Chapter 584: The Debate of Celestial and Human

"I don't know whether the Celestial Strategy is on me or not, but when I achieved Dao Unification in the Celestial Court, my consciousness was suddenly summoned by the Celestial Strategy."

Chen Shi did not conceal anything. He recounted how he had encountered the Celestial Strategy and how its Celestial Way patterns had been branded deep within his consciousness. He said, "I don't know what function these Celestial Way imprints serve, but when cultivating the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture, I naturally comprehended the mysteries hidden within the sword techniques, unleashing the full power of the sword arts."

Zhong Lin was dumbfounded. Though he had guessed that the Celestial Strategy had helped Chen Shi comprehend the techniques, he had never imagined that a complete volume of the Celestial Strategy lay hidden deep within Chen Shi's consciousness.

"The Celestial Strategy is divinely astute! It must have calculated that it would face calamity, so it branded itself into your consciousness to escape this disaster!"

Zhong Lin was wildly excited, pacing back and forth in agitation. Suddenly he stopped and laughed, "The Celestial Court is precisely planning to recreate the Celestial Strategy! Fellow Daoist Chen, the Celestial Strategy's imprints hidden in your consciousness are a golden opportunity to render outstanding service! If you hand over the Celestial Strategy's imprints to help recreate it, your merit will be immeasurable!"

Chen Shi asked, "How does one hand it over?"

"By handing over your consciousness..."

Zhong Lin stopped mid-sentence, stunned, his brows knitting tightly.

If the Celestial Court learned that the Celestial Strategy's Celestial Way imprints were hidden within Chen Shi's consciousness, they would inevitably extract his consciousness and carefully search for the imprints. Such a search would likely take a long time, perhaps even years, before all the Celestial Way imprints could be located.

During that time, Chen Shi's consciousness would never be allowed to return to his body!

Moreover, this was not up to Chen Shi. It was beyond his power to decide.

Even more critical, after the Celestial Court recreated the Celestial Strategy, they would inevitably destroy the "backup" - and Chen Shi was that backup!

When the Celestial Court collected the Celestial Way patterns comprehended by the Tianji Scholars, they did not destroy the scholars themselves, because what each Tianji Scholar had comprehended was merely a drop in the bucket, scattered among the scholars of the Celestial Strategy Mansion and Tianji Camp. Destroying them or not was of little consequence.

But Chen Shi possessed the COMPLETE Celestial Way imprints, so he absolutely had to be destroyed!

Zhong Lin's face was heavy with worry. If Chen Shi were to hand over the imprints, it would inevitably mean death for him, or perhaps something worse than death. Chen Shi had saved his life at the Demon-Refining Well - how could he repay kindness with enmity?

Yet as a Tianji Scholar, he had his duties and obligations. Going against his duty was also against his will.

Seeing Zhong Lin's agonized struggle, Chen Shi stepped forward and patted his shoulder, smiling, "Scholar, you uphold the Celestial Way, yet you struggle within the human way, unable to decide. Why not follow your own heart?"

Zhong Lin was briefly startled, then sought instruction, "What is the human way?"

"The human way, Laozi called it virtue. The Master called it benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness; warmth, kindness, respect, frugality, and deference; loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and courage."

Chen Shi smiled, "Mozi called it universal love and non-aggression. Mencius said the people are most important, the state next, and the ruler least. Han Feizi said to entrust order and chaos to laws and techniques, to delegate right and wrong to rewards and punishments. The Buddha said all sentient beings are equal. The common folk say, firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea; qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, song, dance, and flowers. They also say, the smoke of mortal life. This is the human way. You uphold the Celestial Way, believing I should offer up the Celestial Way imprints to recreate the Celestial Strategy. Yet you also feel that if I give up the imprints, I will surely die, and that doing so would betray our bond of gratitude. Your inner hesitation and struggle - that is the human way."

Zhong Lin asked again, "Then how should I choose?"

Chen Shi smiled, "To not follow the human way is to be inhuman. Even the word 'immortal' contains the character for 'person.' The choice is clear at a glance."

Zhong Lin's mind exploded with a crash. All sorts of clamorous, noisy voices assailed him, arguing back and forth in his mind. Some urged him to follow the Celestial Way, others urged him to be human first. All manner of Celestial Way insights he had comprehended from the Celestial Strategy also inexplicably leapt forth, transforming into the rhythm of the Great Dao, chanting over and over.

Even memories from his childhood came flooding back, surfacing repeatedly in his mind. A cacophony of voices thundered, making him feel as if heaven and earth were spinning.

While he was still locked in celestial-human battle, Chen Shi had already resumed tempering the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture.

The sixth move, Autumn's Winds and Rains.

Autumn's winds and rains, yearning to become frost and snow.

The seventh move, Desert Sands Exhausted.

Desert sands exhausted, deep caverns unfathomable.

The eighth move, Heavenly Net Smashes.

Heavenly net smashes, the red sun like blood.

The ninth move, Primordial Chaos Split.

Primordial Chaos split, Xuan and Huang divided.

For the first eight moves, whenever Chen Shi executed them, the essence of the techniques revealed itself naturally, and he comprehended the mysteries within the sword moves without effort. Except for the eighth move, Heavenly Net Smashes, which was more difficult to comprehend - but after executing it several more times, the mysteries within that move also revealed themselves.

But only the ninth move, Primordial Chaos Split - no matter how Chen Shi executed it, no matter how many times he practiced it, his mind remained completely empty. He could not unleash even a fraction of this move's power!

Chen Shi refused to accept it. He executed Primordial Chaos Split once more, trying to comprehend the mystery of "Primordial Chaos split, Xuan and Huang divided," yet this move only had its form, still no power.

Chen Shi blinked, thinking to himself, "Could it be that even the Celestial Way doesn't know the mystery of this move? Or perhaps the ninth move of the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture surpasses the scope of the Celestial Way?"

But how could that be?

Leaping beyond the Five Elements, transcending Yin and Yang - those could be understood. But surpassing the Celestial Way? That was simply too absurd!

Yet if this move did not transcend the Celestial Way, why could he not comprehend it?

"It seems that my comprehension of the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture's mysteries does owe something to the Celestial Way imprints."

Chen Shi executed Primordial Chaos Split yet again, still without any power. Despair filled his eyes. He thought, "The Celestial Way doesn't understand it, and I'm completely clueless too... But what the Celestial Way cannot accomplish, I might still accomplish! One day, I WILL comprehend this move!"

After a long while, he let out a mournful sigh.

"So difficult!"

It was countless times harder than comprehending the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection or finding flaws in cultivation techniques!

"Could this Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture really be some common commodity that anyone can learn?"

Chen Shi struggled to the point of despair, when suddenly a strange thought struck him. The final move of the Primordial Chaos Sword Scripture transcended the Celestial Way - clearly it was a top-tier immortal technique. But why would such a powerful immortal art be given to everyone, learnable by anyone who ascends?

"And the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture - that technique is equally profound and unfathomable, perhaps even surpassing the Great Wilderness Ming Dao Collection. A technique with matching divine abilities - who exactly left behind the Primordial Chaos Dao Scripture?"

This was too strange.

To spread the most supreme techniques and divine abilities as if they were the most ordinary ones - who had such audacity, and what was their purpose?

"I've figured it out!"

Suddenly, Zhong Lin's shout came, startling Chen Shi awake. Zhong Lin yelled, leaping high into the air, "I've figured it out! Fellow Daoist Chen, I've finally understood!"

Chen Shi looked at him, curious about what exactly he had figured out.

Zhong Lin said excitedly, "I've finally sorted out the relationship between the Celestial Way and the human way!"

Chen Shi said, "May I ask for your insight?"

Zhong Lin could barely contain his excitement, speaking rapidly, "The Celestial Way encompasses all things. All living beings, with humans as the most spiritual, are within the Celestial Way. People who follow the Celestial Way marry, bear children, grow old, fall ill, and die. Those who defy the Celestial Way seek immortality through cultivation. The human way opposes the Celestial Way, hence there is obedience and defiance. I am a Tianji Scholar, one who interprets the Celestial Way, but at the same time I am also a spiritual being. Therefore, I believe I should follow heaven and respond to humanity."

Chen Shi asked, puzzled, "What does that mean?"

Zhong Lin smiled, "The Celestial Way chose you, actively branding itself into your consciousness. I should go along with the Celestial Way's intention rather than interfere. That is following heaven. You have shown me kindness, saved my life, and treated me as a friend. Now, according to the human way, I should repay that kindness rather than report you to the Celestial Court. That is responding to humanity. To follow heaven and respond to humanity - that is my philosophy of life!"

Having realized this, he suddenly felt the heavens and earth open wide before him. From this day forward, every action in his life would have its guiding principle, and the path before him was so clear and bright!

He could even apply this insight to his own divine abilities and Dao techniques, deriving many extraordinary powers from it!

Chen Shi thought it over carefully, then smiled, "Fellow Daoist Zhong, your understanding of the celestial and human now surpasses mine."

"You flatter me."

Zhong Lin smiled, "If not for your guidance, I would still be a muddle-headed fool who only knew to uphold the Celestial Way, when in truth I was merely upholding the Celestial Court's divine authority."

Chen Shi sought his counsel, "I possess the Celestial Way imprints, but I know very little about the Celestial Way itself. How should I use the Celestial Way imprints in my consciousness? How should I understand and comprehend them? I know nothing about this. You are a Tianji Scholar, one who interprets the Celestial Way - please instruct me."

Zhong Lin laughed, "Fellow Daoist, my interpretation of the Celestial Way patterns is like the moon in a well or flowers in mist - flowers that are not flowers, a moon that is not the moon. I grasp only the surface while remaining blind to the true Celestial Way. You, Fellow Daoist, do not interpret the Celestial Way patterns at all, yet you use them freely and comprehend the mysteries of techniques and divine abilities. Is that not far superior to me?"

Chen Shi probed, "So you don't actually know how to understand and comprehend it either?"

"Correct."

Zhong Lin admitted without hesitation, "Fellow Daoist, as a Gold Immortal who ascended to the Earth Immortal Realm, the Celestial Strategy formed a peculiar set of Celestial Way patterns for you. When I interpreted those patterns, I sensed you might be a great villain, so I came to investigate. But do those patterns necessarily mean you are a great villain? After spending this time with you, I no longer believe so. Clearly, even when Tianji Scholars interpret Celestial Way patterns, they are not necessarily correct."

Chen Shi smiled, "I am not a Gold Immortal. You are mistaken."

Zhong Lin smiled as he looked at him, and Chen Shi returned his gaze with a smile of his own.

"Suddenly, I think you might be a great villain after all," Zhong Lin said.

Chen Shi laughed heartily.

Zhong Lin continued, "However, you achieved Dao Unification within the Celestial Court, which violates the rules. The Celestial Court should have intervened long ago to strip your Dao Realm. Yet why has the Celestial Court still not come for you?"

He was deeply puzzled.

Chen Shi was somewhat puzzled as well. "Perhaps I do have someone backing me in the Celestial Court," he said.

His mind was a blank haze, thinking, "Could it be that the Empress of Earth is backing me, which is why the Celestial Court hasn't come to settle accounts with me over the Dao Unification?"

Just as he was thinking this, the Regional Commander Zhang Xian's voice came from afar: "Fellow Daoist Chen, the Heavenly King has ordered you to come over."

He stood outside the place where Chen Shi had achieved Dao Unification. Without Chen Shi's permission, he could not set foot in this Dao Realm, so he could only transmit his voice from a distance.

It wasn't just him. The heavenly soldiers cultivating Dao techniques in the West Heaven Expanse were also unable to set foot in Chen Shi's Dao Realm, forced to go around it. And Chen Shi's Dao Realm covered an extremely vast area, spanning ten thousand miles in every direction.

Fortunately, the West Heaven Expanse was exceedingly vast. Even with this area missing, there was no major issue - it was merely an eyesore.

Chen Shi and Zhong Lin left the Dao Realm. Zhang Xian hurried forward to greet them, saying, "The Heavenly King wants to see you. Go quickly. There's no time to delay."

Chen Shi asked, "Why does the Heavenly King wish to see me?"

Zhang Xian shook his head. "I don't know."

Chen Shi frowned slightly, feeling uneasy.

Zhang Xian led the way, and soon they arrived at the Command Platform. The Command Platform floated above the West Heaven Expanse, a cluster of immortal palace halls. Positioned high above, one could take in the entire West Heaven Expanse at a glance.

The Heavenly King Li, holding the exquisite golden pagoda in his hand, stood on a jade platform atop one of the towers, looking down from on high at the warriors below drilling their Dao techniques.

Zhang Xian brought Chen Shi here but stopped, saying, "I'm just a minor Regional Commander. I don't have the qualification to go up."

Chen Shi thus ascended the steps. He saw that on both sides of the Command Platform stood celestial beings in rows, each one enormously powerful, divine power surging, their bearing solemn and majestic.

Chen Shi kept his gaze straight ahead, climbing the stairs all the way up to the Command Platform. There, palace maids received him and invited him into the jade tower. Chen Shi kept his head lowered as he climbed, ascending five flights of stairs, passing through corridors, entering a tea room, skirting around one side, and finally arriving at the jade platform where the Heavenly King Li stood.

Chen Shi bowed in salute. "Heavenly soldier Chen Shi pays respects to the Heavenly King!"

The Heavenly King Li, holding the pagoda in his hand, did not turn around. "Immortals and gods are one family. You are a true immortal, no need for such formalities. Come over here, Immortal Chen."

Chen Shi straightened up and walked to the edge of the jade platform.

Standing beside the Heavenly King Li, he could feel the man's imposing stature - far larger and more magnificent than his own.

As the Book of Changes says: "The dragon appears in the field; it is favorable to see the great man." The Heavenly King Li was exactly the kind of "great man" described in the Book of Changes.

His figure was tall and powerful without losing grace, his build robust without losing elegance, his features handsome without losing refinement. His eyes were like cold stars, yet warm; his divine power blazed, yet did not overshadow his inner brilliance.

The Heavenly King Li gazed down at the West Heaven Expanse below. "Immortal Chen, what do you see?"

Chen Shi looked down and praised, "The West Heaven Expanse is magnificent and glorious. The Heavenly River surges mightily, the heavenly soldiers are powerful and move as one, sweeping all before them."

"No need for flattery."

The Heavenly King Li raised his hand and pointed into the distance. "Look over there, Immortal Chen."

Chen Shi followed the direction of his finger and saw that the position he was pointing to was precisely the place where Chen Shi had achieved Dao Unification. Confused, he asked, "What does the Heavenly King mean?"

The Heavenly King Li's face was as heavy as water. "You can see the ten-thousand-mile territory of your Dao Unification, but to everyone else's eyes, that area is shrouded in clouds and mist, a blur. The West Heaven Expanse has simply lost a great chunk out of nowhere! This is where I drill troops for the Jade Emperor!"

As he spoke, his tone rose and intensified, a faint rumble of thunder in his voice.

Chen Shi stammered, "Forgive me, Heavenly King. I ascended along with a dog and did not know the Celestial Court's rules. After achieving Dao Unification, I was locked in the Heavenly Prison awaiting execution. No one ever told me about this."

The Heavenly King Li snorted, displeasure clear on his face. "You mention the Heavenly Prison - are you implying that one in the palace is backing you? Bold words! I drill troops by order of the Jade Emperor, commanding three hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals. I can hold the exquisite golden pagoda and enter the palace to face His Majesty! Who do I fear?"

He paused, then said, "Speak. What conditions will you accept to move your Dao Unification elsewhere?"

Chen Shi blinked, momentarily not believing what he had heard.

The Heavenly King Li grew even more displeased, sneering, "You don't think I'm actually afraid of that existence in the palace, do you? Absurd! I command three armies - besides His Majesty, who do I fear? Besides the Celestial Court, name a place, and if it's within my power, I will do my utmost to accommodate!"