Chapter 1170 - 798: Reunion with Martial Dao’s Number One, Zhou Chuan

The other party gave a triumphant smile: "Have you ever heard of Zhou Chuan?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping’s expression changed immediately. Anyone mingling in the Martial World could not have avoided hearing about Zhou Chuan, the Number One Martial Dao Practitioner. He instinctively exclaimed, "So it’s Zhou Chuan the hero."

"Our master has planted his flag here to claim the mountain as the king," the leader said.

"May we ask what instructions Hero Zhou has for us? If we can alleviate any worries or difficulties for Hero Zhou, we are willing to die a thousand deaths," Chen Ping hurriedly stepped forward and said.

The little leader replied:

"Currently, our Great King has some difficult matters and requests the assistance of travelers from both the north and south. Please follow me on a journey."

As he spoke, the samurai beside the little leader stepped forward, intending to collect the swords and spears of the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency.

All the members of the escort agency looked towards Chen Ping, leaving it up to him to decide whether to fight or surrender.

Chen Ping’s expression changed at the words, uncertain of what to do for a moment. He instinctively looked at Zhang Chen, who had a mysterious look in his eyes: "It is indeed Zhou Chuan, the Number One Martial Dao Practitioner."

He could feel Zhou Chuan’s life force and had even heard Zhou Chuan’s words atop the mountain.

"I have an old friendship with Zhou Chuan. Do not resist. Let me invite him down and once the misunderstanding is cleared, all will be well," Zhang Chen said.

Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the little leader raised an eyebrow and sized him up, unable to discern his origins. He sneered instinctively: "Who are you, kid? Who do you think you are to meet our Great King? Our Great King is of such stature that even the court cannot touch him, and you have the nerve to boast like this."

Zhang Chen ignored him. The next moment, he employed the Law of Sound Waves and said towards a certain direction, "Brother Zhou, I, Zhang Chen, have come to visit. I hope Brother Zhou will not hesitate to meet."

His words were light, as if chatting with someone next to him, yet his voice carried through the Law of Sound Waves deep into the heart of Old Tortoise Ridge. In front of a waterfall deep within Old Tortoise Ridge, Zhou Chuan was observing the waterfall, seemingly pondering something. Suddenly hearing Zhang Chen’s voice, he couldn’t help but reveal a joyful expression, and in the next moment, transformed into a streak of light, arriving before Zhang Chen in the blink of an eye.

"With a mosquito-like voice like yours, you think you can call our Chief?" The little leader sneered at Zhang Chen’s voice, "My fart is louder than your call!"

But just as he said this, the next moment, upon seeing the figure appearing in the scene, his body shuddered uncontrollably.

"Chief!" The little leader beside him was dumbfounded to see Zhou Chuan actually appear.

Zhou Chuan glanced at the little leader, said nothing more, but turned towards Zhang Chen with a broad smile in his eyes: "It’s Brother Zhang! How come you are here? Ever since we parted in the Northern Land, I haven’t heard news of you for quite some time."

Zhang Chen and Zhou Chuan shared a life-and-death friendship, from being chased by a Big Black Dog in a secret realm to Zhang Chen teaching Zhou Chuan Martial Dao secrets. Their bond could not be deeper.

"I was delayed in Jinling City for a while. Realizing I couldn’t stay there any longer, I had to come out seeking a new life in Kyoto," Zhang Chen said with a smile. "It’s been a while, Brother Zhou seems well, and your martial cultivation has also advanced."

He mastered the Blood Control Technique, and could sense the martial Qi Blood within Zhou Chuan’s body was like lead and mercury, filled with earth-shattering power, standing there like a small sun.

"Come, let’s enter the camp, and we can find a quiet place to talk," Zhou Chuan glanced around, seeing this wasn’t the place to converse, so he invited Zhang Chen into the camp.

Zhang Chen, however, did not hurry to leave. Instead, he pointed to Chen Ping beside him: "This is the Chief Leader of Jinling’s Dragon Tiger Escort Agency, my friend, who wishes to pass through Old Tortoise Ridge, but has been blocked here."

Zhou Chuan glanced at Chen Ping upon hearing this, a warm smile on his face: "Since you are a brother of Zhang Chen, you are also a brother of Zhou Chuan. Coming to Old Tortoise Ridge means coming home."

"Greetings to Hero Zhou." Chen Ping quickly bowed respectfully.

Zhou Chuan turned back to the little leader and called out, "Sixth Son."

"Chief," Sixth Son shivered and quickly responded.

"Invite the brothers of the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency up the mountain to rest. Ensure their accommodation feels like home. If there is any neglect, watch your hide," Zhou Chuan instructed.

Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Chuan with newfound respect upon hearing this. Zhou Chuan was not an ordinary martial artist; this move was clever. Having Sixth Son make contact with the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency and arrange for their sustenance and accommodations was quite a tactic. If Sixth Son had offended them earlier, this was the perfect opportunity to make amends and give Sixth Son a chance, lest the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency later lodged complaints.

Ordering to intercept was his command; Sixth Son was merely carrying out his orders as his subordinate, so naturally, he had to protect his subordinate.

Then Zhou Chuan looked at Zhang Chen and put an arm around Zhang Chen’s shoulder: "Zhang, meeting today means we should get thoroughly drunk."

As they spoke, he walked into the mountains with Zhang Chen, arm around his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Sixth Son, with a beaming smile, approached Chen Ping to ingratiate himself: "Head of the Escort Chen, who would have thought we’d end up being family? It’s like a flood rushing into the Dragon King Temple, family members not recognizing each other. I hope the brothers won’t blame this little brother for his previous rashness, I hereby offer my apologies to you all."

Sixth Son’s posture was very humble. As someone who earns a living by giving face to various parties in the Martial World, Chen Ping naturally would not fuss over it. When escorting, there’s always the practice of having one more friend means one more path. Moreover, if he were to make an issue, Zhang Chen might be in a difficult position. Zhou Chuan was a friend of Zhang Chen’s but not of his own.

So Chen Ping smiled faintly: "What are you talking about, brother? Since we’re family, why speak as if we’re strangers? It was just a misunderstanding before. Let’s enter the fort later and have a drink. We’re all men; what obstacle can’t be overcome?"

Meanwhile, Zhang Chen and Zhou Chuan walked into the mountains. Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Chuan with a surprised expression:

"Brother Zhou, how did you end up doing the business of robbery here?"

Zhou Chuan laughed upon hearing this: "Why can’t I do the business of robbery?"

"Brother Zhou, a gallant hero like you wouldn’t do such things, would you?" Zhang Chen couldn’t quite believe it.

"It’s a good thing you know my heart well. You understand me best. I, Zhou Chuan, am the ancestor of Martial Dao..." At this point, Zhou Chuan felt a bit lacking in confidence. Boasting about being the ancestor of Martial Dao in front of Zhang Chen made his face feel warm: "Of course, I wouldn’t do such things."

"You’ve come just in time; there’s a great opportunity, and we can share it. You’re in for some good fortune," Zhou Chuan said with a smile.

"What kind of opportunity?" Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Chuan with curiosity.

Zhou Chuan looked around at the surrounding mountains and rivers but didn’t say much more, instead whispering: "There are too many people here with prying eyes. The people of the Gong Family are adept at controlling the wind. If they hear us on the wind, it won’t be good; we need to find a windless place to speak."

As they chatted, Zhou Chuan led Zhang Chen to a stone cave. The cave was spacious, at least several hundred square meters. The walls were inlaid with large pearls, and there were numerous candles, illuminating the entire cave brightly.

The cave was fully equipped with pots, bowls, and utensils, and the decor seemed quite luxurious, with countless gold and silver implements.

Zhou Chuan ordered the doors to be closed, then blocked the gaps with straw, before facing Zhang Chen with a wry smile to explain his actions: "I’ve been hounded by the Gong Family and am afraid. The Gong Family claims their presence everywhere; even the slightest stir is overheard. I have no choice. In my fort, I’m afraid that the Gong Family is hiding, so I have to be cautious."

Indeed, once the straw sealed off the cave, there was no airflow inside. Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Chuan in disbelief; how had this Martial Dao Tenth Tier expert been forced into such a desperate state?

"The Gong Family’s methods are quite troublesome. Even though I’ve reached the Martial Dao Tenth Tier, I still have to tread carefully. The Gong Family isn’t as simple as they appear on the surface. And as I mentioned earlier, there’s a great opportunity—avoiding alerting the Gong Family is crucial, so I try to minimize complications," Zhou Chuan said.

Zhang Chen, intrigued, asked: "What exactly is this opportunity that has Brother Zhou so invested? I’m very curious."

"There is an Ancient Divine Demon Tomb from ancient times here; doesn’t that count as the legendary Great Creation?" Zhou Chuan inquired.

"What?" Zhang Chen was taken aback.

If there truly was an Ancient Divine Demon Tomb from ancient times here, it would undoubtedly be a Great Creation.

"Between brothers, I won’t hide it from you. My Martial Dao cultivation, after developing 129,600 inner acupoints, reached the stage of Dharma Image. Yet, when I wished to further progress, I discovered a limitation of the human body. The martial artist’s soul is too fragile to bear the Power of Heaven and Earth. To break through from the Tenth Tier to the Eleventh Tier, my soul cannot bear the Power of Heaven and Earth, nor can it contain my Qi Blood Power. Later, I inadvertently found an ancient map that recorded secrets of Gods and Demons. I thought if I could refine a God or Demon’s soul, to transform my own soul, wouldn’t that work?" Zhou Chuan explained to Zhang Chen.

"So, while entangled with the Gong Family, I followed the map’s markings, traversing far and wide across Celestial South, ultimately finding this place. To deceive the Gong Family, I claimed a kingdom here, established territories to self-govern, announcing plans to build palaces, intercepting various strong men, compelling them to search the mountains for the Divine Demon Tomb’s entrance. During this period, I repelled seven or eight waves of the Gong Family’s spies, and temporarily we’re at a stalemate. Yet, despite thousands of men dispersed in the mountains, digging, transporting rocks, clearing land, and cutting logs, no trace of the Ancient Divine Demon Tomb has been found," Zhou Chuan recounted, with a serious look in his eyes: "I’m about to order a search to open up all nearby mountains completely!"