On the Path to the Great Dao

The two elders of the Xia family supported each other as they left Sheep Street without looking back.

Xia Canghai snapped out of his daze and hurried to catch up with the two elders. Xia Yihang said, "We're fine. Canghai, go find Xuanming quickly."

Xia Canghai immediately flew away.

Not long after, Xia Canghai, Xia Yihang, Xia Min, and Xia Xuanming arrived at the Xia mansion's study. Xia Min sat down with difficulty and noticed on the desk the "Later Memorial on Dispatching Troops" that Xia Xuanming had copied.

*The hardest thing to settle is affairs.*

For some reason, those words seemed exceptionally glaring.

"Just who are these people?"

Xia Yihang's eyes showed fear as he muttered, "Why have we never heard of a group like this before? Their strength probably isn't inferior to our ancestors!"

"They should be demonically corrupted freeholders."

Xia Min pondered for a moment before saying, "I once heard that seven hundred years ago, a genius child appeared in the Xia family. His talent was extraordinary, but because he was born to a concubine, he was never taken seriously. That person later left the Xia family and became a freeholder. The Sect Leader of the Xia family at the time had a grudge against him, and he later returned for revenge, severely wounding the Sect Leader and settling that old score. Another hundred years passed, and when the Sect Leader died, he came to pay his respects. His appearance was exactly the same as when he had left—not a single sign of aging. Another two hundred years passed, and someone saw him in Qingzhou. He called himself a 'Loose Immortal.' Then, over the following centuries, many members of the Xia family also encountered him. My father said that this man acted radically, practiced evil arts, fell into the demonic path, and was already an evil spirit, no longer human."

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.

Xia Xuanming tested the waters: "Are you saying that those people who came looking for Chen Shi are all demonically corrupted freeholders?"

"Very likely."

Xia Min said, "Perhaps we need to enlist the underworld's forces to deal with these people. But now that the Xia family's power is nowhere near what it once was, it's best not to stir up trouble. If Chen Shi came to Beilai City to buy shoes, then let him buy shoes. Get rid of this plague god as soon as possible and don't cause any more complications."

Everyone nodded, but a stifling feeling weighed on their hearts.

The Xia family—one of the Thirteen Great Clans, a local power since the True King's Era—had they ever been blockaded in their own home, unable to even make a sound?

Feng Ruotong and the Grand Sacrificial Officer remained seated at the table, motionless.

Both were caught in a dilemma. They had clashed once before, with neither side emerging victorious. Both had been severely injured back then, and after all these years, neither was confident they could definitely defeat the other. Each held a slight advantage, but the gap was narrow. If they struck rashly, neither was certain of victory.

Meanwhile, in the teahouse beside them, the demonic energy grew heavier and heavier.

Both of them could even sense a strange Dao Field spreading out from the teahouse, gradually expanding outward.

This Dao Field was similar to the demonic domain formed by demonic transformation. A demonic domain required a hundred days to assimilate everything into the demonic path and complete the transformation. But this demonic Dao Field had already begun affecting the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth in just a short moment!

Black Pot itself was a peculiar creature, half-demon and half-ghost, and it had the keenest senses. It felt like a fish in water within this Dao Field, without the slightest discomfort.

Before, when it stayed in the mortal world, it could only act as an ordinary dog, at most influencing other people's consciousness. Only when it went to the underworld could it transform into a Huo Dog and wreak havoc. But in this demonic Dao Field, it felt it could unleash twelve times its strength—or even more!

The people of the Divine Capital also noticed something strange.

They felt the restless demonic energy within their bodies suddenly become incredibly lively, but not in the chaotic, lawless way it had before. Now, the demonic energy seemed to follow a peculiar set of rules, becoming orderly and obedient.

For the first time, they felt as if they were truly in control of the demonic path!

Before, they had always struggled to control their own demonic energy and nature, afraid of being completely taken over by it and turned into mindless killing machines. They could only stay in the underworld and rarely visit the mortal world, or else the Yang energy of the mortal world would stimulate them into an uncontrollable demonic transformation.

But now, they felt an indescribably smooth and free breath.

"This is the true demonic path," a Daoist said emotionally.

The others nodded, their excitement hard to contain as they looked toward Chen Shi in the teahouse.

A true demonic technique could solve the hidden dangers in each of their bodies—how could they not be excited?

Feng Ruotong snorted coldly. A beam of immortal light shot up from behind him, and he was about to break Chen Shi's demonic Dao Field!

He, too, sensed the influence Chen Shi's demonic Dao Field had on these calamities. Knowing that Chen Shi's creation of a demonic path technique was no small matter, he ignored the stalemate with the Grand Sacrificial Officer and moved to shatter Chen Shi's Dao Field and kill him!

But the moment the immortal light burst forth behind him, the Grand Sacrificial Officer burst into laughter. The tea table soared into the air, carrying the two of them and the dog as they flew into the sky!

The Grand Sacrificial Officer shot out a finger, stabbing into Feng Ruotong's heart!

At the same time, immortal light erupted from the two fingers of Feng Ruotong's left hand, striking the Grand Sacrificial Officer's throat!

Each had seized that fleeting moment of opportunity. Once they struck, there was no holding back. Feng Ruotong had moved first to kill Chen Shi, putting him at a disadvantage. The Grand Sacrificial Officer pierced his heart, but because he had to save Chen Shi, he had wasted that slight advantage by moving the tea table.

They struck at almost the same time and were both wounded at almost the same time!

However, because the Grand Sacrificial Officer had acted within Chen Shi's demonic Dao Field, he benefited from the Field's assistance in straightening out the demonic energy in his body, giving him an invisible advantage. The finger strike shot out with a crack, breaking one of Feng Ruotong's ribs. The finger force pierced straight through his heart, nearly tearing it apart!

The immortal light from Feng Ruotong's two fingers pierced the Grand Sacrificial Officer's throat. It should have severed his head, but it only cut a large gash in his neck.

The flesh at the Grand Sacrificial Officer's neck rapidly squirmed, stitching itself back together seamlessly. He laughed, "Fellow Daoist Feng, this doesn't look good for you!"

Feng Ruotong didn't hesitate for a moment. He fled in an instant, transforming into a streak of immortal light as he broke through the air!

Although the Grand Sacrificial Officer had only borrowed the power of Chen Shi's Dao Field, making him just a tiny bit stronger than usual, that sliver of a difference was enough to decide the outcome between the two of them.

With his injuries more severe, Feng Ruotong fled without a second thought.

The Grand Sacrificial Officer laughed heartily, transforming into a streak of green light as he chased after him. His voice rang out from afar: "Don't rush off, Fellow Daoist Feng. Let me see you off—we'll meet again in the next life!"

Having finally gained the upper hand, he was determined to take this opportunity to eliminate his fierce rival, Feng Ruotong!

The two of them departed one after the other, disappearing over the horizon.

Only the tea table and three chairs remained in the sky, along with Black Pot sitting beside the table.

The dog poured himself a cup of tea and raised it to drink, but his paws trembled so badly that it took him a long time to bring it to his lips.

"Boom!"

The sky in the distance shook violently as immortal light and demonic light erupted. The Grand Sacrificial Officer must have caught up with Feng Ruotong, and the two were clashing once again!

This battle was a life-and-death struggle between two immortals. It was bound to be spectacular.

Black Pot trembled as he brought the teacup to his lips and finally managed to take a sip.

The tea table and the dog began to fall downward. Below, in the teahouse, Chen Shi's Dao Field grew stronger and stronger, its coverage expanding further and further.

At this moment, in Beilai City, not only did the people of the Divine Capital notice the changes in their demonic transformations, but the merchants on Sheep Street, the people shopping, and even the ghosts and monsters like the Shen Beast waiting to be sold all sensed a strange power enveloping them, affecting them.

Some of the people who had been sick and tormented by Yin energy and demonic energy suddenly felt refreshed, as if their ailments had left them.

The Shen Beast's body was also twisting continuously. The writhing flesh beneath its skin gradually contracted, and its form changed as well. Soon, it transformed from a hideous, colossal monstrosity into a mountain-sized Huo Dog with a big head and a small rear, sitting dumbly on the ground, completely unaware of what had happened.

These ghosts and monsters were originally Huo Dogs that had undergone demonic transformation. Back when the Western Ox New Continent had undergone its upheaval, with the sun and moon going out one after another, demonic energy had invaded, causing the world to transform. The merchants and the strange beasts of that continent had gradually transformed in order to survive.

Now, with Chen Shi's demonic Dao Field spreading, they were bathed in the purest demonic path. Their demonic energy was straightened out, and they reverted to their original forms.

Chen Shi's Dao Field spread further and further, radiating from Sheep Street to gradually cover all of Beilai City. Even the members of the Xia family were within its influence.

At this moment, almost everyone noticed changes within themselves—mortals and cultivators alike.

In the Xia mansion's study, the Xia family's ancestor, Xia Min, stared blankly at his own hands. His lips trembled as he murmured, "Canghai, the demonic energy inside me is gradually calming down..."

Xia Yihang, meanwhile, was summoning his Primordial Spirit to examine the state of his own demonic transformation.

Every cultivator, without exception, underwent demonic transformation. It was just a matter of degree. There was no possibility of avoiding it.

From the very first realm of cultivation—Refining Essence into Qi—the seed of demonic transformation was already planted within the body, quietly taking root and sprouting.

When one reached the Divine Embryo realm, the Celestial True God bestowed a Divine Embryo to suppress the demonic energy, greatly slowing the rate of demonic transformation.

But as one's cultivation level increased and their skills deepened, at the Body Unification realm, the connection between the physical body and the outside world would trigger demonic transformation. Fortunately, before the Body Unification realm, there were the Divine Descent and Emptiness Refining realms. These two realms allowed the cultivator to return the Divine Embryo to the Celestial True God, using the True God's power to comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and once again suppress the demonic transformation.

However, when a cultivator reached the Great Ascension realm, the demonic energy accumulated in their body became something even the Divine Embryo could hardly suppress. Fortunately, by this point, cultivators only had a hundred years to live. There were no further realms after the Great Ascension realm, so they could usually live out their years and die peacefully.

But the Sect Leaders of the Xia family often used spirit medicines to extend their lifespans, allowing them to live two hundred or even three hundred years. This caused the signs of demonic transformation in their physical bodies to become increasingly obvious.

This change tormented them relentlessly, every moment of every day.

But now, that torment had stopped.

Chen Shi had shown them another possibility—one where they could absorb the demonic energy of Heaven and Earth and transform it into their own cultivation base!

This path, though the demonic path, was not one where they were controlled by the demonic path and turned into evil spirits. Instead, it was a form of cultivation.

Outside the teahouse, Daocheng was also among the people of the Divine Capital. He was the Daoist among the trio of monk, Daoist, and Confucian scholar who had shaken the two Xia elders earlier.

Now, Daocheng was also looking down at his own hands, feeling the surging, torrential demonic energy flowing through his body, the demonic path swirling joyfully. This was a different feeling from when he had first stepped into Chen Shi's Yin-Yang Variation.

The last time he had entered Chen Shi's Dao Field, he had felt his own demonic energy completely disappear, returning to being a righteous cultivator of true energy. That feeling had been so wonderful it had brought him to tears.

Now, he felt as though he had truly stepped onto the demonic path and was cultivating it. He was a true demonic cultivator. The demonic transformation was a means, not an end. This change also shook him to his core.

Before, he had no choice. Now, he had two.

He could continue walking the demonic path and test whether this road could lead to immortality. Or he could return to the orthodox path and become the Supreme Patriarch of Tai Hua Qing Palace.

"Does the Grand Sacrificial Officer really have ulterior motives?"

He wondered silently. "When the Grand Sacrificial Officer returns, will he take away the Divine Emperor? Faced with these two paths, which one will he choose?"

Just then, Song Yi, the Ru Emperor's Son, came to his side. With a heartfelt feeling, he said, "From today onward, the Divine Capital and Despair Slope no longer need to exist."

Daocheng's heart trembled slightly as he looked toward him, meeting Song Yi's gaze.

The two understood each other's thoughts.

Despair Slope existed to maintain the orthodoxy of the Celestial True God, and the Divine Capital existed to serve the demonic transformation of the world.

Chen Shi had filled in the missing demonic path techniques and comprehended the Yin-Yang Variation, turning the orthodox path and the demonic path into a matter of choice rather than a life-or-death struggle. The Divine Capital and Despair Slope no longer had any reason to exist.

"But where power is concerned, neither the Grand Sacrificial Officer nor the Celestial Venerable of Despair Slope will allow the Divine Capital to be dismantled," the monk beside them said.

This monk was the one from the trio of monk, Daoist, and Confucian scholar who had shaken the two Xia elders. His Buddhist name was Hui Kong, and he was the Seventeenth Generation Bodhi Patriarch of the Bodhi Monastery.

"As long as Divine Emperor Chen reveals these two techniques, the Divine Capital is bound to split!" Song Yi, the Ru Emperor's Son, declared decisively.

Daocheng said, "Therefore, killing Divine Emperor Chen will be the best solution."

"The people of Despair Slope will think the same," Bodhi Patriarch Hui Kong said.

The three fell silent.

Daocheng was silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "I harbor the orthodox path in my heart. I won't let that happen."

Bodhi Patriarch Hui Kong smiled. "I feel the same."

The two looked at Song Yi, the Ru Emperor's Son. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I follow the Heavenly Maiden."

The three exchanged smiles. Though the demonic path coursed through their bodies, they had chosen the orthodox path.

"I really want to see Divine Emperor Chen reveal these two techniques and watch the Dao Heart of the immortals of Despair Slope crumble."

Daocheng licked his lips and said viciously, "These old bastards have been hunting us down for far too long!"

Bodhi Patriarch Hui Kong laughed. "Fellow Daoist, you're fixating on appearances. The demonic path has infected you and stirred your demonic nature."

Daocheng laughed heartily and teased, "I'd love to see a great monk cultivate into a Demon Buddha. What would that look like? How heretical would that be? I wonder if the successive Bodhi Patriarchs of the Bodhi Monastery would come to eliminate the demon and uphold the path."

Bodhi Patriarch Hui Kong found himself quite tempted by the thought, but then quickly reasoned that this was only a thought born from the influence of the demonic path, not his true intention. So he steadied his Dao Heart.

In the teahouse, Chen Shi remained seated in the lotus position. More memories from those eight years were being unsealed one after another.

In those memories, he had cultivated and achieved his Dao Field. The Grand Sacrificial Officer stood within his Dao Field, staring blankly at his own hands.

"Grand Sacrificial Officer, I've heard that many people are looking for me, making a huge fuss in the underworld. Have you checked who these people are?" Chen Shi asked.

The Grand Sacrificial Officer withdrew his gaze and wore a gentle smile. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I've already ordered people to investigate. It's the Celestial Way Walkers of Despair Slope searching for your whereabouts, trying to wipe you out completely. But please rest assured, Your Majesty. I have placed numerous heavy restrictions on your body. Even soul-summoning and soul-chaining cannot locate you."

"That's good. That's good." Chen Shi was all smiles.

—Today is my birthday. Chapter two might come after midnight.