Chapter 120: Great Scholar

Cai Hengxing spewed beautiful words from his mouth, scattering them as if they were free; what scheme he had in mind, the two Daoists knew full well.

Since he possesses the talent of a top scholar, if we could befriend him, it would be best to gain even a hint of his guidance; then, when he becomes one of us, it would be only natural.

Cai Hengxing is shrewd and cunning; his calculations can be heard from miles away.

Xue Dongming and the Yuhe Daoist exchanged a glance, their eyes also holding a hint of a smile.

Such learned scholars are not only liked by Cai Hengxing; they are also willing to accept them.

Because such learned scholars are too easy to enter the imperial court's recruitment scope.

When the current emperor seeks talent as if thirsty, if one catches his eye, high office and generous stipend will soon follow.

……

In the White Water Dragon Palace,

Bai Nu was constantly using the Dragon Pearl to nourish his depleted essence, energy, and spirit, fully preparing for the Divine Path Trial years ahead.

Although it was almost a dead end with ten deaths and no life, Bai Nu was unwilling to just sit and await death.

At that moment he suddenly transformed into a dragon shadow and flew out from the river surface; in an instant he arrived at the White Water Vast Sky, staring wide-eyed in surprise toward the direction of Fengyang Commandery.

Gazing far off, a vigorous and fierce Vast and Righteous Spiritual Opportunity stirred the heavens; the Vast and Righteous Qi shot straight into the firmament, cleansing the universe.

"Such Vast and Righteous Qi, fierce and unmatched, truly causes gods and ghosts to flee!"

Gazing at this strange omen, Bai Nu's expression also changed.

In the blink of an eye, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

Although possessing Vast and Righteous Qi makes gods and ghosts fearful, if one is willing to offer protection, there is a way to reduce the Divine Path Tribulation.

The Divine Path has long held a secret: when some deities or spirits face a great calamity, they often like to go to the homes of learned scholars to seek shelter, because the Vast and Righteous Qi is fierce and unmatched, capable of lessening a portion of the tribulation, or even dispelling the great calamity outright.

If that learned scholar possesses sufficiently strong Vast and Righteous Qi, obtaining even a single character from his calligraphy copybook can grant him an extra thread of life.

He had originally faced an imminent great calamity, already resolved to die, but now he saw a thread of life.

But upon carefully observing the direction, he couldn't help but feel a start in his eyes.

"Zhang Family..."

Bai Nu's eyes held some astonishment.

He was certain he hadn't misseen, for his daughter often ran to the Zhang Family, so he paid some attention to it.

"When did Zhang Jian acquire such a capable person?"

Bai Nu's eyes held some astonishment, and at the same time a hint of speculation, though the thought in his heart made it hard to believe.

Could it be that the one erupting with such Vast and Righteous Qi is Zhang Jian?

He had seen Zhang Jian before, but Zhang Jian bore no trace of Vast and Righteous Qi!

Unless, by a fortunate coincidence, he had comprehended some crucial juncture and successfully condensed Vast and Righteous Qi into his soul.

Whatever the possibility, Bai Nu felt an itch in his heart.

The matter is of great importance; he prepared to go see for himself.

……

In the courtyard, after Zhang Jian had gone through about ten failed attempts at contemplation,

At this moment, invisible light around him momentarily twisted; a bronze-colored radiance slowly appeared behind his head, faintly suggesting that something dense was being born within, but upon closer inspection it was hollow and empty.

Only certain cultivators with mana and spirit could see that, at the center of the bronze hue, a small bronze cauldron gradually coalesced, bearing the power to suppress heavenly and earthly spiritual mechanisms and to hinder divine thoughts.

After only a dozen or so trials and errors, the Three-type State Altar King Cauldron was truly condensed by him.

The Three-type State Altar King Cauldron is more three-dimensional than the Two-type, and its suppressing power is also greater.

Zhang Jian could sense that this is a powerful soul-defense technique, capable of warding off many strange soul illusions, or the impact of divine-thought marvelous arts.

As for how strong its defensive ability is, Zhang Jian does not know.

Without testing, accurate data cannot be obtained.

But it is surely very 'solid'!

This joy of success infected his mood.

Nothing is more refreshing than laboring and then receiving the due reward.

Moreover, this time he expended little effort yet obtained the reward he rightfully deserved.

His eyes now gleamed with eager anticipation: "Perhaps I can still continue to assault the Four-type State Altar King Cauldron for a try; the Four-type State Altar King Cauldron requires condensing a corresponding layer of the Hidden Dragon Fate, so as to integrate it into the cauldron wall, turning it into a foundation; once cultivation succeeds, it corresponds to a Golden Core-level soul-defense technique……"

Zhang Jian felt that he still had energy.

As for that special fate called Asking the Tripod Mountains and Rivers, possessing the foundation of a commandery, condensing it is not difficult; one only needs to gather the mountains and rivers pattern of Fengyang Commandery into the body.

But after thinking, he still restrained himself.

Having consecutively cultivated the Two-type and Three-type State Altar King Cauldrons, he should timely calm down, settle for a bit, and only after fully grasping the profundity of the Three-type State Altar King Cauldron should he then proceed to assault further, without delay.

In the moment of thought, he retracted the blazing Vast and Righteous Fire burning on his body like a scorching sun.

He noticed that the Vast and Righteous Fire deep within his jade heart had dimmed considerably, but what pleased him was that, after he ceased consumption, it slowly absorbed his internal mana and began to recover.

But the recovery speed is not fast.

"Looks like we should still maintain the good habit of reading!"

Zhang Jian had this thought flash through his mind.

With thoughts flickering, the Vast and Righteous Fire burning like a scorching sun all over his body also gradually retreated inward, and the circulating Vast and Righteous Qi dissipated.

Just then, Zhang Jian's eyes moved, gazing into the depths of the void.

Only a moment later, a stream of white vapor shot forth from outside the Zhang Family, swift as wind and lightning, instantly flying out from that void.

"Young Master!"

From afar, Zhang Jian heard a little girl's joyful cry.

Bai Xianyin's delighted figure appeared before Zhang Jian.

Seeing Zhang Jian's gaze come toward her, her expression was slightly surprised; Zhang Jian seemed to have sensed her arrival beforehand, merely glancing at the invisible spiritual energy fluctuations gathering around him, Bai Xianyin's pupils flashed a white light, and after a moment she couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise.

Young master, you managed to contemplate the State and Altar King's Cauldron so quickly? How fast!

Not bad luck, I managed to condense the State and Altar King's Cauldron ahead of time!

Zhang Jian gave a slight smile.

Bai Xianyin couldn't help but say delightedly: "Young master, indeed you possess extraordinary talent; without the transmission from the Transmission Skill Elder, you actually managed to succeed in cultivation in such a short time—truly you are a longevity immortal seed!"

Afterward she again took out a jade pendant from her person and threw it to Zhang Jian.

Young master, this jade pendant was entrusted to you by the master via the martial uncle; this pendant has the ability to mask one's destiny pattern—it's truly marvelous! See if you can conceal your destiny!

Zhang Jian glanced at the jade pendant in his hand, glowing with a blue-green light; his eyes brightened, he infused a bit of mana, and slightly refined it.

Then he saw the jade pendant transform into a stream of light that sank into the depths of his soul.

At the same time, a stream of righteous fire spark flowed out from deep within his heart, continuously flowing and merging into the depths of his soul; with his inner vision he could sense that the two destiny patterns within his destiny palace were instantly veiled by a layer of invisible, pure light.

The destiny pattern of the Red Virtue True King was enveloped by the righteous vital energy, transforming into a special destiny pattern composed of that righteous vital energy.

"The destiny of a great scholar!"