Chapter 277: Cultivating the Supreme Dharma Body, Zhao Xing

Wild rabbits panic in the seasonal shift, snow drifts in the third month of spring.

Withered trees stand alone in the cold wind, no sign of spring's return or green life.

Even though it was already the height of spring, outside the city of You-Shui County, not a trace of green could be found.

A group of wild rabbits hopped among the withered grass, constantly searching for food, crying out in hunger.

Suddenly.

One of the rabbits' eyes glowed red, its fur split open, and thin trails of blood seeped out.

Its body swelled violently; sharp spikes and scales grew from the cracks, and the fangs in its mouth grew continuously.

"Pfft—"

A companion nearby was suddenly pierced by the fangs, its hind legs twitching incessantly in a bloody maw.

It tilted its head and swallowed, and the companion entered its belly.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft."

With red-glowing eyes scanning the surrounding rabbit pack, this bizarre lifeform began to slaughter its own kind.

In just one quarter of an hour, the rabbit pack had completely vanished.

All that remained was a five-meter-tall, upright monster with black spikes on its back, green scales covering its arms, and red fur on its chest.

"Zi-Kong—!"

It let out a long howl toward the sky.

The red pupils in its eyes suddenly reflected a cluster of purple light.

The light came from the horizon and arrived in an instant.

"!"

The mutant, unable to dodge, was struck by the purple light and collapsed instantly, leaving a smoking deep pit in the ground.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

A figure landed by the edge of the pit.

Ling Tianchen glanced at the pit; inside lay a humanoid lifeform with purple wings, dead from bleeding from its seven orifices.

Confirming that the Purple-Feather King guarding the Weak Water passage was dead, Ling Tianchen didn't look a second time, instead turning his gaze to the bizarre lifeform nearby.

Scanning the rabbit fur scattered all over the ground, Ling Tianchen reached out a hand from his sleeve, tore open the monster's abdomen, and then shook his head slightly.

He had killed the Purple-Feather King guarding the Weak Water passage, but had inadvertently caused an abnormal seasonal shift in a part of You-Shui County.

Ling Tianchen pointed a finger, and golden light shot into the void in all directions.

"The Jue-Yin Three Qi return to normal; the Shao-Yang Phase Fire guest follows the host, reversing its change."

"Hum—"

Colors flowed between heaven and earth, the ground trembled gently, and a sense of greenness was born, as if nothing had happened.

Ling Tianchen stroked his beard and nodded: "The guest and host twelve-Qi return seasonal shift—truly a heaven-sent talent!"

The method he was using to calm the seasonal shift was precisely the guiding method from the *Theory of the Three Yin and Three Yang Six Qi Great Heavenly Cycle* written by Zhao Xing.

The status of the treatise written by Zhao Xing rose once again in Ling Tianchen's heart.

As the leader of the Heavenly Seasonal Shift School, no one knew better than he the impact this treatise had brought to the Agricultural Officials of the Seasonal Shift School.

"Swish, swish—"

Not long after, three beast shadows—a Teng-Snake, a Flying Dragon, and a Fire Phoenix—came toward Ling Tianchen.

Upon landing, the three beast shadows transformed into human forms.

"Dean, the Profound King is dead."

"Hmm." Ling Tianchen nodded and took a scroll from his bosom. "Send the Heavenly Marquis Decree to all branch academies."

"All Agricultural Officials of my Profound Heaven Academy's Seasonal Shift School are, from this day forth, to join the official resistance armies nearby. Any army, force, territory, or their allies controlled by the Prince of Liang shall be targets for attack."

"Any branch academy members currently under the Prince of Liang's orders or serving him: if they defect from his camp before the sixth month and have performed meritorious service, their traitorous titles can be stripped, and their past misdeeds will be forgiven."

"For those who remain unrepentant, I order the deans of each branch academy and the Law Enforcement Court to begin purging the sect immediately."

"Yes!" The three behind him respectfully received Ling Tianchen's Heavenly Seasonal Decree.

In their hearts, Ling Tianchen was a figure like a Sect Master!

People like them were a self-cultivating group specially permitted by the Founding Emperor, the inherited power of the Profound Heaven Academy itself.

They might not listen to the Grand Agricultural Official Li Boqian, or even the imperial court's orders, but they would absolutely obey Ling Tianchen's commands!

Even Li Boqian had to seek Ling Tianchen's opinion before issuing a Heavenly Seasonal Decree.

Of course, the prerequisite was that they did not hold office and had cultivated on their own without imperial rewards. If they held office, they still had to abide by the imperial court's laws.

Loyalty to the monarch? That didn't exist!

The rites and laws at this time did not restrict people's thoughts; there was simply no such saying as "if the monarch wants the subject to die, the subject must die."

When the Seventy-Two Academies joined the Great Zhou, they had an agreement with the Founding Emperor.

The conditions for the original ten ancient divine sects were even more lenient. Because their joining increased the national fortune of the Great Zhou.

If they were to leave, the Great Zhou's national fortune would directly decrease by a large chunk.

Of course, if they were to leave the Nineteen Prefectures, they wouldn't have it as easy as before.

Overall, the relationship between the Profound Heaven Academy and the Ji Royal Family was one of mutual benefit and coexistence.

The Profound Heaven Academy was loyal to its own philosophy and could die for the world and the common people, but the Ji Royal Family could not force them.

The attitude of this group toward the royal family could generally be summarized in one sentence: If the monarch treats the subject like hands and feet, the subject treats the monarch like the heart and belly; if the monarch treats the subject like dogs and horses, the subject treats the monarch like a fellow countryman; if the monarch treats the subject like dirt and mustard, the subject treats the monarch like a bandit.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

The three performed the Seasonal Shift technique and quickly left the area.

Ling Tianchen transformed into a crane and flew toward the neighboring county next to You-Shui County.

There was a large expanse of Weak Water there. As Agricultural Officials of the Seasonal Shift School, the group led by Ling Tianchen could enter the Weak Water unscathed and even use the Weak Water to fight enemies.

Guarding the passage, they were completely capable of holding the pass against ten thousand, with no need for divine weapons.

Mingyue Prefecture, inside the secret chamber of the Li-Fire Academy.

The operation was over, but Zhao Xing was not allowed to leave the circle under the compass.

"Your original fortune and heavenly secret concealment became ineffective during the turmoil in early February."

"Now, I will conceal it for you again," said the Heavenly Derivation King.

"Once completed, your ranking on the Heavenly Fortune Gold List will drop significantly, and the information displayed will be very little, making it basically impossible for anyone to locate you."

"Yes." Zhao Xing listened obediently.

He didn't want to be on this lousy list.

To him, other than attracting assassination attempts, it was completely useless.

That wasn't how one went about making a name for oneself.

The Heavenly Fortune Gold List and the Creation Disk were of the same nature; they couldn't be broadcasted, and all information on them was confidential.

Since it was confidential, it naturally wouldn't be widely known.

"Hum—"

The black and white Qi on the compass descended from Zhao Xing's true self.

Golden characters flickered in and out of the two streams of Qi, then completely faded away.

"Done, your ranking has dropped to 9, 00th." The Heavenly Derivation King removed the compass from above Zhao Xing's head.

"My Prince, I have a question."

"Speak."

"I've done so many things before; isn't it already known? Is it still useful to hide it now?" Zhao Xing asked.

"The past is the past, and the present is the present. From this moment on, as long as you don't raze the Prince of Liang's lair to the ground, your ranking won't—..."

Zhao Xing didn't know why the Heavenly Derivation King didn't continue; he looked up and saw the Heavenly Derivation King frozen in place.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Your ranking has risen again," the Heavenly Derivation King said in surprise. "What is going on?"

"Stand here and don't move." The Heavenly Derivation King suspended the compass over Zhao Xing's head again.

"I need to go check."

The Heavenly Derivation King walked out of the secret chamber and came to another room.

He first contacted the Luo King.

"Luo, my operation is over, but Zhao Xing's Gold List ranking won't go down. Do you know what major events have happened recently?"

"Yes." The Luo King pulled over Ji Anning of the Shang-Yu Office. "Let Prince Anning tell you."

"Cousin, I think you'd better sit down and listen," Ji Anning said with a smile.

"Why?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to stand steady from the shock," Ji Anning said, still grinning.

"What are you babbling about? I'm in a hurry, speak quickly!" The Heavenly Derivation King was a bit impatient with this younger brother.

"Alright, the situation is this," Ji Anning said. "When Zhao Xing was being assassinated, the Profound Heaven Academy, the Shang-Luo Academy, and the Kun-Yuan Academy all received the news."

"That's normal." The Heavenly Derivation King nodded; Sima Yunhai and Pang Yuanzhen were both managing the disaster in Mingyue Prefecture.

Zhao Xing's true self and clones had retreated so much that they must have noticed the abnormality.

"Then what followed wasn't normal," Ji Anning said. "Because at that time, Zhao Xing was being hunted down."

"Therefore, the three major academies all mobilized powerful forces to carry out an emergency counterattack!"

"How powerful?"

Ji Anning flipped through the files and said: "The Shang-Yu Office shows that Ling Tianchen, Dean of the Profound Heaven Academy's Seasonal Shift School, led 59 people, including Classics Doctors and Honorary Vice Deans, to the Weak Water passage, where they beheaded the Purple-Feather King and the Profound-Boot King, along with three hundred high-level generals guarding the Weak Water passage."

"Hmm?" The Heavenly Derivation King was stunned. "You mean these people belong to—"

"Yes, this is the power of the Seasonal Shift School itself. They are all strong individuals who cultivated on their own, and the imperial court just opened a door for them. You can understand them as ancient elders, sect protectors, or supreme elders."

"You don't mean to say their actions were specifically for Zhao Xing?" The Heavenly Derivation King was stunned.

To put it bluntly, even the Emperor's orders might not be able to command this group of people.

In fact, when Emperor Jing wanted to mobilize these people, he did it through Li Boqian, and Li Boqian would then coordinate from within.

This was also why the Ji Royal Family had been stuffing people into the Seventy-Two Academies for thousands of years, striving to make Ji-surnamed descendants important members.

"Don't be impatient, it's not over yet," Ji Anning said. "After that, Ling Tianchen issued a Heavenly Seasonal Decree."

"He notified all branch academy deans in Ping-Hai and Lu-Liang Prefectures."

"He called on Agricultural Officials of the Seasonal Shift School to join the resistance army and urged those who had gone astray—well, those who were forced or compelled to accept titles—to rise up and resist, to atone for their crimes through service."

"What?!" The Heavenly Derivation King was dumbfounded.

The Seasonal Shift technique could greatly weaken the erosion of the Black Dragon's fortune. If the Agricultural Officials of the Seasonal Shift School wanted to leave the Prince of Liang's camp, they really had a way, and they didn't even have to pay a high price.

Seasonal Shift, Seasonal Shift—people changed into another species, so their fortune would naturally change drastically!

In the state of Seasonal Shift, one only needed to invite a Fourth-Rank Priest to strip away the Black Dragon's fortune!

The strength of the Seasonal Shift technique lay right here; it wasn't just against the Black Dragon's fortune, the imperial court's fortune was the same.

If the Ji Royal Family oppressed them too much, this group of experts could just walk away!

If this place doesn't keep me, there's always a place that will!

And they wouldn't suffer much damage at all.

Therefore, the Grand Agricultural Official had always had to win over the Seasonal Shift School first. If this force wasn't won over, the authority of the Grand Agricultural Official position would be incomplete.

During the Wu Emperor's era, Mi Fu encountered this situation.

He was transferred to Grand Agricultural Official by the Wu Emperor and only lasted a few months before being removed.

First, Mi Fu opposed the Wu Emperor's extravagance and didn't want the Wu Emperor to fight wars and waste resources.

Second, Mi Fu couldn't suppress the Seasonal Shift School force; he wasn't as ruthless as Liu Tianning.

"This is truly hellish! I only went into seclusion for a few months, how did this kid become like this?"

"What exactly did he do to make Ling Tianchen take action personally?" the Heavenly Derivation King asked.

"*Theory of the Three Yin and Three Yang Six Qi Great Heavenly Cycle*!" Ji Anning said.

"Speak more clearly." The Heavenly Derivation King didn't understand what that meant.

He was a Fate Official and indeed knew a lot about Agricultural Officials, but he couldn't possibly understand a profound classic treatise.

"I don't actually understand either," Ji Anning shrugged. "The evaluation from the academy's intelligence personnel is: with this treatise, one could open a sect in ancient times."

"Placed in the present, it can also have a major impact on the Agricultural Officials of the Seasonal Shift School, allowing everyone to benefit."

"Hiss—" The Heavenly Derivation King gasped.

He understood now that Ji Anning put it that way.

This damn kid was the Holy Son of the Seasonal Shift School!

If Ling Tianchen did nothing, he would be grabbed by the throat by the founding master in the underworld and asked: You scoundrel, why didn't you save people? Why didn't you save people, huh?

This description might be a bit exaggerated, but the Heavenly Derivation King felt it was about right.

It wasn't asking you to gamble with the life and death of a sect; it was just saving people. If you didn't even have that much resolve, then Ling Tianchen wouldn't be the leader of the Seasonal Shift School.

"Cousin, don't be in a hurry to be shocked," Ji Anning flipped another page. "Do you know what the Kun-Yuan Academy did?"

"Scoundrel, stop keeping me in suspense, speak quickly!"

"Meng Kun of the Kun-Yuan Academy arrived at You-You Commandery in Lu-Liang Prefecture around the hour of the Tiger—"

"What, how is that possible?!" the Heavenly Derivation King interrupted. "From the Kun-Yuan Academy in Dao-Yuan Continent to You-You Commandery in Lu-Liang Prefecture is at least two million miles. How could Meng Kun arrive at the hour of the Tiger? Did he dig a new ancient underground path?"

"Cousin is brilliant, guessed it in one," Ji Anning laughed. "The 'Clear Passage Ancient Road' that wasn't finished during the Ding-Xin calendar era was dug through by Meng Kun and his men in just one hour."

"He mobilized fifty Ninth-Rank supreme Earth-Dragon Drilling Ships and ordered the Thirteen Sages' Xiao Zhe to activate the 【Earth-Piercing Divine Boat】, bringing fifteen 'Ten Thousand Heavy Mountain' siege weapons."

Heavenly Derivation King: "..."

Hearing Ji Anning say this, not only the Heavenly Derivation King, but even the Luo King couldn't help but sigh: "Meng Kun is a master at digging war works. We even collaborated during the mid-Ding-Xin era, but I didn't know he had become so capable."

Ancient underground paths were left behind by the Ascension Dynasty; this was a highly profound technique utilizing the earth's veins.

It's just that there aren't many ancient underground paths left; in the long river of history, those destroyed were destroyed, and those buried were buried. It's not easy to reopen them.

From Dao-Yuan Continent to Lu-Liang Prefecture!

From the start of the operation to the destination, Meng Kun arrived in two hours. This efficiency simply shocked the Luo King.

"The Prince of Liang's grandson, Young Master Xi, was captured, and fifty thousand troops, along with over a hundred Weak Third-Rank experts, were turned into mud cakes."

"Did Ji Han just watch?" The Heavenly Derivation King still felt it was somewhat unbelievable.

"Of course he didn't just watch; he prepared to rescue him immediately," Ji Anning said. "However, before he could even mount his steed, he was captured by Xu Xing outside the Quan Palace."

!!!

The Heavenly Derivation King's eyes widened, his expression even becoming somewhat agitated: "Has this old madman even mobilized? Luo, Anning, you must stop him!"

Leader of the Self-Nature School, Dean of the Shang-Luo Academy, Xu Xing, possessed five supreme dharma bodies.

The Heavenly Derivation King and he were from around the same era, which was why he had such a deep impression of Xu Xing.

It was mainly because Xu Xing's speed in cultivating the second level of the Derivation God Technique to completion was in the top three of the current dynasty.

Before Liu Tianning appeared, the five supreme dharma bodies were the limit, and Xu Xing's glory was unmatched.

Xu Xing's path to the top was also very violent; he killed his way up.

Countless 【Great Dao Contests】 killed all opponents clean!

Even Emperor Jing, who was known as cruel in the eyes of aristocratic families, couldn't stand it anymore.

He had to intervene directly in the original election, letting Xu Xing become Dean early.

If he kept killing, what would happen? I still need people to use!

The Heavenly Derivation King also knew some little-known things: Xu Xing had done some disreputable things for Emperor Jing; during the Ding-Xin reforms, the deaths of many stubborn people were inseparable from Xu Xing.

Seven generations of Grand Agricultural Officials, none had a Self-Nature School leader. Was it because the Self-Nature School leader wasn't strong?

Not so, it was because they were too crazy!

Not to mention the Wen Emperor era, even Emperor Jing didn't dare to use a Self-Nature School leader as Grand Agricultural Official.

"Stop him, how to stop him?" Ji Anning smiled bitterly. "His disciples and grand-disciples were assassinated like that; Xu Xing has only killed over a thousand people now, which can be considered restrained."

"Only His Majesty can make him stop. Fortunately, Xu Xing hasn't taken further action; it is said that Ji Han isn't dead yet."

Hearing this, the Heavenly Derivation King couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief: "Good, good, only over a thousand."

As someone who understood Xu Xing's secrets, the Heavenly Derivation King felt it was really good.

After all, he was old, and his temper wasn't as ruthless as in his youth.

In his youth, Xu Xing liked to play the "jade and stone burned together" and "heaven and earth die together" trick.

But the Heavenly Derivation King was still very afraid; Xu Xing was over seven hundred and eighty years old and didn't have much longer to live. If he went crazy, the situation would be truly difficult to control.

After all, the imperial court still wanted to minimize the impact of the Prince of Liang incident.

If it came to the step of using killing to control killing, the Great Zhou's fortune would definitely be damaged.

The Eastern Wilderness, Southern Wilderness, and the Water Tribe were still watching from the sidelines; the Heavenly Derivation King and other high-level Ji Royal Family members naturally didn't want the world to be in such chaos.

Hearing that Xu Xing had mobilized, the Heavenly Derivation King found that his palms were actually sweating.

"Following the Profound Heaven Academy, the Kun-Yuan Academy and the Shang-Luo Academy have successively issued similar internal decrees," Ji Anning said. "Cousin, Luo, that's the situation."

"I still have one point of confusion," the Luo King asked. "The Profound Heaven Academy is because Zhao Xing created a treatise that influenced the Seasonal Shift School and can calculate the strength cycle of the military world passage."

"The Shang-Luo Academy is because of Liu Tianning and the *Theory of Self-Nature Heavenly Things*."

"Then what is the Kun-Yuan Academy after?"

The Heavenly Derivation King was also stunned.

The Luo King also voiced the confusion in his heart.

Yes, what was the Kun-Yuan Academy after?

Zhao Xing waited quietly in the room for the Heavenly Derivation King.

He waited for a full seven days.

Seven days later, the Heavenly Derivation King walked back into the room.

"You're here," Zhao Xing said, rising from his meditation. "Can I go out now?"

The Heavenly Derivation King looked at Zhao Xing quietly, his eyes filled with helplessness.

"This, we still need to discuss."

"Ah, why?"

The Heavenly Derivation King said irritably: "Why? Don't you have any idea in your heart?"

Zhao Xing was somewhat bewildered: "This subordinate truly doesn't know what I've done."

The Heavenly Derivation King threw over a file: "Read it yourself. I didn't know you had actually done so many major things."

Zhao Xing opened the file and took a look.

It was an intelligence summary.

【April 29th, Hour of the Tiger, Kun-Yuan Academy, Meng Kun, and the Thirteen Sages—】

It basically recorded the actions of key figures from the three schools.

Zhao Xing looked at it and was also somewhat surprised.

He had originally just wanted to borrow an east wind.

As a result, he had stirred up a Category 12 tornado!

Zhao Xing didn't know what to say either.

He had already overestimated, yet still underestimated, the impact brought by the two treatises he had written.

A small step across the era, when placed on specific forces or events within the era, would cause immeasurable results.

Many years later, perhaps no one would remember the Prince of Liang's rebellion, but the classics would flow forever!

At this moment, Zhao Xing couldn't help but think of the assessment in Gu-Cheng; he was glad he had been cautious enough then and hadn't written any earth-shattering treatises.

Now that he had written them, with his strength and talent, he was enough to bear these things, and the benefits outweighed the disadvantages.

When the Heavenly Derivation King saw Zhao Xing's expression, he knew Zhao Xing hadn't intended to hide anything.

After all, he had also mentioned writing the treatise, but the Heavenly Derivation King, the Luo King, and Zhao Xing himself had all underestimated the influence.

"Alright, I don't mean to blame you," the Heavenly Derivation King said. "Tell me, what's going on with the Kun-Yuan Academy? You didn't have any Earth-Benefit School treatises published, did you?"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "I can be sure I didn't. The content of *Self-Nature Heavenly Things: Earth-Benefit Chapter* is about using plants to create earth benefits; that's just touching the edge."

Earth-Benefit School classics like *Return to Origin of the Earth* and *Return to Origin of the Earth Store* also touched the edge of the Self-Nature School, but they wouldn't be revered by the Self-Nature School as their own classics.

Could the Heavenly School classic *Solar Term Decree* not have an influence on earth benefits? But it wouldn't be considered a work of the other two schools either.

"Then why is that? You couldn't be Meng Kun's illegitimate son, could you? That's a generation apart."

Zhao Xing said helplessly: "Maybe it's because I promised Master Meng that I would write a piece for him to look at later."

"It can be like that?" The Heavenly Derivation King also learned something new.

"It should be so," Zhao Xing nodded.

He hadn't expected Meng Kun to be so hardcore, but he couldn't find any other reason.

"My Prince, what should we do now?" Zhao Xing asked.

Because this file also contained other changes within the seven days.

For example, the Prince of Liang publicly declared on May 4th that he was unaware of this assassination attempt.

It was the strategist 'Gu Wenhe' who acted on his own initiative.

After discovering that Gu Wenhe had colluded with foreign demons and practiced forbidden arts, he ordered Gu Wenhe's execution.

There was no other way; the Prince of Liang was calling for loyalists and had to try to win over as many forces as possible.

If he could quietly kill Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning, that would naturally be best.

Once the matter was exposed, he had to find someone to take the blame.

Although everyone knew what was going on, the posture had to be maintained.

The life of a Second-Rank Ritual Cultivator—Ling Tianchen and Meng Kun were just one of the factions. Even if it wasn't to win back the Agricultural Official forces, he still had to do it for other neutral forces to see.

The Heavenly Derivation King stared at the top of Zhao Xing's head for a while, as if looking into the future.

After a while, the Heavenly Derivation King pondered: "I can conceal your true self's heavenly secrets, but you cannot move around recklessly in the near future."

"Let your Seven-Star Life Souls merge into one; at most, you can only send your clones out to do some logistical work."

"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded.

He understood that the Heavenly Derivation King was doing it for his own good.

The struggles involved now were too high-level; continuing to be high-profile might not be a good thing for him.

"All three schools have expressed the same meaning to me," the Heavenly Derivation King said. "They don't want the imperial court to continue assigning you dangerous tasks; things like killing the Prince of Tian-Xia cannot be done by you again."

The Heavenly Derivation King was also under great pressure.

If Zhao Xing died under his watch, Liu Tianning would go crazy, and if Liu Tianning went crazy, Xu Xing would go crazy with him.

This would greatly interfere with His Majesty's plans.

But some things can be done but not said.

His Majesty's plans belonged to the kind that couldn't be put out in the open.

"As for the Profound Heaven Academy side, you don't need to calculate the Cave Heaven Numerology Theory with Hu Yang anymore; leave it all to Hu Yang and his senior brother."

"Meng Kun originally wanted to send experts to pick you up, but the journey is long and there are too many variables, so the Luo King and I rejected it."

As long as Zhao Xing's true self was not in danger, Meng Kun and Xu Xing didn't care.

As for the Profound Heaven Academy side, as long as Zhao Xing didn't continue to participate in calculating the cycle time of the military world passage.

A single clone of Zhao Xing was only comparable to the strength of an early Third-Rank.

Operating in Ping-Hai Prefecture, the influence would be much lower and wouldn't affect the overall situation.

With so many Third-Rank experts, one more Zhao Xing wasn't much, and one less wasn't much either.

The three schools, the Heavenly Derivation King, and the Luo King would all rather Zhao Xing do nothing than exhaust his future.

Zhao Xing quickly understood this meaning and listened quietly.

"Your true self now has two places to go."

"One is to return to Chong-Ming Prefecture and stay in the Star Palace, or stay in the Princess's Mansion; both are absolutely safe."

The Heavenly Derivation King said: "The second is to go to the Profound Heaven Academy in Tian-Yuan Prefecture; this place is also absolutely safe. As for the reason, it is not convenient for me to say more."

The reason he couldn't say more was that Li Boqian was there.

However, the Heavenly Derivation King didn't know that Zhao Xing had already met Li Boqian.

It was just that he had been gagged and couldn't say it.

"What are your thoughts?" the Heavenly Derivation King asked.

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and said: "This subordinate chooses to return to Chong-Ming Prefecture and go to the Star Palace in the military world's secret land to cultivate."

"As for the clones, I choose to send them all out."

"This subordinate still wants to do something for the imperial court and the common people of the world."

The Heavenly Derivation King praised: "You have this heart, proving that Luo and I didn't misjudge you."

"I will also convey these words to Xu Xing, Meng Kun, and Ling Tianchen."

"Your true self will come back with me."

"Yes."

Zhao Xing's true self left quietly and returned to Chong-Ming Prefecture with the Heavenly Derivation King.

He resigned from his position as the Transport Commissioner of Tian-He Prefecture and withdrew all clones from Tian-He Prefecture.

This made Yao Yuanchun, He Zhengchen, Wu Xuanying, Zhang Ping, and others somewhat reluctant.

Originally, the Heavenly Derivation King intended for him to withdraw the clones from Mingyue Prefecture as well and disappear completely for a while.

But Ye Yukong expressed a strong request: "Heavenly Derivation King, don't!"

"Let Zhao Xing stay for a few more months, just five months—no, three months!"

The Heavenly Derivation King smiled: "That depends on Zhao Xing's wishes, whether he is willing to leave a clone behind to help you."

Ye Yukong immediately looked at Zhao Xing with eager eyes.

Zhao Xing also found it funny in his heart.

High-Rank martial artists or mages, due to different aptitudes, already had great differences in their understanding of the Dao.

The same supreme dharma, in different people's hands, also had great differences, just like the first level of the Derivation God Technique; Zhao Xing could derive 49, 99 paths, while ordinary geniuses couldn't even divide into ten thousand.

The understanding of the Dao determined the strength of the dharma.

Ye Yukong was undoubtedly a top-tier genius.

His sword Dao had already exceeded the level of "mastering the true meaning of the Five Elements Sword Dao" and reached the step of "distorting rules."

Second-Rank Heavenly Fortune Realm, sensing the fortune of heaven and earth, only after entering the Second-Rank for many years could one grasp the means of "distorting rules."

Ye Yukong was also a sword Dao expert who could influence the rules of heaven and earth, yet he feared official business like a tiger.

"Then I will obey the Prefect's order," Zhao Xing bowed. The Heavenly Derivation King deliberately threw the choice to him, just to solidify this favor for Ye Yukong.

Having done it for so long, of course, one should see it through to the end.

Leaving a clone here to help Ye Yukong wait for the Prefect's successor, Zhao Xing estimated that Ye Yukong would remember him for a lifetime.

"Good, good, good," Ye Yukong grinned. "Just like before, you submit the documents, I add the seal."

In Mingyue Prefecture, two clones were finally left behind.

One in the office, and one continuing the previous disaster prevention and treatment.

Before leaving, Zhao Xing invited the Golden Body of True Person Tian-Yang back to Tian-He Prefecture.

"Master, I am leaving, and this disciple cannot stay here to listen to your teachings for the time being," Zhao Xing bowed.

His true self entering the Star Palace naturally had no need to waste True Person Tian-Yang's divine power.

Although the clones still had to continue operating, there was no way to invite the Master to possess them.

"I already know about your affairs," True Person Tian-Yang smiled. "Disciple, remember to find me in Feng-Jing, Tian-Yong Prefecture after everything is over. You must fulfill your ambitions; don't miss out on this big prize of mine."

"Yes, thank you, Master." Zhao Xing stood up and added another incense for True Person Tian-Yang.

"Hiss—" True Person Tian-Yang took a deep breath and nodded with satisfaction: "Go~"

"Disciple takes his leave."

On May 10th, Zhao Xing's true self and his many other clones returned to Bi-Xian Commandery in Chong-Ming Prefecture with the Heavenly Derivation King. Since they had arrived in Bi-Xian Commandery, they had to visit the Princess's Mansion.

In the file the Heavenly Derivation King gave him.

Princess You-Ruo also played a very important role in it.

Of course, even without this, he wanted to go home and take a look.

"Mistress." In the Yong-Hua Hall, Zhao Xing bowed respectfully.

"Not bad, you didn't suffer this assassination in vain; you've matured quite a bit," Princess You-Ruo smiled at Zhao Xing.

"Thank you for your concern, Mistress."

"To be able to shake the holy lands of the three schools of Agricultural Officials, and even not hesitate to mobilize the 【Earth-Piercing Divine Boat】, you can be considered unique among the younger generation of Agricultural Officials."

"Now your fame is even greater than your teacher's."

Princess You-Ruo's words were not an exaggeration.

After this incident, Zhao Xing's fame was resounding in the middle and high-level circles.

*New Chapter of the Theory of Self-Nature Heavenly Things* and *Theory of the Three Yin and Three Yang Six Qi Great Heavenly Cycle* would spread wider and wider in the coming time.

The Prince of Liang belonged to having advertised for Master Zhao.

This prestige was even greater than that brought by governing a prefecture.

"Mistress is too kind," Zhao Xing said modestly. "Teacher can come and go freely in the chaotic situation; I am far behind Teacher."

"You will surpass your teacher one day," Princess You-Ruo said. "This is what your teacher said himself."

"Alright, don't stay here with me; go see your family."

"Yes."

Seeing Zhao Xing leave, Princess You-Ruo sighed.

Official Liu Wanliang walked out from the side hall: "Why does Your Highness sigh?"

Princess You-Ruo said lazily, "People, once they become mature, happiness will become less and less."

"The current Zhao Chenan is not as fun as he was a dozen years ago."

"Haven't you noticed? His temperament is becoming more and more like Liu Tianning's."

Leaving the Yong-Hua Palace, Zhao Xing rushed to the military world's secret land, the Star Palace.

The moment he entered the Star Palace.

Several records appeared on Zhao Xing's panel.

【Influenced by the divine artifact 'Creation Disk', your fortune no longer fluctuates. Current fortune level: Derivation Six】

"The Star Palace is a key location for Fate Officials; my fortune no longer fluctuates, the influence of 'Heavenly Destiny' disappears, and Five-Finger Destiny, Seasonal Divination, and Tortoise Coin Divination return to normal."

The Heavenly Derivation King only led Zhao Xing to the Star Palace and then disappeared again.

He had many things to be busy with; now that Zhao Xing's true self had become safe, he naturally went to do his own things.

"Dream."

Zhao Xing closed his eyes and entered the memory palace in his dream.

"The development of things is smoother than I imagined. Now my prestige has exceeded the initial expectations," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

According to his past life's experience, his current range of prestige had already reached the prefecture level.

And he had jumped over "newly emerging" and "slightly famous" to reach the level of "rising fame."

"Just in terms of farming the Prince of Liang's prestige, my current goal has been completed."

"If I continue to farm this sudden fame, the effect will only be counterproductive."

"Appearing in the sight of top experts once or twice is enough."

Zhao Xing wouldn't be naive enough to think that just because the three holy lands had moved, the Prince of Liang had admitted defeat and wouldn't dare to move against him again.

He even dared to rebel; would he be afraid of these? It was just a matter of interest.

If Zhao Xing continued to jump around and affected his grand plan, the Prince of Liang might formulate a plan himself.

"In the early stage of the rebellion, it's about enough to reach this point."

"Next, I shouldn't aim for fame; I should start the second stage of the plan: fishing for favors."

Zhao Xing checked the names one by one in the memory palace.

The second stage, which was the rescue stage!

"In the early stage of the rebellion, the vassals responded, mainly because others were causing chaos; the Prince of Liang's main legions didn't slaughter on a large scale."

"And within a year after opening the Heavenly Fortune Gold List, he couldn't sit still. The effect of his call for a vassal alliance was worse than imagined. If he didn't move himself, this momentum would weaken."

"Using the small to attack the large, the momentum is more rapid. If he doesn't take advantage of this first move to act one after another, he will surely fail."

The Prince of Liang himself was very clear about this point.

"He called on the vassal kings to complete the alliance, so he had to leave Ping-Hai Prefecture; that was when the great slaughter would begin, and even the prefecture cities wouldn't be safe," Zhao Xing looked at the list.

"The people I want to save are those who would have survived originally; otherwise, they wouldn't have been remembered by me, and it wouldn't have caused me to get on the Heavenly Fortune Gold List again."

"In this situation, I am simply picking up favors!"

In his list now, there were future prime ministers, future Second-Rank experts, and future heads of mechanical heavy weapons. There were martial artists, mages, ritual cultivators, priests, Agricultural Officials, weaving girls, dancers, musicians—

"The people I saved are still in their infancy now, but in the Wu Emperor's era, they were all in important positions."

"The high officials and experts of Ping-Hai Prefecture in the Wu Emperor's era—with this net of mine, I'll catch at least half of them."

"And saving people quietly can also solidify the fame I've built up before." Zhao Xing divided fame into "sudden fame" and "later fame."

Sudden fame was what he had done in the last two months, suddenly filling the sight of the middle and high levels, making people shocked.

Later fame was what he was about to do.

It was like after an earthquake, at first everyone focused on the disaster and aid—later, through data review, it was discovered that someone had built many sturdy schools and protected countless students.

It wasn't obvious at the time, but it spread wider and wider later.

"Although I have ninety-nine clones now, it's far from enough."

Zhao Xing thought to himself, "I must let the Grass Doll Technique break through to the thousand-dharma-body threshold as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, relying on the current manpower, it's simply not enough, and I can't do this alone."

"Building targeted shelters, organizing corresponding medicine warehouses—it's also better to pull others to do it together."

"It's early May now; from now on, I will specialize in studying the Ten Thousand Dharma Clones."

"As long as I can possess a supreme dharma body, I can possess thousands of clones with strong execution, fully exerting the effects of the Derivation God Technique."

Zhao Xing opened his eyes.

He immediately came to the resource treasury of the Star Palace.

The Star Palace secret land hoarded many cultivation resources; the secret land entered from this entrance in Chong-Ming Prefecture was a small world, and there was no lack of high-level resources.

And these, the Heavenly Derivation King let him take as he pleased.

Zhao Xing not only broke historical records but could also discover the correct cultivation method for the first level of the Derivation God Technique.

Never mind a few resources, even if the Heavenly Derivation King gave him his life, if it could be of help to Zhao Xing, the Heavenly Derivation King wouldn't blink an eye.

"Clatter—clatter—"

After Zhao Xing entered the treasury, he was like a locust, rolling up a large pile of boxes.

When he flew out, it was as if he were carrying a small mountain on his back.

"The Soul-Devouring Dharma Body among the seven supreme dharma bodies is the foundation of the supreme dharma body."

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged on the Star Platform, and Liu Tianning's teachings began to emerge in his mind.

"Once practiced, one can immediately possess thousands of clones, and each one can perform supreme dharma."

"I need to fully comprehend the second level of the Yin-Yang Self-Nature Sutra."

"The Five Elements True Meaning must reach the Third-Rank true meaning."

"At the same time, I must comprehend the Eighteen Soul-Devouring Dharma Body Diagrams."

Zhao Xing's true self immediately began to invest in cultivation.

At the same time, the dozens of clones left outside also gathered together.

The first one he contacted was Xia Jing.

"Brother Xia, where are you now?"

Hum—

Xia Jing's bearded face soon appeared in the Earth Mirror.

"In the territory of Lin-Hai Commandery in Da-Tong Prefecture. Brother Zhao, are you alright? I just heard that you were assassinated, but instead, you designed and killed several high-rank experts? Even Yu-Shan-Zi is dead."

"You're quite well-informed," Zhao Xing smiled. Now, the transmission of news wasn't as fast as in the past.

That Xia Jing could know the inside story in such a short time showed his father's connections.

"I'm fine, but it's not convenient for me to do anything eye-catching," Zhao Xing said. "Now, I want to do some small things; do you want to participate?"

"It might be that you won't see any results in a short time, and there's no merit in it; it might even be thankless work."

"Hahaha, you, Zhao Chenan, have small things?" Xia Jing laughed.

"It just so happens that I'm leading a bunch of people to fight guerrilla warfare everywhere, and I clearly feel there are many opportunities for merit, but I'm like a headless fly."

"Don't ask me whether to do it or not; just tell me when to do it, where to do it, how many people you need, and what kind of people you need."

"No matter if it's big or small, I, Xia Jing, will accompany you to the end!"