East Suspended Divine Continent, Daqian, Fengxi County
The crescent moon hung like a hook
As the night was dark and windy
In the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall, however, the lights were dazzling.
A fair-skinned, handsome young man took the lead, emerging from the Moon Gate beside him. He wore a blue brocade coat and appeared calm and collected.
Zhang Jian gazed at the solemn and majestic ancestral hall under the night sky, with a hint of peculiarity in his eyes.
This was not the first time he set foot in the most sacred place of the clan.
He waved his hand swiftly.
Boxes upon boxes of treasure notes were carried in by sturdy servants dressed in blue.
Not far away, the temple priest of the clan set up the fire basin inside the ancestral hall.
The temple priest wore black clothing in a Daoist style, appearing stern and unyielding.
"Brother Jian, everything you need has been prepared!"
After a brief pause, the black-robed Daoist frowned again and said, "Actually, Brother Jian doesn’t need to be so diligent—it’s the thought that counts!"
Zhang Jian waved his hand: "Uncle Yi, our ancestors went through hardships, blazing trails and enduring hardships, for the Zhang Family we have today. It is proper that we serve them diligently!"
Upon hearing this, the black-robed Daoist glanced up and down at Zhang Jian and refrained from speaking further, though his eyes held a peculiar expression.
Still, he merely thought Zhang Jian had an eccentric personality.
Zhang Jian’s face carried a ’proud’ smile as he stepped directly into the solemn ancestral hall.
This time, however, it was legitimate because he had successfully passed the provincial examination and earned the title of Five Classics Leading Scholar.
Being a Five Classics Leading Scholar did not mean being the top scorer in the provincial exam.
It’s the title for scoring third to fifth place in the provincial exam, which is actually just a name and not much different from other Advanced Scholars.
But an Advanced Scholar can already hold office, bringing honor to the ancestors.
Worshiping ancestors and thanking the ancestors for their care is also justified.
Although the Zhang Family had already worshiped their ancestors for this...
Zhang Jian looked at the solemn ancestral hall before him, but in his eyes, it had become a massive treasure trove, his eyes bright with light as he held an earnest expression.
Zhang Jian was a transmigrator, or rather, he had awakened his innate wisdom.
Currently, he is the eldest son of Zhang Yi, the clan leader of Zhang Family’s Valley, and a notable prodigy in Daqian, having passed the provincial examination at fourteen or fifteen years old and gaining significant favor within the clan.
The Zhang Family in Fengxi County is also a well-known and distinguished family in this region.
Since Sixth Uncle passed the scholarly examination, the Zhang Family has gradually transitioned from being purely a gentry family to a scholarly aristocracy.
As for zealously serving the ancestors, it is solely because Zhang Jian discovered that he could benefit from these ancestors.
At this moment, in another corridor, a fair-skinned and beautiful woman dressed in a light attire was watching coldly, wearing a Golden Phoenix hairpin. Seeing movement at the ancestral hall entrance, she remarked discontentedly:
"He certainly knows how to please the Lord and clan elders!"
Beside her were two figures of varying heights; one was a young boy dressed in blue hesitated slightly but couldn’t help but say.
"Little Mother, Mother says this is called filial piety! In our dynasty, filial piety and brotherly love rule the world, and my brother is diligent in burning incense at the ancestral hall and honoring the elders. It’s a good reputation..."
As the blue-clad boy spoke with increasing righteousness, a girl in pink beside him couldn’t help but pout and say: "Brother Min, you crawled out of Little Mother’s belly, why do you keep siding with outsiders!"
Upon hearing this, the blue-clad boy’s face turned red with anger, his expression displeased, and the woman in light attire reprimanded: "Lu’Er, should you say that? If someone else hears, do you want to keep your life?!"
Upon hearing this, Lu’Er’s pretty face turned white, and she quickly lowered her head.
Zhang Min wanted to say something more but just looked at Aunt Zhou with a displeased expression, sulking unhappily as he dislikes this scheming, always finding it vile.
He simply apologized to Aunt Zhou briefly and turned to leave.
Aunt Zhou’s expression was unpleasant, her eyes dimming.
Although the Zhang Family wasn’t a family of aristocrats for generations, they had always been strictly raising the children as per aristocratic standards since they rose to prominence. Zhang Min, though born of her, was raised under the First Wife’s care after birth.
In such a scenario, even if she was unwilling to remain silent, she had no strength to exert.
With no other choice, she was supported by Lu’Er and returned to the Spring Garden Cottage on the left.
Inside the ancestral hall
Zhang Jian glanced straight ahead.
Opposite him was a row of Divine Master Tablets painted in blue lacquer.
"Lord Zhang, the spirit tablet of Youren!"
"Lord Zhang, the spirit tablet of Longevity!"
"Lord Zhang, the spirit tablet of Spiritual Wisdom!"
...
On the walls hung lifelike portraits of ancestors, appearing solemn and majestic.
Only in the center of the ancestral hall stood a peculiar Golden Body.
It was a female Golden Body.
Appearing very dignified and sacred.
In front of this Golden Body was a Stone Mirror engraved with patterns of countless birds and beasts, looking very ancient and with a gray appearance.
This was the Zhang Family’s heirloom. Zhang Jian felt somewhat peculiar; he had tried to touch this object before but was stopped by Zhang Yi, who said it was sacred and must not be desecrated.
Regarding this Golden Body, legend has it that it was not the ancestor of the Zhang Family but rather a benefactor of the Zhang Family. As it is said she showed kindness to the Zhang Family, a Golden Body was erected in her honor in the ancestral hall, where the descendants offer eternal incense.
At this moment, Zhang Jian had a very solemn expression with aspirations in his eyes, having discovered long ago that under certain conditions, praying to this ’ancestor’ seemed to have a chance of receiving feedback.
Previously, he had received feedback seven or eight times, but the most precious were three among them: a scoop of golden destiny, a Qi Fortune Gold Yuanbao, and a Qi Fortune Golden Pearl.
This destiny, extraordinarily mysterious, allowed him to pass both the prefectural exam and provincial exam in a short period and once saved the life of an important person.
Having gained benefits, Zhang Jian, initially a nondescript young man, transformed into a famed ’dutiful son’!
He had painstakingly crafted this ’dutiful son’ persona to set this image.
Bundles of cinnabar treasure notes were taken from the bamboo baskets of servants, then divided into stacks to be ignited with the temple priest’s ritual assistance.
Rays of light blossomed from the fire basin before him.
In Zhang Jian’s gaze, the countless cinnabar treasure notes in the fire basin turned to ashes, along with a Cinnabar Treasure Tower he bought from a paper-craft store nearby.
This was the Soul Suppression Tower, alleged to be a new product from the paper-craft store.
It was consecrated by an elder Daoist with virtue.
It could appease the souls and relieve ancestors’ sufferings.
Highly sought after.
Zhang Jian gazed intently at the treasure notes and Soul Suppression Tower turning to ash, feeling no abnormalities himself, and breathed a sigh of relief, then was filled with anticipation.
The seeds have been sown, and now comes the time of harvest.
Having successfully passed the provincial exam and earned the title of Five Classics Leading Scholar, this time there should be a surprise.
From what he knows, upon significant changes in his status, the offerings to ancestors yield better results.
Once everything was completed, Zhang Yi approached and said.
"Brother Jian, the night is deep, let’s leave the cleaning to us!"
"Uncle Yi, I’ll leave it to you!"
Zhang Jian nodded slightly, eager to return, believing that once he fell asleep, there would be feedback delivered.
Zhang Jian hurried away.
Midnight arrived, and outside Zhang Family’s Valley, distant fires in the darkness gradually appeared in the mountain breezes. A group of people stirred up dust, hooves thundering, and in the rush of night, it wasn’t long before they neared the outpost of the fortress. On the battlements, the patrolling strongman quickly confirmed the identity of the group and urgently let them pass!