Just as Zhang Chen and Tushan Qing were staring at Shen Ling’s chicken soup, Zhang Gaoqiu emerged from the pavilion. Shen Ling quickly stepped forward with a face full of joy: "Zhang, this is chicken soup I made by hand for you. You spent the day in the pavilion comprehending mysterious insights, consuming a lot of your Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Come and have some chicken soup to replenish yourself."
"Turns out the chicken soup was prepared for Zhang Gaoqiu the kid, he’s really lucky." Tushan Qing mumbled to himself.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen shook his head and chuckled. Did Zhang Gaoqiu really comprehend any mysteries in the pavilion? Clearly, he was flirting with the Little Princess Chai Wenji.
Upon seeing Shen Ling holding the chicken soup, Zhang Gaoqiu’s face changed, and he quickly reached out to grab Shen Ling and disappeared into the crowd.
Watching Zhang Gaoqiu and Shen Ling’s departing figures, Tushan Qing nudged Zhang Chen’s arm with his shoulder: "What’s for lunch?"
"Braised lion’s head, venison, bear paw..." Zhang Chen listed off a string of dishes, causing Tushan Qing’s eyes to glaze over, with drool slipping from his mouth.
With Fox Fairy Nannan nearby, Zhang Chen certainly wouldn’t skimp on himself. His meals were all arranged by Fox Fairy Nannan.
Zhang Chen and his companions proceeded to a pavilion, where three little ones were already waiting. Below the mountain, servants came carrying food boxes, setting out exquisite dishes within the pavilion.
Zhang Chen had to admit, his Fox Spirit indeed had some use, using Zhang Xiaohua’s wealth to support him, which justified Zhang Chen’s cultivation efforts.
Now, Zhang Chen’s meals, except for dinner, were arranged by Fox Fairy Nannan, who ordered at the restaurant and sent workers to deliver wine and dishes.
The three little ones ate voraciously, and Zhang Chen picked up a four-happiness meatball with his chopsticks and began chewing. After the family had their fill, they parted ways, the three little ones continued learning knowledge while Zhang Chen and Tushan Qing returned to the pavilion to study mysteries.
On their way back, passing a secluded waterside pavilion, Zhang Chen saw Shen Ling and Zhang Gaoqiu. Shen Ling was feeding chicken soup to Zhang Gaoqiu, whose expression appeared somewhat reluctant, which warranted some pondering.
"Zhang Gaoqiu’s expression is strange! He and Shen Ling have long had dealings, why come to this secluded place to eat chicken soup?" Tushan Qing followed behind Zhang Chen, his voice full of sarcasm.
"Haha, perhaps he has a guilty conscience, unwilling to reveal his unusual relationship with Shen Ling in front of everyone at the academy. Or he considers Shen Ling somewhat inadequate at the moment," Zhang Chen remarked casually: "But now with the Jinling Shen Family, even if Shen Ling becomes an obstacle in Zhang Gaoqiu’s pursuit of the Little Princess, Zhang Gaoqiu can only seek ways to delay, striving for a peaceful resolution, hoping Shen Ling voluntarily gives up the entanglement."
There was no schadenfreude in Zhang Chen’s voice, just a faint sigh: "What a pity..."
It’s unclear what Zhang Chen felt sorry about.
Three days quickly passed, and on this day, Zhang Chen had just stepped out when he saw Liu Ji standing in the corner. After exchanging glances, Liu Ji turned and walked away, with Zhang Chen following closely. They found a secluded tea house, where Zhang Chen slowly poured a cup of tea before asking, "Didn’t you say we shouldn’t meet unless necessary? Why did you come looking for me today?"
Liu Ji shook his head with a bitter smile: "You think I want to come to you? I’ve been feeling that the Ten Directions Defense isn’t right. Lately, I’ve suddenly felt much older, my bones are becoming sluggish, and it’s not easy to move around. It seems like the Ten Directions Defense is absorbing my life force when I use it. Since you know the Ten Directions Defense’s mantra, you should know its secrets, right?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen looked at Liu Ji in surprise: "How much Ten Directions Defense have you used recently?"
He carefully examined Liu Ji, who indeed seemed much older.
"The danger from that Treasure Sword is too intense. If I don’t activate the Ten Directions Defense to resist, I fear I’d have been shredded by that sword already." Liu Ji said with a bitter smile.
"Didn’t anyone tell you? Using mysterious artifacts requires supporting them with your life force. The more you activate the mysteries, the faster your lifespan is consumed, leading to a quicker death." Zhang Chen queried.
"What?" Liu Ji’s face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with disbelief, unable to contain a startled shout, his voice full of incredulity.
Now Liu Ji was truly anxious: "Is there a way to save myself?"
"Once your lifespan is depleted, replenishing it is extremely difficult." Zhang Chen shook his head.
With these words, Liu Ji’s face grew more grim: "Does this mean I can’t use the Ten Directions Defense anymore?"
"Theoretically, yes." Zhang Chen replied.
"Can Incense Divine Power be used to offset the cost?" Liu Ji asked.
"Incense Divine Power is the gathered beliefs of all beings, poisonous to mysteries," Zhang Chen stated: "Not to mention Divine Power, even Bloodline Power cannot exempt the cost of exchanging lifespan."
Sitting opposite Zhang Chen, Liu Ji’s face was gloomy and unpredictable. Recently realizing the Immortal Slaying Sword and activating Ten Directions Defense both required consuming life force, he appeared much older.
"Is there really no way at all?" Liu Ji was unwilling to accept it.
"Of course there is! That’s to cultivate the Divine Soul Dao. As long as you step into its cultivation, you can be exempt from the price, allowing the mysterious power itself to bear it," Zhang Chen said. "There is a secret technique for cultivating the Divine Soul Dao within the Yellow Heaven Dao."
"Where would I have the qualification to peek at such secret techniques?" Liu Ji was shocked by the words.
"Now that Yellow Heaven Dao has shifted to the Incense Divine Dao, they shouldn’t care as much about the Divine Soul Dao cultivation. Why can’t you obtain its cultivation technique?" Zhang Chen silently puzzled over this, his eyes filled with confusion.
"I just joined Yellow Heaven Dao, how could I possibly be passed such secret techniques?" Liu Ji spoke bitterly.
Hearing Liu Ji’s words, Zhang Chen’s lips curled up as he looked at Liu Ji’s bitter face, smiling, "It’s a coincidence, isn’t it? I happen to have the secret technique for Divine Soul cultivation from Yellow Heaven Dao."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ji suddenly looked up, eyes filled with fervor as he stared at Zhang Chen. "Zhang the Kid, I don’t need to spell out the nature of our relationship, do I?"
"Of course," Zhang Chen smiled gently, "Just bring your head over here."
Without questioning, Liu Ji obediently leaned his head over, only to see Zhang Chen extend a finger and touch Liu Ji’s forehead, imparting the Yellow Heaven Dao’s Visualization Technique into Liu Ji’s mind.
Feeling the sudden influx of information and diagrams in his mind, Liu Ji was startled, looking at Zhang Chen with a face full of surprise. "How on earth have you cultivated to such an incredible degree?"
"Far beyond your imagination, otherwise, how would I dare go against Yellow Heaven Dao?"
Zhang Chen then began to explain the key points and various precautions of the Visualization Technique to Liu Ji. Half an hour later, Zhang Chen finished his explanation and said, "You just visualize according to this Visualization Technique, and you’ll eventually cultivate a Yin Spirit."
Hearing this, Liu Ji stood up and solemnly bowed to Zhang Chen, "Zhang the Kid, thank you!"
The Visualization Technique itself is a wonderful technique that could be passed down through generations, capable of establishing a family. For Zhang Chen to convey it so easily, what a profound favor!
Zhang Chen glanced at Liu Ji and playfully said, "Look at you, being so courteous! With our relationship, you’re being too formal."
The two sat again as Liu Ji poured a cup of tea for Zhang Chen. As they were seated at the teahouse, suddenly there was a commotion in the distance, and they saw a blood-stained, disheveled man rush from outside the city into the city, causing many locals to scream in alarm. The man dashed straight into the Shen Family estate, throwing it into chaos.
"It’s begun." Liu Ji put down his teacup, looking at the blood stains left on the street, his voice solemn.
Zhang Chen looked at Liu Ji in confusion, and Liu Ji replied in a heavy tone, "Shen Family!"
Zhang Chen’s eyes narrowed upon hearing this.
"Are they hitting the Shen Family now? The Shen Family has persisted for countless millennia, deep in heritage, they’re not so easily toppled," Zhang Chen drank his tea lightly.
"It’s difficult but not impossible," Liu Ji said, glancing at the disappearing figure on the long street, and stood up somewhat impatiently. "About what I told you, take care of yourself. Don’t come looking for me if nothing urgent arises. All forces of Yellow Heaven Dao are in a state of dormancy, waiting to deliver a final, lethal blow."
After speaking, Liu Ji solemnly advised, "Stay at the academy and don’t rush out into trouble. The current situation is such that no one can save the Shen Family!"
After finishing his words, Liu Ji disappeared from the building, leaving Zhang Chen silently drinking his tea.
Of course, he wouldn’t heed Liu Ji’s advice; he still wanted to fish in troubled waters, seizing the chance to absorb the divine spirits’ origins.
Watching Liu Ji leave in haste, Zhang Chen knew this was related to the bloody figure that had passed through the street. His mind was flooded with countless thoughts, images passing before his eyes.
Images of Madam Shen, Shen Xu, and Wang Xifeng’s beautiful face.
"Should I take action?" Zhang Chen’s mind was flickering with thoughts, constantly at war with himself.
"The Shen Family’s deeds are chilling, but they are ultimately the kin of my mother’s mother. Even if not considering anything else, solely due to my never-seen mother leaving me the legacy of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, I should get involved. But the troubles of the Shen Family this time are far too great; I can’t bear them! If I’m careless, I’ll be caught up in it," Zhang Chen muttered inwardly.
Before Yang God level experts, his Five Elements Escape Technique was useless; invisibility runes were ineffective against Tenth Tier powerhouses, making it difficult to conceal himself and save others.
"I can only save myself. My power is far too limited; I can’t save anyone! This is a Tenth Tier ordeal, not a minor scenario. What am I, a cultivator of seven or eight tiers, doing joining the commotion?" Zhang Chen mumbled.