There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 155 The Outer Path [Third Update]

In the present world, in the quiet room of Mingxia Mountain.

Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes, a chaotic look flowing within them.

The powerful spiritual energy surged down, filling every part of his body, and then returned to his dantian!
Immediately afterwards, a ball of chaotic light descended from the Niwan Palace!

"The Qi of the Golden Core!"

In an instant, Chen Qing understood the essence of this chaotic light!

"Once it is put into operation, one can step into the Core Formation stage, saving oneself the trouble of grinding time and directly reaching the seventh stage!"

With a slight thought, he focused his mind on comprehending this chaotic light and soon discovered an even greater mystery!

"Following this principle, as long as one is well-prepared and has enough rare and precious materials and elixirs to replenish the fuel, one can even use the energy of this Golden Core to make up for the eighth or even ninth stage that was missed in the dream! Truly perfect and flawless!"

Although he did not reach the ninth level of the Immortal Dynasty in his dream in one go, he had already gained a lot by severing the Blood River Incarnation and turning the tribulation lightning into treasure. However, if he could complete the eighth and ninth levels in this world, the strength of his foundation would be unimaginable!
"However, compared to the Immortal Dynasty, the spiritual energy in the present world is depleted and resources are scarce. To advance to the eighth or ninth stage, a great deal of resources are needed. If this energy is hastily activated, its potential will be exhausted in an instant, and it will still stop at the seventh stage, leaving only regret."

That being said, Chen Qing today is no longer the minor sect leader who guarded the desolate mountain and was ignored by everyone.

Although the position of leader of the Nanbin Alliance was nominal, it truly broadened his network of connections. Among his disciples were prominent figures, and he also had An Ning, a connection that went directly to the Great Yan Dynasty.

"The most urgent task, besides perfecting the Dao of the Sun, Moon, Stars, Mountains and Seas, is to gather all the precious materials needed for Core Formation! Once everything is ready, we can activate the Qi of the Golden Core and complete the process in one go, directly climbing to the peak of the Nine Revolutions! At that time, the fusion of the enlightenment in the dream and the cultivation in the present world will be the true perfection and freedom, laying the foundation for further advancement."

He even thought that he could use the abundant resources he had prepared in the real world as a "backup plan" to quickly improve when he encountered a key bottleneck in his dream, which might have a miraculous effect!

Just as he was pondering this, a sudden jump occurred in his Niwan Palace!
A fierce, blood-red light and a destructive black ray appeared simultaneously. Their auras were only one-tenth of what they were in the dream, but their essence remained exactly the same!
The blood-red shadow twisted and roared silently; the black hairpin hovered in the air, crackling with tiny lightning bolts.

"As expected, they followed. Although only one in ten survived, they were still at the Nascent Soul level."

He opened his mouth and inhaled, and the blood shadow transformed into a blood streak that disappeared into his abdomen, lying dormant in a corner of his dantian. The black hairpin hummed softly and transformed back into a hairpin, inserting itself into his hair bun, only now much smaller and more restrained in its majesty.

"The Blood River Technique originated from Jun Wuyai, and it's hard to say that he didn't leave any hidden tricks. However, after being refined by the laws of heaven and earth in the Dream Immortal Court and then fed back by the Dao Evolution Record, the double isolation should have eliminated the hidden dangers. But we still need to be careful and vigilant at all times."

Chen Qing naturally wouldn't underestimate a demonic ancestor, but even so, with the support of these two, his main body's strength was completely transformed!
Although it is a miniature version, the Blood River Incarnation with infinite potential and the prototype of a magic weapon with tribulation lightning as its source have become his protective assets. His combat power has exceeded the Golden Core category and is enough to contend with weaker Nascent Soul cultivators.

"In this way, as long as we don't provoke those major sects in this land of Nanbin, the rest are no longer a concern. We can truly focus on cultivating and seeking the Dao!"

Even as he thought of this, the scene of Lin Ruhui using the law to suppress him suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Thinking about this woman's actions, an urgent urge to slap her in the face in his dream rose in his heart, making him wish he could close his eyes and go back to sleep on the spot!

"We need to find a way to turn this situation in the dream around! Lin Ruhui's control of the laws is indeed very troublesome! According to her, to break this lock, we not only need to understand the principles of the law, but also need titles, official ranks, merits and positions. That's right, just learning the laws is useless. The laws are just tools. It depends on who uses them. If we can't figure this out, we may not be able to make the new settings work!"

To verify his thoughts, the next morning he summoned Fang Da'ao, Bai Shaoyou, Qu Xiaoyao, and even the younger generation, including Hou'er, to his side.

Now that Chen Qing was confident, he didn't bother to find any reason and simply said that he had a sudden urge to tell the story of the patriarch.

The disciples looked at each other, eager to hear the story. They held their breath and listened intently, even the monkey scratched its ears and cheeks.

Then, Chen Qing recounted the past experiences of the sect's patriarch, who was once trapped by the chains of the Suppressing Law.

"The chains, imbued with the power of law and conviction, were indestructible and unbreakable by any law. However, the patriarch of the law was an unparalleled genius. He remained calm and composed, and with his supreme wisdom, he observed the changes in the runes on the chains, comprehended the wonders of the law's operation, and found the opportunity to break them."

Qu Xiaoyao was very cooperative and asked about the opportunity.

Fang Da'ao then asked, "Was it broken by force?"
Chen Qing said, "It wasn't broken by force. I heard that they found the contradictions in the legal chains and secretly interfered, causing them to collide and break, thus freeing themselves."

Upon hearing this, the disciples seemed to be deep in thought.

Chen Qing thought about it for a moment, but still felt it wasn't safe, so he added another clause: "In addition, he also fits the hidden clause in the chains that 'those who perform good deeds can have their sentences reduced,' causing the chains to loosen on their own."

Everyone immediately found it ingenious.

However, after finishing his narration, Chen Qing pretended to fall asleep and entered a dream. Seeing that no new sentences had been added to the Dao Yan Lu, he knew that he would probably find it difficult to break free on his own. "The chains formed by the laws of this dynasty are indeed extraordinary. Perhaps I should try to add some background to my dream self to increase my status? Or should I consult someone in the industry first?"

With this thought in mind, he immediately took out the communication talisman he used to contact An Ning and sent a wisp of thought to her, saying succinctly: "Fellow Daoist An, I, Chen, have recently had some insights and seem to want to take another step forward. However, cultivation always requires resources, and I still need your help. There are no restrictions on the type, the higher the grade the better. Spiritual herbs, mineral essences, and rare treasures are all acceptable. I can provide them with blood marrow crystals, or we can barter. If you require other compensation, we can discuss it."

After a pause, he asked again, "Besides that, I would also like to ask you, do you know of any way to be free from the laws of the dynasty?"

"Another step forward? That's too fast!"

After receiving Chen Qing's message, An Ning was still surprised despite being somewhat prepared, but Chen Qing's next sentence also made him worried.

"Could it be that Sect Leader Chen is plotting something that disrupts the laws in order to advance further?"

When An Ning shared her concerns with her friend Liu Shuang'er, the deputy commander of the Anti-Demon Guard of the Patrol Division, she didn't take it seriously.

Liu Shuang'er laughed and said, "What's so special about this? Aren't the methods for rapid rise to power hidden in the gaps between the lines of the Great Yan Law these days?"

An Ning said uneasily, "But Sect Leader Chen is now the leader of all the sects in Nanbin. What if he has any designs on us..."

"Leave this to me," Liu Shuang'er said, taking the initiative. "You informed me of this because the Zhenhai Division is facing some difficulties, right? Whether it's the rare and precious materials that Lord Chen needs, or the extra-legal laws he wants to know, I can help him! Moreover, he can help me in this matter! I've wanted to get rid of this deputy position for a long time!"

Soon, Liu Shuang'er personally paid a visit.

Inside the quiet room, the aroma of tea wafted gently.

Liu Shuang'er sat upright opposite Chen Qing, her crimson outfit making her look heroic and dashing.

"Mr. Chen, the items you requested, most of which are rare treasures for condensing the Golden Core and solidifying the Dao Foundation. Have you really reached the threshold of the Golden Core stage? This speed is simply too astonishing."

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Shuang'er got straight to the point and reminded him, "When the Golden Core is condensed, heaven and earth interact. Although the tribulation is weak, the tribulation lightning contains precious auras, some of which can replenish the deficiencies of natural treasures, so you can prepare more."

Chen Qing picked up his teacup and took a sip: "The matter of cultivation is like drinking water; only the person drinking knows whether it is hot or cold."

Hearing him say this, Liu Shuang'er didn't ask any more questions and instead brought up the second matter: "You sent a message to An Ning, subtly inquiring about the method of circumventing the laws of the dynasty... Alliance Leader Chen, your status is different now, and you have many subordinates involved. Could it be that you have some improper thoughts and want to do something lawless?"

Chen Qing put down his teacup and met her gaze frankly: "Commander Liu, you are overthinking it. I have only heard that there is a vast legal network covering the entire territory of this dynasty. I want to explore its mysteries, firstly to see if I can draw inferences from it, and secondly, to prepare for any eventuality so that I will not be bound by it."

"Restraint?" Liu Shuang'er suddenly giggled, her laughter like silver bells. "Chen Jun, Chen Jun, you're clearly hiding something!"

However, she did not pursue the matter further. Instead, she suppressed her smile and said, "These dynastic laws are not inanimate objects. They are inherited from the ancient immortal dynasties and have been followed by the people and practiced by the officials for thousands of years. They embody the wishes of the people and the belief in order. They are no longer illusory articles. Some people even regard them as gods, worship them, and regard them as the standard!"

Chen Qing frowned slightly: "The law covers many crimes and offenses. If one only takes the law as the bottom line and seeks to avoid committing crimes, without any regard for anything else, how corrupt would one's morality be?"

Liu Shuang'er was taken aback upon hearing this, then chuckled again, shaking her head and sighing, "Chen Jun is truly full of witty remarks! However, reality is just like this. Since 1,300 years ago, when someone thoroughly comprehended the laws and opened up a path, the power of the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty has been under the control of the Dianzheng Division."

"Thirteen hundred years ago? The path of cultivation?" Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly; this time was far later than the Immortal Dynasty.

Liu Shuang'er said, "Since then, all sorts of paths related to it have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Some strengthen laws and regulations and guard a region, while others use external forces to assist cultivation. Of course, there are also those who exploit loopholes and walk on the edge."

She changed her tone: "As far as I know, there are two main points that best fit Mr. Chen's meaning of 'not being bound'!"

Chen Qing then asked for advice.

Liu Shuang'er then said, "One is called the 'Beyond the Law' path, and the other is the 'No Punishment for the Eight Deliberations' path. Both were not very old, one is five hundred years old, and the other is only three hundred years old. Their founders are both in the mortal realm. Among them, the founder of the 'Beyond the Law' path is a person of this dynasty. He has refined a treasure of the path, which will take effect when worn..."

At this point, she paused slightly, looking at Chen Qing with a half-smile: "Coincidentally, these kinds of treasures are standard equipment for the various guards under the jurisdiction of the Patrol Division."

Before she finished speaking, she flipped her hand over and presented an object in her palm.

It was a key that was only an inch long and the color of bronze.

　I barely made it to the finish line again at midnight, reaching 11,000 words!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)