"You... you..." Jing Yan looked at Zhao Xing, filled with grief and indignation. Before he could finish speaking, he was thrown into the arena by Chen Xuan to take a beating.

"Captain, please show mercy... Ah!"

"Hahahaha." Instant laughter erupted from outside the arena.

...

Good times are always short-lived. Soon, Zhao Xing immersed himself in cultivation, preparing for the Primordial Conference.

"I have now mastered seven divine skills."

"Soul Heavenly Vision, Divine Fire Turtle Transformation, Ti Yuan Divine Power, Purple Light Eight Epochs, Slaughter Thought Blade, Three Gods Fate Palace, Giant Sun Grassman."

"The Primordial Conference doesn't focus on equipment, so it only depends on personal cultivation."

"The Primordial Conference consists of four rounds of selection, mainly involving spells, dojos, souls, and spiritual will."

"There are multiple registration divisions, primarily divided into auxiliary and combat types."

"I won't register for the auxiliary division, it will only be more competitive," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Within the empire, it's relatively safe and peaceful, so there are far more auxiliary Ministers of Agriculture than combat ones.

Competing in this direction, I'm afraid I can't outshine others.

"In these 125 years of cultivation, I'll focus mainly on Giant Sun Grassman, Soul Heavenly Vision, Three Gods Fate Palace, Will Divine Power, and dojo cultivation."

As for combat-type divine skills, Zhao Xing's Heavenly Time and Earth Advantage, none are meant for combat; even Purple Light Eight Epochs is auxiliary in nature.

In terms of background, Zhao Xing is certainly not on par with the genius talents of those big families.

However, Zhao Xing has an advantage that no one can match.

"Before the Primordial Conference selection begins, no one knows the content of the assessment."

"But I do know!"

"I remember the first test of this session is about the willpower category, so the first task is to cultivate the Slaughter Thought Blade divine skill," Zhao Xing recalled.

"To be well-prepared, I must practice one more defensive will divine skill."

The Slaughter Thought Blade belongs to the offensive category among will divine skills.

Preparing one more defensive divine skill is never a bad thing.

"I still have two to three billion Red Star Coins, more than enough to purchase a mind defense divine skill."

Zhao Xing immediately began selecting and quickly locked onto a defensive mind divine skill.

"It's settled, the 'Spirit Bell' sold by Wanxin Island, which can be trained into a Great Divine Power with multiple developmental directions afterward."

Wanxin Island is a very famous power in the Red Star Empire, known for producing Spirit Illusionists, Soul Controllers, and other professions. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"There's a branch in the Beihai System. Inviting a Tao Domain Realm scholar from Wanxin Island costs at least 1 billion Red Star Coins. After preaching, the divine skill level directly reaches between one and three ranks."

"Spending 10 billion, the level reaches between four and six ranks after preaching."

"Spending 100 billion, the level reaches between seven and nine ranks after preaching."

"They guarantee teaching success, saving time and effort, as long as you have money."

"Mind-type divine skills are indeed expensive. Other divine skills can be purchased for as little as several tens of millions of Red Star Coins."

Zhao Xing chose the 10 billion service, placed an order through the Star Mirror, and soon, a representative from Wanxin Island appeared in the Star Mirror.

"Please provide the location for preaching. Within the Beihai System, Wanxin Island will arrange for a suitable scholar to come within ten years."

"Beyond the Beihai System, it will take longer, depending on the distance."

"Beihai System, Wuye Constellation, Fengdu Boundary Star, King Zhao City."

"Please confirm once again."

After repeated confirmation, the Wanxin Island representative replied, "The preaching scholar 'Xia Wen Yuan' has been confirmed for you, scheduled to arrive in nine years and eight months."

Zhao Xing nodded and put away the Star Mirror.

Actually, Wanxin Island has branches on top-tier Boundary Stars in the Beihai System, taking only a few months to reach.

However, the preaching scholar also needs to prepare, queue up, and so on, so it will ultimately take over nine years to reach the Fengdu Boundary Star.

"Nine years, I can't just wait. I should practice the Slaughter Thought Blade first," Zhao Xing pondered.

With a thought, he appeared in the Great Zhou's Minister of Agriculture Supervision.

"Greetings, Grand Minister of Agriculture." Meng Kun stood up immediately.

Due to Ji Che's promise, Wang Tianzhi would be Zhao Xing's successor as the Grand Minister of Agriculture.

So now Zhao Xing is still the nominal Grand Minister of Agriculture, but the actual duties are managed by several Ministers of Agriculture.

"There's no need for formalities, Mr. Meng," Zhao Xing cupped his hands. "I've come to ask if Great Zhou is currently raising any ferocious beasts?"

"There are indeed many being raised for food, but there are only three types of ferocious beasts: the Illusion Snake, Silver-backed Thorns Dragon, and the Magga Giant Beast."

"How many are in the Third Realm?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Not many, just a few hundred," Meng Kun replied. "Nurturing these beasts into maturity is costly, and it's only been Great Zhou's business for the past 500 years, so we don't dare be too aggressive."

Great Zhou has improved but isn't as deep-rooted as the former Da Ye Dynasty was.

Ji Che has always desired expansive development, but the high ministers prefer a more steady approach.

Thus, even with over tens of billions of Red Star Coins in the national treasury, many ventures are undertaken with caution.

"Only a few hundred..." Zhao Xing thought and then said, "Never mind... Who is behind this business?"

The three types raised by Great Zhou are bound by life structure secrets and not just anyone qualifies to raise them.

"Mr. Jing Yan made the connection, and the seller is the 'Tianhe Ranch' under 'Green Field Commerce'."

"I got it."

...

"Why do you want to buy so many giant beasts?" Jing Yan asked with some puzzlement.

"To practice divine skills," Zhao Xing answered.

"What kind of divine skills?"

"Will divine skills."

"Oh, I see," Jing Yan said. "I'll ask Green Field Commerce."

"Alright."

Zhao Xing was certain Green Field Commerce had this business.

The Red Star Empire and many ancient countries are relatively safe, prohibiting internal personnel from mutual slaughter.