Chapter 1980: 21: Reborn to Pioneer the Empire! (Part 4)

Zhao Xing took the clauses and looked at them, shaking his head: "No objections."These clauses mainly imposed economic constraints on Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing wanted to take over the Ancient Star Path and had gathered so much funding, essentially spreading out a massive number of cause and effect lines caused by wealth within two years, and the Heavenly Master Mansion was the first to detect the anomaly.

Sending Ji Si and Jing Yue over served both to strengthen protection and to prevent Zhao Xing from absconding with the funds.

No matter whether Zhao Xing wanted to run or not, that was the procedure.

The main reason was Zhao Xing’s weak foundation.

Within the Empire, he only had territories on about ten Boundary Stars, and his deep-rooted time within the Empire was too short to undergo these protective procedures, making it much more troublesome compared to the established nobility.

It is anticipated that once the deal is struck, Star Fire will inevitably send people to oversee things.

...

On the other side, Emperor Hongshan was also warning Zhao Xing.

"You can proceed if you wish, but neither I nor the Five Elements Emperor can appear on the Ancient Star Path. We can only invest money; everyone has been assigned tasks on the Ancient Hill."

"I understand." Zhao Xing nodded. Public resources are not for private use; otherwise, the nature changes. It’s as if Zhao Xing were exploiting the superpower’s resources for personal gain.

"I’m glad you understand," Emperor Hongshan nodded. "However, Lord Lu Shan does not have a specific position. When the matter is settled, you could allow him to hold a position on the Ancient Star Path."

"Yes, thank you, Emperor."

...

The Ancient Star Path is a medium-sized path, where Zhao Xing wanted to take over. Just having money wasn’t sufficient; he also had to face the second challenge: acceptance of qualifications.

The evaluation standard of the Red Star Empire is that the accepting party must have the Mystical Mechanism Bureau, Minister of Agriculture Supervision, Tuoye Army, Boundary Transport Department, and Medical Department, five main departments, plus subordinate institutions, such as the Internal Treasury Department, Auditing Department, Miscellaneous Buying, Miscellaneous Selling, Transfer, Mortgage, and Medicines, among several others.

In addition, a medium-sized path needs at least five Reincarnation Realm personnel in charge.

Suppose something goes wrong; the heads of the Tao Domain Realm are not enough to be chopped.

"When it really comes to doing things, you need to rely on your own people." Looking at these qualifications, Zhao Xing couldn’t help but sigh.

He raised funds but does not have these qualifications.

However... Great Zhou surprisingly complies!

"Reporting to the Grand Minister of Agriculture, after years of development, Great Zhou’s Reincarnation Realm Guest Elders have already surpassed twelve, which first meets the standards of a medium-sized path in terms of powerful individuals."

"Secondly, Great Zhou’s Fengdu Chamber of Commerce, Great Zhou Boundary Transport Department, our transport capacity has also reached the minimum threshold needed for developing a medium-sized path."

"Only the Military Department Tuoye Army has not originally met this requirement."

"However, since the Transmission Building was opened and Bo Wei announced the theory of equal teaching, and the Empire reached a temporary peace with the Demon Race, the requirements for the Military Department Tuoye Army have also been greatly reduced."

"Beihai Lord has agreed to lend manpower, and he sent Yang Zhuo to join Great Zhou’s Military Department, so that part of the problem is also solved."

"The Medical Department still lacks some criteria, but Your Majesty is persuading loose cultivator physicians to join, and three Reincarnation Realm physicians have already expressed intentions."

"Only the highest requirement for the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, among Great Zhou’s twelve Guest Elders, there is not a Reincarnation Realm Minister of Agriculture."

"King Taihe is in seclusion breaking through, but it is uncertain when he will emerge."

The report was made by Great Zhou’s Left Minister, Tong Wensheng.

Listening to him, Zhao Xing couldn’t help but smile: "The matter of the Minister of Agriculture can be solved. Calling a Reincarnation Realm Minister of Agriculture to substitute for a position is straightforward; I already have a suitable candidate."

Reincarnation Realm Ministers of Agriculture are hard to find, but Zhao Xing has partners.

Qi Tian from the Four Seasons Palace is who Zhao Xing decided on.

This person once infiltrated the Cloud Immortal Realm with him and together completed the transformation in the Demon Ape Clan cavern. The Ten Thousand Spirits Marquis Transformation Technique from the Four Seasons Palace was still taught by him.

Later, Qi Tian followed Yang Baihe’s Reincarnation Group and, during the world-breaking action, broke through to the Reincarnation Realm. He is now also one of the partners.

"Given these circumstances, Great Zhou is already fully qualified to take over the Ancient Star Path."

"Tong Xiang, make preparations for Great Zhou’s negotiation team to conduct negotiations in two months," Zhao Xing said.

"Yes."

...

Two months later, Great Zhou’s negotiation team arrived at Jia Chen Fourteen Passes, Crystal Island, to meet with the representative teams from the four major families.

With Emperor Lu Shan acting as the intermediary, the four families’ representatives met with the relatively unknown ’Fengdu Chamber of Commerce negotiation team.’

Half a year later, the price negotiation for Crystal Island concluded.

Due to Ruyin Carlos’s urgent desire to escape the bottomless pit of the Annihilation Star Corridor, and the price offered by Great Zhou being comparatively high and possible to settle in one payment, the negotiation quickly finalized.

Great Zhou comprehensively received the developed areas of the Ancient Star Path, and even packaged the constructed Array works, mechanical facilities, including survival bases, all in one sale to Great Zhou.

After the two delegations signed the Divine Contract on the great rectangular table, a rainbow light enveloped the entire hall.

Both Great Zhou’s delegation and Carlos Family’s delegation smiled as they left their seats.

As their gazes crossed each other, they seemed to hear a two-word thought in each other’s eyes:

After the end.

Looking at the now-effective contract, Zhao Xing smiled with embarrassment: "From now on, I am the contractor for the Ancient Star Path."

Next to him, Tong Wensheng hesitated to speak.

Zhao Xing glanced at him: "Tong Xiang, speak freely if you wish."

"Grand Minister of Agriculture, taking over the Ancient Star Path, Great Zhou only has the minimum qualifications." Tong Wensheng expressed worry:

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture cannot use public power for private use; to develop the Ancient Star Path, manpower is essential, especially the Minister of Agriculture."

"And Great Zhou’s Minister of Agriculture Supervision, although rapidly developing, is far from meeting the requirements for pioneering...Grand Minister of Agriculture, can we truly succeed?"

He was unable to change Zhao Xing’s decision; this time, he was not the actual decision-maker, nor did he even know who was. Tong Wensheng was just following to see the world.

But the wealth and authority involved left him frightened and worried.

There were things he needed to express.

Great Zhou had finally reached this current situation, now embarking on a seemingly impossible endeavor. Accomplishing it would certainly take flight, but failure would lead to utter ruin.

Is this level of risk necessary?

Zhao Xing understood Tong Wensheng’s concerns: "Your worries aren’t misplaced, but everything in this world depends on human efforts!"

"Back when Stacked Realm Mountain was known as the problem of the century, yet now, it lies under my foot!"

"If you only engage in certain things with no risk, you are bound to have few benefits and simply waste time."

"Does Tong Xiang wish for Great Zhou to forever be working under others?"

"As for the shortage of the Minister of Agriculture you’re concerned about..." Zhao Xing showed a confident smile: "Tong Xiang, you need not worry."

"If I call upon the world’s Ministers of Agriculture to join me in fighting, they might be reluctant, but if I invite them for pioneering...Haha, do you believe I can make those from the Ancient Hill abandon public office and follow me?"

Those with official positions cannot come, as it violates the Empire’s regulations. However, if someone decides to give up their position on the previous path to follow Zhao Xing to Annihilation Star Corridor, then there is absolutely no issue!

Tong Wensheng was somewhat stunned; he had been staying domestically, without a concrete understanding of Zhao Xing’s influence. How had the Grand Minister of Agriculture gained such reputation?

Zhao Xing did not blame him, but instead spoke warmly: "Tong Xiang, staying and dealing only with documents in the country for too long might not necessarily be beneficial. Reading ten thousand scrolls is not better than walking ten thousand miles; inviting you here is also to broaden your horizons."

"Grand Minister’s teaching is valuable. I will certainly watch and learn more," Tong Wensheng acknowledged. He immediately asked a question: "How does the Grand Minister plan to assemble talent?"

"I will hold a Dharma gathering in the Annihilation Star Corridor," Zhao Xing stated.