Chapter 245: Qinglian Heavenly Venerable

An Ruoming tidied his clothes and left.

Zhang Jian watched An Ruoming depart, silver moonlight flowing around him as his figure vanished.

He did not employ any secret technique to control her.

Because he was confident that, as his cultivation advanced, An Ruoming could not escape his grasp.

In fact, even if he used secret arts, such a person might not be reliable and could turn on him at any moment.

Moreover, it might prematurely alert several Nascent Soul True Persons within the Great Qian.

After subduing An Ruoming, Zhang Jian did not reveal his true form at this time; his true form had remained hidden beneath the lovely moonlight from beginning to end.

His figure vanished into the forest in an instant.

……

Inside the Western Mountain Observatory

Jingyue Daoist had been standing before the ancestral hall of the observatory, the majestic dharma image of the Yangyang Ancestral Master present; taking advantage of the opportunity, Jingyue Daoist was also comprehending a special Dao method to harmonize the golden elixir qi within his body.

His aura was icy cold and severe, unlike the fierce and fierce thunder law of the Divine Spirit Observatory, solemn and heavy with heavenly might.

In fact, he cultivated the Electric Mother Heart Sutra from the Divine Spirit True Scripture transmitted by the Divine Spirit Observatory, condensing not an ordinary thunder god dharma image, but the Electric Mother dharma image born of extreme yin thunder; likewise mastering various Divine Spirit thunder laws, but the thunder laws he cultivated were all formless yin thunder.

Formless yin thunder is even more icy, yin-cold, and impossible to guard against.

At this moment, aided by his wondrous method, he continually stimulated the hundreds of apertures across his body, harmonizing his essence, qi, and spirit to strengthen his golden elixir qi; above his head, a faint black electric light flickered invisibly.

Zhang Jian's vast divine sense swept over; even the formidable Jingyue Daoist failed to detect any trace of that immense yin spirit divine sense.

But the next day, Jingyue Daoist was suddenly startled by a Kun Daoist of the Western Mountain Observatory.

"Observatory Master, Consort Song is gravely ill!"

"Consort Song?"

Upon hearing this, Jingyue Daoist opened his eyes from the futon, gazing at the blue-robed disciple before him, his eyes showing slight surprise.

Jingyue Daoist had some knowledge of Consort Song's condition; originally, it was merely cold invading the lungs, a lung ailment, requiring some time of recuperation, possibly leaving aftereffects, but not serious enough to be critical.

"What happened?"

Jingyue Daoist looked toward the blue-clad Kun Daoist before him.

The Kun Daoist hastily replied: "Observatory Master, it is because Consort Song herself refuses medicine that her condition worsened, and she weeps daily, speaks little, lacks joy, constantly thinks of the Emperor, so..."

Upon hearing this, Jingyue Daoist's eyes flickered, and he sighed: "Indeed, a pitiful person!"

Seeing this, the Kun Daoist said: "Observatory Master, should we gather disciples to use divine power to promote circulation and relieve stagnation for her?"

Jingyue Daoist remained calm, waving his hand.

"This is a heart ailment; the Emperor does not wish to come, no one can save her, dying late or early is the same!"

Jingyue Daoist did not care; there were too many such consorts in the Western Mountain Observatory.

"In that case, go inside the palace gate and deliver a message to the inner court to learn the Emperor's intention; if the Emperor is unwilling, then let the disciples conserve some divine power!"

This is the procedure of the Western Mountain Observatory for handling such gravely ill consorts.

Upon hearing this, the Kun Daoist hastily departed.

Jingyue Daoist paid no further attention and continued his cultivation.

……

At this moment, in the great camp of the Divine Strategy Army, seated in the commander's position, An Ruoming's face was as frozen as ice, his masculine and stern demeanor showing not the slightest change; no one knew his thoughts.

He also received the news that Consort Song was gravely ill.

This is the method of that terrifying existence known as the Qinglian Heavenly Venerable.

Golden Cicada shedding its shell, stealing heaven and changing the sun!

As long as Consort Song 'dies' from illness, she will naturally be able to reunite with him after rebirth.

An Ruoming did not doubt the methods of a 'Nascent Soul True Person'.

He no longer worried about having no future with Consort Song.

In their eyes, this matter might be earth-shattering, but in the other's eyes, it might merely be a trifle easily done.

What he now thinks is how to free himself from the other's control!

"Immediately report to the court, request the several State-Protecting True Persons deep within the court to come forth and slay the other!"

This dangerous thought constantly flashed in his mind.

But after prolonged consideration, he still suppressed this notion.

His and Consort Song's affair is a handle held in the other's hand.

If this were to leak out, no matter what merits he has, the Emperor Jingwu would not let him go.

This would also be a tremendous scandal for the imperial family.

Moreover, Emperor Jingwu, who aspires to surpass all past emperors in civil governance and martial prowess.

It would be best to devise a method to silently eliminate the other.

"General An, what are you thinking?"

At this moment, a figure silently appeared within the military tent—a plump cultivator with flowing hair, wearing a silver star-embroidered robe, his eyes gleaming with lively light.

Upon seeing this Daoist appear, An Ruoming's eyes flickered as he rose from the commander's seat and laughed.

"Nothing much, just pondering how to break through the Land Immortal Demon Realm; the timely arrival of Teacher Xinghuo—this junior intends to go to the Star Palace for instruction?!"

This Daoist is a cultivator of the Star Palace.

The Star Palace is a very mysterious place; it is said to possess immense power, and in the Great Qian army, this time leading the perfection of celestial martial arts, the Star Palace is one of the more important participating sects.

And they are very enthusiastic about it!

Upon hearing this, the Daoist called Xinghuo, upon hearing the words, took in An Ruoming's expression; he could see that An Ruoming harbored other thoughts!

But he did not expose it, instead following along with An Ruoming's words.

"Not long after the general broke through to the peak of the Heavenly Human realm, he still lacked some refinement to step into the Land Immortal-Demon realm; the true self advised the general not to rush, for forcing a breakthrough might harm his foundation."

Upon hearing this, An Ruoming felt a flicker of disappointment in his heart—being at the mercy of others, his life held in their palms, was nothing he could bear well.

"Can that Teacher Yinghuo help me refine my martial intent and fully reach the flawless Hunyuan realm?"

Upon hearing this, the Daoist called Yinghuo gave a slight nod and smiled.

"This matter is not difficult; as long as the general can endure hardship!"

An Ruoming nodded, a faint harshness flickering in the depths of his eyes.

……

Not long after, white banners were hung within the Xishan Guan, a small coffin was carried out via another path from Xishan toward the city, prepared for burial in another graveyard outside Xishan's suburbs.

Consort Song was not among the four consorts, bore no heirs, and lacked the qualification to be buried in the consort mausoleum; she could only be hastily laid to rest in a randomly chosen auspicious fengshui site.

But not long after, Consort Song's corpse was replaced by an ordinary female corpse, and her true body was taken by Zhang Jian to a separate villa.

An Ruoming's person was not suitable for tampering, but he could do something to Song Fei's body.

……

After making all preparations, Zhang Jian once again entered normal cultivation.

The fourth tribulation is named Attaining the True Dao Realm; this tribulation differs from the previous three.

The first three tribulations—karmic fire of ignorance, the Void Entangling the Heart, and the Monkey Mind—were all born of the Nine Netherworlds, due to his gradual escape from life and death, whose rules naturally reacted; but the fourth tribulation arises from heaven and earth's backlash, its power far surpassing the first three.

It is certain that the source of this tribulation is related to the Heavenly Heart Seal.

This tribulation and the fifth tribulation afterward leave no trace, and are exceptionally perilous.

Even one as formidable as Zhang Jian must exercise caution and take precautions.