, if they dare to attack these three cities, they must have Grade 7 leading, the Nether Flame warship is Grade 5 top-grade, can hold three thousand-man camps, carrying giant city-breaking divine weapons... Long Xiao, do it or not?"

Long Xiao laughed: "You have driven the boat so fast, and still ask me to do it or not? That is naturally to do it! But can we catch up?"

Zhao Xing said: "The Swordfish flying boat is a light model, speed is a strength, and the Nether Flame warship, in order to hide its traces, must not be able to run very fast. Half an hour, I can probably catch up when they arrive at the Sea-Suppressing Army’s city."

Long Xiao’s Aotian roared to the sky: "Meow~"

Long Xiao took off the big sword on his back: "Hahaha, look, Aotian also let us rush, hurry up, don't save money at this time, if you hit it, it will be a great merit! Fast, pull the warship speed to the full!"

The holiday is busy, the day is too busy, this chapter is only 6,000 words, so, tomorrow’s update will be 10,000 words.

There are many things during the holiday, and I was too busy during the day. This chapter is only 6,000 words, so tomorrow's update will have 10,000 words.