True Monarch Zhanmo chuckled lightly and said, "Actually, even I don’t know how many kinds there are!
But the more common ones are nine: Emperor Purple Fate, Heaven and Sun Calendar, Ziwei Star Fate, Vast Ambition, Five Virtues True Lord, Lord of Sheji, Supreme Fate, and there’s the Command of the Human Emperor, Nine Dragon Fate that your ancestor once possessed."
"Command of the Human Emperor, Nine Dragon Fate?"
Zhang Jian noted the difference in True Monarch Zhanmo’s tone when he mentioned the last two Fates.
True Monarch Zhanmo continued:
"...Among them, there are distinctions of high and low. Most Emperors, after ascending the throne, can usually only obtain one Emperor Purple Fate, which is the most basic, possessing a portion of Ziwei Emperor Qi, enough to govern the Court and stabilize the land. Naturally, some Emperors are more ordinary, unable even to condense an Emperor’s Fate, merely receiving a wisp of Ziwei Emperor Qi to intimidate the gods!"
"If one’s destiny power is strong enough, it may attract the favor of fate, giving rise to Fates like Heaven and Sun Calendar, Vast Ambition, Ziwei Star Fate, and other Heroic Monarch Fates. Such powerful Emperors have stronger Emperor Qi themselves. As for the Five Virtues True Lord, Lord of Sheji, Supreme Fate, Command of the Human Emperor, Nine Dragon Fate, these are not something the average Emperor can possess. Especially the last two, any that appear would be enough to be called a generation’s Saint King!"
Zhang Jian suddenly asked, "Master, is the Saint King the Human Emperor?"
True Monarch Zhanmo paused slightly, then said, "I suppose so!"
Zhang Jian clearly felt True Monarch Zhanmo’s gaze in the void falling on him, with a hint of peculiarity.
"What do you know?"
"In the mythic legends, before the ancient era, our Human Race had records of a Human Emperor, just like the ancestor, unifying the land and Sheji, commanding Heaven and Earth, and ruling an era!"
Zhang Jian’s gaze fluctuated.
True Monarch Zhanmo nodded, "The Command of the Human Emperor is too unique and is shunned by Heaven. Even our ancestor had to retire after achieving perfection, to protect part of the Dao Fruit!"
"You need not think about this matter!"
"According to legend, besides these nine Fates, there are many strong Fates, like the Emperor’s Fate, which is also an Emperor’s Fate, but of Divine Dao Emperor, Ghost Nether Celestial Emperor, etc. They are quite peculiar!"
"With the Dragon Soul you have now, if integrated into the Fate, there might be a chance to cultivate the first Emperor’s Fate, Heaven and Sun Calendar."
"A Heroic Monarch Fate?"
Zhang Jian smiled slightly.
He was hesitating about how to handle the Dragon Soul within him—to integrate it into the Fate to transform the foundation, or to integrate it into the Dragon Roar Sword, or refine it into a Protective Dragon Soul?
It was clear that True Monarch Zhanmo understood Zhang Jian’s hesitation and offered no advice.
Regarding their Dao Map, True Monarch Zhanmo always left it to his followers to choose for themselves.
Only when straying off the path would he appear to give a pointer or two.
Within the Tongshan Dao Lineage, True Monarch Zhanmo had a good reputation for taking and teaching disciples, and several of his disciples had achieved success.
Zhang Jian took a step and left the Jing Garden, his figure like a wisp of breeze, but as he passed by the neighboring Chengguang Sect, his eyes fluctuated, seeing the thousands of bright Magic Altars in the distance, many Daoists chanting scriptures day and night, numerous scriptures converging, and strands of Spiritual Light leaping on each Soul Calming Banner. Countless scriptures and Spiritual Light combined above, as if Yin and Yang gathered, opening a grand Netherworld Portal.
The scriptures penetrated deep into the Dragon Vein, cleansing the obsessions of many War Souls, washing away their grievances, and enhancing their blessings, to enter the Underworld smoothly.
Furthermore, many gods were summoned with Divine Power.
In Zhang Jian’s Spiritual Gaze, faintly he saw myriad shadows of Divine Power guarding around.
Haojing City God Wei Fang also brought people along.
There were more to monitor the many Daoists, to prevent those with malintent from sabotaging the great affairs of Dong Shen Temple.
And in the center, Zhang Jian saw in his Spiritual Gaze that his Hell Dao Transmission Map was also hung beside the Magic Altar by Jingming Daoist. Strands of compassion and Bright Realm manifested, suppressing the emerging, majestic Resentful Fiend below, helping Jingming Daoist to bear the pressure.
Jingming Daoist, with the Cave God Seal at his waist, was also performing rites continuously, presiding over the Magic Altar to suppress the influence of Resentful Fiend on the many Daoists.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Jian couldn’t help but lament that the Celestial Venerable of Ten Directions Suffering Relief was indeed authoritative in this area.
Other cultivators exert great effort to transcend the vengeful souls, but under the Redemption Divine Power, it seemed as easy as carving a cow to Celestial Venerable Jiuku.
Redemption Divine Power is rooted in the Dao Heart, unlike other Techniques which mostly tackle personal grievances and Evil Qi. Even when trying to release the Dao Heart, they barely scratch the surface, unlike the Redemption Technique that delves into Dao Heart Obsession, fulfilling the obsession first.
Even if only in the depths of an ’Illusion Realm’, self-satisfaction is achieved.
The differences between the two are evident, and so are the results.
In this regard, some Enlightenment Techniques of the Buddhist Dao Lineage also do well.
Of course, it isn’t that cultivators are unwilling to exert effort, but their foundation isn’t primarily focused on mental cultivation. Many Mysterious Techniques can’t be employed even if they wanted to!
After looking for a few moments, Zhang Jian moved and returned to the Champion Scholar’s Mansion.
...
On the way, Zhang Jian also made a decision.
He decided to integrate the Dragon Soul into his Life Plate to aid its transformation, which is most urgent.
With the further transformation of his Life Plate, the foundation of his Primordial Spirit would also be more solid, providing the greatest support for him to consolidate the Sheji Spirit.
This would save him from many tribulations.
As for refining it into a Protective Dragon Soul or integrate into the Dragon Roar Sword, those were external methods.
Of course, Zhang Jian made this decision because the Zhang Family had another Dragon Vein.
In the future, Zhang Jian was bound to acquire another Dragon Soul.
This Dragon Soul, consumed as a single-use Divine Object, was not regrettable.
"A wise choice!"
In the shadows, True Monarch Zhanmo watched Zhang Jian’s choice and smiled slightly.
One’s own Dao path cannot be compared to a few Spirit Treasures or a Beneficial Technique.
For someone like Zhang Jian, the question is not whether he can reach the Primordial Spirit Realm.
But rather, how to actively prepare for cultivation beyond the Primordial Spirit Realm, to expand his advantage.
Zhang Jian still had a dilemma.
Which Life Plate should the Dragon Soul be integrated into?
He now had two great King’s Mandates—Asking for the Mountains and Rivers and Red Virtue True King.
He could integrate it into the Hidden Dragon Fate of Dragon Robe and Phoenix Attitude.
When the Hidden Dragon Fate of Dragon Robe and Phoenix Attitude transforms again, it will possess the Heaven and Sun Calendar of Emperor’s Fate.
At this moment, Zhang Jian had made his decision.
After using the Celestial Purity Fire to refine the Blood Pearl within his body, a wisp of purple qi transformed into a dragon shape and merged into his brow, the purple light merging with one of the King’s Mandates.
It was the Fate of Asking for the Mountains and Rivers.
This Fate of Asking for the Mountains and Rivers is also the main support of his Sheji Dao Skill.
As faint purple qi integrated into his body, his form changed, transforming into a stream of light flying out of the Champion Scholar’s Mansion.
At this moment, more and more purple qi circulated around him, vaguely a red dragon shape gathered and appeared around him. The mists were vast, the principle manifested, and Zhang Jian used the Treasure Record Magical Power to operate the Golden Lotus Hidden Breath Technique, striving to conceal these anomalies. However, that surging anomaly could not be hidden.
...
East Mausoleum
Deep within the Daqian Dragon Vein, Yuan Geng sat cross-legged in the Heaven-Praying Bureau, overseeing the grand scheme. He was still recalling the moment the Dragon Soul collapsed, with a sigh in his heart.
Indeed, the fortune of Daqian had declined severely.
Such a masterless Dragon Soul was right before them, yet it could not be captured, ending in a fruitless endeavor.
Otherwise, if they had devoured this masterless soul, it would surely have extended Daqian’s national fortune for a time.
At that moment, his expression changed, as he saw a Black Dragon from the depths of the Dragon Vein soaring skyward in an instant, emitting a furious, violent Dragon’s Roar.
The Dragon’s Call shook the nine heavens.