Champion Scholar’s Mansion
Within the two bathing tubs, there floated a dense spiritual mechanism. Under the magical power of Zhang Jian, these tubs had tiny flickers of flames appearing, refining numerous spirit medicines, and gradually melting their properties.
After completing all this, Zhang Jian glanced at Yu Hua and smiled.
"My lady, these two bathing tubs are for you and Chang’an. These are Foundation Establishment spirit medicines, with their properties dissolved by my magical power, allowing you and the fourth child to absorb them!
Although you cannot cultivate, bathing in the spirit medicines can temper your muscles and bones, making them healthier and your body more agile!"
Yu Hua, with her belly large, held Zhang Chang’an’s little hand and advised, "Husband, since I do not cultivate, it’s unnecessary to waste such precious spirit medicines on me!"
Hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed and said.
"It’s okay, we currently do not lack such Foundation Establishment spirit medicines, which are also beneficial to your martial Dao cultivation!"
His gaze carried a hint of sentimental feeling.
The path of cultivation is filled with hardships and countless tribulations, where one misstep might result in death and soul obliteration.
Even though Zhang Yi and Zhang Zhao have stepped onto the cultivation path, Zhang Jian still harbored some worries.
However, he also understood that this was their own choice, just like young eagles will eventually leave the nest; they might fall from a cliff and shatter into pieces, but they must try.
Yet Yu Hua, at her age, didn’t need to experience these challenges. His expectations for Yu Hua were not high; he did not expect her to support Madam Zhang’s family or face countless risks, as long as she could live peacefully.
Until one day he attained longevity and ascended, becoming able to achieve the Longevity Body.
Zhang Jian gestured for Yu Hua and Zhang Chang’an to enter.
He then entered another room, where Zhang Zhao was curiously watching the wooden tub. Unlike Yu Hua, Zhang Jian was not polite with him and directly pulled him inside.
As Zhang Jian activated the surrounding auxiliary array.
Within the two rooms, the spiritual mechanism was now flowing, and an invisible vortex of it merged into the room like spring rain.
...
While Zhang Jian was washing the root bone for Yu Hua, Zhang Chang’an, and Zhang Zhao, turmoil erupted inside and outside the Imperial City. Many palace servants hurried in their movements.
Numerous Imperial Guards, with solemn faces, had now locked down all the palace gates around the Imperial City.
Only entry was allowed, not exit.
In Ziwei Hall, the bedchamber of Emperor Jingwu, Dong Jue Daoist hastily arrived upon receiving the news.
She learned from a servant by Empress Dowager Li’s side that at noon, while Emperor Jingwu was reviewing memorials in Jingtai Hall, he suddenly fell unconscious!
Crucially, after he fainted, Empress Dowager Li did not allow the Imperial Hospital to intervene, but instead invited the State Preceptor, Jingming Daoist, from Dong Shen Temple.
This made Dong Jue Daoist feel extremely uneasy.
If it were a minor illness, the physicians from the Imperial Hospital would have sufficed. Why invite Jingming Daoist?
Yet Dong Jue Daoist still found it hard to believe.
Emperor Jingwu was just in his thirties and at a prime time of sharp wit and vigor; how could he suddenly collapse?
Moments later, Dong Jue Daoist saw Jingming Daoist stepping out from the main hall.
At this moment, his brows were tightly knitted.
Upon seeing this, Dong Jue Daoist’s expression could not help but grow serious and she asked.
"Nephew, how is His Majesty?"
Jingming Daoist raised his head, pondered, and remained silent.
Dong Jue Daoist was taken aback, a sense of foreboding rising within her.
She proceeded to quickly walk into Ziwei Hall and saw Empress Dowager Li and Empress Qi standing beside Emperor Jingwu.
On the Dragon Couch, Emperor Jingwu’s body was slightly turned, with a strip of snow-white white silk on his back, stained with bright red blood.
Around him, the grand National Fortune Black Dragon seemed to be floating and flowing, but was quieter than usual.
Dong Jue Daoist noticed a slight bulge on Emperor Jingwu’s back, and at that bulging part, he groaned in pain, arching his body involuntarily, unable to straighten up.
Ignoring the gazes of Empress Dowager Li and Empress Qi, Dong Jue Daoist lifted the white silk, and her expression changed swiftly. She saw a nasty sore festering on his back.
Within it, there was a vague sense of something extraordinary.
"Evil power, malevolent force!"
Dong Jue Daoist shivered with a cold face upon seeing the pustule.
She had encountered this kind of sore before; over the lengthy years, she had seen people heavily burdened by evil power, suffering retribution from destiny, punished by heaven, causing pustules to break out all over their bodies.
The festering sore was one such type.
Yet Emperor Jingwu was the sovereign, born with the National Guardian Dragon Fortune. How could he have contracted this kind of affliction?
"Could it be that the Dragon Vein has issues, which is bringing misfortune upon the Emperor!"
This thought flashed through Dong Jue Daoist’s mind, as Empress Qi approached and bowed deeply before her.
"Ancestral Aunt, please you must help His Majesty. His Majesty is a wise and powerful Holy Monarch of our dynasty, undeserving of such misfortune!"
Easing the concerns of Empress Qi, Dong Jue Daoist patted her hand and comforted her.
"Madam Qi, you need not worry. His Majesty’s vitality is still intact. We will find a solution!"
With an unruffled expression, Dong Jue Daoist comforted Madam Qi further before slowly stepping out of Ziwei Hall.
Waiting outside was Jingming Daoist. Upon seeing Dong Jue Daoist, she asked, and he responded.
"Ancestral Aunt, no need to ask me. You’ve seen His Majesty’s condition; it’s the curse of the Dragon Vein’s backlash, likely related to the Supreme Treasure currently nurturing within the Dragon Vein..."
At the mention of the Supreme Treasure, Jingming Daoist held his tongue.
He had only heard of it in passing from the Dong Shen Sect Ancestor. He didn’t know its exact nature.
Dongyu Daoist couldn’t help but remark, "Now that Senior Brother is not at the temple, it’s quite problematic?"
To cure such sores, one must address the root cause, and for that, find a way to resolve the malignant anomaly within the Dragon Vein.
If left unchecked, the Emperor Jingwu might not be able to withstand the backlash for long.
Jingming Daoist nodded slightly, his gaze scanning the besieged Imperial City.
Dealing with the Dragon Vein’s backlash was a complex matter, and he was puzzled by the hidden secrets within the Dragon Vein, unsure how to resolve them.
The only one who knew the ins and outs of the Dragon Vein was Yinsi Master Chaomu.
Yet Jingming Daoist also knew that within the Dragon Vein lay the Tiangang Master, who should be aware of the fundamental issues, and thus assistance must be sought.
...
"The Imperial City is on lockdown!"
At the Imperial Palace Gate, Zhang Jian was stopped before the Jade Capital Sect Gate with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Alongside him, numerous courtiers were also halted at the entrance.
Among them, high-ranking officials donned in crimson and purple were not few, Zhang Jian noticed that most of the Nine Ministers were present, including Minister of Justice Wang Wan, Minister of Rites He Zheng, Minister of the Imperial Treasury Wen Daoyuan, Minister of the Imperial Stables Yu Qiongying, and the Imperial Censor from the Three Ministers, Zhuang Ying.
The message from the Imperial Guards was that an assassin had infiltrated the Imperial City, and the palace gates were shut to capture the intruder.
Standing amidst the crowd, Zhang Jian greeted his immediate superior, Minister of the Imperial Treasury Wen Daoyuan, and then stood to the side.
He gazed towards Middle Heaven, noticing the Emperor’s Life Star and Ziwei were somewhat dimmed, covered with dense clouds.
"This is a bad omen!"
Zhang Jian mused inwardly. Such an abrupt event disrupted his cultivation rhythm completely.
Not only could he see such ominous phenomena, but those with ulterior motives would likely not miss the opportunity to act.