Zhang Chen glanced at Tushan Qing upon hearing these words: "Whether the Demon Race and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion can tolerate each other on the same mountain is one thing; what matters is that Zhang Xiaohua, having joined the Yellow Heaven Dao and leveraged its grand momentum to gain a footing against the Demon Race, is already in conflict with their interests. The Demon Race can accommodate a weaker Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, but they absolutely cannot tolerate one that can stand on equal ground with them. The Yellow Heaven Dao has the unfathomable Great Virtuous Master, who seeks to break through to the Twelfth Tier and enter the realm of the unknown. Below are the Twelve True People, as well as the newly risen Southern Dipper and Beidou Seven Stars; experts abound within its sect. Now that Zhang Xiaohua has backing from the experts of the Yellow Heaven Dao, he has filled the gap in expert deficiency, while Prince Pingbian’s Mansion lacks nothing but ordinary soldiers. Thus, the gap between the two sides will continue to shrink, and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion’s dependency on the Demon Race will diminish."
"The crucial point is, if Zhang Xiaohua advances to the Twelfth Tier, the power of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion will reach an unspeakable peak. By then, the relationship between Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and the Demon Race will surely fall out of harmony, and intense conflicts will erupt over the claims to the Northern Land and the Divine Land."
Zhang Chen spoke leisurely: "If Zhang Xiaohua does not seek breakthroughs to the Twelfth Tier, then that’s one thing. But if he does, he is driving himself to a dead end, for the Demon Race will not allow Prince Pingbian’s Mansion to produce a Twelfth Tier powerhouse endowed with the ability to counter them."
Tushan Qing was stunned as he looked at Zhang Chen, never expecting that Zhang Chen could analyze the grand situation of the Northern Land so thoroughly, his eyes filled with astonishment: "Brother Zhang’s analysis is way too accurate; the situation in the Northern Land is as if viewed from the palm."
Once Zhang Xiaohua breaks through to the Twelfth Tier and has support from the Yellow Heaven Dao, it will be like a tiger with wings added; the Demon Race will struggle to suppress Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, even being forced to work for them."
Zhang Chen looked at Tushan Qing: "The Jinling City is a good place for Zhang Xiaohua to be buried; not only is the Feng Shui excellent, but the situation is chaotic enough. If Zhang Xiaohua dies, how can Prince Pingbian escape the control of the Demon Race then?"
"Indeed!" Tushan Qing responded.
"I need to go home to cultivate; go follow Zhang Gaoqiu and enjoy the drinks, free banquets are not to be missed." Zhang Chen walked slowly down the mountain, hands held behind his back.
"What’s so good about a banquet? It’s better to follow Brother Zhang and listen to your guidance." Tushan Qing approached with a flattering expression:
"Brother Zhang, I have gathered information about that grand tomb in secrecy."
"What conclusions did you reach?" Zhang Chen inquired.
The two of them spoke while descending the mountain, and Tushan Qing said: "That grand tomb is hidden beneath the old residence of the Shen Family; to be frank, I have some skills and intended to investigate, but was actually blocked by a Mysterious Power. I didn’t dare to force through it, fearing it would alert the Tenth Tier deity of the Shen Family."
Zhang Chen turned to look at Tushan Qing in surprise: "That’s all? You needed to inquire for this? I knew it long ago."
"To find out more, one must continually slaughter Shen Family disciples, using their bloodlines for blood sacrifice to reveal more secrets," Tushan Qing elaborated.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Tushan Qing continued to lament: "The Shen Family has a Tenth Tier deity overseeing; how would I dare make big moves."
Zhang Chen couldn’t be bothered with Tushan Qing, simply saying to him: "If there’s news, inform me at the school tomorrow."
Zhang Chen walked down the mountain, using Escape Technique to leave Jinling City and meet Hu Li the Immortal, but unexpectedly, upon exiting Jinling City, a barrier of Golden Light flashed in the void, transforming into a curtain and blocking his Escape Technique.
"Hmm~. Who’s blocking me?" Zhang Chen descended from the Escape Light, holding the Celestial Measuring Ruler with vigilance in his eyes.
At that moment, the curtain emitted a grand and majestic sound: "The Yellow Heaven Dao has set the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array, forbidding any Mysterious Power from leaving. I ask that this friend remain in Jinling City for another half month, after which Yellow Heaven Dao will come to apologize."
Zhang Chen observed the curtain before him, witnessing the circulating Incense Qi within it. Common mortals passed through the curtain without hindrance, whereas cultivators carrying Mysterious Power were stopped by the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array.
"This is an array, an array from an immortal-themed novel. The Great Virtuous Master, as the world’s only Twelfth Tier powerhouse, indeed has a profound foundation, even figuring out the legendary arrays." Zhang Chen scrutinized the Golden Light barrier before him, knowing it was merely a screen but borrowing the Power of Heaven and Earth. If he did not make a significant movement, breaking the array to escape would be impossible. Yet making a sizable disturbance might introduce countless troubles and attract attention of various experts, which would contradict his intent of quietly acquiring benefits.
Zhang Chen’s goal has always been to reap benefits, develop discreetly, and first resolve the issue of his lifespan.
"Moreover, the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array is operated by eight Eighth Tier deities. In action, even a Tenth Tier deity can’t break free quickly. I’d better avoid standing out." Zhang Chen retreated into the city, finding a small courtyard randomly, then initiated the Soul Hook skill, beginning to sense Hu Li the Immortal.
This time, Zhang Chen did not capture the opponent’s soul but directly activated the positioning. Hu Li the Immortal seemed to understand Zhang Chen’s intention, and in the next moment, he used Divine Techniques to transform into a black wind, appearing in front of Zhang Chen.
"You summoned me; what do you want?" Hu Li the Immortal said disgruntledly, "Didn’t we just part ways? Why are you summoning me again?"
"I have mastered a method that can help you regain your past life’s cultivation. Since you’re unwilling to regain it, then forget it." Facing Hu Li the Immortal’s complaints, Zhang Chen turned to leave without haste.
"Hold on! Hold on! When did I say I’m unwilling? Can you truly help me regain my cultivation? You’re not deceiving me?" Hu Li the Immortal looked at Zhang Chen with eyes full of intensity.
"If you don’t believe me, forget it!" Zhang Chen was about to turn and leave again.
At this time, Hu Li the Immortal had the appearance of a child, and with an anxious expression, he tried to hold Zhang Chen back, saying, "You might as well be my living father! Just tell me what you want to do; I’ll follow your lead entirely."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen turned his head to look at Hu Li the Immortal’s pink-cheeked face, which had the appearance of a little boy, yet with tiger ears that added a playful and adorable touch.
Zhang Chen glanced at Hu Li the Immortal: "If I help you regain your past life’s cultivation, you will definitely be able to break through to the Twelfth Tier. Don’t forget my kindness when that time comes."
"I know, I know. I’m someone who understands gratitude and reciprocates." Hu Li the Immortal kept urging Zhang Chen, "Hurry up, stop dithering!"
Zhang Chen looked at Hu Li the Immortal. Since the opponent was already affected by his Forbidden Technique, he was not afraid that Hu Li the Immortal would turn things upside down. He then glanced at the surrounding scenery: "This place is not suitable for cultivation. If any disturbance attracts those old fellows’ attention, it might become troublesome."
"I know a place, follow me." Hu Li the Immortal gathered a gust of wind, enveloping Zhang Chen as they flew away, leaving Jinling City and passing through the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array to reach a deserted mountain. They found a cave, where a fire was lit, roasting a Sika Deer, its aroma wafting out from the cave.
"You certainly know how to enjoy yourself." Zhang Chen glanced at the roasted Sika Deer and spoke in a tone neither flattering nor condemning.
"What do you understand? I, as the ancestor, have worked hard to attain today’s cultivation and status, so I ought to enjoy life to reward my past efforts in cultivation." Hu Li the Immortal looked at Zhang Chen with eyes full of intensity: "Let’s get started."
"Regaining the past life’s cultivation cannot be done in a short time; it could take three to five years, or perhaps ten days to half a month. It won’t delay your grand plan, right?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Of course not." Hu Li the Immortal said, "Yellow Heaven Dao is merely temporarily blocking Jinling City to prevent the Shen Family’s direct line from escaping. Next, they will target and eliminate the Shen Family’s branches across the country, forcing their peripheral blood into Jinling City to fulfill the conditions for a blood ritual."
"After the Shen Family’s branches are besieged, they will surely return to the Jinling Shen Family for help, then fall into the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array, becoming a turtle in a jar. This process cannot be completed in a short time; it might take a year to half a year, or perhaps two or three months. Would this time be sufficient for us to complete the ritual?" Hu Li the Immortal inquired.
Zhang Chen was taken aback upon hearing this: "But didn’t the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array clearly state it would open within a month?"
"That’s a delay tactic, to prevent other major forces from acting in desperation. Saying a month but delaying it to three months, then five months, and eventually a year; as long as it can be delayed, those forces with any sliver of hope won’t dare to turn against Yellow Heaven Dao." Hu Li the Immortal remarked jovially.
"Isn’t it a bit early to deploy the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array now?" Zhang Chen said.
"Not early at all. The outskirts have already begun acting. The Heaven and Earth Net must be set up to prevent those arriving in Jinling City from noticing anything unusual and escaping directly." Hu Li the Immortal said.
"If the Shen Family’s Tenth Tier divine beings receive external news, they certainly won’t sit idly by. When they attack the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array, what then? If the Shen Family’s Tenth Tier divine beings break through the Eight Gates Locking Array, won’t Yellow Heaven Dao’s grand plan be for naught?" Zhang Chen was stunned.
The Shen Family’s Tenth Tier divine beings aren’t fools. If the Shen Family’s branches escape and relay back information, how can they sit idly by? Once they act to break that formation, won’t Yellow Heaven Dao end up with nothing?
"Those eight divine beings are all equipped with symbols personally crafted by the Great Virtuous Master to guard the eyes of the Eight Gates Locking Gold Array. The Tenth Tier divine beings won’t be able to break through in two or three years." Hu Li the Immortal said.