Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1156 - 10: In the 98th Year of Yongzhi, Emperor Jing Passes Away—A New Era Begins!

Chapter 1156: Chapter 10: In the 98th Year of Yongzhi, Emperor Jing Passes Away—A New Era Begins!

As Emperor Jing neared the end of his life, enemy activities of Great Zhou became increasingly frequent.

Summer of the 93rd year of Yongzhi, the Holy Light Royal Court of the Southern Barbarians joined forces with the Xuantian Sect, orchestrating an uprising in Guangling Cave Heaven.

Seven third-rank officials and two second-rank officials launched a suicide attack.

Meanwhile, thousands of intermediate rank individuals caused disasters in four counties of Guangling State.

Upon learning the news, Zhao Xing looked at the battle report, feeling somewhat dazed.

"In the previous life, the uprising of the Xuantian Sect was delayed for so long."

"This Chengfeng Taoist? Is he Li Chengfeng?"

"How unfortunate..."

While reviewing the battle report, Zhao Xing also noticed a familiar face among them, the very talented clerk ’Li Chengfeng’ who was abducted from Nanyang County, Gu City, a hundred years ago. He had already reached the Pure Essence Realm of the fifth rank and was known as ’Chengfeng Taoist,’ but was killed in Guangling County.

"Time flies like an arrow; it’s been so long already." Zhao Xing put down the report.

Although the uprising’s harm was not significant, it nevertheless cast a psychological shadow over the people of Great Zhou.

...

In the 94th year of Yongzhi, the Water Clan outside the East Sea frequently attacked the maritime merchant associations, with over seventy thousand attacks overall throughout the year, more than ten times the number of previous years.

Of the forty-eight commercial routes, only six had sufficient cruiser envoys escorting them, making them absolutely safe.

By the end of the same year, representatives from ten countries, including Moss State and Buling Country, visited the capital, seeking Great Zhou’s support in materials and manpower to resist Sith Country’s invasion.

.....

In the 95th year of Yongzhi, Zhao Xing’s "Five New Divine Talismans" were mastered, reaching the level of Top Seven Transitions.

This method combined the Heavenly Time Skill of the Minister of Agriculture, involving a synthesis of two pathways from scratch. It was the second longest top-level method Zhao Xing took to learn thus far.

The first was the Sky Burning Locking Element Array, which Zhao Xing still hasn’t fully mastered.

...

On April 16th of the 96th year of Yongzhi, Li Boqian passed away.

As the seventh Chief Minister of Agriculture of Great Zhou, an intimate friend of Emperor Jing, and the leader of the Heavenly Time Sect, Li Boqian’s passing even personally drew out the rarely seen Ji Mingjing to bid farewell, and he was honored as the thirty-seventh Minister of Agriculture Saint.

Emperor Jing also specifically opened the underworld passageway in Fengjing for him, allowing the extended send-off of many ministers’ Primordial Souls until reaching the Yin Realm, where they witnessed Li Boqian reforge his Yin God Body.

Li Boqian was also one among the few top-ranking officials within Emperor Jing’s reign who worked from beginning till the end.

Others like the Grand Commandant, Chief Engineer, Great Fate Officer, and Prime Minister had undergone replacements.

"Hahaha, I’m alive again." Li Boqian laughed boldly in the Heavenly Time Sect of the Yin Realm.

At this time, only a few close individuals were left within the Heavenly Time Sect.

As Li Boqian emerged from the Yin God Pool of the Heavenly Soul Temple, he laughed unrestrainedly.

Then, his second sentence was:

"Teacher, it’s time to retire and yield to the virtuous."

The Tianyang True Monarch, who was smoking, suddenly darkened his face, pointing at Li Boqian, angering into a smoky tantrum: "You unfilial brat!"

Zhao Xing: "..."

People: "..."

Even after his death, Li Boqian seemed to freely unleash his nature, indifferently remarking: "Heavenly Official rotates, this year it comes to my house. Teacher, I let you take a good rest, how could that be unfilial?"

"This is exactly the great filial duty!"

"..."

...

After a noisy exchange, Tianyang True Monarch’s authority in the Yin Realm was transferred to Li Boqian, including the Shang Tang Order that was also to be retrieved.

However, seeing Zhao Xing holding it, Li Boqian continued to let Zhao Xing retain it.

The original soul of Tianyang True Monarch also underwent transformation.

It gained a hint of divine charm, while losing a touch of human warmth.

"From today on, aside from the primary soul, the split souls of the teacher-grandfather in various devine temples will become less personable, only adhering strictly to the court’s regulations." Zhao Xing said inwardly.

It is impossible to let Yin Gods retain personal emotions forever, it’s a characteristic of the Yin God system.

Especially after Prince Liang’s rebellion, Emperor Jing further restricted the Yin God system; Tianyang True Monarch was originally not supposed to enter this phase so quickly, but after Prince Liang’s rebellion, all Yin God systems were souls and rights cleared upon the new Yin God’s assumption of office.

"Teacher, what are you smoking? How come it smells so good?" As Li Boqian was feeling satisfied, he suddenly smelled an uplifting fragrance, drifted over immediately, sniffling.

"Scram!" Tianyang True Monarch kicked Li Boqian away, "Don’t come leech my incense offerings; if you want them, fetch from Lu Chunhua yourself."

"Teacher, please..."

"Scram, scram, scram."

"..."

...

From the end of the 96th year of Yongzhi, nearly all large domestic activities ceased.

Because according to the Emperor’s lifespan limit, Emperor Jing only had three years remaining.

Knowing the lifespan limit had this disadvantage, government officials across state mansions had mostly issued prohibitions.

Ban on all large-scale entertainment activities, even places like brothel and pleasure quarters were directly closed for rectification.

Apart from appointments and promotions of lower third rank officials, those of middle third and upper third ranks had ceased since the 90th year of Yongzhi.

In various grotto heavens of the Military Realm, and Great Zhou’s borders, troop deployments and transfers were increasingly frequent.

By the end of the 97th year of Yongzhi, Zhao Xing, Duke Divine Might, even received the order to organize military forces, instructing the Divine Might Army to prepare for battle.

He even had to personally visit Xier County, cautioning individuals like Cao Qianyue, Li Muwan, Zhao Zheng, Liao Rulong, and others to make combat preparations.

Nationwide, the covert activities of Fate Officers remained undeterred, especially in critical places like the Water Clan’s Proclamation Department, Canglan River banks, West Extreme Coastal Cities, Tianyong State, and Fengjing, all were under intense surveillance.

...

The time reached the 98th year of Yongzhi.

Just after the Spring Festival, Zhao Xing sensed an anomaly in the sky above.

"The fortune of the nineteen provinces underwent great change, yet this change is gentle." Standing at Qitian Peak, Zhao Xing gazed at the starry sky.

"According to customary practice, the time of Emperor Jing’s death wouldn’t be disclosed to anyone; his death news would be announced by the new emperor to prevent anyone from seizing the moment to make trouble."

Zhao Xing stared, feeling the transformation unfolding, but not knowing when it began, nor when it will conclude.

"The only plan for now is to wait."

"Hopefully, old Jing won’t cause any more trouble." Zhao Xing silently hoped. "Don’t violate any ancestral rules, suddenly summoning men to the capital to give instructions."

What needed to be explained had long been explained, deployments long deployed, because of knowing his fate, the emperor of the Fortune Dynasty wouldn’t wait until he’s near death for deathbed entreaties.

The time reached October of the 98th year of the Jingxin Calendar.

At the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, Qitian Mountain Peak, Fate Officer Ji Si suddenly appeared.

Zhao Xing turned, his pupils contracted.

"Duke Divine Might, receive the emperor’s secret decree."

"I accept this decree." Zhao Xing knelt to receive the decree.

"The departing emperor will not endure Heaven’s years."

"Crown Prince Ji Che has mastered the Divine Artifact, inheriting the great reign."

"Order Duke Divine Might Zhao Xing to immediately enter the capital and secretly meet with the new ruler."

After Ji Si finished reading, she placed the Imperial Decree on top of Zhao Xing’s head.

The decree shimmered with golden light, a Golden Dragon swirling around it, and it was identical to the previous Decree’s Dharma Form, with the only difference that this dragon was slightly smaller.

"Minister Zhao Xing accepts the decree." Zhao Xing raised the decree, an unfamiliar yet familiar power emanated from it, along with a somewhat deep voice entering his mind.

"Brother, Father has passed away at 5:45 AM, please come to Fengjing swiftly to see me." It was Ji Che’s voice.

A new era has arrived.