Chapter 1271 - 900: Life and Death Record Appears

Zhang Gaqi was somewhat dissatisfied with Zhang Gaoling’s attitude, but he couldn’t let it show, only allowing his expression to darken slightly.

"Zhang Chen, I’ve heard of your reputation. Though you have some tactics, you still can’t compare with Zhang Gaoyue. Once you acknowledge your ancestry, you should just enjoy the offerings of the family quietly and don’t think about causing trouble and disturbing the peace of the Zhang Family. Zhang Gaoyue is the foremost of our family’s young generation, ranking in the top ten even in the Academy. Only such a person can lead the Zhang Family to glory. I know your thoughts; although your father was the former patriarch of the Zhang Family, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will be the patriarch!" Zhang Gaoling looked at Zhang Chen with eyes that showed no mercy.

Zhang Chen looked at Zhang Gaoling, the smile on his face remained, making it hard to guess his thoughts.

"Zhang Gaoyue, what nonsense are you spouting here! If you don’t want to come, you don’t have to! You were called here to support us, not to cause trouble and aggravate everyone." Zhang Gaqi glared at the young man in front of him.

Zhang Gaoyue glanced at Zhang Chen upon hearing this, then let out a cold hum, "Fourth Uncle, I’m not feeling well, I’ll go back to rest. I won’t be participating in the events to follow."

Zhang Gaoyue turned and left, and a group of younger members followed, leaving the scene more than half empty in an instant.

The atmosphere in the venue turned cold, and Zhang Gaqi’s expression soured. At this moment, a chubby little fatty who had been standing beside Zhang Gaoyue walked up with a smile and saluted Zhang Chen: "Big Brother, my name is Zhang Gaodan. Little brother pays respect to Big Brother."

Upon seeing Zhang Gaodan, Zhang Gaqi’s expression improved slightly: "This is my useless son."

"Little brother is courteous." Zhang Chen hurriedly returned the salute.

Zhang Gaodan grinned mischievously, "Big Brother Zhang, I’ve heard of your name for a long time, little brother has admired you for quite a while."

Then he said to Zhang Gaqi, "Leave Big Brother Zhang to me, I’ll introduce him to the brothers. You go ahead with your business."

After saying that, he pulled Zhang Chen into the crowd to meet the younger generation of the Zhang Family.

As everyone got acquainted, Zhang Chen got to know quite a few young and outstanding talents from the Zhang Family. As one of the Eight Great Clans in Kyoto, although there were some wastrels in the family, those were in the minority.

After the introductions were over, Zhang Gaodan pulled Zhang Chen aside and whispered: "Don’t pay attention to Zhang Gaoling. He’s been mixed up with Zhang Gaoyue’s group for a while now; we can’t get along with them. He’s a staunch fan of Zhang Gaoyue. Plus, earlier Zhang Gaoqiu returned from Jinling and spread bad words about you, ruining your reputation. In the hearts of the Zhang Family, your reputation is already in tatters."

"Who is Zhang Gaoyue?" asked Zhang Chen.

"The eldest son of Zhang Shenqi, the future nominal patriarch of the Zhang Family." Little Fatty explained.

Little Fatty Zhang Gaodan was chubby and fair-skinned, looking quite festive, making people want to pinch his little fat face.

Zhang Gaodan was young, only fourteen, three years younger than Zhang Chen, with eyes that were sharply contrasting black and white, constantly darting around, appearing quite clever.

Then Zhang Gaodan began explaining the specifics of the Zhang Family to Zhang Chen, revealing some secrets of the Zhang Family, unveiling a mere tip of the iceberg.

The old generation of the Zhang Family doesn’t need much explanation; some were supporters of the former patriarch Zhang Kecheng, his staunch fans, these were the elders present today.

Another portion has been courted by the current patriarch Zhang Shenqi, promised heavy profits, and became staunch supporters of Zhang Shenqi.

Yet another part remains neutral, watching coldly without any action.

Thus, the Zhang Family is now divided into two parts: one supporting the current patriarch, seeking family stability, and the other still adhering to the orthodox succession, old-fashioned, unwaveringly supporting Zhang Kecheng’s son.

As for the neutral faction, their stance is quite complex. Some believe Zhang Chen, having displayed extraordinary measures in the Northern Land, is qualified for the position of patriarch of the Zhang Family, could become the patriarch. But if Zhang Chen were replaced, Zhang Shenqi probably wouldn’t agree, which would surely lead to internal chaos.

Now, the older generation of the Zhang Family has a complex attitude; some seek stability, some remain indifferent, while others insist on restoring Zhang Kecheng.

Zhang Chen, thinking about the current situation of the Zhang Family, inexplicably recalled the royal court of his previous life. After the old emperor died, the Crown Prince grew up and ascended the throne, only to have the emperor’s own brother succeed him. Now that the Crown Prince has grown up, what will become of the court’s situation?

It’s not ordinarily complex!

In any case, the current situation of the Zhang Family is very complicated!

Those who insist on restoration may not necessarily have high hopes for Zhang Chen. Rather, after Zhang Shenqi came to power, he conducted a series of suppressions on the factions and supporters cultivated by Zhang Kecheng, gradually eroding everyone’s power and replacing them with Zhang Shenqi’s relatives and factions.

Had Zhang Chen not returned, Zhang Shenqi’s actions would have been considered legitimate, and those clan elders would have had to reluctantly accept it, unable to resist Zhang Shenqi. But now that Zhang Chen has returned, it has given everyone the opportunity to take action.

"As for the younger generation, Zhang Gaoyue is truly outstanding; none of the younger members of the Zhang Family are dissatisfied. Most of them have been drawn to his side, while the rest, like us, have such poor aptitudes that they look down on us and refuse to associate with us. All the grudges of the older generation have trickled down to the younger generation, creating conflicts that cannot be resolved, and naturally, we cannot achieve unity," Little Fatty candidly admitted the intricacies involved, even acknowledging his own poor bloodline aptitude, unable to fit into their small circle.

Zhang Chen glanced at Zhang Gaodan—this Little Fatty had a keen and perceptive mind. Zhang Gaqi was neutral, and even leaned toward Zhang Shenqi; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to persuade Zhang Chen to give up reclaiming his ancestral status. Yet, he still had Zhang Gaodan approach him, likely for the Yellow Spring Water.

To the Zhang Family, the Yellow Spring Water is a supreme divine medicine for cultivation, a treasure capable of improving one’s aptitude for Divine Techniques. Its importance cannot be overstated.

"I can use the Yellow Spring Water to first undermine the Zhang Family’s military morale, but the Yellow Spring Water cannot be given directly; simply handing it out would be foolish. I still need to set some tests," Zhang Chen’s mind flashed with countless ideas. If he wanted to seize the position of Zhang Family Patriarch, he couldn’t rely on fighting alone; he needed to find some people to support and rally for him.

"This is not a world where one can fight alone. Combat power is indeed crucial, but it requires absolute dominance in power. Although I have stepped into the Twelfth Tier, I am not yet invincible across the world. Only upon ascending to the Dao Fruit Realm through Extreme Realm Ascension will I be able to sweep away all obstacles, though entering the Dao Fruit Realm brings too many unknown calamities." Zhang Chen looked at the chubby Zhang Gaodan ahead, his mind racing with thoughts.

He not only wants to steal the Life and Death Record but also intends to use the Yellow Spring Water to win people’s hearts. If the Life and Death Record is lost, it will be nearly impossible for future generations of the Zhang Family to awaken their bloodline, further revealing the importance of the Yellow Spring Water when the bloodline weakens with each generation.

In fact, how could the Yellow Spring Water be important only to the Zhang Family? It is equally important to all practitioners of the Divine Soul Dao.

Zhang Gaodan and Zhang Chen discussed many matters about the Zhang Family, giving Zhang Chen a deeper understanding of the distribution of power within the Zhang Family.

After a simple lunch at the Zhang Family at noon, Zhang Gaqi led Zhang Chen to bathe and cleanse himself and, after refreshing himself, led him to the Zhang Family’s ancestral shrine.

In the Zhang Family’s ancestral shrine were tens of thousands of memorial tablets, densely packed and overlapping, imbued with the Power of Space; otherwise, even with the shrine’s size, it couldn’t hold so many tablets.

"The Zhang Family has survived countless calamities since the Ancient Mysterious Age, avoiding extermination each time. Do you know why?" The leading third granduncle stood beneath the memorial tablets, gazing into those extending into the void, and asked.

He was inquiring of Zhang Chen, who shook his head, indicating he did not know.

The third granduncle took up some incense and placed it in the Tripod Cauldron before him: "That is because my Zhang Family holds two supreme secret treasures: one, the Life and Death Record, and the other, Human Reincarnation. The Life and Death Record can control the life and death of all beings; so long as one’s cultivation hasn’t surpassed the Twelfth Tier, their life and death are within the Record’s grasp, allowing us to alter their lifespan. Furthermore, the Human Reincarnation enables our Zhang Family’s bloodline to reincarnate into humans without losing memory should an irresistible adversary emerge, thus evading disaster."

The Life and Death Record is both powerful and not; its limitation to controlling the life and death of cultivators below the Dao Fruit Realm is significant.

Still, in today’s End of the Dharma Era, the Life and Death Record is already potent enough; probably no one can resist its power.

"The Great Victory royal family fears the Zhang Family because of the existence of the Life and Death Record. Prince Pingbian of the Northern Land is merely a pawn of the Zhang Family and not the basis for the Zhang Family’s standing in the world," the third granduncle stated.

Hearing this, Zhang Chen was puzzled: "Grandson doesn’t understand. If the Zhang Family indeed possesses the Life and Death Record, we should have replaced the Chai Family by removing all their lives through the Record. Then, the Zhang Family would have unrivaled power, and who could challenge us?"

The third granduncle nodded at his words: "I understand your thinking. However, employing the Life and Death Record requires the consumption of lifespan as a cost. Additionally, the Great Victory Human King is protected by Dragon Qi, immune to All Laws, and the cost of utilizing the Record against the King is unimaginable, also attracting Celestial Punishment. Furthermore, the Record is too taboo, causing fear among all major families, making us wary of using it lightly."