Chapter 477: Three Talents
Beimeng Province, Tianyu County.
After Yan Shaoxuan left, Yang Bi devoted himself to his wife and child, and the family lived in harmony and happiness.
He was the Red Mountain Hall Instructor of Beimeng Province, responsible for teaching Dao techniques to all talisman masters in the province, with a status second only to the Hall Master of Beimeng Province. He could browse all kinds of classics in the Minor Heaven, and therefore admired Chen Shi's magnanimity and boldness.
Any one or two of these classics could serve as the foundation for a great clan. Among them were even The Ten Books of Cultivation, which were considered the ultimate supreme arts even by the Thirteen Great Clans, yet Chen Shi casually placed them in the Minor Heaven for anyone to read.
Moreover, the Library Pavilion also contained immortal techniques, said to have been retrieved by Chen Shi from the True King's Tomb.
The Red Mountain Hall had forbidden others from reading the immortal techniques.
It wasn't that Chen Shi was stingy, but rather that those whose skills weren't up to par would find it extremely dangerous to read immortal techniques, often exhausting their mental energy to the point of death.
The Hall Master of Beimeng Province was Tian Yue'e. Although Tian Yue'e had profound cultivation, having already reached the Body Unification realm and was currently charging toward Spirit Refining, she considered herself far inferior to Yang Bi in terms of cultivation base, strength, natural talent, insight, intelligence, and ability. Therefore, she repeatedly intended to yield the position of Hall Master to him.
But Yang Bi firmly declined.
In the Minor Heaven, the person in charge of the Library Pavilion was a scholar named Li Tianqing, a man of exceptional skill. Seeing Yang Bi come to read the immortal scriptures and manage to read over ten pages without fainting, he admired him greatly and said, "The Supreme Golden Court Wondrous Scripture, how many pages have you read?"
Yang Bi said, "Fifteen pages."
Li Tianqing showed a surprised expression and praised, "You read fifteen pages without exhausting your mental energy, which is even more impressive than me. When I reached the fifteenth page, I slept for two days."
Yang Bi had once heard of Li Tianqing's name. When Chen Shi went to the Upper Realm, he had borrowed Li Tianqing's name to duel with the future Sect Leaders of the Thirteen Great Clans, defeating them one by one. Yang Bi couldn't help but take a few more glances at Li Tianqing, thinking to himself, "This man is quite refined. Is he really as Chen Shi said, with unwavering strategy?"
He felt a competitive urge stirring within him. The two discussed immortal techniques, and Yang Bi was moved. Li Tianqing was indeed remarkably insightful, often offering thought-provoking words. Although his insight was slightly inferior to Yang Bi's, Li Tianqing was extremely steady and meticulous in observation, possessing qualities that Yang Bi lacked.
Seeing that Yang Bi had a quick mind and extraordinary intelligence, Li Tianqing earnestly invited him to join the Celestial Court's Ministry of Rites. He said, "In our Celestial Court's Ministry of Rites, there are only me, Granny Sha, and Yu Lingzi, and under us are the Instructors of Red Mountain Hall in each province. We have nothing to do on a daily basis except study Dao techniques. It's the most peaceful environment, suitable for you and me."
Yang Bi's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself, "Chen Shi is also an Instructor of Red Mountain Hall. If I join the Ministry of Rites, he'll be working under me."
He immediately agreed.
Li Tianqing was overjoyed and said, "This matter still needs to be reported to the True King. Once the True King approves, you can enter the Ministry of Rites."
Yang Bi had a sinking feeling and asked, "Who is the True King?"
"The True King is Chen Shi."
Yang Bi grunted and felt a strong urge to defect from the Celestial Court. But just from hearing the name of this organization, he knew that the consequences of betraying the Celestial Court would likely be extremely dire.
He hesitated for a moment before deciding to stay for now.
Yang Bi said, "Brother Li, I'd like to ask you something. Recently, has Instructor Chen Chen Shi been feeling down and dispirited?"
Li Tianqing thought for a moment and said, "It doesn't seem so. When I went to see him in Huangpo Village yesterday, he was in high spirits. He told me he had patched up fourteen loopholes in his cultivation techniques and had become even stronger."
Yang Bi was somewhat disappointed, thinking to himself, "He patched them up that quickly?"
"There's one more thing I'd like to trouble Brother Li with. Could you help me find out whether Yan Shaoxuan is alive or dead?" Yang Bi asked.
Li Tianqing nodded. Yang Bi took his leave, exited the Minor Heaven, and returned to the county town.
As soon as he entered his home, he heard Xiao Fang's voice saying, "The head of the household is back. There's a guest at home who says he's your friend."
Yang Bi's heart stirred. He was a solitary person with few friends. Although the future Sect Leaders of the Thirteen Great Clans had studied together with him at the Upper Realm, none of them had managed to become his friend.
He always felt these people were too stupid and that talking to them was too much trouble.
"Fang'er, take the child out to play for a while. I need to discuss some confidential matters with my friend."
Yang Bi's eyes flickered. As Xiao Fang carried the child out, he slipped a Celestial Court token into her hand.
Xiao Fang was slightly startled but said nothing and left.
Yang Bi limped on his crippled leg into the living room. There, he saw a tall young man gazing up at the calligraphy scrolls hanging on the wall. When Yang Bi stepped into the room, the man turned his head and smiled, "Sister-in-law is truly intelligent, and Brother Yang Bi's resourcefulness is also extraordinary."
The young man was accompanied by a small child, only four or five years old, who was sitting at the tea table, holding a cup of hot tea and sipping it in small mouthfuls.
Yang Bi smiled faintly and said, "Zhong Wuwang of Despair Slope?"
"The very same."
Zhong Wuwang revealed a smile and gestured for him to sit. He said, "Brother Yang, please have a seat. Zhong has come uninvited, disturbing you and your wife. I hope you'll forgive me."
Yang Bi's eyes flickered. "Brother Zhong, you must have found my location through the Heaven's Listeners, which is how you tracked me here. The twelve moves of spells and divine abilities you taught Yan Shaoxuan were only intended to use her life to test Chen Shi's strength. You surely planned to go to Huangpo Village to observe the battle, but with so many experts there, you were discovered and had to flee. So now you've come to me, intending to kill me to vent your frustration."
Zhong Wuwang burst into hearty laughter, poured tea for him, and said, "Brother Yang, your schemes are divine and your calculations miraculous. It's a pity that your position is too humble. Otherwise, how could you have been defeated by me? If the people of the Upper Realm had obeyed your commands, I would never have escaped your pursuit, nor would I have been able to find the Upper Realm."
Yang Bi's expression darkened.
The Upper Realm was the pain of his lifetime.
"The downfall of the Upper Realm wasn't because you were inferior to me. It was because the people of the Upper Realm were all your seniors, who had been in power for a lifetime. For those in power to listen to you, you need to have peerless strength that puts you above them and establish ironclad rules for them."
Zhong Wuwang raised his tea cup in invitation and smiled, "But at that time, you were just a young man of about twenty. So, when you tried to control them, mistakes were bound to happen. Only, the fault wasn't yours."
Yang Bi downed his tea in one gulp, sighed, and said, "All power returns to the self. When an individual has no personal strength, they have to rely on external things, which opens the door to mistakes."
Zhong Wuwang's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in praise. "Well said! All power returns to the self! This is exactly where the Upper Realm failed. If the Upper Realm could have gathered the divine power of all the heavenly gods into one being, that god's strength would have been able to contend with the immortals of Despair Slope. Unfortunately, the Thirteen Great Clans schemed against each other and couldn't accomplish such a feat."
Yang Bi fell silent.
Zhong Wuwang laughed, "I thought you would have died in the Upper Realm, and I lamented for a long time over it. But when Yan Shaoxuan displayed the thirteenth and fourteenth moves, I knew you were still alive. So I came to visit with great pleasure. We've matched wits, but we've never matched martial prowess. From Yan Shaoxuan, I saw your level of attainment."
Yang Bi asked, "What do you think?"
Zhong Wuwang didn't answer but instead asked, "How many days did it take you to come up with the last two moves?"
"Six days."
Zhong Wuwang said, "That's less time than I took. I observed Chen Shi's actions, and it took me fourteen days in total."
Yang Bi said, "It's different. You needed preliminary observation to devise a way to break his techniques and divine abilities, which is extremely mentally taxing. I, on the other hand, deduced the remaining two moves based on the first twelve moves you pioneered, which was relatively easier."
Zhong Wuwang was filled with emotion. "It's been a long time since I've encountered an opponent like you. I can't help but be eager to test my skills."
Yang Bi's heart pounded twice, and he knew that Zhong Wuwang had developed killing intent.
The two of them breaking Chen Shi's techniques and divine abilities might have seemed comparable on the surface, but Zhong Wuwang had the advantages of a higher cultivation realm and an Innate Dao Embryo!
Having both of these advantages and still only achieving comparable results meant that Yang Bi's insight might even surpass Zhong Wuwang's!
That was the reason for Zhong Wuwang's killing intent.
Originally, Yang Bi had nothing to fear. But now, he had a wife and son, and his Dao Heart had developed a weakness.
Just then, Xiao Fang's voice came from outside: "Husband, another friend has come to visit?"
Yang Bi felt a flicker of panic. Why had his wife come back? Hadn't he told her to take their son into the Minor Heaven with the Celestial Court token to take refuge?
Why did she come back?
And who was this other friend?
Just as he was thinking this, a familiar voice rang out: "Yang the Cripple, you taught Yan Shaoxuan the last two moves, and she almost killed me! I've come to settle accounts with you!"
Hearing this voice, Yang Bi's restless heart settled down.
Chen Shi walked into the Yang family's small courtyard. Xiao Fang was following behind him, carrying the child, with the Celestial Court token still clutched in her hand, and tears still not dried on her face.
Yang Bi immediately understood. Xiao Fang had indeed taken the child into the Minor Heaven for refuge, and there she had encountered Chen Shi, which was why he had rushed over immediately!
Zhong Wuwang's gaze fell on Chen Shi, and he gave a light chuckle.
Chen Shi walked into the living room. Yang Bi and Zhong Wuwang were sitting opposite each other, and he carelessly sat down between them. Lifting the teapot, he poured himself a cup of tea, raised his head, and downed it in one gulp.
Zhong Wuwang, a smile on his face, watched Chen Shi drink the tea without stopping him or making a move.
"Thank you both for finding the flaws in my techniques for me."
Chen Shi set down the empty teacup and poured himself another cup. This time, he didn't gulp it down. Instead, he raised the cup and said with utmost sincerity, "If it weren't for your guidance, I would have encountered a powerful enemy and would likely have died a miserable death."
He shook his head and said, "With such a weak cultivation base, Yan Shaoxuan still managed to hit me forty-eight times. If it hadn't been her but one of you two who had made the move, I would have died long ago. I toast to the virtue and wisdom of you two great sages!"
Yang Bi, a smile on his face, picked up his teacup.
Zhong Wuwang also had a smile on his face, and they raised their cups together.
The three of them drank their tea.
Chen Shi set down his teacup and said to Xiao Fang, "Sister Fang, this tea has gone cold and is a bit weak. Could I trouble you to boil another pot?"
Xiao Fang stepped forward, picked up the teapot, and grabbed the hand of Fang Zhenxiu, who was sitting opposite Chen Shi. She laughed and said, "Don't stay here. Auntie will take you to get something delicious."
Fang Zhenxiu stood up and was about to follow her when suddenly a voice said, "Wait a moment!"
Chen Shi's gaze fell on Fang Zhenxiu, and he carefully studied him. "Little brother, what is your surname?"
Fang Zhenxiu felt a pang of nervousness but said, "My surname is Fang, and my name is Zhenxiu."
Chen Shi's eyes flickered as he stared intently at the child's expression. A smile on his face, he said, "Do you know Yan Shaoxuan? I killed her. Little brother, your heart is beating very fast..."
Fang Zhenxiu's heart was thumping wildly, but his expression remained calm as he slowly shook his head. "Big brother, you're staring at me, so my heart is beating fast. Big brother, was Yan Shaoxuan a bad person? Is that why you killed her?"
Chen Shi looked at his expression, laughed heartily, and waved his hand. "Children are just children, only understanding good and bad, right and wrong. But in this world, who is truly good or bad? Sister Fang, take him out to play."
Xiao Fang laughed and said, "The way you looked just now, I thought you were going to kill him."
Chen Shi said, "Sister, I'm not some old demon. How could I lay a hand on a child?" As he spoke, the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade in the small temple behind his head gradually quieted down.
Once they were far away, Chen Shi's gaze fell on Zhong Wuwang, and the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade in the small temple, sensing the demonic nature of its master, began to stir restlessly once again.
Chen Shi said, "I have three Dao Fields, Er Niu. Did you see them all?"
When Zhong Wuwang heard the name Er Niu, the smile on his face stiffened slightly, and he nodded gently. "I saw them. In Liuzhou, I saw you use two kinds of Dao Fields: one was the Blood Sea Hell Dao Field, and the other was the Yin-Yang Dao Field. I only taught Yan Shaoxuan the method to break the Yin-Yang Dao Field."
Yang Bi raised an eyebrow, a surprised expression on his face.
Since Zhong Wuwang was saying this, then during those fourteen days, he must have also found a way to break Chen Shi's Blood Sea Hell Dao Field!
This meant that Zhong Wuwang's wisdom was above his own!
If it had been him doing the observing, he might not have been able to find a way to break Chen Shi's two Dao Fields in just fourteen days!
"Maybe it would have taken me four or five more days," he thought to himself.
Behind Chen Shi, the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade flew out and landed on the tea table with a clang.
Zhong Wuwang and Yang Bi's gazes were instantly drawn to this immortal-grade heavy treasure, unable to look away.
They had both witnessed the power of the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade. Even immortals were no match for this blade.
If they could snatch this blade, they could immediately cut down the opponent sitting across from them!
But neither of them made a move.
They had heard of the evil reputation of the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, how it killed its masters. Even with the Blood Lake Sutra, if one's Dao Heart was not strong enough, they would be controlled by the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, wantonly killing the innocent, only to end up taking their own life in the end!
"I want to see these moves."
Chen Shi's hand gripped the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. With utmost sincerity, he said, "Please, Er Niu, lend me a hand."
Zhong Wuwang laughed and said, "Chen Shi, I am not afraid of you. The reason I'm talking to you so politely is that there are some things I want to discuss with you. I've discovered something in Despair Slope, and perhaps you and I can cooperate..."
"Let's fight first!"
Chen Shi turned his wrist, spun the blade, and with a screech, the blade severed the roof of the living room, sending it flying along with several adjoining rooms!
"This month's salary!" Yang Bi's eyes twitched, and he gritted his teeth.
His monthly salary for lecturing the talisman masters was fifty taels of silver, and Chen Shi had just sent it flying with that single slash!
Zhong Wuwang had already soared into the air, dodging the blade strike. Standing in midair, he said displeasedly, "Chen Shi, I have been magnanimous enough not to hold it against you that you chased after me twice while I was severely injured and tried to kill me. Don't push me to be rough!"
Chen Shi didn't say a word. He flipped up into the air and, while still somersaulting, turned his body and swung the blade down. The blade light, like a rainbow, reached Zhong Wuwang in an instant.
Zhong Wuwang snorted and summoned an immortal sword. Flicking his wrist, clusters of sword light burst forth to meet the rainbow of saber energy.
The two collided, and the rainbow was split down the middle. Immediately, hundreds of Blood-Transforming Divine Blades surged out from both sides of the rift!
Zhong Wuwang moved with incredible agility in the air, dodging and weaving, while the immortal sword in his hand deflected one Blood-Transforming Divine Blade after another. He said in a low voice, "Chen Shi, don't push your luck! I want to tell you that I discovered something about the True King in Despair Slope, and also about the Celestial Venerable..."
He spun rapidly in the air, flying to one side, barely dodging a blade light that grazed his earlobe—the very same ear that Chen Shi had torn a chunk of flesh from.
Zhong Wuwang was enraged and laughed coldly. "Fine! Since you're being unreasonable, then let's fight first and talk later!"
—There wasn't enough time tonight to write the second chapter. It will be moved to Saturday and Sunday to make up for it.