Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 619 - 3: Dragon Horse Guard and the Competition of Ten Thousand Beasts (16000)_9

Chapter 619: Chapter 3: Dragon Horse Guard and the Competition of Ten Thousand Beasts (16000)_9

"Thank you for welcoming us, junior sister," Zhao Xing smiled, "We didn’t wait long."

"Is this your younger brother, Zhao Zheng? He really is handsome."

"Greetings, Sister Zixuan." Zhao Zheng shyly saluted.

"Such a good boy." Ji Zixuan handed over a gift box, "It’s our first meeting, so I have a small gift for you."

"This..." Zhao Zheng looked at his older brother.

"Since it’s a gift for you, take it."

"Yes." Zhao Zheng obediently accepted it, "Thank you, sister, for the gift."

After the meeting, Ji Zixuan led Zhao Xing’s Qilin Flying Boat into the palace area.

Princess You Ruo loved lively events and grand spectacles.

Her palace was built to be magnificent and splendid.

The facilities within were complete, including gardens, artificial lakes, hot springs, and rockeries, all crafted by the top craftsmen.

Behind the palace, there was even a racetrack with Heavenly Horses galloping among the clouds, unicorns drawing water by the lake, and colorful phoenixes perching on giant trees.

It was luxurious but not vulgar, showcasing the royal wealth everywhere.

"Disciple greets Master! "

After entering Bixian Palace, Zhao Xing saluted You Ruo as a disciple would.

"Commoner, greets the Princess." Zhao Zheng knelt respectfully.

"So this is your younger brother?" Princess You Ruo smiled and glanced at him. "His bones are not bad; he is a potential martial arts student."

Zhao Xing had been training Zhao Zheng with high standards, sending back treasures as he earned them from victories.

Zhao Zheng had now reached the late stage of the Ninth Grade, already touching the upper limit of county school students’ levels.

"I have informed Dean Wu of the Bishui Sect," Princess You Ruo said, "He can start his studies there in October. In the meantime, he can stay here; I’ll arrange a teacher to help him catch up."

"Thank you, Master." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"Thank you, Princess," Zhao Zheng bowed again.

"Zixuan, take him down first," Princess You Ruo said.

"Yes."

Ji Zixuan left with Zhao Zheng.

After they left, Princess You Ruo suddenly changed her expression and questioned, "Zhao Xing, how dare you claim the title of invincible among Sixth Grades in the Li Fire Taoist School."

"Do you also plan to emulate your teacher by defeating everyone in Taoist schools? Do you intend to trample on my Bishui Taoist School too?"

Zhao Xing said, "Master’s teachings are correct, disciple admits his mistake."

Zhao Xing acknowledged his mistake, understanding Princess You Ruo’s temperament not to argue but to quietly admit fault.

Not everyone could be as bold as Liu Tianning in front of Princess You Ruo and still be in her favor.

"Hmph, don’t let it happen again."

"The Seventy-two Taoist Schools Alliance is a power that you, as a small Sixth Grade, cannot offend."

Princess You Ruo said, "Even your teacher paid a price back then, let alone you."

"If you aspire to high office, you cannot ignore their existence."

Zhao Xing sincerely replied, "Thank you, Master, for the advice."

Seeing this, Princess You Ruo’s expression softened, and she smiled, "You’re much better than your teacher; you listen to advice, come, take a seat."

"Thank you, Master, for granting me a seat."

Once Zhao Xing was seated, Princess You Ruo asked, "In your earlier letter, you mentioned you were going to take a position in the Purple Cloud Islands; which island and what position exactly?"

"Twin Islands, the Dragon Horse Supervisor Left Deputy of Twin County."

The counties in the East Sea Islands are automatically raised by one level, so Twin County is actually a county-level unit.

Princess You Ruo asked again, "Do you know what this position entails?"

Zhao Xing replied, "It involves raising, training, and selecting exotic beasts for the court and taming battle beasts."

Princess You Ruo shook her head, "It’s not mainly for providing battle beasts for the army, most court battle beasts are raised on Yalong Island, Ten Thousand Beast Island, and other large islands."

"The Dragon Horse Supervisor mainly provides mounts for the royal family and battle pets for the disciples of various Taoist Schools."

"There are tens of thousands of islands in the East Sea, but only a few key departments; you need to strive to get into those key departments."

"Understood." Zhao Xing nodded.

Princess You Ruo waved her hand, "You take office on the third of October. On the first of October, join my ship to go there together."

Zhao Xing quickly said, "How dare a disciple trouble Master to personally send him."

Princess You Ruo sneered, "You’re overthinking. I am going to oversee the internal selection of the Purple Cloud Islands’ Dragon Horse Supervisor."

"The court and the Water Clans’ Ten Thousand Beast Competition will start in twenty years."

"My Purple Cloud Island must start preparing now."

"Do you think I, as a princess, only know how to enjoy life?"

Zhao Xing was taken aback and then cautiously asked, "The Ten Thousand Beast Competition? Is it for the Returning Ruins Secret Realm of the Ancient Dragon Court?"

Princess You Ruo was surprised, "You actually know quite a lot."

"Yes, the Returning Ruins Secret Realm is one of them."

"The court and the Four Seas water clans hold a grand competition every hundred years."

"It’s been eighty years since the last competition."

"Transformation every hundred years, and more often every thousand years, the ancient Dragon Court lands often appear."

The court’s Yalong Island and Ten Thousand Beast Island were initially created for these ancient lands."

Princess You Ruo said, "When Prince Liang captured the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion, his Black Dragon Army was indispensable."

"The pure bloodline of the Black Dragon was cultivated in the Dragon Court ancient land, and Prince Liang possessed a true Black Dragon King."

"However, you have no chance to see that true Black Dragon Army."

Zhao Xing had already left the battlefield and would not return.

He naturally would not see high-grade battles.

"But you don’t need to worry about these things now; you are not even a fifth-rank official, not qualified to participate."

Zhao Xing’s thoughts were racing; he did not come to the East Sea to retire.

He had to participate in the Ten Thousand Beast Competition.

He needed to go to the Dragon Court ancient land, where rare mounts and rare plants could be found!

Something like the Floating Vine, a parasitic species, was just an ordinary treasure of the present age.

But in the Dragon Court ancient land, there were top-grade plant species!

Beings whose growth limit far exceeded that of the Floating Vine!

There were still twenty years left, so no rush; first, he needed to accumulate political achievements and climb to a fifth-rank official position.

As Princess You Ruo said, he was not qualified to be part of this matter now.

Because even the court’s selection process was stringent, with internal competition among the many islands in the East Sea before the stronger ones could advance.

Then there was competition among all the East Sea islands.

Finally, there was competition among the Four Seas.

Only after passing through these stages could one participate in the grand event of the Ten Thousand Beast Competition and enter the Dragon Court ancient land.

"Alright, you can go now," Princess You Ruo said, "I have matters to attend to."

"Yes, student takes his leave." Zhao Xing stood up and left the palace.

...

"Senior brother, your battle in the Li Fire Taoist School was truly impressive," Ji Zixuan evidently knew about Zhao Xing’s deeds there.

"I was merely put in a position where I had no choice," Zhao Xing said.

What Princess You Ruo said was correct; he wanted to become the Grand Minister of Agriculture, he could not overlook the power of the Taoist Schools, and gaining their support would make things much easier.

Liu Tianning’s previous life had also suffered because of this, delaying his progress to becoming the Grand Minister of Agriculture.

Zhao Xing had shown restraint in the Li Fire Taoist School, with this in mind.

The Seventy-Two Taoist Schools were not only useful for becoming the Grand Minister of Agriculture, but even more so after the period of Emperor Wu.

Mr. Zhao had an eye on their treasured artifacts, such as the Li Fire Altar; possessing these would greatly enhance his capabilities.

And the Creation Dao College, Shangluo Academy, all had era-defining treasures!

When the spiritual energy resurged, their true power would be revealed.

"Senior brother is now the Dragon Horse Supervisory Director, please take care of our Bishui Daoist School’s students in the future." Ji Zixuan had become a teacher at the Bishui Daoist School after returning.

She now could be considered a ’true disciple’ of the Bishui Sect.

The headquarters of the Bishui Sect was in Chongming Prefecture.

"Junior sister, you are too polite. If there’s anything you need, I’ll do my best," Zhao Xing said.

He needed achievements and would inevitably interact with the Bishui Daoist School in the future.

Princess You Ruo was very busy, and he couldn’t consult the old witch for everything, mainly liaising with Ji Zixuan.

...

On September 27, Zhao Xing reported to the government of Chongming Prefecture since the Purple Cloud Islands were nominally under Chongming Prefecture’s administration.

On September 28, under the introduction of Princess You Ruo, he met his superior, the Standard Third-Rank Minister of Agriculture "Wang Xuan Yi."

The entire Chongming Prefecture, including the Purple Cloud Islands’ Dragon Horse Supervisory Director, was under the command of this third-rank Dragon Horse Supervisory Director.

This showed that Chongming Prefecture’s standards were higher than other prefectures, indicating the importance of the Dragon Horse Supervisor.

Someone like the previous Dantai Ming was the highest official in the prefecture’s supervisory rank, but as the Director of Doushui Bureau, he was only a secondary fourth-rank official, while Wang Xuan Yi was a standard third-rank official.

On the morning of October 1, at 8:00 AM, Zhao Xing bade farewell to his family in Bixian County and boarded Princess You Ruo’s tower ship, while Long Xiao and Chen Shijie were not qualified to board it.

By noon on October 1, they arrived at the "Twin Islands" in the Purple Cloud Islands.