"That’s true." Long Xiao rubbed his chin, "In a while, I’ll write a letter to ask about the situation and send over what he needs in exchange for the Blood Evil Pearl and the Blood Spirit Needle."
"Exchange them for ’Thunder Stones’ and then tell him to take the Thunder Stones to the armory to exchange them for points." Chen Shijie said, "He can choose whatever he needs himself. Remember, you need to send a bit more. Don’t forget the recovery and selling ratios at the armory are different. Also, inform him about the places in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision’s various halls where he can study for free."
"Got it, you’re pretty meticulous, like a father fretting over his son." Long Xiao laughed, "If you two didn’t look different and the timing didn’t match, I’d suspect he’s your illegitimate child."
Chen Shijie laughed it off.
Long Xiao looked in a certain direction, "In one month’s time, he has to prepare for the branch test and also undertake the arduous path. The schedule is tight. I wonder if he has really planned it out as you said."
March 2nd, Chen hour.
Zhao Xing entered the Ten Suns Cave Heaven at You hour on March 1st.
He arrived at the Minister of Agriculture Supervision at the end of Xu hour.
Reporting, settling in, and receiving the classics took until almost midnight.
By now, it was already 7:15 AM the next day.
He had been training while studying for four hours.
Zhao Xing finally had to stop and rest. Even after taking the Giant Whale Pill, he still felt a burning pain in his lungs.
He had been running with weights for four hours, and even with the Minister of Agriculture’s physique, his body was now in a state of severe fatigue.
"At first, I could use the method of studying the Nine Heavens Gang Wind to divert my attention."
"In the last two quarters, I couldn’t focus on studying at all."
"The arduous path indeed involves enduring hardship."
At this moment, Zhao Xing had a thought that unless absolutely necessary, he would never borrow the path again.
However, after a brief rest, this thought vanished.
Concentrating and calming his breathing, he sensed the Fire Path coiling around his body. By now, it had dissipated by a tenth.
"Ninth Grade Realm, traveling a thousand miles in six daytime hours."
"I only ran three hundred miles in four hours."
"But I was carrying a two-thousand-pound load, which multiplies the effect by ten times, equating to three thousand miles of path." Zhao Xing lay on the ground, gasping for breath.
Carrying a two-thousand-pound weight was like running with several of himself, maximizing the fatigue.
The good part was it saved time. At this rate, in about seven days, he could repay Master Li Fire’s path.
Zhao Xing summoned a small cloud, then turned to drink water from it while lying in the clouds.
After drinking, he lay down to rest again.
"The arduous path also serves as training. If I persist, my Gathering Essence and physique will both improve." Zhao Xing consoled himself this way.
A green wind, like a floating silk ribbon, circled around Zhao Xing, lifting him up completely.
In the next moment, the green wind suddenly soared into the distance, and Zhao Xing turned into a blur, appearing at the other end of the courtyard.
The wind sound was like a howl, urgent and brief, echoing in his ears.
"Still far from the speed of leaving a sound trail."
Zhao Xing slowly descended from the sky.
The Secret Movement Technique and Spell Escape Technique measured success by whether they could break the sound barrier.
"Only above the Seventh Transition, riding the Gang Wind, can one break the sound barrier."
"But this is still much faster than using the initial stage of wind rising."
After a day and night of arduous training, with Zhao Xing’s comprehension, the foundation of perfecting the initial stage of wind rising, and insights from perfecting the Yin Wind, it was only natural he quickly grasped the Gang Wind Skill, reaching the third transition level.
"The Nine Heavens Gang Wind isn’t just a destructive spell but also includes movement and defense techniques."
"Riding the Gang Wind, the body moves with the wind, matching the speed of sound means utilizing the Gang Wind to control mid-air movement. Upon perfection, the person arrives first, followed later by the sound."
"Gang Wind Ninth Transition, Azure Dragon Protector, invulnerable to all spells. It means upon perfection, nine blue Gang Winds encircle the body like nine Azure Dragons; any spell cast upon you will be blown away by the Gang Wind."
"Gang Wind Ninth Transition, Azure Dragon Emerges, ravaging the world. Upon perfection, the destructive power of the nine Gang Winds is akin to nine Azure Dragons wreaking havoc on earth."
The description was imposing. But it referred to the full power of the "Nine Heavens Gang Wind."
Currently, Zhao Xing could only train in the mid-tier "Little Nine Heavens Gang Wind."
"Relying solely on unaugmented books, reaching the third transition in a short period is the limit."
Zhao Xing dismissed the Gang Wind, threw the book aside, and carried the bamboo box on his back, eyeing another Secret Technique: "Rolling Earth Mine."
Within seven days, he aimed to complete repaying the path and achieve the third transition in both Rolling Earth Mine and Gang Wind. This was the foundational training he set for himself.
The progress was good so far. In just a day and a night, the Little Nine Heavenly Gang Wind had reached the third transition.
"The Rolling Earth Mine is purely an attack spell, and this Yin Thunder Technique also has further advancements."
"It shares similarities with the Yin Wind, both drawing thunder from the earth veins. Unlike other Thunder Skills falling from the sky, the Rolling Earth Mine brings forth balls of thunder from underground."
With the bamboo box strapped to his back, Zhao Xing ran barefoot inside the courtyard, deep in study. His eighteen-locust-and-willow courtyard was quite expansive, roughly the size of four football fields—a benefit of arriving first.
Arriving late, one might have to stay in row houses, not ideal for cultivation. Without array isolation, even a neighbor’s snores could be heard.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!" Heavy footsteps echoed in the courtyard. Zhao Xing began his training and another day of the arduous path.