Above the Great Dao

"This treasure is called the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence, an Immortal Artifact that spread from the Huaxia Divine Continent to the West Bull New Continent."

Chen Shi said, "You have three days to familiarize yourself with this treasure. After three days, we will set out, and you will accompany me to kill someone."

Wu Qi looked at him deeply and said, "I am a Harmonizer in the Golden Immortal Realm. The power of the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence is unparalleled. If you ask me to partake in Sacrificial Refinement of this treasure, the person you want me to kill must be no ordinary being, perhaps even beyond my capability."

Chen Shi nodded: "You know this person. Years ago, you both perished together."

Wu Qi's chest rose and fell violently. After a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, after my death, please treat the Princess kindly and take care of my merchant people."

Chen Shi said, "Master, rest assured."

Wu Qi bid farewell to his guest: "In three days, I will be familiar with this treasure."

Chen Shi left Qingping Residence and immediately went to see Li Tianqing.

Li Tianqing is now a courtier living in Xinxiang Imperial City, with his own residence. Upon seeing the True King visiting personally, he quickly received him and laughed, "Your Majesty, it's hard to see you in court. What brings you to my humble abode today?"

"Tianqing, don't jest."

Chen Shi walked with him into the Li Mansion, admiring the garden scenery. Li Tianqing has the air of a scholar, with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums planted in the courtyard, showcasing elegance and leisure.

"Tianqing, you are observant. You have also been studying the True King's Treasure Vault and researching the Great Shang Daoist Technique. Your knowledge is vast. How long will it take you to devise a strategy to kill a Heavenly Immortal?" Chen Shi inquired.

Li Tianqing was startled, pondered for a moment, and said, "If it is a Heavenly Immortal from the West Bull New Continent, by observing his mannerisms and habits, as well as his magic skills, to know his flaws, it would take about seven days."

Chen Shi pressed further, "What if this person were in a confrontation with a great expert, forcing all his methods to be revealed? How many days would it take?"

Li Tianqing replied, "Four days?"

Chen Shi was puzzled and asked, "Why still four days?"

Li Tianqing said, "Observing his flaws can be done by carefully examining them in battle, but knowing his habits requires three days. Knowing only his flaws without knowing his habits might render the strategy flawless."

Chen Shi pondered carefully, indeed finding some truth in it, and then asked, "Then what about a strategy to kill a True Immortal? How many days are needed?"

Li Tianqing said, "Four days."

Chen Shi frowned, "Why still four days?"

Li Tianqing said, "Knowing his habits and also his flaws, formulating a plan only takes four days."

Chen Shi went further, "If the target is a Golden Immortal, whose Cultivation Realm is nearly that of a Taiyi Golden Immortal and can single-handedly destroy the Da Shang Heavenly Court and kill countless Great Shang Divine, how many days to devise a strategy to kill such a person?"

"Four days."

Li Tianqing said, "I know who Your Majesty wants to kill. Devise a strategy to kill the Heavenly Venerate also takes only four days. But while a strategy can be devised, execution will be difficult."

Chen Shi patted his shoulder, smiled, "Prepare yourself, in three days, I'll take you to meet the Heavenly Venerate."

Li Tianqing respectfully sent him away.

Chen Shi went to Qianyang Mountain to see Chen Yindou, but Chen Yindou was not at the mountain; he was outside driving a cart, engaged in the business of selling talismans.

Chen Shi found him at a marketplace a hundred miles outside Qianyang Mountain, standing by the wooden cart, helping to shout for selling talismans.

Chen Yindou glanced at him and said, "You are a True King; why aren't you doing your duties and instead come to my little stall?"

Chen Shi laughed, "The Supreme Emperor doesn't enjoy blessings in the palace, coming to the market to sell talismans is not doing duty either?"

Chen Yindou shook his head, "I am a Talisman Master; this is my proper duty."

Chen Shi pondered a moment, then said, "I would like to invite Grandfather to accompany me to Despair Slope."

"No!" Chen Yindou refused outright.

Chen Shi said, "Gong Wanqing, the Fairy in Despair Slope, is using the Qiankun Rebuilding Furnace to create Heavenly Soldiers for the Heavenly Venerate. Once the Heavenly Venerate controls the Heavenly Soldiers, it will be equivalent to controlling a group of fearless Immortals! We must stop this batch of Heavenly Soldiers at all costs!"

Chen Yindou slightly frowned.

Chen Shi said, "Additionally, there will be a life-and-death battle between Wu Qi and the Heavenly Venerate. I also need Grandfather to come in person to observe where the Heavenly Venerate's Dao Realm is hidden."

Chen Yindou was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright! Then I shall go to Despair Slope again."

Chen Shi left and went to the bustling streets of the Imperial Capital, found Creation Little Five playing cuju with some children in an alley.

Creation Little Five abandoned the children and ran over, laughing, "Little Ten, why are you here?"

Ever since cultivating on the lotus platform gifted by Lady Houtu, he became more like a human. Nevertheless, Chen Shi always felt he resembled a person, yet danger lurked in his eyes. Creation Little Five disguised well, never revealing his disguise in front of him and his grandfather.

Chen Shi laughed, "Fifth Uncle, in three days, we'll go to Despair Slope. There will be a battle between the Heavenly Venerate and Wu Qi. I need you to help observe and deduce whether there are any flaws in the Heavenly Venerate's Daoist Skill."

Creation Little Five gladly agreed.

Chen Shi left.

Once Chen Shi walked away, Creation Little Five sighed softly and murmured, "Little Ten is still cautious of me. How does he know I have always been eyeing Wu Qi on the gourd vine?"

He was itching with anticipation, "I really want to taste... I've never eaten a master of such caliber..."

Chen Shi arrived in Tianyu County, where it was raining, he walked under an umbrella to the Yang family, knocked on the door, and Yang Bi was slightly stunned to see him, promptly inviting him in.

Chen Shi closed the umbrella and entered the main room with him.

Yang Bi instructed his wife to prepare tea, and Chen Shi laughed, "Sister-in-law, no need to fuss, I'll leave after saying a few words."

His gaze landed on Yang Bi's face, "Zhong Wuwang has prepared and allowed me to enter Despair Slope. This time, Wu Qi will use the power of the Flask of Yin and Yang Essence to infiltrate Despair Slope and attack the Heavenly Venerate. I need someone with great wisdom to help me find the Heavenly Venerate's weaknesses and flaws."

Yang Bi slightly frowned, "Finding flaws in an existence close to the Taiyi Golden Immortal is extremely difficult."

"I know. This time, the Heavenly Venerate will use all his strength, which is the best opportunity to find his flaws."

Chen Shi sincerely said, "My intelligence alone is not enough to find his flaws, so I need you."

Yang Bi laughed, "I will definitely go. The purpose of the Upper Realm was to eradicate Despair Slope. Though the Upper Realm is destroyed, I very much want to try if I can eliminate Despair Slope."

Chen Shi smiled, "With you, I am much more at ease."

He got up to leave when he suddenly stopped, turned back, and laughed, "Yang Bi, don't you really want a Death Exemption Token? You don't want merit, nor a Death Exemption Token, I dare not use you."

Yang Bi laughed, "I am just Your Majesty's Daoist friend, not a courtier. Whenever Your Majesty summons me with a decree, I will come. After being used, I will return to Tianyu County, isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Chen Shi laughed heartily, walked out and said, "Neither ruler nor minister; being a Daoist friend is fine."

Yang Bi breathed a sigh of relief, telling his wife who brought the tea, "Your Majesty has the majesty of the True King, often making me feel pressured."

Xiaofang smiled, "He is the True King, sitting in the court, if not dignified, how can he command respect? Whoever sits on that seat long enough will turn this way."

After leaving the Yang family, Chen Shi did not return directly to the Imperial Capital but went to the underworld, into the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

He rushed and hurried along the way, arriving at a foggy valley when suddenly a dream-like city appeared in the mist. The citizens were adult demons, dressed smartly, and there were Heavenly Disasters comparable to demi-immortals, and Annoyances comparable to immortals, also living in this city.

This was a Demon City, one that Despair Slope had long sought without success.

But in the mouths of the demons, this place was the Divine Capital, the supreme sanctuary, their haven.

Chen Shi walked into this peculiar city, where the bustling crowd suddenly paused, and all the demons turned to look at him simultaneously.

Chen Shi smiled slightly, and said, "I am here to find the Chief Priest..."

"Your Majesty!"

A cheer came from the demon crowd, "Your Majesty has returned!"

Before long, the Chief Priest sat across from Chen Shi, with the demons outside celebrating the return of the Demon Emperor with songs and dances.

"Why has Your Majesty returned?"

The Chief Priest looked at Chen Shi cautiously, "You shouldn't have returned."

"Rest assured, I won't seize your power."

Chen Shi smiled, "I came to see my disciple."

The Chief Priest hesitated, calling Chu Feng, "Chu Feng is not your disciple, his Cultivation Technique was taught by me, he's my successor. To be honest, he is now the greatest Great Witch of our Da Shang."

Chen Shi laughed, "A tiger doesn't harm its cubs, Chief Priest, you can rest easy, I mean no harm. Since he cultivated with my Cultivation Technique, I intend to grant him a wisp of Taiqing Purple Qi, helping him to break through, corrupt the True God."