Zhang Jian softly laughed and said, "I do have a channel to communicate with the Sheji Divine Dao, so summoning a decree shouldn't be a problem. However, this matter isn't urgent!"
"It's best to wait until you've successfully transformed into the Kitchen God before requesting the Sheji Divine Dao Decree!"
What he referred to was leveraging the power of the Bai Shui Dragon Monarch to request a decree.
Since the Bai Shui Dragon Monarch could easily obtain the divine position decree of the Well Dragon King for Bai Liying, it seems he has his own connections within the Sheji Divine Dao.
If that doesn't work, he could also request the Tongshan Lineage for assistance.
Among the three Fundamental Techniques of the Tongshan Lineage, there is a divine dao inheritance, and they must have elders practicing in the divine dao. Requesting the intervention of the True Monarch Zhanmo would surely increase the chances of success significantly.
However, before doing this, Lady Honghua should at least have some foundation as a Kitchen God to silence others' mouths.
He also wanted to take this opportunity to communicate in advance with the Tongshan Zhanmo Lineage. Having someone in power makes things much easier.
Seeing Lady Honghua's expression still somewhat hesitant and uncertain, he revealed another card.
"You may not be aware, but I am a disciple of an orthodox immortal sect, a true inheritance of the Tongshan Lineage?"
"Tongshan True Inheritance?"
Lady Honghua's expression shifted, her face full of solemnity.
In fact, she didn't know what the Tongshan Lineage referred to either…
But the weight of an orthodox immortal sect was very convincing.
Even though Zhang Jian merely mentioned it casually without boasting about the origins of the sect, it still eased Lady Honghua's mind considerably.
A slight smile appeared on her face, and a hint of joy as well, as she added,
"Young Master, my current identity also has some background. I am the legitimate wife of the Marquis's Mansion in Dingnan. The Dingnan Marquis's Mansion also has considerable influence in the Capital City. If the Young Master needs assistance, perhaps I could contribute to your foundation!"
"The Dingnan Marquis's Mansion?"
Zhang Jian's eyes lit up; he had certainly heard of the famous Dingnan Marquis.
This is unlike the Qi Mansion, which had gradually declined as a founding noble's residence. The Dingnan Marquis's Mansion is a genuine marquis household, with considerable influence in the court.
However, Zhang Jian still found it a bit strange.
He knew the Grand Host had been active in and out of Fengyang County, but he didn't know how she managed to escape the influence of the Marquis's Mansion and act independently.
Lady Honghua seemed to see the doubt in Zhang Jian's eyes and said,
"After the previous Marquis of Dingnan was assassinated, because the current marquis needed to take over military duties and was unable to manage everything, Lin Xiaoxiao volunteered to escort the coffin south to the ancestral land to mourn for three years. Of course, this was her facade; secretly, she was plotting to seize my foundation. Fortunately, her efforts failed in the end!"
As she finished speaking, Lady Honghua's face remained expressionless.
She glanced at Zhang Jian and hesitated for a moment before saying, "If the young master needs, I can also command her to serve…"
"Uh…"
Zhang Jian waved his hand.
He was still young and didn't have such needs yet.
Lady Honghua nodded immediately.
After discussing some details about reorganizing the Red Lotus Dao, Zhang Jian took steps to leave the Red Flower Lady Temple.
Outside the temple, Zhang Kui watched Zhang Jian stride out, sizing him up with a peculiar look in his eyes.
Zhang Jian had been inside with Lady Honghua for quite some time!
One was young and vigorous, the other alluring and passionate.
Zhang Kui's mind was instantly filled with thoughts.
"Fourth Uncle, let's withdraw!"
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui was even more convinced of his thoughts and smiled cheerfully.
"Ah Yu is truly grown up now!"
He laughed heartily and waved his hand, at which hundreds of elite soldiers immediately regrouped and slowly withdrew from the long street.
"..."
Seeing Zhang Kui's peculiar smile along the way, Zhang Jian thought for a moment and seemed to have guessed something. He intended to counter, but after considering it, he simply said,
"Fourth Uncle, the Grand Host has already agreed, and the Red Lotus Dao will henceforth serve our Zhang Family!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui's eyes shone brightly.
The Red Lotus Dao is an extremely formidable force in and around Fengyang County, perhaps even greater in scale than certain County-Honored Clans, especially with its greater influence among the common people.
It also has foundations in other commandery cities.
For the Zhang Family to acquire it is like adding wings to a tiger.
In Fengyang County and beyond, except for the Qi Family, Dong Shen Temple, and a few other forces, the Zhang Family would be invincible.
After leaving the Red Flower Lady Temple, Zhang Jian shortly received a message from the Dragon Maiden and immediately went to the Dragon-locking Dam to meet her.
...
In the grand Immortal Realm, the Qingxia Goddess had already stabilized her breakthrough state. Radiant energy surged around her, as if she had subdued the Path of Heaven and Earth.
After ascending to Daoist Monarch, she also had her voice heard in the Jasper Pool, and could speak in the presence of the Yaochi Saint Mother.
Yet the Qingxia Goddess maintained a calm heart.
Reaching the Daoist Monarch stage would elevate her to a higher level among the Immortal Gods, but with it would also come more challenges.
At that moment, her gaze shifted, noticing the Two Realms Pool changing again in the distance.
"More incense is coming?"
A gentle smile appeared on her jade-like face.
This truly counted as a double blessing.
In the line of sight, the Nine-Colored Pool Water surged, followed by the roaring sound of a long river, as a vast stream of golden incense like a torrent cascaded out.
This scale was no less than last time.
It was even slightly more.
"A hundred and eleven thousand incenses!"
The golden, flawless incense transformed into a stream of light and was instantly absorbed by Daoist Monarch Qingxia, as specks of light and countless golden clouds, auspiciously rose around her.
Her jade-like face also gained an additional radiance.
Meanwhile, another resonant Immortal Sound emerged again from the Two Realms Pool, as a large expanse of Merit Golden Light manifested.
Amidst the phenomenon, the boundless Merit Golden Light twisted in the void, instantly forming a fluttering long banner.
On the pitch-black banner, two peculiar Celestial Dao Talisman characters, 'Rebirth', were written.
"Netherworld!"
As the banner unfolded, the surface of the flag roared like a great river, tearing through the Netherworld Yellow Springs and revealing the mysteries of the Netherworld.
"The Netherworld Rebirth Banner — to think it manifested a fully-formed Merit Dharma Artifact this time?"
After the initial surprise in the Qingxia Daoist Monarch's astute eyes, she reached out to take the long banner. With a slight sense of it, she instantly understood the wondrousness of this Magical Treasure, with hints of delight in her gaze.
It possessed the power to break through the Netherworld and enable reincarnation!
With a slight shake, it could even induce a sensation of Primordial Spirit agitation!
This treasure, even Daoist Monarchs would find rare.
A moment later, she absorbed it into her body to begin refining it, while pondering.
Having become a Daoist Monarch, though she had not yet held a grand Daoist Monarch banquet, she did receive congratulatory gifts from the Yaochi Saint Mother and several other Immortal Gods, so her current worth was enough to indulge herself.
Her gaze shifted swiftly, remembering something that might be suitable for gifting below.
Opening her palm, a brilliant light appeared, with an object within emitting a bright light.
This was a gift from an ancient immortal below, known as the Sheji Divine Monarch. She was, in a sense, considered their direct superior, and the gift carried considerable thought.