As Zhao Xing stepped into the mechanism maze, the two walls behind him closed, leaving no way to retreat.
He pointed his fingertip towards the sky, and golden light shot upwards, disappearing beyond the four-meter-high walls.
"Indeed, the Cloud Walking technique can't support such a height."
Zhao Xing jumped experimentally, realizing that no matter how high he leaped, he could not surpass the height of the walls.
Of course, this did not mean that he could not cast spells.
It simply meant that he could only use his abilities within the maze; relying on Cloud Walking to survey the entire area from above was impossible.
"Let's see if there's anything I can use."
Zhao Xing casually chose a side path and walked down.
The mechanism maze tested strength, intelligence, willpower, and even social connections, making it a comprehensive challenge.
The Great Li Dynasty used this to cultivate elites, emphasizing a well-rounded approach.
Thus, merely having strength would not suffice to navigate through the maze.
Unless one was at the Fourth Grade and had never attempted to break through, they could force their way through the maze and claim rewards.
"Buzz~"
As Zhao Xing turned a corner, he found himself at a dead end.
Beneath the wall, a mechanism beast resembling a goat with red fur stared at him.
The goat's eyes were also red, and at the moment their gazes met, Zhao Xing shivered, and then he fell into a strange state.
"Meh~" The goat then jumped lightly and vanished at the end.
"Such bad luck, running into a 'Reversal Goat' right away?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile wryly.
The Reversal Goat was a type of illusionary mechanism beast.
Once caught in its illusion, one would enter a state of 'reverse actions.'
Clearly intending to move forward, the mind would think so, but the hands and feet would move backward instead.
Trying to cast a wind spell would instead result in thunder.
Attempting to attack to the right would lead to an attack on the left.
"Bang!" Zhao Xing tried to turn back but accidentally changed direction and crashed into the wall.
The impact was just right, leaving him dazed but unharmed.
"That hurts." Zhao Xing clearly wanted to hold his forehead, but his hand ended up on his lower body.
The feeling of reversing actions was incredibly uncomfortable.
However, there was one comforting thought: the familiar sensation had returned! It felt like he had found the feeling of clearing dungeons from his past life.
"With a Reversal Goat here, great, the Sixth Level treasure is mine for the taking!"
Zhao Xing began to adjust his state, quickly familiarizing himself with the effects of the illusion and continued walking.
"Click, click, click, click~"
After turning a few corners, a sudden sound of mechanisms turning reached his ears. Zhao Xing looked down and realized he had triggered a trap.
A stone slab beneath his feet sank in, and on the wall ahead, a lightning rod embedded with a blue gem was poised to strike him.
"Hmph, mere tricks."
Zhao Xing squatted down and tapped a few nearby floor tiles, then pried up a uniquely shaped component from a loose tile.
He then wedged it under his foot.
Lifting his foot, the lightning rod remained unresponsive.
Zhao Xing leisurely walked past.
In the next quarter-hour, Zhao Xing encountered various traps: fire spouts, falling stones, shooting arrows, and even illusionary mechanism beasts.
The maze was entirely composed of mechanisms.
All the mechanisms followed one principle: to interfere, obstruct, and mislead the challengers, delaying their progress.
"It is said that the mechanism maze was created by the geniuses of the Great Li's Heavenly Craft Academy, constantly adding bricks and contributing fresh ideas to the maze."
"Any idea adopted by the academy earns a reward."
"This led countless geniuses to rack their brains to add mechanisms, with each brick practically begging to be filled with a hundred rolling mines."
"Whatever makes it difficult, they will do... truly a sin."
Zhao Xing wiped his palms, noticing they were red and swollen, and sighed.
Though he considered himself 'experienced,' he still fell for many traps along the way.
His vision became blurry, and the surroundings dimmed.
Just moments ago, to avoid six consecutive traps, he had inadvertently pressed against the wall.
As a result, he was hit by a seventh trap, a layer of dazzling powder.
"However, the more traps there are, the closer I am to what I want. Finding the item on this layer will make things much easier."
Zhao Xing descended a flight of stairs, and the surrounding walls became slightly lower.
Though he was temporarily blinded, it did not hinder his movements.
He cast a wind spell, and through the feedback of the wind, everything around him became clear in his mind.
"I found it!"
A smile appeared at the corner of Zhao Xing's mouth, and he took two steps back, hiding in the corner of the stairs.
Whoosh~
The wind spell rushed towards a table ahead, stirring a yellow paper on it.
"Oh ho ho ho!"
The table seemed to come alive, making strange noises as if it were scalding hot, with its four legs bouncing around wildly.
"Table monster, don't run!"
Zhao Xing shouted, but the table-like mechanism beast charged towards him.
In the process, it changed shape, sprouting numerous spikes from its surface and legs.
"Bang!"
The fast-moving table mechanism beast crashed into the wall.
Since Zhao Xing was hiding in the corner between the stairs and the wall, the table mechanism beast got stuck.
The spikes were only half a finger's distance from Zhao Xing.
"Hmph, a mere mechanism, laughable."
Zhao Xing reached out and tore off a yellow paper stuck to the table.
"Clatter~"
The table instantly collapsed into a pile of parts.
"A hybrid talisman mechanism beast, to create something like this, you truly are a talent." Zhao Xing thought to himself as he rummaged through the pile of debris.
Soon, he found a silver-white pearl among the components.
[Illusion Pearl: Special Item]
[Can transform into one of the ten most recently encountered individuals.]
[Transformation Limit: Spirit Bridge Completion]
"This is it."
Zhao Xing smiled slightly.
He then crushed the pearl.
As the pearl shattered, images of light appeared before Zhao Xing's eyes.
Xue Wenzhong, Chen Shijie, Zhao Ruide, Zhao Zheng, Madam Cai... etc., not Madam Cai!
Zhao Xing saw the light pause on Madam Cai, startled.
He quickly concentrated on recalling Chen Shijie's appearance.
Fortunately, the light jumped again, settling on Chen Shijie.
"Buzz~"
The light coalesced, and Chen Shijie appeared before him.
"Ah~" Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief.
The character formed by the special item, Illusion Pearl, would completely depend on the user's mental image of that person.
This meant that the person's strength, personality, and relationship with the user would be restored based on the user's thoughts.
What if all ten recently encountered individuals were enemies?
Then the transformed character would not be an ally but rather an obstacle, potentially attacking the user.
Among the ten people Zhao Xing had recently encountered, only Old Chen fit his choice.
Next, he needed someone with a certain level of combat power to navigate through the heavily trapped maze.
If he had summoned Madam Cai, he would have declared his challenge a failure.
"What happened to you, why are you in such a strange place? Huh? Why are your eyes blind?" Chen Shijie asked curiously as soon as he appeared.
"Don't ask, Old Chen, hurry and help me out."
This was, of course, not the real Chen Shijie, but an illusion based on Zhao Xing's impression of him.
"What did you call me?" Chen Shijie frowned.
"Lord Chen." Zhao Xing quickly corrected himself, "Please assist me, Lord Chen."
"Hmph, that's more like it." Chen Shijie turned around and began to lead the way for Zhao Xing.
Chen Shijie's displayed strength was at the upper level of the Eighth Grade, and with his help, the speed of navigating the maze increased significantly. He also possessed various mid-level perfected spells.
In terms of reaction, intelligence, and adaptability, he was indeed excellent.
As for whether the real Chen Shijie was this powerful?
Zhao Xing did not know, but he guessed that Old Chen was indeed strong, perhaps even stronger than he imagined.
Deep down, he truly believed that Chen Shijie had to be at least at the upper level of the Eighth Grade.
Just from their conversations, the insights he shared were not something a Ninth Grade could possess.
Though Chen Shijie claimed to be from the Agricultural Affairs Bureau, he had great insights into other spells as well; the military agricultural officials were quite comprehensive, and Old Chen was among the best.
"If the real Old Chen is indeed this strong, why is he in Nanyang County as such a minor official?"
Zhao Xing looked at Old Chen's back and then quickly squatted down.
Ahead, Chen Shijie was bombarded in succession by seven triggered traps.
"Cough, cough... what kind of broken place is this, why are there so many traps?" Chen Shijie emerged from the smoke, his hair disheveled, coughing continuously.
Zhao Xing looked up at the front, patted Chen Shijie's shoulder as he passed by: "Thanks, Old Chen."
"Are you itching for trouble? Calling me again..."
Chen Shijie was about to blow up, but before he could finish, he turned into a beam of light and vanished.
Zhao Xing then entered a circular room ahead.
The surrounding light dimmed, and doors flashed before him.
"Five Elements Phase, enter from Qian, exit from Kan."
Zhao Xing observed for a moment, entered through the Qian door, and indeed exited from the Kun position, returning to the room.
One door disappeared, but soon a new one appeared.
Different changes occurred.
Some doors flickered with thunder, lightning extending like claws into the room.
Others had golden swords slowly piercing out from within, forcing Zhao Xing's position.
Zhao Xing glanced at the fire-spouting door.
"Taking a risk in the fire could yield a glimmer of hope."
He then charged into the fiery door.
In the next moment, he found himself back in the room.
At this time, the surrounding light doors began to rotate again, and the roar of beasts echoed from behind the doors.
Zhao Xing carefully discerned for a moment.
He smiled at one of the doors: "Qilin's roar, auspicious beast arrives."
He then stepped into the light door.
In the next moment, Zhao Xing reappeared in the room.
Now only four light doors remained.
They continued to rotate, but the aura emanating from them became much gentler.
"Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, the Four Seasons Door."
"Final challenge."
"Enter through the Spring door, exit through the Autumn door."
"One thought of Spring and Autumn, like a dream, like a fantasy."
Zhao Xing stepped into a green light and then emerged from a golden-yellow light door.
"Buzz~"
The surrounding phenomena vanished, mist swirling, and when Zhao Xing looked up again, he found himself before the Xiezhi.
"Student Zhao Xing, you have passed the mechanism maze in less than an hour. Reward: Sixth Level 'Soul Armor' divine weapon."
Then the divine beast Xiezhi spat out a piece of dark armor.
The armor emitted a sheen, and as it flew towards him, Zhao Xing reached out to catch it, and it instantly flowed over his skin like water, covering his entire body.
"The Sixth Level Soul Armor is the offspring of the unparalleled divine weapon 'Sunshine in the Sky.' Though it is only Sixth Level, its soul protection effect is not weaker than Seventh Level, and it cannot be damaged at all. Attacks from Fourth Grade will be weakened by ninety percent."
"Below Fourth Grade, it also has a rebound effect against soul-type spells and secret techniques."
Xiezhi explained.
"Thank you for your protection." Zhao Xing also sensed the uniqueness of the Soul Armor; it felt warm, providing comfort and security from the soul.
"The Sixth Level Soul Armor comes with the first volume of the national secret technique; you must not leak it."
"If anyone detects the existence of the Soul Armor and leaks it..."
"Rest assured, unless you die, no one will know about the Soul Armor." Xiezhi said lightly, "If you die, the court will avenge you, reclaim the Soul Armor, and eliminate all who know."
Zhao Xing silently nodded. Although this Xiezhi mechanism beast had intelligence and could communicate, it was limited to the Heavenly Craft Hall, and it did not know that the Great Li had already fallen.
"The sky is about to brighten; your soul is too weak, you should leave."
Then Xiezhi gently blew, and Zhao Xing was instantly expelled from the Heavenly Craft Hall, landing outside the Grand Dream Academy.
Opening his eyes, the familiar mosquito net came into view.
Zhao Xing touched his chest, finding a pair of pendants and three pills.
Among them were two Fourth Grade pills: the Five Organs Purging Pill and the Giant Whale Pill, and one Third Grade pill: the Earthly Evil Pill.
As for the Sixth Level treasure, the Soul Armor, it had merged into his body, directly guarding his sea of consciousness.
The Sixth Level treasure was still a worldly treasure; although unique, it did not possess the miraculous effect of merging with the body.
However, it was the offspring of the unparalleled treasure 'Sunshine in the Sky,' so it had the same effects as a Seventh Level 'divine weapon,' directly stored within his body.
"Sunshine in the Sky... I wonder if this divine weapon is within the Grand Dream Academy." Zhao Xing thought silently. During the Era of Fortune, there were several unparalleled treasures that transcended time.
They were passed down from ancient times, and due to the stagnation of spiritual energy, they had lost most of their power, only to shine again in the era of revival.
If given the chance, Zhao Xing certainly wanted to obtain the mother body of the Soul Armor.
"Xiezhi said that the end of the Heavenly Craft Hall's challenge holds a rare treasure; it should not be the mother body of the Soul Armor. I wonder where it is."
This challenge undoubtedly yielded the greatest reward: the Sixth Level Soul Armor.
And the Soul Armor also came with the Nightmarish Sect's ultimate technique, 'Grand Dream Spring and Autumn.'
Of course, the Giant Whale Pill, Earthly Evil Pill, and Five Organs Purging Pill were also quite good, and taking them now would yield immediate effects.
Every time he entered the academy, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel emotional:
"What a treasure mountain! If I utilize this wealth well, surviving until the revival era won't be too difficult."
After the Autumn Equinox opened the mountains, the officials had two days of leave.
Zhao Xing also did not need to go to work, staying at home to digest his gains.
He temporarily had no need for the Earthly Evil Pill, as it required the use of refining methods to maximize its effects; the same went for the Five Organs Purging Pill.
As for the Giant Whale Pill, it took him a whole day to fully digest it.
"After taking this pill, I feel as if I've eaten a whale and am completely stuffed." Zhao Xing exercised back and forth in the courtyard, his complexion rosy.
Zhao Zheng looked at his older brother in amazement, running and jumping all day without needing to eat; his brother was simply incredible!
Zhao Ruide was somewhat surprised, as he felt that Zhao Xing had changed significantly throughout the day.
He mainly judged this from his aura.
In the morning, Zhao Xing's breathing and vital Qi absorption were quite normal.
But by evening, his breathing had become extremely long, and the speed of vital Qi absorption had noticeably increased.
"I've seen many martial artists with such physiques, but this is the first time I've seen an agricultural official with such a physique; I wonder what he experienced on the mountain." Zhao Ruide thought his son must have had some fortuitous encounter on the mountain.
Now saying that Zhao Xing was as strong as an ox was not accurate; he was as strong as an elephant.
"If he practices martial arts, he might even reach the entry level." Zhao Ruide couldn't help but sigh, especially since Zhao Zheng was almost eight years old and had shown no talent for martial arts, being quite lazy, which was truly frustrating.
By nightfall, Zhao Xing lay in bed, beginning to cultivate 'Grand Dream Spring and Autumn.'
"The Nightmarish Sect is the national religion of the Great Li, and Grand Dream Spring and Autumn is its classic ultimate technique." Zhao Xing remembered this ultimate technique well, as it utilized 'dreams' exceptionally.
Although the ultimate techniques from the sect era no longer held their full power in this era, 'Grand Dream Spring and Autumn' was an exception.
Concepts like 'killing in dreams' and 'one dream, one world' still held considerable power even in this era, making it a solid transitional divine skill.
"Humans have three souls: Heavenly Soul, Earthly Soul, and Life Soul."
"The Heavenly and Earthly Souls often wander outside, while the Life Soul resides within the body."
"When the Life Soul resides in the womb, its potential is distributed throughout the body, forming the seven spirits of a person."
"The Heavenly Soul is the soul of rebirth, and the Earthly Soul is the soul of cause and effect."
"When the Heavenly and Earthly Souls wander outside and intersect with the Life Soul, it creates a 'dream realm.'"
"This is why people can dream of places they have never visited, feeling a sense of familiarity, and they may dream of people with whom they have significant karmic ties, even experiencing miraculous sensations."
"For example, a relative far away in the borderlands passes away, and the news hasn't reached yet, but one dreams of it."
"Or recalling conversations with childhood friends in dreams."
As Zhao Xing studied the entry chapter of Grand Dream Spring and Autumn, he came across several interesting statements.
"The entry chapter of Grand Dream Spring and Autumn has two stages: one is Dream Interpretation, and the other is Dream Entry."
"If one can enter dreams at any time and control others to enter dreams as well, that would be considered truly entering the door."
"After entering the door, the second chapter 'Dream Walking' follows."
"At that time, one can walk within others' dreams, using the intersection of the three souls to sever a person's three souls."
"Once the three souls are extinguished, the seven spirits of the body lose their dominance, becoming a walking corpse, not far from death."
Zhao Xing browsed through the entry chapter of Grand Dream Spring and Autumn.
Suddenly, several spells in the Dream Entry chapter caught his attention.
(End of Chapter)