Zhang Chen’s eyes turned to Jiang Nan, only to see Jiang Nan’s calm expression, like a wooden stump, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Zhou Qiucheng nodded at Jiang Nan, signaling her to put down the books. After watching Jiang Nan step back, he turned to Zhang Chen and said, "I’ve been collecting thoughts and argumentations on selfless human nature these past few months; Jiang Nan has been of great help to me. Her knowledge is profound; she is also quick-witted, skillful, and hardworking, assisting me greatly. Without her tireless efforts to organize materials and search for documents on selfless human nature in ancient texts, my great path could not have formed so quickly."
Zhang Chen looked at the self-satisfied Zhou Qiucheng, feeling that his new theory of ’selfless human nature’ was unreliable. Humans are complex creatures; how could their hearts be selfless?
Upon hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, Zhang Chen already sensed that the chosen direction might not be reliable, as selfless human nature is too challenging.
Even a Saint harbors personal motives within.
However, with the discussion imminent, Zhang Chen could not dampen the other’s enthusiasm; he could only nod in agreement.
During discussions, momentum is crucial. If he were to dampen Zhou Qiucheng’s spirits now, it would inevitably cause significant problems later.
After a brief conversation, Zhang Chen saw Zhou Qiucheng’s self-satisfaction but said no more and turned to leave.
Back in his own house, Zhang Chen looked at the flame within the Soul-Forming Lamp, a trace of inexplicable expression flashing in his eyes. The Fox Fairy Nannan watched the troubled Zhang Chen, tentatively asking, "Do you not support Zhou Qiucheng?"
"Selfless human nature is a pseudo-proposition with a fatal flaw. Once Chen Sanliang seizes it, Zhou Qiucheng’s Dao Heart will collapse," Zhang Chen replied.
"I think you should remind Zhou Qiucheng and help him perfect his theory, thus having a better chance to find victory in Chen Sanliang’s attacks," the Fox Fairy Nannan suggested to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen shook his head upon hearing this: "If I speak, will Zhou Qiucheng even believe me? Even if he does, it will only dampen his momentum. Moreover, patching up the flaws in Zhou Qiucheng’s theory in just three days is exceedingly difficult. It’s better not to say anything."
"Go and gather news from Jinling City, and if there are any changes, report back quickly," Zhang Chen instructed the Fox Fairy Nannan.
The Fox Fairy Nannan nodded, her figure flickered, and she vanished without a trace, leaving Zhang Chen to gaze wordlessly at the Soul-Forming Lamp.
Time flew by, and before long, it was the next day.
That morning, as Zhang Chen was meditating in cultivation, a tide of noise suddenly erupted from the street outside, startling him out of his meditation.
"What is causing such a commotion outside?" Zhang Chen asked.
No sooner had he spoken than the Fox Fairy Nannan hurriedly walked in from outside, saying to Zhang Chen, "Chen Sanliang has arrived in Jinling, and countless citizens have spontaneously taken to the streets to protest his arrival. The government’s urgent dispersal of the populace has caused such uproar."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen’s heart stirred. He stepped outside to look, seeing that indeed, the eight hundred miles of purple aura had reached the outskirts of Jinling City, at the northern gate.
Zhang Chen used his escape technique to reach a high vantage point, seeing countless citizens gathered inside the northern gate, blocking the road completely, with many holding rotten eggs and vegetable leaves, pushing towards the gate.
Outside the gate, a convoy of ten was scrambling to dodge the onslaught of rotten eggs and vegetable leaves, which shattered against the carriages, releasing an overpoweringly foul stench.
Chen Sanliang sat motionless inside the carriage, like a mountain, while his followers surrounding the carriage were all furious and murderous, yet without his orders, they dared not retaliate and could only defend passively.
"Chen Sanliang, you disgrace to the Human Race, you betrayed us and sided with the Demon Race, yet you dare return to our land to stir trouble, you are shameless!"
"Chen Sanliang, you villain of the Human Race, you helped the Demons establish order and civilization, aiding those beasts in slaughtering your kin, you deserve a thousand deaths!"
"Chen Sanliang, the blood of our Jiangnan compatriots is on your hands, you are the chief culprit!"
"If I were you, I would end my life here rather than continue causing chaos on Human lands."
"Chen Sanliang, you are a sinner of the Human Race!"
"Executioner, get out of Human lands, Jinling City does not welcome you!"
...
The torrent of curses crashed down on Chen Sanliang like an avalanche, threatening to drown him beneath a deluge of public outrage.
"What do you think?" Zhang Chen asked the Fox Fairy Nannan beside him.
"How could the citizens have organized themselves to attack Chen Sanliang’s carriage? Someone is likely stirring the pot behind the scenes, trying to disrupt Chen Sanliang’s mental state," the Fox Fairy Nannan said. "However, having cultivated to Chen Sanliang’s level, if mere petty tricks like these could unsettle him, his cultivation would have been for naught. Such tactics are laughable at best."
Zhang Chen heard the words, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, hiding in the shadows with a cold eye, just as an official stepped forward to disperse the crowd. But in Zhang Chen’s eyes, the official was only pretending, continuously pulling back and forth with the people, putting on a show for Chen Sanliang.
The crowd cursed for a full hour before the official ’pushed out’ a path, then escorted Chen Sanliang’s convoy into the city. The next moment, a deluge of rotten eggs and filth rained down like a storm, pelting the carriage. In an instant, the carriage was filthy, with rotten eggs flowing continuously, and the onlookers were drenched as if a bucket of slop had been dumped on them, making them unrecognizable.
"Come to my little abode tonight for a chat."
Just as Zhang Chen was watching the scene from the side, Chen Sanliang’s voice suddenly reached his ears.
Zhang Chen was surprised to hear it, feeling that Chen Sanliang’s cultivation had increased, allowing him to accurately detect his whereabouts in the crowd.
"Go keep an eye on where Chen Sanliang stays," Zhang Chen instructed Fox Fairy Nannan.
Fox Fairy Nannan nodded upon hearing this, then her figure flickered and disappeared from Zhang Chen’s side.
Zhang Chen watched as Chen Sanliang’s carriage struggled to advance in the crowd and couldn’t help but lightly sigh in his heart, but he did not intervene, choosing instead to vanish from the spot by using an escape technique.
Returning to his courtyard, Zhang Chen recalled the scene of Chen Sanliang entering the city, and couldn’t help but sigh softly in his heart: "A psychological tactic, but I wonder about the result, whether Chen Sanliang was affected!"
An hour later, the figure of Fox Fairy Nannan flickered and appeared next to Zhang Chen: "I’ve determined where Chen Sanliang is staying."
Zhang Chen nodded: "I just hope Mr. Chen can make it through this ordeal without his emotions being affected."
By evening, Zhang Chen used the escape technique and, guided by Fox Fairy Nannan, arrived at a mansion in the city. There, he saw Chen Sanliang sitting at an oil lamp, carefully reading a book in his hand.
Zhang Chen’s figure appeared outside the door, and before he could knock, Chen Sanliang’s voice reached out from inside: "The door’s unlocked, come in."
Zhang Chen walked into Chen Sanliang’s room and saw Chen Sanliang put down the book in his hand, turn his head to look at Zhang Chen: "Long time no see, you seem very different from before. Your Qi mechanism is obscure, and I can no longer see through your foundation."
"And you’ve gotten younger compared to before, sir." Zhang Chen looked Chen Sanliang up and down, seeing that the entire person was shrouded in a mysterious Qi mechanism, his complexion rosy, appearing four or five years younger, exuding a noble aura.
"Have a seat," Chen Sanliang stood up to pour tea for Zhang Chen, but Zhang Chen took the teapot from him: "I dare not trouble you, sir. Let me do it."
Chen Sanliang didn’t object, allowing Zhang Chen to prepare the tea: "Your arrival today has caused quite a stir, sir, I wonder if you were affected?"
"No effect, Zhou Qiucheng creating such an uproar means he’s feeling uncertain," Chen Sanliang said nonchalantly. "I’ve experienced much grander scenes among the demon race, and didn’t I pass through unharmed?"
Zhang Chen chuckled at this: "Do you have absolute confidence in yourself, sir?"
"I came along this path through reasoning and built my momentum," Chen Sanliang’s voice was full of momentum, then he changed the subject: "I invited you today to remind you of something."
"Anything you take seriously is no small matter. What do you have to teach me?" Zhang Chen asked.
"You should leave Jinling City immediately. The demon army is about to arrive, and if you don’t leave now, it’ll be too late when the time comes. I know you have the ability to escape from the Heaven and Earth Net, but this time is different. The Peacock Ancestor of the demon race has passed down an array called the Twelve Primordial Stars Formation. Once this formation is set, it can lock the void and suppress all Qi mechanisms, even an Eleventh Tier expert couldn’t escape. The demon race has relied on this formation to slaughter countless human race experts. You need to make plans early and avoid staying here to watch the excitement."
"Otherwise, once the demon army surrounds this place, not even I can save you," Chen Sanliang’s voice was filled with solemnity, indicating that he was absolutely not joking.
"The Twelve Primordial Stars Formation?" Zhang Chen expressed curiosity upon hearing this: "What is the origin of this Peacock Ancestor?"
Chen Sanliang shook his head: "Unknown. The origins of the Peacock Ancestor are mysterious. No one knows where he appeared from, it’s like he sprang from thin air."
Zhang Chen was indifferent towards the Twelve Primordial Stars Formation mentioned by Chen Sanliang. Holding the Celestial Measuring Ruler, he was confident that there was no place in the world that could trap him.
After a moment, the tea was boiling, and Zhang Chen came before Chen Sanliang to pour the tea. However, his gaze unintentionally fell upon the book Chen Sanliang had opened, causing his pupils to contract, eyes filled with disbelief.
Why, you ask?
Because that book unexpectedly contained information about selflessness, and the handwriting was very familiar to Zhang Chen.
"How could the information compiled by Zhou Qiucheng end up in Chen Sanliang’s hands?" A trace of disbelief flashed through Zhang Chen’s mind.
Then another thought appeared in Zhang Chen’s mind: "There’s a traitor by Zhou Qiucheng’s side."