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Chapter 249: The Shennong Hall in the Grand Dream Academy
🕑 Added 2024-11-24 16:02:50 +0000 UTCAs Zhao Xing stepped into the first level, the surrounding fog dispersed, revealing a towering peak, a hundred meters tall. Standing at the summit was a tall, imposing figure who turned her gaze toward him as he approached.
"I am the Golden Spirit Goddess," a cold, detached voice rang in Zhao Xing's ears.
"Huh? So, there are different types of goddesses?" Zhao Xing mused, noting the peculiarity. This was, after all, the Grand Dream Academy—not the familiar Yunmeng Academy. Yet, remembering what the mechanized beast Xiezhi mentioned, it became clear each level held different rewards.
Zhao Xing scrutinized the puppet mechanism, known as the "Golden Spirit." She wore gleaming silver armor, emanating a radiant, silvery glow. Intricate designs on her armor pulsed with a mysterious power. Her hair was purple, and she wore a cloak that draped over her back. In her hands, she held a long spear, about twelve feet long, with a silver-white shaft and a tip that flashed with a chilling gleam, exuding a fearsome killing intent. Her features were refined, yet her demeanor was fierce.
"Not bad aesthetics. They did a pretty good job with this puppet," Zhao Xing thought, amused.
Generally, mechanists rarely focused on aesthetics. Humanoid puppets were a rarity. Instead, they usually preferred large, beast-like puppets, subscribing to the philosophy: "Bigger is better, and more is good!" Only a few specialized in smaller, stealth-oriented designs.
As Zhao Xing assessed the puppet, the Golden Spirit continued, "On the first level, there are seven goddesses like myself, as well as one 'Sunlight Goddess.' To clear this level, you need only fulfill one requirement: during our duel, either knock us off the peak, disarm us, or cause visible damage to our puppet body."
"Defeat any one of the seven goddesses, and you may proceed to the second level."
Zhao Xing nodded in acknowledgment. He understood from Xiezhi that to qualify as a candidate for the Grand Engineer, he would need to clear the level aiming for the highest possible rewards. However, for those who weren’t targeting candidacy, there were other lower reward options.
The Golden Spirit continued, "My puppet body is crafted from mid-sixth-tier materials, and I am equipped with a sixth-tier battle spirit. If you're ready, step onto the peak."
Pondering her specifications, Zhao Xing analyzed her combat potential.
"A sixth-tier puppet would correspond to fourth-rank Primordial Soul-level strength," he thought. "So, this puppet has at least one aspect, likely more, at an early fourth-rank level. Its defense must be one of them."
The engravings on her armor were based on the Geng Metal Dao. She wielded a spear, indicating she was at least trained in advanced martial techniques, perhaps even seven-turn high-level skills.
For martial power, the fourth rank often required high-level seven-turn techniques, while the third rank demanded mastery of top-tier methods. Techniques like the Great Dream Spring and Autumn’s "Dream Walk" could even allow a user to kill within a dream. Reaching that level of top-tier skills meant mastery far beyond the norm, something only achieved by exceptional practitioners.
"So, this puppet possesses typical sixth-tier battle instincts," Zhao Xing observed, "indicating extensive training before 'deployment.'"
A puppet battle spirit isn't true intelligence, as it lacks emotions and independent thought, but it does represent the combined wisdom of one or more mechanists. To make a sixth-tier puppet combat-ready, it often requires over a decade, sometimes decades, of training to develop the battle spirit.
"On paper, I can easily overpower this puppet. The environment doesn't even matter," Zhao Xing concluded, surveying the duel’s surroundings. At the top of the peak was a circular platform about the size of a soccer field.
With the Golden Spirit being a close-combat puppet and the limited space available, Zhao Xing knew he had less room to maneuver. Close combat always favored fighters, but if distance and preparation time were available, a fifth-rank sorcerer, Shennong, or priest with strong spells could kill a fourth-rank opponent, even if their techniques weren’t vastly superior.
Zhao Xing stepped onto the peak and immediately activated his "Divine Travel Guard."
With a hum, his "Eight-Angle Earth Palace" began to sink into the ground. The Golden Spirit Goddess lunged forward, her feet slamming into the ground and sending vibrations through the earth, while her spear jabbed sharply toward the ground. Both moves aimed to disrupt Zhao Xing’s Earth Escape technique. The earth veins indeed experienced some interference, but his Divine Travel Guard had reached advanced perfection, allowing him to ignore the disruption and vanish swiftly into the ground. The goddess could only glare at his disappearance.
"Boundless Domain!" Zhao Xing used his Earth Palace technique once underground. With a loud rumble, the ground sank by fifteen meters, as if a massive force had flattened it. The Golden Spirit, supporting herself with her spear, found her movements slowed, becoming incredibly difficult to maneuver.
Mist rose from beneath the ground, signaling his Concealment Fog technique, reappearing quietly at a distance while maintaining his original separation from the goddess. Upon reemerging, he was ready to unleash his weather spell.
"Devouring Cloud Domain!"
With a thunderous crack, lightning struck toward the Golden Spirit. She attempted to dodge, but the combined effects of the Cloud and Earth Palace domains rendered her sluggish, forcing her to endure the attack helplessly. Her body sparked as the lightning struck her.
"Victory achieved!" a celestial voice proclaimed from above.
Zhao Xing watched as all the spells around him dissipated under a mysterious force. In front of him, the Golden Spirit Goddess's spear had slipped from her grasp. As the victory was confirmed, the phantom form of the mechanized beast Xiezhi emerged from the surrounding mist.
"Zhao Xing, you've defeated the Golden Spirit. You may now either claim your reward immediately and proceed to the second level, or continue further for the highest reward on the first level."
Zhao Xing cupped his hands respectfully, "Guardian, I choose to continue onward."
Just because he could defeat this puppet didn’t mean the guardian goddesses were weak. Each of these puppets was impressive in its own right and at least on par with his Myriad Straw Puppet avatars. If nothing else, these puppets would fetch a good price.
"Understood. The Golden Spirit will not accompany you further. Once you complete the level, you can return to collect your rewards," Xiezhi replied.
"Thank you." Zhao Xing nodded and ascended to the second peak.
Standing on the second peak was another puppet, who introduced herself with a calm, composed voice, "I am the Fire Spirit."
"My puppet body is crafted from mid-sixth-tier materials, equipped with a sixth-tier battle spirit. If you are prepared, come to the peak."
Draped in a deep red robe with fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders, the Fire Spirit held a ruby staff in her hand. At a glance, Zhao Xing recognized the puppet was based on a fire-element sorcerer design. He ascended this higher peak, preparing to use a similar approach as before.
Upon reaching the summit, Zhao Xing immediately utilized his Earth Escape technique to disrupt his opponent's movements with his Boundless Earth Palace domain. However, unlike the close-combat Golden Spirit, the Fire Spirit’s platform erupted in flames as soon as Zhao Xing emerged from below. At the center of the circular platform, she stood, surrounded by roaring flames spilling from her staff. But Zhao Xing’s Earth Palace domain compressed the height of the flames from fifty meters down to three.
"No need to extinguish the flames." Zhao Xing smiled, extending his hand and releasing his Thunder Breaking Delusion Finger, leaving a scorched mark on the Fire Spirit. Although the damage was minor and quickly repaired, it was still enough to be visible.
"Pass achieved!" Xiezhi reappeared, his large, round eyes gleaming with approval. "I haven't seen you in years, Zhao Xing, and it seems you've grown much stronger. Even celestial flames can’t hold you back."
Years ago, during the fourth trial, Zhao Xing struggled with the fire barrier, yet now, it posed no challenge.
Moving onto the third peak, Zhao Xing encountered the Water Spirit Goddess.
"I am the Water Spirit," she introduced herself.
With the same level of construction and skill as the Fire Spirit, she had a calm aura but bore the same high-tier markings. Zhao Xing prepared to use his Earth Escape technique again, but this time, her water-based spells affected him even underground. Water seeped into the earth, freezing and compressing the veins, reducing his Earth Palace’s range and speed.
"Her water technique works like a blockade," Zhao Xing noted. "My Earth Palace’s power is down by thirty percent. This ice-sealing spell must be at a high-level, possibly eight-turn."
However, Zhao Xing was also proficient with ice-sealing techniques, having learned the advanced ice-seal and cloud-devouring domains during his experience in the Extreme Night Sea. Despite the freezing earth slowing his Eight-Angle Earth Cage, he emerged above ground and quickly ended the fight.
His Earth Palace’s seventy percent strength still limited her movement enough to give him an advantage. Zhao Xing then used the Drop of Water Domain, attacking the Water Spirit with her own water-based abilities. Her defenses included layers of ice walls adorned with petal-like imprints, guarding her from Zhao Xing’s water-based attacks.
With a series of metallic clinks, the nineteenth drop of water broke through her ice wall, unleashing a torrent of rain that finally struck her and knocked her off the peak.
The fourth peak held the Wood Spirit puppet, specializing in various high-level wood-based spells, including Thorny Cage, Wood Spirit Clone, Green Essence Barrier, and Vitality Extraction.
This puppet, resembling a tree rooted firmly into the ground, provided new challenges for Zhao Xing’s Earth Escape technique. The Wood Spirit entangled both the ground and sky with thorny vines, attempting to trap him. However, Zhao Xing’s Earth Palace domain canceled out the puppet’s Wood Spirit Clone ability, destroying its defense with a perfected Heaven Fire technique, breaking through the Green Essence Barrier and leaving a mark on the main body.
The fifth peak brought a twist. Here, the Earth Spirit Goddess adopted a similar Earth Escape technique, burrowing underground before Zhao Xing could. Zhao Xing, amused by the reversal, chose not to pursue her but instead summoned an ice-sealing spell.
"Water come forth!"
A river cascaded from the clouds, flowing across the ground like a silver waterfall, freezing as it spread. Zhao Xing’s perfected ice-sealing technique isolated his space, giving him a safe zone while corroding the Earth Spirit’s own domain.
A few moments later, he sensed her being cornered and finally utilized Divine Travel Guard, darting downwards with Eight-Angle Earth Palace. With a thunderous crash, he struck her, sending her flying out of the platform’s range.
The sixth peak presented the Thunder Spirit Goddess, whose expertise in thunder techniques made her a formidable opponent. Zhao Xing quickly employed his Heaven Fire technique, forcing the Thunder Spirit back. His mastery of fire-based techniques turned the tables, overwhelming her thunder methods.
Finally, on the seventh peak, the Wind Spirit Goddess challenged him with swift, agile movements and wind-based attacks. However, Zhao Xing’s Nine Heavens Gale technique surpassed her speed, ending the fight in just three moves.
With this, Zhao Xing had defeated all seven guardians on the first level. Only the final and most challenging opponent remained—the Sunlight Goddess, who guarded the highest reward of the first level.
Upon reaching the eighth peak, Zhao Xing found himself face-to-face with the Sunlight Goddess, a radiant figure standing elegantly as if she were a celestial being. She was graceful and poised, exuding an otherworldly aura, like a lotus in full bloom. Her eyebrows were soft yet carried a hint of boldness, her deep blue eyes sparkled with clarity and mystery, and her features radiated calm confidence. Black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her robe shimmered with embroidered symbols that glowed in five colors. Above her head hovered a radiant sunlight disk that enveloped her in a golden veil, adding to her ethereal presence.
"To make a humanoid puppet so exquisitely, I wouldn’t be surprised if the mechanists went bald over this project," Zhao Xing thought wryly. "Though, practicality-wise, this design could use some explosive units instead."
Once the battle began, however, Zhao Xing realized her formidable nature. Constructed from top-tier sixth-grade materials, she possessed all five elemental affinities—earth, water, fire, wind, and thunder—along with a high-level battle spirit. She could utilize every spell the previous goddesses had, with even greater mastery.
"Seven domains at once," Zhao Xing observed, impressed. "Her techniques may not match mine in perfection, but she’s nearly at my level."
While Zhao Xing’s strength lay in his complete mastery of each elemental spell, his opponent’s physical defenses were formidable, crafted to withstand the impact of a fourth-rank perfected warrior.
"I’ll have to push her out of the platform," he thought, forming a strategy. The two clashed in a battle of spellcasting, with Zhao Xing’s advantage becoming apparent as he countered each of her spells. However, she repeatedly attempted to engage in close combat, adding to his challenges.
Finally, after three intense minutes, Zhao Xing managed to catch her off-guard with a rolling thunder attack, causing her to step off the edge of the platform. As she came to a halt, Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief.
"This is only a simulation body. If it were reality, with my resources and weapons, I’d have defeated her with much less effort," Zhao Xing thought. Here, he was limited to his pure Primordial Soul level of strength, without additional assets or avatars.
"Zhao Xing, you have achieved the highest reward on the first level," the mechanized beast Xiezhi announced. "Would you like to proceed to the second level?"
"Guardian, I would like to try," Zhao Xing replied.
"Very well. Proceed to the entrance ahead," Xiezhi replied, and a portal materialized before him, leading to the next level.
Upon entering, Zhao Xing’s surroundings shifted, and he found himself in the center of a vast stone plaza. Four towering structures surrounded him, resembling sword towers.
From the western tower emerged a dark red figure, standing at a height of two and a half meters, its features shifting until they mirrored Zhao Xing’s own, though with a cold, merciless expression.
"I am the Ever-Changing Dao Soldier, crafted from seventh-tier materials," the figure announced. "I possess a high-level battle spirit. Should you manage to force me from the plaza or leave a mark on me, you will pass. You may take the first strike."
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing invoked his Divine Travel Guard, disappearing underground. But before he could establish his Earth Palace technique, the Dao Soldier stomped down with a fearsome force.
"Boom—boom!"
A terrifying energy erupted, instantly disrupting the earth veins and shattering Zhao Xing’s barely-formed Earth Palace.
"Impossible, this is too strong," Zhao Xing muttered, realizing that the ground had reached a level seven volatility, shaking his protective barrier to its core.
"The gap in strength is absolute. A seventh-tier Dao Soldier with a high-level battle spirit is akin to a third-rank human cultivator."
Accepting the overwhelming disparity, Zhao Xing called out to the guardian, and in an instant, a force pulled him out of the stone plaza, returning him to the exterior of the Heavenly Craft Hall.
"Thank you, Guardian." Zhao Xing bowed respectfully to Xiezhi, who stood alongside the eight guardian goddesses.
"These eight goddesses are now yours," Xiezhi informed him. "Would you like to store them here for now or take them with you?"
"For now, I’ll leave them here," Zhao Xing replied, still planning to explore other opportunities.
"Very well," Xiezhi said, handing Zhao Xing a token. "This Goddess Token controls the guardian puppets. Once outside, you need only channel a bit of Yuan Qi into it, and they will follow your commands. However, should the token be stolen and your Qi erased, they will change allegiance, so keep it secure."
Zhao Xing studied the token thoughtfully, also curious about what controlled Xiezhi. A puppet capable of conversation, capable of independent thought—it had to be beyond ninth-tier. He speculated that the mechanist who created Xiezhi might have used a life sacrifice to form its soul.
"Guardian," Zhao Xing asked, "does the Grand Dream Academy have a Shennong Hall?"
"A Shennong Hall? No," Xiezhi replied, shaking his head.
Zhao Xing was disappointed. He had thought it was removed by Emperor Wu in his previous life, but it seemed the Grand Dream Academy never had such a hall.
"But," Xiezhi added, "there is a Shennong Shrine."
Zhao Xing’s eyes brightened. "Might I ask, Guardian, what are the requirements to enter it? I’ve reached the Pure Essence Realm of the fifth rank but haven’t seen any sign of it."
Xiezhi pondered briefly before responding, "Strange. At fifth rank, Pure Essence Realm, you should’ve been able to enter long ago. Perhaps, try searching outside."
Puzzled, Zhao Xing exited the Heavenly Craft Hall and arrived at the Cloud Gate Plaza, where countless palaces floated within the clouds. He found the Halls of Reincarnation, Heart-Testing Platform, Martial God Tower, Art Vault, Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Sacred Beast Palace, Destiny Palace, and Heavenly Craft Hall. However, he could not locate the Shennong Shrine.
Returning to Xiezhi, Zhao Xing reported, "Guardian, I truly could not find the Shennong Shrine."
Xiezhi was equally puzzled. "Impossible! The Shennong Shrine is one of the most critical halls in the academy. How could it be missing?"
"Could you guide me to it?" Zhao Xing asked.
Xiezhi shook his head. "I cannot leave the Heavenly Craft Hall."
Zhao Xing was left baffled. In his past life, he hadn’t seen the shrine either, assuming it was a limitation based on his cultivation path.
Still perplexed, Zhao Xing left the Heavenly Craft Hall, the question of the missing Shennong Shrine lingering in his mind. If the shrine indeed existed as Xiezhi claimed, then why was it hidden? Xiezhi suggested that perhaps the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Guardian might know more, so Zhao Xing decided to seek out this mysterious protector.
As Zhao Xing approached the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the scene felt uncannily familiar. It was identical to the last time he visited. Just as he entered, a small bird perched atop a cabinet, singing verses in a rhythmic chant.
"To measure and calculate, revealing the origins of creation; to divine the essence of destiny, unveiling the secrets of heaven."
The bird, clutching a scroll in its beak, swayed rhythmically, absorbed in its reading.
Zhao Xing performed a polite bow. "Scholar Zhao Xing greets the Guardian of Heavenly Secrets."
The bird, interrupted in its reading, looked visibly irritated. "Weren't the rules explained already? Look around yourself if you want to read something," it huffed.
"Forgive my intrusion," Zhao Xing said carefully. "I have a question for the Guardian of Heavenly Secrets. I was told by the Guardian of the Heavenly Craft Hall that the Grand Dream Academy contains a Shennong Shrine, and I should have been able to access it at my level. Yet, I see no trace of it. The Heavenly Craft Guardian advised that I seek you for clarification."
The small bird tilted its head, scrutinizing Zhao Xing with a curious eye before swallowing the scroll whole. "The Heavenly Craft Guardian wasn’t wrong. Normally, by now, you should be able to see the Shennong Shrine."
The bird’s tone turned solemn. "However, that would be assuming that Da Li still stands."
Zhao Xing’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected revelation. "You mean… the Shennong Shrine no longer appears because Da Li has fallen?"
The bird gave a sharp nod. "Indeed. The Shennong Shrine was a core component of Da Li's fortune and agricultural heritage. When Da Li was conquered, the Shennong Shrine’s connection to the Grand Dream Academy was severed. With the loss of Da Li’s Qi Luck, it became hidden to all but those of Da Li bloodline or those directly tied to its former fortune. No current cultivators, regardless of their rank or stage, can access it."
Zhao Xing fell silent, processing this new understanding. In his past life, he had not encountered the Shennong Shrine, assuming it was merely unavailable due to his cultivation path. Now, it appeared that the fall of Da Li itself had erased it from the academy.
"Is there any way to restore the Shennong Shrine or access it?" Zhao Xing asked, hope and curiosity mingling in his tone.
The bird fluffed its feathers, considering. "In theory, if the lost Qi Luck of Da Li were to be restored—even partially—the Shennong Shrine might reappear. However, that would require an individual of remarkable destiny or one with deep ties to Da Li’s lineage, heritage, or Qi Luck. But let me caution you: meddling with lost fortunes and trying to reclaim severed ties to the past can be perilous, even for the powerful."
Zhao Xing bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you, Guardian of Heavenly Secrets. Your insight is invaluable."
With a dismissive wave of its wing, the bird turned back to its reading, and Zhao Xing exited the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. This revelation about the Shennong Shrine weighed on him. If he could somehow restore Da Li’s lost fortune, he might be able to access the shrine, but he knew the path would not be easy.
Back at the Cloud Gate Plaza, Zhao Xing took a moment to gaze at the vast sky filled with the grand halls and palaces. He had overcome many challenges within the Grand Dream Academy, yet each answer seemed to reveal more mysteries. The path forward was as daunting as ever.
For now, Zhao Xing resolved to continue cultivating his skills and strengthening his destiny. Perhaps, in time, he would uncover the secrets of Da Li’s Qi Luck and find a way to restore the Shennong Shrine. As he made his way toward the academy’s exit, the possibilities and challenges that lay ahead stirred a renewed determination within him.
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