On the Path to the Great Dao

The Divine Embryo flipped through Chen Shi's dossier once, but found no clues about who had cut off Chen Shi's testicles. Instead, the time of Chen Shi's death caught its attention.

"Little Ten's time of death was only a few days apart from when the god was suppressed by Dad. Both happened near the Scattered Profound Assembly."

The Scattered Profound Assembly's timing was never fixed. It might come early by one or two months, or be delayed for a while.

The moment Chen Shi had his testicles cut off happened right after the spring county examinations.

At that time, he had received the True Lord's gift of the first mountain's dao principles. Not long after, he was castrated and met an untimely end.

And just a few days before the Divine Embryo had its testicles severed, Creation's Black had revived. Grandpa Chen Yindu, fearing it would wreak havoc again, led his men to suppress it.

By the time Chen Yindu returned to Qianyang Mountain with Creation's Black in tow—imprisoning it in the stone boat and making it back home—he received the devastating news of Chen Shi's death.

If that god hadn't stirred up trouble then, Dad might have gone to see his grandson, and perhaps Little Ten wouldn't have died.

Creation's Black fell into a daze. In other words, Chen Shi's death was connected to the Divine Embryo somehow.

It flipped through Chen Yindu's dossier but found nothing more useful, so it rose and left. "God won't be bound by family ties like Dad was."

Creation's Black's heart hardened once more. It murmured lowly,

"Dad still harbored feelings for this profound embryo, trapped by romantic love, familial bonds, and friendship.

But God won't.

Today, God will send Little Ten to keep Dad company. Then God will leave Qianyang Mountain."

That body listening to the venerable's words floated up on its own, rising higher and higher, automatically trailing after the Divine Embryo.

Dozens of li above the ground, in the high sky, more than a dozen corpses still drifted about—precisely the remains of Li Xiaozheng, the Red-and-Green Old Men, and the other profound cultivators!

At this altitude, the naked eye could no longer see anything. Higher still lay the outer true realm, where its double pupils formed the sunfire leaving-fire layer with their daylight, and its brow's vertical eye formed the moonlit ice-light layer.

The leaving-fire layer incinerated all flesh and nascent souls alike. The ice-light layer slew all nascent souls.

Even cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage would not dare approach this height lightly.

Thus, hiding "food"

here at this altitude was extremely safe.

When Creation's Black returned to Huangpo Village, dawn had fully broken. Chen Shi had been searching for it and finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing it arrive.

"God thought you had left."

Chen Shi said, "Blackie Pot has already cooked breakfast. Go eat some."

Creation's Black replied, "God isn't hungry. God already ate."

Very full from last night.

After Chen Shi finished breakfast, he led Creation's Black to pay respects to Godmother.

Creation's Black needed no hand to hold; it ascended Huangtu Gang on its own.

This wasn't the Divine Embryo's first time at Huangtu Gang. Quite the opposite—every time Grandpa Chen Yindu came home, it would visit this earth mound.

The pressure on Huangtu Gang was utterly terrifying, but the Divine Embryo's strength was profoundly unfathomable. Even atop the mound, it strolled as if on level ground.

The Divine Embryo was also well-acquainted with Scholar Zhu. Back when it had newly emerged into the world, Chen Yindu had brought it home, and it had met Scholar Zhu for the first time.

Scholar Zhu had taught tirelessly back then, imparting many principles of human conduct and guiding it onto the righteous path.

Later, after Chen Shi was born, Chen Yindu would have it take the young Chen Shi out to play. They would come to this Huangtu Slope, but Chen Shi, with his mortal eyes back then, could not see Scholar Zhu.

The Divine Embryo had brought Chen Shi to Huangtu Slope with ill intent, eager to devour the adorable, snow-white child when no other humans were around.

But at that time, it had held back.

Because it knew that if it ate Chen Shi, Dad would never forgive it.

"But now there's no Dad—just Scholar Zhu alone."

Creation's Black's gaze flickered as it looked toward the stone stele beneath the old willow tree. It saw light flowing across the stele as Chen Shi performed his obeisance.

The Divine Embryo had come here before, but it had never paid attention to this stele.

Now, as it focused on the stele, it immediately sensed something extraordinary about it.

"This stele definitely holds a secret!"

Its divine sense probed into the stele. Suddenly, its vision opened into boundless emptiness—an endless void with no end in sight.

Creation's Black was startled and hastily withdrew its divine sense.

The stele concealed immeasurable void within. The slightest carelessness could lead to one getting lost inside. Over time, the divine sense would slowly dissipate—extremely perilous.

What was the origin of this stele?

The Divine Embryo was quite puzzled. Dad Chen Yindu had been curious about everything and must have noticed the stele's extraordinariness long ago. So why, when he lived in Huangpo Village, had he never uncovered its secrets?

Unless even Dad hadn't dared to probe it!

Creation's Black was filled with shock and doubt. Such a situation was rare indeed.

Scholar Zhu saw how close Chen Shi seemed to Creation's Black and was horrified in his heart. He planned to quietly warn Chen Shi, but Creation's Black's gaze swept over with a threatening glint. Scholar Zhu immediately clamped his mouth shut, not daring to utter a word.

Chen Shi wouldn't respect his teacher or value his ways. If God spoke carelessly, the Divine Embryo would surely kill him.

Scholar Zhu couldn't help but worry. Creation's Black was a madman—if it struck Chen Shi down, not even Chen Yindu reborn could stop it!

"These years, God hasn't come home. Take God to pay respects at Grandpa's grave first, then to the mountain spirits."

Chen Shi suggested, "God rarely returns. Worshiping the mountain spirits will let Qianyang Mountain know of your homecoming, and it will offer its protection."

Creation's Black made no comment. Wherever Chen Shi went, it followed.

The two arrived before Chen Yindu's grave. They burned paper money, and Chen Shi knelt before Chen Yindu's tomb and said,

"Grandpa, Chen Tang is back. He came to see you."

The Divine Embryo hesitated a moment before saying,

"Grandpa, rest assured. God and Chen Tang get along very well and won't make him angry."

Creation's Black inwardly puzzled,

"Why does it keep calling me Chen Tang?"

Shouldn't it call Chen Tang "Dad"?

Suddenly, it recalled the records it had seen in the mountain-listening venerable's place. After Chen Shi's revival, Chen Yindu had often tried to contact Chen Tang, but Chen Tang had never once returned home. It seemed he didn't acknowledge this son.

"So it actually harbors hatred for Chen Tang deep down and refuses to call him Father."

Creation's Black grew even more baffled.

"But from its gaze, God saw no hatred at all. Instead, there was dependence and fawning. Little Ten is just a child craving his father's love."

The Divine Embryo came to a realization.

Chen Shi led it to the Qianyang Mountain Lord's temple. Creation's Black looked at the temple in surprise. The structure was newly built, but the deity image within was no ordinary thing—it even exerted an intangible pressure on the Divine Embryo!

Beneath the statue of the ox-horned god, a yellow tiger lay prostrate. The yellow tiger suddenly opened its eyes, its expression stern as it swept a glance at Creation's Black and issued a low, threatening growl from its throat.

But upon seeing Chen Shi, the yellow tiger ceased threatening Creation's Black and resumed its closed-eyed slumber.

Creation's Black paid it no mind and said in astonishment, "This deity is still alive!"

Chen Shi laughed.

"Of course Mountain Lord is still alive."

"No, that's not right!"

Creation's Black said, "Qianyang Mountain Lord hails from the Huaxia continent. It can't possibly still be alive! God and your Grandpa explored many ancient temples. The spirits inside had all died long ago, with only faint traces of incense qi remaining! How could this one still be alive?"

Before turning to evil, it had always been Chen Yindu's most capable assistant. The two had adventured together, exploring the world's unknowns and experiencing countless events. Their knowledge and insight were naturally terrifyingly vast.

Chen Shi couldn't hide his pride and laughed.

"It was God who awakened Qianyang Mountain Lord."

"You awakened it?"

Creation's Black was filled with doubt. Back then, Chen Yindu and it had tried countless methods to revive ancient Huaxia deities, but all had failed.

Could Chen Shi truly have revived an ancient Huaxia deity on his own?

Chen Shi summoned the temple behind his head and laughed.

"This is the temple Godmother gave God.

God used this temple to awaken Mountain Lord."

Creation's Black stared at the temple, more astonished than ever. Suddenly, it lifted a foot and stepped into the temple within the Divine Embryo's mind.

Chen Shi saw its figure growing smaller and smaller before vanishing behind his head. He hastily focused his mind and entered the temple as well.

He saw Creation's Black looking all around inside the temple. It approached the foremost stone shrine and stared in utter shock at the stone head there.

It moved to another shrine and examined it closely, then went outside the temple and peered at the surrounding mountains, even more astonished.

It took light steps and vanished from the temple.

Chen Shi's consciousness returned, and he saw Creation's Black still glancing left and right at the temple behind his head, eyes full of doubt.

"Chen Tang, what are you thinking?"

Chen Shi asked.

Creation's Black said, "God is wondering about your Godmother's origins. If you are the Three Treasures eunuch, back then you led the Great Ming soldiers through countless sea hardships to reach this place. Yet you found the new continent overrun with evils and spirits, making it hard to gain a foothold.

So, which was the first Huaxia deity you invited? Which deity should you have summoned to stand firm on this new continent?"

Chen Shi knew little of such matters and looked at it in confusion.

Creation's Black continued pondering.

The Huaxia deities of back then had no temples remaining nowadays, let alone their names.

Chen Yindu had compiled talismans for the Great Ming court and learned some deity names that way, but even those were incomplete.

Unable to figure out this ancient Huaxia deity, it gave up.

Chen Shi then led it to pay respects to Pot Mountain. Far off, Big Golden Pot Mountain saw Creation's Black approaching and was startled in its heart.

Chen Shi came forward to offer incense and said, "Chen Tang, you should also offer a few sticks to Senior Pot Mountain."

Big Golden Pot Mountain heard "Chen Tang"

and froze.

"Chen Tang? It's not Chen Tang! It's Creation's Black! Right, Little Ten has never seen it!"

Seeing Creation's Black approach with incense in hand, it grew utterly tense, ready at any moment to erupt into a desperate fight.

But it also knew that even if it fought to the death, both fish and net would likely be its own side—not Creation's Black.

"That kid left a rotten mess behind and ran off to the underworld for a carefree life!"

It inwardly wailed.

Creation's Black arrived before it and offered incense. With no other movements, Big Golden Pot Mountain slightly relaxed.

Creation's Black glanced back at it, revealing a warning glint in its eyes. It raised a hand, extended its index finger to point at its own mouth, then mimed a slash across its neck.

Big Golden Pot Mountain understood.

This meant: keep your mouth shut, or I'll cut your neck.

Strange—how was Little Ten consorting with it? What a wayward child!

Chen Shi burned incense and prayed, "Pot Grandpa, bless Chen Tang. Safe journeys in and out of the mountains, peace and safety, no evils drawn near."

Big Golden Pot Mountain received the incense but felt deeply guilty.

"With Creation's Black's strength far above mine, I'm afraid I can't bless it."

After Chen Shi led Chen Tang away, Big Golden Pot Mountain finally exhaled—only to see the two heading straight toward Granny Zhuang's place. Its heart tightened again.

"Granny Zhuang must not speak carelessly and offend this killer!"

Chen Shi arrived at Granny Zhuang's home. Granny Zhuang didn't dare speak a word. She accepted the incense from Chen Shi and Creation's Black. Only after the two had gone far did the old woman buckle at the knees, nearly collapsing.

"That killer—the Black—has returned!"

Shaken to her core, she paced frantically, not knowing what to do.

Chen Shi led Chen Tang wandering the mountains and arrived at Qingyang's village. From afar, he called out laughingly, "Uncle Qingyang, God brought Chen Tang to visit you!"

Qingyang was lying on the offerings table, munching on offerings with legs crossed. He slanted a wary glance and, upon seeing Chen Shi and Creation's Black, tumbled off the table onto the ground.

"Uncle Qingyang, long time no see."

Creation's Black smiled faintly, its gaze chilling as it said, "Chen Tang pays respects to Qingyang."

Qingyang's legs trembled slightly, his voice shaky as he stammered, "H-how did you come?"

"Dad died. God must come home to see."

Creation's Black laughed.

"No need to be so tense.

It would be bad if you said the wrong thing in your nervousness.

Right, Qingyang—come to God's home tonight. God's dog will cook. Hotpot mutton this evening."

With that, it burst into loud laughter.

Qingyang forced a couple of dry laughs.

Chen Shi saw them chatting more and more amiably and felt very happy.

After a while, Chen Shi interrupted them.

"Chen Tang, let's go see Uncle Hu.

Uncle Hu is on the other side of the mountain."

"Uncle Qingyang, we're off first."

"Go quickly! No need to send you off!"

Qingyang said in relief, urging them on.

Chen Shi then led Creation's Black to the Hu family compound in Youcai Village. Hu Diliang saw Creation's Black entering his courtyard alongside Chen Shi and shivered involuntarily. He hurriedly instructed his wives and concubines,

"Quick, prepare a shroud for me. Today is a fine day—perfect for a burial."

Look at this plague spirit Chen Shi—what had he brought upon them?

It laughed heartily and strode forward to greet him.

"Old Hu, you don't recognize me? I'm Chen Tang."

Creation's Black said.

Hu Diliang trembled in fear.

"Call yourself whatever you like.

Can you control what I call you? I've got elders above and..."

He had already steeled himself for death, but for whatever mad reason,

Creation's Black didn't devour him. Instead, it was quite polite, chatting amiably about family matters and neighborhood gossip.

Hu Diliang was stunned. Even after seeing Chen Shi and Creation's Black out the door, he still hadn't recovered.

"No good! Chen Shi is still in its clutches! If it eats Little Ten, those hundred-odd underworld evils will all come charging out—total chaos down the mountain!"

Hu Diliang leaped to his feet and rushed off, thinking to himself, "I'm no match for the Black on my own, but if we add that lustful sheep and the old lady, maybe we can put up a fight!"

It hadn't gone far when Qingyang came seeking him. The two conferred and concluded,

"Even with the old lady, it's not enough. We need more experts to stand a chance against the Black and rescue Little Ten!"

They went to see Big Golden Pot Mountain. Pot Mountain had always stayed out of worldly affairs—even back when Evil Bodhisattva went rampant, it hadn't intervened.

But this time, Big Golden Pot Mountain readily agreed.

"With the Black returned and plaguing the mountains below, I must do my part!"

The group then went to Granny Zhuang, who had already prepared.

"This old body has arranged my affairs. I'm ready to set out and stake my life!"

They hurried straight to Granny Sha in Gangzi Village. Upon arriving, they saw Granny Sha standing at the village entrance, as if seeing someone off.

"You're all too late. The Black and Little Ten have already left."

Granny Sha knew their intent and said,

"You lot alone won't do, but for righteousness, we face death unflinchingly!"

The group chorused, "Exactly—for righteousness, we face death unflinchingly!"

They raced toward Huangpo Village.

Chen Shi and Creation's Black walked one behind the other toward Huangpo Village, sunlight bright and cheerful, filtering through the leaves onto the winding mountain path.

Chen Shi clutched a handful of foxtail grass in his hand, fluffy and tied into a little dog shape. His heart felt utterly relaxed, an indescribable ease, as he chatted with Creation's Black about passing the scholar exam—boasting of his literary results.

Creation's Black gazed at its back, eyes flickering.

"Little Ten, do you still call God 'Chen Tang'?"

Its hands clasped behind its back gradually morphed into sharp claws.

Evil thoughts surged. It was time to tell Chen Shi the truth—time to let the child die knowing.

Chen Shi halted, his body going rigid.

Creation's Black approached and smiled.

"You're always calling God 'Chen Tang.' It's so distant.

God really wants to tell you..."

Chen Shi's body trembled, his eyes reddening, voice hoarse—like summoning all his courage, expending every ounce of strength.

"Dad."

Creation's Black's mind boomed like thunder. Its full well of killing intent vanished in an instant.

"You're just like God—you're just like God! God was originally just a created thing, didn't dare call Dad 'Father.' God gathered all its courage just to call you 'Dad' once.

And you didn't object..."

Creation's Black dispersed its claws and strode forward.

"Come on. Let's go home together."