Just as a thought arose in Zhang Chen’s mind, a cool female voice echoed in his mind: "Go!"
A single simple word, yet it greatly reassured Zhang Chen’s heart. He was slightly surprised that the Divine Lady residing within his Sea Calming Divine Pearl could sense his thoughts.
The next moment, Zhang Chen transformed into a wisp of cloud, drifting away through the window crevice, then traversing the mountains and forests in the cold wind, arriving at the place where the Golden Wind Flower was buried. After carefully collecting the Golden Wind Flower, he turned into mist again and flew back. Passing by Prince Pingbian’s Ancestral Vein, Zhang Chen checked his Eight Trigrams Furnace and saw that the flames within were blazing; everything was progressing smoothly, with yet another Innate Restriction disintegrated by the ochre ball.
After a brief inspection, Zhang Chen returned to the Daoist Temple, confirming there was no sign of anomaly.
"I’ve intercepted the Creation of the Substitute Death Technique, I wonder if Zhang Xiaohua will sense anything. However, the Substitute Death Technique is just a temporary plan of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. Zhang Xiaohua is heading to Qingcheng Mountain to receive the decrees, and the journey is long. The chance of them exchanging information is nearly zero." Thinking of this, Zhang Chen relaxed and continued to read the scripture.
Tired of reading, Zhang Chen began to contemplate his future path and how he should proceed.
"I don’t know how large the Ascension Pool is, and whether my Nine Bends Yellow River Array can cover it." Thoughts flickered in Zhang Chen’s mind.
It was important to know that the landing site of the Ascension Pool was indeed Prince Pingbian’s Ancestral Vein, guarded by Earth Dragon Qi. With the power of the Dragon Vein’s Forbidden Technique, the Mountain-moving and Sea Overturning Technique was ineffective. If he laid down the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array on that Ancestral Vein, the opponents could not shatter the ground to break it. Two methods remained to break the array: first, forcibly dispelling it through Array Dao Cultivation; second, by slaying Zhang Chen.
"Perhaps I should upgrade my Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array."
Zhang Chen glanced at the Golden Finger Interface:
[Skill (Tier Two): Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array (0/1000000)]
[Points: 8490000]
Lately, Zhang Chen had been busy using that Mysterious Energy to irrigate his Devouring Space, delaying the progress of accumulating Devouring Points, but he did not regret it. After all, sharpening the axe will not delay chopping the wood, and being able to store mysterious items in the Devouring Space held significant meaning for him.
"Upgrading the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array only costs one million points! This is wonderful!" Without thinking, Zhang Chen immediately leveled it up:
[Skill (Tier Three): Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array (0/10000000)]
[Note 1: Encompasses a range of 660 meters, where even immortals would struggle to survive]
[Points: 7490000]
At this moment, the remaining points were 7.49 million. Zhang Chen looked at the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array, observing it shimmering with brilliance, mysterious radiance interwoven within:
"666 meters is still not enough!"
If it were on flat ground, 660 meters would barely suffice to deal with most cultivators in the world. However, in the mountains, with their twists and turns, 660 meters was still a bit limiting.
"It needs another upgrade. Once I gather enough points tomorrow, I’ll check how much area reaching Tier Four could cover for the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array," Zhang Chen thought secretly.
It was merely ten million points, after all, which was nothing to him. However, the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array was critical for his grand plan to seize the Ascension Pool, and he couldn’t afford any negligence.
"Moreover, by then, it’s possible to use the array to break the array, using the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array to dismantle the large array surrounding the Ascension Pool." Thoughts flickered in Zhang Chen’s mind.
Then Zhang Chen began to operate the innate mosquito proboscis, extracting some energy from his Life Chart, converting it into points to accumulate. By the time dawn broke, Zhang Chen had gathered just enough ten million points.
Then Zhang Chen, looking at his Golden Finger Interface, immediately leveled up the skill:
[Skill (Tier Four): Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array (0/100000000)]
[Note 1: Encompasses a range of 1200 meters, where even immortals would struggle to survive]
[Points: 0]
"1200 meters, barely enough! And to upgrade again requires a hundred million points, which is quite excessive. I also need to hoard points for upgrading the Invisibility Rune. Afterward, if there are surplus points, I can upgrade the Nine Bends Yellow River Talisman Array again. But the most important to me is the Invisibility Rune." Watching the points drop back to zero, Zhang Chen then closed the Golden Finger Interface, adding more firewood to the nearly extinguished fire.
The disadvantage of this era was not having coal, only relying on firewood for burning, which was inefficient and required replenishing every once in a while.
At this time, as the horizon brightened, Zhang Chen donned a cape and stepped into the courtyard, facing the rising sunset in the east, heading to the backyard of the ancestral shrine of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. After glancing over the tablets, he casually lit a few sticks of incense and inserted them.
"Those tablets are just ordinary ones; there’s nothing else mysterious within." Zhang Chen looked thoughtfully at the tablets, confident in his Dharma Eye. If the souls of Prince Pingbian’s ancestors were hidden within the tablets, it would not escape his keen insight.
Then Zhang Chen moved about in the courtyard to exercise his body. Just as he was about to return indoors for a little rest, a small snake crawled through the courtyard, and soon after, Chen Xu appeared.
The small snake, unfazed by the winter chill, transformed before Zhang Chen, revealing Chen Xu’s face: "There’s something strange with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion!"
Restoring his human form, Chen Xu directly spoke to Zhang Chen.
At this moment, Chen Xu’s expression was serious, appearing quite shocked, as if he had been startled.
"What’s the matter?" Zhang Chen asked, puzzled.
"Smoke rose from Prince Pingbian’s ancestral tomb, indicating a great fortune. With such auspicious timing and fortune, anyone who opposes them will be in for big trouble." Chen Xu said this sternly, looking at Zhang Chen: "Perhaps we should flee! Prince Pingbian’s Mansion feels too abnormal; I’ve only heard of ancestral tombs smoking but never witnessed it!"
Hearing Chen Xu’s words, Zhang Chen looked at him with surprise, holding Chen Xu’s capabilities in higher regard.
The changes at Prince Pingbian’s Mansion were clearer to Zhang Chen than anyone else. Presently, Prince Pingbian was preparing for a Dragon Transformation, already possessing the Divine Dragon’s presence. Once advanced to the Dao stage, he would at least reach Tier Eleven. Such a grand presence greatly benefited Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. The ancestral tomb emitting smoke and experiencing great fortune matched perfectly.
Furthermore, the Ascension Pool landing directly on Prince Pingbian’s ancestral tomb is also an illustration of fortune.
Consider that the Spiritual World covers the entire land, and yet the Ascension Pool landed specifically on Prince Pingbian’s ancestral tomb, isn’t that a manifestation of fortune?
Even Zhang Chen’s arrival at the Daoist Temple, being schemed against and made Zhang Xiaohua’s sacrificial offering, was a testament to the fortune of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion.
If Zhang Chen didn’t possess a Golden Finger, according to Zhang Chen’s original Life Chart, Prince Pingbian’s plot would have certainly succeeded, Zhang Xiaohua would have gained the power of the Ascension Pool, with immeasurable future potential.
Yet, unfortunately, Prince Pingbian miscalculated the person. Even the Heavenly Dao couldn’t foresee the presence of Zhang Chen’s Golden Finger. All these creations were seized by Zhang Chen, making it his own.
Zhang Chen had essentially commandeered Zhang Xiaohua’s fortune for himself.
"What is there to fear? It’s merely possessing such an auspicious presence. Converting fortune into strength requires time." Zhang Chen replied leisurely.
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Chen Xu stomped his feet anxiously, his voice filled with unease: "Oh my ancestors, do you understand what an ancestral tomb emitting smoke means? It means a great personage will emerge from Prince Pingbian’s lineage. Such an aura isn’t that of ordinary mortal; I suspect Prince Pingbian has the Life Chart to ascend the throne, even achieving a Great Victory and replacing the current rule."