Zhao Xing glanced at the Earth Return Array. At this mont, the eight seventh-rank elental crystals had already dimd.
"The first phase, a two hundred million upgrade plan, has reached its end."
"The next effects will worsen, but it has allowed to cover in three months what would take others decades or even centuries."
Zhao Xing reflected that quickly gathering Pure Essence Soil in the Primordial Qi Era ca at an enormous cost.
In the Primordial Qi Era, mbers of the Self Sect dared to pursue this path only through the accumulation of their ancestors across generations.
But once successful, even minor achievents would yield imnse rewards.
For instance, Qin Hongying from the Bishui Daoist School had offered him sky-high orders and even the position of vice dean to bind him to her.
"Now begins the implentation of the second plan, valued at four hundred million."
Zhao Xing stepped out of the Guiyuan Array and walked to a specially-made Crystal Pool nearby.
"Gulp~"
The Crystal Pool was filled with an extrely viscous dark yellow substance.
"The second upgrade plan is called the ’Shangluo Opening thod.’"
"Provided by Shangluo College."
"The Kaiyuan Skill opens up the Pure Essence Space. Even if my understanding of the three major scriptures is just adequate, this combination will still expand my Dantian, increasing its capacity. This is a modification of the Dantian and has nothing to do with my understanding of Dao."
"The second plan is expected to take three months, during which my Pure Essence Sand will rise from tens of millions to over a hundred million."
"At least a hundred million; the exact amount varies from person to person."
Zhao Xing took off his clothes and jumped into the Crystal Pool.
"Crack, crack, crack, crack~"
chanisms locked in place, and the entire pool began to emit the fragrance of soil and grass.
Zhao Xing felt his life force growing stronger. After half a month, he even felt that his body had grown three centiters taller.
...
Three months later, in the twenty-ninth year of the Jingxin Calendar, on the eve of the autumnal equinox.
Sun Shizhao suddenly arrived at Land Island from Bay Island, bringing urgent news.
Zhao Xing imdiately sent a Ten Thousand Skill Avatar to greet him.
"Marquis Yuan Rang, yesterday, one hundred and fifty nautical miles from our Twin Islands, a homicide occurred."
"A Market Order Departnt ship was attacked."
"All one hundred ninety-six people on board were drained to death, turned into mummies."
"All the cargo was looted."
Zhao Xing’s expression turned serious; one hundred fifty nautical miles was very close.
It would take only two or three quarters of an hour to reach Twin Islands.
"Have you found out who did it?" Zhao Xing asked.
"The temple of Chongming Prefecture has already dispatched a Fourth-rank Priest to the cri scene and summoned Rebirth True Monarch to transform a fifth-rank official of the Market Order Departnt into a Yin God Body."
"Currently, there’s no official conclusion yet, but I suspect, as before."
"You an..." Zhao Xing’s voice was sowhat broken.
"Yes." Sun Shizhao nodded, "The Bishui Sect."
"According to inside information, the fifth-rank official claid to have seen the leader of the attacking team, and he allegedly said it was Zhai Zhong!"
Zhao Xing shook his head, "Over the past few years, there have been more than fifty homicides, all the culprits wearing the vestnt robes of the Bishui Daoist School, clearly intending to confuse and fra."
"To kill so many people in an instant and then leave quickly, how could they let a ghost see their true face?"
"Saying it was Zhai Zhong is even more impossible."
Sun Shizhao frowned deeply, "But it still has a bad impact. Should we first..."
"You an to temporarily stop collaborating with the Daoist Academy?"
Sun Shizhao whispered, "I only suggest a temporary cut; the final decision lies with you, Marquis Yuan Rang."
It was clear that Sun Shizhao was very anxious.
Thanks to his previous investnt in Zhao Xing, betting his entire fortune, in another year, Sun Shizhao could be transferred back inland as an official. Even if he wouldn’t imdiately be promoted to Secondary Fourth-rank, going to an important post for a few more years would make his promotion assured.
At this critical mont, Sun Shizhao didn’t want any accidents.
Because he had sailed smoothly on Twin Islands these years, without any mishaps, and his political achievents were outstanding.
Rising to Secondary Fourth-rank, once achieved, would not only an power and status but also increasing his lifespan by a hundred years. By then, further aiming for Standard Fourth Rank and finding so life-extending treasures, in theory, he could live two hundred more years.
Staying young and living two hundred more years, what a great temptation! It was equivalent to living another life.
Of course, he hoped to temporarily cut ties with the Daoist Academy to avoid drawing the attention of demons and monsters to Twin Islands.
"Mr. Sun," Zhao Xing said gravely, "Take good precautions, ask the Recovery Army to intensify patrols; as for the Daoist Academy, everything remains the sa."
"It’s too late to cut ties now, even if we noticed early on. I will instruct the Dragon Horse Guard to seal off Tuquan Palace, stopping them from going out to the wild or the sea."
In fact, these past few months, the war horses and beasts in Tuquan Palace had been confined and no longer went out for walks.
Sun Shizhao actually knew this; he just ca to Zhao Xing for reassurance.
"Alright, we will follow your orders."
...
In the twenty-ninth year of the Jingxin Calendar, five days after the autumnal equinox.
"Crack, crack, crack~"
The chanisms of the Crystal Pool opened, and Zhao Xing flew out, dressing himself.
At this mont, the viscous substance in the Crystal Pool had vanished, turning into a murky liquid.
Zhao Xing examined his Dantian: "The Pure Essence Sand has reached two hundred million, exceeding expectations."
"Now, if I open up the Pure Essence Space, it can beco secondary Pure Essence Soil, with a radius of twenty ters."
"I can already grow a lot of things."
"From April to the present September, in less than half a year, I’ve covered a journey many Ministers of Agriculture take a lifeti to complete."
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