"There are not as many fishermen in the Taishi Great World as there were in the Yuanshou world," Xu Ying reflected silently as he looked around at the shocked sect leaders and patriarchs. "The fishermen of the Yuanshou world harvested one another, so they had to remain constantly on guard against each other, treading with extreme caution. They dared not get injured, for an injury meant death. When they hunted, they calculated meticulously, waiting for their prey to be wounded before making their move. They tried to reap the greatest profit at the lowest possible cost.
"The Taishi Great World, however, has been shielded far too well by the immortals. Thus, the fisherman here has no need to be as cautious as those in Yuanshou. A fisherman's purpose is simply to devour the fish—this person does not need to wait until the fish are wounded; he can consume them straightaway."
Right now, Mount Sumeru had become an Asura battleground with no way in and no way out. The powerhouses of every sect were gathered here, devoid of any immortal artifact's protection. It was the ideal hunting ground for a fisherman!
*As long as he devours everyone on the mountain who cultivates the six secret depositories, he can leap to become the most powerful being in the Taishi Great World. Overcoming the tribulations and ascending would be child's play!*
Xu Ying thought to himself, *Could this person be an acquaintance from my Yuanshou world? Reasonably speaking, there are no fishermen left in the Yuanshou world. It should be impossible for any fisherman to escape from Yuanshou.*
After all, the Master of Mud Pill Palace had carried out a thorough purge, completely wiping out the fishermen and leek harvesters!
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Chu Tiandu! It's that Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Chu Tiandu! Only after he arrived did a fisherman who harvests others appear among us! He belongs to the demon race—he must be that fisherman!"
Pairs of suspicious eyes immediately locked onto Xu Ying. A white-haired elder declared in a deep voice, "Indeed! The Nuo method heritage of our Taishi Great World has never run into any trouble. No one has ever dared to fish in our Taishi world. Yet in the brief time since Chu Tiandu arrived, chaos has erupted repeatedly! Now more than a hundred top experts have died—it's hard to believe this isn't a demon race conspiracy!"
In an instant, public fury ignited:
"Kill him! Avenge our fallen Daoist companions!"
"Demonic scoundrel harboring evil intent—everyone has the right to execute him!"
Xu Ying suddenly burst into booming laughter, resonant as a grand bell, making everyone's vitality churn violently.
His laughter grew louder and louder, his voice carrying the Dao resonance of the Ancestral Court's Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. To Xu Ying, the sound felt entirely ordinary, but to the people of the Taishi Great World, it was an alien demonic Dao!
The moment this Dao resonance rang out, it instantly disrupted everyone's cultivation, throwing their vitality into disarray, distorting their Dao phenomena, and giving rise to swarming inner demons!
Even the immortal Daos they had comprehended could not protect them!
The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth around Xu Ying underwent an aberration, and the grass, flowers, and trees twisted in their growth along with it!
Xu Ying abruptly reined in his aura. Only then did the surrounding Great Dao of Heaven and Earth return to normal, though the flora remained contorted. He said impassively, "What I cultivate is the Great Dao of the demonic realm. Of what use would your cultivation and flesh be to me? The cultivation you treasure like jewels is nothing more than manure to me."
Witnessing the warped scene wrought by the demonic realm's Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, the crowd knew his words were true.
He practiced the demonic Dao, whereas the people of the Taishi Great World practiced the orthodox Dao. Their Great Daos of Heaven and Earth were different, so harvesting them would offer Xu Ying no benefit whatsoever!
Xu Ying swept his gaze across the crowd and said slowly, "The fisherman who is devouring you is actually hiding right among you." He raised a finger and pointed randomly at someone. "It could be him."
Suspicious glares immediately shot toward that person. The man's face turned ashen, and he hastily shouted, "It's not me! Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, don't you make groundless accusations!"
Ignoring him, Xu Ying shifted his finger toward another person. "It could also be him. Or perhaps her!"
His finger pointed from one prominent figure of the Taishi world to another. Every person singled out turned pale and argued vehemently in self-defense.
"This fisherman could be anyone beside you—your friend, a Daoist companion you call a brother! It could even be your lawfully wedded wife, an old acquaintance, your disciple, or your teacher! The only person it cannot be is me."
Xu Ying looked across the crowd and said leisurely, "This person has planned this for a very long time, allowing flawed Nuo methods to spread throughout the Taishi Great World without ever harvesting you. But now, here on Mount Sumeru, the time for the harvest has finally come! If you cannot leave Mount Sumeru, you can only forfeit your lives to his hands."
He turned and walked away, leaving the crowd frozen in place.
Everyone frowned in silence.
In an instant, suspicion and mistrust took root and spread within their hearts. Glances met only to pull away immediately. Without a word, the crowd dispersed in different directions. Even disciples and their masters now treated one another like strangers.
They no longer trusted anyone.
Young Master Yuchuan suddenly barked, "Gao Xuanzong! Qi Tongshang! Dong Yu! Gao Wencai! Dai Fusheng! Zhou Youzhi! Tao Furong! Le Yuan! Stay behind!"
The names he called belonged to the sect masters of the sects founded by the nine Immortal Kings of the Taishi Great World.
Nine Immortal Kings had emerged in the Taishi Great World across history, leaving behind nine sects filled with masters and commanding immense influence. Yet all nine sects had to answer to the Jiutian Dao Sect's commands, for the Jiutian Dao Sect's patriarch was the Imperial Monarch!
Nine figures approached from various directions and gathered behind him. The masters of the nine Immortal King sects bowed one after another. "At your command, Young Master Yuchuan."
Young Master Yuchuan instructed, "This fisherman's attack is directed against our Jiutian Dao Sect, directed against my Bai family. Act with prudence and keep watch all around. If you discover anyone suspicious, report to me at once!"
Gao Xuanzong said, "Young Master, who can say whether this fisherman is among the nine of us?"
Young Master Yuchuan's brow furrowed slightly.
Qi Tongshang smiled. "The fisherman could be any of the nine of us—or it could be you, Young Master."
Young Master Yuchuan's heart sank a little. He glanced around and saw that the looks the nine directed at him were thick with mistrust. Clearly, Xu Ying's words had stripped even these nine sect masters of their usual calm composure.
"Chu Tiandu's words are laced with poison, and all of you have swallowed it."
Young Master Yuchuan suppressed his irritation and smiled. "You have forgotten who I am. I am a descendant of the Imperial Monarch. You fight tooth and nail for a single ascension slot, trying every possible method to bolster your strength against the heavenly tribulations, but my ascension requires only a single word from the Imperial Monarch. Why would I need to harvest you to build up strength against heavenly tribulations?"
With these few words, he dispelled the suspicions of the nine sect masters.
The nine exchanged glances and quietly withdrew.
Young Master Yuchuan breathed a sigh of relief. These nine possessed formidable strength; if they were to lose faith in him over a single comment from Xu Ying, it would be a tremendous loss.
"Chu Tiandu! With a few words, you divided everyone and drove them apart, making it all the easier for the fisherman to strike! Truly, your demonic nature runs deep!"
Young Master Yuchuan's eyes flickered as he looked toward the direction Xu Ying had left, murmuring, "Since you cannot be used by me, I will simply have to seize your six secrets ancestral method and that Immortal Realm cave-heaven!"
Xu Ying strolled leisurely back to the Brahma Pavilion, showing none of the tension gripping the others.
Inside the pavilion, Master Fire Dragon let out a breath of relief upon seeing him return. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Ying quietly shot him a glance. Master Fire Dragon understood. Within his Realm of Xiyi, his Primordial Spirit spoke to Xu Ying's three Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits: "Young Master Xu, what is going on out there? Why were over a hundred sect masters devoured by someone?"
The yellow-robed Xu Ying was naturally lively and chuckled, "Merely a fisherman who specializes in harvesting Nuo Immortals. That person has been hiding among us, biding his time to claim lives, and he already harvested many people before anyone caught on!"
Master Fire Dragon paced back and forth, full of worry. "What are we supposed to do? My Divine Vulture Palace is down to just me and A-Kang. If we die, our lineage will be extinct..."
The yellow-robed Xu Ying comforted him, "Don't worry. Divine Vulture Palace won't go extinct. I've seen sects wiped out before, only for their immortal masters in the Immortal Realm to manifest and choose new disciples to inherit their legacy. After you master and disciple die, your ancestral master will surely pick another successor."
Master Fire Dragon grunted, feeling that Xu Ying might as well have offered no comfort at all.
The white-robed Xu Ying was the most composed and said, "You need not worry. God King Xuankong already knows who this person is; they won't come harvesting our heads."
Master Fire Dragon froze, bewildered. "How could God King Xuankong know who the fisherman is?"
"Mount Sumeru forms its own realm, and God King Xuankong commands its Heavenly Dao. The tribulation fates of everyone who entered Mount Sumeru are within the God King's grasp!"
The white-robed Xu Ying continued, "He need only inspect these people's tribulation fortunes to know their cultivation. The fisherman's cultivation must be the strongest among everyone present, aside from myself, Bai Yuchuan, and Xuankong! To identify that person is to identify the fisherman."
Master Fire Dragon's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands in delight. "Then that person is doomed! Wait, no! If God King Xuankong knows who it is, why hasn't he dragged him out already?"
The green-robed Xu Ying was the most malicious of the three and smiled faintly. "Aside from Mount Sumeru, every immortal sect in the Taishi Great World is a vassal of the Imperial Monarch. Those harvested on the mountain represent a weakening of the Imperial Monarch's power. The more people harvested, the greater the loss to the Imperial Monarch's faction. Once panic peaks, Xuankong can step in to quell the turmoil, earning immense merit and gathering countless prayers of incense! Striking at the Imperial Monarch's forces while expanding his own influence—why wouldn't he do it?"
Only then did the other two understand.
In the Taishi Great World, apart from Mount Sumeru, all other places deferred to the Jiutian Dao Sect. The Jiutian Dao Sect was the true ruler of the Taishi Great World!
The fisherman harvesting the major sects clearly dealt a blow to the Jiutian Dao Sect while expanding Mount Sumeru's sway!
The yellow-robed Xu Ying said, "The fisherman will certainly seize the time to harvest more. When enough people have died, the various sects won't be able to resist trying to leave Mount Sumeru. Before long, our chance to leave this place will come. Master, be prepared."
Master Fire Dragon's heart tightened.
Xu Ying's words carried two meanings: first, the fisherman would continue harvesting the experts gathered here; second, the sects would inevitably clash with Xuankong!
Just then, a voice called out from outside the Brahma Pavilion: "Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Zi Xi, a disciple under God King Xuankong, has come to pay his respects."
Xu Ying rose and opened the door. Standing outside was a youth clad in purple, handsome and fair-skinned, carrying himself with refined courtesy. He said, "This humble one has long heard of the Demon Marquis's great name. The other day, I saw you defeat the masters of the various sects with effortless ease, and I could not help but admire you. Mount Sumeru has been busy with trivial affairs, and since I was in charge of the sacrificial ceremony, I had no free time. Now that the ceremony has fallen through, I finally have the chance to pay a visit."
Xu Ying smiled. "Daoist Companion Zi Xi is too polite."
Acting quite familiar, Zi Xi smiled and said, "This humble one has long heard that the Purple-Robed Demon Marquis, Chu Tiandu, cultivates the supreme method among Nuo methods. Once mastered, all six secret depositories open, freeing one from birth, old age, sickness, and death. Demon Marquis, during your duel against Bai Yuchuan, why didn't you employ the six secret depositories?"
Xu Ying replied, "To deal with Bai Yuchuan, why would I need the six secret depositories?"
Zi Xi said eagerly, "The Demon Marquis's six secret depositories are unmatched under heaven, so there was indeed no need to show them. That cave-heaven you used was an Immortal Realm cave-heaven, wasn't it? Even more brilliant! Could the Demon Marquis demonstrate the six secret depositories and the Immortal Realm cave-heaven just once to broaden this humble one's horizons?"
Xu Ying shook his head. "Since the six secret depositories are called 'secret,' how could they be shown so casually to others?"
The smile vanished from Zi Xi's face. He said impassively, "Back in the demonic realm, when I was defeated by the Demon Marquis, he flaunted his six secret cave-heavens before me to show off. Yet today, you put on an expression as if you don't even remember me. So... who on earth are you?"
Master Fire Dragon's heart pounded wildly. *Disaster! Young Master Xu has been seen through! We're finished! His notorious reputation precedes him—he's probably reviled even more than the fisherman!*
Xu Ying's expression remained serene as a gentle breeze. He chuckled and said, "Back then, you lost to the Purple-Robed Demon Marquis and saw his six secret cave-heavens. You must have taken the bitter lesson to heart, racking your brains to find a way to defeat him. In the end, you finally found one. Harvesting the guests who arrived for this gathering was the solution you devised, wasn't it?"
Master Fire Dragon stood dumbfounded, his scalp tingling. *God King Xuankong's disciple is the fisherman?!*
Han Zekang walked over and asked, "Master, what should I make for lunch?"
Master Fire Dragon turned his head with great difficulty. "Good disciple, you don't need to cook my lunch. Your master might never need to eat again."
A smile returned to Zi Xi's face as he watched Xu Ying.
Xu Ying remarked leisurely, "Your actions seemed flawless, leaving behind no traces. But to someone well-versed in the Heavenly Dao, your cultivation is plain to see at a glance. You swallowed more than a hundred great experts, stripping away their secret depositories and cave-heavens. With your cultivation and strength advancing by leaps and bounds, you came to boast before me, didn't you?"
Zi Xi smiled. "So, you are well-versed in the Heavenly Dao?"
"I understand a little more than your master, Xuankong," Xu Ying said with a smile.
Zi Xi chuckled softly. "In that case, you are Xu Ying? And the Water-Fire Huntian Cauldron fell into your hands?"
Xu Ying stepped toward him and praised, "You are so clever, Zi Xi. I'm afraid you might die young."
In an instant, his aura locked onto Zi Xi. His Third Heavenly Pass, Jade Pool, and Twelve-Storyed Mansions operated in full swing, elevating his cultivation to its very peak!
Zi Xi's face changed abruptly. He instantly felt a pressure several times—even ten times—heavier than Chu Tiandu's, and he hastily retreated, speaking warily: "Xu the Great Fiend truly lives up to his name; fierce and vicious indeed. For today's matter, why don't we both take a step back? You won't say I'm the fisherman, and I won't say you are Xu Ying. Just pretend I was never here—how about it?"
Xu Ying's momentum did not relent in the slightest. Pressing forward step by step, he asked, "Zi Xi, have you ever seen a young monk in the Great Thunderclap Temple, trapped in the darkness?"
Zi Xi's expression shifted, and he blurted out, "You saw him too?"
Xu Ying looked at him intently. "Did you hear what he was crying out?"
Zi Xi shook his head. "I only saw the illusion and that young monk when I stumbled into the Great Thunderclap Temple by mistake."
Xu Ying frowned slightly and asked, "Back then, what did your master, Xuankong, dig up in the Great Thunderclap Temple that triggered the demonic realm's invasion?"
Zi Xi answered, "A Buddha. A living Buddha!"
Chapter 383