He still proceeded step by step with his own affairs, lecturing in Haojing City while also perfecting the system of knowledge he had learned.
He organized his accumulated knowledge, all of which was practical and about extending one’s understanding.
This was something he had persistently done, seeking the essence from all phenomena.
When dealing with the impoverished people, Zhang Jian also exerted great effort in promoting education and opening the minds of the populace.
He knew that in this grand era, if one wanted to accomplish something, relying merely on a pile of pure theories was ineffective, as the overarching environment shaped this era.
Only by cultivating more knowledgeable individuals could they collectively transform the nation and liberate the populace from misery.
The key was singular: only by first obtaining the power to alter the country could the ’sufferings of the people’ truly be resolved!
...
After resolving all trivial matters, Zhang Jian continued to immerse himself in comprehending the "Golden Crow Scripture."
This treatise had become the most lavish "gift" he had received thus far.
Within the Ancestral Hall, Zhang Jian still used the Map of Mountains and Rivers to enclose the courtyard, allowing his Yin Spirit to enter the Void Dharma Realm, tracing the Sun Mark directly into the depths of the Sun Star.
The domineering and magnificent Golden Crow Body reappeared, like a scorching sun floating in the sea of True Solar Flame surrounding the Sun Star.
The Golden Crow Body emanated a layer of grandeur, ancient and noble aura. It was entirely golden-red, with sharp eyes and outstretched wings, resembling a floating sun.
The Golden Crow spread its wings, delving into the depths of the Sun Star, where countless Golden Crow Dao Patterns emerged around it. In an instant, Zhang Jian felt himself merging into the origin of the Sun Star.
Within the inner layer of the Sun Star, there was a grand force of heaven and earth’s rules. It was not only scorching and domineering but also contained a layer of terrifying Divine Power, beginning to penetrate through the Golden Crow True Flame on his body and infusing into his Yin Spirit Body.
Zhang Jian finally felt his Yin Spirit beginning the Yang Spirit Transformation again.
And in this process, the Sun Mark kept changing, and the Golden Crow Divine Form manifested. That Golden Crow no longer merely transformed from an ordinary cultivator’s Yin Spirit but rather seemed to have ’come alive’ as the Ancient Golden Crow Divine Bird, a naturally nurtured existence birthed anew in the world.
A Golden Crow spanning the Star River seemed to reappear.
Yet, no matter how close it seemed, it always felt lacking in some way.
"Those who emulate me will live; those who resemble me will perish!"
At this time, Zhang Jian was still constantly adjusting the structure of the Sun Mark.
Inside the "Golden Crow Scripture," there was a specific Dharma Gate to achieve the Golden Crow Primordial Spirit.
However, in Zhang Jian’s view, although the method for condensing the Golden Crow Mark was complete, he vaguely felt that following its steps might ultimately lead to problems.
According to the cultivation method in the "Golden Crow Scripture," the condensed Golden Crow Primordial Spirit would ultimately be akin to the entity that authored the "Golden Crow Scripture."
But Zhang Jian cautiously thought that visualizing the other’s form could inevitably taint one with their aura, possibly causing interference from their Golden Crow Mark, potentially leading to the obliteration of his efforts.
Even if successful, it might just turn him into a ’fanboy’ of a great figure!
He needed to achieve not as a descendant or mere ’fanboy’ of someone else, but to realize himself.
He hoped every feather of the Golden Crow Body would bear his own will, not someone else’s.
Not an entity that could be summoned back by the mere whim of another.
Of course, this was merely Zhang Jian’s pursuit of perfection at play.
Actually, he just intended to use this to cultivate the first layer of the Primordial Spirit Immortal Technique, and along the way, transform the Yin Essence of his Yin Spirit into Yang Spirit.
At this time, entering the inner layer of the True Solar Flame was akin to entering the depths of the Great Sun; Zhang Jian’s solidified Yin Spirit felt intense pain for the first time at such a level; enduring it was extremely arduous.
But the benefits were visible.
His solidified Yin Spirit began to shrink again, from a towering height gradually refining to about the size of a normal person, even shrinking to ’three-inch valley tree bark’!
The pure yang golden light at its core radiated outward from the inner layer, leaving almost a third of the Yin essence in the Yin Spirit untransformed.
...
Prince Consort’s Mansion
Princess Qingfeng and her husband were sitting face to face, both with indescribable joy on their faces.
"Never expected that the Qi Family’s great fortune is yet to come, that little girl Yu Zhu caught the eye of the Empress Dowager, a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes!"
At the seat, Qi Yuanwu now sported a slight mustache, having relinquished his duty as the Grand General of the Imperial Guard. After five to six years of rest and recovery, he appeared more refined, with a now fairer complexion.
Princess Qingfeng glanced with an inward smile at Qi Yuanwu, who seemed to be exuding a sense of vindication, yet she too felt happy for the Qi Family.
However, she vaguely knew that Qi Yuzhu being chosen probably wasn’t due to how beautiful or talented that niece was, but rather related to another nephew-in-law.
After all, there wasn’t much in the Qi Family deemed so crucial by the Daqian Royal Family.
"Consort, this matter still requires you to send a letter back, to prepare Father-in-law!"
Princess Qingfeng was referring to the annulment of the marriage arrangement, so as not to cause a scandal later.
Qi Yuanwu, with joy in his expression, immediately agreed.
...
Fengyang County
The Qi Family, almost simultaneously, received letters sent back by Qi Yuanwu and Qi Yuhua.
However, the matter wasn’t publicized, it was confined only to Qi Yi and Qi Yuansi and his wife.
"It is said that there is an ancient pattern of ’Twin Phoenixes Coming in Harmony’ in Fengyang County which periodically births a Phoenix Destiny noble lady, who would have thought it would fall upon our Qi Family, Yuzhu is truly blessed!"
Inside the second house’s study, Qi Yi had a flushed complexion. Having reached the Grandmaster Realm, Qi Yi seemed rejuvenated, with vitality increasing daily, even more imposing than before.
Qi Yuansi and Madam Qi Wan exchanged glances at this moment, looking at the letter before them, both feeling as if in a dream.
Yet, after exchanging a look, Qi Yuansi recalled the letter sent back by Qi Yuhua that morning, hesitantly speaking.
"Father, the second girl also sent a letter in the morning, in which she mentioned..."
"Oh, Yu Hua sent a letter too?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yi’s eyes lit up. Noticing Qi Yuansi’s expression, he sensed something unusual and frowned slightly.
"Speak your mind!"
Qi Yuansi pondered.
"The second girl’s letter mentioned that it was painstakingly arduous for our ancestors to establish the Qi Mansion, so we must be cautious in our words and deeds, avoiding trouble during this period!"
"She also mentioned that with the passing of the Imperial Tutor, the situation in the court is changing rapidly, and warned against meddling!"
"What’s all this about?"
Qi Yi frowned with a stern face. In truth, although Qi Yuhua’s words were indirect, how could Qi Yi not understand her meaning?
Qi Yuhua’s meaning was probably Zhang Jian’s meaning too.
Yet, faced with such a grand opportunity, Qi Yi found it hard to refuse.
The Qi Family was originally among the founding nobles, a founding duke.
Qi Yi, like the Patriarch of the Qi Family, constantly yearned for the Qi Mansion to return to its peak, unwilling to miss such a chance.
Furthermore, Princess Qingfeng implied that shortly, an Imperial Envoy would personally come to the Shenwei Bo Mansion to proclaim an edict, to further honor the Qi family.
...
And just as Qi Yuzhu was about to enter the Capital City, Zhang Jian’s cultivation proceeded exceedingly smoothly.
After a month of diligent cultivation.
By drawing the Great Sun into the heart and refining the spirit, he finally transformed most of his Yin Spirit into Yang Spirit, with only a few strands of Yin essence left at the core.
At this time, Zhang Jian did not hesitate, directly initiating the Heaven and Earth Tribulation to coalesce the Golden Crow Mark and make the final leap.
Deep within the Sun Star, an unprecedented tribulation swirled.
At this moment, the Golden Crow Mark within Zhang Jian’s body took shape, and layers of Golden Crow True Flame on his body surged, akin to blending with an invisible frequency around the Sun Star, with undulating waves formed by the Golden Crow True Flame appearing around his golden feathers, resembling a pattern functioning cordially with the True Solar Flame.
At this moment, an intangible yet formidable pressure of heaven and earth seemed to open abruptly, acting directly on the depths of Zhang Jian’s Yin Spirit.
As if countless blazing flames, high temperatures, and even grand Solar Divine Power penetrated that invisible resonance, delving into the depths of the Yin Spirit, overwhelming him, turning him into dust.