40: So, where is Shen Zhao?

"Calm down, calm down! I'm half a System, after all. My main body worked with you for ninety-nine lifetimes, so I can still sense a trace of the aura your body encountered before."

"What you sensed is the whole picture? Why don't you sense it more carefully?"

"I can't hold it anymore, let go quickly, brother. Let's talk nicely, can you not be like this? Cough, cough, cough."

Seeing Ding Buer almost roll his eyes, Shen Lian finally released his grip.

"Hoo—"

Freed from the shackles, Ding Buer took deep breaths of fresh air.

When he recovered and looked at Shen Lian again, he immediately put on a humble expression, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "Brother, your temper is a bit too fierce; you almost took my life."

"Your Luck is enough for you to live for more than a thousand years. Are you still afraid of losing your life?"

"Those are all means of survival. You know that the System's operation is mainly sustained by the Luck of a world.

If the Luck declines, the System becomes as weak as a dog. The scattered Luck on me can't be compared to the main body's at all."

"Hmph."

Shen Lian snorted coldly and instantly unfurled his Folding Fan.

"Then go find your Son of Destiny to prolong your life. It's best to cultivate them to be strong, so killing them can be more enjoyable for me."

Upon hearing this, Ding Buer immediately said, "Master Shen, can I call you that? Just let me follow you. I feel like I'll gain a lot of benefits by following you."

"Hmm?"

Shen Lian let out a surprised sound, then sneered lightly.

"You want to freeload?"

"No, not freeloading. I know you're definitely unwilling to miss out on the Great Dao.

And as part of the System, I also have some understanding of the conditions required to reach the Peak of the Great Dao.

And I've personally seen someone reach that step. Perhaps I can help you too."

"Oh?"

These words instantly piqued Shen Lian's interest.

"You're saying someone reached the Peak of the Great Dao? Who was that person?"

Ding Buer quickly said, "That person is named Shen Zhao. He lived tens of thousands of years ago. Actually, like you, he also underwent Transmigration.

It's just that his fate was similar to yours; he was kidnapped by the System and had the same woman kill him nine times, until the tenth life when he broke free from the System's control.

He completely reached the Peak of his life, and he was the one who injured the System to that extent."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian quickly grabbed Ding Buer, squeezing his shoulder: "You mean the System that bound me and the System that bound Shen Zhao are the same System?"

Ding Buer nodded in pain: "Yes, it's the same System. Back then, he used underhanded means to trick the System.

But he didn't kill it. For a long time, it drifted between Chaos and Void until it found a new host.

That's you. Only then did it have hope of rising again. However, you are different from Shen Zhao.

Shen Zhao broke free from the System's control through schemes, but you are someone who dares to directly confront the System."

However, Shen Lian didn't listen to Ding Buer's flattery. Instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement: "So, where is Shen Zhao?"

Ding Buer was puzzled: "Why are you looking for him?"

Shen Lian: "Only such a master is worthy of being my, Shen Lian's, opponent. Tell me, where is he? I want to defeat him with my own hands to show the demeanor of a victor!"

Ding Buer sighed: "To be honest, twenty years after Shen Zhao quelled the Calamity of Evil Corruption,

he ascended to the Upper Heaven Realm. After several more cycles of sixty years, he became the Great Dao Saint Venerable, living a happy life with his many wives and concubines.

However, it was unexpected that about a thousand years ago, Shen Zhao was plotted against and is now in seclusion. No one knows his whereabouts except for his closest kin.

Finding him is truly harder than ascending to heaven."

"Hmph."

Shen Lian released Ding Buer's arm.

Ding Buer rubbed his sore and numb shoulder in pain, asking softly, "Master Shen, since we've spoken openly, do you think I can follow you? I know you're currently cooperating with the Longevity Chamber of Commerce.

And I happen to be skilled in some business matters. After all, you'll need a lot of resources to reach the Peak, won't you? I can also contribute a bit. What do you think...?"

"Since you want to follow, then follow."

Shen Lian closed his Folding Fan and quickly walked towards the mountaintop.

"But you'd best remember one thing: do not obstruct any of my decisions, otherwise, there will be consequences you cannot bear!"

"Certainly, certainly. Thank you, Master Shen, thank you, Master Shen."

Ding Buer repeatedly thanked him and quickly followed.

Leaving Ding Buer behind, Shen Lian had also considered various factors.

After all, after his great battle with the System, its current whereabouts were completely unknown.

Having this Physical Body might also help him track its movements.

Standing at the Peak of the mountain, Shen Lian sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to sense the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi continuously nourishing his meridians, and began to recall the essence of the Cultivation Techniques he had learned over nearly a hundred lifetimes.

In ninety-nine lifetimes, Shen Lian had mastered thousands of combat techniques and Cultivation Techniques.

Excluding the flashy and impractical ones, the remaining few that served him well were the following self-created Cultivation Techniques and combat skills:

Five Absolutes Heaven Extinguishing Force: A top-tier Cultivation Technique created by Shen Lian, fusing the four attributes of water, fire, wind, and lightning, combined with Yin and Yang Qi. It allows him to fully unleash all his potential in battle, surpassing the limits of his Foundation.

Heaven and Earth Suppressing Prison Art: A body-protecting Cultivation Technique created by fusing the Qi of Heaven and Earth's Limitlessness with three thousand Physical Body methods of the martial Dao. Once activated, it can withstand the full output of an opponent eight minor Ranks higher than himself without suffering any damage.

Void Concealment: The most proficient Cultivation Technique Shen Lian used before entering the Enlightenment Realm.

Centered on four points—deflecting force, controlling Qi, integrating, and dissolving—it absorbs the opponent's attacks while taking corresponding countermeasures. It can deflect force or collect Spiritual Qi and Dao rhyme to convert into his own attacks for a doubled counterattack, thereby quickly breaking through the enemy's defenses.

God-Demon One Thought: This is an even more powerful Cultivation Technique created by Shen Lian after improving the Dao Heart Demon Seed.

The power of this Cultivation Technique will grow geometrically with the increase in cultivation, but its early effects are not obvious. Only after reaching the Immortal Realm can its terror be truly manifested; gods and demons can control life and death with a single thought.

In addition, for combat techniques, such as sabers, spears, swords, halberds, staffs, fingers, claws, fists, palms, and legs, the unique skills he knew were countless, each reaching the Realm of Heaven-Man Integration.

As long as his cultivation was sufficient, even the lowest Rank combat technique in Shen Lian's hands could unleash earth-shattering power capable of splitting mountains and parting waves.

Besides these, Shen Lian also mastered various astonishing Divine Abilities and secret arts, each capable of shaking a region of heaven and earth when unleashed.

Among them, the most famous were the great dao human sovereign cauldron, the Great Dao Forging Hand, and the Great Dao Heavenly Pupil, which could see through all things in the world.

But these alone were not enough; to reach the Peak of the Great Dao, he needed to surpass all his achievements of the ninety-nine lifetimes.

After some thought, Shen Lian immediately had a goal, and then slowly opened his eyes.

Before his eyes was an endless, ethereal sea of clouds, which surprisingly calmed his restless mind.

However, a thunderous snore broke the beautiful Concept.

Ding Buer was already leaning against a rock, snoring away.

"Hmph."

With a cold snort, Shen Lian got up and slowly walked towards another dense forest.

The moment he stepped into the dense forest, he immediately unfurled his Folding Fan and lightly shouted, "Since you're here, why not show yourselves? Do you want me to personally invite you out?"

As his voice fell, there was a slight rustle in the dense forest.

The next moment, the figures of Tan Beihuan and Ai Buli appeared behind Shen Lian.

Tan Beihuan: "Your Excellency truly has sharp ears. We just arrived here a quarter of an hour ago, and you already discovered us?"

Ai Buli: "You must be Shen Lian, the traitor who massacred the Sect. Do you know what grave mistake you have committed?"

"What a joke."

Shen Lian scoffed lightly, turning to face the two of them.

"Are you here to seek justice for the Heavenly Feather Sect? Or are you here for Ye Fan, that so-called son of heavenly mandate?"

No matter which it is, since you've appeared before me, then both of you shall leave your lives behind!"