The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"Could it be... a miscalculation?" Ji Si hesitated.

"You mean, we might have been mistaken from the source?" another Fate Officer asked.

"Yes." Ji Si nodded.

A mistake at the source meant that perhaps Da Zhou had not actually acquired two divine artifacts.

"Then how do you explain the derivation results?" King Tianyan questioned.

"It's possible Zhao Xing merely passed by the location of the divine artifacts—very close, in fact." Someone offered a plausible explanation. "There are precedents in history where individuals passed by the location of divine artifacts, and at the time, Fate Officers derived similar results through the Heavenly Secret Pillars."

"But in the end, it turned out that the person did not acquire the artifact. It wasn't until a new group arrived at that location that they discovered the artifact."

King Tianyan nodded slightly. Deep down, he was willing to believe that Zhao Xing had obtained a divine artifact, but rationality told him that it was nearly impossible.

The Dragon Court Ancient Grounds was fraught with danger, and divine artifacts weren't something that could simply be picked up. They were either located in forbidden zones, surrounded by powerful mechanisms, or guarded by formidable lifeforms.

If divine artifacts could be stumbled upon so easily, they would have long been taken by others. After all, anyone at the Heavenly Luck Realm was already a person of extraordinary Fortune.

The reasoning of the Fate Officers wasn't entirely wrong. The divine artifacts Zhao Xing obtained were indeed guarded by Dragon Kings, and Zhao Xing hadn't picked them up—he had traded for them.

"Even if we assume the worst-case scenario, this is still good news," Ji Si said with a smile. "At the very least, two divine artifacts are related to Zhao Xing."

"As long as we question where he has been, we may have a chance of acquiring the two artifacts."

"That's right." The other two Fate Officers agreed.

"Should we activate the backup plan?" someone asked.

The backup plan referred to immediately sending a First-Rank expert into the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds to locate Zhao Xing and the divine artifacts.

At this stage, the Dragon Court allowed entry but prohibited exits, and the number of slots was limited. However, Da Zhou had not initially deployed all their available personnel. They had reserved a few spots for emergencies—this was one of those "emergencies."

King Tianyan pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Send one person."

One would suffice. Once inside, they could coordinate with the other Da Zhou experts already in the Dragon Court.

The Fate Officers were undoubtedly the most suitable candidates.

The reason they hadn't been sent earlier was that they needed to remain outside to derive calculations using the Creation Disc and the Heavenly Secret Hall.

A single Fate Officer inside the Dragon Court, without a divine artifact, would be insufficient.

Their own people couldn't be affected, and outsiders were difficult to predict.

If they brought a Fortune-type divine artifact, however, the risks would be far too great. Should such an artifact be lost in the Dragon Court, the losses would be catastrophic.

"Since this involves two divine artifacts, let me go," Ji Si said. "Tianyan, you need to remain here to oversee the Heavenly Secret Hall."

"Very well." King Tianyan nodded. "Come with me."

The other two Fate Officers returned to their positions, while Ji Si followed King Tianyan into another secret chamber.

The purpose was simple: to brief Ji Si on Zhao Xing's importance.

"What? He actually—"

Ji Si's expression shifted dramatically after reading the confidential file. "I've only been in seclusion for twenty years, and such a genius has emerged in our dynasty? Truly, this is Heaven's favor—Da Zhou's great fortune!"

"Ji Si, you must be extremely cautious inside. Remember, protecting Zhao Xing is the top priority. The divine artifacts can be abandoned, but Zhao Xing must not die," King Tianyan warned sternly.

"I understand." Ji Si nodded solemnly.

Artifacts of Treasure Rank were creations of men. Da Zhou's massive Ninth-Rank divine weapons were not much weaker than Treasure Rank artifacts.

While Rare Treasures were rare, they were not entirely unheard of.

Peerless Treasures, on the other hand, were irreplaceable relics that could no longer be created in the current age.

However, in terms of value, Zhao Xing could rival a Peerless Treasure.

Throughout history, only Zhao Xing had elevated the Derivation of the Divine Spirit to unprecedented heights.

If Zhao Xing could decipher the Derivation Monument, it would equate to creating an ultimate soul-based cultivation method!

A method that could be passed down to billions of people for countless generations!

Ji Si finished reading the file, noting that it was personally signed and stamped by Emperor Jing himself. Without question, Zhao Xing was to be treated as a living Peerless Treasure.

"Brother, I'm heading out now," Ji Si said solemnly.

"Be careful." King Tianyan's tone was grave.

They wouldn't have activated the backup slots so early under normal circumstances, but the appearance of two divine artifacts, combined with Zhao Xing's involvement, justified the decision.

Above the Heaven and Earth Dragon Gate, amidst the vast sea.

A colossal First-Rank serpent beast coiled, its massive shadow enveloping rows of warships below.

Inside a palace constructed by connecting numerous serpent-shaped ships, a middle-aged man with slit-pupil eyes and a pointed head sat on his throne, listening to a Fate Officer's report.

The Great Snake Kingdom, like the Southern Barbarians, had learned from Da Zhou and appointed officials specializing in Fortune derivation, known as Fate Officers.

"Lord Xiucheng, two divine artifacts have appeared in the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds," the Fate Officer reported.

Lord Xiucheng was the ruler of the Great Snake Kingdom and the younger brother of God Lord Taixiu.

His status in the Great Snake Kingdom was akin to that of King Liang in Da Zhou years ago. He was the leader of this expedition, a First-Rank expert carrying a Treasure Rank artifact and the nation's sacred serpent.

"Do we have any more specific information?" Lord Xiucheng asked.

"No, we cannot derive further details." The Fate Officer shook his head.

King Tianyan and his group had managed to derive Zhao Xing's name because Zhao Xing was one of Da Zhou's own.

Calculations involving their own people were naturally easier.

Outsiders were far more challenging. Across the Heaven and Earth Dragon Gate, even knowing that divine artifacts had appeared was impressive.

Some top-tier sects remained entirely unaware of this event, as only powers with God Sect foundations could have this level of insight.

"If we can't determine the names or locations, it means these artifacts are unrelated to our nation," Lord Xiucheng sighed.

The inability to derive further details suggested that the artifacts were not connected to the Great Snake Kingdom.

Of course, this did not necessarily mean they were linked to any other forces. The artifacts might not belong to the Southern Barbarians or Da Zhou either.

"Send envoys to the Southern Barbarian King's Court to gather information."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, in the Southern Barbarian Alliance.

The Golden Feather, Purple Dragon, Flame Light, and Holy Spirit Courts—the four great king courts—had gathered inside a butterfly-shaped divine warship, where powerful Fortune-derived cultivators were holding a discussion.

"Two divine artifacts have emerged in the Dragon Court Ancient Grounds."

"It can be confirmed that there is a strong connection with the Da Zhou Dynasty."

"Can we ascertain any specific details? Such as who obtained them or their strength?"

"No. We cannot determine the name."

"What about the location?"

"It is most likely within the Guting Kingdom, with the Ziti Kingdom as the second possibility."

"That range is too large."

Within the chamber, four golden giant projections sat atop their thrones. Behind each of them, divine statues loomed, their divine thoughts intertwining and generating waves of golden mist.

Their conversation was confined to an extremely small space, shielded from external derivations or eavesdropping.

"Although information is limited, if someone truly possesses the artifacts, they will use them eventually."

"Once it is used, more information will come out, and we can narrow down the scope," one of the figures proposed.

"Send someone in, coordinate with our experts, and organize a team to head to the Gu Ting Kingdom," another added.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

The four thrones quickly reached a consensus.

A single treasure-class artifact wouldn't shake the current power balance much, but if it were an Ultimate Rare Treasure, the influence could not be underestimated.

Therefore, the Southern Barbarian factions immediately dispatched a messenger, carrying this confidential information, to coordinate and strategize.

Within Dragon Court Ancient Land, inside Gu Ting Kingdom's Royal City.

Zhao Xing and Cao Qianyue returned to the Fuming Shrine, and Zhao Xing could immediately sense that the place had grown much livelier.

"Twenty days have passed, and Gu Ting Kingdom has attracted quite a few people," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "I need to speed things up."

"The more experts gather here, the harder it will be for me to move freely."

If it were just Purple Robe Daoist-level Second Rank powerhouses, Zhao Xing wouldn't have to worry much. After all, battles were strictly forbidden within the royal city.

The permissions granted to Purple Robe Daoists were merely a rank higher than his and were unlikely to cause him trouble directly. However, if a First Rank powerhouse appeared, things would be much more dangerous. At the very least, a First Rank individual was granted Lord-level authority, and some might even hold the title of Dragon King.

For example, Bai Yunwu of the Great Zhou Dynasty was a Dragon King.

If Zhao Xing encountered a First Rank powerhouse from an enemy faction, it was highly likely they could exploit their permissions to send him outside the city's safe zones, where they could kill him and snatch his artifacts. That would make all his efforts meaningless.

Of course, most First Rank powerhouses, after entering the Dragon Court Ancient Land, wouldn't linger in the Ten Ancient Kingdoms. They would head straight for Central Dragon Court to begin their exploration.

Although First Rank powerhouses sounded numerous, in the vast Ten Ancient Kingdoms, their numbers were sparse. Encountering one was relatively rare.

"I need to dig up the vaults quickly and exchange my chances," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "At most, I'll claim two more artifacts."

"Any more than that, and Yin Xiu might lose its patience."

If he kept succeeding at this rate, not only would his allies become suspicious, but Yin Xiu, the Dragon King, might think Zhao Xing was deliberately trying to humiliate it.

As a Dragon King, Yin Xiu could tolerate a loss or two; taking a couple of artifacts might be acceptable. However, its tolerance wouldn't last forever.

"I can't afford to be greedy right now," Zhao Xing warned himself. "When I'm stronger in the future, I'll come back and plunder its vault thoroughly. If it refuses, I'll force it to act magnanimously."

Having raided two high-level treasury vaults, Zhao Xing quickly accumulated enough wealth for two more artifact exchanges.

He swiftly headed to North Sea, where Dragon King Yin Xiu resided in slumber.

After following the ritual of summoning and tribute, Zhao Xing was once again transported to Yin Xiu's Vault.

"Hmm?"

"The arrangement seems different this time."

Zhao Xing compared his memory of the previous visit and realized the positions of the treasures on the endless landmass had shifted dramatically.

"Yin Xiu is definitely keeping an eye on this."

In Yin Xiu's eyes, Zhao Xing had merely claimed a single artifact—something non-draconic at that. The Dragon Emperor Codex, which Zhao Xing had obtained, remained in a sealed state and unnoticed by the Dragon King.

But this wasn't just about the artifact itself—it was about pride.

"I need to pick something Yin Xiu won't recognize," Zhao Xing decided. "If the artifacts are in their initial sealed state, it won't be able to tell what they are. That would be ideal."

"That way, I'll be safer."

Zhao Xing began his search swiftly.

With prior experience, he needed only three days to pinpoint the locations of the artifacts.

"This time, I won't gamble. I'll pick directly from the Treasure-Class Artifacts."

"These two will do."

He selected the first artifact—a rectangular clay sculpture that looked like a useless brick.

"Wu Ji Sword Embryo · Hidden Edge—it is said to have been crafted by the Ancient Wu Ji Divine Sect. Its initial form appears plain and unremarkable."

"Wu Ji Hidden Edge restrains its divine radiance. All aura and phenomena are sealed away, and the only way to identify it is through the ancient Wu Ji Sect's markings. Not even Yin Xiu, the Dragon King, nor humans would recognize it."

"The Wu Ji Divine Sect was the very first ancient sect to be destroyed," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Why did Zhao Xing know so much about it? Simple. In the later stages of the game version, Fate Officer players would trace back ancient events and uncover lore to satisfy their curiosity. These stories were compiled into lore sections, attracting nostalgic old players and generating waves of revenue.

Zhao Xing had read some of these stories during idle moments and was naturally familiar with certain artifacts.

The second artifact was much larger—a colossal treasure.

"The Giant God Weapon, a Treasure-Class Artifact forged by the Mechanist Sect."

This artifact was enormous!

"In its default state, it stands nearly a hundred meters tall. It resembles a massive broad-backed blade, but in reality, it operates like the Shenluo Pangyuan, the mechanized war giant once controlled by King Shenluo."

Zhao Xing prioritized artifacts that benefitted humans.

Draconic artifacts, though powerful, were inherently restrictive.

For example, Dragon King Yin Xiu would never use the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, an artifact suited for Shennong Priests. Likewise, humans found draconic artifacts difficult to wield, or their usage requirements were extremely harsh.

"These two artifacts shouldn't cause Yin Xiu too much heartache," Zhao Xing thought. "And once I bring them out, they'll be invaluable investments for Mechanists and Martial Artists."

After confirming his choices, Zhao Xing touched the treasures.

"Humm—"

A vortex appeared, and Zhao Xing was transported back to Dragon Crystal Avenue.

When Dragon King Yin Xiu saw the Giant God Weapon standing before Zhao Xing, it fell silent for a long time.

Zhao Xing remained calm on the surface, but inside, his heart was pounding.

It took Yin Xiu ten breaths before it finally waved its whiskers and sent Zhao Xing back to the ocean's surface.

"Whoo—"

Zhao Xing let out a long sigh of relief.

"The old Dragon King is definitely getting fed up. I can't come back here again."

Zhao Xing could clearly sense Yin Xiu's growing reluctance.

"But this outcome is exactly what I hoped for. The most precious artifacts here are the Dragon Emperor Codex and the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe. The other potential Ultimate Rare Treasures have an extremely low probability of appearing."

"The remaining Treasure-Class artifacts just aren't worth the risk anymore."

"When it comes to safety, I have to prioritize that over greed."

Zhao Xing constantly reminded himself not to act recklessly.

There were plenty of other good opportunities out there. There was no need to obsess over Yin Xiu's vault.

"This visit took another seven days."

"By now, there should be even more people in the royal city."

"I should find some of the Great Zhou Dynasty's powerhouses first."

Adjusting his flying vessel, Zhao Xing headed for the Grand Arena within the royal city.

At the Grand Arena, there stood a massive Dragon God Statue.

The Dragon God Statue was covered with countless scales. Every Lord-level powerhouse who distinguished themselves in the Grand Arena would be required to leave their name on one of the statue's scales.

Names written in the Dragon Language contained intricate information. Each faction would engrave their own unique codes into these names, making it easy to determine at a glance whether someone belonged to their faction or not.

In Gu Ting Kingdom, there was a unique species called Star Conch. These creatures were cluster-based lifeforms. The Star Conch Mother could communicate with all Star Conch, allowing for synchronized communication between individual conchs.

Through the Star Conch, the Dragon Clan had developed a form of long-distance communication. However, its range was far more limited compared to Earth-based methods. Zhao Xing needed to confirm that someone was within communication range before using the Star Conch to contact them.

"Roar~~"

"!!"

"Boom!"

When Zhao Xing approached the Grand Arena, he saw a thundercloud in the eastern sky. Within the storm, two Thunder Dragons, each stretching ten thousand meters in length, were locked in fierce combat.

"One of the Thunder Dragons is clearly a Martial Artist's Manifestation Technique," Zhao Xing muttered. Currently, he was in his Fire Transformation State, so he could spot the difference instantly.

The Manifestation Technique was distinct from the Hou Transformation Method used by the Shennong.

A Martial Artist's Manifestation Technique relied on Vital Energy and Spirit Beast Blood to create a projection that appeared real.

In contrast, the Hou Transformation Method used by the Shennong was a transformation of the body at a fundamental level.

One focused on creating realistic illusory changes, while the other involved a genuine physical transformation. The differences between the two were immense.

If a Martial Artist utilizing the Manifestation Technique were killed, the projection would disappear, leaving behind only the person's corpse.

However, if a Shennong using the Hou Transformation Method were killed, the corresponding Spirit Beast Corpse would remain.

"There are people fighting in the south too," Zhao Xing activated Heavenly Eye and observed another skirmish. A person was standing on the back of a Second Rank Wrathful Spirit Dragon, battling against a Tianwu beast.

"Why are there so many here?"

Zhao Xing swept his gaze over the area and quickly spotted seven High Rank powerhouses in the Grand Arena.

He also counted five Middle Rank human powerhouses.

This was just the number of people visible in one small corner of the arena.

"The number of High Rank individuals in Gu Ting Kingdom shouldn't be this high," Zhao Xing frowned.

"Lord Zhao, is there something unusual here?" Cao Qianyue asked curiously.

"Do the math, and you'll understand," Zhao Xing replied.

"Even if we include our dynasty, the combined High Rank powerhouses of all major factions wouldn't exceed five thousand."

"Based on past experience, 90% of High Rank powerhouses head straight for Central Dragon Court to explore."

"That means only 10% are scattered across the Ten Ancient Kingdoms. If we assume they are all in the royal cities, then each kingdom would only have an average of 50 High Rank powerhouses."

"In reality, the number should be much lower than that."

"But here, in just this small corner of the Grand Arena, we've already encountered seven. Something's not right about this density."

Cao Qianyue's eyes widened in realization.

"Lord Zhao, what should we do now?"

"First, let's contact our dynasty's powerhouses," Zhao Xing instructed. "According to our dynasty's Dragon Court Exploration Protocol, each kingdom's royal city will have at least one First Rank and two Second Rank guardians stationed."

"You also mentioned you were looking for someone to team up with. You might as well try now."

"Understood," Cao Qianyue nodded, thinking of his good friend Li Muwan.

The Dragon God Statue stretched for dozens of kilometers. Zhao Xing began his search from the dragon's head since he could decipher Upper Dragon Language.

Cao Qianyue, on the other hand, searched near the dragon's tail, as traces left by Middle Rank powerhouses were usually found in that region. Being at the peak of Fourth Rank, Cao Qianyue could also reach out to Third Rank individuals.

Zhao Xing activated Illusory Form and Invisibility. With the cover provided by the Heavenly Secret Robe, he quickly scanned the Dragon God Statue.

"Eh?"

Suddenly, Zhao Xing's eyes fell on two familiar names near the junction of the dragon's head and body.

"Ye Yukong, Lord of Mingyue Prefecture, and Luo Tian, the King Shenluo?" Zhao Xing paused in surprise. "Why are these two here? Could this just be a coincidence?"

Regardless, encountering familiar faces in such a chaotic situation was still good news.

He immediately took out a Star Conch, infused it with a thread of Vital Energy, and tapped its shell in a specific pattern.

Soon, the other end of the Star Conch glowed, signaling a response. Since the encryption key had been predetermined, communication was established swiftly.

A rhythmic dragon roar echoed through the conch.

"Zhao Xing? I've been looking for you. Where are you in the royal city?"

"Hmm? Looking for me?" Zhao Xing grew cautious and didn't respond immediately.

On the other end, the King Shenluo quickly reacted and added, "It's about Prince Yanda and Zhuzhu."

Zhao Xing's wariness eased slightly. While the incident with Prince Yanda was somewhat known, the matter involving the Heavenly Spirit Pearl was still confidential.

"Where are you?" Zhao Xing remained cautious, asking for their location first. It seemed too coincidental that the two Second Rank guardians stationed in Gu Ting Royal City just happened to be people he knew.

"Xi Yindaquan..." The King Shenluo reported a long string of names.

There was no helping it—Dragon Clan naming conventions were like that. When translated into Great Zhou Language, they turned into long strings of coordinates and directions. A slight misunderstanding could result in being very far off.

"Alright, I'll head there right away."

After ending the transmission, Zhao Xing dispatched a clone to the location while his main body remained hidden near the Grand Arena.

The location was Xi La Mansion, a place where the King Shenluo was temporarily residing.

Upon arriving at one of the mountains within Xi La Mansion, Zhao Xing saw the King Shenluo Luo Tian and Ye Yukong.

"It really is them."

"Zhao Xing! Hahaha, long time no see!" Ye Yukong laughed heartily and approached with open arms.

"Brother Ye, King Shenluo," Zhao Xing greeted them. "What brings you two here?"

"Come inside, we'll explain everything," Ye Yukong said as he pulled Zhao Xing into the mansion.

A short while later, Zhao Xing finally understood the situation.

Both Ye Yukong and King Shenluo Luo Tian had been dispatched by Emperor Jing himself.

Of course, "dispatched" was a polite way to put it. In truth, the emperor had ordered them, saying, "To celebrate the promotion of my two loyal ministers, I grant you permission to enjoy (or endure) your fortune (labor) in the Dragon Court Ancient Land."

Originally, neither of the two had been in Gu Ting Royal City.

However, Ji Si, another notable figure, had entered the ancient land earlier and quickly contacted Ye Yukong and Luo Tian, asking them to rush to Gu Ting Royal City.

The reason? Both men were familiar with Zhao Xing, making communication much easier.

"So you're saying there are two resident Second Rank guardians here in Gu Ting Royal City?" Zhao Xing asked, summarizing.

"Not just that," Ye Yukong said. "Including us, there are now five Second Rank powerhouses in total. There's also a Vice Dean of the Divine Martial Academy, a Grand Musician of Tianle Academy, and a Grand Physician from the Heavenly Medicine Academy."

The combination of such characters was indeed odd.

However, Zhao Xing was no stranger to strange occurrences. He knew well that military physicians often had powerful combat abilities, especially those belonging to the 'Poison Physician' branch.

A Second Rank Poison Physician could unleash a plague of terrifying magnitude—silent and nearly impossible to defend against.

It was somewhat similar to the Southern Barbarian Insect Shamans and Blood Shamans, but even deadlier.

"It's not just us who have arrived," Ye Yukong continued. "The number of strong figures from other factions has also increased. Normally, the First Rank powerhouses would head straight for Central Dragon Court, and the Royal City would have at most one or two First Rank experts. But now…"

"The Crown Prince of the Great Snake Kingdom, Lord Fengxiu."

"The Supreme Elder of the White Bone Sect, True Monarch Seven Absolutes."

"And two princes of the Southern Barbarian Court—Prince Tuoba Lie of the Golden Feather Court and Prince Mo Qi of the Purple Dragon Court."

"All are renowned First Rank powerhouses!"

Hearing these names, Zhao Xing's expression turned grave. These were not ordinary opponents but some of the most formidable individuals within their realms.

Zhao Xing quickly realized that this situation was no longer about treasure hunting—it was about his own survival.

"Who is currently guarding Gu Ting Kingdom's Royal City?" Zhao Xing asked.

The Royal City Guardian was typically a First Rank powerhouse permanently stationed to protect the kingdom's capital.

"It's Ji Mengjun," said King Shenluo with a look of admiration.

Ye Yukong showed the same reaction, his eyes even revealing a hint of longing.

Hearing this name, Zhao Xing was genuinely surprised.

Ji Mengjun was a First Rank Soul Dancer, the Vice Master of the Martial Dance Hall in the Military Realm and also one of the Sixth Stealth Grand Dancers of the Eight Techniques Division.

The Eight Techniques Dance was known as the highest form of dance art in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The leader of the Eight Techniques Division was recognized as the pinnacle of all dancers in the world, as this formation was reserved for imperial expeditions—only the emperor himself could command it.

Normally, the position of Eight Techniques Leader remained vacant. Therefore, the Sixth Stealth Grand Dancer effectively became the second-in-command, holding the reins of the dance world.

Ji Mengjun, as one of the Sixth Stealth Grand Dancers, was world-famous.

The Great Zhou had Six Great Battle Dances: 'Yunmen,' 'Dazhang,' 'Dashao,' 'Daxia,' and 'Dawu.' The first five originated from ancient times, while 'Dawu' was created by the Great Zhou Dynasty itself.

These six dances were considered ultimate arts but required vast formations—thousands or tens of thousands of dancers were needed to execute them.

Based on the Six Great Battle Dances, the martial dancers of Great Zhou had developed Six Lesser Dances, which included 'Lingwu,' 'Yuwu,' 'Huangwu,' 'Ganwu,' and 'Renwu.'

Ji Mengjun had played a key role in reforming 'Huangwu' and even led the creation of 'Lingwu'.

What made Ji Mengjun even more remarkable was her age—she was not even 400 years old yet. For a First Rank powerhouse, this was considered her prime.

On top of that, Ji Mengjun was renowned as one of the most beautiful women of Emperor Jing's era.

"She's a First Rank Soul Dancer," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "A beauty and a powerhouse… no wonder Ye Yukong admires her."

As a Soul Dancer, Ji Mengjun could unleash the full power of a First Rank expert all on her own without relying on any dance formations.

Her dance was said to be mesmerizing but deadly. Watching her dance at dawn or dusk could cause one's soul to be drawn away.

"You two are here under orders from Heavenly Secret Pavilion, right?" Zhao Xing asked.

"That's correct." King Shenluo and Ye Yukong exchanged glances, then explained, "Zhao Xing, just yesterday at midnight, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion calculated that two sacred artifacts had emerged. The location was pinpointed to Gu Ting Kingdom's Royal City, and the phenomenon seemed to be related to you."

Zhao Xing's expression remained calm, his demeanor unchanged.

"Lord Ji Si of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion mentioned that you might have unknowingly passed through a place where these sacred artifacts were hidden," Ye Yukong continued. "Your chances of obtaining the artifacts are quite high."

Zhao Xing looked up and asked, "Who else knows about this?"

"In the Royal City, only myself, Brother Ye, and Lord Ji Mengjun are aware of this," King Shenluo replied.

"Zhao Xing, think carefully—have you felt anything strange? Any signs, unusual people, or odd objects?"

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion often predicted sacred artifacts based on the premonitions of high-ranking cultivators.

Zhao Xing shook his head and replied calmly, "No."

His answer came so quickly that both Ye Yukong and King Shenluo looked visibly disappointed.

But then Zhao Xing added, "The two sacred artifacts you mentioned… are already in my hands."

Ye Yukong: "(⊙_⊙)"

King Shenluo: "(⊙_⊙)"

Even Ji Mengjun's eyes shone with a trace of intrigue.

Ji Si of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion froze for a moment and asked, "Are you certain?"

Zhao Xing nodded. "Yes."

Since it was a First Rank official leading the inquiry, there was no point in hiding it.

Because this order must have passed through King Tianyan as well.

Ji Si smiled faintly and said, "Very well, follow me."

Zhao Xing replied, "Yes."

He followed Ji Si and entered a secret chamber arranged by Ji Mengjun.

Meanwhile, King Shenluo and Ye Yukong could only wait in the main hall.

Inside the secret chamber—

Ji Si went straight to the point, "Zhao Xing, the two artifacts you obtained—what are their ranks, and do you understand their effects?"

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment and replied, "One is a peerless artifact of the Shennong Division, the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe. The second one, I suspect, is related to the Dragon Clan."

Ji Si's expression immediately froze, his shock evident. "Kun Yuan Divine Hoe?!"

Hearing the name, he couldn't help but lose his composure.

The Kun Yuan Divine Hoe was a Shennong artifact—a legendary item.

How could Ji Si not understand the terrifying power of a Shennong artifact?

"It is said that the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe can excavate the earth veins of nineteen provinces. Anything underground—barriers, underground palaces—can be collapsed and unearthed by it."

"You… You actually obtained it."

Ji Si stared at Zhao Xing with eyes glowing with admiration, as though Zhao Xing were heaven's chosen child, sent by fate to bless the Shennong Division.

"Indeed, fate has its own plans," Ji Si sighed in awe.

Zhao Xing had authored the Self School works Two Classics Annotated Collection and Theory of Self and Natural Harmony. He had also written Theory of Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Grand Zhou Celestial Cycle for the Heavenly Timing sect. And now, he brought back a Shennong artifact.

It was as if he were the Holy Son of Shennong reincarnated, blessed with immense fortune, capable of leading his sect to prosperity.

"What a shame we cannot leave the Dragon Court right now; otherwise, I would immediately send you back to deliver it," Ji Si lamented.

The Dragon Court's current phase only allowed entry but no exit.

The next phase of the closing stage would be the opposite—allowing exit but forbidding reentry.

Of course, Ji Si didn't know that Zhao Xing had his own means to leave. He could use the Shangtang Token to summon the Ancient Yin Warship and traverse the realms of Yin and Yang.

Ji Si quickly composed himself and asked, "Zhao Xing, have you studied the Dragon Clan artifact?"

Zhao Xing instantly understood what Ji Si meant.

Ji Si was indirectly asking whether Zhao Xing would be willing to hand over the Dragon Clan artifact to a stronger expert for research.

To maximize the court's benefit, it would make sense to let a First-Rank expert utilize it.

Zhao Xing nodded and replied, "Yes, you already know that the Derivation Technique I practice requires top-tier soul-based methods to decrypt it."

Since Ji Si now knew the secret, the seal spell Zhao Xing used on himself became ineffective against Ji Si. He could share this information openly.

This reasoning wasn't a fabrication.

The Dragon Emperor Codex indeed could not be unlocked by ordinary means. It required visiting specific locations and possessing an immense spiritual consciousness to handle it.

Ji Si nodded approvingly. "Very well."

After a pause, he added, "Where you obtained the artifacts—are there any other treasures?"

"Yes," Zhao Xing admitted. "I suspect there may be other rare items there."

"What?!" Ji Si was stunned.

He had asked casually, without much hope.

Obtaining two artifacts at once was already an unprecedented stroke of fortune. And judging by Zhao Xing's composed demeanor, he hadn't suffered any injuries—meaning it was pure luck.

A place with more artifacts? That thought was unimaginable.

Ji Si had no idea that Zhao Xing had actually obtained four artifacts, not two.

The other two had been acquired later, without triggering the Fate Tablet or the Heavenly Mechanism Pillar's predictions.

The subsequent interference from various factions had kept the news from spreading.

Zhao Xing continued, "That day, when I arrived at the Royal City…"

He then recounted the incident involving Dragon King Yin Xiu.

"It was purely by chance that I read about such a tribute method in an ancient book in the Fuming Shrine."

"I learned that Dragon King Yin Xiu has this kind of tribute rule."

Ji Si exclaimed in surprise, "There's such a thing?!"

He had assumed that slumbering Dragon Kings would remain dormant and only awaken to receive tributes.

He never imagined that during the period before awakening, the Dragon Spirit could accept tributes.

"Is this true for all Ten Great Dragon Kingdoms?" Ji Si asked.

"I don't know," Zhao Xing shook his head. "The book didn't mention the others."

In truth, this tribute rule was unique to Gu Ting Kingdom's Dragon King Yin Xiu.

Dragon King Yin Xiu was the inheritor of the Eastern Emperor Golden Texts. As he approached awakening, he would enter a light sleep state, allowing his Dragon Spirit to awaken first.

During this time, the Dragon Spirit would read ancient books and gradually regain strength.

Once Yin Xiu fully awakened, he would immediately be at his peak physical strength.

In contrast, other Dragon Kings required a buffer period after awakening—similar to Heavenly Soul Ice Coffins used by Xuantian Sect. A frozen expert would need time to adjust after awakening.

In simpler terms, Yin Xiu had no "groggy" phase after awakening—he would immediately be at full power.

Other Dragon Kings, however, would experience some post-slumber weaknesses, delaying their return to peak form.

Since the Dragon Spirit was already awake and idle, accepting tributes was merely something convenient to pass the time.

After all, it wouldn't be long before Yin Xiu would rule over Gu Ting Kingdom once again.

This rule was ancient and largely forgotten. Even among the Dragon Clan of Gu Ting, few were aware of it today.

"Time is of the essence! We must head to Dragon King Yin Xiu's location immediately to exchange the tribute!" Ji Si's excitement was palpable.

At that moment, Ji Si resembled those players in Zhao Xing's previous life who discovered a hidden storyline—his eyes gleamed with excitement, and he rubbed his hands together like a fly.

"Zhao Xing, I will send King Shenluo and Ye Yukong to accompany you and ensure your safety."

"If decrypting the Dragon Clan artifact requires leaving the city, you must inform me and Ji Mengjun."

Ji Si hadn't forgotten their primary task.

"Yes," Zhao Xing obediently nodded.

"Swish—"

Ji Si immediately led Zhao Xing back to the main hall. After explaining the situation, he left hurriedly to discuss matters with Ji Mengjun.

It was clear they would mobilize a large amount of resources to negotiate with Dragon King Yin Xiu.

However, this had nothing to do with Zhao Xing. He had no intention of going again.

As Zhao Xing left Ji Mengjun's palace, King Shenluo and Ye Yukong paused to watch one of her dances briefly.

Because the artifacts were still in Zhao Xing's possession, Ji Si asked Ji Mengjun to cast a sealing spell, temporarily erasing the memories of King Shenluo and Ye Yukong regarding the two artifacts Zhao Xing had obtained.

Watching the two leave the palace with contented expressions, Zhao Xing chuckled inwardly, "Ji Si is even more cautious than King Tianyan."

"Brother, where are you planning to go next?" Ye Yukong asked. They had already been assigned a temporary task to serve as Zhao Xing's protectors.

"I'm taking on missions at the Fuming Shrine as a Fuming Mechanist to accumulate merit in the Ancient Dragon Court," Zhao Xing replied. "Once I have enough merit, I can exchange it for access to the Central Dragon Court."

Taking on Fuming Shrine missions not only allowed Zhao Xing to accumulate merit but also provided opportunities to probe other factions' strongholds.

Although the high-level vault of the Corpse Puppet Sect was already emptied, other powerful forces still had their treasures intact.

Now that Great Zhou's elites had also arrived here, Zhao Xing felt confident.

What's there to fear? If the sky falls, taller people will hold it up!

"As a Fuming Mechanist, while demolishing and reconstructing structures, it's reasonable to accidentally uncover the secret vaults of other factions," Zhao Xing thought silently.

"I'll just take on demolition or construction missions wherever vaults are rumored to exist. Besides, with King Shenluo here, I don't even need to hire Dragon Clan artisans."

But after a moment, Zhao Xing reconsidered.

"No, that won't work. Once or twice is fine, but doing it repeatedly will raise suspicions. I need a better plan."

"Got it! I'll blame it on ancient coins!"

King Shenluo looked puzzled. "Fuming Mechanist? Why did you take up such a position with the Dragon Clan?"

Zhao Xing shrugged. "The Dragon Clan doesn't have a Shennong division. The Mechanist division is the closest to what we do, so I picked that."

King Shenluo nodded thoughtfully. "Doesn't the Dragon Clan cultivate trees like Dragon Blood Wood and Dragon Fruits? I recall they grow precious trees."

"In the Ancient Dragon Court, every land is filled with nobles and lords. Even city lords are nothing special. Yinli is stingy—how could I possibly get such a good position?" Zhao Xing casually shifted the blame to Yinli.

King Shenluo nodded in agreement.

Ye Yukong, on the other hand, was frustrated. "King Shenluo is a Mechanist, so working at the Fuming Shrine makes sense. You're a Shennong official, so it's still somewhat relevant. But I'm a martial artist—what am I supposed to do at the Fuming Shrine?"

King Shenluo smirked. "Dig mines. With that strength of yours, you'd make an excellent miner."

Ye Yukong's face fell immediately.

In truth, King Shenluo was only joking.

As a lord-level figure in the Dragon Clan, Ye Yukong wouldn't actually be sent to dig mines. In fact, after contributing resources to Yinli, Ye Yukong was granted the position of a second-tier overseer.

Meanwhile, King Shenluo, contributing similar resources, became a second-tier Fuming Envoy.

For the Dragon Clan, strength didn't always equate to rank; official positions were determined by contributions. First-tier Fuming Envoys were second only to the shrine master and would never be granted to newcomers.

Thus, Zhao Xing's main body returned to the living quarters allocated by the Fuming Shrine to study the Dragon Emperor Codex.

His clone, on the other hand, joined King Shenluo, Ye Yukong, and Cao Qianyue to undertake missions.

The mission was particularly favorable for King Shenluo and Cao Qianyue.

However, it was somewhat tedious for Zhao Xing and Ye Yukong.

That changed when Zhao Xing, while working, accidentally uncovered a high-level vault belonging to the Holy Spirit Court.

Ye Yukong instantly perked up.

"Holy crap, Shenluo, Zhao, isn't this the Holy Spirit Court's emblem?!" Ye Yukong pointed at the cracked ground. Beneath it lay a stone door adorned with the distinct markings of the Holy Spirit Court.

"Be more confident—drop the 'isn't this.'" King Shenluo glanced at it and laughed. "It definitely is."

He scanned the surroundings, his expression growing excited. "I can sense the energy fluctuations of mechanisms and formations nearby—haha, we've struck gold!"

"King Shenluo, can you open it? Do we need to call the Fuming artisans?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Call them? For this?" King Shenluo snorted. "I am King Shenluo of Great Zhou! If I can't open a barbarian vault's seal, I might as well be dead."

Zhao Xing said nothing, merely giving a thumbs-up.

While this form of praise was unconventional, King Shenluo understood it instantly. With his head held high, he declared, "Stand back and watch me work."

"Quick, quick, hurry up!" Ye Yukong rubbed his hands together in excitement.

Zhao Xing pulled Cao Qianyue to King Shenluo's side. "King Shenluo, this is my guard. Let him assist you."

He hoped Cao Qianyue could learn some skills from King Shenluo.

King Shenluo glanced at Cao Qianyue and nodded. "Fine, no problem. Come here."

Cao Qianyue shot Zhao Xing a grateful look before following King Shenluo.

King Shenluo's skills were no bluff. Though it was his first time in the Ancient Dragon Court, he quickly adapted to the Dragon Clan's mechanisms. Within days, he was working faster and more efficiently than the Dragon Clan's own artisans.

It took him just over ten minutes to crack open the Holy Spirit Court's vault.

After emptying the vault, unlocking the boxes and intricate mechanisms inside was a breeze.

Having an expert on the team made everything significantly easier, and the inventory process was swift.

In the end, they estimated the value of the Holy Spirit Court's vault:

"Approximately forty million Dragon Coins."

"Hiss~" Ye Yukong sucked in a sharp breath.

"Zhao Xing, Shenluo, how are we splitting this?" King Shenluo asked.

As for Cao Qianyue, he wasn't qualified to participate in the distribution.

Ye Yukong spoke first. "According to military rules, Shenluo, you contributed the most, so you should get seventy percent. But since the Dragon Clan artisans could've opened this too, let's give you fifty percent."

"Zhao Xing, you take forty percent, and I'll just settle for ten percent."

Ye Yukong hadn't contributed much, so taking ten percent was already generous.

Zhao Xing smiled. "I have no objections."

Without King Shenluo, the vault wouldn't have been cracked open. Under normal circumstances, King Shenluo's contribution was irreplaceable and deserved seventy to eighty percent.

However, with Dragon Clan artisans available, fifty percent was reasonable.

Although Zhao Xing received less, it ensured safety.

If Zhao Xing alone kept uncovering treasures, suspicions would arise.

Having King Shenluo and Ye Yukong share the spoils would help divert attention.

Of course, if King Shenluo became greedy, Zhao Xing wouldn't include him in future discoveries.

King Shenluo nodded. "That's fair. Let's go with that."

On the fifth day, Zhao Xing accidentally uncovered another vault—this time belonging to the Tianyin Sect.

While its value wasn't particularly high, it still totaled eight million Dragon Coins.

Seeing Ye Yukong and King Shenluo's joyous expressions, Zhao Xing suddenly smacked his forehead. "Oh, right! We can keep doing this to get rich!"

King Shenluo seemed to realize something, his eyes lighting up.

"How so?" Ye Yukong asked, confused.

Zhao Xing pulled a purple-gold ancient coin from his pocket. "Brother Ye, King Shenluo, have you forgotten about this?"

King Shenluo burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you're truly wicked!"

Zhao Xing reacted quickly, while Ye Yukong was half a beat slower, but he quickly caught on. "Hiss... are you saying we can use this to locate others' treasure troves?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Xing confirmed.

Ye Yukong suddenly understood. "No wonder we've had such huge gains in just a few days. It turns out we've been benefiting from Zhao Xing's insight all along."

King Shenluo also chimed in, "That's right. With this reasoning, I shouldn't have split the earnings so generously earlier. Zhao Xing, we should recalculate."

Zhao Xing waved it off with a smile. "What's there to calculate? We're all on the same team; why bother about what's already been done?"

Seeing his nonchalance, King Shenluo didn't insist further.

Zhao Xing continued, "From now on, let's use this to search for treasures—sect vaults, Southern Wilderness hoards, and Eastern Island troves."

Ye Yukong hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you think we can request assistance from the imperial officials? If we're digging, let's aim for something big!"

"You think Lord Ji isn't already doing that?" Zhao Xing countered with a smirk. "You've all heard about Dragon King Yin Xiu's situation, haven't you? Most First-Rank experts are focused on raising funds."

"They've already gone in and out several times. The court left only so much wealth in Guting. Where else do you think the money comes from?"

Ye Yukong was stunned. "I didn't expect even the lofty imperial officials to engage in this sort of thing. I thought—"

"Brother Ye, this is called requisitioning," Zhao Xing declared righteously.

"Yes, requisitioning!" King Shenluo echoed firmly, glaring at Ye Yukong.

"Right, right—requisitioning!" Ye Yukong corrected himself immediately, nodding vigorously.

Zhao Xing's tone grew serious. "We need to move quickly. Once other factions' officials arrive, we'll lose our edge."

In truth, this was all just an excuse to grab wealth. Zhao Xing already knew the locations. Even if other factions came in and tried to block the Heavenly Secrets, it wouldn't affect him.

Even Lord Ji Si couldn't compete with their speed when it came to looting treasures.

Still, Zhao Xing needed to make his actions seem reasonable. After all, even wealth had to be earned with some justification.

"Well, then, many thanks to Brother Zhao for leading us to fortune!" King Shenluo said, his excitement evident.

Ye Yukong grinned widely. "We're in your debt for this opportunity, Brother Zhao."

With that, Zhao Xing's clone, King Shenluo, and Ye Yukong threw themselves into their treasure-hunting with great enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Zhao Xing's true body focused on studying the Dragon Emperor Codex and the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe.

"This can basically be confirmed as the Decree Chapter, one of the nine parts of the Dragon Emperor Codex," Zhao Xing murmured to himself. "But I can't activate it yet. I'll need to head to Central Dragon Court."

The Dragon Emperor Codex was still in a sealed state. Otherwise, even someone like Yin Xiu wouldn't have failed to recognize it.

If Yin Xiu had known what it was, he would never have put it up for trade.

"It's too risky for me to head to Central Dragon Court right now, especially with so many First-Rank experts gathered there," Zhao Xing reasoned. "I'll wait until everyone's finished squeezing what they can from Dragon King Yin Xiu."

"I'll also need to ask Lord Ji to send some guards for protection, but I can't act too soon. It'd look suspicious if I obtained the codex and immediately figured something out."

Setting the Dragon Emperor Codex aside, Zhao Xing picked up the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe and examined it.

"This Kun Yuan Divine Hoe is truly an extraordinary treasure," Zhao Xing muttered with admiration.

The moment he grasped the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, a mystical sensation washed over him. All his earth-based techniques seemed to reach their peak level of perfection.

"With this, I could open up an ancient path straight to the foot of the Southern Wilderness Holy Mountain when we go to war!"

"Using it to carve ancient tunnels is effortless. Terrain won't matter anymore."

Back during Emperor Jing's campaign against the Southern Wilderness, he hadn't constructed ancient paths—not because he didn't want to, but because it was far too difficult and expensive to justify.

But with the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, things were different. This supreme treasure could give the Great Zhou Dynasty a new battlefield entirely.

"Heh, a Great Zhou version of the Babok Worms. Let's see if they're still afraid now."

"Even if I were to face the Fiery Light Court, I wouldn't be afraid. Bring it on! One swing of this hoe, and they'll be finished."

Zhao Xing couldn't suppress his excitement. His grudge against the Fiery Light Court hadn't faded, but now, with the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe, the tables had turned.

Now, it was the Southern Wilderness that needed to worry, not him.

Ten Days Later

As Zhao Xing, King Shenluo, and Ye Yukong continued their treasure-hunting spree, their wealth grew to unimaginable levels.

King Shenluo and Ye Yukong were grinning ear to ear.

"I never imagined this. In just ten days, we've unearthed treasures worth two hundred million!" King Shenluo exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"It's absolutely thrilling!" Ye Yukong chimed in with enthusiasm.

"All thanks to Brother Zhao," King Shenluo added with genuine gratitude. "Without you, we never would have had such luck."

"That's right," Ye Yukong agreed, nodding.

"We've almost reached our limit," Zhao Xing said calmly. "As time passes, more and more forces are arriving. It's getting harder to dig up others' vaults. Most locations are either guarded or already looted."

"Besides, the longer we delay, the higher the cost of trade. You two should start testing your luck with the lower vaults instead."

"True," King Shenluo nodded. "The sects and forces from the Southern Wilderness are practically ready to tear us apart."

"Ha!" Ye Yukong burst into laughter, recalling past incidents. "At first, they had no idea what was going on. But after a few times when we dug right under their noses…"

"Especially that so-called Prince Fengxiu of the Great Great Snake Kingdom—he's their crown prince, right? His face turned green with rage, but he couldn't do anything but watch us dig!"

"Hahaha!" King Shenluo roared with laughter. "That's priceless."

It was undeniable—they hadn't worked for nothing. Serving as Zhao Xing's guards had brought them wealth and a sense of satisfaction unlike anything else.

Even killing enemies didn't feel this good.

"Alright, let's wrap up the treasure hunt here. Go find Lord Ji and apply to trade your earnings," Zhao Xing instructed.

He had no intention of going himself, but King Shenluo and Ye Yukong still could. Strengthening the two of them wouldn't hurt either.

"Understood. Let's go."

Meeting with Lord Ji

Zhao Xing, King Shenluo, and Ye Yukong found Ji Si to report and inquire about the trading situation.

"Dragon King Yin Xiu has raised the contribution threshold again," Ji Si explained, frowning slightly. "Now it's doubled—you need sixty million to get a single blind selection opportunity."

"What? Sixty million?!" Both King Shenluo and Ye Yukong were stunned. "Wasn't it twenty million before?"

Their treasure haul amounted to a total value of about two hundred million.

Zhao Xing had taken 120 million for himself, while King Shenluo and Ye Yukong had shared the remaining 80 million.

In other words, the two of them together only had enough for one chance at the trade.

But there was no helping it. Since Ji Si's arrival, the large-scale movement of personnel had flooded the area, overwhelming the trade with sheer numbers. As an official of the court, Ji Si's success rate was also frighteningly high.

Yin Xiu had no choice but to raise the bar for contributions.

"I've exchanged for a few Ninth-Rank heavy treasures," Ji Si continued. "Most others suffered losses, though overall it's still slightly profitable. But if everyone kept profiting, Yin Xiu would go bankrupt in less than a year. Raising the contribution standard is only natural."

"This matter won't stay under wraps for long. I'm doing my best to mobilize resources quickly and make as many trips as possible before the situation is fully exposed."

"Once the situation is exposed, not only the human forces but also the lords of Guting Kingdom will likely swarm over," Zhao Xing remarked.

Ye Yukong and King Shenluo immediately let out bitter smiles.

"Master, your success rate is high because you're carrying the Ancient Coins?" Zhao Xing asked curiously.

"That's right," Ji Si smiled and replied, "This is the advantage of being a Fate Officer. Dragon King Yin Xiu lived in the ancient era and has never seen these Ancient Coins. That's why I always manage to draw Ninth-Rank treasures."

This was also something Zhao Xing had reminded them about earlier—his own excuse for obtaining artifacts was also based on the use of coins.

"However, Yin Xiu couldn't take it anymore. I only picked ten Ninth-Rank treasures, and then he refused to let me enter again."

Zhao Xing, King Shenluo, and Ye Yukong all laughed.

It wasn't surprising that someone would refuse to play with Ji Si. After all, if one person consistently wins, who would want to keep playing?

"Shenluo, Ye Yukong, Zhao Xing, the resources for this are probably only available for a single chance," Ji Si explained. "The court's resources are tight. As of now, there are already ten First-Rank powerhouses in Royal City."

"I can't allocate resources to all of you. I hope you understand."

King Shenluo and Ye Yukong nodded. Resources were indeed limited and naturally prioritized for First-Rank powerhouses or Fate Officers.

"Shenluo, Zhao Xing, you two should go. I won't try my luck this time," Ye Yukong said regretfully, but at least Zhao Xing and King Shenluo could still make a move.

"I'm not going either. I fear the Dragon King will refuse to play," Zhao Xing shook his head. "Ye Yukong, you can use my coins."

For Zhao Xing, obtaining the treasure was secondary. His primary goal was accumulating merits for the Fuming Shrine.

It was an easy favor to grant, and he was more than happy to do so.

"You're letting me go? What about you?" Ye Yukong asked, somewhat surprised.

"Don't ask too many questions," Ji Si interjected. "It's confidential."

Ye Yukong could only swallow his words.

"Take both opportunities. I'll lend you my Fortune Coins as well," Zhao Xing added with a smile. "The Purple-Gold Ancient Coins won't be of use to you since you don't know divination."

"Fine!" Ye Yukong didn't hesitate, quietly making a mental note of this favor. "I'll go draw an artifact back for you!"

King Shenluo, on the other hand, could only look on with envy.

His relationship with Zhao Xing wasn't as close as Ye Yukong's. Being brought along to make money was already generous enough; the coins and Fortune Coins were out of the question for him.

"Ye Yukong, Shenluo, I'll arrange for you to go tomorrow," Ji Si instructed.

"Understood," Ye Yukong and King Shenluo replied, nodding in anticipation.

So far, the ten First-Rank experts and thirty or so Second-Rank Fate Officers in Royal City had yet to draw a divine artifact. The best they had managed was Ninth-Rank treasures. Ji Si, relying on Ancient Coins, had obtained a top-tier Ninth-Rank heavy weapon.

Of course, it was possible that Ji Si hadn't revealed everything. That wouldn't be surprising—he wasn't obligated to report his gains to them.

Even Zhao Xing wasn't sure if Ji Si was telling the truth.

"After delivering these favors and accumulating merits for a while, I'll need to leave Royal City soon," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"It's easy to predict that Guting Royal City will become a gathering place for First- and Second-Rank powerhouses in the future."

"I've also dug up so many treasure vaults. I'm definitely attracting resentment," Zhao Xing muttered inwardly. "Once I take my gains, I'll leave quickly and head to the Central Dragon Court to activate the Dragon Emperor Codex."

"As long as I master the Nine Great Curses, I won't have to fear even First-Rank powerhouses in the Dragon Court."

The next day, Ye Yukong and King Shenluo returned.

King Shenluo only managed to draw a top-tier Eighth-Rank divine weapon. It was neither a loss nor a gain.

Ye Yukong, on the other hand, drew a mid-tier Ninth-Rank armor—a small profit.

When Ye Yukong returned the Fortune Coins, he looked slightly regretful.

"It seems divine artifacts are not destined for me."

"Be satisfied," King Shenluo commented. "At least you profited."

Zhao Xing said nothing, merely smiling faintly.

In the days that followed, Zhao Xing focused on completing merit tasks within Royal City.

Time passed quickly, and before long, it was already December of the third year of the Great Governance Era.

At this point, Guting Royal City was no longer what it had been half a year ago.

The constant activity of Ji Si and others within the Northern Sea region had attracted significant attention.

The Crown Prince of the Daishe Kingdom, Lord Fengxiu; the Grand Elder of the White Bone Sect, Seven Absolutes True Monarch; and the two princes of the Southern Barbarian Court—Tuoba Lie of the Golden Feather Court and Moqi of the Purple Dragon Court—had all arrived.

From the sect world, Blood Shadow Heavenly Venerable and Mountain Ghost Sovereign had also appeared, leading their respective forces.

The number of First-Rank powerhouses in Guting Royal City had now exceeded fifty-six.

"So many First-Rank powerhouses…" Zhao Xing murmured as he listened to the reports. "This many First-Rank experts could potentially overthrow Guting Royal City. If they obtain divine artifacts, it will cause massive upheaval."

Back in October, news had spread of Dragon King Yin Xiu's rule—that divine artifacts could be exchanged for.

It was even possible to obtain Peerless Treasures!

This news caused an immediate uproar.

Forces from all corners scrambled to transfer their resources to secure a share of the opportunity.

However, by this time, the cost of entry had already skyrocketed.

Even Ji Si could only occupy one path and had to queue to enter.

The exchange process had slowed considerably.

Because of Zhao Xing's involvement, the Great Zhou Dynasty led all other forces by a wide margin in terms of rewards, gaining massive benefits while the others incurred heavy losses.

On top of that, many treasure vaults had inexplicably been emptied. Upon investigation, suspicion inevitably fell on the Great Zhou.

Tensions began to rise, and friction between the various factions reached a breaking point.

"A conflict is inevitable in the future," Zhao Xing thought grimly. "My merit accumulation is almost done. I'll leave in two days."

Just as Zhao Xing prepared to approach Ji Si to discuss his departure plans, Ye Yukong and King Shenluo walked in with unusually serious expressions.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Xing asked, looking at the two.

"There's intelligence that a massive battle has broken out in the Nine-Star Inferno of the Central Dragon Court. Tens of thousands of people are involved, with many forces ambushing our exploration teams," King Shenluo explained.

"What? Tens of thousands?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "There aren't even ten thousand high-ranking cultivators among the humans."

"It's not just humans. Some are leveraging permissions and borrowing the strength of the dragons. Those counts are included," Ye Yukong said.

"I didn't expect a major disturbance in the Central Dragon Court while Guting Royal City remains quiet," Zhao Xing said with a frown. "What's the specific situation?"

"It's said that the White Dragon King has been severely injured and is trapped in the Nine-Star Inferno. His fate is currently unknown," King Shenluo said thoughtfully. "I'm guessing that some of the powerhouses here in Guting Royal City will have to be redirected there—hmm? Zhao Xing, what's wrong? Why do you look so grim?"

"Do you have the detailed list of the Baiyun Martial Team?" Zhao Xing asked coldly.

"Here it is." King Shenluo handed over the list, though puzzled.

Zhao Xing grabbed it immediately, his eyes scanning the names. A flash of shock and worry appeared on his face.

Long Xiao's name was clearly listed among the Baiyun Martial Team!

"Bang!" Zhao Xing slammed the list shut and looked at King Shenluo and Ye Yukong with a determined expression.

"Both of you—I need to immediately go to the Nine-Star Inferno in the Central Dragon Court for a rescue mission. I ask you to escort me there!"

"This is a matter of life and death. If you're unwilling, I won't force you."

King Shenluo and Ye Yukong exchanged glances, immediately understanding that this was the moment to repay their debt to Zhao Xing.

This was a matter of life and death. Refusing would sever their relationship with Zhao Xing permanently. More importantly, it would leave an eternal mental block, preventing them from advancing further in cultivation. A heart demon would be born.

"I'll go!" Ye Yukong declared without hesitation.

"I'll follow through fire and water!" King Shenluo nodded firmly.