The Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings were injured by the Western King's Jade Seal, their power greatly diminished. However, these artifacts were after all immortal artifacts, silently absorbing the spiritual energy and power between heaven and earth to repair themselves.
The sun wheel and moon crescent bore peculiar textures, intricate and exquisite. Chen Shi examined them closely—these textures were somewhat similar to those on the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler, both belonging to prehistoric immortal techniques, extremely obscure and difficult to understand.
The Little Duan Immortal called them Dao patterns, texts used to record the mysteries of the Great Dao.
In the past, when Chen Shi looked at such Dao patterns, he always felt drowsy. However, this time, it went surprisingly smoothly. He quickly grasped the Dao mysteries contained within the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings.
"It seems I have a great affinity with yin and yang energy," Chen Shi suddenly thought.
He recalled that when he cultivated Daoist Tianzhen's yin-yang purgation, he used yin and yang energy to create a complementary scene of sun and moon, refining away the problem of demonic energy invading the old path and preventing his own demonic transformation.
He also obtained the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler, cultivating the Sixth New Talisman on it. He had also refined yin and yang energy, with the two energies forming a south and north in his Dao Field, creating a scene where the Southern Dipper and Northern Dipper mutually refined each other.
Among the techniques in the True King's treasury, there was also the Yin-Yang Two Scenes Diagram. Among the Three Ghost and God Startling Variations created by Creation Little Five, there was the Yin-Yang Variation.
Beyond that, the Tianluo Blood-Transforming Divine Blade of the Upper Realm also contained yin and yang energy. He had once been controlled by the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade and had sensed the immense power of its yin and yang energy. If he could use the Blood Lake Sutra to control the demonic nature of the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, he could make the blade's yin and yang energy serve his own purposes.
And the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings, taken from Zhong Wuwang's ear, were also primarily based on yin and yang energy.
If not for all this, it would have been impossible for him to so easily decipher the Dao patterns on the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings.
Chen Shi silently practiced the yin and yang Dao patterns. After becoming proficient, he activated the treasure. The earring split apart—the sun wheel soared into the sky, with pure yang ancestral energy surging forth, transforming into a sun. The moon crescent also flew up, containing pure yin ancestral energy, transforming into a moon.
Sun and moon light intermingled, the two energies mutually refined, gradually forming rivers and lakes beneath the sun and moon, like a small world.
"This small world isn't hidden within the immortal artifact," Chen Shi discovered, astonished. "Actually, this world is manifested by yin and yang energy! It's creating objects from the void!"
When he had used the Western King's Jade Seal to damage this treasure, he hadn't noticed this. He had thought the treasure contained a small world within it!
He tried to unleash the treasure's power. As the two energies circulated, beneath the sun and moon, rivers, lakes, mountains, and geography rapidly changed. The heavenly Dao power of this small world was activated, containing terrifying strength!
"Yin and yang are heaven and earth, mountains and lakes, wind and thunder, water and fire, the genesis of all things—therefore, they possess tremendous power," Chen Shi realized. "The righteous energy between heaven and earth comes in many types—there's the Three Lights Righteous Energy of sun, moon, and stars, as well as the five elemental righteous energies. Mountain, lake, wind, and thunder energies are also righteous energy. The stars and constellations in the sky also emit various righteous energies. There's also life energy, death energy, corruption energy, and decay energy. But the purest righteous energy is undoubtedly yin and yang energy. The Fifth New Talisman calls it ancestral energy. Laozi said, 'The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, and two is yin and yang energy.'"
He observed the circulation between the sun, moon, and the mountains, rivers, and seas beneath them, lost in thought.
"Two gives birth to three, three gives birth to all things. What the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings present is the mystery of this saying."
He stared at the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings, his own energy and blood continuously driving this immortal artifact. The sun and moon moved, wind and clouds shifted, mountains rose and fell, great lakes became seas, the seas turned to mulberry fields—there was also thunder, rain, and volcanic eruptions. This world kept changing before his eyes, as if ten thousand years passed in an instant.
Gradually, his surrounding Dao Field expanded, covering several acres. Yin and yang energy also transformed into a sun and moon, hanging high, revolving around him.
Above his head, wind and thunder gradually stirred, rain and moisture were born. Beneath his feet, mountains slowly rose, rainwater flowed down from the mountains, gathering into rivers, as if time was accelerating in his Dao Field.
His Dao Field changed along with the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Rings, becoming increasingly similar.
Chen Shi felt as if he had been transformed into a deity controlling worldly affairs. He could shift the stars, interfere with the sun and moon's movement, and manipulate the changes of sea and land.
His understanding of yin and yang energy grew deeper and deeper.
Situ Wen and the others searched for him, looking from afar. The battle had long since ceased. Only a sun and moon formed by yin and yang energy hung in the air, with a piece of cloud-formed land floating beneath them.
Situ Wen searched for Chen Shi, but saw Chen Shi standing within that cloud, with the sun and moon moving around him and mountains and rivers shifting.
"True King, the people of Qinghe Town are ready. We can set out for Yue Wang Temple," Situ Wen called out.
At that moment, Black Pot limped over and patted his shoulder.
Situ Wen turned around and saw Black Pot wrapped in bandages all over, with only two eyes exposed, their gaze quite profound.
"So the True King is in enlightenment. I was too hasty."
Situ Wen blushed, craning his neck to look at Chen Shi, a look of envy on his face. He stammered, "I've never experienced enlightenment or anything... Lord Pot, what should we do now?"
Black Pot gestured for him to follow. Situ Wen obeyed, and as he looked back, he saw that Chen Shi's feet weren't touching the ground, yet he was following them.
Situ Wen marveled, saying, "Chen True King is in enlightenment, so how does he know to follow us?"
He seemed to be talking to an invisible person, not seeing or hearing them, but he kept nodding, saying, "So it's guarded awareness by a single thought. What is a single thought... A single thought can accomplish so much? Doesn't that mean a single thought can complete an entire life? I understand..."
Situ Wen seemed to understand without fully grasping it. He returned to Qinghe Town and called for the townspeople.
Everyone in Qinghe Town left their homes, bringing their families, carrying grain and livestock. Yanshi puppets drove ox-carts and horse-drawn carriages, and many disciples of the Lu Ban Sect brought along incomplete Shuji mechanisms, all heading toward Yue Wang Temple.
Situ Wen looked at the towering black iron pillar that reached to the heavens, hesitating, "How do we take this away..."
Black Pot stepped forward, placing its paw on the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler. Flames erupted around it, forming the Heavenly Cycle Fire Domain, and immediately, the various strange textures on the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler lit up one by one.
With a *whoosh*, the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler flew up and landed in Black Pot's hand.
Black Pot carried the iron rod and limped to the front of the procession.
This time, Chen Shi's enlightenment lasted longer than any before. When the people of Qinghe Town traveled for three days and two nights to reach Yue Wang Temple, he still hadn't awakened. So Black Pot and Situ Wen worked together, directing the people to build houses, reclaim farmland, and plant crops around Yue Wang Temple.
Black Pot even cooked personally, preparing large pots of food. When a child cried, it would go over, hold the child, soothe them, and change their diapers.
Another five days passed, and the people of Qinghe Town were finally settled.
Black Pot's injuries also healed mostly. It immediately packed its belongings, then activated the Celestial Court token, entering the minor heaven. It came to the painted wall, checking the geographical locations left by each Celestial Court member.
It chose the nearest one, left the minor heaven, put away the Celestial Court token, and put its paw to its lips, blowing a loud whistle.
In the distance, the Wooden Cart was hunting on its own, catching ghosts and evil spirits to eat. Hearing the whistle, it immediately rushed over with a roar.
Black Pot jumped onto the Wooden Cart, pointed in a direction, and signaled for the cart to set off.
The Wooden Cart had been hunting and killing ghosts and evil spirits all this time, making itself stronger. It immediately accelerated and sped away.
Black Pot was startled, looking back. Chen Shi was still unhurriedly following behind the cart, and only then did it breathe a sigh of relief.
On the cart, it spread out a cushion and sat cross-legged. It found another cushion to lean against its back, activated the Topographic Map, and compared it with the surrounding geography, searching for the next mountain that might suddenly appear.
A few days later, in Lingzhou City, ghost gods gathered.
Various underworld officers, underworld marshals, and judges of the Xu Family rushed to Lingzhou. Lords from various regions of Lingzhou, existences similar to Lord Fengyang, had also arrived early. Lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, the atmosphere joyful.
The merger of yin and yang realms was a great joy for the Xu Family. The layout over six thousand years was now bearing fruit today. How could they not be delighted?
Xu Yinglong, the Sect Leader of the Xu Family, held a grand banquet, entertaining guests from all directions. People composed poems, engaged in banter, and clinked glasses.
There were also various sounds of recognizing ancestors—the younger generations of the Xu Family lined up neatly, paying respects to their long-deceased great-great-grandfathers and great-great-grandmothers, calling out in unison. These ancestors, long deceased but now holding divine offices in the underworld, each had radiant faces, bestowing various underworld treasures.
Xu Yinglong was also overjoyed. As the Sect Leader of the Xu Family, though he was not famous, during his generation, the Xu Family was at its peak.
Just then, a Xu Family disciple hurried over and whispered, "Sect Leader, Chen Shi has arrived."
Xu Yinglong was slightly startled. "What is he doing here?"
He had heard that Chen Shi had killed experts from Despair Slope, and his heart tightened. "Does he want to divert trouble to my Xu Family?"
"Chen Shi hasn't entered the city. He's sitting outside the city," the Xu Family disciple said.
Xu Yinglong immediately stood up, walked out of the Xu residence, and first activated his Primordial Spirit. Looking from afar, sure enough, Chen Shi hadn't entered Lingzhou City. He was sitting under a large tree by the roadside outside the city, with a wooden cart parked nearby.
A black dog, pure black without a single off-color hair, was tying the cart to the tree.
The black dog had several gauze bandages wrapped around its body.
Xu Yinglong shook his head, confirming that what he was seeing was a dog tying a cart to a tree.
The big black dog barked twice at the wooden cart, seemingly scolding it, telling it not to run around.
"I can actually understand what the dog is saying!" Xu Yinglong was startled, feeling that something was off.
After scolding the cart, the dog pulled out a bag from the cart, held a black iron rod, and limped toward the city, leaning on the rod.
Chen Shi, meanwhile, remained sitting under the tree, with a bright moon hanging in front of him and a great sun rotating behind him.
At the place where he sat, yin and yang energy evolved into wind, thunder, water, and fire; heaven, earth, mountains, and lakes; ever-changing and unpredictable.
The range of his surrounding Dao Field grew wider and wider, gradually expanding from a few acres to hundreds of acres, still spreading outward.
Xu Yinglong's expression turned solemn. He withdrew his Primordial Spirit.
Xu She came behind him and whispered, "Sect Leader, what's wrong?"
Xu Yinglong's voice was heavy as he said solemnly, "Chen Shi has come to block our gate."
Xu She was startled, blurting out, "He's come to block our gate? To block my Xu Family's gate? How dare he! Is he tired of living?"
His shout attracted the sidelong glances of many Xu Family experts.
Xu She was about to rush out of the city, but Xu Yinglong raised his hand to stop him, shaking his head. "Chen Shi blocking our gate isn't about blocking my Xu Family's strength—it's about blocking my Xu Family's face. He's not here to challenge my Xu Family openly and fairly. He's extremely cunning. Activate your Primordial Spirit."
Xu She did as he was told, activating his Primordial Spirit and looking down. He saw Chen Shi's Dao Field still expanding outward, having already reached outside Lingzhou City and about to enter.
However, above Lingzhou City, numerous Realms of Emptiness hung high, with suns and moons rotating, blocking his Dao Field.
The Realm of Emptiness was itself a Dao Field, but a more advanced one, carved from the void. Yet, compared to Chen Shi's Dao Field, the Realms of Emptiness above Lingzhou City actually seemed somewhat inferior.
This wasn't an inferiority in terms of cultivation level but in terms of authenticity.
The sun and moon in Chen Shi's Dao Field appeared more real. The mountains, great lakes, rivers, and seas seemed as if they were meant to be that way. In contrast, these Realms of Emptiness of the Xu Family in Lingzhou seemed somewhat lackluster. Any discerning eye could tell that Chen Shi's attainment was deeper.
Xu She immediately saw the problem. He withdrew his Primordial Spirit and said solemnly, "He's here to block our gate and sweep away my Xu Family's face!"
Xu Yinglong nodded slightly, saying, "Did you notice that the hibiscus tree within the range of his Dao Field is blooming?"
Xu She was slightly taken aback. He activated his Primordial Spirit again, looking down. Indeed, many hibiscus flowers on the tree where the cart was tied were slowly blooming.
This hibiscus tree was a thousand-year-old stump, having experienced countless cycles of flourishing and withering. But after the merger of yin and yang realms, it had stopped blooming and had even shown signs of wilting.
This hibiscus tree didn't bloom under the sun and moon of the Xu Family's Realms of Emptiness, but it bloomed within Chen Shi's Dao Field.
Xu She clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed them. He said, "As expected of the top scholar. Even when challenging my Xu Family, he does it with such elegance. I'll go break his Dao Field!"
He walked outside.
Xu Yinglong followed steadily. The old and new Sect Leaders, one after the other, arrived at the hibiscus tree outside the city.
Xu She bowed to Chen Shi. "Top Scholar Chen, I accept your challenge!"
Chen Shi didn't return the bow, continuing to sit silently. In his Dao Field, the sun and moon revolved, mountains and rivers shifted.
"Still as arrogant as ever!" Xu She snorted coldly. He also sat down cross-legged and released his own Dao Field.
The two Dao Fields overlapped, each evolving. Using the opportunity of the Dao Field's evolution, Xu She sought flaws in Chen Shi's Dao Field. He attacked like fire, trying to break Chen Shi's Dao Field.
Chen Shi had set up this Dao Field to sweep away the Xu Family's face on this day of great celebration, to crush the Xu Family with his Dao skill in front of their ancestors, to make the Xu Family feel utterly ashamed!
So Xu She would also respond with his Dao skill, breaking Chen Shi's Dao Field, showing him how deep the Xu Family's foundation was—not something he could contend with!
However, after he invaded Chen Shi's Dao Field, he was shocked to discover that this Dao Field had no flaws at all, no trace to follow, no gap to attack. Instead, under his invasion, Chen Shi's Dao Field began to counterattack. In just a short moment, it had assimilated most of his Dao Field.
Xu She's face turned crimson. Overwhelmed with frustration, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Just then, a large hand pressed down on his shoulder, channeling vigorous magical power into his body to stabilize his chaotic energy.
Xu She turned around and met Xu Yinglong's gaze. Xu Yinglong was as steady as a mountain, giving him some relief.
"She'er, step back. I'll handle him," Xu Yinglong said as he stepped forward.
Suddenly, an aged voice said, "Yinglong, you are the Sect Leader—how can you act so lightly? If word gets out, people outside will think my Xu Family has no one left."
Xu Yinglong turned around and saw a group of white-haired elders walking over. They were the Four Patriarchs of the Xu Family.
These four patriarchs were his father, Xu Feilong; his grandfather, Xu Xiaoshu; his great-grandfather, Xu Henshui; and his great-great-grandfather, Xu Lu. Though they were unknown now, they had all been Sect Leaders of the Xu Family in their time!
Xu Feilong looked at Chen Shi and laughed, "I once fought with your grandfather, taking turns dueling with him. I never thought that Chen Yindu's grandson would one day come knocking on my Xu Family's door. Truly, the young are formidable."
Chen Shi sat silently, his eyes watching his nose and his nose watching his heart.
Xu Feilong chuckled, "Just like Chen Yindu—proud of his talent and dismissive of others."
He came before Chen Shi and sat down, smoothing his robe over his legs. He looked around and laughed, "The changes of yin and yang energy. The technique you're cultivating is none other than the Yin-Yang Two Scenes Diagram, isn't it? This is a technique passed down by my Xu Family—how dare you teach a fish to swim!"
He activated his Realm of Emptiness, neither too big nor too small, the same size as Chen Shi's Dao Field. They overlapped. He laughed, "The Realm of Emptiness is also a Dao Field. Today, I'll use my Dao Field against yours and bet on our respective insights into yin and yang energy!"
Xu Yinglong observed silently for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.
Xu She saw the smile on his face and whispered, "Sect Leader, what's going on?"
Xu Yinglong lowered his voice. "On the surface, we're not taking advantage of Chen Shi. But after all, we have over a hundred years of insights, especially at the Great Ascension Realm. Although Chen Shi came prepared, it's still enough to suppress him."
Just as he said this, the scenery in the Dao Field suddenly changed, as if ten thousand years had passed in an instant!
Former Sect Leader Xu Feilong revealed a look of despair. Suddenly, a deathly aura spread over his face, and he fell backward, shouting, "A body imperishable for ten thousand years—I can't do it!"
Xu Yinglong and the others were shocked. They hurried forward to rescue him. Xu Feilong's internal yin and yang energy was in chaos, and his lifespan was draining away—he was at risk of death!
Grandfather Xu Xiaoshu, Great-Grandfather Xu Henshui, and Great-Great-Grandfather Xu Lu joined forces with Xu Yinglong, barely managing to suppress his runaway yin and yang energy, saving his life.
Everyone's expressions turned grim. They each took a step back.
Xu Xiaoshu and the others each sat outside Chen Shi's Dao Field, staring at it intently. No one made another move lightly.
"Most of the Xu Family's various deities have arrived today. There's bound to be someone who can defeat him!" Xu Xiaoshu's lips trembled slightly as he said, "Yinglong, invite these ancestral masters here!"
Xu Yinglong's heart tightened. He bowed and acknowledged the order, then hurried back to the city.
In Lingzhou City, at the Jibao Pharmacy, Black Pot removed its bandages and changed its medication. During the past few days of travel, a few wounds that hadn't healed showed signs of worsening, so it came to buy some medicine. Chen Shi often got sick in his early years, and Black Pot had picked up some medical knowledge, enough to treat its own injuries.
After selecting the herbs and paying, it picked up the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler and walked toward the city gate. When it arrived at the city gate, it saw a sea of people outside the city gates. It didn't know what had happened.
A Xu Family disciple, under its gaze, told it the truth, saying, "Chen Yindu's grandson, Chen Shi, has come to avenge the great enmity from twelve years ago. He's using his yin-yang Dao Field to block my Xu Family's gate! If no one can break his Dao Field, I'm afraid our face will be completely lost."
Black Pot raised its paw, scratched its head, looking completely bewildered.
It had left the Wooden Cart and Chen Shi outside the city because it was worried that the cart, being a demonic entity, might cause trouble on the Xu Family's turf. To be safe, it had to be tied up. Chen Shi was also in enlightenment, so it wasn't suitable for him to follow it to buy medicine, so it had left him by the cart.
How, in the blink of an eye, had it turned into him blocking the Xu Family's gate to seek vengeance?
