"I see."
Deng Qing seemed to be deep in thought.
Huang Yu nodded, "You've just arrived, you don't know the situation yet."
After spending some time there, you'll find that the academy encourages competition and striving for excellence everywhere. There's no way around it; the development of the Desolate Soil is progressing rapidly, and there's competition among the various Martial Dao Lower Court.
In order to unleash potential, the Martial Dao Lower Court will naturally implement this kind of competition from top to bottom.
Deng Qing felt a sudden toothache upon hearing this.
I'm currently worried about the settlement three months from now. I originally wanted to get a True Condensation Pill to improve my cultivation, but even buying the pill requires competing for access privileges first.
Thus, without the True Condensation Pill, he cannot break through to the Furnace Realm. And without the Furnace Realm, he cannot accept many missions. If he cannot accept missions, he cannot get on the Increase Ranking. If he cannot get on the Increase Ranking, he cannot buy the True Condensation Pill, and therefore it will be impossible for him to break through to the Furnace Realm.
Upon closer examination, it turns out we're stuck in a vicious cycle.
Seeing that Deng Qing remained silent for a long time, Huang Yu advised again, "Brother Deng, I know you are capable. However, I still want to advise you to be more realistic. There are only three months left until the settlement date, and many things need to be planned in advance."
Deng Qing nodded, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you for your advice, Brother Huang. I will consider it. I have already troubled you for a long time, so I will take my leave now."
Huang Yu stood up as well, "If you have any questions in the future, you can always ask me."
He glanced around, then lowered his voice, "Otherwise, I wouldn't feel at ease drinking this beverage you offered."
Deng Qing smiled slightly, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with Brother Huang from now on. By the way, I still don't know where I'm staying."
Huang Yu smiled and said, "You can also choose your accommodation from the bracelet. You have two options now: one is an independent courtyard, which does not require Merit Voucher and has a dedicated person to help with cleaning."
Another option is a cave dwelling. It is safe and private, and the accommodation is not as good as the courtyard, but because there is a separate Cultivation Room inside, you need to use your own bracelet to open it to enter and exit, which is actually more suitable for Martial Artist.
However, it costs thirty Merit Voucher per month.
Deng Qing was secretly shocked. He only earned fifty Merit Voucher a month, and thirty of them were going to be taken away just to rent a place to live?
That's way too dark!
While he was cursing inwardly, he focused his mind on the bracelet and found the accommodation section.
The descriptions of both types of accommodations were indeed there, along with simple maps. Deng Qing glanced at the location of the courtyard, then, with a thought, selected the cave dwelling.
He has many secrets, and it would be more convenient for him to have a quiet and secluded place to practice his cultivation and refine his evil spirits in the future.
Thirty it is then.
Once the choice is made, a contract unfolds in the bracelet, listing the lease term, fees, and rules for living there.
Deng Qing scanned it once and completed the confirmation.
He then discovered that he had lost thirty Merit Voucher from the bracelet.
Deng Qing thought to himself, "They even have mobile payment now, impressive!"
Huang Yu said, "If you've made your choice, just follow the directions in the bracelet; it contains a map of the residence."
Deng Qing's mind wandered within the bracelet, and sure enough, she found a map.
As one focuses their mind on the task, landmarks such as the Merit Reward Hall, the Scripture Repository Pavilion, and the Martial Arts Ground become readily apparent.
One spot was glowing yellow, with the words "Cave Abode" written next to it. Deng Qing figured it must be the place he had just rented.
Deng Qing clicked his tongue in amazement, then focused his mind on the marker, and an arrow appeared.
He tried turning around, and the arrow deflected accordingly, but it always pointed in the same direction.
This is great stuff!
Deng Qing felt much better.
He thanked Huang Yu again before leaving the tea area and heading outside.
As soon as he reached the doorway, the armored soldiers standing on either side suddenly straightened up, raised their hands to their chests, and bowed to him.
Deng Qing was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that he had a talisman for an Eighth-Rank Commandant on his chest.
This is what the two of them are toasting.
Deng Qing and his companion nodded and stepped out of the Merit Reward Hall.
The sunlight outside was bright, and people were coming and going in the square outside the Merit Reward Hall.
He followed the arrow in the bracelet and walked forward. He hadn't gone far when he suddenly saw a familiar figure in the southeast.
Deng Qing stared intently and recognized the man as Xia Daoyu, the steward from the Desolate Soil Liangshan.
Deng Qing quickly stepped forward, smiling, and said, "Brother Xia, it's been a long time."
Xia Daoyu turned around upon hearing the voice, saw Deng Qing, cupped his hands, and smiled, "It's Brother Deng Qing, long time no see!"
Deng Qing returned the greeting with a cupped hand, "Brother Xia, it's a rare opportunity to meet you. How about we have a simple meal together?"
"It's unfortunate today, I have some things to take care of." Xia Daoyu said, patting Deng Qing on the shoulder. "Let's get together another day, another day."
Before Deng Qing could reply, he withdrew his hand and left.
Deng Qing stood there, watching his back, her brows slightly furrowed.
Xia Daoyu spoke politely, but his attitude was clearly distant.
Back then, Xia Daoyu was reprimanded by Jian Ruyu. Fearing demotion, Xia Daoyu asked Deng Qing to intercede on his behalf. Xia Daoyu displayed a great deal of "tenderness."
Now, he's practically a different person.
Human relationships are as thin as paper, as has always been the case, so there's nothing he finds hard to accept.
Xia Daoyu's attitude reflects a message: Jian Ruyu's influence in the Martial Dao Institute is rapidly fading.
Deng Qing shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions, and continued walking forward, following the arrow's guidance.
After passing through two long streets, a stone-paved road appears ahead, and the environment becomes more tranquil.
Deng Qing walked up the stone path, passed through a bamboo forest, and then a Mountain Wall appeared in front of him.
Stone steps have been carved into the Mountain Wall, with lush vegetation on both sides.
Deng Qing climbed the steps and arrived at a stone platform. The arrow in the bracelet finally disappeared.
Deng Qing knew they had arrived at their destination.
Standing on the stone platform and looking down, the scenery is quite beautiful, with half of the city spread out before your eyes.
Deng Qing placed the bracelet close to the groove on the left side of a stone door. The jade piece lit up, and the heavy stone door slid open to the side.
The Initiation leads to a hall with tables and chairs, and to the west is a bedroom, while to the east is a Cultivation Room.
The walls of the entire stone chamber are smooth and flat, with plenty of light and fresh air.
Deng Qing went inside and took a look around, quite satisfied.
Deng Qing lay on the stone bed covered with thick bedding for a while, then found Charcoal Pencil and white paper on the desk and sat down at the desk.
Next, he focused his mind on the bracelet and began to look through the task list, making notes as he went.
Before long, a whole page of writing had been done on the paper.
As Deng Qing was pondering over the paper, two soft sounds came from the stone door.
He walked over and opened a hidden compartment in the stone door.
There was a chip embedded inside, through which one could see the view outside the door.
Xiao Jinglin was standing in front of the door, holding a food box in his hand.
Deng Qing opened the door and said with a smile, "Brother Xiao, you found me quickly."
"Congratulations on moving to your new home, Brother Deng!" Xiao Jinglin cupped his hands in greeting and entered carrying a food box. "You've chosen a good place; it's quiet and elegant."
"Thirty Merit Voucher a month."
"This money was well spent. It allows me to rest well and makes it convenient to practice my skills. It's better than anything else."
As Xiao Jinglin spoke, he placed the food box on the table, his gaze falling on the paper. "Ready to accept the mission?"
Deng Qing nodded, "It's perfect that you're here. Give me some advice."
He handed over the piece of paper covered in writing.
Xiao Jinglin took it, examined it carefully, and frowned. "Why are there so many? You have to practice your martial arts and work Sword Examiner all day. How can you manage?"
"Even if I'm too busy, I still have to go."
Deng Qing pulled out a chair and sat down. "There are only three months left until the settlement, and I don't want to be exiled to the frontier."
Xiao Jinglin said, "I know about this, but there's nothing I can do; that's how the rules are set."
But at least the registration is done. Even if you end up in the bottom ten and are transferred to a remote area, I will do my best to get you back in two or three years.
Deng Qing thought to himself, "I can't wait two or three years."
But he said, "Since I'm here, I'll make the best of it. Things can't always go as planned; I'll just try my best to overcome them."
Xiao Jinglin pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Deng, I don't know much about the mission either. You keep working on it, and I'll ask around to see if there are any suitable ones."
However, I still have faith in you. You're an extraordinary person who does extraordinary things. You overcame such a difficult situation as Liangshan Desolate Soil, so this is nothing."
Deng Qing laughed and said, "Then I'll take your good wishes. If I really get kicked out of the Martial Dao Institute, you'll have to feed me."
"It's under control!"
The two looked at each other and laughed.
Amidst laughter and conversation, Xiao Jinglin opened the food box and took out plates of delicious dishes.
The two ate and drank, and before long, they had finished more than half of a pot of wine. Suddenly, Xiao Jinglin remembered something, put down his Chopsticks, and said, "By the way, Brother Deng, I need to tell you about the female swordswoman in the painting."
When you asked me to keep an eye on the Lineage's research on this sword immortal image, my father actually invited several seniors skilled in Sword Dao to observe it together.
They agreed that this type of Swordsmanship relies entirely on the transmission of power through imagery.
Deng Qing nodded; Su Yun had said something similar before.
Xiao Jinglin said, "That's the trouble. No matter how many times you watch the video, you're just accepting the imagery within it."
Finally, a senior figure said that in such special circumstances, one might need to understand the person in the painting before it's possible to decipher the meaning behind the sword.
But we don't know the woman's name, or even the year she lived. We have no way of finding out.
Therefore, this matter has to be stalled.
Deng Qing picked up some Chopsticks and said with a smile, "It's alright. If you can't understand it, just watch it as a visual to pass the time."
Deng Qing was not surprised by Xiao Jinglin's answer.
Since finding the lost Waist Pouch and obtaining the Divine Shadow Stone, he has watched that video quite often in the Underground Refining Chamber of the Celebration Hall.
But no matter how many times I looked at it, I still couldn't figure it out.
Clearly, the solution to this Swordsmanship can only be left for the future.
That night, Deng Qing and Xiao Jinglin drank three jugs of wine, and Xiao Jinglin returned home when he was done drinking.
The sun was high in the sky, and there was hardly a shady spot to be found on the Wasteland.
When Deng Qing first arrived at the Martial Dao Lower Court, he also wondered why a dim, Blood Moon hung in the sky above the Desolate Soil of Liangshan.
When they arrived at the Desolate Soil where the Martial Dao Institute was located, the sun shone normally in the sky again.
However, at this moment, Deng Qing had no heart to ask for the answer.
The withered yellow grass in front of him was curled up by the sun, and the wind blew from afar, hitting his face, making it feel hot.
He carried a large plate on his back and walked slowly forward.
The large plate was as wide as a door, dark and heavy, and more than half a foot thick. If you looked closely, you could see that it was cast from a single piece of solid metal.
The plate was engraved with patterns, and several thick leather ropes were wrapped around Deng Qing's shoulders and back, each one taut and straight.
This plate, named the Star-Fixing Disc, weighs over 1,500 jin (approximately 650 kg).
Carrying this large plate and traversing the Wasteland was his new assignment.
With each step Deng Qing took, the hardened crust of earth beneath his feet crumbled, and his entire foot sank into the soil, up to his ankle.
His entire body was soaked through, then dried, then soaked again.
"Brother Deng Qing, move half a step to the left."
The speaker was a middle-aged man with slightly high cheekbones, a short beard under his chin, and both sleeves were tucked into his arms.
This person's name is Zhao Chuanqi, and he is a teacher at the Martial Dao Institute.
The term "teacher" refers to someone who imparts knowledge and skills; it is a core profession within the education system.
At that moment, Zhao Chuanqi was holding a picture book in one hand and pointing forward with the other, with five students following behind him. Deng Qing did as he was told and took half a step.
Zhao Chuanqi glanced down at the atlas, then walked around to the left side of the Star-Fixing Disc, focusing on the illuminated patterns on it. "Okay, right here. Stand still, don't move."
Deng Qing spread his feet apart, lowered his back slightly, and steadily supported the Star-Fixing Disc.
Zhao Chuanqi waved his hand, and the five students immediately dispersed, each rushing to their pre-marked positions.
Zhao Chuanqi pulled a handful of red powder from his leather pouch at his waist, and as he flung it out, he slapped it down with his palm.
With a bang, the red dust had barely dispersed when it was sent into the soil by the force of the palm strike.
The other five also made their moves in turn.
After several muffled thuds, points of red light suddenly appeared on the ground.
The rays of light were initially scattered, then meandered through the withered grass and pebbles, forming a circle.
At the same time, the Star-Fixing Disc on Deng Qing's back became slightly warm, and several fine lines turned from dark to light.
Zhao Chuanqi stared intently at the ground, even his breathing became soft.
Finally, the last ray of red light met the light ahead.
As the aperture closed, fine rays of light extended out from within it, crisscrossing and outlining the underground network.
"It's done!"
One of the students couldn't help but shout it out.
"It's closed now!"
"Quickly memorize it, quickly memorize it!"
The group was overjoyed. One of them quickly unfolded the picture book and began sketching on the stone. Zhao Chuanqi leaned over to check for a moment, and finally a smile appeared on his face.
"Brother Deng, you can put it down now."
Deng Qing breathed a sigh of relief, untied the leather strap from his shoulder, and slowly placed the Star-Fixing Disc on the ground.
Zhao Chuanqi stepped forward and solemnly bowed to him, "Thank you very much, Brother Deng! The map of this area's geological features is finally finished today."
Deng Qing stretched his shoulders, cupped his hands in return, and said, "Congratulations, Master Zhao, and everyone else. You've worked hard these past few days, and the results are finally in."
He offered his congratulations verbally, but felt little joy in his heart.