Chapter 462: Myth (4K)

Soon after, Yao Jiang's graceful and beautiful figure appeared in the Divine Might Palace.

"Greetings, Master!"

Yao Jiang performed a respectful bow.

Her master, Jiang Chen Guang, is the master of the Seventh Spirit Mountain.

He is also a very powerful Primordial Spirit True Lord.

"Rise!"

Jiang Chen Guang helped Yao Jiang up, his gaze falling upon her.

After a quick glance, he immediately showed a relieved expression.

"Yao Jiang, I am delighted that you have begun cultivating the seventh layer of the Great Reincarnation True Scripture ahead of time!"

The Great Reincarnation True Scripture is profound and unfathomable, containing the mysteries of life and death, reincarnation, and other great Dao principles, which will greatly assist Yao Jiang in overcoming the fifth tribulation of the Yin Spirit and the tribulation of reincarnation and life and death.

Although this Primordial Spirit-level technique is not Yao Jiang's innate true scripture, being able to access Primordial Spirit techniques early is greatly beneficial for cultivators of the Yin Spirit level.

After some thought, Jiang Chen Guang handed Yao Jiang a jade box.

"Master, what is this...?"

Yao Jiang received it with both hands, a hint of astonishment in her eyes.

Jiang Chen Guang smiled faintly.

"This is part of my cultivation notes from before, and besides, there are some materials preserved from before the Primordial Spirit realm—keep them; they may perhaps aid your cultivation later!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Jiang's expression startled, moved yet with a trace of chill in her heart, as she faintly guessed something.

"Master, do you mean...?"

Her eyes held a hint of anticipation.

Jiang Chen Guang gazed into Yao Jiang's eyes, his own also carrying a trace of sigh.

"This is the sect's decision: the Great Xia Emperor has achieved his Dao, and clashing with the Great Xia Dynasty does not align with the Heavenly Intent Sect's interests, so the sect will reconcile with the Great Xia Dynasty, cooperating in many areas, including spirit beast breeding, spirit stone trade, and cultivation of heavenly and earthly spirit materials!"

"Furthermore, regarding the Yao clan's matter, the Heavenly Intent Sect will not oppose it—of course, if you are unwilling, the sect will not force you either!"

Yao Jiang's expression, however, grew somewhat dim.

Having heard Jiang Chen Guang's words to this extent, how could she refuse?

If she refuses and causes harm to the sect's interests, she will thereafter be abandoned by all in the Heavenly Intent Sect, and likely unable to stand firm within it.

Yao Jiang's eyes flickered; though in such a 'desperate situation,' she had not yet considered giving up resistance.

"Master, the Heavenly Intent Sect should also be aware of my Yao clan's worth—with disciples present, the sect has reason to reclaim the Yao clan's Pre-Immortal Treasure from the Eastern Continent Emperor, as well as the Yao clan's treasury..."

Jiang Chen Guang glanced at her, gently shaking his head.

"Yao Jiang, you may not know that this marriage is not only yours, but also that of Xue Qiong, the master of the Fourth Spirit Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Jiang's expression froze.

The master of the Fourth Spirit Mountain can be called the pride of the Heavenly Intent Sect.

Having cultivated for less than a thousand years, she already firmly holds the seat of master of the Fourth Spirit Mountain—this is a role model for many female disciples within and outside the sect, and a goddess in the eyes of many male disciples.

She is hailed as a genius who appears once every ten thousand years in the Zhou Mountain Realm.

She is a female cultivator near immortality.

Even in the extraterritorial Heavenly River, she enjoys great fame.

It is said that those seeking to marry this female immortal, if their divine palace orthodoxy true transmissions were gathered together, would fill the Zhou Mountain Realm completely.

Now, the Ji family actually intends to marry her into the Eastern Continent Zhang clan, such a newly risen family?

"How could this be possible?"

This felt like a heavy bomb landing in Yao Jiang's heart, her eyes filled with shock.

"Nothing is impossible!"

Jiang Chen Guang shook his head.

He naturally knows of Ji Xue Qiong's grace and bearing.

Such a person has already transcended the mundane.

But the Great Xia Emperor is not weak either.

He does not feel unworthy of her.

Seeing that this matter is already settled, Yao Jiang could only compose herself and wait for an opportunity to act.

……

Fourth Spirit Mountain, in the Virtue and Might Palace

At this moment, a figure of infinite beauty sat before a grand moon mirror, with two snow-white jade screens on either side; she sat before a sandalwood table, her figure graceful and captivating, as if every movement carried an unparalleled noble aura.

"Master, all the information gathered by the Heavenly Intent Sect inside and out is here!"

In the palace, an old cultivator with flowing sleeves, gray beard, and white hair slightly bowed his hands.

He is the inspection elder of the Fourth Spirit Mountain, high in position and authority.

Yet before this incomparably beautiful figure, he was exceptionally respectful.

"Good, I understand, Elder Qi Shan, you may withdraw!"

The old cultivator glanced at the graceful figure on the main seat, slightly bowed his hands, and then stepped out of the Virtue and Might Palace.

But as the old cultivator departed, he saw a cluster of spiritual light fly out from around this incomparably beautiful figure; within the light, countless beings seemed to appear, dressed in feathered robes, resembling the fairies of the Nine Heavens Jade Pool, each with graceful bearing.

At this moment, there was a chirping sound.

"Xue Qiong, what kind of person is this Great Xia Emperor, daring to marry you—could it be that you dislike a long life?"

"Pah pah pah, we Xue Qiong are certainly not some White Tiger Heavenly Killer Star—why are you cursing Xue Qiong!"

Sounds of cheerful laughter echoed in the palace halls.

"You're the one cursing the Young Master Snow Qiong, but what I mean is that the Young Master Snow Qiong has a unique fate—he's fundamentally beyond the reach of ordinary people. Besides, among his suitors there are several formidable figures. If anyone dares to marry the Young Master Snow Qiong, isn't he just complaining that his life is too long?"

That breathtakingly beautiful figure, however, paid no heed to these chattering voices.

She simply reached over and picked up a stack of jade slips from the side table.

The jade slips contained all the information on the Great Xia Emperor collected by the Heaven's Will Sect.

Including his birth, cultivation, and several battles that could be found on the surface, as well as some information that could only be obtained through unconventional means.

Finally, it was part of the information deduced together by the many experts of the Heaven's Will Sect skilled in divination—though this part remained unverified, it still held some reference value.

These things are extremely rare.

With the Eastern Continent Emperor attaining the Dao, many immortal sects and lineages no longer dare to casually investigate these matters, lest they be known to the Eastern Continent Emperor, ultimately provoking him and bringing great trouble upon themselves.

Especially since many of the details within can only be gathered by super-great sects like the Heaven's Will Sect, with true immortals and even heavenly immortals as ancestral elders secretly investigating, allowing them to collect so much precious information.

Her gaze swept over the first jade slip.

"Zhang family, Eastern Continent, former dynasty, Fengyang Commandery, Fengxi County—naturally intelligent, widely learned and retentive, he passed the provincial examination at fourteen, and the following year became a jinshi, appointed by the Emperor Jingwu of the Great Qian as top scholar. No trace of action was found before the provincial examination, suggesting he had not yet begun cultivation..."

"In the first year of Emperor Jingwu's reign, he once acted in the Qi mansion, slaying the mother-and-child vengeful ghost, suggesting he had not yet established his foundation..."

"In the summer of the fifth year of Emperor Jingwu's reign, while rushing to the capital for the examination, he participated in the dispute between the Canal Dragon Palace and the heretical Xuandu Dao Twin Gods, seemingly aided by the power of the Slaying Demon True Lord to wound one god..."

Ji Snow Qiong glanced at it—this span was quite considerable.

According to the information gathered by the Heaven's Will Sect, Zhang Jian had just begun cultivation at this time; even if his talent were extraordinary, he would likely have only just completed foundation establishment and fate-testing, yet he dared to meddle in the conflict between deities.

According to the record in this information, those Xuandu Twin Gods are both Yin God-level entities, and combined with a supreme treasure, they could even imprison a Primordial Spirit True Person for a moment.

Even with a True Lord backing him from behind, this courage... is simply audacious beyond measure.

Ji Snow Qiong secretly marveled.

But what followed was even more legendary.

"In the tenth year of Emperor Jingwu's reign, Zhang Jian, after four years of seclusion, emerged once more to suppress the Azure Lion Demon King in the southern suburbs of Haojing City, rescuing a nest of fox spirits from the Hundred Fox Cave on South Mountain's Age Fox Mountain. His cultivation is suspected to have reached the level of a Yin God Venerable; currently, the Azure Lion Demon King is the mount of the Slaying Demon True Lord, confirmed to possess the bloodline of the ancient divine beast, the Nine-Headed Azure Lion, now cultivating in the Lion King's Secret Realm of the Tongshan Dao lineage, suspected to be receiving the inheritance of the divine beast clan..."

Ji Snow Qiong stared without blinking.

In just four years, he directly crossed the Golden Core realm—such divine speed, even if Ji Snow Qiong were praised by many great beings of the outer heavens as a genius of the Zhongshan Realm, or even a once-in-ten-thousand-years talent from beyond the realm, would still feel shaken.

At least she could not achieve this.

She herself took twenty or thirty years of bitter cultivation to progress from Golden Core to Yin God realm.

And she had only managed it through several great opportunities, allowing her to cross that threshold in a short time.

"In the summer of the twelfth year of Emperor Jingwu's reign, Zhang Jian repaired the 'Great Qian Complete Book,' his fame spreading throughout court and countryside, gradually earning him the reputation of a sage!"

"After the twelfth year of Emperor Jingwu's reign, Zhang Jian rose to the position of Minister of the Grand Agriculture Temple; his improvements to the various crop and vegetable seeds of the Great Qian benefited the people, gave back to the populace, established virtue, speech, and merit, his fame spreading throughout the world, gradually being ennobled as a sage, later confirmed to possess the body of an ancient sage, the 'Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart'!"

……

Ji Snow Qiong read on, and by the time she reached the later section, the fate of this Eastern Continent Emperor seemed to be one of unstoppable momentum.

Soon he proved the Primordial Spirit.

Proving the Primordial Spirit before the age of thirty.

Deep in her Dao heart, Ji Snow Qiong felt waves of turmoil.

Moreover, what struck her as strange was that, before proving the Primordial Spirit, Zhang Jian had continuously served as a civil official within the Great Qian Dynasty.

He had undergone no battles or slaughter.

It was entirely a path of the 'Confucian cultivator.'

Ji Snow Qiong knew that in the outer realms, there exist Confucian cultivators—of course, these Confucian cultivators are not mere bookworms, but constantly transcend in the pursuit of knowledge, discern truth, read ten thousand volumes and travel ten thousand miles, ultimately comprehending the great truth of heaven and earth, thereby refining their souls, ultimately achieving immortal souls—such beings are terrifying, whether cultivating immortality or becoming gods, they are formidable figures.

Since Zhang Jian possesses the 'Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart' and was able to attain sagehood early, proving the Dao and reaching Primordial Spirit in just decades, it is not really surprising.

The 'Treasure Record' of the Tongshan Dao lineage is profound, and Ji Snow Qiong is also well aware of it.

But afterward, much of the information is fragmented, yet Zhang Jian's periodic appearances every few years show his cultivation, magical power, and realm seemingly crossing thresholds each time.

Even before completing a full sexagenary cycle, he had already become an innate god, in addition to bearing the identity of a Divine Path Emperor.

Ji Snow Qiong witnessed all this information, and at this moment, it felt as if she were watching history and mythology unfold before her eyes.

This is destined to be a being who will make this realm, and even the heavens and void, possibly need to remember—an unparalleled powerhouse.

Yet Ji Snow Qiong also noticed that much of the information obtained by the Heaven's Will Sect remains incomplete.

Especially at the crucial points.

How the other party advanced in rank, how he cultivated—these are severely lacking!

It merely mentions that the Great Xia Emperor is diligent and eager to learn, and even after ascending the throne, he often lets his Primordial Spirit retreat into the Tongshan Dao lineage to contemplate the classics of ancient and modern sages, especially excelling in the study of talismans, with astonishing attainment.

The record above states that it is rumored Zhang Jian once entered the ruins of the Eastern Emperor of Wang Yuan, relying on his attainment in talisman studies, using Golden Body-level magical power, he actually broke through the 'Little Thousand Worlds Reincarnation Law' of creation level left behind by ancient great beings, as well as various forbidden laws, with his realm and power.

But these records cannot compensate for the regret caused by the lack of key information.

Especially regarding how he became a Divine Path Emperor and how he condensed innate creation—even with many elders performing divination, they could not offer any useful advice.

But Ji Snow Qiong also has little regret, for she knows the Heaven's Will Sect could uncover this much information only at great cost, even mobilizing connections above and below.

At this moment, before her, many flower-like beautiful spirits seemed to sense the solemnity in Ji Snow Qiong's expression, gathering one by one before her.

After Ji Snow Qiong finished reading, she suddenly reached out—immediately, these many jade slips instantly turned into flying ash.

Her expression sank slightly in contemplation, then she spoke toward the direction of the two screens.

"Grand Master, Second Master, Third Master, Fourth Master, you should also have seen these—what should I do, disciple?"

At that moment, beneath the two plum blossom screens, four beams of light and shadow suddenly appeared.

On the vermilion screen, plum blossom trees appeared one by one, their deep red blossoms as thick as a wrist, the branches coiling like prison bars, each tree filling the corners of the screen, while at the center stood a plum tree bearing snow-white snow blossoms.

Beneath the snow plum, two figures—one black, one white—were engaged in a game of chess, their postures peerless; furthermore, an old woodcutter with a wine gourd hanging at his waist and an axe on his right side stood nearby, watching.

On the other screen, there was a peerless figure drinking alone under the moon, appearing to gaze afar at the bright moon in the sky, her expression filled with a sense of resentment.

After a moment, a cold and indifferent female voice spoke from within.

"Look at your father, and at the meaning of that elder of the Ji family—you probably cannot avoid this matter, so you might as well meet him. If he truly is an innate Emperor, marrying him would be no problem; forcing it would still be worthy of your talent!"

"Even the Grand Master wishes to meet this person?"

Ji Xueqiong's eyes widened in astonishment.

She knows well the nature of her Grand Master.

Arrogant, cold-hearted—describing him as having no equal among peers is not far off.

In the outer star rivers, she has encountered many heaven's chosen ones, not lacking some descendants of Daoist sovereigns bearing peerless grace, nor beings possessing rare, peerless divine bodies.

This Grand Master looks down upon all of them.

Including looking down upon her other three masters.

This time, however, a trace of curiosity has arisen.

"Since it is the birth of a myth, this palace shall naturally go to see it!"

A clear, cold voice sounded, and the peerless figure on the screen faded away!

Ji Xueqiong glanced at another screen where three immortals were playing chess; her visage broke into a charming smile, and with a wave of her hand, an intangible scroll was plucked effortlessly from the void, instantly transforming into flowing light that entered her body; deep between her brows, countless black and white light points seemed to circulate, and her figure rose accordingly.

Before her, numerous beauties, fairies, and goddesses instantly turned into countless white bone skeletons and vanished without a trace.

……

One year later.

Deep within the Two Realms Mountain Range, Erlong Mountain.

Zhang Jian buried a gradually sprouting peach pit seed into a fertile plot of land before the lake.

As the peach pit seed landed, a small spiritual qi vortex formed, pouring into the soil below.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian faintly revealed a hint of a smile.

"However, the water veins in this lake are ultimately merely mundane water, not spiritual springs; I have heard that within the barbaric regions there are several other spiritual springs—this expedition shall seize one and integrate it here, so as to nourish this destiny-anchoring spiritual root!"

Zhang Jian pondered in his heart.

Spiritual springs are extremely precious; even the weakest are high-grade treasures, and somewhat better ones are sufficient to be listed among rare marvels.

And the spiritual spring spoken of, naturally, is not an ordinary spiritual spring, but a divine-object-grade spring, containing a trace of innate primordial blessing—a divine spring.