...
After the Four Symbols Hidden Dragon Array was successfully set up, Zhang Jian activated the Wind Traveling Cyan Nether Technique to swiftly fly away, his escape form exceedingly fast.
At this moment, it seemed as if two Cyan Nether Wings appeared behind him, allowing him to blend into the fierce winds and move swiftly with the wind currents.
After cultivating the Nine Heavens Wind-Riding Thunder-Controlling Technique to the Yin Spirit Realm, one can condense the Wind Master Dharma Aspect and the Thunder God Dharma Aspect. After the Yin Spirit emerges, one can also wear the Wind God’s Hide or the Thunder God’s Hide, enabling them to traverse the world freely.
This is the most powerful aspect of those who are strong in the Yin Spirit Realm.
As for Primordial Spirit Masters, at this time, they can merge with the Dharma Aspect, truly using it as a foundation, simulating becoming the Wind Master or Thunder God, thereby achieving the foundation of an Immortal God.
Upon entering Fengyang County, Zhang Jian also visited Zhang Yi and his wife, as well as a few brothers and sisters.
The Zhang Family is a large family; his father Zhang Yi is quite fertile, having now seven or eight sons and four or five daughters of various ages.
Zhang Jian is the eldest son, while the others are not that old, the oldest being Zhang Min, the second brother born of Aunt Zhou.
He is sixteen years old.
This year, Zhang Min also passed the provincial and prefectural examinations, achieving the Scholar title, being very diligent.
As for other brothers, most are not very old, around thirteen or twelve years old, just beginning to understand the world. Over the years, Zhang Jian either buried himself in study for the imperial examinations or in cultivation, and later in expanding the Zhang Family’s influence, he wasn’t particularly close with his brothers at home.
Yet even when he wasn’t with the Zhang Family, he was already a legend of the family, serving as a model for many brothers and sisters.
It was a rare occasion for Zhang Jian to return to the Zhang Family in Fengyang County, and he brought back many gifts, meant to deepen the relationship between him and his siblings.
Winning over hearts was not a difficult task for him.
Moreover, Zhang Jian had another purpose for returning to Fengyang this time!
It was to hold the coming-of-age ceremony early.
In the Daqian Kingdom, men come of age at twenty, but Zhang Jian, now nineteen, with his established name and official career, could hold the ceremony early.
For this coming-of-age ceremony, Zhang Yi intended to invite many influential local families from within and outside Fengyang County to further enhance the Zhang Family’s influence.
But Zhang Jian stopped him.
Since he had recently refused the name granted to him by Emperor Jingwu, making a big deal of it at this moment would be like slapping the Emperor’s face.
Inviting a few elder family members for a lively gathering would suffice.
It was agreed between Zhang Jian and Zhang Yi that the coming-of-age ceremony would take place two days later.
Two days later, most of the Zhang Family elders in Fengxi County had arrived, including two of Zhang Jian’s uncles; Sixth Uncle Zhang Duan was not in Fengyang, so only a letter was sent in his stead.
As for the Qi Family, his father-in-law Qi Yuansi, Madam Qi Wan, and several other elders from the Qi Family were also present.
Although only part of the elders and juniors from the Zhang and Qi families were present, the ceremony was still very formal.
Following the unique coming-of-age ceremony procedures of Fengyang County, Zhang Jian didn’t miss any parts, including the divination ritual, Zhang Yi’s blessing, entering the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors, and finally receiving a name from Zhang Yi.
Throughout the procedures, Zhang Jian remained composed and spirited, until finally paying grand respects to Zhang Yi and Madam Zhang Qi at the head of the ancestral hall.
Zhang Yi, already prepared, stepped forward with a smile to apply the ceremonial high crown on Zhang Jian and dress him in ceremonial robes.
"Ah Yu, you have finally grown up!"
Madam Zhang Qi’s eyes were slightly reddened at this moment. Zhang Jian gently smiled and greeted her as his mother.
Zhang Yi, seeing this, gave his wife a glance before stepping forward to take a piece of Xuan paper from a nearby table.
The Xuan paper already had two large characters written in iron brush and silver hooks.
"Daosheng?"
Zhang Jian had long noticed these characters, sensing they might be his new name.
Zhang Yi, with a hint of affection behind his solemn face, smiled and said.
"Ah Yu, I have chosen the name Daosheng for you. How do you like it?"
"Father, does this name hold any special meaning?"
Zhang Jian inquired.
Facing Zhang Jian and many Zhang family members, Zhang Yi stepped forward and said loudly.
"Daosheng naturally means to be born with the Dao. My son is indeed a Qilin’Er of our Zhang Family and also a Seed of Longevity. Your wish is to achieve immortality and longevity, to create a new world for the Zhang Family. Therefore, I have chosen your name to be Daosheng, meaning to be born with the Dao, and to live alongside the Dao, wishing for your aspirations to be fulfilled in the future, to achieve immortality!"
Zhang Yi’s gaze upon Zhang Jian was filled with unmistakable fondness.
In truth, Zhang Yi was most pleased with Zhang Jian’s balance between cultivation and family, having provided the Zhang Family with two intelligent heirs.
Zhang Yi was exceedingly satisfied with this.
Thus, he fully supported Zhang Jian’s cultivation along the Path of Longevity.
"Thank you, Father, for granting my name!"
Receiving the Xuan paper from Zhang Yi with both hands, Zhang Jian maintained a solemn expression.
There was a warmth in his heart as well.
Zhang Jian, now also Daosheng, thought it wasn’t bad at all.
After the coming-of-age ceremony, Zhang Jian then paid a visit to the Qi Family on behalf of Qi Yuhua, meeting with the family patriarch, the ancestors, and finally the elder of each branch.
Only after all this did he return to Haojing City.
...
In Haojing City, shortly after Zhang Jian’s departure, an earthquake occurred outside South Mountain, creating a huge commotion that shook most of Haojing City.
The citizens were startled by the sudden incident, caught in panic and speculation.
The city was rife with rumors and gossip.
In the depths of East Mausoleum, two figures wore solemn expressions, seeing numerous Everlasting Lamps extinguished around them and two paper figures engulfed in roaring flames.
The Yellow Talismans on the paper figures were gradually damaged by the firelight, but quickly healed by the surrounding Seven-Star Flag’s radiance, extinguishing the flames.
This was the Beidou Seven Stars Life Extension Array set up around the Imperial Mausoleum, also a blinding technique to confuse outsiders.
However, the two did not expect it to be broken so quickly.
The Star Fate Talisman Paper, condensed by the Seven-Star General before them, had two paths forcibly opened by someone, and if not for the timely Secret Technique sacrifice prepared by the two Primordial Spirit Masters, those corresponding Wu Jiang with star fates might not have been saved.
Seeing the flames nearly extinguished, a Seven-Star Arrow formed from the gathered starlight shot out from deep within the Imperial Mausoleum.
As the Seven-Star Arrow flew, it pierced into the depths of the void, seemingly accompanied by the sudden sound of a painful grunt from the void.
Upon hearing this sound, the figure in the imperial attire, resembling a scholarly official, sneered and immediately turned to Chao Mu by his side.
"That should be enough; please, Brother Chao, take action now and kill the one responsible for the spell!"
Chao Mu nodded.
The Primordial Spirit Master who performed the spell should be suffering from the Seven-Star backlash now, and combined with the suppression of the Daqian National Fortune Dragon Qi, the chances of capturing this big fish were quite high at this moment.
His form transformed into a stream of light, instantly disappearing into the depths of the Imperial Mausoleum, as the intense Blood Evil Qi circulated around him.
Watching this, the remaining figure took a deep breath, eyes carrying a cold glint.
He had set up the Beidou Seven Stars Life Extension Array mainly to confuse outside cultivators, with the entrapment feature as an added function, yet unexpectedly it already caught a prey.
This was indeed beyond his expectation.
But it did not bring him any joy.
It indicated that the enemies of Daqian were even more numerous and daring than imagined.
"If one Celestial Corpse Daoist is not enough, then I’ll subdue another one!"
The eyes of this Primordial Spirit Master carried a tangible killing intent as he glanced at the emerging cracks deep within the Imperial Mausoleum.
Those who aimed to sever the Dragon Vein spared no effort.
This time they even devised a method to fracture the Earth Vein of South Mountain.
If it weren’t for the Suppressing Treasure within the Imperial City restraining the residual energy of the Earth Vein, the adversaries might have succeeded in leveraging this to disrupt the Dragon Vein, damaging the core Heaven-Praying Bureau in the depths of the Imperial Mausoleum.
...
"Greedy Wolf, Giant Gate, Lu Cun, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, Po Jun! The fluctuation of seven-star star fate, someone is making a move against the Imperial Mausoleum!"
Presently outside Haojing City, Zhang Jian, on his way back, saw from afar the Seven Stars where Lu Cun and Wuqu were obscured by dark clouds.
His face showed surprise, and in an instant, he witnessed two Divine Lights rapidly clashing in the heavens, heading toward his direction.
Those were two Primordial Spirit Masters in combat.
Zhang Jian operated the Golden Lotus Hidden Breath Technique to conceal his Dao Practice, his gaze falling in the direction of the East Mausoleum.
His eyes sparked with excitement.
He realized that this perhaps was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
An opportunity to explore the mysteries of the Dragon Vein.
Or perhaps an opportunity to investigate the Three-Eyed Exorcism Well.
Two choices, two directions.