Chapter 189: Eldest Son (4K)

Hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered with a hint of strangeness, and he shook his head.

"Truly audacious, under the vast heavens and earth, in the core of the state gods and Dao, someone like you, a demon, actually dares to appear, and right before me, speaking arrogantly—do you think the divine sword at my waist is useless?"

The Iron-Blood Daoist glanced at the Dragon Chant Sword at Zhang Jian's waist and chuckled.

"Young Master Zhang, in my eyes, your divine sword is no different from mere ornament; you'd better not resist, lest you hurt yourself and your family!"

But as his words fell, a dense, brilliant sword light flooded his vision.

Wherever his gaze fell, everything was filled with dazzling sword light.

Under this sword light, he seemed to have lost all ability to resist as a Yin Spirit, forced to watch helplessly as the sword light descended.

In an instant, his blood robe split in two under the sword light; his true form divided into halves. The cultivation method he practiced was extremely special, and countless blood qi flowed from the severed halves of his broken body, faintly forming two streaks of blood light attempting to heal, but then threads of pure white flame burst forth from the wounds.

The Vast and Righteous Fire swelled, and in an instant, the two severed halves turned into green smoke in the firelight.

"Your cultivation is not high, but your tone is extremely grand!"

Zhang Jian sheathed his sword, a cold smile appearing in his eyes.

This Iron-Blood Daoist's cultivation is indeed not weak; his attainment in the Yin Spirit realm is quite remarkable.

But it is clearly insufficient to change his fate.

Since he began studying, his accumulation has grown daily; his magical power advances slowly, but his comprehension of heavenly and earthly principles has progressed by leaps and bounds!

The Great Dao's methods come easily to hand; slaying a Yin Spirit venerable across a realm is no difficult feat!

The Iron-Blood Daoist thought himself a Yin Spirit venerable, so he acted arrogantly before me—truly seeking death by coming to my door!

With one sword, he dismembered the Iron-Blood Daoist; Zhang Jian's body was suffused with threads of pure white flame spreading from beneath his feet, completely refining and cleansing all traces of the Iron-Blood Daoist on the ground.

Yet Zhang Jian still noticed an object left on the ground.

It was a blood-red pouch.

Zhang Jian waved his hand to take it, infused it slightly with magical power, and immediately knew its origin.

"Blood Embryo Pouch!"

This item is both a magical treasure and a storage device.

Inside are many collections of the Iron-Blood Daoist; just a glance made Zhang Jian's eyes flicker with a smile.

The accumulation of this Yin Spirit venerable is indeed considerable.

Besides heavenly and earthly spiritual materials and various refining materials, there are also some blood shadow puppets; Zhang Jian promptly used magical power to destroy them all.

But besides these, within the Blood Embryo Pouch, Zhang Jian also discovered many antique-grade garments.

A python robe with jade belt—this is not the ordinary python robe worn by common nobles, but a four-clawed python robe of crimson gold!

Zhang Jian recognized it as the regular attire of the former Shu Kingdom's crown prince.

"Is this Iron-Blood Daoist the crown prince of Emperor Ai of Shu?"

Astonishment appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes.

Recalling the Iron-Blood Daoist's series of actions before the Three-Eye Town's Slaying Well, Zhang Jian suddenly understood.

In doing so, he had inadvertently resolved a major hidden danger for the Great Qian court.

……

After becoming an Academician of the Imperial Lectures, his promotion led to his office being moved to the left side of the Jade Hall.

This place is near the office of the Academician of Imperial Reading, Huang Liangzhong.

However, compared to the office on the right, the Academician of Imperial Lectures' office is much larger, with a private workspace.

As for the other Academicians of Imperial Lectures, most are not usually in the office.

This special post of Academician of Imperial Lectures is mostly held by senior officials from various departments concurrently; it is an honorary title, indicating service in the Literary Arts Institute.

Having a private office, Zhang Jian's reading efficiency naturally increased greatly.

The book *Dongshen Jing*, through his constant polishing, finally allowed his comprehension of the profound mysteries of Thunder Dao to fully merge into the Nine Heavens Wind-Riding Thunder-Control Law, greatly enhancing the divine marvel of this Yin Spirit-level technique.

Besides this.

The cultivation of the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron also proceeds very smoothly.

The cultivation of the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron includes two divine abilities and three techniques.

The two techniques are respectively the Two Forms Micro-Dust Heaven and Earth Law Prohibition, and the True Dragon Receiving Spirit Method.

The Two Forms Micro-Dust Heaven and Earth Law Prohibition is indeed the Mustard Seed Micro-Dust Law; when successfully cultivated and applied to the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron, it can greatly enhance its suppressing power, enable unpredictable size transformations, and further increase divine might.

The True Dragon Receiving Spirit Method, however, takes the Mountain River Destiny Form as its foundation, refines a True Dragon Divine Aspect, and integrates it into the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron, allowing it to gradually assimilate and refine the power of consuming and melting fate.

These two methods can also be integrated into one's natal artifact, the Qianjin Golden Cauldron.

Among these two divine abilities, Zhang Jian finds the True Dragon Receiving Spirit Method the easiest to cultivate; this technique is related to the Hidden Dragon Foundation.

He possesses three Hidden Dragon Destiny Forms.

The other two have already gradually formed their destiny images, which greatly aids the cultivation of the True Dragon Receiving Spirit Method.

At this moment, under the impetus of his fate, the small cauldron formed by the stabilized Mountain River Destiny instantly transformed into a red dragon and merged into the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron.

The red dragon formed from the destiny, upon merging, immediately added a special dragon shadow within the entire technique model of the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron, greatly enhancing its suppressing power.

At the same time, it gained various wonderful divine abilities.

It seems to possess the ability to suppress and refine all kinds of destiny forms.

It slowly inhales and exhales the fate between heaven and earth, continuously nourishing Zhang Jian's soul, while another wonderful power begins to awaken.

After the two methods are successfully cultivated in the True Dragon Receiving Spirit Method, only the Two Forms Micro-Dust Heaven and Earth Law remains.

As for the other three techniques, they are merely ordinary Golden Core-level techniques; their existence serves only to stabilize the structure of the Five Forms State and King's Cauldron, ensure its stability, and otherwise activate this soul-type technique.

After comprehending the *Dongshen Jing* to a certain extent, Zhang Jian felt that further review in the short term would yield no obvious gains.

Zhang Jian then turned his gaze to the Northern Study and Eastern Study.

He began to consciously enter the Northern Study and Eastern Study.

It's just that the East Study is in the inner palace, where princes and concubines often enter, so Zhang Jian tried to avoid suspicion by going there as little as possible.

Over the past six months, Zhang Jian has led a very fulfilling life.

It's almost a case of three points in one line.

Occasionally, he also received invitations from Emperor Jingwu to go to the Jingtai Hall to lecture on the classics.

Emperor Jingwu always had many strange and peculiar questions, but Zhang Jian could still handle them easily.

It can be seen that Emperor Jingwu is extremely cautious; even when he learned how to suppress aristocratic clans from his mouth, he restrained his impulses with great patience.

Fools act rashly, the mediocre do nothing, the wise act well!

Emperor Jingwu is clearly waiting for the right moment to act!

It's just that the matter of compiling the《Clan Chronicles》was brought forward in a grand court assembly.

And this matter was entirely entrusted to Huang Liangzhong.

Huang Liangzhong took on the task of compiling the《Clan Chronicles》, so he could no longer兼顾 the compilation of the《Great Qian Compendium》; as Zhang Jian, one of the few serving lecturers at the Literary Academy, was appointed by Emperor Jingwu as Huang Liangzhong's assistant, officially taking charge and coordinating the compilation of the《Great Qian Compendium》.

Work remained from five in the morning to nine at night.

Time passed extremely quickly.

Moreover, Zhang Jian had also been calculating the time of Bai Liying's childbirth all along.

……

Fengyang Commandery, when the first snow of early winter fell again upon the earth, the White Water Dragon Palace also became lively.

In the White Water Dragon Palace

The White Water Dragon King sat in command at the Divine Ministry, his spiritual power surging; after a year of rest, his vital energy gradually recovered.

Wind, frost, rain, and snow, under his authority, the snow outside the White Water became even more urgent!

At this moment, his divine sense sensed that in the Spirit Spring Palace, Bai Liying was giving birth.

Bai Duo was somewhat worried.

Although she is a cultivator, Bai Liying's childbirth this time is truly extraordinary.

Since Bai Liying became pregnant, she has completely transformed into a human form, so she gives birth in human form; naturally, the offspring born this way will mainly have human bloodline, thus better adapting to life among humans.

However, this method inevitably bears some risk.

The risk of giving birth to a monster!

Bai Liying's cultivation has not yet reached the Golden Core realm; if, due to childbirth, she loses control of her spiritual power midway, she might give birth to a half-demon in beast form.

Although the child is of mixed human and demon blood, this unborn child is essentially a half-demon by nature.

At this very moment, however, an invisible light appeared in the void and instantly fell into the main hall of the White Water Dragon Palace.

The wind swept away the fallen leaves, and a figure appeared.

Upon seeing this figure appear, the White Water Dragon King's eyes twitched, and his expression also showed some astonishment.

"A Yu, you've returned?"

The White Water Dragon King stood up.

"Father-in-law, how is the princess's condition?"

At this moment, Zhang Jian's face was solemn, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

Seeing Zhang Jian's expression, the White Water Dragon King's surprised expression slightly subsided, and he smiled.

"Don't worry, she ultimately carries dragon blood, so there will be no problem!"

Zhang Jian nodded slightly; he certainly knew this, but he still couldn't help feeling concerned.

At this moment, he was covered in dust and travel stains.

He had taken a few days off from the Literary Academy, and by using the Wind-riding Azure Mist Technique to hurry urgently, he managed to return before Bai Liying gave birth.

The father-in-law and son-in-law waited in the Dragon Palace; not knowing how long had passed, Zhang Jian's eyes twitched, he looked toward the side hall door, and saw a plump old fish-wife come out from inside, her face full of joy.

Her rough voice came from afar:

"Congratulations, Dragon King, congratulations, Dragon King, the Fourth Princess has given birth to a little grandson with a handle!"

At this moment, she also saw Zhang Jian's figure, her face startled, and she hurriedly bowed.

"Young, Prince Consort also returned, congratulations, Prince Consort, on getting a big fat boy!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's mouth already curled into a hint of a smile.

Although he had long known Bai Liying's childbirth would be problem-free, Zhang Jian's face still couldn't help showing a hint of joy.

"Very good! Take a look!"

At this moment, he casually took out several bottles of Essence Yuan Pills from the blood embryo bag and threw them to the fish-wife, then hurriedly went to the sleeping hall.

Behind him, the fish-wife caught the pills Zhang Jian threw over, glanced at them, and her old face was already smiling so wide it couldn't close.

At this moment, the White Water Dragon King's expression was also joyful; he waved his big hand and laughed heartily.

"Today, everyone in the Dragon Palace, up and down, gets a reward!"

As his words fell, he waved his hand, ordering the divine generals beside him to open the treasure chest already prepared in the side hall, scattering handfuls of spirit stones rich in spiritual essence; he himself also hurriedly rushed to the sleeping hall.

Inside the Spirit Spring Palace

Zhang Jian entered and immediately saw Bai Liying already risen, her face full of gentleness; Bai Liying had rarely changed into a goose-yellow palace dress, and at this moment she was holding a small infant, her jade-like face filled with a maternal radiance.

From afar, one could see she had lost her previous heroic charm, gaining instead gentleness and softness.

As a dragon maiden, she did not have the weak period of ordinary women after childbirth; she could get up right after giving birth, and her wound had already healed.

"Princess!"

At this moment, hearing a sound from the door, she raised her head, and couldn't help but let a look of joy appear in her beautiful eyes, and said joyfully.

"Husband!"

Seeing Zhang Jian, she was somewhat unable to restrain her emotions, but soon suppressed her longing.

Zhang Jian stepped forward and gently embraced the mother and child in his arms, speaking softly.

"Princess, you've worked hard!"

Bai Li Ying was about to say something when she saw Bai Shui Longjun walking in briskly from outside the sleeping hall; she felt a little shy and gently slipped out of Zhang Jian's embrace.

Zhang Jian looked speechlessly at Bai Nu, who came running in cheerfully—this father-in-law of his really knows how to read the room.

"This is my little grandson—he really does look like a divine being, Your Majesty!"

Bai Nu paid no attention to all that, stepping closer in a few strides; his eyes, filled with delight, fixed on the infant boy in Bai Li Ying's arms.

The baby was pink and tender, somewhat different from ordinary newborns—not the usual full-body red, nor did he have wrinkled skin; he naturally exuded a special, pure fragrance, and his entire being pulsed with strong, clear spiritual energy.

Innately, he subtly resonated with the spiritual mechanism omnipresent in the void.

Zhang Jian glanced at Bai Nu, cleared his throat, and said.

"Father-in-law, it should be the divine being, me!"

Bai Nu let out an angry snort.

"My grandson—of course he takes after me!"

Hearing this, Bai Li Ying beside them felt both amused and exasperated, and said.

"Father, husband, stop arguing—look and see if the child still bears any half-demon traits!"

Zhang Jian and Bai Nu, upon hearing this, turned their gaze to the infant and scanned him briefly; Zhang Jian's eyes shifted—aside from discovering a patch of golden dragon scales on the baby's dantian, he found no other signs.

Zhang Jian didn't mind it much; after seeing this eldest son, he had already made arrangements in his heart.

Bai Nu then laughed and said.

"Daughter, this grandson of mine possesses deep spiritual roots—he was born without even a trace of demonic aura, except for this scale! And it's still a dragon scale of our dragon clan!"

With Bai Nu's approval, Bai Li Ying's heart also swelled with joy.

Half-demons are quite special—most actually have quite good spiritual roots, capable of combining the advantages of both races.

But sometimes, bearing demonic features, they are rejected in both the human and demon realms!

Now she could relax!

The child in her arms seemed to inherit more of Zhang Jian's bloodline.

At this moment, gazing at the infant's spiritual energy fluctuations, Bai Li Ying smiled happily and said.

"The child should still possess several spiritual roots—just don't know if he inherited those top-grade spiritual roots from you, husband!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Nu slightly demonstrated a dragon clan secret technique; a faint blue light flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Zhang Jian also placed one hand on the baby's wrist, merely sensing with his divine awareness.

At a glance, Zhang Jian knew this eldest son's qualifications were quite outstanding.

But as he kept his wrist on the baby for a careful probe, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

It seemed the Zhang family had hope of transforming into a cultivation lineage through this eldest son.

Bai Nu's eyes now glowed with a deep, mysterious light; after a moment, his expression of astonishment could not be concealed.

"Water spirit root, thunder spirit root, wind spirit root—plus the ice spirit root from you, daughter; the first three are upper-middle, the ice root is upper-lower—truly extraordinary, and with innate qi coiling around him—could this be the sign of an innate Dao body?"

Bai Nu's gaze lingered, growing more astonished, tinged with a hint of joy.

"Innocent Innate Dao Body!"

At this moment, Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged, but he had already perceived the essence of the baby's innate Dao body.

Clearly, it was inherited from his own Innocent Innate Dao Body.

This kind of innate Dao body is not considered powerful, but no matter how ordinary, it is still an innate Dao body.

Entering the path of cultivation in the future will pose no problem.

Beside them, Bai Li Ying, upon hearing this, felt joy rise in her beautiful eyes.

After a moment, she looked toward Zhang Jian and said.

"Husband, please give our child a name!"