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Chapter 247: Lightning Bamboo, Hallucinogenic Mushroom, and Jungle Leaping
🕑 Added 2024-11-23 12:17:02 +0000 UTCLiu Tianning hadn’t anticipated that Zhao Xing not only created Pure Essence Soil but did so on such a large scale.
The area extended over three thousand square meters, a scale that even many Fifth Rank members of the Self School struggled to achieve.
“You’ve made considerable progress,” Liu Tianning nodded approvingly. “The three billion points were well-spent.”
With such results, the three billion points were indeed worth it.
Zhao Xing replied, “Actually, it cost resources worth ten billion. The princess has also shown me considerable support, and my Myriad Straw Puppets in the Eastern Sea have had a few fortuitous encounters.”
Liu Tianning pondered and said, “Once you reach the Fifth Rank, I’ll find resources valued at the hundred-billion level for you.”
Hundred-billion-level resources? This time, it was Zhao Xing’s turn to be taken aback.
Is Liu Tianning really this wealthy?
Liu Tianning stated calmly, “When the Southern Barbarian War ends, regardless of whether I get promoted to the Third Rank, I’ll become the Vice Dean of Shangluo Academy.”
“Even if it’s only the initial phase, the resources I’ll control will at least be at the trillion level, primarily allocated for cultivating Shennong prodigies of the Self School.”
“Since you’re my disciple, having access to hundred-billion-level resources is not difficult.”
After a moment of thought, Zhao Xing understood.
The Shennong family of Taihe County, represented by Liu Tianning, might not be able to casually hand over a hundred billion for a disciple, even if they possessed such wealth. After all, the Liu family is vast, and Liu Tianning’s elder brother is the head of the family.
However, it was different for Liu Tianning, the leader of the Self School.
The path of the Shennong has a history spanning millions of years, with places like Shangluo Academy and Lianhua Academy being centers for Shennong cultivation with ancient heritage. Their foundational strength is beyond estimation.
Regardless of who governs the empire, the work of the Shennong endures.
Because Shennong officials aren’t politically inclined, their ideal is solely to cultivate and bring stability to the nation.
In every era, they are highly sought after; after wars devastate the nineteen provinces, the order of nature must be restored quickly, and only the Shennong officials can make it happen.
After the Southern Barbarian War, whether or not Liu Tianning attains a high imperial rank, the role of Self School leader is within his reach.
The reason he’s expected to assume the Vice Dean’s position at Shangluo Academy is because the current Self School leader, Xu Xing, has yet to pass away.
Xu Xing, the Second Rank Shennong Minister, is now 775 years old.
If his life continues, Xu Xing may reach 800 years, but his time is limited.
In his past life, Zhao Xing remembered Xu Xing’s passing in the seventeenth year of the Endowed Peace Era.
The Self School had already begun considering successors, and the moment Liu Tianning emerged from the Military Realm, there was no doubt about his position.
The technique that best represents the Self School is the Myriad Straw Puppet.
Liu Tianning’s great-grandfather served as the Dean of Lianhua Academy, a highly esteemed position even if he wasn’t the leader.
With such deep roots, Liu Tianning had elevated the Myriad Straw Puppet technique to new heights.
The other vice deans couldn’t compete; they were merely there to support him.
Liu Tianning himself couldn’t directly provide the resources for his disciple.
But upon his ascension, his responsibility for revitalizing the Self School became clear. He didn’t need to wait for Xu Xing’s passing to fulfill his duty.
The nurturing of Self School Shennong practitioners would be his duty, just as he taught the Straw Puppet technique in the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven.
Although the Self School has few members, they are highly united, and each recognized Self School Shennong is at least of the Fifth Rank.
When Liu Tianning spoke of resources at the trillion level, he was actually being modest!
No one would object to Zhao Xing, as his abilities justified receiving hundred-billion-level resources.
However, such support wouldn’t come without tests.
True to Liu Tianning’s personality, he had strict requirements for his disciples.
As expected, Zhao Xing heard Liu Tianning declare:
“For the first stage, I’ll start by giving you five billion.”
“With these five billion, you need to cultivate Fifth Rank plants representing various classifications, such as ‘Phylum,’ ‘Class,’ ‘Order,’ ‘Family,’ ‘Genus,’ and ‘Species,’ covering each category.”
“Additionally, you must master the Pure Essence Projection technique and hone its combat applications, improving your ranking in the [Dao Field].”
“This is the first stage goal.”
“For the second stage, I’ll provide a minimum of twenty billion. Your task will be to cultivate Sixth Rank plants and establish Fifth-Level Pure Essence Soil.”
“Furthermore, you must continue your training in the Dao Field. Regardless of whether you are at the Fifth Rank or Fourth Rank, you must achieve the rank of the top Self School Shennong in Pinghai Province.”
“For the third stage, I’ll provide at least eighty billion. Your goal will be to cultivate Seventh Rank plants across six categories, ultimately claiming the title of top Shennong in Pinghai Province’s middle-ranking class.”
Liu Tianning stopped after outlining these objectives because if Zhao Xing managed to complete all three stages, his capabilities would have reached a high level.
By that point, Zhao Xing himself would be considered a senior figure, and he would need to shoulder the responsibility of nurturing the next generation. As for his future path, Liu Tianning hadn’t laid out any long-term plans.
Zhao Xing listened attentively.
He realized that cultivating Fifth Rank plants wouldn’t be difficult.
The real challenge was Liu Tianning’s requirement to encompass every category, as some plants had much longer growth cycles. For example, cultivating large trees would be tough given his current scale.
Overall, though, the first-stage objectives were relatively manageable, and five billion points should be sufficient for these tasks.
The real difficulty lay in the second and third stages.
“Complete the first-stage objectives, then return to me.”
“Yes, thank you, teacher, for your guidance,” Zhao Xing said respectfully.
Liu Tianning then posed a few questions, primarily regarding Zhao Xing’s insights on the three Great Mysteries. The teacher and disciple engaged in a half-hour discussion through the Earth Mirror, and the conversation ended shortly thereafter.
The moment it concluded, Zhao Xing received a notification of five billion points credited to his Earth Mirror account.
“An elite like Liu Tianning, coming from a Shennong family, truly has an incredible flow of wealth.”
“Doing a single task for him is worth a hundred or even a thousand times more than for others,” Zhao Xing mused.
When comparing Mi Fu to Liu Tianning, Mi Fu’s influence in life was minuscule. Perhaps only in his later years would people start to make comparisons between the two.
“The Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique that Mi Fu created isn’t ready to be made public,” Zhao Xing thought.
For one, Liu Tianning’s rise was inevitable, due to his power, family background, and influence both in court and in the military. With or without this technique, Liu Tianning’s trajectory was already set.
However, Zhao Xing needed the Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique to fulfill his own plans, which he wouldn’t reveal until he reached a higher rank.
For now, spirit energy treasures were rare, and even Princess You Ruo’s treasure vault only contained a single branch of willow. Discussing such things was futile.
Once he acquired more spirit energy treasures, he could consider sharing them with both Liu Tianning and Mi Fu.
“Aligning with Liu Tianning is truly like boarding a high-speed elevator,” Zhao Xing chuckled to himself.
“He’s giving me so much… I suppose he’s really worried I might stray into greed.” Zhao Xing chuckled again.
With the previous three billion included, the total resources provided amounted to eight billion.
Liu Tianning wasn’t even the vice dean yet, so it was likely that this funding was coming directly from his own pocket.
“Who knows, maybe the funds were borrowed from the princess herself,” Zhao Xing speculated.
Not long afterward, Princess You Ruo contacted him, asking if he had broken through to the Fifth Rank.
He hadn’t informed anyone of his advancement to the Fifth Rank, so it was definitely Liu Tianning who informed her.
“It’s probably the princess taking the initiative again. It’s enviable to make money just by standing around.”
With five billion points in hand, Zhao Xing once again left Twin Island.
He needed to make some purchases in the Military Realm, and the closest entrance was in the Jiujiang Cave-Heaven.
Although Liu Tianning hadn’t set a strict timeline, Zhao Xing felt a sense of urgency.
The twenty-ninth year of the Jingxin Era was approaching a critical juncture.
Firstly, in the thirtieth year, the Eastern Sea Regional Group Competition of the Myriad Beasts Tournament would commence. Qualifying there would allow him to participate in the Four Seas Competition.
If he could establish himself in the Four Seas Competition, he would have access to the Ancient Dragon Court grounds.
Additionally, in the thirtieth year, Chongming Prefecture would have to promote him to the Fifth Rank, as his ten consecutive years of superior governance ratings far exceeded the benchmark for outstanding performance.
At that point, he would receive a wave of national fortune, but also cross the threshold into the “Fifth Rank danger zone.”
Both the faction of King Liang and foreign forces would begin to pay attention to him.
It was already autumn, and with the new year (the Spring Festival in February) fast approaching, he had less than six months to prepare.
Enemies, both internal and external, could emerge at any time, especially with King Liang likely beginning to plot rebellion. Using his ancient turtle and the Five-Finger Heavenly Fate Technique, Zhao Xing calculated the timing repeatedly.
No matter how he interpreted the signs, the thirtieth year of the Jingxin Era appeared to be a turbulent year for him.
“Things change quickly, and if chaos breaks out, even farming may be disrupted. If I can transform plants into combat forces, I’ll have an extra layer of protection.”
Zhao Xing piloted his flying vessel and arrived at Jiujiang County in Chongming Prefecture on September 26.
The Jiujiang Cave-Heaven entrance was located in the eastern part of the county city.
Unlike the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven entrance, which was situated in the mountainous outskirts, Jiujiang Cave-Heaven’s entrance was mobile, similar to the Star Void Realm.
Currently in the intermediate stage of a Small World, Jiujiang Cave-Heaven was highly stable.
A thousand years ago, its entrance hadn’t been in Jiujiang County, and this area wasn’t even called Jiujiang.
It was Emperor Wen who relocated the entrance from Yuanping Province, positioning it here to bolster Pinghai Province’s eastern military strength.
During Emperor Wen’s relatively peaceful reign, aquatic tribes respected his benevolence, and few conflicts arose in the Eastern Sea.
While Jiujiang Cave-Heaven didn’t fulfill a military role at that time, over time, it became a rich repository of resources.
For anyone seeking Eastern Sea goods, Jiujiang Cave-Heaven was the place to go.
It also served as a major distribution hub in the Military Realm, where most items available for purchase could be found.
After waiting in the lobby of the County Marine Division, a robust military officer, clad in light armor with a long sword at his side, approached.
“Marquis Yuanrang, I apologize for keeping you waiting,” the officer said, bowing.
“General Fang, no need for formalities; I’ve only just arrived,” Zhao Xing said, standing up.
The officer was none other than Fang Ze, a captain of the Jiujiang Army. For the past eight years, the Dragon Horse Directorate’s warhorses had been supplied to the Xuanjia Army, Wuluo Army, and the Jiujiang Army.
Fang Ze, a Fifth Rank general, was Zhao Xing’s contact within the Jiujiang Army.
“Marquis Yuanrang, please follow me,” Fang Ze said, leading him toward Jiujiang Cave-Heaven without unnecessary formalities.
“After you.”
As Zhao Xing was no longer an active soldier, he would normally need to complete a bureaucratic process, with approvals from local government and the Military Realm, to enter a Military Realm Cave-Heaven.
However, with Fang Ze leading him, he could bypass those formalities, taking the Jiujiang Army’s private path.
They passed through a towering hundred-meter gate and found themselves beside a massive river.
Not far from the river’s edge lay the Jiujiang Army city.
Its layout was similar to that of Yang City, as all military cities followed standardized construction guidelines.
Unlike Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, Jiujiang Cave-Heaven enjoyed a stable climate with eternal spring, making it a comfortable place to visit.
“Marquis Yuanrang, we’ve arranged for you to stay at the Dragon River Guesthouse.”
“It’s very close to the Military Realm’s internal warehouse, less than thirty miles away.”
“It’s also near the Dao Field, just twenty miles away.”
“Whether you need to make purchases or visit the Dao Field for training, everything is conveniently located.”
“If you’d like to tour our Jiujiang Army camp, just present this token, and you’ll have unrestricted access.” Fang Ze handed Zhao Xing a token inscribed with his name, his gaze full of hope.
“Thank you, General Fang,” Zhao Xing said, accepting the token.
“The Jiujiang Shennong Division also has its own Taicang, Pinghuai, and Seasonal Qi academies.”
“They also house the Seasonal Qi Monument, the Original Dao Field, the Seventy-Two Earth Palaces, and the Mysterious Earth Jail—unique cultivation sites.”
“Marquis Yuanrang, if you have time, we’d be honored if you could instruct our Shennong trainees,” Fang Ze said eagerly. “Even a short lecture would be immensely valuable.”
Zhao Xing had no time for such leisurely activities; he accepted the token and brushed off Fang Ze’s requests with a few polite words.
After familiarizing himself with the guesthouse, Zhao Xing took out his Earth Mirror and began purchasing Fifth Rank seeds.
Currently, he had Third-Level Pure Essence Soil, capable of supporting Seventh Rank plant life.
However, as he had already planted the resource-hungry Floating Vine, there was no room for other high-level plants without affecting the vine’s growth.
Since the Floating Vine could naturally grow to the Ninth Rank, Zhao Xing prioritized its development.
Liu Tianning understood this and set Zhao Xing’s target at Fifth Rank plant combatants.
“Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Rank plant combatants roughly correspond to Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Rank humans in terms of life rank,” Zhao Xing noted as he reviewed the available options on the Earth Mirror.
Shangluo Academy classified plants into ranks from one to nine, with “Superb” and “Legendary” as the highest classifications.
The quality levels were further divided into “Common,” “Elite,” “King,” “Emperor,” and “Legend.”
Only in rare cases, like in “Legendary” or “Superb” plant species, would Emperor or Legendary quality appear.
For example, if a plant seedling exhibited Emperor quality, it had a high chance of surpassing the Ninth Rank once it matured.
Liu Tianning’s Floating Vine was only at King quality.
It reached a level beyond Ninth Rank solely because of the vast amount of resources invested, which enabled it to break through its natural limits.
The Self School’s guiding philosophy held that all plant life could potentially achieve Legendary quality.
However, Zhao Xing knew this was more of an aspirational ideal.
A plant of Common quality had a growth potential capped at the Third Rank.
Attempting to elevate such a plant to Legendary quality would require far more effort and resources than nurturing a seedling with inherent Legendary potential.
“Typically, selecting a suitable quality level means choosing growth potential,” Zhao Xing muttered, filtering out options to only view those at Elite quality.
With Third-Level Pure Essence Soil, Elite quality was a balanced choice for him. Training King quality plants, however, would stretch his resources too thin.
“Liu Tianning’s first-stage target includes mainstream plant combatants across the classifications of ‘Phylum,’ ‘Class,’ ‘Order,’ ‘Family,’ ‘Genus,’ and ‘Species.’”
“Mainstream plants alone encompass quite a variety,” Zhao Xing observed as he reviewed his options. “Let’s start with species that grow quickly and are easy to cultivate.”
Fast-growing options, without question, included vines, bamboo, and herbaceous plants.
However, finding Elite quality within these categories was more challenging.
Furthermore, only a few of these could actually be used in combat.
A combat-ready plant needed to possess active properties.
“Let’s start with these three as practice,” he decided.
[You have purchased 30 Lightning Bamboo seedlings, Quality: Elite Second Rank.]
[You have purchased 10 Resilient Vine seedlings, Quality: Elite Second Rank.]
[You have purchased 30 Hallucinogenic Mushroom spores, Quality: Elite Second Rank.]
All three plants were Elite Second Rank, which meant that once they reached maturity, they would attain Fifth Rank life levels. In terms of life stages, this was equivalent to Fifth Rank humans.
Take the Hallucinogenic Mushroom as an example: its toxins could affect Fifth Rank individuals.
However, if it were only of Elite First Rank (the typical Fourth Rank equivalent), it would be ineffective against Fifth Rank targets.
Mushroom-type plants were among Zhao Xing’s favorites. Their versatility and adaptability made them highly useful in many situations.
After completing his purchases, Zhao Xing’s balance dropped by 5,000 points.
Seeds and seedlings were relatively affordable, but the cost of cultivation would add up over time.
If Zhao Xing simply planted the seeds in Pure Essence Soil without further care, the soil’s energy levels would gradually decline.
In severe cases, it could revert to Level-One soil or even disintegrate into sand and gravel.
To avoid permanent damage and maintain its strength, Zhao Xing also purchased additional resources to nourish the soil.
“Purchasing 10 Sixth Rank Essence Crystals.”
[You have purchased 10 Sixth Rank Essence Crystals, costing 600,000 points.]
Not long after, he heard a rapid clicking sound from outside the courtyard.
When he stepped out, he found himself momentarily surprised. Were mechanists now delivering supplies on bamboo horses?
For a moment, Zhao Xing thought he was back at the Eighteen Locust Willow Courtyard, where Gao Ming often made deliveries.
“Sir, your items have arrived,” the mechanist announced, bringing Zhao Xing back to reality.
“Thank you,” Zhao Xing replied, gesturing to bring the packages inside.
The three Wenzhu Boxes contained Hallucinogenic Mushroom spores, Resilient Vine seedlings, and Lightning Bamboo seedlings.
Opening the boxes, Zhao Xing activated his Pure Essence Projection.
Buzz—
A projection enveloped the seeds and seedlings within the boxes.
“Collect!”
The boxes remained in place, but the seeds and seedlings disappeared.
Lowering his consciousness into the Pure Essence Soil, Zhao Xing saw that the three plant types and 10 Essence Crystals were now situated within the soil.
Almost instantly, the seedlings and spores began to grow, quickly transitioning from the seedling phase into the growth phase.
“The Pure Essence Soil carries the Dao techniques I’ve mastered, and with the Essence Crystals providing energy, it’s as if I’ve automatically activated Wasteland Essence Convergence and Wild Growth.”
Zhao Xing withdrew his consciousness, content to let the plants mature on their own.
Previously, cultivating plants required constant care and technique applications, but with Pure Essence Soil, the process was now automated—a welcome relief.
“Next, I need to master the Self School’s control spells.”
With spells readily available for study, Zhao Xing flew directly to the Shennong Office in Jiujiang City.
After presenting the token Fang Ze had given him, Zhao Xing gained access to Taicang Academy within the Shennong Office.
The technique he planned to study was one he had encountered before: Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers.
Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers was a foundational technique for Self School Shennong practitioners to control plant combatants.
To wield plants as soldiers and direct them with precision, one had to understand the depths of the Yin-Yang Self Canon.
“Observe this,” the unnamed Shennong instructor pointed to a fully matured Exploding Bamboo.
“This plant possesses an explosive characteristic and will detonate naturally when the time is right, even without intervention.”
He pointed to one of the Exploding Bamboo plants.
“In about fifteen minutes, that bamboo stalk will explode naturally. Observe its spontaneous detonation.”
Zhao Xing focused intently.
After exactly fifteen minutes, the eighteenth section of the bamboo burst open.
This initial detonation triggered the remaining segments, and all thirty-eight sections of the bamboo erupted, releasing intense flames that shot outward.
Zhao Xing pondered deeply.
The instructor then pointed to another stalk. “This bamboo is not yet ready for natural detonation.”
“Now, I will use Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers. Watch carefully to see how the controlled explosion occurs.”
“Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers—Detonate!”
With a wave of his staff, the instructor channeled energy through the bamboo, causing its segments to glow red, starting from the base and climbing upward to the top.
By the time it reached the thirty-eighth segment, the bamboo was radiating with an intense glow.
Boom!
The top segment exploded, sending a red beam of light hurtling forward.
Bang! A massive boulder, ten meters high and located a hundred meters away, shattered upon impact.
The explosion’s trajectory matched the direction indicated by the instructor’s staff.
“By controlling the timing, direction, and even the force of the explosion, Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers grants full command.”
“This technique applies to more than just Exploding Bamboo; other plant species work the same way.”
“All plant life possesses talents similar to those of exotic beasts, but their low intelligence prevents them from actively using these abilities without guidance.”
“Guiding their abilities and understanding the proper timing is only the first level of control.”
“The second level is full command, substituting your mind for theirs.”
“Watch this.”
The bamboo forest vanished, replaced by a sprawling patch of vines.
With a wave of the instructor’s staff, the vines, previously resting on the ground, lifted themselves like snakes rising to attention.
Despite having seen such scenes many times, Zhao Xing felt an exhilarating thrill, as the vines truly began to move.
The vines brushed against the ground, making a rustling sound.
Ahead, a wild boar grazed, oblivious to the vines closing in from all directions.
“These vines possess incredible tensile strength, allowing them to extend and retract.”
“I call this technique Death Coil.”
Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers—Death Coil!
Zhao Xing felt a surge of excitement; this was a classic skill within the vine category.
In an instant, hundreds of vine tendrils ensnared the boar.
Whoosh—
The thousand-pound boar was quickly dragged a hundred meters away, right to the instructor’s feet.
Crack, crack, crack—
With a clench of the instructor’s fist, the vines constricted, slicing the boar into dozens of pieces, even snapping its bones.
After the demonstration, the instructor continued, “The first level of Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers is guidance.”
“The second level is command.”
“Both require mastery of the Yin-Yang Self Canon.”
The instructor waved his hand, and the world around them turned transparent, becoming an illusion.
The boar, ground, and everything else vanished, leaving only a single vine.
A connection formed between the vine and the instructor.
Looking closely, Zhao Xing noticed strands of Five Element Qi flowing within the vine.
“Five Element Qi flows in endless strands—so this is the essence,” Zhao Xing murmured in realization.
No wonder understanding the Yin-Yang Self Canon’s second level was a prerequisite for cultivating Pure Essence Soil.
Five Element Qi threads permeated the plant life, allowing him to command it fully and unleash its capabilities.
Thus, control was achieved.
“It’s similar to the Straw Puppet Technique in principle, though the puppet technique is more complex and leans toward magic.”
“Plant combatants, on the other hand, rely more on the inherent talents of plant life.”
Having previously studied the Myriad Straw Puppet Technique, Zhao Xing quickly grasped why it was classified under Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers.
“The third level of Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers is also the ultimate goal of the Self School.”
The instructor waved his hand, and a new scene unfolded around them.
A ghostly image appeared beside him, standing amid a field of golden soybeans.
The image picked a handful of beans, spread them across its palm, and blew on them.
Whoosh—
In an instant, the beans transformed into dozens of armored soldiers clad in gold.
“What you see before you is an ancient image passed down through the ages.”
“It records a legendary ability known as Scattering Beans to Create Soldiers.”
“This is the third level of Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers—Spirit Imbuement.”
“We must diligently train to revive this supreme ability from the ancient era of the Self School.”
The image faded, and Zhao Xing opened his eyes again.
“Who would have thought that even in this era, the Self School preserves the concept of divine abilities, retaining images from the previous spirit energy era? This is truly remarkable,” Zhao Xing thought.
Artifacts from the last spirit energy era were incredibly rare, with most knowledge lost to time. The vast gulf of years and lack of practitioners had turned these skills into legends.
“Straw Puppet, Mountain Arts—these techniques would shine even more brightly in a spirit energy era. With each era, their power grows,” he mused.
“For now, mastering the second level will suffice.”
In this current era of primal energy, reaching the third level of Spirit Imbuement was nearly impossible.
Unless Zhao Xing could find a substantial source of spirit energy, he wouldn’t prioritize it over upgrading his Pure Essence Soil level.
After all, Spirit Imbuement required spirit energy for imbuing life into plants.
Training forest spirits and wild beasts needed the presence of a spirit energy era to have any real chance of success.
“How much spirit energy still exists in the Xuanhuang World?” Zhao Xing wondered, shaking his head. “The last revival was a fleeting phenomenon, marking the final resurgence of spirit energy here.”
Locking these thoughts away in his Memory Palace, Zhao Xing checked his status screen.
Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers: Advanced Spell
Effect: Utilize personal Dao insights to guide and command plant combatants, activating their innate characteristics.
Progress: Advanced, Sixth Transformation
“With the second level of the Yin-Yang Self Canon mastered, I’ve reached the sixth transformation in Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers.”
The spell’s effectiveness depended heavily on the specific plant combatants involved.
Its power hinged more on the plants’ strength than on the caster.
With the advanced version of Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers under his belt, Zhao Xing only needed to wait for his plant combatants to mature before conducting real combat drills.
“In addition, I’ll need to work on cultivating derivative species, practicing until it becomes second nature.”
“Cultivating derivative species is also a core task for Self School Shennong practitioners.”
“The Straw Puppet Technique merges various skills, while derivative species allow multiple plant lifeforms to blend their abilities.”
Zhao Xing’s thoughts turned to the Hallucinogenic Mushroom spores he had chosen.
Exploding Bamboo combined with Hallucinogenic Mushrooms, then concealed with an invisibility technique, would be an ideal setup for laying traps.
“Step on it, and it explodes, releasing hallucinogenic toxins. For trench warfare, this setup would be unbeatable. I just hope it’s allowed in the Myriad Beasts Tournament.”
Zhao Xing chuckled, considering the risks; his opponents might not appreciate such tactics. However, he hadn’t seen any rules prohibiting Shennong practitioners from using their own profession’s techniques during beast-handling matches.
As time passed, three days went by in the blink of an eye.
By the first day, all three plant species had reached full maturity, though Zhao Xing’s training in Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers had delayed his use of them slightly.
Pure Essence Projection!
Buzz— An ethereal soil projection spread over an area spanning three thousand square meters around him.
The Lightning Bamboo, Resilient Vines, and Hallucinogenic Mushrooms materialized within the soil’s domain.
Using a specialized plant-monitoring device, Zhao Xing scanned each of the plants.
Detailed information quickly appeared before him.
Name: Lightning Bamboo
Quality: Elite Second Rank
Status: Maturity Phase
Traits: Thunder Power; each bamboo segment contains a stored thunder energy. At full maturity, a Lightning Bamboo plant has a minimum of thirty-six segments; this one has forty-five.
Overall Rating: Fifth Rank, Superior
…
Name: Resilient Vine
Quality: Elite Second Rank
Status: Maturity Phase
Traits: Dual Durability and Flexibility; the Resilient Vine is exceptionally tough, capable of resisting a single blow from a Fifth Rank divine weapon. Its natural length is a kilometer, extendable to twice that, while it can retract to as little as a hundred meters. This particular vine can reach up to 1,500 meters, exceeding the average length by double.
Overall Rating: Fifth Rank, Superior
…
Name: Hallucinogenic Mushroom
Quality: Elite Second Rank
Status: Maturity Phase
Traits: Hallucinogenic Toxin; the Hallucinogenic Mushroom can explode, releasing toxic gas that, upon inhalation or skin contact, induces severe hallucinations in targets. The toxicity level of this mushroom is 80% above average.
Overall Rating: Fifth Rank, Superior
“All three plant combatants have traits that significantly exceed standard benchmarks.”
“This enhancement is thanks to my Primordial Insight, which raised their trait caps,” Zhao Xing noted.
However, this improvement came at a cost—one Essence Crystal worth 60,000 points, almost an entire month’s wages.
He could have foregone the Essence Crystal, allowing the Pure Essence Soil to recover naturally.
There were options for the wealthy, and options for the less well-off.
Now that Zhao Xing was flush with resources, he didn’t mind spending a mere 60,000 points.
Mobilizing All Plants as Soldiers—Lightning Strike!
With a flick of his hand, the twenty-meter-tall Lightning Bamboo fired off forty-five bolts of lightning in the direction he pointed.
Each bolt equaled the full-force strike of a late-stage Fifth Rank thunder elementalist.
All thirty Lightning Bamboo plants unleashed their energy simultaneously.
A total of 1,350 lightning strikes bombarded a thousand-meter area ahead of him.
Thunderous cleansing!
The ground exploded, creating a massive crater.
After observing the Lightning Bamboo’s energy levels, Zhao Xing calculated the recovery time.
“It’ll take about half a day to recharge the stored thunder energy.”
The power was formidable, but the drawback was obvious.
Unleashing 1,350 strikes in one go would even cause Zhao Xing’s Myriad Dao Body to feel the impact.
For martial artists with high-level defenses, particularly those at Fifth Rank Iron Bone Perfection, this barrage would likely result in serious injury.
The main drawback was the lengthy cooldown time—half a day to recover meant that after one attack, the Lightning Bamboo would have to withdraw from the battlefield.
“This issue will improve as the Pure Essence Soil level increases and expands in scale.”
“If I upgrade to Fourth-Level Pure Essence Soil, the Lightning Bamboo recharge time will decrease to two hours. With a quality improvement, its support power would increase by several orders of magnitude.”
“Additionally, by expanding the Lightning Bamboo numbers, rotating groups can allow continuous strikes, making for uninterrupted attacks.”
“I can even move them into new positions.” Zhao Xing directed his thoughts.
The thirty Lightning Bamboo plants instantly shifted a hundred meters forward.
It wasn’t the bamboo moving but rather a feature of the Pure Essence Soil, which allowed the soil to shift like quicksand at impressive speeds.
“In effect, I’m commanding a mobile army of plants that obey my every order. The combat effectiveness of this plant army depends entirely on my skill in coordinating their deployment.”
The crater exposed several large stones. Zhao Xing used the Resilient Vine to pull the rocks back, stacking them in front of the Lightning Bamboo as a makeshift barrier.
Zhao Xing smiled, “The Self School either falls short or excels to a degree that defies belief.”
“This is just with thirty plants. If I had 30,000, 300,000, or even a million of them striking together, it would truly be a thunderous cleansing, capable of razing entire cities in an instant.”
Of course, reaching that scale would be no easy feat.
Without the Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique, building a plant army in this primal energy era was a pipe dream; the Pure Essence Soil couldn’t handle the load and would collapse under the strain.
Bang! A Hallucinogenic Mushroom exploded nearby.
Zhao Xing approached and inhaled a bit of the toxic gas, his expression turning slightly green.
“Yikes, maybe testing this on myself wasn’t the best idea. I could swear I just saw Fang Ze walking around without clothes on… quite the eyesore…” Zhao Xing mumbled.
Fang Ze, meanwhile, flew over with a puzzled look. “Brother, what’s going on? Why are you looking at me so strangely? Is something on my face?”
“No,” Zhao Xing said, averting his gaze. “Did you need something, Brother Fang?”
“I heard a commotion and came over,” Fang Ze replied, glancing at the massive crater nearby. “Brother, if you’re going to train, please use the Dao Field. This is a public residence, after all.”
He wouldn’t charge Zhao Xing for damages, but disturbing others wasn’t ideal.
That lightning barrage had startled several Fifth and Sixth Rank guests, who thought that a demon sect had infiltrated Jiujiang Cave-Heaven to cause chaos.
“My apologies; I didn’t consider that. Sorry for the trouble, Brother Fang.”
“Back in the day, this wouldn’t have mattered. You could train wherever you liked,” Fang Ze said. “But after the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven incident, they’ve tightened security everywhere.”
“I understand,” Zhao Xing nodded, having personally experienced that incident.
“Still, it’s impressive you made such a commotion,” Fang Ze remarked, walking over to examine the crater. “You even exposed the stone foundation. The Jiujiang Guesthouse’s foundation is fortified by a special formation.”
“Wait, what’s that over there? A beautiful woman’s face… that looks like Marquis Jiang Wu… Hold on, what kind of demon are you?”
Zhao Xing: “…”
Watching Fang Ze draw his sword and slash at thin air, Zhao Xing could only laugh helplessly.
It seemed this hallucination had somehow conjured an image of Jiang Wu as a woman, no wonder Fang Ze reacted so strongly.
Quickly, Zhao Xing dispelled the Pure Essence Projection to avoid any further mishaps with the mushrooms.
After a few awkward moments, both men regained their composure, staring at each other in mutual embarrassment.
“Ahem… I have some business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave,” Fang Ze muttered, excusing himself.
“Understood, Brother Fang. I’m also heading to the Dao Field. Until next time,” Zhao Xing replied.
The two parted ways swiftly, their awkward exchange still lingering.
Zhao Xing then made his way to the Jiujiang Cave-Heaven Dao Field.
“Old Liu set my second-stage goal as becoming the top Self School Shennong in Pinghai Province’s middle-ranking class.”
“I wonder who this ‘Cai Tingzhi’ is—his rating is a staggering Seventh Rank, Six Stars,” Zhao Xing observed as he checked the Dao Field leaderboard.
He was viewing the rankings for the Self School Shennong practitioners of Pinghai Province.
The first-place holder, Cai Tingzhi, had amassed an astonishing 75,231 points!
His net victories matched his total matches of 76,081, giving him a near-flawless 99% win rate.
Dao Field Rating: Seventh Rank, Six Stars!
What did that imply? Seventh Rank was already considered high-level.
Reaching Seventh Rank, Six Stars meant he had triumphed over countless Fifth Rank opponents.
“Pinghai Province’s top middle-ranking Shennong is likely approaching Second Rank strength.”
The board showed that Cai Tingzhi held the title of Fourth Rank Shennong, suggesting his record was the result of countless victories over Fifth Rank practitioners.
“I’m not sure which faction Cai Tingzhi belongs to,” Zhao Xing thought. “Still, if he doesn’t advance, I’ll inevitably face him someday.”
After all, Liu Tianning had set the goal of making Zhao Xing the top middle-ranking Self School Shennong in Pinghai Province.
“The second-ranked Lan Caiyue also has a 99% win rate, with only a hundred-point gap separating her from Cai Tingzhi, and she’s also Seventh Rank, Six Stars.”
Zhao Xing studied the rankings for a while before turning them off.
As a newcomer to the Fifth Rank, he was no match for these established Shennong experts.
The world was filled with heroes as numerous as fish in a river; Zhao Xing had always respected others’ strengths. For instance, Mi Fu was also a Fifth Rank Shennong, and Zhao Xing would likely struggle to defeat him even now.
Mi Fu was a master of myriad techniques, from Law of Change to Myriad Straw Puppet to Pure Essence Soil, having honed each over decades.
He was, after all, the genius who created the Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique.
With his abrasive personality, it was a miracle he had survived in his position.
Zhao Xing knew from their conversations that Mi Fu’s Myriad Straw Puppet skills were a result of necessity.
With the number of enemies Mi Fu had made, honing his skills was a matter of survival.
He had even stood up to the titled King Su Lin, who once requested Mi Fu’s presence at a family celebration. In response, Mi Fu had openly insulted him.
Time flew by, and it was soon October 8, the twenty-ninth year of the Jingxin Era.
Zhao Xing had now spent ten days at the Jiujiang Dao Field.
In a dense forest.
Buzz— Zhao Xing emerged from the trunk of a willow tree.
He stretched, placing a hand on the trunk.
In the next moment, he reappeared from a pine tree a thousand meters away.
The technique he was practicing was a new advanced spell from the Self School, known as Jungle Leaping.
A type of wood escape technique, Jungle Leaping allowed him to travel between locations as long as there was living plant life in both areas.
Jungle Leaping: Advanced Spell
Progress: Advanced, Fourth Transformation
Effect: Move between plants, with each leap covering up to four kilometers. Requires living plant life as a medium.
“Fourth transformation, not bad progress,” Zhao Xing said, smiling.
Compared to other wood-based escape techniques, Jungle Leaping required living plant life but offered longer distances and faster speeds.
“At the fourth transformation, I can leap four kilometers instantly. At mastery, it’ll reach ten kilometers.”
“However, the cost is significant, unless I shift the energy drain onto the plant itself.”
Zhao Xing glanced at the willow beside him, now completely withered.
The leap had drained all its life energy.
“If I’m in a forest and someone pursues me, they won’t be able to follow my path, as each tree I use becomes unusable for further leaps.”
“With a large enough forest, my escape speed could rival Liu Tianning flying through the air on a standard Floating Vine.”
The technique had certain limitations. It was only effective in dense forests, and each leap required a living plant within range.
Furthermore, the energy cost was steep. The willow he had used was Fifth Rank, specifically chosen for training purposes, allowing him to shift the cost onto the tree.
In real combat, such high-rank trees wouldn’t always be available, meaning he would have to bear the cost himself.
When relying solely on his own energy reserves, long-distance leaping would require frequent stops for rest.
Switching his focus, Zhao Xing climbed onto a floating platform and selected a new training scenario on his Earth Mirror.
“Switching to Fifth Rank Target Training.”
Whoosh— The floating platform carried Zhao Xing through the mist.
After a minute, it came to a halt.
The mist dispersed, revealing a barren wasteland below, populated by various mechanical targets.
Some targets floated in the air, while others stood firmly on the ground.
Some were mobile, while others remained stationary.
[You have entered the Fifth Rank Target Training Field, featuring 12,000 targets in total.]
[The training area charges 500 points per quarter-hour; time is rounded up to the nearest quarter-hour.]
“So expensive,” Zhao Xing muttered. At 4,000 points per hour, a full day would cost nearly 50,000 points.
A Fifth Rank practitioner training here for a single day would spend nearly their entire monthly salary.
Still, the price was justified, as the targets here were of top quality.
Thirty percent of the targets were humanoid mechanical dummies, each possessing Fifth Rank combat strength and covering a wide range of elemental defenses, from the Five Elements to wind and lightning.
Even if they were destroyed, there was no penalty.
Pure Essence Projection!
Buzz—
Around Zhao Xing, rows of plants appeared, having increased significantly in number over the past ten days.
The Lightning Bamboo count had risen to 100, with Resilient Vines now totaling 30, and the Hallucinogenic Mushrooms expanding to over 3,000!
“I order all humanoid targets to attack me!”
“If any target reaches me, the training ends,” Zhao Xing declared to the sky.
While he honed his skills in the Jiujiang Dao Field, events were unfolding far from the safety of Twin Island.
Roughly three hundred nautical miles away, on the surface of the sea:
Whoosh—
A whirlpool formed in the ocean as a dark, ghostly warship emerged from beneath the waves.
On the deck stood a man clad in black and gold armor, wearing a helmet adorned with green fangs and wielding a long spear.
Behind him stood rows of warriors, each armed with blades and dressed in armor.
The formation was precise and imposing, with a dark aura swirling above their heads.
“General Golden Throat, which island are we attacking this time?” asked the officer beside him.
Their mission was highly secretive, with targets revealed only at the last minute.
General Golden Throat extended his hand, revealing a fur-covered palm. “Bring me the map. Let’s see where we are.”
“Yes, sir.” The officer presented a map. Hand-drawn and devoid of magical energy, it looked ancient and crude.
The characters scrawled across it were not from the Da Zhou Empire but appeared to be Eastern Wilderness serpent script.
Golden Throat’s gaze swept across the marked islands, and his finger paused on Twin Island. “This island is marked. Why is such a small territory highlighted?”
The officer replied, “Sir, this map was provided by the Liang faction of the Da Zhou Empire. The islands circled in red represent their political adversaries.”
“I see,” Golden Throat muttered, tapping the map. “Then let’s make this our next target.”
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