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

By separating the Zhang family from the empire, even if the empire falls, the Zhang family's illustrious name can continue for a thousand years.

On the contrary, dynasties, after a long period of unity, will inevitably divide, and after a long period of division, will inevitably unite!

As for Zhang Yuan, he was at his peak at this time.

After the initiation and transmission of power, the ancient elixir replenished the primordial energy and rebuilt the foundation.

Moreover, through years of intensive medicinal supplementation and gradual progress, his Nine Cauldrons Horizontal Refinement has reached the late stage of the Eight Cauldrons realm, or even the peak of the Eight Cauldrons realm.

If Zhang Yuan's potential hadn't reached its limit, Zhang Xiaoshan would definitely have helped him reach the Nine Cauldrons Realm.

Even so, Zhang Yuan's physical training at this time was no less than that of Chi Xue.

The only shortcoming is experience.

After all, Zhang Yuan had never fought anyone before, and even when assassins tried to kill him, Juexin had always managed to keep him at bay.

At his peak condition, Zhang Yuan didn't need to take the Bodhi Longevity Pill to prolong his life.

　(Qian Le Zhao) But Zhang Xiaoshan's intention was not to prolong Zhang Yuan's life, but to maintain Zhang Yuan's peak condition for thirty years.

Who can escape death?

Zhang Yuan was also nearing eighty, but his Grandmaster realm, powerful qi and blood, and highly nourishing tonics kept him in the condition of someone around fifty years old.

Given the choice between thirty years of good health and freedom from disasters, or thirty years of waiting to die, Zhang Xiaoshan naturally chose the former.

Although the Bodhi Ganoderma lucidum fruit can prolong life, it is only a forced prolongation of life.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan gave Zhang Yuan the pill in advance so that Zhang Yuan could remain in such a peak state for the next fifty years, or even sixty years, instead of relying on a breath of primordial energy to prolong his life at the end.

After taking the two pills, Zhang Yuan and Zen Master Juexin both entered a state of seclusion.

Zhang Yuan emerged from seclusion three days later, having fully absorbed the medicinal power of the Bodhi Longevity Pill.

Zen Master Juexin went into seclusion for three months. When he emerged, he had reached the highest level of Buddhism and attained the golden body of an Arhat.

Chapter 897 Zhang Zhong's Wedding

"Worship heaven and earth!"

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

···

The East China Sea Base, a grand hall adorned in red for a festive occasion.

At this moment, Zhang Zhong and Gao Yue, dressed in phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, bowed to Zhang Xiaoshan and Huang Rong above.

In the VIP area on one side of the main hall, besides the high-ranking members of the Zhang family, the most eye-catching figures were Gao Yue's mother, Dong Jun Yan Fei, and Huang Yaoshi, who had come from the New World.

After all, Zhang Zhong was Huang Yaoshi's grandson.

Compared to Zhang Sheng's wedding, with Tianji Laoren's arrival, Huang Yaoshi naturally couldn't miss Zhang Zhong's wedding either.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan did not advertise Zhang Zhong's wedding to the whole world; he only invited core members of the Zhang family and some relatives.

As the future head of the Zhang family, Zhang Zhong inherited the family's reclusive lineage, and Zhang Xiaoshan did not want too many people to know about this place.

This is the Zhang family's hidden base in the East China Sea.

Therefore, even though Empress Lü Zhi did not come, she remained in charge of the overall situation in the capital. It was Zhang Sheng and Lü Su who came to offer their congratulations.

The Zhang family's base in the East China Sea is absolutely secret.

"After the ceremony, we will send you to the bridal chamber!"

The Zhang family members all wore smiles as they watched the newlyweds leave.

During Zhang Xiaoshan's seclusion, the Zhang family's subordinate forces were basically divided into two major factions, numbered 827.

Meritorious officials who helped the empire rise to power and retainers of powerful families.

Like the legendary swordsman Yu Huatian, who once again became a henchman in the shadows of the empire—the Evil-Slaying Guard; Jin Jiuling, the Golden-Clad Monkey among the Twelve Zodiac Assassins, took over the Dali Temple and reorganized the Six Doors; Shangguan Wan'er, the former female corpse of the Wu Tang Dynasty, entered the palace as the Grand Steward of the Inner Garden, becoming Empress Lü Zhi's right-hand woman; even the Mad Lion Iron Warrior chose to take sides, becoming an Imperial retainer in the Mechanized City…

Those aligned with Zhang Zhong included Zhao Longxiang, who had escorted him south and was now at the twelfth level of the Dragon Elephant realm, comparable to a Grandmaster; Ding Peng, the Demon Buddha who commanded the Twelve Zodiac Assassins, even among the Zodiac Assassins, some chose the Empire; Shi Long, the Longevity Venerable and leader of the Jiangnan Salt Gang and the master of the Shi Long Dojo; and Jue Xiang and Jue Xin, who were stationed at the East Sea base…

It can be said that, apart from the core senior management, most of the Zhang family members have chosen to take sides.

The two brothers will take different paths in the future, and although they are both loyal to the Zhang family, they will have different outcomes.

By pledging allegiance to the empire, they had, to some extent, broken away from the Zhang family.

After all, who knows what conflicts might arise between the empire and the Zhang family in the coming decades?

However, during Zhang Sheng's reign, the empire still belonged to the Zhang family.

Zhang Xiaoshan, upon learning of this, did not intervene, dividing the Zhang family into the Imperial Zhang Family and the Aristocratic Zhang Family. Such factionalism was unavoidable.

Even though he is still the head of the Zhang family, everyone still reveres him.

Princess Taiping even handed over the Plum Blossom Guards to Empress Lü!

The Plum Blossom Inner Guard is no simple organization; even in recent years, it still possesses an intelligence system comparable to the Western Depot.

Zhang Sheng had secret guards, and Lü Zhi had internal guards, so Lü Zhi's power was considerable.

"Jun'er, now that your two older brothers are married, you're the only one left!"

Zhang Yuan looked at his granddaughter beside him; this was not the future.

At 21 or 22, she's already considered an older single woman.

Besides, the young girl doesn't seem to be like Gao Yue, who already has someone she loves and is just waiting for the elders to officiate the wedding.

"Jun'er, don't get married. Stay with your grandfather forever."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Jun'er is all grown up now. If she meets someone she likes, the Zhang family doesn't need her to have an outstanding family background or talent. All she needs is someone who likes you, this troublesome girl!"

Looking at his only granddaughter, Zhang Yuan felt somewhat helpless.

There were suitable servants in the Zhang family, but the little girl didn't like them, and Zhang Yuan couldn't force her.

As for the girl's future partner, as long as he is not disabled or has ulterior motives, Zhang Xiaoshan and Zhang Yuan don't have many requirements.

"Jun'er, catch!"

Suddenly, Zhang Sheng threw a scroll of secret manual over.

The little girl took the so-called secret manual and discovered it was actually a book on disguise techniques, and moreover, it was a Japanese ninjutsu manual—

Spiritual Disguise Technique.

Compared to the backlash suffered by the underground palace queen Ruyan, the little girl's cultivation at the Grandmaster level, especially with the Longevity Technique, a supreme Taoist art, meant that the side effects of the backlash were basically negligible.

"Why did you give me this, brother?"

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles!"

After your second brother's wedding, you should go out and explore. Staying here will never help you find your other half.

This disguise technique can completely change your appearance, making you unrecognizable. It's far superior to the low-level disguise techniques used in the martial arts world, just like how the old lady traveled the martial arts world back then.

Upon hearing this, Huang Yaoshi looked at the little girl and seemed to see Huang Rong from the past.

They were equally stunningly beautiful and intelligent.

However, compared to Huang Rong's rebellious nature, the little girl is undoubtedly much more obedient.

"profound."

Heard about going out to gain experience?

The little girl has none of Huang Rong's curiosity back then. She cultivates Taoist Xuanmen techniques and is now a grandmaster with mastered mental cultivation methods.

In terms of mentality, the little girl is definitely comparable to Tianzong Xiaomeng.

However, the little girl was still extremely interested in the spiritual disguise technique.

Although the Zhang family had plenty, they possessed countless low-level cultivation techniques, including Japanese ninjutsu. The little girl had read about it before, but had never considered practicing it.

"That's right. After Zhong'er's wedding, you should go out and travel."

With your current strength, it's good enough if you don't bully others. What you lack is experience in the martial arts world. I'll have Yi Zheng Shenren protect you when the time comes.

Your older brother left home when he was only eight years old, and you're much stronger than he was back then.

Looking at the little girl, Zhang Yuan also felt that the suggestion was good.

As for the dangers of the martial world, what fool would dare to offend a top-tier grandmaster like her?

Moreover, with the black-armored warrior Isamu Shinnin secretly protecting her, even if the Celestial Supreme were to take action, there would be no way to do anything to the little girl.

Moreover, only a few of their family members know this news.

"All right!"

Hearing that Zhang Yuan had spoken and made such meticulous arrangements, the little girl did not refuse.

Moreover, she has rarely gone out since she was a child; the last long holiday she spent was studying in Sanghai.

In one year, the little girl had completed the basic courses of Confucianism and graduated with a perfect score.

After the wedding, Zhang Xiaoshan also gave Zhang Zhong a long vacation.

The young couple had just gotten married and were enjoying their honeymoon. With the Zhang family now living in seclusion and plenty of time available, Zhang Xiaoshan specially allowed Zhang Zhong to take Gao Yue to the New World for a year-long honeymoon.

Moreover, the route is not a mirage at sea, but a shortcut through the Bering Strait.

Traveling by sea and land would take at least half a year, while by land, with their skills and the dragon wings prepared by Zhang Xiaoshan, they could reach the Bering Strait in at most five days.

This was under the circumstances that Zhang Zhong did not have the Dragon Pearl and the climate in the Northern Yuan was extremely cold.

Incidentally, Huang Yaoshi was also sent to the New World.

At the same time, Zhang Xiaoshan also gave Huang Yaoshi a Bodhi Longevity Pill, which would extend his life by thirty years, allowing him to at least see the birth of his great-grandson.

Chapter 898 A Peerless Sword? A Gathering of Heroes

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars shine brilliantly.

A shooting star streaked across the colorful starry sky, radiating a brilliant but fleeting light.

However, at this moment, a sword aura shot up, instantly shifting the stars and disrupting the order of things, causing tremors throughout the land.

The sword energy soared into the sky, and many top swordsmen who were diligently cultivating throughout the Nine Provinces immediately looked in the direction of the sword energy outburst.

Another supreme divine weapon has been born?

Zhang Sheng, who was in the Forbidden City and holding the Chunyang Sword, frowned.

This sword energy was powerful, even vaguely reaching the level of a supreme divine weapon's sword energy, but it gave him a feeling that it lacked staying power.

At least the Pure Yang Sword in his hand did not react in the slightest.

If it reaches the level of the Pure Yang Sword, the Pure Yang Sword will react. If the Pure Yang Sword does not react, it means that this divine sword is no threat to him at all.

Looking at the place where the divine weapon was born, Zhang Sheng suddenly realized something.

Zhang Xiaoshan did not make any public statements about the existence of the Four Wonderful Stones. Everyone knew about the Four Wonderful Stones, but they did not know the specifics.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan would not hide the fact that Zhang Sheng and other members of the Zhang family were direct descendants of the Zhang family.

The material used to forge the peerless sword is Black Frost, which is second only to Divine Stone, and the attempt had already failed once before.

As for the place where the divine sword was born?

Zhang Xiaoshan also mentioned that at the time, the Divine Sword was not available, and the Sword Worship Manor had been silent for over a hundred years, so they did not pay much attention to it.

After all, they all possessed divine weapons back then—

Zhang Sheng's Pure Yang Sword, Zhang Zhong's Mysterious Tortoise Shell, even the little girl has a divine sword that condenses frost essence, plus a strange beast, the White Tiger, that ate the Bodhi Ganoderma Fruit.

Therefore, they would never envy a peerless divine weapon that is being forged.

"See Your Majesty!"

In the majestic and silent hall, Yu Huatian, the chief eunuch, walked in.

As a peerless swordsman of the Nine Provinces, how could he not sense such terrifying sword energy? This was a sign that an unparalleled divine weapon was about to be born.

"A supreme divine weapon has been born! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Congratulations are premature; the ownership of this divine weapon is still unknown."