On the Avenue.

Chapter 652 Aren't you the same?
Chen Shi inquired and learned that Redwood Valley was a sacred place created by a group of immortals for researching the Dao of Immortality. The immortals here were very similar to his grandfather, Chen Yin, in that they enjoyed delving into all sorts of difficult problems. They didn't place much importance on cultivation level, but everyone who came out of Redwood Valley was quite powerful.

Their main focus is on external pollution.

Because Bai Jingming had merged with the Dao in Penglai West, and the Dao Realm was filled with various kinds of heretical paths, he was the best subject of study for the immortals of Redwood Valley.

Moreover, Bai Jingming has already reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Immortal Realm and cultivated the twelfth level of the Dao Realm. He has strong vitality and it is difficult for him to die, making him very suitable for their research.

“Redwood Valley is suitable for Grandpa and his family. I wonder if Grandpa is among them?” Chen Shixin asked.

After helping his senior brother Bai Jingming eliminate the heretics, he stayed on Jin'ao Island for several days before deciding to return to the Heavenly Court.

Jiao the Cripple hurriedly said, "Your journey is long this time, so you can't let it interfere with your cultivation. Take some extra spring water from the Jade Purity Spring with you."

Chen Shi shook his head: "I don't need to bring it. I have my own immortal energy."

Jiao the Cripple said, "The immortal energy outside is useless. The Jade Purity Dao Spring contains Jade Purity spiritual energy, which is far superior to other spiritual energies. Prepare more of it; it will greatly benefit your cultivation."

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have a Purple Heaven Vine that can absorb spiritual energy and transform it into Taiqing spiritual energy. How does it compare to Yuqing spiritual energy?"

Jiao the Cripple was stunned, then stammered, "You have the Taiqing spiritual energy?"

Chen Shi nodded: "The Taiqing Purple Qi produced by the Purple Heaven Vine is said by the Goddess Houtu to be quite good. I planted it in the Dao Realm and use the Taiqing Purple Qi to cultivate every day."

Jiao the Cripple asked woodenly, "You cultivate with the Taiqing Purple Qi every day?"

"Yes."

"No, that's not good. It's too extravagant. You're still young; you should endure more hardship."

Jiao the Cripple thought for a moment, then said earnestly, “You should cultivate with ordinary spiritual energy. Your comprehension will be much lower, but you will be more adept at using your wisdom to solve problems. When I didn’t have spiritual energy, I worked for others and guarded the spiritual fields for my employer, which laid a very solid foundation for me. We all went through hardships. Look at your Senior Brother Jiang Guo, Senior Sister Jing Mei, and Qiao Gu; their foundations are very solid.”

Chen Shi showed admiration, but immediately put the matter of enduring hardship behind him.

These people didn't have as solid a foundation as him, so he felt there was no need to force himself to suffer.

Jiao the Cripple couldn't persuade him, so he said, "Taiqing spiritual energy isn't bad either. It ranks third among the three top-tier spiritual energies. There's another spiritual energy called Shangqing spiritual energy, which ranks second. Yuqing spiritual energy ranks first. Although you have Taiqing spiritual energy, it's produced by the Purple Heaven Vine, not naturally formed. If you take some Yuqing spring water with you, it might be able to help you in a crucial moment."

Chen Shi then collected some Yuqing Spring water and said, "While I am away, you must not let anyone take away the Yuqing Dao Spring."

Jiao the Cripple became somewhat agitated by his words and retorted, "Without you, we cannot protect the Jade Purity Spring?"

Chen Shi nodded: "If the person who comes is truly powerful and has extraordinary skills, you should humble yourselves and give them some Jade Spring water. As long as they don't die, I will be able to get revenge when I return."

Jiao the Cripple was so angry that he trembled and chased him out.

Not long after Chen Shi left, another listless young man in white clothes arrived at Jin'ao Island, looking rather unwell.

When Senior Sister Jingmei saw the person who came, she was both surprised and delighted: "Senior Brother Bai, you're back?"

The person who came was Bai Jingming, who was also very surprised and asked, "Junior Sister Jingmei, your leg is healed?"

Senior Sister Jingmei beamed and paced back and forth in front of him, saying, "It was the new junior brother who healed my Dao injury! Weren't you doing research in Redwood Valley? Why are you back?"

Bai Jingming sighed and explained, "I didn't originally have my brain damaged by someone. I went to Redwood Valley to see if the seniors there could heal my Dao injury, and also to earn some money. I was perfectly fine until recently, when, for some reason, my Dao injury healed without me even realizing it, and my brain recovered as well. The seniors in Redwood Valley originally thought I was a great talent, but after I recovered, they thought I was a waste and sent me back."

He said in frustration, "I haven't been paid yet."

Senior Sister Jingmei smiled and said, "It was Junior Brother who refined the external path in your Dao Realm, which is why your Dao injury was able to heal."

"The external path within me also disappeared as a result, turning me into what the seniors of Redwood Valley called 'useless'..."

"Didn't you go to Redwood Valley to heal your Dao injuries?"

"That's true."

Bai Jingming cheered up, shaking off his previous dejection and becoming radiant.

Seeing this, Senior Sister Jingmei thought to herself, "Senior Brother Bai's mind doesn't seem to be completely healed. Perhaps Junior Brother Chen's cleansing wasn't thorough enough. But it seems that Senior Brother Bai was like this before."

Chen Shi and the black pot left Penglai West together, and after many twists and turns, they arrived at the Heavenly Court and returned to the Heavenly Army Camp.

Hei Guo was an expert at gathering information. After returning to the Heavenly Soldiers' Camp, he immediately called his friends and drank with the Heavenly Soldiers, chatting about the major events that had occurred in the Earthly Immortal Realm recently.

Chen Shi waited at Tiandao Residence. After a while, Gouzi returned and told Chen Shi the news he had found out.

Chen Shi was stunned and exclaimed, "In one night, all the Heavenly Dao treasures were destroyed?"

The black pot nodded.

Chen Shi's expression was uncertain. He had returned to the Heavenly Court mainly to inquire about the injury of the Red Essence Immortal. However, instead of finding out about the Red Essence Immortal's injury, he learned even more astonishing news!
"After the Heavenly Secrets Strategy was destroyed, shouldn't the other Heavenly Dao treasures be even more heavily guarded? How could they all be wiped out in one fell swoop? These are the treasures of the Thirty-Three Heavens, treasures crafted by the Three Pure Ones. How could they all be destroyed in an instant?"

He thought about it carefully, then shook his head and said, "No, no, there must be something fishy going on here... The Heavenly Dao treasure of the Earth Goddess Houtu was also destroyed?"

He then inquired about more details about the black pot, but he had only heard about it from the heavenly soldiers in the heavenly army camp. The heavenly soldiers were of low status and did not know the specific details of the attack.

What they knew most about was the case of the destruction of Yuheng Gate and Yaoguang Pool.

It was the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) when suddenly someone from the Jade Balance Gate ascended to the upper realm. The immortals and deities guarding the Jade Balance Gate were somewhat surprised, because the Heavenly Secrets Strategy had been destroyed, and now the Jade Balance Gate could no longer emit ascension rays to draw immortals from the lower realm to the upper realm.

Two immortals ascended to the upper realm this time. As soon as they appeared in the Jade Balance Gate, they immediately took action and smashed the Jade Balance Gate to pieces in front of everyone.

After their successful attack, the two immediately joined forces and rushed to Yaoguang Pool.

At this time, the experts in the Heavenly Court were alerted, and the two sides fought a great battle at Yaoguang Pool.

The clash was extremely brief. The two immortals each unleashed layers of their Dao Realm, confronting the gods of the Heavenly Court. Divine and immortal power surged and annihilated the defenders of Yao Guang, turning them into ashes. While fighting, the two immortals shattered Yao Guang Pool and immediately withdrew, the entire incident taking no more than ten breaths.

The powerful figures of the Heavenly Court have been hunting him down, but so far there has been no result.

Chen Shi was terrified. After a moment of contemplation, he took out an incense stick, lit it, and held it in his hand.

The smoke from the incense rose gently, and after a moment, the image of the Earth Goddess Houtu formed within the smoke. She spoke, "So it is Your Highness. What brings Your Highness to me?"

Chen Shi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I was shocked to hear that Houde Heavenly Palace has been attacked. In my haste, I have taken the liberty of disturbing Your Majesty. Your Majesty, is the situation serious?"

The Empress said, "The Myriad Treasure Mirror of the Great Virtue and Radiance Heavenly Palace was destroyed in the attack. Many of the fairies in the Heavenly Palace were also injured or killed, with more than six thousand dead or wounded."

Chen Shi was greatly shocked and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, who is the attacker?"

The Empress said, "I don't know. The person who came was extremely powerful, a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and had cultivated to the twenty-second level of the Dao Realm. He was unfathomable and withstood ten of my moves without defeat before retreating calmly."

Chen Shi was awe-inspiring. Hou Tu Huang Di Zhi had countless incarnations, with incarnations in various worlds, controlling the Earth Gods and the Underworld, and ruling over the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

She is proficient in the great Daos of Xuanhuang and Reincarnation, possesses unparalleled divine power, and ranks among the Four Emperors. There are probably not many immortals who can withstand ten moves from her without being defeated and escape unscathed.

"Does Your Majesty have anyone you suspect?"

Chen Shi inquired, "There are probably not many people in the Earthly Immortal Realm with such cultivation and strength."

The Empress smiled enigmatically and said, "Crown Prince, your cultivation is still too low; it's not wise for you to know too much, or it will only bring you trouble. However, I do have an inside agent in my Houde Heavenly Palace—my good maid, Feng Huixue!"

Chen Shi exclaimed, "Senior Sister Feng?"

The Empress sneered, "Don't call her 'Senior Sister'! This little brat is a traitor. I have carefully taught her, and she actually colluded with outsiders to plot a rebellion. She is truly an ungrateful wretch!"

Her anger had not subsided when she suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Your Highness, I have no one to talk to these days. You should come back to visit me often. Also, Feng Huixue has escaped from the Heavenly Palace. If you encounter her, you must be careful and not fall into her clutches! Remember, remember."

As the incense burned out and the fragrance dissipated, the form of Houtu Huangdiqi also vanished.

Chen Shi composed himself and murmured, "All the magic treasures of the Thirty-Three Heavens have been destroyed. It's really true... I'll go tell Emperor Changchun!"

He arrived at his Dao Realm, met Emperor Changchun, and truthfully told him the information he had gathered.

Emperor Changchun's body trembled violently, and he exclaimed, "The thirty-three heavens' magical treasures are all destroyed? Is this news accurate?"

"It's true."

Chen Shi said, "The Ten Thousand Generations Treasure Mirror of the Great Heavenly Palace of Virtue and Glory was destroyed in a sneak attack. I have already consulted the Earth Goddess Houtu."

Changchun Emperor's eyes flashed, and he said, "The Great Virtue and Great Light Heavenly Palace is heavily guarded, and with the Earth Goddess Houtu in charge, how could someone break in and damage the Heavenly Dao treasures? There must be an inside accomplice in this matter. This person in the Heavenly Palace has considerable power. We can arrange for a Great Luo Golden Immortal to infiltrate the Heavenly Palace."

Chen Shi said, "Brother Dao is right. It was the Empress's disciple, Feng Huixue, who acted as an inside agent."

Emperor Changchun continued, "This incident of the destruction of the Heavenly Dao treasure is not simple. Even if the Goddess Houtu was negligent, how could the other deities guarding the Heavenly Dao treasure be negligent as well? Therefore, I believe that either the Heavenly Court deliberately let it go, or the attackers were too powerful!"

Chen Shi blinked: "You mean, the Empress did the deed?"

Emperor Changchun said, “It’s very possible. But it’s also possible that the attacker was too strong. Although Houtu is one of the Four Emperors, she has accumulated a lot of knowledge and skills in the immortal path. Apart from the Three Pure Ones, some of her disciples have already reached higher realms, and some may even have broken through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. This person’s strength is enough to rival Houtu. Such a person already appeared in my time.”

He sighed, “The speed of progress in the Immortal Path is much faster than that in the Divine Path. I have been sealed here for 60,000 years and my cultivation has not improved an inch, but those people outside are probably far more powerful than me.”

Chen Shi asked, "Brother Dao, do you think it's possible that the Empress released the water?"

Emperor Changchun shook his head and said, "With a calculated attack on the unsuspecting, even without an inside accomplice, the Empress was ambushed. I'm afraid the Mirror of Ten Thousand Ages will be destroyed by this person. The previous attack on the Heavenly Court and destruction of the Heavenly Secrets Strategy was a test and rehearsal."

Chen Shi said, "They had been planning this for a long time, and had placed their own people in various Heavenly Palaces as backup. When everyone thought that the attackers would not dare to attack other Heavenly Treasures, they suddenly struck and shattered these Heavenly Treasures, causing the Heavenly Court to lose its greatest reliance in acting on behalf of Heaven!"

Emperor Changchun exhaled a breath of turbid air and said, "After the Heavenly Dao Treasures are destroyed, I'm afraid it will soon be the turn of beings like the Four Emperors, Six Departments, Five Directions, and Five Elders. Someone will definitely target them! Chaos has already appeared in the world. The Earthly Immortal Realm will probably face a great calamity of gods and immortals before the calamity even begins!"

Chen Shi pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Dao, what if the Empress goes easy on us?"

Changchun Emperor was puzzled, not understanding why he had such a question, but still replied, "If the Goddess Houtu deliberately let the person break the Eternal Mirror, then she should have already forged another Eternal Mirror! When the enemy breaks the Eternal Mirror and other heavenly treasures, they will become complacent. Complacency will reveal their weaknesses!"

Chen Shi nodded silently.

He bid farewell to Emperor Changchun and returned to Tiandao Residence, only to find the residence teeming with people, all of whom were heavenly soldiers and generals from the Fire Battalion, their eyes fixed on Chen Shi.

Chen Shi wondered, "What are they doing here?"

Commander Wu Guanyun approached him, smiling, "Young Master Chen, good news, great news! All the magic treasures of the Thirty-Three Heavens have been destroyed! This is a tremendous victory for our Celestial Court! From now on, the immortals who ascend to heaven will finally be free from the oppression of the Heavenly Court! From now on, the Heavenly Court can no longer use the pretext of acting on behalf of Heaven to point fingers at us immortals! Young Master, Young Master?"

Chen Shi woke up with a start, looked up and smiled, "Happy, of course I'm happy."

Just then, a familiar female voice came from behind him: "Your Highness is here too?"

Chen Shi turned around and saw Feng Huixue walking towards him in a pale yellow dress, a smile on her face.

Wu Guanyun quickly introduced them: "Lord Feng, this young master is the Emperor's disciple, Young Master Chen Shi."

Feng Huixue looked surprised and said with a half-smile, "I didn't expect that Your Highness would not only have the identity of Crown Prince Houtu, but also the title of disciple of the Immortal Emperor. That's quite unexpected."

Chen Shi said calmly, "Aren't you the same? Feng Huixue, you don't even bow to the Immortal Emperor's disciple?"

Feng Huixue raised her eyebrows, suppressed her anger, and bowed deeply.

(End of this chapter)