Upon hearing what the Fate Blackbird said, Zhao Xing was taken aback.
Did the Fate Blackbird actually know that Great Li was no more?
For a split second, Zhao Xing felt a strong urge to pull away.
However, as if it saw through Zhao Xing's thoughts, the Fate Blackbird smirked, "Surprised? Are you afraid now? Bit late for that."
Forcing himself to remain calm, Zhao Xing cupped his hands and said, "Indeed, it's a bit unexpected."
The Fate Blackbird responded nonchalantly, "Relax. If I wanted to harm you, I could have crushed your weak life soul the very first time you entered here fourteen years ago."
"However, not only did I not harm you, but I also granted you some Fortune."
Zhao Xing raised his head abruptly, "The Derivation Two Fortune—it was you?"
Back then, after consuming the Dao Embryo Pill, he discovered his Fortune had risen from Derivation One to Derivation Two.
He'd always been puzzled since the Dao Embryo Pill wasn't supposed to increase Fortune.
He had thought he'd inherited some Fortune from the treasures within the Grand Dream Academy. But despite finding many treasures over the years—including sixth-grade Soul Armors and top-tier Great Dream Spring and Autumn techniques—his Fortune had never increased again.
And now he understood the reason—it was all due to this bird!
The Fate Blackbird pecked at its feathers, "Now that you've learned the Five-Finger Fate technique and the Turtle Coin Divination method, why don't you try calculating the truth for yourself?"
Using the Five-Finger Fate technique, Zhao Xing reversed the flow of time and found that the Fortune was indeed a gift from the Fate Blackbird.
This realization weighed heavily on Zhao Xing's heart. It meant that he'd been under the bird's watchful eye for fourteen years.
Furthermore, this bird was able to break the rules?
Guardians weren't supposed to grant backdoor assistance to challengers—it wasn't an actual Fate Blackbird but a mechanical beast!
"Thank you for your gift, Honorable Fate Guardian." Zhao Xing bowed deeply. "May I ask if there's anything I can do for you?"
"Indeed, there is."
"You…you're not planning to have me restore Great Li, are you?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but ask.
"Restore a kingdom? Hahaha!" The Fate Blackbird burst into laughter, its feathers trembling as if it had just heard the world's funniest joke.
It pointed one wing at Zhao Xing, holding its belly with the other, "You thought I'd have you revive Great Li? Hahaha!"
Zhao Xing felt indignant, being ridiculed by a mere bird.
What's so funny?
Isn't that usually how these things go?
If you're the Fate Guardian and know about Great Li's fall, then why else grant me Fortune if not to restore it?
Was it just for amusement?
After a long laugh, the Fate Blackbird finally calmed down.
Zhao Xing asked again, "What do you need me to do, Honorable Guardian?"
He needed to understand this bird's intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn't feel safe entering the Grand Dream Academy again.
"Stop calling me 'Fate Guardian.' I've been bound by Yang Yanzhen for tens of thousands of years as some guardian. It's basically imprisonment!" the Fate Blackbird snapped angrily.
Zhao Xing was dumbfounded. Not only had this mechanical bird gained sentience, but it also had emotions?
"Then…may I call you 'Senior' instead?"
The Fate Blackbird seemed to accept this title with a nod.
"Very well, Senior. I await your instructions."
"You're far too weak right now," the Fate Blackbird snorted. "You're of no help to me in your current state."
Zhao Xing pondered, "At the very least, I should know what to strive toward."
The Fate Blackbird tilted its head, "Hmm, you've got a point…Alright, I want you to find the treasure 'One Dream to the World' and set me free."
"But right now, you're only at the fifth rank. There's no way you can accomplish this."
"Senior, how can you be sure I don't already possess the treasure?"
"Ridiculous. If you had such a treasure, you'd be here in person, not just as a life soul," the Fate Blackbird scoffed. "Nice try, but I'll tell you anyway. The treasure is currently locked away under tight security, being studied by at least a dozen first-ranked individuals."
"There's one particularly stubborn fellow who's been infusing it with energy for decades."
"Another has spent two centuries trying to unlock the formations but hasn't even deciphered the decorative symbols on the outermost layer."
"In short, the treasure is certainly not in your possession; it's with a superpower or inside the palace of a newly established Fortune Dynasty."
"You've only reached the fifth rank; what could you possibly do?" the Fate Blackbird sneered. "In the days of Great Li, you wouldn't even qualify to write letters to the emperor. The variables are too great."
Zhao Xing had nothing to say. Back in Great Li, or even now, he didn't have the qualifications to directly report to Emperor Jing. Civil officials at Zhao Xing's level could only communicate with the emperor after reaching the rank of "Grand Consultant," similar to the status of Dantai Ming at the fourth rank.
Otherwise, they would have to follow proper procedures—first report to their local prefecture, then the prefecture would submit it to the provincial governor (if one was appointed), then the central office would deliver it to Emperor Jing.
For military officials, reports went through the army's commander, who would then submit them to the overseeing sealed king within the cave-heaven. If there was no sealed king, it would go to a marquis in the military hierarchy, usually one was assigned. The report would eventually reach the 33 ruling kings of the military realm, such as Lords Luohou, Lingde, and Tianyan, who governed affairs related to the Southern Barbarian War.
These 33 ruling kings all had direct access to Emperor Jing, whether through written communication or face-to-face meetings.
Of course, other less formal channels existed, but the two main channels for civil and military officials were the standard routes; the others were less common.
For example, if one were in the Feng Tian Prefecture, they could strike the "Tong Tian Drum," reserved for those with major grievances. However, it was mostly symbolic, and no one could actually use it.
Or, when receiving a marquis title in the Heavenly Heart Hall, one could shout, "Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report!" But that would be an awkward time, and there was no guarantee it would be heard, as it was only a projection of Emperor Jing.
In summary, regular, reasonable, and cost-free channels boiled down to the two main reporting paths.
As the Fate Blackbird said, the variables were many.
If the report reached someone like Lord Luohou, things might go smoothly. If it went to someone like King Liang, it would be like running headfirst into a wall.
"So, that guy who became the Marquis of Merit in my past life likely had the Fate Blackbird's help in getting an audience with Emperor Wu," Zhao Xing mused.
"My goal is to escape this prison," the Fate Blackbird declared. "Once you master the treasure 'One Dream to the World,' you'll be able to set me free."
The Fate Blackbird hadn't even considered having Zhao Xing attempt a formal report.
First, the variables were too unpredictable.
Second, Zhao Xing was weak. Any reward given to him would carry a massive karmic debt, one he would eventually need to repay once he grew stronger.
Even if Zhao Xing managed to see the emperor, the Fate Blackbird wasn't in a position to negotiate with him.
The rewards would likely be negligible, and it would probably come with stringent conditions, or worse, his sentience could be stripped away, leaving him as a mere gatekeeper.
All things considered, the Fate Blackbird had no intention of having Zhao Xing take that route.
Instead, another path seemed more viable: strengthening Zhao Xing so he could seize the "One Dream to the World" treasure on his own.
Given Zhao Xing's rapid advancement—in fourteen years he'd gone from unranked to a complete fifth rank—this seemed feasible.
"It's too early to worry about that now," the Fate Blackbird said. "Didn't you just ask why you couldn't see the Shennong Hall?"
"Yes, please enlighten me, Senior." Zhao Xing refocused, setting other thoughts aside for now.
"Before Great Li's fall, the Shennong Hall was well-preserved."
"But after Great Li's downfall, things changed." The Fate Blackbird exhaled a mist, which formed a mirrored image in the air.
"When Great Li was on the brink of destruction, the Grand Dream Academy dispersed all occupants and sealed itself. Emperor Li Yuan entrusted it to the crown prince, Yang Yanzhen."
"Yang Yanzhen fled north, hoping to rely on the treasures within to restore the kingdom."
"Most of the treasures were depleted within a millennium, especially those in the Shennong Hall, Reincarnation Hall, and Life Palace."
"In the end, his efforts to restore the kingdom failed."
"On his deathbed, he passed on these treasures across generations, and eventually, a thousand years later, the treasure left the Yang family's hands."
"For more than thirty thousand years, the treasure lay dormant in a single location, unmoving."
The Fate Blackbird's misty projection displayed a series of hazy scenes, a mixture of apocalyptic warfare and eerie silence, which likely represented those thirty millennia.
"Yang Yanzhen was a failure," the Fate Blackbird scoffed. "He squandered a vast amount of the Three Halls' treasures but failed to accomplish anything."
"However, as I said, he was incompetent and never fully controlled this artifact. Thus, the high-grade treasures in the Reincarnation Hall, Life Palace, and Shennong Hall remained intact."
"Some medium-grade treasures are also still there."
"Then why can I see the Reincarnation Hall and Life Palace but not the Shennong Hall?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Don't interrupt me," the Fate Blackbird glared at Zhao Xing. "Just listen."
"Apologies," Zhao Xing quickly apologized but silently rolled his eyes.
"The Shennong Hall is different from the other halls," the Fate Blackbird explained. "Most of its treasures were seeds and saplings—living organisms."
"Medium and lower-grade living things can't survive tens of thousands of years, even under optimal conditions."
"While 'One Dream to the World' is crafted from fragments of small worlds, it's still not a true world."
"After the first ten thousand years, nearly all the seeds and saplings perished."
"By the second ten thousand years, the last sixth-grade plant died, leaving no rewards, and the corresponding low and medium-grade checkpoints lost their function."
Zhao Xing finally understood.
No wonder he couldn't see it—the checkpoints tied to medium and low-grade rewards had become defunct.
Even the Grand Dream Academy's challenge system was at risk.
If Great Li hadn't fallen, someone could have replenished and replaced the rewards, allowing it to continue operating smoothly.
But now that Great Li was gone, who would maintain it?
It had been fifty thousand years since Great Li's fall, and without high-grade items, the Shennong Hall's checkpoints were unusable.
"If it were a seventh-grade tree, living for fifty thousand years would be no surprise," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "Shangluo Academy records numerous seventh-grade tree species that have lived over ten thousand years, not to mention eighth or ninth-grade ones, and even…super-ninth-grade entities."
"According to this foolish bird, high-grade treasures still exist within the Shennong Hall. It's just that my current strength isn't enough for the checkpoint to appear."
Realizing this, Zhao Xing felt a renewed sense of excitement. He decided to take his leave, "Thank you, Senior, for clarifying things. If there are no further instructions, I'll take my leave."
"Hold on. What's the rush?" The Fate Blackbird squawked.
"Is there something else you need, Senior?" Zhao Xing asked, inwardly resigned.
"No, nothing at all."
"…"
Zhao Xing was speechless. Then why tell me to stay?
The Fate Blackbird tilted its head, "Aren't you planning to go to the Shennong Hall?"
Zhao Xing blinked, "Senior, I don't think I can enter it yet. I'm still only at the fifth rank."
"True, you can't enter. But I can retrieve something from it for you," the Fate Blackbird offered.
"What?" Zhao Xing was shocked. "You mean you can…"
This bird had not only developed a consciousness but also seemed capable of disregarding its own guardian rules to steal treasures from other halls?
Just what had this mechanical bird experienced to reach such an advanced version…The sentience of mechanical beasts wasn't even supposed to appear until several eras into the Spirit Qi Revival Era.
"Of course! I forge my own path!" the Fate Blackbird lifted its head proudly. "Mere rules cannot bind me."
"Your boundless abilities leave me in awe, Senior," Zhao Xing flattered.
"Ha! Do you want a treasure?" the Fate Blackbird teased, "If you do, I'll fetch one for you."
"Can I say no?"
The Fate Blackbird's gaze turned sharp, "Refusal is not an option. You will want it!"
Zhao Xing nodded, "Then, please tell me your conditions, Senior."
The Fate Blackbird spat out a scroll of radiant golden paper that landed before Zhao Xing. Pointing at it with a claw, it said, "You'll need to sign this Dream Spirit Contract and vow to help me break free one day with all your might!"
"If you sign it, I'll help you grow to your full potential."
Zhao Xing examined the contract. Its contents were indeed straightforward, promising to aid the Fate Blackbird's escape, with no hidden terms.
With no other choice, Zhao Xing placed his hand on the Dream Spirit Contract, swearing, "By the Dream Spirit, I pledge upon my life soul to help Senior Fate Blackbird escape the Grand Dream Academy when the time and strength permit. Should I break this vow, my soul will be annihilated!"
When Zhao Xing finished, the Fate Blackbird hopped over, placed its claw on the contract, and raised a wing, "By the Dream Spirit, I swear upon my freedom to help Zhao Xing obtain the treasures of the Grand Dream Academy. Should I break this vow, I will remain caged forever!"
The contract was sealed, and both Zhao Xing and the Fate Blackbird sighed in relief.
Zhao Xing feared the bird might try to harm him, turning the academy from a treasure trove into a death trap. With the contract as a safeguard, he felt reassured.
Meanwhile, the Fate Blackbird was relieved it wouldn't have to endure confinement for another millennia. Since it gained sentience, it had suffered from this isolation.
Unable to actively contact the outside world, it could only sense the outside but couldn't communicate, waiting instead for challengers to enter the Grand Dream Academy.
Now, both sides had something to gain from the agreement.
"Senior, what treasure do you plan to bring me?" Zhao Xing asked, happy he wouldn't have to go through the usual checkpoint trials.
"No idea," the Fate Blackbird said, shaking its head.
"…"
No idea? Is it messing with me?
Zhao Xing felt a slight regret as if he had boarded a ship of scoundrels.
The Fate Blackbird explained, "I can fly out and enter the Shennong Hall, but it's been ages since I last went there."
"Even breaking the guardian rules has a cost."
Zhao Xing muttered to himself, So much for 'I forge my own path.' Just a moment ago, you were brimming with confidence, dismissing rules as trivial…Looks like it's not entirely free of its constraints.
But in a way, this was a good thing.
If the Fate Blackbird had completely broken free of its restraints, Zhao Xing might never dare to enter the academy again. Who knew if it could even undo the Dream Spirit Contract?
It seemed the contract was solid after all.
And the guy who became the Marquis of Merit in his past life had survived just fine, so Zhao Xing reasoned it wasn't all that risky.
"Then, I'll let Senior proceed with the spell," Zhao Xing bowed.
"Stay here and wait," the Fate Blackbird said, flapping its wings as it took off.
As it flew, it grew in size, going from head-sized to a wingspan exceeding twenty meters in the blink of an eye.
Its feathers gleamed in azure hues, and on its forehead, faint golden streams flowed, resembling a crown. Its wings and claws appeared vividly lifelike, making it impossible to tell it was a mechanical beast.
But Zhao Xing knew for sure it was.
After all, a true Fate Blackbird wouldn't live more than ten thousand years.
Only a mechanical beast could endure so long.
With a loud buzz, the Fate Blackbird soared away, sparking as it moved, which Zhao Xing could clearly see.
The skies seemed to shift, with clouds swirling as though attempting to force it back.
"Caw!"
The Fate Blackbird opened its beak and emitted a mist of seven-colored energy, allowing it to press forward, surrounded by this mist as it disappeared into the clouds.
Since he was here, Zhao Xing decided to trust his past life's knowledge, judging that the opportunities outweighed the risks, so he stayed put instead of leaving.
This treasure trove of the Grand Dream Academy was too valuable to give up.
There were items here even Liu Tianning and Princess Youruo couldn't obtain.
For instance, the Life Soul Pill and the Dao Embryo Pill were priceless relics that couldn't be replicated.
The Great Zhou Dynasty couldn't produce them because the techniques had been lost.
If one thought back to the era before Great Zhou's founding, it was a time of a thousand warring nations, a period of unparalleled chaos in which many treasures and legacies were destroyed.
…
The wait was long, and despite his experience, even Zhao Xing began to feel a twinge of anxiety.
Finally, what felt like an entire era later, he heard the flapping of wings outside.
Zhao Xing looked up to see the Fate Blackbird emerging from a thundercloud.
The earlier oppressive aura of heaven and earth surged again, chasing after the Fate Blackbird.
"This Grand Dream Academy treasure is truly extraordinary," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "If it could be used as a war machine, it would be immensely effective and could even have applications in education."
With a loud rumble, the thunderclouds bore down on the Fate Blackbird as it shrank in size, nearly crashing back into the Heavenly Craft Hall.
Once inside, the terrifying pressure vanished instantly, as if the earlier scene had been an illusion.
"Senior, are you alright?" Zhao Xing asked, concerned.
"Caw…" The Fate Blackbird lay on the ground, looking weary and dull. Even Zhao Xing could tell it was injured.
It seemed that despite its bravado, the Fate Blackbird couldn't fully escape its restrictions and would suffer severe backlash once it left the Heavenly Craft Hall.
After resting for a while, the Fate Blackbird finally regained some strength.
"Kid, I really went all out for you."
"Your great kindness, Senior, will never be forgotten," Zhao Xing said, bowing deeply.
The Fate Blackbird tilted its head, "I understand great kindness, but what does 'never be forgotten' mean?"
"…"
"It means that even if I grow old and lose my teeth, I'll never forget your grace, Senior," Zhao Xing explained.
"That's a strange saying. You're already at the fifth rank of the Pure Essence Realm. Even if you live to the end of your life, your appearance won't deteriorate much," the Fate Blackbird remarked, flapping its wings in mild amusement. "Strange indeed."
"Senior's lesson is well taken," Zhao Xing replied with a respectful bow.
The Fate Blackbird continued, "I've been to the Shennong Hall. I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"
"The bad news."
"The bad news is that there's not much you can use right now, and I couldn't retrieve everything I wanted, including the Primordial Soul Tree," the Fate Blackbird admitted.
"The Primordial Soul Tree?" Zhao Xing's eyes widened. He cautiously asked, "Do you mean the one with a crystalline trunk, visible veins, broad leaves like fans, peach-like fruit, and towering three thousand feet high?"
"Hmm? You know your stuff," the Fate Blackbird noted. "Yes, that's the one."
"To think a Primordial Soul Tree still exists here…" Zhao Xing was in awe. If it had survived for tens of thousands of years, it was indeed a priceless treasure.
Could it be that in his past life, Emperor Wu obtained this tree and used it to empower Liu Tianning's straw puppet techniques to their ultimate form?
"What's there to be surprised about?" the Fate Blackbird scoffed. "As long as you help me escape someday, not only this rare Primordial Soul Tree but every treasure here will be yours!"
The Fate Blackbird was dangling a grand promise, and Zhao Xing found himself tempted.
The Primordial Soul Tree's effects were formidable; it could greatly enhance one's life soul, even helping to break through the first rank's limitations.
Once someone reached the first rank, treasures that could further enhance their life soul were exceedingly rare, and the Primordial Soul Tree was one of them.
Moreover, if he managed to keep it alive until the Spirit Qi Revival Era, the tree's benefits would only multiply.
"What about the good news, Senior?" Zhao Xing asked eagerly.
"The good news is that I still managed to bring you three treasures. One of them is a Primordial Soul Fruit," the Fate Blackbird replied.
Opening its beak, the bird spat out three pinkish fruits, each as large as an infant's head, with a delicate luster resembling peaches.
"A genuine Primordial Soul Fruit!" Zhao Xing accepted them with trembling hands, his joy overwhelming.
Just the fragrance alone made him feel his spirit grow sharper.
And he'd received three of them all at once!
It felt like he had struck a fortune.
After storing away the Primordial Soul Fruits, Zhao Xing asked expectantly, "What are the other two treasures, Senior?"