Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1427 - 3: Epic Choice, Da Ye Dynasty, Star Snow Pass!

Liu Tianning pondered: "Probably not."

"Then does he like men?"

"..." Liu Tianning didn't know what to say. Thinking about Zhao Xing's journey, he had a bunch of good brothers like Long Xiao, Xia Jing, Chen Shijie, Ye Yuxong... yet hardly any close female friends.

Perhaps You Ruo's disciple, the Chenxi Monarch Ji Zixuan, counted as one, but this closeness was not very apparent.

"This..." Liu Tianning was also unsure.

Could it be that Zhao Xing really likes men?

Just as the two locked eyes, growing more and more misguided in their thoughts.

"Gu~"

"Boom~"

A celestial phenomenon appeared.

"Hmm?" Cloud Sky Dao and Liu Tianning suddenly stared at the sky.

"Swish~" Zhao Xing also returned.

The light in the sky grew stronger, as the Minister of Agriculture, the three of them could clearly feel this change.

"The Xuanhuang Realm Boat has emerged from the Void River!" Zhao Xing speculated.

"I feel the Sun Power has become stronger." Cloud Sky Dao took a deep breath, "There seems to be some Spiritual Energy accumulating on the realm wall of the Boundary Boat."

"Let's go to the core region and take a look." Liu Tianning suggested.

"Let's go."

...

"Report to Your Majesty and the Grand Minister of Agriculture. The Xuanhuang Realm Boat has sailed through the Void River for a total of 401 years."

"Under the leadership of Lord Purple Bone, it cut into the branch nodes of the Void River a total of twenty times."

"Each time was flawlessly precise."

"According to the star map, we are now at the edge of the Desolate Domain, and in fifty years, we will completely leave the Chenluo Wasteland." Lu Ying reported.

The Xuanhuang Realm Boat, moving through the Void River, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

With the presence of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerate, each node switch was considered perfect.

Although the power cabin was in Qing Yu Zi's hands, it actually belonged to Putta. As Putta's heir, Purple Bone operated it with Lu Ying assisting, so there was absolutely no problem.

Thus, in the 451st year of Taishi, the Xuanhuang Realm Boat parted from the Void River for the first time and began to decelerate.

"Only fifty years to leave the Chenluo Wasteland?" Ji Che was delighted, and the others had complex expressions, with anticipation and anxiety alike.

"Quick, let me see the star map."

"Yes." Lu Ying started to operate the star map, projecting the image of a galaxy into the sky.

"Big brother, where are we?" Ji Che asked. This kind of question was naturally directed to Zhao Xing.

"We're at the border between Star Snow Pass and the Chenluo Wasteland, situated to the north of the Da Ye Dynasty." Zhao Xing compared it to the map, "In fact, we are very close. However, our Xuanhuang Realm Boat is at the Star Dao Soldiers level, so it still requires about fifty more years of flight to reach Star Snow Pass."

"Wait, weren't we supposed to appear in the Yuanhai Ancient Country?" one military officer asked. "How did we end up at the northern part of the Da Ye Dynasty?"

"The Da Ye Dynasty is part of the Yuanhai Ancient Country." Zhao Xing explained, "If a war broke out, the enemy would certainly see it as such; the ancient countries have many vassals."

"The Da Ye Dynasty was precisely established to guard Star Snow Pass."

"How strong is it?" Ji Che asked.

"In Qing Yu Zi's understanding, the Da Ye Dynasty isn't much to speak of, considered relatively weak within the Yuanhai Ancient Country."

"Weak?" a military officer questioned, "Aren't border defenses supposed to be very strong?"

Zhao Xing pointed to the map: "To the north is the Chenluo Wasteland, where would the enemy come from?"

"The ascendant forces coming out of the Desolate Domain, how strong can they be? They are hardly worth mentioning."

"The ancient country places vassal forces on the border of the Desolate Domain, serving one purpose: as a buffer zone against the spread of the wasteland."

"You have all seen how a desert erodes the land. On the edge of the desert, trees are often planted to prevent further desert expansion."

"The Da Ye Dynasty serves as those trees."

"Relative to the ancient country, the Da Ye Dynasty indeed isn't strong. It probably has only a couple of Third Realm cultivators. Though not capable of stopping the wasteland expansion like a 'Tao Domain Realm' might, with a Third Realm dynasty rallying the power of the entire country to block the wasteland expansion, it still plays a role."

"So it turns out, guarding the border of the wasteland is truly a thankless task." Luo Hou King frowned, "Since there's no danger, surely there aren't many benefits to be given either."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded, "For a Third Realm individual, such a task without much life-threatening danger offers very few rewards."

"However, for a dynasty, gaining immigration rights to the ancient country and becoming part of it is the first benefit."

"Although the Spiritual Energy Index at the wasteland border isn't high, after all, it's an opportunity for development. Getting a foothold to live and thrive is quite good."

"What's the second benefit then?" Luo Hou King inquired.

"The second benefit is that the exploration teams leaving the border can collect tolls or similar fees."

"The third benefit is us." Zhao Xing said expressionlessly. "Over time, annexing one after another of the ascendant forces from the wasteland, plundering resources, adopting the best, and converting them into our people; extending the timeline gradually strengthens the dynasty's power."

"Though slow, it is steady."

The ministers remained silent.

"Are you saying the Da Ye Dynasty will take action against the natives emerging from the wasteland?" Luo Hou King asked, frowning.

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded, "The ancient country typically doesn't accept the wasteland's wildlings, as they already have enough of their own citizens."

"The Da Ye Dynasty devours wasteland forces; the ancient country requires them to pay tribute, maintaining control over them... big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp."

"That's how things are."

Prime Minister Tong Wen Zhuo felt a severe clash between his cosmic view and personal values and frowned, asking, "Grand Minister of Agriculture, I have a few questions."