Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1255 588: Neighbors in the Dao Ruins

"There really are many people watching me!"

Chen Shi was filled with uncertainty and suspicion. He originally thought that the feeling of being watched was just his imagination, but now that sensation had suddenly disappeared, making him realize it wasn't just a figment of his imagination. Indeed, someone had been watching him!

And it was dozens of pairs of eyes!

His heart was filled with both astonishment and bewilderment, "Isn't the Dao Ruins supposed to be deserted? Why are there so many people observing when I'm harmonizing and cultivating the Dao Realm?"

Those watching him meant no harm, merely glancing from a distance without interfering with his actions.

"Is it possible that this place isn't as desolate as I imagined? Perhaps there are neighbors around."

Thinking of this, Chen Shi flew to the edge of the Dao Realm and stepped out of it.

Outside was the Dao Ruins, with green mountains sprawling like dragons, lying across the wilderness. This place was even larger than the West Bull New Continent, boundless, with massive mountain ranges, peculiar peaks, and breathtaking scenery.

Chen Shi flew aimlessly for a while, when he suddenly saw smoke curling up among the mountains, indicating the presence of a household.

When he flew closer, he saw a village, with only a few families, as if an extended family lived there.

He arrived at the village entrance, where people were busy with their tasks: women picking mulberry leaves to feed silkworms, elders leisurely smoking pipes, and farmers dousing fermented manure on the vegetable fields.

Upon seeing him, the villagers stopped their work, staring at him in disbelief.

"Where did the guest come from?" A small child ran up to Chen Shi, looking up with an earnest expression, asking seriously.

"I am Chen Shi, a newly ascended Immortal, living right next door."

Chen Shi raised his hand, and golden script of the land contract appeared amidst mountains and rivers, saying, "I am the landlord here. The Heavenly Court granted me the Dao Ruins; this is the land contract."

The child looked up at the land contract, appearing confused, then glanced back at the other villagers, at a loss.

"The Heavenly Court granted the Dao Ruins to someone else as well?"

The other villagers also appeared puzzled and at a loss, as the old man put aside his pipe hurriedly, tapped the copper pipe head, and stood up, "Do you have the decree from the Great Heavenly Venerate? Yes. Emperor Houtu and Earth God... also yes. If there isn't the Four Imperial Lords on the contract, we don't recognize it..."

Upon seeing the words of the Four Imperial Lords on the contract, his face turned ashen, he grunted twice and stopped speaking.

The villagers appeared as if in mourning, deeply saddened.

Chen Shi, puzzled, walked into the village, smiling, "Everyone, although the Dao Ruins is now my territory, I won't interfere with you. You can continue as you always have, I won't collect rent from you either."

He paused, lifted his gaze to the stone gate at the village entrance, the gate having three layers, with the words "Fuluo" inscribed in the middle.

Upon hearing this, the villagers of Fuluo Village felt slightly better.

The child led the way, earnestly saying, "Although you are our lord, you must not treat us like tenant farmers. Our Fuluo Village is tasked with guarding the Green Stele for Lingbao Taoist, who promised us that as long as we guard it well, we don't have to pay rent!"

Chen Shi stopped to observe the cherry tree beside the road. The tree was small, only eight feet tall, stretching about five paces all around. The cherries on it were the size of fingertips, round, half-yellow, half-red, resembling yellow jade with skin.

Underneath the cherry tree was a village girl with a bamboo basket, picking cherries.

The cherries were pleasing to the eye, and the girl was charming too. She was quite shy, giving Chen Shi a glance then lowered her head, sneaking another look at him.

Chen Shi looked at the cherries and then glanced at the village girl, grabbing a handful from her basket with a chuckle, "Who's Lingbao Taoist? I'm not very clear. But since he promised, I won't collect rent either. Raise your head, let me take a look."

The village girl lifted her head as instructed, then shyly lowered it again, turned with her basket, and walked away.

Chen Shi laughed heartily, eating a cherry with pride.

He was about to speak when suddenly he felt as if a sun had ignited inside him, its blazing force filling his body instantly!

"What kind of cherry is this?"

Chen Shi kept a calm demeanor, channeling the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection to refine the power contained within the cherry into various Dao Patterns and merge them into his physical body and primordial spirit.

However, the power contained within the cherry surpassed any Immortal Pill he had taken before. Despite the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection being remarkable, it couldn't fully neutralize the medicinal power quickly.

Chen Shi immediately activated the Mixed Yuan Dao Scripture, deploying the Dao Realm from afar, simultaneously activating the Immortal and Demon Dao Realm of the Dao Ruins to refine the medicinal power, while integrating the excess into another Dao Realm, converting it into Dao Patterns and exiling it to the universe.

If still unable to refine it in time, convert the medicinal power into Spiritual Energy, pouring it into the Dao Realm!

Above the West Bull New Continent, auspicious clouds suddenly spread, auspicious aura floated, in some places, the spiritual energy turned to rain, gently sprinkling, irrigating the mountains and rivers, turning the green mountains verdant, where dragons took birth in river depths, and myriad lingzhi and exotic grasses sprouted in the wilds.

Hu Feifei gazed up at the sky, puzzled, "What's happening over at the West Bull New Continent now?"

Chen Shi extracted the excess power into the three Dao Realms, finally refining the force within the cherry, and let out a silent sigh of relief, then asked the child, "Daoist friend, what's your name?"

"Bailu." The child replied seriously.

Chen Shi continued, "Your village is called Fuluo Village, and Lingbao Taoist asked you to guard the Stele here?"

Bailu corrected, "It's the Green Stele!"

Chen Shi nodded gently, "Take me to see it."

Bailu child led the way, guiding him through the village.

Chen Shi ate another cherry, looking around, when he suddenly saw a duck passing by. Without thinking, he reached out, grabbed the duck's neck, and with a slap, gave the duck a smack.