Faced with Zhang Chen’s query, Chen Sanliang simply smiled lightly, without retorting or arguing, and calmly poured wine for Zhang Chen: "If you don’t believe it, you can go ahead and try it yourself."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen fell silent. He could feel Chen Sanliang’s confidence opposite him, but he still felt restless inside.
"We part ways today, unsure of when we’ll meet again, but I have a favor to ask of you." Chen Sanliang raised his cup and took a sip.
"What is it?" Zhang Chen looked at Chen Sanliang in surprise: "You, sir, now command the Demon Race’s army, holding a high position and authority within the Demon Race, hailed as the ’Demon Master,’ and yet there’s something you need to ask of an ordinary person like me?"
Zhang Chen’s words carried no malice, merely teasing Chen Sanliang, and the tone was light, easing the tension between them immediately.
"I know you have a way to balance Bai Cang; otherwise, Bai Cang wouldn’t be relentlessly hunted by you, and suddenly have the good nature to confine the human babies of the Northern Land. If you can make Bai Cang secretly obey me, my plan would have three more chances. Moreover, those humans trapped in the Northern Land would have a glimmer of hope with both Bai Cang and me together trying to maneuver. At the very least, with Bai Cang’s support, I’ll first establish the Human Demon Realm, which would provide some shelter for those commoners." Chen Sanliang said to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen paused to think upon hearing this and then said: "My relationship with Bai Cang is very complicated, not as simple as you imagine, sir. All I can do is stop Bai Cang from creating trouble for you when he intends to. If you want him to follow your orders, that old fox is really unmanageable, and if he pretends compliance but sabotages, things will turn worse."
"That’s enough!" Chen Sanliang replied with a smile.
Zhang Chen glanced at Chen Sanliang, then laughed, realizing Chen Sanliang was playing tricks, deliberately raising the request and waiting for him to negotiate.
"If sir has major actions in the future, feel free to send me a message, and I shall personally negotiate with Bai Cang. I believe that Fox Spirit is quite reasonable." Zhang Chen raised his wine cup and drank it all.
Chen Sanliang did not decline, but instead turned and rummaged through his own package, which was made of plain white leather, pulling out a roll of beast skin and handed it to Zhang Chen: "This is the Divine Land map I have drawn, just a gift for you. You’ll need it when heading south; how can you do without a map?"
Looking at the map handed by Chen Sanliang, Zhang Chen was initially stunned, then sighed softly after a long while. He opened the map, which depicted a complete map, including not only the Great Victory Nation but also marked all major powers surrounding it.
No matter what Chen Sanliang did, this man was incomparable to him.
"If you wish to find me in the future, simply go to Jinling City and burn this incense, and I will feel it naturally." Zhang Chen took out a small box from the Ba Snake Space and handed it to Chen Sanliang.
Inside the box was incense refined by Zhang Chen using Secret Techniques from the Five Villages Temple; it’s the treasure disciples use daily for communication and rescue.
"You are indeed mysterious." Chen Sanliang said, observing Zhang Chen’s process of producing incense, accepting the palm-sized box.
The box was certainly not made of ordinary materials; if so, it couldn’t be swallowed into the Ba Snake Space, as it was crafted from discarded materials from the Ancestral Master’s room. The incense also added some timber, along with Zhang Chen’s Magical Power to refine it.
Looking at the map in hand, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but sigh lightly: "This map is indeed a great help."
"Of course, you wouldn’t be able to buy it even if you wanted to outside." Chen Sanliang smiled, tucking the box carefully into his chest pocket: "This map is just an outline, not entirely accurate; use it as a reference, don’t trust it completely."
Zhang Chen folded the map, its material unknown, extremely lightweight, folding it into palm-size, only an inch thick, stored in his chest without occupying space.
Zhang Chen stowed away the map, glanced at Chen Sanliang: "Have you certified the Yang God, sir?"
"With the occupation of the Northern Land, I’ve spread the Dao greatly in the Northern Land, naturally certifying it. This is a matter of course, nothing much." Chen Sanliang’s voice held a trace of pride.
Zhang Chen could see that Chen Sanliang was very proud, not the usual kind of proud, he couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.
"It’s quite coincidental, I am heading south too, though not on the same road as you." Chen Sanliang said.
Upon hearing Chen Sanliang’s words, Zhang Chen’s heart skipped a beat, sizing Chen Sanliang up, feeling that he might be up to something, and hurriedly asked: "What do you plan to do heading south, sir?"
Arriving at the Pingbei Marquis’s territory, the Pingbei Marquis’s domain is about to fall. If he continues to move through the Southern Country, the whole of Divine Land will be in chaos.
Chen Sanliang didn’t hide: "I have two goals, first: discuss the Dao."
"Discuss the Dao?" Zhang Chen’s eyes were full of surprise.
"I can’t work behind closed doors alone in the Northern Land; I need to debate the Dao with the Human Race, beginning from Pingbei Marquis’s territory, passing through all academies, defeating all Great Scholars of Confucianism." Chen Sanliang’s eyes showed a trace of evil qi.
"What’s the second goal?" Zhang Chen inquired.
Chen Sanliang smiled without responding, glanced at the sky outside: "I should get going."
"When we meet again, you better pretend not to know me, otherwise... I fear you’ll struggle endlessly within the Human Race." Chen Sanliang earnestly warned Zhang Chen: "Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Upon hearing Chen Sanliang’s words, Zhang Chen initially wanted to shake his head, but considering the demon race was about to sweep across the land, his eyes brightened. He hadn’t yet gathered all the materials to refine the God-Beating Whip. If he relied on Chen Sanliang and the demon race to collect materials, it shouldn’t be difficult.
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen quickly said, "I want to craft an artifact and need to gather some materials. If you could help me with this, I would be eternally grateful."
"You want to craft an artifact? Whatever materials you need, just tell me. The demon race doesn’t understand the Refining Treasure Technique, but their storerooms are filled with rare materials. Just open your mouth," Chen Sanliang said.
Zhang Chen called for paper and pen, wrote down all his requirements, and handed them to Chen Sanliang. Chen Sanliang glanced at the paper, slipped it into his sleeve, and walked down from the tavern with a determined look, disappearing into the crowd.
Watching Chen Sanliang’s departing figure, Zhang Chen furrowed his brows, staring at the bustling crowd for a long time without speaking: "I’m afraid it’s not just about debating to defeat those Great Scholars. Chen Sanliang is always good at planning. How could he come to the Human Race’s territory to show off for just a vent of anger?"
Zhang Chen felt he understood Chen Sanliang well; the man was a rational person who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He wouldn’t act so recklessly; there must be deeper intentions unknown to him.
"What does this old fellow really want to do?" Zhang Chen pondered, his eyes filled with confusion. Moments later, he had a sudden thought: "Could it be that he intends to use this opportunity to connect with the nobles in various cities? Using the debate as an excuse is indeed a good cover."
With this thought, Zhang Chen picked up the food and wine from the table and began eating heartily. Once he was satisfied, he left the tavern and, after a moment of contemplation, headed towards the Marquis Mansion.
"You want to go to the Marquis Mansion to inform?" The Great Freedom Celestial Demon appeared beside Zhang Chen as a black lotus flower. At this time, the demon’s flower had six petals open, looking quite pleasing. Unfortunately, the passersby were mere mortal eyes and couldn’t see the colorful demon flower.
"Haha, since Chen Sanliang told me, he naturally isn’t afraid I’d leak the secret. Besides, I never intended to leak the secret; I just want to know if the world is really as doomed as Chen Sanliang claims," Zhang Chen flickered his form, using the Earth Escape Technique to vanish from the street.
When Zhang Chen reappeared, he was already at the Pingbei Marquis Mansion.
Although the Pingbei Marquis Mansion had Dragon Qi as a cover, it couldn’t break through Zhang Chen’s Immortal Dao power. Compared to Prince Pingbian’s Dragon Qi, it was far inferior, completely incomparable.
A prince with the power to rebel and a marquis belonging to the court, the two are fundamentally incomparable.
Finding Pingbei Marquis’s whereabouts was not difficult, but when Zhang Chen found Pingbei Marquis, the marquis was in the study, looking at a document.
Pingbei Marquis wasn’t young, appearing to be a slightly overweight man in his fifties, dressed in brocade, meticulously groomed, exuding an imposing presence.
"Report, news from the north." A spy appeared outside the door, respectfully reporting.
"Bring it!" Pingbei Marquis ordered.
The guard handed over the document, and after carefully examining the seal, Pingbei Marquis opened it. His expression abruptly changed: "Tiger Soul Pass is broken? Those ruffians have all crossed? It’s one thing for ruffians to cross, but if the demon race crosses, that’s a real big trouble! How can a single Marquis Mansion resist the demon race’s might? Curse that dog Prince Pingbian! I bet he deliberately let the demon race in; otherwise, how would they cross the White Bone Great Wall so easily!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen’s form flickered, appearing directly in the study.
Zhang Chen’s sudden appearance immediately alerted Pingbei Marquis, who stared at him: "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"I’m here to deliver a message to the prince. I have information about the demon race’s next move," Zhang Chen replied to Pingbei Marquis.
Pingbei Marquis looked Zhang Chen over without showing emotion: "What information?"
"Within your territory, some nobles are already disloyal and secretly colluding with the demon race to rebel and overthrow your rule," Zhang Chen said, looking at Pingbei Marquis. "I came to report this upon hearing the news."
Pingbei Marquis didn’t inquire about the rebellion, instead scrutinizing Zhang Chen’s dirty clothes before asking another question: "You are a commoner?"
"Yes, a commoner! Isn’t the prince supposed to ask about the rebellion? Whether I’m a commoner has no bearing on that, right?" Zhang Chen felt puzzled by the question.
Then Pingbei Marquis coldly laughed, pulling his belt off his waist, which stirred a fierce wind, filled with Qi Blood’s mechanism, and swung it at Zhang Chen: "A mere poor commoner dares discuss state affairs? And dares appear unannounced in my study? You are lawless! You deserve death!"
The belt wasn’t a normal belt; it was made of steel, creating ear-piercing whistles in the air and explosive air pops, like firecrackers going off beside one’s ear. If it struck a person, it would surely cause broken bones.
"Qi Blood Martial Artist!" Zhang Chen’s eyes showed caution.
Yet, he didn’t feel any Mysterious Power from the opponent, showing that this person wasn’t a talented Bloodline Practitioner nor a Postnatal Cultivator.
It makes sense; how could there be so many Bloodline Practitioners in the world? The offspring of Bloodline Practitioners are hard to conceive, and the purer the bloodline, the harder it is to pass down.
Even Prince Pingbian, who controls the various dukes, only has a common bloodline, let alone ordinary dukes and marquises?
Bloodline inheritors are mostly from families with millions of years of heritage, and their bloodlines would not easily be spread, nor would they marry ordinary people.