Zhang Chen harbored some suspicion in his heart. Tushan Qing, this scoundrel, harbored ill intentions and wanted to collaborate with Zhang Xiaohua to secretly plot against him.
He clearly could reach out to the experts of the Demon Race, and with interests concerning something as grand as the Innate Water God, why would the other party come to him for cooperation for no reason?
"But now that Zhang Xiaohua has stepped into the Eleventh Tier, how could he even see me in his eyes? It’s unnecessary to go through so much trouble to deploy such a plot, sending Tushan Qing to deceive me, just to kill me?" Thoughts flickered in Zhang Chen’s mind, leaving him unable to fathom the key to the situation.
Hence, Zhang Chen looked at Tushan Qing: "Your Chai family has numerous experts, why do you want to work with me?"
Chai Chuanxin shook his head upon hearing the words: "Zhang Xiaohua has the support of the Yellow Heaven Dao, countless experts within the Yellow Heaven Dao can be mobilized by Zhang Xiaohua. If I want to take food from the tiger’s mouth under Zhang Xiaohua, I must invite someone truly capable. Inviting ordinary experts is of no use; inviting too strong experts would make them reverse and suppress me, and even if I defeat Zhang Xiaohua, I wouldn’t gain any benefit. On the contrary, cooperating with you, brother, fits perfectly. Rest assured, you take the big head, and I’ll just get a sip of soup. I immediately saw that you are a capable person; you disrupted Prince Pingbian’s Mansion’s plan twice, you must have ways to deal with Zhang Xiaohua."
Hearing Tushan Qing’s words, Zhang Chen’s lips curled up as he took a sip from his cup: "You indeed have keen insight."
Zhang Chen’s thoughts turned; no matter what the other party’s scheme was, it couldn’t break through his Ice Domain. As long as his Ice Domain existed, no one in this world could kill him.
Moreover, Zhang Chen had necessary reasons to enter. He absolutely couldn’t just watch as Zhang Xiaohua stepped into the Twelfth Tier. If Zhang Xiaohua steps into the Twelfth Tier, would there still be a path for him to survive?
"When are we going to make a move?" Zhang Chen opened his mouth to ask.
"To act, we must wait for the Yellow Heaven Dao to bloodbath the Shen Family, using the blood of the Shen Family for a blood ritual to have a chance at opening that ancient door," Tushan Qing said.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen drew in a sharp breath: "What? Is it necessary to use the Shen Family’s blood for a blood ritual to open the door to that Ancient Great Tomb?"
"Otherwise, what do you think the Yellow Heaven Dao is painstakingly exterminating the Shen Family for? Could it be merely to seize seventy percent of the Shen Family’s Water Fortune? If the sole intention was to seize the Shen Family’s Water Fortune, the Yellow Heaven Dao has numerous methods, such as buying off some members of the Shen Family. Or colluding with those within the Shen Family who are dissatisfied with the main family. They could even turn the managers and servants of the Shen Family into Yellow Heaven Dao followers... In short, the Yellow Heaven Dao has too many ways to make the Shen Family’s Water Fortune theirs. But the Yellow Heaven Dao chooses the most difficult, stubborn, risky, and self-damaging method, wanting to slaughter the Shen Family bloodline completely, just to open that tomb."
A doubt rose in Zhang Chen’s mind: "Shouldn’t the Shen Family be able to open the tomb? Why not force the members of the Shen Family to open the tomb, but rather slaughter the Shen Family, use their blood for a blood ritual, and then go to open the tomb?"
Zhang Chen harbored a sense of doubt, the commotion caused by exterminating the Shen Family was too great, it would attract the court’s attention, not to mention causing the various Noble Families to be wary.
"The Shen Family can certainly open the tomb, but when the tomb is opened, only people from the Shen Family can enter. If using the method of blood ritual, it can bypass the tomb’s rules, allowing those not of the Shen Family bloodline to enter. What you’ve considered, the Yellow Heaven Dao has long considered; otherwise, they wouldn’t need to resort to such extreme measures," Zhang Gaoqiu said.
Hearing the words of the Gambling Fox, Zhang Chen came to a realization, yet he did not completely trust them, instead secretly keeping an eye out. If Tushan Qing and Zhang Xiaohua wanted to scheme against him, then they have indeed made a mistake in their calculations and targeted the wrong opponent, as his Ice Domain had already put him in an invincible position.
"So we have an agreement, once the time comes, after the Shen Family is exterminated, we will infiltrate the tomb together," Zhang Chen said.
Tushan Qing filled Zhang Chen’s cup: "Speaking of which, the Shen Family is related to you by old ties, are you really willing to watch the Shen Family perish without doing anything?"
"The Shen Family wanted to seize my treasures, scheming tirelessly using every possible means, now being coveted at the source is merely the Heavenly Dao of Reincarnation," Zhang Chen was indifferent.
What he believed to be familial affection, and the reality of familial affection, left him very disappointed.
He couldn’t help but feel that his uncles were profoundly disappointing.
"Speaking of which, how is Chen Sanliang now?" Zhang Chen inquired.
Tushan Qing sighed deeply: "Irresistible! Wherever he goes, innumerable academies in the Northern Land either submit or close down; the academies are terrified, and countless disciples within the academies pledge their allegiance to him."
"I heard that now Chen Sanliang debates three to five times a day, possibly in one city in the morning, arriving in another duke’s territory by afternoon, even rushing a thousand miles away to debate somewhere else at night. His momentum is unstoppable, having already swept through most of the academies in the Northern Land. The remaining academies are also uneasy and secretly align with Chen Sanliang, hoping to betray the Academy and pledge allegiance to him. Currently, Chen Sanliang is truly unstoppable! Once he sweeps through the Northern Land’s academies and gathers the Literary Dao Fortune of the Northern Land, he will surely step into the Eleventh Tier," Tushan Qing’s eyes showed a hint of seriousness.
Hearing Tushan Qing’s words, Zhang Chen was inwardly shocked. Chen Sanliang has indeed caused a huge stir, and Universal Education has truly been brought to its pinnacle by him.
Universal Education embraces everything; the teachings of all the academies and the Great Scholars’ Great Dao can be assimilated into the Great Dao of Universal Education, becoming nourishment for Chen Sanliang.
Universal Education is incredibly powerful!
Zhang Chen could foresee that once Chen Sanliang conquers the Northern Land, and all its academies fall under his banner, spreading his teachings in the North, without distinction of wealth, gender, or age, anyone can go to the academy to study. By then, Chen Sanliang would gain even more power, and the Northern Land would become his stronghold, firmly under his control.
At that time, all the poor populace of the Northern Land would undoubtedly support Chen Sanliang, making him a living deity in their hearts, bringing him vast Incense Qi.
As Chen Sanliang spreads his teachings to the common people, he is undermining the roots of the aristocrats, but under the Demon Race’s cavalry, the human aristocrats cannot rebel and can only allow Chen Sanliang to carry on.
Some aristocrats, in order to curry favor with Chen Sanliang, would even take the initiative to join his camp, spreading his teachings among the people.
It can be said that Chen Sanliang possesses the essential elements of favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony.
Adding to its sufficient accumulated background, at this moment, Chen Sanliang’s great momentum has been established.
"How similar is this scene to the era of the old masters in a previous life? If it weren’t for Huang Mao leading the army to bombard and open the gates of the Forbidden City with cannons, how could ordinary people have their day? How could everyone read?" Zhang Chen felt a bit emotional: "The Demon Race has replaced the role of those Huang Mao."
"Although transformation will cause bloodshed, it will bring new vitality to the world. When the ice and snow melt away, it will surely usher in the vitality of the spring breeze," Zhang Chen thought to himself.
"In my heart, I am actually conflicted. Although I do not wish for the Demon Race to enter, only the Demon Race entering can break the shackles and chains of the Human Race and bring new hope to the Human Race," Zhang Chen thought to himself.
Without breaking, there can be no establishment!
For countless millennia, the great noble families of the Human Race have oppressed the common people, forming an iron rule. How difficult is it to break it? Relying on internal forces, there is no hope at all; only by relying on external forces can there be a chance to cleanse this Heaven and Earth, sweeping away all decay.
"Drink." Zhang Chen raised his cup and clinked it with Chai Chuanxin.
"I see that you don’t seem to have any objection to Chen Sanliang leading the Demon Race to enter?" Chai Chuanxin looked at Zhang Chen, somewhat puzzled.
When others mention the Demon Race’s entrance, they all grit their teeth, eager to fight the Demon Race to the death. Only the young man’s reaction in front of him was beyond his expectations.
Zhang Chen’s expression was too calm, calm beyond his expectations.
Upon hearing Chai Chuanxin’s words, Zhang Chen smiled slightly: "There’s nothing bad about the Demon Race entering. Mr. Chen Sanliang believes in universal education, spreading enlightenment to the poor, giving them wisdom and thought. In the past, under the oppression of the nobles, the poor lived like puppets, but when Mr. Chen Sanliang planted the seeds and spread ideas, they completed a transformation, becoming whole people."
Chai Chuanxin was stunned, staring blankly at Zhang Chen: "Don’t you think too many people have died? Once the Demon Race enters, hardly one in a hundred of the Human Race survives."
"Mindless puppets, no matter how many die, are insignificant. If by the death of some, a part of the people can be granted thought and truly ’come to life,’ then it’s a worthy death. Where can there be change without bloodshed," Zhang Chen replied lightly.
Zhang Chen’s voice was very calm, but his words sent chills down Chai Chuanxin’s spine, a coldness hard to describe welling up inside him, and two words surfaced in his heart: human demon!
Zhang Chen is too ruthless!
Countless lives reduced to bones, in his mouth, it’s just two words: worth it.
"This kid’s head isn’t right, must have a serious illness." Tushan Qing thought to himself: "I must avoid provoking him in the future."
"However, this kid is very friendly to the Demon Race." Tushan Qing murmured to himself, raising his cup to Zhang Chen:
"Come, come, drink."
The two drank heartily, and after the third round, they each went their separate ways.
Zhang Chen walked on the street, looking at the bustling crowd, some looked pale and submissive, skinny as a rake, while others were fat, arrogant, pressing down on their horses’ legs until they trembled.
"Crush the bones of nobles on the heavenly streets, all the palace’s splendor turns to ashes!" Zhang Chen muttered drunkenly, making his way to a jade shop, and then entering.
"Customer, what kind of jade are you looking to buy?" the shopkeeper eagerly came forward to greet him.
Hearing the shopkeeper’s words, Zhang Chen glanced over the shelves and then saw a twenty-centimeter-high, irregular piece of jade.
The jade was emerald green, vibrant green like a drop of water, looking quite extraordinary.
"How much for this piece of jade?" Zhang Chen focused his gaze on the jade and asked.
"Customer, you have a keen eye. This piece of jade is crystal clear, pure like none other, it’s a top-grade jade. You see, the jade’s color is pure like spring water, very rare indeed. If you like it, quote your price." The shopkeeper held up five fingers.
"Five hundred taels?" Zhang Chen was slightly stunned.
The shopkeeper’s old face darkened at these words:
"Fifty thousand taels of silver."
Zhang Chen was stunned at the words: So expensive! Highway robbery!