Zhang Jian took out the Dragon Pearl, a strong surge of Spiritual Power in his hand enveloping the pearl, isolating it from the invisible pull.
He glanced outside the Qi Mansion.
Zhang Jian’s eyes held a hint of indifference, without a trace of curiosity.
He casually tucked the Dragon Pearl back into his sleeve, not interested in pursuing the reason behind it.
Sometimes, having less curiosity can be better for oneself.
It would mean fewer complications.
He was already high-profile enough now.
Next, he needed to calm his mind and focus on studying several Daoist Techniques in hand, which required a great deal of effort.
Now he simply needed to wait for the Zhang Family to expand to a certain extent, so that he could return to his ancestor and reap the benefits.
If the Zhang Family ascended to the status of a County-Honored Clan and conducted another ancestral sacrifice, there would surely be great rewards.
Many unnecessary risks no longer needed to be taken.
Moreover, this Dragon Pearl in his hand must not be allowed to have any problems.
When the time came to alleviate the drought in the counties surrounding Fengyang County, this Dragon Pearl would be indispensable.
Zhang Jian continued to calm his mind, beginning to ponder the Wind Thunder Unification practice of the Wind and Thunder Technique.
The Small Wind and Thunder Technique could be split into the Wind Walking Technique and the Thunder Walking Technique.
These were just two basic Minor Magics.
He had already mastered both techniques, with no immediate potential for further advancement.
To go further, he had to comprehend Wind Thunder Unification, merging two Talismans to form a new Wind and Thunder Talisman.
This was even more challenging.
But it was imaginable that once mastered, the power would be even more formidable.
Zhang Jian had some ideas on this.
At the same time, he hadn’t neglected the study of the Lung Gold Sword Talisman.
The Lung Gold Sword Talisman is the foundation of the Flying Sword Technique.
Condensing a Lung Gold Sword Talisman also required special conditions.
First and foremost was a certain basic Swordsmanship, which Zhang Jian was diligently consolidating.
A certain foundation in Swordsmanship was essential to sense the aura in the short sword that could cut down all things, with its chilling atmosphere, and thus engrave it deeply into the Divine Thought.
Otherwise, one might actively absorb Metal and Iron Essence Qi into the lungs to condense a Lung Gold Sword Talisman, but as Daoist Tianxu said, this is a most inferior method of cultivation.
The Metal Qi was too sharp, inadvertently damaging the meridians and leaving dark injuries.
Besides this, there should undisclosed implicit conditions in the spell manuals.
Zhang Jian could imagine some of these implicit conditions, similar to cultivating the Wind and Thunder Technique; possessing a Gold Element Spirit Root would significantly enhance such Daoist Techniques.
Zhang Jian was determined not to go out, causing some people to start having headaches.
...
Outside the Qi Mansion, a graceful figure shrouded in misty gauze, half-hidden with a pipa, stood alongside two maids.
She frowned while gazing inward into the depths of the Qi Mansion, her eyes reflecting a grave expression.
She was the daughter of Bai Shui Dragon Monarch, a genuine Dragon Maiden.
In her Secret Technique’s sensing, the Dragon Pearl was within the Qi Mansion.
Yet a thick layer of Dragon and Tiger Qi enveloped the Qi Mansion, making it impossible for her to enter.
She dared not forcibly intrude now.
The Dragon Maiden was secretly frustrated.
If the other party insisted on not leaving the Qi Mansion, she indeed had no means.
Now she could only squat nearby, like an old timer, waiting for her target to appear.
However, she was not inflexible and was preparing to devise a method to make the target appear willingly.
...
Zhang Jian quietly cultivated in the small courtyard until the summer heat in heaven and earth gradually dissipated.
Many disciples inside and outside Qi Mansion were explicitly instructed by Qi Yi not to disturb Zhang Jian’s secluded cultivation unless absolutely necessary.
Qi Yi also placed great importance on Zhang Jian’s cultivation.
The Qi Mansion now lacked a Protective Talisman, and the presence of cultvator Zhang Jian held great significance for the entire mansion.
Daoist Tianxu once told him that Zhang Jian’s Dao Practice far exceeded his own.
On that day, a flash of cold golden light appeared in the courtyard, swiftly forming a golden talisman in the void, instantly transforming into a sword light, slicing several green bamboos into two, imprinting a deep mark on the stone-paved ground where it landed.
Icy sharpness, daunting.
"Success!"
Seeing this scene, a smile appeared in Zhang Jian’s eyes; over a month of effort had not been in vain.
"Congratulations, Brother Zhang, on mastering the Lung Gold Sword Talisman, adding another technique to your arsenal!"
At this moment, a hearty laugh came from the side corridor.
Two figures stood in the distance, witnessing this scene, Qi Yi’s face full of astonishment, while Daoist Tianxu’s eyes glinted with envy.
In just about a month, he managed to master this Daoist Technique, much stronger than he was.
In the past, he could never grasp the essence nurtured in the short sword’s aura, having no choice but to forge the Lung Gold Sword Talisman using Metal Qi, a process which took over a year to barely complete.
Zhang Jian had long noticed the two figures’ presence and nodded slightly.
He glanced at the sharp sword by his side, casually taking it into his hand, another Talisman appearing in his hand, attached to the sharp sword, and with a casual swing, a fierce Sword Aura shot out, equally capable of cutting gold and breaking jade.
The Sword Qi was austere, the light even more dazzling, threatening.
This was the most correct application of the Lung Gold Sword Talisman.
A single Sword Talisman, although sharp, was too cumbersome to be thrown merely as a hidden weapon.
However, with excellent Swordsmanship, the Lung Gold Sword Talisman could become versatile, either immensely powerful or subtly vicious.
"It looks like you’ll need to put in some hard work on Sun and Moon Swordsmanship as well!"
A hint of eagerness appeared in Zhang Jian’s eyes.
Who hasn’t dreamt of flying on a sword, traversing rivers and stars?
Zhang Jian’s heart was brimming with ambition.
He soon calmed down.
He merely glanced at the blade, gradually cracking, shaking his head; the Lung Gold Sword Talisman’s power was too fierce, consuming weapons rapidly.
Qi Yi and Daoist Tianxu stepped closer, noticing Zhang Jian’s expression. Daoist Tianxu shook his head and said,
"Brother Zhang, the Flying Sword Technique indeed boasts terrifying lethality, but it requires a fine Magic Sword to unleash its power!"
Zhang Jian shook his head.
"A Magic Sword is not easily obtained."
Let alone a Magic Sword, he had never even seen an ordinary Dharma Artifact.
But he knew the power of Dharma Artifacts, seeing the Purple Sun Magical Sword in Daoist Tianxu’s hands; in critical moments, relying on this Magic Sword, he could easily dispatch two demons of similar strength.
Even a five-hundred-year-old Black Tiger Demon was injured by him.
Daoist Tianxu, witnessing this scene, couldn’t help but glance at Qi Yi, laughing,
"Old friend, I remember your Qi Mansion hosts many famous good swords from Jianghu; why not let Brother Zhang select one as a practice weapon?"
Qi Yi chuckled, shaking his head but then said,
"Ah Yu, this old man Tianxu is right; for practicing swordsmanship, one must have a handy weapon!"
"A good weapon can add wings to a tiger!"
Hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded.
To practice the Flying Sword Technique, a sword was indeed necessary; without a Magic Sword, a sharp, tenacious sword would suffice.