Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1359 - 636: Hongmeng Division

Master Jiao looked at Chen Shi, who hadn't been seen for years and seemed somewhat weathered, noticing that the youthful air on Chen Shi had faded, revealing a sense of maturity and steadiness.

Jing Mei, Qiao Gu, Jiang Guo, Black Pot, and others quickly gathered around him.

"Junior Brother Chen, where have you been all these years?" Senior Sister Jing Mei asked.

"I've been to so many places. After leaving Penglai West, I went to Xia Country. It was spring there, the wind gentle, and everywhere it blew, life thrived. I observed the wonder of all things growing, understanding how the wind brings the yang energy in the light, nourishing everything into vitality."

Chen Shi continued at an unhurried pace, "Then I went to Yu Country, where it was summer. The summer wind was hot, and I observed everything flowering and bearing fruit, exuberant and passionate, life pollinating in the wind, spreading, nurturing the next generation."

"I left Yu Country and came to Wei Kingdom, where it was autumn. The sky was high, the air crisp, with remnants of yang energy in the wind's force, but many yin energies chilled the air. I saw all things storing up, crops injecting their life into seeds, vegetables and fruits embedding life into their fruits, and wolf packs nurturing their next generation gradually growing up."

"I left Wei Kingdom for Zhao Country, where it was already winter, an icy, snowy land. In the cold winter, seeds fell into the dust, buried beneath the ice and snow. People donned thick clothing to wrap themselves tightly, and the wolf packs reduced their activities. Like a bear, I hid myself in a snow-covered cave, slowing my breath, falling into sleep. When the ice and snow melted, and the Earth Qi spread, I, like the seeds among heaven and earth, heard the sound of melting ice and felt the flow of yang energy beneath the earth."

Chen Shi laughed, "I walked out of the cave, like a seed that had been dormant all winter and was budding, slowly stretching and growing, thereby comprehending the mystery of Wind Marquis Cen Ci."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with smiles.

They had once experienced similar things.

Chen Shi continued, "In West Bull New Continent, I achieved Harmonization. In West Bull New Continent, there is no sunrise or sunset, and every place has no seasonal changes. Unaware of how the celestial timing influences the Mortal World, these insights proved to be extraordinarily profound. This journey reaped substantial benefits. I traveled far and wide, observing the Human World's sights, eventually arriving in Xiang Country. There, the government was corrupt, treating human lives like straw, the Emperor was foolish, and corruption trickled down from above, leading to the citizens' livelihoods deteriorating, banditry rampant. Coupled with years of disasters, with famine corpses strewn across thousands of miles and ghost monsters roaming, there was a yearning for change among the people…"

He spoke eloquently yet restrainedly, refraining from describing the tragic scenes he witnessed.

The scenes of selling sons and daughters, exchanging children for food, hanging people like livestock to sell mutton, there were just too many of them.

What he saw in Xiang Country made him realize the key to the Human Dao: Heavenly Dao governs the natural phenomena such as wind, rain, thunder, and lightning; Earthly Dao governs farming and harvesting, while Human Dao links with them, becoming the key to a nation's fate.

Only amid such apocalyptic scenes can there be the despair of Lili Cyan Flame and boundless ash of catastrophe, the resentment of The Sky is Dead and Yellow Sky's founding, and the hope for the clouds to clear and mist to disperse making the world bright again.

There's the willingness to use Autumn Wind and Rain to bury this world in ice and snow, the persistence in Desert Sand Exhausted, and the formidable fight of Heavenly Net Break!

Only by personally traversing the Mortal World and witnessing the scenes of various countries with a heart that acknowledges that Immortals are also humans, possessing a Dao Heart like ordinary people, can one comprehend the true essence of Mixed Yuan Sword Scripture.

Even if Chen Shi mastered the Heavenly Mechanism Strategy, without this worldly journey, his understanding of Mixed Yuan Sword Scripture would remain superficial, unable to truly grasp its mystery.

"You have already understood the Teacher's Mixed Yuan Sword Scripture," said Master Jiao.

The others nodded in agreement.

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "After understanding the mysteries of the first eight moves, I went on to observe the Ninth Move, Hongmeng Division, yet it remains an arduous challenge, with little progress."

Senior Brother Qiao Gu smiled and said, "You are already very skilled. Understanding the Great Daoist Compassion, even if you don't comprehend Hongmeng Division, you can still walk far within the Candao Cliff. Perhaps, after obtaining the Teacher's legacy in Candao Cliff, you may have further realizations."

Together, they accompanied Chen Shi to the Candao Cliff. Chen Shi composed himself and re-embarked on his journey into the Candao Cliff.

On the cliff walls, the sword marks left by the Teacher once again unleashed their force, with strands of Sword Qi shooting forth from the cliff walls, transforming into the Mixed Yuan Sword Scripture First Form: Earth Qi Cold Greeting, Heaven Inverted Life Killing!

Chen Shi brandished his sword, with strands of Xuanhuang Sword Qi flying out from the gourd.

He seemed to return to that morning when he observed the bamboo, the flow of yang energy beneath the earth, stirring the bamboo's ashes, resonating with the majestic sound of a great bell.

His Sword Intent also contained this emotional resonance, fully unleashing the power of the compassion of heaven and earth.

Master Jiao, Qiao Gu, and others stood outside Candao Cliff, watching this scene with some tension.

The last time Chen Shi attempted to breakthrough Candao Cliff, everyone placed great expectations upon him, only to find Chen Shi forced to withdraw at the eighth move, rendering his previous efforts in vain.

Now, after years of understanding and insight, Chen Shi returned to Candao Cliff. If he were again repelled by the sword marks on the cliff walls, it would surely be a great blow to him, perhaps even leading to permanent discouragement.

Qiao Gu quietly said, "Last time, it was when facing this move that one corner of his sleeve was cut off."

Just as he finished speaking, Chen Shi had already wielded one hundred and eight strands of Xuanhuang Sword Qi, blocking one hundred and eight sword moves surrounding him.

In Candao Cliff, the intersecting Sword Qi dissipated.

Everyone watched Chen Shi's sleeve with tense anticipation, but Chen Shi's sleeve remained intact, with no corners cut off.

They breathed a collective sigh of relief, only to see Chen Shi continue forward. The sword marks on the cliff were once again activated. Chen Shi, before the Sword Qi could fill the air, took the initiative, using Wind Marquis Cen Ci to contend with Wind Marquis Cen Ci.