Cherreads

Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Meeting Emperor Jing, Receiving Titles and Promotions!

Cold, dark, and twisted starlight reflected off the dragon scales as they quickly receded, revealing wheat-colored skin beneath.

"Burned here, scorched there, and even white patches like after cupping therapy. Well, there goes the Heavenly Mechanism Robe and Yellow Almanac, both reduced to ash," Zhao Xing muttered while brushing off his body. Ashes fluttered away as he patted himself down.

The power of the Fuming Furnace was overwhelming. Even though Zhao Xing had broken through to the Second Rank, it still scorched his skin.

Fortunately, after entering the Underworld Realm, the cold aura suppressed the furnace's heat. With the flames extinguished, the furnace's outer layer gradually cooled down as well.

"This time I've brought my physical body along instead of just my primordial soul. The Ancient Yin Warship's yin-yang traversal capabilities are truly impressive," Zhao Xing remarked, surveying his surroundings.

The Ancient Yin Warship drifted aimlessly in a dim, mottled void. Zhao Xing realized it was sailing through a dense "shadow cloud."

After tending to his injuries, Zhao Xing walked to a raised cabin at the ship's bow and inserted the Shangtang Token into a slot.

"Buzz~" The steering pedestal extended upward. Zhao Xing's primordial soul emerged, placing his hands into the recessed grooves.

A map of the Underworld Realm appeared in his mind, and the Ancient Yin Warship came to an abrupt halt, ignoring the flow of the Underworld's spatial currents.

"This position corresponds to the offshore waters of Dongying in the Yang Realm?"

"How did I end up here? Such a fleeting flow, yet the change is dramatic," Zhao Xing thought.

If Zhao Xing performed a yin-yang traversal at this moment, he would return to the Yang Realm at a location offshore from Dongying.

"Now, for the optimal route back to the Great Zhou—" Zhao Xing's palms began to move.

The warship's masts groaned loudly as shadow clouds gathered ahead.

"I'll jump to that shadow cloud first. Four consecutive jumps should align with the coordinates of 'Guiyin, Guizi, Guichen, and Guiwu,' cutting into the northern and southern main shadow currents."

"Following the north and south shadow currents' return flow, I'll be back in the territories of the Nineteen Provinces," Zhao Xing planned aloud.

Navigating the Ancient Yin Warship was relatively easy for Zhao Xing. By remembering "yin-yang opposition, celestial stem and branch alignment, and time correspondence," he could leverage the Underworld's spatial currents for swift travel.

The warship's remarkable capability lay in its ability to create its own "shadow cloud path," carving a private route to connect with major thoroughfares.

For instance, once Zhao Xing finished the process, a faint misty tunnel materialized ahead of the ship.

At the stern, ripples spread outward in faint waves.

The entire vessel tilted slightly downward.

"The front and rear shadow currents create a pressure differential—this feels a lot like the Dimensional Bridge."

"Oh, Li Boqian was a disciple of Tianyang True Lord, so he must have used the Ancient Yin Warship before. It seems the Dimensional Bridge technique was inspired by this ship."

"No wonder it felt familiar—reverse the shadow cloud path, and in the Yang Realm, it becomes a light cloud path," Zhao Xing mused.

With his cultivation now at a higher realm, Zhao Xing saw things from a new perspective, gaining fresh insights into the techniques of the past.

"Li Boqian created this cloud technique intending to twist space and alter the rules of the world," Zhao Xing speculated. "I suspect old Li hoped to establish ninety-nine stable cloud paths in the Yang Realm."

"If he could truly achieve that, the efficiency of transportation within the Nineteen Provinces would rival the spatial currents of the Underworld."

The Underworld's efficiency for message transmission was unmatched. Its predictable spatial currents allowed near-instantaneous delivery.

Li Boqian's goal was ultimate cloud mastery!

If he could anchor ninety-nine cloud paths in the Yang Realm, ensuring their permanence...

The Great Zhou could use these paths to transport goods and armies.

Its transportation efficiency would far surpass the ancient earthbound routes of the Geomancy School!

"Every Grand Shennong dreams big," Zhao Xing chuckled, perceiving Li Boqian's ambitions through his techniques.

"To make the Dimensional Bridge an enduring legacy connecting the Nineteen Provinces—what a lofty vision!"

"It seems this Dimensional Bridge technique wasn't designed for individual use. Yet achieving this level is a faint hope at best."

From Zhao Xing's perspective, achieving the Dimensional Bridge's ultimate form required two conditions.

First, Li Boqian needed to reach the Path-Binding Stage.

Second, he would need to refine the cloud technique to its pinnacle.

Only then would the possibility of connecting the Nineteen Provinces with cloud paths emerge.

But even then, it would remain a mere possibility.

Take True Lord Lihuo as an example: his "borrowing fire to travel" technique required the divine artifact Lihuo Altar to enable long-distance teleportation.

"Lihuo True Lord achieved long-distance teleportation with Path-Binding Stage cultivation and a divine artifact."

"Li Boqian wants to achieve the same with Path-Binding Stage cultivation and just a cloud technique, avoiding any significant cost," Zhao Xing chuckled lightly.

Sadly, this ambition was destined to fail.

"Li Boqian could never reach the Path-Binding Stage. Without a Spirit Qi revival, stable Path-Binding cultivators in the entire Promordial Qi Era could be counted on one hand, excluding those half-dead relics."

"Even Emperor Jing should only be at the Rule Stage—perhaps very close to Path-Binding, but certainly not a stable Path-Binding cultivator," Zhao Xing pondered.

"Innovating ultimate cloud techniques isn't easy. Moreover, the Underworld's conditions differ greatly from the Yang Realm's."

"In this light, the Kunpeng Transformation isn't an ultimate technique, and neither is the Dimensional Bridge. Only the 'Primordial Seal' method might be considered ultimate."

"Old Li doesn't have much time left. He's sure to pass away before Emperor Jing. Once I finish my business here, I must seek him out to learn this technique," Zhao Xing resolved.

The 'Primordial Seal' method had only been briefly mentioned in Li Boqian's historical biography in Zhao Xing's past life, suggesting it was never fully inherited.

Now, it was already the sixteenth year of the Great Governance Era. Li Boqian's death during Emperor Yongzhi's reign was imminent, likely within a few years.

"Xu Xing passed away in the seventeenth year of the Great Governance Era. A few decades later, the Earth School leader, Xuanyuan Qingtian, will also pass, followed by Grand Shennong Li Boqian."

"With every reign comes a new set of ministers. This applies not only to the Grand Shennong but to other occupational leaders as well. They'll all pass away, leaving only Emperor Jing."

Xu Xing's early death wasn't due to practicing the myriad straw puppet technique but rather his advanced age.

The myriad straw puppet technique induced madness, not premature death. Thus, Xu Xing's passing in the seventeenth year was a natural end to his lifespan.

Three days later...

"Boom—"

A black cloud burst behind the warship's stern. In the next instant, Zhao Xing witnessed a flash of aurora and shadowy figures of Underworld spirits passing by.

"I've returned to the Great Zhou territories. This should correspond to the Eastern Sea Archipelago," Zhao Xing assessed.

"This method of travel is fast, but unfortunately, it can't be used as a regular means," he noted.

Regardless of cultivation level, as long as one was alive and not a ghostly spirit, one could only remain in the Underworld for a maximum of seven days.

For physical bodies, the time was even shorter. Even aboard the Ancient Yin Warship, one could only stay for five days.

Exceeding that limit, no matter one's strength, the physical body would disintegrate, leading to certain death.

"Now that I've gained so many treasures and become a significant figure in the Ancient Dragon Court, it's only fitting to pay Emperor Jing a visit," Zhao Xing thought.

It would require his true self to make the audience, as anything less would be deemed disrespectful.

On the fourth day, Zhao Xing arrived in the Underworld region corresponding to the Tianyong Prefecture.

"Whoosh~"

The Ancient Yin Warship appeared within the private palace of Tianyang True Lord.

In the distance, auroras shimmered, and the spatial currents dissipated. Zhao Xing had entered a stable region of the Underworld.

"Grandmaster~ Grandmaster~"

Zhao Xing stood at the bow of the ship, calling out loudly.

In no time, True Lord Tianyang flew out from the palace.

Seeing Zhao Xing's physical body and soul on the warship, True Lord Tianyang couldn't help but chuckle.

"Disciple, it's only the end of the sixteenth year of the Great Governance Era. How have you already made your way out?"

"And your body looks like this—did you go to a physician for acupuncture or cupping therapy?"

Zhao Xing saluted respectfully and replied, "Grandmaster, I'm fine. These are merely superficial wounds."

"Your disciple wasn't forced to flee due to danger."

"Take a look—see how many treasures I've brought out?"

Zhao Xing waved his hand, dispelling the barrier of the Ancient Yin Warship, revealing heaps of precious treasures.

True Lord Tianyang, who thought he had seen it all, initially intended to humor his disciple with an exaggerated reaction.

But upon seeing the ship's contents, his feigned surprise turned genuine.

"Wow!"

"Did you raid the dragon race's lair?"

True Lord Tianyang was truly stunned.

The treasures were piled into mountains!

As the Grand Shennong managing the nation's finances, he thought he had seen it all.

But this scene? He had genuinely never encountered anything like it before!

Stacks upon stacks of Ancient Dragon Ambergris, heaps of Dragon Blood Sacred Leaves, and chunks upon chunks—measured in tons—of Dragon Crystal Marrow, alongside more than twenty pieces of treasure-grade divine weapons…

The most shocking items, however, were the Fuming Furnace and the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe!

When True Lord Tianyang's gaze landed on these two artifacts, curses nearly escaped his lips.

"Holy—! This… this is—Am I seeing things?"

Zhao Xing casually picked up the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, smiling mischievously as he handed it to True Lord Tianyang. "Feel it for yourself, Grandmaster. Verify the goods for your disciple—check if it's the real deal."

The moment the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe landed in his hands, True Lord Tianyang visibly brightened, his entire body radiating a golden light, as though he had been coated with divine radiance.

"It's genuine! It's absolutely genuine!" True Lord Tianyang hugged the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, instinctively taking a swing downward.

"Whoa—"

A yellow mist emanated from the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, and the ground beneath the warship in the underworld suddenly sank by several meters.

True Lord Tianyang's palace was instantly elevated to a grand palace atop a thousand-meter-high mountain.

"It's the one, no doubt about it!" True Lord Tianyang was ecstatic.

He raised the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, inspecting it closely.

The displaced soil had shrunk into a tiny clod of mud, now resting on the hoe's blade.

Zhao Xing nodded in approval. As expected of the former Grand Shennong—he could wield the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe with such mastery immediately upon picking it up.

There's a reason this artifact is legendary for excavation. With just one swing, it excavated a twenty-kilometer area with soil layers a thousand meters deep.

Seeing that True Lord Tianyang was about to swing again, Zhao Xing quickly intervened, "Grandmaster, stop, stop! You still need to live here; let's change locations first."

"True, true," True Lord Tianyang agreed readily, leading Zhao Xing to another area where he began digging to his heart's content.

The excavated soil was casually tossed into the spatial flow, forming and dissolving several large mountains. The old man was having the time of his life.

It wasn't until a quarter of an hour later that he finally calmed down.

"Ah, what a thrill! What an absolute thrill!"

Standing atop a mound of dirt with the hoe in hand, True Lord Tianyang sighed with satisfaction. "Disciple, one of my greatest regrets in life was never getting the chance to wield the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe."

"Who would've thought that what I couldn't accomplish in life, I would achieve several centuries after death."

He handed the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe back to Zhao Xing. "Thank you, my disciple. I can now die without regrets."

For a Grand Shennong who had never touched the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, life was incomplete. No other artifact carried such profound significance.

"Grandmaster, you're being too polite." Zhao Xing grinned as he received the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe. "I have more gifts for you."

"Hahaha, let me see what else my disciple has prepared as filial offerings!"

True Lord Tianyang was delighted and returned to the Ancient Yin Warship with Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing rolled out a significant batch of Ancient Dragon Ambergris and Dragon Blood Sacred Leaves.

True Lord Tianyang's eyes sparkled. "Disciple, this is top-tier quality!"

It wasn't that he hadn't seen ambergris or dragon blood leaves before, but the quality here was unquestionably superior.

"Of course! These are reserved exclusively for dragon emperors!"

"Here, try it out—see how it tastes."

"Watch this—you crush it first, wrap it with the Dragon Blood Sacred Leaf, and ignite it with Dragon Crystal Marrow—this is how the dragon emperors enjoy it!"

Under Zhao Xing's skilled hands, a large, rolled cigar-like item emerged.

He lit it up and offered it to True Lord Tianyang.

"Ssss—"

True Lord Tianyang took a deep drag, his face full of intoxication, as if he were floating on clouds.

After holding it in for a long time, he finally exhaled slowly.

"How is it?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Powerful!" True Lord Tianyang nodded vigorously.

As a yin spirit, he particularly appreciated such indulgences.

Offerings reserved for dragons were, naturally, in a league of their own compared to human offerings.

Not to mention, this was a dragon emperor's exclusive blend—its aura alone was incomparable!

With its unmatched effects and premium status, the old man was utterly elated.

"I've set aside a special batch just for you." Zhao Xing waved his hand, sending a portion directly to True Lord Tianyang's palace. "But don't tell anyone about this. Otherwise, other yin spirits might come begging for a share."

"Hahaha, why so sneaky?" True Lord Tianyang chuckled. "Don't worry—even if that rascal Bo Qian shows up, he won't get any!"

This was a gift from his disciple. Want some? Go get your own!

Watching True Lord Tianyang's joy brought Zhao Xing satisfaction as well.

True Lord Tianyang had been a great help to him. Back in Tianhe Prefecture, without True Lord Tianyang's personal protection, Zhao Xing wouldn't have dared to act so recklessly.

He had even given Zhao Xing a Shangtang Token, an artifact capable of traversing the yin and yang realms—a crucial item for later revival.

When paired with the Heaven Soul Fruit, it was essentially a second life!

"Disciple, you've gained quite a bit at the Dragon Court."

"Come, tell your Grandmaster what happened exactly."

True Lord Tianyang was highly intrigued, dragging Zhao Xing into the palace to hear the story.

"What? The Dragon Emperor Codex—such a thing exists?"

"You exchanged it with Yin Xiu and then summoned him with it? Hahaha, brilliant! That dragon king probably has no idea what he missed."

"The Palace of Misa? It can influence dragon kings' challenge missions? Incredible—"

"Eighteen treasures gifted by the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable of the White Bone Sect? Where does that fool get so many treasures? He probably pawned his very bones, hahaha!"

The palace was filled with unending laughter.

True Lord Tianyang alternated between puffing on the Ancient Dragon Ambergris and listening to Zhao Xing's tales. Occasionally, he glanced at the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe. This was undoubtedly one of his happiest and most contented moments.

Time was limited after all. Zhao Xing had already stayed here for over four days and needed to leave.

"Grandmaster, your disciple must take his leave."

True Lord Tianyang brushed off some dust, showing a trace of reluctance.

However, he understood that Zhao Xing could not remain for too long.

"Your return journey must remain confidential. Since you are back in Tianyong Prefecture, you should first meet the Emperor and then await further arrangements."

"Understood." Zhao Xing obediently listened.

"I've already informed Li Boqian. He's on his way back. You can tear open a passageway here, and once you exit, you'll arrive directly at his Grand Shennong Office. Follow his instructions from there."

"Your disciple is timid. If I were to suddenly meet the Emperor, I might act improperly. Grandmaster, you truly think of everything." Zhao Xing complimented respectfully.

"Don't be afraid!" True Lord Tianyang waved his hand dismissively. "I watched the Emperor grow up. While he may not be considered the most benevolent ruler, he is definitely not narrow-minded."

Zhao Xing remained silent. The elder could speak of the Emperor this way, but he dared not echo the sentiment.

"Go with confidence. You have Li Boqian, Liu Tianning, and Meng Kun to guide you, and Grandmaster and Meng Haishan to back you up."

"The world is vast—you can go anywhere!"

Tianyong Prefecture, Fengjing, Eastern District.

The Grand Shennong Office, Four Seasons Garden.

A black fissure suddenly appeared above the Four Seasons Garden. Atop the canopy, a black bird banner unfurled in the void, spreading its wings and enlarging the fissure.

The celestial phenomenon caused unusual winds to howl ominously.

However, as the fissure grew to a certain size, twelve golden beams appeared in the air, resembling nails fixing a curtain in place.

This stabilized the anomaly, preventing it from expanding further. Around the black fissure, the weather remained calm and sunny.

Li Boqian, the Grand Shennong, extended a hand and pointed. A cloud pathway extended diagonally like a rescue ladder, first bringing down the massive artifact, Kun Yuan Divine Hoe.

Next came various treasures and materials, followed by a human figure sliding down the cloud ladder.

The black fissure vanished without a sound or disturbance, as if nothing had happened.

"Zhao Xing greets the Grand Shennong!"

Li Boqian examined Zhao Xing's wounds and helped him up.

"Zhao Xing, you've worked hard."

"You don't need to worry. These are minor injuries." Zhao Xing smiled. "I can heal them easily with some medicine."

"No, I mean you've worked hard to endure them a little longer. Don't heal just yet," Li Boqian remarked, gesturing toward the wounds. "Healing too quickly won't properly reflect your contributions."

"If you return unscathed after acquiring so many treasures and artifacts, others will think it was too easy for you. They won't value your efforts."

Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned.

Looking around, he noticed numerous ground mirrors meticulously capturing his wounds and the tattered fragments of his ceremonial robes.

Truly worthy of being the Grand Shennong!

Zhao Xing was genuinely impressed in his heart.

"Alright, change into this." Once satisfied with the staging, Li Boqian handed Zhao Xing a set of new official garments.

While Zhao Xing was changing, Li Boqian approached the divine artifact, Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, lifting it with both hands.

"It's truly the one."

At that moment, Li Boqian was overcome with excitement.

Though he had heard about it, only holding the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe in his hands made him fully realize its allure.

The Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, also known as the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, held unparalleled significance for the Grand Shennong.

True Lord Tianyang had longed for it even in death, a testament to its importance.

"I'm better than that old man, hahaha," Li Boqian chuckled smugly.

When the old man served as the Grand Shennong, there were plenty of divine artifacts, but he never experienced war. He hadn't even properly used the Mountains and Rivers Diagram or the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Commands.

Without war, many divine artifacts couldn't display their full power!

Moreover, True Lord Tianyang had never held the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe during his lifetime!

"The first Grand Shennong in Great Zhou's history to wield the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe!" Li Boqian laughed triumphantly.

"In the afterlife, I'll have bragging rights among my predecessors."

Especially when meeting the Shennong deities of the Earth School.

What? You've never used the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe?

Oh, I have. Honestly, it's not that impressive.

"Heh heh, heh heh—" Imagining this boastful scenario, Li Boqian felt a sense of longing, almost wishing to descend sooner.

Zhao Xing, now fully dressed, watched Li Boqian immerse himself in his reverie. At a loss for words, he thought, This isn't even the leader of the Earth School. If the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe were brought to Kun Yuan Academy, who knows what kind of uproar it would cause.

At the moment, though, Zhao Xing had more pressing matters to attend to. Now that he had returned, many official duties awaited him.

For example, assessing the internal situation of the Dragon Court, the distribution of treasures, and the audience with Emperor Jing.

At this moment, Zhao Xing sealed his Memory Palace once again.

He had already done so before entering Tianyong Prefecture. Although he was already at the Second Rank of the Heavenly Luck Realm, making it nearly impossible for others to read his thoughts, he chose to remain discreet in Fengjing.

"Zhao Xing, these treasures are all brought back by you," Li Boqian finally began to discuss official matters. "What are your plans?"

Zhao Xing had already made his decision and immediately expressed his stance: "The Dragon Emperor Codex is soul-bound to me. The Kun Yuan Divine Hoe will temporarily remain with me for study, to comprehend its principles and techniques in preparation for annotating its canon."

"As for the other treasures, I'm willing to turn them all over to the national treasury for allocation by the Grand Shennong."

This demonstrated his attitude—however, the Dragon Emperor Codex and Kun Yuan Divine Hoe were non-negotiable.

The other treasures? Surrendering them entirely was merely a gesture.

The court was unlikely to claim them all. They would surely allow him to keep some while rewarding him for his contributions.

Additionally, Zhao Xing specified turning them over to the national treasury, not the royal inner treasury. These were two distinct entities.

The national treasury remained under the Grand Shennong's jurisdiction. If Li Boqian passed away, it would fall under Liu's control. Eventually, it would circle back to Zhao Xing himself.

Thus, Zhao Xing was making a show of magnanimity.

As for the dragon eggs and spirit liquid? Those were never meant for public disclosure, much like the Dragon Emperor Codex and Kun Yuan Divine Hoe.

Li Boqian nodded slightly. "Your willingness to hand everything over speaks volumes about your integrity. However, the court cannot claim everything; it would be improper."

"I'll consult with the other department heads and leave you a portion to keep. This will later be reported to His Majesty."

"The part you contribute will earn you royal rewards as well."

"As for the Dragon Emperor Codex and the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, they must also appear on the list submitted to His Majesty. A decree will officially grant them to you. Do you understand?"

Zhao Xing respectfully replied, "I understand."

The artifacts he brought back were acquired while executing court missions. Their return was a testament to the court's nurturing and the Emperor's brilliance.

While his accomplishments were indeed significant, he chose to remain humble and discreet.

In this way, everyone could save face and be content.

After discussing the tone and procedures, Li Boqian nodded in satisfaction.

His greatest concern was that Zhao Xing might let his achievements inflate his ego.

The Great Governance Era had lasted for sixteen years. How many arrogant civil and military officials had disappeared without a trace? Li Boqian was deeply aware of this truth.

Even Wang Tianzhi had been persuaded by him to step down and focus on cultivation.

Yet his concerns were entirely unnecessary. Zhao Xing had long since seen through Emperor Jing's tendencies.

Arrogance was simply not possible. All Zhao Xing hoped for was that Emperor Jing wouldn't make things difficult.

After giving his instructions, Li Boqian began a meticulous inventory.

Suddenly, he noticed a group of eighteen treasures among the items.

"Hmm? Why are there so many rare treasures of the human race? Three of the Southern Barbarians' Wuxian Cauldrons, five Golden Feather Divine Armors, four Spirit Shaman Staffs, and these three bone artifacts, clearly crafted by the White Bone Sect—how did the sacred artifacts of the Great Snake Kingdom, the Ama-no-Murakumo Sword and the Yasakani Magatama Sword, end up here?"

Li Boqian was unaware of the details of Zhao Xing's schemes to deceive the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable; information had not reached him in time.

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "It's a long story. Back then, when I entered the Palace of Misa—"

After hearing the full account, Li Boqian was momentarily stunned.

"How fascinating. Such a grand royal court and top-tier sects, all played by you as if in the palm of your hand."

"Hahaha, the White Bone Sect certainly didn't have so many treasures. Most were probably borrowed."

"They're likely facing bankruptcy now."

Indeed, bankruptcy was inevitable.

For the next few centuries, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable would have to work tirelessly to pay off the debts on behalf of the sect.

After discussing official matters, Zhao Xing no longer adhered strictly to formalities.

"Teacher, I've heard that Xu Xing, the dean of Shangluo Academy, is nearing the end of his life. I wish to pay my respects."

Li Boqian nodded upon hearing this. "Indeed, his time is short. To my knowledge, he will pass away in early January next year."

"You returned through the Shangtang Token, which must remain hidden. Therefore, you can only reveal yourself officially in the twentieth year of the Great Governance Era, when the Dragon Court closes."

"Once matters in Fengjing are settled, you may proceed with your visit."

"Understood," Zhao Xing replied, aware that revealing too much now was inadvisable.

Even taking the Kunyuan Divine Hoe to Kunyuan Academy would require public announcements and grand ceremonies, all scheduled for the twentieth year of the Great Governance Era.

"Rest for a day and make preparations. Tomorrow, you will have an audience with the Emperor."

"Understood."

On December 7th, in the sixteenth year of the Great Governance Era, Zhao Xing, accompanied by Li Boqian, secretly entered the imperial palace.

Emperor Jing, Ji Mingjing, received Zhao Xing in the Tianyuan Hall.

"Subject Zhao Xing greets Your Majesty!"

"May Your Majesty enjoy eternal prosperity!"

Zhao Xing, who had kept his gaze lowered throughout his journey, bowed respectfully upon entering the hall. His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the radiance emanating from the throne, and he knelt in deference.

Li Boqian also performed a full ceremonial bow.

"Rise," commanded a majestic voice from the throne.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Xing bowed again before rising.

It was then that he observed the figure on the throne.

The figure exuded an unparalleled majesty, like a towering mountain radiating an irresistible authority.

Clad in a purple-gold robe embroidered with intricate runes, each line brimming with immense power, the robe gleamed with golden light, resembling a constellation of stars.

His features were stern and cold, with eyes as deep as an abyss, containing boundless wisdom and keen insight that seemed to pierce through the mists of time.

Occasionally, a glimmer in his eyes would flicker like a ray of light penetrating the fog of space-time, rendering one incapable of meeting his gaze directly.

On his head was a dazzling crown adorned with nineteen gemstones, each imbued with great power, their radiance forming a mysterious aura that enveloped his form.

Zhao Xing's brow twitched at the sight, for Emperor Jing's stature exceeded ten meters tall!

He was a veritable giant!

"Be seated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhao Xing and Li Boqian replied, bowing once more. This time, the full ceremonial bow was unnecessary. The two walked forward and knelt at the two tables to the left.

At this moment, the golden light surrounding Ji Mingjing faded, softening his majesty and creating a more approachable air.

This informal audience indicated a relatively relaxed atmosphere between ruler and subject.

"Your Majesty, I have joyous news to report." Li Boqian began once seated.

"Oh? What is the cause for joy?" Emperor Jing inquired.

"Marquis Shenwei, Zhao Xing, has returned early from the Dragon Court with abundant gains, far exceeding my expectations," Li Boqian stated.

Though Emperor Jing had long been aware, formal protocol required this announcement.

Zhao Xing promptly rose and reported:

"Thanks to Your Majesty's blessings, I was fortunate to obtain 23 treasure-grade artifacts, 1,752 units of treasure-grade material Ancient Dragon Musk, 5,819 units of treasure-grade Dragon Blood Saint Leaves, and 61,260 units of treasure-grade Dragon Crystal Marrow in the ancient lands."

"In addition, I acquired three extraordinary treasures: the Dragon Emperor Codex, the Kunyuan Divine Hoe, and the Fuming Furnace."

The Great Zhou measured weight in zhe, with one zhe approximately 120 pounds.

This meant that Zhao Xing's haul included about 105 tons of Ancient Dragon Musk, 349 tons of Dragon Blood Saint Leaves, and an astonishing 3,672 tons of Dragon Crystal Marrow.

Treasure-grade materials were measured with meticulous precision, down to the smallest unit. Zhao Xing's haul demonstrated the sheer quantity of resources he had returned with.

Many items were unique, inimitable artifacts from his dealings.

Had Zhao Xing considered defecting with these treasures, he could have easily founded a top-tier sect abroad. However, given the impending Martial Emperor era and the constant wars of the Xuanyang Realm, such a move would have been exceedingly foolish.

Upon concluding his report, Emperor Jing smiled and praised, "Chen'an, your contributions are immense. Truly, you are a general blessed by fortune!"

Such high praise from Emperor Jing was rare. The court historian behind the screen quickly recorded his words.

Zhao Xing immediately knelt and said, "This servant does not dare take credit. My achievements today are entirely due to the court's nurturing and Your Majesty's wisdom."

"I am willing to offer all my gains to enrich the imperial treasury as a token of gratitude for Your Majesty's immense favor."

Emperor Jing nodded slightly. "Your sincerity is gratifying. So be it."

Zhao Xing expressed his thanks once more, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your contributions cannot go unrewarded," Emperor Jing declared. "The Kunyuan Divine Hoe, being of great utility to you, shall remain in your possession."

"As for the treasure-grade artifacts, they are exotic items. Select any three from the inner imperial treasury."

Zhao Xing offered 23 treasure-grade items, and Emperor Jing returned three of his choice—a reward of extraordinary generosity.

Regarding the Ancient Dragon Musk, Dragon Crystal Marrow, and Dragon Blood Saint Leaves, Emperor Jing integrated them into the list of awards for officials and nobles.

Since Zhao Xing possessed the Dragon Emperor Codex, these resources would still serve his cultivation purposes.

"Zhao Xing, you were previously a third-class official. When the Dragon Court closes, I shall officially promote you to third rank."

"You may select a blessed land to serve as your post, nurturing fortune and consolidating your realm."

"I will also elevate you by twelve grades, grant you a million acres of land, and leave the details to Boqian and the relevant ministries to draft."

"In addition, I bestow upon you an immunity token, 500 zhe of Ancient Dragon Musk, 2,000 zhe of Dragon Blood Saint Leaves, 10,000 zhe of Dragon Crystal Marrow, and the ninth-rank heavy weapon Wuyao Warship."

"You are further granted the special titles of Imperial Attendant of the Court and Inspector of the Martial Domain."

With the rewards bestowed, Zhao Xing expressed his joy by bowing deeply and saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

This time, Emperor Jing had truly been generous.

Zhao Xing's merits and official rank had been elevated. Even the fief associated with his title had doubled in size.

Among the rewards were treasures of precious quality, of which one-third was returned to him. Additionally, Zhao Xing was granted permission to outfit a warship of great power and was granted several significant privileges.

For instance, he received the Imperial Court Privy Seal, granting him unrestricted access to the imperial palace. He was also appointed as a special inspector for the cave-heavens and blessed lands under the Military Realm. On top of that, he was given a token of immunity from death.

Yet, such grand rewards came with expectations.

There was one thing Emperor Jing had conspicuously avoided mentioning: the Dragon Emperor Codex.

Sure enough, after Zhao Xing expressed his gratitude, Emperor Jing finally asked, "Do you carry the Dragon Emperor Codex with you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Please have a look." Zhao Xing controlled his Hou transformation, reverting to human form as he produced the Dragon Emperor Codex, raising it above his head with respect.

He understood that the emperor intended to verify whether the codex was truly bound to his soul.

With a single gesture, Emperor Jing summoned the Dragon Emperor Codex to float before him.

Golden light rippled outward, and Zhao Xing felt a formidable power intrude upon the codex.

Crack…crack…

Zhao Xing's body trembled under the pressure, and his Life Soul suffered significant oppression. Within moments, sweat drenched his entire body.

However, the pressure dissipated as quickly as it had arrived.

Soon, the Dragon Emperor Codex returned to him.

"This is indeed an extraordinary artifact," Emperor Jing remarked.

The emperor then asked directly, "If the court were to provide full support, could you unify the Dragon Court in a short time, driving out all external forces from the Ancient Land?"

As expected, the question finally surfaced.

Emperor Jing truly wanted Zhao Xing to unify the Dragon Court and transform it entirely into the Da Zhou Dynasty's personal domain.

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, based on my years of exploration in the Dragon Court and my understanding of the dragon race… it would be extremely difficult to achieve this in a short time."

"What makes it difficult?" Emperor Jing pressed.

Zhao Xing explained, "While I can summon Dragon King Yin Xiu and even other dragon kings, my influence is limited to them alone."

"Among the Ten Kingdoms, there are dormant Great Dragon Kings. With the codex in my possession, I am unable to issue commands to the Great Dragon Kings."

"Furthermore, I cannot arbitrarily replace the ruling dragon kings with ones loyal to the Da Zhou Dynasty."

"Two additional parts of the codex are located in the Sea of Calamity and Heaven Abyss, making their retrieval far more challenging than subjugating the Great Dragon Kings."

"If these parts cannot be retrieved, it will be impossible to revoke the quotas that allow external forces access. They could simply hide in those two locations."

"In other words, I can use this codex to suppress and exploit external forces within the Ancient Land, killing them where possible. However, it's impossible to completely annex the Ancient Land into our empire."

After hearing Zhao Xing's explanation, Emperor Jing fell silent for a moment before nodding slightly, giving up on the idea.

"The Dragon Emperor Codex is a precious artifact. You must make full use of it and ensure it never falls into enemy hands."

Understanding Emperor Jing's concern, Zhao Xing immediately declared, "I will bear this in mind and swear to protect the interests of Da Zhou with my life."

With that, their conversation concluded.

Emperor Jing invited Zhao Xing and Li Boqian to a modest meal in the imperial palace. During the meal, he asked about Zhao Xing's strategies for managing natural disasters, training the Military Shennong, theories on Material Law, and the annotations on the Two Classics.

Zhao Xing's answers were solid and intelligent, befitting his reputation as a prodigy. However, they lacked groundbreaking insights, merely maintaining the level expected of his previous accomplishments.

It wasn't until the evening that Zhao Xing and Li Boqian quietly left the palace.

Upon returning to the Grand Shennong Office, Zhao Xing exhaled deeply.

"Kid, this isn't like you," Li Boqian remarked curiously, glancing at Zhao Xing. "Why were you so nervous?"

"Perhaps it was my first time in the presence of the emperor. Facing the majesty of the throne, it's only natural to feel a bit uneasy," Zhao Xing replied.

Li Boqian nodded, seemingly unconcerned.

"Xu Xing's time is running out. Tomorrow, you and I will head to Dao Yuan Continent together."

"Once we return, we'll discuss the blessed land you wish to visit."

"Yes," Zhao Xing agreed with a nod.

At dawn the following day, Zhao Xing departed Tianyong Prefecture with Li Boqian, heading for Shangluo Academy in Dao Yuan Continent.

As soon as they left Tianyong Prefecture, Zhao Xing suddenly jolted awake.

He had been dreaming, and his first instinct was to check the Dragon Emperor Codex.

"So, the emperor really wants to dominate the Dragon Court. Good thing this artifact is truly bound to my soul. Otherwise, Emperor Jing might have started considering a replacement."

"From Deputy Third Rank to Full Third Rank? This promotion was within my expectations. The gap between the sub-rank and full rank is a significant one. Reaching Full Rank indicates great future prospects. Remaining at a sub-rank means never entering the empire's core."

"Twelve ranks of merit advancement, a doubled fief, and additional titles for Imperial Walker and Inspector of the Military Realm's Cave-Heavens and Blessed Lands."

"Who needs to walk around the imperial palace? I have no desire to go there."

"Inspecting the Military Realm's Cave-Heavens and Blessed Lands, on the other hand, is appealing. It grants me access to several highly classified locations."

"The Wu Yao Warship? This means I can now equip most of the empire's advanced weaponry."

"A token of immunity from death? … Let's not even mention that."

Reflecting on it, Zhao Xing thought the rewards were already exceptional, especially during the massive purge of the Jiazi Cleansing period. In ordinary times, he might have requested more, but even then, the increase would have been limited.

Zhao Xing speculated that any further rewards from Emperor Jing in the future would likely be superficial positions with little real power.

Why? The emperor needed to reserve titles and positions for his son's administration.

Otherwise, when Emperor Wu's reign began, what would remain for him to bestow upon loyalists like Zhao Xing? How would his successors effectively utilize people?

"Access to the imperial treasury for three selections? Hmm… Does this mean I might actually have a chance to establish the Grand Dream Academy?" Zhao Xing was slightly surprised.

This time, Emperor Jing had indeed shown generosity, even allowing him access to the imperial treasury's resources.

"When I return, I must carefully explore my options," Zhao Xing mused.

Artifacts designed for the dragon race had their limitations. When it came to human treasuries, the only repository in the entire Xuanhuang World comparable to the imperial treasury of Da Zhou was the Holy Mountain Treasury of the Southern Barbarians.

Upon thoroughly examining the Dragon Emperor Codex, Zhao Xing felt reassured. "Given the codex's Rare Treasure classification, if Emperor Jing had tampered with it, he would have outright taken it instead of resorting to such methods."

Having confirmed the artifact's integrity, Zhao Xing finally felt at ease.

On the 20th of December, in the sixteenth year of Da Zhi, Zhao Xing secretly arrived at Shangluo Academy in Shangluo Commandery, Dao Yuan Continent.

"Zhao Xing, why are you here?"

Inside the academy, under the Myriad Dao Tree in a secluded attic, Zhao Xing met with Liu Tianning.

"It's complicated. I came secretly," Zhao Xing replied, his gaze fixed on Liu Tianning, trying to glean some clue from his expression. "Teacher, after all these years, what cultivation level have you reached?"

"First Rank, Destiny Palace Initial Stage," Liu Tianning answered.

Zhao Xing's expression changed. "Have you noticed anything unusual?"

After a pause, Liu Tianning sighed deeply and said, "Yes, and the problem is significant."

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