Chapter 626: The Daoist Lord Must Also Observe Filial Piety (4K)

Zhang Jian's posture was upright and proper, his expression calm.

Although the request made by Hou Tu Niangniang would certainly not be that simple.

In the center of the Pingxin Hall, Hou Tu Niangniang's face bore a hint of a smile.

"What this palace requires is located in the Yaomo Realm, within the Qinglong Valley; there should be an innate divine object imbued with strong vital energy there—go and retrieve it!"

"Qinglong Valley?"

Zhang Jian searched his memory for this place name.

His mind held many forbidden lands, some of which were located in the Yaomo Realm.

However, Qinglong Valley was not among them.

Qinglong Valley lies in the eastern part of the Yaomo Realm; it is said the terrain resembles a dragon's shape, and several major spirit veins converge there, thus gathering some fierce beasts and foreign tribes.

It can be considered a blessed land, though its danger level is not high.

"I do not know what object the Niangniang wishes to obtain?"

Zhang Jian slightly clasped his hands.

"The origin of Qinglong Valley is known to few; it is the transformation left behind after the fall of the first Dongcang Qinglong, who was a descendant of the Ancestral Dragon, having cultivated great divine power through reversing innate principles, mastering the Great Dao, and once receiving heavenly mandate to guard the four extremes. After the expansion of the heavenly voids, the Earth Immortal Realm lost the status of the Central Heavenly Realm. The first generation of the Four Spirits' great beings completed their cultivation and withdrew; Dongcang Qinglong participated in the creation of the Yaomo Realm before perishing, and fell here!"

Upon hearing Hou Tu Niangniang's words, Zhang Jian's expression subtly changed.

Yet he had never imagined that Qinglong Valley would be so closely related to Dongcang Shenjun.

Moreover, this Dongcang Shenjun had also fallen!

Now, the Central Heavenly Realm actually also has the Four Spirits as deities.

And their status is still quite high.

Looking at it now, it seems several generations have already been replaced.

"This palace once investigated that region and discovered within it a kind of innate divine material—the Innate Qinglong Pearl!

This object is formed from the innate Jia Wood essence and qi of the Dongcang Qinglong's body after its fall, combined with the primordial chaotic qi of the Yaomo Realm and the earth vein spiritual marrow, thus containing strong vital creative energy. However, when this palace previously probed it, the object had not yet taken form, so I did not collect it then!"

"Now, calculating the time, it has likely already formed—go and retrieve it!"

Zhang Jian's expression paused slightly, then he clasped his hands and said.

"Your Majesty, since this treasure has already formed, could it not have been discovered by others?"

Hou Tu, upon hearing this, laughed and said.

"No, because after I left, I laid down the Great Hou Tu Formation of the All-Heavens around Qinglong Valley; this formation embraces the earth and the profound mystery of the innate turbid slaughter, capable of confusing the primordial spirits of all living things. Any immortal or deity who enters will have their senses obscured; after passing through once, they will quickly forget this journey and lose all memory of the formation!"

At this moment, as Hou Tu waved her hand, a yellowish earth-colored stone tablet fell into Zhang Jian's hands.

"This is the formation diagram; study it a little, and you will be able to control the formation!"

"Moreover, the place where this innate divine object has transformed must be surrounded by rare treasures; this palace only requires the Innate Qinglong Pearl. As for the other objects left behind by Dongcang Shenjun, you may take them yourself, provided you have the ability!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes brightened slightly.

Since this is the burial place of the Dongcang Qinglong Shenjun, he believes there should not be only one treasure left behind.

At that moment, seated on the divine throne, Hou Tu Niangniang suddenly felt something and smiled: "After you obtain the treasure, hurry back along the way; if someone calls you, do not turn back, otherwise this matter will inevitably bring complications!"

"You must be extremely cautious!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's expression stirred; seeing the deep, meaningful look in Hou Tu Niangniang's eyes, he immediately nodded slightly, indicating his acceptance.

Afterwards, Zhang Jian asked whether there was a time limit.

Hou Tu Niangniang pondered and said:

"Within thirty thousand years!"

Zhang Jian's eyes brightened—this time was still quite ample.

He could fully cultivate his eternal Dao law to perfection, pay respects to his ancestors, and then enter the Yaomo Realm.

Furthermore, since he would be entering the demons' territory, some preparation was necessary.

Not long after Zhang Jian departed, a beautiful woman in black robes, wearing a Xuannu Phoenix Crown, emerged from one side of the main hall; her figure was tall and slender, her face cold and beautiful, her long phoenix eyes sharp as blades.

This was a goddess of exceptionally unique temperament.

She glanced in the direction Zhang Jian had departed, then turned to Hou Tu Niangniang and asked.

"Niangniang, can he be trusted?"

On the divine throne, Hou Tu Niangniang slowly rose, her body perpetually surrounded by a layer of yellowish earthen hazy light; she spoke calmly.

"The Yaomo Realm is the great stronghold of the demon race; entering it poses too great a risk for you all—better let him go. He is unlike you; he still has another identity!"

Hou Tu Niangniang's lips curled into a hint of a smile.

She meant something by it.

"As for whether he can be trusted—no need to worry. Although this divine attendant of mine is not an honest gentleman, he will not easily relinquish any benefit he gains!"

"The fortune left behind by Dongcang Shenjun—he will not abandon this easily obtained advantage, even if it requires risking danger!"

Upon hearing this, the black-clad goddess's cold and beautiful face also showed a hint of a smile.

"Indeed, he knows full well that going to the Netherworld's Underworld to see you brings more trouble than benefit, yet he still goes forward without hesitation—he, to some extent, possesses the nature of a gambler!"

This woman is naturally no stranger.

She is none other than Jiu Feng, who escaped from the Eternal Ice Prison.

After escaping the Eternal Ice Prison, Jiu Feng has been pursued by the Heavenly Court, but Hou Tu Niangniang directly detained her within the Pingxin Hall to close off and restore her cultivation.

Hou Tu Niangniang's expression remained unchanged as she said.

"Since ancient times, many great divine beings have shared this trait; however, the wise will reduce such risk to the minimum!"

Jiu Feng slightly nodded in agreement, then could not help but laugh.

"Then he is a wise person!"

……

Pingxin Hall, Jiuxiu Side Hall.

After Zhang Jian returned, he first entered the Netherworld Underworld Nether Moon Ghost Kingdom, and formally, in the name of the Nether Moon Emperor, he re-recruited the Nether Moon Ghost Soldiers and restored the deployment of the fourteen Nether Moon Ghost Soldier legions.

Now that he has attained the Dao Lord's body, Zhang Jian has also changed from his previous cautious and low-key style.

His style has become flamboyant and overbearing.

He is not proving that saying true.

When poor, one harbors resentment and endures; when successful, one strikes back and calculates.

He simply feels that as a Dao Lord, he does not need to endure too much.

Especially toward the other Netherworld Heavenly Sons of the Netherworld Underworld.

With his cultivation, he can now openly and grandly resolve all problems.

At the same time, he issued an edict summoning his subordinate Taotie Ghost Emperor and another Ghost Emperor, as well as the two Netherworld Grand Generals, to announce to all that he will soon reorganize the Nether Moon Ghost Kingdom, and that anyone who interferes will not be lightly forgiven.

The Dao Lord's might, carrying the force of thunder, instantly made many ghosts and gods feel a chill in their hearts.

Besides this, Zhang Jian also widely issued a recruitment notice, from the Netherworld Underworld dimension, re-recruiting one Ghost Emperor, one Netherworld General, and also recruiting various civil and military great generals, to replenish the Ghost Emperor Immortal retinue of the Nether Moon Emperor's mansion.

After issuing this series of measures, Zhang Jian then had the heart to continue to settle down and cultivate.

At the same time, he also inquired everywhere about the situation in part of the Heavenly Demon Realm.

As for the Heavenly Demon Realm, he had long heard of it.

In fact, the Heavenly Demon Realm can be considered a neutral force.

In the current Heavenly Court, although it is mainly composed of the myriad immortals of the human race and the divinities born of heaven, there is also a considerable part that comes from the demon race, or the divine beast race.

The most famous of these is the Zhou Tian Group of Stars under the Purple Micro Emperor.

Among them are also the immortals under the Great Immortal of a Hundred Beasts, the Great Immortal of a Hundred Birds, and the Great Immortal of a Hundred Scales.

Moreover, after some immortals and divinities attained the Dao, they also have some mounts or followers who are great demons born.

Or some immortals and divinities' Dao companions are of the demon immortal lineage.

For example, the famous Qingqiu lineage in the Three Sovereigns Heaven Realm.

The Dao companion of King Yu, the Tushan clan, is the incarnation of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, the god of the fox clan.

They even have some who have become supreme great powers, Dao Lords in body.

Among them, there are not a few who have entered the Heavenly Demon Realm to survive.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Demon Realm can be considered the first place where the great powers of the demon race opened up and set foot.

In it, besides the divine beast race, many powerful demon races, there are also some remnant ancient barbaric alien races.

Even some human great divine communicators have opened up Dao lineages there.

However, compared to other realms, the Heavenly Demon Realm is still quite chaotic.

There are not a few demon races with extreme tendencies, abnormally hostile to the human race.

Moreover, some human immortals and divinities often enter the Heavenly Demon Realm to slay demons and eliminate evil.

The Heavenly Demon Realm has long ceased to be a heaven solely presided over by the demon race.

Of course, it now does not belong to the Heavenly Court, nor is it under the jurisdiction of the Three Sovereigns Heaven Realm.

Thinking of Qingqiu seemingly having territory in the Heavenly Demon Realm, belonging to one of the 'sitting land households' there, Zhang Jian immediately went again to the Three Sovereigns Heaven Realm to consult Lady Tushan of Qingqiu.

……

Nether Moon Ghost Kingdom.

Taotie Ghost Emperor's Mansion.

After the Taotie Ghost Emperor received a reprimand in the Nether Moon Emperor's mansion, his expression was somewhat displeased.

In his mansion, at this moment the Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor was seated prominently, and besides him, there were several ghost gods with exceptionally stern auras, vast in number, seated in rows.

One of the ghost gods, his face showing displeasure, said.

"Ghost Lord, you, as the vice lord of the Nether Moon Ghost Kingdom, have for these ages acted as deputy for the Nether Moon Ghost Emperor, governing the Nether Moon Ghost Kingdom, your merits are illustrious, we gods all witness, yet the Emperor thus treats you, we subordinates truly feel it is not worth it for you!"

"The Emperor now wishes to disrupt the organization of the eight ghost armies, this clearly is to seize power, we cannot simply stand by and watch!"

On the Ghost Emperor's throne, that Taotie Ghost Emperor had a big belly and fat, he had a dragon's head and a human body, his abdomen embroidered with Taotie patterns, sitting on the dragon throne, extraordinarily obese.

Yet all the many ghost gods present know, this Ghost Emperor is indeed of the utmost ferocious embodiment.

Before he even attained the title of Emperor, he was already an unparalleled, world-overwhelming fierce soul in the human dimension.

"Then you say, what should this lord do? Learn from the Rakshasa Ghost Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, that ghost god's countenance changed slightly.

The Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor sat at the head on the left, his expression calm and indifferent, he said lightly.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that after the Emperor's Dao-achievement banquet not long ago, he defeated the Heavenly Court's Prison King Dao Lord and the White Emperor Dao Lord, I do not know if this is true or false?"

The Taotie Ghost Emperor's golden-yellow pupils glanced at this ghost god, he nodded slightly and said.

"It is true, this lord has sought verification from the ghost gods of other Netherworld realms, the Nine Great Netherworld Emperors jointly witnessed it!"

Upon hearing this, the Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor chuckled.

"Your Majesty, our thoughts toward the Emperor are actually nothing at all, I do not know if you feel the same?"

At the side, another ghost god suddenly flew into a rage, directly stood up and shouted.

"Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor, what do you mean by this?"

On the Ghost Emperor's throne, the Taotie Ghost Emperor slightly waved his hand to stop this ghost god, he pondered seriously for a moment, then said.

"What you say is correct, our thoughts toward the Emperor are actually nothing at all!"

At the same time, with a wave of his hand, he seized the ghost god who had spoken, and another ghost god beside him.

Those two ghost gods' faces showed horror, but in an instant their forms turned to nothing, directly having their essence, energy, and spirit sucked dry and swallowed into the Taotie Ghost Emperor's physique.

After chewing slightly for a moment or two, his eyes glowed with an indifferent light.

Afterwards he looked toward the Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor, grinning.

"You can now report back to the Dark Moon Emperor!"

The Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor, seeing this, rose and clasped his hands.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor naturally knew well that the two deities executed by the Gluttonous Ghost Emperor were spies planted by other Netherworld Heavenly Sons.

They were also sent to win over the Gluttonous Ghost Emperor.

After clasping his hands, he immediately left the Gluttonous Ghost Emperor's residence.

After he departed, the first deity to speak felt indignant.

"This traitor!"

The Gluttonous Ghost Emperor chuckled heartily, not minding it at all.

"Don't bother with him; Ice Mountain has always been loyal only to his own interests. With the Emperor attaining the Dao, his turning to the Emperor is to be expected!"

That deity immediately asked.

"Your Majesty, what should we do?"

Inside the hall, the other deities glanced over.

The Gluttonous Ghost Emperor's eyes flickered, and he spoke calmly.

"Following whom is not the point; it's merely the rules—everyone's rules are the same!"

"But the benefits granted by the other Emperors..."

Another deity's expression changed.

The Gluttonous Ghost Emperor waved his hand.

"At the very least, one needs that life to do it!"

"Do you believe or not that I only needed to say one 'no' just now, and shortly after, an order would come commanding me to lead you into battle in whichever Netherworld underworld is currently at war?"

Upon hearing this, the other deities' expressions shifted slightly.

The Gluttonous Ghost Emperor's expression remained indifferent.

The will of the Dao Sovereign is not something a single Taiyi Perfection Ghost Emperor like him can resist.

Otherwise, the other Netherworld Emperors might not necessarily protect him either.

He does not wish to become the first chicken slaughtered to warn the monkeys after the Dark Moon Emperor attains the Dao.

……

At this moment, all movements in the Dark Moon Ghost Kingdom are under the illumination of Zhang Jian's Dao Sovereign will, under the Dark Moon will; to him, the Dark Moon Ghost Kingdom holds no secrets.

The attitudes of the Gluttonous Ghost Emperor and the Ice Mountain Ghost Emperor satisfy him, and he has temporarily set aside the idea of replacing these two great Ghost Emperors.

As the Dark Moon Viceroy, the Gluttonous Ghost Emperor wields great influence in the Bright Moon Ghost Kingdom.

If he were to betray him at a critical moment, the impact on him would be great.

Hence, he has the idea of reorganizing the existing eight great Ghost Legion units of the Dark Moon Ghost Kingdom.

Now that the other party is willing to cooperate, this is the best possible situation.

Otherwise, Zhang Jian would truly have only ruthless execution—killing the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Moreover, on another front, Zhang Jian's journey to Qingqiu yielded gains beyond his imagination.

Afterwards, Zhang Jian could no longer suppress a stirring 'filial heart'.

Even having become a Dao Sovereign, he cannot 'forsake the root and chase the branch'!

Zhang Jian has always insisted on leading by example in such matters.

……

In the Azure Mist Immortal Realm, white clouds drift sparsely.

The 'Azure Mist Dao Sovereign' had long known of Zhang Jian's attainment of the Dao.

Given her understanding of Zhang Jian, she fears it will not be long before he enters the ancestral shrine to worship his ancestors.

This time will not be long.

In his impression, she is precisely the sort of person who would not let any opportunity pass.

Deep in the heart of the Azure Mist Dao Sovereign's Dao, there is both some expectation and some worry.

She knows that, as a Dao Sovereign, the scale of ancestral worship will certainly be different.

If she could obtain a substantial amount of flawless incense offerings, her stepping into the body of a Third Transformation Dao Sovereign would likely accelerate further, but she would certainly face a problem: the feedback from this time would surely need to rise another level.

This makes her somewhat worried.

……

In the Central Celestial Realm, the Fifth Layer of the Upper Realm, that is, the Twenty-Third Heavenly Realm.

This time, Zhang Jian's ancestral worship brought along the Qi, Ji, Meng, and Ying consorts from the Nine Nether Emperor's residence.

Since it is ancestral worship, he naturally conducted it openly and grandly.