He'd rather run than be turned into a cannon fodder for the broken engagement.

Leng Huan looked at him thoughtfully and said, "Gather the people before trying to seize the seal."

"Hmm, you have someone in mind? Who is it?" Fu Xun racked her brains, but couldn't figure out who it was.

"Wang Chen."

"Him?" Fu Xun was stunned. "Wang Chen is only in the mid-stage of the Integration Realm. If he can't activate the Divine Seal, his spiritual power will be drained."

That makes sense, but Wang Chen has a system. He only needs to use one item to gain power at the Mahayana level or above. He doesn't trust Leng Huan to do it for anyone else.

“He has a secret technique.” Leng Huan looked up into Fu Xun’s eyes, his expression serious: “Do you still remember the sect war back then? Me, back then…”

"You mean..." Fu Xun instantly understood her meaning. So that's how it was back then...

He hugged Leng Huan's waist: "Will this method have any adverse effects? I didn't ask you specifically back then, you..."

Leng Huan placed his hands on his shoulders, and the two faced each other closely, talking intimately. "No, it's just that it can't be used often. But regarding the Divine Seal, Wang Chen can use it."

Fu Xun: "Will he agree?"

Leng Huan: "If you disagree, beat him up."

"..."

-

The City Lord's Mansion, South Pavilion.

Wang Chen was helping his daughter practice magic and memorize incantations when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"Daddy?"

"...It's alright, Father will teach you the hand seals."

When Leng Huan arrived, Wang Chen successfully taught his daughter how to use a small flame.

"Zhenzhen, Aunt Leng is going to discuss something with your father. Why don't you go find your mother?" Leng Huan waited until the little girl had finished playing before speaking.

"Aunt Leng! Okay, then I'm going to find my mother." The little girl skipped and hopped into the room not far away.

Wang Chen simply swept his sleeves aside, sat down on the steps, and asked, "What brings you here?"

Leng Huan followed suit, sitting down a foot away from him. "Can't I come to see you guys if there's nothing wrong?"

Wang Chen looked at the sky; the cold wind was biting, and withered branches and fallen leaves were flying everywhere.

After a long while, he asked, "Is there something you need? Have you found the Mahayana cultivators?"

"Hmm." Leng Huan also looked at the sky, which was overcast and not exactly a good day. "We're one short for mahjong, are you in?"

I almost thought she was talking about playing mahjong, damn it!

Wang Chen realized what was happening, his eyes widened, and he pointed at himself, "Me? The villain? You want me to save the world?"

Leng Huan looked at him without saying a word.

"Damn it, sis, I'm the villain! Are you sure I won't mess this up?"

"Hey, no, there are so many Mahayana cultivators, and I'm just a minor fusion cultivator! I'll get drained dry, okay?"

Leng Huan remained silent, staring at him.

"Say something! I really can't do it, you're going to screw me over again!"

"I won't cheat you."

"you sure?"

Leng Huan rubbed his hands together and sighed, "Oh, Fu Xun and I are here too. We just need to recharge the divine seal to replenish the power of the seal. I know you have the relevant items. If you're worried, you can get a Tribulation Transcending level one."

Wang Chen was speechless. "Tribulation? Tribulation? It's not that easy."

Leng Huan started acting like a rogue: "Then just tell me if you're going or not."

"I……"

"Brother Wang Chen, we share the burden. You have the system with you, do you think the seal has nothing to do with you? You've been involved in these causes and effects for a long time."

"Fuck..."

"Really, look, winter has come, can spring be far behind?"

"I understand everything you're saying, but what if... I don't even know if my virtual knowledge is up to par!"

Leng Huan patted his shoulder heavily: "Ask your system, find one with less side effects. Look at Xie An, he just advanced."

Give me three days to think about it.

"Okay! Think about it carefully."

As he stood up, the aura of isolation emanating from Leng Huan dissipated, and the faint sounds of Shen Hanyan and the child talking could be heard from inside the room.

Leng Huan knew she had been paying attention to what he and Wang Chen were saying, but she couldn't hear a thing.

After she disappeared, Shen Hanyan opened the door and came out. Looking at the stunned Wang Chen, she went over and sat down next to him, asking, "What did Leng Huan want to talk to you about?"

Wang Chen looked up at the sky and sighed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and slowly said, "Winter has come, and spring branches are waiting in hiding."

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again. The sky was still gray; the mainland had been gray for several years. At that moment, Zhenzhen ran over, climbed onto his back, and hugged his neck.

Reaching out to hold his daughter's hand, Wang Chen turned to Shen Hanyan and said, "Zhenzhen hasn't seen the bright sun for several years."

Shen Hanyan propped her head up and looked at him: "When will the mainland return to normal?"

Wang Chen put his other arm around her. "Leng Huan invited me to activate the Divine Seal. Do you think I can go?"

Shen Hanyan was stunned. After a while, she asked, "But aren't you supposed to be at the Integration stage? At least you should be at the Mahayana stage, or better yet, at the Tribulation stage."

“Since Leng Huan has come to ask,” Wang Chen stared into her eyes, “cultivation level is not a problem.”

"Hanyan, do you want me to go? I won't go unless you let me."

Shen Hanyan was lost in thought for a long time. Her daughter pestered Wang Chen for a while before running off to play. The couple remained seated in the same spot.

She suddenly leaned her head on Wang Chen's shoulder and looked at Hui Tian: "Is it dangerous for you to go?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

“Wang Chen, actually, you are sometimes timid and cowardly, but deep down you are a gentle and kind gentleman. In my heart, you are actually very strong. Go if you want to. When someone is needed, it means they are important. I will support whatever decision you make, the only condition is that you must come back to my side.”

"Thank you. I've thought it over carefully. Leng Huan and Fu Xun wouldn't put themselves in danger. They've made all the necessary preparations. I'm just helping out because we're one player short."

"Hanyan, if I don't come back to you, where else can I go?" Wang Chen leaned against her shoulder, breathing in her fragrance, a familiar, faint scent of medicinal herbs. "Weary birds return to their nests, and I too will return to you."

After decades of marriage, Shen Hanyan's face flushed slightly. His breath tickled her neck, and she tilted her head to the side.

"I understand. I'll wait for spring to return."

-

The next day, Leng Huan received Wang Chen's reply.

"Are you really sure?" Leng Huan sized him up for a moment, his expression serious, as if he wasn't being forced.

In fact, Leng Huan had already considered that he was unwilling and was preparing to spread the word and summon other Mahayana old monsters.

Wang Chen nodded: "I'm just a little scared of that damn plot power. I've been tricked by it several times, you know that. Are you sure you're ready? When are we leaving?"

Leng Huan: "That's about it. Let's discuss the details of the backup."

At this moment, Fu Xun walked in from outside the door. "Guardians, I have asked Master and Senior Wen to come and meet us. No unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach."

Leng Huan nodded and said, "I'll have the Valley Master of Water Valley come on the ship, and I'll have the Changming Sect Master Feng Mingfei and Gu Yubing guard Xiqi City."

Wang Chen: "Are Yan Wu and Chief Jin from the Li Huo Clan going?"

Leng Huan: "It's necessary. Clan Chief Lian Shi is the captain. The Netherworld Ship cannot be lost. There's also Yan Wu, and the other three Nascent Soul cultivators, and one Nascent Soul cultivator from the Hidden Clan."

Wang Chen saw that the group was quite well-organized. "We'll set off in a few days."

Fu Xun: "Seven days later."

-