Chapter 1276 - 905: Framing the Gong Family

Upon hearing the words of the Innate Mosquito, Zhang Chen felt somewhat speechless.

His own Innate Qi was already required to nourish the Peach Tree and the Tree of Life; there was none to spare for the Innate Mosquito’s use.

However, if he could use some Innate Qi to find a henchman, it wouldn’t be a bad choice for Zhang Chen.

"Let’s talk about it later!" Zhang Chen replied evasively, then directly confined the Innate Mosquito to the Ice Hell. His eyes swept across the desolate Underworld, and after examining the turbulent Yellow River waters beneath him, he used a Divine Technique to collect some Yellow Spring Water. Zhang Chen then turned and followed the spring of the Yellow Springs to exit the Underworld and re-enter the Nine Bends Yellow River Array.

"I wonder if it’s possible to collect all of the Yellow Springs, otherwise I’m afraid that under the End of Dharma Tribulation, the Wangchuan River might one day dry up." Zhang Chen pondered, casually retracting the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, and his figure flickered as he flew out over the horizon.

He felt that if the End of the Dharma’s power continued to spread, it would eventually affect the Yellow Springs. Yellow Spring Water was extremely valuable and an excellent substance for cultivating the soul for creatures who had not yet attained the Immortal Dao. If he had the ability, he needed to prepare in advance.

"However, I have an idea in mind that once I construct a small world, perhaps I could invite the Queen Mother of the West to help and dig out a spring." Zhang Chen secretly thought to himself.

He clearly didn’t have the ability to gather Yellow Spring Water by himself, but he had powerful individuals by his side.

Though it’s not easy to ask a Primordial expert for help, his Heaven-Reaching Jianmu was growing day by day, providing more and more Innate Qi. For those struggling for survival, it was their only hope, leaving them with no choice but to work for him.

Zhang Chen used a Divine Technique to return to the Zhong Family, appearing in the small courtyard. At this moment, Old Grandmaster Zhong had arrived on time to discuss and explore the grand path of learning with Zhang Chen.

After discussing with Zhong Wubai for fifteen minutes, Zhong Wubai left with a look of doubt, leaving Zhang Chen standing in place with a smile. He asked the Fox Immortal Nannan, "Where is Gong Chun today?"

"Gong Chun is not on duty today; he’s not working at the Five-City Garrison, but rather resting at home," the Fox Immortal Nannan replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen sneered coldly: "Today is the perfect opportunity to make my move! But if I want to successfully frame someone, I need to find two accomplices."

Zhang Chen sensed that Gong Hei and Gong Bai had already arrived in Kyoto, so he silently manipulated the Blood God Child to secretly prepare according to his intentions.

The next moment, his form wavered, transforming into the appearance of Gong Chun. After examining himself in the mirror and finding no flaws, he nodded with satisfaction, "The Transformation Technique that accompanies the Nine Revolutions Profound Skill is indeed mysterious. The only regret is that the Wind Spirit of the Beginning is not by my side; otherwise, I could mimic the unique methods of the Gong Family. As it stands, my imitation of Gong Chun only encapsulates his appearance without the unique innate techniques of the Gong Family."

Zhang Chen carefully looked in the mirror again and again, his figure then vanished in a flash, reappearing outside the Zhang Clan’s main gate. He eyed the towering gate with a cold smile: "Heh, I wonder if you Eight Great Clans will end up clashing fiercely."

At this time, the Blood God Child, controlling Gong Hei and Gong Bai, appeared next to Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen glanced at Gong Hei and Gong Bai, a look of pride in his eyes. He then stood outside the main gate, took a deep breath, and the next moment, a black wind gusted through. The magical power within the Heng and Ha Acupoints surged, employing the Sand Merging Skill. Even in Kyoto, the Dragon Qi could not suppress the strength of the Immortal Dao.

The black sand covered the sky, shrouding the entire Zhang Family. In an instant, the Zhang Family courtyard was filled with flying sand and stones; Heaven and Earth darkened as if night had fallen. The wind howled from beyond the Ninth Heaven, sounding like both a tiger’s roar and a dragon’s chant, or perhaps an evil ghost’s wail, painfully shaking the eardrums of all. The century-old locust tree in the yard swayed violently in the storm, loosened at the roots, and toppled to the ground with a crash. The bamboo racks used for drying clothes were swept into the sky like kites with cut strings, disappearing in the blink of an eye. The oiled paper on the window lattices crackled and was torn into shreds, fluttering wildly in the air. Roof tiles fell, green bricks flew, and what was once a neat courtyard now appeared as though it had suffered a heavenly calamity. The wind, mixed with sand and stones, pounded the doors and windows with a "bang, bang".

In no time, chaos erupted across the Zhang Family courtyard. Women and children quickly lay flat, clinging tightly to pillars, while the men shielded their heads with their clothes.

"What a strange wind! This wind is too unusual, be careful everyone!" shouted Zhang Shenqi, but his voice was quickly swallowed up by the sandstorm, unable to travel more than a few feet.

In an instant, the entire Zhang Family was in disarray, with beams being lifted by the fierce winds.

At this moment, a white-robed figure strolled leisurely through the sandstorm, accompanied by the Gong Family’s antiques Gong Hei and Gong Bai. The three paid no mind to the chaotic Zhang Family members who were running around like headless chickens. They made their way directly to the Zhang Family’s ancestral hall.

The door to the ancestral hall was wide open, with the young men of the Zhang Family hiding inside to avoid the wind and sand. Zhang Chen entered the hall unimpeded, progressing smoothly.

He reached the altar, where the roof of the ancestral hall had been blown off, leaving the tablets scattered on the ground in disarray. Upon seeing this, Zhang Chen took out the Life and Death Record, and in an instant, its Qi Mechanism spread throughout the courtyard, alarming the elders of the Zhang Family.

"Who is awakening the bloodline in the ancestral hall?" asked Zhang Shenqi consciously upon sensing the Life and Death Record’s Qi Mechanism.

"Our Zhang Family’s bloodline awakenings always happen in batches, and today is not the day for the Zhang Clan’s bloodline awakening," his close steward replied.

"Not good! How is the Life and Death Record’s aura moving out of the hall? Someone is trying to steal the Life and Death Record!" exclaimed Zhang Shenqi in a panic, upon realizing the Life and Death Record’s aura was emanating from the hall, and he urgently shouted:

"Someone’s trying to steal the Life and Death Record, stop that thief quickly!"

Ever since the Zhang Family was established hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Book of Life and Death had always been in the ancestral hall and was never seen to leave it.

Not only did Zhang Shenqi detect the aura of the Book of Life and Death flying out of the ancestral hall, but several elders and disciples of the Zhang Family also felt the aura surge out, and in an instant, everyone, disregarding the dark and stormy sand, came rushing out to chase after the Qi mechanism of the Book of Life and Death.

Zhang Chen strolled amidst the sandstorm, holding the Book of Life and Death in his hand, with a hint of pride in his eyes. Especially after sensing the people converging around him, he quickened his pace, and after about forty breaths, a Zhang Family elder had already chased him down through the storm.

"That’s Gong Chun!"

Someone, peering through the sandstorm from afar, recognized Zhang Chen’s face.

"It’s without a doubt the aura of Gong Chun. I’ve seen him before and remember the aura of his soul," echoed another voice in agreement amidst the sandstorm.

At this moment, everyone saw the Book of Life and Death in Gong Chun’s hand, emitting a dark light in the storm.

"Gong Chun, do you dare to steal the Book of Life and Death from my Zhang Family? Do you wish for eternal enmity with us?" Zhang Shenqi took a shortcut to block Zhang Chen’s path, confronting him face-to-face, and instantly recognized Gong Chun’s features and the aura of his soul.

Startled, Zhang Chen hastily tore off a piece of his clothing to cover his face. Facing Zhang Shenqi, who blocked his way, he turned around without a word and walked away, showing no intention of entangling with him.

"Young master, depart quickly. We will block their path for you!" Under the control of Zhang Chen’s Blood God Child, Gong Hei and Gong Bai turned to charge toward the Zhang Family crowd.

However, inside the imperial city, Gong Hei and Gong Bai couldn’t use their divine techniques at all. After only a few encounters, they were captured by the Zhang Family.

"Where do you think you’re going?! Leave the Book of Life and Death, and we’ll overlook your offense. We can remain allies in the future; otherwise, our families will be enemies on sight!" Zhang Gaqi, wielding a knife, blocked Zhang Chen’s path.

Looking at the Zhang Family crowd gathering around him, Zhang Chen agilely and deftly darted amidst the sandstorm, using it to evade the Gong Family members. In a deserted spot, he used an escape technique to break through the encirclement, then continued to dart chaotically within the Zhang Family’s residence. In front of more people, he exposed himself, ensuring that more Zhang Family members remembered the aura of his soul. Only then did he elegantly break through the storm, rushing out of the Zhang Family estate and heading towards the Gong Family.

Gong Chun broke through, but the Zhang Family people couldn’t possibly let it go, so a group of them pursued closely, clinging to Zhang Chen’s figure. No matter how Zhang Chen weaved through the crowd, the aura emitted by the Book of Life and Death he held was like a lantern in the night to the Gong Family elders.

Zhang Chen ran ahead, with the Zhang Family in pursuit. The chase continued, yet they could never catch up to Gong Chun, maintaining a not too distant nor too close span between them.

"Gong Chun, we’ve got our eyes on you. You can’t escape," Zhang Shenqi called tightly from behind, his voice filled with rage. "Even if we have to chase you to the ends of the earth, we will never let you go. I advise you to hand over the Book of Life and Death quickly, or else we will have an endless feud!"

"Endless feud with me? Your Zhang Family is like a couple of cats; how can you contend with my Gong Family?" In front, Zhang Chen coldly laughed, mocking in Gong Chun’s tone, then continued weaving through the crowd without turning his head.

Zhang Chen ran all the way to the Gong Family gate, tore off the cloth covering his face, and rushed directly into the Gong Family. The guards at the gate, seeing Gong Chun, were momentarily stunned and secretly puzzled: ’When did the eldest young master go out today?’ However, they didn’t dare to slack off and hastily bowed with respect: "Greetings to the eldest young master."

The Zhang Family crowd in pursuit arrived just in time to see this scene, solidifying their certainty about Gong Chun’s identity as Zhang Gaqi shouted in anger: "Stop right there."

Unfortunately, Zhang Chen ignored him, only instructing the guards: "Block them; do not let them break in."

Then Zhang Chen charged into the Gong Family estate, heading straight for Gong Chun’s study.

As for how Zhang Chen knew where Gong Chun’s study was?

Zhang Chen mastered the Law of Sound Waves, having already intricately mapped the entire Gong Family’s layout, knowing the residence of every Gong Family member.

Seeing Zhang Chen racing ahead, the maids and grannies along the way hurriedly bowed as he passed, but Zhang Chen paid them no mind, swiftly passing through.

"Chun’er, why are you running in such a panic?" Just as Zhang Chen was speeding, a voice suddenly called out, shouting at Zhang Chen.

Upon hearing, Zhang Chen turned his head for a glance, seeing a middle-aged man looking at him with bewilderment, calling out to him.