On the Avenue.

Chapter 667 Breaking Free from Reincarnation
Although Zhong Wuwang said this unintentionally, it contained profound truths and subtly aligned with the mysteries of the "Sutra of Eternal Freedom" after countless eons. Zhong Wuwang himself failed to comprehend it, and even after more than ten years of contemplation, Chen Shi still could not fully understand it.

Chen Shi stood up, walked out of the bird's nest, and stood on a leaf at the top of a tree.

Now his cultivation is profound, even surpassing that of his younger days. He has also gained a deep understanding of the Xuanhuang Dao Patterns passed down by the Earth Goddess Houtu, and his Wuji Dao Field is now more complete.

His Daoist practice has reached the state of Hunyuan Wuji, covering the entire territory of Wotuo Kingdom. He uses the Hunyuan Wuxiang of the Wuji Dao to sense any changes in this world.

He was like a spider in a web, quietly waiting for the moment when the divine power of that king would touch the web.

"Having endured countless eons to attain eternal freedom, even the most extraordinary supernatural powers will inevitably leave traces!"

Beside him, Zhong Wuwang and the old monk sat cross-legged, their meditation halls also spreading out, overlapping with Chen Shi's meditation hall.

Zhong Wuwang's cultivation has also recovered to its peak, even stronger than before. The old monk's cultivation is even more astonishing, having reached the eighteenth level of the Dao Realm, a whole Dao Realm higher than Zhong Wuwang was back then!
He turned misfortune into good fortune, receiving guidance from Chen Shi, a master of Yin and Yang, and his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

The old monk was a Golden-Winged Roc, whose body was naturally endowed with a vast amount of Yin and Yang energy. His bloodline contained hidden Yin and Yang Dao patterns. Once his bloodline awakened, he could comprehend the Dao of Yin and Yang. This was why he was able to compete with all the heroes of the world upon reaching adulthood.

However, what brought him success also brought him failure. The Buddhist teachings of the Western Paradise emphasize the mind and nature, not the Yin-Yang and Five Elements; it is the lineage of the Three Pure Ones who truly master this art. He, unfortunately, was a master in the Western Paradise, and even the most accomplished Buddhist figures there had little knowledge of the Yin-Yang principles.

He could only hope that the Yin-Yang Two Qi Bottle could recruit a master of Yin-Yang Dao for him.

Although Zhong Wuwang's attainments in Yin and Yang were not shallow, they were still far inferior to Chen Shi's.

For more than ten years, Chen Shi has devoted himself to guiding his cultivation, far surpassing him in his younger days. The Yin and Yang energies and Yin and Yang Dao patterns within his body have also been brought to their fullest potential, which is why he was able to advance to a higher Dao realm.

However, the old monk has entered the cycle of reincarnation and has already entered the realm of supernatural powers that have allowed him to attain eternal freedom through countless eons. To this day, he has not yet awakened his previous memories.

He only saw himself as a bird demon, and a female bird at that.

Chen Shi and Zhong Wuwang are his children.

He raised his two children with great difficulty. Although the two children do not look like him, they are still his children.

The three people's Daoist temples overlapped, and their respective primordial spirits sat in the void, closing their eyes and carefully sensing the changes in the Daoist temples.

Whenever that Ming King uses his supernatural powers, it will inevitably cause fluctuations in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Any fluctuations will be difficult to escape their detection.

This was Chen Shi's plan, hoping to find clues about the supernatural power and have a chance to escape.

"Your dad is no good."

The old monk rambled on and on to Zhong Wuwang, saying, "After he had his fun, he abandoned us three here. I raised you two siblings with my own hands and feet."

“Master, they’re not siblings, they’re brothers,” Zhong Wuwang said.

"They are a brother and sister."

The old monk was very certain and said, "You are my sister, I remember that. You're almost an adult, and in a while, I'll find you a mate. Since the feathers on your head are still so mangy, don't look down on the other birds for being ugly, as long as it's a male."

Zhong Wuwang stood up, went to Chen Shi's side, and whispered, "Will my master wake up?"

"Hard to say."

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, then said, “I don’t know much about the cycle of reincarnation, and this Ming King’s supernatural powers are far more than just reincarnation. They also include methods such as calamity transfer and marriage. If I’m not mistaken, after this supernatural power is used hundreds or thousands of times, all life in the world will become like that Ming King, suffer calamities in his place, and ultimately die in vain.”

Zhong Wuwang frowned and said, "My master will also become like him? My master is a Taiyi Golden Immortal, and has already cultivated to the eighteenth level of the Dao Realm, only one step away from the Daluo realm!"

"One step is an insurmountable chasm!"

Chen Shi interrupted him, saying, "One of their divine abilities is enough to kill Brother Yun Cheng; there's no need for a second move."

Zhong Wuwang was silent for a moment, then said, "If we still can't find a flaw in this supernatural power this time, will my master still have a way to return to his original form?"

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "It can't be changed back."

Zhong Wuwang said, "If we join forces, we can even kill a Heavenly Venerable. We can definitely find a way! If one cycle doesn't work, then two; if two doesn't work, then three or four. We'll eventually find a way!"

Chen Shi shook his head again: "I'm afraid we only have one chance."

Zhong Wuwang looked at him, puzzled.

Chen Shi said, “From the moment we stepped into the Wufang World, we have been drawn into this supernatural power. This is our first reincarnation. Because we did not have any greedy thoughts or absorb any merit, we have been able to maintain our self-awareness in this reincarnation. Yun Cheng, who is stronger than us, entered the reincarnation because he absorbed merit and lost his self-awareness. Now, in order to cultivate, we have absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the Wufang World and have also entered the reincarnation. When the next reincarnation erupts, we will also lose our self-awareness.”

Zhong Wuwang shivered.

Just then, Monk Zhengnian and Arhat Tianyan walked past under the tree again. Chen Shi suddenly laughed and said, "Zhengnian, Tianyan! Please wait!"

The two stopped and looked up at the tree.

Tianyan Arhat laughed and said, "So you are the Three Saints of Wuchao. I have long admired you."

Chen Shi landed gracefully and laughed, "Great Monk Tianyan, did you and your disciple come here to make a thirteen-year agreement with the King of Wotuo? If you complete three thousand good deeds, he will allow you to transform Wotuo into a Buddhist kingdom?"

Tianyan and Zhengnian's expressions changed slightly. They exchanged a glance and remained silent.

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Don't worry, I won't take any of your merits. But you two probably don't know that there are no living people left in Wotuo Kingdom. Even if you go to the capital of Wotuo Kingdom, it will be of no use."

"Thanks for the advice, fellow Taoist."

Tianyan Arhat bowed and laughed, "If the entire country were filled with ghosts, then our merit would be even greater."

After saying this, he left with the monk Zhengnian.

Zhong Wuwang charged out with murderous intent, shouting, "Mother, help me!"

The old monk spread his wings and flew out. The master and disciple pounced on Tianyan and Zhengnian. In a few leaps, Tianyan and Zhengnian were killed by the two.

The old monk and Zhong Wuwang returned.

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "Even if you do this, it will be useless and will not change anything."

Zhong Wuwang said, "How will we know if we don't try?"

After waiting for several days, monks from Wotuo Kingdom actually came again to hold a Buddhist and Taoist ritual.

Zhong Wuwang frowned. Even killing Tianyan and Zhengnian could not stop this grand Buddhist and Taoist festival.

“We’re going to attend the ceremony,” Chen Shi said.

They returned to the capital of Wotuo to participate in this grand gathering. Everything was the same as before, with almost no change. The only difference was that Tianyan and Zhengnian were missing.

Zhong Wuwang felt uneasy, thinking to himself, "What if this isn't a cycle of reincarnation? Does that mean two of my fellow disciples have died at my hands?"

Chen Shi scanned the crowd and said to Zhong Wuwang, "Erniu, look at the faces of those people."

Zhong Wuwang looked in the direction he was pointing and saw several identical faces!

His gaze swept across the crowd, and he saw that many of the faces were almost identical!
“These people have been possessed by the calamity and have become like that Ming King.”

Chen Shi said, "Everyone here will be transformed into the likeness of the Ming King and die in his place."

Zhong Wuwang's eyes twitched, and his voice was a little hoarse: "If we can't find any trace of his supernatural powers this time, will we also become like him?" Chen Shi nodded.

Zhong Wuwang laughed heartily, "If we find even the slightest clue, we'll definitely be able to crack his supernatural powers, right?"

He looked at Chen Shi with fervent eyes: "You are a young scholar, an unparalleled young scholar, a once-in-six-thousand-years talent in Xiniu New Continent! You must be confident in breaking his supernatural power, right?"

Chen Shi's heart sank as he recalled how he had deciphered the Great Wilderness Enlightenment Collection's supernatural powers.

From beginning to end, he was unable to decipher the supernatural powers of the Great Wilderness Enlightenment Collection.

"I definitely can," Chen Shi said with a smile.

Zhong Wuwang seemed reassured and laughed, "I knew you could do it. Although I've always been argumentative, in my heart, you're still the smartest person in the world! Even in the Immortal Realm, you'll still be the smartest person!"

Chen Shi felt a heavy weight in his heart. He had absolutely no confidence in whether he could break through the supernatural power that allowed him to attain eternal freedom through countless tribulations!
If he could find any clues to this supernatural power and keep looking for its weaknesses, he might be able to break it.

However, he only has one chance.

Seven days passed quickly.

At this moment, all the people of Wotuo Kingdom transformed into vengeful ghosts and pounced on the food.

Chen Shi and Zhong Wuwang were greatly encouraged. This was the moment when their supernatural powers of eternal freedom, which had been attained through countless tribulations, would come into play!
The two were completely focused, sensing the changes in the Great Dao between heaven and earth.

Nothing unusual!

Chen Shi and Zhong Wuwang both frowned. Zhong Wuwang called out, "Mother, you've come to sense the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Has anything changed?"

The golden-winged eagle that the old monk had transformed into was even more powerful. Upon hearing this, it carefully sensed the situation and suddenly said, "There's a change."

Chen Shi and Zhong Wuwang's eyes lit up, and they asked in unison, "What change?"

The old monk stammered, "I can't explain it..."

At this moment, the vengeful spirits entered the monks' six realms of reincarnation, and the six realms of reincarnation began to collapse.

Zhong Wuwang hurriedly said, "You can sense the change, but can you also detect the flaw? Quickly, take us away!"

The old monk said, "I can't see where the flaw is."

Zhong Wuwang was so anxious that he paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

Chen Shi calmed down and continued to desperately sense the changes in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth around him, but he still could not sense the slightest change.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought, "My union with the Dao is the union of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth with me. Why should I try to perceive the changes in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth in the other party? Why don't I insert my Dao into the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and disrupt the other party's Dao?"

Thinking of this, he immediately took action.

His other Daoist techniques, even the Xuanhuang Daoist patterns passed down by the Goddess Houtu, could not cause much interference to this supernatural power. However, there was one Daoist pattern that came from the heretical path of Xiniu New Continent!
With a slight thought, Chen Shi unleashed his first law, which flew in all directions, covering the sky and the earth, causing cracks to appear in the sky and on the ground.

This is the heretical path he comprehended from Xiniu New Continent: Disintegration!

"I'd like to see if the pollution from heretical paths can also corrupt your supernatural powers."

The first rule spread across an increasingly wider and more extensive territory, gradually covering the entire territory of Wotuo Kingdom.

At this moment, Chen Shi suddenly sensed that the first law was being impacted by an invisible and intangible force, causing it to tremble slightly. This impact was very subtle, yet it was omnipresent!

The first path is an external path; its intense polluting power immediately collides with that invisible and intangible force, eroding the opponent!

Chen Shi's body trembled violently as he sensed the pressure emanating from the First Dao Principle, which he found somewhat unbearable.

Although the first principle is highly corrupting, its master's cultivation level is far inferior to that of the Bright King.

But in that brief moment of contact, it was as if he had countless eyes, simultaneously observing a part of the other party's Daoist techniques!

The first layer shattered.

Chen Shi immediately integrated the opponent's Dao techniques he had encountered in the first Dao, and the prototype of a cultivation method gradually took shape in his mind.

At the same time, the magnificent divine power that enveloped heaven and earth was finally revealed.

This divine power swept across the entire Wufang World, devouring it!
Chen Shi suddenly realized something and shouted to Zhong Wuwang and the old monk, "That Ming King's supernatural power is the cultivation method that allows one to attain eternal freedom through countless kalpas. The cultivation method itself is the supernatural power!"

Zhong Wuwang was greatly shocked, and a look of joy appeared on his face: "You've figured it out. Have you found the flaw?"

Chen Shi shook his head.

At this moment, the old monk, who had transformed into a golden-winged eagle, flapped its wings and grabbed the two of them, flying away into the sky, exclaiming in alarm, "Something terrible is about to happen!"

Sensing danger, he flapped his wings and flew through the air, relying on his incredibly keen senses, trying to avoid the danger. This gave Chen Shi and Zhong Wuwang a glimmer of hope.

Perhaps the old monk can take them flying away, after all, he has already cultivated to the eighteenth level of the Dao Realm, and his cultivation has greatly improved.

But the next moment, the golden-winged eagle was struck by that invisible divine power, which swept him and the entire Wufang world down into the void.

The old monk vigorously flapped his wings to send the two away, calling out, "Youngest, send your brother out!"

Zhong Wuwang and Chen Shi were blown away by his wings and rushed into the sky.

With his last ounce of strength, Zhong Wuwang unleashed his supernatural powers, sending Chen Shi soaring into the heavens, shouting, "Scholar Chen! Top Scholar Chen! Remember to come back and save us!"

Chen Shi activated the technique that had allowed him to attain eternal freedom through countless tribulations. Although it was only a rudimentary framework, he could already see the divine powers of that Ming King.

He was sent to the edge of the Mingwang Divine Power by Zhong Wuwang's power. It seemed that he could escape, but he was always within the scope of this divine power.

"Buzz!"

The surrounding world became incredibly distorted. When Chen Shi opened his eyes, he found himself back in the bird's nest, with Zhong Wuwang sitting beside him.

Zhong Wuwang's body was covered in bird feathers, or rather, downy feathers, not wing feathers. His mouth had also turned into a bird's beak and his feet into sharp claws.

He looks more like a golden-winged eagle than a human.

"Erniu, do you still remember me?" Chen Shi asked.

“Chatter,” Zhong Wuwang said.

He has been completely caught in the cycle of life and death.

Chen Shi was able to retain his previous memories because of the rudimentary framework of the cultivation technique he had figured out. Although he couldn't find any flaws or escape, this framework was enough for him to protect himself.

His cultivation was still intact. He walked out of the bird's nest, waved his hand again, and spread the first principle across the sky and the earth, carefully sensing the changes that had led to eternal freedom through thousands of tribulations.

"This time, I have transcended the cycle of reincarnation. Next time, I will fully deduce your techniques and find your weaknesses!"

(End of this chapter)