Chapter 289: Begging Favors Everywhere, One Year Later, the Supreme Dharma Body is Formed

One of Zhao Xing's avatars arrived at the Bishui Academy.

The 【Biyou Canghai】 of the Bishui Academy can achieve the effect of rapid travel.

Qin Hongying is not here at the moment; under Princess Youruo's command, the experts of the Bishui Academy have mobilized on a large scale to join the maritime defense line resisting the Water Tribes.

Currently, of the seven island chains near the East Sea, only three remain unbreached, mainly because Princess Youruo exerted her influence.

Wen Ji, a Spirit-Soul Realm Beast Tamer who looked somewhat fatigued, received him: "The route of Biyou Canghai to Datong Prefecture opens at midnight; Chen An, you still need to wait two hours."

"Thank you, Mr. Wen," Zhao Xing said, "I wonder if Mr. Wen has seen Mr. Zhai?"

Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong, these two Directors of the Beast Taming Office, had spent some time together in the past; Zhao Xing had asked them for much knowledge regarding beast taming.

Wen Ji sighed and said, "Zhai Zhong has already defected and severed ties with the Bishui Academy."

"What?" Zhao Xing was stunned; this Director of the Beast Taming Office had actually defected? He couldn't help but recall the period of turmoil in the East Sea, when islands were constantly under attack.

There were rumors that Zhai Zhong had been seen; at the time, Zhao Xing thought it was a Daoist from the splintered Bishui Sect impersonating Zhai Zhong. Now it seems this rumor was true.

"Zhai Zhong." Zhao Xing couldn't help but recall the appearance of that Beast Tamer; he always wore a cheerful expression and was approachable.

Back then, he was merely a Sixth Rank official, while Zhai Zhong was a Fourth Rank Director, yet he showed no arrogance at all.

Who would have thought this person would defect; perhaps he had already pledged allegiance to Liang Wang long ago.

"Ten years have passed; things have changed, and people are different," Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Seeing that Wen Ji had no desire to chat further, Zhao Xing did not continue the conversation; he followed Wen Ji to wait before a circular lake.

The lake has a radius of five kilometers; this is already a very vast area.

The water surface moves without wind, often producing waves three to four meters high.

It does not look like a lake; it resembles a surging sea.

Above the lake, clouds and mist never disperse throughout the year.

Zhao Xing had only been here for a short while when a phantom image appeared in the sky above the lake.

It reflected an ancient city in reverse; the buildings within the city were clearly visible: magnificent palaces, towering pavilions, bustling markets, and even the peddlers and laborers on the streets could be seen.

Seeing Zhao Xing's strange expression, Wen Ji introduced, "This is a mirage; it reflects the next teleportation destination."

"Biyou Canghai can only be used within the scope of Pinghaizhou, because Pinghaizhou was originally a Canghai region."

"However, after several thousand years, the veins of the Canghai have gradually shifted, and the efficacy of Biyou Canghai is also weakening."

"If it were during the Taizu era, you wouldn't need to wait; you could appear within the Datong Prefecture area immediately."

"Look, the tide is rising, and people are coming; let's step back a bit."

Wen Ji pulled Zhao Xing backward.

Zhao Xing's expression was somewhat dazed.

In his previous life, he had used the function of Biyou Canghai only three times, because obtaining this permission was actually quite difficult.

Each time required spending a considerable amount of money.

Moreover, there was a sensation of drowning; if it were not an urgent need, Old Master Zhao would not want to use this method for teleportation.

"Splash~" The seawater suddenly surged up, forming waves twenty to thirty meters high.

Then it quickly collapsed downward.

The waves reversed, and a small boat appeared and disappeared within them, as if someone were surfing.

Suddenly--

"Whoosh!"

As the waves reversed, the sea boat was flung out, and the seawater suddenly descended.

The seawater in the teleportation area flipped over as if turning a somersault.

Zhao Xing stared at this scene, gaining some insight.

He keenly perceived that part of the seawater was no longer the original seawater.

In an extremely short instant, seawater with a different composition abruptly appeared, replacing the original seawater.

That is, in a split second, the seawaters entangled and vibrated with each other.

The teleportation was complete.

It brought the seawater from a distant place, along with the people and objects within it, to here.

"Ugh~"

Thirteen Sixth Rank Tian Gang Realm cultivators and two Fifth Rank Pure Yuan Realm cultivators disembarked from the flung boat. The thirteen Tian Gang Realm cultivators, as soon as they stepped off the boat, all clutched their stomachs and dry heaved.

The Fifth Rank Pure Yuan Realm cultivators were slightly better off, but they also shook their heads, and their breathing was obviously labored.

"For Sixth Rank cultivators using Biyou Canghai for teleportation, the symptoms will subside within the first three days, but it generally takes about a month for the drowning sensation to completely disappear."

"Fifth Rank cultivators are slightly better; after resting for a day, they can engage in combat, and the impact is not significant. Within three to five days afterward, this influence can be completely eliminated," Wen Ji explained.

"Of course, this also depends on the range; if teleporting to the Salt Lake on the far west, spanning the entire Pinghaizhou, the degree would be more severe."

"If it were a Third Rank Fate Soul, one would completely ignore this cost."

"Chen An, if you are going to Datong Prefecture for urgent business, it is best that it be non-combat official duties," Wen Ji said, "otherwise, there will still be some impact."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Thank you for the reminder."

The impact caused by the drowning sensation is neither big nor small.

If one were to encounter a life-or-death battle immediately upon arrival, even the slightest impact would be seized upon by the opponent as a flaw.

Of course, Wen Ji did not know that his own Fate Soul was already Third Rank, and there was no need for him to boast about it.

"Beep~"

A short sound suddenly came from the conch shell at Wen Ji's waist.

Water flow attached to Wen Ji's palm, and water droplets trembled with a unique rhythm.

Zhao Xing glanced over; this was the confidential communication method within the Bishui Academy.

Dozens of water droplets lightly tapped Wen Ji's palm and the back of his hand, instantly conveying complex information.

Wen Ji did not dodge; Zhao Xing was a Doctor of Classics at the Azure Water Dao Academy, one of their own.

"Chen'an, I have received an urgent transfer order and cannot stay with you here."

"Very well, official business takes priority; please go."

The two bowed to each other, and Wen Ji transformed into a stream of water, sinking into the ground and fleeing eastward.

The sky gradually darkened.

Midnight.

A mirage of Datong Prefecture appeared in the sky.

Zhao Xing leaped onto the flying boat.

"Splash~"

Waves churned, the small boat overturned, swallowing both man and vessel.

Datong Prefecture, Erhai Commandery, Azure Water Dao Academy.

"Splash~"

A small boat was struck by a wave and flung away.

Zhao Xing flew down from the boat; before it had even stabilized, he transformed into a streak of light and soared toward the sky.

Those waiting for the teleportation all cast their gazes over.

"Eh, why is it empty?"

"What just passed by?"

"The boat hadn't even stabilized before the person flew off; this must be a Third Rank expert."

"Truly impressive. I wonder when I will possess such style, soaring high and low, unseen by gods or men."

"I envy that. Every time I ride the Wandering Boat, I feel my feet aren't on solid ground; my Sky-Dancing Art flies crookedly. Last time, I almost crashed into a mud pit."

"Isn't that right? Every time I feel like I've eaten a seafood feast and want to vomit, sigh."

"I heard the 'Travel by Borrowed Fire' method at the Departed Fire Dao Academy is much better."

"Better my foot! After using the Departed Fire Altar, it will still make you vomit!"

Erhai Commandery is far from the Fucheng; mainly, the teleportation of the Azure Water Dao Academy is restricted by geography.

Nowadays, half of Datong Prefecture is controlled by the Liang Wang camp, while the other half still obeys the imperial court.

The half controlled by Liang Wang basically involves all the cave heaven passages.

For instance, the Wupan Mountain of Datong Prefecture, the entrance to the Ten Yang Cave Heaven that Zhao Xing entered years ago, has already fallen under Liang Wang's control.

Datong Prefecture now has two Prefecture-level institutions.

The original Datong Fucheng now flies Liang Wang's black dragon flags.

The original official institutions of Datong Prefecture have moved to Ye Commandery in the west.

King Luo Hou upgraded Ye Commandery to a Fucheng and placed all the original officials there.

But some things cannot be moved, such as the Departed Fire Altar of Datong Prefecture.

Therefore, Zhao Xing could not use this method to reach Datong Prefecture.

"Looking at the map, Datong Prefecture is roughly divided in two by the Song River; the western commanderies are under imperial court control, while the east is occupied by Liang Wang."

"Lin Hai Commandery is on this dividing line; Xia Jing and others are waging guerrilla warfare here." Two months ago, Lin Hai Commandery City cut ties with the imperial court; in March, it belonged to the imperial court camp; by April, it fell under Liang Wang's control again. No one knows how many defenders have died.

The reason for this back-and-forth situation is mainly that Lin Hai Commandery is not very important, so neither side has invested high-level troops to fight for it.

"No wonder Xia Jing said they were like headless flies; he is probably very confused too, not knowing where to go," Zhao Xing thought silently.

Liang Wang does not care about the rest of Datong Prefecture; he only wants the strategic passages. King Luo Hou is not confident enough to seize them back immediately. The population density of Datong Prefecture is quite high; if a high-rank expert led a large army to fight, regardless of the outcome, Datong Prefecture would surely end up with nine empty households out of ten.

Without clear combat orders, and with the Ten Yang Army integrated by Xia Jing, a Fourth Rank military general, stationed here, they truly did not know what to do.

"Brother Xia, I am almost at Lin Hai Commandery; report your location."

"We are in Anshan County." Xia Jing responded quickly.

Zhao Xing looked at the map, then transformed into mist and vanished on the spot.

Lin Hai Commandery, Anshan County, outside the city.

"Swish~"

A cloud of mist dispersed, and Zhao Xing's figure appeared above the county city.

"Who goes there?!"

Immediately, three beams of Jin Guang emerged from the city, pushing up the clouds.

"Whoosh whoosh~"

Sixteen Heaven-Breaking Crossbows shot toward Zhao Xing's position.

This movement instantly triggered a chain reaction.

Within the city defenses, mechanical formations, divine weapons, warships, martial artists forming arrays, great drums sounded...

"Dean Mei, Senior Li, General Wei, it is me!" Zhao Xing immediately sent a wind-transmitted voice to the three people ahead. Since he was casting the 'Near as Far, Far as Near' technique.

The first to notice the change in heavenly timing was Li Yuanzhen, the Military Agronomist of the Black Armor Army.

In the eighteenth year of the Jingxin Era, during a phased ceasefire, he had appeared with Liu Tianning at the Sacrificial Soul Pass, covering the retreat of the armies of Zhao Xing, Long Xiao, and Chen Shijie from the front lines.

Mei Zhiru was the Dean of the Heavenly Timing Academy of the Ten Yang Cave Heaven. Wei Yuan was the Commandant of the Tiger and Crocodile Army; he had once invited Zhao Xing to join the Tiger and Crocodile Army.

All three were Heavenly Timing Faction Agronomists.

Zhao Xing cast 'Near as Far, Far as Near' without deliberately hiding.

A cloud of mist suddenly appeared above the county city; naturally, they noticed it very quickly.

"It is Zhao Xing!"

"Stop!"

Li Yuanzhen, Wei Yuan, and Mei Zhiru immediately ordered the attack to halt.

Soon, Xia Jing rushed out from the city with a group of people.

"Marquis Yuanrang!"

"It's Zhao Xing!"

"Our genius from the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven has returned!"

Zhao Xing bowed to the three, and was quickly surrounded by a crowd from the same era.

"Hahaha, the boss is here!" Che Shihai was overjoyed.

"Boss, it's Che Shihai! Do you still remember me?"

"Of course I remember. When the breakout training ended, it was you little rascal who drove the flying boat into a ditch and stepped on Wang Ji's head," Zhao Xing laughed.

"Hehe, Boss, my skills are great now; piloting a warship is no problem!" Che Shihai patted his chest.

"Minister of Agriculture Zhao, do you remember me? I am Chen Fang. Back then, Brother Xia and I ate the hemp-fish fruit you grew," a martial artist squeezed forward.

"Chen Fang, you dog thief, can't you mention something else?" Xia Jing scolded.

Zhao Xing grinned: "Of course I remember. During the breakout training, you were hit by a Ritual Cultivator's intelligence-reducing spell; Zhang Jie squatted there defecating, and you stood there drooling while watching him poop."

"Eww~~" The crowd immediately looked at Chen Fang with disgust.

"Nonsense, I didn't!" Chen Fang argued, "I don't remember it at all!"

"Hahahaha." The crowd couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"And me, and me! Jiang Ming of the Zhenhai Army. Zhao Xing, do you remember me? I once gave you a turtle!"

"I remember." Zhao Xing nodded with a smile.

"Of course he remembers." Xia Jing pointed at Zhao Xing, "During the rest period at the Spirit Sacrifice Pass, he chopped up the turtle, taking only the shell and not the meat."

"At that time, Zhao Xing was in charge of logistics. My Liao Ru Long unit and Wen Shaoyang's unit literally ate turtle meat for over a month!"

"At midnight, when soldiers went to relieve themselves, they could see turtle spirits crawling all over the ground."

"It almost scared people half to death."

"Hahahaha."

Laughter erupted around them again.

One person approached.

"Zhao Xing, do you remember him?" Xia Jing pointed out another man. While the rest were wild and unrestrained, laughing loudly, this man was meticulous, his clothes neat and tidy, holding a tablet. Yet, upon seeing Zhao Xing, there was some excitement between his eyebrows.

"Are you... Zhang Yi?"

"Indeed. Zhang Yi greets Marquis Yuanrang." Zhang Yi bowed.

"So many years have passed, and you are still so ritualistic. You didn't become a Master of Ceremonies; you switched to Ritual Cultivation instead," Zhao Xing said. He no longer needed to return the bow, as his official rank was far higher than Zhang Yi's.

However, for the sake of Zhang Yi's cultivation, he returned the bow.

"Yes," Xia Jing laughed. "Back then in Yun City, you taught Zhang Yi how to summon spirits without sending them off, freelancing those ghost warriors. Now, he's quit being a Master of Ceremonies and switched to cultivating Rituals."

"What? Did Marquis Yuanrang actually do such a thing?"

"Hahaha, the Army Minister prioritizes practicality; what wouldn't he do? At that time, we were short on people and urgently needed to deal with the Insect Witch disaster. Zhao Xing didn't even intend to let ghosts off."

"Hahahaha."

Reunion after a long separation is just like this; there are always endless things to say. These were mostly acquaintances from the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven era. They had participated in training together and fought on the battlefield together. Although they had changed greatly and grown individually, mentioning the past made it feel as if they had returned to those days at the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven.

"Let's go, let's talk downstairs! Don't just stand up in the sky!" Xia Jing put his arm around Zhao Xing's shoulder. "Let's go drink! Today, alcohol is unlimited!"

"Oh~" The crowd couldn't help but cheer.

They descended to the county government office inside Anshan City.

Soon, another group received the news and rushed over.

Among this group was Fan Zhaoli, the former Dean of the Dili Academy. There were also Lu Bang and Zuo Zizhi from the Taichu Academy, and Tian Shan, the Agricultural Minister of the Dili Academy.

There were also Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming from the Tian Shi Academy. From the same training cohort were Minister of Agriculture Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, Feng Qi, and Guan Junyang.

There were the martial artist Wang Meng and the military doctor Yuan Yang. There were also some whose names he couldn't recall, though he had seen them during training.

Of course, this was still far fewer people than before.

For instance, Feng Qiu, Hua Zhilin, and Cai Jin from back then had all died in that disaster and the subsequent wars.

"Master Lu, Master Tian, Dean," Zhao Xing bowed to these few.

"Hahaha, do not bow, get up quickly." Tian Shan was very happy.

"The genius of the Benwo Sect has returned," Lu Bang smiled.

"Nonsense," Fan Zhaoli shouted. "He is the genius of my Dili Sect!"

"What are you arguing about?" Mei Zhiru pulled a scroll from his sleeve. "My Hou Pai leader has already issued the Heavenly Marquis Decree. Do you not know this decree was issued for the Holy Son of my Tian Shi Sect?"

"What thick skin," Lu Bang chuckled.

"You... have no shame," Tian Shan and Fan Zhaoli also looked down on him.

"What? Brother Lu, cursing is one thing, but once 'The Treatise on Benwo Heavenly Things' is released, who can compete?" Mei Zhiru shook his head and swayed. "But what does your Dili Sect hope to gain? Why join the fray?"

"..." Tian Shan and Fan Zhaoli were speechless.

The news of Liang Wang's faction assassinating Zhao Xing had already spread throughout the mid-to-high-level circles of Pinghai Zhou; naturally, they already knew.

At this moment, all three sects viewed Zhao Xing as one of their own, but the Dili Sect found it hard to stand their ground because they discovered Zhao Xing had produced no Dili Sect theories or treatises.

"Brother Mei, your Tian Shi Sect should not be so arrogant," Zuo Zizhi said from the side. "Just look to your right."

Mei Zhiru: "..."

Because standing next to him were Cheng Qingming and Ge Jinsong.

Cheng Qingming, Ge Jinsong: "..."

The two glared fiercely at Zuo Zuo Zizhi.

It's been over ten years, why does anyone still bring this up?!

"Zuo Zuo Zizhi, are you going to die or not?!"

"Your Yin-Yang Original Sutra cultivation is merely mediocre, yet your sarcastic tone has reached perfection!"

The two retorted without hesitation.

"Hahahaha."

Onlookers immediately burst into laughter.

Reuniting after a long separation during such turbulent times was undoubtedly the most joyful thing.

Xia Jing invited most of his acquaintances over, and they ate and drank to their heart's content.

Only after reveling until late at night did he dismiss the others and find Zhao Xing alone to chat.

"Brother Zhao, what small matter do you intend to undertake? I have four hundred thousand men available here, all from the various armies left behind by the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, along with officials of all ranks from Yang City."

"So many?" Zhao Xing was stunned.

"When you said Liang Wang would rebel, I immediately began preparing for this upon returning from the East Sea," Xia Jing said. "Before the incident, I quietly transferred a large number of personnel."

"After the incident, a riot broke out in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven. Liang Wang's Black Dragon Army carried out a massive purge; those who did not obey him either died or fled."

"In the three months following, I gathered the scattered remnants from everywhere. The current forty thousand is only because the imperial court transferred some away."

Zhao Xing nodded. Previously, Xia Jing had been temporarily granted the rank of Senior Fourth-Rank General of the Cavalry for Suppressing Bandits, concurrently serving as the Fourth-Rank Supervisor of the Shangyu Office for the three prefectures south of Haizhou.

In terms of official rank, Xia Jing held the same grade as himself, and their authority was not much different.

Zhao Xing pondered, dipped his finger in wine, and wrote two characters on the table: Save the People.

"Save the People?" Xia Jing pondered thoughtfully.

"How exactly do we do it?"

"First, build shelters, far from cities, preferably underground, in mountainous areas, or locations with little strategic value."

"Second, establish mobile medical offices and storage depots, prepare large quantities of magical robes for warmth and cooling, and stockpile vast amounts of food."

Xia Jing asked with some confusion, "Then am I not just doing the work of the Transport Office, the Medical Office, and the Works Office?"

"Furthermore, if we are to save people, do we not still need to capture cities and seize territory?"

"How can you think common people all live in cities?" Zhao Xing shook his head. "I do not want you to save the high officials and nobles in the cities; I want to save the people of the countryside. You must understand this concept clearly."

Xia Jing was of noble birth, and his thoughts still carried innate prejudices.

In Xia Jing's eyes, the "poor families" were merely aristocratic clans of lower status, also called commoner clans, not the peasant class.

Seeing him nod as if understanding yet not quite, Zhao Xing asked, "Brother Xia, in your eyes, what kind of person counts as a commoner?"

Xia Jing scratched his head and said, "On my father's fief, the lowest level of tax-paying commoner has a courtyard of five mu within the city and twenty mu of fertile fields outside."

Zhao Xing: "..."

Seeing Zhao Xing's expression turn wrong, Xia Jing immediately humbly sought instruction: "Brother Zhao, did I misunderstand again?"

"Brother Xia, your words truly make the hearer heartbroken and the listener weep."

"But it is not your fault; in your eyes, even the poorest are like this." Zhao Xing waved his hand. "Your family's fief is wealthy in produce, and your uncle is benevolent and loves the people."

"The people there indeed live better. But not all under heaven is like this."

"You must have seen the people of the Southern Wasteland, right?"

Xia Jing recalled the ragged, yellow-faced, and emaciated commoners of the alien tribes in those tribes, his face showing sudden realization: "Oh, I understand now."

"However, in that case, these forty thousand of mine may not all be willing to follow through," Xia Jing said.

"Armies are for fighting; which army would specifically go save those countryside people? Let alone flood control and disaster relief, doing such hard labor."

"No military merit, no rank advancement, no monetary rewards."

Zhao Xing said vaguely, "I have seen armies with ideals and convictions that would do these things."

"Oh? Where?"

"Not here."

Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "In any case, I want you to screen out those willing to follow us in this."

"You must make it clear to these people that we do not aim to gain merit through fighting, nor will we get rich, nor will we be promoted in the short term."

Xia Jing found it somewhat difficult: "Your approach is unlike any army I have ever seen; I do not know how many men I can mobilize. The only benefit is a lower risk factor."

If they did not capture cities or seize territory, but merely did their best to save the commoners Zhao Xing spoke of.

Then the resistance they would face would be very small.

Liang Wang had rebelled, but he was not mad.

His great army consisted of elites; unless it was a strategic location, he would not send people to kill these folks or conscript them.

What use would he have for these people?

They were not even of rank, could not serve any purpose, and were merely a burden.

Of course, if Liang Wang could conquer Jiangshan and rule the world, the situation would be different.

Figures like Zhao Xing also emerged from rural towns.

But now, Liang Wang certainly would not want this group.

Zhao Xing said, "Do your best."

Xia Jing nodded: "Then how much material should I apply to the imperial court for?"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "My plan is that the funding should not come from the imperial court, at least not the bulk of it; otherwise, it remains military expenditure, and we will still attract attention."

"This is not a small sum," Xia Jing frowned. "Where will the money come from?"

Zhao Xing smiled: "It is those clans you just mentioned; they have plenty of money."

"You mean..."

"Brother Xia, your network is extensive; I too have made many acquaintances."

"In these times of turmoil, let us not ask these people to exert themselves, to fight on the battlefield, or to donate money for charitable deeds; surely we do not need their lives?"

"Are you saying we should seize the local powerful families?"

"It is to donate money for charitable deeds."

"Isn't that still seizing?"

Looking at Xia Jing's clear eyes, Zhao Xing straightened his back and took a deep breath:

"Forget it, I won't discuss financial matters with you; I will consult with Tian Hou, and you simply contact people according to the plan when the time comes."

"Agreed." Xia Jing nodded.

"The third step: personnel." Zhao Xing said, "We need to mobilize a large number of Mechanists, Physicians, Weavers, and Farmers."

"The Farmers are easy; I'll gather people, but your Physicians and Mechanists are still too few."

"Leave it to me." Xia Jing said, "Hundred Weapons Academy, Mo Shou Academy, Heavenly Medicine Academy, World-Relief Academy, He Luo Academy, Divine Weaving School; my father and uncle know people who can summon many powerful figures."

"We do not require them to be very powerful." Zhao Xing said, "We are not occupying strategic locations; why would we need powerful figures? This time, we seek quantity, not quality."

Xia Jing thought for a moment: "True; even an unranked commoner, or a Ninth-Rank Physician, can provide treatment."

"Robes capable of withstanding Level Five severe cold can be woven by a group of Seventh-Rank Weavers."

"Far from the trouble zones, the natural disasters and human calamities requiring resistance are greatly reduced. Brother Zhao, is that not the logic?" Zhao Xing clapped his hands and laughed: "Exactly so."

Xia Jing reached out, produced a map, spread it open, and examined it carefully.

"I only saw the smallness of the map, not the vastness of the actual land."

"With this, it is simply that suitable living space is everywhere."

Zhao Xing also pointed at the map: "Correct. Setting aside living space and speaking only theoretically, the entire population of Pinghai Prefecture, arranged in rows and columns, could all be stacked into Anshan County."

"However, individual strength varies, and the required living space varies accordingly."

"Brother Xia, your Green Dragon Body Technique; with a single movement, you cover over a thousand meters."

"If you lived in a small manor, you would naturally feel cramped; after all, moving your body casually would result in you hitting the wall."

"The stronger one is, the more space one needs."

"Why do powerful figures always claim such large fiefdoms? Because this is a fundamental need among the four essentials of clothing, food, housing, and transportation."

"Powerful figures always come from weakness." Zhao Xing slid his finger across the map.

"What we do today, perhaps many will ignore, or perhaps disdain to do."

"However, Brother Xia, after a few years, or even decades, you will discover how immensely meritorious our actions today are!"

Xia Jing looked at Zhao Xing's spirited appearance and couldn't help but pause: "Brother Zhao, did you cast a spell?"

"No, what's wrong?"

"Then why do I feel you are glowing all over?"

"Hahaha."

Starting from the fourteenth day of the fifth month, Zhao Xing's clone remaining in Lin Hai Commandery, together with Xia Jing, began their grand plan to protect the people.

This decision received strong support from Lu Bang, Tian Shan, and Fan Zhaoli.

Tian Shan even expressed willingness to contribute eighty percent of his family's wealth for this undertaking.

Mei, Ge, Cheng, and others of the Heavenly Timing Faction were initially somewhat confused, but under Zhao Xing's persuasion, they were quickly convinced.

There was no choice; who else could it be but our Holy Son?

"Isn't it just burning money? If the Holy Son speaks, let alone burning money, burning me is fine!" Zhao Xing's prestige among the Farmers meant he unified their thinking without much effort.

Even military generals like Wei Yuan and Li Yuanzhen, who were accustomed to earning merit through warfare, initially resisted somewhat, but they followed Zhao Xing in doing this.

However, a large number of soldiers still did not understand.

First, they did not understand why elite troops should engage in such laborious and unrewarding work.

Earning merit and rewards; saving one person, how does that compare to the speed of cutting off an enemy's head?

Second, they did not understand the no-payment, no-reward system established by Zhao Xing. They also did not understand the actions of people like Tian Shan who were paying out of their own pockets.

Regarding this, Zhao Xing did not force the issue.

Those with different paths cannot plan together; we are brothers, if you have a good place to go and wish to leave, I will not stop you.

Zhao Xing asked Xia Jing to report to the Military World officials to transfer these officers unwilling to participate to other locations.

After unifying the action philosophy, the remaining people began to execute the specific plan.

Besides the action starting in Lin Hai Commandery, Zhao Xing's other clones were also not idle.

Pinghai Prefecture, Tianyue Prefecture, Yulong Commandery. The bright moon hung high, casting clear light upon the ancient courtyard.

A woman dressed in plain clothes sat before a magnificent ancient zither, her posture elegant, like a moving painting.

Her fingers gently brushed the strings, like spring breeze passing over petals, soft and delicate.

With the touch of her fingertips, a crisp and pleasant note flowed out like a clear spring, instantly breaking the night's silence.

The sound was like heavenly music, ethereal and pure, as if able to penetrate the human soul.

The woman lowered her head slightly, her expression focused and serene. Her fingers danced on the strings, sometimes light as a swallow, sometimes strong and powerful.

Every pluck of the string seemed to carry a mysterious power, making one involuntarily immerse oneself.

When she played an impassioned melody, the notes poured down like a violent storm, full of power and passion.

The strings trembled violently under her hands, emitting a series of clanging sounds, as if recounting a magnificent and turbulent battle.

That intense rhythm made one's heart beat faster, as if placed within a fierce battle.

"Stop!" Suddenly, a low shout interrupted the music.

Opposite the zither table, a general clad in Golden Armor, with a burly build, stood up.

He walked step by step toward the woman, like a fierce tiger staring at a white rabbit.

When he walked close, he placed one foot on the zither table and looked down at the musicians below.

"Qin Qin Qingqiu, I've grown tired of the war songs these past few days," said the General in Green Armor. "I've fought enough battles; why don't you play something else?"

"My Lord, I am a musician of the Music Bureau, not a courtesan from a pleasure house."

"Oh?" The General in Green Armor shifted his foot, trampling the sheet music beside the guzheng. "So what?"

A pang of sorrow flashed in Qin Qin Qingqiu's eyes, yet she still said, "My Lord, I only know how to play war songs, not decadent tunes."

"This Marquis insists you play it." The General in Green Armor looked at Qin Qin Qingqiu's back with a faint, mocking smile.

A trace of humiliation flashed in Qin Qin Qingqiu's eyes, but behind her stood many sisters from the Music Bureau.

If not for them, she would have ended her life long ago; how could she endure this insult from a barbarian general?

"Unwilling?" The General in Green Armor pulled a sheet of music from his robe. "If you don't play, you will regret it."

Qin Qin Qingqiu glanced at the soldiers around her, took a deep breath, and then began to play, saying, "I am learning this on the spot; if I play poorly, please forgive me, My Lord."

Then Qin Qin Qingqiu began to play the piece haltingly.

As the music drifted slowly from the zither, the surrounding soldiers immediately fell into Tao Zui, their breathing growing rapid.

Qin Qin Qingqiu's expression changed, for she realized this was actually an obscene song with aphrodisiac effects!

"She stopped immediately."

"Hahaha, if you play, you will regret it even more!" The General in Green Armor immediately stripped off his armor, his face filled with lust, and lunged for Qin Qin Qingqiu.

Behind her, those soldiers also screamed as they charged toward the imprisoned musicians.

The musicians were not entirely without fighting strength, but at this moment they were all sealed and had no instruments in hand; how could they withstand these soldiers who were like wolves and tigers?

Seeing that humiliation was imminent, Qin Qin Qingqiu hooked her thumb on a string, and a flame rose from her fingertip along the string.

She did not intend to kill the enemy, but to burn herself.

Because she could not defeat this man, she did not want her body to be defiled after her death.

"The Heaven-Burning Song that ignites without fire? Hahaha, can you even burn?" The General in Green Armor's right foot moved like a blur, immediately kicking the guzheng away, then kicked again, stepping directly on Qin Qin Qingqiu's lower abdomen.

That kick extinguished the flame and also crushed Qin Qin Qingqiu's hope.

She was now powerless to resist. However, after waiting a moment, the barbarian general did not act for a long time.

The crying and screaming behind her had also vanished at some point.

Qin Qin Qingqiu looked up and saw a dark, gaping hole appear on the barbarian general's forehead.

Threads of Lei Guang spread from the wound.

"Thud~"

This barbarian general, at the peak of the Fifth Rank, fell heavily to the ground.

As the barbarian general fell, a man wearing silver-moon ritual robes and a bamboo hat was revealed behind him.

This man held a brush in one hand and a tablet in the other; after writing a few strokes, he bit the brush in his mouth and flipped out a mirror to look at himself.

"Qin Qin Qingqiu of Yulong Commandery? From the Qin family of Nanlong, is it? Did your ancestors possess a Heavenly Demon Zither?"

Qin Qin Qingqiu rose from the ground in a daze; she did not stand up on her own, but was lifted by a gust of wind.

"Yes, it is me. May I ask who My Lord is?" Qin Qin Qingqiu finally realized she had been saved, and hope returned to her eyes.

"Zhao Xing, the Agricultural Official, a native of Nanyang Commandery in Dayuan Prefecture, happened to pass through here."

Zhao Xing removed his bamboo hat and held it to his chest, bowing slightly.

While speaking, he casually killed a barbarian general who was still not quite dead, crawling on the ground.

Elegant, truly elegant.

In Qin Qin Qingqiu's mind, she could never forget this handsome face.

She instinctively brushed her clothes and performed a bow, saying, "Zhao, Zhao my lord, I, I am indeed Qin Qin Qingqiu. My ancestors did have a Heavenly Demon Zither, but it has been lost and its whereabouts are unknown."

"Miss Qin, do not be nervous," Zhao Xing said with a smile. "The rebels of Yulong Commandery have all been dealt with by me; you may lead them north to seek a path to survival."

In Zhao Xing's eyes, at this moment, the pillar of Qin Qin Qingqiu's fortune had the black qi scatter and turn pale red.

Since her fortune lay to the north, Zhao Xing told her to go north to seek life.

"I have prepared a flying boat for you. Oh, you know how to pilot a Blood Shadow Flying Boat, right?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Yes, I can," Qin Qin Qingqiu said, unleashing a powerful will to survive. "I can pilot any model!"

"That is good. To survive a great calamity is due to the accumulated blessings of one's ancestors," Zhao Xing said with a smile. "If Miss Qin escapes with your life, you may return home often to worship your ancestors."

"Wh-what?" Qin Qin Qingqiu did not understand; how had this conversation suddenly turned metaphysical?

"Oh, yes, yes."

"There may still be pursuers coming, so I shall not speak further with Miss," Zhao Xing said, extending his hand. Outside, the flying boat slowly descended. "Miss Qin, please take them away quickly."

"Yes." Qin Qin Qingqiu immediately summoned her many sisters to board the ship and, following Zhao Xing's instructions, flew north.

Watching the flying boat depart, Zhao Xing could not help but smile slightly: "The Morning Bell and Evening Drum Heavenly Demon Zither; the owner of one of the three divine instruments of musicians has been found."

He pinched his fingers to calculate and discovered many people were rushing toward this place, so this projection of his also quickly departed.

In Tiancang Commandery, within a Hou Fu.

"Jump! Jump faster!"

A youth in splendid robes held a whip and shouted excitedly.

Before him stood a mountain of blades, surrounded by flames.

"My Lord, spare our lives!"

Amidst the mountain of blades and sea of fire, dancers died continuously.

"How can I spare your lives?" the youth in splendid robes sneered. "It is rumored that the Dance of the Blade Mountain and the Dance of the Sea of Fire are mandatory lessons for Seventh-Rank dancers; performing them can place enemies within a mountain of blades and a sea of fire."

"Could it be that you are merely a group of useless parasites?"

"The money you earn daily is dozens of times higher than mine; how can you be so lazy?"

"But, but! We are musicians!"

"I don't care, you all deserve to die! Dance for me!"

The youth in fine robes waved his whip; every time he swung it, the sea of fire grew more scorching.

Just as these people seemed about to meet their end in the netherworld, suddenly—

"Hoo~"

All the flames extinguished violently, and the mountain of blades collapsed instantly.

"Who!"

Realizing something was amiss, the youth in fine robes immediately threw away his fire whip and fled desperately toward the rockery.

"Pfft~"

The Heavenly Thunder Finger pierced him through.

Zhao Xing's figure landed among the survivors and began to question them. "Is there a dancer named Lin Lin Yichen here?"

"Yes, an outsider."

"Oh? Is that so? He registered just three months ago?"

"Excellent, where is he?"

"Imprisoned in the dungeon?"

"Good, wait here." Zhao Xing immediately vanished into the ground and began searching the dungeon. Sure enough, he found the person he sought in one of the cells.

At that moment, inside the cell, a man was dancing gracefully. Although he wore prisoner's rags and the surroundings were filthy, Zhao Xing still felt his dance filled with beauty, as if the primordial qi of heaven and earth were dancing along with him.

There was little usable qi in this dungeon. Zhao Xing examined it carefully and discovered that Lin Lin Yichen had nearly broken through one of the formation's sealed windows.

When Zhao Xing appeared, Lin Lin Yichen, hearing the footsteps, immediately stopped and restored everything around him to its original state.

"Zzzzt~"

Zhao Xing appeared at the cell door and, with a light finger, shattered the formation lock.

"Who are you?" Lin Lin Yichen looked at Zhao Xing curiously.

"No nonsense, let's go now." Zhao Xing directly summoned a wind, lifting Lin Lin Yichen up.

"Your Excellency seems very familiar with me, knowing I love to talk nonsense." Carried on Zhao Xing's back, Lin Lin Yichen still chattered incessantly, "There's no reason for that; I come from Tian Yongzhou and have no acquaintances here."

"Since traveling here a year ago, having exhausted my funds, I joined the local Music Bureau. If I had acquaintances, how could I have fallen to such a plight?"

"Cough, could Your Excellency adjust the direction of the gale? I've already bumped my head on the beams several times."

Zhao Xing: "..."

I shouldn't have saved this fellow!

Speaking of which, he and Lin Lin Yichen were indeed quite familiar; in his past life while undertaking missions, he had accompanied this person on many runs through various commanderies. At the time, he thought he might receive some mission from this person.

After mixing around for a while, he found there were no missions to be done.

No missions was fine; then he would just grind up the favorability. At the time, he always felt this wandering dancer had something to him.

In the end, he gained no benefit whatsoever, only followed along starving, and wasted a great deal of money from Lord Zhao to support him.

"My name is Zhao Xing, a Patrol of the Five Prefectures. Passing through here, I have come to rescue you."

"Oh? Patrol of the Five Prefectures? I wonder if Lord Zhao..."

"No!"

"My lord, I haven't said anything yet."

"Shut your mouth!"

Zhao Xing recalled his past life's experiences and nearly lost his composure due to this chatterbox.

He simply cast the Sleepy Worm Technique, causing him to fall asleep.

"You may flee south; there are imperial court garrisons there. Follow this route, and you will pass unimpeded."

"Yes, thank you, Lord Zhao."

"Jiang Li abandoned in the poor alley, the tribulus vines overgrow the eastern wing."

"Liang Wang's perverse conduct will sooner or later lead to his downfall!"

In the heavy prison of Ruo Commandery, a young Ritual Cultivator cursed loudly.

"Jiang Li, can you just shut up? You've been cursing for seven days!" In the adjacent cell, a martial artist picked his ear.

"No one outside can hear it, but we are driven mad by the noise."

"Can I just die in peace, please?"

Jiang Li suddenly pressed his head against the bars: "Zhao He, do not lose your fighting spirit; evil cannot triumph over righteousness; we will escape sooner or later!"

"Fine, fine, fine, Lord Jiang, you are right about everything." Zhao He replied perfunctorily, "Your subordinate just wishes to rest a bit, is that possible?"

Seeing that silence had returned on that side.

Zhao He lay down on the straw bed, preparing to sleep.

However, a short while later, a loud recitation came from that side again.

"Sucking the essence and spitting out the turbid fumes, refusing to accept the wicked world."

"Carrying a long sword and holding the king's bow, though head and body part, the heart remains unrepentant."

"..." Zhao He couldn't help but cover his ears. However, just then, the sound of a lock cracking came through. The door was suddenly opened.

"Hm?" Zhao He suddenly straightened up.

But he was cautious and did not move immediately; instead, he pricked up his ears to listen.

A short while later, Jiang Li suddenly pushed open the door.

"Zhao He, look, I told you someone would come to rescue us!"

"Come, follow this official to kill our way out of this prison and restore the clear sky to Ruo Commandery!"

……

Time passed; Zhao Xing's avatars moved constantly across various regions of Pinghai Prefecture.

Using an avatar with top-tier techniques and strength comparable to the Third Rank to save low-to-mid-rank people was simply a waste of great talent on trivial matters.

If the imperial court wasted manpower this way, the Liang Wang camp would almost laugh themselves awake.

How countless were the low-to-mid-rank officials?

Even if they noticed, they would not intervene; instead, they would be delighted that the imperial court acted thus. Of course, Zhao Xing's actions were actually inconspicuous, and no one connected these events.

After all, Pinghai Prefecture was too vast; a single commandery's territory equaled the area of Earth.

How would the rescue of a few low-to-mid-rank individuals attract attention? Even without war, vast numbers of people died and were born every single day.

Losing or gaining one or two was like a single drop of water missing from the ocean; it had absolutely no impact.

However, the people-rescue campaign Zhao Xing initiated starting from Lin Hai Commandery drew the attention of both enemy and friendly camps.

Because Zhao Xing, Xia Jing, and the group from the Ten Yang Cave Heaven began leveraging their personal connections to expand the scale of their operations.

"Brother Wu, I heard your family's merchant guild holds a massive stockpile of Huang Shi grass; could you spare some for me?"

"No problem. How much do you need?"

"Two billion dan."

"Agreed."

"Brother Liu, since we parted at the Cave Heaven last time, I never expected you to have become a Doctor of Classics at the Hundred Weapons Dao Academy."

"I currently need a batch of smiths who understand the 'Qushan Standard Manufacturing Method'; I wonder if you could recommend a few talented individuals to me?"

"I am Tian Shan. Immediately send all funds the family can mobilize to Shangdang, Zhenxun, Wushan, Tianxing, Jiujiang, Tianxiong, and the seven major commanderies of Baiguo."

"Additionally, launch all commercial sky-lou ships and dispatch them to these same seven major commanderies."

"Contact these one hundred and thirty-six Hou Jue, nine Wang Jue, and three Dukes; tell them Tian Shan is here to collect favors. They need not risk their lives; simply provide me with funds or resources!"

"Marquis Yuanrang, the Shangluo Academy currently has fourteen thousand three hundred and fifty-seven lower Third Rank Agricultural Officials, and over eleven thousand Sixth and Fifth Rank Agricultural Officials who can take your orders."

"Chen'an, is a fleet of twenty thousand Earth-Walking Boats sufficient? If not, we can transfer more from the Yueya Branch Academy, though that would require half a month—no, seven days."

"You want to dig underground shelters? What level?"

"Only Level Five? Then I, as Branch Academy Head, can make the decision."

By the time it reached the eighth month of the Jingxin Era, the scale of the operation had already become considerable.

However, just as Zhao Xing had predicted, as long as the targets were not strategic strongholds and the people being saved did not affect the overall situation, resistance would be much weaker.

The common folk of the countryside, their lives as worthless as grass; they grow up in a crop cycle of merely fourteen or fifteen years. What use are they?

Wasting so many resources and manpower on such matters, some in the Liang Wang camp actually held a mocking attitude.

Of course, some seemed to see through Zhao Xing's intentions, but the same rule applied: because the involved levels were low, even if there was some obstruction, the priority remained relatively low. It was not something requiring immediate handling.

The avatars were busy and bustling; the true body, residing within the Star Palace, was constantly in cultivation.

Except for the tenth and twelfth months of the thirty-fifth year of the Jingxin Era, when he considered external affairs.

At all other times, Zhao Xing's true body focused entirely on researching the breakthrough of the top-tier technique, the Soul-Devouring Dharma Body.

"In the tenth month of the thirty-fifth year of the Jingxin Era, the scale of mobilized resources has nearly reached the trillion level."

"Although distributed across various regions of Pinghai Prefecture, making individual project funding inconspicuous, the total has already surpassed the trillion mark."

"While my avatars are busy, saving lives and rushing everywhere, my comprehension is gradually increasing," Zhao Xing thought inwardly.

Ordinarily, the Myriad Techniques Avatars were used mostly for combat; they rarely did other things.

The techniques employed were very concentrated.

The Eighty-One Straw Man Techniques were not used in their entirety.

Now that operational capacity had greatly increased and encountered matters had multiplied, this was comprehensive training: Divine Movement, Return Movement, Holy Shield, Giant Strength, Vajra, Entanglement, Reconnaissance, Invisibility, Illusion Form, Self-Detonation, Sky Flight, and Divine Valor.

Zhao Xing finally understood why Liu Tianning's Myriad Techniques Palace had so many avatars each performing their own tasks.

"This method of experiencing the mortal world indeed allows the progress of the Straw Man Techniques to increase greatly."

Zhao Xing re-entered cultivation.

By the twelfth month of the thirty-fifth year of the Jingxin Era, he once again emerged from his self-forgetful state to attend to major external events.

"Liu Si has been cut in half at the waist?" Zhao Xing looked at the intelligence in the Earth Mirror, then closed his eyes.

"Just like in the previous life, he is dead."

"Those two are truly brothers."

"One cut Gu Gu Wenhe; the other cut Liu Si."

"With this, Liu Si's death causes the legitimacy of 'purging the monarch's entourage' to plummet sharply. Liang Wang will likely soon summon the feudal lords for an alliance, attempting to break out of Pinghai Prefecture."

"The true great chaos will begin the moment Liang Wang loses the Yin Spirit Summoning; Li Boqian will also act at that moment."

"I must hurry my cultivation."

After thinking it through, Zhao Xing opened his eyes and resumed his cultivation.

"The Soul-Devouring Dharma Body of the Myriad Techniques Avatar, with every cultivation session, tugs at my Life Soul."

"If not for the Great Expansion Divine Art, practicing this way would have driven me mad long ago."

"Now I feel a surge of murderous qi throughout my body, and negative emotions have increased," Zhao Xing frowned.

"Could it be that the side effects brought by the Myriad Techniques Avatar are unavoidable?"

"That makes no sense; in the Spiritual Qi Era, I practiced it perfectly well."

Zhao Xing stopped cultivating and began repeatedly deducing the cultivation direction of the Soul-Devouring Dharma Body.

Ultimately, he confirmed that the Myriad Techniques Avatar indeed affects human emotions to a certain extent.

This is a temporal limitation of the Myriad Techniques Straw Men.

It stems mainly from the Soul-Devouring Dharma Body; this top-tier technique's depth of splitting the Life Soul is quite severe.

Without this, the spells cast by a top-tier avatar cannot increase in power.

"If not enhanced, my original body's fourth-transformation spells, and the Ten Thousand Avatars, can still only cast first-transformation spells."

"The basic understanding of the Five Elements' true meaning slightly distorts the rules; its mastery alters the rules. Each avatar inherently possesses the ability to influence the laws of heaven and earth — this is a law that defies heaven itself."

"Such intense power naturally comes with side effects," Zhao Xing thought silently.

As for whether this art can be improved through Qi — that must be verified later.

"The side effect currently manifesting in me is violent emotion, making my killing intent extremely strong."

"With my 49,999 mental threads from the Great Expansion Spirit Decree, I should be able to control the top-tier avatar."

Zhao Xing could now pierce the final layer of paper at any moment, and he vaguely understood what would happen upon completion.

After careful consideration, Zhao Xing decided to break through as soon as possible. The advantages of possessing a top-tier avatar far outweighed the drawbacks.

"Huu~"

On the Star Platform, hundreds of straw dolls rose, then began to disintegrate and merge.

Each avatar was now fusing the Eighty-One Straw Doll Arts, and through continuous fusion, seeking even stronger paths.

Of the Eighty-One upgradeable paths, there are Seven Avatar Forms.

Zhao Xing was currently focusing primarily on the Soul-Devouring Avatar.

Lost in contemplation, he was unaware of the passage of time.

The avatars on the Star Platform gradually diminished.

One day, Zhao Xing suddenly opened his eyes.

On the Star Platform, only one avatar remained.

That avatar also opened its eyes at the same moment.

"Boom boom~~"

Two heartbeats sounded; both the original body and the avatar's eyes flashed with intense killing desire.

Yet in an instant, the killing desire in their eyes was suppressed by the Secret Glyph Stars.

On the 25th day of the fourth month, in the 36th year of the Jingxin Era, the top-tier avatar was completed.

At this point, one year had passed since Zhao Xing began his seclusion and cultivation.

"Shhhla~"

The Star Palace's treasure vault opened again, and a torrent of materials surged forth.

When these precious materials appeared on the Star Platform, countless figures emerged.

In the blink of an eye, the count surpassed one thousand!

"After one year of cautious cultivation, striving to minimize the negative effects, I've finally reached the Thousand Avatars realm — and the negative effects are now very minor," Zhao Xing felt.

"As long as my Great Expansion Spirit Decree progresses beyond the Straw Doll Arts, I can suppress them indefinitely — by the Qi Era, the negative effects will vanish entirely."

But Zhao Xing had no mind for such thoughts now.

"The top-tier avatar is complete. I must leave the mountain."