The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

When Zhao Xing noticed Princess You Ruo's utterly confused expression, he immediately realized she likely had no idea about the decree's contents.

Clearly, this was a dual-purpose imperial edict.

If Liu Tianning arrived, there was a plan; if he didn't, there was another plan.

Either way, Emperor Jing was killing several birds with one stone.

Zhao Xing's mind raced with connections, resonating with memories from his past life. He couldn't help but feel a wave of complex emotions.

Above all, he thought: Thank goodness Emperor Jing won't live much longer.

It was now the fifty-sixth year of Eternal Governance, and Emperor Jing only had about forty-three years left to live. Plus, he still needed to return to the Dragon Court twice—there was no way he could stir up more trouble.

Of course, this wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts. Completing the mission and cleaning up the aftermath was the priority.

"Madam, the teacher will catch up with you after this is over! The Wan brothers—'Wan Yan' and 'Wan Chang'—will soon realize this is no ordinary ambush. We must act quickly."

Wan Yan and Wan Chang bore Great Zhou names, but in truth, the royal family of the Fiery Light Court didn't have surnames. They were referred to as members of the Keshen clan.

The Princess's fleet and the Southern Barbarian fleet had been separated. Thanks to Zhao Xing's earlier dream communication with Liu Wanliang, the latter had found an excuse to anchor the fleet just outside the Fengming Mountains, near the Fengyu River.

The excuse was simple: the Princess wanted to take a last look toward her homeland.

Since Emperor Jing's order was to spare no Southern Barbarian royalty, Liu Tianning and Zhao Xing truly had to eliminate Wan Chang and Wan Yan.

"Understood!" Princess You Ruo snapped out of her daze and immediately followed Liu Wanliang to a safe location.

Wan Chang and Wan Yan's Fiery Light Court warships were docked on separate peaks in an unnamed mountain range, roughly fifty li apart.

It couldn't be helped—Great Zhou's ceremonial protocols were vast and sprawling. The fleet and bridal entourage stretched across dozens of li. The Wan brothers hadn't even seen the Princess's face and weren't allowed near the convoy. They had left two Third-Rank captains with the side escort, stationed fifteen li away as reinforcements.

The Wan brothers had anticipated the possibility of an ambush but had primarily prepared against interference from other Southern Barbarian factions.

After all, opinions within the Southern Barbarians regarding the marriage alliance were not unanimous. The opposition was often more radical than Great Zhou's.

When the news of the ambush reached Wan Yan, he erupted in rage.

"What?! Someone dared attack the convoy?!"

"Who would dare ambush the Keshen clan and steal my brother's bride? Outrageous!"

"Keshen Guard, follow me to face the enemy!"

"I must see which tribe has the guts to pull this off!"

On the other peak, Wan Chang remained calmer.

"It's unlikely that this is an enemy from the Southern Wilderness; it's probably Great Zhou's warhawks," he speculated.

Still, he had no intention of fleeing. Instead, he planned to seize Princess You Ruo for himself.

"Once we leave the Yingyuan Prefecture, the Princess falls under our supervision. No matter the reason, losing her would invite immense trouble."

"What's more, if I fail to protect her, the Keshen clan would be a laughingstock among other tribes for centuries!"

"Whoever these people are, they can be dealt with later."

"Forget the formalities—retrieve the Princess and bring her back to the tribe immediately!"

"We must ensure the marriage alliance becomes a reality!"

Had this occurred within Great Zhou's borders, they could have shifted the blame. But now that they had crossed into Southern Barbarian territory and formally taken custody of the Princess, losing her here would be an irredeemable disgrace.

It didn't matter what twists and turns lay behind this ambush—neither Wan Yan nor Wan Chang could back down.

Wan Chang immediately ordered his guards to chase after the attackers.

The distance wasn't far; for First-Rank experts, it was practically instantaneous.

However, with Liu Wanliang's coordination, the Princess's warship had vanished by the time the Wan brothers arrived.

Even the two escort teams initially stationed there had disappeared without a trace.

The moment Wan Yan and Wan Chang crossed the Fengyu River, their vision dimmed.

The surrounding light rapidly faded, and dark clouds enveloped the sky. It was unclear when the clouds had begun forming, but they now stretched across hundreds of li.

Above each brother's head, a vortex began to manifest.

"Swish~ Swish~"

Countless figures emerged from the clouds and the ground below.

In no time, the area was teeming with figures, filling the skies and earth.

"By the Keshen gods—what is happening here?!"

"Where did all these people come from?"

"What kind of sorcery is this? Why do they all have the same face?"

"No, wait—two faces!"

"Ah! Your Highness, save—"

"Urgh—"

"?!"

Terror!

An overwhelming sense of dread crept over them in an instant.

Wan Yan and Wan Chang were utterly stunned.

What on earth was happening?

After crossing the Fengyu River, they were greeted by an army of ten thousand Liu Tiannings and five thousand Zhao Xings, sealing off the skies and the earth.

The southern route was completely blocked. To the east and west, an additional ten thousand Liu Tiannings and five thousand Zhao Xings appeared.

Both members of the Southern Barbarian royalty had seen their share of grand events.

But this? This was unprecedented.

How did their forces compare?

Enemy forces: 30,000 First-Rank experts, all radiating the aura of early-stage Destiny Palace cultivation.

Their forces: Five First-Rank experts, with Wan Yan and Wan Chang at the late stage of Destiny Palace, while the remaining three were early-stage Destiny Palace cultivators.

Enemy forces: 15,000 Second-Rank experts, each exuding late-stage Heavenly Luck energy.

Their forces: Seven Second-Rank experts, all tribal leaders.

As for the 500 Third-Rank warriors they had brought along?

… Let's not even mention them.

Half of them had already turned into pigs.

"Run!!!" Wan Yan screamed in panic, utterly devoid of courage.

"Liu Tianning!" Wan Chang shivered, the antennae on his head standing on end in fright.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Liu Tianning to orchestrate such a massive operation to steal the bride.

Wan Chang's shock and disbelief were evident. "What is this madness? Such a large-scale operation—what does Liu Tianning intend to achieve?"

In the Mirror Palace, watching through the Earth Mirror, Lu Ying rubbed his eyes. "Am I seeing this right, Grand Tutor?"

The Grand Tutor remained silent, his gaze fixed on the glowing mirror. His voice eventually broke the tension. "The Earth Mirror indicates energy fluctuations equivalent to 15,000 late-stage Heavenly Luck cultivators and 30,000 early-stage Destiny Palace cultivators around the Fengyu River."

Lu Ying hesitated. "This… Could the Earth Mirror be malfunctioning?"

Zhao Xing had intentionally held back to allow Liu Tianning to take the spotlight. After all, this was Liu Tianning's battle.

If Zhao Xing had deployed his full capabilities, he could have sent out 500,000 Second-Rank Puppets. But that would've caused a diplomatic and political nightmare for Emperor Jing.

"Grand Tutor, this Liu Tianning—truly the foremost tactician within the confines of our rules!" Lu Ying's voice carried a note of admiration, even as his mind reeled at the numbers displayed.

"Even with only Destiny Palace Early Stage Puppets, Liu Tianning will eventually elevate them!" Zhao Xing muttered, his gaze steady.

While Liu Tianning's current Puppets were all at the Destiny Palace Early Stage's initial tier, their sheer quantity—30,000 in total—made it clear that he would soon rise to an unmatched level among Destiny Palace cultivators.

More frightening was Liu Tianning's advantage: the Plant Soldier. With this treasure in hand, his combat power could rival that of a Rule Stage cultivator in the future.

In the Divine Court Hall, Zhao Xing observed the battlefield with a composed yet intrigued expression. "Truly a monster within the Military Shennong. He has pushed his abilities to unimaginable heights."

The scene unfolding caused the Grand Advisor Lu Ying to suppress a shiver as the sheer potential of Liu Tianning's plant-based arsenal became evident.

As the battle in the Fengyu Plains unfolded, Wan Yan and Wan Chang—the two Saintlight Royal brothers—were visibly struggling. Their formidable Domain of Rules, capable of distorting the surrounding energy, proved insufficient against the ferocious and suicidal nature of Liu Tianning's Heavenfall Puppet.

Liu Tianning had released 500 Heavenfall Puppets, which advanced toward the brothers with soul-devouring determination. Explosions erupted in unison, sending mushroom clouds skyward. The devastating power annihilated all but seven First-Rank cultivators, leaving Wan Yan and Wan Chang injured and gasping for air amidst the devastation.

"Such recklessness, a pure act of venting anger," Zhao Xing mused, understanding Liu Tianning's strategy. Despite the brothers' Rule Domain defenses, the concentrated attacks rendered them incapable of retaliation.

From afar, Zhao Xing activated his Heavenly Eye technique. Through the distortion of Yuan Qi ripples, he observed the fallout. "Master Liu's strikes are methodical. This isn't just a battle; it's a demonstration of mastery."

Four precious trees emerged faintly on the battlefield, their presence amplifying Liu Tianning's overwhelming Rule Domain. These were no ordinary plants:

Spring's Celestial Horn Bamboo

Summer's Golden Divine Pillar

Autumn's Yellow Springs Willow

Winter's Snowy Sangwu Tree

These trees formed the foundation of Liu Tianning's Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons. While currently incomplete, the domain held enough power to suppress all opposition below the Rule Stage.

Zhao Xing, watching the clash intently, murmured, "Even with their precious weapons capable of bending the rules of heaven and earth, Wan Yan and Wan Chang cannot stand against the Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons."

Despite his overwhelming advantage, Liu Tianning chose to engage the Saintlight Royal brothers with his Heavenfall Puppets. The ferocity of these Puppets, designed for self-destruction, was unparalleled.

"Boom!"

A wave of synchronized explosions surged across the battlefield. Clouds of smoke and debris filled the air, and screams of pain echoed.

In the center of the devastation, Wan Yan and Wan Chang remained, their faces twisted in agony. Their bodies were protected by defensive artifacts, yet their minds suffered unbearable torment from Liu Tianning's soul-searing technique.

"Ahhh!"

The anguished cries pierced the air as Liu Tianning turned toward Zhao Xing, his expression calm yet deliberate.

"Observe closely," Liu Tianning spoke with clarity, "This is the Yellow Springs Puppet. It harnesses the truth of the Wood Element's Rule of Life, draining vitality and sealing fate."

Zhao Xing's gaze sharpened as his Heavenly Eye filtered through the smoky battlefield. Every strike carried a trace of decay, the black wind and eerie lightning consuming the vitality of those it touched.

"Such a terrifying technique," Zhao Xing muttered. "Even if it doesn't kill immediately, the gradual drain of life force ensures an inevitable end. Truly worthy of study."

Liu Tianning's voice carried over the battlefield. "Even a minor collision drains their lifespan. Let them feel the despair of the Yellow Springs Puppet."

The scene burned itself into Zhao Xing's mind. His master had turned the clash into a lesson—one forged in the fires of battle and sacrifice.

Rumors state that the true Undying Tree, Cangwu Tree, and Yellow Springs Tree no longer exist in living form. Only materials such as their leaves or fragments of branches remain, passed down for people to study their true essence.

Old Liu's Yellow Springs Guide is merely a variant of the Yellow Springs Tree, not the genuine one. Otherwise, it wouldn't be at the Treasure level but instead an unrivaled Peerless Treasure.

The Floating Form was an advanced version of the Flying Sky Form, utilizing the branches and vines of the Floating Vine as its foundation. It was recognized as the fastest among the Seven Great Forms—surpassing even Xu Xing's Heavenly Movement Form.

"Boom! Crackle!"

"Woo, woo, woo!"

Thunder roared, and fierce winds howled.

Even though Wan Yan and Wan Chang were protected by their Treasure-level divine weapons, their life force was rapidly diminishing. Their lifespans were draining; even if each attack only siphoned a bit of vitality, the accumulation from so many Puppets attacking simultaneously was terrifying.

The two brothers visibly aged at an astonishing speed.

Before long, they were too weak to even activate the power of their treasures.

At this moment, Zhao Xing furrowed his brows and gazed into the distance.

"Teacher, it's time to wrap this up. Something's coming."

Zhao Xing wasn't merely observing the situation; he had already sent out Puppets far into the distance. The farthest one, heading south, detected unusual movements deep within the Fengming Mountain Range.

"Rumble~"

The mountain range trembled and swelled as if an enormous creature were tunneling its way forward.

The earth veins shifted in response, and in the blink of an eye, the entity was approaching.

Even from far away, Zhao Xing felt his Puppet being oppressed by an immense gravitational force.

"Understood."

Liu Tianning nodded, halting his Puppets. The real body raised a hand and pointed; the four divine trees in the southeast, northwest, and central positions immediately began to radiate brilliant light.

The scenes in all directions completely transformed.

To the east, spring flourished, with the green glow of the Celestial Bamboo shining brightly.

To the south, summer blazed, and the Golden God Pillar (resembling a massive cactus) stood tall, suppressing the earth like an imposing mountain.

To the west, the autumn winds howled, and the Yellow Springs Tree emanated a black, ominous wind, seemingly forming a path leading to the underworld.

To the north, snow fell incessantly. The Cangwu Tree resembled a transparent crystalline sculpture, its leaves glittering like ice. Every shake of its branches released snowflakes, each capable of piercing the defenses of a second-rank expert.

As Liu Tianning pointed his hand, the projection of Pure Essence began to shift and squirm.

The four seasons' domains immediately intersected.

"The Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons—four gods converging, triggering the annihilative rules of heaven and earth."

"The entire world will seek their demise as if they were undergoing a heavenly tribulation."

"Each of the four divine trees possesses unique powers. Even if the enemy wields a treasure capable of blocking one of the rules, when the four converge, the intertwined cycles of heaven and earth's rules—mutual creation and destruction—become a never-ending assault, akin to the Grand Symbol Array of You Xuanfeng, which constantly shifts its modes of attack."

Listening to Liu Tianning's explanation, Zhao Xing wore a complex expression.

Liu Tianning assumed Zhao Xing didn't understand and didn't take offense.

In truth, Zhao Xing was reminiscing about the time Liu Tianning had killed him in a previous life.

At that time, Zhao Xing had reached the mid-to-late stages of Martial Emperor cultivation. His Essence Gathering (level) had hit the ninety-ninth stage.

He, along with seven other masters from his guild, had accepted a mission from the Old Witch to eliminate Liu Tianning. Finally, they encountered Liu Tianning's true form.

And then, they witnessed this move—the convergence of the four divine entities.

Even with eight masters wielding treasures, they failed to kill Liu Tianning and were slaughtered instead.

Afterward, no player ever took on the "Assassinate Liu Tianning" mission again.

At this moment, Liu Tianning had not yet reached the strength of that past life. After all, by then, the Qi Tides had surged, spiritual energy had returned, and the heavens and earth had shifted. He had been far stronger then than he was now.

Seeing the four divine trees of the Divine Radiance Domain of Four Seasons again, Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Fortunately, these four trees will belong to us in the future; their deaths weren't in vain," Zhao Xing thought sarcastically.

"Crack! Crack~ Boom!"

The sound of shattering iron reverberated from below.

Wan Yan and Wan Chang had vanished entirely, leaving only two dull, fractured half-armors floating in the air.

"Let's go!"

Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning immediately retrieved their Puppets and began retreating towards Yingyuan Prefecture.

The emergence of the Babok Worm always indicated the presence of a top-tier expert.

The queen worm was of the Rule Realm. Of course, the Fiery Light Royal Court wouldn't dispatch the queen worm itself.

However, even so, without the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, killing this creature would be exceptionally difficult.

Its natural ability to manipulate the earth veins for protection, coupled with its capability to spew earthfire, made it incredibly hard to deal with. Its thick skin and tough flesh only added to its defenses.

Furthermore, while ordinary techniques couldn't reach the deep underground layers, the Babok Worm could burrow with ease.

If one were dragged into the depths of the earth and lost their divine tree, the loss would be catastrophic.

Since the Great Zhou Dynasty had anticipated this, there was no need for them to act recklessly.

"Big brother, why are you back? What about the enemies?" Onboard the Wuyao Warship, Ji Che's straw puppet avatar blinked in confusion.

He couldn't comprehend what had happened or keep up with the developments.

From his perspective, countless Zhao Xings and Liu Tiannings suddenly appeared, covering the skies.

Then came the explosions, mushroom clouds, and the sound of metal snapping. In his view, the battlefield was a kaleidoscope of colors—utterly indecipherable.

When he could finally see clearly, Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning had already returned to the ship.

"I'll explain later. Let's go."

"Wow! What a massive bug!" Ji Che pointed ahead, his face pale with shock. "What is that thing? It's enormous!"

"Children shouldn't look. Just go."

Zhao Xing piloted the Wuyao Warship, hastily fleeing at full speed.

The Babok Worm, with its spinning gray-yellow antennae atop its head, let out a piercing, ear-splitting screech.

The sound waves shattered one of Ji Che's straw puppet bodies on the deck in an instant.

"Ahhh!" Ji Che's remaining straw puppets immediately retreated into the cabin.

Zhao Xing's expression also changed. He quickly retracted his Puppets, reinforced the protective barrier, and accelerated their escape.

"Those barbarian insects are indeed up to something!" Inside the Matrix Palace, Duke Wei and Duke Yang roared furiously.

"They even deployed a royal worm!"

The royal worm, second only to the queen worm, possessed formidable power.

Originally, they were here for a wedding procession, but now the war faction had turned the tables against them.

"Save the chatter and drive them off," said Lord Luo.

"Understood."

Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning rushed into the Matrix Palace without hesitation.

As for the princess, she had long since crossed the river.

"Marshal, I have a report to make," Zhao Xing declared as soon as he boarded the ship, bowing before Lord Luo.

"Speak."

"Marshal, please take a look." Zhao Xing tossed a Mirage Pearl and an Echo Snail forward.

"Hehe, I heard that Princess You Ruo is naturally gifted with the Bishui Dao Body. Her figure must be incredibly supple—I wonder how delightful she must be?"

"That would surely make someone sleepless through the night, utterly entranced!"

"Haven't we already played with women of Da Zhou? But to taste the pleasures of a princess—now that's something we haven't experienced. Truly envious of the Young Master."

"Envious of what? You don't know, do you? The Young Master doesn't even like women. Even if Princess You Ruo marries over, she'll only end up as a servant. Once the old Emperor of Da Zhou dies, who knows, the princess might be gifted to the brothers for their enjoyment."

"Heh, wasn't that exactly what happened with those county princesses during Emperor Wen's reign?"

On screen, two drunken Second-Rank tribal leaders were rambling nonsense, their eyes bleary.

Of course, these "wild delusions" were purposefully set up by Lord Zhao to elicit such conversations.

When Zhao Xing stormed the princess's tower ship, another nearby vessel had already been captured by him. He guided these men into speaking their innermost thoughts, which were later recorded using a Mirage Pearl and an Echo Snail.

When Yang Wanli, Duke Wei, Lord Luo, and Liu Tianning reviewed this intelligence, a chilling aura emanated from their bodies.

Liu Tianning and Ji Che's straw puppets nearly broke down in a fit of rage.

Duke Wei immediately exclaimed, "The barbaric tribes are utterly deranged, their hidden depravity far worse than the court ever imagined!"

Duke Wei also had his own set of "evidence," though it wasn't as comprehensive as Zhao Xing's, and the vulgarities weren't as offensive.

Ji Che's head felt like it was about to explode, and he roared like an enraged young beast, "Bastards! These bastards! I want them all dead!"

Overwhelmed by his emotions, his Intermediate Straw Puppet broke apart after just two sentences.

"I understand." Lord Luo nodded. "Duke Wei, please make multiple copies of this material and ensure it is kept safe."

"Yes." Duke Wei nodded in agreement, casting a glance at Zhao Xing.

It had to be said—this kid got things done efficiently.

This material would serve the hawks well for a lifetime!

"Prince Taihe, Marquis Shenwei." Yang Wanli approached Liu Tianning and Zhao Xing with a pair of chains in his hands. "Apologies in advance."

Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning nodded, extending their hands.

Lord Luo interjected, "No need. Do you think they'd escape? Withdraw."

"Yes." Yang Wanli obediently stepped back. As the Golden General, his grandfather, Yang Xiongying, was Duke Yang, and since Lord Luo had spoken, a mere Second-Rank officer like him could only comply.

Besides, it was all for show, anyway.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The battle between the Matrix Palace and the Babok Worms raged on for half an hour.

After the prolonged clash, Lord Luo flew out of the Matrix Palace, and a tall, gray-antennaed figure emerged from the massive chasm created by the Babok Worms.

The two exchanged an intense dialogue in a garbled language, with the antennaed man growing increasingly agitated.

Lord Luo then produced a pearl and threw it at the other party.

After tossing the pearl, Lord Luo's eyes turned cold. "Barbarian tribes—you cower in fear of strength yet show no gratitude for kindness. Your actions are utterly depraved! One day, I will crush you beasts beneath my feet and turn your worms into specimens to hang in my collection!"

The antennaed man fell silent for a moment before finally disappearing into the chasm.

By early October, Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning returned to Fengjing in their true forms. Traveling with them was Princess You Ruo, Ji Anlan.

On October 3rd, Emperor Jing issued two imperial decrees.

The first decree denounced the Southern Barbarian King's Court of Fiery Light as a "den of filth and depravity," branding them "uncivilized savages." The decree accused the crown prince of the Fiery Light Court of being "morally corrupt and unworthy of a princess," and criticized the Fiery Light tribes for their "refusal to accept royal authority," "lack of gratitude," and "treacherous ambitions."

The imperial censors spared no effort, crafting every insult possible to condemn the barbarians.

The decree also formally announced that Princess You Ruo had been safely returned.

The second decree was an edict of self-reproach from Emperor Jing himself.

He admitted to "poor judgment" and "listening to slander," which had nearly resulted in sending his treasured daughter into a wolf's den. To express his regret and soothe his daughter's wounded heart, Emperor Jing stripped sixteen court officials who had previously supported the marriage alliance of their ranks and titles.

To further compensate his daughter, the Emperor elevated her to the title of "Princess of An Nation," granting her a respite in the capital to recover and freeing her from managing the Eastern Sea affairs.

Amid this shocking fallout from the failed marriage alliance, Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning were not spared from punishment either.

Their crime? Deserting their posts without permission.

Liu Tianning was stripped of his title as Prince of Taihe, reduced to Duke of Taihe, penalized ten merit levels, demoted three sub-ranks, and deprived of his salary for thirty years. All his official positions were revoked, leaving him with only the post of Junior Shennong Minister, a Second-Rank title.

Zhao Xing, on the other hand, faced a reduction of five merit levels, the revocation of his positions as Imperial Walker and Inspector of the Military Realm, a ten-year salary cut, and a four-year house arrest.

Why only four years? Because four years later, the second opening of the Dragon Court would occur, and barring him from entering would be unthinkable for a candidate of the Dragon Emperor.

"Your servant accepts the decree."

Zhao Xing received his punishment decree with a sigh of relief.

As expected, there was no tampering with his title. Since he had no family to speak of, with minimal foundation to begin with, stripping him further would have been excessive.

Moreover, he had no real authority—just a title as a Spiritual Mountain emissary. Losing his roles as Imperial Walker and Inspector of Military Realm mattered little to him.

Besides, in this situation, Liu Tianning was considered the "principal offender." Punishing him heavily meant Zhao Xing wouldn't face a harsher sentence.

Liu Tianning, once the Prince of Taihe, suffered a significant reduction in influence. His territory was halved, and many official posts were stripped, leaving him with just the Junior Shennong Minister position—a substantial loss of power.

Still, stripping Princess You Ruo's authority could be considered a balancing act.

As for the official charge of abandoning their posts, it wasn't much of a stain on their records. Even the use of the "substitution technique" as an excuse for desertion was obviously just a pretext.

What truly happened during that time? That was not for the common people to know.

Even Ji Che, standing on the ship, couldn't fully grasp how the battle began and ended. Anyone below the Second Rank didn't qualify to know the details.

And even if they knew, who would dare gossip about it?

The Emperor himself avoided directly penalizing anyone in the matter of the princess, using unrelated reasons instead. Who would dare to publicly criticize?

Even in private, one would need to be extremely cautious!

"Liu Tianning might be reckless, but at least he doesn't resort to underhanded tactics. His disciple, though…"

"Turning people into pigs and recording it—that's a new one."

"Liu Tianning brings back the princess, while his disciple brings back a ship of pigs."

"Pfft."

Imperial Investigator Ji Si chuckled while reviewing the classified reports.

Zhao Xing had requested that Duke Wei impose a silence spell on other witnesses, ensuring no word of this incident spread. He planned to keep this blackmail material against certain stubborn figures in the Dao Academy.

However, Investigator Ji Si had the privilege of enjoying the entire process.

Especially the restoration of the "transformed pigs." Watching the naked transformations was quite an assault on the eyes.

Some victims even exhibited lingering aftereffects—emitting pig-like grunts despite regaining human form.

Some might even grunt involuntarily for the rest of their lives.

"Such psychological trauma...," remarked Lord Luo, reviewing the events with Ji Si. He couldn't help but chuckle. "From now on, anyone sparring with him at the Dao Field will face tremendous mental pressure when dealing with this 'Pig Transformation Law.'"

The Pig Transformation Law, while lacking in direct harm, was undeniably insulting.

Especially for those esteemed powerhouses who thrived on reputation and dignity. Imagine being reduced to a naked pig, lying prone and squealing—it was utterly humiliating.

"It's been a long time since anyone has mastered Wu Cheng's technique to such heights," Lord Luo commented.

"Even Ling Tianchen didn't reach its ultimate level," he added. "I heard he's planning to inherit Li Boqian's Primordial-Sealing Technique?"

Ji Si nodded. "Yes, after leaving Fengjing, he went to Xuantian Academy on Daoyuan Continent."

At Xuantian Academy, within the Huaxi Courtyard, the sky was a brilliant blue, with sunlight streaming down. Li Boqian lounged leisurely in a chair, sipping juice.

"Kid, weren't you grounded for four years?"

"How bold of you to disobey the Emperor's decree again!"

"Don't say such things!" Zhao Xing hurriedly waved his hands. "My true body is still pinned at the summit of Qitian by the imperial decree."

Emperor Jing's confinement decree was no joke. It could literally suppress someone, rendering them immobile, as it had done to Princess You Ruo, forcing her to kneel at the Dragon Bed.

"So you're using a substitute to study here again?" Li Boqian rose with a laugh. "The Primordial-Sealing Technique isn't so easily mastered."

"Why don't you give it a try? If it doesn't work out, I can always look for you later."

"Looking for me down there? That doesn't sound right!" Li Boqian laughed heartily.

After exchanging banter with the old man, Zhao Xing began learning the ultimate Primordial-Sealing Technique with Li Boqian in October of the 56th year of Eternal Governance.

Apart from his main body restrained on Qitian Summit, Zhao Xing had only two avatars out in the world.

One resided in the Princess Manor at Bixian County by the Eastern Sea, while the other was beside Li Boqian.

This arrangement showed due respect to Emperor Jing. Zhao Xing's avatars operated strictly within defined limits, avoiding any violation of the decree.

The confinement decree, which stripped Zhao Xing of his title as Imperial Walker, actually aligned with his goals. He wasn't interested in that position anyway.

As the year 56 of Eternal Governance came to an end, Zhao Xing had no intention of taking action. He planned to wait patiently for Emperor Jing's eventual demise.

When Emperor Wu ascended, it would finally be his time to shine!

"Primordial-Sealing is an ultimate technique," Li Boqian began. "I stumbled upon it while exploring a forbidden zone in the Western Extreme Glacier. Inside an ancient temple, I saw murals depicting things that didn't belong to this era. After meditating on them for half a month, inspiration struck, and I created this technique."

"What's strange is that from the moment it was conceived, it was already an ultimate-level technique. Despite my efforts, I've only been able to create three extensions—top-tier forms from the seventh to ninth transformations—but no one else has been able to grasp its essence. It's simply too profound."

"An ancient temple in the Western Extreme Glacier, with murals?" Zhao Xing frowned. "What else did you find there?"

"I tried returning many times, but I never found the place again," Li Boqian replied, reminiscing. "A century ago, I brought Wang Tianzhi to train at the 'Polar Ice Abyss' in the Western Extreme Glacier. I searched again but found nothing."

"I did encounter the 'Death Ice Pillar' again, though it wasn't the same location as before."

"I suspect I unintentionally entered a once-glorious holy land. There must be great secrets there. The murals I saw were likely some form of selection, but I wasn't acknowledged."

Zhao Xing was startled. "You weren't acknowledged, even after creating an ultimate technique?"

Li Boqian shook his head. "Who knows? Maybe, maybe not. But I fear I'll never know for sure."

"If you ever get the chance, perhaps you can investigate."

"Did the ancient temple have any distinctive features?" Zhao Xing asked.

"That's the strange part," Li Boqian replied, furrowing his brow. "Even my memory of it is blurry. Don't think I'm just senile—it's genuinely hard to recall."

"I vaguely remember three indistinct statues sitting there. Were they statues or silhouettes? I can't remember anymore... I truly can't," he murmured.

Zhao Xing felt a chill run through him. What kind of place could leave even someone like Li Boqian so uncertain?

Why had he never heard of such a location?

"Enough. The world is vast and full of mysteries," Li Boqian said. "Perhaps it was all a hallucination during my insights into the Primordial-Sealing Technique. Let's focus on cultivating the technique."

"Understood." Zhao Xing nodded. He was inclined to agree—it might indeed have been a moment of illusion during the creation process.

After all, achieving enlightenment for an ultimate technique could easily involve fleeting, unique perspectives.

"The Primordial-Sealing Technique represents my ultimate ambition!" Li Boqian declared proudly.

"It's built upon the ultimate technique Cloud Heaven Dao, with the auxiliary Pig Transformation Law, incorporating formations and talismanic arts—all bound by rule domains!"

"When I first ascended to the position of Grand Shennong, I was filled with ambition. I developed this technique not only to surpass my predecessors but to aim for the title of the world's greatest technique!"

"People often claim that the myriad grass talents of Shangluo Academy possess the ultimate Grand Shennong technique."

"Some even say Xu Xing could defeat ten of me. If he hadn't gone mad, the Grand Shennong title wouldn't have fallen to me!"

"I refused to accept that!" Li Boqian exclaimed. "During the peaceful years, I racked my brains and came up with the concept for Primordial-Sealing. Its sole purpose was to crush Xu Xing, that old scoundrel, and silence everyone!"

"Heaven showed mercy. I truly created it. Though only in its initial form, it's enough to make me proud."

"After returning from the forbidden zone in the Western Extreme Glacier, I immediately sought out Xu Xing, who was at his peak, and challenged him to a secret duel in the Dao Field."

Zhao Xing listened intently, only to realize Li Boqian had stopped speaking. Feeling helpless, he asked, "And then?"

"Heh, take a guess," Li Boqian replied with a sly grin.

"You won?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Indeed," Li Boqian said, stroking his beard. "Xu Xing unleashed all five of his top-tier dharma bodies, but I sealed them all with the Primordial-Sealing Technique!"

"The connection between his straw puppets and his true body was severed, and even his soul couldn't return to his main body."

"Hah! He lost his composure and attempted to summon a treasure-tier divine tree using a Pure Origin Projection to battle me."

"But he was still suppressed!"

Zhao Xing's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Are you exaggerating?"

He couldn't help but suspect the old man of embellishment.

Xu Xing's mastery of the Heavenly Earth Armament Technique and his use of the treasure-tier divine tree to deploy the Four Seasons Divine Splendor Dao Field were well-known. Could he truly have been suppressed by Li Boqian?

That seemed far-fetched!

"You don't believe me?" Li Boqian asked, clearly offended.

"I don't." Zhao Xing shook his head.

"Even His Majesty was present back then. If you don't believe me, go ask him!"