Chapter 78: Buried Pearl

These two options, Zhang Jian only briefly considered them, and he had made a decision.

He chose the second direction.

The first option, an empty imperial destiny, is of no use to him.

He lacks a kingdom and subjects, and has no million-strong army; cultivating such a destiny would only invite disaster upon himself!

Having only a name without substance is a dead end!

Such a destiny is like a crane among chickens; it's hard not to attract disaster.

As for contending for the dragon, he currently sees no hope.

In Zhang Jian's view, rebellion first requires conditions, such as officials forcing the people to revolt, leaving them no choice but to rebel.

Although the chaotic age has just begun to show, it is not yet the time to rise up.

He also lacks any sufficient political slogan to shout, capable of rallying everyone to overthrow the Great Qian's establishment.

The Blue Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven should take its place; the year is Jiazi, all under heaven auspicious? The Great Qian court hasn't even fallen yet!

Thus he naturally had no way to bypass the court, let alone the Cave Spirit Sect launching an uprising directly.

If he now refines the Red Dragon Pearl to achieve an imperial destiny, he might immediately be targeted by the Great Qian court, making it impossible for him to get by.

Better to cultivate quietly and wait for the opportunity.

He is certainly not unable to wait!

As a cultivator, aside from other things, his lifespan is quite long; outlasting those few pillars of the court is also possible.

There's no need to take risks now.

On the contrary, embedding the Red Dragon Pearl deep in the ancestral tomb and refining it in this special way not only benefits himself but also showers blessings upon his family, achieving two goals at once.

After making his decision, Zhang Jian prepared to find an opportunity to send the Red Dragon Pearl back to the ancestral land of Fengxi.

……

The next day, just as dawn broke, Zhang Jian proactively expressed his intention to return to Fengxi County to perform ancestral rites.

"Ah Yu, how did you suddenly have such an idea?"

Zhang Yi still couldn't help but ask.

He knew Zhang Jian often liked to run to the ancestral shrine regardless of business, but at this critical moment of the Zhang family's expansion, actually going to the ancestral land to perform rites is putting the cart before the horse.

"Father, I had a dream last night!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi's expression showed slight surprise; he questioned doubtfully.

"You said cultivators restrain their wandering thoughts and rarely dream, right?"

Meeting Zhang Yi's gaze, he nodded and said: "So, I myself feel astonished!"

"In my dream I saw blue smoke rising from the ancestral tomb, and beneath the earth a red light took the shape of a dragon..."

"Silence!"

As his words fell, Zhang Yi waved his hand, signaling Zhang Jian not to speak further; his face was solemn as never before.

At the same time he glanced around the courtyard, seeing no one, he fixed his gaze firmly on Zhang Jian.

"Ah Yu, are your words truly true?!"

"Absolutely certain!"

A hint of unusual color appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes; as he expected, his father indeed harbored some thoughts deep inside.

Zhang Yi's steps hesitated slightly, but his eyes shone with great joy; in his view this was an omen, a sign that the Zhang family would prosper.

What is that dragon shape, that hidden dragon destiny? Since ancient times, only when a founding emperor, the Grand Ancestor, is born does such an omen appear.

Originally he was quite satisfied with the Zhang family's current progress, but now a faint ambition has arisen again in his heart.

As the chaotic age approaches, could the Zhang family still hope to become a series of feudal princes?

In Zhang Yi's heart lies one who refuses to remain idle.

He instructed: "Ah Yu, you must not mention this to a third party!"

"As for returning to perform the ancestral rites, that's not impossible, but this time you must not make a grand show; after returning, you should also arrange personnel to patrol around the ancestral land, strengthening surveillance of the surroundings, lest someone spoil our feng shui!"

"I understand!"

Zhang Jian lightly nodded; these taboos are naturally clear to him.

Regarding this, Zhang Jian also feels some anticipation; since the Red Dragon Pearl is a heavenly treasure, it should have some special qualities; he does not know what effect refining it by the second method will have on him.

However, before departing, Zhang Jian still handed over that peculiar long sword to Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi cannot be without guards escorting him; Zhang Yi will soon enter Phoenix Yang Prefecture City, and Zhang Jian has Zhang Yi give that peculiar long sword to Zhang Yi.

……

At the Qi mansion, in the deep, secluded underwater place, a dragon shadow flickered with flowing light; Bai Nu's figure slowly appeared in the Water Well Dragon Palace, and shortly after he emerged with a somewhat grim expression.

The Yellow Snake and Yellow Origin, the two Water Well Dragon Kings, although they have some status, are completely unlike what he expected.

Besides that, another discovery has made him somewhat troubled.

Although the Yellow Snake and Yellow Origin are snakes, they also have dragon blood in their bodies; there may be another origin behind them. He entered the Water Well Dragon Palace this time hoping to find clues to increase vigilance, but he found no concrete clues, leaving Bai Nu quite disappointed.

Bai Nu faintly felt some worry; after a moment his face twitched slightly, and his form left the Water Well Dragon Palace following an unknown sensation; he then made a circuit around Phoenix Yang Prefecture City.

By the time evening of the next day arrived, he appeared before the gate of the Zhang manor, his gaze somewhat astonished as he looked toward the Zhang manor.

"Dragon aura?"

His gaze somewhat uncertainly turned toward the direction of the Zhang manor.

He had previously sensed an indistinct pressure, as if other more ferocious beasts had come onto his territory and caught that special scent.

But he never imagined that this special scent actually came from deep within the Zhang manor.

That trace of scent is extremely faint, yet astonishingly extraordinary.

He immediately manifested a human form, turning into an old man preparing to visit Zhang Jian, but soon he received news that Zhang Jian is currently not inside the manor.

It was virtually tied; after Bai Nu left, a black-clad figure appeared out of thin air beside the Zhang family mansion, with a plump white bird perched on her shoulder, resembling a hen.

"Left?"

That figure merely glanced toward the Zhang family residence, and immediately furrowed her brows.

Around Zhang Jian's residence she not only detected traces of the Phoenix Soul Pearl, but also sensed a strange, potent aura from an extraordinary being that was extremely overbearing, making her feel trouble.

……

On the official road, Zhang Lu cou whispered to Zhang Jian.

"Young master, shouldn't we greet the young lady of the Qi family?"

He was referring to Qi Yu Hua!

Riding on horseback, Zhang Jian swayed with the luxurious conveyance beneath his feet, and he drawled.

"What greeting? We're not going on a long journey!"

"Why do you care so much?"

Zhang Jian glanced at Zhang Lu; this lackey had recently been receiving pastries and snacks sent by Qi Yu Hua's maid, and he suspected this personal attendant had been bribed.

Zhang Lu merely gave a heh-heh laugh and said nothing.

The party traveled at breakneck speed, whipping their horses; this time they were faster than the journey to Phoenix Sun Prefecture City, reaching Phoenix Creek in just two days.

The Zhang family's ancestral land lay on a branch of the Twin Phoenix Mountain outside Phoenix Creek, known as Vermilion Phoenix Mountain.

It was an obscure mountain range, yet dotted with graves; most of the Zhang clan's yin tombs from a century later lie here.

The ancestral grounds of the Zhang main line, however, were on the mountainside, meticulously laid out, where feng shui converged and all the spiritual elegance of the mountains and rivers gathered.

It appears the Zhang ancestors also specially hired a genuine feng shui master to conduct a survey, seeking such an outstanding feng shui treasure spot.

After Zhang Jian made a brief offering, he then chose a spot where feng shui converged and cast the Red Dragon Pearl deep into the feng shui nexus.

Only seeing the Red Dragon Pearl fall, the entire Vermilion Phoenix Mountain was instantly swept by rising winds and surging clouds, a faint red line shooting straight to the heavens.