I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1068 Dynasties Buried in Time and Space

Simply put, other people have good reputations, but Zhang Chen's reputation is that of a clown.

Bai Ziling seemed to realize the inappropriateness of her words and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, how did you end up here?"

Bai Ziling looked at the clothes Zhang Chen was wearing; they were ordinary work clothes, completely out of place with the atmosphere of the university.

"What, is it that only a beautiful woman like you is allowed to come to Shanghai University, but an ordinary man like me isn't allowed to come?" Zhang Chen smiled but didn't answer, instead asking Bai Ziling.

Because no matter how he answered, it wouldn't stand up to scrutiny. What if the woman became curious and investigated, and then locked him up again?
Zhang Chen had no desire to go back to prison.

Bai Ziling looked at Zhang Chen with surprise upon hearing this. Usually, the men around her were very reserved, and it was rare for them to joke around like Zhang Chen, who was completely unaffected by her presence.

“I work as a teaching assistant at Shanghai University,” Bai Ziling explained.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen looked surprised. Being able to stay at Shanghai University as a teaching assistant meant Bai Ziling had a very promising future.

The status of intellectuals in this era is far superior to that of the 21st century before Zhang Chen's reincarnation. It can be said that Bai Ziling has successfully entered the elite class.

"I saw you looking around here earlier, like a headless fly. Were you looking for some information?" Bai Ziling asked.

"Where are the history books?" Zhang Chen asked directly, without any hesitation.

"Follow me!" Bai Ziling was very enthusiastic and took the initiative to lead the way for Zhang Chen. The two walked past long bookshelves, passed through layers of spiral staircases, and climbed to the third floor, arriving at a room that was over a thousand square meters in size. The room was filled with bookshelves, on which were placed ancient books, from animal skin books to paper books.

"The history books you're looking for are right here. The library in Shanghai is currently under renovation, and all the books have been transported to Shanghai University. You could say that Shanghai University has the most complete collection of history books," Bai Ziling explained.

He then asked, "What kind of history books are you looking for?"

"I'm just browsing." Zhang Chen didn't answer Bai Ziling's question. Instead, he walked past the bookshelves, randomly picked up books, and looked at them aimlessly.

Bai Ziling tilted her head and looked at Zhang Chen, a hint of curiosity suddenly appearing in her eyes. When she saw him take out a book on the history of the founding of the People's Republic of China, she leaned forward and asked, "Are you interested in the history of the founding of the People's Republic of China?"

"I am somewhat interested," Bai Ziling said. "I forgot to tell you, I majored in history in college. Feel free to ask me anything you want."

Faced with Bai Ziling's enthusiasm, Zhang Chen pondered for a moment and then suggested the books he wanted to read. Bai Ziling then led Zhang Chen through the library shelves, searching back and forth until they found more than twenty books. Zhang Chen picked up the books and was about to leave when Bai Ziling quickly chased after him, saying, "A library card can only borrow ten books. You can't borrow so many."

Zhang Chen was taken aback. He hadn't even considered using his library card; he just wanted to grab the books and run. While he was still in a daze, Bai Ziling handed him her library card: "Use mine. I'm a university administrator, and I can borrow fifty books at a time."

After a slight hesitation, Zhang Chen did not refuse and took Bai Ziling's library card. They went to the front desk, borrowed twenty books, and then left the library. Zhang Chen looked at Bai Ziling and said, "Here's your library card back. I'll return the books in a few days. You don't seem as cold and aloof as you used to be."

"I was really scared of that guy Bai Shenjianghe back then. He was like a mangy dog, so annoying." Bai Ziling rolled her eyes.

Zhang Chen smiled upon hearing this, looking at the charming young woman before him, but he didn't have much interest in her. He was already immune to beautiful women: "Go back! I'll return the book in a few days."

After finishing his sentence, Zhang Chen turned and left without hesitation, leaving Bai Ziling stunned for a moment. After regaining her senses, she quickly called out, "I lent you my library card, shouldn't you treat me to a meal? It's rare for old classmates to get together, shouldn't we catch up?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at Bai Ziling, and smiled, revealing his white teeth: "Want some spicy soup?"

"Everyone else treats me to abalone and lobster, but you're treating me to spicy soup?" Bai Ziling's face was full of astonishment.

"Eat it or not, it's up to you!" Zhang Chen turned to leave. "Eat! Eat! Eat! I'll eat!" Bai Ziling quickly followed Zhang Chen. To be honest, she was extremely curious about Zhang Chen now. Seven years later, when the two met again, Bai Ziling recognized Zhang Chen, the campus celebrity, at a glance. However, the transformed aura that Zhang Chen exuded aroused great curiosity in Bai Ziling.

Especially when the other person faced her with such an ordinary attitude, and with such clean and clear eyes, Bai Ziling couldn't help but feel her curiosity rise like a little mouse.

Of course, the most crucial thing is that Zhang Chen has a unique aura that is different from that of ordinary people. It is an aura unique to Qi cultivators. Although it is very faint, Bai Ziling has never seen it before in her life.

The two, one after the other, one a laughing stock from a former high school in Shanghai, the other the school beauty of a former high school in Shanghai, are actually drinking hot and sour soup in a run-down little shop seven years later. If word got out, outsiders probably wouldn't believe it.

"What do you do for a living now? How come you can borrow books from the library of Shanghai University?" Bai Ziling looked at Zhang Chen, her lips still wet with spicy soup, and sipped the soup with curiosity while scrutinizing him.

"A labor camp inmate! He's about to be sent to the Northeast," Zhang Chen said with a smile, not hiding anything from Bai Ziling.

Bai Ziling absolutely refused to believe it. Could a prisoner enter Shanghai University? Could he borrow books from the library?
"You never say a serious word. I even said that my family will fall on hard times next month, and I'll be tried and exiled to the north to keep you company," Bai Ziling complained irritably, then lowered her head and slurped her spicy soup.

Seeing that Bai Ziling didn't speak, Zhang Chen also remained silent, instead quietly drinking his steaming hot and spicy soup.

"What do you need a history book for? If you have any questions, you might as well ask me directly. I am now a living history book." Seeing that Zhang Chen was only drinking soup and not speaking, Bai Ziling could only bring up the topic again.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's heart stirred. If Bai Ziling knew history, wouldn't it be better to ask her directly than to go through the trouble of reading history books?

I might not be able to finish reading a history book spanning millions of years in a month.

"Tell me about the origins of history, up to the founding of the Han Dynasty by the first emperor," Zhang Chen asked.

After a moment's thought, Bai Ziling said, "The current history begins with the Great Yu Dynasty. The Great Yu Dynasty was founded eight thousand years ago, sweeping across the world and unifying the eight wastelands. However, after the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty, the ruler began burning books and burying scholars alive in order to standardize writing and cart axles, which led to a literary inquisition and caused a break in the historical continuity. In addition, before the Great Yu Dynasty, there were constant invasions from the grassland tribes, and our central land suffered many hardships. In order to rule our central land, the foreign tribes destroyed the cultural lineage of our central land, resulting in a cultural break in our central land. The culture before the Great Yu Dynasty can no longer be verified and has been buried in the mists of history."

"After the Great Yu Dynasty came the Great Tang Dynasty..." Bai Ziling spoke eloquently for a full half hour, reaching the modern history: "Until a hundred years ago, foreign tribes invaded again, attempting to completely occupy our land and exterminate our Han culture once more. Fortunately, our First Ancestor appeared out of nowhere, sweeping across the world in this time of crisis and driving out the foreign tribes. However, our history and culture suffered another severe blow. Even with the archaeologists' painstaking efforts to restore it, there was still no improvement. With the arrival of the steam age, everyone focused on steam technology. Who cared about history anymore?"

Bai Ziling explained it very clearly: "The First Ancestor came from Huangtiandao and was a follower of Huangtiandao. With the help of Huangtiandao, he launched a counterattack in a desperate situation and finally gave our Han land a chance to survive again. Later, he searched through ancient books and found a name in history: Da Han. He then established the country with Da Han, intending to continue the foundation of our Han civilization."

"Huang Tiandao?" This was the first time Zhang Chen had heard such a familiar term in this unfamiliar era.

Seeing Zhang Chen's interest in Huang Tiandao, Bai Ziling perked up: "Huang Tiandao is nothing but a group of Taoist priests who pretend to be gods and ghosts. They rely on fooling the people and use herbs to soak talisman water to deceive people. There are a few books in the library that record Huang Tiandao's affairs. I have seen them before, but unfortunately they are all nonsense. Huang Tiandao's alchemy and pill-making are aimed at achieving immortality. Throughout history, he has caused countless disasters. It is said that the Emperor of Dayu died after eating Huang Tiandao's pills, which led to the collapse of the Dayu Kingdom after only two generations. It can be said that Huang Tiandao was the culprit of the destruction of the Dayu Kingdom and changed the historical course of our Han civilization."

"Let's go to the library to borrow books!" Upon hearing that Huang Tiandao's information was available in the library, Zhang Chen immediately put down his spicy soup, picked up the books, and called to Bai Ziling to get up and leave.

"I'm telling you, you're not interested in those superstitious things, are you? After the founding of the nation, the First Ancestor swept away all the demons and monsters and forbade the people from engaging in superstition. You must not make a mistake for yourself. If you get arrested, don't blame me for not warning you." Bai Ziling reminded Zhang Chen from behind, her voice full of worry.

Zhang Chen glanced at Bai Ziling and, to reassure her, said directly, "You don't need to worry. I was already imprisoned for superstition, and I'm going to be sent to the frontier for reform next month."

Bai Ziling rolled her eyes upon hearing this; she would never believe Zhang Chen's endless lies.

The two arrived at the library, and Zhang Chen returned the history book directly. Bai Ziling had already told him about history, so why keep the history book?

"Come with me, I'll take you to find Huang Tiandao's books." Bai Ziling led the way, and when she saw Zhang Chen return the history book, a hint of worry appeared in her eyes. She now believed that Zhang Chen had come for Huang Tiandao.

(End of this chapter)