Chapter 177

After obtaining this half-sheet of calligraphy, Daoist Dongjue was in high spirits and thereafter treasured it, putting it away.

Half a month later, on the lofty Jade Capital Terrace, the sound of intertwining wind and fire filled all directions, and even more, the bright and righteous intention surged straight into the clouds, ten large characters condensed in the void, and the righteous qi of heaven and earth manifested mightily, cleansing the universe.

Heaven and earth have righteous qi, which is mixed and bestowed upon all forms.

The bright and righteous light suppresses the world.

After that illusory river of bright and righteous qi dissipated, a dynamic rosy light was seen enveloping the Jade Capital Terrace above.

Seeing this divine light of the Cavern Spirits manifest, the Daoists of the Cavern Spirit Observatory immediately knew that another great cultivator of the Yin Spirit had been born within the observatory.

……

"The essence of the Yin Spirit is similar to those incense gods; it can wander between heaven and earth, unafraid of the various evil winds in the void, starlight and fire qi—this is akin to gradually transcending reincarnation and stepping into the realm beyond life and death!"

In the Wen Ti Institute, Zhang Jian opened his spiritual eyes; his keen spiritual sense could perceive the aura of the Yin Spirit's manifestation.

The Yin Spirit itself is also a deity.

Upon reaching this step, a cultivator already possesses the qualification for corpse liberation.

If all else fails, one can still depart from the physical body, hide within other magical artifacts, or within flesh apertures, with a certain chance of successful possession.

This too counts as avoiding life and death.

A single sheet of calligraphy can help the Cavern Spirit Observatory give birth to a great cultivator at the Yin Spirit stage.

Although most still rely on the foundation of the great cultivator of the Yin Spirit stage themselves, Zhang Jian felt he could certainly charge more?

This thought flashed through Zhang Jian's mind and, after a moment, was tossed to the back of his mind.

At this moment, before his eyes lay a row of characters, with dozens upon dozens of ancient books moved from the Cavern Spirit Observatory.

Leading the collection was a copy of the Cavern Spirit Scripture.

This scripture is acclaimed as the foremost among the Cavern Spirit Observatory's classics.

Following it were the《Yellow Court Outer Contemplation Scripture》《Dragon Tiger Scripture》《Supreme Upper Thirteen Scriptures》《Zhou Tian Scripture》《Supreme Induction True Scripture》《Mayfly Scripture》《Cavern True Extinction Dharma Scripture》《Yi Dao True Scripture》……volume after volume, all truly written by high adepts possessing magical power.

The content contained in these true scriptures is even richer.

For Zhang Jian, who has always sought the essence of the Great Dao, it was like being nourished by sweet rain.

……

However, before he had time to begin cultivation, he was approached by a beautiful female Daoist wearing avant-garde attire, whose presence caused no ripples.

She wore a pale blue gauze robe, her steps light and graceful, her tall figure standing erect like jade, and she directly swaggered into the Wen Ti Institute; the many 'staff members' inside the Wen Ti Institute, upon seeing this figure, all glanced sideways.

Although the Wen Ti Institute is located in the imperial city, it is still separated from the deep palace by courtyard walls; next door, there are three thousand beautiful women like flowers, but the officials of the Wen Ti Institute are mostly fearful, dare not covet, and dare not even glance.

And for such a beauty to appear in this department composed entirely of men, it is naturally quite eye-catching.

In the government office, Chen Xiuming saw this scene, involuntarily put down the book in his hand, smiled, and stepped forward.

Just as he was about to strike up a conversation, he heard the blue-clad woman ask:

"Are you the top scholar?"

This lovely woman's voice was extremely soft, her beautiful eyes gazing over with curiosity.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiuming couldn't help but straighten his chest—this hit his itch.

"Not talented, I am Chen Xiuming, the top scholar of the Guiwei year!"

"I don't know this young lady……"

Upon hearing Chen Xiuming reveal his identity, the blue-clad woman immediately furrowed her brows, and seeing his strained effort to conceal his ardent expression, she shooed him away like a fly: "What young lady? I am your grandmother!"

A gentle force pushed him aside; the blue-clad woman strode straight into the government office of the Wen Ti Institute, merely glancing around, her eyes showing a hint of surprise, and then she asked.

"May I ask which one is the top scholar of the Bingxu year, Zhang Jian, the Academician?!"

"So you're looking for him?"

Behind her, Chen Xiuming, who was about to shout angrily, upon hearing this, his face changed instantly, his visage drawn long.

In another government office, Wang Qingzhou saw this and spoke up.

"Senior Brother Zhang's office is in the inner chambers; he is currently gathering materials in the Southern Study!"

Upon hearing this, the blue-clad woman's gaze shifted, her eyes slightly brightening.

"You little official are still quite honest!"

She let out a soft, tinkling laugh, and a gust of fragrant wind blew toward the Southern Study.

Being praised by the blue-clad woman in this way, and seeing many 'colleagues' looking over, Wang Qingzhou felt somewhat embarrassed.

However, unlike other young scholars who had just passed the exams, he had already married, so he did not mind such glances.

Southern Study

At this moment, Zhang Jian's body was surrounded by flickering spiritual insights, and deep in his dantian, many more talisman phantoms had appeared.

Part of the classics given to him by Daoist Jingming contained profound heavenly and earthly truths, especially the foremost Cavern Spirit Scripture, which he continues to contemplate.

Contemplating the《Yellow Court Outer Contemplation Scripture》, he devised a Yellow Court contemplation method, able to contemplate the gods of the Zhou Tian, nourishing his own meridians.

Contemplating the《Dragon Tiger Scripture》, he comprehended the Dragon Tiger Great Power Divine Demon Method; upon mastery, he can obtain the Dragon Tiger Dharma Appearance to subdue demons.

Contemplating the《Supreme Upper Thirteen Scriptures》, he comprehended the Supreme Forgetting Emotion True Intention; this method can strengthen the Dao-heart and extinguish all falsehoods.

Contemplating the《Zhou Tian Scripture》, Zhang Jian further perfected the profound mysteries within the Disordered Star Decree, even re-deriving the first formula of the Disordered Star Decree to completion, forming a Zhou Tian Starry Sword Formation Diagram.

……

These methods vary in high and low levels; the techniques are secondary, but the heavenly and earthly principles contained within have fused into the depths of his soul, like heavenly dao traces, causing his soul to continually transform and grow strong.

And when the blue-clad woman arrived, Zhang Jian felt a sense within; he gazed toward her, faintly able to see threads of special, heavy spiritual pressure appearing within the Wen Ti Institute.

Although suppressed by the Dragon Tiger qi, the spiritual pressure remains heavy.

Amidst the fragrant wind, accompanied by the sound of jade pendants ringing, a tall and graceful figure appeared outside the Southern Study; at a glance, she saw Zhang Jian.

Only hearing her beautiful eyes brighten as she said.

"Is Zhang Xiuzhen right ahead?"

"If you're talking about Zhang Jian, then that's indeed me!"

At this moment, Zhang Jian put down the Dongshen Jing in his hand, slightly raised his head, and looked at the extremely beautiful woman before him, his mind harboring some speculation.

At this time, Dongjue Daoist looked up and down at Zhang Jian, but the more he looked, the more surprised he became.

In her eyes, Zhang Jian showed no abnormality, appearing merely as an ordinary person.

However, she had heard Jingming Daoist mention that the Zhang Jian before her not only possessed the righteous and noble qi, but was also a cultivator proficient in mystical arts.

"Is it because of a concealment artifact on his person, or has his cultivation already reached an extremely high level?"

Various thoughts flashed through her mind, yet the blue-clad woman still clasped her hands and said.

"Dongjue of Dongshen Guan has met Zhang Xiuzhu; the poor Daoist has come today especially to express gratitude for Zhang Xiuzhu's favor of the cross!"

She appeared heroic and vigorous, not looking like a cultivator at all, but rather more like a pure martial heroine of the jianghu.

Zhang Jian at this moment also clasped his hands and said.

"So it's Dongjue senior; senior need not be so formal, this matter is merely a transaction between me and Master Jingming, we two have settled accounts and owe each other nothing!"

Yet Zhang Jian still felt some surprise in his heart.

Although he did not know much about the internal structure of Dongshen Guan, he also knew that the Dong generation were the founding ancestors of Dongshen Guan, only seven in number, known as the Seven Sons of Dongshen.

Next came the Jing generation, and then the He generation.

Dongjue Daoist's eyes shimmered with rippling light; she was unwilling to let Zhang Jian and her be even.

If they were to be even, how could they continue to interact, how could they continue to seek character scrolls here?

Cultivation beyond the Yin Spirit realm must constantly face disturbances from extraterritorial heavenly demons.

The Yin Spirit Venerable, wishing to strengthen the Yin Spirit, often sends the Yin Spirit out on journeys, but such journeys are extremely dangerous; yet if one could obtain several character scrolls to suppress the manor, one could avoid being invisibly infiltrated by extraterritorial heavenly demons.

"The favor of attaining the Dao is greater than heaven!"

Dongjue Daoist originally intended to call herself Ben Gong, but after thinking, she realized that would not close the distance, and calling herself "poor Daoist" seemed too distant, so she smiled and said.

"Elder sister keeps this in heart; my Dongshen Guan also emphasizes repaying kindness, should junior brother have any request in the future, as long as a letter is sent to Dongshen Guan, elder sister I will respond to everything!"

"

Dongjue Daoist finished speaking and gazed at Zhang Jian with a charming smile.

At the same time, she thought about how to further close the relationship with this rare 'handsome and talented youth'.

She already had a draft in mind.

"Eh..." seeing the Yin Spirit elder of Dongshen Guan before her seemingly determined to 'repay', Zhang Jian smiled faintly and said.

"Also fine!"

Upon hearing this, Dongjue Daoist's face instantly blossomed into a smile; she then made a gesture with her hand, and saw several bamboo slips appear in the void.

The slips already bore traces of age; she pushed a few of them toward Zhang Jian.

"I have heard that Zhang brother loves various classics; elder sister I have here collected three Confucian classics, which may benefit Zhang brother's studies!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes moved slightly; merely glancing with his peripheral vision, Zhang Jian's heart flashed with a hint of joy.

He recognized them; these three Confucian classics before him indeed had some notable origins.

The Notes of the Jade Sage Grass Hall, the Zhouyi, and the Spring and Autumn Annals Discourses.

These three ancient classics, among them the Notes of the Jade Sage Grass Hall and the Spring and Autumn Annals Discourses are said to have come from the hand of the Jade Sage, recording part of the writings left by the Jade Sage before he attained sagehood, thus they are lost solitary editions, possessing great reference value.

As for the Zhouyi, it is the ancient classic left by the ancient sages; though not a proper cultivation method, it expounds the marvels of heaven and earth, and will surely bring him great benefit.

Zhang Jian, at this moment, was not polite, directly accepting these three Confucian classics as listed.

……

After Dongjue Daoist left the Wen Ti Yuan, she then proceeded to the Ciren Palace where the Empress Dowager of the Great Qian resided.

Before her cultivation, Dongjue Daoist also had a worldly identity: she was the younger sister of the Great Qian's founding emperor, her boudoir name Wei Jue, and her ties to the Great Qian imperial family were close.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jian at this moment, after finishing work in the evening, hurried back to the Zhuangyuan Fu Di.

He and Qi Yuhua had just newly moved into this Zhuangyuan Fu Di, and there were still many trivial matters needing help.

At this time, Qi Yuhua, following Bai Li Ying, had also become pregnant; Zhang Jian naturally could not let Qi Yuhua tire herself.

He could only personally take charge.

In the simple courtyard, Qi Yuhua watched Zhang Jian bustling about up and down, while she herself went into the small kitchen and prepared several plates of stir-fried dishes, meat and vegetable combined, few in variety but extremely delicious.

"Husband, do you know that Jade Immortal Sister has been missing for several days?"

Before the stone table in the courtyard, Qi Yuhua's pair of beautiful eyes gazed at Zhang Jian, unable to refrain from speaking.

"Uncle Father and the Long Princess are very worried about Jade Immortal Sister!"

"For this reason, recently she has had no appetite for tea or food!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes moved slightly, but his action of scooping rice did not slow; he merely said.

"How could Jade Immortal Sister disappear without reason or cause?"

He had already anticipated this matter.

Indeed, Qi Yuhua said: "I have heard that before Jade Immortal Sister disappeared, a person from outside the world had appeared around the Prince Consort's mansion; my uncle father has recently been running back and forth inside and outside Dongshen Guan, gathering information!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed: "It seems Jade Immortal Sister has encountered some immortal fate!"

Qi Yuhua personally visited the Dragon Palace and thus knew Zhang Jian was a cultivator, thus knowing some secrets, she nodded and said.

"But may it be immortal fate, not encountering heretical ways!"

Qi Yuhua still felt some worry, while her pair of lovely eyes fell upon Zhang Jian.

"Husband, your divine powers are vast; can you know the reason behind this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed and said.

"I have heard Jade Immortal Sister mention a few sentences before; it seems Jade Immortal Sister has already made up her mind!"

Qi Yuhua heard this and couldn't help feeling a bit of jealousy as she said.

"I never expected my husband to be so clear about this, yet it made me worry for quite a while!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed: "It's not that I intentionally concealed it; it's just that it's ultimately Lady Yu Xian's private matter, so it's not appropriate to publicize it!"

With their worries lifted, the couple laughed and joked for a moment, but in their casual talk they ended up mentioning court affairs.

"The other day I went to the Qi family to visit my grandparents after marriage, and I heard that Old General Yang has been promoted this time, preparing to stay in Haojing City? As you, my husband, are the compiler in charge of the Hall of Receiving Heaven, have you heard of this?!"

Zhang Jian nodded: "Indeed so, Old General Yang has also finally reaped what he sowed!

At his age, to be granted the title of marquis is truly bringing honor to his ancestors!"

These days, as the newly appointed leader among the rebel-suppressing ministers, Yang Gonghu's appointment has finally been settled. In fact, many civil officials in the court originally leaned toward suppressing him, but Emperor Jingwu overruled all opposition.

He was rewarded and ennobled according to the highest standards.

Besides ennobling Yang Gonghu as Marquis of Tongcheng, they also ennobled Old General Yang as Middle Defender Commander, which is a grand general, holding power in his grasp, solely commanding one army—truly limitless in glory!

In the Great Qian dynasty, this differs somewhat from the previous dynasty: the Middle Defender Command is a division of the imperial guards, and this office is a subordinate to the Defender Commander Colonel.

The Defender Commander Colonel is usually held by the emperor's trusted confidant, although nominally the Grand Marshal commands all the troops of the world, the Defender Commander Colonel comes next.

But "defender" here means supervision; this position exists to check the Grand Marshal, and the Middle Defender Command oversees many imperial guard units in the capital, usually only those from the direct lineage of the direct lineage can hold it.

Emperor Jingwu would not entrust his life to untrusted generals.

At this time, Yang Gonghu entered the capital and directly assumed the heavy responsibility of the Middle Defender Command, which shows the imperial decree.

In Zhang Jian's view, the emperor intends to win over people's hearts.

And thus win over the hearts of the military commanders!

At this critical moment of upheaval in the Qiankun Ding vessel, if meritorious officials are treated harshly, then when the Great Qian dynasty faces turmoil, other soldiers whose hearts have grown cold will not again risk their lives in battle.

Emperor Jingwu is a wise and decisive ruler; he will not dig a pit for himself at this juncture.

At this moment, Zhang Jian suddenly said again.

"My dear, during this time you should also not go out easily; recently there have been many strong young men missing in Haojing City, fearing that some evil cultists have mixed in!"

Hearing this, Qi Yuhua's expression tightened slightly, and she immediately nodded in agreement.