"Bold, who dares to intrude upon the Five Elements Immortal Sect?"
His eyes faintly gleamed with a hint of purple-gold hue, clearly having cultivated an exceptionally fierce pupil-type immortal technique. Yet, as his gaze swept the void, he saw no abnormal signs.
The other four Primordial Spirit True Monarchs also stood up, as if facing a formidable enemy.
At this moment, a faint voice was heard coming from the depths of the void.
"What intrusion, you say; it sounds really unpleasant. Clearly, you have intruded into my space domain. Try to see if you can no longer move and have become my prisoners!"
The indifferent voice emerged, turning from distant to near, resembling the boundless Heavenly Dao in the firmament, as countless surrounding clouds changed color.
The Five Elements Celestial King Hall disintegrated, the surroundings seemingly transformed into billions of star rivers, with a majestic purple sun in the sky. An imposing Divine Dao Emperor seemed to step out of Ziwei, his form grand, as if mastering the Qiankun Heaven and Earth, with billions of star rivers following.
Purple eyes looked over, with majestic divine might seemingly penetrating into the hearts of the five.
Wan Yang True Monarch, Qi Yang True Monarch, Houyang True Monarch, and Nine Elements Ancestor could not withstand it for a moment, their forms already immobile.
For a moment, the four appeared horrified.
As for De Yang Ancestor, he did not dare to move at all. At this moment, countless Taiyin Ice Soul Divine Light transformed into a cold current flowing quietly over his head, seemingly forming an ice river enveloping the void. His whole body was bristled, and a terrifying shadow of death loomed over his heart.
He felt that should he make any false move, he might turn into an ice sculpture.
He would definitely die!
At this moment, Zhang Jian slowly revealed his true body, Divine Light around him transformed into a vast Treasure Wheel, circling behind him.
Divine Power as vast as the sea.
He now smiled and looked calmly at the five.
"Gentlemen, what do you think of my proposal?"
"Great Xia Emperor!"
At this moment, De Yang Ancestor had recognized Zhang Jian, his face extremely shocked.
He had personally participated in the Tongshan Dao Lineage’s Ascension Ceremony and naturally had seen Zhang Jian.
More so, he had seen Zhang Jian sharing the stage with other Third Generation Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, a treatment not commonly found in Tongshan’s Fourth Generation True Inheritance.
Among the other four Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, Houyang True Monarch had also seen Zhang Jian, his face equally shocked.
When he first met Zhang Jian, Zhang Jian was still an obscured figure, even just setting foot in the Primordial Spirit Realm not long before.
Over twenty years without seeing, the other’s Dao Practice had reached this alarming level.
This was the true child of destiny.
Now facing Zhang Jian’s icy blade-like gaze, De Yang Ancestor spoke in a deep voice.
"Since it is Your Majesty’s kind offer, we from the Five Elements Immortal Sect must comply. We are willing to send Bingyun into the Great Xia Dynasty’s Imperial Court as a consort!"
Zhang Jian’s eyes fluctuated, it wasn’t because he fancied this Immortal Seed from the Five Elements Immortal Sect, nor because he harbored any base desire due to her beauty.
He merely provided a more dignified way out for people from the Five Elements Immortal Sect.
After all, entering the Great Xia Imperial Court was far better than being wed to a Ji Family illegitimate son.
This was leaving a margin of life for the Five Elements Immortal Sect.
The sect, after all, was not the Taiyin Demon Palace or Asura Demon Sect, those Demonic Sects that obliterate human decency.
Beside him, Wan Yang True Monarch opened his mouth but had a gloomy expression. As Zhang Jian’s gaze shifted, it landed on him, warmly asking.
"Fellow Daoist Wan Yang, have you perhaps taken benefits from the Ji Family, feeling unable to adequately explain to them? I have a good solution to that, you won’t need to struggle!"
At this moment, a dangerous gleam flickered in Zhang Jian’s eye.
Upon hearing that, the other four Daoists turned their gazes to Wan Yang True Monarch, seeing Wan Yang True Monarch’s expression change, their eyes showed varying emotions, and Qi Yang Ancestor looked particularly grim, staring gloomily at Wan Yang True Monarch.
Wan Yang True Monarch’s heart sank. Indeed, he then saw changes in the expressions of the other four Five Elements Immortal Sect powerhouses. In his heart, he quietly cursed this Great Xia Emperor but couldn’t utter a single harsh word.
A forced smile appeared on his face.
"Your Majesty jests. Ji Family used an illegitimate son to dismiss us from the Five Elements Immortal Sect, truly unworthy of being human. It is Your Majesty’s favor upon Bingyun as saving Junior Meng from a dire plight. With Great Xia’s prosperity, and Your Majesty as the generation’s Holy Monarch, Bingyun following Your Majesty will surely have her day of becoming an immortal rather than a mere tripod furnace, meeting a miserable fate!"
Zhang Jian knew Meng Bingyun was an unparalleled genius of the Five Elements Immortal Sect over thousands of years, possessing the Innate Profound Yin Dao Body.
This was an exceedingly rare innate Dao Body, inherently pure, containing boundless innate essence, making it adept at practicing any Immortal Technique.
However, the true value lay in the profound female essence she formed, which upon refinement greatly aids in Realm Breakthrough and Foundation Transformation.
Zhang Jian, with a hint of a smile, looked at Wan Yang True Monarch, and said:
"Isn’t this too forceful?"
True Monarch Wan Yang hurriedly said, "For Bingyun to become Your Majesty’s consort is her fortune!"
Zhang Jian nodded, yet with a casual wave of his hand, he bestowed upon "True Monarch Wan Yang" a ’Soul-Cleansing Cyan Lotus.’ The ’Soul-Cleansing Cyan Lotus’ transformed into a spell and fell deeply into the brow of True Monarch Wan Yang.
Facing the stunned gaze of the five individuals, Zhang Jian spoke indifferently.
"This is my ultimate spell. If you comply with my wishes, so be it; if you feign compliance only to disobey, beware, as this spell will activate, shattering your primordial spirit and reducing you to ashes!"
Zhang Jian rarely bestows the ’Cyan Lotus Soul Purification Spell,’ as he often finds it unnecessary, opting instead to directly obliterate from the depths of the primordial spirit.
Or he chooses complete trust.
Only for high-tier cultivators with questionable character does he use the "Cyan Lotus Soul Purification Spell" for control.
Having received the ’Cyan Lotus Soul Purification Spell,’ True Monarch Wan Yang felt both fearful and slightly aggrieved.
This Great Xia Emperor is somewhat overbearing.
Clearly, there were five individuals present in the hall, and even a true immortal, yet he alone was planted with a ’Soul-Cleansing Cyan Lotus,’ while others perfectly avoided it.
But he dared not speak out, lest his fellow disciples, already displeased with him, take the opportunity to strike him down.
Zhang Jian immediately prepared to leave.
But before departing, he turned back, speaking indifferently.
"By the way, in a few days, the Great Xia Dynasty will send another envoy to the Five Elements Immortal Sect, and I ask the Five Elements Immortal Sect to prepare!"
With a slight pause, Zhang Jian sneered.
"I am very tolerant, but I will not tolerate anyone deceiving me. I hope numerous Daoists do not disappoint me!"
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Jian added.
"Furthermore, do not forget to personally escort my Consort Meng to Haojing City!"
After speaking, Zhang Jian lifted the barrier in the hall formed by the Map of Mountains and Rivers, disappearing in an instant.
However, within the hall, the five individuals seemed to have narrowly escaped from the brink of death, their expressions changing dramatically.
Upon hearing Zhang Jian’s words, their faces fell.
This Great Xia Emperor clearly intended to treat the Five Elements Immortal Sect as a vassal of Great Xia.
The Five Elements Immortal Sect, passed down for ten thousand years, had never sunk to this level. The five felt unwilling, but there was nothing they could do; their lives were now entirely under the control of the other party.
The words spoken by the Great Xia Emperor before leaving were a warning.
...
In the depths of the void, taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Jian seized the ’bamboo shoot’ of the Ji Family, yet did not intend to swiftly deal with the upcoming Profound Extreme Sect and Shangqing Sword Sect.
After subduing the most rebellious Five Elements Immortal Sect, the remaining two major sects were no longer a problem.
The Southeast’s two hundred states were now essentially within the grasp of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Zhang Jian must prepare for the wedding of Zhang Zhao six months later.
The Ji Family, as well as other True Immortal clans and barbaric demon gods, were not as easy to handle as the Five Elements Immortal Sect.
Zhang Jian must protect Zhang Zhao during this time.
...
Half a year later, as the beautiful mid-spring season approached.
All of Haojing City seemed to turn a fiery red, filled with an atmosphere of celebration.
Throughout the court and among the populace, everyone knew that the Great Xia Dynasty was on the verge of marrying the proud daughter of the Saint King’s Family, the Si Race, even though most people knew little of the background of the Si Family’s daughter, it did not impede their joy for the Celestial Family.
Since the founding of Great Xia, it has enriched the people.
Thanks to various high-yield crops, many people have gradually escaped hunger and poverty. The great majority can now fill their bellies, most have left behind impoverished and harsh conditions, and the clarity of politics in the region, though conflicts remain, is far better compared to Daqian.
For the Great Xia Dynasty, many people naturally feel genuine approval.
At this time, deep in the Imperial Palace, Zhang Jian, Qi Yuhua, and Bai Liying had already prepared all the wedding carriages and personnel, ready to set off for Ancient Yizhou to fetch the bride.
In front of the Imperial Palace plaza, Zhang Jian lightly waved his hand, and fiery clouds appeared in the void!
Seven Red Vein Fire Dragons emerged from the flames, their dragon bodies stretching dozens of meters, their dragon scales showing a bright red hue, resembling newborn red dragons, even more noble than the actual Dragon Race, instantly harnessed under the dragon chariot.
With the ancient sound of bronze bells and music, the seven red dragons swiftly carried Zhang Zhao and his entourage into the Cyan Nether void.