The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"Clang!" Before the mountain cat could figure out what was happening with the almanac, a loud sound came from behind.

The statue of the Duke of East Lake trembled suddenly and opened its eyes.

In the mountain cat's yellow-green pupils, a shadow slowly emerged from the statue.

"Meow~" The mountain cat, having been raised by a mountain god and born with spiritual powers, could see the shadow of the Duke of East Lake and even felt a sense of kinship.

The Duke glanced at the sleeping Zhao Xing, then at the mountain cat, before picking up a crescent moon blade and stepping out of the room.

"Meow?" The mountain cat approached the door and peered through a crack, sensing the lingering danger outside. It wanted to investigate, but Zhao Xing's earlier instructions made it return to the table, quietly guarding him.

Zhao Xing had not been sleepy earlier, but he suddenly drifted off and fell into a dream.

In the dream, the sun was shining brightly, the warmth felt like spring, and golden rays cascaded from the sky.

Zhao Xing found himself in a paradise: cranes soared, clouds floated gracefully, and celestial maidens with colorful ribbons danced in the sky.

He, however, was living in a broken courtyard, in tattered clothes, unable to find enough to eat. Looking down at himself, he saw that he was old, wrinkled, and on the verge of death.

"Ah, a sick and frail body, approaching its end. Pitiful, truly pitiful," an old voice said, shaking its head.

"Who… who's speaking?" Zhao Xing looked up.

A benevolent old man in a purple Taoist robe, holding a whisk, descended on a cloud, landing at the gate of Zhao Xing's courtyard.

"I am the righteous deity of Xuantian. You are terminally ill, your life is nearing its end," the Taoist said.

"Immortal! Please, save me, Immortal!" Zhao Xing knelt in reverence.

The Taoist elder smiled gently, "I observe the sufferings of the world, and our meeting is a fated one. Very well, I shall save you."

With a wave of his whisk, a golden light fell upon Zhao Xing, rejuvenating him. His wrinkles disappeared, his white hair turned black again, and his legs became nimble. His entire body brimmed with energy.

"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!" Zhao Xing cried out gratefully.

"Alas, I can only alleviate your pain temporarily, returning you to youth. You are still a mortal, and in a few years, death will claim you again."

"Immortal, I don't want to die! Please, Immortal, give me another golden light like before!" Zhao Xing pleaded.

"If you wish to escape this fate completely, you must cultivate the immortal path and receive divine empowerment…"

"Immortal, please give me another light!" Zhao Xing interrupted again.

"Only by joining the immortal sect can you…"

"Immortal, give me another!" Zhao Xing insisted.

"To achieve long life and escape illness and disaster…"

"Another light, Immortal!"

"…" The Taoist elder began to frown. What was wrong with this mortal? Why did he keep asking for more as if soul power came without cost?

But Zhao Xing ignored everything else, repeating the same phrase as if bewitched.

Seeing no other option, the Taoist sent another golden light to Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing beamed with joy, "Thank you, Immortal! You truly are a kind Immortal. I feel so much better now."

The Taoist, growing weary, said, "If you join me, the righteous deity of Xuantian, I will deliver you from mortal suffering. Will you pledge your allegiance?"

Zhao Xing, feigning confusion, replied, "Could you give me another light? Immortal, I suffer so much…"

"Enough, you greedy fool!" the Taoist elder roared, anger flashing across his face. "How can someone so covetous ever attain the path of the Dao?"

Zhao Xing, pretending to be frightened, fell silent.

The Taoist elder regained his composure, his tone gentle again. "All humans are tempted by greed. But since we are fated to meet, step out of your gate so I can examine your bones and bestow another blessing."

Zhao Xing replied, "My legs are weak, Immortal. You can bless me from outside the gate."

Suppressing his anger, the Taoist forced a smile, "Very well, then invite me inside."

"Please…" Zhao Xing started, but just as the Taoist elder lifted his foot—

Zhao Xing's tone shifted, "Please, Immortal, just stand outside the door and send me another light. My humble home is too filthy for your divine presence."

"…"

At that moment, the Taoist elder's smile vanished, his aura of golden light shifting to a cold red glow, and his eyes locked on Zhao Xing with icy disdain.

"How intriguing. A mere mortal like you is unaffected by my spells. This dream…"

"Hmph!" Zhao Xing scoffed, dropping the act. His tattered clothes suddenly radiated a deep golden light.

"Hum~" The dream shattered like glass, with cracks forming all around, and the purple-robed Taoist was obliterated along with it.

"Whoosh~" The eternal lamp flickered back to life.

Zhao Xing opened his eyes.

"Meow?" The mountain cat leaped onto Zhao Xing's shoulder, rubbing against his head affectionately.

"I'm fine, no need to worry," Zhao Xing reassured, petting the mountain cat's head.

He glanced at the statue of the Duke of East Lake and then at the door, his eyes narrowing.

"So, the people from the Xuantian Sect have made their move."

"Yin spirits invade dreams to confirm locations. Most likely, everyone on the list has been bewitched by now."

"I wonder how many fell for it, either opening their doors or inviting them in," Zhao Xing thought.

The Xuantian Sect's method was always to send in evil spirits first—specifically through a technique called Yin Spirit Invading Dreams to bewitch their targets.

But Zhao Xing's house was protected under the laws set by the founding ancestor of the dynasty: A place with an owner cannot be entered without invitation.

The Yin spirits could only linger outside and attempt to influence Zhao Xing using 'benevolent magic,' the only form allowed to affect someone inside.

As soon as the dream began, the sixth-tier Soul Armor instantly alerted Zhao Xing, giving him full control over the dream.

Thus, Zhao Xing never truly succumbed to temptation; everything in the dream, from his old, sickly appearance to his behavior, was an act.

"That Yin god unknowingly donated his soul power to me. If I had opened the door or invited him in, he could have reclaimed it."

"But since he cast two soul powers, and I absorbed them both, it's essentially theft at this point. No wonder he was so furious," Zhao Xing mused.

He checked his system panel.

[You have seized soul power from a seventh-grade Yin God, 'Blood Spirit Sovereign.' Your life soul has been elevated to ninth-grade early stage.]

[You have seized soul power from a seventh-grade Yin God, 'Blood Spirit Sovereign.' Your life soul has been elevated to ninth-grade middle stage.]

[Life Soul: Ninth-grade, middle stage.]

Seeing this new attribute on his panel, Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh, "Successfully fleeced!"

Typically, the Life Soul develops more slowly than other cultivation levels since there's no specialized method to cultivate it directly. The soul only grows through Essence Gathering and practicing techniques that strengthen the seven souls, which then feed back into the life soul.

The dynasty forbids direct soul cultivation, as the founding ancestor had once slashed such practices from the kingdom's repertoire.

Of course, Zhao Xing's life soul was still at the ninth grade, far from being considered 'soul cultivation.' However, it did grant him greater resistance against soul-based techniques like Yin Wind, and it would also enhance his own techniques that involve the soul.

For instance, his Sleep Bug technique and Dream Storing method were now more powerful than before.

"Many thanks to Blood Spirit Sovereign for the soul power. Such generosity."

Even without the Soul Armor, Zhao Xing could still have used Dream Storing to steal soul power from the Yin god during the Yin Spirit Invading Dreams phase. With the armor, the process was even easier.

After all, Nightmare Sect practitioners were true experts in soul manipulation, and the Xuantian Sect was leagues behind in this domain.

"After confirming locations through Yin Spirit Invading Dreams, the next phase is a physical attack," Zhao Xing muttered, glancing out the door. "Let's hope old Chen is prepared."

Meanwhile, in another dream, Chen Shijie stood inside a dilapidated temple, holding a chipped bowl with half a blood-stained bun inside.

Before him was a purple-robed elder, who spoke, "I am the righteous deity of Xuantian, Chen Shijie. You have been cursed since birth, abandoned by your family and left to beg for scraps. This is due to the signs of ruin in your life palace. A ruined life palace causes early soul decay. Moreover, your fate carries misfortune. If you do not cultivate and change your destiny, you will continue to experience misfortune in old age."

"If you bow to me now, I can help you change your fate. Why not kneel and pay homage?"

Chen Shijie, appearing as a seven or eight-year-old child but with a face that looked forty, was trapped in a vividly real dream. Unlike Zhao Xing, he did not have control over the dream.

"I should worship?" Chen Shijie murmured, struggling within himself. "At thirteen, I joined the army. My body was too weak, so I trained late into the night, but even then, I was still punished for being too slow."

"They mocked me, bullied me. Every night I prayed to the heavens for just a little more talent, even just a little. But at fifteen, I was still stuck at the first level of Essence Gathering. Did the gods ever answer my prayers?"

"I fell into a barbarian trap in the wilderness and nearly died. It was the Marquis who saved me. Did any gods hear me then?"

The Blood Spirit Sovereign hesitated, sensing a shift in the dream's control.

"At fifteen, I struggled through Essence Gathering, fighting day and night. I bled, suffered countless injuries. Only at twenty did I reach the fourth level of Essence Gathering. Do you know how much blood I shed, how many wounds I endured to earn enough military merits to change my cultivation aptitude?"

"And even then, I had to work tirelessly for three more years to pass the exam and become a military Shennong officer. Everything I achieved was by my own hand."

With each word, Chen Shijie took a step forward, his child-sized body growing taller.

The purple-robed Taoist remained silent, watching as Chen Shijie approached, now back to his adult form.

Chen Shijie smiled coldly, "Do you know how many times in ten years I prayed for divine intervention while serving as a Shennong officer?"

The Blood Spirit Sovereign calmly asked, "How many?"

Chen Shijie looked at the blood-stained bun in his bowl and chuckled, "Four times I was on the brink of death, surrounded by nothing but despair."

"Even then, I never once prayed to the gods of this dynasty for help!"

Glaring coldly at the Blood Spirit Sovereign, Chen Shijie crushed the bun and bowl into dust, blowing it toward the spirit. "And I certainly won't pray to you!"

Dust enveloped the Blood Spirit Sovereign, who sighed before his form began to dissipate. "Chen Shijie, with such willpower, you would have made a fine disciple of my Xuantian Sect. No matter. Once I take you, I will personally train you… You will not be discarded like a mere pawn."

"Evil sects dare to speak such nonsense!" Chen Shijie sneered, breaking the illusion entirely and restoring clarity to his mind.

The wind rustled through the night as the town of Anping slumbered.

But not far from the ruined workshop, several false hills and underground chambers opened up.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"

Figures darted out like cats, silently heading toward the ruined grounds.

Their attire matched the costumes of the 'cultists' from the Martial Office's exam.

Even the remaining officials who spotted them simply assumed they were part of the test.

The shadowy figures slipped into the ruined site, unnoticed by the officials patrolling the perimeter—because Yin Spirit Invading Dreams had already compromised their senses.

Led by their commanders, the cultists split into teams, each heading toward their respective targets.

Chen Deshun and Wu Mei were tasked with capturing Zhao Xing and Li Chengfeng.

Chen Deshun went after Li Chengfeng, while Wu Mei targeted Zhao Xing.

The Falcon led seven other fighters with powerful qi and blood toward Chen Shijie's position.

Wu Mei advanced swiftly, knowing they had only three periods of time to act. The Blood Spirit Sovereign had set a strict time limit.

If they failed to complete their mission by Hai Time, Third Quarter, they would have to retreat.

Each moment beyond increased their chances of being discovered.

If they exceeded three periods, they were as good as dead.

"Years of waiting, all for these brief moments!"

"As soon as we grab the targets, we retreat. The Sovereign will cover us, and those near death will sacrifice themselves to delay the enemy."

"Zhao Xing… wait for me, my dear~"

Wu Mei licked her lips, her eyes flashing a seductive red.

In the fenced courtyard, Zhao Xing glanced at the wooden statue of the Duke of East Lake, confirming that no divine energy remained—meaning the Duke had left.

"But now that the Yin Spirit Invading Dreams phase is over, it doesn't matter if the Duke is here or not," Zhao Xing thought. He knew the Xuantian Sect wouldn't attempt a second wave.

It wasn't that they couldn't; they simply wouldn't dare.

Another wave would leave them no strength to retreat, and this was a kidnapping mission, not a suicide attack.

"Why is everything so quiet?" Zhao Xing touched the wind crystal earring on his ear, a treasure obtained from the Grand Dream Academy.

It allowed him to sense distant sounds through the flow of wind.

Though Zhao Xing hadn't mastered any hearing-based techniques, with the wind crystal earring, he could still detect sounds from afar.

Yet, everything remained silent. He began to wonder if Chen Shijie had already taken care of the situation.

However, sensing the earth veins beneath him, he knew the Inferno Prison Palace was still active.

"Did the Xuantian Sect retreat? Impossible. They're crazy gamblers—they never retreat unless time runs out. Plus, some of them are meant to be sacrificial distractions to cause damage."

"Something's not right. No movement. I wonder how Zong Dashao is doing. Hopefully, he's still at the entrance as I told him."

Just as Zhao Xing thought this, he saw a familiar figure in the distance.

It was Zong Shichang!

Covered in blood, his face was panic-stricken, though it was unclear whether the blood was his own or someone else's.

"Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing! Let me in quickly, someone's after me!" Zong Shichang shouted desperately.

Zhao Xing used Clairvoyant Eyes and Five Elements Observation but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

He closed his eyes briefly before reopening them.

Although his enhanced vision had shown nothing unusual, his Soul of the Earth sensed something amiss. With his Life Soul now at a higher level, his Dream Storing technique had improved.

The split-second blink allowed him to connect his life and earth souls for further sensing.

"You think I'm a fool?" Zhao Xing thought, smirking.

Even without the soul sensing, he would have found this suspicious.

What were the chances of Zong Shichang showing up just as he thought about him?

"Zong brother, don't come near the door; I've sealed it. But I opened a gate in the fence," Zhao Xing said.

"Yeah, just three meters to the left, hidden under the vines. I'll open it for you…"

Hearing this, Wu Mei was elated. "All these years undercover, and I still haven't lost my touch. Fooled him completely."

When she arrived, she had sensed that the room was protected. Yin Spirit Invading Dreams hadn't tricked Zhao Xing into opening the door.

Had it worked, Wu Mei, who carried the Blood Spirit Sovereign's essence, could have entered as well. Since Zhao Xing had rejected the Sovereign, she too was barred from entry.

But now her deception had worked. Zhao Xing was leading her right in!

"Perfect! Thank you!" Wu Mei, overjoyed, followed his directions, heading to the vine-covered fence, groping around for the hidden entrance.

"Zhao Xing, let me in quickly—ugh!"

Suddenly, Wu Mei's expression changed drastically. The ground beneath her feet surged, and a violent force erupted.

"Boom!"

The earth exploded, sending Wu Mei flying backward into a pile of rubble, crashing through stone and wooden beams.

"Cough, cough…" Wu Mei clutched her chest, struggling out of the debris. She glanced down to see her legs, bloodied and mangled.

Her right leg had been blown open, exposing the bone.

The pain was excruciating, leaving her head spinning.

What the hell just happened? How did he see through me? What was that?