Phoenix Spirit’s ascension did not keep Zhang Jian waiting for long.
Without interference from other high-tier cultivators, she swiftly broke through the Fifth Tribulation of the Yin Spirit, the Reincarnation Life and Death Tribulation.
Vast auspicious clouds and purple aura emerged.
Accompanied by a resonant phoenix cry, a blazing golden light fell from the heavens, countless divine light spread through the earth, celestial music resonated, and a majestic golden phoenix soared freely between heaven and earth, displaying the posture of a phoenix boldly.
The spiritual pressure of the Divine Beast flowed throughout the void, drawing countless gazes.
Moments later, it transformed into a golden light that landed on the ground, revealing a graceful, noble figure within the golden radiance.
A radiance flowed around her, and even a circle of golden light appeared behind her head.
"Primordial Spirit Golden Body!"
Witnessing this anomaly, Zhang Jian was slightly surprised. Having merged the phoenix essence qi from the Phoenix Ancient Jade, Phoenix Spirit unexpectedly crossed into the Pure Yang Realm in an instant, cultivating the Primordial Spirit Golden Body.
Zhang Jian felt a slight admiration, but not too surprised.
Phoenix Spirit closed her eyes slightly, sensing a bit of her own condition, and a trace of joy appeared in her eyes. Afterwards, she gracefully bowed to Zhang Jian.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your protection!"
Zhang Jian nodded slightly and smiled.
"Take some time to retreat and adapt to the primordial spirit magical power. Great Xia will need more primordial spirit masters to uphold the empire’s dignity in the future!"
Phoenix Spirit nodded.
After Phoenix Spirit successfully transcended her tribulation, Zhang Jian began arranging the ancestor worship ceremony.
With the establishment of the new dynasty, there should be a formal ancestor worship ceremony.
To worship the ancestors and soothe the spirits of the deceased.
The Zhang Family’s leap across social strata is also a matter of family honor.
The Zhang Clan members were more eager about this than Zhang Jian.
Now, with Zhang Jian ascending the throne, other family members should belong to the royal family. However, except for Zhang Jian’s direct children who have been ennobled, other people’s titles have not yet been decided.
Hence, how could other Zhang Clan members not be deeply anxious?
Especially after a few days when the court announced plans to determine titles for other Zhang Family members, their enthusiasm soared.
...
At the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the plaque had been removed and replaced with the words Zhang Family.
After Zhang Jian and his wife moved into the Imperial Palace, this became the old Zhang Family residence.
After Zhang Yi and his wife entered the capital, they temporarily lived here.
Under the jujube tree, Zhang Yi and his wife were sitting with slightly helpless expressions, while beside them was a young man with a delicate appearance and natural demeanor.
Zhang Min.
After studying diligently for over ten years, Zhang Min has passed the provincial examination and achieved the title of advanced scholar, but due to Zhang Jian’s influence in the court, Zhang Min had avoided participating in the Ministry of Rites Examination.
However, Zhang Min’s outstanding literary talents are widely recognized in the Southern Provinces. If he hadn’t avoided the examination, many scholars believe he would definitely rank highly.
Nearby was Aunt Zhou, middle-aged, gazing pitifully at Zhang Yi.
"Master, I don’t care about others, but Min’Er sacrificed so much for his brother’s reputation. We can’t just dismiss him with a Duke title!"
Zhang Yi’s face stiffened, scolding.
"Who told you Ah Yu intends to ennoble Min’Er as Duke?"
Aunt Zhou looked a bit fearful but couldn’t help looking at Zhang Min beside her and said:
"The servants are all talking about it!"
Zhang Yi’s face darkened: "Then tell me, which servants?
This is a national matter, it’s not for others to gossip about! Tell me who it is, I’ll sell them off immediately, the Zhang Family won’t tolerate anyone spreading baseless rumors!"
Zhang Min frowned nearby, pulling Aunt Zhou behind him, and bowed, saying.
"Father, Mother, Auntie was only worried about my future, which disrupted the Zhang Family’s rules. Please don’t blame her; I’ll keep a close watch. If any rumor spreads, I’ll forfeit my career and stay home to accompany!"
At this, Aunt Zhou paled, hurriedly saying.
"Brother Min, stop saying such nonsense, I won’t say anything anymore, there’s no need for such a harsh oath!"
Zhang Yi’s expression softened slightly, seeing Zhang Min’s demeanor, obviously not the cause of the rumors, which was best.
Beside, Madam Zhang Qi looked displeased; if not for Zhang Min’s sake, she wouldn’t spare Aunt Zhou.
Zhang Yi waved his hand, shooing Aunt Zhou like a fly.
Zhang Min bowed and said.
"Father, if there’s nothing else, I shall return to the Ministry of Rites!"
Zhang Yi nodded slightly upon hearing this.
The Great Xia also has the Nine Ministers, and among them, the role of Minister of the Imperial Clan Court is usually held by the prince with the highest prestige in the clan.
Zhang Yi temporarily serves as the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, but he is ultimately the birth father of the Emperor. After the ancestral worship ceremony, he will certainly receive a title of nobility, and perhaps even take on the title of Supreme Emperor, so he naturally cannot hold two roles.
Currently, within the Zhang Family, Zhang Jian and Zhang Min have been close since childhood. He intends to groom this second son, though Aunt Zhou’s petty behavior nearly derailed Zhang Min’s future.
Zhang Yi looked at Madam Zhang Qi beside him and sighed, "Wife, since Ah Yu ascended the throne, our distant relatives are becoming more frequent. These people, when their desires are unmet, tend to stir up trouble. You must help me keep an eye on this, especially in the inner residence; refrain from seeing those who should not be seen, and don’t feel obligated by sentiment!"
"Pride ends in suffering!"
Hearing this, Madam Zhang Qi nodded.
After some thought, Zhang Yi suddenly asked, "How are things on Madam Qi’s side recently?"
After losing her position, the former Empress Qi caused quite a stir in the Qi Family. It was said her niece frequently went to the Imperial Father-in-law’s Mansion to cry and complain.
Truth be told, Zhang Yi felt some lament.
The former Empress’s abrupt change in demeanor after losing her title was remarkable.
Madam Zhang Qi shook her head and said, "Husband, rest assured, my brother and sister-in-law won’t allow Yu Zhu to continue causing trouble. Yu Hua is also their daughter; it’s just a matter of exchanging one daughter for another as Empress. How could they favor one over the other!"
"Moreover, Ah Yu intends to provide prospects to some of the young men in the Imperial Father-in-law’s Mansion!"
Zhang Yi was finally satisfied upon hearing these words.
The couple both appeared pleased.
Witnessing a family rise from obscurity to unprecedented heights is a joy that comforts their hearts.
...
The ancestral worship ceremony was grand and magnificent.
However, the chosen venue was quite sparse, with only a hastily built Grand Ancestral Temple.
In the temple, only some of the Divine Master Tablets and Golden Body Paintings from the Zhang Clan Ancestral Land were relocated here.
Inside the Grand Ancestral Temple, heaps of gold and silver yuanbao burned, sending streams of blue smoke into the firmament.
This time, Zhang Jian prepared a newly refined magical treasure as a ritual offering, hidden among piles of gold and silver yuanbao in the central bronze tripod to be melted together.
Subsequently, some half-siblings and even uncles were conferred titles.
Zhang Min was bestowed the title of Prince Duan, while other half-siblings were granted the noble titles of Duke, Prince, County Princess, and Commandery Princess by Zhang Jian.
Each title was thoughtfully assigned.
The three uncles by blood, Zhang Duan, Zhang Kui, and Zhang Yun, were each granted the title of Prince, yet Zhang Jian left some room for advancement!
If they were directly enfeoffed as Princes, there would be no upward mobility in the future, and these uncles might indulge themselves.
Besides, each noble title in the Great Xia would come with territories and stipends, so Zhang Jian would not confer them lightly.
Next, Zhang Yi and his mother, Madam Zhang Qi, were respectively appointed as Grand Ancestor Emperor and Empress Dowager by Zhang Jian.
In a deep part of the Imperial Palace, Zhang Jian also constructed a big palace for the two of them, although with their restless nature, it might just end up as a mere decoration.
After worshiping the ancestors, it was time to worship Heaven and all the gods.
Among the gods, the Sheji Emperor of the Sheji Divine Dao took precedence.
This Sheji Emperor was a genuine Upper Realm Ancient Immortal.
Zhang Jian wouldn’t skimp on the requisite courtesies.
Such a magnificent and grand ceremony naturally caught the attention of the gods of the Sheji Divine Dao.
The gods of the Sheji Divine Dao had long been aware of the founding of the Great Xia.
They waited for the Great Xia’s worship of the gods to find their roles once again in the land of Great Xia.
At this moment, a figure clad in the Emperor’s Robe appeared in the void, gazing with surprise deep into the Grand Ancestral Temple at the various Divine Master Tablets placed at the forefront.
"Lord Zhang, Youren’s Spirit Tablet?"
"Lord Zhang, Longevity’s Spirit Tablet?"
"Lord Zhang, Spiritual Wisdom’s Spirit Tablet?"
Finally, his gaze landed on a grand female Golden Body.
"Daoist Monarch Qingxia?"
With just a glance, the face of the Sheji Great Immortal turned peculiar.
He would certainly not mistake the Golden Body Dharma Aspect of his superior.