Chapter 84

At the moment he saw Zhang Jian, the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King's eyes flashed with a surge of killing intent, and he spoke coldly.

Mortal, return my divided soul to me!

Zhang Jian let out a quiet sigh, yet swiftly drew out the jewel from his hand.

This crimson jewel flowed with intense treasure light in his hand.

This young lady is pointing at this treasure!

Upon seeing the Phoenix Soul, the black-clad woman's gaze shifted, and she said softly: 'Exactly this thing, return my old item; accept the Soul-Capturing Seal, and I, as a deity, can spare your life!'

At this moment, a vast divine sense faintly emanated from within her, locking onto Zhang Jian's surroundings.

Zhang Jian, however, shook his head and said.

What this young lady says is utterly unreasonable; even if this treasure belonged to the young woman, it is now in my hands after I painstakingly seized it from a powerful foe, so it naturally counts as my spoils of war. If the young lady wishes to reclaim it, she must either ransom it with goods or buy it—there is no justification for giving it away for free!

But before his words had finished, he saw the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King already impatient; with a wave of his hand, boundless yin energy erupted around him, like a dense, ink‑black cloud beginning to envelop the entire Zhang Manor, sweeping toward Zhang Jian.

A single thread of qi was enough to turn into his devouring storm, swallowing the whole Zhang Manor.

Above the Zhang Manor, an even more terrifying omen appeared: a jet‑black phoenix devouring the world.

Sensing this change, Zhang Jian's face instantly shifted, yet he immediately drew back one foot.

His figure returned to the ancestral hall.

At the same time, before retracting his leg, he shook the Phoenix Soul Pearl in his hand.

Seeing this, the black‑clad woman's eyes flashed with ferocity; her form transformed into a gigantic black phoenix that swooped down to attack the ancestral hall.

Almost at the same instant, Zhang Jian gazed into the depths of the ancestral hall, just as he had expected to one side; the stone mirror held in the hand of the ancestral golden statue suddenly blazed forth, a shaft of golden light like breaking clouds chasing the moon, sweeping away all the boundless yin‑chill qi.

The golden light was bright and domineering.

The black phoenix diving down from above, upon impact, was covered by the golden light and instantly let out a piercing shriek, the whole black phoenix as if pierced straight through by the golden light.

On the main street, the black‑clad woman trying to enter the Zhang Residence, clad in a dark phoenix robe, let out a painful wail; in an instant, layers of rolling golden waves burst over her body inside and out. Her phoenix eyes gazed toward the Zhang family, a hint of fear of death in her depths; without even tending to her grave wounds, she turned into a black streak and vanished into the clouds.

Before departing, she didn't even utter half a sentence.

Master!

Seeing this commotion, the white bird let out a cry, hastily turning into a white vapor and rushing after her.

The many birds naturally dispersed.

Watching this, Zhang Jian also relaxed his breath.

That stone mirror indeed did not disappoint him.

But this bead is hardly any good karma—it's pure disaster; that spirit turtle tricked me!

Zhang Jian merely furrowed his brows, feeling that the spirit turtle certainly bore him no ill will.

Yet if he were elsewhere, without the protection of the ancestral golden statue within the Zhang Clan Ancestral Hall, how could he escape ascending to heaven?

……

At that moment, Zhang Jian did not know that outside the Zhang Family Manor, an old man and a youngster—a grandparent‑grandchild pair—were watching this scene from the Gold Jade Tavern's doorway, while all the patrons inside the tavern had already fallen into a deep sleep.

That was precisely the grandparent‑grandchild pair that had flashed by the corner of the bright‑day street.

Under the splendid lamps, it was especially tranquil.

One of them, a white‑robed elder with long, flowing brows, stood beneath the lamps, lightly stroking his beard as he watched the scene, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

"I never imagined that such a great treasure could lie hidden in a tiny clan; even a domineering innate ghost king like the Phoenix Spirit has suffered a major loss at his hands!"

Xuan Jiu felt astonished; after advising Zhang Jian to seize the Phoenix Soul, Xuan Jiu had not left, for he had long anticipated that the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King lingering outside Phoenix Sun Commandery would not let this chance slip by.

He had originally prepared to see things through to the end, helping Zhang Jian overcome this tribulation, and meanwhile take the opportunity to hitch a ride on another great power's vessel to secure a bright future for his grandson—but now it seems complications have arisen.

"Grandfather, what is that golden light?"

At his side meanwhile was a sturdy‑looking young boy with a tiger‑headed, tiger‑brained appearance, who seemed a bit simple‑minded.

He also had a hint of fear in his eyes.

When that terrifying golden light shone upon him, he too felt fear, dread.

Xuan Jiu's gaze flickered; he waved his hand and said: "That thing might be a tremendously fearsome treasure, even surpassing ordinary magical artifacts!"

As the golden light shone upon him, his thoughts also trembled slightly.

He had only ever sensed such a supreme treasure in those ancient places, and he did not wish to taint himself with it.

At the same time, he turned his gaze toward a dim direction.

There, at that moment, a delicately carved little girl in pink and jade was murmuring to herself while counting on her fingers; this girl, resembling a little immortal, hid her form within the world's spiritual qi, so much so that even the Wind Spirit Ghost King failed to notice her.

All that could be heard was her giggling as she said:

"My master's disciple here truly turns misfortune into blessing—such a mighty innate ghost king actually suffered a great loss at his hands!"

"That's fine too—I won't have to call for reinforcements; otherwise I wouldn't be able to beat that ghost king myself!"

"But such a powerful innate ghost king ought to interest the Great Elder Bai Ling; should we try to notify him?"

After a brief pause, she added: "You say that, eh? That peeping old fellow!"

At this moment she turned her gaze to Xuan Jiu and his grandson inside the building; her formerly childlike smile had already furrowed her brows, and she stared at the two with disdain.

Seeing her gaze fall upon him, Xuan Jiu slightly clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Old man Xuan Jiu has had the honor of meeting Fairy Bai."

The little girl pouted and said, "I'm not any fairy; my master is the fairy!"

The Slaying Demon Venerable is naturally a true fairy, but Fairy Bai is clever and quick-witted, famed for her enlightening—who doesn't know that? That too counts as being a fairy!

The little girl called Fairy Bai gave a light snort, her eyes twinkling as she looked at the grandfather and grandson, and she said with a smile.

You two, stop always sucking up; I know your little thoughts. You want to let this little white turtle enter our Divine Mountain Dao lineage—it's not that easy!

The little one stared at the grandfather and grandson, her eyes full of arrogance.

She could see at a glance what scheme Xuan Jiu was hatching.

It seems she also saw through the origin of the Dao lineage on this young master Zhang Jian.

This is preparing to show goodwill to the master's future disciple, in order to try to board this big ship and enter the Divine Mountain Dao Lineage.

The Divine Mountain Dao Lineage is supremely noble, indeed one of the few colossal beings between heaven and earth; not only are there people below, there are also people above, and ordinary folks, even if they rack their brains, may not necessarily be able to enter; it's no wonder that this old turtle racks its brains.

She has seen such situations many times over the years.

Xuan Jiu heard this, clasped his hands and smiled, saying, 'White Fairy, your words are quite right; this old man's thoughts will surely not escape the Fairy, but my grandson and that young lord are indeed fated, and in the future I will still assist that young lord in accomplishing a Dao undertaking!'

I reckon that Zhang Xiaolang will certainly not refuse to follow a descendant of a divine beast!

The little girl gave a light hum upon hearing this and said, 'You old man are so wicked; the master has already said that the young master will be my master in the future, and it should be me who helps the young master achieve a great undertaking—I cannot let you wicked old man steal the master!'

She stamped her feet, and in an instant turned into a stream of light that flew away.

However, she did not directly enter Zhang Manor.

Deep within Zhang Manor, that stone mirror is not only dreaded by the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King; she and Xuan Jiu's grandfather and grandson are likewise greatly afraid of it.

Xuan Jiu saw this scene, his expression unmoving, merely giving a slight smile, and at the same time he rubbed the hair of the boy beside him; this immediately provoked the young boy's discontented grumbling.

……

In the darkness, after the little person left the Zhang Manor, her expression was somewhat discontented; just then she received a faint hint of will from the void, which put her in a dilemma.

But she still followed that will's prompting, activating the wondrous inheritance method of the Divine Mountain Dao Lineage's lineage.

Inside the ancestral hall.

Zhang Jian fell into silent contemplation, but after a moment he still could not find the method.

Just then his heart stirred, and he discovered that the scripture he cultivated, the 'Nine Chapters of the Pure and Tranquil Tong Mountain', underwent a change; his internal energy condensed into a formation of runes that became a scripture, faintly connecting with an unknown existence in the void.

Behind him arose a grand and extraordinary omen.