Zhao Xing never overlooked any anomaly. The moment he felt his heart thump abnormally, an intuition surged within him. He immediately closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
"Three Souls Convergence!"
In his dreamscape, a blurred figure appeared. This figure looked exactly like him, except its form was dim and flickering.
The so-called Three Souls Convergence referred to the gathering of the Life Soul, Heavenly Soul (Afterlife Soul), and Earthly Soul (Karmic Soul).
The Heavenly Soul resided within the Great Zhou's ancestral temple, leaving only the Karmic Soul to appear during this convergence. Naturally, even before entering the temple, the Heavenly Soul would typically remain unseen.
The Karmic Soul only dimmed for a fleeting moment before stabilizing and gradually fading away. However, Zhao Xing understood the significance: someone was plotting against him.
He opened his eyes, raising his hand to calculate using the Five-Finger Fate Technique. The result showed that his fortune for the next three months was entirely auspicious.
"The Karmic Soul's warning doesn't match the fortune readings of the Five-Finger Fate Technique. Either the other party's cultivation level far surpasses mine, obscuring the heavenly secrets, or I've miscalculated."
"Better to believe it exists than assume it doesn't." Zhao Xing decided inwardly. "I must stay vigilant and make adequate preparations."
Though he had the Myriad Manifestation Incarnations, he wasn't invincible.
At the Third Rank Primordial Soul Stage, cultivators could discern the difference between his true self and incarnations.
Furthermore, if someone specialized in soul-related secret techniques, such as Curse Magic, even the incarnations could lead back to the Life Soul of his true self.
Though the impact would be somewhat reduced due to the separation, the danger to his true self was still real.
"I must guard against this possibility. Once I meet with them, I'll visit the Grand Dream Academy and consult the silly bird there. Let's see if it can procure a Seventh-Rank Soul Armor for me," Zhao Xing mused.
"Back in the Jingxin Calendar Year 30, I foresaw this year as fraught with challenges. Even Liu Tianning is here in the Eastern Sea on official duty. It's clear I've been under watch for a long time."
"Still, I've either been with the Princess or moved in ways that kept my true self's location hidden, giving them no easy opportunity."
Now that the Karmic Soul was warning him, it meant the hidden adversary had found a viable method to act against him.
"I need to increase my strength and secure more trump cards," Zhao Xing thought, strategizing.
Currently resting in the relay station at Chongming Prefecture, Zhao Xing should have felt a sense of safety. After all, a whole prefecture's resources and defenses should be enough to deter threats.
Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that enemies surrounded him on all sides.
"Buzz~"
Suddenly, Zhao Xing's Earth Mirror received a message.
[King Tianyan: Zhao Xing, come to the Chongming Prefecture Temple. Ensure your true self attends.]
Reading the message, Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned.
King Tianyan specifically requested his true self?
"Could this be a fake message?"
He quickly dismissed the notion.
First, tampering with Earth Mirror messages was almost impossible.
Second, the Chongming Prefecture Temple was a prefecture-level temple. Unless King Liang had already initiated rebellion and the entire prefecture had turned traitor, there was no way such a place could be compromised.
"I'm probably just overthinking it," Zhao Xing reassured himself.
Still, why had King Tianyan emphasized the need for his true self?
Puzzled but cautious, Zhao Xing prepared to leave for the Chongming Prefecture Temple.
Upon entering the temple, King Tianyan sent another series of messages.
Following the instructions, Zhao Xing arrived at the southeastern section of the temple, in front of the Wucheng True Monarch Hall.
This hall was dedicated to Wucheng, the founding Duke and the first Grand Shennong of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
After offering prayers, a priest appeared and led him to a side hall.
From there, they passed through the back of the side hall and descended into an underground chamber.
"Please enter," the priest gestured toward the chamber's entrance.
"Sir, may I ask what this place is?" Zhao Xing inquired.
"I don't know. I'm merely following orders to bring you here."
"Whose orders?"
"You should already know. But don't tell me; this is a high-level access path that connects to many places."
Zhao Xing nodded and began descending the stairs.
"Boom!"
The chamber door closed behind him as soon as he entered. Glancing back, he noted the seamless, polished walls that left no trace of the entrance.
The chamber's interior appeared simple but was, in fact, intricately designed. Every brick and wall concealed profound mechanisms, reinforced by top-tier formations.
"Teleportation techniques are ineffective, Heavenly Eye spells fail, and even the Pure Essence Projection cannot manifest here," Zhao Xing observed, examining his surroundings.
At the center of the underground chamber stood a glowing door, three meters tall and two meters wide.
Relieved, Zhao Xing immediately recognized the inscription on the doorframe: "Tianyan".
"So, this is a secret entry point to the Military Realm, part of the Heavenly Secret Hall's high-level access network."
"This passage likely leads directly to the Fate Officer's headquarters under King Tianyan's control."
As Zhao Xing approached, the doorframe began to glow, accompanied by a voice.
"Zhao Xing, come in."
Recognizing King Tianyan's voice, Zhao Xing dispelled his remaining doubts.
"Yes, sir." Zhao Xing stepped into the glowing doorway.
Emerging on the other side, he found himself in an entirely different world.
Ahead stretched a long corridor lined with formations, its walls lined with numerous doorframes.
Not all doorframes emitted light, some merely outlined inactive pathways.
Zhao Xing glanced back and realized the door he had come through was at the foot of a statue—another depiction of Wucheng.
Paying his respects to the statue, Zhao Xing turned back to find King Tianyan standing silently behind him.
The man's sudden, noiseless appearance was startling.
"Greetings, King Tianyan," Zhao Xing said, bowing respectfully.
"You seem a bit tense," King Tianyan remarked with a warm smile.
A slightly round figure with a genial, springlike demeanor, King Tianyan's presence instantly alleviated Zhao Xing's tension.
Zhao Xing kept his composure and said honestly, "This is my first time entering a place like this. Additionally, I've recently had a premonition that someone might be plotting against me."
King Tianyan nodded knowingly. "That doesn't surprise me. Despite your youth, you've already mastered the techniques of three factions and distinguished yourself during the Dragon Court Ancient Land's quota battle. Although the Heavenly Secret Hall has cloaked your activities, given the current turbulent times, it's inevitable that some will attempt to spy on you."
Zhao Xing's exceptional talents had been evident since his exploits at the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven and the Southern Barbarian Battlefield. No matter how much effort was made to conceal his presence, he was bound to draw attention.
"This level of exposure is even after we took measures to hide you. Without that, the situation would have been far worse." King Tianyan gestured for Zhao Xing to follow him.
Obediently, Zhao Xing fell half a step behind King Tianyan, listening attentively as the latter explained further while walking.
"In this quota battle, your true ranking was 78th," King Tianyan stated.
"That high?" Zhao Xing couldn't hide his surprise.
"You were ranked first after the third stage and 13th after the fourth stage," King Tianyan continued. "Before entering the fifth stage, your rankings were consistently outstanding. Given that you're merely in the Fifth Rank, without any concealment, you'd have faced countless assassination attempts over the next decade."
"Of course, there are ways to protect you," King Tianyan added, "but you'd have to forfeit your freedom for ten years and wouldn't be able to accomplish much."
"The best solution was to let your ranking steadily drop, eventually settling just above 400th," King Tianyan explained.
Zhao Xing nodded, understanding the care behind the arrangement. "Thank you, King Tianyan."
"But this only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause," King Tianyan replied. "You can't guard against thieves forever. Ultimately, you must grow stronger yourself."
"Do you know why I insisted that your true self come here?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "I don't know, Your Excellency."
"It's because I intend to teach you a top-tier soul cultivation secret technique," King Tianyan revealed.
"A top-tier soul cultivation technique?" Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned, half-pretending but also genuinely surprised.
The mention of Derivation of the Divine Spirit immediately came to mind. This was one of the most advanced soul cultivation methods in the Great Zhou dynasty.
Unlike other techniques focused solely on Life Souls, this method emphasized both souls and spirits, involving the comprehensive cultivation of the Seven Aspects of the Spirit.
The interplay between soul and spirit was crucial. Zhao Xing's prior consumption of the Yin-Yang Fish and Primordial Soul Fruit had enhanced his capabilities but wasn't true cultivation—it was merely accumulation of resources.
As a result, he had experienced significant aftereffects during his progression from the Sixth to the Fifth Rank. Thankfully, the Myriad Manifestation Incarnations technique had mitigated these issues.
True cultivation only began when one mastered techniques like the Myriad Manifestation Incarnations.
"Top-tier secret techniques are exceedingly difficult to master. Only the most gifted geniuses are eligible to learn them before reaching the higher ranks," King Tianyan explained.
"Among top-tier secret techniques, soul cultivation methods are the most challenging of all."
"This time, I will teach you the top-tier soul cultivation method—Derivation of the Divine Spirit!"
Zhao Xing's expression reflected a mix of feigned and genuine amazement. The Derivation of the Divine Spirit was widely regarded as the pinnacle of soul cultivation in the Great Zhou dynasty.
It was not limited to Life Soul cultivation but encompassed methods for refining the Seven Aspects of the Spirit, a prerequisite for reaching the Fourth Rank, the Primordial Soul Stage.
Using a top-tier method to refine the Seven Aspects was vastly superior to relying on high-grade techniques. This represented the pinnacle of soul cultivation methods in the Era of Qi Vitality.
Other methods might exist, but they were mostly on par with this one. Techniques like the Great Dream Spring and Autumn might surpass it in certain aspects, but they focused solely on the soul, neglecting the spirit.
Any differences in outcomes usually stemmed from external factors like opportunities or resources—for example, consuming a Primordial Soul Fruit could significantly boost one's results. But in terms of the technique itself, Derivation of the Divine Spirit stood unrivaled.
"You're not the only one. Across the four seas, 38 geniuses have been selected for special treatment this time," King Tianyan continued. "The Great Zhou selected these individuals from among those in the mid-tier ranks. Out of countless talents, only 38 were chosen."
"The Dragon Court Ancient Land opens once every hundred years. Similarly, the Heavenly Secret Hall selects its candidates only once every century. You can imagine the weight of this opportunity."
"Thank you for your support, King Tianyan," Zhao Xing said respectfully.
"There's no need to thank me," King Tianyan replied with a smile. "This is merely an opportunity. Whether you can succeed depends entirely on you."
"If you do succeed, there will be further tasks assigned to you."
"Privileges come with obligations. While you will receive special treatment, entering the Dragon Court Ancient Land will also come with additional responsibilities."
"Of course, the prerequisite is that you must master the first layer of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit within ten years. If you fail, there's no point discussing what comes after."
Zhao Xing nodded in understanding. The Dragon Court Ancient Land was a treasure trove of resources, but only a fraction of its secrets had been explored by the Great Zhou.
This didn't particularly excite Zhao Xing. He suspected he already knew more about the Dragon Court Ancient Land than the Great Zhou itself.
His primary focus remained on mastering the Derivation of the Divine Spirit.
"We've arrived," King Tianyan announced, looking up slightly.
Zhao Xing noticed that they had unknowingly reached the inner sanctum of a grand palace.
The towering columns inside the palace seemed to support both heaven and earth. Above, countless stars sparkled, creating the illusion of a celestial palace.
As Zhao Xing gazed at the stars, his Life Soul was involuntarily drawn toward them, spinning slightly and causing him to feel a mild dizziness.
King Tianyan waved his hand, summoning a layer of golden mist to obscure the stars. "You're not yet prepared to directly view the Soul Star Diagram."
"Understood," Zhao Xing replied, obediently averting his gaze.
"Mastering the Derivation of the Divine Spirit is exceedingly difficult. Even I only reached the second layer, and that was during my time in the Third Rank," King Tianyan explained.
"If you can master the first layer within ten years, it will already be considered a success."
"Focus on refining the Seven Aspects first before working on the soul itself. For someone in the Fifth Rank Pure Essence Stage, achieving the first layer of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit is exceptionally challenging."
"Is there little chance of success for someone in the Fifth Rank?" Zhao Xing asked thoughtfully.
King Tianyan smiled. "The last person to master the first layer while in the Fifth Rank was Liu Tianning."
"My teacher has been to the Dragon Court Ancient Land?" Zhao Xing was taken aback. He had never heard of this before.
"Yes," King Tianyan nodded. "He has, but no one knows about it. It's a classified record, but you now have the clearance to learn certain details."
"The Floating Vine he gifted you was brought back from the Dragon Court Ancient Land and approved by me before it was given to you."
"However, he isn't allowed to discuss these matters, and there is no official record of his visit to the Dragon Court Ancient Land."
So that's how it is, Zhao Xing thought. No wonder Liu Tianning had so many Seventh-Rank Divine Trees during his time in the Fifth Rank.
It turned out Liu Tianning had also been to the Dragon Court.
The Dragon Court contained many regions enriched with Spiritual Energy, which offered numerous advantages even for those who did not practice the Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique. Simply existing in such areas accelerated the growth of plants and provided other benefits.
However, the Xuanhuang Essence Breaking Technique allowed for much higher efficiency in utilizing Spiritual Energy, especially when it came to enhancing Pure Essence Soil.
"This time, a total of thirty-eight people have been selected. According to the predictions of the Heavenly Secret Hall, only five are expected to master the first layer within ten years," explained Lord Tianyan. "Of course, those who fail to succeed will be redirected to train in other top-tier secret techniques."
Lord Tianyan continued, "Before the Dragon Court Ancient Land opens, all thirty-eight of you will meet each other to avoid conflicts once inside. We also want to prevent multiple people from wasting energy on the same targets."
As he spoke, Lord Tianyan placed a firm grip on Zhao Xing's shoulder. With a single step forward, the world around them seemed to flow backward as though the ground itself were moving.
In the blink of an eye, Zhao Xing found himself standing high in the sky.
Below him was a circular plaza, floating in the air along a specific trajectory. The plaza, roughly the size of a football field, was surrounded by four walls.
Zhao Xing immediately recognized these walls. He had seen similar structures during his time at the Li Huo Dao Academy.
"These are Walls of Secret Techniques, used for testing and correcting your mistakes. They will help you understand your progress," Lord Tianyan explained. "The other three walls contain murals depicting the first three layers of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit."
"The first mural is called the Seven-Star Diagram of Spirit and Soul. It encompasses both the refinement of spirit and soul. Fully comprehending this mural will allow you to master the first layer."
"The second mural is the Nebula Diagram of the Life Soul, focusing on the refinement of the Life Soul and including various techniques for Life Soul attacks and defenses."
"The third wall contains no drawings, only two words," Lord Tianyan said with a smile. "No one has fully comprehended the third layer, but the two words are understood to mean 'Divine Derivation.'"
"This wall is a replica, not the original. The original is a stone stele housed in the imperial palace. Once you comprehend the second layer, viewing the meaning behind those two words can still provide some insights."
With a wave of his hand, Lord Tianyan caused the third wall to sink into the ground. "This place was originally my training ground. Since you haven't yet reached the second layer, it's not appropriate for you to view it now."
Zhao Xing asked, "If the first two layers are top-tier methods, does that mean the third layer is an ultimate method?"
Lord Tianyan laughed lightly. "As I said, no one has fully comprehended it. Whether it's an ultimate method remains uncertain."
Zhao Xing nodded, sensing a faint familiarity with the Derivation Stele's origin. However, due to sealing his past-life memories before entering the Heavenly Secret Hall, he couldn't immediately recall its significance.
He knew better than to unlock those memories here. This was the Heavenly Secret Hall, and Lord Tianyan, a Fate Officer, could easily discern his thoughts if he wasn't careful. Without the Dream-Preserved Law safeguarding his Memory Palace, he would essentially be exposing himself.
The subtle sense of familiarity merely triggered the mechanisms of his Memory Palace, reminding him to reflect on this after leaving.
Lord Tianyan pointed upward. "This place for enlightenment has various high-level mechanisms constructed by the Tiangong Workshop to aid in your comprehension."
"When you formally begin training, I'll teach you how to use them. For now, let's move on to the next location."
"Yes," Zhao Xing replied.
With that, Lord Tianyan grabbed Zhao Xing's shoulder again. The scenery blurred as they ascended swiftly. In mere moments, they landed in a new location.
This time, Zhao Xing found himself in what appeared to be a private palace.
The palace was filled with an assortment of devices—floor mirrors, compasses, astrolabes, tortoise shells, black-and-white chessboards, divination robes, solar crowns, and starry boots. Even the interior layout was saturated with celestial patterns. The ceiling bore the shape of an octagonal Bagua, a classic hallmark of Fate-related practitioners.
Near the head of the bed stood a statue of Panhu, a mythical treasure-hunting beast resembling a short, plump dog.
The walls were adorned with two Yellow Almanacs—one tangible, the other ethereal. Zhao Xing's eyes widened at the sight.
These were advanced versions of the Yellow Almanac, not only capable of warding off misfortune but also drawing in good fortune. The ethereal version, in particular, carried significant implications.
"Is that the Yin Edition Yellow Almanac?" Zhao Xing asked curiously.
"Correct," Lord Tianyan replied with a nod. It was no surprise Zhao Xing, as a Shennong Officer, could recognize such an artifact. "The full version of the Yellow Almanac consists of one Yin and one Yang volume. Together, they are applicable in both the Yang Realm and the Yin Realm."
"The temporal rules of the Yin Realm differ greatly from those of the Yang Realm. As a Shennong, you'll receive one when you advance to the Third Rank."
The Third Rank, the Primordial Soul Stage, allowed one's soul to leave the body and roam the Yin Realm. Lord Tianyan's words suggested that Zhao Xing was about to receive some resources.
"The special treatment you've earned includes several resources," Lord Tianyan began.
"First, resources for cultivating the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, including materials needed for refining both spirit and soul. However, you'll need to train in the Heavenly Secret Hall to receive them in batches."
"The first layer comprises seven stages. You'll only receive resources for the next stage once you've mastered the previous one. If you fail, it means you cannot proceed, and an alternative training plan will be provided."
Zhao Xing nodded, understanding that the court wouldn't waste resources if he failed to meet expectations.
"Second is your personal safety."
"You have two choices. The first is to resign from all your positions and become a Reserve Officer for ten years. During this time, you'll stay in the Heavenly Secret Hall's Fate Hall to train while waiting for the Dragon Court Ancient Land to open."
After hearing this, Zhao Xing shook his head.
The first option would severely impact his plans for the future. Spending a decade in isolation at the Heavenly Secret Hall in a "fully hidden" state meant missing out on numerous opportunities.
For one, entering the Grand Dream Academy would be impossible during these ten years. Training under the watchful eyes of Fate Officers would undoubtedly expose his actions.
Moreover, events like the millennial climate shifts, King Liang's rebellion, Liu Tianning's tasks, and the activities of the two academies would all be delayed. In short, he couldn't afford to accept this all-encompassing closed-door training.
He required the freedom to come and go as needed.
Lord Tianyan, seeing Zhao Xing's reaction, understood that the first option was unlikely to be accepted. He then elaborated on the second option.
"The second choice is more flexible. You may come to train whenever you like. However, your safety cannot be as guaranteed as with the first option."
"With your demonstrated strength, anyone attempting to assassinate you would likely be of the Third Rank or higher."
"If you face danger outside, I can assure you the best rescue efforts. However, we cannot assign a Third or even Second Rank expert to protect you around the clock. You must understand this limitation."
"I understand," Zhao Xing replied.
He was a Fifth-Rank officer—expecting a Third-Rank or even a Second-Rank expert to provide him with personal protection?
This arrangement was neither reasonable nor cost-effective from the perspective of resource allocation. The Heavenly Secret Hall's special treatment for Zhao Xing was solely for the Dragon Court Ancient Land expedition. Sacrificing a Third-Rank expert's decade-long commitment for such a task? It would make more sense to allocate the quota directly to the Third-Rank expert instead.
Lord Tianyan's message was clear: if Zhao Xing chose the second option, there would be risks involved.
Lord Tianyan continued, "Of course, there's no such thing as eternal vigilance. If you choose the second option, I'll devise a bait operation. At the right moment, your clone will need to cooperate so we can identify who's targeting you."
"Yes, this subordinate will fully cooperate," Zhao Xing replied.
Even without Lord Tianyan's involvement, Zhao Xing had already planned his countermeasures. With Lord Tianyan's support, these plans gained an extra layer of security.
"Alright, we'll discuss these matters later. For now, let me familiarize you with a few more things."
Lord Tianyan gestured, and a box engraved with purple dragon patterns appeared in front of Zhao Xing.
"Remember the layout of this room. It's the emergency shelter of the Heavenly Secret Hall."
"You're well-versed in the art of divination, so I won't go into unnecessary details. Let's focus on the key points."
Lord Tianyan knew Zhao Xing possessed divination skills. Zhao Xing's feats on the Southern Barbarian battlefield and at the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, where he had slain numerous turtles, were not exactly a secret. Moreover, it was common knowledge that Zhao Xing had mastered intermediate-level derivation techniques, sparing Lord Tianyan the need to teach them from scratch.
"Go ahead and open the box."
"Yes."
Zhao Xing opened the box, revealing its contents. Lord Tianyan waved his hand, and a token and a map floated into the air before Zhao Xing.
The token bore the characters "Tianyan," while the map was titled 'Heavenly Secret Hall's Emergency Shelters in Pinghai Province and Eastern Sea Islands.'
"This is my personal token, of the highest rank," Lord Tianyan explained. "With it, you can freely and secretly access the Star Palace."
"My Tianyan Token also grants you entry to most emergency shelters across Pinghai Province and the Eastern Sea."
Zhao Xing was startled. He hadn't expected to be entrusted with the Heavenly Secret Hall's shelter map—a highly valuable resource.
"This will ensure your safety. If you encounter danger, any of these shelters will buy you enough time for reinforcements to arrive."
"Memorize the map and burn it afterward."
"Yes."
Zhao Xing spent a quarter of an hour memorizing the map before safely tucking the token away. The map detailed over a thousand shelter entrances across Pinghai Province, spanning eastward to the islands of the Eastern Sea and southward to various prefectural cities near war zones.
Particularly in the Eastern Sea, many inconspicuous islands were equipped with top-tier formations to serve as shelters. If one managed to reach these, their safety would be significantly enhanced, giving rescuers ample time to respond.
"Your Excellency, I have memorized it," Zhao Xing said.
Lord Tianyan nodded and beckoned once more, retrieving additional items from the box.
"This is a Seventh-Rank Superior Heavenly Secret Robe. It's an undergarment that won't interfere with your regular armor. Its primary function is to shield your fortune."
"Once worn, no one will be able to discern your fortune or track you using it."
"However, this is only a temporary loan. You must return it in ten years."
"Yes." Zhao Xing carefully took the light yellow undergarment embroidered with nine flag emblems. The Heavenly Secret Robe featured four distinct patterns: the sun, moon, tortoise, and serpent. The tortoise supported the heavens, and the serpent devoured the sun and moon—symbols associated with Fate Officers.
Since Zhao Xing wasn't a Fate Officer, this robe was merely a loan. The Seventh-Rank Heavenly Secret Robe was primarily a defense against external threats. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, only Fate Officers possessed the means to track others through fortune.
Next was a Seventh-Rank Superior Calamity-Repelling Yellow Almanac, which Lord Tianyan did not elaborate on, as Zhao Xing was already familiar with its uses.
"This is a Seventh-Rank Supreme Guardian Jade Pendant. Once activated, it creates a mobile miniature barrier," Lord Tianyan explained.
"It can block all attacks, except those targeting the soul, from a Third-Rank Primordial Soul practitioner for up to two quarter-hours."
Zhao Xing carefully hung the jade pendant around his neck. This treasure was exceptionally rare; rumors suggested the materials to craft such pendants were no longer available, making every existing piece a priceless artifact.
"This is a Seventh-Rank Inferior Soul-Calming Bell," Lord Tianyan continued, holding up a small bell.
"It primarily guards against illusions, mental disturbances, and deviation in cultivation. However, it cannot block attacks from Life Soul practitioners."
"That said, soul attacks are rare, even among Third-Rank Primordial Soul practitioners. Directly attacking someone's soul while it's detached is inherently risky."
"The Life Soul rejects foreign souls, which is its best defense. The Soul-Calming Bell is mainly for preventing mental manipulation and hypnosis."
"Your Life Soul is already at the Fourth-Rank. If a Third-Rank Primordial Soul practitioner attempts to possess you, there's no guarantee they won't perish in the process."
"If you master the Derivation of the Divine Spirit and perfect your Fourth-Rank Life Soul, any Third-Rank soul attempting possession would undoubtedly meet their end."
Zhao Xing bowed respectfully and fastened the Soul-Calming Bell to his person. Throughout the process, the bell emitted no sound.
Although Life Souls were powerful within their own bodies, once detached, they became vulnerable. Engaging another Life Soul directly was perilous unless there was an overwhelming power disparity or the use of top-tier secret techniques. More often, practitioners relied on hypnosis, dream infiltration, or other indirect methods.
As Zhao Xing was about to practice the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, the Soul-Calming Bell complemented his cultivation perfectly.
The box contained other items such as compasses and star charts, standard equipment for the Heavenly Secret Hall's shelters. However, Lord Tianyan refrained from further explanation, as Zhao Xing wouldn't frequently use them unless he retreated to a shelter.
"Thank you, Lord Tianyan."
Lord Tianyan nodded and escorted Zhao Xing back to the Star Palace.
"When you're ready to begin cultivating the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, you can request the first stage's resources from me."
"This subordinate plans to address some matters first," Zhao Xing replied.
"Very well. Use the Tianyan Token to return as you came."
"This subordinate takes his leave."
Zhao Xing stepped out from the Wu Cheng True Monarch Hall at the temple in Chongming Prefecture.
After leaving the temple, he headed to the courier station for some rest.
In his dream, Zhao Xing began to review the events he had just experienced.
"Derivation of the Divine Spirit? It's actually the Derivation of the Divine Spirit! This is an ultimate soul technique, so how is it classified merely as a top-tier technique?"
"The Spirit Monument comes from outside this realm; it's not native to the Xuanhuang World. So, Old Liu cultivated this secret method. No wonder he went completely mad in his later years."
"To cultivate the Myriad Manifestation Incarnation, one must pair it with an ultimate soul technique to truly progress down that path," Zhao Xing thought as he recalled today's scenes.
The Myriad Straw Puppets could indeed be cultivated to the ultimate level, but controlling countless incarnations placed an immense burden on the Life Soul. It required an equally ultimate soul technique to sustain such a practice.
If Zhao Xing cultivated the Myriad Manifestation Incarnation to perfection, he would still need to pause and search for an ultimate soul technique before advancing further. Otherwise, the indefinite fragmentation of his soul would eventually drive him insane.
"In his past life, did Liu Tianning fail to fully comprehend the Spirit Monument? If he only grasped the second level of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, it makes sense why he went mad when pushing the Straw Puppet to its ultimate level…"
"Given his current state, it seems the progress of his Straw Puppet technique has outpaced his mastery of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit," Zhao Xing speculated.
"I'll need to remind Old Liu someday. Now that I'm starting to cultivate the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, my words should carry some weight."
Zhao Xing continued to reflect, soon recalling the safety house and the treasures bestowed by Lord Tianyan.
"Lord Tianyan gave me four treasures: the Guardian Jade Pendant, Heavenly Secret Robe, Soul-Calming Bell, and the Calamity-Repelling Yellow Almanac."
"The first three are decent, but the Soul-Calming Bell is a bit lacking."
From Lord Tianyan's perspective, the protective measures he had taken for Zhao Xing were already considerable. Any Third-Rank practitioner attempting to kill Zhao Xing would likely have to sacrifice their own life, as reinforcements would arrive swiftly.
With this setup, Zhao Xing could hold out for a long time.
But from Zhao Xing's perspective, if King Liang staged a rebellion, the battlefield would be teeming with high-ranking experts, and mid-ranking ones would be as numerous as common soldiers. These treasures alone might not suffice.
"I'm far from being completely secure. If I encounter someone skilled in soul attacks, the Soul-Calming Bell won't last long," Zhao Xing mused.
"Plans can't keep up with changes. Now that it's the thirtieth year of the Jingxin Era, at the Start of Autumn, I must find a way to transfer to an inland county—I can't stay on the Eastern Sea any longer."
"The best option would be to relocate near that old witch… Yes, I should arrange a transfer to Bixian County."
Staying near the Eastern Sea meant he might face assassination attempts like that of General Jin Hou. Yet on the mainland, no such incidents had occurred in the past decade.
Zhao Xing began to adjust his plans for the future.
"Based on the original timeline, King Liang rebels in the thirty-fifth year of the Jingxin Era. It's unclear whether this will be delayed or expedited—perhaps it will, perhaps it won't."
"I'll settle in Bixian County under Chongming Prefecture, while my true self enters the Heavenly Secret Hall to cultivate the top-tier soul techniques."
"My incarnations can head to Xuantian Academy and Kunyuan Academy to study the top-tier techniques of Heaven and Earth."
"As for the training tasks assigned by Old Liu, they can be postponed for now," Zhao Xing concluded inwardly.
Expanding the Pure Essence Soil and nurturing plant-based soldiers required too much time. While the first stage presented little pressure, the second stage was more time-consuming.
Zhao Xing decided to postpone his cultivation within the Self School until after King Liang's rebellion. For now, he would focus on comprehending the top-tier Heaven and Earth techniques.
"These two schools' techniques are particularly effective during times of upheaval."
"I just don't know if Xuantian Academy and Kunyuan Academy will accept an incarnation. It might look like the Self School is stirring up trouble."
"I'll test the waters. If they refuse, I'll go through the formalities, let my true self earn a doctoral title in Ritual Studies, learn the techniques, and then let the incarnations take over the rest."
"Next, I'll…"
Having finalized his plans for the next five to ten years in his dream, Zhao Xing opened his eyes.
He intended to approach Chongming Prefecture's Prefectural Magistrate and Fan Hongyi, then visit Dragon Horse Director Wang Xuanyi of the Shennong Office to discuss transferring to Bixian County.
At this moment, the overseer of the courier station, Xiao Ming, a Fifth-Rank officer, suddenly received an official document.
The document flew directly out of the censer in the temple, landing neatly on his desk. Upon arrival, it automatically moved to the top of the pile.
The document glowed with golden light, sealing off the surrounding papers with its aura.
Xiao Ming's eyelid twitched. This document carried immense weight—its priority was unmatched, directly jumping the queue and locking other documents in place.
He dared not be careless and respectfully opened the dispatch.
[Notice to the Overseer of the Donglong Courier Station in Chongming Prefecture, Xiao Ming:]
[Upon receiving this document, immediately notify Resident Official Zhao Xing, Left Division Director of the Twin Dragon Horse Office in Chongming Prefecture. A distinguished guest will visit on the tenth day of the eighth month in the thirtieth year of the Jingxin Era, at the first quarter of the hour of You.]
Attached to the document were two identity plaques.
Xiao Ming carefully opened them and nearly lost his composure.
The first identity plaque read:
[Peishui Duke Meng Kun, Chief Agronomist of the Lingxu Blessed Land in Daoyuan Continent, Vice Dean of Kunyuan Academy, Left Division Director of Earth Techniques in Canghai Cave-Heaven, Director of the Taiyin Realm's Yangshan Agronomist Office, and Supervisor of Pinghuai County.]
[Yuanxin Marquis Gu Changqing, Grand Ritual Official of Lingxu Blessed Land, Ritual Studies Doctor of Kunyuan Academy, Right Division Director of Earth Techniques in Canghai Cave-Heaven, and Agronomist Magistrate of Songming Mountain in the Taiyin Realm.]
The titles alone overwhelmed Xiao Ming. Both were Third-Rank officials—top-tier positions in the empire. And two of them were coming?
"What is Zhao Xing's background, for two Third-Rank officials to visit him in person?"
It was one thing for Zhao Xing to report to his superiors, but for superiors of this caliber to seek him out was unprecedented.
Xiao Ming dared not delay and immediately prepared to find Zhao Xing. If these dignitaries arrived and Zhao Xing was absent, he would bear the brunt of the blame.
Before Xiao Ming could step out of the station, another document flew out of the censer, glowing with lightning. It expelled the other papers entirely from the desk.
"Another one?" Xiao Ming was stunned. His job as the courier station overseer was usually quiet. What was happening today?
He returned to the desk and opened the second document.
[Notice to the Overseer of the Donglong Courier Station in Chongming Prefecture, Xiao Ming:]
[Upon receiving this document, immediately notify Resident Official Zhao Xing, Left Division Director of the Twin Dragon Horse Office in Chongming Prefecture. A distinguished guest will visit on the tenth day of the eighth month in the thirtieth year of the Jingxin Era, at the first quarter of the hour of You.]
Attached were two more identity plaques.
Xiao Ming read them and felt his scalp tingle.
These identity plaques belonged to Hengyuan and Geng Shouchang—both equally illustrious as the previous ones.
What made matters worse was that both documents specified the same time: the first quarter of the hour of You.
Xiao Ming looked at the clock and immediately sprang into action, grabbing a clerk responsible for lodging records.
"Is Zhao Xing, the Left Division Director of the Twin Dragon Horse Office, staying here at Donglong Courier Station?"
"My lord, let me check. We've had so many guests recently," the clerk replied, oblivious to Xiao Ming's urgency.
"Check quickly!" Xiao Ming urged.
"Yes, yes, I'll look right away," the clerk said as he scrambled to search the registry.
At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps and the clanking of armor echoed from outside.
"Where is the overseer of the Donglong Courier Station? I am Dragon Martial Marquis Bai Zhengyang, present yourself immediately!"
The voice was deep and commanding, resonating throughout the station.
Xiao Ming froze. Dragon Martial Marquis? Qinglong Army?
"Could it be… he's also here for Zhao Xing?" Xiao Ming muttered, hastily heading out to greet the newcomer.