Zhang Chen heard Shen Ling’s reproach and looked at her coldly: "I am a member of the Zhang Family, not a member of the Shen Family. How can the matriarch of the Shen Family blame a member of the Zhang Family?"
Then he lowered his head to look at Zhang Gaoqiu, his eyes showing a cold glint: "Zhang Gaoqiu, you... tsk tsk tsk..."
Zhang Chen hesitated to speak, displaying a look of ’you’re a coward, only capable of throwing tantrums, never amounting to greatness,’ while making a face of someone who wouldn’t argue with a worthless person, and then walked towards the academy with a full smile on his face.
"Zhang Chen!!!" Zhang Gaoqiu looked at Zhang Chen’s back, his voice filled with resentment, but Zhang Chen did not turn his head as he left.
Seeing Zhang Chen walk away, Shen Ling spoke softly: "It doesn’t look like something Zhang Chen would do. How could he possess such abilities? If he had such means, why would he try to cling to the Shen Family?"
"My uncle is not a simple man. In years past, he almost overturned the government in Kyoto. His methods are deep and unfathomable; who knows if he left behind some unsavory techniques." Zhang Gaoqiu spoke with a tone filled with uncertainty.
After hearing Zhang Gaoqiu’s words, Shen Ling looked at Zhang Gaoqiu, whose face was full of anger, and decisively closed her mouth. She was well aware of what losing his Bloodline Power meant to him.
He lost not only his Bloodline but also all his identity and status.
"Back in the academy, my Bloodline Power suddenly disappeared, which must be related to someone inside the academy, and the relationship between Zhang Chen and me is not good; this matter is very likely related to Zhang Chen." Zhang Gaoqiu’s voice was full of cold severity, then he turned to Shen Ling: "Cousin, would you do something for me?"
Shen Ling’s face changed immediately upon hearing: "You don’t mean to ask me to continue seducing him, do you?"
"Of course not! I am a man of integrity; why would I do such a thing?" Zhang Gaoqiu shook his head: "I just want the Shen Family..."
Zhang Gaoqiu’s voice got lower and lower as Zhang Chen had already entered the academy, walking all the way to the lecture hall where he saw Tushan Qing gambling with a group of aristocratic heirs.
The aristocratic heirs were flushed with excitement, and red light flickered around them, converging towards Tushan Qing, who absorbed it.
"Zhang Chen, the dean asks you to come over."
Zhang Chen had just reached the doorway when Chen Qi called out to him.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded and headed towards the dean’s residence, and upon entering the courtyard, he saw Zhou Qiucheng, dressed in white, trimming the flowers with scissors.
Zhang Chen walked over and respectfully bowed: "Greetings, sir."
Zhou Qiucheng turned and glanced at Zhang Chen, smiling: "No need for formalities, rise quickly."
Zhang Chen stood up, and Zhou Qiucheng said with a smile: "How much do you know about Zhang Gaoqiu’s situation?"
Facing Zhou Qiucheng’s gaze, Zhang Chen hesitated slightly before shaking his head: "It wasn’t my doing!"
Zhang Chen’s answer was intriguing.
He merely stated it wasn’t his doing but didn’t say he knew nothing about the matter.
After saying this, Zhang Chen added: "Although I am a member of the Zhang Family, I haven’t yet awakened the Zhang Family Bloodline! Moreover, my personal fortune and creation are considerable; although the Zhang Family Bloodline is good, I don’t covet it."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng nodded, though whether he believed Zhang Chen’s words was unknown. At this moment, he turned his head to change the subject: "How much do you know about Chen Sanliang? I heard from someone that you have connections with Chen Sanliang in the Northern Land?"
Zhang Chen was stunned after hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, not understanding why Chen Sanliang’s news was brought up.
Zhou Qiucheng saw the bewilderment in Zhang Chen’s eyes and explained: "Chen Sanliang has swept across the Northern Land and entered the Eleventh Tier! All the academies under the vassal states’ control in the Northern Land have been taken over by Chen Sanliang, becoming followers under his banner. Now Chen Sanliang has become the leader of the Confucian Dao in the Northern Land."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen’s face showed astonishment, not expecting Chen Sanliang to have such methods, truly conquering the entire Northern Land.
Calculating the time, from leaving the Northern Land to reaching Jinling, including delays on the way, it has been nearly two years. Even if Chen Sanliang conducted three debates a day, he should have swept through all the academies in the Northern Land.
Moreover, with strong figures constantly defecting to Chen Sanliang’s side, his influence grows like a snowball, expanding, and many academies don’t even need him to take action, as his forces handle it.
Just yesterday, Tushan Qing said Chen Sanliang conducts three debates a day and is about to sweep through the entire Northern Land. Now it seems even his news is outdated.
"After Chen Sanliang unifies the Northern Land, it won’t be long before he establishes his foundation and heads south. His ambition is formidable, and by that time, the Jiangnan region will likely be like the Northern Land..."
Though Zhou Qiucheng did not finish his sentence, his words carried an unmistakable sense of worry.
Zhang Chen gave Zhou Qiucheng a look, understanding the intent behind inquiring about Chen Sanliang, and shook his head: "Although Chen Sanliang and I have a connection, the relationship between us is difficult to explain. Regarding specific news about Chen Sanliang, you likely know more than I do, Dean."
"Hey, how much do you know about Chen Sanliang’s Universal Education Dao?" Zhou Qiucheng asked.
Zhang Chen pondered slightly before looking at Zhou Qiucheng: "Do you want to hear the truth or lies?"
"Of course, I want to hear the truth," Zhou Qiucheng replied.
"Although you are stationed in Jinling, overseeing the largest academy in Jiangnan and holding a significant position there, highly revered and pursued by countless scholars, you stand no chance against Chen Sanliang’s Universal Education Dao. If I were you, I would surrender preemptively," Zhang Chen responded.
Zhou Qiucheng put down the scissors in his hand, his eyes full of disbelief: "Is his Dao really that strong?"
"Incredibly strong, unmatched by anyone, for all living beings in this world stand by his side. How can you oppose that? How can one person contend with the entire world?" Zhang Chen said, his voice filled with emotion.
Hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng’s eyes were full of disbelief: "Is there truly no way?"
Zhang Chen recalled the Jie Sect in the Gods Sealing Novel, which propagated the Universal Education Dao and suppressed Buddhism, retreated Exoteric Teachings, and made the Human Sect completely seclude. The court’s Human Dao was completely held by the Jie Sect; who could oppose it? How to oppose it?
"Unless his life is destroyed, and with absolute power killed, without engaging in a debate, perhaps there would be a glimmer of hope," Zhang Chen suggested.
"Chen Sanliang is backed by a Twelfth Tier Demon Race powerhouse and has a deeply mysterious Demon Race ancestor as his backing. Who dares to break the rules and assassinate him? Moreover, he has stepped into the Eleventh Tier, making it as difficult as ascending to heaven to kill him. He is the founder of a sect, holding the power of the entire sect; even a Twelfth Tier expert might be helpless against him," Zhou Qiucheng shook his head, dismissing Zhang Chen’s suggestion.
Zhang Chen’s eyes gazed at Zhou Qiucheng. He could see Zhou Qiucheng’s dilemma; he was a Great Scholar revered in Jiangnan’s literary circles. Once Chen Sanliang moved from the Northern Land to Jiangnan, he would inevitably be the first to bear the brunt.
But inside, Zhang Chen actually agreed with Chen Sanliang’s Dao. He hoped Chen Sanliang could shatter the current Confucian Dao order and carve out a path of hope for all in the world.
Zhang Chen came from a small village, thus understood the difficulties ordinary people face in pursuing education. A person who has once been drenched by rain always hopes to hold an umbrella for others.
"Enough, you should go back now," Zhou Qiucheng, overwhelmed with frustration, put down the scissors and said to Zhang Chen.
"The disciple takes his leave," Zhang Chen said, saluting Zhou Qiucheng as he withdrew.
"Zhou Qiucheng is a good person; if possible, he should be spared under Chen Sanliang’s hand," Zhang Chen thought to himself.
While various thoughts swirled in Zhang Chen’s mind, he saw Tushan Qing coming down the mountain, arm in arm with Zhou Zhen.
Witnessing this scene, Zhang Chen’s face darkened. Others might not know Tushan Qing’s background, but he certainly did. Tushan Qing thrived on personal gain, and now that he was mingling with Zhou Zhen, he must have set his sights on something of Zhou Zhen’s.
"But this kid has quite the knack for networking, even managing to buddy up with Zhou Zhen," thought Zhang Chen, then waved at Zhou Zhen, who glanced at Zhang Chen before both approached him with smiles.
"Brother Zhang," Zhou Zhen greeted Zhang Chen from afar.
"Greetings Brother Chai," Zhang Chen saluted and then looked at a smiling Tushan Qing. Before Tushan Qing could speak, Zhang Chen preemptively blocked his words: "I have something to discuss with Brother Zhou; could you excuse us, Brother Chai?"
Chai Chuanxin was taken aback, looking at Zhang Chen with surprise, but he did not argue, smiling as he said, "You two talk, I have something to take care of."
Watching Chai Chuanxin walk away, Zhang Chen turned to Zhou Zhen, who curiously asked, "What do you want to discuss with me privately, Brother Zhang?"
"Brother Zhang, it would be best to stay away from Chai Chuanxin; he’s very dangerous!" Zhang Chen warned.
"Dangerous?" Zhou Zhen’s curiosity piqued: "How dangerous?"
"Ten times more dangerous than you can imagine," Zhang Chen replied.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhen’s expression turned serious and nodded, "I’ll take your advice!"
Then he grabbed Zhang Chen’s sleeve: "Let’s go have a drink."
In the distance
Tushan Qing kept descending the mountain, pondering secretly, "I always feel Zhang Chen is full of caution towards me. From our relationship, he shouldn’t be so guarded, unless he’s seen through me!"
Chai Chuanxin suddenly remembered how Zhang Chen had twice thwarted Zhang Shicheng’s Dragon Transformation plans, making his heart beat faster: "There’s no such thing as luck in this world. Him disrupting Zhang Shicheng’s Dragon Transformation plan twice is no ordinary chance; this kid must have something."
"He could even disrupt Zhang Shicheng’s Transformed Dragon and Walking Flood Dragon plan. It doesn’t seem impossible for him to see through me," thought Tushan Qing, suspicious and uncertain: "Back then, he didn’t fall into the trap I set with my words, looks like it wasn’t just a coincidence."