Starting as a centurion, he fought his way through the chaos of the world.

Chapter 83 Geomancer
The moment Lu Ming opened the online store, he saw a dazzling array of new items.

Moreover, after receiving 20,000 surrendered soldiers, the score increased dramatically again, reaching 8.23 ​​million.

This number is quite impressive.

However, the most important thing now is to find a solution to the severe drought.

Finally, after searching for a long time, he found a secret manual.

[The First Volume of the Mysterious Yellow Classic, 5000000 points]

Looking at the numbers above, Lu Ming was somewhat surprised.

It's really too expensive, but after reading the description, it seems worth it.

The above describes methods for exploring and utilizing various underground resources.

This includes methods for finding and utilizing ley lines, dragon veins, water veins, mineral veins, and spiritual veins.

Ley lines can be used in combat to empower oneself with immense power.

Dragon veins can protect the body; with the blessing of dragon veins, one is immune to all evil.

As for the other mineral veins, they can be used to obtain various resources.

After mastering it.

Everything that is underground belongs to him.

Based on the speculation surrounding this manual, there should be a second volume, which seems to contain the secrets of the Mysterious Heaven, but it is not currently available in the store.

"The first volume is enough for now."

Lu Ming chuckled to himself.

Then, without hesitation, I bought it.

Anyway, I have plenty of points now, and isn't the point of using them to improve my strength?

The next moment, a jumble of memories flooded into his mind.

Mastering the first volume of the "Xuanhuang Chuben" will grant you the title of Earth Master.

This was an ancient title of respect for a powerful individual with secret skills. They held a very prestigious position, but after ancient times, this kind of existence gradually disappeared and eventually only existed in legends.

The strongest can borrow the power of mountains and rivers to fight against great beings, moving mountains and unloading ridges as easily as taking something out of a bag.

According to the original text, geomancers have nine types of markings, with the lowest being a geomancer with one marking and the highest being a geomancer with nine markings.

Once you get started, you can mobilize the power of the earth's veins beneath your feet and unleash strength comparable to a Qi Refining cultivator.

For Lu Ming, this was true immortal magic.

He never expected that he would have such an unexpected gain when he only wanted to obtain the method of finding water.

After trying to cultivate it, I found the content to be obscure and difficult to understand.

Therefore, Lu Ming could only smile wryly, knowing in his heart that no powerful cultivation technique could be mastered overnight.

He plans to spend the next few days in intensive meditation.

At the very least, we must find a way to find water. Putting aside other places, the drought in Hongdu Prefecture must be solved.

Looking outside, I realized that it had gotten dark without me noticing.

With nothing else to do, Lu Ming continued to browse the system panel.

Anyway, I have plenty of points now.

[Recipe for refining Bone Forging Pill, 200000 points]

[Blood-Moving Pill Refining Method, 300000 Points]

[The Divine Archer Training Method: 300000 points]

A moment later, these three items made Lu Ming's gaze involuntarily stop.

Bone-Forging Pills and Blood-Moving Pills are both essential items for warriors' cultivation.

If it can be refined.

The warriors under his command can reach the Blood Transformation Realm in a short period of time.

In that case, they would definitely be considered elites in the Great Yu Dynasty.

As for "The Divine Archer's Training Method," it is a book on archery techniques, along with accompanying breathing methods.

It was specifically used to train archers.

Once mastered, it not only hits the bullseye every time, but also possesses immense power, making it indestructible.

Lu Ming, who already had some points, naturally didn't hesitate.

They directly exchanged for this cultivation technique.

Moreover, he does indeed lack a long-range offensive force at present.

After spending 5.8 million points.

Lu Ming did not stop.

Their gaze remained fixed on the shopping mall.

[Dragon Elephant Blood, 100000 (The blood of a divine beast, more powerful than ordinary beasts, greatly increasing physical strength upon use)]

Lu Ming's eyes flashed.

Nowadays, the blood of ordinary ferocious beasts has very little effect on him.

This Dragon Elephant Blood is quite good, and it also fits well with my cultivation technique.

They redeemed it immediately.

It was also a dark jar, but when opened, it contained precious blood that exuded a delicate fragrance.

However, this amount of blood seems to only be usable twice per vial.

Prices have gone up, but the selection has decreased.

Lu Ming couldn't help but sigh that this system was also a shrewd businessman.

Looking at the sky outside, it was still pitch black.

Without hesitation, he smeared the blood on his body and began to activate the "Golden Bell Cover" technique.

Putting everything else aside, improving one's own strength is the most important thing.

Only by cultivating to a high level can one have unlimited possibilities in the future.

If you are not strong yourself, what future can you talk about in this chaotic world?

The burning sensation on his skin didn't bother Lu Ming at all; all he wanted now was to improve his strength.

With peak True Essence cultivation, one can smash and shatter Qi, which seems impressive.

But it's still not quite there.

"Crack! Crack!" A deafening sound came from inside the body.

Lu Ming could clearly feel the collision between his muscles.

A surge of power spread around his body.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

When he opened his eyes again.

It was completely bright outside.

The blood in his body was also completely absorbed at this time.

"Bang! Bang!" The two arms struck each other.

It produced a sound like metal.

When you gently rub your palms together, sparks fly out.

"I've reached the tenth level of the Golden Bell Shield, but I haven't reached my limit yet. If I can cultivate it to the twelfth level, I should be able to rival a Xiantian master using only my physical strength!"

he grinned.

Joy rose in my heart.

With the blessing of the Dragon Elephant Blood, he believed that it wouldn't be long before he could reach the twelfth level of perfection.

By then, I will have at least some ability to protect myself in this chaotic world.

Then, Lu Ming stood up and walked outside.

"Squeak!" The door opened.

They found two maids anxiously waiting outside.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Lu Ming and quickly stepped forward to say, "Greetings, son-in-law!"

The Li family is ultimately far inferior to the aristocratic families; even this maidservant looks inferior to the Baili family's.

Both men were dressed in coarse cloth clothes, their appearances were only average, and they seemed to be quite old.

"What are you doing here?"

“Yesterday, the son-in-law went into his room and didn’t come out. The old lady was very worried, so she sent us to check on him.” Lu Ming felt a warmth in his heart and nodded.

Then he said, "I only cultivated for one night. Go back and tell the old lady that I am fine."

As he spoke, he walked outside; today was the day he took over the garrison command.

However, just as he was about to leave.

Outside the courtyard, the voice of her mother-in-law, Zhao, rang out: "My child, even if you want to cultivate, you still need to eat."

Lu Ming turned around and saw that Zhao Shi walked in from outside the door.

She carried a food box in her hand, followed by several pretty maids.

Each one of them was exceptionally beautiful, dressed in long skirts of various colors.

For a moment, he could only think to himself, "I was too naive."

However, what it felt most was warmth.

After all, in this unfamiliar world, he had no family or elders, only a wife.

Now, I feel the care from my elders.

Naturally, feelings inevitably arise in one's heart.

However, he wasn't a pretentious person. After helping Zhao set the food on the table, he began to swallow his food in large gulps.

He was indeed hungry.

After practicing cultivation, my body is lacking in too many things.

Seeing Lu Ming wolfing down his food, Zhao's eyes showed satisfaction.

This is what a man should be like.

In a short while, Lu Ming finished eating everything.

Then he stood up and said, "Mother-in-law, today is the day I officially go to the garrison office to sign in, so I'll be leaving now."

"You're busy with important matters," Zhao said with a smile.

At the same time, he instructed the maids to clear the table.

Lu Ming then walked out of the courtyard.

When they arrived outside the mansion with their horses.

Zhang Mu was already waiting with a team of men.

At this time, they were lined up in two rows, numbering several dozen people.

It frequently attracted the attention of passersby.

Today is Lu Ming's inauguration day, so naturally there needs to be some pomp and circumstance.

"My lord!" Zhang Mu stepped forward and bowed.

"Let's go!" Lu Ming didn't waste any words and immediately mounted his horse.

Others followed.

They headed towards the garrison headquarters.

The Great Yu Dynasty has always valued martial prowess.

Therefore, guarding the government office can be said to be a matter of face for the imperial court.

In terms of grandeur and magnificence, the garrison headquarters of Hongdu Prefecture might not be as impressive or luxurious as that of the Baili family.

But speaking in a broader sense...

Even the Baili family is no match for them.

Because this place is not only a government office, but also a military camp.

The front yard was where the infantry trained, large enough to accommodate thousands of people practicing martial arts at the same time.

The backyard contained a racecourse and stables, used for cavalry training.

In the middle are two huge courtyards, the one on the right being where the garrison general and his family lived.

The left side is the office area and the storage area for supplies.

When Lu Ming arrived,
All the officers and captains of the various camps in Hongdu Prefecture had arrived.

However, the number of officers was somewhat small. There should have been eight captains, but two of the five captains in the city died in the battle with the rebels.

So only three captains were left.

The captains from the other three counties did arrive.

At this moment, six captains were leading a small number of soldiers in the prefectural city, waiting anxiously.

Although Lu Ming arrived a little late today.

But no one dared to show the slightest dissatisfaction.

The formidable strength displayed by the enemy on the battlefield, along with the powerful support behind them, was something these captains could only dream of.

Moreover, I've heard that Lu Ming has complete power to appoint and dismiss people like himself.

How could they dare to act recklessly?

If we're talking about who's most relaxed right now, it has to be Wang Yue.

"Clop clop!" came the sound of warhorses galloping.

Then, the captains saw a troop of cavalry file in through the gate.

The first one to rush in was none other than Lu Ming.

He was clad in black armor, which reflected a dark light in the sunlight, and sat astride a tall, strong, and powerful warhorse.

"Greetings, General!" Upon Lu Ming's arrival, several captains immediately knelt on one knee on the ground.

His gaze swept over them.

They were all dressed in full armor, and apart from the Blood Feather Captain, most of the others were around thirty years old.

He is in his prime and has good talent.

After observing the surroundings.

Lu Ming showed no intention of dismounting, but instead looked down at him and asked, "Name, position!"

"Lin Wu, the Black Feather Colonel, garrison commander of Heishan County!"

"Li Sun, the garrison commander of Changfeng County!"

"Hong Tao, the garrison commander of Honghe County, and the captain of the Changshui School!"

"Wang Xun, the Blood Feather Colonel, garrison commander of Beicheng!"

"The garrison commander of Xicheng, Colonel Miao Feng!"

"Hu Fei, the Archer Captain and garrison commander of Dongcheng!"

Looking at them, Lu Ming's eyes showed satisfaction. To be fair, these people's cultivation levels were not bad; almost all of them were at the peak of the Blood Transformation Realm or in the later stages.

The reason it has become like this is because it has been too indulgent.

Amidst the anxious gazes of all the generals, Lu Ming glanced at them for a moment and then said, "Starting today, I'm giving you three months to break through to the True Essence Realm. If you do, you can stay in your positions; otherwise, you will all be demoted to centurions."

"In my world, only strength matters. The capable rise, the weak fall. As long as you have strong cultivation, wealth and glory are yours for the taking. But I won't tolerate those who want to coast through life. Do you understand?"

"As ordered!"

Several people immediately spoke up.

Beads of sweat were visibly appearing on their foreheads.

The group knew Lu Ming was no pushover, but they hadn't expected him to be this ruthless.

"I heard that the captains of your battalions suffered heavy losses after the battle with the rebels. This afternoon I will send reinforcements to each battalion to bring the total number of men to three thousand."

There is one condition: you are responsible for getting them into the country for three months, and I will provide them with the cultivation techniques and elixirs.

If they don't improve their strength, you will also be relegated.

These three months are a test for you, not only of your talent for cultivation, but also of your ability to lead troops.

Lu Ming believed that even Wang Han and Zheng Yong could, with the help of resources, train some of the newly recruited soldiers to enter the country.

These captains, who have undergone systematic training, have no reason not to be able to do it.

If they can't get it done, then we really need to replace them.

With chaos looming, he had no time to slowly cultivate these people.

Now, as the garrison commander, I have quite a few resources under my control, which naturally include talented people.

"Yes, my lord!"

He could feel the pressure emanating from Lu Ming.

Everyone had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue.

After seeing that they agreed.

Lu Mingcai nodded. "Alright, that's enough for today. We'll start training tomorrow."

After he finished speaking, he waved for everyone to disperse.

The officers breathed a sigh of relief.

The pressure Lu Ming put on them was immense.

At the same time, he also knew in his heart that the days of revelry were over.

Just then, the other person's gaze fell on his brother-in-law. "Wang Yue, stay here for a moment!"

This made Wang Yue, who was about to leave, feel a chill run down his spine.

Lu Ming's attitude at home and at the training ground are completely different.

It made him want to avoid it, let alone others.

"grown ups!"

He turned around and said solemnly.

At this moment, we dare not be negligent in the slightest.

Lu Ming nodded and looked at him, saying, "I heard that the imperial court has allocated the salaries for this quarter. Come with me to take a look!"

"Yes!" Wang Yue obediently led the way.

He couldn't help but complain in his heart that the imperial court's provisions and pay were always shortchanged.

Lu Ming will probably have to pay for all these people out of his own pocket.

However, it wasn't explicitly stated.

A moment later, they arrived at the accounting office.

Upon learning of Lu Ming's arrival, dozens of military officers immediately bowed respectfully.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a black battle robe from the garrison.

His hair was somewhat gray, but he was still quite robust.

Knowing Lu Ming's purpose, he smiled and said, "Governor Qian knows that it is not easy for you to take command of troops when you first arrive, so he has not touched this quarter's salary and is saving it to be distributed after you take office. It is currently in the treasury!"

As they spoke, he quickly led the way, and after crossing the courtyard, they arrived at the outside of a warehouse.

After opening it, Lu Ming went inside.

Several silver chests were open inside, which made him frown.

Although Yunzhou is remote, its people are known for their fierce and unruly nature. Although it does not have border troops, it has the largest number of city guards among all the prefectures.

Once the troops under the garrison's command are at full strength, there should be 32,000 men.

Three taels of silver per month, that should amount to 290,000 taels of silver per quarter, but what we're seeing is only 200,000 taels. That's quite a discrepancy.

Seeing the doubt in Lu Ming's eyes, the middle-aged man immediately said, "Sir, this is the established rule. When the money is allocated, the higher-ups always take a cut."

"What's your name?" Lu Ming stopped worrying about the money.

Instead, he turned his gaze to the man. "Your humble servant is Guo Zhun, currently the Chief Clerk of the Garrison Office."

"I understand. Let's seal the silver away for now," Lu Ming said calmly.

Hongdu Prefecture is truly in dire need of rebuilding; it must be completely reorganized.

I have so many things to do, but not enough time.

The great disaster is coming this year.

"call!"

He exhaled a long breath.

He then took Wang Yue and headed towards home.

Regardless, the army must be set up first; this is crucial for protecting Hongdu Prefecture.

It is also the means for me to survive and make a living in chaotic times.

Another issue is dealing with natural disasters.

In the following days, Lu Ming spent his time either at the military camp or cultivating the "Xuanhuang Chuben".

Moreover, there has been considerable progress.

As his cultivation deepened, he vaguely sensed a connection between himself and the earth.

During meditation, one can even feel the pulse of the ground.

Some places gave him a cold feeling, while others were scorching hot.

In many other places, the material is arranged like veins, as if it has been combed, and different lights are reflected in it.

The energy levels also vary.

However, his understanding of the "Xuanhuang Chuben" is still too shallow. He cannot distinguish what these things are, let alone use them. He can only vaguely sense their presence.

He was not satisfied with this progress.

If we can't find a water source soon, the crops will all die of drought in a few days, and then it will be too late.

When I thought of this...

Lu Ming then began searching again in the system's shop.

Finally, he found something that would be useful to him.

[Earth Spirit Fruit, 100000 points (After consumption, it increases one's connection to the earth and strengthens one's affinity with it)]

At this point, of course, you can't be too worried about losing points.

Lu Ming immediately exchanged for one and swallowed it.

Then, I felt as if my body was about to merge with the ground.

My sense of the earth is indeed clearer now.

However, this feeling was very quick, only lasting for a moment.

The medication seems to have lost its effect.

Without hesitation, he exchanged for another one and continued his cultivation.

Unbeknownst to him, when Lu Ming was about to redeem his points again, he discovered that he only had a little over 200,000 points left.

This left him speechless.

This is far too wasteful of resources.

However, what he didn't know was that the reason why geomancers no longer existed was not only because their lineage had been broken, but also because they consumed too many resources.

Only in ancient times, when spiritual herbs were abundant, could such a supply be provided. Now, even if an entire sect were to pool its resources, it might not be able to support a single geomancer.

Of course, the terror of geomancers is also widely acknowledged.

In ancient times, no one dared to provoke a geomancer.

Their methods are terrifying; sometimes they can silently drain the spiritual veins of an entire sect.

To let the spiritual energy of a blessed land wither away.

It can even transform a barren land into a blessed place for cultivation that everyone envies.

Their methods are outrageous.

Therefore, many people believe that another important reason for the disappearance of geomancers is that they were too extraordinary.

Now, after consuming a large amount of spiritual fruits, Lu Ming began to examine his cultivation progress.

"I hope it won't disappoint me," he murmured to himself.

After taking a deep breath, I entered meditation again and began exploring the earth and my own cultivation progress.

(End of this chapter)