Chapter 611: The Contest of Mount Tai

Black Pot returned from afar and came back to the pleasure boat, looking around in confusion. He could not find any trace of Luo Xiyao or the mute, and could not help but wonder.

"They are noble and upright. Because something happened on their boat that threatened us passengers, they felt guilty, so they left the boat for us and departed on foot."

Chen Shi explained to Black Pot, then spread out the Topographic Map to determine the location of their boat.

"Woof?" Black Pot was deeply skeptical of this.

That Ten-Times Girl was clearly extremely greedy for wealth, so how could she feel guilty and give them the boat while walking on her own?

At this moment, the giant fish pulling the boat laughed and said, "Fellow daoists, they are not the boat owners at all. I am the boat owner. This boat is mine. We agreed that they would collect the money and I would pilot the boat. Afterward, they take thirty percent and I take seventy percent."

Chen Shi was greatly astonished. He came to the bow and said to the giant fish in the mysterious yellow sea, "Fellow daoist, you are not a cultivator, so what do you need so much money for?"

"Though I am not human, I also cultivate the Dao."

The giant fish laughed and said, "I too have a heart that seeks the Dao, an ambition to attain the Dao, and a wish to achieve the Dao. Earning some wealth is merely to cultivate better. I am a being whose wisdom has awakened. Why must cultivation require a human form?"

Chen Shi was filled with admiration. "I have been enlightened."

He continued to examine the Topographic Map.

The mysterious yellow sea was vast and boundless. Most islands were carried on the backs of giant turtles, roaming through the sea, so their positions could not be determined by these islands. However, the Topographic Map marked certain immovable islands. These islands were rooted deep within the mysterious yellow sea and could not be moved. The island closest to Chen Shi and the others was called Mount Tai Island.

Aside from the islands, they could also gaze upon the Celestial Palace of the Purple Micro Emperor. That Celestial Palace was located in the northern pole of the Heavenly Dipper. No matter from which direction one looked in the Earth Immortal Realm, it always remained due north.

With these two reference points, their position could be determined.

Chen Shi tugged the iron chain of the pleasure boat and gave an instruction to the giant fish pulling it. The giant fish of the mysterious yellow sea immediately began pulling the pleasure boat toward Mount Tai Island.

The giant fish pulling the boat was a chatterbox. While swimming, it spoke ceaselessly to Chen Shi and Black Pot, saying, "You two, there is no need to consult the Topographic Map. When you come to the mysterious yellow sea, just look for me, Yu Sari. I dare not boast about other things, but when it comes to knowledge of the geography of the mysterious yellow sea, I, Yu Sari, am second to none. No fish would dare claim first."

Chen Shi asked, "Do you know of the Radiant Virtue Grand Celestial Palace?"

Yu Sari looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "That is the territory of Houtu Huangdiqi. How could someone like me enter? But for any other place, I know them all without exception. The Mount Tai Island you wish to visit is considered a famous mountain within the mysterious yellow sea, with a peculiar origin. The mysterious yellow sea is unfathomable in depth, and this mountain is likewise unfathomable. Someone once bribed me to swim to the very root end of Mount Tai Island. I swam downward with all my might for an unknowable amount of time and distance, yet I still could not reach the end of the mountain's root."

Chen Shi and Black Pot could not help but be shocked. Was this really an island?

Yu Sari continued, "I even suspect that the root of Mount Tai Island has already pierced through the mysterious yellow sea, and that it is a divine mountain growing from some unknown place. There are also rumors that this island is a stone from beyond the heavens, which flew in from an unknown place and crashed into the mysterious yellow sea. This stone possesses inconceivable power and can travel through time and space."

Chen Shi laughed. "The more you speak, the more fantastical it becomes."

Black Pot nodded repeatedly, expressing disbelief.

Yu Sari shook his head and wagged his tail as he swam forward, saying, "It is not that I am speaking carelessly. Rather, people discovered that in every world floating upon the mysterious yellow sea, there is often an identical mountain, completely the same in form as Mount Tai, without finding the slightest difference. Some began to suspect that all these mountains are actually the same mountain, which is Mount Tai. Some busybodies then gave such mountains the same name, calling them all Mount Tai."

Chen Shi and Black Pot were deeply astonished. Every world had an identical mountain, and they were all the same mountain? Was Mount Tai truly so miraculous?

Ahead, a dragon turtle carrying a sea immortal mountain slowly swam past. On the immortal mountain were several thousand immortals. Some played the zither, some sang, some brewed tea, and some rode cranes roaming about, utterly at ease.

From the island, drifting song could be heard.

Half a scroll of pine wind, half a pillow of sunset glow

Floating fame cast aside as sand upon the waves

No guest before the Jade Emperor's hall

Only brewing a pot of idle tea in the sea of clouds

The song left a lingering resonance. Hearing it, Chen Shi felt endless emotion in his heart. He said to Black Pot, "This is what an immortal truly is. This is the immortal path. Without contention for fame and fortune, without love for rank and merit, without fighting over superiority. Simply brewing tea in the mysterious yellow sea, sleeping with sunset glow as a pillow, living as an idle cloud and wild crane. These fellow daoists possess a lofty state of mind beyond my reach."

Black Pot felt the same. It lifted its head and howled, responding in harmony with the immortal song from the mountain.

"Stop howling."

Yu Sari was somewhat nervous. It poked its head out of the mysterious yellow sea, glaring with its two dead fish eyes toward that immortal mountain, and said, "Those on the immortal mountain are a bunch of calamity ash immortals! Do not be fooled by them!"

Chen Shi asked, "What are calamity ash immortals?"

Yu Sari said, "These immortals are a group who kept to themselves and avoided the struggles between the Celestial Court and the immortals, which is why they came to the mysterious yellow sea to do nothing all day, playing zithers and singing songs. They did not refine treasures, seek treasures, or cultivate to improve their strength. As a result, when the Opening Calamity arrived, every immortal on the mountain died completely, not a single one left."

Chen Shi and Black Pot were horrified. They looked toward that immortal mountain and saw a dragon turtle carrying it, leisurely roaming through the sea.

A wind blew across the sea. The bodies of the immortals on the immortal mountain scattered backward like light smoke, revealing bare white bones, yet still playing the zither, still singing, still brewing tea, utterly at ease!

"They appear carefree, but in truth they are bound to the immortal island by obsession."

Yu Sari's voice came through. "If a passing immortal is drawn in by them and sets foot on the island, they will slowly be assimilated and will never be able to leave, dying and having their Dao dissipated, becoming calamity ash! Even if a Gold Immortal enters the immortal island, they would never dream of escaping! Originally there were only a few hundred immortals on this island, but later there were more and more. Now I fear there are several thousand, perhaps even tens of thousands."

Chen Shi gazed at the immortal mountain gradually receding into the distance and murmured, "There is danger even in the mysterious yellow sea..."

"The danger is the Opening Calamity."

Yu Sari said, "Once the Opening Calamity begins, no matter how heaven-reaching and earth-shaking your cultivation, you too will die and have your Dao dissipated."

Not long after, they encountered another immortal mountain, also carried by a dragon turtle, roaming through the sea. On the mountain were several hundred fairy maidens singing and dancing, with graceful postures that made one's heart yearn.

"More calamity ash immortals!"

Chen Shi and Black Pot tensed. They saw that beside that immortal mountain, many boats were already moored, and other boats were approaching from afar. When they reached the side of the immortal mountain, they stopped on their own.

Boat operators cast golden ropes to tie up at the mooring posts, and immortals went ashore, walking into the mountain.

"These immortals are probably going to die." Chen Shi said anxiously.

"Those are not calamity ash immortals."

Yu Sari raised its head and glanced over, then said, "Those are the courtesan immortals of the sea, and also a famous place for squandering gold, a place for seeking pleasure and enjoyment."

"Courtesan immortals?"

Chen Shi found it somewhat hard to believe. "Should immortals not have severed the Three Corpses and cut off all attachments? Why are there still such mundane affairs?"

Yu Sari sneered. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death, formation, dwelling, decay, and emptiness, these are the true meaning of the universe. Immortals cling to eternal life and do not die. What attachments have they cut off? This is clearly the greatest greed, the greatest obsession! If great greed is not removed and great obsession is not eliminated, what benefit is there in removing small greed and small obsessions?"

Chen Shi was slightly startled and felt that these words held great truth. He could not help but fall into deep thought.

Indeed, was eternal life not itself a kind of obsession? Even immortals could not escape vulgarity.

Yu Sari was indeed knowledgeable and experienced. With it pulling the boat, Chen Shi and Black Pot increased their knowledge along the way while chatting with it, never feeling lonely.

At this moment, from afar, a voice chanted, "One fishing pole reels in all the autumn of the Five Lakes, drunk and lying among streams and mountains, dreaming of the Nine Provinces. Laughing, pointing at floating clouds, all are passing guests, a boat full of bright moonlight needs no gathering."

Chen Shi and Black Pot grew tense and looked in that direction. "Could these be calamity ash immortals as well?"

Yu Sari said, "Mount Tai has arrived. Most here are idle, scattered immortals, noble and upright, indifferent to fame and profit."

In the distance, Chen Shi saw an immortal mountain come into view. It did not appear especially remarkable, but immortal qi curled through the mountain, forming incense-like clouds. Many boats were heading there. The voice that had just chanted came from a pleasure boat not far away. On the boat were indeed immortals with the bearing of Dao bones and immortal wind, chanting aloud, displaying the transcendent air of idle clouds and wild cranes.

Suddenly, someone cried out, "Quick, look at that dog! It seems to be the dog ranked first on the Immortal Slaying List!"

In an instant, pairs of eyes fell upon Black Pot in unison. Nearby pleasure boats also halted one after another. Many people took out portraits and compared them with Black Pot's appearance.

The immortal who had just seemed so noble and upright laughed heartily. "I have worn through iron shoes searching without finding, yet obtaining it takes no effort at all! This fortune is mine!"

He circulated his Primordial Spirit, and behind his head appeared a great hand that reached through the void to seize Black Pot!

Black Pot raised a claw to meet it. Above that immortal's head, clouds steamed and surged. Where the clouds parted and mist dispersed, a world emerged, which was his Dao Realm.

He urged the power of his Dao Realm, determined to capture Black Pot.

"BOOM!"

Accompanied by a deafening explosion, that immortal with the bearing of Dao bones and immortal wind underwent a drastic change in expression and was sent flying backward, crashing toward distant Mount Tai!

"Worthy of the number one Dog Immortal on the Immortal Slaying List!"

One figure after another flew up and reached toward Black Pot.

Black Pot flipped and rose, leaping into midair. When it stabilized its form, the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler had already appeared in its hand. The Heavenly Cycle Fire Domain erupted. It urged the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler, dancing like a whirlwind in all directions. A series of booming cracks rang out, blocking the attacks coming from every direction.

"Capture this dog, and alive you may obtain five hundred earthly treasures and spiritual roots. Dead, you may obtain a Tai Yi Golden Immortal sacred ground!"

The immortals on the surrounding pleasure boats were nearly fanatical and attacked Black Pot one after another. Some even sacrificed immortal artifacts, activating the might of those artifacts to kill Black Pot, yet they felt they had no confidence in capturing this Dog Immortal alive, so taking Black Pot's dog head to claim merit and reward was more cost-effective.

Black Pot stamped its foot heavily. Around its body appeared the Yin-Yang Dao Field. All kinds of spells and divine techniques entering the Yin-Yang Dao Field were weakened layer by layer by the ever-changing power of yin and yang. By the time they reached its side, their might was far inferior to before.

Only those immortal artifacts possessed astonishing power, breaking through the Yin-Yang Dao Field. When they came before Black Pot, they still carried seven or eight parts of their original might.

Black Pot wielded the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler in its hand like a grandmaster of martial arts, blocking one immortal weapon after another, striking many immortal weapons until immortal light burst in all directions.

One immortal after another charged into the Yin-Yang Dao Field. Their respective Dao Fields erupted, freezing the yin-yang changes, and they pressed close to engage Black Pot in close combat.

Black Pot urged the iron ruler and fought and killed among the crowd. People were continuously heavily wounded and sent flying.

In just a brief moment, dozens were injured!

Suddenly, a True Immortal charged into the Yin-Yang Dao Field, using his own Dao Field to freeze yin and yang. He laughed and said, "The Dao Realm dog thief indeed has some skill, but unfortunately today you will certainly be captured and brought to justice!"

The whisk in his hand suddenly expanded. Three thousand dust threads wrapped around the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler, locking the ruler's transformations. Black Pot urged the ruler and found it could no longer grow or shrink. That True Immortal charged forward, raised his hand, and hooked his five fingers, laughing. "Today I will capture you first and seize this merit!"

What he employed was the Great Divine Ability of the Five Elements, which could lock all Five Elements transformations. If one had not jumped out of the Five Elements, one would inevitably be struck, with absolute certainty.

Black Pot twisted aside and escaped from the Five Elements bondage. It urged the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection and unleashed one move, Ten Suns Assailing the Dipper. The divine ability erupted with ten consecutive punches carrying supreme pure yang Dao power, blasting into every part of that True Immortal's body!

That True Immortal spat blood and was sent flying backward, revealing a terrified expression. He cried out, "It has jumped out of the Five Elements!"

Black Pot was somewhat puzzled. What was so shocking about jumping out of the Five Elements?

Several of Chen Shi's disciples used Fairy Maiden Yuan Bixia's Crimson Origin Furnace to refine furnaces every day, and had long since refined countless Five Elements Deliverance Pills. Everyone had consumed quite a few and had long since jumped out of the Five Elements.

It shook the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler forcefully, knocking the whisk away. Another True Immortal seized the opportunity to sacrifice a sword. A single sword light split into three, flying around Black Pot up and down, containing the sword qi of Heaven, Earth, and Human in the Three Talents, fierce and domineering.

Black Pot blocked left and right, then suddenly spotted an opening. It leaped out from the Three Talents Sword Formation and rushed to that True Immortal's side. Raising its hand and bringing down the rod, it struck that True Immortal into the sea.

That True Immortal was heavily wounded and cried out in terror, "It has jumped out of the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Human!"

His Three Talents Sword would strike as long as one remained within the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Human. This time he failed to ensnare Black Pot, and only then did he realize that this Dog Immortal had already jumped out of the Three Realms and was no longer within the Five Elements.

Black Pot shook its head inwardly. Was this really worth such alarm?

When Chen Shi and it had stolen treasures together, they had refined countless furnaces of immortal pills. The great Daos of Three Talents, Five Elements, Six Harmonies, Eight Desolations, and so on had all been jumped out of. The only ones not yet jumped out of were yin and yang.

But as for Yin-Yang Deliverance Pills, according to the Empress of Earth, there were rumors of them, but even she had never heard of anyone successfully refining them.

It had consumed so many medicinal pills. Trying to trap it with these Dao techniques was simply a dream.

"Dog Immortal, do not be arrogant!"

The surrounding immortals came to kill and besieged Black Pot. Among them, True Immortals were not few either.

Suddenly, a sword light came unexpectedly, broke through its Dao Field, and circled its neck three times.

At Black Pot's neck appeared layer upon layer of demonic Dao patterns. Countless black hairs on its neck were cut off, falling like rain, and it finally blocked this sword.

It had nearly been beheaded and could not help but roar. It summoned the demonic domain of Western Ox New Continent. A stretch of demonic domain in the sky covered the Eight Desolations, urging the demonic side of the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection to the extreme!

Its cultivation technique was a secret transmission from the Celestial Court, far surpassing the techniques of others. Even if a True Immortal encountered such vigorousDharma power, they were no match. For a time, casualties appeared.

Outside Mount Tai Island, more and more immortals gathered. Each urged their Dao domains to suppress it, pressing down upon its demonic domain and Dao Field.

A True Immortal flew through the air, one palm descending. Black Pot raised its hand to take it head-on. With a boom, it was struck down from the air and crashed onto the deck where Chen Shi stood, smashing the deck of that boat open.

Chen Shi stood at the bow, sacrificed the Purple Heaven Immortal Gourd, and a strand of Profound Heaven Sword Qi flew out. With two ringing notes, it severed the chains binding Yu Sari. His expression was gentle as he said, "Fellow daoist Yu Sari, it will likely become extremely dangerous here. I fear I may implicate your life, fellow daoist. I release you now to leave."

Yu Sari was frantic with rage and cried out, "What nonsense are you spouting! That is my boat! My boat!"

Above, a dark mass filled the sky as hundreds of immortals urged their divine abilities and Dao techniques, bombarding downward.

Seeing this, Yu Sari hurriedly dove deep into the mysterious yellow sea to avoid the strike.

"This is finished. My boat is finished, and those two are finished as well..."

Thinking this, it looked back and saw that on the sea surface, at the bow, Chen Shi stood tall. His whole body's Dao techniques circulated, and he sacrificed Black Pot upward.

"AOOOOO-"

An incomparably resonant roar came. That Black Immortal revealed its true form as a Huo Dog, becoming incomparably massive. Under the empowerment of Chen Shi's enormously thick Dao patterns, its fleshly body stretched ten thousand zhang, its sinews and bones like immortal weapons refined a thousand times over, incomparably ferocious.

That black dog opened its great mouth and bit down toward the sky, swallowing hundreds of li in one gulp. The densely falling divine abilities, Dao techniques, immortal weapons, immortal artifacts, and hundreds of immortals were all swept away.

Chen Shi waved his sleeve and swept it downward. The sea surface roared mightily as he dispersed the surplus Dharma power.

Black Pot's body shrank and returned to its original state, landing beside him.

Chen Shi looked up. The clear sky was transparent, limpid as if washed clean.