An uproar broke out among the crowd, all eyes turning toward Xu Ying. "The Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Chu Tiandu! How dare he come to the Taishi World? Is he not afraid of death?"
Master Fire Dragon and Han Zekang in particular nearly cried out in shock. They had traveled together with Xu Ying, believing all along that he was a disciple of the Mount Shu Sword Sect. Who would have thought he was someone from the demonic realm!
"You little demonic whelp!" Han Zekang glared furiously at Xu Ying.
The great catastrophe of the Taishi World back then had been caused by an invasion from the demonic realm, which threw the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth into abnormal mutation. That upheaval had been extraordinarily bizarre. Not a single expert from the demonic realm had physically invaded the Taishi World, yet the mere mutation of heaven and earth's Great Dao had plunged the living beings of the Taishi World into utter misery. Had God King Xuankong not intervened, it was entirely possible that the Taishi World would have faced total extinction!
One could well imagine the depth of hostility the Taishi World bore toward the demons of the demonic realm!
Xu Ying immediately sensed killing intent rolling in from all directions. Countless people wanted to kill him, and even Master Fire Dragon and Han Zekang emanated waves of murderous intent.
'If so many experts swarm me all at once... just how long will it take me to slaughter them all?'
Xu Ying was kindhearted after all. He immediately broke into hearty laughter: "The Qi Refiners of the heavens and myriad realms went to our Ancestral Court to burn, kill, and plunder! Even so, when people came to challenge me, Chu Tiandu, the experts of our Ancestral Court never made things difficult for them! Little did I expect that upon Chu's arrival in the Taishi Great World, you would all clamor for my blood. Could it be that you, who boast of walking the righteous path, cannot even match the magnanimity of the demonic realm? How laughable!"
His voice was not loud, yet it suppressed everyone else's voices, allowing nearly everyone throughout the Sumeru Realm, from top to bottom, to hear him with utter clarity, displaying astonishing magical cultivation!
Countless immortal sects of the Taishi Great World had already arrived atop the summit, among them sect leaders, masters, and reclusive old monsters. Hearing his voice, their hearts grew solemn.
"What vigorous cultivation this Chu Tiandu possesses! No wonder he's hailed as the foremost figure of the younger generation!"
Suddenly, a handsome youth rushed forward with a howling wind, shouting, "Our Taishi Great World naturally possesses magnanimity, but we will never permit a demon like you to run rampant!"
The youth possessed vigorous qi and vast combat experience. As he charged, his Primordial Spirit emerged. His Primordial Spirit and physical body activated Dao techniques simultaneously; immortal light rippled around him, and ethereal immortal qi formed a divine power resembling a sky-filling rain of blossoms!
Behind him, multiple cave-heavens spun, pushing his aura to the absolute peak!
Behind Xu Ying, Han Zekang cheered loudly: "This must be Senior Brother Wen Nanxuan of the Celestial Master Sect! The Heavenly Flower Dao Domain of the Celestial Master Sect will surely slay this demon marquis!"
Bang!
Before his words had even settled, Wen Nanxuan's sky-filling rain of flowers shattered completely. What shattered even more miserably than the rain of blossoms were the youth's bones. Xu Ying had countered with a palm strike, but not knowing the opponent's cultivation, he had failed to rein in his strength sufficiently. Wen Nanxuan's bones crackled and exploded into pieces throughout his entire body, and he flew backward like a lump of mud!
What shattered even more thoroughly than Wen Nanxuan's bones were the six cave-heavens behind him.
Though Xu Ying's cave-heavens were riddled with holes by the immortal insect, his mastery of the ancestral method remained intact. In the same moment his palm struck Wen Nanxuan, his five fingers danced, flicking and springing as they severed all six of Wen Nanxuan's cave-heavens!
Xu Ying had opened the Immortal Realm cave-heaven. Though he had not directly summoned it forth at this moment, it belonged to the Crimson Palace cave-heaven, which augmented heart power and enhanced physical strength to an incomparable degree! His might was simply too immense—as he severed those six cave-heavens, he also shattered them into dust!
Behind Xu Ying, Master Fire Dragon roared in fury: "Fiend! How dare you ruin someone's cul—"
A furious roar cut Master Fire Dragon off: "Fiend Chu, you dare ruin someone's cultivation!"
Another figure lunged forth, face flushed with fury, soaring into the air. In an instant, his aura surged to the absolute peak.
This man acted with domineering aggression. His Primordial Spirit towered behind him, and the cave-heavens formed by the six secret depositories revolved around it. From midair, his momentum bore down directly upon Xu Ying!
He stomped his feet toward Xu Ying's head, actually attempting to crush Xu Ying beneath his heels!
This was an utter humiliation; if stepped on, Chu Tiandu's lifetime of prestige would likely be destroyed in a single stroke.
Han Zekang's eyes lit up, and he hurried to say, "What fine skill this brother has! That must be Senior Brother Fan Yue of the Lotus Sect, right? Senior Brother's Wrathful Golden Lotus Art blossoms beneath the feet, and refining the evil demon Chu Tiandu will surely—"
Crack! Snap!
Both legs of Lotus Sect's Fan Yue snapped clean off. Spitting blood, he flew backward even faster than he had come, crashing into the crowd.
Xu Ying had still employed only the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth from the Ancestral Court, without the slightest technique or divine power from the heavens and myriad realms. It was just that his strike had still been a bit too heavy: not only were Fan Yue's legs broken, but the six cave-heavens behind him were also shattered to pieces.
Xu Ying felt surging waves of power rolling through his body one after another. Since refining the Immortal Realm cave-heaven, he had not yet fought. Now that he struck, he only felt an endless stream of heart power flowing from the Crimson Palace secret depository, refining into every part of his body. Combined with the Xu family's ancestral method, it was truly becoming increasingly domineering!
'My Immortal Realm cave-heaven... I can't control my strength properly! If I lose control any further...'
His expression shifted slightly, and he hurried to shout, "Don't come any closer! I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back and will beat you all to death!"
Behind Xu Ying, Master Fire Dragon raged, "Chu Tiandu, don't you dare—"
Yet another person pounced forward, shouting in a booming voice, "Chu Tiandu, cease your arrogance!" The bellowing voice drowned out Master Fire Dragon's words.
Han Zekang's eyes lit up and he rapidly said, "Senior Brother Fa Tianhua of the Divine Empyrean Sect! Senior Brother Fa Tianhua's Great Divine Empyrean Lightning Art..."
Xu Ying opened his mouth wide and inhaled forcefully, swallowing the sky-filling Divine Empyrean Heavenly Lightning whole into his maw. He then opened his mouth and roared! Blood sprayed from Fa Tianhua's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, his internal organs completely shattered. Dazed and broken, he tumbled to the ground in the distance, his fate unknown!
Xu Ying felt the power pouring from the Immortal Realm cave-heaven growing increasingly immense and harder to suppress. With a casual wave of his hand, he slapped a great expert of the Taishi World charging at him—person and magic treasure alike—straight into the earth, causing Mount Sumeru to shudder with a resounding boom.
"Senior Brother Tian Lei of the Xuantian Sect..." Before Han Zekang could even finish, Tian Lei of the Xuantian Sect was already sent flying backward, crashing into the crowd and knocking dozens of people off their feet!
"The Nine Empyreans Sect's—" Han Zekang started.
Bang!
Gao Jinghua of the Nine Empyreans Sect was struck with all four limbs shattered, collapsing flat on the ground.
Behind Xu Ying, Master Fire Dragon summoned his Primordial Spirit. Clusters of fiery light and talismans soared around him. Stamping his foot, the master shouted, "Evil demonic obstacle! Begone! Begone! Begone!"
Just as he shouted this, Shen Baiyu—who had charged forward intending to settle old scores with "Chu Tiandu"—was hurled before him, limbs mangled and twisted.
Xu Ying frowned deeply. He sensed that when driving an immortal dao cave-heaven with the ancestral method, something felt strange; the heart power was growing increasingly uncontrollable, and he had nearly crushed Shen Baiyu to pulp.
'It might be that the Xu family's ancestral method paired with the Immortal Realm cave-heaven is too powerful...'
"Everyone, stop coming!" Xu Ying shouted. "If anyone else comes at me, I will truly start killing people!"
"Insolence!" Master Fire Dragon trembled with rage. "You fiend, have you no respect for heaven or earth?!"
Han Zekang hurriedly tugged at Master Fire Dragon's lapel and whispered, "Master! Master! Stop talking! Haven't you noticed the way our martial brethren are looking at us is a bit strange?"
Master Fire Dragon was startled and quickly looked around. Sure enough, the people of the Taishi Great World were regarding them with bizarre looks, full of suspicion, scrutiny, and hostility!
"I think they suspect the two of us are Chu Tiandu's accomplices," Han Zekang murmured under his breath. "One of us stands behind Chu Tiandu naming these people's backgrounds and techniques, while the other stands behind him casting spells. Could our martial brethren think we're in cahoots with Old Demon Chu?"
Master Fire Dragon shivered. "That can't be, right?"
Right at that moment, an incomparably formidable aura erupted. A middle-aged man strode forward, his mighty momentum immediately suppressing the other young experts who were preparing to charge.
This middle-aged man was none other than Shen Baiyu's master, Gao Xuanzong, Valley Master of Sword Washing Valley. Seeing his disciple injured, he was enraged and stepped forward.
He cast a glance at Master Fire Dragon and Han Zekang, sneering, "Demonic dogs! Bah!"
Master Fire Dragon was infuriated and roared, "Gao Xuanzong, who are you cursing? How on earth did I become a demonic dog? Explain yourself clearly today, or I'm not finished with you!"
Han Zekang quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him back as he whispered, "Master, if you fight Gao Xuanzong right now, we really will be demonic dogs!"
Gao Xuanzong, Valley Master of Sword Washing Valley, looked away from the two of them and addressed Xu Ying: "Chu Tiandu, I would like to test your skills."
"Bah! Shameless!" Master Fire Dragon spat heavily and mocked, "You, Gao Xuanzong, belong to the older generation, yet you challenge Chu Tiandu, who is a generation below you? How utterly shameless! Since when did our Taishi Great World become so brazenly thick-skinned?"
Han Zekang's face turned deathly pale. 'It's over. Divine Vulture Palace will probably be wiped from the Taishi World. I wonder if our patriarch in the Immortal Realm will pack his bags and flee overnight?'
Gao Xuanzong's face darkened. Turning to leave, he sneered, "Master Fire Dragon, Lord of Divine Vulture Palace, has actually defected to the demonic realm, willingly serving as the lapdog of the Purple-Robed Demon Marquis! Little Celestial Venerable must have promised you boundless riches and glory, eh? I shall burn incense at once and report this to the immortal master of my Sword Washing Valley!"
Han Zekang's heart lurched. 'Disaster! The patriarch of Divine Vulture Palace is truly going to sever ties and abandon the palace overnight! Why are Master and I so unlucky as to run into this jinx, Chu Tiandu...'
Seeing Valley Master Gao withdraw, Xu Ying breathed a sigh of relief as well and smiled. "Valley Master Gao is an expert. Had you clashed with me, I truly feared I would not be able to control my strength and beat you to death by mistake."
Gao Xuanzong's hands trembled, fine wisps of sword qi darting chaotically behind him and filling the air. He nearly lost control and struck out right then and there.
Suddenly, a voice rang out with a chuckle: "The Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Chu Tiandu, truly lives up to his reputation. Valley Master Gao, endure it for a moment. Do not let the demonic realm mock us for lacking courtesy."
Hearing this voice, Gao Xuanzong let out a breath and smiled. "Young Master Yuchuan speaks the truth."
Xu Ying looked over and saw a youth in brocade robes approaching with a smile. He was exceptionally handsome and refined, with features like polished jade, fair skin, and an air of noble elegance.
Behind him stood a towering deity whose incense smoke qi connected directly to Mount Sumeru, exuding an unfathomable divine might.
'God King Xuankong!'
Xu Ying's heart tightened with solemn vigilance. One possessing such unfathomable divine might was without a doubt God King Xuankong. He had exchanged a blow across the distance with God King Xuankong earlier and escaped only by good fortune. Facing Xuankong now, he could not help feeling somewhat tense.
Just how high this God King's strength reached, he had no clear measure; he even suspected that Xuankong's might might exceed that of the two Immortal Kings of Weixu!
'To have God King Xuankong accompany him, just what background does this Young Master Yuchuan have?' Xu Ying wondered inwardly.
Young Master Yuchuan smiled and said, "Brother Chu, my surname is Bai, given name Yuchuan. Some days ago, I also paid a visit to the demonic realm, but regrettably failed to meet you. I heard that you comprehended the Eight Desolations Sun Refining Furnace, a divine power that no one in the demonic realm had fathomed for over forty thousand years. Just now, I did not see you use this divine power. Might I have the privilege of experiencing it?"
Xu Ying raised his palm. Fiery light flared in his hand, and an Eight Trigrams Furnace manifested hovering before his palm, miniature and delicate. Within the furnace, flames blazed fiercely, and sun, moon, and stars traversed through the fire.
Looking closely, one could see countless details: fire dragons, fire phoenixes, surging waves, fiery trees, Golden Crows, and various other wondrous phenomena!
Young Master Yuchuan took on a solemn expression and also raised a palm, a cluster of primordial qi billowing within his hand.
The palms of the two collided across the void. The Eight Desolations Sun Refining Furnace blew apart with a roar. Behind Young Master Yuchuan, a hum suddenly vibrated, and the phantom projections of nine tiers of heavens appeared!
The nine heavens held nine lands, and together with the Taishi Great World beneath his feet, they formed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
With the power of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths empowering his body, Bai Yuchuan's palm strike was exceptionally ferocious and domineering. Xu Ying's Third Heavenly Pass, Immortal Dao Jade Pool, and Twelve-Storyed Mansions each sprang into motion, yet his breath was still nearly scattered and his vital energy churned violently from the shock!
Hum—
Behind Xu Ying, a gigantic cave-heaven suddenly manifested. Immortal qi from the Immortal Realm cascaded down through the cave-heaven, its immortal radiance illuminating the world and lighting Mount Sumeru with brilliant splendor!
"What cave-heaven is that?" In an instant, the people across Mount Sumeru peered over, unsettled and bewildered.
"The cave-heaven of that little demonic whelp from the demonic realm must connect to the other shore of the demonic path!"
"Indeed! Powerful though the cave-heavens of these demons may be, their Dao hearts are certainly inferior to our cave-heavens!"
"I've heard that our cave-heavens and secret depositories have flaws and can easily be harvested like leeks..."
"Who would dare harvest us like leeks? Are they not afraid of our patriarchs in the Immortal Realm?"
"That's true as well."
Bai Yuchuan stared blankly behind Xu Ying, his heart thumping wildly. 'An Immortal Realm cave-heaven! It really is an Immortal Realm cave-heaven! The person the Imperial Monarch told me to find is the Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Chu Tiandu!'
God King Xuankong also looked toward the Immortal Realm cave-heaven behind Xu Ying, surprise surfacing on his face. Clearly, he recognized the extraordinary nature of this cave-heaven.
Xu Ying suppressed his surging vital energy and blood, swiftly withdrawing the Immortal Realm cave-heaven. Looking nonchalant, he said, "Young Master Yuchuan is truly extraordinary; your cultivation is admirable. I, Chu Tiandu, have traversed the realms all my life and encountered countless experts, but you are the first who could fight me to a draw."
Inwardly, he was profoundly shaken. In that brief, probing clash just now, he had noticed that the Dao methods and divine powers Bai Yuchuan employed were specifically designed to target the Dao methods of the Ancestral Court!
Xu Ying had just employed the Dao methods of the Ancestral Court, yet the moment they met, they had been suppressed, countered, and even broken through by the opponent!
Bai Yuchuan praised, "It is Little Celestial Venerable who is truly extraordinary. What I used was a cultivation technique imparted by the Imperial Monarch. As Little Celestial Venerable's disciple, you were actually able to withstand this strike of mine. It seems Little Celestial Venerable indeed possesses combat power that surpasses an Immortal King!"
Xu Ying narrowed his eyes. 'A technique imparted by the Imperial Monarch? This man is the successor of the Imperial Monarch!'
From the battle on the Heavenly Road, to the demon-suppressing runes that had imprisoned him, to the deaths of the four giants of the Netherworld—behind all of them lay the involvement of the same existence: the Imperial Monarch! Even Xu Fu's ascension tribulation on Mount Kunlun being usurped was tied to the Imperial Monarch!
'This Imperial Monarch might very well be my enemy!'
Xu Ying took a deep look at Bai Yuchuan and smiled. "How about we call this battle a draw?"
Bai Yuchuan smiled faintly. "Brother Chu is a guest from afar. There is indeed no need to decide victory or defeat. A draw it is."
God King Xuankong extended a hand in invitation and chuckled. "Though Brother Chu is of the demons, you are magnificent and fearless, even daring to enter Mount Sumeru. Since you are our guest, I trouble Brother Chu to offer a stick of incense to the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron."
Xu Ying followed him toward the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron and laughed. "I only fear that the God King's Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron cannot bear this stick of incense of mine."
Chapter 379