Zhang Chen heard the maid’s words and was about to step forward, but the Ten-ranked deity called out to him, "Wait!"
Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the Ten-ranked deity, "I wonder why this elder has called me, is there something you wish to instruct me on?"
The Ten-ranked deity recognized Zhang Chen, as during the investigation after the Shen family fire, the deity had inspected Zhang Chen’s body.
The deity came to Zhang Chen, circled him once, with a look of suspicion in his eyes, and said, "Very similar!"
"Similar to what?" Zhang Chen was taken aback.
"Your physique is very similar to the thief who set the fire and stole treasures from the Shen family that night," the Ten-ranked deity said.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen’s pupils constricted, his heart threatened to race, but he managed to suppress it with his Blood Control Technique. A question flashed in Zhang Chen’s mind: "How does he know the thief’s physique? Wasn’t the Ten-ranked deity lured away that night? Could it be that he possesses some means I’m unaware of?"
"Stay calm! Must stay calm! He’s merely suspicious. If he was certain I was the culprit, he would have taken action by now, rather than just stopping to observe me," Zhang Chen’s Primordial Spirit quickly analyzed the situation. Within an instant, his heart regained composure, and he looked calmly at the Ten-ranked deity.
"You must be mistaken, elder. If I had such abilities, I wouldn’t be bullied in the Shen family."
Upon hearing this, the Ten-ranked deity reached out, grasping Zhang Chen’s shoulder, channeling Divine Power into Zhang Chen’s body, trying to inspect him. However, Zhang Chen had mastered the Inverted Yin and Yang Divine Techniques. Although only a Minor Achievement, it was sufficient to deceive the Ten-ranked deity.
Sure enough, the deity withdrew his hand moments later, a look of bewilderment in his eyes, "I must have been mistaken!"
After all, the figure in the mirror was shrouded in the Power of Time, figure blurred by chaos, and he hadn’t seen clearly.
He had confidence in his own strength; even if a Twelfth Tier expert asked him to inspect a body, it would leave no trace.
The person who could sneak into the Shen family unnoticed by countless deities, subduing Zhang Gaoqiu in a single move without giving him a chance to react, was clearly not an ordinary cultivator. The stronger the opponent, the harder it was to hide, and it would be impossible to evade his detection.
"You may go," the Ten-ranked deity of the Shen family said.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded, bowed, and continued towards the inner residence.
The Ten-ranked deity stood there, watching Zhang Chen’s departing figure, and shook his head, "Strange, how could I have such thoughts? I must be tense lately, seeing things."
After entering the inner residence, Zhang Chen’s complexion changed slightly, feeling his legs weaken. He took a deep breath to steady himself before entering the main hall, greeting the elderly lady, and expressing his thoughts.
Upon hearing his words, Madam Shen’s expression immediately changed, "The Shen family is your home, why do you want to move out? Has someone in the residence upset you?"
Zhang Chen shook his head, "I just think that the Shen family is not the Zhang family, staying here is inconvenient. Besides, if I stay too long, others might think this poor relative is freeloading, unable to survive on his own and relying on the Shen family, which is uncomfortable to hear."
"The Shen family is large, with tens of thousands of servants to feed; surely it won’t be lacking food for a few more people. Who has been gossiping? Tell me, and I’ll make sure they regret it," Madam Shen said with a cold glint in her eyes.
Zhang Chen shook his head, "No one has upset me, I just want to live by my own hands."
"No! I won’t agree! You are my grandson, and now that you are in Jinling, you want to live outside instead of in the residence? That would be a slap in my face!" Madam Shen refused stubbornly.
Zhang Chen looked at Madam Shen and continued to reason, "The Shen family is too large, I’m just not accustomed to living here. I’m used to the countryside, and in such a grand house, I could get lost..."
The grandmother and grandson argued for an hour. Although Madam Shen opposed in every way, Zhang Chen remained adamant, and she finally agreed when she saw he wouldn’t change his mind.
Then, on a quiet afternoon, Zhang Chen’s family quietly left through the back door with their belongings, and no one in the Shen family, except Madam Shen, knew of their departure.
The family moved into their new residence, tidied up, and Mrs. Zhang prepared a feast to celebrate the move.
Settling into the large household, Zhang Chen called Chengyu out. The two stood under the loquat tree in the courtyard, and Zhang Chen pulled out a golden talisman from his sleeve, "This is a Ninth-tier Invisibility Rune. Unless faced with a Tenth-tier expert or a Ninth-tier cultivator skilled in Pupil Technique, it’s impossible to penetrate its power. With so many Yellow Heaven Dao cultivators in Jinling City now, keep this talisman with you. If you want to go out to shop or stroll, use the Invisibility Rune."
This Invisibility Rune was one of nine foundational talismans Zhang Chen had refined.
"A Ninth-tier Invisibility Rune, a fine thing indeed," Chengyu said gleefully, reaching out to take the talisman and inspecting it closely.
The talisman shimmered with a golden light in the sun, like a sheet of gold, etched with complex and exquisite patterns containing the Law of the Great Dao, seemingly hiding the greatest secret of Heaven and Earth within.
"What a treasure!" Chengyu couldn’t help but praise.
Zhang Chen patted Chengyu’s head: "With this Invisibility Rune, as long as you are careful, no one will discover you."
Even though the Incense Qi is rampant now, and the number of Ninth Tier Divine Spirits has surged, how many Ninth Tier Divine Spirits are there in the entire Jinling City? The probability of encountering one in a city with a population in the millions is almost negligible. Even if encountered by an ordinary Ninth Tier Divine Spirit, there is no need to fear, as without a special Pupil Technique, they cannot see through the Invisibility Rune.
Are there any Ninth Tier Divine Spirits in Jinling City that have cultivated a Pupil Technique?
Zhang Chen believed the probability was close to zero; as long as Chengyu doesn’t run into those Tenth Tier deities, he would be safe.
However, Tenth Tier deities are busy comprehending the Law of Heaven and Earth, so why would they cast their gaze upon the common people?
It’s just like a normal adult who goes to work from nine to five every day; how would they have the time to observe every ant in an anthill?
After instructing Chengyu, Zhang Chen used his Escape Technique and disappeared, reappearing at a street corner.
He decided to use the Escape Technique whenever he went out in the future, to avoid being discovered by cultivators of the Yellow Heaven Dao and having his whereabouts traced back to his hideout.
With his Escape Technique, he could come and go without a trace; even if the other party detected his presence, they wouldn’t be able to track him down.
Especially since Zhang Chen had comprehended the Inverted Yin and Yang, he could obscure his destiny and the Celestial Secret, making it nearly impossible for others to trace him based on any clues.
"If I want to enter Chongzheng Academy, I first need to understand something about it." Zhang Chen didn’t know the location of Chongzheng Academy, so he hired a carriage, left Jinling City, and arrived at a mountain outside the city.
Chongzheng Academy is not within Jinling City but situated on the highest mountain outside the city. That mountain, with its lofty peaks and flowing waters, rivals Mount Tai of the 21st century.
At the foot of the mountain, a large portal arch was erected, engraved with the four characters of Chongzheng Academy.
Flanking it are Merit Arches with true manuscripts handwritten by Great Scholars of Chongzheng Academy across generations.
"We’ve arrived at Chongzheng Academy, sir," the carriage attendant said to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen nodded upon hearing this, then got off the carriage, making his way to the front gate of Chongzheng Academy, where a servant approached: "Sir, do you have business at Chongzheng Academy?"
Just as Zhang Chen was about to speak to the servant, he felt a mysterious fluctuation in his Primordial Spirit, startling him and leaving no time to address the servant. Instead, he introspected his Primordial Spirit and saw the Yin Yang Grinding Disc, noticing that the Reincarnation representing the Human Dao was spinning rapidly, resonating with something in Chongzheng Academy, sensing the Human Dao Reincarnation.
As Zhang Chen possessed the Manipulation Technique of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, he naturally understood what the current situation represented: there was a part of the body of the Six Paths of Reincarnation within Chongzheng Academy.
"Sir? Sir?" The attendant standing beside Zhang Chen cautiously called out.
Zhang Chen returned to his senses, suppressing the unease in his heart, and asked, "May I ask, young fellow, what requirements must be met to study at Chongzheng Academy?"
The servant was young and, after sizing up Zhang Chen, said, "Chongzheng Academy recruits students through recommendations. If you wish to study here, someone must recommend you. Additionally, the annual tuition fee is fifty thousand taels of silver. Meeting these two conditions will allow you to study at Chongzheng Academy."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen inhaled sharply; he had already known that admission to Chongzheng Academy was difficult, but hadn’t expected it to be this arduous.
It was indeed excessively avaricious.
Not to mention the fifty thousand taels of silver, where would he find a recommendation letter?
He had felt immensely challenged when apprenticing under Han Suzhen before, yet now the difficulty seemed many times greater.
The barrier of fifty thousand taels alone kept many ordinary wealthy families at bay, not to mention finding that elusive recommendation letter.
The recommendation letter was countless times more precious than silver.
"Is there any sort of examination? If you pass the examination, can you study?" Zhang Chen asked hopefully.
Upon hearing this, the young attendant sized him up and replied irritably, "You’re dreaming. Do you realize the opportunity to study is extraordinarily precious and rare? Especially with Great Scholars teaching here. The idea of entering the academy without paying the price is pure fantasy!"
Finishing with his mockery, he started to shoo Zhang Chen away, "Leave, leave, don’t waste my time."
The doorkeeper seemed somewhat agitated, thinking Zhang Chen was teasing him.
PS: An extra Chapter for the Alliance Leader ’Feng Junshi Haoran’. Fourth Update.