Above the Great Dao

Iron Pen Elder dared not conceal anything and told the truth, "I only caused the death of four."

Zhao Ming said angrily, "These four lives, others may not blame you, but they will blame my Zhao family! Enough, stop refining. Our trip is to find the Second Miss, not to refine the Life-extending lamp. Last time you mentioned refining the Soul-searching Talisman, where is it?"

Iron Pen Elder hurriedly took out the Soul-searching Talisman with a smile, "The Soul-searching Talisman has been successfully refined, for the housekeeper to review."

Zhao Ming unfolded the Soul-searching Talisman, examining it as he said, "The master has great confidence in your abilities. He thought the Second Miss had died on Qianyang Mountain, yet you were able to deduce that she was still alive. If you manage to lead me to her, why would you worry about gaining status?"

Iron Pen Elder rejoiced in his heart.

The reason he could deduce that the Second Miss of the Zhao family was not dead was not because of his divine calculations, but because when he tried to summon her soul, he failed to do so. Therefore, he boldly surmised she must be still in the living world.

Zhao Ming handed back the Soul-searching Talisman to him and said, "Since the talisman is ready, let us go find the Second Miss. Put your quest for revenge aside for now."

Iron Pen Elder agreed and said, "I remember the face of that boy, he can't escape from me. I have already located the approximate direction of the Second Miss through the Soul Searching technique. Housekeeper, shall we call others to join us?"

Zhao Ming's gaze flickered as he smiled, "The more people we have, the more people there will be to share the credit."

Understanding, Iron Pen Elder took out another set of Armored Horse Talismans and crouched to bind them to Zhao Ming's legs. Their steps propelled by the breeze, they crossed a distance of more than a yard with each step, heading east along the foothills of Qianyang Mountain.

Outside the Huangyang Village, Chen Shi sat at the entrance, motionless under the scorching sun that made him somewhat dizzy.

Fortunately, San Wang's family, fearing he might go hungry, had prepared a meal for him.

After two years, Chen Shi was finally moved to tears by a meal with just the right amount of saltiness, heaping endless praise, causing San Wang's wife to blush.

"It's just country fare, it can't be that delicious!" said the honest woman, continuously rubbing her apron and smiling.

Chen Shi finished eating, his spirit restored, and he returned to the village entrance to wait.

After waiting all afternoon, with Black Pot barking twice, Chen Shi finally got up and shouldered his bookcase.

He could wait no longer.

Night was approaching, and there was not enough time to get back to Huangpo Village.

Black Pot was usually very accurate in judging time, except for that occasion when the sun set a quarter of an hour early.

Without saying goodbye to the people of Huangyang Village, Chen Shi left and hurried towards Huangpo Village.

"That Talisman Master didn't show up, probably because he, too, was worried that using children for refining lamp oil would ruin his reputation. If he didn't come today, he won't appear again."

Chen Shi said to Black Pot, "I didn't expect him to have a semblance of shame. It's frustrating not to have encountered him this time. Who knows when we'll have the chance again."

Black Pot briskly caught up, feeling more and more relaxed.

Chen Shi wanted to fight the Talisman Master to vent his anger, but Black Pot certainly did not.

If something happened to Chen Shi, could Grandpa revive and scold him again?

Grandpa would surely blame it all on him, Black Pot!

Chen Shi looked up at the sky where the fierce sun was still scorching with no sign of setting.

With his pace, he could make it home before sunset.

"I wonder if Grandpa has returned home..."

Having traveled two or three miles with Black Pot, Chen Shi suddenly heard the sound of clothes flapping rapidly behind him. Slowing down, he turned to see two individuals approaching, their steps lifted by the wind.

One was an old man with graying hair, and the other a middle-aged man dressed rather sumptuously. Their steps raised whirlwinds from the ground, which lifted their bodies so their feet did not touch the ground.

In this way, with each stride covering more than a yard, their journey was remarkably effortless.

"Can the Armored Horse Talisman be used like that?"

Chen Shi was surprised, leaning at the roadside to let the two pass.

Grandpa had drawn the Armored Horse Talisman while he observed, and he had learned it long ago. But Grandpa always used to draw the talismans on a wooden cart, making the cart move by itself. Chen Shi had never seen Grandpa tie the talismans to his legs.

"There's a child by the road this late," said the middle-aged man from afar as he saw Chen Shi.

The two approached rapidly. The old Talisman Master was none other than Iron Pen Elder, who remarked with a smile, "Still not home at this hour, this child might not live long — a pitiful case. Unfortunately, we're in a hurry and can't use him for our elixirs..."

As he spoke, he suddenly recognized Chen Shi's face and gasped in surprise, "It's you! The little devil who spoiled my lamp oil!"

Chen Shi, too, recognized the voice as familiar, and his eyes widened in shock.

Black Pot also heard Iron Pen Elder's voice. Its ears perked up, each strand of black fur standing on end, and its tail turned as stiff as an iron rod!

Just as it was about to warn Chen Shi, Chen Shi had already shot forth like an arrow released from a bow, so fast that Black Pot was left dazzled.

Chen Shi charged at Iron Pen Elder!

Like a leopard that had been lying in wait, he burst forth, crossing a yard with each leap. When his footsteps landed, his Qi-Blood poured into the soles of his feet. As his feet hit the ground, his straw sandals split open from the force and fell away!

Chen Shi's feet swelled dramatically in size. With his second step, his speed increased, his momentum grew fiercer, and he reached his peak velocity!

The roaring wind battered his face, and the hair that he had carefully tied was yanked back by the oncoming gust, flying out straight behind him!

At the same time, Iron Pen Elder and the middle-aged man were also moving toward this side. Carried swiftly by the Armored Horse Talismans and combined with Chen Shi rushing forward, it was almost an instant before they were face to face, with only about a yard left between them.