Chapter 388: A Gentleman is Like Jade 24 |
"My father was beaten by his father, and my grandfather was beaten by his grandfather."
Yan Shaoxuan suddenly felt her Dao Heart had broadened considerably, and she laughed heartily. "So, if I get beaten by him, it's no big deal either."
Her father was Yan Hanqing. Back in the day, when he traveled to the capital with Chen Tang to take the metropolitan and palace examinations, Chen Tang had forcibly forced him into a draw, an event that had haunted him his entire life.
Her grandfather was named Yan Chenfu, the previous family head, now retired. The reason for his falling out with Chen Yindu, rumor had it, was because Chen Yindu had once seduced Yan Chenfu's younger sister. Yan Chenfu flew into a rage and pursued Chen Yindu, only to be severely beaten. But fortunately, his sister feared he might be killed, so she returned with him, ultimately never becoming Chen Shi's grandmother.
Everyone present had heard more or less about the two generations of the Yan family being "bullied" by Chen Yindu and Chen Tang, and hearing this put them somewhat at ease.
If only one had been beaten, it would surely be a great humiliation. But since one's fathers and grandfathers had also been beaten, it was nothing.
Especially since, among one's peers, one wasn't the only one to be beaten.
"Top Scholar Chen is certainly extremely formidable, but is Li Tianqing really that strong?"
Cui Xingcai said, "I don't believe it. Once I've healed my injuries, I must descend to the mortal world and test him."
Ma Zhe said, "Count me in!"
"And me!"
...
They were very excited. Li Qianyun hesitated for a moment before saying, "I would also very much like to see him again."
The group was united in their animosity. Far away in the minor heaven, Li Tianqing, who was teaching talisman masters, suddenly felt a stirring in his heart, sensing as if, in the unseen, he had incurred a great deal of karmic entanglement.
He was still unaware that he had become famous throughout the Upper Realm, and that the future Sect Leaders of the Thirteen Great Clans all regarded him as their lifelong nemesis.
"Why do I suddenly feel like a calamity is about to befall me?" he mused inwardly.
But it was a small matter; he paid it no mind.
In the Upper Realm, Jade Firmament Heaven.
This place was more exalted than other parts of the Upper Realm. The mountains were built from beautiful jade, the sky was as clear as jade, and everywhere were growing ganoderma and immortal herbs. This place seemed close to the Immortal Realm, with immortal energy drifting and falling from the sky from time to time, scattering into the valleys.
The thirteen ancestral masters of the Thirteen Great Clans each sat within the void, withdrawing their gazes. The contest between Chen Shi and the various great clan heirs had naturally not escaped their notice.
Their auras were ethereal, not like figures of the mortal world, but like immortals who had already Ascended. However, behind each of them were thick, fleshy tentacles rooted in the void, with Demonic Energy and immortal energy exhibiting a bizarre harmony on their bodies.
"The Child Prodigy who once possessed the Innate Dao Embryo, whether he has it now or not, cannot be underestimated."
"To use others' methods and still outperform them is truly remarkable. If I were a True God, I would also bestow upon him an Innate Dao Embryo. Even after his Innate Dao Embryo was taken, I would grant him a second Innate Dao Embryo!"
"It truly stirs a feeling of pity for talent. He defeated twelve people using twelve different techniques, always attacking each person's weak points. If he trained in this aspect, he might become even stronger. He is indeed a formidable rival for Yang Bi."
"Indeed. It also makes one unable to resist feeling the urge to kill him. After all, the Western King's Jade Seal and the True King's Tomb are both in his hands..."
The thirteen ancestral masters fell silent.
None of them wished to see another True King.
Suddenly, one ancestral master spoke: "A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be broken. The key is, who will break it? The Upper Realm? Despair Slope? Or some other power?"
At that moment, Yang Bi knelt and prostrated himself, saying in a deep voice, "Disciple earnestly requests that the ancestors not lay hands on Chen Shi."
The thirteen ancestral masters were all taken aback, their gazes falling upon him.
"You rely on the Upper Realm, our guidance, the bestowal of various immortal arts, and your own exceptional innate talent to be able to contend with him."
One ancestral master said, "He has none of these. He's like a wild beast, forging himself to be exceptionally strong. If he had your resources..."
Yang Bi said, "Disciple earnestly requests that the ancestors not touch him until Despair Slope is destroyed."
The thirteen ancestral masters understood his meaning. One of them waved his hand, saying, "Yang Shaohu, though you are one we hold in high regard, this matter is not for you to decide. Go and cultivate diligently. We will make our own decision."
Yang Bi rose and withdrew.
The other twelve ancestral masters slightly frowned.
"Yang Shaohu lacks confidence in us. He considers defeat before victory. He intends to keep Chen Shi as a spark of hope, thinking that if we fail in the future, Chen Shi might be the hope of the Western Ox New Continent... Not good! The Demonic Energy is counterattacking! I can't control it anymore!"
The ancestral master who had spoken trembled violently. The thick flesh behind him suddenly tightened, pulling his body towards the void!
The other twelve ancestral masters each mobilized their immortal arts. Immortal light burst forth, illuminating the void and suppressing his demonic transformation.
They saw countless chunks of flesh writhing and wriggling in the void, gradually forming the likeness of that ancestral master, though many times more ferocious. It glared at them maliciously, trying to pull the ancestral master into the void, while itself descended from it!
The group erupted with immortal techniques, blasting apart the demonic flesh. They continuously refined it with immortal light, finally suppressing this wave of demonization.
This ancestral master was the ancestor of the Gao family, named Gao Xuan. He had the appearance of a young man, but now his face was pale, and he panted heavily. In a hoarse voice, he said, "The old path is impassable. It truly is impassable!"
He sounded like a wolf wounded unto death, his voice carrying despair.
"Calm yourself, Brother Gao Xuan. If your Dao Heart shatters, you will end up like the True King."
After a moment, Gao Xuan finally steadied his Dao Heart and said to the others, "I'm fine now, don't worry. What is the deal with that female immortal of Qixia Taoist Temple? Why hasn't she continued to demonize?"
The other ancestral masters were silent.
Gao Xuan's eyes flickered. "The problem isn't with her; it's with Chen Shi."
Back at the White Pearl Palace, the white-clad fairy woke up. Seeing herself lying in bed under a blanket, she quickly lifted the covers and tiptoed out. Just as she stepped out of the room, she saw over a dozen men and women in the White Pearl Palace staring at her in unison.
Startled, the white-clad fairy quickly hid inside Chen Shi's small temple, sitting on the miniature shrine, her heart pounding wildly.
Yan Shaoxuan, quick with her words, laughed and said, "I didn't expect Top Scholar Chen to have a secret beauty hidden away... Wait a moment!"
Her expression changed drastically. She immediately remembered that Yan Xianzhi, the Chief Grand Secretary of the court, had notified the Yan family that there was a white-clad woman beside Chen Shi, the female immortal from Qixia Taoist Temple, a great evil spirit from prehistory!
"Could it be her?"
Her heart trembled. Though this female immortal had the word "immortal" in her name, she was actually a remnant from prehistory, tainted by Demonic Energy. If such a demonic immortal were to appear in the present world, it would likely trigger a Cataclysm-level or Calamity-level catastrophe!
Even if she had been heavily wounded by the Nine Halls of the True King, she probably still possessed Cataclysm-level strength!
"Top Scholar Chen, I am injured and need to heal!"
Yan Shaoxuan made a prompt decision, forcing a trembling laugh. "I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell!"
Without waiting for Chen Shi's reply, she leaped into the air and turned into a streak of fire, darting away. However, her injuries were indeed severe. The streak of fire fell from the sky and crashed into a valley with a thunderous boom.
A flicker of guilt arose in Chen Shi's heart. "Did I hit this girl too hard? Instead of letting her suffer, maybe I should just do her a favor and send her on her way..."
Another streak of fire rose from the valley. Yan Shaoxuan wobbled, struggling to fly further away.
"Top Scholar Chen, I suddenly remembered I have urgent business too! Farewell!"
"Top Scholar Chen, I'll take my leave first!"
"Hahaha, I was just in the middle of alchemy. If I don't check on my furnace, it might explode!"
...
Gao Shaokun, Xu She, and the others all leaped up and flew away from the White Pearl Palace. Some of them were also heavily injured. Some fell from the sky, while others, unable to dodge in time, crashed into the mountains.
Chen Shi watched them go until only Zhang You remained in the White Pearl Palace, not in a hurry to leave.
Chen Shi asked with a smile, "Why haven't you left?"
Zhang You had a smile on his face. "If there were danger, it would have erupted back in the Western Capital."
Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat. He lowered his voice. "Qixia Taoist Temple?"
Zhang You nodded lightly.
Chen Shi let out a sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lift from his heart.
Zhang You asked in surprise, "You're not afraid?"
Chen Shi laughed. "If there were danger, it would have erupted back in the Western Capital."
The two of them looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Chen Shi gazed at the incomparably magnificent landscape of the Upper Realm, feeling carefree and relaxed. "Brother Zhang, I have a question I don't understand and would like your advice. The Thirteen Great Clans possess such a wonderful place. Why do you still hold onto the Western Ox New Continent? Why not move here and become part of the Upper Realm? Why struggle in the Western Ox New Continent?"
Zhang You pondered for a moment, then said, "Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. These are the ambitions of a man..."
Chen Shi interrupted him. "Tell me the truth."
Zhang You had to stop and said, "The Upper Realm cannot sustain life."
Chen Shi was slightly stunned, not understanding his meaning.
"Although the Upper Realm has a sun and moon, the sun and moon cannot make crops grow, and demonization is severe."
Zhang You said, "The spiritual herbs planted here are all watered with immortal energy. If not watered, they will surely die. But immortal energy is too scarce to support many people."
Chen Shi inquired, "What is the Upper Realm lacking that prevents crops from growing?"
Zhang You shook his head. "I don't know."
Chen Shi looked around. He saw towering gods, their divine light holy and pure, with no signs of demonization.
Zhang You said, "Today, I saw you make your move. Under the guise of Li Tianqing, you forcibly suppressed your killing intent, deliberately wounding without killing. It must have been a hard struggle, right?"
Chen Shi glanced at him but said nothing.
"Your prejudice against my Thirteen Great Clans is deep!"
Zhang You turned to face him, his tone extremely sincere. "Brother Chen, the Thirteen Great Clans are not all the profligate children you imagine, nor are they all the worthless good-for-nothings you imagine. You've been to the Western Capital; you've seen the thirteen Cabinet ministers. How were they as officials? Without them, the world would have long since fallen into chaos! Without them controlling the court, who knows how many would have declared themselves kings!"
He raised his arm, pointing at the gods standing tall between heaven and earth. "The purpose of our Thirteen Great Clans' ancestors in creating the Upper Realm was never to lord it over others. It was to accumulate strength, to destroy Despair Slope, to drive away the True God, and to let the true sky reappear in the world! My Thirteen Great Clans have endured from the True King's Era until now, generation after generation, all striving for this goal!"
Chen Shi looked at those vast and mighty gods. "Every generation of the Thirteen Great Clans produces many Return to Emptiness and Great Ascension Realm experts. But the gods of the Upper Realm are mainly the Sect Leaders. After other Return to Emptiness and Great Ascension Realm experts pass away, they don't enter the Upper Realm; they enter the underworld. That's how you've been able to control the underworld."
Zhang You said, "My Thirteen Great Clans spent six thousand years gradually taking control of the underworld. But taking control of the underworld was absolutely not for our own benefit, but to better accumulate strength to fight against Despair Slope and the Celestial True God. The earnest intentions of our Thirteen Great Clans' ancestors have never changed!"
Chen Shi said leisurely, "But what I see is your Thirteen Great Clans monopolizing all resources, leaving the poor with no place to stand, the poor scholars with no way to advance, and those with talent and learning with nowhere to use it. Brother Zhang, do you see this?"
Zhang You hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I see it too."
Chen Shi continued, "From the Xiucai exams, to the provincial graduate exams, to the Presented Scholar exams, to the Top Scholar exams, all have been controlled by the great clans. Ordinary people have no connections; they can only pick what you leave behind. Even if they work hard and become a provincial graduate, they might have to wait ten years or even a lifetime for a small official post. They work their fingers to the bone to become a Presented Scholar, only to end up as a minor ninth-rank or even unranked official. If they don't cling to you, they can't even get this minor post. Brother Zhang, do you see this?"
Zhang You was silent for a moment, then said hoarsely, "I see it."
Chen Shi said, "Have you ever been to the countryside? Have you seen the desolation of people's lives? Have you seen evil spirits running rampant, plaguing the villages? The great clans control the wealth of the court and the countryside, treating the masses as ants, treating them as blood and food, treating them as longevity medicine. To me, you are the greatest evil spirits. If I hadn't borrowed Li Tianqing's name, I couldn't have suppressed my killing intent."
Zhang You exhaled a turbid breath. "You also saw that Li Qianyun, Xia Tianjie, Ma Zhe earlier; they bore you no ill will. In fact, they admired you, looked up to you! They believed that even if you had your Innate Dao Embryo cut away, you would still become a dragon among men! They are the future Sect Leaders of the Thirteen Great Clans. Are these lovely people to be utterly destroyed as well?"
He looked straight at Chen Shi.
Chen Shi averted his gaze, refusing to meet his eyes. "The world has already given the Thirteen Great Clans over six thousand years. You have never been able to change this state of affairs. Instead, you have become one with it, your ties growing deeper and deeper, gradually twisting into the evil spirits looming over people's heads. If you can't do it, give up your seats to those who are capable. Don't block them, don't strangle them."
He paused, then continued, "Six thousand years ago, your intentions were good. But now, you are already an obstacle. Besides, I didn't utterly destroy you. Didn't I hold back just now?"
Zhang You looked into the distance and sighed. "You held back using Li Tianqing's name. If you had used your own name, you would have killed us all. Yang Bi was wrong to invite you here. He should have known that he could never change you. If I were Yang Bi, I would have immediately mobilized the strongest power to eliminate you!"
Chen Shi laughed. "So you are not Yang Bi. Yang Bi sees further than you."
Zhang You nodded lightly. "He indeed sees further than me. His strength is unfathomable. Without a Divine Embryo, you might not be his match."
Chen Shi said, "The heavens' aspect, the earth's aspect are all my aspect. I am who I am. Why would I need a Divine Embryo?"
He paused. "Li Tianqing could defect from the Li family. Brother Zhang, why not defect from the Zhang family?"
Zhang You shook his head. "This method was passed down by my ancestors. This body was given by my parents. This soul is the soul of the Zhang family. Even if I were ground to dust, I would have no regrets."
Chen Shi looked into the distance. "If I have the chance, I will personally send you on your way."
Zhang You came to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. "I haven't even made my move yet. Dare you claim certain victory?"