Chapter 624: Meeting Old Friends Again

More and more cultivators from the Eight Immortals Sect gathered around, and cultivators from other mountain peaks also rushed to the scene. Seeing the devastation everywhere, they were shocked to the core. The sect master, Fang Zhanzi, was also a True Immortal, and witnessing Chen Shi slay so many experts filled him with dread, fearing he might incur Chen Shi's wrath.

Having worked through Immortal Lord Purple Heaven's question, Chen Shi felt immensely relieved. He addressed the arriving Eight Immortals Sect cultivators with an apologetic tone: "I, Chen, was rash and disturbed your quiet cultivation, fellow daoists. I hope you can forgive me."

In the sky, Western Ox New Continent gradually faded from view. The Dao Ruins and the demonic domain in the well also vanished. His power returned to normal. The ebbing of his strength actually left him feeling a sense of weakness.

"We wouldn't dare."

Fang Zhanzi hurriedly returned the courtesy, saying, "The Immortal has graced us with his presence, yet the Eight Immortals Sect failed to provide proper hospitality as your hosts. We beg your understanding."

Chen Shi asked, "Which Patriarch is enshrined on this mountain?"

Fang Zhanzi replied, "This mountain enshrines Patriarch Iron Crutch Li. He and the other seven Patriarchs are Tai Yi Golden Immortals of the Earth Immortal Realm."

Chen Shi's expression turned solemn. "I intruded rashly and disturbed this place. I should offer incense and beg forgiveness."

Fang Zhanzi then extended his hand in invitation. Chen Shi followed him into the hall, lit incense, and offered it before the statue of Patriarch Iron Crutch Li, saying, "This junior scholar, Chen Shi, unintentionally trespassed upon this treasured ground. I ask for your understanding, fellow daoist."

The portrait spoke: "I am already aware of this matter. You need not stand on ceremony, fellow daoist. You have killed too many living beings; it is not advisable for you to linger."

"Thank you, fellow daoist."

Chen Shi bowed deeply once more, then rose and walked out of the main hall. He collected the valuable items from the immortals' bodies, including their immortal artifacts, and said to Fang Zhanzi, "I encountered bandits and accidentally broke your sect's mountain-protecting formation. Consider these items as compensation, if you would be so kind as to accept them."

Fang Zhanzi hastily said, "We wouldn't dare."

Chen Shi set down the aggrieved party's treasures and immortal artifacts, paying no mind to whether Fang Zhanzi accepted them or not. He smiled, "I have many enemies. I fear more bandits might come and implicate all of you. Farewell."

Fang Zhanzi escorted him out, saying, "The situation is urgent; I dare not detain you, Your Excellency."

Chen Shi bid farewell and departed.

Fang Zhanzi bowed. When he straightened up, he saw only white clouds drifting gently in a clear, vast sky, and Chen Shi's figure was already gone.

Only then did he let out a breath of relief. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and instructed his disciples: "Do not touch the treasures and immortal artifacts of these dead. If any aggrieved parties come looking, give them back. If no one claims them, then they belong to our Eight Immortals Sect."

The Eight Immortals Sect's disciples and elders all acknowledged the order.

One female elder voiced concern: "Sect Master, so many immortals died this time. This matter certainly cannot end well. I fear it will implicate our Eight Immortals Sect."

Fang Zhanzi said, "Our Eight Immortals Sect's eight Patriarchs are all Tai Yi Golden Immortals. We are not so easily bullied. If aggrieved parties come to question us, we will tell the truth. There is no need to conceal anything."

A few days later, the Eight Immortals Sect became bustling with activity. Many disciples of great figures arrived to inspect the traces of battle.

This time, the Eight Immortals Sect was also an aggrieved party and was not implicated. Although every visitor's cultivation level surpassed Fang Zhanzi's, they treated him with utmost respect and full propriety.

Fang Zhanzi also proactively brought up the treasures and immortal artifacts left by the dead, but the visitors often refused to take them, instead speaking very politely: "This battle damaged your sect's mountain-protecting formation, and we failed to compensate you. We are deeply uneasy about it. Please accept these items, Fellow Daoist Fang, as our compensation."

Fang Zhanzi did not continue to demur.

The visitors conducted their investigations and departed one by one. The Eight Immortals Sect gradually returned to peace.

Fang Zhanzi finally set his heart at ease: "This trial has passed."

Chen Shi had long since left the Eight Immortals Sect far behind. Worried about being intercepted, he did not return to the mysterious yellow sea's crossing point. Instead, he ventured deep into the Earth Immortal Realm, heading toward the Celestial Court.

The Earth Immortal Realm was truly enormous, with fairy mountains and blessed lands everywhere. Chen Shi rode the wind, enjoying the scenery around him. He noticed many strange and wondrous places in the Earth Immortal Realm, which he surmised were the sacred grounds the Empress of Earth had once mentioned.

He saw a towering giant tree comparable to an entire world, its leaves swaying gracefully, each leaf spanning ten thousand li in all directions. Immortals had opened Dao Realms upon its leaves.

He saw a sky-climbing green vine, its roots as thick as ancient mountains, glowing with a green-jade hue, winding toward the heavens, clinging to the void, its leaves cradling the sun and moon.

He also saw great mountains standing like sky-propping pillars, cold springs descending from the heavens with no support yet winding and twisting, and golden flowers growing from the void...

All kinds of wondrous sacred grounds, all inhabited by immortals. Some had established sects within them, others had crafted grotto-heavens and blessed lands.

These sacred grounds could even conceal immeasurable time and space. For instance, the giant tree's branches and leaves could allow tens of thousands of immortals to open Dao Realms.

"The sacred grounds of the Earth Immortal Realm truly live up to their reputation."

Chen Shi praised them. Judging that he had already traveled far from the troubled area and that no one was tracking him, he finally slowed his pace. He took another Fulong Village medicinal pill, and with a subtle thought, established a Celestial Being resonance with Western Ox New Continent.

Celestial Being resonance was, in essence, the interaction between the heaven and earth's Great Dao and an immortal.

When an immortal achieves Dao Unification, the heaven and earth's Great Dao of the location where they unified and the immortal's own heaven and earth Great Dao have already been mutually verified and attuned to each other. Therefore, a powerful Celestial Being resonance could be generated, even crossing time and space, ignoring the barriers of distance.

If one's cultivation was sufficient, an immortal could not only freely enter and exit their Dao Realm but even pull their Dao Realm from distant time and space, making the borrowed heaven and earth Dao power even more powerful!

On the mysterious yellow sea, Wu Banshan and other immortal lords had used such methods to try to trap Chen Shi and flush him out.

Chen Shi's Dao Unification with Western Ox New Continent was different from others. He relied on the Celestial True God, so his Celestial Being resonance was not particularly strong. He needed the aid of Fulong Village medicinal pills to establish a clear connection.

He took a step forward, and his figure vanished from the Earth Immortal Realm.

No sooner had he left than a qilin carriage came driving over. On the treasure carriage, a charmingly naive young girl stamped her foot and said, "We're late again! Young Master Xi, that Chen Shi must have sensed us and entered his Dao Realm."

Sitting in the carriage was none other than Young Master Xi, Xi Muran. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Entering his Dao Realm means he will come out sooner or later. We will wait for him here."

The interior of the treasure carriage was as spacious as a palace. A maidservant sat below Xi Muran, brewing tea and arranging teacups and saucers. Several women sat on both sides, playing the zither and flute. In the center was a beautiful fairy maiden who sang and danced gracefully to the music.

The song went: In the heavens, White Jade Capital, twelve towers and five cities.

An immortal strokes my crown; I bind my hair and receive eternal life.

Mistakenly chasing worldly pleasures, I exhaust the passions of chaos and order.

Ninety-six sage rulers, floating clouds bearing empty names.

...

Xi Muran enjoyed the song and dance, thinking to himself: "This junior brother is far too peculiar. The supreme arts he possesses are of mixed origins, yet he has refined them all to exquisite perfection. Our lineage's Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection, by contrast, seems less authentic."

When Chen Shi used the divine abilities of the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection to kill Wu Banshan, Immortal Lord Purple Heaven, and the others, Xi Muran had watched from afar, seeing Chen Shi's moves clearly.

Although what Chen Shi executed was indeed the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection, it always gave him a sense of being specious.

He frowned slightly. If the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection were not his sect's secret transmission, he would truly suspect Chen Shi's identity.

Chen Shi arrived above Western Ox New Continent. True Man Zhang had long since retracted his divine ability, and the Tai Chi diagram shrouding Western Ox New Continent had dispersed.

Chen Shi's own Great Dao resonated with the heaven and earth's Great Dao, stirring up radiant light that swirled around him ceaselessly.

He looked around, surprised.

His return to Western Ox New Continent this time was because he had sensed the heaven and earth Dao power of Western Ox New Continent surging dramatically, so he had come to investigate.

The commotion he stirred upon his return was truly too great. The sky was immediately illuminated by radiant light in dazzling splendor, alarming the experts of Western Ox New Continent.

"His Majesty has returned!"

Hu Feifei, having witnessed such phenomena before, quickly notified Chen Tang and the others. Chen Tang maintained his composure, wearing an expression that said, "I know. I'll wait for that unfilial son to come see me." But Chen Shi's mother, Wu Qingyu, had no such restraint. She immediately flew up to welcome Chen Shi.

However, though her speed was fast, someone was faster.

Wu Qingyu looked closely and saw it was Little Duan Immortal. A fragrant breeze swept past her.

Little Duan Immortal was, after all, an immortal. Her speed far surpassed Wu Qingyu's. She quickly met Chen Shi, who was descending from the sky. The two gazed at each other. Little Duan Immortal hesitated, then stopped, her figure poised gracefully atop the clouds.

Chen Shi spread his arms and smiled, "Is my wife the younger sister or the older sister?"

The trace of reserve in Little Duan Immortal's heart vanished into thin air. She flew over and threw herself into his embrace like a swallow returning to its nest.

The two held each other tightly.

Little Duan Immortal felt that immortals were truly troublesome. The Three Corpses she had once severed now seemed to have revived, and all kinds of emotions and desires surged forth with such intensity.

Chen Shi had tricked her onto the golden ship and sent her away from Western Ox New Continent. She had once wanted to return to Western Ox New Continent regardless of everything. She had also resented Chen Shi, and had even fantasized that Chen Shi had long since died at the Celestial Venerable's hands.

Over the past seven or eight years, every time her thoughts stirred, it was longing.

During her days on the Divine Continent, she had been more anxious than anyone, trying to persuade the Great Shun Emperor to send troops to Western Ox New Continent, trying to use her sect connections to move the immortal Daoist sects of the Divine Continent to rescue Western Ox New Continent.

She had even wanted to awaken the deities of the shattered Dark Bird Celestial Court of China, praying for the Ancestral Gods to march forth. Unfortunately, she did not possess divine power like the Empress of Earth.

She held Chen Shi tightly, fearing that after this reunion there would be another parting.

Chen Shi breathed in the fresh fragrance of her hair and felt the Lower Corpses God stirring again. Then he saw Wu Qingyu standing in the distance, and only then suppressed the Lower Corpses God. He smiled, "My mother is watching."

Little Duan Immortal was still unwilling to let him go. After a while longer, she finally emerged from his embrace.

"Mother!"

Chen Shi stepped forward and hugged Wu Qingyu. Wu Qingyu laughed, "Alright, alright, you're squeezing the breath out of me."

Chen Shi released her and looked her up and down, praising, "Mother, your cultivation speed is truly fast. You're about to catch up to Chen Tang."

"Still calling him Chen Tang!"

Wu Qingyu glared at him and complained, "Your father has been talking about you for ages. Don't be so distant."

Chen Shi saw that Li Tianqing, Yang Bi, Qiao Zhuo, and the others had also arrived. He sneered, "I'm back. Mother came to see me, Little Duan came to see me, Tianqing and the others came too. Only he didn't come."

Wu Qingyu also secretly blamed Chen Tang.

Chen Shi's face was full of smiles as he went to welcome Li Tianqing and the others.

The group met, exchanged stories of their parting, and each was filled with deep emotion.

"How fares the True King in the Earth Immortal Realm? You must have made quite a name for yourself by now."

Yang Bi asked with concern, "I saw you channeling heaven and earth Dao power just now. Did you encounter danger?"

Chen Shi said, "After I ascended, I served as a heavenly soldier in the Celestial Court. Though I had no real authority, I did obtain a treasured place called the Dao Ruins."

A heavenly soldier?

Yang Bi and Li Tianqing exchanged a glance, thinking, "The True King was a dragon among men in Western Ox New Continent, but in the Earth Immortal Realm, any random immortal is a dragon among men. Becoming a heavenly soldier is not so surprising."

"I learned a set of methods at the heavenly soldier camp. The cultivation technique is called the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture, and the sword technique is called the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture. They are exquisitely refined, vast and profound."

Seeing these old friends, Chen Shi was overjoyed and spoke incessantly. "The heavenly soldier camp is absolutely a wonderful place. The techniques they taught us are all extraordinary. Later I will pass them on to you, and you will understand just how astonishing this set of methods is. By the way, you all will be ascending soon too, right? The people at the heavenly soldier camp are all very good, but you must be wary of King Li..."

They walked and talked, and soon arrived at Xinxiang Imperial Capital. Chen Shi saw Chen Tang standing before the palace gates, craning his neck to look, yet pretending to be indifferent. A warm feeling welled up in Chen Shi's heart, and he strode forward.

Seeing him abandon the others and approach, Chen Tang's face revealed a faint smile. He said, "You're back? I heard about what happened to you in Western Ox New Continent... uh."

Chen Shi embraced him. Chen Tang's body went stiff, frozen like a wooden post, motionless. He said, "You're squeezing me too hard. Let go."

Chen Shi did not let go. Chen Tang, helpless, raised his hands, hesitated, and finally patted Chen Shi on the back.

Chen Shi released him and smiled, "Chen Tang, didn't I send you all to the Earth Immortal Realm? Why did you go to the Divine Continent instead?"

Chen Tang heard him call him by his full name directly and immediately felt displeased. He snorted, "Do you think that in the Earth Immortal Realm, where we knew no one, we could have summoned reinforcements? On the road, we encountered the True King's Ming treasure ship and traveled with it to the Divine Continent."

Chen Shi smiled, "Who is this Ming expert who came with you to New Continent?"

Chen Tang flew into the air, "Follow me."

Chen Shi followed him. He saw Chen Tang leave Xinxiang Imperial Capital and head toward Qianyang Mountain.

Qianyang Mountain was three hundred li away. At their speed, they arrived in an instant.

Chen Tang walked toward the Sky Measuring Cliff, saying, "Have you found Chen Yindu yet?"

"No."

Chen Shi said, displeased, "Chen Tang, my grandfather is your father. If you call him father, it won't diminish your pride."

Chen Tang flew into a rage and gripped the Xuanwei Sword tightly. Chen Shi laughed, "In swordsmanship, I have already surpassed you. I learned better techniques in the Celestial Court."

Chen Tang released the sword hilt and fell silent for a moment before saying, "Is Little Five really dead?"

Chen Shi hesitated, no longer joking: "Grandpa and Granny Sha took Uncle Little Five to the Earth Immortal Realm. There has been no news since. To be honest, Black Pot and I have made quite a name for ourselves in the Earth Immortal Realm. If they are traveling out there, they surely would have heard of our fame. It's just that they probably don't know our whereabouts either. The Earth Immortal Realm is simply too vast..."

His spirit lifted. "However, this time I did something major. They should soon learn where I am and will certainly come find me. At that time, we will know whether Uncle Little Five is alive or dead."

Chen Tang exhaled a breath of turbid air and looked at the Daoist temple atop the Sky Measuring Cliff. He said, "Chen Yindu has always been exceptionally clever. He will surely comprehend the mysteries of creation and revive Little Five. It's a pity, good people don't live long, while scourges last a thousand years."

Chen Shi knew he and Creation Little Five had never gotten along, so he paid it no mind. They arrived before the Daoist temple.

After Chen Shi ascended, Hu Feifei had ordered a Dao Comprehension Temple built on the Sky Measuring Cliff, so that Chen Shi would have a place to stay when he returned. This time, True Man Zhang had greatly damaged his vital energy aiding Chen Shi, so Hu Feifei had invited him to rest at the Sky Measuring Cliff on Qianyang Mountain.

Qianyang Mountain was a sacred ground. Though not as supreme as the top-tier sacred grounds of the Earth Immortal Realm, it was still extraordinary. Staying in the Dao Comprehension Temple, True Man Zhang could recover quickly.

Chen Shi was about to knock when True Man Zhang's voice came from within the Daoist temple, laughing: "Is that King Chen outside? This place was originally the True King's domain. This old Daoist is merely lodging here. Why should the True King stand on ceremony?"

Chen Shi laughed heartily, pushed open the door, and entered the Dao Comprehension Temple, finally meeting this True Man Zhang face to face.