[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dao-dust-pearl":3,"chapter-the-dao-dust-pearl-the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-15":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dao Dust Pearl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2359516,4614,"Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen: Si Chen Chases the Sun","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>Hong Sihai unleashed his power, and Bi Tongtian died instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Hong Sihai remained, roaring to the heavens, his voice rolling like thunder, shaking the entire Linhai City. The white clouds above their heads were shattered and swiftly retreated dozens of li, revealing a vast expanse of sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think of the gift our Twelve Zodiacs have sent you, Hong Alliance Master?” A loud laugh followed, then a high-pitched voice, as if pinching his throat and forcing it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice that was hoarse was often called a duck’s voice; Chengwu Shenjun’s disguised voice resembled a snake’s hiss, fittingly called a snake’s tongue—but this voice had such a distinct trait it ought to be called a rooster’s crow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another deep voice also drew nearer: “And you four useless fools…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four Sha brothers had already been on the verge of collapse, but now they looked as if they had seen a ghost—worse than seeing a ghost—their faces twisted in utter terror. Though already slumped to the ground, they now struggled frantically. Yet at that moment, the earth beneath their feet sank, and they were suddenly dragged underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until they were buried up to their chests…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you!” Hong Sihai roared, raising his foot to stomp the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A golden figure shot across the sky, draped in a golden cloak, swift as a darting swallow, his hand clutching something that emitted orange-yellow flames the size of fingertips, exploding repeatedly midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Sihai’s face turned pale; he punched the empty air, his fist’s force surging to cover ten zhang before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orange-gold flames, engulfed by the fist’s force, exploded midair—with such power that even an iron man would have been pulverized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bi Tongtian’s corpse in Hong Sihai’s arms suddenly convulsed, his chest thrust upward, and the corpse spat out the same orange-gold flame toward Hong Sihai. Without hesitation, Hong Sihai retracted his punch, spun around, and seized the flame with his bare fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hong Lao Tangzhu, don’t!” Several experts present cried out in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time left!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The powerful explosion meant to shatter Bi Tongtian’s corpse was extinguished by his own hand—without harming the fragile body in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite Hong Sihai’s astonishing martial prowess and his body’s supreme hardening, absorbing this blow directly still severely injured his right fist, which trembled uncontrollably, skin splitting and flesh tearing. “Don’t mind me—go save the Sha brothers.” Only then did everyone turn to look at the four Sha brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies were half-buried in the earth; everyone’s attention had been entirely fixed on Hong Sihai’s safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they looked again—they lay limp on the ground, barely breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kongming Monk apologized, using subtle force to lift them from the earth. But as soon as he pulled, he felt something wrong—too light! The four Sha brothers, now pulled out, were reduced to nothing but halves. Blood gushed from their severed stumps; their empty lower bodies looked as if Kongming Monk had torn them apart!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams erupted in chaotic unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen’s expression turned grim. The Twelve Zodiacs were indeed the most vile, ruthless, terrifying, cruel, and audacious bandits in the history of the Jianghu… and the power of the divine weapons in this world surpassed even his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden-clad man’s cloak was his divine weapon, capable of aiding flight and condensing thunder and fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, divine weapons, when empowered by martial masters who had broken through to the Sensory Realm and could directly draw celestial energy into their bodies, became life-bound and unleashed power far beyond Qian Chen’s expectations. Ordinary Fa-method cultivators… truly stood no chance against them. Martial arts, placing life above all else, focused solely on killing—rumored to originate from ancient Witch Cults—now clearly demonstrated astonishing killing power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden-clad man’s divine weapon bore the attribute of thunder and fire, allowing martial qi to manifest like the divine thunder forged by Central Plains cultivators. Though only the weakest form of divine thunder—far inferior to the true great cultivators whose thunder could obliterate thousands of li—it was nonetheless unmatched in destructive force among all Dao methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Twelve Zodiac member, still unseen, must have wielded a divine weapon capable of earth-submerging, allowing him to move freely before the assembled righteous martial heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could fly through the sky, the other tunnel through the earth—no wonder the Twelve Zodiacs sent them to probe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hong Lao Tangzhu, esteemed heroes, I have something to say!” Kongming Monk stepped forward to address the masters. Hong Sihai mustered his strength: “Master, allow me to first collect my brother’s remains…” A wedding had turned to a funeral; Hong Sihai’s right fist trembled uncontrollably, yet he still forced himself to place Bi Tongtian’s body into a coffin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone watched his trembling hand, many lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kongming Monk brought out Shaolin’s finest healing medicine, applied it to Hong Sihai, and bandaged him simply. Then the great martial heroes turned and entered the inner hall of the main hall—those with lesser reputations were barred from entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen, a nobody from the martial arts world, followed them into the main hall; with Huang Zongguan’s guarantee, he slipped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall, Kongming Monk said: “According to secret intelligence gathered by Shaolin seven days ago, the notorious bandits known as the Twelve Zodiacs, under their leader’s command, will strike during Hong Lao Tangzhu’s birthday banquet. Upon learning this, Shaolin dispatched me secretly to offer aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The information was reliable, but the Twelve Zodiacs are cunning, treacherous, and deceitful—we dared not act rashly… yet it cost Bi Lao Shi’s life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, do not blame yourself. My brother came to the banquet of his own accord; his movements were never certain. The Twelve Zodiacs struck in secret—even had you warned me, it would have been impossible to prevent this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our only course now is to unite as one, as we once did to crush the Demon Cult, and exterminate these twelve lawless villains!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Huang Zongguan leaned close and whispered something to Hong Sihai. Hong Sihai waved his hand: “There is nothing to hide… Friends, the Twelve Zodiacs’ attack is not the first time—it has long been planned. Earlier, at the entrance of Sihai Hall, a young man uncovered their plot. I shall call him forward to recount what he knows…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Qian Chen finally heard the voice of the Wheel of Rebirth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Main Quest One: Arrive at the Sihai Hall headquarters before Hong Sihai’s seventieth birthday. Completion reward: ten merit points…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Detected: Reincarnator carries a Twelve Zodiacs token. Optional Main Quest Two unlocked: One, assist the Twelve Zodiacs in killing the Martial Alliance Leader Hong Sihai. Two, assist the Martial Alliance Leader Hong Sihai in killing more than four of the Twelve Zodiacs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing Hong Sihai: reward one thousand merit points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing a Twelve Zodiacs member: 500 merit points for the kill, 200 for assistance. Completed: Chengwu Shenjun (kill).”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quests may be retaken. Rewards do not overlap with side quests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I can double-dip…” Qian Chen muttered in disbelief: “Help Hong Sihai kill the Twelve Zodiacs first, gain his trust, then betray him? Maximize the reward? This Reincarnation Realm seems to encourage evil chaos… Though the main quest reward is indeed generous, and there appears to be no penalty for failure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Best to take both quests simultaneously—allows flexibility in shifting allegiance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I still choose Quest Two. After all, I am a man of principle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reincarnator has accepted Quest Two…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Abandon Quest One?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t even think about it—I won’t abandon Quest One!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1256,"2026-06-21T05:39:58.326Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","076cae62ce7697cb7bf762a156352667b5cad289d231a4bfa9c1a6ef4537b7ab","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-16","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-14",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dao-dust-pearl-cover.jpg"]