Above the Great Dao

"Is this Chang Ying Daoist the Sect Leader whom my grandfather almost took down?" Chen Shi scrutinized Chang Ying Daoist and thought to himself.

Chang Ying Daoist appeared to be a middle-aged man, but the Taoists have the Evergreen Technique, which can keep someone looking young forever. Even at death, they only appear to be in their thirties or forties, so he couldn't be sure of Chang Ying Daoist's age.

The group of Taoists who followed Sect Leader Chang Ying Daoist here were dumbfounded. They had come in anger, expecting a bloody battle to suppress demons and uphold the Tao. Little did they expect that the one insulting the Ancestor Master's Tomb would be the legendary Qing Yang Ancestor.

"Who is Qing Yang Ancestor?" Some young Taoists whispered to each other.

Someone who knew the story said, "He's the one who was abducted, and in a fit of anger, the previous Sect Leader changed the name of Taihua Qingyang Palace to Taihua Qing Palace because of him."

The young Taoists were all enlightened.

This matter was considered a secret within Taihua Qing Palace, and the elders of the sect kept it taboo because it involved the reputation of one or several female ancestors. Under deliberate concealment, the younger generation basically didn't know the story.

Chang Ying Daoist respectfully smiled and said, "Ancestor, the wind is strong here, and it's uncomfortable. Please, Ancestor, return to the palace with us junior members."

Qing Yang lazily said, "I just ate too much grass, and haven't digested it yet. Let me rest for a bit before we leave. Don't rush me."

Chang Ying Daoist smiled apologetically and said, "No rush, no rush."

He stood still, quietly waiting.

Qing Yang lay on the tomb for a moment, glanced at him, and got up saying, "Alright, with you lot lingering around, how can I sleep well? Let's go."

Chang Ying Daoist was delighted and was about to have everyone accompany the Ancestor back to the palace when Qing Yang Ancestor walked to the cart, put a harness on himself, and seemingly intended to pull the cart to Taihua Qing Palace with his own effort.

Qing Yang harnessed himself and turned back saying, "Little Ten, Black Pot, get on the cart, I'll take you to the Green Sheep Palace."

"Ancestor, please reconsider!"

Almost every Taoist present bowed and pleaded, "It's the last dignity of Taihua Qing Palace!"

Qing Yang snorted and said, "They all talk about quietude and non-action, yet you guys have so many rules. It's so annoying. Little Ten, Black Pot, get on the cart now!"

"Swoosh!"

Dozens of flying swords were suddenly pointed at Chen Shi and Black Pot's necks.

"Uncle Yang, please reconsider!" Chen Shi hurriedly said.

Black Pot nodded repeatedly.

Qing Yang had no choice but to remove the harness and grumbled, "I dislike how you all call me Ancestor but still have so many controls. I'm used to a free and easy life like a wandering cloud or wild crane, staying at Green Sheep Palace being controlled all day, even down to the grass on the tombs... Let's go, why are we standing around?"

Chang Ying Daoist wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and clouds formed under his feet as he led the way forward.

However, forming clouds under one's feet, known as the Cloud Stepping Skill, is much more difficult than Sword Flight. Many Taoist sect disciples are unable to do it, so they had to use Sword Flight to go ahead, leaving behind many uncles and great uncles.

Chen Shi effortlessly performed the Cloud Stepping Skill, forming clouds under the cart, and Black Pot also trod on the colorful clouds, following the group.

Many Taoists looked at them with subtle amazement.

"Is it Chen, the top scorer?" An old Taoist with a kind face inquired.

Chen Shi responded happily, "Yes, it's me, sir."

The old Taoist's face turned cold, "The sins your grandfather committed back then, Green Sheep Palace hasn't washed them clean yet! How dare you come to my Taihua Qingyang Palace! So, tell me, how many heads do you have?"

Chen Shi replied with a smile, "I have only one head, but I'm an Imperial Official, an Assistant Scholar at the Hanlin Academy."

The old Taoist snorted but didn't make things difficult for him any further.

Chen Shi asked, "Elder, why are the tombs of past ancestors of Green Sheep Palace buried here? The place is remote, with no enchantments, nor is it a feng shui treasure land. Furthermore, the tombs look very simple. What status the past ancestors of Green Sheep Palace had, such simplicity can't be fitting for their burial."

The old Taoist coldly laughed, "Should we make elaborate burials just to have your grandfather dig them up?"

Realizing his words were too harsh, the old Taoist added, "For us cultivators, we hardly pursue worldly possessions. Our founding Sect Leader said, if you can't become immortal in life, why bother with a grand burial after death? Therefore, at the end of their lives, they all instructed to have themselves buried with a simple coffin, returning to the earth, and nourishing the soil."

Chen Shi felt respectful and said, "The ancestors' realms are lofty; their Dao hearts are pure and unhindered."

The old Taoist chuckled, "Some also intended to practice becoming Corpse Resolving Immortals, fearing being buried grandly would attract interest in the treasures inside their tombs, having their bodies desecrated, and thus failing to become immortals."

Chen Shi's eyes lit up and he asked, "Then, did any ancestor become a Corpse Resolving Immortal?"

The old Taoist said, "There were, but later it somehow became lost."

Chen Shi thought to himself, "No wonder everyone cares so much about the Water and Fire Refining Technique."

Upon reaching Taihua Qing Palace, many palace halls with white walls and blue tiles were nestled among the mountains, arranged thoughtfully, adding a touch of mortal presence amidst the greenery.

Mountain paths connected these palaces, like a string threaded with pearls, linking them together.

The mountain gate was located halfway up the mountain, and many locals who lived nearby passed through the gate, endlessly ascending the mountain, likely to burn incense.

Chen Shi, observing with yin-yang vision, had long realized the extraordinariness of this place. Many trees and birds of Taihua Mountain had gained enlightenment through the incense smoke, transforming into extremely powerful beings hidden among the mountains. But their spirit and form were immense, with many mountain tops possessing gigantic entities comparable to Refining God or Returning Void, guarding the mountains.

There were also some mutant beasts cultivating, transforming into human forms, mingling among the Taoists of Taihua Qing Palace, indistinguishable from ordinary people, but occasionally their primordial spirits would manifest in the void above, showing forms of fierce beasts like lions and tigers, strange mutant beasts, and even insects like autumn cicadas, centipedes, and venomous snakes.