Chapter 283: The Heavenly Fortune List and the Creation Disc, Ambush

"Disciple's disciple, how did you manage to get both of them to obey your orders?" True Immortal Tianyang asked with considerable curiosity.

At this moment, Zhao Xing held two tokens in his hand.

On one, the name Sima Yunhai was carved on the front, and Profound Heaven Academy on the back.

On the other, Pang Yuanjin was carved on the front, and Shangluo Academy on the back.

"Sima Yunhai is a typical Heavenly Timing Faction Agricultural Minister; he holds the world in his heart and takes the welfare of all people as his own responsibility. As long as there is a brilliant plan beneficial to the livelihood of the people, he does not mind whether he is the one in charge."

"Your disciple arrived before him and prepared contingency plans even earlier. He felt my plan was better, so he yielded authority to me."

"Pang Yuanjin is eager to learn. Your disciple wrote a grand treatise for him to read; he found it reasonable and thus decided to cooperate wholeheartedly."

True Immortal Tianyang placed a stick of incense in his mouth, lit it, and took a deep breath: "Do not just speak of these two men's virtues; speak of their faults."

"Your disciple does not like to discuss people's right and wrong behind their backs."

True Immortal Tianyang smiled: "That is easily solved. I shall call both of them over, and you can speak to them face-to-face?"

Zhao Xing: "———"

How can you be like this?

Zhao Xing could only say: "Sima Yunhai possesses the virtues of a Heavenly Timing Faction Agricultural Minister, but his faults also stem from this. Because he takes the welfare of all people as his own responsibility, he looks down somewhat on the other two factions; his sectarian prejudice is very heavy."

True Immortal Tianyang nodded: "And what of Pang?"

"Pang Yuanjin is desperate to seek the Dao and places too much value on strength. As soon as he arrived at Moonlight Prefecture, he immediately sought me out, ranking the rescue mission second. Clearly, in his heart, the rescue mission was for political purposes, to exchange with Shangluo Academy for more resources."

"His agreement to obey my orders is also largely due to my master, Liu Tianning."

True Immortal Tianyang finished smoking the incense stick, picked up another, and lit it: "Then how do you view these two men's faults?"

Zhao Xing said, "A gentleman judges by deeds, not by intentions; if one judges by intentions, there are few perfect people in the world."

True Immortal Tianyang nodded with a smile: "You have made these two men obey your orders; your Grandmaster is very satisfied with you."

"I previously said I would give you a gift. Once the affairs in Haizhou are settled, take some time to come to Fengjing in Tianyongzhou."

Fengjing is one of the capitals of Great Zhou.

What gift requires going to Jingcheng to collect? Zhao Xing was somewhat puzzled.

"You must come early. If Li Boqian dies and you have not yet arrived in Fengjing, my authority in the underworld will have to be transferred to him."

"Thank you, Grandmaster." Zhao Xing clasped his hands in a bow.

"Go then. Do your work well. Preventing natural disasters is hard labor. For these days, do not come here to accompany me in conversation."

"Yes, your disciple takes his leave."

The people brought by Sima Yunhai were elites drawn from various branch academies across Haizhou; there were one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six Fourth Rank Agricultural Ministers.

The Fourth Rank Agricultural Ministers brought by Pang numbered one hundred and twenty-nine.

In terms of numbers, the Heavenly Timing Faction Agricultural Ministers outnumbered those of the Benwo Sect by more than ten times.

If this is true for the Fourth Rank, it is also true for the Fifth Rank.

The Fifth Rank Agricultural Ministers brought by Sima Yunhai totaled over sixteen thousand.

The Fifth Rank Agricultural Ministers brought by Pang Yuanjin numbered only one thousand and twenty.

As for Sixth Rank Agricultural Ministers, neither Sima Yunhai nor Pang Yuanjin brought any.

Bringing too few Sixth Rank Agricultural Ministers is useless. Just like a martial artist's battle formation, Agricultural Ministers cooperating with Agricultural Family mechanisms and magical arrays can form layered progressions, amplifying the spells of the powerful Agricultural Ministers in the main formation.

Since Sima Yunhai is Third Rank, bringing Sixth Ranks in small numbers yields no benefit, while bringing too many would slow down the speed of action.

For Pang Yuanjin, bringing them would be useless; pure Yuan soil has not yet been born for Sixth Rank Agricultural Ministers.

Furthermore, Shangluo Academy has only eight branch academies in Haizhou, with three of them in enemy-occupied territories. These personnel were all drawn from Daoyuanzhou.

When the operation officially began, Zhao Xing first went to find the Prefect of Moonlight Prefecture, Ye Ye Yukong.

"Please, Prefect, approve this submission."

"What is this for?"

"Preventing natural disasters is hard work, requiring massive consumption of Yuan Qi. Moreover, once started, even with shifts,"

"the intensity of labor is extremely high."

"This letter submitted is for the overtime pay for the various levels of officials in Moonlight Prefecture currently."

"As long as there is a system to follow, the Prefect can award rewards according to the system." Zhao Xing explained.

"Oh, oh, it is only right, it is only right." Ye Ye Yukong did not even look at it and stamped his great seal upon it.

Immediately after stamping one, Zhao Xing handed over another.

"What is this for?" Ye Ye Yukong asked.

"Please, Prefect, open the Taigu, Taiping, Changping, and Ganquan four granaries."

"Moonlight Prefecture will surely have a poor harvest this year, and prices will surely soar. Opening the four granaries will be used to stabilize the prices of grains, common medicinal herbs, and clothing materials; otherwise, a large number of common people will be unable to afford food or winter clothes."

"I see." Ye Ye Yukong once again slammed his great seal down with a "Pa!"

Immediately after stamping, Zhao Xing handed over another document.

Ye Ye Yukong looked at Zhao Xing.

"Please, Prefect, issue orders to all commanderies and counties to expand temporary shelters. Once a disaster occurs, officials of the Warship Bureau must move quickly to transfer the people of the disaster area to the shelters, facilitating our prevention of natural disasters."

"Pa!"

"Please, Prefect, order the Moonlight, Li Huo, Bi Shui, and Shen You four academies within Moonlight Prefecture to open doors of convenience for officials of Sixth Rank and above, allowing officials to quickly travel to the various commanderies and counties."

"Pa!"

"Please, Prefect, approve this letter—.."

"Pa!"

"Please, Prefect—..."

"Pa!"

The hand of Ye Yukong pressing the seal almost produced a residual image.

He pressed for a full double-hour before realizing the table had become empty.

Zhao Xing no longer presented official documents to him.

"Gone?" Ye Yukong looked at Zhao Xing.

"This morning's batch is gone," Zhao Xing nodded.

"???"

Ye Yukong felt somewhat numb.

So I worked for a full double-hour just to finish the workload of one morning?

"Couldn't you just get the people below to approve them?"

Zhao Xing explained, "Over a thousand civil officials in Mingyue Prefecture died. These newly appointed officials are not yet proficient in official duties and dare not act on their own authority; they must request the Prefect's approval."

"Prefect, even if those people hadn't died, your workload would not be any less."

Ye Yukong's face showed bitterness.

Zhao Xing did not wish to make things difficult for him; there was simply no other way.

To implement decrees across the entire prefecture, Ye Yukong's personal signature and the Prefect's great seal must be affixed; otherwise, they cannot take effect, and some government warehouses cannot even be opened!

To speak the truth, part of the current chaos in Mingyue Prefecture is because a martial man like Ye Yukong was placed in the position of Prefect.

His sitting in this position caused many official documents to pile up, preventing work from proceeding.

Of course, this matter cannot be blamed on Ye Yukong.

Even in peaceful times, the Prefect's workload is incomparable to that of the Martial Arts Dean of Mingyue Academy.

Moreover, this is wartime, and so many civil officials have died.

How could Ye Yukong possibly keep up?

It was not that the imperial court forced him to do it; rather, given the situation at that time, all military and administrative power could only be handed over to Ye Yukong.

After finishing the morning's workload, Ye Yukong could not help but complain to Zhao Xing:

"Chen An, I truly do not want to do this anymore. When I was Dean, I had a reputation for wisdom."

"I have been this wretched Prefect for less than two months, and people have cursed me so thoroughly that my ancestors are emitting black fumes!"

"My father appeared in my dream last night, scolding me as a fool, saying I didn't even know to conduct background checks before employing people, only knowing to invite more experts."

"Tell me, why did the imperial court insist on making me serve as this Prefect?"

Zhao Xing answered honestly, "Because the Prefect must be of Third Rank to serve concurrently, and must have served in Mingyue Prefecture for over ten years. At that time, you were the only one in Mingyue Prefecture who met the requirements."

"But I have no idea how to serve as this Prefect." Having someone to listen, Ye Yukong began to pour out his grievances.

He picked up one of the backup documents and said, "For example, seven days ago."

"Huang Shanggong, the chief official of the Heavenly Works Bureau governing the six commanderies under the Fucheng Government Bureau, submitted an official document requesting a batch of consumables for the four eastern commanderies of Mingyue Prefecture."

"I told him to use his discretion and decide for himself. Was there anything wrong with that?"

At this moment, Zhao Xing could only comfort him, "There was nothing wrong."

"If it were ordinary materials, it would have been fine; Huang Shanggong could have decided it himself."

"However, these consumables involved over three thousand types of materials, requiring transfer from the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse under the Ministry of Agriculture."

"At that time, I wondered what the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse was and why I had to be asked."

"Upon investigation, I learned the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse involved Seventh-Grade materials; this required not only the Prefect's personal seal but also my issuing an order to the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse of the Ministry of Agriculture."

"Hehe, that wasn't even the end; I also had to mobilize the Patrol Bureau and the City Guard Army for escort."

"Transferring some materials involved several departments, damn it."

"I thought issuing the order would finish the matter, but even after Huang Shanggong took the order, the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse gate could not be opened; the chief officials of these places had to re-verify with me, the Prefect."

"I said, couldn't you chief officials just discuss it among yourselves?"

"Guess what the chief official of the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse said?"

"What did he say?" Zhao Xing prompted.

"He said, 'If the Prefect is not present and we lower officials jointly take from the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse, how is this different from rebellion?'" Ye Yukong excitedly slapped the table. "Tell me, could he not speak properly? It's just transferring some materials; how did it get dragged into rebellion?"

Zhao Xing was speechless.

Actually, the chief official of the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse was not wrong.

It was impossible for Huang Shanggong and the people of the Ministry of Agriculture to simply conspire to open the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse and transfer Seventh-Grade materials.

Troublesome? If one could bypass the Prefect to do this, then these Seventh-Grade materials would be far too unsafe.

The necessary procedures and processes must exist; in the transfer of such precious materials, safety must take precedence over convenience.

Otherwise, if rebel forces obtained Seventh-Grade materials, how dangerous would that be?

"Under the premise that all communication goes smoothly, it still feels troublesome," Ye Yukong said. "What is more terrifying is when the chief officials of the various bureaus raise objections."

"I thought that after issuing the order, the matter would surely be settled."

"As it turned out, the consumables Huang Shanggong requested were no longer in the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse."

"Even if I issue the order, the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse cannot approve so many consumables."

"However, the chief official of the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse and Huang Shanggong asked me what to do."

"How would I know what to do? Didn't I have to ask people?"

"Then ask people!"

"So I had to invite the chief officials of these two bureaus over to be questioned again."

Ye Yukong recalled, "The chief official of the Pang Yuan Feng Warehouse, Liu Qing, said that opening the Inner Treasury might yield the materials Huang Shanggong requested."

"I said, then just open it."

After hearing this, Zhao Xing could not help but be speechless.

The Inner Treasury is more important than the Pang Yuan Feng Treasury; how can it be opened at a whim?

"Liu Qing said he checked the Inner Treasury's archives; there are indeed backup materials, but the quantity is not large. If there is a more important use later, there will be none left. Huang Shanggong does not seem very urgent to me; he should not have requisitioned so much."

"I thought what he said made sense, but then Huang Shanggong suddenly flew into a rage."

"Not urgent? How can it not be urgent? With fire burning the eyebrows, how can one not be urgent?" Ye Yukong imitated Huang Shanggong, shouting with a raised voice.

"These two could not agree, so they asked me what to do."

"How did you handle it?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I thought Huang Shanggong made sense, so I opened the doors of the Inner Treasury and the Pang Yuan Feng Treasury, and let Huang Gong use them first.

Ye Yukong sighed: "As a result, five days later, the same problem appeared in the six western commanderies of the Bright Moon Prefecture, and it was even more urgent. Ultimately, due to insufficient materials, the formation arrays could not withstand the natural disaster, causing over one hundred thousand people to suffer."

Zhao Xing comforted him: "You cannot be blamed."

"You do not need to comfort me." Ye Yukong shook his head, saying, "I am indeed not suitable to be the Prefect."

Zhao Xing did not know what to say to comfort him.

If one were to blame the imperial court, a dynasty that lasts a thousand years with a single Emperor, during such times of war, promising to send someone to replace the Prefect in only three months, this efficiency is already very high.

Ye Yukong rose from the main seat, held the great seal with both hands, and walked down.

"Chen An, I am not suitable to be this temporary Prefect; I think you are very suitable!"

"How can this be done? I am not worthy." Zhao Xing was stunned. "I am merely a fifth-rank official."

The Inspector is fourth rank and is not counted among the civil official ranks.

"You are worthy!" Ye Yukong said. "In the two days you have taken over the administration, there are very few objections from below; your judgment is far superior to mine!"

"I cannot accept it." Zhao Xing still shook his head. "My fifth-rank civil official position simply cannot lift this great seal.

I truly cannot lift it!

The Great Zhou, such a dynasty of fortune, cannot have a "Seal Theft Case"; it is impossible for some petty thief to steal an official seal or tiger tally of a certain post, then move troops or issue orders.

Without the corresponding rank and appointment documents, even if Zhao Xing had the strength of heaven, he could not lift the Prefect's seal.

Furthermore, how can the authority of such a border governor be privately transferred?

Even if he could lift it, he would not agree.

"I have the Myriad Dharma Divisions; I will surely assist the Prefect with all my might. Please, Prefect, do not speak of such things again." Zhao Xing stepped back two paces and bowed with clasped hands.

"I did not consider this thoroughly." Ye Yukong also realized this. "In that case, then I trouble Chen An to assist me greatly."

"Yes, Prefect, please rest assured." Zhao Xing said. "This division of mine will always wait in the government office; the Prefect may call me at any time."

"Good, good, good." Ye Yukong smiled with relief.

The reason Ye Yukong made the move of "private transfer" was truly because Zhao Xing performed so well.

He seemed to understand the situation of the Bright Moon Prefecture better than Ye Yukong, who had stayed there for over a hundred years.

In just two days, the administration piled up for over a month and erroneous decrees were corrected by Zhao Xing.

The first layer of the Divine Expansion Art displayed its terrifying power once again.

With numerous divisions and spiritual consciousness circulating, deducing various outcomes, Zhao Xing's speed in handling administration was hundreds of times that of others.

These two days, Ye Yukong felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted!

Because finally no one came crying to ask him what to do.

When sleeping at night, he no longer had nightmares.

Every day, it was just stamping, stamping, stamping, stamping, and that was it.

Those who felt this same comfort were also Zhang Ping, Liu Bogong, and Zheng Yiling.

Working under Zhao Xing's command, they were very comfortable.

Regarding the Way of Mechanisms and the Way of Medicine, Zhao Xing had considerable understanding; this understanding did not refer to specific spells, but to quickly understanding their needs and allocating resources accordingly.

During training in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, Zhao Xing had always been a top student; all selection and training results were excellent.

Moreover, with the foundation of past-life experience and having prepared for many years now, if the people below had difficulties, those were difficulties inherent to the problems themselves, not originating from within.

Under Zhao Xing's terrifying computational power mobilization, the various government agencies of the Bright Moon Prefecture began to operate rapidly, restoring their vitality.

As for supplies, after receiving support from the Tianhe Prefecture, there was no shortage.

In just ten days, Qin Ming, the chief official of the Heaven-Watching Bureau of the Bright Moon Prefecture, cried out joyfully.

"It dropped! It dropped! The natural disaster warning level has dropped from level seven to level six!"

"Hahaha, Heaven protects our Bright Moon Prefecture!"

"Quick, quickly send the latest prediction to the Prefect's Office!"

"Yes!"

Zhuo Commandery, outside the commandery city.

"Marquis Yuan, the latest natural disaster warning sent by Qin Ming has lowered its level; this is all your merit." Wei Zhao, the fourth-rank perfect realm Minister of Agriculture from the Shangluo Academy, could not help but praise.

"This is the result of everyone's joint struggle." Zhao Xing said.

"We have not yet begun to truly exert our strength; how can this drop in the natural disaster level be our merit?"

Yang Song beside him shook his head.

The efficiency of prevention and control could not be this fast.

The main reason was that Zhao Xing first restored government functions and improved government efficiency.

As long as government efficiency improves, in the predictions of the Heaven-Watching Bureau, the natural disaster warning level will drop.

Whether the government can play its role makes a huge difference.

If the government is chaotic and does nothing, even a level three violent wind storm could cause the effects of a level four or five natural disaster.

"Dropping from seven to six is already the limit." Zhao Xing said. "Next, we must rely on everyone working together."

"Yes! We strictly obey Marquis Yuan's orders!" Wei Zhao, Yang Song, and other officials clasped their hands together.

Far away, Pang Yuanzhen, planting trees, watched this scene and silently nodded.

"As a disciple of Liu Tianning, he has mastered the Ten Thousand Methods Grass Puppet and written 'The New Chapters of the Benwo Treatise on Heaven and Things'—this alone satisfies both law and principle."

"He understands governance too, knows every branch of the bureaucracy inside and out—he is truly a complete talent."

"Even if I reclaimed my token now, these people would obey him, not me."

Pang Yuanzhen felt dazed; he could hardly believe Zhao Xing was still under forty! He was even more brilliant than Liu Tianning!

"Master Pang, have the planting been completed?" Zhao Xing arrived with his entourage.

"Report, Earl Yuan," Pang Yuanzhen rose and said, "Over the past three days, forty-five counties of Zhuo Commandery have collectively planted thirty-seven million six hundred thousand Iceheart Grasses."

"Of these, fifteen counties, due to overly cold earth veins, we erected Warmflow Pavilions; the remaining thirty counties required no Warmflow Pavilion protection."

"The County Agricultural Supervisors of Zhuo Commandery need only wait until the Iceheart Grass enters its growth phase to transplant them."

"Within a short time, the scale can multiply ten thousandfold."

Zhao Xing lightly tapped his pant leg, then nodded: "Then we may proceed to the next commandery."

"Let's board the ship."

"Yes." Pang Yuanzhen nodded.

Seven tower-ships rose into the air and departed from Zhuo Commandery.

The moment they left, Zhao Xing's other avatar arrived here with Sima Yunhai and the Tian Shi Sect's Agricultural Supervisor.

Looking down at the scattered Warmflow Pavilions dotting the land, Sima Yunhai couldn't help but sneer.

That damn Wang Ba, wasn't his temperament supposed to be stubborn? How did Zhao Xing so easily sway him?

Pang Xianyun, you're truly lowly!

Sima Yunhai and Pang Xianyun had been fellow disciples for most of their lives—he knew his junior's character all too well.

After he switched cultivation paths, I tried to persuade him myself, but not even eight oxen could pull him back.

Now he's accepted Zhao Xing's arrangements so easily.

Sima Yunhai felt nauseated again.

"Thank you, Master," Zhao Xing bowed.

"Understood," Sima Yunhai nodded—he looked at Pang Xianyun, not Zhao Xing. Since he was here, he still had to consider the greater good.

Cold winds howled; hail rained from the sky.

Blue ice crystals formed on the ground.

After natural disaster and Fang Tianguang's failed governance, the commandery shifted from scorching heat to bitter cold; now, the clouds above were hardened and unbreakable, raining nothing but hail.

Zhao Xing's Cloud Art was inferior to Sima Yunhai's—he provided the plan; now Sima Yunhai acted.

"Fire Cloud Transformation!"

Sima Yunhai pointed at the sky.

The ten-thousand-li blanket of ice clouds overhead instantly surged with a pale red glow.

"Bo～"

As if a massive boulder had struck a calm lake, the red light spread rapidly outward.

The entire sky's cloud layer was bathed in a dawn-like hue.

"At least a seventh-transformation Cloud Art."

Zhao Xing looked up—he was witnessing live, on-site instruction; no opportunity was more precious than this.

"Yu."

Sima Yunhai's spell lasted half an hour.

The ice clouds over Zhuo Commandery underwent a gentle transformation.

"Zhe li～"

"Zhe li li～"

Rain began to fall from the sky.

Zhao Xing extended his hand from the cabin and caught a handful of rain.

Then he rubbed it between his fingers.

"The ice pellets are gone, but this still treats symptoms, not the root—the cold energy remains," Zhao Xing thought.

Sima Yunhai's art was powerful, but he could not alter the fact that this land still held vast amounts of cold energy.

At this moment, the Benwo Sect's role became clear.

The vast quantities of Iceheart Grass planted earlier by Pang Xianyun could absorb the cold energy from the earth veins, concentrating it within the Iceheart Grass.

Local commandery and county Agricultural Supervisors often cultivated crude, wild growth techniques.

Mass planting of Iceheart Grass could absorb the cold energy.

This was not yet governance complete—it merely extracted the cold energy blocking the earth vein's fire, allowing the fire to rise.

When the Iceheart Grass reached sufficient numbers and absorbed enough cold energy, yang energy would begin to ascend.

Then, the 【Spring Equinox】 Seasonal Decree could be deployed to fully separate yin and yang energies.

Hence, Sima Yunhai used only Cloud Art, not the Seasonal Decree.

Now was not yet the optimal moment.

If he failed here and could not separate these yin and yang energies, Zhuo Commandery—after natural disaster, Fang Tianguang's defiance of heaven's timing, and Sima Yunhai's own failed defiance—would become even more hostile.

Its weather, save for a first-rank Agricultural Supervisor, would be impossible to alter.

"When Agricultural Supervisors defy heaven, they must also follow its changes; between compliance and defiance lies the Dao's truth," Zhao Xing realized.

His avatar here, following Sima Yunhai, was slowly accumulating Daoic insight.

"Enough," Sima Yunhai descended from the sky. "The Taiyin energy is already shifting toward Shaoyin. Return in seven days."

"Hard work, Teacher," Zhao Xing said, clasping his hands in a bow.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

The Agricultural Officials of Shangluo Academy planted vegetation in the front, following Zhao Xing's "New Treatise on the Self and Heavenly Things," combined with the "Classic of Disaster-Preventing Herbs" and the "Illustrated Study of the Earth-Guiding Divine Trees," planting county by county.

The Agricultural Officials of the Xuantian Academy, led by Sima Yunhai, cast the Heaven-Timing Method from behind, following county by county.

They could only proceed one by one.

Because the Prefecture's scope is very large!

It is impossible to accomplish the task while standing in Fucheng.

Only a First-Rank Agricultural Official possesses such a spell range.

Furthermore, the environmental differences between the various prefectures were already great.

For instance, the prefectures on the east and west sides of Mingyue Prefecture differ completely in weather and earthly advantages.

As the person who knows the situation of Mingyue Prefecture best,

Zhao Xing was the third wave of prevention personnel.

His true body and his clones, leading Gao Dongpo and others, followed behind Pang Yuanzhen and Sima Yunhai.

Because he was proficient in Heaven-Timing, Earthly Advantage, and the Self!

He could check for omissions and fill gaps in the work of the first two waves of personnel.

Additionally, he was the main force for regulating the earth veins.

The group he led was also selected from the Dili Sect Agricultural Officials of Mingyue Prefecture and Tianhe Prefecture.

"Whoosh~"

"Whoosh~"

The lake water turned into a vortex, constantly descending, and sank into the ground.

No matter how much water fell from the sky, it was swallowed by this vortex, as if this place were the legendary Return of the Void.

Gao Dongpo, standing beside Zhao Xing, was a Fourth-Rank Perfect Dili Sect Agricultural Official of Mingyue Prefecture.

Upon seeing this scene, he could not help but feel extremely excited.

"The Earth Palace Method! A top-tier Earth Palace Method!"

"The Vast Sea Earth Palace, the Vast Sea Earth Palace that points directly to the ultimate!"

Gao Dongpo and the Dili Sect Agricultural Officials behind him watched with great excitement.

Originally a large water-storage lake, within a mere quarter-hour, dropped from high water levels to low water levels, finally exposing the lakebed.

A large water-storage lake vanished right before their eyes; how shocking was that?

"Lord Zhao, this is only his clone; it is truly hard to imagine."

"If his true body were to cast it, what scene would that be?"

"I heard his true body and clones combined number forty or fifty thousand; if forty or fifty thousand people lined up and cast the Vast Sea Earth Palace together, could they not drain even the sea?"

"Hiss—"

Hearing the discussion of the people below, Zhao Xing could not help but smile slightly.

This was purely grasping at wind and shadows.

When he suppressed the rebellion in Tianhe Prefecture, he indeed created an army of straw men.

That time, he also exerted his full strength to cast the Great Expansion Divine Art, dividing his soul and spirit into 49,999 strands; apart from the Ten Thousand Methods Clone, there were Brave,

Holy Shield, Sky-Flying, Self-Destruct, Illusion-Form, and Invisible—various single-method straw men, totaling fifty thousand.

Outsiders did not know the difference between Ten Thousand Methods Clones and High-Grade Clones, assuming all fifty thousand straw men of Zhao Xing were his clones!

Fifty thousand people all capable of casting top-tier spells? Thinking so naturally makes it seem exaggerated.

"Everyone, please take out the Cloud-Rain Pearls to collect the excess rainfall."

"According to the established plan, load the Cloud-Rain Pearls onto ships and proceed to the other counties." Zhao Xing spoke through the wind.

"As you command." Gao Dongpo and others immediately took out the Agricultural Officials' exclusive equipment, the Cloud-Rain Pearls, and began collecting the excessive rainwater.

In all regions of Mingyue Prefecture at this time, Yin and Yang were out of balance; the most direct experience was that some prefectures suffered severe drought with the earth cracking, while others endured unceasing torrential rain.

Those in drought died of thirst; those in flood died of drowning.

Now, the goal was to bring this situation into balance.

Zhao Xing arrived at Mingyue Prefecture on March 21st.

On March 23rd, he persuaded Sima Yunhai and Pang Yuanzhen,

and in ten days, supplemented and restored the functions of the government, integrated resources and personnel from all sides, and made allocations.

On April 3rd, the predicted 【Level Seven Heavenly Disaster】 dropped to Level Six,

after which they began dividing into three defense lines, like a sieve, starting to screen and govern throughout the entire Mingyue Prefecture.

By April 25th, Qin Ming of Mingyue Prefecture discovered that the predicted disaster level had dropped again.

He excitedly rushed into the Prefect's Office, even losing his hat while running.

"Prefect! Prefect!"

"What?"

Ye Yukong was lying on a chair pretending to nap; hearing this loud voice shout, he was startled awake immediately.

"Qin Ming, what disaster has occurred?"

He was truly afraid of hearing any more bad news from this old man's mouth.

"It is not a disaster!" Qin Ming said excitedly.

"Throughout the entire Mingyue Prefecture, only one-tenth remains with a Level Six warning."

"Reduce all others to below Level Five!"

"So fast?" Ye Yukong was astonished.

"Disasters below Level Five can be handled by the Prefectural Agricultural Supervisor themselves."

"Yes! Thanks to the Prefect for coordinating!" Qin Ming was overjoyed; he finally didn't have to keep watching the monitors!

"Cough cough—————" Hearing Qin Ming praise him, Ye Yukong's old face turned red.

Where was there any coordination by him?

It was all following Zhao Xing's lead.

It's just that this old man Qin didn't know; he had been watching the monitors at the Heavenly Observation Bureau, not daring to relax for a single moment.

Only today did he step out.

"Mingyue Prefecture reducing the disaster so quickly is all Zhao Xing's merit; I, this Prefect, basically did nothing," Ye Yukong said, shaking his head. "I dare not take credit."

Not making mistakes was already something he was grateful for!

Taking credit?

Even if he wanted to take credit, he would need the ability to do so.

Does the imperial court not know what sort of person Ye Yukong is?

Regarding taking credit, Ye Yukong had not the slightest thought of it.

"Zhao Xing?" Qin Ming was somewhat puzzled. "Which Zhao Xing?"

"It's just—---- Never mind, I'll draft a memorial first; when the official document comes down, you'll know the process," Ye Yukong said.

He not only didn't take credit, but also planned to heavily commend Zhao Xing.

Ye Yukong immediately sent this intelligence into the group chat of the Eastern Ninth Group.

【Prefect of Mingyue: Everyone, the natural disaster warnings in my Mingyue Prefecture have mostly been reduced to below Level Five,

leaving only one-tenth of the stubborn areas, which still have Level Six.】

【Yanyang Wang: How are you so fast? Isn't the scope of your Mingyue Prefecture larger than mine? Did Jiang Shaoqiu and Xia Yun arrive?】

【Jiang Shaoqiu: I didn't go.】

【Xia Yun: I didn't go either.】

【Chu Muyun: Sima Yunhai and Pang Xianyun arrived at Mingyue Prefecture.】

【Prefect of Mingyue: Thanks to Zhao Xing of Tianhe Prefecture; his merit is the greatest. Let me tell you,

if not for Zhao Xing, these two—-- oh, the help of these two was also very great. However, the commander for preventing natural disasters

is Zhao Xing. Hahaha, Mingyue Prefecture is about to recover!】

Zhao Xing:

The message sent by Ye Yukong was naturally seen by Zhao Xing as well.

He didn't expect this old brother to be popping champagne halfway through.

His governance wasn't even fully finished yet, and Ye Yukong was already showing off in the group.

"Truly impressed; I should have sent the Prefect of Mingyue on a thousand-li raid; what's he doing as a civil official? ———"

Just as Zhao Xing was achieving remarkable results in governing Mingyue Prefecture.

In the Soldier Realm, within a golden palace of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

King Tianyan opened his eyes.

Before his eyes was a huge black-and-white wheel, completely filling his field of vision.

On the black-and-white wheel, countless threads of golden qi and black qi swam.

Every scale was a hundred meters high.

This was one of the Great Zhou's divine artifacts, the Creation Wheel!

Opening their eyes along with King Tianyan were numerous Fate Officials.

Among them were some who had forever lost their life qi.

Some had even turned into white bones.

King Tianyan reached out to touch the almanac to see what year and month it was.

Instead, he touched a pile of silver hair.

"Lost fifty years of life—————," King Tianyan sighed lightly. "I wonder how many years I have left to live."

"However, the hidden threat on the Creation Wheel has finally been completely eliminated, and the secret door left by Liang Wang upon it has been erased.

The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, as one of the most important departments of the Great Zhou, was naturally a key strategic point fought over by Liang Wang.

Here with King Tianyan, an internal struggle and purge took place.

But the cost was also great.

Because Liang Wang once held the Creation, the Fate Officials of the Pinghaizhou Department almost lost seventy percent!

Even King Tianyan has now reached the point where the oil is exhausted and the lamp is dying.

"I have less than three years of life left," King Tianyan sensed his own lifespan very clearly.

"Three years from now, if Liang Wang's rebellion has not been quelled, I will surely die."

"If I do not receive the title of First-Rank Prince, I will also die."

After clarifying his situation, King Tianyan soon cast life and death aside.

"More than two months have passed; we must quickly reactivate the function of the Fate Officials."

"Use the Creation Wheel to counter the Heavenly Fortune Gold List; otherwise, the lands of the two prefectures and one sea will all be under Liang Wang's observation," King Tianyan thought silently.

He began to quickly contact subordinate agencies and use the Creation Wheel here to review the situation.

Among the first batch of people he contacted was Zhao Xing.

"Boy, you absolutely must not die."

King Tianyan also saw the many messages Zhao Xing had sent him via the Earth Mirror.

But by the second day of the second lunar month, the day Liang Wang rebelled, Zhao Xing had sent him no more messages.

Mainly because Zhao Xing had guessed at the time that King Tianyan was surely tied up with urgent matters.

Later, his Earth Mirror permissions increased; if he had kept sending messages, he might have truly forced the message through to King Tianyan.

Wouldn't that have harmed King Tianyan?

"No messages since the second day of the second month." King Tianyan's expression was silent.

Whether Zhao Xing was dead or had joined the rebellion, it was a heavy blow to him.

He trembled as he activated the Earth Mirror to contact Zhao Xing.

Bright Moon Prefecture.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing's true body touched the Earth Mirror and saw a familiar name.

"King Tianyan? He has finally appeared!"

Zhao Xing immediately accepted King Tianyan's communication request.

Buzz~

King Tianyan's phantom image appeared before him.

"Hahaha, you boy have truly made something of yourself. I contact you, and now I cannot directly activate your Earth Mirror."

"King Tianyan, you, how have you become like this?" Seeing King Tianyan's appearance, Zhao Xing could not help but be greatly shocked.

At this moment, King Tianyan's hair had turned completely white and half of it had fallen out; his face bore numerous wrinkles.

He looked like someone on the verge of death.

"Oh, a small problem." King Tianyan had forgotten to restore himself; he lightly circulated his primal energy, and his hair grew back while the wrinkles vanished.

Zhao Xing was filled with doubt; he could see that King Tianyan was forcibly concealing the fact that his lifespan was nearly exhausted.

He did not know what King Tianyan had encountered.

He had forgotten to restore himself, obviously coming to contact him immediately.

"I said it was a small problem. I was injured while using the Creation Plate to deduce; I will recover soon."

King Tianyan said.

"Let us not speak of this first. How are you now? Quickly report to me what has happened in these two months."

"After such a long time, and with such great changes, I must recalculate the fortune and misfortune of your future."

"Yes. At that time, I could not contact you; later, I was transferred to Tianhe Prefecture..."

Zhao Xing told King Tianyan all his experiences, including killing Xia Wang and arriving at Bright Moon Prefecture.

He had thought King Tianyan would be happy and praise him a few times.

But unexpectedly, King Tianyan's expression became very serious.

Moreover, he finger-calculated, and finally even turned his back to Zhao Xing, pointing and tapping on the Creation Plate.

Zhao Xing dared not stop speaking, for King Tianyan certainly was not doing this to frighten him intentionally.

That meant King Tianyan had certainly calculated something.

Did his appearance mean a new program or a key node had appeared? Zhao Xing's mind also began to rapidly search his Memory Palace.

On the other side, King Tianyan looked at the result displayed on the Creation Plate, and his expression changed drastically.

He calculated several times over, then suddenly turned to look at Zhao Xing:

"Wrong! You omitted something! How could this be?"

"Zhao Xing, quickly and in detail recount everything you have done, leaving nothing out!"

King Tianyan's tone held some urgency.

This made Zhao Xing very nervous as well: "Your Highness, what exactly have you calculated? I do not know what I missed or failed to say."

King Tianyan urged: "Liang Wang possesses a Heavenly Fortune Gold List, which can display detailed information on the top ten thousand strongmen in Ping Haizhou."

"Not only that, those who appear on the list also show their influence on his rebellious feudal power, functioning similarly to the Creation Plate."

"He can use this list to recruit talent, or kill those who cannot be used to reduce their influence on him!"

Zhao Xing's heart sank; it was indeed the Heavenly Fortune Gold List!

Did Liang Wang activate the 【Heavenly Fortune Gold List】 in April?

"King Tianyan, does this mean I am on the list?" Zhao Xing asked.

King Tianyan's voice trembled slightly as he said:

"You, you are not only on the list, you are ranked eighty-fifth!"

"Heavens! After I told you all this, your rank has risen again; you have already reached seventy-third!"

Seventy-third? Zhao Xing could not help but feel a shock in his heart.

The ten thousand on the Heavenly Fortune Gold List must all be high-grade combatants; even Third Rank might not make the list.

To appear on this list, Zhao Xing was actually not surprised.

But what surprised him was that he had actually reached seventy-third place?!

"Zhao Xing, if you are on this list yet refuse to submit, you will surely suffer a powerful assassination by Liang Wang's forces!"

"You must quickly leave Tianhe Prefecture and rush to Chongming Prefecture!"

Zhao Xing naturally knew the danger involved and immediately asked in a heavy voice: "Your Highness, how much time do I have to prepare?"

King Tianyan immediately operated the Creation Plate again; he spat out several large mouthfuls of blood, then his expression shook: "The assassination plan began ten days ago; the assassins have already arrived at Bright Moon Prefecture!"

"Zhao Xing, there is no time. Return to Fucheng immediately! I will send someone to meet you right away!"