On the Path to the Great Dao

Chen Shi felt a chill. Madam Hua Li was undoubtedly a grandmaster—gentle and enchanting, unflinching in crisis. Yet the mere mention of Creation Little Five had rattled her, revealing just how horrifying the thing truly was!

"Madam Hua, no need to panic."

Chen Shi comforted her. "Creation Little Five is still suppressed deep in Qianyang Mountain, unable to break free..."

Madam Hua Li cut him off, shaking her head. "Chen Yindu is gone. The seal he left behind in life can't possibly hold it. Little Ten, you have no idea how terrifying it is. Though your grandpa created it as a divine construct, it transcended mortal bounds from the moment of its birth, leaping beyond life and death.

Even if you kill it, it will resurrect!"

She began recounting the events of the past.

"Twenty years ago, the Loose Cultivator Gathering was held in Jinshan County on the western coast of the West Ox New Continent. After it ended, most Loose Cultivators departed, but many stayed in Jinshan to discuss the Dao and exchange knowledge."

A look of fear crossed her face.

She had planned to linger in Jinshan a few more days herself. But when Chen Yindu left, she chased after Chen Shi instead, unwittingly dodging disaster.

"The Loose Cultivators who remained in Jinshan were almost all killed." Madam Hua Li steadied herself. "At the same time, the Heavenly Listeners dispatched to investigate the gathering perished too.

When I heard about Jinshan, I rushed there at once, thinking the Heavenly Listeners had struck against us Loose Cultivators.

The Heavenly Listeners and Loose Cultivators have always been at odds, clashing frequently with casualties commonplace.

When I arrived at Jinshan, I saw countless figures floating in the air above the mountain from afar."

The fear on her face deepened.

Twenty years prior, she had been just a young girl, not yet twenty, vibrant and full of promise. She joined the Loose Cultivators out of admiration for Grandpa Chen, but was still unfamiliar with the group and knew few people.

Her own cultivation wasn't advanced then, nor was her experience what it was now.

Most Loose Cultivators far outstripped her in attainment—they were her seniors.

The Loose Cultivator organization was quite lax; as long as one possessed exceptional talent and a sincere pursuit of the Grand Dao, they could join.

At the gathering, she met many people and chatted amiably, befriending several seniors whose achievements she revered, heights she believed she'd never reach in her lifetime.

Returning to Jinshan, she spotted from afar the corpses of a few seniors she admired.

They lay face-up, limbs naturally extended as if in flight.

What terrified her was that she had seen this exact scene before—on a certain bird.

The shrike.

Shrikes peck their prey to death, then hang them on branches or thorns to store food.

Creation Little Five had strung up those seniors she knew in the sky, just like a shrike storing provisions.

But those few veteran Loose Cultivators were merely a tiny fraction of its larder.

Hovering in the sky alongside them were several kings among the Heavenly Listeners.

Including grandmasters of the Void Refining Realm and Body Fusion Realm.

As for those who had achieved Soul Transformation or Divine Descent, there were over a hundred!

"They were all slain by Creation Little Five, hung in the air to dry like its personal pantry for longer storage.

It had this habit even before.

When Chen Yindu first created Little Five, it slew hundreds and hid them in an underground lair.

Normally, it seems utterly harmless."

Madam Hua Li glanced at Blackie Pot, adding, "Just like this dog here—you'd never guess it views humans as food."

Blackie Pot was listening raptly but shivered at her words. Wanting to show loyalty, it feared scaring them and being mistaken for an evil spirit itself, then butchered.

"Creation Little Five lost control a second time and got smarter, crafting a lair at the lake bottom where thousands died.

But twenty years ago, it stopped treating ordinary folk as food. It turned to high-level cultivators as its sustenance."

Madam Hua Li exhaled heavily, murmuring, "Little Ten, your grandpa finally created an evil god that escaped his control—one even he couldn't deal with.

He's dead now, but Creation Little Five lives on.

Once Little Five breaks free, it'll seek vengeance on your grandpa! Failing that, it'll vent its rage on you!"

She proposed, "How about this: Come with me to the Loose Cultivator Gathering. It's dangerous there too—plenty would covet your resurrection ability and mean you harm—but far safer than Qianyang Mountain!"

Chen Shi's heart skipped. "The Loose Cultivator Gathering is dangerous too?"

Madam Hua Li sized him up like a priceless work of art, smiling. "Your grandpa revived you with the Water-Fire Tempering Art. Coming back to life after eight years dead makes you a treasure in many Loose Cultivators' eyes.

They wouldn't dare hunt your grandpa, but capturing you to study the secrets of resurrection? That they would. Those Loose Cultivators are far madder than the old fogies in the West Capital."

As she spoke, a hint of madness flickered in her gaze toward Chen Shi.

She had joined the Loose Cultivators out of admiration for Chen Yindu, but romantic affection was merely a spice on her path to the Dao.

Her fanaticism for the mystic arts was what drove her relentless cultivation all these years.

A person dead eight years then revived held immense allure for her too!

Chen Shi felt another chill and politely declined Madam Hua Li's offer. Smiling, he said, "Granny Sha, Qingyang, and Uncle Hu are all in Qianyang Mountain. I'm safer staying here.

At the Gathering, I'd only know you, Madam—adding all sorts of risks."

Madam Hua Li sighed. "What a pity."

Chen Shi blinked, wondering, *Why a pity?*

He dared not dwell on it.

Granny Sha and Young Master Xiao had looked at him the same way before. Only after he gave each a copy of the Water-Fire Tempering Art did their gazes return to normal.

"When does Madam plan to attend the Loose Cultivator Gathering?"

Chen Shi asked.

"My wounds are healed. I'm leaving today."

Madam Hua Li gave him a deep look, suppressing her urge to kidnap him. *He's Chen Yindu's grandson, after all. Chen Yindu down in the underworld wouldn't want me slicing up the boy he labored so hard to save, would he? We did share a romance once...*

She tended the incense before Godmother Stone Stele, seeing it nearly burned out. Rising, she slid an envelope toward Chen Shi. "This holds the invitation to the Loose Cultivator Gathering. It includes a map. If you change your mind, head to the marked location before the seventh of the sixth month to join.

She handed the pipa to Ding Ding, saying flatly, "Ten years ago, you were already one of us Loose Cultivators. This is your second Gathering as one—and your first since your rebirth.

Be careful. Don't let Creation Little Five catch and eat you.

Ding Ding, let's go."

Ding Ding swiftly stowed the pipa and followed her down the slope. Suddenly, her eyes reddened. She spun, lunged at Chen Shi, cupped the boy's face, and mashed her red lips against his, kissing him breathless.

Chen Shi struggled free but considered neither punching her liver nor twisting her head back to make her view her own rear—Ding Ding had already released him and scampered off like a sparrow.

Chen Shi stood stunned.

From afar, the girl waved, shy yet triumphant. "Young Master, I'll wait for you to grow up! I'll wait till you're of age!"

Chen Shi waved dazedly, puzzled. *Wait till I'm of age for what? How strange.*

His cheeks flushed, something stirring in his heart like tender green sprouts pushing through soil.

But thoughts of Creation Little Five hardened his resolve like iron, pinching those sprouts dead.

*Where exactly did Grandpa hide Creation Little Five?*

His eyes flickered. He recalled Provincial Governor Li Xiaozheng's words: Li Xiaozheng and company had entered the stone ship, where before the Stone Weir Lady's effigy, they found the talisman array Grandpa left behind.

They breached it—and many died!

*Why would Grandpa leave a talisman array on the stone ship?*

*Qianyang Mountain's two most perilous spots are the Tomb of the True King and the stone ship. The tomb's dangers go without saying. Even I don't know about the stone ship's existence.*

*Grandpa took me to the Tomb of the True King, to the Kiln Works—but never the stone ship, as if he didn't want me knowing it was there.*

*So Creation Little Five is likely suppressed on the stone ship.*

*The Xia family experts who just entered the mountain must be heading for the stone ship too...*

His expression shifted. If Creation Little Five was truly under the stone ship, these people might shatter the seal and release it!

*Li Xiaozheng doesn't think they can break Grandpa's talisman array. But if the array is mostly occupied suppressing Little Five, their assault could free the evil thing!*

Chen Shi cleared his mind and resumed studying Grandpa's Creation Treasure Mirror.

*Li Xiaozheng and I have a deal: I help decipher the talisman array, he gives me a treasure from the ship. But I only agreed to explore it together—not destroy Grandpa's array! If it's damaged, I'll repair it!*

He resolved inwardly.

Over the next few days, several more groups passed through Huangpo Village, heading into the mountain—likely experts bound for the stone ship.

Some spotted the earth slope and Chen Shi atop it, attempting to climb. They'd take a few steps, then thud to their knees.

"The West Capital Butcher sure is something!"

An elder intervened, freeing them. He approached the slope's crest hands clasped behind his back but felt incomparable pressure before reaching the top.

"The West Capital Butcher commands respect."

The elder retreated, leading his group away.

"Blackie Pot, climbing that slope is like challenging my grandpa, right?"

Chen Shi speculated to the dog. "But this earth slope has nothing to do with Grandpa. Who is he competing with?"

Four or five groups had passed through Huangpo Village—all experts. Surely more entered from elsewhere!

Chen Shi grew anxious that Grandpa's seal might break, his heart uneasy.

That day, Li Xiaozheng arrived in Huangpo Village, accompanied by a somewhat gaunt youth in green robes and white shirt, face pale—Li Tianqing.

Li Xiaozheng eyed the earth slope ahead but, unlike other experts, made no move to climb. Instead, he stood at its base, smiling. "Chen Shi, time to head out."

Chen Shi packed his things, stowing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in his book chest. Slinging it on his back and hoisting his desk, he descended. "Give me a moment to prepare."

Li Xiaozheng nodded slightly.

Chen Shi probed, "Doesn't Lord Li want to try the slope?"

Li Xiaozheng slowly shook his head. "No."

Chen Shi shouldered the desk toward the village. Li Tianqing hurried after. "Fourth Uncle, let me help him pack."

Li Xiaozheng watched the youths recede, then turned back to the slope.

He hesitated, lifting a foot slightly—as if tempted to test how far he could go.

"Tianqing, will your fourth uncle climb it?"

Chen Shi asked softly as they walked.

Li Tianqing shook his head. "Fourth Uncle would never.

He's like a carpenter's square—every step precisely the same width, his outfits always the same color scheme. He owns dozens of identical sets of clothes and shoes.

Look at his hairstyle—never changes.

A man like that has an iron will. He never crosses the rules he sets for himself!"

Chen Shi reached the village sacred tree, set down his book chest and desk, lit incense for it, then climbed up, grinning. "Let's see if he breaks his rules this time!"

Li Tianqing, competitive, lit incense too and clambered up. "What if he doesn't? What do I win?"

Chen Shi thought. "A tael of silver if I lose."

Li Tianqing winced. "My monthly allowance is small—can't bet that big.

How about I wash your clothes for a month? My mom did laundry for the Li family. I helped as a kid and do it spotless."

Chen Shi scratched his head, laughing. "A month's too long. Five days."

Li Tianqing agreed.

They peered stealthily. Far off, Li Xiaozheng stood at the slope's base, foot raised in hesitation.

They waited. As Li Tianqing opened his mouth, Li Xiaozheng's foot fell—stepping onto the slope, striding upward!

Li Tianqing gaped, baffled.

"Tianqing, five days of laundry!"

Chen Shi slid down laughing. Li Tianqing jumped after, catching up. "Don't worry—when I say it, I mean it.

But Fourth Uncle's so disciplined. Why climb?"

He truly didn't understand.

Chen Shi grinned. "Grandpa said the stricter the rules, the fiercer the hidden desires.

A true cultivator quells desires, but Lord Li doesn't seem the type.

Alone like this, his urges peak."

Li Tianqing found it profound. He helped carry the desk inside, then gathered Chen Shi's dirty clothes to wash.

Chen Shi opened the east wing, returned the Treasure Mirror, packed spare clothes for several days in the book chest, plus dry rations and herbs.

He pondered, then fetched the West King Jade Seal, hiding it in his sleeve pocket.

Suddenly, rumbling thunder echoed from afar. Chen Shi shouldered his book chest and stepped out, looking skyward. A glow of rosy clouds rose from Qianyang Mountain—the stone ship's direction!

*Heaven forbid Creation Little Five escapes.*

They reached the village outskirts, where Li Xiaozheng waited. The three humans and one dog entered the mountain at once, hurrying toward the Great Ming Treasure Ship.