The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Zhao Xing felt his heart tighten. A serious problem? He listened attentively as Liu Tianning began to explain:

"After you left, I began fully inheriting the legacy of Shangluo Academy."

"The seven major schools of Shangluo Academy—Shenhua, Shenmu, Jiedao, Yuanming, Yuangi, Shuangsheng, and Bingshi—are profoundly rich in heritage. With smooth transitions in leadership, I now have deep control over all of them!"

"Under these circumstances, even with Xu Xing's guidance and my own caution, my cultivation has skyrocketed over the years."

"In the third year of the Great Governance Era, I was still at the early Heavenly Luck stage. By the start of the fourth year, I had already reached the mid-stage."

"People often say that comprehending the workings of the world's fortune is difficult, yet for me, it's as simple as eating or drinking."

"Even if I don't actively pursue enlightenment, merely thinking causes my cultivation to improve."

Zhao Xing's eyes widened with surprise. Merely thinking without deliberate effort and still advancing in cultivation?

How monstrous was Liu Tianning's talent?

"Even if I'm just sitting in the academy, staring at the sky, or lowering my gaze to observe flowers and plants, it feels like I'm cultivating."

"Not actively seeking enlightenment? How is that even possible?"

"Every act of inheriting divine weapons, treasure plants, or secret techniques from the academies inherently involves enlightenment!"

"By the sixth year of the Great Governance Era, I had already reached the peak of the Heavenly Luck stage."

Though Zhao Xing knew Liu Tianning's speed of advancement was extraordinary, hearing it stated so plainly still left him deeply shocked.

Three years! From the early Heavenly Luck stage to its peak!

And this was with both Liu Tianning and Xu Xing deliberately suppressing the speed of his progress.

Of course, this wasn't solely due to Liu Tianning's overwhelming talent.

Inheriting Shangluo Academy, a historically significant institution with profound foundations, naturally brought an immense surge in fortune.

The Heavenly Luck stage itself could be viewed from two angles: the workings of the heavens and the workings of personal fortune.

In Liu Tianning's case, his lineage already placed him at a significant advantage. His great-grandfather was the creator of the Liu's Compiled Techniques, his elder brother was a renowned vice-dean at Lianhua Academy, and his family was steeped in prestige.

While he had faced setbacks in his youth, overall, he was still a favored child of fortune.

With prominent figures like King Luo and King Tianyan backing him, Liu Tianning could even topple half of the Dao Academy and emerge unscathed.

With Princess You Ruo's affection and Xu Xing as his mentor, his life was riddled with blessings and opportunities. In terms of personal fortune, he was the very embodiment of a "Child of Fortune."

Liu Tianning also greatly benefited from the King Liang's rebellion.

After all, he had been granted the title of King of Taihe Commandery!

Now, inheriting Shangluo Academy, his progression into the Heavenly Luck stage was as smooth as could be.

It was worth noting that most Heavenly Luck cultivators were not lone wanderers. Instead, they were often leaders of major factions. This was a defining characteristic of the stage.

This was also why Emperor Jing wanted Zhao Xing to hold an official position in a blessed land for secluded cultivation. For second-rank officials, this was the standard process.

Likewise, for those in sects, progressing from the early to peak stages of the second rank followed a similar trajectory.

With fortune, Dao, techniques, and treasures in abundance, Liu Tianning's rapid advancement was no surprise.

"The faster I advance, the more pronounced the flaws in the Myriad Straw Puppet technique become."

Liu Tianning's gaze turned distant.

"Sometimes, I can clearly feel the heavens entrusting me with something, as though bestowing a mission upon me. Other times, I can hear the earth's veins deep below crying out in sorrow."

"I sense the raging fury of fire, the howling of the wind, water drowning the land, and all living things struggling—"

"My emotions rise and fall with these sensations, and I know these are symptoms of the technique's flaws. My incarnations can clearly observe the changes within me."

"My teacher and I discussed ways to suppress these flaws and sought to resolve them."

"And what did you do?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Train," Liu Tianning replied flatly. "Since I can't solve this issue at the Heavenly Luck stage, I'll ascend to the Destiny Palace stage and see if that helps."

Zhao Xing was at a loss for words.

The higher Liu Tianning's cultivation rose, the more severe the technique's flaws became. To suppress them through further enlightenment would only exacerbate the problem, creating a vicious cycle.

"Xu Xing tried to stop me—hmpf! But that old man can't even match me. How could he know whether the Destiny Palace stage would resolve it?"

"If he can't ensure his disciples practice the Myriad Straw Puppet safely, then I, Liu Tianning, certainly can!"

"Teacher! Get a grip!" Zhao Xing roared, grabbing Liu Tianning's wrist as a dragon's resonant cry reverberated, cleansing Liu Tianning's entire body.

Though Liu Tianning appeared outwardly calm, Zhao Xing could sense that his mental state was dangerously erratic. In the depths of his consciousness, Liu Tianning's expression was cold and indifferent, exuding a sense of disregard for all life.

Liu Tianning's demeanor was unnatural, his response almost instinctive, as he countered by gripping Zhao Xing's wrist in return.

Boom!

Their spiritual essences clashed violently!

Dong! A massive bell rang within Liu Tianning's sea of consciousness, accompanied by blooming lotus flowers.

This wasn't an attack but a reflexive reaction designed to prevent himself from harming Zhao Xing instinctively.

"Roar!" Within Zhao Xing's own sea of consciousness, a five-clawed golden dragon materialized.

Even so, Zhao Xing felt dizzy from the clash.

Though he had made significant progress in the Ancient Dragon Court, in terms of personal combat strength—whether in Dao, techniques, or spirit—he still fell short compared to Liu Tianning.

After all, Liu Tianning had already mastered the second layer of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, while Zhao Xing was only at the first.

If not for the Dragon Emperor Codex's protection, Zhao Xing would have been injured, not just disoriented.

Boom! The energy ripple between them expanded outward.

Just as it was about to damage the surrounding structures, it suddenly dissipated.

Both Liu Tianning and Zhao Xing simultaneously withdrew their spiritual energies and stepped back.

A third figure suddenly appeared.

"Zhao Xing, are you alright?" Li Boqian frowned as he stepped between them.

"I'm fine," they replied in unison.

Looking at Liu Tianning's slightly dazed expression and Zhao Xing's groggy state, Li Boqian grabbed each of their wrists to inspect them.

Confirming there were no injuries, he nodded slightly. "I'll be outside."

With that, he dissolved into a cloud of mist and vanished from the room.

Zhao Xing glanced at Liu Tianning, whose face carried a trace of guilt. Zhao Xing, too, felt a pang of guilt.

On reflection, Zhao Xing realized he bore some responsibility for Liu Tianning's rapid descent into madness. Had he not appeared and advanced so quickly, Liu Tianning might not have been so desperate to resolve the flaws in the Myriad Straw Puppet technique.

After all, Zhao Xing had already reached the third rank by the end of the Jingxin Era and performed outstandingly. It was only natural for Liu Tianning to feel pressured to solve the problem quickly.

Moreover, Zhao Xing's involvement in Shangluo Academy's Great Dao Struggle also accelerated Liu Tianning's consolidation of power.

Had it not been for him, figures like Chu Qianqiu of the Bingshi School, Zhuang Darong of the Shenmu School, and the elders of the Shenhua School would never have relinquished their authority so quickly.

It would have taken decades to reclaim their influence gradually.

If Emperor Jing needed sixty years to cleanse the aristocracy, Liu Tianning required the same timeframe to resolve factional disputes.

For a talented, well-connected official with considerable authority, Liu Tianning's advancement was certainly fast—but undeniably hastened by Zhao Xing!

"You saw it." A hint of pain crossed Liu Tianning's brow.

"Understood," Zhao Xing nodded. "But don't worry, teacher. You will be fine."

"I've already found an initial solution!"

Liu Tianning looked over, realizing that Zhao Xing had already reached the second rank.

Moreover, during the earlier collision, Zhao Xing had emerged completely unscathed.

"You—"

Liu Tianning's eyes sparkled with surprise.

"That's right, I've already entered the Heavenly Luck realm," Zhao Xing said with a faint smile, "and I've never lost control."

Liu Tianning was somewhat incredulous. "Not even once?"

Zhao Xing nodded firmly. "Not once."

"Teacher, I need to know the details of your loss of control over the years. Please share everything."

"Alright." Liu Tianning nodded in agreement.

The master and disciple sat cross-legged on the ground.

Zhao Xing raised a finger, summoning seven drops of spiritual liquid. They floated around Liu Tianning, releasing strands of mist that seeped into his body.

Liu Tianning didn't flinch, dropping all his defenses and allowing Zhao Xing to cast the spell freely.

He began recounting his tales of losing control in a calm tone:

"On June 15th of the fifth year of Great Governance, I killed the Daojing Doctor Zhan Sigong of the Jinling Dao Academy."

"Why?"

"Because he whipped a student during class for not paying attention, nearly beating him to death."

"The Jinling Dao Academy is located south of Daoyuan Continent, and you're in the north. How did you even hear about such a trivial matter of student punishment? You were planning to kill him from the start, weren't you?"

Liu Tianning smiled faintly. "You're right. I had wanted to kill him for over a hundred years. This loss of control had a personal grudge attached to it. I didn't even try to suppress myself."

"And how did you resolve it afterward? Whipping a student isn't a crime worthy of death."

"Resolve it?" Liu Tianning snorted coldly. "His entire family was executed."

"I see," Zhao Xing said in sudden realization.

Old Liu still held his position as an inspector in the Martial Realm.

For an entire family to be executed, an imperial edict must have been involved.

Clearly, this old man from the Jinling Dao Academy had landed on Emperor Jing's chopping block.

As long as he remained unnoticed, there was no problem.

But once weighed on the scales, the outcome was inevitable.

This time, Liu Tianning hadn't completely lost control—he had acted in alignment with Emperor Jing's intentions.

"In the seventh year of Great Governance, I killed four vice-deans of the Cangyan Dao Academy."

"That time, I was on my way to the Lotus Dao Academy and heard of corruption at Cangyan Dao Academy."

"The four vice-deans accepted bribes from dozens of nobles, opened backdoors for certain students, and even coerced female students into serving them in private."

"Good kill!" Zhao Xing clapped his hands.

But then he paused. This wasn't supposed to be about cheering. He needed to gather information, not applaud.

Liu Tianning chuckled. "Whether it was right or wrong, I don't know. What I do know is that the murderous intent was uncontrollable at the time."

"Images flooded my mind, and voices screamed at me, 'Kill them!'

"So I did."

Zhao Xing nodded, listening carefully.

"In December of the seventh year of Great Governance, I killed the second-rank experts Qilong and Qiao Yue from the Ling Kui Dao Academy."

"In March of the eighth year of Great Governance, I killed seven third-rank Daojing Doctors from the same academy."

"In the ninth year of Great Governance, I killed Huang Tingwu, Commander of the Imperial Guards, from the Divine Abode Cave-Heaven, one of the top ten Martial Realm caves. I defeated him in a Great Dao contest."

"In October of the same year, I killed his disciples, two Martial Supervisors from the Divine Palace."

"In the eleventh year of Great Governance, at the Shen Zhou Dao Academy—"

As Liu Tianning recounted his experiences, Zhao Xing's expression became increasingly complex.

The people Liu Tianning had killed during his losses of control were mostly from Dao Academies or highly skilled individuals associated with them.

The feud between Liu Tianning and the Dao Academies was long-standing. Zhao Xing had thought this was a thing of the past.

But clearly, these old grievances still heavily influenced Liu Tianning.

It seemed that whenever Liu Tianning felt he was about to lose control, he would prepare a list of targets in advance.

"Your selective loss of control is a bit too obvious," Zhao Xing couldn't help but comment.

"Indeed. Many times, I deliberately let go of my restraints, prepared the dossiers in advance, and traveled to specific locations to release my pent-up rage."

Liu Tianning made no effort to hide the truth.

"While losing control, I kept detailed records of my mental state."

The elders of the Dao Academies were truly unlucky.

Zhao Xing could imagine how terrified those who had previously participated in dismantling Liu Tianning and Murong Qing must have felt. The prospect of an ultra-powerful and intermittently insane man loitering near their homes was enough to frighten anyone.

"Emperor Jing really is a genius," Zhao Xing muttered, astonished.

If Emperor Jing hadn't been behind this, Zhao Xing wouldn't believe it.

Without the emperor's tacit approval and prearranged charges, how could Liu Tianning have the authority to execute these killings?

"I probably entered the Destiny Palace realm around the fourteenth year of Great Governance," Liu Tianning said.

"At that point, I stopped going out unnecessarily," he continued. "Having reached the first rank, my strength surged dramatically. If I continued to let myself go, complete loss of control would have been inevitable."

"The emperor also removed my position as Inspector, ordering me to stay within Shangluo Academy. I only sent out avatars to handle minor tasks, primarily overseeing the internal affairs of the academy as the Shennong Overseer."

Zhao Xing nodded. At the second rank, Liu Tianning was still within manageable bounds.

If he lost control, it was predictable and contained. Emperor Jing didn't mind, as the situation could be kept under control.

But once Liu Tianning reached the first rank Destiny Palace realm, it was a different story.

Complete loss of control at that level would spell disaster.

Figures like King Luo, King Tianyan, and Duke Wei—Liu Tianning's supporters—wouldn't want to see that happen.

They were all waiting for Liu Tianning to rise to the position of Grand Shennong, accomplishing great feats of expansion under the next emperor.

Thus, in recent years, Liu Tianning had been keeping a low profile.

Of course, in the public eye, Liu Tianning's "madness" was masked under the guise of "law enforcement." There was plenty of evidence proving that his victims deserved their fate.

Alternatively, those who sought to obstruct Liu Tianning's path foolishly challenged him in Great Dao contests, only to be defeated and killed.

After a long discussion, Zhao Xing's Sea of Consciousness churned as his Life Soul quickly deduced a series of conclusions.

Based on his observations in the Dragon Court over the years, he identified three primary flaws in the myriad-law avatars.

First was the issue of techniques. Without a supreme soul-controlling technique to command the ultimate self, this was a fundamental problem.

Second was spiritual energy. While spiritual energy couldn't directly strengthen the Life Soul, it could grant resistance. Enhancing the physical body could give the Life Soul greater control. How to utilize spiritual energy was key.

Third was emotional fragmentation caused by the splitting of the Life Soul. When certain avatars specialized in tasks such as law enforcement, exploration, reading, or competing in Dao fields, prolonged activities—spanning decades or even centuries—resulted in multidimensional shocks to the original body.

These conclusions were drawn from Liu Tianning's situation.

Because Liu Tianning had developed his avatars for a wide range of uses early on.

Back when Zhao Xing first entered the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, the scenes he witnessed were vivid examples of what could go wrong.

Zhao Xing's cultivation of the Ten Thousand Laws Avatar technique primarily focused on two tasks: cultivation and comprehension of techniques, and combat and rescue missions.

Unlike Liu Tianning, who indulged in various activities with his avatars—fishing, woodcutting, sparring—Zhao Xing never pursued anything akin to the "red dust tempering the heart" method.

Liu Tianning's excessive explorations created complications. In his Ten Thousand Laws Palace, avatars were seen doing all sorts of mundane tasks. Who could have devised such a chaotic training methodology?

This variance in cultivation strategies resulted in Liu Tianning's condition being far more severe and manifesting earlier than Zhao Xing had anticipated.

"Teacher, please wait a moment," Zhao Xing said, rising to his feet. "I'll stay here in Shangluo Academy these days to resolve this matter for you."

"Good, then I'll wait," Liu Tianning responded with a calm smile and a nod.

After leaving the wooden house, Zhao Xing decided to write to Emperor Jing. Resolving Liu Tianning's predicament would require him to relearn the Derivation of Divine Spirit technique.

However, the new Derivation of Divine Spirit manual was sealed under Emperor Jing's decree, requiring his permission to access.

Getting that permission wouldn't be easy. Liu Tianning had already reached mastery of the second layer, and restarting would bring significant risks—not to mention Zhao Xing himself was still only at the first layer.

"Will I even be able to preserve the proper methods for advancing to the second layer? Emperor Jing might not allow Liu Tianning to take such a gamble," Zhao Xing thought.

Still, there was no other way to fully address Liu Tianning's instability. Merely patching up the surface issues would be pointless.

When it came to techniques, only the ultimate Derivation of Divine Spirit law could govern the Myriad Laws Puppet method. It had been the sole solution since the Xuanhuang Realm era.

Though reluctant to trouble Emperor Jing, Zhao Xing had no choice but to leverage his status as a Grand Physician for the sake of Liu Tianning.

Finding a quiet chamber, Zhao Xing picked up a brush and began drafting his petition:

"Your servant Zhao Xing humbly greets His Majesty and seeks your favor."

"For centuries, those who have mastered the Myriad Laws Puppet technique have wielded great power, yet left behind endless calamities—"

"Vice Dean Liu Tianning of Shangluo Academy, my teacher, who taught me loyalty and skills—"

"Teacher Liu is also a loyal servant of the Great Zhou. If the flaws in the ultimate method can be resolved, it would bring great prosperity to the path of Shennong and serve Your Majesty's cause, as well as the fortunes of the Great Zhou."

Zhao Xing wove his personal sentiments into the plea while highlighting the broader benefits to the Great Zhou, aiming to persuade Emperor Jing to allow Liu Tianning to restart the Derivation of Divine Spirit.

Focusing solely on the empire's benefits would seem insincere. Surely Zhao Xing had personal motives, too.

Conversely, an entirely personal appeal would likely be ignored.

Since the technique remained classified, it was evident it had touched upon interests and strategies beyond Zhao Xing's understanding.

In his current state, Liu Tianning, while occasionally unstable, could still restrain himself—meaning he remained useful.

If Liu Tianning were to restart the technique and something went wrong, it would be Emperor Jing who ruined him. Liu Tianning's supporters would never allow such a situation to stand.

Nevertheless, the timing seemed favorable.

The nation was at peace, both domestically and abroad. During periods of rebellion, like King Liang's uprising, approval would have been impossible.

Moreover, Emperor Jing had over a hundred years of life remaining—time enough for Liu Tianning to complete his retraining.

Too early or too late, and persuading the emperor would be far less likely.

"I have about seventy percent confidence in my initial solution."

"Please, Your Majesty, unseal the classified records and permit me and Teacher Liu to collaboratively perfect this ultimate technique."

"Your servant Zhao Xing humbly submits this request."

After reviewing his petition, Zhao Xing found no issues. With a flick of his finger, the letter flew toward Shangluo Academy's Heavenly Heart Temple.

The Heavenly Heart Temple was directly connected to the royal court, with Yin spirits exclusively assigned to the royal family delivering correspondence.

Zhao Xing's letter reached the furnace and was instantly consumed in flames, transmitting it directly to the emperor.

Having sent the letter, Zhao Xing rubbed his face and waited patiently for Emperor Jing's decision.

"I've just returned from meritorious service; my chances of success should be higher," Zhao Xing thought.

Yet half a month passed with no reply from Emperor Jing.

During this time, a shadow of unease loomed over Zhao Xing's mind.

"Old Emperor Jing, don't even think about using this matter to test me."

"If you're this muddled, it'll prove this world is far more different than I imagined, and you're in no position to mentor the Emperor Wu."

"If that's the case, I'll take my people and retreat to the Southern Wilderness, changing my allegiances!"

Fortunately, Emperor Jing did not disappoint.

On January 5th of the 17th year of the Great Governance era, Zhao Xing received a secret decree.

Liu Tianning was granted permission to dissolve his cultivation and restart the Derivation of Divine Spirit.

"Chen'an, Tianning, His Majesty has allowed you to refine this technique," Duke Wei said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning bowed and received the decree.

"So, my cultivation of the Derivation of Divine Spirit was flawed?"

"No wonder your soul feels so powerful, yet you still seem stuck at the first layer," Liu Tianning remarked upon reading the decree, a sudden realization dawning on him.

Initially, he had some confidence in Zhao Xing's ability to solve his issues, but his expectations had been low.

Now, he truly believed it was possible.

"Teacher, your approach wasn't exactly wrong," Zhao Xing explained. "It just didn't achieve its full potential."

Duke Wei added, "Tianning, though His Majesty has unsealed the records and allowed you to retrain, the official process will have to wait."

"Wait for what?" Zhao Xing asked.

"His Majesty stated that we must at least wait for King Tianyan's return so that the life officers can calculate a more comprehensive plan and prepare the necessary materials."

"Does that mean another three years?"

"His Majesty has thought it through carefully; this is a wise decision. Besides, I can wait," Liu Tianning interrupted Zhao Xing's protest.

Seeing this, Zhao Xing had no choice but to drop the matter.

Duke Wei continued, "His Majesty also suggested that since this is about refinement, why not involve your family's three generations in perfecting it?"

"Dean Xu is also a practitioner of the Myriad Laws Puppet. Perhaps he can offer unique insights."

At these words, both Liu Tianning and Zhao Xing were stunned.

"Could it be that Teacher—"

"Indeed," Duke Wei nodded with a smile. "Dean Xu has been aware of the new Derivation of Divine Spirit chapter ever since you were appointed Vice Dean. He has already begun exploratory retraining."

"He was granted access to the classified records long ago. Tianning, didn't you notice Dean Xu has remained lucid far longer than his predecessors?"

"I thought it was just Teacher's final burst of clarity—" Liu Tianning became visibly emotional. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Xing also bowed again in gratitude.

He had long suspected that Dean Xu might serve as the experimental subject for the new Derivation of Divine Spirit, but he hadn't been certain.

From Emperor Jing's perspective, Dean Xu was an ideal candidate for testing.

He had limited time left but retained his cultivation strength.

This made him perfect for experimenting with the new technique and resolving its flaws.

Additionally, this paved the way for Liu Tianning's future cultivation. With Dean Xu's experiences as a reference, Liu Tianning's journey would be much smoother.

Once Zhao Xing succeeded, Xu Xing could potentially transform into an Yin Spirit Body.

However, judging from the slow reply from Emperor Jing, Zhao Xing speculated that Xu Xing's progress wasn't particularly impressive.

Just as Zhao Xing had considered earlier, each individual's experiences were different, and Xu Xing, being so entrenched in his current state, would likely see minimal effects from simply retraining the first layer. Otherwise, Emperor Jing wouldn't have deliberated for so long.

"Chen'an, His Majesty has specifically instructed you to first visit the old dean and discuss this method with him," said Duke Wei.

"Understood," Zhao Xing nodded. It was clear that this was a test run with Xu Xing as the subject.

Xu Xing's residence was surrounded by a vast expanse of primordial forest, with the trees all being over 100,000 years old. At the very center of the plain stood a towering tree reaching 10,000 meters high, its canopy blotting out the sun.

Beneath the tree lay a courtyard named Tianxing Courtyard.

As Zhao Xing approached, Xu Xing's presence could be felt throughout the plain.

"Heavenly Shaman of the Underworld, take this strike!"

"How is the leader of the Seven Nights Holy Son Group still alive? Hmph, if I could kill you while you were alive, why should I fear you now that you're dead?"

"Come on! Battle me in the Grand Dao! Who dares to hinder my rise?"

"I'll fight a hundred of you!"

"Those who block me shall perish!"

"Oh, Heavenly Yin Spirit Wood, such a treasure!"

"Hahaha, so what if you're first-grade? I can still shatter your Dao without fail!"

"Offering a hundred beauties in exchange for a single Life Fruit? What haven't I seen before? Blow them away!"

Throughout the plain, countless Xu Xings shouted, laughed, and cursed, their expressions varying widely.

Some appeared exceptionally youthful and brimming with confidence, while others, with snow-white hair and bark-like skin, were aged and withered.

Some engaged in fierce combat, while others fought valiantly against thin air.

Li Boqian, accompanying Zhao Xing, remarked, "Were it not for testing the new chapter of the method, Xu Xing should have dissolved all his avatars in his later years."

Zhao Xing nodded, understanding that what he saw now was the scene of a Shennong Priest from the Self School falling into madness in his twilight years.

His deteriorating state, coupled with his soul and spirit nearing their earthly limits, had inevitably led to his decline, leaving him unable to control the numerous avatars.

His heart was like a mischievous monkey, and his thoughts, like a galloping horse.

Previously, Xu Xing could capture the monkey of the heart and tame the horse of thought, maintaining control.

But as life reached its end, that became exceedingly difficult.

"~"

Following Li Boqian's lead, Zhao Xing instantly traversed the plain, arriving within the wooden house.

As for Liu Tianning? He hadn't come along, fearing he might be affected by Xu Xing's condition.

After all, Xu Xing's moments of lucidity were now scarce.

Beside the spiritual spring within the courtyard, Zhao Xing encountered Xu Xing.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed the spiritual energy emanating from the spring.

However, the area covered was limited, roughly a 50-meter radius around the spring.

The spiritual energy concentration wasn't high, and Xu Xing's true form was active within this space.

"Greetings, Grand Shennong." Xu Xing's true form appeared lucid.

"Xu Xing, no need for formalities," Li Boqian waved his hand dismissively.

"Dean, how are you feeling?" Zhao Xing went straight to the point.

"This is the fruit of my 13 years of cultivation insights." Xu Xing pulled out a booklet from his robes.

Slowly, he said, "Once the metamorphosis of the Life Soul is formed, attempting to retrain it is tantamount to initiating a complete spiritual rebirth."

"The cultivation of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit Manual relies on external pressure from mystical star imprints, and reorganizing the Life Soul through self-comprehension is extraordinarily difficult."

"That said, it does have its benefits," Xu Xing looked at Zhao Xing, as if encouraging him, "I believe you and Tianning will find a solution."

"Come, while I'm still lucid, ask me anything or do whatever you need."

Zhao Xing nodded, "Dean, forgive my offense."

Faced with Xu Xing's condition, which was even worse than Liu Tianning's, Zhao Xing couldn't afford to proceed gradually. He needed a more aggressive approach.

He planned to invade Xu Xing's Sea of Consciousness to investigate. It was a dangerous process, so Li Boqian would accompany him, their Primordial Souls exiting their bodies to enter Xu Xing's consciousness.

Time flowed on as Zhao Xing, Li Boqian, and Xu Xing conducted trial after trial within the courtyard.

Drawing upon Zhao Xing's decade of experience in the Dragon Court and Xu Xing's profound insights, coupled with his active cooperation, Zhao Xing further refined his understanding of the flaws in the Myriad Straw Puppet Technique.

In the seventeenth year of the Great Governance Era, on the fifth day of the second lunar month, during the early hours of Mao (5–7 AM).

"Teacher, Dean, I've come up with another method. Perhaps we can test it today—" Zhao Xing walked in from outside the courtyard, only to find Li Boqian standing silently by the fountain.

Xu Xing was reclining in a chair, his eyes closed as if in a deep slumber.

The 'spring energy' that once enveloped the Tianxing Courtyard quickly dissipated. Several fundamental rules of heaven and earth within the courtyard faded rapidly.

The rows of flowers and plants lining the courtyard walls had withered and turned yellow.

Above the secluded courtyard, the sacred tree trembled, scattering faint starlight. Thunder echoed among the clouds, as if mourning the passing of a life.

Li Boqian raised his right hand, releasing a soft glow that slowly ascended into the sky.

Zhao Xing silently raised his palm as well, letting his Yuan Qi surge into the heavens.

Heaven and earth resonated together.

Xu Xing, a Great Shennong and leader of the Self School, passed away on this day, Great Governance Era, Year 17, the fifth day of the second lunar month, at the age of 800 years.

Until the end of his life, he tirelessly worked to resolve the flaws of the ultimate techniques.

However, due to his deeply ingrained issues, he failed to rectify the defects and could not achieve the transformation into an Yin Spirit Body.

Following Xu Xing's death, all activities at the Shangluo Academy temporarily halted. The deans and vice-deans of the various divisions quickly returned to pay their respects.

That afternoon, the court issued an official obituary. Across Daoyuan Continent, countless individuals made their way to Luoyang County to bid Xu Xing farewell.

On the sixth day, Emperor Jing posthumously conferred upon Xu Xing the title of 'Tianxing Great Virtuous Sacred Yuan True Sovereign,' adding him to the ranks of the Thirty-Six Saints of the Grand Shennong of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

A statue was erected in his honor and placed in the Ji Temple to receive offerings from future generations.

By March, Xu Xing's funeral was complete, and Liu Tianning officially assumed the position of Dean of Shangluo Academy.

Thus began a new era for the academy.

Three years quickly passed, and it was now the twentieth year of the Great Governance Era, early in the year.

Zhao Xing and Li Boqian set off together, heading to Chongming Prefecture in the Eastern Sea, where they awaited the return of the Great Zhou exploration team for a reunion.

On the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, the Dragon Court officially closed.

Due to the overwhelming presence of supreme combat forces outside the Heavenly Dragon Gate, and Emperor Jing confirming that Zhao Xing could not unify the Dragon Court using the Dragon Emperor Codex, the closure proceeded peacefully. No battles erupted across the outer seas, and the various factions began retreating to their respective territories.

On the twentieth day of the sixth lunar month, the Matrix Palace reached the area of Purple Cloud Island within the inner seas of the Eastern Sea.

It was here that Zhao Xing boarded the returning fleet.

"Meow!!"

"Woof woof!"

"!!"

Stealthily boarding the ship, Zhao Xing was greeted by the sight of his three battle pets, along with Long Xiao, Bai Yunwu, Tang Yinglong, and Ao Tian.

"Hahaha!"

The sight of the three battle pets pouncing enthusiastically toward Zhao Xing brought laughter to the group.

Who wouldn't be enthusiastic? When Zhao Xing left with the Shangtang Token, the three battle pets had been left in the Gu Ting Kingdom.

It had been several years since they last met.

"You've all gotten stronger!" Zhao Xing pushed aside the head of the Blue Lion Hound, exclaiming, "Just how much good food have you eaten?"

Long Xiao puffed out his chest proudly. "Following me and Grandpa, how could they ever be mistreated?"

Zhao Xing cupped his hands respectfully. "Many thanks, White Dragon King. Many thanks—"

Bai Yunwu interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "Stop right there. Don't start this formal nonsense."

"We of the aquatic clans all have dragon bloodlines. If you bow to us, doesn't that mean we should kneel to you?"

"Exactly, exactly. We should be bowing to the Dragon Emperor," Tang Yinglong and Ao Tian chimed in, bowing towards Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing realized his mistake and smiled awkwardly. "Ah... I forgot about that."

Even Long Xiao, whose grandfather had bowed, quickly followed suit and saluted Zhao Xing, leaving the latter feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Dragon Emperor, about the twelfth-ring mission—could it be made a little easier?" Tang Yinglong seized the moment to ask after bowing. "The twelfth ring is too difficult. We're expected to go to the Sea of Sin and kill tens of thousands of dragon lords."

"With these old bones of mine, I don't think I can manage it," he lamented.

Ao Tian nodded in agreement. "My twelfth-ring mission is also extremely tough. I need to challenge and defeat a Dragon King in the Great Arena to prove my rank."

Zhao Xing looked troubled. "Clan leaders, since you've already accepted the twelfth-ring missions, I can't modify them now. Even at its simplest, the twelfth ring has its limits."

Disappointment crossed the faces of Tang and Ao.

Bai Yunwu scolded them. "You two fools! How could you make things difficult for the Dragon Emperor like this? Is this even negotiable?"

"Get out of here, both of you! Go! Don't disturb the Dragon Emperor's rest."

Bai Yunwu herded them out, leaving Long Xiao and Zhao Xing alone to catch up.

"Zhao Xing, what are you doing out here?" Long Xiao asked.

"That's classified. If no one's told you, I can't either," Zhao Xing replied, shaking his head.

"Ah, I see," Long Xiao nodded. "Then I won't ask."

"Did you get the Wuji Sword Embryo?" Zhao Xing inquired.

"Yes, I did!" Long Xiao exclaimed, his excitement palpable. "It's incredible! Absolutely tailor-made for me! It even came with a set of the Wuji Sword Technique."

"Let me tell you, I could take on ten guys like Xia Jing now!" Long Xiao boasted.

Zhao Xing laughed. "Haha! I'll be sure to relay that to the heir. He'll definitely come looking for you to spar."

"Just don't let him catch you off guard. You know Xia Jing's been training at the Divine Martial Academy for nearly twenty years."

Long Xiao waved dismissively. "A mere Qi Sect practitioner is no big deal."

It seemed that with the Wuji Sword Embryo in his possession, Long Xiao had completely dismissed Xia Jing as a worthy opponent.

"My current targets are experts like the Lord of Mingyue Manor and the Lord of Longyuan Manor," Long Xiao declared confidently. "If Xia Jing challenges me, I'll make sure he eats a few fish before he leaves."

"By the way, since you've been out longer than me, how's Old Chen doing?" Long Xiao asked.

"He's still the Prefect of Plains in Tongming Prefecture," Zhao Xing replied. "Currently a Superior Fourth Rank. It'll be tough for him to advance to Third Rank in the near term. As for whether his personal cultivation can catch up, I can't say."

Zhao Xing had returned in secret, so he hadn't contacted Chen Shijie directly. He only knew that Old Chen remained stationed in Tongming Prefecture.

It didn't look promising for Chen Shijie's career—he would likely remain at Fourth Rank, subject to lateral transfers rather than upward promotions.

"When I get back, I'll make sure to rub it in to Old Chen!" Long Xiao said with a grin.

"Enough already! You're even calling him 'Old Chen' now?" Zhao Xing chuckled.

"Hahahaha!" Long Xiao burst into laughter.

After chatting with Long Xiao for a while, Zhao Xing moved on to another room.

Inside were Ye Yukong, the King of Shenluo, Fate Officer Ji Si, and the King of Tianyan.

As soon as Zhao Xing entered, Ye Yukong sprang towards him like a mountain cat.

"Finally, you're here!" Ye Yukong grabbed Zhao Xing by the shoulders, shaking him furiously. "Why did you set people on me, huh?"

"Do you know what I've been through all these days? Out of nowhere, people kept ambushing me, sending me flying!"

The King of Shenluo laughed heartily at the side. He knew exactly what had happened to his friend and found it endlessly amusing.

"I'm sorry, Brother Ye. I didn't know who to choose back then. I couldn't exactly send people after the King of Shenluo, could I? He's a mechanist. You're better at taking hits."

Ye Yukong's face fell even more. "Are you kidding me? I'm a Sword Sect practitioner, not Qi Sect—I'm not built to take hits!"

"Hahahaha!" The room erupted into laughter, though Zhao Xing noticed that the King of Tianyan wasn't smiling at all.

The King of Tianyan seemed to be keeping a wary eye on Ji Si.

What's going on here? Zhao Xing wondered.

He stepped forward. Noticing this, the King of Shenluo and Ye Yukong tactfully left the room, leaving only Ji Si, the King of Tianyan, and Zhao Xing behind.

"Your Highness, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Zhao Xing asked politely, cupping his hands.

"How have I been?" The King of Tianyan scoffed, pointing at Ji Si. "What exactly have you done? This guy came up with the most ridiculous idea!"

Ji Si shook his head calmly. "Brother, this has nothing to do with Zhao Xing."

Zhao Xing, bewildered, asked, "What exactly happened?"

"It's related!" the King of Tianyan said angrily. "You think I've been a Fate Officer this long for nothing? It's definitely related!"

The King of Tianyan's rare show of temper left Zhao Xing even more confused.

"What happened, Your Highness? Ji Si, could you explain?" he asked.

Ji Si sighed. "I genuinely didn't know you had extended your lifespan, brother. You should've mentioned it sooner."

The King of Tianyan blew up again. "What? I need to report it to you, a subordinate? I'm still your elder brother! How could you use me as a test subject?"

"You're so 'filial,' dear brother!" He raised a hand, ready to strike.

Ji Si, however, didn't dodge or resist, standing still as if inviting the blow.

Seeing the King of Tianyan about to land a hit, Zhao Xing quickly intervened. "Your Highness! Please, calm down. If you're going to hit someone, at least explain why!"

The King of Tianyan huffed angrily, tossing his sleeves. "Ask him yourself. He's infuriating!"

Ji Si spoke up. "I exchanged some treasures with the Dragon King, Yin Xiu. Among them was a rare artifact that greatly enhances the techniques of Fate Officers."

"So, over the past decade in the royal city, I began researching the methods of the Cloud Script Temporal Sign and the Chrono-Projection Sign."

"By combining the Fate Officer's arts with these treasures, I sought to integrate their functions and enhance their effects..."

Zhao Xing was stunned by Ji Si's inventive approach. He knew that Chrono-Projection Signs consumed lifespan, but Ji Si had actually taken it further?

And surprisingly, his efforts had yielded results over the years.

In the twentieth year of Great Governance, Ji Si had started experimenting on his brother, the King of Tianyan.

The King of Tianyan had no suspicions when his younger brother, Ji Si, claimed to have made a breakthrough in spellcraft and asked him to assist in testing it. Trusting his sibling, the King agreed to try it out.

The result? A near-death experience.

The King of Tianyan almost lost his life!

Thankfully, the incident was discovered quickly, and since Ji Si's spell was not fully matured, the King of Tianyan ended up sacrificing only three years of his lifespan to the experiment.

The King was livid!

It had taken him considerable effort to earn Emperor Jing's favor and receive a century-long extension to his life, and now three years were casually wasted in this fiasco.

"Having you as a brother is truly a curse!" the King of Tianyan muttered bitterly.

As for Zhao Xing's involvement?

According to Ji Si's calculations as a Fate Officer, the connection indeed existed, centering around the treasure trove of Yin Xiu, the Dragon King.

When Zhao Xing pieced everything together, he was speechless.

Ji Si, being the King of Tianyan's biological brother, was significantly younger than him. It was clear that once the King of Tianyan passed, Ji Si would naturally take over as the leader of the Fate Officers.

Realizing that he would have to deal with such a ruthless individual in the future, Zhao Xing felt a chill run down his spine.

Ji Si cupped his hands. "If you're not going to hit me, I'll take my leave now." Without waiting for a reply, he walked out nonchalantly.

"You bastard—!" The King of Tianyan fumed at his brother's audacity.

"Your Highness, let it go, let it go—" Zhao Xing tried to console him.

On June 25th, the royal fleet departed for Chongming Prefecture.

Grand Marshal Luo Wang led the military officers, Duke Wei represented the imperial envoys, Prefect Fan Hongyi of Chongming Prefecture led the civil and military officials, and Princess You Ruo brought her vassals to welcome the arriving delegation.

The imperial envoys were tasked with announcing rewards.

Since Tianyong Province was too far from the capital, mid-level officials were excused from traveling to meet the Emperor in person. Instead, most matters were settled here in Chongming Prefecture.

Zhao Xing seized the opportunity to appoint the two talented yet gluttonous individuals, Cao Qianyue and Li Muwan, as personal guards for his marquisate.

High-ranking officials with major achievements still had to travel to the capital to receive their rewards, however.

As the fleet departed from Chongming Prefecture for the capital, the group noticeably dwindled. Of the 1,500 high-ranking officials from twenty years ago, fewer than 1,100 remained.

Surveying the ranks, Zhao Xing noted the absence of Ji Mengjun, Tong Jin, Jiang Chuan, and Xiao Huang.

"They're ruthless," Zhao Xing muttered, his lips twitching.

Over twenty years in the Ancient Dragon Court, Zhao Xing's efforts had solidified Great Zhou's dominance in the region.

But how many of the 400 high-ranking officials had died in exploration or battles with foreign foes? It was a chilling thought. The casualties would be reported as war losses, their true causes destined to remain a mystery.

In July of the 20th year of Great Governance, Zhao Xing re-entered Fengjing, the capital of Great Zhou.

On July 5th, he attended his first formal imperial court assembly at the Fengtiandian Palace.

Emperor Jing publicly honored the officials and generals who had rendered great service.

Zhao Xing's own rewards were officially announced to the world.

While certain items, such as the Shang Tang Edict and Fuming Furnace, were withheld for secrecy, all other achievements were listed as meritorious contributions.

These included treasures such as the Dragon Emperor Codex, the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, large quantities of Ancient Dragon Musk, Dragonblood Sacred Leaves, and Dragon Crystal Marrow, as well as three bone artifacts from the Southern Barbarian Royal Court: the Golden Feather Divine Armor, Wuxian Cauldron, and Lingwu Staff. Additionally, there were the Ame-no-Murakumo Sword and the Jewel Gourd Sword.

Why reveal so much now?

Because there was no longer any need for secrecy.

Although Zhao Xing held a nominal Third-Rank position, his strength had already reached the Second Rank in the Heavenly Luck realm.

With his myriad doppelgangers, he was virtually untouchable within Great Zhou. Any attempt to assassinate him would be a fool's errand.

Outside the realm, Zhao Xing's true body would rarely venture elsewhere. Even if it did, it would be to the Ancient Dragon Court, where he faced no life-threatening dangers.

Secrecy had previously been a measure of protection. Now, with no threats to his life, the Emperor saw fit to publicly acknowledge Zhao Xing's achievements, ensuring his glory was known throughout the land.

"Your servant, Zhao Xing, expresses his gratitude to His Majesty!"

"May His Majesty enjoy eternal prosperity!" Zhao Xing declared as he bowed.

Following the official issuance of the imperial decree, Zhao Xing underwent a Third-Rank Fortune baptism at the temple in Fengjing.

While his fortune only slightly increased—already at Derivation Eight—his lifespan saw a significant extension.

As a Third-Rank official, his lifespan was maximized. Including the years he gained from consuming the Dragon Whale Spirit Essence, Zhao Xing now had over 900 years of life remaining. Advancing to Second and First Rank would add another century each.

However, Zhao Xing estimated that he wouldn't receive further lifespan extensions directly from Emperor Jing. The Emperor would likely reserve such favors for the next generation's ruler to bestow.

The announcement of rewards caused an immediate uproar throughout the empire. Stories of Zhao Xing's exploits spread like wildfire.

"What? The holder of the Dragon Emperor Codex is Marquis Shenwei, Zhao Xing? Isn't he just a Third-Rank official?"

"Goodness! The treasures he obtained are astonishing—both the Dragon Emperor Codex and the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe are peerless wonders!"

"Those treasures might be beyond us, but the abundance of rare materials is remarkable. His Majesty will surely distribute them as rewards. So many people will benefit!"

"So, Zhao Xing is the Dragon Emperor's successor? That explains why his cultivation at the Stone Literature Pavilion progressed so quickly—it wasn't just luck!"

"Brother, stop complaining. He's the one who made us mine for years!"

"That wasn't his fault; it was the Dragon King's orders."

"Where is he? Does anyone know when Marquis Shenwei plans to host a banquet?"

"He's not even sixty yet. The future holds endless possibilities for him!"

Far away in the Southern Barbarian region, within the Purple Dragon Royal Court, by a fiery furnace, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable let out an anguished roar. "Zhao Xing! I'll never reconcile with you in this lifetime!"

Nearby, the Red Bone Heavenly Venerable commented indifferently, "Senior Brother, stop shouting. He can't hear you. Just focus on refining your artifacts."

Unlike the Red Bone Heavenly Venerable, whose bones remained red, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's bones were no longer purple but white. Only his skull retained a faint purple hue.

This transformation was the result of a heavy debt.

The Red Bone Heavenly Venerable calculated, "Starting from today, Senior Brother, you'll need to forge artifacts for 500 years to repay your debt and redeem your Purple Bone Battle Body."

"If you waste more time, you might only have a decade left after settling your debts."

"Ahhhhhh!" The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's roar was soon drowned out by the surrounding formations.

In Kun Yuan Academy on Mount Kun, Dao Yuan Continent, Meng Kun was in a terrible mood.

"Changqing, look at this! Just look!" Meng Kun fumed, holding a document. "That scoundrel Qin Shanyue is digging up old grievances again!"

"I know, I've seen it," Gu Changqing sighed. "But there's nothing we can do. You were a bit impulsive back then. Zhao Xing's position was nominal for over two decades—it's not entirely unreasonable for him to question it."

"You—why are you siding with him!" Meng Kun angrily threw the document to the ground.

It was an internal impeachment letter.

Qin Shanyue, the Vice Dean of the Profound Earth Academy, accused Meng Kun of dereliction of duty and abuse of power.

Why now? Because Kun Yuan Academy was on the brink of a generational transition.

Its dean, Xuanyuan Qingtian, would not outlive Emperor Jing.

Since the 15th year of Great Governance, Xuanyuan Qingtian had sensed the approach of his death and began preparing for the selection of a successor.

Kun Yuan Academy's five great branches—Dizang Branch, Lingshan Branch, Xuantu Branch, Digong Branch, and Kun Yuan Branch—represent the internal factions within the academy.

The selection process began, and with it, the competition.

Qin Shanyue, the Vice Dean of the Xuantu Branch, was one of the strongest candidates.

The criteria for selecting a successor were fairly straightforward: mastery of magical techniques, proficiency in interpreting classic texts, contributions to political achievements, and personal virtue.

Currently, the focus was not on ideological contention over the Dao but on finding flaws in achievements and character.

Today, Qin Shanyue's impeachment document highlighted errors and wastefulness in the spellcasting projects overseen by Meng Kun.

One specific case cited was during King Liang's rebellion. Meng Kun had sought the intervention of a Sage, deploying the Earth-Piercing Divine Vessel and the Myriad Heavy Mountains, while excavating an ancient underground passage to rescue Zhao Xing. This incident was brought back under scrutiny.

Qin Shanyue, ever the cunning strategist, did not oppose the act of saving Zhao Xing itself—it was already a settled matter. What he opposed was Meng Kun's reckless approach, which resulted in significant resource wastage.

Since they had already captured people in King Liang's domain, why was it necessary to excavate the ancient underground passage afterward? Wasting so many resources demonstrated incompetence in leadership. If Qin had been in charge, he claimed he would have handled it much better.

Additionally, he criticized Meng Kun for excessively currying favor with Zhao Xing, achieving nothing even after over twenty years of effort. This point became a sharp weapon of attack.

Zhao Xing, to this day, held the position of Director of the Dizang Branch—a mere assistant to Meng Kun as the Dean of the branch.

However, in the two decades that had passed, had the great Zhao Xing produced a single Dao text from the Earthly faction?

In contrast, the factions of Heaven and Self School had been consistently producing works of great acclaim, emerging stronger and stronger.

Meng Kun, wasn't your effort akin to offering a warm face to a cold shoulder?

In conclusion, Qin Shanyue's criticisms were ruthless, leaving Meng Kun deeply humiliated over the years, so much so that he struggled to sleep.

"Hah!"

"This Qin Shanyue really has a sharp tongue," Meng Kun sighed heavily. "Changqing, what do you think I should do?"

"I don't know either," Gu Changqing replied, shaking his head. "Qin Shanyue cultivated a Spirit Mountain that ranks 109th among all Spirit Mountains in the world.

"He managed the construction work in Hokkaido, oversaw two decades of great administration, and unearthed and recommended numerous talents who have performed exceptionally in the Blessed Lands."

Before Gu Changqing could finish, Meng Kun interrupted irritably, "Does that mean there's no area where I'm better than him?"

Gu Changqing nodded, "There is."

"What is it?" Meng Kun's eyes brightened.

"Your family background is better than his."

Meng Kun immediately deflated, "What's the point of that? If family background mattered, my grandfather's position would've passed to my father as Dean. Why did it go to Xuanyuan Qingtian instead?"

"Sigh." Meng Kun sank into a state of deep melancholy.

Just then, a shadow rapidly flew into Kunshan Palace. It was Meng Kun's cousin, Meng Li, the Guardian Priest of Haishan Mausoleum.

"Brother! Brother! Zhao—Zhao—Zhao—"

"What's with all the shouting? Speak properly! You're a grown man, acting so flustered—is that appropriate?" Meng Kun, already agitated, snapped at him.

"I-I-it's big news! Fantastic news!" Meng Li's whole body trembled with excitement.

It was Gu Changqing who remained calm and quickly grasped the situation. "Meng Li, is there news from the temple? Has Zhao Xing emerged from the ancient land of Long Court?"

"Yes, yes!" Meng Li nodded vigorously.

"What's the great news?"

"Zhao Xing has returned to the capital, been rewarded by His Majesty, granted the title of Imperial Walker, appointed as Inspector of the Military Realm, and awarded a fief of a million acres, along with a twelve-grade promotion!"

"He has been promoted to an official of Third Rank, taking the position of Spirit Mountain Overseer in Lingxu Blessed Land!"

Gu Changqing was stunned. "Such extravagant rewards? What on earth did he achieve?"

"He brought back the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe!" Meng Li finally revealed the key information.

It took a moment for Meng Kun and Gu Changqing to process the revelation.

"The Kun Yuan Divine Hoe? You don't mean the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, do you?" Gu Changqing asked, his mouth agape.

"Exactly!" Meng Li affirmed. "Lord Shenwei has already departed Fengjing. Grandfather sent a message from the underworld, ordering us to prepare for the grand ceremony welcoming the return of the Sacred Artifact. Brother, say something!"

Meng Kun, trembling, raised a shaky finger, "You—you—you're saying it's the—the Kun Yuan—"

Meng Li grabbed his hand firmly. "Yes! It's the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe! You heard me right!"

"Oh, heavens above! This—this—" Meng Kun finally snapped out of his shock, gasping for breath. "Quick, quick! Get everything ready! Bring out all the ceremonial vessels we can use. Mobilize all the ritual ships!"

"Changqing, summon the Sages. We're leaving the palace—no, we're heading to the eastern border of Dao Origin Continent to welcome him!"

The three of them dashed out of Kunshan like a whirlwind. At that very moment, the entire Kun Yuan Academy erupted into a frenzy.

In the twentieth year of Great Administration, early August, Zhao Xing's procession arrived at the eastern border of Dao Origin Continent, at Zishi County.

Upon entering the territory, the skies ahead were filled with ceremonial ships and war vessels, stretching endlessly like a black sea. Over 18,000 floating mountains hovered in the sky, half-concealed within the clouds.

Above Zishi County, golden and resplendent cloud paths extended into the distance. The first layer of the cloud path was adorned with ceremonial ships and lushly planted trees.

The second layer displayed majestic mechanical beasts standing guard.

The third layer showcased blooming flowers, competing in vibrancy.

The fourth layer featured auspicious beasts pulling carts laden with ceremonial artifacts.

The fifth layer had rows of massive red drums, beaten by robust warriors clad in armor.

The sixth layer displayed arranged chimes and bells, with musicians in ceremonial robes performing melodies.

The seventh layer showed Meng Kun and his team standing in perfect formation. Behind them were treasure-class divine artifacts, glittering brilliantly, with the delegation lined up under their radiance.

Each layer of the cloud paths was perfectly even, as if crafted by divine hands, and the paths themselves flowed like rivers. Among the sea of clouds, flood dragons twisted and turned, scattering golden light.

Such a grand spectacle had not been seen for millennia!

"My goodness, has Kun Yuan Academy mobilized every single dancer, musician, spring palace, and Chenghua supervisor from Dao Origin Continent for this?"

"All five branches even brought out their treasure-class divine artifacts?"

"Old Meng, are you trying to outdo yourself?"

Even Zhao Xing, who had seen much in his time, was left stunned and deeply moved.

His two personal guards, Cao Qianyue and Li Muwan, were equally astounded, dropping their food in shock as they instinctively adjusted their attire.

"Dunlie, quick, quick! Check my clothes—are they proper?"

"Your—your clothes seem to have a stain."

"Ah! Fix it now!"

Standing on the Wuyao warship, accompanying dignitaries including Duke Wei, Commander Yang Xiongying, Prince Luo, and Princess You Ruo were also captivated by the grand display.

Even the Grand Shennong, Li Boqian, couldn't hide his envy.

"What a novelty. I've requested to see these treasures many times before, but they never revealed them. And now, they're showing everything off for Zhao Xing."

"For someone of just Third Rank like Zhao Xing, this welcome is even grander than what I, the Grand Shennong, have ever received!"