Chapter 316: The 98th year of Yongzhi, the Emperor passed away, and a new era had arrived!

"I traveled across the world's training grounds, seeking out countless experts for sparring. It took a full twelve years, but I finally realized the Ultimate Art, 'Cloud Heaven Dao,' through the top-tier art, 'Cloud Gate'."

"It truly wasn't easy."

Within the Ice Rock Forest, Zhao Xing could not help but sigh with emotion.

The top-tier Cloud Gate art, from the ninth turn to perfection; this step had been easy, achieved within a year of starting his sparring training. Yet, stepping into the Ultimate level had taken eleven years.

"Of the four Heavenly Time arts, the ones I used most in the training grounds were the Thunder Art and the Rain Art. I never expected the first to break through..."

"... ould actually be the Cloud Art."

"The Cloud Art is the foundation of a Si Nong; it truly lives up to its reputation." Zhao Xing recalled his combat experiences.

In the training grounds, he had actually used the Cloud Gate art very little, and even the "Inch to the Horizon" was rarely employed.

Yet, in the end, it was the move "Layered Cloud Realm" that allowed him to comprehend the "Cloud Heaven Dao" and cross the threshold into an Ultimate Art.

"Planting flowers with intent, they do not bloom; planting a willow without intent, it provides shade." Zhao Xing surged into the sky. As he flew up, a sea of clouds suddenly appeared within the Ice Rock Forest.

Zhao Xing wandered through the sea of clouds, at one moment free-falling into the clouds, at the next looking down from the peak of a cloud mountain.

As Zhao Xing danced up and down through the cloud layers, peaks, waterfalls, palaces, cities, travelers, and flying boats soon appeared in the clouds above. By manifesting the Cloud Heaven Dao, he had completely constructed a world of clouds!

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged on a floating cloud, arriving at the eastern suburbs of the city.

At this moment, outside the eastern suburbs, beneath golden wheat fields, a group of vivid Si Nong petty officials were chasing "Grain-Eating Birds."

Above them was a flying boat, and on the boat, an official was smiling sinisterly as he released birds from a cage.

"Those damn West Mountain fellows." Zhao Xing looked down and laughed. "To think they'd transport West Mountain Commandery's eagles to Gucheng for the Minor Heat assessment."

"They made me, Zong Shichang, Li Chengfeng, and the others look utterly wretched."

Zhao Xing then rode the clouds to another layer of space, where three dazzling suns suddenly appeared.

Below was a fire-red cloud that split open, and countless figures were blocked before this plain.

To the left was a ten-thousand-mile Thunder Pool, and to the right was a mountain range of Gale Winds.

"Li Feng, and you still say you don't know Yin Wind!"

"Hit him!"

"I, twenty, it wasn't me!"

"Hahahaha." Zhao Xing looked at a spot before the ten-thousand-mile Thunder Pool and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He continued to ride the clouds, and the surrounding scenes changed accordingly.

"Cloud Heaven Dao, acting on behalf of Heaven; this Ultimate Art encompasses everything."

"Transformed into an Ultimate Art, my Layered Cloud Realm is even more realistic."

"Any Cloud Art, I can manifest, including Soldier Cloud, Blood Cloud, Thunder Cloud, Swallowing Cloud, Mountain Cloud arts, and so on."

"Using the Cloud Art to build a perfect world, if used to assist cultivation, any Si Nong who enters the clouds..."

"... ill see their insights into the Cloud Art grow rapidly!"

"The insights into Cloud Art, from low-tier to top-tier, are completely real."

"The effect is much stronger than 'Preaching Paintings'."

"If used to kill enemies? Then I'll have to find someone to test it on." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

According to the definition in the cultivation world, every Ultimate Art is comprehensive and perfect; its power cannot be quantified because the meaning of an Ultimate Art is that the spell has already reached its end!

But another theory holds that Ultimate Arts still have levels of distinction.

It is just that this division is based on the gap caused by different users, not the spell itself.

This theory believes that the first turn of an Ultimate Art is the limit of the technique.

However, the power of the spell can still be infinitely improved, turn by turn.

This is because while spells have limits, the Dao is infinite and boundless. As the realm of the Dao improves, the same spell will produce different levels of power.

"Every Ultimate Art has had its glorious moments of suppressing all other arts in the world, and has also been defeated by others."

"Ultimate Cloud Arts and Ultimate Rain Arts, in the hands of different people, have both had examples of defeating the other. This is not about the superiority of the spell, but the superiority of the person."

"There are many sayings about Ultimate Arts in the cultivation world; one cannot judge their power through mere fragments of words."

"I have just comprehended it, and in manifesting this Ultimate Art, I don't know which stage its power is at."

Zhao Xing was pondering this, but at that moment, someone approached.

The Ice Rock Forest is a place of heritage for the Soldier Envoy Academy.

When Zhao Xing manifested the Ultimate Cloud Art, it immediately alerted the Dean of the Soldier Envoy Academy, Chu Qianqiu, and the guardian, Lin Yuan.

"What is this situation—an Ultimate Cloud Art?" Chu Qianqiu looked at the scene in the sky that seemed truly real, unable to hide his shock.

"Only Vice Dean Zhao could have such high attainments in Cloud Art within the Ice Rock Forest." Lin Yuan was also extremely shocked.

It wasn't that Shangluo Academy didn't have people who knew top-tier Heavenly Time arts; after all, everyone only differed in the direction of their Dao, and as for spells, one naturally used whichever was best.

However, being able to comprehend an Ultimate Art meant that one's Heavenly Time Dao must have also had a breakthrough.

Besides Zhao Xing, who else in the Ice Rock Forest had this kind of energy?

"To comprehend an Ultimate Art at the Heavenly Fortune realm, he must have also grasped a Rule Domain. He is truly more monstrous than Liu Tianning—" Chu Qianqiu couldn't help but sigh.

One must know that even at the first-grade Life Palace realm, one is only at the perfection of top-tier arts and can distort rules.

It is not to say that all first-grade experts can comprehend a Rule Domain and master an Ultimate Art.

Zhao Xing had done it at the second grade! How could he not be shocked?

"The manifestation of the Dao, the ultimate of the Art..." Lin Yuan showed a look of envy.

The Self-Nature Sect has no Ultimate Arts; even if they have treasure-grade soldier types, they are not arts.

Outsiders would only say that it is the effect brought by the Divine Wood Immortal Branch; what does that have to do with the Self-Nature Sect?

Therefore, every time the Self-Nature Sect sees an Ultimate Art, besides envy, there is only more envy.

"Dean Chu, please enter the clouds to test the art." Zhao Xing's voice came over.

Chu Qianqiu is at the Life Palace realm, just right to test his spell.

"Good!" Chu Qianqiu immediately surged into the sky and entered the cloud layer.

As soon as he entered the clouds, Chu Qianqiu felt something unusual.

He discovered that the efficiency of his Yuan Qi was dropping significantly!

Taking a spell like "Wind Riding" as an example, originally he only needed to use a trace of Yuan Qi to manifest it and fly easily.

But now, he needed to use ten times the Yuan Qi to maintain his original flight speed.

As he flew higher, this situation only intensified.

Chu Qianqiu clearly hadn't been hit by any spell, but he was losing the ability to manifest spells.

"Xun Wind Mist Walk!"

A light shook on Chu Qianqiu's body, immediately distorting the rules of heaven and earth. Only then did he recover, yet this situation did not disappear entirely.

The efficiency of his Yuan Qi was still half of what it was before entering the clouds.

In other words, whatever he did next, even a small matter like flying, would cost double.

"Before we've even started fighting, you've forced me to use the ability to 'distort rules'?" Chu Qianqiu marveled inwardly.

It is worthy of being an Ultimate Art.

*Swish~*

Chu Qianqiu rushed out of the sea of clouds and finally saw the light of day again.

It was just that what he saw was also very strange; there were actually three suns in the sky, and he couldn't feel a single trace of Tai Yin power.

"Dean Chu." Zhao Xing stood on a high platform, looking at Chu Qianqiu who had rushed up.

"Vice Dean Zhao." Chu Qianqiu also flew over. He discovered that he was actually standing on solid ground; if one didn't look carefully, one couldn't tell at all that this was condensed from cloud energy.

"You have already comprehended the Ultimate Cloud Art, Cloud Heaven Dao?"

"Not bad, just comprehended it." Zhao Xing smiled slightly. "Please, Dean Chu, test the power of this art."

"Good, what do you want me to do?" Chu Qianqiu asked.

"Very simple, from now on, resist all my spells and try to escape." Zhao Xing said.

"Just escape?" Chu Qianqiu felt these words were a bit grating.

Zhao Xing didn't even tell him to attack; he just said to escape, clearly thinking that he couldn't hurt him at all.

However, grating as it was, Chu Qianqiu didn't really think Zhao Xing was putting on airs.

"Good, I'm ready, come on!" A pair of purple wings appeared behind Chu Qianqiu.

A ninth-grade top-tier companion species—Purple Firmament Cloud Vine!

This is one of the cutting-edge achievements of the Twin Academy.

It was cultivated by using a branch of the treasure-grade Purple Firmament Divine Tree as a foundation for the Green Sea Cloud Vine and the Floating Parasite.

It retains the characteristics of the Floating Parasite species, the effect of the Green Sea Cloud Vine to absorb cloud energy, and a portion of the defensive power of the Purple Firmament Divine Tree.

Of course, such a derivative species has a drawback: it cannot reproduce and is destined not to be mass-produced on a large scale.

Chu Qianqiu was clearly prepared to go all out.

"Go!" Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and Chu Qianqiu was wrapped in a cloud mist. The next moment, his body involuntarily fell three meters.

"What, Inch to the Horizon?" Chu Qianqiu was surprised once again. He certainly knew of this secret art of Li Boqian, but he had never heard that Inch to the Horizon could move others out of thin air.

"Drink!" The Purple Firmament Cloud Vine on Chu Qianqiu's body vibrated rapidly. As the wings vibrated, the vines opened pores, rapidly absorbing the cloud mist around him, attempting to re-balance the cloud potential difference between the front and back.

Chu Qianqiu stopped on the sea of clouds in a very dangerous manner. At this time, he had already descended fifteen meters and had spent three breaths to completely break free.

Just this one move made Chu Qianqiu break out in a cold sweat.

It was too terrifying; within three breaths, his body was completely out of control and falling. If Zhao Xing had wanted to kill him at that moment, it would have been enough to kill him dozens of times!

"Spell 【Cloud Heaven Dao】, encompassing everything; Inch to the Horizon has also become a control spell." Zhao Xing was quietly experiencing it.

"If I manifest the Heavenly Time Rule Domain, he would be completely unable to resist." Inside Zhao Xing, a Major Heat solar term order had already transformed from light green to light gold.

The Heavenly Time domain he had comprehended was precisely the Major Heat domain!

This solar term order had already reached the first turn of the third realm.

The three realms of the solar term order: Know, Fix, Change.

Theoretically speaking, the third realm is already at a level that can shake the Heavenly Time of the entire Profound Yellow World.

Of course, Zhao Xing's is only a first-grade Rule Domain, and it is only the Major Heat solar term domain, which can probably only shake the Heavenly Time of one continent.

To truly shake the Heavenly Time of the entire Profound Yellow World, all twenty-four solar terms would need to be at the perfection of the third realm.

"The third realm does not necessarily have a connection with the Rule Domain. Even if the solar term order reaches the third realm, a Rule Domain might not be born; this is because the Si Nong's own Dao body is not strong enough."

"Using ordinary true intent to condense a Dao body, even if the solar term order reaches the third realm, it cannot shake the Heavenly Time of a continent level, and a Rule Domain might not be born."

"Using first-grade true intent to condense a Dao body, the probability is much greater. Since I have gathered the five elements, comprehending the third realm will definitely birth a Rule Domain, because first-grade true intent itself is a part of the creation of heaven and earth." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Using Chu Qianqiu to test the art, a casual test, and the effect exceeded expectations; Inch to the Horizon easily suppressed Chu Qianqiu.

"Dean Chu, next I am going to manifest the Rule Domain, be careful." Zhao Xing warned.

Chu Qianqiu's heart tightened, his spirit and energy reached their peak, the Heaven and Earth Seed Soldier Scripture operated at full power, and the Purple Firmament Cloud Vine wrapped him completely.

But just at this moment—

"Hum~"

The three suns in the sky suddenly turned into ten!

The intense solar power instantly caused more than half of the Yuan Qi in Chu Qianqiu's body to evaporate!

Chu Qianqiu's breathing stalled, and he immediately felt out of breath.

If it weren't for the Purple Firmament Cloud Vine bearing a portion of the power, he probably wouldn't have any Yuan Qi left.

This is the difference between having a domain and not having one!

It was also at this moment that he could no longer resist the movement of Inch to the Horizon and instantly fell into the sea of clouds.

Chu Qianqiu entered the Layered Cloud Realm.

The first cloud layer space began to rain.

Having only touched the first raindrop, the Purple Firmament Cloud Vine on Chu Qianqiu's body couldn't withstand the erosion and was directly pierced through.

"Ah—"

Chu Qianqiu couldn't help but scream in pain.

Although he immediately swapped out a parasitic species, the raindrops didn't fall immediately.

"Stop!"

Seeing this, Zhao Xing instantly made the raindrops stand still, and then the raindrops reversed, turning back into a part of the cloud layer. It was just a test of the art, and he couldn't kill Chu Qianqiu's companion soldier species.

"When the Cloud Art reaches the Ultimate level, even the Rain Art becomes terrifying; he couldn't even withstand a single drop of rain."

"However, this is also because Chu Qianqiu is from the Self-Nature Sect." Zhao Xing evaluated.

Chu Qianqiu was in the sky, and he didn't have a Void species.

The only soldier species he could use was the parasitic species.

"Using Chu Qianqiu to test the Cloud Art, the reference value is too weak."

Zhao Xing moved Chu Qianqiu out.

"Sorry, Dean Chu."

Chu Qianqiu's expression was complex; he, a mid-stage Life Palace realm expert, actually had no power to resist in front of Zhao Xing.

"No matter, it's just that I am too weak." Chu Qianqiu mocked himself. "I don't even have the qualifications to test the art for Vice Dean Zhao."

"You must not think that way." Zhao Xing said. "The power of a Self-Nature Sect Si Nong is on the ground; you manifest a Pure Yuan projection, and it's hard to exert your strength in the sky, not to mention that I made you enter the Cloud Art first."

Such comfort still had some effect.

Chu Qianqiu immediately said: "Then please, Vice Dean Zhao, let me down, and we will change the venue to test it."

"Good." Zhao Xing nodded.

The subsequent duels had three situations.

One: Without using the Heavenly Time domain, and without manifesting the Rain Art or Thunder Art, Chu Qianqiu's plant soldier species combined into a group and withstood Zhao Xing's movement of him.

Two: Zhao Xing made the cloud layer descend, completely covering the range of Chu Qianqiu's Pure Yuan projection, which was equivalent to pulling Chu Qianqiu into the Cloud Art in disguise.

It was just that during this process, Zhao Xing could feel the Cloud Art becoming weaker.

Three: In the situation of using the Heavenly Time domain, Zhao Xing's cloud layer reached down from the sky with dozens of cloud paths.

Similarly, he easily rolled Chu Qianqiu into the clouds, and no matter how Chu Qianqiu resisted, it was useless.

After testing with Chu Qianqiu many times, Zhao Xing let Chu Qianqiu rest while he summarized.

"Heaven is clear and Earth is turbid, cloud energy is Yang, dominating the upward trend. This Ultimate Art, Cloud Heaven Dao, the closer it is to the ground..."

"... he more it will be interfered with by the Earth's veins; this is interference at the level of Earth vein rules."

"Once the cloud layer descends and gets close to the Earth veins, the power decreases."

"The Ultimate Cloud Art, without superimposing the Heavenly Time domain, has the greatest power in the sky; the higher the altitude, the stronger the power."

"Once the Heavenly Time domain is superimposed, the Major Heat Rule Domain suppresses the Earth vein rules, and this natural interference can be ignored; Chu Qianqiu would still be pulled into the sky by me."

"However, if there is an enemy who has comprehended the Earthly Advantage rules, they can still resist, or someone like Old Liu, who uses treasure-grade soldier species to form a Four Seasons domain, would also not be interfered with."

"Adapting to local conditions, if I really want to fight, I must use the Ultimate Rain Art to erode the ground first." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

While he was thinking, Chu Qianqiu below was also thinking about life.

He was beaten by Zhao Xing to the point of doubting life.

No matter how he operated, the final result was: being pulled into the Layered Cloud Realm.

He could see that Zhao Xing hadn't used his full strength at all.

And he had already used his full strength.

"My Pure Yuan soil inherited a treasure-grade 'Moon Birch', yet I couldn't project it at all. Relying solely on ninth-grade soldier species, I couldn't beat him at all; this is the gap."

Chu Qianqiu is the Dean of the Soldier Envoy Academy and of course inherited treasures, yet he hadn't comprehended a Rule Domain.

Wanting to let the Moon Birch fight was relatively difficult.

Chu Qianqiu inherited the Soldier Envoy Academy at the second grade and walked to the current mid-stage first grade; counting it all up, it was only one hundred and forty years.

One hundred and forty years, to cultivate to the first grade, and then cultivate a Rule Domain? That was truly making things difficult for him. It is true that he is in a rising period, but not that fast.

"Liu Tianning could do it, and now his disciple has done it, and even earlier—" Chu Qianqiu remembered the scene where he had blocked Liu Tianning and couldn't help but sigh: "It's truly too damn outrageous."

He didn't know if he was scolding himself for blocking Liu Tianning, or saying that the talent of this master and disciple was outrageous.

"Withdraw!"

Zhao Xing withdrew the spell and landed.

"Many thanks, Dean Chu."

Chu Qianqiu came back to his senses and also cupped his hands: "Congratulations, Dean Zhao."

"Congratulations, Dean Zhao." Many more voices came.

Zhao Xing looked around; at this time, many experts had already run over, including Lin Yuan, the Dean of the Divine Wood Academy Zhuang Danian, and the Dean of the Twin Academy Yu Xia, all congratulating him.

"Greetings to you all." Zhao Xing also cupped his hands to the four directions.

"Everyone, disperse." Lin Yuan said, "Do not disturb Dean Zhao's comprehension."

"If you want to congratulate him, wait until Dean Zhao holds the Ultimate Preaching Conference."

Yes, experts who have mastered an Ultimate Art, according to custom, will hold a Dao Discussion Conference afterward to preach publicly.

This is undoubtedly a grand event.

It is a pity that Zhao Xing is destined not to hold such a grand ceremony at Shangluo Academy.

The Dao Discussion Conference for the Heavenly Time Ultimate Art must be held at Profound Heaven Academy first; holding it at Shangluo Academy first...

... ould be inappropriate.

"My apologies to everyone." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

As the crowd dispersed.

Zhao Xing's true self continued to comprehend the "Soldier Envoy Divine Decision".

In the distant Guangling Continent, at the training ground.

One of Zhao Xing's clones was resting on the Dao Discussion Platform.

Opposite him, there was also a thin figure resting on the Dao Discussion Platform.

When Zhao Xing opened his eyes, he stood up and cupped his hands toward the other party: "Many thanks, Lord Ji."

Hearing the voice, Ji Bochang opposite also opened his eyes: "Why does the Marquis of Divine Might thank me?"

He is the Heaven-Reaching Priest of Guangling Continent, holding the rank of second-grade official, the same level as the Lesser Agriculture Order, responsible for the sacrificial affairs of the entire Guangling Cave Heaven.

He studied under the Great Priest Bu Guangheng, but Great Priest Bu Guangheng also didn't have long to live and was in a semi-retired state. Ji Bochang is at the early stage of the Life Palace realm, and there are twenty or thirty other Heaven-Reaching Priests with the same strength as him, which is also full of competition. His only advantage is that Ji Bochang is relatively young and has the surname Ji; he has the possibility of inheriting the position of Great Priest in the future.

"After fighting with Lord Ji, I have comprehended the Ultimate Art." Zhao Xing said, "Many thanks."

"So that's how it is. Then I can accept this gift from the Marquis of Divine Might, hahahaha." Ji Bochang laughed loudly and did not return the gift.

This is not to accept the cause and effect; receiving a thank-you gift from Zhao Xing is enough.

Zhao Xing had fought many matches in twelve years; he, Ji Bochang, just happened to be there. Ji Bochang was clear about this.

"Brother Ji, until we meet again."

"Marquis of Divine Might, until we meet again."

Ji Bochang stood up to see him off.

With this, Zhao Xing's clones from all over the country ended their training, returned one after another, and rushed to Daoyuan Continent. In August of the 92nd year of Yongzhi, Zhao Xing's clones traveling abroad had basically returned.

Only a small number of clones remained in Daoyuan Continent and Pinghai Continent.

"The Heavenly Time Rule Domain is born, and I have mastered the Ultimate Art, but the road ahead is still long."

"Over these twelve years, Old Liu has also made great progress." Zhao Xing's clone checked the duel records at the training ground.

"In the 90th year of Yongzhi, Old Liu conducted the final round of regular sparring."

"Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi of Profound Heaven Academy, Qiu Yuanshan and Ji Youtang of Kunyuan Academy, and the other sixteen candidates all had a match with Liu Tianning."

"The other sixteen had nothing worth watching; they were out as soon as they entered." Zhao Xing watched.

"By the ninth round, Old Liu also had a temper."

"These sixteen were all defeated in one move, leaving no face at all."

"Having won, he didn't take the initiative to ask if the other party was willing to discuss the Dao."

Anyone would have a temper, because these people hadn't won in the previous rounds; clearly unable to beat him, they kept fighting, stubbornly dragging it out to the ninth round?

Liu Tianning didn't pretend anymore. Not convinced, are you? So gutsy, are you? Then wait for you all to come for the 【Dao Struggle】!

"As such, the sixteen candidates instead took the initiative to ask Liu Tianning to discuss the Dao with them, and then admitted defeat, preserving a shred of dignity."

"For the Dean of Shangluo Academy to become the Great Si Nong is unprecedented, and the resistance is indeed great. Old Liu also broke the record; it wasn't until the end of the ninth round that these people were convinced." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"The last four were not defeated in one move; they caused Liu Tianning a lot of trouble."

Since the end of the match in the 80th year, Ling Tianchen, Wang Tianzhi, Qiu Yuanshan, and Ji Youtang had been training crazily.

Among them, Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi, under such huge pressure, actually went a step further and reached the seventh stage of the domain!

"Ling Tianchen further perfected the shortcomings of the Ancestral Dragon Transformation."

"Wang Tianzhi even mastered two Ultimate Arts, Thunder and Rain." Zhao Xing watched the battle records.

"However, Liu Tianning also reached the seventh stage of the domain. His dual domains, the Life Domain and the Four Seasons Domain..."

"... ompletely crushed the two."

"Ling and Wang only lasted for half a quarter of an hour before being defeated."

"Instead, it was Qiu Yuanshan of the Earthly Advantage faction who caused Old Liu quite a bit of trouble."

Zhao Xing clicked on the Earth Mirror, playing the final battle.

That was the duel between Qiu Yuanshan and Liu Tianning.

Before this, the Vice Dean of the Earthly Advantage faction, Ji Youtang, had already given up the competition; she didn't fight a single match but admitted defeat by the ninth round.

And Qiu Yuanshan, who had avoided fighting for eight rounds, showed powerful strength and lasted for a full half-hour before being defeated.

"Let's look at this match." After Zhao Xing clicked on this duel, hundreds of Earth Mirrors in the secret room where he was located lit up simultaneously.

The surrounding scene fluctuated like flowing water; this is the highest-level function of the Earth Mirror—scene reproduction. Tracking and filming from multiple angles, and then combining and restoring them.

Zhao Xing immediately saw Liu Tianning in green clothes and Qiu Yuanshan in gray Dharma clothes in the sky ahead.

"The random sparring location is Autumn Mountain Plain." Zhao Xing stared below; it was a withered yellow land, devoid of life, with only two lonely mountains.

"*Whoosh~*"

As soon as the battle began, Qiu Yuanshan smashed into the ground like a cannonball and disappeared completely.

"What a rogue fighting style." Zhao Xing smiled slightly upon seeing this.

The classic combat tactic of the Earthly Advantage faction Si Nong: escape underground first!

When Zhao Xing was breaking through the Heavenly Craft Hall of the Great Dream Academy, the reward he obtained, the Eight Heavenly Maiden Mechanism Puppets, relied on the ability to escape underground.

It wasn't until the second floor, when he encountered the "Hundred-Change Dao Soldiers" that couldn't escape underground, that he failed.

The Hundred-Change Dao Soldiers at that time were seventh-grade materials, and Zhao Xing was only at the fifth grade.

This shows how rogue the underground escape style of the Earthly Advantage faction is.

"*Boom boom~*"

Qiu Yuanshan made the first move; the earth cracked, and huge cracks began to appear across the entire Autumn Mountain Plain.

"Ultimate Earth-Splitting Art 'Netherworld'. Netherworld is a term from the ancient period for the underworld. It is rumored that the underworld is in the deepest part of the Earth veins. The current largest Yin-Yang passage, Fengjing, was formed by a violent movement of the Earth veins."

"The Ultimate Earth-Splitting Art 'Netherworld' can tear open Yin-Yang passages, allowing the dead to be reborn, but this is ultimately a legend." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

The Ultimate Art 'Netherworld' can indeed tear open Yin-Yang passages, but these are conditional passages. It can draw in the wind of the underworld, draw in the water of the underworld—all things of the Yin Five Elements can appear, and even Yin souls can be released.

But once released, they are still Yin souls and cannot reshape their flesh to return to the world of the living.

"Qiu Yuanshan is hiding very deep." Zhao Xing looked below.

At this time, after a series of changes in the earth, seven bottomless holes appeared in the entire training ground area.

"Netherworld Yin Wind Cave, Netherworld Evil Thunder Cave, Netherworld Bone Fire Cave, Netherworld Xin Metal Cave, Netherworld Kui Water Cave..."

"... etherworld Yellow Spring Cave, Netherworld Earth Burial Cave."

"After the manifestation of the Earth-Splitting Art, these seven holes all became man-made forbidden areas, occupying the seven attributes of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Thunder."

"Hiding really deep, three of the seven types are first-grade Yin Five Elements true intent."

"The seven types of earth holes formed the Netherworld Rule Domain."

"Fortunately, this person is not first-grade in all seven systems, otherwise Old Liu would really have capsized in the Yin cave." Zhao Xing had been training and was also watching for the first time. Although he already knew the result, he still broke into a cold sweat for Liu Tianning.

As soon as the battle began, Qiu Yuanshan made a killing move.

In the entire training ground area, only a small portion of land between the earth holes was available for Liu Tianning to manifest his Pure Yuan projection and take root.

"The orientation of his seven holes is also very particular."

"Old Liu's Four Seasons Rule Domain, Spring dominates the East, Summer dominates the South; the Heavenly Horn Bamboo and the Golden Divine Pillar must be placed in the East and South positions for their power to be maximized."

"The Spring Heavenly Horn Bamboo corresponds to the East, and the Five Elements belong to Wood, so he opened the Netherworld Bone Fire Cave directly in the East."

"The Summer Golden Divine Pillar corresponds to the South, and the Five Elements belong to Fire, so he opened the Netherworld Yin Wind Cave directly in the South."

"If it doesn't sing, it's silent; once it sings, it startles everyone." Now that Zhao Xing had grasped the domain of rules, looking at this battle again, he immediately saw many of the underlying intricacies.

"*Whoosh~* Yin wind blew out from the earth cave, as if countless ghosts were wailing."

The Yin wind targets the soul, which happens to restrain Liu Tianning's Dharma body to a certain extent.

Evil Yin Thunder, Bone Fire, Kui Water began to emerge continuously from the earth cave, attacking Liu Tianning.

"If it were any other Si Nong, their escape technique could not be stronger than Qiu Yuanshan's. Because he is hiding deep underground, Qiu Yuanshan is almost in an invincible position."

"But Old Liu is different; he has seven great Dharma bodies, which happen to correspond to the seven earth holes." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Facing the attack, Liu Tianning sent clones to drill into the earth holes to find Qiu Yuanshan.

Because Qiu Yuanshan had to preside over the Ultimate Earth-Splitting Art, he must be in one of the seven great holes. Although he could escape, he could never escape the range of these seven holes.

Because there was no suppression, Liu Tianning sent tens of thousands of clones to drill into the earth holes.

The Profound Fire Dharma body entered the Yin Fire Cave, the Wu Earth Dharma body entered the Earth Burial Cave, the Yellow Spring Dharma body entered the Wood-attribute Yellow Spring Cave, and the Floating Parasite Dharma body and the Heavenly Travel Dharma body entered the Cold Thunder and Kui Water Caves respectively.

"*Boom~*"

The power of the seven earth holes immediately weakened because they were subjected to the saturation interference of the clones, and Qiu Yuanshan also had to be on guard.

He jumped among the seven earth caves, but Liu Tianning had clones entering all seven earth holes, so he had to be distracted to attack the clones.

"*Whoosh~~*"

All seven earth holes showed huge attraction, and whirlpools condensed at the cave entrances.

Qiu Yuanshan took the initiative to embrace Liu Tianning's clones and swallowed them all in.

"How dare he? Damn! Seven-Cave Shape-Shifting?" Zhao Xing was stunned.

After swallowing Liu Tianning's clones, Zhao Xing discovered that the attributes of the seven earth holes had changed.

The Wind Cave turned into a Thunder Cave, the Fire Cave turned into a Water Cave; whatever clones Liu Tianning attacked with, he immediately changed to the attribute that countered them.

"Borrowing the power of the Earth veins to manifest the Netherworld, Qiu Yuanshan can ensure the successful completion of the counter-attribute."

"He has been comprehending the Kunyuan Divine Hoe for more than a hundred years; he really has comprehended something." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

Undoubtedly, the difficulty of Qiu Yuanshan far exceeded that of Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi.

It was mainly that he was difficult to defeat, not that his attacks were very strong.

Qiu Yuanshan's main strategy was to exhaust; he wanted to exhaust Liu Tianning to death, to see whose Yuan Qi would be exhausted first in this kind of competition.

"*Bang! "

The earth hole erupted, and 'corpses' filled the sky as they were sprayed out.

Those were 'Liu Tianning's' one by one.

The remains of the straw man clones danced in the sky, and the scene was extremely spectacular.

Zhao Xing could imagine that the atmosphere at the scene must have been explosive.

"The Heavenly Horn Bamboo and the Golden Divine Pillar have taken root."

Due to the shape-shifting of the earth holes, Liu Tianning successfully took root with the Heavenly Horn Bamboo and the Golden Divine Pillar.

"Seventh-stage domain, Old Liu has already been able to completely release the two great treasure-grade soldier species."

"However, the height of his plants is not right... I understand, is this taking root?"

"He wants to destroy the earth holes through the Yuan Base Art?"

One of the four Self-Nature arts, the Strong Base Art, is specifically aimed at strengthening the roots of plants.

The height of Liu Tianning's plant soldier species is not right, only a hundred meters high, and still sinking.

Clearly, he wants to collapse the Earth veins through the two great plant soldier species!

"Heaven and Earth Seed Soldier Scripture, reversing the heavens and earth; Old Liu is cultivating really fast." Zhao Xing watched the two god-level soldier species sink into the ground and couldn't help but sigh.

At the same time, clones were sent out again.

This time Liu Tianning also changed his strategy; the number and types of the seven great Dharma bodies entering the earth holes were the same. In this way, no matter how Qiu Yuanshan changed, Liu Tianning could ensure that a portion of the Dharma bodies could successfully enter the deep underground.

"*Hum~*"

In the end, only the crowns of the two great treasure-grade soldier species appeared on the ground.

The duel on the training ground completely became a duel underground.

Clones were continuously consumed, and Qiu Yuanshan's Yuan Qi was also continuously consumed.

A tug-of-war that lasted for nearly two quarters of an hour.

"*Hum! "

With the horizontal movement and intersection of the Heavenly Horn Bamboo and the Golden Divine Pillar, the first earth hole was finally destroyed.

"Divine Brilliance Strangulation."

Zhao Xing saw this move again, but from an overhead perspective.

Underground, the Divine Brilliance Strangulation proceeded unusually slowly.

However, it was coordinated with the continuous attacks of Liu Tianning's seven great clones.

In the end, Qiu Yuanshan couldn't withstand it, and all seven holes were destroyed.

By the time he reached the Earth Burial Cave, there was no way to save the situation.

In the end, Qiu Yuanshan admitted defeat.

"*Hum~*"

The screen froze, presenting multiple cross-sectional views of the underground.

Zhao Xing took a look; the underground was completely riddled with holes, with countless tunnels crisscrossing.

Of course, there were also many 'Liu Tianning's' lying underground, completely buried.

"Powerful." Zhao Xing couldn't help but sigh.

He didn't expect that Qiu Yuanshan, whom he thought was avoiding the battle, would actually last the longest.

"After this battle, Qiu Yuanshan's reputation soared. Originally, there were many doubts about his succession as Dean of Kunyuan Academy, but now with this battle, the doubts have disappeared directly." Zhao Xing flipped through the information.

Undoubtedly, Qiu Yuanshan, who obtained the Kunyuan Divine Hoe, had also undergone significant strengthening after many years of comprehension.

"However, Liu Tianning's progress over these ten years has also been huge. He solved the hidden dangers, his progress began to appear, and both domains have been strengthened."

"The Yellow Spring Cave also isolates and extracts life force, but it cannot isolate Liu Tianning's Life Domain; his replenishment speed exceeds Qiu Yuanshan's."

Zhao Xing couldn't wait to send a message to Liu Tianning.

【Teacher, in the duel with Qiu Yuanshan two years ago, did you use your full strength?】

A moment later, Liu Tianning replied: 【No, the Floating Parasite has already broken through to the ninth grade and reached the low-grade treasure level.】

【My true self can wear the Floating Parasite to go down and manifest spells, and there are two other derivative species that can be released, but Qiu Yuanshan is indeed a strong opponent.】

"The Floating Parasite is already tenth grade? What a spendthrift." Zhao Xing muttered.

In his view, it wasn't very worth it to use spirit energy on the Floating Parasite; after all, with the Cloud-Touching Vine, the Floating Parasite was just a clown.

He was frugal, but Liu Tianning was "lavish".

"I must quickly let Old Liu abdicate; this is too extravagant." Zhao Xing complained.

Of course, having spirit energy doesn't necessarily mean the plant soldier species can break through the boundaries and reach the treasure level.

To let the plant soldier species advance, complete the transformation, and exert its full power is not that easy.

It was mainly because Liu Tianning cultivated fast; his four Self-Nature arts were already at top-tier perfection, and the "Heaven and Earth Seed Soldier Scripture" had also reached the third layer of great success.

"But the faster he cultivates, the more wasteful he is." Zhao Xing was heartbroken.

"Hahaha." Li Boqian heard Zhao Xing complaining about Liu Tianning and couldn't help but laugh loudly. "How fresh, you actually think Liu Tianning is a spendthrift. Hahahaha."

It was truly reversing the heavens and earth.

Zhao Xing saw Li Boqian laughing and also showed a slight smile.

He was just teasing Old Li to make him happy, because Li Boqian didn't have long to live.

Li Boqian would exhaust his lifespan in the 96th year of Yongzhi.

"Alright, let's not talk about him." Li Boqian seemed to see through Zhao Xing's thoughts, "I don't have much time either, you must quickly learn the four basic secret techniques of the Yuan Sealing Art."

"Now that we have reached the critical period of the transition between the old and the new, the new Emperor is enthroned, and the transfer of the national fortune will inevitably lead to turmoil."

Zhao Xing nodded slightly. How many years had the Martial Emperor been born? He wasn't even fifty years old!

Less than fifty years old, excluding the first ten years of childhood and training, there wasn't much time for cultivation.

And after the Emperor passed away, Ji Che had to reach the normal super-first grade in a very short time.

If one views the changes in human cultivation as a change of climate, this is a change of climate with great intensity!

"There is no problem in the country, mainly at the border; there are already many forces ready to move, plotting something wrong." Li Boqian said, "You met the Prince of the Moss Kingdom ten years ago; you should know that the border of the Great Zhou is not peaceful."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded. The Moss Kingdom was resisting the Xis Kingdom. At that time, Prince Jinke of the Moss Kingdom entered the capital, first to pay tribute, second to report merits, and third to request support.

"The Five New Divine Talismans, the Burning Heaven Locking Yuan Array, you must master them as soon as possible." Li Boqian stared at Zhao Xing, "Kid, you must believe me, this is truly a powerful Ultimate Art!"

Zhao Xing was between laughter and tears: "I really am working hard."

Did Li Boqian think he was slacking off?

"If you were working hard, how did you comprehend the Ultimate Cloud Art first?"

"I—" Zhao Xing was speechless.

Well, in the final analysis, he still didn't quite believe it in his heart. Zhao Xing had his own cultivation plan.

He didn't take "Yuan Sealing" as his primary cultivation goal; at most, it was the third priority in his plan, even ranking after the "Soldier Envoy Divine Decision".

"From now on, I will definitely cultivate with all my strength." Zhao Xing stated.

"That's more like it." Li Boqian nodded with satisfaction. Once he turned into a Yin god, teaching would be troublesome. He was truly afraid that this art would be lost.

He tried to teach Lu Chunhua and Wang Tianzhi, but these people hadn't even learned two of the four basic secret techniques.

The span was too large; the four basic secret techniques combined the Climate Change Art, the Earthly Advantage Art, the Talisman Art, and the Array Art—

Only Zhao Xing had the energy and talent, and the hope of success was great.

After all, this art of his didn't have a stage below the seventh turn of the top tier at all.

However, he could also understand Zhao Xing; after all, Zhao Xing was concurrently cultivating three factions, with many spells, and being able to walk so fast was already very rare.

Zhao Xing promised Li Boqian and ranked the cultivation of "Yuan Sealing" as the top priority.

And as the Emperor approached the limit of his lifespan, the activities of the Great Zhou's enemies became more frequent.

In the summer of the 93rd year of Yongzhi, the Southern Barbarian Holy Light Royal Court united with the Profound Heaven Sect and planned a riot in the Guangling Cave Heaven.

Seven third-grade and two second-grade experts launched a suicide attack.

At the same time, several thousand mid-grade experts launched natural disasters in four counties of Guangling Continent.

Zhao Xing, who learned the news, saw the battle report and couldn't help but feel a trance.

"The riot of the Profound Heaven Sect in the previous life was actually delayed for so long."

"This Daoist Chengfeng? Is it Li Chengfeng?"

"Pity—"

While browsing the battle report, Zhao Xing also discovered a familiar face; it was the genius official 'Li Chengfeng' who had been abducted from Gucheng, Nanyang County. After more than a hundred years, he was already a fifth-grade Pure Yuan realm expert.

Known as 'Daoist Chengfeng', he was killed in Guangling County.

"Time flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, it has been so long." Zhao Xing put down the information.

The harm caused by the riot was not great, but it cast a psychological shadow over the subjects of the Great Zhou.

In the 94th year of Yongzhi, the aquatic tribes of the East Sea frequently attacked merchant fleets, with a total of more than 70, 00 attack incidents throughout the year, more than ten times that of previous years.

Of the forty-eight commercial shipping lanes, only six could be called absolutely safe, with a large number of cruisers escorting them.

At the end of the same year, special envoys from ten countries, including the Moss Kingdom and the Buling Kingdom of the West Sea, entered the capital, requesting the Great Zhou to support them with materials and manpower to resist the invasion of the Xis Kingdom.

In the 95th year of Yongzhi, Zhao Xing's "Five New Divine Talismans" were practiced to completion, reaching the seventh turn of the top tier.

This art combined the Si Nong's Heavenly Time Dao. Because it was from nothing to something, involving the integration of two paths, it was also the second-longest top-tier art Zhao Xing had learned so far.

The first was the Burning Heaven Locking Yuan Array, which Zhao Xing still hadn't fully mastered.

In the 96th year of Yongzhi, on the 16th of April, Li Boqian passed away.

As the seventh Great Si Nong of the Great Zhou, a close friend of the Emperor, and the leader of the Heavenly Time faction, on the day Li Boqian passed away, even Ji Mingjing, who hadn't appeared for a long time, came to see him off in person and conferred upon Li Boqian the title of the 37th Si Nong Saint.

The Emperor also specially opened the underworld passage of Fengjing for him, allowing a group of ministers to have their primordial spirits leave their bodies and send him all the way to the underworld to see Li Boqian recast his Yin god body.

Li Boqian was also one of the few high-ranking officials of the Emperor's reign who worked from the beginning to the end.

Others like the Grand Marshal, the Great Si Gong, the Great Life Official, and the Prime Minister had all been replaced.

"Hahahaha, I'm alive again." Li Boqian laughed loudly in the Heavenly Official Department of the underworld.

At this time, there were only some close people in the Heavenly Official Department.

When Li Boqian walked out of the Yin god pool of the Heavenly Soul Temple, he laughed unscrupulously.

Then, his second sentence was:

"Teacher, it's time for you to abdicate and let the virtuous take over."

The Heavenly Yang True Person, who was smoking, immediately turned black in the face. He pointed at Li Boqian, so angry that smoke sprayed from his seven orifices: "You unfilial thing!"

Zhao Xing:...

Everyone:...

After Li Boqian died, he could be considered to have released his nature, and he didn't care at all: "The Heavenly Official takes turns, this year it's my turn. Teacher, I'm letting you rest well, how is that unfilial?"

"This is precisely great filial piety!"

After some noise, the Heavenly Yang True Person's authority in the underworld was transferred to Li Boqian, including the Shangtang Order, which was also originally to be recovered.

However, Li Boqian saw that Zhao Xing was holding it, so he continued to let Zhao Xing hold it.

The Heavenly Yang True Person's true soul also changed.

There was a bit more divine charm and a bit less human touch.

"From today on, except for the main soul, the teacher's sub-souls in temples all over the place will become heartless..."

"... nd will only act according to the rules of the imperial court." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

It is impossible for a Yin god to retain personal emotions forever; this is a characteristic of the Yin god system.

Especially after the rebellion of the Prince of Liang, the Emperor further restricted the Yin god system. The Heavenly Yang True Person shouldn't have reached this step so quickly, but after the rebellion of the Prince of Liang, all Yin god systems were cleared of soul rights after a new Yin god took office.

"Teacher, what are you smoking, why is it so fragrant?" Li Boqian was triumphant when he suddenly smelled a refreshing fragrance and immediately floated over, twitching his nose.

"Get lost!" The Heavenly Yang True Person kicked Li Boqian away, "Don't come to rub off my incense. If you want it, go ask Lu Chunhua to find it yourself."

"Don't be like that, Teacher..."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost."

From the end of the 96th year of Yongzhi, all large-scale activities in the country basically stopped.

Because according to the limit of the Emperor's lifespan, the Emperor only had three years left.

Knowing that the limit of lifespan is just this point is not good. At this time, officials in various prefectures basically issued bans.

All large-scale entertainment activities were prohibited, and places like brothels were directly closed for rectification.

Except for the appointment and promotion of lower-third-grade officials, the middle-third-grade and upper-third-grade ones had long stopped since the 90th year of Yongzhi.

In the various cave heavens of the Soldier Realm and the borders of the Great Zhou, the deployment of troops became more frequent.

At the end of the 97th year of Yongzhi, Zhao Xing, this Marquis of Divine Might, even received an order to reorganize the army, requiring the Divine Might Army to prepare for battle.

He even had to go to Xier County in person to instruct Cao Qianyue, Li Muwan, Zhao Zheng, Liao Rulong, and others to make battle preparations.

In various parts of the country, the secret activities of life officials were endless, especially in the Aquatic Tribe Awe-Inspiring Department, along the Canglan River, in the coastal cities of the West Extreme Continent, in Tianyong Continent, and in Fengjing, which were almost under heavy surveillance.

Time came to the 98th year of Yongzhi.

Just after the Spring Festival, Zhao Xing felt the anomaly above the sky.

"The Heavenly Fortune of the nineteen continents has changed greatly, but this change is gentle." Zhao Xing stood on the peak of the Qitian Mountain, looking up at the starry sky.

"According to custom, the time of the Emperor's death will not be known to anyone; his death will be announced by the new Emperor. This is to prevent people from taking advantage of the timing to cause trouble."

Zhao Xing looked out; he could feel the change happening, but he didn't know when it started or when it would end.

"For now, I can only wait."

"I hope Old Jing doesn't come up with any more tricks." Zhao Xing thought to himself. "Don't violate any ancestral rules and suddenly call people to the capital to order something."

Everything that should have been explained had been explained, and everything that should have been deployed had been deployed. Because he knew his own fate, the Emperor of a fortune dynasty would never wait until he was about to die to carry out the task of entrusting orphans.

Time came to October of the 98th year of the Jingxin Calendar.

In the Lingxu Blessed Land, at the peak of Qitian Mountain, the Life Official Ji Si suddenly appeared.

Zhao Xing turned around, his pupils shrinking.

"Marquis of Divine Might, receive the secret edict of His Majesty."

"Your subject receives the edict." Zhao Xing knelt to receive the edict.

"The Great Emperor has not lived out his natural years."

"Crown Prince Ji Che has already grasped the divine artifacts and inherited the great unification."

"Order the Marquis of Divine Might, Zhao Xing, to enter the capital immediately and secretly meet the new monarch."

After Ji Si finished reading, she placed the imperial edict on Zhao Xing's head.

Golden light flickered on the imperial edict, and a golden dragon circled; it was no different from the original imperial edict Dharma image, the only difference being that this dragon was a circle smaller.

"Your subject Zhao Xing receives the edict." Zhao Xing held up the imperial edict, and a strange yet familiar power came from it, accompanied by a somewhat low voice entering his mind.

"Big Brother, Father Emperor passed away at the third quarter of the Mao hour; please come to Fengjing quickly to see me." This was Ji Che's voice. A new era had arrived.