Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1272 597

Zhang Xian and the others have already started packing, preparing to return to the Heavenly Court. Xiao Dululu and the others, fearing that the Earth God and Chu Xiangxiu might escape, requested various sealings from the Thunder Department gods to seal them inside and out, restricting their Daoist skills.

Zhong Lin showed the Thunder Department soldiers his identity as a Heavenly Mechanism Scholar, requesting the Thunder Department to help escort the Earth God and Chu Xiangxiu to the Heavenly Court.

This trip back to the Heavenly Court is certainly a great accomplishment. Because these Heavenly Soldiers cracked the Mud Bodhisattva case, each of them will surely be rewarded, with their monthly Spirit Pill and Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid likely increasing significantly, and perhaps even a promotion.

The divine generals of the Thunder Department were also very hospitable and warmly entertained them.

Ge Heavenly Master, who was somewhere in seclusion before, unexpectedly emerged and personally met Chen Shi and the others, encouraging everyone, "Thanks to all of you, the people of the Thunder Mystery Province were saved from disaster. This small token of appreciation represents my sincere gratitude."

A Thunder Department soldier stepped forward and handed each Heavenly Soldier from the Fire Camp a small cloth bag. When they opened them, there weren't many items inside: two small jade bottles, one milky white and the other jujube red, and a few Five Thunder Talismans personally blessed by the Thunder Department's divine generals, each with tremendous power.

"The two jade bottles, one contains Thunder Injected Nectar, also the Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid, which is slightly better than the spiritual liquid from the Yao Guang Pool. The other is the Heavenly Yang Pill, refined by our Thunder Department's Pill Master, which enhances Pure Yang Qi, forming the Pure Yang Pill Thunder."

Ge Heavenly Master laughed, "Just a small local specialty, please accept it with a smile."

Zhang Xian hurriedly had everyone accept it and thanked Ge Heavenly Master with a bow.

Ge Heavenly Master retained Chen Shi and said, "Mr. Chen, a young hero, solved the Mud Bodhisattva case, saving the people of the Thunder Mystery Province from fire and water—a meritorious deed beyond measure. This action also saved me; otherwise, I might not have been able to stay in charge here. I have nothing to repay you but hope you'll accept this small gift."

A divine general beside him presented a Jade Pendant, and Ge Heavenly Master said, "This treasure is called the Dan Yang Xuan Platform. I obtained and refined it from an ancient precious jade in the Dark Sea. This ancient jade was born in a geomantic vent, where the fierce winds blow eternally, refining the jade into a wondrous treasure. I crafted this treasure into the Xuan Platform; once activated, one can stand atop it, invulnerable to all arts. Mr. Chen, we are well-met at first sight, hence I bestow this upon you, to ward off this impending tribulation."

"A treasure to avoid a tribulation?" The soldiers of the Fire Camp were collectively astounded, casting envious glances.

Chen Shi didn't find it particularly precious; in the Qianyang Mountain of the West Bull New Continent, there are hundreds of extraordinary treasures not inferior to Dan Yang Xuan Platform; all personally stolen by him.

"Except for the Fusang Tree, which was stolen by Wu Qi. Hmm, and godmother also stole two pieces." He thought to himself.

He took the Dan Yang Xuan Platform and handed it to Black Pot, saying: "Heavenly Master, the Mud Bodhisattva incident is riddled with doubts, and we have yet to capture the person performing the rain spell. How can the case be closed? This person must still be in Feng'an County!"

Ge Heavenly Master stated meaningfully, "To the Thunder Department, this Mud Bodhisattva case has concluded. This time, the Thunder Department achieved a great victory, capturing the main culprits and driving away Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, a double success. As for the person who cast the rain spell, does it really matter to the Thunder Department?"

"But tens of thousands died!"

Chen Shi recalled the countless clay figures melted by rain, and the sight of them pushing wooden carts to throw those who couldn't survive into deep pits; he couldn't help but feel angry. "Are the lives and deaths of these people not important?"

Ge Heavenly Master looked at him with surprise and asked: "Mr. Chen, how old are you this year?"

"Thirty-six."

Ge Heavenly Master was surprised, "Thirty-six years old and has already become a Heavenly Immortal; indeed, you are a young hero. Your talent is exceptional, rarely seen even in the Earth Immortal Realm. But it's not surprising you think this way. Once you have lived five hundred years, looking at mortals will change your mindset slightly, finding their lifespan fleeting with twenty generations passing in that time."

He said faintly, "When you live to five thousand, your mindset will change again; seeing mortals will seem like observing ants, living day by day, feeling yourself different from them. When you've lived thirty thousand years, humans will appear to you as merely ants, indistinguishable from other beings. The Mud Bodhisattva case in Feng'an County did result in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, but who cares? Does the Thunder Department truly care? Does the Heavenly Court really care?"

Chen Shi fell silent for a moment, then said: "Heavenly Master, back then you and I were also ants like them. Did we care when we were ants ourselves?"

Ge Heavenly Master's heart shivered slightly, as if recalling some stories from his youth, then shook his head, smiling, "Mr. Chen, you're still young. When you reach my age and have been through a few Opening Tribulations, you won't think like this anymore."

He cupped his hands to bid farewell, saying: "You all need to report back to the Heavenly Court, so I will not see you off."

Chen Shi looked towards Feng'an County, where many places had white banners hanging, funerals being held, as survivors mourned the dead.

"This Earth Immortal Realm is just a larger version of the West Bull New Continent."

He felt a sense of absurdity rising in his heart and muttered, "This whole Earth Immortal Realm, and there's not even one real man."

At the Heavenly River Crossing.

Thunder Department's military officer Wu Xie came to see them off, and the Fire Camp soldiers boarded the Star Shuttle one by one. Someone joyfully shouted, "Not a single one of us from the Fire Camp died this time!"

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed, for when the Heavenly Soldier Camp mobilizes, deaths were expected, often with most of the Heavenly Soldier Camp perishing. Yet this time not a single one died, an unprecedented occurrence since the camp's formation.

Bai Fangfang laughed, "Not only did none die, but everyone received a reward. Surely more awards await us once we're back at the Heavenly Court!"