Xu Ying watched him walk away into the distance, lost in a daze.
The other three Xu Yings hurried over, and Xu Huangying said, "We haven't lost! If the three of us joined in, who knows who would have won!"
Xu Shangying shouted, "That's right! If we had used One Qi Three Purities, it would have been four of us ganging up on him! How could we have lost?"
"We lost!" Xu Aiying wailed, weeping bitterly. "If we joined in, we'd have lost even faster!"
"Shut up, all of you! Say another word and I'll choke you to death!" Xu Baoying's voice snarled from Xu Ying's mouth.
Xu Liying sneered sinisterly, "What good is choking them to death? If you kill them, the six-character seal will just return into our body, so it accomplishes nothing. In my opinion, we should use sealing arts to seal them away."
Xu Nüeying's voice trembled with excitement. "Seal the core self away too! The three of us can be the masters!"
"Shh—keep it down," Xu Ying said, his expression bizarre.
Though the voices argued fiercely, Xu Ying's true self fell into silence.
What Huang, Shang, Ai, and Bao said was true. If he had been in his peak state without the Dao wound holding him back, and if he hadn't been dragged down by Huang, Shang, and Ai so that he could cast One Qi Three Purities, he would have had the strength to battle Ding Simu on equal footing even if Ding Simu hadn't slashed away his own cultivation.
Yet Ding Simu hadn't been wrong either. Among the divine powers and Dao arts Xu Ying wielded, none belonged to himself.
The only thing that truly belonged to him was the six Immortal Realm cave-heavens.
That was his own pioneering achievement!
However, the six Immortal Realm cave-heavens were meant to elevate cultivation—raising it across six dimensions: physical body, spiritual consciousness, primordial qi, yin and yang, heart power, and soul power—allowing a mortal to possess the combat strength of an Earth Immortal.
Beyond that, what else did he have?
The five great treasures floating behind him were merely transformed from the realms of his first life. The Dao arts and divine powers he cast—the Gourd Heaven Dao Verification Scripture, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Demon-Breaking Art—all belonged to others.
Even the Taiyi Inborn Technique had been left behind by his first life!
As for his various divine powers, such as the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Guidance, the Eight Methods of the God of War, the Eight Desolations Sun Refining Furnace, the Zhuxian sword qi, and even One Qi Three Purities, they all originated from someone else.
The Heavenly Dao divine powers and the Heavenly Dao domain were not his, either. The Heavenly Dao had formed naturally and had nothing to do with him; he was merely its discoverer and user.
Where was his own creation?
Without anything of his own, without his own techniques, without his own Great Dao, what was he? A tool to recite the Dao arts of others?
Xu Ying rose to his feet and limped into the distance, his mind adrift in confusion. *What is truly mine? What is my path?*
In the sky above, an immortal raft drifted along. A woman clad in red sat upon it, the raft gliding in sync with Xu Ying's movement below.
Little Joy Immortal whispered, "Even the Frontier Immortal King couldn't bring him down. His strength has recovered quite fast. Still, among those groups who smuggled themselves down to the mortal realm, there are still a few formidable unaffiliated cultivators who haven't made their move yet."
Xu Ying wandered in a daze, unknowingly passing through the Dao Revelation Ground.
Near the Qingyang Palace in the Dao Revelation Ground, numerous Ancestral Court Qi Refiners were refining a dragon-headed, irregularly structured Heaven-Mending Divine Artifact. They intended to activate this treasure and launch it into the sky to bring order back to the chaotic Great Dao of Heaven and Earth around Dao Weeping Pass.
Earlier, Xu Ying had restored the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth in the Dao Revelation Ground, but Dao Weeping Pass covered a vastly larger expanse. The Heaven-Mending Divine Artifact had to be deployed before the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth there could be restored.
"Marquis!"
Hu Zhuojun caught sight of Xu Ying and waved her arm enthusiastically, overcome with excitement.
Xu Ying cast her a glance, utterly uninterested.
Hu Zhuojun hurriedly nudged the waist of Chu Tiandu beside her, exclaiming, "Tiancheng, your brother Chu Tiandu is here! We've been looking for him for so long! You don't have to impersonate the Purple-Robed Divine Marquis anymore!"
The two of them appeared every bit like a couple.
Back when various factions had plotted against Little Celestial Venerable, Hu Zhuojun and Chu Tiandu had bustled about together, staying aboard the same ship. Later, when Little Celestial Venerable issued the expulsion order against the experts of the myriad worlds, the two of them had also hurried to hunt down those foreign powerhouses.
They spent far more time together than apart. Over the days, mutual affection had blossomed between the handsome youth and the beautiful maiden, and in time, romance had naturally developed.
Later, when Little Celestial Venerable forged the Heaven-Mending Divine Artifacts, they had both volunteered to assist, drawing them even closer.
Chu Tiandu gave a muted grunt, thinking to himself, *When did I ever impersonate anyone? Still, now that Patriarch Ah Ying is here, my title as the Purple-Robed Divine Marquis will probably ring out even louder.*
Seeing Xu Ying look sickly and downcast, ignoring their greetings, the two felt bewildered.
Hu Zhuojun ran over and said with a smile, "Marquis, your brother Tiancheng is right over there. Why aren't you acknowledging him? Come, let's activate the Heaven-Mending Divine Artifact together!"
She grabbed Xu Ying's hand, pulling him forward so forcefully that he stumbled along after her toward the artifact.
Chu Tiandu looked at Xu Ying and mumbled, "Brother Marquis..."
Behind Xu Ying, the three Xu Yings following him bared their fangs and glared at Chu Tiandu with hostile eyes. At this moment, Ai, Shang, and Huang occupied Xu Ying's primary body, while Li, Bao, and Nüe had been driven out.
"Why is Grandmaster glaring so fiercely?" Chu Tiandu muttered softly, feeling deeply wronged.
Hu Zhuojun had no time to ponder why Xu Ying seemed so dejected. She busied herself alongside the other Ancestral Court Qi Refiners, trying to stimulate the various Dao imprint patterns on the Heaven-Mending Divine Artifact.
They had been toiling for quite some time, yet they still could not get the artifact airborne.
Some Qi Refiners hauled over hefty tomes. A portion of the texts had been written by Xu Ying, while others were in Zhu Chanchan's handwriting.
Back in the Ziwei Remnant Realm, Xu Ying had relied on his understanding of the Ancestral Court's Great Dao to help Little Celestial Venerable reconstruct the various Dao arts in the Hunyuan Palace secret realm, as well as the missing parts of magic treasure fragments.
When Zhu Chanchan forged these Heaven-Mending Divine Artifacts, she had also referenced the notes Xu Ying left behind.
"You weren't in the Ancestral Court all these years, so you wouldn't know—Tiancheng has been acting under your name the whole time," Hu Zhuojun said to Xu Ying as she worked. "Fortunately, Tiancheng is quite capable and never blew his cover."
Chu Tiandu offered Xu Ying a fawning smile.
Hu Zhuojun continued, "Little Celestial Venerable recruited an extraordinarily skilled Heavenly Craftsman from the myriad worlds named Zhu Chanchan to help forge these divine artifacts. The notes she wrote are just far too complicated, so we can't figure out the right sequence to activate this artifact..."
She had studied it for a long time, yet remained utterly baffled.
Xu Ying cast a brief glance at the dragon-headed artifact and remarked casually, "This treasure was forged by integrating the Dao patterns and principles of the Dragon Head Scripture, the Spiritual Terrace Remnant Scripture, the Seven Stars Lamp remnant artifact, and the Five Luminaries Huntian Diagram. Activating it is simple. First do this, then do that, and after that, like so..."
As he spoke, he tapped along the artifact, lighting up its Dao patterns one by one. With a thunderous roar like a dragon's cry, the Heaven-Mending Divine Artifact hummed and slowly ascended into the air.
The artifact released resonant notes of the Great Dao, harmonizing with the fractured Dao of Heaven and Earth.
Far away, other Heaven-Mending Divine Artifacts suspended above the Ancestral Court resonated with this dragon-headed treasure. Their Dao principles linked together, radiating a profound and majestic aura of the Dao.
As their principles formed a unified expanse, they repaired the Great Dao of the Ancestral Court. Rays of rosy light blanketed the sky, and from the mountain ranges below, spiritual energy of heaven and earth welled up, nourishing the rivers and all living things.
Hu Zhuojun, Chu Tiandu, and the others craned their necks upward, staring in awe. When they finally came to their senses and looked back, Xu Ying was already gone.
A sense of loss washed over them.
Hu Zhuojun murmured, "The Purple-Robed Divine Marquis truly lives up to his reputation. Tiancheng, you're still a cut below him."
Chu Tiandu gave a muted grunt and said, "Zhuojun, I think it might be better if I just remain myself."
Hu Zhuojun's eyes lit up, and she smiled. "You realized it too? These days, I could tell that impersonating the Purple-Robed Divine Marquis put enormous pressure on you. If you make a name for yourself as Chu Tiancheng, you can forge an extraordinary reputation of your own, not a bit inferior to Purple-Robed Divine Marquis Chu Tiandu!"
She said enthusiastically, "You don't need to live in the Marquis's shadow!"
Deep within Chu Tiandu's soul, an immense shadow loomed.
However, other areas of the Ancestral Court still needed mending, and with no time to search for Xu Ying, they hurried off toward their next destination.
Before he knew it, Xu Ying arrived outside the Zhenwu Temple. The Turtle and Snake Divine Generals stationed there invited him inside.
A lean, distinguished Daoist carrying a long sword on his back said to Xu Ying, "Fellow Daoist Xu, the last time you visited my temple, you offered incense to me. But how could one fellow Daoist offer incense to another? I dared not accept it, so I had the incense moved outside. Please forgive me. You appear troubled by some knot in your heart. Would you care to speak of it?"
Xu Ying, somewhat absentminded, replied, "I am searching for my own Dao, yet I wander aimlessly without knowing where to turn."
The lean Daoist smiled. "I see. Such a trial is an inevitable step for all seekers of the Dao. That you are about to embark upon this path is something to celebrate. Why not stay here for a few days? You might find what you seek."
Thus, Xu Ying stayed at the Zhenwu Temple.
The lean Daoist was none other than the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Patriarch, also known as the Dark Heaven Sovereign, Imperial Monarch Zhenwu, Demon-Subduing Heavenly Venerable, and True Monarch Yousheng. The Turtle and Snake Divine Generals were gods under his command.
He did not bother Xu Ying, but his disciple, Young Master Ningqing, waited until no one was around before sauntering over with a grin. "Xu Ying, I'm a rebel in the Ancestral Court now!"
Xu Ying sat by the pond watching the fish swim. Hearing this, he looked up and cast him a glance.
Young Master Ningqing said, "I joined Imperial Monarch Zhenwu's tutelage to cultivate the Dao arts and divine powers of the Ancestral Court under him. Over this period, I have achieved the simultaneous cultivation of immortals and demons, advancing both immortal and godhood together. My cultivation and strength far surpass what they were before."
He could not help boasting, "I have already found a path suited for myself: cultivating the immortal Dao on one hand, practicing the Great Cavern Creation Returning to Origin Scripture from the Returning Dao Jade Platter on the other, while studying under Imperial Monarch Zhenwu. I even possess a supreme treasure, the Returning Dao Jade Platter! My future achievements will certainly eclipse yours!"
Xu Ying said, "Everything you learn belongs to others. You merely pick up the crumbs of their wisdom. Not a single thread of it is your own path."
"As long as I can beat you, that's enough!" Young Master Ningqing declared with boundless confidence, completely untroubled by such concerns.
Xu Ying's eyes welled with tears, and he choked up. "I knew it. These days, I'm mostly useless."
Young Master Ningqing was taken aback, realizing Xu Ying had relapsed into his old ailment and turned pitifully sorrowful.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, he said, "I heard from the Great Emperor that you've already reached the stage of searching for your own path, which means you're progressing faster than me. I'm still just a student, so I'm still beneath you, aren't I?"
"Really?" Xu Ying looked up with tearful eyes.
Young Master Ningqing replied, "Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you?"
Xu Ying suddenly grinned triumphantly. "So you're admitting you're inferior to me? I really am formidable!"
Young Master Ningqing stared in stunned silence.
Xu Ying's spirits soared, plunging into an uninhibited, absurd mood as he laughed. "Since I am this formidable, why should I worry about failing to comprehend my own path? Why indulge in self-pity?"
With Xu Huangying taking the lead, he became utterly brash and unscholarly. Yet the wild persona did not maintain control for long before sorrow reclaimed dominion. Xu Ying burst into wails again, and this time, Young Master Ningqing offered no comfort.
That night, wind and thunder suddenly raged outside. Borne upon the storm, three ancient Primordial Spirits descended upon the Zhenwu Temple. Imperial Monarch Zhenwu hurried out to receive them in person, bowing deeply. "Fellow Daoist brothers, it has been a long time!"
The leader was True Monarch Tianpeng, also known as the Azure Heaven Sovereign or Imperial Monarch Cangtian. He was the foremost of the Four Sages, standing above the other three in status and possessing the greatest divine power.
"Since the Great Dao fell silent and the Ancestral Court was destroyed, sixty myriad years have passed without us meeting," Imperial Monarch Cangtian said. "To think that when the Four Sages reunite today, we are all merely awakened Primordial Spirits, treated as pawns in others' struggle for power and profit. It is truly lamentable."
Imperial Monarch Zhenwu replied, "I have encountered that person and exchanged blows with him. His strength is extraordinarily profound, but he hides his head and shrinks his tail, refusing to show his true form or reveal his genuine methods."
Great Emperor Tianyou Puhua asked, "Is he a figure from our era? A native of the Immortal Realm, or an ancient soul from the Ancestral Court?"
Imperial Monarch Zhenwu shook his head. "He did not use his true arts, so I cannot tell his origin. However, obsessing over the one who revived us is secondary. The waters of the Immortal Realm run deep; there are figures lurking beneath the surface."
As they spoke, a sorrowful, aggrieved crying drifted from within the Zhenwu Temple. The three sages exchanged glances, each showing surprise.
Imperial Monarch Zhenwu hastily explained, "The one weeping is Fellow Daoist Xu Ying, the very one who wreaked havoc across the Ancestral Court back then, throwing the world into chaos. Do you recall? My Turtle and Snake Divine Generals once tried to suppress him, but failed to catch him and had to seek help from the divine generals under your command."
"So it is him," Imperial Monarch Cangtian and the others murmured in realization. "Why is he weeping so bitterly?"
Imperial Monarch Zhenwu replied, "He wishes to forge a path of his own, yet cannot see where the road lies, and thus wallows in self-pity. Over these past few days, he weeps, then laughs, then weeps again, as though mad."
True Monarch Yisheng Chuqing asked, puzzled, "Has he not already found his path? I recall he was immensely powerful back then."
Imperial Monarch Zhenwu said, "The him of that lifetime was killed. Heaven knows how many reincarnations have passed since. In this lifetime, he does not wish to tread the path of his first life, which is why he is consumed by despair and plagued by inner demons. We once traveled a similar journey of the heart; once crossed, smooth plains lie ahead."
Imperial Monarch Cangtian said, "Now that my Primordial Spirit is revived, I intend to visit the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court to see the Ancestral God. Perhaps I can receive guidance from the Ancestral God and secure a future for us. Having attained this revival, we must not let this opportunity slip by!"
He paused, then added, "Allowing Xu Ying to remain here is not a solution. He might as well accompany me. I hear the Ancestral God has also been looking for his whereabouts."
Imperial Monarch Zhenwu agreed.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian went to find Xu Ying, only to see him glaring ferociously, muttering curses under his breath.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I trust you have been well? In the Yuanzheng World, you and Qingbi once stopped before my tomb to pay your respects."
Recalling his visit to the tomb alongside Fairy Qingbi, Xu Ying instantly regained his refined and courteous demeanor, bowing slightly. "So it is you, Brother Daoist. For the past few days I have been in a muddled stupor, losing my senses. I have made a fool of myself before you."
Imperial Monarch Cangtian smiled. "I held high regard for Qingbi, so I left behind a copy of the Supreme Dongyuan Cangdi Heart Scripture to form a good affinity. I am bound for the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court. Having heard that you are currently trapped in a predicament, if you do not mind, you may come with me to pay audience to the Ancestral God. The Ancestral God possesses boundless divine abilities and might help you break through your present impasse."
Hearing this, Xu Ying responded delightedly, "How could I dare refuse... Shut up, all of you shut up! This Daoist brother isn't trying to harm us—"
Seeing him arguing fiercely with empty air, Imperial Monarch Cangtian thought in bewilderment, *This affliction of his doesn't look like the eve of a breakthrough at all.*
Chapter 451