Chapter 13: Golden Lotus Seeds

Zhang Clan Ancestral Hall

Zhang Jian led a group of people into this solemn ancestral land once again.

Zhang Yi had already been waiting in front of the shrine; at this moment he felt somewhat helpless.

However, he had already tried to persuade him, but there was nothing he could do if he couldn't be persuaded.

"Uncle Yi!", Zhang Jian smiled brightly.

"In serving our ancestors, we ought to be diligent and not slack off!"

"Come in!"

Zhang Yi, unwilling to waste more words, simply waved the whisk in his hand; Zhang Jian, meanwhile, adopted a solemn expression and called upon the sturdy men behind him to carry in load after load of cinnabar treasure notes and calming spirit lotuses.

On the solemn ancestral hall, the rows of ancestral spirit tablets were kept spotless, incense perpetually curled, lamps ever burning—all showing the prosperity of the Zhang clan.

Zhang Jian gazed at the central female golden statue; at that moment, faint red lightning fire swirled in his eyes, as if he could see rich golden light flowing across the golden statue.

Sacred, solemn.

Meanwhile, that ancient stone mirror felt extraordinarily heavy, as if a huge mirror were covering the heavens and enveloping the entire hall.

He dared not continue pouring his gaze into it.

There was something different in his eyes; he had never felt this before.

He couldn't help but recall the effects of the fire apricot: consolidating the foundation, nurturing essence, nourishing the spirit, and strengthening the soul.

This must be because his spiritual power has grown, allowing him to display such miraculous abilities.

"Hopefully this time we'll gain something new!"

Zhang Jian thought to himself.

This time should be different from the last; although he didn't rise in rank, he presented the Great Tubed Waterwheel Diagram, which earned merit for the state—though he used the Zhang family's hand, it should still increase his influence somewhat.

Zhang Jian himself didn't know whether he would gain anything.

But giving it a try is always harmless.

What if he manages to pull some wool!

As load after load of cinnabar treasure notes burned before his eyes, Zhang Jian noticed that part of them began to extinguish on their own.

His eyes twitched slightly; he had encountered this situation before.

For example, when he first noticed the anomaly, he realized he could only offer a portion of cinnabar spirit money to this 'ancestor'; if he forced it to burn again, he would promptly fall seriously ill.

The first time, he consequently stayed in bed for over half a month, after which he never forced himself again.

Zhang Jian knew this might be related to his 'influence'.

As he passed the county, prefectural, and academy examinations to attain the ranks of tongsheng and xiucai, the amount of cinnabar treasure notes he could burn each time noticeably increased.

And after passing the provincial examination, he rose another step.

This time the amount of cinnabar treasure notes burned was greater than last time, indicating that the benefits he could obtain should also increase accordingly.

Zhang Jian was in a good mood, but Zhang Yi found his suddenly brightening expression somewhat strange.

Zhang Jian was becoming increasingly off.

Zhang Yi shook his head, merely gazing at Zhang Jian, then suddenly spoke.

"Brother Jian, I've noticed you've been constantly searching the library for those ancient golden script classics; do you have any new discoveries?"

His eyes were full of hopeful anticipation.

Zhang Jian was studying the several dozen rune scrolls in the dark room, and he had not kept it hidden from Zhang Yi.

Naturally, this was also tacitly permitted by Zhang Yi.

"Uncle Yi, have you discovered anything? I don't know if you still have other texts that can decipher the scarlet ancient golden script."

Zhang Yi's eyes glimmered slightly.

Zhang Yi gave a slight nod, but his gaze still awaited Zhang Jian's answer.

Zhang Jian gave a faint smile and said.

"Uncle Yi, I indeed have made considerable progress; the several dozen scrolls contain an article surpassing anything you or I could imagine—a completely new Gate of the Great Dao—but my understanding of ancient golden script is limited, so I cannot fully comprehend the entire text."

Zhang Jian also felt eager inside.

The deciphering of the ancient golden script within those several dozen scrolls was indeed progressing smoothly for Zhang Jian.

However, the golden script chapters contained in those scrolls are transmitted heart-to-heart, meaning they can only be grasped intuitively, not expressed in words; for Zhang Yi to comprehend them, he must first attain understanding himself before he can teach.

Zhang Jian actually doesn't mind passing it on, after all he has received Zhang Yi's favor—this is only proper.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi, despite his usual composure, couldn't help but momentarily lose himself, his eyes shining with unprecedented vigor: "Brother Jian, tell me what you need next; I'll do my best to provide it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi's inner joy was beyond imagination.

These several dozen scrolls were obtained by him from a legendary jianghu master, and also came from a youthful encounter with an elder whose lifespan was nearing its end, who bestowed them as a gift.

According to that elder, they contain an immortal affinity.

Therefore he firmly believed it.

Because he has verified it, those several dozen scrolls indeed conceal a power he cannot comprehend.

To solve this riddle, he has spent decades.

Even to this day, he remains alone.

This is truly not easy.

Seeing his long-held wish about to be fulfilled, who wouldn't be happy?

……

Zhang Clan Ancestral Hall, as load after load of cinnabar treasure notes were ignited, blue smoke rose straight to the heavens.

Within the vast immortal realm, the Nine-Colored Red Water in the Two Realms Pond churned; beams of golden light flew forth, manifesting in the realm as one adorable golden yuanbao after another.

Golden light shimmered, heavenly sounds echoed.

In an instant, they all fell into a flawless jade palm.

Top-grade incense, five thousand!

This flawless incense entered her body, and Qingxia Shennü finally felt her cultivation rising at a visible speed.

This has already begun to take effect.

Afterwards, Qingxia Shennü saw countless golden lights flowing in the Heavenly Pool again; she saw among the dozens of golden lights a rich fragrance, the merit-gold light flowing, and then merit-gold lotuses drifted out, instantly falling before her eyes.

This time, the merit-gold lotus did not condense into form, but existed between the intangible and tangible, emitting strands of intense holy radiance.

Merit treasure lotus?

Just a glance, and Qingxia Shennü's eyes instantly flickered with strange colors.

She had only seen this kind of merit treasure lotus on a few great divine beings.

With such an omen on her person, external demons find it hard to invade, and she will not easily fall into external calamity.

Only those who have long attained the Dao and possess wondrous methods have the merit-gold lotus as an accompanying omen.

The other party gave her another pleasant surprise!

Qingxia Shennü, ethereal and lovely, rarely gained a touch of brightness on her peerless jade-like visage.

She was very satisfied with this sacrifice.

This will also aid her future accumulation of cultivation and breaking through to Dao Sovereign; she slowly rose, her stunning figure moving gracefully among the clouds, a hint of contemplation in her phoenix eyes.

Last time the other party offered ancestral rites, she only granted a cup of golden fortune.

This time she obviously cannot do that, otherwise it would dampen the other party's enthusiasm.

In an instant, she had an idea; she took from her sleeve a lotus seed like a golden pearl, from afar one could see countless profound innate patterns flowing on it, the Dao rhythm naturally formed.

Jade Pool Golden Lotus Seed!

That is an immortal seed brought back by a female immortal of great divine power from the Jade Pool; as a Jade Pool immortal, she can also obtain a share every hundred years.

This item is not lacking in the Jade Pool, but elsewhere it is also precious.

Such a precious item she cannot currently invest, and it would also be against regulations.

Even this item would probably be considered a violation.

However, with a little greasing and through private means, it should be fine!