Bai Nu looked at Xuan Jiu standing before him and snorted coldly.
"You seem really keen on having the Zhang Family involved in the dragon struggle. What's in it for you?"
Xuan Jiu stroked his beard lightly with a smile, the two of them looked like old friends.
And indeed, they were old friends.
Xuan Jiu was the powerful support summoned by Bai Nu.
He laughed and said, "Dragon Monarch, do I look like someone who's eager for rewards and benefits?"
Bai Nu sneered, without affirming or denying.
But his gaze clearly considered this Profound Turtle to be such a person.
Roar, roar, roar!!
At this moment, from deep within Bai Shui came a faint, ancient dragon's roar. When this youthful dragon roar echoed, Bai Nu's eyes flickered, a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.
"It seems Li Ying has successfully condensed the Power of the Flood Dragon Life Plate and successfully established the Divination Foundation!"
Xuan Jiu witnessed this scene, his gaze tightened, and after a moment he said, "Your daughter indeed has good fortune. Upon breaking through, she coincidentally encountered the Hidden Dragon's entry into the abyss and used a strand of destiny from afar to advance. However, forming too deep a connection with Hidden Dragon may bring tumultuous twists in her cultivation journey!"
Bai Nu snorted lightly in response.
"You old turtle sure know how to play politics."
"However, even without this ordeal, the path to longevity is just as fraught with thorns and bones, whether one forms such connections or not makes little difference—it's merely a calamity. Cultivators never know which day they might die on the way!"
Bai Nu was indifferent.
Seeing this old Flood Dragon indifferent, Xuan Jiu chuckled.
But thinking carefully, it was indeed the truth.
Even if he didn't get involved, would there be fewer disasters?
Not necessarily!
Bai Nu's eyes shifted as he extended an invitation to Xuan Jiu: "Old Turtle, now that my family's little fourth has successfully established their Divination Foundation, you're the only witness. Why not come into the Water Mansion for a glass of water wine?"
"The wine of your Bai Shui Dragon Palace tastes quite bland!"
Saying this, Xuan Jiu did not refuse.
...
The majestic Dong Shen Temple.
Dong Shen Temple was situated at the highest point within Fengyang County, Yuhe Daoist dressed in her feathered robe, carried an expression of unease.
She observed the changes inside and outside Fengyang County but wasn't concerned, as Dong Shen Temple remained detached and above it all.
Of course, confidence remained strong, capable of suppressing all changes.
What Yuhe Daoist contemplated now was her own future, having previously welcomed Ancestor Dongming of the Dong Generation, her flattery had backfired, not only failing to earn benefits but rather facing humiliation. This left Yuhe Daoist unsettled.
If Ancestor Dongming decided to make things difficult for her within Haojing General View, she might not be able to keep her position as the Observatory Master of Ten Directions Forest Temple.
This was quite a lucrative position.
Holding this position, managing the numerous Daoist Temples inside and outside Fengyang County, even without taking any action, the Temple could collect considerable resources and spirit medicines each year.
If she lost this position, advancing her Dao Practice would be exceptionally challenging.
Yuhe Daoist felt troubled and was uninterested in addressing various issues.
At this moment, Zhang Jian also hastily entered Dong Shen Temple, presenting a visiting card, but Yuhe Daoist was still contemplating on how to preserve her role, lacking the desire to meet, thus sending a host to greet instead.
Zhang Jian wasn't bothered.
He entered Dong Shen Temple merely to ensure Madam Zhang Qi was safe.
Inside Dong Shen Temple.
Zhang Jian soon met Madam Zhang Qi striding forward at the front of the main hall.
"Ah Yu, why are you here?"
Upon seeing Zhang Jian's figure, Madam Zhang Qi's eyes held surprise, based on the information she had, Zhang Jian should be on the way back to Fengyang County.
"Some unexpected events occurred, so I returned to Fengyang County ahead of schedule!"
Seeing Madam Zhang Qi with a loving expression, Zhang Jian didn't want her to worry, thus he did not directly inform her of the details, engaging in some small talk as Zhang Jian's gaze swept the Dong Shen Temple.
Inside this Daoist Temple, he observed many Daoists with Spiritual Mechanism, some had even entered the Nourishing Spirit Stage, quite rare.
Zhang Jian glanced at this Daoist Temple, which could be considered a Daoist Palace.
Inside must reside powerful cultivators.
Zhang Jian had long wished to interact with Dong Shen Temple but hadn't had the opportunity, yet knowing that with the Zhang Family's rise, contact was inevitable.
Not to mention his Hidden Dragon Fate emerging, with Dong Shen Temple being Daqian National Religion, interaction was inevitable.
Currently, there was no conflict between the two.
After retrieving Madam Zhang Qi, Zhang Jian also delivered a generous sum of incense money, immediately being respectfully escorted down the mountain under the eager gaze of the host Daoist.
...
Inside and outside Fengyang County, following Qi Yuansi's command to lead the County Soldiers stationed outside the Commandery City into the city, the Yu Family's 'rebellion' began to be subdued.
The army marched in, sweeping aside all resistance.
The Yu Family's confidants, death warriors, and descendants faced deaths and submissions, Fengyang County's critical areas were gradually cleared by County Soldiers, regaining control.
The storm initiated began to calm gradually.
However, the ripples caused by the Yu Family's rebellion remained profound.
The Yu Family's sudden 'rebellion' affected numerous external forces, such as supporters on black and white paths or officials who hadn't had time to respond, and as the Yu Family's 'rebellion' was rapidly quelled, these typically 'clear-cut in stance' supporters and officials suddenly faced misfortune, becoming targets of liquidation.
This also triggered a major upheaval in Fengyang County's officialdom.
Inside and outside Fengyang County had initially been tumultuous, and after the death of Yu Tongguang, many officials faced liquidation, now with the Yu Family's downfall, it became an even larger quagmire filled with the scent of bloodshed and turmoil.
Especially, another family within the Four Great Families, the Gu Family's clan leader was also severely impacted by this turmoil, with his fate unknown, adding further instability to Fengyang County.
Zhang Yi sensed that Fengyang County could not continue its unrest, or it would inevitably invite external forces to interfere. After discussing with Qi Yi, they decided to only punish the main culprits this time, disregarding the rest, to stabilize Fengyang County's overall situation before addressing other issues.
...
Inside the Zhang Family Mansion, Zhang Jian stood firmly within the garden, his body cycling Spiritual Mechanism, with numerous crimson shadows behind him. Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism rotated around him, seemingly forming a gigantic Spirit Tripod, surrounding dense Spiritual Mechanism flowed into his physique.
Zhang Jian introspected, sensing his magical power rapidly expanding at incredible speed.
Especially noticing, after the Zhang Family's rise, he seemed able to collect more distinct Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism, with cultivation over this night comparing to many days of prior hard practice.
The Tongshan Pure Treasure Record was indeed incredibly profound, capturing the mystery of the Sheji, seizing the creation of Heaven and Earth.
Moreover, Zhang Jian noted, as the Zhang Family's influence spread through Fengyang County, the two Life Plates deep within his brow absorbed intangible majestic destiny and were invisibly transforming.