Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 154 - 98: Divine Might Army, Grotto Heaven, Military Realm_3

Chapter 154: Chapter 98: Divine Might Army, Grotto Heaven, Military Realm_3

A local army like the East Lake Army didn’t even qualify to participate.

"Does the Divine Might Army have its own pocket world?" Zhao Xing asked.

At this question, Long Xiao visibly deflated, and Chen Shijie’s gaze darkened.

"We were so close to having one."

Which meant they didn’t have one.

Zhao Xing felt a slight tinge of disappointment.

What was the Military Realm?

The Military Realm was essentially a network of pocket worlds spanning the Nineteen States, connected by the Great Zhou.

As one’s rank increased, whether it was spells or martial skills, their power and range also grew exponentially.

The Nineteen States couldn’t withstand such power.

As Zhao Xing, at the Ninth Grade Realm, used the Swallowing Cloud Skill, it could cover half of Gu County.

The range of a martial artist’s secret skill wasn’t that vast, but its power wasn’t to be underestimated either.

Take the Minister of Agriculture as an example; many of the Earth Advantage Sect’s spells required practicing with earth veins, and the Heavenly Time Technique was similar.

One moment the mountains would crumble and the earth would split, another moment it would be winter or summer; how could the common folk endure such chaos?

Therefore, higher-level armies usually trained in their pocket worlds.

Pocket worlds had various magical characteristics.

Being vast and capable of withstanding destruction was one aspect; they also boasted unique and abundant resources.

For instance, in one of the Minister of Agriculture’s books titled "Cave Heaven Benefits," it described the wonders of ’Guangling Cave Heaven.’

In spring, one could plant the Five Jiahe, which would mature in the same season, a single ear could feed five people.

In summer, one could cultivate the Blood Vine, which would be harvested in the same season; its fruits could replenish various types of blood.

In autumn, one could grow golden beans; planted and harvested in the same season, they would Gathering Essence in three days, achieve Ninth Grade in a month, and be worth their weight in gold.

In winter, one could harvest Bone Healing Ginseng, which could heal bones in ten days and regenerate severed limbs in a hundred.

The Guangling Army, ranked in the top fifty of the Great Zhou, was stationed in Guangling Cave Heaven.

Yet, Guangling Cave Heaven wasn’t even the largest or most wondrous; the largest pocket worlds were occupied by the top ten Forbidden Armies.

Military exercises for the Military Realm’s corps were also held in rotation among these ten largest pocket worlds.

"Strong armies occupy their own pocket worlds. Since the Divine Might Army isn’t even in the top three hundred, they can only share one with other corps or even multiple corps."

"But what does Long Xiao mean by ’we were so close’?"

Seeing that Long Xiao and Chen Shijie weren’t saying more, Zhao Xing didn’t press the issue. He vaguely guessed that this might involve the core secrets of the Divine Might Army.

"Which pocket world would I train in if I went to the Military Realm?" Zhao Xing asked.

"It’s not clear yet." Chen Shijie shook his head, "We used to stay in Golden Court Cave Heaven and Danxia Cave Heaven; now that the Divine Might Army is being reactivated, there will definitely be some changes in this area."

"But by spring next year, it should be decided. Both Long Xiao and I will depart by then."

Zhao Xing nodded and then asked about other matters, "Does the Divine Might Army have a good relationship with the Li Fire Taoist School?"

The Li Fire Altar, while having certain usage conditions, wasn’t something just anyone could borrow.

In the Nineteen States, the number of military units was as numerous as cows, but there were only seventy-two Daoist Academies.

If you wanted to borrow one, they had to regard you highly.

"The Marquis has some connections with the Li Fire Taoist School." Chen Shijie said, "He studied there for a period in his early years."

"May I know the Marquis’s name and title?"

"Of course," Long Xiao replied, "The Marquis is surnamed Yang and named An; he was titled Marquis of Boping in the first year of Jingxin."

Not called Duke Divine Might? Boping... could it be a county earl?

Zhao Xing was a bit puzzled, seeing that Chen Shijie and Long Xiao held the Marquis in high regard, but he was just a county earl; it was quite strange.

Titles of nobility revealed quite a lot.

A first-class marquis typically had titles containing ’Wei’ or ’Ying,’ chosen personally by the Emperor, indicating special deeds or personal characteristics, or expressing aspirations and grand visions, which were also considered first-class titles.

A second-class marquis drew titles from the five virtues of a soldier: ’strictness, courage, martial prowess, wisdom, and trust,’ which were known as the five virtues titles.

A third-class marquis usually had titles named after their feudal land.

A fourth-class marquis didn’t fall under the category of martial marquises and had more varied titles, usually without feudal land, only feudal food income. This meant one could only collect a bit of tax from that land, whereas feudal land not only had taxes but also allowed recruitment of soldiers, development of mines, etc.

The Marquis of Boping was clearly a third-class marquis, yet commanding the Divine Might Army?

"I wonder what’s the story behind this; the future world-renowned Duke Divine Might and the Divine Might Army are now just the Marquis of Boping. Could it be that Emperor Jing was too stingy?"

Afterward, Zhao Xing asked some questions about the Divine Might Army, such as its size, number of members, achievements, and so on. He gained a general understanding of the place he was going.

Overall, the Divine Might Army aligned well with his next step of planning.

With fewer soldiers but stronger commanders, there were many opportunities for merit. One could tell from the personal qualities of Long Xiao and Chen Shijie.

Moreover, considering that the Divine Might Army would later become world-renowned, following them offered vast potential for advancement.

The only hidden concern was the unknown reason why it was eventually delisted.

"But that’s not unchangeable," Zhao Xing thought to himself, "My presence is bound to create a butterfly effect; for instance, this time’s action by the Xuantian Sect in Nanyang County. Without me, Old Chen could not have been alert enough to invite Long Xiao over and inform the Prince Nanyang."

"True strength never complains about the environment; no matter how much the future changes, it can’t alter my determination for eternal life!"

....

At the Chen Mansion, after watching Zhao Xing leave, Long Xiao rubbed his chin, "This lad is something else, determined in his resolve. It’s as if becoming a Military Minister of Agriculture Officer was his decided path, not merely your persuasion."

"In the Xuantian Sect incident, he was both brave and wise, able to strategize with you, and dared to act against a Hall Master at critical moments."

"Yet during the inspection in Anping Town, even though he had a Guardian Grassman with him, he didn’t act out of greed for merit."

"Talking with him, I said just a few words, and he seemed to have already figured out many things."

"I have a premonition, he will surely bring us surprises."

Chen Shijie smiled, "You seem even more optimistic than I am, but let’s not celebrate too early. Everything hinges on him passing the Temple Examination first."