Chapter 315: Raising the Mountain for Eighty-Two Years, The Young Martial Emperor (Final Chapter of This Volume)

"Please, Holy Son, take your seat!!!" Meng Kun roared, his voice almost cracking.

"Please, Holy Son, take your seat!!!"

Behind him, everyone bowed in unison.

Zhao Xing, who was about to disembark, was startled. Were they not even pretending anymore? Previously, talk of a "Holy Son" was mostly a joke, but today, Meng Kun directly led the crowd in shouting it!

Why was this happening? The reason lay with the imperial decree. Emperor Jing had commanded the Kunyuan Academy to hold a "Return to Virtue Ceremony," and the arrangements for the Shennong Hoe and Zhao Xing were explicitly stated: "Xing shall wield the Shennong Hoe, be appointed Spirit Mountain Emissary, and interpret the scriptures of the Sages." This meant that Zhao Xing would at least be able to initially master the power of the Shennong Hoe. He was also to be assigned to the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, which was under the Kunyuan Academy's purview, serving as a third-rank Spirit Mountain Emissary and dedicating himself to studying the classics of the Agricultural Sages. Since Emperor Jing had made it so clear, what was there for Meng Kun to pretend about? He simply declared Zhao Xing the Holy Son.

"Should I really get off?" Zhao Xing was somewhat stunned, looking at Li Boqian beside him. "Isn't it a bit inappropriate to shout like this in public? This isn't the feudal ancient times. What's Old Meng doing?"

"Why are you looking at me?" Li Boqian rolled his eyes. "They're calling you, not me." If it were someone with weaker cultivation who had merely brought the item back, they wouldn't receive such extravagant treatment. But who was Zhao Xing? He had written *The Theory of the Great Cycle of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi*, *Collected Commentaries on Two Classics*, and *The Theory of Laws and Objects*. He cultivated *Kunpeng Transformation*, *Ruler's Horizon*, *Myriad Law Scarecrow*, and *Vast Sea Underworld Palace*. He was proficient in both law and theory, and his cultivation realm was high. Now, as someone capable of wielding the Shennong Hoe, its significance was naturally different. This wasn't just about someone lucky enough to pick up the Shennong Hoe and bring it back. It was a legacy! It was the subtle will of the Earth God! It was a symbol of the Kunyuan Academy's ascendance!

While Zhao Xing was still in a daze, the welcoming shouts, like a mountain roar and a tsunami, erupted again: "Please, Holy Son, take your seat!"

There was no avoiding it now; they had called three times. To refuse further would be putting on airs. Helpless, Zhao Xing held the Shennong Hoe, stepped from the imperial ceremonial ship onto the Cloud Path, and ascended the chariot prepared by Kunyuan Academy.

The chariot was the priceless Hou Tu Battle Chariot. It was five meters long and ten meters wide, with a divine stone seat in the center and an Earth Emperor's Crown behind it, another treasure-grade artifact. Such grandeur had only been seen once before, when Xuanyuan Qingtian cultivated Qingtian Mountain, the fifteenth-ranked spirit mountain in the world. Now, Zhao Xing sat upon it. Fiery phoenixes shrieked, and celestial dragons chimed, pulling the chariot forward. The Cloud Path, layered, shifted to positions above and to the sides of the grand avenue where Zhao Xing was, beginning to flow.

"Dong dong dong dong dong!"

After the procession began, the Cloud Gate drums started beating, and musicians danced on both sides. Their movements did not obstruct Zhao Xing's forward vision; if he wished to admire them, he could do so with a glance at any time. The imperial officials sending him off watched with novelty. After all, such a spectacle might only be witnessed once in a lifetime. The welcoming procession began in Dongshi Commandery, traversing Daoyuan Continent for a full three months before finally returning to Kunyuan Academy. The entire Daoyuan Continent now knew that the 'Kunyuan Divine Hoe'—a peerless marvel, a supreme treasure of agriculture, and one of the Earth God's artifacts—had returned to Kunyuan Academy. The one who brought it home was Zhao Xing, the third-rank Spirit Mountain Emissary and Divine Might Marquis!

Upon returning to the Academy, the festivities were still far from over. Even more people gathered there! Xuanyuan Qingtian himself led the deans, vice-deans, and erudite scholars from the five major departments—virtually all the heads of the academy who could attend—to await them in front of Kunyuan Palace. Though it was an Earth God artifact, it was also an agricultural artifact, signifying profound importance. Consequently, a large number of powerful agricultural experts from Shangluo Academy and Xuantian Academy also came. These included Ling Tianchen, leader of the Transformation School; Zhang Tianxing, the erudite scholar; and Hu Yang, the vice-dean. From Xuanlei Department, there were Heng Yuan and Geng Shouchang. From Yunzhong Department, Sima Yunhai and Lu Chunhua. And also Wang Tianzhi, Wang Xuanyi, and others. Looking around, the concentration of agricultural powerhouses was simply astounding.

"If a spark were to be dropped here and this place blown up right now, the Great Zhou would probably collapse within a century," Zhao Xing thought audaciously. Indeed, it would collapse. If this place were destroyed, high-rank agriculturalists would almost become extinct. High-rank martial artists could not subsist on low-grade food. Without high-rank agriculturalists to cultivate and maintain the stability of heaven and earth, the overall strength of high-rank individuals in other professions would significantly decline within a century.

"Tianning, when you first took him as a disciple, did you ever imagine this day?" Princess Youruo asked with a smile from a royal vessel in the viewing area.

"Hahahaha, even in my wildest dreams, I, Liu Tianning, wouldn't dare to dream such a dream," Liu Tianning stood with his hands behind his back, laughing heartily, a rare sight.

Princess Youruo leaned into Liu Tianning's embrace. Behind them, Ji Zixuan promptly closed the door and withdrew. She went to another room to watch, and behind her was a group of painters diligently recording each scene.

"Senior Brother is truly a child of destiny!"

"Who would have thought?" Geng Shouchang and Heng Yuan watched from a distance. "When we discovered him in Canghai Blessed Land, we only thought he had good talent. Who knew that in the blink of an eye, he would become such a prominent figure?"

Heng Yuan also nodded, "When we tried to recruit him, he was only at the fifth rank, wasn't he? Only twenty-seven years have passed."

"Not only has he achieved such great success, but he even recovered the Shennong Hoe."

"It's a good thing Sima Yunhai didn't stop him, or he would have been a sinner."

Sima Yunhai, standing nearby, heard this and twitched his beard. "What nonsense are you talking about! Deeds are judged, not intentions. As for teaching, you, Heng Yuan, had nothing to do with it. This old man at least taught him the Cloud Gate method!"

"Ahaha, my apologies, Brother Yunhai, please don't be offended," Heng Yuan chuckled. Sima Yunhai, who had been furious about Pang Yuanzhen's betrayal and sought revenge on Liu Tianning, not only failed but ended up helping Zhao Xing instead. Destiny truly worked in mysterious ways.

"Senior Brother, did you hear that just now?" Hu Yang asked Zhang Tianxing beside him. "It sounds like people from Kunyuan Academy are calling him Holy Son?"

"I heard it. Isn't this preposterous?" Zhang Tianxing rubbed his head. "This is a public occasion. Kunyuan Academy is truly shameless!"

"Exactly," Hu Yang said, spreading his hands. "They even sent out Xuanyuan Qingtian's personal chariot, the Earth Emperor's Crown and Hou Tu Battle Chariot. Not even Holy Sons from ancient times should ride in that."

"Truly shameless," Zhang Tianxing said with a hint of sourness. "Zhao Xing wrote *The Theory of the Great Cycle of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi* at Xuantian Academy's branch."

"No shouting," Ling Tianchen glanced at the two. Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing immediately fell silent, resorting to telepathic communication. Ling Tianchen paid them no mind, simply fixating on Zhao Xing's figure. He could sense that some kind of transformation had occurred within Zhao Xing. Ling Tianchen had cultivated the Transformation method, *Kiss Transformation*, to an extremely profound realm, and he could feel astonishing changes in Zhao Xing.

"Could his Transformation method have been elevated in the Dragon Court?" Ling Tianchen pondered. "It seems I'll have to ask him to return to Myriad Transformations Blessed Land afterward." However, that wouldn't be possible anytime soon. This was Kunyuan Academy's moment of glory. Anyone who tried to make Zhao Xing leave would face their wrath!

"Luo, you've never experienced such a grand display, have you?" King Tianyan asked with a smile.

"No, I haven't," King Luo shook his head. "His Majesty almost had Grand Master of Six Arts Ji Mengjun perform a dance." Ji Mengjun hadn't come herself, but she was a spectator and had sent her disciple, a Five-Steal Dancer, to join the ceremonial dance troupe. But such a grand display couldn't be envied; bringing back a symbolic peerless divine artifact wasn't something that could be achieved with strength alone.

"Spirit Mountain Emissary, please move!"

Upon reaching Kunyuan Academy, Meng Kun finally restrained himself, no longer calling him "Holy Son." If not "Holy Son," then Zhao Xing had to be addressed with the grandest, most prestigious title related to Kunyuan Academy. Originally, Zhao Xing held the position of Director, but that was inferior to Spirit Mountain Emissary.

Zhao Xing rose and descended the cloud ladder. Countless gazes fixed on Zhao Xing, each filled with intense emotion, mostly from first-rank cultivators, who were, after all, the closest. He was the center of attention! An ordinary person would likely have their legs turn to jelly. But Zhao Xing walked steadily with each step, holding the Kunyuan Divine Hoe, eyes fixed straight ahead, until he stood before Xuanyuan Qingtian.

"Spirit Mountain Emissary Zhao Xing pays his respects to the Dean!" Zhao Xing bowed slightly, as he was still holding the Shennong Hoe.

Xuanyuan Qingtian, true to his name, was exceptionally tall, standing about 2.2 or 2.3 meters. His face was stern and showed no signs of aging. He wore a bright yellow Kunyuan Daoist robe, a Spirit Earth Cap on his head, with a hairpin piercing through it. He asked in a loud voice, "Spirit Mountain Emissary Zhao Xing, what do you hold in your hand?"

Zhao Xing replied, "The Earth God artifact, the Kunyuan Divine Hoe!"

"What wondrous uses does it possess to be called a divine artifact?"

Zhao Xing declared sonorously: "It can shift the spirit veins of the eight directions, fill the four seas with water! It can move the mountains of the nine heavens, and delve into the origins of the great earth! Its methods are divine, its marvels boundless!"

Xuanyuan Qingtian shook his sleeve, bowed, and declared, "I, Xuanyuan Qingtian, leading all of Kunyuan Academy, respectfully welcome the divine artifact's return to its rightful place!"

"Respectfully welcome the divine artifact's return!" The dense crowd immediately bowed towards the divine artifact. All agriculturalists, whether from Kunyuan Academy or not, were moved to tears at that moment. Zhao Xing held the Kunyuan Divine Hoe high, and the artifact's infinite radiance shone upon him, making him appear as if the Earth God himself had descended. After three rounds of bowing, there were still more procedures to follow.

Xuanyuan Qingtian and Zhao Xing, jointly holding the Kunyuan Divine Hoe, would then move a spirit mountain on the spot to demonstrate the artifact's power. The world's first-ranked Spirit Mountain and the second-ranked Green Mountain were not suitable for this demonstration. Instead, they chose Qingtian Mountain, which ranked fifteenth among the world's spirit mountains. This was also a spirit mountain cultivated by Xuanyuan Qingtian, representing his life's work. Qingtian Mountain was ten thousand feet high, its peaks perilous, like sharp swords piercing the sky.

After a series of complex rituals concluded, Xuanyuan Qingtian and Zhao Xing flew together to Qingtian Mountain. Countless ground mirrors broadcast the event live. The elder and the youth jointly gripped the Shennong Hoe and swung it downwards. The mountaintop trembled, and the next moment, a golden light flashed. The enormous spirit mountain vanished directly, leaving only a basin behind!

"Boom!" The spectators erupted in thunderous cheers. "The power of a divine artifact is truly terrifying!" "An Earth God artifact! This is the legendary Earth God artifact!" "Moving the mountains of the nine heavens, delving into the origins of the great earth!" "To witness the power of a divine artifact in this life, I can die without regret!"

"Holy crap! Such a massive mountain, just gone like that?"

"Brother, can you be more refined? It makes us martial artists sound like we only say 'holy crap'."

"What's your profound insight, then?"

"Well—never mind. The divine artifact is awesome!"

In the sky, Zhao Xing felt the Kunyuan Divine Hoe become incredibly heavy, his hand sinking downwards. It was only thanks to Xuanyuan Qingtian's timely exertion of force that he didn't fall along with the artifact. At this moment, a miniature mountain peak shimmered on the hoe's blade. How incredibly heavy was a ten-thousand-foot spirit mountain? Even if the divine artifact was extraordinary, Zhao Xing alone would never have been able to lift it. Fortunately, Xuanyuan Qingtian bore most of the pressure beside him, allowing Zhao Xing to maintain his grip.

Xuanyuan Qingtian gave Zhao Xing a slight smile, reassuring him. Then, together with Zhao Xing, he raised the divine hoe and declared to all directions: "The Kunyuan Divine Hoe is truly a divine artifact!"

"Cheers to Great Zhou!" the crowd roared. "Cheers to Great Zhou!"

"Cheers to the Agriculturalists!" they shouted again. "Cheers to the Agriculturalists!"

"Cheers to the Divine Might Marquis!"

"Cheers to the Divine Might Marquis!"

After three rounds of cheers, Xuanyuan Qingtian and Zhao Xing restored the spirit mountain to its original position. The two then flew down and brought the Kunyuan Divine Hoe to the square outside the Earth God Temple for worship. The ceremony mainly focused on praising its merits and legends, recounting its history. The Kunyuan Divine Hoe had not appeared for 300,000 years! The compiled history of the Great Zhou Dynasty spanned only about 500,000 years. For a legendary divine artifact to manifest in reality and return to Kunyuan Academy's possession, no amount of promotion was excessive.

The worship continued for a full month before it was finally enshrined in the Earth God Temple. For the next three years, it would be available for viewing by visitors and guests from all over. After that, it would be sealed and no longer open to the public. Subsequently, it would be entrusted to Zhao Xing for research. Of course, Zhao Xing could not simply take it away at will. Unless there was a major project or a large-scale war, the Kunyuan Divine Hoe would generally not be used. Taking the Kunyuan Divine Hoe out of the country? That was even more impossible! Unless Zhao Xing became the Dean and the most powerful person in the world.

The grand ceremony, starting from the welcome in the seventh month of the 20th year of Dazhi, continued until the spring of the 21st year of Dazhi, only then did it finally conclude.

"Phew, I can finally rest," Zhao Xing let out a long breath. The grand ceremony had lasted for more than half a year, with Kunyuan Academy immersed in a huge celebration. Every day, many people came to see the divine artifact, and just as many came to see Zhao Xing. At first, he secretly enjoyed it, but after a while, he couldn't stand it. Being treated like a national treasure all day long, who could endure that? Especially Meng Kun, his demeanor was such that he seemed eager to rush forward and hug and kiss Zhao Xing. He would peek at Zhao Xing every day, and even bring guests over. What he said were clearly just polite pleasantries, but to Zhao Xing's ears, it sounded like: "Look, this is our Kunyuan Academy's national treasure, named Zhao Xing. I dug him out. Isn't he amazing?"

Just as the initial enthusiasm began to wane, Zhao