Chapter 365

Zhang Jian cursed inwardly at the old man's venomous gaze.

Daoist Jue Ming smiled and said: "Junior Nephew Zhang is an enlightened one—father and son, two generations, three people entering the Tongshan Dao lineage together; if this were to spread, it would also be a fine tale!"

He then added:

"Junior Nephew Zhang, rest assured—after the Third Prince enters my sect, I will naturally not slight him. Though my teaching ability may not match that of your family's master, over thousands of years my sect has produced seven or eight Nascent Soul True Persons, and even a few Great True Persons!"

He wore a humble expression, but his eyes fell upon Zhang Jian, clearly smiling within.

Zhang Jian immediately bowed and said: "Sect Master Uncle's teaching ability is renowned throughout the cultivation world; I naturally trust it, but my son's aptitude is dull—I fear I would not live up to Sect Master Uncle's kindness!"

Daoist Jue Ming smiled and said: "Junior Nephew Zhang flatters me—your Zhang family's several young masters are all fine talents and beautiful jade; my little disciple's aptitude is especially excellent—I will not be mistaken. Only need a few hundred years; I guarantee you, you will surely cultivate another Nascent Soul True Person for your Zhang family!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's heart eased considerably.

He did not think Daoist Jue Ming was boasting.

Proving a Nascent Soul is necessarily extremely difficult for other immortal sects and Dao lineages.

After all, one Nascent Soul is equivalent to a living myth.

But Daoist Jue Ming has presided over the Tongshan Dao lineage for thousands of years, standing firm since ancient times—he must have sufficient foundation.

Moreover, with Zhang Xian's special innate Dao body, cultivating a Nascent Soul True Person is not difficult.

Zhang Jian nodded and immediately ordered someone to notify Fengzhi Palace.

He himself brought the Slaying Demon True Lord, and Daoist Jue Ming toured the inner and outer regions of Haojing City, discussing ancient times while also seizing opportunities to seek advice.

He had proven the Nascent Soul in the mortal world, but in terms of experience and management, he was inferior to these two ten-thousand-year-olds; he genuinely wished to seek advice to fill this gap in himself.

This was also preparation for future travels and training.

Of course, Zhang Jian casually mentioned the captured "Phoenix Flame True Lord"; Daoist Jue Ming was only slightly surprised, not bothered, and let Zhang Jian handle it himself—such true lords are clearly priced in all major sects, perhaps one could extort some good things from them.

……

Fengzhi Palace

Qi Yuhua rarely found time to receive Shun Guo Lady Qi.

At this moment, Shun Guo Lady gazed upon the luxurious vermilion pavilions and gardens and smiled: "Brother-in-law, your Dao cultivation is truly divine—such a season, yet you make the palace's hundred flowers bloom out of season; even some Daoists of the former Dongshen Guan could not achieve this!"

"I have heard only when a princess was born did the hundred flowers bloom together, but also withered in a single night!"

Qi Yuhua sat before the palace gates, behind her stood the plump Qu Lian and Yu Yao, these two personal maidservants now resembling fully ripened beautiful women.

Time flowed silently; for ordinary flesh-and-blood bodies, it was like a knife carving through light and shadow, leaving many traces.

The youthful and vibrant twin blossoms of Lady Qi from before now showed different expressions.

Like the peony in full bloom, one was magnificent and noble, her jade countenance radiating a blinding brilliance—Phoenix Grace Under Heaven.

The other, though fallen, still bore an air of luxury and soft charm; she wore a goose-yellow palace robe, loose at the front, revealing a hint of full, soft flesh, her white fat like jade.

This was their most beautiful season.

Shun Guo Lady gazed upon this scene with a hint of envy in her eyes.

The Empress smiled faintly and casually asked: "I don't know where that former princess is now?"

Shun Guo Lady sighed: "My younger sister only heard from the old grandmothers in the palace—rumor says she has disappeared!"

She looked toward Qi Yuhua and said: "One who bears great power is ultimately extraordinary—just like your second sister, who bears the Phoenix Mandate, ultimately still able to sit upon the position of Central Palace Empress!"

She sighed somewhat: "Back then, Emperor Jingwu of the Qian Dynasty spent his life seeking the Phoenix Mandate; my younger sister originally did not take it seriously—how could it not be confidence that the Phoenix Mandate could accomplish things others could not? Yet in the end, human strength could not match heavenly mandate!"

The Empress glanced at Shun Guo Lady and smiled: "Your husband said heavenly mandate perhaps accounts for seven parts, but three parts belong to oneself—and these three parts even determine where the heavenly mandate belongs!"

Immediately, the Empress turned to Shun Guo Lady and sighed.

"Yuzhu, Xian'er is already this grown—have you ever considered another marriage for her?!"

Upon hearing this, Shun Guo Lady shook her head and sighed.

"Sister thinks, with my ill-omened body, who would dare to take me?"

She spoke with a hint of self-mockery.

Nowadays, folk gossip about her is plentiful—including that she killed her first husband before even marrying, and now even her second husband, the Emperor, was killed by her.

Upon hearing this, the Empress was also somewhat at a loss for words.

Although she believed this was merely a coincidence, others might not—after all, even Emperor Jingwu was killed by her.

In fact, the Empress sometimes harbored doubts, suspecting Qi Yuzhu truly had a misfortune god possessing her.

Shun Guo Lady did not mind either, merely saying: "Elder sister, now all my hopes lie in Xian'er—only hoping Xian'er can have a good future!"

"Elder sister, Xian'er is also your nephew—I hope you show mercy beyond the law and spare Xian'er!"

As she spoke, she could not help but bow deeply.

The Empress slightly furrowed her brows, her eyes showing some difficulty.

Wei Xian's identity is very sensitive—he is the legitimate son of the former Emperor Jingwu, the only offspring of the Central Palace Empress.

His ability to preserve his life is already an act of mercy beyond the law by the Great Summer Emperor; how could one give him a future and allow him to cultivate?

This matter Zhang Zhao himself had come to Fengzhi Palace to request, begging her not to speak of it, lest it bring trouble to the Zhang clan.

The Empress was unwilling to speak—though she and Qi Yuzhu are close sisters, how could she bear to see her descendants harmed one day?

She glanced at Yu Yao and Qu Lian beside her.

The two women understood, quickly stepping forward to support Shun Guo Lady.

"Alas, Lady, why must you be like this!"

"Do you not know the Empress, to protect you and Xian'er, has already quarreled fiercely with the Emperor and even Er Lang, bearing great pressure for this reason!"

Upon hearing this, Shun Guo Lady's expression froze, and she was about to beg again in tears—yet at this moment, a palace maid hurried over.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor commands you to prepare—His Majesty has found a teacher for the Xing Prince!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress froze!

"Could the Emperor really be preparing to send away my Xian'er again?"

She instantly furrowed her brows in anger, her eyes flashing with intense fury, and without even greeting the Empress Shun, she stormed toward the Hall of Containing Origin.

……

Inside the Hall of Containing Origin, Zhang Jian was currently gathering the military officials of the court to discuss the campaign against Chu.

Now that Great Xia has formally established the state, there is no reason to let the fat and meat at our lips go to waste.

Zhang Jian also needs a great victory to strengthen the people's sense of belonging to Great Xia.

Zhang Jian and the ministers merely discussed briefly before confirming the commander-in-chief for this expedition.

Still, it is Marquis Zhenbei An Ruming.

After the founding of the state, many military officers had their titles elevated, but An Ruming's title remained Marquis Zhenbei; Zhang Jian only increased his stipend.

He did not thereby promote his official rank or ennoble him as a state duke.

Yet An Ruming showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever, for Zhang Jian had bestowed upon him a cultivation method of the stellar body stage from the《Star Phenomenon Martial Dao》.

The stellar body stage of the《Star Phenomenon Martial Dao》corresponds to the yin spirit stage of cultivation; once one condenses the stellar body and manifests the stellar sovereign's dharma form, one may attempt to further attain stellar godhood.

Stellar godhood corresponds to the primordial spirit stage.

The stellar sovereign corresponds to the immortal god stage.

With longevity within reach, An Ruming naturally harbors no resentment, but is instead utterly devoted.

At this moment, upon being appointed, he immediately accepted the duty.

"Your subject will surely not disgrace the imperial command; this time, I shall surely pacify Northern Chu and restore the territories of Great Xia!"