Chapter 1371 Chaos Unleashed Across the Land

The Silver Foil Marquis is dead, a grand kingly marquis, unexpectedly beheaded amidst a mighty army due to trumped-up charges, likely to be ridiculed by the world.

Zhang Chen’s eyes looked toward the distant battlefield. With the death of the Silver Foil Marquis, the battlefield plunged into chaos. After the twelfth-tier deity killed the Silver Foil Marquis, it seemed to perceive Zhang Chen’s gaze, turning to meet it. In an instant, their eyes locked, the deity’s eyes showing a flash of murderous intent, but it receded, and the figure vanished.

Zhang Chen was also a twelfth-tier powerhouse, even having surpassed it, suffering greater backlash from heaven and earth, destined to die before their people, thus not posing a future threat to the Great Victory royal family, making it unnecessary to oppose Zhang Chen.

On the contrary, if he were to act against Zhang Chen now, based on Zhang Chen’s past method of slaying the Corpse Ancestor with a single palm, he was likely not a match, and should things go awry, it would not be good.

So the divine spirit’s figure flashed, disappearing.

"He’s gone!" Zhang Gaqi beside him breathed a sigh of relief: "I just saw his gaze coming, truly afraid he would kill."

"He won’t strike against me." Zhang Chen smiled lightly, his voice filled with certainty.

Hearing this, Zhang Gaqi was slightly taken aback, unsure of Zhang Chen’s confidence, but Zhang Chen offered no explanation, nor did Zhang Gaqi press further.

"With the Silver Foil Marquis dead, surely his heirs will vie for the throne, plunging into an internal conflict; even the surrounding dukes may seize the chance to send troops, seeking to consume the Silver Foil Marquis’s territory. This whole area will plunge into chaos." Zhang Gaqi’s voice held a profound melancholy.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen did not respond, instead turning around and retreating into the cabin, having lost interest in the world’s chaos.

The ship continued northward, yet had to halt again after just a month.

A terrifying Qi mechanism swirled in the distance, shaking the heavens, seemingly tearing the earth apart and penetrating the heavens.

Sitting in the cabin, Zhang Chen sensed the external fluctuation, his brow furrowing: "Is it the Great Victory royal family’s twelfth-tier deity at work again?"

A scout reported to Zhang Gaqi at this moment: "Sir, the waterway ahead is blocked; an expert has severed the great river, leaving our ship stranded."

"Temporarily halt, and I’ll report to the Patriarch before deciding." Zhang Chen aboard the ship prevented Zhang Gaqi from acting independently; his form curved, arriving before Zhang Chen’s cabin, the door opened, and Zhang Gaqi entered to find Zhang Chen reading.

"Patriarch, ahead there’s the Great Victory Dynasty’s..."

Zhang Gaqi was interrupted halfway through his report by Zhang Chen: "I am already aware of the situation ahead; it’s the Great Victory royal family’s twelfth-tier deity intervening. We’ll wait several hours, then naturally the outcome will be clear." Zhang Chen said without lifting his head.

"Yes!"

Zhang Gaqi responded and went to instruct the sailors outside.

Sure enough, three hours later the battle subsided, the diverted river restored, the boat progressed again, and Zhang Gaqi returned to Zhang Chen’s cabin with a grim face to report: "News has been reached, this land belongs to Marquis Tongbei; the twelfth-tier deity killed Marquis Tongbei and left directly. I’ve even heard that within just a month, more than a hundred marquises distant from the river have died, the twelfth-tier deity seemingly naming names, clearing from Kyoto towards Jinling, all marquises along the way perished."

"Such matters?" Zhang Chen was also momentarily stunned upon hearing, his eyes filled with wonder: "Has the Great Victory royal family gone mad, attacking their own?"

His expression was full of astonishment, all filled with perplexity—as it should not be like this?

"The Great Victory royal family is mad! After being crushed by the Great Victory royal family masters, various dukes’ territories have become chaotic, with rebel factions, heirs vieing for inheritance, non-stop slaughter plunging into chaos with rivers of blood, political decrees in disarray." Zhang Gaqi’s voice filled with bafflement; he indeed couldn’t fathom why the Great Victory royal family would do this.

Zhang Chen showed some conjecture upon hearing, after all, when the various ancestors of the Chai Family were nearing their end, they dragged the Eight Great Clans down, now the End of Dharma Era has come, naturally the Chai Family relies on its occupied advantage to drag the whole world down.

If chaos erupts in the world while the Chai Family remains as stable as Mount Tai, they can send troops to sweep the world, thoroughly bringing various dukes under royal control, thus making the Great Victory royal family not just nominal dukes but truly masters of human race’s heartland and world overlords.

"What’s this to? All dukes within the Great Victory royal family’s territory must be decapitated, every single one left alive," Zhang Chen said to Zhang Gaqi.

"Ah! How can this be? Is the Great Victory royal family self-destructive?" Zhang Gaqi was shocked upon hearing, disbelieving.

"Not so! The Great Victory royal family seeks to break and stand, wanting to sweep the world, establish a realm completely ruled by the Great Victory royal family. Unless all dukes die, where does the Great Victory royal family find the chance to sweep the world?" Zhang Chen said with a grin.

"The Great Victory royal family harbors wild ambitions. For their own selfish desires, they’ve plunged the world into chaos. They are truly unworthy to rule over our Human Race. Are they not afraid of the collective wrath of the Dukes? Are they not afraid this will cause public outrage and lead the Dukes to become disloyal?" Zhang Gaqi angrily cursed upon hearing the news.

"The Great Victory royal family became the leaders of the Human Race not because of their virtue, but because of their supreme martial prowess. In the end, everything in this world relies on force." Zhang Chen glanced at Zhang Gaqi, "Let’s keep sailing. In the future, when our Zhang Family governs the Northern Land, our descendants will also spare no expense to maintain legitimacy."

The large ship continued its journey, and after three more months, a cry of alarm arose, drawing Zhang Chen out to see what happened. He found the Zhang Family members gathered around the railing, looking down. Joining them, Zhang Chen observed the river below, which had turned a blood-red color, filling the air with a suffocating stench.

"How did the river turn to blood? How many lives must have perished to cause such a horrific sight?" Elder Zhong, standing on the deck, exclaimed in shock.

"Quickly, investigate what happened up ahead." Zhang Gaqi swiftly commanded a guard to gather information. In no time, a guard returned to report: "Sir, it appears that a catastrophic battle occurred in the territory of the Marquis Ren De, leading to the deaths of millions. The blood is flowing from there."

Since the journey from Kyoto to the Northern Land went against the current, it wasn’t surprising that the blood flowed in this direction.

"Millions dead in the Marquis Ren De’s territory? What disaster occurred?" Elder Zhong asked, visibly horrified.

The guard responded solemnly, "It was the divine spirit of the Great Victory royal family that acted."

The cabin fell into a dead silence. After a long pause, Zhou Qiucheng clenched his teeth and said, "The Great Victory royal family has gone insane! They are a bunch of lunatics! How dare they commit such a massacre? Our Human Race is already gravely harmed by the Demon Race’s invasion, and now the Great Victory royal family is stirring internal strife. I’m afraid the status of our Human Race cannot be preserved!"

Zhang Chen fell silent, unable to judge the actions of the Great Victory royal family. Other than labeling them mad, there were no words suitable for describing them.

"Indeed, they’re all mad!" Zhang Chen sighed softly.

Zhou Qiucheng turned to look at Zhang Chen, making him perplexed. "Old man, why are you looking at me like that?"

"You could replace them, rid the world of hardship, and put an end to this chaotic era." Zhou Qiucheng said to Zhang Chen, "Even if it costs me this old body, I will lend you a hand."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen gave a bitter smile, "I have no ambitions for royal power or dominion. Besides, with the world changing so drastically, my only wish is self-preservation. The pursuits of empires and dominance are not my desires."

"You wish to live in peace in one corner, but when the tide of the era truly crashes down, can you really escape it?" Zhou Qiucheng earnestly persuaded Zhang Chen:

"Rather, strike now while the chaos reigns, and sweep Heaven and Earth under your control."

"There are still numerous masters hidden across the world and many old people in hiding. Even if I wished to sweep across the land, now is not the best time to act." Zhang Chen rejected the proposal.

To Zhang Chen, resolving the calamity he faces is the real issue. Apart from life and death, everything else is trivial.

"If you aspire to conquer the world and quell our Human Race’s calamity, perhaps select a wise leader, and there might be hope for our Human Race to regain peace," Zhang Chen counseled Zhou Qiucheng in return.

Zhou Qiucheng shook his head in response, "A person can only handle so much; I know my own limits. While I might teach a region, managing one is beyond me. Remember the chaos of Jinling City back then? I couldn’t even manage Jinling City, let alone the whole world."

Zhang Chen glanced at Zhou Qiucheng, acknowledging the man’s self-awareness.

Yet, the world was immense. Zhang Chen had a premonition that if the End of Dharma Era truly came, the world would definitely fracture. The notion of a unified world seemed nearly impossible!

From Kyoto to the Northern Land, a single round trip took ten years. How could messages be conveyed?

Hoping for a unified world is a fool’s dream.

Zhang Chen tucked his hands into his sleeves and changed the topic, "Since there’s nothing to do, would the two of you like to have a game of chess with me?"

Zhong Wubai perked up, "I’ll play! I’ll play!"

He was intrigued; having been bored on the ship, a game of chess seemed like a good way to pass the time.

However, just as the two were about to set up the board and start the game, a guard suddenly rushed in: "Patriarch, someone ahead is blocking the route with a small boat, claiming to be an old acquaintance and requesting to see you by name."