Chapter 1365 - 995: Homeward Journey

Zhang Chen saw the visitor, stunned for a moment, his eyes full of disbelief. Before he could speak, he heard the person opposite filled with blame saying, "If you want to leave Kyoto, why didn’t you inform me."

"Mr., enjoying endless wealth and glory in Kyoto, how could you think of joining me in the desolate countryside, living a precarious life?" Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiucheng opposite him, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Mr. Da has passed away, the passage to the new world within the Academy has collapsed, countless anomalies within the underground palace have suddenly disappeared overnight. The entire Kyoto no longer holds any appeal to me; it is better to leave now. Furthermore, with the great changes in the world, Great Victory is the center of change. Although this place gathers the winds and clouds, it holds no attraction for me." Zhou Qiucheng looked at Zhang Chen: "Are you not welcoming me?"

"Mr. wishes to accompany me back to the Northern Land, it is the disciple’s honor; the disciple welcomes you wholeheartedly, how could there be any reason not to welcome?" Zhang Chen said to Dugu Qiu, smiling contentedly: "It’s just that the foundation in the Northern Land has just been established, without Kyoto’s glory and wealth, it would trouble Mr. to endure some hardship with me."

"I have already endured a jiazi of hardship in the Northern Land, long accustomed to every blade of grass and tree there." Zhou Qiucheng replied indifferently.

Zhang Chen smiled at this, welcoming Zhou Qiucheng to join his team, and a group of people left Kyoto, heading towards the Northern Land.

When Zhang Chen entered Kyoto, he traveled by water, and when he returned to the Northern Land, he still traveled by water.

As for the ships needed for the water journey?

It should be noted that the Shen Family once controlled seventy percent of the river transport in the world, and the Zhang Family, as the Shen Family’s backing, finds it not too difficult to allocate some large ships.

Accompanied by the Zhang Family’s members boarding the large ship, then with Zhang Gaqi giving the order, the fleet set off majestically.

"While returning along the way, there will inevitably be Water Demons, preparations must be made in advance." Zhang Gaqi commanded the fleet northward, and with the large ship setting sail, he came to Zhang Chen’s room full of caution: "Previously, countless Demon Beasts besieged Kyoto, now with the sudden great change in the world, unknown numbers of Demon Beasts remain in the mountains and marshes, unable to leave, our journey will surely be fraught with difficulties."

Zhang Chen smiled lightly at this, reassuringly telling Zhang Gaqi, "It does not matter, I am well prepared."

Upon saying this, Zhang Chen fished out a tuft of white hair from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Gaqi: "Affix three strands of white hair to each ship, and no demon race will dare offend."

Zhang Gaqi received the white hair with a surprised expression, seeing the hair like steel needles, flashing with sharp intent, as if wanting to cut through his skin.

"What kind of hair is this, to possess such power?" Zhang Gaqi stared curiously at the white hair in his hand, not doubting Zhang Chen’s words but simply curious about the white hair.

"Hair from Hu Li the Immortal." Zhang Chen said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaqi’s pupils shrunk, eyes widened, face full of disbelief as he looked at Zhang Chen: "Hair from Hu Li the Immortal? How is it in your possession?"

"Naturally, I plucked it from Hu Li the Immortal myself." Zhang Chen replied leisurely.

Zhang Gaqi gazed at Zhang Chen with a face full of shock, his eyes filled with astonishment, momentarily at a loss for words. The secrets surrounding Zhang Chen were too numerous, from the Yellow Spring Water to now the hair from Hu Li the Immortal, truly miraculous.

Zhang Gaqi did not continue to inquire; further questioning would involve Zhang Chen’s secrets. He took the hair of Hu Li the Immortal and went out, personally affixing the hair to each large ship.

Zhang Gaqi had just stepped outside when a golden light flickered in Zhang Chen’s room, followed by the appearance of Hu Li the Immortal: "It’s a disaster! It’s a disaster!"

Hu Li the Immortal’s Origin kept spilling forth, making him look very dispirited, his face full of agitation.

"Why do you have the time to seek me instead of protecting the demon race in retreat?" Zhang Chen looked at the debilitated Hu Li the Immortal and asked.

"I can’t even take care of myself; how could I attend to the demon race?" Hu Li the Immortal’s voice was laden with bitterness, his eyes looked at Zhang Chen, about to say something, but upon seeing Zhang Chen’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit also leaking, he knew all words were unnecessary.

Originally intending to ask Zhang Chen whether he had a way to avert the catastrophe, after all, according to his perception, Zhang Chen was not an ordinary ’unconventional,’ but upon arriving here and seeing Zhang Chen’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit Origin also spilling out, he realized he had miscalculated. If Zhang Chen had a way to suppress the Essence, Qi, and Spirit, he would not allow it to leak now.

"The End of Dharma Tribulation is more devastating to the demon race, practically an annihilating disaster." Zhang Chen lamented, pouring a cup of tea for Hu Li the Immortal.

"Is there truly no way to avoid the catastrophe?" Hu Li the Immortal asked Zhang Chen.

"Doesn’t your demon race have a profound Peacock Ancestor? Shouldn’t you be asking him about such matters?" Zhang Chen lifted his head, scrutinizing Hu Li the Immortal.

Hu Li the Immortal heard this and smiled wryly: "If the Peacock Ancestor had a way to evade the tribulation, why would I come to you? The Peacock Ancestor merely said to find a Feng Shui Grand Array built by Ancient Divine Demons, then unearth the Ancient Divine Demon and bury oneself in it; whether one can survive, to what extent the End of Dharma Tribulation reaches, all depends on heavenly fate."

"The Peacock Ancestor went to find the Ancient Divine Demon Tomb and couldn’t care about me anymore. After much thought, I felt this method is unreliable, so I came to ask you if there’s a way to overcome the tribulation." Hu Li the Immortal’s eyes were filled with helplessness.

Zhang Chen pondered slightly upon hearing this. When Hu Li the Immortal saw Zhang Chen pondering, his eyes brightened: "Have you truly found hope to break the tribulation?"

"I do have an idea." Zhang Chen looked at Hu Li the Immortal and did not conceal anything: "If the End of Dharma truly reaches the point where all extraordinary beings vanish, perhaps a cultivation technique can be created, where our souls reincarnate continuously within the cycle of reincarnation. We cannot guarantee the survival of our bodies, but we can ensure the soul finds a glimmer of hope."

"Create a technique for the soul to reincarnate?" Hu Li the Immortal was initially stunned upon hearing this, then shook his head: "It’s too late! The End of Dharma Tribulation has begun and won’t give us the time to create a cultivation technique. The most crucial part is that creating a technique is incredibly difficult; with our means, it’s utterly unrealistic."

Zhang Chen fell silent upon hearing this, and what Hu Li the Immortal said wasn’t without reason. Wanting to create a technique for continuous reincarnation, how is it different from directly reincarnating?

If one dies, they can reincarnate; is creation needed?

Accurately speaking, creating a technique to maintain human consciousness without extinction is more appropriate. If a technique for consciousness to remain intact can be created, it would be a form of rebirth.

Hu Li the Immortal felt this idea was unrealistic, why? Because it is too difficult!

"There’s no other way out." Zhang Chen shook his head.

Hu Li the Immortal had no opportunity to deduce a technique for non-extinction within reincarnation, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t create it. He held the Six Paths of Reincarnation and had the Queen Mother of the West and Corpse Ancestor, two Primordial Daluo Golden Immortals. If he invited them to assist, perhaps there’s hope to deduce this Divine Technique.

Hu Li the Immortal fell silent upon hearing this, looking fixedly at Zhang Chen, his eyes filled with sorrow: "Tell me, if I truly lose my spiritual intelligence someday, transforming into a mindless beast, what will happen?"

"Perhaps you would roam proudly through the mountains, die of old age within your territory, or perhaps fall to the hands of a hunter." Zhang Chen replied slowly.

Hu Li the Immortal fell into silence upon hearing this, after a long time, he said: "With our friendship, if I truly devolve and lose my spiritual intelligence, you would likely care for me until my death, right?"

"You think too highly of me!" Zhang Chen glared at Hu Li the Immortal upon hearing this.

Hu Li the Immortal smiled bitterly, wanting to say something but ultimately said nothing.

"If that day truly comes, you can seek me in Prince Pingbian’s territory. I have now completely mastered Prince Pingbian’s territory, and sheltering you for a lifetime won’t be a problem." Zhang Chen said to Hu Li the Immortal.

"Thank you!" Hu Li the Immortal solemnly bowed to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen did not mention having a Middle Thousand World, as it was a significant matter. The world already housed a Queen Mother of the West, and the Innate Spiritual Qi birthed by the Heaven-Reaching Jianmu couldn’t satisfy the Queen Mother’s demand; she also restricted her intake. If this world could give him another thirty to fifty years, and he increased the time of the Heaven-Reaching Jianmu, perhaps he could send Hu Li the Immortal inside.

For every day Zhang Chen increased the time of the Heaven-Reaching Jianmu by three jiazi; a year would equal sixty-four thousand eight hundred years, ten years six hundred forty-eight thousand years, enough for the Heaven-Reaching Jianmu to evolve from a sapling to a small tree, then the daily intake of Innate Qi would be massive. Not to say it could supply the Primordial Saints, but it would ensure everyone’s survival.

Zhang Chen’s Middle Thousand World also had a lifespan, requiring consumption of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, and as long as there’s enough Innate Qi, the spiritual Qi wouldn’t wither, continually sustaining life. Therefore, the major consumers in Middle Thousand World would use the Innate Spiritual Qi itself, and Zhang Chen would use most Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to maintain the world’s operations.

"Is there anything you need me to do for you? Consider it an early investment." Hu Li the Immortal looked at Zhang Chen, a hint of fierceness in his eyes: "Including clashing with those old guys from the Great Victory royal family to vent your anger."

"No need!" Zhang Chen tilted his head, looking at Hu Li the Immortal: "If you genuinely want to help me, why not collect more Spiritual Objects for me, and send them over quickly before their spiritual Qi dissipates."

For Zhang Chen, the evolution and development of the Middle Thousand World required a vast quantity of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects; the more spiritual objects sent in, the faster the world’s development.

Hu Li the Immortal froze upon hearing this: "Nowadays, the spiritual Qi of all things in Heaven and Earth is dissipating, soon turning into useless sand and mud. What’s the use of collecting those things?"

Now, as the End of Dharma tribulation unfolds, only the Twelfth Tier is affected; spiritual objects under the Tenth Tier remain unaffected. For Zhang Chen, collecting Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects now isn’t too late.

The reason he requested Hu Li the Immortal was that Hu Li the Immortal controlled the entire Demon Race. With the Creation gathered from the Great Wilderness, plus the Demon Race now sweeping the Divine Land, the tribe must have amassed a vast quantity of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects. If he could send these objects into his Middle Thousand World, this would undoubtedly assist the world in its evolution.