Zhang Chen could hardly believe that Chen Sanliang would say such vicious and uncompromising words.
"The news I brought could be false? The entire Jiangnan Dao is in an uproar now, countless scholars are discussing it, and the common people are also in a state of panic and unrest," Huang Chao said.
Zhang Chen forced himself to regain his composure, and after a long pause, he asked, "What happened?"
"Isn’t it all because of that ’Changcao Academy’ in Li She Country!" Huang Chao said with frustration in his voice:
"The matter began at Changcao Academy in Li She Country, the largest academy in the Li She Vassal States. This morning, during a debate with Chen Sanliang, its dean used Han Suzhen as a flaw, employing methods of attack centered on Han Suzhen to provoke Chen Sanliang. However, Chen Sanliang managed to remain calm and argued back, causing the dean’s defeat. But the defeated dean, unwilling to submit to Chen Sanliang, insulted his wife. Chen Sanliang, upon hearing this, became furious and, disregarding the surrender of the academy’s six hundred scholars, slaughtered them all, annihilating the entire Li She Country. This action shocked all still-standing academies in Jiangnan, so the major academies were filled with indignation. They rallied their forces, intending to sacrifice to Zhou Qiucheng, and hoped to support him in taking the Twelfth Tier of the Divine Dao to wage a life-and-death battle with Chen Sanliang. Some scholars even wrote articles accusing Han Suzhen, spreading false and filthy rumors about how she and Chen Sanliang lacked moral fidelity and eloped. This completely enraged Chen Sanliang, who publicly declared his intention to annihilate Jiangnan’s entire literary lineage." Huang Chao’s voice was full of shock.
"This move by Chen Sanliang has certainly crossed a forbidden line. Those six hundred scholars all belonged to influential families, tangled with major forces across the world, with countless connections. They surrendered, and you still killed them; isn’t that going too far? This immediately stirred resentment throughout Jiangnan. Moreover, some people secretly fueled the fire, slandering Han Suzhen. I heard some even wrote erotic tales about her, and others desecrated her ceremonial tomb, all of which infuriated Chen Sanliang," Huang Chao’s voice held a tone of helplessness.
"Someone wants to take advantage of the chaos," Zhang Chen, with his astute mind, immediately sensed something amiss.
The nobles of the various states of Jiangnan Dao are all cowards, where would they dare to oppose Chen Sanliang? Someone is stirring up trouble from behind the scenes, seizing the opportunity to exacerbate the situation, forcing everyone into a deadlock with Chen Sanliang.
"Whoever caused this calamity truly deserves a thousand deaths," Huang Chao cursed.
The Demon Race intends to massacre all the humans of Jiangnan Dao. Huang Heaven Dao would be implicated too and face disaster; its influence in Jiangnan Dao would be completely swept away. How could Huang Chao not curse?
"The perpetrator is genuinely ruthless, aiming to strike at the heart. They knew where Chen Sanliang’s weaknesses lay and attacked his sore spots," Zhang Chen silently marveled in his heart.
But he had to admit that the opponent was indeed merciless.
As for who did it?
Though Zhang Chen didn’t know, following the logic of ’who benefits is guilty,’ Zhang Chen glanced towards the direction of the Exquisite Tower.
"Zhou Qiucheng is known for his Iron-Faced Impartiality, it shouldn’t be him, right? How could he commit such an insane act?" Zhang Chen was somewhat puzzled.
"If Zhou Qiucheng’s mind was bewitched by the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, he might do something as mad as this," Zhang Chen muttered to himself.
But he wasn’t sure whether Chen Sanliang had been bewitched by the Great Freedom Celestial Demon beneath the Exquisite Tower.
"Difficult to handle!" Zhang Chen muttered to himself, unable to testify to anything.
What’s done is done; even if he tracked down the perpetrator, what would it matter?
"We better hurry and escape; Chen Sanliang is going mad, encompassing all life in Jiangnan Dao within his slaughter list. There’s no reason to stay here any longer. How unjust to have just established a foundation in Jiangnan Dao only to encounter this!" Huang Chao’s voice was mournful, filled with helplessness.
He had barely succeeded in his business venture in Jinling City, and now he faced such a predicament. Who could he complain to?
Huang Chao wanted to flee but not alone. He intended to flee with Zhang Chen, hoping that with Zhang Chen’s support, he could stand more confidently.
Zhang Chen glanced at Huang Chao, "It’s not yet the time to flee. Jiangnan Dao will surely be preserved; it can’t be entirely massacred by the Demon Race."
"Are you sure?" Huang Chao looked at Zhang Chen with suspicion.
"I certainly have ways to make Chen Sanliang retract his words," Zhang Chen replied.
Actually, he didn’t care. It made no difference to Zhang Chen whether ordinary people or prominent families died; it just meant that the names on the death list now included human nobles as well.
Just some nobles; if they died, they died. Zhang Chen didn’t want to intervene. The Demon Race invading human lands, resulting in rivers of blood, was fate, something Zhang Chen couldn’t prevent. All he could do was protect those he wanted to protect, safeguarding his friends and family from harm; as for others, he was powerless to help.
If Zhang Chen dared to stand up to the Demon Race and demand they retreat, wouldn’t a Twelfth Tier old fellow immediately step out to suppress him?
Zhou Qiucheng, however, was someone he intended to protect!
Zhou Qiucheng had always been good to him, the kindness was indeed profound.
After hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Huang Chao turned around and left, half-believing, leaving Zhang Chen standing in the courtyard, silently looking towards Chongzheng Academy.
"Zhang Chen, you must stop this catastrophe! We cannot let the Demon Race continue the slaughter, otherwise, there will be a big disaster." Just when Zhang Chen was planning to stay out of it, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon leaped out from Zhang Chen’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit, solemnly trying to dissuade Zhang Chen.
"Haven’t you always feared that the world wouldn’t be chaotic enough? Why are you advising me to meddle now?" Zhang Chen asked, filled with confusion.
"If it were ordinary matters, we wouldn’t interfere, but this one we must. I’ve sensed that the avatar sealed deep within the Exquisite Tower has already broken through the tower’s confinement and can interfere with the outside world. Chaos in people’s hearts, fear of death, greed, bloodlust—all emotions and desires are its nourishment. Once it breaks free, all beings in the world, without exception, will become its seeds. Even a twelfth-tier strong one cannot avoid this. Not to mention a twelfth-tier strong one, even those who have achieved Dao Fruit, as long as there is a flaw in their heart, will become vessels for its possession." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s voice was full of fear: "All sentient beings, without exception, will be possessed by it. Including your parents and family!" the Great Freedom Celestial Demon said to Zhang Chen.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was speechless, because just imagining that scenario made his scalp tingle—it was simply too terrifying.
As for stopping the slaughter, does Zhang Chen have that capability?
Of course, he has the ability, after all, he has restrained Hu Li the Immortal, except for that mysterious and enigmatic Peacock Ancestor of the Demon Race, who else is a top-level expert in the entire Demon Race?
As long as he handles these two, the Demon Race’s tribulation will resolve on its own.
But for Zhang Chen to withstand the thunder, he is reluctant!
This world is not his, neither is its power, wealth, nor beauties, nor are the common people his relatives, what does their life or death have to do with him?
Even if the Human Race is wiped out, can’t he live well just the same?
If he now comes forward to contend with the Demon Race, it is like being a beast of burden for those in power, taking the thunder for them!
Why should he?
There are no benefits for him, yet he must risk his life to take the thunder, why should he do that?
For the world’s sentient beings?
They are not his relatives, what does their life or death have to do with him?
Even if the world’s people prosper, they won’t share a penny with him. Even if they have beauties, they won’t let him enjoy them. To put it bluntly, on the day Zhang Chen starves to death, these trillions of sentient beings won’t even give him a bowl of rice. With everyone being unrelated, why should Zhang Chen stand up for them?
As for the race being exterminated, families and clans wiped out?
What a joke, isn’t race just a ’name’ and ’righteousness’ imposed by postnatal humans? Aren’t humans and Human Demons the same species? Same body structure, same DNA?
It’s merely defined and differentiated by people afterward.
The most crucial point is that even if the entire Human Race is exterminated, Zhang Chen can still live well, live smoothly, so the extermination of the race has no impact on Zhang Chen.
Given this, why should he stand out?
Yet now that the avatar of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon emerged wanting to possess the bodies of sentient beings, it made Zhang Chen suddenly aware of a crisis.
He himself is not afraid of the Celestial Demon, but he has family, right?
But if he’s asked to stand out and take the blame, confronting the Demon Race for everyone, he’s still unwilling.
Why should he exert himself and let everyone enjoy?
Zhang Chen is dissatisfied!
"It’s gotten to this point, don’t be concerned with personal gains and losses. Once that avatar emerges, we might escape the Demon Tribulation, but the world’s sentient beings, your brothers and sisters, will certainly suffer." The Great Freedom Celestial Demon kept trying to persuade Zhang Chen earnestly.
"The leading tree rots first; if I stand out for the Human Race now, it might not bring benefits. At least wait until those big shots can’t sit still, then it won’t be too late for me to push from behind." Zhang Chen murmured to himself.
"Let’s wait and see, those big shots aren’t in a hurry, why should we be? It’s only Northern Land and half of Jiangnan that are lost now, there’s still seven or eight-tenths of the nation’s lands remaining. I’m in no hurry; I’ll slowly wait for the right opportunity. As for that demon, if it really breaks free..." Zhang Chen hesitated slightly: "perhaps I can use the Sealing Rune to suppress it a bit."