"Qingxuan said he intended to do something world-shaking, and once it was accomplished, he would help Yunhai remove the seal. The great undertaking he spoke of should be overthrowing the rule of the Ancestral Court."
Xu Ying asked in puzzlement, "He has already accomplished that, so why did he never unseal Yunhai?"
Daoist Yuqing said, "There are far, far too many faithless people in this world. Perhaps Qingxuan was simply someone who did not keep his word."
Hearing the words "faithless person," Yunhai and Daoist Yuan both looked toward Xu Ying in unison.
Xu Ying's expression remained unchanged as he pondered, "Six hundred thousand years ago, someone led the living beings of the Ancestral Court to escape the Ancestral Court that had been devastated by the Dao weeping. Passing through Mount Kunlun, they migrated into the myriad worlds. From then on, various races established sparks of life across the myriad worlds, multiplying and thriving. This matter might be connected to Qingxuanzi and the others."
Likewise, this matter was also related to Xujiaping.
It was at that time that the Xu family became the Undying People guarding Kunlun, and ancient deities like the Queen Mother of the West, Great Emperor Beiyin, and Dongyue also rose to prominence after that.
"There must be more to this story, but I am drawing closer to the truth!"
Xu Ying rallied his spirits. He had already broken free from the shackles of the six secret depositories' ancestral method, attained ten cave-heavens, and gone a step further to transform the ten cave-heavens into the Taiyi Cave Abyss.
Yet he felt as though he had already fallen into the web spun by the creator of the six secret depositories' ancestral method. Could the master of this web be Qingxuan?
Back then, Qingxuan was a Heavenly Monarch; what realm of cultivation had he attained today?
Xu Ying withdrew from Yunhai's memories and said, "Brother Yuqing permitted me to view the Yellow Court Scripture and the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture. I have yet to study the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture."
Daoist Yuqing smiled. "Fellow Daoist, please suit yourself."
Xu Ying arrived in the radiant Dao light where the two Dao Ancestors, Yuqing and Taiqing, had once attained enlightenment. He sat down and began leafing through the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture.
With the foundation of his enlightenment in the Xuanhuang Realm, cultivating the Yellow Court Scripture had been remarkably easy for him. However, the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture and the Yellow Court Scripture went to two opposite extremes; the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture was renowned for being intricate and vast.
This classic encompassed the myriad Great Daos comprehended by thousands of Shangqing disciples. Dao Ancestor Yuqing had collated and consolidated them, unifying the myriad Daos by refining them into Wuji.
Only Wuji could contain the myriad Daos.
The Xuanhuang Taiji of the Yellow Court Scripture went from shallow to deep, making it exceptionally arduous to cultivate to profound heights. In contrast, Dao Ancestor Yuqing's Wuji went from deep to shallow; the further one cultivated in its later stages, the more it gave a sense of returning to simplicity and truth.
This technique was vast, profound, and all-encompassing, making it very difficult to even cross the threshold. Cultivating it demanded extraordinary intellect, as one needed to master myriad Daos in the early stages.
Yet as one's cultivation progressed, the Daos one mastered were reduced to merely two or three. Upon reaching the pinnacle, there were no other daos left—only a single Great Dao, which was Wuji.
Wuji was the Shangqing Great Dao that Dao Ancestor Yuqing had comprehended, known as Wuji Shangqing.
Xu Ying studied the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture once through, cross-referencing it with the Yellow Court Scripture. He quietly contemplated the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth permeating the Shangqing Great Cavern Abyss, corroborating it against both the Taiji Shangqing of the Yellow Court Scripture and the Wuji Shangqing of the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture.
He knew that with his own intellect, it was impossible to surpass the two Dao Ancestors, Yuqing and Taiqing, and independently comprehend the Shangqing Great Dao on his own. He entertained no delusions of surpassing them.
The Wuji Shangqing of the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture used Wuji to accommodate myriad Daos; the more it contained, the closer one came to the Shangqing Great Dao.
The Yellow Court Scripture began from the Xuanhuang Taiji, seeking common principles among myriad Daos to extract the two qis of Xuanhuang, using the two qis of Xuanhuang to approach the Shangqing Great Dao.
Xu Ying quietly contemplated the Shangqing Dao light. After a long while, he ceased contemplating the Shangqing Great Dao and instead channeled the Taiyi Indestructible Scripture. Above his head, the Taiyi Cave Abyss emerged—he was actually cultivating and contemplating Taiyi!
Within his body, Taiji and Wuji circulated and transformed, using Taiyi as a bridge.
The Taiji Shangqing of the Yellow Court Scripture and the Wuji Shangqing of the Great Cavern True Scripture were originally two entirely unrelated methods with nothing in common, incapable of transforming into one another.
Yet he actually used the qi of Taiyi to forge a bridge for the transformations between Taiji and Wuji, achieving the unification of Taiji and Wuji!
Daoist Yuan and Yunhai watched this scene from afar, astounded, and came to see Daoist Yuqing. Daoist Yuqing said, "Fellow Daoist Taiqing and I have both been attempting to unify Taiji and Wuji. Fellow Daoist Xu's method is also a form of unification."
Daoist Yuan shook his head and said, "What he uses is not the Shangqing Great Dao. He is using an outer dao to unify Wuji Shangqing and Taiji Shangqing—this is cheating!"
Yunhai nodded repeatedly and said, "Unifying two Shangqing Great Daos with an outer dao definitely isn't as orthodox as achieving great unification through the Shangqing Great Dao itself!"
Daoist Yuqing laughed. "He is not a disciple of the Shangqing Sect; why be overly demanding of him?"
Both of them still felt somewhat indignant in their hearts.
A little over a month passed like this before Xu Ying awakened from this contemplation, rose, and walked outward.
On the nearest immortal mountain, the youth Yunhai was cultivating, his breathing and circulation creating an astonishing spectacle. Having had his memory seal broken by Xu Ying, he had recalled various cultivation methods from his previous life, and over these past days, his cultivation and strength had advanced by leaps and bounds!
Behind him stood a Dao tree, illuminated by the Dao light of the Shangqing Great Cavern Abyss. The Dao tree breathed and respired in an extraordinary manner.
His bodhimanda was shockingly profound; when the Heavenly Monarch bodhimanda operated, it was like a world born of the Dao!
His Primordial Spirit was even more formidable, like a sovereign presiding over the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth!
As he cultivated the Yellow Court Scripture, the two qis of Xuanhuang arose spontaneously with every breath, continuous and unbroken. When he circulated the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture, he commandeered numerous Great Daos with Wuji, showing great promise in refining a thousand Daos into Wuji!
Having awakened his past-life memories, he no longer possessed his former inexperienced manner and could finally command his mighty Primordial Spirit.
Approaching from afar and seeing this scene, Xu Ying could not help but praise, "Impressive!"
Hearing this, the youth Yunhai broke out of his cultivation, looked at Xu Ying, and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Xu helped unseal my past-life memories, and I have not yet had the chance to thank you. Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Xu."
He bowed in gratitude.
Xu Ying returned the courtesy and said, "It was a mere lift of a hand, not worth mentioning."
The youth Yunhai smiled. "Fellow Daoist Xu, as I sorted through my past-life memories over these days, all kinds of insights have come flooding in. In regards to the Yellow Court Scripture, I may not be able to guide you, but regarding the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture, perhaps I can offer you some enlightenment."
During this time, he had seen that Xu Ying did not cultivate the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture, but rather attempted to unify Taiji Shangqing and Wuji Shangqing through Taiyi. Relying on the accumulation of his past life, he wanted to guide Xu Ying on how to cultivate the Great Cavern True Scripture properly so that he would not go astray.
Xu Ying shook his head and said, "Thank you for the kind intention. However, I have stayed in the Shangqing Cave Abyss for quite a long time; it is time for me to take my leave."
Seeing him decline, the youth Yunhai shouted, "Xu Ying, you've cultivated it wrong and don't even know it!"
He raised his hand and unleashed the Great Cavern Life Gate Demon Dispelling Seal, calling out, "This is the orthodox way!"
Behind him, his Primordial Spirit performed Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones; four Primordial Spirits manifested as four forms of divine fiends and similarly struck with a seal. Universes were born within palms, and heavens and earth unfolded phenomena—a single seal contained heaven and earth within it, truly formidable!
Xu Ying's technique of Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones had been obtained from Daoist Taiqing, while Daoist Taiqing's version had been derived from the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture.
Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones within the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture was by no means simple; it refined the three qis of the Three Pure Ones, turning them into the three Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits of Yuqing qi, Shangqing qi, and Taiqing qi.
What Xu Ying had learned previously was merely the surface. The genuine Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones needed to be executed in tandem with the cultivation methods of the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture, which could give rise to thousands of transformations!
Now, the Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones unleashed by the youth Yunhai, paired with the Great Cavern Life Gate Demon Dispelling Seal, gave his Three Pure Primordial Spirits the appearance of specters named Taojun—human faces with tree crowns for heads, hair like tree branches, and sinewy, ferocious bodies!
The three forms of Taojun—Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing—unleashed the Great Cavern Life Gate Demon Dispelling Seal simultaneously. Truly, the Dao was born of the palm, dispelling all demons!
Though he was not yet a Heavenly Monarch, he possessed a Heavenly Monarch Primordial Spirit and had awakened his past-life memories, possessing a Heavenly Monarch's Dao attainment. The might of the Great Cavern Life Gate Demon Dispelling Seal was unleashed to its utmost!
Xu Ying's eyes lit up, and he praised, "Well done!"
As Yunhai struck with his palm, the apparition of Wuji was contained within it, encompassing myriad Daos with extraordinary ferocity. He shouted, "Fellow Daoist Xu, do not go astray!"
Seeing his palm force surging forth, Xu Ying smiled slightly and met it with the Great Cavern Life Gate Demon Dispelling Seal, laughing, "This palm of mine also possesses the attainment of a Heavenly Monarch!"
Behind him, his Indestructible Primordial Spirit emerged and likewise performed Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones, manifesting three Taojun Primordial Spirits. His palm force harbored deep power within, likewise producing the phenomenon of Wuji encompassing myriad Daos!
The two palm strikes clashed, their respective qi churning as both stepped back a pace, evenly matched.
Xu Ying dispersed the Taojun Primordial Spirits formed by Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Yunhai, I too have grasped the wonders of the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture; it is not as though I gained nothing."
He turned to walk away.
Spurred by competitive spirit, the youth Yunhai immediately shifted his technique into the Pure Infant Demon Dispelling Seal. The Three Pure Ones instantly transformed into Mud Pill Pure Infant divine fiends, causing the power of the seal to skyrocket.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, take a few more of my moves!"
Even as Xu Ying's back was turned to him, the strike bore down with howling, fierce winds!
Xu Ying kept walking forward. A wisp of clear qi flew from atop his head and formed half of Xu Ying's Primordial Spirit, which lightly slashed with its hand. Immediately, the two qis of Xuanhuang surged forth, turning into boundless space-time that barred Yunhai's path.
Yunhai's three Pure Infant divine fiend Primordial Spirits roared as they charged into that boundless space-time, racing forward like wind and lightning and smashing stars that hurled toward them, yet the three of them saw Xu Ying growing further and further away.
Suddenly, Yunhai's true body arrived from behind with a long whistle, activating the Yellow Court Scripture. A Xuanhuang Taiji Diagram unrolled and pressed down into the boundless space-time.
The Xuanhuang Taiji Diagram absorbed that boundless space-time into the diagram, and only then did he see Xu Ying's back.
With his competitive drive ignited, Yunhai hurried forward and laughed, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I don't believe you could comprehend the mysteries of both the Yellow Court and Great Cavern classics in such a short time! Stay!"
With a long shout, he used Transforming One Qi into the Three Pure Ones to shift rapidly: at one moment into three Right White Primordial Venerables, at another into three Sovereign Purple Zeniths, and at another into three Taiyi Venerable Gods.
Transforming into different Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits allowed him to unleash different divine powers in coordination, making his attacks impossible to predict.
Behind Xu Ying, he cast all manner of marvelous, unpredictable divine powers, pursuing Xu Ying while attacking him!
Yet at that very moment, a golden bridge suddenly descended from the sky. Before it even landed, the shoulders of the Three Pure Primordial Spirits Yunhai had manifested sank heavily, forcing them to arch their backs!
Boom!
The golden bridge bore down upon the shoulders of his Primordial Spirits. Atop the golden bridge stood Xu Ying's Primordial Spirit, surrounded by billowing rosy clouds as if ascending in flight.
Yunhai struggled with all his might, but the two qis of Xuanhuang surged on both sides of the golden bridge, growing heavier and heavier until he could barely take a step.
Yunhai attempted to heave the golden bridge up, but he was completely unable to lift it, let alone escape.
Suddenly, the golden bridge began to fade. To his horror, Yunhai discovered that his physical body, his Primordial Spirit, and even his Dao attainment were also gradually fading, slowly assimilating into the Dao!
"Taiji transforming into Wuji!"
He realized at once that this was the process of Taiji Shangqing transforming into Wuji Shangqing.
The golden bridge earlier was a Taiji bridge, which was why the transformations of the two qis of Xuanhuang appeared on either side of it. After pinning him down, the Taiji Shangqing began transforming into Wuji Shangqing, refining him along with it into the qi of Wuji!
Terror seized Yunhai, and he hastily cried out, "Fellow Daoist Xu, show mercy!"
No sooner had his voice fallen than the golden bridge pinning him down abruptly dispersed, turning into a beam of golden light that shot through the air and entered Xu Ying's fontanel.
Still trembling with fear, Yunhai looked again at Xu Ying, only to see that Xu Ying had already reached the entrance of the Shangqing Great Cavern Abyss.
Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he rushed forward. By the time he arrived, Xu Ying had already bid farewell to Daoist Yuqing and departed from the Shangqing Great Cavern Abyss.
Yunhai came before Daoist Yuqing, despondent. "Patriarch, I sparred with him, originally thinking I could show him the vastness and depth of the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture, yet I was the one taught a lesson..."
Daoist Yuqing smiled. "He unified Taiji Shangqing and Wuji Shangqing through an outer dao. It is only natural that you were no match for him."
Yunhai said, "But what he used was an outer dao, not the orthodox path!"
Daoist Yuqing sighed and said, "An outer dao is naturally inferior to the orthodox path, but as for the orthodox path, Fellow Daoist Taiqing and I have yet to comprehend it to this day."
Yunhai was struck dumb, unable to utter a word.
Daoist Yuqing tossed over a jade slip Dao book and said, "This is the Dao book Fellow Daoist Xu handed to me just now. Recorded within is his method of using Taiyi as a bridge to unify Taiji Shangqing and Wuji Shangqing. Fellow Daoist Xu left this technique with our Dao Sect to repay my kindness in allowing him to read the two scriptures. A method using an outer dao to unify the two scriptures—will you cultivate it, or not?"
Yunhai stared at the jade slip Dao book, hesitating for a long time.
After a good while, he gritted his teeth. "This disciple will cultivate it!"
He activated the jade slip Dao book and studied it for dozens of days before thoroughly grasping Xu Ying's Taiyi Divine Bridge method. His heart was filled with shock.
Without an extraordinarily deep understanding of both the Yellow Court Scripture and the Great Cavern True Scripture, it was utterly impossible to unify two Dao Sect classics through an outer dao method!
He had clearly seen that Xu Ying had only briefly contemplated the Great Cavern True Scripture during that period, spending the rest of the time cultivating his own technique. How could he have comprehended the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture to such a level in such a short span of time?
In other words, while contemplating, Xu Ying had understood the Shangqing Great Cavern True Scripture to the level of Wuji Shangqing, and on the foundation of Wuji Shangqing and Taiji Shangqing, created the Taiyi Divine Bridge to serve as a bridge connecting the two great classics, achieving their unification!
His Dao attainment is probably not far from that of a Daluo Golden Immortal, Yunhai thought silently to himself.
Xu Ying walked out of the Shangqing Great Cavern Abyss, heading all the way toward Kunlun.
"Daoist Yuqing said that my Xu family's heritage is not the Taiyi Inborn Technique, but the heritage of Yuxu Palace. There must be something fishy going on here!"
Six days later, Xu Ying caught sight of the towering Kunlun Divine Mountain from afar. For some reason, ever since he had comprehended the Taiyi Divine Bridge in the Shangqing Great Cavern Abyss, he found himself constantly longing to see that female immortal.
Or rather, the one he wished to see was not that female immortal, but his former lover, Yuan Weiyang.
Is Weiyang still alive? he thought silently in his heart.
Chapter 506