Chapter 190: The Carp's Transformation into a Dragon

Bai Liying's beautiful eyes were full of anticipation.

Zhang Jian had long harbored a plan in his heart; upon hearing this, he said: "Since he is my eldest son, let's name him Zhang Yi!"

"Zhang Yi?"

Bai Liying's beautiful eyes brightened, and she immediately listened as Zhang Jian spoke.

"Yi means 'one'; I hope our child will be like you, upholding the Dao heart, single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, and open up a new world for our Zhang family!"

One actually also carries the implication of the primordial beginning and the renewal of all things; Zhang Jian's thoughts need no further explanation!

"Zhang Yi, what a good name!"

Bai Shu Longjun couldn't help but step forward, reaching out to take the swaddled Zhang Yi; his eyes held an undisguisable affection.

If Zhang Yi were merely an ordinary mortal with no talent, or low talent, then his affinity with the Dragon Palace would obviously be no more than a hundred years or so; but he possesses four spiritual roots and has also inherited Zhang Jian's innate Dao body, so he will surely embark on the path of cultivation in the future.

His connection with the Dragon Palace will inevitably not be few.

"Zhang Yi, Yi'er!"

Bai Liying pondered slightly, and her star-like eyes immediately filled with joy.

She also understood Zhang Jian's expectations for Zhang Yi.

Seeing Zhang Yi born smoothly, Bai Liying immediately held Zhang Yi and entered the Spirit Spring Pool within the Spirit Spring Hall of the Dragon Palace, which is where the Dragon Palace places newborns.

There, it helps maintain the newborn's innate qi and enhances the newborn's spiritual wisdom; as a mother, Bai Liying naturally must guard by the Spirit Spring Pool for a sufficient number of days, and also needs to draw upon the pool's water veins and marrow to restore her own vitality.

Bai Nu then led Zhang Jian into the Crystal Hall.

The father-in-law and son-in-law chatted briefly about some amusing events in Haojing City; Bai Nu was quite interested, but after a moment he couldn't help but ask.

"Son-in-law, what level has your magical power reached now? Why was it that when you entered the Crystal Dragon Palace just now, I, as father, felt nothing at all?"

Upon mentioning this, Bai Nu's eyes showed a hint of astonishment.

As Bai Shu Longjun, he is confident in his control over the Bai Shui Divine Ministry and will have no problems; yet Zhang Jian's appearance managed to evade his divine sense.

Zhang Jian smiled slightly; that was because he had combined the Wind-Traversing Azure Mist Technique with the Golden Lotus Subtle Breath Method, not only making his evasion speed extremely fast, but also endowing it with the heavenly gift and profound mystery of the Yaochi Golden Lotus, allowing for soundless evasion.

It's a pity he doesn't understand spatial techniques; otherwise, directly tearing open the void would make that combined structure even more seamless, with no flaws whatsoever.

"Mid-Golden Core, still some distance from late Golden Core!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Nu couldn't help but have a slight pause in his eyes, mixed with a hint of shock.

A year ago, Zhang Jian had clearly just finished testing his fate and completed Foundation Establishment not long ago; yet a year later he has advanced to this extent.

"Truly brave and diligent in progress, but son-in-law, cultivation has always been about prudence; brave and diligent progress is good, but also do not let your foundation become insubstantial, lest it affect your bright future!"

Bai Nu still felt some worry.

Zhang Jian nodded slightly.

He then immediately took out a well-painted scroll from the blood placenta bag and handed it to Bai Nu.

"Father-in-law, your thousand-year divine calamity is approaching; this item should be of some help to you!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Nu's eyes flickered, and he casually took the scroll.

He had already mentioned to Zhang Jian that within two or three years he would face the thousand-year calamity.

It seems Zhang Jian has indeed put some thought into this.

As the scroll unfurled, a magnificent ink-and-color painting emerged.

Only to see countless ink strokes gathering into vast expanses of ocean surface, boundless and majestic true qi sweeping in, transforming into countless carp swimming upstream from downstream, converging before a towering great gate; hundreds of carp leapt, spiritual inspiration soaring to the heavens, streams of spiritual inspiration surging from the water depths, while above the Dragon Gate a colossal true dragon coiled, its body magnificent, its roar shaking the nine heavens.

"The Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate Painting!"

As his gaze swept over this painting, feeling its profound and condensed vast artistic conception, Bai Nu's eyes couldn't help but sink into it.

This Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate Painting contains within it a lofty, unyielding, upward-striving grand Dao artistic conception; this is not only greatly beneficial for his tribulation crossing, but also able to restore the Dao heart and perfect the state of mind.

Bai Nu's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but sigh.

"Son-in-law, this is indeed a great gift; for this father, the Dragon Palace has nothing good enough to repay you!"

"Father-in-law speaks too seriously; if you can marry your princess to me, that is already the best repayment!"

Zhang Jian immediately waved his hands.

The father-in-law and son-in-law glanced at each other, both smiling.

Bai Nu now felt an added hint of joy; having this Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate Painting, for his tribulation crossing he at least gains a fifty percent increase in confidence.

This is almost equivalent to certain success.

Zhang Jian stayed in the Dragon Palace for several days, always accompanying Bai Liying, but his stay was limited.

In the Wen Ti Academy, his compilation of the "Great Qian Complete Book" cannot be delayed too long; if prolonged, it would inevitably lead to disorder.

After discussing Zhang Yi's future arrangements with Bai Liying, his figure then directly departed from the Dragon Palace.

……

Two years passed quietly.

Spring went, autumn came.

After Bai Liying gave birth, Qi Yuhua also bore Zhang Jian a second child.

That was also a boy.

Zhang Jian named him Zhang Zhao.

And after Zhang Yi turned two, Zhang Jian also brought him to his side, to be raised by Qi Yuhua.

This is what Zhang Jian and Bai Liying had agreed upon long ago: after Bai Liying gave birth to Zhang Yi, she would return to the path of cultivation, and, following the recommendation letter from the River Dragon Palace, enter the True Dragon Dao Institute to cultivate.

The True Dragon Dao Institute is the Water Bo Dao Lineage under the State Gods Dao, and is also quite famous in the cultivation world.

Zhang Jian does not wish for Bai Liying to be ruined by indulgence in children's private affection, and also strongly encourages her to cultivate in the True Dragon Dao Institute.

……

Zhuangyuan Fu Di

The tall jujube trees were lush and green all year round, their branches bearing white blossoms throughout the seasons, completely defying the natural order—even when snow blanketed the ground, red dates still hung from their limbs.

Beneath the jujube trees, two mischievous mud monkeys ran about, playing and roughhousing.

"Zhao Di, you're so slow!"

From afar, a clear voice rang out, and soon a small boy of about five or six years old appeared, his steps swift as if he trod on springs, arriving at the jujube tree in a few strides, all the while calling out to the stumbling figure behind him.

Below the loft, Zhang Jian and Qi Yuhua, husband and wife, watched the two boys, smiles playing at the corners of their eyes.

Qi Yuhua was now in the prime of her womanhood, her figure graceful and her beautiful face lit with joy.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Zhang Yi.

Though Zhang Yi had taken human form, he remained essentially a half-demon, merely a few months older than Zhang Zhao, yet his development was far more rapid, making him seem like a five- or six-year-old boy.

Sturdy and strong-headed.

He showed no fear of the spring chill, and his strength surpassed that of ordinary people.

The dragon blood within him was gradually taking effect.

However, Zhang Jian did not let him begin cultivation immediately; instead, he planned to wait until he turned ten, when he would have gained some sense, before sending him to the Tongshan Dao Academy.

Zhang Jian had already communicated this with the Tongshan Dao Tong.

As a true transmission disciple, he was qualified to recommend his descendants for cultivation at Tongshan.

Moreover, Zhang Yi possessed an innate Dao body, and upon hearing the news, his several senior brothers and sisters from the Zhanmo Peak lineage all expressed interest.

However, regarding Zhang Zhao's arrangements, Zhang Jian felt hesitant in his heart.