Chapter 262: Guidance, Breaking the Army

That was Song Yingzhen.

The concubine-born son of the Dingyuan Marquis's manor, and also the younger brother of the current Dingyuan Marquis.

Zhang Jian's Yang Spirit divine sense was exceptionally sharp, and he had long since discerned that there was another starlight within Song Yingzhen's life palace.

That was the Broken Army Star among the Three Malevolent Stars.

That soaring bird spreading its wings aperture seemed to have already taken effect.

Everyone ate until their faces were flushed red, yet they felt extremely delighted; Wang Xiao even kept calling out how satisfying it was, shouting that he wanted to learn this dish and take it home to enjoy alone.

Many scholars were still feeling unsatisfied.

Zhang Jian had already had the rear kitchen prepare several seasoning packets for everyone to take home, especially for several impoverished scholars; Zhang Jian also had Zhang Fu prepare an extra portion of lamb for them to take back.

In the end, Zhang Jian still kept Song Yingzhen behind.

Before the Grand Agriculture Temple, the cold moon hung like a hook.

Master and disciple stood beneath the eaves watching the crowd depart with uneven steps; Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Song Yingzhen, and he asked.

"Yingzhen, have you recently set foot upon the path of cultivation?!"

Upon hearing this, Song Yingzhen's expression showed some surprise.

"Is the teacher also a cultivator?"

Zhang Jian nodded and said: "This is not strange; among the court officials there are many extraordinary individuals!"

Zhang Jian raised one hand; deep in his palm, a point of red light flowed and circulated, the Heavenly Realm Pure Fire appeared, and in an instant this point of flame in Zhang Jian's hand transformed into a fire bird that soared into the sky.

Though the fire bird was small, its entire body emitted an extremely dangerous radiance; within it, countless layers of Dao patterns flickered faintly into view—this was Zhang Jian deliberately revealing its essence.

Song Yingzhen merely glanced at it, and immediately felt a chill rise in his heart.

"The teacher's attainment in this path is probably not low; he surely is not inferior to my master..."

Such a thought involuntarily flashed through his mind.

After a brief hesitation, Song Yingzhen said: "Not hiding it from the teacher, I too only recently encountered an opportunity and stepped onto the path of cultivation; my hidden techniques are clumsy, so I have caused the teacher to laugh!"

Song Yingzhen did not mention his own master-apprentice affair, not because he lacked trust, but because he had promised his master not to disclose his identity.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Song Yingzhen; he noticed that the various magical powers within Song Yingzhen's body revealed a heavy, complete flavor—this was obviously not something an ordinary inheritance could possess.

It seemed he had fortuitously joined some Dao lineage, just as he himself had done initially; he should still be in the observation period now.

Zhang Jian also did not mind; he merely casually pointed out a couple of key points regarding the Qi Cultivation stage and the Spirit Nurturing stage that needed attention, but this also made Song Yingzhen feel grateful.

Zhang Jian also said.

"Do you know about the theory of destiny patterns?"

Song Yingzhen nodded and said: "Disciple once encountered a senior who mentioned that during the Spirit Nurturing stage of cultivation, one must awaken the divine sense, map one's life palace, and combine with one's destiny pattern to establish the foundation and cultivate magical power!"

Zhang Jian, upon hearing this, felt delighted and said.

"For most people, the destiny pattern within their life palace is a blank slate, but there are also a few who, before foundation establishment, with extremely good luck, can awaken some special destiny patterns!"

"Your luck is very good, your destiny pattern is very special, but if it were exposed, it would not be a good thing for you!"

Upon hearing this, Song Yingzhen's eyes showed a start.

"Teacher, you say I have a special destiny pattern?"

Zhang Jian lightly nodded.

"Yes, but you currently do not need to worry too much; you have just begun cultivation, so no one will notice you!"

Song Yingzhen, however, felt somewhat uneasy; born into the Dingyuan Marquis's manor, he had already tasted the flavor of being targeted and persecuted, and instinctively possessed a wariness toward such things.

He immediately said: "Teacher, do you have any concealment method?"

Zhang Jian glanced at Song Yingzhen and smiled: "Although concealing destiny patterns is not simple, for me it is not a difficult matter!"

Song Yingzhen hurriedly clasped his hands.

"Please, teacher, bestow upon me the wondrous method, help the disciple avoid calamity!"

Zhang Jian glanced at Song Yingzhen; Song Yingzhen was still quite clever.

If he were a dull-witted fool, Zhang Jian could only wait until he emerged from seclusion and suffered hardship, then try to help him.

Zhang Jian raised one hand; deep in his palm, a golden lotus appeared, upon which seven-colored golden light flowed and circulated.

Golden Lotus Hiding Technique.

At this moment, this seven-colored golden lotus instantly transformed into a seven-colored talisman, which sank into Song Yingzhen's life palace.

Song Yingzhen closed his eyes; at this moment he could sense the connection between the seven-colored talisman and himself; with a single thought, he seemed able to control it to open and close its petals.

Very convenient and practical.

"Thank you, teacher!"

Song Yingzhen performed a respectful salute.

Zhang Jian nodded, then gave him a couple of pointers, and then ordered him to leave.

After Song Yingzhen left, that night he tossed and turned unable to sleep; the next morning at dawn he left early, exited Haojing City, and entered a ruined temple in the suburbs.

At this time Zhang Jian was also outside the city; he had followed Song Yingzhen all the way to this place.

Song Yingzhen was intelligent, diligent, and himself possessed a streak of fortune; Zhang Jian naturally did not wish this clever disciple to go astray, so he wanted to see who had intercepted his disciple.

Within his vast Yang Spirit divine sense, he saw that inside the collapsed Judge's Temple, there was another white-clad female cultivator sitting cross-legged, healing her wounds.

After Song Yingzhen entered, he immediately called out "Master!"

Then, like spilling beans, he recounted word for word all the various conversations he had with Zhang Jian the previous night at the Grand Agriculture Temple.

Zhang Jian's divine sense observed this scene, and he immediately felt a sigh.

It is indeed advantageous for a female cultivator to take disciples.

As if naturally bestowed with a harmless halo, slight performance easily earns trust.

Between him and this woman, Song Yingzhen clearly trusted this female cultivator more; his chattering mouth had already practically sold him out.

"Life pattern?"

Only to see this white-clad female cultivator with a face like a lotus flower raise her slender eyebrows slightly, slowly lift her slender white hand, gesture for Song Yingzhen to step forward, and casually touch his brow's life palace.

A sharp sword qi flowed around her body, the sword qi transforming into magical power that entered Song Yingzhen's life palace, but in an instant she opened her eyes, carrying a hint of doubt.

"No!"

"Master, is there none?"

Song Yingzhen's expression changed, yet he saw the white-clad female cultivator ponder for a moment, then speak again.

"Try using your thoughts to communicate with the talisman inside your body, try to release your life pattern!"

Song Yingzhen hurriedly complied; the white-clad female cultivator cast the spell again, and under her wondrous method, a fierce starlight burst forth from deep within Song Yingzhen's brow, the starlight corresponding to celestial phenomena, a dense and terrifying star-slaughter coalescing, appearing as a special mark deep within Song Yingzhen's brow.

"Broken Army Star!"

Seeing this celestial phenomenon, the white-clad female cultivator also couldn't help but change expression.

She gazed in astonishment at this disciple she had unintentionally taken in.

The other party had mistakenly entered this place and helped her, luring away one of her arch-enemies; out of some casual thought, she had temporarily transmitted a Foundation Establishment method to Song Yingzhen, never expecting to encounter a host bearing the Broken Army Star.

The white-clad female cultivator's expression changed somewhat at this moment, and she spoke again.

"It seems your teacher's cultivation is extraordinary; this kind of technique for concealing one's life pattern is truly marvelous!"

Song Yingzhen couldn't help but ask: "Master, how does it compare to yours?"

Upon hearing this, the white-clad female cultivator lightly rebuked: "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"