The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

A radiant yellow light emerged from the small bronze cauldron, immediately invigorating Zhao Xing's spirit.

"Earth Spirit Energy!"

Without hesitation, he deployed the Pure Essence Projection, channeling the Earth Spirit Energy into his Pure Essence Space.

"Huh? There's more?"

Zhao Xing noticed that as soon as the first portion of Earth Spirit Energy was absorbed, another yellow energy cluster of the same size appeared in the bronze cauldron.

"I'll take it!"

Zhao Xing quickly seized the second cluster of Earth Spirit Energy.

Buzz~

Yet another cluster of yellow light emerged.

"The third portion! The Dragon Court is truly abundant in spiritual energy!" Zhao Xing exclaimed in delight as he absorbed the third cluster.

After a brief pause, the cauldron trembled and released another cluster of Earth Spirit Energy, slightly smaller this time, equating to about half a portion.

Zhao Xing harvested it again and waited.

The cauldron wobbled once more, producing a fifth cluster.

Within the next quarter-hour, the bronze cauldron released twenty energy clusters in total. Ultimately, Zhao Xing had accumulated ten full portions of Earth Spirit Energy, now stored within his Pure Essence Space.

Satisfied, he patted the bronze cauldron to ensure it was empty before setting it aside.

"Ten portions of energy—this alone matches all the spiritual energy I've gathered previously," Zhao Xing reflected, focusing his consciousness within the Pure Essence Space.

The space had expanded significantly, with the soil now stretching vast distances.

"Go!"

The ten clusters of radiant yellow light plunged into the soil.

Whirrrr~

The ground lightly trembled, and the land's area began to grow once again.

"It's still at Grade Six soil, but the Earth-element properties of this Grade Six soil have become increasingly prominent," Zhao Xing mused.

"Earth's heaviness can crush an opponent's Pure Essence Projection."

"It can also nurture a greater variety of plant-based soldier species."

"If development continues at this pace, I'll soon be able to cultivate a large-scale army of Grade Seven plant soldiers."

Currently, Zhao Xing's Pure Essence Soil was planted with various vegetation. However, the majority were Grade Six plants, sparsely distributed, as each plant soldier required significant root space to grow.

Establishing dense forests of plant soldiers remained a challenge.

"There are 24 varieties of Grade Seven plants, corresponding to the 24 Seasonal Qi Commands. But for now, they're all just seedlings."

"When the Pure Essence Soil develops a leyline or a small river, that will be the turning point—Grade Seven plants could mature within a day."

At present, the soil embodied the concept of the "King's Heaviness." Its advanced developmental path would lead to the "King's Leyline" and ultimately to the Earth Spirit Leyline.

"Advancing to the Earth Spirit Leyline within the Dragon Court is entirely feasible," Zhao Xing murmured as he stood in the soil's center, attuning himself to its energy.

"The space of the Pure Essence Soil, including its land, was originally perfectly flat. The emergence of Earth's heaviness characteristic at Grade Six marks the standard for creating leylines."

"Now, there's already a small rise in the soil, barely higher than the sole of my shoe."

The change was subtle, but this minor advancement was enough to set Zhao Xing far ahead of other Shennong cultivators from the Self School.

Returning his mind to reality, Zhao Xing opened his eyes.

He didn't come across additional spiritual energy items but did collect a considerable amount of Dragon Crystals.

Beyond the City Lord's residence, Dragon Turtles hauling Dragon Ships arrived in succession.

Clatter~

Masses of Dragon Crystals were unloaded.

"Collect!"

Zhao Xing meticulously selected all Dragon Crystals of Grade Six and above.

"The remaining Dragon Crystals can be smelted into higher-grade ones."

"But there's no need for me to linger here and waste time," Zhao Xing decided. "I'll leave a clone to supervise the work."

Spending two hours, Zhao Xing carefully followed the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's list from the Heavenly Treasure Codex, extracting materials and seeds such as Dragon Wood and Dragon Blood Grass, all of which he stored in his Pure Essence Space.

"With just this city alone, I've already completed the foundational task assigned by the imperial court," Zhao Xing thought.

He activated A Step to Infinity and located Cao Qianyue.

"Marquis, care for a bite?" Cao Qianyue had finished his task and was sitting amidst a pile of valuable treasures he had sorted near the arena, munching on dragon meat.

"Haha, you're certainly enjoying yourself," Zhao Xing remarked. Meat from the descendants of Jimon was tough and stringy, unappealing to Zhao Xing. For someone of his Third-Rank cultivation, it held little nutritional value.

What intrigued Zhao Xing, however, was how Cao Qianyue managed to eat alongside three war beasts without incident. The man and beasts shared their meal harmoniously, devouring it with gusto.

"I'll pass. Are you full? If so, prepare to move out with me," Zhao Xing said.

"Move out?" Cao Qianyue paused mid-bite. "Marquis, aren't we settling here to develop?"

"No, this is merely a stepping stone to gain an identity for entering the Royal City," Zhao Xing explained. "Without a dragon identity from the Gu Ting Kingdom, I can't enter the Royal City."

"The Royal City?" Cao Qianyue was stunned. Why did the Marquis' plans differ so greatly from the usual procedures he was familiar with?

Typically, when the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds opened, participants stayed for 15 to 20 years. After entering, they would secure a territory, exploit its resources, mine for minerals, cultivate treasures, and harvest fruit.

Enslaving the local dragon tribes for labor, they would accumulate Dragon Court Merit to upgrade their titles in the Dragon Nobility System.

For weaker mid-level participants, the process began with roles like Dragon Soldier or Dragon General.

Zhao Xing, however, was already Third-Rank. He had seized a dragon city with nearby resources like Dragon Crystal mines, Dragon Blood Trees, and even Dragon Springs. Why was he so eager to leave?

Cao Qianyue couldn't understand, but Zhao Xing's word was law. As the Marquis of Shenwei, Zhao Xing's strategies were beyond his comprehension.

"Yes, Marquis," Cao Qianyue said, wiping his hands on his belt. "Marquis, I've already sorted the valuable items. Three Dragon Ships are fully loaded and ready over there."

"If you give me a few more days, I can also dismantle some useful parts from those dragons' war machines."

Zhao Xing waved dismissively. "You're just one person—how much can you dismantle? Besides, those items aren't worth much in the Dragon Court, so there's no need."

The catalog Zhao Xing carried was vastly different from Cao Qianyue's priorities. What Cao deemed valuable was trivial to Zhao Xing.

"Prepare more materials for crafting Boundary-Breaking Spikes and dismantling tools. We leave in an hour," Zhao Xing instructed with a smile. "Once we reach the Royal City, you'll have plenty to dismantle."

"Understood!" Cao Qianyue scrambled off to prepare with a sense of urgency.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xing unfolded the map and began sketching out his plans. The sheer amount of treasures he had gathered from Mengyun City wasn't just for personal use or even to transport out of this realm. His intention was to offer them as tribute!

However, his target for tribute wasn't the Inferno Dragon Lord, the immediate superior of the original Mengyun City Lord. Instead, he aimed much higher.

"The Inferno Dragon Lord is just a territory lord," Zhao Xing reasoned. "Even if I pay tribute to him, at best, he might grant me some token position as a lord under him. But if I offer my tribute directly to a Dragon King, I might not only gain a lordship but also have the chance to scoop up some valuable treasures during the reward ceremony." Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed as he recalled strategies from his past life.

"Once I secure a city lord status within the Guting Kingdom, I'll head to the Royal City and seek out a Dragon King for this 'offering.'"

This move, however, came with a significant risk. "By bypassing the Inferno Dragon Lord and offering tribute directly to the Royal City, I'll undoubtedly offend him. After all, Mengyun City is his assigned dragon territory." Zhao Xing chuckled lightly. "But who cares? I have no intention of lingering here anyway."

The current ruler of the Guting Royal City was a Dragon King named Yinli. According to Zhao Xing's knowledge, Yinli was a descendant of the Great Dragon King Guting XIX. Yinli had an elder brother, another Dragon King named Yinxiu.

"The two brothers alternate their rule. Right now, it's Yinli's term," Zhao Xing mused. "Yinxiu, however, isn't in deep hibernation. Every hundred years, he enters a lighter sleep phase to stay vigilant for potential threats. If someone awakens him with an offering of treasures he fancies, Yinxiu will grant the contributor a chance to enter his treasure vault."

The vault, however, came with a twist. "Yinxiu randomly rearranges all the treasures, letting dust and grime obscure their true value. Selecting something worthwhile depends entirely on luck," Zhao Xing thought, a sly smile spreading across his face. "But this hidden mechanism is unknown to everyone else. Most people prefer paying tribute to Yinli, who's notoriously greedy and oppressive. Offering to him is like giving ten and getting one back."

Zhao Xing calculated his next steps carefully. "In about three hundred years, it will be Yinxiu's turn to rule. For a long-lived dragon race, that's practically on the horizon. Waking him won't be too difficult, but Mengyun City's spoils alone won't suffice to gain access to his vault."

As a Dragon King, Yinxiu had seen countless treasures produced in the Guting Kingdom. Ordinary offerings were unlikely to earn his favor. Zhao Xing pondered, his grin widening. "I don't have any treasures, and I'm not inclined to search for them. So I'll just borrow some."

"Who will I borrow from? Naturally, from our enemies!" His eyes glinted with cunning. "Xuantian Sect, Corpse Puppet Sect, Inferno Light Court, Purple Feather Court, Aphid Serpent Kingdom…heh, I'll take a peek into your treasure troves."

The origins of the Dragon Court's ancient grounds could be traced back to dynasties predating the Great Li Era by two epochs. During those early explorations, the mechanisms for organized expeditions were far from developed. Coupled with the irregular opening of the Dragon Court—occurring only every hundred years—external factors like dynastic transitions or large-scale wars in the Xuanhuang World further disrupted the realm's accessibility.

For example, during the chaotic Warring States Era before the Great Zhou, the world's laws were so unstable that the Dragon Court grounds remained sealed for millennia. Even today, much of the Dragon Court's map remained uncharted.

Currently, the Xuanhuang World was relatively stable, largely thanks to the unified governance of the Nineteen Provinces. As long as a unified empire ruled the Nineteen Provinces, the Dragon Court would open regularly.

Since the founding of the Great Zhou, the Dragon Court had opened over twenty times, bringing steady returns for those who ventured into its depths. Naturally, there were investments as well. Various factions—be they dynasties, sects, or entities like the Southern Barbarians or the Eastern Sea Clans—had all established storage vaults within the Dragon Court.

The discovery of the tribute mechanism only accelerated this trend, leading to the proliferation of these treasure vaults. However, every faction safeguarded their vaults with formidable restrictions and seals. Breaking into these vaults wasn't something anyone could do easily.

High-level vaults, in particular, were beyond Zhao Xing's reach. Even if he knew their precise locations and unlocking methods, he lacked the specialized skills of an array master or mechanism craftsman to breach them.

"That's the theory," Zhao Xing muttered to himself, "but reality is a different story." The century-long intervals between each opening of the Dragon Court grounds created opportunities. Once the time limit expired, all outsiders were forcibly ejected, leaving the vaults' seals and arrays unmaintained for a hundred years.

Add to that the Dragon Court's natural geographic transformations, which were significant due to the absence of a Shennong to regulate the land's qi and terrain. Earthquakes caused by frolicking dragons or territorial conflicts could further disrupt these seals and arrays.

"In the unlikely case that a vault remains intact inside a dragon city," Zhao Xing smirked, "I'll still have ways to extract its contents."

His immediate plan upon reaching the Royal City was to submit part of the treasures as tribute to Yinli, seeking a reassignment. His ideal post? The Dragon Army's engineering division. Despite being high-level intelligent beings, dragons still crafted weapons and armor for their warriors, like the spear-wielding, armored dragon generals of Mengyun City.

"Not that I'm the only one with such ideas," Zhao Xing noted. "Many factions treat this realm as both a home base and a place for looting. If I don't claim the Royal City's engineering rights quickly, the competition will only increase, raising the entry barrier."

His advantage lay in knowing the locations and procedures for exploiting these resources. "A fast step now will yield continuous gains later. Once I secure my first reward from Yinxiu's vault, the ensuing benefits will compound. Heh, heh, heh..."

Standing nearby, Cao Qianyue, who was about to report, involuntarily shivered at Zhao Xing's eerie laugh and sinister expression. Why does the Marquis look so much like a villain?

One hour later, three dragon ships set sail, escorted by three hundred dragon generals. Bearing the banner of Mengyun City, they made their way grandly toward the Royal City.

Thanks to the city lord's authority, Zhao Xing could activate an ancient teleportation array by offering dragon crystals, enabling rapid travel to other city lords' domains. The journey to the Royal City would take just three days.

Along the way, they passed through numerous territories, attracting curious gazes. Zhao Xing's unfamiliar aura, combined with the abundance of treasures he carried, naturally invited scrutiny.

However, upon sensing Zhao Xing's strength, most observers quickly abandoned any thoughts of interfering. His high-level Dragon Speech ability, ranked at Upper Level 5, was indicative of lord-tier power. While this didn't necessarily mean his Dragon Speech spells were equally potent, no one was foolish enough to test him.

Dragons, though belligerent by nature, weren't fools. As long as Zhao Xing refrained from attacking them, they saw no reason to provoke him.

Thus, the teleportation proceeded without incident. Even the Inferno Dragon Lord remained unaware of Zhao Xing's movements. To him, the identity of Mengyun City's lord was irrelevant, as long as they pledged allegiance and continued paying tribute.

And so, he awaited Zhao Xing's offering, blissfully ignorant of the Marquis's true intentions.

Before the Inferno Dragon Lord could even react, Zhao Xing had already slipped away.

In just two and a half days, Zhao Xing, as the Lord of Mengyun City, led three ships filled with treasures and arrived at the ancient city of Guting.

Passing through the defensive formations and inspections by the guards, Zhao Xing smoothly entered the royal city.

"Lord, there are so many dragons here," said Cao Qianyue, standing behind Zhao Xing.

Both in the sky and on the ground, there were numerous dragon-kind present, many of whom were at the City Lord rank.

"Of course, it's the royal city. There's bound to be a lot of dragons," Zhao Xing replied casually. "What's the matter, Dunlie? Are you afraid?"

Cao Qianyue straightened his neck and gripped the hammer in his hand. "Afraid? With the Lord here, I'm only afraid they'll burst from overeating!"

"Hahaha!" Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh.

Within the royal city, it was relatively safe. Aside from the arena, dragons rarely fought or caused chaos.

However, the city was vast. After entering, they flew for another half a day before reaching the outer perimeter of the royal palace area.

"Look, that's the royal palace of Guting," Zhao Xing said, pointing at the towering palace walls ahead. "It was created by the ancient Dragon Emperor 'Ting.' However, in this era, there are no Dragon Emperors left, only Great Dragon Kings."

The palace wall was not built of stone but rather a barrier wall. It was made from eighth and ninth-rank ancient trees cut down and used as the foundation for the array, along with countless dragon stones and superior-grade dragon crystals buried underground.

The outer perimeter of the palace was patrolled by numerous royal guards.

"The guards here have high bloodline purity. Every ten li, there is at least one City Lord-level presence," Zhao Xing explained.

"There are even many Lord-level dragons. Don't act recklessly or wander off," Zhao Xing warned sternly.

"Understood," Cao Qianyue replied, staring straight ahead, not daring to glance sideways. Even the Blue Hound and the Spirit Illusion Goat (Upside-Down Goat) were starting to fidget uneasily, subdued by the oppressive aura of the bloodlines surrounding them.

The Mountain Cat, however, remained calm and composed, lying lazily at the bow of the ship, entirely unfazed by the pressure.

"Roar! (Halt!)" A royal dragon guard stopped Zhao Xing's dragon ship.

"I am Zhao, Lord of Mengyun City, here to offer tribute to our king!" Zhao Xing spoke in the dragon language, negotiating with the royal guard.

As the newly appointed Lord of Mengyun City, Zhao Xing's visit to the royal city to pay tribute was entirely reasonable.

Yin Li, the current ruler, would be delighted. After all, as the dragon saying goes: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal."

Dragons at the City Lord level possessed strong free will and high resistance to dragon coercion and suppression.

If Zhao Xing could be persuaded to shift his allegiance from the Inferno Dragon Lord to Yin Li without a fight, it would be a win for Yin Li.

Not long after, the guard who had gone to report returned.

"The Lord of Mengyun City, proceed."

Zhao Xing piloted the three dragon ships, entering the royal palace grounds.

Inside the palace grounds, they flew for another hour before arriving at the palace where Yin Li resided.

Ahead, a towering mountain enveloped in mist came into view. The Dragon King's palace stood majestically, resembling a mythical beast in a celestial realm, exuding an aura of authority.

The auxiliary palace, built against the mountain, seemed to be a natural extension of the terrain, blending seamlessly with the palace structure.

The mountain peak itself was like a long spear piercing the heavens, with dragon skulls adorning its summit.

Not just one, but over a hundred skulls were mounted on the peak.

These were trophies of the previous rulers of Guting, each dragon skull belonging to a Dragon King-level being, their colors resonating with the Five Elements and the power of wind and thunder.

In addition, the outer perimeter of the palace was adorned with dragon crystal towers.

The dragon crystal towers were engraved with mysterious runes and dragon-shaped designs, radiating immense power.

On either side of the palace gates stood lifelike dragon crystal statues. Their fierce gazes and flowing dragon whiskers made them seem as if they could come to life and soar into the clouds at any moment.

The largest statue was of the Dragon God.

Seeing the Dragon God statue, Zhao Xing couldn't help but recall the image of the Ancestral Dragon from the [Ancestral Dragon Chant].

"Ancestral Dragon!" A faint resonance stirred within Zhao Xing's Sea of Consciousness, and his perception of the Ancestral Dragon's voice became clearer.

Dragon God statues were scattered throughout the Dragon Court, but this particular one matched the image of the Ancestral Dragon that Zhao Xing had witnessed.

Upon reaching the mountain, the dragon ships could no longer proceed and were anchored at a specialized docking platform on a nearby peak.

Ascending the main peak, they encountered a massive fountain. Water gushed from the mouth of a dragon, forming crystalline droplets that danced mid-air, creating intricate shapes resembling dragons soaring through the skies. The misty spray brought a sense of coolness and mystery.

Beyond the plaza was the main hall of the auxiliary palace.

The roof of the hall was covered in scales resembling dragon scales. Each glazed tile glittered with golden light under the sun, intricately engraved with dragon patterns.

Reaching the stairs outside the hall, Zhao Xing activated the Fire Transformation technique and prostrated himself. "Zhao, a citizen of Guting, pays homage to the Dragon King."

After a long wait, a majestic dragon's roar echoed from within the hall.

"Enter!"

Zhao Xing rose and entered the hall.

The main hall of the auxiliary palace was vast. At the far end stood an imposing Dragon King Throne.

The throne, carved entirely from crystal, seemed to hold swirling clouds and fog within. Faint dragon-shaped shadows swam in its depths.

Zhao Xing remained prostrate, not daring to raise his head to look at the throne.

Dragons were known for their efficiency. Zhao Xing had already stated his intentions when he entered the palace.

Yin Li's prolonged silence was likely due to his subordinates evaluating Zhao Xing's tribute.

Allowing him entry signified that Yin Li had approved this offering.

"Zhao, you pledge allegiance to me. What is it you seek?" The voice of Yin Li, seated on the throne, finally broke the silence.

"My King, I wish to serve in the Fuming Shrine of the royal city," Zhao Xing articulated each word carefully, fearful of being assigned elsewhere by mistake.

The Fuming Shrine was essentially the equivalent of the dragon race's Heavenly Craft Bureau.

Another long pause followed, punctuated by a deep dragon's roar from the throne.

The faint vibrations of the voice traveled through the space and entered Zhao Xing's mind.

Zhao Xing focused intently, soon realizing that Yin Li had granted his request.

A massive token, seven to eight meters tall and resembling a door panel, descended upon Zhao Xing's back.

"Seal!"

The dragon scales on Zhao Xing's back burned as the token left its mark, inscribed with the ancient dragon script of the royal family of Guting, signifying his induction into the Fuming Shrine.

"(In dragon language) My thanks to the King for this honor."

Bearing the token, Zhao Xing slowly withdrew from the hall.

Once he descended the mountain and returned to the docking platform, the three dragon ships were nowhere to be seen. All that remained were the three war beasts and Cao Qianyue standing awkwardly in the plaza.

"Lord, some dragons took the three ships," Cao Qianyue muttered, lifting a small tool chest in his hand. "All we have left is this toolbox."

"It can't be helped. Yin Li is like that," Zhao Xing replied. "I originally thought two ships of treasures would suffice to gain authority, but I underestimated his appetite."

"Fortunately, we had three ships. Otherwise, I doubt we could have secured this Dragon Craft decree."

The massive token on Zhao Xing's back, due to its material's flexibility, had shrunk to about two meters tall but still appeared imposing.

"Now, we need to move quickly and start 'house cleaning,'" Zhao Xing said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"House cleaning?" Cao Qianyue asked, confused. "Lord, can this decree allow us to raid dragon lairs?"

"Of course not dragon lairs," Zhao Xing replied with a sly smile. "You'll find out soon enough."

As Zhao Xing exited the auxiliary palace after completing the formalities, a group of five figures appeared outside the western gate of Guting City.

Each of them was of a high-grade cultivation level, with the leader carrying a purple-glazed coffin adorned with intricate patterns.

The pillar of fortune above their heads was exceptionally condensed, faint shadows flickering within as if violets were blooming.

"Finally, we've arrived." True Lord Ziluo stroked his beard with his left hand and waved his horsetail whisk with his right, a smile breaking out on his deeply wrinkled face.

As one of the primary members of the Corpse Puppet Sect dispatched to the Gu Ting Kingdom, True Lord Ziluo was in the early stages of the Heavenly Luck Realm. His cultivation made him the strongest in the group, and his age and seniority were the highest as well.

The individuals behind him were all Third Rank cultivators, some were his disciples, and others his martial nephews. Among them, one person in the early stages of the Third Rank was even his martial grand-disciple.

"Thanks to Master's unparalleled fortune, we reached Gu Ting Royal City unimpeded in less than four days," a middle-aged man carrying a green coffin on his back praised from atop a two-headed Fire Dragon.

He was True Lord Ziluo's disciple, going by the Dao name Yousha.

"Senior Brother is absolutely right! Without Master's guidance, we wouldn't have been able to reunite so quickly," chimed in a middle-aged woman with seductive features and peach-blossom eyes. She was known as Yunji Yuanjun.

Faced with his disciples' flattery, True Lord Ziluo smiled and waved them off. "That's enough, Yousha, Yunji. Stop with the excessive compliments."

"You two are merely Dragon Generals, while Youjue and Yingji are still Dragon Soldiers. Such low status makes it extremely inconvenient to act in the ancient lands of the Dragon Court."

"Remember, discretion is key."

The four individuals behind him obediently nodded in agreement.

"Once we enter the city, rest briefly and then follow my instructions. Locate the treasury left behind by our sect, retrieve a portion of its contents, and exchange them in the Royal City for a City Lord-level authority."

"Only then will it be time to act," True Lord Ziluo advised.

For most of his disciples, this was their first time entering. The Corpse Puppet Sect's allocated slots were few, and even those in the Third Rank might not receive a slot. His lineage, in particular, was relatively weak, so even True Lord Ziluo himself was entering for only the second time.

This was his first visit to Gu Ting Royal City; his previous experience had been in the Ziti Kingdom. That venture had been during wartime, so he'd never had the chance to visit this region.

Despite the Corpse Puppet Sect being one of the top sects, it still couldn't compare to the deep foundations of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Among their group, two members were only at mid-level Ninth Rank Dragon Tongue proficiency.

"Let's go and enter the city."

Within Gu Ting Royal City, at the Tian Gong Division, a massive volcano burned brightly, its fiery glow illuminating the area. Atop the volcano sat an incomparably vast palace.

"We've arrived. This is the Tian Gong Division of Gu Ting Royal City. Dunlie, do you know the name of that dragon statue beside the palace?" Zhao Xing pointed ahead.

Cao Qianyue, following closely, answered confidently, "Lord Marquis, I actually know this one! The Tian Gong Division of the Dragon Clan is called the Fuming Temple. That peculiar dragon statue beside it is known as Fuming. It is said to be the Dragon Clan's God of Artisans."

"Fuming was born with mastery over Leaving Fire, Three-Flavored True Fire, and Six Ding Divine Fire—practically every flame under the heavens."

"It was Fuming who forged countless divine artifacts for the Dragon Clan, enabling them to resist the legendary Abyssal Demon Clan."

"Every crafting division in the Dragon Court ancient land is named Fuming Temple."

Zhao Xing nodded in approval. "Correct. The three ships' worth of treasures I exchanged have granted me secondary-level authority within Fuming Temple."

Cao Qianyue was puzzled. "But Lord Marquis, you're not a mechanist. Why not exchange for a different authority? Do you plan to study something here?"

At this moment, he couldn't understand Zhao Xing's thought process. Why would a Shennong involve himself in the Fuming Temple? It seemed out of place.

Zhao Xing chuckled. "Don't underestimate me. Unlocking techniques are just as much a part of craftsmanship."

"Of course, I'm not here to learn techniques. With secondary-level authority from the Fuming Temple, I can mobilize many lord-level artisans to work for me."

Understanding dawned on Cao Qianyue. "Lord Marquis, you mean to unlock treasure troves?"

"But, Lord Marquis, surely you can't just open the Dragon Clan's treasure vaults, right?"

"I won't be opening the Dragon Clan's."

"Hiss!" Cao Qianyue gasped, excitement flickering in his eyes as he stroked his bald head. "You're planning to take the stockpiles left behind by those outsiders in the Dragon Court!"

"Ha! Don't put it so harshly—it's requisitioning," Zhao Xing corrected with a grin. "When you enter with me, observe closely and learn. Look for anything you can use, and if possible, learn the techniques too."

"It's always better for us to have the skills ourselves rather than relying on the Dragon Clan's artisans."

Cao Qianyue was thrilled. "Yes, Lord Marquis! I understand!"

The artisans of the Dragon Clan, descendants of Fuming, were unique in appearance. Their bodies were smaller compared to other dragons, but their abdomens were large, and their scales shimmered a dark red. At the end of their tails was an enormous iron sphere, resembling a hammer used for striking.

Fuming's descendants had hairy extremities, akin to human fingers that could extend. The ends of their dragon whiskers glowed faintly, allowing for precise embellishment on divine weapons.

Once Zhao Xing entered, he took some time to familiarize himself with the internal structure of Fuming Temple. Meanwhile, his clones dispersed throughout the Royal City to scout for locations.

In just a quarter of an hour, Zhao Xing's clones had identified dozens of sites.

"As expected, substituting the coordinates from my previous life based on Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches still works. Despite changes in terrain, I can pinpoint the locations accurately."

Zhao Xing wasted no time. Wielding the secondary-level Fuming Token, he summoned a team of Dragon Clan artisans and departed from the temple.

His first destination was a collapsed ruin of enormous stones.

"If my memory serves me right, this treasure trove has three layers of seals: Earthfire, Earth-Heaven, and Dragon Flame enchantments."

"The first layer of treasures isn't vast; it contains mostly ordinary items."

"These were left by the top sect, the Corpse Puppet Sect." Zhao Xing began casting unlocking incantations to test the seals.

"Boom!"

The ground soon cracked open, revealing a vast underground chamber constructed with Dragon Clan formations.

"Clatter!" Inside, piles of dragon crystals and divine weapons were stacked into a small mountain.

"The first layer is merely a façade," Zhao Xing used Gale Force to sweep these treasures into storage vessels aboard his ships.

"Their value isn't particularly high, roughly ranging between Fourth to Sixth Rank in quality. Based on dragon coin conversions, they're worth about 200,000 dragon coins in total."

"The second layer will need the Fuming artisans of the Dragon Clan," Zhao Xing dismissed his clones and signaled the artisan team to approach.

"Roar~" A team of Fuming artisans quickly descended.

"Dig!" Zhao Xing's command was simple and direct.

"Roar~" More than a dozen dragon artisans dove into the subterranean space below.

It wasn't long before the second underground chamber came into view, exposing a large cavity.

"Return!" Zhao Xing ordered the artisans to withdraw.

After ensuring they were out of the way, Zhao Xing sent one of his clones to explore the area.

"The treasures in the second layer are much better," Zhao Xing remarked as he surveyed the site. "Their value easily surpasses two million dragon coins, but it's still insufficient to broker a deal with the Dragon King Yin Xiu. At best, it might cover the cost to awaken him."

"However, there's still the third layer," Zhao Xing smirked. After clearing the second layer, he commanded the Dragon Clan artisans to delve deeper.

This time, the artisans had to utilize specialized tools to proceed.

"Boom!" Four towering, sharp pillars—each requiring more than ten people to encircle—slowly descended into the earth. Radiating a luminous glow, the pillars vibrated, shattering massive boulders and disintegrating layers of soil.

"Boom!" Large quantities of rock and earth disintegrated as the deep core of the second subterranean chamber revealed an intricately carved dragon door.

On the dragon door, a distinctive coffin emblem of the Corpse Puppet Sect was prominently displayed.

"Crack, crack, crack~" With the help of the Fuming artisans, the seal on the door was unraveled. Ten Fire Breaker Needles simultaneously released fiery red flames that corroded the barrier until it vanished.

"Stop!" Zhao Xing, seeing the barrier dissipate, halted the artisans. "Withdraw!"

The Fuming artisans, obeying the command, quickly returned to the surface.

Zhao Xing's clone wasted no time descending into the depths to begin transporting the items.

"The third layer is entirely composed of materials of Seventh Rank and above, with a total volume exceeding the first and second layers combined," Zhao Xing observed in awe.

Upon entering, Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned by the dazzling array of display cabinets.

"Everything is meticulously categorized, and most of these items don't even originate from the Gu Ting Kingdom!"

As the saying goes, rarity dictates value.

If these items were local to the Gu Ting Kingdom, they wouldn't fetch a high price. However, these were treasures painstakingly selected over generations by the Corpse Puppet Sect.

"Their value is incalculable, but conservatively speaking, it exceeds 20 million dragon coins!" Zhao Xing couldn't help but grin. At a tenfold increase from the second layer, this estimate seemed fitting.

"As expected of a top-tier sect. Just one major treasury contains this much wealth."

"This haul alone is enough to negotiate a transaction with Dragon King Yin Xiu." Zhao Xing swiftly loaded the treasures onto his ships.

As for the Fuming artisans, Zhao Xing had already sealed their memories with a "Dragon Tongue Silencing Spell." Furthermore, with his secondary-level Fuming Token, these Dragon Clan artisans were incapable of divulging anything about the operation.

Even if word got out, it didn't matter. Gu Ting Royal City had no laws prohibiting the excavation of underground treasures. Moreover, fighting within the city was strictly forbidden.

"Let's move to the next location!" Zhao Xing commanded as he departed.

Two hours after Zhao Xing left, True Lord Ziluo arrived, albeit belatedly.

"We've found it. The ancestral 'Giant Stone Treasury' of our sect is hidden in this very area," True Lord Ziluo declared with pride.

"This vault contains the accumulated wealth of our lineage spanning seven or eight generations," he continued confidently. "With this startup capital in the Dragon Court ancient land, we can present offerings to the kingdom's Dragon King, and you'll immediately gain significant status."

"Thank you, Master!" Yousha's excitement was palpable.

"The Giant Stone Treasury? It's enough to secure high-level authority within the Dragon Clan," Yunji licked her lips in anticipation.

"Wait here while I locate the exact position," True Lord Ziluo instructed as he pulled out a compass and activated a sect-secret technique to pinpoint the vault.

The passage of time had altered the landscape, so he couldn't be sure of the treasury's precise location and needed to search thoroughly.

Moments later, True Lord Ziluo discovered two things.

The good news: he had located the sect's secret vault with minimal effort.

The bad news: the Giant Stone Treasury had already been emptied—and recently!

"Who!" True Lord Ziluo roared, his voice echoing with rage. "Who dares to steal the treasures of the Corpse Puppet Sect!"