When Xu Ying returned to Penglai, he found Nalan Du sitting on a boulder in a daze, looking utterly dejected as he stammered to himself like a man possessed.
Yuan Qi and the big bell were at his side trying to console him. "It's fine. What's so bad about being a girl? Look at Lady Hua Cuoying—isn't she happy too?"
Xu Ying felt bewildered, but did not pry.
He was not close to Nalan Du, and during their last encounter, Xu Ying had been holding him by the throat to threaten the Ninth Immortal King. Seeing him again, Xu Ying hardly knew what to say.
He proceeded to Mituo Temple, where he saw Hua Cuoying pinned beneath a cluster of immortal plants, completely unable to budge. Beside her, Grave Grass was likewise being suppressed by the crowd of immortal flora.
Xu Ying did not pry into that either.
He stepped up before the Twelve-Storyed Mansions. The mansions breathed in unison with him, and each imprint within them was like a living version of himself.
Every imprint here represented a proof, embodying one of the twelve ultimate achievements his Primordial Spirit had attained back then.
Without his cave-heavens, shaping a Hidden Scenery latent transformation ground had become exceedingly arduous, and he could no longer remain constantly in the state of the Six Immortals. Over this period, his cultivation and strength had plummeted drastically, so he had to compensate in other areas.
Hua Cuoying, pinned to the ground beneath the immortal plants, was dumbstruck by the sight. *This is clearly an Immortal King treasure refined by my father. How did his imprints take over the moment he stepped inside?*
She had long wanted to claim the Twelve-Storyed Mansions for herself. Unfortunately, the treasure had been crafted by the Five Extremes Immortal King and bore his imprint; even if she managed to steal it away, the Immortal King would instantly sense its location.
Furthermore, she had tried more than once to leave her own imprint within the divine mansions, only to find it completely impossible!
Yet the moment Xu Ying set foot inside, the imprints fused with him of their own accord.
*I heard that the Twelve-Storyed Mansions were refined from the Mansions realm cut out of his body,* Hua Cuoying thought with conflicting emotions, staring blankly at Xu Ying. *My father toiled through immense hardship to forge it into an Immortal King treasure... but forty thousand years of hard work have merely made a wedding dress for another.*
Xu Ying closed his eyes, immersing himself in the sensation.
The imprints inside were the Primordial Spirit achievements from his first life. The twelve proofs of the Primordial Spirit were essentially twelve attestations—proving twelve ultimate achievements to reach the state where the Primordial Spirit imprinted itself upon the void!
The first proof was the Divine Proof—the mark of a heavenly god, bearing the likeness of a heavenly god.
The second was the Dao Proof, bearing the resonance of the Heavenly Dao.
The third was the Qi Proof, possessing the abundance of primordial qi.
The fourth was the Soul Proof, the fifth the Corporeal Soul Proof, the sixth the Strength Proof, the seventh the Consciousness Proof, the eighth the Yin Proof, the ninth the Yang Proof, the tenth the Firmness Proof, the eleventh the Thunder Proof, and the twelfth the Spirit Proof.
These twelve proof achievements were distinct from Xu Ying's previous Primordial Spirit imprints, seemingly belonging to a lost ancient method with an entirely different rationale.
By the time Xu Ying walked out of the Twelve-Storyed Mansions, he had grasped every cultivation essential of the twelve proofs of the Primordial Spirit! As long as he cultivated to the realm of the Twelve-Storyed Mansions once more, mastering the twelve proofs of the Primordial Spirit would not be difficult.
Xu Ying looked back. The imprints within the Twelve-Storyed Mansions remained in place, having not disappeared. Moments ago, they had merely communed with him, allowing him to comprehend the insights he had attained upon reaching this realm during his first life.
*A magic treasure cannot be reverted into a realm to return to my body.*
Xu Ying's expression darkened, but he soon rallied his spirits, thinking, *Still, the Five Extremes Immortal King refined my Twelve-Storyed Mansions exceptionally well. Its power is immense!*
When the twelve imprints from the Twelve-Storyed Mansions entered his body just now, it had been equivalent to Xu Ying refining the mansions anew. From that moment on, the mansions no longer had the slightest connection to the Five Extremes Immortal King.
Xu Ying raised his hand, and the Twelve-Storyed Mansions took flight, hovering in midair. Divine light erupted from the eyes of all twelve Xu Ying imprints, their aura shaking heaven and earth!
Suddenly, the twelve imprints flew out from the mansions one after another, unleashing Dao methods and divine abilities. Each was peerlessly formidable, as if twelve Xu Yings were joining forces to suppress all opposition!
Witnessing this, Hua Cuoying sighed inwardly, relinquishing all hope of ever stealing the Twelve-Storyed Mansions.
It was now impossible to take this Immortal King treasure away. Even if her father, the Five Extremes Immortal King, intervened personally, he could never snatch it back from Xu Ying.
Xu Ying then turned toward the Immortal Dao Jade Pool. In the distance, Nalan Du noticed this and rushed over in a panic, but before he could even draw close, immortal clouds billowed around Xu Ying as he blended harmoniously with the pool!
The immortal Daos contained within the Jade Pool grew more active than ever before, as if reunited with their true master. They swirled around Xu Ying, darting in and out of his flesh.
Not only that, the Jade Pool immortal water cleansed Xu Ying's physical body and Primordial Spirit, purging impurities from both. His divine consciousness, primordial qi, and the dual energies of yin and yang all underwent a transformative leap, as if remade from the marrow!
Nalan Du attempted to activate the Immortal Dao Jade Pool, yet the treasure behaved as though it did not have half a copper's relation to him, refusing to budge in the slightest.
Nalan Du was seized with terror. *This is a treasure bestowed by my master. If it falls into another's hands, how can I ever face him again?*
Yuan Qi said, "Sister, this treasure was originally the Jade Pool realm sliced from Ah Ying. Now it is merely returning to its rightful owner."
Nalan Du shook his head violently. "Don't spit venom and slander him! My master would never use a human being to refine a treasure!"
Hua Cuoying's voice chimed in with a cold laugh. "The Ninth Immortal King's Jade Pool and my father's Twelve-Storyed Mansions were both refined from realms cut out of this man. Brother Nalan, don't think too highly of your master."
Nalan Du wanted to argue, but could not explain why the Immortal Dao Jade Pool spun out of his control the moment it met Xu Ying.
Xu Ying was still recovering from severe injuries; it was impossible for him to erase the Ninth Immortal King's imprint. Furthermore, even when the Ninth Immortal King activated the treasure, the Jade Pool had never breathed in unison with him like this!
The Immortal Dao Jade Pool was one with Xu Ying, as intimately connected as his own flesh and blood, breathing in unison with him and sharing his vitality.
Nalan Du had no choice but to admit that the Jade Pool was indeed Xu Ying's realm, excavated by the Ninth Immortal King and refined into a treasure.
Xu Ying stepped out of the Immortal Dao Jade Pool, his aura growing stronger with every pace.
Though he lacked the support of the six great cave-heavens and could not step into the realm of the Six Immortals, the tempering of these two Immortal King treasures had elevated his cultivation to another level.
Of course, it was still far from the sheer might he possessed when bolstered by the six ancestral method cave-heavens.
Behind Xu Ying, the Twelve-Storyed Mansions and the Jade Pool floated up, followed by the Third Heavenly Pass manifesting above the pool. The auras of these three Immortal King treasures radiated with overwhelming majesty, enough to compensate for the loss of his six cave-heavens.
More importantly, while these three treasures appeared to be artifacts, they felt just like his three great realms—an inseparable part of his very body.
Xu Ying raised a hand. "Release this young lady."
The immortal plants let go of Hua Cuoying, but kept Grave Grass firmly pinned beneath them.
Xu Ying gave a dry cough. "Fellow Daoists, this Lord Grass is my friend."
"Since Immortal Master Xu has spoken, we naturally must give Immortal Master Xu face," an immortal plant transmitted through divine consciousness, an aged voice echoing forth. "However, while we were cultivating here, this scoundrel unceremoniously plunged its roots into our bodies to siphon our medicinal efficacy. Immortal Master Xu, if it offends again..."
Xu Ying smiled. "It will take its beating and accept its punishment. Lord Grass, these are all your seniors. Cultivate alongside them and do not act so recklessly."
Grave Grass nodded dejectedly.
Xu Ying looked at Nalan Du and Hua Cuoying with an amiable smile. "Ladies, I do not kill women. Please be on your way."
Hearing the words 'ladies' and 'women,' Nalan Du flushed crimson and protested in a thin, squeaky voice, "I'm not a woman!"
Hua Cuoying was both surprised and delighted. "Truly?"
Xu Ying flicked his finger, and the Yellow Court cave-heaven involuntarily manifested behind Hua Cuoying.
His current cultivation was far inferior to Hua Cuoying's, but backed by three Immortal King treasures, forcing out her cave-heaven was child's play.
Hua Cuoying grew tense, thinking, *Of course, this Nuo ancestor cave-heaven was also sliced from his body!*
Xu Ying examined the Yellow Court cave-heaven closely, his expression turning somber. The Yellow Court cave-heaven was also battered and dilapidated; though not completely inoperable, it fell far short of its prime.
*Is recultivating the six secret depositories truly the only path forward?*
Xu Ying waved his hand, and the Yellow Court cave-heaven closed, returning into the body of the maiden in palace robes.
Hua Cuoying was stunned. "You don't want this Nuo ancestor cave-heaven?"
"It is already ruined and no longer pristine. What use do I have for it?"
Xu Ying addressed them both, "I will not see you out. Lord Qi, Lord Bell, see them off on my behalf."
With that, he quietly raised his right hand and made a subtle slashing motion across his throat.
Yuan Qi and the big bell caught his drift. Yuan Qi called out loudly, "You two, on your way! Let's hurry before dark—we still have to dig graves once we get back..."
"I'm not leaving!"
Hua Cuoying hastily broke into a smile. "I took the Twelve-Storyed Mansions and the Nuo ancestor cave-heaven when I defected from Weixu. There is no going back for me! Going back means certain death! Right now, the Hua family and my father would love nothing more than to flay me alive!"
Having also spotted Xu Ying's gesture, Nalan Du blurted out in haste, "I lost Master's Immortal Dao Jade Pool. Returning would mean severe punishment—I'm not leaving either! Besides, my body is... mutilated. How could I ever face anyone again...?"
His voice trailed off into a whisper.
Xu Ying sighed. "That you two possess the resolve to abandon good for evil—no, to abandon evil for good—deeply comforts me. Our alliance between Penglai and the Ancestral Court happens to be in dire need of capable hands, so it is just as well that you both volunteered to stay and help."
The corners of Nalan Du and Hua Cuoying's mouths twitched. They desperately wanted to object, but technically, they really had asked to stay of their own accord.
Xu Ying pondered a moment and said, "Lord Qi, aren't the Four Sages of the Ancestral Court, Chu Tiandu, and True Lord Yan currently hunting down the Myriad Realm experts? Take these two along to slaughter a few of them and present some pledges of loyalty."
Nalan Du blanched, and cold sweat poured down Hua Cuoying's forehead.
The experts from the myriad heavens and worlds who had come to besiege the Little Celestial Venerable all hailed from prestigious sects and great clans, backed by powerhouses of the Immortal Realm.
If they killed those experts, they would never be able to return to Weixu again!
After all, Weixu was still subordinate to the Immortal Realm and subject to its command!
Having made the arrangements, Xu Ying noticed bright, pure moonlight spilling toward them. Only then did he realize a graceful, striking woman had appeared beside him.
Xu Ying looked up to see a bright moon hanging in midair, presumably that wheel of reincarnation from the Netherworld.
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden walked down the mountain, saying, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I have lingered in the mortal realm for too long. Now that you are awake, I shall return to the Netherworld."
Xu Ying walked alongside her and said, "Thank you, Female Emperor, for saving my unworthy disciple. Why are you in such a hurry to return?"
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden said, "Fellow Daoists like Dongyue, the Northern Emperor, and Cangwu spend their days in hiding, living in constant terror. When will there ever be an end to it? Better to simply go back. Besides, in my estimation, something has likely changed in the Immortal Realm. This upheaval makes my circumstances far less perilous."
Xu Ying was puzzled. "An upheaval?"
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden chuckled. "The Netherworld invaded the mortal realm, while the Heavenly Dao of the demonic realm has been subtly expanding outward, which amounts to an invasion by the demonic realm. Then there is Weixu. Every so often, Weixu bathes the world's Qi Refiners in blood. In all likelihood, it does not purge only the Yuanshou World; other worlds are probably subjected to bloodbaths as well, which constitutes an invasion by Weixu. There is a deep, profound problem underlying all of this."
Xu Ying was startled. He pondered and said, "Behind Weixu stand figures like the Ninth Immortal King. The demonic realm is the Ancestral Court, backed by the Little Celestial Venerable. Behind the Netherworld stand the Four Netherworld Giants."
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden smiled. "That is only on the surface. Behind Weixu, I fear, lurks that entity laden with dense corpse qi. Nor are the four of us dead old gods the true force behind the Netherworld."
Xu Ying nodded gently. "I heard from Foolish Ah Fu that a group of mysterious Qi Refiners known as abyss watchers drove the corpse of Great Emperor Cangwu with divine whips, causing the Netherworld's invasion. Behind those watchers is Daoist Jade Pitcher of the Immortal Realm."
His eyes glinted. "Could that corpse-qi-laden entity behind Weixu also be an expert from the Immortal Realm?"
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden replied, "I do not know either. When I confronted him that day, I sensed he was not a living being but a corpse, subject to the domain of my Dao. Thus, I persuaded him to retreat without coming to blows. But had we truly fought, I might not have prevailed."
Xu Ying felt a shock in his heart.
Even with his Dao constrained by hers, he had still given the Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden the impression of being insurmountable. The origins of that corpse in Weixu had to be extraordinary.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, what is most crucial is that the demonic realm's invasion is utterly bizarre," the Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden reminded him. "Having entered the Ancestral Court, I found its world shattered, its lands torn apart, and its Heavenly Dao dilapidated and incomplete. It should have been impossible for it to invade other realms."
Xu Ying recalled the demonic realm's invasion of the Yuanchu Great World and said, "Yet against all reason, it happened."
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden said, "That is precisely what is so strange. I suspect that the demonic realm's invasion of the myriad heavens and worlds is much like the invasions of the Netherworld and Weixu—there are hands from the Immortal Realm pulling the strings. Someone in the Immortal Realm is likely orchestrating something monumental."
Xu Ying was stunned. He looked up at the sky.
The sky above Penglai was the sky of the Immortal Realm, peaceful and serene.
Yet far in the distance, a storm seemed to be brewing, its omen unknown.
Xu Ying drew back his gaze and escorted the Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden to the foot of the mountain. The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, you may stop here."
Xu Ying consulted her earnestly, "Female Emperor, I have one more question. When I left Kunlun all those years ago, did my parents escape Kunlun alive as well?"
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden nodded.
Warm hope surged in Xu Ying's heart as he pressed, "Are they still alive?"
The Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden hesitated, seemingly bound by taboo and unwilling to say too much. "They still walk this world. Where they are, however, I do not know. After my death, certain terrifying entities once borrowed my power to search for their whereabouts."
Xu Ying's heart surged with turbulent waves, taking a long while to calm.
"Aside from searching for them," the Reincarnation Mysterious Maiden continued, "the beings that descended from the Immortal Realm also borrowed my power to cast a curse of reincarnation upon the woman by your side."
Chapter 370