In the east of the city, in front of a grand mansion, the central huge plaque originally bearing the character 'Wan' was being replaced by several old soldiers with the name Zhang Family.
This mansion in the east of the city covered a vast area and belonged to an official under Yu Tongguang's command in a certain Commandery City.
After Yu Tongguang's downfall, this official was targeted by the four great families, along with many local powerful families, and is now in prison. The women of his family have also been detained and are awaiting punishment.
After the confiscation of this official's assets, Zhang Jian acquired the mansion at a low price.
This is considered to be the Zhang Family's first formal foothold in Fengyang Commandery City.
"This Dharma Artifact is indeed mysterious!"
At this moment, inside the mansion, Zhang Jian was tinkering with the Fog Banner. Playing with it in his hand, magical power penetrated the inside of the Fog Banner, and his sensitive Divine Thought was scanning for some subtle details. Within his deep Divine Thought, he could 'see' the internal material structure of the flag being altered by magical power. Inside, there were countless peculiar patterns, much like the internal fundamental structure of weapons like a sword blade or a sickle used for farming.
Inside, there are also special 'meridian patterns' that ensure the Dharma Artifact has a channel, or even multiple channels, to connect with the outside, to automatically absorb Spiritual Mechanism from the heavens and earth, or to absorb the magical power of a cultivator.
The core deep inside is a stable magic structure.
This is a single structure unit.
"Using an academic system to explain, it's a bit like a magic position within a cultivator's Mud Ball Palace, with magic runes inscribed in the Divine Thought, while a Dharma Artifact is carved on the material of the Dharma Artifact. This is a form of simulation!"
Zhang Jian whispered to himself.
But the specific variations inside, he could not see clearly due to inadequate knowledge. For now, he is still an outsider in the field of Immortal Materials.
But it can be imagined that those more powerful Dharma Artifacts are likely not of single structure, but rather complex results, much like the structure of chemical materials.
Zhang Jian sighed in his heart.
On the path of cultivation, he is still just a beginner.
"Indeed, killing and slaughter is merely an accompaniment after knowledge and realm improve!"
Zhang Jian mused silently.
He channeled magical power through the Fog Banner in his hand, and suddenly a white mist rose into the air, transforming into clouds, birds, wild beasts, and beautiful women in his hand, having a lot of fun.
Then Zhang Jian found out that after this display, a considerable amount of his magical power was consumed…
He casually put away the Fog Banner. This Dharma Artifact, if used well, could be quite useful, especially in battles. Unless facing a cultivator well-versed in wind-type magic, it is still usable.
For now, it can temporarily fill his empty Dharma Artifact position.
But not in the long run.
After some indulgence, Zhang Jian could confirm that every cultivator capable of Divination Foundation Establishment has a limited number of Dharma Artifacts they can control and foster. It's not about having more, but rather scientific and reasonable allocation!
Then Zhang Jian took out that crimson pearl to examine it, but after looking over it, he couldn't figure it out yet. Zhang Jian could only vaguely guess that it might have something to do with the Phoenix.
After all, the first time he touched this Treasure Pearl, he indeed heard the Phoenix's cry from nine heavens.
Of course, now when he stimulates it with magical power, he can hear it too.
"It can serve as a radio; listening to the phoenix's cry when bored is not bad and can cleanse stray thoughts..."
On the reclining chair, Zhang Jian stood up and gently stretched, then arranged for the ancestral worship.
He specially waited until the fall of the Commandery Governor's Mansion to conduct the ancestral worship, just to see if he could get more advantages from the 'ancestor' in the Ancestral Hall.
At this moment, Zhang Lu also entered the mansion hurriedly with Hu Shan and other old soldiers. From afar outside, there were a dozen large red wooden boxes.
"Young Master, I found something good!"
Inside the mansion, Zhang Jian was having his servants move gold and silver ingots, when Zhang Lu joyfully approached to present his treasure.
"Oh?" Zhang Jian looked at Zhang Lu with surprise.
He had personally searched the Commandery Governor's Mansion thoroughly, and anything truly valuable, he would naturally not miss. But aside from some antiques and paintings, there was almost nothing.
Especially Qing Yu Daoist, whom he focused on, seemed to have anticipated it and moved all his wealth away, leaving him no benefits.
What valuable treasure could Zhang Lu possibly have found?
"Young Master, it's books. I raided the entire library of the Commandery Governor's Mansion!"
Zhang Lu wore a proud expression at this point. As he waved, Hu Shan, Xiaoxie, and others carried in large red wooden boxes, filled with countless classics.
Zhang Jian flipped through them slightly and immediately realized the value of these classics, patting Zhang Lu on the shoulder.
Zhang Lu was quite attentive.
This thing might not be much coveted by other County-Honored Clans, but the Zhang Family is in dire need of them.
"Well done!"
"With this, my Zhang Family can be considered a scholarly family, passing down the family through farming and reading!"
Zhang Lu chuckled foolishly at these words, but his eyes couldn't hide the showing off as he glanced at Hu Shan beside him. Hu Shan, on the other hand, looked at Zhang Lu with helpless exasperation. In his view, those antiques and calligraphy from the Commandery Governor's Mansion were the real treasures, but this fool before him insisted on raiding the library. There's nothing he could do about it.
...
At the Commandery Governor's Mansion, at this time the entire Commandery Governor's Mansion had quieted down, but there were still many County Soldiers guarding the periphery, preventing ordinary people from easily approaching.
On a large willow tree at the end of the street, several birds were resting on the branches.
A strange bird perched on a branch, entirely white, like a hen, round and plump. However, the other birds seemed to ignore its presence, as if they could not see it at all.
Its gaze, however, was fixed on a woman in black clothing standing under the tree.
This woman in black had a regal and unique aura. The birds on the branches seemed to carry respect and reverence upon her appearance, ceasing their frolicking.
"The Phoenix Soul is gone!"
The black-clad figure's phoenix eyes swept over the upper and lower parts of the Commandery Governor's Mansion, with a thick, deep expression in her eyes.
Like a dark old well, carrying a deepness that could swallow everything.
She had been wandering around the Commandery Governor's Mansion for a long time, just to find the other half of her missing soul that originally belonged to her.
Previously, the perimeter of the Commandery Governor's Mansion was filled with Dragon and Tiger Qi, strong in nature, so even someone as strong as her did not dare to rush in rashly.
Unexpectedly, only after being away for a short time, the Commandery Governor's Mansion now lay in ruins.
And the treasure she was guarding also disappeared.
...
Meanwhile, in a magnificent Immortal Realm, in front of the Two Realms Pool, the Qingxia Goddess felt something. She slowly walked to the front of the Two Realms Pool, knowing that below, someone was worshipping her again, with supreme incense emerging.
Only this time, the sight made her eyes flicker slightly, as she saw a great golden light flying out from within, like a long golden river in a split second.
Additionally, dragon and phoenix anomalies soared!
"One hundred thousand superior incense…"