Uncle Song Yuan was not very old, only in his thirties, a time when he was at the peak of his strength. He sported a light beard and, upon a brief glance, his expression instantly turned grim.
After listening to the reports from the female attendants and women around him, he, like Song Yingzhen, instinctively felt there might be something strange about all this.
However, he also knew that regardless, with the death of Song Gu, trouble was inevitable for the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.
...
Following the murder case of Marquis Dingyuan within Haojing City, a wave of unrest surged through the imperial court.
The Dingyuan Marquis’s line had always had disputes with the Gu Family’s line of Marquis Han City within the military. The marriage six years ago was a rare act of reconciliation, and now with the murder of Song Gu, shadows loomed once more.
Though the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion continued to claim it was a conspiracy, a setup by someone,
Song Yuanqi’s disappearance filled the court with suspicion towards the Dingyuan Marquis’s line.
Zhang Jian had also heard about this case.
The Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion was also one of his basic strongholds.
Zhang Jian was paying attention, but he knew that merely a murder case would not be enough to overturn the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion. If anyone wanted to act against the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, there would be more to come.
So he decided to just watch and see how things unfolded.
Half a month later, Yu Hua went into labor.
This was Yu Hua’s third child, and Zhang Jian was not particularly worried.
Inside the room, several experienced midwives were already waiting, with servants outside having prepared hot water, and everything was in order.
Zhang Jian was standing outside the door during this midsummer period, sunlight strong and penetrating through several large trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Nearby, there was the constant chirping of cicadas.
Under the blazing sun, Zhang Jian remained calm, dressed in a simple cyan robe with a jade crown on his head, his eyes giving off a naturally commanding presence.
Zhang Fu stood behind Zhang Jian, his youthful face bearing an unusual solemnity.
Zhang Jian did not have to wait long; moments later, the sound of a baby’s cries came from within the building, the cries tender and strong, bringing a hint of a smile to Zhang Jian’s face.
Soon, a midwife came to deliver the joyous news.
"Congratulations, my lord! The lady has given birth to another little Wenqu Star for you!"
The old woman’s compliment was exceedingly sweet.
Zhang Jian nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face, as he already knew that Yu Hua’s child was a boy.
The name had already been decided.
The third son, Zhang Xian.
Zhang Jian waved his hand and said with a smile, "Give rewards!"
Zhang Fu, well-prepared, immediately ordered people to bring out several baskets of copper coins, grabbing handfuls to give to the old woman, while other servants came to offer congratulations one after another.
Zhang Jian stepped into the birthing room, noticing Yu Hua’s exhausted expression, alongside a small male infant.
He felt a slight joy as he noticed an innate spiritual mechanism flowing around the infant, like an invisible aura enveloping him.
This third son had exceptional aptitude.
Though he had not used any mysterious technique, Zhang Jian could discern through his Yang God divine sense that Zhang Xian possessed innate talent, ranking above the four children.
At that moment, his gaze towards Yu Hua seemed a bit peculiar.
He was uncertain whether it was due to the excessive consumption of spirit medicine and treasure medicine, or Yu Hua’s Phoenix Destiny being overly prosperous for her husband, as all three of her children possessed cultivation aptitude without exception.
Even the weakest, Zhang Zhao, had an attribute spirit root.
...
In the Zhang Family’s Ancestral Hall,
The surrounding "Map of Mountains and Rivers" coalesced into a grand barrier, enveloping the Zhang Family and this place.
Taking advantage of Yu Hua’s childbirth, Zhang Jian took a half-month break, preparing to take this opportunity to refine the All Heaven Star Soul.
The benefits at hand were the most tangible.
At that moment, Zhang Jian extended his hand, and a glow of intense starlight appeared in his palm.
Black and white brilliance flowed, revealing the profound mysteries of the celestial stars within.
Zhang Jian smiled slightly, contemplating deeply from the center of his brow.
Though the All Heaven Star Soul was indeed divine and profound, it had multiple refinement methods.
Each method of refinement differed, and the benefits gained also varied.
This was also mentioned in the message he received.
In general, it was divided into three types.
The first was to directly refine it into the Life Palace to illuminate the Life Star, allowing the immediate transformation into a Celestial Stars Dao Body.
The second was to refine it into a Lifebound Treasure, thereby achieving a significant treasure, obtaining a Star Mark, and possessing a Star Fate, and gradually nurturing it into a Celestial Stars Dao Body.
The third was to refine it into a technique model, significantly enhancing its power.
But the three refinement methods varied in advantages and disadvantages.
The first was the most direct. After refinement, one would acquire the Celestial Stars Dao Body and directly step onto the path of becoming a Star Monarch.
If Zhang Jian were to use the stars of the celestial sphere as his Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect, he would definitely choose the first path.
After refining the second type, one could obtain a Star Spiritual Treasure, but the benefits of increased magical power and nurturing the Yin Spirit Origin might be lost.
The All Heaven Star Soul contained a pure and divine soul power that could be directly absorbed, nurturing the Yin Spirit Origin, and greatly benefiting a Primordial Spirit Master.
The third method might significantly increase the power of the Lifebound Primordial Immortal Technique, but after absorbing it through the Primordial Spirit Immortal Technique, the remaining benefits might not grow as quickly as direct refinement.
Zhang Jian quickly decided on the third option.
As for why not the second, it was because his Lifebound Treasure was not star-related.