Just as Chao Mu had said, after a mysterious expert in the depths of the Daqian East Mausoleum killed the Flying Yaksha of the Celestial Corpse Sect, the entire Haojing City seemed to calm down in an instant.
Numerous major forces seemed intimidated.
The disciples of Dong Shen Temple were methodically handling the aftermath.
Until the identity of that mysterious expert in the depths of the East Mausoleum is clarified, or the depths of Daqian's hidden foundation are probed, the powerful figures in the shadows will not act easily again.
...
Tongshan Dao Lineage, Demon-slaying Peak.
When the news reached the Tongshan Dao Lineage, Tie Xin Daoist shook his head slightly.
"Just some ignorant people, the hidden foundation behind the Daqian Royal Family is not so simple!"
Common sects have few strong figures within, lacking the eyesight, thus they underestimate the Daqian Court.
However, sects like Tongshan, with sufficient strong figures personally investigating, only after probing can one know the foundation of the Daqian Court.
The Dragon Qi of a nation is vast and grand, not simple at all.
The ancestor of the Tongshan Dao Lineage was also a Saint King after transformation and knows the intricacies inside best.
He thought for a moment, recalling Zhang Jian's cultivation, and summoned Bai Xianyin, who was cultivating at Demon-slaying Peak.
"Xianyin!"
"Uncle Tie Xin? What are your instructions?"
Bai Xianyin still wore a cheerful smile, with spiritual mechanisms flowing around her, indicating a slight advancement in her Dao practice recently.
"Uncle wants me to go see the young master?!"
"So astute of you!"
Tie Xin Daoist smiled slightly, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes, but after an instant, he whispered a few words to Bai Xianyin, who glanced at Tie Xin Daoist with a giggle after hearing him.
"Uncle Tie Xin, rest assured, leave this matter to Xianyin!"
Tie Xin Daoist nodded, a bit embarrassed in demeanor.
This time, it was nothing major, purely a personal matter.
His Dao practice had reached the peak of the Yin Spirit Realm, but lacking in Dao Heart accumulation, he had to restrain his mind and continually refine the Dao Heart. However, hearing that Jingming Daoist gained greatly from a writing scroll at his nephew's, he was intrigued.
In fact, not only him, many elders in the sect came knocking upon hearing the news.
But Tie Xin Daoist, due to face, found it hard to let go of his dignity.
This time, he planned to let Bai Xianyin help probe.
If Bai Xianyin intervened and got rejected, there would still be room to maneuver.
...
Within Haojing City
Zhang Jian rarely came down from the Observatory Platform, not only to spend time with his wife Qi Yuhua and two children but also to seize the opportunity to buy some gold and silver ingots for ancestral worship.
In the past two years, Zhang Jian hadn't been engaged in activities outside, so even ancestral worship yielded extremely limited feedback, merely a cup of golden destiny or a Golden Yuan Pearl, scarcely better than none.
This time, having suppressed the demons within the Demon Suppression Tower, he tried his luck to see if he could obtain something good.
At this moment, the Ghost Festival was approaching outside.
It was not peculiar for Zhang Jian to purchase gold and silver ingots for ancestral worship.
Haojing City's paper horse shops abounded.
In the west city, there was a whole street of paper horse shops selling funeral goods, which satisfied Zhang Jian's needs.
Zhang Jian was almost dazzled, sighing at the ingenuity of these shopkeepers, reflecting the eminent figures and fertile lands of Haojing City.
In some shops, Zhang Jian also saw some special items used in Buddhist rituals, such as Revolving Scripture Banners and Blessing Divine Pestles.
After selecting some gold and silver ingots, Zhang Jian also chose a Revolving Scripture Banner to bring back.
...
Champion Scholar's Mansion
In the small ancestral hall, numerous Divine Master Tablets were laid out.
Fearing critique from the family for his peculiar "hobby," Zhang Jian deliberately brought back the tablets of the Zhang Family's ancestors.
A group worship was much more normal than individual worship.
In the ancestral hall, Qi Yuhua, Zhang Yi, and Zhang Zhao stood solemnly on one side, reverently kowtowing to the ancestors.
Inside the fire pit
Numerous gold and silver ingots, and even the Revolving Scripture Banner, slowly burned, turning completely to ashes under Zhang Jian's gaze.
"It's done!"
Witnessing this scene, Zhang Jian's eyes fluctuated with a hint of a smile.
Subsequently, he left the small ancestral hall with Qi Yuhua, Zhang Yi, and Zhang Zhao.
With a rare day back, he took Qi Yuhua and the children to stroll down the streets of Haojing City, the couple enjoying the sights while the two "mud monkeys" gazed curiously around.
At this moment, a few Daoists passing down the long street happened to spot Zhang Jian and his family.
These Daoists were none other than the Phoenix Perch Pavilion Daoists with whom Zhang Jian had a prior encounter.
Jingyu Daoist, Jinghui Daoist, and Jingmin Daoist had never given up their mission, continually searching for the Noble Lady Feng.
Passing by the street, they spotted the family of Zhang Jian.
Familiar they were, regarding Zhang Jian.
Sitting at the Observatory Platform and suppressing the Demon Suppression Tower recently, their mentor Dongxiao Daoist expressed high praise.
At this moment, the Daoists' eyes fell on Zhang Jian's family, Zhang Yi, and Zhang Zhao.
At first sight, Jingyu Daoist's gaze sharply landed on Zhang Yi and Zhang Zhao.
"These are the two young men from Scholar Zhang's family, their spiritual brilliance erupting beneath the canopy, with full office of beauty, top-notch Dao Seeds!"
The Dong Shen Temple Daoists lit up upon this sight.
The three leading Dong Shen Temple Daoists were intrigued, as Dong Shen Temple eagerly seeks promising Dao Seeds.
Moreover, these were Zhang Jian's offspring.
The three Daoists exchanged a glance but refrained from interrupting immediately. After a mere greeting with Zhang Jian, they hurried back to Dong Shen Temple to report to Dongxiao Daoist.
Within Phoenix Perch Pavilion, Dongxiao Daoist, upon hearing his disciples' report, became immediately interested.
Incorporating Zhang Jian's two sons into Dong Shen Temple's fold would not only bring two Dao Seeds for cultivation but also forge closer ties with Zhang Jian.
This was undoubtedly a great fortune.
...
Champion Scholar's Mansion, that night as Zhang Jian drifted off to sleep, he once again felt his soul detaching from his body.
His form appeared before a painting scroll, and at his gaze, a streak of orange-red stream light flew out from the scroll, swiftly integrating into his body.
Zhang Jian startled awake from sleep, descending from the Luo Bed, and clearly sensed a flame merging into the depths of his Dantian.
Simultaneously, a message from this orange-red flame fused into his soul.
Celestial Purifying Flame, a divine fire of Heaven and Earth nurtured in the Fire God's Mansion within the Celestial Realm, of immense power, wielding strong exorcism capability.
"Celestial Purifying Flame!"
Incorporating this flame within, a gleam appeared deep in Zhang Jian's eyes.
It was his first time acquiring such a peculiar divine flame.
Integrating into the body, it harmoniously resonated.
His Golden Core Qi was hastening towards perfection, and obtaining this Celestial Purifying Flame was a boon, as it could refine into a Lifebound Pill Fire.
Facing the Evil Wind Tribulation and Yin Fire Tribulation during Pill Break Divinity Transformation, having mastery over a unique Lifebound True Flame would be advantageous in transcendence.
Additionally, his Lifebound Ghost God being a Fire God would greatly bolster with acquiring this Celestial Divine Flame.