On the Avenue.

Chapter 746 Unfathomable
Chen Shi gripped the handle of the divine axe, but felt no joy at killing the enemy; instead, he only felt the axe in his hand was icy cold.

The "Acting General with the Right to Invoke the Imperial Axe" meant that the person in charge of the imperial axe held the authority of the emperor in the local area and had the power to execute the generals in charge of the imperial axe.

Holding an axe, representing the Great Celestial Venerable, he slew Venus, wielding the power of the "Imperial Axe," displaying immense power and majesty. Even though Venus was the son of the White Emperor and a Great Golden Immortal, he was still cleaved in two with a single axe blow.

However, the force that led to the killing of Venus was not Chen Shi.

Instead, the Great Celestial Venerable used Chen Shi to kill Taibai Xingjun!

Chen Shi lacked the cultivation to wield the Divine Axe and was powerless to kill Taibai Xingjun.

He did not exercise his authority.

The one exercising authority is still the Great Celestial Venerable.

It seems that the Great Celestial Venerable had always suspected Taibai Xingjun, which is why he stripped him of his real power as a martial god, gave him a sinecure as a civil official, and kept him by his side to monitor his every move.

Sending Taibai Xingjun to Jin'ao Island this time is likely a test by the Great Celestial Venerable. The Great Celestial Venerable knows about the feud between Taibai Xingjun and the lineage of Confucius, and Taibai Xingjun will surely seize this opportunity to trip up Chen Shi and create trouble for him.

"The Great Celestial Venerable knows that I will not be able to resist killing Taibai Xingjun. He can then observe whether Taibai Xingjun is an immortal before deciding whether to deal with him."

Chen Shi felt a chill in his heart.

The Great Celestial Venerable's slaying of Venus was a demonstration and a warning.

The Great Celestial Venerable knew everything about Chen Shi: the strength of Jin'ao Island, the strength of Xiao Duan, and the power of the Demon Blood Tree that Chen Shi had hidden in the Demon Realm of the Well.

He even knew that Xiao Duan was a member of the Shang Dynasty royal family!

Only by accurately grasping the strength of Chen Shi's lineage could the Great Celestial Venerable strike at this crucial moment, using the power of his axe to kill Taibai Xingjun in one fell swoop.

"Just how many Great Celestial Venerables are on my Golden Turtle Island?" Chen Shi wondered to himself.

“A lot,” he added to himself.

The eyes of the masked axe-wielder darted around, secretly watching him with a playful expression.

Chen Shi's face was ashen. He gently shook his head at the arriving Fairy Xiao Duan, signaling her not to say anything more.

When Fairy Xiao Duan saw the divine axe in his hand, she was startled. When she saw the corpse of Taibai Xingjun, she was even more shocked. Without saying a word, she silently followed beside him.

The two returned the way they came.

Upon arriving at the newly established province, a hoarse voice called out from below, "Chen—Heaven—King—Spare—My—Life—!"

Chen Shi stopped and looked down. He saw that the mountains below were covered in rust, and the rivers and mountains were all stained with rust. Even the grass, trees and rocks were covered with red rust. The leopards and roe deer in the mountains were also covered in rust and moved slowly.

There were tracks left by a heavy object sliding on the ground. At the end of the tracks was a divine figure lying beside the mountain stream, half of his body submerged in the water. It was none other than Li Tianwang.

The mountain stream had been corroded by rust, becoming murky, with rust residue covering the bottom and an oily film floating on the surface of the calmer parts. A rusty tiger, not far away, limped to the edge of the stream, lay down, and lowered its head to lick the water.

Chen Shi descended from the clouds and came to the edge of the mountain stream, startling the rusty tiger into retreating.

The rusty, godlike figure, though disoriented, still struggled and cried out, "Spare my life!"

He drew out each word, as if time was passing very slowly for him.

Chen Shi activated the Hunyuan Dao Field, and soon the external Dao within him was removed.

The rust on the surrounding mountains, plants, fish, and insects also disappeared, restoring everything to its original state.

Li Tianwang recovered quickly and hurriedly bowed in gratitude. He spoke much faster and said, "Your Majesty poisoned me in the Dao Spring and schemed against me, yet you spared my life several times. I am completely convinced and will never dare to compete with you for the title of Grand Marshal of the Army again."

Chen Shi remained silent, his face ashen, and flew towards Jin'ao Island.

Li Tianwang hesitated for a moment, glanced at the fairy Xiao Duan beside him, and hurriedly followed Chen Shi. He was somewhat afraid of Xiao Duan and dared not leave, fearing that if he did not keep up with Chen Shi, Xiao Duan would take his life.

Little Duan Fairy followed behind Chen Shi, worried that he might suddenly do something ruthless to Chen Shi, so she kept a close eye on him.

Li Tianwang felt increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze, as if he were wearing a garment covered in thorns.

“My husband did not poison me. Li Tianwang, do not slander my innocence.”

Fairy Xiao Duan spoke up and earnestly explained to him, "The unorthodox path is not poison. The unorthodox path is the great path of heaven and earth outside of the immortal path. What my husband planted in the Dao Spring is the rust path, a kind of unorthodox path."

Li Tianwang coughed, feeling a metallic taste in his throat. Each cough expelled a lot of rust. He cautiously said, "I... I know, Your Highness, there's no need to explain. The spiritual power of the Jade Purity Dao Spring seeped into my physical body, primordial spirit, and the Great Dao. By using the Jade Purity Dao Spring, you sent the heretical path into these positions, thus crippling me in one fell swoop. Although the heretical path is not poison, it is more potent than poison."

Fairy Xiao Duan patiently explained, "The Jade Purity Dao Spring in that gourd wasn't meant to be used against you, but against Taibai Xingjun. He is the son of the White Emperor and is skilled in metal energy, so the Rust Dao could cripple his cultivation in one fell swoop. As for why you drank the Dao Spring, that was beyond my husband's expectations."

Li Tianwang suddenly realized, and cursed Taibai Xingjun for his wickedness.

Fairy Xiao Duan asked in confusion, "Why didn't Taibai Xingjun fall for it, but you drank the Jade Purity Spring instead?"

Li Tianwang's face flushed slightly, and he coughed twice.

Seeing this, Xiao Duan didn't ask any further questions.

Chen Shi returned to Jin'ao Island and enshrined the divine mask and axe. He respectfully offered incense to the axe and axe, and only after the incense smoke was inhaled into the axe and axe did he respectfully withdraw.

After leaving the altar, he let out a long sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"The Great Celestial Venerable is unfathomable."

He finally spoke, addressing Xiao Duan, Yang Bi, and Li Tianwang, "By using my hand, you forced Taibai Xingjun to use his immortal arts to find the traitor in the Heavenly Court, and then by using my hand, you killed Taibai Xingjun. No wonder Erlang Zhenjun said that the Great Heavenly Venerable is very cunning. I'm afraid that my Jin'ao Island has also been infiltrated by him like a sieve, with no secrets left."

Li Tianwang coughed repeatedly, wishing he could leave immediately, having never heard Chen Shi's words.

"He also knows that I can refine heretical practices and restore the holy land that has been corrupted by them."

Chen Shi frowned and said, "My Demon Blood Tree has probably also fallen into his sights. The only thing he doesn't know is Xiniu New Continent."

Upon hearing these words, Li Tianwang felt a chill run through his heart.

To say something like that to his face—is Master Chen plotting to kill him?!

Yang Bi said, "The Great Heavenly Venerable is shrewd and cunning, but he is also tolerant. After all, he saw that the True King harbored rebellious intentions, but he still did not eliminate the True King and the Queen."

Li Tianwang looked pale. These weren't words that could be said to his face.

Is this treating him like one of their own, or like he's dead?
Yang Bi noticed him and used him as an example, saying, "Li Tianwang is a traitor who colludes with the Western Paradise. He is also a disciple of Dipankara Buddha and has a bad character. He forced his own son to cut off his own flesh to return to his father. Even the Great Heavenly Venerable tolerates him."

Li Tianwang was furious, but after thinking about it, he realized Yang Bi's words weren't entirely unreasonable, so he grunted and didn't refute them. Chen Shi sighed, "The Great Heavenly Venerable truly has the magnanimity to tolerate others. My magnanimity isn't even as great as his."

Yang Bi analyzed: "The reason why the Great Celestial Venerable cannot tolerate Taibai Xingjun is probably related to the deaths of the Northern Emperor and the Antarctic Longevity Emperor. It is also possible that the encounter of Houtu Huangdizhi is related to him. Perhaps Taibai Xingjun leaked some secrets of the Heavenly Court, which led to the deaths of the Northern Emperor and the Longevity Emperor."

Chen Shi said, "If I hadn't taught my godmother the Yuanfu technique beforehand, I'm afraid she wouldn't have been able to escape this fate either."

Yang Bi said, "Perhaps this is why the Great Celestial Venerable can tolerate the True King but not the Venus Star Lord. Even if killing the Venus Star Lord would offend the White Emperor, he would still do this. Moreover, this time it was the True King who killed the Venus Star Lord with an axe. The White Emperor's hatred is directed at the True King, not at him."

Chen Shi frowned.

Although the White Emperor knew that Chen Shi could not kill Taibai Xingjun, he would still resent Chen Shi, rather than the Great Heavenly Venerable.

The Great Celestial Venerable's methods are too ingenious.

Yang Bi said, "Moreover, this time the Great Heavenly Venerable made an example of the chicken to warn the monkey. Taibai Xingjun is the chicken, and the True King is the monkey. If the True King is made to take action again but he does not, then next time the True King will be the chicken."

Chen Shi clenched his fist.

Yang Bi said, "If I am not mistaken, the next group of envoys of the Great Heavenly Venerable has already set off many days ahead of schedule and should be arriving in Penglai West soon. This time, if the envoys of the Great Heavenly Venerable are intercepted and killed on the way, the Great Heavenly Venerable's axe will cut off the head of the True King."

Chen Shi was stern and immediately invited Qiao Gu and others, saying, "Senior brothers and sisters, immediately go to Zhangren and Jian provinces to prepare to welcome the Heavenly Court envoy. Protect them along the way and do not make any mistakes."

The group looked at each other, wondering if they had misheard.

Jingmei said, "What the True King means is that we pretend to escort you, but in reality..."

She raised her hand as if making a cutting motion.

Chen Shi angrily retorted, "I am a trusted minister of the Great Heavenly Venerable, how could I do such a treasonous thing! Protect the envoy well, and if a single hair is lost, you will be held accountable!"

Qiao Gu and the others were filled with suspicion about Dou's departure.

Chen Shi paced back and forth, his anxious heart gradually calming down. He slowed his pace, looked at Yang Bi, and smiled, "Brother Yang, when will you come to help me?"

Yang Bi shook his head and said, "The Jin'ao Island has 200,000 troops. With the True King's talent, he can control them. If there were more, the True King would be overwhelmed. My master, Doumu Yuanjun, is in charge of the Dou Department. There are millions of gods and heavenly soldiers and generals in the Dou Department. I need to command them."

Chen Shi did not force him; for him, leading 200,000 troops was indeed the limit.

For Yang Bi, the more the better; the more soldiers there were, the easier it would be to deploy them.

"So, how will the True King deal with Li Tianwang?"

Yang Bi glanced at Li Tianwang beside him and said, "In my opinion, the True King should plant a heretic in Li Tianwang's body, send him back to the Heavenly Court, and at the same time notify the Celestial Court and Li Tianwang's enemies, telling them Li Tianwang's route. With heretics harassing him, Li Tianwang will surely die."

Li Tianwang's face turned pale and his body swayed.

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "Brother Li has shown me great favor..."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

It seems that Li Tianwang did not show him any kindness or recognition.

On the contrary, not long after he entered the Heavenly Army camp, he was reprimanded by Li Tianwang. He was repeatedly sent to his death, but Chen Shi was lucky and escaped death outside.

Li Tianwang also repeatedly framed him, trying to make him become a celestial being.

Li Tianwang's arrival as a messenger of the Heavenly Court this time was also without good intentions.

Thinking of this, Chen Shi immediately put aside his gratitude and said gently, "Fellow Daoist Li, you tried to harm me unjustly this time, yet I still saved your life. Master said, 'If you repay evil with good, how will you repay good?' This time, I disobeyed Master's teachings and still let you go. Not only will I let you go, but I will also help you cultivate to become a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

He gently raised his hand, summoned the water from the Jade Purity Spring, and poured it into a golden gourd, saying, "The water of the Jade Purity Spring can help you comprehend the Dao. Whatever Dao you cultivate, the water from the spring will help you comprehend that Dao. The spring water can replenish your Unempty Tathagatagarbha, allowing you to advance further, break through the barriers of the Taiyi Golden Immortal, and achieve the Great Luo."

He placed the golden gourd in Li Tianwang's hand. Li Tianwang hesitated for a moment and said, "Will Chen Tianwang not kill me?"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "If I were to kill you, I would not be able to explain it to the Jade Emperor. Even if I have the will to kill, I must restrain myself."

Li Tianwang held the golden gourd and tentatively asked, "Does this pot of Jade Purity Spring water conceal any heretical practices?"

Chen Shi laughed heartily: "Yes."

Li Tianwang's expression changed instantly.

He had already been tricked once before, nearly dying after consuming the Jade Purity Spring given to him by Taibai Xingjun.

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Everyone knows that there is a Jade Purity Dao Spring in the west of Penglai. My Golden Turtle Island is weak and it is difficult to guard the Dao Spring. Therefore, I secretly put some heretical elements into the Dao Spring. If anyone comes to steal the spring water, they will be affected when they drink it and be contaminated by the heretical elements. After they suffer the loss, naturally no one will dare to take my Dao Spring. However, the Dao Spring in Fellow Daoist Li's gourd is different."

He spoke frankly, without any concealment, saying, "The heretical force within your Dao Spring will not manifest. However, as you refine the spring water, the heretical force will infiltrate your Dao techniques and remain hidden. Even if you cultivate to the Great Luo realm, you will not be able to refine it. But as long as you become my enemy, this heretical force will erupt, causing your untimely death. Fellow Daoist, whether you use this Dao Spring or not is entirely up to you. I won't see you off."

Holding the golden gourd, Li Tianwang left Jin'ao Island in a daze and flew towards Zhangren Province.

It wasn't until he flew out of Penglai West that he came to his senses, looked at the golden gourd in his hand as if it were a terrifying monster.

Li Tianwang gritted his teeth and threw the golden gourd away.

"Chen Shi, you underestimate me! I am the Heavenly King, the Grand Marshal of all the armies under Heaven. I have experienced the war against the Shang Dynasty, the re-establishment of the Heavenly Court, and the opening of the Dark Sea. What haven't I seen?"

Li Tianwang laughed heartily, dispelling the gloom in his heart, and declared loudly, "My Dao heart is firm, and I will not be tempted by the Jade Purity Dao Spring!"

At this moment, he looked down and saw that he had a golden gourd in his right hand.

Li Tianwang was slightly taken aback, then sneered, "Are you playing me?"

He raised his hand and threw the golden gourd out again, but when he looked down, the golden gourd was still in his hand.

Li Tianwang threw it several times, but whenever he looked down, the golden gourd was still in his hand.

"Chen Shi, you are a great demon who bewitches people, you will not tempt me to fall!"

Li Tianwang stared at his hand, wanting to see with his own eyes how he threw the golden gourd back into his hand.

His face changed drastically, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He clearly felt that he had thrown the gourd, but he saw that his hand was still tightly gripping it. The gourd never left his hand.

"What kind of curse did you cast on me... No, he didn't cast any strange spells on me. It was me, haha, who didn't want to throw it away. It was my obsession caused by failing to break through for 300,000 years that made me unwilling to give up this opportunity. I've developed a demon in my heart..."

Li Tianwang laughed loudly, behaving wildly, as if recognizing himself for the first time. Amidst the laughter, he tilted his head back and drank the Dao Spring water from the gourd.

(End of this chapter)