Chapter 160

She began to reabsorb the incense divine power according to the divine Dao method inherited from the talisman, points of 'stove fire' appearing, beginning to forge the divine office, and rebirth special structures such as the Fire God Hall, but most of the divine power still merged into her divine body, following the way of the proper god, she began to cultivate.

The Stove God was born, threads of divine light shooting straight into Hanxiao, the flames like crimson clouds, winding around the outskirts of Fengyang Prefecture, gathering into color.

All the proper gods of the surrounding mountains and waters could see this change.

"Stove God?"

In the City God Temple, City God Chen Yuanqing manifested holding a golden sword, the thick incense cloud aura around him condensing into a divine light that shrouded his back, he furrowed his brow.

In that divine light, although the divine office had just transformed, its potential was seen to be immense.

"If this could be subdued and brought into the City God Office, it would surely bring great benefit!"

Chen Yuanqing's eyes flashed with a hint of sharp light.

From the feedback of the State and Land Divine Dao, this newly born proper god was not within the City God system, not subject to his restraint.

Nor did it belong to the gods of the mountains, rivers, and waters.

But if such an existence could be subdued and brought into the City God system, it would often become a great aid.

He gathered his divine power, thread after thread of mighty City God divine office power extending toward the outskirts of Fengyang Prefecture.

He still could not suppress his eager heart.

Even as he was, he could see that the Stove God's divine post was quite peculiar.

But in that instant, a thread of intense azure-blue divine light flew out from the White Water, instantly striking the City God divine office.

A violent booming sound arose.

The golden radiance shattered, scattering into the void!

But the divine power quickly regrouped!

"Dragon Lord, what are you doing?"

Chen Yuanqing's angry voice came from within the divine light.

"Chen Yuanqing, that Stove God is not for you to meddle with!"

Azure-blue divine light enveloped the edge of the suburbs, surging divine power waves pressing down, suppressing the City God divine office.

Chen Yuanqing knew he was no match for the White Water Dragon Lord, so he silently withdrew his divine power without a word.

Golden divine power consolidated the divine office, assuming a defensive posture!

Within the azure-blue divine light, the White Water Dragon Lord's divine form manifested, he clad in azure-blue dragon lord robes, water vapor and spiritual energy coiling around him like a flood dragon, his pale eyes glancing once at the golden radiance spreading around the Fengyang Prefecture City God Temple.

He let out a cold snort.

He clearly understood the relationship between the Stove God and Zhang Jian, and naturally could not allow the Prefecture City God to suppress the Stove God.

Moreover, Chen Yuanqing had repeatedly spoiled his plans before, and he remembered it well.

This matter is not over!

White fury's eyes at this moment flashed with some dangerous light.

And at this moment outside Fengyang Prefecture, several gods whose bodies were entwined with firelight watched this scene, their eyes holding some strange hue, their gazes flashing with killing intent.

The Stove God's divine seat is not ordinary; these fire gods could also sense the importance of this divine seat to fire gods.

……

"Success?"

In the Literary Academy, Zhang Jian was flipping through some local gazetteers, supplementing the prefecture and prefecture gazetteers for the《Great Qian Complete Book》, at the utmost of the Stove God's divine investiture, his soul felt something through the Soul Fusion Seal.

He could sense that the Red Flower Lady's divine power was constantly expanding.

Divine Dao power began to grow rapidly.

A faint smile appeared in his eyes.

But instantly his brows furrowed!.

"Merely the way of condensing magical power is not particularly exquisite; it seems I still need to seek a Daoist inheritance for it in the sect?"

The《Nine Heavenly Divine Portal Golden Chapters》of Tongshan is a very effective Daoist inheritance, but obtaining such a core inheritance is obviously not possible, yet I suppose there are other somewhat weaker inheritances.

Zhang Jian had some thoughts arise.

But instantly he suppressed them, the sect's resources are hard to obtain, relying solely on his own foundation and constantly reaching out to the sect is not a long-term plan.

Being able to reach out once or twice, the Slaughter Demon lineage might help him considering his talent, but if the number of reaches increases, it will also make people resentful.

It is better to still follow the way of the Tongshan Dao lineage, obtaining resources according to the rules.

Or subdue demons, or help the sect refine weapons and pills, or take spoils of war to exchange at the sect's important places, or else help perfect the cultivation methods, or serve as a teacher.

There are many ways.

Zhang Jian furrowed his brows, he felt things seemed to have returned to the matter of blessings again, to contend for a bit of resource, one still needs blessings, and perhaps even worse than blessings.

Because of cultivation, he no longer needs to rely on sleep to restore energy, but can directly compensate consumption through magical power.

"If not, let's do some scientific research, write a few articles on cultivation, see if we can exchange for some benefits in the sect!"

Zhang Jian also had ideas in his heart; he had recently read over ten thousand volumes, relying on the perceptiveness of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, he had also comprehended some heavenly principles, especially in cultivating the mind and tempering the Dao heart, he had some attainments.

Although the thought was thus, Zhang Jian did not feel anxious.

The Stove God currently possesses the orthodox Daoist method bestowed by the State and Land Divine Dao, which should be sufficient for now.

Zhang Jian immersed himself in the compilation of the《Great Qian Complete Book》for the next two months, his ability in compiling this book was fully displayed.

No matter how many classics he read, he could easily memorize them, digest and categorize them, then replace them with concise text, classifying the philosophers, histories, and collections one by one, and moreover, where there was repeated content, he could still mark it.

Check for omissions and make up for deficiencies!

"No wonder Zhang Xiuzhuo could win the top rank in the palace examination, this special ability of his, we are far inferior!"

Huang Liangzhong many times on the public seat in the Jade Hall, praised Zhang Jian's performance without ceasing.

With Zhang Jian's help, he regained confidence in compiling the《Great Qian Complete Book》again.

And in the process of compiling the《Great Qian Complete Book》, Zhang Jian also noticed that his own righteous and vital energy was continuously condensing, the iron-boned jade heart and the fire of righteousness deep in his heart further merging, gradually revealing threads of red light.

The jade-like radiance glowed with a hint of red.

This was the second stage of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, the anomalous state of Benevolent Bone and Crimson Heart.

In this state, even from some mundane classics written by ordinary scholars, one could gain insight, comprehend their essence, and thereby glimpse the changes of heavenly principles.

……

That day, Zhang Jian emerged from the library within the Literary Arts Academy, having been immersed in these seas of books for days, yet he felt no hardship—on the contrary, he found it as sweet as candy.

"Nowadays, these books merely recording local tales, customs, and folkways seem to offer me limited benefit; even if I occasionally find a few ancient texts on astronomy and divination within them, their profound insights are scarce and flawed!"

Under the sunlight, Zhang Jian gazed upon the distant, towering glazed rooftiles, standing before the steps, feeling a sense of expansive joy and tranquility, his expression somewhat languid.

The five-to-nine schedule was invigorating.

At this moment, his inner magical power surged turbulently, pure energy integrating into his flesh, though he showed no outward abnormality; he had already reached the peak of Golden Fluid, as if he could condense his elixir at any moment.

He had not deliberately cultivated, but simply followed the normal routine—reading books each day—and thus naturally arrived at the peak of Golden Fluid.

"Next, I should focus my attention on various classics, whether Confucian, Daoist, or Buddhist; the enlightened masters of these three traditions' insights into the ultimate truths of heaven and earth should far surpass those of ordinary scholars!"