Above the Great Dao
Chapter 71 - 45 The Battle of the Gentlemen

Chapter 71: Chapter 45 The Battle of the Gentlemen

Li Tianqing followed his gaze and saw an ancient fir tree, straight as a lance, with scars and knotty growths all over its trunk.

The mountain wind rustled through the old tree’s branches and leaves, as a blue and white aura of incense fire qi swirled around it, occasionally coalescing into the form of an old lady before dissipating again.

This tree, protecting Chen Shi, was under the influence of extraordinary forces, beginning to form a new divine likeness.

"This mountain is imbued with spirituality—these trees, rocks, and relics. Through the incense offered by the mountain villagers, they can form new surrogate mothers to protect generation after generation,"

Li Jindou, deeply moved, said, "As one surrogate mother ages, as one village declines, a new surrogate mother will take its place, and new villages will spring up around her, continuing relentlessly to survive."

The grandfather and grandson followed Chen Shi, gradually venturing deeper into the mysterious mountain.

Chen Shi was well-acquainted with the place and felt nothing unusual, but Li Jindou was secretly alarmed: "With such complex geography, if nobody led the way, finding this place would be like trying to dream it up!"

Ahead, the forest thinned, the grass and shrubs sparse, and one by one, the brick and stone kiln caves came into view.

Li Jindou, inexplicably excited, exclaimed, "The kiln factory for making porcelain for the True King’s Tomb, we’ve finally arrived! Wait... the Ghost God Domain!"

His expression turned serious as he looked toward the kiln ahead, stretching out a hand to stop Chen Shi and Li Tianqing, who were about to enter.

"This is a Ghost God Domain, one should not step into it lightly."

Li Jindou said in a grave voice, "The True King’s Tomb is truly remarkable, even the kiln has become a Ghost God Domain. If one unwittingly stepped in, one would likely not escape unscathed!"

Chen Shi was shocked. He had brought many people, none of whom noticed anything odd about the kiln, and they had fallen into the Ghost God Domain of the kiln, turning into porcelain dolls.

To think that this unassuming elder from the Li Family could recognize this as a Ghost God Domain!

"Tianqing’s grandfather is much stronger than I had anticipated," he thought to himself.

Li Tianqing glanced at him, noting his calm demeanor, but said nothing.

Li Jindou slowly paced around the kiln factory, each step he took causing the ground to rapidly sink and form a deep pit. He walked a full circle, marking out the range encapsulated by the Ghost God Domain and said, "I have marked the boundary of this domain. Do not set foot in it. Remember, remember."

Facing the kiln, he took a deep breath. This kiln made him feel fear, and he dared not enter it lightly.

Li Jindou took a moment to compose himself and said in a deep voice, "Tianqing, Chen Shi, wait here for me while I explore the kiln! If I don’t make it out, Tianqing, you go back with Chen Shi."

He paused, then added, "Once back in the village, Tianqing you head back to Quanzhou first thing in the morning without delay. When you get there, say that you couldn’t solve the disappearance of your Seventh Uncle and that Old Jindou, in shame to the ancestors of the Li Family, has run away. Remember, say that I ran away, not that I died!"

Turning back with a stern face, he continued, "If they hear that I ran away, the Li Family might look after you out of respect for me, ensuring you and your mother won’t starve. But if they hear I died in the Ghost God Domain, you and your mother are done for, not even the Divine Embryo would be safe!"

Li Tianqing’s complexion turned pale, and he whispered, "Grandfather, Tianqing understands."

"You’ve always been sensible, and that gives me peace of mind. Take good care of your mother; she’s had it hard."

With a smile, Li Jindou stepped forward and entered the kiln.

At the same moment, a light burst forth from behind his head, revealing a divine shrine with the Divine Embryo seated within, while a majestic Primordial Spirit also materialized behind it.

As he entered the kiln, his body began to rapidly turn to porcelain, his flesh and blood instantly transforming into ceramic, and at the same time, his divine shrine and the Divine Embryo were also rapidly turning to porcelain!

Only the majestic Primordial Spirit remained unchanged and motionless.

Li Jindou moved forward, shrinking rapidly as his body porcelainized, and in the blink of an eye, he went from a stooped old man to a porcelain doll less than a foot tall.

He walked through the kiln factory with the Primordial Spirit following, investigating its layout.

Chen Shi and Li Tianqing stood outside the kiln, peering intently inside.

However, the many kiln caves obstructed their view.

Suddenly, Li Tianqing said, "Little Ten, it was you who killed my cousin Li Xiaoding, wasn’t it?"

Chen Shi, who was looking for Miss Zhao and other porcelain dolls, stopped short and turned to look at him.

Li Tianqing pursed his thin lips and said, "You managed to carry the Hongyi cannon without using the Warrior Talisman, treating a cannon body that weighs two or three thousand catties as if it were nothing. Your strength must be immense. I’ve investigated my Seventh Uncle’s case, and the reason he went to the countryside is linked to the death of my cousin Li Xiaoding. The case was taken over by an archivist named Zhuge Jian, who was exceedingly intelligent and deduced that the perpetrator was physically powerful, able to move like lightning within ten feet, with heavy fists capable of fracturing skulls, possessing a physical body comparable only to that of a Golden Core Realm cultivator."

Zhuge Jian had burned the documents that recorded the origins of Chen Shi and Chen Yin, but the written records left at the crime scene remained. Li Tianqing, in the pursuit of the truth of Li Kefa’s disappearance, naturally reviewed these records.

Chen Shi scratched his head, "Zhuge Jian left behind these things?"

Li Tianqing nodded slightly, "Zhuge Jian also said that the culprit was no taller than five feet, with the build of a child, a Talisman Master accompanied by a large black-haired dog."

Chen Shi sighed, "All these characteristics match me perfectly."

Li Tianqing continued, "You brought me and my grandfather to this kiln factory with malicious intent, knowing in advance that this place was a Ghost God Domain, planning to lead us into the kiln so that we would be trapped inside, using the Ghost God Domain to deal with us. This isn’t your first foray into such acts; you must be well-practiced."

Without waiting for Chen Shi to respond, he said, "I’ve reviewed the disappearances around Qianyang Mountain in recent years, especially the past two, totaling fifteen in the vicinity of Huangpo Village, involving over two hundred individuals. Most of these disappearances are likely linked to you and your grandson! Chen Shi, others might say you’re bloodthirsty, but I know you’re actually protecting the people of Huangpo Village."

He paused and then said, "You’ve given red ribbons to each spirit along the way and offered incense, indicating you wanted to protect the villagers, to prevent them from harm. These treasure hunters arriving in the village, upon realizing the True King’s Tomb is nearby, are bound to consider silencing them. Those villagers don’t know that without you, Huangpo Village would have been wiped out fifteen times over!"

He understood these treasure hunters all too well.

They were born into the houses of the world’s magnates, regarding human life as grass, they could wipe out an entire village to guard the secret of the True King’s Tomb, and they would certainly do it!

Chen Shi fell silent for a moment, then praised, "Tianqing, you are indeed a clever one, even smarter than I thought. Why did you expose me at this time?"

Li Tianqing’s expression turned gloomy. "I was happy to know you, but I care about my grandfather, my mother, I want to survive in the Li Family! During the Divine Descent Ritual, I was favored by the True God and received the Purple Jade Divine Embryo. Although it wasn’t the best, it was still remarkable. Some in the family then said they wanted to carve out my Divine Embryo and give it to the Clan Leader’s eldest son. Being from a side branch and illegitimate, there was nothing I could do about such things. My grandfather beat up the person who suggested it and then took me away to hide in another place. We hid for more than a year before returning."

His complexion turned somewhat pale. "This time it’s considered our grandfather and grandson earning redemption through meritorious deeds, as long as we solve Uncle Seven’s case, or find the True King’s Tomb, we will be able to return to the Li Family. Only then can my mother avoid being bullied, and I can continue to live! Chen Shi, I must take this credit!"

He activated his Cultivation Technique, and behind his head the divine shrine emerged, with the Divine Embryo sitting within it.

The Divine Embryo radiated purple aura, surrounded by divine purple light, holy and extraordinary, bestowing a divine majesty upon onlookers.

True God descended, granting the Divine Embryo.

The Divine Embryo was divided into nine grades, with the ninth grade being the lowest caliber; for example, Chen Yindou’s grandfather Chen Yin’s Illusion Embryo was exceedingly faint, transparent or semi-transparent, visible to the naked eye; a gust of wind might nearly scatter it.

The eighth grade was known as the Xuanbing Fetus, also semi-transparent and barely better than the ninth grade.

With each ascending grade, the quality of the Divine Embryo doubled.

The best was the first grade, the Purple Jade Divine Fetus, the kind possessed by King Xiao’s grandson.

Li Tianqing had the same.

The divine power contained within his Divine Embryo was 256 times that of the ninth grade!

That is to say, their starting point was 256 times higher than that of Chen Shi’s grandfather!

Since ancient times, wealth has swayed hearts, let alone Divine Embryos?

Even within the family, such a Divine Embryo was coveted. As a member of a side branch and born out of wedlock, Li Tianqing had a low status within the Li Family. Had he not received the God-given Purple Jade Divine Embryo, if there had been no Li Jindou, he absolutely couldn’t have kept his Divine Embryo, and might not even have been able to preserve his life!

Chen Shi was very puzzled and asked, "Since you knew I killed Li Xiaoding, why didn’t you tell your grandfather?"

Li Tianqing pursed his lips slightly. "My grandfather is no match for your grandfather. If I had told my grandfather, he would have taken the opportunity to strike at you on the road, while your grandfather, hidden in secret, would have taken the chance to kill him."

Chen Shi looked around, unable to spot where his grandfather was hiding, and chuckled to himself that he was too cautious. "So you have been enduring until now?"

Li Tianqing’s expression became solemn. "Now my grandfather has entered the kiln factory, and his life and death are unknown. I have reached the end of the road and have no choice but to fight."

He had no way out; if he couldn’t bring Chen Shi back, both his mother and he were likely to lose their lives.

"Chen Shi, the Cultivation Technique I practice is the Li Family’s secret, the Six Yin Jade Wheel Technique, different from the Heavenly Heart Righteous Qi Technique that other disciples learn. The so-called Six Yin refers to the Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Taiyin Lung Meridian, Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Jueyin Liver Meridian, Jueyin Heart Bag Meridian; the true qi of the six meridians converging to form a wheel."

Li Tianqing activated the Jade Wheel, forming seals with both hands. The Seal Techniques were unique, totaling six.

With each change of the Seal Technique, the Purple Jade Divine Embryo sitting within the shrine also formed corresponding hand seals simultaneously.

Chen Shi sensed an invisible True Qi forming around Li Tianqing.

He concentrated his gaze to see that Li Tianqing’s body was gradually becoming indistinct, caused by the rotation of the Jade Wheel and the resulting rapid vibration of air.

"My Six Yin Jade Wheel is invisible to the naked eye. My arms can move within it during close combat, and if an opponent gets close, they will be cut by the Jade Wheel."

Li Tianqing took a step forward, moving his feet, executing the Six Yin Jade Wheel Technique’s moves that were somewhat similar to martial arts techniques. His footwork, known as the Yuhuan Step, traversed circular paths, zipping and dodging, with intricate variations.

However, each move, paired with different Seal Techniques and complemented by the Yuhuan Step, was unpredictable.

"The Six Yin Jade Wheel can also be used for long-range attacks. With my Divine Embryo Realm cultivation, within a radius of sixteen zhang, everything lies within my striking range."

Li Tianqing ceased his movements and stood firmly, exuding the presence of a Grandmaster despite his young age. "Outsiders do not understand our Li Family’s Six Yin Jade Wheel Technique. When they face us in combat, they often get slain in an encounter. You are my friend, and I do not wish for you to die without understanding why."

Chen Shi activated the Three Light Righteous Qi Technique; the Big Dipper’s seven stars condensed into talismans, forming a sphere of starlight that revolved around him at a steady pace.

Then he suddenly stepped forward, his body colliding with the air and producing a deep Thunder Sound, reaching Li Tianqing in a single step, the surging air waves blowing towards Li Tianqing, making his clothes flutter and his red sash sway!

"I have made a breakthrough since killing Li Xiaoding."

Chen Shi stepped on the Tianshu Star; his figure flickered like a specter, darting in front of and behind Li Tianqing, to the left and right, cutting through the air, deafening with sound.

"I have achieved the Holy Embryo Body, now I can stride fifteen zhang in an instant; within fifteen zhang, my speed is faster than that of spells!"

"The power of my punches and kicks is no less than that of spells!"

"Pay attention to my footwork, this is the Beidou Tianshu Step!"

Chen Shi’s step landed, and the surrounding starlight exploded. While the Star Power refined his body, his footwork also became elusive.

"Besides, I am proficient in six other steps: Tianxuan, Tianji, Yaoguang, Kaiyang, Tianquan, Yuheng!"

Chen Shi displayed each of these steps in turn, and then he stopped, his presence deep and immoveable as a mountain, and the agitated Qi-Blood in his body gradually settled.

"Tianqing, please!"

Outside the kiln factory, the two young men moved in unison!

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