Above the Great Dao

Chen Shi spent more than half a month copying down the entire cultivation technique system outside the True King's Tomb and placed it in the Little Heavenly Realms. When Li Tianqing returned, he had Li Tianqing examine these techniques and guided him in clarifying anything unclear from the Talisman Masters of Red Mountain Hall.

Li Tianqing had a meticulous mind, adept at thinking and observing, with a remarkable comprehension ability. Chen Shi had long recognized his knack for identifying others' weaknesses and exploiting them.

The more cultivation techniques and spells he was familiar with, the stronger his ability to unravel them became. Studying these techniques from the True King's Tomb greatly enhanced his capabilities.

On this day, the Immortal City was brimming with joy. Many Yin Messengers, Yin Commanders, and Judges came from all directions. The Yamas from the Yama Hall, such as Xuan Ming, Pu Ming, Zhou Jue, Tai He, and Mingchen, also arrived at the Immortal City to congratulate Assistant Governor Wei Ling on assuming the position of Yama of the Fifth Hall, becoming the new Yama Emperor.

Yang Bi knew that Young Master Wei Yue was a fool and was afraid he would make a mistake, so he personally managed the event. He set traps early on, prepared to ensnare any conspirators of the Azure Sky Elder if there were any!

It was not until Wei Ling ascended as the new King Yan that he was somewhat relieved.

Some Ghost Gods in the Immortal City were not convinced and spread the message: "A King Yan must have the Book of Life and Death to truly control the life and death of the world. Wei Ling doesn't have the Book and cannot control Hell; what sort of King Yan is he?"

Yang Bi asked Young Master Wei Yue, "In dealing with such matters, how would you proceed?"

Wei Yue replied, "Find the person spreading the message and kill them to eliminate future troubles."

Yang Bi laughed, "Killing them could indeed end future troubles, but ghostly rumors are terrifying. If you kill one Ghost God, the discussions among the others will only intensify."

Wei Yue said, "Then I will kill them all!"

Yang Bi patiently said, "Why not find the Ghost God spreading the message and promote them to a Yin Messenger? There are many Ghost Gods in the underworld; most have no livelihood and can only scrape by in the Immortal City. They can't go to the Mortal World. If you provide them with a living, they would never destroy their own rice bowl and will surely defend you strenuously. The more they hate you now, the more they will protect you in the future."

Wei Yue's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "I will promote him to a Yin Messenger and then send him to a dangerous place to work, taking the opportunity to end his life without arousing the other Ghost Gods' tongues!"

Yang Bi's eye twitched slightly, tempted to kill him and replace him with another Young Master, but he restrained himself, thinking, "This useless fool doesn't need to do much, just needs to sit in this position."

With the event of the Yama's enthronement concluded, Yang Bi breathed a small sigh of relief and called upon the members of the Yang family, asking, "Has there been any movement from Scholar Chen recently?"

"No movements."

The Yang family member said, "Scholar Chen stays in Huangpo Village; the farthest he goes is Xinxiang County. He cultivates daily, without fail morning and evening."

Yang Bi asked further who he associated with, and the Yang family member replied, "Li Tianqing is very close to him, as well as County Magistrate Hu of Xinxiang, who often visits Huangpo Village. Scholar Chen also goes into the mountains to offer incense and is close with some spirits there."

Yang Bi was quite surprised, "I thought he wouldn't settle down, but it seems he's genuinely staying put in Huangpo Village. How is his cultivation progressing?"

"Vigorous and progressing rapidly."

The Yang family member said, "His Primordial Spirit has reached nearly a length of sixteen feet."

Yang Bi was astounded; a Primordial Spirit of sixteen feet was the key breakthrough to the Divine Descent Realm!

Chen Shi progressed from the Divinity Transformation Realm to a Primordial Spirit of sixteen feet in an incredibly short time!

"Excluding the eight years he was dead, he is only twelve or thirteen. In such a short time, is he about to break through to the Divine Descent Realm? No, no!"

Yang Bi paced back and forth, muttering to himself, "His Divine Embryo was removed; he can't receive the Outer Heaven True God's second blessing. Without the Divine Embryo granted by the Outer Heaven True God, he can't cultivate to the Divine Descent Realm or progress to the Refining Void Realm... No, I must see him and see how he's breaking through, cultivating to the Divine Descent!"

He set out once again, arriving at Huangpo Village.

On the Yellow Earth Slope, Chen Shi was sitting beneath an old willow tree, holding a book. The White-clothed Fairy leaned against him, listening as he explained the teachings from the book.

"...A gentleman keeps his tools hidden, awaiting the right time to act. This phrase means that a gentleman hides his weapon, waiting for the optimal moment to strike, aiming to eliminate the enemy with one blow."

Yang Bi, accompanied by a bird-headed, human-bodied woman in green, climbed the Yellow Earth Slope and paused upon hearing this, puzzled: "Is this what it means? Have I misunderstood?"

He steadied himself, climbed the slope, thinking, "He is a renowned scholar in Beijing; there must be profound meaning in his interpretation of The Book of Changes."

Chen Shi's voice echoed from the slope: "The extended meaning implies we must always prepare in advance; preparedness ensures safety, just like having a weapon that can defeat the opponent in one move, harboring capabilities within to seize the best opportunity in adversity and rise."

Yang Bi was slightly taken aback, eyes widening: "It makes sense! It makes sense! Worthy of a top scorer!"

He reached the top of the slope, and Chen Shi handed the book to the mute female Fairy beside him, smiling, "How did Lake Brother find the time to visit me?"

Yang Bi smiled, "I came to tell you that yesterday in the Immortal City, the enthronement ceremony for the new Yama of the Fifth Hall was held, quite successfully. During the ceremony, two Judges attempted to assassinate Yama Wei Ling, whom I captured."

Chen Shi smiled, "Congratulations."

Yang Bi looked at him, puzzled, "Aren't you indignant, wanting to beat me to death?"

Chen Shi shook his head, watching Nannan fishing with the boatman and his daughter, saying, "Do you think I saved the Azure Sky Elder to undermine the plans of your Thirteen Families?"