In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

The dragon pearl in Emperor Long's hand underwent transformation and evolution by relying on the dragon energy of the empire, and its attribute is earth, meaning the virtue of earth.

Zhang Xiaoshan was alright; after casually playing with it for a while, he understood the wonderful use of the dragon ball.

However, Donghuang Taiyi could not sense any connection to the Dragon Balls at all, because the Dragon Balls had an owner and were not under his control.

His connection with the Dragon Emperor Ying Zheng was even closer than Zhang Xiaoshan's connection with the Pure Yang Dragon Pearl.

"Your Excellency Donghuang, Young Master Zhang, do you have any suggestions regarding the arrangement of the Dragon Balls?"

"Lishan Tomb!"

Zhang Xiaoshan was the first to speak, looking at the puzzled Dragon Emperor Ying Zheng, and continued to explain:

"The Lishan Tomb is the tomb His Majesty prepared for himself. It is an imperial mausoleum and is closely related to the fortune of the empire."

Moreover, after His Majesty's passing, when he is buried in the Lishan Tomb, the power of the Dragon Pearl can nourish His Majesty himself, and might even have the effect of bringing him back to life and granting him immortality!

"Lishan Tomb?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shi Huang's eyes lit up more and more as he thought about it.

This was one of his original considerations, and upon hearing about the mutually beneficial effect of the two, he immediately made up his mind.

"Most importantly, this Dragon Ball is of the earth element, making it extremely suitable as a mechanism in the Lishan Tomb!"

"Is the elemental attribute of the Dragon Balls earth?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Ying Zheng looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with confusion, as did Donghuang Taiyi.

"Actually, after the Dragon Balls evolve, they will evolve into Dragon Balls with different functions depending on the situation."

For example, the Pure Yang Dragon Pearl in my hand was formed through the cultivation of the Pure Yang Limitless Technique. It was continuously refined, condensed, and nurtured, gradually becoming the Pure Yang Dragon Pearl. It can help me condense Pure Yang Purple Qi, and its attribute is Yang!

The dragon pearl in His Majesty's hand can suppress the empire's fortune and is closely related to the dragon energy on His Majesty's body!

Actually, I just tested it and can confirm it's an Earth-attribute Dragon Ball. The center belongs to Earth, and Xuanyuan, one of the Three Sovereigns, embodies the virtue of Earth, possessing the wondrous ability to draw upon the power of the earth.

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's explanation, Emperor Ying Zheng seemed to be deep in thought.

"Does the young master mean that this dragon pearl can reinforce the tomb?"

"That's right. After the feng shui formation is set up, the dragon pearl will be blessed by the dragon vein's energy, and the dragon pearl can be nurtured and nourished internally."

Furthermore, under normal circumstances, only His Majesty can communicate through the Dragon Balls; no one else can even think about opening the tomb.

After His Majesty departs for the west, Zhang can forcibly communicate with the Dragon Pearl, open the tomb, and combine it with the dragon vein nurtured within His Majesty's body to suppress the foundation of the empire for eternity.

Moreover, Your Majesty can rest assured that Zhang has no reason to abandon such a promising situation for a single dragon ball, given the Zhang family's business within the empire!

After all, every time the Zhang family clashed with the empire, they were always the passive party.

It's a situation of mutual coercion!

Mutual control?

If an ordinary person had said this, Emperor Ying Zheng would have been furious.

But Zhang Xiaoshan was different; in the eyes of Emperor Ying Zheng, this was also the best method.

Zhang Xiaoshan could seize the Dragon Ball, but as long as he lives, he can use the Zhang family's business to control the other party, at least creating a win-win situation for both sides, without the need for a fight to the death.

On the contrary, Donghuang Taiyi and Dragon Emperor Ying Zheng are not naive and innocent; they genuinely trust each other.

Mutual restraint is the foundation of mutual trust.

"In that case, let's arrange the feng shui layout with the Lishan Tomb as the center, as you suggested, young master!"

Sacrifices? The Yin-Yang School excels at that.

But setting up a feng shui layout is naturally the job of the most outstanding feng shui master in Kyushu.

Moreover, starting from his level, the Dragon Emperor has already begun constructing his own mausoleum, so that even if he dies now, he can be buried at any time.

···

Zhang Family Night Banquet!

Although Zhang Xiaoshan did not appear, the Zhang family still prepared a banquet for universal harmony.

The purpose was nothing more than to celebrate Tie Zhan's advancement to Grandmaster, adding another formidable warrior to the Zhang family.

Besides the experts from the Zhang family, there were also a group of Taoist and Buddhist sects who were on good terms with the Zhang family, aristocratic families and clans in Xianyang City, delegations from various countries that had not yet left... Even Prince Fusu came uninvited after hearing that the Zhang family had invited everyone.

After all, a Grandmaster, and a top-tier Imperial Guest, is naturally someone this Imperial Prince would want to win over.

Moreover, the Zhang family's profound heritage also impressed Prince Fusu.

Leaving aside the Grandmaster Tie Zhan, the mere presence of three peerless masters—Juexin and Juezhi—plus Duan Yanqing, who was escorting the goods brought by Zhang Xiaoshan, meant that the Zhang family's strength was comparable to that of the Yin Yang School, a top-tier power in the empire.

Moreover, this is only a portion of the Zhang family's power.

Ghost Street, the Blood Droplets, and the many female warriors around Zhang Xiaoshan—if they want to contend with the Zhang family, it will probably require the combined efforts of all the top powers in Kyushu.

"father!"

The once bustling Zhang family compound fell silent upon Zhang Xiaoshan's arrival.

The inseparable female warrior, Yagyu Hyōshū, was not questioned by the others, as they knew that Zhang Xiaoshan most likely came from within the empire.

They would never believe that today's events have nothing to do with this person!

"Young Master Zhang!"

Fusu and the other so-called 'experts' all bowed respectfully.

"Please be seated, everyone. Thank you all for gracing this banquet. I was delayed by some business today, so I will drink three cups of tea instead of wine as punishment!"

After Zhang Xiaoshan finished speaking, he picked up the new tea from the maid beside him and drank it all in one gulp.

Faced with Zhang Xiaoshan's pretense, everyone naturally said they dared not. They were only trying to establish a relationship or test the waters, and the Zhang family had no confidence in taking them seriously.

"By the way, regarding Commander Tie's recent promotion, I have three unique skills that would be suitable for him:"

One is the Nine Forms of Dragon Slaying, a powerful and domineering blade technique with unparalleled might; another is the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, which is divided into thirteen levels and was obtained by Zhang unintentionally. If the Dharma King now steps into the ninth level, he will reach the pinnacle of mastery; the third is the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, a supreme Buddhist divine skill that cultivates both internal and external strength!

"Ironclad warrior thanks you for your merit, young master!"

Zhang Xiaoshan's planning was crucial to this promotion in the Iron Battle.

But having too much debt doesn't cause worry, and having too many lice doesn't cause itching, especially since these are three top-tier divine skills.

The Nine Forms of Dragon Slaying and the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill are one thing, but what about the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill?

Even the Golden Wheel Monk frowned, stood up, and asked in confusion:

"May I ask if the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill you speak of originates from the lineage of the Dharma Protectors of my Tantric sect?"

"Could there be a second version of the Thirteenfold Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique in the world?"

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's affirmation, the Golden Wheel Monk became even more puzzled.

As a Tantric Buddhist leader, he was acutely aware of the difficulty and domineering nature of this martial art, yet Zhang Xiaoshan had bestowed it upon Tie Zhan...

"Amitabha, young master, do you not understand how difficult it is to cultivate this skill?"

"Cultivation is difficult? Heh... Master, please take a look!"

Zhang Xiaoshan didn't say much, but instead pushed his palms horizontally, striking a rockery several feet behind them.

Dragon Elephant Prajna Palm!

This is a complementary martial art to the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill. Its palm strikes are fierce and domineering, and when the thirteen layers of power are pushed to their limit, it is like a mountain roaring and a tsunami crashing down, capable of overturning mountains and rivers.

With a single palm strike, the artificial mountain, which was two zhang tall, instantly turned into countless fragments that scattered through the air.

"Thirteen layers of palm force? This is the thirteenth level of the highest realm?"

Others might not be able to see it clearly, but how could the Golden Wheel Monk not see it clearly? Zhang Xiaoshan had just unleashed thirteen layers of fierce and unparalleled palm force in a single strike, a power that could turn the world upside down.

"What the Dharma King considers impossible, in Zhang's view, is merely a matter of insufficient aptitude and inadequate spiritual attainment!"

Zhang Xiaoshan was well aware of the domineering nature of the Thirteenfold Dragon Elephant Skill.

The reason he presented himself to the Golden Wheel Monk was to disturb the Buddha's mind. He believed that if the other party was too eager to cultivate, he would inevitably go astray and become possessed by demons.

It was a case of killing without shedding blood; in the end, they couldn't even find his body.

After all, those in the Tantric school are well aware of the dangers of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

The Golden Wheel Monk, eager for a breakthrough, suffered a qi deviation and died; he could not find Zhang Xiaoshan on his person.

Moreover, throughout history, the ninth level has been the pinnacle, and the last Tantric master who cultivated to the ninth level died of a qi deviation the very next day.

It's not entirely unusual that the Golden Wheel Monk took so long to go mad and die.

Therefore, apart from a few knowledgeable and exceptionally shrewd old guys, no one else saw through Zhang Xiaoshan's scheme and just thought that Zhang Xiaoshan looked down on Tantric Buddhism.

Little did they know that this was a scheme to kill without shedding blood.

Chapter 599 The Conditions for the Dragon Ball's Mutation: The Evil Emperor's Relic Appears?

"Young Master Zhang, this old Taoist priest has a question. If it is convenient for you, please enlighten me!"

Having just taken his seat, Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the old Taoist priest in the purple robe who had spoken, and couldn't help but cup his hands and chuckle:

"Master, please ask. If I know anything, I will tell you everything I know."

"Thank you, sir!"

The old master smiled calmly, naturally not wanting to ask overly private questions.

Moreover, he asked this openly here, firstly to avoid suspicion, and secondly because this was likely the question most people had, so he cupped his hands and said:

"At today's Imperial Ceremony, the Dragon Ball seems to have absorbed the Empire's fortune and undergone a mutation and evolution!"

Of all the people in Kyushu, the one who has studied the Dragon Balls most deeply is undoubtedly you, young master. Therefore, this old Taoist priest dares to ask you about the conditions for the Dragon Balls' mutation.

Imperial destiny? Dragon Ball mutation?

Even Prince Fusu frowned, not expecting the Celestial Master to ask such a sensitive question.

"The Dragon Balls matter requires 'the right time, the right place, and the right people'—all three are indispensable!"

Two intuitive examples: Zhang's Dragon Ball was nurtured by Zhang for ten years and had some special opportunities before it evolved. Moreover, Zhang was able to control the Dragon Ball before and was the host of the Dragon Ball.

The Empire's Dragon Pearl not only absorbed the great fortune of the Empire's unification of the nine provinces, but was also formed through sacrificial prayers to Heaven, resonating with His Majesty's dragon aura—making it truly unique!

"Supreme Celestial Venerable!"

The old master also looked solemn; Zhang Xiaoshan's information was of little use.

Favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious relationships?

Saying that is as good as saying nothing, and besides, who knows when the right time, place, and people will come!

"If Longhu Mountain obtains the Dragon Pearl, it is said that Longhu Mountain's Five Thunder Technique is famous throughout the world and can summon heavenly thunder to strike, thus fulfilling the conditions for transformation."

Upon hearing this, the old Celestial Master immediately realized what was happening. Seeing the strange looks on everyone's faces, he couldn't help but chuckle:

"Gentlemen, I am just curious. How could Longhu Mountain, which rarely appears in the world, possibly obtain the Dragon Pearl?"

However, today's Dragon Ball anomaly will inevitably stir up another bloodbath in the martial world. If one obtains the Dragon Ball, at least one will know how to deal with it. Besides, if this old Taoist obtains the Dragon Ball, he would simply ask about it privately; why would he need to inquire publicly?

Upon hearing this, the crowd, mindful of the status of the Old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, refrained from further comment.

However, everyone remembered Zhang Xiaoshan's answer.

If Longhu Mountain obtains it, they can make the Thunderstruck Dragon Pearl undergo a transformation. What if they obtain it?

It's impossible to flood or burn it, right?

"The matter of the Dragon Balls is more of a curse than a blessing for you all."

One cannot comprehend the power of the Dragon Balls and then control them for one's own use until one reaches the Grandmaster level.

Even with the Dragon Ball evolution, without Your Majesty's extraordinary opportunity to achieve perfect harmony between man and ball through the power of the dragon vein, it would only be a waste of time and effort for someone else. On the contrary, creating too much of a commotion could ultimately…”

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood that secrets are kept hidden.

And since it would cause such a big commotion, it would be impossible to hide it, so the Dragon Balls might not be a good thing.

The strength of the Zhang family and the Golden-Faced Buddha, and the power of the empire, are two typical examples.

But what about them?

The reason Zhang Xiaoshan was able to protect the Dragon Ball back then was because of the three bronze-armored warriors, who were comparable to three grandmaster-level masters.