I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1037 Heading South to Qingcheng
Huang Tiandao's Celestial Master died, and died a very unjust death. He didn't even have time to show his face before he was turned to ashes in Zhang Chen's lightning.

Zou Wenlong, the supreme commander in charge of this battle, also met a predictable end. He was reduced to ashes by Zhang Chen's Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, leaving not even a trace of bone behind.

A great battle shocked the world. In this degenerate age, Zhang Chen displayed extraordinary power, easily beheading the commander of Huang Tiandao amidst a vast army, shocking the entire world.

Wasn't it said that the end of Dharma had arrived? Everyone's extraordinary powers had disappeared, yet you can still use thunder magic. After hearing this news, various forces wanted to report Zhang Chen for cheating.

The news spread like wildfire in all directions. However, with the disappearance of the supernatural power, the speed of carriages and horses was too slow, and the world was too vast. It would take time for the news to spread.

The Northern Lands were defeated as quickly as they were recovered. Wherever the Northern army passed, the Yellow Heaven traitors in all the cities surrendered and fled at the mere sight of them, not daring to confront the Northern army head-on.

Especially with Huang Chao secretly mobilizing his troops, Huang Tiandao's army quickly withdrew from Zhang Chen's territory, leaving behind the various families and gentry who had echoed Huang Tiandao's rebellion, who were left in dire straits.

Seeing that the situation was not good, some of the major families abandoned their businesses and fled for their lives, while others knelt down and surrendered again. However, the northern army did not accept the surrender of the major families. Xie Xuan raised his butcher's knife high and slaughtered all the nobles.

If these powerful and influential people don't die, how will they relinquish the benefits they control, and how will they give the Zhang, Xie, and Zhong families in Kyoto an opportunity?
The northern army returned with renewed force, but encountered no significant resistance in its path. The terrified rebels, upon hearing the name of the northern army, had already fled in advance.

At this time of great victory in the north, where was Zhang Chen?
Zhang Chen had arrived at a shore and boarded a small boat. The boat was then carried downstream by the current, heading southeast.

Zhang Chen already knew the location of Qingcheng Mountain, after all, he had been there in ancient times.

Zhang Chen, dressed in white, steered the small boat away without needing to row. Although he could only control the Five Elements power within a meter, it was enough to generate powerful propulsion in the water, and the small boat shot away like an arrow.

On his way to Qingcheng Mountain, he intends to meet the renowned and virtuous teacher who has been famous since birth. If possible, he also hopes to take advantage of Huang Tiandao's influence to build a grand feng shui tomb on Qingcheng Mountain.

With his mere one meter of control over the Five Elements, it's probably unrealistic for him to build a massive underground palace.

As Zhang Chen walked along the river, he witnessed human tragedies and heart-wrenching scenes. He saw famine and war raging in various places, and with the disappearance of supernatural powers, the whole world was in complete chaos.

Zhang Chen left the north, only to encounter chaos shortly after. The former feudal lords had been overthrown by ordinary refugees who had usurped his territory, seized control of the waterways, blocked the canals, and charged tolls to passing ships.

Zhang Chen watched the passing caravans and large ships obediently pay the toll, then expressionlessly steered his small boat away into the distance.

"Stop right there! How dare you try to break through our checkpoint? Are you tired of living?" When a guard saw Zhang Chen trying to break through the checkpoint, he quickly steered his large boat to chase after him. At the same time, he signaled with flags on the river, and two large boats and more than a dozen small boats came from both sides, surrounding Zhang Chen's small boat.

"Boy, you dare to break through the checkpoint today, we'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!" The general standing on the bow of the large ship, clad in iron armor, pointed at Zhang Chen and cursed angrily.

Zhang Chen shook his head upon seeing this: "They're courting death."

The next moment, Zhang Chen turned into a fireball about a meter in size, radiating immense heat that distorted the air. Then, the fireball soared into the air and landed directly on the large ship, engulfing the general. In an instant, the general turned to ashes, and even his iron armor turned into molten iron. The entire ship was engulfed in flames.

"That is……"

The soldiers who had gathered around were so frightened by the sight that their bodies went limp. Without a word, they turned their small boats around and fled, not daring to delay for a moment. The lieutenant general on another large ship, seeing the scene before him, also cried out in alarm, "Run! Turn the ship around and run!"

That general was not a fool. The end of the Dharma has come to an end, and the extraordinary powers have only disappeared for a few years. When everyone saw Zhang Chen's methods, how could they not know what they had encountered?
The general tried to turn his ship around and escape, but it was too late. The fireball rose into the air and drifted towards his own ship.

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows!" The general stood at the bow of the ship and shouted desperately, because at this moment, he really couldn't think of any other way to fight back except by firing arrows.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers on the ship nervously drew their bows and nocked arrows, unleashing a hail of arrows towards Zhang Chen. However, the flames that Zhang Chen had transformed into were no ordinary flames. As soon as the arrows approached the flames, they turned to ashes, and the arrowheads turned into molten iron that dripped into the river.

The general was horrified at the sight. He immediately dropped his weapon, knelt down, and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy in a voice full of pain: "Please spare my life, sir! I know I was wrong, please spare my life!"

The general knelt on the ground, his iron helmet clanging as he slammed his knees down, while the guards also threw down their bows and arrows, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.

Everyone living in this world knows what supernatural power means to ordinary people: it means dimensional reduction, it means terrifying destructive power. "Hehe, now I'm going to requisition this big ship. Do you have any objections?" Zhang Chen revealed his true form on the big ship, looking down at the soldiers kneeling on the ground.

Upon hearing this, the general quickly replied, "This humble servant would not dare to have any objections."

"Let's set sail. I'm heading to Qingcheng Mountain. I'll trouble you all to escort me for a while," Zhang Chen said slowly.

The journey to Qingcheng Mountain is a long one, and relying on his own supernatural powers would be exhausting. If he could be escorted by a large ship, although the speed would be slower, it would be much easier and more comfortable.

Moreover, Zhang Chen was not short of time, and he did not care about the time wasted in a year or two.

Upon hearing this, the general quickly got up from the ground and said to the soldiers who were still kneeling and begging for mercy, "Men, quickly order the ship to turn around and head towards Qingcheng Mountain."

With his command, the soldiers who had been kneeling on the ground were as if granted a pardon. They scrambled to their feet and prepared boats for Zhang Chen. Then, the large ship turned its sails around and disappeared from sight in the astonished eyes of the crowd in the distance.

The news of the reappearance of extraordinary power spread like wildfire in all directions, stunning major forces such as the Yellow Heaven Path, the White Lotus Sect, and the human-demon race. It also frightened various warlords into ceasing their activities and frantically searching for information in secret.

If supernatural powers reappear, what's the point of everyone fighting to the death? As long as supernatural powers intervene, all our efforts will be nothing but a waste.

The large ship sailed away in a grand procession. The various lords along the way had already learned of the news and dared not act recklessly. They all gave way to the waterways in advance, which resulted in smooth waterways and benefited countless people.

The large ship sped along, and the soldiers on board dared not stop day or night. Zhang Chen sat on the deck, looking at the scenery on both banks, and gently tapped a map in his hand.

"My lord!" At this moment, the general in iron armor approached Zhang Chen from behind, trembling with fear, and bowed respectfully.

"What is it?" Zhang Chen asked without turning his head.

"As we travel, there have always been people secretly watching us, trailing behind us from a distance. There are also people riding fast horses following us on the shore. Should we drive them away?" the soldier asked cautiously.

Zhang Chen remained noncommittal upon hearing this. Once the news that he could still unleash extraordinary power spread, how could those great cultivators who had lost their extraordinary power not be tempted?

Right now, the other party is merely following. Once they have observed the situation sufficiently and feel the time is right, they may take the initiative to visit and seek advice. Some may even harbor illusions and secretly plot to harm me and seize the secret techniques I possess.

"As long as they don't bother us, we don't need to pay them any attention. But if they block our path, just use your swift and decisive skills to shoot them dead," Zhang Chen said casually.
"Regardless of their origins or background, just kill them."

The general shuddered upon hearing this, but dared not say anything more and turned to go and prepare.

After three days of travel, a large ship blocked their way ahead. The leader stood at the bow and respectfully called out, "I am the leader of the Giant Wood Flag of the White Lotus Sect. I am here on the orders of my master to invite you to rest here. Please do me the honor."

The guards on Zhang Chen's large ship looked at Zhang Chen, but Zhang Chen waved his hand. The general understood Zhang Chen's meaning and stepped forward to shout, "My master has no time to deal with you. Quickly make way and do not delay my master's journey, otherwise my master will be furious and make you suffer."

Upon hearing this, the captain looked disappointed, but he did not continue to argue. Instead, he ordered his men to steer the ship to make way.

"The White Lotus Sect emerged first, and in recent years it has grown quite powerful." Zhang Chen sat on the deck, watching the ships that had made way for him as they sailed away, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

The White Lotus Sect's influence extends throughout the world. In the past, it was overshadowed by the Great Sage Teacher and was inferior to the Yellow Heaven Path. Now that the extraordinary power has disappeared, the two sides are evenly matched.

Although Zhang Chen had been organizing maps in the north and rarely left his home, he was not entirely unaware of outside news. The White Lotus Sect controlled the territories of at least dozens of vassal states and was on par with the Yellow Heaven Sect, with the two sides locked in a fierce struggle.

As Zhang Chen's large ship sailed away, a middle-aged man in a blue robe sat in a carriage on the shore. Hundreds of armored guards surrounded the carriage. Upon seeing that Zhang Chen did not stop and showed no intention of meeting him, the man's eyes revealed a hint of disappointment: "It's a pity that we cannot meet."

"Master, since Zhang Chen has come to our territory and dares to be so rude, why don't we just mobilize the army? In this world, even if he possesses extraordinary power, he probably can't last long..." A trusted confidant beside him complained with dissatisfaction.

(End of this chapter)