Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1489 - 692: Journey to the Ancestral Court

King Li was furious. He risked being beaten to death and came personally to find Chen Shi, not to deliver the Great Heavenly Venerate's decree, but to become the Vice Marshal under the Grand Marshal!

Chen Shi didn't understand military command and figured that this expedition needed an expert's help. To his surprise, Chen Shi wanted to appoint his favorite concubine as Vice Marshal.

This was sheer folly!

King Li had already consulted the Jade Emperor about this matter. The Jade Emperor told him that as long as King Chen agreed, he could take the position of Vice Marshal.

Of course, the Great Heavenly Venerate could appoint someone as Vice Marshal, but Chen Shi stationed his troops at Penglai West and held power arrogantly. If the Great Heavenly Venerate sent a Vice Marshal forcibly, they might mysteriously die in office within a few days.

Chen Shi would undoubtedly do such a thing.

But when had King Li ever felt so aggrieved?

Chen Shi saw this and realized his mistake. He laughed heartily and said, "Do not misunderstand, my friend. You are currently injured and cannot help me lead the troops, so I had my favorite concubine take over. Once you recover, the position of Vice Marshal will still be yours."

Hope rose in King Li's heart, "Is it true?"

"There are no empty words in the army. As the General of the World, how could I go back on my word?"

Chen Shi comforted him with a few words, while feeling a bit troubled inside, "I wonder if the godmother will notify the Three Altar Sea Meeting Great God about King Li's whereabouts? Or if the Great God has run out of interest in fighting and won't come anymore, it's also a troublesome matter. Otherwise, should I disguise myself as the Great God and kill King Li?"

He was startled by his own thoughts.

"I can't beat his two sons. Never mind, when he's healed, if he still wants to be Vice Marshal, then I'll find an excuse to send him leading a small rebellious unit to quell unrest, letting him perish in the chaos. Many in this army are from the Immortal Court."

When he thought of this, he could not help but sigh, "What's the difference between King Li and me?"

Having received his promise, King Li felt slightly relieved and immediately instructed Jinzha and Muzha, "Quickly take your father back to the Heavenly Court! Once at the Heavenly Court, the rebellious son wouldn't dare to act rashly."

Chen Shi laughed, "Wait, my friend. This Huaxia Ancestral Court is hidden in the Dark Sea, vast and boundless, with no discernible direction. How should we find it?"

King Li said, "The Huaxia Ancestral Court is nearly the ancestral court of all living beings in the Earth Immortal Realm, where Immortals frequently return, often manifesting divine presence. But later, the Great Heavenly Venerate felt they meddled in worldly affairs, often influencing dynastic changes, so he ordered the court sent back to the Dark Sea. Now, there's only one road leading directly to the Huaxia Ancestral Court. This road is at Han Valley Pass."

"Han Valley Pass?"

"This place was where Laozi left the pass."

King Li said, "In the past, a Teacher and Laozi, one founded Confucianism, the other Taoism, one preached no discrimination, the other serenity and inaction, each passing down their teachings. The Teacher had three thousand disciples, many followers. Seeing Confucianism flourishing, Laozi became indifferent and left through the pass. Leaving through Han Valley Pass, he went to the Earth Immortal Realm."

This story Chen Shi had heard from Jiao Quezi, a struggle for orthodoxy where Laozi lost, but even though the Teacher won and Confucianism was revered, he ignored the establishment of the Earth Immortal Realm by the Three Pure Ones.

By the time the Teacher realized, the Three Pure Ones Lineage had become the legitimate authority of the Earth Immortal Realm. When the Teacher went to the Earth Immortal Realm again, only the abandoned Penglai West was left.

King Li said, "Han Valley Pass, the gate linking the two lands, is divided in two, with one side in the Huaxia Ancestral Court and the other in the Earth Immortal Realm. I once led my army to Han Valley Pass; many soldiers are familiar with the route."

Chen Shi pretended not to understand the implication of his last words, smiled, and said, "Since someone in the army knows the way, I will not delay your healing. My friend, does the Great Heavenly Venerate have a decree or hand-written letter?"

King Li had no choice but to hand over the Jade Emperor's decree to Chen Shi, who accepted it and said, "I won't see you off."

King Li said, "Wait a moment."

Jinzha and Venerable Muzha escorted the Cloud Chariot away. At this moment, the voice of Chen Shi came from behind, "Hold on!"

The Cloud Chariot stopped.

Chen Shi observed Jinzha and Muzha and said, "Are your two sons both esteemed in the Buddhist sect?"

King Li affirmed and said, "The eldest serves as a protector under Manjushri Bodhisattva, while the younger is a Venerable under Guanshiyin Bodhisattva."

Chen Shi nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, "Both nephews are extraordinary. My friend, please go ahead."

Muzha let out a clear shout, urging the Jade Chariot to leave.

"Father, Chen Shi is merely a True Immortal, too insolent for words."

Protector Jinzha, feeling discontent, said, "Father is a trusted aide of the Great Heavenly Venerate. The Great Heavenly Venerate sent you with the decree, clearly wanting him to accept you as his Vice Marshal. Yet he refused. I fear his position as Grand Marshal won't last long."

King Li said, "I have long-standing grievances with him. I've sent him to his death several times; his objections are understandable. The question he asked before leaving was malicious, suggesting my unclear ties with the Western Heaven and disloyalty to the Great Heavenly Venerate. He's probably using this to deny me the Vice Marshal's position."

He hesitated for a moment.

His Exquisite Treasure Tower was given by the Ancient Lamp Buddha of the Western Heaven. His sons worship under dual Bodhisattvas and are skilled in the Western Heaven too. His actions indeed show unclear ties with the Western Heaven.

If this matter reached the Jade Emperor, Chen Shi could use this point against him, making it hard for him to clear his name.

"This Chen Shi is not easy to deal with," he thought inwardly.

Chen Shi stayed on Golden Turtle Island for a few days, partly because Little Dun's cultivation was unstable and needed consolidation, and partly because during his absence, the Outer Dao of Penglai West showed signs of retaliation, making it necessary for Chen Shi to refine the Outer Dao to prevent the Immortals from being corrupted.