Within the grand Immortal Realm
Daoist Monarch Qingxia had recently been cultivating within her Dao field, consolidating her own Dao practice.
During her leisure time, she would also leisurely explore the Jasper Pool Immortal Realm with old friends from the Jasper Pool.
After reaching the stage of a Daoist Monarch, her status and authority in the Jasper Pool soared day by day, coupled with her special identity, making her very popular among the female immortals of the Jasper Pool.
At this moment, she was conversing with an Ancient Immortal in the Jasper Pool Holy Land, exchanging information obtained from the Outer Void, when she suddenly felt something and hastily bid farewell to the Ancient Immortal, returning to her Dao field swiftly.
From afar, she could see the Nine-Colored Pool Water in the Two Realms Pool constantly churning.
Gurgling and bubbling, as if it were boiling.
This was an unprecedented sight. Daoist Monarch Qingxia immediately realized that this time the sacrificial scale in the Lower Realm might far exceed before.
This inevitably filled her heart with some anticipation.
The last time, she had exchanged a Netherworld Banner she obtained for some special Heavenly and Earthly Treasures from an Ancient Daoist Monarch deep within the Nine Netherworld, which allowed her to conveniently cultivate a Daoist Monarch level Daoist technique, significantly enhancing her strength.
This time, she could not help but have some expectations.
Innumerable Immortal Sounds emerged, and from deep within the Nine-Colored Pool Water, a vast golden river surged forth.
Auspicious clouds like silk, purple mist like brocade.
The golden river shimmered with enticing luster in every ripple, remarkably delightful.
Even one as well-versed as True Monarch Qingxia couldn't help but smile at this top-quality flow of golden incense light.
With a wave of her hand, the golden river transformed into a torrent, merging into her Daoist Monarch body effortlessly, being refined and integrated with ease.
A slight playful quiver of a cyan light surrounded her Dao body, her eyes flickered slightly.
"Five hundred thousand Flawless Incense!"
This is five times more than the last ancestral worship!
Daoist Monarch Qingxia was somewhat surprised.
The infusion of over five hundred thousand Flawless Incense into her Dao body slightly dispelled the tribulation qi surrounding her body.
Soon her gaze returned to the Two Realms Pool.
As expected, a moment later, unusual phenomena reappeared in the Nine-Colored Pool.
A cyan-golden light carrying immortal divine light flew out, breaking through the auspicious clouds, its sharp radiance seemingly able to pierce the void of heaven and earth, with the Dao rhythm of heaven and earth, merit cloud light emerged, immense power in tow.
However, Daoist Monarch Qingxia was prepared, casually grasping the ancient mirror within the cyan-golden divine light into her hand.
What fell into her pristine hand was an ancient mirror of cyan-golden texture, palm-sized, covered with many innate patterns, the mirror surface flowing with immortal divine light.
"Netherworld Immortal Gold? But why is it a semi-finished product...!"
Daoist Monarch Qingxia looked somewhat surprised at the whole piece of ancient mirror flying out, containing a portion of innate qi, and the profound mysteries of the heavenly Dao, with part of the essence of a merit Dharma Artifact within.
It seemed more like innate divine materials, refined by the rules of the Great Dao of heaven and earth, but lacking sufficient nurturing strength, essence, and time.
It can only be considered an innate divine object, the ancient mirror of Netherworld Immortal Gold.
However, the essence of such innate divine objects is extremely high, and with one's own Daoist techniques to carve it, it can be turned into a high-grade merit treasure.
This is not a merit Dharma Artifact.
Its power is superior to a mere merit Dharma Artifact.
If she were to properly refine it, it could be used as a trump card, or, if used in a transaction with a Daoist Monarch grounded in the Netherworld Dao, it would be even more valuable.
"A good thing!"
Daoist Monarch Qingxia pondered slightly, a smile appeared in her eyes. From this semi-finished merit treasure's appearance, she could foresee that future sacrificial treasures might witness a quality upgrade.
She still looked forward to this.
At the same time, Daoist Monarch Qingxia pondered slightly, considering that since the other party's sacrificial treasures' preciousness had increased, she should provide correspondingly equal returns... uh, at least as close to equal as possible!
She had long prepared for this, raising her hand, a purple Talisman Decree appeared, faintly coursing with countless thunders, containing a unique rule capable of commanding various divine thunders of heaven and earth.
The grand divine power manifested!
This was an empty Talisman Decree obtained through an exchange with a Celestial Monarch of the Thunder Department, containing the profundities of the Thunder Dao.
Gained, it could aid in cultivating Thunder Dao techniques, or be filled in with a true name for tribulation crossing, both beneficial.
Its value wouldn't fall short compared to what was sent over...
After reaching the Daoist Monarch Realm, Daoist Monarch Qingxia learned that after gaining benefits, there would also be causality.
Though it is a righteous cause and effect, if accumulated excessively without repayment, it might hinder one's progress.
The larger the gains, the more troublesome it would be to repay later.
As for erasing the other party from the source to clear causality, Daoist Monarch Qingxia realized she couldn't do it, despite her forbidden existence.
If aided by the other party, many tribulations could be such avoided, even increasing the probability of enlightenment by several percent.
When the other party grows, both sides could completely complement each other.
How could Daoist Monarch Qingxia bear to sever her enlightenment path, especially given the righteous cause and effect?
...
Champion Scholar's Mansion
At this moment, it was particularly lively, for Qi Yuhua not only personally cooked to reward Zhang Jian but also had the small kitchen in the mansion prepare dishes, bringing joy and celebration to the family, servants, and female attendants within the mansion.
After all, Zhang Jian had been promoted two ranks at once this time.
Zhang Jian didn't think much of it; he had long been indifferent to honor or disgrace. But since Qi Yuhua and their son were happy, he was too.
After the dinner gathering, Zhang Jian and Qi Yuhua spent some private time together chatting.
Zhang Jian planned to take Zhang Yi to the Sect to meet Chuyunzi later on.
To become a disciple, one must naturally recognize the way early.
Though Qi Yuhua felt reluctant in her heart, she did not voice any objections, considering Zhang Yi's future prospects.
Zhang Jian casually mentioned the arrangements for Zhang Zhao.
Since Zhang Zhao's talent was revealed, several Dong Generation Daoists from Dong Shen Temple were interested, some even showed an eagerness to take him as a disciple, and Jingming Daoist personally visited to suggest taking Zhang Zhao under his tutelage on behalf of his master.
"Do you mean to have him apprentice under the State Preceptor?"
Qi Yuhua appeared somewhat surprised by this.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded slightly.
"I originally intended to keep Zhao'Er by your side..."
Hearing this, Qi Yuhua grasped Zhang Jian's hand with her own jade-like hands, a bright look in her eyes.
"Husband, I know you care for me, but as a mother, I wish for Zhao'Er to have a happy future!"
Zhang Jian nodded in agreement.
"I understand your thoughts. I have already discussed with Fellow Daoist Jingming, that he should apprentice only after age ten, once his mind is nearly formed!"
"Of course, even as a disciple, he will grow up under our care!"
Zhang Jian's intentions were apparent.
Whether Zhang Zhao pursued a cultivation path or not, Zhang Jian intended to groom him as the Zhang Family's future Patriarch, just as Zhang Yi had treated him.
In Zhang Zhao, he also placed some of his aspirations.
...
After dinner, Zhang Jian didn't slack off. Though his physique was special, he never ceased his arduous cultivation. These years of painstaking cultivation, though monotonous, always brought some gains and insights that left him absorbed.
After passing the Unwarranted Tribulation of the Third Tribulation of the Yin Spirit, he utilized this calamity to touch upon the Celestial Heart Mark, gaining insight into the divine profound transformations between spirit energy and matter in the Third Tribulation of the Yin Spirit.
This too required him to spend time comprehending.
After nightfall, Zhang Jian followed his usual habit, going to bed with Qi Yuhua, waking up in the middle of the night with a purple, thunder-emitting Talisman Decree already in his hand.
"Can this thing exempt part of a Thunder Tribulation?"