Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1456 - 677: Dark Sea Heavenly Dao

Chen Shi gazed at the Green Palace across from him, comparing it with the Green Palace in the painting left by his Teacher. The Green Palace across the lake was noticeably different.

In the painting, the Green Palace was built on a mountain, obscured by the mountain and trees, with only one corner visible.

However, the Green Palace across the lake had no obstructions, revealing its full view.

Yet, the Green Palace across the lake appeared much smaller in scale than the Dark Sea Green Palace, as if it was merely one pavilion of the Green Palace.

Chen Shi pondered and was about to walk over the underground lake when a skeleton beneath the collapsed rocks caught his eye.

This skeleton was embedded in the stone wall, as if it had grown together with the rock, quite bizarre.

Its flesh had petrified, turned to stone, but its bones remained intact.

It was still in a raised-hand position within the stone wall; Chen Shi carefully observed its arm, noticing rope marks on the wrist.

"The bell Brother Bian found should have been hung on the skeleton's wrist," Chen Shi speculated.

He took a close look at the petrified skeleton, deducing that the owner of the skeleton was probably a male, either humanoid or human.

"It seems like some unexpected incident occurred while it was rushing out, causing its body to petrify, buried in this Immortal Gold mineral vein, dying here."

Chen Shi tried to find more clues from the petrified clothing on the skeleton, but the clothes had turned to stone as well, only barely discernible in texture.

He concentrated, and the excess rock crumbled away into dust and sand. Soon thereafter, the clothing's fabric surfaced.

The style of the clothing wasn't from the Huaxia Divine Continent, but it possessed the beauty of Chinese garments, with very defined textures and folds.

It was woven from natural silk materials, with some faintly visible bird-head patterns; however, the stitching was extremely dense. Chen Shi squinted, seeing bizarre patterns branded into the silk, similar to Immortal Dao patterns, but vastly different.

"Outer Dao Law!"

Chen Shi's interest piqued, attempting to scrutinize it further.

Yet, these Outer Dao Laws were carved into silk finer than an ant, and these threads had decomposed during petrification. Though some of the Outer Dao Laws were visible, many were discontinuous, and the sections that seemed continuous had mostly lost content.

"Such a shame."

Chen Shi sighed. His first Dao Principle was just a fragment of a Dao Principle, capable of forming a Divine Skill, but unable to form a Daoist Field or forge a Magical Treasure.

If he could gain the Outer Dao Laws from the clothing, it would undoubtedly elevate his abilities significantly.

Chen Shi placed the petrified garment aside, then reconsidered and picked it up again, thinking, "I'll hand it over to the outer sect disciples of Golden Turtle Island for study; they might uncover some insights. Twenty thousand people can't always be idle; we need to find them some work."

He closely examined the skeleton again, hoping to find some Outer Dao Laws engraved onto it; after all, some cultivation techniques etched Dao Patterns and Dao Principles onto one's bones to enhance strength.

However, to his disappointment, no Outer Dao Laws were found on the skeleton.

"This person doesn't resemble a Great Demon. Great Demons have grotesque forms; this skeleton appears human. Could he be a cultivator from the Dark Sea?"

Chen Shi buried the skeleton, constructing a tomb for it. He wanted to erect a headstone but, not knowing the person's name, refrained.

He headed towards the underground lake, only to find, upon reaching the shore, that the water seemed to come alive. The lake water sprouted numerous tendrils, writhing and surging towards him!

"Dark Sea!"

Startled, he quickly retreated, evading the assault from the lake water!

The lake water was extremely peculiar; even before nearing, it distorted and transformed his Great Dao Law, also causing changes to his Physical Body and Primordial Spirit, as if shifting him towards a non-human state!

This was not unfamiliar to Chen Shi.

In the West Bull New Continent, he had encountered similar Outer Dao attacks, but those were caused by the Primordial Worm, differing from these direct assaults of the Dark Sea, which were more domineering!

"This lake embodies the Outer Dao of the Dark Sea!"

He unfolded the Infinite Dao Field; the field expanded with a hum, immediately suppressed by the lake water, only managing to cover an acre.

Lake water, like countless tendrils, invaded his Dao Field. The sight was identical to when he invoked a Dao Realm, and the West Bull New Continent appeared above the Earth Immortal Realm!

Chen Shi exerted all his effort to operate the Infinite Dao Field. While the lake water eroded his Dao Field, converting his Infinite Dao Principle to Outer Dao, it, in turn, was being assimilated by his Infinite Dao Field.

They resembled two serpents, each consuming the other's tail.

Chen Shi kept retreating, actively shrinking the Dao Field, soon establishing a delicate balance between his Dao Field and the Outer Dao.

After retreating dozens of feet, the lake water seemed wary of his Dao Field. Sensing the ebb and flow, it retreated away from Chen Shi.

Chen Shi stepped forward a few steps, not getting too close.

"Strange, why is there a Dark Sea here? It seems like this Dark Sea is guarding the Green Palace."

He pondered briefly, converting the Mixed Yuan Infinite Innate Skill into Innate Demon Skill, advancing toward the lake once more.

His Mixed Yuan Infinite Innate Skill was half self-realized and half taught by his Teacher, thus possessing significant prowess in the Demon Path.

As he approached, the lake water faintly trembled, dense water patterns rippling across the surface, seemingly warning him.

Chen Shi attempted to approach gradually, but the lake water's agitation intensified. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Ultimately, Chen Shi halted his advance.