On the third day of the second stage, Zhao Xing continued his progress through the checkpoints.
As he advanced alone, clearing the 26th city proved slower than the earlier ones. It took him two full hours to break through.
In the 27th city, the number of dragon species surged, and their strength had risen significantly. Every single one of them was at the fourth rank, each boasting formidable innate abilities and secret techniques. Clearing the city alone became a genuine challenge.
Zhao Xing had to rely on his Myriad Law Manifestations to reduce the strain on his main body. By using the manifestations to draw the attention of the dragon beasts, he managed to break through by the hour of Yin on the fourth day.
The 27th, 28th, and 29th cities followed the same pattern. With the help of his Myriad Law Manifestations diverting the dragons, he succeeded in clearing these cities.
However, the combined time spent on traveling, clearing each city, and recovering energy added up. By midday on the fifth day, Zhao Xing finally reached the 30th city.
Glancing at the crowd gathered ahead of him, Zhao Xing estimated there were about 120 people present.
Thanks to his Myriad Law Manifestations distracting the dragon beasts, his pace had been faster than most.
"Hm? Lei Ling, Leng Yue, and Xuan Feng are still here?" Zhao Xing's gaze landed on a nearby hill outside the city.
The top three ranked participants were all present, but surprisingly, each one bore visible injuries.
"Are they stuck here? That shouldn't be the case," Zhao Xing muttered.
Given their strength, Zhao Xing had expected these top competitors to have cleared the stage within five days, perhaps even earlier.
But seeing them all injured was unexpected.
"Is this 30th city really that difficult?" Zhao Xing turned his focus to the city itself.
"Three thousand Azure Dragon Corps soldiers, all at the fifth rank? If they're forming a Blood-Essence Battle Formation, that's definitely a tough barrier."
"But the real issue depends on the commander's strength. If the commander is at the fourth rank, even a third rank would have trouble… Wait, is that Long Xiao?"
As Zhao Xing's gaze swept over the city walls, he immediately spotted a familiar figure.
The man with a golden greatsword slung across his back, clad in Azure Dragon armor, wearing a cloud-patterned helm and golden boots, was none other than Long Xiao!
"What's he doing guarding this checkpoint? He's not even from the aquatic races."
"Oh, wait, he's Bai Mingchuan's son-in-law. That makes sense."
With Long Xiao's talents, it was no surprise that he had improved rapidly over the years.
With him commanding the 3,000 Azure Dragon Corps soldiers, it was no wonder so many participants were stuck at this city.
"You've come! Little brother, you've finally arrived!" Long Xiao's eyes locked onto Zhao Xing's figure, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
From the start, Long Xiao had made up his mind: if his brother couldn't pass, neither would anyone else.
Long Xiao was well aware of how much Zhao Xing desired a spot in the Dragon Court's ancient grounds.
Helping his brother achieve this goal was a given.
Sensing Long Xiao's gaze, Zhao Xing looked up to meet his eyes.
No words were exchanged, only a shared glance.
But Zhao Xing understood the subtle expression on Long Xiao's face.
Without hesitation, Zhao Xing charged directly toward the city walls.
"Wait!" Xuan Feng called out, his voice steady but firm. "Brother, don't try to break through alone. It's too dangerous. Wait until more people gather for a joint assault!"
At this moment, Xuan Feng was playing the role of a "big brother," trying to dissuade reckless participants.
He had already stopped several individuals before this.
After all, anyone who could reach the 30th city by the fifth day was undoubtedly an elite. Banding together was the only way they had any hope of succeeding.
Zhao Xing, however, ignored the warning completely.
Seeing this, Lei Ling snorted coldly. "Another one charging to his death."
"Let him go. We don't need that many people anyway," Leng Yue remarked dismissively.
Meanwhile, Gaburi and Fei She watched from a distance, their faces gleeful with schadenfreude.
Given how strong the defending general was at this checkpoint, it wasn't unusual for some participants to be severely injured and eliminated outright.
Both Gaburi and Fei She had lost kills to Zhao Xing earlier, and they were more than happy to see him act impulsively.
"Boom!"
Zhao Xing leaped onto the city wall, colliding head-on with Long Xiao.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Thunder crackled, sword energy flashed, mist-veil techniques unfolded, and the five elements surged chaotically, shrouding the entire scene. No one could see the battle clearly.
"Crack!"
"Rumble~~"
The ground quaked, thunder roared, and it seemed like two titans were engaged in an epic duel.
To the spectators, it looked like a clash between peerless experts.
In reality, Zhao Xing and Long Xiao were exchanging casual blows while having a conversation.
"Long Xiao, why are you the defending general here?"
"Hehe, surprised?" Long Xiao swung his sword, which Zhao Xing easily deflected.
"Are you the one holding everyone else back?"
"Yep! Bai Mingchuan assigned me to this spot. My job is to stop as many as I can."
"If I let you through now, you'd clear the stage in under five days and earn 5 million points. I'll keep stalling the others," Long Xiao explained.
"No way. If you blatantly let me through, you'd end up in prison when this is over," Zhao Xing replied. "You can't just let me pass."
"Then what do you suggest? Is there anything I can do to help?" Long Xiao asked.
"You've done more than enough. I've already caught up to the first echelon," Zhao Xing replied. "From here on out, just treat me like everyone else."
"Got it."
"What's the rule for guarding this city?"
"For every additional day that passes, the Azure Dragon Corps loses 100 soldiers. After five days, the reduction increases to 300 per day. Eventually, I'll be the only one left guarding the city."
"I see."
"How's Long Aotian doing?"
"Perfectly fine, don't worry."
"Great, then I know what to do."
With that, Long Xiao sent Zhao Xing flying with a heavy palm strike, dispelling the mist as well.
"Pfft~" Zhao Xing coughed up fake blood, pretending to be seriously injured as he fell outside the city walls.
"Hahaha!" Gaburi burst out laughing. "What an overconfident fool. You, a mere fifth rank, thought you could clear this checkpoint alone?"
"Too bad it didn't kill you," Fei She sneered mockingly.
"An idiot, as expected," Lei Ling added with a scoff.
Zhao Xing ignored their taunts, finding a quiet spot to rest and recover his energy.
However, Long Xiao heard every word of their mockery loud and clear.
His gaze locked onto Lei Ling, Gaburi, and Fei She, silently committing their auras to memory.
By dusk on the fifth day, 178 participants had gathered outside the 30th city.
Having witnessed the strength of the defending general and his soldiers, none of them dared to act rashly. Instead, they began forming alliances with other top competitors.
Xuan Feng, Lei Ling, and Leng Yue, all of whom had perfected their fourth-rank abilities, quickly organized the largest groups.
Among the 200 or so participants outside the city, these three leaders soon united roughly 80% of them, agreeing to launch a collective assault before midnight.
The fifth day was a critical juncture. Clearing the stage on the fifth day awarded 5 million points. Any delay would result in significantly fewer points.
"Zhao Xing, join us," said Yao Sifang, the fourth-ranked competitor from the Princess's faction.
"Alright." Zhao Xing nodded.
"Stay close to me," Yao Sifang suggested with a smile. "Our chances of success will be higher if we stick together."
By the hour of Xu on the fifth day, the participants had assembled into a massive formation.
At the front, Lei Ling, Xuan Feng, and Leng Yue stood with their respective groups and battle beasts.
At precisely the first quarter of Xu hour, the assault began.
"Moo!!"
A purple divine bull roared skyward.
Lei Ling, astride the bull, raised his hand and shouted, "Charge!"
"Go!" Xuan Feng commanded, his Wind Dragon soaring into the air, unleashing powerful gales that swept toward the city walls.
In an instant, over 150 Beast Tamers and their 500-plus battle beasts surged forward.
The first large-scale assault on the 30th city had begun.
"Move out!" Yao Sifang bellowed, taking charge of the Princess's faction.
"Meow~" Long Aotian transformed, blue and purple runes glowing across its body as they synchronized with the magical runes on Zhao Xing's figure.
In a flash, the Mountain Cat enveloped Zhao Xing, forming a set of agile armor around him.
"Boom!"
With the Blue Lion Hound and Spirit Illusion Goat flanking him, Zhao Xing became a streak of lightning as he charged toward the eastern section of the southern wall.
"Kill!"
Long Xiao roared, activating the seventh-level battle formation.
Three thousand Azure Dragon Corps soldiers erupted in crimson light, which surged into the sky and condensed into a divine sword surrounded by six blood-red clouds.
Below, the Azure Dragon Corps formed six distinct battle formations, each extending over five kilometers and towering a thousand meters high. The barrier created by their blood and vitality seemed to strengthen and elevate the city walls, forming what appeared to be a city of pure blood and vitality.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Countless techniques and martial arts flashes bombarded the barrier created by the Azure Dragon Corps.
Dazzling light exploded against the blood vitality walls, and the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth descended into utter chaos.
"Moo!"
The purple divine bull beneath Lei Ling roared. Its bellow, carrying the bloodline of the ancient divine beast Kui Niu, caused a tremor to ripple through the right-side formation of the blood vitality wall. Many fifth-rank soldiers grimaced in pain, their expressions strained.
Xuan Feng, atop his Wind Dragon, unleashed a torrent of azure dragon breath that swept across the 500-strong right-side formation, forcing them to retreat a step as a group.
Meanwhile, the Violet Moon Fox perched on Leng Yue's shoulder emitted a strange glow from its eyes. Its soul energy traversed the void, targeting the right formation's commander, Bai Yang.
"Argh!"
Caught off guard, Bai Yang spat blood, his face pale under the coordinated assault of the three top-ranked participants.
"He's the weak link! Charge!" Lei Ling shouted, his voice brimming with excitement.
Over the past few days, Lei Ling and the others had been studying the composition of the Azure Dragon Corps.
Among the six formations, the one led by Bai Yang on the right was the weakest, with its overall mastery of blood vitality formations inferior to the others.
"Roar!"
But just as Lei Ling's forces surged forward, a piercing dragon roar echoed.
In an instant, Long Xiao appeared at the forefront of the right-side formation. He opened his mouth, and the blood vitality dragon above his head swooped down, dispersing across all 500 soldiers in his formation.
Leng Yue's illusion shattered instantly.
All injuries within the formation were immediately healed.
At the same time, a phantom dragon head appeared above each soldier, its maw wide open.
"Roar!!"
The dragon spirits let out a deafening roar.
The 500-strong formation unleashed a high-level sonic wave technique in unison, their attack manifesting as a tangible ripple of sound that surged toward Lei Ling's divine bull.
Lei Ling's face contorted in pain, and the divine bull beneath him froze mid-stride, unable to advance.
"Retreat!" Xuan Feng bellowed, realizing the sudden assault was doomed to fail.
Long Xiao's quick response, combined with the Azure Dragon Corps' discipline and strength, had stabilized their defense.
Once their formation was reestablished, the remaining five blood vitality formations would converge, encircling their attackers.
"Zing!"
Long Xiao's golden greatsword split into seven streams of light, darting toward Lei Ling's team.
"What the—?" Lei Ling's eyes widened in shock.
All seven swords were targeting him!
"Heavenly Yuan Fusion!"
Lei Ling's Heavenly Yuan Divine Bull transformed into a purple light, merging with him and forming protective armor.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Five golden swords struck Lei Ling, piercing through his waist, arms, and thighs, pinning him to the ground.
"Hmm~"
The fusion dissolved as quickly as it formed. Lei Ling staggered back, his face pale with terror. Behind him, the divine bull lay on the ground, trembling, its body pierced by the golden swords.
Two of the remaining swords darted toward Gaburi and Fei She.
"Pure Yang Golden Body!" Gaburi roared, his body transforming into a golden hue.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The swords struck Gaburi three times, the clashes ringing like metal striking metal.
"Huh? Tough one, aren't you?" Long Xiao muttered, his gaze narrowing as Gaburi's resilience reminded him of Xia Jing.
Gaburi's defense was formidable even among fourth ranks, but his speed had been greatly reduced, leaving him vulnerable.
"I don't believe your whole body's invincible," Long Xiao sneered, quickening his strikes. Each sword thrust aimed for Gaburi's most vulnerable spot.
"Clang!"
Though it seemed like a single strike, Long Xiao had actually unleashed over a thousand attacks in an instant.
"Damn it!" Gaburi felt a chilling sensation in his groin and abandoned his pride, curling into a ball and rolling away on the ground.
As he scrambled to safety, a burst of blue light flared nearby.
Fei She had been eliminated by one of Long Xiao's swords, instantly disqualified.
"Swish~"
Long Xiao ceased his pursuit once the remaining enemies left his attack range.
Anyone who retreated over a kilometer from the city walls was spared further attacks.
Long Xiao swiftly exited the right-side formation and moved toward the left flank.
Another team was attacking here, launching a simultaneous assault with Lei Ling, Leng Yue, and Xuan Feng.
This group consisted of 42 participants and 150 battle beasts, all organized under Yao Sifang.
As the leader of Princess You Ruo's faction, Yao Sifang had both a notable reputation and a high ranking from the previous stage.
Upon spotting Zhao Xing within the group, Long Xiao's movements subtly slowed. Even his Seven-Star Divine Swords took longer to return to his side.
"Forty-two people… letting half through isn't unreasonable," Long Xiao thought.
Allowing Zhao Xing to pass alone would be too conspicuous. Letting a group through together wouldn't raise suspicion.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Without the swords, Long Xiao directed his attacks with finger gestures, sending 42 waves of sword energy toward the charging group.
"His Divine Lightning Sword Technique has completely evolved over the past decade," Zhao Xing thought as he watched the radiant sword energy radiating from Long Xiao, who exuded boundless confidence.
This scene reminded Zhao Xing of the Shenxiao Marquis from his previous life—except Long Xiao still lacked the pain of losing his brother and the destruction of the Shenwei Army.
In this life, Long Xiao was thriving, his sword energy brimming with self-assurance and invincibility.
Without a sword in hand, he could still suppress a hundred fourth ranks.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Crash! Bang!"
"Thud!"
The Divine Lightning Sword Qi pierced through the group, striking every member, including Zhao Xing.
The moment the sword qi left Long Xiao's fingers, it vanished from sight, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. Like the time at the Extreme Night Sea, the attack was invisible, undetectable, and impossible to block—it could only be endured.
"Clang!"
The sword qi struck Zhao Xing's chest, shattering upon impact.
Among the 42 waves, this one had the weakest force.
Zhao Xing shook his head slightly. The favoritism was too obvious.
The strongest warrior from the Princess's group had been pushed back several meters, yet Zhao Xing remained unscathed.
"Meow!!"
A sharp cat cry echoed in Zhao Xing's mind.
Long Aotian, sensing the familiar sword energy, was confused as to why Long Xiao had attacked.
"Meow!!!"
The cat-shaped visor on Zhao Xing's helmet let out a sorrowful wail, a mix of doubt and grievance.
Hearing this, Long Xiao's expression grew apologetic. Had he accidentally hurt Long Aotian?
In that brief moment of hesitation, Yao Sifang's group seized the opportunity to breach the blood vitality wall and escape the Azure Dragon Corps' left-side formation.
In total, 20 participants successfully broke through.
Zhao Xing was the 20th to cross.
Long Xiao retrieved his Seven-Star Divine Swords and called the blood vitality dragon to heal the 500 soldiers in his formation. The battle array regrouped, driving the remaining attackers back.
Thus, the first attempt to breach the city ended in failure.
Only 20 participants had managed to clear the 30th city and proceed to the third stage.
After crossing the checkpoint, Zhao Xing checked the Earth Mirror rankings.
Clearing the stage within five days had earned him 5 million points, propelling him to 20th place.
"We actually made it?" Yao Sifang exclaimed in disbelief, glancing back at the battlefield.
"We made it," confirmed Chen Feng, the top warrior in the group. "Though it felt rather chaotic."
"Even among swordsmen, there are levels," remarked Wu Yue, the group's second-ranked fighter, with a sigh.
Though he was disguised as a Beast Tamer, Wu Yue was actually a swordsman.
He understood better than anyone the terrifying strength of a peerless genius swordsman leading 2,500 Azure Dragon Corps soldiers in a seventh-level battle formation.
In such confined checkpoints, even a third-rank might struggle to break through.
"Clearing this checkpoint on the first day would require someone organizing all participants into a unified force with exceptional cohesion," Yao Sifang speculated.
"Highly unlikely," Chen Feng said with a shake of his head.
As Yao Sifang tallied the survivors, he noticed Zhao Xing among them and was momentarily surprised.
Zhao Xing was the only fifth-rank to have made it.
Though puzzled, Yao Sifang attributed it to sheer luck.
Zhao Xing, however, thought to himself, "Dragon Guardian? More like Long Xiao's guardian service."
Given the current situation, Long Xiao could likely hold the line for another five days.
Even then, with 1,500 soldiers remaining, his defense would remain formidable.
But beyond that point, things would change as more challengers arrived and the Azure Dragon Corps continued to dwindle.
"Let's proceed to the third stage," Yao Sifang said.
"Let's go," Zhao Xing replied.
"Someone has reached the third stage."
Outside the Canghai Cave-Heaven, aboard the Golden Dragon Warship, Grand Stablemaster Ji Shuchang and Deputy Shennong Supervisor Wang Tianzhi, along with Bai Yunwu, watched the Earth Mirror intently.
"Only twenty participants passed within five days. The Azure Dragon Corps certainly lives up to its reputation."
"Their commander, Long Xiao, managed to form a seventh-level battle formation, and his swordsmanship is both graceful and fluid, entirely unique. He carries the demeanor of a Sword Immortal. General Bai, your tutelage has paid off."
Long Xiao and Bai Feng (whose childhood name is Bai Ling'er) had gotten engaged last year. However, the engagement had been kept low-key due to the tense defense situation in the Eastern Sea. Bai Yunwu himself had chosen to downplay the event.
If they had opted for a grand celebration and invited guests from across the Eastern Sea, eight out of ten top-tier experts in the region might have attended the ceremony. Such an occasion would have been an opportunity for enemies to exploit, potentially turning a happy occasion into a disaster.
After all, Long Xiao's reassignment to the Eastern Sea stemmed from his outburst against King Liang.
Thus, the engagement was held without an official wedding ceremony.
Hearing the praise, Bai Yunwu felt a sense of pride but maintained a humble demeanor. "Deputy Supervisor, Grand Stablemaster, you flatter me," he said modestly.
"While Long Xiao may be my grandson-in-law, he is still young and brash, prone to offending others. He needs to undergo more trials before he can shoulder greater responsibilities."
His words seemed self-effacing, but in reality, they weren't.
Highlighting Long Xiao's flaws—his youthful arrogance and tendency to offend—was a veiled jab at King Liang, Ji Mingxian.
Suggesting that Long Xiao needed more experience to take on significant roles implicitly criticized King Liang, insinuating that as long as the latter remained in power, Long Xiao wouldn't be entrusted with high office.
Ji Shuchang and Wang Tianzhi exchanged glances. The underlying meaning in Bai Yunwu's words was unmistakable: criticizing King Liang before Emperor Jing had withdrawn his favor could be seen as questioning the emperor's judgment.
Sensing the tension, Ji Shuchang quickly changed the subject with a self-deprecating remark.
"Speaking of which, of the twenty who cleared this stage, only eight are genuine Beast Tamers."
"As the Grand Stablemaster, I find this rather shameful."
Wang Tianzhi chuckled. "Why so modest, Grand Stablemaster? Isn't it the same every time?"
"It's easy for you to say, Deputy Supervisor. Among the twenty who passed, there's even a fifth-rank Shennong Officer."
"Zhao Xing is an exception," Wang Tianzhi replied indifferently. "He's not your typical fifth-rank. Besides, his success was partly due to luck. Long Xiao's defensive focus was on the right flank, not the left."
"They're about to reach the third stage." Bai Yunwu stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Do either of you know which Imperial Official was assigned to oversee this stage?"
The third stage, known as the Island of Heavenly Selection, was designed to test one's fortune.
Without sufficient fortune, even entering the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds could yield nothing of value.
In a Fortune Dynasty like Da Zhou, holding office or carrying out missions required strong fortune.
This stage was a straightforward screening, eliminating participants with insufficient fortune.
Even if a participant's strength was slightly lacking, strong fortune could make up for it, potentially uncovering significant treasures for the court.
However, poor performance in this stage after excelling in the previous two would raise red flags.
Since the competition offered rewards, those with weaker fortune but stronger capabilities would receive compensation to balance the scales.
Because fortune played a central role, the third stage naturally involved guidance from an Imperial Official.
Bai Yunwu had refrained from intervening in the process. In fact, he wasn't even aware of how many officials had been involved in setting up the stage.
Imperial Officials held a mysterious status in Da Zhou, and associating too closely with them could invite trouble. Bai Yunwu had no idea who was leading the stage.
But now that participants had begun to clear it, asking about the official in charge wouldn't hurt.
Ji Shuchang pondered for a moment before replying, "The official overseeing the Island of Heavenly Selection is Lord Tianyan."
The third stage, the Island of Heavenly Selection, presented itself as a massive maze.
"The maze cannot be broken with brute force."
"It follows no discernible pattern."
"Passing the stage relies solely on fortune."
"Scores are time-based: the shorter the time, the higher the score."
Upon reaching the third heaven, Zhao Xing and the others heard a distant voice echo in their ears.
Before them loomed a colossal maze shrouded in mist. Its walls soared a thousand meters high, stretching endlessly in all directions.
"All entrances to the maze are identical."
"However, the exits differ. Exiting through the Martial Gate signifies that your future explorations in the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds will focus on martial realms or martial arts techniques. Choosing corresponding secret realms will yield the best results."
"Similarly, the maze has exits for Wealth, Military, Secret Arts, Sorcery…"
Yao Sifang, Chen Feng, Zhao Xing, and the other twenty participants listened in silence.
The concept of fortune wasn't new to them; they knew it could extend lifespan and enhance cultivation realms. But this level of categorization and precision was unprecedented.
"This is the depth of Da Zhou's heritage," Zhao Xing muttered, gazing at the maze.
In his eyes, the entire maze glowed with golden light, with a faint image of a Fortune Golden Dragon coiled above it—a manifestation of an Imperial Edict!
Beneath the dragon were several blurry figures, likely Imperial Officials using the dynasty's fortune to conduct a grand divination.
The maze was essentially a large-scale projection of the participants' potential futures, examining what they might achieve in the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds.
At this stage, nearly ten thousand participants remained, most of them at the fourth rank.
Divining such a large group's future over the next decade required an immense amount of fortune—a feat only a Fortune Dynasty like Da Zhou could undertake.
No single sect, lacking state-level resources, could achieve this.
"Let's begin," Yao Sifang said, taking a deep breath before stepping into the maze.
"Move," Chen Feng added, his figure flickering as he vanished into the maze.
As the others entered, Zhao Xing remained stationary, his eyes fixed on the golden dragon above.
He felt a vague sense of familiarity with the figures beneath the dragon—a sensation linked to the karmic bonds of his soul.
Lord Tianyan, sensing Zhao Xing's hesitation, called out, "Zhao Xing, why do you hesitate?"
"Your Excellency, I have a question," Zhao Xing replied, his voice calm.
Hearing Lord Tianyan's voice confirmed Zhao Xing's suspicions. During the Dragon Whale capture at the Extreme Night Sea, Lords Luohou, Lingde, and Tianyan had appeared, and Zhao Xing had encountered them briefly.
"What is your question?" Lord Tianyan asked, slightly surprised that Zhao Xing recognized his voice after so many years.
"May I use my Myriad Manifestation Avatars to navigate the maze?" Zhao Xing asked.
Lord Tianyan hadn't considered this possibility. Ordinary puppets, lacking life souls, were ineffective in the maze and yielded no meaningful results.
However, Myriad Manifestation Avatars, being guided by life souls, were a different matter.
Lord Tianyan consulted his compass and performed a quick calculation. "You may. Using your avatars will yield more precise results."
"However, your score will only be based on the time taken by your true body to exit the maze."
"Thank you for clarifying, Your Excellency." Zhao Xing bowed respectfully.
After that, Zhao Xing activated his Pure Essence Projection, summoning all forty-three remaining avatars.
Simultaneously, he utilized the plants cultivated within the Pure Essence Soil to create fifty-seven Myriad Straw Puppets on the spot.
Including his true body, there were now 101 instances of Zhao Xing standing before the maze.
Lord Tianyan observed this scene with a slight nod.
Zhao Xing was no longer the same as before.
His mastery over the Myriad Straw Puppets had reached an advanced and perfected level, allowing him to control a hundred avatars seamlessly.
Furthermore, the creation of Pure Essence Soil demonstrated not only his remarkable cultivation but also the sheer scale of his projection capabilities.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…"
The hundred avatars and his true body stepped into the maze simultaneously, accompanied by the three battle beasts, which remained by his true body's side.
As he entered the maze, the walls around him occasionally shimmered with seven-colored radiance, at other times turning transparent, revealing fleeting and unfamiliar scenes.
The scenes faintly reflected Zhao Xing's shadow, but each shadow performed entirely different actions.
"The divination has begun, focusing on the potential future trends after entering the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds."
"However, the future holds countless possibilities, and the current results of the divination are far from stable."
"If the results show relative stability, it indicates a higher likelihood of those events occurring," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Walking casually and unhurriedly, Zhao Xing maintained a steady pace. For him, understanding future outcomes was far more crucial than rushing to clear the stage.
In truth, speed had little impact in this maze since it constantly shifted and lacked any discernible pattern, relying purely on fortune to navigate.
Whether he walked faster or slower, the outcome remained the same.
After some time, the images on the walls began to linger for a full second and grew clearer.
Even within that brief second, the information conveyed by the images was immense.
Zhao Xing pondered the insights he gained.
Though he moved at a slow pace, he rarely encountered dead ends.
Whenever he approached what seemed to be a dead end, the walls would unexpectedly split open, revealing new paths.
Even when he did reach an actual dead end, a quick turn often led him to another route.
After about an hour, the images stabilized further, lasting longer and significantly increasing the volume of information conveyed.
This advantage was magnified by the fact that Zhao Xing had a hundred avatars, allowing him to receive a hundred times the information compared to others.
The strain on his life soul intensified, and Zhao Xing slowed his pace even further.
However, he soon adjusted his strategy.
Instead of focusing on the brilliant and dazzling futures displayed in the images, he shifted his attention to the dim and ominous scenes.
Particularly those marked as 'maze dead ends.'
Zhao Xing placed special emphasis on these 'dead ends.'
In this maze of the Island of Heavenly Selection, these dead ends symbolized potential dangers or crises in his future.
Whenever he encountered such a location, he would pause to carefully observe, waiting for the divination images to materialize before proceeding.
All 100 avatars followed the same approach.
Zhao Xing was unconcerned about missing opportunities because his current fortune of Derivation Five was already remarkably high, guaranteeing him a solid baseline of benefits.
As he progressed, the walls predominantly displayed radiant and auspicious imagery.
In these scenes, Zhao Xing often appeared smiling with joy, surrounded by golden light—a clear sign of significant rewards.
What he feared most were images signaling life-threatening crises.
Fortunately, the dim and ominous walls and dead ends were few and far between.
Each time he encountered one, Zhao Xing meticulously memorized the details.
This approach placed considerable pressure on Lord Tianyan.
"Buzz…"
The compass in Lord Tianyan's hand began spinning faster, while the Fortune Golden Dragon on the Imperial Edict exhaled dense golden light, illuminating the maze below.
As time passed, the frequency of the golden dragon's breaths increased.
"This young man is more taxing to divine for than all the other nineteen participants combined," Lord Tianyan muttered.
Managing the maze's divination array consumed significant energy, and Lord Tianyan was shocked to discover that 90% of the array's computational power was being directed toward Zhao Xing alone!
"Still, divining for him is the most worthwhile."
The purpose of divination was to glean insights into the future.
Having foreknowledge naturally led to changes.
For instance, if someone saw themselves dying in a specific location, they would either exercise extreme caution or avoid that location altogether.
In doing so, what was initially a great calamity could diminish or even vanish entirely.
This was the essence of divination.
However, altering the future wasn't always as straightforward as it seemed.
The information gained from divination was rarely comprehensive, especially when projecting a decade into the future of the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds.
Avoiding one danger could inadvertently trigger an even worse outcome.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of divination depended on the individual.
For Zhao Xing, this glimpse into his future exploration of the ancient grounds was extraordinarily beneficial.
Having explored those grounds many times in his previous life, Zhao Xing was already familiar with much of its content. Combining his past knowledge with the court's divination amplified his advantage exponentially.
"His fortune is truly remarkable. He's already halfway through the maze, and 80% of the images depict great fortune and prosperity."
"Judging by the frequency of auspicious outcomes, his future exploration volume will far exceed the others."
If most participants required ten to fifteen days to secure a single treasure in the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds, Zhao Xing could obtain one in a single day, leaving ample time to find more.
The compass in Lord Tianyan's hand displayed a constant stream of great fortune, moderate fortune, and minor fortune, with the latter never fading.
"According to traditional methods, his current fortune level is Derivation Five."
"However, this divination concerns the future, and his performance here is akin to that of a chosen son of destiny. By the time he enters the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds, his fortune will undoubtedly exceed Derivation Five!"
Lord Tianyan grew increasingly astonished as the divination progressed.
As time passed, minor fortune shifted into moderate fortune, moderate fortune evolved into great fortune, and the instances of great fortune multiplied exponentially!
This indicated that the divination had positively influenced Zhao Xing's future.
The 'dead ends' he observed were likely warning signs that would help him avoid critical dangers in the future.
For Zhao Xing, the maze's potential benefits had been maximized.
The time approached three hours later.
Zhao Xing's first avatar emerged from the Soldier's Gate.
However, as Lord Tianyan had previously mentioned, points were only counted for the true body, so it was still necessary to wait for his true body to exit.
Four hours later, over fifty avatars had emerged, appearing at almost every gate—the Soldier's Gate, Wealth Gate, Martial Gate, Secret Technique Gate, Fortune Gate… Zhao Xing's figure seemed to be present at nearly all of them.
At the six-hour mark, Zhao Xing's true body encountered a massive dead end.
On Lord Tianyan's compass, a dire "great misfortune" symbol appeared.
"Hm?" Lord Tianyan expressed curiosity. "I wonder what he's seeing?"
Lord Tianyan himself could not perceive the scenes Zhao Xing witnessed.
The configuration of the Island of Heavenly Selection ensured that only the individual could view the specific images of their potential future. Lord Tianyan could only discern fortune and misfortune signs and which gate an individual exited from.
After the trial, records would be organized to offer suggestions and recommend which secret realms the selected individuals should explore.
This arrangement served two purposes. First, it respected privacy, as Fate Officers were bound by rules prohibiting unwarranted intrusion into others' futures. Second, the burden was immense. Manipulating the laws of destiny was inherently defiant of natural order. The renowned Liang Ruohai, who once calculated celestial secrets related to the mysteries of Cave-Heaven Spiritual Veins, had shortened his own life by hundreds of years and passed away within a decade after the event.
Even with assistants, treasures, and formations to aid him, Lord Tianyan faced a monumental challenge managing the divination of over ten thousand participants while addressing the intricate destinies of the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds. Attempting to view the myriad potential futures of each participant would have been overwhelmingly taxing and came at an unacceptable cost.
"Only the fifth 'great misfortune' after all this time. That's more like it," Lord Tianyan mused.
The Dragon Court Ancient Grounds were inherently perilous. Zhao Xing's streak of great fortune was unusual; encountering several instances of great misfortune was far more in line with expectations.
At the massive dead end within the maze, Zhao Xing's gaze turned profound and shadowy.
The sky was pitch black, and the sea below mirrored its darkness. Amid the void, a single radiant Crystal Palace shone brilliantly amidst the abyss.
Nine ghostly silhouettes drifted about, and Zhao Xing saw hundreds of fragmented versions of himself floating in the space.
Nearby, a colossal figure over ten meters tall, covered in scales and resembling a feline, drifted silently. Its head bore arcs of crackling lightning.
"Over nine hundred Myriad Straw Puppet avatars… Mountain Cat seems to have evolved to its third transformation stage, yet we still perished here?" Zhao Xing analyzed. "And what about Blue Lion Hound and the Spirit Illusion Goat? Were their remains obliterated?"
As he stepped closer to the ominous dead end, he noticed a small door in the lower-left corner.
The entire wall was an oppressive black, except for a half-meter-high door that gleamed green.
Pondering for a moment, Zhao Xing crouched down and slipped through the door.
Suddenly, his vision cleared.
He had exited.
Zhao Xing turned to glance back.
On the green door, a single word was etched: "Tian" (Heaven).
His true body had exited through the Heaven Gate.
This "Heaven" signified ascension, symbolizing the strongest fortune among all gates.
"He indeed emerged from the Heaven Gate. I wonder how many participants across the Four Seas could achieve this… At least the Eastern Sea now has one," Lord Tianyan reflected internally.
"Retrieve!"
Zhao Xing absorbed all his Myriad Straw Puppet avatars back into his body.
He then sat down, quietly digesting the experiences.
One by one, he sorted through all the images he had seen and sealed them within his Memory Palace.
Only after completing this meticulous process did Zhao Xing stand up again.
Upon rising, he realized he was inside a grand palace, with Lord Tianyan standing before him.
"Greetings to Lord Tianyan," Zhao Xing greeted with composed respect.
"Zhao Xing, you completed the trial in nine hours. Within the day's time limit, this earns you the highest tier reward of ten million points," Lord Tianyan stated.
The rules of the Island of Heavenly Selection, much like those of the Dragon's Guard, allocated points based on completion time.
Despite Zhao Xing's hundred avatars and his deliberate slowing to observe future outcomes, his overall completion time was swift, requiring less than a day to exit.
However, Lord Tianyan's tone suggested there was more to the situation.
"However, you exited through the Heaven Gate."
"This qualifies you under the special provisions issued by the Heavenly Secret Hall for this trial."
"Regardless of your performance in the next two trials, you will be granted a guaranteed entry quota."
"Additionally, I will adjust your points to one million and officially record your clearance time as occurring on the ninth day."
"This is to prevent undue attention from others."
Zhao Xing listened quietly.
The implication was clear: even if his visible score did not place him among the top five hundred, he would still secure a spot.
"The Heavenly Secret Hall will arrange for you to enter the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds through a special channel before its formal opening."
"The specific details will be conveyed to you after this trial concludes. You will be escorted to the Martial Realm for further instructions," Lord Tianyan elaborated.
"Yes," Zhao Xing replied without questioning further. Lord Tianyan had provided sufficient clarity. If there was more to know, it was simply not the time for disclosure.
"Additionally, everything here will remain unknown to others. You will stay in this palace until the ninth day."
"For the next two trials, I will request Duke Wei's assistance in deploying the Forgetfulness Spell. This will ensure that others forget your true trial results."
"Your actual performance will be sealed in a classified archive."
"Likewise, you must not divulge any details."
"I understand," Zhao Xing nodded. This was the treatment befitting a "Heaven's Chosen Son."
While Derivation Five Fortune was not unique to Zhao Xing, and there were undoubtedly participants with even higher fortunes in this trial, the focus was on the projected conditions of the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds ten years from now.
From Lord Tianyan's perspective, Zhao Xing's fortune trajectory demonstrated continuous ascent.
Especially regarding his future experiences in the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds, the frequency of great fortune Zhao Xing was destined to encounter was astounding. Even among high-tier futures cataloged by the Heavenly Secret Hall, such results were exceedingly rare.
The special treatment afforded to Zhao Xing was entirely justified.
"Rest here for now. I will release you on the ninth day."
"Yes," Zhao Xing responded calmly. He sat cross-legged within the palace, meditating on the three great secret scriptures, thinking of nothing else, and taking no further action.
The narrative shifted to the eighth day.
"Damn it! Damn it! Why are you only targeting me?!" thundered Lei Ling, filled with rage.
In the second trial, Dragon's Guard, within the final fortress, Lei Ling furiously confronted Long Xiao.
Beside him, Gaburi, covered in wounds, was too injured to even speak.
According to the rules, from the fifth day onward, three hundred Azure Dragon Soldiers were eliminated daily.
At this point, only Long Xiao and one hundred Azure Dragon Soldiers remained within the fortress.
Yet Lei Ling and Gaburi had been stalled by Long Xiao for a full eight days!
Including the five days prior, their total delay stretched to thirteen days!
While over fifteen hundred participants had already advanced, Lei Ling was still stuck here.
Previously ranked first in the initial trial, Lei Ling now found himself trailing far behind. His frustration was palpable.
He strongly suspected that Long Xiao was deliberately targeting him!
"You're strong. If I don't target you, who else should I target?" Long Xiao retorted coldly.
"Then why aren't you going after Xuan Feng or Leng Yue? Their strength isn't weak either!" Lei Ling shouted, bewildered.
Long Xiao ignored him. In truth, Lei Ling had mocked his brother earlier. This was retribution.
The fact that Lei Ling wasn't eliminated outright was proof of Long Xiao's restraint.
Unable to fathom the reasoning, Lei Ling could only stew in frustration.
Long Xiao, turning his back on Lei Ling, taunted him further by showing him his backside.
Lei Ling's impressive strength made targeting him a justified choice, and Long Xiao showed no intention of relenting.
Day Nine
Zhao Xing was released by Lord Tianyan and began the fourth trial.
At this point, his ranking had dropped to four hundred and fiftieth.
Zhao Xing wasn't sure if this was his actual ranking or the one altered by Lord Tianyan. Either way, he had already secured his quota.
Now, his participation in the last two trials was mostly for appearances.
After all, many had observed his performance in the first two trials.
If he were suddenly eliminated in the third trial, Island of Heavenly Selection, it would raise too many questions.
Curiosity would lead to investigation.
Hence, Zhao Xing's current ranking and trial experiences would be recorded in a separate "public data set" for others to see.
As for ranking rewards, although they were generous, Lord Tianyan had promised special treatment. Zhao Xing trusted that his rewards would be no worse than what the rankings offered.
"The fourth trial—True Dragon King's City."
"It's a test of illusions."
"There are a total of nine illusion palaces. Each palace serves to filter out those with unstable minds." Zhao Xing gazed at the palaces ahead, each radiating a distinct glow.
"In the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds, various factions exist. Those with weak wills are likely to be manipulated by sect powerhouses."
"From a trial perspective, the soul power of the ancient True Dragon Clan is incredibly potent."
"What's considered a simple illusion trial for the dragon race is often much harder for humans."
"I wonder how far I'll get."
True Dragon King's City was composed of nine palaces, each with increasing difficulty.
The trial lasted a month. After that, points were calculated based on the number of palaces a participant passed.
A month later.
Zhao Xing was ejected from the seventh palace.
His eyes held a fleeting trace of confusion but quickly regained clarity.
Hundreds of participants were ejected along with him.
Some were still caught in the aftershocks of the illusions as they were flung out.
One participant cried uncontrollably, shouting the names of deceased loved ones.
Another babbled incoherently, raving about how "the world was ending."
Yet another had stripped completely naked and clung to a nearby pillar, performing unspeakable acts.
The scene resembled a chaotic spectacle of utter public embarrassment.
"Damn, get lost!" Zhao Xing kicked away a lustful individual who had tried to latch onto him, his face full of disgust.
The person who had been kicked seemed oblivious to Zhao Xing and immediately attempted to cling to someone else.
At that moment, a voice resonated from the sky.
"Awaken!"
The mysterious Grandmaster of Rites intervened once more, restoring everyone's sanity.
Many participants displayed expressions of profound shame and mortification.
"That must be Duke Wei," Zhao Xing mused. "Who would have thought that the Island of Heavenly Selection trial would be overseen by both a Duke and a Prince?"
As for his score and ranking, Zhao Xing no longer cared.
His goal for the last two trials was merely to patch up any loose ends.
"I passed the sixth illusion palace and got stuck in the seventh."
"My soul cultivation is only at the mid-fourth rank. If I could advance further, I might have cleared the seventh palace within the month," Zhao Xing reflected.
He had already discerned the workings of the seventh palace but lacked the raw power to swiftly break through its intricate illusion.
"Even so, my ranking has climbed significantly, reaching three hundred and eighth place," Zhao Xing thought. "Whether that ranking is real or fabricated, I have no way of knowing."
While Zhao Xing was unclear about the circumstances of others, he had witnessed someone emerge from the ninth palace.
Ultimately, the Earth Mirror controlling the trial was in the hands of the imperial court. Forging records would be a trivial matter for them.
How he ranked in the end depended entirely on what the Heavenly Secret Hall deemed appropriate for his completion of the trial.
For now, he would enter the final trial, Dragon Speech Decree, ranked as three hundred and eighth.
Time flowed to the twenty-fourth day since Zhao Xing passed the second trial, Dragon's Guard.
Within the thirtieth city of Dragon's Guard…
"Damn… your entire family…"
Lei Ling collapsed on the ground, too exhausted to even speak properly.
There were barely any people left around him.
As for the thirtieth dragon city, only Long Xiao remained to defend it.
Including the five days before Zhao Xing cleared the trial, Lei Ling had been stuck here for twenty-nine days.
He was now on the brink of the one-month time limit.
Lei Ling had been held here for an excruciating twenty-nine days.
Weaker participants had already cleared the trial, numbering in the thousands, while Lei Ling was being tormented relentlessly by Long Xiao.
Lei Ling protested, shouting accusations of unfairness to the heavens.
But no one paid him any attention.
Within the rules, Long Xiao was permitted to obstruct anyone.
Even if Long Xiao's actions seemed excessive, complaints would be meaningless. After all, these five hundred quota spots were contributions from the Baiyun Martial Family!
File a complaint?
Who would dare accuse the son-in-law of this trial's authority?
"Lei, stop shouting. The more you complain, the harder it'll be to get through," a companion nearby urged, unable to bear watching any longer.
Lei Ling was utterly broken mentally, lashing out at the trial's gatekeeper.
But by doing so, he only ensured that his suffering would continue.
"Phew… Phew…" Exhausted from cursing, Lei Ling sat up and quietly began recovering his strength.
Tomorrow would be the final day. If he didn't pass by then, he would be eliminated.
The five hundred quota spots were relatively easier to claim in this trial. If Lei Ling failed, he would have to fight in the elimination rounds, competing against even more people for the remaining spots. That would be an even greater challenge.
Fifth Trial: Dragon Speech Decree
Zhao Xing faced the test of the ancient dragon race's language.
"In the Era of Spiritual Qi, the many powerhouses of the Dragon Court established the Dao, altering the laws of heaven and earth. As a result, the dragon race's language became not just a form of communication but also a form of spellcraft, carrying the power of the world like incantations."
"Even now, the power remains effective, though its strength has diminished significantly."
"Different languages and ancient scripts also symbolize different levels of authority. For instance, the golden script of the dragon race is exclusive to the royal court. The level of the Dragon Speech Decree determines one's status among the dragons."
"There are over two hundred types in total, making this trial truly challenging."
Zhao Xing studied the trial before him. It was undoubtedly his weak point.
The duration of the test was only seven days.
Yet within this time, he had to master and demonstrate over two hundred variations of the Dragon Speech Decree.
Other participants were veterans who had spent decades, even lifetimes, pouring over such knowledge.
Zhao Xing, on the other hand, had only scratched the surface of this domain.
The preparation time for this trial had been vastly uneven among the participants.
Moreover, the Dragon Speech Decree was a completely new spell system, akin to the True Words Law employed by Grandmasters of Rites.
And finally, the inherent difficulty of the decrees themselves compounded the challenge.
"Out of over two hundred types, seventy-two involve advanced Dragon Speech spells. At least a fifth-rank body is required to even articulate these decrees."
"After breaking through to the fifth rank, there were far too many tasks demanding my attention. I simply didn't have the time to focus on specialized research."
Given these circumstances, Zhao Xing's scoring potential in this trial was inevitably weaker.
His knowledge of the Myriad Beasts True Words provided a general foundation but lacked the depth needed for advanced Dragon Speech spells.
He had never anticipated encountering this trial during the random fifth stage selection.
"I still have ten years to prepare. Falling behind here isn't a big deal," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "This is just an opportunity to identify my weaknesses and fill in the gaps."
Seven days later, Zhao Xing exited the Dragon Speech Decree trial and awaited the conclusion of everyone else's tests.
During this time, his ranking gradually declined.
Eventually, it stabilized at four hundred and twenty-fifth place.
"Lord Tianyan must be intervening behind the scenes," Zhao Xing thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
The number of participants arriving for the final trial continued to grow.
Yet Zhao Xing's ranking remained fixed, clearly locked in place.
"Four hundred and twenty-fifth. That's safely within the top five hundred spots, yet not conspicuously at the bottom to draw undue attention."
Zhao Xing sat cross-legged in a corner, waiting patiently for the final examination to conclude.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but Zhao Xing suddenly felt a repelling force.
The Canghai Token on his body emitted a faint glow, enveloping him and his battle beast together.
"It's over," Zhao Xing murmured, realizing he was about to leave Canghai Cave-Heaven.
Outside Canghai Cave-Heaven, aboard the Genchuan Fubo ship.
"It's over? What's Zhao Xing's final ranking?" Meng Kun asked.
"Four hundred and twenty-fifth place," Gu Changqing replied.
"Why did it drop so much?"
"He only had a slight lead after the third trial. By the fourth trial, he had fallen behind the first tier. In the fifth trial, his performance was relatively poor," Gu Changqing explained. "The only reason he managed to stabilize at four hundred and twenty-fifth was because of the advantage he built during the second trial."
"It doesn't matter. We weren't counting on his other skills anyway," Meng Kun said nonchalantly. "Dragon Speech Decree—he's so young, it's normal for him not to excel at it."
"True," Gu Changqing agreed with a nod. "Considering he's only at the fifth rank and so young, it's already a miracle that he placed in the top five hundred!"
Besides, Meng Kun's faction wasn't interested in these results. Their focus was on Zhao Xing's potential within the Geographical School.
"Get ready. Come with me to meet him," Meng Kun ordered.
"Understood," Gu Changqing replied with a nod.
Aboard the Fengxi Cloud Ship.
"Zhao Xing's performance in the last two trials was average," Hengyuan said with a frown. "Especially in the Illusion Palaces, which tested willpower and resolve. He only cleared four palaces."
"Clearing the fourth palace is already commendable," Simayi Yunhai interjected. "He's still young, with little experience of the mortal world. Passing the fourth illusion palace is already quite impressive."
"Indeed," Hengyuan admitted, nodding.
At this point, Simayi Yunhai, having been persuaded by Geng Shouchang, had agreed to recommend Zhao Xing to Xuantian Academy.
Geng Shouchang's persuasion required only a single sentence:
"Don't you want to return their methods in kind?"
Upon hearing this, Simayi Yunhai immediately agreed.
Now, he was one of Zhao Xing's most enthusiastic supporters.
If he could recruit Zhao Xing into Xuantian Academy, Simayi Yunhai was determined to personally teach him and claim the title of Zhao Xing's mentor.
This would serve as the perfect counterstrike to settle old scores!
"Time is of the essence. Geng and Heng, the two of you should head out immediately to meet Zhao Xing," Simayi Yunhai instructed.
Although Simayi Yunhai refrained from making a direct appearance, fearing Zhao Xing might discern his true intentions, he trusted Hengyuan and Geng Shouchang to handle the matter.
Elsewhere…
"Where's Long Xiao? Long Xiao, get over here!"
"I'm going to beat that brat to death. Is this how a person should act?"
"Father, what's wrong with Long Xiao now?" Bai Feng asked, puzzled.
"Ling'er, you wouldn't understand."
"All someone did was curse at Long Xiao a few times, and this brat kept Lei Ling stuck in the second trial for an entire month!"
"Pfft!" Bai Feng burst into laughter. "Well done!"
"Huh? You're taking his side?" Bai Mingchuan became even more irritated.
"Father, that Lei Ling was cursing out Long Xiao's entire family. Doesn't that include you, me, and even grandfather?"
"What Long Xiao did doesn't seem wrong to me. In fact, I admire his protective nature. How could you fault him for that?"
Though Bai Mingchuan hesitated, his daughter's words struck a chord. He grudgingly admitted she had a point but still countered, "A true man should have a broad mind and a forgiving nature. How can he accomplish great things acting like this?"
Bai Feng said nothing more. She knew her father loved to nitpick. Long Xiao didn't normally act this way, so there must have been a reason this time.
Bai Mingchuan was only arguing because he disliked being contradicted.
"I understand, Father. Your teaching is wise," Bai Feng said, defusing the argument.
"Hmph! If you see him, tell him to finish the task I assigned him and meet Zhao Xing immediately."
"If he delays, it'll be too late."
When Zhao Xing exited the trial grounds, he returned to the same location he had entered.
By this time, Liu Wanliang had been waiting outside for quite a while, accompanied by a group of others.
When Zhao Xing emerged, he was greeted with a wave of cheers.
"Congratulations, Marquis Yuanrang!"
"Chen'an, well done!"
"Zhao Xing, amazing work!"
The Princess' contingent, regardless of how well they knew Zhao Xing before, now treated him as one of their own.
Zhao Xing's strength had earned their respect. Even those of the fourth rank repeatedly congratulated him.
Of course, among the well-wishers, there were a few gritted-teeth congratulations thrown in.
"Marquis Yuanrang, congratulations!" Lin Ziyue said, her teeth grinding as she smiled at Zhao Xing.
She could never forget how Zhao Xing had eliminated her in the earlier trial. That bolt of lightning was seared into her memory for life.
"You two are too kind. No need to thank me," Zhao Xing replied with a smile.
Wang Zhaozhao and Lin Ziyue: "…"
Liu Wanliang laughed. "Chen'an, congratulations! Come aboard the ship. The Princess is waiting for you."
"Yes," Zhao Xing replied calmly, stepping forward.
"Senior Brother, I just knew you'd secure the spot!" Ji Zixuan's face was full of admiration as soon as Zhao Xing boarded the ship.
"Where is Teacher's wife?" Zhao Xing asked directly.
"She's inside, waiting for you."
"Help me take care of these first," Zhao Xing said as he handed over the Mountain Cat, Blue Lion Hound, and Spirit Illusion Goat to Ji Zixuan before heading into Yonghua Hall.
"Teacher's wife, I have returned," Zhao Xing said respectfully as he bowed.
"Chen'an, you did well," Princess You Ruo said with a gentle smile. "I honestly didn't expect that when you first mentioned vying for a spot, you'd actually secure a place in the Dragon Court's Ancient Land."
"It's all thanks to Teacher's wife's guidance. Without your support, I wouldn't have achieved such an honor," Zhao Xing replied humbly.
"Alright, no need to flatter me," Princess You Ruo laughed lightly. "What does it have to do with me? All I did was give you some money. My own retainers who spent more than you didn't even make it. Some of them were eliminated outright."
"You've secured a spot in the top five hundred, which, according to court customs, means both you and your battle beasts will receive rewards."
"Fan Fujun of Chongming Prefecture and Wang Supervisor both came to ask me whether your current fifth-rank title would remain unchanged or if you had other plans."
Securing a place within the top five hundred required, at minimum, a promotion in rank and a Fortune Blessing Ceremony.
In addition to the title upgrades, Zhao Xing's battle pets would also be rewarded, each receiving a Fortune Blessing as well.
As their master, Zhao Xing would benefit from this indirectly, gaining an additional blessing for himself.
There was also a monetary reward involved, designated explicitly for cultivation and nurturing battle beasts. This resource could not be used for personal indulgences or other purposes.
At this moment, however, Zhao Xing's mind was focused on the issue of his official title.
Princess You Ruo continued, "Regarding the situation in Chongming Prefecture, you can take your time to decide."
"Because, right now, you have three other options."
Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned. "What does Teacher's wife mean?"
Princess You Ruo explained, "Hengyuan and Geng Shouchang from Xuantian Academy, as well as Gu Changqing and Meng Kun from Kunyuan Academy, have taken notice of your talent."
"They intend to recruit you and take advantage of this promotion opportunity to transfer you to their academies."
"Additionally, Bai Mingchuan of the Azure Dragon Army has expressed interest in bringing you into the military. He's even offered a position above the fourth rank."
"You're aware of the state of the aquatic tribes. Bai Mingchuan can truly elevate you five ranks in one go."
"What?" Zhao Xing was dumbfounded. "How did this happen?"
He had no prior contact with Xuantian Academy, Kunyuan Academy, or Bai Mingchuan.
How had they suddenly decided to recruit him?
"It's because of your performance in this competition," Princess You Ruo explained.
After a brief moment of reflection, Zhao Xing understood. His combat scenes must have caught the attention of the academies' leaders, prompting their interest in recruiting him.
"I would like to seek Teacher's wife and Teacher's advice before making a decision," Zhao Xing replied earnestly.
"Neither your Teacher nor I have any strong opinions on the matter," Princess You Ruo said with a faint smile. "Wherever you choose to go is fine, as long as you don't abandon the cultivation of the Myriad Straw Puppet Techniques. Your Teacher doesn't care where you end up."
Zhao Xing nodded solemnly. "In that case, allow me to consider it carefully."
"Very well. We'll return to Bixian County for now. They'll come to you when the time is right."
"Yes, Teacher's wife. I'll take my leave."
Beneath the vast Eastern Sea, hidden deep beneath the surface.
Three towering peaks stood amidst the ocean floor, with a crystalline palace nestled between them.
Inside the palace, a statue stood prominently at its center.
When the competition for spots in the Dragon Court's Ancient Land concluded, this statue slowly began to come to life.
Descending from the pedestal, the Blood Spirit Sovereign surveyed the other statues in the crystalline palace.
Below each statue burned a brazier, though some flames flickered weakly.
The Blood Spirit Sovereign lit several crimson incense sticks, placing them into one of the braziers. He also burned a stack of spirit-infused papers, imbued with the prayers of devout followers, adding them to the brazier.
The fire roared back to life, burning brightly once more.
After a short while, a letter emerged from the brazier below one of the statues.
"I'm always the one stuck with this tedious work," the Blood Spirit Sovereign muttered, picking up the letter. "You're all asleep while I'm left to deal with everything. When will it be my turn to rest?"
He sighed deeply and opened the letter.
It contained a freshly compiled list of five hundred names, detailing their origins, strength, official titles, and backgrounds.
"The five hundred mid-tier practitioners selected by the Great Zhou for the Dragon Court's Ancient Land have been finalized," the Blood Spirit Sovereign murmured.
"Hmm? Zhao Xing? Why does that name sound so familiar?"
He frowned, his thoughts stirring uneasily.
"Is he Liu Wanfa's disciple? That boy from Nanyang County? No, this sense of familiarity runs even deeper…"
The Blood Spirit Sovereign felt as if he had overlooked something critical.
The more he dwelled on it, the more enigmatic this Zhao Xing seemed.
"This boy was exiled to the Eastern Sea for only ten years and has grown to this level."
"He's mastered the Myriad Manifestation Techniques to such an advanced degree, with both the Heavenly Timing Method and Earthly Advantage Method achieving high-level perfection."
"Why hasn't the Liang King's faction made a move against him?"
"Oh, they did," the Blood Spirit Sovereign said, recalling. "General Jin Hou was sent… only to be killed by him."
The Blood Spirit Sovereign pieced together the past decade's events involving Zhao Xing.
When he tried to divine Zhao Xing's future, he found it shrouded in obscurity.
"Bang!" Three of his fingers snapped under the strain of the calculation.
"This feeling… it's reminiscent of when I attempted to calculate the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven," the Blood Spirit Sovereign mused.
Retrieving his severed fingers, he chewed on them. Before long, new fingers grew in their place.
"Could it be that the insignificant ant I noticed on the chessboard back then was him?"
The thought intrigued him, but he quickly dismissed it.
"No, that's impossible. Back then, his cultivation was far too low. Even now, he shouldn't be capable of disrupting such a grand scheme…"
"Forget it. Either way, he must be eliminated."
"Let's place him as the seventh target on the must-kill list," the Blood Spirit Sovereign said, scribbling on the list.
Once finished, he tossed the list into the brazier, its flames consuming the paper entirely.
"Ah, such a thankless job. Why am I the one stuck with all this?" he grumbled.
"When will my senior brothers and uncles finally wake up?"
The flames crackled and devoured the letter, but no response came.
The Blood Spirit Sovereign shook his head in resignation and leaped back onto the pedestal, returning to his dormant statue form.
The ship returned to Chongming Prefecture, where Zhao Xing disembarked to await the next steps of the award process.
Having left in April, they returned in the early autumn of Jingxin Calendar Year 30.
However, as soon as Zhao Xing arrived in Chongming Prefecture, an unsettling feeling of foreboding gripped his chest, as if someone were plotting against him.
"Hm?" Zhao Xing clutched his chest, his brows furrowing.