Staring at the broken Immortal Slaying Sword in his hand, Zhang Chen’s biggest curiosity was about the little girl who peed on him all those years ago!
During the great calamity of Celestial Punishment, he returned to the present time, and it’s unknown if the little girl survived in that time.
"Now that the Immortal Slaying Sword has appeared, and the Ascension Pool has also emerged, can finding the little girl’s trace be far away?" After this thought flashed through Zhang Chen’s mind, he scrutinized the tip of the Immortal Slaying Sword.
After surviving Heaven and Earth’s tribulation, plus the pollution and impurity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit of Postnatal People, the sword’s spirituality has been contaminated, and its power no longer shines as brilliantly as during Ancient Times.
But fortunately, he has mastered the Innate Qi that nourishes with it, and restoring the sword is only a matter of time.
Zhang Chen tentatively infused magical power and Innate Qi into the sword tip, attempting to refine it. Accompanied by the incantation to activate the Immortal Slaying Sword, refining the sword tip posed no difficulty, and he swiftly refined a restriction of the sword.
"The Immortal Slaying Sword has fractured, many Innate Restrictions are incomplete, only eighteen complete Innate Restrictions remain." While refining, Zhang Chen carefully sensed the mysteries of these eighteen restrictions: "These eighteen Innate Restrictions primarily focus on ’annihilation’, containing the Annihilation Dao that destroys vitality. Inside flows the Power of Annihilation; no wonder, even just this sword tip can easily slaughter a Tenth Tier powerhouse."
Zhang Chen’s magical power surged into the sword tip, which emitted a soft hum filled with joyful melody, actively absorbing Zhang Chen’s magical power and Innate Qi.
After about half a day, Zhang Chen preliminarily refined one Innate Restriction, gaining control over the sword tip’s power. The Immortal Slaying Sword quickly shrunk to thumb length, flying into Zhang Chen’s sleeve and disappearing without a trace. "I have now preliminarily refined one Innate Restriction. Next, it’s the arduous task of water grinding ink, gradually refining the sword tip with magical power. However, it can now be driven, so there’s no fear of it being taken, unless the opponent possesses Divine Techniques like Five-Colored Divine Light to forcibly suppress my mark and seize the sword." Zhang Chen kept the sword tip nourished closely and then put away the alchemy furnace, scanning the entire mansion with no further attachments before employing Escape Techniques to leave.
While using Escape Techniques to leave, Zhang Chen passed by the Shen Family Mansion, seeing from afar that it had become ashes, turned into ruins, surrounded by countless burly men in yellow robes and yellow headscarves, making it impenetrable.
He saw Gu Mingyue, who was discussing something in front of the Shen Family ruins with several Yellow Heaven Dao cultivators, while Liu Ji stood humbly before Gu Mingyue with a flattering expression.
As Zhang Chen looked toward Gu Mingyue, Gu Mingyue, being a Ninth Tier deity able to observe the trajectory of Heaven and Earth Energy, seemed to sense something and glanced in Zhang Chen’s direction, startling him to immediately use Escape Techniques to flee far away.
He wasn’t afraid of Gu Mingyue but felt there was no need for conflict now. Numerous experts had gathered from Yellow Heaven Dao, and countless old eyes were fixed within Jinling City. Even the Innate Water God secretly observed him, so it was better for his development to remain hidden.
He had already killed Zhang Xiaohua, and if he were to kill the Twelve True People as well, then that Great Virtuous Master might descend.
"What a wondrous Divine Technique, to transform one’s body into energy and escape into material. Such methods are beyond ordinary experts." Gu Mingyue watched Zhang Chen’s Escape Technique without intervening, only secretly praising him.
Now, Jinling City had become a gathering place for all sorts of experts, and with news of the Innate Water God Tomb spreading, many would stealthily infiltrate Jinling City to gain a share. Though possessing some Divine Techniques, he couldn’t possibly intercept all the experts entering Jinling City for inspection, then expel them, as that would offend too many, and Yellow Heaven Dao couldn’t bear the potential consequences.
Zhang Chen used Escape Techniques to return to Chongzheng Academy, appearing at the foot of the academy’s mountain. Remembering the past glory of the Shen Family, his eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia for the unpredictability of worldly affairs. In just a few days, the Shen Family had undergone an earth-shattering change.
Returning to the backyard, Zhou Qiucheng wasn’t present, only the three little ones with Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Zhou inside the room.
In his own room, Zhang Chen studied the Pill Formula of the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill: "Now that I possess Sun True Flame, I can attempt to sacrificially refine the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill." While simulating various possibilities and processes in his mind, the sound of footsteps broke the rain’s tranquility; soon arrived Zhou Zhen, the eldest son, at Zhang Chen’s door: "Brother Zhang, I’ve been searching for you for a long time."
"Why are you looking for me?" Zhang Chen asked, surprised at the sight of Zhou Zhen.
"I wanted you to persuade Shen Ling. The girl has miscarried, and along with the destruction of her family, her Essence, Qi, and Spirit have suffered a fatal blow, refusing to eat or drink. If she dies in Chongzheng Academy, it would be troublesome. Why not persuade her to go down the mountain and seek refuge with the three major families below, who have already spread the word that they can shelter members of the Shen Family." Zhou Zhen suggested.
"What is the situation below the mountain? How dare the three major families defy Yellow Heaven Dao to shelter the Shen Family?" Zhang Chen asked, bewildered.
Zhou Zhen said: "After the fall of the Shen Family, Yellow Heaven Dao retaliated against the betrayal by Vest, sending experts to uproot the Ma Family. Now in Jinling City, there are only three of the five major families left. The rest have all been incorporated under Yellow Heaven Dao’s domain, accepting its leadership. As for protecting the Shen Family, isn’t it all arranged by that Innate Water God? With each death of a Shen family member, that Innate Water God’s power increases. Yellow Heaven Dao has already begun actions to curb the restoration of the Innate Water God’s power, abandoning the pursuit of Shen family disciples and even offering them protection. Continuing to hunt down Shen family members might provoke the emergence of a Twelfth Tier Innate Water God, or even one stronger than Twelfth Tier, which is now causing a headache for Yellow Heaven Dao."
"I’ve heard people say that it’s not Yellow Heaven Dao wanting to kill Shen family disciples now, but rather that Innate Water God actively slaughtering Shen family bloodlines. How could Yellow Heaven Dao not be frantic?" Zhou Zhen’s voice was filled with emotion, who could have guessed the conclusion of events would develop in such a manner.
"It seems Yellow Heaven Dao is entangled in big trouble." Zhang Chen’s lips curled up, revealing a hint of joy. Yellow Heaven Dao falling into trouble was certainly something to celebrate.
To him, this was absolutely good news.
"Brother Zhang... Brother Zhang... are you listening?" Zhou Zhen noticed Zhang Chen lost in thought and waved his hand in front of Zhang Chen.
"I heard you clearly." Zhang Chen snapped back to reality and replied.
"Then please persuade Shen Ling, she must not die in Chongzheng Academy. Yellow Heaven Dao wreaked havoc and destroyed the Shen Family in Jinling City, my father did not intervene, which has already become the subject of external discussion. If this matter spreads, the outside world might think Chongzheng Academy is secretly colluding with Yellow Heaven Dao. If Shen Ling dies in the mountains, it would only further cement the notion that our Chongzheng Academy is in cahoots with Yellow Heaven Dao, eliminating Shen family disciples to remove potential threats for Yellow Heaven Dao. Although the wise won’t believe in rumors, it’s hard to resist widespread public opinion. At that time, the reputation of our Chongzheng Academy could collapse, and my father’s path to enlightenment would be hindered."
Zhou Zhen was somewhat anxious, which is why he had to come to Zhang Chen for lobbying: "Moreover, Shen Ling and Shen Qiu are the only surviving direct bloodlines of the Shen Family. If they are killed, the Innate Water God’s power will be greatly enhanced. I’m afraid that Innate Water God might secretly target Chongzheng Academy. My father is already in crisis and cannot continue to protect the academy’s disciples. At that point, Chongzheng Academy would be drenched in blood."
Zhang Chen listened to Zhou Zhen’s words. Of course Zhou Zhen’s words made sense, but he found the wrong person; he had already severed his ties with the Shen Family, so how could he go and persuade Shen Ling?
Thus, facing Zhou Zhen’s pleading eyes, Zhang Chen could only sigh helplessly: "Brother Zhou, you’re asking the wrong person. My relationship with Shen Ling is extremely hostile; we are mortal enemies, and it’s an unresolvable feud. How would she listen to me? Instead of asking me, you might as well go to Zhang Gaoqiu."
"I’ve asked Zhang Gaoqiu, but Zhang Gaoqiu refused." Zhou Zhen gave a bitter laugh, his eyes full of helplessness.
It was within Zhang Chen’s expectations that Zhou Zhen’s plea to Zhang Gaoqiu would fail. Now, Shen Ling’s only support is Zhang Gaoqiu. If Zhang Gaoqiu went to persuade Shen Ling to leave Chongzheng Academy, Shen Ling would surely misunderstand him as having ulterior motives, making things more troublesome for Zhang Gaoqiu.
"I’m definitely not going to intervene; I have no connection with the Shen Family anymore." Zhang Chen refused Zhou Zhen’s request.
Zhou Zhen, with no other choice, could only offer a bitter smile and then changed the subject.
Time passed quickly, and after three more days, the shouting and killings in Jinling City finally halted. It was said that a significant figure from Yellow Heaven Dao arrived, and under that figure’s forceful suppression, the chaos in Jinling City finally calmed down, restoring peace to Jinling City.
However, even though Jinling City was quiet, a bigger problem awaited all the citizens living within: dealing with the torrential rain that had been relentless for days, with rivers flooding and landslides in certain areas.
Inside Chongzheng Academy
Late at night
Zhang Chen sat inside his room, circulating mantras, nurturing his Immortal Slaying Sword. In the deep night, a sudden booming sound resounded, shaking heaven and earth, the sound spreading over dozens of miles, echoing continuously among the mountains.
"What is that..." Zhang Chen hurriedly opened the window and stared into the distant darkness, using the lightning in the sky, he saw a massive entity traversing the deep mountains, wherever it passed, sands flew and stones shifted, moving mountains and filling seas, imbued with an aggressive posture, crashing into cliff barriers between the mountains, emitting a giant roar that spread across the night.
The sound was overwhelming, deafening, sweeping across heaven and earth.