"Zhou Qiucheng, this is the decree of the Great Virtuous Master. Will you accept it or not?" Gu Mingyue’s gaze was intense as she looked at Zhou Qiucheng, her eyes filled with coldness:
"Think carefully, once you refuse the Great Virtuous Master, consider the consequences you will face. The Demon Race has already swept across Jiangnan. As long as you accept the decree, Yellow Heaven Dao can help you resist the Demon Race, and countless civilians in Jiangnan will have a chance to survive. The fate of countless beings in Jiangnan lies in your decision, so consider carefully before you respond."
"I don’t know what consequences I will face, but I am loyal only to the court. As for the Great Virtuous Master? What is he but a rebel? Should I bow to him? Regarding the Incense poison you mention, heh..." Zhou Qiucheng merely gave a cold laugh, believing the other was making empty threats. If there really was Incense poison, he would have detected it long before, yet he sensed no such thing.
"Zhao Lie is the Po Jun Star of Yellow Heaven Dao, bearing the Killing Wolf Life Chart. If you don’t release Zhao Lie, Yellow Heaven Dao will not rest until they do. Think it over!" Gu Mingyue challenged.
"I have indeed thought it over. Sir, please leave. If you delay any longer, I wonder if my Exquisite Tower might be able to keep you here." There was a hint of murderous intent in Zhou Qiucheng’s eyes.
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyue took a deep breath and slowly rolled up the decree of the Great Virtuous Master, placing it back into her sleeve: "Good! I really admire your stubbornness. However, you used the Water God Tomb to bury Chen Sanliang, now I want to see how you will face the wrath of the Demon Race army. When Jiangnan’s billions perish alongside you, I hope you don’t come to regret it."
Having said her piece, Gu Mingyue stood up: "The Great Virtuous Master appreciates you, and catching his eye is an honor. You fail to recognize this now; don’t blame us for it later."
Gu Mingyue then turned her gaze to Zhang Chen, with a hint of malice in her eyes: "Zhang Chen, if you obediently come back with me now and confess, handing over Chengyu, we can still negotiate. I can pardon your crimes. Zhou Qiucheng cannot protect you forever, and there will be a day you fall into our hands. Then, don’t blame us for not sparing you in the name of camaraderie."
Gu Mingyue continued to hold an arrogant demeanor, looking at Zhang Chen like he was an ant.
In response to Gu Mingyue’s words, Zhang Chen merely smiled lightly: "If Yellow Heaven Dao were truly that capable, the world would be under the surname Huáng, not Chái. You’re nothing more than a rat in the street; what’s there to be arrogant about?"
"You..." Gu Mingyue was speechless with anger at Zhang Chen’s taunt, then turned coldly on her heel and left, only an ominous whisper echoing from afar: "I won’t stoop to the level of this little beast, but there will naturally be an opportunity for you to see our power."
As Gu Mingyue’s figure receded, Zhou Qiucheng reverted his gaze back to Zhang Chen: "Do not fear, I will ensure your safety. Even if Yellow Heaven Dao is formidable, unless the Great Virtuous Master intervenes personally, I am unafraid. As long as you stay in Jinling City, I will definitely protect you."
Zhou Qiucheng’s words were so gentle, filling one’s heart with a sense of security that Zhang Chen humbly responded with: "Thank you, sir."
In hearing this, Zhang Chen did not argue or explain but seriously bowed to Zhou Qiucheng.
He was truly grateful to Zhou Qiucheng, although he feared not Yellow Heaven Dao; Zhou Qiucheng, unaware of this, willingly took the risk to shelter and protect him—a testament to his character.
Zhou Qiucheng then sighed deeply: "You have helped me greatly as well. The bond between us has transcended beyond mere gratitude, so let’s not be formal with each other; it would feel distant."
Zhang Chen nodded in acknowledgment: "I am taught well, master."
At this moment, Zhou Qiucheng spoke again: "I can only lament that Jiang Nan’s wretch betrayed me at such a critical moment; otherwise, how could I have ended up in such a state?"
His voice was full of unwillingness.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but feel speechless. Why Jiang Nan betrayed you, don’t you have any clue yourself?
"And then there’s Shen Qiu, that wretch. Even after benefiting from my Exquisite Tower, he dared to scheme against me. I will not forgive him. Rest here in the academy first, and I’ll go hunt down those two scoundrels!" Zhou Qiucheng’s face turned ferociously, full of hatred for Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu.
"Is your body holding up, sir? You just dispersed your Dao energy..." Zhang Chen felt a bit worried.
"Haha, the wounded form I took is just to fool those lurking villains. If they try anything untoward, they won’t have anyone to blame but themselves." Zhou Qiucheng laughed coldly, his form transforming into divine light, and he vanished from sight.
"Who would have thought that after the debate ended, things would conclude like this, and the Soul-Forming Lamp I prepared in advance wasn’t needed. It’s a pity I was unaware that Zhou Qiucheng would deceive Chen Sanliang into entering the Innate Water God Array, or I would have stopped him. After all, the Six Paths of Reincarnation had already been taken by me, and going to that Innate Water God Tomb had no effect." Sighing with resignation, Zhang Chen employed his escape technique and in the next moment disappeared, reappearing outside the Shen Family’s great tomb.
Looking at the broken ruins of the Shen Family, Zhang Chen’s eyes showed a trace of caution. He wanted to use the authority of the water element to intervene in the operation of this innate grand array, but unfortunately, Zhang Chen was disappointed, as the array was not within the control of the water element authority.
"This is a twelfth-tier array, and it’s a complete twelfth-tier array. Even though I have the Celestial Measuring Ruler in hand, it’s still difficult to break this grand array! Unless someone is there to assist me, just like how the Shen Family opened the array back then, exposing fluctuations in space, allowing me the opportunity to find the weak spot to break it." Zhang Chen felt a bit anxious: "At this point, I can only ask Hu Li the Immortal for help. Among the people I know, Hu Li the Immortal is the strongest."
"It’s strange, though, Chen Sanliang has already been schemed against, why hasn’t Hu Li the Immortal made a move?" Zhang Chen wondered.
Then, he activated the Six-Word True Mantra Seal to sense Hu Li the Immortal’s aura, but who would have thought that after sensing for a long time, he couldn’t perceive Hu Li the Immortal’s aura at all, as if Hu Li the Immortal’s aura had vanished from the heavens and earth, never having existed in this world.
"It shouldn’t be like this! Why is Hu Li the Immortal nowhere to be found? Could it be that this guy has the ability to suppress my Six-Word True Mantra Seal? But that can’t be right, Hu Li the Immortal doesn’t have such ability!" Zhang Chen was filled with doubts.
Where has Hu Li the Immortal gone? Why can’t I sense any trace of his aura?
Without Hu Li the Immortal, he couldn’t break the innate Water God array, and could only walk back helplessly. But as he reached halfway, while passing by a certain mansion, Zhang Chen suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes looking towards a courtyard at the corner of the street. He saw Zhou Qiucheng, whose face was gloomy, standing outside the courtyard, staring fixedly at it.
"Since I’ve found you, where do you two beasts think you’re escaping to?" Chen Sanliang said coldly: "Will you come out voluntarily, or should I invite you myself?"
"How did you find us?" The courtyard gate opened, and Shen Qiu and Jiang Nan came out from inside, their faces grim, looking at Zhou Qiucheng in disbelief.
Since they dared to plot against Zhou Qiucheng, they naturally had means to escape the pursuit safely and had already set up arrangements beforehand. But now that the opponent had found their trail, how could they not be shocked?
"Heh, I know Chen Sanliang gave you items to suppress your aura, but you once entered the Exquisite Tower and absorbed its aura. Deep in your souls, you’ve been stained by the aura of the ’Suppress’ law. No matter how you hide, within the realm of the Exquisite Tower’s divine power, you’re as bright as the full moon to me. You two truly don’t know the vastness of the heavens and earth, to think you could fool me with such tricks after scheming against me. Do you really think you can hide it from me?" Zhou Qiucheng’s voice was filled with disdain.
Upon hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu remained silent.
Zhou Qiucheng looked at Shen Qiu: "I haven’t treated you poorly, have I? Why did you betray me?"
"You bullied Jiang Nan, which means you bullied me. Jiang Nan is a weak woman, and her reputation is extremely precious; how can it be tarnished by you like this? Old thief, I swear I won’t live until I avenge this!" Shen Qiu fearlessly glared at Zhou Qiucheng.
"Zhou Qiucheng, you disgrace the title of teacher, you’ve gone too far! How can you do such a heartless thing without your conscience hurting? The two Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pills I gave you might as well have been fed to dogs." Jiang Nan glared angrily at Zhou Qiucheng, her eyes filled with fury.
Zhou Qiucheng fell silent upon hearing this, looking at Shen Qiu and Jiang Nan, and after a while, he turned and disappeared from the spot.
He ultimately felt guilty in his heart; he hadn’t handled this matter properly from the start.
A woman’s purity had been ruined by him, making her a laughingstock of the world; this was indeed his fault.
So Zhou Qiucheng turned and left, leaving only his voice echoing through the heavens and earth: "After today, all the grudges and enmities between us are settled. I owe you no more, and you owe me no more. I am no longer your teacher, and you are no longer my disciples."
Zhou Qiucheng left, leaving Shen Qiu and Jiang Nan dazed. After a moment, Jiang Nan snapped back to reality and hurriedly said to Shen Qiu: "Let’s go quickly, before that old man changes his mind."
After packing their belongings, the two hurriedly left. Before long, Zhang Chen walked out from the street, watching the scene before him in silence.
"Zhou Qiucheng, despite cultivating an iron-faced impartial path for countless years, still has a conscience. If it were anyone else, Shen Qiu and Jiang Nan would be dead today." Zhang Chen muttered.
It also showed that he didn’t misjudge Zhou Qiucheng, who, despite having schemes in his heart, still retained his true nature.
Zhang Chen quietly returned to the academy and settled down, pondering how to break the innate grand array and find a way to rescue Chen Sanliang.