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Chapter 238: Can Warhorses Be Trained Like This? A Shock for the Distinguished Guests
🕑 Added 2024-11-18 14:12:50 +0000 UTCThe Fire Horse had a fiercely spirited nature. Once Zhao Xing mounted it, it began bucking wildly, attempting to throw him off.
"Chi chi chi~"
Flames burned along its mane, spreading toward Zhao Xing's body, making him look like a "Ghost Rider."
"You're quite a feisty one." Zhao Xing smiled slightly, then raised his palm.
"Zizizi~" Thunder instantly enveloped his hand, and he fiercely slapped the horse's head.
"Boom!"
A massive bolt of lightning struck down, leaving the Fire Horse stunned, its flames dimming.
Just when Zhao Xing thought it had calmed down, the Fire Horse suddenly regained its vigor and lunged forward, leaping toward the wall of astral wind ahead.
At this moment, Zhao Xing's body was suspended horizontally, forming a ninety-degree angle with the ground.
The Fire Horse spewed fire again, its muscles rhythmically contracting in an attempt to shake off Zhao Xing.
"Get down!"
Zhao Xing clamped down tightly with his legs.
"Whinny~"
The Fire Horse's body plummeted downward.
With his mastery of the Golden Bone technique, which weighed his bones as if a thousand jin, Zhao Xing used a martial trick to apply immense pressure, weighing the horse down heavily.
It felt as though it was carrying a mountain, making it impossible to continue flying and forcing it toward the ground.
"Thud~"
Both man and horse crashed into the ground, creating a massive pit on the plains.
"Boundless Earth Palace!"
Zhao Xing unleashed his Earth Palace technique, immobilizing the two hundred-plus Fire Horses as if they were sinking into a quagmire. Eventually, they all stopped moving, with only the Fire Horse King managing to struggle slightly.
Seeing its continued resistance, Zhao Xing finally lost his patience.
His gaze shifted, releasing a powerful battlefield-honed aura.
Golden light shimmered in his hands, forming a circular mark that pulsed with energy.
"Surrender, or die." (Beast Subjugation Technique: Fire Horse)
Zhao Xing activated his Beast Subjugation Technique, his mouth emitting neighing sounds, and he held a slave seal, staring down at the Fire Horse King.
He believed this cunning Fire Horse King could understand.
If it couldn't, he would have to use the slave seal technique forcibly. However, Zhao Xing's skill with the slave seal wasn't yet perfected, and using it could very well kill the Fire Horse.
Even if the seal succeeded, the Fire Horse would go through an agonizing period.
The slave seal technique leaves a magical mark inside a beast, causing constant fear and pain to enforce submission.
While the technique is fast-acting, it wears down a beast’s intelligence, turning it into a mere tool.
As such, it’s generally only used on ferocious or king-tier beasts.
"Whinny~" The Fire Horse King knelt with its front legs, choosing to submit to the new king.
Yes, in the Fire Horse King's eyes, Zhao Xing was just another Fire Horse, their new king.
Zhao Xing jumped onto the Fire Horse King's back, wrapping its face with a lightning chain, giving it a bridle made of thunder.
With a gentle tug, the Fire Horse King obediently leaped out of the pit.
"Whinny~" It raised its forelegs high, and Zhao Xing, seated on its back, appeared divine as flames blazed around him, like a god descending from the heavens.
"Boom!" As its hooves struck down, the ground trembled, and a ring of fire spread around them.
All the Fire Horses heard the command, ran over, and knelt before Zhao Xing.
"Lord Zhao, you're amazing…" Ling Ruoxue flew over, her eyes sparkling at the sight.
"To assign a Military Shennong to horse-rearing is truly beneath him." Cao Jiang was amazed as he watched Zhao Xing easily subdue the Fire Horse King.
The Fire Horse King was a sixth-rank beast! Cao Jiang had spent hours chasing it without getting close, as he doubted he could even win.
This wild-grown Horse King had formidable strength. Without the Heavenly Horse Naga's help, he might have been injured.
Yet Zhao Xing arrived, instantly taking control of the scene and subduing the Fire Horse King.
Tao Anchun, however, was perplexed. "Was that the Beast Subjugation Technique with the three-ring slave seal?"
Cao Jiang responded, "Yes, why?"
Tao Anchun turned to Cao Jiang. "Have you forgotten what he did after his appointment?"
Cao Jiang's face changed. "You mean, he learned it recently?"
Tao Anchun replied, "The military transfer order gave him at most a month to prepare. Meaning he only learned he was assigned here a month before."
"Including that month, he's only had about three and a half months to learn beast-taming techniques!"
"Hiss…" Cao Jiang took a sharp breath.
...
"Subordinate Cao Jiang." "Subordinate Tao Anchun."
"We greet you, Sir Zhao, and congratulate you on subduing the Fire Horse herd."
The two greeted Zhao Xing respectfully.
"Rise, both of you," Zhao Xing smiled.
He had not only conquered the Fire Horse King but also won over the hearts of Tao Anchun and Cao Jiang, two sixth-rank Military Shennongs.
After all, in any place, strength commands respect.
The Princess had vouched for him, but if he didn’t demonstrate his skill, others would only show superficial respect, and their loyalty would waver.
With this feat, Cao Jiang and Tao Anchun genuinely admired him.
A young superior with both connections and strength who was also reasonable—what was there not to admire?
Even the innocent Ling Ruoxue could see Zhao Xing's extraordinary qualities and mimicked her uncles in greeting him.
"The day is late. Let us return to the Tuoquan Palace, my lords."
"Yes."
...
Back at Tuoquan Palace, Dong Yuanqiu and Bao Shiqiu were interrogating Zhang Tao.
The sky had turned bright over the island, and with such a vast change in weather, naturally, they came to investigate.
"The Heavenly Horse hasn't returned to the palace. What's going on?"
"Sir, I do not know," Zhang Tao replied. "After leading Lord Zhao here, I returned to my post."
"Lord Zhao also came?"
"And what about Lord Tao?"
"He should be with Lord Zhao, searching for the Heavenly Horse."
As they continued questioning, a wave of fiery red rapidly approached from the horizon.
"Da-da-da-da-da~"
The air shook with fiery energy, putting Dong Yuanqiu and Bao Shiqiu on high alert.
When they saw the Fire Horse herd, they were stunned, nearly drawing their weapons.
As for Zhang Tao, a ninth-rank warrior, he could barely breathe in the sweltering air.
"My lords, we must run!" Zhang Tao cried out.
"Run?!" Dong Yuanqiu forced himself to stay calm. "If we die at our posts, it’s honorable, and our families will receive a fifth-rank officer's pension!"
"But if we run and shirk our duty, there will be no pension at all!"
Zhang Tao was close to tears. They might be high-ranking officials, but he was just a lowly ninth-rank officer.
The pay wasn't great, and he hadn’t expected his life to be on the line!
But the fear didn’t last long.
Dong Yuanqiu stared forward, his expression brightening as he broke into laughter. "Hahaha!"
Bao Shiqiu, who had noticed a moment later, joined in. "Hahaha! Who would've thought this herd of Fire Horses would be tamed!"
"Old Dong, hurry and open the Fire Palace!"
The Dragon Horse Directorate had once raised Fire Horses, but they thought this breed had been extinct for the last ten years.
To find a surviving herd, now tamed by Zhao Xing, was a shock and a joy.
“What? We’re not going to die?” Zhang Tao relaxed, leaning on his spear, feeling a surge of relief.
"Whoa~"
Zhao Xing pulled the reins, signaling the Fire Horse King to stop.
The entire herd, over two hundred Fire Horses, halted in unison.
"My lord!" Dong Yuanqiu eagerly flew over. "The Fire Palace is open. Allow me to guide you."
He wasn’t particularly shocked, just brimming with excitement.
Dong Yuanqiu had served in the military and knew the strength of a Military Shennong. For someone like Zhao Xing, strength was expected.
"Good." Zhao Xing nodded and leisurely rode the Fire Horse King into the Fire Palace.
Calling it a palace was a stretch; it was more like a grand stable.
Zhao Xing chose the largest stall, opened the gate, and led the Fire Horse King inside.
The naturally wild Horse King hesitated, reluctant to enter.
"Hmm? Are you going in or not?" Zhao Xing raised his hand threateningly.
The Fire Horse King, seeing this, flinched in fear and obediently trotted inside. It even turned around to flash a sly grin at Zhao Xing.
"You've got some spirit," Zhao Xing chuckled. Of all the Fire Horses, this one seemed the most perceptive.
Once Zhao Xing had secured the Fire Horses in the Fire Palace, the Heavenly Horses also returned to their stables.
Outside, a crowd of officials gathered.
They had come in response to the unusual weather.
Ling Ruoxue chattered excitedly, and within half an hour, the gathered officials had heard all about Zhao Xing's feat in taming the Horse King.
"Congratulations to Lord Zhao on taming the Fire Horse King!" The assembled officials saluted as Zhao Xing emerged.
Zhao Xing looked around, seeing over 150 officials present.
Only a fraction of the Dragon Horse Directorate’s core members were here.
Now, Zhao Xing was about to make his first decisive move since taking office.
"Tao Anchun!"
"Present, my lord." Tao Anchun stepped forward.
"The Dragon Horse Directorate is a place of utmost importance, especially during times of unusual weather. What should be the response of a Shennong official?"
Without hesitation, Tao Anchun replied, "All Shennong officials ranked eighth or higher should arrive at the scene of the anomaly, assess the situation, and maintain order."
"If unable to manage it alone, they should report to a superior immediately. Upon notification, they must make their way to the scene without delay."
"Very well." Zhao Xing sneered. "It's currently late in the Xu hour. Any eighth-rank or higher Shennong official who has not arrived by the end of Xu hour is dismissed!"
"Tao, compile a list. I expect to see it by Hai hour!"
"Yes, my lord." Tao Anchun responded firmly.
The crowd fell silent as Zhao Xing stood on the Fire Palace steps, waiting.
He always aimed for maximum benefit with every action, getting as much out of each opportunity as possible.
Why did he spend three hours altering the weather and such a large area?
It wasn't just to find the Heavenly Horses but to conduct a test.
He wanted to see the integrity of the Dragon Horse Directorate.
Freshly appointed officials might put on an act, so their true natures wouldn’t show.
But now, two months in, some had begun to reveal their true colors.
As the deadline approached, more officials arrived at Tuoquan Palace.
When the Hai hour finally arrived, Zhao Xing opened his eyes.
"Time's up!"
"Tao, compile the list!"
With that, Zhao Xing released a cloud, covering the entire Tuoquan Palace. Anyone outside its borders—whether a Shennong, warrior, or other official—was marked for dismissal.
Even those just a meter away would not be spared.
"My lord, I was only a moment late!"
"Lord Tao, please, let me in!"
"Hmph, who does he think he is, acting all high and mighty?"
"Exactly, who does he think he is to dismiss me?"
A few officials, seeing Zhao Xing’s lack of mercy, simply turned around and left.
All they knew was that Zhao Xing had some connection with Princess You Ruo, but without full details, they opted for open defiance, leaving outright.
"My lord, the list is complete," Tao Anchun handed over a document. "A total of 249 officials."
Zhao Xing took the list and, without a glance, entered the Fire Palace, where he burned the document before the statue of Dai Zong to send it to Chongming Prefecture.
Indeed, Zhao Xing lacked the authority to dismiss seventh- and eighth-rank officials directly.
The authority to appoint or dismiss low-ranking officials rested with the prefecture.
For middle-ranking officials, approval from central administration or the military was required. High-ranking officials could only be dismissed by Emperor Jing.
There was no need to trouble Princess You Ruo with this; a report to Chongming Prefecture would suffice.
Three days later, a boat arrived from Chongming Prefecture, taking away the dismissed officials on Zhao Xing’s list.
The swiftness of the response shocked even Sun Shizhao of the Bay Island.
"Over two hundred seventh- and eighth-rank officials dismissed with just a word?" Sun Shizhao murmured in awe.
"Lord Yuanrang’s influence is far greater than I imagined," he whispered to himself.
Such high efficiency made him wonder if Zhao Xing could have him removed if he didn’t perform perfectly.
Unless he was a spotless, incorruptible official, any mistake, no matter how small, could be used against him.
While minor errors might not lead to dismissal, they could result in a demotion or reassignment.
"Go, find out if Lord Yuanrang needs more personnel at the Dragon Horse Directorate."
"If he does, we can transfer some people from Bay Island’s Shennong Division to fill the gaps."
The assistant clerk asked, "Should we send a gift, sir?"
Sun Shizhao kicked him in the leg. "Idiot! Are you trying to get me killed? Lord Yuanrang is clearly aiming to be an upright official; how would he accept a gift?"
"He may accept additional personnel, but as a county lord, if I were to send gifts, he’d suspect I’m hiding something."
"Yes, sir. My apologies." The assistant clerk quickly scurried off.
...
With the Dragon Horse Directorate's staff halved, there were concerns, but for the time being, it was manageable.
Nevertheless, Zhao Xing still had plans for the future.
One day, he gathered the four sixth-rank officers—Tao Anchun, Dong Yuanqiu, Cao Jiang, and Bao Shiqiu—for a meeting.
"The current manpower at the Dragon Horse Directorate is barely sufficient, and various tasks are not yet fully on track."
"But soon, things will change significantly."
"To achieve results at the Dragon Horse Directorate, I will need your assistance."
Zhao Xing opened a document.
"Cao, you are still responsible for Tuoquan Palace. If any of the palace buildings are damaged, report it immediately. I want all eighty-one palaces of Tuoquan Palace in operation."
Cao Jiang was taken aback. "My lord, only three palaces are in use right now, and the rest are sealed. Opening eighty-one palaces all at once is… too rushed, isn’t it?"
Zhao Xing smiled. "I’ll let you in on a secret. Eighty-one palaces won’t be enough. By the end of the year, the Dragon Horse Directorate will receive ten thousand juvenile-grade beasts."
"After the New Year, this number will increase to fifty thousand. Calculate the necessary expansions yourself."
Princess You Ruo had promised him this. Although she didn’t hold official authority, her private sponsorship, as the lord of Twin Island, was legitimate.
"F-fifty thousand?" Cao Jiang’s voice trembled. With such a large starting base, the numbers could easily multiply within ten years!
The Twin Island Dragon Horse Directorate hadn’t seen such a scale since the Cheng'an era!
"Yes, my lord." Cao Jiang stood up, bowing deeply. "I will give my utmost effort. Even if I have to break my bones, I will ensure these young beasts have proper housing."
Zhao Xing joked, "I still have uses for your bones, so they can’t be used as beams for the palace."
Once Cao Jiang sat down, Zhao Xing turned to Dong Yuanqiu.
"Lord Dong."
"Yes, my lord."
"You are in charge of Chenghua Division, but for now, there won’t be much work. I hear your self-practice technique is quite impressive?"
Chenghua Division managed ceremonial performances, but Twin Island Dragon Horse Directorate had few events to handle, perhaps a parade during county ceremonies at most.
It would be better for Dong Yuanqiu to do something else in the meantime.
Dong Yuanqiu replied respectfully, "It’s nothing compared to my lord."
Turning to Bao Shiqiu, Zhao Xing continued, "Lord Bao, I heard that your Earth Return technique has reached the first stage of high proficiency. You also set up the Heavenly Horse Lake pastures?"
"Just a small contribution, my lord."
Zhao Xing nodded. "You two will reclaim wastelands on the island, focusing on creating fertile land of fifth grade or higher. Your achievements will be evaluated accordingly."
"Understood."
"Lord Tao."
"Yes, my lord."
"You were originally in charge of Divine Feed Division, but aside from that, you’ll also assist me in establishing the Divine Selection Office next year."
All four officials, including Tao Anchun, shuddered at these words.
For a long moment, Tao Anchun didn’t respond.
Why?
Because he was terrified.
The last Director had tried to revive the Divine Selection Office and failed miserably.
The Dragon Horse Directorate had originally boasted not just these four sixth-rank officials but a total of thirty-eight in this rank.
However, after the previous Director failed in his attempt to qualify for the Ten Thousand Beast Competition, thirty-two other sixth-rank officials were either demoted or reassigned.
The previous Director himself was exiled to the remote and desolate Minghuang Island.
Poor Tao Anchun and the others couldn't even find Minghuang Island on a map—it was outside the borders of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in the territory of a vassal state.
Trying to qualify for the competition required the revival of the Divine Selection Office, which their former Director had worked on unsuccessfully for eight agonizing years.
Even though three years had passed since his departure, the trauma lingered, and they hadn’t yet shaken off their psychological scars.
Now Zhao Xing had just arrived and was talking about reinstating the Divine Selection Office; how could they not be afraid?
“Lord Zhao…” Tao Anchun spoke in a low voice, “perhaps it would be wise to consider this matter more carefully?”
Zhao Xing could tell they were all deeply unnerved by the idea and realized it would be more effective to wait until they could see some success before pursuing this plan.
“Very well. It’s not urgent—it can wait until next autumn,” Zhao Xing replied.
Princess You Ruo had promised her support in the autumn of the following year, so there was no need to rush.
Hearing this, Tao Anchun and the others let out a sigh of relief.
The thought of a determined, ambitious Director pushing forward with such drastic reforms was unnerving.
It wasn't just the fear of losing their positions; watching countless nurtured war beasts perish in front of them had been a bitter experience.
But as they sighed in relief, Zhao Xing's tone shifted.
"Putting aside the Divine Selection Office for now, there is still much room for improvement in how we manage Tuoquan Palace."
"From today onward, I will personally oversee the training of the Heavenly Horses and Fire Horses."
Tuoquan Palace housed over a thousand juvenile-grade beasts, with only the Heavenly Horses forming any sort of sizable group. The other species numbered barely thirty-four, making it impossible to breed on a large scale.
With Princess You Ruo’s plan to send a significant number of young beasts in the future, Zhao Xing needed to prepare. He couldn’t rely solely on his “mentor’s halo” to get things done; he had to produce tangible results to avoid disappointing others.
“As you command, my lord,” Tao Anchun replied, resigned to following orders.
As long as Zhao Xing didn’t push them to extremes, unlike the previous Director, they were willing to cooperate and monitor him closely to ensure nothing drastic happened.
…
On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, Zhao Xing inspected the Heavenly Horse Palace and acquired the Fire Horses.
On the seventeenth day, he purged the division of lazy and corrupt officials.
By the eighteenth day, Zhao Xing began training the horses in earnest.
He brought the Heavenly Horses and Fire Horses to an open field.
Assisting him was Ling Ruoxue, who had been tending to the Heavenly Horses before his arrival.
"Lord Zhao, what are you writing?" Ling Ruoxue approached, holding the Heavenly Horse Naga.
Zhao Xing sat at a table under a pavilion by the Heavenly Horse Lake, writing something down.
Ling Ruoxue curiously leaned over and saw the title: "Beast Military Training Plan."
"Beast Speech Method Manual, Law Section." Ling Ruoxue scratched her head, a bit confused by what she read.
She had studied the Beast Subjugation Technique, but…
Did Beast Speech Method Manual include commands like “Attention,” “Stand at Ease,” and “March”?
“Lord Zhao, is this your modification to the Beast Speech Method Manual?” Ling Ruoxue asked.
“Yes,” Zhao Xing nodded.
“Lord Zhao, you’re amazing, modifying the Beast Speech Method Manual like that!” Ling Ruoxue’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
She wasn’t merely flattering him; creating or altering techniques was a remarkable achievement.
“We’ll see how effective it is,” Zhao Xing replied. “For now, let’s start with some simple training.”
In truth, Zhao Xing had done more than modify the Beast Subjugation Technique. He had merged aspects of the slave seal’s “seal formation” with the Beast Speech Method Manual.
“Let’s test it.”
He set aside the book and walked to the field.
Ahead of him, ten Fire Horses were grazing on fiery chestnut grass.
Zhao Xing raised his index finger and traced ten intricate golden symbols in the air.
Unlike the rough, domineering power of the slave seal, these symbols emanated a much gentler aura, though it still caught the attention of the Fire Horses.
Instinctively, they began to back away.
“Go!”
Zhao Xing pushed his hand forward, and the ten golden seals sank into the Fire Horses’ bodies.
"Whinny~" The Fire Horses neighed, feeling a brief, mosquito-like sting.
But the pain was minor, and they resumed grazing.
Satisfied, Zhao Xing issued a command, “Attention!”
His voice rippled with a specific frequency, activating the symbols within the Fire Horses.
"Snap!"
The ten Fire Horses instantly stood at attention, hooves together, heads held high.
The Fire Horse King, observing nearby, was puzzled as it watched its herd members assume this strange stance.
Were they really that enthusiastic about grazing?
The ten Fire Horses looked equally confused, not understanding why they were standing so strangely.
They only felt compelled by a force that made them uncomfortable if they didn’t comply.
After a quarter of an hour in this peculiar position, Zhao Xing continued with various other tests.
About two hours later, he returned to the pavilion to reflect.
"Low-grade warhorses have limited intelligence and struggle with complex commands."
"But by merging the Beast Speech Commands, I can have them perform more intricate maneuvers."
"With continued training, these Fire Horses should qualify as warhorses much faster than if we followed the traditional methods of the Taipu Division,” Zhao Xing noted.
Training warhorses was primarily about taming their wild instincts and teaching them to obey commands.
Once trained, these horses could perform well even for less experienced riders, eliminating the need for extensive spellcasting.
Fire Horses, for instance, had a natural skill called "Earthfire Impact," which required coordination between rider and horse to unleash effectively on the battlefield.
“Training them this way should cut down the time needed for riders and horses to adapt to each other.”
"Once they're released, the warhorses' obedience and coordination should be remarkably high."
"Of course, the more intelligent ones, like the Fire Horse King, are a different story," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
The Fire Horse King was so intelligent that it might abandon its rider and flee if faced with danger on the battlefield.
…
By late December, the resources promised by Princess You Ruo began to arrive at Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate via cargo ships.
In addition to juvenile beasts, Princess You Ruo also sent personnel to assist Zhao Xing in expanding Tuoquan Palace.
The shipment of ten thousand young beasts mainly included four types of horses: the Dragon Whisker Horse, Heavenly Horse, Purple Lightning Horse, and Fire Horse.
Zhao Xing divided the island into different regions, establishing planting zones to cultivate crops that suited the dietary needs of these premium horses.
Plans to modify the landscape were also underway, though these changes would have to wait until after the New Year.
As time passed, the beginning of the 21st year of the Jingxin Era brought the celebration of the Spring Sacrifice Festival, the most important holiday of the year in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The Spring Sacrifice was a time of family reunion, feasting, drinking, dressing in new clothes, worshipping deities, and matchmaking, lasting for half a month.
This holiday granted officials the longest period of leave.
Zhao Xing left a clone to oversee operations at Twin Island, while he himself returned to Chongming Prefecture to spend the festival with his family.
Chen Shijie and Gui Niang were also invited by Zhao Xing to join him, as the couple would otherwise be spending the holiday alone.
Unfortunately for Long Xiao, he wasn’t as lucky. His superior cited his solitary status as grounds for assigning him to stay and guard Red Stone County.
He even sent a pitiful letter to Zhao Xing.
On the tenth day of the second month, Zhao Xing planned to pay a visit to Princess You Ruo.
However, she had already returned to the capital to reunite with Emperor Jing, and Ji Zixuan had gone back to her family’s estate, so Zhao Xing postponed his visit.
By the twenty-first day of the second month, Zhao Xing returned to Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate to resume training.
This time, he included the juvenile beasts in his regimen!
Initially, Dong Yuanqiu, Tao Anchun, and others objected, but seeing that Zhao Xing was only training the young beasts in simple commands like standing, sitting, and lying down, they relented.
The five hundred or so mature Heavenly and Fire Horses, however, began war training in earnest.
Their abundant diets had left them brimming with energy, so training became necessary to keep them from causing trouble.
By early March, Zhao Xing expanded the Earth Return Array’s coverage area.
The feed supply for the young beasts had quickly fallen short!
Princess You Ruo might have been absent from Bixian County, but her orders were still being carried out with great efficiency.
By the beginning of March, the juvenile herd had expanded to a full fifty thousand.
Given the original crop yield of Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate, it was insufficient to sustain fifty thousand young beasts.
The administrative Shennong officials, totaling just over seven hundred, could only produce enough feed for fifteen thousand young beasts at most.
Divine Feed Supervisor Tao Anchun was in a frenzy, practically tearing his hair out as he reported the shortage to Zhao Xing, looking as if he’d sacrifice his own flesh to feed the young beasts.
Zhao Xing, however, remained calm. "No need to panic. Let me call upon my ultimate spell—the ‘Princess You Ruo Technique.’”
The next day, Chongming Prefecture issued a requisition order.
Seven nearby islands—East Hao, Zhoushan, Weng, Yongnan, East Dragon Nose, South Dragon Nose, and West Dragon Nose—were ordered to provide enough feed to sustain fifty thousand young beasts for three months!
This move further elevated Zhao Xing’s reputation among his colleagues at Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate.
After this, even Sun Shizhao, the county lord of Bay Island, was astonished.
After all, this wasn’t Princess You Ruo’s private support but an official requisition from Chongming Prefecture.
For the government to requisition resources from seven islands for Zhao Xing so quickly?
What a powerful connection!
Sun Shizhao wasted no time, deploying personnel from Bay Island’s Shennong Division and Tiangong Workshop to assist Zhao Xing’s Dragon Horse Directorate.
Sun Shizhao was a perceptive individual. He understood that Zhao Xing was likely to rise quickly and wouldn’t pose any threat to his own ambitions. Therefore, he even sent some warriors from the military division as part of his deployment.
In his words, “Our soldiers may not be able to control the weather, shift the land, or tame horses, but we can certainly help with the heavy lifting!”
Zhao Xing didn’t refuse this time, as he genuinely needed more manpower.
Whether it was reshaping the island’s land veins, setting up formations, or constructing buildings, a large workforce was essential.
And the salaries of these workers didn’t come from the Dragon Horse Directorate’s budget—quite a helpful arrangement!
Sun Shizhao went even further, staking his entire career on his support for Zhao Xing.
In the Great Zhou, county-level governments only needed to remit seventy percent of tax revenue to the central government, leaving the remaining thirty percent for local projects.
In some cases, the retained amount was even higher, like in Twin Island, where up to fifty percent of commercial and fishing taxes could be retained for reserves, particularly in the Maritime Division, to prevent financial shortfalls during crises.
Sun Shizhao allocated Bay Island’s entire fiscal reserve from the last twenty years to the Dragon Horse Directorate!
He also contributed his personal savings and even sold family assets.
When his steward urged him to reconsider, Sun Shizhao dismissed the concerns, saying, "He’s just a sixth-rank official, yet he’s mobilized over a billion in resources. I’m merely adding a few million—what’s there to worry about?"
"I’ve been stagnating as a fifth-rank official for thirty years, and I’ve been the county lord here for twenty years without moving an inch."
"Now, an opportunity has come. If I don’t take a gamble, I’ll never have another chance!"
"Out of my way! I’m staking everything I have—don’t stand there crying!"
...
With funds from Sun Shizhao, support from Princess You Ruo, and loans facilitated by Chongming Prefecture, the total sum allocated to the Dragon Horse Directorate exceeded 1.5 billion—without a single coin coming from Zhao Xing’s own pocket.
Looking at the financial report, Zhao Xing couldn’t help but reflect on his past.
"Why did I ever bother with petty corruption before? Now, I can move billions effortlessly—this is how to live!"
The Dragon Horse Directorate was soon filled with a contagious enthusiasm.
Both new and old officials dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to their work.
Tao Anchun, Dong Yuanqiu, Cao Jiang, and Bao Shiqiu were completely won over by Zhao Xing’s "ultimate technique."
In less than six months, Zhao Xing had revitalized the once stagnant Twin Island, filling it with renewed energy and ambition.
...
By the end of April, the expanded Earth Return Array was completed, covering half of the island.
Continuously applying the Earth Return Technique, Zhao Xing had raised the island's ambient energy levels to a fifth-grade level by early May, achieving a quality comparable to a "minor spiritual land."
As a result, the need for requisitioned feed finally ceased, though there was little surplus since the growing young beasts had a constantly increasing appetite.
With the environment and resources optimized, Zhao Xing shifted his focus to the planting areas for feed crops, aiming to shorten the beasts' growth time and prepare to raise some of the higher-grade beasts to sixth-rank status.
By late May, the young beasts had fully transitioned from their juvenile stage into a rapid growth phase.
By the end of June, the number of eighth- and seventh-rank warhorses began to increase dramatically.
Zhao Xing's bold initiatives attracted the attention of several politically astute factions.
On the fifth of July, Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate welcomed its first group of guests.
A magnificent blue water tower ship docked at Twin Island.
Standing on the observation deck was Ji Zixuan, accompanied by two men and one woman, all dressed in Daoist robes. The two men wore blue robes, while the woman wore green.
These three were the heads of the Beast Taming Division at the Bishui Dao Academy.
The various divisions within the Dao Academy were broadly categorized into seven fields: Rites, Music, Martial Arts, Techniques, Beast Taming, Classics, and Numerology.
The Beast Taming Division was particularly significant, training experts in various specialties like charioteers, airship pilots, mechanical operators, beast handlers, and weapon masters (mainly for large-scale divine weaponry).
In the eastern seas, Bishui Dao Academy relied heavily on trained beasts to secure its dominance. With Zhao Xing now overseeing the Dragon Horse Directorate, Ji Zixuan intended to secure benefits for her academy.
Typically, Bishui Dao Academy would not order from a small place like Twin Island.
However, because of her relationship with Princess You Ruo, three elite handlers from the Beast Taming Division had come to inspect the situation.
"Zixuan, what exactly is your relationship with this Zhao Xing? You’ve mentioned him more than once." The middle-aged woman in green, Qin Hongying, asked with a smile.
“Is it simply because he’s Liu Tianning’s disciple?”
Bishui Dao Academy bore no grudge against Zhao Xing despite his connection with Liu Tianning.
In fact, thanks to Princess You Ruo, the academy was rather friendly toward Liu Tianning.
With Liu Tianning potentially becoming the leader of the Self School and Princess You Ruo as his match, such an alliance would benefit both Bishui Dao Academy and the Self School.
The vast ocean held countless mysteries, and the Self School’s quest for divine branches and celestial woods worldwide would greatly benefit from closer ties with Bishui Dao Academy's vast sea exploration capabilities.
Furthermore, as the Grand Shennong wielded influence over the empire’s finances, Bishui Dao Academy was naturally keen on securing a portion of those resources for its endeavors.
Thus, the academy’s leadership was highly supportive of Princess You Ruo potentially marrying Liu Tianning.
"To be honest with you, Teacher Qin," Ji Zixuan replied, "Lord Yuanrang has done me a great favor. When I entered the Ten Suns Cave-Heaven, it was thanks to his repeated assistance that I could stabilize my rank at seventh-grade so quickly. This year, I even advanced to the initial stage of sixth-grade."
"Oh? Just a favor?" Qin Hongying’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "Or could there be something more… personal?"
The two male handlers beside her also chimed in teasingly. “Zixuan is one of the most talented disciples of the academy in recent years. We’ll have to scrutinize him carefully to see if he’s worthy of you.”
"Come now," said one of the men, a handsome handler named Wen Ji. "Judging a man is like judging a horse; it’s not just about what you see now, but the potential he holds for the future."
Rather than feeling embarrassed, Ji Zixuan met their playful remarks with grace. "Then I’ll leave it to Master Wen and Master Zhai to observe him closely and give me your assessment."
“Oh? You’re quite serious about him, aren’t you?” Qin Hongying looked at her in surprise. "Well then, it seems we really must take a good look."
...
After chatting with the three elite handlers, Ji Zixuan made her way to another floor on the ship, where three figures clad in military attire were resting.
"General Xia, General Fang, General He—we’ll soon arrive at Twin Island. I’ve come to inform you," Ji Zixuan announced respectfully.
"Thank you," replied two of the generals, though their tone was somewhat indifferent.
They were prominent military commanders from the powerful Xuanjia Army, already supplied with a steady source of war beasts and seeing this visit more as a mere formality to please Princess You Ruo.
Yet among them, one man, General Xia Tong, responded warmly. "Many thanks, Princess Zixuan."
“Princess Zixuan” was Ji Zixuan’s formal title, granted after her successful journey to the Ten Suns Cave-Heaven. Since then, her grandfather, King Chenglan, had officially recognized her by dividing some land and estates in her name within the Chenglan Prefecture, thus earning her the title of Princess Zixuan.
Although her title didn’t include vast territories or vassals, it nonetheless elevated her status significantly.
"General Xia, your words are too kind. After traveling so far, if I fail to accommodate you well, I ask for your understanding."
“Haha! I’m a mere soldier—there’s no need for such formality. Being able to travel with the princess is already a privilege.”
The other two generals silently scoffed at Xia Tong’s obsequious tone. General Xia was also a fifth-rank officer in the Xuanjia Army—why show such respect to a young woman?
Unbeknownst to them, Xia Tong’s respect wasn’t just for Princess You Ruo. His purpose here was much more personal.
Xia Tong was actually the cousin of Xia Jing, one of Zhao Xing’s close friends. Last winter, Xia Jing had told him all about Zhao Xing and his incredible ability to interpret military intelligence and foresee political changes. Hearing about Zhao Xing’s insight had greatly impressed Xia Tong.
Intrigued by Zhao Xing’s potential, Xia Tong had come to the eastern sea personally to place orders on behalf of the Xuanjia Army’s Dragon Cavalry. Even if the horses were not of top quality, Xia Tong had promised to purchase them in large quantities as a gesture of goodwill.
In response, Xia Jing had jokingly assured his cousin that Zhao Xing’s capabilities would exceed his expectations, and that this connection could even enhance the Xuanjia Army’s strength in the long term.
…
Thus, three distinct groups, each with their own objectives, arrived at Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate.
Upon disembarking, Zhao Xing, who had received news of their arrival, awaited them with an impressive display.
“What a grand welcome,” one of the Bishui Dao Academy handlers remarked as their ship approached the island.
Rather than a simple procession, Zhao Xing had organized a vast array of warhorses to greet the guests.
In the distant sky, two colors were visible—one a pure azure blue and the other a fiery red.
The azure group was the Heavenly Horse herd, soaring on their feathered wings and supported by astral wind.
The fiery group was the Fire Horse herd, which had no wings but galloped through the sky, propelled by blazing flames.
These two majestic horse herds, led by Zhao Xing on a bronze war chariot drawn by a Green-Eyed Dragon Lion, made a powerful impression as they advanced through the clouds towards the guests.
At first, Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong, the two handlers from Bishui Dao Academy, didn’t pay much attention. However, as the horse herds drew nearer, both nodded approvingly.
"Not bad. He’s already raised a few high-quality warhorses," remarked Wen Ji, noting the two leading beasts, Naga and Nata—the leaders of the Heavenly Horse and Fire Horse herds, respectively. These two beasts exuded an aura of wisdom and power.
Qin Hongying, the female handler, was especially captivated. Her gaze lingered on a large cat standing proudly on Zhao Xing’s war chariot.
"What a remarkable Mountain Cat. It’s already at the fifth rank and has evolved to its second form."
Unlike the Dao Academy experts, Generals Xia, Fang, and He had different perspectives.
When they first spotted the distant silhouette of the herds, Generals Fang and He exchanged telepathic thoughts, sharing their assessment. “These are low-grade beasts—azure Heavenly Horses and Fire Horses with relatively ordinary bloodlines.”
As the herds drew closer, their interest grew.
The generals were startled by the uniformity of the marching formations and the disciplined coordination among the horses.
When the horses finally landed and lined up on the ground, their formation was so precise that it created the illusion of a single rhythmic unit.
The two generals’ expressions shifted from skepticism to interest as they realized the herds numbered 3,546, marching with such synchronized precision that they initially thought there were only a few dozen horses.
"How could a herd of mere ninth-grade horses be trained to such a disciplined state?" General Fang muttered incredulously.
As the horses landed, the generals’ shock deepened.
If they could discern slight variances in rhythm when the horses flew, all those imperfections vanished once the horses touched the ground.
The formation split into five units, each perfectly coordinated, moving in unison without a single errant hoof.
Then, under Zhao Xing’s command, the herds performed a powerful synchronized stamping maneuver.
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
Each step was firm and powerful, sending out ripples of red light from the Fire Horse herd and blue light from the Heavenly Horse herd. The combined energies fused into a single, unified display.
This unusual and magnificent formation created a field of Earthfire Energy among the Fire Horses, binding their individual strengths into a collective power akin to a warrior’s blood-bound battle array.
"Is this… the Earthfire Impact technique of the Fire Horses, merged into a single form?" General Fang’s voice was filled with astonishment.
General He, meanwhile, focused on the Heavenly Horse formation, noting with disbelief the emergence of a wind-bound battle array, a four-tier formation far more potent than expected.
Both generals were left speechless.
Low-grade horses like these, trained in a few months to form a cohesive battle array, was simply unheard of!
Hadn’t Twin Island’s Dragon Horse Directorate just been reestablished less than nine months ago?
How could they have achieved such a feat in such a short time?
“Stand down!” Zhao Xing clenched his fist.
With a sharp "Snap!" the formation halted, shaking the ground with its final synchronized step before falling silent. Even the astral wind and flames dissipated in an instant.
General Xia was visibly impressed, blood pounding in excitement. Even if these horses were low-grade, the obedience and discipline they exhibited were unmatched!
To see beasts trained with such meticulous coordination and loyalty exceeded his expectations.
“No wonder Xia Jing insisted I come. Lord Yuanrang truly knows how to innovate, even in the simplest of duties,” Xia Tong mused.
Down below, Zhao Xing cupped his hands in greeting. "Zhao Xing, Director of Twin Island Dragon Horse Directorate, welcomes the distinguished guests."
Whoosh~
The Heavenly Horses saluted by raising their right wings, almost as if bowing.
Zhao Xing’s smile grew at the sight of the guests’ varied expressions.
The Fire Horses’ military stride and the Heavenly Horses’ wing salute seemed to have left an unforgettable impression on the visitors.
Ji Zixuan, observing the reactions of those around her, couldn’t help but cheer for Zhao Xing in her heart.
Her Senior Brother was indeed a unique presence—able to turn the humble task of horse-rearing into something extraordinary!
And she couldn’t help but wonder: What other surprises awaited her in the personalized training plan he had promised?
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