Chapter 298

Jingming Daoist and Dongjue Daoist experienced intense fluctuations in their Dao hearts.

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm, and an ancient, clear, and cold aura emanated from his body.

The fusion of the Zhou Tian Star Soul brought him not only an enhancement of the substantive Yang Shen essence.

Having experienced the origin of the stars, he seemed to have been born alongside the Zhou Tian stars, having witnessed countless cycles of life and death, the passage of time, and even personally observed the surging of earth, water, wind, and fire, with numerous heavenly and earthly laws laid bare.

These heavenly and earthly laws' origins, fully manifested, were completely immersed in his memory, imprinted deep within for the substantive Yang Shen.

At this moment, upon seeing this rune prohibition, a slight verification led to a natural comprehension.

As this life-and-death prohibition took shape, within Zhang Jian's sea of consciousness, deep within the star-river-like techniques, a portion projected from the life-and-death laws instantly condensed, gathering in the depths of his sea of consciousness alongside a peculiar black-and-white life-and-death seal.

The formation of the life-and-death seal signified that he had initially grasped a portion of the authority of the life-and-death laws.

Unconcerned by this change, he knew that some formidable Yang Shen True Persons must, like him, master multiple formidable techniques or possess more varieties of authority.

His Yang Shen continued to contemplate the deeper runic prohibitions within the Minor Thousand Worlds Reincarnation Law Prohibition.

The divine and demonic remnants souls purified within became the best medium.

Zhang Jian employed Qinglian Soul Control, letting them wander slowly within the prohibition to explore various rune structures.

Jingming Daoist and Dongjue Daoist exchanged a glance, seeing this scene, they continued to wait.

Jingming Daoist secretly mused: "This Scholar Zhang's comprehension is truly astonishing; even I, who call myself a genius, am merely of unique constitution, but such comprehension is indeed most suitable for studying rune studies..."

Envy flickered in the depths of his eyes.

The wonder of runes pertains to one's own cultivation; most cultivators cannot bypass it, and the deeper one's attainment in rune studies, the greater the benefits.

Whether cultivating various techniques or prohibitions, or refining artifacts, it is extremely convenient.

……

Within Haojing City

Meanwhile, Zhang Fu still daily made a trip to the tavern, noticing that Zhao Qianshan had not appeared there for four or five days.

Yet Zhang Fu still followed Zhang Jian's instructions, waiting there each day and gathering information.

During this period, Haojing City was seething with undercurrents; both the court and the markets were filled with a tense, anxious atmosphere.

It was heard that the Northern Chu Grand Tutor Tuoba Zhenwu led a million-strong army, allied with numerous barbarian tribes from the frontier regions, and invaded the borders; the Shenji Army garrisoned in Dingyuan Commandery had already held the city for four or five days.

The commander of the Shenji Army, An Ruiming, had always refused to sally forth and avoid engagement, but the Northern Chu side had already launched several sieges, and the Shenji Army suffered considerable losses each time.

Dingyuan Commandery urgently needed reinforcements.

At court, the emperor and his ministers were discussing; as for which general to send to lead the reinforcements, nothing had been heard, but it was said that they had already set out.

As the great war loomed, Haojing City inside and out became restless.

Zhang Fu noticed that a group of unidentified individuals had appeared around the Zhang family manor.

This made Zhang Fu very worried.

As Zhang Fu was pondering, at that moment he raised his head, only to see Zhao Qianshan's figure just entering from outside; this time, however, his hair was withered and straw-like, and his face was deathly pale.

Zhang Fu, too, was a martial practitioner, and often listened to Zhang Jian expound the mysteries of martial arts, Daoist arts, and miraculous abilities, his vision far surpassing that of ordinary people; at a glance he saw that Zhao Qianshan at this moment was deficient in essence and blood.

It appeared that the old Daoist had not only failed to resolve Zhao Qianshan's problem, but had instead caused him to suffer a backlash.

Just as Zhang Fu had anticipated.

Zhao Qianshan's experiences over these past few days were like a rollercoaster; encountering that old Daoist, he indeed slept well that night, but the next day he found that the time spent entering that dream state had lengthened, and he often could not wake voluntarily; each awakening left him depleted of essence, energy, and spirit.

That old Daoist attempted to use his Yin Shen leaving the body to assist him, but instead his own Yin Shen became deeply trapped within, and he even lost his life.

Zhao Qianshan had no choice but to continue relying on strong liquor combined with medicinal baths to boost his qi and blood, in order to counter this strange condition.

"The time has come!"

Seeing this, Zhang Fu breathed a sigh of relief.

After Zhao Qianshan left, he stood up, settled the bill, and followed him.

He found a shortcut, and shortly afterward blocked Zhao Qianshan's path before a hutong.

Seeing Zhang Fu, Zhao Qianshan slightly furrowed his brow and said coldly: "Who are you, and why do you block my way?"

Zhang Fu turned around, his face bearing a three-part smile, and said: "Zhao Qianshan, General Zhao, do you know your days are numbered?!"

"Impudent!"

Zhao Qianshan's face darkened, anger flickering in his eyes, his qi and blood surging; in an instant, the void exploded with sound, as if a blood shadow came crashing toward Zhang Fu.

Zhang Fu's expression remained smiling, yet his body manifested intertwined dragon and serpent energy.

Qi and blood shot straight to the heavens; in an instant, a hand lightly grasped the blazing grand master energy coming from Zhao Qianshan's strike.

His body remained unmoving, only his body entwined with blazing blood energy, as if a dragon and python rose high, tightly binding Zhao Qianshan.

In the void, countless heavenly and earthly spiritual mechanisms were also drawn in, suppressing the void.

"Heaven and man in resonance, Heaven-Man Martial General?"

Seeing this, Zhao Qianshan's expression changed dramatically.

But in an instant, Zhang Fu withdrew his palm and released Zhao Qianshan.

Zhao Qianshan's face became solemn; he glanced at Zhang Fu and said in a deep voice.

"What do you mean by your words?"

Zhang Fu drew his palm back behind him; he felt a slight numbness in the tiger's mouth of his palm, and his heart also felt some surprise.

He had followed Zhang Jian in cultivation for nearly ten or more years, obtaining vast martial arts, countless exquisite martial arts, yet he had never encountered such profound martial strength.

As if he had cultivated the Indestructible Diamond Body.

Even some Heaven-Man martial artists who practice body-forging methods may not necessarily possess such a formidable Diamond Body.

A hint of surprise flickered in Zhang Fu's pupils, his expression calm as he spoke:

"General Zhao, what you have obtained is actually not an illness, but rather a great opportunity; in your youth, did you obtain a token forged from cold iron?

On that token you discovered an excellent cultivation method, by which you cultivated this magnificent qi and blood, and this Indestructible Diamond Body!"

Zhang Fu's mouth corner curled slightly with a smile.

Zhao Qingshan's expression froze for a moment, then he coldly snorted: "Nonsense?"

Yet his five fingers behind his back clenched tightly—this was the deepest secret in his heart.

Killing intent flickered in his eyes!

Zhang Fu smiled and said: "No need to deny it; what I wish to know is not difficult!"

He glanced at Zhao Qingshan and smiled: "You need not guess either—this iron token is not a demonic artifact, but a chapter on Foundation Establishment from an ancient divine method. Once you complete your Foundation Establishment cultivation, you will naturally awaken the inheritance within the iron token!"

However, the conditions for this inheritance are harsh, and time has long passed; some core prohibitions have been damaged. Though you have succeeded in cultivating the body-refining method, it is no longer sufficient to obtain the core inheritance within. It can only draw upon your essence, energy, and spirit over a long period as sustenance, and only when the time is ripe will it reopen the Dao inheritance...

"This..."

Zhao Qingshan glanced at Zhang Fu, his eyes flashing rapidly.

What the other said indeed matched his current condition.

He wanted to inquire further, yet doubts lingered in his heart!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fu shook his head.

"It is right for the General to harbor doubts, but I can continue to wait—you have at most half a month's chance, and after half a month, even I cannot save you!"

Finally, he glanced at Zhao Qingshan and said:

"If the General wishes to save himself, he may go to the Hundred Taverns in Haojing City—I will wait for you there!"

Zhang Fu rose, without hesitation, and departed directly.

Zhang Jian had said before: Zhao Qingshan is a true stubborn one, his bones as hard as iron.

The kind who won't shed a tear until he sees the coffin.

Such a person cannot be subdued by mere force.

Only by letting him come of his own accord will he wholeheartedly serve the Zhang clan!

……

Half a month passed within the ruins.

Zhang Jian's comprehension speed was astonishing—he had successively grasped the runes of life and death, reincarnation, and conservation, and at this moment, a massive pure white ring similarly appeared behind him...