Chapter 84: Re-entering the Academy, Treasures Await!

Thick clouds enveloped the surroundings, leaving only the path ahead visible. A towering gate, several dozen feet high, bore ancient inscriptions of four characters: Great Dream Academy.

"This time entering, it feels different."

"It seems I can see further, and my senses are clearer."

"This time, I should be able to obtain something worthwhile, right? Hopefully, it's a direct treasure, not some Heart Inquiry Platform..."

With these thoughts in mind, Zhao Xing strolled through the cloud layer, passing through the grand gate of the academy. Just like the first time, numerous treasures flashed before his eyes.

[Hall of Reincarnation], [Heart Inquiry Platform], [Martial God Tower], [Art Method Secret Vault], [Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion], [Sacred Beast Palace], [Life Palace]... Pavilions and towers, palaces and halls, bridges and corridors, all arranged with precision, layers upon layers, clouds and mist swirling around, as if in a celestial realm.

However, as he approached, these places faded into the cloud layer again.

Wait, patiently wait.

In anticipation, a palace appeared before him, radiating a brilliant golden light, finally stabilizing.

"Hmm? It's not the Heart Inquiry Platform, this is... Heavenly Work Hall?" Zhao Xing examined the palace, surprised that after entering, it wasn't the Heart Inquiry Platform but the Heavenly Work Hall.

"The Heavenly Work Hall has many treasures, but it's divided into many areas. Let's see which side hall I end up in." Zhao Xing thought to himself as he stepped into the palace.

As soon as he entered, a mist sprayed out, then dispersed, slowly revealing the reality.

"Student Zhao Xing, welcome to the Mystery Hall." A deep voice came from the mist ahead, followed by a strange beast slowly emerging. It was as large as a bull, resembling a qilin, covered in dense black fur, with bright, spirited eyes and a silver horn on its forehead, speaking human words.

Seeing the beast clearly, Zhao Xing was slightly startled. A mechanism beast Xiezhi? Did I actually come to the Mystic Pavilion?

"Greetings, Guardian." Zhao Xing quickly bowed in ritual. He was not unfamiliar with the Mystic Pavilion; this Xiezhi was the guardian, also known as the Beast of Law.

Xiezhi was highly intelligent, understanding human speech and nature. Throughout many dynasties, the national treasures changed forms, sometimes a qilin, sometimes a mysterious bird, sometimes a true dragon, sometimes a phoenix. But Xiezhi's status remained unchanged; in any dynasty, it was a national treasure.

It was also the national guardian. Although the one before him wasn't the true Beast of Law Xiezhi, just a mechanism beast, it contained the spirit of the Beast of Law, crafted from ninth-grade materials, almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

The Beast of Law Xiezhi sized up Zhao Xing: "You're only at the mid-stage of Gathering Essence. The only place suitable for you to pass is this Mystic Pavilion."

Zhao Xing listened quietly.

"The way of heavenly work, apart from recommendations, focuses on the source of creation. The mechanism method array mainly tests the student's wisdom and ability to deduce and calculate, combining the five elements, heavenly stems, and earthly branches."

"Each level will double in difficulty, but the rewards will also double."

"If you can reach the end of the Mystic Pavilion, you can obtain a 'Rare World Treasure'."

The Beast of Law Xiezhi explained.

Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel his heart leap with excitement. Rare World Treasure!

The grade of treasures, besides the first to ninth grades, also includes 'Rare World Treasures' and 'Peerless Treasures'.

A so-called Rare World Treasure is something that is extremely rare within a millennium of a dynasty, with very few in number, at most a handful.

As for Peerless Treasures, they are things that cannot be found in the current world, passed down from ancient times.

Why was Zhao Xing excited? Because at this time, the Great Dream Academy had not yet been scoured by the Martial Emperor, and these checkpoints hadn't changed much!

He had passed these checkpoints in his previous life!

"Ahead is the first level, the Mystic Gate."

Xiezhi lightly breathed, and the mist ahead dispersed, revealing a uniquely shaped wooden door.

"The Mystic Gate has three mechanism locks on it. Unlock the locks, and you'll pass the first level."

Zhao Xing suppressed his excitement, bowed, and walked over.

The wooden door was five meters high and eight meters wide. It was unique because it was embedded within the wall, seamlessly integrated.

Other areas were smooth and flawless, with no visible door seams. At one meter high, there were three components.

Two of them protruded. One was shaped like a bull's head, the other like a snake.

One was embedded within the door, forming a plum blossom pattern.

"Zhaoyang Plum Blossom Lock, Chongguang Bull Head Knob, Huanglu Snake Line Lock." Zhao Xing looked at the three mechanism locks and couldn't help but smile.

Although he wasn't proficient in mechanism arts, he knew the answers. He even knew more than one solution.

When players remembered, it was still usable now because these types of mechanism locks didn't involve the use of one's own Yuan Qi.

Xiezhi also mentioned that the test was of the student's wisdom and calculation ability, as well as understanding of the five elements and heavenly stems.

"Zhaoyang Plum Blossom Lock and Chongguang Bull Head Knob are both heavenly stem locks, while Huanglu Snake Line Lock is an earthly branch lock."

"These basic components, combined into locks through unique methods, each component must be moved to the corresponding position to unlock."

Zhao Xing first unlocked the Bull Head Knob.

He pushed with his left hand, adjusting the position of the Bull Head Knob, moving one bull head downwards, the other facing himself.

The wall seemed soft, the Bull Head Knob moving freely inside, completely unrestricted, but it was impossible to pull it open with great force.

Zhao Xing kept his left hand still, only operating with his right hand. He pulled back the bull head in his right hand until it reached the 'Shangzhang' position, which was one-third of the Kun Position.

Then he lightly twisted the bull head upwards with his right hand, causing the lower bull head to rotate accordingly, forming an up-and-down arrangement.

At this point, the lower Kun Position bull head had already detached, but it still wasn't unlocked.

He needed to move the bull head in the Shangzhang position to the 'Chongguang' position, which was the 'Zhen Position.'

Then twist downwards to the second-third of the Zhen Position, attempting to pull it outwards.

"Clack, clack, clack, clack~"

The two bull heads retracted into the door, lighting up with a faint blue light, indicating one lock had been unlocked.

"Using the heavenly stem method is the fastest, got one done!"

Clapping his hands, Zhao Xing moved to the Huanglu Snake Line Lock.

The snake-shaped lock lay horizontally on the door, about three feet long, made of intricately arranged round beads.

"The Huanglu Snake Line Lock has one hundred forty-six active beads and nine fixed beads. The combination isn't too many, with half hidden inside the door, making the difficulty great."

Zhao Xing began to explore, searching for the fixed beads' positions.

The key to unlocking the snake-shaped lock was to find the nine beads and restore them to the Huanglu position.

"It's good that I'm the only one here, no one to mess with me."

While unlocking, Zhao Xing recalled some interesting stories.

Unlocking this level was quite amusing. The snake-shaped lock would reset at midnight, ensuring four fixed beads were exposed outside.

This was the initial difficulty of the first level.

But if someone deliberately messed it up, hiding the fixed beads, or if some fool got angry at the snake-shaped lock and randomly moved the beads, the difficulty for those behind would increase greatly, causing trouble for others.

So every midnight, there would be a queue here, competing to be the first to unlock, not letting others mess with them, and then causing some trouble for others in return.

"Got it!"

After a moment of exploration, Zhao Xing restored the nine fixed beads.

Clack, clack~ The snake-shaped lock quickly retracted into the door, and the original position lit up with blue light.

"Not bad, quite talented."

Xiezhi watched Zhao Xing's actions, nodding slightly. "It seems the first level won't trouble him."

With the first two locks unlocked so quickly, the last one shouldn't be a problem either.

Only the last one remained, the Zhaoyang Plum Blossom Lock.

It was also the most difficult of the three locks.

"Nine petals of the plum blossom, all need to be restored once. Fortunately, the heavenly stems only have the Zhaoyang Position, making the difficulty much smaller. If it were more difficult, requiring both heavenly stems and earthly branches, it would be troublesome."

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment, then lightly pressed one petal of the plum blossom.

After pressing down, a sound emitted from inside, and Zhao Xing listened carefully, then continued with the second.

The first step was selection.

Among the nine petals, one must be in the Zhaoyang Position.

Since each petal needed to be restored, the first petal had to be found and moved, but not randomly, it must be moved according to the sequence, otherwise, it might just restore a piece.

After finding the position, Zhao Xing began unlocking.

After ten breaths.

"Clack~"

The plum blossom lit up with blue light one by one, then expanded and released.

"Clack, clack, clack, clack~"

The grand door began to retract to both sides.

First level, passed!

"Student Zhao Xing, congratulations on passing the first level of the Mystery Hall."

The Beast of Law Xiezhi approached, "You have received a fourth-grade 'Five Viscera Protection Pill'."

"The Five Viscera Protection Pill can enhance your internal cultivation techniques, strengthening your organs, speeding up Gathering Essence recovery, and making magic arts smoother."

"If you cultivate a technique that absorbs evil energy, it can also increase the resistance of the five viscera to evil fire."

After speaking, Xiezhi opened its mouth, spitting out a five-colored pill from its belly.

Zhao Xing received it with both hands: "Thank you."

Looking at the Five Viscera Pill, he couldn't help but sigh. The prestige of the Great Dream Academy was indeed high; even the first level directly rewarded a fourth-grade pill.

If it were during the Martial Emperor period, when it became 'Yunmeng Academy', the first level would at most offer a second-grade treasure as a reward.

One was elite, the other civilianized, naturally, the rewards couldn't be compared.

"Would you like to continue to the next level?" Xiezhi asked.

"Yes, the student wishes to continue." Zhao Xing nodded.

"Hoo~" Xiezhi blew a breath forward, causing a whirlwind to rise around, clouds and mist rolling.

Zhao Xing was also blown away by this wind, quickly moving, and when he settled down, the scene had changed significantly.

"The second level, Heavenly Mechanism Box."

"There are four Heavenly Mechanism Boxes placed before you, divided into Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding four levels. Inside are treasures of different qualities."

"The Heavenly Mechanism Boxes have no locks or knobs, sealed by formation patterns. If you are a mechanism master, you can try to unlock them with formation patterns."

"If you wish to forcefully break them, the Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding four boxes require your magic arts and martial skills to reach Spirit Bridge initial stage, Spirit Bridge mid-stage, Spirit Bridge late stage, and Spirit Bridge full stage, respectively."

The Beast of Law Xiezhi spoke of the cultivation realms of the Great Li dynasty, also known as the ancient method realms.

Gathering Essence corresponds to Ninth Grade, Spirit Bridge Realm corresponds to Eighth Grade.

Gathering Essence is easy to understand, absorbing the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth, condensing Gathering Essence Qi to nourish oneself.

Spirit Bridge Realm, on the other hand, is about building a bridge of heaven and earth within one's Dantian, connecting heaven and earth, allowing for clearer comprehension of the five elements' power between heaven and earth, while also accelerating the absorption of Yuan Qi, making it circulate endlessly.

The characteristics of the realms are the same, only the names differ across dynasties.

"To forcefully break, the Jia level box requires the attack standard of Spirit Bridge Realm full stage."

Zhao Xing thought, "The difficulty has increased a bit."

In his previous life, when he passed this level, the Jia level box only required the standard of Spirit Bridge Realm mid-stage.

However, whether it's the Great Dream Academy or Yunmeng Academy, the requirement isn't for combat power, only the single attribute value of 'attack power' reaching the standard is enough.

This means that as long as the single attribute of magic arts' damage can break the box's defense, it's fine, without needing to fully match the 'Spirit Bridge Realm'.

According to the Great Zhou cultivation system's standards, a single mid-level magic art or martial skill reaching Nine Turns is the mark of Eighth Grade.

The correct Eighth Grade above (Spirit Bridge full stage) generally involves multiple mid-level full magic arts or secret skills, even self-created magic arts, breaking through the limit of Nine Turns, and complementing each other, making combat power naturally higher.

The correct Eighth Grade below (Spirit Bridge late stage) involves multiple Mid-Level Nine Revolutions magic arts or secret skills.

From Ninth Grade to Eighth Grade, the Yuan Qi doesn't change in quality, only the physical body becomes stronger.

Of course, the difference between Eighth-Ninth Grade warriors is great, but the difference for magic arts professionals is smaller.

As for whether a single Nine Turns magic art counts as Eighth Grade combat power, that depends on the situation.

For example, now, the Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding four boxes are made of special wood. If you only know 'earth element magic arts', you can only stare blankly.

Because the five elements wood overcomes earth, even if you know seven or eight types of earth methods, reaching the mid-level full stage, there's no way to forcefully break them.

"My Thunder Method is only Nine Turns, not yet full, I don't know if it can break it."

Zhao Xing thought, in terms of attack power, Thunder Method is certainly the fiercest, Ice Rain, though full level, in this situation requires explosive attacks, Ice Rain probably can't reach the threshold.

Moreover, the systems of Great Li and Great Zhou are different, he doesn't know if it will work.

The so-called formation pattern is the code to unlock the box.

Formation patterns in mechanism arts are more advanced applications.

Now these Heavenly Mechanism Boxes aren't the ones he's familiar with from the Martial Emperor period, so the 'code' naturally isn't the same.

"Alright, let's try!"

Zhao Xing extended a finger, and a cloud layer appeared above his head.

Because the comprehension of magic arts is rooted in the soul, it can be displayed within the Great Dream Academy.

In the future, if Yuan Qi undergoes a qualitative change, it can also be brought in through higher-level guiding talismans and Soul Calming Talismans, bringing one's combat power into the checkpoints.

"Summon Thunder!"

A bolt of lightning struck down from the cloud layer.

Knowing his Thunder Method wasn't full, Zhao Xing could only focus on control techniques.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"

Nine consecutive bolts of lightning struck the same spot on the mysterious box, attempting to break it open.

"Did it break?"

Zhao Xing stared, only to find the Heavenly Mechanism Box merely had a scorched mark, far from breaking.

"Forget it, no need to waste time on this level."

Zhao Xing quickly gave up on breaking the Jia level box.

Even if he doesn't get the highest reward in the second level now, he can always try again later.

"Boom, boom!"

Two bolts of lightning easily broke open the Bing and Ding boxes.

As for the Yi level mysterious box, it took a bit more time.

"What's inside the box?"

The mysterious box wasn't large, only half a meter long, thick as a leg, naturally unable to hold anything large, and inside were three small items.

But treasures aren't judged by size, but by grade.

When Zhao Xing broke it open, three light clusters floated before him.

"Wind Crystal Earrings, third-grade upper quality, made from Wind River Cave Heaven's special wind crystal jade, enhances hearing when worn."

"Earth Evil Pill, third-grade upper quality, contains a wisp of earth evil, can be used to cleanse the marrow."

"Giant Whale Pill, fourth-grade middle quality, made from deep sea giant whale's blood and flesh combined with third-grade herbs, enhances physical strength when consumed, greatly increasing power. Especially effective for lungs, after taking the Giant Whale Pill in the Gathering Essence realm, one can dive kilometers underwater relying solely on the body."

Xiezhi's voice echoed, introducing the three treasures one by one.

Perhaps due to the violent breaking, these three were all items for warriors.

Hearing this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but chuckle: all for physical training, is my Sinoong going down the path of brute force?

But good things are indeed good, even for the second level, such great rewards.

Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh, the elites of Great Li eat really well.

These three items, within the third and fourth grades, have unique effects, not just any common goods.

Earth Evil for body training, Giant Whale for strength, with an added underwater effect, and Wind Crystal Earrings enhancing hearing, all quite practical.

"Student Zhao Xing, would you like to continue to the third level?"

"Yes, the student wishes to continue."

Having broken the Yi level box, Zhao Xing also gained the qualification to continue.

If he had only broken the Bing and Ding levels, he wouldn't be able to proceed to the third level.

"Clack~"

Clouds and mist rolled again, and Zhao Xing felt himself being blown away by a gust of wind, the next moment, he found himself between two walls.

"The third level, named Mechanism Maze."

"The maze has many mechanisms, both obvious and hidden, and they are movable. You need to find the patterns yourself to deal with those mechanisms and move through the maze."

Xiezhi explained: "If you can exit the maze within four hours, you can receive a fourth-grade treasure reward."

"If you exit within two hours, you can receive a fifth-grade treasure reward."

"If you exit within one hour, you can receive a sixth-grade treasure reward."

"If you haven't exited within four hours, it's considered a failure."

Zhao Xing blinked, Mechanism Maze, the highest reward is a sixth-grade treasure?!

This is much stronger than the Yunmeng Academy during the Martial Emperor period!

During the Martial Emperor period, the highest reward was only a fourth-grade treasure!

Just don't know if the Mechanism Maze has been simplified, if not, it means the difficulty is the same, then this time it's really a windfall...

Zhao Xing felt a bit excited.

Xiezhi looked at Zhao Xing, a bit puzzled, not knowing what he was excited about, could it be fear?

For this reason, Xiezhi specially explained: "The Mechanism Maze is not dangerous, you can rest assured to pass, the worst failure is just sleeping for three days, no need to worry about personal safety."

Zhao Xing bowed: "Thank you, Guardian, for the reminder."

"Go ahead."

"Yes."

Zhao Xing stepped into the maze.

Xiezhi blew a breath, and the Mechanism Maze began to activate.

(End of Chapter)