Chapter 346: Debt Collector

Prime Minister's Mansion

In the ancestral hall, at this moment, piles upon piles of gold and silver ingots were stacked like small hills.

The firelight gradually brightened!

Zhang Jian stood firm, wearing a deep purple official robe, this robe being a long garment with wide cuffs, embroidered with splendid patterns, dignified and imposing, solemn and meticulous.

He wore a high mountain crown on his head and carried a sword-book at his waist.

By his side were one adult and three children.

Besides his principal wife Qi Yuhua, there were Zhang Zhao, Zhang Chang'an, and Zhang Xian—two sons and one daughter.

At this moment, Zhang Zhao had grown tall; a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, exceptionally handsome, though still bearing some youthfulness in his brows, his spirited grace could not be concealed.

Having been personally guided by Zhang Jian, Zhang Zhao had matured early and was already assisting the family with numerous affairs.

Just as Zhang Yipei had once nurtured him.

Zhang Jian had also early on cultivated Zhang Zhao's way of conducting oneself in the world.

Worth mentioning is that Zhang Zhao's handsome visage seemed to have drawn the essence from both Zhang Jian and Qi Yuhua, even surpassing the blue to outshine its source; at such a young age, he was already renowned as a beauty both within and beyond Haojing City.

Zhang Chang'an wore emerald robes, her dark hair artfully coiled, adorned with fragrant beads, her palm-sized delicate face exquisitely charming.

Only Zhang Xian was younger, a two-year-old child still being led by Qi Yuhua.

Within the fire basin, however, the mountain-like piles of gold and silver ingots gradually melted into blue smoke.

Yet the most important matter was the magical artifact Zhang Jian had forged.

It was a bronze-colored ancient seal.

This ancient seal was crafted by Zhang Jian from ancient bronze.

Limited by his still-unrefined forging techniques, Zhang Jian could only barely engrave a portion of Golden Core-level techniques into it, this time primarily inscribing the Minor Thousand Heavens Reincarnation Law Prohibition.

Zhang Jian engraved a portion of the true meaning of life and death, reincarnation, into it.

Although he had only inscribed Golden Core-level techniques, Zhang Jian was still quite satisfied, at least he was now making progress.

To be able to infuse Golden Core-level techniques into a magical artifact—this already qualified as a treasure of treasure-grade quality.

With effort, he could also elevate this extremely important cultivation art to a higher level.

Under the gaze of all present, this bronze ancient seal actually melted within the flames.

Gazing at this flame, Qi Yuhua's beautiful jade-like countenance showed a hint of worry, and she suddenly said to Zhang Jian.

"Husband, lately I don't know why, but I constantly feel somewhat unsettled in mind and spirit!"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian turned his gaze toward Qi Yuhua; meeting his gaze, Qi Yuhua continued.

"Husband, I cannot quite put it into words, but I feel an emptiness in my heart, as if something important is about to leave me!"

Having said this, Qi Yuhua could not help but gaze at Zhang Jian with her bright, lovely eyes; Zhang Jian's expression grew solemn, and after a moment he replied.

"Wife, you need not worry—this is because our family is about to encounter good fortune!"

Zhang Jian glanced at Zhang Chang'an beside him; he had not yet considered that Qi Yuhua might also be experiencing an ominous premonition.

These past two years, Zhang Chang'an has been practicing the《Red City Decree》of the Guangling Immortal Sect; during this time, her spiritual insight has become complete, and she is about to undergo the Fate-Testing Foundation Establishment cultivation method.

Once the Fate-Testing Foundation Establishment is completed, it will surely draw the attention of the Guangling Immortal Sect; given Zhang Jian's understanding of these major sects, Zhang Chang'an, who possesses an exceptional Dao body, may very well be admitted directly without examination.

Seeing Zhang Jian's gaze fall upon Zhang Chang'an, Qi Yuhua instantly recalled the departed Zhang Yi, as if she had understood something, and she could not help but draw Zhang Chang'an into her embrace.

"Mother, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang Chang'an, clever and lively, at this moment also sensed a slight anomaly, and obediently leaned into Qi Yuhua's embrace.

Qi Yuhua gently shook her head and smiled: "Nothing, Mother is very happy—you two are finally growing up; today Mother will make your favorite crispy meat!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chang'an's eyes lit up; she clung affectionately to Qi Yuhua, cooing: "Mother, you're truly kind!"

Zhang Zhao stood nearby; hearing this, his expression grew thoughtful as he observed the expressions on Zhang Jian and Qi Yuhua's faces, faintly guessing that Zhang Chang'an might also be about to leave home for cultivation.

He had experienced this scene before.

Zhang Jian gazed at the mother and daughter, his thoughts flashing like lightning; he decided to send a message to the Slaying Demon True Lord, asking this master to help inquire about the Guangling Immortal Sect.

Since he had decided to send Zhang Chang'an to the Guangling Immortal Sect, naturally he also needed to learn about the sect's cultivation atmosphere.

Secondly, it was about selecting a master.

Rather than wait for Zhang Chang'an to passively undergo Fate-Testing Foundation Establishment, it was better to take the initiative.

With his current cultivation level and status, choosing a renowned master for her would not be difficult.

As the Zhang family rises, he must also gradually shift his mindset; when he himself first entered the Tongshan Dao Lineage, he had relied entirely on luck, being selected by the Slaying Demon True Lord.

But now he can achieve this through strength and influence.

The Zhang family now has this Yuan Shen True Person presiding over them, and is no longer a minor clan of humble origins.

After sending a message via divine consciousness to the Slaying Demon True Lord.

Zhang Jian then summoned Zhang Zhao into the study.

As Zhang Zhao began learning to manage Zhang family affairs and court matters, Zhang Jian also began teaching by word and deed, simultaneously instructing Zhang Zhao on how to nurture the Dragon Vein's qi and condense the Hidden Dragon Destiny Pattern.

Zhang Jian prepared to guide Zhang Zhao along the Sage King's path, to inherit the Zhang family's lost teachings.

Compared to Zhang Yi and Zhang Chang'an, Zhang Jian poured more heart and blood into Zhang Zhao.

After all, Zhang Zhao was the heir he had early on designated for the Zhang family.

……

Within the vast and magnificent immortal realm, countless auspicious clouds and blessed vapors swirled; the Qingxuan Dao Lord manifested a clone here to preside, while himself proceeded to a deep secret realm to seek traces and refine his cultivation.

Benefiting from the massive incense and merit treasures obtained from the lower realm, after the Qingxuan Dao Lord entrusted them for sale, he gained greatly, and in this short time freed himself from the 'Weak' period, able to wander anew.

He no longer fears the 'shadowing' of the Yin Immortal Lord!

At this very moment, the face of the graceful female immortal within the immortal realm twitched.

"Another sacrifice in the lower realm?"

Yet I saw her gaze fall upon a vast expanse of golden light surging and swelling from the Two Realms Pool, instantly transforming into a golden flood that swept forward.

"Qingxiao Daoist" quickly took out a golden lamp to collect the incense flood.

Visible to the naked eye, this golden lamp lit up with ring after ring of splendid, flashing merit-gold light, totaling nearly twenty-one rings.

"Two million one hundred thousand flawless incense..."

Merely glancing over it, "Qingxiao Daoist" could not help but change expression, her eyes flashing with astonishment.

Undoubtedly, for a Daoist, this is also a tremendous fortune.

It can be absorbed by oneself, or sold.

Yet I saw the Two Realms Pool again emit a resounding heavenly tone, within which strands of innate divine rhythm flowed out, radiance filling the heavens, an omen that drew tremors in the cosmic rules from deep within the heavenly realm.

"Qingxiao Daoist" gazed upon this scene, yet wore a frown.

"With such a quantity of superior incense and treasure, according to the equal exchange rules set by the Original Self, this will likely be impossible to repay soon!"

A bitter smile appeared on her jade-like countenance.

But the rules set by the Original Self are, for her, golden laws and jade statutes, not to be violated.

Otherwise, her incarnation would suffer heart-devil constraints, collapse and perish.

The phrase "debt piling up high" involuntarily appeared in her mind!