Above the Great Dao-Chapter 1376 - 643: Chen Family Serfs (2)

Chen Shi looked at the immortals chasing after him outside. He saw that these immortals were already in formation, guarding Golden Turtle Island. They were blocked by the Mountain Protection Array, unable to enter, but Chen Shi and the others couldn't leave either.

Jiao Quezi said, "I'm just a bit exhausted, taken advantage of by the Outer Dao. Once I recover my cultivation, I can suppress the Outer Dao. At that time, I'll return to peak condition."

Qiao Gu laughed and said, "We've long been accustomed to it."

Senior Sister Jing Mei smiled, "Junior Brother Chen, no need to worry about us."

Hearing this, Chen Shi led them to Yuqing Dao Spring. The three of them took the water from Yuqing Dao Spring, slowly refining it. After a little half a day, Senior Sister Jing Mei was the first to recover and released Chen Shi's hand.

Jiao Quezi and Qiao Gu's cultivation was much deeper, requiring more time. But the two of them could already contend with the Outer Dao, and Chen Shi no longer needed to assist them.

"Junior Brother Chen, this way."

Senior Sister Jing Mei led the way, taking Chen Shi towards Biyou Palace. Chen Shi followed behind her, looking at her leg, and asked, "Senior Sister, what happened to your leg?"

"I was beaten."

Senior Sister Jing Mei limped as she walked, turned back with a smile, "It's a matter of the past. Shortly after I joined Golden Turtle Island, I went out once, and someone used an excuse to break my leg. It could have been healed, but the person said that if I bowed my head and admitted that the Three Pure Ones Lineage was the orthodox, they would heal me. I was stubborn and didn't bow my head, so I became lame."

Chen Shi said, "I just checked your injury, Senior Sister. The reason for the long healing delay is mainly that you were at Penglai West Unity, and the wound was infected by the Outer Dao. Without the Outer Dao, it would have healed long ago."

"Indeed."

Senior Sister Jing Mei spoke as if it was a matter unrelated to her, "The one who injured me also said that Penglai West is polluted by the Outer Dao, and my wound would surely be invaded by the Outer Dao, making me lame for life. I was sad at first, but later, thinking that Master Jiao was like me, I became content."

Chen Shi said, "I can heal your injury."

Senior Sister Jing Mei was very happy, "There's no hurry to treat the injury. I will take you to pay respects to Teacher. You haven't paid respects to Teacher after passing the examination. After paying respects, you'll be part of Teacher's Lineage."

Chen Shi followed her to the hall of Teacher. Previously, Chen Shi had followed Jiao Quezi there once, but only to burn incense outside the hall. This time, he entered the hall.

Burning incense outside the hall meant being a registered disciple, while entering the hall and paying respects in the main hall qualified one as an in-house disciple.

Chen Shi followed the etiquette, burned incense, and paid his respects with three kneelings and nine kowtows.

After the ceremony, Chen Shi stood up, looked at the statue of the Teacher in front, and asked, "Senior Sister, I have read many of Teacher's teachings. What do you think is the core spirit of the Teacher?"

Senior Sister Jing Mei thought for a moment and said, "Teaching without discrimination."

Chen Shi asked for guidance, "What is teaching without discrimination?"

Senior Sister Jing Mei, feeling a bit shy, said, "I've always been quite slow-witted, and my learning is certainly not as good as yours and the other senior and junior brothers. I only said this because Master Jiao said it."

She paused and continued, "Master Jiao said that, back in the day, Teacher, like the Three Pure Ones, was an official in the Great Shang Court. The Three Pure Ones were the witches of the Great Shang, holding the position of Taoist. Teacher's position was Confucian. At that time, the four of them and some like-minded people comprehended remarkable things from the Great Shang's Witch Sacrificial Dao Pattern, allowing mortals to practice cultivation and thus gaining means to contend with the Great Shang. This later became the Immortal Law. Master Jiao said that Teacher and the Three Pure Ones were good friends, exploring the mysteries of the Immortal Law together, deducing realms for future generations, allowing people to cultivate. But when spreading the Dao, they gradually developed differences."

Chen Shi listened intently and asked, "What differences?"

Senior Sister Jing Mei said, "The Three Pure Ones believed that when teaching Immortal Law to disciples, one should first evaluate the disciple's background, character, family, and morality, and only teach those who are outstanding. But Teacher believed that when teaching Immortal Law, there should be teaching without discrimination, and anyone, regardless of their background, character, family, or morality, could learn the Immortal Law. It was due to this matter that their differences grew larger, eventually causing a rift."

She continued, "I said to Master Jiao that the Three Pure Ones' words are not without reason. The power of the Immortal Law is so great that when choosing disciples, one should certainly choose the best. If taught to bad people, wouldn't it be aiding wrongdoing? Guess what Master Jiao said?"

Chen Shi asked, "What did he say?"

"He asked, are people born good or bad? People are born as blank slates, neither good nor bad. Teach them to be good, and they are good; teach them to be bad, and they are bad." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Senior Sister Jing Mei said, "So-called teaching without discrimination is not just about teaching the Immortal Law, but also teaching and cultivating. A coarse person from a poor household can become a well-mannered gentleman through teaching and cultivation. A small thief from the streets can become a righteous and brave hero. Merchants roaming the streets, girls in market squares, farmers tilling the fields—perhaps they can all become gentlemen and immortals in the future. Why care about their backgrounds, previous character, or morality? As a teacher, one must pass down both the Dao and virtue."

Chen Shi listened to her words, lost in thought.

Senior Sister Jing Mei interrupted his thoughts with a smile, "Since you've paid respects, Junior Brother, come with me."

She led Chen Shi towards Candao Cliff and said, "This encirclement of Golden Turtle Island is fraught with danger. You and Junior Brother Jiang Guo are still young and not suited for battle. We are enough for this fight; you go hide in Candao Cliff."

"Senior Sister..."

"There's no need to say anything. This is also the intention of Master Jiao and Brother Qiao. Even if you join the battle, it won't make much difference."

Senior Sister Jing Mei said, "Don't worry. Although our numbers are few on Golden Turtle Island, we have quite a few seniors in the Heavenly Court. They wouldn't dare act recklessly."

Chen Shi asked, "Will the seniors come?"

Senior Sister Jing Mei smiled and said, "Of course they will. You and Jiang Guo just stay honestly in Candao Cliff until things calm down."

Chen Shi looked outside Golden Turtle Island and saw countless Black Iron Immortal Cities approaching relentlessly, their oppressive presence making it hard to breathe.

The number of immortals besieging Golden Turtle Island was increasing. For some reason, they had not yet attacked the Mountain Protection Array, as if waiting for something.

"The Three Pure Ones Lineage is very united; if they come, they will certainly all come."

Senior Sister Jing Mei urged, "Stop looking, hurry and get inside."

Chen Shi entered Candao Cliff and didn't go far before seeing Jiang Guo. Jiang Guo was surrounded by several Daoists from Yunxiao Cave Heaven, all of whom had their scapulas pierced, bound by the Binding Immortal Rope, lying on the ground.

Jiang Guo was not worried about the battle outside at all and, seeing Chen Shi worried, comforted him, "Master Jiao is a Taiyi Golden Immortal, and one of the strongest. Even if the entire Three Pure Ones Lineage comes, it's no use."

Chen Shi grew even more concerned.

As strong as Jiao Quezi was, the stronger the forces of the Three Pure Ones Lineage coming would be.

Golden Turtle Island might not be able to hold out.

Passing by Jiang Guo and the others, he entered the Teacher's Enlightenment Land and arrived at the Washing Brush Pool.

The ink traces in the pool were exactly the same as when he left, unchanged. Time seemed frozen here.

Chen Shi sat down, pondering deeply. After a while, his eyes lit up, and a vision of Dao Ruins appeared above his head.

Chen Shi leapt into the Dao Ruins Dao Realm.

"My Dao Realm now encompasses a larger area."

He stood in the air within the Dao Realm, looking down. Upon seeing Fuluo Village, he immediately flew towards it.

In the next moment, Chen Shi landed at the entrance of Fuluo Village, looked up at the village gate, and stepped inside.

"The master has returned!"

The villagers were very hospitable upon seeing him, and village girl Qu Lihua smiled cheerfully, hiding a kitchen knife behind her back, "Has the master come to collect rent today?"

"No."

Chen Shi replied amiably, "You can farm your land with peace of mind, I won't collect rent from you."

Village girl Qu Lihua hurriedly tossed the kitchen knife aside, and other villagers put down their tools, showing simple, honest smiles.

Village elder Shangdu Gong, trembling, said, "Does the master mean we're still tenant farmers, not serfs? The master must keep his word!"

"I will, I will."

Chen Shi sat beside Shangdu Gong on a stone bench, placing his hands on his knees, looking at the ducks passing by, and said, "But I also have a request to make."

Shangdu Gong beamed with joy, "As long as no rent is collected, the master can speak freely."

Chen Shi withdrew his gaze from the ducks and smiled, "I would like everyone in our village to help me fight."

"Quack?" the duck turned back and said.

Chen Shi nodded gently, "Yes, you'll need to help as well."