Chapter 580: The Second Path

Chen Shi's expression shifted slightly, but before he could even instruct Black Pot, Black Pot had already taken the initiative, commanding the six hundred immortals around them to each summon their sword boxes.

Wu Guanyun watched as figures shifted all around him, and in an instant, the six hundred immortals had formed the sword formation recorded in the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture. Layer upon layer of interlocking formations, airtight and impenetrable, left him utterly astonished.

The Fire Battalion was under his command, and not long ago it had nearly been wiped out entirely. Of over a thousand soldiers, only a dozen or so had returned alive. The current Fire Battalion was mostly made up of newly enlisted immortals, some of whom hadn't even fully learned their sword techniques. Their coordination in the sword formation was likely even sloppier.

It was precisely for this reason that Wu Guanyun had been so calm and composed, boldly declaring himself the one who released the great demon.

He was a master of the Golden Immortal Realm. Facing a few hundred scattered Celestial Immortal ragtag soldiers was nothing short of a one-sided slaughter!

But he never expected that these ragtag soldiers would execute the formation so skillfully, coordinating with seamless precision. The moment he made his declaration, the Fire Battalion's heavenly soldiers had already formed the sword formation, surrounding him in layers upon layers!

The sword qi surged and clashed, as if wielded by veterans who had immersed themselves in the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture for decades, utterly unlike novices who had just enlisted!

The sword formation itself was menacing, and as the immortals wove through it, the formation shifted and transformed, riddled with killing intent that sent chills down the spine.

"When did these immortals become so formidable?"

He felt somewhat bewildered. "Could it be that this batch of ascended immortals possesses aptitude and comprehension far beyond their peers?"

But he showed not the slightest panic. If a True Immortal faced this Primordial Chaos sword formation, they likely wouldn't survive a few exchanges before dying within it. But he was a Golden Immortal; breaking through this formation was well within his capabilities.

Zhong Lin was also shaken. When Wu Guanyun revealed himself as the culprit who released the great demon, even he was startled, realizing that Wu Guanyun intended to silence everyone.

He was pondering how to escape when he saw Black Pot's decisive and resolute handling of the situation, earning his sincere admiration.

"Perhaps the dog immortal really is the Golden Immortal who ascended," he thought to himself.

Zhang Xian rushed over, and upon seeing this scene, he was stunned. He quickly shouted, "Fellow Daoist Chen, Immortal Black! What are you doing? This is Commander Wu! Put down your swords at once!"

Zhong Lin said, "Regional Commander Zhang, Commander Wu is the one who released the great demon that night, caused chaos in the Celestial Court, and destroyed the Celestial Way's magic treasure, the Celestial Strategy. He has admitted it with his own mouth!"

Zhang Xian's expression changed drastically. "Is that so? But this is merely your word against his. Commander Wu is a commander of the Heavenly Soldiers Office. Do you know the punishment for falsely accusing a commander?"

Wu Guanyun chuckled. "Zhang Xian, no need for further words."

Zhang Xian's changed expression returned to normal, and he bowed. "As the Commander says."

He swept his gaze around and smiled. "Let it be known to all of you, Commander Wu indeed released the great demon, caused chaos in the Celestial Court, and destroyed the Celestial Way's magic treasure. Everyone, this place is the Demon-Refining Well, buried deep underground with no escape route. It would be wise for all of you not to make any rash moves."

The entire Fire Battalion stood stunned. The squad leaders felt a jolt of alarm, especially the six hundred immortals who had followed Zhang Xian into the Demon-Refining Well. They began slowly backing away.

Zhang Xian turned and swept his gaze over them, smiling. "No need for tension, everyone. Commander Wu is kind-hearted and has no intention of harming any of you. Rather, he wishes to use this opportunity to let you all abandon the darkness and embrace the light."

Chen Shi said, "Abandon the darkness and embrace the light? Might I ask who Regional Commander Zhang refers to as the darkness, and who is the light?"

"The darkness is the Celestial Court!"

Zhang Xian smiled. "As for the light, it would be us immortals."

Wu Guanyun ignored the immortals surrounding him, his gaze settling on Chen Shi. His expression turned solemn. "Fellow Daoist Chen, let me ask you: what is the purpose of your cultivation?"

Chen Shi thought for a moment, then said, "Revenge."

Wu Guanyun was momentarily taken aback, feeling that his answer differed from what he had expected. He then looked at Zhong Lin. "Fellow Daoist Zhong, what is the purpose of your cultivation?"

Zhong Lin answered without hesitation. "Eternal life and unrestrained freedom."

"Well said!"

Wu Guanyun clapped his hands. "Indeed, the goal of us cultivators is eternal life and freedom. But what about now?"

His voice suddenly rose, impassioned and fervent. "Now, the gods of the Celestial Court are corrupt! The Jade Emperor holds the Celestial Court in his grip, the Four Sovereigns control the Four Poles and the underworld, dominating immortals and enslaving them! You are immortals. In the mortal world, you were lofty immortals above all, with no power able to bind you, oppress you, or enslave you! But once you reach the Earth Immortal Realm, the gods bind you, oppress you, and enslave you!"

His fierce eyes bulged, his presence overwhelming. "Why did I release the great demon to cause chaos in the Celestial Court? Because the Celestial Strategy is the tool the Dog Heavenly Emperor and the Four Sovereigns use to rule over us! The moment you cross your tribulation, your name and origins appear on the Celestial Strategy. The moment you achieve Dao Unification, the Celestial Strategy locks onto you, summoning you to ascend to the Celestial Court to serve as heavenly soldiers, as cannon fodder!"

His words rang out with thunderous force, stirring the hearts of every immortal who heard them, awakening a sense of injustice within them.

"Do you know how many heavenly soldiers die under the Heavenly Kings every year? Last year, twenty-six thousand seven hundred died!"

He raised two fingers, his voice seething with righteous indignation, teeth grinding. "Twenty-six thousand seven hundred heavenly soldiers! Not twenty-six thousand seven hundred dogs! Twenty-six thousand seven hundred immortals! Which of them wasn't born of father and mother? Which of them wasn't a prodigy? Which of them didn't train diligently, honing their skills through countless trials? Which of them didn't face near-death tribulations, exhausting their life's accumulated wealth, crossing with countless hardships?"

"These fallen immortals, with all their lifelong toil, did they do it just to ascend to the Earth Immortal Realm and become lowly soldiers? Just to be used as cannon fodder by those lofty Heavenly Kings and Celestial Venerables?"

Wu Guanyun's gaze turned cold, and he flicked his sleeve. "No! The gods enslave us, control us, and demand our lives. Then we must resist, and we will demand theirs! You should feel this deeply, because not long ago, my Fire Battalion, your battalion, was nearly annihilated!"

He paused, breathing heavily, then walked forward, ignoring the sword formation arrayed against him.

The crowd was moved and inspired by his words, and not a single person blocked his path.

Black Pot, seeing this, also refrained from commanding the heavenly soldiers to attack Wu Guanyun.

"Today, I ordered you to come to the Demon-Refining Well because this place can never be monitored or eavesdropped upon by the Celestial Court. Now, you all have only two choices."

Wu Guanyun stopped and faced the crowd, his voice deep. "One: join us, and resist the Celestial Court alongside us. Two: die."

Among the two groups of immortals, numbering twelve hundred in total, someone immediately raised their hand and answered, "Commander Wu, I'm in!" "I'll fight with you!" "I was born a free wanderer, why should I be caged? I rebel too!"

Voices clamored in agreement, and more and more hands rose.

Zhang Xian suddenly spoke up. "Those who will fight with us, come to my side."

Many immortals walked toward him. The remaining ones hesitated, but seeing that over six hundred had already gathered behind Zhang Xian, and more were still streaming over, they made up their minds and followed.

The crowd thinned rapidly. Bai Fangfang called out loudly, "Fellow Daoist Chen, Immortal Black, you two should come over quickly!"

As she spoke, only a handful remained in the open area. Two of them also left, leaving only Chen Shi, Black Pot, and Zhong Lin.

Chen Shi and Black Pot exchanged a glance, then walked toward Zhang Xian.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, others can come over, but you cannot." Zhang Xian said with a smile, politely refusing.

Chen Shi blinked and smiled. "And why can't I?"

Wu Guanyun's voice came from behind him. "Yin Fenglou had already defected to my cause, yet he died at your hands. He was my subordinate. You killed my beloved general, so of course you cannot."

Chen Shi turned around, his gaze sincere and clear. "Commander Wu, ignorance is no crime. I did not know Yin Fenglou was part of the righteous army. I mourn his death as well, but it was truly an accident."

Wu Guanyun's gaze was equally sincere and clear as he smiled. "You killed Yin Fenglou, were thrown into the Heavenly Prison, and yet were released without charge. The person behind you must hold immense power in the Celestial Court. You must be a spy the Celestial Court planted among our heavenly soldiers!"

Black Pot looked up, glancing at Chen Shi with suspicion and wariness. He quietly backed away, putting distance between them, moving closer to Zhang Xian's group.

Zhang Xian smiled. "Immortal Black, don't come over. You're cut from the same cloth as him."

Black Pot snorted and walked back to Chen Shi's side, thinking to himself, "I planned to get close to that fellow, seize control of those immortals, and have them attack him from all sides simultaneously. But he saw through me."

The smile on Chen Shi's face grew even warmer and more sincere. "Commander Wu misunderstands. Black Pot and I only just ascended. How could we possibly be spies planted by the Celestial Court?"

Wu Guanyun's gaze turned cold, and his tone grew even colder. "The top two bandits on the Immortal Slaying List, and you claim you only just ascended? The two of you have spent years stealing earthly treasures and spiritual roots, ruining the fortune of countless immortals, preventing them from surviving the Opening the Calamity. Your attempts to kill these immortals must have been ordered by the Celestial Court!"

Chen Shi furrowed his brow slightly. What Wu Guanyun said did make a great deal of sense.

If he were a heavenly soldier, even he might believe Wu Guanyun's reasoning.

Chen Shi sighed and looked at Zhong Lin, who was not far away. "Fellow Daoist Zhong, why haven't you gone to the other side?"

Zhong Lin's expression remained calm and composed. "I am the same as you, Fellow Daoist. Even if I went over, I would be driven back."

Wu Guanyun sneered. "Fellow Daoist Zhong speaks truly. This man is a Tianji Scholar of the Tianji Office, infiltrating the heavenly soldier camp disguised as a soldier. A lackey of the Celestial Way, deserving of death at anyone's hands!"

Chen Shi looked at Zhong Lin with sympathy. "So you're a Tianji Scholar. You infiltrated the heavenly soldier camp—could it be to investigate rebels?"

Zhong Lin shook his head. "I came to investigate you. I suspect you are the ascended Golden Immortal."

Chen Shi burst out laughing and shook his head. "If I were a Golden Immortal, would I need to undergo Dao Unification at the West Heaven Expanse? Investigating me was completely the wrong direction."

Before his words even faded, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, straight at Regional Commander Zhang Xian!

The moment he dashed out, Black Pot and Zhong Lin sprang into motion simultaneously!

Black Pot had coordinated with Chen Shi for years with seamless understanding, while Zhong Lin, upon hearing Chen Shi say "wrong direction," immediately understood his intent and charged out as well.

If the three of them wanted to escape, their natural route would be toward the mouth of the well. But on that path stood Wu Guanyun, a Golden Immortal, blocking the way.

Given their combined strength, fighting Wu Guanyun together would only lead to death.

So when Zhong Lin heard Chen Shi say "wrong direction," he instantly realized that Chen Shi's target wasn't the path guarded by Wu Guanyun, but the path guarded by Regional Commander Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian's reaction speed was by no means slow, but just as he summoned his sword box, his vision suddenly blurred, illusions swarming before his eyes. Though he steadied his Dao Heart immediately, he had already lost the initiative!

Chen Shi's sword qi surged and swept outward. The moment Zhang Xian leaped into the air, the Primordial Chaos sword qi had already pierced through his body!

"Shhk shhk shhk!"

Over a dozen bloody holes appeared across Zhang Xian's body. He forcibly suppressed his injuries, only to see Zhong Lin flick his fingers three times in rapid succession. His Primordial Spirit was struck hard, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, flying backward before slamming against the well wall with a loud thud. He was already crippled.

He was a True Immortal, having cultivated to the third heaven, the Qing Ming He Tong Heaven Dao Realm, with cultivation and strength surpassing Yin Fenglou's. Yet facing the combined assault of Chen Shi, Black Pot, and Zhong Lin, he was broken in a single exchange, utterly powerless to resist.

Chen Shi, Black Pot, and Zhong Lin charged into the sword formation of over a thousand heavenly soldiers. But this time, without Black Pot's control, their formation was crooked and chaotic, its formations in disarray, lacking the stern and murderous bearing it had before.

The two men and one dog burst into the formation. Black Pot summoned the Heaven-Measuring Iron Ruler, rose up on his hind legs, and swung this impossibly heavy black iron rod. Black light radiated from his entire body as the iron ruler spun, thunder crackling and power surging, sending immortals flying one after another!

Chen Shi and Zhong Lin drove straight through. Zhong Lin led the way, striking down heavenly soldiers along the path and absorbing most of the attacks on Chen Shi's behalf. He shouted, "Fellow Daoist Chen, it's up to you!"

Chen Shi broke through the formation and made a beeline for the three-legged cauldron that sealed and refined the great demon.

With a thought, sword light flared. Sword qi howled like a desolate northern wind, carrying biting, bone-chilling killing intent, and shot straight for the chains binding the three-legged cauldron!

His heart was as clear as a mirror. He had long realized that escape was impossible. The only chance at survival was to release the other great demon!

The great demon's power was absolutely terrifying. Likely everyone present would be buried in the Demon-Refining Well. But there was also a glimmer of hope: when the great demon broke free of the Three Purities' Demon-Refining Cauldron, Chen Shi and his companions could leap into the cauldron itself!

His heart was perfectly calm. He pushed the Wind Lord's Irregularity technique to its absolute limit, and with a resounding clang, the chains were severed by a single stroke of his sword!

The moment he cut through the chains, Chen Shi sensed an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him. Without hesitation, he swung his sword back to meet it!

One Primordial Chaos sword qi after another flew from his sword box, merging with his sword as he executed the third move of the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture: Drifting Azure Flames.

Drifting azure flames, endless tribulation ashes.

As he unleashed this technique, Chen Shi mobilized all thirty-six strands of sword qi at once. This was the most powerful strike he could possibly deliver!

Above were sword qi like Li Fire and azure flames; below was the vast, endless tribulation ash. The sword intent of this move was drawn from the sword scripture's master's realization when he first faced the Opening the Calamity!

As Chen Shi executed this technique, a vision flashed before his eyes: azure Li Fire blazing across the heavens, countless immortals turning to tribulation ash within the flames. Combined with the Celestial Way's imprint embedded within the Celestial Strategy, in that single instant, he comprehended the Drifting Azure Flames technique to its fullest!

His sword qi's power skyrocketed, surging to meet Wu Guanyun's attack!

Wu Guanyun was also executing the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture, the first move: Earthly Qi's Cold Greeting.

Different sword moves within the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture contained different Dao meanings. The further along the sequence, the more profound the Dao meaning, and the harder to master.

Wu Guanyun had immersed himself in it for so long that his understanding of the first move was the most complete. He had once traveled to the mortal world, sitting upon a vast wasteland, waiting for spring to arrive, for ice and snow to melt, for earthly qi carrying the deep cold of the earth to surge outward.

He sat in meditation for decades, comprehending Earthly Qi's Cold Greeting to perfection. He sat for decades more, comprehending the principle of heaven's inverted cycle of life and death.

To master this single move, he had pondered for a hundred years.

He struck from behind, the calculating attacker catching Chen Shi off guard. Chen Shi countered in haste, swinging his sword in a backhand without time to prepare. But as their sword techniques collided—earthly qi, life and death, biting cold, against Li Fire, azure flames, and tribulation ash—a series of hissing sounds rang out. Wu Guanyun's eyes, throat, heart, xiphoid process, chest, lower abdomen, groin, both kidneys, wrists, and ankles each took a sword wound!

But his cultivation was profoundly deep, and the moment the sword qi pierced his skin, it was blocked!

Wu Guanyun's expression darkened. He looked up and saw Chen Shi tumbling and spinning within the sword qi, robes fluttering, landing atop one of the cauldrons.

"Shwa!"

A stream of sword qi flew back and settled behind him.

Wu Guanyun let out a heavy breath. In terms of comprehending the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture and Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture, he had been thoroughly defeated.