Zhang Jian’s gaze once again fell upon the Cyan Lion before him, and with just a glance, he felt a bit astonished.
"It does look quite impressive!"
Zhang Jian secretly praised in his heart.
Under his vast Yin Spirit Divine Sense, this Golden Core Realm Great Demon had nowhere to hide.
It was a majestic cyan-maned lion, its fur sleek and shiny, enveloped in a dense and pure Demon Qi, hinting at some exotic lineage.
The bloodline within its body carried an ancient and distant aura of the Barbaric Region.
Perhaps its bloodline was relatively pure.
Feeling somewhat uneasy under Zhang Jian’s gaze, the Cyan Lion couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in its heart, speaking in a deep voice.
"Where does your esteemed self, a high master, come from, and why do you interfere in the private matters between this king and the Fox Race?"
He had already seen the many minions slain below.
His heart sank to the bottom, yet at this moment he became rather resolute.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian glanced at him calmly, his gaze seemingly penetrating the various thoughts in the Cyan Lion’s heart: "You do have some wits, but you cannot escape because of it!"
The Cyan Lion stiffened its neck and said.
"Even if I can’t escape, so what? This king never intended to escape, but your esteemed self bullies the weak, I am not convinced! Even if you kill me, I remain unconvinced!"
"Whether you are convinced or not, you must die!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian shook his head.
At this moment, an angry voice from Hong Luan came out of nowhere.
"Cyan Lion, you, with the dignity of a Golden Core Great Demon, attacked my Suihu Mountain. Isn’t that also bullying the weak?"
Hong Luan’s voice was filled with anger. She manifested her demonic light before Zhang Jian and gracefully walked forward, respectfully addressing Zhang Jian.
"Benevolent one, could you let me deal with this Cyan Lion? I want to avenge my countless fox children and grandchildren on this mountain!"
When Zhang Jian heard this, his gaze moved.
Hong Luan gritted her teeth, her Treasure Sword already drawn, and the Cyan Lion appeared unwilling.
"I never expected that, although I am a descendant of the Ancient Divine Beast, Cyan Lion, I would die at the hands of ordinary demons like you. Truly, I die with eternal regret!"
He maintained a fearless expression, but bit on the words ’descendant of the Ancient Divine Beast’ heavily, secretly looking at Zhang Jian with a certain expectation.
Zhang Jian noted the subtle expression of the Cyan Lion, chuckling inwardly.
At this moment, the voice of True Monarch Zhanmo sounded.
"This Cyan Lion is indeed amusing, Ah Yu, spare its life!"
Sensing the Primordial Spirit Divine Sense of True Monarch Zhanmo, Zhang Jian’s expression shifted, and he looked towards the void, similarly binding his voice into a line, asking.
"Master, is this Cyan Lion truly a descendant of an Ancient Divine Beast?"
"Indeed, if I am not mistaken, it should be a descendant of the Ancient Divine Beast Nine-headed Cyan Lion. Among the Ancient Divine Beasts, the Nine-headed Lion was quite extraordinary, not inferior to Divine Beasts like dragons and phoenixes. This Cyan Lion shall be entrusted to me. I’ll take it back to the mountain for proper guidance and nurturing; it might even assist you in the future."
With these words, a dark and tall figure coalesced in the void.
True Monarch Zhanmo manifested his true form.
"Master!"
Seeing True Monarch Zhanmo’s true form suddenly appear, Zhang Jian was slightly surprised but still paid his respects.
Beside him, Hong Luan also saw True Monarch Zhanmo suddenly appear, but seeing Zhang Jian salute, she was momentarily unsure of the situation.
Seeing this, Zhang Jian said.
"This is my master, a hidden expert of the Tongshan Daoist Lineage!"
"Greetings, senior!"
Hong Luan hurriedly paid her respects.
True Monarch Zhanmo’s gaze fell upon Hong Luan, glancing briefly and nodding slightly with a smile.
"You do have some fortune! It’s just a pity..."
True Monarch Zhanmo’s words were partially said, leaving some unsaid, which Zhang Jian noted. He understood what True Monarch Zhanmo implied.
It was a pity that Hong Luan was held back by Hu Yang, and this fortune seemed to fade with time, precious pearls turning to rubble.
This is a reality many talents have to face.
Zhang Jian knew this as well, but didn’t intend to interfere.
Some people enjoy their hardship as if it were sweet nectar; why force things?
In the void, True Monarch Zhanmo stood in mid-air. Her figure was tall and slender, clad in a long robe of mysterious black, with her hair tied up, dressed in men’s clothing. She resembled a heroic man, yet her lips were red, teeth white, and her features were as handsome as something not of the mortal world.
She glanced lightly at the Cyan Lion and casually cast a divine light of "Treasure Record" magic onto the Cyan Lion. Following that magical force, the Cyan Lion couldn’t help but instinctively let out a beastly roar as his muscles and bones swelled, thick azure fur flowing around his body, instantly transforming into a lion beast of a full height of a zhang.
The azure fur trembled, as if countless clear spiritual qi circulated around its body, faintly carrying a hint of innate spiritual mechanism.
Zhang Jian sensed it slightly, his expression somewhat strange.
This Cyan Lion had a thick innate spiritual mechanism within, reminiscent of the form taken by an innate spiritual being, indeed bearing the bloodline of an ancient Divine Beast.
"You wretched creature, are you willing to follow me to Tongshan for cultivation?"
True Monarch Zhanmo touched the tip of her foot lightly, instantly standing atop the Cyan Lion’s head.
The Cyan Lion beneath her, hearing these words, was infuriated and roared angrily, a vast demon qi surging around it, as if generating countless wind blades, intending to devour True Monarch Zhanmo.
True Monarch Zhanmo tapped lightly with her jade foot, and the Cyan Lion let out a painful howl. The demon qi was instantly extinguished, and the Cyan Lion’s bones seemed to contract continuously, its body forcibly compressed smaller.
Its muscles and bones were forcibly stretched and compressed. The Cyan Lion couldn’t endure and couldn’t help but kneel.
"Roar again, and I’ll geld you!"
Upon hearing this, the Cyan Lion’s body trembled, fear flashing in its eyes, and it dared not roar anymore.
"Don’t hurt me anymore; the little beast is willing!"
True Monarch Zhanmo remained calm upon hearing this and then glanced at Hong Luan. After some thought, she took out a bottle of Elixir from her sleeve and tossed it to Hong Luan.
"This is the healing spirit medicine, Water Valley Essence Pill, of my Tongshan lineage. It can be used both internally and externally, and after one circulation of six days, it will suffice to improve your husband’s injuries!"
Hearing this, Hong Luan’s face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly clasped her hands in gratitude.
"Thank you, Senior, for the treasure!"
With this bottle of Elixir, Hu Yang finally had a chance to live.
Zhang Jian withdrew his Yin Spirit Dharma Aspect, using this Qinglian Celestial Venerable Dharma Aspect against a Golden Core Demon was entirely overkill.
After confirming that Hong Luan, Hu Yang, Bai Shi, and Bai Shiyi were safe and sound, Zhang Jian then turned and left.
True Monarch Zhanmo had already concluded her special treatment for him and led the Cyan Lion to the Two Realms Region ahead of time.
This time, True Monarch Zhanmo passed through Haojing City, merely entering the Two Realms Region to visit friends along the way.
...
Within Haojing City
The nine-day Peaceful Sacrificial Ceremony was held smoothly.
No accidents occurred, and upon the conclusion of the last day of the Peaceful Sacrificial Ceremony, clouds of auspicious light were visibly floating over the Shu Kingdom Dragon Vein, with intense and ethereal spiritual light flowing out from the depths of the Dragon Vein.
The Resentful Fiend hidden deep within the Shu Kingdom Dragon Vein was finally completely dissipated.
After the Resentful Fiend inside the Shu Kingdom Dragon Vein scattered, the essence within this Dragon Vein also invisibly dissipated, fully absorbed and supplemented into the Daqian Dragon Vein.
Zhang Jian could sense that the Dragon Qi of the Daqian Dragon Vein, previously depleted, was replenished and had once again recovered somewhat.
This change did not concern Zhang Jian.
Following this, Zhang Jian also continued his cultivation diligently at the Sports and Arts College.
Practicing within the bureaucratic system was highly favorable, especially in gathering the Sheji Spiritual Mechanism.
A year later, Zhang Jian successfully passed the Third Tribulation of the Yin Spirit, the Unwarranted Tribulation.
It was also the Mind Monkey and Will Horse Tribulation.
This tribulation involved the destiny of heaven and earth, and Zhang Jian passed it rather smoothly.
Time flew by, and two years silently passed.
As spring passed and autumn came, Zhang Jian had been at the Sports and Arts College for seven years. During these seven years, many of his former classmates had fulfilled their observational roles in various departments and had been sent to different regions, becoming officials in charge of governance, military, or finance.
Two years ago, after resolving the Dragon Vein Resentful Fiend, Zhang Jian was once again promoted, receiving the title of Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, already a Junior Fifth Grade official.
Meanwhile, over the span of two years, with Zhang Jian’s ’efforts,’ the compilation of the "Daqian Complete Book" was finally approaching its conclusion.
This monumental task benefiting the Sheji and lasting through the ages was finally nearing completion under the supervision of Huang Liangzhong and Zhang Jian.
The "Daqian Complete Book" included nearly 30,000 volumes, with over ten billion words, containing countless classics, histories, and various collections. A tremendous effort was made by all to identify and correct errors and omissions.
Zhang Jian’s participation alone spanned seven years, while the overall compilation took nearly a decade.
The finished book could be recorded in the annals of history.