Chapter 291

The most precious thing is still another function.

After refining it, there is nearly an eighty percent chance of obtaining the Dao imprint deep within the Zhou Tian Star Soul, granting a one-time opportunity to freely wander the Zhou Tian Star River and comprehend the origin of the star soul.

It can help cultivators comprehend the origin of the Zhou Tian stars and catch a glimpse of the Dao of the origin of heaven and earth's stars.

Following the origin of the Zhou Tian stars and observing the changes of myriad stars, such opportunities are truly one in ten thousand.

If one can comprehend the origin of the star soul, it is almost equivalent to being born together with the Zhou Tian stars' rules.

Even if immortals and gods heard of this, they would be moved.

"This item is precious beyond compare!"

Zhang Jian felt delighted in his heart.

As for other auxiliary effects, such as increasing mana, nourishing the Yin Spirit, and enhancing one's affinity with the Zhou Tian Star Dao, Zhang Jian did not value them.

Zhang Jian did not directly refine it here; truly enjoying these benefits still requires a specific opportunity.

Now that Qi Yuhua is about to give birth, Zhang Jian is not in a hurry.

After containing it with the Mountains and Rivers State Map, Zhang Jian stored it deep within his Niwan Palace, then walked out of the ancestral hall.

As far as the eye could see, the Huang Ting Blessed Land's legal domain enveloped the Zhang family, and the myriad state and cosmic spiritual mechanisms continuously flowed into him, merging into the depths of the Huang Ting Blessed Land.

The Huang Ting Blessed Land stabilized, and the Zhang family members also gained shelter.

Even without cultivation, merely residing there would extend life and bring longevity.

……

In the following time, Zhang Jian simply followed routine and restored his normal daily trajectory.

Most of his time was spent in the Great Agricultural Temple.

After achieving partial success in increasing crop yield and optimizing pest and disease resistance, he turned his attention to the five grains and miscellaneous cereals that are the staple food of the Great Qian commoners.

The five grains mainly refer to millet, foxtail millet, wheat, beans, and rice.

Actually, they are just yellow millet, foxtail millet, wheat, beans, and rice—no single one dominates.

It's just that different prefectures have different customs and weather, leading to varying yields.

Among them, millet is relatively more abundant because it has stronger drought resistance.

Zhang Jian also focused his main attention on wheat, beans, and rice, as the taste of the first two staple foods is clearly much worse than that of the latter three.

Zhang Jian's choice also received full support from Emperor Jingwu.

The promotion of vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, and leeks has already received good feedback among the populace, at least greatly increasing the commoners' approval of the imperial family.

Of course, the one who benefits the most is still Zhang Jian.

Whether common folk or officials in the court, he already has the reputation of a sage.

Whoever can let the common people eat rice and eat their fill is undoubtedly a sage.

Dingyuan Marquis Manor

Song Yingzhen held a volume of Shangqing Sword Sect Daoist methods in his hand, his figure appearing in the corridor; the many female attendants beside him saw him and all made slight bows.

Since he achieved success in the provincial examination, in the Dingyuan Marquis Manor he is no longer an insignificant nobody.

And after earning several military merits in the army, the people of the Dingyuan Marquis Manor now look at him without the previous 'colored' halo.

And as his teacher Zhang Jian gradually approaches the center of the court, his status in the Dingyuan Marquis Manor begins to rise in a straight line.

Even the Dingyuan Marquis himself, his elder brother by blood, has summoned him several times; family resources have begun to tilt toward him, bestowing favors repeatedly, leaving him deeply moved.

"The teacher is indeed infinitely compassionate; although many cultivators, even if they have greatly extended their lifespan through magical power, are still few who are willing to spend their lifespan on ordinary commoners!"

After embarking on the path of cultivation, even Song Yingzhen feels that time is desperately insufficient.

Cultivators have too much to learn.

The extra lifespan is not enough to squander on oneself.

Runic studies, Five Phases studies, swordsmanship basics, subtle control of magical power, pharmacology…… which one does not require time to comprehend?

Orthodox cultivators are far busier than those of deviant ways and arts.

Just as countless thoughts turned in Song Yingzhen's mind to the extreme, he suddenly heard a mournful cry from afar.

This immediately made Song Yingzhen frown, and he immediately strode hurriedly over.

His steps were not slow, yet he saw two female attendants and an old servant woman standing dumbfounded like wooden chickens before a large courtyard, their bodies trembling!

Following their gaze, far away he saw a lovely young woman covered in blood lying on the ground before the main hall.

Seeing this woman, Song Yingzhen's expression changed.

"What on earth is going on?"

As he shouted, the two female attendants and the old servant woman trembled all over, came to their senses, and hurriedly bowed.

This lovely young woman, Song Yingzhen is not unfamiliar with; she is the legitimate wife of Song Yuanqi, second branch of the Dingyuan Marquis Manor, and now she has actually died?

That is the proper eldest daughter-in-law of the second branch!

Upon seeing Song Yingzhen arrive, a female attendant beside him hesitated slightly, then after a moment spoke.

"Fifth Master, just now we saw Second Master leave the courtyard, his hands stained with blood……"

Toward the end, the female attendant's voice grew weaker and weaker!

Even her eyes showed more fear!

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yingzhen's expression suddenly changed.

At this moment, Song Yingzhen also felt his scalp go numb, and he also sensed that the Song family might be facing great trouble.

Song Yuanqi is the biological younger brother of the Dingyuan Marquis; his wife, Song Gu Shi, is certainly not an ordinary noble lady; her background is also that of a noble clan, and moreover not just any noble clan, but that of a founding marquis; the two are essentially a strong-strong union.

Now Song Yuanqi has beaten his legitimate wife to death—this is not a disaster?

But Song Yingzhen also sensed the strangeness of this matter; Song Yuanqi is indeed useless, but he should not go so far as to disregard the greater picture.

Soon, Marquis Dingyuan Song Yanshu arrived in haste, leading his personal guards.

Song Yanshu was not old, having just reached the age of thirty, the prime of his life, with a light beard; upon a single glance, his expression instantly darkened.

After hearing the report from the palace maid and the elderly servant beside him, he, like Song Yingzhen, instinctively sensed that something was amiss.

Yet he also knew that, no matter what, the death of Lady Song of the Gu clan would bring great trouble to the Marquis Dingyuan's household.

……

Within the capital city of Haojing, as the case of Marquis Dingyuan unfolded, the imperial court was immediately stirred with ripples of turmoil.

The lineage of Marquis Dingyuan and that of Marquis Hancheng's Gu clan had long had disputes in the military; their marriage six years ago was a rare easing of tensions, but now, with Lady Song's death, another shadow fell upon them.

Although the Marquis Dingyuan's household repeatedly claimed it was a conspiracy, that someone was framing them,

the disappearance of Song Yuanqi, however, caused the court above and below to fill with suspicion toward the Marquis Dingyuan's lineage.

Zhang Jian had also heard something about this case.

The Marquis Dingyuan's household was likewise one of his main bases of support.

Zhang Jian also paid attention to it, but he knew that relying solely on this case would hardly topple the Marquis Dingyuan's household; if someone wished to move against them, further actions would likely follow.

Thus he merely watched and waited.

Half a month later, Qi Yuhua went into labor.

This was already Qi Yuhua's third childbirth, and Zhang Jian was not particularly worried.

Inside the room, several experienced midwives had already been waiting, and outside, servants had prepared hot water; everything was ready.

Zhang Jian stood outside the door, at this moment precisely in midsummer, the sun blazing overhead, sunlight filtering through several large trees and casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The sound of noisy cicadas could also be heard in his ears.

Under the scorching sun, Zhang Jian remained calm, wearing a greenish-blue casual robe, his head bound with a jade cap; though his eyes held no anger, they exuded an innate authority.

Zhang Fu stood behind Zhang Jian, his youthful face at this moment unusually respectful.

Zhang Jian did not wait long; after only a moment, he heard the infant's crying from the upper chamber—tender yet strong—and upon seeing this, a smile instantly appeared on his face.

Shortly afterward, a midwife came to report the good news.

"Congratulations, my lord, the principal wife has again borne you a little Wenqu star!"

This old woman's voice was unusually sweet.

Zhang Jian nodded slightly, a smile also appearing on his face; he had long known that Qi Yuhua's pregnancy would yield a son.

The name had already been chosen.

Third son, Zhang Xian.

Zhang Jian waved his hand with a smile and said: "Present the reward!"

Zhang Fu had prepared in advance, immediately ordering people to bring out several baskets of copper coins, grabbing several large handfuls to give to the old woman, while servants coming to seek favors streamed in continuously.

Zhang Jian had already stepped into the birthing chamber, where he saw Qi Yuhua looking exhausted, beside her a small male infant.

His gaze flickered with joy; at this moment, he noticed that the infant's body still carried a trace of innate spiritual energy flowing around him, as if veiled by invisible rosy light.

This third son of his possessed extraordinary talent.

Though he had not used any special method, Zhang Jian's Yang Spirit divine sense, upon a slight sweep, could perceive that Zhang Xian harbored innate talent, and that this innate talent ranked first among his four children.

At this moment, his expression as he looked at Qi Yuhua was somewhat strange.

He did not know whether to attribute it to his own excessive consumption of spiritual medicines and treasures—those treasures being too profound—or to Qi Yuhua's phoenix destiny being overly prosperous for her husband; the three children she bore him almost all possessed cultivation talent, with no exception.

Even the weakest, Zhang Zhao, possessed a spiritual root with attributes.

……

Zhang family, ancestral hall within

The surrounding map of mountains, rivers, and the state condensed into a grand barrier, enveloping the Zhang family and this place.

Taking advantage of Qi Yuhua's childbirth, Zhang Jian had taken half a month's leave to rest and recuperate; now he prepared to seize the opportunity to properly refine this Heavenly Stars Soul.

The benefits at hand are the most substantial.

At this moment, as Zhang Jian extended his hand, a cluster of intense starlight appeared in his palm.

Black and white radiance flowed, within which the profound mystery of the Heavenly Stars emerged.

Zhang Jian smiled slightly, while his brow's depths faintly furrowed in thought.

Though the Heavenly Stars Soul is profoundly miraculous, it admits multiple methods of refinement.

Each refinement method differs, and thus the benefits obtained will also differ.

This point was also mentioned in that message.

Broadly speaking, it can be divided into three kinds.

The first is direct refinement into the Life Palace, thereby illuminating the Life Star, allowing one to directly begin the transformation into the Heavenly Stars Dao Body.

The second is refinement within one's natal magic treasure, thereby achieving a great treasure, also gaining the star's imprint within it, possessing a stellar destiny, and further enabling gradual nurturing to form the Heavenly Stars Dao Body.

The third is refinement within a spell model, thereby also greatly increasing its power.

But the three refinement methods also have their respective advantages and disadvantages.

The first is the most direct; after refinement, obtaining the Heavenly Stars Dao Body allows one to directly embark on the path of the Star Lord.

If Zhang Jian were to take the Heavenly Stars as his Yuanshen's dharma form, he would certainly choose the first path.

After the second refinement, one may obtain a stellar spirit treasure, but the refinement's enhancement of mana and assistance to the Yin Spirit's origin may lose part of its benefit.

The Heavenly Stars Soul contains a pure kind of miraculous spiritual power, which can be directly absorbed to aid the Yin Spirit's origin, bringing great benefit even to a Yuanshen True Person.

While the third may allow the natal Yuanshen immortal spell's power to greatly increase, after absorption by the Yuanshen immortal spell, the remaining benefit may not grow as quickly as direct refinement.

Zhang Jian merely pondered slightly and then chose the third.

As for why he did not choose the second, it is because his natal magic treasure is not of the stellar type.

On the contrary, the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and the State contains the profound mystery of the Heavenly Stars; if absorbed, it would surely cause the stellar mystery within the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and the State to surge in power.

The power of his natal primordial spirit immortal method increased, naturally representing a surge in his strength.

After Zhang Jian made up his mind, he directly integrated the Zhou Tian Star Soul into the depths of the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, integrating it into this matrix-style composite technique model, where the runes representing the profound mysteries of the stars were allowed to slowly absorb, a portion of the vast Zhou Tian Star Soul's energy being absorbed by the star imprint, beginning to self-evolve, but most of it flowed directly into the substantialized Yang Spirit deep within Zhang Jian's glabella.

The substantialized Yang Spirit also showed signs of slight growth.

Through contact with the technique model, Zhang Jian's vast Yang Spirit divine awareness, via the Zhou Tian Star Soul, also reached into the depths of the Zhou Tian Star Soul, touching that thread of core star imprint.

In Zhang Jian's sight, it was an extremely special star imprint.

More profound than the star imprint he had comprehended, countless seemingly star-like floral patterns surrounded it, and it gradually merged with the star imprint within the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram.

Zhang Jian's Yang Spirit at this moment was as one with this natal technique, as the fusion occurred, it seemed to return to before the ancient ages.

The Yang Spirit's divine awareness traversed time and space.

It seemed to see countless chaotic forces intertwining and colliding.

It also saw the surging of earth, water, wind, and fire, with myriad gods and demons falling like rain.

He saw countless innate spiritual mechanisms, acquired spiritual mechanisms, and even the interweaving of gods and demons, from nothing to existence.

This change was extremely shocking to Zhang Jian.

It seemed as if he saw the profound mysteries of the myriad heavenly and earthly great Dao laws laid bare before his eyes, the evolving scene.

Thread by thread of fine dust, block-like structures, and even stars gradually being nurtured and born from earth, water, wind, and fire, among them those transformed by gods and demons, by spiritual mechanisms, by spiritual things, and even some naturally nurtured by heaven and earth into great Dao regulations.

Profound and ineffable.

These stars were scattered and sparse.

With a thought, at this moment his entire body also emitted a layer of invisible starlight, as if merged within it.

But until one day, he discovered a great change had occurred in the depths of the firmament, a vast primordial chaos was born, with immeasurable starlight Dao sounds arising, Zhang Jian saw a huge gate manifest, and in an instant, as this gate appeared, countless starlight continuously born from the depths of the void.

"What is that huge gate?"

This thought filled Zhang Jian's mind.

Yet he saw within the gate's depths, a faint ancient Dao sound bursting forth.

"Cha!"

As the Dao sound burst forth, yet a vast divine power was born from the dark void, fiercely striking above this ancient gate, in an instant the vast starlight gate suddenly collapsed, the formless sound within instantly becoming extraordinarily angry.

But in an instant it was enveloped by a divine light, as if firmly suppressed, as if to refine it.

Shortly after, a heaven-shaking, earth-splitting explosion burst forth from the void.

That gate, in Zhang Jian's eyes, naturally burst open.

It carried a certain tragic grandeur of preferring death to lack of freedom.

In an instant, countless starlight burst forth like a flood from the spot, these starlight streams flowing toward all directions.

The star sea began to take shape.

And at this moment, drawn by the birth of countless starlight, a thread of invisible starlight soul was born along with it.

"Is this the origin of the Zhou Tian Star Soul?"

At this moment, this thought arose in Zhang Jian's mind.

And at this moment, Zhang Jian noticed, a deep purple intensity began to naturally appear around him, his entire body gradually condensing into a great purple star.