Chapter 1135 - 763: Jiangnan Falls

"Even if Chen Sanliang fell into Weak Water and drowned, as long as his soul remains, my Yama Authority can resurrect him. But the key issue now is, where has Hu Li the Immortal gone? Without Hu Li the Immortal’s help, trying to break the array on my own is close to impossible," Zhang Chen felt a bit agitated in his heart, as Hu Li the Immortal’s sudden disappearance was unexpected to Zhang Chen.

So Zhang Chen summoned back Fox Fairy Nannan and asked, "Do you know where Hu Li the Immortal went?"

"I heard someone say that Hu Li the Immortal got a clue about some Creation and entered the unknown secret realm of an ancient tomb, even the top experts of the Demon Race can’t find his trace," Fox Fairy Nannan said, looking at Zhang Chen with an expression of hesitation.

"What do you want to say? Just say it." Zhang Chen noticed that Fox Fairy Nannan seemed to have something on her mind.

"I heard someone say you have methods to restrain Hu Li the Immortal, and Hu Li the Immortal got a clue, which could break your method..." Fox Fairy Nannan looked at Zhang Chen with a hint of worry in her eyes.

Although she doesn’t like Zhang Chen, her fate is now tied to his; if Zhang Chen is later caught by Hu Li the Immortal, she will turn to dust and disappear. So after much internal conflict, she decided to explain the information she had previously learned.

After hearing what Fox Fairy Nannan said, and noticing the worried look on her face, Zhang Chen shook his head and chuckled, "It’s simply wishful thinking for Hu Li the Immortal to want to break my method."

"Really?" Fox Fairy Nannan heard this and showed a smile.

"Indeed!" Zhang Chen nodded.

Fox Fairy Nannan heard this and smiled confidently, "Since that’s the case, I can be relieved."

After finishing her words, she twisted her waist and disappeared into the mountains, leaving Zhang Chen standing among the mountains, silently gazing at the vast expanse.

Then Zhang Chen turned to walk down the mountain, seeing countless scholars packing up in a panic and hurrying down, looking quite frantic and miserable.

"Brother, why are you going down the mountain?" Zhang Chen stopped a slightly older scholar and asked.

That scholar usually had a familiar relationship with Zhang Chen, carrying a backpack as he hurried down the mountain. Upon seeing Zhang Chen blocking his way, he said, "My family has decided to join the Demon Race, and Zhou Qiucheng is opposing them; how can we remain in the mountain? Junior Brother Zhang, the Demon Race’s momentum is sweeping across the whole Jiangnan; you should hurry down the mountain to escape. Chen Sanliang offended the Demon Race and cannot be saved, sooner or later he’ll be avenged by them!"

After saying this, the scholar quickly left, leaving Zhang Chen standing there, watching the countless figures fleeing in panic amid the mountains, unsure of what to say.

There were scattered items on the ground, dropped by disciples fleeing down the mountain.

The entire academy was dilapidated, exuding an air of desolation.

"Why aren’t you escaping?" Zhou Qiucheng came from a distance, expressionless, watching the scholars fleeing down the mountain.

"Sir, you’re joking; where could I escape to?" Zhang Chen sighed, "I’m not like them; I can’t join the Demon Race, so I have nowhere to escape."

He looked at Zhou Qiucheng, tentatively asked, "Should we stop them?"

Zhou Qiucheng shook his head, "Let them go."

Zhang Chen and Zhou Qiucheng stood shoulder to shoulder at a high point, silently watching the scholars fleeing down the mountain.

After a while, Zhang Chen tentatively asked, "Sir, do you still want to continue exploring the Confucian Great Dao?"

If Zhou Qiucheng wanted to continue on the Confucian Great Dao, Zhang Chen wouldn’t mind guiding him a bit; he had already prepared a future path direction for Zhou Qiucheng.

"The Divine Dao is infinitely profound, not inferior to the Confucian Great Dao. I’ve now achieved immortality, walking far on the Divine Dao, and I’m not far from the peak. Why abandon what is near for what is far?" Zhou Qiucheng replied, having completely given up on the Confucian Great Dao.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen said nothing more; the other party’s ambition lay elsewhere, so there’s no need to elaborate further.

As the scholars of Chongzheng Academy descended the mountain, all the rooms were empty, leaving Chongzheng Academy completely quiet, with a cold atmosphere lingering in the mountain, except for the servants who signed a contract; all the scholars had gone down the mountain.

With Zhou Qiucheng having failed in his theory, countless scholars in Jiangnan are now wavering, having the intent to join the Demon Race, after all, the arm can’t be stronger than the thigh; the Demon Race holds absolute power, and its sweep across the world is close at hand; all the nobility want to survive.

Zhou Qiucheng did save everyone, but no one is willing to endure the catastrophe with him.

Even now, some have secretly contacted the Demon Race, preparing to surrender the city.

Unfortunately, the Demon Race refuses to relent and will not allow the Human Race to seek refuge.

The days have calmed down, and Zhou Qiucheng meditates and practices in the mountains daily, yet Zhang Chen can sense an undercurrent surging in the Jinling City’s territory.

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed. Zhang Chen stands atop Chongzheng Academy’s mountaintop, his eyes gazing toward the sky, which is now blanketed by pale red clouds, a hint of bloodiness permeating the air.

"How many people have died! The groundwater was dyed red before, and now even the moisture in the sky is stained red." Zhang Chen looks at the red clouds above, feeling a sense of horror in his heart.

These blood-red clouds are clearly formed by the evaporation of blood water, spreading the smell of blood throughout heaven and earth.

Zhang Chen can feel the experience points of his own Blood Sea Dao increasing crazily; in just one short month, his Blood Dao has nearly reached the Tenth Tier, not far from it now.

"The Demon Race has begun a massacre." Zhang Chen feels heavy-hearted. Although those who died are not his family, seeing countless lives pass away before his eyes, he can’t help but lament the fragility of life.

"Unfortunately, I don’t have the means to overturn the heavens!" Zhang Chen sighed softly.

Just as he sighed, suddenly, chaotic noises and wailing sounded from the mountain below, coming distantly from outside Jinling City, drawing Zhang Chen’s attention.

Zhang Chen used sound wave sensing to eavesdrop on all sounds within a hundred miles, then his face showed a surprised expression: "The Demon Race is determined not to accept Jiangnan’s nobles, slaughtering all the nobles in Jiangnan! Not just the nobles, but all scholars have been slaughtered by the Demon Race."

Meanwhile, those dignitaries from various places, during the Demon Race’s assault and slaughter, are rushing toward Jinling City, carrying the old and young of their families. Now in the entire Jinling City’s territory, only Zhou Qiucheng can resist the Demon Race and protect the masses.

Just when Zhang Chen was dazed in the mountains, those thousands of people had already arrived at the foot of Chongzheng Academy, rushing into the mountains in a hurry, and Zhou Qiucheng was also alarmed by the crowd, quickly heading down the mountain to meet them.

"Why have you come to my Chongzheng Academy?"

Zhou Qiucheng stood on the steps halfway up the mountain, looking at the crowd coming from afar, a hint of astonishment in his eyes. He saw scholars escaping from the academy, also familiar faces from the past, all of whom were descendants of noble families.

After hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, the crowd looked at each other, eyes filled with sadness. Among them, one person stood up and said, "Brother Zhou, those Demon Race members issued a ’Murder Order,’ slaughtering all Humans indiscriminately, regardless of age, gender, nobility, or humility. We noble families sought to surrender, but who knew that once the Demon Race entered the city, they offered us no way out, intending to kill us all. We led our family’s elite, fought our way out, implore Brother Zhou to take charge!"

A group of officials’ children, formerly aloof and haughty dignitaries, now stood on the steps like dogs that had lost their owners, disheveled and clothes tattered, pleading to Zhou Qiucheng.

Zhou Qiucheng’s brows furrowed upon hearing this: "How could this be? Chen Sanliang had already promised me he’d spare you all."

"Chen Sanliang has disappeared without a trace, the Demon Race has lost restraint, each one crazed in bloodlust, all Humans slaughtered entirely, become the Demon Race’s food, or kept captive awaiting slaughter. Now the court is restrained by the Demon Race’s powerful forces, unable to act, and we are powerless against the Demon Race’s might, begging you to protect us." A man stepped forward, voice filled with sorrow.

Zhou Qiucheng’s complexion darkened upon hearing this; he never expected that after setting a trap for Chen Sanliang, such a thing would happen.

But now Chen Sanliang is deceived and trapped within the Innate Water God Array, likely already turned to pus and blood, with no chance of rescue.

To resolve the calamity at hand, unless Chen Sanliang is rescued, and he persuades the Demon Race.

"Do not panic, although the Demon Race is strong, if we unite, there may be a chance of resistance. As long as you stay within my Jinling City, I, Zhou Qiucheng, will protect you unless I fall dead and my vitality extinguishes." Zhou Qiucheng’s voice was full of spirit.

"Everyone, please enter the mountain, let us discuss together how to deal with the Demon Race’s army!" Zhou Qiucheng said.

As he spoke, he led the crowd into the mountain and began inquiring in detail about the Demon Race’s situation.

"The Demon Race has acquired Technique of Incense Worship, from which Eleventh Tier Demon Gods have been born, called: Demon Gods. There are twelve of these Demon Gods, known as the Twelve Demon Gods. Now, in the Jiangnan Territory, only you, Dao Brother, can contend with the Demon Race. You must act, and slay those Twelve Demon Gods of the Demon Race." Someone pleaded with Zhou Qiucheng.

Zhou Qiucheng startled upon hearing: "Twelve Eleventh Tier Demon Gods?"

He is only Eleventh Tier himself; how can he confront twelve Eleventh Tier Demon Gods?

Naturally, there is still a chance; if only he can divide and trap those Twelve Demon Gods within the Demon-locking Tower, then perhaps the situation could be reversed.

The Exquisite Tower not only grows stronger by absorbing incense, but the stronger the sealed demons within, the stronger it becomes as well.

This is the truly incredible aspect of the Exquisite Tower; the more bizarre beings sealed within, the stronger its power becomes.