The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

November 11th, at dawn.

The sky had brightened, and Zhao Xing was riding in Zong Shichang's carriage along with other officials, returning to the city.

"...Last night, I fell asleep. By the time I woke up, it was already the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). At first, I had no idea what had happened, but when I heard my teacher mention that the Xuantian Sect had shown up, I was scared half to death!"

"Luckily, you told me to stay near the entrance... Oh no, I mean, to plant seeds near the entrance. When I woke up, the East Lake Army found me. They said that area had no fighting at all," Zong Shichang said, clutching his chest, still shaken.

Listening to him, Zhao Xing couldn't help but remain speechless. Zong Shichang had been affected by the Yin Spirit Invading Dreams technique, yet still managed to sleep soundly until the hour of Yin? Was this just good luck, or had he been overlooked?

Not every official had been bewitched by the Xuantian Sect.

Most of the Shennong Division's staff had been corrupted, falling into a deep, death-like sleep. Only a select few, like Zhao Xing, Li Chengfeng, Wen Nanxing, and Xiao Ze—those who had long been ranked in the top tier—were directly targeted.

But wasn't Zong Shichang also on the top tier ranking?

Why was he given a lesser treatment?

"Zong Dashao, I really don't know whether to feel happy or sorry for you," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Seeing that Zong Shichang continued to ramble, Zhao Xing interrupted, "Brother Zong, let me rest for a bit."

Zong Shichang immediately shut his mouth. "I understand. I won't ask any more questions. You can trust that I'll silently remember this favor."

Zhao Xing closed his eyes and instantly entered a dream.

Using the Dream Storing technique, he reviewed the events of the past three days and nights, leaving no detail unchecked.

After reflecting, he was able to roughly confirm why the Blood Spirit Sovereign had reappeared.

"It was probably because I practiced the Great Dream of Spring and Autumn, and he noticed it."

In fact, when the Blood Spirit Sovereign first appeared, Zhao Xing had already considered this possibility.

After all, there was no other reason that would attract such personal attention from the Blood Spirit Sovereign.

At the time, Zhao Xing had even tried to conceal this fact, holding back his most powerful technique, Sleep Bug.

But in retrospect, it wouldn't have made a difference whether he used it or not.

The Blood Spirit Sovereign hadn't intended to attack—he was only there to verify something.

"What was he confirming? Whether or not I had really cultivated the Great Dream of Spring and Autumn? Did he think I was a descendant of the Nightmare Sect?"

"No, that can't be right. The Xuantian Sect has no connection with the Nightmare Sect. There's no reason for him to come specifically to check on me... Was it the technique Great Dream of Spring and Autumn itself that caught his attention?"

"Perhaps it wasn't just the technique, but also the Soul Armor?" Zhao Xing pondered for a moment before pulling himself out of the dream.

"From the Blood Spirit Sovereign's perspective, whether I'm a descendant of the Nightmare Sect or someone who stumbled upon the inheritance, I must have something of great value. He's likely trying to hunt me down and seize my treasures."

After figuring this out, Zhao Xing felt relieved.

He wasn't afraid of trouble—only of not knowing what the trouble was.

Since the Xuantian Sect was an enemy faction, it was inevitable that they would clash in the future. Whether it was the Blood Spirit Sovereign or the Water Spirit Sovereign, it didn't matter.

For someone like him, who was well-versed in the Xuantian Sect, the Blood Spirit Sovereign would have a much harder time hunting him down. Soon, Zhao Xing would be heading to the Shenwei Army, where powerful individuals gathered, and the Blood Spirit Sovereign wouldn't be able to pursue him there.

As for the future? It was anyone's guess who would hunt whom.

He wasn't worried about the Blood Spirit Sovereign; what he feared more was whether strong figures within the Great Zhou would covet what he had.

After all, external enemies weren't the most terrifying—internal enemies were.

"The more treasures I acquire from the Grand Dream Academy, the more likely they are to be exposed eventually."

"But since I dared to seize these opportunities, I must also face the consequences." Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed with determination.

If you're afraid of everything, what's the point of pursuing immortality? You might as well die early!

As long as he grew strong enough, he would naturally be unafraid of any challenge.

"Once this matter is over, it's time to have a talk with Old Chen."

"Becoming an official is a sure thing now. There will be an opportunity for reassignment soon, and if I don't plan ahead, being posted elsewhere could cause problems."

"But for now, I'll wait for Old Chen to handle things."

On November 11th, the county office of Gucheng announced a public notice.

On the night of the 10th, the Xuantian Sect's cultists attempted a rebellious act in Nanyang County.

Four counties had been targeted by these cultists, spreading chaos.

In Gucheng, the county office, in collaboration with the East Lake Army, successfully thwarted the cultists' rebellion, killing 178 members and followers of the Xuantian Sect.

As for casualties, the notice briefly glossed over them.

Later, Zhao Xing learned the full battle report at Chen Shijie's residence.

"The situation was pretty much as the county office reported," Chen Shijie explained. "The Xuantian Sect's goal was to capture people, not kill them. Due to the controlled response, casualties in Anping Town were minimal."

"Most of the townspeople didn't even notice anything had happened that night."

"But there were still some casualties. A few members of the East Lake Army died during the pursuit, and about ten others were injured."

"No officials were harmed. However, four Shennong Division officials went missing, and two more from other departments. Their status was reported as 'heroic deaths' rather than 'missing'."

Zhao Xing nodded. Clearly, the missing officials had been abducted.

Reporting them as missing would leave their families with nothing but sorrow. Declaring them as fallen heroes, however, entitled their families to compensation.

Given the Xuantian Sect's methods, it was unlikely that the captured officials would ever be recovered. Even if they were found, it would probably be decades later, long after their families had passed away.

So, wrapping up the case like this made sense.

Zhao Xing glanced at the list of missing people and saw that Li Chengfeng was indeed on it. In the end, they hadn't been able to save him.

The other two missing individuals were also top-tier officials, but they didn't compare to Li Chengfeng in reputation.

Chen Shijie continued, "After the Duke of Nanyang killed that Yin spirit, the Xuantian Sect's hideout in Gucheng was fully exposed. All the cultivators and followers were discovered, and overall, Gucheng's performance was the most outstanding."

"Slaying members of external sects is always considered a major achievement, and all departments involved will receive recognition."

At this point, Chen Shijie smiled. "My transfer orders were already signed before this happened, so I'll receive the war merits directly. Civil officials will be rewarded, and Li Wenzheng will likely be granted a promotion based on his 'defense of the local region' performance."

As for the clerks? The credit would go to the officials, and the clerks would only receive a share of the bonus. The amount each department received depended on the generosity of their respective leaders.

But even at its best, the bonus would only amount to a few dozen taels, and not everyone would receive that much.

Zhao Xing didn't care much about the bonus. Being able to clear out the Xuantian Sect in Nanyang County meant that he could now head to the Shenwei Army without any concerns.

With the Blood Fiend Pearl and the Blood Spirit Needle in hand, the government's bonus no longer held much value for him.

"As for the results of the Shennong Division's Winter Solstice assessment," Chen Shijie said, "everyone who participated passed, and the bonus will be distributed to all. Those who participated in the assessment will each receive about ten taels."

"Long Xiao and I won't be taking a share."

Chen Shijie didn't mention Zhao Xing, clearly treating him as one of their own. He had already decided on behalf of Zhao Xing for this small matter.

"So, I won't be getting the top score?" Zhao Xing asked.

Chen Shijie laughed, "Li Wenzheng and I will recommend you for the temple exam. Both Fan Dongping and Ji Ming from the county level have already nodded in approval. What more do you need from the assessment?"

"You won't need to participate in the Winter Solstice evaluation. Just prepare for next spring's temple exam."

The Winter Solstice evaluation, which took place during the winter solstice, was the last assessment of the year.

But from what Chen Shijie had said, Zhao Xing didn't have to bother with it.

Once the temple exam next spring was over, he would officially become an official.

The temple exam was a combination of practical and theoretical assessments, with questions set by the imperial court through the temple. Yin spirits and designated officials supervised the exam.

The results were released three days after the exam.

Since everything was settled, Zhao Xing handed over the Blood Fiend Pearl and the Blood Spirit Needle to Chen Shijie. "I have no use for these. Please help me sell them."

"Oh? You've made quite a haul." At that moment, Long Xiao entered from the training field outside. "These are good items. Where did you get them?"

"He killed a deputy hall master," Chen Shijie explained. "I didn't even need to use the guardian straw puppet you gave me."

"Not bad, better than Chen Lao'er was back in the day," Long Xiao praised.

Zhao Xing didn't respond, as he noticed Chen Shijie's mouth twitching slightly.

But it seemed that Long Xiao had made significant contributions this time, so Chen Shijie let him boast without saying anything.

"I'll take this pearl," Long Xiao said, pocketing the Blood Fiend Pearl without hesitation. "When you arrive at the Shenwei Army, I'll convert its value into points for you. You can use those points to buy whatever you need. Just come to me."

"That's fine." Zhao Xing nodded. The military didn't use silver or gold, but rather a points-based system.

This points system wasn't only used in the military; even the seventy-two Dao Academies and other academies in Great Zhou had similar systems like the "Three Societies Points System" and the "Three Academies Points System."

It preserved the traditional evaluation system of "excellent," "average," and "fail," while incorporating a practical, numerical approach.

With enough points, one could rise from the outer academy to the inner academy, from the lower society to the upper society, and even become a teacher at the Dao Academy.

In the military, points could be accumulated for promotions, titles, and honors.

"I'll handle the Blood Spirit Needle," Chen Shijie said, putting it away. "When you undergo training in the Martial World, I'm sure you'll find a use for it."

Zhao Xing's eyes lit up. "Going to the Shenwei Army as a Shennong officer requires prior training in the Martial World?"

Long Xiao proudly replied, "Of course! Did you think just anyone can join the Shenwei Army?"

"If you were to wait a thousand years for a selection transfer after becoming an official, you'd never get into the Shenwei Army."

Zhao Xing curiously asked, "Where did the Shenwei Army rank in the last Martial World grand military tournament?"

"Five hundred and eighty-seven!"

With a ranking in the five hundreds, what was there to boast about?

Anyone unfamiliar with this would think they were part of the top ten imperial armies.

Seeing Zhao Xing's lack of reaction to the number, Long Xiao became anxious. "Kid, don't think that five hundred and something is bad. Do you know how many armies participated in the last Martial World grand tournament?"

"How many?"

"Eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-three!" Long Xiao declared. "The Shenwei Army's ranking in the five hundreds is no small feat. Do you still think it's unimpressive?"

"Incredible." Zhao Xing nodded in agreement.

Eight thousand armies might seem like a lot, but considering Great Zhou's nineteen provinces and massive population, it wasn't actually that many.

During the reign of the founding emperor, over fifty thousand armies participated in the Martial World grand tournament. However, during Emperor Wen's reign, who rarely engaged in warfare, the number dropped to just over five thousand.

Under Emperor Jing, the number rose again, with tens of thousands of armies participating in multiple tournaments.

The most extreme case was Emperor Wu, who shattered the founding emperor's record, with a staggering five hundred thousand armies participating in a single grand tournament!

Even the average participation rate never fell below one hundred thousand during his reign.

Emperor Wu loved raising armies and waging war, expanding the empire's borders. His Martial World grand tournaments weren't just for show—his armies were among the most formidable, second only to those under the founding emperor.

The Martial World grand tournament had strict entry requirements.

Local armies like the East Lake Army weren't even eligible to participate.

"Does the Shenwei Army have its own cave-heaven realm?" Zhao Xing asked.

At this question, Long Xiao's enthusiasm visibly deflated, and Chen Shijie's expression darkened as well.

"We were close to getting one."

In other words, they didn't have one.

Zhao Xing felt a bit disappointed.

What was the Martial World?

It was a vast network of interconnected cave-heaven realms throughout the nineteen provinces of Great Zhou.

As one's cultivation level increased, so did the power and scale of their techniques, growing exponentially.

The nineteen provinces couldn't withstand the destruction caused by high-level techniques.

For example, Zhao Xing's current ninth-grade technique, Devouring cloud, could cover half of Gucheng.

While a cultivator's secret technique might not have such a large range, its power would still be immense.

Take the Shennong Division's techniques, for instance. Many of the Earth-based spells required practicing on ley lines, and the Weather-based spells were the same.

Constantly triggering earthquakes and changing seasons would be unbearable for the common people.

Thus, high-ranking armies usually trained in cave-heaven realms.

These cave-heaven realms were vast, capable of withstanding extreme training, and they were also home to unique and abundant resources.

The Shennong Division had a book called Heavenly Profits of the Caves, which detailed the wonders of the Guangling Cave-Heaven.

In the spring, one could plant five grains, harvest them in the same season, and each grain stalk could feed five people.

In the summer, one could cultivate the Hundred-Blood Vine, which could heal a hundred types of blood-related ailments.

In the autumn, one could grow Golden Beans, which took only a month to ripen and could boost cultivation.

And in the winter, one could dig up Bone-Mending Ginseng, which could heal broken bones in ten days and regrow limbs in a hundred.

The Guangling Cave-Heaven housed the top fifty-ranked Guangling Army.

And yet, it wasn't even the largest or most extraordinary cave-heaven. The ten largest cave-heavens were all occupied by the top ten imperial armies.

The Martial World grand tournament took place in these top ten cave-heavens, rotating between them.

"Strong armies occupy their own cave-heavens, but since the Shenwei Army didn't make the top three hundred, they must share theirs with other armies."

"But what did Long Xiao mean when he said they were 'close' to getting one?"

Zhao Xing didn't ask further, as it seemed like a sensitive topic involving the core secrets of the Shenwei Army.

"Which cave-heaven will I be training in?" Zhao Xing asked.

"We don't know yet," Chen Shijie replied. "We've trained in both Jinting Cave-Heaven and Danxia Cave-Heaven in the past. But now that the Shenwei Army is being reactivated, there will definitely be some changes."

"We'll know by next spring. Long Xiao and I will stay until then before heading out."

Zhao Xing nodded and then asked another question, "Does the Shenwei Army have a good relationship with the Li Fire Dao Academy?"

The Li Fire Altar wasn't something just anyone could borrow, after all.

With so many armies spread across the nineteen provinces, yet only seventy-two Dao Academies, the army had to be well-regarded by the Dao Academy to borrow their resources.

"The Marquis has some connections with the Li Fire Dao Academy," Chen Shijie explained. "He studied there for a period in his youth."

"May I ask for the Marquis's name and title?"

"Of course," Long Xiao replied. "The Marquis's surname is Yang, given name An. He was granted the title Marquis of Boping in the first year of Jingxin."

Not the Marquis of Shenwei? Boping… So, is he only a county marquis?

Zhao Xing was puzzled. Chen Shijie and Long Xiao held their marquis in such high regard, yet he was only a county marquis? That was quite odd.

A marquis's title revealed a lot about their rank.

First-class marquises usually had titles containing the characters "Wei" or "Ying," chosen by the emperor himself to reflect great deeds or personal characteristics, or to express expectations or grand visions.

Second-class marquises had titles based on the five virtues of a military officer: strictness, courage, martial prowess, wisdom, and trust.

Third-class marquises were typically named after their fiefs.

Fourth-class marquises weren't even in the military category. Their titles were all over the place, often lacking a fief and receiving only tax revenues. Having a fief allowed one to collect taxes, raise troops, and even develop mineral resources.

The title Marquis of Boping clearly indicated a third-class marquis, yet he commanded the Shenwei Army?

"There's got to be a story behind this. How did a man destined to be known as the Marquis of Shenwei and his Shenwei Army, which would later become famous, start off as only a county marquis? Was Emperor Jing being stingy?"

Zhao Xing then asked a few more questions about the Shenwei Army, such as its size, manpower, and battle achievements. With this, he gained a clearer understanding of where he was heading.

Overall, the Shenwei Army aligned well with his next step in life.

With few soldiers but strong officers, there would be plenty of opportunities for him to earn merits. Judging by the individual strength of people like Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, this was apparent.

Moreover, since the Shenwei Army was destined to become famous in the future, following them offered significant room for advancement.

The only concern was why they would eventually be disbanded.

"But that's not necessarily set in stone," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "My presence is bound to cause a butterfly effect. Take the Xuantian Sect's operation in Nanyang County, for example. Without me, Old Chen wouldn't have been able to alert Long Xiao and the Duke of Nanyang."

"A true cultivator never complains about their circumstances. No matter how much the future changes, nothing will alter my determination to achieve immortality!"

At Chen Shijie's residence, Long Xiao watched Zhao Xing leave and stroked his chin. "That kid isn't simple. He's got a firm resolve. Becoming a military Shennong officer seems like something he decided on his own rather than something you persuaded him into."

"He showed both courage and wisdom in the Xuantian Sect incident, working alongside you to strategize and taking decisive action against a deputy hall master."

"And during the inspection at Anping Town, even though he had the guardian straw puppet with him, he didn't act recklessly or seek glory."

"Talking with him, I barely had to say a few words, and he already seemed to grasp a lot."

"I have a feeling he's going to surprise us."

Chen Shijie smiled, "You seem to have more confidence in him than I do. But let's not celebrate too soon. Let's see how he fares in the temple exam first."