Chapter 567: The Twin Terrors of Male and Female

The Empress of Earth selected account books and chose her targets, while Chen Shi took the opportunity to return to the mortal world for a visit.

The Imperial Capital's Cabinet was operating smoothly. The battle against the Celestial Venerable had a tremendous impact on Western Ox New Continent, and the Cabinet had been handling the fallout these past days.

The primordial insect's body had melted away, forming numerous lakes and rivers that emanated spiritual energy and nourished the surrounding lands. Hu Feifei, Zhuge Jian, Yu Tiancheng, and others deliberated, deciding on one hand to divert the water flow, and on the other to build academies in these locations, where disciples could cultivate with results several times better than elsewhere.

The Ministry of Rites abolished private academies and established public schools instead, sending children of appropriate age to learn Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment. Those with talent who could achieve Foundation Establishment before the age of twelve would continue their cultivation. Those without talent would return home to cultivate on their own.

This reform stirred up considerable resentment among private academy teachers, but when the public schools hired them as instructors, it dissolved their complaints.

The effect of abolishing private schools and establishing public ones was that all citizens of Western Ox New Continent now had the opportunity to become cultivators. And those with the aptitude would have the chance to rise to prominence.

Even more crucial, this move would allow the number of cultivators in Western Ox New Continent to multiply tenfold or more at once.

Back in the day, Chen Yindu had created the Heavenly Heart Righteousness Technique, which multiplied the number of cultivators several times over and shook the rule of the Thirteen Great Clans. Now, abolishing private schools and establishing public ones was bound to be another tremendous leap forward!

"Your Majesty, now that the world is free of Demonic Energy and the Celestial True God has turned into radiant light, even if Foundation Establishment cultivators manage to form a miniature shrine, they cannot advance into the Divine Embryo realm."

Hu Feifei finally managed to corner Chen Shi and said, "The Ministry of Rites deliberated at length over this. Their conclusion was that either Your Majesty, as the Celestial True God, should preside over the Divine Embryo, Divine Descent, and Spirit Refining realms, or we abandon the new method and return to the old method. The Cabinet is evenly split between these two proposals and has been arguing endlessly. We request Your Majesty's decision."

Chen Shi was stunned. He truly hadn't considered this problem.

The Celestial True God had expended all its power and transformed into radiant clouds. Without it, cultivators' Divine Embryos had no source to draw upon, making the new method unsuitable going forward.

"The new method was originally created by the True King as a cultivation system born of necessity, to counter the curse."

Chen Shi pondered for a moment, then said, "For the past six thousand years and more, every cultivator's Divine Embryo was granted by the Celestial True God, which is what allowed them to avoid demonization and achieve success. This arrangement was never sustainable in the long run. Now that the curse is gone, the new method no longer serves a purpose. As such, we shall continue promoting the old method."

Hu Feifei said, "Some in the Cabinet argue that the old is inferior to the new, so why cling to antiquity?"

Chen Shi smiled. "The new method hasn't even figured out Ascension yet. How can anyone claim the old is inferior to the new? There's no need for further debate. Do as I say."

Hu Feifei acknowledged the order and departed.

Chen Shi traveled through the countryside, observing that Western Ox New Continent was now brimming with spiritual energy everywhere. Occasionally, spiritual rain fell from the sky, formed from the primordial insect's flesh, nourishing the land.

Not only were crops flourishing, but countless spiritual herbs had sprouted among the famous mountains and great rivers.

Chen Shi casually plucked one and tasted its properties, feeling a surge of mixed emotions.

"Back then, the Thirteen Great Clans opened Spirit Fields in Qingzhou, feeding evil spirits with human lives, using those evil spirits to tend the fields, and harvesting herbs to prolong their lives. Now, any spiritual herb I casually pick is far superior to those that were watered with human blood!"

As this thought crossed his mind, his heart stirred. He returned to Qianyang Mountain and released the Ginseng Grass Dolls and other spiritual herbs from before the small temple.

These spiritual herbs all possessed the ability to transform. Previously planted outside the small temple, they could absorb the Three Lights Righteous Energy from the Divine Continent. Now, Western Ox New Continent had sun and moon once more, though still lacking starlight, but spiritual energy was extraordinarily abundant. The Ginseng Grass Dolls would surely grow even better here.

Those spirit herb dolls hadn't been outside in a long time. Returning to Qianyang Mountain, they immediately scampered all over the ground.

"Be careful not to get caught and eaten by someone," Chen Shi instructed.

Several of the spirit herb dolls ran back, kowtowed to him a few times, then scrambled up and scurried away in a flash.

Chen Shi arrived at Sky Measuring Cliff, raised the Purple Heaven Vine, and with a slight shift of his mind, sensed his Dao Realm.

When he had used the Celestial True God to unite with the Dao of heaven and earth, enveloping all of Western Ox New Continent, his magical power had been boundless. The entire continent was his Dao Field, and refining the primordial insect's flesh had been effortless. But now, with the Celestial True God's death, he could no longer sense that vast Dao Realm.

"The True God is dead. Am I no longer in a state of Dao Unification?"

He was bewildered. He clearly felt that he had achieved Dao Unification, so why was there no Dao Realm?

By all logic, since he had unified with Western Ox New Continent, the continent should be his Dao Realm. More precisely, Western Ox New Continent should be his small world!

But now, he had no sign whatsoever of being able to grasp the great Dao of heaven and earth in Western Ox New Continent!

Not only was the continent not his small world, he couldn't even locate his Realm of Emptiness anywhere!

What was even stranger was that he sensed his current cultivation was vastly more profound than before his Dao Unification, several times deeper at least. Moreover, his comprehension of Dao techniques far exceeded what it had been back then.

And now, his Dao techniques were beginning to transform into Dao patterns. This was a capability exclusive to immortals at the Celestial Immortal Realm!

Without a Realm of Emptiness, without Dao Unification, this phenomenon was utterly inexplicable!

Chen Shi's expression grew grave. The death of the Celestial True God had triggered some inexplicable changes in him, changes that defied explanation.

He deepened his connection with heaven and earth, sensing ever more profoundly, when suddenly, he detected an immensely vast world!

Countless principles of the Great Dao transformed into radiant light, encircling that world, humming and vibrating!

He felt the grandeur of the gods, the ethereal nature of the immortal path, calling to the immortal aura within his body!

"Am I sensing the Earth Immortal Realm?"

Chen Shi suddenly felt his body growing lighter and lighter. He hastily opened his eyes and saw a streak of radiant light descending from somewhere above, falling upon him.

Within the light came a force of guidance, merging with the immortal aura within him, as if beckoning him to another world!

"Ascension radiant light!"

Chen Shi had seen such light before. Within Jue Yangzi's small world, there had been a similar Ascension light, though because Jue Yangzi had ascended carrying Demonic Energy, he was cut down by a sword light from the Earth Immortal Realm.

Before Zhong Wuwang's Ascension, a beam of light had also come from another world to receive him.

"I have no small world from Dao Unification, not even a Realm of Emptiness. Why would the Earth Immortal Realm still try to receive me?"

He was deeply puzzled, but then his spirits lifted. "Doesn't this mean I can go to the Earth Immortal Realm and achieve Dao Unification all over again?"

A spark of anticipation kindled within him.

He ceased his communion with heaven and earth, and the Ascension light gradually faded away.

Chen Shi returned to the underworld and arrived outside the Palace of Virtue. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly felt a stir in his heart and looked up at the sky.

"What is Your Majesty gazing at?" the Empress of Earth's voice came.

Chen Shi lowered his gaze and said, "Nothing. Your Ladyship, I encountered something strange today."

He recounted how he had no Dao Unification and couldn't sense his small world. The Empress of Earth had never encountered such a case either. It was common knowledge that after cultivators crossed tribulation and achieved Dao Unification, they became immortals, and if an immortal's small world was destroyed, their realm would drop.

But Chen Shi's situation was practically unheard of in the world.

"Most likely, when you used the Celestial True God as your foundation and let the Great Dao of heaven and earth merge with you, when the True God died, the power that had merged with you dissipated. Thus, you fell from the Gold Immortal realm." She speculated.

Chen Shi said, "Godmother's reasoning is sound. But it doesn't explain the Dao patterns."

The Empress of Earth was stumped by him. She said, "Dao patterns compose the Great Dao Phenomena within an immortal's Dao Realm. Things like the Jade Court and the Thirty-Two Heaven Youths are all formed from Dao patterns. The principles contained within Dao patterns naturally give rise to these Dao manifestations. Different manifestations symbolize each Dao Realm. However, the divine path differs from the immortal path, and I cannot explain the changes in your body either. Since Your Majesty cannot sense your Realm of Emptiness or your Dao Unification, could you perhaps open a new realm and achieve Dao Unification anew?"

Chen Shi explained his plan to go to the Earth Immortal Realm and achieve Dao Unification there. The Empress of Earth smiled and said, "That would indeed be the better choice. The Earth Immortal Realm is a world of immortal Dao, far surpassing Western Ox New Continent by an immeasurable margin."

Having said this, she recalled the Qianyang sacred ground discovered by the Purple Heaven Vine and hesitated slightly.

The Qianyang sacred ground contained Grand Supreme Purple Qi. Achieving Dao Unification at Qianyang Mountain might not be much inferior to doing so in the Earth Immortal Realm.

"However, the Earth Immortal Realm offers more choices, and more sacred grounds for Dao Unification. Perhaps we might even find something better there." She thought silently to herself.

Chen Shi glanced up at the sky again, then followed the Empress into the Palace of Virtue.

The Empress of Earth said, "The great benefactor we are visiting this time goes by the Dao name Qian Yi. He is an immortal at the Celestial Immortal Realm."

Chen Shi asked, "What good deeds has Daoist Qian Yi done?"

The Empress of Earth said, "When he was still a mortal, he hadn't done many good deeds. But after his Ascension, he truly began doing 'great' deeds. After ascending, wanting to make a name for himself in the Earth Immortal Realm, he squeezed his ancestral land dry, plundered all kinds of heavenly treasures and earthly treasures, and sent many of his fellow villagers to the underworld for reincarnation. The Prefect of Mount Tai has quite a stack of complaints against him."

She glanced at Chen Shi with a half-smile. "You know, once people gain power and influence, they inevitably become blinded by greed and forget what they used to be. Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"

Chen Shi felt a chill run through him. "Your child will remember Godmother's teachings."

The Empress was delighted. She smiled and said, "You are now the True King, yet you still possess the capacity for self-reflection. That is truly rare. Daoist Qian Yi cultivates immortal herbs and immortal plants, and the finest among them is a rare treasure called Langya Crimson Pearl. He was extraordinarily fortunate to have found this treasure in the mysterious yellow sea."

As the two chatted and laughed, they entered Daoist Qian Yi's small world.

The Empress was eager and raring to go. She said, "This time, Your Majesty will keep watch for this palace."

Chen Shi acknowledged, but before he even finished speaking, the Empress of Earth had charged out like a gust of wind and leaped high into the air.

"This is a robbery!" she shouted loudly.

Within Daoist Qian Yi's small world, several thousand cultivators were hard at work. Some were flower farmers, others were Qian Yi's disciples. Hearing the shout, everyone turned to look. Someone laughed and said, "Where did this crazy girl come from? Wearing a veil and causing a ruckus."

The crowd paid her no mind and went back to their business.

The Empress of Earth looked helplessly at Chen Shi. Chen Shi cleared his throat and raised his palm. Instantly, dark clouds gathered across the sky, thunder and lightning crackled and darted among the clouds. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down, blasting one of the immortal palaces in the small world into smithereens!

The cultivators in Qian Yi's small world were startled and looked up at the sky.

"ROBBERY!"

Chen Shi's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing throughout the small world. "The Twin Terrors of Male and Female never harm people and never take lives. We only want your valuables. Give us the money and we'll be on our way. But if anyone resists, well, the last one who dared defy us, we took our time with him. His bone fragments are still dangling from my blade!"

The Empress of Earth caught on and looked down with a cold sneer. "Don't blame him for having a heavy hand. If you fall into MY hands, I'll find you even after you're reincarnated and kill you again!"

The two slowly descended from the sky, landing beside the Spirit Fields.

The Empress of Earth kicked one of Qian Yi's disciples flying and barked, "Scram!"

Chen Shi raised his palm, and instantly, tens of thousands of bolts of lightning in the sky crackled and sizzled, converging toward his five fingers, dancing at his fingertips.

"Still not leaving? Are you planning to rob us back?" Chen Shi said with a dark expression.

"WHOOSH!"

The cultivators in and around the fields scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.

Chen Shi was rather satisfied. He said, "Godmother, you could stand to be a bit fiercer next time."

The Empress of Earth rubbed her calf and said, "This palace just kicked that man, and I already feel terrible about it. This leg, it's cost me some merits."

Chen Shi said, "I'll keep watch for you, Godmother. You go harvest the herbs."

The Empress immediately set aside her guilt about lost merits, took out her hoe, bamboo basket, and other tools, and happily went off to dig for immortal herbs.

Chen Shi stood in the field, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.

Suddenly, a booming voice rang out: "What demon dares to trespass in my Dao Realm and steal my treasures?!"

Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat. "The owner has come to claim his due!"

He followed the voice and saw the newcomer. It was a Daoist in a blue robe with white undergarments, cloth shoes with layered soles, and a horsetail whisk in hand. He had the bearing of an immortal, an air of transcendence, not at all like a wicked man.

Chen Shi was about to steel himself and step forward to buy the Empress some time, when suddenly, from within the Spirit Fields, the Empress of Earth flew out with her hoe on her shoulder, charging straight at Daoist Qian Yi. The hoe swung, and the sky filled with shadows of the blade.

Seeing her ferocious approach, Daoist Qian Yi moved to defend himself, but suddenly his feet found no purchase, and he discovered himself scooped up on the hoe's blade, swaying helplessly in the wind like a rootless weed.

"What kind of Dao technique is this? I can't see any Dao patterns!"

Terror gripped his heart. Then he saw countless hoe blades descending upon him.

"So YOU'RE Daoist Qian Yi, are you? So YOU'RE the one who commits all kinds of wicked deeds, are you? So YOU'RE the one who oppressed the folks back in your hometown, are you?"

The Empress of Earth shouted curses with every blow, and before long, she had hoed Daoist Qian Yi to the ground, beaten black and blue, rolling around in the dirt.

Daoist Qian Yi tried to activate an immortal technique to escape. He transformed into a gust of immortal wind, but was instantly scooped back by the hoe, finding himself standing on the blade again, whereupon another thorough beating commenced.

The Empress of Earth only stopped when she was tired, then tossed Daoist Qian Yi aside and returned to harvesting herbs.

Chen Shi watched with his heart pounding. He thought to himself, "This isn't without reason. There must be countless wrongfully dead souls in the underworld filing complaints against Qian Yi. The Empress has been overwhelmed by them, which is why she's so furious."

Suddenly, he felt that stirring again and, almost involuntarily, looked up at the sky.

"What is Your Majesty looking at?" the Empress of Earth asked, having finished gathering the herbs. She walked over with her basket, and as she passed Daoist Qian Yi, she gave him two extra hard kicks with her toes.

Chen Shi's expression grew increasingly strange. "I don't know why, but I keep sensing my Ascension light stirring restlessly, as if it wants to take the initiative to receive me into the Earth Immortal Realm."