Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1279 - 5: Since You Have Met the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Why Do You Not Bow?

"Hmm? What's happening here?" Zhao Xing's heart skipped a beat as he noticed something seemed off with the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird's state. "Li Qingzhi, what's wrong with you?"

The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird gazed at the sky for a moment, then cheerfully said, "Ga ga, nothing's wrong, Zhao Xing, it's just that my time is up."

"Ah?" Zhao Xing's eyebrows twitched.

"I've lived for tens of thousands of years in the world of the Dream Palace; even before my physical death, I had already lived a long time."

The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird pointed its wings to the sky: "Whether as a war soul of a Mechanical Beast or the Artifact Spirit of the Dream Palace, neither is eternally immortal."

"After you released me, I'm no longer under the survival rules of the Artifact Spirit."

"So..." Zhao Xing thought of something.

"Yes, in my current state, I can only follow the extreme lifespan rules of the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird." The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird began flapping its wings.

"There is another way to survive: you could return to the Dream Palace and become an Artifact Spirit again."

Zhao Xing asked, "Perhaps when ascending in the future, there might be a way to live longer."

"Ga ga ga~" The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird laughed out loud and, while laughing, it flapped its molting wings and flew up: "No, I don't want to go back there."

"I can only live for about three more months, I've had a premonition of it for a long time. But so what? Being able to enjoy three months of freedom is already quite good."

Whoosh~ The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird adjusted itself and finally took flight.

Zhao Xing led it out of the Imperial Palace and watched as the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird soared freely in the sky, feeling a bit melancholic.

"Life is precious, love is more valuable; for the sake of freedom, both can be sacrificed."

"Li Qingzhi spent tens of thousands of years breaking out of the cage, just for three months of freedom."

Whoosh~ The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird suddenly spun around and appeared beside Zhao Xing: "Zhao Xing, look, there's no suppression in this world, I no longer have to fly as slowly as before."

"Am I flying fast?"

Zhao Xing chuckled: "Very fast."

"Ga ga ga~" The Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird laughed, "Come on, Zhao Xing, let's race and see who flies faster!"

"Alright!" Zhao Xing immediately executed the Roc Transformation, and soon a gigantic Roc appeared above the Nine Heavens.

"Wow! It's huge!"

"Come, Li Qingzhi, let's see who can fly to the Extreme North first."

"Alright, let's go!"

Three months later, in the Extreme North, on a deserted island.

Zhao Xing stood before a stele, carving a line:

The Tomb of the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird, Li Qingzhi.

After a moment's pause, Zhao Xing added a small epitaph: Freedom of will, unwavering until death.

Zhao Xing looked at the sky, feeling that the clouds were too thick and not vast enough.

So he pointed a finger, and the clouds instantly dispersed, revealing a sky full of stars.

Then Zhao Xing executed the Heavenly Time Technique and Geographical Advantage Skill, adjusted the Heaven and Earth Six Qi, using the third level of the Seasonal Order, to change the island's season to be perpetually spring.

"Now, you can soar to your heart's content."

After doing all of this, Zhao Xing looked at the tombstone, waved with a smile, and said:

"I'm leaving now, silly bird senior."

...

Tianyong State, Fengjing, Ministry of Sinong.

"Grand Minister of Agriculture, where has your true self gone?" Meng Kun found Zhao Xing and noticed he had activated a backup avatar, which piqued his curiosity.

"Went to Beiji State," Zhao Xing replied, "to bid farewell to an old friend."

"Oh, I see." Meng Kun didn't dwell on it and began reporting on work: "Mi Fei has been transferred back to the Capital, and Tong Wen Zhuo sent someone to ask what position he should be assigned to?"

"Let Mi Fei take the position of Vice President of the Fengjing Dao Research Institute, third rank." Zhao Xing said.

"No need for Mi Fei to see me, just send a message to him."

"What message?"

"Tell him not to go down again; he's almost five hundred years old, and if he goes down again, I won't fish him out."

"Understood." Meng Kun nodded and quickly took note.

At this moment, Meng Kun was also a Junior Agricultural Officer, but he was slightly less capable and not suitable to take charge alone, so Zhao Xing kept him by his side.

Meng Kun was quite willing too; he couldn't be the boss at Kunyuan Academy and was just an assistant to Qiu Yuanshan, so assisting Zhao Xing was much more interesting.

This also showed Meng Kun's support for Zhao Xing.

My Lao Meng family has a prominent background; my grandfather was once the Grand Minister of Agriculture, my uncle was once the leader of the Earth Advantage Sect, yet I am willing to serve as a clerk under Zhao Xing's command, so what arrogance do others have?

"Chen Yu from the Taicang Supervisor reported that this year Beichen Country in Yuanling State has applied for another extension on the 'Golden Fragrance Medicine Tax.' This is the fifth extension application, should we approve it?"

Zhao Xing frowned deeply upon hearing this, "The Golden Fragrance Medicine Tax is collected every ten years, why extend it again?"

"The Prime Minister of Beichen Country claims it's due to a natural disaster."

"Was there really a natural disaster?" As Zhao Xing walked, he suddenly stopped, "Did the Primordial Qi Tide affect Beichen Country?"

"Two months ago, I sent someone to investigate in the northern Yuanling State. Indeed, there was a disaster, but the impact wasn't that severe," Meng Kun said.

Zhao Xing sneered, "So Beichen King looks down on me, the newly appointed Grand Minister of Agriculture."

"He has some nerve!" Meng Kun was also infuriated upon hearing this, "When Liu Tianning was the Grand Minister of Agriculture, he didn't pay, which was forgivable, but now that you're in charge, he still dares to default?!"

"Grand Minister of Agriculture, this country's officials must be covering things up; otherwise, we would have found something out by now."

"I think this matter needs to be thoroughly investigated and dealt with severely! You issue the order, and I'll take the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer to cut down those corrupt officials!"

Zhao Xing: "..."

With Meng Kun saying this, he instead calmed down.