Meng Gui emerged from the dark prison without hesitation and headed straight for the city gates.
From a distance, Ji Xia watched Meng Gui's retreating figure, feeling a mixture of emotions. He couldn't do anything but hope for his safe return.
A mere promise from the Great Fu Kingdom, and Tai Cang has to make countless preparations just to catch a glimpse of hope, Ji Xia thought quietly. When will Tai Cang become as powerful as the Great Fu?
He shook his head, dismissing the chaotic thoughts from his mind. Tai Cang's foundation is too weak. We can't achieve everything overnight. We must first stabilize the people's livelihoods, allow them to prosper, and only then can martial arts truly thrive.
In the vast wilderness, any kingdom or race's strength still relies on the number of powerful individuals in their ranks. If Tai Cang had ten Spirit Masters, even the Great Fu would have to think twice before acting, fearing they might provoke disaster.
Ji Xia sighed deeply. Just as he was about to return to the palace, a palace guard hurriedly ran up to him, kneeling and saluting with a joyful expression. "Ruler, General Ji has broken through to the realm of divine powers, and auspicious clouds have come to celebrate."
Ji Xia was taken aback, his face lighting up with genuine delight. He looked up at the sky, and indeed, there was a magnificent display of multicolored auspicious clouds hovering above the royal court, accompanied by a rainbow, adding to the beauty.
The people of Tai City also noticed the auspicious clouds in the sky and hurriedly gathered on the city's high platforms to watch the magnificent scene from afar.
"This must be a good omen. It means Tai Cang will smoothly pass through this time of silence."
"Of course, it's a good omen. Doesn't that cloud look like the Great Wind totem?"
"It does resemble it. Is the Great Wind protecting Tai Cang this year? Not only has the ruler become the walking embodiment of Tai Cang, but now we have auspicious clouds appearing."
The citizens chattered, sharing their thoughts with each other, and the atmosphere was one of peace and harmony.
Ji Xia returned to the palace to find it crowded. Aside from the palace guards still maintaining their posts, ministers, generals, and officials had gathered in front of the Tai He Hall, their faces full of joy.
The young ruler smiled at this scene. He understood why the officials of Tai Cang were so happy. The power of a divine master was undeniable, and in conflicts between nations, the presence of even one more divine master could sometimes tip the balance of the war.
A single divine master could stand against hundreds of soldiers. Though, on the battlefield, a divine master charging recklessly might likely be hacked to death by a mass of soldiers or struck down by arrows, as long as they didn't foolishly charge alone into the fray, they would remain a significant threat.
Previously, Tai Cang only had two divine masters: Ji Xia's father, Ji Shang, an elder with immense power, and Ji Xia's seventh uncle, Ji Su.
But after Ji Su left Tai Cang to explore the boundless wilderness, and with Ji Shang's death, Tai Cang no longer had any divine masters, which made the last invasion by the Dog and Wolf Kingdom possible, as they knew Ji Shang had passed.
Ji Xia stood in front of the Tai He Hall, surveying the ministers of Tai Cang. It wasn't until then that someone noticed him. That official loudly called out, "Ruler!" and, after kneeling and saluting, all the officials in front of the Tai He Hall followed suit, bowing to Ji Xia in respect.
Ji Xia, surrounded by officials, saw Ji Qianqing among them, also kneeling respectfully.
The sight of this cheerful atmosphere lifted Ji Xia's previously somber mood, which had been weighed down by Meng Gui's departure to Crimson Flame Mountain. He laughed heartily and gestured for everyone to rise.
Just as he was getting up, two elderly figures, Lu Yu and Zhao Qu, approached him, their faces flushed with joy. "The Great Wind is protecting us, and General Ji has broken through from the mundane to divine powers!" they exclaimed joyfully.
Ji Xia put a finger to his ear and said, "Lord Lu, you're speaking too loudly, you almost deafened me."
The officials watching couldn't help but laugh at Ji Xia's teasing, and the atmosphere in front of Tai He Hall became even more relaxed and jovial.
Ji Xia walked up the palace steps, looking toward Ji Qianqing, who also wore a joyful expression. "Ruler, I have lived up to the former ruler's expectations. At the age of twenty-five, I have finally ascended to the realm of divine powers," she said.
Ji Xia smiled. "You have exceptional talent. My father always predicted that you would be Tai Cang's third divine master."
This wasn't just a polite remark. Ji Shang had often mentioned this to Ji Xia, and those memories hadn't faded.
Beside them, Po Xian laughed and said, "I'm much older than you, yet you've surpassed me and reached the divine path first. No wonder everyone in Tai Cang knows that you have the greatest talent."
Ji Qianqing glanced at Ji Xia and shook her head. "I'm not Tai Cang's most talented."
Po Xian thought for a moment but couldn't think of anyone else whose talent was superior to Ji Qianqing's. He asked curiously, "Could it be that a new genius has emerged among the youth of Tai Cang?"
Ji Xia realized Ji Qianqing was praising him and smiled proudly. Just as he was about to boast, the Tai Cang Chief Minister of Rites, Chang Feng, bowed and said, "According to our customs, when a divine master is born in Tai Cang, we must reward the citizens of Tai Cang."
Zhao Qu added, "And we must also offer sacrifices to the Great Wind, to our ancestors, and to the Celestial Court of Tai Cang."
Such ceremonies showed how seriously Tai Cang took the birth of a divine master.
"Six years ago, when Uncle Ji Su broke through to divine powers, how did the royal court reward the citizens?" Ji Xia asked Chang Feng.
"That was six years ago, during the greatest harvest in over a decade. The ruler, Ji Shang, ordered that every household be given an extra five days' worth of food," Chang Feng replied, stroking his white beard. "The ruler was extremely happy then, especially since he had always been fond of Ji Su. Ji Su broke through to the divine realm at the age of twenty-one, and it brought him immense joy. So the rewards were very generous."
Ji Xia thought it over carefully before clenching his teeth and saying, "Then we'll give five days' worth of food as well. After all, General Ji is the only divine master in Tai Cang. We can't be too stingy."
He laughed bitterly. Tai Cang was truly so poor that even giving five days' worth of food required him to hesitate for a long time.
This is the saying—"Only when you're in charge do you realize how precious rice and firewood are." Now that I'm in charge, I finally understand how valuable even five days of food can be.
"I'll need to figure out how to acquire some spiritual crystals. Maybe Ji Qianqing and I can secretly infiltrate the Dog and Wolf Kingdom's treasury…" Ji Xia briefly entertained this thought before immediately rejecting it. "Only someone as foolish as Qing Fu Ren would do such a thing. If Du Sang from the Dog and Wolf Kingdom notices us, we'd be surrounded and killed by those vicious dogs. We wouldn't even die with our eyes closed."
"Perhaps I can gather some spiritual seeds and trade for divine items in the Great Fu Kingdom?"
An idea suddenly formed in Ji Xia's mind. "With my current cultivation, even if the Great Fu Kingdom is stronger, as long as I'm careful, it shouldn't be too dangerous."
He silently made a decision that, once an opportunity arose, he would visit the Great Fu Kingdom. Not only to solve Tai Cang's food issue but also to see the grandeur of a powerful nation. Otherwise, if he remained in this isolated corner, waiting to resolve the Zhou Qing and Dog and Wolf issues, he might lose his ambition.
Chang Feng, receiving the ruler's command, immediately withdrew to make preparations for the rewards for the citizens. It was a rare occasion of great joy for Tai Cang, and it was only right that the whole country should celebrate.