On the Avenue.

Chapter 638 The Split of Hongmeng
Looking at Chen Shi, who had aged considerably in the years they hadn't seen him, Master Jiao noticed that Chen Shi had shed his childishness and become more mature and composed.

Jing Mei, Qiao Gu, Jiang Guo, Hei Guo, and others also rushed over and surrounded him.

"Junior Brother Chen, where have you been all these years?" Senior Sister Jingmei asked.

“I have been to too many places. After leaving Penglai West, I went to Xia Kingdom, where it was springtime. The wind was gentle, and everything came to life wherever it blew. I observed the wonder of all things growing and felt the yang energy brought by the wind, which nourished all things and made them sprout and grow.”

Chen Shi said slowly, "Then I went to the State of Yu. It was summer there, and the summer wind was hot. I observed that all things were blooming and bearing fruit, unrestrained and passionate. Life was pollinating, spreading, and nurturing the next generation in the wind."

"I left the State of Yu and came to the State of Wei. It was autumn there, the air was crisp and clear, and the wind carried the lingering warmth of the sun, but also a chilling coldness. I saw all things gathering in the earth, crops infusing their life into their seeds, fruits and vegetables infusing their life into their fruits, and the next generation conceived by the wolf pack gradually growing up."

"I left the State of Wei and came to the State of Zhao. It was already winter there, a world of ice and snow. In the cold winter, seeds fell into the dust and hid under the ice and snow. People wore thick clothes and wrapped themselves up tightly, and even the wolf packs were less active. I hid myself in a snow-covered cave like a bear, slowed my breathing, and fell asleep. When the ice and snow melted and the earth's energy was released, I, like the seeds in this world, heard the sound of the ice and snow melting and felt the flow of yang energy from the ground."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "When I walked out of the cave, it was like a seed that had been dormant all winter sprouting, slowly stretching and growing, and thus I comprehended the mystery of the varying winds."

Upon hearing this, smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

They experienced something similar back then.

Chen Shi continued, “I attained enlightenment in Xiniu Xinzhou. Xiniu Xinzhou has no sunrise or sunset, and no four seasons. I never knew the influence of the seasons on humankind was so profound. This journey has been very rewarding. I traveled extensively, observing the world, and arrived in Xiang Kingdom. There, the officials were corrupt, disregarding human life, the emperor was incompetent, and the people suffered greatly, with bandits running rampant. Coupled with years of disasters, countless people starved to death, and ghosts and monsters roamed freely, causing the people to yearn for change…”

He recounted the events in detail, but with great restraint, refraining from describing the horrific scenes he had witnessed.

There are far too many cases of people selling their children, exchanging offspring to eat, and hanging people up to sell as mutton.

The devastation he witnessed in the Elephant Kingdom made him realize the importance of humanity. The Way of Heaven governs the seasons such as wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, while the Way of Earth governs cultivation and harvesting. Humanity is connected to these, becoming the key to the fate of the nation.

Only under such an apocalyptic scenario can there be the despair of flickering blue flames and endless ashes, the resentment of the dead heavens and the rising yellow heavens, and the hope of a vast, desolate, and gloomy country where the clouds disperse and the fog clears, bringing clarity to heaven and earth.

Only then can there be the actions of autumn wind and rain, snow and frost burying and freezing the world; only then can there be the search for the unfathomable depths of the desert sands; only then can there be the struggle of the heavenly net smashing the red sun like blood!
Only by personally venturing into the mortal realm, witnessing the sights of various countries, and harboring the same Daoist heart as immortals—that even immortals are human and have the same Daoist heart as mortals—can one comprehend the true mysteries of the Hunyuan Sword Scripture.

Even if Chen Shi possessed the Heavenly Secrets Strategy, without this experience of entering the world, his understanding of the Hunyuan Sword Scripture would only be superficial, and he would not be able to truly grasp its mysteries.

“You have already understood the Master’s Hunyuan Sword Scripture,” said Uncle Jiao.

Others nodded.

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "After I figured out the secrets of the first eight moves, I still found the ninth move, 'Primordial Chaos Split,' to be very difficult and I didn't make much progress."

Senior Brother Qiao Gu laughed and said, "You are already very capable. You have comprehended the Master's Great Dao of Benevolence. Even if you do not understand the division of the Primordial Chaos, you can still go very far in the Cliff of the Dao. Perhaps you will gain further insights after receiving the Master's inheritance in the Cliff of the Dao."

They arrived at the Sandao Cliff with Chen Shi. Chen Shi composed himself and entered the Sandao Cliff for the second time.

On the cliff face, the sword marks left by the Master once again unleashed their power, with streaks of sword energy shooting down from the cliff, transforming into the first move of the Hunyuan Sword Scripture, Earth Qi Cold Greeting, Heaven Overturns Life and Death!

Chen Shi offered his sword, and streams of dark yellow sword energy flew out from the gourd.

He felt as if he had returned to the morning when he observed the bamboo, where the yang energy from the ground flowed and stirred the ashes in the bamboo, producing a melodious sound.

His sword intent also contained this emotion, bringing out the power of the benevolence of heaven and earth to the fullest extent.

Uncle Jiao, Qiao Gu, and the others stood outside the cliff of the pilgrimage route, watching this scene with a somewhat tense feeling.

When Chen Shi first challenged the Cliff of Trials, everyone had high hopes for him. However, unexpectedly, he was forced to retreat from the Cliff of Trials on the eighth move, causing all his previous efforts to be in vain.

Now that Chen Shi has spent several years meditating, if he is forced back by the sword marks on the cliff again, it would be a huge blow to him, and he might even be unable to recover.

Qiao Gu said in a low voice, "Last time, when he faced this move, a corner of his sleeve was cut off."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Shi activated 108 Xuanhuang sword energies to block 108 sword techniques from all around.

The crisscrossing sword energy dissipated within the cliff of the sacred path.

Everyone stared nervously at Chen Shi's sleeves, which remained unchanged; no sleeve had been cut off.

They breathed a sigh of relief, only to see Chen Shi continue walking forward. The sword marks on the cliff were aroused again. Before the sword energy was fully charged, Chen Shi took the initiative to attack, using the Wind and Rain technique against the Wind and Rain technique.

In the narrow path leading to the temple, sword energy transforms into various winds, including cold winds, fierce winds, gentle breezes, strong winds, warm winds, spring winds, and autumn winds, while the clanging and tinkling sounds of sword energy constantly resound.

Chen Shi used all his strength in one move, and the sword energy vanished instantly.

He continued forward, and it was during this very move that he had his purple and gold crown's red ball severed.

This time, however, the red ball on the purple and gold crown is still there.

Chen Shi stepped forward, and the sword marks left by the Master on the cliff face also erupted one after another, demonstrating the moves of the Hunyuan Sword Scripture.

The faint blue flames passed safely.

The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven has risen, we pass safely!

The clouds and fog have dispersed, and we passed safely!

……

Finally, Chen Shi arrived at the sword mark of Tianluo Zhaque once again. It was this very move that had forced him to retreat from the Sandao Cliff.

Chen Shi had no injuries or damage to his clothes. He simply lifted his foot and took that step forward.

On the cliff face, the Heavenly Net Smash was activated.

The sword energy transformed into rainbow light, forming a red sun. The setting sun, like blood, illuminated a scene of earth-shattering change!

The swords clashed and their energies clashed, but soon everything returned to calm.

Chen Shi remained standing there, motionless, while the sword energy that had shot out from the cliff wall dissipated.

Outside the cliff, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Senior Uncle Jiao nodded slightly: "Sixty-two steps. Reaching this point means you've gone the furthest among the disciples of Jin'ao Island. The ultimate techniques you comprehend there will surely be even stronger."

Everyone was very happy.

Jin'ao Island has been suppressed by the Sanqing Sect for many years, and the number of disciples is not large. If there is one more person, it would be good. If the extra person is someone with extraordinary talent like Chen Shi, that would be even better.

Just then, Chen Shi took another step forward.

The people outside the cliff were all taken aback. Senior Sister Jingmei hurriedly said, "Junior Brother Chen, don't go any further! The next move is the ninth move, the Primordial Chaos Split! You absolutely can't get past this move!" Chen Shi continued to walk forward, laughing, "It's precisely because I can't comprehend the Primordial Chaos Split that I absolutely must witness it!"

When he took his seventieth step, the primordial chaos splitting on the cliff face was finally activated!
Suddenly, the earth, water, wind, and fire between the cliffs collapsed and surged wildly. All the great Daos of the world mixed together and merged, turning into a chaotic mass that swept towards him!

Chen Shi couldn't understand this move at all, so he forcibly activated the Xuanhuang Separation he had comprehended to meet the move head-on!
The separation of Xuanhuang is the second half of the primordial chaos, which he comprehended only through the Xuanhuang Dao patterns taught to him by the Earth Goddess Houtu. This half of the move reveals the mystery of the primordial Xuanhuang Qi.

Chen Shi had already exerted as much power as possible in this half-move, but when he met the Hongmeng Split, the cliffside sword technique changed.

Before him, the chaotic force formed by the sword light pressed down overwhelmingly. As it met his Xuanhuang Separation, a strange power came from the chaos. It was a power that opened up the primordial chaos and transformed all the chaos and disorder into order!

Chen Shi's body trembled violently, and the 108 sword energies of the Xuanhuang Separation were instantly shattered.

He retreated rapidly, but as he retreated, the sword intent had already been transmitted into his arm and then into his body!

Chen Shi roared, mobilizing all his magical power, even the three Dao Realms. In an instant, the Dao Ruins and the Demon Realm in the Well appeared in the sky behind his head, and Dao power surged towards him.

At the same time, the illusory outline of Xiniu New Continent also emerged, and the Dark Sea surged around Xiniu New Continent like black tentacles, trying to invade the Immortal Realm.

Chen Shi mobilized his Yin-Yang and Demonic Paths, as well as his External Path, to fight against the sword intent that had invaded his body.

"Clap clap clap!"

His five fingers exploded along the midline, and the sound of bones and meridians cracking came from his palm, rapidly extending along his arm and into his body.

His right arm was torn apart by blood and flesh, as if some strange force, based on him as primordial chaos, was trying to separate his arm.

This force was incredibly fast. As Chen Shi retreated, it had already invaded his shoulder, reached his neck, and spread into his body!
"call--"

Chen Shi moved like lightning, flying backwards from the cliff of the pilgrimage route.

Master Jiao immediately rushed forward, channeling his own Daoist power, and raised his hand to strike Chen Shi's back, shouting, "Quickly come and share the power of the primordial chaos being split apart!"

Qiao Gu, Jing Mei, Jiang Guo, and Hei Guo each made their moves. Qiao Gu reached out and pointed at the back of Chen Shi's head, shouting, "I'll protect his brain!"

Jingmei pointed her fingers like a sword and touched Chen Shi's liver and spleen, protecting them.

Jiang Guo placed his palm on Chen Shi's vital point, protecting Chen Shi's dantian.

The black pot then rose into the air, cutting off the power attacking Chen Shi's primordial spirit.

Everyone's bodies trembled violently, as they felt a terrifying force approaching, as if it could separate everything.

The bones inside the black pot crackled and popped, a sword mark appeared along the midline of each bone, its muscles were torn apart, and blood gushed from its body as it fell from the sky.

Qiao Gu, Jing Mei, and Jiang Guo were each sent flying backwards, landing in the mountains and forests, their wounds resembling the black pots.

Jiang Guo was a true immortal, while Qiao Gu and Jing Mei were already at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, yet they still suffered severe injuries.

Uncle Jiao's cultivation was the most unfathomable. He protected Chen Shi's heart meridian, but his injuries were also extremely serious. He fell to the ground and could not get up.

Chen Shi also landed with a thud, his body covered in blood, with a midline appearing on all his muscles, meridians, tendons, and bones.

That was a sword mark capable of cleaving through the primordial chaos, a sword strike that could transform disorder into order, infinitely mysterious and indescribable.

But it also dealt him a heavy blow.

His injuries were the most severe. If it weren't for the intervention of Master Jiao and others who protected his vital parts, he would probably have died from the Hongmeng Split.

Everyone coughed up blood and was unable to move. If they moved even slightly, their bodies would probably be torn to pieces.

Uncle Jiao was secretly anxious: "Apart from those who are training outside, all the disciples of Jin'ao Island are here. Now, including myself, we are all seriously injured. If foreign enemies invade now, I'm afraid Jin'ao Island will be wiped out!"

After a moment, a rustling sound came from nearby, and no one dared to even turn their eyes.

Their eyes also possess a sword aura that splits their pupils apart; with a slight turn, their eyeballs would immediately split open!

A gourd, no bigger than a palm, dragging a chain even thicker than itself, came into view. The little dog had a serious expression, looking left and right.

On the entire Jin'ao Island, it is now the only able-bodied person (dog).

Its magic surged forth, and a gentle force carefully lifted everyone, along with the black pot, and carried them to Caiwei Palace.

Caiwei Palace is where medicine is refined on Jin'ao Island. Master Jiao and Qiao Gu, among others, have refined many elixirs.

The gourd dog carried them into Caiwei Palace and placed them on the jade couch. The little dog hopped and skipped around, taking down several bottles of elixirs from the medicine shelf.

"Well done, little dog!" Qiao Gu cheered inwardly.

The gourd opened the jade bottle, tasted a few of the kernels, and crunched them loudly.

Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, fearing that the gourd-shaped dog would devour all the elixirs. Their Golden Turtle Island was already dirt poor; the disciples were often penniless. They had barely managed to save up these few bottles of elixirs, all for treating injuries.

If they were eaten by the gourds, they would probably have to rely on their healing abilities to let the wounds heal on their own.

Fortunately, the gourd didn't continue eating; instead, it poured out the elixir from the jade bottle and stuffed it into everyone's mouths.

They carefully activated the elixir, using the power of creation within it to heal their wounds, and the injuries gradually subsided.

Chen Shi lay there with a smile on his face, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"dare you laugh!"

Qiao Gu roared, "Even the Three Pure Ones couldn't destroy our Golden Turtle Island, yet you almost wiped us out! If you weren't confident, why did you provoke the Ninth Move?"

As Chen Shi's laughter subsided, he said, "Having survived this brush with death, I have come to understand the division of the primordial chaos."

Everyone was shocked and exclaimed in unison, "What?"

Chen Shi said, "I have grasped the secret of the Primordial Chaos Separation. I will pass this technique on to you once I have fully mastered it..."

Master Jiao interrupted him, his voice trembling, "If you can comprehend the division of the primordial chaos, you can enter the Cliff of Seeking the Dao and come to the Pool of Washing Brushes, which is where the Master attained enlightenment! You can then receive the Master's true inheritance!"

(End of this chapter)