Chapter 222: Nanqing Gardens, Taking a Sister to Crush the Weaklings

"Each of you take one step toward the four directions: south, east, west, and north," Zhao Xing said.

Xia Jing, Long Xiao, Chen Shijie, and Ji Ziyun did as instructed.

The four all stepped east together, and Zhao Xing observed their fortune pillars.

Chen Shijie's luck worsened, with signs of his fortune scattering.

Ji Ziyun was the same, though the degree was not as obvious as Old Chen's.

Long Xiao and Xia Jing were completely unaffected; in fact, a bit of purple light even descended upon them.

"The east is the Dao Feng Mountain Range, the place we visited before. Now it is enclosed, more and more people are gathering there, and the eastern area has become perilous."

"However, Xia Jing and Long Xiao's fortune toward the east still exists, merely showing signs of weakening," Zhao Xing pondered.

As for Old Chen and Ji Ziyun, if they continue to stay in the Dao Feng Mountain Range, an ominous sign will arise.

Afterwards, Zhao Xing checked the other directions for the four of them.

"The north and west are both auspicious; the south is a mix of good and bad fortune, requiring danger to be turned into safety."

The south is the Crimson Lake; this place we shall not go to first.

Zhao Xing divined that the west corresponds to the Tai hexagram, indicating smooth fortune, meaning various good fortunes will come in turns.

The north corresponds to the second line of the Kan hexagram: "Kan has danger; seeking small things yields results."

Normally, one should go to the Peng Lize in the west, because that area is full of good fortune.

But the treasure of the Eternal Night Sea, Zhao Xing must take; the sooner he takes it while few people are around, the better.

As for the Peng Lize, the value of those treasures is too scattered; they are not as great as those in the Eternal Night Sea.

"Kan has danger; since what is sought is not great, there is no great peril."

"What I seek is very great; I fear there will be some trouble. However, the longer I delay, the greater the trouble becomes; it is better to go to the Eternal Night Sea first."

"With the fortune of the five of us, plus my experience, we should be able to withstand it," Zhao Xing pondered for a moment and finally decided to go to the Eternal Night Sea first.

The other four had no objections to this, so they immediately piloted the flying boat northward.

"It will take at least a day and a half to reach the Eternal Night Sea at fastest; I will rest first."

"Yo-ho? A rare sight," Xia Jing said. "Don't you not sleep?"

"There's no need to grind just to pick up a treasure."

"Long Xiao, when you reach the boundary of the Forgetfulness Stele, remember to go around it; follow the map provided by the Artifact Realm."

"When you encounter an enclosed area, display your authority."

"No problem," Long Xiao nodded.

Why not let Old Chen pilot the flying boat? This old fellow has bad luck; I fear he might accidentally fly into some dangerous place.

After giving his instructions, Zhao Xing entered the cabin and closed his eyes to sleep.

In reality, he entered a dream, reviewing memories from his past life and recalling the various benefits of the Eternal Night Sea.

While the true body piloted the Qilin flying boat northward, the straw-man clone remained at the Lingxiu Hot Spring.

When the true body broke through the Tianmen, Ji Zixuan had already finished absorbing the fire fortune.

However, since Murong Xue had not yet emerged, they could only wait for now.

While the true body entered the Tianmen to deduce...

Murong Xue emerged from the hot spring. She looked at Zhao Xing's back on the hilltop, her gaze softening considerably.

Soaking in the Lingxiu is not a benefit everyone possesses.

Had Zhao Xing not led the way, she probably would not have found such a good place.

However, when her gaze fell upon Ji Zixuan, Murong Xue's lips unconsciously curled.

A seductive slut!

She actually screamed so loudly just now!

"Previously dressed provocatively and behaving licentiously, now pretending to be dignified... Hmph, no wonder she is the disciple of that woman," Murong Xue felt quite disdainful. She moved several li away from Ji Zixuan and quietly waited for Zhao Xing to "come online."

As Zhao Xing did not come online, the two waited, with no communication throughout.

Because Ji Zixuan knew Murong Xue's identity, she had no interest in engaging her.

Murong Xue also knew that Ji Zixuan was Princess Youruo's disciple.

The relationship between the elders extended to the next generation, with each finding the other disagreeable.

Until Zhao Xing and the others exploded the strange peaks and headed for the Eternal Night Sea.

Zhao Xing's straw-man clone finally came online again, standing up from the hilltop.

"Senior Brother," Ji Zixuan was meditating right beside Zhao Xing.

The distance was neither far nor near; neither too close nor too distant, handled just right.

"Mm. Have you all come out?"

"We have come out. Thank you, Senior Brother, for your blessings," Ji Zixuan said with a clasped-hand bow.

Zhao Xing couldn't help but look at Ji Zixuan again; indeed, her attire and temperament were quite different from before.

"Thank you, My Lord Zhao," Murong Xue flew over as well upon seeing Zhao Xing come online.

"Mm," Zhao Xing nodded.

"Senior Brother, where do we go next?" Ji Zixuan asked.

"We will talk about it later," Zhao Xing did not explain further.

He planned to take these two young ladies on a tour of the Dao Feng Mountain Range; he did not intend to bring them along for the major opportunities.

Secondary opportunities, however, he could point them toward.

The Ten Yang Cave Heaven has many benefits; even if he casually leaked a little, it would be enough for these two women to feast on.

However, now many places in the Dao Feng Mountain Range have been enclosed and the Forgetfulness Steles set up.

So Zhao Xing was now just waiting for his other clones to arrive.

After passing through the Tianmen portal, the Myriad Laws Strawman, though it hadn't broken through by much, had advanced from the Fourth Rotation to the Sixth Rotation!

The further the Myriad Laws Strawman progressed, the more clones it could control. After reaching the Sixth Rotation, Zhao Xing could now deploy eighteen Myriad Laws Strawmen.

Of the eighteen Myriad Laws Strawmen, Zhao Xing had split half over, meaning another eight were still on the way.

Murong Xue was suspected to be Old Liu's daughter, and Ji Zixuan was Princess Youruo's beloved disciple.

These two had both only recently entered Seventh Rank, so he had to pay some attention and not let anything happen to them.

"Lend me your Earth Mirror for a moment." While waiting, Zhao Xing didn't stay idle. He asked Ji Zixuan for the Earth Mirror and began checking the real-time situation.

At this moment, there was a dedicated map list within the Earth Mirror.

It displayed numerous small maps.

【Jade Curtain Mountain: Level-4 Berserk】

【Area: Seven thousand square kilometers】

【Minimum Exploration Requirement: Intermediate Inspector】

【Permitted Entry Rank Cap: Sixth Rank (Top-tier Exploration Team members are exempt)】

【Warning: This region is subject to the Crisis Exploration Regulations. Inspectors please assess the danger yourselves.】

【Forget-Worry Stele Set: No】

【Known Intelligence: Jade Curtain Mountain is suspected to have produced thirty-seven types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Marvels】

【Personnel in Region: 35】

【This intelligence was updated at the second quarter of noon on the sixteenth day.】

"The number of people isn't that many. One Jade Curtain Mountain, only thirty-five people."

"The Soldier Realm has gradually opened up regional intelligence; the entry fee wasn't collected for nothing." Zhao Xing looked at the Earth Mirror.

The so-called Berserk Level referred to the degree of Heaven and Earth upheaval.

For instance, the mountain peak he'd seen earlier being struck by lightning and exploding.

That was the Heaven and Earth upheaval produced during the Grotto-Heaven's elevation process.

Judging by the grading, Zhao Xing estimated it should have been a Level-6 Berserk.

This was indeed confirmed later. Nearby, they found the 'Giant Spirit Tree' and obtained a Sixth-Tier fruit and a Lingzhi.

Of course, the Berserk Level and the treasure tier were not directly linked.

For example, the Spiritual Marvel Hot Spring where Zhao Xing currently was was only Level-3 Berserk. The surrounding phenomena were just some strong winds, small earthquakes, and the like.

But the Fire-Attributed Spiritual Marvel Hot Spring was enough to be classified as a Sixth-Tier treasure ground.

Because the area was large enough and the quantity sufficient, this was why even the early Soldier Realm hadn't fully explored it.

After Zhao Xing's five finished absorbing, the two women continued absorbing, and there was still plenty left over.

It could supply at least another forty or fifty people to soak in.

Different regions had different entry requirements set.

For instance, the minimum entry rank and the maximum entry rank. The rank here didn't refer to official position.

Of course, Zhao Xing had no such worry. He was a Top-tier Exploration Team member and could go anywhere.

Throughout the entire Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven, there wouldn't be more than fifty Top-tier Exploration Teams, and the total number of members wouldn't exceed a thousand.

This was why Zhao Xing had insisted on having Old Liu create a Top-tier Exploration Team back then.

When a region used the Crisis Exploration Regulations, it meant killing was not prohibited. Generally, once this clause appeared, no Forget-Worry Stele would be set.

Setting up a Forget-Worry Stele was costly.

Especially since the regions within the Grotto-Heaven world were too vast. Even a small instance could easily exceed ten thousand square kilometers. To encircle everything with Forget-Worry Steles would be far too costly.

The entire Gucheng was only a little over three thousand square kilometers, yet this single Jade Curtain Mountain was over seven thousand square kilometers.

Zhao Xing browsed through the various 'small instances' of the Inverted Peak Mountains.

He finally selected a location.

【Southern Clarity Garden: Level-3 Berserk】

【Area: Three thousand square kilometers】

【Minimum Exploration Requirement: Junior Inspector】

【Permitted Entry Rank Cap: Seventh Rank (Top-tier Exploration Team members are exempt)】

【Warning: This region is subject to the Crisis Exploration Regulations. Inspectors please assess the danger yourselves.】

【Forget-Worry Stele Set: No】

【Known Intelligence: Southern Clarity Garden is suspected to have produced seven types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Marvels】

【Personnel in Region: 1523】

【This intelligence was updated at the second quarter of noon on the sixteenth day.】

"Southern Clarity Garden it is. Plenty of treasures, and although there are many people, they're all noobs."

Over three thousand square kilometers was already the scale of a top-tier county.

Just over a thousand people wasn't that many.

After all, the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven itself had many 'Junior Inspectors' existing, equivalent to the quota for mid-to-high-level Inspectors.

Junior qualifications were still relatively easy to obtain. Now that a week had passed since the Grotto-Heaven opened, large numbers of Junior Inspectors had begun to act.

As for Intermediate and Senior Inspectors, there were still very few.

"Even if a conflict breaks out, there won't be much pressure." Zhao Xing assessed.

His nine strawmen each had their own marvels, having fused multiple Daos.

The Myriad Laws Strawman's clones could also deploy other strawmen, such as the Divine Valor Flying Detonation Strawmen and the like.

Nine Myriad-Law straw figures — he could whip up an entire straw-figure squad with a wave of his hand.

Running a small instance like this was basically "carrying his girl through a stomp."

"We're going to South Clear Garden." Zhao Xing said. "We leave as soon as my clones arrive."

"Alright, Senior Brother." Ji Ji Zixuan obeyed obediently.

Two quarter-hours later, a Swordfish flying boat arrived, and eight clones leapt down from it.

"That many?" Murong Xue couldn't help being shocked. "He's only sixth-rank, yet he can control nine Myriad-Law straw figures?"

Murong Xue also understood straw-figure arts — her realm was even no low-level one; she had already mastered the fusion of two laws.

She knew better than anyone just how difficult Myriad-Law straw figures were.

Achieving the perfect fusion of five laws — she might never reach that in her entire life.

Yet Zhao Xing could already control nine Myriad-Law straw figures!

Moreover, each straw figure seemed to carry a slightly different aura, possessing distinct spell effects.

"Nine straw figures?" Ji Ji Zixuan was no shallow in experience either; she immediately understood that Zhao Xing's earlier "going offline" had all been an act.

If he could control nine straw figures, how could he possibly "go offline"?

Clearly he had been brushing her off.

This only further stoked Ji Ji Zixuan's fighting spirit.

"Get on the flying boat first." Zhao Xing gave a casual order.

Then the nine Myriad-Law clones all arrived above the Lingxiu Hot Springs.

The Myriad-Law straw figures only knew two high-grade arts — 'Heavenly Eye Art' and 'Sleepy Bug' — spells that took effect through the Life Soul.

Because the straw figure's core control was the power of the Life Soul.

However, the other fused spells had all reached mid-grade perfection.

After soaking in the Lingxiu Hot Springs, he needed to destroy his traces, because Zhao Xing did not know whose opportunity he had taken.

Most noble households had physiognomists or fate masters — existences like Liang Ruohai — or had someone consult on their behalf.

He would be claiming quite a few opportunities next; even with 【Heavenly Mandate Concealment】, he still needed to be cautious.

Now that the grotto-heaven was upgrading, the world was in upheaval, constantly self-destructing and being reborn.

Even if he did not destroy the Lingxiu site, the site might reset, give birth to another Lingxiu, or vanish entirely.

If someone with ill intentions had set their sights on him or those around him, leaving it intact would only aid the enemy.

As for turning it in? Zhao Xing had previously obtained a batch of 'Thousand-Year Cold Crystals', so he did not need to complete any more 'Explorer Missions' for the time being; besides, turning in location intel did not help much with completing Explorer Missions.

The Soldier Realm did not require Explorers to turn in location intel — back in the Great Pacify-the-Barbarians Campaign, 'intelligence' yielded the least battle merit; the reasoning was the same as now: a single Calculation Plate would reveal the birth and death of any location.

Now within the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven, people everywhere had begun claiming land, and killing was no longer forbidden — the vast majority would go mad.

Because it concerned whether they could inherit their forebears' rights and interests: succeed, and the thousand-year great clan continued; fail, and the clan would have no successors, its rights reclaimed by Emperor Jing!

"Five Elements Earth-Splitting!"

The nine Myriad-Law straw figures all cast the Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art in unison!

Although Myriad-Law straw figures had no concept of fortune, their spell effects still inherited the main body's fortune blessing.

When the nine straw figures cast the Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art together, the mid-grade perfect gambler's tactic immediately caused a tremendous commotion.

"Boom~~~~~"

The valley collapsed, the hot springs boiled.

The terrain was completely altered, with massive eruptions of earth-fire.

In less than a moment, the Lingxiu Hot Springs here had already vanished.

"What? T-this is the Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art?" Murong Xue couldn't help crying out in shock.

It was too explosive!

She had never imagined the Five Elements Earth-Splitting Art could possess such tremendous power!

"If his Myriad-Law straw figures are already this strong, how powerful must his true self be?" Murong Xue was also a Si Nong.

An expert sees the trick of the trade; Murong Xue instantly felt Zhao Xing was no simple man.

No wonder he could become Liu Tianning's direct disciple!

Although Ji Ji Zixuan was a layman, seeing the commotion at the Lingxiu Hot Springs and Murong Xue's reaction, she knew Zhao Xing was absolutely powerful!

"He's already gained the true transmission of the Liu clan's straw figures!" Ji Ji Zixuan gazed at Zhao Xing's back, her eyes sparkling.

Zhao Xing returned to the flying boat, completely indifferent to the two women's shocked gazes.

In his view, this was merely a small trick.

"Which of you can pilot the flying boat?" Master Zhao had already served as bodyguard; he certainly wasn't going to also play chauffeur.

He couldn't do everything himself — that would be spoiling them too much.

"Senior Brother, I can." Ji Ji Zixuan spoke up at once; she wouldn't pass up any chance to show off. "At Bishui Dao Academy, I took first place in the flying-boat competition."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing gave Ji Ji Zixuan a higher look — an experienced driver, no less.

"Fine, then you do it."

"Murong Xue, you're in charge of keeping watch. If anything happens or we arrive, wake me." Master Zhao finished speaking and, without waiting for Murong Xue's agreement, immediately 'went offline.'

Controlling clones also wasted energy; if he could take it easy, he would.

"Yes." Murong Xue had no young-lady airs — otherwise she wouldn't have chosen the path of Si Nong; her feet had also trodden through mud.

She immediately rose on the wind and flew around the perimeter, taking up the watchman's role.

One hour later.

Ji Ji Zixuan said toward the back, "Senior Brother, we've arrived."

Inside the flying-boat cabin, the nine Myriad-Law straw figures instantly 'came alive' and walked out together.

After observing the direction and terrain, the true body, tens of thousands of li away, calculated with a finger, then the clone pointed and said, "Southeast, a four or five-fold angle, one-third standard cruising speed, one hundred meters altitude."

"Yes." Ji Ji Zixuan immediately maneuvered the flying boat in an arc, acting according to Zhao Xing's request.

She glanced back; Zhao Xing had become motionless again.

After flying for about a quarter of an hour, Murong Xue suddenly spoke, "A Blood Shadow Boat is approaching us."

Ji Ji Zixuan looked behind her and asked Murong Xue, "How many people? If there are few, we will handle it ourselves and need not trouble Senior Brother."