I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1038 Under Qingcheng Mountain
Upon hearing his confidant's words, the leader of the Qingmu Hall sighed softly, his voice filled with helplessness: "Don't talk nonsense. Zhang Chen can transform into a fireball. He is already formless and intangible, and the power of the material world can hardly harm him. The only way to deal with him is through extraordinary power. How can we be a match for Zhang Chen? Not only can he transform into flames, but he can also control flying swords to protect his true body. Even a million-strong army cannot stop him. Moreover, he also controls terrifying lightning. Taking the heads of thousands of soldiers is as easy as taking something out of a bag. It's best not to provoke such a person!"

Zhang Chen's methods in the North were no secret to the major powers. With a little inquiry, everyone could clearly understand the key points. Whether it was Zhang Chen wiping out Huang Tiandao's people on the battlefield by controlling thunder, or using countless flying swords to protect his true body and fighting his way in and out of the battlefield seven times, or now unleashing the power of transforming his body into flames and becoming impervious to all magic, none of these were things that ordinary people could deal with.

He only wanted to ask Zhang Chen for advice on how to avoid the calamity of the end of Dharma and restore his extraordinary power; he didn't want to invite trouble and provoke Zhang Chen's wrath.

Having once been an extraordinary being, he now knows even more how terrifying Zhang Chen, the only extraordinary being in the world, is to ordinary people. Who knows the extent of the power Zhang Chen possesses? Does he have any other trump cards up his sleeve?

If the operation fails and the enemy escapes, and then they target you and strike you dead with a lightning spell from thousands of miles away, wouldn't you be completely finished?

Zhang Chen's background is unfathomable; it's best to avoid provoking him if possible.

"I just don't know why Zhang Chen left the North, and where he's going?" The head of the Green Wood Hall pondered.

At this moment, not only was the Qingmu Hall Master frightened, but Huang Tiandao was also trembling with fear. All the high-ranking members of Huang Tiandao had gathered at Qingcheng Mountain to discuss matters in the North.

"That damned Zou Wenlong has brought disaster upon Huang Tiandao. In this era of Dharma decline, Zhang Chen can still maintain extraordinary power. It's truly terrifying." A high-ranking member of Huang Tiandao angrily smashed a porcelain bowl, splashing tea all over the floor.

"Quickly pass down the order, tell the people below not to provoke the North any further, and send someone to the North to apologize. We cannot defeat Zhang Chen by force," the master said.

Hearing this, no one objected and they agreed. But just then, someone suddenly spoke up: "I feel like something's not quite right. Look at Zhang Chen's route; it seems like he's heading towards our Qingcheng Mountain?"

The hall fell silent after these words, and everyone was startled, a chill running down their spines.

"Is this really true?" someone asked anxiously.

"We don't know their purpose yet, but judging from their flight path, they seem to be heading towards our Qingcheng Mountain," the man said.

"Quickly go and closely monitor their movements. I'm going to see the Great Master and ask him to make a decision." The Heavenly Master could no longer sit still and hurriedly walked towards the back mountain.

Zhang Chen sailed his large ship through the land, and the local warlords who passed by all gave way to him and offered him various supplies needed by his fleet.

Zhang Chen had been traveling by water for a year and a half when the general who was steering the ship came to his side and bowed respectfully: "My lord, we are still three hundred li away from Qingcheng Mountain. The mountains ahead are continuous, and the ship is useless. What do you think...?"

"Prepare a carriage, leave some people to guard the large ship, and the rest of you will accompany me to Qingcheng Mountain," Zhang Chen instructed.

He still enjoys the days when someone takes care of everything for him. He only needs to say his destination, and everything he needs to do along the way is taken care of. It feels really good.

Upon hearing this, the general's face fell, and he quickly lowered his head, respectfully saying, "Your humble servant obeys."

Unlike Zhang Chen, who was enjoying himself with peace of mind, all of them were on tenterhooks, fearing that they might accidentally anger the demon in front of them and be turned to ashes.

The large ship docked at the shore, and before the group could disembark, a caravan appeared in the distance. The caravan was accompanied by men dressed in yellow robes with long knives at their waists. At the head of the caravan was an old man in his sixties who stood respectfully on the shore and called out to the large ship, "Is the person coming Zhang Chen Gaozhen?"

"This is my master. Who are you?" The general leading the ship looked at the convoy below the large ship, the guards in yellow robes stretching for miles, and a hint of impatience appeared in his eyes.

Over the course of a year and a half, he encountered countless people trying to curry favor with him, but Zhang Chen never met with any of them.

"I am Bai He, one of the Twelve True Men of Huangtiandao. I came here specifically to greet you upon hearing that True Man Zhang Gaozhen has arrived here," the old man replied respectfully.

"One of the twelve true elders of Huang Tiandao?" Upon hearing this, the man's eyes sharpened. Huang Tiandao now swept across the north and south of the country, and its power was definitely one of the greatest forces. Not to mention that he couldn't afford to offend it, even the lords behind it couldn't afford to offend it.

The entire Yangtze River basin, spanning tens of thousands of miles, was Huang Tiandao's territory, demonstrating just how powerful Huang Tiandao was.

He dared not refuse the other party, and turned to look at Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen then looked up from the map, slowly raised his head, and looked into the distance: "Interesting! Is Huang Tiandao trying to intimidate me?" He rolled up the map, then casually stuffed it into his sleeve, stood up and walked to the bottom of the boat: "My destination is Qingcheng Mountain. I trouble you, Master, to come and greet me. Please lead the way."

In the era of extraordinary powers, Zhang Chen might have thought highly of the Twelve Immortals, but in this era of declining Dharma, having lost the blessing of extraordinary power, the Twelve Immortals are nothing more than ants in his eyes.

Bai He looked at the young man in purple robes slowly walking down from the boat, a look of surprise in his eyes. Logically speaking, Zhang Chen should be over thirty years old at this time, right? But time has not left any marks on him, and he still looks like a young man.

"I dare not address you as a sage. In your presence, I am but a mortal. Please call me 'Little Crane' instead." The old man bowed respectfully to Zhang Chen, his words full of humility.

"Old Crane, stop nagging, let's hurry up and get going." Zhang Chen teased him, but ultimately refrained from calling him Little Crane and instead addressed him as Old Crane.

Zhang Chen boarded the carriage prepared by Huang Tiandao. The carriage was drawn by nine horses, and the entire body was ten meters wide and four meters high. It was made of Phoebe zhennan wood and emitted a unique fragrance.

The carriage was luxuriously decorated, entirely covered in tiger skin, and thick wool felt was laid underfoot, so you could sit on it without feeling any bumps.

“I have a deep grudge against Huang Tiandao. I won’t go into the hatred between me and Gu Mingyue in the past. Last year, Huang Tiandao’s Zou Wenlong, Zuo Lianying, Zhou Shenzhu and others joined forces to attack the Northern Lands and died at my hands. Huang Tiandao invited me to be his guest. Could it be that he is confident in dealing with me?” Zhang Chen looked at Bai He with a half-smile.

Bai He smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "Look at what you're saying. You are also one of my Huangtiandao people. We in Huangtiandao are not all united. Everyone has their own interests to consider. It's all just internal strife within the sect. Even if there are great grudges, since you have come to our Qingcheng Mountain headquarters, we should take you home. As for what grudges there are, we can talk about them behind closed doors."

Zhang Chen was taken aback when he heard Bai He's words. He hadn't expected the old man to be so shrewd and to have such a fresh and unconventional perspective on things. Zhang Chen was quite surprised.

However, he almost forgot that he was also Huang Tiandao's disciple, and the mark of Huang Tiandao on his body had not yet been removed.

Zhang Chen was moved by Bai He's words. He had a guess about why Bai He had come to pick him up, and he also had a better understanding of Huang Tiandao's attitude.

“Wherever there are people, there is a martial arts world. Even within a large family, where everyone is related by blood, they still fight tooth and nail. How much more so for a martial arts organization like Huang Tiandao? If I could seize this opportunity to take control of Huang Tiandao…” A glint of light flashed in Zhang Chen’s eyes, which then vanished in an instant.

"I wonder what brings you to the Qingcheng Mountain region? If there's anything our sect can do to help you, just let us know. We'll do what we can, and we'll try our best to help you with what we can't." Bai He looked intently at Zhang Chen, his eyes full of probing.

He came to pick up Zhang Chen, but not just to pick him up; he came with a mission: to test Zhang Chen's attitude.

"I have come here to pay my respects to the Great Teacher. I wonder if I may have the honor of meeting the Great Teacher?" Zhang Chen looked at Bai He.

"The Great Teacher emerged from seclusion a few days ago. After you went to Qingcheng Mountain, it won't be difficult to meet with him," Bai He replied, his words carrying a hidden meaning. "Is that all? It's not difficult; we can arrange it for you. Is there anything else?"

"We demand an explanation!" Zhang Chen said.

Upon hearing this, Bai He's eyes lit up immediately: "Could it be that you've come because of Zou Wenlong, Zhou Shenzhu, and Zuo Lianying?"

Zhang Chen glanced at Bai He in surprise, wondering why he was so excited when he came to Qingcheng Mountain to cause trouble.

“I am not one of them.” Bai He said succinctly, “Your master and I are strangers, but we have been suppressed by them and have been unable to turn the tables or find an opportunity to fight back.”

Zhang Chen was taken aback upon hearing this, thinking of his cheap master. The other party was truly unlucky; after his divine cultivation was stolen, he finally managed to enter the spiritual world, only to have his spiritual world destroyed by Zhang Chen himself.

"How is my master now?" Zhang Chen asked, his voice full of concern.

Years ago, Wu Changming gave up the opportunity to negotiate with Huang Tiandao in order to obtain the immortal cultivation manual. Zhang Chen remembered the favor he owed him.

(End of this chapter)