On the Avenue.

Chapter 660 A Promise is Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold
Li Tianwang broke out in a cold sweat, and the exquisite golden pagoda became very hot to the touch.

He never imagined that the reason the Ziwei Emperor spoke up for Chen Shi was simply because the Ziwei Emperor had said a good word for Li Tianwang when Chen Shi suggested investigating him.

Chen Shi cast a grateful glance at the Ziwei Emperor.

The Emperor Ziwei had a serious expression and did not look at him.

The Ziwei Emperor's rule of conduct is that he either doesn't help either side, or he helps both sides; he must treat both sides equally and not favor one over the other.

Since he spoke up for Li Tianwang earlier, his current stance of speaking up for Chen Shi would be considered even.

Houtu Niangniang glanced around and said, "Didn't any of the other fellow Daoists plead for Li Tianwang? It's clear they also believe there's something wrong with Li Tianwang and that he should be investigated."

The silence of the other Heavenly Court leaders was as loud as thunder.

Veins bulged on Li Tianwang's forehead. The reason why the Antarctic Longevity Emperor and others did not plead for him was simply because he had little interest in or connection with these beings. After all, he was the Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Army and a subject of the Jade Emperor, and it was inappropriate for him to be too close to other Heavenly Venerables and Emperors.

Now, this very point has become a tool to attack him!

However, it's also possible that these Heavenly Court giants lost face because Chen Shi summoned their clones, leading to their clones being killed, and therefore wanted to make things difficult for him, the culprit.

Most of these celestial giants believed that it was Li Tianwang who had set up the Star-Commanding Platform to summon their clones.

"Your Majesty, this exquisite golden pagoda was a gift from the ancient Buddha Dipankara, intended to suppress my son."

Li Tianwang hurriedly protested, "This matter is known to both gods and men! I have been able to keep my life from my son all these years entirely thanks to this treasure. It is not that I colluded with the Western Paradise."

Doumu Yuanjun said, "The Celestial Court remains extremely mysterious. There are probably powerful figures from the Western Paradise inside, trying to overthrow the Celestial Court and get a share of the spoils. King Li really needs to avoid suspicion."

Li Tianwang angrily said, "Yuanjun, you said this simply because Chen Shi is a disciple of Jin'ao Island, and you're deliberately trying to frame me!"

Thunderous Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable advised, “Heavenly King, please do not be angry. We all know you are innocent, but it is inevitable that there are powerful figures from the Western Paradise in the Celestial Court. You possess the magic weapon of the Ancient Buddha Dipankara, so it is hard to guarantee that you are not suspected. If we do not suspect you, do you think the others in the Celestial Court will not suspect you? What the Empress said is also right, we just need to investigate your relationship with the Western Paradise. If you are innocent, would we wrong you?”

"Yes, the innocent will clear themselves."

Doumu Yuanjun said, "You dare not let us investigate? Do you really have a problem? Are you really disloyal to the Great Heavenly Venerable?"

Li Tianwang's face turned red, and he stammered, unable to speak.

"OK OK."

The Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable, remained expressionless, showing neither joy nor anger, and said, "Minister Li is very close to the Western Paradise. Even if the Western Paradise did not participate in the struggle between the Heavenly Court and the Immortal Court, it would still sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight. Minister Li indeed needs to examine and reflect on himself. In addition, Minister Li has also made contributions to pacifying the Nirvana Great World, giving my people another world to live in. His merits are immeasurable, and he should be rewarded accordingly."

Li Tianwang breathed a sigh of relief.

The Jade Emperor glanced at Chen Shi and the others, and said, "As for these few Heavenly Dao Gods, they also made contributions in pacifying the Nirvana Great World, and should be rewarded accordingly. From now on, you will be under Minister Li's command, and Minister Li will naturally take good care of you."

The group was fairly satisfied with the outcome and remained silent.

The Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable, looked at the enormous divine tree and continued, "This tree is extraordinary. Minister Li, escort it with utmost care and ensure there are no mishaps, or you will be held responsible!"

Li Tianwang, with a dignified air, bowed and agreed.

Suddenly, the Jade Emperor transformed into boundless starlight, soaring into the sky before dissipating.

Chen Shi approached Doumu Yuanjun and was about to bow in thanks when Doumu Yuanjun's expression changed drastically. She flicked her sleeve and said, "Grandmaster Uncle? What grandmaster Uncle? Who is your grandmaster Uncle? I am a deity, and I have long since severed all ties with the Tongtian lineage!"

Chen Shi blinked. He hadn't said anything, so he didn't know why Doumu Yuanjun had suddenly lost her temper.

Doumu Yuanjun looked at him with a serious expression, snorted, and looked around: "Fellow Daoists, please see clearly that I enforce the law impartially and without any favoritism. Even if someone from my sect comes, I will resolutely not admit it! If this boy makes a mistake in the future, he shall be punished or killed as appropriate, without regard for my feelings!"

As she finished speaking, with a flick of her sleeve, her body transformed into starlight and exploded with a resounding sound before dissipating.

Thunderous Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable chuckled and said, "My master's divine realm is so profound that he has already reached the state of detachment from emotions and has long since severed the ties between master and disciple. As his senior brother, I have not yet cultivated to that level and cannot escape worldly constraints."

He bowed deeply to the other Great Emperors and Celestial Venerables around him, and said with utmost sincerity, "My sect was slaughtered by the Immortal Path, and few of its roots remain. I hope that you fellow Daoists will take care of us so that we will not be completely wiped out. I am deeply grateful!"

All the Great Emperors, Heavenly Venerables, and True Lords returned the greeting, saying, "You flatter us, Heavenly Venerable."

Thunder God said to Chen Shi, “Junior Nephew, I have official business to attend to and must return to the Thunder Department. If you need anything, you can come to the Thunder Department to find me, or you can light an incense stick and recite the name of Thunder God, and I will respond.”

Chen Shi agreed.

Thunder God then said to Li Tianwang, "We are the disciples of our sect, and we would be grateful if you would take good care of us."

Li Tianwang said politely, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will take good care of you."

Thunder God transformed into a bolt of lightning and departed.

Houtu Niangniang stepped forward and instructed Chen Shi, "If anyone bullies you, do not say that you are the Crown Prince of my Houde Heavenly Palace, lest you tarnish my reputation. My magnanimity is as vast as the Xuanhuang Sea; I am not one to bend the law for personal gain."

Chen Shi quickly thanked his godmother.

"I've already told you not to call her godmother in front of outsiders!" Houtu Niangniang said angrily, and then vanished.

Seeing this, the other Great Emperors and Celestial Venerables also vanished.

Emperor Ziwei walked at the back and said with a smile, "If Fellow Daoist Chen has time in the future, he might as well visit the Ziwei Heavenly Palace of the Big Dipper."

Chen Shi gladly replied, "If Your Majesty does not find my humble work unworthy, I will certainly humbly accept your invitation."

The Ziwei Emperor then vanished as starlight.

Soon, the twenty-eight Heavenly Court giants disappeared without a trace, leaving only Li Tianwang, Chen Shi, Niu Jingjing, and others.

Li Tianwang's gaze fell on Chen Shi, and he felt a headache coming on. He thought to himself, "This man is an ancestor; I can't hit him, I can't scold him, and I certainly can't kill him. But he also has the Heavenly Secrets Strategy mark on him. What should I do?"

His eyes flickered: "His Majesty instructed me to take good care of them, which must mean he wants me to act expediently. If I can transform them into Heavenly Dao Gods, then I'll make my move. If not, I'll look for an opportunity. But Doumu Yuanjun, Puhua Tianzun, and the others threatened me before they left, telling me to think it over. This makes things difficult..."

Some things, once ordered from above, have no choice but to be done by those below.

Even if it means taking on a burden you can't bear, you have to do it!
Even as a deity, one is not free to act as one pleases. Li Tianwang felt a pang of melancholy.

Chen Shi interrupted his reverie and asked, "How could the Heavenly King move such a massive earthly treasure spiritual root? If this item were transported to the Heavenly Court, it would surely attract attention and quickly cause a sensation in the Earthly Immortal Realm, becoming known to everyone."

Li Tianwang looked at the divine tree and said, "I have an exquisite golden pagoda containing the heavens, which can be used to collect this treasure."

Chen Shi cautioned, "This treasure is, after all, the magic weapon of the Ancient Buddha Dipankara. If you put the Divine Tree into the tower, the Ancient Buddha will surely know. If it is taken away by someone else, the Heavenly King's crime of colluding with the enemy will be confirmed, and he will definitely have to go to the Execution Platform."

Li Tianwang hesitated. Although Dipankara Buddha had a close relationship with him, he was afraid that he might not be able to resist such temptations.

Moreover, even if the Ancient Buddha doesn't take action, he can still inform others and get them to act.

However, apart from the exquisite golden pagoda, he had no other magical treasures that could contain such a massive amount of treasure.

His gaze fell on Chu Xiangxiu, and he said, "Governor Chu, can you transform the Great World of Nili into your own Dao Realm and summon it in the Heavenly Court? Then, you can take out this treasure and have peace of mind."

Chu Xiangxiu shook her head: "My Dao realm only occupies one-thousandth of the Nili Great World, far from enough to retrieve the Nili Divine Tree. Moreover, the Nili Great World is in the Dark Sea, making it extremely difficult to sense." This time, he returned to the Nili Great World, where he cultivated into a True Immortal, greatly increasing his cultivation and expanding his Dao realm exponentially. However, this is, after all, a Great World, and his True Immortal Dao realm cannot occupy the entire Nili realm.

Moreover, he had tried, and found that in the Earthly Immortal Realm, it was almost impossible to clearly sense the Great World of Nili.

Li Tianwang frowned and said, "The canopy of the Nirvana Divine Tree isn't large; its roots are. Its roots cover the entire Nirvana Great World, making it truly enormous. However, the roots are flexible and can be gathered together, so it's not too large. But if the Heavenly Court can't sense the Nirvana Great World, then it will be somewhat troublesome..."

He commands 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals, including many True Immortals and Golden Immortals. He could easily collect the roots of the Nirvana Divine Tree and place them within the Dao realms of True Immortals and Golden Immortals.

However, the arrival of such a colossal creature as the Mud Pagoda Divine Tree in the myriad worlds of the Xuanhuang Sea, with its Dao realm of Golden Immortals and True Immortals, would inevitably cause a great sensation and would surely alarm even the Great Luo Golden Immortals.

Therefore, it was inevitable that the Tree of Nirvana would be taken away.

"This won't work, that won't work, how can I safely deliver the Mud Pagoda Tree to the Heavenly Court?"

Li Tianwang suddenly awoke, his eyes brightening as he looked at Chen Shi and said with a gentle smile, "Fellow Daoist Chen, you achieved Dao in the Dao Ruins, didn't you?"

Chen Shi nodded.

Li Tianwang laughed again, "Are you now a true immortal?"

Chen Shi nodded again.

Li Tianwang said sincerely, "I earnestly request your help, fellow Daoist, to send the Mud Hell Divine Tree into the Dao Ruins! I would be eternally grateful!"

The Dao Ruins are fraught with danger and rarely visited by humans. No one would notice that the Mud Pagoda Divine Tree has fallen into the Dao Ruins. Even if someone does notice, it would only be an old monster who lives in seclusion there.

They are tormented by heretics and may not be interested in the Nirvana Tree.

Moreover, Chen Shi could send the Mud Hell Divine Tree to the Dao Ruins, and he could also send Li Tianwang to the Dao Ruins. Once Li Tianwang entered the Dao Ruins, he could immediately take the Mud Hell Divine Tree and head to the Heavenly Court!
The journey from Daoxu to the Heavenly Court is not far; with his stamina, he can reach it in half a day!

This is the only way to get there!
Chen Shi hesitated for a moment and said, "I have never summoned a Dao Realm in the Dark Sea. I don't know if I can sense the Dao Ruins here."

Li Tianwang was slightly taken aback: "You don't intend to refuse me, or offer any other conditions?"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "I have no grudge against the Heavenly King. Besides, the Heavenly King has been quite kind to me before. This is just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

Li Tianwang was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you. If I cannot sense the Dao Ruins, then I will transport the Mud Pagoda Divine Tree out of the Dark Sea. I will trouble Fellow Daoist Chen then."

Chen Shi immediately tried to sense the Dao Ruins Dao Realm.

Chen Shi did not feel a strong sense of the Dao Realm in the Dark Sea. He tried to summon the Dao Realm, but found it to be extremely heavy, as if separated by a thick barrier, and could not be summoned.

Even if he took a single Fuluo Village Elixir, he still couldn't summon it!

He tried again and again, but still couldn't do it. It was as if some great obstacle was preventing him from summoning Daoxu to this place.

"The Western Continent is on the edge of the Dark Sea, and can still be sensed in the Heavenly Court. But the Great World of Nirvana is deep in the Dark Sea, and to summon the Dao realm of the Heavenly Court here, the sensing power required is probably even stronger. But the most crucial factor is still the resistance of the Great Dao."

Chen Shi told him the truth, and Li Tianwang resolutely said, "I will immediately mobilize the heavenly soldiers and generals to bind the roots of the Mud Plow Divine Tree! Fellow Daoist Chen, wait for me for a few days. After the divine tree is bound, we will sail away from the Dark Sea together! As soon as we leave the Dark Sea, you should immediately summon the Dao Ruins Dao Realm!"

He left in haste, and soon after, 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals flew into the sky and bound together the roots of the Mud Plow Tree one by one.

Chen Shi looked up at the magnificent scene and exclaimed, "I often feel the insignificance of individual power. The Heavenly Court is truly vast, possessing such astonishing resources."

These immortals are the resources controlled by the Heavenly Court.

Chen Shi then changed the subject, saying, "Then why haven't you five run away yet?"

Niu Jingjing, Long Yuanling, Xiahou Feng, and the others were all taken aback. Xiahou Feng said, "Does Fellow Daoist Chen mean that we should escape from the Nili Great World immediately?"

Chen Shi said, "If you don't leave, Li Tianwang will definitely kill you. If you leave now, you may still escape from his grasp."

The five men stood at attention, exchanged glances, and understood each other perfectly.

Just as they were about to leave, Niu Jingjing asked, "Fellow Daoist Chen, aren't you leaving?"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "King Li has a use for me now, so he won't kill me. If I go with you, he will definitely chase after me personally. If you go and I don't, he will be wary of me escaping, so he won't dare to chase after you personally, but will send troops to pursue you. He doesn't have many experts under his command, so the five of you have a chance to survive."

The five of them bowed deeply in unison: "Fellow Daoist Chen, your kindness and virtue are beyond measure! If we achieve any success in the future, we will repay you with our life's gratitude!"

They got up and left in a hurry.

Chu Xiangxiu watched them leave and said, "Those five people will certainly not survive. Even if they manage to escape the Great World of Nili, without guidance, they will find it difficult to escape the Dark Sea."

Chen Shi said, "They cultivate immortality with great effort, not to serve the Heavenly Court, nor to fight to the death for it, but simply because they are caught up in this world and have no choice but to accept their fate. Now, they can take control of their own destiny!"

Chu Xiangxiu said, "You're too idealistic. As an immortal, you either join the Heavenly Court, become a part of it, or become someone they exploit. You don't have many other choices."

Chen Shi laughed and said, "I don't want the Celestial Court or the Heavenly Court! I think that immortals who ascend to heaven should have a third option."

Chu Xiangxiu was greatly shocked: "You want to establish a new Heavenly Court?"

Chen Shi did not respond.

Not long after, Li Tianwang came to see them and asked to board the ship with Chen Shi to leave the Dark Sea.

Chen Shi followed Li Tianwang to the ship. As he boarded, he inadvertently saw Niu Jingjing, Long Yuanling, and the other three people receiving incense offerings.

Beside them were twenty-seven other celestial beings, who, like them, were receiving incense offerings.

Chen Shi's expression darkened.

Niu Jingjing and the others still couldn't escape the Great World of Nili.

They still died.

Of the thirty-three immortals who received the mark of the Heavenly Dao, only he survived.

Niu Jingjing and the others looked over, their eyes vacant. They no longer had physical bodies; the gods were using incense to sculpt golden statues for them.

They seemed to have become people without emotions.

If it weren't for the support of Houtu Huangdiqi and others, he would already be dead by now.

"Brother Chu, if that day ever comes, will you come to help me?" Chen Shi suddenly asked.

Chu Xiangxiu was slightly taken aback, but then she understood what he meant and said without hesitation, "You saved my life. You only need to say one word and I will risk my life for you!"

“Alright!” Chen Shi said decisively.

I don't want this Heavenly Court, this Celestial Court.

He thought to himself, "I want to change the world, to live a different life!"
(End of this chapter)