Chapter 573: Not a Good Person

Chen Shi sucked in a cold breath. Swallowing a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers in one gulp?

Opening his mouth and devouring a hundred thousand immortals who had ascended to the Earth Immortal Realm?

He deeply suspected whether Xiao Dulu was lying to him.

He felt that immortals were incredibly powerful. Never mind others, at the very least, he himself counted as a formidable fighter.

Would someone like him be devoured a hundred thousand at a time by a single breath?

Who possessed such ability?

"I should have realized it earlier. The heavenly soldiers are immortals. Immortal Palace used the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace to refine a batch of heavenly soldiers, and their strength was about the same as Fifth Uncle's back then. They were all at the immortal level, I imagine."

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment. If one batch of the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace could refine five hundred immortal-level heavenly soldiers, then a demon king swallowing a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers in one gulp didn't seem quite so absurd after all.

"The Earth Immortal Realm seems even more perilous than the Western Ox New Continent," he thought to himself.

Bai Fangfang said, "I've heard of this too. Great demons often emerge from the Dark Sea, and they are incredibly fearsome. Whenever a great demon appears, the Celestial Court must dispatch its heavenly soldiers and generals to suppress it, and the ones who die are always us lowly foot soldiers."

Xiao Dulu laughed. "But great demon appearances are quite rare. Centuries or even millennia might pass without a single one. We don't need to worry. We just need to serve our ten years, and then we can take a large fortune, leave the Celestial Court, and become carefree immortals!"

They arrived at the Celestial Court's quartermaster depot, where they received immortal artifact armor and each obtained a copy of the "Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture."

Xiao Dulu's hands trembled with excitement. "Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture! Just by the name, you can tell it's an extraordinary immortal technique!"

Bai Fangfang chuckled. "Every heavenly soldier carries the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture. The name sounds impressive, but it's actually quite ordinary. It's merely a cultivation technique that allows immortals to reach the True Immortal Realm."

Chen Shi examined the immortal artifact. It was a sword case, containing one hundred and eight strands of sword qi nurtured within. When he opened the case, he could see the sword qi colliding and tempering against one another.

He glanced at the others. All the heavenly soldiers had received identical immortal artifacts, all sword cases. They must have been mass-produced. However, as Chen Shi observed the sword qi tempering within the cases, he could discern an incredibly sophisticated swordsmanship from it, far more exquisite than the Mysterious Subtle Sword Scripture. Clearly, even though these were mass-produced immortal artifacts, their power was still remarkable.

As for the armor, it was also forged with exceptional craftsmanship. Every part of it was inscribed with Dao patterns forming defensive formations, and it could manifest a suit of light armor that wrapped around the Primordial Spirit, granting it protection as well.

As for the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture, after reviewing it once, Chen Shi felt that this technique did possess extraordinary qualities. It was a steady and grounded method, taking no shortcuts, but as long as one was willing to cultivate and put in the hard work, significant achievements were guaranteed.

However, the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture was also a technique that consumed time, using slow, patient effort to gradually raise one's cultivation. Only when this technique was cultivated to a profound level would the speed gradually increase. But Chen Shi estimated that one would need to reach at least the Golden Immortal Realm before the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture's cultivation speed could match other immortal techniques.

Yet at the Tai Yi Golden Immortal level, the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture's cultivation speed would far surpass other techniques.

Unfortunately, the early stages consumed far too much time. For most people cultivating this technique, merely reaching the Celestial Immortal Realm would probably take tens of thousands of years, nowhere near as fast as other techniques.

"The Celestial Court only provided the Celestial Immortal and True Immortal volumes of the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture, with no continuation," Chen Shi thought to himself. "This technique's strength lies in its stability. Among the three techniques I'm most proficient in, the Blood Lake Sutra is the most explosive, surging forward with reckless abandon, cultivating with the momentum of qi deviation and claiming countless lives. The Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection is the most balanced, not excelling in any particular aspect, but advancing on all fronts without weaknesses, and it can even cultivate the demonic path. The Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture can be described as solid and profound. Once this technique reaches a high level, it will be no small matter."

He continued reading. The divine ability that complemented the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture was the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture.

Chen Shi studied it carefully and felt that the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture corresponded exactly to the one hundred and eight strands of sword qi in the case. They were clearly part of the same system, with exquisite techniques and extraordinary power.

"I feel that what the Celestial Court gives its heavenly soldiers isn't bad at all. Or was my previous experience just too limited?"

Chen Shi was somewhat puzzled. Bai Fangfang and Xiao Dulu were still complaining about how shabby the Celestial Court's gifts were. Could the techniques they cultivated really be better than the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture?

However, judging from the aura emanating from these people, their techniques were not particularly advanced, merely ordinary immortal arts.

"If you cultivate the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture for eighty thousand years, it will certainly produce remarkable results," Chen Shi reminded the two.

Bai Fangfang and Xiao Dulu turned to look at him. After a moment, the two exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

"Brother Chen, we're only staying at the Celestial Court for ten years. After ten years, we'll leave and live freely," Xiao Dulu laughed. "The Celestial Court is a court for deities, not for immortals. When the time comes, we'll go to the various immortal domains and seek out renowned masters, which will be infinitely better than cultivating the techniques handed down by the Celestial Court."

Chen Shi thought about it and felt they did have a point.

Seeing how young he was, Bai Fangfang said, "Ten years will pass in the blink of an eye. By then, we'll have saved up a fortune and can travel around. If Brother Chen is interested, you're welcome to travel with us. There are several ascended immortals from my Yuan Province who might accept us as disciples and teach us better techniques."

Chen Shi thanked them and laughed. "I also need to achieve Dao Unification with heaven and earth as soon as possible, and become a true immortal."

The two were stunned. Bai Fangfang blurted out, "You haven't achieved Dao Unification yet? You really did ascend by clinging to Black Pot's coattails?"

Chen Shi chuckled. "Why would I lie to you?"

The two found it utterly unbelievable.

Soon, a heavenly general came over and assigned them to the Geng Guard, Chen Unit.

Heavenly soldiers were organized into ten guards, arranged according to the Heavenly Stems. Each guard had twelve units, divided according to the Earthly Branches.

Each unit had five barracks, classified according to the Five Elements.

Chen Shi, Bai Fangfang, and Xiao Dulu all belonged to the same barracks, the Fire Barracks.

The Fire Barracks had over a thousand immortals, all of whom had ascended to the upper realm.

These immortals were the cream of the crop in their respective worlds, yet they never imagined that on their very first day in the Earth Immortal Realm, they would become heavenly soldiers and generals. Of course, becoming a heavenly general was no easy feat either. One either had to perform great deeds or cultivate relationships with others, being tactful and well-connected.

This time, the Fire Barracks had taken in over two hundred new immortals to fill their ranks. Chen Shi was curious and asked an old soldier, "With over two hundred immortals replenished at once, did that many immortals leave from a single barracks of the Celestial Court?"

"Leave? No, they died!"

The old soldier said, "Last time we suppressed a rebellion, our Fire Barracks lost all but a dozen or so men. We've been recruiting for days and still haven't filled the ranks. Probably need a few more days to reach full strength. You lot, remember, your lives are what matter most."

Chen Shi's heart tightened. He asked, "What happened? Why did so many die?"

The old soldier refused to say.

Chen Shi glanced at Black Pot. Black Pot understood and stepped forward. The old soldier met its gaze, and it was as if he had seen a long-lost family member. He recounted the Fire Barracks' ordeal. The Fire Barracks had been ordered to investigate the Nightmare Valley. The Nightmare Valley was a relic left over from when the Three Purities opened up the Dark Sea in ancient times. Because anyone who came here would be afflicted by nightmares, it was called the Nightmare Valley.

Recently, the Great Dao within the Nightmare Valley had become abnormal, so the higher-ups ordered the Fire Barracks to investigate the source of the anomaly.

They entered the Nightmare Valley, encountered an alien race there, and were almost completely annihilated. Only a dozen or so managed to escape.

"And then?" Chen Shi asked.

"And then? They just recruited new heavenly soldiers to fill the vacancies," the old soldier said.

"I mean, what happened to the Nightmare Valley afterward?"

"Hmm, I think a Heavenly King went there and wiped the place clean."

Chen Shi didn't press further. After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "I have a friend who also ascended to the immortal realm. I wanted to ask you about him. His name is Zhong Wuwang, childhood name Zhong Er Niu. He always has this arrogant look about him, the kind that makes you want to punch him."

"When did this friend of yours ascend?"

"It's been two and a half years already."

"Then he's most likely dead. New heavenly soldiers rarely survive more than two years."

"Hmm, hmm."

Chen Shi took his leave of the old soldier and returned to his residence. Heavenly soldiers were immortals after all, and on days without training or missions, they still needed to meditate and cultivate, refine pills and treasures. Therefore, every heavenly soldier had their own dwelling, called a Celestial Dao Residence.

Arriving at the Celestial Dao Residence, Chen Shi murmured softly, "Has Zhong Wuwang really died? The good die young, but the wicked live forever. He's definitely outlived everyone else. And Chen Tang and my mother, I wonder where they are now? And Grandpa, I wonder if they've found a way to revive Fifth Uncle? Have the Civil and Military Officials, upon discovering my abrupt departure, planned to install a new king? And Wu Qi, has he been reborn..."

He also thought of the Empress of Earth's true body. She must surely be in the Earth Immortal Realm as well. He wondered how he might go about visiting her.

And Zhong Wuwang carried the Yin Yang Qi Bottle. The bottle's master was probably secretly watching Zhong Wuwang as well. Would they really let him die?

"Grandpa is also carrying the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace. I wonder if its master is also secretly watching Grandpa?"

His thoughts raced. He also wondered whether the Tianluo Blood-Transforming Divine Blade had a master. Was that master hidden in the shadows, watching him?

Chen Shi composed himself, tossed the immortal armor to Black Pot to change into, then took the immortal qi spirit liquid from his salary and also tossed it to Black Pot.

He had the Purple Heaven Vine, which could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and transform it into Grand Supreme Purple Qi, so he had no need for the immortal qi spirit liquid.

Chen Shi took out the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture and studied it carefully, repeatedly simulating the cultivation steps in his mind. The immortal essence within his body involuntarily began circulating according to the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture.

After circulating it a thousand times, Chen Shi had committed the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture to memory. He thought to himself, "This scripture cultivates the Primordial Chaos Dao. It can be combined with my yin and yang qi to evolve the mysteries of yin-yang primordium."

He had already comprehended the three great principles of his yin and yang qi: the harmony of yin and yang, the transformation of yin and yang, and the mutual support of yin and yang. If he could comprehend yin-yang primordium, his mastery of yin and yang qi would surely advance to another level!

His cultivation in the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture could also rise by a major step!

He calmed his mind and immersed himself in contemplation, shutting out the world around him.

At the Yuheng Gate, a refined scholar hurried over and stopped an immortal official, asking, "A batch of immortals just ascended. Was there anything unusual among them?"

The immortal official was the very one who had received Chen Shi and the others. He thought hard for a moment and said, "Nothing unusual at all. Master Tianji, what's the matter?"

The scholar said, "I just checked the Tianji Ledger and discovered a Golden Immortal of formidable cultivation hidden among them. This person has been summoned repeatedly but never answered the call. Now forced to come to the Celestial Court, I fear this one is not a good person!"