Chapter 1359: Chen Sanli Takes the Stage

Zhang Chen felt puzzled, not understanding why the Great Victory royal family would agree to such a bet. However, since they had agreed, Zhang Chen only needed to watch from the sidelines, as it had little to do with him.

Yet, thinking of Tushan Qing’s Gambling Power and Chen Sanliang’s methods, Zhang Chen felt that things might not be so simple.

Just as Zhang Chen was contemplating, someone else came to visit—Xie Lingyun had arrived.

Xie Lingyun, still dressed as a man, radiated Divine Power all around, with a subtle, mystical aura circulating her. It seemed that the leakage of the Corpse Ancestor’s Origin had greatly nourished her, and she was not far from the Eleventh Tier.

“Sister, why have you come?” Zhang Chen asked, pouring tea for Xie Lingyun.

“The Demon Race army is advancing aggressively. What do you think the outcome will be?” Xie Lingyun took a sip of tea and asked.

Hearing this, Zhang Chen shook his head, “Before the outcome is decided, I can’t foresee the final result.”

After hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Xie Lingyun said, “In my view, the Human Race’s general trend has passed. We need to prepare early.”

“You are not optimistic about this gamble?” Zhang Chen looked at Xie Lingyun in surprise.

Xie Lingyun scratched her head upon hearing this, “The Demon Race has come here in full force and even initiated a gamble. They must be fully confident, right? Yet, I think the Human Race’s situation is already set, and we should prepare early.”

Xie Lingyun came to seek an alliance with Zhang Chen.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen took a sip of tea and said, “If you feel uncomfortable staying in Kyoto, you can return to the Northern Land.”

Xie Lingyun was stunned upon hearing this: The Northern Land? Isn’t that Prince Pingbian’s territory?

Zhang Chen noticed Xie Lingyun’s confusion and explained with a smile, “To be honest, the Northern Land has long been in my hands. Prince Pingbian has become my puppet, and I now control all of the Northern Land. Whatever changes occur between Heaven and Earth in the future, it remains a safe haven for us, our final retreat.”

Xie Lingyun looked at Zhang Chen with shock. “You’re quite the character! I didn’t expect you to have such means, truly incredible! You’ve really surprised me.”

“I don’t want to stay in Kyoto any longer. I’m already planning to head to the Northern Land. Why don’t we go together? By combining our abilities, we may stand a chance to break through.” Xie Lingyun suggested to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen shook his head, “I still need to wait for the final result. Besides, if I wish to leave, the Demon Race won’t stop me. I have a close relationship with Hu Li the Immortal and Chen Sanliang.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyun realized, “Since you have your own plans, I won’t insist. I’ll head to the Northern Land first.”

“What are your plans in the Northern Land?” Zhang Chen asked.

Xie Lingyun tilted her head to scrutinize Zhang Chen, “You’re not planning to order me around, are you?”

“You should know my background; I don’t have any trusted aides, apart from having Prince Pingbian under my control. I don’t have control over anything else in the Northern Land. If you can re-establish the Inspection and Supervision Department there, it would help me gain full control over the Northern Land.” Zhang Chen stated.

Xie Lingyun sighed softly after hearing this, “I’ve taken your pills and benefited greatly from you—what right do I have to say ‘no’? I have cultivated a group of confidants in Kyoto, but with the Demon Race besieging the city, it’s difficult to bring them out. Otherwise, I could lead them to the Northern Land and easily set up a new Inspection and Supervision Department.”

“This matter is simple enough. Take this tuft of tiger fur; if you encounter Demon Race blocking your way, it will naturally let you pass.” Zhang Chen said with a smile.

“Is this Hu Li the Immortal’s fur?” Xie Lingyun asked, looking at the pure white tiger fur in Zhang Chen’s palm, which seemed to radiate sharp, cutting flashes that could tear through the void.

This fur was plucked from Hu Li the Immortal and contained Geng Metal Power, making it undoubtedly genuine.

Xie Lingyun carefully accepted the tiger fur, her eyes reflecting seriousness, “Such impressive means! I didn’t expect you to have such a relationship with Hu Li the Immortal. Have you perhaps already allied with the Demon Race?”

“The Demon Race is not worth my allegiance.” Zhang Chen snorted with disdain in his tone.

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyun’s eyes darted around as she sized up Zhang Chen, observing his disdainful look, as if she had realized something, her eyes flashing with shock, “Could it be that you have some leverage over Hu Li the Immortal as well?”

Prince Pingbian had been quietly subdued by Zhang Chen, so if he quietly subdued Hu Li the Immortal, it wouldn’t be too hard to understand. After all, Zhang Chen’s relationship with Hu Li the Immortal seemed quite unusual, and who else could pluck fur from Hu Li the Immortal.

Zhang Chen simply smiled without speaking. Xie Lingyun felt a chill in her heart, realizing she had underestimated Zhang Chen. She carefully stored the fur before whispering, “If fewer people of the Human Race could die, it would be better. After all, we’re all of the same race…”

“No one can control how many of the Human Race will die—not even Hu Li the Immortal. Those demons followed Hu Li into the territory for blood and flesh. If Hu Li restrains them, the major tribes under him might rebel.”

Xie Lingyun fell into silence after hearing this, finally letting out a helpless sigh.

“By the way, the great change of Heaven and Earth is about to begin. You must not make any breakthroughs in your cultivation, or else you will surely suffer a backlash from Heaven and Earth.” Zhang Chen seemed to remember something and cautioned Xie Lingyun.

Xie Lingyun was taken aback, “How does Heaven and Earth backlash?”

“You’ll know when the time comes.” At this point, Zhang Chen gave Xie Lingyun no chance to ask further questions and reiterated, “If you want to leave Kyoto, you’d better go tonight without delaying anymore.”

Xie Lingyun nodded at the words, bade Zhang Chen to take care, and then vanished from Zhang Chen’s courtyard.

That night, Xie Lingyun and Xie Xuan led the Inspection and Supervision Department’s loyal followers and silently escaped from the city through a pre-prepared secret passage. As for why Zhang Chen didn’t ask the father and daughter to take the Zhong Family along, it was because the Zhong Family had many old and young members, who would slow down the Xie family’s progress. Although Zhang Chen was the Zhong family’s son-in-law, the Xie family father and daughter were his most steadfast allies. They couldn’t afford to be held back, could they?

In the latter half of the night, a figure flickered and appeared while Zhang Chen was sitting at his desk reading, and Hu Li the Immortal appeared in his study.

“The Dragon Qi of the royal capital can’t suppress you anymore?” Zhang Chen was surprised as he looked at the spontaneously appearing Hu Li the Immortal.

Hu Li the Immortal replied, “What I awakened is the Innate White Tiger’s bloodline, mastering the Innate Geng Metal Power, which is the Innate Dao. Although the Dragon Qi of Kyoto affects me, it’s limited.”

Zhang Chen understood that the Innate Geng Metal Power of the opponent was essentially not inferior to his Immortal Dao Power.

“You’re not preparing for tomorrow’s gamble and have the leisure to seek me.” Zhang Chen said.

“I’m here to discuss with you what to do after the Demon Race wins.” Hu Li the Immortal replied.

“Demon Race winning?” Zhang Chen was stunned, “Does the Demon Race have the assurance of victory?”

“Of course, the Demon Race has the assurance of victory! Chen Sanliang’s knowledge has reached the point of flawlessness, defeating the Academy is not difficult for him, so for the Demon Race, winning the first round is no challenge. As for the second round, the Human Race’s battle formation is indeed formidable, and the Demon Race is prepared to concede in advance. As for the third round, a Twelfth Tier expert- To be honest, I previously used Essence Qi between Heaven and Earth to refine my bloodline, causing it to be refined, and my cultivation fell from the Twelfth Tier back to the Tenth Tier. Yet, my bloodline has completely reverted to my ancestors, and my combat power has not decreased but increased. Although my realm is Tenth Tier, my combat power far exceeds the Twelfth Tier. How can the Human Race have a chance to win?” Hu Li the Immortal said with pride.

Zhang Chen was utterly confused after hearing this. He never expected such a change, no wonder the Demon Race proactively proposed a gamble.

It was beyond Zhang Chen’s expectations that Hu Li the Immortal would awaken an ancestral bloodline, but what puzzled him was the confidence in Chen Sanliang. Even though the Dao of Chen Sanliang was spread by him, he didn’t have absolute confidence in Chen Sanliang; what made the other party so confident?

“Chen Sanliang had received guidance from the Peacock Ancestor previously, and his knowledge has improved again. The Peacock Ancestor once said that Chen Sanliang’s doctrine is now perfected and without any flaws.” Hu Li the Immortal said.

Zhang Chen was stunned and asked, “Who is this Peacock Ancestor?”

Hu Li the Immortal shook his head, “I don’t know.”

Zhang Chen fell silent, and seeing Zhang Chen’s silence, Hu Li the Immortal asked, “If the Human Race is defeated, you won’t interfere, will you?”

“Rest assured, I certainly won’t interfere.” Zhang Chen replied.

Hearing Zhang Chen’s response, Hu Li the Immortal was relieved, “I came to see you tonight to discuss something. Once the Human Race is pacified, I can recommend you as the Human King to command all humans and demons in the world. As for that Great Victory Royal Family and the six great families, we can help you slaughter them all!”

“Recommend me as Human King? I’m not interested!” Zhang Chen glanced at Hu Li the Immortal, “You wouldn’t be trying to push me out there to face the Peacock Ancestor for you, would you?”

As the saying goes: ‘One mountain cannot contain two tigers.’ Hu Li the Immortal and the Peacock Ancestor were both supreme existences within the Demon Race. Once external conflicts disappear, internal conflicts are likely to erupt.

Hu Li the Immortal chuckled awkwardly, “We are a shared community of interest. Helping me is helping yourself, isn’t it?”

“Being a shared community of interest is true, but I have no interest in wielding power.” Zhang Chen rejected Hu Li the Immortal without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Hu Li the Immortal looked disappointed and eventually left unwillingly.

A night passed, and a high platform had already been erected in front of Kyoto’s city gates.

As the morning bell rang, the gates of the royal capital opened, and thousands of experts from the Human Race’s various families, the Academy, and the royal family filed out of the Royal City and gathered in front of the erected high platform.

At this time, the Demon Race, led by Chen Sanliang with Hu Li the Immortal as the overseer, also gathered with thousands of Demon Race experts before the high platform.

Chen Sanliang scanned the Human Race’s camp in the distance, his gaze landing on the people of the Academy, a trace of deep-seated hatred flashing in his eyes.

Especially when his gaze fell on Mr. Wu, the murderous intent in his eyes was undisguised. He made a throat-cutting gesture towards him, then slowly climbed onto the high platform, “Today, I represent the Demon Race to discourse the Dao under Heaven, weighing the true strength of your Human Race. I welcome any of the Human Race experts to show what they have.”