"Brother, are you also heading to Mount Sumeru to attend the sacrificial grand ceremony?"
Xu Ying was gazing out into the distance when a voice suddenly called out to him. Looking back, he saw an old man and a youth riding the wind toward him.
The elder had wide, fluttering sleeves and an utterly bald head with not a single hair, sporting only a pair of bony nodules on his forehead. The youth, on the other hand, appeared lively and handsome.
"The sacrificial grand ceremony?"
Xu Ying's interest was piqued. With a smile, he replied, "Indeed. I'm also heading there to attend and watch the rites. May I ask which famous mountain you two fellow Daoists hail from?"
The youth smiled. "We're from Divine Vulture Palace. My name is Han Zekang, and this is my master, Master Fire Dragon."
Though rather unsightly, the bald elder was good-tempered enough. "Young man, which sect do you belong to?"
Xu Ying did not hide anything and answered truthfully, "Mount Shu Sword Sect. My name is Xu Ying."
Master Fire Dragon pondered carefully, but had never heard of such a sect. Still, the Taishi Great World was boundless, and countless immortals hailed from it; Mount Shu Sword Sect was likely just a minor faction tucked away in some obscure corner.
Han Zekang said in bewilderment, "Xu Ying is not a good name at all! Why would you take such a name, brother?"
Xu Ying asked in surprise, "What's wrong with this name?"
Han Zekang and Master Fire Dragon looked at him with even greater astonishment. Master Fire Dragon did not bother to answer, but Han Zekang was far more eager to talk. "Has no one ever told you that Xu Ying is the name of a Great Villain? That scoundrel severed the heavenly road, cutting off everyone's path to ascension! You wouldn't believe how despised he is! Countless people curse his name every single day—who would dare share it?"
Xu Ying stared wide-eyed and stammered, "It's... probably just a coincidence..."
"Of course it's just a coincidence! It's not like you could actually be that Great Villain!"
Han Zekang patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Brother Xu, no wonder you're heading to Mount Sumeru alone with no sect members by your side. Everyone knows your name brings bad luck and fears being dragged down with you. You're lucky you ran into us from Divine Vulture Palace—anyone else would have beaten you black and blue seven or eight times already!"
Xu Ying hastily offered his thanks.
Master Fire Dragon said, "Since Mount Shu Sword Sect doesn't care for you, you can follow us up the mountain. But whatever you do, don't go around telling people your name is Xu Ying. When ten thousand people point fingers in condemnation, one dies without sickness. Anyone named Xu Ying who lacks immense merit never lives to adulthood! Are you fourteen or fifteen?"
Xu Ying mumbled, "Fourteen..."
Master Fire Dragon shook his head, looking at him as though he were a lost cause.
Han Zekang felt quite sympathetic toward Xu Ying. "Once we reach the mountain, we'll find you a deity skilled in fate and destiny to change your name and alter your fortune."
Xu Ying expressed his gratitude again and followed the pair up into the sky. Along the way, many experts from other prestigious sects passed by, riding dragons and phoenixes, traveling in luxurious perfumed carriages, jeweled palanquins, painted barges, and multi-decked pleasure boats of the utmost opulence.
Those without such extravagant conveyances rode their swords or manifested auspicious clouds and radiant glows. Very few traveled simply by riding the wind like Xu Ying and the pair from Divine Vulture Palace.
Seeing that Xu Ying seemed inexperienced, Han Zekang chattered incessantly throughout the journey, pointing out a dragon rider as the young sect master of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and a phoenix palanquin as belonging to the princess of the Fire Phoenix Kingdom. Although Divine Vulture Palace was not a major sect, it was thoroughly versed in the affairs of other factions and could list their details with effortless familiarity.
Han Zekang even knew which immortal in the Immortal Realm had founded each sect and possessed an exhaustive knowledge of their protective immortal artifacts, speaking with great fluency and authority. As for the centennial sacrificial grand ceremony on Mount Sumeru, the central sacred mountain, Han Zekang proved even more loquacious.
"This mountain originally had no master, and no one dared lay claim to it," Han Zekang explained. "But over forty thousand years ago, God King Xuankong descended from the heavens and occupied it. Only then did the divine mountain gain a lord."
Xu Ying's heart stirred slightly. *God King Xuankong? The one occupying this mountain is a God King, not an Immortal King?*
He breathed an inward sigh of relief. An Immortal King's cultivation and strength were simply too formidable. Without Penglai Immortal Realm backing him up and with his Six Secret Depositories still unrecovered, seizing the cauldron atop the peak would make escaping alive far from certain.
Yet if his foe was merely a God King, there was no need for such caution.
He had fought God King Xuanhao before; back then, Xuanhao had been an invincible adversary in his eyes. But now, with his enhanced cultivation, all three thousand Heavenly Dao runes collected, and three Immortal King artifacts serving as his backup realms, even Xuanhao at his peak might not be his match!
*Xuankong must have been one of the God Kings who ambushed me back then, taking my Cross-Refinement stage realm and refining it into a magic treasure,*
Xu Ying gazed toward the mountain summit, musing silently, *Once we get a little closer, I will reclaim that treasure and kill Xuankong to avenge my past!*
Mount Sumeru was colossal beyond measure, practically forming a world of its own that influenced the very rotation and flow of the Taishi Great World.
The southern slope alone spanned hundreds of thousands of li. From its highest elevations to its lowest reaches, it experienced all four seasons, traversed by rivers, lakes, and even placid inland seas where azure waves rolled and fish and dragons swam together.
Thirty-four kingdoms dotted the southern slope, each boasting hundreds of millions of people.
The eastern, western, and northern slopes each held dozens of kingdoms as well, with populations no smaller than that of the south.
Following the master and disciple of Divine Vulture Palace over the southern slope, Xu Ying saw that the mountain was divided into Four Realms from bottom to top. In each realm, a sun god drove a Golden Crow chariot, hauling a blazing fireball that cast divine light across the land.
The sun god of the first realm pulled the sun from east to west around Mount Sumeru in a complete circuit, while the sun god of the second realm pulled it from west to east. And so it continued, repeating endlessly in alternating cycles.
The mortals living on the mountain did not answer to secular sects, nor did they revere immortals; they worshipped only gods. As a result, the nations here were essentially divine kingdoms. Unbroken incense smoke qi sustained the gods of the Four Realms, birthing deities of terrifying might.
"The Mount Sumeru sacrificial grand ceremony is held once every century, inviting sects across the Taishi Great World to attend, and every sect offers a stick of incense at the rites," Han Zekang said, gesturing toward the pilgrims climbing the mountain. "For this grand ceremony, envoys from every kingdom on Mount Sumeru set out long in advance, making an arduous pilgrimage to the summit to worship the supreme Heavenly Dao treasure. Some with weaker cultivations must fly for an entire year just to reach the top!"
Surprised, Xu Ying looked toward the massive cauldron radiating layered divine light at the summit. "You mean the treasure at the mountain peak is a Heavenly Dao supreme treasure?"
Han Zekang nodded. "The Heavenly Dao supreme treasure, the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron! There are countless wondrous legends surrounding it. It is said that forty-eight thousand years ago, God King Xuankong brought it down from the Sumeru Realm into the mortal world. Using this treasure to refine fiends and slay evils while gathering the faith of all living beings, the God King finally forged it into a supreme divine weapon."
Listening to the tale of the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron, Xu Ying found himself drawn in.
The Taishi Great World had once suffered an assault by heavenly fiends, bringing catastrophe upon Mount Sumeru. The gods of the Four Realms had used this very treasure to fend off the otherworldly evils and protect the Sumeru Realm.
"Six thousand years ago, the Taishi Great World suffered another invasion from a demonic realm. The Heavenly and Earthly Great Dao shifted violently, nearly transforming our world into a realm of demons!"
Han Zekang sighed at the recollection. "Back then, God King Xuankong marched to battle in person to refine and purify the demonic dao. This Heavenly Dao treasure accompanied him through countless fierce battles to slay demons and defend the righteous path."
Master Fire Dragon added, "That is why the people of the Four Realms make the pilgrimage to the mountain peak every hundred years—partly to worship God King Xuankong, and partly to offer sacrifices to the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron in honor of their contributions. The various sects of the Taishi Great World also send representatives to witness the rites and commemorate their merits."
Realization dawned on Xu Ying. "So that's how it is."
Just then, a colossal stone statue caught his eye. Most of it was buried within the mountain rock, leaving only a large portion of its head exposed, yet it remained as massive as a mountain range.
The statue wore a compassionate expression with eyes closed, seemingly unable to bear the sight of the mortal world's suffering.
"What statue is that?" Xu Ying inquired.
The master and disciple glanced over. "A relic from an ancient era. It seems to be called a statue of the Buddha."
Master Fire Dragon said, "Originally, an ancient temple also stood atop Mount Sumeru—another relic of that ancient era, apparently called Great Thunderclap Temple. God King Xuankong found the dilapidated monastery an eyesore, so he relocated the entire ruin to the Kingdom of Huoluo ahead. We'll be able to see it shortly when we fly over."
Sure enough, before long, they flew over Huoluo and spotted a vast, ancient ruin.
Looking down, Xu Ying saw that Great Thunderclap Temple was surrounded by thousands of golden shrines, though most had collapsed and fallen into disrepair.
He descended and arrived outside Great Thunderclap Temple, looking up at its horizontal plaque. The ancient temple was deep, quiet, desolate, and devoid of any sign of life.
Han Zekang called down from above, "Brother Xu, hurry up! The grand ceremony has already begun on the mountain!"
Xu Ying shouted back, "I'll just take a quick look and join you right away!"
He lifted his gaze toward the distant peak three thousand li away, where golden halls gleamed, divine light blazed, and incense smoke coiled.
*A distance of three thousand li is perfect for me to cast a spell and seize the Heavenly Dao supreme treasure, the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron!*
Raising his brows, Xu Ying stepped into Great Thunderclap Temple. Inside lay a Golden Dragon Pool, though its water had dried up, leaving behind a sprawling skeleton—undoubtedly a golden dragon that had perished of thirst right there in the pool.
Xu Ying waved his hand gently, and in an instant, the pool filled with clear water like a bright mirror.
Leaning over the surface, the water reflected his face, but beneath the surface, the exact scene atop Mount Sumeru appeared!
At the summit, incense smoke qi burned with boundless fervor. The rulers of the one hundred and eight kingdoms of the Sumeru Realm led envoys, princes, and nobles in presenting cattle, sheep, and slaves as sacrifices to the gods of Sumeru.
The gods of Sumeru were modeled after the gods of the Heavenly Dao—Three Hundred and Sixty Heavenly Gods of the Zhou Sky in all, each bearing a unique appearance and wielding tremendous divine power. Yet the grandest part of the ritual was the sacrifice to the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron.
The ceremony had already begun. The one hundred and eight rulers and tens of thousands of envoys created a scene of staggering scale, incense smoke curling thick as they worshipped the divine cauldron. Midair, roaring fire formed a vast sea of flames, while churning water formed a surging ocean, the two intertwining in balance.
The fire was Samadhi true fire, capable of incinerating anything; the water was Samadhi divine water, capable of dissolving anything. From this union of water and fire was born a divine cauldron that neither burned nor dissolved, nurturing a Golden Core—the genesis of the immortal dao.
Seeing the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron rise slowly from the ocean of fire and water, the rulers prostrated themselves in worship, and tens of thousands of envoys knelt and kowtowed toward the divine cauldron. One by one, the heavenly gods of Mount Sumeru also bowed, chanting praises of the Heavenly Dao supreme treasure's mighty power to guard the world and protect mortals.
The deities' chants were deafening. Amid the resonance, the cattle, sheep, and slaves offered by each kingdom burst apart with dull thuds, turning into clouds of blood mist. The vital essence of millions of living beings rose with the mist, surging directly into the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron.
Wherever the bloody light shone, Heavenly Dao runes emerged, covering the cauldron's surface.
The cauldron radiated an ever-expanding Heavenly Dao majesty. Reaching its zenith, its aura carried the intent to swallow heaven and earth; the starry sky above the peak of Mount Sumeru began tumbling toward the cauldron's mouth!
The stars trembled, gradually drawn closer to the summit!
Watching this magnificent spectacle, representatives from the other major sects of the Taishi Great World felt secretly appalled.
The master and disciple from Divine Vulture Palace stood in the air, watching from afar. Master Fire Dragon murmured, "The Heavenly Dao supreme treasure of Mount Sumeru has already surpassed the Heavenly Dao divine artifacts of the Heavenly Dao world. Such power is truly peerless—nothing can suppress it!"
Han Zekang wondered aloud, "If Mount Sumeru's treasure is this powerful, can the Heavenly Dao world truly tolerate it? To me, its might clearly exceeds their Heavenly Dao divine artifacts, posing a direct threat to the majesty of the Heavenly Dao gods! Besides, Mount Sumeru forming its own world mirrors the layout of the Heavenly Dao world. If I were a God King there, I certainly wouldn't tolerate the Sumeru Realm."
Master Fire Dragon shook his head. "What do you know? God King Xuankong's origins are extraordinary. Back then, he too hailed from the Heavenly Dao world and achieved great merits, yet was banished to the mortal realm. For him to establish a foothold in our Taishi Great World and occupy its greatest sacred mountain without someone backing him—he would have been wiped out long ago!"
Han Zekang took a sharp breath. "If the gods of the Heavenly Dao world dared cast God King Xuankong down to the mortal realm, they must have had backing from someone in the Immortal Realm. And if God King Xuankong has backing as well, doesn't that mean there are open and covert struggles even within the Immortal Realm?"
Master Fire Dragon shot him a glare. "Knowing too much brings misfortune. Mind your tongue, lest reckless talk invite disaster."
Han Zekang shuddered, bowing respectfully. "Master's reprimand is just."
Composing himself, he called downward once more, "Brother Xu, hurry up! The grand ceremony has already begun! Brother Xu?"
Waiting a moment without receiving an answer, he said, "Master, I'll go down and call him!"
Master Fire Dragon said uneasily, "Evil entities once haunted Great Thunderclap Temple; it is an ominous place. Let's go together, lest he run into something unholy."
The two flew downward.
Meanwhile, the citizens of the one hundred and eight divine kingdoms of the Sumeru Realm were also offering worship to the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron. Plumes of incense smoke qi traversed hundreds of thousands of li, rising like pillars of smoke.
The power of the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron surged, its Heavenly Dao runes shining ever clearer.
The chants of the populace grew louder and more frenzied. The starry sky twisted under the pull of the divine cauldron, stars slowly plunging toward its interior. Startled by the escalating display of power, Master Fire Dragon and Han Zekang looked up, thoroughly shaken.
Right at that moment, the sky shook violently!
An incomparably colossal face covered the sky above Mount Sumeru. Its eyes resembled the sun and moon, bearing down upon the mountain through the heavens!
The sight was horrifying beyond measure, carrying suffocating pressure!
Next, the sky shattered with a thunderous crack as an immense hand reached through, instantly blanketing the summit of Mount Sumeru as it grabbed toward the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron!
Furious, the gods of Mount Sumeru soared into the sky, unleashing all manner of divine weapons against the reaching hand and the all-encompassing face. Born from the incense of the Sumeru realms, they possessed the qualities of heavenly gods, and their strikes resonated with the tones of the Heavenly Dao.
Yet in the next breath, the sky over Mount Sumeru blazed with blinding radiance as three thousand Heavenly Dao runes unfurled like a scroll, instantly blanketing the heavens!
The Great Dao boomed!
All three hundred and sixty gods of Mount Sumeru grunted in pain, defeated in an instant as their dharmic powers fell into chaotic disarray, sending them crashing in every direction!
Master Fire Dragon and Han Zekang stood frozen, staring up in a daze at the colossal face that filled the sky.
Han Zekang whispered, "Master, do you think that face looks like Brother Xu Ying?"
"It does..." Master Fire Dragon nodded repeatedly. "They're equally dark-skinned. But Xu Ying should be inside Great Thunderclap Temple!"
The two exchanged a glance and hurriedly flew into Great Thunderclap Temple. Before they even reached the courtyard, they saw Xu Ying standing beside a pool of water, gazing at his reflection while reaching one hand into the water, seemingly grasping at something submerged within.
Chapter 377