Chapter 317: Epic Calamity, History Repeating with a Marriage Alliance?

A tiny toddler, charging forward like a boar, vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

But Liu Wanliang did not pursue; he merely sent guards to search, as if the child were truly just a relative's kid.

Seeing Liu Wanliang stand still, Zhao Xing finally remembered that Liu Wanliang had come to see him about something.

"You have been staring blankly by the lake day after day. Princess Youruo is somewhat worried about your condition and specially sent me to check on you," Liu Wanliang said.

"I am fine," Zhao Xing said. "I have merely reached a bottleneck."

"Gathering the Heaven's Luck through Mountain Arts is no one-day achievement. Chen An, you have also cultivated the Ten Thousand Arts Straw Man; do not let people worry."

Zhao Xing understood immediately and hurriedly said, "I shall go see the Princess at once."

Liu Wanliang smiled and nodded.

Zhao Xing waved his hand; his robes rippled like flowing water, and in the blink of an eye, his attire transformed from simple to magnificent.

Princess Youruo was not entirely worried about himself, for he was right under her nose; aside from staring blankly a bit too much due to cultivating Mountain Arts, his household avatar had shown no anomalies for decades.

The main concern lay with Old Liu.

Liu Tianning was tens of thousands of li away, and his true body had been in seclusion for many years. Although he had avatars abroad handling official duties, compared to Zhao Xing, Princess Youruo was more worried about him.

Starting from the twenty-sixth year of the Dazhi era, Liu Tianning's true body underwent two major seclusions.

One lasted from the twenty-sixth year of Dazhi to the fifty-sixth year of Dazhi, a full thirty years.

Princess Youruo had not seen Liu Tianning's true body for thirty years.

He emerged from seclusion in the fifty-seventh year of Dazhi.

But even then, they met only once, and their time together lasted less than a month.

"During his thirty-year seclusion, Old Liu completed the first stage of the Re-cultivation of the Divine Expansion Art."

"But Princess Youruo did not know this, for it was top secret; she could not possibly learn of it. Precisely because she did not know the reason, she was anxious," Zhao Xing recalled as he walked.

"I cannot tell her either; I can only reassure her that her teacher is safe."

Zhao Xing recalled Liu Tianning's activity trail: "He emerged from seclusion in the fifty-seventh year of Dazhi and concentrated on handling official duties."

"Starting in the fifty-eighth year, he secretly visited various regions across the nineteen provinces to inspect the promotion results of the Green Seedling Law and to reward or punish the various branch academies."

"At this time, the officials of the Benwo Sect had increased significantly compared to the Jingxin Calendar period; in certain provincial governments, the Civil Agricultural Administrators, and in certain armies, the Military Agricultural Administrators, the Benwo Sect's Agricultural Administrators even surpassed those of the other two sects."

"This was the capital for his bid for the position of Grand Agricultural Administrator; he could not ignore it."

"After three years of investigation, in the first year of Yongzhi, he returned to Daoyuanzhou, entered the 【Arena】, and challenged Yun Zheng, the Dean of the Yunzhong Academy at the Profound Heaven Academy."

"According to custom, in the competition between the three sects, there are at most ten battles between Grand Agricultural Administrator candidates, with each battle separated by ten years."

Why say "at most ten"? Because if the opponent is convinced by the earlier battles, there is no need to proceed to the later ones.

If they are not convinced, then they wait ten years and fight again.

During the intervening period, various political achievements might convince the others, and they might not fight again after ten years.

"After nine battles, if they are still unconvinced, then there is no other way."

"The tenth battle is the 【Struggle for the Great Dao】," Zhao Xing thought silently.

The first nine battles determine only victory or defeat, not life or death.

Even the victor must try to hold back and not harm the opponent's foundation.

After the fight, both sides must sit and discuss the Dao, seeking common ground while reserving differences.

After nine battles, if one still cannot persuade the other to listen, only then can the Struggle for the Great Dao proceed.

"Under normal circumstances, it never reaches this stage; however, Liu Tianning is the Dean of the Shangluo Academy, and he belongs to the Benwo Sect."

"The Benwo Sect has never produced a Grand Agricultural Administrator; surely there must have been times when they fought the tenth battle."

"For instance, the battle in the first year of Yongzhi with Yun Zheng; after Yun Zheng lost, he did not sit and discuss the Dao with Liu Tianning. Instead, he made a harsh threat to fight again in ten years and then left."

He didn't even go through the motions; one can imagine how much resistance Old Liu faced in ascending to the position of Grand Agricultural Administrator.

Of course, there are also situations where a candidate is convinced but must continue fighting.

Because he represents not just one person's interests, nor bears only his own glory, but the interests and glory of an entire school.

Doing what one knows cannot be done is unavoidable.

Dying in the Arena is better than surrendering and admitting defeat! At least it gives an account to the supporters who invested vast resources behind him: Look, I fought to the death for our ideals; I am at least worthy of everyone's support over the past few hundred years.

"In the first year of Yongzhi, Liu Tianning fought a total of eight battles. Four people from the Profound Heaven Academy participated: the deans or deputy deans of the Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Cloud Academies, all of whom were candidates."

"Without exception, all were defeated by Liu Tianning."

"However, Ling Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi were not among them."

"This was after the re-cultivation, with Liu Tianning only at the first layer of the Divine Expansion Art," Zhao Xing thought silently. "Liu Tianning's cultivation talent can truly be called the number one Agricultural Administrator; even I cannot compare to him in certain aspects."

Zhao Xing cultivated Mountain Arts for eighty-two years and still could not break through at the realm of Heaven's Luck Perfection, yet Liu Tianning entered the First Grade in just three years.

Of course, he did not nourish Heaven's Luck with Mountain Arts, but with the Divine Tree; the two are essentially no different, only that nourishing luck with Mountain Arts is slightly more difficult.

And Liu Tianning's progress in the Heaven's Luck realm was smoother; his family had occupied one-third of the Agricultural Administrator's luck since the founding of the nation.

The most representative Ten Thousand Arts Straw Man, the Liu Transmitted Straw Man Art, was created by his Ceng Zu and reached a new height under his hand.

Heaven's Luck, My Luck, the Luck of the State; thousands of years of accumulation. In this realm, no one is smoother than Liu Tianning.

Master Zhao, though admitting he was a cheat, had to admit defeat in the Heaven's Luck realm as well.

However, in the cultivation of the Divine Expansion Art, it was different.

While nourishing the Mountain for eighty-two years, Zhao Xing did not put down the cultivation of the Divine Expansion Art.

After all, this involved not only Old Liu's life and death but also himself.

Upon reaching the Second Grade Heaven's Luck realm, he too had to cultivate the second layer of the Divine Expansion Art.

"While secretly cultivating Mountain Arts, in less than ten years, I cultivated the second layer of the Divine Expansion Art to the realm of perfection, divided my divine soul into five hundred thousand, and marked my fate soul with countless stars, once again refreshing the historical record."

"After that, the time was spent summarizing the correct method for cultivating the second layer of the Divine Expansion Art and conducting targeted summaries for the re-cultivation of powerful figures, not just Liu Tianning, but also powerful figures of other professions."

"Starting from the first year of Yongzhi, I taught Liu Tianning to cultivate the second layer of the Divine Expansion Art, custom-made for him."

"After finishing eight battles, defeating four from the Tian Shi Sect and four from the Dili Sect, he immediately began secluding himself again."

"Since then, he has emerged from seclusion once every ten years, and has already fought eighteen people in total."

"The most he fought was four rounds, the least was one round."

"Wang Tianzhi and Ling Ling Tianchen still have not fought him, but Meng Kun and Qin Shanyue have both been beaten."

Only four rounds; so far, no one has simply surrendered and declared they would not fight anymore.

That would be far too shameful; after all, he is the Minister of Agriculture of the Benwo Sect; at the very least, he should last until the ninth match, right?

"In the ninety-eighth year of Yongzhi, Li Boqian will pass away in the late period of Yongzhi; after his death, there will be a few years without a Grand Minister of Agriculture. This kind of struggle among the three sects will come to a complete end by the second year of Pang Yuan Shou's reign under Wu Di."

With a long lifespan, time is needed to verify achievements, methods, theories, and moral character over a hundred years.

This is also enough time for the three sects' Ministers of Agriculture, as well as people from all walks of life and the emperors, to clearly see who is the suitable candidate for Grand Minister of Agriculture.

"Having said that, Old Liu possesses extraordinary talent in other aspects; even in the Heaven Fortune realm, I cannot compare to him, yet his progress in re-cultivating the Great Expansion Divine Art is somewhat slow."

"It is already the forty-sixth year of Yongzhi; his speed of re-cultivation is slower than that of geniuses in all other professions," Zhao Xing thought silently.

This re-cultivation here does not mean dispersing one's cultivation to start over; it is more like a correction and treatment that uses a point to cover the whole.

You can say one disperses their primal energy to restart cultivation, but how does one disperse the method of the soul? Does one have to turn themselves into a ghost state?

If it were truly that easy, the drawbacks of the Ten Thousand Laws Straw Man would not have remained unsolved by anyone for so many years.

"Princess Youruo's worry is not unfounded, but she has her own troubles herself; alas, I hope she can see clearly and not lose her temper recklessly."

Thinking this, Zhao Xing walked into the Yonghua Hall.

"Your subject greets the Princess."

Princess Youruo, Huang Jian, sat upright at the desk, her brows slightly furrowed as she reviewed official documents.

Hearing Zhao Xing's salute, she did not speak immediately.

Zhao Xing maintained the posture of bowing in salute, waiting quietly.

He knew that Princess Youruo was already very dissatisfied with him and his master.

Thinking about it, it was understandable; her beloved would disappear for ten or even dozens of years at a time.

A clone? What's the point of a clone? Trying to fool children?

When asked for the reason, he said nothing.

As for the disciple, he was also in seclusion; this reason was known. Princess Youruo understood that nurturing fortune at the Spirit Mountain was crucial for Zhao Xing; this was a key realm for him.

The higher the mountain, the higher the Heaven Fortune! The greater the harvest ultimately reflected in one's personal fortune. Heaven Fortune is not merely personal fortune; personal fortune is just one manifestation of it.

However, while understanding is one thing, emotions can still be very depressed.

Unable to ask Liu Tianning, Zhao Xing also kept silent about the reason, merely saying "it's fine, it's fine," and perfunctorily dismissing it.

Princess Youruo is now over two hundred years old; she will certainly live up to the lifespan of a First Grade official.

Even so, the two-hundred-year-old Princess Youruo has reached a critical period—she should consider marriage.

But with the current situation, how can she marry? She cannot even find the person!

"Whoosh!" The more Princess Youruo thought about it, the angrier she became, and she directly flung her writing brush away.

"Clang!" The writing brush embedded itself in a pillar inside the hall, its tail trembling uncontrollably.

"Crash~" She pushed the neatly arranged documents into a chaotic mess.

"Smack!" One document flew and hit Zhao Xing on the back.

Zhao Xing stepped forward two paces to make it less strenuous for Princess Youruo to throw it.

How can a document kill someone? If you are going to throw something, you should use a hard-wood brush holder or an imperial seal to hit people.

Princess Youruo was purely sulking.

In the past, would Princess Youruo ever sulk?

She would always express open anger, venting her rage while scolding and hitting.

But now she could not find a reason; it was top-secret information. What could Zhao Xing do?

Unable to find a reason, she could only force herself to be angry.

This cannot go on forever. Zhao Xing stepped a bit closer and said in a low voice, "Mistress, you are the nation's eldest princess; how can you lose your composure like this?"

Excellent, now there is an excuse.

Princess Youruo casually grabbed a brush holder and threw it, shouting furiously, "Who are you to teach me etiquette? You ungrateful scoundrel!"

Clatter! Bang bang bang bang bang!

The more Princess Youruo scolded, the more energetic she became, but she soon ran out of things to throw.

It is not satisfying to just scold without throwing things!

Zhao Xing curled his finger, and a gust of wind dragged the items on the floor back onto the desk.

With something to vent her anger, Princess Youruo renewed her blood rage: "Zhao Chen'an, you scoundrel,

even you use a clone to fool me!"

"Today, this Palace will definitely smash this rotten piece of wood to pieces!"

At this moment, a small young child who had just shaken off his guards and intended to return to show off to his eldest sister

approached the Yonghua Palace.

Seeing this scene, his eyes immediately widened.

"Ah!"

The child covered his mouth, hurriedly crouched outside the threshold, and slowly crawled to the side.

The threshold was high; once he crouched down, he completely disappeared from sight. Then he pinched his nose. Immediately, his entire body became invisible.

The accompanying guards walked up the long corridor, looking utterly bewildered.

Where did he go?

Was he really lost?

"Shh."

Liu Wanliang suddenly appeared behind the long corridor, waved lightly, and signaled the guards to withdraw.

Then he quietly picked up the young child, covered his eyes, and said, "Don't look; these are all fake."

"Fake?" The young child used his small hands to pry open Liu Wanliang's fingers.

But the next moment, he found he was no longer outside Yonghua Palace but had appeared inside a pavilion.

"Ah, I can't see it anymore."

"Uncle Liu, what do you mean by 'fake'?"

Liu Wanliang smiled and said, "There is a kind of magic in the world called illusion magic."

"For instance, what I am doing right now."

Liu Wanliang shook his body and instantly transformed into the image of a woman.

Seeing this, the young child immediately forgot about what had just happened.

"This is good, this is good! I want to learn!"

He also pretended to shake, not expecting that there was actually a change; for a split second, his face turned into that of a little girl, exactly the form Liu Wanliang had just transformed into.

But after only one second, the spell broke, and he returned to his original form.

"This——" Liu Wanliang was secretly shocked in his heart. "The Young Master is truly a genius."

"?" "Why did it fail?" The young child jumped up and instantly appeared on Liu Wanliang's shoulder.

His small hands fiddled with Liu Wanliang's eyelids and then pulled apart Liu Wanliang's hair, completely forgetting what had just happened.

Liu Wanliang smiled, plucked him down, and said, "If the child wants to learn, then I will teach you——"

Inside Yonghua Hall, Princess Youruo had finally calmed her anger.

Everything returned to its original state, even the brush returned to Princess Youruo's hand.

If that certain young child were here, he would surely exclaim, "Fake! It really is fake!"

Princess Youruo looked at Zhao Xing, who was bowing with his waist bent, and snorted, "Find a place to sit yourself."

"Thank you, Princess." Zhao Xing straightened his body, then went to the nearby table and knelt in a seated position.

"Let me ask you, what is Liu Tianning's actual situation?"

"He can come out to work and fight in the dojo for a while, then he needs to enter seclusion again, leaving only a few clones outside to mechanically handle official duties——--- never mind, I'll just ask one question: has he truly lost control?"

"No," Zhao Xing affirmed firmly. "My teacher would absolutely not be like Xu Xing."

"Then why have you never lost control?"

Zhao Xing fell silent again.

He could not say it.

Since the Jing Emperor did not reveal the truth to Princess Youruo, no one could do anything about it.

Seeing Zhao Xing once again know nothing about everything.

Looking at him was like seeing someone else, and Princess Youruo suddenly felt irritated in her heart: "Get out!"

Zhao Xing stood up, bowed respectfully, and then said, "Master's wife, there is a matter I do not know if I should speak of."

"Spit it out!"

"This disciple feels that you have been overworked these past years; if you were not so tired, you could worry less and have less anxiety. You could travel around and rest properly."

Princess Youruo was about to scold again, but then thought that Zhao Xing's intentions were ultimately good, so she did not scold aloud: "I understand."

"This disciple takes his leave."

"Wait."

Princess Youruo seemed to remember something: "A relative has come to the residence; if you have time, you may keep him company and play with him. In a few more months, you may even need to teach him the Jiaoyi Sect's agricultural arts."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Yes."

Exiting Yonghua Hall, Zhao Xing shook his head.

He did not know whether Princess Youruo had taken his words to heart.

But he had taken Princess Youruo's words to heart.

"It seems the Jing Emperor does not intend to hide anything from me. If he did not want me to know about the Imperial Prince being raised in the Princess's residence, even if I saw him, I might have ignored it."

Today is different from the past!

Back then, Zhao Xing planned to come to the Eastern Sea to raise dragons; he intended to raise one dragon of the Dragon Court and the second dragon, the Wu Di, the true dragon!

Originally, he only wanted to serve in the Jing Emperor's court at the fifth rank, and then, at some point, spend some time in close company with the Wu Di.

Even if the time might not be very long, as long as he touched it, it would be great fortune and great benefit!

"But now, I am already at the second rank, the Heaven's Luck Realm."

"I do not need to seek him out deliberately; Liu Wanliang has directly brought the Wu Di to see me."

"The Princess asked me to keep the Wu Di company and even asked me to teach the Jiaoyi Sect's agricultural arts; without the Jing Emperor's authorization, this could not have happened."

Many plans need adjustment; Zhao Xing had prepared much before, but now there is no need to prepare deliberately at all.

"Heaven's Luck is my luck; I do not need to seek good things, for good things will come to my door; I only need to follow nature." Zhao Xing's understanding of the Heaven's Luck Realm deepened a step further.

Returning to Tianma North Garden, the Zhao Residence at this time had become larger than before.

"Eighty-two years have passed; I am already 147 years old, and my younger brother Zhao Zheng is already 138 years old."

"My second sister Zhao Yuhuan is already 121 years old."

"My third sister Zhao Yuling is also already 103 years old."

"My fourth brother Zhao Chuanzong, born in the twentieth year of the Great Peace, is already 86 years old."

Zhao Xing recalled.

To speak of it, Zhao Ruide was also quite helpless.

The first four did not branch out; each one was doing well with a bright future, so there was no way to pursue a career. The old man could only go himself, thus Zhao Chuanzong was born.

Chuanzong, what a simple wish!

Zhao Chuanzong also proved worthy; at thirty he married and had children, taking a Hou Jue's daughter as his principal wife, and also took nine wives from the legitimate lines of prominent families.

After that, it was nothing but striving to give birth, give birth, give birth.

At sixty, Zhao Chuanzong was already being called Grandfather.

Nowadays, the branch of Zhao Chuanzong has separated from the main family and can be said to be flourishing beyond measure; the children and grandchildren number forty or fifty.

"Adoptive father Zhao Ruide, at his two-hundredth birthday last year, he had already reached the sixth rank as an Inspector of the Patrol Office."

"Adoptive mother Lady Cai, one hundred and seventy-one years old, has also received several extensions of life."

Small extensions of life, quite a few times.

For instance, Zhao Zheng, who is now a military officer of the fifth rank, lower grade; because of this, Lady Cai once...

was granted the title 'Wu Hua Ruren', which is the seventh rank in the hierarchy of titled women.

There was no actual military power or authority, only honor and added years of life.

Second sister Zhao Yuhuan is already a Dao-transmitting Mage of the fifth rank, upper grade.

Third sister Zhao Yuling is a Weaver of the fifth rank, upper grade.

They had not established any merit, but they still brought small extensions of life to the couple Zhao Ruide and Lady Cai.

A large extension of life occurred mainly once.

It was during the nine-hundredth birthday of Emperor Jing; when rewarding the ministers, he said that Zhao Ruide and Lady Cai possessed great love.

For cultivating such a virtuous minister and excellent general as the Marquis of Divine Might for the state, he promoted Zhao Ruide to the fifth rank as a Military Patrol Inspector, and also conferred upon Lady Cai a fifth-rank imperial edict title, upgrading her to Lady Wu Hua.

Once the rank is reached, matters become much easier; one can then consume treasures to extend one's lifespan to the limit of the current rank.

Therefore, Zhao Ruide and Lady Cai can at least live another hundred years or so.

As long as they reach the era of Wu Di, rewards will certainly continue; they will have at least two or three hundred good years to live.

Of course, Zhao Ruide and Lady Cai will no longer bear children.

Mainly because Zhao Chuanzong is already very fertile, and having too many children and grandchildren is also a trouble.

They all want to see if they can get some benefits from their eldest uncle Zhao Xing.

Although Zhao Ruide and Lady Cai were not born into a great family, having lived in the Princess's residence for so many years,

how could they not know the stakes involved?

They cannot add trouble to their eldest son!

Thus, Zhao Ruide not only stopped having children, but also directly ordered the already-married Zhao Chuanzong to separate and establish his own household.

Zhao Xing and his two sisters still had some affection, but Zhao Chuanzong was rather average.

Of course, even so, the branch of Zhao Chuanzong still benefited immensely; at the very least, they were not short of money.

"Except for Zhao Zheng, I have never managed the official careers of my brothers and sisters, but I have never been stingy with money."

Zhao Zheng was an exception; his talent was good, so Zhao Xing personally arranged for him to enter the Divine Might Army, placing him under the command of Liao Ruolong for training. He is now a standing Vice-General.

However, having spent many years by the Canglan River, there were no major battles. Even though Zhao Zheng's talent was good, at over a hundred years old he is still only a military officer of the fifth rank, lower grade.

"Speaking of talent, the most terrifying talent belongs to the Emperor," Zhao Xing thought silently.

The Emperor can be called the only profession!

He is even more perverted than the Priest, because the Priest's mastery of all professions is ultimately achieved through others, requiring the summoning of gods to complete.

However, the Emperor possesses mastery of all professions, with talent values in every profession being terrifyingly high.

Of course, in a single field, he cannot reach the absolute top level of the current age; for instance, the Emperor's talent in the Way of Agriculture cannot surpass Old Liu and Zhao Xing.

In terms of agricultural talent, he is probably just slightly above Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen.

In terms of martial arts talent, he is slightly above Ye Yukong.

By extension, he can be called a peerless genius in every path, but not the strongest genius.

Nevertheless, the complete integration and understanding of all professions is also quite terrifying.

"Let me teach Wu Di the techniques of Agriculture?" Zhao Xing was vaguely looking forward to it. "The cultivation of Wu Di, then I must put in some effort."

Starting from the early part of the forty-sixth year of the Great Peace, the young Wu Di would occasionally come to the Tianma Northern Garden to play with Zhao Xing.

The reason for saying to teach only techniques and not the Dao is that transmitting the Dao to an Imperial Prince creates too great a karmic cause; a subject cannot bear it.

If the Imperial Prince ascends to become Emperor, it would be even more terrifying, so only techniques are taught, not the Dao.

The Imperial Prince cultivates the Way of the Human Emperor; the one who transmits the Dao can only be the Emperor.

The Dao of Wu Di can only be transmitted by Emperor Jing.

Of course, the time has not yet come.

Liu Wanliang and Princess Youruo only let the young Wu Di address Zhao Xing as 'Marquis of Divine Might', or call him 'Big Brother'.

At first, Wu Di refused.

"I won't go, I don't want to go!"

The young child, in Liu Wanliang's arms, kept kicking his feet.

"What fun is there in farming? Uncle Liu, let me go!"

Liu Wanliang helplessly set him down.

"Whoosh~"

The moment he was let go, he vanished.

But this time, Zhao Xing could not let him escape.

Swish~

Two figures flashed; in the next instant, Zhao Xing had hoisted the young Wu Di into the air.

"Waaah!"

Opening his eyes and seeing the ground below, the young child immediately developed a fear of heights.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!"

"Are you sure you want me to let go?" Zhao Xing asked. "This is ten thousand feet up; if you fall, you'll go splat and turn into minced meat."

"Ah no, don't let go..."—

However, he spoke too late.

Zhao Xing had already released his grip.

"Aaaah—"

A clear, piercing voice cut through the sky.

The Wu Di, plummeting in free fall, had even his hair blown straight back.

But after falling two thousand feet.

Qi suddenly erupted from his body, and then he actually began to slow his descent.

After falling another thousand feet, this fellow actually comprehended the martial artist's 'Sky-Dancing Art' on the spot.

"Heh, I can fly!"

Watching this scene, Zhao Xing couldn't help but nod slightly.

The current Wu Di was probably only four or five years old, yet he had already surpassed the Ninth-Rank Qi Gathering Realm and reached the Eighth-Rank Spirit Bridge Realm.

According to the rule that Imperial Princes study techniques but not the Dao, and must learn the arts of a hundred schools from a young age, his talent was truly terrifying.

The Wu Di paddled with his hands and legs in the air, just like a dog paddling in water, trying to fly away and escape.

Zhao Xing snorted: "Little brat, do you think I can't handle you?"

He immediately pointed a finger, directly sealing the young Wu Di's Qi.

"?" The young Wu Di, who had paused in mid-air, looked bewildered and began to fall again.

"Ah!" When they reached the ground, Zhao Xing caught him.

"Heh, was that fun?"

"Fun!"

"Will you learn?"

"No!"

Oh, quite a backbone.

"Here you go!"

The Wu Di soared into the sky once more with a clear, piercing cry.

Below, Liu Sicheng stood behind Princess Youruo, gazing at the sky: "Princess, is it really okay for the Marquis of Divine Might to act like this?"

Princess Youruo said: "What could be wrong? This child is born with proud bones and a resilient heart; meeting someone equally proud, if we don't do this, there's no way to teach him."

"Zhao Chenan knows what he's doing; you need not worry."

"Come to pick him up in two double-hours."

"Yes." Liu Wanliang lowered his head slightly and left together with Princess Youruo.

The Wu Di was indeed proud; for the first two double-hours of Zhao Xing's first day, he stubbornly refused to yield.

"Fine, you have guts!" Zhao Xing set him down. "We shall fight again tomorrow."

"Hmph! I just won't learn!" The young Wu Di strutted away proudly.

The second day: bungee jumping.

The third day: bungee jumping.

The fourth day: bungee jumping.

Until the seventh day, the young Wu Di finally couldn't hold back.

"Stop! Let me say something!"

Zhao Xing grabbed him by the neck: "Speak."

"I can learn from you, but you must teach me something fun, something I've never seen."

Arguing like this forever isn't a solution; the young Wu Di doesn't have much playtime each day either.

Zhao Xing was wasting half of it here; how could he stand it?

"Fine." Zhao Xing showed a slight smile and released his collar. "Then what should you call me?"

"Marquis of Divine Might." The Wu Di called out reluctantly.

"Hmm?"

"Big Brother." The Wu Di rolled his eyes, then bowed seriously.

"Hahaha, Fifth Brother." Zhao Xing happily returned the bow.

"?" "Why am I the fifth?"

"Because I have several good brothers; you can only rank fifth, so I'll call you Fifth Brother." Zhao Xing made an excuse.

The Wu Di didn't care about these things; he simply asked: "What fun thing are you going to show me?"

Zhao Xing pointed behind him: "Just turn around and look."

The Wu Di turned as told and immediately widened his eyes: "Wow! So many Big Brothers!"

Before him, behind him, and in the sky, Zhao Xing's figures filled the space completely.

The Wu Di felt his pant legs moving; he looked down.

Even a head popped up from the ground, smiling at him: "Is it fun?"

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!" the young child clapped excitedly: "Big Brother, I want to learn this!"

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was early spring of the forty-seventh year of Yongzhi.

Lingxu Blessed Land, atop Qi Tianshan.

Zhao Xing felt a thread of karma about to snap once again.

A figure appeared in his mind, holding a compass and shining it upon his entire body.

When Zhao Xing saw this, the figure in the vision seemed to turn its head and nod slightly at him.

Tian Yongzhou, Fengjing.

West City, before an elegant waterside pavilion.

Ji Tianyan looked up, revealing a faint smile.

"Zhao Xing, you have come."

"Your Highness." A cloud of mist scattered, and Zhao Xing's figure landed outside the pavilion steps.

"Come in and sit." Tian Yan Wang extended his hand. "I do not have much time left; there are still matters I must entrust to you."

"Your Highness, please speak." Zhao Xing sat opposite Tian Yan Wang.

"The first matter is the successor." Tian Yan Wang poured Zhao Xing a cup of tea. "After I am gone, Ji Si will take over my position."

Zhao Xing nodded slightly; this was almost obvious.

Fate Officials only employ members of the royal family. Ji Si is Tian Yan Wang's younger brother, though two hundred years younger than him, he can at least bridge the gap to the early reign of Wu Di.

"He and I, though both descendants of You Wang, have different personalities. He appears gentle, but is actually utterly inhumane; his principles of action are always to maximize the interests of the royal house."

Ji Si will certainly not be liked by others, but he will certainly be liked by the Emperor.

Of course, in his past life, Zhao Xing did not remember Ji Si; Fate Officials are all hidden from the world, and interactions are few.

However, now that Tian Yan Wang said so, he understood.

"After Ji Si succeeds me, he will continue to perfect and supplement the second layer of the Yan Shen Jue."

"Nowadays, more and more cultivators of different paths are involved; it is expected that it will be fully completed in the near future."

"This is a century-long plan; I ask that you must continue this matter."

The Yan Shen Jue naturally produces different directions due to individual differences, so the drawbacks will also differ; it is impossible for one medicine to cure a thousand diseases.

Zhao Xing is now cooperating very diligently because both he and Liu Tianning have a stake in it.

What about later? When Zhao Xing holds a high position, will he have no time for this, or will he lose interest?

After all, this endeavor brings no obvious merit, takes too long, and if problems arise, he might have to take the blame.

So, Tian Yan Wang is simply making a request.

"I promise you," Zhao Xing said seriously, "I will certainly not slacken; I will go all out."

"I believe you," Tian Yan Wang smiled. "It is just a pity that I will not see that day."

Zhao Xing fell silent. Fate Officials, like the Emperor, and like the mad Xu Xing, vanish into nothingness upon death.

Divining the future, deducing the past; the ultimate price is life.

Of course, this is also because Tian Yan Wang is not a Rule Realm powerhouse. If he were a Super First-Rank Rule Realm expert, he could preserve his life soul.

But his First Rank was granted by Emperor Jing himself. Emperor Jing was only a Rule Realm expert; he could not possibly allow Tian Yan Wang to reach the Rule Realm, and even if there were a method, he could not give it to Tian Yan Wang to use.

"You need not be sad; this is my destiny," Tian Yan Wang laughed. "To witness the birth of the historical record of the Yan Shen Jue in the last hundred years of my life, and to personally drive the modifications of the first and second layers of the Yan Shen Jue. I am already very satisfied."

"How many Kings are there in history? As numerous as the hairs on an ox!"

"But I, Ji Tianyan, will leave my name in the annals of history; someone will always remember me!"

"Is this not far more impressive than being a Prince, or becoming an obscure Yin Spirit with no presence?"

Zhao Xing laughed: "You are right."

"Let us toast with tea instead of wine, shall we?" Tian Yan Wang raised his teacup.

"Come."

The two clinked their cups.

After setting down the teacup, Tian Yan Wang continued: "There are three major matters at the Tianji Pavilion currently in progress."

"Two of them I cannot tell you; I do not even have the qualification."

"However, one concerns the Ministry of Agriculture, and I must tell you."

Seeing Tian Yan Wang so solemn and heavy, Zhao Xing straightened his posture: "Please speak."

"In the future, there will be a great calamity involving the entire Xuan Huang Realm!"

"Whether it be the Southern Barbarians, Eastern Japan, the Four Seas, the lands of the Nineteen Provinces, or even including the Cave Heaven worlds, all will welcome violent changes."

Tian Yan Wang spoke with a solemn and heavy expression: "Century-level climatic shifts will be seen everywhere; millennium-level climatic shifts will no longer be rare."

"In many of the visions I saw, scenes of the extinction of life appeared."

"The earth churns, volcanic eruptions burst forth, tsunamis tower to the heavens—"

"Facing this disaster, the Ministry of Agriculture officials cannot stop it."

Zhao Xing's face changed slightly: "Can even the future Grand Minister of Agriculture not stop it?"

Tian Yan Wang pondered: "I am not clear."

"What do you mean?"

"Although it has appeared many times, proving its probability is high, I cannot clearly see the people in the future."

"I do not know whether the future Grand Minister of Agriculture will stop it or not; this is not something we can calculate."

"Therefore, this deduction is still ongoing and will be one of the main directions for the Great Zhou Fate Officials' deductions." "Why are you telling me this?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I saw you," Tian Yan Wang said. "I saw your figure."

"You don't mean to say I stopped the calamity, do you?" Zhao Xing's expression was somewhat surprised.

"No, it cannot stop it." King Tianyan said. "Among the many outcomes of the divination, all show that the natural disaster has already occurred, with no process of defense against it appearing."

"I saw you, but I do not know what you did, nor whether you are the key to saving the world." King Tianyan said. "I even only saw your back."

"You only saw my back—how can you be sure it was me?" Zhao Xing said. He also understood a bit of divination arts.

This does not conform to the basic laws of fate divination.

"Intuition." King Tianyan smiled. "Just consider us Fate Officials making a precaution. It makes no difference whether it is you or not—if it truly is you, then telling you in advance is certainly better."

"I understand." Zhao Xing nodded. "Do you have anything else you wish to say?"

"No. As for the other two matters, I have no right to tell you unless Your Majesty permits it."

Zhao Xing nodded. Fate Officials are not among the hundred officials; even the Grand Minister of Agriculture has no right to know the affairs of Fate Officials, as they serve only the Emperor.

"Oh, there is also a small private matter." King Tianyan said. "That rascal Luo still owes me several Grade-7 Divine Weapons and hasn't given them. I feel he intends to default. In the future, help me collect the debt."

"You truly know how to joke."

"Hahahaha." King Tianyan laughed heartily. "Very well, boy, let me cast a divination for you."

"Which aspect do you wish to divine?"

"Your future." King Tianyan pretended to pinch his fingers. "Within a hundred years, you will become the Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

"What is the meaning of you holding a teacup?"

"Hahahaha."

The forty-seventh year of Yongzhi, Qingming.

The Grade-1 Fate Official, Ji Tianyan, passed away.

The funeral was held very quietly, with few people knowing of it.

Lingxu Blessed Land, atop Qitian Mountain.

From within the small mountain pile wrapped in stones and snowflakes, a sigh was emitted.

"King Tianyan has also departed."

"What he told me must be the Yuan Qi Tide that will occur in the future."

"The Fate Official has two major divination projects? I am not aware of this, but one of them must concern the Southern Barbarian War. What is the other?"

"Never mind. When I am meant to know, I will naturally know." Zhao Xing's thoughts returned from activity to tranquility.

Since Qitian Mountain reached the ten-thousand-meter threshold, his thoughts had also become more substantial.

Although the peak of Qitian did not grow higher, its size was expanding.

For many consecutive years, precious Earth-attribute resources had been invested into it.

Heaven's Fortune was like a mountain; Zhao Xing continuously expanded the limit of the Heaven's Fortune Realm through such sustained accumulation.

When his thoughts became active once again, it was already the fifty-sixth year of Yongzhi.

"Another ten years have passed."

Zhao Xing, standing by the lake, felt somewhat dazed.

Wu Di had left the Princess's Manor since last year.

Therefore, he often sat in a daze by Tianma Lake.

Occasionally, when a Tianma passed by Zhao Xing, it was not afraid of him at all, and even came to rub against him.

This was because Zhao Xing emitted a very close natural aura.

In May, Chen Shijie and Xia Jing visited the Lingxu Blessed Land.

Nowadays, these two also gradually had time, as they had both entered the Third Rank this year.

According to custom, they also had a relatively long holiday to consolidate their Yuan Soul Realm cultivation.

However, after seeing Zhao Xing's true form in such a state, they left again.

In early July, Zhao Xing felt the bottleneck loosen somewhat.

But at the same time, he also learned of bad news.

"The envoy of the Southern Barbarian Holy Light Wang Ting has entered Jingcheng, seeking to request the Imperial Princess for the Crown Prince of the Holy Light Wang Ting to conclude a peace treaty, and is willing to submit the Great Zhou as the Suzerain State."

"The Princess, the Princess has been betrothed!"

Liu Wanliang's anxious voice appeared beside Zhao Xing's ear.

Zhao Xing, who had been staring blankly at the lake surface, turned his head, and the expression on his face gradually became vivid.

"I know."

Zhao Xing nodded calmly. "Commissioner Liu, please go to Jingcheng and inform the Princess that both my teacher and I will know of this matter."

Liu Wanliang stared at Zhao Xing for a moment, then sighed: "You had better hurry."

After Liu Wanliang departed, Zhao Xing closed his eyes.

"History has repeated itself; Princess Youruo has still been betrothed."

"I have reminded her many times already; why does she not listen?"

Zhao Xing sighed.

"How could Emperor Jing tolerate the existence of a Princess who holds the Eastern Sea shipping lanes, can command the Dao Academy and numerous high-rank experts of the Water Clan, and is as wealthy as a nation, when he does not even spare his own brothers?"

"Truly, the onlooker sees clearly, while the participant is confused," Zhao Xing thought inwardly.

Since the first year of Yongzhi, when Princess Ji Yingluo was born, Zhao Xing had seen through it.

How could Emperor Jing change the era name for a Princess, and immediately upon taking action bestow a title upon the Princess, granting her more favor than Princess Youruo?

"The birth mother of the Thousand-Year Princess was merely a legitimate daughter from an ordinary Duke's family."

"This was already a hint."

"I advised the Princess to put down official duties and go out more often; this was to hint that she understand Emperor Jing's intentions, voluntarily hand over power. The shipping lanes are secondary; the main issue is the authority over the Dao Academy and the Water Clan."

"Around the fortieth year of Yongzhi, Emperor Jing sent the young Wu Di to her for care; this was to provide her with a layer of protection."

"Because Emperor Jing had already poured all his power into Wu Di, there was never any Nine Dragons Fighting for the Throne—Wu Di was the sole destiny!"

"Thus, Wu Di learned faster than the other Imperial Princes; his talent perfectly matched the Emperor's standard."

But could Zhao Xing say these things? He could not.

How could a father directly say he wanted to take back his daughter's power?

Emperor Jing preserved appearances, yet left behind the test.

How could others meddle with idle talk?

To make it so plainly obvious?

Isn't this interfering in imperial family affairs, sowing discord between father and daughter?

"The number of people spreading the Yan Shen Jue has grown steadily, yet this matter has never been disclosed to Princess Youruo."

"When Princess Youruo made a slight move, Emperor Jing readily went along with it; the final thirty years of Yongzhi's reign were a time of imperial power transfer. Emperor Jing truly desired peace during these decades."

"Alas, this isn't a test for her—could Liu Tianning and I really remain untouched?"

"I'm truly done with you, old sixth!"

PS: A new volume has begun, and since the power went out this afternoon, I also have to attend a wedding preparatory banquet.

Today's output is over ten thousand words; I'll explode again tomorrow. Also, the weather is turning cold—remember to put on more clothes.