The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Shi Wenxuan left after his instructions, leaving Zhao Xing to examine the three items before him.

The Wenzhu Box, also known as the Bamboo Box of Literary Treasures, was a container designed to preserve precious items, extending their shelf life significantly.

Inside were rare resources meant to assist in cultivating the Dragon Language.

For example, the Dragon Breath Pill, a medicinal powder derived from dragon scales; vocal organ tissues soaked in special fluids; and a dragon blood elixir meant for external application.

Although these items were valuable, their usage was simple—either taken orally or applied externally.

During his time in the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, Zhao Xing had cultivated the Kui Niu Thunder Roar without any need for guidance. A quick glance at the instructions sufficed for him to understand how to use these resources.

"The Sound Dragonstone is a rarity," Zhao Xing murmured as he picked up one of the stones.

The moment his hand touched it, the stone began to vibrate, emitting a unique frequency.

Almost immediately, Zhao Xing felt dizzy, his chest tightening with discomfort.

The sound was faint, almost imperceptible.

If not for his supreme Dharma Body and Third Rank cultivation, he wouldn't have been able to hear it at all.

"Great sounds are rare. The vibrations of the Sound Dragonstone exceed the auditory range of many in the Third Rank realm," Zhao Xing thought, a look of awe crossing his face.

Sound was an integral aspect of many professions. Warriors utilized sonic techniques, musicians played battle melodies, Ritual Masters chanted true words, and shamans and warlocks cast spells—all relying on sound as a medium.

"Even the thunder produced by Shennong techniques involves the Dao of Sound. The power of thunder is such that its roar alone can shatter ghosts or terrify the living to death," Zhao Xing reflected as he set down the Sound Dragonstone and picked up the seven scrolls.

"The study of the Dragon Language involves listening, observing, and writing, encompassing intention, technique, and spirit."

The seven scrolls before him were part of the same series of artworks titled Myriad Dao Dragon Chants.

Why were they presented in the form of paintings?

The primary reason was that the Dragon Language was fundamentally different from the written script of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It wasn't limited to spatial structures such as left, right, top, bottom, inside, and outside. Instead, it included transformations of time and space, conveying information on an entirely different scale.

Dragons were massive beings, and their written symbols were correspondingly large. What appeared as words to them resembled elaborate paintings to humans.

"It's said that in the primordial times of the Xuanhuang Realm, the world was silent, and all living beings were incapable of making sound. Then, the mightiest true dragon roared, and sound was born, becoming a fundamental law of the world."

Having sealed his Memory Palace, Zhao Xing found these high-level artifacts both fresh and fascinating.

"I'll start with the first painting, Primordial Dragon Chant, which directly addresses the essence of the Dao of Sound."

He removed the binding cord from the scroll.

"Shhh—"

Without the restraint of the binding cord, the scroll unfurled itself, slowly extending in midair until it floated two meters before Zhao Xing.

The scroll kept unfurling, revealing neither sky above nor earth below, stretching endlessly to the sides until it formed a sphere with Zhao Xing at its center.

A spherical painting of the stars!

Within the sphere, the patterns began to flow, projecting a three-dimensional image before Zhao Xing.

It was as if he had stepped into the ancient and chaotic primordial world.

The sky was a murky gray, the earth roiling, and the oceans churning with filth.

Countless creatures struggled between heaven and earth, roaring up at the heavens.

Yet, none could make a sound.

Zhao Xing could feel their emotions, compelling him to roar with all his might.

But the world remained a silent, gray expanse, as though an invisible barrier of the Dao silenced everything.

He realized that even though he shouted with all his strength, no sound emerged.

Until, at a certain moment—a golden light suddenly pierced through the heavens and earth.

Sensing this, Zhao Xing turned toward the source of the golden light.

A colossal dragon head, imposing and majestic, appeared before him, seemingly forged of fine iron. It was covered in tough, glimmering metallic scales.

The dragon's horns were sturdy, extending outward from either side of its forehead like massive antlers, but with a hardness etched by mysterious patterns containing ancient secrets of heaven and earth.

The dragon's eyes were like brilliant stars, large and round, their depths seemingly bottomless. Flames seemed to burn within them, flickering with electric sparks. Each glance radiated an intimidating power that inspired awe.

Its wide nostrils occasionally exhaled wisps of white mist, like a cloud. When the dragon opened its mouth, sharp fangs were visible, interlocked like swords capable of tearing through anything in the world.

"Primordial Dragon!" Zhao Xing's heart surged with excitement as he saw the dragon head.

Unable to contain himself, he beat his chest and roared, joining the countless beasts in a mad rush toward the dragon, eager to witness the opening of heaven itself.

As he approached, Zhao Xing finally beheld the full form of the Primordial Dragon.

The dragon's body was long and supple, with no discernible end. Its scales were arranged in a tight, orderly pattern, each scale as large as a palm and razor-sharp at the edges.

The scales shone with a golden brilliance like the radiant sun, exuding an unparalleled aura of nobility.

Muscular claws adorned its sides, each with five sharp talons as fierce as divine weapons, capable of shredding mountains and stones.

The dragon's tail was long and powerful, resembling an enormous fish tail but covered with hardened scales.

Every part of the Primordial Dragon's body seemed to embody the laws of heaven and earth, brimming with the essence of the Dao.

Its head held high, the dragon's whiskers swayed with authority.

As its mouth opened, golden light surged forth.

"—!"

The first sound was born, clearing the murkiness of the heavens and earth in an instant.

The sound etched itself into Zhao Xing's mind, impossible to forget. Following this, the entire world became vibrant and clear.

The myriad beasts began roaring!

Zhao Xing, too, let out an enraged howl, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the roars of the beasts and the Primordial Dragon, leaving him unable to hear himself.

He continued to roar desperately, running toward the Primordial Dragon to witness the creation of heaven and earth.

And at that moment—

"Shhh—"

The scroll closed, and the visions faded into a blur before Zhao Xing's eyes.

"This—"

Zhao Xing was left in stunned silence, muttering to himself.

"An instructional painting can reach such a profound level?"

Sound could cleanse the mind, but it could also disturb it.

Many became agitated when exposed to chaotic noises, while others unknowingly fell asleep to soothing lullabies.

Zhao Xing recalled the scene he had just experienced. The madness and rage had completely consumed his mind, rendering him unaware of himself.

"The Dao of Great Sound, opening heaven and earth—it truly befits the ruling race of the ancient era," Zhao Xing remarked, deeply moved.

Legends said that the true dragons once populated every corner of the Xuanhuang Realm, yet they had mysteriously vanished.

The so-called "dragon species" that remained were merely inferior hybrids.

The stronger ones, like the half-dragon beings such as Bai Yunwu, were considered elite among aquatic creatures.

Naturally superior to ordinary humans, the Bai family's pure-blooded descendants were born with cultivation levels reaching the Ninth Rank or even the Eighth Rank.

"The Primordial Dragon Chant was inspired by murals from the ancient lands of the Dragon Court. I wonder what mysteries the original held," Zhao Xing mused.

He recalled the process of enlightenment, during which a syllable had imprinted itself in his mind—a single sound: "Ga."

"Every person hears and interprets differently. First, comprehend the other scrolls."

Zhao Xing (Chen'an) decided to start with the remaining six scrolls. The Primordial Dragon Chant was far too profound, while the other six were relatively easier to grasp.

Time was tight. After receiving the cultivation resources, Zhao Xing immediately threw himself into training wholeheartedly.

The process began with consuming medicinal pills and using accompanying medicinal solutions to strengthen and protect various parts of his body.

To emit a dragon's voice was no easy task. A dragon's body was naturally adept at using the Dragon Language, but for a human body, the challenge was much greater.

Once the foundation was set, Zhao Xing moved on to the steps of listening, writing, observing, and speaking.

In the ruins of the ancient Dragon Court, numerous trials relied on rules dictated in the Dragon Language. Failing to understand those rules could lead to death without even knowing why.

For those who couldn't hear the sounds or comprehend the language, understanding the visual inscriptions of the Dragon Language was still an option.

Cultivators of mid-grade Dragon Language could navigate these trials by deciphering the visual depictions and translating the rules, even if they couldn't speak or hear the language. This ensured they weren't completely in the dark.

However, high-grade proficiency required an individual to not only hear and comprehend but also write and fluently speak the Dragon Language.

At this stage, Zhao Xing focused primarily on expanding his knowledge of the syllables and meanings of Dragon Language characters.

For mid-grade Dragon Language, proficiency was judged by breadth of knowledge rather than raw power.

Expanding his repertoire was an easier task for someone like Zhao Xing.

"Manifest!"

Zhao Xing activated his Pure Essence Projection, and thousands of advanced clones materialized.

A staggering total of over a thousand clones emerged, all ready for deployment.

"With the Myriad Straw Puppets technique, I can multitask effortlessly. Mastering mid-grade Dragon Language will be swift for me."

Within the pavilion, there were numerous books and resources. Zhao Xing plunged himself into the sea of Dragon Language knowledge, absorbing it voraciously.

For Zhao Xing, who had already reached the Third Rank, mastering the forms, meanings, and spirit (law) of mid-grade Dragon Language was almost effortless.

He was already at the entry level of mid-grade proficiency.

What he lacked was systematic instruction and the time to hone his skills.

Now, with an abundance of structured resources available, Zhao Xing could fully utilize them for cultivation.

"I'll assign different tasks to my clones. Some will focus on reading, others on writing, and still others on listening. Meanwhile, my main body will concentrate solely on vocal practice and applying Dragon Language incantations."

Zhao Xing's plan was meticulous. Although the cultivation resources were limited to his main body, and the clones couldn't replicate the structure needed to produce Dragon Language sounds, they were perfectly capable of reading, writing, and observing.

"Let's begin!"

The thousands of Zhao Xing's clones dispersed throughout the pavilion.

Some clones meticulously studied the scrolls, each depicting scenes of dragon activity—dragons representing the Five Elements and Wind and Thunder attributes were engaged in battles, nurturing younglings, or playing in groups.

Each scroll conveyed meanings and deconstructions of dragon activities.

Simultaneously, the vibrations emanating from the Sound Dragonstone illustrated the influence of sound on the Five Elements. This perspective allowed Zhao Xing to comprehend the Dao of Great Sound from the angle of elemental harmony.

He analyzed the essence of the Dao.

Meanwhile, his main body occasionally delved into the Primordial Dragon Chant, attempting to grasp the profound Dao principles embedded within.

As the saying goes, "Aim high, achieve moderately." Even though the Primordial Dragon Chant was difficult to fully comprehend, frequent immersion yielded incremental insights.

His clones solidified their grasp of low- and mid-grade Dragon Language fundamentals, while his main body focused on higher-level principles of the Dao.

With Shi Wenxuan's expert guidance, Zhao Xing's cultivation speed was nothing short of astonishing.

"Advancing one minor grade every three days?"

After nine days, Shi Wenxuan began to notice Zhao Xing's unique capabilities.

"His progress is unbelievably rapid."

"The Myriad Straw Puppets technique is proving extraordinarily effective for him."

Shi Wenxuan had seen many practitioners use the Myriad Straw Puppets technique to cultivate the Derivation of Divine Spirit technique's first and second levels. However, Zhao Xing's application of the technique yielded results far beyond the norm.

"No wonder King Tianyan dared to make such bold claims."

Shi Wenxuan's interest was fully piqued.

For a teacher, having a student with high aptitude made teaching a joy. Teaching dull or inept students often brought more frustration than satisfaction.

One month later, in a secluded area of Xiaoshan…

"Zhao Xing~"

"Zhao Xing~ Come to Xiaoshan's Dragon Spring~"

"Hurry to Xiaoshan's Dragon Spring~"

Shi Wenxuan used Dragon Language to summon Zhao Xing, his lips vibrating to produce peculiar ripples in the air.

This was the Bat Dragon Language, a type of ultra-low-frequency Dragon Language.

Since the third day of their training, Shi Wenxuan and Zhao Xing had exclusively communicated using Dragon Language to foster a productive learning environment.

"Teacher."

Zhao Xing quickly appeared before Shi Wenxuan.

"You called for me?"

Shi Wenxuan smiled faintly. "Not bad. The Bat Dragon Language is at the ninth level of mid-grade proficiency within the Dragon Language system."

"Your arrival here proves that you've achieved ninth-level mid-grade Dragon Language proficiency."

Zhao Xing humbly replied, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Teacher."

Shi Wenxuan shook his head. "It's your natural talent. I've never seen anyone complete mid-grade Dragon Language training in just one month."

"But the advanced-level training ahead won't be as easy."

"You should have your clones pause for now and focus all your energy on breaking through to advanced Dragon Language."

"Yes." Zhao Xing gave the mental command, and all his clones returned to Xiaoshan's Dragon Spring.

As the clones were withdrawn into his Pure Essence Projection, their Life Souls naturally merged back into his Sea of Consciousness.

Shi Wenxuan extended a finger and drew golden lines in the air.

While drawing, he explained, "What I'm about to teach you is advanced Dragon Language, particularly the incantation category, which is critically important."

Zhao Xing listened attentively. The Dragon Language system was vast, with over ninety percent of it lacking any practical spellcasting utility.

For instance:

"Go play in the sea."

"Have you eaten today? What did you eat?"

"Bring me some food back to Dragon City."

Such phrases were conversational and held no combat or spellcasting value.

"Only the incantations of advanced Dragon Language can be considered true spells." At this point, Shi Wenxuan shifted back to human language to ensure Zhao Xing fully understood.

"For instance, listen carefully to the following."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Wenxuan's body swelled dramatically, and a coiled dragon appeared behind him.

His expression turned cold, and his eyes radiated a chilling, murderous intent.

"Ang~ Ang~ Ang~ Ang~"

A series of dragon roars mixed with low growls echoed powerfully.

Zhao Xing felt as though he was being stared down by a massive dragon. The overwhelming aura emanating from Shi Wenxuan pressed down on him like an ocean, distorting even the light in the surrounding space. His body trembled uncontrollably.

"Crack, crack, crack…" Zhao Xing could feel his golden bones grinding as if they were on the verge of dissolving. A searing pain radiated from deep within his marrow.

Without a doubt, Shi Wenxuan wielded the power of a First-Rank cultivator.

Because he had mastered the Dragon Language, Shi Wenxuan's techniques retained their destructive potential even outside the Great Zhou's borders.

"Feng!" With a single syllable, all the strange phenomena around Shi Wenxuan vanished.

Zhao Xing collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

"Teacher, what Dragon Language incantation was that just now?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but ask.

"That was one of the Nine Great Dragon Incantations of the Dragon Court—the Dragon King's Bone-Extracting Curse."

"It was created by the Dragon Emperor Xie to punish disobedient Dragon Kings, rebellious dragons, or aberrant beasts."

"The Dragon King's Bone-Extracting Curse?" Zhao Xing exclaimed, finally understanding why his bones had felt like they were disintegrating.

Fortunately, Shi Wenxuan hadn't unleashed its full power.

The final syllable, "Sa," served as a stop note, cutting off the incantation.

Had the full curse been activated, Zhao Xing would not have survived.

Shi Wenxuan had merely let him experience its terrifying power.

"What I used was an incomplete version of the Dragon King's Bone-Extracting Curse," Shi Wenxuan explained. "No one knows what the complete version looks like."

"After all, there are no true dragons left in the world."

"If you encounter a similar aura in the Dragon Court's ancient grounds, don't hesitate—just run."

Shi Wenxuan added, "In the Dragon Court, this incantation's power is amplified significantly. Even First-Rank warriors would have their bones extracted and their bodies explode."

The rules of the Dragon Court differed greatly from the outside world. Spells cast within its domain were exponentially more powerful.

"Yes, I will remember," Zhao Xing responded obediently. He committed the warning to memory—it was a matter of life and death, after all.

"The Nine Great Incantations are distributed among different factions. Great Zhou controls three of them, while external powers, such as sects, the Southern Barbarian Court, and the Eastern Kingdoms, hold four."

"Two of these overlap between Great Zhou and the external factions, including the Dragon King's Bone-Extracting Curse and the Dragon King's Heart-Wrapping Curse."

"The third one under Great Zhou's control is the Dragon King's Soul-Refining Curse."

"Our court only holds death curses?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Correct." Shi Wenxuan nodded. "Your current cultivation is too low. I only wanted you to feel their power briefly so you'll recognize it and run when you encounter it."

"There are many safe zones in the Dragon Court where the formations can withstand the power of the death curses. If you spot such a place, head there immediately."

The opening of the Dragon Court's ancient grounds would draw many factions, significantly increasing the danger. Shi Wenxuan prioritized teaching Zhao Xing how to stay alive before moving on to other topics.

"I'll now teach you another important incantation."

Switching back to Dragon Language, Shi Wenxuan's mouth widened unnaturally. Vital energy surged as he let out two prolonged dragon roars.

Zhao Xing vaguely saw nine dragon shadows circling Shi Wenxuan.

"Teacher, what incantation is this?" Zhao Xing asked.

Shi Wenxuan reverted to the human tongue. "This is the Unlocking Incantation."

"When you enter the Dragon Court's ancient grounds, try using this incantation at every location."

"It might open a hidden treasure trove."

Zhao Xing pondered. "Teacher, not all areas of the Dragon Court hold treasures. Could this incantation accidentally activate something dangerous, like traps?"

Shi Wenxuan shook his head. "There are many types of unlocking incantations. What I just demonstrated was the Treasure Vault Unlocking Incantation."

"Areas where dragons imprisoned criminals or sealed dangerous places wouldn't respond to a treasure vault unlocking incantation—they would use a different type."

"Of course, incantations are only one condition. High-level areas typically require three components: a Dragon identity, a token, and the incantation itself."

"Even if you accidentally recite the right incantation, without the corresponding power, identity, and token, you wouldn't unleash any monsters or disasters."

Zhao Xing nodded in understanding.

Dragons were a wise species—at least the True Dragon lineage was.

Even in Great Zhou, accessing the imperial treasury required specific individuals with proper credentials and authority to perform the necessary rituals.

In the past, even the trusted aide Ye Yukong had to personally oversee the opening of the Imperial Treasury in his capacity as Prefect.

Naturally, the dragons also had a system of hierarchy. Dragon Kings were a rank within the dragon nobility.

The dragon race represented a once-flourishing and sophisticated civilization. Despite its fall, humanity had yet to uncover all its secrets.

Shi Wenxuan continued, "Where there are unlocking incantations, there are also sealing incantations. These are crucial for navigating some of the Dragon Court's trials."

"In addition to these two major categories, there are command incantations."

"These can summon ancient powers left behind in the Dragon Court."

"Beyond these, there are offensive, defensive, and support incantations, but you don't need to learn those."

Zhao Xing agreed. Human spells and secret techniques were often more versatile and powerful for such purposes. There was no need to spread himself too thin.

For now, he would focus on mastering three primary categories.

First, unlocking incantations. Second, sealing incantations. Third, command incantations.

Even these three categories represented only a fraction of dragon culture's vast knowledge.

It was impossible to eliminate all risks, but with only three years until the Dragon Court's opening, Shi Wenxuan had to prioritize what to teach Zhao Xing.

In the thirty-seventh year of the Jingxin Era, after the twelfth month, the Great Zhou court issued a new Yellow Almanac.

The third emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Mingjing, changed the era name to Great Governance.

Thus concluded over three centuries of the Two Xin Reforms.

Zhao Xing glanced at the court's gazette in passing.

However, due to the sealed memories in his mind, he felt little emotional connection to the news.

He even entertained thoughts of finally being able to relax during an era of peace.

Yet reports from the Military Realm told a different story. Small-scale skirmishes persisted along Great Zhou's borders.

The rebellion led by King Liang had left lasting scars. Its adverse effects couldn't be resolved quickly.

King Liang's rebellion had allowed the Southern Barbarian Court to reclaim all the territories captured during the Jingxin campaigns. Even the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture had been reduced to its initial size from the start of the Pacification War.

Despite this, the Southern Barbarians dared not advance further, maintaining a buffer zone spanning thousands of miles.

Nonetheless, small skirmishes and probes continued.

Meanwhile, chaos among the aquatic tribes in the Eastern Sea showed no signs of abating. Under the orders of Emperor Jing, the Bai, Ao, and Tang water tribe chieftains maintained high-pressure sweeps of the outer sea territories.

For those inland, however, the inner seas of the Eastern Sea remained peaceful, and trade routes were slowly resuming.

In the first year of the Great Governance Era, Luliang Prefecture was renamed "Fuzhou" due to its many hills and valleys.

The former King Liang's city, destroyed during the war, was rebuilt as Fubu County. Its administrative level was downgraded from a royal capital to a county seat, with many carved-out counties placed directly under imperial administration.

Equally unfortunate was King Lu, who failed to supervise King Liang and was stripped of his fiefdom. His title was reduced to that of a marquis.

What fiefdoms, vassals, and armies were left had been significantly reduced, leaving much of the previously allocated territory under direct control of the court.

The original city of King Lü was downgraded to a prefectural city. The royal mansion was relocated to a satellite city nearby, where the Lü family members were now housed.

"There's always a balance to power. While King Lü's influence was curtailed, his direct descendant Lü Yuanwei retained command of the Shenlei Army and was elevated to a First-Class Marquis. He's now at the same level as his father used to be." Zhao Xing (Chen'an) couldn't help but smirk at the irony.

Back during the early stages of the Southern Barbarian War, Lü Yuanwei had quite a reputation.

At that time, Zhao Xing and the others had even considered sticking close to Lü Yuanwei to carve out a better future for themselves.

However, plans never quite kept pace with change.

Only Xia Jing stayed to fight alongside him, while Zhao Xing, Long Xiao, and Chen Shijie had all retreated from the battlefield.

"Twenty years of change... It's been a monumental shift."

Zhao Xing set aside the intelligence reports and returned to his cultivation.

Immersed in training, he lost track of time. By the first year of the Great Governance Era, other students of Shi Wenxuan began to leave one by one.

In the final two years, many of them had other preparations to make.

Since Zhao Xing began studying advanced Dragon Language techniques, he joined the rest of Shi Wenxuan's students for collaborative learning.

The siblings Lu Manman and Lu Xiuyuan, who had stayed the longest, were assigned to the same group as Zhao Xing.

Initially, the Lu siblings paid little attention to Zhao Xing. When Zhao Xing sought their guidance, they viewed it as mentoring a junior, rather than as equals engaging in mutual discourse.

But things soon changed.

By April of the first year of the Great Governance Era...

Lu Xiuyuan was taken aback. "Zhao Xing, you've mastered twelve types of unlocking incantations in this category? That's pretty fast!"

"You might as well spar with us siblings."

By June of the same year...

"You're asking about the Eastern Dragon Sealing Technique? Isn't that something you'd only begin learning after mastering the first four sealing techniques?"

"What? You've already mastered the first four?"

By August...

"Brother, am I dreaming? Did I just see Zhao Xing using the Dragon Spring Sealing Technique?"

"I clearly only slept for three days, but it feels like I've been asleep for thirty years!"

Lu Xiuyuan sighed deeply. "You're not mistaken. Yes, he's already mastered sixteen sealing techniques."

By December of the first year...

Zhao Xing had mastered four types of command incantations.

At this point, Lu Xiuyuan and Lu Manman's attitude toward Zhao Xing underwent a dramatic shift.

"Brother Zhao, are you getting private lessons? How are you advancing so quickly?"

"You're a monster, an absolute monster!" Lu Manman shrieked. "It took us twenty years to master just three command incantations!"

Zhao Xing smiled faintly, while King Tianyan appeared behind the siblings.

"Alright, you two, come with me."

Lu Xiuyuan felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, and instinctively shrugged it off. "Who the hell are you? And why should we go anywhere with you?"

King Tianyan silently held up a command token inscribed with the character "Fate."

"Hiss—" Lu Xiuyuan immediately dropped to his knees. "I apologize, sir. That was rude of me."

King Tianyan snorted. "Youngsters shouldn't be so hot-tempered. Forget it; I'll let it slide this time."

Were it not for King Tianyan's patience, Lu Xiuyuan might have been taught a painful lesson about what royal authority truly meant.

"Thank... Thank you, sir." Lu Xiuyuan rose shakily.

The siblings obediently followed King Tianyan to receive a lesson in the Silencing Art.

When they returned, they were significantly more subdued.

Even their attitude toward Zhao Xing became far more respectful.

On December 25th of the first year of the Great Governance Era, both King Tianyan and Shi Wenxuan arrived at the academy's manor. Zhao Xing, wrapped in layers of scrolls during his training, stopped immediately upon noticing their presence.

"Sir, my lord."

Shi Wenxuan's face bore a trace of reluctance. "Zhao Xing, your one-year special training ends today."

"It's over?" Zhao Xing blinked. "But, sir, I feel like there's still so much left to learn."

The more he learned, the more Zhao Xing realized how little he actually knew.

"King Tianyan and I discussed this at length," Shi Wenxuan explained. "If you continue cultivating at this pace, your progress will plateau. It's better to shift your focus to other techniques for now."

"This is the optimal time to conclude your training."

As a Fate Officer, King Tianyan had calculated Zhao Xing's future development in great detail. He knew precisely how Zhao Xing's next year and a half should be spent for maximum benefit.

While Shi Wenxuan was reluctant, he ultimately deferred to King Tianyan's expertise.

"Yes." Although Zhao Xing felt a sense of loss, he trusted King Tianyan's judgment.

Reviewing his own knowledge, Zhao Xing realized there was still much room to improve in his foundational techniques.

"Zhao Xing, say your farewells to your teacher," King Tianyan instructed. "For an entire year, he hasn't stopped using the Enlightenment Technique and Tranquility Method to aid you."

"No one else receives such treatment."

Indeed, Zhao Xing had received special care.

His extraordinary comprehension was partly due to his innate talent, but also heavily influenced by the constant support of Shi Wenxuan, a First-Class Ritual Consultant.

"Zhao Xing thanks the teacher and wishes him good health." Zhao Xing performed a deep, formal bow.

Shi Wenxuan graciously accepted the gesture, stroking his beard with a smile. "Good. In the future, if you have time, you're welcome to return for lectures."

Teaching Zhao Xing brought Shi Wenxuan great joy. It felt akin to watching a sapling grow into a towering tree.

"However, try to come earlier. I'm not much younger than King Tianyan and may not have much time left."

At his age, Shi Wenxuan had grown accustomed to the thought of mortality.

"Yes. Thank you, teacher." Zhao Xing bowed deeply once more.

After the third bow, King Tianyan led Zhao Xing away.

Zhao Xing was the fifth-to-last student to leave Shi Wenxuan's care. Though he had arrived late, he wasn't the last to depart.

Leaving the Saint Yan Academy, King Tianyan guided Zhao Xing through the Lihuo Passage, returning to Daoyuan Continent.

Their next destination: the headquarters of Xuantian Academy.

As they left Tianyong Prefecture, Zhao Xing's brow furrowed slightly.

"My lord, I'll rest inside for a moment."

"Go ahead."

Zhao Xing retreated to a specially crafted chamber within the vessel, closing the door behind him. Lying on the custom-made cultivation bed, he shut his eyes and drifted into a meditative state.

Within the Memory Palace...

"Damn, a Shang Tang Command Ship? The Yin Dynasty Royal Ship that traverses the realms of life and death?"

"This thing existed as early as Emperor Jing's era?"

Reviewing his memories, Zhao Xing quickly realized something extraordinary.

"This ship not only allows access to the Polar Regions of the Nether Realm to gather rare plants, but it's also a crucial artifact for the resurrection of Nether Spirits in later eras."

"It didn't even surface during Emperor Wu's reign, yet it's now in the hands of True King Tianyang?"

Zhao Xing felt like he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure.

This ship, originally thought to be confined to the Void Lands, had emerged during the Spirit Qi Revival Era.

And it turned out that True King Tianyang had captured it in this era!

"Master Ancestor, you're truly remarkable! Your incense offerings weren't in vain," Zhao Xing marveled.

This strengthened his resolve to take good care of the ship.

"I need to ensure it isn't lost," Zhao Xing mused to himself.

The ship's absence during Emperor Wu's time suggested it had been misplaced, eventually returning to the Void Lands.

Only after the Spirit Qi Revival did it reappear.

As Zhao Xing continued delving into his memories, his thoughts spun with clarity.

"Wait a moment. Shi Wenxuan... He isn't just one of the top three Ritual Consultants, is he? He's ranked number one among Dragon Language Ritual Consultants!"

"Dragon King's Bone Ritual, Dragon King's Heart Ritual, Dragon King's Soul Refinement Ritual—he alone mastered all three of these."

"In later generations, no other Dragon Language Ritual Consultant ever managed to master all three simultaneously."

"No wonder my progress under his guidance was so rapid."

"I absolutely must seek him out again in the future. Or rather, I'll need to invite him to leave Tianyong Prefecture," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He didn't relish the idea of returning to Fengdu. The process of unsealing and re-sealing his memories was a hassle every time.

"It's almost the second year of the Great Governance Era, and King Tianyan is taking me to Xuantian Academy's main campus?"

"That works perfectly. It aligns with my plans."

"My goal at Xuantian Academy is primarily to master Hou Transformation Techniques."

"Both internal and external cultivation methods need to be expanded upon."

"In particular, techniques related to dragons," Zhao Xing reflected.

"Shi Wenxuan has already taught me the three major Ritual Spells, but I can only grasp their forms, not their essence."

"However, if I can transform into a dragon through Hou Transformation Techniques and then apply the Dragon Language Rituals, I might finally master the nine great spells that have always eluded me!"