The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 341 Public Opinion and Heavenly Will, the Power of Thought
The next morning, Zhao Ti mustered 10,000 cavalry, took Huang Tianbiao, and headed north out of the city.

The weather is warming up now, and it's already February. Although the ice and snow haven't melted yet, the cold of winter is no longer present.

Before long, the group set foot on the grassland. Huang Tianbiao's body jolted, and he jumped off the leather bag beside Zhou Dong's horse, running forward quickly.

Its body is not very large. Weasels are mostly slender, and the color of their fur is not fixed. It generally changes from yellow to light white, with varying shades.

Huang Tianbiao had a shiny, yellowish-brown coat, and because he had lived for so long, the darkest parts of the yellow even had a slight reddish tinge.

It ran faster and faster, and finally, like a streak of yellow light, it flashed a few times and disappeared into the distance.

Zhao Ti released his magical power to explore everything around him, especially underground.

There is a strange power on the grassland. This power covers the entire grassland and blesses the animals born on the grassland. It is speculated that this strange power is very likely hidden underground, making it difficult for outsiders to detect.

However, when his magic power penetrated less than a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) into the ground, it became difficult to continue. He felt the earth's pulse as heavy as a giant heartbeat, which even bounced his magic power back to the ground.

Zhao Ti vaguely sensed a surge of anger, seemingly coming from underground, but it vanished in an instant, making him almost think it was his imagination.

Hmm? Could there really be something underground?
Zhao Ti frowned on his horse. What could it be? A god or ghost, or a monster? Could it be born during this great upheaval in the world?

Once such a being appears, it will inevitably bring about a calamity. Could it be that this is what shamanism has awakened?
Could this be the ancestor of shamanism, Shaman Tian?
A variety of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and he kept pondering them. If what the white fox and other immortals said about the grassland was true, and it was indeed created by the founder of shamanism, then after the founder of shamanism created the grassland, did he fall into a deep sleep, and the place where he slept was under this earth?

At this moment, the world is undergoing a great change, and spiritual energy is being reborn. What ancient teachings does the shamanism have that allow it to take this opportunity to revive the shamanic patriarch?

Zhao Ti was lost in thought on horseback when Huang Tianbiao ran back and bowed, saying, "Young master, my skills have been fully restored."

Zhao Ti nodded and asked, "Can you cultivate to become human?"

Huang Tianbiao said, "Young master, I'm afraid it won't be possible in a short time. Although it's easier to cultivate on the grasslands than outside, it will probably take a long time to achieve success."

"Is that so?" Zhao Ti stroked his chin. "I thought you would be able to transform into human form soon after arriving on the grasslands."

“Yes, Master Huang.” Zhe Yanzhi said from the side, “Everyone wants to see what you look like in human form, Master Huang.”

Yao Youzhong also said, "We are all quite curious. We have never seen this before, and have only heard about it from storybooks and plays."

When Huang Tianbiao heard Zhe Yanzhi call him Huang Xianjia, he immediately became happy, and his mustache twitched: "My family is not favored by the grasslands and shamanism. Since ancient times, we have never occupied a good nest, but only lived in desolate tombs. Therefore, we have never had an ancestor with the ability to possess. If we had a good place to cultivate, with my hard work and accumulation over the years, I would surely be able to transform into human form in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti laughed and said, "Are you perhaps just boasting?"

Huang Tianbiao said awkwardly, "Young master, I'm not bragging, but if there's a good place to cultivate, you can transform into a human in a short time."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment: "I don't know much about this grassland. It's not like the famous mountains and rivers, or the blessed lands of the Central Plains. I don't know where the best place is. Shouldn't Wolf Mountain be considered one?"

Huang Tianbiao nodded hurriedly: "I understand, I understand. A few days ago, I told you that the Wolf Mountain lineage of beasts is unique because this place is different and suitable for cultivation, which is why they can stand on equal footing with the grassland wolves outside."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Go and take a look. If it's true, then do as we discussed yesterday and find a way to behead that wolf demon, seize this place, and let your family cultivate here."

Huang Tianbiao was overjoyed: "Thank you, young master, thank you, young master."

The group continued onward, with Zhe Yanzhi leading the way. After a long while, they arrived at Langshan, a branch of Yinshan.

Zhao Ti shaded his eyes with his hand and looked ahead. He saw a terrible mountain. Although it was not very tall or majestic, it was frost-cut and shrouded in cold mist. Mist and miasma clung to the peaks and the trees were rugged and thin. The mountain was steep and brittle, defying the ice and snow. Its menacing face and dangerous cliffs were terrifying.

He looked around for a moment, then his gaze fell on the distant Yinshan Mountains. He told Zhu Chuyi to take a look, and Zhu Chuyi rode his horse a short distance closer before returning and saying, "Your Highness, this mountain is the dragon's spine of the Great Grassland."

"The dragon's spine of the vast grasslands?"

"Indeed, the Yinshan dragon vein is hard and towering yet long. Although there are roads and valleys that can pass through it on flat ground, the dragon vein there goes underground and has not been truly severed."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?"

"That's my opinion, and..." Zhu Chu said.

"And what?" Zhao Ti asked.

"I... am afraid to say," Zhu Chuyi stammered.

Zhao Ti said calmly, "Please speak freely."

Zhu Chuyi's expression was not good: "I see that this dragon vein is extremely strong. Even though it has been formed for many years, it still has a momentum that is unstoppable. Moreover, judging from the direction of the dragon energy, it is pointing south and west, showing a strong momentum that is unstoppable and can swallow mountains and rivers."

Zhao Ti remained silent upon hearing this, while Zhu Chuyi continued, "This dragon is magnificent, from the Liao Kingdom, the Liao Kingdom..."

"With such a strong and legitimate dragon vein, is the Liao Kingdom not in danger of destruction, and will it ever reach its peak again?"

"That's true. Looking ahead to the next few hundred years, the power of the dragon vein will be like oil being poured into a raging fire, sweeping across mountains and rivers," Zhu Chuyi murmured.

“That might not necessarily be Liao,” Zhao Ti shook his head. “Perhaps it’s a different royal court. Let’s go and take a look.”

The Khitan had already reached its peak and then declined, followed by the Jin Dynasty. However, the Jin Dynasty's dragon vein did not originate from Yinshan, but rather from the area around the Hukai Mountains of the Great Xianbei Mountains in the northeast. As for the later Yuan Dynasty's dragon vein, it should be the Yinshan Mountains of the grasslands.

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhu Chuyi rode out again, this time going extremely far. He carried a compass and looked around as he went, until his shadow disappeared. He returned only after a long time.

"How is it?" Zhao Ti asked.

"Your Highness, it was my oversight. Yinshan is indeed far too long. I only saw a part of the whole and made a hasty judgment. I am guilty," Zhu Chuyi said, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"Tell me about it," Zhao Ti said.

"Observing the distant mountain range, some places still show signs of decline. If we infer from this, the Khitan are showing signs of decline after reaching their peak. However, this dragon vein is so vast that when it rises again in the future, there will still be amazing signs. I'm afraid that the power that is born from this will... sweep across all directions."

Zhao Ti was silent for a moment, then said, "We'll talk about the future later. Even if there really is such a thing as the Heavenly Secret Dragon Vein, it might not be impossible to change things. Putting aside the small things, if one day the grasslands no longer exist, how can there be any sweeping across the land? Things will change, and the secrets of heaven will change accordingly."

Zhu Chuyi said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. The field of metaphysics is indeed constantly being calculated and changed."

Zhao Ti said, "Humans are the head of all spirits. All things in the world should change according to humans. We should fight against heaven, earth, and all gods, ghosts, witches, and monsters. Humanity is the way to eternal prosperity. Humanity... should be the way of heaven."

The words "Humanity is the way of Heaven" seemed to dim the sunlight across the entire grassland. A wind blew, its howling sound carried by the unobstructed wind, seemingly filled with anger and hostility towards Zhao Ti's words.

Zhao Ti remained seated on his horse, a look of sudden realization appearing on his face.

Humanity is the way of Heaven. Heaven is ruthless. If Heaven had feelings, it too would grow old. The righteous path of humanity is full of vicissitudes. So the righteous path of humanity is the way of Heaven. What is this Heavenly Way above?
He looked up at the sky, where a few cool clouds drifted across the vast, sparse blue expanse. There were originally no roads in the world; it is only when many people walk on them that they become roads.

There are no gods or ghosts in the world; it is only when many people believe in them that gods and ghosts come into being.

Living beings may not originally have souls; death is like a lamp going out. But when many people think about it, a soul is created.

What Heaven sees comes from what the people see, and what Heaven hears comes from what the people hear. The will of the people is the will of Heaven.

The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical strength, disorder, or spirits.

The Master did not discuss strange, violent, disorderly, or supernatural matters.

The cautious attitude of the Master towards ghosts and gods stems from the power of human thought. Because it has been thought about, spoken about, and studied, and has been passed down by thousands of people, it may give rise to something, a scene, or a thing.

Those who pursue scholarship and study should cultivate their minds and character, maintain a proper attitude, and be cautious in their words and actions. This is because the words of scholars have a great influence. The more learned, knowledgeable, and discerning a scholar is, the more their words will be discussed and spread for a long time.

Once these words are misinterpreted and misunderstood, and so many people are thinking about them and studying them, who knows what might happen, what changes might occur? It's hard to say whether it will be a blessing or a curse.

In particular, discussions about disorder, violence, gods, and ghosts can be distorted into various forms, easily giving rise to strange and harmful phenomena.

This shows how powerful human thoughts can be. The more skilled a person is, the stronger their thoughts become, and they may even be able to separate their thoughts from their body and exist outside of it.

Zhao Ti pondered incessantly, gazing at the sky above. If that's the case, then the way of humanity is the way of heaven, and the will of the people is the will of heaven. So... what exactly is that heavenly way above us right now?
That is impossible for humans to understand, and the will of the people has not become the will of Heaven. People pray for world peace, favorable weather, good health, and abundant harvests, but the world is often plagued by war and disasters, and people suffer all kinds of misfortunes. Crops will not be bountiful every year, and various droughts, floods, and pests are constantly occurring.

Therefore, the Heavenly Way above is neither the will of the people nor the way of humanity; it is some unknown thing.

Zhao Ti squinted and remained silent for a long time before finally pulling on the reins and saying, "Let's go for a ride along the mountain."

The team started again, circling around Langshan Mountain to the far reaches of the Yinshan Mountain range, and then returned again, as dusk was falling.

Just then, the howling of wolves echoed from within Wolf Mountain. Not only were they extremely fierce, but they also carried a hint of eeriness, sending chills down one's spine.

Zhao Ti glanced at Wolf Mountain and snorted coldly, "Back to the city!"

It was already night when we returned to Wulahai. We ate and rested, and nothing happened that night.

A few days later, Zhao Ti was writing a memorial to Zhao Xu in the hall when Zhou Tong hurriedly walked in and said, "Your Majesty, Miss A Zhu and Master Kumārajīva have arrived."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti put down his brush and smiled slightly. "Where are you now? Why didn't you come along?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure moved at the entrance of the hall, and a charming and beautiful girl in a white dress flashed in. Her smile was as beautiful as a flower, and she was stunningly beautiful. With her entry, the entire hall seemed to become even brighter.

"Your Highness..." the girl began, her voice as melodious as a silver bell, her smile as bright as the sun; it was A'Zhu.

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "Oh, my chief steward has arrived?"

A Zhu's bright eyes sparkled, a hint of mischief in them: "Your Highness, I've come to serve you in charge of the household affairs."

Zhao Ti nodded: "This time, it's not about getting involved in anything, but about providing assistance from the sidelines."

A'Zhu's expression was lively and charming: "I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."

At this moment, Kumārajīva also walked in from outside, put his palms together and said, "Benefactor Zhao."

Zhao Ti asked, "How has the great monk's cultivation been during this time?"

Kumārajīva said, "I barely managed to enter the Dao through martial arts and stand firm on the first floor of the Twelve-Story Tower."

Zhao Ti said, "The Garuda lineage must be extremely powerful. I wonder what extraordinary magic the great monk has cultivated?"

Kumārajīva said, "To be informed, Benefactor Zhao, this humble monk has indeed mastered one type of magic, and is currently cultivating a second one. This second type of magic is quite miraculous, but also quite difficult to cultivate."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti laughed. "What kind of miraculous technique is it?"

Kumārajīva said, "This spell is called Golden Roc Spreading Wings. It allows one to generate wings from their magic power under their ribs and fly one foot off the ground at an extremely fast speed. As long as the magic power is maintained, one can keep flying."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti stroked his chin: "Can't it only fly one foot? Can't it fly higher?"

Kumārajīva said, "It is not possible at this time. The tradition says that one must gradually improve one's realm and increase one's magical power before one can fly higher."

Zhao Ti asked, "Will that count as true flight?"

Kumārajīva shook his head and said, "It still doesn't count. To truly fly, I'm afraid... one must reach the Dao Palace realm."

"The Dao Palace Realm..." Zhao Ti nodded. The Great Freedom Sutra and the Gandharva inheritance he obtained also had the art of flight, but the required magical power was too much, and his current realm was simply insufficient to support it, so he had not practiced it for the time being.

"How long can the great monk fly when he uses all his strength to activate this technique?"

"I am ashamed..." Kumārajīva put his palms together again: "Although it is only one foot off the ground, it will fall down after about fifty or sixty feet."

Zhao Ti asked doubtfully, "If you can exhaust all your magic power in such a short distance, what's the point of learning it?"

Kumārajīva sighed, “Benefactor Zhao only knows one thing but not the other. First, this humble monk is not good at lightness skills and wants to learn to make up for his lack of speed. Second, if you want to learn the successor of Garuda King’s legacy, you must know this Golden Roc Spreading Wings technique.”

"Must one know this spell to learn the subsequent inheritance?" Zhao Ti nodded. It seems that the inheritance of Garuda King is also special. However, since the god king's true form is a golden-winged roc, it is indeed unreasonable that he cannot fly. He should be able to fly from birth, regardless of altitude or distance.

He thought for a few moments, then recounted the events of the white fox and the Wolf Mountain on the Great Grassland to the two of them. Kumārajīva exclaimed in surprise, "The grassland has its own unique power, so wouldn't those who cultivate there have an innate advantage?"

Zhao Ti said, "This grassland is special; the supernatural power only works on animals and is useless on humans."

Kumārajīva asked in astonishment, "Why is this so?"

Zhao Ti said leisurely, "Education should be provided to all, but people are excluded. However, the world has changed drastically, and people of the grasslands can now cultivate on their own. There is no need to care about any special power."

Kumārajīva frowned and said, "I see, but there's probably something else going on behind this action."

Zhao Ti smiled. There was definitely something strange about it, but it was impossible to figure it out completely at the moment. He said, "The monks should eat and rest for now and wait for the evening's meeting."

Kumārajīva nodded, and then Zhou Tong led him out to settle in, leaving only Zhao Ti and A'Zhu in the room.

(End of this chapter)