Chapter 256: Opening Pure Yuan Space, Effects of the Xuanyuan Decomposition Technique (14,000)

"Have you heard my story?"

Faced with this sudden 'admiration,' Mi Fu eyed Zhao Xing suspiciously. He had no impression of Zhao Xing's face, nor was the name familiar.

"Of course!" Zhao Xing replied like a devoted fan. "Your glorious deeds couldn't be recounted in three days and three nights."

Zhao Xing began to recount Mi Fu's accomplishments. He had come prepared, avoiding events too distant lest Mi Fu himself couldn't recall them. He also steered clear of recent events, to prevent Mi Fu from thinking he was being spied on, which might raise suspicion. The details had to be neither too specific nor too vague, and delivered with a slight exaggeration to fit the perspective of an ardent admirer.

"In the 259th year of the Dingxin Calendar, you served as an official in Longjing Commandery, Guangling Prefecture. During your three-year tenure, you dug 46 canals and moved seven mountains, reclaiming five million mu of fertile land for the people of Longjing. Later, due to disagreements with the local Prefectural Assistant, you were impeached on trumped-up charges and stripped of your position, sent back to your hometown. Such an act by the Longjing Prefectural Assistant was simply outrageous!"

Mi Fu unconsciously lifted his chin, then waved his hand, saying, "It wasn't quite five million mu. And when I was dismissed and sent home, that son of a bitch didn't have it easy either; he was also demoted by two ranks."

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and continued, "In the 263rd year of the Dingxin Calendar, you returned to Guangyuan Commandery, Yuanpin Prefecture, serving as the Land Registrar of Minghu County. You investigated and uncovered two million mu of hidden farmland records from powerful families. You also returned cultivated land to forest, closed mountains for four years, and regulated water systems, restoring Minghu Lake's capacity for water storage and flood control. In just three years, Minghu County's land taxes and grain reserves in the Grand Granary returned to their levels from the early Dingxin era. This was an act that benefited countless people. You were an incorruptible official, and though the local powerful families detested you, they could do nothing but buy an official position to have you transferred away. It's said that when you left office, ten thousand people escorted you for over ten li, wishing they could witness that grand spectacle."

Mi Fu unconsciously puffed out his chest. Although Zhao Xing's words were still somewhat exaggerated and the numbers not entirely accurate, these compliments truly touched his heart.

"...In the first year of the Jingxin Calendar, I heard that on your way to join the army, you encountered the Xuantian Cult's rebellion..."

"Not to join the army, and it wasn't the first year, but the third year of the Jingxin Calendar," Mi Fu recalled. "Hmph, those Xuantian demons dared to abduct my subordinates! How could I let them go?"

"By all rights, you should have been rewarded. Why were you demoted?" Zhao Xing poured wine for Mi Fu. By now, the two had moved their conversation to the official yamen in the city.

"That general of the Liangshan Army was truly useless. He couldn't capture the bandit leader and instead blamed me, saying I was incompetent for letting the bandits escape." Mi Fu drained his cup, wiping his mouth casually. "How could I tolerate such a petty man? At that point, I was already being ostracized by my colleagues—either transferred or demoted. So, I simply strung the fellow up and gave him a good beating."

"Heh heh, at that time, I had already learned the Hou Transformation Technique and transformed his nose into a dog's snout."

"Hahahaha, he truly became a dog official! Excellent! I toast you, Master Mi!"

"Hahahaha, drink!"

Mi Fu put down his bowl. By now, they had been drinking for almost half an hour. The atmosphere grew increasingly relaxed, yet Mi Fu still harbored a trace of wariness. He looked at Zhao Xing and asked, "Chen An, where are you from?"

"To be honest, Master Mi, I am from Nanyang Commandery, Pinghai Prefecture."

"Oh?" Mi Fu was taken aback. "That's quite far." He had never been to Pinghai Prefecture. How could Zhao Xing know about him?

Zhao Xing was prepared. He cupped his hands and said, "I have a friend in Hongxia Commandery, Guangling Prefecture, named Wei Wuji, who is a direct descendant of Duke Wei. Some of my elders also hold positions at the Shangluo Academy. After hearing of your deeds, Master Mi, I developed immense admiration and made extensive inquiries. The more I learned, the more I felt you are a singular genius of this age, who absolutely should not be exiled to a place like Guixu City."

"Hahahaha, I don't really care where I am," Mi Fu said, completely unconcerned about his situation.

After chatting for a while longer, he completely let down his guard around Zhao Xing. Mainly, Mi Fu believed he had nothing worth plotting against him. If old enemies had sent assassins, they wouldn't dispatch a marquis to harm him so openly. In reality, Mi Fu indeed had a considerable reputation in several major commanderies of Guangling and Yuanpin Prefectures. The reason he hadn't been found before was primarily that the nineteen prefectures were vast; Pinghai Prefecture alone exceeded the size of Earth. Furthermore, Mi Fu's reputation was confined to specific commanderies, and he frequently changed locations. Once he left, his fame would wane after a few or ten years. Of course, it was also related to Zhao Xing's limited connections at the time. Xia Jing was only a seventh or eighth-rank official then. Suddenly searching for someone across prefectures, and Zhao Xing not explicitly stating his purpose, naturally made the search slow.

"Master Mi, I'd like to toast you again." Zhao Xing raised his cup.

"Hahahaha, excellent!" Mi Fu took his cup, drained it, and then asked, "What's this toast for?"

Zhao Xing replied, "This toast is for your fearlessness before the powerful, Master Mi. I heard that your paintings, Master Mi, are exceptional. You were once invited by the Sulin Princely Manor in Yuanpin Prefecture to paint, with an offer of a million silver. Is it true that you refused?"

Mi Fu shook his head. "Prince Sulin didn't offer a million silver at all. But then, it had nothing to do with money anyway."

"Oh? Why did you refuse? That could have spread your fame," Zhao Xing asked.

Mi Fu picked up his cup and scoffed, "Fame? Do you know why the Sulin Princely Manor summoned me?"

"I'd like to hear the details."

Mi Fu finished his drink and slammed the cup on the table. "That scoundrel, Prince Sulin, wanted me to go wish his grandson a long life. Hmph, his grandson was only fifteen at the time, yet he ordered officials from all quarters to go wish his grandson a 'long life.' It was absurd! This act was nothing more than Prince Sulin asserting his authority and eliminating dissenters."

Zhao Xing nodded. In the traditional customs of the Great Zhou, 'wishing a long life' was typically reserved for younger generations wishing it upon elders. Mi Fu was already a hundred years old at the time. To write a celebratory message for a fifteen-year-old child and even be asked to paint a gift—how could that not be absurd? This was akin to 'pointing to a deer and calling it a horse,' purely to insult people and display his authority through the incident.

After a long while, Mi Fu still wasn't satisfied. So he pulled Zhao Xing to another location. "It's pitch black in here. Come on, let's go somewhere else to drink." The two soared on clouds together, flying from the yamen to another place. Zhao Xing thought Mi Fu was taking him to his own residence, but to his surprise, they flew to the Fan Manor in the south of the city. Upon entering the Fan Manor, Mi Fu immediately ordered servants to bring wine and dishes. The master of the Fan Manor seemed accustomed to such occurrences and dutifully prepared a banquet in the main hall. Zhao Xing didn't ask why Mi Fu brought him here, because Mi Fu had a rather eccentric personality.

"Don't let these fellows fool you with their obedience; they're all ruthless characters," Mi Fu said, gesturing towards the retreating Fan Manor master. "Guixu City is where corrupt officials and criminals are exiled. Before I came, the local government had less sway than these people. Temples are not established in the Star Ruin Realm to prevent the loss of divine power if they were to be closed. I often dispatch my clones to reside permanently in the manors of these individuals."

Zhao Xing nodded. The Star Ruin Realm was akin to a prison. With many exiled officials and nobles, they multiplied and thrived there, giving rise to numerous descendants of criminals. They were no longer considered citizens of the Great Zhou. However, if their descendants had no criminal record after several generations, they would have the opportunity to rejoin the ranks of Zhou Dynasty citizens. Mi Fu's method was to use his 'Self Golem' as a 'Yin God' for surveillance. Normally, the golem would remain still in the manor, but if anyone dared to commit wrongdoings, they would have to consider whether they could escape Mi Fu's watchful eyes.

Zhao Xing also understood why Uncle Mi had brought him here: it was purely to see if he was truly 'one of them.' If he didn't approve of Mi Fu's methods, their previous conversation would be greatly diminished, and he might even be turned away by Mi Fu.

"Master Mi, your method is truly ingenious. With just a single Golem, you make these corrupt officials behave themselves."

"Hahahaha, Chen An understands me!" Mi Fu laughed happily.

For the next half-month, Zhao Xing stayed in Guixu City. He did nothing but treat Mi Fu to good food and drink, and engage him in conversation. Mi Fu, for his part, found the conversations increasingly enjoyable. The fact that such a junior, so far away in Pinghai Prefecture, admired him so much gave him a peculiar feeling. Moreover, Zhao Xing was very much to his liking. Whether discussing the Way of the Agronomist, or the Ways of Painting or Music, Zhao Xing could always keep up and offered insightful opinions. Zhao Xing wasn't just showering him with empty praise; his words genuinely held substance. After half a month of eating and drinking, Mi Fu actually felt a sense of having met a kindred spirit too late.

And Zhao Xing's praise was not insincere flattery. In fact, his understanding of Mi Fu surpassed his knowledge of Liu Tianning. In his initial plan, Zhao Xing intended to apprentice himself to Mi Fu, not Liu Tianning. Mi Fu held a very high position in the hearts of players. How high, you ask? Among Agronomist players, Mi Fu was known as the 'Commoner Patriarch.' This was because Mi Fu's Profound Yellow Yuan-Splitting Art allowed Agronomist players to unlock Pure Yuan Soil early. In the Yuanqi Era, spiritual energy items required to practice the Profound Yellow Yuan-Splitting Art were precious, but after the Spiritual Qi Resurgence, these items became easier to find. This single secret art elevated Agronomist players from what was then considered a 'sewer' profession.

While Zhao Xing found it easy to acquire secret arts now, in later generations, paths to learning spells were few and required immense expense. Agronomist players had relatively weak combat power at the time; Pure Yuan Soil only manifested at the fiftieth stage of Yuan Accumulation, and its creation was incredibly costly. Even when created, the Pure Yuan space for many commoner players was small, barely able to hold a few plant soldier species. Even now, Agronomists' combat capabilities are generally lower than other professions. Zhao Xing, as a Military Agronomist, was an extreme exception. Ordinary Agronomists, even Military Agronomists, rarely encountered such opportunities as he did. A typical Military Agronomist at this time couldn't learn the Myriad Arts Golem and would at most cultivate a single lineage of spells. In the same amount of time, other professions were already devastating everything, while Agronomist players were still farming for money, begging for assistance with leveling, and dared not venture into the wilderness to hunt monsters. However, the development of the Profound Yellow Yuan-Splitting Art changed this situation. Additionally, plants that could be grown in Pure Yuan space were rare and expensive. Yet, Mi Fu, in his later years, compiled 'Pure Yuan Derivative Species,' which listed over eight hundred types of plant soldiers that could be cultivated in Pure Yuan Soil! These soldier species were cultivated through derivative hybridization. Simply put, Mi Fu researched and developed many alternative plant soldier species that were low-cost yet had decent combat power. He also passed down 'Legion Combat Techniques for Plant Soldiers,' a book that shone brightly during the Spiritual Qi Resurgence era.

Liu Tianning's Myriad Arts Golem was too high-end. In the later stages, 'Crazy Liu' had many questlines with high rewards and a good deal of mystique. However, his popularity still couldn't surpass Mi Fu's, because those were quests only high-level players could undertake. In the hearts of most Agronomist players, Mi Fu was the true benefactor!

"If I were Grand Agronomist, I would surely cut military spending, prohibit extravagance and waste, and also the lavish lifestyles of the nobles. Furthermore, I would ensure all Agronomists could possess plant soldiers, lowering their cultivation costs..." After several rounds of drinks, Mi Fu began to boast to Zhao Xing.

"Your ambitions, Master Mi, are truly admirable." Zhao Xing looked at Mi Fu, also somewhat tipsy.

In fact, Mi Fu had indeed served as Grand Agronomist for a few months. Why was his tenure so brief? Because Mi Fu had an eccentric temperament. He couldn't get along with the powerful elites at all and enjoyed playing tricks on them, like an old mischievous child. His mouth was also very rude, constantly referring to himself as 'I, your father,' or 'I, your grandfather.' Whenever he encountered something he disagreed with, he would criticize it, no matter who it was, even the emperor was no exception. Mi Fu came from a humble background and understood the hardships of the common people, so he was strongly against extravagance and waging war. Emperor Wu appointed him to raise military funds for himself. But Mi Fu, as Grand Agronomist, did the exact opposite: his first act was to reduce military and imperial expenditures. How could Emperor Wu tolerate that? He had promoted Mi Fu because he had done well in controlling costs as the Junior Agronomist. He never expected the cost-cutting to target him. Thus, after only a few months in Liu Tianning's former position, Mi Fu was demoted back to Junior Agronomist.

"Chen An, come, let me show you my paintings." Mi Fu, still a bit tipsy, pulled Zhao Xing along. These past days, he had been thoroughly comfortable with Zhao Xing's hospitality. The supplies Zhao Xing brought were unobtainable in Guixu City. After dinner, Mi Fu led Zhao Xing to his studio.

*Clang!* Mi Fu kicked open the door. Zhao Xing couldn't help but smile wryly at the sight. This old man had set the door's magic array so it would only open with a forceful kick—truly an unconventional approach.

*Hum.* Once the door opened, bursts of light emanated from within. Zhao Xing looked inside and realized they were all 'Dao-Imparting Paintings' of Tier Five or higher. Next, Mi Fu, still tipsy, casually painted a 'Wind-Mast Arrayed Horses' picture. It surprisingly reached the Tier Five level, capable of allowing one to comprehend a wind-based spell. When Mi Fu painted, he became extremely focused, his roguish air disappearing. The light shining on his face even gave him an ethereal quality. Zhao Xing had thought he knew Mi Fu well enough, but now found him somewhat incomprehensible. Mi Fu truly was a man of both refinement and vulgarity.

"Chen An, what do you think?" Mi Fu asked with a smiling gaze after finishing his painting.

Zhao Xing leaned in to look, immediately exclaiming in admiration, "A cavalry of warhorses condensed from the power of wind, with fierce gales blowing as if ten thousand horses are galloping! Your painting skills, Master Mi, are truly astonishing; a casual stroke results in a Tier Five painting," Zhao Xing praised.

"Hahahaha, do you like it?"

"I do!"

Mi Fu put down his brush, slung an arm over Zhao Xing's shoulder, and pointed to the paintings hanging on the wall. "Since you like them, feel free to choose any of these paintings. Take whichever one catches your eye." Zhao Xing was about to ask something, but when he turned back, he found Mi Fu asleep in his chair.

Zhao Xing smiled, then, with his hands behind his back, began searching Mi Fu's studio. Mi Fu's studio contained tens of thousands of paintings. He had only been in Guixu City for three years and had been studying the Way of Painting for merely ten years, yet he had produced so many exquisite works—he was as prolific as a sow.

"The highest-ranked Dao-Imparting Painting has already reached Tier Six," Zhao Xing thought, gazing at a framed painting in the center. The painting was titled 'Golden Mountain Illuminated by the Sun.' It contained a 'Mountain Art,' including methods for opening and sealing mountains. However, upon closer inspection, Zhao Xing also discovered it contained Heavenly Timing Art and Self-Intrinsic spells. Mi Fu had broad interests; he was an Agronomist proficient in all three factions, which didn't surprise Zhao Xing. However, he only paused briefly before this painting before shifting his gaze. A moment later, Zhao Xing's gaze fell on a corner, and his pupils contracted.

"Found it!"

The Dao-Imparting Painting, 'Profound Yellow Sea-Mountain Chart.' Zhao Xing could barely conceal his excitement. He immediately