Chapter 357: I’ll Tell You a Story

Yun Tiandao emerged.Yun Tiandao approached. Zhao Xing was struck.

Yun Tiandao’s chest heaved as he held his stance, a storm brewing in his eyes. He had just delivered a hundred uppercuts to Zhao Xing, but they were so fast it seemed as if he had only thrown one punch.

Why did he punch Zhao Xing? Because Yun Tiandao was furious.

He knew that even if he questioned Zhao Xing after coming out, he wouldn’t get an immediate answer. Zhao Xing would surely only speak after his ascension. He certainly wouldn't tell him now, distracting his focus and continuing to disturb his Dao heart.

Since he wouldn't speak, Yun Tiandao decided to knock off Zhao Xing's jaw, effectively shutting him up. Zhao Xing didn't dodge or resist; he knew someone needed to vent. So he simply looked at Yun Tiandao with an "I'm sorry" expression.

Once Yun Tiandao finished, Zhao Xing rubbed his jaw, setting his dislocated jaw back into place.

"Brother Yun, this set of boxing techniques is called 'Little Four Seasons Marquis Transformation Fist'," Zhao Xing said helplessly. "Even if you wanted to test whether what I said was true, you didn't need to throw so many punches. I could have told you the name of this technique after just one punch. This is the one you learned when you became the Grand Minister of Agriculture for the Xia Dynasty, from that woman..."

"Enough! Don't bring up old matters again!" Yun Tiandao's face darkened. How did this guy know everything? Of course Zhao Xing knew; Yun Tiandao had told him personally in their previous life.

Suppressing his anger and regaining his composure, Yun Tiandao finally calmed down. He stared at Zhao Xing: "If what you said was a lie, then you truly succeeded in tricking me out. Now, I have no other path."

Zhao Xing said with a serious expression: "Brother Yun, I didn't lie to you. In at most a hundred years, or as little as fifty, you will know everything."

Completing the feat of ascension, in Zhao Xing's estimation, would take roughly fifty to one hundred years. After Ji Che established his Dao, the time would be ripe, and the conquest of the barbarians wouldn't take too long.

Yun Tiandao stopped talking nonsense. Since he had made his choice, he would follow it to the end. "Someone must enter the House of Eras and become its new master for me to completely leave the Land of Returning Ruins."

"I have now exited the core of the House of Eras, giving you about eight hours to consider who will replace me." Hearing this, Zhao Xing nodded: "It won't take that long; I'll go find him now." Yun Tiandao didn't follow.

As Zhao Xing went to find Ji Che and the others, Yun Tiandao straightened non-existent wrinkles in his clothes at the entrance, glancing back at the courtyard that had confined him for countless years. His expression shifted from reluctance, worry, and confusion to excitement and anticipation.

"Zhao Xing," he smiled. Finally, he settled into a state of calm.

When Zhao Xing arrived at the resting place of the group, Yun Ze was pacing back and forth in the hall, while Lu Xia once again picked up his tea cup, its leaves swirling. Kan Qing and Xiao Yun were chatting idly with the Spirit Butterfly Immortal, and Chen Yu was examining a cloud-and-rain painting on the wall. Ling Tianchen and Wang Tianzhi sat beside Ji Che, looking relaxed, while Ji Che himself was meditating with his eyes closed.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Xing slowed his steps. "As expected, only Old Wang and Dean Ling are suitable candidates." His request for Ji Che to take the others away was actually a screening process. At the Spirit Butterfly Immortal's resting place, Ji Che would give the seven a strong signal: Zhao Xing would definitely be able to persuade Yun Tiandao.

Since persuasion was certain, the next question would be: who would replace Yun Tiandao? Zhao Xing and Ji Che believed that all seven individuals were willing. However, willingness was one thing; being able to endure was another. Becoming the master of the House of Eras meant becoming a lonely sentinel. This vigil would not last one or two years, nor one or two hundred years, but a million years! Not everyone was suited for this task.

"I'm back," Zhao Xing stepped into the hall.

Ji Che opened his eyes and exchanged glances with Zhao Xing; both nodded slightly. The seven Ministers of Agriculture immediately fell silent, looking at Zhao Xing.

"Your Majesty, Senior Yun has agreed to emerge."

Hearing Zhao Xing's words, the seven couldn't help but cheer. "Excellent!"

"Hahaha, the Grand Minister of Agriculture truly lives up to his name." "Ancestor Yun is indeed a good ancestor."

"Yet, he has a descendant like you, tsk."

"Dean Kan, what nonsense are you spouting? Dean Lu, look at her!" "Crazy."

The most surprised among them was the Spirit Butterfly Immortal. She was Yun Tiandao's disciple's disciple, taken in during the last thousand years. After her master died, she became Yun Tiandao's eyes in the Xuanhuang Realm. She understood her grand-master very well and knew he should absolutely not emerge halfway through his seclusion. How strong was her grand-master's will? It was a million years of steadfastness! But her grand-master was actually convinced by Zhao Xing?

"Lord Zhao, did Grand-master truly emerge?" "Yes, Immortal, you may go see for yourself."

"Very well, please excuse me."

The Spirit Butterfly Immortal excused herself and quickly left the room. Thus, only the nine people of Great Zhou remained in the room.

Ji Che glanced at everyone and slowly spoke: "Since Yun Tiandao has emerged, for him to leave completely, someone must enter the House of Eras to replace him."

"Your Majesty, your subjects are willing to go!" The seven Ministers of Agriculture came to the center of the hall and spoke in unison.

Ji Che waved his hand: "I know you can all bear great responsibilities. However, this is a choice that could last for a million years, a death choice from which you might never return. If anyone wishes to withdraw, step back now. I swear by my ancestors that I will never force you. And all memory of this period will be erased, so no one will ever know."

No one stepped back, but Zhao Xing keenly sensed that five of the seven exhibited extremely subtle soul fluctuations, while only two remained unchanged. Ji Che closed his eyes. After a brief silence, he waved his hand: "Wang Tianzhi and Ling Tianchen, stay. The rest of you may leave."

The other five looked at each other, then turned to Zhao Xing. Zhao Xing spoke: "His Majesty not choosing the five of you is not a sign of looking down on you, nor does it mean he considers you cowardly. It's simply about selecting who is most suitable for the duty of a guardian. Please go outside and wait."

Hearing Zhao Xing say the same, Lu Xia, Xiao Yun, Kan Qing, Chen Yu, and Yun Ze had no choice but to bow and withdraw. In the hall, only Wang Tianzhi, Ling Tianchen, Ji Che's avatar, and Zhao Xing remained.

At this point, Ji Che found himself in a difficult dilemma. From entering the Land of Returning Ruins until now, both of their performances showed suitability for the role. However, Zhao Xing had previously stated that this was the Xuanhuang Realm's last chance. Therefore, selecting someone was almost sending them to their death, and a death that would only come after enduring an entire epoch. Such a choice was too cruel, especially when these were people he had known since childhood.

Ji Che was indeed an emperor, but he wasn't the ruthless Emperor Jing; he couldn't make such a decision quickly.

"Your Majesty, I am more suitable to be the guardian." Ling Tianchen didn't allow the silence to stretch long and cruelly; he spoke after the five had left. "The Houbian Institute has always had such a tradition, and I, Ling Tianchen, will not back down." Then Ling Tianchen turned to Zhao Xing: "Grand Minister of Agriculture, the position of Dean of the Houbian Institute can be taken over by Hu Yang or Zhang Tianxing. Personally, I lean more towards Zhang Tianxing. Hu Yang is still not steady enough; he easily offends those mechanists. Zhang Tianxing, on the other hand, it's not just a joke, he genuinely enjoys playing pranks on them..."

"Wait a minute, Dean Ling!" Wang Tianzhi was displeased and immediately interrupted. "Why are you already settling your affairs? I haven't even agreed yet!"

"Your Majesty, Grand Minister of Agriculture!" Wang Tianzhi declared loudly: "When it comes to the duty of a guardian, it should be me, Wang Tianzhi! Ling Tianchen is skilled in the Marquis Transformation methods, but in the four methods of wind, rain, thunder, and cloud, he cannot compare to me. Staying in the Land of Returning Ruins to collect spiritual energy, he is certainly not as good as I am. Furthermore, what do you mean by your Houbian faction's tradition? You make it sound as if your Houbian Institute is the only great one in the Xuan Tian Academy." "Tianzhi, you..."

"Enough, don't argue with me this time." Wang Tianzhi interrupted: "I'm sick of always being second. Can you let me be first just this once?" "No." "You scoundrel."

"Shut up and be a good second fiddle for ten thousand years!" While the two argued, Ji Che looked at Zhao Xing. Zhao Xing thought for a moment, his gaze seeming to roll like dice, finally landing on Wang Tianzhi. Ji Che immediately spoke: "Dean Ling, you may leave. Wang Tianzhi, stay."

Ling Tianchen's body trembled, and his expression dimmed. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. Wang Tianzhi cheerfully waved at Ling Tianchen: "Dean Ling, farewell! Go back and tell my teacher that I, Wang Tianzhi, am about to achieve eternal life, hahaha!"

Who else in the Xuan Tian Academy could be like this? Ling Tianchen was left speechless. Looking at Wang Tianzhi's foolish glee, he couldn't tell if Wang Tianzhi truly felt that way or was saying it on purpose.

After Ling Tianchen left, only three people remained in the hall. "Dean Wang, do you have anything else you'd like to say?"

Wang Tianzhi thought for a moment: "Your Majesty, Grand Minister of Agriculture, I actually don't have much to say, except for some regret that I cannot witness the Great Zhou's feat of ascension. Of course, if you're asking about my dying wish, I do have one small request, though it might be a bit much." Wang Tianzhi secretly glanced at Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Dean Wang isn't trying to experience being the Grand Minister of Agriculture before he leaves, is he?" "Hahaha, Grand Minister is wise!"

Ji Che also smiled. He took a decree from his Qiankun Pouch (small) and wrote one on the spot: "Wang Tianzhi, heed my command." "Your Majesty, I was just joking." Wang Tianzhi was stunned.

Ji Che read directly: "After I ascend, Zhao Xing will choose an opportune moment to resign as the Ninth Grand Minister of Agriculture, and you shall become the Tenth Grand Minister of Agriculture of the Great Zhou. The position of the Tenth Grand Minister of Agriculture will remain vacant until we bring you back." Seeing Wang Tianzhi stunned, Zhao Xing smiled: "Dean Wang, are you not accepting the decree?" Only then did Wang Tianzhi react: "Your subject... your subject accepts the decree."

Afterward, Wang Tianzhi held the decree and cautiously asked: "Your Majesty, Grand Minister of Agriculture. Will I still be alive to see you?" Zhao Xing nodded: "Of course."

Wang Tianzhi fell silent. "You don't believe me?" "I do."

"Stop pretending, Dean Wang, you don't believe it." "Alright, I'm still a little skeptical." Wang Tianzhi spread his hands: "Didn't the Grand Minister of Agriculture say earlier that this was the Xuanhuang Realm's last chance for ascension? Since spiritual energy resurgence will no longer happen, how could I see you again?"

Zhao Xing said: "I did say this was the Xuanhuang Realm's last chance for ascension, but I never said you couldn't ascend, nor did I say we couldn't come back to retrieve you. You should know that beyond the Ascension Realm lies the Origin Realm. The Origin Realm has three stages. Once I reach the third stage, with the help of a world artifact, I will be able to retrieve you." As if sensing Wang Tianzhi's doubt, Zhao Xing leisurely added: "What other dynasties couldn't achieve doesn't mean the Great Zhou cannot. The fact that other dynasties haven't returned doesn't mean we can't. The Xuanhuang Realm is fading, but humanity is growing stronger with each generation. In the past, how many ultimate Heavenly Timing methods were there? Only seven, but now there are over a hundred!" A light immediately shone in Wang Tianzhi's eyes.

Zhao Xing had indeed not lied to Wang Tianzhi. In his previous life, he was among the first batch of players to ascend, so of course there would be a second batch, a third, and even more. But since the Xuanhuang Realm had no chance for another spiritual energy resurgence and was heading towards decline, how would subsequent players ascend? The answer: the first batch of players would return to retrieve them.

The initial group of ascending players would trigger a large-scale quest, 'Save the Xuanhuang Realm,' after their ascension. This quest aligned with the interests of large guilds, as the initial ascending group was too small. They were weak in the universe, and only other players were truly useful. Dying and reviving, reviving and dying; players were willing to do any dirty or exhausting work. Undying, indestructible laborers... where else could one find them?

Completing the 'Save the Xuanhuang Realm' quest required a series of consecutive tasks: dispelling hidden illusions, confirming coordinates, breaking the origin, and so on. In his previous life, various national guilds gradually achieved the feat of retrieving people for ascension. Zhao Xing was well-versed in these matters; it simply depended on whether he wanted to.

"You're much better off than Yun Tiandao; we definitely won't make you wait an entire epoch." "How long will it take, approximately?" Ji Che asked.

"It's hard to say, at least three thousand years," Zhao Xing mused. He didn't make a definitive promise, otherwise Wang Tianzhi would be disappointed if no one showed up when the time came. If all went well, Zhao Xing would reach his ascension point more than two thousand years earlier than in his previous life. Being so far ahead of schedule, with an unfamiliar storyline, it was truly hard to say how things would develop.

"Only three thousand years?" Wang Tianzhi immediately brightened. Compared to a million years, three thousand years was merely the blink of an eye. "Hahaha, it was definitely the right choice to seize this first place!"

On the way to meet Yun Tiandao, Wang Tianzhi was very excited, constantly chuckling as if he had gained a great advantage. Seeing his demeanor, Ling Tianchen and the others felt somewhat conflicted. Yun Tiandao was also quite perplexed.

"What did you promise him for him to be so happy?" It was truly strange. For something like going to his death, it would be good enough if Wang Tianzhi showed no sorrow or joy, yet he was as happy as a fool. Faked happiness could be understood, but Yun Tiandao could tell that Wang Tianzhi's joy wasn't faked; it was genuinely from the heart. This was hard to comprehend.

"He might have remembered something happy." "What happy thing?"

"He... never mind."

Yun Tiandao took a deep breath. He found it hard to believe he would befriend such a person who always spoke in riddles; it was truly hard to resist hitting him. The path back to the House of Eras seemed endlessly long. But the road had to be walked to its end.

Soon, Yun Tiandao and the others returned to the entrance.

"To become the master of the House of Eras, one must first reach the Rule Realm, and second, use the Key of Eras as a medium to make a Life Soul Oath. Once the Life Soul Oath is made, you will instantly refine it. After that, you just need to walk in to become the complete master of this house. No matter how long you live, your lifespan will be frozen. You can cultivate, sleep... do anything inside, but you must follow certain rules, such as waking up periodically to collect spiritual energy."

Yun Tiandao handed a sparkling pearl to Wang Tianzhi: "This item is called the Spiritual Energy Pearl, an advanced version of the Cloud-Rain Pearl. Once it cycles through the seven colors—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple—and then returns to transparent, you will have met the condition for replacement. Before that, even if you find someone, they cannot replace you. In the House of Eras, you can cultivate to the highest realm of Dao Establishment and Ascension. Once you reach this realm, you can no longer progress further, but you can pass the time by doing other things, such as studying spells. Theoretically, there are no limits to spells; it simply depends on your talent. After collecting enough spiritual energy, you can influence the outside world through your Three Souls, for example, by taking a disciple and bringing them to the Land of Returning Ruins. However, there is only one slot. If there are more, their memories will be automatically erased, and they will forget you upon leaving. You can also observe the universe from within the House of Eras, but at present, it will be difficult for you to discern anything significant, and most of the time, you will gain no insights. Inside the House of Eras, there are also some notes and insights left by previous guardians..." Yun Tiandao explained in great detail.

In the time before Wang Tianzhi entered, he meticulously relayed everything that needed to be said. As Wang Tianzhi listened to Yun Tiandao's explanation, he grew increasingly excited. If one disregarded the restriction of freedom, the House of Eras was simply an excellent place for comprehending Dao and cultivating! Moreover, he firmly believed that Zhao Xing would return to retrieve him, making it seem like an immense bargain!

"Brother, I can't help but feel that this Dao artifact wasn't created for guardianship, but rather as a place for cultivation," Ji Che transmitted his voice, voicing his doubts.

"Indeed, it was actually designed as a sort of 'cultivation black room.' Its purpose is to force seclusion, preventing one from emerging until certain conditions are met," Zhao Xing explained. "The widespread use