Zhang Jian immediately picked up his brush and reached for a sheet of Xuan paper, infusing Vast Righteous Qi into the brush tip.
He saw light manifesting at the brush tip, and a magnificent scene unfolded.
Each character glowed with light.
It seemed as if the Vast Righteous Qi river surged forth, cascading onto the paper's surface.
"Heaven and Earth have Righteous Qi, which manifests in mixed forms. Below it becomes rivers and mountains, above it transforms into the sun and stars. For humans, it is called the Vast, filling the universe endlessly..."
With just a glance, Jingming Daoist's Dao Heart was stirred, as if he saw a terrifying vision of the sun and moon rotating and rivers and mountains transforming amidst the Vast Righteous Qi river.
Every strand of Vast Righteous Qi was as heavy as mountains and rivers.
However, right at the peak, Zhang Jian suddenly placed his brush on the brush rack.
"Scholar Zhang, what happens next..."
Jingming Daoist looked toward Zhang Jian.
"There is nothing further..."
Zhang Jian smiled slightly.
Jingming Daoist froze at these words, looking at Zhang Jian with some surprise. Every time, at such a critical point, Zhang Jian would say this same phrase, and he often wanted to complain.
It was quite disturbing to the Dao Heart.
But those mere thirty characters were indeed more than sufficient.
The contained mountain and river intent seemed able to crush Heaven and Earth, and the most commendable was the vastness of this mountain and river intent.
With half of this script, Jingming Daoist had absolute confidence in investigating the Three-Eyed Exorcism Well.
This time, the gain exceeded expectations.
Thinking about it, Jingming Daoist also took out a Treasure Pearl from his sleeve.
"Scholar Zhang, although your incomplete chapter isn't entirely successful, it's apparent this is an heirloom piece. I am merely getting His Majesty to open the North and East Studies, which takes advantage of you a bit. Please accept this as a slight compensation!"
"Hmm?"
Zhang Jian looked at Jingming Daoist with surprise.
Jingming Daoist, noticing Zhang Jian's expression, pushed the Treasure Pearl towards him, smiling.
"This item, the Innate Yin Essence Pearl, was obtained from a thousand-year-old Clam Spirit. It contains intense Vitality. I heard that your wife is recently pregnant. This item is mystical for pregnant women, and wearing it close daily can protect the body and nourish the fetus, averting complications during childbirth!"
Jingming Daoist felt quite pleased at that moment.
As they say, returning what you borrow makes borrowing again easier.
By offering more benefits now, future requests will surely come easier than for others.
Zhang Jian picked up the pink Treasure Pearl before him; a slight perception revealed it was indeed a rare treasure.
Not only could it nourish innate Qi in the fetus, but Yin Spirit Cultivators could refine it into a second Yin Spirit, making it a great treasure.
Jingming Daoist had indeed invested a lot.
Zhang Jian stood up slightly, smiled, and said,
"Very well, I will accept this item!"
Seeing Zhang Jian accept the Innate Yin Essence Pearl, a hint of a smile appeared on Jingming Daoist's face.
Zhang Jian thought a moment, then casually took an ink painting copy from the side as a gift to Jingming Daoist.
It was like a buy-one-get-one.
Jingming Daoist was visibly pleased upon receiving it.
After Jingming Daoist's departure, Zhang Jian noticed the multitude of Sports and Arts College 'colleagues' looking over, eyes filled with disbelief.
Indeed, many officials seemed a bit stunned.
Just earlier, they clearly saw it was the State Preceptor Jingming Daoist who left.
This State Preceptor was a favorite of Emperor Jingwu, even of higher status than the Three Ministers in court.
Yet in front of Zhang Jian, a Junior Sixth Grade official, he showed full respect.
That wasn't showing respect for a wise man, but viewing him as an equal!
It was truly incredible.
Jingming Daoist, known to possess Magic, was a recluse.
Such recluses typically hold very high opinions, let alone Zhang Jian, a mere compiler; even if Dean Huang Liangzhong or Imperial Censor Zhuang Ying approached him, Jingming Daoist might not care.
Yet here, in Zhang Jian's government office, they were chatting and laughing as equals, even lowering his stance.
This left officers of the Sports and Arts College quite puzzled.
Beside them, Chen Xiuming furrowed his brow, his expression uncertain, eyes flickering.
"This Scholar Zhang truly has vast connections, even managing to secure the State Preceptor's routes. No wonder he's reluctant to associate with us. With the State Preceptor's help, won't he rise swiftly..."
Overhearing murmurs from a few editors, Chen Xiuming made up his mind firmly.
...
Zhang Jian took note of the reactions from his colleagues at the Sports and Arts College, but he didn't mind.
That afternoon, Jingming Daoist personally brought over a passage token.
It was a passage token for the North and East Studies.
The North Study was relatively common.
But the East Study was near the Palace of the Imperial Harem.
It was where the Emperor and concubines often spent their time, and generally, one couldn't obtain a token for the East Study.
Only someone like Jingming Daoist, whose influence stretched to the heavens, could convince Emperor Jingwu to make an exception.
Although Zhang Jian now possessed the token, he wasn't in a rush to go.
The "Cave Scripture" in his hand, known as the king of scriptures, still required some time for him to comprehend.
After court dismissed, Zhang Jian left the Sports and Arts College with the others, but he noticed his colleagues' attitudes toward him had shifted significantly.
Even Dean Huang Liangzhong came over to inquire about that morning's visit from Jingming Daoist.
Zhang Jian responded briefly before returning to the Champion Scholar's Mansion.
"My dear, keep this item close, it's very beneficial for your pregnancy!"
Inside the mansion, the couple sat beneath a big date tree, Zhang Jian looking at Qi Yuhua with a gentle smile, while explaining the wonders of the Innate Yin Essence Pearl.
Qi Yuhua regarded the pink Treasure Pearl with some surprise; picking it up gently, her slender fingers lightly squeezed it, as if through this Innate Yin Essence Pearl, she could sense a gentle, invisible spiritual mechanism flowing out.
Her eyes showed joy, but then she said,
"Husband, I already have the Phoenix Blood Jade, it's better to give this pearl to Sister Bai!"
Hearing this, Zhang Jian paused, then smiled and replied, "Regarding the princess, I have my ways. Rest assured, you just keep this gift!"
Zhang Jian's gaze fell on Qi Yuhua's still-flat stomach, his eyes filled with joy as he gently embraced her slender body, whispered intimate words, before his attention once again returned to the "Cave Scripture."
With early summer's arrival, the date tree, nourished by the Champion Scholar's Mansion's feng shui, had already grown lush with tender leaves, bearing many white date flowers among them.
As Zhang Jian comprehended the "Cave Scripture," some Profound Mysteries of Heaven and Earth dispersed, subtly altering the surrounding mansion's feng shui, with intense Vitality of Thunder scattered around.
The date tree also grew thicker and stronger.
But the most notable change was in the Nine Heavens Thunder Control Technique he practiced.
Currently, the purple Thunder Light in the Talisman pattern, evolved in his body from the Nine Heavens Thunder Control Technique, began to flow gradually.
It was distinctly separate from his originally red Thunder Light.
Purple and red Lightning intertwined.
The Nine Heavens Thunder God Talisman gradually evolved into a Dao Map pattern.
It seemed to be the first to evolve toward a Yin Spirit Level Technique.