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Chapter 266: Zhao Xing's Grand Zhou Heavenly Theory, Jingxin Era 34th Year, The Death of Yang An
🕑 Added 2024-12-02 06:54:41 +0000 UTCOn April 10th, 33rd year of the Jingxin Era:
Tianyuan Branch of Xuantian Academy, above the Qianqing Palace.
"Boom!"
A massive explosion of cloud energy tore through the sky. A figure staggered out of the mist, looking somewhat battered.
Cough, cough… hack hack… Zhao Xing leaned on his knees with both hands, coughing incessantly.
The blood and Qi within his body churned violently, and the Vital Energy rampaged through his meridians. It took him a good while to regulate his breathing.
Looking up, he saw that the cloud layer, which stretched across the sky for ten thousand meters and contained ninety-nine distinct Cloud Pathways, was now riddled with massive holes.
Numerous strands of cloud energy spilled toward Zhao Xing like air leaking from a punctured membrane.
"This is truly challenging," Zhao Xing muttered as he straightened himself. Looking at the sky, he felt like a mole that had drilled holes all over what was once a smooth cloud formation.
"Every time I try to execute A Step to Infinity and traverse the Cloud Pathways, I either crash midway through or get violently bounced back by the intense energy gradient between the clouds."
"The difference in cloud energy between the front and back must be controlled with perfect precision. It’s really not easy," Zhao Xing said while scanning his surroundings.
Moments earlier, he had caused a significant eruption of cloud energy, and the residual clouds had yet to dissipate.
"One month of training, and I’ve only comprehended seven out of ninety-nine Cloud Pathways," he mused.
"I thought once I figured out the first one, the others would come more easily, but that’s far from the case."
Zhao Xing didn’t immediately dive back into the Cloud Pathways to continue his insights. Instead, he sat still, recognizing the chaotic state of his understanding—it felt as though he understood everything and nothing all at once.
"This won’t do. I need to consult my mentor," Zhao Xing concluded. The more he attempted to comprehend, the more muddled his mind became.
Soon after, an illusionary scene materialized before his eyes.
There were supposed to be only ninety-nine Cloud Pathways, yet before him, nine hundred and ninety-nine pathways appeared.
"This is bad! A sign of Qi deviation!" Zhao Xing quickly shouted downward:
"Senior, help me!"
In the next instant, Li Boqian appeared high above the sky, observing Zhao Xing, who was clearly trapped in the illusion.
At this moment, Zhao Xing’s eyes were shut tight, his face alternating between blue and purple. Simultaneously, his body began emitting large quantities of cloud energy.
"Whoosh—"
With a sudden burst of energy, clouds erupted from all seven of Zhao Xing’s orifices.
"How peculiar," Li Boqian remarked as he stepped forward to suppress the chaos. Circling Zhao Xing, he examined him carefully. "Most people get stuck on a single pathway, leading to deviation due to lack of progress."
"This kid, on the other hand, comprehended too many Cloud Laws at once, causing them to interfere with one another. This created countless diverging paths, throwing his Vital Energy into chaos."
From Li Boqian’s perspective, it was clear that Zhao Xing’s body contained massive amounts of cloud energy. This energy flowed, formed, and dissipated simultaneously in his meridians, apertures, and even his very flesh.
Moreover, each Cloud Law operated independently, as though Zhao Xing had turned his own body into a testing ground for Cloud Techniques.
"My Cloud Techniques do involve the physical body to some extent, but this situation is truly unprecedented," Li Boqian exclaimed in astonishment.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"
After thoroughly examining Zhao Xing, Li Boqian began to act decisively. Without hesitation, he kicked Zhao Xing repeatedly. Each kick sent him flying across the sky, only for Li Boqian to intercept him mid-air and kick him again in a different direction.
Zhao Xing resembled a ball being bounced around, seemingly at the mercy of Li Boqian’s relentless strikes.
By the seventh kick, Zhao Xing had already regained consciousness.
"Senior! Wait, I’m fine now—ouch!"
"No, you’re not," Li Boqian retorted curtly.
"Wham!"
Zhao Xing felt as though his head was spinning, his entire world tilting as the violent kicks continued.
Yet amidst this chaotic process, he realized something: the rampaging Vital Energy within him was gradually calming.
Li Boqian’s strikes weren’t random; each one targeted a specific direction, aligned perfectly with the seven Cloud Pathways Zhao Xing had comprehended.
With every kick, Zhao Xing’s chaotic insights realigned, bringing him back on the correct path.
The process lasted a full two incense sticks of time.
When Li Boqian aimed another kick, he found his foot hitting empty air.
He stopped and focused, noticing that Zhao Xing had stabilized himself.
Cloud energy radiated faintly from Zhao Xing’s feet, slowing him down.
"Thank you, Senior," Zhao Xing said as he steadied himself and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.
"Not bad, not bad. You only needed three thousand or so kicks to snap out of it," Li Boqian said with a chuckle.
"Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?" Zhao Xing asked, now understanding why his Vital Energy had spiraled out of control.
"My junior apprentice brother faced a similar situation," Li Boqian replied. "He needed over ten thousand kicks before he could stabilize himself."
"Junior apprentice brother Wang Tianzhi?" Zhao Xing was taken aback. Li Boqian had only one junior apprentice, Wang Tianzhi, the esteemed Shennong Minister.
"Senior, how should I handle this issue in the future?" Zhao Xing asked earnestly, setting aside his curiosity.
"Are you using the Derivation of the Divine Spirit Canon to guide your insights?" Li Boqian asked.
"Yes," Zhao Xing confirmed.
"Stop using it," Li Boqian instructed firmly. "You haven’t fully mastered the technique yet. Using it to comprehend Cloud Pathways is asking for trouble."
"Why is that?" Zhao Xing inquired.
"The reasoning is simple: you haven’t yet learned how to control the technique," Li Boqian explained.
"Although you grasp things quickly, that speed is precisely the problem."
"With thousands of soul fragments analyzing simultaneously, even the slightest error gets magnified a thousandfold. It’s a terrifying feedback loop."
"But I’ve been correcting those errors," Zhao Xing countered. "I can sense that I’m on the right path."
That much was evident from the progress bar on his cultivation interface.
"You’re not correcting fast enough," Li Boqian retorted. "Imagine being attacked by a thousand swords while simultaneously being healed by a thousand physicians."
Realization dawned on Zhao Xing. While his progress in comprehending seven Cloud Pathways within a month was remarkable, the accumulated errors were equally significant.
This issue wasn’t related to the cultivation interface; the interface merely displayed progress. It didn’t guarantee the absence of missteps.
Each moment of comprehension involved adjustments to his Qi and Vital Energy.
Over time, these accumulated mistakes led to the terrifying outburst of energy.
In other words, Zhao Xing was pushing his training beyond its limits.
Overeagerness had brought him to the brink of what his body could endure.
Reflecting on this, Zhao Xing felt a chill run down his spine. Could this have been what drove Liu Wanfa to madness as well?
"You seem overly anxious, as though something is driving you to rush," Li Boqian observed. "Could it be the rumors circulating within the academy?"
Zhao Xing nodded. "Yes, Senior. I’ve been feeling some impatience."
"Stay grounded and don’t rush," Li Boqian advised. "You have immense talent and are already progressing faster than most."
"From now on, reduce your time spent comprehending A Step to Infinity. Don’t immerse yourself in it all day. Find a way to clear your mind."
"Senior, please guide me," Zhao Xing requested humbly.
"As a Doctor of Canonical Studies, you can spend more time reviewing Shennong classics and teaching students," Li Boqian suggested. "Sometimes, revisiting fundamental knowledge can pave a steadier path forward."
"Understood," Zhao Xing replied, bowing deeply. "Thank you for your guidance. Starting today, I will cut my comprehension time in half."
Li Boqian was momentarily speechless. Cutting it in half still meant six hours per day—Zhao Xing had been training almost non-stop for a month.
"Even that’s too much. Limit yourself to two hours per day until I deem your foundation solid," Li Boqian said sternly.
"Yes, Senior," Zhao Xing agreed.
From that day onward, Zhao Xing followed Li Boqian’s instructions, reducing his training time and shifting his focus to the theoretical study of Heavenly patterns.
However, when Zhao Xing held a lecture, only seven students attended.
Three bore expressions of disdain, clearly here to cause trouble.
Two others seemed to view the lecture as mere entertainment. Only two were genuinely interested in learning.
This was understandable. Lectures by other Doctors of Canonical Studies were often overcrowded, leaving little opportunity for students to ask questions.
Zhao Xing’s sparsely attended class provided more chances for interaction.
After all, being an officially certified Doctor of Canonical Studies implied a certain level of expertise.
Although Zhao Xing only held one lecture per month, which drew criticism from some, his capabilities couldn’t be entirely dismissed.
"The Dao of Heavenly Timing: Five Elements align with the four seasons. Earth corresponds to summer…"
"Dr. Zhao!" As soon as Zhao Xing began his lecture, one of the students, Liu Hui, an Eighth-Rank official, abruptly stood up and interrupted.
Zhao Xing looked at him calmly, unperturbed by the sudden disruption. "What is your question?"
Liu Hui smirked mockingly, "Dr. Zhao, the theory of Five Elements and Four Seasons is nothing more than old news. I've heard it so many times it's worn out my ears."
"Since Dr. Zhao is responsible for interpreting the classics of the Heavenly Timing and Five Elements, do you have any unique insights to offer?"
Liu Hui’s tone was obviously antagonistic. He wasn’t here to learn but to stir trouble, being a disciple of Zhou Cheng, another Doctor of Canonical Studies, and someone who had caused issues for Zhao Xing in the past. Even now, there were still individuals eyeing Zhao Xing's position, eager to replace him for access to the resources it provided.
"Dr. Zhao, have you even annotated a classic before?" Liu Hui sneered. "If not, how can you call yourself a Doctor of Canonical Studies? Why not step aside and let a true talent take your place?"
Despite the provocation, Zhao Xing showed no anger. Closing the book in front of him, he nodded slightly and said, "If that’s the case, then today, I won’t discuss those so-called old topics."
"And what do you intend to teach us today? The Grand Observational Classic? Hahaha," Liu Hui jeered. The Grand Observational Classic was a foundational text of the Self School, and Liu Hui’s remark was pure mockery.
"Today, I will discuss the Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle," Zhao Xing replied calmly.
Liu Hui suddenly fell silent. He had never heard of such a theory before and decided to listen, intending to pick it apart later.
Another student, Han Guang, who had come to study sincerely, asked, "Teacher, what is the Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle?"
"The Three Yin and Three Yang correspond to six divisions: Jueyin, Shaoyin, Taiyin, Shaoyang, Yangming, and Taiyang," Zhao Xing began to explain. "The Six Qi refer to Yin, Yang, Wind, Rain, Darkness, and Brightness, representing six natural climatic phenomena. These also correspond to human sensory experiences: Wind, Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, and Fire."
"I divide the Heavenly Timing into cycles of thirty years for a small epoch, sixty years for a complete cycle, three hundred sixty years for a major cycle, and three thousand six hundred years for a Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle."
"For the year’s four seasons paired with the Five Elements, this is called the 'Seasonal Cycle of Heavenly Timing.' The year’s Heavenly Timing follows a progression of Five Steps through the seasons: starting with the Wood Season, moving to the Fire Season, Earth Season, Metal Season, and finally the Water Season."
"Each season progresses through the cycle of mutual generation within the Five Elements, with each step lasting seventy-three days and five marks."
Liu Hui frowned as he calculated. He realized that while the division was unconventional, it didn’t deviate from the existing Theory of Five Elements and Four Seasons. Intrigued, he decided to keep listening.
Another student, Lin Yuejia, who had been carefully taking notes, asked, "Teacher, why do you call the Five Elements and Four Seasons the Five Motions?"
"The terms Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth are names for the Five Elements. When I refer to them as the Five Motions, there’s an inherent distinction," Zhao Xing explained with a faint smile. "The term 'motion' emphasizes action. The Five Elements are often used to describe changes in material substances on the ground, whereas the Five Motions encompass the movement of elemental Qi throughout Heaven and Earth."
"Would you like me to explain how the Heavenly Stems correspond to the Five Motions?" Zhao Xing asked.
Lin Yuejia, one of the few diligent students who attended all of Zhao Xing's lectures without fail, immediately shook her head. "No need, Teacher. I’ve studied the Heavenly Timing Chronicles. Your Five Motions theory, except for the division of Si Earth and Geng Metal, aligns almost entirely with the eight other stems."
"You have a solid foundation," Zhao Xing praised, nodding approvingly.
Lin Yuejia straightened her posture proudly.
"But, Teacher," another student interjected, "you said every year starts with the Wood Motion. From which day do you begin calculating the 'Motion Season'?"
Zhao Xing’s Heavenly Sight ability had already discerned the student’s humble origins from his modest attire. Seeing the genuine curiosity in his eyes, Zhao Xing patiently replied, "The calculation begins each year on the Major Cold Day."
This explanation quelled further questions for the moment. The foundation Zhao Xing built still lay within the framework of the Five Elements and Four Seasons Theory. Once specific timelines were established, the concepts became easier to understand.
"Now that you understand the basic framework," Zhao Xing said, "let’s integrate it further."
"Using the twelve branches, we pair them with the Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi. Both Yin and Yang can be divided into three degrees, forming the classifications I mentioned earlier."
"The Six Qi exhibit the characteristics of the Five Elements, but Heat and Fire share similarities, so Fire is subdivided into two types: Sovereign Fire and Ministerial Fire."
"The pairing of the Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi is as follows: Jueyin corresponds to Wind-Wood, Shaoyin to Sovereign Fire, Shaoyang to Ministerial Fire, Taiyin to Dampness-Earth, Yangming to Dryness-Metal, and Taiyang to Coldness-Water."
By this point, only two students—Lin Yuejia and Liu Hui—were able to follow along. Both cross-referenced Zhao Xing's explanations with classics like the Five Elements Monthly Usage and Four Seasons Theory of Heavenly Stems.
Even Liu Hui, despite his earlier derision, started to respect Zhao Xing’s ability to weave together multiple classical texts seamlessly.
Still, another student, Wu Chun, a handsome young man with pale skin, raised his hand and asked bluntly, "Dr. Zhao, what’s the point of all this? How does this theory benefit us?"
Wu Chun was notorious for his lack of interest in academics, having entered through nepotism due to his father being a Martial Marquis.
Before Zhao Xing could respond, Lin Yuejia shot Wu Chun a sharp look, her gaze brimming with disdain. "How could it possibly be useless? When using the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Commands to reverse Heavenly Timing, how do you determine how much energy to use? How many hours to adjust? Without this knowledge, how would you calculate the realignment of Seasonal Qi?"
Wu Chun’s face turned beet red, feeling utterly humiliated, especially since the scolding came from a young woman.
Taking the opportunity, Zhao Xing added, "Exactly. This theory directly informs the proper use of the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Commands and other techniques."
"One cannot tamper with the natural flow of Heavenly Timing arbitrarily," Zhao Xing continued. "While immediate results may not show noticeable consequences, the cumulative errors over the years could lead to disaster."
"For instance, despite having numerous powerful Shennong officials, why do some regions still face natural calamities? It’s because of the minute discrepancies that accumulate year after year."
"My hometown of Gucheng once had a Shennong official who altered the Seasonal Qi over three hundred times in just fifteen years. During the summer and autumn seasons alone, he tampered with it over a thousand times."
"Yet, he still failed to properly realign the Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle’s Heavenly Timing, leading to catastrophic floods and relentless snowfall, which devastated the area."
Curious, Lin Yuejia asked, "Dr. Zhao, what happened to such an incompetent official?"
Recalling Chen Shijie’s actions, Zhao Xing replied, "A friend of mine threw him into an icy river for seven days. He was later convicted of dereliction of duty, stripped of his position, and imprisoned for fifteen years."
Turning to Wu Chun, Lin Yuejia said pointedly, "See? That’s the fate of those who practice Heavenly Timing techniques without understanding its principles."
Wu Chun’s face darkened with embarrassment and anger, but he held his tongue.
Zhao Xing noticed Wu Chun’s simmering resentment but smiled faintly and said, "Let’s move on."
"Now that you understand the purpose of this theory and the significance of dividing the Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle, let’s proceed to the next step."
"But first, let’s clarify one more concept: the Six Qi can be further divided into two categories."
"Primary Qi governs stability, while Guest Qi measures variability."
"Variability refers to changes in climate and environmental phenomena."
"If you were a local magistrate, understanding Primary Qi alone would suffice. But to govern a prefecture or province, you must be equipped to handle significant climatic fluctuations."
As Zhao Xing delved deeper into the advanced theory of variability, even Liu Hui and Lin Yuejia struggled to keep up. Variability, or "Guest Qi," was a high-level topic, often studied only by seasoned Shennong officials. Most students in the room, being no higher than Seventh Rank, lacked the experience to grasp such concepts fully.
However, Zhao Xing wasn’t concerned about their comprehension. His goal wasn’t to educate the students present but to indirectly communicate his insights to the experts and critics behind them.
"Primary Qi consists of six types: Morning Glow Qi, Noon Sun Qi, Dusk Fountain Qi, Midnight Dew Qi, Heaven’s Qi, and Earth’s Qi."
"I’ve assigned the Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Commands to six Qi and six steps, beginning each year from the Major Cold Day and following the sequence of mutual generation: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water."
"Each step spans sixty days and eighty-seven marks. When a particular Qi dominates, it exhibits the corresponding characteristics of the Five Elements."
"Conversely, we can also use the Seasonal Qi Commands to realign the Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle’s Four Seasons."
Lin Yuejia’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she followed Zhao Xing’s explanation. Even Liu Hui begrudgingly admitted to himself that Zhao Xing’s insights surpassed those of his own mentor, Zhou Cheng.
"Wait, how can I think that way?" Liu Hui shook his head, feeling guilty about his disloyalty. Yet, he couldn’t deny that Zhao Xing’s teachings held unparalleled depth.
As Liu Hui and Lin Yuejia absorbed Zhao Xing’s explanations, they began to see how his theories could address the practical challenges they faced as Shennong officials.
Zhao Xing continued teaching tirelessly from dawn to dusk and then into the next morning.
"To resolve historical inefficiencies, you can apply Guest-Primary overlap by compensating for deviations in the Yearly Qi with adjustments to the Third Qi of the Primary cycle."
"The other five Qi are adjusted sequentially. This is what we call Guest-Primary overlap."
"Understanding regular changes is the key to addressing irregularities."
"As the saying goes, 'When Qi aligns, harmony ensues; when it misaligns, ailments arise.'"
"Of course, if you encounter a thousand-year variability, you’d best run. Such events are beyond your realm to manage."
With that, Zhao Xing concluded, "That’s all for today."
Looking at the six students slumped asleep at their desks, Zhao Xing announced, "Class dismissed."
Wu Chun groggily rubbed his eyes. "Is it over?"
Beside him, another student mumbled, "I think I heard something about class ending."
"Then it must be over," someone else said. "Let’s go. This is way too hard to understand."
Meanwhile, Lin Yuejia hurried to Zhao Xing’s side. "Teacher, please wait!"
Zhao Xing stopped and looked at her. "Do you have another question?"
"No, no," she replied quickly. "I need to read more before I can ask meaningful questions."
"Then what is it?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Teacher, please take me as your disciple!" Lin Yuejia exclaimed, dropping to her knees. "I’m willing to be your attendant, to serve tea and meals for you!"
"Uh…" Zhao Xing was taken aback by her fervor.
It’s worth mentioning, that young lady was indeed attractive.
However, Zhao Xing was not someone easily swayed by beauty. He immediately shook his head and replied, "I know there is a tradition in Xuantian Academy for discipleship, but I don’t adhere to those conventions. Even if I were to accept a disciple, the time has not yet come."
Lin Yuejia pouted, visibly disappointed. "Then I’ll come back to ask you again another time, Teacher."
"Get up now." Zhao Xing waved his hand, smiling as he helped her stand. "If you want to listen to my lectures, just come regularly in the future."
"Mm!" Lin Yuejia nodded obediently and bowed respectfully before taking her leave. "In that case, I’ll excuse myself now, Teacher."
Not far away, Liu Hui watched the scene, torn with conflicting emotions.
For a brief moment, he felt an urge to kneel and humbly ask for Zhao Xing’s guidance.
But then he remembered he was Zhou Cheng’s disciple. Seeing Zhao Xing refuse Lin Yuejia’s request, he hesitated further.
That hesitation cost him the chance, as Zhao Xing was already gone.
"Sigh…" Liu Hui let out a long sigh, his expression filled with regret.
As he walked out of the lecture hall—referred to in the Grand Zhou Dynasty as a public chamber—two of his junior disciples were waiting for him outside.
"Senior Brother, how did it go?" one of them asked eagerly.
"How did what go?" Liu Hui replied indifferently.
"Did you find any flaws? Any contradictions in the arguments of that traitor to the Way?"
Liu Hui sighed heavily and said, "This… the so-called traitor's theories are simply too robust. This Dr. Zhao is definitely not someone who secured his position through connections."
"Are you saying…" one junior disciple ventured cautiously.
"I couldn’t find any flaws," Liu Hui admitted. "I can only relay what I heard back to our teacher."
"Alright then, let’s hurry back and report." The two juniors urged him on, visibly eager to complete their task.
Zhao Xing returned to Mirror Lake Courtyard. Instead of heading straight to Li Boqian’s residence for further studies, he began organizing his thoughts about the lecture he had just delivered.
"The Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle is a relatively accurate framework for predicting the operation of Heavenly Timing across the Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle," Zhao Xing mused to himself.
"The divination techniques I’ve learned can also be incorporated into this, primarily to predict and resolve extreme variability without disrupting the broader Heavenly Timing." His thoughts continued to flow.
Not all changes in climate or environment could be utilized for benefit, Zhao Xing reminded himself.
In century-scale or millennium-scale variability, millions of lives might perish for one singular survivor to emerge fortunate.
People often overlooked the massive loss of life that underpinned such phenomena.
Furthermore, some forms of variability were completely unutilizable—those that annihilated all life in their path.
"These all-encompassing destructive variabilities are the self-correcting mechanisms of the Xuanhuang Realm," Zhao Xing wrote in his notes before pausing.
He hesitated, then erased the line.
It didn’t align with the philosophy of the Heaven School, which advocated for "humans prevailing over Heaven" and replacing the Way of Heaven with human innovation.
To be honest, even Zhao Xing wasn’t sure whether his interpretation was entirely correct.
Even with the insights of his past life, he couldn’t claim omniscience when it came to the mysteries of Heavenly Timing.
"For now, the content I’ve compiled is sufficient," Zhao Xing concluded inwardly. "Variability techniques are the most critical subset of the Heaven School, with the Variability Faction being the largest."
Of the school’s seven ultimate techniques, three belonged to the Variability Faction.
If Zhao Xing could gain the recognition of this faction, his plan to become the leader of the Heaven School would be halfway realized.
"Revealing just a little bit for now is enough to set the groundwork. Theories need practical validation, and that takes time."
"I haven’t even begun practicing internal variability techniques yet. If I take too big a step forward, I might stumble," Zhao Xing thought with a wry smile.
Having settled on his next steps, Zhao Xing resumed his writing.
In Tianhu Courtyard, the residence of Dr. Zhou Cheng, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Zhou Cheng was in the midst of a lively philosophical discussion with his friends, Yang Boguang and Zhong Haiming.
All three were Doctors of Canonical Studies, though each specialized in different areas.
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Teacher, we’re back," Liu Hui’s voice called out.
Zhou Cheng’s expression softened as he transmitted a response. "Come in."
Liu Hui entered the hall and respectfully saluted. "Teacher."
"Well?" Zhou Cheng asked immediately. "Did you find any weaknesses or contradictions in Zhao Xing’s teachings?"
Zhou Cheng harbored a deep disdain for Zhao Xing, convinced that he was nothing more than a "connections hire" who had secured his position through nepotism rather than merit.
The fact that Zhao Xing had never openly engaged in debates or published annotations further solidified Zhou Cheng’s belief.
The decay of Grand Zhou’s governance was on full display, Zhou Cheng thought bitterly. If scholars like himself didn’t take a stand, who would?
If a mere "connections hire" could infiltrate the realm of academia, was there any hope left for the future of Grand Zhou?
Driven by his fervent ideals, Zhou Cheng believed he was acting righteously, though Yang Boguang and Zhong Haiming were more motivated by self-interest in their opposition to Zhao Xing.
"Teacher, here is the content of Zhao Xing’s lecture," Liu Hui said as he handed over a meticulously prepared transcript.
Liu Hui had spent three days organizing the material, capturing every detail of the lecture, including the interactions and even the foolish questions posed by Wu Chun. Not a single word was omitted.
"Let me see," Zhou Cheng said, casually flipping through the pages.
"Hmm?" Zhou Cheng’s brows furrowed almost immediately.
"What is it, Zhou Brother?" Yang Boguang asked, intrigued. "Is it riddled with errors, exposing his incompetence at last?"
Zhong Haiming chimed in, "Yes, Zhou Brother, don’t keep us in suspense. What does that expression mean?"
"Silence!" Zhou Cheng barked, waving them off irritably.
Startled by Zhou Cheng’s uncharacteristic tone, Yang Boguang and Zhong Haiming exchanged confused glances.
What could possibly be going on?
Minutes stretched into a full incense stick’s time as Zhou Cheng continued reading, his breathing growing more labored.
Yang Boguang and Zhong Haiming grew increasingly curious.
Finally, unable to contain himself, Yang Boguang rose and snatched the transcript.
"Let me see—Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle?" Yang Boguang muttered as he began reading.
His expression quickly mirrored Zhou Cheng’s.
The transcript was a complete redefinition of the Grand Zhou’s Heavenly Timing, encompassing every detail of the seasonal cycles, the Six Qi, and the Twenty-Four Seasonal Commands.
As Yang Boguang read on, he began cross-referencing the theory with classical texts, searching for contradictions. But the deeper he delved, the more his brow furrowed.
"This… this…" Yang Boguang’s face turned pale.
"What is it now?" Zhong Haiming asked impatiently, thoroughly confused by his peers’ reactions.
"I’ll read it myself," Zhong Haiming declared, snatching the transcript.
As he read, Zhong Haiming’s expression transformed from skepticism to shock.
"This isn’t just a redefinition—it’s a complete variability theory!" Zhong Haiming exclaimed, his voice trembling. "No… it’s even more than that."
For the three Doctors of Canonical Studies, Zhao Xing’s theory was nothing short of revolutionary. It felt like being struck by a hundred top-tier techniques at once.
"This isn’t an annotation of the Six Classics," Zhong Haiming growled, his hands shaking as he crumpled the transcript. "It’s him using the Six Classics to justify his own theories! Outrageous! Traitor to the Way!"
Despite his outburst, Zhong Haiming couldn’t find any flaws in the theory, which only fueled his frustration.
"This can’t be his work!" Zhong Haiming yelled, throwing the crumpled transcript to the floor.
"Let’s analyze it together," Yang Boguang urged. "Surely, the three of us combined can find weaknesses in Zhao Xing’s argument."
Zhou Cheng nodded reflexively, still dazed by the contents of the transcript. "You three, leave us for now," he instructed his disciples.
Liu Hui picked up the discarded transcript and exited the room, his expression conflicted.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing submitted his finalized Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle to Dean Lu Chunhua.
Lu Chunhua, an elder of the Variability Faction, was the most suitable reviewer for such groundbreaking work.
"New theories always draw criticism," Zhao Xing thought. "Submitting it to someone of authority will save me from pointless debates."
After a brief review, Lu Chunhua looked up, visibly impressed.
"I’ll arrange for immediate practical validation in the Blessed Land," he declared.
"Your guidance is invaluable, Dean," Zhao Xing replied respectfully.
Shaking his head, Lu Chunhua said, "I can’t see any flaws in your work as of now."
"I’d like to recommend this to the Central Academy for further review. Would you agree?"
"It would be an honor," Zhao Xing replied.
Quietly, Zhao Xing’s work found its way into the hands of Li Boqian, who skimmed through the manuscript with growing astonishment.
"Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle?" he murmured.
"This boy… truly unexpected," Li Boqian said, unable to hide a smile. "I only wanted him to focus and find solace in the classics. Yet, he’s gone and surpassed every expectation."
Looking back at the theories, Zhao Xing realized they were immensely beneficial to his cultivation.
Who could have anticipated that Zhao Xing would craft such a substantial theory on variability, even redefining the Grand Heavenly Timing itself?
"What grand ambition—to start with a variability theory and aim to redefine the entire Grand Heavenly Timing!" Li Boqian’s sharp insight instantly grasped the essence of Zhao Xing's work.
He understood that Zhao Xing’s treatise was merely a prelude.
The young man’s true goal was likely to redefine the Heavenly Timing of the entire Xuanhuang Realm.
"He aims to make all Heavenly Timing practitioners in the Shennong Division perform their duties according to his theories and govern the Heavenly Timing under this new framework."
"If he succeeds, our Heaven School will produce another sage," Li Boqian murmured to himself. "Little junior brother, you have a tough road ahead."
The rivalry between Wang Tianzhi and Liu Tianning had already crystallized.
The position of Grand Shennong would likely fall to one of them.
But for Wang Tianzhi to secure it, he first needed to become the leader of the Heaven School. He would have to assume the role of Dean of Xuantian Academy before he could even dream of ascending to Grand Shennong.
"If I live long enough, little junior brother, you might not just lose to Liu Tianning—you might even lose to this disciple of his."
"Living in this era is truly a trial for you, little junior brother. Back in my time, I had no competition."
Li Boqian chuckled as he put away the manuscript and headed to Qianqing Palace to play chess with Emperor Jing.
On April 25th, Zhao Xing gave his second lecture.
This time, he noticed that the number of attendees had increased significantly, rising to over fifty.
Most of these new faces had been brought in by Liu Hui and Lin Yuejia.
While the upper echelons had yet to form a consensus on the Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Heavenly Cycle, the theory was already circulating among students.
Among the advocates, Liu Hui and Lin Yuejia were the most enthusiastic.
By May, the number of attendees had grown to five hundred.
Those who attended Zhao Xing's lectures were often captivated and stayed on.
Even secret reprimands or attempts by their instructors to discourage them proved ineffective.
The reason was simple: Zhao Xing’s theory was practical for governance.
As time passed, Zhao Xing began addressing issues encountered in practice.
These were challenging problems that Shennong officials frequently faced in their duties.
Drawing on his experience as a player in his previous life and a deep understanding of classical theories, Zhao Xing integrated these with his insights from this lifetime’s cultivation.
The result left his students profoundly impressed.
Had his theories remained purely academic, they might have been dismissed. But their practicality in governance created a seismic impact among the student body.
By June, the number of attendees had surged to over five thousand.
The classroom assigned to Zhao Xing was woefully inadequate for such crowds. Many students even petitioned Lu Chunhua, demanding a larger venue for his lectures.
Reluctantly, Lu Chunhua reassigned Zhao Xing’s lectures to the forty-fifth floor of the Secret Spell Tower.
This space was vast enough to accommodate tens of thousands.
From that day on, Zhao Xing’s lectures became a sensation.
Attendance quickly swelled to over ten thousand.
Whenever Zhao Xing lectured, other canonical scholars found their own lecture halls nearly empty.
"What’s going on? Why are so many people attending Zhao Xing’s lectures?" Simayi Yunhai murmured, staring at the sea of people gathered on the forty-fifth floor of the Secret Spell Tower.
"Even if I lectured, I doubt I could draw a crowd of over ten thousand."
"It’s because he’s personally present," Geng Shouchang remarked. "Haven’t you realized yet?"
"What?" Simayi Yunhai’s face lit up. "Could it be that he’s finally come around?"
Geng Shouchang smirked and shook his head.
"Why are you shaking your head?" Simayi Yunhai frowned. "Are you implying my plans failed?"
"You still don’t understand Zhao Xing’s intentions, do you?" Geng Shouchang replied.
"This young man intends to master all three factions simultaneously."
"You think he would give up on cultivating techniques from the other two factions?"
"His Cloud Gate Method has already been perfected!"
"What?" Simayi Yunhai froze, then erupted in anger. "Are you saying he never planned to acknowledge me as his teacher?"
This realization left Simayi Yunhai seething, his desire for vengeance stronger than ever.
Shaking his head, Geng Shouchang turned and walked away, hands clasped behind his back.
By August of the thirty-third year of the Jingxin Era, Zhao Xing had reduced the frequency of his lectures to once a month.
This change allowed him to consolidate his insights, which had become increasingly refined and organized.
At the same time, Zhao Xing’s understanding of the top-tier technique A Step to Infinity reached a critical threshold. He began dedicating more time to cultivation.
"I’ve already comprehended ninety-eight Cloud Paths. I just need one more," Zhao Xing mused.
"Li Boqian truly lives up to his reputation as the Grand Shennong. His guidance has saved me countless detours," Zhao Xing thought, grateful.
With Li Boqian’s mentorship, Zhao Xing avoided inner demons and unnecessary pitfalls in his cultivation.
Still, Zhao Xing had already used his three opportunities to consult Li Boqian. Each session lasted over half a month, not counting the shorter two-hour practice sessions Li Boqian didn’t even tally.
In their later interactions, Li Boqian became more like a mischievous elder, adopting a less serious teaching style.
"You’re just one step away. Come over here and let me kick you into the right direction," Li Boqian said, rolling up his sleeves with a grin.
"That’s quite literal, isn’t it?" Zhao Xing replied helplessly but complied, flying toward him.
"Ungrateful brat. Do you know how many people would kill for this chance?" Li Boqian snorted.
"Yes, yes. You’re the best in the world. I’m fortunate beyond measure," Zhao Xing said with a wry smile.
"Watch your step!" Li Boqian’s sudden kick sent Zhao Xing hurtling into the clouds.
"Whoosh!"
Zhao Xing’s figure became a speck, vanishing into the dense clouds.
At the same time, the thousand-meter-high cloud layers, marked by ninety-nine Cloud Paths, began shrinking rapidly.
From the ground, Li Boqian gazed upward.
Standing beside him was Ji Mingjing, who had been observing Li Boqian’s teachings out of curiosity.
Naturally, Zhao Xing was unaware of Emperor Jing’s presence.
"That kick did it," Ji Mingjing nodded slightly. "Boqian, your teaching is excellent."
"Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty. But credit goes to the boy’s exceptional aptitude," Li Boqian replied humbly.
Ji Mingjing’s expression grew solemn. "I’m leaving soon. The fate of Pinghai Prefecture rests in your hands."
Li Boqian’s face turned serious as he bowed deeply. "I will give my all, Your Majesty."
As soon as the words left his lips, Ji Mingjing vanished into thin air.
Moments later, a mass of cloud energy swirled nearby, and Zhao Xing emerged, his face glowing with triumph.
"Look, Senior. I’ve mastered it!" Zhao Xing exclaimed. "But really, is a grand bow necessary just because I succeeded?"
Li Boqian laughed and scolded, "Boy, you think you can handle my reverence?"
"Hahaha," Zhao Xing laughed as he steadied Li Boqian’s hand. "Don’t get mad, Senior. I still need you to teach me the Kunpeng Transformation and Primordial Seal Method."
"Go away!" Li Boqian snapped, shaking off Zhao Xing’s hand. "Let me have a few days of peace. How can anyone be as tireless as you? You don’t even sleep, constantly shouting for help with your breakthroughs."
Zhao Xing grinned. "So, how many days of peace do you want?"
Li Boqian held up one hand, then added the other. "Five days—no, ten!"
"Five days!" Zhao Xing bargained.
"Are you haggling with me now? Who bargains by cutting the time in half?"
Zhao Xing chuckled as he lowered Li Boqian’s hands. "Alright, however many days you need. I promise not to bother you."
"Good. Playing the emotional card again. Get lost!" Li Boqian kicked, and Zhao Xing disappeared into the courtyard, dissolving into a mist of clouds.
Looking up at the clear blue sky, Li Boqian couldn’t help but smile. "I’m getting old."
By October of the thirty-third year of the Jingxin Era, Zhao Xing began practicing the internal variability technique Kunpeng Transformation.
In December, the Kunpeng Essence Blood arrived.
With the divine beast’s essence as a foundation, Zhao Xing reached the first transformation of mastery in the internal variability technique by year’s end.
On January 15th of the thirty-fourth year, Zhao Xing arrived at Li Boqian’s courtyard as usual, eager to continue studying Kunpeng Transformation.
However, the courtyard was enveloped in clouds, and no matter how loudly he called, there was no response.
That afternoon, Lu Chunhua visited Zhao Xing.
"Your teacher has matters to attend to and won’t be able to teach you further."
"Here are two vials of Kunpeng Essence Blood. Your teacher believes they’ll help you reach the fourth transformation."
"Additionally, he advises you to take care and stay safe."
"It would be best if you remained at Xuantian Academy."
"Please convey my gratitude to the Grand Shennong. I will always remember his kindness," Zhao Xing replied, accepting the vials without further questioning.
The sealed courtyard was enough to confirm that Li Boqian’s main self was preoccupied elsewhere.
While Li Boqian still hadn’t taught him the Primordial Seal Method, his absence made it clear that his attention was now diverted to other matters.
But Zhao Xing couldn’t remain idle. He had waited long enough and couldn’t hide in Xuantian Academy forever.
The day after receiving the Kunpeng Essence Blood, Zhao Xing’s true self quietly left the academy, leaving behind a clone.
On February 1st, Zhao Xing used the channels of the Lihuo Dao Academy to reach the borders of Chongming Prefecture.
By February 3rd, he arrived at the city of Chongming Prefecture and the She Deity Temple.
He re-entered the Military Realm, hoping to gather intel at the Star Palace and seek out Lord Tianyan.
However, the Star Palace was sealed, and Lord Tianyan’s Earth Mirror communication remained silent.
This state of limbo persisted until April of the thirty-fourth year.
On April 19th, Zhao Xing finally received news—not from Lord Tianyan, but from Long Xiao.
A ripple emanated from the Earth Mirror, revealing Long Xiao’s image.
"Long Xiao, what’s wrong?" Zhao Xing asked, noting the emergency communication signal. "What happened?"
Long Xiao’s eyes were red, his voice hoarse. "Zhao Xing… the Marquis… he’s gone."
"The Marquis? Which Marquis? Bai Zhengyang?" Zhao Xing started to question, but realization struck him a moment later.
Long Xiao only ever referred to one man as "the Marquis" without further clarification.
Yang An.
"When did it happen?" Zhao Xing asked in a deep voice.
"News came today," Long Xiao growled. "The Marquis died at Yinyou Mountain. He was driven to his death!"
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