Chapter 231: Assessment of Lihuo Dao Academy (Combined Chapter 12,000)

One of Zhao Xing's Ten Thousand Laws clones sent Zong Shichang to the ship, and then he scanned the crowd at the Inspection Office.

Before coming, he had also read the case files and found that the reason Zong Shichang was arrested was "dereliction of duty."

But who is Master Zhao? He saw at a glance that there was a problem.

When he rushed over, he opened his Heavenly Eye method and saw the small official outside the prison cell hitting the door with an iron rod, disturbing Zong Shichang's rest.

He was immediately furious.

Wang Shiyang, who came with him, also saw that something was wrong and glared at He Xian fiercely.

An official's dereliction of duty should be approved by himself or Commandery Assistant He Xian before they can arrest people.

He hadn't approved such a document, so it was obviously He Xian who did it.

He Xian already felt something was wrong and immediately wanted to say something.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xing broke out on the spot after sending Zong Shichang away.

"Lord Wang, may I ask a few questions?" Zhao Xing looked at Wang Shiyang.

"Marquis of Yuanyang, please speak," Wang Shiyang said. "Everyone else, get out."

As soon as Wang Shiyang spoke, the other officials couldn't help but withdraw from the Inspection Office, leaving only the officials of the Inspection Office itself, Commandery Assistant He Xian, and himself.

Zhao Xing was angry, so Wang Shiyang naturally had to let him vent.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to pull this relationship either.

"Where is the Inspection Office Chief Song Ji?!"

Song Ji, standing next to him, had an ugly face. Zhao Xing calling him by his name like this, and making trouble in front of many officials and clerks in the Inspection Office, meant he didn't intend to give him face at all.

But Wang Shiyang didn't help him, and seeing He Xian shake his head slightly, he had to bite the bullet and walk out.

"I don't know what the Marquis of Yuanyang has ordered?"

"This official is a sixth-rank principal, and you are a sixth-rank subordinate. Why don't you bow when you see your superior?"

Song Ji was a bit annoyed in his heart and intended to cup his fists symbolically.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xing's momentum exploded, and the violent pressure swept over. Song Ji felt as if he were facing a tsunami, as if the sky had collapsed.

"Plop~" Song Ji couldn't help but kneel down.

What is called bullying others with power? This is called bullying others with power!

Song Ji was a rank lower than Zhao Xing, so he should have bowed, but kneeling or not was optional.

But Master Zhao was angry at this moment and directly made Song Ji kneel and answer!

Song Ji struggled for a while, only to find that he had no room to resist and couldn't get up at all, which made him feel terrified in his heart.

Seeing that Wang Shiyang didn't open his mouth to stop him, he felt fear in his heart. Zhao Xing's background was far stronger than what he had heard at the banquet.

Wang Shiyang next to him was also a bit surprised.

This Marquis of Yuanyang is really a bit overbearing.

He was harmonious at the banquet earlier, and he couldn't see that his killing intent was so heavy.

But once he thought of the other party's military contributions, Wang Shiyang was relieved.

Zhao Xing was indeed very angry. Originally, he thought Zong Shichang had a problem with water control, so he committed dereliction of duty and was detained.

With Zong Shichang's urinary nature, Zhao Xing didn't suspect it at first.

It wasn't until Wang Shiyang's document official told him that he knew it wasn't the case at all.

Damn Song Ji actually judged drinking during official hours as dereliction of duty, and even locked Zong Shichang up for seven full days, giving him food and drink, but not letting him sleep, clearly hitting back in retaliation!

Who is Zong Shichang? That is a good brother Zhao Xing entrusted to take care of his family. Zhao Zheng, Zhao Ruide, and Madam Cai's family were all taken care of by Zong Shichang, and he even sent Zhao Zheng to the Commandery School.

Bullying Zong Shichang like this, how could he endure it?

Looking at Song Ji kneeling on the ground, Zhao Xing became angrier the more he thought about it.

Originally, he wanted to use the regulations to question him, but seeing that Song Ji didn't even talk back after kneeling, Master Zhao simply took action.

"Damn you!"

Zhao Xing kicked Song Ji in the face.

"Crack~"

Song Ji's nose was kicked crooked directly.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"

Zhao Xing was like a local ruffian, jumping next to Song Ji and kicking wildly.

Every kick avoided the vital parts and wouldn't really seriously injure Song Ji, but every kick was heart-wrenching!

"Ah, ah! Ah!"

Song Ji was also a sixth-rank warrior. Normally, even if he lost a piece of meat or broke a bone, he wouldn't scream in pain.

But now he really couldn't help it.

The clerks and officials of the Inspection Office felt their scalps go numb.

Especially the patrol guard Liu Silang, who was ordered to interfere with Zong Shichang's sleep, was almost scared to pee.

Because he couldn't see the doorway inside and thought Zhao Xing was going to beat him to death.

If the superior is like this, let alone him, a small official?

After kicking more than a hundred times, Song Ji's face was swollen, and Master Zhao finally raised his head, and he calmed down.

He looked at Song Ji indifferently: "If you are not convinced, you can go to the prefecture city to sue me."

"I, I don't dare..." Song Ji was beaten into a pig's head but still crawled up and knelt properly.

Sue what? With this little injury, at most, it's compensation.

Just looking at Wang Shiyang's attitude, he knew it was useless.

Zhao Xing scanned the clerks of the Inspection Office, but he didn't make things difficult for Liu Silang.

He just tidied up his clothes and said to Wang Shiyang: "Xing was momentarily out of control, please punish me, my lord."

Wang Shiyang was surprised: "What out of control? What did you see the Marquis of Yuanyang do?"

Clerks: "No, no."

He Xian also said at this time: "The Marquis of Yuanyang just came to inspect the Inspection Office and tested the prison magic circle."

Wang Shiyang's attitude refreshed Long Xiao's understanding of civil officials again.

If this were in the army, if someone dared to beat his brother, he would have to draw his sword.

But here, Wang Shiyang just watched, and even indulged Zhao Xing in doing so.

Why? Because Song Ji was not his Wang Shiyang's person.

In addition, Wang Shiyang also read the case file.

The document official had already explained the ins and outs to him.

Why did Song Ji lock up Zong Shichang?

The reason was drinking during official hours, using the name of dereliction of duty to arrest him to vent his anger.

What anger was he venting? Zong Shichang was controlling water in Nanliu County, and when discharging the flood, he didn't choose to drown the common people downstream, but damaged the Song family's land.

But he was the Commandery Governor, and Zong Shichang's approach was in line with Wang Shiyang's interests.

A big family like the Song family has a strong ability to resist natural disasters. After the flood, they have no more than some loss of money.

But the common people were drowned, homeless, starving to death, sick to death... what chicken feathers was he going to be promoted to?

Wang Shiyang was utilitarian, but he might not be a good official. If he had to choose, he would also support Zong Shichang in doing so.

In addition, Wang Shiyang also hated Song Ji very much at this time.

A good banquet was delayed by this piece of shit Song Ji, leaving a bad impression on Zhao Xing. Not to mention helping to speak, Wang Shiyang wanted to kill him.

"Zhao Xing, go for a walk elsewhere?" Wang Shiyang asked.

"Obey the order." Zhao Xing followed Wang Shiyang to inspect various institutions of the Commandery Government and listened to Wang Shiyang talk about his ambitions and ideals.

The clone was on the flying boat, accompanying Zong Shichang.

"Shichang, the one who came with me is the Marquis of Yunxiao, Long Xiao. You have seen him before, but you are not necessarily familiar with him."

"As for Lord Chen, you have known him for a long time, so I won't introduce him much. Lord Chen is now the Marquis of Yuanzhen, also a sixth-rank principal."

"What? The Xishan guy is also a marquis?"

Zong Shichang had just finished washing up, and he was still a bit confused, not noticing at all that Chen Shijie and Long Xiao had walked in.

"Cough, cough..." Zhao Xing reminded him quickly.

"Ah, student, pay respects to Lord Chen." Zong Shichang hurriedly bowed.

"Am I not a Xishan guy?" Chen Shijie looked at Zong Shichang with a smile. "Don't be insincere, Young Master Zong."

Zong Shichang just wanted to find a crack in the ground to drill into.

"Kid, that guy named Song something was beaten into a pig's head by Zhao Xing," Long Xiao said. "Do you feel relieved? If not, I'll go beat him again tomorrow."

"Not relieved!" Zong Shichang said indignantly. "This bastard locked me up for seven days, seven days without letting me sleep. How can beating him once be enough?"

"However, don't trouble Brother Long to take action. My family has someone who can beat him. Isn't it just paying some medical expenses? I can afford it!"

"Don't," Long Xiao said. "Call me for such a good thing. I am a sword cultivator, I guarantee to cut him a hundred swords, and in the end, it will still be a minor injury."

"Ah?" Zong Shichang was stunned.

"If you are not relieved, let Brother Long go," Zhao Xing said. "Your family must not be as good at fighting as him, and it might be out of proportion."

Venting is venting, but you still can't kill people.

There are many ways to deal with the Song family.

"Oh, good, good." After Zong Shichang finished answering, he found something wrong.

He suddenly patted his head: "I went, I remembered, why did you become a marquis? And sixth-rank principal! How many years has it been?"

"Also, you said he was beaten into a pig's head? I remember the Commandery Governor and Commandery Assistant were both present at that time? You hit him in front of them? Didn't they say anything?"

Zong Shichang was full of question marks. He finally knew what was wrong.

Zhao Xing and the three of them were sixth-rank, but Song Ji was also sixth-rank. Did Wang Shiyang give so much face?

"Let's talk about it slowly when we go back. Didn't you not sleep for days and nights? Rest for a while first, and you'll know when you wake up," Zhao Xing smiled.

"Good." Zong Shichang was indeed tired, fell asleep, and entered the dreamland in a short while.

…………

Nanyang Commandery, Song family.

The head of the Song family, Song Chengde, was lying under the grape trellis, leisurely enjoying the cool, while two maids were pounding his legs and massaging his shoulders.

Song Chengde's ancestors had produced fourth-rank officials, but after two dynasties, the family slowly declined, and they kept splitting the family.

By his generation, there were only two fifth-rank officials left in the family, and they were officials in other places.

The local officialdom power only had Song Ji, a sixth-rank Inspection Office, supporting it.

In recent years, there have been continuous floods, and summer is humid and stuffy, and he also met a Zong Shichang who was incompetent and always went against their Song family.

He would come to the Song Mansion to scold them for no reason, and even run to their Song family's ancestral land to wander around.

Now that Zong Shichang was locked up, he could finally be idle for a few days.

"Old master, the Zong Mansion has sent people again." At this time, a steward came to report.

"Don't see them!" Song Chengde hummed. "Let the Zong family's kid learn a lesson. His hair hasn't grown yet, and he dares to lecture the old man and come to teach the old man the truth."

"Don't see, don't see, don't see no matter how many gifts they give!"

"No, old master, Zong Shichang has already been released," the steward said anxiously. "The second master of the Song family was beaten into a pig's head, and now the Zong Mansion is coming to ask for trouble."

"Zong Shichang released, and my younger brother was beaten? And the Zong Mansion is coming to ask for trouble?" Song Chengde was stunned first, then scolded angrily: "Bastard! In broad daylight, what are you talking about in a dream! How much horse urine did you drink to be so drunk!"

The steward was helpless and had to explain again and again.

After emphasizing it several times, Song Chengde finally believed it.

"Zong Shichang has a classmate and good friend who went to the army for four years, and actually became a sixth-rank principal and was made a marquis?"

"The Prefecture Building Ship Office even sent a Xiaguang Building Ship to send him back, and Wang Shiyang had to flatter him. Hiss, how big is this background." Song Chengde couldn't help but gasp.

He immediately woke up: "Quick, quick, prepare the car!"

…………

Ordinary families don't have Earth Mirrors, and there is no way to send letters by Yin Gods, so they rely on cars and horses.

Song Chengde was in Nanliu County. By the time he learned the news, inquired about the Marquis of Yuanyang's situation from all sides, and rushed to the commandery city to handle it, it was already the seventh day after the incident.

And Song Ji, this sixth-rank Inspection Office Chief, was beaten for a full six days.

Long Xiao had nothing to do, so he brought the mountain cat and Zong Shichang to block Song Ji every day when he woke up.

And he specifically chose to beat Song Ji on his way to work.

After beating him, the bruised and swollen Song Ji still had to go to work.

Long Xiao didn't allow Song Ji to ask for leave.

If he dared to ask for leave, he would have to be beaten twice as hard.

On this day, Long Xiao appeared on the road to the Inspection Office again.

He caught Song Ji and slashed him wildly.

An hour later, Song Ji was tattered and miserable.

"Cloud, Cloud Marquis, I am on my way home from work now, why are you still hitting me?" Song Ji asked.

Long Xiao hummed: "You asked for leave yesterday, so you have to be beaten after work."

Song Ji was tearful: "I, I was on normal vacation yesterday..."

Long Xiao looked at Zong Shichang next to him: "Was yesterday a vacation day stipulated by your commandery government?"

Zong Shichang clapped his hands and said: "Yes, I saw you were in high spirits, so I didn't say anything just now."

"Forget it, I hit him anyway." Long Xiao shrugged. "Anyway, I have nothing to do."

Song Ji: "..."

At this time, Song Ji only wanted his brother to come to the commandery city to settle things quickly. He had really suffered a lot these days, even more uncomfortable than killing him.

…………

On the eighth day, the head of the Song family, Song Chengde, came to the mansion to visit Zhao Xing.

"Commoner Song Chengde, pay respects to the Marquis of Yuanyang, Marquis of Yuanzhen, Marquis of Yunxiao."

Song Chengde knelt and kowtowed honestly.

Even if he had an honorary title, this was not the time to talk about these things.

"Why do you worship me?" Zhao Xing pointed to Zong Shichang next to him. "You didn't offend me."

Song Chengde looked at Zong Shichang and kowtowed to him again: "Nephew..."

"Old dog! Who is your nephew!" Zong Shichang scolded. "Stop getting close!"

Song Chengde had no choice but to worship again: "Official Zong, there have been many offenses before. Please instruct me, Official Zong, how to apologize to make you vent your anger."

Zong Shichang clapped his hands and said: "Simple, you just need to promise me three things, and this matter can be settled."

Song Chengde knelt on the ground: "Please instruct me, Official Zong."

"First, you write off all the usury that the villagers of Nanliu County borrowed from your family. You old dog, when the flood came, not only did you not sympathize with the people, but you took the opportunity to make a fortune and raise interest rates. Now you spit it all out!"

"Second, you bought people's land at a low price. Now you should be a good person and send it back for free. Use the yellow register of three years ago as the standard. Whoever it should have belonged to, give it back to them. Don't have more, and don't have less. Young Master is doing this to accumulate virtue for you."

"Third, in the future, when I do things in Nanliu County, repair embankments and build arrays, if you need people, your family will provide people; if you need money, you will provide money."

"I, this Pinghuai Magistrate, say where to repair, so where to repair. That channel is going to pass through your room, so you have to tear it down honestly, understand?"

After Zong Shichang finished speaking, he stared at Song Chengde with slanted eyes: "Can you promise these three things?"

Song Chengde was already kneeling on the ground, so what could he not promise?

Although it hurt, he still immediately agreed: "I can do it, I can do it."

It's just that he felt a bit contemptuous in his heart. Zong Shichang didn't want money himself, nor did he want benefits, but gave them all to those common people. He really had a broken brain.

Zhao Xing didn't want to interrupt, but his Bright Eye method accurately grasped Song Chengde's psychological trend.

He immediately said: "Let your brother resign from the position of the Inspection Office himself, and this matter will be settled."

"What?!" Song Chengde's face changed immediately. "Marquis of Yuanyang, you can't... If you want money or treasures, my family can agree..."

Zhao Xing interrupted: "You have inquired about it many times in the past few days, so you must be clear about this official's background, so I will ask you one sentence."

"Can your Song family afford the investigation of the Inspection Office in the prefecture city?"

Song Chengde's breathing stopped.

The Inspection Office in the prefecture city came to investigate the Song family? That would be a broken family for a little problem.

Not to mention that the Song family had more than a little problem, they didn't dare to kill or set fire, but there were many things of bullying and domineering.

Zhao Xing didn't want to be a nosy person and uproot the Song family because of this small matter.

No need, just remove Song Ji's position, and the Song family will naturally decline slowly. By then, there will be plenty of people coming to swallow them.

Master Zhao cherishes his feathers, so he doesn't have to do this himself.

Of course, Song Chengde has to be sensible.

If he is not sensible, he doesn't mind writing a letter to the Inspection Office in the prefecture city, and now let the Song family collapse.

"If there is no news tomorrow, it means you don't accept the decency I gave your Song family."

"If you are not decent yourself, this official will help you be decent."

"That's all I have to say, you go down."

Zhao Xing waved his hand and blew Song Chengde out of the mansion gate with a gust of wind.

Song Chengde, standing outside the gate, was pale.

He didn't even dare to have resentment, just left silently to find his brother Song Ji to inform him of the final result.

Accept, the Song family can still have decades of breathing space and cultivate clansmen to be officials.

Don't accept, I'm afraid there will be an immediate danger of destruction.

…………

The next day at the Mao hour, Song Ji came to the Commandery Government to submit his resignation and voluntarily resigned from his official position.

Because he was not retiring naturally, and his merit and honorary titles were low, without an official position, his cultivation would drop all the way to the eighth-rank subordinate.

But voluntarily resigning is better than being deprived of his position. Being deprived of his position must be a crime.

When the cultivation and lifespan bestowed by the national luck were extracted, it was impossible to have the eighth-rank realm.

The Song family chose the decency given by Master Zhao, and since then gave up many interests in the commandery city and retreated to their hometown, Nanliu County. From a commandery-renowned family, they became a county family.

"Within a hundred years, the Song family has no hope of rising again. People have luck, and families also have luck."

Zhao Xing stood on the city wall and looked south. There was a pillar of luck in the south, shrinking rapidly.

He pinched his fingers and calculated, and concluded that within a hundred years, the Song family would be difficult to do anything.

"One word from me decided the fate of a family."

"Who can decide my fate?"

Zhao Xing looked up at the sky and put away his thoughts, setting off with the ritual officials and honor guards.

He stayed in the commandery city for seven days, not entirely because of Zong Shichang's affairs, but also because the process was like this.

From the commandery city to Gucheng, it was much closer.

In less than two hours, Zhao Xing's honor guard, totaling more than 20 flying boats, flew to Gucheng.

The Gucheng County Magistrate was originally Li Wenzheng, but this person had been transferred to another place three years ago because of his merit in arresting the Xuan Tian Sect believers.

The new county magistrate was named Xu Donghui, who was an eighth-rank principal.

Xu Donghui led people to welcome him five miles outside the city.

When Zhao Xing came down, he led the bow and cupped his fists.

"Pay respects to the Marquis of Yuanyang, congratulations to the Marquis of Yuanyang for his triumphant return!"

"Congratulations to the Marquis of Yuanyang for his triumphant return!"

Zhao Xing quickly got off the flying boat and helped Xu Donghui up.

"Lord Xu, please get up quickly, no need for courtesy."

Although he was talking to Xu Dong, Zhao Xing's eyes were scanning the team of officials.

Xu Dong didn't know what Zhao Xing was looking for, so he immediately stepped aside: "Lord Xue, please come forward, Lord Xue."

"No need." Zhao Xing quickly pushed through the crowd and came to Xue Wenzhong.

At this time, Xue Wenzhong was still a ninth-rank principal. This was only promoted after he became the head of the Agricultural Official Supervision.

Four years later, Xue Wenzhong was much older, because from ninth-rank principal to ninth-rank principal, he didn't add much lifespan at all.

Not to mention that the old Agricultural Official had already extended his life twice.

Ninth-rank back and forth, there was only that little luck bonus.

"Congratulations, Marquis of Yuanyang." Xue Wenzhong smiled and wanted to bow to Zhao Xing. Although his hair was white and he had wrinkles and age spots, he spoke clearly and could still hear clearly.

"Teacher." Zhao Xing hurriedly held Xue Wenzhong's hands. "The student has come back to see you."

He didn't kneel to Xue Wenzhong. His status was too high now, and kneeling to Xue Wenzhong, who was ninth-rank, would be folding his lifespan.

"Good, good." Xue Wenzhong patted Zhao Xing's hands, laughing from ear to ear: "It's good to be back."

"Eh? Lord Chen is also here."

"Yes, he is also back." Zhao Xing smiled and stepped aside.

"Old Agricultural Official." Chen Shijie also hurriedly came over to hold Xue Wenzhong's hands, not letting him bow. "It's been a long time. Are you still healthy?"

"Good, very good."

"Thanks to your blessing, the position of the head was vacated after you left, so this old bone of mine can be promoted and live a few more years."

Xue Wenzhong joked, "You came back this time, you won't be demoted again, coming to grab the old man's position, right? Ah?"

"Hahahaha." Chen Shijie couldn't help laughing, and a burst of laughter came from around: "Old Agricultural Official, don't worry, I am not here to be an agricultural official in Gucheng, let alone come to grab your position. You can put your heart at ease."

"Good, very good." Xue Wenzhong was happy, obviously happy to see his outstanding student and old acquaintance.

"Marquis of Yuanyang, Marquis of Yuanzhen, Marquis of Yunxiao, Old Agricultural Official," Xu Donghui cupped his fists: "Why don't we talk after returning to the city? Your subordinate has prepared a banquet to welcome you."

"Good, Teacher, let's enter the city." Zhao Xing pulled Xue Wenzhong, and the mighty officials followed behind, walking toward Gucheng.

…………

The welcome outside the city does not include family members; this is the rule, because strictly speaking, Zhao Xing returning home is also official business.

Historically, there has never been a case of female relatives and relatives following out of the city to welcome them.

If there are elderly elders in the family who can't walk, do they have to come out of the city three miles to welcome their grandson? There is no such reason.

But when entering the city to attend the banquet, they immediately saw Zhao Ruide, Madam Cai, and Zhao Zheng.

"Foster father." Zhao Xing came to Zhao Ruide and knelt down to kowtow. "The child is back."

Zhao Ruide stood on the steps and asked loudly: "Is my child heroic on the battlefield?"

"Military contribution 5 million!"

"Millions of military contributions, can be called heroic! Good!" The ritual official next to him held a red-bottomed tray with a row of wine on it. Zhao Ruide picked up one of them and drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking, Zhao Ruide asked again.

"My child has made great contributions, what rank are you now?"

"Sixth-rank principal!"

"Good!" Zhao Ruide drank another cup.

"My child has returned in glory, does the Emperor have any rewards?"

"Got the marquis title, title 'Yuanyang'!"

"Granted 165,000 acres of land, fiefdom 1,650 households."

"Awarded a 'Protection' staff, two green-eyed dragon lions, one Kirin flying boat, a pair of jade ruyi... merit rank to the tenth rank!"

The surroundings were quiet, only the sound of Zhao Xing reporting to his father.

This scene made everyone envious.

The greatest glory of being a father is probably at this moment.

After a few rounds of drinking, the veins on Zhao Ruide's forehead popped out. He picked up the last big bowl and invited the spectators around.

"My child is mighty! Ruide invites everyone to drink this cup with me!"

"Congratulations to the Marquis of Yuanyang!" The congratulations around were like a tide.

At this point, the link of returning in glory can be considered to have come to an end.

Next is the banquet.

Xu Donghui not only set up a banquet in the county government office, but also set up many running water seats on the streets outside.

He set up a separate private room for Zhao Xing's family and friends.

"Madam Cai, this is the list of property gifts I brought back from home." Zhao Xing handed a thick list of property to Madam Cai.

Madam Cai wiped her hands and carefully took it.

"This, so much..."

"The family doesn't need so much."

Four years later, when they met again, Zhao Xing soared into the sky, which really made Madam Cai panic.

She didn't give Zhao Xing less face at the beginning. Who knows if he would keep it in his heart?

Now that she got the gift list Zhao Xing gave, Madam Cai felt more at ease in her heart.

With so much property, it doesn't matter if Zhao Xing scolds her a few times in the future.

Madam Cai hurriedly took Zhao Zheng's hand and said: "Zheng'er, why don't you pay respects to your big brother?"

The biggest change in Zhao Xing's family was not Zhao Ruide and Madam Cai, but Zhao Zheng.

At this time, Zhao Zheng was already 13 years old.

Because Zong Shichang took good care of him, he ate and drank well, and practiced martial arts for four years. Now his height had exceeded 1.75 meters.

His figure also became strong, no longer the little kid who couldn't even shovel snow.

It was just that after a few years of not seeing each other, he seemed a bit restrained and had a few points of estrangement when he saw Zhao Xing.

"Pay respects to big brother!"

Zhao Xing looked at Zhao Zheng, who was bowing one by one, and couldn't help but sigh. This was no longer the kid who used firecrackers to blow up people's latrines.

"Get up quickly." Zhao Xing patted Zhao Zheng's shoulder. "We are our own family, no need to be so polite."

"Speaking of which, aren't you practicing martial arts? Why are you getting whiter and whiter?"

Zhao Zheng wiped his face and said: "Mother, look, didn't I say big brother would say that? You insisted on applying some powder to me."

"Hey, don't wipe." Madam Cai hit Zhao Zheng's hand and took out a handkerchief. "You child, if you wipe your face, how will you see guests later?"

But it was too late. Zhao Zheng wiped left and right, and the lip gloss and the powder on his face mixed together, suddenly becoming a flower cat face.

"Hahahaha." Zhao Ruide and Zhao Xing, the father and son, immediately mocked mercilessly.

"Mother! Look what to do now!" A half-grown child is at the age when self-esteem is heavy, so he was anxious.

"Don't panic, let big brother tidy you up."

Zhao Xing turned his fingers lightly, and a stream of water swept Zhao Zheng's body.

Like a brush, he gave his neck and face a wash.

Then there was wind blowing, and in a breath, the water marks were washed dry.

By the way, he also set the hairstyle for Zhao Zheng.

Zhao Xing stretched out his right hand, and a water mirror appeared in his palm, placing it in front of Zhao Zheng.

"Look, isn't it much more handsome now?"

"It really is." Zhao Zheng subconsciously touched his face.

"Hahahaha." This narcissistic move brought another burst of laughter.

"I won't play with you anymore! I'm going out to eat!" Zhao Zheng couldn't hold his face, ran to the private room next door to pet the cat.

…………

Gucheng, Anping Square, Zhao Xing's home.

"In the North Sea, there is an island. On the day of the beginning of winter, the water begins to freeze. Five days later, the sea begins to freeze. Five days later, the giant whale breaks the ice and turns into a black bird, and the blue bird enters the water to become a purple snake. Five days later, the fire in the seabed erupts."

Zhao Xing was in the study, looking at the Geography of Kyushu.

It is now the summer solstice of the 20th year of the Jingxin Calendar, and he has been back for a month.

This month, every day was human relations and social interaction.

Until today, Zhao Xing had the opportunity to be idle and read books.

"They asked me to go to the East Sea, but I don't know where in the East Sea, or what official position it is," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

His official appointment had not yet come down, and now he was in the state of [Waiting for Transfer Official].

He had an official rank, but no specific power and responsibility.

"The East Sea is too big, much bigger than Pinghai Prefecture. It's best to go to a place near Princess Youruo's territory," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He was still thinking about the ten-thousand-year mysterious turtle shell that the old witch wanted to give him.

After reading for a while, Zhao Xing went to the Chen Mansion.

Swish~

Zhao Xing landed in the Chen Mansion. Chen Shijie and a woman were harvesting Tianyuan pears in the pear garden.

At this time, Chen Shijie was dressed simply, picking pears with Gui Niang, just like an ordinary fruit farmer.

"Lord Zhao." Gui Niang saw Zhao Xing visiting and immediately wiped the sweat to prepare to bow.

"Madam, no need for courtesy," Zhao Xing smiled. "It's not my first time here. I'm just looking for Old Chen to chat."

"Hey, then I'll go make tea for you." Gui Niang put down the fruit basket and turned to leave.

"Why, can't you be idle?" Chen Shijie didn't look back, focusing on picking pears.

Obviously having magic, he didn't use it, but took a long-mouthed scissors and stood on tiptoe to cut the branches.

"Hoo~" Zhao Xing used a burst of wind to blow down the pears he couldn't reach.

"What are you worrying about?" Chen Shijie threw a pear over. "Don't I know how to use magic?"

"I have obsessive-compulsive disorder," Zhao Xing smiled. "You stood on tiptoe and couldn't reach it for a long time, which made me feel uncomfortable."

"Your state of mind is not enough," Chen Shijie said. "I haven't used magic for a month."

"Since it's a vacation, why don't you take a serious rest?"

"That's true." Zhao Xing sealed his Qi and followed Chen Shijie to pick pears.

"Where did Long Xiao go?"

"Hanging out with Zong Shichang," Chen Shijie said. "These two are quite compatible."

"Mostly because Long Xiao hasn't seen the world of flowers before," Zhao Xing said. "Now that he has met Zong Shichang, who plays so much, it's like opening the door to a new world."

"It's like you've seen it," Chen Shijie sneered. "You haven't even touched a woman's hand."

"..."

…………

Zhao Xing hasn't even touched a hand, but Zong Shichang is getting married.

20th year of the Jingxin Calendar, summer solstice, Zong Shichang and Liu Muqing got engaged.

After chasing for several years, it finally came to fruition.

Mid-July.

Zhao Xing went to East Lake and scanned it with his Heavenly Eye, but didn't find the few lonely ghosts that let him get the fourth-rank East Lake Pearl.

Late July, went to the Xue Mansion to give the old Agricultural Official life-extending treasures.

He couldn't change Xue Wenzhong's official position, but the old Agricultural Official hadn't taken many life-extending treasures.

Zhao Xing gave Xue Wenzhong life-extending treasures in batches.

The old Agricultural Official's complexion recovered visibly to the naked eye, and he became younger.

By doing this, Xue Wenzhong could live for another fifty years at most. There was no way; ninth-rank could only live for 150 years at most.

If he really wanted to extend his life, he had to cooperate with the promotion of his official position.

For this reason, Zhao Xing moved around a lot with officials at all levels in the commandery, prefecture, and county.

See if there is a chance to help Xue Lao raise his official position in the future.

Early August, Zong Shichang and Liu Muqing got married, and good friend Lu Qian also arrived.

It's just that Zhao Xing had almost forgotten her, and only remembered that this girl liked him when they met again.

People have their own aspirations, just met once at the banquet, chatted a few words, and then separated.

Late August, Zhao Xing discussed moving with his family.

"The land rewarded by the imperial court is in the eastern part of Pinghai Prefecture, with more than 100,000 acres, and there is also a fiefdom, which can collect hundreds of taels of tax every year. Of course, we don't have to rely on tax to eat." Must say.

Because Zhao Xing still has to go to Lihuo Dao Academy, but the vacation only has more than two months left.

"Moving to such a far place?" Zhao Ruide hesitated.

It is common for officials to take their families with them when taking office, but Zhao Ruide was not very willing.

"Yes," Zhao Xing said.

Once the Prince of Liang rebels, the south will bear the brunt.

Nanyang Commandery seems to be far from the battlefield, but the straight-line distance is more than 40,000 to 50,000 miles.

For high-rank warfare, this is really not far. Military warships can run over and strike in a few hours.

Madam Cai didn't care, but she was worried about Zhao Zheng's schooling problem: "Next year, he will enter Nanyang Academy. After we go, what will happen to his quota?"

Zhao Xing said: "Don't worry, when we get there, I can arrange for him to enter the Bishui Dao Academy, which is better than this."

"How good?"

"..."

Zhao Xing was puzzled. Does Madam Cai not understand the word better?

Zhao Ruide saw this: "Why do you ask so specifically? You won't understand even if Xing'er says it."

Madam Cai smiled and said: "Then I'll go cook, and you father and son decide."

"Must we go?" Zhao Ruide still didn't want to.

"It's best to go together," Zhao Xing said. Although the commandery city's array is not so easy to break, and Nanyang Commandery is not any strategic place, he still feels relieved to bring them.

After all, Zhao Ruide and Madam Cai have no ability to protect themselves and are not officials.

As for others like Xue Wenzhong and Zong Shichang, he has other arrangements.

"Let me consider it again," Zhao Ruide said.

"Good."

…………

20th year of the Jingxin Calendar, early September.

Zhao Xing's affairs in Gucheng were basically arranged.

September 10th, Zhao Ruide finally agreed to move.

It was also on this day that Zhao Xing found Chen Shijie and also pulled Long Xiao, who couldn't find the north, to the Chen Mansion.

"The three of us should go to Lihuo Dao Academy to take a permission test," Zhao Xing said.

Chen Shijie and Long Xiao's new positions were also in the East Sea, and the handling results of the three were the same.

The East Sea is too far away, because Nanyang Commandery is in the southwest of Pinghai Prefecture, and the longest straight-line distance to the East Sea line exceeds 3 million miles!

If you take a seventh-rank warship to fly, it will take more than a month just to get there.

If they don't get the permission of Lihuo Dao Academy, it won't be easy for them to go back and forth.

"I have no problem, anyway, I plan to take Gui Niang with me this time," Chen Shijie said.

"I have even less problem," Long Xiao said. "I have no worries, I can leave at any time."

"Not necessarily," Chen Shijie squinted: "The girls in the Huixiang Building are all your worries."

"What are you talking about!" Long Xiao said with a red face. "I'm just listening to the music! I didn't do anything."

"Right, right, right."

"..."

Zhao Xing

"I have even less of a problem," Long Xiao said. "I have no ties or burdens; I can leave at any time."

"I doubt that," Chen Shijie said with a sidelong glance. "The young ladies at the Huixiang Pavilion are all your ties."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Long Xiao said, his face turning red. "I only go there to listen to music! I didn't do anything else."

"Right, right, right."

"..."

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Alright, let's talk business. Our transfer orders will come down at the end of the ninth lunar month, around the ninth day of the tenth month. The Military Department will give us one month to travel."

"We need to pass the examination before the start of the tenth month. If we don't pass, we'll have to take a ship there."

"If we pass, we'll be able to stay for a while longer."

Chen Shijie asked, "When are we going over?"

Zhao Xing said, "It is already the tenth day of the ninth month. Let's set off in five days, then come back to pick people up after the exam."

Long Xiao scratched his head and said, "Which authorization were we supposed to test for again? I've forgotten."

Zhao Xing introduced, "The authorizations for the Departing Fire Dao Academy have five levels: Master of Hundred Arts, Master of Dao Propagation, Doctor of Scripture, Vice Dean, and Dean."

"A Master of Hundred Arts has three opportunities a year to borrow the Dao path for free. This refers to personal matters; if it is an official mission for the Dao Academy, no cost is required."

"A Master of Dao Propagation can use the Departing Fire Divine Altar free of charge, regardless of whether it is official or private business."

"This corresponds to the level of True Inheritor disciples and sect protectors in the era of ancient sects."

"As for Doctors of Scripture, Vice Deans, and branch Deans, they are roughly equivalent to Elders."

"Not only can they use it themselves, but they also have several opportunities each year to allow others to use it without cost."

Zhao Xing said, "We just need to test for the honorary Master of Dao Propagation. When using it, we can bring family members. A single-digit number of family members is no problem."

Long Xiao asked, "Is it difficult? I'm most afraid of exams."

Chen Shijie said, "Master of Hundred Arts is not difficult; this position is just for instructors at the Departing Fire Dao Academy."

"It's just teaching by the book. It only requires a broad knowledge base, but not necessarily mastery."

"However, to test for an honorary Master of Hundred Arts, one still has to create their own technique, though the difficulty is lower."

"A Master of Dao Propagation must already have a unique understanding of the Dao. At the very least, they must be able to create a spell, and the realm of the self-created spell cannot be too low; others must be able to cultivate it to a high realm by following the same pattern."

"This is quite difficult. As the saying goes, 'Those who resemble me die, those who learn from me live.' Many people's self-created spells are only at their most powerful in their own hands; when others learn them by following the process, the spell's power is only half, or even less than half."

Zhao Xing said, "That's right, the requirements for an honorary Master of Dao Propagation are quite strict. We must leave something genuine at the Dao Academy."

Testing for authorization is equivalent to a form of resource exchange.

You either teach there, or leave behind a powerful spell for later generations to study.

As for Doctors of Scripture and Vice Deans, one must make significant contributions to the Departing Fire Dao Academy to be granted such honorary, nominal positions.

Of course, the goal for the three of them was only the level of 'Honorary Dao Propagation Master.'

Long Xiao nodded: "Fine, I'll go prepare."

"Then let's set the meeting time for the Hour of the Dragon in five days."

"Alright."

…………

Five days later, at the Hour of the Dragon, Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao took a flying boat toward Nanyang Commandery.

They transferred to a storied ship at the Nanyang Commandery's Storied Ship Office and arrived at Dayuan Prefecture.

Dayuan Prefecture had a branch of the Departing Fire Dao Academy.

"The Dean of this branch in Dayuan Prefecture is 'Ji Qingshan.' He is a member of the imperial clan, a grand-nephew of the Son of Heaven, two hundred and one years old, and in the Third Grade realm." After arriving at Dayuan Prefecture, the three chatted as they walked.

"How is Ji Qingshan's relationship with the Prince of Liang?" Long Xiao asked. "He won't deliberately make things difficult for us, will he?"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "I'm not sure, but he shouldn't."

In his past life, when the Prince of Liang rebelled, he had never heard of a figure named Ji Qingshan.

Logically, if he were in the Third Grade realm and had joined the Prince of Liang's forces, he would certainly have been well-known.

However, Zhao Xing knew less about Ji Qingshan than Chen Shijie did, because Yang An knew a Doctor of Scripture here.

After going back and forth a few times, he had learned a little.

"This isn't a matter of pulling strings anyway. We'll take the exam based on our strength; there shouldn't be any problems," Zhao Xing said.

"What spell do you plan to leave at the Dao Academy?" Chen Shijie asked.

"The Thunderous Finger of Breaking Delusion," Zhao Xing said.

This thunder technique was one he had created himself, and it had now developed into a high-grade spell, though it had not yet reached perfection and was only at the seventh-tier level.

The subsequent three turns were not yet perfected.

"What about you?"

Chen Shijie said: "I created a Earth Palace technique that barely reached the threshold of the fourth turn of high-grade."

Long Xiao said proudly: "I'll just leave one form of the Divine Firmament Sword Art, that will be enough."

"Who asked you?"

"..."

Arriving at the main gate of the Departing Fire Dao Academy, the three of them waited.

At this moment, they could only rely on Chen Shijie to contact the Doctor of Scripture that Yang An knew.

His master, Liu Tianning, would not work here; it might even have the opposite effect.

Because old Liu had challenged the Departing Fire Dao Academy back in the day; he had fought in nearly half of the seventy-two academies.

If Zhao Xing revealed that he was a disciple of Liu Tianning, he feared it would cause unnecessary complications.

After waiting for about two quarters of an hour, a young Daoist wearing yellow dharma robes floated out.

"May I ask if you are the two lords, Chen Shijie and Long Xiao?"

"That is correct," Chen Shijie nodded.

"My teacher asked me to come and receive you two. This person is..."

"This is my colleague," Chen Shijie said, not mentioning Zhao Xing's name. "He is also here to participate in the assessment."

"Please follow me." The young Daoist asked casually, then led the three of them into the Dao Academy.

…………

The palace style of the Departing Fire Dao Academy was very ancient and simple, and the buildings were all very tall and large, appearing magnificent and grand.

The pavilions inside the Dao Academy were seven or eight meters high, and the verandas were even wider, enough for several carriages to run side by side.

"Although it is called the Departing Fire Dao Academy, there is no shortage of spiritual springs and lakes inside."

"The mountains, water, and buildings all secretly conform to the Dao of Yin and Yang, using earth and water to balance the fire pond of the Departing Fire Divine Altar so that the fire does not become too intense."

"And this is just a branch academy." Zhao Xing looked around; it was still very different from the Departing Fire Dao Academy he knew in his past life.

It was quiet, peaceful, and had an ethereal, immortal aura.

The Departing Fire Dao Academy that Zhao Xing knew was during the reign of the Martial Emperor, who had requisitioned it and turned it into a war machine.

Even inside the Dao Academy, there was an aura of grimness.

The Martial Emperor had forcibly turned a proper immortal sect style into a military camp style.

"The Departing Fire Dao Academy had a total of forty-nine Fire Spirit Mountains, but by the time of the Martial Emperor, thirty-two of them had been ruined," Zhao Xing pondered.

The cost of war was not small; since the Departing Fire Dao Academy had such a useful transport treasure as the Departing Fire Divine Altar, it was naturally requisitioned.

The young Daoist led the three of them to take a flying boat within the academy, flying slowly for two quarters of an hour before stopping in front of a two-hundred-meter tower.

"Honored guests, we have arrived," the young Daoist introduced. "Ahead is the Dharma Propagation Tower."

"The Dharma Propagation Tower has a total of ninety-nine floors."

"Inside are the thousands of spells left behind by predecessors."

"The first thirty floors contain some low- and mid-grade spells."

"After the thirtieth floor, they are all high-grade spells."

The young Daoist explained: "If the three of you want to obtain an honorary title, you must leave your own self-created spells on the 'Dharma Walls' above the thirtieth floor."

"Note, it must be a new, self-created spell."

"If it is not self-created, you will be unable to leave a mark."

"The three honored guests can act according to the instructions inside the tower. The many Dharma Walls inside can also guide you in realizing the Dao. If you look for a few more days, perhaps you might even create a new technique."

"Many thanks for leading the way," Chen Shijie said, cupping his hands toward the young Daoist.

"You're welcome." After returning the salute, the young Daoist boarded the flying boat and left.

There were many such guiding young Daoists around, carrying guests on flying boats to the Dharma Propagation Tower.

There were many people who wanted to leave their names at the Departing Fire Dao Academy; even if they couldn't obtain an honorary title, being able to leave a name below the thirtieth floor was worth bragging about.

Of course, most were students of the Dao Academy itself.

One of the graduation requirements for students of the Departing Fire Dao Academy was that they must leave a new technique within the first thirty floors.

"There are so many people, but their realms are relatively low," Long Xiao observed his surroundings. "Most are low-grade, mid-grade are relatively few, and I haven't seen a single high-grade one."

"High-grade experts aren't Chinese cabbage; how could you run into them so easily?" Zhao Xing laughed.

"The emptier the vessel, the louder it rattles," Long Xiao pointed at the people going in and out. "They are only at the low-grade realm; what powerful Dao techniques could they possibly realize?"

Long Xiao's manner of pointing out the world immediately drew many gazes.

"Can you keep a low profile?" Zhao Xing whispered sharply. "Do you sword cultivators all have this problem of liking to act high-profile?"

"Speak quietly. My identity is a bit troublesome; don't bring trouble to me."

"Oh, then I won't speak," Long Xiao also lowered his voice. "I'll listen to you, low profile."

"Alright, let's go."

With that, the three of them walked into the Dharma Propagation Tower.