Chapter 684: Calculations from Many Sides

"I can use 'Decay-Control: Holy Intent's Bewilderment' to gradually influence Chen Changyuan's mind, but he has already become entangled with the Ancient God Fanni, and everything has become extremely troublesome."

Chen Yan recalled the time when he first used the Breath of Life and Death to investigate the rules of the world.

In the unseen, he perceived a certain vast and indescribable aggregate of rules.

Use the rules, and the rules are also staring at you.

"'Decay-Control: Holy Intent's Bewilderment' is indeed one method, but a single plan is always unreliable."

Chen Yan whispered, looking at the end of the thread belonging to Chen Yu.

On Chen Yu's side, some problems had appeared.

Chen Yan closed his eyes, the strands of the Breath of Life and Death circulating within his body, once again perceiving the rules of this world and the connection between this physical vessel and his true self.

Inside the Magnetic Storm Thunder Prison, Chen Yan's true self slowly opened his eyes; there was no one else in the room.

Chen Yan's consciousness flashed, and a call rippled out.

Very quickly, Chen Yu arrived.

"Brother, you've awakened." The young girl looked at Chen Yan with pleasant surprise.

"Mm." Chen Yan nodded:

"I seem to have sensed the arrival of others."

Chen Yu was not surprised, but she quickly nodded and looked outside the Magnetic Storm Thunder Prison:

"You all may come in."

Soon.

The room door opened, and five figures appeared.

Three men and two women, all appearing to be middle-aged.

"Zong Huang, pays respects to the Heavenly God General."

The middle-aged man in the lead spoke, bowing slightly toward Chen Yan.

"Lin Yu, pays respects to the Heavenly God General."

"Zong Xin, pays respects to the Heavenly God General."

The group bowed to Chen Yan one after another.

The man named Lin Yu had a particularly complex look in his eyes.

He was once the Minister of the Military Guard in Luoshi and was Luo Puxin's old superior.

That day, Chen Min slew the Ice Pi.

Lin Yu felt deeply that the Xia clan was incompetent, to actually allow a direct descendant of the Luo-Chen line to slay the Ice Pi, which represented the Dragon's Might.

Right after that incident occurred, as an old subordinate of Lu Xunyang, Lin Yu directly took his trusted aides and defected from the Great Xia, heading to the Ancient God Forbidden Land to search for the God General Xunyang.

Lin Yu had not expected that he hadn't even finished watching that play that day, and had never seen the scene where Chen Min was defeated by the Ice Intent.

He also had not expected that in Yunmeng City, just outside of Luoshi, a Great Xia Heavenly God General who surpassed Lu Xunyang had been born.

As for the man named Zong Huang, his arrival at the Ancient God Forbidden Land was actually even earlier.

That person was none other than the father of San Jin, and also one of Lu Xunyang's former deputy generals; his strength was formidable, to the point that even Xia Hanzhou could not command him.

At the same time, Zong Huang was also the older brother of Zong Heng, the Minister of the Military Guard in Qin Province, and the husband of the Eighth-Rank Ji Yanqing of Ji Province.

Back then, Ji Yanqing stole Great Xia's secrets, causing the Great Xia military to suffer heavy losses.

This led Zong Huang to harbor constant resentment toward his daughter with Ji Yanqing, San Jin.

Later on, he went directly to the Ancient God Forbidden Land to search for Lu Xunyang.

"We had originally been in the Ancient God Forbidden Land, but after the Dream-Eating Tapir awakened, it used the rules to break through the barrier between the Purple Firmament World-Stabilizing Mirror and the Ancient God Forbidden Land, affecting you all.

And we, in turn, had the opportunity to enter the Purple Firmament World-Stabilizing Mirror."

The man named Zong Huang explained the details of their origin.

In truth, they did not need to explain, as Chen Yan had already seen it clearly on the end of Chen Yu's thread.

At the very beginning, Chen Yu had thought these people were enemies and nearly started a great battle.

Zong Huang and Lin Yu had arrived at the Ancient God Forbidden Land one after the other.

But within the Ancient God Forbidden Land, they hid here and there, always separated by some invisible barrier from Lu Xunyang, making it impossible for them to find Lu Xunyang's presence.

A certain powerful Ancient God Beast was secretly guiding them toward a fate of desperation.

The army of one hundred that Zong Huang led, which was the core strength of the Xunyang faction, ended up with only Zong Huang and one other person surviving.

Lin Yu was much luckier; he quickly encountered the Eighth-Rank Tribulation Light Realm Zong Huang and received Zong Huang's protection, otherwise, Lin Yu would have died long ago.

After all, Lin Yu was only at the peak of the Creation Realm even now.

In their view, if they could trade their own lives for the return of Lu Xunyang, it would be worth it.

"We encountered that soul fragment of God General Xunyang that emerged from the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm."

Zong Huang said slowly:

"God General Xunyang is currently in a great battle against the Dream-Eating Tapir and the Nether Nightmare Beast; a rule barrier was cast around the battlefield, and that soul fragment could not get close to God General Xunyang's true self.

The soul fragment is still looking for an opportunity to merge with God General Xunyang, and we, under the guidance of the soul fragment, came to find you first."

Zong Huang sighed.

He had also learned from Lin Yu about the development of the Xunyang faction after he left.

If he hadn't led the core of the Xunyang faction to the Ancient God Forbidden Land back then, the Xunyang faction wouldn't have been in such chaos.

After the death of Xia Yuan, who had been designated as the ruler and was another of Lu Xunyang's deputy generals,

a vacuum appeared in Great Xia's power, and Xia Hanzhou had been extremely opposed to him taking people to the Ancient God Forbidden Land.

Fortunately, Xia Yuan's younger brother, Xia Qi, shouldered the burden of the waning national destiny.

Fortunately, the nearly exhausted Xunyang Sect had unearthed a new Divine General, Chen Yan.

Otherwise, he, Zong Huang, would have been a complete sinner.

After finishing everything, Zong Huang looked at Chen Yan and said, hesitating to speak:

"Is San Jin doing well?"

He knew from that wisp of Lu Xunyang's split soul that Chen Yan and San Jin had an excellent relationship.

It was impossible for him to ask Chen Yu about this; after all, Chen Yu had always been wary of them and had never let them enter the Magnetic Storm Thunder Prison.

God knows why this young girl had such an intense sense of vigilance.

She was vigilant against almost everyone except her own brother.

Could this be the legendary Dao of Cowardice?

If Chen Yan hadn't awakened, they would still have been left out in the cold by Chen Yu.

Chen Yu had been roaming the outside world, and because of the influence of Ji Yannan within her consciousness world, coupled with Chen Yu's weak martial strength at the very beginning,

Chen Yu had always acted extremely cautiously.

And precisely because of this,

Chen Yu was able to infiltrate the Gong Family under the identity of Wen Xin.

After entering the Five Clans Struggle, she had schemed against a group of Five Clans Creation Realm experts in the Rotten Sound Ancient House and ultimately obtained the Soul Disk.

"San Jin is doing quite well; her dream is to open a chicken leg shop," Chen Yan added:

"The chicken legs she makes are indeed very delicious; she has already thoroughly researched a new secret recipe."

Chen Yan's voice fell.

"Ah?"

Zong Huang was stunned for a long time.

Xia Hanzhou had clearly told him that his daughter, San Jin, was a one-in-a-billion martial arts genius.

How could she dream of opening a chicken leg shop?

"Chicken legs... chicken legs are good, chicken legs are good..."

He muttered, an endless look of regret appearing in his eyes.

People only know how to cherish things after they have lost them.

That day, when he led his army toward the Ancient God Forbidden Land, he passed by the Xia Yue Prince's Mansion.

That stuttering girl was clearly standing at the entrance of the mansion, waiting for him to look back.

But he had ignored her.

At that time, he hated Ji Yanqing's betrayal and likewise hated San Jin.

But inside the Ancient God Forbidden Land, he had experienced life and death countless times.

Countless times, he had wanted to return to that moment to change his mistake.

But there is no regret medicine in this world.

Chen Yan smiled, waved one hand, and a plate of chicken legs appeared in his hand.

When Chen Yan entered the Five Clans Struggle, his younger sister Chen Yu had prepared many delicacies for him.

As for San Jin, she had prepared many chicken legs for him.

There were roasted ones, braised ones, steamed ones...

God knows why San Jin was so uniquely fond of chicken legs.

"Are these... made by San Jin?" Zong Huang's voice trembled slightly.

"Yes." Chen Yan tossed the plate of chicken legs, and Zong Huang caught them in his hands.

Zong Huang looked at them earnestly, until finally, he only put the chicken legs away without eating them.

"There's no need to cherish them too much; I have plenty more here," Chen Yan laughed.

"No," Zong Huang smiled:

"I will eat them after the Xunyang Divine General and the rest of us leave the Ancient God Forbidden Land."

He smiled and looked at Chen Yan:

"Your current situation..."

"I am doing fine." Chen Yan briefly recounted what had happened within the Pure True Yang Realm.

Zong Huang, Lin Yu, and the others opened their mouths.

This was called "doing fine"?

"There is no need to worry too much about my side," Chen Yan laughed:

"Even if you all wanted to help, you don't have the ability to help me."

Zong Huang nodded; what Chen Yan said was indeed a bit heart-piercing.

"However, I have something I would like to ask you all for help with." Chen Yan stated his purpose.

The expressions of Zong Huang and the others instantly became serious.

"The first thing." Chen Yan took out the map he had obtained from the Thousand-Face Corridor:

"The three locations on this map happen to cover the Purple Universe World-Fixing Mirror and the Ancient God Forbidden Land.

I need someone to help me find the treasures at these three locations."

Zong Huang took the map into his hands:

"Good, now that we have a map, our actions will be more convenient."

"Yes."

Chen Yan nodded:

"The second matter is for you to find the Shi Yue Xue Hai based on the map."

Zong Huang's eyes narrowed slightly:

"You mean to..."

"I need you to slay Chen Changyuan," Chen Yan said quietly:

"His true physical body is still within the Shi Yue Xue Hai; if you slay his true physical body, I believe he will surely die as well."

This was Chen Yan's second plan.

Who said that the one who must slay Chen Changyuan has to be Chen Yan himself?

As long as one can achieve their goal, the path taken can also be changed.

"Understood." Zong Huang nodded earnestly.

"Slaying Chen Changyuan means you must wage war against the Tier 2 domain, the Shi Yue Xue Hai. The Magnetic Storm Thunder Prison, my Ember-Evil Gun, and the Yu Clan technology can assist you."

Chen Yan added.

"I can help too. I have already crafted one hundred explosive formation disks, though I am still far from the goal of ten thousand," Chen Yu suddenly said.

Chen Yan glanced at Chen Yu and did not speak.

He was contemplating Chen Yu's current combat strength.

A Tier 6 Chen Yu was still too weak.

However, her support capabilities were extremely strong, even capable of rivaling the entire Yu Clan technology with her own strength.

Zong Huang, being meticulous, said:

"The Heavenly God General's sister does not need to participate in the battle; she only needs to provide the formation disks."

"Understood," Chen Yan nodded and said:

"If the first two tasks can be completed, then there is a third."

Chen Yan said earnestly:

"Find the problem with the Purple Void World-Stabilizing Mirror. After the Dream-Eating Tapir's rules entered, the Purple Void World-Stabilizing Mirror became stuck.

The Divinity Spirit's shop has not opened again either."

This was a problem Chen Yan had been pondering.

The Dream-Eating Tapir used its rules to interfere with the Purple Void World-Stabilizing Mirror.

Since that is the case, erasing the Dream-Eating Tapir's interference with the Purple Void World-Stabilizing Mirror is undoubtedly a solution.

As it happens, Zong Huang is Tier 8 and possesses the aura of life and death himself.

Chen Yan had arranged everything.

His consciousness returned once more.

Since he intended to scheme against Chen Changyuan, proceeding on multiple fronts was the secure course of action.

Chen Changyuan was involved in too much; slaying Chen Changyuan might allow Chen Yan to see behind all these events.

Chen Yan looked again at the end of the thread belonging to Chen Changyuan, his thoughts turning.

The next moment, the power of will throughout his body flowed slowly.

At the same time.

Inside the small town school.

Chen Changyuan's body was overflowing with a powerful aura, malice permeating the air.

"The path of will..." he murmured.

He did not know if his decision to awaken the path of will now was good or bad.

"My destiny has been proceeding along a set path, but the deeper I go, the more unable I am to walk out of it."

He spoke heavily.

Everything you possess has long since had its price set in the dark.

He suddenly remembered his own split soul, Yu Changsheng.

Yu Changsheng's failure was absolute.

"But a person's life is meant to pursue everything."

Chen Changyuan spoke coldly.

Yu Changsheng had a destiny of predetermined failure, but did he ever give up?

If he had given up, he would not be Chen Changyuan's split soul.

"A person's life is meant to pursue everything."

An ethereal, boundless voice rang out.

Chen Changyuan's eyes shrank, and he shouted lowly:

"If one does not pursue everything, how is that any different from rotten wood or decaying grass?!"

But immediately following that, Chen Changyuan was stunned and looked around:

"Who is speaking?"

He stared in all directions, the aura of life and death swirling within his eyes, probing everything in the outside world.

Yet there was no strange existence probing him.

"Who is it?!" Chen Changyuan shouted lowly again.

The next instant.

His eyes widened, as if he saw a pair of eyes in the darkness.

Boundless majesty and profundity struck him in an instant.

Those eyes were like an ancient abyss, dark gold patterns swirling as they broke through the shackles of the rules.

Just like that, staring at Chen Changyuan.

Within them, a galaxy shattered into fireflies in the pupils, visions surging into a microcosm of the universe; when still, they hid all the vicissitudes of life, and when in motion, they would shatter the world's dimensions.

Chen Changyuan's breathing became rapid.

What is that?

Even as he is now, he cannot see through that pair of eyes.

It is as if they are gazing down at him from above the dimensions.

It makes even him feel an endless grandeur and something beyond words.

Chen Changyuan's heart beat violently, and at this moment, he slowly spoke:

"Who are you?"

Yet he saw that pair of eyes as if they had long since seen through everything about Chen Changyuan, and a voice arrived as if traversing endless time.

"I come from the eternal past, reversing from the future; I have seen you in another world."

Chen Changyuan felt a sense of dread.

"I am the Master of Will!"