Old Chen, the Perennial Scapegoat

Wang Xuan got lost. There was fog everywhere, something that had never happened before. He couldn't tell which way to go, so he walked forward by feeling.

As for the tearing pain in his body, the bleeding from his pores, and the shadowy demonic figures behind him, he was used to it and completely ignored it.

Soon, he noticed a faint golden glow, like a lighthouse in the black mist under the moonlight, guiding his way.

As he approached, it was, as expected, the gold nugget, over five meters tall, entirely cast from Sun Gold, emitting a dazzling light.

He went to find his spot to see if his ranking had changed.

Puff!

Suddenly, Wang Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood. Had he eaten too many Demon Fruit this time? He felt as if he was about to be torn to pieces.

He endured the pain with unwavering resolve, not worrying about himself, but rather fearing that Old Chen might not be able to hold on and might actually die in the afterlife.

He stared at the gold nugget, trying to distract himself, and first looked at the last line. His name wasn't there, which meant he wasn't last anymore!

Last time, he mastered the first True Form Diagrams on the Golden Bamboo Boat, which boosted his strength. Is this reflected on the Golden Ranking?

Wang Xuan searched for his name from the bottom up and found himself fourteenth from the bottom, ahead of thirteen other people!

He was very satisfied. Had he really risen so many ranks in just one cultivation session? He was even a little impressed with himself.

However, he quickly realized that something seemed wrong.

Following his name is a scribbled annotation. "A mortal body enters the land of death, blaspheming the angler."

"Why does this not feel like a ranking based on pure strength?" He came to his senses somewhat.

Throughout history, the number of beings who could enter the Eight Great Lands of Death was likely small in a single era, but accumulated over time it was certainly not small. Among the best of the best, only a very few extraordinary individuals were able to leave their names behind.

Moreover, this list Qidian from the extraordinary level.

Wang Xuan was self-aware. Right now, he could handle ordinary Supernatural Practitioner, but compared to those who had made it onto the Golden Ranking, his strength was definitely not up to par.

"There's a new note after my name. It's because I blasphemed anglers, so my ranking went up?" He was stunned. How could that even work?

What is the purpose of the Golden Ranking?

Old Chen was covered in blood and had unexpectedly lost contact with Wang Xuan. As a veteran angler, he did not panic and calmly continued on his way.

However, the changes in his body were a bit too much for him to bear. His head was covered with large horns, eighteen tails grew behind him, and various wings and claws filled his body. Although they were all constructed from energy runes, they still made him dizzy and his heart heavy.

Some parts of his body were torn, and things were really growing outwards, but fortunately he had a strong heart and could keep his composure.

However, when he looked inside his body, he saw that his heart was several sizes larger and as black as ink. What he couldn't bear was that even his intestines were black!

Old Chen's face was gloomy. Enduring the excruciating pain as if his body were being ripped open, he left a trail of bloody footprints, climbed over the low hill, and headed towards the small blue lake.

In summary, although his physical condition is not optimistic and could explode at any time, the fact that he is still alive and surviving is already quite remarkable.

Finally, he saw the lake transformed into a vast sea, with high platforms rising along its shores. Seeing the mythical creatures seated upon them, he was tempted, but clear-headed; this was not his path!

"The true path, the path of demons, is not my way. In the future, I am Patriarch Chen, and I will control my own destiny. Ancient cultivation methods have problems that remain unresolved to this day. From Daoist Master to Daoist school, and then to Buddhism, cultivation methods have undergone several changes, yet none have been perfect. Methods with hidden dangers will be corrected, and ascension to immortality will be redefined! The most brilliant era has not yet arrived, and it awaits us to write it. You may all leave!"

Old Chen spoke calmly, unmoved by external things, simply using one high platform after another to erase the demonic traces from his body.

As soon as he finished speaking, one after another, the great demons on the high platforms suddenly opened their eyes and looked at him coldly.

"Aren't you all just remnants of extraordinary energy?" Old Chen wondered. This was different from what Wang Xuan had said. Why were these people all targeting him?

Fortunately, these mythical creatures slowly closed their eyes and then gradually became blurry.

A golden bamboo boat came swiftly from the sea, and the boatman was sitting there with his back to him, motionless and ignoring him.

"This is too cold," Old Chen thought to himself. "I haven't done anything to offend you or anything that would anger heaven and man. Why are you looking down on me?"

"They're here..." the Ferryman began, then his voice abruptly stopped as he turned sharply around.

He was Oath Keeper, ferrying people across the lake. He couldn't use his telepathic abilities or other supernatural powers to spy on people's hearts. He had finally resolved a certain problem, but he was distracted and didn't expect that the person who came wasn't Wang Xuan.

"Greetings, senior!" Old Chen stood on the shore and bowed from afar.

"The younger generation is truly formidable. Something's not right about this era. How come pairs of people have successfully traversed the secret path in just a few days?" the Ferryman wondered.

For hundreds of years, no one had ever visited this place. But in just a few days, not only did that kid Wang Xuan come here several times, but today there's another person here!

The Ferryman let Old Chen onto the boat, becoming kind and approachable, no longer indifferent.

Old Chen's eyelids twitched. Was this boat made of Ascension Divine Bamboo? And the teapot and teacups on the small table were too dazzling. Were they made of Sun Gold? They were engraved with flowers, birds, fish, insects, ancient beasts, and strange creatures, shining so brightly that it was blinding.

Even the lanterns hanging at the bow of the ship have frames made of Sun Gold? How extravagant! No wonder this Transcendent Immortals!

Through the darkness of the raincoat, the Ferryman's blurry face appeared, surprisingly kind and gentle, asking Old Chen which inhabited planet he came from.

"I come from the Old Earth, which was called in ancient times..." Old Chen replied earnestly.

Then he saw the Ferryman's body tremble slightly, indicating that he was quite unsettled.

Old Chen strongly suspected that he had run into someone from his hometown!

He immediately spoke enthusiastically, saying, "Senior, do you have any unfulfilled worldly wishes?"

"I miss the younger generation in the mortal world so much!" the Ferryman said, calming himself down.

"Senior, how can you still maintain contact with people and events in the mortal world while living in this secluded place?" Old Chen was shocked.

"Yes, I occasionally wander off in my mind and encounter a remarkable young man. He's quite bold!" the Ferryman said solemnly.

Old Chen perked up and asked, "Senior, who did you meet? Do I know them?"

The Ferryman smiled gently and asked, "Old Zhong, do you know Zhong Yong?"

Old Chen immediately started to overthink. He had always suspected that Old Zhong had reached the extraordinary level in New Star. He wondered if Old Zhong had encountered a senior expert, or if a mythical creature had traveled there and given Old Zhong guidance.

He solemnly informed him, "Old Zhong and I are sworn brothers. Not long ago, we fought side by side, sharing life and death. He is pursuing the Golden Elixir Dao and is currently accumulating the Five-Colored Golden Elixir Qi..."

Old Chen remained calm, showing that he took it seriously.

However, the effect was far beyond his expectations. The next moment, he felt dizzy, with the moon on the ground and the sea in the sky.

He was hooked upside down on the bow of the boat by the Ferryman using the fishing rod of the Ascension Divine Bamboo. He wasn't far from the sea when he saw the seawater break open and a bone dragon appeared, opening its skull mouth and tearing at him.

"What's wrong, senior?" Old Chen shouted anxiously.

"Old Zhong, he dug up my grave and stole my bones, so what?!" The Ferryman was furious and broke his vow. He hung Old Chen up and beat him mercilessly, like fishing for a fish, constantly slapping the bone dragon until Old Chen's eyes rolled back in pain.

What kind of situation is this? He feels even more wronged than Dou E!

He only said a few extra words, indicating a close relationship with Old Zhong, and his life turned into a tragedy. That damned Old Zhong caused a huge mess, and he has to take the blame!

"Senior, let me tell you, Old Zhong is right outside the Land of the Dead, right under your nose!" Old Chen shouted quickly.

He said he would never take the blame for Old Zhong. If possible, he would rather drag Old Zhong in, throw him onto the bamboo boat, and take the blame himself!

"Old Zhong is right outside. That kid Wang Xuan didn't tell me. He's afraid I'll squeeze all the secrets out of Old Zhong beforehand," the Ferryman muttered to himself.

Then he sighed and said, "But I can't get out. Why don't you tie Old Zhong up and bring him in?"

Old Chen raced, and he said, "Old Zhong is over a hundred years old and has very poor aptitude. What if he explodes as soon as he enters the land of death? Why don't you bestow a treasure upon him first?"

Thump!

From beneath the sea, the skeleton of another raptor, hundreds of meters long, emerged and swallowed Old Chen.

The giant bird skeleton hovered in the air, holding Old Chen in its beak and shaking him constantly.

Bang!

In the end, Old Chen landed on the bamboo boat again, completely bewildered. He had been beaten up for no reason and had no one to complain to.

"Don't move! Don't move!" the Ferryman shouted urgently, but finally sighed helplessly.

Old Chen shook his head, somewhat sobering up. He got up from the deck, braced himself with his hands behind him, and touched something cold.

A long spear, dark gold in color, with an incredibly sharp tip, like a razor blade that has been sharpened. This thing is suspected to be a mixture of various materials such as Sun Gold.

It's not as dazzling as pure Sun Gold, but if you look closely, it must be terrifying—a deadly weapon!

Old Chen felt something was wrong. A ball of light from the spear entered his body. He was astonished. Was this a divine weapon recognizing its master?

Feeling a little embarrassed, he explained, "Senior, I really didn't mean it. I have no desire for this divine weapon."

The Ferryman pointed at him, speechless, and could only sigh in the end.

Wang Xuan finally arrived, waving at the sea with a bright smile, full of enthusiasm, as if he knew the place well, just like he was coming home.

The Golden Bamboo Boat rushed over quickly, and Wang Xuan jumped aboard. Seeing that Old Chen was unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that you're alright!"

Old Chen said, "I feel... not good, it seems like something has happened to me!"

Wang Xuan was surprised to find a set of Sun Gold tea set on the small table of the bamboo boat, as well as the lantern frame, and a Sun Gold woven mat in the cabin.

"Senior, you've divided a portion of my Sun Gold Spear and forged it into a household item?!"

The Ferryman glanced at him and said, "What are you shouting for? Have you ever seen an ancient immortal weapon made of pure Sun Gold? It must be mixed with other materials to be more durable. Besides, you're taking a pure Sun Gold spear to the battlefield. Do you want to become everyone's prey? Such a bright and incredibly precious material, who wouldn't covet it?"

Wang Xuan said, "Isn't it a waste that you melted down the Sun Gold to make tea sets, lanterns, and mats? I was planning to use them to trade with the Transcendent Immortals behind the Great Curtain and exchange them for some rare items!"

"Old Zhong is just outside the land of the dead. Tie him up and bring him here. I'll help you fish the Great Screen in a bit, and you can trade these tools with them as you please!"