Zhang Chen managed to persuade Fox Fairy Nannan to leave, and made his way back to the academy. The chaos at the foot of the mountain had now spread, causing unrest even within the academy.
Although Zhou Qiucheng was guarding the mountain, the remaining waves still affected the summit.
Zhang Chen didn’t want to get involved in such troublesome matters. All he wanted was to quietly cultivate and seize opportunities to grow stronger, reaping more benefits.
Upon arriving at the mountain, Zhang Chen saw from afar a group of scholars gathered around Shen Qiu, ridiculing and laughing at him continually. Shen Qiu, miserably crouched on the ground, his clothes ragged, unable to lift his head.
Back when the Shen Family was at its peak, Shen Qiu was so proud; now he is equally destitute. This world never lacks people who kick others when they are down, nor does it lack those who take advantage of others’ misfortunes.
Zhang Chen turned his gaze away and did not meddle but proceeded to the Exquisite Tower, where he found Tushan Qing munching on an apple, observing some graphic lines.
Noticing Zhang Chen’s approach, Tushan Qing pulled him aside: "I heard someone say that a big figure from the Yellow Heaven Dao is coming to investigate Zhang Xiaohua’s cause of death. You must hide well and avoid being traced by the Yellow Heaven Dao."
"The incident in the great tomb is known only to the three of us. If you don’t talk, I don’t talk, and Hu Li the Immortal doesn’t talk, who can know it was me who killed Zhang Xiaohua?" Zhang Chen responded to Tushan Qing with irritation.
"I heard the Yellow Heaven Dao is trying to find a way to open the entrance to the great tomb for exploration. If they manage to enter and find any clues, it could indeed be troublesome." Tushan Qing said with some concern.
"Relax, that’s the power of Weak Water; it’s not easily crossed." Zhang Chen patted Tushan Qing’s shoulder, offering comfort while his eyes inadvertently swept across the entire Treasure Tower. There he saw Zhang Gaoqiu and Little Princess Chai Wenji standing in a corner, with Chai Wenji standing expressionless while Zhang Gaoqiu seemed to be passionately explaining something.
Zhang Chen took a glance but paid no heed, and continued to observe the operation rules of the Exquisite Tower. After a cup of tea’s time, Zhang Gaoqiu approached Zhang Chen: "Zhang Chen, I have something to say to you."
"I don’t think we have anything to discuss." Zhang Chen coldly looked at Zhang Gaoqiu.
"Shen Ling had a miscarriage!" Zhang Gaoqiu said to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen’s pupils shrank upon hearing this, not having expected Shen Ling’s situation to be so severe.
"After the Shen Family fell, with all men, women, and children slaughtered overnight, Shen Ling’s excessive grief upon hearing the news caused her Fetal Qi to react, resulting in a miscarriage. Her child is gone." Zhang Gaoqiu explained.
Hearing Zhang Gaoqiu’s words, Zhang Chen puzzledly asked: "So then? What does that have to do with me? You don’t need to tell me such matters."
"Aren’t you betrothed to Shen Ling? Don’t you like Shen Ling? Now that she’s no longer bound by the child in her womb, I can help you pursue her! Her home is now under disaster, she is without support and her heart is vulnerable. If you console her now and take advantage of the situation, you can certainly win her over. I know Shen Ling’s weaknesses well; if you follow my lead, capturing Shen Ling is a cinch." Zhang Gaoqiu smiled at Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen stared at Zhang Gaoqiu, trying to ascertain how shameless he could be, but disappointment struck; Zhang Gaoqiu felt no guilt, only anticipation.
"Scum!" Zhang Chen spat out.
"Just a woman. If you don’t play her, she’ll play you. Do I love Shen Ling? It’s just a game! She’s interested in my family background, interested in the Zhang Family’s influence. If one day I fall from grace or if the Zhang Family suddenly collapses, do you think Shen Ling will still stay with me?" Zhang Gaoqiu said, his voice full of seriousness:
"You’re my brother, and I must warn you: women are the least trustworthy creatures, they only seek power and wealth and worship the strong. If one day you lose your power, they will leave without hesitation."
Zhang Chen, hearing this, thought of the divorce cases later on; the majority of divorces were initiated by women, primarily because 99% of the time they couldn’t carry on.
Indeed, women are unreliable. Not only women, anything beyond one’s nature is unreliable.
"If you ever have a beloved woman, always keep a backup plan, or you’ll end up in trouble." Zhang Gaoqiu advised.
"I’m not interested in your advice." Zhang Chen replied.
"You’re not interested in my words? Then how about a transaction? Help me get Shen Ling off my hands so I can be with the Little Princess. Together we’ll soar in bliss, and I’ll bestow you countless wealth." Zhang Gaoqiu suggested: "You know best what kind of life you’re living in the Northern Land. Now is your chance to change your fate with wealth. Once I become Prince Consort, I can also elevate you, freeing you from your criminal status."
"Shameless!" Zhang Chen coldly glanced at Zhang Gaoqiu and then turned away to leave.
Watching Zhang Chen leave, Zhang Gaoqiu’s expression turned grim, his fists clenched and eyes revealing murderous intent: "Damn bastard! Daring to refuse my request, clearly you’ve grown tired of living."
Zhang Gaoqiu felt anxious and helpless. Shen Ling had already become an unshakable trouble for him. Especially now that the Shen Family was destroyed, Shen Ling was relying solely on him, making it even harder to shake her off.
"Troublesome!" Zhang Gaoqiu sighed and slowly turned to leave.
"How can there be such shameless people in this world?" Zhang Chen thought to himself.
Zhang Chen returned to the small courtyard all the way, only to see Zhou Qiucheng wrapped in a quilt, sitting under the eaves, lost in thought. Beside him, three little ones were carefully studying the knowledge and occasionally asked questions.
In the sky, the rain drizzled, but all the raindrops froze into ice instantly three feet near Zhou Qiucheng.
The quilt on Zhou Qiucheng was already covered with frost, and his entire demeanor was full of wind and frost.
Looking at Zhou Qiucheng, a thought flashed through Zhang Chen’s mind: "I wonder if my Sun True Flame can help Zhou Qiucheng resolve the Power of Frost."
The thought had just risen, but was instantly extinguished. The frost on Zhou Qiucheng’s body came from within his soul. If he used the Sun True Flame to repel the cold, Zhou Qiucheng’s soul would probably be incinerated to ashes instantly.
Zhou Qiucheng needed to dispel the Ice Cold Power by relying on himself to decipher that Divine Technique within his soul.
"Are you feeling any better, sir?" Zhang Chen stepped forward to inquire.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng smiled bitterly: "It’s getting worse! I underestimated the methods of the Innate Water God; the other’s Ice Curse is truly formidable. Even with the help of the Treasure Tower to suppress it, erasing that Divine Technique seems to be a long way off."
Looking at Zhou Qiucheng, Zhang Chen was at a loss for words. Zhou Qiucheng was struck by such a method, and he was powerless.
"Perhaps you could find some cultivation techniques that enhance Yang Qi or seek mysterious refinements that boost Yang Qi; maybe you’ll have a chance to break the Divine Technique within your soul," suggested Zhang Chen.
Zhou Qiucheng let out a bitter laugh: "Where is it so easy to find such treasures? You needn’t worry about me. Regarding the frost on me, I do have some ideas for breaking it. As long as I can comprehend the Great Dao, I can naturally establish the Dao, then enhance my cultivation to dispel that force within my soul."
Zhang Chen had heard of Zhou Qiucheng’s path on the Great Dao, which was the Iron-Faced Impartiality Dao. Walking this path was anything but easy.
The path of Iron-Faced Impartiality is destined to lead to estrangement from others, and on the path to affirming the Dao, it is sure to create countless enemies and attract numerous obstacles.
Zhang Chen wanted to persuade Zhou Qiucheng to change his path, but this thought was instantly quashed. Advising Zhou Qiucheng to change his path without reason would surely cause enmity.
Changing one’s path is not a simple matter; it requires overturning everything and starting anew, and who has such a temperament?
Unable to find a way to help Zhou Qiucheng temporarily, Zhang Chen could only stand under the eaves and talk with Zhou Qiucheng.
Seeing the worry on Zhang Chen’s face, Zhou Qiucheng smiled and comforted, "Do not worry about me. I am just a step away from affirming the Dao with the Yang God. Once I do, and the Pure Yang Qi is born within my body, naturally, I can dispel the methods of the Innate Water God."
Looking at the optimistic Zhou Qiucheng, Zhang Chen sighed inwardly. It was easy to say, but truly taking that crucial step was as hard as reaching the heavens.
There is a vast chasm between cultivators who rely on affirming the Dao to reach the Yang God and those who depend on cultivation techniques for the same. The difference is like that between heaven and earth, or cloud and mud.
One is akin to a Supreme Ancestor, creating his own Dao, while the other is merely a Pure Yang Cultivator; the gulf between them is enormous.
There is a ’Dao’ between them separating them.
After talking for a while, Zhang Chen entered the house to meditate and practice, comprehending the changes in the Laws of Heaven and Earth.
Time gradually passed, and three days went by in a blink of an eye.
In the courtyard of Jinling City, Zhang Chen sat cross-legged in the room, the Alchemy Furnace in front of him exuding a scorching heat. He waved his hand, and the lid of the Alchemy Furnace was lifted, a cold light reflecting outwards, a sharp Sword Qi burst forth, about to pierce the eaves and soar into the sky, but was suppressed by Zhang Chen using the Celestial Measuring Ruler.
The flames within the Alchemy Furnace had extinguished, and with a beckon of Zhang Chen’s hand, a cold light flew out from the furnace, landing in his palm and turning into a half sword tip flashing with cold light.
The moment the sword tip appeared, a terrifying murderous aura circulated within the room, seemingly wanting to obliterate all vitality.
Zhang Chen quickly invoked the Manipulation Mantra of the Immortal Slaying Sword, retracting its killing intent, turning the Immortal Slaying Sword’s cold light into a seemingly ordinary half sword tip.
"Who would have thought, after countless epochs, we meet again." Zhang Chen looked at the half sword tip in his hand, sighed softly, eyes filled with reminiscence as he recalled many past events.