Zhang Chen glanced at Chen Xu, this kid was truly his lucky star, he had actually found the ancestral tomb of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, as well as the prince’s hidden hand. When the time comes, if he wants to take the opportunity to do something, he can quietly strike from the shadows.
"You go ahead and take care of this. Once it’s done, just send someone to notify me at the foot of the mountain. Once I get the news, I will rush there immediately." Zhang Chen said.
If there’s an opportunity to hit Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, Zhang Chen definitely would not hold back.
Chen Xu didn’t use the Invisibility Rune, he just mixed with the crowd, sneaking down the mountain all the way.
Now that experts are gathering in the mountain, using an Invisibility Rune would only make one stand out more, like a hundred-watt light bulb.
"I hope he can really dig up the ancestral tomb of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. By then, I can truly showcase my skills." Zhang Chen felt a faint expectation in his heart.
Chen Xu seemed to have a trouble-attracting constitution, as long as anything was connected to him, it meant endless troubles.
Time was slowly passing by, and the atmosphere in the Daoist Temple was growing more tense, countless Daoists, big and small, were greeting guests to rest. Meanwhile, in the training field of the Huangli Temple, a huge sacrificial platform was gradually being erected.
The outside affairs seemed unrelated to Zhang Chen, who every day, apart from stealing the Power of Incense, was researching the Mountain-moving Technique. This technique wasn’t just about simple moving of divine powers but also involved tempering the body.
To move a certain weight, one must first consider the burden on the body. The body must be strong enough to carry heavy objects.
Otherwise, before moving the object, one’s body might collapse first.
Thus, the Mountain-moving Technique is also a method of body forging.
"It truly deserves to be the precondition technique of the Nine Revolutions Profound Skill, a Supreme Technique that directly points towards Body Ascension." The more Zhang Chen pondered on it, the more he felt that this divine technique was incredible, possessing mysterious and unfathomable power, worthy of his great effort.
"It’s a pity it doesn’t grant Immortality or extend lifespan, otherwise it would be perfect." Zhang Chen lightly sighed.
If he could cultivate the Mountain-moving Technique, he might have hope of entering the Spiritual World and steal that Big Black Dog’s steel pitchfork, right?
While Zhang Chen leisurely contemplated the formula, Xie Lingyun arrived. She was wearing a green robe, resembling a green elf, appearing outside Zhang Chen’s courtyard.
"Why is sister here?" Zhang Chen curiously inquired.
"I came today because I have a favor to ask of you." Xie Lingyun smiled gently, like a small flower in the mountains, appearing gentle yet beautiful.
"Whatever you ask of me must be extremely difficult." Zhang Chen said with a smile, looking at Xie Lingyun.
"You got it wrong this time. The reason I took this matter on is actually for you." Xie Lingyun said with some grievance, "You really have mistaken my good intentions, truly wronged me."
"Oh?" Zhang Chen was immediately interested upon hearing this.
"Zhang Gaqi of the Zhang Family’s Direct Lineage in Shangjing is considered a somewhat capable and skilled person among the third generation of the Shangjing Zhang Family. The third generation of Shangjing’s Zhang Family are all hedonistic sons and daughters, each indulging in women, lost in enjoyment. Although Zhang Gaqi isn’t exactly extraordinary, his abilities in getting things done are quite notable in the Zhang Family." Xie Lingyun continued, "Apart from liking to keep mistresses, he doesn’t really have a bad reputation. However, he is most afraid of his wife, and his fear of her has become a joke amongst everyone in Shangjing."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen didn’t find it amusing; instead, he became serious: "Has the Zhang Family declined to such an extent?"
"It’s not just the Zhang Family; the Eight Great Clans and even the lineages of founding noble families are all so engrossed in the glory and wealth their ancestors built, they are unable to extricate themselves, consumed by the pleasures of the world; how can there be any ambition left?" Xie Lingyun said.
Zhang Chen was thoughtful upon hearing this; he thought of the Manchurian Banner People in his previous life, didn’t they also fall into decadence after conquering the Central Plains?
With power so easily attained, who would bother training martial arts diligently? Who would work hard on cultivation?
If you practice arduously day and night, you might just live to a hundred and eighty years, which isn’t much different from an ordinary person.
As for martial prowess?
Can it withstand crossbow arrows? Can it block thousands of troops?
It can be said the founding nobles don’t have motivation to advance, mainly because there’s no need to. As long as they don’t self-destruct, they have unending wealth and glory, why struggle?
Moreover, they share the fate with the country; who dares to progress? Planning a rebellion?
Seeing Zhang Chen pondering, quickly understanding the complexities, Xie Lingyun couldn’t help but admire Zhang Chen’s perceptiveness. Even though he was stuck in a small mountain village for ten years without the teachings and nurturing of a large family scion, he still had such spirituality, capable of swiftly understanding all the intricacies, it was truly rare.
"This is a True Dragon! Even confined in this barren land, it is still slowly rising. This is absolutely the most valuable investment of my life." Xie Lingyun thought silently to herself.
"Zhang Gaqi has just had his Divine Technique broken, suffering damage to his soul. If he can purify himself with Yellow Spring Water, he can quickly recover from his injuries." Xie Lingyun’s eyes turned to Zhang Chen, her meaning was clear—she wanted to see if Zhang Chen would care for kinship and help Zhang Gaqi recover.
"Considering seniority, Zhang Gaqi is the same age as your father, so he could be considered an uncle. If you wish to return to the Zhang Family in Shangjing in the future, or use the Zhang Family’s power to handle some matters, this is the best chance to strengthen ties." Xie Lingyun’s eyes studied Zhang Chen, waiting for his decision.
Zhang Chen fell silent upon hearing this, drumming his fingers on the table, quickly weighing the pros and cons.
Xie Lingyun saw Zhang Chen’s hesitation; understanding his difficulties, for Yellow Spring Water is of great importance, even fathers and sons may turn against each other over it, so she said, "That mysterious item in the Shangjing Zhang Family is said to be of the eleventh rank. In theory, if your father hadn’t been exiled, this divine artifact was meant to pass to you. Don’t you want to return to the Zhang Family and retrieve that mystery? If you can return, even if you can’t control it, you’d at least have the right to awaken your bloodline thereby inheriting its legacy."
The eleventh rank mystery made Zhang Chen somewhat interested. Not in the eleventh rank mystery itself, but in what skills it might yield.
"Rest assured, as long as I’m alive, no one in the Northern Land can harm you in the slightest. Although Yellow Spring Water is precious, my Inspection and Supervision Department can still protect you," Xie Lingyun said, addressing Zhang Chen’s concerns.
"Plus, even though Zhang Gaqi has a somewhat tarnished reputation, he still has his boundaries. Being his own nephew, even if he does get greedy, he wouldn’t go for the kill, and moreover, here in the Northern Land, in this Huangli Temple, he wouldn’t dare act..."
"No need to say more, I’m not worried about him getting greedy over the Yellow Spring Water." Zhang Chen interrupted Xie Lingyun.
The Yellow Spring Water was within the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, and if Zhang Gaqi truly got greedy, he’d die without a burial.
It wasn’t just Zhang Gaqi, even if a Yang God True Man entered, he’d only meet his end.
Fear?
What does Zhang Chen have to fear?
"Let’s do as sister suggested, give him a bit of Yellow Spring Water, but not too much, ten drops should suffice." Zhang Chen decided.
Honestly, he was very interested in the Zhang Family’s mystery.
As Zhang Chen spoke, he took out a jade bottle, carefully filled it with ten drops of Yellow Spring Water, and handed it to Xie Lingyun.
But Xie Lingyun didn’t take the jade bottle, instead, she smilingly said, "That’s not how it works. Though we’ve decided to help Zhang Gaqi, we can’t just rush to do it like a bad deal; Zhang Gaqi must come and ask for help himself."
Zhang Chen was taken aback, then silently praised Xie Lingyun for her meticulous approach, thinking everything through so comprehensively.
The two then discussed more details, and after confirming everything, Xie Lingyun bid farewell and left.
As Xie Lingyun left Zhang Chen’s little abode, she proceeded to Zhang Gaqi’s guest room, where she found him sitting cross-legged inside, looking pale, with an incense stick slowly burning in front of him.
"Good fortune favors you, I’ve indeed found something that can swiftly heal your soul wounds, but this item is extremely valuable. If you want it, you might need to personally visit for it." Xie Lingyun sat facing Zhang Gaqi.