Chapter 187: The Son of Heaven Inquires About Governance

The Heavenly Fire God-King's eyes were gloomy, his gaze falling upon the Red Flower Lady, yet he could not make the slightest movement.

He could not even guarantee now whether he had already been targeted by the Slay-Demon True Lord.

If he made a move, he would very likely die right then.

His eyes gleamed with a cold, stern light.

"The Slay-Demon lineage! And those old pond-scum of the sects—if this Kitchen God's divine office falls into my hands, the sect will gain another Primordial Spirit True Person, even a Great True Person, yet they insist on bestowing such offices upon a wild god, treating their own meritorious servants so shabbily—this lineage will surely fall one day!"

He seethed with resentment.

He could feel the importance of that Kitchen God's divine office to him, yet he could not obtain it, filling his heart with jealous fury, like a hundred claws scratching at his heart.

Beside him, a fire god gazed at the Heavenly Fire God-King before him, his eyes showing some astonishment; hearing the Heavenly Fire God-King's words, he already harbored full grievances against the sect.

……

The Tungshan Lineage, Slay-Demon Peak

At this time, Ironheart Daoist also received much news transmitted from Haojing City.

Though the Tungshan Lineage is a reclusive lineage, its power is not weak; it has disciples operating in various regions, gathering all kinds of news.

Some have become cultivation clans, others have become local deities.

"Martial Nephew Zhang, your righteous and noble aura is openly displayed—would those ghosts and spirits not develop thoughts for you?"

On the blue stone, Ironheart Daoist frowned slightly.

The Righteous and Noble Vital Energy is vigorous and vast; for other cultivators of pure mind, it has little effect, merely being slightly stronger than ordinary soul-wondrous methods.

But for ghosts and demons whose thoughts are impure, it is greatly restraining.

Since the Jade Saint departed a thousand years ago, the ghosts and gods have caused chaos, destroying many sages' classics; now that Zhang Jian is born bearing the Righteous and Noble Vital Energy, those strong ones among the ghosts and gods, demons, will likely develop thoughts for him.

Ironheart Daoist had already inquired about this matter several times with the Slay-Demon True Lord, but the Slay-Demon True Lord's replies were always to pay no heed.

Inside the Ancestral Hall

At this moment, a stream of light fell, transforming into a figure surrounded by myriad divine lights, his entire body radiating myriad colors; with a thought, he summoned forth a figure.

At this moment, another figure flew out from a spirit-tablet in the third row inside the Ancestral Hall.

It was precisely the Slay-Demon True Lord!

"Slay-Demon, you truly do not intend to send Dharma-protectors to Haojing? My granddisciple, since he bears the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, if he is lost, you won't even have time to cry!"

At this time, this figure's divine sense projected downward; this Second Patriarch's true form is not currently within the realm, but is traveling beyond it.

The Slay-Demon True Lord's pupils flickered.

She smiled with a charming expression.

"Master, I thought you had sent down a strand of divine sense to descend, because there was a thousand-year grand plan concerning my Slay-Demon lineage to be instructed; turns out it's only for this trifling matter?"

"Hmph, trifling? Is this not the thousand-year grand plan of you and me, master and disciple? Since we established the sect, it is not merely to cultivate more young talents to strengthen the lineage, but also to seek kindred spirits—one person's plan is short, two persons' plan is long; a genius bearing the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart is rare even among extraterritorial lineages; spoil one, and you'll have nowhere to cry!"

This Patriarch simultaneously reproached the Slay-Demon True Lord.

"You really will not send Dharma-protectors forward?"

Upon hearing this, the Slay-Demon True Lord shook his head and said.

"Back then, Master, was it not you who assigned me Dharma-protectors? Initially it was beneficial, but later all the tribulations were piled up in the subsequent cultivation, obstructing the path—let him handle it himself; I believe that even without Dharma-protectors, he can still grow!"

Upon hearing this, that figure glanced at the Slay-Demon True Lord!

"You little girl, still so unyielding!"

"Never mind, since you have already made preparations, as Master I will no longer interfere!"

He lost face somewhat, and in an instant vanished suddenly.

The Slay-Demon True Lord glanced toward the direction of Haojing City.

Haojing need not send Dharma-protectors, but Fengyang Commandery could dispatch a Dharma-protector to stand guard.

The choice happens to be readily available!

Earlier, someone came forward on their own, willing to serve as a Dharma-protector for the Slay-Demon lineage……

……

Inside the Literary Arts Institute, Zhang Jian continued his daily routine, most of his time spent reading various books, supplementing his knowledge and experience, perfecting the Sage's Great Way.

With the Jade Saint's handscroll as reliance, Zhang Jian had gradually come into contact with the threshold of the Sage's Great Way.

He also gained some insight at this time, understanding why the Sage's Great Way has no specific cultivation method.

The reason is that the ancient sages comprehended the supreme principle of heaven and earth, penetrated the essence of all things, and could create their own cultivation methods.

Fundamentally, there is no need for others' cultivation methods.

As for how to let the Benevolent Bone and Sincere Heart advance further, Zhang Jian already knew what path to take next.

It is nothing more than the three paths of establishing words, establishing virtue, and establishing conduct.

Having acquired various foundations, completing these three immortals is not particularly difficult.

Moreover, Zhang Jian now counts as already putting them into practice.

The compilation of the 'Great Qian Complete Works' is his first practice.

Besides, after advancing the Nine Heavens Riding Wind and Controlling Thunder Technique to the Yin God level, Zhang Jian's cultivation of the Five-Pattern State and King Cauldron in his sea of consciousness is also proceeding very smoothly.

The Five-Pattern State and King Cauldron corresponds to Yin God-level techniques.

Successful cultivation of the Four-Pattern State and King Cauldron requires the special destiny of Inquiry into Mountains and Rivers.

However, the formation of the Five-Pattern State and King Cauldron does not require another destiny as foundation; it merely requires comprehending the two divine abilities and three techniques carried by the State and King Cauldron itself in the 'State and King Cauldron Subduing Demons Record,' and successfully inscribing them into the Five-Pattern State and King Cauldron, thus enabling advancement to the Yin God level.

Yet those two divine abilities are also Yin God-level techniques; success in their cultivation consumes great amounts of elixir energy and divine sense.

But for Zhang Jian, it is nothing.

However, just as Zhang Jian was contemplating the Five-Pattern State and King Cauldron, he at this moment received the summons of the Martial King, Son of Heaven.

The Martial King, Son of Heaven, summoned him to come lecture on the sutras.

This was Zhang Jian's first time lecturing on the classics for Emperor Jingwu.

It was also the first time Emperor Jingwu had summoned him alone.

To be honest, Emperor Jingwu's patience exceeded his expectations.

During this period, the area around the Wen Ti Academy had been in an uproar, and Emperor Jingwu could not possibly have been unaware, yet Emperor Jingwu remained completely still.

And he had endured until now!

Emperor Jingwu summoned Zhang Jian in the Jingtai Hall, which was also where Emperor Jingwu reviewed memorials.

When Zhang Jian entered the Jingtai Hall holding his jade tablet, he noticed that there were no other officials in the hall besides Emperor Jingwu, only Chao Mu, the palace steward.

"Mr. Zhang has arrived!" At this moment, Emperor Jingwu raised his head and had already seen Zhang Jian stepping in from outside the hall.

The slender emperor at this moment also put down his vermilion brush and rose from before the imperial case.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's expression showed slight surprise, and he bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, I dare not accept the title of 'sir'."

At this moment, Emperor Jingwu stretched, walked up to Zhang Jian, and smiled: "Sir, there is no need for excessive courtesy. Many scholars in the capital say your talent is not inferior to those venerable scholars of our dynasty who have devoted decades to study. You are the most promising reader in a thousand years to achieve the way of the sage. You are more than qualified to be my teacher. I summoned you today because I have doubts in my heart and earnestly request you to resolve them."

At this moment, Emperor Jingwu's eyes gleamed with brightness.

In fact, Zhang Jian had participated in the Ministry of Rites' provincial examination and even advanced to the palace examination in the Chengtian Hall, making him one of the emperor's personally selected graduates.

Zhang Jian should have been his disciple.

But the Zhang Jian before him was too outstanding—so the saying goes, a disciple need not fall short of the teacher, nor must the teacher surpass the disciple.

Given the Zhang family's recent display of learning and insight, serving as his teacher would be more than sufficient.

Zhang Jian feigned hesitation for a moment, then said: "…If that is the case, please speak plainly, Your Majesty."