Zhang Jian planned to find a suitable place for a breakthrough. After inquiring about a few places, he made a decision.
However, as he was leaving the Qi Mansion, Zhang Jian noticed a group of people hurriedly entering the Qi Mansion.
"Daoists?"
Zhang Jian observed several Daoists being welcomed at the gate by a few ’uncles’ of the Qi Family and were heading towards the inner courtyard.
"Has something happened?" Zhang Jian signaled with his eyes, and a strong and brave companion took the opportunity to ask a nearby steward.
"Oh, it’s the young master!"
"This is the Master from Iron Immortal Temple, here to bless the old master!"
The steward seemed somewhat wary, said no more, and quickly left under some pretext.
As Zhang Jian watched this scene, his eyes looked strange. His Innate Spiritual Sense detected that the leading old Daoist among the group had traces of Spiritual Mechanism, meaning they possessed Spiritual Power.
Zhang Jian pondered within his heart.
But in a flash, he still left the Qi Mansion.
Fengyang City, in front of the Dragon-locking Dam
There were green willows and a long flood embankment here, considered a Holy Land in the minds of many scholars and literati of Fengyang County. Whether in sunny weather or during continuous rain, many scholars came here to view the surging flood waves.
The majestic waves from the upstream Bai Shui River cascaded down this rocky-solid dam with thunder-like roars.
This dam was like a sharp sword piercing deep into Bai Shui River, forcefully restraining its ferocity.
As Zhang Jian watched this scene, he couldn’t help but sigh.
"Prince Mian’s Sword-Locked Flood Dragon Painting can be described as a meritorious undertaking of immeasurable worth. I wonder why such a wise person became muddle-headed in his old age!"
There is no shortage of truly wise and brave individuals in any place; just this one dam is of immeasurable merit.
Zhang Jian noticed that in the deep bend of the river below, the water had already split into two river courses, with a dam diverting the flow in one of them, step by step restraining the flooding Bai Shui.
After a glance, Zhang Jian withdrew his gaze.
A few old soldiers followed by his side. Zhang Jian found a pavilion and prepared to refine his mind and spirit there. Such a Blessed Land was indeed an excellent place to refine one’s heart, and by taking advantage of this Blessed Land, he was sure to completely eradicate delusional thoughts.
He was just a step away from a breakthrough.
And in this place, Zhang Jian was also waiting for someone to arrive.
Meanwhile, on the other side, some were specifically inquiring about his whereabouts and were heading towards here.
At this time, on the eastern street, a small sedan had stopped at a street corner; two petite girls dressed in gauze attire and wearing light gauze bamboo hats alighted from the sedan.
"Second Sister, you’re really something. We could clearly see Brother Zhang at the family banquet in the evening. Why do we have to follow you out, showing ourselves in public?"
The younger girl pouted unhappily.
The older girl smiled slightly without revealing her teeth, her jade-like face full of grace.
She looked at her sister and said with a smile:
"Even if we see him at the family banquet, what we see will only be what Brother Zhang deliberately shows. Many seem amiable on the outside, but it’s just their carefully crafted facade; some things can only be seen when they’re off guard!"
Qi Yuzhu nodded, seemingly understanding yet not.
Qi Yuhua sighed inwardly. If there was no other way, she really didn’t want to do so many things either, but the young girl knew she must seriously consider her future. As descendants of a noble family, they reached the age suitable for marriage. If they waited another year or two, they might no longer have the freedom to choose.
She didn’t want to end up like her eldest sister.
So she went along, also for some relief.
At this moment, the two sisters also saw Zhang Jian in the pavilion from afar.
Zhang Jian was facing away from the two girls, his eyes seemingly immersed in the whirling snow-like waves.
But just a glimpse from the side made the two girls’ eyes light up.
Judging by the demeanor and back view, this cousin from the Zhang Family wasn’t ugly but rather tall and slender with an extraordinary bearing.
Although they had heard from Madam Qi Wan that this cousin from the Zhang Family didn’t look bad, seeing for themselves was a different matter.
Even the somewhat reluctant Qi Yuzhu showed a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Looking good always gives some advantage at the first meeting.
"Granny Ma, let’s go over from the top of the dam!"
Qi Yuhua contemplated, then took Qi Yuzhu back into the sedan and instructed the maidservant to lead the sedan-bearers past the pavilion.
As they saw Zhang Jian’s face, both girls in the sedan turned their gaze toward him. Qi Yuzhu couldn’t help but say, "I didn’t expect this Brother Zhang to be so handsome!"
Qi Yuhua’s expression remained unchanged, shaking her head, she said, "A righteous appearance doesn’t mean a genuine heart and strong character!"
"Granny Ma, please go on a trip for me!"
She whispered a few words to an elderly woman beside her, then watched as the woman walked towards a corner where a few figures lay.
In the depth of the pavilion, Zhang Jian slowly closed his eyes.
He had entered a wonderful state.
In the thunder-like roar of the flowing torrent, borrowing the thundering sound of the vast flood, Zhang Jian calmed all distracting thoughts, as Extreme Yang Spiritual Power flowed into the depths of his soul like river water.
His Extreme Yang Spiritual Power was exceptionally pure, without any impurities.
Although the Extreme Yang Spiritual Power was pure, it couldn’t aid the growth of his soul.
His soul had grown tremendously strong from consuming Fire Apricot and Jade Pool Golden Lotus Seed.
In this regard, he had already met the breakthrough requirements long ago.
He hadn’t broken through because Zhang Jian wanted to repeatedly verify his complete mastery of the three treasures: Essence, Qi, and Spirit, to avoid any unexpected situations.
The most important thing for a breakthrough in the Nourishing Spirit Stage was to ensure the purity of one’s Essence and Qi, as any impurity could become a toxin, lodging deep within the soul.
This would allow distracting thoughts to grow in the depths of the soul, making it difficult to forge a Supreme Dao Foundation even if one managed a breakthrough.
The "Nine Chapters of Pure Tongshan" emphasized this point multiple times.
Zhang Jian understood the importance of this step very well.
Within the thunderous sound of cascading torrents, Zhang Jian’s distracting thoughts completely vanished, as if cleansed by the torrents, and when the Extreme Yang Spiritual Power merged deep into his soul, numerous vague scenes appeared before his eyes.
It was as if he saw countless pursuits, even memories of his past life surfacing, but under the radiant glow of his soul, they were swept away like water illusions, shattering in an instant, transforming into wisps of clear air merging into the depths of his soul, and naturally, he sensed that he had surpassed a boundary.
All boundaries between soul and Essence and Qi were completely pierced by his expanded soul power.
Internally, his soul seemed to transform into a spring, as a new force of Spiritual Power surged forth from the brilliance of his soul, constantly converting the omnipresent spiritual power of heaven and earth.
This was Spiritual Power born from the fusion of Essence and soul.
It was still Extreme Yang Spiritual Power, but Zhang Jian felt like this Spiritual Power had truly become an extension of himself, spreading out as a force with just a thought.
Zhang Jian immediately understood why Spiritual Sense and Divine Thought were entirely different.
Spiritual Sense could only sense passively, with limited active capability.
In contrast, Divine Thought contained part of the power of Spiritual Power, capable of genuine destructive power when unleashed.
Meanwhile, Zhang Jian felt that his Divine Thought’s connection with the Power of Heaven and Earth became more intimate.
If this was within Inner Cultivation Martial Artists, it would be the Grandmaster Realm, commanding the Power of Heaven and Earth with every move, immensely strong.
He, however, could use Divine Thought to begin freeing himself from the influence of talismans, gradually gaining the ability to directly perform Magic.
Whether he could truly accomplish this would depend on his own long-term practice.
Zhang Jian’s eyes emitted a clear and bright light.
Conjuring a fireball by hand isn’t much; conjuring Celestial Thunder by hand is what truly makes a man.