Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1342 - 628: Honest Child (Part 2)

Xi Muran, hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief: "That's the proper reaction. Otherwise, I would've thought the destroyed Heavenly Mechanism Strategy was a fake."

At this moment, someone else came to report: "Young master, there's another immortal who has come to the Heavenly Court to file a complaint, asking the Heavenly Court to capture the leading figure of the Immortal Slaying List, Chen Shi."

Xi Muran said with interest: "How did the Heavenly Court react?"

"I don't know. Right now, there's still a commotion in the Heavenly Court."

Xi Muran immediately got spirited and laughed: "Junior Brother Chen is definitely going up to the Immortal Slaying Stage this time!"

Another person came to report: "Reporting to the young master, the immortals causing the commotion want to storm the Heavenly Soldier Camp to personally capture Chen Shi!"

Xi Muran, invigorated, exclaimed: "My junior brother is doomed today!"

"Reporting to the young master, the immortals storming the Heavenly Soldier Camp reached the camp's entrance, about to cause trouble, and were promptly beaten by the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals."

Upon hearing this, Xi Muran laughed: "Junior Brother Chen buys people's hearts, which of the Heavenly Soldier Camp doesn't owe him gratitude? Anyone going there to arrest him is bound to be beaten."

"Reporting to the young master, those immortals have been captured and sent to the Heavenly Prison, with charges of forcing their way into the Heavenly Soldier Camp, awaiting execution!"

Xi Muran was utterly shocked, doubting if he heard wrong, and asked several more times.

"Does my junior brother have some backstage support in the Heavenly Court?" He wondered to himself.

The immortals who came to file the complaint were backed by major figures from the Earth Immortal Realm, and it was inconvenient for them to show up, so they sent their disciples to the Heavenly Court to make a scene, pressuring the Heavenly Court to take down Chen Shi. These people caused trouble in the Heavenly Soldier Camp, and while the camp could beat them, it had no power to send them to the Heavenly Prison.

There are few in the Heavenly Court with such authority.

"My junior brother's background in the Heavenly Court seems much bigger than mine," he thought to himself.

He served as a Merit Officer under Emperor Wenchang's command, a figure with a background in the Heavenly Court, yet he thought even Emperor Wenchang didn't have such authority.

"But this incident concerns the face of many big figures in the Earth Immortal Realm; I'm afraid even his backer in the Heavenly Court can't protect him."

Chen Shi still didn't know that his influence had reached such extent, sending the immortals who came to interrogate him straight into the Heavenly Prison. In recent days, he had been teaching the Undying Immortal Method and finally explained it thoroughly. However, some immortals still couldn't fully grasp it, so they came to consult him, taking up a lot of his time.

"These matters, leave it to the Black Pot to handle."

Chen Shi, being lazy, left the task of answering questions and clearing doubts to the Black Pot, who then led those immortals to a secluded place to explain the Undying Immortal Method. The visitors frequently nodded during the explanation, showing realization and gratitude towards the Black Pot.

Chen Shi, finally having some peace, pondered: "I've made such a commotion over the Xuanhuang Sea, and surely topped the Immortal Slaying List everywhere; logically, grandpa and others should know of my whereabouts by now. Why haven't they come?"

He felt a vague unease. Given all his recent activities in the Heavenly Soldier Camp, such a commotion, if Chen Yindou and others came to the Heavenly Court, with a little inquiry, they could easily find out Chen Shi's whereabouts.

Yet, Chen Yindou, Sha Qiutong, and others hadn't shown up, leaving him worried about the situation of Chen Yindou and the others.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Chen Shi's heart leapt with joy: "Could it be grandpa and the others are here?"

He went to open the door, only to see Jing Shu, the Daoist boy under East King, standing outside, looking despondent and dispirited, as he said: "Daoist Chen, my lord wishes to see you."

Chen Shi looked around but saw no sign of Chen Yindou and the others, feeling slightly disappointed. He asked: "Jing Shu, why is East King looking for me?"

Jing Shu Daoist boy glanced at him, his frown deepening: "How would I know? Probably about your topping the Immortal Slaying List. The aggrieved plaintiffs filed a complaint to the Jade Emperor. When the lord returned, he was furious, and then he sent me to ask you to come."

Chen Shi felt jittery and said: "Senior Brother Jing Shu, please wait a moment, I need to tell Black Pot a few things."

Jing Shu Daoist boy replied: "Be quick, don't keep the lord waiting."

Chen Shi hastily went to find the Black Pot and said: "Black Pot, my incident has been exposed. Now that East King is looking for me, it's likely not for something good. If you don't see me back after a while, burn incense and pray to Emperor Houtu, asking the Lady to save me."

Black Pot barked twice.

Chen Shi then went to see Jing Shu and said: "Senior Brother, we can go now."

Led by Jing Shu Daoist boy, the two quickly arrived at East King's residence. Chen Shi saw East King again and noticed that this leading male immortal's face didn't look good. As soon as East King saw him, his temper flared up and he scolded: "What did I warn you about last time? I told you to keep a low profile and not always engage in grand schemes that terrify me! Just tell me, what have you been up to recently?"

Chen Shi cautiously replied: "Disciple made a trip to the Xuanhuang Sea to pay respects to my godmother."

East King angrily retorted: "Were you really visiting your godmother? You went there to kill! On the Xuanhuang Sea, you offered sacrifices of humans to a dog, devouring hundreds in a bite. Immortals on Taiyue saw it all clearly! At Denghai Town, you killed abundantly, slaughtering one or two hundred prominent immortals! The forces behind them have come knocking, complaining to the Great Heavenly Venerate!"

Chen Shi was even more cautious and said: "Indeed, I was paying my respects to my godmother. If the lord doesn't believe, you can ask my godmother, Emperor Houtu, the Earth God…"

East King shouted: "You still dare argue! You... who is your godmother?"

"Emperor Houtu, the Earth God."

Chen Shi said, "As her godson, I arrived in the Earth Immortal Realm but hadn't had the chance to pay her a visit. She urged me many times, and after being reprimanded by the lord, I resolved sincerely to better myself, and thus went to see her. I didn't expect to be chased and nearly killed by villains on the way, forcing me to fight back in self-defense..."

East King looked at him, waiting until he finished speaking before stating: "I've heard that many Immortal Families' Dao Realms were robbed, with someone and a dog stealing Earth Treasure Spirit Roots. Was this your doing?"

Chen Shi complained bitterly: "You see clearly, prince! How could someone enter an Immortal's Dao Realm, which is so private, without permission? How could I have such skills to steal their Earth Treasure Spirit Roots? They've mistaken me for the big thief on the Immortal Slaying List, calling for my head; I am so wronged!"

East King gave him a sidelong glance and said: "You can't enter others' Dao Realms at will, but Emperor Houtu has such ability..."

Chen Shi turned his eyes down and said: "Why doesn't the prince ask Emperor Houtu if she's my accomplice?"

East King looked at him deeply, forcedly said: "Let's let this matter pass; I won't pursue it further. What about disseminating cultivation techniques in the Heavenly Soldier Camp? You're buying hearts! You're plotting a rebellion!"

He lamented: "Just now, I mean just now! The Great Heavenly Venerate called me and asked, Chen Shi holds twenty thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals; is he plotting rebellion? How am I supposed to answer?"

Chen Shi thought for a moment and replied: "You'd answer by asking if Heavenly King Li, holding thirty thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, is plotting rebellion?"

East King coldly regarded him, exhaled after a moment, and said: "That's exactly what I replied. I also said Chen Shi has a pure heart, teaching cultivation techniques is not about buying the hearts of the Heavenly Soldier Camp, not about rebellion. This is under Your Majesty's great fortune, having found a gifted general."

Chen Shi looked up and asked: "Did Your Majesty believe it?"

East King snorted and replied: "If he didn't believe it, your head would have rolled long ago."

He sighed, advised earnestly: "Chen Shi, you are an immortal under my command and manage the Heavenly Mechanism Strategy; stop trying to cause big incidents. I really am not a match for the Great Heavenly Venerate."

Chen Shi meekly replied: "Disciple will definitely speak cautiously and act carefully."

East King waved his hand: "You may leave now."

Chen Shi retreated.

After he left, East King pondered for a moment, called for a maid, and said: "Prepare incense."

The maid prepared the incense burner, lit the sandalwood incense, East King tidied his robes, bowed to the incense, and smiled: "Ni Junming requests to see the Lady."

The incense smoke spiraled up, gradually forming into a lotus shape, upon which Emperor Houtu sat. Seeing East King, she nodded and smiled: "No need for all the courtesies, Daoist friend."

East King smiled and said: "I hope the Lady is well. Just now, immortals came to the Heavenly Court filing a complaint, accusing Chen Shi of stealing Earth Treasure Spirit Roots and killing the innocent. Is the Lady aware of this?"

Emperor Houtu appeared shocked: "There is such a matter? Chen Shi is my adopted son; I never thought he could be so deceitful and commit such acts! Daoist friend, no need to consider my position; if it's his doing, punish him severely! However, I observe this child to be good-hearted, not likely to commit such acts."

East King laughed and said: "I find him honest and sincere, a straightforward person not likely to do such things. Therefore, after my investigation, it appears to be a false accusation; these immortals never mentioned possessing Earth Treasure Spirit Roots before, claiming so now suggests they intended to frame him. I've already ordered them sent to the Heavenly Prison."

Emperor Houtu earnestly said: "Daoist friend must not wrong them."

East King solemnly assured: "Rest assured, Majesty, the Great Heavenly Venerate entrusted me with managing the affairs of the Immortal Family, and I will see the truth discerned clearly!"