Chapter 218: Fortune and Vitality, The Favor of Kings (6K)

Outside the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, a huge crowd of powerful figures and nobles had been blocked, each one filled with anxiety.

They all understood the immense benefits of the Grotto-Heaven elevating to a Blessed Land, but the ban was issued by the Three Kings, and no one dared to force their way in.

Inside the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, the people were even more anxious, because at this moment, ninety-nine percent of them could only stay within the 'Yangcheng' territory.

Without the qualification of an 'Investigator', no one could step even half a pace out of Yangcheng, unless they wanted to leave the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven entirely.

But at this moment, who would want to leave the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven?

Whoever leaves is an idiot!

However, having already entered, yet being forced to stay in Yangcheng, the feeling was simply terrible.

"Rejected again! I applied three times for a 'Junior Investigator', and the scope of my application was merely the Earthfire Plains and the Ten Thousand Mile Thunder Pool, areas already explored, yet all my applications were rejected!"

Inside a courtyard in Yangcheng, Yi Yue furiously slammed his hand on the table.

"Even though I am a Martial Artist and not an Agricultural Official, shouldn't a Junior Investigator position not be blocked so strictly?"

A handsome young man beside him glanced at Yi Yue: "Why are you slamming the table at me? If you have the guts, go fight Luo Hou Wang."

"What did you say!"

"Enough, Nangong, Yi Yue, stop arguing," Qi Yuanjun advised, "With this time, you might as well find more connections; even if you only form a Junior Investigation Team first, it won't be a wasted trip."

Qi Yuanjun was also annoyed; a delicious cake lay before them, yet they could not eat it, only drooling uncontrollably, a feeling that was pure torture.

Even standing at the boundary marker of Yangcheng, one could feel the astonishing Primordial Qi filling heaven and earth; one could only imagine how many opportunities lay in the territories outside.

"News has arrived!" Suddenly, Yi Yue jumped to his feet.

He furiously tapped his Earth Mirror, and a shadowy projection appeared in the room.

It was Wei Hong, the son of Hu Jiao Army's Wei Yuan.

"Old brother, you finally sent news; I was dying of anxiety," Yi Yue said.

"Apologies, Brother Yi," Wei Hong showed a hint of awkwardness, "I have no good news; even my father could only secure a Mid-level Investigation Group, and the group has only eight members, all filled by Hu Jiao Army insiders."

"What?" Yi Yue opened his mouth, his eyes full of disappointment.

Seeing this, Qi Yuanjun said, "Brother Wei, you have done your best; it was us who forced you."

Yi Yue also realized his mistake, quickly composing his expression; if a friend failed to help, one could not blame them; whether they succeeded or not, they had still made the effort, and that was a matter of friendship.

"Yes, given the current situation, I cannot blame Brother Wei; I lost my temper."

Wei Hong said, "Brother Qi, Brother Yi."

"Although I cannot arrange for you to join a group, I can tell the three of you some gossip, which might be helpful."

Qi Yuanjun clasped his hands and said, "Brother Wei, please speak."

Wei Hong said, "Currently, among the various armies, departments in Yangcheng, and the nobles who have entered, there are still about ten people who can apply for a quota, or have already obtained the quota and possess the power of allocation."

Qi Yuanjun, Yi Yue, and Nangong Ye's expressions all sharpened.

This from Wei Hong was considered good news.

Right now, they wanted to find someone, but didn't know whose connections to seek.

Because everyone was keeping a tight lip.

"First are the three Kings of the Military Realm: Luo Hou Wang, Ling De Wang, and King Tianyan. They all have the authority to let people in and approve quotas."

Saying this was like saying nothing; who didn't know these three Kings were responsible for the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven? The ban was issued by these three.

However, if one could find a way to approach these three Kings, what was there to even talk about?

Wei Hong continued, "Second is Liang Wang. Liang Wang submitted a memorial to Your Majesty, reporting the auspicious signs of the Blessed Land, and was also granted some management authority by Your Majesty."

Yi Yue smiled bitterly: "Brother Wei, please stop talking about this King and that King; I, your brother, cannot reach them."

How could the backdoors of Kings be climbed by mere lowly Sixth-Rank officials like them?

Even if they climbed up, they would only be insignificant soldiers under their command, with no weight to their status.

Correct, Qi Yuanjun, Yi Yue, and Nangong Ye were all geniuses.

But the Great Zhou was least lacking in geniuses; over a thousand years, were there not many geniuses born?

"Good," Wei Hong said, "How far can the connections you find reach?"

Qi Yuanjun, Nangong Ye, and Yi Yue exchanged glances and said, "The General sent us in, already spending considerable cost; at most, he can ask the General to secure a favor from a Fifth-Rank official."

The main generals of the three Grotto-Heavens were all at the Wu Hou level, but Qi Yuanjun, Nangong Ye, and Yi Yue were not their sons, merely soldiers under their command.

Escorting them this far was already doing one's utmost.

Wei Hong pondered, "Currently in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, the only Fifth-Rank officials likely to leak quotas are the Agricultural Officials; the rest are hard to speak to."

The Agricultural Officials originally held the keys to the mechanisms of heaven and earth; the elevation of the Grotto-Heaven to a Blessed Land was also announced by the Yangcheng Agricultural Supervision.

Most Fifth-Rank Agricultural Officials actually did not qualify.

Those like Zuo Zuo Zizhi, Ge Jinsong, and Cheng Qingming, these Fifth-Ranks, had relatively weak strength and influence.

"For the Four Academies of Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, Grand Granary, and Pinghuai, you must at least find someone at the level of Agricultural Director or Supervision Director."

Wei Hong still brought some real substance; he listed several names: "Fan Zhaoli, Lu Bang, Mei Mei Zhiru, Tian Shan, Liu Tianning, Zhang Song, Gong Tiansi. These few definitely have quotas in their hands."

"As for others, do not waste your efforts," Wei Hong said.

"Good. Thank you, Brother Wei," Qi Yuanjun clasped his hands and said, "I wish Brother Wei a full return."

"It's a small matter," Wei Hong nodded, then cut off the communication.

And Qi Yuanjun, Yi Yue, and Nangong Ye, the three of them, quickly entered their own rooms to contact their backers.

One hour later.

The three emerged from their rooms one after another.

"How was it?" Qi Yuanjun asked.

"The General has agreed to try with Fan Zhaoli, but does not guarantee success," Nangong Ye said.

"Marquis Yan intends to try Zhang Song and Lu Bang, but also gave no definite answer," Yi Yue sighed.

Difficult, so difficult. To get a share of such a great opportunity event is far too hard.

Especially in the early stage, a crowd of people would fight tooth and nail to squeeze in.

Nangong Ye and Yi Yue exchanged a glance, full of helplessness — the word "try" was as good as saying nothing.

"I do have a discovery, though." Qi Yuanjun said. "If I don't say it, none of you would believe it."

"The General told me that in the Ten Sun Grotto-heaven there's an Agricultural Officer named Liu Tianning. He's a member of the Soldier Realm's Surveillance Department, and also concurrently serves as an Agricultural Overseer in the Grand Granaries Court, responsible for training soldiers."

"The General said that Liu Tianning's backer seems to be one of the Three Kings, and also seems to have ties to the royal family — he holds a large number of slots in his hands!"

"Hm?" Nangong Ye and Yi Yue said, puzzled. "Is that the Liu Tianning from Taihe Commandery?"

"Correct." Qi Yuanjun said. "The General just contacted Liu Tianning. But the result shocked me — the General said Liu Tianning told him to go find Zhao Xing for the slots."

"Zhao Xing?" Nangong Ye was taken aback. "You mean the Zhao Xing of the Divine Might Army? What does this have to do with him?"

"Right, how did Zhao Xing get dragged into this?" Yi Yue was equally baffled.

"Zhao Xing is Liu Tianning's disciple." Qi Yuanjun said. "Liu Tianning has established a top-tier exploration team, with a cap of thirty members, and yet Liu Tianning actually handed over the majority of the slots to Zhao Xing to handle."

"What?" Nangong Ye and Yi Yue were shocked. "A top-tier exploration team — just handed over to him like that?"

"From what I gathered of the General's meaning, Liu Tianning values Zhao Xing greatly, and is even willing to give this kind of favor to his disciple." Qi Yuanjun said with feeling.

Nangong Ye and Yi Yue heard this, and immediately turned red with envy.

What kind of divine teacher is this?

"Persuading Liu Tianning is far too difficult. The General heard that we know Zhao Xing, so he asked us to contact Zhao Xing ourselves — to see what price is needed to obtain one slot." Qi Yuanjun said.

"Then what are we waiting for, contact him quickly!" Nangong Ye swiftly took out his Earth Mirror.

Yi Yue also took out his Earth Mirror. At this moment he was glad that back then he had only fallen out with Liao Rulong of the Divine Might Army, and had not attacked Zhao Xing — though he didn't know whether this connection could still be of use.

Inverted Peak Mountain Range, Zhao Xing sat inside a room of the Qilin Flying Boat.

Before his eyes was a 'phantom image' clad in a blue dragon-scale battle armor and a blood-phoenix cloak.

"This subordinate Zhao Xing pays respects to 'Prince Xin'." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

This was a Commandery Prince of a different surname, and also the third Wang Hou to seek him out today.

Prince Xin Liu Yong was the Commandery Prince of Haizhou. In the middle period of the Dingxin Calendar, he earned merit for opening up the Nine Heavens Response Origin Prefecture, and was promoted from Wu Hou to a feudal king. Later he married a cousin of Emperor Jing, so he could also be considered an imperial relative.

However, Prince Xin's age was already very advanced — now just over six hundred years old. Looking at Prince Xin's appearance, one could tell he didn't have much longer to live.

Prince Xin was at the Third Rank Yuanhun Realm, but his hair had turned white, and his face had many wrinkles.

This was because his physical body's seven souls were nearly exhausted — purely his Life Soul was strong enough to feed back into the physical body's seven souls, keeping him alive.

But even so, he couldn't be kept alive much longer. At most fifty years, Prince Xin would meet his end. His princely title was not hereditary — once he died, his fortune would not pass entirely to his descendants, but would be downgraded. Part of it would return to the court, and the other part would be distributed according to the title inheritance system.

"Zhao Xing, your teacher said the top-tier exploration team has been handed to you to manage." Prince Xin's voice was very gentle — even through the Earth Mirror, it gave one the feeling of a spring breeze.

"It is all due to my teacher's generosity."

Prince Xin did not waste words, and went straight to the point:

"I have thirteen sons in total. The rest of my sons have each found their own path. The only one I cannot set my mind at ease about now is my youngest son."

"He is no good, and as his father I wish to find him a way out."

"If you are willing to open this door of convenience and give him a slot as a senior explorer, name your terms."

Zhao Xing did not answer immediately.

Prince Xin added another sentence: "I have spent many years on the battlefield. Though I am now approaching the end of my lifespan, I still have fifty years left to live. Of my other twelve sons, two have entered the Golden Guard, seven are officials of the fifth rank, mainly serving in Haizhou and Shenzhou."

Liu Yong spoke very plainly — at his age, there was nothing he couldn't say.

He was just short of telling Zhao Xing directly: I still have fifty years of fighting left in me, you don't need to worry that I'll take this favor from you and then drop dead immediately.

Even if I drop dead, among my sons there are some who are promising — don't fear that I won't be able to repay this favor.

Prince Xin did not mention money, because at this level of transaction, one basically wouldn't use money as the currency of exchange.

Zhao Xing did not think for long, and immediately cupped his hands and said: "Since it is Prince Xin's promise, I have no hesitation. Please inform me of the Young Master's residence, I will go personally to receive him."

"Good." The white-haired Prince Xin revealed a faint smile. "I will order him to wait for you at your Eighteen Pagoda Trees and Willows Court."

With that said, Prince Xin Liu Yong ended the communication.

"Hoo~" Zhao Xing let out a long breath, and walked out of the cabin.

"How many is this now?" Xia Jing asked.

"The third." Zhao Xing sighed.

"What are you sighing about?"

"Dealing with Wang Hou — the pressure is great."

"Brother here is willing to shoulder this pressure for you."

"Hahaha, I can still carry it, no need for now."

"Pah." Xia Jing gave Zhao Xing a contemptuous glance.

"What, someone else looking for you?" Long Xiao walked over at this moment, holding his Earth Mirror. "Another person has joined the exploration team — this is the fourth."

"Mm. I'll handle it first." Zhao Xing said.

His teacher had let two people in.

Today he had also released two slots.

Adding Prince Xin's son, that made the fifth.

However, he didn't need to go back either, because a clone straw man existed — he only needed to have the straw man stationed in Yangcheng go receive Liu Yong's son.

"How are Old Chen and Brother Ji getting on with their search?" Zhao Xing looked toward a waterfall ahead.

Beneath the waterfall was a cold pool.

The grotto-heaven had ascended in grade, and heaven and earth had evolved strange phenomena. They had followed the phenomena earlier and found this cold pool.

When it came to burrowing through earth and water, of course the mage-type was more suited.

So Long Xiao and Xia Jing, these two martial men, watched from the boat, while Zhao Xing, occupied with matters, did not go down personally to look.

"They have been down for two hours," Xia Jing said. "I wonder how things are."

"You two stay here and do not move," Zhao Xing said. "I will go down and take a look as well."

Hum~

Zhao Xing rose upon clouds beneath his feet and quickly flew to the foot of the waterfall mountain peak.

"Water without roots comes from the heavens; this waterfall cannot be seen outside."

Zhao Xing felt the terrifying water-element pressure.

"Boom-boom-boom~~" A waterfall over a hundred meters high crashed down, landing in the deep pool below, whose waters still emitted waves of chilling cold.

"Splash~"

Zhao Xing jumped into the water, bracing against the negative pressure, and began feeling his way toward the bottom.

The Divine Stride Protection allowed Zhao Xing to move through water as well as earth, though the speed was much slower than underground.

Cold; the chilling air constantly eroded the Octagonal Underground Palace.

The greater the depth of descent, the greater the pressure, and the higher the consumption of spells.

"Hmm?"

Upon sinking to a certain depth, Zhao Xing suddenly spotted faint points of blue light appearing in the dark, deep cold pool.

"What is that?" Zhao Xing swam toward that direction.

Moments later, he drew near.

"Millennium Cold Crystals?"

"So many?"

Zhao Xing looked at the blue, eerie glow surrounding him.

"Old Chen, Old Chen."

Zhao Xing transmitted information to Chen Shijie through water-vein vibrations.

Shortly after, the water rippled, striking Zhao Xing's Octagonal Underground Palace with a unique frequency.

"Why have you come down as well?"

"You and Brother Ji come to my location and harvest the Millennium Cold Crystals."

"Very well."

A quarter-hour later, Chen Shijie and Ji Ji Ziyun swam up beside Zhao Xing.

Among them, Ji Ji Ziyun supported a spherical water shield, while Old Chen had a pale blue light film clinging to his body.

"Truly Millennium Cold Crystals! And so many?" Ji Ji Ziyun was also shocked: "What kind of luck is this? You found Millennium Cold Crystals as soon as you entered the water? We searched for so long and only found some with a hundred-year age."

"My luck has always been very good," Zhao Xing said cheerfully.

In truth, this was not purely a matter of luck.

Zhao Xing also practiced divination and deduction.

Once underwater, he activated the Five Fingers Heavenly Mandate; this fate-type spell inherently carries a 'luck bonus'. With Zhao Xing's luck derivative at four, combined with the Five Fingers Heavenly Mandate, having arrived at the location and still failing to find them would truly be bizarre.

"Hurry and harvest; do not waste time," Zhao Xing said.

"Very well."

The three of them began rapidly collecting the Millennium Cold Crystals underground.

Half an hour later.

"Whoosh~"

The three emerged from the cold pool, each surrounded by blue starlight.

Chilling air gushed forth, exploding violently.

Afterwards, it fell silent, and this cold pool lost its supernatural quality.

"They're up!" Xia Jing and Long Xiao's eyes lit up, and they hurried over.

"How was it?"

"Finally, a great harvest," Ji Ji Ziyun said.

"Not bad," Zhao Xing spoke at the same time.

"Not bad?" Ji Ji Ziyun's eyes widened. "These are sixth-tier Millennium Cold Crystals."

Ji Ji Ziyun always felt Zhao Xing's standards were too high; having followed Zhao Xing for two days,

he increasingly had the illusion that Zhao Xing was the Commandery Prince's heir, while he himself seemed like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

"Millennium Cold Crystals are materials for forging artifacts; we cannot absorb much of them," Zhao Xing said.

Using Millennium Cold Crystals for cultivation can enhance the talent for 'Ice-type spells' and also increase resistance to ice power.

Among the five people, Zhao Xing absorbed two and a half, Ji Ji Ziyun absorbed two, and Old Chen absorbed one and a half.

Long Xiao and Xia Jing each absorbed only half a crystal.

"My water-element spells have improved greatly!" Ji Ji Ziyun exhaled a wisp of chilling air. "Truly a fine thing."

Millennium Cold Crystals are very difficult to obtain; they require a thousand years to form.

And now, there are over three hundred here!

"We can only absorb one or two, but these things can be used to submit the Reconnaissance Envoy mission," Zhao Xing said.

"Reconnaissance Envoy mission?" Ji Ji Ziyun was puzzled; he had been in the Ten Yang Cave Heaven for a short time and was not clear on the ins and outs.

"Brother Ji does not know this. The Reconnaissance Envoy quota is not given for free," Zhao Xing explained. "I suspect the Military Realm will soon issue missions to the various Reconnaissance Envoys and Reconnaissance Groups."

"We bear this title, so we must act. What does a Reconnaissance Envoy do? Naturally, they search for treasures to turn in."

"Every few days, a submission must be made; if one fails to complete it, one is demoted. If a Junior Reconnaissance Envoy is demoted, they must leave."

Ji Ziyun suddenly understood: "Indeed, that is the logic."

Zhao Xing said, "The Explorer role was originally a bitter task. Dean Fan toiled for three years in the Fan Peak Mountain Range, finally altering a region of heaven and earth to continuously produce native seed fruits, and was rewarded with 1 billion merit points."

"However, apart from big shots like him, the days of other Junior Explorers and Mid-level Explorers are actually quite ordinary."

Just think, even a Grade Six Artificer like Gao Ming had to work part-time as a courier, an armory inventory clerk, and also served as the Director of the Rites Supervision.

In the Soldier Realm, obtaining merit points is actually not that easy.

Officials under the Jing Emperor do not enjoy high benefits; whether one wants a better life or to level up, one must work diligently and grind others to death.

Back then, when Zhao Xing proposed to Liu Tianning to create a top-tier Exploration Team, why did Old Liu hesitate?

Because this is not a good job; it adds a burden for nothing and delays one's focus on cultivation.

"But precisely because the Explorer role is arduous, after the Grotto-Heaven was promoted, the original Explorer quotas were not recalled, and officials who held those quotas were allowed to recruit people."

Ji Ziyun sighed, "Now that a bitter task has become a lucrative one, it counts as a reward for diligent and hardworking officials."

"Nowadays, countless people want to obtain a quota, but it is as difficult as ascending to the sky."

"Alright, cousin, stop reminiscing." Xia Jing smiled, "Let us set off quickly and continue seeking opportunities."

"Good, set off!" Ji Ziyun smiled.

…………

For the following three days, Zhao Xing received no further requests from Wang Hou.

Because Liu Tianning had filtered a layer for him; only suitable ones would have someone contact Zhao Xing.

And on the fifth day after the Three Wangs issued the ban.

Just as Zhao Xing predicted, the Soldier Realm began increasing the task content for Explorers of all levels.

"Junior Explorers must find ten types of Grade Five treasures to submit every three days, and the quantity must not be less than one hundred copies."

"Mid-level Explorers must find ten types of treasures not lower than Grade Five to submit every five days."

"Senior Explorers must submit Grade Six treasures; failing the mission three consecutive times results in demotion." Long Xiao couldn't help but say, "Indeed, there is no such thing as a free lunch; this will surely kill us from exhaustion."

"If you don't do it, there are plenty of people eager to do it." Chen Shijie said.

"All treasures must be submitted." Zhao Xing said, "This is the rule."

"It is a bit tiring, but the benefits are huge."

"For example, the Lingzhi, fruits, and Thousand-Year Cold Crystals we discovered before; you can use as much and eat as much as you want, it is all up to you, as long as you have the ability to digest them."

"Indeed." Xia Jing nodded, "We are all soldiers of Great Zhou; the meat will rot in the pot anyway."

Zhao Xing said, "With the Thousand-Year Cold Crystals, the five of us do not need to worry about the submission mission for ten days; from now on, we will not look for treasures."

"Then what shall we look for?" Long Xiao asked.

"The spiritual beauty of heaven and earth. Such as the Spiritual Beauty of Ten Thousand Methods, the Spiritual Beauty of Fortune, the Spiritual Beauty of Lifespan... these are the best things for us."

"Brother Ji, you said earlier you saw fire in the water; is it in that direction?"

"It seems so." Ji Ziyun pondered.

Zhao Xing operated the flying boat, turned a corner, and immediately flew toward the direction Ji Ziyun pointed: "Old Chen, Xia Jing, Long Xiao, you three pay attention to the surroundings from now on."

"If you see strange beasts with wings in the sky resembling monkeys, and fruits resembling infants... whenever you see any of these strange phenomena, we will immediately pursue them."

"Good."

After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he opened his Heavenly Eye and looked around everywhere on the flying boat.

The Gaze of Qi technique in the Great Expansion Sutra can not only view a person's fortune but also see the location of the 'Spiritual Beauty of Fortune'!

The Spiritual Beauty of Fortune, ultimately, is also a type of fortune; it is formed by the condensation of the fortune of the mountains and great marshes in heaven and earth.

According to what Ji Ziyun said, that 'fire in the water' is very likely the Spiritual Beauty of Fortune.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, in Zhao Xing's Heavenly Eye vision, a flash of red light flickered and vanished.

"Long Xiao, descend in altitude, to the valley at the ninth latitude in the southeast."

"Got it!" Long Xiao immediately perked up and operated the flying boat to descend.

Upon arriving at the place, the five of them felt a surge of spirit.

Because in the valley below, there was a hot spring emitting steam, with flames flowing in the water; one look showed it was extraordinary, and at the same time, they all felt a 'sudden premonition'.

"Found it, this is the place!" Zhao Xing's eyes burned with passion.