Chapter 1315: Strange Situation

Chapter 1315: Chapter 943: Strange Situation

Zhang Chen had already dug a big pit for Zhang Gaoqiu and the Third Prince. As for whether the other party would jump in, since the Heaven and Earth Net had already been set, how could he allow them the choice of jumping or not?

Zhang Chen tucked the treasure into his sleeve, then hummed a tune as he returned to the pavilion to rest.

With Zhang Chen’s command, the Zhang Family’s forces began to retract, no longer clashing head-on with the Gong Family. Under the Blood God Child’s control, the Gong Family also started to pull back their forces, no longer pursuing relentlessly. For a time, the two sides fell into a strange state of peace.

Imperial Palace

The Human King looked at the memorial in his hand, his gaze filled with a trace of seriousness.

“Zhang Chen has quite the means. Zhang Shenqi, that useless fool, was actually outmaneuvered by Zhang Chen! The Zhang Family falling into Zhang Chen’s hands is tricky. His tactics are incredibly elusive. From the information I’ve gathered, this kid is basically a troublemaker, and his stratagems are highly unpredictable!” The Great Victory Human King was feeling a bit of a headache now, but Zhang Chen claimed he could repair the Two Realms Passage, which was too tempting for the Great Victory Human King to resist.

“So troublesome!” The Great Victory Human King sighed softly, “It’s also difficult to sow discord among the Eight Great Clans. Yet, while the Zhang Family wants to make peace, I can’t allow it. Summon Gong Xufeng for me.”

The Great Victory Human King’s eyes revealed a cold murderous intent; the Zhang Family wanted a ceasefire? They had to ask those playing chess in the shadows, profiting amidst chaos, if they would agree.

Before long, Gong Xufeng arrived at the Inner Royal Palace, respectfully bowing to the Great Victory Human King above: “Greetings, Great King.”

“Take a seat!” The Great Victory Human King pointed to a chair beside him.

Gong Xufeng respectfully bowed to the Great Victory Human King, then took his seat and said, “I wonder what important matter the Great King has summoned me for?”

“What’s going on between your Gong Family and the Zhang Family now?” the Great Victory Human King asked.

Upon hearing the Great Victory Human King’s words, Gong Xufeng replied, “The Zhang Family is in internal turmoil; Zhang Chen has seized power. It will take some time to consolidate the Zhang Family’s resources, so they have temporarily halted their offensive. My Gong Family is facing the combined siege of the Seven Great Clans and is overwhelmed. Since the Zhang Family has ceased hostilities, the Gong Family is naturally glad to avoid battle, taking the opportunity to catch a breath.”

“Xufeng, you’re confused! The internal strife in the Zhang Family now is the perfect time to hit them while they’re down, and you’re choosing to withdraw? Aren’t you giving the Zhang Family a chance to recover?” The Great Victory Human King looked at the Patriarch of the Gong Family, rebuking him with a tone full of disappointment.

The Patriarch of the Gong Family was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized what was going on, and hurriedly said, “What the Great King says is true. My Gong Family would love to strike the Zhang Family while they’re down, to utterly destroy them, but we are truly unable to handle the pressure from the Seven Great Clans.”

Gong Xufeng was no fool; the Great Victory Human King wanted the conflict between the Gong Family and the Zhang Family to continue, but how could it proceed without resources and manpower?

“I can provide you with support. Ask for people; I’ll give you people. Ask for materials; I’ll give you materials! As long as you can utterly destroy the Zhang Family, I will fulfill any conditions you have,” the Great Victory Human King said with a fiery gaze.

At this moment, the Blood God Child had already begun acting within Gong Xufeng’s body. Hearing the Great Victory Human King’s words, Gong Xufeng agreed without a change in expression, and then a back-and-forth negotiation of terms ensued between them.

Once the terms were agreed upon, the Great Victory Human King sent him out of the Imperial Palace, sitting alone before the dragon throne in a daze.

In the pavilion of Chongzheng Academy

Zhang Chen’s eyes showed a thoughtful expression: “The Great Victory Human King doesn’t give up his ambition to destroy the Eight Great Clans, and he is wary of me too. I’m afraid that once I repair the World Passage, it will be the moment when the Great Victory Human King makes a move against me. However, I can’t agree to the Great Victory Human King’s plan to have the Gong Family and the Zhang Family clash to the death. Instead, I should seize the opportunity to kill the royal high experts, continuously weakening the royal power.”

Zhang Chen thought that if the Gong Family and the Zhang Family secretly joined forces to entrap the royal experts supporting the Gong Family, things could get very interesting.

With that thought, Zhang Chen’s figure flickered, and when he reappeared, he was already at the ancestral estate of the Zhang Family. At this time, people within the Zhang Family’s ancestral estate were busy repairing the dilapidated courtyard, with Zhang Family members frequently coming and going to monitor the craftsmen’s work, to prevent anyone from meddling with the Feng Shui.

Zhang Chen made his way to the Zhang Family, where a disciple greeted him: “Patriarch!”

“Summon Third Uncle,” Zhang Chen gave the command.

Not long after, the elderly and frail Third Uncle Gong approached, cupping his hands in salute to Zhang Chen: “Greetings, Patriarch.”

Third Uncle Gong’s demeanor was very respectful. He knew Zhang Chen was a difficult, ruthless character, so he dared not offend him. His etiquette was commendable, without a hint of arrogance despite his seniority.

The last Second Uncle Gong who dared flaunt his age had already been buried in the ground.

“What does Third Uncle Gong think of the Zhang Family and the Gong Family?” Zhang Chen helped Third Uncle Gong sit down and inquired.

“The Eight Great Clans were originally tightly knit, natural allies, but who would have thought we’d come to such a point today, torn apart from the inside? That Gong Family, blinded by greed, actually dared to steal our Zhang Family’s Book of Life and Death! It’s an unforgivable crime!” At this point, Third Uncle Gong cursed furiously.

“Is the Book of Life and Death really stolen by the Gong Family?” Zhang Chen asked, a subtle hint of doubt in his voice.

“The aura of the Book of Life and Death has appeared at the Gong Family several times. If not them, then who else?” replied Third Uncle Gong.

“But no one has actually seen the Book of Life and Death at the Gong Family, correct?” Zhang Chen said calmly.

“Doesn’t he already know whether the Book of Life and Death is at the Gong Family or not? That book is sealed within his Celestial Eye.”

“Moreover, when we searched the Gong Family that day, there was a sudden conflict between the other Seven Families and the Gong Family, resulting in a split. Doesn’t Third Uncle Gong find that strange? Even if we found a leaf of the Tree of Life at the Gong Family, it’s implausible that they would resort to murder to cover it up, wanting to eliminate the direct descendants of the Seven Families there. After the incident, the retaliation from the united Seven Families was not something the Gong Family could withstand! Furthermore, is the Tree of Life really at the Gong Family?” Zhang Chen queried again, “There are too many suspicious elements! It doesn’t align with the interests of the Gong Family!”

“What do you mean?” Third Uncle Gong was taken aback, staring blankly at Zhang Chen, eyes full of horror.

“Someone deliberately contrived to frame the Gong Family, tearing them from the Eight Great Clans, seizing the opportunity to split them apart, using all of us as mere instruments.” Zhang Chen responded, “Just look at who benefits now? The Great Victory royal court gained the allegiance of the Gong Family, using them to restrain the Seven Families; with the balance shifting, the Seven Families suffered greatly.”

At this point, Third Uncle Gong also sensed something amiss: “Do you mean… it was the Great Victory royal court behind the scenes, sowing discord, that all of this was done by them?”

Hearing this, Zhang Chen did not answer, but his silence was the best answer.

“According to your theory, the Eight Great Clans erupted into warfare, forcing the Gong Family to seek refuge with the Great Victory royal court. The mastermind behind this must be the royal court, as they are the only ones who benefited.” Third Uncle Gong’s gaze was piercing, full of resentment, “The royal court’s desire to destroy the Eight Great Clans is relentless! The Tree of Life Coffin landed in the hands of Dugu Qiu, with the Divine Artifact Judgment guarding it; who can possibly snatch it from him? This is evidently the royal court’s scheme! They are plotting in the shadows! Even the day our Zhang Family lost the Book of Life and Death, when our ancestor was resurrected only to be slain on the spot by three Twelfth Tier deities, those deities belong to the royal court; the coincidences are too convenient. The Gong Family restrains our forces in Kyoto, while the three Twelfth Tier deities slay the ancestor–it’s a vicious cycle!”

Third Uncle Gong looked at Zhang Chen: “Had it not been for the patriarch unraveling all the clues, we might have been made into big fools! The Book of Life and Death was stolen by the royal court, our ancestor was killed by them, is there anything they wouldn’t dare?”

Upon hearing Third Uncle Gong’s words, Zhang Chen sighed lightly, “It was Zhang Shenqi’s incompetence that led to the current state of warfare among the Eight Great Clans.”

“Is there any chance of redemption? We, the Eight Great Clans, cannot be shattered by the Great Victory royal court! If they find a flaw, the Eight Clans are doomed!” Third Uncle Gong looked at Zhang Chen with hopeful eyes.

Zhang Chen deliberated for a long time before replying, “The Gong Family are not fools. They know better than outsiders how much they’ve been wronged. If we Zhang Family extend an olive branch, they will seize the opportunity. The most crucial thing is the friendship of the Eight Great Clans spanning countless years; even if we experienced treachery and conflict, it is still not beyond repair.”

“But the Gong Family has already allied with the Great Victory royal court…” Third Uncle Gong hesitated.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen sighed, “That’s true, but the Gong Family knows the consequences of allying with the royal court. If they have a chance to return to the ranks of the Eight Great Clans, they will not refuse.”

“I intend to secretly visit the Gong Family with Third Uncle Gong. If we can uncover the truth, it would be better than continuing the slaughter, hurting kin and pleasing foes. Would you be willing to accompany me?” Zhang Chen asked.

Upon hearing this, Third Uncle Gong stood up, his voice fervent and spirited: “I am willing to go! But you, Patriarch, must not go. As the head of the Zhang Family, you carry a heavy burden and cannot risk yourself easily. If the Gong Family does have sinister intentions, and they detain you, it would be the end of us.”

“I will go myself; you remain here to oversee the situation and wait for my news. I’m already of old age, not long for this world, and even if I die at the Gong Family, it doesn’t matter. The Yellow Spring Water on you is crucial to our Zhang Family’s heritage, so you must not take any risks.” Third Uncle Gong looked intently at Zhang Chen, his words bearing no room for objection.