Chapter 1304 - 932: Aftermath

In the crowd, Zhang Chen watched as the three Twelfth Tier deities and Dugu Qiu departed, silently cursing, "What a blowhard!"

Want to annihilate the Zhang Family? Do they even realize how badly they’ve been beaten?

Although the three Twelfth Tier deities could continually reincarnate, their powers have greatly diminished, and they no longer possess the combat strength of the Twelfth Tier. It’s already impressive if they can maintain the strength of the Sixth or Seventh Tier. Yet, they still dream of destroying the Zhang Family?

Moreover, are the Eight Great Clans so easy to provoke? If they want to annihilate the Zhang Family, the other seven clans won’t stand idly by. Each of those seven clans possesses a clan-suppressing divine artifact akin to the Book of Life and Death. To think three mere Seventh or Eighth Tier "small fry" could destroy the Zhang Family is nothing short of lunacy.

Furthermore, the Zhang Family now possesses fragments of the Daluo True Spirit, reaching an unimaginable level of soul control. They’ve already broken the dragon qi suppression to exhibit their bloodline superpowers. The suppression merely limits the range of their attacks, not their power.

Take Zhang Gaqi’s Celestial Ghost, for example. With the support of the Daluo True Spirit fragment, he initially couldn’t traverse the void in the imperial city using his bloodline power. But now he can travel a yard through the void. Can you call that weak?

In this imperial city, traversing a yard through the void is already quite remarkable!

The Gong Family people who came to besiege the Zhang Family were all wiped out by Black Impermanence. The Gong Family’s direct line in Kyoto was nearly completely eradicated; only those disciples attacking Zhang Family’s assets survived, as they were not present.

At this moment, everyone exchanged glances. Zhang Shenqi’s eyes flashed with viciousness: "All Zhang Family disciples, follow me to slaughter the Gong Family! The Gong Family caused the death of our Zhang Family ancestor, and the loss of the Book of Life and Death. We will not rest until we settle the score with the Chai Family!"

"Kill! Annihilate the Gong Family!" The Zhang Family disciples, invigorated by fragments of Black Impermanence’s True Spirit, had all grown stronger and could now wield their bloodline powers in Kyoto. Brimming with confidence, they listened to Zhang Shenqi and glared viciously, ready to clash with the Gong Family.

"By the order of the Human King, no fighting in the Kyoto Imperial City. Everyone, cease at once!"

Suddenly, the sound of armor clanged from afar. Countless soldiers clad in iron armor lined up like a tidal wave. The sound of the bow mechanisms was chilling.

"Those are the court-developed armor-piercing crossbows. Even martial artists above the Qi Blood Realm would end up riddled like a beehive. Steel Bones would be penetrated, too." The Fox Immortal Nannan appeared in Zhang Chen’s sleeve, explaining to him.

Zhang Chen looked cautiously at the armor-piercing crossbows. The crossbow carts were pushed from afar, with arrows glinting coldly and innate Geng Metal qi circulating on them. Even Zhang Chen secretly clicked his tongue, thinking, "The foundation of the Great Victory Dynasty is indeed deep, finding the innate Geng Metal! Forget Copper Skin and Iron Bones; even Zhou Chuan could not withstand the Geng Metal qi before forming his Martial Dao Golden Body."

With the appearance of the armor-piercing crossbows, Zhang Chen knew this conflict could only come to a temporary pause. The Zhang Family might be able to use their bloodline power within the imperial city, but it couldn’t reach beyond three feet, not enough to even touch the shadow of the crossbows. Facing such weapons, they had no choice but to lower their banners.

The Zhang Family might possess bloodline power, but their bodies remained as frail as any mortal’s. Even ordinary crossbow arrows, once volleyed, would turn them all into porcupines.

Zhang Shenqi looked at the arrayed Imperial Guard, showing a hint of awkwardness in his eyes. Yet, he had no choice but to halt his actions, turning to his kinfolk: "All go back to extinguish the flames and save the family property. As for the Gong family’s account, we’ll settle it later."

The Zhang Family disciples, faced with the armor-piercing crossbows and the Imperial Guard, knew when to retreat and conceded, dispersing promptly.

The clash came to an abrupt end, but Zhang Chen knew the real battle was just beginning.

He glanced at the raging fire consuming the old Zhang Family residence, a hint of contemplation in his eyes, and slowly walked away, preparing to return to the Academy. He had only gone halfway when he encountered a familiar face: Zhu Xun, eating lamb offal soup at a roadside stall!

"This oddball came out of seclusion and is close to the Yang God realm!" Zhang Chen was startled to see Zhu Xun, noting the gathering of the Literary Dao qi around him, creating an aura.

What left the deepest impression on Zhang Chen was that time in a shabby alley, where Zhu Xun, with an unflinching face, ate lamb offal soup coughed up by Huang Chao, and then relentlessly pummeled Huang Chao.

Zhang Chen had no desire to interact with this oddball, but as he tried to leave, Zhu Xun waved him over. Zhang Chen reluctantly approached out of courtesy, acknowledging that he was now a disciple of the Academy, but Zhu Xun was the Sixth Mister of the Academy.

"Greetings, Sixth Mister." Zhang Chen offered a courteous bow.

"No need for formalities, share a bowl of lamb offal soup with me," Zhu Xun said to Zhang Chen, then turned to the vendor, "Another bowl of lamb offal soup, please."

Seeing this, Zhang Chen had no choice but to sit down, "Mister, you’ve been in good spirits these years. You’re not far from the Yang God Path."

"The Yang God Path is not so easily broken through. My studies are still not thoroughly researched, and proving the Yang God Dao will take some time," Zhu Xun said, his eyes scanning Zhang Chen with curiosity, "I heard that you’ve caused quite a stir since coming to Kyoto, becoming quite the figure."

Zhang Chen glanced at Zhu Xun, unfamiliar with him, lowered his head to drink the lamb offal soup, and lazily said, "The situation is beyond one’s control."

Zhu Xun wasn’t angry at Zhang Chen’s cold demeanor. Instead, he leaned forward and said, "I heard you have a way to solve the last two great trials leading to the new world?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded: "Indeed, that is the case."

Upon hearing this, a gleam flashed in Zhu Xun’s eyes, and just as he was about to say something, a figure flashed from afar, passing through the crowd and arriving directly at the table in front: "Zhang Chen, your Zhang Family is in crisis, yet you still have the heart to drink lamb offal soup here?"

The newcomer was dressed in white; it was none other than Xie Lingyun, who beckoned to the waiter, "Bring a pot of lamb."

He then looked at Zhu Xun: "Sir, why did you leave the gate? I wasn’t informed at all."

Zhu Xun glanced at Xie Lingyun and smiled warmly, "Two major events happened in the Academy; naturally, I came out to join in on the excitement."

"You all continue eating; I am leaving now!" Zhu Xun placed his chopsticks down after speaking and then stood up, his figure gradually disappearing into the distance.

Watching Zhu Xun’s receding figure, Xie Lingyun said, "In the future, stay away from that old guy; his character is not good!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded in agreement; judging by his methods of robbing Chen Sanliang’s doctrines, the man’s character is indeed lacking.

"I’m just curious, I’m not familiar with him at all, and there’s even some enmity, so why would he take the initiative to greet me?" Zhang Chen asked while sipping his lamb soup.

"Heh, this old guy doesn’t act unless there’s something to gain. Your ability to settle the last two great trials has already spread throughout the Academy. This old guy went out today specifically to wait for you here." Xie Lingyun said.

"How did he know I was here?" Zhang Chen was curious.

"This old guy has a knack for divination, and he’s quite proficient at it. He can predict seven or eight out of ten events in the world." Xie Lingyun replied.

Zhang Chen was stunned at this; there are truly people in the world who can foretell the future through calculation.

"Did you hear about the disaster that befell the Zhang Family today?" Xie Lingyun took a bite of lamb and asked Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen nodded: "Of course, I heard! With such a big commotion in the Zhang Family, I’m not deaf; I’ve already heard about it."

Not only did he hear about it, but he was also the mastermind behind the events; he was the hidden hand in the shadows.

"If you want to seize the position of the Zhang Family’s Patriarch, the opportunity has come! Zhang Shenqi lost the Book of Life and Death first, and then the Zhang Family’s ancestor perished. During Zhang Shenqi’s leadership, the Zhang Family encountered such a huge crisis. Stripping him of the Clan Leader position is only logical." Xie Lingyun’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Zhang Chen:

"I can even temporarily assist you, letting the Inspection and Supervision Department detain Zhang Shenqi under the pretext of today’s unrest in the Zhang Family. It would also make it easier for you to exert influence from the outside."

Upon hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, Zhang Chen paused from drinking the soup: "Ultimately, I’m just a junior in the Zhang Family, lacking reputation and achievement. Even though I carry the title of the Zhang Family’s direct lineage and have some elders supporting me, it’s still a stretch to depose Zhang Shenqi and seize the position of Patriarch. Plotting for the Patriarch position now is still too early; I need to wait for some time, then naturally I can seize the Zhang Family’s leadership."

Zhang Chen’s grand scheme has already been laid out, and the next step follows logically. Zhang Chen’s next move could involve using the Yellow Spring Water to stir up a storm within the Zhang Family and make good use of it.

Know this: the Yellow Spring Water is Zhang Chen’s trump card, an irresistible temptation to the disciples of the Zhang Family.

Especially now that the Zhang Family has lost the Book of Life and Death and can’t perform bloodline awakenings, the foundation of their inheritance is effectively cut off. If Zhang Chen produces the Yellow Spring Water at this time to help the family’s disciples awaken their bloodlines, those old folks would have no choice but to support him.

Zhang Chen shared his plan with Xie Lingyun, who nodded in response: "Your plan is indeed feasible. Then, all the major branches of the Zhang Family, desperate to preserve their lineage at all costs, will surely rally around you. But considering how precious the Yellow Spring Water is, with tens of thousands of the Zhang Family’s disciples and clansmen, just how much of the Yellow Spring Water would this consume? What a pity for such a great thing; if you used an equivalent amount of Yellow Spring Water to gather martial world experts, it would be enough to build another Zhang Family."

Upon hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, Zhang Chen’s lips curved into a smile: "My goal in rallying the Zhang Family is not to establish a faction but to invade the Eight Great Clans and incorporate them to guard against the Great Victory Royal Court. After I open the world’s barrier, I’m afraid the Great Victory Royal Court will settle accounts for my crimes and won’t let me off easily. I need to prepare some chips for myself, leaving a fallback plan."

"Just now, news came from the Imperial Palace; the Gong Family has already defected to the Royal Court. Your attempt to rally the Eight Great Clans will be fraught with difficulties." Xie Lingyun reminded.