Chapter 285: Disaster Warning, Emergency Mission, The Worried Moon Mansion Owner

"Please forgive us for our past rudeness, Marquis Yuan."As soon as they entered, Zhou Cheng, Hu Yang, and Guan Shanhai offered their apologies to Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing couldn't quite grasp what these three were thinking. Their cultivation levels were not low, and he couldn't perceive their thoughts simply by using a clone to activate his Heavenly Eye.Zhou Cheng and Guan Shanhai were both among the dissenters he had noted down.Zhou Cheng, in particular, had been the most vocal opponent, loudly protesting Zhao Xing's claim to resources and criticizing him as being merely famous in name only.What could have prompted such a drastic change now?As for Hu Yang, Zhao Xing had no recollection of him.

"I was foolish and ignorant," Zhou Cheng said, bowing deeply and remaining in that position. "I doubted Marquis Yuan's ability to govern and analyze the classics, and spoke many rude words. I have come specifically to atone for my sins.""The 'Great Zhou Heaven Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi' integrates the heavenly stems and four seasons, divides the seasonal movements, and uses six qi and six steps, precise to the exact moment, to explain the changes in the Five Elements. It is truly impressive," Guan Shanhai remarked."I also apologize to Marquis Yuan for my previous arrogant remarks."

Hu Yang, however, did not apologize, as he had not participated in the fervor of criticizing Zhao Xing at the time, having been busy with his duties in the Blessed Land.He pointed at the two men and said, with an air of seniority, "Marquis Yuan, if you're still upset, how about I give these two a good beating for you?"Seeing him speak this way, Zhao Xing couldn't help but look at Hu Yang curiously. "Might I ask your esteemed name?""Hu Yang, courtesy name Shaodong, Surveillance Chief of the Heavenly Source Blessed Land.""Ah, so it is Senior Official Hu. This junior officer has been disrespectful," Zhao Xing quickly bowed and cupped his hands.

Although all of them wore the robes of a Classical Governance Scholar, Hu Yang's rank within the Blessed Land was already third-grade.For example, Gu Changqing from Kunyuan Academy was also a Classical Governance Scholar, but he was also a third-grade official.Classical Governance Scholars who also held real governmental positions were typically proficient in both law and logic.They were also skilled in their sect's spells, having cultivated their magical arts to a profound level.The Surveillance Department of the Blessed Land primarily monitored abnormal climatic changes.This meant Hu Yang was a Diviner of Climatic Change.He wasn't even from Tianyuan Prefecture, as the Heavenly Source Blessed Land was located elsewhere.

"Both scholars, please rise. There's no need to dwell on the past," Zhao Xing said, making a gesture as if to help them up, and then used a spell to gently lift Zhou Cheng and Guan Shanhai.Hu Yang was clearly there to mediate.Considering it wasn't a major issue, and these two were scholars specialized in classics who held no real power and had offered sincere apologies, Zhao Xing decided to let the matter drop, out of respect for a third-grade official."Thank you, Marquis Yuan," Zhou Cheng and Guan Shanhai said, relieved, and then rose.Their apologies were not made out of deference to power, but because they were genuinely impressed by Zhao Xing's grand treatise."Please, have a seat.""Hahahaha, Marquis Yuan truly possesses great demeanor and magnanimity," Hu Yang laughed."Senior Official Hu, you flatter me," Zhao Xing replied modestly.

"Marquis Yuan, please don't be modest," Hu Yang said. "Your Great Zhou Heaven Theory, which divides the six qi into internal and external, describes normal conditions with primary qi and measures changes with guest qi, and integrates the three yin and three yang with the six qi to predict, balance, and counteract climatic variations, has already been verified in three Blessed Lands."Hu Yang cupped his hands and continued, "I came today to inform Marquis Yuan that your Great Zhou Heaven Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang has been officially included in our dynasty's Divine Temples, the Great Zhou Imperial Library, and the Military Realm's Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing suddenly understood. No wonder Hu Yang had traveled such a long distance.Hu Yang wasn't from the Tianyuan Prefecture branch. The Heavenly Source Blessed Land was hundreds of thousands of li away, and with the ongoing war, it would take at least a month to travel."Initially, we planned to implement it across the realm immediately, but given this special period and its classified nature, we'll have to choose an auspicious day later," Hu Yang explained."I've already spoken with Dean Lu, and he asked me to inquire about your opinion."

Zhao Xing's heart stirred. "I naturally have no objections. Everything should prioritize the greater good. I just don't know what this classified information refers to..."Hu Yang glanced at Zhou Cheng and Guan Shanhai. "Esteemed scholars, you hold no official positions. Please excuse yourselves for now."The two men had been listening intently, eager to hear Zhao Xing, the founder, expound on his grand theory directly. However, Hu Yang had asked them to leave.Having no choice, they rose to bid farewell. "Marquis Yuan, we shall take our leave now and visit another day.""You are always welcome."Seeing Zhao Xing about to rise, they added, "Please, Marquis Yuan, don't see us out. Important matters are at hand."Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing, who had already begun to rise, sat back down.

After the two left, Hu Yang waved his hand, and a gentle breeze enveloped the entire hall.Zhao Xing watched him cast the spell, nodding inwardly. The wind magic Hu Yang casually deployed was incredibly sophisticated; it was not merely a simple positive or negative wind, but involved the profound true essence of the Five Elements.Within this small space, his wind could instantly transform into fire or lightning, allowing for any Five Element switch. He could even use wind magic to induce climatic changes in a specific area.This was the mark of a master who had grasped the true essence of the Five Elements, capable of influencing the rules of heaven and earth!Yet, this was merely a casual spell cast by Hu Yang to prevent eavesdropping.The true heritage of the Xuan Tian Academy was far greater than imagined.

"Marquis Yuan, your 'Great Zhou Heaven Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi' categorizes celestial weather patterns into a cycle of thirty years, a week of sixty years, a great fortune of three hundred sixty years, and a grand cycle of three thousand six hundred years.""It also uses the seasonal movements of the Five Elements, according to the varying degrees of Three Yin and Three Yang, to predict the grand celestial operations. The Five Elements of the four seasons progress in a cycle of mutual generation, with each step lasting seventy-three days and five *ke*.""Furthermore, the twenty-four solar terms are assigned to the six qi and six steps, starting from the Great Cold day each year, and progressing in the mutual generation order of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.""Each step is divided into sixty days and eighty-seven and a half *ke*. When a particular qi is dominant, it will exhibit its corresponding Five Element characteristics."

Zhao Xing listened quietly. Combining this with Hu Yang's background, he vaguely guessed what the other person intended to say."My senior martial brother and I discovered that your Great Zhou Heaven Theory can predict the cycles of strength and weakness of the Military Realm's passages, proving more effective than the previous 'Great Treatise of Tianyuan Chronicles' and 'Heavenly Grotto Evolution Qi Theory'.""Based on your Great Zhou Heaven Theory, my senior martial brother and I have authored this 'Lesser Zhou Heaven Theory,' incorporating calculation methods from the Tianyuan Numerology Treatise."Hu Yang took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it over.Zhao Xing took it and immediately understood why Hu Yang was being so formal.

Due to the various Heavenly Grotto passages in the Military Realm entering a weak cycle, coupled with disturbances caused by unrest in Pinghai and Lüliang Prefectures, only seven passages in Pinghai Prefecture currently remained accessible.Hu Yang and his senior martial brother, Zhang Tianxing, were already masters of numerology. Their task was to calculate when the other passages would reopen, given the ongoing disturbances.One should not underestimate the importance of this timing; it directly related to the precise deployment schedule for the armies.Even a single day's difference in the army's entry into Pinghai Prefecture could have a significant impact.How much less damage would Pinghai Prefecture suffer if the army arrived just one day earlier?This was indeed a classified matter, and a very important one at that, meaning Zhao Xing's Great Zhou Heaven Theory was temporarily unsuitable for widespread promotion.

"Impressive," Zhao Xing murmured, nodding inwardly after reading it. His own grand treatise didn't include numerological calculations, but Hu Yang and his senior martial brother had found another calculation method from the Tianyuan Numerology System.Zhao Xing knew the specific periods. Upon comparison, he found that Hu Yang and his senior martial brother were very close to an accurate prediction, with an error of only two *shichen* and four *ke*!"Marquis Yuan, when you authored this treatise, did you also create a generally accepted numerological theory for the temporal cycles of the Heavenly Grotto worlds?" Hu Yang asked, his face full of anticipation. This was also his main purpose for coming.After all, the calculations made by him and his senior martial brother, precise as they were, could not match the accuracy of the original creator.

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, but I'll need some time to review it."He had written the Great Zhou Heaven Theory before Prince Liang's rebellion, so he hadn't yet released the numerology deduction section or written out the calculation formulas for deducing the cyclical operation of Heavenly Grotto worlds using the Five Elements, four seasons, and six qi.Hu Yang nodded. "May I ask how long Marquis Yuan will need?"Zhao Xing replied, "That depends on how comprehensive the data provided by the Surveillance Department is. If the data is sufficient, I will only need three to five days.""That fast?" Hu Yang was overjoyed. He stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply. "I have brought all the necessary data. If this succeeds, it could reduce casualties for billions of people. Please allow me to pay my respects, Marquis Yuan!""I wouldn't dare. Senior Official Hu, you overstate my contribution," Zhao Xing quickly rose as well. "I am also a Diviner. This is simply part of my duty."

Hu Yang continued to express his profound gratitude. Although Zhao Xing stated he was a Diviner, this type of temporal numerological deduction and mathematical calculation concerning the Military Realm's Heavenly Grottos was not primarily Zhao Xing's duty, but rather that of an official like Hu Yang.In Hu Yang's eyes, Zhao Xing was a man of both immense talent and great magnanimity!Zhao Xing, however, thought nothing of it. Fate-related spells like 'Divination,' 'Destiny,' and 'Numerology' inherently involved extensive mathematical calculations.When he first entered the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the first thing he heard the Fated Black Bird say was, "Through multiplication and division, exhaust the source of creation."Now that Zhao Xing had mastered the first layer of the Soul Evolution Art, his soul had divided into 49,999 strands, making his brain comparable to a supercomputer, and calculations were exceptionally easy for him.

From the Xuan Tian Academy, Hu Yang had requested him to calculate the cyclical operations of the various Heavenly Grotto passages in the Military Realm.In Tianhe Prefecture, Zhao Xing also received a request.It came from the united front chat group established by Prince Luo.Prefect of Bright Moon: The Prefectural City's Surveillance Department predicts multiple natural disasters will erupt in our prefecture, and we urgently lack powerful Diviners. Can the eastern prefectures spare any surplus Diviner officials?Prince Yanyang: I need them here! Damn it, my Diviner officials from various commanderies say all five major rivers in Jiujiang Commandery have erupted. Weren't the East Sea aquatic races supposed to be still offshore?Prince Jiujiang: Prince Yanyang, our prefecture's civil and military officials at all levels have done their best. There are hidden demonic cultivators from outside the realm secretly instigating and casting spells at the cost of their lives. What can be done, alas...Chu Muyun: Prince Yanyang, Prefect of Bright Moon, what level of disaster did your Surveillance Department predict?Prefect of Bright Moon: Level 7 upheaval, a total of fifteen types of natural disasters.Prince Yanyang: Level 8 upheaval, they say there are twenty-four types of natural disasters and nine types of epidemics.Chu Muyun: Prefect of Bright Moon, I'm closer to Yan Prefecture, so I'll go there first. You can ask others if they're available. Perhaps Grand Diviners Jiang Shaoqiu and Xia Yun might be free.Jiang Shaoqiu: Not free.Xia Yun: Unable to spare hands.Prefect of Bright Moon: I'll try to find another way.

Information flowed rapidly, and Zhao Xing didn't see these conversations immediately.It was a message from Prince Luo that caught his attention."Zhao Xing, unusual celestial phenomena are about to appear in Bright Moon Prefecture. Bright Moon Prefecture is right next to Tianhe Prefecture. Are you available to help the Prefect of Bright Moon resist the natural disasters?""Yes," Zhao Xing nodded.Tianhe Prefecture, where he was located, had the fastest pacification and the least unrest.Even the beheading of Prince Tianxia didn't cause much commotion.Unlike other prefectures, where battles were so intense they felt like the sky was falling and the earth rending.Battles between high-grade experts, or fourth-grade officials leading large armies, or the use of powerful divine weapons, caused severe environmental damage.Therefore, the Great Zhou's strong armies primarily trained in Heavenly Grottos, which had many uninhabited areas where they could fight without restraint.The nineteen states, however, were different. If high-grade experts dared to fight on a large scale there, the heavens and earth, and the very ley lines of the nineteen states, would erupt in chaos.

Bright Moon Prefecture was adjacent to Tianhe Prefecture; if a major problem occurred in Bright Moon Prefecture, Tianhe Prefecture would also suffer.A Level 7 natural disaster was no joke. After such a disaster, massive plagues would follow, and civilian casualties could reach tens of millions. "Good, prepare quickly. You can draw materials and personnel from Tianhe Prefecture on the spot." Prince Luo wasted no words and immediately assigned this task to Zhao Xing."Understood."The call was brief. After ending the communication, Zhao Xing immediately set off, flying to the Prefect's mansion.

"Prefect, I need to mobilize a group of Diviners, Physicians, and Artisans to Bright Moon Prefecture," Zhao Xing stated directly."What's happened to Bright Moon Prefecture?" He Zhengchen immediately grew tense."A natural disaster of a very high level is about to strike," Zhao Xing replied."How many personnel do you need?""I need ten thousand each of Diviners, Physicians, and Artisans, all of rank six or above from the prefectural city."He Zhengchen's face showed difficulty.

Tianhe Prefecture had only just regained stability in terms of public order, and it had suffered significant damage itself.Zhao Xing's campaign of over a month had also damaged many areas. Resources were easy to manage, as Tianhe Prefecture had plenty.However, regarding personnel, He Zhengchen was in a predicament.He hadn't even fully settled his own prefecture's affairs yet. Furthermore, if Bright Moon Prefecture was in distress, shouldn't he keep some people for prevention in his own territory?Zhao Xing noticed He Zhengchen's hesitation and immediately advised, "When one side faces difficulty, all sides lend support. Moreover, Bright Moon Prefecture is our neighbor. If a large-scale natural disaster occurs there, how can Tianhe Prefecture remain unaffected?""Helping them is helping Tianhe Prefecture.""As for our prefecture, please rest assured, Prefect. Tianhe Prefecture's geographical location is relatively stable, and it has experienced fewer upheavals. The current situation will definitely not produce large-scale, high-intensity natural disasters."Again, the earlier the rebellion was suppressed, the less damage incurred, and the lower the probability of natural disasters. Among the prefectures in turmoil, Tianhe Prefecture was the least likely to experience large-scale natural disasters.

He Zhengchen hesitated for only a few breaths before making his decision. "Chen An, you are a Diviner official; you understand matters of this nature better than I do. Since you believe we can go to their aid, then do so. Our prefecture will fully support you.""For the specific planning, you can discuss it with Zhang Ping, Physician Zheng, and Liu Bogong.""Prefect, your righteousness is profound! This junior officer will take his leave now."Having quickly secured He Zhengchen's support, Zhao Xing then sought out Zhang Ping, Physician Zheng, and Liu Bogong.These three were precisely Tianhe Prefecture's highest-ranking Diviner, Medical Official, and Artificer, respectively.

"Ten thousand physicians of rank six or higher? That's too many!""I can't mobilize them all at once. Seven days ago, I already dispatched five thousand people to various commanderies and counties for official duties. Marquis Yuan, if you need people now, I have no way to help."Physician Zheng's hair was white, but his complexion was ruddy, and he seemed quite energetic.He spoke slowly, and somewhat oddly.This was because Physician Zheng had retired back in the tenth year of the Jingxin era.He had originally served as a Grand Physician in the capital until half a month ago, when the imperial court urgently reinstated this elderly physician.Having not practiced profound medical arts for twenty years, Physician Zheng was still slightly unaccustomed to the return of his qi luck.

"There's no need to rush, Elder Zheng. The physicians can depart later," Zhao Xing said. "Bright Moon Prefecture isn't short on physicians at the moment.""Oh, okay. How much time can you give me?" Physician Zheng asked."Is a month enough?" Zhao Xing inquired."Hmm, let this old man think," Physician Zheng stroked his beard. "Yes, it should be fine."While the physicians were not in a hurry to depart, the artificers and diviners needed to be mobilized immediately.This was because preventing natural disasters and managing local events like earthquakes and floods were impossible without the tools and expertise of artificers.Bright Moon Prefecture naturally had its own, but at this time, the more personnel, the better.This was because Pinghai Prefecture, unlike other regions, was vast.Typically, a single province would have only twelve to eighteen prefectures.But Pinghai Prefecture had a full seventy-nine prefectures!Its large size also made it more prone to major disasters, as Pinghai Prefecture's ley lines were stronger and held a greater total amount of vital qi.Even a simple qi tide disaster there would be more intense than in other provinces.

"I will immediately mobilize personnel," Zhang Ping said. "We can complete the assembly in one day.""No need to rush so much," Zhao Xing replied. "Completing the assembly within three days will suffice."While diviners could mobilize quickly, the artificers like Liu Bogong needed to be considered, as artificers typically had to transport many materials and equipment by boat."Three days will be enough," Liu Bogong nodded. He was a powerfully built man, two meters tall, with purple-rimmed detectors on his earlobes and eyes, and a silver mechanical arm for a right hand, giving him a very technological appearance.Zhao Xing rose, cupped his hands, and said, "Then I ask the three of you to act swiftly."

After arranging the tasks, Zhao Xing ascended into the sky.He used the 'Heaven's Edge Scale' technique to survey various parts of Tianhe Prefecture.His main purpose was to observe the celestial phenomena, and to investigate ley lines, rivers, and spiritual mountains.He was to go to Bright Moon Prefecture in three days, but he still needed to take another look at Tianhe Prefecture."Five days constitute a 'hou,' three 'hou' make a 'qi,' six 'qi' form a 'shi,' and four 'shi' make a 'sui'.""Yin, Yang, Wind, Rain, Obscurity, Brightness."Zhao Xing felt the sunlight, wind, and fine rain between heaven and earth.He then descended to the ground, shed his clothes, and dove into the soil as if plunging into water.Soon after, Zhao Xing re-emerged."Wind, Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, Fire—the six qi of the internal heaven and earth aligning with the external."With his fingertips moving in calculation, Zhao Xing closed his eyes again. Using the 'Dream Walking Art,' he selected various commanderies as samples to observe the six qi within the common people, which was essentially a form of big data prediction.

"Across Tianhe Prefecture, excluding the nine commanderies previously impacted by war where the timing and geographical advantages are slightly chaotic, the Five Elements and Five Movements are all normal. In these areas, even children or elderly individuals who have never cultivated qi will at most suffer from a common cold.""With the level of physicians in the Great Zhou, and with medical departments in every county and commandery, it shouldn't be a major issue," Zhao Xing mused.Of course, if both celestial timing and geographical conditions turned violent, even a minor cold could escalate into a major cold disaster.Even martial artists who had achieved a certain rank, if they took medicine, would suffer from headaches, dizziness, and aching limbs. And even if they survived, they would experience long-term side effects, never fully recovering their previous health.If a Level 7 natural upheaval were to occur, leading to a great cold disaster, it would be even more terrifying, essentially causing deaths by the city.Furthermore, under such a major disaster, the variety of illnesses would be so chaotic that even high-grade physicians would be helpless, unsure of where to even begin treatment. Strong medications would be too much for ordinary people, while weaker ones would be ineffective.Thus, the true horror of natural disasters was not the direct damage at the time of occurrence, but the endless epidemics that emerged afterward.

After spending two days conducting sample inspections, Zhao Xing returned to the prefectural city.He gazed distantly towards the east, then towards the south."I wonder how Long Xiao and Xia Jing are doing. The East Sea Legion seized the initiative, and using the might of the vast ocean, their landing amidst the chaos is a foregone conclusion.""The five great Heavenly Grottos, including the Ten Yang Grotto, were occupied in early February, and most of the southern region has become enemy-occupied territory.""Apart from Xia Jing, teachers from the Earthly Fortune Academy like Tian, Lu Bang, and Zuo Zizhi have all gone missing.""However, contemporaries like Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, Feng Yuan, Han Bing, Wang Ji, Che Shihai, Guan Junyang, and Yuan Yang, who hadn't participated in the later stages of the war, had been transferred elsewhere long ago and are now confirmed to be alive."Because most of the southern region was enemy-occupied, even an enhanced Earth Mirror would only function intermittently, primarily because the enemy's Earth Mirror version was too low.As for Nanyang Commandery and its surroundings, that area was actually under the court's control, as its strategic value wasn't high.

Zhao Xing took out his Earth Mirror and sent a message to these friends again: "If you don't know where to go, you can go to the following locations, or you can come to Tianhe Prefecture to find me."A few breaths later, Long Xiao was the first to reply, his face appearing in the Earth Mirror."Zhao Xing, are you mass-messaging again?""Yes.""You've become quite famous in the east, even killing Prince Tianxia," Long Xiao said enviously. "I never got that opportunity.""How is your pursuit of the Hong clan progressing?" Zhao Xing asked."The people I lead are only enough to harass from the flanks, luring enemies out to kill me, and we can't get too close," Long Xiao shook his head. "It's been over a month, and I've only managed to kill a Martial Marquis named Haibufali, and over ten thousand of their personal guards."For over a month, chasing across the vast ocean and facing a massive army, the actions Long Xiao and his vanguard could take were indeed limited.In truth, such a record was already quite good.In other places, it would be considered very impressive.But compared to Zhao Xing, it seemed unremarkable.Zhao Xing had pacified Tianhe Prefecture in less than two months, slaying multiple Martial Marquises and even a Prince.

"They will split their forces sooner or later; such a large army cannot all be concentrated in one place," Zhao Xing said. "The Hong clan's objective is to cause destruction. It's a waste for them to use so many troops to attack a single prefecture. They will surely divide their forces to various locations, absorbing rebels and constantly trying to snowball their influence.""This will also create difficulties for the suppression efforts. Once they establish a foothold, they can then respond to Prince Liang's assembly of feudal lords, appealing for loyal support and suppressing the traitors.""So, just wait patiently. Your time for revenge will come."With the rebellion just beginning and the rebels having seized the initiative, it was indeed difficult for other regions to counter Prince Liang's forces.At this point, Li Boqian had not even made a move. According to Emperor Jing's intentions, he would not act immediately until he had a clear understanding of all rebel forces, both domestic and foreign.

"Mm, I'll pay attention. You be careful too. I heard the Hong clan has sent advance parties to infiltrate and carry out secret missions, with the aim of destroying local structures and creating chaos.""Don't worry, I have it handled."The second person to contact Zhao Xing was Xia Jing.At that moment, Xia Jing was in military attire, and through the Earth Mirror, it was visible that he was in a ruin."Zhao Xing, Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, and Guan Junyang are all with me, including Marquis Tian, Marquis Lu, and Zuo Zizhi. They are all in the Black Armored Army.""Oh?" Zhao Xing said, delighted. "You managed to rescue the people from the Ten Yang Heavenly Grotto?""Yes, your previous warning made me extra cautious. Humph, when that Prince Liang retreated to the Nine Heavens Responding Yuan Prefecture, I knew something was amiss."

"In February, he indeed retreated again, sweeping up a large army and returning north of the Canglan River.""My father also supported me in rescuing the generals from the Ten Yang Heavenly Grotto. Now, the remnants of the Tiger Dragon Army, Fiery Sun Army, and Sea Suppressing Army — all have been integrated by me to form a temporary 'Ten Yang Army'.""I have been appointed by the imperial court as a regular fourth-grade Cavalry General for Suppressing Bandits, and also a fourth-level Shangyu Emissary for the Shangyu Department in the three southern prefectures of Pinghai.""My main tasks now are to gather the scattered remnants of various armies, rescue trapped auxiliary military units, and collect intelligence."Zhao Xing smiled. Xia Jing was currently engaging in guerrilla warfare in the three southern prefectures.And it seemed quite effective. With Zhao Xing's guidance, Xia Jing also had sufficient resources and connections to carry out the mission.Thus, he now held a temporary fourth-grade official position.

"Very good. Remember what I told you: don't go where you shouldn't, and pay special attention to the people on the list I gave you," Zhao Xing admonished. "If something feels wrong, escape using the route I provided.""Understood," Xia Jing nodded. "I won't say more; there's an operation starting soon.""Good, take care.""You too."After waiting another half an hour, Han Bing and Wang Ji also responded.These two had left the battlefield early that year and were no longer in the south, but had fled to the west.Upon learning that both were safe, Zhao Xing no longer waited for replies from others. He put away his Earth Mirror and flew towards the prefectural city.

Three days later, Zhao Xing had assembled his forces, taking ten thousand Diviners, ten thousand Artificers, and one thousand Physicians to Bright Moon Prefecture.To save time, Zhao Xing, along with his personnel and ships, traveled from Tianhe Prefecture's Lihuo Daoist Academy to Bright Moon Prefecture's Lihuo Daoist Academy.At this time, most of the Lihuo Divine Altars within Pinghai Prefecture's Lihuo Daoist Academies were under Prince Liang's control.However, a small portion remained under imperial court control."Thank you for your efforts, Dean Peng, and all the esteemed officials," Zhao Xing said, cupping his hands towards the group of people ahead."It's nothing. This is our duty," Peng Yu replied.The other members of the academy also generously returned the salute."Thank you again," Zhao Xing repeated, before arranging for his people to enter the fire pit.The reason was simple: the sheer number of people, and this branch academy was a small one.Transporting such a large scale of people and goods still incurred a cost.This cost was borne by Peng Yu and the other mages and scholars, along with himself as the branch dean, as it used up all their subsidiary quotas.Twenty-one thousand people, plus dozens of ships laden with supplies.

After Zhao Xing and his group were transported, Peng Yu led everyone to start running.Peng Yu, in particular, was the only one with an unlimited number of quotas, but he also bore the greatest cost.Once everyone had passed through, the dean himself turned into a fiery figure.With a "boom" of bursting airflow, he lifted a mountain onto his shoulders and began to walk with difficulty, step by step, through the academy.Although Tianhe Prefecture and Bright Moon Prefecture were adjacent, the direct distance between their prefectural cities was considerable.

Prefect of Bright Moon, Ye Yukong, had not expected Tianhe Prefecture to be able to mobilize and send aid within just three days.He had still been asking in the group chat when Tianhe Prefecture's forces arrived."Zhang Ping is here?" Ye Yukong received the report and promptly flew from his mansion to the Lihuo Daoist Academy branch."Greetings, Prefect," Zhang Ping, Liu Bogong, and Zhao Xing saluted.Ye Yukong was not originally the Prefect; he was merely the Dean of the Bright Moon Daoist Academy.Unfortunately, the Prefect of Bright Moon had died during the Grand Ritual Debate.It was Ye Yukong who quelled the rebellion, stabilized the prefectural city, and resolved the crisis of unrest.Afterward, he temporarily assumed the duties of Prefect, becoming the nominal Prefect of Bright Moon.

"Please, quickly rise, and don't be so formal," Ye Yukong said, joyfully helping Zhao Xing, Zhang Ping, and Liu Bogong to their feet."With Tianhe Prefecture's assistance, I can finally rest assured."Ye Yukong was a renowned swordsman.He was unflinching when it came to killing, but managing administration was a huge headache for him.How could a martial artist like him understand how to regulate celestial timing and geographical advantage?Since the Prefect here had died, Bright Moon Prefecture's situation was more troublesome than Tianhe Prefecture's.Without a Prefect and a large number of ritual cultivators to provide reassurance and appropriate official orders, the functions of the government agencies took a long time to recover.Ye Yukong could only rely on brute force to suppress the unrest, with one word: kill!Whoever rebelled, he would lead his troops to hack them to death.He certainly found satisfaction in the killing.From a month ago until now, Ye Yukong had slain five Prince-Commanders.But he had also put Bright Moon Prefecture through severe hardship.

A martial artist's methods were not as effective as those of a mage. It was even less possible for Ye Yukong to subtly eliminate middle- and high-ranking generals using methods like Zhao Xing's 'Dream Walking Art,' thus minimizing the scale of war.Leading large armies to conquer, Ye Yukong had, within a month, destroyed countless mountains, ruined numerous rivers, and burned many forests.Of course, this wasn't entirely his fault.Without Ye Yukong, Bright Moon Prefecture would have long since fallen, and the consequences would have been far more severe.

"Everyone, please proceed to the military camp residence to rest," Ye Yukong said."Thank you, Prefect."The group began to systematically move into the accommodations arranged by Ye Yukong.On March 21st, the third day after entering Bright Moon Prefecture.Zhao Xing looked at the world sandbox, which displayed miniature mountains, cities, clouds, rain, and thunder."It seems I'm still not being taken seriously enough."Although Ye Yukong appeared enthusiastic on the surface, he hadn't actually assigned many areas of responsibility to Zhao Xing.Even during discussions, he primarily consulted with Zhang Ping, the ranking officer.Zhao Xing would only learn about the situation from Zhang Ping after the meetings.Alternatively, perhaps Ye Yukong didn't intend to heavily rely on this support group from Tianhe Prefecture.Because three days had passed, and Ye Yukong still hadn't assigned them any tasks, merely listening to their suggestions without making any major decisions.

How to put it? Ye Yukong might be a renowned swordsman, but the imperial court was right to only appoint him as a dean.His performance as a prefect was clearly inadequate.However, there was no other choice currently; so many civil officials had died, and there was no one with greater prestige than Ye Yukong, so he had to be allowed to take overall charge of Bright Moon Prefecture's military and political power."Disciple-grandson, this boorish fellow probably can't tell the difference between important and unimportant," True Monarch Tianyang chuckled. "He's discarding a pearl like you, while constantly seeking out that old fossil Zhang Ping for trivial chats."Zhao Xing, however, was quite open-minded. "Zhang Ping is the nominal superior, so Ye Yukong's actions aren't entirely inappropriate. Perhaps he sees me as a brute like himself, only capable of fighting and killing, skilled in techniques but lacking in theory."True Monarch Tianyang nodded. "That's a stereotype of Diviners. Civil Diviners focus on theory, while Military Diviners focus on techniques. In reality, disciple-grandson, you are proficient in both law and logic."

Zhao Xing humbly replied, "Grandmaster, you flatter me. Perhaps there's another possibility: he isn't looking down on me, but rather waiting for someone even more capable to take over the overall management of prevention and governance.""Humph, I wasn't just praising you casually. Your Great Zhou Heaven Theory is not something an ordinary person could write."Genius cultivators with strong magical talent are as numerous as carp in a river, but those who can write profound treatises are exceedingly rare. In all dynasties, how many have been able to draw extensively from the classics of sages and compile their own books and theories?""Heh, do you really think that young Li Boqian only asked me to look after you because you learned his ultimate move? The fact that you wrote the Great Zhou Heaven Theory is the main reason why I, your Grandmaster, was willing to show myself!"

Zhao Xing truly hadn't expected the Great Zhou Heaven Theory to have such a significant impact.He was still a bit too ahead of his time; in an era of abundant spiritual energy, this treatise might not be considered stunning, but in the current period, it was profound enough to be compiled into a classic and studied by all Diviners across the land.Creating spells might not be something everyone could learn, but theoretical guidance was universally applicable to all levels."Hahahaha," True Monarch Tianyang suddenly burst into laughter again. "This Ye Yukong truly is a character.""Grandmaster, what happened?" Zhao Xing asked."Didn't you just say that Ye Yukong might be waiting for someone more capable to take over the overall situation? You actually guessed correctly."Zhao Xing wasn't surprised, as it wasn't a difficult guess. Ye Yukong had, after all, been asking in the group chat if Jiang Shaoqiu and Chu Yun were available.

"Grandmaster, who did he invite? You're laughing at him so much.""Hehe, he invited two people, and both of them are related to you. Can you guess who they are?"Zhao Xing thought for a moment. "Ye Yukong must have invited powerful third-grade Diviners. If they're related to me, it would be Geng Shouchang, Sima Yunhai, Dean Lu Chunhua, my teacher Liu Tianning, or perhaps Wang Xuanyi from Chongming Prefecture. As for Meng Kun and Gu Changqing, they aren't in Pinghai Prefecture...""My teacher isn't possible either; Hu Yang is still in Tianyuan Prefecture. So, that leaves Geng Shouchang and Sima Yunhai?""Your analysis is correct, but you've only guessed one," True Monarch Tianyang said with a smile. "You've overlooked another high-grade Diviner who is also related to you."

Zhao Xing frowned slightly. He couldn't think of anyone else who was related to him.It couldn't possibly be Li Boqian and Wang Tianzhi, could it? That seemed highly unlikely."The other one is Pang Yuanzhen, hahahaha, isn't that hilarious?" True Monarch Tianyang roared with laughter, holding his belly.Pang Yuanzhen? Who was that?Zhao Xing looked bewildered.But then he immediately remembered."Wait, Sima Yunhai's junior martial brother, Pang Xianyun?" Zhao Xing asked."Exactly, that's him! He changed his name, hahahaha.""This fellow is truly something. To bring Sima Yunhai and Pang Xianyun together!"Zhao Xing was speechless.No wonder True Monarch Tianyang couldn't stop laughing.Who was Pang Yuanzhen? He was originally Sima Yunhai's fellow junior martial brother.In the twenty-seventh year of the Jingxin era, he was defeated by Liu Tianning in a dojo.Being defeated was one thing.But this fellow was actually so impressed by Liu Tianning that he resigned from all his positions at Xuan Tian Academy and went to Shangluo Academy to become a preaching master.He even changed his name to Yuanzhen.The name Yuanzhen described lush crops and grains.By changing his name to Yuanzhen, he was declaring his determination to pursue his true Dao from then on, and he told everyone he met that Liu Tianning was his teacher.He was a complete "Liu-fan," becoming a devoted follower of Liu Tianning. True Monarch Tianyang was indeed not wrong when he said Pang Yuanzhen was related to Zhao Xing.Pang Yuanzhen could certainly be considered his "free" senior martial brother, given for free, wasn't he?

"It seems the Prefect of Bright Moon is completely unaware of the grievances between them.""He's invited both of them here; it's truly..." Zhao Xing was at a loss for words.He had a feeling that these two weren't coming to govern; they might even start fighting.How was he supposed to interact with them?"Never mind, I'll just play dead," Zhao Xing shook his head.Since Ye Yukong looked down on him, a fifth-grade Diviner official, he might as well let Zhang Ping take the lead and remain a behind-the-scenes mastermind.

"I don't think you can avoid it," True Monarch Tianyang said with a smile. "They've sent someone to find you.""Ah?" Zhao Xing was taken aback.Just as he feared, it came to pass."Where are they?"True Monarch Tianyang stopped speaking, turning into a statue.Zhao Xing then saw two wisps of wind swirling outside the hall door.He walked over and heard two messages carried by the wind."Junior martial brother, Junior martial brother Zhao~" A gentle voice resonated in his ear.The second wisp of wind, however, was somewhat violent and furious:"Zhao Xing, do not meet this shameless scoundrel! Especially don't call him senior martial brother! Pang Xianyun, aren't you despicable?!""Hiss~" Zhao Xing rubbed his ears, shaken by Sima Yunhai's voice. "It seems the old man is truly angry. He's sending messages with gale-force winds."

"Grandmaster, do you think I should meet them or not?"True Monarch Tianyang did not respond. It was unclear whether he deliberately wanted to watch the drama unfold or simply didn't wish to see the two individuals.In any case, the decision was left entirely to Zhao Xing."Sima Yunhai has imparted knowledge to me, so he can be considered my teacher.""As for Pang... Pang Yuanzhen, it's not wrong for him to call me junior martial brother.""What is this, a 'teacher-student battleground'?" Zhao Xing shook his head, sighing, and stepped out the door.He couldn't help but recall the scene outside Mount Ten Thousand Laws, when he met Princess Youruo and Murong Qing.This current situation was also caused by old Liu."I never expected old Liu to create such strange relationships," Zhao Xing thought with a sense of helplessness.

Ye Yukong, at this moment, was also quite helpless.He stood between Sima Yunhai and Pang Xianyun, utterly surprised that these two were so hostile towards each other.Weren't they fellow martial brothers? Why were they acting like enemies?Oh, the one surnamed Pang seemed emotionless, but Sima's face was filled with resentment."Junior martial brother Zhao, Pang Yuanzhen is here. Please come out and meet him.""Shut up! You shameless traitor!""Wait, why is he calling himself Pang Yuanzhen again? Did I invite the wrong person?""What on earth is going on? And what does any of this have to do with Zhao Xing? Why are they all coming to find Zhao Xing?"Ye Yukong, who thought he had invited two helpful individuals, looked at this scene and instantly felt a huge headache.