Chapter 93: Gambling Dog Tactics? Visitors from the Divine Might Army, Zhao Xing's Shock!

The Myriad Laws Cloud Painting is a top-grade Dao-comprehension painting, because the cloud-law profundities it contains are extremely comprehensive, and it has another special feature: it can present corresponding insights according to the viewer's heart's intent.

For example, Zhao Xing's earlier Underground Palace Phantom painting — there is also a top-grade painting called the 'Myriad Laws Underground Palace', and whatever kind of Underground Palace law Zhao Xing wishes to comprehend, he will most likely obtain that type.

That is why Lu Qian wrote, "May your heart's desires come true."

The Myriad Laws Cloud Painting truly can make the comprehender's wishes come true.

Before beginning his comprehension, Zhao Xing also did some filtering in his heart:

"Among the mid-grade cloud laws that can be named, there is the Flowing Cloud Law. The cloud layers flow ceaselessly; when propping up clouds, its momentum is like the Dajiang and Dahe, and its speed is fast."

"The Weapon Cloud Law has the strongest attack power; the cloud layers can transform into all manner of divine weapons, and when competing for clouds and battling laws, its killing power is the highest."

"The Blood Cloud Law is the most bizarre; it can backlash the caster through cloud qi. Once entangled by blood clouds, one cannot break free even struggling for a short time — both blood qi and cloud qi will be consumed excessively. Winning the cloud contest causes the greatest damage to the enemy himself."

"The Thunder Cloud Law can augment the power of thunder techniques."

"There is also the relatively obscure Freezing Cloud Law…"

"However, the way of cloud laws is dominated by the domineering. I think the most domineering is still the Devouring Cloud Law! This is also a spell skill I was rather familiar with in my previous life."

"It can cut apart and devour the enemy's cloud qi, converting it for one's own use, and can even briefly obtain the effects of other cloud laws."

"Its whole focus is on being domineering, and in large-scale melees, the longer one fights, the stronger one becomes."

"My beginner-grade cloud law already faintly carries the flavor of the Devouring Cloud Law, but it is still not complete enough — the effect was achieved purely through my operational technique and experience."

After a round of recollection, Zhao Xing confirmed what he wanted in his heart, and only then opened his eyes to look at the painting scroll.

The Dao-comprehension scene presented in the painting scroll was a sea of clouds.

Within the sea of clouds were cloud layers of all manner of shapes; some resembled hilltops — these were relatively ordinary cloud laws.

Zhao Xing swept past them swiftly.

Some appeared in the shape of weapons — this was the Weapon Cloud Law, and Zhao Xing skipped past them as well.

Some cloud layers were riotously colorful; with a single thought from Zhao Xing, these cloud layers also drifted past him.

He maintained a single thought throughout: he wanted the Devouring Cloud Law!

"Why has it taken so long and I still haven't found it? Isn't this Myriad Laws Cloud Painting supposed to grant one's heart's desire?"

"Could it be a fake?"

Zhao Xing felt his intent was firm enough; logically, he should have easily found this Devouring Cloud Law.

But many kinds of clouds had drifted past before his eyes, and none of them were what he wanted.

"Devouring Cloud Law, I want the Devouring Cloud Law!"

Zhao Xing shouted in his heart.

Suddenly—

The clouds before his eyes cleared away completely; all the clouds drifted past, revealing a stretch of blue sky.

"Has it ended? Is it really a fake? That's impossible… hmm?"

Just as Zhao Xing was puzzled, he suddenly looked sharply in one direction.

He saw that all the cloud layers he had observed earlier were drifting toward that direction.

At the distant edge of the sky, a pitch-black cloud vortex appeared, and the vortex absorbed all the cloud layers into itself.

With each cloud absorbed, it flickered once, then grew another fraction stronger.

At this terrifying devouring speed, the black cloud layer rapidly expanded, filling Zhao Xing's entire field of vision in the blink of an eye.

"Hum~"

Zhao Xing was also drawn into this black cloud vortex.

At the center of the cloud vortex.

Specks of black light sank into Zhao Xing's body.

Zhao Xing's body flickered on and off, bathed in black light, appearing exceedingly bewitching.

It flickered a full seven times before the black slowly subsided.

The next moment.

Zhao Xing in the real world opened his eyes.

Four meters above his head, a patch of clouds black as ink appeared, and at the center of this cloud layer was a massive vortex.

"Devouring Cloud Law! This is the Devouring Cloud Law!"

Zhao Xing looked up, feeling somewhat delighted.

"Hoo~"

The Dao-comprehension painting suddenly burst into flames on its own and quickly turned to ash.

Unlike other Dao-comprehension paintings, the top-grade Myriad Laws series offers one and only one chance at comprehension.

But the effect of the Myriad Laws Cloud Painting is also far more intense!

During his comprehension, the black light attached to his body flickered seven times, proving that within the comprehension, he had grasped this spell to the seven-revolution level!

Reaching seven revolutions in one go shows just how intense its effect was.

"Under the effect of a top-grade Dao-comprehension painting, only if one's talent is too poor will it result in comprehending a spell at merely one or two revolutions."

"With normal talent, comprehending the desired cloud law in this one chance can reach three to six revolutions."

"Seven revolutions is the limit of a fourth-grade cloud-painting Dao-comprehension."

Although it cannot compare to the 'Myriad Laws Spiritual Marvel' found in the great spirit mountains, the effect was already quite good.

After all, how exceedingly rare are Myriad Laws Spiritual Marvels? They basically only appear during great sealings and great openings of mountains.

Dao-comprehension paintings can be mass-produced; comparatively, the means of obtaining them is far more stable.

"With the Devouring Cloud Law, the mid-grade Four Laws of Heaven's Timing are barely complete." Zhao Xing was in a pleasant mood.

With the Four Laws of Heaven's Timing complete, when spells are combined, their power is even greater.

Of course, the Yin Wind that Zhao Xing had learned could not be considered a normal mid-tier wind technique, and pairing it with the Cloud-Swallowing Method didn't provide much amplification.

But for his other techniques — for instance, casting the Cloud-Swallowing Method first and then the Thunder-Drawing — the power was much greater than before, and the same held true for rain techniques.

The Four Arts of Heavenly Timing were called that precisely because they were interconnected and could enhance one another.

By the same logic, the Four Arts of Earthly Advantage — the Xuan Earth, King Di Zang, Earth-Splitting, and Earth Palace arts — were also interrelated.

"The final scroll."

"Fourth-tier mid-grade Dao-Disseminating painting, 'Earth Split'."

After a brief rest, Zhao Xing opened the last box and drew out the scroll.

"Boom—"

Zhao Xing felt the ground beneath his feet shudder violently, and a great mountain ahead was also shaking fiercely.

"Crack-crack-crack-crack—"

Fissures split the earth one after another — bottomless cracks gushing terrifying earth-vein power.

"Hiss-hiss—"

Just as Zhao Xing was about to leap across the fissure, a pillar of fiery-red light suddenly erupted from ahead.

Blazing magma scattered at high temperature, melting even the hard boulders nearby.

Zhao Xing hastily retreated, only to find another fissure had appeared behind him.

More violent earth-vein power surged forth — but this time it blew the Yin Wind he knew so well!

Whoooosh—

His very soul felt as though it would be blown away; Zhao Xing felt himself swaying on the verge of collapse.

Just as he gritted his teeth and held on, suddenly—

"Boom!"

A tremendous roar rang out — the Shanfeng ahead had split clean in two down the middle, massive boulders tumbling down from on high.

Zhao Xing tried to dodge, only to find that at some unknown moment, nameless vines had appeared beneath his feet, and like crawling insects they swiftly wrapped him up.

He struggled free with great difficulty.

"Gurgle-gurgle—"

A fountain suddenly erupted beneath his feet, launching Zhao Xing into the air.

By the time he was in free fall—

"Clang!"

A sharp object pierced straight through his chest.

It was a massive stone sword that had thrust up from underground.

His entire body was completely impaled.

Pain, tearing agony — but strangely, Zhao Xing's mind grew clearer and clearer.

Just as with the Yin Wind and magma before, he could still observe the profound mysteries within these terrifying scenes.

And so Zhao Xing hung suspended in mid-air, impaled by the stone sword, watching the terrifying scenes unfold upon the earth.

"Hum—"

An hour later, Zhao Xing opened his eyes.

【You have observed the fourth-tier mid-grade Dao-Disseminating painting 'Earth Split'. You have comprehended the mid-tier technique 'Five Elements Earth-Splitting'. Remaining comprehension attempts: 3】

【Five Elements Earth-Splitting: Mid-tier technique】

【Progress: Third Cycle (3546/9999)】

【Effect: Earth-veins surge wildly, chaos unleashed upon the world — attacks using random Five Elements earth-vein power.】

"Five Elements Earth-Splitting? I actually comprehended this technique among the Earth-Splitting arts?" Zhao Xing's face was strange. "This Earth Split painting contains many kinds of Earth-Splitting arts — why did I happen to comprehend this one?"

The reason Zhao Xing's expression was so odd was entirely because of this technique's nickname.

The Five Elements Earth-Splitting was also known as the 'Gambler's Battle Art'!

This technique's actual combat effectiveness depended entirely on luck.

It would randomly produce one or multiple effects from among the Five Elements.

When strong, it was terrifyingly strong. All Five Elements at once — one technique serving as five!

When weak, casting the Five Elements Earth-Splitting would only produce a tiny sprout, barely enough to liven up a fight.

"The earth veins differ from place to place — for instance, the earth veins of Nanyang Commandery are very stable, but this technique can only unleash its greatest power in places where the earth veins are violent."

"A gambler's battle art — it all comes down to luck. On that point, I suppose it's fine; the probability of me rolling all Five Elements shouldn't be low." Thinking this, Zhao Xing felt a measure of consolation.

After all, he now possessed the fortune of a Yan-Three. With a 'luck-based' technique like this, his chance of triggering a great success was still relatively high.

The vast majority of other techniques were highly stable.

Fortune would only be triggered when one had just begun learning and was at a low realm.

Of course, there was both success and failure in probability.

Large fluctuations in a technique's power were actually a sign of unstable technique control during the beginner stage.

Once one had entered the door, and one's Gathering Yuan level and realm rose, things became much more stable, and fortune-triggered probabilities became rare.

In battle, an occasional peak state would boost a technique's power somewhat — as for breaking through mid-combat? That probability was extremely, extremely low.

"I'll see in the future if there's a chance to use it. If I really get a chance to gamble on luck, or encounter an extreme terrain environment, I can use this move."

The first three paintings had all exceeded expectations; the last one could only be called barely satisfactory.

October 4th — Zhao Xing was a guest at the Sect Prefecture.

October 5th — Zhao Xing was a guest at Xue Fu.

October 6th — Zhao Xing was a guest at Chen Fu.

During the five days at the Zong Residence, of the Dao-painting scrolls, two had been fully comprehended.

He had originally planned to go to the old Army Agricultural Officer to comprehend another method, but after staying only one night, Xue Wenzhong had business to attend to in Juncheng, to visit his grandson Xue Bai.

So on the sixth of October, he came to Chen Shijie's residence as a guest.

At dusk, a mysterious visitor also arrived outside the Chen residence.

Chen Shijie was conducting daily training at the front-hall drill ground, while Zhao Xing was comprehending in the pear orchard.

Suddenly, Chen Shijie sensed some unusual fluctuation in the breeze and looked sharply outward.

Through the main gate, he saw a blurry black shadow appear outside the door.

"What petty thief dares to spy on this official?!"

"Chen Shijie, what great authority you carry!" The black shadow stopped swaying, steadied its form, and transmitted a message through secret voice-sending; an aged voice entered his ears.

Hearing this voice, Chen Shijie's face immediately showed delight: "Long Xiao? Why have you come so early?!"

"Boring—I even changed my voice, how could you still recognize me?" The black shadow's voice returned to normal.

"You and I are brothers—even if we turned to ash I'd recognize you." Chen Shijie smiled. "But why have you come so early?"

"Shouldn't you invite me in first before asking?" Long Xiao said.

"Oh, I almost forgot—please come in."

After Chen Shijie finished speaking, the figure outside the main gate leaped over and appeared inside the drill ground.

Long Xiao took off the black cloak he was wearing, revealing his true appearance. He had sword-brows and starry eyes, a great sword strapped to his back, and standing on the drill ground, his whole person was like an unsheathed sharp blade.

"Good lad, your Divine Sky Sword Art has improved again." Chen Shijie looked him over and praised.

"You haven't been idle either. In the five years since leaving the Divine Might Army, your perception has grown sharper." Long Xiao stared at Chen Shijie with bright eyes. "I had just arrived outside your gate when you already detected me."

The two exchanged a glance and laughed heartily.

They both realized that during these years apart, neither had slackened. With just one look, they knew the other was still the like-minded good brother from before!

"Come, let's go inside to talk."

The two walked side by side into the main hall.

At this moment, Zhao Xing, who had just finished his comprehension, also walked to the outside of the hall. Although he had not heard Long Xiao's voice, he had heard Chen Shijie's.

"Lord Chen, has something happened?"

"Nothing, a guest has arrived. You've come at just the right time—come in, let me introduce you."

After entering, Zhao Xing saw Long Xiao beside Chen Shijie, and his expression showed some surprise.

"Hmm?" Long Xiao keenly caught the change in Zhao Xing's expression. "You seem to recognize me?"

Of course I recognize him—Divine Sky Marquis Long Xiao… I even worked under him once, but which year was he ennobled? Not during the Jingxin era, seems like it was the Dazhi era?

"I don't recognize you, my lord. I only felt that your aura is startling, like a sharp blade—I was awed by your imposing presence." Zhao Xing cupped his hands and lowered his head, quickly adjusting himself.

Long Xiao nodded, turned his head to look at Chen Shijie: "So this is the lad you mentioned? Seems rather ordinary."

Chen Shijie said calmly: "He's still young and hasn't seen sword-path experts like you much. If he later enters the army and trains for a dozen-odd years, it's possible you'd have to rely on him for your livelihood."

"Oh? Relying on you, an Army Agricultural Officer, for a living would be one thing, but you say I'd rely on him in the future?" Long Xiao took another careful look at Zhao Xing. Just now he had felt Zhao Xing was intimidated by his aura and was nothing special, but after Chen Shijie's words, looking again carefully, he discovered Zhao Xing's bearing was extraordinary.

"Zhao Xing, let me introduce you—this is Long Xiao, a Yihui Captain of the Divine Might Army, and also my good brother."

"Greetings, General." Zhao Xing cupped his hands. A Yihui Captain was a rank-7-from-below official post, meaning Long Xiao was at least a rank-7 expert, and could only be higher, not lower.

"No need for such ceremony—I haven't resumed my formal military post, I only hold the scattered rank." Long Xiao waved his hand.

"Sit." Chen Shijie said.

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and took his seat.

At this moment, although his expression was calm on the surface, he was greatly surprised within.

Because the current Yihui Captain Long Xiao and the Divine Sky Marquis differed enormously.

The current Long Xiao was still rather outgoing and cheerful, but the Divine Sky Marquis was steady and reserved, even somewhat melancholic.

Zhao Xing had never heard of Chen Shijie in his previous life, but looking at it now, Chen Shijie was a man of the Divine Might Army.

Long Xiao had risen all the way to Wu Hou, yet Old Chen had no name recorded—did he perish midway?

"So Long Xiao also came from the Divine Might Army—then his current superior is the Divine Might Marquis?"

"The Divine Might Marquis is gone, Old Chen is gone too—this legion seems to have perished in…" Zhao Xing carefully recalled, but couldn't remember for the moment. After all, when he was doing missions, the Divine Might Army had already ceased to exist.

"You still haven't said how you got here from Xi'er Commandry so quickly? Such a long distance—even if you set out the day you received the letter, even riding the army's Dragon-head Tower Ship, there's no reason you could arrive this fast?" Chen Shijie's words suddenly jolted Zhao Xing awake. 'Six Pacification Commandries', 'Xi'er Commandry' made him recall some things.

However, he was still not very certain at this moment, so he decided to listen more.

Long Xiao smiled: "I didn't take the Dragon-head Tower Ship. I borrowed passage from the Departing Fire Dao Academy, arriving first at Dayuan Prefecture, then at Nanyang Commandry."

"How about it, brother—am I good enough? By borrowing the fire-path passage, when we return I'll have to run at least eighty thousand li to repay the favor to that Departing Fire True Monarch."

Hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately and subconsciously used the Five Elements Observation to glance at Long Xiao, and saw that this man's body surface had a layer of extremely faint but extremely high-quality fire-path power wrapped around him.

If his own level were higher, he would probably also be able to see that this fire-path power would form a divine-image pattern.

The observation naturally did not escape Long Xiao's perception. He said with considerable curiosity: "Lad, did you understand?"

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and said: "I understood. What the General spoke of, borrowing the fire-path passage, is using the Departing Fire Divine Altar of the Departing Fire Dao Academy, with an extraordinary-distance fire-escape formation, to instantly travel from Xi'er Commandry ten thousand li away to the Departing Fire branch academy in Dayuan Prefecture."

"Not bad." Long Xiao nodded slightly. "Then do you know why I have to walk eighty thousand li when I return?"

Zhao Xing continued: "Since it is borrowed, it must be repaid. The Departing Fire True Monarch enshrined by the Departing Fire Dao Academy is a figure from the ancient era. He feared his disciples could not hold the Departing Fire Divine Altar, so he cast a spell and established a grand cosmic vow."

"Any outsider who uses the Departing Fire Divine Altar must, after escaping however far, rely on their own two feet, without using magic power, purely by physical body, walk double the distance of the borrowed fire-path."

"What the General borrowed should be one round trip, roughly forty thousand li, so after completing the borrowed passage, he must walk eighty thousand li to be considered as repaying the Departing Fire True Monarch's favor."

"Not bad, some insight." Long Xiao was somewhat surprised. A mere Agricultural Officer clerk knowing of the matters of the Great Zhou's seventy-two Dao Academies was enough to show his breadth of knowledge. On this point, he at least met the requirements of an Army Agricultural Officer.

Knowing the world, knowing the world's affairs, only then can one quickly adapt no matter which place one arrives at.

And an Army Agricultural Officer quickly adapting to unfamiliar environments means the army he belongs to can also quickly adapt and gain a foothold.

"I told you long ago not to underestimate him." Chen Shijie smiled. "Young in age doesn't mean shallow in insight."

"Hahaha, indeed so." Long Xiao laughed heartily. "But you kid are too reserved — why do you keep calling me General? I've told you, I haven't been reinstated yet. Be bold, call me Big Brother Long."

Zhao Xing didn't know what to say — seeing Long Xiao had simply activated certain habits of his.

Then Long Xiao pointed at Chen Shijie again: "Call him, Chen Old-Two."

At Zhao Xing's somewhat stunned expression, Chen Shijie gave a cold laugh: "Finding ways to take advantage of me, are you? Once we're back at camp, I'll make sure to starve you for a few meals!"

"Hahahahaha. My fault, my fault, I admit it." Long Xiao hurriedly laughed and moved past the matter: "Brother Chen, Big Brother Chen, you're the biggest. Let's talk business."

"Now your little brother here has arrived twenty days early, and no one knows. Can you help me wipe out the Xuantian Sect stronghold here in one sweep?"

The setting of Great Fortune Success appeared at the very beginning and hasn't been mentioned since — here I'll patch it in and standardize it.