Chapter 296: Normal and Abnormal

In the wine shop, Zhang Fu casually ordered a few tasty side dishes, and he was not in a hurry either.

Zhang Jian had instructed him that capturing this person was actually not difficult, only requiring some patience.

From afar, Zhang Fu saw a youth in green robes with a stern face enter the counter to buy wine.

He casually took out a few copper coins from his person and had the wine shop attendant fetch a pot of strong liquor.

But just as he left the wine shop, a disheveled Daoist wielding a long sword accosted him.

"Someone cutting in line?"

Zhang Fu's first thought was this, but he still stood his ground without moving.

Having often followed Zhang Jian, he had still learned many things.

"This layperson, I observe your face filled with killing qi, dark qi gathered at your brow, most inauspicious—have you encountered sorrowful matters?"

The old Daoist gazed at Zhao Qingshan, his eyes holding a faint smile.

Zhao Qingshan glanced at the old Daoist, raised his brow, yet paid no heed, stepped around him, and departed.

Seeing this, the old Daoist was not angered, merely said calmly.

"The layperson's dark qi entwines the life palace; evil spirits lie hidden within the body—this evil is not external, but internal. General, if you cannot dispel this qi, let alone advancing further in martial cultivation, you may even lose your life!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingshan frowned, finally stopping his steps; the old Daoist's words were not mistaken.

He too had once had an encounter, obtaining a great martial tome, but after cultivation reached the Heaven-Man realm, he would continually be entangled by illusions; at first he thought he had encountered demons and monsters, but after investigating at the Qintian Terrace, he discovered the cultivation method harbored hidden dangers.

Now, whenever it is midnight, his heart turns cold, his spirit enters a strange dream realm, enduring all kinds of torment.

If the old Daoist could relieve him of this affliction, it would indeed be a good thing.

Accordingly, he invited the old Daoist to his residence.

Zhang Fu watched the two depart, pondering in his heart, but did not pursue them.

Zhang Jian, regarding this situation, had also anticipated it, letting him stand still, for an encounter would come in a few days.

……

The Void Dharma Realm—this place is vast and desolate, dark and without form.

Jingming Daoist, Dongjue Daoist, Huanghe True Person, Zhang Jian, and also a very beautiful female cultivator, said to come from another great cultivation sect, the Xingxiu Palace, these five formed the team for this expedition to the Eastern Emperor's relics.

This female cultivator from the Xingxiu Palace is named Xingyaozi; she wears silver-white Xingxiu Daoist robes, wears a golden hairpin, her eyes are bright, and she speaks little.

This Xingyaozi is also a Yin God Venerable.

According to Jingming Daoist, this relic was actually excavated by the Xingxiu Palace, and is jointly developed by the two sects.

At this moment, Xingyaozi activated the formation, and starlight appeared beneath everyone's feet, the starlight flowing and piercing through the void, as if they were traversing the starry universe—this spatial escape technique is quite wonderful.

Zhang Jian stood behind Jingming Daoist, but his gaze fell upon this Daoist called Xingyaozi.

On this cultivator named Xingyaozi, he discovered the illusory form of the Zhou Tian stars; it seemed she had chosen an ancient primary star as her Yin God Dharma Aspect, and every movement carried the rhythm of that star.

After merging with the Zhou Tian Star Soul, Zhang Jian became highly sensitive to these anomalies.

If possible, he could actually perform significant suppression.

The Zhou Tian Star Soul itself also contains a portion of Zhou Tian authority.

Shortly after, as vast void shattered, a doorway passage gradually appeared before everyone.

Dots of rune light flowed, countless runes constructing and forming a passage of dark light.

The five activated their escape techniques, instantly transforming into flowing light and sinking into it.

Barely manifesting their true forms, Zhang Jian's eyes momentarily glanced around with slight surprise.

"Is this the relic?"

Zhang Jian had once stepped into such a Void Dharma Realm relic, but the relic before him was very strange, like a vast land floating in the dark void.

His vast divine sense faintly sensed that this land was covered with numerous dense rune structures.

Among these rune structures were common runes, ancient Yin script, and also a portion of the shadow of the Nine Regions Yin script.

The Nine Regions Yin script is a branch derived from ancient Yin script; although the civilization derived from this branch has already perished, the transmission of the Nine Regions Yin script has been completely inherited.

Quite mysterious.

"Barrier, defensive prohibition, and perhaps also killing formation runes..."

Merely glancing slightly over this dark region, Zhang Jian felt some astonishment in his heart.

Seeing this, Jingming Daoist smiled and said.

"Scholar Zhang, this is the Eastern Emperor—Beichen Pass relic; this place was once a fortress against external evil gods, and also a refuge, though it has long been abandoned, yet many of the rune learnings left behind are treasures left by time; after we take the treasures, Scholar Zhang, if you are willing, you may often come here to contemplate!"

Zhang Jian laughed: "Most of the ancient rune formulas left behind have already been deciphered by various sects and innovated upon, but the killing formations formed from the Nine Regions Yin script inside still hold some value, worth a look!"

Dongjue Daoist also said.

"Everyone says, Mr. Zhang is a sage of the age, with broad learning; today's sighting, the reputation is not undeserved!"

Zhang Jian felt somewhat speechless, seeing the atmosphere gradually shift toward 'flattery', he stopped this topic, and along the way asked about part of the history of this Beichen Pass relic; upon this, the cold female cultivator immediately became lively, for she seemed extremely familiar with this Beichen Pass relic, knowing it like the back of her hand.

This feeling was like that of a very professional 'relic examiner'.

"Most of the valuable treasures in this Beichen Pass have already been taken; currently only the core area retaining prohibitions remains!

That place should still contain a great treasure, namely the core object sustaining the relic's existence to this day—the 'Beichen Pearl'!

Besides, in the unopened secret chambers within the core, perhaps one or two relics may still remain for us to choose from!"

She smiled slightly and said: "My Xingxiu Palace this time only seeks to inlay a portion of star-heaven gold on the relic's periphery; other things I do not seek!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes moved slightly.

Star-heaven gold is the light of the Zhou Tian stars shining upon a portion of mineral veins; a certain special divine iron absorbs stellar power, thus forming this precious material, star-heaven gold.

And most of the ancient architecture of this Beichen Pass relic, even the city itself, is forged from star-heaven gold.

If refined again, it could indeed form a very powerful spiritual treasure.

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm; he did not care, for Jingming Daoist had already paid in advance for what he wanted; besides, whatever extra items are found inside the relic will be shared equally among all.

Only heard Xingyaozi listing them like treasures, and at this time he said again.

"The 'Beichen Pearl' is the support holding up the outer barrier of the ruins, the main reliance of the prohibition. I have perused many classics within the sect, and one of the ancestral masters of my Xingxiu Palace once guarded inside Beichen Pass. According to his words, this object should be an innate spirit pearl, of course it could also be the inner elixir of some innate divine beast; otherwise, it would be impossible for the power of the ruins to be preserved until now!"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered upon hearing this.

That certain ancestral master of the Xingxiu Palace at that time was probably not an important figure, otherwise the things he knew would not be vague!

Roar!

At this moment, a deep, heavy beast-like roar suddenly came from the depths of the ruins.

Upon hearing this sound, the five people's steps halted, they glanced outside the ruins, and the expressions of all five became somewhat strange.

Everyone could tell how terrifying the owner of this voice was.

Zhang Jian, seeing this, looked toward Jingming Daoist.

Jingming Daoist then said.

"This is a ferocious beast from outside the realm passing through this void legal domain. Such void ruins are often located in special areas, with outside-the-realm ferocious beasts around, and even outside-the-realm ferocious gods, which belong to normal conditions, but the danger is not high..."

But just at this moment, the terrifying beast's roar came again.

"..."

Zhang Jian looked up at the top of his head; his sensitive Yang Spirit divine sense, however, felt a hint of terrifying dangerous aura.