Chapter 293: Aftermath Cleanup, the Imperial Decree of Rewards Arrives

The premature downfall of Liang Wang gave Zhao Xing a certain speculation in his heart.

But now there is no other major event for him to test his speculation, so he can only record it for now.

On the eighth day of the twelfth month of the thirty-sixth year of the Jingxin Era, Zhao Xing's true body also left the Star Palace.

"Now we have reached the final stage of beating a drowning dog."

"The news of Liang Wang's defeat in Lvliang Prefecture will soon spread throughout the world; I have no need to eat the last bit of meat."

Zhao Xing left the Star Palace and immediately flew to the Heavenly Horse Villa of the Princess's Manor.

A streak of cloud and mist brushed across the residence of Chen Shijie.

"Old Chen."

Zhao Xing lightly kicked, and a wave of primal energy spread toward the ground, beginning to search for Chen Shijie's secluded retreat.

"Yu~"

In a short while, he found Chen Shijie's location.

It was in an underground palace three thousand meters beneath the earth.

The Soul-Refining Underground Palace!

As a senior agronomist of the Dili Sect, Chen Shijie's method of soul-refining chose the most solid Soul-Refining Underground Palace technique.

And during these two idle years, Chen Shijie spent ninety percent of his time in the underground palace; even Gui Niang rarely saw him.

"Old Chen~ Old Chen~"

The earth vein fluctuated, gentle yet powerful, continuously transmitting into the underground palace.

"Hmm?"

Chen Shijie, sitting cross-legged within the earth vein, opened his eyes.

Then he quickly rose upward, breaking free from the underground palace, and appeared on the ground.

"Zhao Xing, has the time arrived?"

"Yes."

Zhao Xing glanced at Chen Shijie; at this moment, Old Chen's temperament was completely different from two years ago; he had already entered the Fourth Realm.

The seven souls had been fully refined, his foundation solid, far exceeding the standard line.

In the early Jingxin Era, Chen Shijie's talent and bone structure were low; only his comprehension could be called average.

However, after experiencing the promotion and fortune of the early stages of the Pacifying Barbarians Great War, consuming the spiritual essence of the Ten Yang Heavenly Cave, cultivating the Dao in the East Sea for ten years, and consolidating his foundation for two years at the Princess's Manor with Zhao Xing's resources, he could now be said to have undergone a complete transformation.

"It is time; Liang Wang has already fallen, and you, this waiting official, should also emerge from the mountains."

Zhao Xing shared the intelligence with Chen Shijie.

Except for a slight movement in Chen Shijie's eyes upon hearing of Liang Wang's defeat, Chen Shijie remained very calm at all other times.

The earth bears all things with great virtue; now Chen Shijie's mind is even stronger, possessing a steadiness that would not even furrow a brow if the sky collapsed.

"Have you finished reading?"

"I have finished reading."

"Chen Shijie, receive the imperial decree!"

Zhao Xing took out a commission edict, which he had obtained from Luo Wang.

"Your subject is here."

Chen Shijie spread his robes and knelt on the ground.

What he was receiving now was a royal decree imbued with the power of imperial bestowal.

A Fifth-Rank waiting official, according to regulations, must kneel to receive the decree.

Zhao Xing unfolded the edict.

"Yu~"

A phantom image appeared above it, precisely Luo Wang, holding the Emperor's Command Sword, wearing the Heavenly King Armor, and wielding the Instant Prison Bow.

"This King, by order of Your Majesty, specially appoints you as the Agronomist Supervisor of Tongming Prefecture and the Prefect of Pingyuan, concurrently serving as the Classical Agronomist Commandant of the Pang Yuan Ming Army and a Fourth-Level Special Envoy of the Underground Tunnel Bureau; proceed immediately to Tongming Prefecture to assume office."

"Your subject receives the decree."

Chen Shijie raised his hands above his head.

Zhao Xing placed this edict into his hands.

Chen Shijie's hands sank slightly; this edict was heavy, but the sentiment within was even heavier.

Whether it was the Prefect of Pingyuan, the Classical Agronomist Commandant of the Pang Yuan Ming Army, or the Special Envoy of the Underground Tunnel Bureau, all were Fourth-Rank positions! Among them, the Prefect of Pingyuan was even a proper Fourth Rank.

How could a Fifth-Rank waiting official, idle for several years, who had previously only served as the Director of the Dragon Horse Stable and the Right Director of the Earth God Temple, obtain such an appointment?

Although it was a special appointment and a temporary position, as long as he performed well, converting it to a permanent post would be as certain as a nail in a board.

"You were even able to request such an edict from the Ruling King," Chen Shijie said after rising, unable to help but feel moved.

Zhao Xing smiled lightly: "You, Chen Shijie, are worthy of this appointment. If it were a mediocre official, even if I begged for the decree, they could not hold it; not only would they not rise, they might even be demoted."

"Tongming Prefecture is now in need of rebuilding from scratch; Old Chen, you will have to endure hardship and toil in the days ahead."

Chen Shijie also smiled: "Only you, Zhao Chen'an, can describe a promotion as enduring hardship and toil."

In the past, it was obvious he could make huge political achievements!

Even if he did the worst possible job, how bad could it be?

Tongming Prefecture was already in need of rebuilding from scratch; these few positions of his were all inseparable from regulating the earth veins.

Once the turmoil in Haizhou was pacified, the earth would begin to slowly repair itself; not to mention that the leader of the Dili Sect, Xuanyuan Qingtian, had once used the Earth God Artifact to cast 【Mountains and Rivers Eternal Stability】.

He, Chen Shijie, as long as he sat in that position, even if he did nothing at all, could lie down and reap political achievements.

"Time is pressing; hurry and set out," Zhao Xing said.

This was merely a temporary appointment; as for the subsequent adjustments in official administration, how far Chen Shijie could go depended entirely on himself.

He had chosen this position for Old Chen after deep consideration; Zhao Xing believed that with Chen Shijie's ability, he would certainly achieve something.

"Let's go."

Leaving a single sentence for Gui Niang, Chen Shijie followed Zhao Xing out of the Princess's residence.

Tongming Prefecture is still quite far from Chongming Prefecture; getting there won't be a matter of a moment or two.

But Zhao Xing possessed the special privilege of the Dao Academy, so it took only a single day to deliver Chen Shijie to Tongming Prefecture.

"I won't accompany you to the prefectural government office."

"No need, I can handle it."

Chen Shijie certainly did not need Zhao Xing to accompany him further.

At this stage, if he still couldn't manage his subordinates, colleagues, and superiors, he might as well dash his head against a wall and die.

If Zhao Xing still accompanied him there, it would be like feeding rice directly into his mouth; that is not how one becomes an official.

"Good, I await your good news."

After seeing Chen Shijie off, Zhao Xing's true body once again began teleporting through 【Biyou Canghai】.

His next stop was Dayuan Prefecture, Nanyang Commandery; this was also his hometown.

"Swish~"

Zhao Xing arrived quickly at the temple of Nanyang Commandery.

After entering the temple, Zhao Xing flicked his finger, and the incense burner immediately ignited.

"Where are the Day and Night Wandering Gods?"

"Whoosh~"

Two divine statues manifested their true spirits.

The original Day and Night Wandering Gods were already dead; the current ones were newly appointed in the Yin Realm, their power not yet sufficient, their forms somewhat illusory.

"We pay our respects to the Inspector."

When low-ranking Yin Gods see a high official, it is the Yin Gods paying respects to the high official.

"Where is Zong Shichang, the seventh-grade Pinghuai Official of Nanyang Commandery, located now?"

"He is inspecting Wang Family Village in Yuhe County."

"Good, you may withdraw."

Having learned the location, Zhao Xing vanished within the temple.

Zong Shichang was an eighth-grade official in the 22nd year of the Jingxin Era; now, in the 36th year of the Jingxin Era, he has only risen to the junior seventh grade.

Being an official in a small place is like this; one might not move from one's position for over a decade.

That Zong Shichang could rise from eighth grade to seventh grade was entirely because, when Zhao Xing returned to Nanyang Commandery, he stood up for Young Master Zong, so the Prefect of Nanyang Commandery gave him the opportunity.

However, he can reach at most the seventh grade; mid-grade officials cannot be promoted so easily.

Now that the chaos in Pinghaizhou is in its final stages, the opportunity has arrived.

Of course, Zhao Xing must also see what Young Master Zong thinks and how capable he is; otherwise, forcibly promoting him to a mid-grade official position would be harming him.

Yuhe County, Wang Family Village.

"Where is that old dog Gongsun Bo's Return-to-Origin Water Wheel? Why hasn't it been installed yet?!"

"My Lord Zong, Lord Gongsun said the weather is too cold, and the mechanics from the Heavenly Workshop find it difficult to enter the water, so the construction schedule must be delayed by a few days."

"Damn it! That old thing is just slacking off! Go, find Inspector Wu and have him bring men to drag that old dog out of his doghouse!"

"This——"

"Go!"

As soon as Zhao Xing arrived, he heard Zong Shichang scolding someone.

"My Lord Zong, you have quite the official's authority!"

"Who?!"

Zong Shichang turned around sharply, only to see a familiar face staring at him with a smile.

"Hahaha, Zhao Xing!" Zong Shichang was overjoyed. "How have you returned?!"

"Don't ask me that yet; what is going on with you?"

Hearing this, Zong Shichang immediately snorted: "What else could it be? The weather is freezing, and the people from the Heavenly Workshop simply don't want to work."

"Let me tell you, that old dog Gongsun Bo is simply a rascal——"

Heavy snow fell from the sky while Zong Shichang on the ground poured out his grievances.

The two stood by the surging river; one listened while the other spoke.

From time to time, chunks of ice jumped into the river, joining the vast army of river water advancing forward to conquer territory.

Listening and calculating, Zhao Xing loosened his fingers.

He immediately understood the situation.

The flood caused by the Southern Barbarians leveraging the power of the Canglan River had indeed brought some impact.

For all prefectural capitals and commanderies not far from the Canglan River, the water volume this year was exceptionally high.

Nanyang Commandery, including Dayuan Prefecture, was not an enemy-occupied zone during the chaotic period; although small groups of rebels appeared occasionally, they were swiftly suppressed, and from beginning to end, it remained under the control of the imperial court.

Therefore, it was never designated by the imperial court as a 【Disaster Zone】.

Since it was not a disaster zone, manpower and supplies were naturally prioritized for other places, and no one would be so concerned.

From the perspective of those above, it had little impact on the overall situation.

For the common people in the countryside, most villages along the river had been submerged; in their eyes, that was a great disaster.

Young Master Zong is the Pinghuai Official, responsible for the rivers in the countryside.

He must build water wheels and open channels in the rural areas.

But there is no funding, and no sufficient manpower.

In these two years, the entire Pinghai Prefecture has lacked both money and manpower.

The rebellion can be quelled, the world can be pacified, but economic losses cannot be recovered in the short term.

To see any relief, it would have to wait until an era of great peace.

After cursing for a while, Zong Zong Shichang finally calmed down: "Sigh, actually, it cannot be entirely blamed on them. Blame me for lacking the ability to coordinate all parties; the imperial court has no money to send down either. Sigh—----"

Zhao Xing nodded slightly: "If Brother Zong's position were any higher, you would certainly be able to secure blessings for the people."

Zong Zong Shichang did not catch Zhao Xing's meaning, and said somewhat melancholically, "Where would I have such ability? I cannot even manage these small rivers—Hmm?"

Suddenly, Zong Zong Shichang looked at the sky with suspicion. He instinctively unbuttoned his collar: "Why has it gotten so hot? And this river—Holy crap, why has the water level dropped so much?"

Zhao Xing smiled: "It seems Brother Zong's efforts have moved Heaven and Earth; the disaster in Wang Family Village has eased."

"Really?" Zong Zong Shichang looked at Zhao Xing with some doubt, then ran over to the nearby bamboo shed.

"It really has dropped. The Yin-Yang Instrument has tilted left by one ke and three fen. According to Wu Jinong's book, this is the sign that the disaster is dissipating."

"The Earth Spirit Water Grass has lost five leaves, and the Warmth Vase has also dropped seven notches—"

"Could it be that I truly moved Heaven?"

"I don't even worship the gods that often."

Zong Zong Shichang did not understand, but was greatly shocked.

After receiving messages from officials in many places, he finally confirmed that the disaster was truly dissipating, not just in Wang Family Village.

"Brother Zhao, did you do this?" Zong Zong Shichang turned and asked. "Since you arrived, the disaster has eased."

"Did you invite some great figure to intervene?"

"It is indeed related to me."

"Ah, it really is you."

Zong Zong Shichang found it hard to believe. Having never seen the methods of a high-rank Ministry of Agriculture official, in his understanding, Zhao Xing seemed to be getting more and more powerful, yet he still dared not think of such a high position.

"You are so powerful; can your brother follow you to rise in rank and get rich? Hahaha." Zong Zong Shichang joked.

Zhao Xing also smiled:

"Sure. Judging by Brother Zong's abilities, serving as a Sixth Rank official would be no problem."

"With some training, even Fifth Rank would be fitting."

"However, there are no opportunities here in Nanyang Commandery. Are you willing to leave your hometown and serve as an official in a distant place?"

"As long as you wish, I can recommend you elsewhere, starting as a temporary Sixth Rank official. Whether you can be confirmed in the post, and how long it takes, depends on your ability."

Zong Zong Shichang froze: "You, you are serious?"

After receiving Zhao Xing's affirmative reply, Zong Zong Shichang became somewhat conflicted instead.

He pondered for a while, and ultimately refused.

"Brother Zhao, thank you for your kindness."

Zong Zong Shichang rubbed his face and said, "How to put it? I do not have such great ambition. I only wish to stay with Qing'er and live a peaceful life. If I can secure some blessings for the people on top of that, I will be satisfied."

"You should understand what I mean, right?"

Zhao Xing patted Zong Zong Shichang's shoulder: "Understood. Not everyone wants to be a high official. Some people just want to live their lives happily. The eagle has the eagle's ambition; the wild boar has the wild boar's way of living. Everyone has different pursuits; there is no need to force it."

"Right, right, that is exactly what I mean." Zong Zong Shichang nodded vigorously, then froze again. "Wait, I suspect you are saying I have no great ambition, that I am a pig-headed fool who just eats, waits to die, and seeks no progress."

"Don't suspect."

"Damn it, you dog thief, take this punch!"

"Hahaha, remember to pay me ten taels of silver!"

"Hahaha, put it on my tab first; let me hit you eighteen times!"

Yunbei Lake is the largest lake in Dongchang Prefecture, and also the largest inland lake in Pinghai Prefecture.

It is located in the eastern part of Pinghai Prefecture; after the unrest in Pinghai Prefecture, this lake has become larger than before.

"Splash~"

In one spot, the lake water suddenly arched upward, as if a huge creature was lurking beneath the ground.

"Gurgle~"

A giant bubble rose to the surface.

When it expanded to a radius of twenty meters, it suddenly burst apart.

"Cough, cough~ cough, cough~"

A figure appeared above the lake surface; this person was Ji Chen, who had fled from the East Sea.

When the East Sea rebels' cause was already lost, Ji Chen did not flee deeper into the East Sea with Hong Pang Yuan Shou. Instead, he went against the flow, went ashore, and used the authority of the Bishui Dao Academy to reach Yunbei Lake in Dongchang Prefecture.

He fled in time; at this moment, a teleportation channel authority controlled by Liang Wang was still in effect.

Ji Chen wanted to borrow passage all the way to the Southern Wastelands, because when his father was surrounded, he had instructed him to run in that direction.

Only in this way was there a path to survival.

"Cough~ cough~" Ji Chen began to cough violently again. As a Third Rank realm cultivator, he was truly not doing well now.

Because he suffered heavy impact, a golden sword was stuck in his shoulder; it was this sword that made it impossible for him to recover completely.

"Aaaah—" Ji Chen tried to pull out the golden sword, but as soon as he pulled it out half a chi, a powerful sword intent radiated from the blade, ruthlessly destroying his body.

At the same time, this divine sword was growing larger.

As long as he used his primal energy, the sword would keep growing larger!

Zhuo! Smoke rose from the hand holding the sword hilt; he had no choice but to give up pulling out the sword.

"Damn Long Xiao, damn it!!"

Ji Chen lowered his head.

He had originally escaped with perfect ease, everything done without a soul knowing.

But he never expected that a sword cultivator named Long Xiao would actually find him!

Not only that, it seemed as if the other had been waiting specifically for him; the moment he was about to complete his teleportation, the other launched a surprise attack!

Six of the swords were dodged by Ji Chen, yet one sword still pierced through his body.

"How did he know where I was fleeing to? Even Hong Pang Yuan Shou didn't know my escape route; I still had absolute Heavenly Secrets concealment on me—"

Ji Chen could not figure out how he had been spotted.

Could it be that what the King said about absolute concealment was a lie?

He had no choice but to stop and heal his wounds while thinking through an escape path.

But merely a quarter-hour later.

A bubble appeared on the lake surface three thousand meters behind him, and a man carrying a great sword emerged into the air above the lake.

Sword qi swirled around the figure, as if he were a heavenly god.

At the same time, the golden sword on Ji Chen's body trembled violently.

"What?!"

"It's Long Xiao; he has chased after us again!"

Ji Chen immediately understood the identity of the newcomer.

Just then, through the perception of the Seven Stars Divine Sword, Long Xiao also discovered the location of the Tianquan Sword.

The Seven Stars Divine Sword was originally a treasure sword bestowed by the Jing Emperor upon Bai Mingchuan.

One must admit the Jing Emperor had a wicked sense of humor; part of the divine sword's materials were identical to the Heaven and Earth Fish Hook.

It similarly possessed the 【Seven Stars Positioning】 function.

The Bai family was of the Water Clan; bestowed with this set of eighth-grade supreme-grade Seven Stars Divine Swords by the Jing Emperor, Bai Mingchuan still had to be tearfully grateful.

But he was not a sword cultivator, so he gave it to Long Xiao to use.

"Found you!"

Upon seeing Ji Chen, Long Xiao's eyes blazed with fire.

"You beast, return the Marquis's life!"

Ji Chen stopped running; he knew that unless he dealt with Long Xiao, he would be discovered no matter how he fled.

He immediately pasted a divine talisman on his chest and another on his back to suppress the effect of the Seven Stars Divine Sword.

"Long Xiao, don't you want to know Yang An's dying words?"

While pasting the talisman, Ji Chen watched Long Xiao approaching at high speed, striving to delay time to recover: "I was on the battlefield at that time, and I witnessed his death with my own eyes."

Long Xiao indeed stopped.

But the next moment.

The six divine swords behind him swiftly unsheathed and flew toward Ji Chen like swimming dragons.

"Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh~"

Sword shadows filling the sky formed a sword formation, completely surrounding Ji Chen.

This Long Xiao, after more than ten years of tempering, was no longer the brave Captain who could be provoked by anyone at any time.

He had rage, but also sufficient reason to master that rage.

"Swish swish swish swish~"

Sword qi crossed; Ji Chen dodged clumsily, screaming wildly: "Yang An, hahaha, he died too miserably!"

"I instructed Luo Zhen to betray him; I never expected Yang An would actually fall for it!"

"By the way, Luo Zhen later became the King of Xi'er, right at your Shenwei Army's original garrison, ahahaha!"

"Yang An was truly foolish; he clearly had a chance to escape, but for the sake of brotherhood, he stubbornly refused to retreat alone."

"In the end, he died from exhaustion, not even his soul managed to flee; before he died, he let out a cry of unbearable pain. Do you know why?"

"Hahahaha, it was the Soul-Devouring Gu!"

Enduring intense pain, Ji Chen cast spells to resist while frantically dodging; he possessed many treasures, so even trapped in the Seven Stars Sword Array and attacked by countless sword qi, he could still hold on.

"The Soul-Devouring Gu is the most painful, most torturous method in the world!"

"Yang An's will was resilient enough; the Soul-Devouring Gu tortured him for a full month before turning his soul into nothingness—"

Under Ji Chen's constant provocation, Long Xiao's body trembled, his rage seeming ready to burn him up.

But Long Xiao's eyes grew colder and colder.

Anger and sword intent were constantly rising!

In the blink of an eye, it broke through a critical threshold.

Seeing this, Ji Chen was instantly greatly alarmed.

Because he discovered his provocation had not achieved the expected effect; instead, it caused Long Xiao's sword technique to break through!

The hundred thousand sword qi in the Seven Stars Sword Array jumped to two hundred thousand in the blink of an eye!

"Clang clang clang clang clang clang!"

Dense sword qi made the space two thousand meters around him completely into a world of swords!

Originally, the attack power of every single sword qi emitted by the Seven Stars Divine Sword only barely reached the early stage of the Third Rank.

However, now, the power of the sword qi was also rising!

Two hundred thousand strands turned into five hundred thousand!

The attack power of every single sword qi had already reached the mid-stage of the Third Rank!

Ji Chen was simply stunned!

Long Xiao, at the Fourth Realm, could actually unleash such powerful combat power; even Yang An back in the day might not have possessed such powerful combat power.

And this was entirely provoked by him!

He dared not speak again.

Although the defensive treasures on his body could block the sword qi, they could not completely cancel out the impact force.

Except for barrier-type treasures, no treasure offers absolute defense; shock absorption also has a limit.

Moreover, Ji Chen was only Third Rank, so he could not fully unleash the treasures' power.

Besides, Long Xiao's ambush was truly seasoned, leaving many of Ji Chen's treasures unable to be activated.

For instance, the Jin Yu battle armor covering his entire body could not complete coverage over his chest for a long time, precisely because of the Seven-Star Divine Sword.

"Disaster!"

Ji Chen's face changed wildly.

He watched the light shield before him grow weaker and weaker, while the barrier activated by the wolf-tooth jade pendant on his body was frantically weakening.

All barriers have an energy value and are constantly consumed.

The only treasures on his body capable of completely defending against attacks were barrier-type treasures.

The Jin Yu battle armor did possess a ninety-percent weakening effect.

But now it could only exert eighty percent.

"!"

Under the dense assault of sword qi, the eighth-grade supreme defensive barrier was finally broken.

Now Ji Chen could only endure it head-on.

Originally, with the armor's eighty-percent weakening, he could still withstand it.

But gradually, he found he could no longer endure that terrifying impact force.

"Long Xiao, Yang An actually did not die!"

"His soul is hidden by me; spare me, and I will lead you to him!"

"Ah—

Ji Chen was terrified; he tried lying to make Long Xiao stop, but at this moment, Long Xiao simply did not believe a word Ji Chen said.

"No, no, no, stop quickly! Yang An really did not die—"

"Pfft!"

At a certain moment, Ji Chen felt excruciating pain surge through his body.

The divine sword on his body had vanished, and a large hole appeared in his chest.

"Pfft~"

Sword qi drilled in through his chest; Ji Chen discovered that the Jin Yu battle armor he wore was being stripped away by Long Xiao's sword qi.

Like a butcher dismembering an ox, after a brief moment, a complete Jin Yu battle armor turned into a flowing liquid mass, while beside it lay Ji Chen, naked and severely injured.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Seven divine swords pinned Ji Chen dead in the void.

Flames ignited on his body as he struggled continuously.

But he could not break free from even one divine sword, let alone seven?

"... Save me— Save me!"

Ji Chen shouted, but Long Xiao could not hear the first two words, as if they had been silenced.

Suddenly, the sword qi vanished.

Long Xiao stopped.

Ji Chen looked at Long Xiao, his eyes filled with despair, because he discovered that Long Xiao, originally Fourth Rank, had already entered the Third Rank realm!

What an astonishing talent!

What made it even more despairing was that Long Xiao did not seem to intend to kill him immediately;

otherwise, he should have died when the Jin Yu Divine Armor was stripped away just now.

"Long Xiao, come on! Cough cough— Use your, your most cruel method to kill me!" Ji Chen raved:

"Come on! Let this Prince see how great your methods are!"

"Hahaha, Yang An died very miserably. Do you see the brocade pouch on my left waist? Inside it is a bottle of Yuan-Pricking Water."

"You, you only need to drip one drop onto me, and my pain will amplify ten thousandfold. This is what was used on Yang An—"

A trace of cruelty flashed in Long Xiao's eyes as he was about to take action.

"Yu"

Just then, a transmission talisman in Long Xiao's chest automatically burned.

A familiar voice appeared beside Long Xiao's ear.

"Long Xiao, do not become the shape your enemies expect."

Long Xiao's voice was hoarse as he said, "Did you hear what he said?"

"The Marquis would not want you to do this. Kill him swiftly and cleanly, then go to Anping Prefecture."

"I have urgent matters to discuss with you."

In the distant Fucheng, Zhao Xing gazed at the sky at this moment, as if he saw the scene unfolding there.

He did not want Long Xiao to become the person he was in his past life; today, if Long Xiao tortured Ji Chen to death in a cruel manner, it would indeed vent hatred.

But Long Xiao's sword heart would also be affected.

Entering the Third Rank Dao through hatred, and if he followed Ji Chen's temptation to torture cruelly, this would be detrimental to Long Xiao's future Dao.

"Long Xiao!" Zhao Xing noticed Long Xiao was not moving and grew anxious, shouting sternly: "Kill him quickly!"

"Ahhh!!!"

Long Xiao finally heeded the advice; the Ten Thousand Swords reappeared, instantly shredding Ji Chen's physical body along with his life soul.

After Ji Chen vanished, the scarlet in Long Xiao's eyes faded, leaving two lines of clear tears.

"Wu Wu Wu Wu~ My Lord————"

Hearing Long Xiao's weeping, Zhao Xing on the other end also breathed a sigh of relief.

He waited quietly.

A quarter-hour later, Long Xiao's hoarse voice came through: "Zhao Xing, I've finished crying. Where should I go now?"

"Anping Prefecture. Patrol the eastern tributaries of the Canglan River, shredding the remaining enemies."

Only along the Canglan River are there still enemies of sufficient weight.

The inner prefecture is mostly small fry, not enough to go around.

Chen Shijie is already in the civil official system; Zhao Xing ordered him to quickly secure achievements in governance.

Long Xiao is a military general, so he must go secure achievements in killing enemies.

"Good, I'll go immediately."

Zhao Xing instructed: "I have no more talismans. Remember, you may kill, but do not use cruel methods to torture enemies; it harms your Dao."

"When you truly cannot hold back, go to the temple to dispel the killing intent, otherwise qi deviation is very likely."

"Good, I understand."

Long Xiao's voice gradually stabilized.

"Keep in touch."

The talisman paper burned out completely, and Zhao Xing's voice vanished.

Long Xiao scooped up Ji Chen's scattered items and quickly disappeared from Yunbei Lake.

Datong Prefecture, wilderness swamp, three thousand meters underground.

A vast underground city lies here.

Within the seventh underground city, the 【Planting Zone】.

Xia Jing ran to a straw man in the Planting Zone and exclaimed excitedly, "Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing, Liang Wang is dead!"

"Mm, I know." The straw man nodded and continued turning the soil.

"I'm saying Liang Wang is dead!" Xia Jing grew anxious. "Shouldn't we do something about it?"

"Aren't we doing that right now?" Zhao Xing turned around.

"Nothing else?" Xia Jing asked. "Many remaining enemies are fleeing southeast; right now, the entire Canglan River line is full of big shots!"

Xia Jing's intelligence was sharp; hearing of Liang Wang's defeat and fall, he knew this was the time to beat a fallen dog.

"Brother Xia, I do not recommend you go."

"Huh? Why?" Xia Jing said. "Isn't this a good opportunity?"

"You are too weak."

"???"

Xia Jing almost dismantled this straw man of Zhao Xing.

"I mean, relative to the current situation, you are too weak," Zhao Xing said. "You do not possess Third Rank strength."

"You cannot possibly get a share of the spoils."

"With the main army stationed in Ping Haizhou, how many powerful ones have been sent over? Where is there any room for you to chop off heads?"

"Even with Third Rank strength, it is not quite enough; you might toil away only to find it was all in vain."

Once Xia Jing figured it out, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. "You didn't have to be so blunt."

"If I weren't blunt, I'd fear you couldn't hold back."

"Old friend, you are currently Fourth Rank Yuan Soul Realm. If you encounter some fleeing First or Second Rank at this final moment, wouldn't you just die in vain?"

"The Shelter Plan and the Underground City Plan are enough to keep you full."

Xia Jing nodded. "Actually, I'm not unable to hold back; it's just that I am not alone anymore."

From the thirty-fifth year of the Jingxin Era until now, the operation spread by Xia Jing and Zhao Xing has reached a considerable scale.

The resources mobilized exceeded three trillion!

Most of these resources were squeezed out of the noble families and powerful clans.

They did not give money for nothing; naturally, they expect returns!

Even if short-term returns are not required, Xia Jing must go up; once Xia Jing goes up, they will have plenty of opportunities to ask for favors later.

"Be patient." Zhao Xing covered the last handful of soil; the one mu of seedlings before him was now fully planted. "Great Zhou has enough generals who can fight; those who can both fight and govern are few."

"Once all this passes and those above cast their gaze down, you will stand out."

Xia Jing stroked his chin and said, "Do you think there will be any more battles later? Should I switch to becoming a civil official?"

Zhao Xing shook his head; Emperor Jing would not launch a second campaign to pacify the barbarians.

In the two governance periods to follow, Great Zhou's policy would shift to defense.

The army and military expenditures would be drastically reduced, making it very difficult for generals to rise.

Furthermore, he would constantly find reasons to cut power, reclaim authority, accumulate national strength, and leave a family foundation for his son.

"Do not be fooled by the fierce fighting outside; though those generals seem to be picking up heads, very, very few can truly stand out."

"Let alone high-rank quotas; even mid-rank promotion quotas are very scarce."

"Ultimately, this is a rebellion, a civil war."

"It is not a glorious matter and is not worth publicizing extensively."

Zhao Xing spoke in a low voice: "Brother Xia, at this time, I not only do not recommend you seek merit, but I advise your father to voluntarily surrender, return military command, obey arrangements, and further reduce the tax revenue rights of his fief."

"Additionally, regarding the Shelter Plan, before the Spring Society Day, I will transfer all control to the government."

"While others fear, I am greedy; while others are greedy, I fear."

"Now, it is time for fear."

Xia Jing looked shocked and uncertain: "My uncle seems to have said this too, but not as heavily as you do. My father holds the opposite opinion. Why is that?"

Zhao Xing said, "Because your uncle and the others believe the war against the Southern Barbarians will continue and they will continue to rely on military generals, but I think that possibility is slim."

Xia Jing gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I will go persuade my father."

"We must be quick. It is already December. The Spring Society Day is in February, and the administrative adjustments are in April. If we are late, it will be too late."

"I understand." Xia Jing nodded and hurriedly ran out.

On the eighth day of December, the True Body left the Starfall Palace. By the late December, Zhao Xing's True Body went to the Tianyuan Prefecture Branch.

At this time, the Tianyuan Prefecture Branch had become the place where the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Li Boqian, issued orders.

Zhao Xing did not intend to exert his subjective will anymore, but he could not be idle.

He planned to take on some bitter and arduous tasks from Li Boqian.

Otherwise, after the Liang Wang rebellion, he would have all the merit but no hard work, relying entirely on connections and power,

which would make people hate him.

"Assassinated by the Assassin Group, spent effort building a shelter, and now have to endure more hardship—sigh, working under Emperor Jing is truly damn hard."

When Zhao Xing's True Body flew to the Tianyuan Prefecture, it was already December 21st.

Mainly, he spent some time recalling the avatars scattered across the various prefectures.

With order restored to Haizhou and the Golden Dragon Fortune stabilized, he could no longer do whatever he wanted.

Accepting the coordination of superiors to do some dirty and tiring work was Zhao Xing's plan for wrapping things up.

Li Boqian did not receive Zhao Xing.

The one who received him was Wang Tianzhi, the Junior Agriculture Minister.

Having multiple identities is good; he was still holding the title of Doctor of Classics at the Profound Heaven Academy.

When Zhao Xing expressed his desire to do some heavy work, Wang Tianzhi showed a strange expression:

"Everyone else fights to get easy jobs that lead to quick promotions. Why do you, Chen'an, want to go against the trend?"

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and said, "Your subordinate has a peculiar nature and has always disliked going where many people are."

Wang Tianzhi also found a way to make sense of it: "You do possess an pioneering spirit and like to challenge difficult problems."

"In that case, I will assign you two tasks."

He pulled out two files:

"First, the periodic calculation work for the Military Realm channels. You were already doing this with Hu Yang, so continue participating now."

"You have cultivated the Great Expansion Divine Art, making you most suitable for this large-scale calculation work."

Zhao Xing nodded; this task had a heavy workload, which met his expectations.

"Second, the sorting of the cave heavens in Haizhou. Many barren lands have appeared with chaotic primal energy. You have cultivated the Kunpeng Transformation; many places others cannot go, you can."

The Liang Wang rebellion did not just disrupt Haizhou; many cave heaven worlds were also thrown into chaos.

Especially during the most frantic period, the most intense fighting was over the cave heaven worlds because they involved channel entrances, naturally making them the places where the most high-intensity battles occurred.

"Your subordinate obeys."

Zhao Xing accepted the two orders and respectfully bowed before withdrawing.

Not long after, Lu Chunhua walked in and cupped his hands toward Wang Tianzhi.

Seeing Wang Tianzhi lost in thought, Lu Chunhua couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is Junior Uncle thinking about?"

Wang Tianzhi came to his senses and smiled, "Nothing, just met a smart fellow."

"How smart?"

"Who knows, maybe in the future I'll have to work under him."

Most of the avatars Zhao Xing recalled were sent to the Celestial Observation Bureau of the Phenology Institute to carry out calculation work together with Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing, these two brothers.

When Zhao Xing arrived, Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing were overjoyed.

"Hahaha, Shao Dong, look who has come."

A thousand-eyed green spider flew down from a mountain of scrolls and transformed into a middle-aged man.

He was Hu Yang's senior brother, Zhang Tianxing.

"Where?" From another direction, a golden bird arrived in an instant and restored his human form.

"Yo, the Saint Son of my Hou Bian faction has come. Come, come, Senior Brother, let's quickly kowtow to the Saint Son."

Having said that, Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing pretended to kneel.

Zhao Xing also pretended to kneel: "No, no. You two are the Sect Protection Elders; how can Elders kowtow to a Saint Son? It should be me kowtowing to you two."

"No, no, we should be the ones kneeling."

"Hey, hey, hey~"

A round of polite refusal.

Zhao Xing, Zhang Tianxing, and Hu Yang all laughed.

"Come, please come in quickly."

"Chen'an, you have come at just the right time. My senior brother and I are almost bald." Hu Yang touched his head mournfully. "Yesterday I walked to the Mechanism Institute to find tools, and others thought I was a Mechanism Master."

Zhang Tianxing laughed, "How offensive is that? Not all Mechanism Masters are bald."

Zhao Xing said, "Perhaps it was because Senior Brother Hu was wearing that horizontal-striped, vertical-checkered Shenluo Dharma Robe?"

Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing were stunned, then realized what he meant, and burst out laughing.

Zhao Xing quickly relied on a phone full of Mechanism Master cold jokes to integrate into the work of the two.

These two were also people who loved fun.

In the work that followed, jokes about artificers popped up from time to time.

"That day, I used the Marquis Transformation Method to rush to the Artificer Academy. Passing their training ground, an artificer wearing a Tianheng Detector actually waved at me."

"Chen An, guess what I did?"

"What did you do?"

"When the mood struck, I joined his puppet bird formation. Then, when he told me to go east, I went west."

"Even after I left, that fellow doubted his life, thinking his bird mechanism was broken, and checked them one by one."

"Hahaha, Junior Brother Hu, you are too vicious! Chen An, don't learn from him!"

"How could that be? I usually become the lead bird, guaranteeing to throw his entire mechanism formation into chaos."

"Hahaha!"

The calculation work was too dull and boring; Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing could only amuse themselves.

After Zhao Xing joined, the two fun-lovers became three.

Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing also liked Zhao Xing very much, feeling more and more that he suited their taste.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xing's true body went to the "White Stone Grotto-Heaven" of the Tianyuan Prefecture to execute the mission of calming the chaotic primordial energy.

"Zhao Xing, I am Tao Guangyao, the Great Agricultural Commissioner in charge of White Stone Grotto-Heaven."

"This mission is heavy and tiring. Although you were sent by the Junior Agricultural Commissioner, I will absolutely not give you special treatment!"

"You may get injured during this. If you withdraw now, it is not too late; I will consider you never came."

"But if you accept the mission and then just pretend, I will absolutely not hold back. I will record a 'Below Average' evaluation for you! I might even rate you as a mediocre official!"

Tao Guangyao's skin was very dark, and he was thin and small; when he wore a stern expression, he looked extremely fierce.

Facing Zhao Xing, this highly popular Agricultural Bureau genius, he was also completely businesslike, stating beforehand that he would absolutely not let things slide or give special treatment.

Zhao Xing also became serious and immediately stated his attitude: "Please rest assured, my lord. There is no genius Zhao Xing here, only an Agricultural Bureau official named Zhao Xing."

Tao Guangyao nodded slightly, then waved his hand, projecting a map: "The 'Sky Sea' area of 'White Stone Grotto-Heaven' is currently experiencing a Level Twelve tsunami, violent water tornadoes, hurricanes, and seaquakes."

"The Sky Sea Grotto-Heaven is expanding outward. You, Shang He, and Wu Long are responsible for the Level Seven area in the southeast."

"Any problems?"

Zhao Xing glanced at the data and immediately said, "No problem."

"Good. Rest for a quarter of an hour. After a quarter of an hour, I will arrange for your departure."

"Yes!"

One shi later, Shang He and Wu Long, along with Zhao Xing, set off.

After Zhao Xing boarded the ship, the two couldn't help but look at Zhao Xing with surprise.

"Who are you, and how did you get on this ship?" Wu Long asked.

"Your subordinate Zhao Xing, here to execute the mission with the two of you."

"Zhao Xing? Never heard of him... Are you Fourth Rank realm?" Shang He frowned.

"Yes."

"This isn't a joke!" Wu Long immediately stood up. "Don't set sail yet; I'll go find my lord."

Neither had heard Zhao Xing's name, simply because Zhao Xing's rise had been too recent.

From the publication of the theory until now, it had been only two or three years.

A slightly stronger Third Rank, entering seclusion or executing a mission, might last several years, or even over a decade.

Especially for powerful figures who stayed in grotto-heavens for long periods, interaction with the outside world was even less.

"It was my lord who sent me. I have already mastered the Kunpeng Transformation. My lords, please calm down; you will know if I am capable once we arrive."

In White Stone Grotto-Heaven, because the primordial energy was too violent, the earth realm was currently impassable, and communication relied entirely on human messengers.

Seeing that the appointed time was about to be missed, and seeing Zhao Xing's confidence, Shang He and Wu Long sat down again.

"Don't blame me for speaking harshly beforehand. If something happens to you, we won't have time to save you," Wu Long said.

"Rest assured. I will definitely not drag the two of you down."

Shang He nodded: "Good, then set sail."

The wild wind roared, and the sky and earth changed color.

The warship escorting the two could not advance for long after reaching a certain empty space.

At this moment, Wu and Shang walked out of the cabin.

Zhao Xing followed them.

Looking at the vast horizon, a sea actually appeared!

Having seen cloud seas often, this was the first time seeing a Sky Sea floating in the sky.

At this moment, in the Sky Sea, it was impossible to tell how high the waves were, because looking up it was a sea, and looking down it was also a sea.

The sea cube was completely endless.

"Boom boom boom~"

The seawater waves sent shockwaves layer by layer outward.

Zhao Xing had originally thought the seaquake Tao Guangyao mentioned referred to an earthquake in the sea, but it turned out to be completely different.

"A huge landmass was sucked into the Sky Sea, constantly being pulled, and falling outward under the push of the waves."

"Water tornadoes swept mountains and rivers away, throwing them to other places. Mountains and seas interlaced, and the violent primordial energy vortex constantly strengthened. If no one stopped it, sooner or later it would spread throughout the entire White Stone Grotto-Heaven."

Zhao Xing opened his Heavenly Eye, scanning the situation of the Sky Sea through the heavy wind and waves.

Disasters in grotto-heaven worlds erupted far more swiftly and unreasonably than in the outside world.

"Roar!"

Wu Long suddenly shot up from the ground, his body rapidly expanding. He took off from the deck, and by the time he burst through the barrier, he had transformed into a giant beast with a dragon head and a human body.

"Internal Cultivation of the Hou Transformation Method, Ji Meng Transformation."

The internal cultivation of the Hou Transformation Method can basically be judged by appearance.

What Wu Long cultivates is the Hou Transformation Method that transforms into Ji Meng.

"The form of Ji Meng is a human body with a dragon head, always swimming in the Zhang Abyss; whenever it enters or exits, there must be swirling winds and torrential rain."

"I wonder how many secret techniques it has mastered."

At this moment, Shang He also completed his transformation.

"Eight heads, eight faces, a tiger body, eight legs, eight tails, colored blue-yellow, spewing clouds and mist, governing water."

"An ancient strange beast—Tian Wu."

"What it cultivates is the Tian Wu Transformation."

Neither of them looked back at Zhao Xing once; they rushed straight toward the Sky Sea.

If Zhao Xing can do it, he will naturally know what to do.

If he cannot, or if he is afraid, he will naturally follow the ship back.

"My turn."

A trace of excitement appeared in Zhao Xing's eyes.

He surged upward.

His entire body immediately underwent a violent transformation; all his acupoints lit up with divine light, and a phantom roar of a Kun Peng surged within his bloodline.

By the time Zhao Xing burst through the deck barrier, he had become a giant fish a thousand meters long,

The Kun Transformation within the Kun Peng Transformation!

"This place is big enough, completely sufficient for me to make a scene; let's see my limit strength!"

When Zhao Xing learned this technique from Li Boqian at the Tian Yuan Prefecture, he could not fully release it.

Because the place was too small!

Even so, he had cultivated to the peak of the Third Turn, mastered the Kun transformation, and could unleash the Kun's innate secret technique.

"Big! Big! Big!!!"

Zhao Xing's Origin Dantian spun wildly; having refined the true blood of the Kun Peng, phantoms of both Kun and Peng now intertwined within his acupoints and flesh and blood.

Finally, the phantom of the Kun grew increasingly solid, while the phantom of the Peng gradually faded away.

"Aaaah~"

Shang He and Wu Long were flying forward when they suddenly heard a sound coming from behind them.

It sounded as if it came from the ancient primordial ocean, a voice desolate and primal.

"Damn, it's this big?"

"He's only a Fourth Grade, yet he truly cultivated the Kun Peng Transformation?"

Both Shang He and Wu Long were shocked.

Their transformations were already large enough; the size of Shang He and the size of Wu Long both exceeded a thousand meters.

But compared to Zhao Xing, they were completely unworthy of mention.

At this moment, the great Kun's eyes alone were a hundred meters in size.

Its body was so vast one could not see its end; before Zhao Xing, they were like ants.

Zhao Xing's feeling was indeed the same.

When he pushed it to the limit, Shang He and Wu Long, in his eyes, were only slightly stronger than ants.

"North of the Northern End lies the Ming Sea, the Celestial Pool; there is a fish there, its width several thousand li, its length matching that, its name is Kun." "The supreme art of the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Li Boqian, has truly been mastered by someone." Shang He murmured to himself.

"Rumor has it that the Kun has already vanished from the world. North of the Northern End is a frozen ocean; there is no Celestial Pool at all, and no traces of the Kun appear anymore."

"Heaven and Earth cannot contain such an oversized giant; I never expected to see one today." Wu Long was also incredibly surprised.

Of course, Zhao Xing could not yet be called a giant.

Because after transforming into the Kun, his length was only a little over nine thousand meters.

He was still far from the level of several thousand li.

"A normal Kun Peng Transformation at the Third Turn level is three thousand meters; however, the Kun Peng true blood I refined is pure enough, plus the foundation of my Ten Thousand Dao Body is solid enough, so I reached over nine thousand meters."

"Compared to a true Kun, I am merely a newborn."

He could not break through the ten-thousand-meter level now because his Inner Heaven and Earth was pulling him, refusing to expand further.

If he continued to transform, he would not grow larger; instead, he would collapse and undergo abnormal changes.

Zhao Xing certainly would not attempt to break the limit; the Internal Cultivation of the Hou Transformation Method is a rather dangerous technique, so he naturally could not mess around.

"After transforming into the Kun, one can unleash 'Kun Swallows Heaven and Earth,' which can swallow water, primordial energy, and clouds and mists, turning them into one's own power."

Zhao Xing began to swim his own body, flying toward the Sky Sea.

Wu Long and Shang He both hurriedly moved aside, forced to change their course.

Because this thing was damn huge!

They were blocking his path forward.

With just a casual flick of his tail, Zhao Xing would send them flying.

"Go!"

The two snapped out of it and quickly flew toward the Sky Sea.

As the great Kun entered the Sky Sea, Zhao Xing instantly felt a pulling force and an impact force.

Many boulders the size of small hills rushed over and smashed into his body.

There were also tornadoes and whirlpools tearing at his body.

However, Zhao Xing was completely unaffected.

"The Kunpeng Transformation is truly powerful."

"No wonder it's the most formidable sect among the Tian Shi Sect."

Zhao Xing swam freely in the sea.

The attack capable of tearing apart a Third Rank, the boulder capable of crushing a Third Rank—when it struck him, it felt like scratching an itch.

Of course, Zhao Xing could do little else; such a massive form was cumbersome.

In combat, a Third Rank couldn't kill him, but he also struggled to catch a Third Rank.

The commotion was so great that distant households fled.

"Kun swallows heaven and earth!"

The Kun in the sea opened its massive mouth, and Zhao Xing began his task of calming the turmoil.

Time passed, and before long, the thirty-seventh year of the Jingxin Era arrived.

Zhao Xing's avatars began withdrawing from the Shelter Project.

He contacted Lord Luo and King Tianyan, then negotiated with Lu Bang and Tian Hou, gradually transferring control of various regions

to local government authorities.

As the Haizhou government institutions recovered, this control should also be handed over.

A group of nobles behind Xia Jing followed Zhao Xing's withdrawal immediately.

Especially Xia Hou and the Prince of Pingyang (Ji Ji Ziyun's father, Xia Jing's uncle-in-law), they withdrew with decisive speed.

Still, many were reluctant to leave.

They had invested so much money—how could it feel like they gained nothing before having to retreat?

Zhao Xing pleaded with them earnestly.

In the gradual handovers, eight or nine out of ten followed him.

As for the few who couldn't see the situation clearly, Zhao Xing could do nothing.

Late January.

Liu Tianning, long absent, finally appeared.

"Master, is the mission over?"

"It's reached a pause," Liu Tianning's spectral form nodded. "I've been hunting down Liang Wang's forces, participating in the suppression of the high-rank troops in Lüliang Province."

"I suspected as much," Zhao Xing said. He had guessed Liu Tianning wasn't in Haizhou.

Now that the mission was lifted, Liu Tianning had no reason to withhold information.

"I've reached the early stage of the Tian Yun Realm."

Liu Tianning delivered another bombshell to Zhao Xing.

"Congratulations, Master."

Though he spoke those words, Zhao Xing's smile was forced.

He was worried about Liu Tianning's condition.

From his past-life memories, Liu Tianning's advancement had outpaced what he remembered by a wide margin.

He recalled that in his past life, Liu Tianning had only reached Third Rank after Liang Wang's rebellion ended—now he was already Second Rank.

"After April, come with me to Shangluo Academy," Liu Tianning said. "Meet Xu Xing,

and get acquainted with the people there."

"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded.

It was inevitable—even if he hadn't written the Benwo Marquis Tian Wu Treatise, he would have had to meet the senior figures of Shangluo Academy.

Because he was Liu Tianning's sole heir.

Liu Tianning was going to Shangluo Academy to assume the post of First Deputy Dean.

After Xu Xing's death, the leader of the Benwo Sect would be Liu Tianning—no one could challenge him.

This was a pivotal moment; he absolutely had to be present.

After all, from the beginning, Zhao Xing had been nurtured under the Benwo Sect's resource program, making him a key member of Liu Tianning's faction.

"King Tianyan may not live much longer," Liu Tianning added. "But Lord Luo will succeed as Grand Commandant, be granted the title of First Rank Ruling Prince, and assume leadership of the Divine Martial Temple and the Divine Martial Academy."

"King Tianyan won't live long?" Zhao Xing asked. "Won't he be granted the title of First Rank Imperial Prince?"

"Given the current political climate, the possibility is negligible—the Emperor has no such intention," Liu Tianning shook his head. "A rebel imperial prince just died; it's hard to grant another."

A First Rank Imperial Prince posed too great a threat—holding a divine artifact could easily sever the Zhou Dynasty's vital destiny.

Zhao Xing sighed inwardly. Liang Wang had just died—how could Emperor Jing possibly relent so soon? He was likely still weighing his options.

In his past life, Zhao Xing had little impression of King Tianyan, for the Mandated Officials were mysterious and unknown to the public.

"What else have you done with your true body and avatars?" Liu Tianning asked. "Are the Shelter Project and the underground cities still under your control?"

"The Shelter Project is in the process of handover," Zhao Xing replied. "As local governments recovered, I transferred control immediately."

"Hurry it up, and keep the accounts clear and transparent. Don't let suspicion of embezzlement cling to you—execute anyone who deserves it,

don't hesitate. I'll send in inspectors."

Zhao Xing was startled—not by the content, but by Liu Tianning's tone.

It seemed Liu Tianning was merging with the image Zhao Xing remembered from his past life.

"Yes, I'll extricate myself quickly—but Master—have you felt anything unusual while practicing the Ten Thousand Methods Avatar?" Zhao Xing asked.

Liu Tianning fell silent. After a moment, his voice grew low: "Zhao Xing, I owe you an apology."

Zhao Xing was even more astonished: "Master, what are you saying?"

Liu Tianning sighed: "The Ten Thousand Methods Avatar has drawbacks. I thought I could resolve them."

"Even Xu Xing couldn't match me—he had only five supreme avatars, but I've cultivated seven! And my number far exceeds his!"

"But I failed; I could not change this problem."

"On the contrary, the stronger this problem becomes, the more severe it is."

"Only by my succeeding to the position of Dean can I temporarily suppress it."

Liu Tianning said, "In history, there has never been an era where two individuals cultivated top-tier Myriad Laws Avatars and lived out their lives in peace and safety."

"I guided you onto this path, yet I could not solve this problem for you. Now, you have already cultivated a top-tier Dharma Body. If you continue down this road, you will encounter the same problem I faced."

Zhao Xing fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Master, this is not your fault. I also perceived the drawbacks of this method, but there is still hope for a solution."

He certainly did not blame Liu Tianning; he had actively sought out this technique to learn, he just hadn't intended to become a disciple at that time.

Besides, there is a solution to the problem of the Myriad Laws Avatar.

Liu Tianning might not know that the Yanshen Art he cultivated is not the same as his own.

From the current situation, the correct cultivation method is capable of mastering the Myriad Laws Avatar.

"Master, there are some matters I cannot speak of openly right now," Zhao Xing said. "But I can confirm there is a way to solve it." Liu Tianning's phantom looked over; he was unsure of Zhao Xing's attitude—was he trying to comfort him, or did he truly possess some secret unknown to Liu Tianning?

"Very well, I believe you. We, master and disciple, will solve this problem together."

Time arrived at the second month of the thirty-seventh year of the Jingxin Era; there were basically no battles in Haizhou.

The work of governance and restoration also progressed rapidly.

As long as there was no external influence, with the strength of Great Zhou, the chaotic celestial phenomena and altered terrain of Haizhou could be easily restored.

Especially the Kunyuan Rebirth of the Dili Sect, a top-tier restoration technique; once cast, it covered an entire county, and the speed of restoration was very fast.

Since Liang Wang had fallen early and did not continue to cause chaos, Zhao Xing found that overall, the trauma suffered by Great Zhou in this life was smaller than in the previous life.

At least, the data from Haizhou indicated as much.

This further confirmed one of his speculations.

The tenth day of the second month, the Spring Society Day.

A large number of imperial envoys entered Haizhou.

At the same time, King Tianyan also revealed some hints.

Next, the imperial court was about to begin a review of the Haizhou Rebellion and conduct a more detailed and in-depth analysis.

Zhao Xing naturally understood that the post-event purge had begun.

Since the Jing Emperor no longer intended to fight the Great Southern Barbarian War, he naturally had sufficient energy to purge internal hidden dangers.

Exactly how many foreign forces had taken this opportunity to hide themselves in this wave?

Did those who did not accept the bestowal of the Black Dragon Fortune necessarily remain loyal? Had they secretly funded the Liang Wang faction?

"Anyone with even a slight connection faces a major problem," Zhao Xing thought inwardly. "Fortunately, I began laying the groundwork starting from the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven. I, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao were all demoted for offending Liang Wang, and later suffered assassination attempts in the East Sea."

"Many things seemed insignificant at the time, but now, during the review, they can become evidence."

From the beginning of the second month to the end of the third month of the thirty-seventh year of the Jingxin Era, the sky was clear and the earth bright in Haizhou, yet a dark cloud always hung over everyone's heart.

Because during these two months, a large number of officials were executed or imprisoned. Those with lighter offenses had their power stripped, their titles reduced, and their fiefs, ranks, and merit grades revoked.

Especially the military leaders and oligarchs; any minor mistake was turned into a major crime.

The Seventy-Two Academy Halls could not remain uninvolved; they all had to give an account to the Jing Emperor.

In this atmosphere, all of Zhao Xing's avatars basically withdrew.

They stayed in Tianyuan Prefecture, simply carrying out the two tasks assigned by Wang Tianzhi obediently.

By late April, the tense atmosphere seemed to have eased somewhat.

The first batch of rewards and honors was issued.

On this day, Zhao Xing, who was doing hard labor in the Grotto-Heaven world, and his avatar in the Phenology Academy, both received orders.

"Zhao Xing, return to Tianyuan Prefecture immediately; an Imperial Edict has arrived!"