I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1000 Return

When Zhang Chen saw the person who had arrived, he was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with disbelief. Before he could speak, he heard the person opposite him say reproachfully, "Since you wanted to leave the capital, why didn't you tell me?"

“Sir, you enjoy endless wealth and luxury in the capital. How could you possibly want to go with me to a remote and impoverished place to live a life of uncertainty?” Zhang Chen looked at Zhou Qiucheng across from him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"With the passing of Master Daxian and the collapse of the passage to the new world within the academy, and the sudden disappearance of countless strange entities from the underground palace, the entire capital city holds no appeal for me anymore. It would be better to leave now. Besides, the world is about to undergo a great transformation, and Dasheng will be at the center of this transformation. This place is where the winds of change converge, and it holds no attraction for me." Zhou Qiucheng looked at Zhang Chen: "Don't you welcome me?"

“It is my honor that you wish to return to the North with me, sir. I would be more than happy to welcome you. How could I not?” Zhang Chen said to Zhou Qiucheng with a smile. “However, the foundation in the North has only just been established. If you come with me, you will not enjoy the riches and honors of the capital. I will have to trouble you to accompany me through a period of hardship.”

“I have endured sixty years of hardship in the North and have long been accustomed to every blade of grass and every tree there,” Zhou Qiucheng said dismissively.

Zhang Chen smiled and welcomed Zhou Qiucheng to join his team. Then, the group left the capital and headed north.

When Zhang Chen entered the capital, he traveled by water, and when he returned to the north, he also traveled by water.

As for the boats needed for the northern route?

It should be noted that in the past, the Shen family controlled 70% of the grain transport in the country. As a powerful family behind the Shen family, the Zhang family could easily allocate some large ships.

As the Zhang family members boarded the large ship, Zhang Gaqi gave the order, and the fleet sailed away in a grand procession.

"There will be many water monsters on the way back, so we need to prepare early." Zhang Gaqi directed the fleet northward. As the large ship set sail, he came to Zhang Chen's room and said with a solemn expression, "Countless monsters besieged the capital before. Now the world has suddenly changed. I don't know how many monsters are left in the mountains and marshes and cannot leave. We will definitely encounter many twists and turns on our way."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen smiled gently and reassured Zhang Gaqi, "It's alright, I was prepared."

At this point, Zhang Chen took out a tuft of white hair from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Gaqi: "There are three white hairs on each ship, so no demon will dare to offend them."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaqi took the white fur with a surprised expression. He saw that the white fur was like steel needles, flashing with sharp edges, as if it could cut through his skin.

"What kind of hair is this that has such abilities?" Zhang Gaqi stared at the white hair in his hand and asked with curiosity. He didn't doubt Zhang Chen's words; he was simply curious about the white hair.

“The hair on Tiger Power Immortal’s body,” Zhang Chen said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaqi's pupils contracted, his eyes widened, and he stared at Zhang Chen in disbelief: "Tiger Power Immortal's hair? How did it end up in your hands?"

“Naturally, I plucked it from Tiger Power Immortal,” Zhang Chen said slowly.

Zhang Gaqi stared at Zhang Chen in utter shock, his eyes filled with horror. For a moment, he was speechless. Zhang Chen had too many secrets, from the Yellow Springs Water to the hair on Tiger Power Immortal's body, it was simply unbelievable.

Zhang Gaqi did not press the matter further, as further questioning would have touched upon Zhang Chen's secrets. He took the hair of Tiger Power Immortal and went out to personally paste the hair onto each of the large ships.

As soon as Zhang Gaqi stepped out, he saw a flash of golden light coming from Zhang Chen's house, and then Tiger Power Immortal appeared inside: "Disaster! Disaster!"

Tiger Power Immortal's vital energy was constantly dissipating from his body, making him look very listless, and his face was full of anxiety.

"If you weren't protecting the demon race as they retreated, how did you find time to come looking for me?" Zhang Chen asked, looking at the listless Tiger Power Immortal.

"I'm barely able to take care of myself, how can I possibly care about the demon race?" Tiger Power Immortal's voice was full of bitterness. He looked at Zhang Chen and was about to say something, but when he saw that Zhang Chen was also exuding energy and spirit, he knew that there was no need to say anything.

He originally wanted to ask Zhang Chen if there was a way to avoid the calamity, since in his understanding, Zhang Chen was no ordinary "evil" person. However, after arriving here, he saw that Zhang Chen's essence, energy, and spirit were also leaking out, and he realized that he had made a mistake. If Zhang Chen had a way to suppress his essence, energy, and spirit, he would not have allowed them to leak out at this time.

"The Great Calamity of the End of Dharma will cause even greater harm to the demon race; it's practically a catastrophe," Zhang Chen sighed, pouring a cup of tea for Tiger Power Immortal.

"Is there really no way to avoid this calamity?" Tiger Power Immortal asked Zhang Chen.

"Doesn't your demon race have an unfathomable Peacock Ancestor? Shouldn't you ask him about this?" Zhang Chen raised his head and scrutinized the Peacock Ancestor. Tiger Power Immortal smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "If the Peacock Ancestor had a way to avoid the calamity, why would I need to come to you? The Peacock Ancestor only said to find a feng shui array built by an ancient god or demon, then dig out that ancient god or demon, bury yourself inside it, and whether you can survive, and how far the Great Calamity of the End of Dharma will evolve, all depends on fate."

"Ancestor Peacock has gone to search for the ancient tomb of gods and demons, and he can't take care of me anymore. I've thought about it and I feel that this method is not reliable, so I thought I'd come and ask you to see if I can get through this calamity." Tiger Power Immortal's eyes were full of helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen pondered for a moment. Seeing Zhang Chen's hesitation, Tiger Power Immortal's eyes lit up: "Have you truly found hope to break the calamity?"

“I do have an idea.” Zhang Chen looked at Tiger Power Immortal and did not hide anything: “If the end of the world really reaches the point where all the extraordinary will perish, perhaps we can create a cultivation technique. That technique can condense our souls and allow them to reincarnate continuously without fading our memories. We cannot guarantee that our physical bodies will continue to live, but we can guarantee that our souls will have a glimmer of hope.”

"Create a method for reincarnation where the soul can be reincarnated and the consciousness remains undying?" Tiger Power Immortal was taken aback at first, then shook his head: "It's too late! The Great Tribulation of the End of Dharma has begun, and there's no time for us to create cultivation techniques. The most crucial thing is how difficult it is to create a cultivation technique. With our abilities, it's simply unrealistic."

Zhang Chen fell silent upon hearing this. Tiger Power Immortal's words were not without reason. If one wanted to create a method that could be continuously reincarnated, what difference would that be from directly reincarnating?
If you can be reincarnated simply by dying, is there any need for creation?

To be precise, it would be more appropriate to create a method that can prevent the human soul and consciousness from dissipating. If a method that can preserve consciousness forever could be created, it would be a different kind of rebirth.

Tiger Power Immortal thought this idea was unrealistic. Why? Because it was too difficult!

“There is no other way.” Zhang Chen shook his head.

Tiger Power Immortal may not have had the opportunity to deduce the method for achieving immortality of consciousness in reincarnation, but that doesn't mean he can't create it himself. He not only possesses the Six Paths of Reincarnation, but also has two Grand Luo Golden Immortals, the Queen Mother of the West and the Corpse Ancestor. If he were to ask them for help, he might be able to deduce this supernatural power.

Tiger Power Immortal fell silent upon hearing this, his eyes fixed on Zhang Chen, filled with sorrow: "Tell me, what would happen if I really lost my intelligence one day and transformed into a mindless beast?"

"Perhaps he will live a carefree life in the mountains and forests, dying of old age within his territory, or perhaps he will perish at the hands of a hunter," Zhang Chen said unhurriedly.

Tiger Power Immortal fell silent upon hearing this, and after a long while, he said, "Given our friendship, if I really degenerate and lose my intelligence, you should be able to take care of me until I die, right?"

"You want me to take care of you in your old age? You wish!" Zhang Chen glared at Tiger Power Immortal upon hearing this.

Tiger Power Immortal gave a wry smile, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

“If that day ever comes, you can go to the territory of King Pingbian to find me. I have completely taken control of King Pingbian’s territory, and I can protect you for the rest of your life without any problem,” Zhang Chen said to Tiger Power Immortal.

"Thank you!" Tiger Power Immortal bowed to Zhang Chen very solemnly.

Zhang Chen did not tell the other party about his Middle Thousand World. After all, the Middle Thousand World was of great importance. A Queen Mother of the West already lived in it. The innate spiritual energy generated by the Tongtian Jianmu was simply not enough to satisfy the Queen Mother of the West's intake. The Queen Mother of the West was also restraining her intake. If the Great Thousand World could give him another thirty to fifty years, he could add the time of the Tongtian Jianmu and then perhaps send Tiger Power Immortal in.

Zhang Chen added three Jiazi (a unit of time in Chinese astrology) to the Tongtian Jianmu (a type of ancient Chinese tree) every day. A year would be 64,800 years, and ten years would be 604,800 years. This would be enough for the Tongtian Jianmu to evolve from a seedling into a sapling. At that time, the amount of innate energy it would absorb and release each day would be enormous. Not to mention supplying the Hunyuan Saint, it would be enough to ensure that everyone could survive.

Zhang Chen's Middle Thousand World also has a lifespan and needs to consume the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As long as there is enough innate energy, the spiritual energy of the small world will not be depleted and will continue to exist. Therefore, the Middle Thousand World itself is the biggest consumer of innate spiritual energy. In the future, Zhang Chen will use most of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to maintain the operation of the Middle Thousand World.

"Is there anything you need me to do for you? Consider it an investment in advance." Tiger Power Immortal looked at Zhang Chen, a fierce glint in his eyes: "Including fighting with the old guys from the Great Victory Royal Family, to vent your anger."

“No need!” Zhang Chen tilted his head and looked at Tiger Power Immortal: “If you really want to help me, you might as well collect more spiritual items for me and send them to me quickly before their spiritual energy dissipates.”

For Zhang Chen, the evolution and development of the Middle Thousand Worlds requires a massive amount of spiritual treasures from heaven and earth. The more spiritual treasures from heaven and earth are sent into it, the faster the Middle Thousand Worlds will develop.

Tiger Power Immortal was stunned upon hearing this: "The spiritual energy of all things in heaven and earth is dissipating now, and they will soon turn into useless mud and sand. What use is there for you to collect those things?"

The current calamity of the end of the world only affects those at the twelfth rank; spiritual objects below the tenth rank remain unaffected. For Zhang Chen, it's not too late to collect spiritual objects at this time.

The reason he made the request to Tiger Power Immortal was that Tiger Power Immortal controlled the entire demon race, gathered the creation of the entire Great Wilderness, and swept across the land of China, leaving behind a vast amount of spiritual treasures. If he could send those spiritual treasures into his own Middle Thousand World, they would surely help his Middle Thousand World evolve.

(End of this chapter)