I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1020 Pacifying the Northern Regions
The carriage arrived in the city and went directly to the Pingbian Prince's Mansion. Zhang Chen had essentially taken over the mansion and made it his own territory. Now that the Pingbian Prince had become Zhang Chen's alter ego, he naturally had no objections.

When the various factions watching saw Zhang Chen's carriage drive directly into the Pingbian Prince's residence, their expressions changed, and disbelief appeared in their eyes. In the past, Zhang Chen and the Pingbian Prince fought to the death, how come they have suddenly become family now?
Even if Zhang Chen's reputation has shaken the world, shouldn't the King of Pingbian be treated with such humiliation?

The onlookers were puzzled, but they dared not bring it up in front of King Pingbian, since mentioning Zhang Xiaohua's cause of death would be like reopening King Pingbian's wounds.

The family gathered together to eat and drink in celebration. After the meal, Zhong wanted to settle his family members in, while Zhang Chen headed towards the direction where Xie and his daughter were in seclusion.

He had already marked Xie Lingyun, so Xie Lingyun's secluded cultivation place was like a beacon in the darkness, guiding Zhang Chen's path. Zhang Chen arrived at the tomb where the imperial princess was born, his eyes filled with surprise as he looked at the heavily guarded tomb: "The Xie family father and daughter are actually in seclusion here, but it makes sense. After all, there are remnants of a feng shui formation gathered here, which can have some effect of obscuring the secrets of heaven and suppressing one's own energy."

Zhang Chen glanced at the dilapidated tomb of the Empress with a look of surprise. The next moment, he stepped into the tomb and walked directly through the mountain wall to the front of the tomb. When he arrived at the place where the coffin of the Tree of Immortality was unearthed, he saw Xie Lingyun sitting cross-legged in the pit, cultivating in seclusion. Wisps of essence were emanating from her body.

Although there was a broken feng shui formation suppressing this place, it could only suppress part of Xie Lingyun's aura. As Zhang Chen had expected, Xie Lingyun's cultivation had indeed broken through to the eleventh level.

Zhang Chen's eyes showed a hint of surprise as he looked Xie Lingyun up and down, his eyes filled with confusion. He had already told Xie Lingyun not to break through to the tenth level, so why had she broken through to the tenth level again?

Zhang Chen made no attempt to conceal his presence. As soon as he arrived at the pit, Xie Lingyun opened her eyes and, upon seeing Zhang Chen, exclaimed with delight, "You've come!"

She wasn't surprised that Zhang Chen had found her way here.

"Didn't I tell you not to break through to the eleventh level of cultivation?" Zhang Chen asked.

Xie Lingyun smiled bitterly: "Your pills are too potent. I can't suppress my cultivation at all. Even though I tried my best to suppress it, the pills still forcibly tempered my bones, turning them into jade bones. They also forced me to survive the wind disaster."

Zhang Chen remained silent upon hearing this, revealing a bitter smile. But upon reflection, it made sense. It was a pill personally refined by the Queen Mother of the West, which had propelled the other party to the realm of the Great Luo Golden Immortal. Zhang Chen was not surprised at all.

"The great calamity of the Dharma-ending Age you spoke of is truly terrifying. I was forced into this situation and had no choice but to come here to suppress the essence within my body." Xie Lingyun's eyes revealed a hint of panic.
"Is there really no way to avoid the great calamity of the Dharma-ending Age?"

Zhang Chen shook his head upon hearing this, but then nodded: "Perhaps not, perhaps yes, who knows until the very last moment?"

“Hiding here won’t solve anything. The feng shui formation here is broken and can’t suppress your aura at all. Even if the feng shui formation were intact, it wouldn’t be able to protect you.” Zhang Chen said to Xie Lingyun, “What’s the use of staying here? You might as well go out and find a way to break the calamity. Staying here is just waiting to die.”

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Xie Lingyun said irritably, "What you said makes sense, but as long as people can live, who would want to die? It's always better to die a little later."

"Don't be afraid, just go out. I already have a way to break free from this calamity. You don't need to worry. I will naturally arrange a way out for you in the future," Zhang Chen comforted Xie Lingyun.

"You have a way to avoid this calamity?" Xie Lingyun was overjoyed upon hearing this. Her gloomy face was instantly filled with ecstasy. Only those who have truly experienced calamity know how desperate it is to be caught in it.

Zhang Chen nodded upon hearing this: "So just live on in peace. When your time comes, I will naturally find a way to take care of you."

After a hundred years of growth in the outside world, and with the acceleration of time, the Tongtian Jianmu within Zhang Chen's Thousand Worlds will reach 6.57 million years. By then, the Tongtian Jianmu should have reached maturity, enough to not only supply Xie Lingyun and others with its energy, but also to sustain the operation of a Great Thousand World.

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyun stood up from the pit: "Let's go out for a drink! The world is already like this, what's the point of cultivating anymore? Forget it, let's drink and eat meat to our hearts' content and be happy people!"

Xie Lingyun emerged from the pit with a cheerful expression, no longer the aloof and ascetic cultivator she used to be. This stark contrast surprised Zhang Chen.

Xie Lingyun took a few steps and saw Zhang Chen standing there in a daze. She turned around and said in an annoyed tone, "What are you still standing there like an idiot for? Let's go out for a drink. From now on, be an ordinary person!"

Immortality has become a delusion; it's better to live life to the fullest and enjoy it to the fullest.

Seeing this, Zhang Chen shook his head and followed behind Xie Lingyun. Xie Lingyun shouted loudly, "Father, stop cultivating! All extraordinary beings will disappear during the Great Calamity of the End of Dharma. Let's just live out our lives properly and not waste any more time." "What are you shouting for? What if there's a chance for things to change later?" Xie Xuan walked out of a stone chamber next door with a displeased look on his face.

Xie Lingyun said irritably, "The possibility you're talking about is far too slim."

Xie Xuan glanced at Xie Lingyun, then at Zhang Chen standing to the side, and asked, "Is there really no chance of a reversal later?"

“Perhaps there is! But our generation is destined not to live to see it.” Zhang Chen shook his head: “Within a thousand years, I’m afraid we won’t live to see the world turned upside down.”

Xie Xuan's face fell upon hearing this, but he then smiled nonchalantly: "So be it! I can't get through this anyway, so I might as well live a carefree life. In the past, I've always focused on cultivation, and I've never enjoyed a good life."

After Xie Xuan finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the tomb. Zhang Chen and Xie Lingyun quickly followed him.

"How is the Northern intelligence system being established? In the future, when the end of the Dharma era comes and all the extraordinary disappears, the intelligence system will be of great importance. It is an important means for us to monitor the world and anticipate our enemies," Zhang Chen asked.

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's question, Xie Xuan said with dissatisfaction, "You underestimate my methods. You should know that I used to preside over the Northern Inspection Bureau, control the Northern intelligence system, and dominate all intelligence information in the North. Now I'm bringing back the elite troops from the capital. I'm just picking up the old intelligence system again. Everything is going very smoothly."

Zhang Chen relaxed upon hearing this, as he trusted Xie Xuan's methods.

The three of them walked out of the tomb and got into the carriage brought by the guards. Xie Xuan looked at Zhang Chen and said, "Boy, you're in a very bad situation right now. The source of your essence that has leaked out of your body is much more serious than ours."

"I did something big in Jinling City before, which forced me to break through my cultivation level." Zhang Chen explained his methods in Jinling City to the Xie family father and daughter, since the two of them were in seclusion and had not received any news from the outside world.

Upon hearing that Zhang Chen had slaughtered Jinling City, the father and daughter were shocked. After a long while, Xie Xuan said, "Your actions this time have at least brought peace to the North before the end of the Dharma era. Until it is confirmed that the extraordinary power has truly disappeared, no one will dare to make a move against the North."

At this point, Xie Xuan said, "The end of the Dharma is so severe, and you have such power, we still need to cleanse the northern lands again."

"That's exactly what I'm thinking. How can you teach me, Chief Xie?" Zhang Chen asked in return.

Xie Xuan said, "I have already compiled a list of names. I have compiled a list of who can be won over, who can be coerced, who has ulterior motives, and who is friend or foe. You can make a decision based on the list."

Xie Xuan truly lived up to his reputation, arranging everything before Zhang Chen even had a chance to think it through, so Zhang Chen didn't have to worry about anything.

Zhang Chen followed Xie Xuan and his daughter to the secret stronghold of the Inspectorate. Zhang Chen sensed the aura within the Northern Inspectorate, which contained hundreds of extraordinary energy fluctuations. As expected, it did not disappoint Zhang Chen. After another round of banquet, Xie Xuan and Zhang Chen entered the study. Xie Xuan took a list from the bookshelf and handed it to Zhang Chen: "I already had some knowledge of the Northern Lands before. After I came here and re-established the Inspectorate, gathering intelligence was not difficult for me. It was just a matter of filling in the gaps. We only need to act secretly to bring all the relationships between people and the intricate web of various forces under our control."

"Thank you." Zhang Chen accepted the roster and bowed respectfully to Xie Xuan.

"What are you thanking me for? Aren't I working for you now? When the great calamity of the end times comes, I'll become an ordinary person with no power to even kill a chicken, and I'll have to rely on you to protect me." Xie Xuan said with a smile.

Zhang Chen put the booklet away: "It's not about protection, it's clearly Chief Xie who helped me. With Chief Xie secretly helping me, I have a great deal of control over the North. I can promise you that if there is an opportunity to break through this calamity in the future, I can grant you a spot."

Zhang Chen now needs to win over allies, because once the supernatural disappears, people's hearts become unpredictable and no one can be trusted except for interests.

Xie Xuan held significant power within the Bureau of Inspection, and Zhang Chen spared no expense in winning him over.

Xie Xuan's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he stared intently at Zhang Chen. He knew that Zhang Chen was not someone who would abandon someone without a reason. Since the other party had spoken, it meant that there was already some clue: "Good! Then I hope you can find a way to preserve your extraordinary power."

(End of this chapter)