Chapter 381

This power is vast and weighty.

The imperial aura is magnificent, and the purple-yellow light radiating from it emits the power of authority and law, and the strength of this authority indeed surpasses that of ordinary divine-path authority.

Within it also lies a strange ability that suppresses all laws.

This ability is sufficient to be called the authority of an Emperor Sovereign.

Only the divine-path rules inherent to the Emperor Sovereign's status possess this ability.

The most domineering aspect of the Emperor Sovereign's status is that, within the special heavenly and earthly laws and rules, it possesses the attributes of 'sovereignty' and 'suppression,' meaning it holds a certain 'Great Dao precedence' or 'Great Dao suppression.'

Moreover, it can intervene and suppress across types and categories of heavenly and earthly laws, disregarding their kinds and classifications.

In a life-and-death battle, once suppression occurs or one's own laws are 'sovereigned,' would it not mean being at the mercy of others?

Based on his own experience, the Daoist of the Heavenly River quickly gave a relatively professional judgment.

"Indeed, it is the status of an Emperor Sovereign; as for the scope of its dominion, it should be the earth, and the degree should be initial completion..."

The other second-generation ancestral masters gazed upon the purple-yellow light, all feeling their immortal-path Dao resonance tremble and shaken, subjected to a certain degree of suppression, their expressions already showing speculation.

Upon hearing this, they could not help but have their faces shaken.

"If so, has our Tongshan Dao lineage truly given birth to a second divine-path Emperor Sovereign?"

The True Person of Expelling the Law laughed heartily at this moment, gazing toward the many fellow disciples beside him, his eyes filled with uncontainable joy.

In place, Zhang Jian, upon hearing the Heavenly River Daoist's judgment, also felt his heart slightly ease.

After accommodating the nine-colored accrue soil, he merely felt that the primordial spirit authority of the State and Altar Emperor Sovereign had become harmoniously integrated, breaking through to an unimaginable height, which should be the attainment of the divine-path Emperor Sovereign realm, but having never personally contacted it before, he could only rely on speculation.

Now, having received confirmation, he too felt uncontainable joy in his heart.

The gazes of the many second-generation ancestral masters fell upon him, and the more they looked, the more benevolent they appeared.

The future of the divine-path Emperor Sovereign is vast and promising.

Furthermore, with Zhang Jian attaining the Dao through the body of a sage and the identity of a founding monarch, no matter how one looks, the future holds great achievements.

Upon his golden body, the Heavenly River Daoist also stroked his beard slightly.

At this moment, Zhang Jian suddenly asked.

"Dare I ask, Third Grand Uncle, when you just gave your judgment, disciple heard that the Emperor Sovereign authority I hold is merely initial completion? Could it be that above it there are greater completion and perfection?"

The Heavenly River Daoist, upon hearing this, laughed and said.

"Not bad. Above initial completion, there are minor completion, major completion, and Emperor Sovereign perfection. For deities, whether the authority they hold is perfected or not directly relates to their own strength. However, even if your Emperor Sovereign authority is merely initial completion, as long as you can manifest this power, it is sufficient to suppress any heavenly immortal!"

Zhang Jian's eyes brightened. "If so, then if it is minor completion...?"

The Heavenly River True Person said calmly: "If it is minor completion, then it is sufficient to easily suppress those who have attained the Taiyi Dao Fruit, the extraterritorial gods and demons, the mighty beings of the heavens!"

"

His expression remained calm, yet his words carried absolute confidence.

"Is the divine-path Emperor Sovereign this powerful?"

Zhang Jian's face showed surprise, his eyes filled with shock.

But as his gaze swept toward the many second-generation ancestral masters beside him, he saw that their expressions remained unmoving, yet their demeanor revealed a sense of it being entirely natural.

After a slight pause, the Heavenly River True Person again said: "Of course, nothing is absolute. The Emperor Sovereign is a very strong divine path, but the strong paths between heaven and earth are certainly not limited to the Emperor Sovereign alone. The ancient Dao Fruits of the myriad heavens and worlds are too numerous, taboos are countless, and strength forever lies in the immortal themselves, not in the Dao Fruit..."

The Heavenly River True Person seemed to have gained deep insight, but did not wish to elaborate further. Immediately, he turned his gaze to Zhang Jian and casually asked.

"Zhang Jian, may this humble Daoist boldly ask one question: where does your Emperor Sovereign authority come from? Your Emperor Sovereign authority resembles that of the ancient State and Altar Immortal of this realm, yet that ancient immortal has not yet abdicated. How did you come to obtain such an Emperor Sovereign divine position?"

After a slight pause, he glanced once more at Zhang Jian and smiled.

"Of course, this is your secret; whether you speak or not is entirely your freedom!"

Upon hearing this, the other second-generation ancestral masters also could not help but turn their gazes toward him.

They knew all too well how difficult it is to obtain the status of a divine-path Emperor Sovereign.

Zhang Jian's expression slightly tightened. He pondered briefly, and the other second-generation ancestral masters did not urge him; at present, he also knew this matter concerned his own fortune, and if he were unwilling to speak, it would be quite normal.

Zhang Jian originally also wanted to refuse, as he did not wish others to know about the nine-colored accrue soil matter.

But at this moment, Zhang Jian recalled a part of the secret lore from ancient mythology.

It is said that when the Ancestral Master Great Yu controlled the waters, he also obtained nine-colored accrue soil, using it to block the floods and re-moisten the earth.

The foundation of Tongshan is precisely a single grain of nine-colored accrue soil transformed.

That is to say, although the nine-colored accrue soil is precious, for the many second-generation ancestral masters of the Tongshan Dao lineage, it is not something they have never seen, nor even touched; perhaps they could also obtain some secrets on how to wield the power of this nine-colored accrue soil from these second-generation ancestral masters.

Thus he said: "Disciple's fortune is not shallow; recently, in a secret place, I obtained an innate wondrous treasure born of the earth's nurturing—the nine-colored accrue soil. This treasure, assisting my foundation and merging with my primordial spirit, thus achieved the position of the State and Altar Emperor Sovereign!"

"Nine-colored accrue soil!"

As Zhang Jian's words just appeared, several second-generation ancestral masters' faces changed color, and they could not help but suck in a breath of cold air.

"Is it truly this treasure?"

The complexion of the True Person of Expelling the Law beside him shifted.

The expressions of the other second-generation ancestral masters were shocked.

The nine-colored accrue soil is an innate primordial divine object born from the earth.

Its preciousness, among innate primordial divine objects of the earth attribute, is also among the highest.

Back then, their master, the Ancient Holy King Great Yu, obtained the nine-colored accrue soil and thus successfully achieved the Ancient Holy King Dao Fruit.

"So it is this object—no wonder!

The nine-colored accrue soil is rare in heaven and earth; even those ancient immortal Dao Lords and divine sovereigns desire it but cannot obtain it. You fused this treasure into your primordial spirit foundation—no wonder you could smoothly accomplish the great feat of becoming a divine-path Emperor Sovereign!"

The figure on the Heavenly River True Person's golden body also showed some astonishment in expression.

Such a treasure as the nine-colored accrue soil is indeed renowned far and wide.

Besides Great Yu having received it as a gift, only in some myths do ancient Dao Lords and ancient gods possess it.

If this treasure were to be leaked, the trouble would not be ordinary.

Although the heavens are vast, there is no place to take refuge!

Fortunately, this place is sealed by the divine power of King Yu, so there is no fear of leaking heavenly secrets.

Otherwise, even mentioning a few words of such a treasure could allow those beings of profound cultivation to perceive it through the 'Search' secret method, breaking through the Dao and the blockade of time.

He spoke in a deep voice:

"Fellow junior brothers, please immediately cast a spell to actively seal this 'memory'. If this were to leak out, only the descent of the master could protect A Yu!"

Upon hearing this, the other second-generation elders' eyes flickered, they slightly nodded, and as they chanted, each cast a spell to extract this portion of memory, transforming it into a ray of light and shadow sealed within countless memory fragments.

This also includes the True Monarch of Slaying Demons.

At this moment, the True Person of the Heavenly River gazed at Zhang Jian, pondered for a moment, and then spoke again.

"A Yu, the status of the Sovereign of the State and Altar is your core secret; you need not tell us, but remember not to easily reveal the core elements of your own path in the future. The core elements of each path are of immense value and also constitute a great treasure. Once your opponent knows your secret, they may pose unnecessary danger to you!"

The way he addressed him clearly showed some change, and his expression also carried a hint of closeness and concern.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian silently nodded.

At this moment, his expression solemn, observing the solemnity of the True Person of the Heavenly River and the other second-generation patriarchs, he clearly had also greatly underestimated the value of the Nine-Colored Accumulated Soil.

"Then, what do you plan to do next? Will your future cultivation be centered on the authority of the Sovereign of the State and Altar?"

The True Person of the Heavenly River gazed at him again, and Zhang Jian's heart stirred slightly.

He sensed that the True Person of the Heavenly River seemed intent on offering him guidance.

To be guided by such a powerful being is, for him, a rare opportunity that comes once in a thousand years.

Perhaps it could help him avoid many detours.

At this moment, many of the second-generation patriarchs also turned their gazes toward him.

Their minds had already automatically sealed the information about the Nine-Colored Accumulated Soil, but Zhang Jian, as the bearer of the Sovereign of the State and Altar's information, had not actively sealed it.

Earlier, everyone had also heard that Zhang Jian's Sovereign of the State and Altar seemed not limited to earthly authority, but it is primarily based on earthly authority.

Zhang Jian had long contemplated his own path.

Now, speaking slowly, he also prepared to seize this opportunity to attract some 'angel investment'!

Many of the second-generation patriarchs present are his elders, well-versed and experienced, or hold numerous resources; if they could assist him, it would benefit his own cultivation and certainly be advantageous for the Great Xia.

To advance the status of the Sovereign of the State and Altar from initial achievement to minor completion also requires vast resources.

Such as population and territory.

Zhang Jian then proceeded to outline a portion of his own path.

This feeling Zhang Jian is very familiar with—that of energetically promoting oneself before investors.

Having already passed the most difficult stage of moving the other party, now is the time to speak out and state what kind of 'help' is needed!

Just as he had previously summarized himself.

The path of the Sovereign of the State and Altar now needs to split into two: one is the Divine Path, the other is the Ancient Sage King's Great Path.

The Divine Path Sovereign must continue to perfect the earthly attribute authority, mastering more of the earthly origin, which requires the 'Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar' to advance rapidly.

He has long since combined his own Divine Path Sovereign's way with this innate immortal method, the 'Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar'.

In the future, as long as his self-created 'Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar' continues to advance, the authority of the Divine Path Sovereign will surely surpass initial achievement and enter minor completion.

In fact, there are other ways for the Divine Path Sovereign's achievement to progress further.

For example, obtaining innate origin treasures of other earthly attributes.

For instance, the Nine-Colored Accumulated Soil within the Tongshan Dao lineage might directly allow the Sovereign of the State and Altar's status to surpass initial achievement.

However, Zhang Jian merely mentioned it in passing; knowing the preciousness of the Nine-Colored Accumulated Soil, he knows it is nearly impossible.

Secondly, the achievements of the Ancient Sage King's Great Path can also be manifested through a method of immortalizing the primordial spirit.

Alternatively, one can use the destiny within the Life Palace to represent the accomplishments.

For example, directly evolving into the Human Emperor's Destiny.

If the Human Emperor's Destiny is accomplished, it represents further progress in the Sage King's Great Path.

And upon verifying the Sage King's Great Path, the Human Emperor's Destiny will naturally mature, transforming into another kind of Dao fruit-like grand cultivation, merging into Zhang Jian's primordial spirit as the Sovereign of the State and Altar.

Zhang Jian has divided his own path.

Into two parts.

However, the Ancient Sage King's Great Path only needs to naturally achieve accomplishments after the Sage King's advent in the world.

And the Divine Path Sovereign should actually be the union of the Immortal and Divine paths.

Zhang Jian does not believe the essence of the 'Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar' is purely Divine Path.

It merely takes a portion of Divine Path essence and integrates it into the Immortal Primordial Spirit path.

Just as many immortals serve in divine offices, but one cannot therefore consider that immortal to have become a Divine Path deity.

……

Secondly, the two paths actually share a common core.

Zhang Jian feels that the Sovereign of the State and Altar's path takes earth as its main focus, and his future cultivation techniques will also revolve around this point.

This is the direction of primary study in techniques, which will later serve as a supplement to the 'Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar', ultimately forming together his entire Dao fruit.

He believes there are also two directions.

One is to take root in the thick earth that bears all things; the other is to take root in the Official of the Earth who pardons sins.

One is to master the Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar, the Heaven and Earth of the great land.

One is to penetrate life and death, yin and yang, using the great earth to comprehend reincarnation.

Zhang Jian harbors a great ambition: to fuse the authorities of the two Earth Mothers from mythology; if he could make them as perfectly balanced as yin and yang around his Dao fruit, he would surely attain an unprecedented Dao fruit, and by relying on it, suppress the age—even the heavenly realm could not rival him in this.

Of course, facing the many second-generation patriarchs, Zhang Jian cannot fully open his heart and reveal his thoughts completely.

He only vaguely expresses that, besides wanting to perfect the authority of the Mountains, Rivers, and State Altar, he also wishes to cultivate the various techniques of the life-death-reincarnation aspect to achieve harmony and fusion of the earthly yin and yang.

The many second-generation ancestors, upon hearing this, also changed their expressions.

One side governing the mountains, rivers, and state, the other side tainting the cycle of life and death.

If he succeeds, a terrifying immortal will be born between heaven and earth.

However, as the Divine Dao Emperor, Zhang Jian had already forged an immortal body of longevity in advance, so he need not worry about his lifespan, and he indeed has hope of accomplishing such a feat.

The many second-generation ancestors felt moved, but they also had no better suggestions.

The Tianhe Daoist sighed.

"The way of the state lies in heaven and earth; if you can divert two paths, to some extent you have also made up for its shortcomings! But being comprehensive also means lacking precision—you must know what to take and what to let go!"

Zhang Jian nodded upon hearing this.

"The disciple will distinguish between primary and secondary!"

The Tianhe Daoist added: "You are a clever person; I hope you do not waste this great opportunity!"

"As for the divine rank, you need not worry—the ancestors will first help you check whether there is a suitable divine position for you in this realm; if not, when the time is right, after you attain the Dao and become an immortal, we will also ask the Heavenly Palace to grant you scattered appointments!"

"Scattered appointments, Third Uncle Master—are these scattered appointments similar to the titles like Purple and Green Grand Master of Rites in the secular court?"

Zhang Jian's expression shifted.

The Purple and Green Grand Master of Rites is actually just an honorary title, like someone hanging a nameplate; but if there is an opportunity, one can directly serve as a substitute and obtain an official post.

The Tianhe Daoist laughed and said.

"Not bad—wearing this Heavenly Palace title, when acting as a substitute, one always has an advantage of one or two points over others!"

The Tianhe True Person's expression held a smile, and the attitude and patience he displayed caused many second-generation ancestors to look at him strangely.

They knew this third senior brother of theirs was usually stern and rarely showed a pleasant face to others.

However, Zhang Jian is the Divine Dao Sovereign, and indeed differs from other sect disciples.

It can be said that he has already stood on the same height as the Tianhe True Person.

Zhang Jian nodded slightly, indicating he had taken note.

After the many other second-generation ancestors, and even the Slaughter Demon True Lord, had departed, the Tianhe True Person sent another message.

"Also, A Yu, there are actually some records about the Nine-Colored Essence Soil within the sect, and these secrets are in your grandmaster's handwritten notes—you may enter the sect's forbidden grounds during this time to consult them!"

"Thank you, Third Uncle Master!"

Zhang Jian's face lit up with great joy.