Above the Great Dao

Chen Yindou led everyone through demons, disasters, and calamities. Although some Demon Gods let out restless growls, with the words of the Great Sacrificial Wine, these beings dared not act rashly.

Not long after, they left the Divine Capital.

At the moment they stepped out of the Divine Capital, they looked back only to find it had vanished from sight.

The splendid Demon City seemed to disappear the instant they walked out.

But Chen Yindou knew that the Divine Capital was hidden in the void, its source possibly concealed in a mustard seed, within a Demon Flower, or perhaps in a certain ghost monster.

The Divine Capital was also a target for Despair Slope to eradicate, so it needed to remain hidden.

"Little Ten suspects that the Ghost Hand Master might be my father or mother."

Qing Yang lamented, "Alas, I couldn't meet that person."

Chen Yindou said, "I have met the Ghost Hand Master; he should not be your parents. We are still not safe, as the Great Sacrificial Wine has yet to make a move."

At this moment, a gentle sound of a zither was heard, drawing everyone's attention. Not far away, under a tall pine tree, an Immortal Crane roamed, flying around the pine. Below, there was an aroma around, with one child offering incense and another brewing tea.

There was also an old man with gray hair, sitting on the ground, gently strumming an old zither.

His playing was slow, the sound of the zither was long and lingering.

This place was clearly the underworld filled with Demon Qi, perilous beyond measure. Even Ghost Gods were reluctant to come to such a sinister place, yet the old man, the children, the Immortal Crane, and the ancient pine gave an air of an Immortal Family, leaving people in awe.

Chen Yindou said, "Wait here for me."

Du Yiran, Sha Qiutong, and the others stopped and waited quietly.

Chen Yindou walked forward to the old man, who wore crossed collars with a right closure, upper garments, and lower skirts, a belt at the waist, and an outfit that covered the knees. The collar was embroidered with thunder patterns, and there were simple dragon patterns on the shoulders. He wore a high crown, adorned with a Phoenix Feather, and a Moon Shell decorated the side. At his waist hung a jade ornament, and he wore a pair of black upward-tipped wooden shoes.

His attire was intricate, carrying a sense of antiquity.

Chen Yindou sat down on the ground in front of the old man just as the child finished boiling water, brewing tea, and setting a White Jade Cup before the two.

As tea poured into the cup, it collided with the cup's wall, producing a pleasant ding-dong sound.

Chen Yindou looked at the tea and said, "The Great Sacrificial Wine was an official title during the Great Zhou period, but you are wearing the attire of a merchant noble, which seems mismatched."

The old man put his zither to one side and smiled, "Mr. Chen, you're mistaken. The Great Zhou defeated Shang and inherited its systems, retaining many official titles. The Sacrificial Wine during Shang was a role held by sorcerers and witches, later also referred to as Confucians, officials who presided over sacrifices to heaven, conducting major ceremonies. The last person offering the Sacrificial Wine became the Great Sacrificial Wine."

Chen Yindou said, "I have studied prehistoric remnants and have some understanding of Shang. The person offering the Sacrificial Wine should be an elder from the Royal Family. You are of the Royal Family."

The Great Sacrificial Wine smiled, "Mr. Chen is a wise person. If the True King had your wisdom back then, he would not have perished on Despair Slope. You must have encountered the Ghost Clan, right? Those Ghost Clan are also descendants of merchants. There are many Divine Offices in merchants, such as the official in charge of Fire Sacrifices called Zhu Rong, and the one in charge of Water Sacrifices called Gonggong, the Wood Official Bygone Mang, and the Metal Official Rushou, and so on. They all bear their unique Great Dao Textures, which represent the Great Dao of their respective offices."

Chen Yindou said, "I indeed researched it, but never thought deeply. Now, with your guidance, I am overjoyed."

Although he expressed great joy, his face showed no trace of happiness. Instead, the emotions were transferred to Cang Songzi, Tu Ying, and Yan Shichong behind him, who were genuinely overjoyed, leaving him impeccable and flaw-free.

"The Water Sacrifice of Gonggong, its Great Dao Texture signifies Water Element Immortal Law, and the Wood Sacrifice of Bygone Mang, its Great Dao Texture signifies Wood Element Immortal Law."

The Great Sacrificial Wine drank tea, speaking slowly, "Different Divine Authorities wield different Great Dao Textures. When exercising Divine Authority, the Great Dao Texture transforms merchants into different states. This is the origin of the term 'Divine State.' After great changes, the people of Great Shang were invaded by Evil Qi, living in the underworld for years, slowly transforming towards the Divine State, becoming inhuman."

Chen Yindou said, "Merchants used the Evil Transformation techniques to escape genocide, yet they cannot return to the Human Clan."

The Great Sacrificial Wine sighed sorrowfully, "That's why I did not assimilate with them. When they became the Ghost Clan, they were no longer merchants but an Alien Race. The true people of Great Shang are preserved in the Divine Capital. Those Ghost Clan are merely the Book Collection Pavilion retaining the Great Shang Civilization."

He paused for a moment and said, "You just mentioned using Seven Killings Demon Sound of Cangcuo to disturb everyone's Dao Heart in Divine Capital, is that true?"

Chen Yindou said, "You waver between evil and righteousness, with significant flaws. Even the Great Sacrificial Wine hasn't achieved an unwavering Dao Heart. If I disturb your Dao Heart with Seven Killings Demon Sound of Cangcuo while setting an array to gather Evil Qi, within no time, immeasurable Evil Qi would engulf the Divine Capital. Except for you, everyone's Dao Heart would be swallowed by Demonic Nature, the Divine Capital destroyed in an instant."

The Great Sacrificial Wine said, "Show me."

Chen Yindou sat across from him, not moving.

Yet Tu Ying had already activated the Seven Killings Demon Sound of Cangcuo, the Great Realm unfurled behind his head, and invisible strings seemed to surround him. As his fingers plucked, the melody arose, and Demon Qi filled the surroundings, evoking the innermost Demonic Nature in people's hearts.

Tu Ying plucked the strings seven times, each Demon Sound more intense than the last, with a murderous aura so potent that it snapped the white crane's neck and broke the strings of the zither.

"The zither melody entices the crane's Heart Demon to dance; the strings quiver, beguiling the soul into delusion."

The white hairs in front of the Great Sacrificial Wine slowly drifted, trembling seven times with the Seven Killings Demon Sound, and he praised, "With the Seven Killings Demon Sound played, the Divine Capital falls as in the Upper Realm. So, Chen Divine Emperor had great revelations and foresaw our flaws long before any of you."

Chen Yindou said, "Did Little Ten say the same?"

The Great Sacrificial Wine nodded, "Upon arriving in the underworld, Chen Divine Emperor's Demonic Nature was profound. He cultivated the Demon Path in the underworld, attracting the greed of Demon Seeds trying to devour him. Discovering their flaws, he instead devoured several demons, refining Demon Seeds and greatly advancing his cultivation."

Chen Yindou said indifferently, "Though Little Ten refined Demon Seeds, thinking you old foxes would bow to him as Demon Emperor is overestimating him. What plans does the Great Sacrificial Wine have? Feel free to state them."

The Great Sacrificial Wine said, "The Divine Emperor thinks that since the Evil Transformation of heaven and earth is inevitable, one might as well comply with destiny and willingly undergo Evil Transformation. Henceforth, the Human Clan would become the Demon Clan, living in the state of demons. He has the technique to make heaven and earth completely undergo Evil Transformation."

Chen Yindou raised an eyebrow, "How could he, a mere youth of weak age, conceive of a technique to transform heaven and earth into Evil Transformation?"

The Great Ritual Wine said, "He has it."

Chen Yindou asked, "May I ask?"

The Great Ritual Wine pushed over a piece of paper.

Chen Yindou lowered his head to look, and the handwriting on the paper was indeed Chen Shi's handwriting.

Chen Shi had written a cultivation technique on the paper, a technique using Evil Qi to cultivate, the content absurd and improbable, using Evil Qi to build a Foundation Establishment and cultivate, a technique for meditation and enlightenment!

However, as Chen Yindou continued to read, he became more and more alarmed.

Because this cultivation technique was indeed possible!

According to this technique, an ordinary person could let Evil Qi enter their body, use Evil Qi as Righteous Qi, first establish an Evil Foundation, then refine Evil Skill, cultivate an Evil Golden Core, refine an Evil Nascent Soul, cultivate an Evil Primordial Spirit, and let the Primordial Spirit demonically transform to form a Daoist Field!

However, this cultivation technique came to an abrupt halt at the God Refining Realm.

"Incomplete?" Chen Yindou frowned.

The Great Ritual Wine said, "The reason it's an incomplete chapter is that King Yanluo designed a scheme to deceive and take the Empress Dowager, plotted against Chen Divine Emperor, captured the Emperor, and imprisoned him in Immortal City. Afterwards, Your Excellency took the Emperor away. Otherwise, today, you would not be seeing an incomplete chapter."

Chen Yindou said indifferently, "Relying on a single Demon Technique is not enough to pollute the entire world, to cause West Bull New Continent to transform into evil."

The Great Ritual Wine smiled and said, "The Divine Emperor said he had a kind of magic skill that could demonically transform a True God."

Upon hearing this, even though Chen Yindou had thrown all his negative emotions onto Creation Little Five, he couldn't help but shudder in horror.

Demonically transform a True God?!

Is this truly something Chen Shi could come up with?

He is more like an Evil Spirit than Creation Little Five!

The Great Ritual Wine said, "He was trying to create a Demon Technique to communicate with True God and gain divine blessings. If the True God bestowed a Divine Embryo, he would use his own Demon Technique to demonically transform the Divine Embryo. Borrowing divine descent and refining the void of the second realm, he would demonically transform the True God when the Divine Embryo returns to the True God."

Chen Yindou's gaze fell on the piece of paper, and he carefully read the Demon Technique on it again, saying, "Why didn't he teach you all this technique?"

The Great Ritual Wine laughed and said, "I just said, he was taken away by Your Excellency before he completed improving this technique..."

Chen Yindou shook his head and said, "With King Yan's strength, could he abduct my daughter-in-law right under your noses?"

The Great Ritual Wine was slightly startled.

Chen Yindou continued, "King Yan is indeed formidable, but not formidable enough to sweep through Divine Capital. If Little Ten wanted to rescue his mother's soul, he only needed to inform you, and with your leadership of the Divine Capital's experts, the rescue would be effortless. Why did he choose to go alone and walk right into the trap?"

The Great Ritual Wine frowned.

Chen Yindou said, "Such a smart man wouldn't make such a low-level mistake. Great Ritual Wine, my daughter-in-law Wu Qingyu fell into King Yan's hands. Is it possible she used this to break free and escape from you? Could Little Ten's solo rescue indicate that he never trusted you and conspired with his mother to break free from your surveillance?"

The Great Ritual Wine laughed and said, "That's just your speculation."

Chen Yindou pushed the paper back, saying indifferently, "It's not speculation. If he truly trusted you all, he wouldn't have left you with an incomplete chapter. It wouldn't be too difficult to fill in the missing realms of Divine Shrine, Divine Embryo, Divine Descent, and Refining Void in this cultivation technique."

The Great Ritual Wine raised his eyebrows.

Chen Yindou said, "Since he figured out the magic skill to demonically transform a True God, he could have completed this technique long ago, but because he didn't trust you, he seized the opportunity to escape with his mother."

The Great Ritual Wine laughed and said, "Like us, he is also a demon."

Chen Yindou shook his head and said, "Then you are mistaken. When I rescued him back then, the first thing he did was seal his own memory."

He stared at the Great Ritual Wine and said, "Do you think I sealed his memory? I knew nothing about his past; how could I seal him while rescuing him?"

The Great Ritual Wine frowned deeply.

Chen Yindou drank tea, put down the teacup, stood up, and retreated. After retreating three steps, he bowed to the Great Ritual Wine, retreated a few more steps, then turned to join Du Yiran, Sha Qiutong, and others.

"Let's go while he's wavering," he said in a low voice.

The group hurriedly left.

After a long while, Granny Sha broke the silence and asked, "Old Chen, did Little Ten really seal his memory first thing?"

Chen Yindou did not speak, separating his thoughts from Creation Little Five.

After separating from Creation Little Five, the terrifying oppressive feeling on him dissipated, making him seem more human, allowing everyone to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Qing Yang laughed and said, "Little Ten naturally sealed himself; he surely couldn't bear destroying True God, demonically transforming all beings."

Chen Yindou shook his head and said, "It was I who sealed Little Ten's memory. When I rescued him, his first words were..."

He mimicked the naive and innocent voice of the young Chen Shi, saying, "Grandpa, I have comprehended the magic skill to destroy True God. Let's destroy this world and build a new era together."