Chapter 73: Selfishness

The older generation, who began their journey in the era of Hongyuan City and saw the rise of the Ancient Covenant, were gradually passing away. 

Zhang Shen didn’t attend every funeral, and no one criticized him for not doing so. 

However, he made it a point to be present at a few, particularly those of the elders with whom he had a good relationship.

This included figures like Zhang Si, Lin Wanfeng, and Ye Shuang, former Innate powerhouses who had fought on the frontlines in Hongyuan City and helped the Ancient Covenant find its footing. Now, they were slowly departing from this world.

“These old fellows, dying so early, not even waiting for me a bit longer. Truly inconsiderate,” grandfather Zhang Tianlong grumbled as he watched his old friends pass away with smiles on their faces. Previously vibrant and spirited, he visibly aged during this period.

Although Innate practitioners had a lifespan of two hundred years, these individuals had suffered many hidden injuries while struggling for survival in the endless wilderness to protect their families. Even though they received care after the establishment of the Ancient Covenant, the lost years couldn’t be regained.

Zhang Shen was also deeply moved. The passing of these familiar elders affected him greatly. Despite expecting it, it was still a bittersweet reality to face.

“Grandfather, Elder Zhang Si was fair and strict, tirelessly working for the Zhang family. I intend to take his grandson as my attendant to accompany me,” he proposed. 

Unlike other elders, Elder Zhang Si had somewhat neglected his own family in his devotion to the Zhang family. He married late in life, leaving behind a son who, unfortunately, lacked the talent to continue Zhang Si’s legacy.

Zhang Shen wanted to lend a hand.

“Your consideration warms my heart. I believe Zhang Lai would gladly accept this,” Zhang Tianlong replied, pleased. 

Though his grandson was ruthless to enemies, he was exceptionally caring towards his own kin.

After discussing the matter with Zhang Si’s son, Zhang Lai, he was overjoyed by the prospect.

The title of attendant might not sound appealing but believe it or not, if this news were to spread, there would be countless people envious enough to circle the Ancient Covenant ten times over. 

Zhang Xuenian, the son of Zhang Lai and only ten years old, was honest, obedient, and diligent. Satisfied with the boy after meeting him, Zhang Shen decided to take him on as his attendant.

In addition to these elders, Zhang Shen’s parents, Zhang Xun and Lin Yanqing, also reached the end of their lifespans. They hadn’t broken through to the Innate stage, and living to their current age was already a feat.

“Perhaps I couldn’t do anything in the past, but now I can keep them with me.”

The Vanishing Mountain Sect’s inheritance included a sealing technique that could preserve the last breath of life, allowing those sealed to survive in a preserved state. With his Law Manifestation physical strength, Zhang Shen could now use this sealing technique.

However, the materials required for this seal were scarce. Otherwise, Elder Zhang Si and others would have also been preserved by Zhang Shen for potential future revival.

Only Zhang Shen knew about this, everyone else thought Zhang Xun and Lin Yanqing had passed away naturally. Zhang Feng and Zhang Miaohao wept bitterly, and Zhang Shen gave no hint of the truth.

In the future, if his direct relatives couldn’t achieve immortality, Zhang Shen planned to preserve them in this way until he had the means to revive them. He didn’t plan to ask for their consent, thinking they could come and complain if they had issues after being revived.

Rather than losing them, Zhang Shen chose to be selfish.

With the passing of the older generation, there was a change of guard within the Ancient Covenant. The younger generation began to take the stage. Zhang Shen seized this opportunity to promote some rising talents from the ranks of commoners.

These individuals, lacking powerful backers, were destined for challenging days ahead. How far they could go depended on their own abilities.

Yet, this symbolized a shift in the power structure of the Ancient Covenant, moving in the direction Zhang Shen had hoped for.

Beyond this, there was an unexpected joy.

Li Zhi took Zhang Shen’s words to heart and chose to follow the path of the Divine Technique of One’s True Will, calmly accumulating her foundational strength.

The approach of practicing various martial arts and techniques, as Zhang Shen did, wasn’t suitable for Li Zhi. She couldn’t even comprehend how her master managed to learn so many skills. 

Was there even enough time?

For this reason, she opted for a different route, to experience a thousand affairs and read ten thousand books, using life experiences and the wisdom of predecessors as the foundation for her future divine technique. This method was neither good nor bad but was certainly viable.

To achieve this goal, Li Zhi deliberately spent more time in the Enforcement Squad to immerse herself in the complexities of the world, and along the way, she even took on a disciple.

She was curious to experience being a master, seeing how Zhang Shen seemed to enjoy it immensely. However, once she actually became a master, she regretted it.

Li Zhi felt that teaching a disciple was like swimming, while she made it back to shore, her disciple was still floundering in the sea, not only swimming but swimming backward. 

It was exasperating.

She found herself getting angry more often since taking on a disciple. And she couldn’t just quit, as Zhang Shen would be the first to reprimand her.

“Huiling, your master still lacks patience, and sent you to me again,” Zhang Shen teased the little girl in front of him at Shanshui’s residence.

The fearless six-year-old girl clung to Zhang Shen’s arm, “Uncle, you can’t talk about my master like that. She’s just been very busy with the Enforcement Squad lately. And besides, isn’t Uncle happy to see Huiling?”

As she spoke, Zhang Huiling’s small face looked ready to burst into tears, as if she would cry if he disagreed.

Zhang Shen laughed heartily, pinching her cheek, “You’re such a clever little girl.”

This girl was the daughter of Zhang Shen’s brother Zhang Feng and Du Yin, intelligent and quick-witted as her name suggested.

Sometimes, however, her excessive cleverness could be a headache.

“Unfortunately, Grandfather has been lacking energy lately and has become more gentle. Uncle is too busy with the affairs of the Ancient Covenant to educate the next generation,” Zhang Shen mused with a sigh.

The direct descendants of the Zhang family had never produced any wastrels or parasites. This was because the older generation instilled in them, from a young age, the spirit of vigilance in peace and iron-blooded resolve. 

The harsh environment of the endless wilderness also forced them to stay disciplined and not fall into decadence.

However, Zhang Shen was now somewhat concerned. The Ancient Covenant provided the next generation with a far better environment than before, which inevitably might soften their iron-blooded spirit. If this trend continued weakening over generations, he feared they might all end up too soft.

“It seems necessary to arrange for the young people of the Ancient Covenant to slowly start experiencing the real world from an early age. Especially for children like Huiling. At just five or six years old, she can easily kill a dozen adult men. They need to be cultivated earlier to adapt to the worldview suitable for the endless wilderness. Otherwise, even a small turmoil in the future could break these tender flowers.”

Zhang Huiling, cheerfully oblivious, had no idea that her beloved uncle had already planned a whole array of trials for her, all out of deep care. 

“Go on, Zhang Xuenian is cooking. Go help him,” said Zhang Shen. 

Zhang Huiling scampered off happily.

Zhang Shen no longer required such food, it was Zhang Xuenian and Zhang Huiling who needed it. They were in the Acquired stage and needed a lot of food to replenish their energy.

However, Zhang Shen didn’t allow the kitchen to deliver meals directly. He wanted Zhang Xuenian and Zhang Huiling to be self-reliant.

It might sound unbelievable, but these two kids–one just breaking through to the first layer of the Acquired stage and the other at the second layer–could punch through steel plates, so there was no need to worry about them.