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Chapter 251: Divine Court Seasonal Command, Void Seed, and Ascension Legend!
🕑 Added 2024-11-25 08:01:54 +0000 UTC"Here are the last two items. Take a look for yourself."
The Fate Blackbird opened its mouth and spat out two glows, one green and one black.
Zhao Xing focused his gaze. Inside the green light was a palm-sized token with intricate golden-green inscriptions flickering on it, along with two ancient characters, though he couldn’t recognize them.
Inside the black glow was a bumpy, round object that looked incredibly ethereal; Zhao Xing had no idea what it was.
"Senior, what’s this thing that looks like a token?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Why ask such a dumb question? If it looks like a token, then it's obviously a token."
"…"
Zhao Xing then pointed at the black bumpy sphere and asked, "Then what’s this thing?"
"Oh, stop bothering me! I told you to figure it out yourself!"
"…Senior, could it be that you don’t actually know what these are?" With their contract in place, Zhao Xing wasn’t afraid of the foolish bird causing him harm, so he spoke more bluntly.
"…"
The Fate Blackbird glared at him. "How could I not know? This is your test! You’re supposed to discover their uses on your own."
"Hehe, if you say so, Senior."
Zhao Xing guessed that the foolish bird didn’t actually know what these two items were.
It made sense. Different professions have specialized knowledge, and it wasn’t the Fate Blackbird’s responsibility to guard the hidden treasures of the Shennong Division or the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
The token looked somewhat familiar, but as for the black sphere, Zhao Xing was clueless. He’d have to check his Memory Palace for clues after leaving.
"Senior, is there anything else you need?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Yes," the Fate Blackbird replied. "Live well, and try to get stronger. Don’t rush to find the One Dream to the World treasure."
"Wait until you reach the First Rank. Once you find it, I’ll teach you how to control this supreme treasure."
The Fate Blackbird feared that Zhao Xing might become arrogant from all these treasures and overreach himself.
If this kid died, it would lose its chance at freedom for who knows how many more years.
"Thank you, Senior. Shall I leave now?"
"Yes, go on." The Fate Blackbird waved its wing.
Zhao Xing was just at the doorway when he was suddenly called back.
"Wait!"
"…"
Zhao Xing turned around, "Senior?"
"I still have one question for you," the Fate Blackbird said.
"Please ask, Senior."
"Do you know how long it’s been since the fall of the Great Li? Which of the Ten Divine Sects currently rules the world? Has a new Fortune Dynasty arisen in the Eighteen Provinces? And what year is it now in the Xuanyang Calendar?"
Zhao Xing was taken aback. Was that just one question?
Zhao Xing realized that the Fate Blackbird’s perception of the outside world was rather vague, not even keeping track of time accurately.
After some thought, he replied, "Senior, between three thousand and ten thousand years ago, there was a period known as the Era of Myriad Nations, marked by constant warfare among various countries. The ancient records are quite fragmented."
"Records of the Great Li are particularly scarce."
"According to the more widely accepted theory, the Great Li fell fifty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety-six years ago."
Then Zhao Xing answered the second part, "Currently, there are nineteen provinces, located west of the original Cang Sea."
"In these nineteen provinces, a powerful Fortune Dynasty known as Zhou has been established, now in its third imperial reign and lasting for two thousand seven hundred and forty-three years."
"As for the Ten Divine Sects," Zhao Xing pondered, "they are now history. The Great Zhou has no national religion and forbids sects. Instead, they have evolved into the Seventy-Two Dao Academies and the Academy System."
"Of the historical Ten Divine Sects, five were divided into various Dao Academies and schools, such as the Lihuo Dao Academy, the Dao of Creation Academy, Bishui Dao Academy, the Lotus Academy, the Aoki Academy, the Gengjin Dao Academy, and the Zixiao Dao Academy…"
"In today’s Xuanyang Calendar, multiple versions exist: ‘The New Xuanyang Calendar,’ ‘Great Zhou Xuanyang Record,’ ‘Xuanyang Record of the Four Seas,’ ‘Nine Provinces Xuanyang Record,’ ‘Prehistoric Xuanyang Record,’ and ‘Xuanyang Record of the Wilds.’"
"While the Great Zhou’s imperial historians have compiled histories going back a hundred million years, actual evidence-based history spans only about five hundred thousand years."
"The most reliable version is the ‘Great Zhou Xuanyang Record,’ though it diverges from the Four Seas and Wilds Records in many places…"
"Stop! That’s enough," the Fate Blackbird interrupted. "This is giving me a headache. The chaos in the history of the Li Dynasty was already bad enough, and yours is even worse."
Zhao Xing fell silent. He understood that the Xuanyang Realm’s history was one of continuous fragmentation and reunification. Wars would break out, shaking the heavens and earth, with some periods of conflict lasting thousands of years.
And when Fortune devours Fortune, records and symbols of the opposing nation are erased, leaving people to believe only in the new dynasty.
Furthermore, most ordinary people lived only a little over a hundred years, with no concern for long histories. Records going back half a million years were already rare.
"Fifty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety-six years, huh… that's roughly what I anticipated," the Fate Blackbird said, feigning a profound demeanor. "Perhaps you could retrieve some historical documents from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in the future. You might even make a decent historian."
"Yes, thank you, Senior."
"Alright, that’s it. Off you go."
Zhao Xing nodded and started heading towards the door.
"Wait!"
"…"
Zhao Xing was speechless. Are you messing with me?
Does this foolish bird have a bad memory?
"Senior, is there anything else?"
The Fate Blackbird continued, "I almost forgot to tell you. If you manage to reach the Fourth Rank within ten years, I’ll grant you an additional Fortune."
"Currently, your Fortune is around Derivation Five. With my help, you could reach Derivation Six."
Zhao Xing was slightly taken aback.
Ah, right—this was the Fate Blackbird, after all. It had previously bestowed him with Fortune, so it seemed there were still many potential benefits to gain from it.
"Senior, why not give it to me now?"
The Fate Blackbird replied indifferently, "If your talent proves insufficient, this Fortune will be reserved for someone more deserving."
"However, if you manage to reach the Fourth Rank within ten years, that will prove you are worthy of this gift."
Zhao Xing nodded, accepting the carrot dangled before him by the Fate Blackbird.
Seeing that it had no further instructions, he turned to leave. Just as he reached the doorway, he instinctively turned around.
As expected, the Fate Blackbird called out to him once more. Zhao Xing stood quietly, watching it.
The bird let out a squawk, "It’s not that I’m trying to play tricks on you. I just recently returned from flying and am feeling a bit scattered."
"Are you planning to visit the young Xiezhi?"
"Yes, Senior," Zhao Xing responded.
The Fate Blackbird flew over to perch on Zhao Xing’s shoulder and pointed its wing outside the door. "You’d better leave the academy right after visiting."
"Why?" Zhao Xing asked in surprise. "I was planning to check out a few more places."
The Fate Blackbird explained, "Young Xiezhi should have told you that I am the second-ranked guardian here, correct?"
"Yes."
"The top-ranked guardian is even stronger than I am, and its duty is to enforce the rules of the One Dream to the World treasure."
"Since you’ve received my gifts, if it discovers that you possess things you shouldn’t, you might run into trouble. So, you should leave as soon as possible. I’ll screen the heavenly secrets for a while to cover this up."
Zhao Xing was speechless. Indeed, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Accepting the Fate Blackbird’s gifts was bound to come with complications.
Originally, he’d entered the Grand Dream Academy openly, but now he had to sneak around like a thief.
On second thought, he really was acting like a thief.
The Fate Blackbird was essentially smuggling things out to hand over to him.
"Senior, when will I be able to enter again?"
"Not sure. You can come by and check now and then, and I’ll let you know."
"Understood."
Zhao Xing stepped out of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and this time, the Fate Blackbird didn’t call him back.
He swiftly made his way to the Tiangong Hall and located the Xiezhi beast, who handed over the Eight Goddesses to him.
Before leaving, Zhao Xing asked, "Guardian, may I inquire who the primary guardian of the Grand Dream Academy is?"
The Xiezhi replied, "The Dream God Guardian."
"And which hall does the Dream God Guardian reside in?"
"I’m not sure; I haven’t seen him in a long time."
Zhao Xing nodded, taking the Eight Goddesses along as he left and returned to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
Earlier, he had left without taking the Primordial Soul Fruit, the token, or the black sphere with him.
According to the Fate Blackbird, he needed to “log out” of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion to avoid detection.
If he wandered the academy carrying these three items that didn’t belong to him, the primary guardian would likely notice.
Taking them out into the world would also require the Fate Blackbird’s assistance.
Otherwise, as a Fifth Rank cultivator, Zhao Xing was powerless to bring these treasures back to the Grand Thousand World.
"Senior, I’m back."
The Fate Blackbird nodded. "Just relax as usual, clear your mind, and silently chant to exit."
"Understood."
Holding the three treasures, Zhao Xing focused his energy, leaving out the Eight Goddesses, who didn’t need this process.
Immediately, the Fate Blackbird exhaled a mist that enveloped Zhao Xing entirely.
"Buzz~"
The space around him began to distort, and Zhao Xing’s form became increasingly ethereal.
The Eight Goddesses disappeared along with him.
However, the three treasures continued to float in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
Just as Zhao Xing’s figure was about to fully disappear…
The Fate Blackbird’s feathers suddenly scattered in all directions.
"Buzz~"
The three treasures also turned entirely intangible, vanishing from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
"Caw~ Caw~"
The Fate Blackbird collapsed on the ground, panting heavily as it gazed at its now half-bald form.
It took a long while before it could recover.
"Damn it… I went a bit overboard… Shouldn’t have let him take so much back."
The Fate Blackbird had gone all out, clutching onto Zhao Xing like a lifeline. But the aftermath left it in this semi-bald, pitiful state.
After a long recovery, the Fate Blackbird finally managed to drag itself up to the shelf, letting out a sigh.
In its reflection, a book appeared, flipping pages continuously, even though nothing tangible was there.
"Destiny returns home, Great Derivation remains whole; my opportunity to escape from this realm has come three hundred years earlier."
"Since fourteen years ago, I’ve been calculating countless life paths, and suddenly, one day, the destined one arrived in the academy three hundred years earlier than expected. I can’t tell if this is a blessing or a curse…"
Jiujiang County, desolate wilderness, deep underground.
Zhao Xing gradually regained consciousness.
Looking around, he found the Eight Goddesses standing nearby.
In his arms was a Goddess Token.
Additionally, there was a feathered box.
Zhao Xing quickly tossed the feathered box aside, isolated it with his vitality, and used the Five-Finger Fate Technique to make a quick assessment.
He then closed his eyes and fell into a dream state to review everything.
"The Fate Blackbird isn’t as foolish as it appears. It’s likely pretending to be dumb to lull me into following its plans."
"An intelligent bird capable of resisting the Grand Dream Academy’s small-world laws couldn’t possibly be genuinely stupid."
"However, if it wants to play dumb, I’ll play along as if I don’t notice."
"In my previous life, the Grand Dream Academy was seized by the Emperor Wu. There was no mention of a Fate Blackbird or any appearance during the Pacification Campaign."
"Did it eventually escape? Or is there some other purpose it’s hiding?"
Using his memories from his previous life and forward-thinking insights, Zhao Xing felt that there were still traps within this arrangement.
Either the Fate Blackbird’s request was nearly impossible, or its goal wasn’t freedom.
"Still, the Primordial Soul Tree shouldn’t be fake."
"My Fate Soul doesn’t show any abnormalities either."
"However, the Earth Soul has indeed taken on a significant karmic burden, so massive that I can sense it clearly." Through the Three Souls Confluence Method from the Great Dream Spring and Autumn, he connected with his Earth Soul and found a faint bond of karma.
In his vision, his Earth Soul appeared with a shadow of a bird perched on his shoulder, holding a slip of paper in its beak. Though it was blank, Zhao Xing could intuitively sense the content matched the contract he signed in the academy.
"For now, I’m still safe, at least until I gain full control over the One Dream to the World treasure," Zhao Xing reassured himself, relying on his advanced understanding.
"The future Marquis of Merit had decent power, though that was by later standards. At the time he presented the treasure, he had already reached the Fourth Rank."
"He offered such a massive treasure and was only granted a marquisate, though with significant rewards and an elevated title on par with that of Lord Tian’s forefather."
"The Marquis of Merit ended up in an awkward position. When he presented the treasure, he was at the Fourth Rank, but his abilities were otherwise average. In the high-ranking positions, each seat was as precious as a diamond in a mosaic—hard to come by."
"Moreover, the Emperor Wu didn’t favor opportunistic officials. The Marquis of Merit was already advanced in years, with limited talent. Even if he was given opportunities, it would be hard for him to make use of them."
Armed with knowledge from his previous life and a perspective beyond the current era, Zhao Xing quickly identified the Grand Dream Academy as an immense opportunity.
And, as his strength grew, its significance would gradually reveal itself.
An ordinary person might hesitate with anxiety over the unknown, but Zhao Xing quickly collected himself and exited the dream state.
"The Primordial Soul Fruit, in this era, is already a treasure within the third tier of consumable items," Zhao Xing mused. "It’s a Ninth Rank soul-type fruit, comparable to the rarest wonders of this age."
Above Ninth Rank treasures are two levels: "Contemporary Wonders" and "Peerless Treasures."
The Primordial Soul Fruit, as a Ninth Rank soul-type fruit, not only strengthened his Fate Soul but also enhanced his Earth Soul.
The Earth Soul, which embodies karma, meant that he’d become even more sensitive to karma’s influence.
"I’m only at the peak of the Fifth Rank right now, so consuming even one Primordial Soul Fruit will require me to eat it in small slices. According to the foolish bird’s estimate, it’ll take about three years to fully absorb it," Zhao Xing calculated internally.
"My Fate Soul is currently at the late Fifth Rank stage. I wonder what level this will elevate it to."
A Fifth Rank cultivator consuming a Ninth Rank Primordial Soul Fruit was unheard of, so Zhao Xing could only guess at the effects.
However, by consuming it bit by bit, he could avoid any potential risks of overloading his Fate Soul.
"With my current body at the peak of the Fifth Rank, my Fate Soul could leap an entire major rank, reaching the Fourth Rank’s pinnacle."
For most people, this kind of disparity would cause an imbalance; a strong soul but a weaker body would lead to harmful side effects.
But Zhao Xing didn’t have to worry about that.
Why?
First, his physical strength was already extraordinary. The opportunity he gained at the Ten Sun Cave-Heaven had allowed him to fully master his Golden Bones.
Second, upon breaking through to the Fifth Rank, he acquired the Dao Body of Myriad Laws. If his body was a house, then this "house" was far larger than that of an average Fifth Rank cultivator.
Third, Zhao Xing had mastered the Myriad Straw Puppet technique. If necessary, he could divide his soul and use the Myriad Straw Puppets to bear the weight of his Fate Soul.
"I should wait until I return home to consume it," Zhao Xing decided, as he still needed to make some preparations.
Instead of heading back to the Dragon Horse Directorate on Twin Island, he returned to Bixian County, deeming it safer than the coastal area.
Upon emerging from underground, he took the Eight Goddesses with him and boarded the Kirin Airship, returning to Dongyang County in Bixian.
Why was his family home in Dongyang County more secure and hidden than the Dragon Horse Directorate on Twin Island?
The answer lay in the existence of the imperial registry.
Privately owned land that was registered could not be trespassed without permission, a highly restrictive rule.
In the twenty-seventh year of the Jingxin Era, Zhao Xing had arranged for Princess Youruo to have his family registered in the imperial registry, linked to her household.
While Zhao Xing was not a vassal of Princess Youruo, his father, Zhao Ruide, was.
Thus, even if someone wished to spy on him, it would be impossible. In terms of privacy, his home in Dongyang County was far more secure than Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate.
Furthermore, staying in Dongyang County allowed him to research and trace the origins of the two other treasures.
"This is also a good chance to check in on my younger siblings."
In November of the twenty-first year of the Jingxin Era, Zhao Ruide learned that his wife was pregnant.
In September of the twenty-second year, Lady Cai gave birth to a daughter, whom Zhao Ruide named Zhao Yuhuan, with the nickname Zhuzhu. She was now seven years old.
As for his younger brother, Zhao Zheng, he was already twenty-two. He had entered Bishui Dao Academy at the age of fourteen and had been studying there for eight years.
"Even I am already thirty-three," Zhao Xing thought, feeling somewhat sentimental.
Back at the family residence in Dongyang County, the Zhao household bustled with excitement.
Zhao Ruide applied for leave to visit his son, and Zhao Zheng also returned from the Dao Academy.
The Zhao family prepared a grand feast, slaughtering pigs and sheep, celebrating like it was a festival.
"Why are you making such a big deal out of it? I’m home often enough," Zhao Xing said, smiling as he watched his father busy himself, directing the servants.
"That avatar of yours staying here doesn’t count as actually being home," Zhao Ruide said with a sidelong glance. "You spend most of the day holed up in your courtyard, rarely coming out or talking to anyone. Sometimes you’re chatting, and then suddenly, you’re just staring off into space."
"I’m just focused on official duties," Zhao Xing said, a bit embarrassed.
He did have a Myriad Straw Puppet avatar stationed at home, and it was one of his nine sword-infused avatars, making it the strongest among them.
Most of the time, however, Zhao Xing remained in a "logged out" state, giving him an odd reputation.
"Since you’re home this time, take a proper rest and spend some time with Zhuzhu," Zhao Ruide said quietly. "You’ve become the ‘foolish older brother’ in her eyes."
"Huh?" Zhao Xing blinked. "What’s that about?"
"What do you mean, what’s that about? Look at how you act usually. You’ll be talking, then suddenly blank out. She often asks me if her big brother is an idiot."
"Uh…" Zhao Xing recalled that, from her perspective, his usual behavior probably did make him seem like a fool.
"Where is Zhuzhu?" Zhao Xing asked. "I haven’t seen her in a long time."
"She’s in your courtyard."
In Zhao Xing’s private courtyard, servants were generally prohibited from entering, as the Myriad Straw Puppet avatar didn’t need food.
The only regular visitor was Zhao Yuhuan.
She would often sneak in with snacks or a lunchbox to check on her "foolish big brother."
She’d noticed that her big brother rarely ate, which led her to worry that he might be ill.
One time, after being pestered, Zhao Ruide had finally admitted, "Yes, your brother is a fool. Just leave him alone."
Lady Cai, standing nearby, immediately glared at Zhao Ruide and took Zhao Yuhuan in her arms. "Don’t listen to your father’s nonsense. Your big brother is no fool; he’s a high-ranking official, even more skilled than your knife-wielding, flying second brother."
At seven years old, Zhao Yuhuan was already capable of forming her own judgments. To her, her father’s explanation seemed more consistent with her observations of her big brother’s behavior.
She believed her mother was lying, possibly because she found big brother foolish and refused to give him food.
So, she frequently sneaked snacks to feed her "foolish big brother."
As Zhao Xing flew down to the courtyard, he saw a little girl with twin pigtails, struggling to carry a large lunchbox down the corridor.
"Ah, this is exhausting!" Zhao Yuhuan finally set the lunchbox down on the steps and knocked on the door with her tiny fist.
"Big brother, come out to eat!"
Zhao Xing smiled slightly. "What did you bring for me this time?"
"I brought glazed chicken breast, lotus-wrapped tenderloin, braised shark fin, walnut soup, lotus seed soup, brain flower, and a jar of honey," Zhao Yuhuan called out.
"Oh, so much food, huh?"
"I asked Steward Li, and he said this is what big brother should be eating."
Zhao Xing appeared behind her, covering her eyes with his hands, speaking in a disguised voice, "Guess who I am?"
"It’s big brother! Hey, why did you come from behind?" Zhao Yuhuan pried his hands away and looked up at him, her little face puzzled. "I heard your voice coming from inside the room."
"Big brother knows some magic tricks." Zhao Xing flipped his hand, producing a bouquet of colorful, glowing flowers that immediately caught her attention.
"Wow! Big brother is amazing!" Zhao Yuhuan jumped up and down excitedly, clutching the flowers.
"There’s an even cooler trick. Do you want to try it?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Here we go!"
With a snap of his fingers, a gust of wind formed under her, lifting her up.
The green wind transformed into a galloping horse, carrying her high into the air.
"Whee~!"
Her delighted cheers filled the air as she soared.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Zhao residence, Zhao Zheng had just returned from Cuixian County.
"Father, is big brother back? Where is he?"
"He went to the Huailiu Courtyard."
"Oh, and where’s Zhuzhu?"
"I don’t know, probably off playing somewhere," Zhao Ruide waved him off lazily.
At that moment, Lady Cai burst in hurriedly from outside. "Dear, come outside quickly. Am I seeing things?"
"What’s wrong?" Zhao Ruide and Zhao Zheng looked at her.
"I saw Zhuzhu flying in the sky!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Zhuzhu is only seven; how could she possibly fly?" Zhao Ruide said.
"No, father, look! Zhuzhu really is up in the sky," Zhao Zheng pointed upward.
Zhao Ruide looked up, and indeed, there was his daughter, floating up in the sky, clutching a bouquet of flowers and cheering with excitement.
"…"
Lady Cai was immediately alarmed. "Who’s the lunatic putting Zhuzhu in such a dangerous situation?!"
"Steward Li! Steward Li!"
"Mother, don’t panic. I’ll go and bring Zhuzhu down," Zhao Zheng said, his body flickering with blue light as he shot into the air.
But as he ascended, he found himself unable to catch up.
The green horse Zhao Yuhuan was riding was purely made of condensed wind energy!
"What an incredible wind-walking spell! Big brother, is that you?" Zhao Zheng shouted, recognizing the aura.
"Why are you yelling? Calm down," Zhao Xing’s voice echoed near him. "I’m just taking Zhuzhu for a little ride; don’t spoil the fun."
"Understood, big brother," Zhao Zheng replied respectfully, lowering himself back down to the ground.
"Where is she?" Lady Cai asked, worried.
"I couldn’t reach her," Zhao Zheng admitted, scratching his head.
"You useless thing! What on earth are they teaching you at that academy?" Lady Cai scolded him. "They say you get top marks every year, that you advanced to the inner academy’s upper house in just nine years, yet you can’t even manage a simple task!"
Feeling aggrieved, Zhao Zheng replied, "Mother, it’s big brother’s magic holding her up there. How could I possibly match big brother’s skills?"
He was only at the early Seventh Rank. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t compete with his elder brother’s power.
"Alright, alright. Why are you blaming Zheng’er? If Xing’er is with her, everything will be fine," Zhao Ruide said with a dismissive wave.
"But dear, I’m still nervous… it’s so high up…" Lady Cai muttered, still uneasy.
"Mother, you don’t understand," Zhao Zheng interjected. "Big brother’s abilities are beyond your imagination. You don’t need to worry about Zhuzhu."
"Oh, so now you understand all this, yet what have you achieved? Huang Jiansi’s son graduated from Yuhai Academy three years ago and is already a proper Eighth Rank official. What about you?" Lady Cai snapped.
"Mother, I’m at the Seventh Rank! I’m better than that Huang Er-Gou!"
"Still talking back? You’re really getting full of yourself!" Lady Cai’s eyebrows shot up in annoyance.
"I wouldn’t dare," Zhao Zheng replied, falling silent.
"Oh, stop quarreling," Zhao Ruide sighed, setting down his teacup. "Xing’er is back for a rare visit. Let’s not spoil it with arguments. Go and check on the kitchen preparations."
"Hmph, the eldest is off doing his own thing, and the youngest is rebellious. Both of you are ungrateful…," Lady Cai grumbled, shaking her sleeves as she stormed out.
After she left, Zhao Zheng looked at his father. "Mother’s temper seems to be getting worse by the year."
Zhao Ruide sipped his tea thoughtfully. "Just ignore her. She’s getting older; even small matters can keep her fretting for hours."
"But seriously, how long has it been now? You’ve been in Bishui Dao Academy for nine years. Why haven’t you graduated yet?" Zhao Ruide asked, looking at his son.
Just as Zhao Zheng was about to respond, Zhao Xing walked in, prompting Zhao Zheng to stand up and respectfully bow. "Big brother."
"Alright, have a seat."
"Yes."
Zhao Xing took a seat and poured himself a cup of tea. "What’s the hesitation? Father just asked you a question."
Zhao Zheng seemed a bit more restrained in front of his older brother now that he was older. Back when they were kids, things were much livelier.
"Father, big brother," Zhao Zheng began, "I was actually supposed to graduate this year, but Master Jingming from the martial academy advised me to aim for the upper house this time."
"You're currently in the middle house of the inner academy, aiming for the upper house now. How many more years would that require?"
"At the quickest, three to five years; at the longest, seven to eight. If I complete the required points, I could finish a bit faster."
"Another seven or eight years?" Zhao Ruide was surprised. "Why would it take so long? Xing’er, is this normal?"
Zhao Xing nodded. "Yes, it’s typical for Bishui Dao Academy."
"New students enter the outer academy and progress through the lower three houses. They can complete their studies in as little as three years, after which they graduate and become officials at the Ninth Rank."
"Those with talent can then test into the inner academy. Graduating from the lower house of the inner academy qualifies them as Eighth Rank officials."
"Completing the middle house grants them a Seventh Rank position, and graduating from the upper house qualifies them as Sixth Rank officials."
Zhao Ruide’s eyes widened. "So they come out at a higher rank than their own father, huh?"
Zhao Xing chuckled. "He’s at the main academy, one of only seventy-two such Dao Academies in the entire world. They only accept the best, so naturally, their starting ranks are higher."
"Graduating is no simple task, either. As Zheng’er mentioned, completing the upper house in the inner academy typically takes between three to eight years, with some students taking over a decade."
"If you consider his total years of study, it doesn’t seem surprising."
Calculating in his head, Zhao Ruide nodded. It was starting to make sense.
He had already studied for eight years. If he took another eight, that would make sixteen years.
Sixteen years of training, emerging as a Sixth Rank official—now that didn’t seem unreasonable.
"If he graduates now, he’ll come out as a Seventh Rank official. After working for eight years, he might reach the Sixth Rank anyway," Zhao Ruide said. "Is staying in the academy really necessary?"
Zhao Xing considered it. "It’s up to Zheng’er, but I’d recommend he stays. Serving as an official isn’t that simple. For martial cultivators, their options are to join the military, the inspection division, or the justice department."
"Right now, with instability in the Eastern Sea, he’s safer at the Dao Academy."
With Zhao Xing’s endorsement, Zhao Ruide had no further objections.
The three of them continued chatting over tea, enjoying a rare family reunion.
Four days later, Zhao Zheng had to return to the Dao Academy.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing remained in his private courtyard, focusing on his cultivation.
"My progress has been faster than the foolish bird expected. In just four days, I’ve already consumed one-fiftieth of the Primordial Soul Fruit," Zhao Xing observed, exhaling slowly.
Even that one-fiftieth portion had elevated his Fate Soul from the late Fifth Rank to the pinnacle of the Fifth Rank.
"At this rate, I only need two hundred days to finish the fruit. Maybe even less."
After finishing his cultivation for the day, Zhao Xing delved into ancient texts in his study.
Four days later, he finally deciphered the ancient token given to him by the Fate Blackbird.
The two characters on the golden token were not from the Li Dynasty but from the ancient "Divine Court Golden Script."
"So, it’s the Divine Court’s Golden Script from the ancient Xia."
"The Divine Court Golden Script isn’t just writing; it also serves as a spell. And these two characters mean ‘Start of Spring.’"
Upon discovering this, Zhao Xing picked up the token, feeling a sense of familiarity with it.
"This is one of the ‘Twenty-Four Seasonal Commands’ passed down from the ancient Xia Divine Court. However, it’s just a replica of the true Divine Court Seasonal Command, which is why it seemed familiar."
The Shennong Division had many classic treasures. Among the commonly seen lower and mid-grade items were the Golden Raincoat, Hundred Flower Hat, Cloud-Stepping Boots, Rainmaking Pearl, Seasonal Staff, and Cloud-Rain Tower Ship.
The Seasonal Commands were also classic artifacts associated with Shennong’s cultivation.
Zhao Xing studied the texts further. "In ancient times, the Divine Court forged twenty-four Seasonal Commands to stabilize the seasonal changes throughout the Xuanyang Realm. That era, the Age of Spiritual Energy, was far more glorious than today."
"It’s said that when the Divine Court ascended, the twenty-four Seasonal Commands vanished along with it, leading to the gradual chaos of seasonal shifts in the Xuanyang Realm."
The historical records seemed to hold some truth. Zhao Xing smirked to himself.
The ascension of the Divine Court wasn’t just a rumor!
In fact, the broken records in the Xuanyang Realm were due, in part, to Fortune Dynasties ascending during the Age of Spiritual Energy, departing the Xuanyang Realm entirely.
Once spiritual energy reached its peak, the conditions for ascension were met, marking the transition to the era of “Divine Court Ascensions.”
Establishing a Fortune Dynasty in the Southern Wilderness was one step toward fulfilling the conditions for ascension.
Each emperor of a Fortune Dynasty was aware of this legend, knowing that ascension was the only way to surpass the thousand-year lifespan limit imposed on emperors.
Emperor Jing’s campaign against the Southern Barbarians was driven not only by merit but also because, as the emperor of a Fortune Dynasty, he inherently understood this secret.
However, Zhao Xing was certain that Emperor Jing would be unable to win the Southern Barbarian War. Why? Because it wasn’t the right era.
Simply conquering the Southern Barbarians wouldn’t be enough for a Fortune Dynasty to ascend; it required the presence of a Spiritual Qi Era as well.
And without the support of a Spiritual Qi Era, conquering the Sacred Mountain of the Southern Barbarians was a task of nightmarish difficulty.
The sheer power of the Ten Great Shamans’ Heaven-Severing and Earth-Blocking formations alone was enough to make anyone despair.
In his previous life, the Emperor Wu had accomplished the incredible feat of subjugating the Southern Barbarians, even bringing his forces to drink from the waters of the Southern Wilderness’s Sacred Mountain.
Yet, in the end, he still couldn’t lead the Great Zhou Dynasty to ascension, only managing to extend his life by an additional hundred years beyond the thousand-year limit of emperors.
In the Emperor Wu’s later years, the legend of ascension became widely known among players.
A large-scale player guild once initiated an operation called "Saving Heaven from Collapse," born out of a deep connection with the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Emperor Wu, hoping to help him achieve ascension.
But they ultimately failed. Much later, two conclusions were drawn from this massive player operation:
First conclusion: Conquering the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands in the Non-Spiritual Qi Era was of hellish difficulty, a feat only the Emperor Wu had accomplished.
Second conclusion: In the Primotdial Qi Era, Fortune Dynasties couldn’t achieve ascension.
Eventually, the first dynasty to ascend was one established by players. They left the Xuanyang Realm, venturing into the vast cosmos, opening a new "Universe" chapter.
The last dynasty to ascend, however, was the “Great Xia Divine Dynasty.”
When people speak of the "Divine Court" or "Divine Dynasty," they are usually referring to the last ascended dynasty, “Xia.”
However, records of the Great Xia Divine Dynasty are extremely sparse due to the immense passage of time.
It has exceeded one Great Epoch (a Great Epoch spans 1.2 million years, while a Lesser Epoch lasts 120 years).
“This world doesn’t have players, so I wonder what the future holds… Will events like the Essence Qi Tides, the Warring Princes, the collapse of sects, and the remnants of the Divine Court still occur?” Zhao Xing shook his head, pulling himself from his thoughts.
For him, all of these possibilities felt distant.
“This Spring Commencement Seasonal Command token, although a replica crafted by Da Li, possesses a high level, reaching the level of an Eighth Rank top-grade item.”
Having mastered the Great Xia Golden Script, Zhao Xing murmured the two words “Spring Commencement,” causing the intricate script on the token to light up.
The token then actively absorbed a drop of Zhao Xing’s blood and a wisp of Essence Qi, merging them within.
"Buzz~" The physical Seasonal Command token then appeared in Zhao Xing’s dantian, integrating with the “Spring Commencement” token’s phantom image already residing there, becoming exceptionally solid.
Zhao Xing closed his eyes, visualizing the “Twenty-Four Seasonal Qi Diagram” in his mind.
Before long, he fully understood the effects of this Seasonal Command token.
“I can only unleash one percent of its true power.”
“However, even with just this one percent, if I wield this replica of the Divine Court’s Seasonal Command, the Spring Commencement effect can reach the power level of the Completion Stage.”
Zhao Xing’s current set of twenty-four Seasonal Commands were all at the second major stage of “Comprehension, Stabilization, and Modification,” specifically at the “Stabilization Stage, Three Transformations” level.
But with this Spring Commencement token, the “Spring Commencement” Seasonal Command could achieve the effect of a fully stabilized Completion Stage.
“If I could unleash its full power, it should be comparable to the strength of the third major stage.”
“Right now, I only have one token, but Seasonal treasures are meant to be part of a set. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—just four items would complete a set, enhancing their power further.”
“If I could gather all twenty-four, I should be able to fully enter the high-level third stage,” Zhao Xing thought to himself. “However, this set is still weaker than the imitation set made by the Great Zhou.”
It seemed that Da Li’s craftsmanship couldn’t match that of the Great Zhou, as evidenced by the craftsmanship of their Seasonal Command tokens.
The Great Zhou had also created a set of replica Divine Court Seasonal Commands, exclusively for the Grand Shennong. Each Seasonal Command token in that set was a Ninth Rank top-grade item.
The fully assembled set granted the Grand Shennong the power of a transcendent entity.
The Heaven School, which often produced Grand Shennongs, relied heavily on the strength of this Seasonal Command set.
However, this set of Seasonal treasures was primarily used to stabilize the weather across the nineteen provinces.
It wasn’t something that could be taken abroad lightly—it was akin to a “nuclear weapon.”
Just as the Heaven-Severing and Earth-Blocking formation of the Southern Barbarians was reserved for eradicating kingdoms in war, the Great Zhou’s Seasonal treasures would not be used recklessly.
"However, when King Liang rebels, there might be a chance to witness it in Pinghai and Luliang provinces," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "When King Liang rebels, it will undoubtedly lead to chaos in the weather."
"He will first destabilize the weather in Pinghai Province and then swiftly march his forces into Luliang Province to rendezvous with his vassals and troops."
"From there, he will wreak havoc across Daoyuan, Yuanping, and Guangling provinces, feigning an attack on Fengjing, the capital of Tianyong Province," Zhao Xing recalled King Liang’s rebellion strategy from his previous life.
"In reality, Ji Mingxian has no intention of actually reaching his elder brother’s doorstep; he merely seeks to claim Pinghai and Luliang provinces, intending to establish his own kingdom with the support of the Southern Wilderness and the Eastern Sea’s aquatic clans."
"The current Grand Shennong, Li Boqian, will stabilize the weather the moment King Liang’s rebellion begins."
"Ji Mingxian likely doesn’t know that a year before his rebellion, Grand Shennong Li Boqian had already relocated from Tianyong Province to the Xuantian Academy branch in Pinghai Province."
Although the future held many uncertainties, if King Liang truly rebelled, Li Boqian’s involvement was inevitable.
For sheer destructive potential, few could rival the Shennong Faction’s Military Shennongs.
A Fifth Rank martial artist could cleave a kilometer-wide fissure with a single strike, but the area affected by the spells of an Eighth Rank Military Shennong—whether Cloud Law, Wind Law, or Earth Vein Law—would have long surpassed that range.
It was precisely due to this reason that the Xuantian Sect had historically abducted skilled Shennong officials from Nanyang County.
The Xuantian Sect itself specialized in training Shennong officials, though in ancient times, they used different terminology.
The Xuantian Academy remained the holy ground of the Heaven School.
Moreover, Shennong officials were incredibly useful when it came to causing destruction!
For instance, a Fifth Rank Military Shennong like Zhao Xing could easily decimate an entire city if the defenses of a county capital were breached.
The Devouring Cloud Domain alone could cover most of a county! If he conjured an acid rain, it could wipe out half the population instantly.
And since Pinghai Province was rich in rivers, chaos would enable him to create massive tidal waves to flood cities, cause earthquakes, and trigger volcanic eruptions…
If Shennong officials could counter natural disasters, they could also weaponize them!
Not only could they kill countless ordinary people, but Military Shennongs were undoubtedly the fastest in causing widespread destruction!
“Right now, it’s the ‘Winter Commencement’ of the 29th year of the Jingxin Era. According to the timeline of my previous life, King Liang began his rebellion in early summer of the 35th year of the Jingxin Era, and it was finally quelled by late autumn of the 37th year—a span of roughly two and a half years.”
“However, the Middle-Rank War has already started three years earlier than before, and it shows no sign of ending. In fact, it’s only getting more prolonged, as if both sides are preparing for a long-term conflict.”
“Next year, after the East Sea’s Myriad Beasts Competition, the Dragon Court’s ancient site will open in the third year of the Great Peace Era. It’s hard to tell whether King Liang’s rebellion or the Dragon Court’s ancient site opening will come first.”
With so many unpredictable elements in the future, Zhao Xing knew he could only make ample preparations in advance.
Zhao Xing remained at home for another half-month, but he still couldn’t figure out what the third treasure was.
No matter how much Essence Qi he infused into it, or whether he tried slicing or burning it, the black sphere, about the size of a fist, remained impervious.
“It seems that foolish bird genuinely has no clue. If even I can’t identify this, there’s no way it would know.”
Nonetheless, he hadn’t completely wasted the past half-month.
He had managed to come up with two fairly solid theories regarding the black sphere.
"Most likely, this is some type of seed, though it appears to be in a dormant state."
“I purchased a seventh-level soil sample and a vial of primordial Yuan liquid from the Armament Realm, spending a fortune of ten million, yet I still couldn’t awaken it. However, the surface layer peeled off slightly, transforming it from an irregular bumpy shape into a perfectly smooth sphere.”
"Even with all that, I still couldn’t wake it from dormancy. It’s highly likely that this is a Void Seed."
As for what type of Void Seed it was, Zhao Xing had no way of determining.
Void Seeds, however, were always classified as “Contemporary Wonders!”
They were among the most challenging plant life to cultivate, with vastly different requirements for each type of Void Seed. If Zhao Xing were to attempt every possible combination of cultivation resources to awaken it…
Even if Liu Tianning gave him fifty billion, it might not be enough.
“Void Seeds were exceedingly rare in the Primotdial Qi Era. Who would have thought Da Li managed to preserve one?”
“I wonder if the limited Spiritual Qi environment at the Dragon Court’s ancient site could help awaken it,” Zhao Xing pondered.
Though he was only at the Fifth Rank, his knowledge was arguably unmatched in the current era.
If even he couldn’t identify this Void Seed, then no one else in the world could—and certainly, no one would know how to cultivate it.
“I’ll just have to rely on a bit of luck when I explore the Dragon Court’s ancient site.” Zhao Xing stowed away the black sphere and prepared to depart from his family estate in Dongyang County.
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