Hu Li the Immortal cast his eyes toward the city, a hint of uncertainty in his gaze.
Zhang Chen’s Six-Word Mantra sensing was mutual; Zhang Chen sensed Hu Li the Immortal, and Hu Li the Immortal also sensed Zhang Chen.
"I’ve now entered the Tenth Tier and have established a Supreme Foundation; I wonder if I can crush that kid and take this opportunity to eliminate all potential troubles." As countless thoughts flickered in Hu Li the Immortal’s mind, making him increasingly uncertain, suddenly a Buddhist chant echoed from the void before him, surrounded by Buddha’s light, then he saw a hand manifest from the nothingness, tossing out a chain, one end linked to him, the other to someone else.
The chain then gently vibrated, instantly stretching tautly, pulling lightly towards him. Subsequently, his soul, powerless to resist, was dragged by the chain and disappeared into the void.
"Damn it! Not again!" Hu Li the Immortal’s soul cursed crossly as his figure vanished into the void.
Within Jinling City, in the garden of a wealthy family, Zhang Chen held a chain in his hand, drawing Hu Li the Immortal’s soul across the void.
This garden was certainly not his, but someone else’s; Hu Li the Immortal’s soul was hooked by Zhang Chen. Although Hu Li the Immortal couldn’t strike Zhang Chen himself, he could attack those around him, so Zhang Chen quickly used an Escape Technique and appeared in a secluded garden of a stranger’s home.
"Kid, your method is truly disgusting. Ancestor here will fight to the death with you today!" Hu Li the Immortal’s soul, holding a treasure sword that shimmered with cold light, slashed through the void towards Zhang Chen, but as it approached within three feet of Zhang Chen, an inexplicable force in the ether instantly dissolved all Hu Li the Immortal’s Divine Techniques, scattering them into nothingness in the void.
"Your soul is already under my control; you can’t harm me, so why waste your efforts?" Zhang Chen gazed at Hu Li the Immortal, a sneer flickering in his eyes.
"Kid! You’ve summoned my soul’s true form; what’s this about?" Hu Li the Immortal stared angrily at Zhang Chen, a hint of evil qi in his eyes.
Upon hearing Hu Li the Immortal’s words, Zhang Chen chuckled lightly: "I have something to discuss with Ancestor. I want to kill Zhang Xiaohua; is Ancestor interested in killing Zhang Xiaohua and devouring Zhang Xiaohua’s Creation?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Li the Immortal raised an eyebrow: "You want to kill Zhang Xiaohua? What a dream! Although you caught me off guard, your action was opportunistic. But now, Zhang Xiaohua is at the peak state of an Eleventh Tier strong, whilst your skills are nothing compared to his."
"I certainly can’t kill Zhang Xiaohua, but if Ancestor aids me, together we might have a chance to slay Zhang Xiaohua," Zhang Chen said, smiling at Hu Li the Immortal.
"Impossible! Zhang Xiaohua is already an Eleventh Tier deity. You have no idea how vast the gap is between an Eleventh Tier and a Tenth Tier deity. Cultivators at the Ninth Rank Yang God forge jade bones at the Tenth Tier, but Eleventh Tier begins to transcend the Three Calamities. After the jade bones have been tempered by the Three Calamities, the difference is like hardened steel and raw iron—it’s incomparable. I’ve only passed the Thunder Calamity and Fire Calamity but haven’t yet faced the Wind Calamity. Though the gap may seem merely one calamity, transcending it is like reaching an entirely new realm. Failure means death and the end of one’s path. Compared to Zhang Xiaohua, my body is like wood against iron; they’re simply not comparable," Hu Li the Immortal shook his head. "The horror of the Three Calamities is unknown to mere mortals like you."
"These are truly different realms." Hu Li the Immortal looked at Zhang Chen: "Even if you seek death, don’t drag me down. You should find a secluded place and end it yourself."
"Moreover, the last calamity I face is the Wind Calamity, the most formidable among the Three Calamities. Even though I’ve accumulated enough foundation, I dare not rashly attempt it; if I could, why should I scheme for the creation in Jinling City?" Hu Li the Immortal sighed.
His foundation must be recast, and everything must begin anew.
"Is the Three Calamities truly so difficult? How did Zhang Xiaohua overcome them? We haven’t been apart for more than two years; how did he transcend the Three Calamities so smoothly? And you, even when retrained, are stuck at the Three Calamities, doesn’t that make you seem rather wasteful?" Zhang Chen examined Hu Li the Immortal’s soul’s Dharma Aspect, skepticism in his eyes.
The two stared at each other until Hu Li the Immortal was irritated: "What do you know? Zhang Xiaohua channels the Incense Divine Dao, bypassing the calamities entirely. Who would understand that?"
Hu Li the Immortal cursed and lamented the unfairness of heaven.
Examining Hu Li the Immortal, Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed thoughtful concern—it was clear he hoped for Hu Li the Immortal’s strength to increase, as it would benefit him.
"Besides, now the Demon Race and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion are allies. Why would I kill Zhang Xiaohua for you? That would ruin my plans for the Demon Race," Hu Li the Immortal muttered at Zhang Chen, as if looking at an idiot, making Zhang Chen desperately wish he could set up the Nine Bends Yellow River Array and drown his soul.
"If I assist you through the Wind Calamity, can you help me with something?" Zhang Chen asked Hu Li the Immortal.
Jinling City was extremely perilous, though he could protect himself; his companions might not fare as well. Even though Zhou Qiucheng vowed to protect his family, knowing the whims of the Yellow Heaven Dao, they might push some scapegoats if they act. What could Zhou Qiucheng do?
Thus, Zhang Chen couldn’t depend solely on Zhou Qiucheng’s promises!
If my family ends up dead, will Zhou Qiucheng truly go out of his way for me?
"Can you help me pass through the wind disaster?" Hu Li the Immortal looked at Zhang Chen with disbelief, but thinking about Zhang Chen’s strange tactics made him harbor a hint of expectation.
Zhang Chen smiled softly upon hearing this, his palm opened revealing a bead with a silvery-white luster appearing in his hand: "Great King, do you recognize this artifact?"
Hu Li the Immortal shook his head: "I don’t know. But what mysteries does this artifact hold?"
Zhang Chen said: "This artifact can stabilize all winds, even the Three Calamities’ Bifeng is within its bounds."
Upon hearing this, Hu Li the Immortal’s eyes instantly widened: "Is this true?"
"Naturally, it’s true," Zhang Chen replied.
"If I can obtain this treasure and pass through the wind disaster, smoothly leap to the eleventh tier, perhaps I may seize the authority of that Innate Water God, and hopefully, within ten years, reach the twelfth tier." Hu Li the Immortal’s heart was moved.
Zhang Chen held the Wind Stabilizing Pill in his hand, his eyes looking towards Hu Li the Immortal: "So, do you want to make this deal or not?"
Hu Li the Immortal hesitated: "I do wish to make this deal with you, but you cannot make me kill Zhang Xiaohua. If you can agree to this condition, I’ll make the trade with you."
"Then how about we make an agreement? If someone tries to kill me, you must stand by my side and stop them." Zhang Chen looked at Hu Li the Immortal.
He was preparing proactively; if his entry into the Shen Family Mausoleum went awry and he encountered Zhang Xiaohua, Hu Li the Immortal could protect him, allowing him more opportunities to maneuver.
Zhang Chen never fights a battle unprepared!
Hu Li the Immortal hesitated, looking at the Wind Stabilizing Pill in Zhang Chen’s hand, finding it difficult to choose.
"Is it really so hard just to protect me from Zhang Xiaohua?" Zhang Chen asked.
"Don’t talk nonsense; your feud with Zhang Xiaohua is known worldwide, and Zhang Xiaohua is now an important ally of our Demon Race. Your offer is insufficient! Even without your Wind Stabilizing Pill, I have enough foundation now to pass through the wind disaster before long." Hu Li the Immortal pondered for a moment and finally chose to refuse Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen glanced at Hu Li the Immortal, realizing his offer was insufficient to make him oppose Zhang Xiaohua.
"You’re now in reincarnation and rebuilding, but what if I could recover your cultivation that was eradicated by judgement previously? If you verify the eleventh tier, your accumulated potential from both lifetimes will grow explosively, allowing you to quickly leap to the twelfth tier. Then, if you seize the great fortune of that Innate Water God, perhaps you’ll break through to the twelfth tier and reach that mysterious Ancient Realm." Zhang Chen looked at Hu Li the Immortal, his words made Hu Li’s heart flutter, and his voice was full of disbelief: "Impossible! How could such a Secret Technique exist in the world?"
Of course, such a Secret Technique doesn’t exist, but Zhang Chen possessed such incredible methods, mastering the Power of Reincarnation, finding the Beast Dao, recovering powers from past lives was not hard.
"Your unknown Secret Technique doesn’t signify its absence." Zhang Chen said, his eyes brightening, recalling a newly acquired skill: "How about a wager between us?"
"How to bet? No need for a wager; if you can help me recover my powers from past lives, not only will I protect you from Zhang Xiaohua, but even climb the mountain of swords and dive into a sea of flames without a furrow on my brow." Hu Li the Immortal replied.
Zhang Chen: "..."
He felt he had exaggerated, this wager wouldn’t even be valid; Hu Li the Immortal’s attitude shifted dramatically.
"Just wait for a few days, then you’ll naturally witness my methods. If you step into the twelfth tier, I won’t ask you for difficult things, I only need your help in seizing the body and Origin of that Innate Water God from the Shen Family." Zhang Chen said: "As for the authority of the Innate Water God, it’s yours to claim."
Hu Li the Immortal nodded upon hearing this: "Deal! I hope you truly have such methods!"