I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 974 The war begins

Although Zhong Xiang was praising himself, Zhang Chen felt that the other person was cursing him, and cursing him in the most awful way.

As expected of an ancient clan with a history spanning countless millennia, the Zhang family possessed remarkable skills in preserving their lives. As the direct descendants of the Zhang family continued to gather, the Third Uncle opened a mechanism within the ancestral hall, revealing a secret passage three meters high and two meters wide. The passage contained numerous niches, each lit with lamp oil made from the fat of demonic beasts, illuminating the entire passage.

The underground passage was designed in a very ingenious way. Although it was dark and sunless, the air circulated normally and it did not feel stuffy.

As groups of people entered the passage, Zhang Chen stood in a pavilion in the courtyard, looking down over the entire compound. At this moment, the entire Zhang family compound was under tight security. No matter who it was, they were only allowed to enter but not leave. Anyone who entered the compound would be watched by the guards.

The Zhang family issued this order out of desperation. After all, the spies of the Great Sheng Dynasty were everywhere, and many people within the Zhang family had unclear ties with the Great Sheng royal family. If another Zhang Shenqi, who was close to the royal family, were to emerge, the Zhang family would be doomed.

Although Zhang Chen has cultivated the immortal path and reached the twelfth level, the Great Victory Dynasty is not weak either. No matter how strong he is, it will take time to kill the experts of the Great Victory Dynasty. In that time, the Great Victory Dynasty could have destroyed the Zhang family a thousand or eight hundred times over.

If Zhang Chen were alone, he could come and go as he pleased without fear of anyone. But when he had family and attachments, he became vulnerable and had more to worry about. He could no longer just flip the table recklessly.

Just like the incident in Kyoto, if it weren't for the Zhang family and his younger siblings to consider, Zhang Chen would have flipped the table immediately. Why would he be afraid of the Great Victory Court?
No matter how strong the Great Victory Dynasty is, if he can't defeat it, he can still retreat. At that time, he can use his own abilities to cause trouble from time to time, enough to make the Great Victory Dynasty chaotic and uneasy.

As darkness fell, the direct descendants of the Zhang family within five generations slipped into the passage and escaped without anyone noticing, leaving behind only an empty shell.

As for relatives beyond five generations? As the saying goes, "The blessings of a virtuous person last for five generations." Beyond five generations, although they are still relatives, they are no longer as close. They are just strangers whose interests are intertwined. The Great Victory Court will not be too angry.

The Zhang family members left, but Zhang Gaqi stayed behind. He stood beside Zhang Chen and asked, "How are you going to handle things tomorrow?"

“Just summon some clansmen, put on a show, and that’s it. Then tell the clansmen to step down and let the six major families and the royal family fight to the death,” Zhang Chen said.

“Your actions will anger the royal family of Dasheng, causing them to take their anger out on those collateral descendants. Although they are no longer related to the Zhang family by blood, we still share the same blood and the same ancestor. They are still descendants of the Zhang family…” Zhang Gaqi wanted to persuade Zhang Chen to consider a more comprehensive plan.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen said, "Don't worry. Once the six major families are destroyed, the Great Victory Royal Family will have no chance to attack us. I will naturally make sure that the Great Victory Royal Family suffers heavy losses and exhausts its resources, leaving them in dire straits in the future. The methods I devise are beyond your comprehension."

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Zhang Gaqi said no more, because what Zhang Chen said was the truth; Zhang Chen's methods were indeed beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like them.

"How did you subdue the King of Pingbian? How did you get him to cooperate with your act?" Zhang Gaqi was puzzled. Zhang Chen had killed the King of Pingbian's son, so it was quite unbelievable that the King of Pingbian would still obediently listen to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen turned to look at Zhang Gaqi and realized that the other party had misunderstood. He misunderstood that Zhang Chen was plotting to have the Prince of Pingbian write to the court, thereby splitting the Zhang family internally, helping him seize power, and also to lull the Great Victory Royal Family into a false sense of security.

Zhang Chen did not explain, but simply said, "This matter is quite simple. I will possess the body of the King of Pingbian and turn him into my puppet."

He did not hide it from Zhang Gaqi, because there was no need to hide such a thing. No one would believe it if it were told, and no one would have the ability to verify it, because now the Blood God Child is the King of Pingbian himself, and the King of Pingbian is the Blood God Child.

Zhang Gaqi was taken aback upon hearing this, stared blankly at Zhang Chen for a moment, and then praised, "Impressive skill!"

Zhang Gaqi asked no more questions, neither how Zhang Chen had possessed the King of Pingbian, nor what state Zhang Chen and the King of Pingbian were in at this moment. He turned and left the pavilion, his figure disappearing from Zhang Chen's sight.

Standing in the darkness, Zhang Chen sensed that the Gong family was also retreating in the dark. However, the Gong family's method of retreat was quite peculiar. They took out a cloth bag, put all the direct descendants of the Gong family into the bag, and then blended into the street, leaving the city with the crowd.

"Who in the world can rival me? In the future, the Great Victory Dynasty will no longer rule this world." Zhang Chen muttered to himself, and then his figure flashed and he disappeared from the spot.

The next morning

A familiar figure appeared at the Zhang family residence; it was the old eunuch Dugu Qiu who came to meet Zhang Chen.

"Why is Godfather here?" Zhang Chen looked surprised when he saw Dugu Qiu arrive.

“I am the leader in charge of annihilating the Lei family this time, and your Zhang family is under my command,” Dugu Qiu said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen looked at Dugu Qiu with a stunned expression: "Wasn't my godfather's innate spiritual treasure destroyed? How come you're still leading the team?" He never expected that he had actually tricked Dugu Qiu. If Dugu Qiu led the Zhang family to fight, and in the blink of an eye, the Zhang family would all run away and betray Dugu Qiu, wouldn't Dugu Qiu be finished?
Zhang Chen was genuinely surprised that it would be Dugu Qiu leading the team. Logically speaking, the Great Victory Dynasty only had two innate spiritual treasures left, which should have been controlled by the Great Victory royal family members themselves, and should never have been handed over to outsiders.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Qiu sighed softly, understanding the meaning behind Zhang Chen's words. He wasn't stupid; he naturally sensed the embarrassment in Zhang Chen's words. So he said, "My soul was also bound by that banner."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen understood why Dugu Qiu had gained the trust of the Dasheng royal family. However, Zhang Chen couldn't betray Dugu Qiu, lest he actually cause Dugu Qiu's death.
So Zhang Chen asked, "Godfather, is it just you? Where are the top experts from the royal family? Where are the ancestors?"

“They’re providing backup from behind,” Dugu Qiu said.

Zhang Chen was relieved to hear this. Even if he led the Zhang family troops to retreat, Dugu Qiu probably wouldn't be killed by him.

"Gather your men and let's make our move," Dugu Qiu said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded and said to a servant in the distance, "Inform Fourth Master that we can make our move now."

With Zhang Chen's order, and led by Dugu Qiu, the Zhang family gathered tens of thousands of people, splitting into hundreds of groups that rushed towards the Lei family's properties in all directions. Zhang Chen sent those people out in order to seize the Lei family's wealth.

Zhang Chen led tens of thousands of people to the Lei family's old residence. Without saying a word, he led his Zhang family members to charge forward and began to slaughter the Lei family members.

The other party caused trouble on my wedding day, and I must avenge this.

"How dare you! Who is so insolent in my Lei family?" A shout rang out, and lightning flashed in the void as someone rode a lightning-studded bead to attack Zhang Chen and his group.

"A Primordial Spiritual Treasure! And a Primordial Spiritual Treasure with the Thunder Attribute!" Zhang Chen exclaimed in surprise.

Just as his thoughts were racing, he saw Dugu Qiu make his move, transforming into a small golden figure and heading towards the lightning: "The Lei family has committed treason. By the decree of the Great Victory King, all men, women, and children of the Lei family shall be executed immediately! So be it!"

Zhang Chen looked at Dugu Qiu, whose body had turned pure gold, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes: "What a peculiar treasure, it is actually a primordial spiritual treasure of the golden body type."

The two became entangled, unleashing extraordinary energy that startled everyone, causing them to flee the battlefield. Zhang Chen led his family in a massacre at the Lei family's residence, looting their treasures.

He certainly wouldn't show mercy to the Lei family, who wanted to join forces with the Pingbian Prince's Mansion to deal with him.

"Damn it! The Great Victory Dynasty dares to openly attack my Lei family! King Pingbian will never let you off the hook!" The Lei family patriarch cursed angrily as he watched his family members being slaughtered.

The two sides were well-prepared but caught off guard, resulting in a near one-sided massacre. One side had gathered its elite forces in advance, while the other was completely unprepared.

As the Lei family's massacre began, the other six families also roared with battle cries, and extraordinary powers burst forth continuously, turning the capital into chaos.

Zhang Chen stood still, his eyes fixed on the distance, sensing the terrifying killing intent emanating from the six major families. A hint of curiosity appeared in his eyes: "It's finally starting!"

Once it begins, it's a fight to the death with no turning back, and the Great Victory Dynasty has no way to withdraw.

Zhang Chen's eyes flashed with cunning: "All Zhang family disciples, retreat. The Lei family's reinforcements should be arriving soon. We'll leave before the Lei family's reinforcements arrive, and then plunder the Lei family's properties in the city."

When a major battle broke out in the Lei family, all the Lei family members in the city who weren't fools would come to help. But Zhang Chen wouldn't let his family disciples fight the Lei family to the death. He chose to take advantage of the fact that those Lei family experts had left their family's properties and then raid their stronghold.

As for what the imperial court would think after such a great victory?
Zhang Chen didn't care about any of that!

As Zhang Chen finished speaking, the Zhang family disciples began to withdraw in an orderly manner. Dugu Qiu, who was fighting over there, immediately sensed that something was wrong. He knew that he was probably going to be tricked. He also roughly understood Zhang Chen's plan, but he couldn't understand where Zhang Chen got the audacity. Wasn't he afraid of being purged by the royal family after the Great Victory?

Dugu Qiu didn't know how Zhang Chen would evade the purge by the Dasheng royal family, but at this moment, the elders of the Dasheng royal family who were hiding in the shadows were so angry when they saw the Zhang family disciples retreating that they gritted their teeth and their eyes were blazing with fury. For a moment, they were so angry that they wanted to rush out and kill Zhang Chen.

(End of this chapter)