Chapter 521: Plotting Officialdom (4K)

At the Yunyun Ferry, on the celestial tower ship, seeing the tower ship come to a stop, yet the gangway was not lowered for a long time, many guests on the celestial tower ships appeared on the deck, discussing in confusion.

"What's going on? Could it be that the celestial immortals have learned of our arrival and want to give us a show of force?"

At this moment on the Gengchen, several Zhang clan immortals muttered to themselves.

On the deck, over a hundred people gazed far at the heavily guarded Wanyun Ferry.

"Do not speculate wildly; after entering the celestial realm, one must be even more cautious in speech and conduct, lest one be caught in a compromising situation!"

In the distance, Feng Ling watched this scene and rebuked in a deep voice.

Since she naturally attained the Dao, her cultivation has steadily increased, making her the foremost among immortals; when she rebuked, all immortals fell silent like cold cicadas.

At this moment in the cabin, Zhang Jian stepped out from the middle, wearing a plain-collared silver robe embroidered with purple-gold patterns, his figure tall and jade-like, resembling a son of a wealthy family, his long hair bound by a sword pin on his head.

Though he possessed a graceful and unrestrained demeanor, as he stepped out of the cabin, the immortals ceased their discussion, as if he were naturally the focal point of heaven and earth.

Zhang Jian greeted Zhang Yi and Qi Ruolan with a faint smile.

"Father, Mother, this matter has nothing to do with us!"

"However, shortly, guests will board the ship; two ladies, this matter still requires the two virtuous wives to prepare accordingly!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuhua and Bai Liying nodded slightly, immediately leading the You clan, Meng clan, and some female immortals downstairs to make preparations.

Zhang Yi and Qi Ruolan watched this scene with slight surprise.

Indeed, only a moment later, a voice came from outside the Gengchen.

"The Northern Pole Palace, the Black Sha Grand Marshal's subordinate, the War God Shang Yun, has come to pay respects to the Supreme God!"

"A commander of the Tianhe Water Mansion?"

Upon hearing his self-introduction, the immortals on the ship became somewhat solemn in expression.

The Tianhe Water Army, in the Central Celestial Realm, is also a renowned force skilled in battle.

The Tianhe Eight Armies, with a million mighty lions, belong to the Northern Pole Four Sages.

The Northern Pole Four Sages are all great gods of the ninth rank.

The Northern Pole Palace, along with the Five Ding Commandery, Seven Governors Eight Spirits, Direct Month General, and Twelve Branch Direct Talismans, all belong to the Purple Micro Emperor's Mansion.

At this moment at the ship's gangway entrance, a young lady leading a group of immortals had already been waiting here, gazing at the silver-armored war god stepping step by step across the boundary sea into the void, and she said:

"My emperor had long anticipated the arrival of honored guests today, thus he sent me, his daughter, to wait here for a long time; honored guests, please follow me aboard to meet him!"

The young lady is Zhang Yujing.

Likewise a third-generation descendant of the Zhang clan, she is still a Primordial Spirit True Lord at this time, but her cultivation is extremely pure.

Shang Yun War God's eyes fell upon this beautiful maiden, and he was slightly startled.

In the Central Celestial Realm, cultivators at the Primordial Spirit True Lord level are truly few; most are descendants of various great gods.

"May I ask, fairy, to which divine rank does your emperor belong, and where is his cave heaven?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yujing's jade-like face showed a hint of bewilderment.

"War God, having boarded the ship to pay respects to my emperor, you actually do not know which divine being my emperor is?"

Shang Yun War God did not conceal it, merely smiling.

"I came in haste, without thorough inquiry; I hope the fairy will forgive me."

Zhang Yujing smiled.

"My emperor is my ancestral grandfather; he only recently ascended to the celestial realm, and now he has been ennobled by the Celestial Court's Great Heavenly Venerable as the Spirit Source Emperor of the Three Spirits Bureau Palace!"

"Three Spirits Bureau Palace, Spirit Source Emperor?"

Shang Yun War God's expression shifted slightly; any celestial emperor with real power and high rank establishes a Spirits Bureau.

Such as the Three Spirits Bureau Palace, the Purple Micro Spirits Bureau Palace, the Hook Chen Spirits Bureau Palace, and even the Nine Heavens Spirits Bureau Palace directly under the Great Heavenly Venerable.

The spirits in the Spirits Bureau are mostly confidants of the various emperors, worthy of being called 'great secrets'; a casual transfer could put one in charge of a bureau, or even make one a deputy palace.

The Spirit Source Emperor should be a deputy palace position within the Three Spirits Bureau Palace.

Because the head of the Three Spirits Bureau Palace is the Blessing Emperor, and that Blessing Emperor is a person of the Celestial Official Emperor.

But regardless, having only recently ascended to the celestial palace, he was ennobled as an emperor and ranked eighth in sequence; his origins are likely extraordinary.

Shang Yun War God secretly pondered.

He then, under Zhang Yujing's guidance, stepped onto the Gengchen.

Upon entering the deck, he saw in the distance a handsome immortal wearing a plain silver robe, his eyes warm and moist; when his gaze fell, it entered Shang Yun War God's eyes deep within, yet it was like an ocean of great Dao laws, and his body bore a heavy, inescapable divine emperor aura; just one glance, and Shang Yun War God felt oppressed.

"Northern Pole Army's War God Shang Yun pays respects to the Spirit Source Emperor!"

Upon seeing Zhang Jian, he again clasped his hands in salute.

Zhang Jian's face showed a slight smile.

"General Shang Yun need not be so ceremonious!"

After a brief pause, Zhang Jian smiled.

"General, your purpose is already known to this emperor; you need only carry out the heavenly mandate!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Yun War God relaxed his breath; this Spirit Source Emperor seems reasonably easy to talk to.

"However, we must not delay too long, lest we miss the emperor's auspicious time and good occasion!"

Upon hearing these words, Shang Yun War God's heart sank instantly; he felt somewhat embarrassed.

That witch is exceedingly cunning; now her magic lies hidden in the ferry's depths; even these high-ranking immortals' secret investigative methods cannot detect her; how can we find her in a short time?

Seeing Shang Yun War God silent, Zhang Jian's eyes fell upon this war god of the Northern Pole Army.

"Is it very difficult?"

He slightly released a portion of the Earth Emperor's authority.

The vast divine power, as if passing through Shang Yun War God's eyes, entered his heart directly, causing the war god's face to show a slight shock.

He is one of the Four Great War Gods of the Northern Pole Army, a powerhouse of the Taiyi True Numbers level; under such pressure, he felt he might be overturned at any moment.

The opponent's cultivation is profound, far beyond what he could fathom.

The Shanyun War God's expression was strained.

"Your Majesty, that demon's cultivation is extraordinary, and he is extremely cunning. I have already informed the Great Marshal of the Northern Pole Army, Heisha Grand General, who will soon arrive with the Tianpeng Immortal Mirror to investigate his whereabouts!"

Zhang Jian's gaze remained unmoving.

The Heisha Grand General should be the Yisheng Baode Grand Marshal, one of the Four Saints of the Northern Pole.

Besides the Tianpeng Grand Marshal, who holds the ninth position in the main palace, the Northern Pole Four Saints are followed by the Tianyou Vice Marshal (Tianyou Vice Marshal), then the Yisheng Baode Grand Marshal (Heisha Grand General), and the Lingying Yousheng Yuanshen (Zhenwu Grand Marshal)!

The Tianpeng Grand Marshal occupies the main palace of the Northern Pole Four Saints, while the other three are vice marshals; among them, the Tianyou Vice Marshal holds the highest rank, but the other three are also eighth-rank senior officials of the Heavenly Court.

The Northern Pole Four Saints guard the Northern Pole Ziwei Emperor, and are also his left and right arms.

Theoretically, they are on par with Zhang Jian, this Lingyuan Emperor.

Yet they hold substantial real power, appearing more impressive than him, this Lingyuan Emperor who currently lacks significant authority and military power.

Zhang Jian glanced at this Shanyun War God, who was also brandishing tiger skins and raising banners.

But for this scene, he had long anticipated it; only then did he see an immortal step forward from beside him and laugh.

"Great Ancestor Father, I feel there's no need for such complexity. It's merely a first-rank demon. I happen to have another secret method on me that can force the demon to reveal its true form on the spot!"

He was a youth immortal dressed in blue robes.

Zhang Nan.

He is also one of the few third-generation male grandsons Zhang Jian brought with him this time.

Seeing this, the Shanyun War God felt a stir in his heart, yet he spoke bluntly and skeptically.

"You're merely a minor true immortal—how dare you boast and claim you can make the demon reveal its form?"

Zhang Nan remained neither humble nor arrogant, his gaze fixed on the Shanyun War God.

"Having received the true transmission from the Emperor, I naturally possess supreme marvelous methods!"

The Shanyun War God glanced at Zhang Jian, saw his expression unchanged, and immediately flared up.

"Good, if you, this minor immortal, can drag out that demon, I will surely memorialize to the Heavenly Court to award you merit!"

Beside them, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered with a faint smile, and Zhang Nan then said.

"Good, I am willing to swear a military oath before the Former Emperor: if I fail to rescue that demon, I will willingly cut off my cultivation and be reborn in the mortal realm!"

Zhang Nan was full of confidence.

Not long ago, he had received personal instruction from Zhang Jian, who told him the opportunity had arrived, so he accepted this task without hesitation—even willing to stake his life to deepen the Shanyun War God's impression.

For his own future, he had also exerted himself greatly.

As fellow third-generation male grandsons, Zhang Qi had such fortune, which Zhang Nan envied greatly, and naturally he was unwilling to accept being inferior.

Being peers, his talent is not inferior to Zhang Qi, Zhang Tianrui, and others.

Seeing this, the Shanyun War God slightly furrowed his brow.

But since the other party had made such a heavy oath, it now carried a few degrees of credibility.

At this moment, Zhang Jian finally spoke.

"Zhang Nan, have you thought it through?"

Zhang Nan replied firmly.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty!"

Zhang Jian immediately nodded.

"If so, then go!"

The Shanyun War God remained half-believing, half-doubting, but still escorted Zhang Nan back to the ferry crossing.

On the Gengchen vessel, many true immortals gathered to watch the spectacle, following closely to the railings to join in.

After the crowd departed, Bai Liying immediately furrowed her willow brows and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, does Zhang Nan truly possess such ability?"

Several noble ladies nearby also wore strange expressions.

Zhang Jian spoke calmly.

"As this Emperor says he has it, he naturally does!"

Upon hearing this, the ladies suddenly understood.

Clearly, this Emperor is creating an opportunity for Zhang Nan.

Zhang Jian's thoughts raced like lightning; at this moment, the entire Yunyun Ferry Crossing fell silent as it was enveloped by the Map of Mountains and Rivers. Within, all beings—human, immortal, divine, or demon—were laid bare before his eyes; no matter how deeply hidden, none could escape his sight.

Not long after, a sudden cry erupted from around the ferry crossing.

Only to see Zhang Nan below had already found the 'target'!

It was precisely the subordinate immortal in charge of managing the Yunyun Ferry Crossing, whose body at that moment was entwined with a layer of intense purple flame. In an instant, it transformed into a blazing demonic light rushing toward Zhang Nan's carriage, yet somewhat annoyed and enraged, preparing to tear Zhang Nan apart limb from limb.

Under that vast and mighty pressure, Zhang Nan's face showed slight alarm, and he dared not move.

"A mere foreign-realm heart demon dares to act recklessly before this immortal!"

The Shanyun War God watched this scene, his expression darkening; instantly, immeasurable silver lightning radiated from his body, and hundreds of spear shadows flashed, sealing off that intense purple-black demonic light.

The silver light flowed with intense destructive silver radiance, instantly causing the spacetime to tremble violently.

Within the purple-black light, a seductive, alluring smile flickered, but then points of gloomy demonic sound echoed in the void, revealing the scene of all things falling, heaven and earth sinking into eternal darkness. The purple-black pupils flowed, carrying intense corrosion, a decaying aura—one claw tore through the void, directly corroding countless silver rays, yet still swift, it lunged toward Zhang Nan to seize him.

"Shanyun, you're nothing but a rice bucket! If it weren't for this brat causing trouble, what could you do to your grandmother?"

The demonic aura she suddenly revealed was extraordinarily vast; her hand displayed demonic light surpassing the limits of fourth-rank immortal arts, faintly possessing the power of fifth-rank immortal arts, as if capable of demonizing heaven and earth, cursing all things to fall.

Hearing this, the Shanyun War God's expression remained unchanged, yet he saw immeasurable silver-white light emerge from the depths of the void, rising from the void and the great earth.

Yin and yang intertwined, forming a vast net that bypassed Zhang Nan, instantly sweeping up that alluring shadow in the pupils and hurling it into the void.

In midair, at this moment, the faces of many heavenly soldiers and generals were stern; they shouted in unison, and rays of immortal light flashed across their bodies, instantly resonating with the heavenly net and earthly trap deep in the void.

Even that extraterritorial heart demon of the Taiyi True Number level had its expression drastically change; layers of purple flames swirled around her, but even if she exhausted her origin to unleash a fifth-rank immortal art, she could not break through that silvery-white giant net.

Shortly afterward, the silvery-white giant net was seen to contract.

Before being sealed, that extraterritorial heart demon still glared viciously at Zhang Nan, shouting fiercely.

"You little immortal, you have ruined our great undertaking; there will surely be evil consequences in the future!"

She still wanted to say something, but saw Shenyun War God slightly furrow his brow, a beam of immortal light in his hand covering the heavenly net and earthly trap; the entire giant net instantly transformed into a silvery-white treasure bottle appearing deep in Shenyun War God's palm.

That extraterritorial heart demon of the Taiyi True Number level had already been successfully sealed.

On the deck, Zhang Jian's eyes gazed upon this scene, his pupils flickering.

In Zhou Shan Realm, the founder of the Dongshen Sect had once established a heavenly net and earthly trap system, its power still not bad, but compared to the orthodox heavenly net and earthly trap of the Central Heavenly Realm, it was clearly the petty sorcerer before the great sorcerer.

He could sense that the strength of that Taiyi True Number level great demon was clearly superior to that of Shenyun War God, a high-ranking officer in the Northern Pole Army.

But relying on some profundities of the heavenly net and earthly trap, Shenyun War God easily grasped the situation.

However, extraterritorial heart demons, among the extraterritorial demon horde, are more renowned for infiltration and concealment; their combat strength is not considered formidable.

Yet many high-level profundities of the heavenly net and earthly trap before him had not been employed.

Moreover, this was still a part of the heavenly net sub-net of the Central Heavenly Realm.

Zhang Jian secretly mused in his heart.

The Central Heavenly Realm's defense was even more stringent than he had imagined.

Soon after, he saw Shenyun War God quickly bring the deities of Wanyun Ferry to pay a visit, and the Anhai Immortal even declared his willingness to fully exert the hospitality of a host to entertain Zhang Jian, this Lingyuan Emperor.

Zhang Jian, however, paid him no heed.

Anhai Immortal currently had considerable trouble; among his subordinates, a deity had been eroded by an extraterritorial heart demon, and he did not know how to report it to his superiors; at this time, receiving him was merely an attempt to cling to a powerful patron to mitigate his own punishment.

Zhang Jian, newly arrived, was unwilling to involve himself in such matters.

On the contrary, Zhang Nan was happily delighted along the way; Shenyun War God had already promised him that he would certainly report this matter to the heavenly court, thereby presenting his merits.

To extract a heart demon of the Taiyi True Immortal level, the heavenly court had already shown some indication.

After extracting the extraterritorial heart demon, Wanyun Ferry gradually lifted its seal; numerous interface-breaking tower ships passed through the ferry one after another, following the upstream directly to other regions of the Central Heavenly Realm; Zhang Jian and the others then disembarked from the tower ships, traveling overland toward the location of the heavenly court, the ancient land of Zhou Shan.

In less than half a month, everyone had already arrived at their destination.