Chapter 190: Got the Goods! Open a Volcano!

Xia Jing? Chen Shijie and Long Xiao were also stunned; of course he knew Xia Jing, for he was Xia Hou's most outstanding son.

Yu Ziqi did not know Xia Jing and had never heard of this genius; he was even more obsessed with the Sword Dao than Long Xiao and basically paid no attention to such things.

However, Yu Ziqi's obedience was very high; once told to stop, he stopped immediately.

The flying swords hovered at four points on Xia Jing's face and body: the tip of his nose, his neck, his chest, and his groin, yet they did not fully pierce in.

Nevertheless, this terrified Xia Jing thoroughly, especially the flying sword at his groin, which had already pierced his battle armor and broken the skin.

Had Zhao Xing called "stop" even a moment later, he would have had to enter the palace to serve.

"Xia Jing? Are you truly Xia Jing?"

"It is me." With four flying swords pressing against him, Xia Jing dared not move a muscle.

"What was the first food I gave you?"

"Ugh~"

"Good, you need not speak; it is indeed you."

"Quick, find a place to hide first before we talk."

Everything had happened too fast; a seventh-rank clash, in the blink of an eye.

This was no place to talk; the six of them immediately retreated to the fourth-tier area and drilled into a ruined stone mine.

"Old friend, how did you end up here?" Zhao Xing handed Xia Jing a plaster. "And look at the state you're in."

"Aren't you here too?" Xia Jing said.

"My Divine Might Army has always been east of the Fire Demon Clan, while your Black Armor Army is in the north, right?"

"It's a long story," said a nearby Fire Demon clansman. "Actually, this is even related to Brother Zhao."

"Eh? You are..."

Hearing this, Guan Junyang touched his earlobe and returned to his original form.

"Brother Guan?" Zhao Xing realized. "So it was you."

"That hurts, Brother Zhao," Guan Junyang said gloomily. "You recognized Brother Xia's voice at once, yet it took you until now to recognize me."

"Ahem, ahem." Zhao Xing coughed tactically twice; it couldn't be blamed on him.

His relationship with Guan Junyang was indeed average; in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, Guan Junyang was in the Heavenly Timing Institute, so their interactions were not many.

"Didn't you mention the Earth-Fire Lotus to me before?" Xia Jing said. "I went back and checked, and found that this thing exists only in the Southern Barbarian Flame Mountain."

"Later, when we planned to attack the Fire Demon Clan, we found the Earth-Fire Lotus offered the best cost-performance ratio, so we thought to steal some fifth-tier seeds."

Zhao Xing and Xia Jing had indeed spoken of the Earth-Fire Lotus; at that time, while undertaking an advancement mission in the Soldier Realm, he had also shared some information with Xia Jing, Zhuang Ziqing, Cao Shuang, and others.

Because the advancement mission in the Soldier Realm had huge demand, one person could not complete it alone.

Using it to do a favor was quite good.

Ordinary people could not accept Zhao Xing's favor, because the advancement mission was not something anyone could undertake; without some skill, one could only watch.

But Xia Jing was different; he could not only do it, but also dared to put it into action.

"You came for this?" Zhao Xing asked. "Having an expert who can cultivate the Earth-Fire Lotus in the Black Armor Army makes sense."

"There are also other matters." Xia Jing thought for a moment and did not hide it. "My father once planted a spy in the Fire Dragon Pass."

"Although my rate of earning merit in the Black Armor Army was not slow, to command an army alone, I must have achievements worthy of display."

"The Earth-Fire Lotus is secondary; I came to figure out the military deployment of the Fire Dragon Pass."

A military spy?

Zhao Xing glanced at Old Chen.

The latter could not help but shake his head.

The Divine Might Army's foundations were too shallow; let alone planting military spies, it had been scattered once several years ago.

Now, reorganized for less than two years, where would spies come from to plant? Besides, there was no time left.

"How did you get in?" Long Xiao asked in confusion. "Did you also tunnel in?"

"Tunnel?" Xia Jing paused. "What tunnel? Did you tunnel in from the front?"

"No way. With so many formations, mechanisms, and secret passages underground at the Fire Dragon Pass, could you tunnel over?" Guan Junyang was also greatly shocked.

"Then how did you get in?" Yu Ziqi asked.

"Of course, people are fetched by people. We were in the southwest section of the Flame Mountain, found a secret spy to receive me and bring me in, and first hid in the mountains for nearly half a month," Xia Jing said.

"Over there? How could you stay that long?"

"I have a fifth-tier supreme-grade Fire-Avoidance Suit. Don't you have one?"

"..."

Chen Shijie, Yu Ziqi, and Long Xiao, the three of them, all felt somewhat dejected.

Comparing people makes people die of envy.

Xia Jing was only seventh rank, yet he was already wearing a fifth-tier supreme-grade suit.

And it was not just one set.

That Thousand-Mechanism Transformation was also a suit, unlike Zhao Xing and the others who only bought the headgear.

Judging solely by transformation, the headgear lacked only twenty percent of the effect of a full suit.

But Xia Jing had the financial strength and the confidence to pursue perfection.

The dual identities of Black Armor Army genius and Xia Hou's heir made Xia Jing's infiltration of the Fire Dragon Pass a simple mode.

How to get in? Very simple: find a spy to receive you.

Spoken so lightly.

"To get you in, the spy's identity must not be low."

"It was not low; he was in charge of personnel transfers," Xia Jing said. "But not high either. I didn't expect the fifth-tier area to require a password; truly a miscalculation. I almost died at the hands of my own people."

"I didn't expect you to come," Zhao Xing said. "And how did you learn to play dirty? You weren't like this before."

"When things are urgent, one must act pragmatically; who cares about dirty or not?" Xia Jing chuckled lightly. "Didn't you tell me that during training back then?"

A proper heir apparent actually showing tendencies to become a 'lao six', and influenced by himself; Zhao Xing felt somewhat complex emotions at that moment.

"Enough, no more idle chat. Let's discuss the situation," Chen Shijie said. "You went to the Fifth-Rank Earth-Flame Linghu. How was it? Did you gain anything?"

"No," Xia Jing shook his head.

"No?" Yu Ziqi snorted coldly, pointing at the boxes behind them. "Then what is this? We don't want yours; we just wanted to ask about the situation."

Xia Jing did not argue, but directly opened his and Guan Junyang's boxes.

Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie looked and indeed saw that they were all Fourth-Rank seeds.

"How could this be? Aren't you going back on your path?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I want to know why too," Xia Jing said. "I saw the Earth-Flame Lotus, but I just couldn't reach it."

"I think it might be the Mountain-Sealing Art," Guan Junyang sighed. "The Fifth-Rank Earth-Flame Linghu area is itself inside the Flame Mountain and has been subjected to the 'Mountain-Sealing Art'."

"Mountain-Sealing Art?" Zhao Xing recalled the scene of Donghu Mountain's mountain-opening back then.

One passage of the Mountain-Sealing Art mentioned: 'The path may be crossed, yet grass and trees suffer no harm. The mountain may be entered, yet one sees no hundred beasts.'

The general meaning is that if one enters a sealed mountain area, seeing no hundred beasts or living spirits, naturally one cannot hunt them.

Flowers, grass, and trees also cannot be harmed, because these are all affected by a high-level Mountain-Sealing Art.

The situation of the Flame Mountain and Donghu Mountain is different again.

It did not seal the entire mountain, nor did it invite the 'Eight Directions True Lords' to protect the Dao; it was purely sealed by spells.

Whereas the Great Zhou's mountain-sealing and mountain-opening all borrowed the power of Yin Spirits.

Therefore, in the Great Zhou's Spirit Mountains, even a Ninth-Rank Minister of Agriculture could perform mountain-opening and mountain-sealing operations on low-level Spirit Mountains.

But the Mountain-Opening Art and Mountain-Sealing Art themselves are high-tier arts; in Southern Man there is no system of Yin Spirits, so one cannot borrow Yin Spirit power.

So this means there is a powerful expert of profound Dao arts here who sealed the planting area of the Fifth-Rank Earth-Flame Lotus.

"Troublesome," Zhao Xing frowned. "Old Chen, can you unseal it?"

"I don't know," Chen Shijie shook his head. "High-tier sealing arts; everyone's technique has subtle differences. We must look first. But even if it can be unsealed, it will surely alert that person."

"Brother Xia, can your retreat route accommodate four more people?" Zhao Xing asked.

Originally, he intended to obtain the items without alerting the Fire Dragon Pass guards and return via the original path.

But wanting to take Fifth-Rank seeds makes it impossible not to alert the guards.

Once the guards are alerted, trying to return via the original path would be nine deaths for one life.

Xia Jing fell into deep thought.

If they made a huge commotion, the spies his father had stationed here might be exposed.

Xia Jing also wanted to attack the Fire Dragon Pass, and he had already persuaded the main general of the Black Armor Army to assign him an elite force.

He still hoped to use these dark spies when attacking the Fire Dragon Pass.

If they were used now, was it worth it?

"Brother Zhao, the four of you can retreat with me, but it is best not to alert the guards. The Fifth-Rank Earth-Flame Linghu is not absolutely necessary, but next time we attack the Fire Dragon Pass, these spies will be useful."

"The Black Armor Army can cooperate with the Divine Might Army," Xia Jing said. "Taking the Fire Dragon Pass, including continuing to push forward afterwards, yields enough merit for our two families to share."

After Xia Jing finished speaking, Zhao Xing also fell into thought.

He exchanged opinions with Old Chen via voice transmission.

"I think what Xia Jing said makes sense. What do you think?"

"Cooperation benefits both sides; it is indeed something we can do," Chen Shijie said. "I can persuade the General to cooperate."

The General here certainly did not refer to Liao Rulong, but rather Jia Pu, who was temporarily acting as the Divine Might General.

Only if he gave the order would Wen Shaoyang and Liao Rulong cooperate.

Otherwise, cooperation between the two armies would easily cause problems.

"As for whether to take the Fifth-Rank seeds or not, that depends on your decision," Chen Shijie said. "You know the high-tier Essence-Analysis Art; the Earth-Flame Lotus still relies on you to cultivate it first."

"I think there is no need to take this risk," Zhao Xing said. "If we truly open this mountain, we might not even be able to escape. Those who can use high-tier Mountain-Opening Arts are all fierce men."

"Then let's retreat."

In just a few words, the plan was changed again.

Zhao Xing said to Xia Jing: "Brother Xia, we have cancelled the plan to steal the Fifth-Rank seeds; we are retreating now. Regarding the cooperation, come find us in Zhiyou City later."

"You are not retreating with us?" Xia Jing asked.

"No. With four more people, it would be difficult for your spies to arrange themselves. Now, without alerting the guards, it is safer for us to return via the original path," Zhao Xing said. "Brother Guan, do you know the Escape Art? If you do, you can consider retreating with us."

Leaving Xia Jing's spies behind would be of great use for attacking the Fire Dragon Pass.

The Divine Might Army does not have such support.

"I do not," Guan Junyang said somewhat awkwardly.

He was from the Heavenly Timing Institute; his Escape Art was merely average. Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing both possessed high-tier Escape Arts; how could he, Guan Junyang, know this?

The Escape Art could indeed carry one more person, but doing so would cause the consumption to increase exponentially.

For safety's sake, everyone should retreat in their own way and not travel together.

"Brother Xia, take care."

"You too."

Without further chat, the six people quickly separated.

Zhao Xing and the other four began to return along the original route.

They first exited the lava cave and arrived at the ruins outside.

Then they escaped into the underground cavern space.

The Thousand Mechanism Change activated, transforming once more into Liao Ba, Xu Ba, Huo Wei, and La He, four individuals.

After swaggering back into the underground cave to swap shifts.

They then cast an escape technique, retraced their steps, and left the Fire Dragon Pass.

When they reached thirty li, the two groups of Five Elements Mages, Zhang Ying and Xu Quan, were still waiting in the underground tunnel.

"Shua~"

The Five Elements Mages immediately became alert.

"Do not attack, we are allies," Chen Shijie spoke.

"Brother Chen, you have returned!" Zhang Ying and Xu Quan showed smiles. "How did it go?"

"It is not yet certain," Chen Shijie said. "Let us return first."

"My and Zhao Xing's Yuan Qi are nearly exhausted. Trouble you to lead the way."

"No problem."

Zhang Ying and Xu Quan immediately cast escape techniques; several groups took turns casting spells, carefully moving underground in shifts.

Only after leaving the Fire Dragon Pass by a hundred li did they return to the surface and board a flying boat to go back.

"Hoo~"

The entire group breathed a sigh of relief.

This mission was quite dangerous; after all, that was the Fire Dragon Pass.

Sneaking in was not simple, and getting out was not simple either.

If they were alerted, being few in number and weak, it would be hard to escape.

However, Zhang Ying and Xu Quan did not know at all that Zhao Xing, who understood the mechanisms, was leading the way.

They encountered no trouble whatsoever on this journey.

The greatest trouble was actually brought by Xia Jing and Guan Junyang; they almost killed their own people, and at that time, it was unknown what kind of people would be provoked to spy.

Zhiyou City.

"Hoo~"

The flying boat descended from the sky; Liao Ru and Pu Zhong had been waiting for a long time.

"Old Chen, how was it?"

Liao Ru ran over, full of expectation.

"The task was not fully accomplished, but it is close enough," Chen Shijie said.

"What do you mean?" Liao Ru asked anxiously. "Will it work or not?"

"This depends on whether Zhao Xing can grow a fifth-rank Earth Fire Lotus," Chen Shijie said. "If he can grow even one, we can count it as a success, but we only found fourth-rank seeds."

"The Earth Fire Lotus is a rare treasure among fifth-rank items; its growth conditions are quite harsh. If it fails, Commandant, please do not blame us."

Chen Shijie was planting a precautionary seed, so as not to let Liao Ru's expectations get too high.

Failure is normal; success is a surprise.

"Of course, of course." Liao Ru rubbed his hands, looked at Zhao Xing, and said, "Little Zhao, just get to work. If you have any needs, speak freely. I will transfer Old Chen's Nine-Joint Camp to you."

"If that is not enough, I will transfer Agricultural Officials from the rear supply city to you."

"Enough." Zhao Xing clasped his hands and said, "Commandant, there is no need to transfer people yet. Let me try planting first."

"Good, good, good. Then I will wait for your good news." Liao Ru gave a few simple instructions and left expectantly, not wanting to waste Zhao Xing's time.

"Are there any active volcanoes near Zhiyou City?"

"No. The Flame Mountain Range in the Fire Demon Tribe's territory produces a land vein gathering effect; beyond a hundred li, including the Wolf God's territory, no active volcanoes appear."

"Where are there any?"

"There is an active volcano near City Thirty-Two of the Blazing Sun Army," Chen Shijie pondered. "However, the relationship between our army and the Blazing Sun Army is average; I do not know if they would be willing to lend the place."

To grow Earth Fire Lotuses in large quantities, one first needs a volcano; only thus can the difficulty of growth be reduced and the speed increased.

Zhao Xing did not need it; his Instant Primordial, even when combined with ordinary Earth Fire, could cause fourth-rank Earth Fire Lotus seeds to evolve into fifth-rank upon maturity.

After the fifth-rank Earth Fire Lotus matures, the seeds it bears are fifth-rank.

At this point, other Agricultural Officials could also plant them.

They would no longer need to break through growth constraints, because the seeds were already fifth-rank.

However, if sufficient growth conditions were lacking, they might just as well regress back to third or fourth rank.

Therefore, a volcano is absolutely necessary; otherwise, others cannot keep them alive!

The robes manufactured from Earth Fire Lotuses must be equipped to the entire army; relying solely on Zhao Xing, it is impossible to supply equipment for tens of thousands of soldiers in a short time.

"Who is the garrison commander of City Thirty-Two?" Zhao Xing asked. "I am only borrowing a volcano; they should not refuse, right?"

"Look at the advanced missions and basic missions currently appearing in the Battle Realm on the Earth Mirror; they are all related to fire-attribute plants."

"Previously, active volcanoes were not necessarily valued, but now they have become a resource."

"Can we choose another location?" Zhao Xing asked.

"If we go further, we must retreat to the border of Yingyuan Prefecture and plant in the Fengming Mountain Range."

"However, now the entire army is occupying land; borrowing a volcano is estimated to be difficult," Chen Shijie said. "Let us see how well Commandant Liao communicates."

"If it really does not work, finding a dormant volcano will do," Zhao Xing said. "I know the Volcano Technique; with a dormant volcano, I can also open up an active one."

"If there is not even a single dormant volcano, then the time wasted will be quite long."

The Volcano Technique is indeed a high-level technique, but Zhao Xing's Volcano Technique is only at the third transformation, meaning the entry level; it does not even count as having achieved minor success.

Creating a volcano from scratch is not something that can be accomplished in ten days or half a month.

Half a day later.

Liao Ru hurriedly found Zhao Xing.

"Found it, found it! I've located one!"

"There is a volcano in Dongsangcheng of the Wolf God Tribe."

"Commandant, what is the situation?" Zhao Xing asked.

"It hasn't erupted in a century, but there is still smoke, still emitting gas," Liao Ru asked. "Can this work?"

"Reporting to the Commandant, I can only say we must try," Zhao Xing said.

"Just try," Liao Ru said, feeling somewhat ashamed. "It was I who failed to consider thoroughly, who did not think to seize a volcano."

In truth, this was not Liao Ru's fault; before this, how could anyone have thought to seize a volcano as a resource?

By the time Zhao Xing began his plan, volcanoes had already become a scarce resource.

He who moves fast gets it, he who moves slow gets nothing; after all, the Fire Demon Clan's armies are so numerous, driving demand for such resources straight up.

"Dongsangcheng is garrisoned by 'Jiang Ming' of the Zhenhai Army, but I have already spoken with him," Liao Ru said. "He is willing to yield it, but after you succeed, you must also allow their Minister of Agriculture to farm there."

"No problem," Zhao Xing nodded. "There is no time to lose; let us set out immediately."

Ten thousand characters of update complete; I will calculate how much is owed another day.