The Hell, Is He Really an Unparalleled Genius? (6K)

"Lord Zhao, his name is Yue Lingzhi. He was originally an Eighth Grade Divine Soldier blacksmith, but he was punished by Lord Lu to sweep the floor of the Divine Weapon Hall because of a mistake in forging weapons and armor. He can be reinstated once he finishes sweeping." The receptionist said in a low voice.

"How long has he been like this?"

"It has been more than two months."

Zhao Xing frowned, then activated his Bright Eyes to observe Yue Lingzhi.

They discovered that the broom he was holding, though seemingly ordinary, was actually full of hidden mechanisms and extremely heavy, weighing at least a thousand pounds.

Carrying such a heavy object is already very strenuous.

Once the broom touches the ground or remains off the ground for more than two breaths, lightning will emanate from the handle and strike Yue Lingzhi.

In other words, Yue Lingzhi cannot stop; he must keep sweeping to avoid getting electrocuted.

As for why the Divine Weapon Hall is spotless, why would he be asked to sweep the floor?

It's punishment in itself, what reason is needed?

Even stepping into the threshold with the left foot first can be used as an excuse.

"Lu Tingzhi's narrow-minded and mistreated nature is now on full display," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "Damn it, in my past life I embezzled 10,000 taels, and he still took 9,000 of them. That son of a bitch."

The Divine Weapon Hall was bustling with people, mostly officials of various ranks coming and going to exchange items.

Such punishment clearly carries a sense of humiliation.

The Transportation Department primarily Engineer School. It also oversees other departments, such as those for Agricultural Official, Priest, Weaving Girl, and warriors.

Lu Tingzhi wielded considerable power; punishing a mere Eighth Grade blacksmith was as easy as child's play for him.

"Thank you for informing me, brother." Zhao Xing and the official who was receiving him bowed and walked out of the hall.

He wanted to see Lu Tingzhi and take him away.

Because this is a future master craftsman, like Wang Ji, a Mechanism Master, whose knowledge is very diverse. He can forge, build cities, and set up formations.

However, Yue Lingzhi specialized in forging. He later had a different encounter and learned the ancient "Heaven Sect Sword Forging Method".

The Divine Soldier he forged were three times more powerful than those of others.

Later, Yue Lingzhi became Wu Emperor's personal master craftsman, with free access to the imperial treasury.

Zhao Xing is definitely going to be the angel investor!

He first disembarked from the ship and made some preparations before going to the office of the Transportation Department to request an audience. Lu Tingzhi immediately made time to see Zhao Xing.

"Greetings, Lord Lu," Zhao Xing said, bowing.

"Zhao Shennong, have you finished your prayer?" Lu Tingzhi asked with a smile.

"It's finished," Zhao Xing said. "I came here specifically to thank you for making the trip, sir."

Lu Tingzhi raised an eyebrow because he saw that Zhao Xing had also brought a box over.

"Zhao Shennong, what do you mean by this?" Lu Tingzhi, "Coming to Fire Dragon Pass is my duty."

"My lord," Zhao Xing said with a smile, "These are spoils of war I obtained from Fire Dragon Pass. They are my personal belongings and are mostly things used by barbarians. They are not valuable, but they are unique. They are just a token of my appreciation."

"Take it..." Lu Tingzhi originally wanted Zhao Xing to take it, because he was not yet the big corrupt official he would become in the future, and he still cherished his reputation. He was not very willing to accept the gift that Zhao Xing gave him on their first meeting.

But Zhao Xing had already opened the box, and Lu Tingzhi were on the tip of his tongue.

"Since it is Zhao Shennong's kind gesture, then I will accept it."

Zhao Xing sneered inwardly.

Do you think I don't know what kind of son of a bitch likes?

Lu Tingzhi has a collecting obsession, and his favorite things are all kinds of exotic items.

After Yue Haisheng, the original garrison commander of Fire Dragon Pass, fled, he didn't have time to take with him the wealth he had amassed at Fire Dragon Pass.

These benefits all went to the three armies. Zhao Xing took a quick look around the Divine Might Army's treasury, picked out a box at random, and delivered it to Lu Tingzhi's heart.

"Zhao Shennong, please have a seat." Lu Tingzhi's attitude also became more enthusiastic.

Zhao Xing placed the box in front of Lu Tingzhi before taking his seat.

After Lu Tingzhi finished admiring it.

"I never imagined you had a hobby of collecting things?" Lu Tingzhi looked at the contents of the box, picked up a pair of ox horn cups, examined them carefully, and was quite satisfied. He found Zhao Xing even more pleasing to the eye.

Zhao Xing didn't like it at all, but on the surface, he pretended to like it very much. "I have some knowledge of it, but I am a rough man and naturally cannot appreciate it as well as you, sir."

"Haha, then I'll have to keep in touch with you more often in the future," Lu Tingzhi said with a smile.

"As long as you don't mind, sir." Zhao Xing smiled ingratiatingly, but inwardly he was cursing. This guy was already hinting that he should send him more things in the future. What a shameless bastard!

After chatting for a few more minutes, Lu Tingzhi took the initiative to speak, "It is only polite to reciprocate, Zhao Xing. Your military achievements on this trip are outstanding, and you must have acquired a lot of spoils. Is there any treasure you would like to exchange? If you have any additional requests, even if you are not on the list of the Military Realm, you can still tell me."

Although Lu Tingzhi was greedy, he did have one redeeming quality: he didn't take things for nothing; he would do the job once he received the money.

The Transportation Department sometimes dispatches supplies based on lists from the Military Realm, and sometimes it coordinates supplies from various departments of the Transportation Department from different locations.

Sometimes there are shortages, and supplies may not be available in a timely manner.

Whether to supply the Divine Might Army first or other armies is entirely up to the Transportation Envoy; even a slight delay can cause significant problems.

With great power comes the desire for currying favor.

Lu Tingzhi gradually developed the habit of accepting gifts from others. At first, it was harmless, but later his appetite grew bigger and bigger.

"I do have a matter to trouble you with, Lord Lu," Zhao Xing said. "Although our Divine Might Army has breached Fire Dragon Pass, we have suffered considerable losses."

"In particular, there is a great need for blacksmiths and Mechanism Master. I wonder if Lord Lu could lend us some manpower temporarily to meet the needs."

Lu Tingzhi considered for a moment. "How many people do you need, and what are their ranks?"

Zhao Xing said, "Only one Eighth Grade team is needed."

Lu Tingzhi nodded slightly. Zhao Xing didn't want many people, just ten.

He has many artisans in his Transportation Department; he can easily spare several hundred.

Lu Tingzhi saw Zhao Xing as a promising and capable person, and was happy to befriend such a talented individual.

In addition, the gift was indeed very appropriate, and the matter that needed to be handled was a small one.

He immediately took out a token and said, "It's no big deal. Just take my token to the Engineering Office to select people."

"Thank you, Lord Lu. I'll take my leave now." Zhao Xing pretended to be very happy, took the token, and left.

Lu Tingzhi watched Zhao Xing leave, casually flipped through the box, and smiled slightly, "This man is quite interesting. He gave a big gift for a small matter. I should really visit his camp more often in the future."

Zhao Xing took the token and rushed to the Forging Department of the Transportation Department to remove Yue Lingzhi's name from the list.

He then randomly selected nine more people and transferred them to the Divine Might Army.

After completing the process, these ten people became soldiers of the Divine Might Army.

Subsequently, a Seventh Grade official from the Forging Department followed him to the Divine Weapon Hall and found Yue Lingzhi.

"Stop sweeping, come with me."

"Who are you?" Yue Lingzhi looked up in confusion, but in that moment of distraction, the broom in her hand began to emit lightning, and Yue Lingzhi's body visibly trembled.

"Yue Lingzhi, this is Lord Zhao of the Divine Might Army." The person in charge clearly didn't like Yue Lingzhi much either. "You're lucky to have caught Lord Zhao's eye. Now you're Lord Zhao's man, so hurry up and pay your respects!"

Zhao Xing Xingqu flicked his finger on the broom, and the mechanism inside was immediately destroyed.

Yue Lingzhi's hand involuntarily loosened its grip on the broom.

Zhao Xing waved the transfer order in his hand, "You're being conscripted by me now. Are you willing to leave? If not, I won't force you."

"I'm willing." Yue Lingzhi nodded. Although she didn't know why, she felt that staying here and sweeping in the dark was worse than leaving.

Zhao Xing smiled slightly. He guessed that Yue Lingzhi was also willing to leave, because Lu Tingzhi's punishment, apart from being humiliating, did not bring any training effect.

The time I spent under Lu Tingzhi's command was pure "waste time" in my life.

The sooner this guy is released, the sooner he might be able to take off.

Let's go.

Zhao Xing patted Yue Lingzhi on the shoulder.

Yue Lingzhi looked at that tall and straight figure and subconsciously followed him.

After disembarking, Zhao Xing assigned the remaining nine blacksmiths to Wang Ji's management.

But Yue Lingzhi and Zhao Xing had other plans.

"Your decision to fight alongside the Divine Might Army is not the most suitable one."

"I recommend a place to you, I wonder if you'd like to?"

Yue Lingzhi was full of doubts. She wanted to come over, but she didn't want to stay in the Divine Might Army.

"Where do you want me to go, sir?"

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and said, "Youyuan Prefecture, Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy."

Yue Lingzhi was taken aback. "This humble official is of limited talent and learning; how could I possibly be qualified to be a teacher at the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy?"

Zhao Xing chuckled and said, "You're overthinking it. I don't have the ability to make you a teacher; I'm going to make you an outsider."

In her previous life, Yue Lingzhi spent three years in the army, achieving nothing and lingering around the Eighth Grade.

Later, he left the army to take the entrance exam for the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy, and instead rose through the ranks to become a Hundred Weapons Daoist and the vice dean of the Youyuan Prefecture branch.

His path to rise to power was at the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy, Zhao Xing wanted to guide this guy back to his original path of rise.

Why does Zhao Xing know so much?

Because Yue Lingzhi eventually had a biography that was passed down to posterity, which recorded a lot about his past. He himself said that he had wasted his time in the army and that he gained the most from his time at the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy.

"Outer sect Daoist?" Yue Lingzhi pondered. An outer sect Daoist was a nominal official position, not a formal teacher, but it was better than a Daoist student.

He is currently at the Eighth Grade, but if he goes to the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy, he will have to be demoted back to the Ninth Grade.

Making this decision was really not easy.

In her previous life, Yue Lingzhi also wasted several years in the army before making this decision.

However, Zhao Xing's timing was also very good, as it happened right after Yue Lingzhi had experienced a dark period in the Transportation Department.

So after just a little consideration, Yue Lingzhi had her answer.

But before giving the answer, he couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him.

"Why are you helping me, sir?"

"You remind me of an old friend," Zhao Xing said calmly. "Seeing you being insulted in the Divine Weapon Hall, I couldn't help but lend you a hand."

"If you don't want to, that's fine too. I'll send you back to the ship. With my connection, Lord Lu will definitely not make things difficult for you anymore."

"I'm willing to go to the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy." Yue Lingzhi made her choice immediately upon hearing that she had to return to the ship.

The Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy is one of the Seventy-Two Dao Academies. Even becoming Ninth Grade Daoist official there would be more promising than staying in the Transportation Department.

What future awaits me if I stay in the Transportation Department and work under Lu Tingzhi?

Mental training? Being insulted does not train a person's mind; it only makes people waste time healing from these traumas.

Just like how Han Xin was able to become a great general later on, it was not because he had endured the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs, but because he finally found someone like Xiao He who could recognize his talent.

What Zhao Xing is doing now is sending Yue Lingzhi to a place where she can truly unleash her talents.

"Stay at Fire Dragon Pass for a while, and I'll take care of this for you," Zhao Xing said. "I can't say when, but I'll definitely get it done for you."

"Thank you." Yue Lingzhi bowed sincerely. "Although I don't know which of your old friends I resemble, thank you."

Zhao Xing smiled slightly; the investment was now halfway done.

The other half, naturally, needs to be handled through Xia Jing's connections.

The Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy is located in Youyuan Prefecture, not in Pinghai Province at all, but in the neighboring Yuan Pin Province.

Those who can still wield influence across a state are mostly big shots like Xia Hou.

Even his teacher, Tian Yan, didn't have such great abilities.

Because Tian Yan had left the military ranks, he was essentially Civil Official in Yang City, mainly teaching students. He did not hold military power and had no private army in his fiefdom.

Tian Yan said that Tian Yan also had to look for people everywhere, and it was troublesome to explain.

Yang An is even less of a possibility; he is still very young, and besides, it wouldn't be appropriate for Zhao Xing to ask him to do such a thing.

But when he spoke to Xia Jing, he only said one sentence, "Heir Apparent, do me a favor."

"What's the matter?" Xia Jing glanced at Zhao Xing. "It sounds like it's not easy, considering you're calling me Heir Apparent."

Zhao Xing laughed and said, "Send someone to the Hundred Weapons Daoist Academy in Youyuan Prefecture. The requirements are not high. He just needs to be a Ninth Grade outer sect Daoist. He is already Eighth Grade blacksmith."

Xia Jing said, "That's simple, but why do we have to go to Youyuan Prefecture? This branch is still in Yuan Pin Province. Don't Pinghai Province's Heqiu Prefecture, Anping Prefecture, and Datong Prefecture all have branch academies?"

Why send him to Yuan Pin Province? Of course, it's because Yue Lingzhi's opportunities all lie in Yuan Pin Province.

"He has relatives over there," Zhao Xing casually offered an excuse.

"I see." Xia Jing didn't ask any further questions. "When will it be ready?"

There are ways to handle things when things are urgent, and there are ways to handle things when things are not urgent.

Zhao Xing said, "It's not in a rush."

Xia Jing nodded. "Since he is already Eighth Grade blacksmith, it can be done within a month. Just tell him to wait for my news."

"Heir Apparent, Your Highness. I can never repay your kindness. In the next life, you will be my servant."

"Don't give me that... Huh? Did you say something wrong?"

"Hahaha."

After meeting Yue Lingzhi, Zhao Xing also remembered his investment plan.

I made a special trip to the camps of fifteen armies outside the pass to see if any powerful figures were hiding in the wilderness.

Unfortunately, no further outstanding individuals were discovered.

After running back, he inquired about the extraordinary person "Mi Fu" from Xia Jing.

However, Xia Jing had never heard of Mi Fu's existence, so acquiring the "Profound Yellow Origin-Analysis Technique" would have to wait. But he promised to inquire about it for Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing flipped through the list of sixth, seventh, and eighth rank officials again and saw a few familiar names.

However, just because the name sounds familiar isn't enough. There are plenty of people in the world with the same name, and Zhao Xing couldn't be sure until he met the person.

He had been keeping a close eye on things, and if he could run into them and meet them in person, he would probably be able to confirm it.

However, in this life, Old Master Zhao's standards have risen considerably. Those who catch his attention are at least destined to become Fourth Grade officials in the future.

Lowering the level is useless; Old Master Zhao's own leveling speed is already quite fast.

Since the fall of Fire Dragon Pass, he has accumulated a million military merits.

He ranked sixty-ninth on the Seventh Grade list.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will be promoted three ranks during the phased reward process, skipping the "Official Seventh Rank, Upper" and going directly from the Lower Sub-Sixth Rank to the "upper Sub-Sixth Rank".

As long as they don't suffer a defeat, those at the top of the Ninth Grade, Eighth Grade, and Seventh Grade in the phased rewards of the eighteenth year of the Jingxin Calendar will all be promoted three ranks.

If you are Lower Sub-Sixth Rank the Sixth Rank list, you will be able to rise smoothly to the sixth Sixth Rank.

However, if one is Official Sixth Rank, Upper official, they will not be promoted to the Fifth Grade.

Because once someone reaches the Fifth Grade, they will be forced to leave the battlefield, which will lead to a large-scale change of commanders in the midst of battle, requiring tens of millions of troops to have a new commander!

Such a practice is obviously inappropriate. Therefore, once someone reaches the Official Sixth Rank, Upper, if they can rise further, they should be held back until the training of soldiers in the middle and lower ranks is completed, and then they can be officially appointed.

The Military Realm, the Hundred Soldiers Pagoda, the Oversight Chamber of the Three Kings.

"Chen Shijie has 890,000 battle merits, and Long Xiao and Yu Ziqi also have over 800,000 battle merits."

"Both Captains Liao Rulong and Wen Shaoyang have surpassed the million mark. Jiang Ming, a Sixth Rank Captain, is slightly weaker. He just came ashore and currently only has about 500,000 battle merits."

"The Divine Might Army has truly made a name for itself on the Pacifying Barbarians Battlefield in this battle," Ling De King exclaimed. "I never expected that the Divine Might Army, which was at the bottom of the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, would perform so well this time."

"Liao Rulong is quite decisive," Heaven Derivation King said with a smile. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have broken the million-point mark so quickly."

"That's right. Since Liao Rulong is the commander of a detached army, his subordinates will share in any great merits he makes." Ling De King nodded. "For example, Zhao Xing's theft of the Earth Fire Lotus, planting of the Earth Fire Lotus, and bombing of Round Moon City all depended on Liao Rulong's strong support."

"A more conservative general would have rejected the idea of stealing the Earth Fire Lotus seeds outright."

"Among the only seven sword cultivators in the Divine Might Army, not counting Yang An, that makes six."

"Yu Ziqi and Long Xiao already make up two of them."

"Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing were also elite Agriculture Official."

"Most generals wouldn't dare to make the decision to send these four people on an infiltration mission."

"If any one of these four dies, Liao Rulong's position as captain will be over," Heaven Derivation King.

Because Liao Rulong's actions would be judged by the Military Realm as: deliberately sending his subordinates to their deaths.

Fire Dragon Pass is a formidable pass of the Southern Barbarians. If Liao Rulong, as the commander-in-chief, issues such an order, then all is well, but if something goes wrong, he will inevitably bear full responsibility.

Liao Rulong knew it was a huge gamble, and he couldn't sleep well for several days.

However, Liao Rulong also gained many military achievements after capturing Fire Dragon Pass.

As for Wen Shaoyang, his military achievements were already quite high, and he was originally a bit higher than Liao Rulong, but now Liao Rulong has caught up with him.

"Zhao Xing is truly a talent; he actually managed to persuade Liao Rulong to carry out this plan."

"I originally thought he would just blend into the crowd in the Divine Might Army. I even felt sorry for him before, wondering why he didn't go to the Tigron Army."

"Now it seems that if he had gone to the Tigron Army, he might not have had this opportunity," Ling De King sighed.

"Luo Hou, why don't you speak?" Heaven Derivation King laughed. "Is it because you don't want to speak?"

"Hmph." Rahu King grunted, but still didn't say anything.

He was speechless.

There was originally no chance at all in Fire Dragon Pass, but Zhao Xing managed to find an opportunity to come out.

Is the Earth Fire Lotus something that can be taken back by humans?

He actually knows advanced techniques of the True Self Faction and can cultivate a fifth-order Earth Fire Lotus!

This is incredible!

Zhao Xing is now at the threshold of being granted the title of a third-rank marquis, and Xia Jing will be soon as well.

Although the bet is on being granted the title of Second-Class Marquis, given how things are developing, it's not impossible for him to be granted the title of Second-Class Marquis.

Rahu King was in no mood to speak.

"Luo Hou, you can't be that bad, can you? It's just two Seventh Order Divine Soldier." Heaven Derivation King laughed, "You're not such a sore loser."

"I don't care about Divine Soldier," Rahu King said, shaking his head. "But this Zhao Xing has repeatedly defied my judgment..."

Rahu King didn't care about the two Seventh Order Divine Soldier, but he did care about his judgment of war and his ability to judge people.

Zhao Xing had surprised Rahu King several times, which made him doubt his own identity.

Ling De King smiled and said, "Luo Hou, you still have a chance. He can't possibly achieve any great feats in the next battle at the Qinggang Mining Area, can he?"

"Lu Yuanwei on the western front has not yet broken through Yang Qilin's second line of defense. The Divine Might Army, Black Armor Army, and Sea Pacifying Army are not enough to take on the millions of troops of the Golden Feather Royal Court alone."

Heaven Derivation King also said, "Yes, Luo Hou, don't be discouraged, you're not necessarily going to lose."

Rahu King finally spoke, "According to the intelligence provided by the Creation Disc, Fire Dragon Pass has now fallen, and the defending general has been fleeing southeast, abandoning most of the cities along the route."

"There wasn't much resistance along the way, which meant there wasn't much merit to be gained."

"Unless they detour to attack the Soul Offering Pass defense line, where there is enough merit to be gained, they will have to wait for the Zhaoyuan Beginning Origin Army and Illusory Nether Army in the north to break through, or wait for the Divine Thunder Army in the west to break through."

"The Soul Offering Pass is guarded by a legion sent by the Sacred Spirit Royal Court to support the Golden Feather Royal Court."

"This defensive line is meant to protect against the armies from the north and east, and their strength should not be underestimated."

"Of course, they have another option: to fight the Water Shamans on the Canglan River."

"However, the roles of master and servant have changed. Naval battles are the home ground of the Sea Pacifying Army, and even the Sea Pacifying Army doesn't have many victories."

"It will be difficult for Zhao Xing and Xia Jing to gain merit in a place like this."

Rahu King, "Judging from the current progress, there may not be any major breakthroughs within this year."

"Unless something unexpected happens."

At this point, Rahu King saw that Ling De King and Heaven Derivation King were both looking at him with smiles, so he couldn't continue.

"Are you waiting for me to finish my analysis so you can laugh at me?" Rahu King said angrily.

"No, no," Ling De King quickly replied.

"Absolutely not." Heaven Derivation King raised the corners of his mouth.

"Snort!"

Rahu King shook his head, ceasing his conversation with the two.

He then turned his attention to the battlefield situation.

Recalling what Zhao Xing had done, Rahu King couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"He can create opportunities even when none exist. Is he truly a peerless genius? What will he do next?"

The leader of the alliance is making his appearance! Leave a comment if you want any minor roles!