Above the Great Dao

"Automatically entering a state of concentration?" Stone Rock Lady was astonished.

Chen Shi's skeleton body is now in a state called concentration, also known as concentrating on a single thought, which means retaining a thread of consciousness to protect the body.

This is frequently used in cultivation.

For example, concentrating on the Elixir Field, concentrating on the center of the eyebrows, etc., all involve converting thoughts into a single thought, guarding a specific place to refine Qi.

Some cultivators, during their practice, have the Primordial Spirit emerge, wander outside in the heavens and earth, and must leave a thought to guard themselves, preventing the Primordial Spirit from getting lost in the world and unable to find the way back.

Chen Shi's concentration is evidently an unconscious act of leaving a thought to guard his body.

Stone Rock Lady observed Chen Shi's skeleton body and found that this skeleton, tired from cultivation, would even rest and, at night, bask in the Magma Pool under the service of the burly palace maids, comfortably spreading open his arms.

After washing, he would don a mantle of fur and a crown, imitating the mannerisms while walking around the palace.

He wouldn't always stay inside the palace, he would go out for walks but would not speak or interact.

Stone Rock Lady watched as Chen Shi's skeleton walked back and forth before her, sighing inwardly: "This body looks quite appetizing, but alas, it cannot be absorbed."

She rarely ventured forth, gazing at the giant Copper Coin in the Eastern Palace, thinking: "The Copper Coin remains, but where is the Divine that mastered it? As strong as you are, have you also fallen? No, impossible!"

She floated up, soaring from the royal courtyard, landing in the eye of the giant Copper Coin.

Stone Rock Lady gently touched the Copper Coin, carefully sensing the aura within. This treasure possesses extraordinary power, refined through countless sacrificial rites, inheriting the incense of the world, and its owner would likely leave their aura within.

She used her Divine Sense to probe the interior of the Copper Coin, finding only numerous scattered extraordinary powers and many broken remnants of consciousness, with nothing else to be found.

"These remnants may be the last consciousness of Brother Dao Zhao."

Stone Rock Lady sighed, her heart heavy.

At this moment, a wave of Divine Skills emanated from within the Royal Palace, startling Stone Rock Lady, who leaped into the air, flying above the Royal Palace!

A voice shouted from the palace: "Kill the tyrant!"

Below was chaos, with dozens of Ghost Gods invading the Royal Palace, clashing with guards, charging toward the Royal Hall where Chen Shi resided.

These Ghost Gods are evidently unaware that the Primordial Spirit had already departed; what remained in the skeleton was merely a single thought from Chen Shi, so even if they killed him, they would only be killing the skeleton body, causing him no harm at all.

Stone Rock Lady noted that many Ghost Gods had already entered the Royal Hall, urgently rushing toward the hall, thinking: "The Upper Envoy entrusted this body to me; if I fail, wouldn't my status plummet again?"

"Support the Crown Prince! Restore the dynasty!" shouted a Ghost God.

Stone Rock Lady charged into the Royal Hall simultaneously, seeing a sudden burst of blood light within the hall, Chen Shi's skeleton body moving as swiftly as a phantom, weaving through the Ghost Gods, then suddenly stopping.

The dozen or so Ghost Gods within the Royal Hall froze, their physical bodies rapidly shrank, each transforming into a dried corpse.

In front of him, a Ghost God general roared, his body expanding to several tens of meters, revealing his True Body, surrounded by raging flames, throwing a punch that ignited even before touching Chen Shi, exploding and expanding!

This was a peculiar Flame Divine Power, a bloodline power, with extremely high temperatures that exploded upon touch, with formidable force!

Chen Shi's skeleton body spun the Blood Lake Hell behind his head furiously, raising his hand to meet the punch.

That Ghost General belonged to the Fire Demon Clan, his body enormous and formidable, yet Chen Shi's skeleton body appeared thin and fragile; big met small, at the instant of the collision, blazing flames engulfed Chen Shi's skeleton, roaring past, turning his bones red-hot and glowing, yet not incinerating them!

Meanwhile, another Ghost God sprang from the other side of the hall, raised a hand, causing monstrous floods to rush forth like withered wood destruction, crashing into Chen Shi's skeleton body; water merged with fire, between hot and cold, even the sturdiest Magical Treasure would shatter!

Yet Chen Shi's skeleton body remained standing, the Divine Power of Blood Lake Hell exploded, the Fire Demon spat blood, being hurled backward by the immense force, and just as he flew into the air, he saw Chen Shi's Blood Lake Hell hands extend from behind his head, grabbing his head and face, lifting him and dragging him towards the Blood Lake Hell!

The Fire Demon was terrified, struggling mightily, but was still dragged into the Blood Lake Hell by ghostly hands!

Chen Shi's skeleton body turned his head, looking at another Water Demon.

Realizing the unfavorable situation, the Water Demon fled, transforming into a river, riding the waves and rushing out of the Royal Palace.

Chen Shi's skeleton body stomped heavily, the Blood Lake Hell behind his head spread wide, instantly transforming everything in a sixteen-mile radius centered on the Royal Hall into his Blood Lake Hell!

The Water Demon fell into the Blood Lake Hell, struggling desperately, only to feel his blood swiftly drain away, transforming into a dry bone and sinking into the lake, leaving only a tormented soul in the blood lake.

"Swipe—"

The Blood Lake Hell rose and shrank rapidly into a pool of blood roughly a foot in diameter, hovering behind Chen Shi's skeleton.

On the ground, the dozens of Ghost Gods who had invaded the Royal Palace were now dried corpses.

The other guards stood unharmed, each bewildered and uncertain.

Stone Rock Lady was baffled too; she had intended to assist but, seeing Chen Shi's skeleton body's actions, realized there was no need to intervene.