The next morning.

Ximen City.

Center area of Ximen Academy.

Although the room of the Xirong Dean has always been there and regularly cleaned, Ning Zheng has never used it.

Now, he arrived early in the morning, opened the wardrobe, put on a set of luxurious court attire, and then tidied up his attire in the mirror.

"Master, let me help you."

The Medical Fairy logged into the Sword Fairy's account, trying to help tidy the clothes to gain some favor.

"No need."

Ning Zheng tidied up his clothes himself, fearing she might mess it up again, and sighed, "We are heading to the Capital City now. To show respect, you two will accompany me."

Attending court is truly cumbersome, not really suitable for a slacker like me.

"Are we also going?" The Medical Fairy's eyes lit up.

Task!

Another task.

And it's a task to enter court and meet the Emperor.

Thinking back to the last time we went to the Capital City and met the Emperor, it was a long time ago.

Ning Zheng's gaze fell on the two eager individuals, "Don't get excited, I'm merely taking you there. Whether you can enter to meet the Emperor is uncertain."

"Yes!"

The Medical Fairy's eyes lit up.

Ning Zheng let out a long sigh, and with the two of them, used the State City Teleportation Array to swiftly arrive at the Nursery-based Capital City.

With a clang.

Ning Zheng and the others appeared at the gate of the Capital City.

Since the event of forging the Sun and Moon, Ning Zheng rarely comes to the Capital City.

Returning now, it is still as bustling and lively as ever.

Amidst the bustling crowd, various ancient creatures' Dharma Aspects from the tombs also came to join the excitement in the Capital City.

Soon.

Upon entering the Imperial Palace, quickly under the guidance of eunuchs unable to cultivate the Sixth Body, through one palace after another, they arrived at the Between the Embers.

Ning Zheng looked at the familiar luxurious historical murals around, inexplicably recalling the previous time he stole the Chronicles of Time here and had a remote confrontation with Jiu Shui.

Ning Zheng sighed: It's just replicas everywhere, this is a fake Chronicles of Time, and the Imperial Mausoleum over there is also fake.

The world is getting stranger and stranger, even the ancestral tombs have a pile of fakes.

Xin Xichen glanced at the three in front of him and said warmly from the throne, "Xirong Manor Master, I've heard of your great name."

"Greetings, Emperor." Ning Zheng bowed.

"No need to be overly polite between you and me, you have the merit of saving the world."

Xin Xichen nodded, and directly said, "It was the former dynasty's Emperor who sought you for an important matter, you won't be kept here. As for the other two, they will be given seats, it's a good moment to discuss trivial matters, you should have a lot in common with Dao Yueniang."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Dizzy and the Sword Fairy looked unexpectedly flattered.

Ning Zheng didn't pay attention to them, just glanced, and then was led to the murals of Jiu Shui's tomb.

With a clang.

Opening his eyes again, Ning Zheng found himself in a pavilion courtyard, with elegant scenery, trees, rockery, and flowing water.

In the center stood a scholar with an elegant and gentle demeanor, painting.

The scholar had red lips and white teeth, like a creamy young man, without a domineering and forceful Emperor aura, giving a close-to-nature feeling.

Moreover, his hair was golden wheat ears, extremely lush, upon close look, like a golden wheat field in the morning countryside, carrying the gentle breath of nature.

Ning Zheng said nothing, quietly watching him paint, the painting depicted a scene from the ancient Sacrificial Era, countless various powerful figures besieging a vast grand Xian.

Once the painting was completed, Jiu Shui turned his head and said, "How is this painting?"

"Vividly alive." Ning Zheng responded immediately.

Jiu Shui smiled, and said, "I cannot see through you, from the first time I saw you, I felt you have a very mysterious background."

"Emperor, everyone has their secrets." Ning Zheng remained respectful.

Jiu Shui nodded, deeply moved, "Indeed, everyone has their secrets, the world is vast, and each Spiritual Root has infinite possibilities."

He paused, suddenly said seriously, "I need you to help me research another Divine Artifact, just like you researched the Sun and Moon."

Ning Zheng was taken aback.

Researching the Sun and Moon before was already a dynasty-level big order.

And now another Divine Artifact?

"It belongs exclusively to me."

Jiu Shui remained calm, "It is not to be known by outsiders, only you are allowed to research it."

"As for the reward..."

He took out a golden straw Spiritual Root, coldly said, "Given to you in advance, with this you will research an Immortal Weapon."

Ning Zheng took it and looked.

[Tao Flower (Wood): Qi Fortune blooms, rice flower is Tao flower, planting rice is planting Tao, Tao flower sprouts branches, flourishing blossoms across myriad paths.]

"What is this?" Ning Zheng frowned slightly, he had never seen such a simple Spiritual Root, but inexplicably felt the simplicity of the Dao.

Is this a unique Qi Fortune Spiritual Root?

Like the King of Bronze Statues who defeated the Xian in ancient times?

Ning Zheng couldn't help but looked more closely, after all, such Qi Fortune-filled Spiritual Roots are very rare, like Ancient Bronze, Golden Mud, Money Child, Golden Turtle...

But those are metal-series Qi Fortune types, this is a wood-series Qi Fortune type.

"What is this..." Ning Zheng showed a hesitant expression.

Jiu Shui said blandly, "Rice is Tao, Tao yields myriad blooms, in the past uprising, I grew nine blossoms of rice... do you know which flowers they are?"

Ning Zheng's mind churned, suddenly a remarkable thought emerged, and he responded:

"Throughout history, there has always been talk of the Nine-State, but only in our era were the Nine-State given flower names, as if our land is a giant nursery."

"The nine flower names of Nine-State are named after the Spiritual Roots of the nine Great Continent Kings, Xinyi, Doukou, Other Shore, Rose...."

Ning Zheng couldn't help but say, "Jiu Shui, are these the nine flowers?"

Jiu Shui nodded and said, "These are my Jiu Shui Spiritual Roots, can sprout and germinate, once cultivated these nine rice flowers, strengthening myself."

Ning Zheng was contemplative.

Jiu Shui meant the flowers produced by himself, Jiu Shui's Spiritual Root ability is: producing Spiritual Roots...

But what does Jiu Shui mean by giving this Spiritual Root to me? Is this a grant of kingly power? Impossible.

A person's Spiritual Root is foundational, is heritage, is all the details of a person.

Just like I do not want Shadow Crocodiles leaking out, it is absolutely confidential.

Yet so simply gave the Spiritual Root to me? Let me help him craft a suitable Divine Artifact?

"You may leave now."

Jiu Shui turned around, no longer paid attention to Ning Zheng's doubts.

Ning Zheng hesitated for quite some time, still had to leave, and expressed that Xirong Manor would certainly create a powerful exclusive Divine Artifact no less than the Sun Moon in Xin Xichen's hand.

Shortly after Ning Zheng left, a slow voice echoed in the courtyard:

"The only variable under divination... hopefully brings some change."

...

...

Ning Zheng walked out of the tomb, saw Dizzy, the Sword Fairy, and Dao Yueniang still chatting, he ignored them too.

The Spiritual Root in his hand felt like a hot potato, he confirmed the Qi Fortune Value had not changed, in fact, it had skyrocketed significantly, clearly indicating good fortune, and then turned to leave, returning to Sword Casting Manor.