Chapter 458

This is merely a kind reminder from 'Qingxia Dao Jun':

"Do not force yourself at all costs; you must 'act within your means,' and never rush into anything recklessly!"

Zhang Jian immediately replied.

"Ancestor, rest assured—I will give it my all and will not slacken!"

Seeing Zhang Jian speak with such conviction, clearly misunderstanding, 'Qingxia Dao Jun' fell silent.

She had originally intended to directly enlighten Zhang Jian, but after thinking it over, she still held back.

If her true form were to find out that she dared to ruin her own image, she would certainly not forgive her.

……

Within the Ancestral Temple, the magnificent azure incense and divine radiance gradually faded into invisible light and dispersed after a brief moment.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the 'Azure Heaven's Blood' in his hand, feeling the warm radiance contained deep within the azure treasure light, and he immediately prepared to enter seclusion for a period to refine this heavenly blood.

Zhang Jian felt a strong surge of inspiration—if he could integrate this primordial qi into his Innate Dao Fetal Immortal Body, then this time his Innate Dao Fetal Immortal Body would surely mature directly.

The Innate Dao Fetal Body is profoundly mysterious; upon reaching perfection in its Great Achievement, it is said to be no inferior to those born as divine beings.

"Undying Primordial Dao Body?"

Upon considering the message flowing out from within the 'Azure Heaven's Blood,' Zhang Jian's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation deep within.

Zhang Jian quickly sent a message to Zhang Zhao, instructing Zhang Zhao and the cabinet to continue formulating a complete enfeoffment plan, following the statutes of the Great Xia Dynasty, and to continue drafting the ranks, authorities, and territories of the next batch of numerous immortal sects and Dao lineages.

As for the matter of marrying Ying Jiang, it remains pending awaiting news from that daughter of the Ying clan.

This matter still carries many uncertainties.

Primarily, it concerns the Heavenly Intent Sect.

The Heavenly Intent Sect is an ancient Dao lineage of the Southern Divine Lands.

Its origins are ancient; it is said to be a sect left behind by an ancient immortal of this realm, and it has always been quite powerful.

Its strength is not inferior to that of the Tongshan Dao lineage.

As an Innate Dao Seed, and with the Heavenly Intent Sect backing her, Ying Jiang fully possesses the capital to reject the Ying clan.

Zhang Jian is not in a hurry.

If Ying Jiang is unwilling, he can also settle for second best and choose another daughter of the Ying clan.

It would merely lack the enhancement from Dao-body aptitude.

Given the current status of the Zhang clan of Dongzhou, retraining a cultivator is also not particularly difficult.

……

Western Palace, Yin Secret Realm

A towering Yin treasure tree, tens of zhang in height, spreads its canopy like a splendid canopy.

Each leaf of this treasure tree seems to contain special heavenly and earthly legal principles and Dao rhythms, capable of soothing the minds of cultivators, unknowingly sinking them into that stream of tranquil heavenly and earthly Dao rhythm, thereby nourishing the soul, yin spirit, and primordial spirit.

The Western Palace Empress Bai Liying has been utilizing the profound mysteries of this Yin treasure tree during this period to nourish the newly born yin spirit.

Besides her, there are also several figures practicing cultivation in the surroundings.

Including the Mountain Spirit of Fengling Mountain, the Kitchen Goddess, Bai Yinxin, Bai Gui, Si Lier, the Yin Immortal Maiden…… most are female cultivators, otherwise they are of strange beast form.

These female cultivators, to varying degrees, share an unusually close relationship with the Great Xia Dynasty.

This place is the core secret realm deep within the imperial palace; naturally, cultivators without special status are not permitted to enter easily.

When Zhang Jian entered the Yin Secret Realm, from afar he saw figures each finding a wooden cottage to cultivate within.

Zhang Jian immediately also found an unoccupied wooden cottage and entered it.

This is a cultivation chamber he specially had people construct.

The wooden cottage cultivation chamber is then filled with numerous prohibitions.

His gaze swept over the antiquated interior decorations of this wooden cottage, as well as the central cloud bed, surrounded by rows of books, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his eyes.

Immediately he stepped onto the cloud bed and began refining the 'Azure Heaven's Blood' absorbed into the depths of his sea of consciousness.

At this moment, a stream of azure-green light slowly flowed out, filling Zhang Jian's primordial spirit sea of consciousness.

The warm power resembled an endless warm current, guided by Zhang Jian directly merging into the depths of his immortal body's Innate Dao Fetal.

After the 'Azure Heaven's Blood' merged, Zhang Jian clearly felt that the formless Dao Fetal deep within his Purple Mansion turned azure at this moment, as the Primordial Emperor's primordial spirit sank into it instantly, merging with a magnificent primordial qi.

Not only the Primordial Emperor's primordial spirit, but at this moment Zhang Jian's entire essence, qi, and spirit completely flowed back, merging into the azure Innate Dao Fetal.

This azure formless Innate Dao Fetal took Zhang Jian's physical body as its matrix, and at this moment rapidly matured, like a fruit condensing into form upon the great Dao treasure tree.

And when Zhang Jian's primordial spirit consciousness merged into the Innate Dao Fetal, it seemed to fuse with a source of the heavenly and earthly great Dao.

A familiar feeling arose from his primordial spirit sea of consciousness.

This is not the first time Zhang Jian has generated this feeling.

Earlier, when merging with the Zhou Tian Star Soul, the Innate Yin Yang Law Dao Seed, and the Heart of Dimensions, he had experienced this sensation before.

He knew it was the heavenly and earthly great Dao seal contained deep within the supreme treasure.

It is also one of the most captivating things deep within the supreme treasure.

At this moment, Zhang Jian's primordial spirit consciousness seemed to instantaneously traverse the long river of time, returning to those ancient ages.

As if at the dawn of Hongmeng, when heaven and earth first opened.

Zhang Jian felt that in an instant he had transformed into a mass of 'Dao Qi'!

Such 'Dao Qi' seemed to still exist in great quantity within his inner chaotic, disordered space.

However, among the many Dao Qi, there are distinctions in rank; his form transformed into 'Primordial Qi' occupies an absolute advantage—not only vast and boundless in scale, but also possessing a magnificent, vast power capable of commanding and governing various kinds of 'Dao Qi,' harmonizing their strength, and gradually forming with several other kinds of 'Primordial Qi' into colossal 'Light Paths.'

At the center of the 'Light Path' stands a great luminous wheel.

Numerous 'Primordial Qi' and Dao Qi begin to occupy the luminous wheel, while within the 'Light Path' lies the collision of Dao Qi and Primordial Qi—the power of the great Dao's legal principles.

As the 'Light Path' expands, a special concept arises in Zhang Jian's sea of mind.

"Heaven and earth were born!"

Following this, Zhang Jian sensed that among these "light paths," some special spiritual essence gradually took shape, having received the Dao of Heaven and Earth's laws and creation; a portion was stained with Dao Qi, or perhaps the power of "Ancestral Qi."

Those stained with Dao Qi and Ancestral Qi clearly possessed a stronger fundamental origin.

In this process, many "Dao Qi" and "Ancestral Qi" gradually thinned, even to the point of being "stolen"!

The "Ancestral Qi" that Zhang Jian had transformed into was also being stolen.

Like being devoured by fish.

Though each fish only nibbled a little, they could not withstand the swarm of fish gnawing at them.

Zhang Jian merely maintained the cold detachment of the Heavenly Dao, coldly observing this scene, until one day a terrifying aura of destruction suddenly arose between heaven and earth.

This aura of destruction arose from unknown origins, appearing and immediately spreading through the "light paths," then staining the "light rings," ultimately causing the entire "light paths" and "light rings" to begin deteriorating.

After reaching a certain point, heaven and earth suddenly reverted to chaos, countless fish, and indeed all living beings, returned to the "light rings," including the boundless "light paths," which likewise transformed into pure "Dao Qi."

Numerous Dao Qi, having restored themselves and striving to evolve, became thicker and more magnificent.

Yet in this process, some "Ancestral Qi" and "Dao Qi" were unintentionally scattered, forcibly seized by strands of divine light unafraid of destructive power.

Inside the wooden hut.

After an unknown duration, Zhang Jian opened his eyes; at this moment his visage was icy and aloof, resembling an ancient deity exalted above all, as if he had undergone the baptism of endless ages.

This made his entire being seem filled with divine power.

However, as his primordial spirit and Dao heart gradually returned, the layer of icy, lofty, primordial, and magnificent power surrounding Zhang Jian slowly dissipated.

He slowly raised one hand; deep within his palm seemed to surge with boundless divine light, capable of suppressing the heavens and earth with a mere gesture, and effortlessly mobilizing all manner of heavenly and earthly laws.

Zhang Jian's pupils flickered, yet he paid no heed to this change; immediately he bent his fingers slightly to calculate.

After a moment, his expression showed slight astonishment.

This time, comprehending that strand of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao's imprint, he actually took half a year.

This was still the first time he had spent so long in contemplation.

Yet the gain was undoubtedly immense.

Zhang Jian could clearly sense that his understanding of the myriad Dao laws between heaven and earth had undergone a tremendous enhancement, and his comprehension of heaven and earth's essence had deepened further.

This enhancement in understanding could clearly manifest in combat power.

Many techniques within his body, immortal arts of the primordial spirit, and even first-, second-, and third-tier immortal arts could now be wielded with greater ease.

This change originated from the "Dao Body Essence," or perhaps the transformation of the "System Core."

At this moment, Zhang Jian could clearly sense the formidable nature of this special innate foundation.

Zhang Jian involuntarily recalled the special spiritual essences he had perceived within the "Ancestral Qi"!

Those living beings within the heavenly laws, or those Dao Qi and Ancestral Qi that had nurtured spiritual essence, were clearly the heaven-born, earth-raised demons or innate deities of myth and legend.

And now, stained with a strand of Ancestral Qi, he cultivated an innate Dao embryo.

He clearly possessed the same "innate foundation"!

Though this innate foundation was not strong, stained with the aura of Ancestral Qi, he could, like those heaven-born demons, extraneous demons, or innate deities, gradually master more "Ancestral Qi" power, and thus become a supreme will containing boundless might.

For example, in myth, those ancient immortals wielding infinite divine powers, or the great gods of legend.

"Truly a path to heaven!"

At this moment, Zhang Jian could not help but feel boundless joy welling in his heart.

At this moment, he felt a new Dao body growing within the innate Dao embryo.

To fully emerge, it might still require some time.

The primordial immortal Dao body cannot be achieved overnight.

However, with the nourishment of the "Azure Heaven's Blood," this growth is extremely rapid.

During this process, Zhang Jian also noticed the accumulation within his body, including the "Heart of Dimensions," "Innate Yin Yang Law Dao Seed," "Zhou Tian Star Soul," the death divine office, six thousand years of flat peach essence, and various legacies—all being absorbed and refined into the mature Dao embryo's body, forged into a wondrous immortal form.

This is the "primordial immortal Dao body" spoken of by the "Ancestors."

Though not yet fully accomplished, Zhang Jian already could sense the power of this Dao body.

Zhang Jian prepared to continue his seclusion for a period, awaiting the complete formation of the primordial immortal Dao body before emerging again.

……

Southern Divine Prefecture, Heaven Intent Sect, Divine Might Mountain.

This is a most special divine mountain; it is not lofty, nor is it beautiful, merely barely deserving the name majestic.

Even among the many famous mountains and rivers of Southern Divine Prefecture, it does not rank.

Yet it is the retreat of ancient immortals; legend holds that the mountain retains nine special Dao traces left by ancient immortals for their descendants, one Dao trace containing an extremely powerful ancient divine ability, hence its name.

The Heaven Intent Sect was founded upon this.

Seventh Spirit Mountain, beside the Spirit River; at this time, beside the river, Spirit Mountain, numerous small huts, many disciples of the Heaven Intent Sect have placed their cultivation sites by the riverbank.

This place is convenient for quiet cultivation.

Moreover, at the center of the Spirit River lies the most core Dao trace of Seventh Spirit Mountain, said to have been left by an ancient immortal.

Contemplating it offers a chance to comprehend a unique great divine ability immortal art belonging solely to oneself, attracting many Heaven Intent Sect disciples.

Most of the disciples who built huts by the river came for this reason.

At this moment, at the upper reaches of the riverbank, there is a bamboo hut named Tranquil Heart Hut; inside the bamboo hut, another beautiful maiden gazes far upstream along the Spirit River.

This beautiful maiden wears the river water as her robes, jade fat as her adornment, lovely and captivating, resembling a transcendent exiled immortal.

Beside her is a woman clad in red, resembling a fire spirit transformed into a lovely maiden; her attire is mature, her countenance graceful and unreserved, yet her eyes are like flames, filled with a fervent, alluring charm.

Likewise, she is of heavenly beauty and national grace.

At this moment, however, she softly speaks words of comfort.

"Junior Sister Yun, you need not worry; the master has already promised to go meet the sect leader, with the sect leader stepping forward to negotiate with the Eastern Prefecture Emperor, with the sect's strong ones taking action, that Eastern Prefecture Emperor will surely grant a few measures of face, and will not again make things difficult for the Yun family cultivators!"

The beautiful girl in light green shuiyun robes was none other than Qi Jiang.

Yet deep in Qi Jiang's eyes lay a hint of worry.

As the legitimate daughter of the Qi clan and the true seed of the Sacred King's lineage, she knew just how powerful the Qi clan was.

Even without Qi Lianwu, that celestial old ancestor, the guardians left behind were by no means something ordinary immortals could handle.

That the Great Xia Emperor could seize the entire Qi clan in such a short time shows how formidable he is.

"Senior Sister Ziyao, any news from the Ji clan lately?"

Qi Jiang looked toward her companion Ji Ziyao and asked.

Ji Ziyao was the eldest senior sister of the Seventh Spirit Mountain lineage, and also held another identity: she was one of the true seeds of the Ji clan of the Sacred King's lineage.

Qi Jiang also learned from the strong ones of the Heavenly Intent Sect that the Great Xia Emperor of Dongzhou had captured five true immortals of the Ji clan and was now negotiating with them.

Upon hearing this, Ji Ziyao shook her head.

"Nothing has come, but judging from my understanding of our clan's old ancestors, this affair is hopeless!"

A faint cold smile appeared at the corners of her eyes.

Her gaze then fell upon Qi Jiang as she smiled: "Qi Junior Sister, rest assured—your Qi clan's grudge, perhaps our Ji clan can help you avenge it, saving you from being torn here and there!"

Qi Jiang nodded slightly.

Ji Ziyao then turned her gaze toward the depths of Seventh Spirit Mountain, to the prominent peak above it, and invited:

"Qi Junior Sister, let us try once more before the Immortal Stele—I have comprehended hundreds of heavenly earth runes the last time, and I feel that perhaps before long I will grasp a divine ability and immortal technique unique to myself!"

Qi Jiang nodded.

With the Ji clan stepping forward, Qi Jiang also felt a hint of confidence rise in her heart.

She was well aware of the Ji clan's capabilities.

They were absolutely not comparable to the declining Qi clan.

……

Three years passed quietly.

Yet on this day, above Dongzhou, a grand and wondrous omen suddenly appeared.

Boundless heavenly earth spiritual qi boiled in an instant, and a grand primordial divine light suddenly surged forth from deep within Haojing City, shooting straight into the clouds.

Like a massive stone dropped into a calm lake, it filled the spiritual qi field in all directions.

A dense heavenly law emerged from the dark void, as if some unknown and noble existence were about to be born!

Supreme and noble, divine and holy!