Chapter 544: Flawless

Upon hearing this, Little Duan Immortal's heart filled with joy, and her consciousness flew to the small temple. "Husband, have you completed the Celestial Venerable's cultivation technique?"

Chen Shi stepped down from the miniature shrine and activated the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture. Little Duan Immortal immediately felt an overbearing, mighty aura rushing toward her. His magical power was incredibly profound, actually matching the Blood Lake Sutra.

The Blood Lake Sutra was an anomaly within the Great Shang shamanic ritual marking system. Its origin lay with the master of the Tianluo Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, a Qi Refiner who cultivated both immortal and demonic paths simultaneously. The Blood Lake Sutra was half immortal technique, half demonic technique, and when paired with the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, its cultivation speed was astonishingly fast.

Its magical power was even more formidable. When a cultivator refined the Blood Sea Hell, their Dao Field could expand to thousands or even ten thousand miles, far surpassing the thousand-mile Dao Fields of Great Completion Realm cultivators.

For the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture to match the Blood Lake Sutra in magical power was truly remarkable.

Moreover, this technique also had extraordinary merits in body refinement and spirit refinement. Placed on the Western Ox New Continent, any single one of these aspects would be considered peerless, absolutely ranking in the top three.

Gathering so many advantages into one, the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture was indeed profound and unfathomable. No wonder it was able to slaughter its way through the Great Shang Celestial Court and mutually destroy Wu Qi at his peak!

"Does this technique have any flaws?" Little Duan Immortal hastily inquired.

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "The technique I derived... I cannot see any flaws. Perhaps there are..."

He did not voice his true thoughts.

He had exhausted his wisdom to deduce the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture, pushing the technique to its utmost limit. Throughout the entire deduction process, he had found no flaws or weaknesses.

He had even entertained a thought: if he did not cultivate the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture, in a one-on-one battle, even if he were at the same realm as the Celestial Venerable, he would absolutely not be his match!

In fact, the gap might be enormous!

Only by also employing the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture would he have any hope of fighting the Celestial Venerable to a standstill.

"Wu Qi had absolutely no chance of winning." A thought surfaced in his mind.

Little Duan Immortal, unaware of his thoughts, said, "Why don't we go see Grandpa and the Grand Guardian? They are knowledgeable and experienced. They will surely be able to find flaws in the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture!"

Chen Shi nodded gently.

"Stay in the temple for now. I'll take you to find Grandpa and the Grand Guardian!"

Little Duan Immortal withdrew her consciousness, rose, and said to the assembled immortals, "I have expended too much energy and am feeling unwell. I must trouble you all to hold the line here while I rest for a while."

The immortals responded in succession, "Immortal Palace has worked tirelessly. Go rest, it won't make a difference for a short while."

Little Duan Immortal walked into the distance, looking for a secluded spot to let Chen Shi out, when she noticed Wen Wuyu still following behind her. Her head began to ache.

"Sister Wuyu, I am about to put myself in grave danger to undertake a great matter. It will inevitably draw the siege of the Celestial Venerable and the Celestial Way Immortals."

Little Duan Immortal said softly, "You have already done more than enough for me. I cannot implicate you. Return to your Celestial Way Peak."

Wen Wuyu shook her head, resolute. "Little Ten Brother, I absolutely will not follow Gong Wanqing's example. I am determined to live and die with Little Ten Brother!"

Little Duan Immortal's head throbbed privately. She coughed once and was about to speak when the little boy Chen Shi had transformed into poked his head out from the small temple, curious. "Wuyu, you're here too? Why do you call her Little Ten Brother?"

Wen Wuyu was stunned, puzzled. "Who are you?"

"Me. Chen Shi, the one you call Little Ten Brother."

Chen Shi flew out of the small temple as he spoke, laughing. "I was just in seclusion, and I just woke up."

Wen Wuyu's jaw dropped. She looked at the little boy Chen Shi had transformed into, then at the little girl Little Duan Immortal had transformed into, stammering, "You are Little Ten Brother... then who is she?"

Chen Shi said, "She is..."

Little Duan Immortal suddenly struck out, her hand chopping into Wen Wuyu's neck, knocking the young woman unconscious. She stuffed her into the small temple behind Chen Shi's head, placing her on the miniature shrine.

Chen Shi was confused. "My wife, Wuyu is not a bad person. We met once in the Heavenly Pool Kingdom."

Little Duan Immortal's expression did not change. "If she follows us and a battle breaks out, she will definitely be in danger. Therefore, hiding her in your small temple is also a form of protection for her."

"My wife thinks of everything."

The two walked side by side, searching for Wu Qi's trail.

"By the way, my consort, why does she call you Little Ten Brother?" Chen Shi asked.

Little Duan Immortal's gaze flickered. "Husband, the important matters come first. Once we leave Despair Slope, I will explain to you."

Chen Shi did not press further.

Little Duan Immortal, currently in the form of Gong Wanqing, could go almost anywhere in Despair Slope. Before long, she located Li Tianqing and Yang Bi. The two were sitting on the rooftop of Yuqiong Pavilion, the highest building in the Celestial Way Court.

The Celestial Way Court was where the Heaven's Listeners gathered information. The Heaven's Listeners monitored the world, consolidating intelligence layer by layer before sending it to the Celestial Way Court. From there, the Venerated Lord of the Heaven's Listeners would summarize everything and deliver it to the Celestial Way Immortals stationed there.

However, with the recent upheaval at Despair Slope, the intelligence gathered by the Heaven's Listeners had no one to manage it. The two had slipped into the Yuqiong Pavilion of the Celestial Way Court amidst the chaos.

The Celestial Way Court was situated on an immortal mountain at Despair Slope, close to the Cloud Barrier, making it the most convenient departure point. Moreover, Yuqiong Pavilion's elevated position was perfect for observing battles.

Little Duan Immortal summoned the two, and Chen Shi said, "I have derived the Celestial Venerable's cultivation technique. I need you two to help me find its flaws."

Li Tianqing and Yang Bi exchanged glances, then fell in behind them.

Before long, they also found Wu Qi.

Wu Qi was sitting in the lotus pond of Despair Slope, perched on a lotus leaf. Beneath the leaf, a school of large fish with dragon heads and fish bodies swam around him in circles, seemingly eager to devour the bearded youth.

Chen Shi arrived at the pond's edge. "Wu Qi, I have derived the Celestial Venerable's cultivation technique. I need your help."

Wu Qi rose to his full height, leaped to the shore, and silently followed him.

Just then, Zhong Wuwang approached them, greeting Little Duan Immortal with a smile on his face, as if conversing with her, but speaking in a low voice. "You lot, don't stir up trouble! The three-day deadline is almost upon us. Tomorrow, all of you leave Despair Slope!"

He had been on tenterhooks ever since he saw the immortal flame in the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace turn black. Afterward, when nothing happened, he finally relaxed. So when he spotted Chen Shi, Little Duan Immortal, and the others, he hurried over. Publicly, he was speaking to "Gong Wanqing," but in reality, he was warning Chen Shi and his group.

Chen Shi said, "I have derived the Celestial Venerable's cultivation technique."

Zhong Wuwang's entire body shook violently. "How did you derive it?" he blurted out.

Chen Shi did not answer. "Follow me."

Zhong Wuwang hesitated for a moment but steeled himself and followed them, all walking toward the Falling Flower Palace.

When they arrived at Gong Wanqing's Falling Flower Palace and entered, Zhong Wuwang was about to question Chen Shi when he suddenly saw Gong Wanqing bound tightly by the Locking Dragon Whip, burning amidst black flames, in a pitiful state. He was startled.

"Isn't Senior Palace Master Gong Chen Shi's grandmother? Why is she hung up here?" he thought to himself.

Gong Wanqing was still alive. She was extremely formidable, having mastered the art of creation, and even Wu Qi secretly acknowledged his own inferiority upon seeing her.

Gathering together, Chen Shi laid out the entire Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture he had comprehended, explaining in detail all the various subtleties of the technique.

He cultivated as he spoke, activating the technique. As the profound skill circulated, his Realm of Emptiness actually manifested a mysterious, unfathomable fairyland. Immortal mountains floated, rivers and mountains stretched grandly, exotic beasts galloped, the Great Dao formed radiant clouds drifting among misty peaks, true energy became clouds coursing through the cosmos, and true thoughts manifested as thunder, soaring and twisting between heaven and earth.

This fairyland was called the Great Wilderness. The arrangement and trajectories of its sun, moon, and stars all differed from those of the Western Ox New Continent, manifesting various forms of the Great Dao.

Everyone began deducing it in their own ways. Some immediately tried their hands at it, attempting to comprehend and learn.

However, the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture combined the subtleties of six immortal techniques, and Chen Shi had used his own wisdom to fill in the deficiencies. Mastering this technique in a short time was practically impossible!

"How can such a profound immortal technique exist?" Wu Qi murmured.

He had engaged in life-or-death combat with the Celestial Venerable before, ultimately mutually destroying him in the final moment. But that had only been possible because the Ancestral God, accumulated from three hundred thousand years of incense offerings by the Great Shang Celestial Court, had desperately worn down the Celestial Venerable's strength, granting him the opportunity for mutual destruction.

He had witnessed the power of the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture, but he knew little of its actual content. Now, seeing it, he felt that even the Immortal Art of Immortality he had created was outclassed. A wave of dejection washed over him.

Yang Bi frowned. He had cultivated for many years in the Upper Realm, receiving teachings from the ancestral masters of the Thirteen Great Clans and learning multiple immortal techniques. He had also encountered various immortal techniques from the True King's Era collected by Chen Shi in the minor heaven, and had participated in organizing the immortal techniques of the Great Shang Era. Yet he had never seen a method as exquisite as the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture.

Even comprehending such an immortal technique was extremely taxing for him.

Chen Yindu soared into the air, roaming through the fairyland Chen Shi had manifested. He paused atop an immortal mountain, his robes fluttering in the wind, murmuring, "Can such a treasured land exist in this world? Born with the Great Dao forming radiant light, revealing such mysteries... Could this be a true fairyland?"

Li Tianqing flew through the fairyland, meticulously observing and recording everything in this Realm of Emptiness, cross-referencing it with the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture point by point.

After a long while, he too felt somewhat deflated. "This technique is too profound. Simply comprehending its mysteries is extremely difficult, let alone finding its flaws in such a short time!"

Little Duan Immortal walked along a rainbow-like ribbon of Dao radiance, listening to the peculiar Dao resonance emanating from the light, feeling the wonder of Dao techniques. She said sadly, "Perhaps in the Ancestral Land, my Great Shang once had techniques this profound. It's just that they have all been lost by now."

Among everyone present, the one most shaken was Zhong Wuwang.

He was already at the Celestial Immortal Realm, the highest cultivation among the group besides Wu Qi, and he carried the Innate Dao Embryo. Yet even he felt a sense of incomprehension when facing the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture.

His eyes were wide, filled with despair.

This despair came from being outclassed intellectually.

Throughout his life, Zhong Wuwang had faced everyone with equanimity. Even toward Chen Shi, the rightful owner of the Innate Dao Embryo, he believed himself no weaker. Even without the Innate Dao Embryo, he would not be inferior to Chen Shi.

Facing the Celestial Venerable, he had always harbored rebellious thoughts, believing the Celestial Venerable was merely someone who had cultivated earlier, and given time, he would surely surpass him.

But now, seeing the Celestial Venerable's technique, he felt a sense that even his intelligence was far inferior to the Celestial Venerable's!

"Yes, even the Celestial True God was no match for the Celestial Venerable. Wasn't the Celestial True God corrupted by him? What use is the Innate Dao Embryo bestowed by the Celestial True God?"

He was both despairing and terrified.

Suddenly, Wu Qi spoke. "This technique must be something the Celestial Venerable learned, not created. Someone else taught it to him. I have fought him before. When he was deploying his divine abilities and Dao techniques, there were moments of imperfection. If he were the creator, there would be no reason for such awkwardness in circulation."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Wuwang suddenly felt like he had grabbed a lifeline. He gasped for air, sweat pouring down his face.

He had been frightened by the intelligence represented by the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture. Only after hearing Wu Qi's words could he breathe again.

Chen Shi said, "There is still one day left before the Grand Sacrificial Officer makes his move to demonize the Celestial True God. In one day, we must find the flaws in this technique and pass them to Wu Qi. You should all steady your minds and not get distracted."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a sense of solemnity and continued studying the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture.

Time passed slowly.

Chen Shi was also deducing the flaws of the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture, yet no matter how he reasoned, he could not find where the flaws lay.

After a long while, Little Duan Immortal was the first to give up. "I'll go keep watch by the Recreate Heaven-and-Earth Furnace, to make sure nothing goes wrong there."

Not long after, Li Tianqing also gave up, shaking his head. "My foundation is too shallow. I can't see where the flaws are."

Wu Qi also gave up. "My battle with the Celestial Venerable is imminent. I cannot expend too much of my mental energy."

He closed his eyes to rest.

After another long while, Yang Bi sighed. "My realm is insufficient. I cannot comprehend the higher realms, and it's too exhausting."

Zhong Wuwang's expression darkened. He walked out of Chen Shi's Realm of Emptiness and shook his head. "I still cannot grasp the direction to crack this technique. I'm afraid I can't do it either..."

Chen Yindu's voice rang out. "Then stop looking for flaws in the technique."

Everyone was taken aback. "Not look for flaws in the technique? Then what do we look for?"

Chen Yindu said, "If the technique has no flaws, then look for flaws in the person. Wu Qi said that when he fought the Celestial Venerable, there were moments of imperfection in how he deployed his divine abilities and Dao techniques. That means the Celestial Venerable's comprehension of this technique is lacking. He has not fully mastered it. In other words, the more difficult parts of this technique to comprehend are most likely the parts the Celestial Venerable cannot cultivate to perfection. The technique itself has no flaws, but the Celestial Venerable's flaws may lie precisely there."

He walked up to the ribbon of Dao radiance permeating heaven and earth and said, "This Dao light is extremely difficult to comprehend. Even I find it challenging, so the Celestial Venerable must be the same. I believe the Celestial Venerable's flaw may lie here."

Zhong Wuwang's eyes lit up. He carefully studied the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture, cross-referencing it with Chen Shi's Realm of Emptiness. "The Dao of Yin and Yang is difficult to comprehend. If the Celestial Venerable had comprehended Yin and Yang, he would not have needed the Yin Yang Qi Bottle to treat the injury of the Fog Moon Eye on his brow. I believe the Yin Yang Dao concealed in his eyes has a flaw!"

Yang Bi smiled. "When I was comprehending the Great Wilderness Illumination Scripture, I encountered a problem here that I could not solve no matter how I thought about it! The Celestial Venerable most likely also has a flaw hidden in this spot!"

With this shift in approach, things went much more smoothly. They quickly found seven possible flaws the Celestial Venerable might possess.

They were about to continue searching when suddenly, cries of alarm erupted from outside, and the commotion grew louder and louder.

Zhong Wuwang walked out of the Falling Flower Palace. After a moment, he hurried back.

"The Celestial True God... has been demonized!"

Wu Qi sprang to his feet and strode outward, his voice deep. "Seven possible flaws are enough. Let's move!"