"I originally intended to use karma to lure you all out, but I didn't expect your neutral faction to appear decades earlier than I anticipated. And to meet someone like you at that."
Faced with the mysterious young woman's inquiry, Zhao Xing's mind raced with countless thoughts.
Seeing Zhao Xing remain silent, the young woman waved her hand, and a flurry of flower petals swirled around him, lifting him closer to her.
Zhao Xing allowed himself to be carried.
He had already swapped places with one of his avatars several days earlier when he first sensed the strange foreboding feeling in his heart.
There was no need for his true body to be present for observation. His real form had long since retreated beyond this area, prepared to return only after the climate shift concluded.
"Wait—Myriad Law Straw Puppet Technique? I only just recognized it?" The young woman curiously examined Zhao Xing. "Are you the current dean of Shangluo Academy from the Central Zhou Dynasty?"
"No, that's not right. The way you cultivate your myriad avatars seems... different. Let me take a closer look—"
She leaned closer, sniffing the air around Zhao Xing's neck, tugging at his ears and hair. Then, with a wave of her hand, she flipped him upside down, head dangling toward the ground.
Her soft, small hands moved deftly, as though a master examining the bones of a mortal.
Zhao Xing could catch the faint, pleasant fragrance emanating from her, fresh and soothing.
"Ha!"
Suddenly, the young woman removed Zhao Xing's avatar's outer garment, her hand plunging into his abdomen and moving downward.
"Hey, that's going too far," Zhao Xing grunted.
"Oh, so you can talk," she said, withdrawing her hand with a playful smile. "I thought you'd cultivated the Myriad Straw Puppet to the point of becoming mute."
"Why are you here, Flower Immortal?" Zhao Xing lowered his head, covering the wound. He utilized the extensibility of his chest material to conceal the injury.
"So you do know me," the young woman, now identified as Flower Immortal, tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Mind telling me how you knew that?"
"Of course I know you. Want to find out? Let's play a game—one question for another. How about it?" Zhao Xing proposed. Of all the lunatics from her group, she was relatively reasonable, making conversation feasible.
Anyone else, and Zhao Xing would have immediately detonated his avatar and fled.
"Alright," Flower Immortal nodded.
"Then I'll answer your first question," Zhao Xing said calmly. "The Central Zhou Dynasty is far stronger than you imagine. Through divination, deductions, and historical records, we discovered traces of your activities."
"Really?" Flower Immortal's expression remained skeptical.
"Don't believe me? I even know the flowers you've cultivated," Zhao Xing said mysteriously, adopting a sage-like tone. "Among them, one is the Nether Flower, gathered from the Yin Realm, capable of mending soul defects and lethally toxic."
"You—how do you know that?" Flower Immortal's eyes widened in disbelief. As a Shennong cultivator herself, she had birthed her own Pure Essence Space.
This was why she didn't fear being surrounded. She, too, could use the Divine Wood Leap, one of the top-tier techniques.
"Of course I know. That's your second question," Zhao Xing replied, smirking.
"That doesn't count!" Flower Immortal protested angrily. "You're taking advantage of me!"
Zhao Xing clasped his hands behind his back, his demeanor serene. "Flower Immortal, it's my turn now."
"Ask away," she huffed.
"Are the three peaks involved in this climate shift your doing?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes," Flower Immortal nodded, a hint of pride in her voice. "They were supposed to appear 140 years ago. Heh, you've never seen this before, have you? The Xuantian Divine Sect branch in the Central Zhou Dynasty doesn't possess such techniques."
Eager to regain the upper hand after Zhao Xing's performance, she deliberately withheld the name of the technique, baiting him to inquire further and expend his question.
"Top-tier Three-Lights Mountain Sealing Technique, is it?" Zhao Xing speculated slowly, watching her expression. "Using the waters of the Eastern Sea, supplemented by formations to condense the true intent of the Three-Lights Sacred Water, sealing the mountains to delay the climate shift..."
Judging by her reaction, Zhao Xing knew he'd guessed correctly.
The controlled methods of handling climate shifts were something he had witnessed in Ten Thousand Transformations Cave-Heaven. His knowledge, combined with educated guesses, quickly led him to the truth.
"So it wasn't my divination that was off by such an absurd degree—over a century, no less. It was suppressed by external intervention. If it was her, and given her ties to the Xuantian Divine Sect, then this location being a Xuantian Sect stronghold makes perfect sense."
"Was the Blood Spirit Sovereign merely a proxy, or was this just incidental?"
Before Flower Immortal could express her astonishment, Zhao Xing quickly asked, "Has your small world experienced any changes in yuan qi, particularly on a significant scale?"
Flower Immortal's eyes widened again in surprise. "How do you know about that too? Yes, our yuan qi has started to fluctuate abnormally—and across a wide area."
"I see," Zhao Xing thought to himself, pieces falling into place.
Yuan qi Tides!
They had already begun to emerge in smaller worlds!
"The entire Xuanhuang Realm can be likened to a pulsating jellyfish, expanding and contracting within the ocean of the cosmos."
"Smaller worlds are entities attached to its outer boundary."
"The Yuan qi Tide, accompanied by small-scale spiritual energy revivals, originates externally. Naturally, the smaller worlds are the first to experience its effects."
"The Central Zhou Dynasty, occupying 19 states and referred to as the Central Lands, sits at the heart of the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Thus, all tides eventually converge on the Central Lands, which serve as a depression in the yuan qi tide. While the later stages of the tide will favor the Central Zhou Dynasty greatly, the earlier stages primarily benefit weaker, smaller worlds."
Zhao Xing recalled his writings in the Grand Zhou Celestial Theory, instantly comprehending many elements and aligning them with events from his previous life.
As for why the Central Zhou Dynasty, occupying the Central Lands, was considered a "depression" in yuan qi terms—
The explanation was simple.
Repeated ascensions of ancient dynasties had taken away vast quantities of material from the Central Lands.
As a result, from a yuan qi perspective, it had become a depression—a final point of convergence for the tides.
"You're thinking—" Flower Immortal began to ask but quickly covered her mouth.
She wouldn't let herself fall for his tricks again.
Zhao Xing chuckled softly. "Take your time, Fairy. Think before you speak."
Flower Immortal's eyes darted around before she suddenly posed an odd question: "Why don't you join us? Swear allegiance to us, and I'll take you back and tell you a big secret—one you'll definitely find fascinating!"
"How about it?"
Zhao Xing shook his head with a smile. "Not interested. But you all could consider joining the Central Zhou Dynasty instead."
"I can even tell you a major secret, one your Hall Master would be very interested in."
"Alright, let's continue. It's my turn to ask."
"I don't want to play anymore!" Flower Immortal fumed, deciding to stop engaging with Zhao Xing.
He seemed to know far too much about them, while she knew almost nothing about him.
Continuing the exchange would leave her at a significant disadvantage.
"I'm done talking to you."
"Wait!" Zhao Xing called out to the departing Flower Immortal. "Give my regards to your Hall Master. If they're interested in what I have to say, send an avatar to find me."
"My name is Zhao Xing, Marquis Shenwei of the Central Zhou Dynasty. I'll leave an avatar by the Eastern Sea, always ready to meet."
"As a gesture of goodwill, I'll cede this climate shift to you. Feel free to make full use of it. I guarantee no one will interfere with your harvest."
With that, Zhao Xing's avatars simultaneously executed A Step to Infinity, retreating in unison.
Watching the dissipating mists, Flower Immortal murmured, "What kind of technique is this—Cloud Law? So intricate."
Pausing for a moment, she muttered again, "What does he mean by 'cede'? We found this place first! Still, how does he know so much? Looks like I need to return quickly and report to the Hall Master."
After Zhao Xing departed, he swiftly descended upon Purple Cloud Island.
"Who would've thought I'd encounter the Celestial Clan of the Heavenly Realm in the Eastern Sea?" Zhao Xing mused. "During Emperor Wu's reign, a group claiming to be 'immortals' from the Heavenly Realm emerged alongside the resurgence of Yuan Qi Tides.
"They had intricate ties to the Sect World yet weren't part of it."
"The Celestial Clan pursued their own goals, neither aiding Great Zhou nor siding with its enemies."
"Their actions were erratic—sometimes clashing with Great Zhou, sometimes opposing its enemies, and at times even fighting among themselves."
"They suddenly disappeared near the end of Emperor Wu's reign. At that time, players didn't have the ability to delve into this plotline and had no clue what their intentions were."
"They were called a group of neutral lunatics," Zhao Xing recalled.
The so-called Heavenly Realm was a term for a small world, and the Celestial Clan's title was self-styled.
"The ruling power in the Heavenly Realm is the Qitian Hall. Its leader, Qitian, claims the title 'Supreme Immortal,' while the deputy leader is known as the Saint Immortal."
"They even have those who possess mastery over Fate Arts, called the Fate Immortals."
"When I cultivated on Qitian Mountain, I intentionally named it after their domain and even built a Qitian Hall atop it. If I break through to the First Rank, Qitian Mountain's prestige will naturally rise alongside mine."
"This was a deliberate move. Once I ascend, I can use cause and effect to lure out the Fate Immortal for a meeting. Since the Heavenly Realm also has a Qitian Spirit Mountain, surpassing it would surely attract the Fate Immortal's curiosity."
"I didn't expect the Fate Immortal to remain dormant, yet I encountered the Flower Immortal tending flowers in the Eastern Sea instead."
Zhao Xing, preparing for ascension, aimed to minimize enemies while maximizing allies.
After all, ascending during Emperor Wu's reign was no easy feat; every resource and faction needed to be won over!
Undoubtedly, the Celestial Clan, evaluated by players as a neutral faction, was a group Zhao Xing hoped to recruit.
Given that the Heavenly Realm was the first to experience the revival of Yuan Qi Tides, every member of the Qitian Hall started at the Destiny Palace Realm.
If Zhao Xing could ally with them, it would greatly benefit his goal of ascension.
"It's currently the seventy-seventh year of the Eternal Governance Era, which lasts ninety-eight years. In another twenty-one years, Emperor Jing will pass away, ushering in Emperor Wu's reign."
"The Celestial Clan became widely known in the Primordial Qi Era, a hundred years later, when they appeared on a large scale."
"The outer region of the Eastern Sea, that site of shifting fortunes, isn't within Great Zhou's territory. That place, serving as the Xuantian Sect's base, appears to have ties with Qitian Hall," Zhao Xing speculated.
"Qitian Hall recruits experts from various professions. The Flower Immortal is a Shennong. Judging from her words, she might have originated from the Xuantian Divine Sect?"
"However, dealing with this group of lunatics requires caution. Who knows if the Hall Master of Qitian Hall has awakened?"
As far as he knew, few within the Qitian Hall could be described as normal.
"They harbor countless secrets. How did that Hall Master manage to gather so many powerful figures?"
"To recruit such strong individuals, one must have a significant foundation. How does a small world like Qitian Hall sustain such a large number of experts?"
"There are quite a few of them. What's the 'big secret' the Flower Immortal hinted at? Does it involve the Yuan Qi Tides or ascension?"
"Yuan Qi Tides misled Emperor Wu; could they also mislead the old masters of the Sect World?"
After contemplating for some time, Zhao Xing opened his eyes.
"The bait has been planted. There will eventually be an opportunity to connect."
Zhao Xing stayed on Purple Cloud Island for over a month, closely observing movements in the outer sea.
It turned out the court had no unusual intelligence to report. Evidently, the millennial shift was under control and hadn't caused any disturbances.
Zhao Xing dispatched a Scout Straw Puppet to investigate. The three mountains were gone, with only fragments of mountain ranges scattered on the seabed, tilted and broken.
In the depths of the ocean, there was a massive depression, as if something had been transplanted elsewhere, leaving behind a pit.
After thoroughly exploring the area, Zhao Xing departed.
Deep within the Western Extreme Glacier lay an unremarkable ice island.
The Flower Immortal emerged from a tree nestled within the valley.
With a "splash," she leapt into a steaming hot spring beside her.
She sank deeper and deeper, soon passing through tens of thousands of meters of thick ice layers.
Following a crystalline pathway resembling ice, she dove downward.
At the end of the path, she suddenly vanished, along with the icy passage.
In the Heavenly Realm, a pure white vortex appeared in the sky, swirling rapidly and rising like a gaping mouth, exhaling waves of cold air.
From within the frost emerged a seven-colored figure flying out.
"Whoosh—"
Two other figures, one blue and one white, streaked toward the sky.
"Flower, you're back!"
"Shut it! Since when are you allowed to call me 'Flower'?"
"Get lost, you filthy bug!"
"You should disappear instead, you dung-spewing idiot!"
The Flower Immortal glanced at the two figures entangled in a scuffle, her expression indifferent. Clearly accustomed to their antics, she flew toward the distant mountains.
The mountain range boasted numerous peaks and majestic palace pavilions. The Flower Immortal landed directly on a black-and-white square.
She drifted into a palace, where a black-and-white robe hung on a massive turtle shell, swaying slightly with the ripples of surrounding space.
"Hey, Fate Immortal, wake up! Stop sleeping!" The Flower Immortal blew a fragrant breath.
"Flower, what do you want now?" A head popped out of the black-and-white robe. The face was gaunt, with heavy dark circles, and the voice listless, as though waking from a deep slumber.
"I encountered something odd during my recent trip," the Flower Immortal said, recounting her experience in the Eastern Sea involving Zhao Xing.
She concluded, "It must be that Rain Immortal causing trouble again, or perhaps the Wanderer Immortal spreading secrets carelessly!"
"Don't worry. Let me divine on it." The Fate Immortal spoke calmly, extending his hand. Suddenly, his nails elongated, sharp as blades.
A grating sound echoed from the turtle shell, sharp enough to make one's teeth ache.
"Water above Heaven. Upper Six. An uninvited guest arrives. Honor them, and good fortune will follow."
"What does it mean?" the Flower Immortal asked.
"I don't know," the Fate Immortal replied, shaking his head. "It only indicates that this Zhao Xing harbors no malice. As long as we don't provoke him, the outcome will ultimately be beneficial."
"As for how he knows or who leaked the information, I can't discern... Strange, this is unusual."
"What's strange?" The Flower Immortal leaned in curiously.
"Odd, very odd. Sometimes yin, sometimes yang. Is there someone existing between life and death? Hmm? What's with these causal lines? Am I seeing things?" the Fate Immortal muttered, scribbling incessantly on the shell.
The Flower Immortal grew more perplexed by his ramblings.
After coming ashore, Zhao Xing left behind an avatar in Chongming Prefecture and stored precious materials in the Star Palace.
His main body then headed directly to Daoyuan Continent, seeking Li Boqian.
"Li Boqian doesn't have much time left. I must quickly learn his Primordial Sealing techniques," Zhao Xing thought.
The finite lifespan of figures like Xuanyuan Qingtian, Li Boqian, and Emperor Jing was practically common knowledge.
"Xuanyuan Qingtian will pass away in the 90th year of the Eternal Governance Era, Li Boqian in the 96th year, and Emperor Jing in the 98th year," Zhao Xing calculated aloud.
"Li Boqian has less than twenty years left." Zhao Xing frowned in thought. "Once he transitions to a Yin Spirit Body, he will become extremely busy with the transfer of underworld authority between him and True Lord Tianyang."
"Teaching will also become less convenient once he becomes a Yin Spirit Body," Zhao Xing muttered.
To fully master the Four Foundational Secret Arts of Primordial Sealing, Zhao Xing still had to learn the Five God Symbols and the Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array.
"I must strive to learn all four foundational secret arts within twenty years and perfect the top-tier techniques of Heavenly Timing and Earthly Advantage," he resolved.
"At the same time, I need to begin cultivating the Divine Soldier Art, which involves the Four Self Arts: Reduction, Condensation, Foundation Strengthening, and Derivation."
"Unifying the three factions is truly no easy task."
"Divide!" he commanded.
Zhao Xing split off two primary soul avatars while his main body traveled to the Lingxu Blessed Land at the Kunyuan Academy to continue nurturing his mountain.
One avatar went to Xuantian Academy, while the other went to Shangluo Academy.
"Your foundation in Talisman Arts is too weak," Li Boqian said, observing Zhao Xing's attempts at drawing talismans. A grin crept across his face. "It's like watching a ghost scribble."
Zhao Xing's expression darkened. Why does he look so amused at my slow progress?
"I've arranged for a teacher in Talisman Arts to guide you in the basics," Li Boqian continued. "You've met him before."
"Yu Xuanfeng?"
"Correct, it's him."
"Is that...appropriate?" Zhao Xing was startled. "I blasted him with a Fire Origin Divine Cannon before."
Li Boqian waved dismissively. "What's inappropriate about it? He has no grudges against Liu Tianning, let alone you. When he tried to stop you all back then, it was merely for the sake of maintaining peace."
"I have other matters to attend to. The competition between the three factions has reached a critical stage, and I must summon Wang Tianzhi back from his special training site."
"Understood. If you say it works, then it works," Zhao Xing replied. He had no objections; learning from anyone was still learning.
Directly tackling Li Boqian's Five God Symbols was challenging. Li Boqian combined his own insights with the Dao of Talisman Arts and the Dao of Shennong, making it particularly demanding for a beginner.
The difficulty was undeniable.
"As for formation arts, you already know someone. I won't bother calling anyone for you."
Zhao Xing nodded. He could easily find a Mechanist; the Fuming Furnace was proof of his deep connections. Calling in favors for basic instruction was a trivial matter.
"There's no need to delve too deeply; reaching an advanced level is sufficient. As long as you know how to assemble high-tier formations and utilize talisman papers, that will do."
"Understood," Zhao Xing replied.
Both the Five God Symbols and the Heaven-Burning Yuan-Sealing Array were deeply integrated with the Dao of Shennong. Their power stemmed from the fundamental principles of this path.
On June 15th of the 77th year of the Eternal Governance Era, Yu Xuanfeng from the Divine Talisman Academy arrived at Xuantian Academy.
"Zhao Xing."
"Dean Yu." Zhao Xing greeted him with a respectful bow.
He glanced around the room, noticing that various talisman papers were plastered everywhere.
At Yu Xuanfeng's feet was a row of boxes, evidently containing materials prepared for teaching.
"The Grand Shennong has instructed me to guide you in reaching the intermediate and advanced levels of Talisman Arts. Since you already have a foundation at the beginner level, I'll start from the intermediate stage," Yu Xuanfeng said without wasting time, diving directly into the lesson.
"In the intermediate stage, talisman practitioners primarily study the Small Five Elements Talismans. The essence of the Five Elements and Wind and Thunder is the core of the Dao. Regardless of profession, the method remains the same. We simply communicate with heaven and earth through brushstrokes and drawings."
"The most classic talisman techniques include Wind, Fire, Mountain, and Forest, Nine Character True Talismans, and Three-Six Yuan Talismans. These belong to the category of arts."
"At the advanced level, the focus shifts to the Great Five Elements Divine Talismans, which similarly embody the Dao of the Five Elements, Wind, and Thunder."
"In the high-advanced stage, the most iconic talisman techniques are the Ten Thousand Talismans Formation Sutra, Taiyi Sixty-Four Talismans, and Six Ding Divine Talismans."
"Your comprehension of the Dao is already sufficient."
"Mastery across disciplines is a matter of adaptability. You simply need to learn how to channel your Dao through talismans."
"This requires extensive practice to build a foundation."
"Understood."
Yu Xuanfeng suddenly extended both hands from his sleeves, revealing two talismans, one in each palm.
One talisman bore cloud patterns with a white background and yellow characters, while the other had a blue background and black characters.
"Go!"
With a wave of his hands, the blue talisman transformed into a gentle rain, while the white talisman became a floating cloud.
"The first is the Cloud Talisman, and the second is the Rain Talisman."
"Producing clouds and rain is fundamental to the Shennong path. Essentially, clouds and rain both belong to the Water Element within the Five Elements."
Zhao Xing observed carefully. The spell fluctuation levels of the Rain Talisman and Cloud Talisman weren't particularly high, roughly at the ninth step of the intermediate stage.
For him, it was a level he could grasp at a glance.
Learning it wasn't difficult.
However, Zhao Xing found this method incredibly awkward.
After all, he could already produce clouds and rain through his own skills. Using talisman papers to replicate the same effect felt redundant.
It was akin to knowing how to fly but insisting on attaching a talisman to oneself to do so.
It was uncomfortable.
"You're not slow; it's purely a matter of habit," Yu Xuanfeng critiqued pointedly. "Habits can be changed."
"Understood," Zhao Xing nodded. He began forcing his mind to adapt to this talisman-based spellcasting mode.
Yu Xuanfeng's high-level guidance, combined with Zhao Xing's profound understanding of the Dao, accelerated his learning process once he adjusted.
In less than six months, Zhao Xing had thoroughly mastered intermediate talisman arts and techniques.
Another six months saw him fully comprehend the advanced Great Five Elements Divine Talismans and delve into studying various talisman arts.
It was a time-consuming process.
The sheer variety of talisman arts was overwhelming!
"Even a single talisman divides into five elemental categories. Each element then branches into major talismans, minor talismans, time-based talismans, and directional talismans."
"Each category contains countless techniques."
"Once mastered, forming talisman arrays introduces countless combinations and variations."
For Zhao Xing, it was a grueling experience. Forcing a genius to endure such repetitive, monotonous work felt like a form of torture.
His own spells could overpower the strongest talismans, yet he was forced to study such an "inferior" method.
"How did Talisman Arts even originate? They were created by those with weak spellcasting talent. Unable to rely on their own abilities, they turned to specialized materials to connect with heaven and earth to perform spells."
"I already know how to do this myself. Why do I have to learn such a cumbersome method? Where's the justice in that?"
Zhao Xing vented his frustration at Shenluo King.
Meanwhile, Shenluo King instructed him in the fundamentals of formation arts.
At the same time, Zhao Xing dispatched another avatar to Shenluo Academy to seek Shenluo King's guidance in Mechanist Formations.
"You can't dismiss Talisman Masters so easily. Some of them are quite exceptional," Shenluo King said with a laugh. "Someone like Yu Xuanfeng, with his immense determination, can wield Divine Talisman Formations with great skill."
"Of course, Talisman Arts are still far inferior to the Dao of Mechanisms."
"Alright," Zhao Xing nodded.
Liu Tianning's eyes lit up instantly.
"Come, let's test it out!"
With a raised eyebrow, a shadow extended from him towards Zhao Xing.
The grade and characteristics of Pure Essence Soil determined the strength of its projection.
Afraid of injuring his disciple, Liu Tianning deliberately slowed the attack. The projection of the Pure Essence Soil crawled forward, akin to a turtle, slowly eroding its way through.
Zhao Xing smiled faintly. In front of him, an identical shadow extended to meet it.
Between the two, it was as if an invisible line of demarcation—a Chu-Han boundary—had appeared.
The shadow in front of Liu Tianning displayed miniature trees, projections of highlands, and rivers. Though these were illusions, they demonstrated his mastery of unique traits.
In contrast, the shadow in front of Zhao Xing appeared minimalistic, featuring only four sturdy stone pillars and condensed earth-vein energy. Elements like the yuan qi of the wilderness, surging flames, and a spring of spiritual energy were absent.
Even the two divine trees couldn't manifest as shadows.
As the two shadows collided, Liu Tianning's shadow was gradually forced back by Zhao Xing's, retreating step by step.
Liu Tianning was genuinely shocked.
"Hmm?"
In terms of pure essence projection alone, he was surprisingly inferior to Zhao Xing!
No matter how he resisted, his projection was inexorably pushed back until it was completely suppressed to his toes.
Such a scene would astonish anyone at Shangluo Academy.
A Second-Grade cultivator like Zhao Xing managed to completely suppress a First-Grade expert like Liu Tianning in pure essence projection?!
No one would believe it if word got out!
However, once it reached physical proximity, Zhao Xing could no longer push forward.
This was because Liu Tianning had mastered the Domain of Rules, allowing him to control the surrounding space and smoothly unfold his essence projection.
But this bordered on cheating—using the Rule Domain turned it into a contest beyond mere pure essence projection.
"That's enough." Liu Tianning retracted his projection, his eyes glowing with satisfaction. "Just based on Pure Essence Soil, your Grade Nine soil surpasses mine."
"My two journeys to the Dragon Court were immensely rewarding," Zhao Xing explained.
"Excellent. With this foundation, you're ready to cultivate the Divine Soldier Art," Liu Tianning praised. "Your base is far stronger than mine was back in the day."
When Liu Tianning first joined Shangluo Academy and secured the position of First Successor, he had just stepped into the Second Grade, with his Pure Essence Soil only reaching Grade Seven.
To expedite his progress, he chose The Classic of Growing Heaven and Earth Soldiers instead of Divine Soldier Art.
"I'll immediately order the Twin Saints Academy, Divine Wood Academy, and Military Arts Academy to prepare a batch of Ninth-Grade soldier species for you," Liu Tianning said.
"Thank you, Teacher." Zhao Xing cupped his hands respectfully.
"No need for thanks," Liu Tianning chuckled. "The Shennong experts of this era are too weak."
"Not a single one can make me go all out."
"Right now, I've already completed seven rounds in the Dao Field and am preparing for the eighth."
"Even prominent figures like Wang Tianzhi, Ling Tianchen, or Qiu Yuanshan from Kunyuan Academy—I don't see them as threats."
"They cannot defeat me."
"Since advancing to Fifth Grade, I've never lost a single match among my peers. Even against those a grade higher, I rarely lose, and at worst, I draw."
"In the realm of combat-oriented Shennong practitioners, I've been undefeated for far too long."
"Only you," Liu Tianning stared intently at Zhao Xing, his eyes full of anticipation, "have the hope of defeating me."
"Teacher, I will do my best!" Zhao Xing's eyes lit up. He fully understood Liu Tianning's sentiment.
Being invincible for so long—it was lonely!
"You better step it up," Liu Tianning encouraged. "Don't make me wait too long."
"You won't have to wait long," Zhao Xing assured him, cupping his hands respectfully.
At Shangluo Academy, within the Military Arts Academy's Seedling Grounds.
A massive tree trembled and then vanished from the ground.
Moments later, a large pit appeared where it had stood.
Zhao Xing closed his eyes briefly and then summoned it back, fully restored.
The elderly custodian of Ninth-Grade plant-based soldier species, Lin Yuan, stroked his beard and nodded.
"Vice Dean Zhao is indeed a prodigy of the heavens, effortlessly taming the Ninth-Grade 'Heavenly Net Tree.'"
"You flatter me," Zhao Xing responded with a polite bow. Though he now held the title of Vice Dean of Divine Wood Academy, Lin Yuan's status as a First-Grade elder with nearly seven centuries of experience commanded immense respect.
To manage soldier species of plants, one's combat abilities had to be formidable.
"Ten out of ten successfully planted and grown. I haven't seen a Second-Grade cultivator with such a success rate in ages," Lin Yuan said with a smile. "To witness two unparalleled geniuses arise at Shangluo Academy in my lifetime—what a blessing!"
The look Lin Yuan gave Zhao Xing was akin to admiring a rare treasure.
Zhao Xing was used to it—after all, he possessed the Innate Saint Shennong Constitution.
"I'm fully prepared now. Elder Lin, please take me to the inheritance site."
"Very well, follow me," Lin Yuan said with a nod, activating Divine Wood Leap alongside Zhao Xing.
With a flash, they appeared in the inheritance grounds of the Military Arts Academy—Ice Rock Forest.
"Ancient inheritances are all carved into ice rocks," Lin Yuan explained.
"These rocks were formed in the Western Glacial Plains, compressed under massive glaciers for eons before taking shape."
"The oldest ice rocks date back seven hundred million years."
Zhao Xing nodded. The materials of his Dragon Emperor Codex were similarly forged from ice rock compressed to the extreme.
While unsuitable for weapons due to its low hardness and flexibility, ice rock's unparalleled resistance to decay made it invaluable. As long as glaciers existed, ice rocks could be found.
Of course, harvesting such rocks was no easy task. Few below First-Grade strength could venture into such ancient glacial regions.
"The Divine Soldier Art is recorded on the central monolith within the Ice Rock Forest," Lin Yuan continued.
"Its origins are untraceable, but it is known to have been discovered by Chu Daozi, one of the founding ancestors of Shangluo Academy."
"Chu Daozi?" Zhao Xing pondered the name but found no record in the interstellar archives, suggesting the figure likely had not ascended.
"The Divine Soldier Art is best cultivated alongside the Diagram of All Things Growing. To achieve success, one must deeply comprehend the four techniques: Strengthening Foundations, Extracting Origins, Refining Form, and Breaking Limits."
"Only by mastering the pinnacle techniques of these four can you cultivate the first layer of the Divine Soldier Art."
"Completing the first layer allows one to command Ninth-Grade soldier species. Achieving mastery of the first layer unleashes their full potential."
"The second layer corresponds to treasure-grade soldiers."
"The third layer reaches peerless treasures."
"However, no one has ever achieved the third layer. Over the past ten thousand years, our dynasty's soldier-inheritance methods have relied on The Classic of Growing Heaven and Earth Soldiers."
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder," Zhao Xing replied with a nod.
"You may stay here as long as you wish," Lin Yuan said with a warm smile. "If you need anything, feel free to call on me."
"Thank you, Elder."
Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.
Zhao Xing's true body remained in the Ice Rock Forest, delving into the pinnacle techniques of the Self School, without yet beginning the practice of Divine Soldier Art.
"The pinnacle techniques of the Self School are far more challenging than those of the other two factions."
"It's now Eternal Governance Year 80. Old Liu is about to start his eighth round, and the Dao Field is teeming with experts."
"My true body can occupy half of my focus."
"I'll send out an avatar to the Dao Field as well."
"After over a century without actual combat, I feel like I'm rusting. A Holy Son without real battle achievements ultimately feels hollow. If I aim to unite the three factions, I must establish some renown."
With that resolve, Zhao Xing split off ten avatars, leaving the Ice Rock Forest to seek out Liu Tianning.
"Teacher, I want to try my hand at the Dao Field as well."
Liu Tianning chuckled at his words. "I've already thrashed all the First-Grades. Now you want to beat up the Second-Grades? Isn't that a bit excessive?"
"I might not even stick to Shennong practitioners," Zhao Xing replied with a smile. "Other professions are also on my list of challenges."
"The competitions for critical positions in other professions are also nearing their final stages. Many experts are emerging—it's a good time to learn from them."
"Go easy on them," Liu Tianning laughed. "It wouldn't do if you knocked out newly appointed Grand Craftsmen or Great Commanders."
"Of course not," Zhao Xing said. "It's just one avatar. I dare not underestimate the heroes of the world."
"You should be careful too, Teacher. I've heard that this time, Dean Wang Tianzhi, Dean Ling Tianchen, and Dean Qiu Yuanshan are all emerging from seclusion to face you in this round's Dao debates."
"Them?" Liu Tianning smiled faintly and waved his hand. "Let's go."
In Eternal Governance Year 80, shortly after Spring Sacrifice Day, the Dao Field in Daoyuan Continent grew lively.
Countless experts from various Dao academies, military commanders, nobility, and many princes gathered to watch the battles.
As Zhao Xing arrived, his Earth Mirror echoed with a familiar voice: "Big brother, you're here?"
"Are you here to fight?"
The message came from Ji Che.
"I'm here, so I'll definitely fight a few rounds," Zhao Xing replied promptly.
"Big brother, once you arrive, please come to Earth Zone Number 39's Debate Arena," Ji Che said.
"I haven't disembarked yet. What's going on?"
"Big brother, are you familiar with a Western Sea vassal state called 'Mos Kingdom?'"
"Yes."
"Their prince, Para Jinco, recently came to pay tribute. He was extremely arrogant, and while I couldn't stand him, I couldn't just beat him up outright."
"Now he's come with my sister and me to Daoyuan Continent to watch the battles. Big brother, come teach him a lesson!"