On the Avenue.

Chapter 710 Disloyal Heart
Qiao Gu, Jiang Guo, Bai Jingming, Jing Mei, and others led 200,000 outer disciples to pay their respects to the sect leader.

Chen Shi sat in Biyou Palace receiving a grand salute from everyone. He looked around, but couldn't find Jiao the Cripple. He felt a little reluctant, knowing that Jiao the Cripple had already left.

Jiao the Cripple was an insignificant figure in the Jie Sect. During the war against the Shang Dynasty, he was too inconspicuous to be a survivor in the massacre of the Jie Sect. Later, he was reincarnated as the Master by the Tongtian Sage, and Jiao the Cripple became one of the Master's three thousand disciples.

He followed the Master, moved Jin'ao Island and flew into the Immortal Realm. After the Master left, he became the sole guardian of Jin'ao Island.

He is protecting not only Jin'ao Island, but also the legacy of Confucius.

Now that he has handed over the position of sect leader to Chen Shi, he can finally put down his burden and pursue his own ideals.

"Uncle Jiao, I hope you can avenge yourself, wipe away your shame, and successfully cultivate to the Great Luo realm!"

After the ceremony, Chen Shi made sweeping reforms to the structure of Jin'ao Island.

Jin'ao Island currently has 200,000 outer disciples, but only a dozen or so inner disciples, resulting in a disharmony between the inner and outer sects.

Chen Shi allowed these 200,000 outer disciples to pass the assessment at the Cliff of Ascension one by one; anyone who could reach the fourth move could become an inner disciple. This was one of his points.

Secondly, inner disciples join the outer sect's Heavenly Soldier Camp as commanders, leading the soldiers in training, formation drills, and offensive and defensive exercises. Soldiers skilled in mining, herb gathering, medicine refining, forging, intelligence gathering, and resource allocation are also selected and assigned different duties.

Thirdly, all sacred sites, mines, spiritual springs, Dao springs, blessed lands, medicinal fields, and Dao realms west of Penglai shall be taken over by Jin'ao Island, and their usage rights shall be allocated according to the disciples' contributions. In the event of escape, death, or other unforeseen circumstances, these treasures shall be reclaimed and redistributed.

Fourth, every month, they invite deities such as Doumu and Leisheng Puhua Tianzun to come and preach the Dharma.

Fifth, establish a new recruit camp, select well-informed individuals to search for exceptionally talented rogue immortals throughout the Earthly Immortal Realm, invite them to join Golden Turtle Island as new recruits, and grant them the qualifications and salary of celestial soldiers.

Sixth, they established a teacher training school to study unorthodox doctrines.

……

Chen Shi's series of measures caused widespread surprise and uncertainty on Jin'ao Island, but fortunately, his prestige in the army was extremely high, and he also imparted immortality techniques to these immortals, which was enough to promote the reform of these sects.

However, there were still complaints, especially regarding the measures taken against Dao Realm.

Jingmei arrived at Biyou Palace, found Chen Shi, and said, "Master, many people below are talking about it. These days, I've been wandering around with the gourd dog and have seen many people discussing your reforms, and there are quite a few complaints."

Chen Shi gestured for her to sit down and asked with a smile, "Senior Sister, what did they say?"

Jingmei sat down, took the tea he offered, but didn't drink it. She said, "They all have complaints about these measures, but what they complain about the most is the Dao Realm. The Dao Realm is a private place. Every immortal must hide their Dao Realm after they have achieved Dao and dare not show it to others. The Sect Master's reform of the Dao Realm is to also bring the Dao Realm under the control of Jin'ao Island, which makes them very uneasy."

Chen Shi took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "Senior Sister, this tea is brewed with spring water from Yuqing Daoquan, and the tea leaves are tender buds from the old tea tree on Jin'ao Island. Senior Brother Bian said that the tea tree was a celestial tree planted by the Master himself. You should try it."

As Jingmei drank the tea, she felt a refreshing fragrance that permeated her spirit, making her feel relaxed and clear-headed. She couldn't help but praise, "What wonderful tea! No wonder Uncle Jiao always forbade me from getting close to that immortal tree."

Chen Shi asked, "Senior Sister, how did the immortals of the Three Pure Ones era deal with their Dao realms?"

Jing Mei said, "The Three Pure Ones do not hide their Dao realms; their Dao realms are the Three Pure Realms: Jade Purity Realm, Supreme Purity Realm, and Upper Purity Realm. These three Dao realms are exceptionally sacred, with boundless and powerful Dao energy, which even the Tribulation Initiation cannot erode. The Western Paradise of the two Buddhas is the same. As for other immortals..."

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Back then, after immortals achieved Dao, they would immediately refine and hide their place of Dao integration, fearing that others would discover the flaws in their Dao techniques. After all, human hearts are unpredictable, and even friends can sometimes become enemies. If one were to become familiar with the flaws through the Dao realm, it is very likely that one would die and perish when encountering an enemy."

Chen Shi pressed further, "Back then, when immortals refined and merged with the Dao, did the Earthly Immortal Realm shrink considerably as a result?"

Jing Mei nodded: "I heard from Senior Uncle Jiao that the Earthly Immortal Realm is many times smaller than it was back then. It was because the immortals of that time were refining places to merge with the Dao everywhere, causing the Earthly Immortal Realm to shrink continuously. But later, the Three Pure Ones and the Heavenly Court issued an order strictly prohibiting immortals from refining places to merge with the Dao, and this trend gradually stopped."

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Penglai West may seem vast, but it is only a corner of the Earthly Immortal Realm. Twenty thousand immortals who have attained the Dao have occupied most of Penglai West. If everyone hides their Dao realm, then soon Penglai West will only have Jin'ao Island left."

Jing Mei said, "I understand the reasoning, but their concerns are not without merit."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "I understand. However, the measures taken by the Dao Realm are only temporary. These measures will be abolished in the future. You can tell these junior brothers and sisters to put their minds at ease."

Jing Mei asked in surprise, "Will this measure really be abolished?"

Chen Shi said solemnly, "As the leader of the religion, how can I go back on my word?"

Jing Mei left excitedly but then returned, drank the tea in one gulp, chewed the tea leaves and swallowed them, before leaving Biyou Palace to tell everyone about the matter and reassure them.

Fairy Xiao Duan was somewhat worried and said, "Husband's actions may solve the problem of the Dao Realm, so why take the initiative to abolish it? If it is not abolished in the future, it may be difficult to convince the public."

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Everyone has selfish desires, and immortals are no exception. They worry about turning against their fellow disciples, about their enemies discovering their flaws, and about their sects finding fault with them. It is only natural for them to have grievances about my Dao Realm measures, and we cannot force them to do so. Therefore, the Dao Realm measures are only temporary and will inevitably be abolished in the future."

Little Duan Fairy's heart stirred slightly. Remembering that Chen Shi had mentioned to her the true immortal in his mind, she blurted out, "Zhong Erniu!"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Madam is guarding this place. I'm going to see my godmother. If anything happens, please contact me through the incense offerings. You can also ask Qiao Gu, Jing Mei, and Wen Ting for help. Senior brothers Bai Jingming and Bian Liuer are reliable, but they lack flexibility. Don't entrust difficult matters to them."

Little Duan Fairy wrote this down.

Chen Shi took a stick of incense, and the incense smoke rose straight up to the Xuanhuang Sea. The smoke gradually condensed and revealed the face of the Earth Goddess Houtu. She smiled and said, "What is it, Your Highness? Have you heard about the matter of King Li? I heard that he was beaten very badly by his third son."

She couldn't hide her pride in her words, clearly very satisfied with what she had done.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Thank you, godmother, for standing up for me. Last time on Jin'ao Island, I saw Li Tianwang, whose bones were all broken. I was overjoyed to see him and comforted him for a long time. But later, the Great God of the Three Altars Sea Meeting stopped beating him."

The Empress asked in surprise, "Has the Third Prince become lazy? Or is he tired of fighting? Didn't you say it was a blood feud? You've only been fighting for a few years and you're already done?"

She was quite indignant and said, "I sent one of my clones to specifically tell him the location of Heavenly King Li, but I didn't expect him to cheat and shirk his duties."

Chen Shi was startled. Houtu Huangdiqi had actually sent an avatar to handle this matter, practically keeping a close eye on Li Tianwang. Unfortunately, the Three Altars Sea Assembly God lacked patience, allowing Li Tianwang to finally recover from his injuries.

"It's truly fate." Chen Shi sighed and said, "Godmother, I was ordered by the Great Heavenly Venerable to go to the Ancestral Court to quell the demonic chaos. I captured the Great Demon Seed, but was unable to kill it. I would like to send it to you, Godmother. Would that be convenient?"

Houtu Huangdi was very pleased and said with a smile, "You've come, it's just right that my daughter and I haven't seen each other for a while, let's have a good chat."

Chen Shi immediately set off for Xuanhuang Sea.

The journey was long and arduous, and Chen Shi changed starships multiple times. It took him more than twenty days to finally arrive at the Xuanhuang Sea.

This time, Chen Shi was not as arrogant as he was the first time. He boarded a ship in Denghai Town and set sail.

"I wonder how the three fish are doing now," he thought to himself, gazing at the sea.

After sailing at sea for more than a month, they finally arrived at the Houde Guangda Heavenly Palace. There were people waiting outside the palace, fish-headed and human-bodied, who were none other than Yu San'er.

Chen Shi was both surprised and delighted, and laughed, "Yu San'er, what are you doing here?"

Yu San'er said, "After Your Highness's great battle in the Xuanhuang Sea, my reputation was ruined. No one dared to ride on my ship. Some immortals even came to kill me, saying that because of me, their relatives and friends were killed. I had no way to survive, so I had to beg the Goddess. The Goddess then gave me a job to be in charge of the defense of the Heavenly Palace."

Chen Shi looked him up and down and saw that Yu San'er's cultivation had improved significantly, far surpassing his previous level. He was a demon cultivator and a creature born from the Xuanhuang Sea, naturally powerful, but unfortunately, cultivation was difficult and he hadn't made much progress.

This time, Empress Houtu not only gave him a job, but also gave him a method of cultivation, which is why his cultivation level has improved so quickly.

Yu San'er led the way, bringing Chen Shi to the Jade Palace of Jiuhua to meet the Earth Goddess Houtu.

Chen Shi paid his respects to the Goddess of the Earth, who was very pleased and said, "I deal with the myriad worlds and the cycle of life and death of countless heavens every day, and I also have to supervise the affairs of the underworld. It is truly hard work, and I don't even have anyone to talk to. Fortunately, you have come, so we can talk for a while."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Even godmother needs to balance work and rest; she can't overwork herself."

The Empress shook her head and said, "It is my duty, how can I be careless? Where have you been these days? What interesting things have you experienced?"

Chen Shi then embellished the story of how various groups beat up Li Tianwang, emphasizing it in detail. The Empress was overjoyed upon hearing this, laughing so hard she almost fell over. Wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes, she said with a smile, "I thought I was the only one who was up to no good, but I didn't expect that Dong Wanggong and Doumu were up to no good as well."

Chen Shi then recounted the story of eliminating the Yuan Worms in the Guiyuan World, and how he was ambushed by Xi Muran, the Yuanling Lady, upon returning from suppressing the rebellion in his ancestral court.

The Empress sneered, "The Immortal Emperor hides his true identity, only sending his disciples to commit evil deeds, while he himself never dares to show his face!"

Chen Shi asked, "Even my godmother doesn't know who the Immortal Emperor is?"

The Empress shook her head: "I only know that the immortals call him the Supreme One, but as for who he is, I have no idea. I suspect it is Yun Zhongzi, or the Grand Master Xuandu, or perhaps the Ancient Buddha Dipankara or the Antarctic Immortal. Only the four of them have such power and influence to be able to persuade a Great Golden Immortal like Lady Yuanling to help them."

Chen Shi's heart stirred slightly. He memorized the names of the four people and asked, "Of these four, which one would do such an evil thing as raising Yuan Worms?"

After pondering for a moment, the Empress said, "Xuandu couldn't do it. The Antarctic Immortal rarely takes action and doesn't commit murder. The Ancient Buddha of Burning Lamp has dirty methods, so he might do such a thing. And Yun Zhongzi, with his extraordinary methods, is also a possibility."

The two then talked about other things. The Empress knew most of what Chen Shi had experienced, but no one spoke up. Hearing Chen Shi tell the story himself helped her relieve her loneliness.

However, she was busy with her divine duties and only had a moment of leisure. She quickly composed herself and said to Chen Shi, "The matter in the Celestial Realm is neither a big deal nor a small one. I will do my best to keep it a secret for you. However, this matter cannot be kept secret for too long."

Chen Shi bowed and thanked him, saying, "The Celestial Realm is just a bunch of people from Xiniu New Continent who are just looking for a moment of pleasure. I have no ill intentions towards the Great Celestial Venerable."

The Empress gave him a deep look and smiled, "I know what you wanted most was to be the top scholar, but in the end you still became the true king, didn't you? The Crown Prince doesn't need to explain, you can go now."

Chen Shi bowed and left the Jade Palace of Jiuhua, thinking to himself, "Do I really have any rebellious intentions? No."

Yu San'er waited outside and led him to Daohua Palace.

Chen Shi laughed and said, "I know this place well. You stay outside, Yu San'er."

The three fish agreed and stood guard outside the palace.

Chen Shi arrived at the Demon-Suppressing Well and said with a smile, "Last time, I was able to escape from the well because my godmother tied me with a red rope. However, this time, I have already cultivated the Limitless Dao Field, so I am not afraid of the remains of these great demons in the well."

He leaped into the well.

Inside the well, the Wuji Diagram resembled the surface of water. Chen Shi passed through this magical artifact with a whoosh and fell into the demonic realm within the well.

This demonic realm within a well is somewhat similar to Chen Shi's, but much larger. It must have once been an anomaly point on the Great Dao, but the heretical paths here have been refined and erased.

The countless skeletal remains of the great demons in the well looked up, and saw a small figure suddenly falling from the enormous, boundless diagram in the sky. The skeletal remains were overjoyed, shouting, "A living person! Another living person has entered!"

"Our chance to escape has finally arrived!"

"Grab him, don't let him go... Wait, this living person seems to have been here before..."

……

"Boom!"

Chen Shi descended from the sky and crashed onto the ground composed of white bones. A massive demon skeleton slowly rose before him, its body towering and radiating overwhelming ferocity, looking down at Chen Shi from its height.

Chen Shi smiled slightly, and countless roots of the Demon Blood Tree flew out from the void behind his head, instantly wrapping the giant demon skeleton tightly around it.

Before the great demon skeleton could react, it was pulled into the void with a whoosh!
The Demon Blood Tree had already dug a pit with its roots and stuffed the giant demon skeleton into it. Roots then snaked up from the ground, locking the giant demon skeleton in place.

Chen Shi stood at the center of this anomalous point on the Great Dao. Behind him, the Demon Tree emerged, becoming clearer and clearer. Roots and branches flew out, capturing the skeletons of great demons and dragging them into the void!
Chen Shi immediately felt the immense true energy emanating from the Demon Realm within the well, causing his cultivation to rise continuously and propelling him toward the Golden Immortal Realm!
"Achieve Golden Immortal status today!"

(End of this chapter)