Zhang Chen looked at Zhu Laoliu, soaked from head to toe in rain, and blinked, his gaze showing a hint of solemnity: "Let's do it!"
Zhu Laoliu nodded, then began preparing the fuse, hiding it in a trench that had been dug in advance.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen said to Chen Xu beside him, "Let's hide too! If we get hit by the falling rocks, it'll be bad!"
"Speaking of which, all of this was incited and directed by you. Can you really avoid the karma?" Chen Xu questioned, following Zhang Chen as they jumped into a large pit that had been pre-dug, expressing his inner doubts.
Zhang Chen smiled lightly at these words: "Of course I know I can't avoid the karma, but there are three key points. First, I'm only blowing up a completely unnoticed rock on the entire mountain ridge, which doesn't affect the entire ridge. Second, I'm not using mysterious power, but the methods of ordinary people. Third, the ones taking action are also ordinary people. Ordinary people don't bear the karma of heaven and earth. Even if there's karmic retribution, it will only be minimal on me, which I can completely handle."
As Zhang Chen's words fell, suddenly an earth-shattering sound, accompanied by firelight, spread across the mountaintop. The sound of the explosion was like thunder, echoing continuously through heaven and earth, as countless debris shot in all directions.
With the boulders shattering and the Feng Shui Grand Array broken, an energy invisible to the mortal eye surged toward the skies, transforming into grand and vast clouds, pouring into the firmament, causing the clouds in the sky to react, forming a massive vortex.
A colorful energy beam, invisible to the naked eye but visible to all those with mysterious power, soared into the heavens, causing many people's bloodlines to stir, and the Yin Spirits to leap.
"It's done!" Chen Xu looked at the vortex formed in the sky by the energy's disturbance, a hint of joy in his gaze.
Zhang Chen raised his head to look at the sky, relieved not to see Purple Cloud Divine Thunder, then grabbed Chen Xu's sleeve: "Let's go! The experts of Prince Pingbian's Mansion must have been alarmed and are already on their way here. If we don't leave now, we might not be able to escape."
"What about those ten people?" Chen Xu's eyes showed a hint of killing intent, wanting to eliminate witnesses.
"They haven't seen our faces, and they don't possess mysterious power, so they won't attract the attention of Prince Pingbian's Mansion." Zhang Chen suppressed Chen Xu's murderous intent, being a compassionate person who didn't wish to kill the innocent.
The two disappeared into the misty rain under the cover of night, leaving only their conversation echoing among the mountains:
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to hide in Goulan County," Zhang Chen said.
"Are you crazy? Goulan County is under Prince Pingbian's control. Won't we be walking right into a trap?" Chen Xu's exclamation echoed in the darkness.
"Haven't you heard that the more dangerous the place, the safer it is?" Zhang Chen said.
It wasn't difficult for Zhang Chen and Chen Xu to sneak into Goulan County. They casually found an inn to stay, changed clothes, and waited for news from outside.
As daylight broke, the sound of iron hooves echoed on the streets, with countless soldiers shuttling through the city. The vast destiny and Qi blood of the dynasty surged between heaven and earth, preventing the Yin Spirit Daoists from coming out.
Prince Pingbian didn't send anyone to inspect the inns, nor did he post any notices. He only had Goulan County put under control.
At dawn, Zhang Chen and Chen Xu sat by the window having breakfast, watching as hurried figures constantly rushed towards the city outskirts.
"It's lively in the mountains now." Zhang Chen bit into a bun, speaking with a hint of schadenfreude.
"These guys aren't easy to handle. If they find the Ascension Pool, they will surely go to any lengths to excavate the treasure, and though Prince Pingbian's Mansion has a large army guarding, it's hard to manage everything. I'm afraid Zhang Shicheng can't hold on and will forcibly perform a Walking Flood Dragon transformation again." Chen Xu sipped his tofu pudding, his voice full of pride:
"That damned Prince Pingbian dared to imprison me. He must learn our greatness."
At this moment, countless cultivators from the Mysterious Realm were heading to the mountains, and the army of Prince Pingbian's Mansion was also constantly mobilizing. However, facing those towering mountains, the army found it difficult to set up formations, their effectiveness limited.
Especially in recent days, many newcomers to the Mysterious Realm were foolishly unaware of the taboos.
They only saw benefits and opportunities, swarming forward regardless of who stood in their way, killing whoever blocked their path.
Possessing powerful weapons, murderous intentions naturally arose!
In the past, everyone was ordinary, bullied by Prince Pingbian's Mansion, becoming their oxen and horses. Now they've become 'supermen' of the Mysterious Realm. If they still allow themselves to be bullied, wouldn't they have gained their creation in vain?
Moreover, various divine spirits secretly coveted the Creation of the Northern Land, stealthily stirring the waters to fish in troubled waters.
"It's a mess now! Who knows how many will die on that mountain this time. When should we act?" After swallowing the bun, Chen Xu asked Zhang Chen.
"When Zhang Shicheng performs the Dragon Transformation and Walking Flood Dragon, and the Earth Qi of the Ancestral Vein fluctuates, that will be our best moment to act," Zhang Chen said.
Of course, he left out one sentence: if some fool could directly pull the Ascension Pool out of the Northern Land Dragon Vein, it would save them a lot of trouble.
"I actually hope Zhang Shicheng succeeds in transforming and then slay him when he's elated," Zhang Chen said, a hint of cold light in his eyes:
"Whether it's the Dragon Pearl or the Dragon Tendon, they are all good stuff! Especially the Dragon Blood, it's simply the best tonic when used for the sacrificial refining of the Blood Transformation Divine Saber."
Zhang Chen was recuperating in the inn, while the outside world was already in turmoil.
That night, the drizzling rain suddenly intensified, the raindrops hitting the eaves and rooftops with a crackling sound.
A strong wind carried a chill as it blew through, making the inn's paper windows rustle loudly, disturbing everyone's sleep.
Zhang Chen stood up, his eyes looking at the incessantly rustling window paper, and pushed open the window, allowing the wind and rain to blow into the room.
"The rain suddenly got so heavy." Chen Xu lit an oil lamp.
"Prince Pingbian must be impatient and wants to transform the Walking Flood Dragon. If he doesn't transform soon, even his ancestral tomb will be affected," Zhang Chen stated.
As they were speaking, beneath the ancestral vein of Prince Pingbian, inside the central army tent, the tent was brightly lit, with Prince Pingbian sitting gloomily inside, his eyes filled with a cold murderous aura.
Outside the tent, the wind and rain howled, but inside it was deathly silent, completely unaffected.
"Prince!"
At that moment, Mr. Wuliu lifted the thick felt curtain and walked into the tent, his raincoat completely soaked.
"How is it?" Prince Pingbian asked urgently upon seeing Mr. Wuliu enter.
Mr. Wuliu replied bitterly, "There are already divine spirits sneaking in. Those divine spirits should be from the nearby great noble families, having attained the Dao through incense offerings. Now that they sense there's a bargain here, they can't resist trying to fish for benefits amidst the chaos."
Prince Pingbian pounded the table in anger, his voice filled with fury: "Damn it! How could the Feng Shui Grand Array suddenly have a corner blasted off? It's outrageous! Who did this? Have the perpetrators been found?"
Mr. Wuliu shook his head, yet hesitated for a moment, then said, "The culprit hasn't been found, but the method of explosion seems familiar. Great King, do you remember the strange object Zhang Chen showed during the Confucian debate? There's a similar aura at the scene."
"It's him!!!" Prince Pingbian's eyes were wide with anger, "That boy is a calamity, with deep entanglements with my mansion, repeatedly foiling our great plans. He deserves death by a thousand cuts!"
"Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, find him for me." Prince Pingbian's voice was filled with malice, regretting he couldn't kill Zhang Chen on the spot.
Mr. Wuliu smiled bitterly, "That boy is now like he's burrowed into the sand; none of our spies can find the slightest trace of him."
Prince Pingbian took a deep breath, closed his eyes, standing inside the tent lost in thought.
"Prince, an early severance is necessary. Many people are now probing the Feng Shui Grand Array, which can't hold out much longer," Mr. Wuliu's voice carried a rare seriousness, "If they unearth that treasure, even a Yang God True Man will personally intervene. By then, the Northern Dragon Vein being disturbed could affect our foundation and fortune."
"But urging the ancestor to transform now is not the best timing!" Prince Pingbian was unwilling.
"There's no such perfect timing in this world. Since a mishap has already occurred, we have to follow through with it," Mr. Wuliu advised earnestly.
Prince Pingbian pondered for a moment, then said, "Now the thaw has just begun, the moisture beneath the earth hasn't fully revived, and the water vapor accumulated in the marshes isn't enough yet. To transform the Flood Dragon into a Dragon will be problematic. We must at least hold until the Double Third Festival! Only then will we have a slim chance."
"It's too difficult! I don't know how many lives will be lost in the process!" Mr. Wuliu sighed deeply.
"No matter how difficult, we must hold on! Even if it costs a million troops, it's worth it," Prince Pingbian responded.
"Alright, I accept the command!" Mr. Wuliu had no choice but to bow his head respectfully, unable to defy Prince Pingbian's order.
"Also, the Inspection and Supervision Department needs to handle some matters. We must differentiate between friend and foe to prevent them from stabbing us in the back at critical moments. If we can pressure the Inspection and Supervision Department to take a stance, our burden will be greatly reduced," Mr. Wuliu suggested in a low voice to Prince Pingbian.
Prince Pingbian nodded but didn't say much: "Prepare the carriage."
Time passed by slowly, and the next day, the rain poured even harder, turning into a torrential downpour. The rain seemed as if someone were pouring it directly from a ladle, making even the raincoats insufficient for protection. Only thick oiled paper umbrellas barely kept the rain from soaking through.
Zhang Chen watched the heavy rain, seeing the rainwater on the ground resemble water dragons, flowing towards one direction following the uneven terrain.
"Isn't that rainwater strange, all flowing out of the city regardless of the terrain?" Chen Xu observed the rolling rainwater curiously.
"Zhang Shicheng is gathering momentum!" Zhang Chen's face showed no sign of amusement, instead filled with seriousness.
The process of transforming the Walking Flood Dragon into a Dragon isn't simple. Zhang Shicheng must do whatever it takes to add a bargaining chip for himself.
With the ground frozen and underground water turned to ice, Zhang Shicheng set his sights on the rainwater. Even Zhang Chen had to admit: this old eel is indeed quick-witted.