What more can Zhang Jian say now.
Qi Yuanjia was really unlucky. The Bai Shui Water Area was so vast, yet the Purple Cloud Qiu Dragon chose to run to the water area where the group was located.
This was also an unexpected disaster.
Zhang Jian then mentioned Qi Yuanjia’s fall into water.
"What?"
Bai Nu’s expression turned serious immediately, and he quickly communicated with the Bai Shui Divine Realm power. In an instant, a stream of divine light appeared above the water surface, and figures with pale faces and no breath emerged from the water.
There were also many shattered boat fragments.
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Jian had already seen Qi Yuanjia’s corpse, which was wrapped in a circle of water plants, his body covered with a large fishing net, a fearful expression frozen on his face.
His face full of resentment.
As Zhang Jian looked at this scene, his eyes were filled with regret, and the Cyan Lotus Soul Purification Spell emerged from the depths of his palm to purify the resentful fiend in his soul, to prevent him from becoming a water ghost and endangering his family.
"What a pity!"
Zhang Jian thought to himself, this fourth uncle was rather unreliable, often frequenting brothels, but ending up in such a tragic situation was overly cruel.
Seeing this scene, Bai Nu then said, "Ah Yu, this is partly my fault. They met with accidents because of our conflicts..."
Zhang Jian shook his head and said.
"Father-in-law, you cannot be blamed for this, it was an accident, and it was indeed the sinful dragon causing trouble!"
...
In Haojing City, within the Imperial Palace
Inside Zhijie Palace, Qi Yuzhu was crying with tears like raindrops on a pear blossom, her beautiful eyes swollen. She had just lost her close kin, and now another family member was gone, how could she not be heartbroken.
Emperor Jingwu comforted her softly, frowning, he clearly did not expect that merely agreeing to slightly divert the Dragon Vein evil qi and evil power would cause such tragedy to the family of the Empress of the Central Palace.
At this rate, it was not building goodwill with Scholar Zhang, but becoming hostile.
Half an hour later, Qi Yuzhu fell asleep, and Emperor Jingwu slowly got up, his eyes lingered on Qi Yuzhu with a touch of fondness at the bottom.
For Qi Yuzhu’s lively personality, he was fond of it. This Empress of the Central Palace was youthful, lively, full of whimsical ideas, and for the past half year, she brought much joy to his otherwise unchanging life.
It helped Emperor Jingwu move out of the period of fatigue following the loss of his daughter.
Emperor Jingwu felt somewhat emotional.
Outside Zhijie Palace, Chao Mu, wearing a purple robe, had a stern and gloomy expression on his face.
He had just returned to the Imperial Palace.
He had been chasing the Instant Demon Lord all the way from Daqian into the depths of Beichu for a year, several times he was close, yet the opponent escaped using Innate Divine Techniques.
And the disappearance of Princess Bai Hua midway made Chao Mu extremely angry.
At the palace gate, Emperor Jingwu couldn’t resist asking.
"Great Companion, could the series of accidents befalling the Qi Mansion be related to the Dragon Vein damage?"
Chao Mu nodded slightly upon hearing the inquiry.
"Your Majesty, you should have waited until I returned to the discussion before marrying the Empress of the Central Palace!"
Chao Mu felt somewhat helpless in his heart.
Dong Jue Daoist and the Empress Dowager only knew part of the story, unaware of the intricacies of the Dragon Vein, and now it turned out to be a self-defeating cleverness.
Emperor Jingwu then said, "Great Companion, is there a remedy now?!"
Chao Mu pondered for a moment and then slowly said.
"There is!"
"Oh?" Emperor Jingwu’s eyes brightened, looking at Chao Mu.
Chao Mu spoke softly.
"Depose the Empress! You only need to send the Empress of the Central Palace to the Cold Palace and abolish her title, and it might prevent the direct impact of the Dragon Vein’s evil power!"
Emperor Jingwu was somewhat taken aback upon hearing this.
That would bring enmity with Qi Mansion and Scholar Zhang.
Emperor Jingwu sighed lightly, and the two slowly left Zhijie Palace, but on the way, Emperor Jingwu couldn’t help but ask again.
"Great Companion, in your opinion, does the Empress have Phoenix Destiny?
I have heard that Fengyang County has an exceptionally auspicious feng shui pattern that occurs periodically, inevitably birthing a Phoenix Maiden. They all say the Empress is the Phoenix Maiden?"
Chao Mu glanced at Emperor Jingwu.
Moments later, he gently shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, the Empress does not possess Phoenix Destiny; such rumors should not be fully trusted. Many counties in Daqian have similar rumors, even around Haojing City, such legends exist, but most are unfounded!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingwu was stunned, and after a moment, he sighed lightly. In fact, the Observatory Platform had already charted Qi Yuzhu six months ago, and found no Phoenix Destiny, but Emperor Jingwu still felt somewhat hopeful.
Returning to Jingtai Hall, Emperor Jingwu now faced the mountain of memorials before the Imperial Desk, feeling a headache coming on.
Even the Bodhi Enlightenment Painting couldn’t relieve him now.
He sat quietly for a while, then slowly said:
"Great Companion, Haojing has suffered from drought for two consecutive years, and the court is unstable now. If this drought isn’t resolved, it may lead to a greater natural disaster!"
"Now the State Preceptor finds no solution either. Do you have any way to relieve the drought around Haojing City?!"
Upon hearing this, Chao Mu remained silent for a moment.
Haojing City’s surrounding drought was something he had noticed too, but its root lay in the forbidden artifact being refined within the Dragon Vein.
However, he had ’found’ several Magical Treasures capable of slightly alleviating the evil qi, thereby relieving the drought to an extent, but acquiring those Magical Treasures had brought him considerable trouble with several powerful sects.
The losses and gains were difficult to calculate privately, but it was certain that once Heaven and Earth collapsed, his troubles would be immense in the future.
Fortunately, he had already prepared for an all-or-nothing gamble.
Succeed or die trying.
If he couldn’t cut across the heavens and earth and achieve enlightenment as an immortal, he wouldn’t need such leisurely longevity.
"Minister will find a way for this matter!"
Chao Mu agreed but then added.
"Once the Minister of Agriculture returns to Haojing, Your Majesty still needs to find a way to test his attitude!"
Hearing this, Emperor Jingwu’s eyes slightly froze, fatigue flashing through them, he closed his eyes.
...
In Fengyang County
After managing the funeral affairs, Zhang Jian stayed for several days in Fengyang County.
Zhang Jian used his authority to exchange a Qi Fortune Technique from the Tongshan Dao Lineage, setting up a Feng Shui Grand Array for Qi Yuansi’s family. Beyond that, Zhang Jian stayed at the Dragon Palace for two days.
Primarily to inquire about matters concerning Dragon Race cultivation.
Zhang Yi had awakened the Dragon Race bloodline, and many taboos and weaknesses were only known by the Dragon Race, requiring him to understand them in detail.
Additionally, he preached to Zhang Yi, supplementing his Cultivation Technique before Foundation Establishment.
Zhang Yi currently specialized in the Soul Implantation Technique, which somewhat leaned towards the Ghost Dao.
Zhang Jian’s requirements for him weren’t high; as long as the Foundation Establishment was successful. Once established and magical power gained, future years could find ways to transform into a ghost god.
After transforming into a ghost god, whether entering the Mountain God Department of Feng Ling Mountain God or the Divine Office at the Well Bottom Dragon Palace, one could gain rank and reenter the path of cultivation.
Having a partial mentor relationship, Zhang Jian was willing to grant him fortune.
...
One day, Zhang Jian and Qi Yuhua set out from Bai Shui downstream, heading once again towards the canal, but passing by the canal, they saw a sudden anomaly in the southwest sky!
Red light soared to the sky, like a massive fire burning the plains!
It seemed as though endless red light burst forth, an overwhelming evil qi rushing straight to the heavens.
On the canal, viewing this scene, Zhang Jian frowned deeply, sensing a fervent force erupt from the evil qi.
"Corpse Qi, has a drought demon emerged?"