Zhang Yan had heard before that, for any True Artifact, its True Spirit often held itself in high regard, looking down on everything around it. Even when dealing with its master, it might occasionally ignore them. However, this little child appeared to be exceptionally respectful. Zhang Yan asked, "You are the True Spirit of this map? Do you have a name?"
The child stepped to the lower seat in front of Zhang Yan, bowed his head slightly, and replied very submissively, "Reporting to Master, this little child does not have a name. This Mountain and River Map has had twelve previous owners. Most of them, after acquiring it, simply stored it away, with no time to entertain the little child. Only a rare few, when bored, summoned me to chat, not to scold me, which was already a stroke of fortune. How could I dare dream of having a name?"
Zhang Yan chuckled and said, "So, you too are one who harbors unsatisfied ambitions."
The child’s youthful face unexpectedly showed a trace of melancholy. With a sigh, he said, "The little child has heard ancient people say, ’A thousand-mile steed is common, but a good judge of horses is rare.’ Whenever I think of it, I seem to feel the same way."
Zhang Yan couldn’t help but smile. He waved his hand gently and said with a kind expression, "Very well, now that you are under my hand, let you take my surname Zhang. Since you fancy yourself a thousand-mile steed, I shall call you Zhang Ju. Does that sound good?"
The child was overjoyed. He knelt down and bowed deeply, crying tears of gratitude, "Thank you, Master, for granting me a name."
Zhang Yan also felt sentimental. This was a True Artifact after all, something that cultivators would scramble for, breaking their heads if necessary. Yet because this True Artifact could not be used for combat, it had been discarded like an old shoe, passed down through more than a dozen masters, none of whom found it worthy of their attention. It seemed that even if it had a fiery temper initially, it must have been worn down over time, leaving it without sharp edges.
He picked up the map and shook it slightly, saying, "I’ve heard that the sacrificial refinement of a True Artifact is unlike the ordinary process—it requires the True Spirit to explain the method. Let me ask you: how does this map need to be refined?"
Every True Artifact has its unique sacrificial refinement method, and it must be verbally explained by its True Spirit. Even if you have the ability to forcibly take a True Artifact, as long as the Dharma Treasure’s True Spirit does not consent to collaborate with you, you cannot use it in any way. Hence, many True Spirits would negotiate certain conditions with their owners before sacrificial refinement.
But this child had no such designs. After so many years, finally a master had treated him with some measure of regard. How dare he act difficult? Pointing at the Mountain and River Map, the child eagerly explained, "Master, please look. The mountains and rivers depicted on this map are all places I have visited. All you need to do is find a location not yet included in the scroll, visit it in person, and use your Essence Blood to write your name at the seal on the map, and then you can refine it freely."
Zhang Yan furrowed his brow slightly and said, "You’ve had more than a dozen owners over time. I suppose places not depicted on this map are quite rare by now?"
The child quickly replied, "Master, you might not know. Pu Yuzi, who acquired this map, didn’t pay it much attention either. My previous master was someone who lived six or seven hundred years ago. Now, the seas have changed into mulberry fields, and the world has shifted profoundly. I suppose it won’t be hard to find a city that has gone unseen."
Zhang Yan nodded and said, "No wonder this map’s mountain and river landscapes look familiar yet seem slightly inconsistent. That explains it."
He pondered briefly and thought to himself, "After leaving Nandang Swamp, heading southwest for a few hundred miles brings me to the Hongzhou region of the Da Wei Dynasty. The Wei Dynasty has been established for just over two hundred years, following decades of chaos spanning multiple Jiazi cycles in the previous dynasty, which burned down many prominent cities. Most state cities today have been rebuilt anew. Perhaps I should take a stroll there."
He folded the scroll, stood up, and before he could speak, the clever child leapt back into the map on his own accord.
Zhang Yan nodded, put away the map, and activated his tunneling light, heading straight toward Anzhuo City in Hongzhou’s state region.
In less than a moment, he arrived at the sky above the city. Taking out the Mountain and River Map, he spread it open and called out, "Zhang Ju, tell me, is this place suitable?"
The child emerged, poked his head out to glance around, and said joyously, "This place has changed significantly compared to a few hundred years ago. Not only have two rivers been added, but even the city’s location has shifted. Master can unfold the Mountain and River Map here to incorporate the scenery into the scroll."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan tossed the Mountain and River Map over his head, letting it unfurl in the air. The scroll expanded, flipped over, and cast its light downwards. The contents of the painting immediately began to transform. The child witnessed this and promptly said, "Master, now you can use Essence Blood to inscribe your name into the map."
Zhang Yan expelled a sliver of his Essence Blood, stretched out his finger, and wrote his name with a few strokes below the seals on the scroll. The map trembled in the air, and in an instant, it fully unfolded above his head, extending outward for thousands of feet, forming a spectacular landscape map that covered the skies.
The map surged in the clouds like waves, vividly presenting the mountains and rivers of the Nine Provinces, its imagery grand and imposing, infused with an awe-inspiring spirit.