Promise!

Chapter 298, Five Years

Having been given a rude awakening that day, Xuan Yuan Shi Ji, the inspector, became much more obedient in the days that followed.

After Zhuang Jin revealed such overwhelming moves, if he still dared to force his way in and break off relations, he might very well provoke the other party to do something extreme. He is greedy, but he is not stupid.

Correspondingly, given Xuan Yuan Shi Ji's special status, unless pushed to the brink, Cangzhou, or rather Zhuang Jin, was unwilling to risk public condemnation by killing him.

Without wanting to escalate the conflict, the three great families prepared a benefit for this person. However, it was far less than what Xuan Yuan Shi Ji had expected the three great families would receive, but the quality of this gift was slightly better than that of a normal inspector, so as not to cause him to turn against them.

On the other hand, the three great families were quite cooperative in investigating matters of spiritual energy, which can be considered a form of compensation.

Xuanyuan Shiji's main purpose for this trip was to investigate whether the leaked spiritual energy in the Funiu Mountains could be replicated, as this was related to Emperor Qianyuan's longevity.

Doing this job well would be a great achievement. The benefits that I didn't get from the three great families of Cangzhou could be made up for by doing this job. If the investigation yields results, it may even be possible to recreate the past in the future, or I may even be able to enjoy spiritual energy to prolong my life. Therefore, I am extremely dedicated to this job.

This time, the 'Tomb Calamity' and the appearance of wandering spiritual energy in the drain, along with various other information, were investigated by Xuan Yuan Shi Ji. He probed and inquired about the whole story. The three great families no longer concealed anything with euphemisms and explained it in great detail. They also arranged for people to conduct on-site investigations and cooperated fully.

Don't assume that the three great families have changed their ways and become more docile; this is just on the surface.

When Cangzhou suffered a great disaster, the imperial court turned around and sent Xuan Yuan Shiji, a third-level Yin God Realm inspector, without considering their thoughts. He was such a greedy person, openly testing their strength.

Xuanyuan Shiji came over, clearly with ill intentions. If it weren't for Zhuang Jin, who knows how much flesh would have been cut off.
At the same time, on their own turf, they want to get something for nothing, to obtain the information that they have made great sacrifices for. Where does that leave them?
The three great families felt their authority had been challenged and were quite aggrieved. Did they really think they had no temper?
In investigating matters of spiritual energy, cooperating with Xuanyuan Shiji involves only two points: First, less effort in terms of resources; second, harboring malicious intentions and digging pitfalls in key areas, such as lightly omitting the anomaly of the Suspended Mirror.

The former goes without saying, as for the latter, regarding the anomaly of the Sky-Piercing Mirror, the three great families gave the same explanation: after the Prism Beast caused the defect, the Sky-Piercing Mirror instinctively resonated and flew to make up for it.

Although Xuanyuan Zhengji witnessed the changes in the Suspended Mirror, his own circumstances made it uncertain.

In this matter, Xuan Yuan Zhengji was not like Shangguan Jin Feng and Cen Chong Xuan, who understood the Suspended Sky Mirror and had the original authority to know it deeply. Even so, they were not entirely sure that there was a spirit in the mirror. He was also not like Zhuang Jin, who had connected with his soul and, with the help of Shangguan Yun Chang's three-tenths authority and his own powerful soul, was able to sense the subtle fluctuations in the Suspended Sky Mirror and was absolutely certain of it.

This involves the Suspended Heaven Mirror and the core secrets of the aristocratic families, so Xuan Yuan Zhengji couldn't ask for details. How many speculations there were, and what those speculations were, were very difficult to say.

Don't underestimate this point.

The presence of spirits in the mirror confirms this, suggesting that other suspended mirrors are likely similar, and that the immortals may have made other arrangements to prepare for them. If one is unaware of this, and mistakenly believes that the immortal has been missing for a long time and is uncontrollable, and that one can imitate Cangzhou's actions by recreating the earth drain to obtain free spiritual energy for longevity, one will likely suffer a great loss.

Zhuang Jin knew that Xuan Yuan Shiji had ill intentions. If it weren't for his intimidation, who knows what the other party might have done. Therefore, he cooperated with the three major families to dig a big pit, which could be considered as revenge.

……

Half a month later, outside Cangzhou City.

Just as they had welcomed him that day, the Cangzhou forces, represented by Zhuang Jin, Shangguan Jinfeng, Shangguan Yunchang, and Cen Chongxuan, saw off Xuan Yuan Shiji, the inspector.

—The former governor of Cangzhou, Xuanyuan Zhengji, left on the same day that Xuanyuan Shiji arrived, to go to the capital to report on his duties. According to custom, the new governor will not arrive until the end of the first month.

"You must be tired from your journey. This travel expense is our family's way of expressing our gratitude to Lord Xuanyuan. It is just a small token of our respect."

"Thank you very much!"

Xuanyuan Shiji forced a smile, knowing even a fool that the 'travel expenses' wouldn't be much.

These days, he has already experienced how difficult the Cangzhou aristocratic families are to deal with. They don't give big gifts, but they keep giving small ones. They are always happy to receive gifts, and through the "enthusiasm" of receiving gifts many times, they make up for the lack of the actual total amount.

However, although the total amount was insufficient, it was still slightly more than the usual benefits that the inspectors should have given, leaving no room for complaint. They were also extremely cooperative in investigating spiritual energy, and at the same time, they had Zhuang Jin's overwhelming methods as a deterrent... It really made Xuan Yuan Shi Ji feel that he was being manipulated in every aspect, which was extremely frustrating.

"No need to see me off, fellow Daoists, please wait."

Xuanyuan Shiji clasped his hands in a fist salute, got into his car, and left. His figure looked somewhat hurried and disheveled.

Zhuang Jin watched the man leave, and intuitively felt that just as the flapping of a butterfly's wings could create a storm in a distant land, Xuan Yuan Shiji's trip to Cangzhou, which seemed insignificant and trivial at the moment, might become a catalyst or a trigger that could stir up a huge wave in the near future.

Upon realizing this, he suddenly felt as if he were in history, deeply writing the annals of time.

"Free-floating spiritual energy can support physical transformation and prolong lifespan; after Xuanyuan Shiji returned to the capital, Emperor Qianyuan, knowing the details of the 'Chun Disaster' in Cangzhou, might emulate it. Faced with the temptation of extended lifespan, he could not remain compliant."

'However, judging from the facts, that immortal is doing his utmost to prevent the emergence of immortal warriors, let alone immortal emperors. This can also be seen from the spirit within the Cangzhou Suspended Mirror; that immortal has made many arrangements in secret.'

'When the Great Qian Dynasty, the imperial clans, and the immortals clash, one wrong move could cause an earthquake!'

Thinking of this, Zhuang Jin felt a sense of urgency and knew that she should make the most of her time and focus on cultivation.

……

Time flies, and five years have passed in the blink of an eye. It is now the end of the seventy-second year of the Qian Yuan era.

The power of time is immense; everything changes rapidly, like fleeting clouds.

The Third Ring Road was devastated during the 'Tomb Disaster' and is now a thing of the past. It has been rebuilt and renovated, with a more rational design, and looks more magnificent and orderly. Its prosperity is even greater than before.
The people of Cangzhou City and the independent martial artists suffered many deaths and injuries because of the "Tong Calamity". In recent years, the competition has weakened and they have enjoyed a period of good life. Now that they are satisfied with their lives, the shadow of the disaster has faded a lot. It is no longer a thorn in their hearts that they cannot even mention. In fact, it is often seen that some people sigh and lament about it in teahouses and restaurants.
The number of exotic beasts in the Funiu Mountains is also rapidly recovering, radiating vitality. — The Funiu Mountains are part of the Mangcang Mountains, and the beasts of the endless Mangcang Mountains are the best supplement. After the 'Chun Calamity,' the number of exotic beasts in the Funiu Mountains dropped to an all-time low. As the living environment improved, beasts entered and gradually transformed into exotic beasts in the environment of abundant spiritual energy in this wondrous place. They grew stronger with each ebb and flow of spiritual energy until a dynamic balance was reached again.

Everything is moving closer to the original state of Cangzhou. Apart from memories and lessons, it seems that the 'Tomb Disaster' left nothing behind.

Oh, even the Chunling Qiu monster escaped one or two of its origins, and later the three great families found ways to restrain it, creating the 'Spirit-Seeking Disc' to wipe them out one by one.

—For the three great families, those exposed to their sight, and not like Zhuang Jin who suddenly soared into the sky like a dragon caught off guard, exceeding the limits of their ability to cope, can be dragged into their rhythm in a stalemate given enough time. With their profound foundation, vast accumulation, and richer experience, they can defeat or stifle them.

Speaking of the three great families, Ge Daoqian of the Ge family cultivated Ge Zhaozhen, the next head of the family. In the second year after the outbreak of the 'Chun Calamity', he broke through to the Yin God realm with the power of the Suspended Heaven Mirror. Thus, Shangguan Yunchang, Cen Chongxuan and Ge Zhaozhen, the heads of the three great families were complete, and the trump card 'Yesterday Reappears' could be used again.

Perhaps spurred on by the inspector Xuanyuan Shiji, the three great families joined forces to hold a grand Yin God celebration for Ge Zhaozhen as a form of intimidation.

Against this backdrop, Zhuang Jin, the undisputed number one person in Cangzhou, has kept a very low profile in recent years, focusing solely on cultivation, and his presence has faded considerably.

……

On this day, in a secluded courtyard on the fourth ring road of Cangzhou City.

During the 'Chun Calamity' incident, the Suspended Mirror underwent a strange change. Zhuang Jin realized that there was a spirit in the mirror. After that, he returned. Because the area within the Third Ring Road was damaged by the beast tide, he temporarily stayed in the Fourth Ring Road. Later, due to habit, he continued to live here.

Behind this lies a deep-seated defense against the spirit within the Hanging Mirror.

As for such drawbacks, the concentration of heaven and earth energy in the fourth ring of Cangzhou is relatively poor. As for daily cultivation issues, Zhuang Jin is no ordinary Yin spirit. With a thought, he can cover and encompass the area, directly drawing in the heaven and earth energy of the third ring without any impact.

"Zhuang Bo!"

A little girl who looked about six or seven years old, with pigtails, wearing a light yellow jacket and a yellow skirt, came in.

Beside it, the purple kangaroo and the fire phoenix were already very familiar with it. The former even jumped into its arms and stuffed a purple bamboo seed into its mouth, while the latter also gave a friendly call and then preened its own feathers.

"It's Xiaoya!"

This little girl, named Ji Heya, is Ji Tongwei's daughter.

Ji Tongwei died two years ago after failing to break through to the Innate Realm, so Zhuang Jin felt a little pity for the daughter he left behind.

—Perhaps Ge Mingzhi succeeded in breaking through to the Innate Realm first, and Ji Tongwei was too competitive; perhaps it was the invisible pressure from his family; or perhaps it was because Ji Tongwei came from a second-rate family, Zhuang Jin was the number one person in Cangzhou, his wife was also a legitimate daughter of a prominent family, and the gossip of outsiders put him on the spot. He chose to burn his bridges, without any guarantee of success from acupuncture, and then he failed to break through and died.

Before Ji Tongwei broke through, Ji Tongxiu asked Zhuang Jin to persuade him, but he did not agree, saying that "the other party is an adult and can make his own choices and bear the corresponding consequences." But this is the result. Ji Tongxiu is not a fairy and will not say that she resents him, but she still has some knots in her heart. After that, she came less and less.

To be honest, Zhuang Jin was a little dazed by Ji Tongwei's result.

He once joked that the other party was a protagonist of the "soft rice" genre, and that he himself had long since reached the Yin Spirit realm. The so-called Innate Realm was something that happened many years ago. When he learned about this, his first thought was: "How could someone in this world fail to break through to the Innate Realm and die in the process?" It was probably a feeling similar to "How could a person not know calculus?"

This is also a consequence of his aptitude being greatly improved after cultivating the Black Fiend Technique, accumulating potential, condensing the ultimate ice attribute, and the daily enhancements from the Holy Spirit Pearl. All of these factors have led to his aptitude being improved multiple times, resulting in the "why not eat meat porridge" effect that has plagued him for so long.

Then, upon further reflection, Zhuang Jin understood even more clearly: this world is materialistic, he is not the protagonist of a novel, and Ji Tongwei is not a supporting character by his side. It is impossible for his innate realm to become worthless or devalued just because of his success. One after another, regardless of their closeness to him or their relationship with him, the difficulty of breaking through to the innate realm is still there. There will be failures and even death.

Returning to Ji Tongwei, his death was perhaps a case of the elderly burying their children, or perhaps the hope of the family's rise was shattered. The old master of the Ji family, Ji Gongji, turned white overnight, and Ge Mingzhi's temperament also changed. She became strict with her only daughter from a young age, so Ji Heya would occasionally come to confide in her.

Fifteen minutes later, Ji Heya confided in her, released her stress, said goodbye politely, and left.

Zhuang Jin used his spiritual power to sense that it had returned safely. He arrived at the backyard, where there was a blue bird with a sky-blue body and a tassel-like tail. Judging from its aura, it had reached the Vajra Realm.

"Wow!"

When the bluebird saw Zhuang Jin arrive, it spread its wings and flew over, affectionately rubbing against his palm and chirping.

—It was the only Vajra Realm beast to be born in the Funiu Mountains in recent years, and then it was suppressed and captured by Zhuang Jin.

"Nine times nine, eighty-one times. This is the last time. After this, it will be a 'thought imprint,' and there will be no more relapses."

Zhuang Jin thought to himself and entered a state of 'stillness'. He was so empty that he was like a meditator. The fluctuations of his spiritual power showed a certain frequency, which affected and influenced the bluebird in the Vajra Realm, making its gaze more affectionate.

Is this a secret technique used to tame this bluebird with the power of the soul? It is a technique created by Chunling Qiuguai, who drew on his experience in controlling strange beasts and the Buddhist concept of salvation from his previous life.

This secret technique is fine in every other way, except for one thing: it has extremely high requirements for one's realm. One must reach the Void Realm of the Third Level of Yin Spirit to be able to use it.

—That's right. Zhuang Jin has now broken through the Void Realm of the Third Level of Yin Spirit, and has even completed the accumulation of this realm!
Furthermore, after using the pure ice-attribute energy stored in the Holy Spirit Pearl to repay the 'Chun Calamity' and deal with Xuanyuan Shiji, as well as the resources obtained from the three great families and his own careful calculations, more than 10% of it remained.

Currently, Zhuang Jin has not yet broken through to the Yang God realm, which involves the three stages of the Yang God realm.

……

(End of this chapter)