Yellow Heaven Dao is certainly no pushover!
Chengyu is too important, it concerns the plans of the Great Virtuous Master. Zhang Chen does not believe that just relying on Zhou Qiucheng can make Yellow Heaven Dao restrain itself.
If it were another minor matter, Yellow Heaven Dao might not mind giving Zhou Qiucheng some face, but Chengyu is too important, important enough for Yellow Heaven Dao to risk tearing apart a relationship with an Eleventh Tier existence.
Just like with the Shen Family, Yellow Heaven Dao targets the Shen Family. Despite the intimate relationship between Zhou Qiucheng and the Shen Family, would Yellow Heaven Dao refrain from acting because of Zhou Qiucheng?
Of course not!
Even if Zhou Qiucheng steps forward, it cannot change the decision of Yellow Heaven Dao.
Previously, Zhang Chen thought Zhang Xiaohua came here to kill the Tenth Tier deity of the Shen Family, but now it seems that was not the case at all. Zhang Xiaohua came to Jinling just to restrain Zhou Qiucheng.
"If Zhang Xiaohua takes action personally, why would he need the Immortal Slaying Sword?" Various thoughts flickered in Zhang Chen’s mind: "I need to plan ahead!"
"Even Zhang Xiaohua’s recent behavior might be to lull Zhou Qiucheng into thinking he won’t risk a deadly feud with an Eleventh Tier strongman over a mere life. If, later on, he uses thunderous means to plot against me and I do end up dead, would Zhou Qiucheng really exert himself for a dead person?"
Yellow Heaven Dao won’t offend an Eleventh Tier strongman just for Zhang Chen, but what if Chengyu is involved? Zhang Xiaohua only needs to use Chengyu as an excuse, and then he can use Yellow Heaven Dao’s power against me.
While various thoughts were flying through Zhang Chen’s mind, a voice resonated in his ear:
"You should go down the mountain. As long as you don’t leave Jinling City, I can protect you."
Upon hearing, Zhang Chen respectfully bowed to Zhou Qiucheng, turned, and walked down the mountain. His gait was composed, seemingly unaffected by Zhang Xiaohua.
Watching Zhang Chen’s steady steps, Zhou Qiucheng’s eyes showed a glint of intrigue: "This kid is not simple, worth winning over."
As Zhang Chen walked down the mountain, he relaxed instead. He knew at least until the Shen Family is destroyed by Yellow Heaven Dao, it wouldn’t create more complications.
Zhang Chen arrived at the academy, where he found over forty scholars sitting in Room A, gathering in small groups, discussing something unknown.
He saw Zhang Xiaohua, who was conversing with nearby scholars as if he were an ordinary academic.
Zhang Chen glanced at Zhang Xiaohua, internally criticizing: "Since Zhou Qiucheng knows Zhang Xiaohua has ill intentions, why hasn’t he expelled him?"
Zhang Xiaohua was quite popular; his status as the Crown Prince of Prince Pingbian surpasses ninety-nine percent of noble families in this world.
Not only did Zhang Chen see Zhang Xiaohua, but he also saw other familiar faces, such as the Gambling Fox holding dice, betting with others. A group of people gathered noisily, calling out "big" and "small" in excitement.
He saw Zhang Gaoqiu!
Saw Shen Ling!
He even saw Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu, who were sitting together discussing something.
Zhang Chen stepped in, immediately catching the attention of Jiang Nan and others, when Shen Ling abruptly stood up and shouted, instantly drawing all eyes in the classroom: "What are you doing here? You don’t belong here, so hurry up and leave before you embarrass yourself. If you cause any trouble, don’t think to use the Shen Family’s name to settle it."
She had already ordered the steward to block Zhang Chen, convinced that he had no chance of entering the academy and must have snuck in.
Zhang Gaoqiu also frowned, looking at Zhang Chen with impatience: "Zhang Chen, you should go down the mountain quickly. If the teacher here finds out you snuck in, it’ll surely cause trouble."
His attitude was indifferent; now that Zhang Chen had lost his value, Zhang Gaoqiu wouldn’t show him any kindness.
"Zhang Chen, don’t embarrass yourself here, or I’ll have to enforce family rules." Zhang Gaoqiu’s voice was very cold.
At this moment, all the scholars in the room turned their eyes over, showing a hint of curiosity, with a gossiping expression.
The Gambling Fox on the side collected the dice, swept his eyes over the Shen Family crowd, and then looked at Zhang Chen in his coarse linen clothes, appearing somewhat conspicuous among the crowd decked in silks and satins.
Beside him, Prince Zhang Xiaohua also looked at the scene with curiosity, his eyes full of gossip interest.
Zhang Chen glanced at Zhang Gaoqiu and Shen Ling, with a look of disdain in his eyes: "What, you can come, but I can’t? The academy isn’t owned by your family. You’re really domineering. None of the masters or stewards in the academy have said anything, so why are you barking about it? Which loose pants let you all out?"
Zhang Chen’s coarse words instantly caused an uproarious laughter among the crowd in the academy. As the target of the ridicule, Shen Ling’s face turned red with embarrassment, while Zhang Gaoqiu’s anger shot through the roof: "You bastard, how dare you speak to me like that?"
Zhang Gaoqiu’s mysterious Qi Mechanism trembled, about to unleash his Talent Superpower to teach Zhang Chen a lesson, but to everyone’s surprise, the Gambling Fox suddenly stepped forward, standing in front of Zhang Chen. The Qi Mechanism around him flowed mysteriously, silently neutralizing Zhang Gaoqiu’s Divine Techniques.
"I think this little brother has a point. There’s a reason he can come here, what business is it of yours?" The Gambling Fox’s voice was full of righteousness, then he turned to Zhang Chen behind him and said, "Little brother, don’t be afraid. I can’t stand seeing anyone bullied. I won’t let you be bullied as long as I am here."
This fellow, housed in Chai Chuanxin’s body, appeared upright, possessing an inexplicable charisma.
But Zhang Chen, looking at the Gambling Fox, pondered some inexplicable thoughts in his mind: "This guy is cunning and treacherous, and never rushes forward without benefits. If he’s willing to step up now, he must have ulterior motives."
While Zhang Chen was contemplating the Gambling Fox’s intentions, Zhang Gaoqiu cast a cold glance at the Gambling Fox, his eyes filled with Evil Qi: "And who are you? Do you know who I am?"
"Who I am is none of your concern, and I have no wish to know who you are. I am just a righteous person seeing injustice. This brother simply walked into the academy, and you are here pointing fingers and gossiping. Do you think the academy belongs to your family? Just because you say he doesn’t have the right to enter, he doesn’t have the right? Just because you say he snuck in stealthily, he really did sneak in?" The Gambling Fox stood firmly with an air of righteousness.
"What do you intend to do?" Zhang Gaoqiu’s eyes showed a hint of coldness: "Are you planning to stand up for this savage?"
"I just can’t stand your attitude. I’ll make a bet with you. This brother entered the academy openly through the examinations, not by sneaking in. Do you dare make a bet with me?" Chai Chuanxin inadvertently rolled the dice in his hand, posing the question.
"A bet is a bet!" Zhang Gaoqiu said coldly: "But if you lose, you’ll have to pay the price, and even your family might suffer the consequences for your rashness."
The moment Zhang Gaoqiu agreed, Zhang Chen sensed a slight mysterious fluctuation from the dice in the Gambling Fox’s hand, and he clearly understood that Zhang Gaoqiu had fallen into the trap.
"The Gambling Fox always thrives on chaos, never missing a gambling opportunity. Even without one, he creates one. This time, the Gambling Fox is sure to win, but I wonder what Zhang Gaoqiu will lose," Zhang Chen thought to himself.
Just then, the Gambling Fox turned to Zhang Chen and patted his shoulder with a kind expression: "Good brother, I bet you got in through legitimate examinations."
Zhang Chen gave the Gambling Fox a look but did not respond to his words; there seemed to be a gambling undertone in everything this guy said. He dared not casually agree, simply moving to an empty table on the side and sitting down. The Gambling Fox then trotted beside Zhang Chen and sat down, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Zhang Chen: "I bet you got in through legitimate examinations."
Hearing the Gambling Fox’s words, Zhang Chen frowned and gave him a meaningful look. The Primordial Spirit quickly deduced the loopholes in the Gambling Fox’s words, and in no time, Zhang Chen understood:
"I see, hidden in the Gambling Fox’s words is a linguistic trap. He said, ’I bet you got in through legitimate examinations,’ which means he put his wager on the proper side. If I agree, that would mean I automatically concede, admitting ’I didn’t come in through proper channels, but snuck in,’ thereby establishing the bet instantly, with the Gambling Fox having a chance to win from me, including but not limited to: bloodline Divine Techniques, Innate Spiritual Treasures, everything on me.
The best way to counter his odd Divine Techniques is to answer off-topic, so Zhang Chen said: "If you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll sew it shut."
The Gambling Fox froze at the words, as Zhang Chen’s response was unexpected. He stepped up for Zhang Chen, yet Zhang Chen, considering both emotion and reason, shouldn’t be speaking to him like this, right?
So the Gambling Fox gave Zhang Chen a long, hard look, disregarding his rudeness, and instead embraced Zhang Chen’s shoulder, patting it: "Good brother, we aren’t afraid of those scoundrels bullying us. We are righteous and have justice on our side."
He then turned to Zhang Gaoqiu: "Shortly, the master will call out names, and then the result of who wins and who loses will naturally play out."
Zhang Gaoqiu sneered coldly: "If you lose, you must kneel and apologize to me."
The Gambling Fox nodded at the words, saying ’Alright,’ while secretly thinking: "If you lose, your bloodline is mine!"