Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 487 - 56: Mystery of Two Lives, Solved! Sixth Rank Dragon Soul Jade! (6K)

Chapter 487: Chapter 56: Mystery of Two Lives, Solved! Sixth Rank Dragon Soul Jade! (6K)

Inside the Ten Thousand Skill Palace, it was still quite similar to before, with various grassmen performing spells everywhere.

However, the level of the spells had significantly increased.

When he was initially invited to teach, the demonstrations were all of superficial techniques; now, upon revisiting, he realized there was much profundity within.

For instance, the two squads of grassmen patrolling at the foot of the mountain; Zhao Xing initially thought they were randomly placed, but now he saw they were following the path of the "Eight Gates Four Elephants Array."

"Injury, Avoidance, Scene, Death, Alarm, Open, Rest, Life—this Eight Gates Array is a mobile formation. Wherever the grassmen go, the array goes, and it can also change based on the enemy’s movements within the array."

Flying halfway up the mountain, Zhao Xing noticed nine grassmen he hadn’t observed before, who seemed to be wandering aimlessly, but in fact, there was great subtlety in their movements.

"Grassmen made from hourly grass, hiding the spirits of Jiazi, Jiaxu, Jiashen, Jiawu, Jiazhen, Jiayin... are these the Six Jia Yin Gods?"

"Using the Six Jia Yin Gods to set up the Sealing Mountain Technique?" Zhao Xing still remembered the Sealing Mountain Technique of East Lake Mountain, whose incantation contained a part: "Three orders protecting the Dao of Eight Directions True Monarchs, paths may pass, grass and trees uninjured."

Liu Tianning’s Ten Thousand Skill Palace, built on a mountain, naturally would not have any Yin Gods.

But Liu Tianning used soul-binding grassmen to create the Six Jia Yin Gods, replacing the "Eight Directions True Monarchs" in the incantation, making the Sealing Mountain Technique equally effective.

Outside of the Great Zhou, the mountains and rivers did not have conferred True Monarchs, so Liu Tianning’s Six Jia Yin God technique essentially conferred "Yin Gods" himself, replacing the incantation.

"Old Liu truly mastered the Grassman Skill to perfection." Zhao Xing looked at the Grassman Skill on the mountain, marveling secretly.

Since he hadn’t fully learned the Grassman Skill in his previous life, many things now were new to Zhao Xing.

He could only recognize a small part, relying on rumors and speculation.

Liu Tianning’s Grassman Skill, claimed to be unmatched in the world, was no exaggeration; even a First-Rank Chief Minister of Agriculture Officer might not surpass him in this field.

Flying directly to the entrance of the Ten Thousand Skill Palace, Zhao Xing landed and walked towards the palace gate.

Liu Tianning’s true self had returned from the Sacrificial Soul Pass; he had initially gone to help and was not a member of the Divine Might Army, Xuanjia Army, or Zhenhai Army, so he had no obligation to confront there.

Why say it was his true self then? Because at that time, Liu Tianning had performed the "Pure Essence Projection" and released the Seventh Rank Plant species from his dantian.

The Ten Thousand Skill Grass Man couldn’t form Pure Essence Soil and couldn’t truly perform the Pure Essence Projection.

So, for a Fifth-Rank or higher Minister of Agriculture, to determine whether it was the true self, one would see if he could perform the Pure Essence Projection.

However, forcing out the Pure Essence Projection was not a simple matter.

In the Ten Thousand Skill Hall within the Ten Thousand Skill Palace, Zhao Xing saw Liu Tianning.

"Teacher." Zhao Xing bowed in salutation.

"Raise a grassman." Liu Tianning wasted no words and immediately tested Zhao Xing’s cultivation results.

"Yes." Zhao Xing didn’t have time to speak about serious matters and cast a spell first.

What Liu Tianning meant by raising a grassman was naturally not some mid-level Grassman Skill.

Zhao Xing walked outside the hall, took a deep breath, and pointed with golden light: "Wind, come!"

Gang winds arose, cutting down two stalks of Dragon Bamboo from the east side of the square, the bamboo being disassembled into strips by the gang winds as they flew over.

A bundle of Five Locust Wood was picked up from the west side of the square, split into four parts as it flew over.

Then from the south and north of the square, materials like resurrection willow, mulberry flower, clubmoss branch, and sky heart grass were swept in.

"Rise!"

As these materials gathered in front of him, Zhao Xing again shouted lowly.

Four grassmen took shape, then transformed into Zhao Xing’s appearance, due to the fusion with the Illusion Grassman.

Then the four grassmen, along with Zhao Xing himself, re-entered the hall, bowing to Liu Tianning: "Please, teacher, give advice."

"Not bad; your Grassman Skill has made some progress." Liu Tianning said: "At this point, continue to delve into the self’s Five Elements Path; we will discuss further when you encounter a bottleneck at the Seventh Transition."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded.

The self grassman had just passed the Fourth Transition; indeed, there was no need for guidance at this stage. Before the Seventh Transition, the path was clear, and Zhao Xing only needed to practice diligently, not encountering any bottlenecks.

Liu Tianning’s test was merely to see if he had been diligent, whether he had truly taken the Grassman Skill to heart.

Though strict, Liu Tianning would not be strict merely for the sake of it.

He acknowledged good work as good, without deliberately belittling his disciples for motivation.

"Do you need me for something?" Liu Tianning asked: "If it’s illegal, don’t even mention it."

Zhao Xing hurriedly replied: "Disciple wouldn’t dare."

"It’s just that now that I’ve retired from the battlefield and have nothing to do, I wish to explore the various places of Ten Suns Cave Heaven."

Zhao Xing carefully chose his words: "According to Ten Suns Cave Heaven’s regulations, exploring the various treacherous places requires different types of explorer qualifications."

Land surveyor, sky patrol, mountain search, sea inspection—each place required the corresponding qualification.

It was equivalent to needing a "credential."

The treacherous places in the Grotto Heaven, some were very fragile, like the Earth Fire Plain.

Back then, as a ninth grade, Zhao Xing’s use of the Gambling Dog Battle Technique managed to trigger a Level 5 Earth Fire Frenzy.

That place could be left as is, allowing the frenzy, but some places could not permit reckless actions and required the appropriate qualifications to enter.

Later on, the Ten Suns Cave Heaven also used this regulation to block outside entries.

By that time, obtaining even a "basic-level exploration envoy" qualification would be nearly impossible.

Liu Tianning said: "With your strength, getting a mid-level exploration envoy qualification isn’t difficult; you don’t need to discuss it with me."

It wasn’t difficult, but it was already the first of March, and for him to go through the process of getting a mid-level qualification in time was infeasible.