Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1699 - 776: Primordial Worm (3)

Huan Shu said, "Where does the True King wish to go?"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "I want to make a trip to Xunjiang."

Huan Shu replied, "What a coincidence, our ship is also headed to Xunjiang."

She discreetly cast a meaningful glance at Daoist Qing Yang. Understanding her intent, he walked up to Chen Shi and probed, "The abilities of the True King are truly astonishing. I realized back in the West Bull New Continent that you are not someone to be trifled with. It’s surprising that after two hundred years, your cultivation has advanced this much. Who did you offend to be pursued like this?"

Chen Shi did not conceal anything, openly admitting, "I ascended to the Earth Immortal Realm and became a Daoist Ancestor, offending the realms of the Three Pure Ones, Western Heaven, Heavenly Court, and Immortal Court, thus being hunted."

Seeing the change in Qing Yang’s expression, he laughed, "You needn’t worry. I’ve killed most of my pursuers, only two remain, and their cultivation has reached Taiyi Golden Immortal Peak, and they possess the magical treasures of the Three Pure Ones."

Daoist Qing Yang asked, "This time you’re hunted by Taiyi Golden Immortals. Aren’t you afraid if Daluo Golden Immortals come after you?"

Chen Shi laughed heartily, "Even if Daluo Golden Immortals want to kill me, it’s not that easy. The hierarchy of the Three Pure Ones realm, the Buddha of the Western Heaven, these beings wouldn’t personally pursue me. As for others, they’re just insignificant nobodies."

Daoist Qing Yang was astonished.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "I created the Primordial Talisman and passed down the teachings to the world, hence being revered as the Daoist Ancestor. Once my injuries heal a bit, I can teach you the Primordial Talisman to enhance your cultivation strength."

Qing Yang, Huan Shu, and the others were skeptical.

The Black Sandalwood Ship sailed along Cangjiang towards the Star Sea. After some time, seeing that no one was pursuing, everyone on the ship was slightly relieved.

Huan Shu looked around and suddenly remarked, "The Primordial Worm is gone!"

Chen Shi, who was meditating to heal his injuries, opened his eyes upon hearing this and looked out. Cangjiang appeared as a silver Star River, with innumerable silent stars drifting, dispelling the surrounding darkness.

Indeed, within the Dark Sea, one could see many floating worlds, but they were desolate and lifeless.

"Are there many worlds around Cangjiang?" Chen Shi asked.

"Yes."

Huan Shu replied, "Within Cangyuan alone, there are eighty-eight worlds, but most are covered by the Primordial Worm. Along Cangjiang are also numerous worlds, consumed by the Primordial Worm. Yet today, all Primordial Worms have vanished. Typically, these worms would tightly cover these worlds, and many stars in the Cangjiang Star River were enveloped, becoming pitch black. It was unsafe to travel along the river."

Now, without the Primordial Worm, the Star River was clear, and the danger significantly reduced.

"Where might those Primordial Worms go?" Huan Shu asked.

"Not those Primordial Worms, but that Primordial Worm."

Chen Shi’s voice echoed, "There’s only one Primordial Worm. What you see are all the same Worm."

Someone laughed and said, "True King, don’t joke. These Primordial Worms are everywhere. If there’s only one, wouldn’t it be unimaginably large? Afraid it’s not much smaller than the Earth Immortal Realm!"

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "It’s exactly that large."

The crowd was incredulous.

"Have any of you, residing in the Dark Sea for long, encountered Green Rock?" Chen Shi inquired.

The group was puzzled, "Green Rock? What Green Rock?"

Just then, a voice called out, "Friends aboard the ship, please lend a helping hand!"

Huan Shu looked towards the voice and saw a solitary mortal floating outside the Star River, alongside a ramshackle Star Shuttle. His clothes were tattered, and he appeared quite distressed.

Huan Shu slowed the ship and asked, "May I know who you are?"

The solitary mortal replied, "An immortal treasure hunter from Sanfu Island, Ning Zhen. We were attacked in the Dark Sea; I’m the sole survivor of my ship."

Chen Shi’s gaze fell on the face of the solitary immortal, his mind shaken, momentarily rendered speechless.

Huan Shu slowed the ship further and said, "The Great Origin Immortal City of Cangyuan has been destroyed. You won’t be able to return to the Dark Sea from there. We’re heading to the Star Sea; once there, should we encounter another Treasure Ship, you can leave with them."

The solitary immortal Ning Zhenzi thanked and boarded the Black Sandalwood Ship, smiling, "Thank you for the rescue."

He sat down, his gaze sweeping the area, coincidentally meeting Chen Shi’s eyes, and nodded with a smile.

Chen Shi nodded back with a smile, though his heart was in turmoil.

He had seen Ning Zhenzi’s face before!

Back in the Underground Green Palace, he and Chen Yindou, along with Creation Little Five, used the Dark Sea Heavenly Dao Talisman to revive the divine being enshrined in the Underground Green Palace.

The face of that divine being was almost identical to Ning Zhenzi’s!

"Has the ancient deity worshiped by the Dark Sea awoken?" Chen Shi struggled to mask his feelings, yet found it hard to suppress his inner astonishment.

The voice of Daoist Qing Yang rang out, "Speaking of Green Rock, I did encounter a piece."

All eyes turned to him in unison.

Daoist Qing Yang said, "While drifting in the Dark Sea, I found a piece in an ancient relic. It seemed to be a place of ancient civilization worship in the Dark Sea, though I couldn’t understand the inscriptions or patterns on the Green Rock."

Chen Shi asked, "Where did you see it?"

"A remnant of a relic near the Star Sea."

Daoist Qing Yang explained, "We’ll pass by it on our way to the Star Sea this time."

Ning Zhenzi’s gaze rested on Chen Shi’s face, smiling, "Are you interested in Green Rock? I have seen a few pieces before. If you’re interested, I could take you there."

Chen Shi met his gaze and hummed, ambiguously replying, "Thank you, Daoist friend."

Ning Zhenzi asked with concern, "You don’t look well. Are you injured? I have a few Immortal Pills here, gifts from an Immortal Master on Sanfu Island, excellent for healing."

He took out several Immortal Pills and offered them.

"No need, my injuries are not serious."

Chen Shi laughed heartily, "I’m nearly fully recovered."

Suddenly, a voice sneered, "Injured by my Taiqing Realm’s Eight Trigrams Refining Furnace, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal can hope to recover anytime soon! Mr. Chen, are you truly almost healed?"

The Black Sandalwood Ship shuddered slightly as a Daoist, Micro Taoist Monarch, appeared, holding the Eight Trigrams Refining Furnace!

Another voice rang out, "Indeed! Injured by the Shangqing Realm Spirit Treasure Daoist’s Demon-sweeping Duster, it’s impossible to recover!"

Another wizened Daoist descended from the sky, resting his elbow on the horsetail whisk, none other than Emperor Wan Shou.

Chen Shi smiled, "I’m afraid your wounds haven’t healed either, my Demon Blood Treasure Tree is not to be underestimated. Invading the Dark Sea Outer Dao isn’t that easy to refine."

Micro Taoist Monarch and Emperor Wan Shou laughed heartily, "Such minor wounds have long healed!"

Despite their words, the two did not immediately attack but found places to sit on the ship, each tending to their wounds.

Chen Shi’s gaze moved from them to Ning Zhenzi, smiling, "Daoist Ning reminds me of an old acquaintance."

Ning Zhenzi asked, "Oh? Which old acquaintance?"

Chen Shi laughed, "That old acquaintance was plotted against by me and my grandfather, his physical body was destroyed."

Ning Zhenzi’s expression changed slightly, "Could it be he recognized my True Body?"

Chen Shi continued, "...Later, my grandfather used that acquaintance’s brain to craft the Heavenly Dao Intelligent Brain."

With these words, Ning Zhenzi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "He hasn’t figured out my True Body, because I have no brain. But given my strength, if I rashly attack and fail to kill him, I fear he’d refine me instead."

In his heart, he harbored deep fear of Chen Shi.

This encounter with Chen Shi had already led to him losing much of his physical body.