Chapter 1321 - 949: Farewell to Zhao Lie

A storm seemed to have subsided, and as for the origins of that map, no one was pursuing it any longer. Even the Great Victory royal family would not investigate further, as the party bold enough to make a move had already erased all traces, making it impossible for everyone else to follow the trail.

Most crucially, there was a terrifying truth to consider: the opposing party managed to act quietly without alerting anyone. Even the ancestors suppressed beneath reincarnation were not disturbed, as reincarnation had vanished without a trace. Such formidable power was truly shocking, and throughout past dynasties to the present, there had never been a figure to match this.

This method of theirs, upon closer inspection, instilled fear in people’s hearts.

Moreover, the sole clue left behind, Zhang Haqi, was already dead. How could the investigation continue?

Even if the investigation revealed that the Eight Great Clans were responsible, what could be done?

The Eight Great Clans are not easily shaken!

Aside from swallowing this bitter pill, the Chai Family could only watch as the perpetrator roamed free.

Within the pavilion

Zhang Chen withdrew his gaze, a hint of disdain appearing in his eyes: "The world opposite is a Spiritual World. These old guys are dreaming of using it to escape the shackles of longevity. They’re delusional; the mysterious energy within the Spiritual World has long been depleted. Relying on the Spiritual World for immortality is wishful thinking. Furthermore, that Spiritual World was designated by me. How could I allow you to touch it?"

Zhang Chen withdrew his gaze and continued to sit in the pavilion, watching the winds and waves of Kyoto unfold. At this moment, the world’s fate was precariously balanced; outside, the Demon Race and Yellow Heaven Dao were causing chaos, while inside, the Eight Great Clans harbored sinister intentions. The Great Victory Dynasty was akin to a small boat tossing amidst a storm.

"After the affairs in the New World are concluded, the Great Victory royal family will inevitably take action against me. My father almost seized the Great Victory throne, so how could they let me live? Perhaps I could collaborate with Chen Sanliang; he could hold back the Academy’s forces. I could partner with the Eight Great Clans to suppress the Great Victory royal family. This opportunity might indeed exist." Zhang Chen’s mind was abuzz with calculations.

While Zhang Chen was plotting, a secret letter arrived, delivered by the Fox Immortal Nannan: "Hu Li the Immortal has sent you a letter."

"Hu Li the Immortal? It’s been a while since I’ve heard anything about this old fellow." Zhang Chen was surprised at the news: "What is the situation with the Demon Race now?"

As he spoke, he took the letter from the Fox Immortal Nannan.

The Fox Immortal Nannan replied: "Marquis Wen is incredibly powerful, having blocked the forces of the Demon Race and Yellow Heaven Dao, preventing the Demon Race from advancing southward."

"Does Marquis Wen have such abilities?" Zhang Chen paused with the letter in hand. When he passed through Marquis Wen’s territory, which bordered that of the old turtles, he did not remember Marquis Wen possessing such capabilities.

Marquis Wen was merely a tenth-tier deity. How could he possibly block the Demon Race’s troops?

Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s question, the Fox Immortal Nannan shook her head: "I don’t know! At any rate, Marquis Wen has indeed stopped the Demon Race’s army."

With lingering doubts in his mind, Zhang Chen opened Hu Li the Immortal’s letter. The letter began with usual greetings and ended with his main purpose, inviting Zhang Chen for a meeting outside of Kyoto.

As for meeting Zhang Chen within Kyoto, Hu Li the Immortal dared not; Kyoto’s Dragon Qi was too powerful. If Hu Li the Immortal entered Kyoto, he would be suppressed.

Zhang Chen carefully folded the letter, glanced around to ensure no one was watching, and then vanished from his original spot in a flash. When he reappeared, he was in a large mountain outside Kyoto. In the mountain was a pavilion, and a figure in white sat quietly inside. Who could it be but Hu Li the Immortal?

Hu Li the Immortal was playing chess by himself, contemplating the chess moves with black and white pieces. Murderous intent interwove above the board.

"How elegant the Immortal’s interest!" Zhang Chen approached, sat opposite Hu Li the Immortal, and complimented him.

As he quietly observed Hu Li the Immortal, he noticed the difference in him. In just five years of absence, Hu Li the Immortal’s body was brimming with Innate Qi Mechanism, and his bloodline had transformed into the White Tiger bloodline.

"Hm?" Hu Li the Immortal paused, lifted his head, and curiously glanced at Zhang Chen:

"You’ve changed, kid! Why does my heart feel uneasy when I see you, almost as if... I’m not your match anymore? How could that be? I’m already at the peak of the Twelfth Tier; how could you possibly defeat me?"

"It’s surely just an illusion." Zhang Chen picked up a black chess piece and casually placed it on the board.

Hu Li the Immortal had awakened his innate White Tiger bloodline, which was inherently sensitive and allowed a deep grasp of Qi Mechanism. Although Zhang Chen exerted great effort to suppress his Qi Mechanism, Hu Li the Immortal still perceived a trace of it.

Hu Li the Immortal gazed at Zhang Chen with a profound look and then remarked: "I can’t understand you anymore, kid, after not seeing you for a few years. Where have you been all this time? Why haven’t you made any noise? If it weren’t for my spy in Kyoto, I wouldn’t even know you were here."

At this, Zhang Chen chuckled: "I came upon a Great Creation, which occupied me for several years."

"It must be quite the Creation, considering that the Divine Demon Tomb in the Northern Land posed no obstacle to you back then." Hu Li the Immortal’s face turned eager as he added:

"What good things have you found? Come, tell me about it."

"What’s so good about it? You’re overthinking!" Zhang Chen said.

"Miser, if you don’t want to say, then don’t!" Hu Li the Immortal looked at Zhang Chen angrily and then complained, "It doesn’t matter if you suddenly disappeared; you’ve put me in a tough spot. Have you forgotten about my duel with that guy from Yellow Heaven Dao? I was counting on your Innate Spiritual Treasure to turn the tide, but you disappeared quietly, leaving me defeated by the Great Virtuous Master, making me lose face!"

Hu Li the Immortal was very unhappy, his voice full of complaints.

"But wasn’t it an accident? I was trapped in that damned place and couldn’t escape." Zhang Chen explained and then asked, "How is the Great Virtuous Master?"

Hu Li the Immortal pondered for a moment before speaking, "Unfathomable! If it weren’t for my Demon Race having a profound ancestor, I’m afraid the Demon Race would have been enslaved by Yellow Heaven Dao."

He was referring to Peacock Ancestor!

If he were defeated by the Great Virtuous Master, then the Great Virtuous Master would have controlled Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, using its banner to control the Northern Land, suppressing the Demon Race.

Luckily, the Demon Race had a profound Peacock Ancestor, who repelled the Great Virtuous Master at the critical moment.

"Is the Great Virtuous Master truly that powerful?" Zhang Chen found it hard to believe.

"Do you know how many moves it took for the Great Virtuous Master to defeat me?" Hu Li the Immortal retorted.

Zhang Chen asked with surprise, "How many moves?"

Hu Li the Immortal held up three fingers, and Zhang Chen frowned: "Thirty moves!"

"No, just three moves!" Hu Li the Immortal smiled bitterly, "I attacked twice, and the opponent defeated me in just one move. The Great Virtuous Master is as mighty as an indescribable giant; no matter how I use Divine Techniques, I can’t shake him."

"One move? Has that old fellow broken through to the Twelfth Tier?" Zhang Chen’s voice rose.

"He should have entered the realm of the Fruit Position!" Hu Li the Immortal’s voice was like a dream: "In my battle with him, it felt like he was toying with a child! The gap between an adult and a child, do you understand?"

Zhang Chen understood, "The Great Virtuous Master must have already broken through to the realm of the Fruit Position."

"Fruit Position?" Hu Li the Immortal showed a surprised expression, as he had never heard of this term.

Zhang Chen explained, "The Fruit Position is the realm above the Twelfth Tier!"

"I see." Hu Li the Immortal contemplated for a while before saying, "If you say he broke through to the realm of the Fruit Position, capable of defeating me in one move without me being able to retaliate, then it’s possible!"

Hu Li the Immortal then said to Zhang Chen, "But now you give me a feeling no less unfathomable than that of the Great Virtuous Master."

Zhang Chen glanced at Hu Li the Immortal and ignored his compliment, asking instead, "Why did you call me here today? Is there something you need?"

"What do you think about the Demon Race conquering the Human Race’s territory?" Hu Li the Immortal asked.

"The Heavenly Dao’s momentum is vast, each of the Hundred Races has their own fate; Feng Shui changes hands, this is the grand momentum of the Heavenly Dao!" Zhang Chen said, "As long as the Demon Race doesn’t slaughter the Human Race to extinction, each will rely on their abilities in the Divine Land. But for the Demon Race to take the whole of Divine Land, it’s simply impossible. Not to mention those ancient families, even one Yellow Heaven Dao can make your Demon Race powerless. What makes your Demon Race capable of taking Divine Land?"

Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Hu Li the Immortal smiled bitterly, not denying what Zhang Chen said: "The heavens are too partial to the Human Race."

Indeed, the heavens are partial to the Human Race, as their bloodline contains the power of Ancient Gods. Some elders even conceal themselves in families via bloodlines, a depth that the Demon Race can’t match.

Of course, Zhang Chen knew that the Demon Race was driven out of Divine Land and reduced to the role of a supporting actor, living miserably in the harsh lands mainly because the Human Race and the Primordial World’s experts have inexplicable ties starting from the era of The Queen Mother of the West.

"The Demon Race is the protagonist supported by the Heavenly Dao, whereas the Human Race’s power lies in the layout of experts from the Primordial World, and they compete with the Demon Race supported by the Heavenly Dao. The Human Race, as a protagonist, is spurred by hidden hands from the Primordial World." Although Zhang Chen hadn’t lived from the Ancient Era to now, with his current cultivation, he could deduce this based on the various bloodline powers of the Human Race.

For example, the Gong Family inherited powers from the Wind God!

The Zhang Family inherited powers from Black Impermanence.

The Lei family inherited powers from the Thunder God!

Every major bloodline family of the Human Race has traces and is faintly connected to the Primordial Chaos.

From the Great Freedom Celestial Demon to Daoist Wen, the thread in Zhang Chen’s heart was becoming clearer and clearer, but what he didn’t understand was that many experts from the Primordial Era never showed their traces, so where did they go?