On the Avenue.

Chapter 694 Heading to the Ancestral Court
Li Tianwang was furious. He risked being beaten to death to personally come to find Chen Shi, not to bring him the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable, but to become the second-in-command of the Grand Marshal of the Army!

Chen Shi was unfamiliar with commanding troops and thought he would need an expert to help him on this expedition. Unexpectedly, Chen Shi wanted to appoint his beloved concubine as the second-in-command.

How utterly incompetent!

Li Tianwang had already consulted the Jade Emperor about this matter, and the Jade Emperor told him that as long as Chen Tianwang agreed, he could become the second-in-command.

Of course, the Great Celestial Venerable can appoint someone as the second-in-command, but Chen Shi has stationed troops in Penglai West and is powerful and influential. If the Great Celestial Venerable forcibly sends a second-in-command, he will probably die inexplicably in office within a few days.

Chen Shi is definitely capable of doing something like this.

But when has Li Tianwang ever felt so aggrieved?

Seeing this, Chen Shi knew he had misunderstood and laughed heartily, "Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand. You are currently injured and unable to lead the troops for me, so I had my beloved concubine take over. As long as you recover from your injuries, the position of Deputy Commander will still be yours."

A glimmer of hope rose in Li Tianwang's heart: "Really?"

"There is no room for jest in the military. As the Grand Marshal of all the armies in the land, how can I break my word?"

Chen Shi comforted him for a few words, but was somewhat worried: "I wonder if my godmother will inform the Three Altars Sea God of Li Tianwang's whereabouts? Or maybe the Three Altars Sea God has gotten tired of fighting and won't come anymore, which would be troublesome. Or, should I pretend to be the Three Altars Sea God and kill Li Tianwang?"

He was startled by his own thought.

“I can’t beat his two sons. Fine, once he’s healed, if he still wants to be the deputy commander, then I’ll find a pretext to have him lead a small team that betrayed me to quell the rebellion, and let him die in the process. There are quite a few people from the Celestial Court in my army.”

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh, "What difference is there between me and Li Tianwang?"

Li Tianwang was somewhat relieved after receiving his promise and immediately instructed Jinzha and Muzha: "Quickly send your father back to the Heavenly Court. Only when we arrive at the Heavenly Court will your rebellious son dare not cause any trouble."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, please wait. Fellow Daoist, the ancestral home of China is hidden in the Dark Sea. The Dark Sea is vast and boundless, and it is impossible to discern directions. How can we find it?"

Li Tianwang said, "The ancestral home of China is almost the ancestral home of all living beings in the Earthly Immortal Realm. In the past, immortals often returned to the ancestral home and frequently manifested their divine powers. However, later, the Great Heavenly Venerable felt that they were interfering in worldly affairs and often influencing the change of dynasties, so he ordered people to send the ancestral home back to the Dark Sea. Now, only one road remains, which leads directly to the ancestral home of China. This road is at Hangu Pass."

"Hangu Pass?"

"This is the place where Lao Tzu left the pass."

Li Tianwang said, "Back then, Confucius and Laozi, one established Confucianism and the other established Taoism. One advocated education for all and the other advocated tranquility and non-action. Each established their own doctrines and spread their teachings. Confucius had three thousand disciples and many followers. When Laozi saw that Confucianism was flourishing and had the potential to sweep across the world, he no longer lingered and left the pass. When Laozi left the pass, he left Hangu Pass and went to the Earthly Immortal Realm."

Chen Shi had heard Jiao the Cripple mention this story before. In this struggle for the orthodox lineage, Laozi lost, but Confucius won, and the world revered Confucianism. However, the fact that the Three Pure Ones opened up the realm of immortals was overlooked.

By the time the Master realized what was happening, the Three Pure Ones lineage had become the orthodox lineage of the Earthly Immortal Realm. When the Master went to the Earthly Immortal Realm again, all that remained was the desolate Penglai West.

Li Tianwang said, "Hangu Pass is the pass that connects the two places. This pass is divided into two, one side is in the ancestral home of China, and the other side is in the Immortal Realm. I once led my army to Hangu Pass, and many soldiers in the army know the route."

Chen Shi pretended not to understand the meaning of his last sentence and smiled, "Since someone in the army knows the route, then I won't delay your healing any longer. Fellow Daoist, does the Great Heavenly Venerable have an imperial edict or decree?"

Li Tianwang had no choice but to hand over the Jade Emperor's decree to Chen Shi. Chen Shi accepted the decree and said, "No need to see me off."

Li Tianwang said, "Wait."

As the Dharma Protector Jinzha and Venerable Muzha escorted the cloud chariot away, Chen Shi's voice came from behind: "Wait!"

The cloud chariot stopped.

Chen Shi sized up Jin and Mu and asked, "Are both of your sons highly accomplished Buddhist masters?"

Li Tianwang agreed, saying, "The eldest son will serve as a Dharma protector under Manjushri Bodhisattva. The second son will serve as a Venerable One under Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."

Chen Shi nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, and said, "Both of you are extraordinary. Fellow Daoist, please."

Mu Zha gave a shout and drove the jade chariot away.

“Father, Chen Shi is merely a True Immortal; he is going too far.”

Protector Jinzha was quite indignant and said, "My father is a confidant of the Great Heavenly Venerable. The Great Heavenly Venerable sent my father here with an imperial decree, clearly asking him to accept my father as his deputy commander. He actually refused. I think he won't be able to hold onto his position as Grand Marshal of the Army for long."

Li Tianwang said, “I have a long-standing grudge against him and have sent him to his death several times, so it is understandable that he has grievances. The question he asked before he left was malicious. He said that I had an unclear relationship with the Western Paradise and was disloyal to the Great Heavenly Venerable. He probably wanted to use this as a pretext to prevent me from becoming the second-in-command.”

He hesitated for a moment.

His exquisite pagoda was given to him by the ancient Buddha Dipankara of the Western Paradise, and his eldest and second sons were both disciples of the Bodhisattva and were also masters in the Western Paradise. His own behavior was indeed unclear and ambiguous with the Western Paradise.

If this matter reaches the Jade Emperor, and Chen uses this as a pretext to attack him, it will be difficult for him to clear his name.

"This Chen Shi is not easy to deal with," he thought to himself.

Chen Shi stayed on Jin'ao Island for a few days. On one hand, Xiao Duan's cultivation was unstable and needed to be stabilized. On the other hand, during his absence, the heretical sects in Penglai West showed signs of a counterattack, and Chen Shi needed to refine the heretical sects to prevent these immortals from being corrupted by them.

Jiao the Cripple asked, "Why not completely eradicate the heretics here?"

Chen Shi said, "If the heretics are properly controlled, they are beneficial and harmless. Leaving some heretics around their Dao realm might help them avoid the calamity."

He went to the underground Green Palace again. This time, upon entering the Green Palace, he examined the Heavenly Laws on the walls and compared them with the Green Stele in Fuluo Village. Chen Shi gained even more insights from these markings and became somewhat absorbed in the experience.

The Green Stele in Fuluo Village restrained the Dark Sea Heavenly Dao, but because the Dark Sea Heavenly Dao contained within the Dao Ruins was incomplete, the Green Stele could not completely decipher it. With these two points corroborated, Chen Shi gained a great deal.

Chen Shi studied the Heavenly Dao Laws of the Azure Palace again, but found no trace of the Dao of Curses. He thought to himself, "The ancestral court of China also has heretical paths. Shang Du Gong said it's the Dao of Curses, and these shamans have used it to kill many immortals. The Dao of Curses isn't within the Immortal Path. Perhaps Xiao Duan could order them to hand over the Dao of Curses. Strange, why isn't the Dao of Curses here..."

He walked out of the underground palace, still puzzled.

"Could it be that the Dark Sea cultivators at that time did not discover China, which is why there were no records of incantations in the Azure Palace?"

Such history was too ancient to trace, and Chen Shi only thought about it briefly before forgetting about it.

For this expedition, he mobilized the forces of four districts and twenty guards, totaling 20,000 heavenly soldiers and generals, and obtained supplies, all kinds of elixirs, magical artifacts, array diagrams, warships, and chariots, all allocated by the Heavenly Court and readily available.

Chen Shi changed into a set of armor, gleaming gold, which made him look both heroic and imposing. Xiao Duan was also in armor, exuding the heroic spirit of a female general, which made Chen Shi's heart skip a beat.

"This outfit is good. I'll wear this armor next time; I won't have to take it off."

The army set off, with warships carrying 20,000 soldiers heading toward the nearest stargate.

Upon reaching Xingmen, they stowed away their warships, boarded star rafts, and after several transfers, finally arrived at Hangu Pass after more than ten days.

The Star Gate is outside Hangu Pass. Chen Shi looked up at this majestic pass and saw that it was magnificent, with black iron walls that gleamed, like a barrier that stretched for countless miles, blocking the waters and monsters of the Dark Sea.

Above Hangu Pass, the stars shone brightly, their light dazzling, and their starlight fell like rain.

Amidst the layers of starlight, a vast and magnificent world could be vaguely discerned, resembling a sacred land or a realm of Dao.

Chen Shi was mesmerized. Zhong Lin, the sage of celestial secrets beside him, said, “Your Majesty, Hangu Pass is an important stronghold of the immortals, guarded by the Great Luo Golden Immortal Wen Shi Zhenren of the Taiqing lineage, who commands 100,000 immortal soldiers and generals. This Wen Shi Zhenren is no ordinary person. When Lao Tzu left the pass, he was the one guarding it. Lao Tzu’s Dao De Jing was passed down through his hands.”

Chen Shi had studied the Dao De Jing under Zhu Xiucai and benefited greatly from it. Upon hearing this, he felt a sense of closeness to Wen Shi Zhenren and asked, "Do you mean that the 100,000 immortals and Wen Shi Zhenren are hiding among these stars?"

Zhong Lin said, "The True Man Wenshi has already attained the Great Luo realm. Although he is ordered to guard this pass, he may not be inside it. Moreover, the Heavenly Court and the immortals are not on good terms, so we should not get too close to him."

As Chen Shi led his army near Hangu Pass, garrison troops flew over and inquired about their purpose from afar.

A celestial general flew out and said, "The Grand Marshal of all the armies under heaven has been ordered by the Great Heavenly Venerable to go to the Divine Continent of China to quell the demonic chaos! Please inform him."

Upon hearing this, the garrison soldiers hurried off.

After a short while, a Taiyi Golden Immortal guarding the place flew out, verified the Jade Emperor's decree, and also checked Chen Shi's military tally and seal before letting him pass. He smiled and said, "Heavenly King Chen, please don't be offended. Things have been quite unsettled lately, with chaos breaking out in various places. We have to be careful. I am a disciple of the True Man Wenshi, Wu Zhenzi, also known as Wu Daoren."

Chen Shi asked in confusion, "Has things been rather unsettled lately?"

"Isn't it?"

Wu Daoren laughed, "Bandits and thieves are adept at imitating celestial officials. I've heard that the villains on the Execution List impersonate Heavenly Kings and swagger around. By the way, where did Heavenly King Li go?"

Chen Shi glanced at him, knowing that this person was using his past as the top of the Zhuxian List to smear him, though it might not be smear. He then lazily said, "Li Tianwang. He received a salary from the Heavenly Court, but he betrayed his own side, flirting with the Western Paradise and being disloyal to the Great Heavenly Venerable. Therefore, he was dismissed. Fellow Daoist, whose salary do you receive?"

Wu Daoren laughed and said, "Naturally, it's my salary from the Heavenly Court. This way, please, Heavenly King."

Chen Shi led his army into the pass and said, "Those who receive a salary from the Heavenly Court must be loyal to the Heavenly Court. I have heard that some people receive salaries from the Heavenly Court but are flirting with the Celestial Court."

Wu Daoren had a smile on his face, but it was frozen in place.

Chen Shi didn't continue, after all, he wasn't entirely innocent himself, still flaunting the title of Immortal Emperor's disciple. He asked, "Is True Man Wenshi here?"

Wu Daoren said, "My master has been in seclusion for many years and rarely comes out."

Chen Shi felt quite sorry about it.

Wu Daoren led them to a portal, which was also a star gate, made from the core of a star. The portal was divided into five sections on the left and right, and the inside of the portal was sparkling with starlight.

"No immortals have ascended to heaven in the ancestral temple for a long time."

Wu Daoren said, "In the past, the ancestral temple's Taoist practices flourished, but since the Master's Taoist practices became the most prominent, fewer and fewer people have ascended to immortality. This is probably because the Master's methods are not as good as the Three Pure Ones' methods."

Chen Shi glanced at him and said, "I am from the lineage of the Master."

Wu Daoren quickly replied, "I spoke without thinking, Your Majesty. By the way, I am from the Taiqing lineage."

Chen Shi laughed and said, "I see. We, the lineage of Master, are all forthright people who never hold grudges. Rest assured, Daoist Wu, when I return to the Heavenly Court, I will certainly put in a good word for you before His Majesty." After saying this, his face darkened.

Wu Daoren was terrified and dared not provoke him any further.

There are three thousand celestial soldiers and generals guarding the star gate. They each sit in the void, and they all light up their talisman flags and wave them. Then, starlight shines down from the stars in the sky and shines on the star gate with a hum.

As the star gate gradually lit up, ancient Dao patterns intertwined and changed, leading to different locations.

"This subject is extremely profound," Chen Shi thought to himself.

Once the Dao patterns on the Star Gate ceased to change, the starlight within the gate gradually faded, revealing another space-time.

That's the other half of Hangu Pass!
Chen Shi gave the order, and the heavenly soldiers and generals filed in, entered the star gate, and arrived at another Hangu Pass.

Chen Shi was walking at the back and was about to enter the star gate when he suddenly remembered something and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu, did someone pass by this place with two dogs some time ago? That person should be the Great Celestial Venerable's nephew."

"Could the Heavenly King be referring to the Manifestation Saint True Lord? He has indeed come before, but he didn't bring his two dogs. He was accompanied by two Taoist priests, one with a scraggly beard, and the other was quite young, still a Taoist novice."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi was slightly taken aback: "Those two Taoists are most likely the 'dog Taoists' that Zhong Lin mentioned. I just don't know which one is the scapegoat."

He entered the star gate with Xiao Duan and couldn't help but think of Master Zhang, thinking to himself, "When Master Zhang returns to China, he will definitely be surprised that I have arrived here before him."

Upon arriving at Hangu Pass on the other side, Chen Shi was about to take out the military tally and the Jade Emperor's decree, but no celestial general guarding the pass came to question him.

At this moment, a commotion arose outside the pass. Chen Shi hurriedly flew out of the pass and saw many heavenly soldiers and generals standing on the city wall, all looking out. Some soldiers flew out of Hangu Pass and stood in the air, also staring blankly ahead.

Chen Shi looked ahead and saw a vast expanse of white before the pass, with the ground covered with white bones.

When the wind blew, the skulls rattled and rolled in the wind, only to be impaled by ribs and arm bones, bumping around but unable to roll.

Chen Shi felt a jolt when he sensed the intense demonic energy and heretical aura in the air. The heretical paths of the Chinese continent were clearly the path of incantations, not demonic paths. Why then was there an aura of heretical and demonic energy here?
He looked further into the distance, where a thousand miles ahead lay withered bones, and in the distance, a flag, half-rotted, was planted in the ground.

That was the Black Dragon Flag, with the words "Da Shun" embroidered on the other side.

The wind howled, whipping up piles of bones that formed mounds of white bones.

(End of this chapter)