Chapter 42: Calamity

  Zhang Zixing had never heard of a Lightning Bottle, and judging from the name, it should be some kind of device that can gather a large amount of lightning. Could it be that this era already has such advanced technology? Impossible! So it must be...

  "It's a treasure! You little thief, you don't even know what the Thunder Gathering Bottle is? Haha! It seems like you also have things you don't know about!" Deng Ciyu seemed to be particularly excited that he could stump Zhang Zixing.

  "I know that I know nothing, please enlighten me!" Zhang Zixing didn't have the mood to play word games with Deng Ciyu, he vaguely sensed that this Thunder Gathering Bottle was crucial to his plan.

  "I once heard Master say that the Thunder Gathering Bottle can gather tens of thousands of heavenly thunders, but it itself has little attacking power and can only be used to create Yin Thunder or talismans."

  Zhang Zixing's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Miss, do you have the Thunder Gathering Bottle?"

  "I don't have such a thing? The effect of the Thunderbolt Bottle is not great, and it's not easy to refine, so it's not commonly seen." Zhang Zixing felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, but Deng Ciyu's next sentence rekindled his hope: "My master's divine powers are vast and unparalleled, naturally refining such an item would be effortless."

  "Who is the superior being in respecting teachers?"

  "Hmph, would I let a little thief like you know my master's name? I can go ask my master about the Gathering Thunder Bottle, but I also have a condition..."

  Deng Ciyu's condition was simple: if the experiment succeeded, she had to be given a large amount of "crystal" free of charge. In fact, Zhang Zixing had already produced glass and immediately agreed without hesitation, also promising to send her and Qing'er several crystal ornaments each in the future. This result was naturally a win-win situation for everyone.

  Zhang Zixing was thrilled and also gained new inspiration: this is the mythological world of Fengshen, where the instruments and equipment of "previous lives" are generally the same, and magic treasures are also a kind of tool. If he could effectively combine magic treasures with science and technology, perhaps he could embark on a path of power that was different from others...

  The main idea of the Thunder Bottle finally solved the problem that had been troubling him, and his future began to show a glimmer of light. Zhang Zixing swept away the gloom he had brought with him and bid farewell to the two women in high spirits, returning to the palace.

  Due to Zhang Zixing being busy with experiments in the restricted area, he hadn't seen the three consorts of the harem for several days and was thinking about them. He was just about to head to the central palace when he bumped into Nezha at the entrance of the imperial study. Little Nezha saw Zhang Zixing and hurriedly ran over, jumping up and down, presenting his "homework" like a treasure: "Master, look! I've passed all ten layouts of the Huarong Dao, each one using more than two methods!"

  The story of "Huarong Dao" comes from the episode where Guan Yu releases Cao Cao in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It is a classic sliding puzzle game with high difficulty, and Nezha cleverly passed his ten formations, using more than two methods for each one, leaving Zhang Ziyuan in awe, praising Nezha highly.

  Nezha received praise from his master, feeling proud in his heart, and asked him for new toys. In fact, this kind of teaching method that combines education with fun made Nezha very fond of it, and he respected and loved the "Heavenly Master" more and more in his heart.

  Just after sending away Nezha, a palace attendant came to report: "Chen Tangguan General and Weidong General Li Jing has an urgent matter to see Your Majesty!"

  "Li Jing? He's not in Chentangguan, what is he doing here in Chang'an?" Zhang Zixing was surprised and said: "Summon Li Jing to the Zhaoxuan Hall for an audience."

  Zhang Zixing arrived at the Zhaoxuan Hall and announced Li Jing's arrival. Just then, Li Jing rushed in with a very flustered expression, knelt down and paid his respects.

  "General Li requests an urgent audience, what is the matter?"

  "It's not that I'm abandoning my post, but there's an unavoidable reason," Li Jing said with a sweat-drenched face: "Your Majesty, disaster has struck..."

  "What calamity?" Zhang Zixing furrowed his brow and said: "What calamity is this, tell me."

  After listening to Li Jing's words, Zhang Zixing's face changed color and almost exclaimed.

  It turned out that it was Zhang Zixing's arrow shot into the sky in Dongyi that caused the trouble!

  On the day Zhang Zixing went on an expedition to the Eastern Yi, he ordered Li Jing to go to Chentangguan to bring back the Shocking Heaven Bow and the Piercing Cloud Arrow to eliminate the Nine You. In the midst of the siege, Zhang Zixing shot an arrow that split the wind and pierced the clouds in front of Yuè Jiě, immediately winning her favor. However, this Piercing Cloud Arrow was never seen again, and afterwards Zhang Zixing sent people to search for it everywhere, but to no avail.

  The current problem lies in this "missing" arrow, and it is unknown whether Zhang Zixing's strength was too strong, but this arrow flew to the Three Immortals Island overseas by a freak combination of circumstances, shooting a small child who was picking herbs on the island through the chest, killing him instantly.

  The Three Immortals' Island is one of the places that Zhang Ziyang pays most attention to in "Fengshen Yanyi". There are three female immortals on the island, namely Yun Xiao, Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao, who are all members of the Jie Teaching Sect. Although these three women have astonishing strength, they can be compared to Duobao Daoren, the first disciple of Tongtian Teachings' leader, Zhang Ziyang has seen before. The magic treasure "Hunyuan Golden Cauldron" is also a powerful magic weapon. In the middle, the twelve immortals of the Yan Teaching Sect were trapped by the nine-turns Yellow River Formation of the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, and even cut off the top three flowers, eliminated the five internal energies in their chest, greatly reducing their immortal bodies. If it weren't for the shameless actions of Yuanshi Tianzun and Laozi, who personally killed the three Xiao sisters, the outcome of the Fengshen War might have been reversed due to this Yellow River Formation.

  On that day, the child was shot dead when Sanxiao was in retreat and did not know about it. The other disciples also dared not to disturb him. When the three female immortals came out of their retreat, they learned that their disciple had been shot dead by someone with an arrow and discovered the words "General Li Jing of Chentangguan" on the Cloud Piercing Arrow Feather Flower. In a state of shock and anger, they personally drove to Chentangguan and asked General Li Jing for justice. Li Jing knew that Sanxiao's magical powers were too strong, and he was not someone who could be trifled with. Helpless, he had no choice but to reveal the matter of the Emperor shooting at nothing during the Eastern Yi campaign. Sanxiao did not show any fear due to the Emperor's status, instead, she forced Li Jing to come to the capital to ask the Emperor for an explanation.

  Zhang Zixing listened to Li Jing's account and silently cursed his fate - in the original book, this arrow was shot unintentionally by Nezha into the sky, mistakenly killing Biyun Tongzi, the daughter of Shi Ji Niangniang. Later, it led to the incident of Taizhen True Man's Nine Dragon God Fire Cover Refining Shi Ji. Now, the protagonist had become himself, the emperor, and the victim had changed to Sanxiao Niangniang, each one more terrifying than Shi Ji by N times. Unless it was a Saint-level master like Taizhen True Man who personally took action, who could kill someone and silence them? Originally, in his future blueprint, the powerful ones such as Duobao Daoren of the Intercepting Sect, the Three Great Holy Mothers, Zhao Gongming, Sanxiao Niangniang, etc. were all key forces to be borrowed from and won over by him. But now, he had unexpectedly become deeply embroiled with Sanxiao Niangniang - what bad luck!

  "Where is the Third Princess now?"

  Li Jing perceived the Emperor's tone was serious, and hastily replied: "I am waiting for orders outside the palace. These three ladies are all highly skilled and powerful individuals from the mortal world, please be cautious, Your Majesty."

  Nonsense, I didn't know these three women were so fierce! Zhang Zixing heard Li Jing's well-intentioned reminder, and his anger was even more uncontainable. Who let you have such a strong vanity, and still put a word on the divine arrow for no reason, obviously framing yourself!

  Zhang Zixing also knew that things had come to this, and it was no use blaming Li Jing anymore. Moreover, the root of the trouble was himself, and the key was to think of a way to settle this matter. To be on the safe side, he first took out the Xuefu, then sent someone to find Wen Zhong, before summoning San Xiao into the Zhaoxuan Hall.

  Zhang Zixing had long admired the great reputation of the Three Heavenly Maidens, and had even fantasized about their beauty. But when he actually met them, he was still shocked. It wasn't because of how beautiful or ugly they looked, but rather... he couldn't see their true faces at all.

  It turned out that the three female immortals were all wearing large cloaks, with strange masks on their faces that only exposed their eyes, completely covering their appearance. If it weren't for the slender figures faintly visible under the cloaks, it would have been almost impossible to tell male from female.

  The three fairy maidens stood facing the emperor, without kneeling or bowing, merely nodding their heads in greeting. A slightly taller female immortal stepped forward and said: "I am Yunxiao, a cultivator of Qi from the Three Immortals Island. Behind me are my sisters Qiongxiao and Bixiao. We have come to see Your Majesty today to verify one thing."

  "It turned out that the three goddesses of Sanshen Island had arrived. I have long admired the great name of the sect's high-ranking official, and today I finally get to see you in person, indeed extraordinary. Please, take a seat!" Zhang Zixing knew their intention, first said a few flattering words, then intentionally asked: "I wonder what instructions the three goddesses have for me?"

  The three princesses also didn't stand on ceremony, each taking their seats. Yun Xiao saw that the Emperor was being humble and polite to these outsiders who were her sisters, so for a moment she couldn't bring herself to speak up and accuse him. Bi Xiao, however, was an impatient person, and spoke up: "Your Majesty, why beat around the bush? Since Your Majesty has seen Li Jing, you should know what my sisters and I have come here for. I'll just ask one question: was it really Your Majesty who used the Piercing Cloud Arrow to kill my disciple Yu Tiantong?"

  Zhang Zixing's expression didn't change, and he countered with a question: "I have never met that Udumbara boy before, nor do I have any grudges against him. Why would I shoot him to death? The three of you are all highly virtuous and wise individuals, so you should be able to see things clearly."

  Bixiao saw that he spoke reasonably, and for a moment she was lost in thought. Qingxiao's mind was clear and she was not confused by his attempt to divert the topic. She coldly smiled and said: "Your Majesty, are you trying to deceive my sister into thinking she is ignorant? The Shocking Heaven Bow and the Piercing Cloud Arrow were left behind by the Yellow Emperor Xuan Yuan, how can ordinary people control them? On that day when You Tan's body fell, there were also several disciples present. That arrow came from outside the sky, with red light swirling around it, its power was astonishing, it was clearly shot by the Shocking Heaven Bow. Li Jing once said that Your Majesty, while in Kan City, had shot clouds in the palace, looking majestic and impressive, all the generals were in awe. If this arrow wasn't shot by you, who else could have done it?"

  Zhang Zixing did not expect Qiong Xiao's analysis to be so clear, and he secretly resented Li Jing for being too talkative, giving him a sideways glance.

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