Above the Great Dao

Chen Shi thanked: "Thank you, all the seniors, for your assistance. I have finally freed myself from the control of the Demon Sword."

Xia Gongjin tested: "In front of you are two people and a dog. Which one will you kill first?"

Chen Shi laughed: "None of them. They haven't offended me, why would I want to kill them?"

Everyone exchanged smiles and relaxed.

Li Zishi laughed: "The demonic nature within the Immortal Artifact is finally subdued."

Zhang Longhu immediately picked up the Blood Transformation Divine Saber, feeling some fear towards this treasure, not daring to hold it for long. He quickly ascended the altar and placed the saber back on it.

The other ancestors of the Twelve Families each burned incense, giving Zhang Longhu three sticks of incense. The ancestors offered incense one by one, inserting it into the incense burner in front of the Heavenly Net Blood Transformation Divine Sword.

Incense Fire Qi floated towards the saber, which vibrated a few times on the sword rack, seemingly unwilling, wanting to fly up and slay them. However, the incense Fire Qi surrounded the saber, penetrated the Yin Yang Qi outside the sword, making it impossible for the saber to rise and kill autonomously.

Chen Shi looked at the Blood Transformation Divine Saber, feeling his own Qi-Blood stirring restlessly, seemingly about to be triggered by the saber.

"Even if the thirteen ancestors press the Blood Sea back into the saber, this sword still greatly affects me!"

He suppressed the fluctuation of Qi-Blood, lest the ancestors of the Thirteen Families detect any anomaly.

The Blood Transformation Divine Saber seemed to sense his gaze and tried to fly off the altar, but was once again pulled back by the Yin Yang Qi encircling its blade, enshrouded by incense Fire Qi.

This altar seemed not to refine the saber but rather to suppress it.

"Thank you, Scholar Chen, for the rescue."

Zhang Longhu turned to Chen Shi, bowing in gratitude, saying, "If not for the timely ritual of the top scorer, the thousands of years of planning in the Upper Realm would be for naught."

Chen Shi returned the salute, sincerely saying: "If not for the three of you saving me, I fear I'd also be controlled by this saber, becoming a Demon Blade Puppet."

"This saber is not a Demon Sword but an object used by the Immortals, just with too heavy a killing intent, ordinary people cannot control it."

Xia Gongjin smiled, saying, "That Immortal is dead, sealed as a Divine, hence leaving the saber in the Mortal World. It was originally enshrined in the Erwang Temple at Yulei Mountain in Dujiangyan of the Huaxia Divine Continent, suppressed under the foot of the statue of Erlang God. By the time of the Great Ming Dynasty, it was already rusted. Later, when the West Bull New Continent was discovered, due to rampant Evil Spirits, someone stole the saber and brought it to the West Bull New Continent. The West Bull New Continent, filled with Evil Spirits, this saber drank blood and revealed its extraordinary power, any Evil Spirit, just one slash and they perish."

Yang Ying supplemented: "This treasure displayed its edge, having drunk the blood of many demons and disasters, though no one knows its Sacrificial Refinement Technique, its power is undeniably strong. As long as skin is broken by it, the target turns into blood water, absorbed by the saber. This saber changed owners multiple times, but all masters perished under its might, none could truly grasp it. After the True King unified the realm, fearing the saber's power, it was collected but unused. It would only be employed during calamities."

"So, how did Scholar Chen learn the Sacrificial Blade Technique?" Yan Weizhong stepped forward and questioned.

Chen Shi replied calmly, "I learned it by chance."

Yan Weizhong stared at his face intently, seeming to search for any falsehood, and pursued, "Where did you learn it from?"

Chen Shi's expression remained unchanged: "Taught by a Fairy at Qixia Temple."

"You're lying!"

Yan Weizhong's voice turned severe, stepping forward, he shouted: "You handed the Sacrificial Blade Technique to the Court..."

Xia Gongjin walked over, standing between the two, smilingly said: "Even if he didn't hand it over, it doesn't matter. As for who would refine this technique in the Court? Whoever tried would likely be controlled by this Immortal Saber."

Yan Weizhong pondered for a moment, then said: "It's better in our hands than outsiders. If others cultivate this technique, it will surely wreak havoc in the West Bull New Continent."

Zhang Longhu approached, shaking his head and said: "Brother Yan, don't always think about controlling all good things. Even we can hardly protect ourselves, if we further cultivate the Sacrificial Blade Technique, and restrain the erosion of demonic nature, it would only lead to quicker demise. Retaining our useful selves to tackle Despair Slope isn't better? The Blood Transformation Divine Saber is not so easily controlled."

He turned directly to Chen Shi, said: "What is the name of the Sacrificial Blade Technique you just cultivated?"

Chen Shi disclosed truthfully: "Blood Lake Scripture."

Zhang Longhu pondered for a moment and said, "If this cultivation technique is practiced to the highest level, it will form a Blood Sea Hell, imprisoning the souls and primordial spirits of those who die under the blade. The more people die, the stronger its demonic nature becomes, and the harder it is for you to control the Blood Transformation Divine Saber. Thus, being controlled by the Blood Transformation Divine Saber is almost inevitable. Such a magic skill, it should not be refined any further."

Chen Shi agreed, but there was still a desire in his heart, urgently wanting to cultivate the Blood Lake Scripture.

As Zhang Longhu and the other patriarchs of the Thirteen Families turned around, looking towards that ruined world, Jiang Jingzhi, the patriarch of the Jiang Family, said, "This world must harbor secrets. We should enter and explore it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Zhang Longhu waved his hand, and two thousand-foot tall divine beings flew over, carefully carrying the altar away.

Chen Shi watched them, seeing the two divine beings disappear into the void, their destination unknown and unaware of where they had hidden the Heavenly Net Blood Transformation Divine Sword.

Zhang Longhu and the others stepped through the passage, entering that broken world.

Yan Weizhong turned his head, warning Chen Shi and Yang Bi, "This place is dangerous, do not enter."

Chen Shi nodded, and Yan Weizhong also entered that shattered world.

Chen Shi exhaled a long breath, feeling relieved.

Just now, facing the patriarchs of the Thirteen Families, he had been worried to death, fearing that these thirteen peerless powerhouses might suddenly strike him down.

Yang Bi's voice came from behind him, saying, "Among the Thirteen Families, there are no shortage of bandits, imposters, and evildoers. Even among the ancestors, there are many evil ones. Though they deserve death, it would not suffice to quell public anger. Yet, the patriarchs of our Thirteen Families are truly great grandmasters."

His words were filled with admiration, saying, "They achieved the pinnacle in their respective fields. In terms of cultivation technique, each of them is a great master who accommodates hundreds of rivers, learning from many and innovating. The classics they left encompass dozens of exquisite Mysterious Skills. Furthermore, the cultivation methods they created are enough to establish a sect or a Holy Land."

He gestured with his hand in invitation.

Chen Shi walked alongside him, laughing, "Brother Yang holds these thirteen great grandmasters in high esteem."

Yang Bi laughed, "During the True King Era, talent was chosen without regard to origin, unlike today. Now, the Thirteen Families have controlled the court for too long, and it has turned into a situation where the Thirteen Families are the court, making any change difficult. But in the True King Era, the thirteen patriarchs fought and killed their way to high positions through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Their high ranks were not granted by ancestral protection but due to real abilities."

Chen Shi looked up towards the distant mountains and deities, saying, "I can understand their will to prioritize the country. However, six thousand years is too long."

"Yes, six thousand years is too long. In six thousand years, seas have turned into mulberry fields and old territories have decayed, let alone the Thirteen Families?"

Yang Bi also gazed at the distant mountains and deities, saying, "But without six thousand years, who could wield the power to confront Despair Slope? Empires may crumble, but only the original intentions of the thirteen patriarchs remain unchanged."

Chen Shi stopped, looking back at that broken world, the patriarchs of the Thirteen Families within that perilous world, seeking the secret of the Immortal's fall and demonic transformation.

Yet, Yang Bi did not pause and continued forward, saying, "The True King Era has ended six thousand years ago, and the Thirteen Families have unified the mortal world and the underworld. Perhaps the power we have accumulated is not enough, but we should be able to contend with Despair Slope to some extent. The thirteen patriarchs trusted me, letting me consolidate the power of the Yin Yang Two Realms. This heavy responsibility falls upon me, and I often travel far and wide, seldom having time to cultivate."

He drifted further and further from Chen Shi, gradually stopping a thousand feet away.

But his voice still reached Chen Shi's ears, carrying a sense of joy.

"If it weren't for the duel agreement with the Child Scholar, I would never have settled down to cultivate. Thankfully, there is you."

He turned around, a bright smile on his face, saying, "Today, Yang has the honor to duel with you and witness the elegance of the Child Scholar who once became famous throughout the land, suffice to bring satisfaction for a lifetime! Child Scholar, do not hold back! To walk out of the Upper Realm alive, you must prove to the thirteen patriarchs that if we are defeated, you have the ability to shoulder this responsibility!"

Chen Shi looked back towards that broken world.

He saw the patriarchs of the Thirteen Families had somehow stopped exploring the broken world, each turning back to look this way.

It seemed they also wanted to see if the Child Scholar, who became famous across the Fifty Provinces and was granted a Daoist Embryo by the True God, could rival their most outstanding chosen apprentice of six thousand years, even without the Daoist Embryo.

Chen Shi withdrew his gaze, slowly clenching his fist, revealing a smile, "Since I began my cultivation, there has been no match among my peers. Yang Bi, I hope you will be the first to make me use my full strength."

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