The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Dealing with the Xuantian Sect is essentially like going to war. The most frightening situation in war is not knowing where the enemy is or how strong they are.

Right now, Chen Shijie and Zhao Xing were discussing the preliminary preparations.

Originally, Chen Shijie had full confidence in the plan, but after talking with Zhao Xing, he realized his preparations were not thorough enough.

As they continued their conversation, filling in the gaps, by nightfall, Chen Shijie found that the amount of preparation he needed to do had doubled. However, the plan itself had become much simpler.

In fact, the plan didn't need to be overly complicated. As long as enough preparation was made, the actual execution would be straightforward.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Chen Shijie rubbed his eyes. "You should also be careful lately. Try to avoid leaving the city. If you must leave, notify me or Xue Wenzhong."

"Understood," Zhao Xing nodded.

Previously, Zhao Xing had no intention of getting involved in the Xuantian Sect incident, but now that he was involved, he had to be fully prepared.

Even though Chen Shijie was the tall figure standing at the forefront, Zhao Xing, being the shorter one, couldn't just rely on others.

Ultimately, it was still important to be strong enough to face anything without fear!

The next morning, Zhao Xing brought the mountain cat to practice at the Huailiu Courtyard.

"Now that I've reached the Upper Ninth Rank, although my cultivation is limited, there's still room for improvement in my spells," Zhao Xing looked at the interface.

The mid-level Four Laws of Heavenly Timing—Yin Wind and Lightning Summoning—were already at the ninth turn but had yet to reach perfection.

The Ice Rain spell, however, had reached perfection, but there was still room for further enhancement.

If he could continue to comprehend it, he could break through the limits and enhance the spell beyond the ninth turn, increasing its power.

"I'm still missing a mid-level cloud spell from the Four Laws of Heavenly Timing."

"As for the spells of the Earthly Advantage faction, I only have the Earth Vein Consolidation. If I could get the Cao family's Land-Splitting Technique, that would be perfect."

"My self-created mid-level thunder spell also has room for improvement."

"And there's also the Straw Puppet Technique, which I should try upgrading to the mid-level."

It was extremely difficult to achieve a breakthrough in spells within a short period of time.

Now, with regular practice, mid-level perfected spells were no longer progressing, indicating he had reached a bottleneck that required the right timing to break through.

For the spells that had not yet reached the ninth turn, even practicing for a whole day might not increase their proficiency by a single point.

"If I want a breakthrough in the short term, the only option is to spend money!" Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

"Meow?" The mountain cat blinked in confusion. What is spending money? Can you eat it?

"You can't eat it. And for the time being, you can only eat Heavenly Origin Pears. I need to save money," Zhao Xing said, tucking the mountain cat into the bamboo box and getting up to leave.

He brought the mountain cat and knocked on the gate of the Zong family mansion.

The gatekeeper didn't recognize Zhao Xing. After giving him a once-over, the gatekeeper asked, "Who are you here to see, young master?"

"I'm here to see Zong Shichang. Please let him know Zhao Xing has come to visit."

"Oh? Zhao Sijia, please come in quickly. The young master has mentioned before that you don't need to be announced," the gatekeeper said warmly, immediately inviting Zhao Xing inside.

"Thank you."

After entering the mansion, the gatekeeper immediately called for a servant to announce his arrival, while another manager led Zhao Xing along the winding corridors.

The Zong family estate occupied most of Dongzheng Street.

Its corridors, pavilions, water pavilions, and gardens were so numerous that they were almost overwhelming.

It took nearly seven or eight minutes of walking through the corridors before Zhao Xing finally reached Zong Shichang, who was fishing by his family's water pavilion, with a table of food already prepared nearby.

"Welcome, Zhao Sijia," Zong Shichang said as he put away his fishing rod and called for a towel to wipe his hands. "Please, take a seat."

"Zong Dashao, is this simple and unpretentious lifestyle how you always live?" Zhao Xing glanced at the lavish spread of dishes.

For just the two of them, there were over twenty dishes, including food prepared for the mountain cat!

Zong Shichang shook his head. "You're a distinguished guest, and this is your first visit. Normally, I'd prepare something more extravagant, but since you didn't inform me ahead of time, we'll have to make do with this."

"Since you're here, you must stay for dinner. No, you should stay the night!"

Zhao Xing was slightly taken aback by Zong Shichang's excessive enthusiasm.

This was his first time visiting, and before, they were barely acquaintances who exchanged nods. This level of hospitality was surprising.

But Zhao Xing didn't dwell on it. After all, he had come to ask Zong Shichang for a favor.

Besides, the mountain cat could feast as well—there was no reason to refuse free food.

"Can I pet it?" Zong Shichang looked at the mountain cat, clearly enamored with its cuteness.

"Wait until it finishes eating," Zhao Xing said with a smile. "Once it's full and content, it'll be more docile."

"Fair enough," Zong Shichang poured a drink for Zhao Xing. "Come, let's have a drink together."

"If we're drinking, let's use bigger cups. It's not fun otherwise."

Zong Shichang paused, then burst into laughter. "Alright, you're straightforward enough! Someone, bring my Water Moon Glazed Goblet!"

With larger cups now in play, Zhao Xing didn't hesitate. He grabbed a jug, filled his cup, and started drinking and eating with Zong Shichang.

After taking the Giant Whale Pill, Zhao Xing's body had become much stronger. With his current constitution, he could drink ten Zong Shichangs under the table.

Before long, Zong Shichang was half-drunk, while Zhao Xing was only slightly tipsy.

Seeing that it was the right time, Zhao Xing brought up the real reason for his visit.

"Zong Dashao, I've got something I'd like your help with."

"Consider it done!" Zong Shichang said with confidence. "Just tell me, and I'll do my best to make it happen!"

He had been waiting for Zhao Xing to ask for something. After all, it was better for Zhao Xing to have needs than not. Otherwise, how would he fulfill his promise to Lu Qian?

"I want to purchase Dao-passing paintings. I'm too lazy to travel around Nanyang County, and I'm sure only your family has the connections in Gu City," Zhao Xing explained.

"Dao-passing paintings?" Zong Shichang waved his hand dismissively. "What level are you looking for? We have Third Rank ones right here in Gu City. I can give you a few."

"Third Rank won't do. It has to be Fourth Rank."

Hearing this, Zong Shichang sobered up a little. "Fourth Rank, huh? That's a bit more difficult."

He might be rich, but casually gifting Fourth Rank Dao-passing paintings was no small matter.

Those weren't cheap.

Zhao Xing smiled. "You think I'm trying to take advantage of you? Of course, I'll pay for it. If you can find a way to get them, you'd be doing me a big favor."

That was the truth. In terms of business, Chen Shijie couldn't compare to the Zong family. Chen wasn't a local, and his foundation wasn't in Nanyang County.

Zong Shichang nodded. "It's not about being stingy. Fourth Rank Dao-passing paintings rarely circulate in the market. They're usually held by major families, waiting for the right buyer. These items only trade hands within small, private circles."

"However, I can assure you that whatever price I acquire them for, I'll give them to you at the same price."

Zhao Xing asked, "How much would a Fourth Rank Dao-passing painting cost?"

Zong Shichang scratched his head, then called out to the back, "Uncle Tang! Get Uncle Tang over here!"

In no time, a middle-aged man dressed in a long robe arrived at the pavilion.

"Young master."

"Uncle Tang, what's the typical price of a Fourth Rank Dao-passing painting?"

Uncle Tang pondered for a moment. "Young master, it depends on the quality and type."

"Martial skill paintings tend to be cheaper, while spell-related Dao-passing paintings are more expensive."

"Among them, ritual cultivation, music cultivation, mechanism masters, and alchemists have the highest prices."

Zong Shichang asked, "What about Shennong Officer-related ones?"

Uncle Tang responded, "That would depend on the specific requirements."

Zong Shichang turned to Zhao Xing. "What are your requirements?"

Zhao Xing replied, "If it's related to the Four Laws of Heavenly Timing, I'm most interested in a Cloud Spell Dao-passing painting, with Rain Spell as my second choice."

"As for Earthly Advantage spells, I'm only interested in Land-Splitting Technique, Earth-Hiding Technique, Earth Palace Spell, or Mystic Earth Spell. Anything else, I don't need."

"Additionally, I prioritize auxiliary paintings focused on defense or trapping, with offensive paintings as a secondary concern."

Zong Shichang glanced at Uncle Tang. "Did you get all that?"

Uncle Tang nodded. "Yes, I've noted everything. I'll start looking into it right away."

"Will you be able to find it?" Zong Shichang asked.

Uncle Tang thought for a moment. "For Earthly Advantage spells, the Cao family is definitely the place to inquire. As for Heavenly Timing spells, your father has prepared a few. In the county, it won't take long to find out."

Zong Shichang was overjoyed. "Great! This is a top priority, Uncle Tang, so make sure to stay on top of it."

Uncle Tang didn't leave immediately and asked another question. "Young master Zhao, do you have any price range requirements?"

This was to gauge Zhao Xing's ability to pay.

It's one thing to find the items, but can he afford them?

Zong Shichang wasn't pleased. "Just go and find the best ones in the Fourth Rank range. We'll discuss the price later."

"Indeed, the young master is right. I'll get to work now." Uncle Tang bowed and took his leave.

After settling the business, Zhao Xing noticed the mountain cat had nearly finished eating and decided it was time to leave.

"You're leaving already? Didn't we agree to go to Wangyue Pavilion in the East City to admire the moon tonight?"

"Did we?" Zhao Xing was confused. He didn't recall agreeing to that. Had Zong Shichang drunk too much?

"I've already arranged everything," Zong Shichang insisted. "It's the Moon Festival, and in a few days, it'll be the Harvest Festival. We should celebrate and take a day off…"

Zhao Xing's mind was full of black lines. Big brother, you only think about having fun, don't you? Don't you ever handle any serious matters? There's the Harvest Festival coming up, and we'll have to check the harvests in the district!

Unable to decline such enthusiastic hospitality and still needing a favor, Zhao Xing relented. "Alright. By the way, I almost forgot. I brought some items with me, all valuable things I found on the mountain."

"I can't estimate their value, so take a look and see what they're worth."

To buy Fourth Rank Dao-passing paintings, Zhao Xing had prepared silver notes.

But in case the money wasn't enough, he brought treasures he had seized previously: the Bamboo Horse, Tiger Soul Knife, Soft Armor, Sparrow Feather Armor, as well as Third Rank Earth Fiend Pills and Five-Viscera Exorcism Pills from the Great Dream Academy.

He also brought the Fourth Rank Ice Pearl he had fished out of Eastern Lake.

However, he wasn't keen on selling the Ice Pearl, as it had become useful after learning the Ice Rain spell. It enhanced the power of his spell.

"No problem. Let me take a look," Zong Shichang said, readily agreeing to appraise the items for Zhao Xing.

"The Bamboo Horse, a Third Rank low-tier item." Zhao Xing pulled it out.

In its inactive state, the Bamboo Horse was the size of a small bench. The bamboo box was about half a person's height, making it easy to store.

"A Bamboo Horse mechanical beast, but its spiritual energy is weak." Zong Shichang examined it for a while and said, "It once housed a battle soul, making it quite rare. With prolonged use, it's more likely to give birth to a battle soul compared to ordinary Bamboo Horses. If I were to estimate its price, I'd say it's worth around 350 taels."

Zhao Xing nodded. Third Rank treasures generally ranged in value from 100 to 500 taels, with some being more expensive and others more affordable, depending on their type and features.

Martial-related items were usually cheaper, and the Bamboo Horse was on the pricier side for a Third Rank item.

"The Tiger Soul Knife, a Third Rank low-tier item, mass-produced. All your blades have small chips, marring their appearance. The resale price would be around 80 taels each," Zong Shichang continued.

Zhao Xing nodded in agreement. That price seemed fair.

"The Soft Armor of Minglou, a Third Rank mid-tier item, produced by the Huo family's weapon forge. The quality is decent, and it has no defects, just a bit worn. It should fetch about 160 taels per piece."

Armor is typically more expensive than weapons, so this price made sense.

Four knives, three sets of armor, plus the Bamboo Horse totaled 1,150 taels.

Zhao Xing then pulled out the Sparrow Feather Armor.

As soon as Zong Shichang saw the armor, he was momentarily mesmerized. A glow flashed from the jade pendant around his neck, helping him resist the influence of the eyes on the armor.

"A Sparrow Feather Armor made from peng bird feathers? And it has a Fourth Rank feather attached. Quite a rare item." Zong Shichang's eyes lit up with interest. "This was sold by my family. There are only twelve of these in Nanyang County."

Zhao Xing didn't notice the shift in Zong Shichang's expression and simply asked, "How much is it worth?"

Zong Shichang smiled. "At the time, it was sold for 2,800 taels."

Zhao Xing was pleasantly surprised. "That much? It's comparable to the price of a Fourth Rank item!"

Zong Shichang casually remarked, "Of course, the price far exceeded the item's actual value, but women's luxury goods tend to have markups of ten or even dozens of times their actual worth."

Zhao Xing was delighted. "How much could it fetch as a second-hand item?"

Shaking his head, Zong Shichang replied, "Luxury items like this don't hold value well in the second-hand market because they're worn close to the body. Of course, you could claim it's new, but without the auction fanfare we provide, you'd only get about 40% of the original price."

"I'll sell it to you for 70%," Zhao Xing suggested.

Zong Shichang chuckled and shook his head. "Brother, let me give you some advice: don't sell it. Even if you tried to sell it to me, I wouldn't dare buy it."

Zhao Xing asked, "You're saying it would cause trouble?"

Zong Shichang blinked. "Trouble? Well, not exactly, but if I bought it, I'd probably get beaten half to death."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood. "You recognize the original owner of this treasure?"

Zong Shichang nodded. "Yes, her name is Lu Qian, the daughter of the Lu family in Nanyang. We've known each other since childhood, and this Sparrow Feather Armor was something she purchased for over 2,000 taels. In fact, she'll be at Wangyue Pavilion tonight."

Zhao Xing hesitantly asked, "Zong Dashao, are you being so hospitable today because you're trying to help her get this armor back?"

Zong Shichang laughed. "What kind of villain do you take me for?"

So what was going on, then?

"She just wants a chance to meet you. From what I know of her, she doesn't intend to make a scene."

Zong Shichang suddenly leaned in, winking and whispering, "You're a talented and handsome young man. If things go well… returning the armor wouldn't be a big deal, would it? You get what I mean, right?"

Zhao Xing understood.

The Sparrow Feather Armor was a personal item. Now that it was in his possession, there were only two possibilities.

One, he had robbed Lu Qian, and the armor had been forcibly taken. Two, he had saved her, and she had given the armor to him as a gift.

Due to the Forgetting Stele, no one remembered what had actually happened.

Lu Qian likely believed the latter scenario.

Zong Shichang was trying to play matchmaker, subtly suggesting that Zhao Xing could benefit from this situation!

Zhao Xing had experienced a lot of luck while on the mountain. Fortune had been on his side for too long, and he was bound to face some setbacks soon.

Could this be it? A romantic disaster?

Zhao Xing calmly said, "I'm not interested in this. I won't be going to Wangyue Pavilion."

He planned to avoid unnecessary trouble altogether.

No matter what Lu Qian's intentions were, keeping his distance was one way to handle the situation.

Zong Shichang was anxious. "Don't be like that, Brother Zhao! You have to come. If you don't, how will I see Miss Liu again?"

Zhao Xing finally understood. Zong Shichang had someone he fancied and had made a deal with Lu Qian.

They were both strategizing for each other while also pursuing their own goals.

After Zong Shichang laid it all out, Zhao Xing reconsidered.

It seemed that Lu Qian was determined and had approached Zong Shichang multiple times to arrange this meeting.

It felt like even if he declined today, she'd find another reason to see him in the future.

Since he couldn't avoid it, it might be better to go and resolve the situation.

After all, it was still within the city. No matter how unlucky he might be, it couldn't be too serious. His life wouldn't be in danger, and there likely wouldn't be any major risks.

Besides, he hadn't seen a musician or dancer in a long time. He'd heard that two performers would be performing the dance of the Six Songs tonight, so it wouldn't hurt to take a look.

"I suppose I can go. Zong Dashao, since you fancy this Miss Liu, why don't I help you out?"

Zong Shichang was curious. "How do you plan to help me?"

Zhao Xing smiled. "I'll sell you a poem. You can use it to express your feelings at tonight's banquet at Wangyue Pavilion."

Zong Shichang wasn't too interested at first. He didn't think Zhao Xing could come up with a good poem.

However, after Zhao Xing whispered the poem in his ear, Zong Shichang's eyes lit up. "Hey, this poem is actually quite something…"

Zhao Xing smiled. "If the musician composes a tune to match the new poem, it could significantly enhance her cultivation. The more widely it's sung, the greater the effect. Since Miss Liu is a musician, she's sure to appreciate it."

"If you don't believe me, try it tonight. If it doesn't work, I won't charge you. But if it does, how about trading the poem for a Fourth Rank Dao-passing painting?"

Zong Shichang didn't fully understand the intricacies involved, but he trusted that Zhao Xing wasn't deceiving him. Though Zong didn't comprehend it, others certainly would. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll buy it!"