On the Path to the Great Dao

For Creation Little Five, there was no overnight enmity between father and son. Although Father Chen Yindu had killed him twice and suppressed him for ten years, if Chen Yindu said a single word of regret, he would still forgive his father.

"Little Five, you've misunderstood."

Chen Yindu's face carried an air of pride as he shook his head. "Do you think I came to realize I'm old, to show weakness and grovel for mercy? You're wrong. What I regret is not being able to kill you completely."

Cang Songzi, Tu Ying, and Yan Shichong each wore ferocious expressions, their murderous intent boiling over.

Tu Ying cackled. "Old bastard, do you know you're now a prisoner of the Divine Capital? If I want to kill you now, it's easy as pie. If you obediently act like my dad, I might spare your life! But from now on, the roles are reversed—you obey me!"

Chen Yindu shook his head. "Little Five, I created you based on the ideal version of myself. I thought I could craft a perfect me—unaffected by emotions, undominated by desires, possessing the most rational mindset. Every move, every word and deed would be that of a Celestial Being, a supreme sage."

"And I'm not that?" Cang Songzi sneered coldly.

Chen Yindu's face showed disappointment as he shook his head. "Far from it."

Yan Shichong grinned viciously. "Old bastard, if you can't give us a reason, we'll eat you today!"

Chen Yindu laughed scornfully. "Eat me? Back then, I could beat you into trash and seal you under a stone. Today, I can still beat you into trash and find even more stones to suppress you."

The three men's eye muscles twitched wildly, their murderous intent fully exposed, as if they might lose control and strike to kill at any moment.

Chen Yindu grew even more disappointed. He stood up and walked to Tu Ying, facing the most ferocious evil spirit in the world. "What I wanted was a perfect version of me—a pure me, a rational me. But you? You're dominated by my bestial nature. You still possess the most primitive animalistic instincts! You're enslaved by the most primal desire to eat! Your behavior is like a wild beast, like livestock!"

He said coldly, "This is the creation I poured all my life's wisdom into. Is this the perfect Chen Yindu? Wrong! The perfect version of me is absolutely not a beast enslaved by the desire for food!"

Tu Ying's expression was complicated. "So when you learned I was eating people, your first move was to bring Tianji to destroy me?"

Chen Yindu stared at him coldly, his voice ice. "To me, you were a stain."

Tu Ying was deeply hurt, lowering his head, unable to speak.

Cang Songzi and Yan Shichong wiped tears on the side.

"But later, when you resurrected, it brought me extraordinary joy."

The coldness on Chen Yindu's face completely vanished, replaced by a smile. "Your resurrection from death showed me the power of my vitality and the strength of my wisdom. So at that time, I forgave you and took you by my side again. I just didn't expect you to revert to your old ways and secretly eat people again, so I had to kill you once more."

Tu Ying looked up. "If I didn't eat people, would you not kill me?"

Chen Yindu said, "The more perfectly you behaved, the more I loved you. Why would I kill you? However, when I killed you the second time, what slightly comforted me was that you no longer ate mortals but had started eating cultivators. This showed that your animalistic nature was gradually diminishing."

Cang Songzi and Yan Shichong showed looks of anticipation.

Chen Yindu continued, "After your second resurrection, I still kept you by my side and still made you my assistant. I thought that with two resurrections, you could be free from animalistic influence, but you still ate people."

His disappointment was boundless as he shook his head. "Although this time you ate only experts, it's still animalistic nature. You've disappointed me too much. This version of you is far from the ideal me. You're not even as good as me! I can be troubled by love and desire, falling for different women. I can be troubled by familial affection, going home once or twice a year. But I would never, like a wild beast, devote my mind to eating people!"

He delivered his final verdict: "Little Five, you are a defective product I created."

Tu Ying and the other two lowered their heads, deeply sorrowful.

Chen Yindu paused, then added, "But I still need you."

Tu Ying and the other two were shaken to their core, slowly lifting their heads.

Chen Yindu said, "Remove the animalistic nature, and you are still the perfect version of me. Perhaps you were corroded by Demonic Energy, perhaps influenced by the True God's gaze. But your wisdom, reaction speed, and rational thinking can still fill my shortcomings. You don't age, you don't die—you can compensate for the deficiencies brought by my aging physical body. Your abundant energy and meticulous observation can reduce many of my errors. I still need you."

He patted Tu Ying on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Chen Yindu is not perfect, and neither is Creation Little Five. But if you and I join forces, we become as perfect as a True God! Little Five, I need you, and you need me."

Tu Ying hesitated, struggling internally. "You wanted to destroy me and create a perfect Creation Little Five..."

Chen Yindu smiled slightly. "That's not necessary."

Tu Ying and the others were stunned.

"A perfect Chen Yindu doesn't need Creation Little Five, and doesn't need Chen Yindu. If I created such a Chen Yindu, neither you nor I would have any use."

Chen Yindu walked outward. "But now, you and I joining forces can shatter everything! Little Five, come with me to find Sha Qiutong, Du Yiran, and the others. Let's leave the Divine Capital!"

His aura connected with that of Creation Little Five, their Realms of Emptiness merging as one.

The two had perfect understanding, their thoughts interlinked, restoring the state of their past collaboration.

Creation Little Five shared his emotionless thinking ability, allowing Chen Yindu to tap into his wisdom at any moment, to contemplate and break through any deadlock!

Chen Yindu wore a relaxed smile, saying leisurely, "Before, I couldn't leave the Divine Capital. But now, with your help, who can stop the perfect Chen Yindu?"

Du Yiran wore a smile, looking at Zen Master Daoxing.

Zen Master Daoxing was currently inside his stone house, touring the building with great interest, praising, "One flower contains ten thousand worlds; one leaf holds true Zen. A mustard seed can birth the sun and moon; the mind can illuminate the great universe. This is the Bodhi Myriad Manifestations mentioned in our Great Bao Guo Temple's scriptures. Fellow Daoist Du, this stone house of yours appears to be a stone house, but in truth, it is a sage's Dao Heart. If your heart yearns for the warm sun, opening the door brings you to the South Sea. If your heart longs for the cold winter, stepping outside leads to an ice field. Your Dao techniques conceal Buddhist principles. You have an affinity with our Buddha."

Du Yiran raised his hand, inviting Zen Master Daoxing to sit, and poured him tea, smiling, "Great Monk, as the abbot of Great Bao Guo Temple, you see an affinity with Buddhism in everyone. This stone house of mine is merely a spatial illusion, hardly comparable to Buddhism's Bodhi Myriad Manifestations. Master, have some tea."

Zen Master Daoxing was the forty-third-generation abbot of Great Bao Guo Temple. By all rights, he should have died of old age long ago. Yet he was still alive and well, his face ruddy and full of vitality. Behind him, Buddha Light swirled, forming a halo, and within that halo was the Buddhist Pure Land, the sacred land of the Buddhas.

After the Sky Change, Du Yiran, Sha Qiutong, and the others, in their panic, went to find Chen Yindu, only to see Chen Yindu captured by the Ghost Hand's Master.

They planned to rescue him, infiltrating the Divine Capital, but were immediately captured and imprisoned in different places. Although they could move around normally, each was under surveillance.

Zen Master Daoxing was the one assigned to watch over Du Yiran. His Buddhist Dharma cultivation was unfathomably profound, especially his Pure Land, which he had refined to the point of seeming almost real. It suppressed all changes within the stone house, making it impossible for Du Yiran to escape.

Zen Master Daoxing's cultivation far surpassed Du Yiran's. With over a thousand years of practice, his magical power was dense, deep, and inexhaustible.

"Zen Master, you study Buddhism, yet you are stained with demonic nature, transformed into a Cataclysm. Emerging into the world, you would destroy humanity. Does this not violate the Buddhist Dharma you have studied?" Du Yiran asked.

Zen Master Daoxing laughed heartily. "As a monk, I have the Four Elements Empty. What does destroying the world have to do with me?"

Du Yiran was stunned.

Zen Master Daoxing smiled. "Fellow Daoist Du, you haven't yet reached my level. When you do, you'll discover that shielding yourself from Demonic Energy while achieving Dao Unification is like going against heaven—a dead end. Taking the initiative to demonize is the way of following heaven. Only then can you escape the hundred-year lifespan and achieve eternal life."

Du Yiran said softly, "Great Monk, you want to fully demonize, but heaven and earth still have righteous energy. You want to walk the righteous path, but you still become demonized. You're stuck in this awkward position—neither becoming an immortal nor becoming a Buddha."

Zen Master Daoxing said, "Fellow Daoist Du's insight is sharp. That's why our Emperor says the heavens and earth must be completely transformed by evil for people to survive. The True King vainly tries to expel Demonic Energy and restore the righteous path. Despair Slope vainly tries to maintain the status quo, refusing to advance. Both are heretics. Only our Divine Capital, completely eradicating righteous energy and causing the entire Western Ox New Continent to become demonic, is the true righteous path."

Du Yiran frowned.

For a moment, he actually felt that Zen Master Daoxing's twisted reasoning had some logic. If the demonic transformation truly could not be resolved, then embracing it might be a feasible path.

The two sat down to drink tea and inevitably began discussing Buddhist studies. Du Yiran, as the leader of the Five Great Villains, had extremely high talent and extensive knowledge. He casually quoted various Buddhist scriptures, chatting eloquently. As they spoke, both their faces radiated Buddha Light, growing increasingly sacred.

Just then, the stone house's door creaked open.

Zen Master Daoxing and Du Yiran both turned to look, seeing Chen Yindu and Tu Ying standing outside the stone house.

Tu Ying said, "Uncle Du, let's go."

"Creation Little Five?"

Upon hearing this voice, Du Yiran's heart shook violently. He looked at them, and besides joy, there was even a hint of fear in his eyes.

This fear was not of Creation Little Five, but of Chen Yindu.

In his heart, Chen Yindu was a Celestial Being-like existence—brilliant beyond measure. There was no problem he couldn't solve, no strategy he couldn't devise. He could comprehend supreme cultivation techniques from a single Talisman, create breathtaking spells and divine abilities out of nothing, simplify the most complex, seemingly unsolvable problems with ease, and find a path to survival even from certain death!

But a Celestial Being was still a human, not a True God.

He also had joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures. He would harbor romantic thoughts toward beautiful women, feel compassion for the suffering of the world, and unleash thunderous fury against the injustices of the world. He had familial affection, friendship, and love.

But Chen Yindu, possessing Creation Little Five, was completely devoid of humanity. He was a pure True God—only rationality, no emotion.

Chen Yindu in this state made even Du Yiran feel afraid.

But he quickly concealed this fear, stood up, and said, "Daoxing, don't act rashly. Your Bodhi Myriad Manifestations cannot withstand even one move from Chen Yindu, and you cannot escape this stone house."

Zen Master Daoxing stood up, his Buddha Light radiating brightly behind his head. The Pure Land blazed with light, and the Buddhas within the world instantly began to grow flesh and blood, about to transform from illusion into reality!

Although he couldn't achieve Dao Unification, through years of bitter cultivation and studying Demonic Energy, he had managed to comprehend an impressive method of refining and wielding Demonic Energy!

Chen Yindu's eyes lit up, and he praised, "Bodhi Myriad Manifestations, transformed into an Evil Buddha Pure Land using demonic transformation techniques?"

His gaze was sharp, and in just a short moment, he saw through the secrets of Zen Master Daoxing's cultivation technique.

Chen Yindu's eyes grew brighter and brighter. In the Pure Land, each Evil Buddha, Evil Bodhisattva, Evil Arhat, and Evil Exalted was constructed by different techniques. In his eyes, these techniques emerged with perfect clarity.

The Spirit Mountain contained the Lingtai Seal, the supreme seal technique of Great Bao Guo Temple. At the same time, the bell chime of Great Lei Yin Temple allowed Zen Master Daoxing to preserve his rationality, preventing him from being dominated by his demonic nature.

"Great Monk, you are quite impressive," Chen Yindu praised.

Under his gaze, Zen Master Daoxing felt a chill run through his entire body. His earlier intention to fight vanished without a trace. He bowed and said, "Fellow Daoist Du, please go ahead."

Du Yiran said, "After we leave, Great Monk, you should leave as well."

Zen Master Daoxing pressed his palms together and bowed his head. "How could I dare disobey?"

Du Yiran walked out of the stone house, turned around to close the door, and came to Chen Yindu's side.

Tu Ying smiled. "Uncle Du may not be from the Buddhist Sect, but he has a compassionate heart."

Du Yiran smiled. "Little Five, don't tease. Let's go find Sha Qiutong and Blue Goat."

They departed.

Zen Master Daoxing pushed open the stone house door. The world outside had completely changed. It was no longer the Divine Capital, but the lively Immortal Capital, filled with Three Corpses Gods and little ghosts taking their masters on pleasure trips, having a grand time.

"Too terrifying."

Recalling Chen Yindu's gaze, Zen Master Daoxing couldn't help but shiver.

Under that gaze, he felt everything about him had been seen through. If he made even the slightest move, he would become a corpse in the next instant!

"The perfect state of the Five Lakes Wanderer puts too much pressure on a person. It can practically rival the Grand Sacrificial Officer!"

He looked toward the Divine Capital, silently thinking, "I wonder if the Grand Sacrificial Officer will notice his movements? Earlier, the Grand Sacrificial Officer could easily capture him. Now, I wonder how many moves he can withstand from the Grand Sacrificial Officer?"

Chen Yindu, Du Yiran, and the others soon found Sha Qiutong. When Granny Sha saw them, her face lit up with joy, but when she saw Tu Ying and the other two, her heart jumped. She silently stood up.

"Old Chen, you've finally used Creation Little Five again."

She steadied herself and followed the group.

Chen Yindu had created Little Five to make a perfect tool for himself. When he used this tool, he was the most powerful and wisest Chen Yindu, unperturbed by external influences.

But he was also the most dangerous Chen Yindu!

Granny Sha even suspected that Creation Little Five's rampage back then had been polluted by Chen Yindu in his state of absolute rationality!

Chen Yindu back then was as rational as an evil spirit!

Blue Goat was currently grazing on the grassy graves of the Divine Capital, chatting with a few demons buried there. When he saw Chen Yindu, Du Yiran, and Sha Qiutong approaching, his heart jumped. He quickly swallowed a few mouthfuls of grass and said, "If you don't want to die, don't get up to see me off!"

He hurriedly caught up with Chen Yindu.

A moment later, the Celestial Fox Hu Xiaoliang also joined the group.

Blue Goat laughed. "The Five Freeholders are finally reunited! Shouldn't the world be trembling?"

The Celestial Fox looked around anxiously and complained, "There are strong experts everywhere in the Divine Capital. Don't be so loud."

"With Old Chen around, what's there to fear?"

Blue Goat said, "Old Chen, are we escaping or fighting our way out?"

Chen Yindu looked straight ahead and said leisurely, "That depends on whether the other side treats us with courtesy."

Everyone looked forward. They saw a group of demon gods blocking their path, big and small, each one immensely powerful.

They were mature demons.

Additionally, there were humans who appeared normal, scattered about—some monks, some Daoists, some Confucian scholars.

They were freeholders.

And there were others with strange appearances, seemingly divine yet carrying demonic nature. They were the survivors of Great Shang.

They were even more powerful and dangerous than the demon gods.

Chen Yindu stepped forward, his aged voice echoing through the Divine Capital: "If you want to fight, I'll use the Cang Cuo Seven Killing Demon Sound to disrupt the Dao Hearts of all demons, Calamities, and Catastrophes in the Divine Capital. You'll be instantly controlled by demonic nature, killing each other. How will the Grand Sacrificial Officer counter that?"

Silence spread around them.

After a moment, a deep voice came: "Let them go."