It was heard that another three thousand people have died, causing Mr. Wuliu's complexion to change. You must understand, these three thousand people perished within just two hours.

During this period, it is unknown how many times three thousand people have died or been injured. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Buried in the mountains are all lives.

Mr. Wuliu turned to look at Prince Pingbian, who stood at the entrance of the tent gazing at the distant mountains, his eyes showing a trace of seriousness. Mr. Wuliu's throat tightened, and his voice was a bit hoarse, "Prince, those are all our brothers' lives, now already two hundred thousand brothers have been lost."

Prince Pingbian's form remained as steadfast as a mountain, silently observing the distance, his broad shoulders seemingly capable of bearing the entire sky, "All this is worth it! The value of the Tripod Cauldron, don't you understand? Even if a million troops were to be put in, it would be worth it."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Wuliu lowered his head to look at his toes, not daring to advise against it. He understood Prince Pingbian well; once the prince had spoken, there was no chance of reversal.

"Send another three thousand over! You must hold on for me, as long as March 3rd, the day the elder transforms into a dragon, arrives, then everything will belong to us. I won't begrudge rewards." Prince Pingbian said.

Upon hearing Prince Pingbian's words, the soldier wiped his eyes, not knowing whether he was wiping away sweat or tears, yet his eyes were bloodshot. Then he stood up, turned around without saying a word, and left, his silhouette revealing a touch of determination.

Zhang Chen stood on a large tree, quietly observing the distant battlefield, where countless experts were fighting fiercely around the Ascension Pool. The Ascension Pool would generate a bit of energy daily; even if only half a bottle cap's worth, for everyone, it still had unimaginable effects, driving them into madness.

"So many have died, the mountainside has turned blood red." Zhang Chen watched the blood flowing from the mountain and felt a sense of lament, seeing how many have died on the mountaintop from the blood-soaked landscape.

"The rulers don't even regard the common people's lives as worth mentioning, treating them like straw dogs." Zhang Chen took a breath, feeling a bit helpless; if he could take control of the Ascension Pool, he would be able to hide it in his hand; then people would no longer need to kill each other. But Zhang Chen feared the entanglement with the Earth Vein and the involvement with cause and effect.

"Let's wait a bit longer." Zhang Chen mumbled, and his figure disappeared into the mountain wind, gone in a few swift moves.

Time passed bit by bit, Zhang Chen was in the inn idly pondering chess manuals, practicing writing, and studying knowledge, living contently.

As days went by, the townspeople cleared away the mud, and life gradually returned to peace, everything seemingly back on track, but an invisible oppression pervaded the Northern Land, everyone waiting for something, waiting for a moment that would ignite the situation in the Northern Land.

Time flew by, on March 3rd, as Yang Qi returned to Heaven and Earth, suddenly a thunderclap burst in the middle of the night, lightning streaked across the entire Northern Land's night sky, the thunder shaking the window paper tremulously, the houses as if shaking. Suddenly, out of bed, Zhang Chen flipped and sat up, quickly getting out of bed to open the window, his eyes gazing at faraway constellations of lightning, showing a rare solemnity.

Chen Xu was also awakened by the thunder. He got out of bed and came beside Zhang Chen, looking at the continuous lightning between Heaven and Earth, his eyes showing a glint of eagerness, "Could it be that Zhang Shicheng has transformed into a Walking Flood Dragon?"

"Not quite yet, but the momentum is starting to gather. It should be at noon tomorrow, when Yang Qi is at its peak, that Zhang Shicheng will transform into a drug and Walking Flood Dragon." Zhang Chen took a breath, his excitement not less than Chen Xu's.

"Whether we seize this chance or not depends on tomorrow." Chen Xu rubbed his fists.

"Transformed Dragon and Walking Flood Dragon is an extremely prolonged process, it will last about seven days, traversing through seven days to complete the True Dragon transformation, only at the last moment of transformation on the seventh day will the dragon be at its weakest. During the new and old Dragon Pearl transition, his strength will decline by thirty percent. Those hiding in the shadows will surely strike, you must remember to stay far away; never get caught in the crossfire." Zhang Chen cautioned Chen Xu, "I'll tell you an excellent opportunity to act. I will capture his soul after he transforms into a True Dragon. At that time, the leader of the Inspection and Supervision Department, Xie Xuan, will act and slay the Evil Dragon's body; that's your best time to act." Zhang Chen suggested to Chen Xu.

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Chen Xu showed joy: "Haha, so you've got it all planned. I thought, with your abilities, how could you not have a backup plan? I just need to follow you and pick up the leftovers, no need to worry unnecessarily."

Zhang Chen heard this and responded noncommittally: "You go prepare, I also need to secretly prepare."

After finishing speaking, Zhang Chen exercised escape techniques, vanishing from the room, continually switching escape techniques as he moved. Though the speed was slow, because he took a straight path without terrain obstacles, Zhang Chen arrived at his Eight Trigrams Furnace in just half an hour, starting to meditate and calculate various vital points.

As time ticked away, midnight soon arrived. Suddenly, a figure appeared from afar, flashing several times until arriving at the entrance of the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

In the cave, Zhang Chen opened his eyes, feeling the external Qi mechanism, and spoke: "So it's Commander Xie, coming here in the dead of night instead of sleeping in comfort at home; what brings you to this wilderness?"

Xie Xuan managed to find the location of his Eight Trigrams Furnace; Zhang Chen was not surprised, as the opponent was indeed the head leader of the Inspection and Supervision Department. What move under his command could be hidden from him?

"How can I still sleep?" Xie Xuan gave a bitter smile, walking in from outside the cave, his voice full of helplessness: "That old mud eel caused such a commotion, disturbing and unsettling, how can I have the mind to sleep?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen smiled softly: "Success depends on human effort, planning depends on the heavens. We've accounted for everything, if that old mud eel still manages to escape death and survives, then he's the protagonist, and we might as well find a corner to hide away forever without ever engaging in the Martial World."

Zhang Chen's voice was full of mockery, which eased the atmosphere.

Xie Xuan approached the Eight Trigrams Furnace, feeling the power of the Colored Realm Fire within, and couldn't help but be startled: "What a terrifying flame! If such a flame were to land on me, I'm afraid even my Yang God would be burned away."

"It would have to land on you first, you aren't made of stone, why would you let the fire fall on you?" Zhang Chen retorted without much empathy.

Hearing Zhang Chen's words, Xie Xuan also smiled without refuting, because Zhang Chen was right. No matter how strong the Colored Realm Fire was, if it couldn't reach him, it would be in vain.

"What are you refining in this furnace?" Xie Xuan inquired curiously.

"A great weapon of destruction!" Zhang Chen replied.

He would never say it was a great weapon against the Divine Soul Dao cultivators.

Xie Xuan stared at the Eight Trigrams Furnace for a while, unable to discern anything because of the Colored Realm Fire's concealment, only knowing that the flame within was terrifying. He then smiled and said: "The thing you're painstakingly crafting must not be an ordinary item."

Then he looked at the wind and rain outside the cave entrance: "Are you really confident in capturing Zhang Shicheng's soul? If this old guy truly gets his destiny, each of us here will end up in the Northern Land."

"Don't worry, since I'm taking action, there won't be any mistakes. As for mere Zhang Shicheng, I'll handle him directly." Zhang Chen said with a smiling face.

Hearing these words, Xie Xuan relaxed, looking Zhang Chen up and down with eyes full of bewilderment: "I really find it hard to imagine how the Zhang Family produced such an oddity like you. Although my Lingyun is a few years older than you, such an age difference is nothing for us cultivators. If you are interested, how about I betroth Lingyun to you?"

Zhang Chen looked at Xie Xuan in astonishment: "I'm of criminal status."

"As long as it's done correctly, you can become anyone in the future. Especially now with chaos in the Northern Land, arranging an identity is not difficult. As long as you are willing to abandon the Zhang Clan's honor, everything will be up to me to arrange." Xie Xuan stated intently.

Life is indeed strange, Prince Pingbian wanted to marry Xie Lingyun into the Prince's Mansion, but Xie Xuan tried every way to avoid it, yet here he was actively trying to pair her with Zhang Chen.

"My feelings for my sister are as deep as the sea, but I cannot disobey her will. If she wishes to marry me, I have no reason to refuse." Zhang Chen said with a radiant smile.

He did not refuse, considering Xie Lingyun was fair-skinned, beautiful with long legs, and particularly, her cultivation had reached the Yin Spirit Realm, not far from the Yang God. Her family was powerful and wealthy; Zhang Chen would be a fool not to agree.

However, Zhang Chen roughly knew in his heart that it seemed unlikely between himself and Xie Lingyun. Xie Lingyun's vision was too vast, her heart set entirely on cultivation, with immortality and eternal existence as her pursuits; how could she be captivated by mere fleeting affections?

"Good! When this great calamity is over, I'll go ask her! I'll acknowledge this marriage, and by then, it won't be up to her! She's old enough and still unmarried with no children, running around wildly everywhere, what kind of propriety is that," Xie Xuan grumbled, his voice filled with discontent.

Zhang Chen dared not respond, discussing Xie Lingyun behind her back might not end well if it ever reached her ears.

"What are your plans after this catastrophe ends?" Xie Xuan asked when he noticed Zhang Chen remained silent.

Zhang Chen pondered briefly and did not conceal: "Go to Jiangnan, find a place with beautiful scenery to settle down, then come out after reaching great success in cultivation and become invincible, I want to see who dares to provoke me then."

Hearing Zhang Chen's words, Xie Xuan scratched his head: "With your skills, it's a pity to live in seclusion! If you're willing to join the Inspection and Supervision Department, I promise you a position within the Hundred Households."