Chapter 352: Four Entries into the Dragon Court, Purple Dragon God? The Secret Revealed

The Great Debate Conference lasted from the autumn of Yuanshuo Year 1 until the midsummer of Yuanshuo Year 2. Grand Minister of Agriculture Zhao Xing primarily lectured during the autumn of Yuanshuo Year 1, making only occasional appearances in the subsequent winter and the spring of Yuanshuo Year 2.

Afterward, Liu Tianning, Mi Dai, Wang Tianzhi, Ling Tianchen, Qiu Yuanshan, Meng Kun, Ji Youtang, and others took turns lecturing.

The prolonged conference also led more people to realize that the Scarecrow Technique was practiced not just by Zhao Xing, Liu Tianning, and Mi Dai, but even by the deans and vice-deans of Xuantian Academy and Kunyuan Academy, who had all cultivated advanced versions of the technique.

As Grand Minister of Agriculture, Zhao Xing cultivated all three factions and consistently advocated for their unity. His policies also reflected this philosophy. Consequently, his influence led more and more agricultural officials to broaden their studies beyond a single faction, embracing other types of magic.

"What the superiors favor, the subordinates will surely emulate!"

"Zhao Xing isn't merely influencing agricultural officials across the land with his philosophical writings; he's actively putting his ideas into practice through his actions.

"The grand ambitions he once shared with me inside the Dharma Transmission Tower are now starting to materialize. I truly hadn't anticipated it."

Li Boqian sighed with profound emotion, then took two deep breaths.

"Indeed," Xuan Qingtian nodded. "This Debate Conference has, for the first time, unified the thinking of high-ranking agricultural officials. From a legal standpoint, at least, the three factions are now considered equal."

"He also leveraged the opportunity to lecture at Yunmeng Academy to introduce changes to the systems for appointing civilian officials, Taoist officials, and selecting military agricultural officials."

"He mandated the spells of the three factions — Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Self-Identity — as compulsory subjects."

"With the Great Zhou's destiny flourishing, combined with Yunmeng Academy and the Mysterious Yellow Yuan Analysis Art, the foundation for realizing these ideals has been established."

Yunmeng Academy's enlightenment and transmission of knowledge significantly boosted the efficiency of cultivation and spiritual insight for the empire's subjects.

As the Great Zhou's destiny rose, so did the spiritual energy index across its nineteen states, resulting in a faster rate of energy accumulation.

With the reduced difficulty in gathering spiritual energy, cultivating all three factions was no longer an unattainable goal. Previously, the curriculum in some Taoist academies, scholarly institutions, and agricultural administrations varied, with available learning dependent on the proportion of teachers from each of the three factions.

Now, however, the imperial court has standardized teaching resources for Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Self-Identity, ensuring equal availability, and has also formalized the spell teaching curriculum.

Similarly, those wishing to enter civil service now find that mastery of only one faction's spells is insufficient to pass the examinations.

This new standard will apply from the foundational stages of Taoist academies and scholarly institutions all the way through official government careers.

"The limitations of the Scarecrow Technique have also been overcome. In the future, Self-Identity faction agricultural gods will be enshrined in temples, with Liu Tianning becoming the first of them."

"Liu Tianning divides the world, Zhao Chen'an unifies the empire," Li Boqian murmured, taking a deep breath of the aromatic smoke.

"Just watch," Xuan Qingtian mused, "it's not only our agricultural officials who will change. With Yunmeng Academy now established and Zhao Xing's initiatives, I suspect even martial artists and mechanical engineers will be transformed. What a magnificent era this truly is."

As the Great Debate Conference drew to a close, Zhao Xing shifted his primary focus from lecturing to receiving powerful foreign dignitaries.

These included Bo Hongde, the agricultural official from Elephant Willow Kingdom; Pan Chang, from Fu Kingdom; and Gaoshan Yang, from East Mulberry Kingdom. In total, he met with representatives from 365 small nations (tribes) and 42 medium-sized ones.

The meetings weren't solely for discussion; they also involved substantial exchanges. For instance, Bo Hongde, the agricultural official from Elephant Willow Kingdom, asked Zhao Xing if a group of officials could be sent to Great Zhou for study. In exchange for this training, they offered some of Elephant Willow Kingdom's unique treasures.

Zhao Xing, of course, gladly agreed, as this was a plan he and Ji Che had discussed previously.

While the Great Zhou controlled nineteen resource-rich states, many valuable assets existed abroad. Exchanging technology for resources was not only beneficial but also extended the Great Zhou's influence into neighboring territories, preparing the way for the grand ascension plan.

In addition to nations, there were also various martial sects.

In the early spring of Yuanshuo Year 2, Zhao Xing secretly met with the Mist Walker and Taoist Yueying at the Cloud Courtyard within Xuantian Academy.

"Mist Walker, 580th generation Guardian Elder of Cloud Heaven Peak, Xuantian Divine Sect, greets the Divine Venerable." Though serving as acting sect master, the Mist Walker introduced himself as an elder out of respect for Zhao Xing.

However, the person beside him caused Zhao Xing some surprise.

"Yueying Zi, 223rd generation Grand Elder of Cloud Heaven Peak, Xuantian Divine Sect, greets the Divine Venerable," Taoist Yueying's clone declared, bowing deeply to Zhao Xing.

The 223rd generation? Zhao Xing was quite astonished.

If a generation of the Divine Sect spans a millennium, then this individual was an ancient being from over three hundred thousand years ago!

No wonder Qing Yuzi had to steal the ice-sealing technique from the Xuantian Divine Sect. Could someone genuinely awaken after being sealed in ice for hundreds of thousands of years?

Noticing Zhao Xing's surprise, the Mist Walker explained, "Divine Venerable, Martial Uncle Ancestor is indeed a historical figure of our sect. He once reached the perfected Rule realm."

"Greetings, senior," Zhao Xing said, cupping his hands.

"In learning, age doesn't matter; the accomplished are teachers. On the path of agricultural officials, Divine Venerable, you are the true senior," Taoist Yueying remarked with a sigh.

This was typical among otherworldly sects: once a disciple's cultivation matched their teacher's, they would no longer refer to each other as master and disciple but as peers, addressing each other as "senior brother" or "junior brother."

Should a disciple surpass their master, it was even possible for the former master to address them as "Dao Master."

The sectarian world customarily measured seniority by one's realm of Dao attainment, rather than by age or secular ethics. This practice extended into various other aspects, such as disciples marrying their masters or even grandmasters.

Zhao Xing had initially assumed the person beside the Mist Walker was a mere attendant, only to realize the Mist Walker was the actual subordinate.

"So, there are many awakened individuals within the Divine Sect now?" Zhao Xing inquired.

"There are fifteen individuals at my cultivation level, with three from each of the Wind, Rain, Thunder, Cloud, and Houbian (transformation) factions," Taoist Yueying stated. "We are all fortunate survivors from that era, lucky enough to have awakened."

It was indeed a stroke of luck; Qing Yuzi had also provided Zhao Xing with a Great Cold Ice Sealing Spirit Coffin. For those sealed between ten thousand and one hundred thousand years, awakening was guaranteed with minimal side effects.

However, beyond one hundred thousand years, the likelihood of severe side effects increased, and the probability of awakening diminished considerably.

For individuals like Yueying Zi, the minimum duration of their ice seal was over two hundred thousand years, with some extending beyond four hundred thousand. Their awakening was truly a miracle, akin to winning a lottery.

"I was fortunate to awaken in this era. Xuantian must have bestowed a mission upon me, yet for the first few decades after my awakening, I was adrift, uncertain of my purpose," Taoist Yueying said softly. "All those I knew, loved, or hated, are gone."

"Now that I have met the Divine Venerable, I understand my mission." "What is the Elder's mission?"

"To follow the Divine Venerable's command, to achieve the grand feat of ascension, and to escape the confines of this Mysterious Yellow Realm." Zhao Xing smiled and nodded, though a strange feeling arose within him. He sensed an almost "kingly aura" buff around himself, compelling powerful individuals to immediately bow in homage upon encountering him.

Taoist Yueying, a distinguished Rule realm expert, was surprisingly willing to acknowledge Zhao Xing as supreme and submit to his directives.

"Very well, I shall assume the role of sect master," Zhao Xing nodded. "Mist Walker, Elder Yueying, upon your return, you must unite the majority and discreetly promote our dynasty's grand plan for ascension."

"However, do not be careless. You must act with extreme caution and avoid drawing the attention of the Wuyue God, who is at the Dao Establishment realm."

"Sect Master, rest assured," the Mist Walker declared, puffing out his chest. "We will certainly succeed!" In Yuanshuo Year 3, the Great Debate Conference concluded, yet its influence continued to deepen.

At this point, Zhao Xing also ceased his interventions in the sectarian world. "Cluck, cluck, cluck!" A pile of chicken souls from the Soul Banner were reabsorbed, shrinking continuously before settling into the Soul Immortal's hand. "Hehe, hehe~" The Soul Immortal chuckled incessantly, seemingly amused by a thought.

"Can you stop laughing so lewdly? You've become increasingly depraved ever since we dealt with the Joyful Union Sect," the Wind Immortal complained. "I have a feeling you'll eventually offer yourself to that banner."

"Want to come inside? There are excellent cauldrons waiting," the Soul Immortal offered, raising the banner.

"Alright, brother," the Flower Immortal responded...

Zhao Xing, accustomed to the peculiarities of these heavenly beings, adjusted his hat brim and addressed the Flower Immortal, "Immortal, our cooperation has temporarily concluded. Please inform the Palace Master that our next collaboration will take place at Four Pillars Mountain, where I will provide him with what he desires."

The Flower Immortal nodded. "Very well, I will inform the Palace Master." "Thank you," Zhao Xing replied.

Zhao Xing doffed his hat in a gesture of respect, then his form dissolved into a cloud of mist, vanishing from the spot.

Both Yunmeng Academy and the Mysterious Yellow Yuan Analysis Art required time to accumulate results before their full impact could be observed.

With the overarching policy firmly established, Zhao Xing no longer needed to concern himself excessively with the detailed implementation.

His energy began to be channeled into two main areas.

First, he focused on deepening his understanding of the Dao and refining his spells. Although Ji Che's Dao establishment was imminent, Zhao Xing knew his own strength needed to be formidable enough to counter any future assassination attempts by the Wuyue God.

Second, he prepared for his journey to the Dragon Court Ancient Land.

"Che, the Dragon Court Ancient Land is now ripe for unification. As soon as the Heavenly Dragon Gate reappears and I can enter, I will initiate the process."

"I will establish a base in the Gutian Kingdom and conquer the other nine kingdoms. My primary objectives are twofold:

"First, to complete the remaining components of the Dragon Emperor's Code."

"Second, to break the established rules of the Dragon Court Ancient Land, releasing the Dragon Race to join the Great Zhou's forces."

"Once the Dragon Court Ancient Land becomes part of our Great Zhou, the final obstacle to your Dao establishment will vanish completely," Zhao Xing explained.

The influence of the Great Debate Conference and Yunmeng Academy alone was insufficient to enable Ji Che to swiftly establish his Dao.

Ultimately, the core issue remained the sequence of the spiritual energy tides; their arrival in the Great Zhou was simply too slow.

According to the trajectory of his previous life, Ji Che would only successfully establish his Dao and attain ascension during the next era, Taichu, two hundred years in the future.

For Ji Che to establish his Dao earlier, the Great Zhou needed an additional surge of great destiny. Undoubtedly, the Dragon Court Ancient Land could provide this.

Should Zhao Xing unify the Dragon Court and assemble all components of the Dragon Emperor's Code, he would become the new Dragon Emperor of the Dragon Court.

He would then be able to release the Dragon Court Ancient Land's restraints, allowing all dragons to emerge from it.

This would unleash an enormous power, capable of reversing the Great Zhou's disadvantages during the initial phase of the spiritual energy tide.

A trace of concern flickered in Ji Che's eyes. "Elder Brother, my power cannot penetrate the Dragon Court Ancient Land, nor can the Wuyue God's. However, the Southern Barbarians still have the Ke God, Purple Dragon God, and Nine Nether God. We don't understand their realms, but as totem deities, they certainly won't be weak. You must be cautious in everything."

"I have a plan," Zhao Xing nodded. "There are still over thirty years until the next opening of the Dragon Court. I will ensure everything is meticulously prepared."

Counting from Zhao Xing's initial entry into the Dragon Court, its third opening was in Yuanhou Year 62. However, Zhao Xing did not have time to enter at that point.

The Yuanhou era spanned a total of 120 years, meaning Yuanshuo Year 42 would mark the opportunity for the fourth entry into the Dragon Court.

Zhao Xing intended to use this opportunity to unify the Dragon Court Ancient Land and assemble the Dragon Emperor's Code.

Firstly, this would enable Ji Che to establish his Dao sooner. Once Emperor Wu achieved Dao establishment, Zhao Xing himself could also naturally ascend to the Rule realm.

Secondly, it would allow the ultimate technique, Ancestral Dragon Transformation, to advance further. Concurrently, he planned to collect the Dragon Court's treasures and spiritual energy to cultivate the two remaining plant types for his Four Seasons Divine Splendor Dao field.

"Once the Dragon Court is unified, I can begin collecting spiritual energy from across the realm, preparing for a manual spiritual energy resurgence. With thirty-nine years remaining, I have ample time."

Ji Che nodded, looking at Zhao Xing. "Elder Brother, before you depart for the Dragon Court, have you considered marrying?"

Zhao Xing paused briefly. "Che, are there discussions in court that cause you concern?"

Ji Che shook his head. "No, this is merely my personal concern. Elder Brother, you work excessively hard and rarely allow yourself any enjoyment."

"You work so diligently that sometimes I worry the imperial historians will write that I, as emperor, am too harsh, treating one minister as if he were ten." Zhao Xing retorted, "I already possess cloning techniques; only ten people? Who are you underestimating! Call that historian here; I need to discuss with him why he recorded so little." Ji Che burst into an amused chuckle.

In the end, he still urged, "Elder Brother, would you truly not consider my sister? Princess Yingluo is, apart from our eldest sister, the most exceptional among them."

If Emperor Wu were matchmaking for anyone else, there would be no room for dissent, but this was Zhao Xing, so he needed to gauge his willingness first.

"As long as the Southern Barbarians remain unvanquished, how can I establish a home?" Zhao Xing stated. "My entire focus is here, Che, so please don't arrange a marriage for me."

"Alright," Ji Che conceded, abandoning the idea. "Then at least set aside some time to enjoy yourself. Visiting your home in Pinghai Prefecture regularly would also be good."

Zhao Xing's family currently resided in two locations.

One was their ancestral home in Nanyang County, Dayuan Prefecture, and the other was Bixian County, Chongming Prefecture. After Zhao Xing was enfeoffed as King Zhao, the entirety of Dayuan Prefecture became his domain, and Zhao Ruide and Madam Cai began spending more time at their ancestral home.

Ji Che's grants to Zhao Xing were substantial, frequently extending the lifespans of his family members. Now, Zhao Xing no longer feared any dilution of his destiny. Madam Cai and Zhao Ruide's honorary positions had both been elevated to the second rank.

These were honorary positions and titles, conferring prestige but no actual power.

Among the Zhao family descendants, only Zhao Zheng held substantial power; he had remained at the border, rising to the rank of a third-grade military general.

His two younger sisters: Zhao Yuhuan was a Doctor of Classics at the Jade Water Taoist Academy, still single, and had achieved fourth-grade strength.

Zhao Yuling married in the mid-Yuan period, becoming the wife of Wei Wuji, Duke of Wei. His fourth brother, Zhao Chuanzong, saw his lineage rapidly expand after the family division.

Though his talent was ordinary, he proved to be an excellent businessman. After the family division, he lived a very comfortable life.

After Zhao Xing was made king, Emperor Wu's rewards did not extend to Zhao Chuanzong, who had already separated from the family.

However, once Zhao Chuanzong became wealthy, he took on a role