Zhang Chen infiltrated about a thousand meters underground, found a cave, and then transported the Golden Wind Flower there several times, storing it in the cavern.
After storing the Golden Wind Flower, Zhang Chen turned into mist and disappeared into the night, reappearing inside Huangli Temple.
It was deep into the night, and Xiaodouding was sitting cross-legged in meditation by the candlelight. When Zhang Chen returned, Xiaodouding’s Divine Soul was not in his body, but it was unclear where it had gone.
Looking at Xiaodouding’s body, Zhang Chen felt a bit surprised: "How strange, Xiaodouding can undergo Soul Emergence now? Has he somehow managed to evade the suppressive force of that palace?"
The thought brought some joy to Zhang Chen’s heart, but he then shook his head silently: "This little fellow doesn’t even find someone to stand guard for him. If his body were to be harmed while his soul is out, it would be a big problem."
Zhang Chen busied himself in the courtyard, starting to cook meat and rice. By the latter half of the night, a vague shadow approached from outside the Daoist Temple. When it saw Zhang Chen, its face lit up with delight: "Zhang Chen, you’ve finally returned!"
Xiaodouding’s soul came into the courtyard. Upon seeing Zhang Chen, he was overjoyed, his eyes filled with happiness.
Upon hearing Xiaodouding’s shout, and seeing Xiaodouding’s soul rushing towards him, Zhang Chen quickly suppressed the Golden Light in his body, allowing Xiaodouding’s soul to sit affectionately on his neck.
"Senior Sister’s cultivation is impressive; she can now perform night Soul Emergence. That’s really quite something. Did you resolve the palace?" Zhang Chen asked with a smile.
He found it a bit strange, given the power contained within the palace back then, it should have been extremely heavy, and he estimated that Xiaodouding would at least need to reach the realm of the Yang God to withstand the pressure of the palace for his soul to emerge.
A hint of curiosity appeared in Zhang Chen’s eyes. Xiaodouding’s current state was quite different from what he had secretly speculated before.
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Xiaodouding beamed, "I don’t know where a seal appeared from, but it flashed with Golden Light and managed to seal away the palace’s power. So my soul came out unobstructed."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was astonished. Had his Six-Word True Mantra Seal gained such abilities?
In just half a year, had the Six-Word True Mantra Seal undergone such changes?
Pushing at Xiaodouding’s soul, Zhang Chen said, "Hurry back, and I’ll examine you."
Xiaodouding’s soul happily returned to his body, then opened his eyes to Zhang Chen: "Junior Brother, go ahead and check me! See if there’s anything wrong with my body."
There was a hint of worry in her eyes, but it was well concealed; she didn’t want Zhang Chen to notice and worry about her.
Zhang Chen stepped forward, placing a finger on the center of Xiaodouding’s brow, sensing the changes in his body and soul, especially focusing on the changes in his own Six-Word True Mantra Seal, rendering him astonished:
"The Six-Word True Mantra Seal has transformed from substantial to insubstantial, its Golden Light body refined away, leaving only an immortal nature. Then, this immortal nature absorbed the Incense Faith, shifting from insubstantial to substantial, transforming from a mundane object into a Divine Object. During this process, it absorbed the entire palace’s Creation, dragging and diminishing it, making it illusory and reduced, no longer able to suppress Xiaodouding’s soul."
Zhang Chen was amazed at the changes of the Six-Word True Mantra Seal, it was so powerful, welcoming the Power of Faith like a whale swallowing the Infinite Sea, regardless of the quantity of Incense Faith, it could never be enough for one gulp.
While sensing the Six-Word True Mantra Seal, Zhang Chen saw it had fully solidified, though the Six Words on it were still hazy, needing a significant amount of Power of Faith to fill in.
"This is interesting." Zhang Chen mumbled to himself.
Retracting his hand, Zhang Chen met Xiaodouding’s expectant gaze with a smile: "Most of the trouble is resolved, you should have no immediate worries. But hereafter, you must cultivate diligently, strive to gain the upper hand, and refine the palace."
"Really?" Xiaodouding’s smile widened.
Zhang Chen ruffled Xiaodouding’s hair: "Of course it’s true, but you must be discreet, do not perform Soul Emergence again without my permission. If those old fellows in the Daoist Temple notice something amiss and something happens, it won’t be good."
Xiaodouding nodded vigorously, then stood up, jumped into Zhang Chen’s arms, and gave him a big kiss on the neck: "Zhang Chen, thank you!"
"You’re too kind! No need to thank me!" Zhang Chen said with a smile.
As he spoke, the beef stew was ready, and Zhang Chen led Xiaodouding to eat it.
However, before they finished eating, a figure approached from outside the courtyard, whose voice was carried on the cold wind before his arrival: "Old Daoist, it’s quite a treat you have there, enjoying beef stew in this icy weather."
Upon seeing the old Daoist, Zhang Chen’s pupils contracted; it was the great cultivator of Huangli Temple, Wu Changming.
Seeing Wu Changming, Zhang Chen’s resentment started to rise. He remembered how this old Daoist had promised him a Star God position if he won the big competition, but after winning, the old Daoist had disappeared.
Unperturbed, Wu Changming sat by the pot, picking up chopsticks to chow down on the beef while inviting Zhang Chen and Xiaodouding to join: "Why are you standing there? Come and eat. The beef’s tender and fragrant, a rare treat. If you keep standing there, don’t blame me if I finish it all."
Hearing this, Xiaodouding grabbed chopsticks and joined in, but Zhang Chen didn’t move, watching Wu Changming with intense eyes.
Under Zhang Chen’s persistent gaze, Wu Changming found it challenging to continue eating. With no choice, he said, "I heard about the competition at the Daoist Temple, but I was sent away by that scoundrel Gu Mingyue, so by the time I knew everything, it was too late! I don’t want Zhang Xiaohua to get the Star God position any more than you do, but it’s a done deal given by the Great Virtuous Master, and there’s nothing I can do."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen felt relieved, realizing it wasn’t Wu Changming’s betrayal, and poured a bowl of wine for him: "Master, please drink, it was I who wronged you."
Wu Changming shook his head: "It’s not your fault, it’s all on me, falling into Gu Mingyue’s trap."
Wu Changming was furious, gnashing his teeth, knowing that although Northern Land was his territory, Gu Mingyue had intervened, strengthened further by the Crown Prince of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion joining him. Although the Northern Land Daoist Temple was still nominally under him, Gu Mingyue had been encroaching and eroding its power through Prince Pingbian’s influence. It wouldn’t be long before the Northern Land changed hands.
Wu Changming was upset, but helpless.
What could he do?
If it were merely Gu Mingyue he had to deal with, it wouldn’t matter much, but now Prince Pingbian’s Mansion was also involved. Even if he brought it before the Great Virtuous Master and was ordered to return the territory, could he truly regain control of the Northern Land Daoist Temple?
The laws of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion were above the court’s decrees and Yellow Heaven Dao’s rules.
Wu Changming had suffered silently, feeling great resentment.
If Prince Pingbian had other offspring, fostering another prince might provide a chance to regain power, but with only one heir, what could he do?
He could do nothing but stare blankly.
Wu Changming felt bitter but said nothing further.
Zhang Chen observed Wu Changming, revealing a contemplative expression. He roughly understood the difficult situation Wu Changming was in.