His Dao Heart was extremely sensitive. Gazing at True Monarch Zhanmo, he immediately frowned and said.
"Master, could it be..."
He didn’t mention the name of the Demon Monarch.
Such an existence should not be called by name directly.
True Monarch Zhanmo nodded slightly and said,
"The Ancestor Master sent a message; that Demon Monarch is extremely displeased with you and may cause trouble after you ascend."
Zhang Jian frowned; being targeted by a terrifying Daoist Monarch of the Demon Dao was undoubtedly not a light matter.
However, he wasn’t overly worried, as he had protection behind him.
The Tongshan Dao Lineage had Ancestor Master Xia Yu, and once he entered the Fire Cloud Cave and gained further acknowledgment, the protection of the Three Emperors and Five Elders would be his. As long as he didn’t take unnecessary risks, there should be no problem!
The master and disciple strolled leisurely through the mountains.
Although this place was mountainous, it enjoyed a perpetual spring, with ancient trees towering high, birds singing, and flowers blossoming. In the distance, the green mountains appeared like dark eyebrows, shrouded in misty trails, making one forget their worries.
The two resembled an ordinary disciple and master, discussing many interesting matters.
It wasn’t until they unknowingly stepped down to the foot of the mountain that True Monarch Zhanmo halted, her figure gradually fading into the mist.
Zhang Jian watched this scene, with ripples in his eyes, his mind flashing with fragments of many memories.
The fact that he had reached this stage owed much to True Monarch Zhanmo’s help.
He had no thoughts of repayment. If the relationship between master and disciple were to be reduced to a matter of repayment, it would truly spoil the sentiment.
Their relationship could only be described as mutually fulfilling.
At that moment, Zhang Jian turned his gaze to the mountainside below.
In front of the forest, two figures appeared.
"Father!"
Upon seeing Zhang Jian, the two youths bowed respectfully.
Knowing that Zhang Jian had joined the Tongshan Dao Lineage, Zhang Yi and Zhang Xian also hurried over to meet him.
The two had completely different temperaments.
One was masculine, domineering, with vigorous blood energy like a small sun.
The other exuded scholarly aura, elegant and learned, subtly beautiful, yet with eyes brimming with wisdom.
These were Zhang Yi and Zhang Xian.
Zhang Yi, within merely three thousand years, had also achieved the Celestial Immortal Body. In the depths of Zhang Jian’s eyes, Zhang Yi appeared surrounded by boundless wind and thunder, like a powerful deity born from the storm.
Assisted by the Wind and Thunder Immortal Apricot, Zhang Yi’s growth was astonishing.
Achieving celestial status in less than three millennia was an impressive cultivation speed.
On the other side, Zhang Xian’s Dao practice was slightly inferior.
He possessed the Innate Dao Embryo Body but lacked the nourishment of such heaven-and-earth treasures like the Wind and Thunder Immortal Apricot, causing his Dao cultivation to remain at the Primordial Spirit True Monarch level for over two thousand years.
Yet, the accumulation for the Celestial Immortal Realm was perfect.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Jian was quietly satisfied.
With three such Celestial Immortals upholding the East Continent Zhang Family,
the Great Xia Dynasty could remain prosperous for another era. Moreover, with his arrangements, a graceful retreat was not an issue.
He could even solidify the title of a Noble Family of the Saint King.
And perhaps even aspire to the Outer Heaven Realm.
Looking at the two, Zhang Jian said calmly,
"Make time to visit your mother often."
"Yes!"
The two exchanged a glance and respectfully bowed.
They already knew that they would soon be left in the Zhou Mountain Realm, while the two Empresses, Qi and Bai, would ascend to the Celestial Palace with the Great Xia Emperor.
Zhang Jian pondered for a moment and continued,
"Now that you’ve either attained or are about to attain celestial status, you too will need a Supreme Treasure to accompany you. In my youth, I obtained a portion of hidden Immortal Treasures. Some of them were left for the future East Continent Zhang Family, and others are meant for you, to serve as household charms. You can fetch them from your mansion; the Supreme Treasures are already awaiting you there!"
Three thousand years ago, upon first completing his Dao practice, he had slain many Immortal Gods, gaining several Tier Four Immortal Treasures, and even Tier Five Immortal Treasures.
Now, most of these Tier Four Immortal Treasures were of little use to him, so he left them behind.
Such as the Sea God Seal, Mountain-Sealing Seal, Celestial Demon Gourd, and even the Tier Five Immortal Treasure Thousand Jin.
As for the other Tier Five Immortal Treasure, the Pure Meditation Staff, he left it for the Ji Family.
The brothers’ eyes flicked, and they readily agreed.
Seeing this, Zhang Jian said solemnly,
"Cultivate diligently. When I ascend to the Celestial Palace, I’ll provide you with opportunities!"
"Please take care, Father!"
The brothers spoke sincerely.
Zhang Jian waved his hand, and with a step, he vanished into thin air.
...
On the East Suspended Divine Continent, in Fengyang County, within the Bai Shui River Basin.
At this time, Fengyang was exceptionally lively with daily visits from out-of-town merchants and nobles from various counties.
This place was the dragon origin site of the Imperial Zhang Family of the Great Xia Dynasty. The Great Xia Emperor was born and raised here, attracting not just numerous nobles but also many successful cultivators, who would stop by to experience the growth trajectory of a generation’s Saint King.
By the banks of Fengxi stood a giant city, replacing the small town from three thousand years ago.
Here, immortals and mortals coexisted, with mundane zones for ordinary people and an immortal city district for cultivators. The spiritual energy in the East City was much richer, while no Spirit Gathering Array was set in the West City, allowing mortal customs to spread.
A young man, donned in luxurious attire befitting a noble family’s scion, dressed in purple, stepped into Fengxi City.
Zhang Jian looked at the bustling streets on both sides, searching for traces of the past.
However, the vast changes of time had already covered everything.
Though the city was filled with offspring of the Fengxi Zhang Family and even Zhang Jian’s own descendants, there were no familiar faces.
In truth, there were some acquaintances.
But most could barely be considered human.
Zhang Jian’s gaze settled on one side, where a scarlet temple stood in the East City area.
It was one of the many Kitchen God Temples found across the Great Xia Dynasty.
Inside, the shrine was devoted to the Dharma Guardian Divine Monarch, the Kitchen Goddess of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Not far from it stood the Prince Yi Temple, dedicated to another deity, the General City God of the Great Xia Dynasty, also a powerful deity.
Zhang Jian had no intention of disturbing Zhang Yi and Lady Honghua.
He slowly stepped into the Zhang Family’s old mansion.
Back then, his uncles, brothers, and even their children had gradually passed away.
Zhang Jian could only see their images on the Divine Master Tablets.
Prince Qing, King Huai Shan, Prince Ping, Zhang Yun.
Including some of his own offspring.
At that moment, his eyes bore a spark of timeless sky, as if transcending time and space. But shortly after, this hint of ancient aura vanished entirely.
He left the place, tearing through the space to enter Fengyang City.
Fengyang City was taller and more grandiose than three thousand years ago.
After undergoing numerous refurbishments over millennia, it had been restored several times.
"Zhang Family Mansion!"
Zhang Jian stood in front of an old mansion.
It was once his resting place, later becoming the landing spot for the Fengxi Zhang Family in Fengyang County. A jujube tree extended from inside the mansion’s walls, one that had been planted from a seed three thousand years ago, now lush and verdant, blooming with jujube flowers all year round, exceptionally graceful.
Though it couldn’t compare to the one in Haojing City, it was quite pleasing.
The Zhang Family Mansion was still tended by the Zhang family members.
After some thought, Zhang Jian entered, but soon emerged again, his last traces of mortal dust dissipating as his eyes shone more vividly with immortal light.
Just as he stepped out of the Zhang Family Mansion, Zhang Jian suddenly sensed something, his eyes turning towards the depths of the sky.
"Hmm?"
A flicker of amazement passed in his eyes.
The next moment, deep within the sky of the Zhou Mountain Realm, the ever-encircling Taiyin Star appeared visible during the day.
The Taiyin Dao Laws trembled, and from above, the Taiyin Star manifested terrifying anomalies.
Outside the white moon, as if countless fiends and demons had transformed into black clouds, devouring the Taiyin.
"Lunar Eclipse!"
Zhang Jian felt at that moment his Taiyin Authority trembling greatly.
The next moment, outside the Dao Path of Heaven and Earth, as if a majestic blood glow encircled the Taiyin Star, an intense ominous aura surged forth.
But immediately, the sacred Dao aura within the Zhou Mountain Realm surged, instantly dispersing that ominous Dao resonance and fluctuations.
Zhang Jian quickly realized that this anomaly came from the Outer World.
Whatever had happened beyond, it had caused such an ominous sign.