The startled hares scattered chaotically, a scene that clashed with the idea of spring in full bloom. Yet in early March, snowflakes still fell across the desolate wilderness outside Youshui County.
Barren trees stood solitary in the cold wind, their lifeless forms offering no hint of spring's renewal. The land was bleak, devoid of greenery.
Wild hares leaped through the dry grass, frantically searching for food, their pitiful cries echoing as hunger gnawed at their bellies.
Suddenly—
One of the hares froze. Its eyes glowed a sinister red, its fur splitting apart to reveal bloody gashes. Spikes and scales began to sprout from the cracks, its body swelling grotesquely. Its once-ordinary teeth grew into elongated, sharp fangs.
"Crunch!"
Before its companions could react, the mutated hare turned on them, sinking its jaws into the nearest one. Blood gushed as its victim writhed helplessly, its struggles fading into silence as it disappeared into the predator's maw.
"Crunch, crunch, crunch!"
The crimson-eyed creature surveyed the remaining hares with ruthless intent. In a frenzy, it began slaughtering its own kind.
Within moments, the small group of hares had been wiped out, leaving behind a single monster towering five meters tall. Its back bristled with black spikes, its arms were covered in green scales, and a patch of red fur marked its chest.
"Roar!"
It let out a guttural howl that reverberated through the air, its blood-red eyes locking onto a faint purple dot in the sky.
The dot expanded rapidly, descending in an instant.
"Boom!"
The mutated creature had no time to dodge before it was struck by a beam of purple light, its massive body collapsing lifelessly into a smoking crater on the ground.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
A figure descended from above, landing lightly beside the crater.
Ling Tianchen glanced at the pit's center, where a humanoid being with purple wings lay dead, blood streaming from its seven orifices. Satisfied that the Purple Feather King, guardian of the Weak Water Path, had been eliminated, he shifted his gaze to the mutant hare's monstrous corpse.
Surveying the surrounding ground littered with tufts of rabbit fur, Ling Tianchen reached into his sleeve and tore open the creature's abdomen, examining the contents briefly before shaking his head.
By slaying the Purple Feather King, he had inadvertently triggered an unusual transformation in this corner of Youshui County's natural balance.
With a wave of his hand, golden light shot out in all directions, suffusing the surrounding space.
"Return the Three Qi of Jueyin to harmony, let the guest Shaoyang Fire align with its host. Restore the natural state."
"Hum~"
The air shimmered as the golden light rippled across the land. The ground trembled faintly, and a budding green hue began to spread, erasing all evidence of the anomaly.
Ling Tianchen stroked his beard and nodded in approval. "The Twelve Qi of the Principal and Guest reversed and restored—truly a remarkable insight!"
His method of stabilizing the disturbance was guided by Zhao Xing's groundbreaking theory, The Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle. Once again, his esteem for Zhao Xing's scholarly contributions soared.
As the foremost figure in the School of Heavenly Timing, no one understood the monumental impact of Zhao Xing's work better than Ling Tianchen.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle~"
Before long, three enormous beasts appeared on the horizon—a Teng Snake, a Flying Dragon, and a Fire Phoenix. Upon landing, the beasts transformed into human shapes.
"Dean, the Xuan King is dead," one of them reported.
Ling Tianchen nodded and pulled a scroll from his robe. "Send this Heavenly Timing Edict to all branches."
"From this day forward, all Shennong officers under the Xuantian Academy are to join the official resistance forces. All forces, territories, and allies under King Liang's control are to be treated as targets."
"For those currently serving under King Liang's banner: if they defect by June and perform meritorious deeds, their past offenses will be forgiven. Those who refuse to repent must be expelled by their branch deans and dealt with immediately."
"Understood!" the three figures replied, their respect for Ling Tianchen evident.
To them, Ling Tianchen was akin to the patriarch of their sect. These self-cultivators, authorized by the Taizu himself, represented the Xuantian Academy's core strength.
They were beholden to neither Shennong Commissioner Li Boqian nor the imperial court. But Ling Tianchen's orders were absolute.
Even Li Boqian would seek Ling Tianchen's counsel before issuing any Heavenly Timing Edicts.
Of course, this autonomy came with a condition: they could not hold official positions or accept titles from the imperial court. Those who entered government service were bound to obey court law.
Loyalty to the emperor? That concept simply did not exist.
At this time, ritual law did not mandate blind obedience to the sovereign. The adage "The emperor commands, the minister obeys" held no sway here.
When the Seventy-Two Dao Academies joined the Great Zhou Dynasty, an agreement had been made with the Taizu.
The ten great ancestral sects enjoyed even greater freedom, their integration bolstering the dynasty's fortune. However, if they chose to leave the nineteen provinces, they would not find life as favorable.
In summary, the Xuantian Academy and the Ji royal family maintained a symbiotic relationship.
The academy was loyal to its ideals, willing to die for the people, but the Ji family could not impose its will on them.
The academy's attitude toward the royal family could be summed up in a single phrase: "If the emperor treats his ministers as his hands and feet, they will see him as their heart and soul. If he treats them as dogs and horses, they will see him as their lord. If he treats them as dirt, they will see him as an enemy."
"Swish, swish, swish~"
The three figures activated their Heavenly Timing Techniques, disappearing into the distance.
Ling Tianchen transformed into a gust of wind, heading toward a neighboring county near Youshui. There lay a vast expanse of Weak Water. As a Shennong officer of the School of Heavenly Timing, Ling Tianchen and his team could dive into the Weak Water unharmed, even using it as a weapon against their enemies.
Defending the passage, they were an impenetrable force, needing no divine weapons or treasures.
Meanwhile, within a secret chamber at Li Huo Dao Academy in Mingyue Prefecture—
Lord Tianyan declared the operation complete but did not permit Zhao Xing to leave the circle beneath the compass.
"Your original Fortune and Heavenly Mechanism concealment were disrupted during the early February turmoil," Tianyan said.
"Now, I will restore it."
He added, "Once complete, your ranking on the Hidden Fortune Dragon Ranking will drop significantly. The information displayed will also diminish, making it nearly impossible for anyone to track you."
"Understood," Zhao Xing replied obediently. He had no desire to remain on that blasted list.
To him, the Hidden Fortune Dragon Ranking was useless—good only for attracting assassins.
"Hum~"
Black and white energies descended from the compass onto Zhao Xing's body. Golden characters flickered faintly within the energies before vanishing entirely.
"It's done. Your ranking has dropped to 9,800th place," Tianyan announced, withdrawing the compass.
"Your Highness, I have a question," Zhao Xing ventured.
"Speak."
"I've done so much in the past—won't people already know about me? What's the point of concealing it now?"
"The past is the past. From now on, unless you single-handedly dismantle King Liang's stronghold, your ranking will—"
Before Tianyan could finish, he froze mid-sentence, his gaze fixed in astonishment.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Xing asked, puzzled.
"Your ranking just rose again," Tianyan said in disbelief. "What is happening?"
"Stay here. Don't move," Tianyan instructed, placing the compass back above Zhao Xing's head.
"I need to investigate."
Tianyan left the chamber, moving to another room where he contacted Lord Luo.
"Luo, the operation is complete, but Zhao Xing's ranking won't drop. Do you know of any major events that have occurred recently?"
"There are," Lord Luo replied, pulling in Ji Anning of the Shangyu Division. "Let Anning explain."
"Brother, you might want to sit down for this," Ji Anning said with a grin.
"Why?"
"I'm afraid the news will knock you off your feet," Ji Anning replied, still smiling.
"Stop wasting time! I'm in a hurry—get to the point!" Tianyan snapped, impatient with his younger cousin.
"Fine, here's the situation," Ji Anning began. "When Zhao Xing was attacked, the Xuantian Academy, Shangluo Academy, and Kunyuan Academy all received word—"
"That's normal," Tianyan interjected. After all, Sima Yunhai and Pang Yuanren were in Mingyue Prefecture providing disaster relief. Zhao Xing's movements were bound to catch their attention.
Ji Anning continued, "What came next was beyond normal. At that moment, Zhao Xing was being hunted down."
"As a result, the three major academies mobilized their elite forces to conduct an emergency countermeasure!"
"How powerful?" King Tianyan asked, furrowing his brows.
Ji Anning flipped through the dossier and replied, "According to reports from the Shangyu Division, Ling Tianchen, Dean of the Xuantian Academy's School of Seasonal Changes, led 59 experts, including Ritual Studies Doctors and Honorary Vice Deans, to the Weak Water Path. They eliminated the Purple Feather King, the Black Boot King, and over 300 high-ranking commanders stationed there."
King Tianyan froze, his expression incredulous. "You're saying these individuals are—?"
"Exactly," Ji Anning nodded. "These experts belong to the School of Seasonal Changes, all self-cultivated practitioners. The imperial court merely opened a pathway for them. Think of them as elders, protectors, or even grand elders from ancient sects."
"You can't be implying that they acted solely for Zhao Xing, can you?" King Tianyan's face grew stern.
"Frankly, even a direct imperial decree might not have moved this group."
In fact, even Emperor Jing had to rely on intermediaries, such as Shennong Commissioner Li Boqian, to mobilize these practitioners. This was precisely why, for centuries, the Ji royal family had worked relentlessly to insert their descendants into the Seventy-Two Academies, striving to ensure that key members carried the Ji surname.
"Don't rush; I'm not done yet," Ji Anning said with a sly grin. "Afterward, Ling Tianchen issued the Heavenly Timing Edict."
"He notified all academy deans in Pinghai and Luliang provinces," Ji Anning explained, "and called upon the Seasonal Change practitioners to join the resistance forces. He even encouraged those coerced or misled into serving under King Liang to rebel and atone for their past misdeeds."
"What?!" King Tianyan's shock was palpable.
The School of Seasonal Changes had a unique strength—they could significantly weaken the invasive fortune of the Black Dragon, which was the foundation of King Liang's influence. For practitioners of the Seasonal Change techniques, leaving King Liang's camp wasn't just possible—it required surprisingly little cost.
The transformation brought by the Seasonal Change techniques was so profound that practitioners essentially became a different species, leading to dramatic shifts in their personal fortune.
While in this transformed state, they needed only a Fourth-Rank Ritualist to sever the connection to the Black Dragon's fortune completely.
This strength of the Seasonal Change techniques was not limited to the Black Dragon's fortune; it applied equally to imperial fortune. If the Ji royal family pressed too hard, these experts could simply walk away.
"If one place doesn't work, another will," Ji Anning said plainly.
"And they wouldn't suffer much damage in the process."
This was why every Shennong Commissioner had to win over the School of Seasonal Changes. Without their support, the commissioner's authority would always be incomplete.
During Emperor Wu's reign, Mi Fu faced this very predicament. After being appointed Shennong Commissioner, Mi Fu lasted only a few months before being dismissed.
For one, Mi Fu opposed Emperor Wu's extravagance, refusing to support wars that drained resources and strained the people.
Second, Mi Fu lacked the iron-fisted methods of Liu Tianning and failed to bring the School of Seasonal Changes under control.
"Unbelievable!" King Tianyan muttered, his frustration evident. "I close myself off for a few months, and this kid turns the world upside down?"
"What exactly did he do to make Ling Tianchen personally intervene?" King Tianyan pressed.
Ji Anning's reply was calm but impactful: "The Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle."
"Explain," King Tianyan demanded, unable to grasp the significance.
"I'm no expert either," Ji Anning shrugged. "But the intelligence officers from the academies concluded that this theoretical framework could establish an entirely new school in ancient times."
"Even now, it could profoundly influence the Seasonal Change practitioners and provide significant benefits to all of them."
"Hiss—" King Tianyan drew in a sharp breath.
Ji Anning's explanation clarified everything. This Zhao Xing was practically a saint to the School of Seasonal Changes.
Ling Tianchen had no choice but to act. If he ignored such a pivotal figure in their lineage, he would surely face the wrath of his predecessors in the underworld.
To exaggerate, it was as though the ancestral founders would choke him out, demanding, "Why didn't you save him? Why didn't you save him?!"
Though it seemed melodramatic, King Tianyan found the analogy fitting.
"Brother, don't get too surprised," Ji Anning said, flipping another page. "Do you know what Kunyuan Academy did next?"
"Stop dragging this out and tell me!" King Tianyan snapped impatiently.
"Dean Meng Kun of Kunyuan Academy reached Youyou County in Luliang Province by the hour of Yin (3 a.m.)."
"What? That's impossible!" King Tianyan interrupted. "The distance from Dao Origin Continent to Youyou County in Luliang Province is at least two million li! How could Meng Kun arrive by Yin Hour? Did he excavate a new ancient underground passage?"
"Sharp guess," Ji Anning said with a grin. "Meng Kun reopened the 'Tongming Ancient Passage,' which had been partially excavated during the Dingxin Era. In just one hour, he and his team completed the work."
"He deployed fifty Ninth-Rank Superior Earth Dragon Drilling Ships and instructed Sage Xiao Zhe to activate the Profound Earth Vessel, bringing fifteen 'Myriad Weight Mountains' to breach the enemy's stronghold."
King Tianyan was left speechless.
Even Lord Luo couldn't help but sigh, "Meng Kun is indeed a master of military engineering. We collaborated during the mid-Dingxin Era, but I never imagined his capabilities had advanced so far."
The ancient underground passages were a legacy of the Ascension Dynasty, crafted using highly advanced geomantic techniques. Over time, many of these passages were destroyed or buried. Reopening them was no simple feat.
For Meng Kun to travel from Dao Origin Continent to Luliang Province in just two hours was astonishing, even to someone as seasoned as Lord Luo.
"Grandson of King Liang, Ji Xi, was captured. Fifty thousand troops and over a hundred Third-Rank elites were turned into mere dirt clods," Ji Anning stated matter-of-factly.
"And Ji Tao just watched this happen?" King Tianyan asked, still finding it hard to believe.
"Of course not," Ji Anning replied. "He prepared to rescue them immediately. However, before he could mount his horse, Xu Xing apprehended him right outside Spring Palace."
!!!
King Tianyan's eyes widened in alarm, his face betraying a mix of disbelief and unease. "Even that madman Xu Xing got involved? Luo, Anning, you need to stop him!"
Xu Xing, leader of the Self School and Dean of Shangluo Academy, possessed five Ultimate Dharma Bodies, a feat unmatched in this dynasty.
King Tianyan and Xu Xing were contemporaries, and King Tianyan's deep impression of him stemmed from Xu Xing's record-breaking mastery of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit Art's second layer.
Before Liu Tianning's rise, Xu Xing's achievement of cultivating five Ultimate Dharma Bodies was considered the pinnacle, making him a living legend.
Xu Xing's rise to power was as violent as it was relentless. In countless "Daoist Showdowns," he slaughtered every opponent who stood in his way.
Even Emperor Jing, infamous for his ruthlessness, couldn't stand by. To prevent further bloodshed, the emperor had to personally intervene in the election process, appointing Xu Xing as Dean prematurely.
"If the killing continues, how will I find people to govern?" Emperor Jing reportedly lamented.
King Tianyan also knew a few secrets: Xu Xing had carried out many unsavory tasks for Emperor Jing during the Dingxin Reformation. Several prominent deaths among the opposition were directly linked to Xu Xing.
The Self School had been excluded from holding the Shennong Commissioner's post for seven consecutive generations—not because their leaders lacked strength, but because they were simply too extreme.
"How can we stop him?" Ji Anning sighed. "After his disciples were ambushed and killed, Xu Xing's rampage has already claimed over a thousand lives. Believe it or not, that's him showing restraint."
"Only His Majesty could order him to stop now. Fortunately, Xu Xing hasn't escalated further. Word is that Ji Tao escaped with his life."
Hearing this, King Tianyan let out a sigh of relief. "A thousand lives… that's it? Could've been worse."
As someone privy to Xu Xing's secrets, King Tianyan felt somewhat relieved.
"After all, he's aged quite a bit, and his temper isn't as fierce as it used to be."
In his younger days, Xu Xing was notorious for his "scorched earth" strategies, leaving no room for retreat and forging ahead with apocalyptic intensity. However, King Tianyan still harbored concerns. Xu Xing was over seven hundred years old and had little time left to live. If he truly went mad, the situation would spiral out of control.
After all, the imperial court still aimed to minimize the fallout from King Liang's rebellion. Should events escalate into tit-for-tat carnage, the fortune of the Grand Zhou Dynasty would inevitably take a hit. Meanwhile, factions such as the Eastern Wastelands and the Southern Aquatic Tribes watched from the sidelines, ready to exploit any weakness. For the Ji royal family and high-ranking officials like King Tianyan, maintaining order was paramount.
As he listened to Xu Xing's involvement, King Tianyan felt sweat trickling down his palms.
"Following Xuantian Academy, both Kunyuan Academy and Shangluo Academy issued similar internal edicts," Ji Anning added. "That's the state of affairs, dear brother, Lord Luo."
Lord Luo interjected, "But there's something I don't understand. Xuantian Academy's actions stemmed from Zhao Xing's profound treatise, which influenced the Seasonal Change practitioners and allowed them to calculate the fluctuation cycles of the Military Realm Passage.
"Shangluo Academy was clearly motivated by Liu Tianning and The Theory of Self and Natural Harmony.
"But what about Kunyuan Academy? What's their motive?"
King Tianyan also looked puzzled.
Indeed, what did Kunyuan Academy gain?
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing sat quietly in his chamber, meditating. He had been waiting for King Tianyan for seven whole days. Finally, on the seventh day, King Tianyan reentered the room.
"You've come," Zhao Xing said, standing up from his seated position. "Am I free to leave now?"
King Tianyan regarded Zhao Xing silently, his gaze carrying a trace of helplessness.
"We still need to discuss it further," he finally replied.
"Huh? Why?" Zhao Xing asked, baffled.
King Tianyan frowned. "Why? Don't you have any idea yourself?"
Zhao Xing looked genuinely confused. "I honestly don't know what I've done."
With a sigh, King Tianyan tossed a dossier onto the table. "Read this for yourself. Even I wasn't aware you'd caused this much trouble."
Zhao Xing picked up the dossier and began reading. It was an intelligence summary.
[April 29th, Hour of Yin (3 a.m.)]
Kunyuan Academy—Meng Kun and Sage Xiao Zhe...
The dossier detailed the actions of critical figures from the three academies. As Zhao Xing read, even he was taken aback.
All he had intended was to "borrow a gust of wind."
Instead, he had inadvertently unleashed a Category 12 hurricane!
For a moment, Zhao Xing was at a loss for words. He had already overestimated the impact of his two treatises, but it seemed he had still underestimated their ripple effect.
A minor step forward in theoretical knowledge had caused seismic shifts when applied to real-world power struggles.
Years from now, the rebellion of King Liang might fade into obscurity, but these works would remain eternal classics.
Zhao Xing recalled his cautious approach during the Gucheng examination. He felt fortunate that he had refrained from penning any groundbreaking theories at that time. Now that his capabilities and position could bear the weight of such innovations, the benefits outweighed the costs.
King Tianyan, observing Zhao Xing's expression, could tell that Zhao Xing hadn't deliberately concealed anything. After all, Zhao Xing had already mentioned his work on the treatises.
It was just that King Tianyan, Lord Luo, and even Zhao Xing himself had underestimated the impact.
"Alright, I'm not blaming you," King Tianyan said finally. "But can you explain what's going on with Kunyuan Academy? You haven't published any treatises specific to the Earth Techniques faction, have you?"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "I can confirm I haven't. The content of The Theory of Self and Natural Harmony: Earth and Resources touches on plants improving terrain, but that's only tangentially related."
Classics like Returning to the Earth's Origins and Earth Repository Techniques held some ties to the Self faction but weren't considered definitive works. Similarly, the Seasonal Techniques classic Seasonal Qi Command influenced the Earth faction without being classified as one of their core texts.
"So why then? You're not secretly Meng Kun's illegitimate son, are you? The generations don't even match," King Tianyan quipped.
Zhao Xing sighed. "It might be because I promised Lord Meng I'd write a paper for him someday."
"That works?" King Tianyan's face showed disbelief.
"It seems so," Zhao Xing replied with a nod.
Meng Kun's commitment to Zhao Xing had been unexpectedly solid, but Zhao Xing couldn't think of any other explanation.
"What now, Your Highness?" Zhao Xing asked. The dossier also contained updates from the past seven days.
For example, on May 4th, King Liang publicly declared that he had no prior knowledge of the assassination attempt.
According to King Liang, the plot had been orchestrated independently by the strategist Gu Wenhe, whom he promptly executed after discovering his collusion with outsiders and practice of forbidden techniques.
King Liang's move was an obvious attempt to placate neutral factions. Eliminating Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning without public fallout would have been ideal. But once the plot was exposed, someone had to take the blame.
While most people saw through the charade, appearances still had to be maintained.
Even the life of a Second-Rank Ritualist, Gu Wenhe, was a worthwhile trade for mollifying certain factions. From Kunyuan to Shangluo, from Heaven to the Self School, King Liang's ploy sought to calm the storm he had stirred.
King Tianyan gazed at Zhao Xing's head for a moment as if peering into the threads of his future. Finally, he said, "I can shroud your presence from the Heavenly Mechanism, but you must lie low for now."
"Merge your Seven-Star Life Soul into one. At most, you'll be allowed to send out a clone for logistical work."
"I understand," Zhao Xing replied with a nod. He recognized that King Tianyan had his best interests at heart. The power struggles involved had risen to a dangerously high level, and staying in the spotlight was no longer beneficial.
"All three academies have conveyed the same sentiment to me," King Tianyan continued. "They don't want the imperial court assigning you any more dangerous tasks. Assassinating figures like King Tianxia is off the table."
Even King Tianyan felt the weight of the situation. If Zhao Xing were to die under his watch, Liu Tianning would go berserk. And if Liu Tianning lost control, Xu Xing would join him.
Such chaos would severely disrupt Emperor Xu's plans.
Of course, there were things that could be done but never spoken of. Emperor Xu's designs fell into this category.
"As for Xuantian Academy, there's no need for you to collaborate with Hu Yang on calculating the Military Realm Passage's periodicity. Leave it to him and his senior brother."
"Meng Kun initially wanted to send experts to escort you, but the journey was too risky. Lord Luo and I rejected the idea."
As long as Zhao Xing's main body remained safe, neither Meng Kun nor Xu Xing would have any major concerns. For Xuantian Academy, as long as Zhao Xing refrained from further involvement in calculating the Military Realm Passage's cycle, his participation would be unnecessary.
After all, a single clone of Zhao Xing, despite its strength, was no more than equivalent to a Third-Rank cultivator in its early stages.
In Pinghai Prefecture, Zhao Xing's presence carried much less influence, nearly irrelevant to the grand scheme of things.
There were already plenty of Third-Rank cultivators; one more Zhao Xing didn't make a difference, nor did one less.
The three factions, along with King Tianyan and King Luo, would rather see Zhao Xing refrain from taking any action than exhaust his potential future.
Zhao Xing quickly understood their intentions and quietly listened to the discussion.
"You now have two options for where your main body can reside," King Tianyan stated firmly.
"First, return to Chongming Prefecture and stay at the Xingchen Palace within the Secret Military Realm. Alternatively, you could reside in the Princess's estate—both locations are unquestionably safe," King Tianyan said.
"The second option is to relocate to Tianyuan Prefecture's Xuantian Academy, another exceptionally secure site. The reasons for this arrangement, however, I cannot divulge."
The reason, which King Tianyan couldn't disclose, lay in the presence of Li Boqian in that region.
What King Tianyan didn't know was that Zhao Xing had already met Li Boqian, though Zhao Xing had been bound to silence and couldn't mention the encounter.
"What's your decision?" King Tianyan asked, watching him closely.
Zhao Xing thought for a moment before replying, "I choose to return to Chongming Prefecture and cultivate within the Xingchen Palace in the Military Realm."
"As for my clones, I'll deploy them all externally," he continued.
"I still wish to contribute to the court and to the people of the world," Zhao Xing added.
King Tianyan nodded in approval. "Your sense of responsibility proves that neither I nor King Luo misjudged you."
"I will relay your intentions to Xu Xing, Meng Kun, and Ling Tianchen."
"Your main body will accompany me back to Chongming Prefecture."
"Understood."
Zhao Xing's main body quietly departed alongside King Tianyan, heading back to Chongming Prefecture.
After resigning from his role as the transport official of Tianhe Prefecture, Zhao Xing withdrew all his clones stationed there.
This decision saddened people like Yao Yuanchun, He Zhengchen, Wu Xuanying, and Zhang Ping, who had grown to depend on him.
Initially, King Tianyan had planned for Zhao Xing to withdraw even the clones stationed in Mingyue Prefecture, ensuring he would disappear entirely for a time.
However, Ye Yukong strongly objected.
"King Tianyan, don't do this!" Ye Yukong exclaimed.
"Let Zhao Xing stay just a few more months—five months… no, three months!"
King Tianyan smiled faintly and said, "That depends on Zhao Xing's willingness. It's up to him whether to leave a clone behind to assist you."
Ye Yukong immediately turned an imploring gaze toward Zhao Xing, almost like a child begging for a treat.
Zhao Xing couldn't help but find the scene amusing.
Among high-level cultivators and elite practitioners, individual talent often led to vast differences in their understanding of the Dao.
The same high-level technique, when used by different people, could vary widely in power. For instance, in the first layer of the Derivation of the Divine Spirit, Zhao Xing could manifest 49,999 instances, while ordinary geniuses could barely manage a fraction of that number.
This divergence in understanding shaped the strength of their techniques.
Ye Yukong, undeniably a top-tier talent, had surpassed the stage of "mastering the essence of the Five Elements Sword Dao" and reached the level of "distorting natural laws."
As a Second-Rank cultivator in the Heavenly Luck Stage, only years of profound insight allowed him to wield such rule-bending techniques.
Though Ye Yukong was a powerful sword Dao practitioner capable of altering natural laws, he dreaded administrative work like the plague.
"Very well, I shall follow your directive," Zhao Xing replied, bowing slightly.
King Tianyan had deliberately left the choice to Zhao Xing, aiming to solidify the favor owed by Ye Yukong.
Having worked this long, Zhao Xing naturally chose to see things through to the end.
Leaving behind a single clone to assist Ye Yukong until a replacement official arrived, Zhao Xing estimated Ye Yukong would owe him gratitude for life.
"Excellent, excellent!" Ye Yukong beamed. "We'll continue as before. You handle the paperwork, and I'll approve the seals."
Ultimately, Zhao Xing left two clones in Mingyue Prefecture: one to manage administrative work and another for ongoing disaster relief efforts.
Before his departure, Zhao Xing returned the golden figure of Tianyang True Lord to Tianhe Prefecture.
"Master Ancestor, I must leave. As your disciple, I won't be able to remain here to receive your teachings," Zhao Xing said respectfully.
Since his main body would enter Xingchen Palace, it seemed unnecessary to rely further on Tianyang True Lord's divine power.
Though his clones would remain active, they could no longer invoke the Master Ancestor's spirit.
"I already know of your circumstances," Tianyang True Lord said, smiling warmly. "Remember, disciple, after all this concludes, come find me in Fengjing, Tianyong Prefecture. You have great aspirations to fulfill, and I have a special reward waiting for you."
"Yes, thank you, Master Ancestor," Zhao Xing replied, bowing deeply before offering incense in gratitude.
Tianyang True Lord inhaled the incense deeply and nodded in satisfaction. "Go forth."
"Disciple bids farewell."
By May 10th, Zhao Xing's main body and several clones had arrived at Chongming Prefecture's Bixian Commandery, accompanying King Tianyan.
While in Bixian Commandery, Zhao Xing naturally paid a visit to the Princess's estate.
The dossier King Tianyan handed him also mentioned Princess Youruo, who had played a crucial role in recent events.
However, more than that, Zhao Xing wished to see his family again.
"Master's Wife," Zhao Xing said respectfully as he greeted Princess Youruo in Yonghua Palace.
"Not bad. It seems the recent assassination attempt wasn't for nothing—you've matured," Princess Youruo remarked with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Master's Wife."
"You've managed to stir the foundations of the Shennong Holy Land, even prompting them to deploy the Profound Earth Vessel. Among the younger generation of Shennong practitioners, you stand unmatched."
"Your reputation now even surpasses that of your teacher," she added.
Her words were no exaggeration.
In the wake of these events, Zhao Xing's name resonated across high-ranking circles.
His treatises, New Chapters of the Theory of Self and Natural Harmony and The Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle, would only grow in renown over time.
King Liang's schemes had inadvertently propelled Zhao Xing's name into the annals of history.
This kind of fame eclipsed any reputation that could be earned by governing a single prefecture.
"Master's Wife overpraises me," Zhao Xing replied humbly. "My teacher navigates chaos with ease, whereas I am far inferior."
"One day, you will surpass your teacher," Princess Youruo said. "Your teacher said so himself."
"Enough talk. You shouldn't linger here any longer. Go spend time with your family."
"Yes."
As Zhao Xing left Yonghua Palace, Princess Youruo let out a soft sigh.
From a side chamber, Liu Wanliang, the Division Minister, stepped forward. "Your Highness, why the sigh?"
"Humans, once they mature, find joy diminishing," Princess Youruo said lazily.
"Zhao Chen'an now isn't as entertaining as he was ten years ago."
"Don't you see? His aura is becoming more and more like Liu Tianning's."
Leaving Yonghua Palace, Zhao Xing made his way to the Secret Military Realm's Xingchen Palace.
As Zhao Xing stepped into Xingchen Palace, several notifications appeared on his interface:
[Under the influence of the artifact "Creation Disk," your fortune no longer fluctuates. Current fortune level: Derivation Six.]
"Xingchen Palace, as an official stronghold, neutralizes fluctuations in my fortune. The effects of 'Destiny's Favor' have disappeared. Techniques such as Five-Finger Fate, Divination with Zhanhou, and Turtle Coin Divination have returned to normal."
King Tianyan only accompanied Zhao Xing to Xingchen Palace before disappearing once more.
His responsibilities were numerous, and now that Zhao Xing's main body was secure, King Tianyan turned his attention elsewhere.
Closing his eyes, Zhao Xing entered the dream realm to revisit the Memory Palace within his mind.
"The progress is smoother than I expected. My reputation now far surpasses my initial expectations," Zhao Xing mused internally.
Based on his experiences in his previous life, his current reputation had already reached the level of being recognized across the entire province.
He had skipped the stages of being a rising star with modest fame and had directly leaped to becoming a household name.
"In terms of leveraging King Liang's reputation, I've already achieved my goal."
"Continuing to push further at this stage would only backfire," Zhao Xing thought.
"Appearing in the sights of top-level experts once or twice is more than enough."
Zhao Xing wasn't naive enough to think that the commotion caused by the three Holy Lands and King Liang's forces had intimidated the latter into submission.
If King Liang dared to rebel against the throne, he certainly wouldn't be deterred by such small matters. The only reason he held back was due to his own calculations of benefit and loss.
If Zhao Xing kept drawing attention, potentially hindering King Liang's grand plans, the king might personally take drastic measures.
"In the early stages of rebellion, this level of escalation is about right."
"Now is the time to transition to the second stage of my plan: securing favors and connections."
In the depths of his Memory Palace, Zhao Xing reviewed the names of individuals he aimed to protect.
This second stage, the "rescue phase," was critical.
"During the initial phases of King Liang's rebellion, his primary armies refrained from large-scale massacres. Most of the chaos was instigated by rogue factions and opportunists."
"But after the unveiling of the Hidden Fortune Dragon Rankings within a year, he'll lose patience. The ineffectiveness of his alliances with regional lords will frustrate him, forcing him to escalate personally. When that happens, widespread slaughter will begin, and even prefecture capitals will no longer be safe," Zhao Xing analyzed, his eyes scanning the list of names.
"The individuals I aim to save are people who originally survived these events. Otherwise, I wouldn't have remembered them in my past life, nor would their survival have impacted the Hidden Fortune Dragon Rankings."
"In this scenario, I'm practically collecting favors for free!"
Among the names on Zhao Xing's list were future prime ministers, Second-Rank elites, key figures overseeing advanced mechanisms, warriors, scholars, priests, Shennong officials, weavers, performers, and musicians.
"Right now, these people are still in their formative years. But by the era of Emperor Wu, they will all hold prominent positions."
"My net will scoop up most of the high-ranking officials and elites of Pinghai Prefecture during Emperor Wu's reign."
"And by quietly saving lives, I can solidify the reputation I've built."
Zhao Xing classified his fame into two types: initial notoriety and sustained renown.
Initial notoriety referred to the waves he'd made over the past two months, shocking mid-to-high-level circles with his audacity and accomplishments.
Sustained renown, however, would be built through the long-term impact of his actions.
It was akin to the aftermath of an earthquake: initial attention focused on the disaster and immediate relief efforts. Yet, in retrospect, people would discover lasting contributions, such as someone constructing earthquake-resistant schools and safeguarding countless lives.
"I might have ninety-nine clones right now, but that's far from enough," Zhao Xing thought.
"I must quickly push the Straw Puppet Technique beyond the Thousand Manifestation Incarnation threshold."
"Otherwise, with my current manpower, the scale of my plans will be impossible to achieve. Moreover, I can't do this alone."
Zhao Xing considered his options. "Creating targeted shelters and stockpiling medicinal supplies—these tasks are best done with a collective effort."
"It's early May. From now on, I will focus exclusively on mastering Myriad Straw Puppets."
"Once I create a superior-level avatar, I'll gain the capacity for thousands of operational clones, fully utilizing the potential of Derivation of the Divine Spirit."
Zhao Xing opened his eyes, determination radiating in his gaze.
He immediately headed to the resource vault of Xingchen Palace.
The Secret Military Realm of Xingchen Palace housed an abundance of cultivation resources. This particular gateway in Chongming Prefecture led to a small world brimming with advanced materials.
All of it was at Zhao Xing's disposal, thanks to King Tianyan's support.
Given Zhao Xing's groundbreaking achievements and his accurate grasp of Derivation of the Divine Spirit's first-layer cultivation methods, even the most valuable resources were his for the taking. King Tianyan wouldn't hesitate to grant Zhao Xing his full support, even if it cost him his life.
With a rush of excitement, Zhao Xing entered the treasure vault.
"Clatter—clatter—"
Zhao Xing moved like a locust swarm, collecting a massive haul of resources and filling countless storage boxes.
When he exited, it was as though he carried a mountain on his back.
"The Soul-Devouring Avatar, one of the seven superior avatars, is the foundation of all superior techniques," Zhao Xing thought as he flew to the meditation platform in Xingchen Palace.
Sitting cross-legged on the Starry Platform, Zhao Xing began to recall Liu Tianning's past teachings.
"Once mastered, I'll have thousands of avatars, each capable of wielding superior-level techniques."
"My Yin-Yang Self Technique must fully reach its second level."
"My Five Elements comprehension must achieve the Third-Rank essence level."
"Additionally, I need to comprehend the Eighteen Soul-Devouring Avatar Diagrams thoroughly."
With these requirements in mind, Zhao Xing's main body immersed itself in cultivation.
Simultaneously, dozens of clones gathered outside Xingchen Palace.
The first person Zhao Xing contacted was Xia Jing.
"Brother Xia, where are you now?" Zhao Xing asked through the Earth Mirror.
Soon, the mirror displayed Xia Jing's rugged face, complete with a scruffy beard.
"I'm in the Linhai Commandery of Datong Prefecture. Zhao Xing, are you alright? I heard about the assassination attempt on you. Word is, you turned the tables and even killed a few top-tier elites, including Yushan Priest," Xia Jing exclaimed.
"You're well-informed," Zhao Xing said with a smile. In this era, information didn't travel as quickly as it would in modern times.
For Xia Jing to know such details in such a short period, his father's extensive network of connections must have played a role.
"I'm fine," Zhao Xing replied. "But I'm not in a position to handle anything too conspicuous right now."
"Instead, I want to work on something low-key. Are you interested in joining me?"
"This likely won't bring immediate results or significant recognition. In fact, it might even end up being a thankless job."
Xia Jing laughed heartily. "Zhao Chen'an, you doing something 'small'? That's a first!"
"As it happens, I've been leading a group of people on guerrilla missions. It feels like there are plenty of opportunities to achieve merit, yet I'm running around like a headless chicken."
"Don't even bother asking if I'll join you. Just tell me when, where, how many people you need, and what kind of people you need."
"Big or small, you have my full support!"