I picked up skill fragments in the demon world

#575 - confusing

If the problem wasn't with the boy, then it must have been on the road. But when I was awake, everything seemed normal. So, the issue most likely arose while I was unconscious.

Zhang Chen's figure flickered as he used his escape technique to return to his own camp. He looked at the others cultivating around the bonfire. Zhang Chen woke up Zhang Shi and asked about every detail after he fainted, from begging the Shen family's young master Shen Qiu to being kicked off the boat, and finally to Zhang Chen waking up.

Zhang Shi recounted everything in detail. After hearing Zhang Shi's account, Zhang Chen revealed a thoughtful expression: "That young master of the Shen family is very suspicious!"

"How so?" Zhang Shi asked, puzzled by Zhang Chen's words.

"Firstly, Mother, you announced our family's name, and the Shen family's young master Shen Qiu learned of it. Secondly, you took your younger brother and sister to seek recognition. Although he didn't bestow any pills, he didn't drive you out or accuse you of falsely claiming kinship and punish you. This shows that he actually acknowledged your identity. Otherwise, based on the temperament of nobles, daring to falsely claim kinship would have resulted in immediate death," Zhang Chen said.

"If he acknowledged our identity, why didn't he bestow any pills? According to our status as old relatives, there's no reason to stand idly by, is there?" Zhang Shi asked, voicing her doubts.

"Perhaps someone secretly passed on a message, not wanting us to go to Jinling," Zhang Chen replied. At this point, he was meticulously unraveling the clues and organizing everything.

Not giving me pills is hoping I die on the road. And now, the officials are intercepting us halfway, probably afraid that I haven't died completely.

"The Shen family has a big problem." Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes, a hint of murderous intent flickering within. The only place where information could have been leaked on this trip was when Zhang Shi revealed the family's identity.

He already guessed that this matter was likely related to that young master Shen Qiu, but he had no direct evidence to prove it.

"It doesn't make sense. We have no grievances with him. Why would they try to trip us up?" Zhang Shi wondered.

"Perhaps we'll know the reason once we reach the Shen family," Zhang Chen said meaningfully, looking into the distance. "Mother, continue to rest. I'll go solve the travel permit issue."

Zhang Chen's figure flashed and disappeared into the darkness again. When he reappeared, he was already in the county town, standing in front of the county government office.

"Hmm, the county government's aura is quite strange. It's actually blessed by the power of the gods? Isn't the imperial court's dragon energy naturally opposed to the aura of the gods? How can the county government have the energy of the gods flowing within it?" Zhang Chen stood outside the county government office, sensing the changes in its aura, his eyes revealing a hint of curiosity.

In the next moment, he遁入了county government office, found the county government's official seal, and then wrote several documents, casually stamping them with the official seal.

"In urgent situations, one can act expediently. Although this action isn't entirely aboveboard, I haven't thought about taking the opportunity to do evil, so it doesn't violate my original intention," Zhang Chen said. After stamping the documents, he carefully observed the changes in his own nature. After a moment, his figure flashed again, disappearing from the main hall of the county government office and arriving in the county magistrate's room.

At this time, the county magistrate was hunched over his desk, reviewing the documents in his hand, completely unaware of the extra figure in the corner.

Zhang Chen looked at the sky outside and felt that the county magistrate in front of him could be considered diligent and caring for the people. It was already the third watch (around 1-3 am), yet he still hadn't gone to sleep.

There was a faint divine power flowing within the county magistrate's body, but it was suppressed by the dragon energy and couldn't be unleashed.

"So, this county magistrate is trying to get his hands on the power of incense, wanting to walk the path of the incense gods. It seems that immortality is an ultimate temptation that is difficult for everyone to overcome," Zhang Chen thought to himself after seeing the incense energy flowing around the county magistrate.

Seeing the county magistrate yawn, Zhang Chen quietly brewed a cup of tea and gently placed it on the county magistrate's desk. The teacup landed on the table, making a soft sound. The county magistrate, without looking up, said, "Wang Dan, didn't I tell you to go to sleep? Why are you still here serving me?"

After a long silence, Zhang Chen didn't say anything. The county magistrate subconsciously looked up, and in the next moment, he was shocked: "Who are you?"

"If I were you, I would never mobilize divine power," Zhang Chen said with a smile, looking at the county magistrate with a grin.

The county magistrate was so frightened that his body turned cold, and sweat soaked through his back. He looked at Zhang Chen with a horrified expression. Anyone who could get so close to him without him sensing it must not be an ordinary person.

"Who are you? What business do you have in my room late at night?" The county magistrate looked at Zhang Chen's delicate face and judged that he must be a pampered person, so he asked.

Zhang Chen flipped through the documents piled on the county magistrate's desk and quickly pulled out a piece of paper from among them, placing it in front of the county magistrate. The paper recorded the matter of Zhang Chen's family's travel permit.

"Are you Zhang Chen?" The county magistrate asked after seeing the paper, suddenly understanding.

Zhang Chen sensed the flow of divine power within the other party's body, as if he wanted to use some means to counterattack. In the next moment, he directly mobilized the Blood Control Technique, controlling the other party's blood. The divine power gathered in his body instantly collapsed.

A mouthful of bright red blood spurted out, and the county magistrate lost control of his body like a puppet, staring blankly at Zhang Chen, his eyes full of disbelief: "How is this possible!"

The fact that the other party could use supernatural powers within the county government office, unafraid of the suppression of dragon energy, and could directly subdue him was simply sensational and definitely not something he could resist.

"I want to know who passed on the information?" Zhang Chen pointed to the documents on the desk.

"Someone anonymously passed on the information. I don't know the other party's specific identity," the county magistrate shook his head. "If you want to find the other party, I'm afraid it will be difficult! I have absolutely no clues."

Zhang Chen looked at the county magistrate. After their eyes met, Zhang Chen sighed softly: "I didn't expect the other party to do things so cleanly."

"I want the county magistrate to keep tonight's events buried in his stomach forever. What do you think?" Zhang Chen asked with a smile.

Before the county magistrate could speak, Zhang Chen flicked his finger, and a drop of blood flew out, entering the other party's body. Then, Zhang Chen's figure disappeared from the room.

That drop of blood wasn't a Blood God Seed, but just a little application of the power of the Blood Path, making it impossible for the other party to say anything about him.

Walking out of the county government office, Zhang Chen looked at the stars in the sky, his eyes revealing a trace of emotion: "I didn't expect that they wouldn't leave any clues behind. It seems I've been tricked. But don't worry, when I get to the Shen family in Jinling, I'll see what tricks you're playing."

Zhang Chen returned to the camp to rest, thinking about all the events and recalling the young lady of Guangji Prefecture: "Jiang Nan? I owe her a favor."

Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay in this world.

In the middle of the night, the demon horse suddenly became restless. Zhang Chen was awakened by the demon horse's restlessness and saw it restlessly absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, as if the entire demon horse was covered in a layer of white gauze.

"Interesting," Zhang Chen muttered to himself. "The demon horse is about to undergo a transformation and may have a chance to step into the sixth rank."

Zhang Chen watched for a while, not paying too much attention, letting it absorb the moonlight on its own. Zhang Chen went back to sleep.

The next morning, after the family had breakfast, Zhang Chen put on the carriage and continued on their way. Looking at the demon horse, he saw its big eyes flashing with intelligence. Zhang Chen stroked the demon horse's fur and felt that it had lost weight, with less fat on its body.

But he didn't care too much. It was just a mere fifth-rank demon beast and not worth his attention.

"What about the travel permit issue today? If we can't solve this problem, there will be big problems along the way," Cheng Yu said, sitting in the carriage with a worried expression.

"I've already made new travel permits. As long as we disguise ourselves a bit, it won't be difficult to deceive them," Zhang Chen said, taking out the newly made travel permits from his pocket and distributing them to everyone. "Everyone, remember your new identities and don't make any mistakes."

Hearing Zhang Chen's words, the family took the travel permits and began to memorize their identities.

"The accent problem is the biggest flaw," Cheng Yu said, looking at the travel permit in his hand. "Although we have new travel permits, it's still troublesome if the accent doesn't match."

Zhang Chen said with a smile: "Don't worry too much about it. Later, I'll send the falcons to scout the road ahead. If there are officials checking, we'll avoid them. If we really encounter an unavoidable pass, we'll think of a way to use the travel permits to deceive them."

In this era, transportation and information are inconvenient. Zhang Chen felt that even if there was an accent problem, those officials might not have traveled far and might not know what the accents outside were like.

Just like in the later generations of the South, there is a different accent in each place. Who can know them all?

As long as he was far enough away from the North, he would be safer.

The carriage traveled on the road. Zhang Chen thought about his own supernatural power cultivation progress. His Sand Uniting Art could refine new strange winds again. He had already stepped into the Nascent Soul realm. According to reason, he had successfully completely refined all the strange winds and cultivated the Sand Uniting Art to the Great Accomplishment realm.

"Strange winds are hard to find! I hope I can meet the Gong family. The Gong family is born with the ability to control all kinds of strange winds. If I can capture the Gong family to assist me in my cultivation, that would be great. Perhaps it would allow my Sand Uniting Art to quickly cultivate to the Great Accomplishment realm," Zhang Chen thought to himself.

With the passage of time, and with Zhang Chen intentionally concealing his identity, it was easy for the family to pass through the checkpoints. They easily passed through the checkpoints along the way. Even if they couldn't pass through, they could use the Bumblebee and the Sand Uniting Art to fool them.

The family traveled on and off, from summer to winter. In the cold wind, Jinling City was already faintly visible.