Chapter 270: Unexpected Harvest, the Grand Minister's Supreme Art and Emperor Jing

"Cultivated two layers? That's truly fast." King Tianyan once again marveled at Zhao Xing's cultivation talent.

"But whether it's enough depends on who the opponent is."

"The Soul-Extinguishing Bell is a soul-attack technique. The enemy collecting your items must intend to use 'curse-type spells.' Such spells are extremely treacherous and unpredictable; only high-grade experts can cast them."

King Tianyan pondered, "This matter still requires thorough planning. We have been watching this lead for some time; some big fish haven't entered the net yet."

"I wonder if Your Highness could reveal a little? I am somewhat uneasy," Zhao Xing said.

After all, his family was in Dongyang County, and he also needed to know what extent the Heavenly Secrets Hall had achieved.

"For instance, the Sea Supervision Commissioner of Chongming Prefecture, Yin Qiquan, a Fourth-Rank official. In recent years, this person has swapped the files of the documents you issued, collecting quite a few copies."

"In comparison, what those few ordinary spies collected amounts to nothing."

Zhao Xing was slightly startled. Document approvals, such items, are the best medium objects in curse-type spells.

Why? Because document approvals contain not only one's own handwriting but also one's opinions on handling matters.

People say, "When writing, one is as if inspired by gods." Approving documents requires the eyes, hands, and heart to be present; compared to other items, it is not on the same level at all.

Bowls used for eating, small toys made casually, none can attach such strong spiritual will like approved documents.

As the Director of the She God Hall, the documents Zhao Xing approved were made in triplicate: first, issued and transmitted to lower-level government agencies; second, reported and summarized to the hands of superiors.

Third, archived for convenient review and verification. Even if both superiors and subordinates changed personnel, one could still find what decisions a certain official made in what year and month. Additionally, this is also an important basis for official selection and evaluation.

"This matter is also due to your cultivation in the Soldier Realm," King Tianyan said. "It wasn't originally easy to swap them, but in the past two years, most affairs of your She God Hall were handled by Chen Shijie, who used your seal and signed your name for you."

"So that's how it is," Zhao Xing realized.

If Chen Shijie had handled the entire process, it would have been fine.

All archived documents bore Chen Shijie's signature; even if his own Director's seal was used, they could not serve as a medium.

The problem was that in the middle, Zhao Xing, to let Chen Shijie rest and have time to cultivate, went to handle official affairs personally himself.

So among the archived documents, there were originally two types: those genuinely signed by Zhao Xing and those signed on his behalf by Chen Shijie.

Yin Qiquan found an opportunity to swap some genuine ones, making the number of proxy-signed documents increase.

Originally, whether the archives were proxy-signed or not didn't matter; this was a very small matter.

But in the eyes of fate officials, there was a distinction, because these could be used to cast curse-type spells.

Yin Qiquan never imagined that Zhao Xing, a mere Fifth-Rank official, had become so important. He had been cautious enough, yet a fate official still specifically came to watch such a trivial matter.

"Wait for me to return the day after tomorrow; do not act rashly yourself."

"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded.

Currently, this wave of spies is under King Tianyan's surveillance. If he kills them now, the other side will likely send more hidden spies later, and finding them again won't be so simple.

…………

After ending the conversation with King Tianyan, Zhao Xing returned to the She God Hall.

Although the Heavenly Secrets Hall had taken very strong protective measures to safeguard these geniuses entering the Dragon Court Ancient Land.

Zhao Xing himself still kept an extra eye out; one cannot place all hope on others for everything.

So he cultivated the Dream-Walking Method every day, covering the entire Dongyang County, carefully observing the every move of everyone.

Two days later, King Tianyan rushed back to the Star Palace and summoned Zhao Xing.

February 7th of the 33rd year of the Jingxin Era.

The two spies deployed in Dongyang County began to withdraw.

On the same day, Zhao Xing, in his capacity as Director of the She God Hall, set sail for 'Dragon Stone Island' to inspect the sacrificial affairs of Dragon Stone County.

That night, overjoyed Yin Qiquan came to the underground secret altar and burned this message into the message-burning brazier.

Far in the depths of the Eastern Sea, three sword-like underground peaks stood tall; beneath the peaks, a Crystal Palace was hidden.

"Pfft~"

Four red-as-blood incense sticks suddenly burned, emitting clouds of fragrant mist; the brazier beneath Blood Spirit Venerable also erupted with a burst of roaring flames.

"Director of the She God Hall, Zhao Xing, departed today at the Mao hour to preside over the Spring She God Sacrifice on Dragon Stone Island, expected to arrive at the Wu hour on the eighth day."

Blood Spirit Venerable looked at this letter and nodded.

"Waited so long, finally found an opportunity."

As the seventh genius on the Must-Kill List, actions targeting him had begun three years ago, but a suitable opportunity had never been found.

Because Zhao Xing had a true body and a clone, this rendered most assassination methods ineffective.

Blood Spirit Venerable could not possibly deploy large amounts of manpower and resources just to kill a clone.

If he really did that, it would simply make peers laugh their teeth off.

Physical attacks were basically ineffective.

That left only soul-type spells.

As a result, Zhao Xing was promoted and transferred to the She God Hall of Chongming Prefecture in the 30th year of the Jingxin Era.

This caused the soul-type assassination plan to also have an extremely low success rate.

Because the She God Hall belongs to an institution under the Temple.

Even with the support of the Liang Wang Faction, the Southern Desolate Wang Ting, and the Xuantian Sect's foundations, Blood Spirit Venerable could not kill a Fifth-Rank official staying in a prefectural city temple.

Even if he were a First-Rank official, it wouldn't work!

Unless the Great Zhou fell into internal chaos, otherwise, prefectural-level temples within the Great Zhou territory are absolute forbidden zones for external sects!

This has nothing to do with what rank Zhao Xing holds; as long as he stays within a prefectural-level temple, even an ordinary person like Blood Spirit Venerable cannot kill him.

The only opportunity is when Zhao Xing's true body leaves the prefectural city and is on the way to another place; going out to sea is even better!

"The Spring She Sacrifice is an important Great Zhou ritual; it is unlikely Zhao Xing would send a clone."

"This is the best opportunity," Blood Spirit Venerable pondered.

He subconsciously calculated by pinching his fingers; a moment later, he reached a conclusion:

"There is an eighty percent chance it will work."

Blood Spirit Venerable nodded, then walked to a 【Spirit-Sealed Hall】 within the Crystal Palace.

"Boom~"

The great doors opened; a wisp of green light flickered, seeming about to tumble out from within the doorway.

However, it was blocked by the barrier of the two doors.

Blood Spirit Venerable looked inside; one hundred 【Profound Ice Coffins】 were arranged there.

Every coffin was transparent.

Inside ninety of the coffins, it was already empty.

Only inside ten coffins lay naked people in slumber.

Outside the coffins of the people, old yellow calendars were pasted.

Some yellow calendars were very thick, while others were reduced to just a few thin sheets of paper.

"I need to cast the Blood-Character Curse-Killing Technique; the medium has been gathered, yet a great price is still required. I wonder which elder is willing to sacrifice themselves?" Blood Spirit Venerable clasped his hands toward the group of coffins.

No one responded; Blood Spirit Venerable smiled slightly: "It seems everyone is willing, so I shall take the liberty."

He walked toward the group of coffins.

In truth, the people inside those coffins could not respond anyway.

It was purely Blood Spirit Venerable's sense of ritual, created for himself after being alone for too long.

He looked left and right; those with very thick old calendars were all skipped by him.

"It is you two who are good, sleeping so soundly."

"Unlike me, neither human nor ghost, unable to sleep even if I wanted to."

"When will it be my turn to sleep?"

"Oh, I seem not to sleep here; where did I sleep again?" Blood Spirit Venerable muttered to himself, his eyes somewhat blank.

He arrived before a coffin; inside lay a burly middle-aged man, his body fully four meters tall.

Blood Spirit Venerable looked at the calendar: "Xuantianshen Sect, Mountain-Protecting Elder Zhang Yao, sleeping since the 789,400th year of the Eighth Era; to date, 7,645 years."

"The Xuantian Calendar shows you have only twenty-five years left before reaching your slumber limit."

"Exceeding seven thousand years; in this era, your chance of waking is less than ten percent, and you are near your slumber limit..."

"It shall be you."

"I shall send you, old sir, back to Xuantian," Blood Spirit Venerable muttered to himself.

He tore off the last two pages of the calendar on the coffin.

"Hum~"

The coffin trembled slightly; the cold air inside began to slowly dissipate.

Blood Spirit Venerable rolled up this coffin and walked outward.

After leaving the Spirit-Sealed Hall, he quickly closed the great doors again.

Blood Spirit Venerable brought this coffin before the altar.

Here, besides himself, there were two other statues.

"Senior Brother, Uncle-Sect, protect me."

Blood Spirit Venerable clasped his hands, then, holding this coffin, he arrived beside the Blood Pool and waited quietly for the coffin's sealing effect to fade.

Above the Eastern Sea, inside a tower ship.

Zhao Xing's true body was closing his eyes to rest on the observation deck of the tower ship.

This is the official ship of the Earth God Sect; the ship mainly holds Earth God statues. Of course, it possesses no great power; it is merely a symbol.

Bringing it to the island for worship is just going through the motions.

"Your Highness, I have now set sail; is there any movement?"

Zhao Xing appeared to be closing his eyes to rest, unmoving as a mountain, yet in truth he was terrified, transmitting his voice to King Tianyan in the lower cabin.

Curse-type spells are too bizarre; those who cast them must be of High Rank. Such spells are usually mastered by shamans in the Southern Wastelands or by clergy within sects.

Facing High-Rank clergy, Old Master Zhao was still somewhat panicked.

Especially now, when his true body was indeed out at sea.

"What are you afraid of? It is not you who will bear it." King Tianyan's voice entered his ear. "Before I arrived, I cast the 'Soul-Shifting Death-Substitution Method' upon you. Any life-soul type spell directed at you will act upon my body."

"Before I die, you will absolutely not die."

"With Your Highness here, how could I be afraid? I merely asked how big a fish this net will catch."

"You need not worry about that; knowing too much of the Fate Official's secrets brings no benefit, unless you also wish to become a Fate Official," King Tianyan said.

"Then let us forget it." Zhao Xing shook his head.

Although Fate Officials hold a transcendent status, they are also destined never to appear publicly before the world.

Low-profile, mysterious Fate Officials; their deeds are known to people only after their death.

Regarding top-secret files, they can even be unsealed only after many years.

Zhao Xing was mainly afraid King Tianyan could not hold out.

Because on the Southern Barbarian side, conflict events between High Ranks are increasing; a large-scale High-Rank war could break out at any time this year.

Since the one plotting against him on the Eastern Sea side is a High Rank, there is no telling how high the opponent's rank might be.

"Encountering a Third Rank is no pressure; encountering a Second Rank is no major issue; encountering a First Rank, then there is danger to life."

"King Tianyan must hold out," Zhao Xing muttered in his heart.

King Tianyan is also of the Second Rank realm; if he cannot hold out, then I certainly cannot hold out.

Of course, encountering a Rank One casting a soul curse on oneself is extremely unlikely.

Everything must consider cost; soul curse techniques require a price to be paid.

That is the nature of its technique.

Void-targeting curses that ignore distance mostly consume the user's lifespan.

Would a Rank One expend their lifespan to kill a Rank Five official like me? The probability is still very low.

"Wu~"

As he pondered, Zhao Xing suddenly heard a low moan.

He shuddered, immediately activating the Heavenly Eye Technique and scanning his surroundings.

But he found nothing had happened; the sound came from nowhere.

"Wu wu~"

The sound grew clearer, yet Zhao Xing could never locate its source.

He tried to send a mental message to King Tianyan, but King Tianyan gave no reply.

At this moment, Zhao Xing looked again and realized the ship was completely empty!

"Here it comes!"

Zhao Xing's heart sank—he knew the mastermind had activated the technique.

He just didn't know what kind of curse technique it was.

"Pu hu~"

As if something had ignited, Zhao Xing recoiled, stepping away from his spot.

He saw a pile of ash where he had just stood.

He stared closely—it was Xuanhua paper, commonly used for Great Zhou official documents.

His name was faintly visible upon it.

"It's the Blood Character Death Curse," Zhao Xing immediately recognized it. "This is a top-tier soul curse technique."

His expression turned tense.

Among all techniques, this one was the hardest to defend against.

Just like his own 【Yin Wind】 technique, which made enemies hard to guard against.

Curse techniques were even more insidious.

"Chi chi chi~"

The sky remained unchanged, yet paper shreds suddenly began to fall.

Characters leapt from the paper, crimson as blood, then twisted and transformed.

Some resembled human forms, some the outline of an eye, others hybrid creatures of man and beast.

"Pu Pu Pu~"

Yet as these blood characters transformed and descended, they spontaneously ignited.

By the time they reached Zhao Xing's feet, they were nothing but ash.

"Boy, prepare the Soul-Extinction Bell. I'm going to let some curse entities in—make the opponent sink deeper."

It was King Tianyan's voice, yet Zhao Xing couldn't tell where it came from.

"Alright, go ahead!"

Zhao Xing took a deep breath, his soul bearing a golden bell, ready to ring at any moment.

No sooner had he spoken than four characters appeared in the sky: "Shuai," "Hua," "Qi," "Shen."

The character "Shuai" took form first and lunged downward toward Zhao Xing.

Soul techniques can only be blocked by soul techniques or artifacts.

Zhao Xing's Heavenly Mechanism Robe emitted waves of Bai Guang.

At the same time, a bell toll sounded from within his body.

"Dang!"

The transformed "Shuai" character was halted twenty meters away.

The other three characters remained a hundred meters overhead.

"The Blood Character Death Curse: Shuai strikes first, then Qi, Hua, Shen. If the first character fails, the rest lose most of their power."

"Now it's a contest of wills—King Tianyan is forcing the opponent to pay a higher cost."

Zhao Xing thought once, and allowed the Soul-Extinction Bell to ring only once.

"Weng~"

The "Shuai" character entered within fifteen meters.

…………

Meanwhile, in the underwater Sanshan, within the Crystal Palace.

Blood Spirit Elder stared in confusion at the blood pool below.

The pool reflected Zhao Xing's figure—his robe glowed with light, but he heard no bell sound.

"He's clearly prepared—protected by someone above Rank Five," Blood Spirit Elder deduced from the information received. "He's likely one secretly chosen by the Heavenly Mechanism Hall."

"Then he must not be allowed to live."

"Hua la~"

Scrolls of official documents around him rose into the air—these were the ones collected by Yin Qiquan over the years.

One after another, the Juan Sect scrolls burned, turning into streams of light that plunged into the blood pool.

"Go!"

The Blood Spirit Venerable immediately amplified the power of the curse.

Correspondingly, the price he paid increased as well.

Beside the blood pool lay a corpse, its body sliced open, revealing numerous blood-filled holes.

"Gurgle~"

Blood flowed into the pool.

In the blink of an eye, his flesh and blood withered, leaving him little more than skin and bones.

The character "Decay" instantly closed in within ten meters of Zhao Xing.

"What kind of demon is plotting against this official?!"

In the vision, Zhao Xing looked both shocked and furious, his hands trembling as if he could not hold out for another second.

The Blood Spirit Venerable smiled faintly; he had read the lip movements and cast the spell once more.

"Boom~"

The bones of the dried corpse crumbled into powder, and the entire body was thrown into the blood pool.

"Though I die today, I shall become a vengeful ghost and never let you go!!"

Zhao Xing stared at the character "Decay" now less than three meters away, his face twisted in rage, veins bulging on his forehead.

The Blood Spirit Venerable showed a hint of surprise.

For although the blood pool had already dried up by more than half, the crimson character "Decay" still had not fully entered Zhao Xing's body.

The Blood Spirit Venerable pointed again, and five characters of "Decay" appeared in the sky.

At the same time, the blood pool ran completely dry.

"A Third Rank life should not be enough to take you down?"

The Blood Spirit Venerable watched coldly.

On the boat, all five characters of "Decay" had already entered within one meter of Zhao Xing.

Yet at that moment, they stopped again.

Not only did they fail to advance, but there were even signs they were being pushed back.

"Aaaahhhhh!"

Zhao Xing roared, as if making a desperate struggle in his dying moments.

Seeing this, the Blood Spirit Venerable paused in surprise.

"Why still cannot kill him?"

At this moment, he vaguely sensed something was wrong.

Yet he still felt that with just a little more effort, he could kill Zhao Xing.

"Bang!"

The Blood Spirit Venerable chopped off one of his own fingers and tossed it into the blood pool.

"Five Decays of the Heavenly Person, go!"

Blood light flared intensely, and the characters advanced another one-ninth of a meter at once.

"Aaaah, who exactly is trying to kill me!!!"

"I am about to die; I truly cannot accept it..."

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

The Blood Spirit Venerable severed nine fingers in succession.

By now, the five characters of "Decay" had covered ninety centimeters.

Only ten centimeters remained between them and Zhao Xing.

When the Blood Spirit Venerable severed his tenth finger.

He discovered the blood-character curse-killing still lacked nine centimeters.

The Blood Spirit Venerable: "..."

Watching Zhao Xing wail in the vision, he felt this scene was somewhat familiar.

At this moment, the Blood Spirit Venerable felt as if he had fallen into the trap of some unscrupulous merchant.

After chopping ninety-nine times, victory was almost at hand, only to find that this final chop had been split into ten smaller chops...

Although from the moment the Third Rank corpse was exhausted, he had already sensed something was off.

Yet with such sunk costs before him, and the temptation of that tiny final bit needed to succeed, the Blood Spirit Venerable had been driven to this state.

His hands and feet were already all severed, yet Zhao Xing still wailed loudly.

"Damn it! This damn brat!"

The Blood Spirit Venerable was furious and at his wit's end.

He remembered; back in Gucheng, he had fallen for this young man's trick.

Only this time, compared to last time, his scheme was even deeper.

Rage!

In an instant, the Blood Spirit Venerable's blood pressure surged.

He was somewhat broken mentally, having been played twice by the same person using similar tactics!

"Such humiliation has not existed in a thousand years!"

The Blood Spirit Venerable was so angry he wanted to vomit blood.

At this point, his reason finally returned.

"No good, I have fallen into a trap!"

"I actually lost my reason? I fell for King Tianyan's big trick!"

"This is nothing but a trap; Zhao Xing is merely bait!"

Blood Spirit Venerable turned his head to look at the blood pool.

He discovered the blood pool had dried up in an instant, and at the same time.

A golden flying dragon rose from within the blood pool.

On the dragon's forehead, a Bagua bronze mirror was stuck.

Upon seeing Blood Spirit Venerable, the dragon head immediately opened its mouth.

But nothing was inside its mouth; instead, a beam of light shot from the Bagua bronze mirror on its head, heading straight for Blood Spirit Venerable.

"King Tianyan? Your schemes are cunning! You actually affected my divine soul!"

Blood Spirit Venerable's ruined body leaped up, yet he was still struck by this beam of light.

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~"

Fire erupted all over his body, and he could not help but scream in agony.

"Ahhh—!"

He struggled and ran to two statues.

He crashed headfirst into the body of one of the divine statues.

The flames remained on the statue, continuing to burn.

Blood Spirit Venerable actually walked out from behind the statue, whole and unharmed.

"Boom!"

The statue collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Without a second thought, Blood Spirit Venerable lifted his junior uncle's statue and smashed it into the blood pool.

"Blood Origin Profound Seal, go!"

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The golden dragon and the statue perished together.

Watching the golden dragon vanish, Blood Spirit Venerable panted: "Senior brother, junior uncle, forgive me. The enemy is too cunning; I can only borrow your two lives for a moment."

Having caught his breath, Blood Spirit Venerable scanned the surroundings.

"This stronghold can no longer be used."

Blood Spirit Venerable quickly darted into the 【Spirit Seal Hall】.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~

He rapidly tore open the yellow calendar on one of the coffins and threw all the coffin lids open.

"Blood Origin Great Art!"

"Gurgle~ Gurgle~"

The people sleeping inside quickly turned into dried corpses.

If he wanted to escape, he still needed to replenish his supply.

"Enough!"

Blood Spirit Venerable raised his head and looked toward a certain direction.

"Retreat!"

Wrapping up the remaining coffins, he immediately flew out.

At the same time, he gathered the remaining items related to Zhao Xing and immediately began to flee.

At the same time.

On the tower ship.

"It's gone."

Zhao Xing looked at the sky.

He used the bell sound to shatter the blood characters, then picked up the fragments and immediately cast the Five Fingers Heavenly Mandate to trace back to the mastermind behind it.

"Hum~"

Before Zhao Xing's eyes, scenes floated up one after another.

The three mountains under the sea, the Crystal Palace, the Spirit Seal Hall, the Crystal Coffin... and the fleeing figure of Blood Spirit Venerable.

"What? This place?"

Zhao Xing could not help but be stunned.

When he saw the three mountains, he was utterly dumbfounded.

Because this was the location of the Millennium Change he had calculated for over ten years using the shell of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Turtle!

At that time, he had searched over the great sea but never found this place.

He had even asked Long Xiao to help search within the Green Dragon Army.

But there had been no news.

"It's actually here, and still under the sea? Is it not yet born?"

"Wait, is this the Xuantian Sect's Profound Ice Spirit Coffin? The Spirit Seal Hall?"

"This place is actually a slumbering ground of the Xuantian Sect!"

Zhao Xing was extremely surprised.

It was not just the Millennium Change; more importantly, that 【Profound Ice Spirit Coffin】.

In his plans for the future, regarding how to survive until the spiritual energy revives, this object was one of his backup plans.

"I must quickly find this place!"

Zhao Xing had now broken free from the effects of the Blood Character Curse Killing Art.

Everything around remained normal; the other people on the ship noticed nothing unusual, as if what had just happened never occurred.

Zhao Xing whooshed down to the bottom of the cabin.

"You're quite something," King Tianyan said with a smile upon seeing Zhao Xing appear. "I asked you to cooperate, and you cooperated far too well."

Zhao Xing, acting as bait, proved unexpectedly effective.

He had lured Blood Spirit Venerable into the trap step by step, making him pay a cost far exceeding a single spell cast.

Had he been willing to pay such costs from the start, he could probably have killed even a Third Rank.

"However, you were too reckless. That Blood-Character Curse-Killing Art came right up to your face. Do not play such extreme games in the future."

"Yes."

After a pause, Zhao Xing added, "Your Highness, have you located the bandit's hideout?"

"We have confirmed the general direction," King Tianyan nodded. "Others have already gone to pursue and kill them."

"However, the remaining scum should be beyond pursuit."

King Tianyan could sense that many high-rank cultivators had died.

But some had escaped.

The gains from this mission were already sufficient; continuing the pursuit would likely not expand the results.

After all, both sides were separated by a certain distance.

"Your Highness, please allow me to join the search for the hideout," Zhao Xing said.

"Oh? You also know the location?"

"One more person means one more strength," Zhao Xing said.

"Very well," King Tianyan said. "We shall go together, but during the search later, do not wander too far."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded and immediately ordered the tower ship to detach a flying boat.

The clone remained on the tower ship, continuing toward Dragon Stone Island to attend the Spring Sacrifice, while the true body, together with King Tianyan, headed toward the target area.

…………

Zhao Xing was the direct target of the curse, while King Tianyan provided indirect defense.

Thus, when Zhao Xing traced back the perpetrator, he obtained a more precise location.

When he and King Tianyan arrived at a sea area, King Tianyan said, "Zhao Xing, I'm counting on you."

"Yes." Zhao Xing immediately split into several clones, flying off in different directions.

"Do not stray too far from me with your true body," King Tianyan said, "in case of any mishap."

Having spoken, King Tianyan also jumped into the seabed and began searching.

Zhao Xing's Ten Thousand Dharma Clones proved highly effective in searching.

In less than two quarters of an hour, he found that Sanshan Crystal Palace.

"It is indeed the location predicted by the Divination Method, but it should not have emerged yet. I wonder how much longer it will take," Zhao Xing thought.

"King Tianyan and the others still need to search a bit; I must go down first."

He had come here as his true body; the alternation between him and his clones was so seamless that even King Tianyan could not distinguish them. Why?

Because of the distance, King Tianyan could only sense them based on soul strength.

Zhao Xing cultivated the Tianyan Spirit Art; his Seven Soul Bodies had no difference in strength, making it naturally difficult to distinguish which was a clone.

So why do this?

Mainly because of the 【Spirit-Sealing Hall】!

"The Spirit-Sealing Hall of the Xuantian Sect was inherited from the Qi-Era; combined with the Profound Heaven Spirit Coffin, one could sleep for thousands of years, enduring the passage of ages."

"However, in the Primordial Qi Era, the success rate of this method has dropped significantly."

"The success rate is low, and even if one awakens, there are severe aftereffects: either madness or idiocy." Zhao Xing entered the Crystal Palace and searched rapidly.

The Profound Heaven Ice Coffin was one of his backup plans precisely because of its severe aftereffects; it was a measure to be used only when absolutely necessary.

Of course, his insistence on coming this time was not for the Ice Coffin.

The Profound Heaven Ice Coffin alone would be useless.

One must also cultivate a specific technique, construct the Spirit-Sealing Hall, and prepare numerous precious treasures.

He came mainly because of the 【Spirit-Sealing Hall】.

"As long as it is still active, there must still be Qi within; even a single wisp would be extremely rare for me."

"I can use the Profound Yellow Qi-Extraction Art to absorb it."

Zhao Xing searched swiftly inside the Crystal Palace.

Although the Crystal Palace was complex, even containing traps and secret doors, Old Master Zhao knew such places thoroughly; using a clone to scout the path, he found the place very quickly.

"Found it!"

At that moment, the great doors of the Spirit-Sealing Hall opened, revealing the chaotic, floating crystal coffins within.

"Blood Spirit Venerable fled in such haste; perhaps one of these is an important split soul, or even his true body," Zhao Xing thought.

"I wonder if any Qi remains."

He quickly walked inside.

The barrier had been destroyed, and the formation had lost its original effect.

After entering, Zhao Xing sensed cautiously.

"Ninety percent of the ice coffins have been empty for who knows how many years."

"The Qi was exhausted long ago; under the erosion of time, these formations can no longer sustain themselves."

To satisfy the conditions for slumber, many Qi-containing items must be placed inside the ice coffins.

Additionally, the Spirit-Sealing Hall itself requires the presence of Qi.

"The change of an era."

Zhao Xing stared at the shattered wall and the ancient formation, many of which had been eroded.

"Looks like there's no harvest... hmm?"

Zhao Xing had already decided to give up, but suddenly his brow twitched, his figure flickered, and he instantly appeared inside a coffin of ice.

This coffin seemed to have been opened not long ago; the cold air inside had not yet fully dissipated.

Inside lay seven blocks of jade-like bricks, arranged at different positions within the coffin.

"Premium Cold Spirit Jade—wonder if any spiritual energy remains."

Zhao Xing immediately activated the Xuan Huang Xi Yuan Art upon the seven blocks of Cold Spirit Jade.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

Six of the Cold Spirit Jade blocks exploded into ash the moment they were affected by the spiritual energy technique.

But the seventh one glowed with a faint light.

Though the light was weak, Zhao Xing was overjoyed.

"There is! This spiritual energy is about half the amount of that withered branch I had before!" Zhao Xing immediately extracted it.

He simultaneously activated the Pure Origin Projection.

"Hum~"

The earth-yellow orb immediately sank into the Pure Origin soil.

"It's earth-element spiritual energy."

Zhao Xing waited with immense anticipation.

Having broken through to the Fourth Rank, his Pure Origin soil was now Level Four!

Its total area was approximately 314,000 square meters.

The radius of the Pure Origin soil was about 316 meters.

Now, as it began to transform, the Pure Origin soil started further growth.

"Boom~"

After absorbing this earth-element spiritual energy, the radius of the Pure Origin soil increased to 420 meters.

Its total area expanded to 550,000 square meters.

"Still Level Four soil—no qualitative change—but the expansion is significant," Zhao Xing thought. "To achieve this through spiritual energy resources alone would take countless funds and years."

After searching further, Zhao Xing found no other items related to spiritual energy.

"There are still many valuable or important items inside, but they can't belong to me—taking them would only bring trouble."

"Still, this unexpected windfall is more than enough."

Zhao Xing quietly withdrew and began calling upon King Tianyan.

…………

Officials gradually arrived at this sea region.

Since the events to follow were unsuitable for Zhao Xing to participate in, King Tianyan accompanied Zhao Xing's main body back to Chongming Prefecture.

It was also on this day that Chongming Prefecture began its net-closing operation.

"Crash!"

The main gate of the Yin household was suddenly kicked open as a group of soldiers stormed in.

Hum~

The Heaven Net and Earth Net formations instantly sealed off the entire Yin household.

Yin Qiquan jolted upright from his bed.

"Scoundrel! Who dares break into the Office of Maritime Surveillance?"

The lead official wore a black hawk robe and held a compass and imperial arrow; with a mere flick of his finger, he tore apart Yin Qiquan's official robe.

Along with the robe, the official's aura of rank and fortune was also torn apart.

"Office of Maritime Surveillance? You're no longer one."

"Arrest everyone—no one is to die!"

"You're... Imperial Officials," Yin Qiquan turned deathly pale and collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, cries of terror echoed across Chongming Prefecture.

"Run!"

"Father!"

"It's over—everything is over!"

……

Within Dongyang County alone, five hundred and thirty-two officials and civilians were executed.

In Chongming Prefecture, including the military, a total of seventy-five thousand officials were implicated.

Including Yin Qiquan, twenty-five Fourth Rank civil and military officials had their families confiscated and exterminated.

One Third Rank civil official and one Third Rank military general.

Since they consorted with external forces, this was treason—a crime of the Ten Unforgivable Sins; even privileges could not spare them from death.

However, these two Third Ranks were not executed immediately; they were secretly imprisoned for trial.

Because they were recommended by the Liang Wang, their full secrets must be extracted before they could be killed.

Until they revealed all their secrets, even death was a luxury.

With the Third Rank civil and military officials arrested, Chongming Prefecture and the East Sea Army launched a new purge and investigation.

Under this震慑, the entire East Sea grew considerably quieter.

However, after Zhao Xing finished reading the list, he knew this achievement meant nothing.

"The calm before the storm," Zhao Xing thought. "Once the campaign against the barbarians fails, even those without rebellious hearts now will breed rebellion."

Hong Hong Yuanba was the best example; this man originally did not want to rebel but was stubbornly dragged into the water by his foolish younger brother.

"Once Liang Wang fractures the fortune of Haizhou, even those without second thoughts will develop second thoughts," Zhao Xing gazed at the high sky.

Now that he had cultivated the Tianyan Divine Art, his soul was powerful; using the Great Expansion Fortune-Gazing Technique to observe the heavens, he could see a thick layer of fortune light covering the sky above Haizhou.

It was this layer of light that locked Haizhou's fortune, preventing it from flowing out.

"Once Liang Wang splits Haizhou's fortune, officials will have only two paths: either rebel or suppress the rebellion; they cannot even flee," Zhao Xing thought silently. "If they flee, they lose their positions. Some officials who rose solely on the dynasty's fortune will immediately die of old age. I am in this game now as well."

Zhao Xing could feel his karmic soul entangled by many invisible threads; this was the change after he made his previous decisions.

Now, by baiting the Blood Spirit Venerable, causing numerous officials to be executed, he had fully participated in the future upheaval.

"Little preparation time remains for me," Zhao Xing withdrew his gaze. "It is time to find Li Boqian and learn his secret arts."

…………

Li Boqian had once said he would grant him six opportunities to ask for instruction.

To date, Zhao Xing had not used a single one.

However, starting from the third month of the thirty-third year of the Jingxin Era, Zhao Xing decided to use up these six opportunities.

"The Yunmen Method and the Profound Heaven Thunder Art's Prison-Suppressing Chapter; my main body has reached the third transformation, and my clone the first."

"Learning offensive methods now is unnecessary. For the time ahead, I must strive to learn one or two life-saving techniques."

"If my main body encounters a very powerful high-grade expert, I must still be able to escape."

"Li Boqian has three supreme arts: first, the Kunpeng Transformation; second, Near Yet Far; third, Pang Yuan Feng."

"To master these supreme arts and delve deep, my main body must travel to the Tianyuan Prefecture Branch of the Profound Heaven Academy."

Having cultivated the first layer of the Tianyan Divine Art, even the Soul-Destroying Bell had reached the second realm.

In terms of soul techniques, the learning time was three years ahead of schedule.

It was King Tianyan asking him to research and summarize insights on the first layer, along with discoveries from this cultivation of the Dream-Walking Method, that delayed him slightly.

"It is now the third month of the thirty-third year of the Jingxin Era. If I go to Tianyuan Prefecture now and use the Li Fire Dao Academy's teleportation, the fastest time required is only seven days."

"Going to the Kunyuan Academy headquarters is far; just the journey there takes over a month."

"If I learn quickly under Li Boqian, I will go to the Kunyuan Academy again," Zhao Xing planned.

His first choice was naturally the Profound Heaven Academy Branch, as it was right here in Haizhou.

Furthermore, the Kunpeng Transformation is an internal cultivation of the Hou Transformation Method!

This technique can only be learned if the main body goes there personally.

Naturally, the Profound Heaven Academy is the priority destination.

The fifteenth day of the third month, thirty-third year of the Jingxin Era.

Zhao Xing requested leave from King Tianyan, left the Starfall Palace, and headed for the Tianyuan Prefecture Branch of the Profound Heaven Academy.

On the twenty-third day of the third month, Zhao Xing arrived at the Tianyuan Prefecture Branch.

At this time, no one knew his main body had come here.

Except for Li Boqian.

"You wish to learn my supreme arts?" Li Boqian looked at Zhao Xing with interest. "I have many supreme arts; which one do you wish to learn?"

"Kunpeng Transformation, Near Yet Far, Pang Yuan Feng," Zhao Xing said respectfully.

"Hahaha, your appetite is quite large," Li Boqian laughed loudly. "Although your main body has arrived here, these three supreme arts of mine are not so simple to master."

"Whether it is the Profound Heaven Thunder Art's Prison-Suppressing Chapter you have learned or the Yunmen, they are all complete Dao paths from low to high, with countless sages summarizing much experience."

"But my three supreme arts, since their creation, possess only top-tier methods. The difficulty of entry is comparable to the minor success of other top-tier techniques, and few high-tier methods have been created to serve as stepping stones for comprehension."

"Among them, Pang Yuan Feng has absolutely no auxiliary methods, because its entry level is already at the degree of a top-tier seventh transformation; except for myself, no one can wield it."

"Six opportunities; why not use them on other methods?" Li Boqian said. "Wind, rain, thunder, and clouds; you have not yet learned them all. If you are willing to focus on these, you might fully enter the realm of minor success."

"My mind is made up," Zhao Xing bowed again. "I will never regret it. Please, Grand Minister of Agriculture, grant my wish."

"Very well," Li Boqian waved his hand with a light smile. "Since you have this determination, then let us try."

"Internal cultivation of the Hou Transformation Method requires preparing Kunpeng Essence Blood; this item must be transferred from the main academy. The threshold for Pang Yuan Feng is even higher, so let us start with Near Yet Far."

Li Boqian took Zhao Xing's main body and jumped upward.

Clouds formed beneath his feet; in the next moment, Zhao Xing found himself at an altitude of ten thousand meters.

Zhao Xing looked down, marveling silently.

Similar spells exist within the Benwo Sect's techniques.

He had learned a technique named 【Forest Jump】, but it had limiting conditions: it must be based on living plant life, and once the escape is complete, the plants serving as the foundation die.

The distance is also limited; to date, he can only escape four thousand meters. That is to say, to cast this technique, he can only do so in a restricted environment.

But Li Boqian's technique is clearly far more profound.

"Near Yet Far is a Cloud Method," Li Boqian gestured in the sky, and immediately a batch of cloud layers arranged themselves according to his will.

"What does this look like to you?"

"It looks like a Cloud Dao," Zhao Xing looked at the cloud layers forming pipes in all directions. "Warships flying and combat guidance both utilize the Cloud Dao."

"Correct. When warships fly in the sky, in most environments, they easily encounter the Gales Layer, generating enormous resistance."

"The higher one goes, the greater this resistance becomes. But navigating within the Cloud Dao is different; such resistance can be eliminated, or even utilized."

"Therefore, if one wishes to conduct rapid navigation at very high altitudes, one generally employs Cloud Ships. For example, the ship Wang Tianzhi brought you on was a Wind-Breath Cloud Ship."

"Not only can it ignore the Gales Layer, but it can also utilize it to accelerate. Speaking only of warships, the Cloud Ship series is the third fastest in the world."

"Because it is not merely moving on its own; the Cloud Dao is also pulling it forward."

"But the Cloud Dao cannot be reused repeatedly. When a Cloud Ship passes, the displaced Cloud Dao fluctuations become a form of interference, and the range is extremely large."

"It will take a very long time to recover."

"My 'Near Yet Far' was created precisely based on the principle of the Cloud Ship," Li Boqian said. "Compared to the massive Cloud Ship, the fluctuations caused by a person casting spells are very small."

"Although one still cannot travel back and forth along the original path in a straight line, such minute fluctuations can already be ignored."

Zhao Xing listened silently; the Cloud Arts Li Boqian spoke of already touched upon the Dao of Space.

So-called Cloud Dao navigation can be roughly understood as a Cloud Art version of 'Warp Flight'.

As the contemporary Grand Minister of Agriculture, Li Boqian's comprehension of the Heavenly Timing Arts had already made him a figure at the ceiling level of the Xuanhuang Realm.

Had it been the Era of Spiritual Qi and a Dynasty of Fortune, he would have been a figure capable of breaking through the void and ascending.

"The supreme Cloud Gate, the ultimate Cloud Dao Heaven Way, ultimately seeks to replace Heaven and execute its will through Cloud Arts. However, this is ultimately a wishful dream. The limit of Cloud Arts can briefly alter the rules of heaven and earth, but it can never replace them."

Li Boqian waved his hand again; the ten-thousand-meter cloud layer, filled with Cloud Daos reaching in all directions, shrank rapidly.

Finally, a miniature version of the Cloud Dao map appeared in Li Boqian's palm.

"Go!"

Li Boqian pulled with both hands; the reduced Cloud Map deformed again, covering Zhao Xing.

"Try taking a step forward."

"Which foot should this junior raise first?"

"Whichever."

Zhao Xing did as told, and subsequently found himself appearing ten thousand meters away.

"Voom~" Just as he stabilized, cloud qi erupted beside him; the cloud qi flashed and vanished, and Li Boqian appeared by his side.

"How does it feel?"

"Very fast."

"Think again."

"I only took one step."

Li Boqian smiled without speaking.

"Actually, I did not walk; was the cloud carrying me?"

Li Boqian nodded: "Correct."

"Since you have already learned the Cloud Gate and possess a foundation in Cloud Arts, start with the ninety-nine entry-level Cloud Daos."

"If you can comprehend all ninety-nine Cloud Daos, then you will have entered the threshold of 'Near Yet Far'."

"Comprehend here; if you gain any insight, you may come down to find me. I will cast 'Near Yet Far' to let you experience it personally and verify your realization."

Li Boqian waved his hand; the reduced Cloud Map expanded rapidly once more, finally becoming a circular cloud layer ten thousand meters in diameter.

"Yes." Zhao Xing chose one of the Cloud Daos, drilled into it, and began his contemplation and cultivation.

Li Boqian then flew down, landing in the Qianqing Garden below.

Inside the garden stood a waterside pavilion, with a chess table placed in the center.

Standing beside the chess table was a figure; his stature was towering, like a majestic Gaoshan, radiating an irresistible majesty.

He wore a purple and Jin Long robe, embroidered with mysterious runes and ancient totems; every line flowed with powerful energy, shimmering like stars adorning the fabric.

His face was resolute and stern, like marble carved by the years, with sharp, distinct angles.

His eyes were deep as an abyss, seeming to contain endless wisdom and the sharpness to see through all things. The light occasionally flashing in his gaze seemed capable of piercing the mist of time and space, making people dare not look directly at him.

On his head sat a brilliant Wang Guan, with nineteen gems shimmering; each gem bore immense power, their emitted light weaving together into a mysterious radiance that enveloped his body.

When Li Boqian descended, the figure remained motionless, his back turned to the contemporary Grand Minister of Agriculture.

Despite such an impolite act, Li Boqian showed not the slightest impatience; instead, he respectfully bowed before him and said, "Your Majesty, this subject arrived half a ke late; please punish me."

Ji Mingjing stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the sky: "Boqian, what is so special about him?"

Li Boqian said, "His aspirations are extraordinary, his talent outstanding; he has the bearing of a Grand Minister of Agriculture."

"Oh?" Ji Mingjing's tone carried slight surprise: "You evaluated your junior brother Wang Tianzhi and never spoke such words; you actually favor him?"

Li Boqian smiled: "This subject merely says he possesses this aura. However, Your Majesty swallows the universe and is the master of the world; whether he succeeds depends on Your Majesty."

"He is too young; even if he is a worthy talent, he can only be entrusted to a future monarch."

Ji Mingjing withdrew his gaze, turned, and sat down. With a wave of his hand, the chessboard rippled like water, and in the blink of an eye transformed into a military sand table.

It displayed the terrain and landforms of the Nineteen Provinces and the cloud qi; among them, the land of Pinghaizhou was already covered in dark clouds.

"Today we play a military chess game. I punish you to play the white pieces, giving two moves' handicap and moving second, yet you must win."

Li Boqian's eye twitched slightly, for Ji Mingjing held the black pieces and stood at the other end of the sand table, south of the Canglan River.

He was north of the Canglan River, occupying the land of the Nineteen Provinces.

The flags bore army names, personal names, and faction names; the Jing Emperor moved first.

The first move was the Black Dragon Army retreating, withdrawing from south of the Canglan River back to Pinghaizhou.

"Boom~" Dark clouds gathered; the Fortune Golden Dragon over Pinghaizhou split in two, vast stretches of government cities collapsed, and the celestial phenomena became utterly chaotic.

The Jing Emperor pointed with one finger; the second finger pointed toward the East Sea.

Towering sea waters surged from the East Sea, rushing to the eastern defense line of the Great Zhou. The Four Clans of Local Chieftains rebelled in unison; countless sea ships with their flags landed, instantly devouring the lands east of Pinghaizhou.

With two moves made, two thunderclaps seemed to ring in Li Boqian's heart.

Ji Mingjing stared at him calmly: "Boqian, it is your turn."