On the Path to the Great Dao Chapter 224: Kidnapped

Behind them, the experts from the Mountain-Moving Clan and the Hundred Refinents Hall gave chase, their mouths spewing endless curses, but the distance between them and Chen Shi and Black Pot only grew wider. They simply couldn't catch up.

Baili Mu, with the highest cultivation, strained to pursue, yet the distance to that one man and one dog only increased.

He urged his Primordial Spirit forward, but this was the underworld. Yin winds buffeted his face, cold and bone-piercing, which was extrely detrintal to the Primordial Spirit.

Moreover, given the speed of that giant dog, even if he urged his Primordial Spirit to pursue with all his might, he was afraid he still wouldn't catch up.

And in the direction that giant dog was running, a demonic monster more massive than mountain ranges appeared. It had a dragon's head, a long neck, and a dragon's tail, majestically dominating the space between heaven and earth, opening its bloody maw to look this way.

Above the monster's head, there was also a fiery red great sun.

Seeing this scene, Baili Mu dared not pursue further and hurriedly stopped.

The crowd from the Mountain-Moving Clan and the Hundred Refinents Hall saw this and, their hearts filled with fear, also dared not continue the chase.

They watched helplessly as that giant dog, carrying the treasure thief, leapt up, vaulted over the head of the dragon-headed demonic monster, and vanished without a trace.

Baili Mu gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. Suddenly, he saw an indigo-blue giant hand appear from who-knows-where, grabbing that dragon-headed demonic monster in one swoop.

The dragon-headed demonic monster vanished from the underworld.

This scene sent chills down Baili Mu's spine. He imdiately turned and said, "The passage can't be maintained for long. Let's return quickly to avoid attracting underworld ghosts and deities!"

The crowd hurriedly followed him, still reeling from the shocking scene they had just witnessed.

That dragon-headed demonic monster was so massive, with a great sun atop its head. Who would have thought that sudden giant hand would be even larger than that monster!

The underworld truly was mysterious, dangerous, and unpredictable!

Baili Mu's face flickered with changing emotions. For this treasure retrieval operation, the Mountain-Moving Clan and the Hundred Refinents Hall had mobilized over thirteen hundred people, planned for more than three months, and allocated forty thousand taels of silver from both families' treasuries to purchase various talismans and talisman-weapons.

This trip was originally a sure thing, absolutely certain to secure the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword, present it to the Young Master, and earn his appreciation and favor. Saintess Xuan could also thereby gain the Young Master's attention, fulfilling the beauty's wish. Wouldn't that be perfect for both?

But out of nowhere, one man and one dog had appeared, snatching the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword away just as they were about to succeed!

They arrived at the location of the circular formation. Baili Mu looked and saw over ten people injured, all pierced through the body by Chen Shi's Wuwang Spear.

Fortunately, Chen Shi had no intent to kill, only seriously wounding them, not delivering fatal blows.

Baili Mu grunted heavily, his body trembling slightly.

In this life, he had suffered quite a few losses.

In his early years, after passing the xiucai examination, he thought himself imnsely talented and learned. Unexpectedly, during the provincial examination, his spot was taken by soone else through connections. He went to the authorities to protest, filed a complaint against the person who usurped his spot, but was instead beaten forty strokes with the board by the officials and thrown into prison, locked up for three years before being released.

After his release, he was a man with a criminal record. Wanting to take the provincial exam again beca impossible.

Later, after achieving so success in his studies, he killed the person who replaced him, along with the county magistrate who sentenced him to prison.

That was a significant loss.

But he had taken his revenge.

However, this ti's loss was even greater!

How should he avenge this debt?

Saintess Xuan walked over and said, "Sect Leader Baili, from what I saw just now, that dragon-headed giant beast should be called Chaofeng. Although I didn't see it clearly, I believe that object is likely an incense burner."

Baili Mu was stunned. "An incense burner?"

Saintess Xuan said, "It should be an incense burner. Chaofeng is a divine beast, a son of the true dragon. How could it appear in the underworld? I once heard my master say there is a freeholder who cultivates strange spells that can make objects from the yang world appear incredibly massive and terrifying in the underworld, to scare away ghosts and deities. It's most likely that freeholder performing a spell, making the incense burner appear imnsely large. Actually, Chaofeng is the portal back to the yang world, which is why that giant dog could leap out from above its head."

She hesitated for a mont, then said, "That giant hand that grabbed Chaofeng was most likely that freeholder's palm."

Baili Mu's mouth twitched. He suddenly flicked his sleeve and said, "No matter who it is, anyone who steals the Young Master's treasure can forget about leaving Great South Lake alive! Let's go!"

Seething with murderous intent, he led the crowd away from the underworld.

Saintess Xuan also returned to the yang world. She took out a Thousand-li Communication Talisman and said, "I'll imdiately contact my master to ask who that freeholder cultivating strange arts is. Sect Leader, please be patient for a mont."

On the small island at the center of Great South Lake, about three to five hundred li from Gongzhou, a man and a dog suddenly burst out from the altar on the sacrificial platform, rolled once on the platform, and leapt up.

Chen Shi brandished the long spear in his hand excitedly and said, "The Dragon Whisker Brush, secured! Granny, we can go back!"

Granny Sha said in surprise, "So fast?"

Chen Shi showed the long spear in his hand, flicked the new "spear tip," and said with a smile, "I had just entered the underworld when I discovered this treasure fighting with so treasure hunters. So I took advantage of the chaos, charged forward, and snatched it."

Granny Sha examined the "spear tip" and asked doubtfully, "Isn't this object a sword? Why is it called the Dragon Whisker Brush?"

Chen Shi guessed, "This is a magic treasure used by judges in the underworld. Perhaps after being broken, it transford into the shape of a sword."

Granny Sha had heard of similar things before and didn't dwell on it. She stepped forward to put away the incense burner, extinguished the incense offerings, and had the three great Ghost Kings move the altar.

The boat girl examined the new "spear tip" and asked doubtfully, "This is the Judge's Brush? I've never seen such a strange brush tip. This should be a sword, right? Look, there's even a sword hilt here!"

Granny Sha sneered, "Girl, what's your position in the underworld?"

The boat girl answered honestly, "Underworld officer."

Granny Sha inquired, "How far are you from being a judge?"

The boat girl said, "Above underworld officers are underworld generals, then underworld marshals, and only after that cos judge."

Granny Sha laughed, "You're so far from being a judge, so it's clear you lack knowledge too."

The boat girl flushed red and dared not say anything more.

Although her status among underworld officers wasn't low, she had only seen the Judge's Brush from a distance before and never examined it closely.

The three boarded the boat. The boat girl untied the mooring rope, activated the Wind Talisman, and the painted pleasure boat sailed back along the route they ca.

Chen Shi was playing with the "Judge's Brush," brandishing it, performing a fancy spear flourish. It was covered in silver light, like a silvery-white blooming flower.

Only, the "brush tip" hadn't been offered incense yet and hadn't had its power activated.

Rembering what the Wuwang Prefect said about "sacrificial refinent," he took out so incense from the cart, lit it, and made an offering to the snatched "brush tip."

The energy of the incense offerings curled up, splitting into two parts that drifted separately toward the brush shaft and the "brush tip."

Seeing this, Granny Sha laughed, "They're dividing it quite clearly. It seems this little couple has been separated too long and is throwing a tantrum!"

The boat girl saw this and also marveled in wonder.

After one stick of incense had burned, the boat girl stepped forward and said softly, "Pri... Young Master Chen, may this humble servant touch this Judge's Brush?"

Chen Shi casually handed it over and said with a smile, "Why not? Feel free to take it and look."

The boat girl hurriedly received it with both hands, examined the spear shaft and "spear tip," gently stroked it, treating it as a priceless treasure, unable to put it down.

Granny Sha quietly gripped the handle of the horn-shaped Underworld Lamp, watching her warily in case this woman turned hostile after getting the Judge's Brush.

After all, the Judge's Brush was famous far and wide, a magic treasure of underworld judges, its power many tis greater than the horn-shaped Underworld Lamp.

The boat girl was an underworld officer. If she could refine and use this treasure, even Granny Sha probably wouldn't be her match.

The boat girl was incredibly excited, gently stroking the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword that was the spear tip, her heart surging with emotion. "Now, I can actually touch the Judge's Brush. I wonder when I'll be able to use such a treasure? If I could also obtain a Book of Life and Death, I could record births and deaths for people..."

Just then, a deep, resonant dragon roar ca. A giant dragon brushed past the painted pleasure boat, swimming leisurely through the mist.

The three people and one dog on the boat were all stunned.

The boat girl looked at the Judge's Brush in her hand, then stared dumbfounded at the dragon body swimming outside the boat, montarily failing to process it.

Suddenly, the Wuwang Spear violently shook, dislodging the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword. With a whoosh, it shot through the air.

The boat girl's hands were now empty. She hurriedly grabbed but caught nothing.

The Wuwang Spear was extrely fast, plunging into the mist, heading straight for that giant dragon.

The boat girl hurriedly leapt up, jumping into the mist.

"My Judge's Brush!" ca her cry from within the mist.

Granny Sha snapped out of it, lifted the horn-shaped Underworld Lamp, and leapt out of the painted pleasure boat, chasing after her. She shouted angrily, "Since when was it your Judge's Brush? Ghost girl, return the Judge's Brush to this old woman!"

The painted pleasure boat drifted leisurely on the lake surface. Chen Shi stood dumbly on the boat. The dragon roar faded into the distance. The Judge's Brush, the boat girl, and Granny Sha had all vanished without a trace.

That Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword stood quietly inserted in the deck, its blade trembling slightly, its sword light like water, illuminating the surroundings.

Chen Shi ca to his senses, reached out to grab the sword hilt, and pulled the precious sword up. Only then did he have ti to examine this sword carefully.

He saw the entire sword was like water, as if it had no stable form, yet one could definitely touch the blade.

Within its blade seed to hide a juvenile dragon, swimming within this pool of watery sword light.

This was the first ti Chen Shi had observed this sword closely. He raised his sword-finger and lightly touched the blade. The juvenile dragon inside the sword stopped, curiously staring at his fingertip, following the movent of his finger as it swam.

Chen Shi's sword-finger moved slowly from the ricasso to the sword tip. The juvenile dragon also swung its body, paddled its limbs, and followed, swimming to the sword tip.

But when Chen Shi's sword-finger left the sword tip, it couldn't follow and fly out. It grew anxious, its limbs scrambling, its tail wagging.

The juvenile dragon within the sword was extrely affectionate toward him.

Chen Shi continued examining it. This sword had almost no ricasso, and the poml end of the hilt had no decoration at all. It wasn't born for gripping, but for sacrificial sword rites.

"You really aren't the tip of the Judge's Brush?" Chen Shi murmured.

The juvenile dragon inside the sword coiled up, gnawed on a claw, shook its head, then secretly lifted another claw, pointing toward the incense in the wooden cart.

Chen Shi examined it several tis over, a sense of absurdity growing within him.

He had co here to find the tip of the Judge's Brush. The tip had transford into a dragon, repeatedly emitting dragon roars within Great South Lake, which was why he thought the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword was the tip while in the underworld.

Who would have thought it wasn't!

"Then, haven't I taken a treasure that others worked hard to find?" A twinge of guilt arose in his heart.

Especially rembering he had injured many people, the guilt grew stronger.

"If I et the original owners, I'll return this treasure to them. Although this treasure is good, there are many treasures in the world. I'll just find another unowned treasure."

Chen Shi stood on the painted pleasure boat. The surrounding mist grew heavier, making it hard to distinguish direction.

Not knowing the direction, he extinguished the Wind Talisman on the boat to prevent the painted pleasure boat from wandering and getting lost.

The painted pleasure boat was the boat girl's treasure. Presumably, she wouldn't abandon it and would definitely co looking for it.

Chen Shi waited for a good while. Black Pot barked twice. Seeing that dusk was approaching and the boat girl and Granny Sha still hadn't returned, he couldn't help but grow anxious.

"The Wuwang Spear is the Wuwang Prefect's magic treasure, given to to find the tip of the Judge's Brush. Now I haven't found the tip, and the Wuwang Spear has been lured away. How do I explain this to the Prefect?"

If he returned to Wuwang City empty-handed, his tongue would most likely fly away.

Chen Shi could no longer sit still. He stood up and said, "Black Pot, you stay on the boat and watch the cart. I'll go find the Wuwang Spear and that brush tip!"

He had just stood up when Black Pot's paw pressed on his shoulder.

Chen Shi turned his head to see Black Pot slowly shaking his head, pointing at the incense offerings in the cart.

Chen Shi understood and laughed. "I'm so concerned I'm getting confused, overlooking things. Let's feed this little guy first."

He set up the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword as an offering, took out three bundles of incense, lit them all at once, and inserted them before the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword.

The juvenile dragon inside the sword absorbed the energy of the incense offerings. At first, it was fine, utterly intoxicated, but gradually it beca a bit dizzy and unsteady, swaying drunkenly inside the sword.

Seeing this, Chen Shi hurriedly extinguished two bundles.

But even with only one bundle left, the juvenile dragon inside the sword couldn't handle it, acting as if heavily intoxicated.

Chen Shi ultimately left only three sticks of incense burning. Only then did it return to normal.

While Chen Shi was making the incense offerings, Black Pot had already caught several large fish, started cooking the fish, and gestured for him not to rush, to eat before leaving.

Chen Shi had no choice but to stay on the painted pleasure boat to eat. Unconsciously, the sun closed its eyes, and the moon opened its own.

But the mist still hadn't dispersed. The lake surface was a vast expanse of white, with soul-shaking dragon roars coming from ti to ti.

"The dragon roar is still there, aning the Wuwang Spear hasn't subdued the brush tip. Instead, it was seduced by the brush tip, abandoning being a spear to beco a dragon!" Chen Shi frowned slightly.

Now, he could only pin his hopes on the incense offerings he made earlier still having so effect.

Otherwise, with his current cultivation and strength, he absolutely could not subdue the complete Judge's Brush!

After finishing his dinner, the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword, having absorbed the energy of the incense offerings, was also full, its belly round. It was lying comfortably inside the sword, stroking its belly.

Chen Shi ford a Sword Seal with his hand, his mind slightly moved. Imdiately, he felt a sense of ntal connection with the juvenile dragon inside this sword.

He gently moved his sword-finger, and the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword also slowly rose, floating in the air, moving according to his sword-finger.

Chen Shi's sword-finger perford Thrust, Lift, Cloud, Chop, Slash, Wipe. The sword was like a swimming dragon, following his Sword Seal to perform Thrust, Lift, Cloud, Chop, Slash, Wipe moves. The sword was like flowing light, darting back and forth, incredibly swift, even several tis faster than the sword qi of Chen Shi's Ziwu Evil-Slaying Sword!

Chen Shi was both shocked and delighted. "This sword suits perfectly!"

He then rembered he had stolen soone else's precious sword and thought, "Forget it. Although this object is excellent, it wasn't sothing I found. When I find the rightful owner, I'll return it to them."

"Black Pot, you and the wooden cart stay here!"

Chen Shi leapt out of the painted pleasure boat into the mist. The Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword moved with him, floating at the temple door of the small temple behind his head, only half a foot away from him.

No matter which direction Chen Shi moved, it remained steadily half a foot away from Chen Shi, neither more nor less, not increasing or decreasing.

Suddenly, a lake breeze blew, dispersing so of the mist. Moonlight spilled down from above, shining upon the Swimming Dragon Sword.

The precious sword reflected the moonlight. Its radiance was like a dark spring flowing. Wherever it illuminated, the scenery of the underworld was revealed in minute detail, as if opening a passage into the underworld along the spring water!