Chapter 629: Old Ancestor Hidden Dragon

Earth Immortal Realm, Ten Thousand Dragon Ridge.

This was the kingdom of the dragon clan. All kinds of dragons dwelled here. Some fairy mountains had giant dragons coiled around them, breathing in and out the sun and moon, enormous beyond measure. On other fairy mountains stood dragon palaces where dragon kings resided, surrounded by lovely female immortals, the dragon kings' wives and concubines.

Ten Thousand Dragon Ridge was an ordinary dragon kingdom within the territory of the Eastern Heaven Green Emperor. Its territory was vast, with countless fairy mountains. Many immortals liked living here because the dragon qi was abundant and could nurture strange things.

In the mountains and wilds, immortals had opened up spirit fields to plant immortal treasures. Every year at harvest time, dragon clan immortals would come to collect rent taxes. Thus these farming immortals were also called tenant immortals, meaning immortals who were like tenant farmers.

There were also villages, towns, and cities nearby. If the harvest was good and the planted spiritual herbs were more than they could use, they could be taken to town to trade for other needed items.

At the foot of Tianfu Mountain lay a stretch of spirit fields, planted with corn and sorghum, one stalk every three to five steps, grown to four or five zhang tall. The stalks were thick and crimson, as if containing dragon blood. The corn cobs were over a person's height, each kernel like a medicinal pill, containing abundant immortal spirit qi within, so rich it seemed it could condense into spirit liquid.

Du Yiran inspected the corn and sorghum, then turned to Hu Xiaoliang and said, "Old Hu, this year's field finally made it. This improved corn is enough for our cultivation, with surplus to spare."

Hu Xiaoliang said, "What about after paying the rent?"

"After paying the rent, there's still enough."

The two picked some corn and walked out of the spirit fields, preparing to sell it at the nearby market. Du Yiran was somewhat pleased, saying, "Let's keep more seeds. Next year we can plant several more plots. In just three to five years, the spirit qi produced from planting corn will rival a small sacred ground. By then we'll never have to worry about spirit qi again."

Hu Xiaoliang said with emotion, "Old Chen is truly formidable, to think he could create something like this."

Chen Yindu had brought them to ascend to the Earth Immortal Realm. After arriving, they discovered that the Earth Immortal Realm seemed magnificent and splendid, but newly ascended immortals like them had no place to stand. To cultivate in the Earth Immortal Realm and make a name for oneself was incredibly difficult.

Especially for scattered immortals like them, rising up was even harder. Other worlds had immortals who had ascended long ago, and later ascenders could seek refuge with them.

But Western Ox New Continent had only produced ascenders in their generation. They could be considered among the earliest ascenders.

They hit walls everywhere in the Earth Immortal Realm, and Chen Yindu was proud and arrogant, unwilling to bow to others. So they came to Ten Thousand Dragon Ridge and conceived the idea of an artificial sacred ground.

Before ascending, Hu Xiaoliang had happened to bring some corn to eat on the journey. So Chen Yindu opened up a spirit field and modified the corn so it could absorb the dragon qi of Ten Thousand Dragon Ridge and convert it into spirit qi.

The two sold the harvested corn at the market, exchanged it for some treasure-refining materials, and were about to return when they saw a group of immortals gathered around the Immortal Slaying List, discussing heatedly.

The two pushed forward and saw that the first and second positions on the Immortal Slaying List had swapped. The second position originally had no face, but now it had a clear face. It was Chen Shi.

Hu Xiaoliang smiled apologetically at the immortal beside him and asked, "What crime did this person commit? Why is he first on the wanted list?"

That immortal saw he was a non-human cultivator and said, "I heard this person is named Chen Shi. He colluded with the Dog Immortal to steal the Dao Realms of over five hundred true immortals and stole countless earthly treasures and spiritual roots, so he was wanted. Not long ago, this villain was discovered on the mysterious yellow sea, so they surrounded and attacked him. Unexpectedly, this villain's strength was formidable. He summoned the Dog Immortal, which swallowed hundreds of immortals in one bite! Many people saw it!"

Someone nearby chimed in, "Brutal beyond measure! Later, the aggrieved parties whose spiritual roots he stole came looking for him, one or two hundred of them, wanting justice, and he killed them. Among them were several immortal lords who had received Celestial Court talismans. He killed them too."

Hu Xiaoliang and Du Yiran were each horrified upon hearing this.

The two exchanged a glance and started to leave. Behind them, people were still discussing, "I heard this person is a newly promoted immortal from the Celestial Court's heavenly soldier camps. Some aggrieved parties are already planning to go to the Celestial Court to lodge complaints with the emperor."

Hu Xiaoliang and Du Yiran sped up toward the spirit fields. Hu Xiaoliang said, "Little Ten has already ascended! When Old Chen hears this news, he'll be so happy!"

In the residence beside the spirit fields, Chen Yindu was buried among a vast sea of books and papers, deciphering the Dao techniques on the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace.

In the years since ascending, though scattered immortals like him had no status to speak of in the Earth Immortal Realm, he had still relied on his own intelligence and talent to buy various immortal technique texts from other scattered immortals.

The immortal technique texts in this residence could fill a cart. He had read through them all, broadening his horizons, supplementing his deficiencies, and then studied the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, deciphering the creation Dao techniques hidden on its walls.

In just a few years, he had deciphered seventy to eighty percent of the creation Dao patterns on the furnace walls, and using talisman studies, restructured the creation Dao patterns, already achieving some success.

But the creation Dao patterns were truly complex. Even with his small success, he could not bring Creation Little Five back to life.

"Whoosh-"

Chen Yindu raised his head from among the books and papers, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and walked quickly out of the residence.

His heartbeat quickened slightly. This time he had comprehended another creation Dao pattern, which should be able to complete Creation Little Five.

He came outside the courtyard and summoned the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace. This immortal furnace was enormous, even larger than the surrounding fairy mountains. Auspicious clouds drifted among the furnace's legs.

Chen Yindu flew up, arrived atop the furnace, opened the furnace lid, and flew inside.

The territory within the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace was vast, a world unto itself. The space inside this treasure still retained the aura left by Creation Little Five when it had achieved Dao Unification here.

Chen Yindu opened the wooden box he carried and carefully took out a tattered cloth doll from within.

This cloth doll was Creation Little Five. In the battle with the Celestial Venerable, it had been killed by the Celestial Venerable.

Creation Little Five had the ability to revive from death, but this ability was built upon Chen Yindu's understanding of the Dao of Creation from those years ago. Back then, Chen Yindu's comprehension of the art of creation was far inferior to now. At that time, he had only used creation talismans to construct Little Five's body.

After Creation Little Five was killed by the Celestial Venerable, the creation talismans also shattered, so it could not revive.

"The art of creation is truly unfathomable. Your father still has not fully deciphered the mysteries of the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace."

Chen Yindu's expression dimmed. He placed the ruined cloth doll on the ground and said softly, "However, I will still keep trying. If this time I still cannot bring you back, then there will be a next time, and the time after that. Rest assured, I will never abandon you!"

He flew up and out of the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace.

Chen Yindu stood outside the furnace and activated his Dao techniques. On the surface of this immense immortal artifact, various Great Dao patterns gradually lit up.

The Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace activated. Inside the immortal furnace, the four walls blazed with light. Various Dao patterns seemed to come alive, like fish dragons swimming down from the furnace walls, coiling within Creation Little Five's Dao Realm, attempting to complete the missing Dao patterns in this Dao Realm.

The tattered cloth doll also rose on its own, floating within the Dao Realm. As the Dao Realm's Dao patterns were completed, the missing Dao patterns on its body were also restored.

After completion, its broken parts slowly began to grow. Gradually, it seemed about to grow a complete body.

Chen Yindu channeled the creation Dao techniques he had comprehended into the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, attempting to recreate Creation Little Five. White vapor steamed from the top of his head. He had already raised his cultivation to the limit, yet when the broken Dao patterns on the cloth doll in the immortal furnace were ninety percent restored, Chen Yindu suddenly felt he could not continue.

His heart sank. He did not force it further and slowly withdrew his power.

Inside the furnace, the nearly revived Creation Little Five shattered once more. The cloth doll became tattered again and drooped down.

Chen Yindu's expression darkened slightly. He had lost count of how many times this had happened. Every time was the same.

Though he had comprehended eighty percent of the creation Dao patterns on the furnace walls, this eighty percent was all the simplest, easiest to comprehend. The remaining twenty percent was the hardest.

"If Little Five were here, joining hands with me, we could have long since deciphered all the creation Dao patterns on the furnace walls."

Chen Yindu dismissed this unrealistic thought and prepared to put away the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace to continue studying the creation Dao patterns. These years had all been spent this way, burying himself in study, all for the sake of reviving Creation Little Five. As for developing the corn that absorbed dragon qi and converted it into spirit qi, that was merely something he had done casually.

At that moment, a voice came: "Little brother, activating the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace like this, I fear it will be difficult to achieve what you wish. Your understanding of creation Dao patterns is wrong in many places."

Chen Yindu looked toward the voice. He saw an old man leaning on a bamboo staff with a conical hat hanging on his back, passing nearby and stopping to watch.

The old man's attire was very much like the tenant immortals nearby, but Chen Yindu had never seen this person before.

Chen Yindu said, "Elder, do you understand the Dao of Creation?"

The old man laughed and said, "A little. This immortal furnace of yours is something I lost long ago."

Chen Yindu was greatly shaken. He blurted out, "You are the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace's owner."

The old man in the conical hat said, "I made a bet with someone, lost, and wagered this treasure to them. But they didn't want it. They didn't want it, and I couldn't take it back either, so I threw it into the mysterious yellow sea."

Chen Yindu was stunned. The old man had discarded the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace just because he lost a bet?

This magic treasure drifted in the mysterious yellow sea for who knows how many years, even drifting into the Dark Sea, where a group of sea monsters used it, carrying it to attack Western Ox New Continent.

The old man in the conical hat laughed and said, "If you wish to learn the Dao of Creation, you may take me as your master now."

Chen Yindu bowed and said, "Disciple Chen Yindu pays respects to my honored master."

The old man in the conical hat laughed and said, "Your master's Dao name is Hidden Dragon. I am the Immortal Court's Right Heavenly Master, and also a dragon immortal under the Eastern Heaven Green Emperor's command. Chen Yindu, the target of my visit is you. Your comprehension of the Dao of Creation has been entirely within my eyes. Come with me. I will teach you cultivation."

Chen Yindu was about to agree when Du Yiran and Hu Xiaoliang walked over, calling from afar, "Old Chen, we found Little Ten's whereabouts!"

Chen Yindu quickly asked. The two told him about the Immortal Slaying List case and said, "Rumor has it Little Ten is still in the Celestial Court. Let's head to the Celestial Court now. Perhaps we can see him."

Chen Yindu thought it over left and right, and finally made up his mind. He shook his head and said, "I cannot go to the Celestial Court. I will follow my master to the Immortal Court, cultivate the true creation scripture, and revive Little Five as soon as possible."

Du Yiran quickly said, "Then Little Ten..."

"I won't go see him. Reviving Creation Little Five is more important."

Chen Yindu said, "This corn field, I'll leave it to you. With this place, your future cultivation will be smooth sailing."

Sha Qiutong walked out from the residence and shook her head, saying, "Old Chen, we'll go with you."

Hu Xiaoliang was somewhat torn, saying, "What about our corn field?"

Sha Qiutong laughed and said, "Can the Immortal Court lack immortal spirit qi? This plot, just leave it here."

Hu Xiaoliang was still somewhat reluctant. He quickly went to the field and snapped off a few corn cobs.

The four did not pack up. They immediately followed the old man in the conical hat, Hidden Dragon, to the Immortal Court.

"Honored Master, could you send a message to my grandson?"

Chen Yindu said, "My grandson serves as a heavenly soldier in the Celestial Court."

Heavenly Master Hidden Dragon laughed and said, "Why not? I'll have someone deliver a letter for you."

Chen Yindu was overjoyed. He took up a brush and wrote a letter, saying, "My grandson's surname is Chen, given name Shi. He comes from Western Ox New Continent."

Heavenly Master Hidden Dragon was surprised and said, "Chen Shi? The Chen Shi on the Immortal Slaying List?"

Chen Yindu said cautiously, "I think there must be some misunderstanding. My grandson has been obedient since childhood. It's absolutely impossible for him to do such things."

Heavenly Master Hidden Dragon laughed and said, "I understand. Rest assured. You and your grandson may well serve in the same court in the future."

He summoned a golden dragon and gave it instructions. The golden dragon held the letter in its mouth, soared into the sky, and soon disappeared beyond the heavens.

Chen Yindu relaxed slightly.

Chen Shi returned to Celestial Way Residence and waited several more days, but Chen Yindu never came to find him. Waves of worry rose in his heart. At that moment, a knock came from outside. Chen Shi opened the door and saw a man in a brocade robe standing outside, bowing in attendance, saying, "Are you Chen Shi, Heavenly Soldier Chen? I was ordered to deliver a letter."

Chen Shi took the letter and opened it. It was indeed a letter from Chen Yindu.

The letter said that the owner of the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, Heavenly Master Hidden Dragon, had come seeking him. He had already taken the master as his teacher and followed the Heavenly Master to the Immortal Court. Do not worry.

The letter was very brief, only this one passage.

Chen Shi read it over many times and said to the brocade-robed man who delivered the letter, "Thank you, Daoist friend, for delivering the letter. Might I ask who sent you?"

"Old Ancestor Hidden Dragon."

The brocade-robed man said, "The Old Ancestor is a Tai Yi Golden Immortal under the Eastern Heaven Green Emperor, his Dao Realm already cultivated to the eighteenth level. His strength is unfathomable. He achieved the Dao as early as the Great Shang Era. He is one of the foremost immortals of our dragon clan."

"Under the Eastern Heaven Green Emperor's command?" Chen Shi mused.

This Old Ancestor Hidden Dragon was under the Eastern Heaven Green Emperor's command, and also the Immortal Court's Heavenly Master. Had his Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace truly been lost in the mysterious yellow sea for no reason?

"If it was an unintentional loss, why go looking for my grandfather?"

Chen Shi thought, "Grandfather has something he needs. That's why he insisted on bringing my grandfather to the Immortal Court no matter what! Could Old Ancestor Hidden Dragon have discovered Grandfather's talisman script Dao patterns? That's it. The Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace is his magic treasure. He can monitor Grandfather's every move through the magic treasure."

Once he understood this point, he could not help but frown. He had originally planned to bring Grandfather and the others back to Western Ox New Continent to throw their weight around. Now it seemed that would have to be postponed.

"The Immortal Court is a place of trouble. Grandfather, you all must seize the chance to escape!"