Chapter 452: Probe
"Mother, it's Grandpa and his friends looking for us."
After the Grand Sacrificial Officer left, Chen Shi said to Wu Qingyu, "The Grand Sacrificial Officer lied. He wants to keep us here until I develop the method to destroy the Celestial True God."
It was in the fourth year after his death that Wu Qingyu found him.
During those four years, he had only one thought: to survive and take revenge.
Parasitic inside the corpse of a Little Yaksha, he was filled with overwhelming resentment and deep demonic nature. He fought fiercely with ghosts, battled desperately against ghost gods, becoming more demonic than demons themselves, brimming with chilling killing intent, losing all humanity.
But Wu Qingyu's arrival awakened his humanity.
If there is still someone in this world who loves you, it must be your mother.
Wu Qingyu had abandoned her physical body, sending her soul into the underworld to search for her son. She walked for four years before finding him, awakening the humanity buried within his demonic nature.
Only when he was by his mother's side did his gaze become gentle.
Wu Qingyu asked, "If you give him the cultivation technique, will he let us leave?"
"No."
Chen Shi said decisively, "His heart belongs to the Great Shang. He doesn't want to destroy the True God; he wants to restore the Great Shang's rule."
During that time, the underworld was not peaceful. The Celestial Way Walkers of Despair Slope were hunting for them, with battles erupting from time to time.
Despair Slope had noticed the newly established Divine Capital and viewed it as a major threat.
Meanwhile, fierce battles between ghost gods broke out across the underworld. Chen Shi followed the Grand Sacrificial Officer everywhere, searching for freeholders and surviving merchants to invite them to join the Divine Capital, occasionally getting dragged into these conflicts.
The battles were incredibly intense. Many powerful gods fell in battle, and countless underworld officers died.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer sent people to investigate the news. "It's the Yan Family from the Thirteen Great Clans. They're making a move against Yama, trying to seize all authority under his command."
A freeholder who was a figure from the True King's Era said, "Yama's surname is Bao, from the Divine Continent of China. He was known as the Righteous and Incorruptible Official in life, and after death, he became Yama. He is the most powerful among the Ten Kings of Hell in terms of divine power. It won't be easy for the Yan Family to take him down."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer said, "The Yan Family has been planning against Yama for a long time. This time, they're definitely trying to seize control of the Eighteen Layers of Hell, gain the incense offerings of hell, and strengthen their own power. Becoming Yama, ruling over hell, and enslaving countless ghost gods is indeed a business with huge profits at little cost. There are wise men among the Thirteen Great Clans who want to become gods through incense offerings to resist Despair Slope. Unfortunately, the path of becoming a god through incense is a desperate choice only after death. Relying on that to gain the power to resist Despair Slope is nothing but a fool's dream."
However, the chaos in the underworld worked to their advantage.
Once, as they were passing through a battlefield of ghost gods, they were scattered by the chaotic fighting. When the Grand Sacrificial Officer found them, he discovered that Chen Shi was only a soul, and the Little Yaksha body was gone.
"I was caught off guard, and that body was killed by the ghost gods," Chen Shi said.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer had no reason to doubt him and led them as they fought their way out of the encirclement.
After they left, a Little Yaksha crawled up from the pile of corpses, leaping and bounding as if flying, traversing the bloody battlefield until he found a judge under Yama's command. He said, "I am Chen Shi of the Divine Capital. I request an audience with the Righteous and Incorruptible Official."
Inside the Little Yaksha's body was a single thought he had left behind. He had cultivated this single thought for a long time, specifically to be able to unleash seventy to eighty percent of his full strength amidst the chaos of the army and preserve this body!
Chen Shi's single-thought method, which he had painstakingly developed with his entire being, was extraordinary. It stunned that judge.
The Vice Magistrate introduced himself as Judge Wei, surnamed Wei, given name Zheng, in charge of the Office of Rewarding Goodness. He said, "Your single-thought method is unprecedented, truly admirable. What business do you have with the Righteous and Incorruptible Official?"
Chen Shi said, "To save the underworld from peril."
The Vice Magistrate immediately summoned a pair of father-daughter underworld officers under his command and ordered them to escort him to the Yama Hall.
In the Yama Hall, Chen Shi spoke at length with the Righteous and Incorruptible Official. Afterward, he dispersed the single thought, allowing the Little Yaksha to truly become a corpse.
Not long after, the Grand Sacrificial Officer, under 'coincidental' circumstances, encountered the Celestial Way Immortal Feng Ruotong, who had been searching for them.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer covered their retreat, staying behind to face Feng Ruotong alone.
Their battle ended in mutual devastation.
While the Grand Sacrificial Officer was recuperating from his injuries, Wu Qingyu suddenly disappeared. Chen Shi was frantic with worry, searching everywhere for news of his mother, and soon after, he too vanished.
They arrived at the Immortal Capital and returned to their respective Primordial Palaces.
That father-daughter pair of underworld officers was ordered to guard Chen Shi, while a Huo Dog was ordered to guard Wu Qingyu.
Then came the Yan Family's invasion of the Immortal Capital. The Righteous and Incorruptible Official was taken prisoner. Chen Yindu made his eighth incursion into the underworld and unintentionally set the Righteous and Incorruptible Official free. On Chen Yindu's ninth incursion into the underworld, he rescued Chen Shi, just as the Grand Sacrificial Officer had recovered from his injuries and led his forces to attack the Immortal Capital.
In the ensuing chaos, while Chen Yindu was rescuing Chen Shi, the Grand Sacrificial Officer grabbed Chen Shi with one hand, pulling him back into the mortal world. His grip on Chen Shi's heart left behind a Cyan Ghost Hand mark on his chest.
When he returned to the mortal world, he was ecstatic.
"Grandpa, I've figured out the method to destroy the True God! Let's destroy this world together, us grandfather and grandson, and create a new era!" His eyes shone with a bright light as he looked up at Chen Yindu.
...
Chen Shi awoke from his meditative state, his chest filled with surging hatred, demonic nature flooding his Dao Field. It took a long time for the surging demonic nature to slowly calm down.
Chen Shi opened his eyes, and the demonic Dao Field gradually contracted, concealing itself within his body.
All around was deathly silent. The people of the Divine Capital held their breath, not daring to speak, afraid of disturbing him.
Chen Shi stared blankly into space, lost in thought.
He remembered lying on the bed with his eyes closed, allowing Chen Yindu to perform the sealing technique, sealing his memories.
At that time, his heart was calm and filled with despair. He even felt that Grandpa had betrayed him, but when the accusatory words came to his lips, he only managed to say one thing.
"Grandpa, will you avenge me?"
There was no accusation, just a glimmer of hope.
Even after enduring so much torment and suffering, he still held no hatred towards his family.
After a long while, Chen Shi calmed his emotions and said, "Black Pot, grind the ink."
Upon hearing this, Black Pot quickly took out the inkstone and ink stick from the Wooden Cart, prepared paper and a paperweight, and ground the ink.
Chen Shi picked up the brush and began to write down the Profound Yin Nine Heaven Art, which he had been pondering and supplementing during this time, word by word, line by line. After a long while, he finished writing this demonic technique and waited quietly for the ink to dry.
At that moment, the Grand Sacrificial Officer descended from the sky, landing outside the teahouse. His aura was somewhat unstable.
His battle with Feng Ruotong should have left him injured as well, but it seemed the injuries were not particularly severe.
Chen Shi smiled and said, "Old Sir, you've arrived at the perfect time. I have lived up to my duty and finally completed this cultivation technique."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer was emotionally stirred. He stepped into the teahouse, picked up the sheets of paper, and quickly scanned through them once. He let out a long breath and bowed deeply to the ground. "Thank you, Top Scholar Chen! This great kindness, I will never forget."
Chen Shi smiled and said, "This technique was passed down by your ancestors. I helped you restore it, and in doing so, I also learned your ancestral secret art. I hope you won't hold it against me."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer read through the papers several times, flipping back and forth, then probed, "If one practices according to this technique, can they obtain a Divine Embryo?"
Chen Shi said, "It should be possible, but I haven't tried it myself. If Old Sir wants to know, just teach it to a child and see."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer stared at the papers, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Chen Shi called out to Black Pot and walked toward the exit of the teahouse, laughing as he said, "If it doesn't work, Old Sir can come find me at Huangpo Village on Qianyang Mountain. I'll help you repair and patch it up again. There might always be a chance of success."
The murderous intent in the Grand Sacrificial Officer's eyes dissipated. His gaze fell on Chen Shi's retreating back as he walked to the well, drew water, and cleaned the inkstone and brush.
"Top Scholar Chen, the seal on your memories has been lifted, hasn't it?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer tucked the papers into his robe and walked over, smiling. "That means you remember what happened in the underworld."
*Plop!*
Chen Shi's hand slipped, and the inkstone fell into the well.
A cold glint flashed in the Grand Sacrificial Officer's eyes as he approached Chen Shi, a smile on his face. "What is Top Scholar Chen afraid of?"
Chen Shi wiped his hands, turned around, and looked astonished. "Old Sir, how did you know my memories were sealed? Could it be that you are an old friend of my grandfather?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer met his gaze. Chen Shi's eyes were clear and sincere.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer stared for a long while, then suddenly broke into a smile. "I thought your memories might have recovered while cultivating the Profound Yin Nine Heaven Art. I had a brief acquaintance with your grandfather, and I heard him mention it. Do you need my help to undo the seal?"
"I see."
Chen Shi shook his head. "This seal was placed by my grandfather. If he sealed those memories, he must have had a reason. I'm afraid that undoing it might bring about bad things. I think I'll leave it be."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer kept his eyes fixed on Chen Shi's for a moment, then finally smiled. "Since you're unwilling to undo it, I cannot force you."
He passed by Chen Shi.
Chen Shi's body was relaxed, showing no signs of wariness as he packed up the brush and ink and placed them in the cart.
The Wooden Cart rolled along Sheep Street toward the exit. Black Pot ran ahead to lead the way. Chen Shi clasped his hands to bid farewell to everyone, then turned and followed the cart.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer escorted them. When they reached the city gate, he suddenly spoke. "Divine Emperor, you were the one who lured Feng Ruotong here, weren't you?"
Chen Shi was utterly bewildered. He turned back and asked loudly, "Old Sir, I don't quite understand. What do you mean by that? Who is the Divine Emperor? Who is Feng Ruotong?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer stared into his eyes, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. He waved his hand. "Top Scholar Chen, please return! If this cultivation technique cannot be successfully cultivated, I will come find you at Huangpo Village!"
Chen Shi waved vigorously back, then leaped into the Wooden Cart. Wind and clouds gathered beneath its wheels, and it moved faster and faster, gradually sailing into the sky.
Below, Black Pot revealed its true form, stretching its four legs and kicking up dust as it sped away.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer watched them disappear into the distance. After a long silence, his brow slowly furrowed.
A Confucian scholar of the Great Shang stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Grand Sacrificial Officer, why didn't you undo the Divine Emperor's memory seal?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer laughed. "The Divine Emperor doesn't want it. How could I go against his wishes?"
He looked in the direction Chen Shi had departed, thinking silently to himself, *Have your memories really returned or not? You performed exceptionally well, all your expressions and mannerisms were very natural. But I still feel... you woke up.*
And there was another thing that weighed on his mind.
That was the time before, when he had crossed paths with Feng Ruotong, resulting in mutual injuries that forced him into seclusion to recover.
He always suspected that Chen Shi had schemed against him.
*This kid is cunning, but at least I've finally gotten the complete demonic technique! Now I can finally send the Celestial True God on his way and completely demonize this world!*