Within the Sports and Arts College, Zhang Jian keenly observed the changes around him, including the many Southern Chu spies appearing around the Zhang Family Mansion and some Zuo Dao cultivators.
Although he had the help of Dong Shen Temple Daoists to deal with them, Zhang Jian still felt displeased.
These people thought of him as "Tang Monk's Flesh," and actually harbored ill intentions.
Zhang Jian very much disliked this feeling, but soon his worries completely vanished.
A special godly visitor came to visit.
That night, Zhang Jian had just laid down with Qi Yuhua, and in his dream he sensed a vast divine power appearing around Zhang Jian's mansion.
Immediately he came out with a sword, only to see a divine light descending from a distance, and a golden chariot slowly approaching from afar.
In the divine light, there were faint musical strains, and numerous divine weapons and generals bowed in respect as a divine being descended from the golden chariot.
Coming before Zhang Jian.
"City God of Haojing, Wei Fang, pays respects to Mr. Zhang!"
At this moment, Zhang Jian looked with astonishment at this extraordinary deity.
This was a god whose divine power was like an ocean all around.
Haojing City God, isn't this the City God King of Daqian, the General City God, also a super-grade deity.
"Your Highness, City God King, you're too courteous!"
Zhang Jian's expression was astonished at this moment, and he added, "May I know what important matter brings Your Highness, City God King, to visit at this late hour?"
This City God King laughed and said, "It's not something urgent, my appearance was merely because I heard of a sage emerging in Haojing City, which delighted me. Unable to venture out during the day, I came to visit at night, hoping Mr. Zhang won't mind!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered, thinking, "I believe your lie, you old ghost."
However, the other party had presented themselves well, so he couldn't directly refuse, leading this City God King towards his home.
He was also observing the City God King closely, judging the Dao Practice of this City God King from the various phenomena around him.
Divine Dao cultivation differs from the orthodox Path of Longevity.
Divine Dao cultivation also has two paths.
One is to become a god in flesh, similar to the path ordinary cultivators take towards longevity.
The difference is that becoming a god involves achieving a powerful divine body, like ancient gods, wielding various divine positions and traversing mountains and seas.
The other path is collectively known as Incense Fire Divine Dao.
Similar to the Ghost City God that the Daqian Royal Prince Wei Fang became upon falling, which is an Incense Fire God.
The Incense Fire Divine Dao has seven grades.
Starting from the weakest seventh-grade deity, comparable to a junior cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm.
Seventh-grade gods have just gathered incense fire, possessing spiritual wisdom, divine power, and can initially affect reality.
Sixth-grade gods, comparable to Divination Foundation Establishment, can ignite their own Yang Fire, illuminating an area, presiding over a small Divine Office, allowing them to settle and thrive.
Lady Honghua, upon condensing the Fire God Mark, is a typical sixth-grade deity.
The starting point for gods is actually quite high.
Sixth-grade gods are significantly stronger than cultivators, but among gods with this kind of great power concentrated in one, they are just Mao Gods.
Fifth-grade gods are equivalent to achieving the Golden Core, their Yang Fire merging into the soul, awakening divine positions, transforming into divine souls, and initially possessing various divine authorities. At this stage, they can refine Lifebound Divine Dao Dharma Artifacts, and consequently practice various Great Power Techniques.
Fourth-grade gods are equivalent to cultivators in the Yin Spirit Realm.
Fourth-grade gods have complete foundations, the incense fire belief is perfected, they initially grasp the authority of life and death from the void, their divine power can convert virtual to real and create objects from nothing.
This realm of gods is usually the main source of gods in mythology.
Fourth-grade gods usually have achieved sufficient progress in their Divine Dao Golden Body practice, and can preliminarily detach from the influence of Divine Office, wander freely, and spontaneously generate various Realms of Law.
And third-grade gods can initially detach from the influence of incense fire, their Incense Fire God Body rounds, beginning to grasp various Heaven and Earth Laws, achieving different special divine bodies, like those naturally born powerful deities in ancient times, possessing abilities to travel throughout the Star River.
They can explore above the azure, below the Netherworld, even move mountains and fill seas.
The City God King before them isn't a third-grade deity, but a peak fourth-grade deity.
As for second-grade and above Star Monarchs or Celestial Monarchs, those are mythical ancient gods.
Such destiny-bound deities are beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
The reason for such clear judgment came from Zhang Jian seeing the dark qi surrounding the eyebrows of City God Wei Fang, the careful evil power, and a strong blood fiend force entwined with the divine power.
It does not resemble characteristic signs a real body without flaw, a Pure Yang God should exhibit.
Zhang Jian largely guessed the purpose of the late-night visit of this fourth-grade City God King.
Knowing the other's thoughts, Zhang Jian naturally knew how to handle it.
Upon entering the Zhang Family Mansion, they saw Wei Fang slightly waved his hand, and several boxes appeared out of thin air in the spacious hall.
Looking at these boxes, Zhang Jian's gaze moved, and he asked, "What does Your Highness mean?"
The boxes opened and inside were stacks filled with blood-infused souls.
Wei Fang smiled and said:
"When I came to visit Mr. Zhang, I happened to see many suspicious people lurking around your home, so I decided, even though I didn't bring gifts, to privately deal with them and express my sincerity, hoping Mr. Zhang won't blame me for interfering!"
Zhang Jian glanced at these souls.
Among them were some cultivators already on their path.
The saying goes, one does not hit a smiling face, Zhang Jian lightly smiled.
"These lawless bandits, disregarding the court laws, harboring ill intent towards court officials, you tied them to the law, Your Highness, indeed did a good deed."
Upon hearing this, the General City God couldn't help but laugh, feeling somewhat pleased.
Not in vain for his efforts to keep surveillance over time, today it indeed seemed to soften Mr. Zhang's attitude, at least prevent rejection.
At this moment, he had a request, but didn't rush, instead chatted about current affairs with Zhang Jian, then Wei Fang tentatively opened his mouth to smile.
"Sir, to be honest, I came for another reason, the capital gods all say that your talents match those of ancient saints, possessing Vast Righteous Qi to suppress evil, expel ghosts and gods; I have always admired the path of saints and sages, and hearing of it, am sleeplessly eager. Hence my night visit, wishing for a piece of your Treasured Ink Art, would you…!"
He now looked at Zhang Jian, his eyes showing inquiry.
Wei Fang was somewhat worried.
Just as Zhang Jian predicted, he received insights from his niece, Dong Jue Daoist, and has been itching ever since.
His situation was similar to that encountered by Dong Jue Daoist.
However, he was facing the Primordial Spirit Barrier next.
Because of the backlash from the previous dynasty's Dragon Qi, his divine body couldn't harmonize, naturally, dare not break through the third-grade realm to achieve the Primordial Spirit Realm.
But with the appearance of Zhang Jian, it provided a glimmer of hope.
He attempted to leverage the powers of the Path of the Saints and Sages, trying to neutralize the backlash of Dragon Qi around him, at least suppress the Dragon Qi backlash to create an opportunity for himself.