The Pointing of the Phoenix Pattern into a Dragon! This is indeed altering one’s fate against Heaven’s will!
If an ordinary True Man were to attempt this, he would need extensive preparation, and even then, there would always be a risk of backlash or heavenly retribution!
However, Wu Ming has comprehended the great Dao, acting in harmony with Heaven and humanity. He follows the ultimate principle of “progressing naturally to become human, and reversing to become an immortal.” Using the Canghai Moon Pearl as the catalyst, he instantly reversed the cosmic balance, accomplishing it naturally and effortlessly, without the slightest trace of artificiality.
In fact, he only slightly consumed a bit of spiritual energy and fortune, which, compared to the Su Hou Pearl, was truly negligible—merely a drop in the ocean, hardly worth mentioning.
“This… could it actually be the legendary saying of benefiting the world by plucking a single hair?”
Wu Ming couldn’t help but feel both amused and perplexed.
At this moment, Wu Zhi seemed to have made up her mind: “After this matter is resolved, we shall… get married! You will take me into your home as your wife!”
Even though she was an extraordinary woman, discussing marriage still brought a faint blush to her face. Softly, she explained: “I possess the Phoenix Pattern; although it has transformed, its blessings remain. And as your wife, I can share the southern Feng fortune with you, which will greatly benefit your cultivation. Perhaps I could even bestow upon you the title of True Man strategist?”
“Marrying is fine, but please spare me the title of True Man. At my current level, if you were to grant it, the entire southern Feng would suffer decline…”
Wu Ming waved his hand. “I’m not being modest. It’s just that my fortune is currently abundant and I don’t need it for now. Perhaps after you unify both the Chu Feng and southern Feng regions, you could bestow the title of True Man upon Wu Qing!”
Wu Qing was already on the verge of becoming a True Man; with an imperial decree, it might be the very push needed for her breakthrough.
At that point, the Wu family would have two True Men, making them one of the most prominent cultivation clans in the entire Zhou dynasty.
“Agreed!”
Wu Zhi understood that after this night, their fates would be completely intertwined—prosperity or ruin would be shared. Without hesitation, she accepted.
“There’s also this… This time, the heir of the Ding Marquis came with some capable men under his command. However, their chief guardian, Zhou Yuanzhen, has already been captured by me. Here is the intelligence he provided…”
Wu Ming handed over a note.
Wu Zhi took it, her face lighting up with joy: “Among the entire southern Feng, the only one I truly feared was him. Now that you have eliminated him for me, success is assured!”
“This woman is strong-willed; for an ordinary man to marry her would likely mean a life of subjugation!”
After Wu Zhi left, Wu Ming gazed at the rippling water beneath the bridge and suddenly smiled: “But as a man, if I can’t even maintain my authority, that would be truly pitiful. I will never allow that!”
Deeply cultivating Daoist arts, he could already see that Wu Zhi’s nature was extremely strong, or rather, her Yin essence was too dominant. If her husband’s fate was weak or his character feeble, while things might go well in youth or middle age, there could be misfortunes in later years.
But for Wu Ming, such concerns were impossible.
“With my firm grasp of Celestial Mastery and the bright prospect of becoming an Earth Immortal in the future, even Wu Zhi’s Dragon Fortune was personally ignited by me. If I couldn’t control it, that would truly be strange!”
While others relied on great momentum, Wu Ming surpassed it with his own extraordinary power, possessing a deeper mystery.
Moreover, this immense power originated from within himself, independent of external forces.
…
In Yunping County, a streak of starlight descended, forming Wu Ming’s ethereal figure.
“Has the cultivation of a Yuan Shen (primordial spirit) truly reached the point of being indistinguishable from a living person?”
Wu Qing, standing outside the secret chamber, looked astonished as Wu Ming’s Yuan Shen entered.
To her eyes, whether in Daoist techniques or vital energy, Wu Ming’s Yuan Shen appeared completely identical to an ordinary person.
Yuan Shen was supposed to be ethereal and Yin-like, yet now it had become tangible and substantial, which deeply amazed her.
“The reason for my state is twofold: my profound Daoist cultivation and the advantage of nighttime!”
Wu Ming shook his head: “Though I can now deceive even a Grandmaster of martial arts, if the time were at noon under bright sunlight, even you would see through me… To make a Yuan Shen completely indistinguishable from a living person, completely transforming Yin essence, would likely require at least a Celestial Master or even an Earth Immortal…”
“The path of cultivation is indeed long and arduous…”
“Anyway, you’ve met with Wu Zhi. How did it go?”
Wu Qing, resting her chin on her hands, looked at him with curiosity.
“What do you think? I directly ignited her Dragon Vein. Observing her fortune, it is indeed at its peak, like a confined dragon breaking free, soaring into the sky. This endeavor will surely succeed!”
Wu Ming shrugged.
“…Wu Zhi has great ambitions, a heroine who rivals any man. She aspires to bring peace to the chaotic world… Sigh… Sister now doubts whether bringing you two together was truly beneficial or harmful…”
“Benefit or harm, compared to the entire universe, what does it really matter?”
Wu Ming’s Yuan Shen flickered and returned to his physical body, which then stepped out from the secret chamber.
The higher his cultivation, the more deeply he felt his own “insignificance”!
Compared to the boundless universe of the Zhou dynasty, what was a mere True Man? And even the entire realm of Zhou—what significance did it hold when measured against the celestial pantheon of the gods?
In a short while, he might control the entire Pantheon, possessing countless worlds, even achieving immortality and eternal transcendence.
Compared to that, even if the entire Zhou world were turned upside down, it would still be a trivial matter.
“Brother… I’m scared. The Dao you’re cultivating now seems very much like ‘Supreme Emotionlessness’…”
Wu Qing’s face suddenly showed fear.
“If one truly has emotions, why would one need to forget them? Don’t worry, sister. Supreme Emotionlessness is not the Dao I have chosen…”
Wu Ming smiled faintly. His Dao was that of a Sage’s heart—adapting to the world, possessing emotions without being burdened by them. It was not as simple as Supreme Emotionlessness.
…
The night had grown deep.
In the Southern Feng Prefecture, within the governor’s mansion, the study still had its oil lamp lit.
This lamp oil was made from the finest whale oil, exuding a fragrant aroma that refreshed the mind and was gentle on the eyes. It was a rare and precious item, favored by many aristocratic families.
The Wu family had strict household rules, and only the head of the family was allowed to use this lamp oil. Anyone else who used it would be considered overstepping their bounds and could be executed under family law.
The person reading under the lamp was none other than Wu Xiong, the head of the Wu family!
He appeared middle-aged, with smooth skin, a ruddy complexion, and three strands of long, jet-black beard, clearly well-preserved. His eyebrows carried an indescribable aura of authority—an air cultivated from ruling a prefecture and wielding the power of life and death.
“Father, your daughter Wu Zhi seeks an audience!”
A voice came from outside the study.
“Come in!”
Wu Xiong lifted his head and saw Wu Zhi, dressed as a lady of the court, carrying a bowl of soup as she entered. She softly said: “I noticed the lamp in your study was still lit, fearing you might be tired, I specially brought some ginseng soup.”
“Hehe… Good!”
Seeing his daughter like this, Wu Xiong felt a slight pang of guilt. He picked up a porcelain spoon, took a sip, and found it indeed delicious. The warmth spread through his body, invigorating his spirit. He couldn’t help but comment: “The soup is well-cooked!”
“It was personally prepared by your daughter…” Wu Zhi replied softly.
“You… sigh…”
Wu Xiong sighed, recalling how outstanding his daughter had been since childhood. It was largely due to her that the Wu family had been able to usurp the position of the prefect and develop into their current powerful state.
Thinking of what he and his two sons had done, he felt it was indeed excessive. Yet his heart hardened again: “Though it may be unfair to her, it is for the good of our family. If she must endure some hardship, then so be it!”
He then said: “Very good. In the future, after you marry the heir of the Ding Marquis, you should behave accordingly, devoting yourself to supporting your husband and raising children!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Wu Zhi’s body trembled. Wu Xiong felt a slight pang of guilt but hardened his heart.
“Father… the Ding Marquis’s heir, Shi Yue, is all flash and no substance. His misdeeds in the Dingyuan Prefecture are well-documented. Are you truly going to throw your daughter into the fire?”
Wu Zhi straightened her back and placed a stack of papers before Wu Xiong.
Wu Xiong glanced at them. The first page detailed a specific incident on a certain date—Shi Yue had either beaten a servant to death or injured someone while riding recklessly, with witnesses and evidence, clearly not fabricated.
“Scoundrel!”
He slammed the table furiously, but his anger was directed at Wu Zhi: “It is the decree of parents and the words of matchmakers! What right do you have to speak? And to investigate your future husband’s privacy—what audacity you have! You must know that you have already committed a grave offense. Once you marry into the Shi family, you must abandon these thoughts entirely and peacefully settle into being a new bride. Wouldn’t that be better?”
“Hmph? Father’s actions are nothing more than using your daughter as a bargaining chip to gain the Ding Marquis’s support in attacking the Chufeng Prefecture. Hasn’t the Ding Marquis also promised to recommend you to the imperial court for a military governorship, or even bestow upon you a marquis or count title?”
Wu Zhi sneered coldly: “My two elder brothers have also been vigorously advocating for these benefits, persuading Father to sell me off! But I fear that while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole lurks behind. Father’s actions are merely sewing clothes for others. When the time comes, it will be too late to regret!”
“Rebellious! Rebellious!”
Wu Xiong angrily slammed the soup pot to the ground. As a feudal patriarch, being openly defied by his daughter was unbearable, filling him with rage.
Of course, he would never admit that his daughter had struck the hidden hopes and fears buried deep in his heart. The more guilty he felt, the more his anger surged.
“Wait a minute! Something’s wrong!”
At that moment, he finally sensed something amiss.
Normally, such a commotion would have already drawn servants and maids rushing in, but now everything was eerily quiet. Having long been the head of the household, he immediately detected something off. Suddenly alarmed, he exclaimed in shock: “You… you…”
“I have already secured the loyalty of the prefectural troops. Tomorrow, I will open the ancestral hall and request Father to hand over the position of family head!”
Wu Zhi’s expression was cold and resolute. Suddenly, she clapped her hands.
Several generals in armor entered and knelt, addressing her as “Miss,” completely ignoring Wu Xiong.
These were influential military commanders within the Southern Feng Prefecture, including even a few elders of the Wu family. At the sight of them, Wu Xiong’s limbs turned cold as he realized that the situation was beyond his control. His face paled as he slumped weakly into his chair.
“Rebel… rebel daughter… What have you done to your two brothers?”
“Please rest assured, Father. I would never stoop to such heinous acts as patricide or fratricide. I merely ask that you and my brothers enjoy a peaceful retirement. You and my brothers have great blessings. If you can maintain peace and cultivate your temperament, you will surely enjoy good fortune in your later years.”
Without looking back at Wu Xiong, Wu Zhi walked out of the study.
“Greetings to the Head of the Family!”
Outside, a group of armored soldiers knelt and bowed.
“Good! You are to guard all the key roads and maintain calm. Once tomorrow’s morning court session is completed, our victory will be assured!”
Wu Zhi rubbed her temples: “Also, detain the entire entourage of the Ding Marquis’s heir. Place Shi Yue under house arrest, and imprison the others. If anyone resists, kill them on the spot!”
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