Above the Great Dao

"The corpse of the Funiao Clan member is still warm; the murderer must not have gone far!"

Chen Shi took a step forward but suddenly paused, hesitating for a moment before urging his mana to gather some divine blood and rosy clouds, storing them in the small temple.

Behind his head, the Blood Pool rotated, doing its utmost to digest the power from the divine blood and rosy clouds!

Chen Shi harnessed Thunderlight, soaring into the air, crossing over Infinite Cliff, and standing in mid-air to observe all around.

Standing in the air, he scanned the area but couldn't find the murderer's figure. Turning his head, he also saw no phantom threats.

Above Infinite Cliff were still large and small peaks, but unlike other parts of Yin Mountain, the climate here allowed for numerous green plants, lush and covering the mountains.

On the mountain path, there were many skeleton demons like himself. Upon seeing him float in mid-air, they hurriedly called out, "Come down! Quickly, come down!"

Chen Shi descended, noticing that these few skeleton demons were still clad in clothes embroidered with fine gold and silver threads, covered in talismans specifically meant to refine yin energy, crafted with great care.

"Are you... human cultivators? Are you still alive?" Chen Shi asked in surprise.

This was the underworld's Yin Mountain. Chen Shi frequently traversed the underworld and even he rarely discovered this place. How could there be human cultivators here?

The leading skeleton demon emitted an old voice, seemingly an elder, saying, "We are currently in a state of suspended animation, here to harvest herbs. Are you not a disciple of the Medicine King Sect?"

He eyed the Blood Pool behind Chen Shi's head, quite surprised.

Earlier, they assumed seeing Chen Shi ascend into the sky meant he was a disciple from the Medicine King Sect collecting herbs. But seeing the Blood Pool behind him, it was evident that his cultivation technique wasn't an orthodox one. Furthermore, Chen Shi's voice had a youthful naivety, indicative of someone just entering puberty. He should be quite young.

"Medicine King Sect?"

Chen Shi inquired, "Are you disciples of the Medicine King, Sun Simiao?"

The elder exclaimed in surprise, "You know the name of our sect's founding master?"

Chen Shi replied, "In Qianyang Mountain, there is an ancestral temple of your founding master on the West Ox New Continent. I am quite familiar with your founding master."

The few skeleton demons became extremely excited, and the elder trembled as he said, "There is really an ancestral temple on Qianyang Mountain? Heaven has shown mercy; we have finally found our founding master! Are you deceiving us?"

"What purpose would deceiving you serve?"

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "Your founding master's Primordial Spirit was annihilated, and it was I who awakened it. He is now the Mountain God of Qianyang Mountain."

The elder hurriedly bowed, pleading, "I am Tong Qianshou, the current sect leader of the Medicine King Sect. Please, senior, guide us to meet our founding master!"

Chen Shi helped him up and said, "My name is Chen Shi, and this year I am virtually thirteen. I am not your senior. You may call me Top Scorer Chen. I have matters to attend to and must pursue some ghost gods. Have you seen any ghost gods passing nearby? They should be wearing armor."

Funiao Village contains many ghost god corpses, clad in armor, which should be standard issue. They are considered ghost gods because Chen Shi also noticed several small Yaksha corpses, some of which held incense.

The Medicine King Sect members appeared indifferent about who the top scorer was, leaving Chen Shi slightly disappointed.

Sect Leader Tong Qianshou said, "Indeed, a group of ghost gods hurried past earlier, heading in the direction of the Heavenly Pond Capital."

A Medicine King Sect skeleton spoke with a female voice, saying, "That group of ghost gods wore armor, and there were small demons burning incense on their heads. Oh yes, one of the ghost gods was carrying a pole with a birdcage, and inside was a Funiao."

Her observations were very detailed as she continued, "That Funiao should be a girl, quite skilled at dressing up. They went in that direction!"

Chen Shi said, "They are exactly who I'm looking for!"

Preparing to fly with Thunderlight, he was promptly stopped by Tong Qianshou who said, "Top Scorer Chen, you mustn't fly! This place is extremely perilous and must be traversed on foot!"

Chen Shi asked, "Why can't we fly?"

Tong Qianshou explained, "The mountains are haunted by demons. These demons are peculiar life forms born from the accumulation of evil qi between heaven and earth. They are formless yet substantial, lying in wait to harm people. If you fly over from above, the demons will pursue and attach to you, seizing your body. If you wish to pursue those ghost gods, I shall lead the way, Top Scorer Chen."

Chen Shi expressed his gratitude.

The Medicine King Sect woman said, "Sect Leader, I am familiar with the surrounding geography and will accompany you for guidance."

Tong Qianshou, having noted his own lack of detailed observation and fearing he might lose track, said, "You should come along."

The woman said, "Top Scorer Chen, my name is Sang Xixi, and I am a deacon of the Medicine King Sect."

Chen Shi nodded and said, "Let's move quickly."

Tong Qianshou promptly instructed the other skeletons, saying, "You all return first; Deacon Sang and I will guide the top scorer!"

The skeletons affirmed.

Sang Xixi sprinted at full speed, with clouds forming under her feet and gentle breezes from her sleeves, moving as if riding the wind with extreme speed. Looking back, she saw Chen Shi effortlessly keeping pace beside Tong Qianshou. She thought, "This top scorer possesses formidable strength and cultivation level."

Although Chen Shi's age was young, likely just a teenager, his speed demonstrated that his cultivation was comparable to hers.

Chen Shi asked, "Sect Leader Tong, what kind of herbs are you harvesting in the underworld?"

Tong Qianshou answered, "Yin Flower. That type of flower!"

He pointed to a hillside where many green plants stealthily extended long tendrils. At the end of those tendrils were water tank-sized flower buds, from which extended stamen with eyeballs at the tips, surveying them.

"This flower exists only in the underworld and is a kind of vine. The flower itself is a valuable medicinal herb that can prolong a person's life and refine treasure."

Tong Qianshou explained, "After harvesting, we send it back to the Medicine King Sect, where the Pill Masters can refine longevity elixirs for a good price to support our families."