Chapter 291: Four Ways to Gain Favors, One Year Later, Top-Level True Body Achieved

Zhao Xing’s avatar arrived at Biyoudao Academy.

The Biyou Canghai, a unique feature of Biyoudao Academy, allowed for rapid travel.

Qin Hongying was not present. Under the command of Princess Youruo, many masters from Biyoudao Academy had been dispatched en masse to join the naval defense against the aquatic race.

Of the seven major island chains along the East Sea coast, three remained unbreached, largely due to Princess Youruo's influence.

He was received by Wen Ji, a Soul-Realm Beastmaster who looked somewhat fatigued. "The Biyou Canghai route to Datong Prefecture opens at midnight," Wen Ji informed him. "Chen An, you'll need to wait another two hours."

"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Wen," Zhao Xing replied. "I wonder if you've seen Mr. Zhai?"

Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong, both Masters of the Beast Control Department, had spent time together in the past, and Zhao Xing had learned a great deal about beast control from them.

Wen Ji sighed and said, "Zhai Zhong has betrayed us and left Biyoudao Academy."

"What?" Zhao Xing was stunned. The Master of the Beast Control Department had defected? He couldn't help but recall the period of unrest in the East Sea, when islands were constantly under attack.

There had been rumors of Zhai Zhong being seen then, but Zhao Xing had assumed it was a Daoist from the splintered Biyou Sect impersonating him. Now, it seemed the rumors were true.

"Zhai Zhong," Zhao Xing mused, recalling the Beastmaster's perpetually cheerful and approachable demeanor.

Back then, Zhao Xing was merely a sixth-rank official, while Zhai Zhong was a fourth-rank Master, yet he never put on airs.

It was unexpected that such a person would betray them; perhaps he had pledged allegiance to King Liang long ago.

"Ten years have passed, and so much has changed," Zhao Xing sighed inwardly.

Seeing that Wen Ji had no interest in further conversation, Zhao Xing didn't press the matter and followed him to a circular lake to wait.

The lake had a radius of five kilometers, an enormous size.

The water surface moved on its own, even without wind, often producing waves three to four meters high.

It didn't resemble a lake; it was more like a turbulent sea.

Above the lake, clouds and mist perpetually hung in the air.

Shortly after Zhao Xing arrived, a phantom image appeared above the lake's surface.

It reflected an ancient city with clearly visible buildings: magnificent palaces, towering pavilions, bustling markets, and even peddlers and laborers on the streets.

Noticing Zhao Xing's surprised expression, Wen Ji explained, "This is a mirage, reflecting the next teleportation point."

"Biyou Canghai can only be used within Pinghai Prefecture, because Pinghai Prefecture was originally a vast sea region."

"However, over several millennia, the sea's ley lines have gradually shifted, and the effectiveness of Biyou Canghai has also diminished."

"If this were during the era of the Great Ancestor, you wouldn't need to wait; you'd appear within Datong Prefecture instantly."

"Look, the tide is rising, and people are about to arrive. Let's step back a bit."

Wen Ji pulled Zhao Xing back.

Zhao Xing's expression was somewhat dazed.

In his previous life, he had only used the Biyou Canghai function three times, as obtaining the necessary authorization was quite difficult.

Each use was costly.

Furthermore, it induced a feeling of drowning. If not for urgent necessity, Lord Zhao would rather not use this method of teleportation.

With a "whoosh," the seawater suddenly surged into waves twenty to thirty meters high.

Then, it rapidly collapsed downwards.

The waves reversed, and a small boat appeared faintly within them, as if someone were surfing.

"Swish!" As the tide reversed, the boat was flung out. The seawater then abruptly fell.

The water in the teleportation zone seemed to have flipped over.

Zhao Xing stared at the scene, gaining a sudden insight.

He acutely perceived that a portion of the seawater was no longer the original water.

In an extremely brief instant, a mass of water with a different composition abruptly appeared, replacing the original seawater.

In that same instant, the waters entangled and vibrated.

The teleportation was complete.

It had brought the distant seawater, along with its occupants and objects, to this location.

"Ugh!" From the flung boat, thirteen Sixth-Rank Heavenly Generals and two Fifth-Rank Pure Elemental cultivators disembarked. All thirteen Heavenly Generals immediately clutched their stomachs and dry-heaved upon leaving the boat.

The two Fifth-Rank Pure Elemental cultivators were slightly better, but they still shook their heads, their breathing noticeably ragged.

"For sixth-rank cultivators teleporting via Biyou Canghai, the symptoms subside within the first three days, but it usually takes about a month for the drowning sensation to completely disappear."

"Fifth-rank cultivators fare a bit better; they can enter combat after a day of rest, with minimal impact. The effects are fully dispelled within three to five days," Wen Ji explained.

"Of course, it also depends on the distance. If teleporting to the Salt Lake in the far west, spanning the entire Pinghai Prefecture, the effects would be more severe."

"However, if one possesses a third-rank life soul, they would completely disregard such side effects."

"Chen An, if you're heading to Datong Prefecture for urgent business, it's best if it's non-combat related official duties," Wen Ji advised. "Otherwise, there might still be some lingering effects."

Zhao Xing nodded. "Thank you for the reminder."

The impact of the drowning sensation was neither significant nor negligible.

If he were to encounter a life-or-death battle immediately after teleporting, even a slight impairment could be exploited by an opponent.

Of course, Wen Ji didn't know that Zhao Xing's life soul was already third-rank, and Zhao Xing saw no need to boast about it.

"Beep!" A short sound suddenly came from the conch at Wen Ji's waist.

Water flowed onto Wen Ji's palm, and water droplets vibrated with a unique rhythm.

Zhao Xing glanced, recognizing it as a confidential internal communication method of Biyoudao Academy.

Dozens of water droplets lightly tapped Wen Ji's palm and the back of his hand, instantly conveying complex information.

Wen Ji did not hide it; Zhao Xing was a Canonical Doctor of Biyoudao Academy, one of their own.

"Chen An, I've received an urgent deployment order and cannot stay with you here."

"Understood. Important matters come first. Please go."

The two bowed to each other, and Wen Ji transformed into a stream of water, vanishing into the ground and heading east.

The sky gradually darkened.

Midnight.

The mirage of Datong Prefecture appeared in the sky.

Zhao Xing leaped onto the flying boat.

"Whoosh!" Ocean waves surged, the small boat capsized, swallowing both the person and the vessel.

Datong Prefecture, Erhai Commandery, Biyoudao Academy.

"Whoosh!" A small boat was flung away by a wave.

Zhao Xing flew down from the small boat, and before it had even settled, he transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky.

People waiting