On the Path to the Great Dao

Li Jindou’s face lit up with surprise and joy. "You know where the Protector of Qianyang Mountain is?"

Xiao Wangsun ignored him, focusing on tending his injuries.

Realizing further inquiries were futile, Li Jindou also began suppressing his injuries.

When they reached a mountain hollow, they saw an old woman lying sprawled in the stream, clutching a Ram-Horn Celestial Lamp tightly in her hands. It was unclear if she was alive or dead.

"If you’re still alive, Granny, climb up yourself. I’ll take you to see Master Chen," Xiao Wangsun said curtly.

The old woman stirred weakly and replied, "Xiao Wangsun, aren’t you going to help an old lady like me up?"

"I’m injured. Climb up yourself," he said coldly, his words economical as always.

Granny Sha, fuming, struggled to climb out of the water. Even as she faltered, she refused to let go of the Ram-Horn Celestial Lamp. After a few steps, she collapsed, but still didn’t release the lamp. Crawling on her hands and knees, she finally reached the carriage.

Watching her equally wretched state, Li Jindou felt a wave of satisfaction. At least he wasn’t the only one in such a sorry condition.

Granny Sha heaved the heavy lamp onto the carriage, finally catching her breath. "Where’s Jin Hongying?" Xiao Wangsun shook his head. "Don’t worry about her. She ran faster than a rabbit."

Granny Sha asked no further questions.

The carriage continued, winding along the mountain road. As they traveled, Granny Sha began recognizing the path and grew increasingly uneasy.

This was the road to the Mountain Lord's Temple.

Before long, they passed by Granny Zhuang’s tree hollow, which was packed with villagers. Though their faces were pale, they hadn’t turned to porcelain. Granny Zhuang sat on her wooden bed, her few remaining teeth showing as she smiled kindly.

Granny Zhuang, the second-strongest spirit in Qianyang Mountain, was far more powerful than the spirits of individual villages, allowing these people to survive longer.

The carriage rolled past the tree hollow and continued along the increasingly rugged path. The driver’s skill was extraordinary, navigating the treacherous terrain with ease.

Eventually, they arrived at the domain of the Black Serpent of Xuan Shan. The massive black snake coiled around the mountain, its immense body covered with people. Even its broad back was occupied.

The snake’s size and stillness reassured the mountain folk, who didn’t fear falling. They relied on the formidable power of the Black Serpent and Granny Zhuang to delay their porcelainization.

Granny Sha assumed the carriage would head to the Mountain Lord's Temple, but instead, it began climbing toward the serpent’s head.

At the summit, the carriage stopped.

Xiao Wangsun, trembling, stepped down. Blood seeped from his wounds, staining his clothes red.

Seeing this, Li Jindou felt a touch of comfort. "No wonder he stayed still—moving pulls at his injuries. He’s just as badly hurt as I am!"

Attempting to disembark, Li Jindou lost his footing and tumbled from the carriage, landing flat on the ground.

Granny Sha, with unsteady legs, followed Xiao Wangsun. This time, she left the lamp behind, her trembling legs barely able to keep up.

Li Jindou gritted his teeth, crawling on the ground. How could I sit in the carriage waiting for the Protector of Qianyang Mountain to come to me? Do I have such a face? I don’t. Dragging my battered body to him shows sincerity.

The three reached a flat area beneath the Black Serpent’s head, where a stone table and two stone stools stood.

Seated there, Chen Yindu played chess with a young man in black.

The black-clad man was the spirit of Xuan Shan. It was evident they were acquainted.

"Master Chen, why haven’t you acted?" Xiao Wangsun asked.

Holding a black chess piece, Chen Yindu studied the board, deep in thought. After a moment, he placed the piece gently and said, "I’ve cultivated the Water and Fire Purification Method to make my body immortal. But my lifespan is fixed and unchangeable. By my reckoning, I’ve been dead for seventy-three days."

The black-clad spirit, holding a white piece, said, "You’ve been absorbing moonlight for seventy-three days. The fact that you’ve maintained your sanity without becoming an evil spirit is impressive."

He addressed Chen Yindu as "Doudou," suggesting familiarity from the latter's childhood.

Chen Yindu frowned slightly; the move made by the spirit had clearly stumped him.

"The Evil Bodhisattva is a demon. Its domain extends for a hundred miles, posing grave harm to ordinary people and significantly affecting other evils as well."

After a pause, he added, "I’m hiding here under Xuan Shan’s protection to avoid the demon’s influence. If I venture out, the demonic domain will affect my sanity, leaving me vulnerable to its sway, much like being exposed to moonlight. If I fight the Evil Bodhisattva, I may lose control and transform into something worse than it."

Granny Sha, her body trembling with exhaustion, said angrily, "Old Chen, we’ve been defeated and can’t stop the Evil Bodhisattva. Only you can fight it. If you don’t act, everyone within a hundred miles will die!"

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Chen Yindu smiled faintly. "Do you think I care?"

Granny Sha, livid, nearly threw her lamp at him.

Li Jindou felt his respect for Chen Yindu crumble. Stammering, he said, "S-Senior, that’s not right. If everyone dies, you and Chen Shi won’t escape either. You’ll die too!"

Placing a piece with practiced precision, Chen Yindu replied calmly, "I’m already dead, so what does it matter? My grandson bears the Ghost Hand Mark, his heart gripped tightly. Without me, he won’t survive. Both of us will perish in this transformation, our souls descending together to the underworld. Isn’t that a beautiful thought? To have a million people accompany us in death—grander than an emperor’s funeral. What a glorious day for the Chen family!"

He laughed as though truly pleased by the idea.

Granny Sha, incensed, spat, "Your grandson won’t even reach the underworld! In a hundred days, the True God will incinerate everything, leaving no trace—not even your souls. Dream on about an afterlife!"

Chen Yindu shrugged. "Then we’ll die a day early and head to the underworld first. Don’t try to moralize with me. I have none."

Granny Sha stormed off to retrieve the Ram-Horn Celestial Lamp, determined to smash it over his head. But as she tried to lift the lamp, she collapsed under its weight, unable to move.

Xiao Wangsun regarded Chen Yindu coldly. After a long pause, he said, "Master Chen, what are your terms? Speak plainly."

Chen Yindu’s expression grew serious as he placed another chess piece. "My only unfulfilled wish is to see Little Ten grow up safely. He needs a strong protector to suppress the Ghost Hand Mark during his episodes."

At these words, Xiao Wangsun’s face turned pale. Granny Sha, struggling beneath the lamp, froze.

Only Li Jindou seemed confused, blurting out, "Senior, the Li family has wealth and experts. We can cure Chen Shi if he comes to us!"

Chen Yindu ignored him, his gaze fixed on Xiao Wangsun.

When Li Jindou tried to continue, Xiao Wangsun interrupted. "Brother Jindou, can you make decisions for the Li family?"

"I..." Li Jindou hesitated, swallowing his words. He couldn’t.

"Master Chen, I’d like to agree," Xiao Wangsun said solemnly. "Morally, and out of gratitude for your guidance, I am bound to. But I cannot. Even if I recover fully, I cannot defeat the Evil Bodhisattva alone. I’ll need help."

Xiao Wangsun described his past encounter with a demon in Sanfan County. A demonic lotus had emerged, mistaken for a treasure by many. When its domain spread, the truth became clear. Trapped inside, the surviving experts united to destroy the demon, though most perished.

"The Evil Bodhisattva is no weaker than that demon," he concluded. "It was handpicked by the True King to guard the Kiln Factory and has already grown stronger over three days. I lack the means to defeat it alone."

At the mention of "disaster-grade" threats, both Granny Sha and Li Jindou fell silent, their hopes dashed.

Unperturbed, Chen Yindu continued his game, defeating Xuan Shan with growing ease.

Without another word, Xiao Wangsun turned and left. Li Jindou, after some hesitation, crawled back onto the carriage. Granny Sha, finally escaping the lamp’s weight, followed.

As the carriage departed, they looked back to see Chen Yindu laughing with Xuan Shan, who seemed agitated, clearly regretting his moves.

"That old scoundrel is way too calm!" Granny Sha fumed.

Chen Shi and Li Tianqing returned empty-handed, Black Pot trotting ahead with unflagging energy.

"Strange," Li Tianqing mused, "why hasn’t Black Pot turned to porcelain?"

Even more curious than Chen Shi, he marveled at the dog’s unaffected state, its steps lighter than their own.

"Little Ten, where did your grandfather find Black Pot? Can he find one for me too?"

Chen Shi shook his head. "Grandfather never said. But it’s easy—find a female dog and breed it. You’ll get a whole litter."

Li Tianqing’s eyes lit up. "We could breed lots and sell the extras!"

Hearing "sell," Chen Shi’s eyes brightened, his gaze toward Black Pot suddenly affectionate, as though looking at a treasure trove.

Black Pot shuddered, turning back to glare at them with a pitiful expression.

Up ahead, the sound of voices—laughter and chatter—drew their attention.

Chen Shi and Li Tianqing tensed, activating their Spirit Embryos. Black Pot ran to hide behind them.

They edged along a wider mountain path, pressing against the rock face.

A group of over ten people approached, most of them maids accompanying a young scholar in fine robes.

Four maids, each wielding a glowing Spirit Embryo, illuminated the path. Positioned strategically, their light shielded the group from ambushes.

This well-coordinated system, with rotations to maintain peak strength, impressed Chen Shi. He had encountered cultivators before but never such an orderly group.

Spotting Chen Shi and Li Tianqing, one of the maids whispered to the scholar, "Young Master, it’s just two children and a dog!"