Chapter 569: Qianyang Sacred Ground

The yellow demons and great demons within Wu Xianjun's Dao Realm continued their fierce battle, unaffected, but they were simple Dao manifestations without thinking ability, oblivious to the disappearance of the Jambu Treasure Tree.

Black Pot carefully carried all the immortal halls and palaces, steadily following Chen Shi. Meanwhile, none of Wu Xianjun's many disciples noticed anything unusual.

Among these disciples, there were even those who had cultivated to the immortal realm and become Celestial Immortals, yet even they were deceived by Black Pot.

One of these Celestial Immortals seemed to sense something, looking up at the sky, Dao patterns swirling within his pair of eyes, likely employing an extremely powerful eye technique.

Seeing this, Black Pot feared he might see through the illusion of the current Jambu Treasure Tree, so he quickly focused his gaze on that person.

That Celestial Immortal's gaze was sharp, illuminating the sky, but he detected nothing different, laughing self-deprecatingly: "I'm too sensitive. I actually felt like heaven and earth were moving."

Chen Shi observed this and praised inwardly: "If Black Pot wanted to deceive me, I probably wouldn't notice anything different either."

One person and one dog sneaked toward the location of the radiant light. The Empress of Earth was waiting to receive them within the glow, when suddenly her expression changed slightly, and she raised her hand, pointing behind them.

Chen Shi looked back and saw cloud energy forming the shape of eyebrows and eyes in the distance. Further away, the facial features formed by the clouds were gradually becoming clearer.

The wind of the Dao Realm blew the clouds, and this enormous face was rapidly taking shape!

As the face slowly opened its eyes, Chen Shi's heart jolted, and he hastily shouted: "Black Pot, forget about the others! Move fast!"

He took the lead, darting away at full speed.

Black Pot immediately dropped all those immortal halls and palaces, stepping on demonic flames, leaping like flying, catching up to Chen Shi.

It no longer controlled the crowd. Wu Xianjun's many disciples woke up as if from a dream, looking around to see the Jambu Treasure Tree vanished without a trace, immortal halls and palaces falling one after another. They quickly steadied themselves and raised those immortal halls and palaces back up.

"What happened?"

"Where did the Jambu Treasure Tree go?"

"The treasure tree has been stolen!"

The crowd fell into chaos, looking around frantically, but Chen Shi and Black Pot had already fled far away, about to reach the location of the radiant light.

Just then, the enormous face formed from cloud energy suddenly lunged forward, pouncing onto a Celestial Immortal. The cloud energy immediately dissipated.

That Celestial Immortal's body trembled slightly, as if he had become a different person. He immediately flew up, his form transforming into a beam of immortal light, charging straight at Chen Shi and Black Pot, calling out from afar: "What friends have come to my humble Dao Realm without announcing themselves? Let me, Wu, fulfill my duty as host!"

This Celestial Immortal's cultivation wasn't very high, but his speed was extremely fast. In just a short moment, he closed much of the distance between them.

Seeing that Chen Shi and Black Pot were about to enter that radiant light, he suddenly released a mass of cloud energy from within his body, shooting straight toward Chen Shi and Black Pot.

The Celestial Immortal, meanwhile, slowly came to a stop, looking around in confusion, not knowing what had happened.

Chen Shi stepped into the radiant light first, leaving the Dao Realm, and Black Pot followed, stepping onto the light. It immediately stood upright on its hind legs and spoke in human tongue: "Friend, what grievance or grudge does Wu have with you? Why did you steal my Jambu Treasure Tree?"

As Black Pot spoke, it suddenly struck at Chen Shi!

It was clearly a Huo Dog, yet it displayed immortal techniques that were half Buddhist, half Daoist, attacking with orderly ferocity. With every move, Daoist thunder methods erupted from its fingertips, fierce and overbearing, while its physical body also possessed the Buddha's Golden Body, incredibly powerful and exquisite.

Chen Shi sidestepped Black Pot's attack, his heart startled: "Black Pot has been possessed by Wu Xianjun."

He activated the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection. One person and one dog raced hundreds of miles through the radiant light, exchanging dozens of moves, neither able to gain the upper hand.

"The Technique of Self-Transformation and Liberation?" The Empress of Earth's voice came through.

Black Pot heard the voice coming from behind itself and was about to turn around, when suddenly a ribbon bound it, followed by a burst of divine light, and a slender jade finger pressed against its forehead.

Black Pot's body shook violently, and Wu Xianjun's voice came from its mouth, the voice rapidly receding, growing softer and softer: "Who are you? How do you know how to break my Self-Transformation and Liberation technique..."

The Empress of Earth snorted, withdrawing her ribbon, and said: "So Wu Xianjun is a disciple of the Buddhist Sect."

Black Pot's consciousness returned to clarity. Startled, it hastily looked around, afraid that some other strange thing might possess it.

Chen Shi also breathed a sigh of relief and asked: "Your Ladyship, what exactly is the Technique of Self-Transformation and Liberation?"

The Empress of Earth said: "The Buddhist Sect established the Western Pure Land, creating a separate realm. Within it is the Heaven of Self-Transformation and Liberation, where the Deva living there possess this ability. They can attach themselves to others, take control of their bodies, and borrow their flesh, Primordial Spirit, magical power, wealth, wives, and children, living a carefree life. Techniques similar to this are called the Technique of Self-Transformation and Liberation."

Chen Shi's heart stirred. He had little contact with the Buddhist Sect, but he had encountered Buddhist hells in the underworld and seen some Deva.

The Empress of Earth said: "Wu Xianjun cultivates a similar technique. He doesn't need to leave a Dao Body to guard his Dao Realm. He simply needs a thought, and he can descend into the world of his Dao Realm, attaching himself to any disciple, or even to invaders."

Chen Shi's heart stirred: "Somewhat like the Temporary Abode technique, but much more sophisticated than it!"

The Temporary Abode technique was a divine ability created by Granny Sha. Its power lay in being able to descend across realms into another person's body, but it had major shortcomings. It required a long preparation period beforehand, setting up an altar. The target of possession couldn't be too powerful either, and transferring from one person to another also required extensive preparation.

But the Self-Transformation technique could easily control even an expert like Black Pot, and controlling immortals was no problem at all. That was truly sophisticated!

"Granny Sha indeed has great talent. Perhaps the Temporary Abode technique could be used as a foundation to reverse-engineer the Self-Transformation technique."

Chen Shi's eyes gleamed. After pondering for a moment, he discovered that the Temporary Abode technique was a Daoist technique, while the Self-Transformation technique was a Buddhist technique. There was no common ground between the two.

On the way back to the Western Ox New Continent, Her Ladyship taught Chen Shi the method she had comprehended for breaking the technique. It was quite simple: use the chaotic thoughts of sentient beings within the energy of incense offerings, so that when the other party tried to transform and descend, they would descend into countless chaotic thoughts with nothing to anchor to.

"This is a divine path technique. I can't use it."

Chen Shi thought for a moment, then said: "Cultivating the divine path specifically to break this technique would be inefficient. It would be better to comprehend a technique from the foundation of the Temporary Abode technique that rivals the Self-Transformation technique. That would actually be simpler."

With this thought taking root, he unconsciously sank into deep contemplation.

By the time they returned to the Western Ox New Continent, he already had some preliminary ideas.

Her Ladyship continued flipping through the accounts, searching for targets, while Chen Shi eagerly experimented with his improved Temporary Abode technique, simplifying it, deepening it, moving it closer to the Self-Transformation technique.

He tested it again and again, but most attempts ended in failure. After each failure, he would modify it. His mind was always flooded with strange ideas, his energy boundless, never feeling tired.

This time, he activated the Temporary Abode technique again, and suddenly discovered that his roots had spread into the high ridge, while branches and sprouts grew from the ancient tree trunk, dancing in the wind.

"I've possessed Daoist Willow!"

Chen Shi was astonished. He noticed that although the old willow tree was now bursting with vitality and in no danger, its consciousness was simple and scattered. Presumably, when the Celestial Venerable slew Daoist Willow, his divine ability shattered the man's thinking consciousness, and only a remnant of consciousness remained in the roots. When the branches grew, a portion of new consciousness was also born.

"Daoist Willow, is that you?"

Scholar Zhu seemed to sense something and curiously examined the small willow tree. Chen Shi didn't answer, but controlled the willow branches to nod at him, focusing instead on gathering Daoist Willow's scattered consciousness and merging it with the newly born consciousness.

Scholar Zhu, however, was deeply moved, choking with emotion: "Old friend, you've finally come back to life! These days and nights haven't been wasted, watering you every day."

Chen Shi flew out from Daoist Willow's body and activated the Temporary Abode technique once again.

This time, he descended into a duck.

"If the True King saw you, he'd grab your neck and make you lay a duck egg for him!" Yuzhu shooed Chen Shi away.

Chen Shi followed the ducks, waddling out of the village with their rear ends swaying. This was Huangpo Village, and Yuzhu was herding them into the Jade Belt River to catch fish and scoop up snails.

The moment Chen Shi hit the water with the ducks, he activated the Self-Transformation technique again, entering the body of the great snake Xuan Shan.

The great snake Xuan Shan was shocked to discover he had become an outsider in his own body. He didn't know how to break the Temporary Abode technique, and could only watch helplessly as Chen Shi occupied his body, running wildly all over the mountain.

Chen Shi controlled the great snake Xuan Shan to run to the Dejiang River for a drink, filling his belly to the brim, then activated the Temporary Abode technique again, abandoning Xuan Shan and jumping into Stone Ji Your Ladyship's body instead.

"Monster!"

Stone Ji Your Ladyship, whose body had been seized, said indignantly: "I am the foremost meritorious minister under the True King! If you seize my true body, the True King will not let you off!"

Chen Shi controlled Stone Ji's body, flying out of the temple, buying a set of clothes outside, and dressing "himself" up all fancy and flamboyant.

Stone Ji Your Ladyship struggled desperately to regain control of her body, then suddenly found she could control it again, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Shi glanced at Black Pot, activated the Temporary Abode technique, and the next moment, Black Pot was opening its mouth, panting with its tongue out, wagging its tail, pacing around excitedly.

Chen Shi got bored of the game and dispersed the technique.

Black Pot shook its head, suspiciously looking around, then casting a resentful gaze at Chen Shi.

Chen Shi pretended not to notice. Black Pot stood up and walked over. Chen Shi took out the medicinal pills Her Ladyship had given him last time and smiled: "Black Pot, Her Ladyship gave me a furnace of immortal pills. Try some!"

Black Pot took the jade bottle, swallowed a few pills, and felt as if a great furnace was churning inside its body, refining body and spirit with extreme force!

One person and one dog took turns eating the pills, one each, and soon finished the entire batch of immortal pills.

Just then, Jue Yangzi, Danchengzi, and the others' excited voices came over: "The Five Elements Calamity-Crossing Pills are ready!"

"Don't open the furnace yet!"

Chen Shi hastily flew over, raised another small jade bottle to guard the furnace mouth, and only then carefully opened the furnace, collecting the pill dew into the jade bottle.

This batch of Five Elements Calamity-Crossing Pills numbered over sixty. Chen Shi distributed some to everyone, ate a few himself, found they had little effect, and fed the rest to Black Pot.

"The Jambu Treasure Tree is suitable for refining Jambu Pills."

The Empress of Earth tossed them a prescription, telling them to continue refining immortal pills.

Chen Shi brought Black Pot and set off again, heading to the next target, Daoist Kan Zhi's Dao Realm.

"For this next accounting, I could perhaps use the Temporary Abode technique, possessing one of the disciples, then send Black Pot to receive the goods. Stealing the earthly treasures and spiritual roots would be much simpler."

He acted on the thought immediately. This time, seizing the earthly treasures and spiritual roots went surprisingly smoothly. Almost without alarming anyone, he stole Daoist Kan Zhi's earthly treasures and spiritual roots. No one in the Dao Realm even noticed the spiritual roots were missing!

Even Daoist Kan Zhi himself didn't notice.

Chen Shi and Black Pot returned to report. The Empress of Earth looked at them in amazement, crossed out Daoist Kan Zhi's name, and quickly picked the next target.

Outside, Jue Yangzi and the others finished refining the Jambu Pills. Chen Shi distributed them as usual, splitting the remainder with Black Pot.

Black Pot's cultivation was truly rising in a straight line. Its aura grew stronger and stronger, its physique more powerful, its body of copper tendons and iron bones, showing great potential to surpass its mother, the Huo Dog.

The Empress of Earth had too many accounts to settle, keeping Chen Shi and Black Pot constantly busy stealing more earthly treasures, spiritual roots, immortal medicines, and immortal herbs.

In two years, Qianyang Mountain was filled with all kinds of immortal medicines and earthly treasures and spiritual roots. Various rare treasures competed in splendor, emitting the fragrance of immortal medicines that refreshed the mind, lightened the body, and brightened the eyes, making the place resemble a paradise on earth.

Qianyang Mountain gradually began to show signs of becoming a sacred ground.

However, despite consuming so many immortal pills, Chen Shi didn't feel his cultivation improving much.

During these days, he had also been continuously refining the Grand Supreme Purple Qi. Logically, his cultivation should have advanced further, but strangely enough, his body was like a bottomless pit. No matter how many immortal pills or purple qi were poured in, it couldn't be filled, and there was no sign of cultivation growth at all.

Chen Shi secretly worried.

"After the Celestial True God passed away, something must have gone seriously wrong with my body."

He also sensed waves of pulling force coming from beyond the heavens. That was the Celestial Way's magic treasure, the Celestial Strategy, attempting to pull him to the Earth Immortal Realm.

Chen Shi did his utmost to suppress his aura, avoiding the pull. The Celestial Strategy couldn't find his energy signature, and the ascension radiant light dispersed.

"Your Majesty, two more jobs, and we can retire."

The Empress of Earth patted the now very thin account book and smiled: "The remaining targets are either too weak to survive Opening the Calamity, or too strong that even I don't want to provoke them. Just two more jobs, and we mother and child can wash our hands of this business."

Black Pot walked over. Over these two years, it had consumed all kinds of immortal pills, and its aura was now as formidable as a True Immortal. The Eight Thunder Techniques recorded on the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler had also been cultivated by it to the highest level. Even the owner of the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler had only reached this level, with no further techniques to cultivate.

Black Pot then practiced the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection that Chen Shi had comprehended. With nearly unlimited immortal pills, its progress was terrifyingly fast.

"Black Pot is about to surpass me."

Chen Shi felt somewhat troubled, not knowing what was wrong with his body. He had consumed so many immortal pills with no improvement whatsoever.

One person and one dog stepped into the radiant light.

In Xianzhou, Hu Feifei, Yu Tiancheng, and others arrived before a mountain range. Many talisman masters had raised their Primordial Spirits, floating in the air, recording a beam of radiant light descending from the sky.

Within the radiant light, mysterious and unfathomable Great Dao patterns slowly swirled.

"Magistrate Hu, in recent days, this kind of Great Dao radiant light has been appearing with increasing frequency. This light has appeared in all fifty provinces, and has even been discovered in the underworld. It's very peculiar."

Yu Tiancheng said: "I ordered talisman masters from various regions to collect and record the Great Dao patterns within, and discovered yin-yang Dao patterns, demonic Dao patterns, and Great Wilderness Dao patterns!"

Hu Feifei looked up, examining this beam of Great Dao radiant light, murmuring: "Where exactly does this kind of Great Dao radiant light come from? Why would the Western Ox New Continent suddenly have such Dao patterns appear?"

Yu Tiancheng hesitated for a moment, then said: "Additionally, we also discovered some Great Dao Phenomena."