On the Path to the Great Dao Chapter 282: Testing the Waters 44

Chen Tang landed and threw the two chopsticks back into the chopstick holder on the table in the main hall.

He still had strength to spare and did not injure Chen Shi, instead severing all of Chen Shi's senses to make him fall asleep.

Chen Tang carried Chen Shi back to his room to rest, tucked him in, and sat by the bed watching the sleeping Chen Shi, his gaze softening a few degrees.

The Chen Shi lying on the bed overlapped with the tiny Chen Shi in his mory.

He still rembered Old Lady Wuzhu smiling and telling him after the delivery that it was a boy, he could go in and see now. He carefully lifted the door curtain, afraid to let the wind from outside blow on his wife and child.

He held the tiny Chen Shi in swaddling clothes, looking at this newborn baby, when suddenly joy surged over him, his eyes involuntarily filling with tears.

He had a feeling that his own bloodline was flowing within this tiny infant, as if his own life had extended into this child.

From this mont on, he was no longer afraid of death. He could do anything for this family, for this child, even at the cost of his life.

Because he knew that this child would carry a part of him to live on in this world, to continue.

Moreover, this child would eventually have children of his own, passing on this bloodline continuously, and thus he, Chen Tang, would achieve a kind of immortality in another sense.

He walked out of the room and said to Black Pot, "He is very good, always able to surprise ."

Black Pot wagged his tail with great satisfaction.

"You have also done very well, teaching him well," Chen Tang said.

Black Pot was slightly taken aback, looking up at him, silently thinking to himself, "This battle has shaken the master greatly."

The battle between the father and son of the Chen family caused an even greater shock in the Western Capital.

The various Heaven's Listeners monitoring the Chen residence were squatting on the walls of other houses outside the Chen residence, so perched on eaves, so hanging upside down from trees, rapidly recording the destruction caused by Chen Shi's sword energy and the sophistication of Chen Tang's Mysterious Subtle Sword Scripture.

There was also an unlucky Heaven's Listener who was pierced through the body by Chen Shi's sword energy and was currently falling from an upside-down branch, landing with a thud on the ground.

Imdiately, bailiffs from the Gongtian Prefecture erged from the shadows, dragged the body away, and three or five others brought buckets of water to clean the ground. After finishing this, they quietly hid back in the darkness, continuing to watch the Chen residence.

anwhile, inside the Chen residence, four maids, three servants, including the steward Chen Fu, each hurried out of the Chen residence under cover of darkness, arriving at a nearby alley where soone ca to et them. These maids and servants then vividly described the process of the battle between the father and son of the Chen family to the newcor.

The newcor hurried away.

At the sa ti, minor officials from the Directorate of Astronomy monitored the sight of sword energy piercing through the sky, while others flew out to search for the ends of the sword energy, rapidly recording it, and many more minor officials buried their heads in writing, compiling various data.

Not long after, a detailed report on Chen Shi and Chen Tang's strength was placed on the desks of the leaders of the Thirteen Great Clans in the Western Capital.

Yan Xianzhi, Zhang Fuzheng, Gao Quan, and others imdiately opened these reports and read them carefully.

At the sa ti, a report was also delivered to the desks of many high-ranking officials in the Eastern Depot, the Five Armies, the Divine chanism, the Divine Pivot, the Three Dukes, and other institutions.

Finally, a report on Chen Shi and Chen Tang also appeared on the desk of Qin Su, the Gentleman of the Interior of the Fu Zheng Pavilion.

Qin Su got up, put on his clothes, read through the night, his expression gradually turning grave, then quickly dressed and walked out of the Jiexiu Hall.

Outside the Jiexiu Hall, a minor official from the Directorate of Astronomy had been waiting for a long ti. Upon eting, he bowed in greeting.

Qin Su did not return the courtesy, simply waved his hand, stamped his foot, and clouds and wind rose beneath his feet, carrying the two of them as they flew toward the city outskirts.

The minor official from the Directorate of Astronomy said, "Sir, this action is easily noticed by outsiders and will be recorded."

"Can't worry about that now," Qin Su said.

The minor official from the Directorate of Astronomy had no choice but to point out the direction. Qin Su rode the wind and clouds swiftly out of the city, arriving soon after a hundred li away.

This place was already far from the Western Capital, reaching the back mountains of the Western Capital.

The Western Capital was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with steep and treacherous terrain. The Five Armies guarded the mountains, holding strategic positions.

Few people would enter the mountains at night due to the many dangers, but Qin Su, skilled and bold, ca to a cliff face in the middle of the night. The minor official from the Directorate of Astronomy said, "This is the place. Sir, look up."

Qin Su looked up and saw a sword mark on the cliff face, piercing into the cliff.

The sword mark was no wider than two fingers, extrely thin.

"So narrow?"

Qin Su's expression changed instantly. He flew up to the sword mark and extended two fingers to compare.

He was comparing sword fingers. Sword fingers require joining the index and middle fingers; the width of these two fingers is the width of the sword energy.

After a brief comparison, Qin Su found the sword mark slightly narrower than his two fingers, clearly indicating the person who wielded the sword energy was a youth.

"The straight-line distance from here to the Chen residence is one hundred and seventeen li," the minor official from the Directorate of Astronomy said.

Qin Su's voice was sowhat hoarse as he said, "Sword energy reaching over a hundred li away is the cultivation level of the Spirit Transformation realm. One hundred and seventeen li, the sword energy condensed without dispersing, without any expansion, still as if flying from the fingertips—this level of control is sothing ordinary Spirit Transformation realm cultivators simply cannot achieve!"

He felt only terror.

Even a beam of light, shining from over a hundred li away to here, would have expanded many tis over!

But Chen Shi's sword energy was exactly as wide as when it flew from his fingertip, with almost no change at all. This was the most terrifying part!

This was monster-level control. In the history of the Western Ox New Continent, those who could achieve this at the Nascent Soul realm were absolutely unique. Probably only Chen Shi alone could accomplish this!

Qin Su steadied his mind, his Primordial Spirit flew out, delving deep into the cliff face, following the sword mark to find out just how deep Chen Shi's sword energy had pierced into the cliff.

His Primordial Spirit entered the mountain body for over a zhang before finally stopping.

Chen Shi's sword energy had exhausted its power right here.

Qin Su withdrew his Primordial Spirit, his expression grave.

"Young Master, you have a rival... Let's go back!"

He hurriedly returned to the Western Capital with the minor official from the Directorate of Astronomy. He did not tell the Young Master about this matter but instead gathered the mbers of the Fu Zheng Pavilion overnight and recounted his experience tracking Chen Shi's sword energy.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed slightly.

Qin Su then handed over the materials compiled and recorded by various forces regarding the battle between Chen Shi and Chen Tang for everyone to read.

After Dou Qi, Cao Yunning, and others had read through it, their expressions all turned grave.

"Will Chen Shi be a match for the Young Master?" Chief Clerk Tang Baling inquired.

Qin Su said, "I don't know exactly what level the Young Master's strength has reached. He executed Du Wanshu, the Judicial Commissioner of Zhenzhou, in one move. Du Wanshu was also at the Spirit Transformation realm. Although he was killed in one move, we cannot infer the Young Master's strength based on Du Wanshu's capabilities."

Everyone frowned.

Although they were the Young Master's people, the Young Master was, after all, their master. They knew little about the Young Master's true strength.

—Sotis a master needs to maintain a necessary sense of mystery; otherwise, it's difficult to be a ruler.

"The Young Master is still cultivating in Chief Administrator's Realm of Emptiness. Can't we just ask the Chief Administrator to find out?" Dou Qi said.

Qin Su hesitated for a mont, then slowly nodded.

They went to see the Chief Administrator.

The Chief Administrator of the Fu Zheng Pavilion was surnad Shui, given na Xuanzhi, a being at the Great Ascension Realm, with a mysterious and unfathomable background.

He didn't look very old either, only in his forties or fifties, but a Great Ascension Realm cultivator like this was the most terrifying kind.

Reaching the Great Ascension Realm in one's forties or fifties ant he had cultivated in the Return to Emptiness realm for at most ten years before breaking through this realm and entering the Great Ascension!

Everyone paid their respects to Shui Xuanzhi and explained their purpose.

Shui Xuanzhi was silent for a mont, then said, "The Young Master's strength surpasses Chen Shi's."

A weight lifted from everyone's hearts, and they breathed a sigh of relief.

Since Chief Administrator Shui Xuanzhi said the Young Master surpassed Chen Shi, then he definitely surpassed Chen Shi. There would be no mistake.

"But Chen Shi's cultivation speed is faster than the Young Master's," Shui Xuanzhi said.

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts tightened.

Qin Su said decisively, "Impossible! Chief Administrator, this is absolutely impossible! The Young Master cultivates a family heirlom technique. In terms of techniques, no one can surpass it! Although the Young Master's aptitude is not peerless, he still has a First-grade Divine Embryo. Add to that cultivating in your Realm of Emptiness, where the righteous energy of heaven and earth is extrely abundant, his cultivation speed is so fast it leaves others in the dust! What does Chen Shi have?"

Dou Qi and the others nodded in agreent.

Although the Young Master's surna was Ren, his actual surna was Zhu. The technique inheritance he received was naturally the best passed down by the Zhu surna. The ultimate secret arts of the Thirteen Great Clans were probably far inferior to the Young Master's technique.

With the best technique, plus the best Divine Embryo, and the optimal cultivation environnt, what could Chen Shi use to compare with the Young Master?

Shui Xuanzhi said, "Chen Shi's cultivation speed is faster than the Young Master's, much faster. His strength improves even more rapidly."

Everyone was greatly shocked.

No matter how much they didn't believe it, they had to believe it now.

If one didn't trust the judgnt of a Great Ascension Realm existence, then that person's head must have a problem.

Shui Xuanzhi said, "Chen Shi has a Divine Embryo, and this Divine Embryo far surpasses a First-grade Divine Embryo."

This news left the mbers of the Fu Zheng Pavilion utterly astonished.

Could it be that the excised Innate Dao Embryo had returned?

Otherwise, what Divine Embryo in this world could surpass a First-grade Divine Embryo?

Shui Xuanzhi continued, "Chen Tang has hidden his strength. He publicly claims to be at the peak of the Emptiness Refining realm, but his cultivation realm is very likely already at the Refining Spirit Realm."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into silence.

Emptiness Refining realm.

Refining Spirit Realm.

A difference of four realms.

Emptiness Refining, Body Unification, Three Corpses, Refining Spirit.

If Chen Tang was at the Refining Spirit Realm, how could he have the nerve to hide three realms and claim to be at the Emptiness Refining realm?

Fortunately, there was a great expert like Shui Xuanzhi who saw through this fellow's cultivation realm.

Shui Xuanzhi said, "I said it's very likely, not certain. But it can be confird that he has concealed his realm, and concealed a lot."

Tang Baling couldn't help but say, "But this is hiding far too much!"

Qin Su said, "We need to test him, to find out what his cultivation level really is."

The mbers of the Fu Zheng Pavilion all nodded.

Shui Xuanzhi continued, "Although Chen Shi's cultivation progress is fast, he will not catch up to the Young Master before and after the tropolitan and palace examinations. At his current progress, he will need one year to catch up to the Young Master."

Qin Su, Dou Qi, and others frowned. One year was simply too fast.

However, fortunately, there was one year.

"This matter need not be told to the Young Master."

Qin Su pondered for a mont, then said to everyone, "Let the Young Master cultivate in peace. He has been distracted too much before."

Everyone agreed.

Managing such a massive force, gathering the hearts of the people across the land, forming alliances with heroes, collecting rare treasures from everywhere, maneuvering among the Thirteen Great Clans and various factions, it was already remarkable that the Young Master could still have such cultivation progress.

"But Chen Tang's strength needs to be gauged."

Qin Su said, "He teaches Chen Shi. The higher his insight, the faster Chen Shi improves. It would be best to knock him down a peg."

Another Gentleman of the Interior of the Fu Zheng Pavilion, nad Fan Peng, was taciturn and usually disliked speaking. He said calmly, "I'll handle it."

Seeing him speak up, Qin Su felt a surge of joy and bowed, saying, "Brother Fan's strength has always been admired by . This matter, then, will trouble Brother Fan."

Fan Peng said nothing, simply walked out the door.

During the third watch of the night, important court officials had already begun to leave their hos, riding carriages toward the ridian Gate.

Chen Tang also set out at this ti, leaving the Chen residence, walking toward the ridian Gate.

The streets were empty, with only an occasional carriage passing by.

He always walked this route, at the sa ti every day, wearing the sa clothes, using the sa gait, as if asured precisely, day after day, accurate and monotonous.

But it was reassuring.

As he walked through Starry Lane, unlike before, there was an extra person in the alley.

That person sat in the alley, a chair placed sideways, precisely blocking his path.

Chen Tang continued walking forward, his steps without any hesitation.

As he passed by that person, two Dao Fields intersected, creaking and groaning, like two massive millstones colliding and grinding against each other, creating an intimidating commotion.

Chen Tang's body swayed slightly, but he still walked past, brushing shoulders with that person.

"About the sa as , also at the Emptiness Refining realm," the person sitting on the chair chuckled softly.

Chen Tang walked forward, passing through Starry Lane and arriving at Central Street. The mont he stepped onto Central Street, he collided head-on with soone.

Both their bodies shook violently, each steadying themselves.

The newcor was burly, with a thick beard and a muscular build. He was jolted by the collision, his Primordial Spirit floating, barely connected to his physical body.

Chen Tang was also knocked off balance, nearly stumbling, divine light shining from within him, faintly revealing his Primordial Spirit swaying.

"So careless?" The bearded man grew angry, glared at him, and walked into Starry Lane.

"Definitely at the Body Unification realm!" the bearded man said to the person sitting on the chair.

"No, it should be the Emptiness Refining realm!"

That person shook his head and said, "My Dao Field collided with his Dao Field, evenly matched. I could feel his Primordial Spirit operating his Dao Field, resisting mine. The flow and distribution of power in his Dao Field were all clear to , sensed with utmost clarity!"

The bearded man shook his head and said, "I collided with him, trying to knock his Primordial Spirit out. His Primordial Spirit, like mine, was tightly integrated with his physical body. This is a sign of the Body Unification realm, absolutely no mistake!"

While the two were arguing, Chen Tang had already reached the end of Central Street. Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, bolts of lightning falling like rain.

Chen Tang walked amidst the lightning, as if blessed with great fortune, not a single bolt striking him.

A scholar walked toward him, also walking amidst the lightning without being struck.

The scholar smiled slightly at him, and the two passed each other.

The lightning imdiately stopped.

Having severed the Three Corpses Gods, the physical body and Primordial Spirit are pure yang, lightning does not strike them.

Chen Tang was about to turn from Central Street toward the ridian Gate. The light here was blocked by the golden palace gates archway nearby, making it indistinct.

At that mont, an old man, hunched over, walked toward him. The two t, walking into the shadow of the golden palace gates archway.

This old man was Fan Peng, the Gentleman of the Interior of the Fu Zheng Pavilion, a long-renowned expert who had cultivated to the peak of the Refining Spirit Realm. The three people just now were his arranged personnel to test Chen Tang's background.

The golden palace gates archway trembled slightly, then two figures separated, one heading toward the ridian Gate, the other turning back toward Central Street.

The scholar, the bearded man, and the person on the chair hurried over, eting Fan Peng, and all asked in low voices, "Gentleman of the Interior, what exactly is Chen Tang's cultivation realm?"

Fan Peng's eyelid twitched, his voice hoarse as he said, "The sa as ."

The three looked at each other in confusion.

Fan Peng shivered slightly and said in a low voice, "But it can't be the sa! He accommodated ."