On the Avenue.

Chapter 645 The Chen Family Serfs

Qiao Gu and Jing Mei trembled, their faces ashen, and they could no longer use their cultivation.

If they don't fight against external forces, they can endure the attacks within their bodies. However, if their magical power is slightly depleted, it is very likely that the balance within their bodies will be broken, allowing the external forces to gain the upper hand.

Both were unable to fight any longer, and from behind, the disciples of Yunxiao Cave Heaven led their celestial soldiers and generals in pursuit, their momentum fierce.

"Junior brother, you go back to Jin'ao Island first..." Senior Sister Jingmei said in a trembling voice.

Chen Shi grabbed the two men's hands and led them towards Jin'ao Island.

Qiao Gu endured the excruciating pain from the attack by the heretics and said, "Your cultivation is the lowest, so put us down first. You can go back now, we'll be fine!"

Chen Shi ignored them and activated the Limitless Innate Demonic Art to regulate their unorthodox practices.

Among the disciples of Yunxiao Cave Heaven were many Golden Immortals. They moved with incredible speed, rapidly closing the distance. Even from afar, they unleashed their supernatural powers, and boundless flames converged to form an enormous halberd.

The Golden Immortal unleashed his primordial spirit, standing tall and upright, wielding his halberd as he cleaved downwards.

Yunxiao Cave Heaven is the orthodox sect of the Three Pure Ones, and its disciples' cultivation far surpasses that of their peers. This attack would split even a celestial mountain in two, and Chen Shi would not be able to withstand it.

Qiao Gu trembled, intending to forcefully draw up a mouthful of immortal energy to confront this person head-on. At this moment, he suddenly felt the scene of external attacks within his body stop. His originally chaotic cultivation suddenly became orderly. Even the Dao injury that had troubled him for a long time seemed to have lessened considerably.

"I'm ready!"

Qiao Gu was both surprised and delighted. He activated the Golden Spirit Doumu Mystic Art, channeling a burst of immortal energy. His primordial spirit transformed into the form of the Golden Spirit Doumu, with one head and three faces: one was her original face, one was an angry face, and one was a pig's face. She was about the same size as the Golden Immortal's primordial spirit. She condensed her immortal energy into a Dragon-Tiger Jade Ruyi, and with one strike, she shattered the Fangtian Halberd.

Qiao Gu's primordial spirit launched another attack, shattering the Golden Immortal's primordial spirit into dust.

"My cultivation has been restored, I am no longer afraid of them!"

Qiao Gu laughed heartily, broke free from Chen Shi's grasp, and shouted, "My old wounds have healed considerably; today I'll wreak havoc on them!"

He had just finished speaking when suddenly the external forces within his body went out of control and clashed with the immortal forces. He immediately experienced a sharp pain in his chest, his old injuries flared up, he foamed at the mouth, and fell from the sky.

Chen Shi rushed back, picked him up, and ran away.

Qiao Gu immediately noticed that the heretic was completely subdued, and his old injuries had lessened somewhat. He immediately perked up and said, "Junior brother, put me down, I'm all healed now! In my current state, even if a Taiyi Golden Immortal came, I would dare to fight him!"

Chen Shi ignored them, grabbed the two men, and ran wildly toward Jin'ao Island.

Qiao Gu broke free of his hand, and after a brief moment of strength, he collapsed again, exhausted.

Chen Shi grabbed him again, and Qiao Gu noticed that the outsider was subdued again, and his old injuries were also easing, but this time he was much more obedient.

Senior Sister Jingmei was not as reckless as him. Seeing his miserable state, she calmed down and let Chen Shi hold her hand.

As pursuers caught up from behind, Qiao Gu and Jing Mei each used their supernatural powers to repel the enemy, killing hundreds of immortal soldiers and generals in succession, and for a time no one dared to approach.

Chen Shi carried the two of them at breakneck speed. At this moment, a groan came from the mountain valley. Chen Shi had already flown hundreds of miles away and then turned back. Just then, the pursuers also arrived. Qiao Gu and Jing Mei quickly activated their supernatural powers to block the pursuers.

Chen Shi landed in the mountain hollow and saw piles of withered grass. In the pile of grass and wood, a person was lying there, trembling all over, and a strong aura of heretics emanated from his body.

"It's Senior Uncle Jiao!"

All three were shocked. Jiao the Cripple's condition was similar to that of Qiao Gu and Jing Mei, but more serious.

Chen Shi lifted his foot and planted it under Jiao the Cripple. With a little effort, he lifted Jiao the Cripple up and landed him on his shoulder.

Chen Shi carried him on his back, led the two of them, and rushed towards Jin'ao Island.

After a moment, Chen Shi suppressed the external forces within Jiao the Cripple's body, helping him to calm his injuries. Jiao the Cripple woke up and found himself being carried on Chen Shi's shoulder. Feeling somewhat ashamed, he immediately floated down from Chen Shi's shoulder and said, "I'm all better now, you don't need to carry me anymore."

"Master Uncle, don't come down!" Qiao Gu exclaimed.

Jiao the Cripple didn't understand what he meant. Suddenly, his internal energy surged again, and he groaned before collapsing limply to the ground.

Chen used his foot to scoop him up, placed him on his shoulder, and continued running with him on his back.

Jiao the Cripple became much more obedient.

Upon arriving at Jin'ao Island, Chen Shi still hadn't put Jiao the Cripple down, and asked, "Do we have a protective formation for the mountain?"

“Yes. Put me down,” said Jiao the Cripple.

Chen Shi put him down, and Jiao the Cripple put one hand on Chen Shi's shoulder, surging his cultivation and activating the mountain-protecting formation to keep the pursuers out.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Shi was slightly relieved, but Senior Sister Jing Mei couldn't help but ask, "Junior Brother Chen, why doesn't the heretic attack when I hold your hand?"

Chen Shi did not hide anything: "I originally came from the Dark Sea and cultivated unorthodox methods. Moreover, the path I followed was to merge with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. With this method, when your unorthodox methods went out of control, I merged with the unorthodox methods within your bodies, and you naturally got rid of the backlash from the unorthodox methods."

It sounds simple, but it is actually extremely difficult. Chen Shi was able to master this method by sheer luck. If he had not used a true god from beyond the heavens as his divine embryo, he would not have been able to achieve the harmony between the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and his own Dao.

But once this path was cleared, things became much simpler, which is why he was able to control the abnormal points of the Great Dao and open up the Demon Realm in the Well as the third Dao Realm.

"I have only temporarily suppressed the heretical paths within you. To completely resolve this, I need to find your Dao Realm and assimilate the heretical paths within it into the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

Chen Shi looked at the immortals chasing after him outside. He saw that these immortals had already formed a neat formation and were guarding Jin'ao Island. They were blocked by the mountain-protecting formation and could not get in, but Chen Shi and the others could not get out either.

Jiao the Cripple said, "I was just a little exhausted and was taken advantage of by the heretics. As long as I recover my cultivation, I can suppress the heretics. At that time, I will return to my peak condition."

Qiao Gu laughed and said, "We're used to it."

Senior Sister Jingmei smiled and said, "Junior Brother Chen, you don't need to worry about us."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi led them to the Jade Purity Spring. The three of them drank the water from the Jade Purity Spring and slowly refined it. After half a day, Senior Sister Jingmei was the first to recover and let go of Chen Shi's hand.

Jiao the Cripple and Qiao Gu were far more advanced in their cultivation, requiring more time to develop. However, they were already capable of contending with the heretics and no longer needed Chen Shi's assistance.

"Junior Brother Chen, this way."

Senior Sister Jingmei led the way, guiding Chen Shi towards Biyou Palace. Chen Shi followed behind her, looking at her leg, and asked, "What happened to Senior Sister's injury?"

"He was beaten up."

Senior Sister Jingmei walked with a limp, turned around and smiled, "It happened a long time ago. Not long after I joined Jin'ao Island, I was out once when someone found a pretext to break my leg. It could have been healed, but that person said that as long as I bowed my head and admitted that the Sanqing lineage was the true lineage, he would heal my injury. I was stubborn and didn't bow my head, so I became lame."

Chen Shi said, "I just examined Senior Sister's injury. The reason it hasn't healed yet is mainly because Senior Sister joined the Dao in Penglai West, and the wound was infected by external forces. If it weren't for the external forces, it would have healed long ago."

“Yes, that’s right.” Senior Sister Jingmei said as if she were talking about something unrelated to herself, “The person who injured me also said that Penglai West has been corrupted by heretics, and my wound will definitely be affected by them, leaving me crippled for life. I was sad at first, but then I thought that Uncle Jiao was just like me, so I felt relieved.”

Chen Shi said, "I can heal your wounds."

Senior Sister Jingmei was very happy: "There's no rush to heal your injuries. I'll take you to pay respects to the Master. You've passed the test, but you haven't paid respects to the Master yet. Once you've paid respects, you'll be part of the Master's lineage."

Chen Shi followed her to the front of the Master's Hall. Chen Shi had come here once before with Jiao the Cripple, but they had only offered incense outside the hall. This time, however, they were allowed to enter the hall.

Offering incense outside the hall only makes one a nominal disciple or a disciple in name only. Entering the hall and formally becoming a disciple in the main hall is what makes one a true disciple.

Following proper etiquette, Chen Shi offered incense and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony to become a disciple.

After the ceremony, Chen Shi stood up, looked at the statue of Confucius in front of him, and asked, "Senior Sister, I have read a lot of Confucius's teachings. What do you think is the core of Confucius's spirit?"

Senior Sister Jingmei thought for a moment and said, "Education should be provided to all without discrimination."

Chen Shi asked, "What does it mean to teach without discrimination?"

Senior Sister Jingmei blushed and said, "I've always been quite slow-witted, and my knowledge is definitely not as good as yours or the other fellow disciples. I only said that because I heard Senior Uncle Jiao say so."

She paused, then said, "Master Jiao said that back then, the Master, like the Three Pure Ones, also served as an official in the Shang Dynasty. The Three Pure Ones were shamans of the Shang Dynasty, holding the official title of Daoist. The Master held the official title of Confucian. At that time, the four of them, along with some like-minded individuals, comprehended something extraordinary from the shamanistic ritual patterns of the Shang Dynasty, enabling mortals to cultivate and thus possess the means to contend with the Shang Dynasty. This is what later became known as Immortal Arts. Master Jiao said that the Master and the Three Pure Ones were very close at that time, discussing the mysteries of Immortal Arts together, deducing realms one by one, and setting cultivation levels for future generations so that people could cultivate. However, as they spread their teachings, disagreements gradually arose."

Chen Shi listened intently and asked, "What disagreement?"

Senior Sister Jingmei said, "When the Three Pure Ones impart immortal techniques to their disciples, they believe that they must first examine the disciple's background, character, family history, and morality, and choose the best among them to pass on the techniques. However, Master believes that the transmission of immortal techniques should be inclusive, and everyone should be able to learn immortal techniques, regardless of their background, character, family history, or morality. It was because of this that their differences grew larger and larger, and eventually they had a falling out."

She continued, "I told Uncle Jiao that what the Three Pure Ones said wasn't without reason. The power of immortal arts is so great that when choosing disciples, one should naturally choose the best. If it were taught to bad people, wouldn't that lead to evil deeds? Guess what Uncle Jiao said?"

Chen Shi asked, "What do you mean?"

He said, "When a person is born, is he good or bad? A person is born as a blank sheet of paper, neither good nor bad. If you teach him to do good, he will be good; if you teach him to do evil, he will be bad."

Senior Sister Jingmei said, “The so-called ‘education for all’ means that education is not just about teaching immortal techniques, but also about teaching and moral guidance. A rough person from a poor family can be transformed into a well-mannered gentleman through education. A petty thief in the streets can also be transformed into a righteous and brave hero through education. Merchants who travel the streets, women in brothels, and farmers in the countryside may all become gentlemen or immortals in the future. Why care about their background, their character, family history, and morality? A teacher should not only impart knowledge but also virtue.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi pondered for a long time.

Senior Sister Jingmei interrupted his thoughts and said with a smile, "Since Junior Brother has already become a disciple, then come with me."

She led Chen Shi toward the Cliff of the Ascent, saying, "Golden Turtle Island is besieged this time, and I'm afraid there will be many dangers. You and Junior Brother Jiang Guo are still too young to participate in the battle. We are enough for this battle. You should go and hide in the Cliff of the Ascent."

"Sister..."

"You don't need to say anything more. This is also what Senior Uncle Jiao and Senior Brother Qiao want to do. Even if you participate in the war, you won't be of much use."

Senior Sister Jingmei said, "Don't worry, although there aren't many people on Jin'ao Island, we have quite a few senior uncles and elder brothers in the Heavenly Court. They wouldn't dare to act recklessly."

Chen Shi asked, "Will my martial uncles and senior brothers come?"

Senior Sister Jingmei smiled and said, "Of course they will come. You and Jiang Guo should stay obediently at the Path of the Gods and wait until things calm down before coming out."

Chen Shi looked out of Jin'ao Island and saw rows of black iron immortal cities heading this way. The dark iron cities were extremely cold and made it hard to breathe.

More and more immortals surrounded Jin'ao Island, but for some reason, they did not attack the protective formation, as if they were waiting for something.

“The Sanqing lineage is very united. If they were to come, young and old alike would definitely come.”

Senior Sister Jingmei urged, "Stop looking, hurry up and go inside."

Chen Shi walked into the Cliff of the Ascent and continued forward. He hadn't gone far when he saw Jiang Guo. Beside Jiang Guo were several Taoists from the Cloud Soaring Cave, all of whom had their collarbones pierced and were bound with Immortal-Binding Ropes, lying on the ground.

Jiang Guo was not worried about the war outside at all. Seeing that he was worried, he comforted him, "Uncle Jiao is a Taiyi Golden Immortal, and one of the strongest Taiyi Golden Immortals. Even if the Three Pure Ones lineage sends more people, it will be useless."

Chen Shi was even more worried.

The stronger Jiao the Cripple becomes, the stronger the people from the Sanqing lineage will be.

I'm afraid Jin'ao Island is doomed.

He passed by Jiang Guo and the others, entered the place where the Master attained enlightenment, and came to the Washing Brush Pond.

The ink stains in the pool were exactly the same as when he left, without the slightest change. Time seemed to have stood still here.

Chen Shi sat down and pondered deeply. After a while, his eyes lit up and the image of the Dao Ruins appeared above his head.

Chen Shi leaped into the Dao Ruins Dao Realm.

"My Dao realm now covers a wider area."

He stood in the air above the Dao Realm, looking down. When he saw Fuluo Village, he immediately leaped away and flew away.

The next moment, Chen Shi landed at the entrance of Fuluo Village, looked up at the village gate, and stepped inside.

"Master is back!"

The villagers greeted him warmly. Qu Lihua, a village girl, smiled and hid the kitchen knife behind her back, saying, "Sir, are you here to collect rent today?"

"No."

Chen Shi said kindly, "You can farm your land without worry, I won't charge you rent."

The village girl, Qu Lihua, hurriedly threw the kitchen knife aside, and the other villagers also put down their hooks and forks, revealing honest and simple smiles.

The village elder, Shang Dugong, said tremblingly, "Does the master mean that we are still tenant farmers, not serfs? The master must keep his word!"

"To count, to count."

Chen Shi came to Shang Du Gong's side, sat on the stone bench, put his hands on his knees, looked at the ducks passing by him, and said, "However, I also have a request."

Shang Dugong beamed and said, "As long as you don't charge rent, please feel free to ask, sir."

Chen Shi turned his gaze away from the duck and laughed, "Let's all go out of the village and fight for me."

"Quack?" the duck turned around and said.

Chen Shi nodded slightly: "Yes, you should go and help too."

(End of this chapter)