"It has always been this way, hasn't it?"
Zhang Ru continued speaking without stopping.
" Mr. Zhuge was loyal to Shu Han, his elder brother Zhuge Jin was loyal to Eastern Wu, and his cousin Zhuge Dan was loyal to Cao Wei. The other two were naturally not as capable as Mr. Zhuge, but they should not be underestimated. Zhuge Jin held important positions, including Grand General and Governor of Yu Province, Zhuge Dan also served as Grand General Who Conquers the East."
"For them personally, their unwavering loyalty made them exemplary models of ruler and minister in history. But for the Zhuge Family as a whole, in the chaos of the Three Kingdoms period, no matter which family won, the Zhuge Clan would not lose."
Zhang Ru's interpretation of the Three Kingdoms is quite interesting; Tang Cheng hadn't really heard this viewpoint before.
Therefore, it is not only the Zhuge Family, but also many other large families, that acted in this way.
"It's a pity that even with their cleverness, they couldn't have foreseen the Sima Family's underhanded tactics."
"So now you understand why I practice evil arts?"
When Zhang Ru talked about his cultivation level, he made no attempt to hide it, saying it was obtained through evil cultivation methods.
"Because..."
Tang Cheng didn't know what to say. According to Zhang Ru, everyone in a noble family already had their own role when they were born. Judging from Zhang Ru's performance, his role was obviously not important.
"You're right, because we're the expendable pawns."
Zhang Ru spoke with remarkable composure, clearly demonstrating a deep understanding of his own identity.
"I know that evil arts have flaws, and I also know that after learning evil arts, one will never be able to achieve Foundation Establishment. But this is my mission, isn't it?"
"You didn't have to do all this. It's just a hollow title, is it worth it?"
Tang Cheng truly didn't understand; what was the point of having a prestigious family if it was just an empty title?
"Haha, you're not me, so naturally you can't understand. Let me ask you this: if Divine Land were in trouble and you were asked to step forward, would you do it?"
"Of course."
Tang Cheng didn't even think about it.
My answer is the same as yours.
Zhang Ru only said one sentence, and Tang Cheng didn't know what to say. Indeed, this was a matter of belief, and what could he possibly persuade others of?
"Cultivation is an inevitable trend, but it is still in its infancy. My Zhang Family is ahead of the curve, having already amassed a large number of high-level cultivators. Whatever we do, we are a formidable force."
Needless to say, Zhang Ru had so many Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators at his disposal for this operation alone, so his statement was not untrue.
With over 2,000 cultivators at the Late Qi Refining Stage, even if they went to conquer the world, they could wipe out the entire Earth Star, leaving only the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and at most a few nuclear-armed nations.
"Using potential to gain strength is ultimately about seizing a time advantage."
Zhang Ru's summary is not wrong, but their methods are unforgivable. Treating ordinary people as their cultivation sustenance is absolutely unacceptable.
"But your actions have placed the burden on the masses, making it absolutely impossible for you to clear your name."
Although Zhang Ru said so much, Tang Cheng hadn't forgotten that he was still a hardened criminal.
"Haha, no need for you to say more. If I could clear my name, why would I be here?"
"There are naturally struggles among aristocratic families. Although my Zhang Family has a long and distinguished history, it has never been able to stand out among them. We, the outcasts, have absorbed the power of countless others, and naturally we must take advantage of this time difference to elevate the entire family several levels."
"So you came to this disaster relief front just to gain fame and fortune? But in today's society, there's no such thing as offsetting merits and demerits. You've miscalculated."
Merit is merit, and fault is fault. Moreover, their behavior crossed the line, which is absolutely intolerable.
"Haha, you guessed half right. I did come here for merit, but it's not ours."
Zhang Ru smiled happily.
"One of the people in charge of this disaster relief operation is also surnamed Zhang."
Tang Cheng's expression instantly turned ugly.
"No matter who he is, if it involves evil practices, he can't escape it."
"No, no, no, you're wrong. He knows nothing about this. He doesn't even know my name. The only time we met was probably when we were children and had to draw lots."
"Moreover, fairness, integrity, justice—all the finest virtues you can imagine can be found in him."
Zhang Ru was clearly somewhat agitated when he said this.
"The investments of powerful families never stop at matters of power; they are involved in both righteous and evil endeavors."
"So we came here for no other reason than for him."
Tang Cheng was somewhat at a loss; he didn't know what to say.
Is it really worth doing so much for a stranger, just because they share the same last name?
"The second question is, why did I run away? Because if you caught me, my sacrifice would have been meaningless."
The way he said it made it sound like he was objectifying himself.
"My original task was to cultivate a large number of cultivators at the Late Qi Refining Stage, and then have the family place them in various fields. The Zhang Family has been severely suppressed by other aristocratic families in recent years, so their main goal is to establish themselves and build their own empires in various fields."
"But since you guys caught us in the act, it's obviously a failure. After that failure, my only value is to serve as a stepping stone for the rest of the family."
"It just so happens that this has come up, and it just so happens that I have the ability to do it."
The more Tang Cheng chatted, the less he understood this guy's thoughts; an invisible barrier had long existed between them.
"You're telling me this? Aren't you afraid I'll tell everyone about it later?"
Tang Cheng didn't understand; could he really say that to him?
"What's there to be afraid of? It's just the traditional practice of aristocratic families. Only someone as naive as you wouldn't know that."
Zhang Ru laughed. This kind of operation was just routine among aristocratic families.
"Why should I tell you this? That leads to the last question: why am I standing here?"
He was silent for a moment, his tone carrying a forced sense of ease.
"In ancient times, the highest military achievements were nothing more than being the first to scale the walls and slay enemy generals, or capturing enemy flags in battle. The same principle applies today."
In the fight against natural disasters, there are no merits of slaying generals and capturing flags, but there is the saying of being the first to charge into battle.
We had no intention of going back. If this operation fails, you can evacuate; the only consequence will be some economic losses. But for me, for us, this operation is a do-or-die situation; there is no other choice.
Tang Cheng felt a mix of emotions, and he didn't know how to express them.
Facing death calmly is always a difficult thing, but this guy actually did it. I don't know what he was thinking.
"They're here! Get ready!"
Just as Tang Cheng was lost in thought, Zhang Ru shouted, drawing everyone's attention back to him.
Suddenly, a surge appeared on the horizon, which was visible to the naked eye, and it was rapidly rushing towards the shore.
The wave was several stories high, carrying countless drops of seawater, and its momentum was extremely fierce.
"Prepare for battle!"
At a command, the great formation began to operate, and a Tesla valve formed from Magic Power appeared before the Nation-Protecting Grand Formation.