Chapter 057: The Ancestor Helan and the God of Slaughter Helan

“I never expected to encounter such a wondrous place,” Wei Dongting said, gathering his thoughts and speaking with awe. “Nor did I imagine your esteemed Dao Master to have such a connection with our human race. You may not know this, Master Jin, but the Stone Book of the Eastern Pavilion is still revered by the lineage of the Eastern Pavilion Mountain as the origin of their Dao tradition.”

Jin Yuanzhi’s curiosity was piqued. “That place’s water veins have long dried up—how is it that people still remain there?”

Wei Dongting coughed lightly. “Though the water veins have indeed dried, the earth veins persist. What was once a meager earth vein has since been joined by several more earth and wood veins. Now, Eastern Pavilion Mountain has become a Dao ground of both earth and wood spirits.”

Jin Yuanzhi nodded in understanding. “Our Dao Master dislikes places without water.”

Wei Dongting couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. He thought to himself, their Dao Master likely hails from the deep sea—naturally, one would not favor a waterless realm.

“And your Dao Master’s revered name?”

“My Dao Master has said that His honored name is not meant to be widely spread. Outsiders need only refer to Him as the Dao Master of the Hall of Longevity.”

“Not meant to be widely spread?”

“To praise His name is to invite power and attention,” Jin Yuanzhi hinted cryptically.

Wei Dongting drew a sharp breath. In ancient times, beings like these were venerated as innate gods and demons. Both true names and titles held unfathomable power. This was unlike some wild spirits or minor monsters whose names could be uttered freely—the worst you’d get was a passing glance if you mentioned their name in their domain.

Even the ancient Dao Masters of the human race, upon hearing their own revered names, would merely sense a faint resonance.

But for those gods and demons born in primordial eras, their honored names were no ordinary matter. The name embodied their Dao, their power, and their majesty.

“I understand,” Wei Dongting said, calming himself.

At that moment, Qing Jin looked at Jin Yuanzhi, perplexed.

“The Dao Master’s revered name brings uncanny power and attention. To praise His name—those who cannot withstand it will become monsters,” Jin Yuanzhi explained plainly, seeing Qing Jin’s confusion.

Qing Jin gasped. “Become monsters?”

“If you still have doubts, go to the Book Pavilion and look for the ‘Secret Record of Innate Gods and Demons.’ There you’ll see why I say this.”

“Alright, Senior Brother.” Qing Jin suddenly realized that their Dao Master might possess an identity far more extraordinary than he had imagined.

Wei Dongting, meanwhile, no longer wished to linger.

If this Dao Master truly was one of the ancient innate gods and demons, then he—a mere minor Dao court acolyte—was nothing in their eyes, no more than an ant to be crushed at will. Even his protector was merely a larger ant.

Moreover, his guardian likely couldn’t even enter this Dao ground.

Why stay any longer? He felt utterly unsafe here.

“Master Jin, I have no further questions. Is there anything else you or the Dao Master require of me or the human race?”

“Not for now. If anything arises, Qing Jin can handle it,” Jin Yuanzhi replied.

Qing Jin hurriedly rose and saluted Wei Dongting.

Wei Dongting reciprocated.

From this moment on, Shen Qing Jin could represent the Hall of Longevity. More frightening still, he now had an ancient god and demon behind him.

Isn’t this what they call a meteoric rise? Shen Qing Jin truly was a fortunate soul.

From now on, he was no longer someone who could be disposed of at will—not even by the Dao court.

His starting point was far too high now.

Yet Qi Dongxuan still foresaw him as a great demon?

How exactly was this “great demon” nurtured? Wei Dongting knew he would have to investigate further upon returning.

“Then I shall take my leave. Should urgent matters arise, I will return to pay my respects.”

“Very well.” Jin Yuanzhi beckoned, and another plump-headed fish boy approached, carrying a large wooden box.

“There are four eighth-tier demon pills inside. Consider them a greeting gift from our Dao Master.”

Wei Dongting’s expression was odd; it seemed he was being treated as a junior to be appeased.

But he was loath to refuse—these were eighth-tier demon pills, after all.

“Such gifts from a senior, I dare not decline. I gratefully accept,” Wei Dongting finally decided. Why refuse a gift freely given?

Besides, would such a being bother to tamper with mere eighth-tier demon pills?

Certainly not.

Jin Yuanzhi then simply instructed Qing Jin to escort Wei Dongting.

Wei Dongting left, taking his companions with him. Old Zhao and the others immediately pressed Qing Jin, “How did your trip to the Dao ground go?”

“Not much happened. Senior Brother Jin Yuanzhi received him, and they discussed many ancient secrets. It turns out the origin of Daoist teachings at Eastern Pavilion Mountain in the Dao court traces back to a stone book our Dao Master once gifted, inscribed with the Primordial Chronomancy Arts.”

“It is said our Dao Master gave that stone book to a human leader named Helan Gulei, who later founded Eastern Pavilion Mountain Dao ground. Otherwise, that stone book could never have become the source of Daoist teachings there.”

“Helan Gulei—I know that name. He was one of the twenty-eight Ancestors of the Dao court. He died defending the human race on the Eastern Wastes front line,” Old Zhao said. “He fell in battle atop what is now Chalk Mountain. That’s when the Chalk Pass began to be constructed.”

“Chalk Mountain, Eastern Slope Mountain, and the Wailing Ravine—all were part of his defensive sector.”

Hearing Old Zhao’s words, even Ning Qi couldn’t help but gasp.

“It’s really him? That’s Helan Ancestor.”

“Indeed, Helan Ancestor. Who else among the human race bears that name? The descendants of the Helan clan wouldn’t tolerate it,” Old Zhao said. “Back when Old Shen and I traveled the Eastern Wastes, we met a fellow named Helan Yi.”

“That man once nearly got devoured by a fierce beast while protecting a small village. If we hadn’t dragged him away, he would’ve perished.”

“Helan Yi—is that the infamous Helan Slayer, who, out of hatred for evil, secretly slew two former Dao acolytes of the Dao court and was exiled to the City of Uncertainty?” Ning Qi’s eyes widened.

“Oh, so he ended up in the City of Uncertainty? That explains why he vanished from the Eastern Wastes lately,” Old Zhao said with a sigh. “We used to gather from time to time, but then he disappeared.”

Ning Qi thought: Of course there’s no news—he was punished by the Dao court.

“But I hear the Helan clan is now considering bringing him back. After all, Helan Slayer has dealt with many traitors and cultists for the Dao court in the City of Uncertainty. His accumulated merits should be enough to wipe away his past crimes,” Ning Qi said dryly. Helan Slayer was notorious for three battles, two of which involved ambushing their Ancient Holy Sect’s former acolytes. He slew five in total, earning his fearsome reputation.