Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

A golden cocoon of light gradually appeared on his body, enveloping him like a physical entity.

After flowing for a few breaths, the light completely seeped into his body and merged with his bloodline.

At the same time, the sword left behind by Guang Chengzi suddenly underwent a strange change, spinning several times in mid-air before transforming into an ancient and simple immortal sword, which landed steadily in Minister Jiang's palm.

He broke through the temple with his sword and returned to the ground.

A deep, muffled ripple came from the depths of the earth—it was not an illusion, but a true descendant of the Jiaolong clan, a dragon being of the same lineage as Teng Yin.

Previously, the lingering shadow of Guang Chengzi had suppressed him underground, which temporarily brought peace to the four directions.

Now that its mission was accomplished, the black dragon condensed its life's cultivation into an inner core and left it to Teng Yin before sinking into the depths of the earth's veins and returning to eternal silence.

The Taoist temple has returned to silence.

But just as Guang Chengzi's aura dissipated, this ancient building, which had stood firm through fierce battles, began to disintegrate on its own.

The cracks in the walls, like the marks of time flowing at an accelerated pace, spread to every corner in an instant.

Minister Jiang and Teng Yin stood still for a moment as the power was poured into them.

As the radiance around him gradually faded, Minister Jiang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of sorrow or joy.

This place was originally maintained by Guang Chengzi's magic array, transcending ordinary time and space.

Now that the power of the array master has been completely transferred, the barrier naturally collapses.

He pushed open the rusty, dilapidated door and walked away.

A deafening roar came from behind, and dust and smoke rose like mist. The century-old Taoist temple was reduced to ruins.

Teng Yin looked at Minister Jiang, his eyes still filled with shock.

This experience made him even more certain of his decision to follow this person.

Although he didn't understand why Guang Chengzi appeared and disappeared in this way, he had a feeling that the legend had not truly left.

"Let's go."

Minister Jiang's voice was as calm as a gentle breeze.

Teng Yin nodded in agreement, but couldn't help looking back again.

He suddenly spoke, his tone hesitant: "As far as I know, Guang Chengzi should still be alive."

Although what I just saw was an illusion, its true form was…”

Minister Jiang paused slightly, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips as he glanced to the side.

"Is that so?"

The response fell softly, as if it already knew all the unspoken words.

Although Minister Jiang had not yet grasped the deeper meaning behind Guang Chengzi's actions, a thought had been planted in his mind—that one day he would surely meet that person again.

When that will be is not something we need to delve into at this moment.

If fate decrees that they are destined to meet, it will bring them together at the right time.

The only thing he was certain of was that when that time came, he, Minister Jiang, would be the only one who could stand calmly between heaven and earth.

This trip has been very fruitful. Not only did I find a suitable magical artifact, but the Teng Seal beside me was also tempered, and its aura has become even more profound.

Only one thing left him slightly confused: these opportunities came too easily, as if they had been quietly placed in the palm of someone's hand, while the underlying cause and effect remained hidden in the fog.

He glanced back at the silent Taoist temple, then turned and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the void and heading straight back to Fangzhang Island.

Deep within the palace on the island, all sorts of strange objects have quietly accumulated.

The treasures, each with its own unique shape and gleaming light, were all Buddhist artifacts collected over this period of time, silently displayed in the shadows of the hall.

Upon returning to the island, Minister Jiang sensed a tense atmosphere, as if invisible gunpowder smoke was permeating the air.

Over the years, although he always kept the cultivation of the Jie Sect in mind, he was often preoccupied with other matters and trusted Duobao to manage the sect's affairs, so he rarely took personal charge of it.

Now that everything has temporarily stopped, it's a good time to go and see how those young cultivators are progressing.

With a thought in mind, he headed towards the dense forest with towering ancient trees on the edge of the island.

Before even stepping into the forest, a series of booming sounds could be heard from afar, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.

Minister Jiang stopped and stared, only to see two figures rushing and crisscrossing in the high sky, creating a whistling sound in the air.

Deep in the dense forest, plumes of milky white mist would occasionally rise, accompanied by the soft sound of branches and leaves snapping.

The chattering was chaotic, and startled birds took flight from the woods in flocks, fluttering their wings in a state of panic.

Minister Jiang understood immediately—this must be a rehearsal being conducted by the instructors.

During the time he's been away from the island, Duobao must have launched a new round of competition.

Such contests were common practice within the Jie Sect, since the positions on the Investiture of the Gods list ultimately had to be earned through strength, and the sect members needed to hone their skills through mutual sparring.

Therefore, Minister Jiang had long ago established a ranking system based on a model of official rankings within the school.

Every so often, a meeting is held to reset the seating arrangement.

Only those ranked in the top ten are qualified to represent the Jie Sect and compete for the true Investiture of the Gods.

This rule not only gave them a clear goal, but also kept the spirit of cultivation on the island sharp.

Duobao managed all the mundane affairs in an orderly manner during his time away from the island, which greatly pleased Minister Jiang.

He had a heavy burden on his shoulders and could not do everything himself, but fortunately there was someone to share the burden.

Upon returning, seeing everything going smoothly and the drills in full swing, a faint hint of satisfaction flashed across Minister Jiang's eyes.

"It seems... you've improved quite a bit."

He muttered to himself, his face still expressionless, and then took a step, silently entering the woods.

Before long, a clearing in the woods unfolded before us.

Dozens of soldiers stood in neat formation. At Duobao's command, their movements were synchronized and powerful, stirring up fallen leaves from the ground.

Perhaps everyone was focused on their cultivation, or perhaps the surrounding spiritual explosions were deafening, but no one noticed Minister Jiang's arrival.

These individuals are all ranked high on the leaderboard, possessing solid foundations, and their training now exudes an awe-inspiring presence.

What they practiced was not only the mastery of magic, but also the keen eyesight and the fine control over magical artifacts—all of which were silent preparations for the real battle to come.

The training ground chosen by Daoist Duobao is located in a secluded valley on the edge of Fangzhang Island.

Unexpectedly, after he returned to the island, Duobao had already made all the arrangements. His thoughts and actions coincided with Minister Jiang's vision, which made Minister Jiang look at him with even greater favor.

On the day of his return to the island, Duobao informed Jiang of the location of the training ground. Minister Jiang nodded slightly, and the matter was settled.

In the following days, all the disciples of the Jie Sect gathered here and diligently practiced their cultivation.

Minister Jiang often observed from afar and saw that the generals' use of magical powers was quite skillful, which showed that Duobao's supervision was effective.

This scene, on the contrary, reminded Minister Jiang how to inspire the people's will—only by making them act from their own desires can they exert their full strength.

The current situation is a perfect example of this.

Judging from their outward appearance, they all seemed enthusiastic about this cultivation practice, their interest several times higher than when they used to sit and meditate in silence.

Minister Jiang observed for a moment, then walked towards the crowd.

As they drew closer, they could see Duobao watching the two fighters from the sidelines.

Seeing his disciples make such progress, Minister Jiang felt relieved—as the deputy leader of the Jie Sect, his disciples' continuous improvement was what he was most pleased to see.

Moreover, the time of the great calamity is approaching, and there is not much time left.

They were indeed giving it their all on the field.

The two competitors exchanged blows, each move revealing their true skill; the onlookers also watched intently, trying to discern the subtle shifts in their strategies.

The surrounding trees had already been affected, their branches broken and cracked, and fallen leaves swirling in the air, creating a unique kind of chaotic beauty.

When Minister Jiang reviewed it, he felt it was acceptable, but he knew in his heart that it was far from sufficient.

What he longed for was the power that would catch his opponents off guard and leave them stunned when the battle began.

We are still far from achieving these goals.

"My martial uncle is back."

Duobao turned around by chance and caught a glimpse of Minister Jiang's figure, and immediately went to greet him.

After Minister Jiang returned to the island to receive his report, the two were busy with their own affairs and did not meet again.

Seeing Minister Jiang personally come to inspect, Duobao was naturally delighted—he had long hoped that his martial uncle would come to verify the results of his cultivation.

"Don't worry about me, just continue."

Minister Jiang waved his hand in acknowledgment, his gaze still lingering on the competition arena.

Jiang Shangshu naturally understood Duobao's intentions, and he had always been confident in Duobao's ability to train Duobao.

When Minister Jiang first met Duobao, he knew that this young man was capable of great things and would surely become a pillar of society in the future. Minister Jiang never doubted him when entrusting such matters to him.

"All the matters that my martial uncle instructed me to handle have been taken care of. We are just waiting for my martial uncle to return and make a decision."

Duobao stood beside Minister Jiang and reported in a slow voice.

During the time that Minister Jiang was away from the island, Duobao not only supervised his cultivation but also kept a close eye on the changes in the rankings.

"I saw it when I came; they are very diligent, which is good."

Other matters are not urgent; we can proceed step by step.

Minister Jiang spoke calmly, but his gaze never left the two figures clashing on the field.

……

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Minister Jiang resided on Fangzhang Island, where he trained his disciples while diligently cultivating himself.

Now that he has reached the Saintly level in his Dao realm, his spirit resides in the Chaos, and he possesses the supernatural powers of the Primordial Supreme Master. There are few in the world who can hinder his progress.

However, one thing still lingered in Minister Jiang's mind: the impending change between the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect.

Over the years, he often went to his quiet room to deduce his future fate, but the secrets of heaven are vast and unpredictable, and in the end, he could not defy destiny.

The hexagram contains layers of variables, like viewing flowers through fog, making it impossible to discern the exact outline.

Given this, Minister Jiang was quite at ease—if things are unclear and difficult to discern, he wouldn't force them; letting go of his obsession brought him a sense of freedom.

Over the years, Fangzhang Island has gradually changed from what it used to be.

Because he lived there, the two goddesses Yunxiao and Bixiao from the Heavenly Court, as well as the Queen Mother of the West, became frequent visitors to the island.

The once tranquil fairy island is now filled with laughter and chatter, and a lively atmosphere is quietly emerging.

At this moment, Minister Jiang was standing on the cloud cliff at the edge of the island, gazing at the vast mountains and sea, the boundless expanse of misty waves, and a slight feeling arose in his heart.

The wind brushed against his clothes, but he seemed completely unaware.

"Uncle-Master, you're here."

A call pulled him from his thoughts.

Looking back, Daoist Duobao was approaching on a cloud.

"What's up?"

Minister Jiang spoke in a calm tone.

"Li Jing and his party have returned."

Duobao's concise report.

Minister Jiang nodded, his robe sleeves fluttering lightly, and his figure vanished from the spot.

Duobao shook his head and chuckled, then transformed into a streak of light and followed.

Inside the main hall of the celestial palace, Li Jing and three others knelt on one knee, still covered in dust from their journey.

Minister Jiang sat upright in the main seat, his gaze falling down.

"Greetings, Master."

Li Jing bowed his head in greeting, and the three people behind him echoed in unison.

Minister Jiang raised his hand, signaling them to stand up.

He felt somewhat apologetic for sending them out on a long journey before they were even halfway there—sending them on a long journey before the situation was clear was ultimately a bit hasty.

All four looked weary, their robes dusty, clearly indicating that they had encountered many hardships along the way.