Chapter 220: Intercepting the Opportunity! A Shocking Secret! (Thanks to Bu Si Bi)

The teacher wanted him to take Ji Zixuan and Murong Xue, so Zhao Xing also inquired about the origins of these two.

Ji Zixuan was a clan daughter; in theory, she should be easy to investigate—just check the imperial genealogy.

In reality, it was very laborious, because Ji Zixuan held no title, not even that of a Wengzhu, and how numerous were the Great Zhou imperial clans? Zhao Xing flipped through the Earth Mirror for half an hour before finding the history of her branch.

Ji Zixuan was the granddaughter of the 'Chenglan Wang' of Cui Xian Commandery in Ping Haizhou, and not even a legitimate granddaughter. The Chenglan Wang was Emperor Jing's cousin, but their relationship was average; they shared only the same great-grandfather.

Counting only the Chenglan Wang's branch, Ji Zixuan had over two thousand living brothers and sisters!

Ji Zixuan lived eighteen years; before she turned sixteen, she had seen her grandfather only three times.

The first time was at her full-month celebration, and he hadn't come specifically to see her; seven brothers and sisters were born at the same time, so they held a joint full-month celebration, and only then did the old man make a visit.

The second time was at her coming-of-age ceremony; this too was not specifically for her, but for many sisters together.

The third time was specifically for Ji Zixuan, because she had stood out through her own efforts, rising above her many brothers and sisters, and before her sixteenth birthday, she had passed the entrance exam for the Bishui Academy.

Because of this, she obtained a cup of royal fortune.

After entering the Bishui Academy, Ji Zixuan met Princess Youruo; yes, met. Before this, she had never seen this aunt.

At that time, Princess Youruo happened to be bored and came to the Academy to teach students; upon discovering Ji Zixuan was a promising seedling and also related by blood, she took an interest, and even brought her to the Ten Yang Cave Heaven.

Ji Zixuan did not announce her family background but instead announced the Bishui Academy, precisely because she was just a small nobody in the royal family, yet she was the most outstanding Daoist of her cohort at the Bishui Academy.

Just by looking at Ji Zixuan's family situation and her performance at the Academy, Zhao Xing knew she was not simple.

"Fighting one's way out of the Wang Fu public household is no easier than being a clerk, and to become the top graduate at the Bishui Academy, one cannot imagine how much effort was expended or how much thought was invested," Zhao Xing thought silently.

Ji Zixuan appeared innocent and obedient, and upon seeing Zhao Xing, she called him 'Senior Brother' again and again, very enthusiastically.

"Senior Brother, I have heard that the Huolong Pass is the first great pass of the Fire Demon Tribe's territory?"

"Yes."

"So many armies could not take it down; Senior Brother is truly formidable."

"It is not solely my own merit."

"The teacher said the Earth Fire Lotus is only a fourth-grade seed, yet Senior Brother could cultivate it into a fifth-grade. Breaking the shackles of life, Senior Brother's Dao arts are flawless, leaving this junior sister in admiration."

"..."

She seemed to be asking questions, but in fact, she was praising Zhao Xing in roundabout ways.

Old Master Zhao could hardly bear it and had to pretend to 'disconnect': "Oh, Junior Sister, what, what did you just say? I, the Straw Man Method, am not very proficient... if I get distracted, problems easily arise."

"It's fine." Ji Zixuan smiled brilliantly. "Senior Brother is busy; I won't disturb Senior Brother anymore."

The lively and enthusiastic Ji Zixuan made Murong Xue frown directly.

She made up her mind in her heart: once they arrived at the destination, she would find an excuse to leave and not stay with this person.

However, hearing that Zhao Xing could cultivate a fifth-grade Earth Fire Lotus and mentioning the Straw Man Method, Murong Xue was extremely surprised.

Because she was also a Si Nong, she fully understood the weight of this.

"The Earth Fire Lotus is a fifth-grade rare object, and the Ten Thousand Methods Straw Man requires merging the five Straw Man Methods to comprehend."

"No wonder Mother told me to follow him..."

"It's not impossible."

Murong Xue changed her mind again.

Although Ji Zixuan was annoying to look at, Zhao Xing did possess strength.

Murong Xue could not help but glance several more times at Zhao Xing, who was activating the Arrow Fish Flying Boat.

"Why does Murong Xue keep looking at me... her thoughts are truly strange, wanting to leave one moment and not the next."

Although Zhao Xing's back was turned to his busy work, he could still sense Murong Xue's gaze.

Furthermore, his Bright Eye Method was now at a high realm.

The high-realm Bright Eye Method could see through the thoughts of those with a lower realm, grasping the other party's psychological fluctuations.

Currently, the prerequisite was that the other party's vigilance was relatively low, and there were no spells or divine weapons blocking the way.

"Murong Qing is from Yuanhe Commandery, yet Murong Xue claims to be from Taihe Commandery," Zhao Xing pondered.

"Old Liu is from Taihe Commandery, so is she really Old Liu's daughter or not?"

"But she takes her mother's surname?"

"Her mother, Murong Qing, married the Fengchang Physician Jiang Minghe."

"In theory, she should be called Jiang Xue; could there be some hidden story?"

Zhao Xing's thoughts drifted; he couldn't figure it out, but he always felt that greenish glow above that Fengchang Physician's head.

However, he was only interested in gossip and had no particular thoughts about the two women themselves.

In the eyes of Old Master Zhao, who only sought immortality, women were burdens.

This was because he used the Gazing at Qi Technique to view the fortune of these two.

Their qi was slightly red mixed with gray-white, reaching only the level of Yan Two to Yan Three.

It was true that Ji Zixuan was an imperial daughter, but the royal fortune was diluted, so little of it could be allocated to her head.

Unless it was someone favored like Princess Youruo, whose fortune pillar appeared in green-purple hues, with a coiled dragon circling above, her fortune soaring like a flying dragon in the sky!

Princess Youruo's fortune level was at least Yan Seven.

Because she was not only Emperor Jing's beloved daughter but also a core disciple of the Bishui Academy and a direct descendant of the Bi Xia Yuan Jun.

If one married someone like Princess Youruo, after the wedding, her status would not divide away the fortune gained during official promotion; instead, it would bring prosperity to the husband.

However, this was Old Liu's lover; although Zhao Xing wanted to verify immortality, he was not some psychologically twisted pervert.

"An old witch paired with a half-mad Liu, truly a mutual rush toward illness."

"If there is a chance in this world, I might as well help them fulfill it," Zhao Xing smiled.

"Why does Senior Brother laugh?" Ji Zixuan seized the opportunity, not missing any chance to strike up a conversation.

"I thought of something happy."

"What happy thing?"

"What did I just say?"

"You remembered something happy."

"Oh, I remembered something happy."

Ji Zixuan stared expectantly but heard no further words—she knew Zhao Xing had gone "offline" again.

It was enough to drive a perfectionist mad… Ji Zixuan no longer had much energy for small talk.

Because talking to Zhao Xing was exhausting.

At the Lingxiu Hot Spring, Zhao Xing's true body dressed himself.

"Squeezed dry nine hot springs—the Fire Luck has reached its limit. That's enough."

"Once I gather all Five Lucks, my Luck rank will rise again!"

Zhao Xing smiled with satisfaction.

His Luck had only just reached Yan Four; normally, he wouldn't break through again until reaching Fourth Rank.

Yet now, at Sixth Rank, he already saw the hope of advancement.

"With a Qi-Cultivation method, gathering all Five Lucks to reach Yan Five brings boundless benefits," Zhao Xing said. "Where else is there Luck-imbued spiritual beauty?"

Zhao Xing closed his eyes, thinking, recalling what he knew of the Ten Yang Cave Heaven.

"To the north lies the Eternal Night Sea, to the east the Inverted Peak Range, to the west Pengli Marsh, to the south Crimson Lake—these four places all hold Luck-imbued spiritual beauty to harvest."

"I recall the Inverted Peak Range still has several more sites of spiritual beauty," Zhao Xing said, arriving before the Cloud Disk Map on the Qilin Airship.

The Cloud Disk Map required calibration—inputting terrain veins and celestial timing as parameters.

Though military sand tables were crafted by artisans, they typically needed a Military Agricultural Officer to calibrate for precision.

Only a Military Agricultural Officer could operate them effectively in complex terrain.

Now that the Cave Heaven had been upgraded, the terrain had changed drastically—old maps were useless.

Zhao Xing's four Straw Man clones: one remained at the Eighteen Locust and Willow Courtyard, currently wandering aimlessly with Murong Xue and Ji Zixuan on their way to the Inverted Peak Range.

It wasn't entirely aimless—first, to buy time; second, to map different sectors alongside the other three Straw Man clones.

"The reference points have shifted too much—places I recorded yesterday have moved again today."

Zhao Xing scribbled and revised on the Cloud Disk Map.

As the input parameters grew more detailed, a scene in the southern Inverted Peak Range caught Zhao Xing's attention.

"Hmm? This place…"

On the sand table appeared thirty-six miniature peaks, floating in the cloud sea—now visible, now hidden, their paths seeming to embody the mysteries of Heaven and Earth.

"Perfect—the Cloud Sea Qimen Peaks. I discovered this place first! Hah!" Zhao Xing laughed aloud.

In his past life, this treasure site had been discovered by a certain Agricultural Officer named Liang Ruohai.

The Cloud Sea Qimen Peaks contain Ten Thousand Methods' spiritual beauty!

And the quality is extremely high!

How high?

Ordinary Ten Thousand Methods' spiritual beauty claims to enhance all methods—but in truth, it has limits.

For instance, spells of Fate-based professions cannot use "Ten Thousand Methods' spiritual beauty" to break through.

Nor can cross-profession spells.

For example, certain Priest spells cannot be enhanced by Ten Thousand Methods' spiritual beauty by an Agricultural Officer.

But the Cloud Sea Qimen Peaks have no such restrictions!

"With the Cave Heaven's upgrade, blessings flow to all beings—seek the Dao and you attain the Dao; seek longevity and you gain longevity."

"Such an opportunity comes once in a thousand years. Liang Ruohai, this lifetime, I'll take it for you first," Zhao Xing thought.

Liang Ruohai was no ordinary man.

Zhao Xing clearly remembered—he was a Fifth Rank Agricultural Officer; his official record would be easy to find in the Earth Mirror.

He currently serves in the Nine Heavens Yuan Yuan Mansion, a member of the Liang Wang Sect.

His status is not insignificant—he has taught several princes and Young Masters. Among the Wang Fu's guest advisors, Liang Ruohai holds high rank.

Liang Ruohai is also a diviner; rumors say he personally selects the war beasts for the Liang Wang's Black Dragon Guard.

"Hurry—I've just found Liang Ruohai's name in a top-tier reconnaissance team," Zhao Xing said, checking the Earth Mirror. "He's already in Yangcheng."

Zhao Xing had fully memorized the operational route of the Cloud Sea Qimen Peaks.

He dispersed the Cloud Disk and stepped outside, shouting: "Long Xiao, are you done yet? Hurry up!"

Now, only Long Xiao was still absorbing Fire Luck.

Ji Ji Ziyun, Xia Jing, and Old Chen had long since stopped absorbing.

"I feel I could still push a bit longer—why so eager?" Long Xiao asked.

"Then stay here and continue. We'll go ahead," Zhao Xing said. "My Straw Man clone will arrive soon—you can escort us."

"Old Chen, Xia Jing, Brother Ji—we're leaving."

In Yangcheng, within a courtyard.

"Young Master, the reconnaissance team is assembled—we may depart," said a middle-aged man in a straw rain cape, holding a jade bamboo staff.

Beside him, a young man clad in black dragon armor asked gravely: "Master, can you determine where my destiny lies?"

Liang Ruohai pondered: "As a royal scion, your purple qi rises from the east—your destiny lies in the east."

Ji Dan nodded: "Then please, Master, lead the way."

Young Master Dan is the youngest son of the Liang Wang.

Though called the youngest son, he is already seventy or eighty years old.

Young sons are generally doted on; Ji Dan was no exception.

Upon his arrival at the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven this time, Liang Wang arranged for him to join a top-tier exploration team and assigned him Liang Ruohai, a Fifth-Rank Si Nong Dao adept in divination.

Beside Ji Dan, four others followed, all Fifth-Rank experts.

This top-tier exploration team also included other Young Masters from the Wang Fu, making Ji Dan's faction quite substantial.

Just as Young Master Dan set off, Zhao Xing piloted the Qilin Flying Boat to a sea of clouds.

"Cousin, what is he looking for? We've been wandering in these clouds for nearly an hour," Xia Jing asked, puzzled.

Here, the only one who understood Feng Shui and fortune was Ji Ji Ziyun.

"Don't ask me; I don't know either," Ji Ji Ziyun shook his head. "I can't make out anything."

"Cousin, your uncle is a Ming Guan; didn't he teach you a thing or two?" Xia Jing asked. His uncle was of the imperial clan and served in the Tianji Hall. Though his uncle's rank was not high, he was one of the most mysterious Ming Guan.

"What are you talking about, Qilin Er?" Ji Ji Ziyun said. "Can the Tianji Hall's secret arts be taught to me? My father wants to live a few more years."

"I merely know a little of the surface; it's just some minor spells I managed to Si Nong Dao from the Dao Academy."

"Oh, I thought you understood," Xia Jing said. "Zhao Xing also learned only the surface methods."

"..." Ji Ji Ziyun had no words.

"Perhaps he is a Military Si Nong Dao, more sensitive to changes in heaven and earth; combined with the divination method, his accuracy is higher," Chen Shijie said at the right moment, saving face for the Heir Apparent.

These past few days, associating with Zhao Xing, they had picked up treasures everywhere.

Both Ji Ji Ziyun and Zhao Xing used divination methods to seek treasures.

But Zhao Xing's accuracy and the quality of the treasure sites were far superior.

It was just that none of them had a panel to see the growth of lifespan or fortune.

Otherwise, they would surely have been greatly shocked.

Without these two things, Zhao Xing's actions were not particularly shocking; after all, with the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven upgrading, treasures were everywhere.

"Old Chen, stop the boat!"

Just as they were chatting, Zhao Xing at the front of the deck suddenly called out.

"Found something?" Xia Jing and Ji Ji Ziyun immediately ran to the bow.

"Look twenty li to the east, at a height of one hundred meters," Zhao Xing pointed.

"Hmm?" Xia Jing and Ji Ji Ziyun looked over but found nothing there, only swirling clouds and mist.

"There's nothing there."

"There is a gate there," Zhao Xing said, somewhat agitated. "Brother Ji, what time is it now?"

Ji Ji Ziyun took out a Huang Li; nowadays, the Huang Li needed no calibration because only one sun remained.

"The third ke of the Yin hour. What's wrong?"

Zhao Xing said, "Wait until the seventh ke of the Mao hour, and we will see that gate."

"I observed for a long time just now. These thirty-six Shanfeng rotate within this sea of clouds, pulling on each other, forming a Tianmen in the direction I just pointed out."

"I calculated that at a specific time, leaping through that gate will bring us great benefits!"

"How great?" Xia Jing asked eagerly.

"This big!" Zhao Xing spread his arms wide.

"Good, good, good." Xia Jing's eyes squinted with laughter. "I knew following you would bring meat to eat."

Xia Jing rarely saw Zhao Xing so high-spirited.

Like the previous Sixth-Rank Giant Spirit Tree and the Lingxiu Hot Spring, Zhao Xing's expression had been very calm.

Now he was somewhat excited; clearly, they had truly found a good place!

"Zhao Xing, how did you do it?" Ji Ji Ziyun couldn't help asking. "Is your divination method that powerful?"

Zhao Xing smiled. "Brother Ji, it's not entirely due to divination."

"I, Xia Jing, Old Chen, and even Long Xiao have all just been promoted, receiving the nation's fortune baptism; our fortune is now at its peak."

"Brother Ji, your fortune is not low either. With our combined luck, even just wandering around, we could stumble upon treasures."

Ji Ji Ziyun realized: "Ah, my father said that the strength of one's fortune isn't necessarily determined by a good birth; it also depends on timing and specific circumstances. You've just been promoted, others have been ennobled as Marquis... no wonder... I've been riding on your coattails."

"Exactly so," Zhao Xing nodded.

His ability to find the place so quickly wasn't solely due to past-life experience.

No matter how low a person's fortune, they will experience one or two peaks of luck in their lifetime.

Xia Jing, Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao had all just received promotions and titles, undergoing the nation's fortune baptism.

According to the theory of fortune, these few were currently at the peak of their luck.

Even those with Fifth or Sixth-Rank fortune, if in a trough, might not gain as much in this event as those with lower fortune ranks if they were not in their auspicious period.

Of course, it also depended on whether they could seize this window of fortune explosion.

The time was short; without Zhao Xing, the prophet, even if Xia Jing and the others passed through here, they might not have seized the great treasure, perhaps only picking up a few small ones.

"The seventh ke of the Mao hour, right? Then I'll wait," Xia Jing looked expectantly toward the east.

Meanwhile, Ji Ji Zixuan and Murong Xue were also brought to the Lingxiu Hot Spring.

Since Zhao Xing and the others had left the Lingxiu Hot Spring, having reached the absorption limit, only Long Xiao and Ao Tian Mao remained soaking in the hot spring.

In that case, there was no harm in giving these two some benefits.

Otherwise, it would be easy to deal with Old Liu, but Princess Youruo would be impossible to explain to.

On the strength of the Sixth-Rank Dragon Soul Jade, Zhao Xing brought the two to the Lingxiu Hot Spring.

"Junior Sister, Miss Murong."

"In the valley below, there are multiple Lingxiu Hot Springs," Zhao Xing pointed downward. "The Fire Within Water will actively penetrate your bodies; soaking in it will enhance your Five Elements Fire Fortune."

"In the year of Wu and Gui, Fire Fortune rules; your increase in Fire Fortune will bring you good luck throughout these two years, months, and days."

Zhao Xing feared these two young ladies might not understand, so he explained the matter in detail.

However, he had clearly underestimated them; both Ji Zixuan and Murong Xue possessed some understanding of the Dao of Fortune, grasping the point with a single hint.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Ji Zixuan was overjoyed; this time, her smile came genuinely from the heart.

"Thank you, my lord Zhao." Murong Xue's voice remained cool, though her emotions showed a hint of fluctuation.

Although Ji Zixuan was born of the royal house, she had truly never seen the world.

Murong Xue had seen the world, yet she had never witnessed such a scene.

The concentration of spiritual elegance here was so thick one could bathe in it!

"The Water-Borne Fire penetration will induce illusions of desire in you; set up your own formation and isolation methods beside the hot springs."

"There are friends of mine at the two hot springs in the southeast of the valley; rest assured, I will block all forms of investigation."

After selecting a hot spring, Ji Zixuan flashed a brilliant smile at Zhao Xing: "Thank you, Senior Brother. If Senior Brother cannot find another hot spring, you are welcome to bathe here with me."

"Shameless!" Murong Xue cursed in her heart.

Truly the disciple of that old witch... Zhao Xing said expressionlessly, "Thank you for your kindness, Junior Sister, but I have already finished bathing."

He then led Murong Xue to another spot: "Miss Murong, you may bathe here."

"Thank you." Murong Xue bowed.

Zhao Xing nodded, then flew into the sky and sat in meditation on a cliff in the valley.

"Splash~"

Not long after, sounds came from the two hot springs, indicating that the two had already entered the water.

For the next two quarters of an hour, there was no further movement from Murong Qing's side.

But from Ji Zixuan's side, a faint humming sound could be heard.

Zhao Xing shook his head and directly sealed his hearing.

Ji Zixuan was truly bold; she made no preparations at all, not even setting up a sound-isolation formation.

However, Ji Zixuan's behavior reminded Zhao Xing of certain matters:

"In my past life, I never heard that the old witch had any disciples; rather, she raised a group of assassins under her command. Could this Ji Zixuan be that Phantom Assassin?"

Come to think of it, Zhao Xing had once been killed by this Phantom Assassin.

Because he had accepted a mission from the old witch but failed to successfully assassinate a key general under Liu Tianning's command.

Thus, the old witch sent the 'Phantom' to kill all the players who undertook such missions.

No wonder both of them suffered from the same illness.

The old witch also loved to chop people up at the slightest provocation.

"Never mind, let bygones be bygones regarding the past life," Zhao Xing thought. "The old witch had a rather miserable past life too."

In her past life, Princess Youruo did not marry Liu Tianning; during the Great Zhi era, she was married off to the Southern Barbarians.

After Emperor Jing's campaign against the barbarians ended in defeat, both sides signed a peace treaty; the Yan Guang Wang Ting proposed to marry a princess to demonstrate goodwill between the two nations.

Princess Youruo was married to the Yan Guang Wang Ting, specifically the Baboke tribe that commanded sand worms.

"Emperor Jing originally intended to simply pick a princess to appease them, yet Princess Youruo actually volunteered to marry," Zhao Xing pondered. "Could it be because she was angry with Old Liu?"

He thought it very likely.

At that time, Zhao Xing found Emperor Jing's decision to marry off Princess Youruo quite puzzling.

Because even though Emperor Jing had been defeated, he had only lost more than half of the Ying Yuan Prefecture; the Great Zhou remained overwhelmingly powerful, making it unnecessary to use a beloved daughter for a political marriage.

"Her heart was utterly broken by Old Liu, so she decided to marry far away to the Southern Barbarians?"

"Her marriage caused me to fight a bitter war for nine years in the Yan Guang Wang Ting," Zhao Xing sighed.

Why did Old Zhao sigh so? Because during Wu Di's youth, he was raised by Princess Youruo.

Including the subsequent 【Imperial Prince Trial】, Princess Youruo's assistance to Wu Di was also significant.

Later, when this relative who was like a mother and sister was married off to the Southern Barbarians, Princess Youruo often wrote letters to Wu Di complaining of her hardships.

Before ascending the throne, Wu Di vowed to trample the Yan Guang Wang Ting and bring his sister back.

Thus, Wu Di's first objective in the campaign against the barbarians was to destroy the Yan Guang Wang Ting.

In his past life, Old Zhao was assigned to the Yan Guang Wang Ting and fought there with tears for nine years, all to bring back the old witch.

"Sigh, so it was the tragic entanglement between the two of you that caused the players such unbearable suffering," Zhao Xing finally understood.

Time passed; one shi later.

In the spiritual elegance hot spring, Ji Zixuan parted the mist and looked up toward a certain direction.

She saw Zhao Xing sitting on a hill, his back turned toward her.

"What a man of integrity," Ji Zixuan said, her face flushed. She licked her lips. "For so long, he hasn't even stolen a single glance."

Ji Zixuan stepped out of the hot spring. Looking at her reflection in the water, the beauty within had skin like congealed fat and a perfect figure, appearing extremely seductive amidst the hot spring mist.

Ji Zixuan touched her face: "My teacher told me to get close to him, yet he remains completely unmoved."

Regarding Princess Youruo's arrangement, Ji Zixuan felt no resistance. Although Ji Zixuan was born of the royal house, her status was low, her maternal clan was weak, and the spot in the Dao Academy had been won through her own hard struggle.

Living in the Wang Fu, she would inevitably face the fate of a political marriage in the future.

After reviewing Zhao Xing's resume, she felt this man was a suitable match.

However... Ji Zixuan was skilled at reading people and expressions; she could see that Zhao Xing currently had no interest in her.

"No interest now does not mean no interest forever," Ji Zixuan smiled lightly and quickly took a set of clothes from a nearby chest.

She changed into a plain, elegant outfit, unlike her previous flamboyant attire.

She then circulated her cultivation technique; her temperament changed greatly, losing all traces of seductiveness, and a touch of heroism appeared on her face.

After a brief adjustment, Ji Zixuan flew toward Zhao Xing: "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your care. I have absorbed the spiritual spring here to its limit."

"Hmm." Zhao Xing didn't even lift his head.

This time, it wasn't pretending to be offline; he truly couldn't spare the energy.

Because the hour of Mao had arrived, and his thoughts were entirely on the Thirty-Six Strange Peaks of the Cloud Sea.

They found the place at the third quarter of Yin, after which Zhao Xing, Xia Jing, Chen Shijie, and Ji Ji Ziyun waited until the seventh quarter of Mao.

"Boom~"

At this moment, thirty-six mountain peaks suddenly emerged from the vast white cloud sea.

The emerald green peaks, like the natural foundation of an array, rotated within the cloud sea along a certain trajectory.

"Whoosh~"

The cloud sea churned; rays of rosy light emanated from the peaks, refracted through the clouds, and formed a golden gate in the sky.

Secret patterns appeared on the golden gate, emitting a misty aura.

By the time the gate fully stabilized, a quarter-hour had passed.

Xia Jing, Chen Shijie, and Ji Ji Ziyun witnessed all of this and were left dumbstruck.

"There really is a Tianmen appearing."

"Heavens, my heart is about to jump out of my chest!"

Ji Ji Ziyun covered her chest.

This was because the sensation of the world's spiritual beauty was too intense, and they were too close.

It couldn't even be called a sudden impulse; all four of them were trembling all over.

"Zhao, Zhao, Zhao... Damn!" Xia Jing circulated his technique, finally regaining control of his body and stopping the trembling.

"What do we do now?"

Zhao Xing was equally excited; he smiled and said, "Have you ever heard the story of the fish leaping over the Longmen?"

"I have!" Xia Jing replied. "It is rumored that on the shores of the Eastern Sea, there once existed an ancient Dragon Court. The Dragon Court possessed a magical treasure; at regular intervals, the Dragon Court would open a gate to summon dragon sons and grandsons."

"Those who can leap over the Longmen, whether small fish, large fish, shrimp soldiers, or crab generals, can transform into dragons in a single day!"

"Correct." Zhao Xing pointed at that Tianmen. "What we must do now is leap over that Tianmen!"

"The Gate of the Great Dao, naturally formed within a Cave Heaven, contains all the laws of heaven and earth. If you and I leap through it, our Daoist realms will soar straight upward."

"Eh?" Xia Jing froze. "I heard the word 'fish' and actually had no reaction?!"

"Hahaha!" Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie couldn't help but laugh together.

Before such a tremendous opportunity, Xia Jing, a man naturally averse to eating fish, didn't even feel nauseous.

"Three brothers, follow me! Charge! Cross the Tianmen!"

Zhao Xing took the lead, soaring on clouds and rushing toward that massive gate in the sky.

Above the primeval forest, a Black Dragon Warship flew from north to east.

Liang Ruohai, Ji Dan, Xie Kuiguang, and others were discussing matters on the warship.

"Although we have joined the top-tier exploration team, the advancement tasks in the Soldier Realm are also heavy; every few days, we must submit a certain quantity of treasures." Ji Dan pondered.

"Xie Kuiguang, go downstairs and find Lord Ding. After arriving at Inverted Peak Mountain, follow Mr. Liang's guidance to collect treasures in these areas."

"Yes, Young Master." The martial general Xie Kuiguang immediately accepted the order and went downstairs.

After instructing his subordinate, Ji Dan walked to the observation deck.

At this moment, Liang Ruohai was holding an ancient black-and-white circular disk, placing several jade-like, crystal-clear bones upon it.

"Teacher, is there a result?" Ji Dan approached, staring at the black-and-white disk.

Liang Ruohai gazed at the cracked jade bones, deep in thought.

Seeing him remain silent, Ji Dan did not disturb him, waiting quietly.

A moment later, Liang Ruohai raised his head:

"The jade bone has cracked by one inch, two inches shorter than the previous calculation. The fortune bone has inverted, showing signs of impending collapse."

"What does the teacher mean?"

"For some reason, the Young Master's opportunity has come to an abrupt end." Liang Ruohai stared at the bones on the black-and-white disk. "It is as if someone has interrupted it."

Ji Dan frowned, his voice low: "Interrupted by someone? Does the teacher mean someone is plotting against me?"

Liang Ruohai looked thoughtful: "It may not be specifically targeting the Young Master, but the divination result indeed suggests someone has seized the opportunity that should have belonged to the Young Master, getting there a step ahead."

"Perhaps it is just a coincidence."

Ji Dan's eyebrows shot up, a flash of ferocity passing through his eyes: "Teacher, how can there be so many coincidences in this world?"

"Someone must be plotting against me!"

Liang Ruohai remained silent.

Ji Dan said, "Teacher, Nineteen and Fifteen have both entered Yangcheng. Do you think this would be a coincidence?"

"Please, Teacher, help me!"

Liang Ruohai nodded: "Please, Young Master, go and fetch the Black Dragon Essence Blood and Dragon Blood Marrow."

"I will divine to see exactly who stole your opportunity."

Ji Dan gritted his teeth and said, "Very well. If you find the result, please, Teacher, do not hide it; tell me immediately! No matter who it is, I will not let them live in peace!"

The Tianmen is a Great Dao portal naturally formed within a Cave Heaven, containing the ultimate truths leaked from the world's ascension and evolution.

If comprehending the Dao in the outside world is like drawing water with a thin reed, then leaping through the Tianmen is equivalent to pouring the water directly into one's stomach.

However, the process of ascending the Tianmen is not easy.

The gate formed by the thirty-six strange peaks carries the natural pressure of heaven and earth.

Though it was clearly only one hundred meters high, when Zhao Xing flew toward it, it felt as if he had flown one hundred thousand meters.

The feeling was just like when he was still comprehending the Dao of the Li Fire True Lord.

If Zhao Xing were not already at the Tiangang Realm, he would likely never have passed through this Tianmen.

"Voom~"

Finally, Zhao Xing flew to the front of the Tianmen.

One step taken, the heavens spun and the earth turned.

Behind him, Xia Jing, Chen Shijie, and Ji Ji Ziyun had already faded from sight.

A distorted, multicolored starry sky appeared around him.

Countless insights into the Dao flickered before Zhao Xing.

Some flickering lights even gave Zhao Xing the illusion that touching them would allow him to instantly become an immortal and prove the Dao of eternal life.

Other Daos emitted incredibly powerful light, as if mastering them could destroy heaven and earth.

But Zhao Xing knew that the vast majority of these 'Daos' were false.

They were illusions.

"Beyond the Tianmen, the only Dao seen is the one that is real to oneself."

Zhao Xing closed his eyes and sat cross-legged.

He did not pursue Daos he had not learned, but instead began to manifest the Dao techniques he already knew.

"Crossing the Tianmen cannot make a Sixth-Rank master top-tier spells; I must resist the temptation."

"Among the high-level spells I have learned, the ones most worthy of breakthrough are undoubtedly the Great Expansion Scripture, the Divination Art, the Tortoise and Coin Divination Method, and the Five Fingers of Heavenly Mandate."

For the remaining methods, there are ways to aid their improvement.

But for Fate-type spells, during the Great Zhou period, achieving a breakthrough was extremely, extremely difficult.

Without this opportunity, Zhao Xing did not know how many more years it would take to break through to the high-level realm.

This is not a matter of talent; it is the Grand Vow of the Taizu establishing the Dao that blocks the way. Except for the 【Mandate Officials】 of the imperial court, no one else can cultivate smoothly to great depths.

Now is an excellent opportunity!

"First, break through the Five Fingers of Heavenly Mandate."

Zhao Xing quickly made a decision, because the Tortoise and Coin Divination Method requires a tortoise.

He had been too excited just now and forgot to take the tortoise shells from the boat.

"Break through this spell first."

Even now, many temptations still remained.

For instance, a streak of starlight floated past before Zhao Xing, and within that light, there seemed to be a top-tier fate divination method.

However, Zhao Xing had undergone many trials in the Heart-Questioning Platform; his Dao heart was extremely firm, and he paid no heed to these temptations.

"Five Fingers of Heavenly Mandate."

Zhao Xing manipulated his fingers, beginning to deduce events that would happen to him in the near future.

Boom~

The entire starry sky began to flicker.

Zhao Xing's consciousness seemed to be infinitely amplified!

Inside his body, the full form of the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven actually appeared!

"At this moment, the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven is my Inner Five Elements Heaven and Earth; the deduction effect of the Five Fingers of Heavenly Mandate has been infinitely amplified." Zhao Xing realized in his heart.

Heavenly Mandate is my fate!

At this moment, the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven briefly served as Zhao Xing's 'Inner Five Elements Heaven and Earth,' the foundation for deduction.

Any cost would be borne by the Grotto-Heaven and would not act upon Zhao Xing.

"Yangcheng."

Though Zhao Xing was in the Dao Feng Mountain Range, he saw Yangcheng.

With a mere thought, he even saw the Eighteen Huai and Willow Courtyards.

Every single furnishing inside appeared completely clearly in his mind.

"My will has briefly become the will of the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven; this is truly borrowing the power of Heaven and Earth."

"Fate-type professions, reaching this stage, are truly terrifyingly strong."

Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Not just Yangcheng; the Polar Night Sea, the Crimson Lake, and other maps all appeared before Zhao Xing's eyes.

Wherever he wished to look, he could see it.

However, when his gaze fell upon a Gao Ta floating above Yangcheng, he immediately averted his eyes.

The Gao Ta floated in the void, completely unaffected by the violent changes in the Grotto-Heaven, as if it existed independently of the Grotto-Heaven world.

The reason Zhao Xing averted his gaze so quickly was that there were three terrifying auras inside.

"There, that should be the location of the Three Kings."

Zhao Xing only glanced once before quickly looking away, even extinguishing the thought, pretending he had never seen this scene.

At the same time, inside the Hundred Weapons Tower.

King Tianyan, who was meditating, suddenly opened his eyes and looked puzzledly in a certain direction.

Luo Hou Wang immediately opened his eyes as well, also vaguely sensing something.

Ling De Wang only felt the anomaly of the two Kings.

"What is wrong, you two?"

Ling De Wang sensed that the two of them had instantly entered a combat state.

"It seems..." King Tianyan frowned, "something looked at me."

"You felt it too?" Luo Hou Wang said, "As if someone was deducing me."

Their ranks were high, at the Yuan Soul Realm; not only their Fate Souls, but even their Causality Souls had become extremely powerful.

If someone were to scheme, a Yuan Soul Realm expert would sense it.

Moreover, they had blessings within the Hundred Weapons Tower, making them even more sensitive.

"What exactly is happening? Who dares to spy on you?" asked Ling De Wang.

"Not necessarily spying." King Tianyan's pupils shifted, returning to normal after a moment. "Perhaps it is the calculations of the Creation Plate, involving me and Luo Hou."

"Hmm." Luo Hou Wang nodded in agreement, saying, "Your Majesty plans a massive invasion of the Southern Barbarians; perhaps both I and King Tianyan must go to the battlefield."

"I imagine the Creation Plate is frantically calculating right now; it is quite normal for me and King Tianyan to be involved."

Neither of them thought of anything else.

Because they were within the Hundred Weapons Tower, the two of them were the highest echelons of the Weapon Realm!

The Great Zhou Taizu had once again slashed the Fate-related professions.

Enemies scheming?

Impossible.

The only explanation was that a Fate Official of the imperial court, or the Creation Plate itself, was conducting a large-scale calculation involving them.

"Very well," Ling De Wang said upon hearing this, "It seems my strength is too low; I am not even qualified to be calculated on the Plate."

"Haha." King Tianyan and Luo Hou Wang both laughed.

After avoiding the Hundred Weapons Tower, Zhao Xing immediately scanned the other directions.

He saw the many entrances of the Ten Yang Cave Heavens.

For instance, that 'Azure Lake Entrance', the mountain gate standing atop the Five Plateaus Mountain, and the 'Golden Dragon Entrance' within the Great Source Prefecture...

"A total of nine entrances, just as I know. Wait... what is that?"

Zhao Xing's gaze suddenly sharpened.

It fell upon a certain mountain range in the south; beneath the mountains, an ancient palace flickered in and out of sight.

The aura outside faintly permeated through; at this moment, Zhao Xing could judge that the boundary wall of this palace was very thin, satisfying the conditions of a 'Cave Heaven Entrance'.

But there seemed to be some difference.

"This... how can there be another entrance to the Ten Yang Cave Heavens?" Zhao Xing was filled with shock and doubt.

A mysterious palace, suspected to be the tenth entrance; this was far too unexpected!

Zhao Xing had never heard of it in his previous life.

However, he could not see through the mysterious palace.

"This palace also faintly feels familiar."

Many doubts surged in Zhao Xing's heart.

But at this moment, he could not see through the palace; in an instant, it vanished from within his 'Calculation Vision'.

Next, Zhao Xing continued his calculations, but the results always led to other directions.

The mysterious palace seemed to block the calculations of Heavenly Secrets.

"Time is running out."

Zhao Xing merely recorded the location, then began to calculate whether he would face danger or anomalies in the near future.

As for the treasures of the Cave Heavens? No need to calculate; Master Zhao himself already knew.

Pinching his fingers to calculate, countless figures of 'himself' soon appeared in various places throughout the Ten Yang Cave Heavens.

These figures were either digging mountains, diving underwater, flying in the sky, or sitting in a tower ship.

Countless figures were doing different things.

Zhao Xing ignored those non-combat scenes, looking only at the scenes where he fought.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing looked at one of the scenes, and his heart suddenly pounded wildly. "What? Why am I fighting Blood Spirit Venerable?"

Who was Blood Spirit Venerable? He was a fragment soul of the Xuantian Sect that Zhao Xing had encountered in Gucheng. He was also the one who planned the capture back then.

"Impossible. How could Blood Spirit Venerable appear in the Ten Yang Cave Heavens? There is no reason for him to enter..."

"Could it be that palace?"

Xuantian Sect, Blood Spirit Venerable... calculating and calculating, Zhao Xing suddenly thought of a possibility, causing his scalp to tingle.

"Could it be that the Ten Suns in the Sky of the previous life did not occur naturally, but were man-made?"

"The instigator was the Xuantian Sect?"