Chapter 108: All the Foundations of a Commandery Are in One's Bag (II)

Bai Nu looked at Xuan Jiu before him, letting out a cold snort.

"You seem to really want the Zhang Clan to contend for the dragon; what's in it for you?"

Xuan Jiu stroked his beard and gave a light smile; the two were like old friends.

In fact, they truly were old friends.

Xuan Jiu was the strong aid summoned by Bai Nu.

He smiled and said, "Dragon Lord, do you see me as someone who greedily seeks benefits and repayment?"

Bai Nu snorted, neither affirming nor denying.

But his gaze clearly identified this black tortoise as that kind of person.

Roar!

At that moment, a distant, ancient dragon's chant faintly came from the deep white waters; this tender dragon's chant arrived, Bai Nu's eyes shifted, and a hint of joy appeared in his gaze.

"It seems Li Ying has successfully condensed the flood dragon's power fate, achieving a successful fate-testing foundation establishment!"

Xuan Jiu witnessed this scene, his gaze narrowed, and after a moment he said, "Your daughter is indeed fortunate; her breakthrough coincided with the hidden dragon entering the abyss, allowing her to break through by borrowing a thread of fate's qi, but if she becomes too involved with the hidden dragon in the future, her cultivation path will inevitably encounter twists and turns."

Bai Nu gave a light snort upon hearing that.

"You old tortoise just know how to throw down a challenge!"

"But even without this, the path to longevity is likewise filled with thorns and white bones; making connections or not makes little difference—it's just tribulations. Who knows when a cultivator might die midway?"

Bai Nu didn't care at all.

Seeing this old flood dragon lazing about, Xuan Jiu was speechless.

But upon careful thought, that indeed is the case.

Even if they don't get involved, would the tribulations be fewer?

Not necessarily!

Bai Nu's eyes changed, yet he extended an invitation to Xuan Jiu: "Old tortoise, now my family's little four has succeeded in fate-testing foundation establishment; you are the sole witness—how about entering the water mansion for a cup of water wine?"

"The water wine of your White Water Dragon Palace is extremely bland!"

Saying that, Xuan Jiu did not refuse.

……

Weiwei Grotto Spirit Temple

The Grotto Spirit Temple is located at the highest point within Phoenix Sun Commandery; Daoist Yuhe wore feathered robes, but at this moment his face bore a worried expression.

He observed the changes within and without Phoenix Sun Commandery, yet he paid no heed; the Grotto Spirit Temple has always remained transcendent and worldly.

Of course, he also possessed absolute confidence, able to suppress all changes.

At this moment, Daoist Yuhe's thoughts were about his own prospects; a few days ago he had welcomed Ancestor Dongming of the Dong generation, but his flattery fell flat, ending up hitting the horse's leg instead, gaining no benefit and instead suffering a minor setback, which left Daoist Yuhe continually uneasy.

If Ancestor Dongming took offense and gave him small shoes in the Haojing Chief Observatory, his position as abbot of the Ten Directions Forest Temple might not be secure.

This is indeed a lucrative post.

Holding this position, overseeing numerous temples within and without Phoenix Sun Commandery, or small cultivation clans, even without taking any action, the yearly resources gathered by the temples are considerable, with spiritual medicines being especially substantial.

If he lost this position, advancing his Dao further would be all the more difficult.

Daoist Yuhe's inner vexation left him no mind to attend to various problems.

At that moment, Zhang Jian also hurried into the Grotto Spirit Temple, simultaneously presenting a visitation card; however, Daoist Yuhe was still pondering how to retain his own temple's abbot position, had no desire to meet, and thus directly refused, merely sending a guest attendant to welcome him.

Zhang Jian didn't mind either.

He entered the Grotto Spirit Temple merely to ensure Lady Zhang Qishi's safety.

Inside the Grotto Spirit Temple.

Zhang Jian soon saw Lady Zhang Qishi approaching the main hall on foot.

"Ah Yu, how did you end up here?"

Upon seeing Zhang Jian's figure, Lady Zhang Qishi's eyes showed some surprise; according to the news she had received, Zhang Jian should have been on his way back to Phoenix Sun Commandery.

"Some unexpected events occurred, so I hurried back to Phoenix Sun Commandery ahead of schedule!"

Seeing Lady Zhang Qishi's kind expression, Zhang Jian couldn't bear to worry her, so he didn't directly tell her the details, chatted a few sentences, and his gaze fell upon the Grotto Spirit Temple.

Within this temple, he saw many Daoists possessing spiritual sensitivity, several of whom had entered the Nurturing Spirit stage, which was quite rare.

Zhang Jian glanced at this modest temple; in fact, calling it a temple is an understatement—it could already be called a Daoist palace.

Inside, there must be accomplished cultivators.

Zhang Jian had actually wanted to make contact with the Grotto Spirit Temple for some time, but never had the opportunity; however, he knew that as the Zhang Clan's fortunes rose, contact with the Grotto Spirit Temple was inevitable.

Moreover, needless to say, his Hidden Dragon fate had just begun to show, and the Grotto Spirit Temple is the Great Qian State Religion, so overlap was certain.

But for now, there is no contradiction between them.

Zhang Jian took Lady Zhang Qishi back, simultaneously presenting a generous offering of incense oil money; thus, in the earnest gaze of the guest attendant, he was politely sent down the mountain.

……

Within and without Phoenix Sun Commandery, after Qi Yuansi led the garrison troops stationed outside the city into the city, the Yu Clan's 'rebellion' gradually subsided.

The great army set out and advanced, sweeping aside everything.

The Yu Clan's retainers, warriors, and younger members—some died, some surrendered—various key locations throughout Phoenix Sun Commandery were gradually cleared by the garrison troops, and control was reclaimed.

The stirred-up storm gradually subsided.

However, the waves sparked by the Yu Clan's rebellion had far-reaching impact.

Although the Yu Clan's sudden 'rebellion' this time, there were still many external forces—for example, gangs on the Black and White Ways, or officials who had not yet had a chance to respond—and as the Yu Clan's rebellion was swiftly quelled, those who had previously held clear stances suddenly fell into misfortune, becoming targets of reckoning.

This also triggered a great upheaval in the officialdom of Phoenix Sun Commandery.

Phoenix Sun Commandery within and without had originally been gloomy; after Yu Tongguang's death, many officials had already been purged, and now the Yu Clan collapsed in quick succession, making the already unstable Phoenix Sun Commandery akin to a vast mire, everywhere reeking of the stench of blood and gore.

Especially among the four great clans, another clan—the Gu Clan's patriarch—also suffered heavy blows in this turmoil, his life or death unknown, which further added many unstable factors to Phoenix Sun Commandery.

Zhang Yi also had a premonition that Fengyang Commandery could no longer remain in turmoil; otherwise, outside forces would inevitably intervene. After discussing with Qi Yi, they decided that this time they would only execute the chief culprits and leave the others unquestioned, thereby first stabilizing the situation inside and outside Fengyang Commandery, and then raise other matters.

……

In the Zhang Clan manor, Zhang Jian stood upright in the garden, his whole body inhaled and exhaled spiritual energy, the spiritual energy circulated, countless crimson light-shadows layered behind him, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth rotated around him, as if transforming into a huge spiritual cauldron, the boundless dense spiritual energy around him turned into a torrent that poured into his physique.

Zhang Jian examined himself inwardly and could feel his magical power rapidly expanding, the speed extremely fast.

Especially Zhang Jian noticed that, after the Zhang Clan's fortunes rose, he seemed able to gather a clearly greater amount of heaven and earth's spiritual energy; his cultivation in that single night equaled the arduous practice of many previous days.

That Tong Mountain Pure Treasure Record is indeed marvelously extraordinary, imbibing the mysteries of the state altar, seizing the creation of heaven and earth.

Furthermore, Zhang Jian noticed that, as the Zhang Clan's influence gradually spread throughout Fengyang Commandery inside and out, the two layers of destiny pattern deep in his brow absorbed the unseen brocade fortune, also undergoing an intangible change.