Chen Xu's eyes were full of excitement. This Visualization Technique could be used as a family heirloom, making the Chen Family a mysterious clan from now on.
Moreover, although he had the Ba Snake bloodline, its evolution was too slow. By cultivating the Mysterious Power, he could promote the evolution of his Ba Snake bloodline, complementing each other to form a perfect cycle.
Chen Xu directly knelt on the ground to express his gratitude to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen patted Chen Xu's shoulder, "Don't be so formal. From now on, we're like brothers. No need for such courtesy!"
Zhang Chen didn't want Chen Xu to be formal with him because he knew he owed Chen Xu too much. If it weren't for Chen Xu's help, he might not have been able to return from the river of time. And even after the two brushes were destroyed, the Innate Yin Yang Origin transformed into the Yin Yang Grinding Disc, which could nurture into a Supreme Treasure in the future, and its value was far more than just a Secret Technique, something Zhang Chen couldn't casually repay.
If Zhang Chen weren't worried about causing trouble at the moment, he would have really given Chen Xu some Yellow Spring Water to lend him a hand.
Zhang Chen helped Chen Xu up, his voice gentle and friendly, "We're like brothers, no need for such formality."
Chen Xu got up and poured a full bowl of wine, "The young master is right, we're like brothers. No need for sentimental words, let's speak with our actions!"
Outside, the sound of firecrackers was continuous, while inside, in the warmth of the small red clay stove, Zhang Chen and Chen Xu drank facing each other, creating an intense atmosphere.
"What are your plans for the future?" Chen Xu asked Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "First, ruin the big plans of Prince Pingbian's Mansion. If not to overthrow it, at least to upset Prince Pingbian's Mansion significantly."
Speaking of this, Zhang Chen said, "After settling affairs here, I want to visit Jiangnan to see the land of fish and rice for myself. What about you?"
Chen Xu clinked his bowl with Zhang Chen's and downed a gulp of wine before slightly intoxicatedly saying, "I will definitely unearth the Divine Demon Tomb in the future, uncover more Great Creations, and explore the truth of the God and Demon Era."
"Ambitious!" Zhang Chen patted Chen Xu's shoulder, "I just want simple food and drink, to live a peaceful life, and that would already be very good."
Chen Xu was momentarily stunned upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, "With your abilities, not to mention becoming a high-ranking noble, it wouldn't be hard to become a rich tycoon. Why do you only want simple food and drink, to be an ordinary citizen under oppression? And you're so young, how can you have such a mindset of old age?"
Zhang Chen smiled, "Everyone has their own ambitions."
"I'm usually a good judge of character. You carry great causality and destiny. Even if you want to settle down, you might still be pushed by circumstances." Chen Xu said.
"Wherever fate pushes me, that's where I'll go!" Zhang Chen said.
"Also, Prince Pingbian's ancestral tomb holds a Creation, a Supreme Treasure called the Ascension Pool is buried in that mountain range. Every drop of liquid in it has unimaginable effects, capable of transforming a person completely. You should prepare in advance and don't miss it." Zhang Chen advised Chen Xu.
Chen Xu nodded respectfully at these words, raising his wine cup, "Thank you, brother, for the reminder. I will not dare to forget it."
Although Chen Xu was more than ten years older than Zhang Chen, he called himself the younger brother when facing Zhang Chen. The scene was as comical as it could be, but both parties felt it was natural without any awkwardness.
Chen Xu believed that Zhang Chen's skills were profound and unparalleled, with a maturity in his mindset that far surpassed his own, so addressing the young man as Brother Zhang was something he did willingly and from the heart.
In this world, ultimately, what mattered was the strength and status of both parties.
Moreover, Zhang Chen had saved his life, so he naturally held great respect for Zhang Chen. Of course, it would be even better if Zhang Chen were less manipulative.
Zhang Chen and Chen Xu drank and chatted merrily, discussing many of the current major trends, then Chen Xu drank too much and fell into a slumber.
Zhang Chen added wood to the stove and covered Chen Xu with a cloak. Just as he was about to close the door and windows to sleep, he paused as he felt a change in the Qi Mechanism outside the door. Startled, he let out a burst of ultrasonic waves, spreading outward in all directions.
Zhang Chen opened the door to see a familiar figure standing in the snow, holding a lantern made of yellow skin, looking quite odd on this festive New Year's Eve, standing quietly under the eaves watching him.
"Sir!"
Zhang Chen immediately recognized the person, the stubborn old scholar.
The old scholar shook the snow off his body, carried the lantern, and unceremoniously pushed Zhang Chen aside, walking straight into the house, "I received news that Prince Pingbian's Mansion plans to plot against you, so I came today to take you away."
The fact that the Demon Race and Prince Pingbian's Mansion secretly formed an alliance and made a deal made it unsurprising that Chen Sanliang would know about Zhang Chen's situation.
"Would Prince Pingbian's Mansion let me leave?" Zhang Chen said in astonishment.
Chen Sanliang took off his cloak, revealing a skinny body, so thin he seemed like a straw stalk that could be blown down by a gust of wind.
"Of course, Prince Pingbian's Mansion won't allow it, but I have a unique method. My lantern contains space within it; I can put you directly inside, and by then, who can detect your whereabouts?" Chen Sanliang pointed to the yellow-skinned lantern.
Zhang Chen poured a bowl of wine for Chen Sanliang, then turned his gaze to the lantern. His eyes flashed with golden light, immediately noticing something unusual—it was surrounded by a layer of azure light invisible to mortal eyes. This azure light seemed to twist space, appearing extraordinarily mysterious.
"Spatial mystery? This is the first time I've seen it." Zhang Chen said curiously.
"The Demon Race wants to stir trouble among the Human Race. The supplies needed along the way are massive, and running operations require covering their tracks. It's all inseparable from this treasure." Chen Sanliang said leisurely as he drank a bowl of wine.
Zhang Chen hurriedly poured another bowl for Chen Sanliang, then slowly poured a bowl for himself, no longer glancing at the lantern. Although he was a bit envious, he wasn't a greedy wolf cub.
Chen Sanliang observed Zhang Chen's behavior and sighed lightly, feeling that he had been blinded. How could he have foolishly rejected a fine jade and nurtured a wolf cub in the past?
"Let's leave after finishing this bowl of wine," Chen Sanliang said.
"I'm not leaving!" Zhang Chen shook his head firmly.
Chen Sanliang was stunned and said in surprise, "If you stay here, you'll be killed by Prince Pingbian's Mansion."
Zhang Chen smiled confidently, "Your words are too arbitrary, sir. Who will win or lose is still uncertain until the dust settles."
Chen Sanliang gave Zhang Chen a meaningful look. Since knowing Zhang Chen, he felt he had never truly seen through this poor scholar in front of him.
Zhang Chen didn't want to leave, and Chen Sanliang didn't force him. Instead, he asked, "How goes your studies? Do you have any questions?"
Zhang Chen shook his head, poured a bowl of wine for Chen Sanliang, who drank it all at once, then set the bowl down, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, and sighed lightly, "I must go!"
Zhang Chen was a little stunned, "Leaving so soon?"
"I have important things to do! And I can't stay away from the banquet for too long!" Chen Sanliang explained as he slowly stood up, "Try to leave the Northern Land before February."
He didn't provide a reason, just casually grabbed the cloak hanging on the wall, put it on while the ice particles on it hadn't melted in the room. Chen Sanliang picked up the lantern, opened the door, and disappeared into the courtyard.
At this moment, the northern wind howled outside. Zhang Chen watched Chen Sanliang's departing back, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he didn't pay much attention. After all, there were all sorts of strange things in this world; having something that could travel through space seemed reasonable, right?
The cold wind poured into the house, blowing away Chen Xu's drunkenness. His eyes hazy, he said, "Wasn't the relationship between Chen Sanliang and you quite bad? Why is he thinking of helping you?"
"He's making up for his guilt towards his deceased wife!" Zhang Chen said as he sat on the stool, taking a sip of wine.
Hearing Zhang Chen's words, Chen Xu sighed lightly, "She was a remarkable woman, but unfortunately, she followed the wrong person."
Zhang Chen didn't say much; everyone has their choices. Chen Xu thought the woman had followed the wrong person, but she had no regrets and was willing to die in her heart.
What is love in this world that makes life and death fade away?
"Continue drinking?" Zhang Chen asked as he saw Chen Xu sober up.
"Drink!" Chen Xu got up, and the two began to drink again until the first rays of dawn rose over the horizon, and the violet sunlight shone on the window paper. Only then did they stop drinking. Zhang Chen opened the door, letting the cold wind dispel the alcohol scent in the house, took a deep breath of cold air, and said, "Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" Chen Xu said, with Bloodline Power circulating, the alcohol scent on him was instantly refined, then his body trembled and transformed into a small snake that disappeared into the withered grass.
In an instant, the courtyard quieted down, leaving only Zhang Chen, looking at the empty house, speechless for a long time.
On the first day of the New Year, with nothing to do, Zhang Chen made a pot of stewed pork hocks, eating while contemplating future matters. For him, three things were most urgent: first, Cultivating Immortality Secret Techniques; second, the Tree of Life Coffin; third, preventing Zhang Shicheng's Dragon Transformation.
"None of these three are easy! I need to create chaos in the Northern Land first; only with chaos will I have opportunities." After finishing the pork hock, Zhang Chen began closed cultivation again, entering another state of intense practice.
For the entire January, supported by the Ascension Pool, Zhang Chen refined the third Innate Restriction of the Heaven and Earth Treasure Mirror. At the same time, under the nourishment of the Ascension Pool, the Yin Yang Grinding Disc within Zhang Chen's body began to show subtle changes, the Golden Scissors also repaired a lot, everything moving in a positive direction.
"Only one month left, I need to hurry. There's not much time left for me!" Zhang Chen exhaled a breath, continuing to refine the Heaven and Earth Treasure Mirror.
From that day on, Zhang Chen hardly slept at all, refining the Heaven and Earth Treasure Mirror day and night. Finally, by the end of February, he completed the refinement of the fourth Innate Restriction of the Heaven and Earth Treasure Mirror, elevating his mastery of it to a new level.