Chapter 426

That is the Xuanming Dao Body.

A very special innate Dao Body.

Cultivators with this innate Dao Body who practice Yin-attribute and Ice-attribute techniques gain tremendous innate enhancement.

The speed at which they absorb and exhale the spiritual qi of heaven and earth is naturally faster.

"Princess, congratulations, you have attained the Great Dao of Longevity!"

Zhang Jian smiled faintly.

Having returned to one's ancestral bloodline and achieved the divine beast form of the Xuanming Dragon Carp, is it not a single step across life and death?

However, dragon maidens like Bai Liying, who inherently possess long lifespans, crossing life and death might not be considered such a great joy.

Merely attaining the Xuanming Dragon Carp form brings genuine and tangible growth in one's own strength and cultivation.

Bai Liying will soon be able to widen the gap between herself and many peers of the same rank.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your benevolence!"

Bai Liying's beautiful eyes also held some joy.

Beside her, Bai Shuang at this moment also faintly sensed the anomaly on Bai Liying's body, her expression shifting slightly.

However, Bai Shuang was not yet clear about what specific choice Bai Liying had made.

Her countenance was solemn, yet she stepped forward to stand before Zhang Jian, performed a solemn salute, but before she could lower herself, Zhang Jian helped her up, smiling.

"Elder sister need not do this; your palace is full of blessings, your fortune enduring—you ought to have this fortune!"

Bai Shuang pressed her lips together, glanced at Bai Liying, and smiled: "I too am merely basking in the radiance of my fourth sister; otherwise, should this fortune fall into my hands, I fear I would not be able to hold onto it!"

She gave a slight self-deprecating laugh.

Bai Liying glanced at Zhang Jian, saw him give her a signal, and immediately stepped forward to take Bai Shuang's arm.

The two sisters exchanged a few light words, then prepared to return to their resting palace to master their transformed bodies and divine abilities.

……

Zhang Jian temporarily placed Bai Liying at her resting quarters.

Bai Liying had just shed her former self to attain the Xuanming Dragon Carp form and now needed time to deeply comprehend and master this power.

He, however, needed to seize this rare opportunity to purchase some coveted immortal arts.

Thus, Zhang Jian hurried toward the depths of the Dragon Palace, to the area where the Sea King Market was located.

The Sea King Market was established near a vast ocean trench.

Around it were set up Spirit-Gathering Grand Formations, countless water-attribute spiritual qi, and even the power of the Azure Ping Sea God Department enveloped this place.

The surroundings of the trench had been carefully decorated, with immortal palaces and vermilion towers hung with colorful banners.

Upon the cliffs above the trench, at this moment many shops stood, some even built directly into the cliff face, while around them streams of clear undercurrents swept past, occasionally a school of sea fish swimming by, quite distinctive.

Zhang Jian had also participated in the trade fairs held by the Canal Dragon Palace, but the Canal Market paled in comparison to this place in grandeur and magnificence.

At this moment, however, a stream of light broke through the void from the depths and landed before Zhang Jian.

"Xuanhe pays respects to the Great Xia Emperor!"

Within the flowing light, the dragon maiden Xuanhe stepped out slowly, her jade-like countenance fresh and beautiful, her eyes shimmering with alluring, affectionate light.

"Xuanhe Daoist, are you also on duty here today?"

Zhang Jian's expression flickered as he glanced over; he noticed in the distance, within the vermilion towers, several other graceful dragon maidens on duty.

Their gazes occasionally swept over, as if, should Zhang Jian beckon, they would come directly.

Clearly, in their eyes, Zhang Jian was nothing but a 'delicacy'.

A faint joy flickered in the depths of Xuanhe's eyes.

"Emperor, I am one of the twelve dragon maidens on daily duty at the Sea King Market; does the Emperor require entry into the market to participate in the Dragon Palace's consignment sale?!"

After a brief pause, she quickly added.

"If the Emperor has need, I can serve as a guide!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded slightly.

"Very well!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanhe's beautiful eyes flickered with a hint of joy.

Immediately she asked: "May I ask, Emperor, are you going directly to the consignment sale, or would you prefer to stroll around first?"

"According to procedure, the consignment sale will begin in two hours; within the first half hour, lower-value spiritual objects suitable for low-level cultivators will be auctioned first; only after that half hour will it gradually climb to its peak. If the Emperor wishes to familiarize himself first, he may enter and have a cup of spiritual tea; there is also a place within for cultivators to sit quietly and meditate!"

Xuanhe served diligently, knowing full well that this Great Xia Emperor before her was of extraordinary status.

If she could leave a good impression, perhaps in the future she might change her fate at a critical moment.

For such a great figure, even a casual mention of her name might alter her treatment within the Azure Ping Dragon Palace.

Zhang Jian pondered briefly, then said.

"Then let us first take a stroll; let us go browse the free trade area!"

Zhang Jian was not in a hurry now; the immortal arts he wished to purchase were, in the consignment sale, near the climax-level treasures.

Xuanhe then led Zhang Jian toward the free trade area.

The free trade zone of the Sea King Market was likewise established in the eastern district.

At this moment it had already become lively; many cultivators had set up stalls here, some unwilling to reveal their identities, thus wearing masks while simultaneously altering their spiritual and soul auras.

"Truly quite lively!"

Zhang Jian gazed at the bustling crowd, recalling the busiest streets of the Great Xia Dynasty.

He even saw high-level cultivators opening food stalls to do business, where the dishes cooked were all made from precious heavenly and earthly spiritual objects.

Nearby, there were also stalls selling spiritual beasts, and even areas where the demon race sold goods to cultivators.

A dazzling variety.

At a glance, Zhang Jian also felt his horizons broadened.

Following convention, Zhang Jian first made a round of the vendor stalls in some free-trade areas, and indeed found a few good items, only these good items had already been clearly priced.

The remaining profit margin was slim, so Zhang Jian did not make a move.

Besides that, he did not discover anything valuable.

There were too many high-level cultivators here, possessing investigative techniques, appraisal arts, or even true immortals with immortal arts; wanting to pick up bargains from them, the odds were too small.

However, Zhang Jian did discover a portion of ancient classics written in ancient inscriptions in front of several stalls.

Although these ancient classics were not the authentic works of sages, they were handwritten by high-level cultivators and were of considerable value.

Rarely encountering such classics, Zhang Jian simply purchased them all outright.

Seeing this, Xuanhe beside him could not help but say.

"Does the Emperor seem to like collecting such ancient sage classics?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed and said.

"Xuanhe Daoist friend, do not underestimate these sage classics; they contain the wisdom of sages observing heaven and earth, and within them lies the Great Dao of heaven and earth. Although they contain no great mighty arts or spells, the profound discussion of the Great Dao and its value far surpass those arts and immortal arts!"

Xuanhe did not know how to respond; such reasoning had been heard by these dragon sons and daughters since childhood, but no one had ever been said to comprehend any great Dao principle from them, at most recognizing more ancient yin script, which would increase their attainment in talismans and forbidden arts.

Seeing Xuanhe's expression, Zhang Jian immediately realized he was playing the lute to a dragon.

Yet seeing Xuanhe furrow her brow at this moment, she suddenly said.

"Since the Emperor likes this ancient yin script, I wonder if he is interested in classics such as the Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal?"

Zhang Jian's eyes moved slightly as he looked at Xuanhe and said.

"Xuanhe Daoist friend, do you have a way?"

He certainly was interested.

The origin of the Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal is similar to that of the ancient yin script; both are ancient sages' simplifications of the Great Dao, though the Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal is said to come from powerful gods and demons from beyond the realm.

Named after the dragon and phoenix, it is because they were born in the ancient era when dragons and phoenixes roamed freely.

The Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal discusses principles and is even closer to the changes of the Heavenly Dao; each character contains special profound mysteries of the Great Dao, nearly akin to the innate transformation script.

Zhang Jian was not merely interested; he had long been seeking such a transmission.

Unfortunately, within the Tongshan Dao lineage, such transmissions are not many, and most are held in the hands of a few powerful elders.

Those elders of strong cultivation regard them as treasures and are unwilling to show them lightly, even if offered treasures in exchange!

Xuanhe's eyes shimmered, a hint of soaring spirit appearing in her gaze; she keenly sensed this was an opportunity.

An opportunity that could change her current 'predicament'.

"The Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal is collected in the Qingping Dragon Palace!"

Afterward, she did not wait for Zhang Jian to ask, but quickly added: "The treasure seal transmission in the depths of the Qingping Dragon Palace is currently not transmitted externally, but I know there is someone in the Dragon Palace who necessarily holds a portion of the Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal transmission!"

"Oh? Who is that person?"

Zhang Jian's expression shifted slightly.

Xuanhe did not beat around the bush, but directly said:

"It is my fifth brother, Xuan Ying!"

Upon hearing Xuanhe mention him, Zhang Jian immediately recalled the scene at today's Sea King Festival.

Xuan Ying's prepared offering was a bone scroll containing ancient Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal.

At the time, he only thought Xuan Ying had been lucky to obtain a bone scroll containing ancient Dragon-Phoenix Treasure Seal, but now hearing Xuanhe's meaning, it was not coincidental.

At this moment, Xuanhe's face showed a hint of a smile as she said.

"The Emperor may not know, but regarding my fifth brother's bloodline, magical power, and divine abilities, he may not rank highly in the Qingping Dragon Palace, but his comprehension is not low; my fifth brother's favorite pursuit is studying various ancient scripts, and most of his efforts are devoted to these 'miscellaneous studies'; for this, our father once flew into a rage, saying my fifth brother plays with objects and loses his ambition, neglects his proper duties, and wastes his excellent comprehension!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed and said.

"Studying other things may be called playing with objects and losing ambition, but studying such supreme principles of the Great Dao, one might already be a person of the Great Dao—how could it be said to neglect one's proper duties!"

"However, since your fifth brother so loves such ancient scripts, he surely would not easily sell his beloved objects!"

Xuanhe's eyes showed a serious expression as she said.

"I am willing to build a bridge for the Emperor and try to persuade my fifth brother!"

Zhang Jian glanced at Xuanhe, gave a light smile, and said calmly.

"Xuanhe Daoist friend, if you have any conditions, just say them directly!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanhe's expression immediately became solemn, and she said respectfully.

"If this matter succeeds, I wish to ask Your Majesty to grant me one chance to choose again!"

"One chance to choose again?"

Zhang Jian's eyes moved slightly; he glanced at Xuanhe, subtly calculated with his fingers, and after a moment, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile as he looked at Xuanhe and said.

"If you can accomplish this matter for me, helping you is also not impossible!"

Xuanhe rejoiced and immediately bowed deeply.

"I, your servant, thank the Emperor!"

In her eyes appeared a hint of joy; after a period of time, it will be the time for this batch of adult dragon girls to be sent out, when the Qingping Dragon Lord and Dragon Mother will let them choose their territories.

Like her, whose maternal clan is weak and a concubine's daughter, at that time it will be very difficult for her to have a say in the choosing!

Eight or nine times out of ten, it will fall to her to make the final choice.

The water system chosen may not only be the most remote and narrow, but may also face danger.

The dragon sons and daughters of the Qingping Dragon Palace are not all able to grow smoothly after taking up divine positions; many more die.

If no one supports her, her fate may be no different from those dragon sons and daughters who died silently.

At that time, the clan genealogy may only leave one line: because unable to complete divine duties, died at the hands of demons and monsters.

Such records have been too many since ancient times.

Xuanhe was not willing to just sink into fate like this.

She would rather fight hard for a chance, striving for the best outcome.

……

Ju Bao Lou, this was Zhang Jian's second time setting foot here.

Last time he purchased the Huang Ting Fu Di Great Law in Ju Bao Lou, thus completing the shortcoming in spatial-type Yuanshen Immortal Law.

This time, however, he set his sights on life and death, or creation, high-tier earth-attribute immortal law.

After entering Ju Bao Lou, Xuanhe went to the resting area first to wait inside, while Zhang Jian entered the VIP room to make his choice.

Zhang Jian was already very familiar with the style of Ju Bao Lou, and immediately locked onto a heritage called "Liang Yi Zao Hua Zhen Jie," an extraplanar transmission.

This extraplanar transmission came from a fallen ancient extraplanar Dao lineage.

It was a first-tier immortal law transmission, and its value was not small.

For this, Zhang Jian spent nearly nine hundred thousand top-grade spirit crystals.

This was a huge fortune.

However, having the treasury of the Xi Yue Sword Sect, Zhang Jian was wealthy and bold, unafraid of this amount of money.

……

Having purchased this first-tier immortal law containing the principles of creation, Zhang Jian then searched the immortal law list in Ju Bao Lou for high-tier immortal laws of the life-and-death type.

Zhang Jian actually found several life-and-death-type immortal laws that suited his taste.

However, most of these high-tier immortal laws were actually first-tier.

Moreover, their prices were quite high.

This made Zhang Jian quite hesitant.

He actually already had a Yuanshen immortal law of the life-and-death type, for example, the second-tier immortal law Jiu You Shi Tuo Zheng Fa.

Again, for example, the creation-tier Yuanshen immortal law Xiao Zhu Tian Lun Hui Fa.

If the Xiao Zhu Tian Lun Hui Fa were successfully perfected, advancing to a first-tier immortal law would pose no problem.

The help of a first-tier immortal law to him was limited, not enough to let him have more influence on the side of the Great Dao of Life and Death.

Therefore, Zhang Jian thought it over and still decided to give up.

As for earth-attribute first-tier immortal law, he also found it, but the reason Zhang Jian rejected it was largely the same.

He already had a first-tier immortal law, Zu Shan Zhui, on his person; he needed a more effective earth-attribute immortal law.

At the very least, it needed to be second-tier, or even third-tier, so as to fully unleash the power of the authority of the She Ji Di Jun.

Of course, Zhang Jian still placed more hope in the upcoming Hai Wang selling gathering.

If it truly proved impossible, he would only be able to return to Ju Bao Lou, or to Shan Hai Lou, Peng Lai Ge, and such places to continue searching.

……

After lingering in Ju Bao Lou for a period of time, Zhang Jian calculated the time; the Hai Wang selling gathering had likely already begun, so he immediately let Xuanhe lead the way, heading straight to the Crystal Palace in the central area of the sea trench.

And just as Zhang Jian and his companions stepped into the gate of the selling gathering.

In the deep sea of Qing Ping Hai, in a deep sea location, countless massive sea beast corpses lay scattered across the wilderness, blood light gathering at the seabed's center, forming an ice-blue vortex.

Deep within the vortex, in an instant, a surge of intense demonic qi emerged from within, and from inside came what sounded like the excited roars of an extraplanar demon god.

Before the vortex demon gate, a figure gazed upon this scene, then turned and transformed into a divine light, departing!