Chapter 280

State Scholar's Mansion

Inside the two bathtubs floated dense spiritual energy; under Zhang Jian's magical power, tiny flames appeared, melting countless spiritual medicines, their medicinal properties gradually refined.

Having done all this, Zhang Jian looked toward Qi Yuhua and smiled.

"Wife, these two bathtubs are entrusted to you and Zhang Chang'an; these are all Foundation Establishment spiritual medicines, their properties dissolved by my magical power, so you and Old Four can absorb them!

Though you cannot cultivate, bathing in spiritual medicine can also temper your tendons and bones, making your tendons and bones healthy, your body more agile!"

Qi Yuhua, big with child, at this time held Zhang Chang'an's small hand and advised: "Husband, I do not cultivate, yet it is unnecessary to waste these precious spiritual medicines!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed and said.

"No matter; we currently lack no such Foundation Establishment spiritual medicines, and this also benefits your martial cultivation!"

His gaze flickered with a hint of sorrow.

The path of immortal cultivation is filled with hardship and countless calamities; one careless mistake leads to death and soul annihilation.

Even though Zhang Yi and Zhang Zhao have embarked on the path of immortal cultivation, Zhang Jian still worries somewhat.

But he also knows this is their own choice, just as young eagles must leave the nest, perhaps falling from cliffs to be shattered to pieces, yet one must still try.

But Qi Yuhua at this age need not endure these; his expectations for Qi Yuhua are not high, and he has not demanded she support the Zhang family gate, face countless risks—only that she remain safe and stable.

When one day he attains the Dao and achieves longevity, lifts his residence to ascend, he too can attain an immortal body.

Zhang Jian gestured for Qi Yuhua and Zhang Chang'an to enter.

Afterwards entering another room, inside Zhang Zhao curiously eyed the wooden tub; toward him, Zhang Jian was not polite, directly lifting and plunging him in.

As Zhang Jian activated the surrounding auxiliary formations.

Inside the two rooms, at this time spiritual energy circulated, the invisible spiritual vortex like spring rain seeping into the rooms.

……

Just as Zhang Jian was cleansing the tendons and bones of Zhang Zhao and his mother and son, at this time the inner and outer imperial city was in turmoil, many palace servants hurrying about with anxious expressions.

Many imperial guards had stern expressions, at this time sealing all palace gates on the left and right of the imperial city.

Only entry permitted, no exit.

Ziwei Palace, the sleeping quarters of Emperor Jingwu, Dongjue Daoist received the news and hurried over.

She received the news from the gatekeeper beside Empress Dowager Li; at noon, Emperor Jingwu, while reviewing memorials in the Jingtai Hall, suddenly fainted!

The key point is that after fainting, Empress Dowager Li did not let the Imperial Medical Office intervene, but instead summoned the State Preceptor Jingming Daoist from the Dongshen Observatory.

This made Dongjue Daoist feel extremely unusual.

If it were an ordinary minor illness, the Imperial Medical Office's physicians would be sufficient; why summon Jingming Daoist?

Yet Dongjue Daoist still felt some disbelief in his heart.

Emperor Jingwu had just reached the age of establishment, precisely the time of being sharp and capable; how could he suddenly faint at this time?

Shortly after, Dongjue Daoist saw Jingming Daoist step out from the main hall.

At this time he tightly furrowed his brows.

Dongjue Daoist, seeing this, could not help but sink in expression and asked.

"Junior Nephew, how is the Emperor?"

Jingming Daoist raised his head, lost in thought, silent.

Dongjue Daoist startled, felt in his heart a sense of unease.

She strode straight into the Ziwei Palace, yet saw inside the Ziwei Palace, Empress Dowager Li and Empress Qi standing beside Emperor Jingwu.

On the dragon bed, Emperor Jingwu's body slightly leaned sideways, behind him draped a snow-white white gauze, the white gauze stained with bloody crimson marks.

Around him, the majestic national fortune black dragon seemed to float and sink, circulate, only quieter than usual.

Dongjue Daoist noticed a slight bulge behind Emperor Jingwu; that bulge made him involuntarily groan in pain, unbent his body, unable to straighten his back.

Dongjue Daoist also ignored the gazes of Empress Dowager Li and Empress Qi, raised his hand to lift the white gauze, and in an instant his expression changed, yet saw on his back a malignant sore attached.

Inside, faintly, still held some transcendent meaning.

"Evil power, malignant煞!"

Dongjue Daoist merely glanced, and his expression instantly turned cold.

Such pus-filled sacs she had never seen; in the long ages, she had seen those with deep evil power, deeply suffering from fate's backlash, struck by heavenly decree, their bodies covered in abscesses.

Malignant sores are also one kind.

But Emperor Jingwu is the Nine-Five Supreme, possessing the national dragon fortune; how could he possibly grow such a thing?

"Could it be the dragon vein has encountered disaster, affecting the Emperor!"

This thought flashed in Dongjue Daoist's mind, yet saw Empress Qi walk before Dongjue Daoist and deeply bow.

"Grand Aunt, please certainly help the Emperor; the Emperor is wise and martial, a sage ruler of our dynasty, he should not suffer this calamity!"

Dongjue Daoist, seeing this, patted Empress Qi's hand and comforted.

"Qi clan, you need not worry; the Emperor's vital spirit is still intact now; we will find a way!"

Dongjue Daoist's expression remained calm, after comforting Empress Qi with a few words, he slowly walked out of the Ziwei Palace.

Jingming Daoist at this time stood outside the Ziwei Palace, saw Dongjue Daoist open his mouth to inquire and thus said.

"Aunt Martial, you need not ask me; you should have seen the Emperor's condition; this is the backlash of the dragon vein, and should also relate to the supreme treasure currently gestating within the dragon vein..."

Speaking of the supreme treasure, Jingming Daoist kept his mouth shut threefold.

That supreme treasure he had only heard mentioned by the ancestor of the Dongshen Teaching; he did not know what it actually was.

Dongyu Daoist could not help but say: "Now the senior martial brother is not in the observatory, this is somewhat troublesome?"

Facing such abscesses, malignant sores, if one wishes to heal, one must first address the root cause, first find a way to resolve the evil fruit within the dragon vein.

Otherwise, leaving the backlash to act, Emperor Jingwu will likely soon be unable to endure it.

Jingming Daoist slightly nodded, his gaze swept over the martial-law imperial city.

Concerning the backlash of the dragon vein, he, however, happened to be unclear about the mysteries within this dragon vein, how it could be resolved.

The only one who knew the details within the dragon vein was Yin Shi True Person Zhaomu.

However, Jingming Daoist also knew that there was a Tiangang True Person within the dragon vein, who should also know the fundamentals; this matter required seeking help from the other party.

……

"The imperial capital is under martial law!"

At the palace gate of the imperial capital, Zhang Jian was blocked before the Yujing Gate, and there was some astonishment in his eyes.

Likewise blocked at the gate were many court officials.

Among them were not a few high-ranking officials in crimson and purple robes; Zhang Jian saw that most of the Nine Ministers and high officials had arrived: Minister of Justice Wang Yan, Minister of Rites He Zheng, Director of the Lesser Treasury Wen Daoyuan, Director of the Directorate of Stables Yu Qiong Ying, and among the Three Dukes, the Censor-in-Chief Zhuang Ying was also already present.

Hearing the news transmitted by the Imperial Guard, it was said that an assassin had appeared within the imperial capital; at this moment, closing the palace gates was to apprehend the assassin?

Zhang Jian stood in the crowd; at this moment, he greeted his direct superior, the Director of the Lesser Treasury Wen Daoyuan, and then stood to one side.

He gazed upward toward the midheaven, only to discover that the Emperor's Destiny Star, Ziwei, showed some dimness and was covered with thick clouds.

"This is an ominous omen!"

Zhang Jian secretly thought in his heart; suddenly such an event occurred, which completely disturbed his cultivation rhythm.

Such an anomalous omen was not only something he could see; those with ulterior motives would likely not let this opportunity pass.