Chapter 866: Chapter 497: The Last Remains of Conscience

The awakening of Zhang Tuowei and Zhang Fei was good news for Zhang Chen, at least in the turbulent times to come, the two little ones would have the ability to protect themselves.

Zhang Chen also stopped Zhang Fei from absorbing the wandering souls in the world, granting a bottle of Yellow Spring Water, as Zhang Chen felt that these souls carried the essence, qi, and spirit of others, and if they contaminated his own essence, qi, and spirit, it might damage his soul, causing fundamental issues, which would not be ideal.

Without fully understanding the power of the bloodline, Zhang Chen would never allow the two little ones to practice recklessly.

Yellow Spring Water was a great tonic for the Zhang Family’s bloodline, sufficient for the two little ones to cultivate, replacing the wandering souls.

After three more days, a crackling sound suddenly echoed in the stone cave, with flashes of electricity illuminating the darkness of the cave. Following the sound, Zhang Chen saw arcs of lightning flickering around Chengyu’s body, with electric arcs continuously shooting out from Chengyu’s body.

Chengyu awoke, and it turned out Chengyu had awakened the power of thunder, mastering the talent of thunder and lightning. Although the thunder that could be controlled was weak, its future potential was immense.

When Zhang Chen saw the crackling lightning on Chengyu’s body, he was transfixed, his eyes full of envy.

He also wanted to develop thunder skills, but, unfortunately, never had the opportunity. The power of thunder could not be developed easily.

"The power of thunder! It must be the power of the Dragon Pearl." Zhang Chen’s eyes were filled with heat.

"Big brother, sister Chengyu is about to wake up!" Zhang Tuowei pointed at the lightning flashing around Chengyu, his eyes showing a hint of delight.

"It’s actually the power of thunder, it completely counters me." Zhang Fei was unhappy, drooping his little face, his eyes showing a trace of inexplicable horror, which was a natural life-repelling instinct.

Thunder inherently suppresses ghosts.

"Junior Brother!"

Amidst the voices of the people, Chengyu slowly opened her eyes, and her pupils flickered with electricity, as if she was discharging electricity.

"Senior Sister, congratulations! Awakening the power of thunder today, you now have an additional means of attack." Zhang Chen congratulated Chengyu.

Chengyu’s lips curled in joy, "I have also awakened my bloodline? I also have bloodline power now?"

With Chengyu’s awakening, Zhang Chen finally began leading the family southward.

But before heading south, Zhang Chen had one more thing to do.

Zhang Chen instructed his family to pack their bags, then used the escape technique to disappear from the cave, reappearing in front of Han Suzhen’s grave.

But there was already a figure standing before the grave, paying respects.

Chen Sanliang’s figure was even thinner, but his overall energy was more refined. Yet Zhang Chen, seeing Chen Sanliang’s seemingly fragile silhouette that could be blown over by a gust of wind, somehow felt he was like a rock, integrated with heaven and earth.

Chen Sanliang was burning incense and paper money before Han Suzhen’s grave.

Zhang Chen glanced at Chen Sanliang, thinking about his conflicts with the Demon Race and how he was schemed against by Bai Cang, not knowing how to face Chen Sanliang.

But no matter what, having seen Chen Sanliang, he should take the initiative to greet him.

"Greetings, sir." Zhang Chen bowed towards Chen Sanliang’s back.

"You’re here?" Chen Sanliang turned to glance at Zhang Chen. At that moment, seeing Chen Sanliang’s face shocked Zhang Chen; he seemed to have aged a dozen years, a strand of black hair on his forehead had turned completely white, giving him an indescribable sinister charm.

"I knew you’d come, because you’re different from others, you are a conscientious person." Chen Sanliang’s hand caressed a bell hidden in his sleeve, his eyes showing a hint of a mysterious taste.

"Why do you look so haggard, sir?" Zhang Chen asked in surprise.

"I am guilty in my heart!" Chen Sanliang was silent for a moment, then turned to gaze at Han Suzhen’s tombstone and sighed softly.

"Have you finally realized your mistake, sir? Leading the Demon Race army through the gates resulted in the deaths of millions in the Northern Land at their hands. Sadly, the great mistake is already made, irreparable." Zhang Chen sighed, somewhat resentful towards Chen Sanliang, as without his machinations, how could the Demon Race have allied with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion?

Chen Sanliang shook his head, not contradicting Zhang Chen’s words.

What he felt guilty for was not the people of the Northern Land, but for the imminent betrayal of Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen had been kind to Han Suzhen and to him, Chen Sanliang, but since obtaining Hu Li the Immortal’s Desolate Bell, he had been tormented day and night.

Although he is cold and ruthless, he is more conscientious than most people in this world.

"If Master knows from under the Yellow Springs, he surely wouldn’t want you to do such a thing." Zhang Chen stepped forward, placing a prepared roast chicken in front of the tombstone as an offering.

Chen Sanliang shook his head, "If your master were alive, he certainly wouldn’t stop me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was taken aback and fell silent. Meanwhile, Chen Sanliang added, "To nobles, commoners are not human! Nobles and ordinary people are two different species, like the difference between demon beasts and humans."

Zhang Chen was dumbfounded upon hearing this, staring blankly at Chen Sanliang, who turned to Zhang Chen seriously and said, "Kid, I’ll tell you a truth: To nobles, ordinary people are no different from cattle and horses; many nobles even feed on human hearts, akin to demons. Nobles are actually human demons, indistinguishable from demon monsters, and might be more ruthless. Demon monsters kill just to satisfy hunger or purify bloodlines, while human demons kill solely to gratify their appetite."

Hearing this, Zhang Chen felt his heart tremble, his scalp almost exploding.

"Nobles carve out territories, raising commoners like livestock, never treating them as human." Chen Sanliang said, "This is the truth of this world. I tell you now, hoping you’ll avoid a big loss facing those noble families in the Human Race. Never be deceived by their surface benevolence, including Xie Xuan and Xie Lingyun; be extremely cautious."

Zhang Chen fell silent upon hearing this; he couldn’t believe Xie Lingyun would see him as cattle because Xie Lingyun’s heart demon had been controlled by him. Xie Lingyun is pure, kind, and innocent; absolutely would not look down upon him, but how Xie Xuan views him remains to be seen.

Of course, Chen Sanliang’s words can’t be fully trusted either.

"Did my previous departure from the Demon Race cause trouble for you?" Zhang Chen asked.

Chen Sanliang shook his head, "You greatly underestimate my position in the Demon Race."

At this, Chen Sanliang turned to Zhang Chen, "That Bai Cang is most cunning; how did you get him to speak for you and cleanse your grievances?"

Zhang Chen once gave Bai Cang a Soul Hook, instructing him to explain the situation, avoiding implicating Chen Sanliang.

"Just a mere Bai Cang; I naturally have my ways to handle him." Zhang Chen’s eyes carried a hint of disdain.

Chen Sanliang gave Zhang Chen a meaningful look, yet didn’t continue speaking, only staring at Han Suzhen’s grave, his eyes filled with struggle.

Zhang Chen walked beside Chen Sanliang, then knelt and bowed before Han Suzhen. Chen Sanliang watched Zhang Chen kneel, the bell in his sleeve lightly shook, the Qi Mechanism gradually revived, yet ultimately extinguished.

"I will take Master’s body south; one day, I will revive him." Zhang Chen said firmly.

Chen Sanliang’s eyes flickered with waves, then all the waves rapidly vanished; he couldn’t help but sigh, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are Heavenly Dao’s reincarnation; how could there be a Technique to resurrect?"

"There are all sorts of strange abilities in this world; how could there not be a Technique for revival? I believe it exists if searched for." Zhang Chen’s voice was full of resolve.

In truth, he now vaguely perceives Life Dao due to his grasp of the Authority of Wood Element, combined with his grasp of Limb Regeneration Technique, and having visited the Underworld, he believes a revival Technique surely exists in this world.

While speaking, Zhang Chen lightly stamped his foot; Han Suzhen’s grave cracked open, revealing the coffin before Zhang Chen.

Initially, the sudden incident didn’t allow Han Suzhen to prepare a proper coffin, consisting only of some boards tied together with ropes. Fortunately, Han Suzhen’s body had been turned to stone by Zhang Chen, not fearing the erosion of snakes, insects, rats, and ants.

Looking at the emerging coffin, Chen Sanliang’s face twitched incessantly; he finally took a deep breath and said, "Thus, thank you."

His voice carried excitement, seemingly with a sobbing tone.

Zhang Chen shook his head, "Master has treated me well."

After speaking, Zhang Chen turned to Chen Sanliang, "I only hope Master would do his utmost to maneuver the Northern Land situation, ensuring more Human Race kinsmen survive."

Chen Sanliang lightly sighed, "I’ll do my best."

Zhang Chen looked at Han Suzhen’s stone sculpture, manipulating the tree’s bark, then crafting a wooden cart from trees, and captured a wild donkey. Once Han Suzhen’s body was placed on the cart, with Zhang Chen waving the whip, the donkey obediently ran through the mountains.

"See you." Zhang Chen waved goodbye to Chen Sanliang from afar.

Watching Zhang Chen’s distant back, Chen Sanliang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, then a relaxed smile appeared at his lips; he took out the Desolate Bell from his sleeve, looked at it, then suddenly laughed, "This is probably my last bit of conscience left."

Zhang Chen drove the donkey-cart away; possessing Dragon Qi, even without activating Beast Taming skill, the wild donkey could only respectfully and obediently behave before Zhang Chen.

Along the way to the cave, Zhang Chen summoned his family and that one beehive, as well as various treasures he previously plundered from Goulan County, slowly dragging them toward the distance.

Next, he plans to leave the Northern Land, heading south to make a living, seeking a stable place to settle down.