Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1294 609: On the Xuanhuang Sea

"The Black Pot in the Heavenly Soldier Camp fears it has three hundred thousand brothers in life and death."

Chen Shi glanced at the Black Pot, confirming that the West Bull New Continent indeed had Outer Daoists, and they had long been lurking beside him, "I'm afraid once the Black Pot gives a command, the Heavenly Soldier Camp will immediately rebel against the Heavenly Court and strangle Heavenly King Li."

The fairy drew the geographical map, indicating each place along the way, with meticulous patience.

Chen Shi thanked her profusely. The fairy had white skin, an endearing appearance, and a sweet smile, but was somewhat impatient with him, saying, "You're too aloof, barely responding to others. I'm only helping because of the Black Immortal. I'm leaving now. Black, let's drink another day!"

The Black Pot saw her off.

Chen Shi awkwardly put away the geographical map and went next door to look for Jiang Guo, who was still not there, likely still outside absorbing the Spiritual Energy of the Immortal Mountain for cultivation. He would only return if there were a task for the Heavenly Soldier Camp or a monthly salary distribution.

However, the monthly salary had just been distributed, and there was no task from the Fire Camp, so Jiang Guo would not return anytime soon.

Chen Shi wrote a letter and slipped it under the door into Jiang Guo's Heavenly Dao Residence before leaving.

Soon after, Chen Shi and the Black Pot arrived at the Heavenly River Crossing.

"Heavenly Soldiers are not allowed to go out alone; they need an order from their superior," the Divine Officer guarding the crossing said sternly.

Chen Shi was about to go back to find Lord Wu Guanyun to issue an order when another Divine Officer noticed them, his eyes brightening. He smiled and said, "Are you Chen Shi, the Heavenly Soldier?"

Chen Shi stopped, "I am Chen Shi."

The Divine Officer beamed with joy, "Indeed, it's Chen Shi. While others need an order, you don't. Someone, prepare a ship! Get Chen Shi on board! Are you going out with the Black Immortal, Chen Shi?"

Chen Shi nodded, watching the approaching Star Shuttle, casually saying, "I might be gone for a short while, not too long."

The Divine Officer, over four zhang tall, raised his hand to grasp a corner of the Star Shuttle, steadying it, and laughed, "It's okay if you stay out longer. If you never return, that's even better... What I mean is, the ocean is vast for a fish to leap. Since you're an Immortal, why suffer in the Heavenly Soldier Camp? Hahaha, I'm not suggesting you take the opportunity to escape!"

With that, he laughed heartily again.

Chen Shi and the Black Pot boarded the Star Shuttle, and the Divine Officer waved goodbye with a broad smile, watching as their Star Shuttle sped through the Star Gate, disappearing into the starlight of the Heavenly River.

"Why let them leave?"

The other Divine Officer was quite puzzled, "If Heavenly Soldiers leave freely, won't it throw the Heavenly Soldier Camp into chaos? What if they escape and don't return? What if they make trouble outside? There are precedents for all these!"

The first Divine Officer replied, "He's a little patriarch whom we can't afford to offend. The Heavenly King also instructed us, if Chen Shi wants to leave, let him go. If he doesn't want to escape the Heavenly Soldier Camp, entice him to. We absolutely can't keep him here! If something happens to him, none of us can bear the responsibility!"

He looked towards the direction where the Star Shuttle had departed, murmuring, "I've never seen the Heavenly King so cautious, eager to send him away like the Plague God."

Chen Shi sat on the Star Shuttle, once again raising the Purple Heaven Immortal Gourd, collecting the Mystic Sky Aurora.

"I've traveled by ship twice, refined four Sword Qi, and need to head out a few more times to refine even more Sword Qi."

Once the Immortal Gourd was filled, Chen Shi immediately refined the Mixed Yuan Sword Scripture, crafting the fifth and sixth Sword Qi.

By the time he disembarked, the fifth and sixth Sword Qi were nearly complete.

Chen Shi stored six Sword Qi in the Immortal Gourd, where their crisp clashes and collisions sounded, the Sword Qi forging each other.

He casually tossed the Immortal Gourd, which shimmered and vanished, sent into the Dao Ruins.

"Having a Dao Realm is truly convenient," Chen Shi couldn't help but sigh.

They arrived at a place called the Fen Yin Province, where heaven and earth separate Yin and Yang. "In Search of Gods" states: "Before heaven and earth split, all was one; when the two forces were judged, Yin and Yang were set, thus clear Qi rose to form the Yang heavens, while turbid Qi sank to form the Yin earth."

It also says, "The world calls Houtu, known as the initial fertile soil of heaven and earth, thus named Mother Earth."

Fen Yin Province derives its name as the residence of the Earth Emperor Houtu.

Chen Shi walked off the Star Shuttle, with the Black Pot following, as they passed through the crossing.

This Heavenly River Crossing is built on a mountain range named Tai E in the Fen Yin Province. The terrain is extremely high; upon stepping out of the crossing, Chen Shi saw a vast sea stretching before him, with countless yellow waves rolling, glistening gold under sunlight, casting a golden hue on all faces.

In the sea, there were Immortal Mountains and Islands of various sizes, lush and vibrant, teeming with vitality.

The Immortal Mountains and Islands continued to move, appearing and disappearing amidst Yellow Qi, with dragon-headed giant turtles swimming below.

Between the mountains and islands, Immortals' ships sailed back and forth, hoisting flags.

At the junction of sea and sky, a translucent azure Mystic Qi, deep and profound, akin to the deep sky but a thousand times more profound, seemed to allow even mortals to soar through it, as if they had grown wings.

This is precisely where the heaven and earth intersect in the Xuanhuang Sea.

"So magnificent!"

Chen Shi felt a sense of relief and couldn't help but admire.

Fen Yin Province refers to those Immortal Mountains and Islands in the sea, countless islands composing the province.

"Without the geographical map, finding the Thick Virtue Heavenly Palace is nearly impossible," Chen Shi marveled.

Next to the crossing is Tai'e County, and though it bears the name of a county, its territory is vast. The Tai E Mountain Range spans ten thousand miles and boasts extraordinary phenomena. Tai'e County is the only land in Fen Yin Province, with other territories in the sea.

This place is home to many Immortals, residing within the Tai E Mountain Range. Some Immortals live hidden within bustling markets, blending in with secular life, honing their Dao Hearts.

Chen Shi and Black Pot passed through Taixu City and sensed many powerful and extraordinary immortal auras.

They left Tai'e County and headed to the Xuanhuang Sea. At this time, several people noticed their figures and hurriedly rushed to the Immortal Slaying List at the county government, each showing a look of surprise, and quickly followed them.

Many others were also going to the Xuanhuang Sea; there was a continuous flow of cars and horses. Some were traveling to Fen Yin Province for business, while others were visiting immortals on the sea's immortal mountains to learn from them.

Chen Shi noticed that glances occasionally fell upon him, his heart moved slightly, and he signaled Black Pot to be cautious.

Black Pot looked around and was about to influence others' perception when a pair of sharp eyes swept over, causing its heart spirit to tremble and its mind to buzz loudly, unable to use its ability.

It was startled and realized that this place was harboring powerful beings, even among the traveling immortals, there were extremely strong presences, and it dared not act rashly.

Not long after, they reached the edge of the Xuanhuang Sea. Here, there was a town named Denghai Town, the last wharf before entering the sea.

From here, immortal ships sail to various immortal islands and immortal mountains of the Xuanhuang Sea.

Chen Shi overheard someone next to him laughing, "To ascend the sea means that even mortals stepping on the surface of the Xuanhuang Sea won't sink, they can walk upon it."

His heart moved slightly, his footsteps landing on the Xuanhuang Sea, treading on the yellow qi that surged like waves. It felt slightly soft beneath his feet, as if walking on spring's soft ground, yet his body did not sink, supported by a gentle force, feeling quite at ease.

"The Xuanhuang Sea is truly marvelous!"

His playful mind arose, deciding not to take a ship into the sea, instead walking freely with Black Pot towards the Thick Virtue and Bright Heaven Palace.

"This Xuanhuang Sea is very different from the Xuanhuang Sea I've seen before."

Chen Shi looked around; when he once stole the Fusang Tree, he had also visited the Xuanhuang Sea, but the sea surface was different then.

"Could it be due to the proximity to the Dark Sea? The outer dao of the Dark Sea affecting the great dao of the Xuanhuang Sea?"

After walking for a half-day, Chen Shi and Black Pot finally understood why others were taking ships, few chose to walk.

The yellow qi in the Xuanhuang Sea was incredibly heavy, falling on their feet and clinging to their clothes, making each step feel like carrying Tai Mountain.

Though Chen Shi and Black Pot were endowed with divine skills, they were burdened by the yellow qi, feeling increasingly weighed down.

"We can fly overhead!"

Chen Shi's heart moved slightly, he stepped into the air.

Despite just stepping a short stride, he suddenly found himself quite distant from the sea, perhaps hundreds of miles away, and as he flew, he seemed to get further and further from the sea.

Chen Shi and Black Pot directed their way, staring at the sea, striving to fly forward, only to realize after flying for tens of thousands of miles, the sea's scenery hadn't changed.

They flew this long, feeling as if they'd never left their spot.

Chen Shi and Black Pot dared not try again, each landing back on the sea surface, continuing to walk.

Fortunately, they noticed many other foolish visitors, these immortals also intended to enter the Xuanhuang Sea on foot, suffering like them.

"Embarrassed,"

Chen Shi thought to himself, "If encountering passing ships, regardless of cost, boarding is necessary."

Just then, more immortals arrived breathlessly, one dissatisfied, "Those two stubborn fools refused to take a ship, insisting on walking. We walked with them! Now look, we've barely seen anyone, and it's getting hard to walk."

Someone nudged the talker; he noticed Chen Shi and Black Pot, his heart trembling in shock, quickly fell silent.

Chen Shi glanced at them but said nothing.

They too remained silent, all heading forward, treading the sea surface.

Chen Shi and Black Pot exchanged a look, saying nothing.

Chen Shi reached into the air with his hand, pulling out a Purple Gold Crown, which he promptly used to tie his hair, wearing the crown and inserting the Pearl Hairpin.

Black Pot somehow had a Black Iron Stick in its hands, idly tapping the sea surface with it.

Behind them, the immortals were silent, some took out fans to cool their necks, with tiny purple lightning weaving between fan leaves. Others wore a smile as they offered a white mink, which curled around their neck.

Some brought out golden scissors, trimming their nails, others had a Jade Flute, playing a tune, its sound melodious and full of playful flourishes.

Chen Shi wore a smile too, and in the Demon Well, beneath the Blood Tree, the Heavenly Net Blood Transformation Divine Sword buzzed, trembling incessantly, ready to fly out at any moment.

Everyone smiled, their gazes shifting to Chen Shi and Black Pot.

Someone chuckled softly, "This scenic spot is perfect for buri—"

At this moment, a ship approached, a head poked out from it, belonging to a bright-eyed, pearly-toothed girl who laughed, "You all must be tired from walking, want to come aboard?"

She excitedly extended two hands, spreading ten fingers wide, "Prices multiplied by ten!"

"Miss, you are quite the profiteer."

Chen Shi smiled slightly, suddenly moving a step forward, appearing on the deck, and said with a smile, "But while on the sea, we must board the ship."