Chapter 1223 - 852: Heaven and Earth Tremble

Zhang Chen contemplated making some covert adjustments to the Feng Shui Grand Array, such as transforming the array that originally assisted the Queen Mother of the West in absorbing the earth’s essence and vitality into a trap.

"But the Queen Mother of the West is a Primordial-level being; what kind of Feng Shui Grand Array can trap her?" Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed a hint of bewilderment.

The Queen Mother of the West, insane as she was, intended to extract the Power of the Earth Veins, leading to the destruction of heaven and earth, which Zhang Chen would never agree to—if not for others, then for himself.

Who can live peacefully if the world is destroyed, except for those at the Primordial level?

Everyone would die!

"I must stop her. However, my understanding of the Feng Shui Grand Array is inferior to even a fraction of the Queen Mother of the West’s. To alter her array without her noticing is as difficult as scaling the heavens." Zhang Chen looked at the Feng Shui Grand Array in his hand, without any idea for the moment.

Just as countless thoughts flowed through his mind, a flash of inspiration appeared: "I can’t alter the Feng Shui Grand Array, but can the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, who struck down the Queen Mother of the West, modify the array?"

A notion flickered through Zhang Chen’s heart; this strategy could be worth a try.

As for finding the whereabouts of that Great Freedom Celestial Demon, though he hides in countless worlds, others might not locate him, but his trails cannot escape Zhang Chen’s notice.

"The Great Freedom Celestial Demon is hidden in the hearts of all beings, anchored in their seven emotions and six desires. At his peak, he is evidently of Primordial level. Logically, upon entering this world, all beings possess his seed, myself included..." Zhang Chen thought about this as he was about to speak to the void when suddenly a black stream swirled before him, and a black lotus appeared in front of him.

"What, could the Great Freedom Celestial Demon be so responsive? I just had a thought in my heart, and the other party already sensed it?" Zhang Chen was somewhat shocked.

Before he could speak, the black lotus twisted into the form of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, who laughed gleefully: "Queen Mother of the West, you want to build a Feng Shui Grand Array to gather Earth Vein Qi to restore your flesh. But I won’t let you succeed; I’ll deceive this lad, make him modify your array to become a land for nurturing corpses, turning you into a living zombie, ruining your flesh so that only a Saint’s True Spirit remains. Then, see how you compete with me."

The same arrogance, the same tone, the same attitude; Zhang Chen looked at the Great Freedom Celestial Demon before him and felt he was identical to the one controlled in the future.

The most crucial point was that the Great Freedom Celestial Demon had thought in tandem with him!

But then, of course, what he could think of, couldn’t a Primordial-level Great Freedom Celestial Demon also conceive?

"What? I’m a formless being, yet this lad can see me?" As the Great Freedom Celestial Demon laughed gleefully, he suddenly sensed Zhang Chen glaring directly at him, causing a pause in his laughter like a duck with a twisted neck.

Feeling a pang of insight, Zhang Chen knew he’d leaked a flaw. The Great Freedom Celestial Demon, being formless, shouldn’t have been visible to him. Yet his body contained True God Golden Light, allowing him to see through the demon’s trail.

Upon hearing the demon’s murmuring, Zhang Chen quickly pretended not to recognize him, keeping his gaze fixed on the empty space ahead. The demon shifted his shape, but Zhang Chen remained seated, unmoved, so the demon reached out to poke Zhang Chen’s eye, seemingly trying to blind him; yet Zhang Chen’s eyes remained steadfast.

"So, he’s just spacing out. I wondered how this ant could sense my presence," the demon scoffed, his words full of contempt.

Zhang Chen’s face darkened upon hearing this, secretly thinking: "You’re the ant, your whole family are ants, and when I return to the real world, I’ll prove once and for all who the real ant is."

The Great Freedom Celestial Demon circled Zhang Chen and eyed the Feng Shui Grand Array map in his hand, revealing a contemplative expression before exclaiming, "I’ve got it!"

The demon gently blew on the map, a black mist swirling over its surface, altering the lines and patterns on the map to a different design.

The Feng Shui Grand Array remained the same, but hidden lines included many unfamiliar elements. For instance, the altar built into the pillars and the carvings on the walls changed inexplicably.

The Great Freedom Celestial Demon departed, leaving Zhang Chen to compare the map in his hand with his memory, discovering that while the appearance of the two maps hadn’t changed much, their interiors were radically altered.

"Underneath Kunlun Mountain’s Dragon Vein lies the prohibition of Ten Thousand Techniques. Even if the Queen Mother’s Divine Techniques can reach the heavens, without personally shattering the altar to inspect, she can’t uncover the mystery. If she activates the Feng Shui Grand Array, it will undoubtedly display a different spectacle," Zhang Chen silently marveled.

The Feng Shui Grand Array remained, but subtle and hidden modifications had transformed it completely.

"Once within the Dragon Vein, the Queen Mother’s Divine Power will be suppressed, leaving only the eyes to discern the key difference between the two arrays," Zhang Chen’s heart silently shuddered, surprised by the demon’s deep research into the Feng Shui Grand Array, far beyond his expectations.

"However, this move by the Great Freedom Celestial Demon fits my interests. I can follow along with its arrangements, and if any changes occur in the future and are discovered by the Queen Mother of the West, I can shift all the blame onto the Great Freedom Celestial Demon."

Zhang Chen, thinking of this, discreetly put away the Feng Shui Grand Array and then moved towards the direction of the Feng Shui Grand Array, beginning to arrange for the powerful warriors to modify the array.

As soon as Zhang Chen arrived at the underground palace construction site, he was taken aback: "Such rapid construction speed, already built more than half, but just needs a little modification."

Looking at the layout of the underground palace, Zhang Chen knew some areas needed modification. Thus, he tirelessly corrected the people, and after half a day, he finally guided them to add some key points before returning to continue pondering the Feng Shui Grand Array.

For Zhang Chen, time was quite leisurely now; besides cultivating, it was all about understanding the Feng Shui Grand Array. The Queen Mother of the West’s closed-door cultivation was a good thing for him, saving him from much trouble.

Another fifty years passed, time flew by swiftly, and the white ape returned to Kunlun Mountain, bumping into Zhang Chen, who was patrolling the mountains, giving Zhang Chen quite a scare.

"Old Ancestor, you’re back?" Zhang Chen secretly felt relieved. Fortunately, the white ape returned late; had it been fifty years earlier and witnessed the Peach Tree being attacked by the fire attribute True Spirit, he would have been in trouble.

"I request to see the Queen Mother of the West." The white ape replied, "How have you been at Kunlun?"

Upon hearing the white ape’s request to see the Queen Mother of the West, Zhang Chen’s heart skipped a beat. Would the Queen Mother of the West notice the Feng Shui Grand Array? Would she notice the Peach Tree? Would she happen to notice the Heaven-Opening Fire Spirit?

Zhang Chen was nervous but maintained his composure, raising the blueprint in his hand: "The Queen Mother of the West asked me to build a structure. I’m busy all day, unlike the Old Ancestor who can roam freely outside."

Saying this, Zhang Chen feigned unconsciousness while asking, "Is there something the Old Ancestor needs to see the Queen Mother of the West about?"

The old ape replied, "While searching for the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, I found that the Power God and Star Shifter seem inclined to side with the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, so I must consult the Queen Mother of the West before proceeding."

Zhang Chen was taken aback upon hearing this. The Great Freedom Celestial Demon and those two Innate Demon Gods were actually colluding. However, it made sense. Neither the Great Freedom Celestial Demon nor the two Demon Gods could match the Queen Mother of the West, so joining forces was expected.

"Old Ancestor, your return is untimely, the Queen Mother of the West has gone into closed-door cultivation. I’ve visited multiple times, only to be turned away each time," Zhang Chen said.

The white ape was taken aback: "The Queen Mother of the West is in closed-door cultivation? That’s truly troublesome!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded: "I encountered difficulties in understanding the Feng Shui Grand Array, originally intended to seek the Queen Mother of the West’s guidance, but alas, I cannot meet her."

Hearing this, the old ape scratched his head, showing no suspicion: "In that case, I’ll just have to gather information first and come to report when the Queen Mother of the West emerges from seclusion. By the way, do you know when the Queen Mother of the West will emerge?"

"The Queen Mother of the West instructed me to build this altar within a millennium, so she will likely appear once it is completed," Zhang Chen replied nonchalantly.

"Then I will return after the Queen Mother of the West emerges from seclusion." The white ape, after speaking, transformed into a stream of light and disappeared from Zhang Chen’s sight.

Zhang Chen silently heaved a sigh of relief: "Good! Managed to send this old ape away; otherwise, if the Queen Mother of the West were truly disturbed, who knows what trouble would be stirred up."

Zhang Chen muttered under his breath, then returned to the pill room, using the Fire Escape Technique to reach underground, eager to check on the progress of the Heaven-Opening Fire Spirit, as he was feeling somewhat anxious now.

Upon reaching the underground flames, he saw the Heaven-Opening Fire Spirit assisting his Primordial Spirit in refining the True Spirit origin of the Peach Tree. Surprised by Zhang Chen’s true body arrival, it asked, "Why have you come?"

"How much longer to refine the True Spirit origin of this Peach Tree?" Zhang Chen inquired.

Hearing this, the Heaven-Opening Fire Spirit extended two fingers: "Two hundred years!"

Zhang Chen pondered slightly upon hearing this, then shook his head: "You must aid in the refining within a hundred years because I need my Primordial Spirit to adapt within the Peach Tree, which might require a substantial amount of time. You must leave this time for me, else if the Queen Mother of the West notices, I’m as good as dead."

"Within a hundred years? Why don’t you just ascend to heaven!" The Heaven-Opening Fire Spirit responded reflexively.