Chapter 317: Uncle and Son on the Battlefield 34 |
Behind Chen Shi, Black Pot quietly kicked Wooden Cart's leg, and Wooden Cart wisely retreated backwards.
Several Heaven's Listeners beside Zhuang Wujiu's Qilin Carriage were staring at Black Pot, each taking a step forward.
They were officers and exalted ones among the Heaven's Listeners, powerful and far beyond what mere envoys could match.
Compared to those dull-witted envoys, these officers and exalted ones were much more agile. Wherever they passed, a force field similar to a domain would appear, sprouting many ears.
With each step they took forward, Black Pot's domain shrank by a step, clearly indicating they were suppressing Black Pot with their own power.
Black Pot stared at them, moving to one side. The Heaven's Listener officers and exalted ones followed it, gradually moving away from Chen Shi and Zhuang Wujiu.
Chen Shi's expression was calm as he said, "Then who do you think is worthy of the Innate Dao Embryo?"
Zhuang Wujiu's face was solemn, even showing a hint of reverence, as he said seriously, "The Innate Dao Embryo contains majestic power, it is the Dao bestowed by the True God. The person who possesses the Dao Embryo must have heaven-defying comprehension and talent, peerless and unmatched genius! That person must be extremely intelligent, understanding a hundred things from one insight, mastering a hundred skills from grasping one principle! Any Dao technique, they would understand at a glance; any move, they would master upon learning! Even immortal techniques would not trouble them in the slightest! Their cultivation speed must also be fast, leaving others far behind, unable to catch up even if they tried desperately! Chen Shi, do you know who I am talking about?"
Chen Shi looked at him and asked for guidance, "Who is it?"
Zhuang Wujiu said indifferently, "I saw you eleven years ago. You were only nine years old then, the Child Prodigy renowned throughout the world. Many people didn't believe you had the Innate Dao Embryo and tested you. I consider myself a rare genius in the world, but the moment I saw you, you astounded me. I still remember to this day how you cultivated immortal techniques back then, learning them instantly, grasping them upon a hint, comprehending them upon a single insight."
Upon hearing this, Black Pot was somewhat taken aback. It stopped confronting those few Heaven's Listeners and looked up towards them.
Zhuang Wujiu said, "I came here this time to accomplish one thing: to retrieve that Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler from the underworld for my own use. Now that the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler has been stolen by thieves, I wanted to see that peerless Child Prodigy from back then. I heard he has been reborn and killed the Young Master. I wanted to see that extraordinary Child Prodigy who made me admire him once more."
Chen Shi's heart stirred slightly: "So that thing is called the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler. Isn't it a rod? Why such a strange name? But it is fitting; that object can measure heaven and earth."
Zhuang Wujiu showed an appreciative expression and said, "The first time I saw you, I had the Heaven's Listeners compile your information documents. I examined them carefully and found too much information inside, most of it fed to the Heaven's Listeners by your family dog, too much false information. This greatly impressed me. But that is the dog's ability, not yours."
Chen Shi inquired, "What about the second time?"
"Today is the second time. You killed those few people fiercely and domineeringly, even sitting motionless in the carriage. Your strength is unmatched among your peers in the world. In the mortal world, those who can contend with you at the same realm probably number no more than ten."
Zhuang Wujiu said, "The Young Master indeed didn't die unjustly by your hand. When I saw him eleven years ago, he was still young but spent too much of his energy on how to win people over, how to draw in the Thirteen Great Clans, how to amass wealth. If he had spent half that effort on cultivation, perhaps he wouldn't have lost to you. But that doesn't mean you are worthy of the Innate Dao Embryo."
His words were sharp, piercing the Dao Heart like a sword: "Just now, when you killed those three, the spells, divine abilities, and treasures you used were all ordinary, showing nothing stunningly exceptional. You killed the little eunuch relying solely on the unique aspect of the flying sword, catching him by surprise. You killed the Hundred Refinements Hall master by relying on your profound cultivation base. You killed the Divine Pivot Battalion leader by relying on the power of the Huagai. You are not worthy of the Innate Dao Embryo."
His words could not conceal a tone of disappointment, his demeanor desolate as he said, "You are no longer that Child Prodigy who made me admire you. After your rebirth, you have become ordinary among the masses. That Child Prodigy from back then is truly dead."
He turned and walked towards the Qilin Carriage.
Chen Shi's voice came from behind him: "So it seems, you know who obtained my Innate Dao Embryo?"
Zhuang Wujiu stopped walking.
Chen Shi said, "Your obsession with the Innate Dao Embryo isn't entirely because of that fleeting glimpse eleven years ago, but because you can often see the Innate Dao Embryo in Despair Slope. The person who obtained the Dao Embryo possesses heaven-defying comprehension and talent, peerless and unmatched genius because of it, but that person who obtained the Dao Embryo is not you. Originally, you were about the same, but you were overshadowed by him. You are also a person of brilliant natural talent, an extremely conceited genius. You were originally about the same, but after he obtained the Dao Embryo, you fell short everywhere."
Zhuang Wujiu clenched his fist.
Upon hearing this, Black Pot immediately perked up and continued confronting those few Heaven's Listeners.
Chen Shi stared at his back, each word like a knife, stabbing into Zhuang Wujiu's heart: "When learning Dao techniques, he understands at a glance, masters upon learning, comprehends a hundred things from one insight, masters a hundred skills from grasping one principle. But you can only earnestly contemplate and ponder, wishing you had a few more brains to be as smart as him. Originally, your realms weren't far apart, but ever since he obtained the Dao Embryo, he has left you far behind. The distance between you and him grows larger and larger, increasingly impossible for you to catch up."
Zhuang Wujiu stood motionless and laughed heartily.
Chen Shi continued, "The gap between you grows larger and larger. You chase desperately, only to find the other person just casually learns and refines a bit, yet far surpasses you who are trying desperately. Therefore, you feel unbalanced. You want to regain a sense of superiority. Hearing of my rebirth, hearing that I killed the Young Master, you came looking for me. You should know the True God would absolutely not bestow a Divine Embryo a second time, so you wanted to see my Dao Embryo, to see me become ordinary among the masses, to satisfy your competitive heart. Actually, what you wanted to say is, even the Child Prodigy, without the Dao Embryo, is just a waste like you."
"Hahahaha!" Zhuang Wujiu laughed and shook his head.
"Zhuang Wujiu, the person you spend your whole life chasing but can never catch up to merely obtained my Dao Embryo."
Chen Shi said coldly, "Without the Dao Embryo, I am still the Child Prodigy, still Top Scholar Chen. But you can only be suppressed by my Dao Embryo, never able to turn things around on Despair Slope in your entire life."
Zhuang Wujiu could no longer laugh. He clenched his fist tightly, then suddenly relaxed again, shaking his head with a smile, "Chen Shi, your words are not wrong, but you have still lost the Dao Embryo after all."
He walked towards the Qilin Carriage, reached the side of the carriage, turned his head, and smiled, "Even if I am the same as you, without the Innate Dao Embryo, our circumstances are still different, one in heaven, the other on earth. I am high above on Despair Slope; you struggle for survival in the mortal world. I cultivate diligently and train bitterly but cannot catch up to that person's Dao techniques, which are immortal arts you will never touch in your entire life. You struggle in a cesspit your whole life, fighting hard for survival amidst the torment of death. You exhaust all your strength to defeat the Young Master and win the title of top scholar, something I disdain to even glance at."
His aura grew stronger and stronger. Behind him appeared a majestic Primordial Spirit, nearly a hundred zhang tall, looking down at Chen Shi from a commanding height, its voice rumbling and shaking: "Eleven years. I have cultivated to the Refining Spirit Realm, severed the Three Corpses, refined the Yang Spirit, and cultivated a hundred-zhang Primordial Spirit! We are both mortals, but our circumstances are different. The gap between you and me will grow larger and larger."
He entered the carriage, turned, and sat down, saying indifferently, "Chen Shi, in another hundred years, you will have turned to dust, while I will still look as I do now."
Chen Shi smiled slightly and did not bother with him.
Zhuang Wujiu laughed, "Do you see this Fire Qilin? It was the Young Master's mount. The Young Master is dead, and this Fire Qilin has no master. It needs to find a new position, so I took it in. In the future, you will be far inferior to it. When you are on your deathbed, I will send it to offer incense and pay respects at your memorial."
Chen Shi didn't care. He sneered, jumped onto the Wooden Cart, called Black Pot, and drove off.
Zhuang Wujiu laughed heartily, shouted once, and the Fire Qilin stepped on fiery clouds, pulling the precious carriage into the sky.
Black Pot kept looking at Chen Shi, finding Chen Shi's expression as normal as ever, seemingly completely unaffected.
It breathed a sigh of relief, truly worried that its little master's mentality would be thrown off balance by Zhuang Wujiu.
It seemed now that the little master's mental cultivation was much higher than before. If it were the past...
Suddenly, Chen Shi's face took on a greenish hue, his features somewhat distorted, startling Black Pot.
"I can't swallow this anger! If I swallow this anger, what kind of top scholar am I?"
Chen Shi said rapidly, "Black Pot, influence the nearby Heaven's Listeners!"
Black Pot quickly looked around, locking onto each Heaven's Listener, affecting their perception.
Chen Shi took out the black iron rod, raised this treasure, and activated the Ten Thousand Mile Flying Sword Technique.
This Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler was different from other magic treasures. When it was over three chi long, its weight was only three or four jin. The larger it transformed, the heavier it would become. When transformed into a sky-piercing, earth-reaching giant pillar, even a Great Ascension Realm existence couldn't budge it a bit!
This object was miraculous. When Chen Shi activated the transformation technique within the Ten Thousand Mile Flying Sword Technique, he couldn't transform it into a flying bird.
However, transforming into a flying bird with the Ten Thousand Mile Flying Sword Technique was only to conserve magic power. Previously, Chen Shi's cultivation wasn't strong enough, so conserving magic power was necessary. But now, with abundant magic power and the distance not being too far, conserving magic power seemed less necessary.
"Rise!"
Chen Shi shouted, and the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler shot through the air.
The Fire Qilin was extremely fast, especially when running in the air. Its speed would increase more and more, gradually surpassing sound, as if treading on thunder while running, with rumbles of thunder coming from the sky.
The precious carriage Yan Xianzhi gave to Zhuang Wujiu was also extraordinary. This object was amidst the Fire Qilin's raging flames, with thunderous roars all around, but the interior of the carriage was quite pleasant. The flames automatically parted, with no scorching heat or noise at all. Refining such a precious carriage required the use of many talismans: water-avoiding, fire-avoiding, wind-stabilizing, thunder-dispelling, as well as silencing talismans and spring talismans were essential.
In less than the time it takes to say a single character, the Qilin Carriage flew out a hundred li.
At this speed, it could travel four thousand li in one shichen, a speed to be envied.
However, the Fire Qilin also needed rest and couldn't run at full strength all the time.
Zhuang Wujiu sat in the carriage, a smile still on his face, but then the smile stiffened, twisting his expression somewhat.
"This kid, is his mental state really this good? I didn't anger him; instead, I got quite angry myself. If he had made a move, I might have taken the opportunity to teach him a harsh lesson and vent my anger."
But thinking of Chen Shi dying in a hundred years and him sending the Fire Qilin to mourn Chen Shi made him feel much more comfortable.
Suddenly, he detected magic power fluctuations coming from behind. His eyes lit up, and he laughed, "I thought your mental cultivation attainment was high, but I didn't expect you still couldn't hold back. This time, I'll let you know how high the sky is and how thick the earth... is..."
He turned his head and looked at the approaching object in horror.
It was a black iron rod, three chi and eight cun long, as thick as a baby's wrist, with strange patterns engraved on its surface. At this moment, these patterns had clearly lit up!
This thing, like a flying sword, was heading straight for the Qilin Carriage. It was precisely the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler he had been longing for and searching for in vain!
The speed of the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler was many times faster than the Qilin Carriage. This speed was the speed of Chen Shi's sword energy piercing through the air!
When it reached a distance of about a li behind the Qilin Carriage, suddenly, a Heavenly Cycle Fire Realm abruptly appeared around the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler! Five types of Innate Righteous Qi rapidly condensed and poured into the iron ruler!
Zhuang Wujiu thought of the shattered Meridian Gate in Western Capital and the pierced-through Hall of Supreme Harmony, and couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end.
The Fire Qilin also knew something was wrong and desperately ran forward.
An incredibly thick pillar, at a speed difficult for the naked eye to follow, crashed into the rear of the Qilin Carriage. Even though this treasure was a rare treasure gifted by Yan Xianzhi, forged a thousand times and refined a hundred times, with astonishing defensive power, it directly shattered the moment of collision!
That Fire Qilin did not live to see the day it could send off Chen Shi. Struck by a pillar as thick as a li, its bones were completely shattered, its flesh turned to mud!
Zhuang Wujiu, in the instant before the impact arrived, exerted all his strength to activate the Ghost and God Domain he cultivated. The surrounding space formed layers of corridors.
This was precisely the domain he used to trap Chen Shi's carriage, capable of folding space, similar to two opposing mirrors, mirrors within mirrors reflecting each other, forming an endless cycle.
This Ghost and God Domain should more accurately be called a divine ability. It was an extraordinary technique he learned in Despair Slope, named Empty Folding Mirror Return.
Although theoretically, Empty Folding Mirror Return could fold a section of space-time extending to infinity, making the enemy's attack never able to reach him, that was, after all, just theory.
Executing this divine ability had limitations of cultivation level, depth of comprehension, and speed of spellcasting.
The moment Zhuang Wujiu executed this divine ability, he realized his speed of Empty Folding Mirror Return was far inferior to the speed of the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler's expansion!
He folded a distance of mere inches into a hundred li, but in the next moment, that hundred li of space was violently smashed through!
Zhuang Wujiu roared loudly. His Primordial Spirit unified with his body. The moment his Pure Yang Primordial Spirit merged with his physical body, his body became pure yang, his magic power vast and mighty. His physical body instantly grew to a hundred zhang in size, like a majestic heavenly god!
He pushed his hands forward to meet the giant pillar that had crashed through a hundred li.
"Boom!"
Zhuang Wujiu's body shook violently. He was sent flying backward, pushed by that rapidly lengthening giant pillar.
An incredibly terrifying pressure assaulted him. Blood seeped from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose; his skin tore; the clothes on his body were ripped to shreds!
He was crushed by the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler and flew backward for over a hundred li. With a thunderous crash, he slammed into a large mountain. The tail end of the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler was already three or four li thick, not inferior to that large mountain at all. Pressing against him, it pushed this mountain forward for several li!
Finally, the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler stopped.
Zhuang Wujiu's eyelids twitched. Cracking sounds of bones shattering came from within his body.
Even his divine body couldn't withstand such a violent impact.
Suddenly, the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler rapidly shrank. In a brief instant, it transformed into a three chi eight cun black rod, tumbling in the air, whooshing as it shot through the air and flew away.
Zhuang Wujiu raised his hand to grab it, but coughed up a mouthful of blood with a "wah" sound!
He was smashed into the mountain, embedded within it. He hurriedly withdrew his Primordial Spirit. His hundred-zhang divine body rapidly shrank as he fell down from the mountain.
Zhuang Wujiu landed, his legs making a cracking sound, forcing him to kneel on the ground.
His heart sank. His legs had been broken by the impact.
"No major issue, won't die!"
Zhuang Wujiu suppressed his injuries, gritting his teeth to endure the pain, and whispered, "So it was you who stole the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler! This time, I can't let you off! I must immediately summon the Heaven's Listener Venerated Lords!"
Just as he thought this, suddenly a pair of feet appeared before him.
Zhuang Wujiu slowly raised his head and saw a rather tall young official who had somehow arrived before him.
Zhuang Wujiu's heart jumped violently. His voice hoarse, he said, "The Child Prodigy's father, Chen Tang?"
Chen Tang stood with his hands behind his back, looking behind him, and said indifferently, "Sir, could you please raise your Divine Embryo? I wish to see if your Divine Embryo is my son's Innate Dao Embryo."
Zhuang Wujiu secretly cursed his misfortune. Summoning his courage, he smiled and said, "Chen Tang, don't act recklessly! I am a guest from Despair Slope. Even the Thirteen Great Clans treat me with respect and..."
"You won't show me? I'll take it myself!"
Chen Tang pointed a finger, striking right between his eyebrows.
Zhuang Wujiu's body shook violently, the back of his head vibrating. The miniature shrine flew out of his physical body involuntarily.
He felt both shame and anger. The miniature shrine was left for Chen Tang to examine, but he could only kneel on the ground, unable to move or resist.
He was a proud son of heaven from Despair Slope. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Chen Tang examined it for a while, showing a disappointed expression, muttering, "So, you are not worthy of obtaining my son's Innate Dao Embryo."
Zhuang Wujiu's eyes welled with tears. First ambushed by Chen Shi, now humiliated by Chen Tang—the grievances he had suffered in his life were nothing compared to today!
"Recite the words you used to humiliate my son," Chen Tang said.
Zhuang Wujiu widened his eyes, staring at him fiercely.
Chen Tang's expression was impassive as he said, "Don't waste your effort. I alone can match a great clan. No matter how many Heaven's Listener Venerated Lords you summon, you will still die. Recite it quickly!"
After a moment of silence, a halting, stumbling voice sounded at the foot of the mountain.
"The Innate Dao Embryo contains majestic power..."
"...But that is the dog's ability, not yours."
"I am high above on Despair Slope; you struggle for survival in the mortal world..."
"...When you are on your deathbed, I will send it to offer incense and pay respects at your memorial."
After Zhuang Wujiu finished reciting, two lines of tears slid down his cheeks. He couldn't help but cry out, "Chen Tang, I will remember today's great humiliation! In the future, I will repay it a hundredfold!"
Chen Tang ignored him and turned to leave.
Zhuang Wujiu prostrated on the ground, weeping loudly. After venting his emotions for a while, he finally composed himself and, while recuperating from his injuries, hurried towards Despair Slope.
He did not summon the Heaven's Listeners, as this matter was too embarrassing.
Traveling like this for half a month, on this day, he finally arrived at Despair Slope. He couldn't help but feel joy in his heart: "After returning to the mountain this time, I must cultivate a hundred times harder! I will repay the humiliation brought by the Chen father and son a hundredfold!"
Just as he thought this, he saw a young man walking towards him with a smile.
The young man's appearance bore some resemblance to Chen Shi and Chen Tang, but he was smiling, looking very friendly.
Zhuang Wujiu's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, this is bad.
"Creation Little Five!"
— Five thousand words big chapter, ten thousand words update today!