On the Path to the Great Dao

"Opening the Calamity?"

Little Duan inquired, "Your Ladyship, what is opening the calamity?"

The Empress of Earth genuinely liked her and laughed, "Opening the calamity means when the calamity's fate arrives, opening up a pure land to avoid the calamity's number. Before the disaster erupts, whether one can possess a pure land is the key to crossing the tribulation. Many immortals cannot survive the calamity's number. The Earth Immortal Realm has many ancient and powerful beings who, when opening the calamity, expand their power, gathering those geniuses who lack the strength to survive the tribulation. This act of saving people is called opening the calamity to ferry people across."

Chen Shi quickly asked, "Godmother, what exactly are calamity's fate and calamity's number? From what Godmother says, it sounds like the calamity's fate and calamity's number have already arrived many times."

The Empress of Earth smiled, "These matters can't be explained in a moment, so let's set them aside for now. You don't need to worry about things like opening the calamity; you won't live long enough to see that time."

Chen Shi grunted. Those words were quite piercing.

Wu Qingyu sought guidance, "Your Ladyship, why can't we live until then?"

The Empress of Earth said with a grin, "You're barely able to defeat the Celestial Venerable, and you can't even see hope for that. Why waste your thoughts on opening the calamity? Survive first; then you'll have the right to think about it."

Everyone felt ashamed.

The Empress of Earth once again looked deeply at Chen Shi, speaking earnestly, "If you want to survive, the first thing you must do is unify the Yin and Yang realms, so that all living beings know there is an Empress of Earth. Only then can I raise my strength and have a chance to fight the Celestial Venerable."

Chen Shi quickly replied, "Godmother, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly. Godmother, I also have other discoveries."

He recounted his experience in the demonic domain, saying, "The physical body the Celestial Venerable possessed is the flesh of a Great Shang citizen. When disaster strikes, people flock together with their own kind. That Great Shang citizen's body I found was near the village, likely an expert who had gone out hunting during the calamity period. This person's bloodline power contains the shamanic ritual markings collected by the Divine Official Jin Zhengru."

The Empress of Earth's eyes lit up, "You mean, the physical body the Celestial Venerable possessed has bloodline power that is also the Ru Shou ritual markings?"

Chen Shi nodded, "The Celestial Venerable reincarnated to start over, getting twice the result with half the effort, but he can't change his bloodline, so the Ru Shou ritual markings must still follow him. His cultivation is profound, his Dao techniques deep—we're no match for him. But if we know the weakness of his physical body before the battle, then this fight isn't without any chance of victory."

The Empress of Earth praised, "Little Ten is indeed clever. Where is that Great Shang citizen's physical body now?"

Chen Shi brought out the Great Shang citizen's physical body from the small temple, activated the bloodline power hidden within it, and shamanic ritual markings immediately appeared.

Little Duan Immortal was from the Great Shang royal family, mastering the highest Dark Bird shamanic ritual markings of Great Shang. Her understanding of other shamanic ritual markings was extremely strong, so she stepped forward to examine them, saying, "They are indeed the ritual markings of the Metal Divine Office's Ru Shou. It's just that there's no supporting Metal Divine Office cultivation technique…"

"I have it." Chen Shi smiled.

Little Duan Immortal looked at him in surprise, but thinking that Chen Shi was the current "Shang King," she relaxed.

With a thought, Chen Shi used his blood and Qi as ink and brush, outlining the mysteries of the Autumn Officer's Heavenly Punishment Art's movement technique, along with the various changes and operations of the shamanic ritual markings.

Little Duan Immortal looked up, observing the movement of the shamanic ritual markings, and the Empress of Earth also watched.

The Autumn Officer's Heavenly Punishment Art was the cultivation technique of Great Shang's Metal Divine Office. It was mainly used to operate the Metal Divine Office's shamanic ritual markings. Cooperating with bloodline power, cultivation was twice as effective, and cultivation progress was rapid.

After undergoing hundreds of thousands of years of adjustments during Great Shang, this cultivation technique was already perfect without flaw.

Even the Empress of Earth, in a short time, found it hard to find a weak point.

Little Duan Immortal, however, observed it for a while and found one flaw. She said, "The first flaw of the Autumn Officer's Heavenly Punishment Art is right here, where the shamanic ritual markings run to the elbow. The blood and Qi movement conflicts slightly with the ritual markings, so when raising the hand, it's a fraction slower. This gives an opponent a chance—to seize that fraction of an opportunity and pierce through the Celestial Venerable's heart."

Chen Shi's expression was grave, "That opportunity will be very hard to seize. The speed is too fast. With the Celestial Venerable's cultivation, even being a fraction slower is unbelievably fast."

The Empress of Earth said, "This palace has a certain chance of seizing that opportunity. But having only this one flaw isn't enough. Are there any others?"

She was the most powerful existence in Chen Shi's camp, and the Celestial Venerable would never allow the Empress of Earth to exist in this world, definitely trying to expel or kill her. Therefore, the Celestial Venerable would certainly come for the Empress of Earth—this battle was unavoidable.

Little Duan Immortal continued to observe the shamanic ritual markings. After a moment, her eyes brightened, "The second flaw is in the palm. During the decisive battle, when the Celestial Venerable's blood and Qi surge, it will stimulate the metal Qi in the center of his palm. The stronger the technique he unleashes, the stronger the metal Qi becomes, and he'll unconsciously expose a flaw. At that moment, finger force can be used to pierce through his palm, crippling one of his hands."

The Empress of Earth frowned slightly. This opportunity was also extremely hard to seize.

To seize this chance, she would have to engage in close-quarters combat with the Celestial Venerable.

The Celestial Venerable's cultivation was vast and boundless; close combat with him was extremely unfavorable for the Empress of Earth.

This flaw could only be used when absolutely necessary.

Little Duan found another flaw, this one at the Jade Pillow at the back of the head, but again, it was an extremely hard opportunity to seize.

According to Zhong Wuwang's description, the Celestial Venerable's attainment in the Dao of space was very high, able to toy with Zhong Wuwang and Kou Xianren in the palm of his hand.

Little Duan found a fourth flaw, this one at the Yongquan point on the sole of the foot, again belonging to those extremely hard opportunities to seize.

As time passed, it took Little Duan longer and longer to find new flaws.

These flaws also became increasingly difficult to seize.

Finally, Little Duan found eight flaws, exhausted to the point of mental fogginess. She quickly flashed behind Chen Shi's head into the small temple, lay down on the miniature shrine, and soon fell fast asleep.

Wu Qingyu said to Chen Shi, "Go check inside your temple. Is she exhausted?"

Chen Shi replied, "She must be exhausted. Last time she helped me decode the ritual markings on the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler, she also collapsed from exhaustion."

Wu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him, whispering, "What use is it for you to know that? Go show her some concern, and she'll have you in her heart, and your relationship can go a step further."

Chen Shi had a sudden realization, and his Primordial Spirit entered the small temple.

Seeing this, Wu Qingyu thought to herself, "Each generation is worse than the last."

The Empress of Earth committed these flaws to memory, rehearsing them over and over in her mind. Then she raised her hand and took out the Western King's Jade Seal, solemnly handing it to Chen Shi, saying, "The True King still needs to unify the Yin and Yang realms as soon as possible."

Chen Shi accepted the True King's Jade Seal, bowed slightly to Her Ladyship, left the Empress of Earth Temple, and walked down the yellow earth slope, just as Chen Tang came walking up.

Chen Tang asked, "You were missing for the past few days, took Black Pot with you, and now you're back, but Black Pot isn't. Where did you dump Black Pot?"

Chen Shi was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Father, Her Ladyship wants me to unify the Yin and Yang realms."

Chen Tang, upon hearing this, said, "Now that the Yan family has been destroyed, it's been several months. The other twelve great clans have long since colluded. No matter which clan you attack, the other eleven will all come to their aid. Among the twelve great clans, there are many Great Completion Realm experts, and they control the underworld, with countless powerful ghost gods. To take them down, we'll likely suffer many casualties. Right now, Red Mountain Hall is thriving, producing many cultivators with extraordinary talent. The longer we drag this out, the more advantageous it is for us…"

Chen Shi interrupted him, "Her Ladyship calls me the True King."

Chen Tang had been planning to continue speaking, but upon hearing this, his entire body shook, and he said in a hoarse voice, "True King?"

Although he had long known this day would come, he was still somewhat terrified.

His son was really going to rebel.

If his son was going to be the True King, did that mean he would be the Emperor Father?

All sorts of chaotic thoughts rushed into his head. If Chen Shi became the True King, would he have to change his surname to Zhu? Or would they just rebel directly? Should he collect eunuchs? What about palace maids? Would he have to move to the Western Capital? Could he be said to have gained status through his son? Would people gossip about him?

When he came to his senses, he found that Chen Shi had already left.

Chen Tang quickly sorted out his thoughts from the tangled mess of ideas, immediately found Scholar Zhu, and informed him of the matter, saying, "Little Ten is planning to seize your family's empire…"

Scholar Zhu laughed heartily, "Does this world belong to the surname Zhu? I don't think so. Otherwise, why am I the only one in this world with the surname Zhu? I hung this empire on a willow branch long ago and gave it to him."

Chen Tang bowed in thanks.

After taking his leave of Scholar Zhu, he rushed non-stop to find Chen Shi's four disciples, saying, "Esteemed Daoist brothers, your master is about to be named True King. I'd trouble you all to widely invite the freeholders to gather for an assembly."

Long You the Freeholder and the others knew that if Chen Shi was to be named True King, he would inevitably face a counterattack from the great clans. So, they invited the freeholders to assemble, gathering these experts to add another force to their side.

Chen Tang then went to the minor heaven, telling Li Tianqing, Yu Tiancheng, Yang Bi, and others to move the Six Ministries' offices from the minor heaven to Xinxiang City.

He went to see Situ Wen again, mobilizing the power of the Lu Ban Sect to repair Xinxiang City, build a royal palace, construct various halls, and also establish a military camp for stationing troops within Qianyang Mountain, incorporating all the various camps.

Back when the catastrophe occurred, the Western Capital was destroyed and invaded by sea monsters, the Western Capital court collapsed and disintegrated. Chen Tang had used the name of Red Mountain Hall to win over the minor officials of the Six Ministries. Among them, the most numerous were the minor officials from the Works Department.

These minor officials were skilled in designing all kinds of buildings, magic treasures, and smelting plants, but when serving in the court, they had no status and their salaries were low. After joining Red Mountain Hall, their salaries were greatly increased, their status improved significantly, and they received various cultivation techniques and resources from Red Mountain Hall, allowing their cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, a thousand miles a day.

Their construction of Xinxiang City was extremely fast.

Chen Tang invited Yang Bi, Sun Yisheng, and others to draft the official positions of the Six Ministries. According to their talents, he assigned different officials from Red Mountain Hall and the Celestial Court to handle different affairs.

Before he could even catch his breath, he immediately rushed straight to Mounta City.

After the catastrophe, the civilian population suffered heavy casualties, and many places became desolate and uninhabited, but many people in Mounta City had survived.

Outside Mounta City, there was a town of considerable size, filled with all kinds of firearms, from fire guns to General Cannons, from iron caltrops to even larger iron caltrops. Surrounding the town were several firearm manufacturing factories, the property of the Lu Ban Sect.

The people living in the town were all cultivators, with extremely high cultivation and strict discipline.

"How is it that Lord Chen has come?"

Jin Hongying saw Chen Tang arriving, covered in dust, and was quite surprised, quickly inviting him in.

Xiao Wangsun came over, holding a fair-skinned little girl, and had the little child kowtow to Chen Tang.

"Congratulations to the two of you, a fine couple."

Chen Tang gave the little girl a meeting gift—a hairpin engraved with talismans.

"Little Lord Chen, how about letting my daughter be your Chen Shi's wife?" Jin Hongying laughed.

Xiao Wangsun shook his head with a serious expression.

Chen Tang looked at the thousands of cultivators in the town and said, "Years ago, the two of you led the Divine Mechanism Battalion, fighting from the Western Capital all the way to Mounta City. Truly admirable. Defending Mounta City and surviving four years of the catastrophe was a righteous act that reaches the heavens."

Jin Hongying wore a proud expression, and Xiao Wangsun couldn't help but smile as well.

The thousands of cultivators in the town were precisely the warriors of the Divine Mechanism Battalion. Back when the catastrophe occurred, the sea monsters invaded, broke through the coastal wall protecting the Western Capital, and poured in. The Divine Mechanism Battalion covered the rear, fighting desperately against the monsters, but still couldn't hold.

Jin Hongying nearly died in the siege of the monsters, and Xiao Wangsun broke through the encirclement to rescue her. Xiao Wangsun had originally been the leader of the Divine Mechanism Battalion and led the warriors out of the encirclement.

They arrived at the Western Capital, only to find that the officials had long since abandoned the people and fled. The Western Capital fell, and the civilian casualties were countless.

The two led the Divine Mechanism Battalion, covering the surviving Western Capital civilians as they fled eastward, fighting all the way, traveling a thousand miles, escorting the people to safety. Afterward, Jin Hongying and Xiao Wangsun brought these Divine Mechanism Battalion warriors to settle in Mounta City.

This was the place of the Mounta demonic transformation. Jin Hongying was the only survivor of that demonic transformation, and Xiao Wangsun was the one who destroyed the Demon Seed.

They returned to their homeland during the catastrophe, guarding this place, protecting the people of Mounta.

The two married before the witnesses of the warriors, became husband and wife, and had a daughter.

Even after the catastrophe ended, they did not return to the Western Capital.

Chen Tang had once invited the two to join Red Mountain Hall, but Jin Hongying and Xiao Wangsun had both refused.

Chen Tang pondered for a moment, then finally spoke, "My son, Chen Shi, will raise the banner of righteousness in the Xinxiang capital, declaring himself the True King, to resist the twelve great clans and return a clear and bright world to all. I have come to tell you both that Little Ten does not seek glory and wealth, nor vast power, but to completely eradicate the evil spirits that suck the blood of the people."

He licked his lips, "Right now, our strength is meager. We need the power of you both, and we need the power of the Divine Mechanism Battalion. The demonic transformation of Mounta, and the demonic transformation of heaven and earth—these should not happen again."

Xiao Wangsun hesitated. Although he had a deep friendship with Chen Shi and Chen Yindu, he truly had no interest in power.

While he was hesitating, Jin Hongying laughed, "Lord Chen, rest assured. My husband and I, along with the Divine Mechanism Battalion, will definitely arrive at the Xinxiang capital!"

Chen Tang breathed a sigh of relief, bowed solemnly to the two, then turned and left.

Xiao Wangsun frowned, "Didn't we say we weren't going to get involved in court affairs anymore?"

Jin Hongying laughed, "Little Ten has shown us kindness, and Chen Yindu is practically half your teacher. How could we refuse their matters? Besides, don't you want to see if Little Ten can make good use of the Western King's Jade Seal you gave him?"

Xiao Wangsun thought for a moment, "I do. I want to see if the True King's throne, which the people of my Zhu family couldn't sit on for over six thousand years, can be held steady by someone else."

Jin Hongying immediately gathered the warriors of the Divine Mechanism Battalion, struck camp, and set off with various firearms toward Xinxiang City.

Chen Tang ran around everywhere, contacting those idle talented officials from the Western Capital. In just over ten days, he had run himself thin. On this day, he had just come out of the home of an official from the Court of State Ceremonial when a voice came from behind him.

"Lord Chen, when the True King ascends the throne, doesn't he need my Eastern Depot?"