"Foul Taoist..."
Imperial Monarch Cangtian possessed quite a mild temper, yet as he stepped back, a trace of chagrin colored his voice. "Fellow Daoist Xu, they're here for you!"
Xu Ying walked forward and noticed that this batch of unaffiliated immortals from the Immortal Realm differed somewhat from the earlier groups.
Their cultivation was significantly higher than that of the first and second groups, their auras were vast and robust, they carried more immortal artifacts, and their garments were noticeably more resplendent.
In particular, the two unaffiliated immortals leading them possessed an air of authority far grander than ordinary wanderers, to say nothing of their cultivation. One glance was enough to tell they had held high stations for a very long time and had once served as officials in the Immortal Court.
Aboard the immortal raft above, Xiao Xixian peered down at the scene and murmured, "When the scent of meat catches the wind, the first beast to rush over is always one that has tasted meat before. Only unaffiliated immortals who once held office in the Immortal Court care so deeply about regaining their official posts, far more desperate than anyone else!"
She felt absolute confidence in this encirclement. The unaffiliated immortals below came from the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals—a gathering ground established by immortals who, for various reasons, had been stripped of their ranks and dismissed from the Immortal Court.
The immortals of the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals had always looked down on those who had never held official titles, regarding them as mere rabble of the wilderness and scorning to converse with them, much less associate with them.
Even unaffiliated immortals were divided into tiers, and the immortals of the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals were of the first tier!
Xiao Xixian mused to herself, "Leading the immortals from the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals this time are the two Immortal Kings, Tian Lingfeng and Hua Wuyang. Both once served under Celestial Venerable Xue. When Celestial Venerable Xue fell from grace and was driven from court, he went into seclusion in the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals. Although the two followed him there, their hearts have been restless, yearning to seize this opportunity to reenter the Immortal Court!"
Tian Lingfeng and Hua Wuyang had led the experts from the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals to smuggle themselves down to the mortal realm, paying Xiao Xixian a hefty sum. Even so, they had suffered heavy casualties along the way.
Their ambush here had also been made possible by intelligence from Xiao Xixian, allowing them to lie in wait along Xu Ying's necessary path.
Xu Ying arrived before the immortals of the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals and said politely, "I am Xu Ying. Are you gentlemen looking for me?"
Tian Lingfeng glanced at him without speaking, but a Heavenly Immortal behind him stepped forward and barked, "Culprit Xu Ying, upon seeing Immortal King Lingfeng, why do you not kneel before speaking?"
At these words, the three violent personas within Xu Ying immediately wished to slaughter him, while the other three cowered in dread.
Tian Lingfeng raised a hand and said mildly, "Now, Little Zhang, there is no need for such formality. We are no longer Immortal Kings of the Celestial Venerable's manor, so why should he kneel to speak? Let us not put on official airs."
Bearing a benevolent expression, he said to Xu Ying, "Immortal Master Hua and I descended to the mortal realm upon hearing that you have committed countless evils, inciting the wrath of Heaven and the grievances of the people. Moved by compassion, we came to take you into custody, urging you to turn back from your astray path and become a pillar of society once more. If you still possess any sense of shame, do not resist heavenly majesty. Surrender early and accompany me to the Immortal Court to report back. I dare not promise anything else, but I can guarantee that when you stand trial, it will be fair, just, and equitable!"
His tone commanded respect without anger, and his demeanor was approachable. Although he had told Xu Ying not to kneel, he acted as if Xu Ying were already prostrating before him.
He waited a moment, but Xu Ying did not fall to his knees crying out for a great upright magistrate. This surprised him slightly, and he thought to himself, *What an unruly wretch.*
Beside him, Immortal King Hua Wuyang found Tian Lingfeng's conduct thoroughly proper and refined, raising no objection. He said, "Immortal Master Tian, this scoundrel is fierce and incorrigible, completely beyond cure. Why waste words with him? Just take him down."
Tian Lingfeng nodded slightly. "Little Zhang, read out his crimes so that he accepts his punishment wholeheartedly."
The Heavenly Immortal surnamed Zhang complied, stepped forward, and proclaimed Xu Ying's crimes: "The accused, Xu Ying, fugitive of Kunlun, crept into the demonic realm and conspired to ascend, consecutively attempting ascension seven times and triggering super heavenly tribulations that blocked the ascension path for all worthy cultivators across the ten thousand realms..."
Listening to this, Xu Ying grew irritated, a murderous intent surging within him. Turning toward Imperial Monarch Cangtian, he asked, "Dao Brother, how do you compare to the Imperial Monarch of the Immortal Realm? Can you suppress his magic treasure?"
Imperial Monarch Cangtian replied, "Though I have never met the Imperial Monarch of the Immortal Realm in person, I have heard of his renown. As for his strength, I have never seen him fight, so I cannot draw a comparison. However, when it comes to suppressing his magic treasure, there are plenty of methods..."
Hearing this, Xu Ying did not wait for him to finish. His vicious nature erupted, and he abruptly unleashed the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Extermination Immortal Formation, sneering, "Recite! Recite! Recite! Recite your ghostly crimes! You're making too much damn noise!"
The Nine Heavens Ten Earths Extermination Immortal Formation had originally been repressed beneath the sixteen-character seal, preventing even the Imperial Monarch from sensing where the formation chart was. Now that Xu Ying dispersed the seal, the chart's ferocious power tore straight through the nine heavens!
The immortal formation's might even rent the skies of the Ancestral Court, its ominous aura carrying into the Immortal Realm itself!
In an instant, the immortal formation enveloped Tian Lingfeng, Hua Wuyang, and the rest of the unaffiliated immortals from the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals. Everyone's expression changed drastically. The immortal formation radiated a killing intent that sought to eradicate all things, with layers of firmaments enshrouding them inside and out, pinning them beneath the nine heavens!
"Xu Ying, you refuse to surrender and dare to resist?"
Tian Lingfeng was furious and bellowed, "Warriors, break out with me and subdue this fiend!"
Standing within the immortal formation high atop the nine heavens, Xu Ying abruptly raised his hand. Layer after layer of the nine heavens and ten earths collapsed, turning into a churning deluge of earth, water, wind, and fire that obliterated everything in its path!
Although this extermination formation had been refined by the Imperial Monarch specifically to target Xu Ying's imperishable true spirit—seeking to shatter it and refine him into ash—the power of the formation chart was truly extraordinary!
This chart was created after the Imperial Monarch reversed his own Nine Heavens Ten Earths Demon-Breaking Secret Art, dismantling his own cultivation before rebuilding anew.
Once the formation unfolded, even though Tian Lingfeng and Hua Wuyang were Immortal Kings and the others were Heavenly Immortals and Earth Immortals, they stood no chance against it!
Beneath the extermination formation of the nine heavens and ten earths, the unaffiliated immortals were shredded one after another, their Primordial Spirits destroyed. Even their immortal artifacts were reduced to dregs within moments, leaving nothing behind!
Only the two Immortal Kings struggled bitterly to hold on beneath this ferocious array, utterly incapable of escaping!
"What a formidable killing array!"
Imperial Monarch Cangtian's expression changed slightly, and he marveled, "The person who refined this formation possesses profound depths and great wisdom!"
Suddenly, the ferocious light rising into the sky from the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Extermination Immortal Formation parted the space-time of the Ancestral Court, revealing glimpses of the Immortal Realm. Imperial Monarch Cangtian immediately felt a vast immortal power sweep in from beyond the heavens, attempting to seize control of this immortal chart.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian smiled faintly. "I originally shouldn't have interfered and made an enemy of an existence like you, but since I gave my word, I have no choice but to act."
His body suddenly turned into a stone statue. Behind him emerged a ten-thousand-zhang Primordial Spirit with three heads and six arms, surrounded by churning flames and billowing crimson hair that reached beyond the clouds!
A surging, ferocious might pierced into the Immortal Realm, and an overflowing divine majesty could be sensed across the vast expanse of the Ancestral Court. Ancient consciousnesses within the Ancestral Court were startled awake by his divine power, stirring in profound, sluggish movements!
With red hair flying, the Tianpeng Primordial Spirit wielded battle-axes, bows, swords, bells, halberds, and ropes. Suddenly, the battle-axe trembled, unleashing a ray of cold light that cleaved through the heavens and severed the vast immortal power arriving from the Immortal Realm!
With that immortal power cut off, the ancient entity in the Immortal Realm hesitated. A flawless white palm reached down from beyond the heavens, parting the mist and clouds to reveal a jade-like face that peered toward Imperial Monarch Cangtian's Primordial Spirit from afar.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian held his six heavy treasures, their ferocious might causing space-time to tremble ceaselessly, as if reality itself had grown exceedingly fragile!
Meanwhile, Xu Ying's vicious nature flared as he refined the two Immortal Kings, Tian and Hua, to death within the formation chart. He then flew out of the array, reached out, and rolled the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Extermination Immortal Formation back up into a scroll.
Xu Ying looked up at the sky, and the Imperial Monarch's jade-like face came into view.
Xu Ying faintly recalled a few things, his expression turning somewhat dazed. The Imperial Monarch's eyes also shifted, moving his gaze from Imperial Monarch Cangtian's Tianpeng Primordial Spirit to settle upon Xu Ying.
Unhurriedly, Xu Ying cast the sixteen-character seal upon the immortal formation chart, severing all connection between it and the Imperial Monarch.
The Imperial Monarch raised an eyebrow, and his face slowly faded away.
The Tianpeng Primordial Spirit stepped back into the stone statue, and Imperial Monarch Cangtian returned to his Taoist form. Beaming with delight, he praised, "What an Imperial Monarch! Truly a formidable figure!"
Xu Ying asked in confusion, "Is he that formidable? He watched me seal his magic treasure right to his face and still didn't dare make a move. He seemed cowardly to me."
"That is because I am also formidable,"
Imperial Monarch Cangtian said earnestly. "If I had not been at your side, toying with his magic treasure right in front of him would have seen you dead without a burial place long ago. Fellow Daoist Xu, this man created the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths art, shattered it himself, and founded this immortal formation. His cultivation was rebuilt from destruction long ago, surpassing his Nine Heavens and Ten Earths era by who knows how much. He must not be underestimated! Even in my prime, I could only stand as his equal."
Xu Ying felt a jolt of shock. Though he had never truly belittled the Imperial Monarch, he had never held him in high esteem either, always feeling the man was nothing special. Yet Imperial Monarch Cangtian held him in such high regard, which put Xu Ying on guard.
*In my first life, I was so powerful and intelligent, honored as the top enforcer of the Immortal Court and heading its most-wanted list, yet wasn't I still defeated by this man? If I cannot surpass my first life, my end will hardly be any better,* he thought to himself.
In the sky above, Xiao Xixian frowned upon seeing the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Extermination Immortal Formation.
"With that formation chart present, I'm afraid only Celestial Venerable Xue from the Valley of Ten Thousand Immortals acting personally could capture him. However, my goal was merely to see the capital and skills he has amassed over these years. The more methods he exposes, the more confident I will be!"
She muttered softly, "I brought three groups of people in total. The first consists of notorious fiends from the Immortal Realm, renowned across the heavens for burning, killing, and looting—the Ten Fiends of Tianxu!"
Imperial Monarch Cangtian looked up and saw that the immortal raft was still following them. He frowned slightly. "What on earth does that woman aboard the immortal raft want?"
Xu Ying also looked up, gazing at the raft thoughtfully. "That woman in red looks familiar. I seem to have seen her somewhere."
He had recovered most of his memories, except those of his first life. Presumably, this woman in red was someone he had known back then.
Feeling energetic, he did not dwell on the matter.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian had his own thoughts as well, and said to Xu Ying, "The Immortal Realm should not have forgotten us, the Four Sages of the Northern Pole. Back then, we inflicted heavy casualties upon them. When the Immortal Court attacked Zhenwu Monastery alone, tens of thousands of gods and immortals fell, and even a Heavenly Monarch perished. A Heavenly Monarch—not an Immortal King, nor an Immortal Lord, but a Heavenly Monarch!"
Brimming with confidence, he chuckled. "In both reputation and skill, I surpass my fourth brother, Zhenwu. With my Primordial Spirit revived, the Immortal Realm is bound to take this with utmost gravity and send down top-tier experts—at least someone of Heavenly Monarch caliber to deal with me."
Xu Ying looked at him skeptically. "Dao Brother, is it possible that the Immortal Realm has long forgotten you? Or that they don't care about your revival in the slightest?"
"Impossible!"
The Taoist laughed heartily. "Utterly impossible! The fame of our Four Sages of the Northern Pole is known far and wide. Who does not know us? Even the Immortal Realm must treat us like a formidable foe... Those ten fellow Daoists lying in ambush ahead are surely here for me!"
Imperial Monarch Cangtian hurried forward, only to see ten strangely formed figures standing between heaven and earth with hostile expressions.
"Fellow Daoists, I am Tianpeng, the Grand Marshal—"
"Get lost! This has nothing to do with you!" the Ten Fiends of Tianxu barked darkly.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian retreated sullenly to the side and said to Xu Ying, "They're here for you."
Xu Ying walked forward and unleashed half of the Purple Nether Saber, an overwhelming killing aura filling the sky. He said, "I'll trouble you to lend me a small hand once more, Dao Brother."
The seal on the Purple Nether Saber broke!
A short while later, Xu Ying stood holding the broken saber, while the Ten Fiends of Tianxu lay dead or wounded all around, two of them having fled at top speed upon realizing things were going badly.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian once again released his Tianpeng Primordial Spirit to confront the Imperial Monarch.
In the sky, the Imperial Monarch's face emerged once more, watching expressionlessly as Xu Ying leisurely wiped the blood from his Purple Nether Saber and slowly sealed the immortal artifact away.
Xu Ying raised his head, and right before the Imperial Monarch's eyes, he stowed the Purple Nether Saber into his Realm of Xiyi.
The Imperial Monarch's face gradually faded from the sky.
Imperial Monarch Cangtian frowned slightly and remarked, "You sealed two of his great treasures right to his face, yet he still managed to hold back. This man is made for great things."
Xu Ying was filled with admiration as well. "I used his own sealing runes to seal his treasures, and he could still endure it. Such forbearance is truly remarkable."
Imperial Monarch Cangtian jumped in fright, not expecting that the sealing technique Xu Ying used had actually been created by the Imperial Monarch. Such an act was truly twisting the knife.
Yet the Imperial Monarch had remained unmoved; such a disposition was indeed worthy of respect.
In the Immortal Realm, within the Imperial Monarch's Manor.
The Imperial Monarch looked completely composed as he lifted his wine cup, but the cup was trembling violently, spilling wine everywhere.
By the time he brought the cup to his lips, almost none of the fine wine remained.
"B-B-Bastard!"
Having barely tasted a drop, the Imperial Monarch grew angrier the more he thought about it. With a loud snap, the cup shattered in his grip, and he was on the verge of erupting.
Yet in the very next moment, he suppressed his rage. Focusing inward, he gradually entered meditation and gently distilled his negative emotions.
With a flick of his finger, that thought of the heavenly fiend shot through the void as a beam of dark light, plunging into Weixu.
In the Heavenly Fiend Immortal Domain of Weixu, the Heavenly Fiend Imperial Monarch intercepted this dark beam, growing a fraction stronger once more.
Surrounding heavenly fiends flocked over to offer congratulations. "Fellow Daoist, your cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds lately. Truly worthy of celebration!"
The Heavenly Fiend Imperial Monarch offered modest replies again and again. "It is all thanks to my other self chancing upon opportunities in the Immortal Realm that my cultivation could advance so swiftly."
Back in the Ancestral Court, Xu Ying put away the Purple Nether Saber and was about to continue onward when an immortal raft flew through the sky, coming to a halt before them. A dashing woman dressed in red stood aboard the raft, asking with a smile, "Celestial Venerable Xu, do you still remember me?"
Xu Ying's mind jolted as the consciousnesses formed by the six great curses—Desolation, Mortality, Grief, Malice, Violence, and Cruelty—all surfaced, chattering at once to debate the woman's origins.
"Could she be a romantic debt?" Xu Ai cried out.
Xu Shang asked, "Tell me, who was the heartbreaker?"
Chapter 453