On the Path to the Great Dao

Chen Tang stared at the stele, his heart shaken. Little Ten’s godmother had an unexpectedly massive background.

“After the True King's Era ended, Despair Slope eradicated all foreign gods. This Houtu Huangdiqi sensed the moment early, and at her command all foreign gods buried themselves, waiting in silence for the future. Her temple vanished without a trace. Despair Slope searched for years, but still could not find her.”

Yu Changbai looked at the high mound. The Old Willow Tree loomed like a peerless master, standing guard over the stele, and he said, “After all, she is an Earth Spirit. She purposely hid herself, so finding her is extremely difficult. But fortunately this heavenly change extinguished the True God's sight and merged the yin-yang realms. In order to save more people, this lady could not hold back and is preparing to be reborn.”

Chen Tang pressed his palm on the box and asked, “How does Despair Slope plan to deal with Houtu Huangdiqi?”

“Fell the mountain and destroy the temple.”

Yu Changbai seemed not to notice his motion. He smiled as his gaze fell on the row of dolls inside the box and said with interest, “So these are the new talisman methods founded by Chen Yindu? Truly clever, full of ingenious ideas. No wonder he once made a name for himself in Despair Slope.”

Chen Tang’s face showed no change.

Yu Changbai mentioning that Chen Yindu had visited Despair Slope did not unsettle him.

He knew Chen Yindu liked running around; he had been to many places. Despair Slope was secretive, but his father could find money hidden even in mouse holes—finding Despair Slope was no harder. Since he already knew the stele godmother’s origins, he would never allow Despair Slope to threaten her!

Inside his box were thirty-seven Talisman Gods Tianji. Thirty-seven Tianji could form thirty-seven layers of Ghost and God Domain. Within such domains, Chen Tang was confident he could defeat anyone below an immortal!

Even if the opponent were a demi-immortal or an immortal, he had the confidence to test them!

“Chen Yindu shook Despair Slope back then with talisman arts as well.”

Yu Changbai fixed his eyes on those Talisman God figures and said, “He walked alongside a talisman creation called Creation Little Five. They attempted to infiltrate Despair Slope but were discovered by a Celestial Way Immortal and captured. Chen Yindu was indeed extraordinarily clever. His Talisman God Tianji shared striking similarity with Despair Slope’s Heaven's Listeners—both are creations. The Celestial Venerable valued him highly and permitted him to study in Despair Slope. After several years he became a Celestial Way Walker of Despair Slope.”

Chen Tang remained expressionless.

The news Yu Changbai spoke was indeed astonishing.

Chen Yindu and Creation Little Five had both been to Despair Slope; Chen Yindu had even served as a Celestial Way Walker!

A Celestial Way Walker acts on heaven’s behalf, the same role Yu Changbai occupied!

But Chen Tang felt no surprise at this revelation. His face remained unchanged and his hand stayed steadily on the box, ready to trigger all the Talisman Gods Tianji at any moment!

“My father must have fallen for some captivating beauty again back then, right?” he said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

He knew what kind of man Chen Yindu was: gallant but not vulgar, exceptional in ability, so women often fell for him—usually the outstanding ones. Yet none of those women ever stayed with him; whether restrained by their sects, families, or other reasons, they always parted ways.

Therefore, when Chen Yindu returned to Huangpo Village he was always solitary, accompanied only by creations like Creation Little Five and the Talisman Gods Tianji.

Chen Tang grew up knowing even an older Chen Yindu outside still wouldn’t change his ways; he had many female intimates.

Yu Changbai looked at him with deep meaning and said, “Indeed he met a beauty and became her Dao partner; their feelings were deep.”

Chen Tang shrugged it off; his father was always like that.

Yu Changbai continued with significance, “So Chen Tang, you are not an outsider.”

“You are saying I’m not an outsider?”

Chen Tang’s heart trembled. What did that mean?

Yu Changbai laughed loudly. Seizing his moment of mental disturbance, he plucked the hairpin from his head; the golden pin transformed into a golden sword, stabbing toward the box!

Chen Tang reacted instinctively, invoking the Talisman Gods Tianji. Thirty-seven cloth dolls shifted in an instant, transforming into thirty-seven Talisman God Tianji. Thirty-seven layers of Ghost and God Domain expanded outward!

One foot, two feet, three feet!

The Ghost and God Domains of the Talisman Gods barely reached three feet when a rapid series of crisp sounds rang out. In that instant, the golden sword in Yu Changbai’s hand split into thirty-seven, thirty-seven golden blades driven into the thirty-seven domains, freezing them all!

The thirty-seven Talisman Gods shifted from doll forms toward godlike bodies at varying speeds—some only managing a few inches, others three feet tall—each locked in place and unable to complete their transformation!

Yu Changbai’s move was lightning quick; while Chen Tang’s mind was stirred he sealed Chen Tang’s strongest method in one stroke!

Chen Tang had already drawn the Xuanwei Sword with his other hand. The moment the divine blade left its scabbard, it was as if a hundred thousand small suns exploded from the sheath, the blade light unmatched, filling Yu Changbai’s vision!

In swordsmanship, Chen Tang was absolutely one of the finest on the Western Ox New Continent!

People like Sha Qiutong and Patriarch Blue Goat often said he lacked originality or enlightenment, but Chen Tang’s comprehension was by no means low; his talent in sword way outpaced others. With the sword-driven technique of turning sword energy into a Realm of Emptiness hidden in his scabbard, he surpassed countless peers—truly first-rate!

His sword sprang, and at such close range it arrived before Yu Changbai in an instant. Sword energies pierced from all directions into Yu Changbai’s Realm of Emptiness.

Yu Changbai’s Realm of Emptiness was already formed as a halo behind his head, reaching the supreme achievement of the Great Ascension Realm. Though the realm’s apparent size might not seem large, inside it contained thousands of miles. Now, within that realm countless sword lights broke in, forming a raging river of sword energy like an unruly flood-dragon smashing through everything!

Although Chen Tang appeared mild-mannered, his strikes were decisive and ruthless. He attacked Yu Changbai’s flesh while simultaneously striking at his Primordial Spirit, trying to break the Realm of Emptiness. He did not seek a single killing blow but aimed to weaken Yu Changbai’s cultivation as much as possible.

Yu Changbai’s cultivation was clearly far greater. Chen Tang’s Realm of Emptiness had not yet reached thousands of miles; Yu Changbai’s spanned several thousand miles, with sun and moon complete, stars orderly, natal charts flawless. The cultivation gap was enormous, so Chen Tang sought to reduce his opponent’s strength as much as possible at once!

Yu Changbai smiled faintly and stood without moving.

The first sword energies Chen Tang launched into his realm were halted. The sword energies, like a river-dragon, ceased moving under growing, overwhelming pressure!

That pressure came from all directions, fixing each blade of sword energy in place, rendering them immobile.

At the same time, Chen Tang’s Xuanwei Sword pierced Yu Changbai’s throat and unleashed its power. The Realm of Emptiness’s all-destroying force poured into the sword tip!

Yet Yu Changbai did not flinch; only the flesh around his throat slightly drew back.

The halo behind his head slowly revolved, absorbing every ounce of the sword’s force. No damage was inflicted!

Chen Tang’s heart sank. He was still in Return to Emptiness and had not yet reached Great Ascension. If he had attained Great Ascension this thrust could have pierced him, but at Return to Emptiness it was far from enough!

These years Chen Tang had many affairs—busy with the Celestial Court and Red Mountain Hall while refining the demon inside Chen Shi’s body—but his cultivation had not regressed; he advanced steadily. His steps were solid and his cultivation well-rounded, leaving no obvious weakness. Yet there remained distance before breaking into Great Ascension.

His cautious nature, unwilling to rush breakthroughs, was both his strength and his flaw.

“If only I could break to Great Ascension ahead of time, I might not be so passive.”

He had just thought this when Yu Changbai swished his sleeve. The wooden box snapped shut with a click, sealing all the Tianji inside.

“I’ve cultivated for thousands of years. If I were to be killed by a Return-to-Emptiness cultivator’s single thrust, would that not make a joke of my four thousand years of power accumulation?” Yu Changbai swept his hand over the box and laughed, “Chen Tang, you are a disciple of Despair Slope. Don’t worry, I won’t strike you. I must show your mother some small courtesy.”

His palm passed, and the talisman patterns on the box rapidly shifted until they were unrecognizable!

The box merely served as a carrier for the talismans. Even if the box were destroyed, that would not destroy the Tianji. The thirty-seven Tianji actually resided in another space; the box only opened the portal to that space.

But now Yu Changbai altered the talisman patterns on the box, effectively changing the portal. Even if Chen Tang opened it, he would not see the thirty-seven Tianji!

Clearly, Yu Changbai greatly feared the thirty-seven Tianji.

He swept his hand, then leapt up, leaving Chen Tang and Zhuang Wujiu on the precious carriage, hands clasped behind his back, flying toward the stele as he laughed, “My purpose in coming is only to destroy Houtu’s doctrine—nothing more.”

The high mound suddenly grew tremendously imposing in front of him; the loess of earth pressed down like a sky upon him.

Yu Changbai smiled faintly and said leisurely, “Is that all Houtu Huangdiqi can do? The world inverted? So be it.”

Light emanated beneath his feet, arranging into steps from the sky down to the mound.

Yu Changbai stepped on the heavenly ladder, suppressing the mound’s changes and restoring it to its previous state.

He descended step by step, and with each step dazzling Dao-lights burst outward, elegant and unrestrained.

On the carriage, Chen Tang immediately tried to undo the wooden box. If he could quickly restore the replaced talisman patterns to their original forms, he would have the strength to fight Yu Changbai!

Beside him, Zhuang Wujiu watched his every move without stopping him and said with a smile, “Even with your thirty-seven-layer Tianji domain, Yu Changbai’s cultivation of thousands of years might not be easily suppressed.”

Chen Tang’s eyes flashed murderous intent. He thought, If I take this youth hostage, could I force Yu Changbai to hesitate?

Zhuang Wujiu seemed unaware of Chen Tang’s hostility. He looked toward Yu Changbai and praised, “Whether he can even step onto the mound is hard to say. His strength is not bad, but he is too arrogant.”

Chen Tang was slightly startled and looked at Zhuang Wujiu. He thought, When Yu Changbai isn’t here, Zhuang Wujiu seems like a different person—much bolder.

In haste he stole a glance at Yu Changbai and realized Zhuang Wujiu was right.

Yu Changbai’s steps grew heavier and slower the closer he approached the stele; he seemed to feel unbearable pressure. The nearer he came, the greater the suppression!

The heavenly-ladder technique he used, called Ascending Heaven Gate, is an immortal art. The first time Chen Shi fought Wen Wuyu, Wen Wuyu escaped Chen Shi’s attack with this art.

Yu Changbai employed the art with even more maturity and wonder than Wen Wuyu, but the pressure emanating from the stele soon caused cold sweat to bead on his brow.

When he was still dozens of zhang away, the Old Willow Tree towering above the stele radiated boundless majesty. A willow branch flashed with blue light and snapped toward him with a whoosh.

That branch entered Yu Changbai’s vision and seemed to coil like an azure dragon spinning its body, whipping its tail with tremendous force as it attacked!

Without hesitation he mobilized all his strength and used the immortal techniques passed down by Despair Slope. The halo behind his head discharged rays of golden light—ten thousand golden swords shooting out from all directions to strike the branch!

“Pa pa pa!”

Countless sword energies exploded. Yu Changbai raised his hand and more golden swords instantaneously formed a wall of immeasurable thickness in front of him!

“Boom!”

The barrier shattered and the branch lashed down.

Yu Changbai collided with the branch and let out a muffled grunt, flying back. His figure flapped through the air and landed on the glassy carriage.

His vital breath fluctuated; a flush appeared on his face, then he recovered.

He raised both arms to see that two of his limbs were torn open, flesh split and bleeding.

The willow branch whooshed past the front of the carriage and then slowly retracted, not continuing its assault.

This scene startled Chen Tang. He looked at the Old Willow Tree and thought, Is this ancient tree the protector of Houtu Huangdiqi’s temple? Did Scholar Zhu know the tree he hanged himself from was this formidable?

“Amazing. Truly worthy of being Houtu Huangdiqi’s protector god—truly amazing!” Yu Changbai praised. “It seems that to fell the mountain and destroy the temple, my abilities alone may not suffice. This must be reported; we need a Celestial Way Immortal to intervene...”

Before he could finish, a silver needle hissed and pierced into the halo behind his head, like a stabilizing divine pin, freezing the operation of his Realm of Emptiness!

The silver needle swelled enormous within his world, pierced through the void, and with a hiss it drove into the back of his skull!

Yu Changbai’s body stiffened and he could not move. His heart pounded fiercely: “Chen Tang?! Could Chen Tang possess such a technique, seeing through the flaw in my art?”

Chen Tang stood dazed, holding the wooden box, not yet having opened it.

Zhuang Wujiu wiped a drop of blood from his finger—the blood came from the needle and fell on his fingertip.

“Despair Slope’s methods are strong, but they have weaknesses,” Zhuang Wujiu smiled. “A Celestial Way Walker being that formidable is why it took months for me to find your flaw.”

His face twisted and shifted; he grew taller and his features changed, taking on another visage.

The new face bore some resemblance to Chen Tang but was younger.

Where Chen Tang looked like a gentleman, this man appeared somewhat demonic and wicked.

Chen Tang gaped.

“Useless little brother, long time no see?” Creation Little Five smiled.