Taking Sides, Rising to Commandery Prominence

Several streaks of black light shot into Qi Yuxian's back like arrows. Piercing, miserable howls rang out, as though some beast had suffered terrifying harm.

A bloody red glow could no longer endure and emerged from all around Qi Yuxian's body. Yet it sprouted countless blood-colored tentacles, some still unwilling to let go, clawing desperately at Qi Yuxian and contorting her beautiful face with unbearable pain.

"Yuxian?"

Watching this, Qi Yuanwu flew into a rage. He drew the long blade at his waist, and a crimson surge of blood and vital force, mingled with fierce dragon-tiger aura, erupted from his body.

"Monster, separate from her!"

The scarlet blade aura slashed down like a bolt of silk, instantly severing the blood-red tentacles.

A dense dragon-tiger aura swept outward. Countless streaks of bloodlight hissed and sizzled, melting away directly like snow beneath the blazing sun.

Zhang Jian watched the scene, an odd glint in his eyes.

Yet his hands did not slow. One Soul-Purifying Talisman after another entered Qi Yuxian's body, helping her dispel that blood-red, sinister aura.

At the same time, a layer of intense crimson light emerged around him.

Extreme Yang spiritual power burst forth, and the temperature throughout the bedchamber rapidly soared. An invisible heat wave swept through the room.

Muffled thunder boomed within the half-enclosed space, while fine strands of scarlet heavenly lightning appeared in the air.

At the same time, twelve illusory crimson talismans appeared in his hand, transforming into streams of light that sealed off the blood shadow's path below.

The flayed blood shadow also sensed the terror of that supremely hard, supremely yang thunderous power. Turning into a streak of red light, it shot toward the outside of the room.

But at that moment, wisps of purple radiance flowed through the sky above the Qi family estate and came rushing toward it.

Within them, the phantom of a scarlet official seal faintly emerged, striking the flayed blood shadow head-on in an instant.

The blow sent it flying backward.

Zhang Jian had anticipated this all along. Twelve scarlet bolts of lightning surged into the blood shadow in an instant. More than a dozen arcs of lightning wrapped around it like vines. Though the blood shadow struggled violently upon contact, it was as if the lightning had stuck fast to it, impossible to shake off.

The blood shadow let out a string of agonized shrieks.

Qi Yuanwu and Qi Yuansi both changed expression at the sight.

Several moments later, a deafening boom erupted like thunder cracking across parched earth.

Amid the thunderous blast, the blood shadow suddenly melted away, directly blasted to death by heavenly lightning.

Only after the blood shadow had been annihilated did the countless scarlet flashes of heavenly lightning behind Zhang Jian slowly fade.

Zhang Jian watched the scene, delight surfacing in his eyes.

This was the true might of a spell.

This was also the first time he had cast a spell without relying on a medium, hand gestures, spell seals, or chanting.

It had been done in one smooth flow.

With this first time behind him, once he became a little more familiar with it, he could further accelerate his casting speed and even employ it in more varied ways.

Naturally, this also meant he could continue deepening his comprehension of this spell and enter an entirely new realm.

"Those unorthodox paths can actually be this terrifying? They can even command heavenly might?"

Qi Yuanwu and Qi Yuansi furrowed their brows tightly, their eyes fixed on Zhang Jian in profound shock.

The image of heavenly lightning flashing without cease had carved itself deeply into their hearts.

Qi Yuanwu was one thing, but Qi Yuansi could not help sighing. In his mind, Zhang Jian had always been a refined scholar, gentle as jade. He had never imagined he possessed such a fierce and formidable side.

That sight of him wielding thunder was enough to overturn the image Qi Yuansi held deep within his heart.

No matter what, Zhang Jian was still his blood nephew.

For his nephew to possess such abilities was a tremendous blessing for the Qi family in its present circumstances.

With the blood shadow destroyed, Qi Yuxian's slender waist was quietly caught in Zhang Jian's arm, keeping her from collapsing to the floor.

Qi Yuanwu hurried forward and took her into his arms, concern written across his face.

"Jian, Yuxian will be all right, won't she?"

Zhang Jian examined her briefly. He was not truly versed in medicine, but his divine sense was powerful, and he detected no lingering sinister spiritual aura within Qi Yuxian's body. Reassured, he casually offered Qi Yuanwu a few comforting words.

"Sister Yuxian was merely stimulated by yin energy. She may need some time to recuperate, but there is nothing seriously wrong!"

At this, Qi Yuanwu's expression eased somewhat.

Yet he had no idea how he was supposed to explain this to Qi Yi and the Dingyuan Marquis's estate.

Madam Zhou had indeed died at the hands of an evil creature, but whether someone stood behind that creature and controlled it was something they knew nothing about.

"Since ancient times, there have only been thieves who steal for a thousand days—how could there be guards who stand watch for a thousand days?"

Qi Yuanwu also knew that Madam Zhou had likely been implicated by the commandery's greater conflict, turning her protective talisman into a death talisman.

Qi Yuanwu sighed inwardly. Yet deep in his heart, there was also a faint flicker of joy, too subtle to be noticed.

He concealed it well. To others, his handsome face was filled only with grief.

In the front hall, the many officials from the commandery city continued waiting for news. Yet the intermittent thunder from the rear courtyard set the officials and guests alike on edge.

The old Daoist standing before Yu Tongguang had his brows tightly drawn as he gazed toward the depths of the Qi family's inner residence.

Recalling the information he had received not long ago, a vague realization rose within him.

"Thunder arts... so this was the person who acted and saved Heavenly Void Daoist?"

"Could it be that the Qi estate truly has another expert hidden within?"

A gloomy look flashed through Daoist Qingyu's eyes. As the Daoist assisting Commandery Governor Yu Tongguang, he naturally could not allow any problems to arise in Yu Tongguang's foundation.

It would also affect his own cultivation.

The commandery governor's estate had secretly taken action against Heavenly Void Daoist before, intending to further pressure the Qi estate and reduce the Qi family's leverage. Now that Heavenly Void Daoist had disappeared and a cultivator who appeared even stronger had emerged, Daoist Qingyu could not help feeling troubled.

Yu Tongguang and several other high-ranking commandery officials also wore subtle, varying expressions.

The rolling thunder made its meaning perfectly clear to them.

Gu Chengyan and Yu You exchanged a glance, their expressions each different.

Gu Chengyan had formed some suspicions, while Yu You's expression kept shifting.

Soon afterward, Qi Yi emerged from the rear courtyard with a dark expression and immediately announced that the lockdown was lifted.

He allowed the many distinguished guests who had come to celebrate the birthday to leave one after another.

Though the officials were curious, none dared remain in the Qi estate any longer, lest Qi Yi change his mind and leave them all dead here.

The commandery officials hurried away.

Commandery Governor Yu Tongguang also departed. Before leaving, he merely offered Qi Yi his condolences, then turned and left the Qi family estate.

Yu Tongguang was likewise full of doubts, with many questions in his heart.

But as he watched the Qi estate gradually draped in white mourning cloth, he felt that this was an excellent opportunity—an opportunity to make a move.

The sudden upheaval at the birthday banquet had far-reaching consequences.

Many sharp-nosed officials both inside and outside Fengyang Commandery knew that a storm would soon descend.

At this time, Heavenly Void Daoist, who had disappeared for some time, also secretly entered the Qi estate.

After the birthday banquet, Zhang Yi did not immediately leave with Madam Zhang Qi. He remained with the Qi family as well, meeting frequently with Qi Yi before finally choosing to depart some time later.

"With Heavenly Void stepping in, my maternal grandfather's attitude will be completely turned around. The Zhang family will also gain the support of the three great families standing shoulder to shoulder. As for whether we can successfully rise to commandery prominence, that will depend on the old man's ability..."

Within the pavilion, Zhang Jian gazed into the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The Zhang family would never be satisfied merely because they had an opportunity to rise into a commandery-prominent family.

That was only a pretext for numbing the three great families, as well as Commandery Governor Yu Tongguang.

With troubled times approaching, heroes would contend for the realm.

Are kings, marquises, generals, and ministers born with noble blood?

With a pretext to conceal their intentions, the Zhang family would accelerate its accumulation of wealth and military preparations.

"The old man is shrewd enough. He should handle everything properly! For now, my task is to raise my cultivation as quickly as possible!"

Zhang Jian's gaze turned toward the distance. If the Zhang family chose this moment to expand and rise to commandery prominence, it would inevitably face greater challenges, as well as the impact of the commandery's wider conflict.

He would need to rely on his own strength to deter external enemies.

This might have been troublesome for other unorthodox practitioners, but for him, it was merely a process he had to undergo in entering the world—indeed, it felt novel.

Because he was not an unorthodox practitioner, but an orthodox immortal cultivator.