Zhang Chen looked at the Golden Finger Interface of his household:
[6 Skills (Extreme): Second Heaven (0/4000000)]
"Four million experience points, it’s not too much, but definitely not little." Zhang Chen looked again at the accumulated experience points on his Golden Finger Interface. He calculated at one hundred thousand experience points per day, it would take at least a month to accumulate four million experience points. But how many ’months’ does one have in life?
"For now, no upgrades. What’s most important for me is to first upgrade the Invisibility Technique, or perhaps the Authority of the Wood Element." Zhang Chen thought about it and realized that his little life was more important. Before finding a new source of points, it wouldn’t be wise to waste points recklessly; after all, many times, points could be a lifesaver.
The donkey cart continued on its way, traveling for several more months, constantly gathering refugees together to form a large contingent heading into the distance.
Zhang Chen, unfamiliar with the road heading south, could only observe directions using Sparrowhawks and walk along with the crowd.
This journey had many dangers, but Zhang Chen had the Blood God Child with him. His methods were ruthless, cutting down all enemies in their nascent state.
After this period of struggle, all seven Blood God Children had reached the seventh realm, the same as his main body’s Blood Dao realm, showing how fierce the battles were along the way.
That night, the refugees sat together, eating dry rations and chatting:
"Another day, and we should reach Tiger Soul Pass. Tiger Soul Pass is the last Heroic Pass within Prince Pingbian’s territory. Once past Tiger Soul Pass, we enter Pingbei Marquis’s domain, and we can finally escape the influence of that dog, Prince Pingbian."
"Finally, we’re getting out of this sea of knives and fire!" Someone said, their voice filled with exhaustion: "Damn Prince Pingbian, this incompetent fool caused the Northern Land to fall. I hate that I can’t eat his flesh and drink his blood."
"The relationship between Pingbei Marquis and Prince Pingbian is vile, with frequent skirmishes. The area at their border is not peaceful. As long as we reach Pingbei Marquis’s territory, we’ll be safe."
"Indeed! Finally escaping the sea of fire, but my wife and children at home will forever stay in the Northern Land."
...
At this time, sobbing sounded in the dark, adding an aura of melancholy to the atmosphere.
"Prince Pingbian deserves to die!" Chengyu’s teeth gnashed with killing intent in his voice.
Zhang Chen, wrapped in a tiger-skin cloak, listened to the mourning cries in the night. It was already late autumn, the air carried a chill, making the sensitive Zhang Chen feel even more so, as if sitting in an ice chamber, frost hung off his eyebrows.
"Prince Pingbian is not simple. He’s adept at strategies and playing both sides; even the court has been unable to deal with him for hundreds of years. Now he’s brought the Demon Race into Human Race territory, using the Demon Race to dictate the world, with Yellow Heaven Dao as supporters. It’s even harder to deal with him now." Zhang Chen sighed softly.
After about a year of settling, the slaughter in the Northern Land had gradually stopped, or rather, the slaughter that could happen there was mostly over. Zhang Chen’s Blood God Child continuously collected blood in secret and certainly knew how many had died in the Northern Land over the year.
Unfortunately, only ordinary mortals died, unlike Five Villages Temple where Great Cultivators constantly fell, or else Zhang Chen’s Blood Dao level would have long been upgraded.
"Still quite a distance from the twenty trillion mark." Zhang Chen looked at the Golden Finger Interface: [3 Skills (Seventh Tier): Body Transformation Blood River (1500000000000/2000000000000)]
"Five trillion points to go!" After scanning the Golden Finger Interface, Zhang Chen concluded: "Since the Demon Race has entered, they won’t coexist peacefully. Once they regroup, they will invade the territories of Human Race’s various Dukes, yielding countless points."
But the Northern Land providing fifteen hundred billion points was beyond Zhang Chen’s expectations. How many must die for that? Even if one provides ten points, it’s fifteen hundred billion lives!
Those are fifteen hundred billion lives!
In fact, those refugees, weakened in Qi Blood, may not provide ten points. Plus, it was after traveling for several months that Zhang Chen initiated the Sea of Blood collection function.
Contrarily, the Demon Race devouring Human Race will undoubtedly awaken, absorbing Sun and Moon Essence, evolving into Demon Beasts. The Demon Race’s strength is bound to burgeon explosively. Currently, the Demon Race remains huddled in Prince Pingbian’s territory, not invading surrounding Vassal States, because they have yet to absorb the benefits of conquering Prince Pingbian’s domain. Those Demon Beasts have not finished their transformation, but once they do, it will be a catastrophe.
"This world is too chaotic, and ordinary people are like grass blades in this era." Zhang Chen mused silently.
Even his donkey died on the road, worn out from daily nonstop travel, its joints worn down, and was eventually slaughtered by Zhang Chen to make dried meat, replacing it with a Demon Horse to pull the cart.
Everyone spent a silent night, each cultivating alone. Zhang Chen took out his Alchemy Furnace, which shrunk to palm size, lighting materials obtained from the ruins of the Ancestral Master’s house, placing them inside the furnace, whence a wisp of green smoke slowly rose, and the family meditated around the furnace for cultivation.
That incense can nourish the soul, greatly benefitting those cultivating the Soul Dao, aiding Zhang Chen in nurturing his Primordial Spirit, advantageous for the three little ones in cultivating their souls.
Zhang Chen manipulated the moisture in the air, creating an invisible barrier to trap the green smoke, preventing its Qi Mechanism from spreading and causing unwanted trouble.
He could perceive that among this group of refugees, there were also capable individuals. Many had acquired Dragon Pearl Fragments, and many wielded Martial Arts, clearly not ordinary evacuees.
Before Tiger Soul Pass
A filthy man, holding a little girl in his arms, his one blinded eye staring fixedly at the bonfire in the distance, watching the men eating meat and drinking alcohol, as anger and despair flickered in his eyes.
Just then, one of the men, holding a piece of meat, tossed it to the ground like a fighting dog, his voice full of mockery: "Come, eat meat, little doggy!"
Gazing at the lump of meat rolling on the ground, Chen Ping’s remaining eye turned red. He placed the little girl down and leapt forward like a dog:
"I, Chen Ping, must not die here! I have to live! I must live to get to Jinling! I want revenge!"
"Bang~"
Just as he approached the roast meat, the man kicked it away in advance, and Chen Ping expressionlessly crawled after it, provoking a burst of laughter from the group of men. They kicked the roast meat around like a ball. After a long time, when everyone was tired of playing, Chen Ping finally managed to get hold of the dirt-covered roast meat and crawled towards the little girl.
"Live! I, Chen Ping, must live!"
As the night passed, Chengyu was the first to conclude his practice, exhaling a breath of turbid air. With the help of Zhang Chen’s incense over several months, he was breaking through from the realm of Exorcism to the realm of Possession.
The Divine Soul Dao had never been particularly difficult. As long as the foundation was solid and there were enough heavenly and earthly treasures, the level could be infinitely improved.
Only upon reaching the Yang God realm does one encounter a major barrier, which blocks all cultivators in the world. Or, upon reaching the Soul Possession realm, it serves as a minor barrier.
The two little ones have also awakened their souls and can now perform Divine Soul Emergence, but they still need careful nurturing.
The morning sunlight spilled over, and the family concluded their practice before starting to prepare breakfast.
Zhang Chen, draped in a tiger skin cloak, scanned the refugees in the distance with his eyes. Perhaps because they could escape the Northern Land at any time, the whole group seemed more lively, and there was a hint of joy on the people’s faces instead of numbness.
Zhang Chen put away the Alchemy Furnace and stored it in the Ba Snake Space. The furnace was a valuable treasure and could not be left carelessly for fear of losing it.
Today’s breakfast was jerky. Zhang Chen gnawed on a piece of it, looking at the dry yellow leaves in the air, with a glimmer of longing in his mind: "What do you think Jiangnan is like?"
Next to him, Chengyu was chewing on lean meat and said, "I heard people say Jiangnan is picturesque, and it’s green all year round. Even the waters don’t freeze in winter."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen swallowed the jerky and wiped his hands: "I heard people say Jiangnan is a water town, full of mountains and rivers. I really want to see it for myself."
After speaking, Zhang Chen stood up: "Let’s hit the road!"
By this time, some of the refugees had already set off, with families heading toward the Heroic Pass.
Zhang Chen’s family rode a Demon Horse, sitting in a carriage heading toward Tiger Soul Pass. It hadn’t been half an hour when they saw a crowd of people gathered ahead, refugees in disarray, each with worry in their eyes.
"What’s happening? Why aren’t those refugees moving?" Hearing the commotion ahead, Mrs. Zhang lifted the carriage curtain and asked.
Zhang Chen drove the carriage forward and heard all sorts of chaotic voices:
"Damn Prince Pingbian, actually sent the army to block Tiger Soul Pass, not letting us through, trying to keep us trapped here."
"Prince Pingbian, that cursed soul, won’t let us leave his territory, trying to trap us to death here."
...
The crowd gathered in one place, continuously cursing and swearing.
Zhang Chen’s expression changed upon hearing this. What would he do if Prince Pingbian’s Mansion was really blocking the way ahead?
He might have the means to get through the Heroic Pass, but what about his family?
His family didn’t have the ability!
Zhang Chen took a deep breath, driving the carriage forward. Along the way, refugees gathered everywhere, like waves converging.
Not only Zhang Chen’s group but also many others who had arrived early were stuck in front of the Heroic Pass, unable to break through and escape.
Zhang Chen maneuvered the carriage around the crowd and saw a towering Heroic Pass in the distance. The pass connected to the Great Wall, resembling Tongguan from a past life, strategically located and easy to defend.
Sentries guarded the Great Wall, holding bows and arrows, driving away those who approached.
At that time, a general stood atop the Heroic Pass, looking at the people gathered before it who were reluctant to leave, and shouted loudly, "By order of the Prince, all checkpoints in the Northern Land are sealed, and no one is allowed to enter or exit. You must not move freely, return to your hometowns!"
"Our hometowns have been overrun by Demon Beasts. We have no homes to return to. Please, General, show mercy and let us pass," pleaded a refugee on his knees.
The general’s expression remained unchanged as he said, "That is your hometown. Since it has been overrun by Demon Beasts, you must fight bravely and take back the fallen land. The hometown is your foundation. Without a foundation, how can one live? Return, all of you!"
"General, you’re forcing us to die and become Demon Beast fodder. Those beasts have all sorts of incredible abilities. We are just ordinary folks. How can we fight them?" one refugee shouted in anger.
"That’s not my concern. I’m just following orders to guard this place and allow no one through. If you don’t heed the warning and insist on breaking through the checkpoint, don’t blame me for harshly suppressing you with bloody methods," the general said coldly from atop the city wall.