"Escape the other shore?"
Xu Ying could not fathom what he meant and hastily called out, "Fellow Daoist, are you on the other shore, trying to escape from it?"
His voice rang out, but there was no telling if the young monk heard him.
The young monk seemed frozen in time, motionless, tears glistening on his face.
His voice had been uttered long ago, reaching Xu Ying's ears only now. As for Xu Ying's voice traveling across, who knew when it would reach his ears—and by the time he made a response, who knew how much longer would have passed.
Xu Ying reached out a hand toward him, trying to see if he could grasp his hand, when suddenly the darkness shattered and crumbled apart.
Countless rays of light surged before Xu Ying's eyes as a bizarre force pulled him back, wrenching him from the illusion back into reality.
He watched as the peak of Mount Sumeru and the young monk drifted further and further away into the darkness. Shocked and bewildered, Xu Ying stood motionless for a long time.
*Was he warning me to escape the other shore, or was he asking me to help him escape it?* He could not understand why one would ever need to flee the other shore.
The Nuo methods as well as the newly emergent martial Dao were all built upon the foundation of the other shores. The Six Secret Depositories of the human body connected to six other shores in the void, using Nuo methods to hook immortal herbs from these six other shores to achieve longevity.
Meanwhile, the commoner Emperor Wu Chen Luo and the Ancestral Court's Little Celestial Venerable had opened the Other Shore of the Martial Dao, forging a seventh cave-heaven through martial spirit to reach that other shore and elevate their martial attainments.
Did escaping the other shore mean fleeing these places? But what danger could there possibly be on the other shores?
Furthermore, judging from his own Immortal Realm cave-heaven, Xu Ying even suspected that the Immortal Realm itself was a world of the other shore—only infinitely vast, far surpassing any of the others!
If this conjecture was correct, what danger could there be in the Immortal Realm?
Xu Ying carefully recalled the sight of the young monk, his heart stirring. *Wait! The summit of Mount Sumeru tore away from the mountain and carried the buddhas in the void straight into the darkness. Could the direction the summit flew toward be the other shore?*
He recalled what he had witnessed in the Great Thunderclap Temple. Before that scene unfolded, the radiance upon the buddhas had dimmed, their bodies covered in grime, clearly in an abysmal state.
Did this have any connection to ascending to the other shore?
Suddenly, a brisk knocking at the door interrupted his train of thought. Young Master Yuchuan's voice came from outside, smiling: "Demon Marquis, care to take a walk together?"
Xu Ying quelled his wandering thoughts, rose, and opened the door. He said to Master Fire Dragon and Han Zekang, "Stay here. I'm going out for a walk with Young Master Yuchuan."
Master Fire Dragon gave an acknowledging grunt, remaining seated without moving an inch.
Han Zekang was puzzled, sensing that his master's cultivation was skyrocketing at an alarming pace. Mysterious Dao sounds resonated from within his body, as though he were on the verge of entering the Dao.
*Master's natural talent really isn't high; the Dao methods and divine abilities he passed down to me are even fewer than what I've comprehended myself. Why did he suddenly have an epiphany today?*
He was thoroughly baffled. *Could Master be a late bloomer? But gaining enlightenment with one foot in the grave is a bit too late, isn't it?*
Master Fire Dragon's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, his Dao attainment climbing at a frightening pace. Little did Han Zekang know that inside his master's Realm of Xiyi were three Xu Yings, teaching his master while simultaneously refining the Huntian Cauldron. That was why his cultivation and Dao attainment were progressing at such breakneck speed.
Outside the Brahma Pavilion, Xu Ying and Young Master Yuchuan strolled side by side, admiring the scenic wonders of Mount Sumeru.
Mount Sumeru resembled a realm of immortals. Pavilions and terraces lined winding streams; in the distance, rainbow bridges spanned resting waves, while nearby bloomed immortal blossoms of celestial gardens. Immortal deer approached people without fear, and immortal cranes paid no heed to strangers. Primeval behemoths crouched amidst the mountain peaks, letting out deep, resonant roars from time to time.
Young Master Yuchuan gazed into the distance and said, "Mount Sumeru has an exceptionally ancient origin. Legend has it that it existed for untold tens of thousands of years in the primordial era. The sect here was known as the 'Buddha,' possessing vast supernatural powers. Later, it vanished overnight, leaving behind only the Great Thunderclap Temple. A civilization that once flourished so gloriously dissolved into smoke and mist just like that. It truly makes one sigh."
Xu Ying inquired, "Does Young Master Yuchuan know anything about the demonic realm invasion from forty thousand years ago?"
Young Master Yuchuan did not speak.
Xu Ying smiled and said, "Forty thousand years ago, the demonic realm was a scattered tray of loose sand, just as it remains today. It could not possibly have possessed the strength to invade the Taishi Great World.
"Back then, the demonic realm's Little Celestial Venerable was merely a young boy still wet behind the ears, lacking the boldness to invade the Taishi World. I've heard that during that demonic realm invasion, the alien Great Daos of heaven and earth actually originated from Mount Sumeru before spreading across the entire Taishi World."
Young Master Yuchuan smiled and said, "Is the Demon Marquis trying to say that someone deliberately manufactured the demonic realm invasion just to give God King Xuankong an opportunity to claim merit? Isn't your supposition a bit too audacious? Releasing the alien Great Daos of heaven and earth from Mount Sumeru to pollute the Taishi Great World, plunging the living beings into misery and leaving hundreds of millions dead or injured—who would dare do such a thing?"
Xu Ying's eyes gleamed as he said, "What if they did it to seize Mount Sumeru? What if this person had a titan of the Immortal Realm backing them?"
Young Master Yuchuan gave him a deep look and said, "You're referring to that immortal talisman that flew out of the Huntian Cauldron, aren't you?"
Xu Ying smiled. "I didn't say that."
Young Master Yuchuan drew a long breath and praised, "The Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Chu Tiandu—the foremost figure among the younger generation of the demonic realm. I have heard of your renown for a long time, and meeting you today confirms it is well-deserved!
"Indeed, Xuankong does have a titan of the Immortal Realm backing him. Regarding that demonic realm invasion back then, my Bai family also suspected that he deliberately unleashed the demonic dao of the ancient era to pollute heaven and earth. If he wanted to establish a foothold in this great world and occupy Mount Sumeru, he needed immense merit! The great merit of saving an entire world was enough to elevate his renown to the absolute zenith!"
Xu Ying said, "After that, it was only natural for him to entrench himself atop Mount Sumeru."
Young Master Yuchuan replied, "Unfortunately, although the Bai family holds such suspicions, we cannot produce any evidence."
Xu Ying said, "As long as we find the place where he released the ancient demonic dao back then, we can uncover proof. I believe that location must be related to the Great Thunderclap Temple!"
Young Master Yuchuan pondered for a moment, then praised him once more. "Chu Tiandu truly lives up to his reputation! Back then, after Xuankong occupied Mount Sumeru, he immediately moved the Great Thunderclap Temple away from the summit. If he was indeed responsible for what happened, that location must be connected to the Great Thunderclap Temple!"
Xu Ying smiled and said, "If Young Master Yuchuan is interested, we could explore the original site of the Great Thunderclap Temple together."
"Not interested!" Young Master Yuchuan refused flatly.
Xu Ying was slightly taken aback, unable to grasp his reasoning.
Young Master Yuchuan said indifferently, "Brother Chu may have misunderstood, thinking my Nine Heavens Dao Sect holds a grudge against Mount Sumeru, or that the Imperial Monarch harbors enmity toward the titan behind the God King.
"In truth, that is not the case. The Imperial Monarch and that existence share a relationship of competition as well as cooperation—striving without breaking. To them, any struggle in the lower realms is merely a game."
Xu Ying understood his meaning and said, "Merely a game. Winning or losing within the game does not affect the relationship between them."
Young Master Yuchuan smiled. "Only this is the breadth of mind of great figures."
Xu Ying sighed. He had thought Bai Yuchuan would make a fine kindred spirit, but now it seemed that was not so.
*The lives of hundreds of millions of living beings are nothing more than the outcome of a game to titans of their stature.*
An indignation welled up in his chest, difficult to voice, along with an ambition that could find no release.
It turned out that what was rotten was not merely the Heavenly Dao!
Young Master Yuchuan looked out over the vast and boundless landscape of the Taishi Great World and spoke leisurely, "The reason I invited Brother Chu out for a meeting was not for this. My true goal is Brother Chu himself. Chu Tiandu, the demonic realm is no paradise. Its heaven and earth are fractured, and the Great Dao is absent. With your talents, staying there would only squander your potential. Why not join me? What I can offer you is far more than just this realm!"
He paused, then added languidly, "I can also rid you of your demonic status and make you an immortal!"
"Not interested!" Xu Ying refused flatly.
Young Master Yuchuan's expression darkened.
Xu Ying said indifferently, "Young Master Yuchuan may have misunderstood, thinking that becoming an immortal holds immense appeal for me. In truth, immortality doesn't mean a damn thing to me. The longevity you all crave is nothing but torture to me. As for being a demon or an immortal, it's merely a difference in name."
Young Master Yuchuan smiled and said, "Chu Tiandu possesses unyielding pride, which I deeply admire. Since that is the case, I will not force you. I have heard that Brother Chu cultivates the six secret depositories; I would very much like to witness them."
Xu Ying laughed. "You wish to test them?"
Young Master Yuchuan smiled. "I once laid an ambush at Hunyuan Palace hoping to kill your master, the Little Celestial Venerable. Regrettably, someone disrupted it, so I missed the chance to witness your master's magnificent grace. Since chance brings us together today, why not let me witness the caliber of the demonic realm's foremost talent right here on Mount Sumeru?"
Xu Ying laughed. "Your Nine Heavens and Ten Earths technique is also exceedingly subtle; I've witnessed a single move of it, and it was quite extraordinary. I would love to experience the Imperial Monarch's techniques and divine abilities as well."
Tension crackled between the two, the atmosphere growing increasingly oppressive.
Suddenly, beneath the Brahma Pavilion, the crowd stirred. The sect masters and leaders who had come to attend the assembly and observe the ceremony all surged toward the same direction.
"Hua Wuyang, the sect master of the Great Compassion Sect, is dead!" someone shouted.
"Hua Wuyang was fine just a moment ago, but when he turned around, he had turned into a human skin!"
Xu Ying and Young Master Yuchuan both felt a jolt in their hearts, each dispersing their killing intent. Young Master Yuchuan said, "Brother Chu, we shall spar another day!"
At the mention of "human skin," Xu Ying's fighting spirit evaporated completely. He said, "My thoughts exactly. How about we go take a look together?"
The two immediately leaped down from the Brahma Pavilion and rushed in the direction of the surging crowd.
A sea of people had already gathered there. A youth lay prostrate on the ground, weeping bitterly, while before him stood an emaciated old man. The elder was looking at the crowd in bewilderment, asking with a smile, "Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this? Why are you all gathered here? Good disciple, why are you crying so hard?"
He was completely oblivious to his own death, standing there hale and hearty, conversing normally with the people around him.
Yet Xu Ying sensed a familiar aura emanating from his body—the aura of an obsessive thought.
Xu Ying quickly moved behind him and reached out, tugging down the collar of the Great Compassion Sect Master's robe. Sure enough, a slender beam of light shone out from beneath his skin.
Xu Ying drew a sharp breath and muttered, "A fisherman..."
Young Master Yuchuan stepped forward and demanded of the Great Compassion Sect Master, "Hua Wuyang, did you cultivate Nuo methods and open the six secret depositories?"
Xu Ying surveyed the surroundings and said in a grave voice, "The six secret depositories you obtained were passed down from Kunlun. The six secret depositories of Kunlun harbor a hidden trap; they are not an orthodox method!"
The Great Compassion Sect Master laughed. "Of course. Doesn't everyone cultivate the six secret depositories? They spread throughout the world long ago."
He smiled and added, "In our Taishi Great World, which sect doesn't have an immortal watching over it from above? Who would dare use Nuo methods to harvest us like leeks?"
Young Master Yuchuan sighed, thrust his hand into the back of the man's neck, reaching straight inside his body, and said, "Hua Wuyang, haven't you realized it yet?"
He withdrew his hand.
The Great Compassion Sect Master froze and hurriedly reached behind his neck. It felt just like touching a sheet of skin—the inside was completely empty, with a slit through which his hand could slip right in.
His face turned deathly pale, and he mumbled, "I'm already dead, aren't I? Am I dead?"
Someone beside him could not bear it and blurted out, "That's right! You're already dead! Someone hollowed out your body, leaving you nothing but a human skin!"
Hearing this, the Great Compassion Sect Master sighed. Suddenly, his body seemed to deflate like an emptied balloon, turning into a limp human skin that drifted to the ground.
With the truth pointed out to him, his obsessive thought dispersed, and he died completely.
Young Master Yuchuan swept his gaze across the surroundings and suddenly called out in a loud voice, "Everyone, if you have cultivated the Six Secret Depositories of the Human Body, touch the back of your head! Beware lest you have fallen victim without even knowing it!"
As soon as he spoke, panic erupted through the crowd. Countless people raised their hands and reached for the backs of their necks.
Suddenly, one person's hand sank into the back of his neck; another's fingers slipped straight into the back of his skull. Horrified cries rang out one after another: "Does that mean... I'm dead too?!"
"When did this happen? How could I not know I was already dead?!"
"Who ate me?!"
Cries of shock and interrogation rose continuously. In the blink of an eye, lives that had been vibrant and animated just moments before withered, collapsing into limp human skins one after another.
At that moment, a mountain wind swept across the peak of Mount Sumeru. Those human skins did not fall to the ground, but rather drifted away with the wind, fluttering like paper figures dancing their limbs in the air, indescribably eerie!
The Taishi Great World possessed a complete heritage of the Immortal Dao, and those who had gathered here were sect masters, leaders, and masters of their factions, possessing profound foundations and deep attainments.
Yet, silently and without a trace, over a hundred great masters had been harvested!
Xu Ying drew in a cold breath as well. The Taishi Great World had harvesters too, and the method of harvesting bore an uncanny resemblance to the style of the Yuanshou world!
However, the fishermen of the Yuanshou world should have all been wiped out!
Young Master Yuchuan murmured in a low voice, "In recent years, no one has been able to become an immortal. For the sake of longevity, everyone cultivates the Six Secret Depositories Nuo methods, which has greatly extended their lifespans—some can even live for twenty thousand years.
"The cultivation and strength of these sect masters had long since rivaled immortals. Someone just devoured over a hundred immortals..."
Xu Ying exhaled a breath of turbid air. Devouring over a hundred immortals—this person's cultivation and strength had to be terrifying in the extreme!
Many people fell into sheer panic and wanted to flee, but at that moment, the voices of the gods of the Four Realms of Sumeru resonated from the sky: "By order of the God King, until the whereabouts of the Huntian Cauldron are uncovered, no one may leave Mount Sumeru! Any who attempt to do so will be slain without mercy!"
Xu Ying's heart stirred. God King Xuankong was forbidding anyone from leaving the mountain, which meant Mount Sumeru had become that fisherman's harvesting ground!
He scanned the crowd. That fisherman was hiding right among them!
*If this is raising gu, this place will surely produce a Gu King far more terrifying than the master of the Mud Pill Palace!*
Chapter 382