Upon seeing someone arrive, the steward lifted his head to glance at Zhang Chen and said impatiently, "Didn’t I tell you to hurry back, you’ve offended the Shen Family..."
Before the steward could finish speaking, Zhang Chen placed a jade token on the table and pushed it toward the steward. The steward paused, then quickly picked up the jade token Zhang Chen had pushed over. Upon examining it carefully, he swallowed hard; the meaning of Zhou Qiucheng’s token was unmistakably clear.
As for the idea that this token was picked up by Zhang Chen? Or stolen by him? Completely impossible!
Thus, the steward quickly stood up and respectfully handed the jade token over, saying, "I am Ma Jiu, yet to learn your name, Young Master."
Zhang Chen held the token, slowly retracting it with a smile, "Zhang Chen!"
He had decided, there was no point in hiding his identity anymore. With so many people disrupting things, what was the use of concealing his identity? Moreover, he had already decided to sever ties with the Shen Family; using their name was inappropriate.
The steward did not ask Zhang Chen for registration papers and hurriedly registered Zhang Chen’s name, then retrieved a token, handing it to Zhang Chen, "Young Master Zhang, you may enter Class A, first tier. Would you like to stay on campus or return home to reside?"
Zhang Chen contemplated briefly before stating, "I’ll return home to stay."
The dorms in the mountains were communal spaces with several people living together. For Zhang Chen, such a place was unsuitable due to the secrets he bore. Living alone was more convenient.
Moreover, he mastered the Five Elements Escape Technique, so returning home was hardly difficult and didn’t waste much time.
Zhang Chen’s direct admission attracted considerable attention. As he circumvented the steward and proceeded into the academy, a commotion erupted from afar. A carriage emerged from the distance, racing forward at full speed and halting nearby. The carriage stopped, revealing a familiar figure in front of Zhang Chen: Zhang Xiaohua!
"Why is he here at Chongzheng Academy?" Zhang Chen thought in shock, instinctively shifting his steps to avoid the other’s gaze, hiding among the crowd.
Then, Zhang Xiaohua strode forward boldly, holding a golden invitation in hand, and arrived before Steward Ma Jiu, "I am Zhang Xiaohua, Crown Prince of Prince Pingbian, having secured an admission spot at Chongzheng Academy. I am here today to complete the enrollment procedures."
Crown Prince of Prince Pingbian?
The people around were abuzz at this statement. In recent years, tumult had been rife in the Northern Land—especially with the demon calamities rampaging and breaching the White Bone Great Wall, causing countless residents to fall prey to the demon beasts. Such atrocities, reported back to the Human Race’s territory, spurred widespread discussion among the Divine Land’s nobility.
It can be said that any information or individuals associated with the Northern Land now stir up a big fuss, particularly as the demon race’s offensives continued unabated, assaulting the Dukes’ domains across the Human Race. The developments in the Northern Land drew growing attentiveness.
And the sudden appearance of Zhang Xiaohua, heir to the Northern Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, in Jinling City, certainly drew notice.
On hearing that Zhang Xiaohua was enrolling at Chongzheng Academy, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but frown. Having lived as neighbors for seven or eight years, Zhang Xiaohua was profoundly familiar with his family. If Zhang Xiaohua discovered the presence of his three little ones in Chongzheng Academy, it might stir up more turmoil.
So Zhang Chen turned and departed, heading into the mountains, pondering how to entrap Zhang Xiaohua, ensuring the three little ones could study at the academy uninterrupted.
"Zhang Xiaohua entering Chongzheng Academy likely harbors ill intentions. The Yellow Heaven Dao seeks to act against the Shen Family, and Zhou Qiucheng alone in Jinling City had the capacity to meddle in battlefields. Chongzheng Academy, therefore, became the sole variable in the Yellow Heaven Dao’s plans against the Shen Family. Zhang Xiaohua’s concealed cultivation entering the academy is likely aimed at Zhou Qiucheng," Zhang Chen quickly surmised in his mind.
Since the other party had joined Chongzheng Academy, encountering him was inevitable. It was crucial for Zhang Chen to prepare early.
Fortunately, Zhang Chen’s tactics were remarkable; even facing Zhang Xiaohua of the Eleventh Tier, if it came to fleeing the scene, the other party wouldn’t be able to stop him.
"Troublesome indeed, Zhang Xiaohua’s presence derailed my plans..." Zhang Chen hesitated slightly, then turned toward Zhou Qiucheng’s courtyard, aiming to discern Zhou Qiucheng’s stance. If Zhou Qiucheng remained ambiguous, Zhang Chen would have to risk delving into the Treasure Tower and taking away the Six Paths of Reincarnation, departing then.
Zhang Chen soon reached Zhou Qiucheng’s courtyard, where Zhou Qiucheng, dressed in white, stood at the gateway, his face composed as he gazed into the distance, his brows knit as though faced with a dilemma.
Zhang Chen approached and respectfully bowed, "Greetings, sir."
"You’ve arrived, come inside for tea. How went your enrollment procedures?" Zhou Qiucheng withdrew his gaze and asked.
"The enrollment process has been completed, but..." Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed a hint of conflict.
"What’s wrong?" Zhou Qiucheng seemed to notice Zhang Chen’s difficulty and asked upon seeing his hesitation.
"I have a nemesis who came to Chongzheng Academy. I heard that the nemesis has already broken through to the Eleventh Tier. I fear I won’t be able to stay at Chongzheng Academy." Zhang Chen smiled bitterly.
Zhou Qiucheng was taken aback and looked at Zhang Chen in astonishment: "Are you referring to the Eleventh Tier divine being from the mountain?"
"You know?" Zhang Chen asked in surprise.
"When a divine spirit takes action, it is accompanied by celestial phenomena, and furthermore, this figure appeared in my territory. If I weren’t aware, it would be unworthy of me to be entrusted by the court with the responsibility of guarding Jinling." Zhou Qiucheng said, "A month ago, I observed the stars at night and saw the Po Jun Star and the Water Star heading towards Jinling."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen looked up at the sky, but unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything.
"This person is likely a newly arisen Star God of the Yellow Heaven Dao, and they are not here for you but for me," Zhou Qiucheng explained to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen was stunned: "They’re here for you?"
"Yellow Heaven Dao has been increasingly active in recent years, especially in Jiangnan, where they’ve been constantly laying out plans. I heard that Yellow Heaven Dao and the White Lotus Sect seem interested in the Shen Family’s Water Fortune, and since Jinling is the Shen Family’s stronghold, they are likely targeting me to prevent me from aiding the Shen Family." Zhou Qiucheng said.
Zhang Chen’s expression was one of astonishment; he hadn’t imagined such intricacy, and the news that Yellow Heaven Dao was targeting the Shen Family seemed to be spreading everywhere. It felt like the entire world knew.
Zhou Qiucheng noticed Zhang Chen’s shock and began to explain: "The autumn wind has not yet stirred, but the cicada feels it first. The Shen Family controls seventy percent of the nation’s canal transport; they aren’t mere strawmen without substance. If they didn’t have a keen sense, they would have been buried during the Ancient Era, long before they had a chance to pass down their legacy. How can Yellow Heaven Dao think of destroying a Noble Family that has been passed down for countless millennia, aiming to annihilate all the Shen Family’s living forces completely? What a grand plan is this? Such a move couldn’t possibly escape the Shen Family’s notice."
Zhang Chen upon hearing this, thought that indeed, if the Shen Family were so incompetent, they would have been eliminated during the course of their legacy.
"The news is spreading far and wide; why hasn’t the Shen Family taken the first move? Why hasn’t the court provided protection?" Zhang Chen asked.
Zhou Qiucheng responded with a bitter smile: "I heard that an unrivaled Great Demon appeared in Kyoto, skilled in controlling the Five-Colored Divine Light, their methods are astonishingly powerful, preventing Kyoto’s three mysterious Twelfth Tier beings from taking rash actions. Thus, Kyoto is powerless regarding the Shen Family’s situation, leaving the Shen Family to rely solely on its own foundation to get through the tribulation."
Zhang Chen upon hearing this, reflected: "The Shen Family certainly won’t sit idle and await their fate."
"Of course not, the Shen Family isn’t to be trifled with; how could they allow Yellow Heaven Dao to strike treacherously?" Zhou Qiucheng said, "Originally, with my presence in Jinling, the Shen Family could ensure their headquarters remained unscathed. But now with Zhang Xiaohua’s arrival, the Shen Family is likely in big trouble, potentially facing significant damage."
"Will the other Noble Families in the world just let the Shen Family be destroyed without providing aid?" Zhang Chen still didn’t understand and asked.
Zhou Qiucheng shook his head: "Where do you think the Incense Divine Dao Techniques of the world’s Noble Families come from? They have long been colluding secretly with Yellow Heaven Dao."
Zhang Chen heard this, his pupils constricted, suddenly feeling as though an invisible net was cast across Heaven and Earth, its vastness beyond his expectations.
But still, there were many issues Zhang Chen couldn’t fathom, such as why the Shen Family, holding a respectable rank among the world’s Noble Families, was allowed to be targeted by Yellow Heaven Dao.
Moreover, the Shen Family and Kyoto’s Zhang Family have been intermarried for generations. Kyoto Zhang Family is one of the Eight Great Clans, and these clans are closely knit. Why would Kyoto’s Zhang Family allow the Shen Family to be destroyed?
Seeing Zhang Chen’s confusion, Zhou Qiucheng explained: "The destruction of the Shen Family is, in fact, closely tied to Kyoto’s Zhang Family. Regarding the matters of the Shen Family, Kyoto’s Zhang Family is divided into two opinions. The first comes from the current Patriarch’s line, who wishes to rescue and protect the Shen Family. The other faction consists of all the Zhang Family elders who got angry because the Shen Family breached a contract, wanting to annul a marriage and privately seize a certain treasure. Consequently, Kyoto’s Zhang Family split into two voices, making it difficult for them to take a stand, naturally unable to take the Shen Family into account. Moreover, I heard that the Northern Zhang Family seems to have some inexplicable connection with Kyoto’s Zhang Family. Now Zhang Xiaohua has stepped into the Eleventh Tier, with the great possibility of becoming the future Sect Leader of the Yellow Heaven Dao, leading the whole Yellow Heaven Grand Dao, and promised Kyoto’s Zhang Family a Natural Divine Position, which led to internal divisions within the family."
"But something doesn’t add up. According to your explanation, the Shen Family and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion that Zhang Xiaohua represents are part of the same camp, so why would Yellow Heaven Dao target the Shen Family?" Zhang Chen was puzzled, finding it illogical.
"Zhang Xiaohua has attained the Divine Position of the Water Virtue Star Monarch, but the world’s water fortune is controlled by the Shen Family. He’s merely a titular Water Virtue Star Monarch. What would you do if you were Zhang Xiaohua? The grudges between the two sides are irreconcilable! And naturally, there’s more closeness between Zhang Family and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion than the Shen Family. Now it appears they are closer to Prince Pingbian’s Mansion." Zhou Qiucheng explained.