Chapter 237: The Howling Dog and the Inverted Sheep, Winter Preliminaries (Grand Chapter)

Qin Hongying had Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji depart from the Profound Water Academy to negotiate further cooperation.

Zhao Xing's true self, however, was preparing to leave Twin Islands.

Having been busy for so long, Master Zhao also intended to return to Bixian Prefecture for a look.

Firstly, to see how Zhao Ruide and Madam Cai were faring, and secondly, to check on Zhao Zheng's situation at the Profound Water Academy.

Additionally, he had to make a trip to the Prince's Mansion.

It was already mid-November, and he hadn't seen the Old Hag yet; how could that do?

Affection is built through interaction; how could one not meet even once in a year?

Furthermore, the ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle shell she had promised him, as well as the preliminary competition slots, had yet to be finalized.

Hearing that she had already returned to Bixian Prefecture, Zhao Xing had to hurry and go while she was there.

He could finally understand why Sun Shizhao had been so excited back then.

Meeting Princess Youruo was truly not that easy.

However, before leaving, Zhao Xing still had to prepare; he couldn't go empty-handed.

"When sending gifts to the Old Hag, the intent is what matters. I'll go to the planting zone and pick some fruits."

Zhao Xing ran to a plantation on the Land Island; this was his private garden.

It was guarded by strict magic arrays, forbidding anyone from approaching.

Whoosh~

Holding a token, Zhao Xing passed through the barrier and landed inside the plantation.

He had brought many seeds and seedlings out from the Soldier Realm back then, and upon taking office on Twin Islands, he had planted them all here.

Calculating the time, it had been nearly a year.

In truth, given Princess Youruo's status, she lacked nothing. If Zhao Xing wanted to give her a gift, he really couldn't come up with anything novel.

Zhao Xing first transplanted several Golden Emerald Bamboos from a bamboo grove.

The Golden Emerald Bamboo is a fifth-tier ornamental plant; the bamboo body is crystal clear and emerald green, while the branches and leaves are golden.

It could also be used to make a weapon for a Farmer — a magic staff.

Its utility was mediocre, but it was very flashy, capable of adding a layer of golden jade luster to spells.

He didn't like such flashy but impractical things, but those high-ranking officials and nobles loved them.

The cool special effects also highlighted their nobility when casting spells.

He had planted this Golden Emerald Bamboo specifically to give away.

"Rise!"

Zhao Xing transplanted eighty-eight stalks onto the Taicang Flying Boat; this was a flying boat specifically used by the Civil Farmer for transplanting crops.

Swish~

Zhao Xing let the flying boat hover, flew for another distance, and ran into a cave.

This cave connected to an underground magma lake.

Zhao Xing picked another one, a five-meter-tall willow tree that was dark red all over.

"A fifth-tier Vermilion Curtain Willow. Fire flows through the willow threads, hanging down like a vermilion curtain formed by flames; the willow catkins drift like fireworks blooming."

Zhao Xing used the Folding-Joint Technique to prune the seven curtain willows, making them look even better, and then transplanted them onto the Taicang Flying Boat.

Finally, he came to the center of the manor, where twelve large trees were planted.

However, only one had flowered and borne fruit, and it had only produced nine.

"The sixth-tier Purple Kite Fruit has matured; I'll send it to the Old Hag first." Zhao Xing plucked these nine Purple Kite Fruits.

Even though he had spent a huge fortune to build the Earth-Treasury Returning-Origin Array, turning this place into a 'secondary treasure land,' the Purple Kite Fruit tree had only just matured, and what it produced was only sixth-tier low-grade.

Carefully tended, with adjusted weather and geography, in one year, only one Purple Kite Fruit tree had matured.

Because woody plants have very long growth cycles, especially sixth-tier ones; this was already the limit of what Zhao Xing could cultivate.

The sixth-tier plants previously in the Extreme Night Sea, the Fish-Eating Grass and the Azure Sea Cloud Vine, were both vine-based, herbaceous plants.

In terms of growth cycle, woody plants > vine plants > herbaceous plants.

The growth cycle of woody plants is usually a hundred or a thousand times that of vine or herbaceous plants.

Take the Floating Wanderer for example; if Liu Tianning hadn't given him the Floating Wanderer back then, but a seventh-tier woody plant.

Zhao Xing wouldn't have even wanted it.

Why? Because it took too long.

Even if he broke through to the fifth rank in the future and cultivated Pure Origin Soil, he couldn't just start planting trees; it would be too much of a burden on his body.

In the Self-Identity School, what is the situation for Farmers who plant trees? They are all generations of ancestors planting the same tree!

The grandfather cultivates the seedling stage, passes it to the father after death; the father cultivates the growth stage, and after the grandson takes over, he cultivates it to the maturity stage, and after death, it is passed to the great-grandson; it might not even bear fruit, and it still has to be passed on.

The Great Farmer Wu Cheng during the Taizu era planted a peerless rarity (a super-grade plant exceeding the ninth tier); it is rumored that this divine tree has already existed for two thousand five hundred years.

It has been passed through seven generations of Great Farmers and still hasn't entered the maturity stage.

It wasn't until the Wu Di era that it finally matured, but it only bore fruit once, and then regressed to the growth stage again.

Shangluo Academy has passed down a divine tree fairy branch of the 【Rare Rarity】 level for generations; this is one grade lower than a peerless rarity, but its effects are also very powerful.

However, it is also only passed to the leader of the Self-Identity School, and the leader of the Self-Identity School usually also serves as the Dean of Shangluo Academy.

"That's about it."

Zhao Xing finished preparing the gifts and then piloted the flying boat, leaving Twin Islands.

After returning to Bixian Prefecture, he first went to Dongyang County to visit his foster father.

As a result, upon returning, he found the mansion decorated with lanterns and streamers, full of joy.

A group of old women were surrounding Madam Cai, constantly offering congratulations, while Madam Cai held her head high, looking very proud.

"Swish~"

Zhao Xing stepped on clouds and landed in the side courtyard, finding Zhao Ruide, who was distributing reward money.

"Foster father, what is the happy occasion? How come I don't know?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Xing'er, you've returned just in time," Zhao Ruide said happily. "Madam has just been diagnosed with a happy pulse; you are going to be a big brother again."

"Congratulations, foster father." Zhao Xing also smiled.

Benefiting from the money and connections Zhao Xing brought back, Zhao Ruide had donated a lot of money to the 'Charity Institute' of the Nanyang Prefecture government.

Afterward, he obtained a loose official title of 'Charity Physician.' This title had no substantial benefits, but his self-cultivation upward channel was opened to the seventh rank.

Zhao Ruide was already a martial artist; after eating a little of the treasures Zhao Xing brought back, he became a ninth-rank martial artist at the age of sixty-one.

Afterward, coming to Bixian Prefecture, Zhao Ruide had nothing to do, so he signed up for the position of patrol guard in Dongyang County.

For the father of the Yuanrang Marquis to be a small patrol guard, it was naturally a piece of cake.

In one year, Zhao Ruide became the Deputy Director of the Dongyang Patrol Office and broke through to the eighth-rank martial artist realm.

At the eighth-rank realm, sixty years old could not be considered old, and the previous hidden injuries naturally ceased to exist.

And so, Madam Cai was pregnant again.

"Foster father, do you hope for a daughter or another son?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Having a precious son is not as good as having a precious daughter," Zhao Ruide laughed. "You and Zheng'er are already enough of a handful."

Zhao Xing gave a dumbfounded smile.

However, Zhao Ruide was right; he had taken his family a million miles away from their homeland; it was indeed a handful.

Zhao Zheng was not a worry-free child when he was young; he didn't listen to his father at all, climbing roofs and uncovering tiles, catching fish in the water, blowing up toilets with firecrackers; he was very mischievous.

"I also hope for a little sister," Zhao Xing said with a smile. "I imagine she would be much better behaved than Zheng'er."

After chatting with Zhao Ruide for a while, Zhao Xing planned to go to the Prince's Mansion in the prefecture city.

At the end, Zhao Ruide pulled Zhao Xing aside and asked: "I asked several teachers in the prefecture to choose a courtesy name for you; a total of four were selected."

"Which four?"

"Zeyu, Yuanyou, Xizhen, Chenan."

"'A gentleman is like jade, benefiting all directions.' Zeyu suits your name quite well; this was chosen by Prefectural Censor Yang Taigong of the prefecture city."

"'Rare talent, confident and courageous.' Xizhen fits your personality. This was chosen by the former Governor of Bixian Prefecture, Mr. Yue Lu."

"'Yuanyou's five elements are wood and earth; you are a Farmer, protecting all people, expressing your ambition with your courtesy name; it is also very good. This was chosen by Prefect Liu of the Princess Mansion," Zhao Ruide recalled.

"Foster father, you actually know so many big figures; then who chose Chenan?" Zhao Xing asked with a smile.

Zhao Ruide pointed to himself: "I chose Chenan; I hope you are safe and sound every hour."

Zhao Xing's smile paused, then returned to normal, and he cupped his hands: "Then as you wish, I will take the courtesy name Chenan."

Zhao Ruide immediately laughed happily.

…………

The twenty-first year of the Jingxin calendar, November 12th, just after the start of winter.

Zhao Xing only stayed at home for one day after returning, then headed to the Prince's Mansion to pay his respects to Princess Youruo.

"Master's wife, this student has come to pay his respects."

"Coming is coming, why bring so many gifts?" Princess Youruo said, but there was some joy in her eyes.

Because Zhao Xing didn't send other things; they were all things he had planted himself, and he had carefully pruned them, making the Golden Emerald Bamboo and Vermilion Curtain Willow more ornamental.

The Purple Kite Fruit was even a sixth-tier fruit; not only was it thoughtful, but it also highlighted Zhao Xing's ability.

It proved that he had not wasted the resources Princess Youruo had given him.

"This is a token of this disciple's heart," Zhao Xing said. "I planted them for Master's wife a year ago when I came."

Planted a year ago?

Princess Youruo felt even more comfortable hearing this.

Although it was of no use to her, Zhao Xing's willingness to do these things for her proved that he was truly sincere.

"Come, accompany this palace for a walk and plant these things."

"Yes."

Zhao Xing followed behind Princess Youruo to a garden.

He transplanted the Golden Emerald Bamboo, Vermilion Curtain Willow, and other plants over.

"Not bad, it is indeed beautiful," Princess Youruo praised, giving him face.

"As for the ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle shell promised to you, go and choose one with Prefect Liu."

"After choosing, eat the evening banquet at the mansion before leaving."

"Yes." Zhao Xing cupped his hands and followed the Prince's Mansion Prefect, Liu Wanliang, toward the warehouse.

The Prince's Mansion Prefect is an official position of the Great Zhou, responsible for handling the various affairs of the Princess, Princes, and other royal family members; he is a butler specifically serving the royal family.

Princess Youruo has many butlers because she has many traveling palaces and mansions.

This Liu Wanliang is the Grand Butler, holding the fourth rank, and his own strength is unfathomable.

Zhao Xing remembered this person because he followed Princess Youruo when she married into the Holy Light Royal Court later, and he was very loyal.

Later, when Princess Youruo became the Old Hag, Liu Wanliang also handled many of the secret tasks.

The inner treasury of the Prince's Mansion is not a single room, but a series of palace complexes.

Each palace seals different treasures.

Liu Wanliang led Zhao Xing and jumped into a lake.

There is a Crystal Palace inside the lake; after entering the palace barrier, Zhao Xing was immediately dazzled.

A large number of rare treasures from the seabed were neatly placed and hung throughout the palace.

Just taking one away to sell would be enough to live on for several lifetimes.

"Yuanrang Marquis." Liu Wanliang led Zhao Xing to a side hall deep in the Crystal Palace, surrounded by various underwater green plants and corals.

And in the side hall, many huge turtle shells were placed.

"Yuanrang Marquis, the ten-thousand-year-old turtle shells are all here."

"There are mysterious turtles, fire turtles, alligator turtles, dragon turtles..."

Liu Wanliang introduced them.

"Yuanrang Marquis can choose at will."

Zhao Xing was not greedy; he only wanted one thing: the shell of a ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle.

"I don't need to choose carefully; please choose a ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle shell for me, sir."

"Just one?"

"Just one."

"Good." Liu Wanliang nodded, then floated to the front and pointed, "Rise!"

Rumble~

A crack opened in the ground, and then a behemoth flickering with mysterious light emerged from the underground.

Unexpectedly, there was another layer of space underground to store treasures.

"Rumble~" "Rumble~"

A small mountain emerged from the underground; when its size fully appeared in the water, Zhao Xing couldn't help but be startled.

So big!

The turtle shell was a thousand meters long! The upper part of the shell was oval, while the bottom was flat, and it was nearly fifty meters high from top to bottom.

It looked like a small mountain.

Although the size of this ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle couldn't compare to the dragon whale he saw in the Extreme Night Sea, it was still extremely exaggerated.

The hexagonal turtle back patterns on the shell could cover a three-bedroom apartment.

"The turtle back patterns are growth rings; for a ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle, the patterns on its back are dense and contain more of the principles of heaven and earth," Zhao Xing observed. "If I use it to perform the 'Turtle Divination Technique,' it can bear a higher cost."

When Liang Ruohai measured him back then, if there had been a ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle nearby, he wouldn't have had to die within ten years.

He could have completely used the turtle board of this mysterious turtle to carry it.

Of course, this thing couldn't be used directly either.

After moving it back, it still had to be calcined with the Fire Refining Technique.

"Calcining with heavenly fire, practicing the Fire Refining Technique for half a year, only then can its effects be fully exerted," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"Clatter~"

"Clatter~"

The mountain-like turtle shell was fished up by Liu Wanliang using magic.

It was loaded onto a cargo warship by the lake.

"Many thanks, Lord Liu." Zhao Xing cupped his hands in thanks.

"Yuanrang Marquis, no need for courtesy," Liu Wanliang returned the salute. "This warship will be parked here first; Her Highness has also prepared some other gifts for you."

"We can go elsewhere first; when we return, the mysterious turtle here should also be loaded onto the ship."

There's more?

As expected of the Princess of the East Sea. When she bestows things, she never bestows just one item.

Zhao Xing followed Liu Wanliang and flew to another palace.

"Woof woof~"

"Awoo~"

Faint dog barking sounds came from the palace ahead, and Zhao Xing couldn't help but be stunned.

Before they even landed, Liu Wanliang introduced: "This is the Divine Dog Palace."

"Her Highness said that since you are participating in the Ten Thousand Beast Competition, she would let you come to the Divine Dog Palace to choose a cub."

"Many famous dogs are raised here, the Ten Great Divine Dogs."

"The Divine Dogs are also for me to choose?" Zhao Xing was stunned.

"Of course," Liu Wanliang nodded. "Does the Yuanrang Marquis know which are the Ten Great Divine Dogs?"

"Frost Flower Kite, Glinting Star Wolf, Golden-Winged Hound, Azure Water Dragon, Ink Jade Li, Ru-Yellow Leopard, Snow-Claw Lu, Soaring Magpie, Spotted Brocade Biao, Azure Lion. These ten types are the divine dogs of the world."

Liu Wanliang nodded slightly: "Since the Yuanrang Marquis understands, I won't be long-winded. In the Divine Dog Palace, all ten great divine dogs have cubs; you can choose any."

"As for adult dogs, they all have tamers who have concluded soul contracts; dog beasts are not like others, their loyalty is unique; even if the soul contract is dissolved, they are unwilling to change owners; forcibly changing them will only lead to them dying of depression."

"In the palace to the east, there are also famous dogs: Peach Blossom, Black Dragon, Jade Dog, Yellow Cang, Yellow Ear; they are all famous dogs among famous dogs, and their combat power is not inferior to the divine dogs."

Zhao Xing nodded; the three bloodlines of 'Jun,' 'Famous,' and 'Divine' only have a higher innate starting point; real battle beasts still depend on how they are raised afterward.

This is just like people cultivating; Long Xiao also came from a poor background, but that didn't hinder him from becoming one of the Ten Great Sword Immortals in the future.

The mountain cat's bloodline is also very ordinary, but after cultivation, it now belongs to the 'Spiritual Rare Species,' not losing to divine-level bloodlines.

"Woof woof~"

"Awoo~"

After Zhao Xing landed and walked into the palace, he opened his Heavenly Eye to scan the kennels.

"Peach Blossom, Yellow Cang, Yellow Ear, Black Dragon; these are all Greyhounds, with slender bodies and slightly smaller sizes, which is commonly known as the 'Fine Dog'."

Although miraculous, Zhao Xing's personal taste doesn't really like Greyhounds.

Raising them as pets is fine, but to use them for fighting, they are a bit lacking.

In this way, the range narrowed down a lot.

Because among the Ten Great Divine Dogs, nine are Greyhounds.

Only the Azure Lion dog is a Mastiff.

"A tough guy should raise a Mastiff."

Zhao Xing thought so and walked to stand in front of the Azure Lion kennel.

"Mr. Liu, I choose the Azure Lion."

Liu Wanliang said: "Don't you want to consider it further? There are also good fighters among the Greyhounds; the Ten Great Divine Dogs each have their own advantages; the Azure Lion only has the advantage of strength."

The Azure Lion has great strength; both its power and stamina are stronger than other divine dogs.

Of course, the other divine dogs also have advantages, such as those good at speed, those with innate illusion talents, and those good at treasure hunting and escape techniques.

"I have already decided," Zhao Xing said. "I prefer Mastiffs."

Liu Wanliang nodded, then waved his hand, opened the barrier of the Azure Lion kennel, and accompanied Zhao Xing inside.

"Woo-woof~" "Wah-woof~" "Heh-heh~"

Once inside, many cubs barked at the two of them.

However, at this time, these Azure Lions were in their infancy; the youngest was just a month old, and the oldest was only three months old; they didn't have much power, but instead appeared a bit cute.

Zhao Xing scanned them; there were more than two hundred cubs here.

He pinched his fingers to calculate and immediately locked onto three of the Azure Lion cubs.

"In the same feeding environment, these three cubs grew faster and better, and their future achievements will be greater." Zhao Xing used physiognomy to choose the cubs; it was easy to see that the three in the corner against the east wall were the most suitable to take away.

Zhao Xing then walked over and came to the kennel at the very back.

Liu Wanliang saw this and couldn't help but praise: "Yuanrang Marquis has a good eye."

"Just call me Chenan, sir."

Liu Wanliang asked with a smile: "Chenan has an extraordinary eye, picking the three strongest cubs at a glance; have you studied physiognomy?"

"Just know a little bit," Zhao Xing said modestly.

"Someone, prepare the soul contract." Liu Wanliang waved to the back, and a dog-raising official immediately walked over.

"Chenan, which one do you want?"

"The three are about the same," Zhao Xing smiled. "It depends on who is willing to follow me."

"Please hold this ring, Yuanrang Marquis." The official next to him handed over a collar, but it was a bit big; even an elephant could be put into it.

"Hum~" After Zhao Xing grabbed the contract ring, a pulling force came from it, tugging at his life soul.

Zhao Xing did not resist and took the opportunity to inject a trace of soul power into it.

The three cubs all smelled an unusual scent and growled at Zhao Xing.

Mastiffs have a strong sense of territory; as soon as these three Azure Lions roared, the surrounding cubs all avoided them.

"Not willing to go?" Seeing the three strongest ones constantly retreating, he took a step forward, and they took a step back.

Zhao Xing took the third step, stopped moving forward, shook his head, and turned around.

He could have forcibly taken them, but fate cannot be forced.

After Zhao Xing turned around, he held the contract ring horizontally at chest height and gently pushed it toward the group of cubs.

"Whoever is willing to follow me, enter this ring."

After speaking, Zhao Xing watched quietly.

If no cub chose him, he would give up on the Azure Lion and choose the other Greyhounds.

Ever since he learned fate-type spells, Zhao Xing believed in fate.

"Woof woof~" Eight cubs seemed to understand Zhao Xing's words, or perhaps out of curiosity, slowly walked toward the contract ring.

Just as one of them was about to stick its head in, suddenly—

"Whoosh~"

A black shadow jumped up from behind the group of dogs, stepping on the backs of its companions, and flew quickly.

"Hum~" It bit the ring, trying to drag it down.

"Woo-woo~" This Azure Lion cub hung in the air, constantly shaking its head, its four limbs flapping, but the contract ring remained motionless.

Zhao Xing found it funny; the little guy treated it as a toy.

Unable to bite it or drag it down, it let go of its mouth and fell to the ground on its butt.

However, it was still flapping constantly.

"Woof~" It even forbade other companions from approaching.

It was very young, just a month old, but very combative; its forehead, waist, and legs all had bite marks, and it was missing a lot of fur.

Although the other cubs had them too, none had as many as it did.

"This one is the most combative," the dog-raising official next to him said. "It can't beat them, but it refuses to admit defeat, and has even challenged the three biggest ones."

Zhao Xing heard this and moved a few steps closer.

But this furless Azure Lion cub drove away its companions, but did not drive away Zhao Xing, instead staring at him with curious eyes.

Zhao Xing squatted down: "Are you willing to follow me? If you are, crawl in."

At this time, the contract ring had shrunk a lot; Zhao Xing held it with one hand and placed it on the ground.

As long as this furless Azure Lion cub took two steps, it could crawl in.

"Woof~"

It wagged its tail, lowered its head, and crawled through the ring.

"Hum~"

The ring quickly shrunk, forming a pale golden collar that hung around its neck.

Zhao Xing felt a faint connection with this Cangni hound and understood that the soul contract had been established.

"Congratulations, Yuanrang Marquis." The dog-raising official next to him congratulated him.

"Chenan, Azure Lions are not affectionate to people; this little guy actually took the initiative to get close to you; it seems it has a fate with you," Liu Wanliang laughed.

"It is indeed fate." Zhao Xing walked out holding the Azure Lion.

But after holding it for a while, the little guy couldn't sit still and moved around everywhere.

Zhao Xing let it run wild in the palace.

Looking at the energetic Azure Lion cub, Liu Wanliang asked: "Chenan, what name do you plan to give it?"

Zhao Xing and Liu Wanliang walked out of the palace side by side; at this time, the Azure Lion was jumping onto a white jade carved pillar, howling at the sky.

Zhao Xing pointed at it and laughed: "I have a cat named Aotian; let it be called Xiaotian."

Aotian Cat, Xiaotian Dog; now Master Zhao can be said to have both a cat and a dog.

After attending the evening banquet, Princess Youruo called Zhao Xing and Ji Zixuan to accompany her for a walk around the Heavenly Lake.

"Why did you only choose one? This palace was planning to give you a few more preliminary slots for the Ten Thousand Beast Competition."

Zhao Xing said: "Soldiers should be elite, not numerous. For this year's winter evaluation preliminaries, I'm just going to join in the fun. Master's wife adding three slots for me is already enough."

The Ten Thousand Beast Competition has preliminaries every year, lasting until ten years before the competition starts.

In fact, the winter preliminary slots for the Zixiao Islands this year have already been decided.

Princess Youruo belongs to the category of adding him in temporarily.

Zhao Xing's current situation is really just going to join in the fun.

Because even for the preliminaries, a bunch of fifth-rank and fourth-rank battle beasts participate; sixth-rank ones are very rare.

Like the Dragon Lion Island, which ranks first in the west of the archipelago, it has three fourth-rank battle beasts registered.

The mountain cat is only at the early fifth rank, and the Azure Lion is only an infant that has just entered the rank, so this year can only be to test the waters.

Princess Youruo said: "If you want, I can also give you a few fourth-rank battle beasts and can also equip you with a few senior tamers."

Zhao Xing shook his head; he wanted to borrow momentum from Princess Youruo, but he didn't want to be bound too deeply; this would affect his future promotion.

Of course, what he said was different: "Many thanks for Master's wife's kindness, but I have already received many benefits; if Master's wife intervenes again, it will damage Master's wife's reputation."

"I don't want to see people pointing fingers at Master's wife behind her back."

Princess Youruo smiled: "Who dares to talk about this palace? But this is also good."

"I heard that your contract with the Profound Water Academy was completed well, and even Qin Hongying came to the Prince's Mansion to inquire about you."

"With this performance, you haven't disgraced your teacher's name."

"It should be left for you to venture out on your own, otherwise your teacher would blame this palace for being meddlesome."

Ji Zixuan next to him couldn't help but feel admiration; he didn't even want the benefits; Senior Brother is indeed extraordinary.

"I heard your foster father is going to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for you; is there such a thing?" Princess Youruo suddenly remembered something. "This palace remembers that Prefect Liu also gave a reference; it seems to be called Yuanyou? Which one did you finally use?"

"Chenan, meaning safety every hour."

"Oh, that's not bad."

After accompanying the Old Hag for a while, seeing her look tired, he started to get up: "Master's wife, please do not overwork yourself; this disciple will take his leave."

"Go, come to the Prince's Mansion to see me when you have time."

"Yes."

…………

Master Zhao, who now had both a cat and a dog, returned to Dongyang County with the ten-thousand-year-old mysterious turtle and a pile of gifts, feeling satisfied.

November 13th, Zhao Ruide held a make-up coming-of-age ceremony for Zhao Xing.

He sent invitations to friends, colleagues, and superiors he had met in Dongyang County and Bixian Prefecture over the past year.

Zhao Ruide also sent an invitation to the Bixian Traveling Palace, but Princess Youruo had already gone out on business and was not in Bixian Prefecture.

She sent the Prince's Mansion Prefect, Liu Wanliang, to attend the banquet in a low-key manner.

But he was still discovered.

As a result, Zhao Ruide, who originally only intended to hold a small event, sent out hundreds more invitations.

Because Prefect Liu, sent by Princess Youruo, was the one who had been with her the longest and had the highest status.

With such a figure attending the banquet in Dongyang County, how could the officials of Bixian Prefecture not know?

Consequently, many people found the County Magistrate of Dongyang County and the Director of the Patrol Office, asking them to beg Zhao Ruide for an extra invitation!

Relationships that were eight poles apart were desperately trying to find various excuses to squeeze in:

"I am the superior's superior's superior of Zhao Ruide; it's reasonable to come and have a wedding banquet, right?"

"I am the recommender of Zhao Ruide's superior; it wouldn't be excessive to send me an invitation."

"I am the former Director of the Bixian Prefecture Patrol Office; it was only a year off; Zhao Ruide was my old subordinate; it is logical to attend the banquet."

And so, the invitation sent by a small eighth-rank Deputy Patrol Director in Dongyang County actually attracted many high-ranking officials from Bixian Prefecture.

Guests came in boat after boat.

Because what banquet they were attending didn't matter; it didn't even matter if they knew the Yuanrang Marquis or not.

Being able to enter this banquet represented certain circles; perhaps they could meet a noble person at the banquet!

If it weren't for the banquet ending quickly, people from Chongming Prefecture might have come.

"You hold a coming-of-age ceremony, and it has such a scene; those who don't know would think it's some high official holding a banquet."

In the Zhao Mansion, on the night after the guests had dispersed, Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing were chatting in a water pavilion.

"Who would have thought?" Zhao Xing was also a bit amused. "These people smelled the scent and came over; they couldn't be stopped; they even ordered my father's superior to force an invitation."

"The former Patrol Office didn't even want face and came to force their way into the banquet; it's really laughable."

Chen Shijie sighed: "The officialdom forces in the inland areas are intricate, and there are countless people who follow the wind and steer the rudder; it's better to be in the military; there aren't so many twists and turns."

Zhao Xing glanced at Old Chen: "Did you encounter something on Firefly Island? Did someone make things difficult for you?"

Chen Shijie shook his head: "I encountered some sordid things, but they were still within the normal scope; you don't need to intervene."

Zhao Xing also borrowed Princess Youruo's momentum; it was understandable for him to enjoy this halo himself, but if he were to help Chen Shijie, it would be a bit like bullying others by using Princess Youruo's name.

Stretching his hand too far is not a good thing.

In the end, Zhao Xing himself is only a mere sixth-rank Supervisor and a third-class Marquis.

What if one day Princess Youruo stops caring? What if she and Liu Tianning fall out?

Chen Shijie didn't want Zhao Xing to waste these favors too much for his sake.

"I still have to remind you."

"You hold a make-up coming-of-age ceremony, and it attracts many fifth-rank officials in the prefecture to send gifts; it looks very glorious."

"But you shouldn't be too carried away," Chen Shijie exhorted.

"The Princess hasn't married your teacher after all; if one day she and your teacher part ways and takes back all the help she gave you, without this support, you must be able to stand on your own feet."

This is Old Chen's heartfelt words, and only he would say these things when Zhao Xing is in high spirits.

Zhao Xing nodded and said: "I understand, thank you for the reminder."

Someone else might not necessarily listen, but Zhao Xing is someone who listens to advice.

And he also knows that Chen Shijie is right; according to the development of the Old Hag and Old Liu in the previous life, they would fall out by the Dazhi era.

Chen Shijie laughed: "Between you and me, why be so polite? By the way, why isn't Long Xiao here? Didn't you call him?"

Zhao Xing took out the Earth Mirror: "I called, but he said official business is busy, his superior won't give him leave, and there's no way to come over."

Chen Shijie sneered: "This scoundrel is selling misery again; I inquired about the situation of the officials in the Red Stone Prefecture Patrol Office; that's a clean office; where does so much official business come from?"

Zhao Xing asked suspiciously: "He didn't even return for the New Year; he should really have something to do, right?"

Chen Shijie said: "I also inquired clearly; he has no real business at all."

"This scoundrel is entangled by a woman."

"Huh?" Zhao Xing immediately became interested: "Tell me in detail."

Chen Shijie laughed: "You taught him to use the public security management regulations to fight pirates before; this guy has been running around catching pirates since he took office."

"I forced him to tell me two months ago that he encountered the 'Blue-Eyed White Dragon Army' team, which ranks fifth in the East Sea Legion, during a pirate-catching mission last year."

"And he even had a fight with the commander of the Blue Dragon Army, 'Bai Yang'."

"With his strength, the commander of the Blue Dragon Army naturally only had the part of being beaten."

"But although this person's strength is mediocre, he is the direct grandson of the Blue-Eyed White Dragon King Bai Yunwu; later, after Bai Yang went back, he called his sister Bai Ling to go and intercept Long Xiao together."

"His sister Bai Ling is a fifth-rank Garrison Envoy; as a result, the two siblings fought together and still didn't win."

"And then?" Zhao Xing asked.

"At first, this Bai Ling made things difficult for Long Xiao everywhere; she used the name of the Garrison Envoy to frequently conscript people from Long Xiao's Patrol Office to follow her navy to perform dangerous missions."

"As a result, after fighting and fighting, the two actually fell for each other!" Chen Shijie said: "I asked people from the Red Stone Island Patrol Office; he, this Right Director, hasn't returned for half a year and is stuck with Bai Ling all day."

"I see, he is going to be the son-in-law of the Blue-Eyed White Dragon King."

After hearing this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

Although the Blue-Eyed White Dragon Army is nominally under the East Sea Legion.

But in reality, this army is not under direct control at all and has great autonomy.

Because this is an aquatic army.

The Blue-Eyed White Dragon King, Bai Yunwu, is himself a half-human, half-dragon hybrid.

He can truly transform and become a Blue-Eyed White Dragon.

And after transforming, he is a peak second-rank powerhouse!

In the sea, Bai Yunwu's strength is extremely strong.

His throne can also be inherited; he is also related to Princess Youruo's mother; in terms of seniority, the Old Hag has to call him Uncle Bai when she sees him.

A down-and-out martial artist exiled to the East Sea suddenly turns over, marries a rich and beautiful woman, and reaches the pinnacle of life; what kind of cool novel script is Long Xiao holding?

"Forgetting righteousness for beauty, he should be beaten!" Zhao Xing said indignantly. "When he comes back, I must give him a good beating."

…………

The twenty-first year of the Jingxin calendar, November 25th.

Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji, sent by Qin Hongying, came to the Dragon Horse Prison on Twin Islands to negotiate cooperation with Zhao Xing.

The two opened their mouths with a ten-billion-tael order, asking Master Zhao to cultivate fourth or fifth-rank pet beasts for the academy.

And they would renew the contract annually afterward, at least for twenty years.

If all the twenty-year orders were counted, it would probably be two or three hundred billion.

Although Zhao Xing was surprised, he was not shocked; although there are many Farmers who have mastered the Hou Bian Technique, there are few Farmers who can use the Hou Bian Technique to cultivate exotic beasts.

However, immediately afterward, Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong put forward several requirements and remuneration.

First, if Zhao Xing signs a twenty-year contract with the academy, he must maintain a cooperative state no matter where he is transferred to be an official.

Second, the academy will arrange for his younger brother Zhao Zheng to receive the training treatment of a true disciple.

Third, the academy will grant him the title of Honorary Preaching Mage; after ten years, if he is still in a contract state, he can be a Deputy Dean or Honorary Dean of a branch academy.

And there are others, such as the Profound Water Academy providing manpower and precious marine plants...

As they spoke, Zhao Xing felt something was not quite right.

These are not conditions at all; they are clearly here to send him benefits.

The academy is not here for a public contract at all, but for him as a person.

"Do the two of you know my relationship with the Princess?" Zhao Xing looked at Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong.

He still had to remind them that his relationship with Princess Youruo was not as deep as they imagined.

If the Profound Water Academy came to send so many benefits because of Princess Youruo, then there was no need.

"Of course we know," Wen Ji laughed. "Liu Tianning, who in the academy doesn't know him?"

"Whether my teacher and the Princess can tie the knot is still an unknown," Zhao Xing said more deeply. "My teacher will not like the Princess helping me excessively."

Zhai Zhong waved his hand: "Chenan, don't misunderstand; we are here for you; this negotiation has nothing to do with the Princess; she doesn't know about it."

"Your talent is extraordinary; you are proficient in the Farmer spells of all three schools; the Ten Thousand Law Grass Man, the Thunder Hou Bian, the Instant Primordial; perhaps you don't even know the gold content of this."

Zhai Zhong's words made Zhao Xing feel very comfortable. Just from the perspective of cooperation attitude, this sincerity was truly full.

However, Zhai Zhong was really not boasting; they really thought so.

The Profound Water Academy does not produce Farmer talents.

In fact, it is not just the Profound Water Academy; the entire Pinghai Prefecture is like this.

Because Pinghai Prefecture was built later, most of its original areas were sea areas.

At the beginning of the founding of the country, Pinghai Prefecture had no Farmer families here, and even families were few.

Those who could be called Farmer families were all in Daoyuanzhou and Yuanpinzhou. Talents like Liu Tianning did not come from Pinghai Prefecture.

For more than two thousand years, whenever there were top Farmer talents, they would run to the two inland prefectures.

Because the strong cave-heaven places and the academy leaders of the three schools are not in Pinghai Prefecture.

With a weak talent base, a poor employment environment, and no highest or top-tier universities, Pinghai Prefecture has not had any powerful Farmers for a long time.

Even if there are, they can't be kept.

Now that they have encountered a Zhao Xing, it is a coincidence, and he has not yet reached the fifth rank; it is the time for investment.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xing said: "The orders given by the academy are too many; they will occupy all my thoughts in recent years; they need to be reduced by thirty percent. Others can be discussed."

For Zhao Xing, the Profound Water Academy already has the line of Princess Youruo; there is no need to be bound so tightly; at least his political achievements cannot all come from the Profound Water Academy.

…………

After sending Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji away, Zhao Xing came to the backyard.

These two didn't come empty-handed; they also sent gifts to Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing is the chief official of the Dragon Horse Prison and aims for the Ten Thousand Beast Competition; Qin Hongying also picked a few cubs from the Beast-Taming Division.

Including an adult Tiger Dragon, late fifth-rank, and an adult Azure Phoenix, peak fifth-rank.

And some cubs with famous bloodlines.

"Baa~"

While checking the cubs, Zhao Xing suddenly had a blur in front of his eyes; caught off guard, his life soul was affected; he originally wanted to move forward, but his body actually retreated.

"Hmm?" Zhao Xing activated his Soul Armor, quickly offset this influence, and looked at a cage in the corner of the cabin.

Inside was a pink-furred mountain goat.

"Spirit Illusion Mountain Goat?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "This breed is rare."

The Spirit Illusion Mountain Goat also has a nickname: Inverted Sheep.

Zhao Xing had seen this kind of sheep when he was breaking through levels in the Great Dream Academy, but that was just red-furred; now this one's fur color was pink.

"As expected of the foundation of the academy; the Inverted Sheep is already very rare," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "It's quite sincere; they actually gave me one."

The talent of the Spirit Illusion Mountain Goat is aimed at the life soul; it is difficult for humans to cultivate the life soul, and the Spirit Illusion Mountain Goat knows soul skills, so it is naturally very precious.

"I want to enter the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court, so I must first qualify in the East Sea; now I have a cat, a dog, and a sheep; cultivating these three pet beasts well, it will be enough to participate in the competition in the future."

Princess Youruo gave Zhao Xing three slots.

This gave him the qualification to bring three battle beasts to the Zixiao Arena to participate in the winter evaluation preliminaries in December.

Afterward, every year, there are four competitions in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and the competition content and themes are different.

The preliminaries and group stages of the four seas of east, south, west, and north will be screened from the twentieth year of the Jingxin calendar until the thirtieth year of the Jingxin calendar, selecting the strongest batch of battle pets.

The next ten years will be competitions between the four seas, selecting the best among the best.

Finally, representing the Great Zhou, they will compete with the aquatic race in the Ten Thousand Beast Competition to distribute the slots to enter the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court.

It is now December of the twenty-first year of the Jingxin calendar.

Zhao Xing plans to take the Aotian Meow, Tiger Dragon, and Azure Phoenix to participate in the first winter preliminary of the western region of the Zixiao Islands.

As for the Inverted Sheep and the Howling Dog, they are still in their infancy and are not suitable for the competition.

However, before going, he still has to add the mountain cat, Tiger Dragon, and Azure Phoenix to the list.

After the approval of Chongming Prefecture, the 【God Selection Division】 of the Twin Islands Dragon Horse Prison possessed true efficacy.

November 29th.

Under the gaze of everyone in the Dragon Horse Prison and Sun Shizhao.

Zhao Xing took the three battle beasts and entered the God Selection Division to worship.

Not long after, in the temple, three golden lights flashed and fell on the mountain cat, Tiger Dragon, and Azure Phoenix.

"Aotian Meow is also eating imperial grain now."

Zhao Xing looked at the shining mountain cat; this was receiving the baptism of the national fortune.

Of course, now that even the preliminaries haven't passed, there is actually not much growth; it's just going through the motions.

But nominally, Aotian is now an 'official cat.'

During the competition, it can receive a portion of rations from the imperial court; there is none in the quarters when not participating.

One must know that Zhao Xing's annual salary is only fifty thousand, and it is only eighty thousand including the bonus for his rank.

If Aotian qualifies in the East Sea, he can also receive a formal salary and be granted an exclusive official rank!

In this way, Zhao Xing, as the owner of the mountain cat, can enjoy the blessings.

If the mountain cat can participate in the Four Seas Competition and win a ranking in the contest with the aquatic race, there is also hope for being granted a title and rank!

Everyone who sees it will have to call it Master Aotian.

As its owner, he will also be rewarded, and even be promoted and granted a title.

"Beast-taming masters also have a great future," Zhao Xing looked at the mountain cat bowing in front of the statue and couldn't help but smile.

Because of the existence of the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court, many beast-taming masters have become rich because of this.

The grand event that happens once every hundred years has been going on since the Taizu era.

In more than two thousand years, three or four hundred people have risen to the sky because of their battle beasts.

Because many tamers themselves are only sixth-rank, but the beasts they cultivate have reached the fourth rank.

The battle beasts of a beast-taming master must of course be stronger than the tamer, otherwise, what is the point of taming; they would just roll up their sleeves and go up themselves.

And if the battle beast wins a ranking and gains something in the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court, it is considered a contribution to the imperial court.

Even if the tamer is not good, they will be promoted to the fifth rank, and there have even been beast-taming masters in history who went from the sixth rank directly to the third rank!

There have also been cases where battle beasts were granted titles.

"Aotian, you must work hard these few years."

"Whether we two can be promoted and get rich depends on you," Zhao Xing joked.

"If you can get a big treasure out of the Ancient Land of the Dragon Court, maybe I will become a third-rank official."

"Meow!" Aotian nodded obediently.

…………

After the ceremony, Sun Shizhao came to congratulate him, and Tao Anchun, Cao Jiang, Dong Yuanqiu, and others were also inexplicably excited.

Because of the previous prison supervisor, Twin Islands had not received a preliminary slot for a long time, and they couldn't hold their heads up when they went outside.

Now, although it was through the back door, in any case, they had received a slot.

"Master Sun, I am not in the Dragon Horse Prison; I trouble you to take care of the Land Island," Zhao Xing said.

He has to go to Zixiao Island and has to take Dong Yuanqiu, Tao Anchun, and the others with him.

Participating in the competition is not just one person going; the veterinarians of the God-Feeding Division, the Cheng-Hua Division, and the Tuo-Quan Palace all have to go.

The eating, drinking, and defecating of the battle pets, as well as injury treatment, all have to be done by their own people.

Although he has the Ten Thousand Law Clone, his true self also has to go, because the Twin Dragon Horse Prison has no other tamers, and he is one himself; when the time comes for the competition, he will definitely not be able to be distracted.

"Yuanrang Marquis, rest assured," Sun Shizhao said. "If the Dragon Horse Prison is missing even a hair, you can hold me accountable."

Zhao Xing cupped his hands with a smile; Sun Shizhao had bet his whole family on this, so he naturally believed him.

"The daily affairs of the Dragon Horse Prison are handed over to Bao Shiqiu; Ling Ruoxue, you are responsible for assisting Master Bao."

"Yes."

…………

December 1st, Zhao Xing took the mountain cat, Tiger Dragon, Azure Phoenix, and the officials of all levels of the Twin Dragon Horse Prison, boarded the Cloud Rain Building Ship, and headed to the Zixiao Arena.

December 2nd morning, arrived at the Zixiao Arena.