No matter if Li Boqian was bragging or not, Zhao Xing decided to believe him.
Who in their right mind would want to go see Emperor Jing again?
But when he began learning the Primordial-Sealing Technique, Zhao Xing started to genuinely believe.
The pinnacle of the Primordial-Sealing Technique encompassed four top-tier secret arts: Transformation Techniques, Earth Techniques, Talisman Arts, and Formation Arrays.
All of them were uniquely created by Li Boqian, and yet, Li Boqian referred to them as merely the basics.
"Four top-tier secret arts at the seventh transformation level, and they're just considered entry-level for the Primordial-Sealing Technique?"
Zhao Xing began to trust that the old man wasn't bluffing!
The pinnacle secret arts of the Primordial-Sealing Technique were as follows:
The top-tier external Transformation Technique: "Morning Crow Yellow-Ear Transformation"!
The top-tier Earth Techniques: "Thirty-Six Paths of the Earth Origin"!
The top-tier Talisman Art: "Five God Symbols"!
The top-tier Formation Array: "Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array"!
Naturally, the Talisman Arts and Formation Arrays would be learned later.
The first step was the Transformation Techniques.
"Master, you sure gave this external transformation technique a poetic name," Zhao Xing remarked. "'Morning Crow Yellow-Ear Transformation'—it's just a chicken-dog transformation spell!"
"Look at Wu Cheng's Pig Transformation Law. The name is so down-to-earth."
"Our Heavenly Timing Sect has no need for such rustic simplicity," Li Boqian retorted confidently.
"But you named the Earth Techniques so plainly—'Thirty-Six Paths of the Earth Origin.' How straightforward. Was that intentional?"
"Hahaha!" Li Boqian burst out laughing, his little scheme exposed. "Stop wasting time. Start practicing. In four years, you'll be heading back to the Dragon Court, and another twenty years will be wasted."
"Understood!"
The Morning Crow Yellow-Ear Transformation actually consisted of two parts: the Morning Crow Transformation and the Yellow-Ear Transformation.
To put it plainly, they were Chicken Transformation and Dog Transformation.
What set it apart was its ability to switch between forms—transforming a target from chicken to dog, or vice versa.
Li Boqian truly lived up to his title as the Grand Shennong. This technique, with its ability to alternate between chicken and dog transformations, held even greater destructive potential.
If transforming a target into a chicken couldn't eliminate them, one could shift them further, making them transition to another form entirely.
This could inflict a double layer of damage.
"The internal transformation can be practiced through self-realization, but external transformations need targets for practice. What targets did you prepare for me, Master?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Humans, of course," Li Boqian said, leading Zhao Xing to a spacious building on the grasslands.
"Look, this is Autumn Magistrate Wu Sekou."
When Li Boqian landed the cloud they were riding on, a Second-Rank official was already waiting outside the building. The official's robes bore intricate embroidery of a withered forest, intersecting iron rulers, the sun, and the moon. On the back of the robes, there was a... symbol.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Autumn Magistrate or Magistrate of Arms held a position akin to the later Ministry of Justice, but with broader responsibilities, including military and judicial matters. They oversaw both criminal law and military law enforcement.
This meant that Wu Sekou, the Deputy Magistrate, was a man of great power.
Wu Sekou had slightly dark skin, a square face, and a unique mark on his brow that resembled an eye—this was a Law Eye.
His ears were notably wide, with six distinct folds capable of bending in various directions—these were the Six Ears.
Both the Law Eye and Six Ears were ultimate-level abilities.
Legend had it that if a Magistrate of Arms developed both the Law Eye and the Six-Ear Hearing, they could not only hear the thoughts of others but also perceive events happening ten thousand li away, as well as hear sounds from equally vast distances. They could even emit destructive rays.
However, such abilities were merely part of the legend. To reach that level would mean stepping beyond the ultimate law into divine power.
At his waist, Wu Sekou carried a pair of iron rulers resembling slender swords. One was named Justice, and the other was Equality.
The Equality Sword was slightly larger than the Justice Sword, indicating the direction of Wu Sekou's cultivation.
While the Equality Sword appeared singular, it was, in fact, an amalgamation of eight components.
It could deploy the Eightfold Domain of Equality.
Once unleashed, anyone within the domain—even those above Wu Sekou's cultivation rank—would be forcibly suppressed to his level.
This would allow Wu Sekou to wield the Justice Sword for direct combat.
In the Era of Spirit Qi Revival, a fully developed Magistrate of Arms would also possess a divine beast companion and artifacts such as the Heavenly Prison, Heavenly Gate, and Immortal-Binding Chains.
However, the power of this role fluctuated with the rise and fall of dynasties.
Without the Fortune of a unified empire, the Magistrate of Arms profession would become obsolete.
"Deputy Magistrate Wu greets the Grand Shennong," Wu Sekou saluted Li Boqian respectfully before nodding at Zhao Xing. "Greetings, Marquis Shenwei."
"Deputy Magistrate Wu," Zhao Xing replied with a cupped-fist salute.
"Wu Sekou," Li Boqian addressed him. "Are the prisoners prepared?"
Wu Sekou stepped aside to reveal the interior of the building, where the clinking of chains immediately echoed.
"There are 1,450 prisoners inside," he announced.
"Of those, 1,100 are Fourth to Sixth Rank death-row inmates."
"There are 150 Third-Rank death-row inmates and another 150 Third-Rank serious offenders."
"Lastly, there are 10 Second-Rank death-row inmates and 40 Second-Rank serious offenders."
The division was deliberate—death-row inmates could be freely used, even if Zhao Xing accidentally killed them during practice.
They were destined for execution anyway, but their sentences had to wait for the Yin Realm Gate in Fengjing, the capital of Tianyong Prefecture, to open. This ensured that their spirits couldn't return to seek revenge on the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Serious offenders, on the other hand, were in a gray area. They could die or survive.
Most were willing to participate, hoping to reduce their sentences rather than rot in confinement.
Even if the process might kill them, some preferred this slim chance of freedom over a slow, inevitable death.
Zhao Xing casually scanned the room, noting that most of the prisoners bore traces of foreign bloodlines.
They primarily came from Great Zhou's vassal states, such as the aquatic tribes.
During the previous betrayal at the Dragon Court by the Boyi Tribe, many Western Sea groups had been implicated. Some were captured, others executed.
Even First-Rank prisoners had been apprehended, though Zhao Xing had no use for them in his training.
"This is sufficient," Li Boqian remarked with a smile. "Well done, Wu Sekou."
"Thank you, Grand Shennong, for your praise," Wu Sekou replied formally, bowing.
"From today onward, you'll assist Zhao Xing in his cultivation."
"Understood."
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had passed.
Zhao Xing stood in a beast pen divided into three sections—one for chickens, one for dogs, and one for pigs.
As he entered, chaos erupted among the animals: chickens flapped wildly, dogs barked furiously, and pigs squealed and scrambled.
"Cluck-cluck-cluck!"
"Woof-woof!"
"Squeal!"
Their eyes, unnervingly human-like, were filled with raw terror.
"I've mastered all three transformations—chicken, dog, and pig now," Zhao Xing muttered.
"Using this with the Pig Transformation Law, I can deal triple Hou Transformation damage. This is just too humiliating," Zhao Xing muttered with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Watching the chaos inside the Wanshe, where chickens flapped and dogs darted in confusion, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
It had only taken him a year and a half to master the Morning Crow Yellow-Ear Transformation. That speed could only be described as remarkable.
"Transform!"
Zhao Xing opened his mouth, and golden light burst forth, enveloping the entire Wanshe. The scenes of chaos—the frantic chickens and rampaging pigs—suddenly shifted.
"Kokoko? I've turned back into a person?"
"Woof! What the—who are you? Why are you hugging me?"
"Get off! Stop lying on me—"
"Sniff, sniff—"
Due to the nature of Hou Transformation techniques, wearing clothes during transformation was impossible. The current scene was therefore quite eye-popping.
Some, even after returning to human form, continued glaring at one another and barking like dogs.
Others lay naked in piles, colliding with each other or collapsing to the ground in confusion as they struggled to adapt to the sudden change.
"Alright, your task is complete," Zhao Xing said, waving his hand. A pile of clothes flew out from behind the door and landed before the group.
"Get dressed, then head out with Wu Sekou."
Wu Sekou, who had been waiting outside, was equally astonished.
Zhao Xing had completed his training in just a year and a half. Wu Sekou had prepared himself mentally for Zhao Xing to take ten or even twenty years.
He hadn't expected it to be so quick.
"Grand Shennong, didn't you say Hou Transformation techniques were notoriously difficult to master?" Wu Sekou asked, turning to Li Boqian.
Li Boqian, equally surprised, pulled Zhao Xing aside.
"Kid, why do I feel like your cultivation talent has improved again?"
Zhao Xing had already shown exceptional speed in cultivation and comprehension of spells during his Fourth and Fifth Rank stages. But now, at the Third and Second Ranks, where the difficulty of learning spells rose exponentially, he was still advancing at an astonishing pace!
A mid-level technique mastered in a single day—this level of talent was considered peerless. But for someone like Zhao Xing to maintain such speed while advancing to high-level techniques was extraordinary.
When it came to top-level techniques, most geniuses would slow down even further.
That was the normal trajectory.
As techniques and Dao comprehension increased in complexity, even the most gifted individuals experienced diminishing returns.
Yet Zhao Xing seemed unaffected by this diminishing effect!
No wonder Li Boqian was shocked!
"Such speed would be astounding for anyone else," Li Boqian remarked.
"But for me, it's just normal," Zhao Xing replied with a cheeky grin. "After all, I'm the Holy Son of the Three Sects, blessed with great fortune. It's only natural for me to progress quickly."
"Hahaha, you sure know how to flatter yourself," Li Boqian laughed heartily.
Zhao Xing's rapid progress, however, was due to several key factors.
The first critical factor was his mastery of the second layer of Derivation of the Divine Spirit. With 500,000 strands of divine intent aiding his deductions, it was no surprise his learning speed was so high.
The second factor was Zhao Xing's greatest gain from the Dragon Court—spiritual energy.
"The Five Elements Spiritual Liquid stored within me has already formed seven Spirit Lakes! These are genuine Spirit Lakes, created from liquefied spiritual energy—not just in name but in reality."
The transformation brought by the Five Elements Spiritual Liquid was astonishing.
Since leaving the Sixteenth Year of Dazhi, Zhao Xing's true body had been surrounded by spiritual energy almost every moment.
Whether it was his Life Soul or his Seven Spirits, Zhao Xing's true form was cloaked in a thin layer of spiritual energy, creating an internal and external circulation entirely within a spiritual energy environment.
"By understanding how to utilize spiritual energy, I can say that half of me has already stepped into the 'Spiritual Energy Era.'"
"The other half, however, is constrained by the rules of the Xuanzang World," Zhao Xing mused.
Despite possessing so much spiritual liquid, he used only a small fraction for personal cultivation.
His goal was ascension, not domination within the Xuanzang World.
The pursuit of kingship or hegemony held no allure for him. A thousand-year lifespan ending in ashes—what meaning did that hold?
From his past-life experience, he knew that ascension couldn't be achieved alone. This was a defining trait of the Ascension Era: teamwork was essential to leave the Xuanzang World.
Throughout history, stories of ascension involved divine dynasties, never solitary ascensions.
Understanding his purpose, Zhao Xing accumulated a vast reservoir of spiritual energy in his Pure Essence Soil but refrained from squandering it. Even the spiritual energy he absorbed was meticulously recycled.
Though he possessed an impressive amount of spiritual energy, it was insufficient for his ultimate goal of ascension.
With such vast resources, Zhao Xing could easily create 500,000 Second Rank Straw Puppet clones, each possessing 70% of his true form's strength.
But he refrained. In the late Jing Emperor's reign, without wars to fight, generating explosive combat power through clones would be wasteful.
He hadn't even planted many spiritual plants in his Pure Essence Soil, choosing instead to enhance his cultivation talent using a small portion of his spiritual energy.
Unlike Liu Tianning, Zhao Xing was meticulous in utilizing every resource.
Even with minimal consumption, the changes within him were profound.
Zhao Xing sent a clone to study at Li Boqian's Yuanfeng cultivation site, mastering two of the Four Great Secret Arts in just three years.
"The Morning Crow Yellow-Ear Transformation is an external Hou Transformation technique. You've learned it incredibly fast. I've heard you deliver a batch of True Dragon Blood to Ling Tianchen every twenty years?" Li Boqian inquired.
"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded. This secret was known to very few, even within the Xuanyuan Academy. But as Grand Shennong, Li Boqian had the clearance to know.
"With so many deliveries, it seems Ling Tianchen is planning to keep Ancestral Dragon Transformation as his secret weapon." Li Boqian laughed heartily. "How amusing—using the True Dragon Blood you've provided to develop your Ancestral Dragon Transformation, only to challenge Liu Tianning—hahaha."
The competitive mechanism for candidates across the three factions was halfway through.
Liu Tianning and other faction candidates had already fought five rounds. Soon, the sixth round of arena challenges and Dao debates would commence.
However, Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen remained out of the action, as did two other candidates from the Earth School.
It wasn't mandatory to complete nine or ten rounds.
A single decisive victory in one round would suffice. The key battle would be three years after the new emperor's coronation.
Two candidates from the Heaven School and two from the Earth School were conserving their strength for the final showdown.
Wang Tianzhi was undergoing secret training under Li Boqian's guidance.
Meanwhile, Ling Tianchen had been in seclusion, honing the Ancestral Dragon Transformation Zhao Xing had indirectly helped develop.
Coincidentally, an Earth School candidate had been exploring the mysteries of the Kun Yuan Hoe. Since Zhao Xing's true body was in seclusion, the Kun Yuan Hoe had been placed in the She Deity Temple, allowing the candidate to derive insights into its powerful secret techniques.
Li Boqian chuckled. Ling Tianchen and that Earth School candidate indeed posed a potential threat to Liu Tianning.
And it was all due to Zhao Xing's influence.
Otherwise, with Ling Tianchen's current Wen Transformation, there wouldn't be much room for improvement. He would've already tested the waters in arena battles against Liu Tianning.
"You've made things harder for Liu Tianning," Li Boqian remarked, clearly amused. "Do you think he knows about this?"
Zhao Xing replied, "He doesn't. But even if he did, he probably wouldn't care."
After all, Liu Tianning wouldn't fear someone surpassing him.
It simply wasn't in his nature. Instead, he would welcome Ling Tianchen and others growing stronger.
Winning brings true satisfaction!
After chatting for a while, Li Boqian began teaching Zhao Xing the Thirty-Six Paths of the Earth Origin once Wu Sekou had left.
"This technique forms one of the foundational practices of the Yuanfeng system. It doesn't possess any offensive power on its own, and compared to techniques like the Earth Repository's Return to Origin, it falls short when used in isolation."
"It primarily complements the Five God Symbols and the Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array, enabling a closed-loop utilization of the elemental energy between heaven and earth."
"You shouldn't find it too difficult to learn. Once you've mastered it, I'll guide you further on integrating it with the Five God Symbols and the Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array."
"Yes," Zhao Xing replied calmly, listening attentively.
Given his already solid foundation, whether it was the Thirty-Six Paths of the Earth Origin or the Transmutation Method for Awaiting Changes, Zhao Xing picked them up quickly.
A year and a half later, Zhao Xing mastered the second secret technique, the Thirty-Six Paths of the Earth Origin.
"The Emperor's decision to confine you for four years wasn't entirely without merit. It gave you the opportunity to focus on comprehending techniques," Li Boqian said with a smile. "If it were before, with your penchant for running around everywhere, scattering your energy, you wouldn't have progressed so quickly."
"However, with only half a year left before the Dragon Court opens, the Five God Symbols and the Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array will require a tremendous amount of your focus and energy. You should wait until you're out to study them."
The Five God Symbols and the Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array represented entirely new paths. For Zhao Xing, it was akin to starting from scratch, making the journey anything but easy.
Zhao Xing couldn't help but let out a wry smile. He had already glanced over the contents of both secret techniques. Even a single look left him overwhelmed. Hearing Li Boqian's words only confirmed that mastering these techniques would be a hair-pulling endeavor.
"I swore I'd never delve into mechanism arrays again, yet here I am, planting another flag."
Eternal Governance Era, Year Sixty—Qitian Summit, Early Spring
The imperial decree pinned to the Qitian Summit suddenly ignited and turned to ashes.
From within the stone base, a figure emerged, stretching lazily toward the cloud-filled horizon ahead.
"Four years have passed. It's time for the Dragon Sovereign to return." Zhao Xing smirked.
Seeing the days of Emperor Jing's impending demise drawing closer filled him with joy!
Once again, he'd be heading to the Dragon Court for another ten or twenty years. By the time he returned, Emperor Jing would likely have just twenty good years left.
Not bad at all!
Zhao Xing's mood brightened considerably.
"Meow~"
From behind the mountaintop palace, three figures emerged.
It was none other than Mountain Cat, Blue Hound, and the Upside-Down Goat.
"Woof! Woof!" Blue Hound wagged its tail.
"Baa~" The Upside-Down Goat grinned cheerfully.
Mountain Cat, however, perched majestically atop a rock, surveying with a tiger-like gaze.
It could hardly be called a cat anymore. Its purple-black fur shimmered with distinct patterns, and its every movement exuded an air of majesty.
By now, Mountain Cat, Blue Hound, and the Upside-Down Goat had all surpassed one hundred and thirty years of age, each reaching the Third Rank. Mountain Cat, being the eldest at one hundred and forty, stood out even further.
Blue Hound and the Upside-Down Goat had entered their peak periods, reaching the pinnacle of the Third Rank. Their natural bloodlines were already strong, and with the consumption of abundant dragon meat and dragon blood, their bloodlines had undergone significant transformation. They still had plenty of life ahead of them. Mountain Cat, having eaten better and more, was even stronger.
"This time, you three won't be coming with me. You'll have to seek your fortunes at Ling Mountain on your own," Zhao Xing said softly. "Unlike the human race, you cannot ascend into the Heavenly Luck Realm through normal means. Nor can you, like the dragons of the Dragon Court, receive the blessings of its rules."
"But don't worry, I'll find opportunities for you."
The Dragon Beasts of the Dragon Court, the Babok Worms of the Southern Barbarian Court, and the serpents of the Serpent Kingdom—all benefited from special national fortunes, making their advancement relatively straightforward.
The Great Zhou, however, lacked such circumstances. While it occasionally granted official titles to exotic beasts, the cap was equivalent to the Third Rank.
After all, even humans struggled to receive the blessings of national fortune, so how could beasts stand a chance?
Unless, of course, they were divine beasts like the Fate Blackbird, born with the world's fortune and capable of amplifying the Great Zhou's strength.
During Emperor Wu's reign, however, the emergence of Primordial Energy Tides would make such advancements easier.
"Kunpeng Transformation!"
Zhao Xing shifted, transforming into a golden-winged Kunpeng.
By now, his Kunpeng Transformation had reached its pinnacle.
Previously, the Kunpeng form had white feathers, but it had now evolved into radiant gold.
The transformation greatly enhanced his speed. Flying from Qitian Mountain to the entrance of the Lingxu Blessed Land took him a mere two quarters of an hour.
At the entrance of the Lingxu Blessed Land, the Imperial Mandate Official, Ji Si, quietly waited aboard a dragon ship.
Suddenly, a golden light shot out from the dazzling blue gateway.
Ji Si looked up and caught only the fading gleam of gold. Lowering his gaze again, he found the dissipating mist on the deck revealing a tall, upright figure.
"Zhao Xing," Ji Si said with a faint smile. "It seems your Kunpeng Transformation has improved again."
Ji Si hadn't even had time to activate the dragon ship's defensive barrier when Zhao Xing had already slipped aboard, leaving the barrier untouched!
"Lord Ji, you flatter me. It's merely a minor achievement," Zhao Xing said, cupping his hands in greeting.
The Kunpeng Transformation's innate secret techniques had expanded. Besides Kunpeng Wings, which accelerated through Windforce, it now included two new abilities:
Void Realm Traversal: This allowed Zhao Xing to bypass most energy-based barriers.
Feathered Escape: By sacrificing feathers imbued with mysterious energy, Zhao Xing could teleport millions of miles away.
However, using the Feathered Escape technique came at a great cost. It would heavily injure him, leaving his feathers bleached white. It was a move of last resort.
If the King Tianyan had been present, Zhao Xing might have elaborated on the specifics of his abilities.
But Ji Si was no King Tianyan. Zhao Xing had no intention of growing closer to this formidable individual.
Ji Si had spent a century perfecting his techniques and had even developed an on-demand version of the Heanvenly Timing Missive!
In the twenty-fifth year of the Eternal Governance Era, Ji Si had gleefully reported to Qitian Summit, claiming some of the credit for its innovation.
Zhao Xing dared not accept this recognition, fearing it would encourage Ji Si to create even more troublesome features.
Currently, the Heanvenly Timing Missive allowed communication among Imperial Mandate Officials. But if Ji Si expanded its functionality to include unrestricted use across professions, chaos would ensue.
Zhao Xing wasn't worried about Ji Si sending letters directly to him. What he feared was the inevitable resentment such a feature would attract.
Better to maintain distance. He didn't want to get caught in the crossfire when someone inevitably took revenge against Ji Si.
"Lord Shenwei, is there anything else you need to prepare?"
"None."
"Then we shall depart."
Unlike the last trip to the Eastern Sea with the King Tianyan, which was filled with casual chatter, Zhao Xing and Ji Si barely spoke.
Ji Si no longer addressed him as "Chen'an" in the familiar tone of their first meeting. Zhao Xing was now a proper Third-Rank Spiritual Mountain Envoy with Heavenly Luck Realm mastery!
Zhao Xing's reserved demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Ji Si, who opted to keep their interactions strictly professional.
The journey to the Eastern Sea was uneventful, and by May of the sixtieth year of the Eternal Governance Era, they had arrived.
Unlike the previous occasion, when the Dragon Gate of Heaven and Earth appeared in June, this time, it was set to open in August.
Zhao Xing had arrived three months ahead of schedule, unlike the last time, when he barely made it.
The Eastern Sea was no longer the same as before.
Most notably, the three major aquatic tribal leaders no longer rotated as commanders of the Eastern Sea Corps.
Emperor Jing had abolished the rotational system established during Emperor Wen's reign, replacing it with a competitive appointment system.
After the restructuring, Bai Yunwu was appointed as the first commander of the Eastern Sea, but the court deployed a large number of human martial officers to fill mid-level positions.
Simultaneously, the quota for positions in the Eastern Sea allocated to graduates of Bishui Dao Academy was significantly reduced. Bishui Dao Academy, as one of the ancient divine sects, had historically held substantial authority over nominations for civil and martial positions.
Graduates of the academy, known as Daoists, were previously guaranteed official appointments upon passing their graduation exams. This policy remained in place but with drastically fewer slots.
It seemed inevitable that the Daoist appointment system would eventually be abolished altogether, though this task would likely fall to Emperor Wu. Emperor Jing had already undertaken more than enough reforms.
As for Princess You Ruo, the changes in her status were evident.
Once a core member of Bishui Dao Academy's leadership and a candidate for its next director, Princess You Ruo had been relegated from Deputy Director with real power to an Honorary Director, slowly distancing her from the academy's core authority.
Additionally, her assets, including the Purple Cloud Archipelago, numerous trade routes, fleets, and military forces, were now managed by the Office of the Imperial Clan on her behalf, as she recuperated in Fengjing.
These resources would increasingly be transferred under imperial administration, barring unexpected developments. Should she wish to return to the Eastern Sea, it would only be possible after Emperor Wu's ascension, provided she presented a valid reason and formally relinquished most of her power to Emperor Wu.
With a total reign of ninety-eight years, Emperor Jing had thirty-eight years remaining to complete these tasks.
"Marquis Shenwei, here is the high-ranking officials list for this expedition," Ji Si said, handing Zhao Xing a confidential document.
Middle-ranking officials did not require Zhao Xing's attention, but he was expected to oversee the high-ranking ones.
Zhao Xing took the list and skimmed it quickly.
The roster of 1,500 high-ranking officials had undergone significant changes compared to the last expedition. Typically, high-ranking officials would participate in multiple Dragon Court expeditions to avoid wasting prior investments. However, a large shakeup occurred because 400 high-ranking officials had perished in the previous endeavor.
With so many vacancies, replacements were naturally required.
"Hm?"
Zhao Xing noticed several familiar names among the new appointees.
In addition to Long Xiao, Xia Jing and Chen Shijie were also on the list of high-ranking officials.
"Xia Jing was nominated as a Senior Martial Instructor from Shenwu Academy."
"Old Chen earned his recommendation through an internal selection process at Kunyuan Academy."
"It seems Xia Jing and Old Chen haven't been slacking these past years," Zhao Xing thought.
After acquiring the Dragon Emperor Codex, Zhao Xing's ventures into the Ancient Dragon Court were far less perilous. What was once a life-or-death trial had transformed into a lucrative opportunity.
Since it was now a benefit-rich endeavor, the 1,500 available slots became even more valuable. Neither Xia Jing nor Chen Shijie had received special treatment—they had secured their positions entirely on merit.
"During the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven era, Lu Bang, the Shennong Officer from Taicang Academy, and Mi Fu, who served as an official in Guiyuan Blessed Land, were also beneficiaries of the Green Seedling Act?" Zhao Xing pondered while reviewing their records.
Lu Bang, who had been acquainted with Liu Tianning, was about the same age as him. Lu Bang had even participated in Zhao Xing's shelter construction project during the late stages of the Liang King's rebellion. His career trajectory had been smooth ever since, and he now held a Third-Rank position.
Mi Fu, on the other hand, had been identified and recommended by Zhao Xing to Liu Tianning during the thirtieth year of the Dazhi Era. He was subsequently recruited into Shangluo Academy and later appointed to two Blessed Lands managed by the academy.
Though Mi Fu was not yet a Third-Rank official, his cultivation had advanced to the Third Rank.
"From my investment roster, only one person has achieved the Third Rank—Yun Yi, who joined the Shenwu Academy's branch."
"Yun Yi is currently serving as a Deputy General of the Zhaoshi Army stationed in Zhaoshi Cave-Heaven. As expected of one of Pinghai Prefecture's top ten sword immortals, he has indeed had fortuitous encounters."
Since leaving the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, Yun Yi had served in various locations, leveraging his remarkable talent to climb the ranks. Although promotions during the Dazhi and Yongzhi Eras were challenging, he had attained the Fourth Rank. His cultivation level, however, had reached the peak of the Third Rank.
He had been part of the same Shenwu Academy recommendation cohort as Xia Jing.
"Aside from Yun Yi, the others still have room to grow," Zhao Xing thought.
"Among old acquaintances, there's also Ye Yukong, King Shenluo, Bai Yunwu, Tang Yinglong, and Ao Tian."
"But Tong Jin, Ji Mengjun, Jiang Chuan, and Xiao Huang did not return." Zhao Xing noted while scanning the list. "They've completed their missions and need not participate again."
He surmised that these individuals had been tasked with dirty work by Emperor Jing during their prior appointments.
"Hm? Wang Ji and Han Bing also made it onto the middle-ranking list?"
Although Zhao Xing was not obligated to monitor middle-ranking officials, he glanced at the roster out of curiosity.
Wang Ji, the Mechanist from the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, and Han Bing, the Shennong Officer, both appeared on the list.
"Would you like to meet them?" Ji Si asked.
"No need," Zhao Xing replied with a shake of his head.
If he visited Xia Jing and Old Chen, others might assume they had received preferential treatment or attract unnecessary attention to them. Such perceptions could undermine their hard-earned accomplishments.
If there were any need for support, it wouldn't be now—everything would wait until Emperor Jing passed away.
"What are your plans for the Dragon Court?" Ji Si asked. "Is there a chance for Yinxiu to annex neighboring nations, becoming a dominant force in the eastern region?"
"The Guting Kingdom isn't ready for war. We should focus on consolidating strength first," Zhao Xing replied, shaking his head.
He had already informed Emperor Jing that unifying the Dragon Court was impossible. There was no way he would backtrack now.
"As for plans, I intend to search for treasure-grade plants within the Dragon Court," Zhao Xing said.
In the sixtieth year of the Yongzhi Era, August, Zhao Xing entered the Ancient Dragon Court once more.
Equipped with the Dragon Emperor Codex, Zhao Xing, like Bai Yunwu and other Dragon Kings, could arrive at fixed locations rather than random ones.
This time, he appeared directly in Guting Kingdom's royal city.
The moment he landed, Zhao Xing felt an instinctive connection.
Through the Dragon Emperor Codex, he sensed the presence of dragons in the Guting Kingdom's royal city.
"A new Dragon King has emerged in Guting Kingdom?"
Aside from Yinxiu and Yinli, there was another Dragon King within the royal city!
"Did Yinxiu awaken another Dragon King? I specifically told him to keep a low profile!"
Scanning the surroundings, Zhao Xing noted a significant increase in lord-level dragons compared to a century ago.
Dragon turtles were hauling ships loaded with materials toward the Fuming Shrine, clearly in preparation for war.
"Has he been disobedient during my absence?" Zhao Xing immediately activated the Ancestral Dragon Transformation and stormed into the Guting Royal Palace.
Inside the royal city, Dragon King Yinxiu's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Our king has arrived!"
Before his words could fade, a five-clawed golden dragon emerged outside the palace.
Shrouded in mist, the dragon's head pierced through the clouds, surveying the ground below.
"Yinxiu!"
"My king," Yinxiu prostrated himself respectfully.
"Why is there another Dragon King in the Guting Kingdom? Did you awaken them on your own?" Zhao Xing asked coldly. "I told you to accumulate strength, not to awaken Dragon Kings!"
"King, Hog was not awakened by me; it was simply his time to wake up."
"In the days of your absence, I merely annexed two pieces of land without initiating any large-scale wars," Yin Xiu explained, a hint of grievance in his tone.
Was it not just two pieces of land from neighboring countries?
"Bring the records of Gu Ting Kingdom's past hundred years," Zhao Xing commanded with a low growl, his aura crackling with thunder.
If Yin Xiu lied, Zhao Xing would not hesitate to demonstrate the might of the Dragon Emperor Codex to discipline him.
"Yes." Yin Xiu hummed softly. Instantly, numerous stone tablets floated over, engraved with intricate murals and flowing symbols.
The records detailed not only the past century of Gu Ting Kingdom but also the evolution of the entire Dragon Court.
After quickly scanning the records, Zhao Xing's imposing presence slightly diminished.
Yin Xiu had not lied. He had not proactively waged war; the conflicts were triggered by provocations from neighboring nations, forcing him to retaliate and take over two territories.
In the span of a hundred years, the changes in the Dragon Court's ancient lands had not been significant.
"You've done well," Zhao Xing acknowledged, releasing the Dragon Emperor Codex and casting an imperial edict. He bestowed a token of divine power upon Yin Xiu. Though the power was modest, it served as an acknowledgment for Yin Xiu.
Overjoyed, Yin Xiu eagerly invited Zhao Xing to tour his century of achievements. However, Zhao Xing had little interest and instead reminded him, "Do not rush to dominate. Focus on accumulating grain and strengthening your forces. Wait for the right opportunity."
"Xiu, I will be exploring some secret locations. If someone comes to the royal city with a token bearing this emblem, do your best to fulfill their requests."
"Understood!" Yin Xiu replied respectfully.
After handling courtly affairs, Zhao Xing broke through the air and departed.
During his last visit, Zhao Xing failed to acquire the desired plant soldier species due to time constraints and the inability of his Pure Essence Soil to sustain the transplantation of treasure-grade plant soldiers.
This time was different. Over the past century, Zhao Xing's Pure Essence Soil had undergone remarkable development, becoming unmatched.
"My Pure Essence Soil has reached the ninth level, the limit below the Rule Stage," Zhao Xing reflected.
"The Five Elements' characteristics—excluding Wind, Fire, Wood, and Metal—have all reached the peak of the second stage."
"Earth Veins, ninth level."
"Spirit Qi Spring, ninth level."
"Wilderness Vitality, seventh level."
"Flame Surge, sixth level."
"Four Pillars of Metal and Stone, fourth level."
"Frenzied Winds, sixth level."
"Dual Thunder Pools, ninth level."
Among Zhao Xing's seven spiritual lakes, the majority of accumulation lay in the elements of Water, Earth, Wood, and Metal. While Wind, Thunder, and Fire were also significant, they lagged behind.
The unachieved limits were primarily due to his own understanding of the Dao and his current cultivation stage.
The soil's properties tied into the perfection of the world's rules. Reaching the second stage across the board was already a result of significant Spirit Qi amplification.
However, in terms of the breadth of Pure Essence Soil and the vastness of Pure Essence Space, Zhao Xing was confident that no Shennong could rival him—not even Liu Tianning.
"This is sufficient for me to transplant treasure-grade plants," Zhao Xing mused. "With Spirit Qi boosting the soil's properties to the second stage, even rare treasures can be transplanted."
"Moreover, with the support of seven spiritual lakes, there's nothing I can't grow—aside from extreme cases like the Mo Yun Vine."
Liu Tianning had inherited the foundations of Shangluo Academy. While Zhao Xing couldn't compete with him for resources, he could find treasure-grade sacred trees on his own.
"Liu Tianning cultivated 'Heaven and Earth Plant Soldiers' and achieved a Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons in the Destiny Palace Realm. That's entirely thanks to the treasure-grade plant soldiers."
"If I can secure multiple treasure-grade sacred trees, I could choose a more powerful 'Soldier Commander Divine Codex' to cultivate. By the time I reach the Destiny Palace Realm, my Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons might surpass his."
As the leader of Shangluo Academy, Liu Tianning's access to treasure-grade plant soldiers far exceeded Xu Xing's.
Zhao Xing estimated that within decades, Liu Tianning would refine his 'Heaven and Earth Plant Soldiers' even further, unleashing the full potential of his sacred trees.
By then, Liu Tianning would possess Rule Stage combat power—not consistently above Destiny Palace Realm, but strong enough to rival it with his ancient trees.
Zhao Xing's plan to unify the three factions required him not to wait for Liu Tianning's demise to take over. He had only about a century more lifespan than Liu Tianning—hardly enough time to wait.
If the Emperor Wu Dynasty could artificially revive Spirit Qi, Zhao Xing couldn't afford to delay.
Waiting was not an option. Surpassing Liu Tianning was the only path to asking him to step down!
Becoming the Grand Shennong, unifying the three factions, consolidating resources, and ascending during the Emperor Wu Era would allow Zhao Xing to soar in the Cosmic Era.
"But to convince Liu Tianning's supporters to accept his resignation, I must openly and decisively surpass him. Such authority cannot be handed over privately."
"In this lifetime, Liu Tianning hasn't gone mad, so I've set myself a higher bar."
"To surpass him, every step must be sturdier than his. Otherwise, sparring with him would be a stalemate—neither side gaining an edge for centuries."
Zhao Xing envisioned their match, knowing that if their advantages weren't significant, even with the myriad techniques of the Liu family's straw puppet methods, they could battle for a hundred years without a result.
"If Li Boqian wasn't exaggerating, his Yuanfeng technique could become a major asset for me."
"My Derivation of the Divine Spirit also holds an advantage. By mastering the ultimate laws of the Earth and Heaven School, defeating Liu Tianning will be guaranteed."
However, the foundation for grand plans was laid brick by brick. For now, Zhao Xing's priority was collecting the treasure-grade plants necessary to establish the Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons, which would enable him to challenge Liu Tianning.
"For spring treasures, bamboo is the clear choice. I recall that two locations in the ancient Dragon Court lands hold treasure-grade bamboo species, though I'm unsure if this era has seen changes."
After several transmissions, Zhao Xing reached the central region of the Dragon Court and transformed into his Ancestral Dragon form, swiftly flying toward an inland sea.
Upon reaching the sea, he reverted to human form and activated his Heavenly Eye, scanning for landmarks.
"The Dragon Court of later eras underwent significant terrain shifts due to Spirit Qi tides. Logically, after half a year of flying, I should be at the central area of Bright Sea. The later Bright Sea is much larger than it is now."
"Divide!"
Searching alone was too slow. Zhao Xing paused and began releasing clones from his body.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"
Thousands of clones emerged, employing the Ruler's Horizon technique to scatter in all directions.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing concentrated on sensing the views of his clones.
The Dragon Court was vast, and Bright Sea no less so. Half a year into his search, even with the help of his clones, Zhao Xing had only covered half the ocean.
Despite finding nothing, Zhao Xing did not give up.
A year later—
Suddenly—
In the view of one of his clones, a brilliant golden light appeared.
"Stop!"
Zhao Xing immediately halted his other clones and magnified the view of the northern sea clone.
In the distance stood a golden pillar of light stretching to the heavens. Upon closer inspection, seven swirling colors ascended along the inner circle of the pillar.
"Found it!" Zhao Xing's face lit up with joy as his true body flew swiftly toward the northern Bright Sea.