Chapter 536: The Setup
Chen Shi was slightly taken aback. In the battle between Despair Slope and the Demon Emperor, eight immortals had died in battle?
But wait, he WAS the Demon Emperor. How could he not know about this?
Zhong Wuwang continued, "In this battle, the Demon Emperor was executed, dying at the hands of the Celestial Venerable. The Celestial Venerable was also wounded and is currently recuperating at the True God Dao Field on Despair Slope."
Chen Shi muttered, "I was executed?"
Zhong Wuwang said, "This is precisely what baffles me. Why are you still alive?"
He let out a sigh, sounding rather regretful.
Chen Shi had no time to quibble with him over that. He asked, "The ones who died were Feng Ruotong, Wen Daoist, Lu Immortal, Shen Daoist, Immortal Ping, and others, am I right?"
Zhong Wuwang said in a deep voice, "Indeed, it was them. How do you know? Ah, of course, you killed them, then the Celestial Venerable executed you, and you used the Immortal Art of Immortality to resurrect yourself. The Yin Yang Qi Bottle, my Despair Slope's immortal artifact, surely hasn't fallen into your hands, has it?"
Chen Shi shook his head. "If I had that kind of strength, Despair Slope would have already been razed to the ground by me."
He recounted how Feng Ruotong and the others had brought the Qingyuan Daoist back to Despair Slope to search the forbidden area for the remains of the Shang ministers buried there long ago. "They must have been discovered by the Celestial Venerable, hence the desperate fight. In the end, they all died in battle. Feng Ruotong's cultivation was extremely high, and he possessed the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, yet tragically, he still perished."
He recalled his several encounters with Feng Ruotong and admired his open and honorable character. What a pity that the man was gone now. It weighed heavy on his heart.
Zhong Wuwang's face darkened as well. "I also guessed that the Celestial Venerable killed them, but I don't know why he made his move. What a pity for Feng Immortal. With the deaths of these eight immortals, Despair Slope must select eight people from the Celestial Way Walkers to undergo Dao Unification at the True God Dao Field and become Celestial Way Immortals. This means the Celestial Way Walkers will be short eight people, so eight new Celestial Way Walkers must be chosen from the disciples. This leaves eight openings among Despair Slope's disciples, which gives us an opportunity to infiltrate Despair Slope."
His eyes flickered. "Originally, Despair Slope was well-organized, with everyone having their assigned duties, making it difficult to blend in. But now everything is in chaos. Even if you entered, no one would question you. The most difficult part is the screening by the Celestial Way Divine Eye at the Welcome Immortal Building, but I've already cracked the Celestial Way Divine Eye. As long as you disguise yourselves as Despair Slope's children, I can bring you in with me. Who do you want to bring to Despair Slope?"
Chen Shi pondered for a moment. "My grandfather, Creation Little Five, Li Tianqing, Yang Bi, Little Duan Immortal, Empress of Earth, and Wu Qi."
Zhong Wuwang's heart pounded violently, his voice hoarse. "Wu Qi has been resurrected?"
Chen Shi nodded gently.
Zhong Wuwang's eyes gleamed. "He was nothing but bones, and yet he could be resurrected? The Immortal Art of Immortality is truly formidable! With him resurrected, our chances of dealing with the Celestial Venerable are much higher!"
Chen Shi hesitated for a moment. "His resurrection is a bit strange, different from what you might expect."
He didn't elaborate. After all, the matter of the gourd vine bearing Wu Qi was something no one would believe if he told them. Moreover, his relationship with Zhong Wuwang was one of cooperation, and there was no need to tell him everything.
Zhong Wuwang said, "Wu Qi can go, but Empress of Earth cannot. She's too conspicuous a target. Despair Slope's main focus is on watching her. Why do you need to bring so many people?"
Chen Shi said seriously, "Rest assured. I am the True King, and I keep my word. We're not going there to cause trouble. We will behave ourselves on Despair Slope."
Zhong Wuwang glanced at him and said flatly, "If you cause trouble, the Celestial Venerable will deal with you himself."
Chen Shi said, "Er Niu, wait for me for a while."
Zhong Wuwang said, "Gong Wanqing and the others need a hundred days to refine the heavenly soldiers. There are only about ten days left until the hundred-day mark. You need to hurry."
Chen Shi immediately went to see Wu Qi.
Wu Qi resided in Qingping Residence, a rather elegant and quiet small courtyard.
Wu Qi had never cared for noise, so Chen Shi had only assigned two maidservants to prepare his meals and attend to his daily needs.
Chen Shi didn't keep idle people. On ordinary days, Wu Qi would go to the Ministry of Rites to work, deciphering the various cultivation techniques handed down from Great Shang for Chen Shi and converting them into immortal techniques.
When Chen Shi arrived at Qingping Residence, Wu Qi was fiddling with a bronze basin. The basin was filled to the brim with charcoal fire, and on the fire sat a bronze Nine Palace Diagram with several tortoise shells placed on top.
"When matters of great importance arise, our Great Shang always burns tortoise shells to divine good or bad fortune."
Wu Qi heard the footsteps but didn't look up, speaking to himself. "Later, the Three Purities and the Zhou people learned this skill from our Great Shang. They called it the Book of Changes, and from it evolved numerology - calculating fortune and misfortune, snapping fingers to divine karma. That skill is far superior to burning tortoise shells."
The tortoise shells made crackling sounds. Wu Qi picked one up with tongs and carefully studied the cracks on it.
Chen Shi asked, "What is the Grand Guardian divining?"
Wu Qi said, "Calculating when our Great Shang can overthrow the tyrant and succeed in restoring the kingdom."
Chen Shi asked with concern, "What do the tortoise shells say?"
Wu Qi put down the tortoise shell and said impassively, "If you want an accurate answer, we'd need to prepare six Qiang people and use them as sacrifices to our Great Shang's ancestral gods. Then the ancestral gods would tell us the precise result. Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
Chen Shi said leisurely, "You owe me a debt of gratitude that you haven't yet repaid. You only need to do one thing for me, and that will count as repaying my life-saving favor."
Wu Qi's spirits lifted. "What is it? Your Majesty, please speak!"
Chen Shi pushed the Yin Yang Qi Bottle in front of him. "Take a look at this treasure. How powerful do you think it is?"
Wu Qi took the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, offered it up, and channeled the yin and yang energy. His expression suddenly changed drastically. "This treasure is truly unparalleled! In all the years our Great Shang crafted immortal artifacts, nothing could compare to this treasure."
"This treasure is called the Yin Yang Qi Bottle. It's an immortal artifact that was passed down from the Divine Continent to the Western Ox New Continent."
Chen Shi said, "I'll give you three days to familiarize yourself with this treasure. Three days from now, we set out. You'll come with me to kill someone."
Wu Qi looked at him deeply. "I am a Dao Unification cultivator at the Golden Immortal Realm. The Yin Yang Qi Bottle's power is ferocious beyond compare. The person you want me to kill with this treasure must be someone extraordinary - perhaps even beyond my ability to match."
Chen Shi nodded. "You know this person. In the past, the two of you perished together."
Wu Qi's chest heaved violently. After a long moment, he said, "Your Majesty, after I die, please treat the Empress Dowager well, and treat my Shang people well."
Chen Shi said, "The Grand Guardian need not worry."
Wu Qi saw him out. "Three days from now, I will have mastered this treasure."
Chen Shi left Qingping Residence and immediately went to see Li Tianqing.
Li Tianqing was now a court official, residing in the Imperial Capital of Xinxiang with his own mansion. When he saw the True King personally coming to visit, he hurried out to greet him, laughing. "Your Majesty, on normal court days it's hard to catch a glimpse of you. What wind blows Your Majesty to my humble home today?"
"Tianqing, stop your teasing."
Chen Shi walked side by side with him into the Li residence, admiring the scenery of the courtyard. Li Tianqing had the bearing of a scholar. The courtyard was planted with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, arranged in graceful undulations, displaying refined elegance and leisurely charm.
"Tianqing, you have the sharpest observational skills. These past days, you've thoroughly studied the True King's treasury and researched Great Shang's Dao techniques. With your vast knowledge, how long would you need to observe someone before you could formulate a strategy to kill a Celestial Immortal?" Chen Shi asked.
Li Tianqing's heart jolted. He pondered briefly, then said, "If it's a Celestial Immortal of the Western Ox New Continent, observing their words and actions would reveal their habits, and observing their spells and divine techniques would reveal their weaknesses. Perhaps seven days."
Chen Shi pressed further. "What if this person were forced into a desperate confrontation with a great master and had to reveal all their cards? How many days would you need?"
Li Tianqing said, "Four days?"
Chen Shi was puzzled. "Why still four days?"
Li Tianqing said, "Observing their weaknesses only requires careful study during battle, but learning their habits takes three days. Knowing only their weaknesses without knowing their habits could leave an unbreakable defense."
Chen Shi thought it over carefully. There was indeed some truth to it. Then he said, "So what about a strategy to kill a True Immortal? How many days would that take?"
Li Tianqing said, "Four days."
Chen Shi frowned. "Why is it still four days?"
Li Tianqing said, "Knowing their habits and their weaknesses, formulating the plan only takes four days."
Chen Shi pressed one step further. "What if the person to be killed were a Gold Immortal? Someone whose cultivation has nearly reached the Tai Yi Golden Immortal Realm, who single-handedly could cut through the Great Shang Celestial Court and slaughter countless Great Shang deities! How many days to formulate a strategy to kill such a person?"
"Four days."
Li Tianqing said, "I know who Your Majesty wants to kill. Formulating a strategy to kill the Celestial Venerable also only takes four days. But while the strategy can be formulated, execution will be difficult."
Chen Shi patted his shoulder and laughed. "Prepare yourself. Three days from now, I'll take you to meet the Celestial Venerable."
Li Tianqing shuddered, watching him leave.
Chen Shi made a trip to Qianyang Mountain to see Chen Yindu, but Chen Yindu wasn't at the mountain. Instead, he was out driving his cart, doing business selling talismans.
Chen Shi found him at a market town a hundred li outside Qianyang Mountain. Standing by the wooden cart, he helped hawk talismans for his grandfather.
Chen Yindu glanced at him. "You're the True King. Why aren't you doing proper work, and instead coming to my little stall?"
Chen Shi laughed. "And isn't the Emperor Father neglecting his comfortable retirement in the palace to sell talismans at the market? Isn't that also not doing proper work?"
Chen Yindu shook his head. "I am a talisman master at heart. This IS my proper work."
Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'd like to ask Grandpa to come with me on a trip to Despair Slope."
"No!" Chen Yindu refused flatly.
Chen Shi said, "Immortal Palace, Gong Wanqing, is at Despair Slope, powering the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace to refine heavenly soldiers for the Celestial Venerable. The furnace is about to open. If the Celestial Venerable gains control of those heavenly soldiers, it will be like controlling a legion of fearless immortals! No matter what, we must stop this batch of heavenly soldiers!"
Chen Yindu frowned slightly.
Chen Shi continued, "Furthermore, Wu Qi will fight the Celestial Venerable in a battle of life and death. I also need Grandpa to be there in person to observe where the Celestial Venerable's Dao Realm is truly hidden."
Chen Yindu was silent for a moment. "Fine! Then I'll make another trip to Despair Slope."
Chen Shi left and went to the bustling streets of the Imperial Capital. In an alley, he found Creation Little Five playing cuju with a few children.
Creation Little Five tossed aside the children and ran over, laughing. "Why is Little Ten here?"
Ever since he had begun cultivating with the lotus platform bestowed by the Empress of Earth, he had become more and more human-like. However, Chen Shi always felt that while he looked human, there was still a dangerous aura hidden in his eyes. Creation Little Five disguised it well, never letting slip any flaws in front of him or his grandfather.
Chen Shi smiled. "Fifth Uncle, in three days, we're going to Despair Slope. The Celestial Venerable will fight Wu Qi. I need Fifth Uncle to help me observe and deduce whether the Celestial Venerable's Dao techniques have any weaknesses."
Creation Little Five readily agreed.
Chen Shi left.
After he had gone far away, Creation Little Five finally let out a faint sigh and murmured quietly, "Little Ten still guards against me. How does he know that I've been thinking about Wu Qi on that gourd vine all along?"
His heart itched with longing. "I really want a taste... I've never eaten a master at that level..."
Chen Shi arrived at Tianyu County. It was raining there. He held an umbrella and made his way to the Yang residence, knocking on the door. When Yang Bi saw it was him, he was slightly startled and hurriedly invited him in.
Chen Shi closed his umbrella and entered the main hall with him.
Yang Bi had his wife brew tea, but Chen Shi smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, no need to fuss. I'll say a few words and be on my way."
His gaze fell on Yang Bi's face. "Zhong Wuwang has everything prepared and has allowed me to enter Despair Slope. This time, Wu Qi will wield the power of the Yin Yang Qi Bottle to infiltrate Despair Slope and make a move against the Celestial Venerable. I need someone of great wisdom to help me find the Celestial Venerable's weaknesses and flaws."
Yang Bi frowned slightly. "Finding the weakness of a being nearing the Tai Yi Golden Immortal Realm is extremely difficult."
"I know. This time, the Celestial Venerable will be forced to use his full power, which is also the best opportunity to find his weakness."
Chen Shi said earnestly, "My wisdom alone isn't enough to find his weakness. That's why I need you."
Yang Bi laughed. "I'll definitely go. The purpose of the Upper Realm was to eradicate Despair Slope. The Upper Realm is destroyed, but I very much want to try whether I can eradicate Despair Slope."
Chen Shi broke into a smile. "With you here, I can rest much easier."
He rose to leave, then suddenly stopped and turned back with a grin. "Yang Bi, are you sure you don't want the gold medal of immunity from death? You don't want merit, and you don't want the immunity medal. I dare not employ you."
Yang Bi laughed. "I am merely Your Majesty's Dao friend, not a court official. Whenever Your Majesty needs me, a single decree and I will come. After my use is done, I'll return to Tianyu County. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
Chen Shi roared with laughter and walked out. "A ruler not acting like a ruler, a minister not acting like a minister. Being Dao friends isn't so bad either."
Yang Bi let out a breath of relief and said to his wife, who was bringing up the tea, "His Majesty increasingly carries the might of the True King. I often feel the pressure."
Xiao Fang smiled. "He IS the True King. If he sat on the throne without any authority, how could he command respect? Whoever sits in that seat will become like that after a long time."
After leaving the Yang residence, Chen Shi didn't return directly to the Imperial Capital. Instead, he went to the underworld and entered the Ten Thousand Mountains.
He hurried along the way until he arrived at a misty, fog-shrouded valley. Suddenly, within the fog, a dreamlike capital city came into view. The citizens of the city were all adult demons, dressed immaculately in formal attire. There were also Cataclysms comparable to half-immortals and Catastrophes comparable to immortals, all living within this city.
It was a Demon Capital. The very Demon Capital that Despair Slope had long sought but never found.
But in the mouths of the demons, this place was called the Divine Capital, a supreme pure land, a place where they could find refuge.
Chen Shi walked into this peculiar city. The bustling crowd suddenly came to a halt, and all the demons turned in unison to look at him.
Chen Shi smiled slightly and spoke, "I've come to see the Grand Sacrificial Officer..."
"Your Majesty!"
A cheer erupted from the demon crowd. "His Majesty has returned!"
Before long, the Grand Sacrificial Officer sat facing Chen Shi. Outside, the demons were dancing and singing in celebration of the Demon Emperor's return.
"Why has Your Majesty returned?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer looked at Chen Shi warily. "You shouldn't have come back."
"Don't worry, I'm not here to seize your authority."
Chen Shi smiled. "I came to see my disciple."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer was taken aback, then called for Chu Feng. "Chu Feng is not your disciple. The technique he cultivates was taught by me. He is my successor. To be frank, he is already the number one Great Shaman of our Great Shang."
Chen Shi laughed. "Even a tiger won't eat its own cub. The Grand Sacrificial Officer need not worry. I won't harm him. After all, the technique he cultivates was originally mine. I came here to bestow upon him a wisp of Grand Supreme Purple Qi, to help him break through and pollute the True God."