The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"Achoo~"

Inside the Fuming Shrine Manor in the Royal City, Zhao Xing, who was currently counting his spoils, sneezed abruptly.

"Hmm? I've already reached this cultivation level—how could I sneeze suddenly?"

"Am I falling ill?"

Zhao Xing became extremely alert.

For someone at his level, getting sick wasn't a small matter. When it happened, it usually indicated something significant.

"Internal Observation of the Five Elements, Activation of the Qi Circuit!"

Zhao Xing immediately examined his physical condition meticulously.

He could write theories like the "Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Cycle" and possessed a clear understanding of the Six Internal Qi within his body. His sensitivity to abnormalities, such as illnesses or misalignments, was unparalleled.

The Dragon Court Ancient Grounds was a realm vastly different from the outside world. After conducting a thorough check, Zhao Xing found nothing unusual.

"No illness… that means someone's thinking about me."

With that thought, Zhao Xing activated the "Five-Finger Fate Technique", making precise calculations.

An indistinct scene appeared in his mind.

"Massive stones… isn't this the treasury I just raided at the Giant Stone Vault?"

If he hadn't been there before, identifying the location based solely on the faint image would have been difficult. But Zhao Xing had only just visited the place, so he recognized it instantly.

"Someone's there," Zhao Xing muttered, increasing the power output of the spell. In an instant, his vitality was consumed by more than half as clearer figures began to appear.

Five figures in total. Each one was carrying a coffin on their backs.

Among them, a purple-robed figure was standing at the original location of the Giant Stone Vault, roaring furiously toward the heavens.

"So the Corpse Puppet Sect has arrived?"

"That makes sense… this guy must be a Heavenly Luck Realm expert from the Corpse Puppet Sect."

"Did I just get marked by someone at the Heavenly Luck Realm?"

Zhao Xing ended the spell and glanced at the Yellow Almanac. Since calibrating it for the Dragon Court version, it now provided insights about his fortune within this realm.

The Yellow Almanac displayed: "Side Wealth Appears, Eastern Calamity Looms, Minor Misfortune."

"Doesn't matter. They can't do anything to me inside the Royal City anyway."

Putting the Yellow Almanac away, Zhao Xing walked toward Cao Qianyue, who was busy opening a treasury box.

"How's it going?"

Cao Qianyue was crouched beside an old, intricate-looking box, his eyes glued to it while working a mechanical device.

"It's tougher than I thought."

The box emitted faint ripples of light, suggesting it was protected by ancient Gai Zi Formations.

"These are some very old mechanism arrays. The Great Zhou rarely teaches these styles anymore."

Zhao Xing, now wealthy beyond measure, waved his hand casually and said, "Don't stress yourself. If all else fails, just force it open."

Forcefully breaking a mechanism array risked damaging the treasures inside.

The Fuming Craftsmen of the Dragon Clan, while experts in large formations, were less skilled with delicate mechanisms. To them, these human-sized boxes were like trying to crack open a grain of rice.

To prepare for such situations, Zhao Xing had summoned Cao Qianyue to assist, even providing specialized unlocking tools in advance.

Despite his size and rough demeanor, Cao Qianyue was impressively skilled with delicate tasks.

The nails on Cao Qianyue's left hand extended into five flat picking needles, sliding into the small holes of the box. With his right hand, he lifted a specialized hammer, the head of which detached into four spinning metallic spindles.

"Rise!"

Five beams of light erupted from Cao Qianyue's left hand. The originally seamless box lifted slightly, revealing a half-finger gap. However, a counterforce inside pushed back, trying to reseal the box.

"Ciiiiiiiii—"

The four metallic spindles shot into the gap, spinning rapidly and acting like braces to hold it open.

"Four-Palace Rotation Mechanism, huh? Not bad, Cao." Zhao Xing watched with interest, entertained by the intricate unlocking process.

"Da-da-da-da—Rise!"

The box floated midair, trembling violently.

The central latch sprang open with a soft click.

But Cao Qianyue's hands were occupied—he couldn't reach inside to retrieve the contents.

"Marquis, lend me a hand!"

"...How does this work?"

"Just grab whatever's inside!"

Nodding, Zhao Xing directed one of his Straw Puppet Clones to extend its hand into the box. With precision, the puppet grabbed two items and withdrew them.

"Is it empty now, Marquis?!"

"Empty!"

"Great!"

With that, Cao Qianyue swiftly retracted the spinning mechanisms. The box, as if furious, slammed shut with a bang, the internal gears beginning to destroy themselves.

Rumble—

In moments, the half-man-tall box caved in, crumbled, and reduced itself to ash with a hiss of smoke.

"Whew…" Cao Qianyue wiped sweat from his forehead.

Zhao Xing held up the two retrieved items and chuckled. "Not bad, Dunlie. I didn't expect you to be this good at unlocking boxes."

In his hands were two ancient leather scrolls, marked with intricate Dragon Clan inscriptions. Judging from their design, these were extremely old Dragon Clan artistic collectibles.

They likely had no practical use but were incredibly valuable as tribute pieces.

Dragon King Yin Xiu particularly favored such rare, ancient items. It was akin to how scholars treasured calligraphy and paintings from antiquity.

Given the complexity of the box's mechanism, using the Four-Palace Rotation Mechanism to unlock it required the skill of a Third-Rank Craftsman—a rare feat that Cao Qianyue had pulled off.

As a Military Craftsman, Cao Qianyue's versatility and skill were unmatched.

"Hehe, Marquis, you're too kind," Cao Qianyue said with a bashful grin. "I'm still too slow, though."

"Just keep working here," Zhao Xing replied with a laugh. "If you get hungry or tired, eat as many Dragon Crystals as you like—I've got plenty."

"Thank you, Marquis!" Cao Qianyue's eyes lit up with excitement. As a practitioner of the Gluttony Technique, regular food offered him no further growth. Dragon Crystals, however, were something he had never tasted before. Their value for his cultivation was immense.

Zhao Xing patted Cao Qianyue's shoulder before leaving the room with a smile.

Cao Qianyue remained behind, unlocking and cataloging the treasures.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xing led another group of Fuming Craftsmen to continue unlocking secret vaults scattered across the Royal City.

"It's now the fourth day since entering the Dragon Court," Zhao Xing muttered. "Not many people will have reached Guting Royal City yet."

"The earlier you start, the better treasures you find."

"If you wait for others to gather, they'll just take it for themselves."

Zhao Xing muttered as he led a group of Fuming Dragon Artisans. The Kingdom of Guting was vast, and this Royal City alone was the size of an entire province. Even just the administrative regions surrounding it could match half a state.

Despite its enormous size, there weren't many suitable places to establish treasure vaults. Stability was paramount—after all, if a treasury couldn't even be found by its own builders, it would serve no purpose at all.

"Four high-grade treasuries of Da Zhou have been discovered. One of them is a Heavenly Secret Pavilion safehouse."

"Forget it. I'll leave Da Zhou's vaults alone for now."

Zhao Xing was well aware of his limits. High-ranking treasuries belonging to Da Zhou were beyond his current access. Moreover, if a First-Rank official of the dynasty came to Guting's Royal City for a special mission and discovered their treasury had been looted, it would surely disrupt their plans.

"Hmm? This place looks promising."

Zhao Xing's clone arrived at a specific coordinate from his memory, only to find a row of grand pillar-like palaces had appeared. Surrounding these structures were many Dragon Clan patrols.

Dragons flew back and forth, and streets made of Dragon Stones bustled with activity. Rows of Dragon Clan members stood before small mountains, roaring skyward.

"Roar—!"

"Anng~!"

"Xila!"

Some dragons worked busily before mountains of treasures, their tails intertwined as they exhaled clouds of mist. Occasionally, one dragon would spit out Dragon Crystals, scoop up a pile of goods, and leave.

For someone unfamiliar with the Dragon Clan or unable to comprehend High-Order Dragon Language, this entire scene would be incomprehensible.

But Zhao Xing quickly understood after listening for a moment.

"This… is a Dragon marketplace?"

"During Emperor Jing's reign, this place was a hub for stall trade?"

Zhao Xing curiously observed the surroundings.

High-ranking dragons slowly pulled Dragon Turtles laden with cargo, moving sluggishly across the streets. As Zhao Xing passed, some dragons even roared at him—though it was just their equivalent of market shouting.

Their meaning was clear:

"Come see, come see!"

"Today's clearance sale!"

"Want to learn the underwater transformation secret art?"

The further east Zhao Xing walked, the more valuable the traded items became. Treasure mountains grew progressively taller.

When he reached a Dragon Crystal Gate, his clone was stopped from proceeding further.

"Up ahead is Lord Sangting's exclusive trading zone."

Zhao Xing's clone tried to approach but was blocked by a group of Dragon Clan guards. Even when he spoke fluently in High-Order Dragon Language, the guards refused to let him in.

"Lord Sangting is the third lord of the kingdom, with both status and strength—forget it, I'll let my main body come."

The clone withdrew without further confrontation, waiting patiently in the distance.

At the same time, True Lord Ziluo, along with his disciples You Sha and Yun Ji, and his two grand-disciples You Jue and Ying Ji, arrived at the Dragon marketplace.

"Do not act rashly," True Lord Ziluo warned. "This is a trading ground for the Dragon Clan. They're not trying to attack us."

"Understood."

The disciples and grand-disciples obediently followed. True Lord Ziluo, however, frowned deeply, a foreboding feeling gnawing at him.

He couldn't shake the sense that the damn thief he was searching for was nearby.

And indeed, Zhao Xing was here, aiming for the Corpse Puppet Sect's treasury.

Other vaults could wait, but with Corpse Puppet Sect already sending people here, Zhao Xing had to strike quickly.

"This is one of the Corpse Puppet Sect's two high-grade vault locations," Zhao Xing murmured as he scanned the area. "If their people discovered the Giant Stone Treasury had already been looted, they'd rush here immediately."

Suddenly, he leapt onto a small mountain and spotted True Lord Ziluo on a distant peak.

The karmic resonance of the Heavenly Luck Realm caused True Lord Ziluo to suddenly turn his head sharply.

Swish—

Their gazes met, and True Lord Ziluo's expression instantly darkened.

"It's that thief!"

Zhao Xing also recognized him immediately.

"This guy's here to steal from me!"

Swish, swish—

True Lord Ziluo flew toward Zhao Xing without hesitation. However, before reaching him, he abruptly realized something.

"Damn!"

"What's wrong, Master?" You Sha asked anxiously.

"This person appeared here suddenly—he must know about this treasury!" True Lord Ziluo's face turned grim. "We must hurry inside!"

However, entering Lord Sangting's Trading Zone was not so simple. True Lord Ziluo's group had neither the funds nor the required authority to gain access.

"Oh no, he's coming!"

True Lord Ziluo's gaze shifted to the Dragon Crystal Gate, where Zhao Xing's main body appeared, leading a group of Fuming Dragon Artisans.

"Don't let him in, don't let him in—" True Lord Ziluo prayed silently, staring at the scene.

He believed that Zhao Xing's strength couldn't possibly have earned him the authority to enter Lord Sangting's Trading Zone. It was only the fourth day since entering the Dragon Court, and gaining Lord-Level Permissions should have been impossible.

However, Zhao Xing noticed True Lord Ziluo's gaze and gave him a faint smile.

Indeed, under normal circumstances, Zhao Xing's initial treasures wouldn't have been enough to trade for Lord-Level Access.

But he had chosen to enter Fuming Temple, bringing with him specialized Fuming Dragon Artisans and their ships.

Essentially, Zhao Xing and his team were "elite Dragon repair workers".

Feigning urgency, Zhao Xing led his artisans forward. They carried two enormous toolsets—"Jueshan" and "Huo Yin"—and approached the gate.

The Dragon Clan guards didn't stop him.

True Lord Ziluo froze in disbelief.

What the—?

You can do this?!

The guards didn't even hesitate to let Zhao Xing in!

"It's not a restricted area, so as a senior Fuming repair craftsman carrying a set of repair tools into Sangting Trading District, it's completely reasonable," Zhao Xing said with a faint smile after entering.

There was no denying it — the identity of a Fuming Temple craftsman was incredibly useful.

As long as it wasn't some restricted zone or treasury, places like commercial districts were easy to enter with just an excuse.

"I heard that in a past life, there was even a mechanist who snuck into the royal treasury with nothing but two common dragon tools on his back. I wonder if it's true," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

But he didn't even need to pretend — he was a craftsman of the Fuming Temple!

"Yousha, Yunji, you four stay here and keep watch. I'm heading to the Grand Arena!" True Lord Ziluo said urgently.

Although he didn't know how the other party discovered the hidden location of the Corpse Puppet Sect's treasures, the ominous premonition in his heart was getting worse by the second.

True Lord Ziluo had no intention of relying on any "tribute channels" to obtain an identity. He needed to head to the Grand Arena quickly to secure lord-level authority.

At the Sangting Trading District, by a lakeside:

"Not bad. There aren't many dragons here," Zhao Xing noted, gazing downward. "It's just a small Dragon Spring for water retrieval."

A short distance from the lake, a water dragon at the Dragon General level was napping. It had three heads and a pair of wings.

"Whoosh—"

Zhao Xing descended with the Fuming craftsmen to the edge of the Dragon Spring.

The sleeping dragon security guard immediately stirred awake.

"Ang?"

Zhao Xing pulled out his Fuming Token and spoke in dragon tongue: "The Dragon Spring needs repairs. Move aside immediately."

"Ang- ang."

The winged water dragon obediently stepped aside.

It wasn't clear what exactly there was to repair about a Dragon Spring, but Fuming Temple had the highest authority when it came to maintenance. If they said something needed repairs, it did. As a mere security guard, how could it know better?

"Start digging!"

Once the dragon security guard had retreated a sufficient distance, Zhao Xing immediately ordered the Fuming craftsmen to erect a barrier to block out any prying eyes.

"Splash—"

A mountain of treasures was excavated from within the Dragon Spring.

The same procedure, the same technique.

Having gained experience, the Fuming craftsmen moved even more smoothly this time.

The triple-layered Corpse Puppet Sect seals were broken one after another within a single hour.

"Water Veil Seal!"

Zhao Xing activated a dragon tongue seal on the treasure-laden boats. From the outside, it became impossible to see what was stored inside.

To be extra cautious, he used the Earth Spirit Repository Technique of the Earth School to restore the Dragon Spring to its original appearance. In fact, he even enlarged it slightly.

The Dragon Spring expanded by a third, though the water quality had been somewhat disturbed.

Still… repairs were repairs!

"Let's go!"

Zhao Xing wagged his tail in satisfaction.

"Ang~"

Seeing the Fuming craftsmen leave, the dragon security guard wandered back over to the Dragon Spring, giving it another glance.

Sure enough, the Dragon Spring had gotten bigger!

Content with its inspection, the dragon curled up beside the water once more and fell back asleep.

Zhao Xing returned the way he came. Since he didn't have the aura of lord-level authority, he occasionally sensed glances from high-ranking dragons along the way.

However, upon recognizing the Fuming Temple boats, they all withdrew their gazes.

"The Fortune is fluctuating slightly, but it's still within a normal range," Zhao Xing thought quietly.

When he exited the Sangting Trading District, Yousha and Yunji immediately noticed him.

"He's out!"

"Senior brother, what do we do? Should we stop him?" Yunji asked.

"Master hasn't returned yet. Junior sister, what do you think we should do?" Yousha responded.

"You're the senior brother, so of course, you make the decision," Yunji replied sweetly.

Yousha cursed inwardly. This wretched woman wants to avoid all responsibility!

"Master told us to keep watch, so we'll just keep watch. He said not to act recklessly," Yousha declared.

"Yes, I'll follow senior brother's orders," Yunji said obediently.

Thus, Yousha and Yunji each dispatched disciples to quietly tail Zhao Xing.

Two hours later, True Lord Ziluo returned.

By now, the aura surrounding him had changed. He carried an overpowering dragon aura and wore a massive token on his back.

"Where is he?" True Lord Ziluo asked.

"Master, he already left," Yousha reported respectfully. "We don't know if he succeeded, but we've already sent disciples to follow him."

"Follow me inside," True Lord Ziluo said darkly. Now that he had obtained lord-level authority, he could enter the Sangting Trading District.

After searching for a while—

"Whoosh—"

True Lord Ziluo appeared by the Dragon Spring.

"Lord," the water dragon by the Dragon Spring trembled, curling up on the ground.

"Scram!" True Lord Ziluo waved his hand, sending the dragon guard flying with a blast of force.

Then, he leaped into the murky waters of the Dragon Spring.

Moments later, he shot back out of the water.

Yousha and Yunji didn't even need to ask. One look at True Lord Ziluo's expression said it all.

The treasure was gone.

Their master's fury could no longer be contained.

"That bastard!!" True Lord Ziluo clenched his teeth.

The effort of seven or eight generations of the Corpse Puppet Sect — all stolen by Zhao Xing right under their noses.

It was unforgivable!

"Master, what now?" Yousha asked cautiously.

"Find him!" True Lord Ziluo growled, forcing himself to calm down.

If he didn't recover those treasures, he would never find peace.

At the Second-Class Fuming Authority Residence:

Buzz—

Two dragon boats came to a halt.

Zhao Xing issued a gag order to the Fuming craftsmen, sending them back to the Fuming Temple to await further instructions.

"Unlock!"

Zhao Xing activated the dragon ship's seal and then used wind techniques to sweep all the treasures out of the ship.

Hearing the noise, Cao Qianyue immediately approached. Seeing the mountain of treasures cascading from the sky, he was momentarily stunned.

"Lord Marquis, did you plunder— I mean, raid another treasure vault?"

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded calmly. "Time is tight, and the task is heavy. Quickly sort these items into categories."

"You don't need to calculate their value. If something can't be opened, don't waste time being too careful. Use brute force to crack it open, or just leave it as is."

Even if the tribute senders couldn't identify the value, Dragon King Yin Xiu would certainly assess it himself.

"Yes!" Cao Qianyue sprang into action, and Zhao Xing summoned his myriad incarnations to assist Cao Qianyue.

Time was indeed pressing; he could already sense that someone was tailing him.

While the Fuming Shrine region was off-limits to the Corpse Ghost Sect members, True Lord Ziluo was a Second-Rank cultivator.

Even without funds, he could gain permissions from the Grand Arena and upgrade his status.

"He will definitely achieve a Lord-level identity. To avoid complications, I need to quickly trade these treasures with Yin Xiu for useful items—convert them into strength."

Although the Royal City prohibited killing, he and True Lord Ziluo were not on the same level. The other party couldn't challenge him through the Grand Arena.

However, if True Lord Ziluo obtained a higher authority rank, it might still cause trouble for Zhao Xing.

"Lost him?"

Outside the Fuming Shrine's perimeter, True Lord Ziluo's face was dark and terrifying as he glared at his two disciples.

"Master, we can't enter." The two disciples trembled with fear.

The Fuming Shrine's domain was vast.

If they couldn't enter, how could they track someone?

Zhao Xing could have easily slipped out from another direction.

"Head to the Grand Arena!" True Lord Ziluo ordered. "Challenge those dragon nobles and upgrade your status—do it as quickly as possible!"

"Yes!" The four disciples immediately obeyed and rushed toward the Grand Arena.

With a creak, True Lord Ziluo closed his eyes. His robe billowed, and the coffin lid behind him shifted slightly.

A buzzing sound emerged.

Tiny corpse flies, each no larger than a fingertip, swarmed out.

These were corpse worms, evolved from devouring dragon corpses.

Each had twelve wings, two compound eyes, and razor-sharp mandibles.

When True Lord Ziluo opened his eyes again, his pupils were divided into countless grids.

Every single corpse worm became an extension of his vision.

"Thief! How dare you plunder the Corpse Ghost Sect's hidden treasures? I will never forgive you!"

While True Lord Ziluo was preparing to ambush Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing had already left the Fuming Shrine region with four dragon pearl transport ships.

"Lord Marquis, where are we going?" Cao Qianyue asked.

"To the north of the Royal City, there's a place called Guting North Sea," Zhao Xing explained. "It's called a 'sea,' but it's actually an enormous lake."

"That's where Dragon King Yin Xiu slumbers."

"He is the older brother of Dragon King Yin Li. The two brothers take turns ruling. In about three hundred years, Dragon King Yin Xiu will awaken, while his younger brother will fall into a deep sleep."

"Dragon Kings reduce their life activities through slumber to extend their lifespan."

Cao Qianyue listened intently, as this was all news to him.

Zhao Xing didn't mind sharing the information with Cao Qianyue. After all, this would no longer remain a secret in the future.

If powerful figures from their dynasty came, Zhao Xing wouldn't hesitate to tell them. After all, a Dragon King's treasure hoard wasn't something he could exchange for on his own.

"I intend to wake Dragon King Yin Xiu briefly and offer him tribute—just like I did with Dragon King Yin Li."

"Lord Marquis, is there any difference?"

"Dragon King Yin Xiu has a gentler, fairer temperament compared to his brother. We can exchange for better items," Zhao Xing explained.

"I see."

Arriving at North Sea Dragon Lake, Zhao Xing quickly located the slumbering area of Dragon King Yin Xiu.

The area wasn't guarded by any dragons, but it was covered with multiple dragon-language seals.

"Fire Transformation!"

Zhao Xing activated Hou Transformation Techniques and dove into the lake.

Splash!

The dragon ships tilted and submerged into North Sea's depths along with him.

Very soon, they encountered the first obstacle: the water currents grew turbulent, pushing against them and making further progress impossible.

"North Sea Reverse Currents, Water Dragon Concealment Curse!"

Zhao Xing cast a dragon-language unlocking spell, exhaling bubbles underwater.

These bubbles didn't float upward. Instead, they sank downward, their interiors swirling with ancient dragon script and intricate patterns.

The surging undercurrents were quickly suppressed by the sinking bubbles.

The murky seabed suddenly became clear.

Zhao Xing continued forward, dragging the dragon ships behind him.

Two quarters later, a second obstruction appeared.

Twelve towering undersea peaks emerged, each crowned with a dragon head.

The dragon heads' eyes glowed with light, scanning and dividing the undersea space. The intense vibrations caused by the water made the seawater oscillate at high frequencies.

Any dragon intruding here, if unaware of the correct method, would be shaken to death—even Lord-level dragons.

"Cao Qianyue, deploy the Calming Sea Spikes. Insert them clockwise into the key positions—Zhongguang, Zhaoyang, Huangluo."

"The spikes must penetrate at depths of 124.6 feet, 93.5 feet, and 71.5 feet—exactly."

The Calming Sea Spikes were mechanist tools derived from ancient dragon craftsmanship.

Naturally, the dragon version and the human version had significant differences.

Zhao Xing remembered the correct order, and he could operate the tools himself in a pinch. However, he wasn't as skilled as Cao Qianyue. One mistake in insertion would trigger the formation's counterattack.

"Yes!"

Cao Qianyue immediately began operating the dragon ship.

Boom—

He precisely followed Zhao Xing's instructions, inserting the Calming Sea Spikes into the designated locations.

The water currents burst apart, and the surrounding seawater ceased vibrating.

Zhao Xing pressed onward. The twelve Calming Sea Spikes remained firmly embedded in the undersea peaks.

After another quarter of an hour, a faintly glowing golden dragon palace emerged at the bottom of the sea.

"This is the final test."

Zhao Xing arrived outside the Dragon Palace.

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

From the ship, layers of dragon crystals began to roll out. Long strips of dragon crystals interlocked with each other, slotting together and extending forward, forming a crystal pathway.

At the edge of the Dragon Palace, a Dragon Crystal Path appeared, pieced together into the pattern of Dragon King Yin Xiu.

Next, Zhao Xing spent another two million dragon crystals constructing an enormous throne.

The throne appeared embedded in what looked like petals blooming outward—though to Cao Qianyue, it simply resembled half of an eggshell.

That boy thought everything resembled food.

"This should do it," Zhao Xing murmured inwardly.

"The ancient ritual to summon Dragon King Yin Xiu has been completed."

"The Sea-Calming Needles can be recovered, but this pathway cannot—it is the price for awakening the Dragon King."

The Dragon Crystal Path and throne emitted radiant light, layers of shadowy projections spreading into the depths of the Dragon Palace.

Time passed, though it was impossible to tell how long.

Suddenly—

"Boom!"

The Dragon Palace trembled, and the gloomy seawater darkened even further.

Out of nowhere—

Two beams of bright light appeared.

When Zhao Xing saw those lights, his heart trembled, and his body instinctively shivered.

Those were the eyes of Dragon King Yin Xiu.

He had been awakened!

The indifferent eyes appeared from within the dark waters, followed by sharp dragon horns and flowing whiskers.

Dragon King Yin Xiu appeared above the throne!

Zhao Xing immediately prostrated himself at the far end of the Dragon Crystal Path and invoked High Dragon Speech:

"Honorable Dragon King, great guardian of the Guting Kingdom, inheritor of the Eastern Emperor's Golden Script, and righteous Arbiter—"

Dragon King Yin Xiu's lifespan spanned countless ages, and he bore many titles.

Zhao Xing recited his four primary titles, emphasizing his unique one: Inheritor of the Eastern Emperor's Golden Script.

The Eastern Emperor's Golden Script was an ancient language created by the Dragon Emperor Jie. Even among the Dragon Kings, mastering it was exceedingly difficult.

Yet, Dragon King Yin Xiu possessed a partial mastery of this ancient script.

Of course, these events occurred seventy thousand years ago, during Yin Xiu's prime. Few dragons in the current age even knew of this title.

"—Guting Kingdom's humble subject, Zhao, sincerely summons your presence."

After his words, Zhao Xing quietly waited.

"Hummm—"

Suddenly, the gloomy seabed brightened, and Zhao Xing felt as though he was being moved.

When he lifted his head again, he was already positioned a thousand meters before the throne.

There, the phantom form of Dragon King Yin Xiu coiled atop the throne, his dragon spirit emerging.

This was Dragon King Yin Xiu's Dragon Spirit Manifestation, a state of light slumber.

Awakening a Dragon King fully required tremendous energy and resources, as well as a heavy cost.

Zhao Xing's offerings, though considerable, were still far from enough for a full awakening.

In his mind, a clear and ethereal voice echoed:

"(Dragon Speech) Speak your purpose."

"Tribute," Zhao Xing replied succinctly.

Dragon King Yin Xiu raised his head, and the currents surrounding the four dragon ships began to churn violently.

Cao Qianyue had already left the dragon ships and waited safely on a small boat.

"Splash—"

The waters swirled, and the four dragon ships were sucked into four whirlpools, disappearing into the depths of the Dragon Palace.

Moments later, Yin Xiu's voice resounded again:

"You shall receive the Dragon King's reward.

"Enter through this path—you may choose twice.

"You have fifteen days to decide.

"Once a choice is made, it cannot be changed."

Zhao Xing bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your grace, my King."

With that, he swam into the vortex above the Dragon Crystal Path.

The world spun.

Passing through the vortex, Zhao Xing found himself in a void.

When he looked down, he saw a floating continent, rapidly growing larger in his field of vision.

On that continent were mountains of treasures, stretching endlessly across the landscape. The diameter of the land easily surpassed ten thousand kilometers!

"The Treasure Vault of Dragon King Yin Xiu!"

Zhao Xing's heart raced with excitement.

"This can be considered the third tier of the Dragon Court's treasures."

The Great Dragon King had no personal vault. Its treasures had long been divided among its sons, and the Dragon King only awakened in response to massive spiritual energy fluctuations.

Compared to the Central Dragon Court's treasury, this vault was far safer and completely devoid of danger.

The only challenge lay in the vast size of the treasure trove. Each item was sealed by an immense force that obscured its brilliance, leaving only shapes, engravings, and patterns visible for identification.

"This really tests one's eyesight, like gambling on ancient artifacts," Zhao Xing mused.

Activating his Heavenly Eye Technique, Zhao Xing began to scan the vast treasure trove.

"For others, this is blind luck, but not for me."

He pushed his Derivation Technique to its limits, soaring rapidly through the treasure trove.

Even so, it took him an entire day just to make a preliminary sweep.

"Second pass!"

Zhao Xing spent another two and a half days performing a second, more meticulous selection.

"Third pass!"

By the third round, Zhao Xing scrutinized the treasures even more carefully.

The treasure vault's items were indestructible, each enveloped in the Dragon King's protective force.

To the untrained eye, every treasure emitted the same wave of energy, making it impossible to differentiate their value based on perception alone.

"Fifteen days is brief for Dragon King Yin Xiu's endless lifespan, but for me, it's more than enough."

Zhao Xing took his time, sweeping through the trove repeatedly.

On the thirteenth day, he finally stopped.

"With two days remaining, it's time to compare and decide."

"Whirr—"

His mind accelerated, processing everything he'd seen over the past thirteen days. Each treasure's shape, engraving, and distinct features replayed vividly in his memory.

After repeated comparisons, an hour later.

Zhao Xing opened his eyes.

"I have confirmed three Rare Peerless Treasures, or in common terms, artifacts."

"There are also five items suspected to be Peerless Wonders."

Why were there more Peerless Wonders than Peerless Treasures?

Because Zhao Xing couldn't be entirely certain. They looked similar, but there was a high possibility they were not as valuable.

What he could confirm were three items.

"Shua~"

Zhao Xing quickly decided on the first must-have treasure.

He walked over to a golden light orb.

Inside the orb was a black, dragon-patterned stone tablet.

"The Dragon Emperor Codex of Dragon Emperor Xie!"

"It isn't a complete Dragon Emperor Codex, merely one-ninth of it, but even this fragment is of artifact grade."

"This fragment appears to be the Edict Chapter."

"With this, I can explore many forbidden areas in the Central Dragon Court. With its power, I can even cast the corresponding Nine Great Spells!"

Without hesitation, Zhao Xing touched the light orb and picked it up.

This item's true identity was unknown even to Dragon King Yinxiu because it required activation at a specific location within the sacred grounds of the Dragon Court.

The Dragon Emperor era was too far removed from the Dragon King era. Forget Dragon King Yinxiu— even the Grand Dragon Kings had never seen the true Dragon Emperor.

"What should I choose for the second one? Do I pick a confirmed Rare Peerless Treasure or take a gamble on a suspected Peerless Wonder?"

He didn't hesitate for too long before choosing to gamble.

Because he wasn't sure if others would come for blind selections later.

The matter regarding Dragon King Yinxiu couldn't remain a secret for long.

Today was the eighteenth day since the Dragon Court had opened. When he left, it would already be the twentieth day.

Given this long period, many experts would likely gather in the royal city.

"For Old Meng, I'll take a chance."

Zhao Xing quickly sped toward the second location he remembered.

Inside a massive light orb appeared the phantom image of a hoe.

Zhao Xing reached out and touched the orb.

The moment he touched it, an inexplicable feeling surged into his mind.

Under this profound feeling, all of his Earth Techniques instantly reached the pinnacle level of mastery!

"I bet right." Zhao Xing smiled faintly. "Old Meng, this time you'll have to worship me. Let's see if you'll keep nagging me."

Indeed, this was the long-lost Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, also known by its alias, the Shennong Hoe.

It was one of the four Shennong Artifacts.

Only artifacts of this level could produce such miraculous effects, temporarily elevating Zhao Xing's entry-level Earth Techniques to their pinnacle state.

"Buzz~"

Once both choices were made, a vortex passage appeared behind Zhao Xing.

An invisible force pulled him out.

Zhao Xing reappeared on the Dragon Crystal Path, kneeling on the ground.

"Thank you, my King, for your generosity."

Dragon King Yinxiu carefully inspected the treasures Zhao Xing had chosen. He said nothing, merely shaking his dragon whiskers lightly.

"Splash~"

A stream of water pushed Zhao Xing and Cao Qianyue outward.

Although it was a gentle push, Zhao Xing and Cao Qianyue were immediately transported back above the Northern Sea.

"Lord Marquis?" Cao Qianyue panicked. "What's with this Dragon King? The twelve Calming Sea Spikes are still down there!"

While Dragon King Yinxiu hadn't recognized the Dragon Emperor Codex fragment, the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe's level was so high that Dragon King Yinxiu immediately knew its value.

However, it couldn't use it. No one in the Dragon Court could. This was an artifact exclusive to the Shennong.

Having rewarded Zhao Xing so generously, it had no choice but to take the twelve Calming Sea Spikes as a form of balance.

Zhao Xing, however, remained unfazed. "Let him keep it."

With the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe and the Dragon Emperor Codex fragment, why would he care about the Calming Sea Spikes?

Even if he lost ten thousand of them, Zhao Xing wouldn't bat an eye.

After all, those were only eighth-tier Dragon treasures. Rare outside, but not particularly precious within the Dragon Court.

"Let's go. Next time we come back, we'll need to bring even more offerings." Zhao Xing said casually.

Offerings— that's how Dragon Kings profited!

While Dragon King Yinxiu was known for fairness, if it kept losing out, even it would feel distressed.

As more people brought offerings, the standards would naturally rise.

Zhao Xing had to earn quickly and return for another exchange as soon as possible.

The moment Zhao Xing emerged from Dragon King Yinxiu's treasure vault, in the outside world, at the Matrix Hall— in the Fate Officers' Heavenly Secret Pavillion.

Four first-rank Fate Officers, including King Tianyan, were seated cross-legged inside their Heavenly Secret Pillars.

Suddenly—

"Buzz~"

One of the officials, Ji Si, suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with joy.

The moment he opened his eyes, the other three officials, including King Tianyan, sensed something.

"Ji Si." King Tianyan and the other two officials quickly moved beside Ji Si's Heavenly Secret Pillar. "What did you see?"

Since Ji Si and the other two were not kings, King Tianyan addressed them directly by name.

"Two items!" Ji Si raised two fingers, his smile forming wrinkles on his bark-like face. "What about you?"

"Two items as well."

"Same here."

The four Fate Officers quickly reached a consensus.

"Hahaha!"

They burst into laughter. When four Fate Officers agreed on an outcome, the chances of it being true were extremely high.

Two artifacts had emerged and landed in the hands of the Great Zhou!

To obtain such results in under a month was undoubtedly a joyous event!

"King Tianyan, shall we check who it is?" Ji Si asked with anticipation.

King Tianyan glanced at the other three officials, who also looked hopeful, and chuckled. "Fine, since it's one of our own, it won't take much effort. Let's satisfy everyone's curiosity."

The four of them returned to their Heavenly Secret Pillars, redirected their calculations, and began divining who had obtained the two artifacts within the Great Zhou.

The process was unexpectedly easy. Fifteen minutes later—

The four Heavenly Secret Pillars displayed countless names.

Nine-tenths of those names were the same: Zhao Xing.

"Zhao Xing?" King Tianyan was stunned, thinking he had misread it.

The other three officials flew out of their pillars and gathered around King Tianyan.

"King Tianyan, what's your result?"

"My result is Zhao Xing, Marquis Shenwei, Zhao Xing."

"Mine is the same."

"A mid-rank official, Zhao Xing? Obtaining two artifacts in less than a month?"

The three first-rank Fate Officers immediately began to doubt their previous calculations, even King Tianyan appeared slightly bewildered.