"Are you saying this treasure exists? I've heard of it before," said Ji Che. "It's said to have been lost completely. No one knows where it ended up."
"Your Majesty, I was fortunate enough to acquire some ancient texts from the Li Dynasty while in the Eastern Sea. Perhaps I can look into it," Zhao Xing replied.
Ji Che chuckled lightly, dismissing the thought. "The world is vast, and the greatest treasures are often shapeless and elusive. Where do you expect to find it? Don't waste your time chasing shadows."
But Zhao Xing wasn't ready to give up. "I've heard that the late Emperor once gathered the royal artisans to decipher some unsolved craftsmanship techniques, many of which were treasures from the Li Dynasty era."
"The late Emperor did allow me to choose treasures from the royal treasury on one occasion," Zhao Xing added.
"That's true. My ancestors were masters of mechanisms, and the Grand Ancestor was particularly talented," Ji Che recalled. "In the early years of the Yuan Shou Era, I, too, summoned royal artisans to tackle such projects. Initially, I was filled with anticipation, but after decades of effort, little came of it."
Ji Che sighed deeply.
The Ji royal family, being the wealthiest landowners under heaven, received countless treasures from tributaries across the empire each year. Many of these were valuable and of clearly defined worth, stored in the Yuanchen Vault.
However, an even greater number were peculiar items of uncertain value.
Take, for example, the tributes from the aquatic clans of the Four Seas. Their offerings to the Emperor followed two key principles: novelty and volume. What had the Emperor not seen before? To catch his interest, they had to provide something new and unique.
If novelty wasn't feasible, they'd overwhelm him with sheer quantity to demonstrate sincerity.
The aquatic clans, naturally shrewd, avoided parting with explicitly valuable treasures. Give too little, and they risked offending the Emperor. Give too much, and they'd feel the sting of loss. By adhering to the principles of novelty and volume, their tributes essentially became blind boxes for the Emperor.
"I could claim this item is comparable to a world-class treasure," they might say. Though unlikely, such claims sounded impressive in reports.
Thus, the royal treasury was divided into two parts:
The Yuanchen Vault, containing explicitly valuable treasures, which the Emperor often used to reward officials. For example, during Emperor Jing's reign, Zhao Xing was thrice allowed to select treasures from the Yuanchen Vault.
The Yuanfeng Vault, a massive repository of curious and enigmatic items, akin to a blind box emporium. It saw a steady flow of incoming and discarded items each year.
The royal family understood the game. Offering tribute wasn't about material gain but attitude. Assigning fixed prices would be exploitative, unfit for imperial dignity.
Yet Emperor Jing often did exactly that.
During his reign, the Yuanchen Vault received more than the Yuanfeng Vault. However, under Emperor Wu, tributes from aquatic clans, vassal states, and subjugated tribes (a collective term for groups like the Southern Barbarians, Eastern Islanders, and Western Extremes Province defectors) shifted back to favoring the Yuanfeng Vault.
Despite this, many ancient artifacts lay hidden within. Emperor Jing and Emperor Wu had both gathered royal artisans to unlock numerous treasures, but Ji Che, with his lofty standards, dismissed most as unremarkable.
When Zhao Xing mentioned treasures from the ancient Nightmare Sect of the Li Dynasty, Ji Che immediately recognized their value. The problem, however, was finding them.
"My Grand Ancestor once said, 'All the world's talents are in my grasp.' Your Majesty's fortune is boundless. I believe treasures are fated to be with the virtuous and must already be in Your Majesty's possession," Zhao Xing remarked with a smile.
Ji Che waved him off, unimpressed. He thought Zhao Xing might have some clever idea, but it seemed more like an excuse to explore the royal treasury.
"My dear brother, if you want to browse the royal vaults, there's no need for excuses. Just go."
"As Grand Shennong, if you find anything beneficial to the nation, feel free to move it to the national treasury."
Ji Che didn't take Zhao Xing's claim about the Li Dynasty texts seriously. After all, how could Zhao Xing know more than the imperial historians? To Ji Che, Zhao Xing was simply enjoying his new role and wanted to explore the royal treasury.
"Very well, I'll take a look," Zhao Xing agreed, seeing Ji Che relax into a casual tone. Dropping formalities, Zhao Xing added, "While I'm at it, I'll visit our eldest sister."
Ji Che rose to his feet and strolled through the palace alongside Zhao Xing.
"She's preparing for marriage but still causing a stir."
"What's troubling the Eldest Princess?" Zhao Xing asked curiously.
"She insists that Liu Tianning retrieve the legendary Ice-Fire Lotus and Heavenly Sea Pearl for her," Ji Che said with exasperation. "These are mythical items. Where is he supposed to find them?"
Ji Che sighed. "When she couldn't marry before, she was inconsolable. Now that things have gone her way, she's making a fuss again. I don't understand. What kind of mindset is this?"
Zhao Xing chuckled. "People often feel happiest when success is near, yet they become anxious once it's truly within their grasp."
Ji Che scoffed. "I think she's just getting old."
"Ji Che!! Who are you calling old?!"
As they passed Yonghua Palace, a colorful ribbon suddenly flew out, wrapping tightly around Ji Che.
"Ah, Eldest Sister! I meant Minister Tong's daughter—"
"Whoosh!"
The ribbon flicked, dragging Ji Che into the palace.
"Even an Emperor can be subdued by family bonds," Zhao Xing muttered, quickly flying away from Yonghua Palace.
The royal treasury was divided into the Yuanchen Vault and the Yuanfeng Vault. The Yuanfeng Vault was a thousand times larger in scale and used fragments of small worlds as storage spaces.
However, the craftsmen of the Xuanhuang Realm lacked the skill to manipulate such materials efficiently. Typically, the fragments retained their original size, limiting their utility. While slicing them into palm-sized pieces to create space-expanding artifacts like Qiankun Bags was theoretically possible, such techniques were beyond their capabilities.
Upon reaching the Yuanfeng Vault, Zhao Xing saw a series of orderly palaces. The buildings served as decorative entrances to the small-world fragments, with no actual treasures inside. The scene reminded Zhao Xing of his previous venture into Dragon King Yin Xiu's vault.
"The Grand Dream Academy must have been studied during Emperor Jing's reign, though the researchers likely didn't realize what it was," Zhao Xing mused. "The Grand Dream Academy itself is a spatial treasure comparable to a Star-Domain Dao Weapon. It wouldn't be kept inside a small world fragment."
"The Yuanfeng Vault contains ten Great Treasure Halls. If the Grand Dream Academy has been under study, it must be in one of those halls."
Following the directional markers, Zhao Xing flew southward toward the halls.
Each of the Ten Great Treasure Halls housed royal artisans dedicated to deciphering mysterious artifacts. The size of the halls varied greatly; some were massive, others compact.
Zhao Xing arrived at the first hall—the Hall of Divine Weapons.
"The chief royal blacksmith of the Hall of Divine Weapons, Yang Jin, greets the Grand Shennong," a craftsman said. Yang Jin was a Mechanist at the later stage of the Destiny Palace realm, specializing in forging Dao Weapons.
However, Yang Jin's combat prowess was weak, even by the standards of artisans. He looked pale and frail, with dark circles under his eyes and thinning hair, resembling a man drained by indulgence.
"Lord Yang, are you practicing blood forging?" Zhao Xing asked, surprised by the man's haggard state.
"As you can see, my body has been hollowed out by weapon forging," Yang Jin replied with a bitter smile. "Forgive my unsightly appearance, Grand Shennong."
"Master, it's time for your medicine," an attendant interrupted, carrying a large box of supplements.
"Can't you see I'm speaking with the Grand Shennong? Later!" Yang Jin snapped.
"Your health should come first," Zhao Xing advised. "I'm only here to look around. Please, eat and drink as needed. Hand me the box."
The attendant obediently brought the container over. Zhao Xing sniffed its contents. "Lord Yang, which part of the body do you sacrifice for your blood forging?"
"My technique follows the Five Viscera, Five Spirits Forging Method," Yang Jin explained. "I've reached the 'Heart Forging' level, drawing energy from the heart."
"Heart blood forging requires dietary supplementation to minimize harm," Zhao Xing noted, inspecting the food. "These ingredients are decent but not entirely sufficient."
"Your Majesty has been generous with my provisions," Yang Jin explained. "These are eighth-rank ingredients, and I receive a feast of ninth-rank items once a month. I can't expect treasures for every meal."
As Grand Shennong, Zhao Xing was well aware of the budget. For an artisan of Yang Jin's caliber, this level of treatment was indeed generous.
Yang Jin's salary was directly arranged by Emperor Wu. Since they were private soldiers of the Ji royal family, their finances didn't go through the public accounts nor did they rely on the state treasury for upkeep. Even if Zhao Xing wanted to provide Yang Jin with additional resources, it was impossible.
Nonetheless, Zhao Xing advised, "Master Yang, practicing the Blood Forging Technique means using blood to consecrate your weapons. At the same time, your lifeblood can also harm your weapon."
"But you shouldn't do this too often. Right now, the world is experiencing a Yuan Qi tide. The Shennong Division will soon be able to expand the cultivation scale of precious plants. When the Divine Treasure Trees begin to bear fruit, the standard of medicinal supplements will also improve. Master Yang, if you aim for greater achievements, there's no need to rush."
Yang Jin cupped his hands respectfully. "Thank you for your reminder, Grand Shennong. I will keep your advice in mind."
"You should eat first. I'll just take a casual look around."
"Yes."
Yang Jin quickly consumed the tonic while Zhao Xing wandered through the Divine Armament Hall. The hall displayed many weapons, each extraordinary.
Half of these weapons had clear valuations. Their craftsmanship revealed them to be formidable Divine Armaments, generally falling within the ranks of Precious or Rare Treasures. However, due to their age and differing forging methods, some weapons emanated intense malevolent energy, while others harbored sword spirits that were difficult to dispel.
Some even came with bizarre usage requirements. For example, Zhao Xing was now standing in front of a slender blood-red sword locked between two Xuanming pillars.
"The Divine Sword Juéyáng, presumed to be of Supreme Rare Treasure grade. Its power is immense, and the sword contains a spirit that can assist in controlling the Juéyáng Sword. It also grants access to a sixth-grade Wind-Breaking Domain and includes a minor sword formation."
"But its sword spirit has an unusual requirement for its wielder," explained the attendant beside him. "The wielder must be male and physically disabled."
As they spoke, a phantom of a woman in ancient attire suddenly floated out from the sword. Her expression was sultry as she fixed her gaze on Zhao Xing.
"To use this sword, you must emasculate yourself! Possess me, and you can become a top-tier master of swordsmanship in the world!" Zhao Xing: "..."
So that's what the "disability" entails.
"Demon Yue! How dare you disrespect the Grand Shennong! You seek death!" Yang Jin roared as he rushed over. He immediately activated the mechanism on the Xuanming pillars. "Boom!"
A black bolt of lightning struck the sword spirit, Demon Yue.
"Ah~~!"
Demon Yue let out a seductive cry before retreating back into the sword.
The attendant nearby appeared dazed, clearly affected by the sword spirit's influence.
"Step back," Yang Jin commanded, pulling the attendant away. The latter's greedy expression quickly faded, and he shamefully cupped his hands before retreating.
"Grand Shennong, this sword is extremely wicked and difficult to tame," Yang Jin said. "Even the Xuanming Thunder Strike just now didn't harm her. She is one with the Juéyáng Sword. Based on the current situation, attempting to remove the sword spirit would destroy the Juéyáng Sword itself."
Zhao Xing commented, "Why not just follow her requirement?"
Though self-emasculation was a severe condition, Zhao Xing believed there were plenty of swordsmanship enthusiasts willing to sacrifice their happiness for such a divine weapon.
"Grand Shennong, as I mentioned earlier, this sword spirit speaks nothing but demonic lies," Yang Jin said gravely. "We once recruited volunteers for experiments. Initially, they did wield the sword's power."
"But before long, they descended into madness, their lifeblood drained. If not discovered in time, they would have been completely consumed."
"It truly is a harmful weapon," Zhao Xing nodded. "Has King Luohou ever tried to tame it?"
King Luohou, a truly unparalleled master, might be able to control this sword.
Yang Jin shook his head. "Even King Luohou, with his supreme abilities, couldn't fully unleash its power."
"Besides, King Luohou specializes in archery. When suppressed, the Juéyáng Sword's only merit is its unparalleled durability. Otherwise, it would be no better than a Precious Treasure."
Zhao Xing understood. It couldn't be used effectively, nor could it be destroyed without regret. Preserving its status as a Supreme Rare Treasure without any drawbacks had become Yang Jin's biggest challenge.
"How deep must this hatred be? Could it have been forged by a female blacksmith betrayed by her lover?" Zhao Xing speculated, weaving an imaginative tale of love and betrayal.
He squinted, peering into the sword.
Within the blade, the female sword spirit wore a crimson robe. Her gaze met his.
She smiled charmingly, lifting a finger to her blood-red lips, giving it a seductive lick.
Then she slipped off her robe, revealing her bare shoulder and moving her hand downward with a lustful sigh.
"Hmph, pathetic tricks!" Zhao Xing snorted. In the Destiny Palace of his Three Divinities Destiny, his soul immediately opened its eyes.
A flash of golden light shot out as a Soul Spear pierced the Juéyáng Sword.
This time, the sword spirit let out a genuine scream of pain.
Clutching her head, she knelt, her red robe vanishing, leaving her trembling in agony.
Zhao Xing noticed her body covered in scars, two terrifying gashes stretching across her face and chest. He attempted to communicate. "Why impose such harsh rules?"
"Ha... Ha..." The female sword spirit, her hair disheveled, remained silent, instead offering a cold laugh.
Laugh? Zhao Xing was not one to indulge her.
Clang!
The Soul Spear pierced the Juéyáng Sword again.
"Ah—!"
The sword spirit wailed miserably.
After two attempts, Zhao Xing discovered that his attacks were causing a certain transformation within the Juéyáng Sword. If the sword spirit perished, the Juéyáng Sword would lose its uniqueness and become an ordinary Precious Treasure.
"Can't she be forcibly extracted? Never mind. Even if separated, the result would be the same." He waved dismissively. "Leave it to Yang Jin and his team for further study."
Without lingering, Zhao Xing continued exploring.
In the Divine Armament Hall, most weapons with clear valuations bore difficult restrictions. Aside from the Juéyáng Sword, Zhao Xing also saw divine weapons in the form of knives, spears, shields, and daggers.
Some emanated such intense malevolence that wielders would be consumed by it, unable to maintain clarity of mind—even those at the First Grade Destiny Palace level would struggle. For those at the Rule Stage, such weapons were unnecessary.
Other weapons required lost techniques, such as a Precious Treasure sword called the Ghost Sword. It had been crafted by the ancient Nether God Sect and could only be wielded with their specific techniques. But with the sect long extinct, the core techniques were unobtainable.
"Blacksmiths often impose peculiar conditions when crafting certain weapons. Breaking such limitations would require a blacksmith of equal skill, like Yang Jin and his team." Zhao Xing mused. "However, brute-forcing solutions would damage the weapon's quality."
Another section of the hall held weapons with undefined values, yet these displayed traits of divine artifacts. Zhao Xing examined them carefully; this collection was not small.
For instance, he now held a black sword, its blade pitch-black and slightly numbing to the touch. "Master Yang, what's the story behind this sword?"
"We've tested it extensively and found that aside from its durability, it has no unique characteristics."
Zhao Xing inquired, "Indestructibility alone should make it a Supreme Rare Treasure."
Yang Jin, puzzled, replied, "Indeed, such a trait is exceptionally rare. However, it doesn't conduct Qi, making it unusable."
"Sword users are usually from sword sects. If Qi can't flow through it, no sword energy can be released. For a swordsman, sword energy is a critical attack method."
"With sword energy, techniques can expand their range."
"But if it doesn't conduct Qi, it can't be controlled remotely and must be wielded by hand."
Zhao Xing attempted to channel Qi into the sword, but it disappeared into the void without effect. As expected, it couldn't be lifted.
No matter the method, as long as Qi was the foundation—whether through spells or martial techniques—the sword couldn't be manipulated. Zhao Xing focused, generating spiritual energy within himself.
"Zing~"
The sword suddenly emitted a flash of lightning, striking the wall ahead.
"Boom!"
A scorched hole appeared.
Yang Jin was startled. "This... Grand Shennong, how did you do that?"
Manipulating the black sword, Zhao Xing had it circle his body before grasping it firmly.
"This is a Thunder Spirit Sword," Zhao Xing deduced. "Its blade is compressed pure thunder, and the formation in the hilt requires spiritual energy to activate. It's a spell sword, not meant for martial artists. It should be classified as a Stellar-Level Dao Weapon."
When Yang Jin inquired further, Zhao Xing smiled. "It's a spell-based sword, best called the Thunder Spell Sword. It's not for martial artists."
"You don't need to study it further. I'll take it with me and report to His Majesty."
"Yes," Yang Jin responded obediently. If Zhao Xing intended to take a sword, he dared not object. "To wield this sword, a certain amount of spiritual energy equates to a certain amount of power."
"This conclusion comes from years of studying the Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique. Even if Yang Jin and his team used ten units of spiritual energy, they might only bring out one unit of power. It would be a pure waste."
The Thunder Spirit Sword required spiritual energy to operate. Without widespread spiritual energy restoration, explaining it to them served no purpose.
"I'm not entirely sure about the Thunder Spirit Sword's grade," Zhao Xing admitted. "But based on my estimation, it's likely a Stellar Dao Weapon. I'll study it further later."
After exploring the Divine Armament Hall and finding nothing else of interest, Zhao Xing departed and entered another treasure trove—the Treasure Ship Hall.
Inside stood a massive, rusted, fully enclosed warship.
The warship was fifty meters tall and a thousand meters long, with its dark metallic body showing significant signs of corrosion. Only a dozen mechanists were conducting routine research around it.
"Chief Royal Mechanist Ji Gan of the Treasure Ship Hall greets the Grand Shennong," a middle-aged man wearing a robe intricately woven with thousands of threads hurriedly approached, accompanied by two assistants.
Zhao Xing regarded Ji Gan, who was at the late stage of the Destiny Palace Realm, and immediately noted the Ji royal family's extraordinary resources. Even a chief mechanist of a treasure hall possessed such advanced cultivation.
"No need for formality. I came here on a whim to take a look," Zhao Xing said with a casual wave.
"May the Grand Shennong enlighten us. Our Treasure Ship Hall once... clang!" Before Ji Gan could finish, a small, diamond-shaped object fell from his sleeve, producing a crisp sound as it hit the ground.
"This, Grand Shennong, is my personal mechanism treasure—the 'Thousand Tricks Ruler,'" Ji Gan said as he picked it up without showing much emotion.
The Thousand Tricks Ruler, also called the Thousand Pry Ruler, was part of the Boundless Matrix Divine Weapon series. It could shrink or expand as needed, reputed to unlock any lock. It could even slip through the tiniest pore to investigate an object's interior.
"The Treasure Ship Hall focuses on researching unusual warships and flying vessels. Some of them are so ancient that their craftsmanship is vastly different from modern methods. For instance, this fully enclosed warship's exterior is rusted, but the rust is made of ten-thousand-year Xuan Iron Mother."
"Natural rusting of Xuan Iron Mother takes over a million years. Alternatively, it could have been corroded by a Metal Element Rule or specific spell... clang, clang!" Ji Gan's explanation was interrupted as a hammer fell to the floor.
Zhao Xing glanced at Ji Gan, who sheepishly retrieved the tool. "This is also one of my mechanism treasures, the Two Forces Hammer," Ji Gan explained.
"Materials and spells are divided into Yin and Yang. To break certain arrays or seals, this hammer can be tapped on the formation. It reveals the internal material composition and attributes of the object, allowing targeted dismantling."
Just as Ji Gan finished his sentence, items began dropping to the floor not only from him but also from his assistants, and even Zhao Xing's jade pendant started falling.
"Hm?"
Zhao Xing reacted swiftly, using his Qi to catch the pendant mid-air.
The Ink Bamboo Jade Pendant he wore was a treasured ninth-rank item, engraved with cloud patterns and a dark luster that glowed faintly green under light. Despite being such a secure accessory, it had slipped off without him noticing.
"Grand Shennong, we..." Ji Gan stammered, clearly at a loss.
"No need to explain. I understand," Zhao Xing said, turning his gaze to the rusted warship. "Does this ship cause any non-living object nearby to fall automatically?"
"Yes," Ji Gan admitted. "This anomaly began fifty years ago when someone accidentally triggered a mechanism. Since then, all mechanism components nearby fall automatically when approaching it."
"This peculiar phenomenon has persisted for fifty years. Despite our efforts, we haven't made any progress in understanding it." Ji Gan and his assistants looked embarrassed. It was indeed shameful that after fifty years, they had made no headway, especially now that the Grand Shennong was observing.
Holding the jade pendant tightly, Zhao Xing stepped closer to the ship. As he approached, he noticed the pendant growing heavier.
At fifty meters away, Zhao Xing was forced to activate his Qi and enter a battle-ready state just to keep his attire in place; otherwise, everything might fall to the ground.
"Heavenly Sight of the Soul!"
In the Three Divinities Destiny Palace within Zhao Xing, his soul awakened and opened its eyes, examining the dark warship.
Heavenly Sight of the Soul was an ultimate first-transformation technique, one that Zhao Xing had mastered shortly after constructing his Three Divinities Destiny Palace. It was relatively straightforward to achieve with a soul at the Rule Domain level.
"So, this is the core component of a Boundary Star-level warship?" Zhao Xing's eyes focused on the rust-covered exterior, which now appeared as continuous mountain ranges in his vision.
The warship emanated profound Earth Vein fluctuations, indicating its remarkable sophistication.
Zhao Xing concluded that this was indeed a component of a Boundary Star-level warship, specifically a core segment.
"Master Ji, I suggest you shift your focus to another project. Leave this one alone," Zhao Xing advised.
"What do you mean, Grand Shennong?" Ji Gan asked, perplexed.
"This is an otherworldly object. If I'm not mistaken, it belonged to a Shennong of the Earth School and is called the Boundary Vessel," Zhao Xing explained, gesturing at the warship.
"The phenomenon of objects falling near the Boundary Vessel is due to its engraved arrays simulating the Earth Veins. Alternatively, the original ship may have fused with a powerful Earth Vein."
"This is just a component, albeit an independently sealed one. Even if you research it for millions of years, you won't crack its secrets."
Zhao Xing withdrew beyond fifty meters to a distance where the effects subsided.
"Boundary Vessel?" Ji Gan and his two assistants were visibly skeptical.
The two assistants, especially, felt indignant at Zhao Xing's assertion. How could an outsider, even if he was the Grand Shennong, make such a definitive judgment about mechanisms?
"Ji Gan, you know my background," Zhao Xing said. "Take my advice: don't waste your life on this."
Ji Gan hesitated but then remembered that Zhao Xing had received unique inheritances. Most senior officials had heard of Zhao Xing's extraordinary encounters, though few knew the details.
Ji Gan, being slightly better informed, knew that Zhao Xing's inheritance involved a powerful Shennong from the cosmos. His words, therefore, carried significant weight.
"The Boundary Vessel... its array integrates an Earth Vein. What kind of craftsmanship could achieve this?" Ji Gan murmured, deeply shaken.
For the first time, Ji Gan felt a burning desire: The universe is vast, and I wish to explore it!
"Grand Shennong, if mechanisms cannot solve it, is there another way?" Ji Gan asked eagerly. "How much do you know about the Boundary Vessel? Could you share more with us?"
Though over six hundred years old, Ji Gan and his assistants now resembled eager students.
Zhao Xing had intended only a brief visit, as he was searching for the Grand Dream Academy. However, seeing more than ten mechanists gathered with expectant eyes, he relented.
"All right, have a seat," Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"Everyone, gather around! Listen to the Grand Shennong's insights!" Ji Gan quickly called everyone over, and they sat on the ink barrels, ready to absorb every word.
"I'll share what I know," Zhao Xing began.
Two hours later, Zhao Xing emerged from the Treasure Ship Hall.
Zhao Xing couldn't help but think to himself as he looked at the reluctant expressions of everyone present, "No wonder leaders enjoy holding long meetings—sometimes lasting for hours. Seeing such eager eyes below, it's hard not to get addicted to the experience of commanding attention."
Ji Gan and the others weren't pretending to be enthralled, but Zhao Xing knew that wasn't a guarantee others wouldn't fake interest elsewhere. "I must remain vigilant against insincerity," he reminded himself as he flew toward the next location.
Ji Gan watched Zhao Xing leave, feeling equally reflective. He and his colleagues had their entire worldview reshaped.
Even though Zhao Xing was speaking from the perspective of a user and not a creator of the Boundary Vessel, it was enough to spark their fascination.
"The lowest-grade Boundary Vessel is as large as Pinghai Prefecture? And it integrates ley lines on the scale of nineteen prefectures?"
"The defensive capabilities of the Boundary Vessel are practically invincible, capable of twisting and deflecting any attack with the power of ley line origins. It's astonishing that such a thing exists!"
"Even if captured, no one can bring divine weapons or powerful tools aboard? That's a significant tactical advantage. Truly ingenious!"
"Ascension! I truly want to ascend and see it for myself!"
Within two hours, Ji Gan and the others were thoroughly captivated by the concept of the Boundary Vessel, and their desire to ascend became even more intense.
What had once been the vague idea of breaking through the void and ascending, as mentioned by Emperor Wu, now seemed entirely plausible. Zhao Xing's two-hour explanation alone had painted such a vivid picture of the Boundary Vessel that they began to believe in the existence of a beautiful, magnificent world beyond their own.
Breaking through the void was no longer an abstract notion—it became a tangible and highly appealing prospect!
"After listening to my two-hour lecture, Ji Gan and the others have probably become staunch 'Ascension Party' advocates," Zhao Xing mused with a smile.
"It wasn't a waste of time delivering that two-hour 'cosmic expansion DLC' presentation." Remembering the expressions of Ji Gan and the others, he couldn't help but chuckle.
This was yet another reason why being the Grand Shennong had so many advantages. Even years of Emperor Wu's slogans couldn't compare to two hours of Zhao Xing's straightforward explanation.
"That said, the Xuanhuang Realm truly is a treasure trove. The fact that parts of the Boundary Vessel have fallen here raises the question—how much have I overlooked in my past life?"
Unfortunately, the recovered piece was just a single component, far from enabling flight. If a complete Boundary Vessel had been present, Zhao Xing would already have ascended by now.
A complete Boundary Vessel would undoubtedly be classified as a World-Class Dao Soldier.
Judging by the state of the component, it must have drifted through the void of the universe for countless years before being captured by the Xuanhuang Realm's origin power and falling into this realm.
"The universe is like a vast, dark ocean, with realms and stars as isolated islands. The winds of the void sweep across the waves, carrying fragments to these islands. There are likely more treasures hidden in the Xuanhuang Realm."
"I'll have to organize a specialized team to scour the realm thoroughly before ascension, gathering as much capital as possible for future adventures."
After visiting two treasure halls, Zhao Xing had already discovered two exceptional items, including one graded at the level of Boundary Soldiers! Though incomplete, it was enough to confirm the Xuanhuang Realm's immense potential for hidden treasures.
Exploring several more halls in succession, Zhao Xing finally located the Grand Dream Academy.
It wasn't displayed among the Ten Great Treasure Halls but stood tall in the Palatial-Class Treasures Zone.
"There it is." Zhao Xing descended, gazing at the ancient palace before him.
"Its design closely resembles the Heavenly Craft Hall where the Mechanized Beast Pixiu is located."
The original name of the palace was One Dream, One World, categorized as a Palatial-Class Treasure.
At present, however, it was inaccessible to anyone. Around the palace were four smaller houses, one of which contained numerous ancient texts documenting the Li Dynasty.
Zhao Xing soon encountered two new individuals: Hong Yuan, the Imperial Palace's Chief Mechanist, and Su Li, the Deputy Mechanist.
"Greetings, Grand Shennong," the two mechanists said in unison.
"At ease, both of you," Zhao Xing replied, casting a quick glance at Hong Yuan and Su Li.
Hong Yuan stood tall and firm, like an unwavering pine tree. His black robe, embroidered with intricate and elegant mechanical diagrams in silver thread, shimmered with a mysterious luster under the light. His jet-black hair was neatly tied behind his head and secured with a jade hairpin shaped like a mechanical gear. His chiseled features, high nose bridge, and thin lips lent him a taciturn appearance. As the Chief Mechanist, Hong Yuan held the highest rank among the palace craftsmen. He managed the palace's formations and designed its most critical mechanisms.
Su Li, the actual researcher of the palace, was a stark contrast. Petite and delicate, she wore a light purple gauze dress adorned with small mechanical trinkets. The ornaments jingled softly with her movements, adding a playful touch to her otherwise fairy-like demeanor. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, accented by a few exquisite purple flowers matching her outfit. Her round face, bright eyes, and sweet dimples made her seem approachable and cheerful.
When Zhao Xing scrutinized her, she curiously returned the gesture, her large, sparkling eyes filled with admiration. "Grand Shennong, I didn't expect you to look so handsome," Su Li exclaimed with genuine praise.
"Ahem... Su Li, mind your manners," Hong Yuan interjected. He was here precisely to ensure Su Li didn't inadvertently offend the esteemed guest. As a dedicated researcher, she was unaccustomed to social niceties and rarely left the palace.
"But I'm just being honest," Su Li protested.
"Hahaha, thank you, Su Li," Zhao Xing replied with a laugh, sensing no flattery in her words. His Soul Heavenly Sight easily discerned her straightforward thoughts as a Life Palace Realm Mechanist.
"Grand Shennong, why have you come here?" Su Li asked again, her tone casual despite Hong Yuan's disapproving gaze.
Zhao Xing explained, "I'm here on His Majesty's orders to inspect the treasures of the Li Dynasty. I've heard there are many remarkable items here?"
"Indeed, the Li Dynasty left behind plenty," Su Li said with a smile. "Shall I give you a tour?"
"I'd appreciate that, Su Li, Hong Yuan." Zhao Xing nodded with a smile.
Following Su Li and Hong Yuan, Zhao Xing spent three days touring the surrounding areas. Eventually, he found an excuse to extend his stay and set up temporary residence near One Dream, One World.
While sifting through records in his room, Zhao Xing noticed a peculiar omission. "Despite extensive documentation on the Li Dynasty, there's no mention of how to enter One Dream, One World."
He surmised, "Perhaps the Li Dynasty's ritualists employed techniques like the Forgetting Spell or Silence Curse, ensuring such information wasn't passed down."
Finally deciding it was time to act, Zhao Xing sketched a talisman, closed his eyes, and entered the interior of the Grand Dream Academy.
The academy had two access modes: the first, like Zhao Xing's, involved the soul entering as a guest without a physical presence. The second allowed complete mastery of the academy.
To gain full control, one would need to consult the Fate Blackbird or discover a method from within. Alternatively, Zhao Xing could reveal the guest access method to Hong Yuan and Su Li, whose expertise might allow them to manipulate internal mechanisms for a breakthrough. However, Zhao Xing preferred to notify the Fate Blackbird in advance to prevent unforeseen issues.
"I don't recall a Blackbird Mechanism existing in Da Zhou. It could be something I missed in my past life or simply didn't survive." Zhao Xing pondered. "If possible, I should ensure its preservation."
With a hum, Zhao Xing entered the academy again, reappearing in the Hall of Heavenly Machinery. This time, however, everything felt drastically different.
"The restrictive rules no longer apply to me," Zhao Xing noted as he glanced toward the door. "Now I can go anywhere I wish without facing any barriers."
Previously, the outside was shrouded in dense fog, but now, everything lay bare before his Soul Heavenly Sight. Every hall, mechanism, and temple was visible, leaving no room for concealment.
A familiar caw broke the silence as the Fate Blackbird descended from the pavilion, perching atop a cabinet. "Zhao Xing, I thought you were dead!"