However, Zhang Chen is ultimately a man of conscience. Not to mention that there is no enmity between himself and Liu Ji, Liu Ji had, in the past, often provided guidance to Zhang Chen within Huangli Temple. Zhang Chen couldn’t bring himself to commit the act of murder to silence him.

Moreover, Zhang Chen sensed a thread of unique Qi Mechanism on Liu Ji: Absolute Defense.

Absolute Defense is the Magical Treasure of the Princess, yet it was obtained by Liu Ji through great fortune. The Princess had once taught Zhang Chen the incantation to control Absolute Defense, instructing him to retrieve it if he had the opportunity in the future.

"Zhang Chen, why are you here?" As thoughts fluttered through Zhang Chen’s mind, Liu Ji, with a full face of warmth, approached Zhang Chen to greet him.

"I am also puzzled. Why are you here, sir?" Zhang Chen looked at Liu Ji, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Come, let’s go to the tavern to talk. There are too many people with prying eyes here; it’s not a place for conversation." Liu Ji said to Zhang Chen.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen nodded. Together with Liu Ji, he entered a small tavern and proceeded into a private room, where Liu Ji began to speak, "Why are you in Jinling? You’d better run quickly. Right now, the entire Yellow Heaven Dao is hunting for you. You’ve practically stabbed Yellow Heaven Dao in the heart. It won’t be long before powerful beings from Yellow Heaven Dao descend to preside over a major event. If you don’t flee beforehand and are discovered by Yellow Heaven Dao, you can imagine what will happen to you."

Zhang Chen brewed a bowl of tea for Liu Ji, speaking slowly and calmly, "I’m not in a hurry to escape. It’s rather you; why have you come?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji smiled bitterly, "I’m a rather adaptable person. Yellow Heaven Dao sent me as a pioneer to investigate the situation in Jinling City."

"Investigate the situation in Jinling City?" Zhang Chen raised his eyebrows at Liu Ji’s words, pushing the tea towards Liu Ji:

"Yellow Heaven Dao never seeks profits for nothing and never does anything futile. What does Yellow Heaven Dao intend to do?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji hesitated slightly before saying:

"Given our relationship, there’s no harm in telling you. Yellow Heaven Dao wants control of all the nation’s waterways, using the power of Water Fortune to guide the Sea Race into the territory. This time, Yellow Heaven Dao’s target is the Jinling Shen Family, intending to destroy the entire Jinling Shen Family and seize control of the nation’s waterways."

"Yellow Heaven Dao has colluded with the Demon Race?" Zhang Chen was stunned upon hearing Liu Ji’s words.

"Yellow Heaven Dao can’t resist the court’s Inspection and Supervision Department, so to preserve itself, it can only collaborate with the Demon Race." Liu Ji murmured.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen tapped the table with his fingers, an air of seriousness in his eyes, "Once Yellow Heaven Dao succeeds in its aims and billions of Sea Race troops invade, the Human Race will face significant trouble, with countless innocent lives caught in the devastation."

"Only when the world is in chaos will people turn to the worship of the Divine Spirit, allowing Yellow Heaven Dao to collect faith more easily." Liu Ji replied.

Zhang Chen fell silent at Liu Ji’s words, a look of gravity in his eyes, as he gazed at the steaming tea without speaking.

"Is there a way to stop it?" Zhang Chen asked.

"How to stop it? Who can stop it? You? Or me? We are nothing more than pawns in a grand scheme. The only thing we can do is to strive for sufficient resources for ourselves amid this unstoppable force." Liu Ji said to Zhang Chen, "You should focus on your own survival. You’ve taken away Chengyu from Yellow Heaven Dao, which is crucial to Yellow Heaven Dao’s future plans. The entire Yellow Heaven Dao is desperately searching for you. Once they find you, you’re as good as dead. The only thing awaiting you is the fate of Soul Extraction and Refining."

Zhang Chen blew on the scalding tea before gently sipping a bit and speaking, "But they haven’t found me yet."

"If you don’t leave soon, they’ll find you immediately. The one leading the major event in Jinling this time is one of Yellow Heaven Dao’s seven Star Gods, the Water Virtue Star Monarch, who is appointed by Yellow Heaven Dao as a Star God, naturally wielding the authority of the Water God and possessing the power of the Water God. Their descent is meant to suppress the Shen Family, seize control of the nation’s waterways, and gather enough Incense Faith to enter the Eleventh Tier realm. If you remain in Jinling City and it falls to become the territory of the Water Virtue Star Monarch, you’ll find it impossible to escape." Liu Ji spoke with a serious tone to Zhang Chen.

"Water Virtue Star Monarch? I heard people say that Yellow Heaven Dao originally intended to appoint the Southern Dipper Six Stars, Beidou Seven Stars as well? How did this Water Virtue Star Monarch emerge?" A trace of confusion appeared in Zhang Chen’s eyes.

Liu Ji said, "The Nine Luminaries are secondary to the Beidou Seven Stars. It’s not in conflict for someone to hold two Divine Positions."

"Such precious Divine Positions, having one person hold multiple positions, isn’t it wasteful?" Zhang Chen asked.

"It is wasteful, but the individual’s identity is too extraordinary." Liu Ji’s eyes showed a trace of sour envy.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen gazed at Liu Ji in surprise. Liu Ji didn’t beat around the bush, "That Water Virtue Star Monarch is someone you know, none other than Prince Pingbian, Zhang Xiaohua. Normally, the Yellow Heaven Dao Main Altar had prepared the Beidou Pojun Divine Position for them, but their grandfather fell twice during Dragon Transformation, granting them immense Water Fortune. Upon ascending to the position of Po Jun Star Monarch, they inexplicably received divine favor and sensed the secondary stars, consequently mastering the Water Virtue Star Monarch’s Divine Position. Due to mastering two Divine Positions, their status in the sect has been elevated infinitely, tasked with overseeing the acquisition of the Water Fortune of Divine Land."

"Zhang Xiaohua? Po Jun Star Monarch? Water Virtue Star Monarch?" Zhang Chen gasped upon hearing this.

Beidou Heavenly Pass Po Jun Star Monarch: Also known as Yaoguang Star, it governs the six divisions, the Emperor of Heaven, and oversees the operations of Heaven and Earth, such as the length of the four seasons and the calamities of Heaven and Earth, none of which are not under its jurisdiction.

So the divine position and authority of the Po Jun Emperor is immense.

"So what divine level has Zhang Xiaohua reached in her cultivation now?" Zhang Chen asked.

"Originally she returned to the position of Star Lord of Po Jun, having stepped into the ninth tier of Divine Spirit, but with the recognition from the Water Virtue Star Monarch, she actually advanced further to the tenth tier, becoming the top individual under the Great Virtuous Master of Yellow Heaven Dao," Liu Ji said with eyes full of envy.

Zhang Chen tapped his fingers on the desk, myriad thoughts racing in his mind: "Zhang Xiaohua obtaining the recognition of the Water Star, ascending to the Fruit Position of Water Virtue Star Monarch, and becoming the only tenth-tier Divine Spirit under the Great Virtuous Master, surely Zhang Shicheng is behind this. Zhang Shicheng, a Dragon Transformation of the tenth tier, who has gained control over the Water Fortune of the Northern Land, could have given Zhang Xiaohua a push before his death. It’s not impossible."

"Now the Great Virtuous Master is in seclusion, and Zhang Xiaohua has become the highest cultivator within Yellow Heaven Dao, suppressing even the Twelve True People. She has vaguely earned the title of Vice Sect Leader, taking a step ahead of everyone, gaining an absolute head start. In the future, she could completely dominate Yellow Heaven Dao, using it to support Prince Pingbian; it’s not impossible. I’ve heard you and Zhang Xiaohua have a life-and-death feud, so you must be extremely careful," Liu Ji advised.

Zhang Chen scrutinized Liu Ji and asked, "We both come from the village, so why do you side with me?"

Taking a sip of tea, Liu Ji responded with an unexpected answer, "Because I find you pleasing to the eye!"

Zhang Chen was taken aback by the unexpected answer, but he did not believe it. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Setting down the teacup, Liu Ji said, "In three months, Zhang Xiaohua will arrive, so run as far as you can."

As Liu Ji stood to leave, Zhang Chen stopped him, "Village Chief, hold on, I have more questions."

Liu Ji looked at Zhang Chen, who asked, "Can you tell me about the major factions in Jinling City? Since you’re starting to make arrangements in Jinling, you must know the city well."

Liu Ji gave Zhang Chen a puzzled look, "You’re about to leave Jinling City, so why bother about the city’s factions?"

"Who said I’m leaving?" Zhang Chen retorted.

Now it was Liu Ji’s turn to fall silent. He stared intently at Zhang Chen, face serious, "Aren’t you afraid of Zhang Xiaohua settling scores?"

"There are tenth-tier divine beings in Jinling City; Zhang Xiaohua is just tenth-tier. It’s not so easy to do as she pleases here," Zhang Chen said.

Liu Ji gave Zhang Chen a deep look, "Jinling City has a tenth-tier divine being, the ancestor of the Jinling Shen Family. Apart from that, all other factions survive by relying on the Shen Family’s favor. Those ninth-tier divine spirits are nothing to fear. If you are concerned about the factions in Jinling City, focus your attention on the Shen Family."

"Is there only one tenth-tier divine spirit in the Shen Family?" Zhang Chen was stunned. He had sensed multiple auras in Jinling City, seemingly all tenth-tier divine spirits?

"Some are close to the tenth tier, having the semblance of tenth-tier, which could be called half-tenth tier. Though they have a tenth-tier stature, they haven’t condensed a tenth-tier Divine Body, so they’re not truly tenth-tier," Liu Ji casually explained, not wishing to elaborate further. He urged Zhang Chen to leave Jinling City soon, turning to leave in a hurry.

Watching Liu Ji’s departing figure, Zhang Chen squinted, "Liu Ji holds Absolute Defense, a tenth-tier mystery, and breaking it would require at least eleventh-tier power. In Jinling, there’s no one who can break Liu Ji’s defense."

"Uncle Liu, I have one more favor to ask," Zhang Chen called as Liu Ji was about to merge into the bustling crowd.

Liu Ji stopped his steps and turned to look at Zhang Chen, who ran down from the teahouse, standing before Liu Ji with a solemn expression, "I want to ask you to divert the tenth-tier divine spirit of the Shen Family, just for a quarter-hour."

Zhang Chen sought the Secret Treasure his mother left in the Shen Family, which could only be in the backyard. But the ancestral shrine in the backyard was guarded by a tenth-tier divine being, making it impossible for Zhang Chen to approach. Liu Bang, who wielded tenth-tier Absolute Defense, was an opportunity for Zhang Chen.

"You overestimate me, I have no way to delay a tenth-tier divine being," Liu Ji shook his head, rejecting Zhang Chen’s request outright, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

Seeing Liu Ji refuse, Zhang Chen sighed lightly, but wasn’t disappointed as he had expected this.