Chapter 651: The Bearers of the Heavenly Dao

Chen Shi did not make things difficult for her. Smiling, he said, “We’re all on the same side. Get up.”

Feng Huixue straightened, but she still felt somewhat displeased.

Back in the Mysterious Yellow Sea, Chen Shi was the adopted son of Houtu Huangdiqi, and she had to address him as Your Highness. She had never expected that after defecting from the Mysterious Yellow Sea and joining the Immortal Court, her status would still be beneath Chen Shi’s.

She had already reached the twelfth heaven of the Dao Realm, the consummate stage of the Gold Immortal Realm. Reaching this level in the Mysterious Yellow Sea had been no easy feat. Empress of Earth followed the divine path, so although Feng Huixue was her maidservant, there were only so many cultivation techniques and Dao techniques Empress of Earth could teach her.

All Empress of Earth could provide was an inexhaustible supply of mysterious yellow spiritual energy, as well as countless riches and resources.

She had reached her current level by figuring things out on her own.

With such achievements, she had every right to feel proud.

Having rendered great service this time, she was certain the Immortal Court would reward her with a Tai Yi Golden Immortal-level cultivation technique and help her break through.

Yet Chen Shi had done nothing and still climbed above her. She could not help feeling unconvinced.

“I already know what you did in the Mysterious Yellow Sea, Huixue. You did well,” Chen Shi said. “You made a great contribution to the destruction of the Heavenly Dao treasures this time. The Immortal Court won’t shortchange you.”

Feng Huixue recovered her composure and smiled sweetly. “Thank you for putting in a good word for me, Young Master. On the one hand, you’re the Crown Prince of Houtu Huangdiqi; on the other, you’re His Majesty’s disciple. Your identity keeps changing in the most astonishing ways.”

Chen Shi laughed heartily, but offered no explanation.

Wu Guanyun smiled. “Lady Feng, that’s precisely what makes Young Master so inscrutable. He moves among different factions like a dragon through the clouds, always composed, gathering intelligence from every side. It’s truly admirable.”

His words made Feng Huixue feel deeply uncomfortable. She had concealed herself at the side of Houtu Huangdiqi. Was she not, too, like a dragon through the clouds, always composed?

She smiled sweetly. “Young Master Chen is His Majesty’s disciple, the Crown Prince of Houtu, and, I hear, a favorite of the Eastern Prince. He’s also a disciple of Golden Turtle Island. Even a crafty hare has only three burrows, yet Young Master has four identities. Which one, I wonder, is your true identity?”

Chen Shi gave her a long look. “Huixue, your cultivation is still too low. It’s unwise for you to know too much. The more you know, the more trouble it may bring you.”

Reading the situation, Wu Guanyun smiled. “There’s something you don’t know, Lady Feng. Young Master Chen and Young Master Xi are in charge of the Celestial Court’s operations. These days, the heavenly soldier camps follow Young Master Chen’s lead.”

He smiled proudly. “All two hundred thousand soldiers in the heavenly soldier camps, inside and out, are Young Master Chen’s people.”

Feng Huixue was taken aback. She lowered her head in acknowledgment, thinking, “I was too rash. He’s His Majesty’s disciple, a man of great influence. I’m merely a maidservant, no more than an insignificant person in his eyes. What right do I have to envy or doubt him?”

There were three hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals in the camps. King Li had taken one hundred thousand to attack the great Ni Li World, leaving the remaining two hundred thousand, all of whom were Chen Shi’s people. That achievement alone far surpassed Feng Huixue’s contributions many times over.

Thinking of this, Feng Huixue felt much more at ease, and her manner of speaking and conduct became more relaxed.

When Chen Shi heard the name Young Master Xi, something suddenly occurred to him. Like a flash of insight, he understood everything he had failed to figure out before.

“So Xi Muran didn’t go to the Mysterious Yellow Sea specifically to see me. He went to see Feng Huixue.”

One thought after another flashed through his mind. “Huixue left me at the Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Well before heading off. At the time, she claimed she was going to deal with the mysterious yellow ancestral energy outside the Heavenly Palace, to prevent those who came to fight over it from killing one another. In truth, she used the opportunity to meet Xi Muran. He must have told her about the attack on the Mirror of Ten Thousand Ages, the plan to destroy it, and asked her to help from within.”

His gaze flickered. “Xi Muran meeting me on the way back to the Celestial Court wasn’t a coincidence either. He must have been heading there as well. His purpose was to contact the other infiltrators in the Celestial Court and coordinate the attacks on the Yu Heng Sect and Yaoguang Pool.”

He thought of the thirty-two Heavenly Dao treasures, scattered throughout the Earth Immortal Realm and held by powerful deities. People of extraordinary ability in the Immortal Court had to go to each location to coordinate and plan, ensuring that not a single thing went wrong.

The operation was carried out simultaneously. They all launched their attacks at the hai hour. Thirty-two Heavenly Dao treasures, thirty-two Great Luo Gold Immortals. Once they struck successfully, they withdrew at once, without the slightest hesitation.

“In other words, His Majesty sent more than just Xi Muran. He also sent other disciples to contact the infiltrators in various places.”

Chen Shi considered the matter. Every disciple taken in by the master of the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection was exceptionally capable, able to hold their own.

Chen Shi glanced at her and asked, “Huixue, you were a maidservant of Houtu Huangdiqi and held a very high position in the Radiant Virtue Grand Celestial Palace. Why did you still defect from the Mysterious Yellow Sea?”

Feng Huixue replied respectfully, “This humble one is an immortal. Nowadays, immortals and deities can scarcely coexist. As an immortal, if I cannot look out for my own people, the deities will inevitably exterminate the immortals. Besides, I’ve reached the consummate stage of the Gold Immortal Realm, but I still can’t break through. Among the immortals in the Virtuous Virtue Heavenly Palace, I already have the highest cultivation. If I wish to advance further, I must render meritorious service.”

Only by earning sufficiently great merit could she hope to be rewarded and become a Tai Yi Golden Immortal.

“Not everyone has as fortunate a background as you, Young Master,” Feng Huixue said.

Chen Shi looked at her with pity, as if she were a disabled dog by the roadside.

This woman envied his fortunate background, but had Chen Shi ever had one?

He had gained the identity of an Immortal Emperor’s disciple only after killing the Immortal Emperor’s disciple, the Celestial Venerable, and comprehending the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection. He had earned the identity of Houtu’s adopted son by spending day after day reviving the gods of China, risking his life each time. His status as a disciple of Golden Turtle Island was one no one else would even want.

And the Eastern Prince, his patron, clearly had a huge pit waiting for him somewhere down the line.

Compared to him, Feng Huixue had been incredibly fortunate.

After ascending to the Celestial Court, she had not become one of King Li’s heavenly soldiers and generals, who might be eaten by demons at any moment. Instead, she had followed Houtu Huangdiqi and become the most powerful immortal in the Radiant Virtue Grand Celestial Palace of the Mysterious Yellow Sea.

She controlled the Mysterious Yellow Sea’s most abundant resources and had access to the profound Dao patterns left behind by the Heaven Emperor and Houtu. Countless female immortals were at her disposal. Her power far exceeded Chen Shi’s by who knew how much.

She had failed to strive for more, despite having such an excellent environment, and had not managed to break through to become a Tai Yi Golden Immortal.

She had shown no gratitude for the excellent support she had received, instead biting the hand that fed her and becoming an Immortal Court infiltrator.

“Commander Wu, have these heavenly soldiers and generals disperse,” Chen Shi said. “We’re still in the Celestial Court, after all. We should be careful. There are too many eyes and ears around.”

Wu Guanyun smiled. “Everyone in the heavenly soldier camps is one of ours. Young Master, you’re being too cautious.”

Even so, he led the heavenly soldiers and generals away.

Just then, Chen Shi suddenly sensed something. His gaze involuntarily fell on one of the heavenly soldiers. That soldier seemed to sense his aura too, and turned to look back at him.

Chen Shi’s heart stirred. “Daoist, please wait.”

The heavenly soldier was a young man, not a member of the Fire Battalion. Hearing Chen Shi, he stopped.

Wu Guanyun, Feng Huixue, and the others all turned to look. Wu Guanyun recognized the soldier. “Jin Weiran, this is Young Master Chen. Don’t be discourteous.”

Jin Weiran acknowledged him.

Wu Guanyun left with the others.

“Black Pot, close the door. Make sure no one is nearby,” Chen Shi said.

Black Pot answered and went to shut the door. Its domain spread out, taking control of the people and things within dozens of miles and creating an illusory domain.

Chen Shi looked Jin Weiran up and down. The heavenly soldier had delicate features, but his eyes carried a hint of world-weariness, making him seem capable and mature. He must have been an immortal who had ascended from the mortal world.

Many immortals who ascended from the mortal world were like this, young in appearance but weathered within.

They had all been kings or patriarchs in the mortal world, or else grandmasters of their generation. Yet in the immortal realm, they had no choice but to serve in the heavenly soldier camps, never knowing whether they would live to see the next day. All their ambitions and ideals could only be buried deep in their hearts.

Chen Shi asked, “How many years ago did you ascend, Daoist Jin?”

Jin Weiran did not dare conceal the truth. “It’s been eight years.”

Chen Shi was surprised. “Eight years? In two more years, you can leave the heavenly soldier camps and live freely.”

Jin Weiran smiled, though it was a rather bitter smile. “I’ve spent eight years in the heavenly soldier camps. The soldiers around me have died and been replaced again and again. The ambitions and ideals I had before ascending have long since vanished without a trace. Now I just want to get through these last two years, then find some beautiful, secluded place to retire.”

Remembering that Chen Shi was His Majesty’s disciple, he immediately grew wary. “Young Master, I have no disloyalty toward the Immortal Court! I was only speaking offhandedly about retiring.”

Chen Shi did not mind and smiled. “We both ascended from the mortal world. There’s no need to be so guarded. I’m not someone who kills the innocent indiscriminately. Is the Heavenly Dao treasure inside you the Yu Heng Sect or Yaoguang Pool?”

At his words, Jin Weiran’s legs went weak, and he nearly dropped to the ground. He cried out, “How did you know?”

Then he rallied and spoke rapidly. “Of course! There’s Heavenly Dao energy inside you too. You have the imprint of a Heavenly Dao treasure!”

Chen Shi smiled. “The Celestial Strategy is in my Sea of Consciousness. Daoist Jin, you’re a true immortal, after all. Don’t you have even that much Dao Heart?”

Jin Weiran was still unsettled. “This concerns life and death. How could I take it calmly?”

He drew a deep breath, then let out a breath of stale air and composed himself before saying, “Just now, I sensed the Heavenly Dao energy inside you. It felt familiar, as if it came from the same source as the imprint of the Yu Heng Sect inside me. But I never imagined it was the energy of the Celestial Strategy!”

Chen Shi had not expected to encounter another person bearing the imprint of a Heavenly Dao treasure. He smiled and said, “I received the imprint of the Celestial Strategy the day before it was destroyed. I unexpectedly sensed my consciousness being moved in front of the Celestial Strategy. How did you get the imprint of the Yu Heng Sect?”

Jin Weiran said, “My experience was more or less the same. Two months ago, after collecting my monthly stipend, I wanted to go to the Southern Heavenly Gate to observe the Four Heavenly Kings and comprehend an immortal technique. The Four Heavenly Kings at the Southern Heavenly Gate were easy to talk to, but the divine general beside them was difficult. I was allowed to observe the Four Heavenly Kings, but only if I paid. For the past few years, whenever I received my stipend, I spent it on this. I gained quite a lot. This time, after paying, I sat to the side and watched. Just as I was completely engrossed, the Southern Heavenly Gate before me suddenly blurred. By the time I steadied my mind, I found myself floating in front of the Yu Heng Sect, with no idea how I had gotten there.”

Chen Shi’s heart stirred. This was somewhat similar to what had happened to him.

When he achieved Dao Unification, his vision had suddenly blurred, and his consciousness had arrived in front of the Celestial Strategy.

“I was still wondering how to get back to my body when a dazzling light shone from the Yu Heng Sect. All sorts of strange Dao patterns appeared, then burrowed into the space between my brows,” Jin Weiran said. “My ears filled with all kinds of voices. They were so noisy my head felt like it was going to explode, but since it was only my consciousness, it couldn’t. If it had exploded, perhaps I would have suffered a little less.”

As he spoke, he shivered. It was clear that the pain he had endured that day still frightened him.

“I don’t know how much time passed. Suddenly, my consciousness grew hazy, the voices disappeared, and my head stopped hurting so much. I was back in front of the Southern Heavenly Gate, still sitting in the same place. A divine general told me my time was up and I had to leave.”

Jin Weiran said, “I was in a daze as I got up and left. I went back to the Celestial Way Residence and slept deeply. I only felt better after waking up. When I carefully examined myself inwardly, I found a gateway had appeared above my Sea of Consciousness, exactly like the Yu Heng Sect. Then I heard people say that a powerful expert had broken into the Celestial Court the previous night and destroyed the Heavenly Dao treasures, the Yu Heng Sect and Yaoguang Pool.”

Chen Shi’s heart stirred. “Have you sensed an aura like yours or mine on anyone else?”

Jin Weiran shook his head. “After I discovered an imprint of the Yu Heng Sect in my Sea of Consciousness, I didn’t dare go out. How powerful must the person who broke into the Celestial Court and destroyed the Yu Heng Sect be? If they found out there was still another Yu Heng Sect in my Sea of Consciousness, they’d definitely come and kill me!”

His expression turned a little awkward, and he lowered his voice. “Who would have thought the ones who destroyed the Yu Heng Sect were us, the Immortal Court…”

Chen Shi paced back and forth, then suddenly said, “The Yu Heng Sect imprinted its Dao patterns in your Sea of Consciousness the day before it was destroyed. The one who did this probably wasn’t the Yu Heng Sect itself, but the one who controlled it.”

Jin Weiran was stunned. “Its controller? Who controls the Yu Heng Sect?”

Chen Shi said, “Has anyone come looking for you lately?”

Jin Weiran shook his head.

Chen Shi’s eyes flickered. “By rights, the Eastern Prince should have made an appearance. Do you have to beat someone to death and get sent to the Heavenly Prison before he’ll show up to rescue you?”

Jin Weiran did not understand what he meant.

Seeing this, Chen Shi turned to Black Pot and asked, “The Yu Heng Sect had an imprint hidden inside it. Does that mean Yaoguang Pool also left behind an imprint, one that’s now inside some inconspicuous immortal in the Celestial Court?”

Black Pot’s expression was solemn. “Woof, woof.”

“Right. The other Heavenly Dao treasures should have prepared imprints too, hidden inside different immortals.”

“Woof!”

“There is indeed something suspicious about this. The Immortal Court learned where every Heavenly Dao treasure was from its infiltrators, which is how it managed to attack and destroy them so precisely. But the Celestial Court must have infiltrators in the Immortal Court as well. That’s how it found out about the surprise attacks in advance and prepared the imprints a day beforehand.”

“Woof, woof, woof!”

“I think so too. The Celestial Court is waiting for the other side to make a mistake, so it can wipe them all out in one fell swoop.”

Jin Weiran watched them chat animatedly, unable to get a word in. He felt like an outsider.

“Daoist Jin, you’ve become a bearer of the Heavenly Dao, so you’ll definitely attract many people trying to kill you. Don’t tell anyone about this,” Chen Shi instructed.

Jin Weiran acknowledged him, then could not help saying, “Young Master Chen, we’re people of the Immortal Court…”

“We aren’t anymore,” Chen Shi said. “Right now, our lives matter more.”

Jin Weiran nodded silently and took his leave.

A few days later, Chen Shi received a transfer order assigning him to relieve the garrison at Siyuan Mountain Pass in the great Ni Li World.

Chen Shi was astonished. King Li had sent troops to the great Ni Li World, but had never transferred him. He never expected that today an order would be specially delivered, sending him to the great Ni Li World.

The divine general delivering the transfer order personally came to summon him. “Please depart as soon as possible, Heavenly Soldier Chen!”

Chen Shi planned to take Black Pot with him, but the two divine generals shook their heads in unison. “The Heavenly King’s order is to transfer Heavenly Soldier Chen alone. You may not bring anyone else.”

Chen Shi was suspicious, but in the end he did not take Black Pot. He followed the two divine generals to the Heavenly River ferry crossing.

He and the two divine generals boarded a star raft. Before they could sit down, two more divine generals arrived with an immortal and boarded as well. The immortal was Jin Weiran.

Jin Weiran opened his mouth as if to speak, but just then two more divine generals came, bringing a female immortal.

Chen Shi’s gaze fell on the female immortal, and he immediately felt a sense of familiarity. “She’s another bearer of the Heavenly Dao! The imprint of Yaoguang Pool is inside her!”