Inside the tavern, Zhang Fu casually ordered a few tasty dishes, not in a hurry.
Zhang Jian had instructed him that to win over this person was not difficult, requiring just a little patience.
From afar, Zhang Fu saw a young man in green attire, with a resolute face, entering the counter to fetch wine.
He casually took out a few copper coins and handed them to the tavern assistant to get a pot of strong wine.
Just as he left the tavern, a sloppy-looking Daoist equipped with a longsword blocked his way.
"Someone cuts in?"
Zhang Fu first thought of this, but he held his ground and remained calm.
Having often been around Zhang Jian, he had learned many things.
"Esteemed practitioner, this humble Daoist observes your face filled with evil Qi, with blackness condensed between your brows, quite inauspicious, have you perhaps encountered worrisome matters?"
The old Daoist looked at Zhao Qingshan, his eyes carrying a slight smile.
Zhao Qingshan glanced at the old Daoist, raised an eyebrow, but didn't respond, bypassed him, and left.
The old Daoist didn't get angry seeing this, just calmly said.
"Esteemed practitioner, your Life Palace is shrouded in blackness, with evil hidden deep within your body. This evil is not external, but internal. If General cannot purge this Qi, not only will advancing in Martial Dao be impossible, but his life may also be in peril!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingshan's brows furrowed, his steps halted at last, realizing the old Daoist's words were not wrong.
He had once had an encounter, obtaining a great book of Martial Dao, but when cultivating to the Celestial Human Realm, he was often entangled in delusions. Initially believing he encountered a demon or fiend, further investigation at the Observatory Platform revealed hidden dangers in his cultivation method.
Nowadays at midnight, he would feel a chill within, entering a strange dreamscape filled with endless torment.
If the old Daoist could relieve him of this affliction, it would indeed be a blessing.
He promptly invited the old Daoist to his residence.
Zhang Fu watched the two leave, contemplating but did not follow.
Zhang Jian had anticipated such a situation, advising him to wait patiently, and that fortune would arrive in a few days.
...
In the Void Dharma Realm, here the vastness was grand, shrouded in darkness with no form.
Jingming Daoist, Dong Jue Daoist, Huang He Master, Zhang Jian, and a particularly beautiful female cultivator, said to hail from another great Sect, the Star Palace, were the five members of this expedition to the Eastern Emperor Ruins.
This female cultivator from the Star Palace was named Xingyaozi, wearing a silver-white Star Constellation Robe, adorned with a golden hairpin, her eyes bright, speaking little.
This Xingyaozi was also a Yin Spirit Venerable.
According to Jingming Daoist, this relic was actually discovered by the Star Palace, jointly developed by the two Sects.
At that moment, Xingyaozi activated an Array, and beneath everyone's feet appeared streams of starlight, the starlight swirling through the void, as if they traversed the starry sky, this Space Evasion Technique was rather wondrous.
Zhang Jian stood behind Jingming Daoist, his gaze falling on the Daoist named Xingyaozi.
On this cultivator named Xingyaozi, he noticed the shadow of the Stars of the Celestial Sphere, she seemed to have chosen an Ancient Main Star as her Yin Spirit Dharma Aspect, every move carrying the essence of this star.
Having fused with the All Heaven Star Soul, Zhang Jian was particularly sensitive to such peculiarities.
If possible, he could even significantly suppress it.
The All Heaven Star Soul itself also contained a portion of the authority related to the Celestial Sphere.
Moments later, as the great void shattered, a passageway gradually appeared before them.
Countless runes glided, constructing a dim luminescent path.
The five deployed their Escape Technique, instantly transforming into streams of light, merging within.
Upon revealing his True Body, Zhang Jian somewhat astonished, glanced around.
"Is this the relic?"
It was Zhang Jian's first step into such strange Void Dharma Realm ruins, yet it seemed remarkably unusual, like a grand land suspended in the profound void.
His vast Divine Sense faintly sensed that this land was densely packed with various rune structures.
These rune structures contained universal runes, Ancient Yin Text, with traces of the Outer Nine Domains Yin Text.
The Nine Domains Yin Text was a branch derived from Ancient Yin Text, though the civilization this branch evolved into had perished, the lineage of the Nine Domains Yin Text was completely preserved.
Quite mystifying.
"Barriers, Defensive Forbidden Techniques, it seems there are also Killing Array Runes…"
Briefly scanning this dim region, Zhang Jian felt a bit amazed.
Jingming Daoist observed and chuckled.
"Scholar Zhang, this is the Eastern Emperor—Beichen Pass Ruins. It used to be a fortress against Outer Realm Evil Gods and a shelter, though it has been abandoned for a long time, it still retains much precious Talismanic Literature, left by time. Once we've retrieved the treasures, if you're interested, you're welcome to frequently visit for contemplation!"
Zhang Jian smiled and said, "Most of the runic formulas left since ancient times have been interpreted by various Sects, improved upon, but the Killing Arrays formed by Nine Domains Yin Texts inside still hold some value, worth witnessing!"
Dong Jue Daoist also added.
"Everyone says that Mr. Zhang is a Living Saint, with vast knowledge, and today's observation proves it is indeed true!"
Zhang Jian felt slightly bashful; seeing the atmosphere gradually turning towards flattery, he paused this topic, inquiring further about some of the history within the Beichen Pass Ruins, which made the cool female cultivator suddenly more animated. She seemed extremely familiar with the Beichen Pass Ruins, speaking of it as if it were a familiar old story.
This seemed like a very professional "relic investigator."
"Most of the valuable treasures in Beichen Pass have already been taken, leaving just the core area where the Forbidden Techniques still persist!
That place should still hold a significant treasure, the core object sustaining the monument to this day, the 'Beichen Pearl'!
Additionally, perhaps one or two leftover items remain in the core unopened chamber for us to choose from!"
She smiled slightly, "Our Star Palace only seeks a portion of the Star Celestial Gold embedded around the relic's periphery, nothing else!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's gaze flickered.
Star Celestial Gold is a treasure material formed when the Power of the Stars shines on a part of an ore vein, some peculiarly Divine Iron would absorb the Power of the Stars to form this Star Celestial Gold.
And most of the ancient buildings, even the city at Beichen Pass, were built with Star Celestial Gold.
If refined once more, it indeed could form a significantly powerful Spirit Treasure.
Zhang Jian appeared indifferent, not concerned; Jingming Daoist had already paid him the required items, anything extra found inside the relics would be divided equally among everyone.
Listening to Xingyaozi rattle on, she continued.
"The 'Beichen Pearl' is the main sustenance for the barriers and Forbidden Techniques surrounding the relic. Having read extensively about the Sect's Classics, one of our Star Palace ancestors once guarded inside Beichen Pass. According to them, it should be an Innate Spirit Pearl, though it could also be the Inner Core of an Innate Divine Beast, otherwise it wouldn't have preserved the relic's power until now!"
Zhang Jian's gaze fluctuated upon hearing this!
That ancestor of the Star Palace didn't seem to be a significant figure, otherwise, the understanding wouldn't be so ambiguous!
Roar, roar!!
At this moment, a vast, heavy beastly roar suddenly emerged from deep within the relic.
Upon hearing this figure, the five halted their steps, glanced beyond the ruins, their expressions slightly peculiar.
Everyone clearly discerned the terror inherent in this sound's owner.
Zhang Jian thus looked towards Jingming Daoist.
Jingming Daoist explained.
"This is an Outer Realm Fierce Beast passing through this Void Dharma Realm. Such Void relics are often located in particular areas, surrounded by Outer Realm Fierce Beasts, even Outer World Evil Gods, which are considered normal, though generally low-risk…"
But at this moment, the terrifying beastly roar resounded once again.
"..."
Zhang Jian looked upwards, his sensitive Yang God Divine Sense detecting a touch of terrifying dangerous aura.