"Marquis Fei Cheng?"
On the dragon throne, indeed, Emperor Jingwu appeared hesitant.
Seeing this, several of the senior ministers immediately knew that Emperor Jingwu indeed harbored doubts about Marquis Fei Cheng.
At this moment, another official in a red robe stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I recommend Marquis Han City, Gu Chen. Gu, the general, is skilled in leading troops and commands respect in the southwest. If he goes, he will surely be able to quell the rebels in one fell swoop!"
There was some discussion among the other officials, and one senior minister in a purple robe stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, Marquis Han City Gu Chen has always served in the Border Army, and although he has military merits, now with the heavy forces of Northern Chu stationed before our gates, changing generals at this time might risk losing opportunity to Chu Kingdom!"
It was Grand Commandant Wang Huan, who held command over all the troops in the world, nominally the commander of all troops.
Emperor Jingwu nodded slightly, indeed Marquis Han City Gu Chen was unsuitable for redeployment.
The Emperor could not help but ask.
"Whom does the Grand Commandant think should be sent to succeed Old General Yang?"
This Grand Commandant pondered slightly, then said, "Your Majesty, I recommend Wang You!"
Wang You is his third son.
Compared to the several older generals recommended earlier, Wang You is much younger but has also achieved great military success, fighting on all fronts over the years and instilling fear in the surrounding tribes.
However, due to the heavy influence of the Wang family, Wang Huan had called Wang You back, merely allowing him to rest in the capital as an ordinary marquis.
Meeting the gazes of other senior ministers, Wang Huan solemnly said,
"Your Majesty, although Wang You is the beloved son of an old minister, in appointing able men, personal feelings should not be avoided. Zihou would certainly be willing to embark on a campaign for the country to destroy the rebels!"
Wang You, styled Zihou!
On the dragon throne, Emperor Jingwu laughed upon hearing this.
"Ha-ha, well, Grand Commandant Wang's words indeed please me. In our dynasty, we have always appointed solely on talent. Marquis Chengwu can be considered a formidable general among the military generals in court and is also capable of commanding the three armies. Let Marquis Chengwu lead the expedition to replace Marquis Tongcheng!"
"The old minister thanks Your Majesty for your high regard for my son. I am willing to let Zihou establish a military pledge of victory before returning to court!"
Hearing this, Emperor Jingwu nodded.
"Later, I will have Outsiders from the Observatory Platform accompany you. This time, you must annihilate those demonic heretics in one fell swoop!"
When mentioning those demonic heretics, Emperor Jingwu slapped his hand heavily on the imperial desk.
…
When the news from the court arrived, Zhang Jian was meeting with Bai Xianyin at his mansion.
Regarding Bai Xianyin's request, Zhang Jian refused.
But he agreed to the request of Tie Xin Daoist.
Tie Xin Daoist was different from other sect elders.
Tie Xin Daoist had schemed for Lady Honghua previously, and he naturally reciprocated in kind.
As for the other sect elders, whether they were genuine or not was unknown, so there was no need to agree.
Moreover, the meaning implied by Tie Xin Daoist was that these people were not staunch allies of the Zhanmo Lineage; most of them just had ordinary relations, so there was even less necessity.
If they wanted his treasured ink, they could come personally.
At this moment, Bai Xianyin looked at Zhang Jian with her eyes, seeming to glimmer with an insightful light, she couldn't help but ask: "Young master, has your Pill Qi perfected?"
"You can actually tell!"
Zhang Jian was somewhat astonished as he looked at Bai Xianyin.
He was currently practicing the Golden Lotus Hidden Breath Technique, and even a Primordial Spirit Master face-to-face might not be able to discern his illusion and reality.
How could Bai Xianyin see it!
Bai Xianyin shook her head and said, "Young master has practiced a very profound concealment technique of the First Layer, I can't see it clearly, but the aura around young master is changing, very similar to the elders in the sect whose Golden Core Qi Mechanism is perfected!"
"…"
Zhang Jian's eyes shifted, revealing a moment of realization in them.
As the realm changes, one's flesh and blood, physique undergo refining by magical power, indeed causing corresponding changes.
He was, after all, among the mundane world, with far fewer cultivators around, so many details had yet to be handled properly.
Encounters with some meticulous cultivators might inevitably reveal some changes.
But now that he knew, Zhang Jian knew how to adjust in the future.
Zhang Jian nodded and smiled, "Indeed, my Golden Core is complete!"
Hearing this, Bai Xianyin's eyes shone.
"Then Divinity Transformation is imminent!"
"Is young master planning to return to the sect to breakthrough?"
She asked concernedly:
"The sect has complete arrays and various breakthrough conditions that will ensure no mishaps!"
Zhang Jian pondered briefly, then refused with a smile.
"Breaking Golden Core into Divinity is not difficult for me, I have thorough preparations!"
Zhang Jian plans to choose the ancestral hall of his mansion for the Pill Break Divinity Transformation. With the protection of the ancestors of the Zhang Family, there was no need to worry about accidents.
As for the Wind and Fire Tribulations, Zhang Jian already had them in mind numerically.
Carefully calculating, his Pill Break Divinity Transformation would definitely not be as perilous as other cultivators.
Bai Xianyin's eyes turned, then she said, "Young master, let Xianyin protect you!"
"Very well!"
Zhang Jian thought for a moment and did not refuse.
However, his breakthrough was not imminent, he was still refining bit by bit, waiting for the Daoist Technique Model of the Sheji Dao Map to stabilize initially.
But Zhang Jian soon mentioned to send a Daoist disciple from Demon-slaying Peak to establish a legitimacy first, to avoid trouble concerning Dong Shen Temple targeting Zhang Yi.
Upon hearing this, Bai Xianyin patted her chest immediately in assurance.
"Do not worry, young master, leave it to Xianyin, Dong Shen Temple can dream about snatching the disciples of our Divine Mountain Dao Lineage!"
…
Returning to the Observatory Platform, Zhang Jian continued his routine of two-point one-line life, hearing news from the court's battle reports.
The court's failure to suppress bandits did catch him by surprise.
But he believed it was temporary.
With the discovery in East Mausoleum, Zhang Jian dared not underestimate the foundation of the Daqian Court.
However, the disappearance of Jingming Daoist did surprise Zhang Jian.
Before departing, Jingming Daoist was armed to the teeth but still encountered unforeseen danger.
Moreover, Zhang Jian felt a thread of peculiarity.
Looking closely, the northern and southern districts of the Daqian Court saw tumult from these Heterodox Sects.
They seemed not merely at odds with Dong Shen Temple but carried an inner intertwining connection.
It didn't feel like a singular existence; rather, it seemed to have a shared purpose.
Seeming to systematically strip Dong Shen Temple's local influence and slightly leverage the bigger picture.
Zhang Jian didn't know if this was his own illusion.
But regardless, to him, the current plan was to quietly await the formation of the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
As long as his Dao Practice continued to grow, he would ultimately achieve his and the Zhang Family's ambitions.
…
The two and a half months passed quietly.
These two and a half months were but a flash for Zhang Jian, but for the many demon fiends in Demon Suppression Tower, it was like years.
Especially the demon fiends below the sixth level, tormented individually by Zhang Jian with the Map of Mountains and Rivers, although uninjured, their hearts were severely traumatized.
For a time, they became much more subdued.
Utilizing these demons' Inference Techniques, Zhang Jian finally succeeded in completing the 1.0 version of Sheji Dao Map Technique, turning it into a Golden Core Level technique.
Though a Golden Core level technique, it could trap Yin Spirits, divine and grand.
While not an independent world, still it was as real and illusory, deeply steeped in the profoundness of the Sheji Great Dao, particularly excelling in suppression.
However, to turn it into a true Void Dharma Realm would still require a long time.
Yet Zhang Jian was satisfied.
Upon the initial formation of Sheji Dao Map, he returned to the small ancestral hall of the Champion Scholar's Mansion, ready to navigate the Wind and Fire Tribulation, breaking the core to achieve divinity transformation.