Ancient Yin Warship, Holy Word Academy, Rare Sound Dragon Stone

Abundance City was the finest place under heaven, but in Zhao Xing's eyes, it was the most terrifying place in the world.

First, the people were terrifying.

Jing Emperor was here.

The profession of emperor was exceptionally special.

As the supreme ruler of a Dynasty of Fate, Jing Emperor normally possessed transcendent first-rank strength and could wield such power without any divine artifact.

An emperor bore the fate of the Nineteen Provinces. Their fate began at Derivation Ten, while the highest record had belonged to Wu Emperor, reaching the terrifying Derivation Twelve!

An emperor also bore the karma of countless billions of common people throughout the Nineteen Provinces.

The higher Zhao Xing's office became, the more apparent his Karma Thread with Jing Emperor would become. Jing Emperor might very well see something concerning his future.

Of course, these were only possibilities. As Heaven Derivation King had said, possible futures were not grounds for promotion. Even if Jing Emperor saw some unfavorable future, he would not use it as grounds to kill a minister.

The emperors of the Origin Energy Era were not quite so terrifying either. Simply from the Karma Soul's connection to others, one could tell that emperors who knew the past and future had flaws besides their power.

Because they bore so much karma, once an emperor died, not even an Yin soul would remain. They would be completely reduced to nothingness.

Moreover, they could not leave Abundance City casually.

That was why Zhao Xing had never seen the Yin Spirit forms of Grand Ancestor or Wen Emperor, whether in Heaven's Heart Palace or provincial divine temples.

Better safe than sorry. Before entering Tianyong Province, Zhao Xing had sealed off his Memory Palace.

He could only inspect it on his own after leaving Tianyong Province.

The second terrifying thing was the location.

Abundance City was homophonous with Shandu. It was said that in ancient times, this had been the boundary between yin and yang, and the largest passage between yin and yang in the Nineteen Provinces lay here.

The capital had been established in Tianyong Province primarily to suppress and control the Yin Realm, which was also the material foundation of the Yin Spirit system.

But after Wu Emperor, yin and yang fell into disorder. Nearly every emperor died young, dying suddenly less than a hundred years after ascending the throne. So being emperor was not so easy either. Though powerful, they also bore many burdens.

To resolve these drawbacks, there was only one path: ascension.

As long as the dynasty ascended, the emperor's drawbacks would be resolved.

Any emperor with even a little ambition would strive to make the dynasty ascend.

"Zhao Xing, stop resting and get to work." Heaven Derivation King knocked on the door outside.

"Coming." Zhao Xing rose and walked out.

Their current lodging was a residence in Abundance Capital.

Heaven Derivation King had not even let Zhao Xing rest for two days. After only one day, he had impatiently come looking for him.

"After the Heavenly God Temple, there are several more places I need to arrange for you to visit," Heaven Derivation King said.

"What other places?" Zhao Xing was taken aback.

"You are now third rank, so the situation is different." Heaven Derivation King's plans for Zhao Xing had to be adjusted accordingly.

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion had originally intended to assign missions to Zhao Xing.

Heaven Derivation King also knew about the flaws Zhao Xing had exposed while clearing trials in the Azure Sea Grotto Heaven.

The training received by fourth-rank officials was naturally different from that received by third-rank officials.

"Yes, I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."

"Let's go."

The temple complex of Abundance Capital included the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Heroes' Shrine, Martial Shrine, Heavenly God Temple, and more.

In Abundance Capital, where there was a temple, there would be a mausoleum.

After Heavenly Yang True Lord died, he was buried beside Wen Emperor, near the Western Emperor Mausoleum.

There were two places to worship Heavenly Yang True Lord. One was the Heavenly God Temple complex in the south of Abundance Capital. The Heavenly Yang True Lord Temple there was basically no different from those in prefectural cities, except that it was larger.

Official sacrificial ceremonies and commoners' worship both took place in the south of Abundance Capital.

The other place was the mausoleum temple in the west. It contained both the tomb where Heavenly Yang True Lord was buried and an ancestral temple for worship.

It was also where Fu Tianyang's descendants offered sacrifices.

Zhao Xing was headed for Western City Mausoleum Park in Abundance Capital, because Heavenly Yang True Lord had specifically called him to Abundance Capital. He certainly had not meant for Zhao Xing to go to the southern temple.

Otherwise, whatever he had wanted to give him could have been handed over back in the prefectural city.

But first, he had to pay a visit to the Fu Family.

"Fu Tianyang was originally from Four Willow Ward in Abundance City. In his second generation, he had only four sons and five daughters."

"However, there were many grandchildren—more than a hundred."

"By the fourth generation, his great-grandchildren had already exceeded three thousand."

"By now, among the more prolific branches, there were already forty-one generations."

Zhao Xing nodded. Heavenly Yang True Lord had been born during the middle years of Wen Emperor's reign and died during the middle years of Eternal Peace Era, spanning the reigns of Wen Emperor and Jing Emperor.

From the birth of his first son until now, fourteen hundred years had passed.

Not all descendants were capable. Even among the grandchildren, some had already faded into obscurity.

Those who achieved nothing in cultivation and did not become officials generally married and had children early.

Emotionally speaking, after five generations, there was usually little affection left.

Ji Ziyun was still Cheng Lan King's granddaughter, yet before she came of age, she had barely any impression of her grandfather.

Cheng Lan King had only met her twice in total. It was only after Ji Ziyun distinguished herself and entered the Azure Water Daoist Academy that he remembered her.

Later, he secured her the title of commandery princess, and after gradually deepening their bond over more than a decade, she truly became a member of Cheng Lan King's household.

Legally speaking, if descendants beyond the fifth generation committed crimes, their ancestors would not be implicated.

Even in confiscation of an entire household, it was rare to trace back five generations.

Of course, Liang King was an exception. His entire branch had essentially been exterminated.

"Among the Fu Family branch currently in Abundance Capital, two of Heavenly Yang True Lord's fourth-generation great-grandchildren are still alive: Fu Xingwen and Fu Xingwu."

"Of them, Fu Xingwu had achieved something. He earned military merit during the Renovation Era Calendar, successfully inherited his title, and became Xingwu Marquis,

reaching the Upper Fourth Rank in office."

"Fu Xingwen was an Upper Fourth Rank Civil Official and also held a marquis title, though he was merely an honorary marquis."

"There were no notable talents in the fifth generation."

Logically speaking, with an ancestor who had once served as Grand Agriculture Official, the family ought to have prospered greatly.

But that also depended on the ancestor's temperament.

Clearly, Fu Tianyang had been unwilling to seek benefits for his descendants.

Of course, by the standards of this era, the Fu Family could still be considered one of the Noble Families. Both its civil and military branches had Upper Fourth Rank officials,

and it possessed considerable estates and farmland. It simply could not be considered an especially impressive noble family.

During Jing Emperor's reign, it could not possibly become too impressive.

The Fu Family residence during Wen Emperor's reign had been a duke's manor in the eastern district of Abundance Capital, occupying an enormous area of exceptionally valuable land.

But later, they had voluntarily moved to the southern district and were now only a marquis's household.

Visiting without prior notice counted as an abrupt call.

Zhao Xing's day of rest had been spent sending a calling card in advance.

After Fu Xingwen received the news, he promptly had the residence cleaned and refused all other visitors that day.

When Zhao Xing and Heaven Derivation King arrived at the marquis's residence in the southern district, he was already standing at the gate to receive them.

"Greetings, Heaven Derivation King. Greetings, Divine Might Marquis."

"Greetings, Wenxing Marquis." Zhao Xing returned the salute with cupped hands.

After entering the Fu residence, they exchanged only a few pleasantries and did not sit long.

The purpose of their visit had already been explained in the calling card.

The two were not ordinarily familiar, their ages were far apart, and Heaven Derivation King wore a stern expression. Fu Xingwen did not dare make excessive small talk.

Who would dare build a personal connection in front of a Fate Official?

The kind of people they feared seeing most were Fate Officials.

Fate Officials generally did not visit. If they came, it was either to confiscate the household or exterminate the clan.

"The offerings for worship have long been prepared. I have already sent people to wait before the mausoleum temple."

"There is also a flying vessel waiting within the residence. We may depart at any time," Fu Wenxing said.

"Thank you for the trouble, Wenxing Marquis." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"It is but a small matter. Divine Might Marquis, please."

"Please."

Heavenly Yang True Lord's ancestral temple was located on the southern side of Western City Mausoleum Park.

By ritual, since Zhao Xing had already come to Western City Mausoleum Park, he had to first visit Wen Emperor's temple.

Normally, only members of the Ji Royal House could enter the ancestral temple to worship, but outside it stood a Wen Temple where outside ministers could offer sacrifices.

There were not so many elaborate formalities. He only needed to offer a stick of incense.

But Heaven Derivation King was different.

Since he had come all the way here, it would be improper not to enter and pay his respects.

Thus, Heaven Derivation King went to the ancestral temple to worship his uncle, while Zhao Xing, led by the ritual official in charge of the mausoleum, went to Heavenly Yang True Lord's temple.

"Divine Might Marquis, we will wait outside. If you have any instructions, call for us at any time."

"Thank you." Zhao Xing stepped into the temple.

Everything had already been prepared.

The three-animal sacrificial offerings: a pig's head, an ox's head, and a sheep's head.

The six ritual jades: bi disc, cong tube, gui tablet, zhang tablet, huang pendant, and hu tiger jade.

The six jade vessels were used in sacrifice according to the provisions of the "Spring Office: Grand Ritualist" in the Rites of Zhou.

Six vessels were made of jade to honor Heaven, Earth, and the four directions: a blue-green bi for Heaven, a yellow cong for Earth, an Azure Gui for the east, a red zhang for the south, a white hu for the west, and a black huang for the north.

Sacrificial currency was placed inside the jade vessels.

That was, yin money polished from objects such as ox horns, deer antlers, ivory, and shells.

In truth, it was useless. People of the Yin Realm did not actually use money; it was merely a formality.

If commoners could not find sacrificial currency, they could simply use fruit as offerings. Some did away with sacrificial currency altogether.

Then came the five-incense rite.

Agarwood, sandalwood, storax, musk, and ambergris were lit.

The origins and production dates of the fragrances were all particular,

from requirements that they be aged for a certain number of years, to the requirement that they be gathered during yin months and yin hours.

And this was only the most simplified procedure.

There were also abstaining from fire and meat before the sacrifice, bathing and changing clothes, burning incense and praying, and so on.

No wonder the later Chancellor Wei Xuancheng proposed the policy of Destroying Sects and Abandoning Temples.

The burdensome sacrificial rites greatly affected the common people's labor and squandered wealth.

"Hiss—"

As Zhao Xing lowered his head to tend the fire and light the incense, he heard a sharp inhalation from above.

Looking up, he saw Heavenly Yang True Lord seated upon the altar platform, a stick of incense between his lips as he took a deep drag.

"Martial Ancestor."

"Disciple's grandson, you've finally come." Heavenly Yang True Lord wore an expression of utter enjoyment. "From Pinghai Province to Tianyong Province, you took a full half-year to get here."

"Your disciple's grandson was delayed for some time in Daoyuan Continent. I hope Martial Ancestor will not blame me." Zhao Xing bowed.

"No blame, no blame. How could I blame you?" Heavenly Yang True Lord flicked ash into one of the jade vessels beside him.

What a waste. Top-grade ritual jades, and he was using them directly as ashtrays.

The relaxed sight made Zhao Xing want to light one up as well.

"You wrote the Two Classics Commentary and the Object Law Treatise at Shangluo Academy. That was an enormous achievement."

"Hehe, your reputation is tremendous now. Even I, your Martial Ancestor, can hear Yin officials discussing you in the Yin Realm."

"They can hardly wait for you to come down and discuss them with them."

Zhao Xing's face turned green. Yin officials—were they not ghosts?

There was no need for everyone to be so enthusiastic about inviting him down there.

"Martial Ancestor overpraises me."

"I am not joking, Martial Ancestor said. "Aren't you already in the Yuan Soul Realm?"

"The thing I wish to give you is in the Yin Realm. If you were not third rank, it would take some time to master. But now is just right. Send your Yuan Soul from your body and come with me."

"Yes."

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged. Then the Yuan Soul within his sea of consciousness opened its eyes, gave a light leap, and jumped out of his physical body.

This was Zhao Xing's first attempt at sending his Yuan Soul out of his body.

His first sensation was a slight chill. It was not as warm as being within his body.

But warmth soon followed, because the incense around him was still burning.

"Come to my side." Heavenly Yang True Lord beckoned.

Zhao Xing obediently leaped onto the altar platform.

Heavenly Yang True Lord pressed a hand upon Zhao Xing's shoulder.

Then a ray of light lit up from his body.

Zhao Xing's vision blurred, and a spacetime tunnel seemed to appear around them.

Countless green and blue Light Spots streamed backward.

The speed seemed to increase, and the spots quickly became lines.

"We are now passing through the barrier between the yin and yang realms. This place is relatively weak."

"If you crossed on your own, it would take roughly three quarters of an hour in yang time, or half an hour in yin time."

Zhao Xing listened quietly.

The hours of the living realm and the Yin Realm differed, so they were calculated separately.

But with Heavenly Yang True Lord bringing his soul along, it took only a minute.

"We're here."

The strange phenomena in the surrounding tunnel vanished, and Heavenly Yang True Lord patted Zhao Xing on the shoulder.

"We're here?"

Zhao Xing looked around and discovered that he was inside a resplendent palace.

The lighting was bright, the surroundings lavish and magnificent, yet solemn and imposing. It did not feel gloomy in the slightest, unlike what he had imagined.

"This is Heavenly Yang Palace, my residence in the Yin Realm."

"Don't be fooled by how similar this place is to the mortal world. Outside is another matter."

Heavenly Yang True Lord led Zhao Xing outside.

Once they reached the palace gates, the situation was indeed completely different.

"Whoosh—"

A wisp of Yin Wind blew over, immediately bringing a bone-chilling coldness.

Zhao Xing raised his head and looked outside.

The sky was dim, and Yin Wind howled and roared overhead.

At the southern edge of the heavens, green light appeared, like an aurora.

At the northern edge of the heavens, there was a faint streak of deep blue, drifting like threads of silk.

Within the howling Yin Wind, Zhao Xing saw many shadowy figures. Unknown creatures swam through the sky as well, and he caught fleeting glimpses of figures clad in official robes or armor.

Zhao Xing followed Heavenly Yang True Lord into the sky and discovered that this truly was Heavenly Yang True Lord's private residence.

The entire land was barren, with only this lone palace standing there.

If it had been a court institution, such as the Heavenly Official Bureau or the Earth Official Bureau, there would surely have been clusters of buildings. It would not have been this desolate.

Zhao Xing carefully sensed the surroundings and found that the earth's veins consisted entirely of Nether Five Elements, flowing rapidly and without any pattern.

If you planted a sapling here, it might be tens of thousands of miles away the very next moment.

Heaven and earth were both like this, following the transformations of some spatial-temporal law.

To possess a stable patch of heaven and earth in the Yin Realm and build a palace upon it was truly Not Easy.

Of course, not every place was like this.

It was simply more pronounced in Tianyong Province.

In other provinces, there were patterns to follow.

Yin Spirits relied on this special and rapid flow to make long-distance crossings.

Information passed between prefectural capitals in an instant.

That was why using Yin Spirits to deliver messages was the fastest method.

"Disciple-grandson, I originally planted some good things here that could strengthen your Fate Soul and allow it to reach the mid-stage Third-Rank Realm."

"Since you have already broken through to the Third-Rank Realm, you no longer have any use for those things." Heavenly Yang True Lord pointed toward a vegetable plot behind the palace. There was a pond there, surrounded by many strange flowers, grasses, and trees.

"Those are merely appetizers. The real treasure is this." Heavenly Yang True Lord beckoned with one hand.

A flash of blue light flickered inside the palace, and a disc-shaped object appeared in his hand.

"Master Ancestor, what is this?" Zhao Xing examined it but could not make sense of it. After all, his memory palace was currently sealed.

"The Shang Tang Token."

Zhao Xing was still puzzled.

Heavenly Yang True Lord smiled. "You'll understand once you look."

The already dark sky turned even darker.

Amid the roaring Yin Wind, a black shadow suddenly appeared.

At first, Zhao Xing thought it was a flag.

But soon, a bird's head emerged from the Yin Wind.

Then came two more flags and their poles.

After that came the dark-black hull.

Only once its full form emerged did Zhao Xing realize it was a ship.

"An Ancient Yin Warship?"

Zhao Xing identified it at once.

Ancient characters were inscribed on all three flags, one of which was the character for "Yin."

Furthermore, the Heavenly Mandate Dark Bird was embroidered on both the ship's hull and its flags.

"Correct. It is a vessel built by the ancient Yin Dynasty to travel between the Yin and Yang realms."

"You may call it the Ancient Yin Warship or the Yin Yang Warship."

Heavenly Yang True Lord said, "The Shang Tang Token is used to summon this ship."

Zhao Xing studied the warship. "Master Ancestor, it can travel between the Yin and Yang realms?"

Heavenly Yang True Lord said, "Yes. And it can reach any location."

"Summon it with the Shang Tang Token from any corresponding location in the Yang Realm, and it will swiftly come over, tear through the two realms, and pick you up."

"It is incredibly fast and can travel through the Yin Realm almost without obstruction."

"It was also Not Easy for us to capture it. We spent a very long time before acquiring a single vessel like this."

"Its rank is extremely high. It should have been reserved for the Yin Dynasty's royal family."

Zhao Xing was stunned. He fully understood the implications of this.

"Master Ancestor, you're giving something this precious to me?"

Heavenly Yang True Lord smiled. "It is not being given to you as your personal possession. It is merely being lent to you."

"It belongs to the Agriculture God of the Yin Realm. Once Li Boqian dies, it will fall under his control."

"However, Li Boqian still has some time left to live. During the time I oversee it, I will let you use it."

"Aren't you going to the Dragon Court Ancient Land? If you encounter a powerful enemy and have nowhere to flee, then the Yin Realm will provide you with another path."

Heavenly Yang True Lord brought Zhao Xing aboard the Ancient Yin Warship. "This ship can tear through the Yin-Yang boundary and take both your physical body and soul away."

"Once you board it, even a first-rank enemy will be unable to catch you."

"Because their physical bodies cannot enter the Yin Realm. Only their souls can enter."

"Even if a first-rank Origin Soul entered and tried to catch the Ancient Yin Warship, it would be impossible."

"You can flee back here, then use it to tear through the Yin-Yang Boundary Wall and return to the Yang Realm."

Zhao Xing was dumbfounded. So it could be used like this!

It could even let one's physical body travel by way of the Yin Realm. This was absolutely at the level of a divine artifact!

He had the Ten Thousand Laws Clone. Even if he encountered a siege, he would not be unable to spare the time needed to summon the warship.

As long as he summoned it, he could use the Shang Tang Token to board it and escape through the Yin Realm.

"In most areas of the Dragon Court Ancient Land, you can summon it."

"First, familiarize yourself with how to use it," Heavenly Yang True Lord said. "Its path is impossible to predict, and it moves through the Yin Realm without order."

"But as long as you insert the Shang Tang Token here, you can control its direction of travel."

Heavenly Yang True Lord led Zhao Xing to the bow.

On the deck at the bow stood a rectangular pillar, which appeared to be where the control mechanism was located.

Once the disc was inserted, the Ancient Yin Warship shot into the Yin Wind.

Heavenly Yang True Lord took Zhao Xing's hand and pressed it into a groove.

"Your Origin Soul will see some route maps. Those are its travel paths."

Heavenly Yang True Lord said, "I will tell you how to determine direction, as well as the safe routes that have already been explored."

"As for the rest, do not wander around recklessly."

"We still have not fully explored the Ancient Yin Warship. Do not move about freely aboard the ship either. Just remain here."

"Yes." Zhao Xing obediently nodded. How would he dare to wander around?

After seven days, Zhao Xing had initially grasped how to control the massive vessel's movement.

"Disciple-grandson, the time is about right. Your Fate Soul is only third-rank, so you cannot remain in the Yin Realm for too long. You must return."

"Yes."

Once Zhao Xing had mastered it, Heavenly Yang True Lord swiftly brought him back.

"Remember, your physical body cannot remain aboard the warship for too long either. Once you have successfully escaped, you must quickly return to the Yang Realm."

"You can stay in the Yin Realm for at most seven days. Problems will arise if you remain any longer."

"Yes, this disciple-grandson understands."

Zhao Xing's Origin Soul returned to his physical body.

When he opened his eyes, he found a token in his hand.

The incense offerings around him slowly burned out, and Heavenly Yang True Lord turned back into a statue.

"Divine Might Marquis, do you need more incense offerings?" a priest asked from the side hall.

"No need. Thank you." Zhao Xing put away the Shang Tang Token, then cupped his hands toward Heavenly Yang True Lord in farewell before turning to leave.

"What took you so long?" Heaven Derivation King asked. "Did you go soul-traveling through the Yin Realm?"

"Yes, I did make a trip there."

"Let's go. The next location."

Heaven Derivation King did not ask further. Whatever Heavenly Yang True Lord wished to give Zhao Xing was not his place to inquire about.

The next destination Heaven Derivation King brought Zhao Xing to was called Holy Word Academy.

Holy Word Academy was a sacred ground for Ritual Cultivators.

He had brought Zhao Xing here mainly to make up for his weaknesses.

"Do you still remember your trial results in the Azure Sea Grotto Heaven?" Heaven Derivation King asked.

"I remember them, but I Don't Know whether they were real." Zhao Xing said. Back then, in order to control his score, the scores in the Earth Mirror had all been concealed.

"Your poorest result was in the Dragon Language Decree trial," Heaven Derivation King said. "You have not cultivated this art much, and you have studied it for only a short time. Now we can only ask someone to give you some intensive tutoring."

"At the Holy Word Institute, I found a Ritual Cultivator to teach you. His name is Shi Wenxuan, and his nickname is the Xiaoshan Hermit. He is a Classics Scholar who specializes in researching Dragon Language."

"His accomplishments in Dragon Language can be said to rank among the top three in the world."

"Shi Wenxuan specifically handles the special training of those who are about to enter the Dragon Court Ancient Land."

"All those he teaches are high-rank cultivators."

Zhao Xing immediately became interested. If this Ritual Cultivator could teach other high-rank professionals, then he was indeed formidable.

For a Ritual Cultivator's arts to awaken the Spirit Wisdom of the upper three ranks was extremely difficult.

That was because the spirit and wisdom souls of the upper three ranks were already exceptionally powerful.

Since it was called special training, it would surely involve awakening the spirit and wisdom souls, rapidly improving the students' comprehension, logical thinking, creativity, and learning ability.

The Intelligence Activation Method was far more difficult than the Intelligence Reduction Method!

"Originally, you were not qualified to join his special training. I had arranged for a third-rank Ritual Cultivator from the Holy Word branch academy in Pinghai Province to teach you."

"However, plans cannot keep up with changes. You have already reached the Third-Rank Realm."

"So we can no longer use the original method." Heaven Derivation King said, "In truth, all his slots are already full. I am only adding you in at the last minute. In any case, there are only a few years left before it opens."

Zhao Xing nodded. The court's preparations for the Dragon Court Ancient Land had always begun very early.

It opened once every hundred years, and preparations had to begin during the fifty years preceding its opening.

Leaving aside mid-rank cultivators, high-rank officials had even begun preparing fifty years ago.

Even selection for mid-rank slots began twenty years before its opening.

He had participated in the preliminary selection in the twentieth year of the Jingxin Calendar, which was actually already quite late.

As an essential technique for the Dragon Court Ancient Land, Dragon Language Art was of utmost importance.

Shi Wenxuan already had quite a few people studying under him. Zhao Xing was now effectively a transfer student.

"Learn as much as you can. I also intend to reserve a year for you to study spells in Mystic Heaven and Earth Origin."

"Yes, I will certainly do my best." Zhao Xing nodded.

Heaven Derivation King brought Zhao Xing to the Holy Word Institute in the northern district of Abundance City.

Xiaoshan Abode was Shi Wenxuan's residence.

When Heaven Derivation King brought Zhao Xing over, an elderly man wearing a scholar's robe, with a square face and an imposing bearing, sized Zhao Xing up.

"You are Zhao Xing?"

"That is correct. This junior greets Mister Shi." Zhao Xing bowed.

He also studied Shi Wenxuan. This old gentleman possessed a very unique aura.

Facing him, Zhao Xing felt as if he were standing before a sleeping giant dragon.

"Your foundation is decent. You have the basics necessary to study Dragon Language Art." Shi Wenxuan said indifferently, "The only question is whether you possess talent and comprehension."

Heaven Derivation King grinned. "Brother Shi, you may rest assured on that front."

"I guarantee that he is no fool. He can definitely rank within the top three among your batch of students."

In truth, Heaven Derivation King was being conservative. Zhao Xing was the fastest person in history to cultivate the Derivation God Art.

If he could cultivate Fate Soul arts that quickly, how could his comprehension be weak?

"Oh?" Shi Wenxuan finally showed a trace of interest.

He was teaching only thirty-five people, yet half of them were second-rank!

Who among those who could reach such a realm and be sent to carry out missions in the Dragon Court Ancient Land was not a heaven-blessed genius?

Since Heaven Derivation King claimed Zhao Xing's comprehension could rank in the top three, Shi Wenxuan truly had to regard him more highly.

"Good. Starting today, leave him to me for special training."

"No problem. Go ahead and do as you please." Heaven Derivation King was brimming with confidence, even more confident than Zhao Xing himself.

Shi Wenxuan looked at Zhao Xing. "Come with me."

At Xiaoshan Abode, thirty-five students followed Shi Wenxuan in studying Dragon Language Art. By the thirty-seventh year of the Jingxin Calendar, he no longer taught anything foundational, and even intermediate courses were rare.

There were only two and a half years left before it opened. How could he still be teaching the basics at a time like this?

Therefore, when Zhao Xing entered the practice room at Xiaoshan Abode, everyone inside was displaying exceptionally profound secret Dragon Language techniques.

"Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar, roar—"

"Rumble—rumble—"

Dragon's Cry flashed like lightning as wind and rain raged together.

Dragon Language was both a language and a secret art. Whenever these people spoke, origin energy surged, heaven and earth changed color, and all manner of dragon-shaped manifestations appeared behind them.

Shi Wenxuan did not place Zhao Xing together with the others. He quickly passed by this place and arrived at another courtyard.

Because the Heaven Derivation King had said that Zhao Xing had not learned much and had only been inserted into the group at the last minute.

Zhao Xing's progress was bound to be far behind those thirty-five people.

Shi Wenxuan could only give him a separate lesson.

Once they arrived, the two sat across from one another at a table.

"Have you learned the Myriad Beasts True Word Art?"

"Yes."

"Show me."

"Neigh~"

"Roar, roar!"

"Moo."

2

Zhao Xing used every True Word Art he had learned.

They were also what he had learned during his years as chief supervisor at the Dragon Horse Bureau.

"All right, that's enough." Shi Wenxuan said blandly. "The gap is still vast. You are nowhere near the Dragon Language level a third-grade cultivator should possess."

"Yes. Please instruct me, sir." Zhao Xing humbly sought guidance.

"Dragon Language Art has three major tiers: upper, middle, and lower, corresponding to the Dragon Clan's three major tiers."

"Lower-tier dragons have noisy voices, chaotic sound patterns, and none of its spirit," Shi Wenxuan said. "These dragons

have weak true dragon bloodlines and occupy the very bottom of the Dragon Clan. They are basically mixed-bloods, hybrids descended through who knew how many generations."

"Middle-tier dragons have clear voices and orderly sound patterns, and they have begun to possess the Divine Path."

"The so-called Dragon's Cry Resonance, where sound washes over the form, refers to middle-tier dragons."

"They understand how to use Dragon Language to cultivate, controlling the origin energy of heaven and earth to cleanse their bloodlines and make themselves stronger."

"Most middle-tier dragons have activated their true dragon bloodlines and possess certain innate secret arts."

"Upper-tier dragons conceal spirit within their melodies. Their utterances are like golden inscriptions, containing the mysteries of heaven and earth's laws. Dragon Language itself is a decree!"

"They already possess the potential to transform into true dragons. Their bloodlines are further strengthened, allowing them to control yin and yang, the five elements, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. They are already extremely close to the legendary divine abilities of true dragons."

"Though the Human Race cannot cultivate Dragon Language as the Dragon Clan does, cleansing their bloodlines and giving birth to innate secret arts, they can still strengthen their three souls and Seven Po," Shi Wenxuan said.

"They can acquire its sound, form, spirit, and charm."

"At your current level, you have only barely touched upon the middle-tier Dragon Language level."

Zhao Xing listened quietly. Dragon Language was not a common cultivation manual, nor was it widely passed down, so its classification consisted of three tiers and twenty-seven levels.

Each tier of Dragon Language had nine minor levels.

By Shi Wenxuan's reckoning, Zhao Xing had only barely reached middle-tier level one.

If he were still at his former fifth-grade realm, then after advancing a few more levels, he would have been impressive enough upon entering the Dragon Court Ancient Land.

But now that he was third-grade, merely mastering middle-tier Dragon Language would put him at a severe disadvantage against enemies.

Because Dragon Language Decree involved the authority over certain trials within the Dragon Court Ancient Land.

If an enemy's Dragon Language level surpassed his, he would suffer a disadvantage in battle.

"I have prepared a high-grade resource to assist your Dragon Language cultivation. Use it together with comprehending five Rare Sound Dragon Stones

and seven Preaching Paintings."

"If there is anything you do not understand during this time, ask me at any moment."

"If you cannot rise three levels within a month, it will prove that you have no hope of reaching upper-tier Dragon Language before the ancient land opens."

"I will not teach you further. You can use the remaining time to strengthen other aspects."

Shi Wenxuan waved a hand, and a large Warm Bamboo chest immediately flew onto Zhao Xing's table.

Inside were five crystalline stones that seemed to contain swimming dragons, as well as seven scroll paintings that radiated golden light.