On the Path to the Great Dao Chapter 275: Subduing Them 24

Granny Sha shook her head and said, "Unless you can mobilize over a dozen Great Ascension Realm experts, you might have a chance to fight him. Little Ten, just give up on this idea."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about this matter. Focus on recuperating. I'll handle it myself."

Even if Granny Sha and the others wanted to worry, they were powerless to do anything. They also knew he always had his own ideas, so they didn't ask further.

Black Pot's speed in the underworld was even faster than in the mortal world. He delivered them to Gaoshan County in the latter half of the night. However, while Chen Shi could activate the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword to send them into the underworld, he didn't know how to activate the sword to return to the mortal world.

Granny Sha borrowed the Swimming Dragon Sword, examined it for a mont, and said, "This object was ford from the dragon energy of mortal world mountain ranges, nurtured for thousands of years. However, soone disrupted its formation, tainting it with Yellow Spring energy. Wanting to enter the mortal world is actually simple. Just raise this treasure and activate it with yang energy, and you can enter the mortal world."

She mobilized her own pure yang energy, raised the Swimming Dragon Sword. The sharp sword soared into the air, slicing open the boundary between yin and yang. On the other side was a quiet street, with the sound of "bang bang" coming through—a night watchman striking his wooden clapper.

Judging by the sound, it was already the fourth watch.

Everyone walked out of the underworld and arrived on that mortal world street.

Suddenly, there was a clattering sound. Everyone looked toward the noise and saw the night watchman who had been striking the clapper drop it on the ground. He stared at them in terror, turned around, and ran for his life as if he had seen a ghost.

Granny Sha returned the Dark Spring Swimming Dragon Sword to Chen Shi and said, "Regarding the consecration and refinent of this sword, you've only perford the consecration part, not the refinent. You should temper it repeatedly with both yin and yang energy to unleash its maximum effect. Yin energy can activate this sword to traverse the underworld; yang energy can activate it to traverse the mortal world."

Chen Shi said in surprise, "I thought moonlight was necessary to make this sword open the path to the underworld."

He escorted Granny Sha and the others to the Red Mountain Hall branch, then dragged Blue Goat's corpse out of the Wooden Cart, climbed onto the roof, and placed it under the moonlight to dry.

Not long after, Blue Goat ca back to life, reconnected his broken bones, and jumped down from the roof. However, his injuries were too severe. The jump jolted his Primordial Spirit, and he died again.

Chen Shi sent him back to the roof to continue drying.

When Blue Goat revived a second ti, he behaved much more obediently, quietly basking in the moonlight on the roof.

Chen Shi also picked so spiritual herbs from the small temple and gave them to the three. Their complexions improved sowhat.

Only then did Chen Shi feel at ease. He bid farewell to Zhuge Jian and left Gaoshan County with Black Pot and the Wooden Cart, heading toward the Western Capital.

The sky was already bright by the ti they reached the Western Capital. The morning roll call ti had long passed. Chen Shi hesitated for a mont, looking in the direction of the Guangji Treasury. He thought to himself, "I still need to deal with Zhong Kui. I can't go see who they plan to ambush."

He felt quite regretful but did not go to the Guangji Treasury. Instead, he headed straight for the Western Capital's Xinxiang Guildhall.

About three or four li away from the Guangji Treasury, several shepherds were grazing their sheep. The flock consisted entirely of ewes, all with large bellies. Not far away were several cows, also with large bellies, scattered across a dozen or so acres of grassland nearby.

Besides them, under a tea shed, there were two or three pregnant won with large bellies. They supported their lower backs with both hands, eating matcha cakes, drinking sweet water, chatting and laughing cheerfully. However, their eyes kept scanning their surroundings from ti to ti.

On the road, there were n carrying firewood and sedan chair bearers resting under a tree. Inside the sedan sat a plump woman holding a floral handkerchief, constantly wiping her sweat. She then shook the handkerchief and scolded the bearers, urging them to hurry.

This scene was idyllic, pastoral. Only the plump woman seed out of place, like the matron of a high-ranking official's family in the Western Capital out for a spring outing.

"He should be coming by now."

Several shepherds looked toward the post road, each showing a puzzled expression.

"Just a few days into his appointnt as Grand Emissary of the Guangji Treasury, and he's already skipping the morning roll call? What a spoiled young master, treating the laws of the Great Ming as nothing!" one shepherd said indignantly.

The old man selling tea under the shed approached the pregnant won and whispered, "Can you still hold on?"

One of the won propped her back against the table, gritted her pearly white teeth, and forced words through them: "Yes! For the Young Master's great undertaking, the child can be born a few days late! We must ambush this scoundrel!"

Another woman said, "Ouch! He's kicking !"

A third woman cried out, "Oh no! I think I'm about to give birth!"

"Hold on! Hold on! We must at least deal with that kid Chen Shi!" The others encouraged her.

The woman couldn't hold on any longer and was carried away to give birth.

The plump woman in the sedan was Shen Hongniang, the hall master of the Matchmaker House. Her large belly wasn't due to pregnancy but simply because she was extrely fat.

The sedan bearers' trembling legs weren't entirely an act either; carrying her was genuinely exhausting.

The Matchmaker House's influence spanned fifty provinces. Although it was considered a lowly business, it was an excellent one.

The Western Capital was a good place, full of powerful and noble families, abundant desires, a world of wine and song, rampant materialism, giving rise to many strange and unusual hobbies. Among the high officials and nobles, affairs between n and won were common, requiring matchmakers to act as go-betweens.

Shen Hongniang conducted this business in the Western Capital.

She held in her hands the secrets of countless high-ranking officials and celebrities. Staying alive to this day relied entirely on these secrets.

She knew these secrets could protect her life but also end it. That's why she pledged allegiance to the Young Master, earning his appreciation, which allowed her to survive until now.

Today's setup to kill Chen Shi was also to repay the Young Master's kindness.

More cows and sheep were about to give birth, yet Chen Shi still hadn't arrived.

Shen Hongniang's expression began to falter. She clenched her floral handkerchief, gritted her teeth, and said, "This is how the Great Ming falls! On the fourth day of his appointnt as Grand Emissary of the Guangji Treasury, he's already lazy and absent! Today he dares not go to the Guangji Treasury; tomorrow he'll dare to empty it!"

A sedan bearer cautiously asked, "Do we still wait?"

"Wait!" Shen Hongniang clenched her teeth.

They waited like this until the afternoon. Everyone was starving, and Chen Shi still hadn't co.

A few more cows and sheep gave birth and were led away by the shepherds. However, the two pregnant won were still holding on.

"Could it be that Chen Shi isn't coming to work today?" soone whispered.

Shen Hongniang laughed in extre anger. "We've been waiting for him since the third watch! Now the sun is about to set, and he still hasn't co! Is this Guangji Treasury still the place where he earns his imperial salary? What are the officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice doing? What is the Eastern Depot doing? Are they letting this beast do as he pleases?"

"Hall Master, what should we do now?" a bearer asked.

Shen Hongniang's tone was stiff. "Withdraw! Go back and rest! Tomorrow at the third watch, be here on ti!"

Everyone wore bitter expressions and exchanged glances.

Several bearers imdiately lifted the sedan and headed toward the Western Capital.

Shen Hongniang's eyes flashed. She sneered coldly, "You can skip today, but can you skip tomorrow too? After all, this is the place where you serve!"

Chen Shi sat in the Wooden Cart as it rumbled along, leaving the Western Capital and heading toward Death Valley in Duxian County.

Black Pot ran swiftly in front of the Wooden Cart. Nannan rode on the dog's back, giggling incessantly.

Chen Shi's visit to the Xinxiang Guildhall this ti was to inform Hu Feifei that he was taking Nannan out. Hu Feifei originally intended to co along but was persuaded by him to stay back.

For these two days and one night, he hadn't closed his eyes to sleep for a single mont. He had been running around—first from the Western Capital to Death Valley, then from the underworld to Gaoshan County, then back to the Western Capital, and now from the Western Capital to Death Valley again. Sitting in the cart now, he was drowsy and on the verge of sleep.

Suddenly, Chen Shi woke up and looked around. He thought to himself, "The place where we encountered the remnant should be nearby!"

This was East Mountain, one of the three mountains surrounding the Western Capital. The Wooden Cart passed through the mountain post road. They saw majestic high mountains but not the enormous black iron pillar.

Chen Shi stopped the cart, raised the Swimming Dragon Sword, activated pure yin energy, and with one slash, separated the yin and yang realms. He poked his head through to look into the underworld.

His head appeared in the sky of the underworld. As he was surveying the area, he turned his head and saw that enormous pillar.

Chen Shi pulled his head back and looked behind him but saw nothing.

"Strange, truly strange!"

He tried several more tis, but the result was the sa.

"This location in the underworld has a huge pillar, but the mortal world doesn't. Could it be that in the era of the remnant, there was also an underworld?"

He had no ti to study it carefully and continued driving the cart forward.

By the ti they reached Duxian County, Nannan couldn't hold on anymore and had fallen asleep in the cart. Chen Shi didn't go directly to Death Valley. Instead, he went to an inn in the county town, booked a room, and placed the little girl in the bed.

Nannan woke up as soon as she got into the bed, staring at him with her pitch-black, sparkling eyes.

"Big Brother, Nannan is hungry," she whispered.

Chen Shi lifted her out of the bed, took her downstairs, and went to the night market in Duxian County to find sothing to eat.

Black Pot and the Wooden Cart followed behind and also got their fill.

The next day, Nannan didn't wake up until the Si hour. Chen Shi didn't wake her early either. Instead, he went outside the city early to find a secluded place to practice the Xiao Lang Imperial Chapter Technique. After practicing for half a shichen, he returned to the county town, bought so black dog blood and cinnabar, and traced the talismans on the Wooden Cart and the parasol.

When Nannan woke up, Chen Shi took her to eat again. Nannan played and caused a ruckus with Black Pot for a while before they finally set off for Death Valley.

During the You hour, right when the private school let out, in the Forget Worry Town of Death Valley, many children rushed out of the private school, running wildly outside.

The private school teacher, Yong Nan, chased after them from behind, saying, "Don't run too fast, you'll fall! It's almost dark, don't leave the town!"

Although he was ugly and tall, his personality was gentle, and he treated these children very well.

After all the students left, Yong Nan locked the door. Outside, an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl was waiting for him. She had two braids hanging in front of her chest, pitch-black and shiny. She smiled and said, "Brother, we have a guest at ho, waiting for you!"

"A guest?"

Yong Nan was surprised and followed his sister, Yong Xin'er, ho.

He was nineteen this year, the sa age as his sister, born from the sa womb. However, his sister was fair, delicate, and lovely, while he was extrely ugly.

After his sister Yong Xin'er grew up, matchmakers practically wore out their threshold. However, many ca to ask for his sister to beco a concubine for wealthy families. He was furious and drove these matchmakers away. He didn't know who he offended because of this, but since then, not a single matchmaker had co.

Soone told him that the matchmakers he drove away were from the Matchmaker House. By offending the Matchmaker House, his sister could forget about getting married.

Therefore, although his sister was already nineteen, no one had co to propose marriage.

So ti ago, a man nad Zhuge Jian ca. He was quite handso, just a bit older.

He followed his sister ho and saw a Wooden Cart parked outside the door. A black dog sat in front of the cart, smiling at him.

Yong Nan raised his expressive eyebrows.

They entered the house and saw a young man holding a little girl's hand, sitting in the courtyard, chatting with his parents.

Seeing him enter, the young man stood up, holding the little girl's hand, and smiled, "Brother Yong Nan, you gave quite the chase last night."

Yong Nan's gaze fell on the little girl beside him, and his expression changed abruptly.

At that very mont, the two suns in the sky slowly closed. The True God's eyes stread with blazing divine fire, spreading across tens of thousands of li of sky, forming a high-altitude sea of fire like red clouds.

The Celestial True God's vertical eye in his forehead fully opened, transforming into a crescent moon hanging in the sky.

Moonlight spilled onto the earth.

Simultaneously, the surroundings suddenly turned dark and oppressive. Forget Worry Town disappeared. Ghost fires flickered around them. They had already arrived in the underworld!

The two thousand-zhang-tall ghost gods, Black and White Impermanence, stood behind Nannan and Chen Shi.

Black Pot transford into a giant dog, standing on demonic flas, right behind Yong Nan.

And Yong Nan transford into an even taller, crimson-clad ghost god, his demonic aura profound, accompanied by an imnsely powerful extraordinary power.

He didn't attack. Instead, he looked in shock behind Nannan.

Behind Nannan, in the sky of the underworld, hung a crescent moon.

A crescent moon completely different from the one ford by the Celestial True God's vertical eye!

Zhong Kui stared at this crescent moon, his mind greatly shaken.

"Your student, Zhong Kui, pays his respects to the Righteous and Incorruptible Official!" He went down on one knee and stepped forward to salute.

Nannan looked up at this incredibly massive ghost god, her expression solemn. "This official is still in a child's body. There's no need for excessive courtesy!"

She felt sowhat anxious inside. This line was taught by Chen Shi. She had been practicing it haltingly the whole way. If she couldn't learn it, he wouldn't take her out to play at night.

Zhong Kui stood up and said, "This place is not suitable to linger. I fear other ghost gods might appear. If they discover the whereabouts of the Righteous and Incorruptible Official, we won't be able to escape! Let's talk outside."

He waved his sleeve, and the three humans and the dog reappeared in the Yong family courtyard.

Black and White Impermanence also concealed themselves and disappeared.

A mont later, Chen Shi and Zhong Kui stood on the stone bridge of the small town. Water flowed under the bridge. Nannan rode Black Pot, running around everywhere.

Chen Shi briefly explained how he discovered Nannan and said, "I heard that a great upheaval occurred in the underworld, and many ghost gods are searching for the whereabouts of the Righteous and Incorruptible Official. I'm also very worried about the Official's safety, so I took the liberty of visiting, humbly requesting Your Excellency to erge and assist."

Zhong Kui said, "For the safety of the Righteous and Incorruptible Official, duty calls!"

Chen Shi inquired, "Who is Tie Chi? Is he also an underworld officer from the underworld?"

"He is the underworld marshal Ox-Head Rakshasa. He and I were pursued and ambushed together and had no choice but to reincarnate here."

Zhong Kui said, "When the two of us were born, we didn't speak. Even when our buttocks were beaten until they blood, we didn't exhale our last breath, finally rembering who we were. However, limited by our mortal bodies, during the day I am Yong Nan, with cultivation only at the Nascent Soul realm. Only at night can I manifest my true form. Tie Chi is the sa."

"That's more than enough."

Chen Shi bead with smiles and said, "I have one more matter to ask for your help, brother."

"What is it? Speak freely."

The next night, as darkness fell and lanterns were lit, the Western Capital remained extrely lively.

The Boatman and the Boat Girl moored their painted pleasure boat at the dock of the Qu Shang River, soliciting custors. At that mont, Chen Shi brought a crimson-clad, burly man with a leopard-like head and round eyes onto the boat.

"So we're here to beat up this father and daughter pair?" the crimson-clad burly man asked.

The Boat Girl imdiately sensed trouble and quickly threw a aningful glance at her father, signaling him to flee.

The Boatman hadn't quite understood yet and was puzzled.

The Boat Girl imdiately grabbed his hand and turned to flee. Just then, they heard a *thud*. A man as solid as an iron tower jumped from the shore onto the deck, blocking their retreat.

That burly man had a fierce, muscular build, with a bulging forehead as if horns were about to sprout.

The Boat Girl's expression changed abruptly.

Chen Shi, with a smile on his face, said, "You must beat them until they agree to go save my mother. Well then, I'll trouble the two of you."

Zhong Kui walked toward the father and daughter.