Greetings, Celestial Venerable Xu

"When the Kunlun Realm was destroyed, the ten cave-heavens didn't even exist yet?" Xu Ying's heart remained troubled, unable to calm down for a long time. The Queen Mother of the West was a Kunlun mountain god born from the worship of mortal beings after Kunlun migrated to the myriad heavens and realms. It was only natural that she knew nothing of the events from six hundred thousand years ago. *The Last Lord of Ziwei once said that the Immortal Realm was refined from the sacred grounds and cave abysses of the Earth Immortal Realm. Back then, the leaders of the New Dao who rebelled seized the Ziwei Immortal Court and forged the Immortal Realm on its foundations. Ever since, the immortal and mortal realms have been divided.* Xu Ying looked up toward the heavens beyond. The colossal Immortal Realm was bearing down from above, completely blocking his view. The Immortal Realm had now entered the Realm of the Great Void, descending with the crushing weight of Mount Tai. Xu Ying looked down. Across the Realm of the Great Void lay the myriad heavens and realms, drifting atop the Heavenly Sea like ten thousand clusters of duckweed. *The Immortal Realm was formed six hundred thousand years ago after they breached the Ziwei Immortal Court. That means before then, it was impossible for the ten cave-heavens to connect to the Immortal Realm.* He felt somewhat puzzled. If the ten cave-heavens were not naturally occurring, where did they come from? Who had refined them? *Do the ten cave-heavens correspond to the other shores in the Realm of the Great Void? If they do, then the other shores in the Realm of the Great Void must have been artificially refined as well.* Xu Ying thought silently, *Could it even be that these other shores, just like the ten sights of my bodhimanda, were formed from the shattered bodhimanda of some immensely powerful being? Could the ten cave-heavens be remnants left behind by Qingxuan? If so, is he alive or dead?* In young Yunhai's memories of his past life, he had seen Qingxuan unleash six cave-heavens. Behind Qingxuan had been six visions—the Sea of Chaos, the Indestructible Spiritual Light, the Glazed Pure Space, the Two Qi of Primordial and Earthly Heavens, and others. They had been dazzlingly brilliant, suppressing the Yellow Court Classic of Daoist Yunhai back then. The six visions behind Qingxuan corresponded to the six great other shores of the Realm of the Great Void, which was why Xu Ying harbored this suspicion. *When Qingxuan sealed Yunhai's memories, the Immortal Realm had not yet formed, and the Last Lord of Ziwei was still on the throne. At that time, he had only cultivated six visions and had not achieved the ten cave-heavens,* Xu Ying thought. *He must have mastered the ten cave-heavens after the Immortal Realm was formed.* Daoist Yuxu gazed up at the Immortal Realm and said leisurely, "The Dao waxes and wanes, cycling without end. The last time the Dao waxed and waned, the Heavenly Daos of the ancient era decayed, and the New Dao was born. What about this time? What Great Dao will rise now?" Hearing this, Xu Ying followed his gaze. Behind the massive shadow of the Immortal Realm, something colossal was quietly and soundlessly drawing near, exerting an incomparable pressure. "What is that?" Xu Ying was stunned. Daoist Yuxu was not entirely sure either. That thing was concealed behind the Immortal Realm, even more gargantuan than the Immortal Realm itself, but shrouded in darkness. Only when the Immortal Realm shifted could its silhouette be faintly discerned. Xu Ying withdrew his gaze, feeling uneasy. *Judging by Daoist Yuxu's words, that thing is very likely to trigger an ebb and flow of the Great Dao. Could it be that the Dao weeping of six hundred thousand years ago is about to erupt once more? If that happens...* He could not help but frown deeply. The immortals of the Immortal Realm almost entirely relied on cave abysses for their cultivation. If Dao weeping erupted, everyone beneath the Supreme realm would be wiped out, reduced to ash! Come to think of it, that really was... thrilling. *What's even more thrilling is that I also rely on a cave abyss to cultivate!* Xu Ying blinked. He had linked the ten cave-heavens into one to summon the Taiyi Cave Abyss. Now, the power of the Taiyi Cave Abyss was growing stronger, drawing closer and closer to him. If Dao weeping broke out from the Taiyi Cave Abyss, he would not escape death either! He had seen those skeletal daoists in the Shangqing Dao Sect. Even those in the Heavenly Monarch Realm had been unable to withstand the Dao weeping, turning into mere piles of bones that could only chant scriptures! Beneath the Supreme, all were mere ants! Only by becoming a Supreme could one resist the Dao weeping. And to cultivate into a Supreme, one had to obtain an imperial-grade cave abyss. Xu Ying looked toward Yingzhou in the Realm of the Great Void and thought, *The Eastern King said that although Yingzhou is an Immortal Monarch-grade cave abyss, it is actually not inferior to a Heavenly Monarch cave abyss. I need a cave abyss right now to conceal the Taiyi Cave Abyss. Yingzhou is very suitable. Moreover, Yingzhou can serve as a base where the immortals following me can enter to cultivate. But how do I refine Yingzhou into a cave abyss?* He asked Daoist Yuxu for guidance. Daoist Yuxu held nothing back, teaching him how to sense the cave abyss, how to sense the immortal Daos within it, and finally how to refine the cave abyss. Dao Lord Yuxu was a powerhouse of the Wondrous Realm of Great Luo from the old era whose cultivation had reached an unimaginable height. Although Daoist Yuxu was merely his Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit, his vision and knowledge remained intact, making it effortless to impart this knowledge to Xu Ying. After learning it, Xu Ying looked toward the Realm of the Great Void. After a moment's hesitation, he leaped from Qilin Cliff, plunging into the Realm of the Great Void. His body transformed into a streak of rainbow light, heading straight for Yingzhou. Entering the Great Void was easy, but leaving was hard. The last time he had entered, he had been trapped on Yingzhou for several years before finding the path through the Heavenly Sea. *If I cannot refine Yingzhou within half a year, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my word to His Highness the Eastern King!* Xu Ying thought. Daoist Yuxu watched him depart, looked up at the ever-approaching Immortal Realm, and then closed the Kunlun Realm, returning to Yuxu Palace. "The Immortal Realm approaches, and the Three Realms Tide will inevitably cause the three realms to merge into one. When that happens, perhaps these old bones of mine will also have to step out and stretch a bit." He sat down, his gaze flickering like candlelight, and murmured, "Yet where is my true body? Could he be on that colossal shadow behind the Immortal Realm? Why haven't I sensed any aura from the Dao Lord to this day?" A faint unease stirred in his heart. Was the shadow behind the Immortal Realm the true other shore? If not, what could that place be? Where were those ancient beings—the Taiqing Dao Ancestor, the Yuqing Dao Ancestor, the Great Dao Monarch Xuhuang? Even with his vast knowledge, he had no answer. Xu Ying flew at breakneck speed through the Great Void, covering ten thousand li in a single leap. The Great Void was truly vast and boundlessly immense, containing infinite space. Channeling his Great Luo Heaven bodhimanda, he flew for dozens of days, drawing closer and closer to Yingzhou. During these days, he saw many immortals hunting for treasures throughout the Great Void. The Immortal Realm had already encroached upon the Great Void, and some immortals had slipped through the fissures in the Immortal Realm to enter. After all, the Great Void was a mysterious place even to the Immortal Realm, home to buried fortunes. Xu Ying's goal was Yingzhou, so he merely crossed paths with these immortals from a distance before speeding away. Suddenly, an immortal shouted, "A ship! Quick, look at that ship!" Xu Ying was flying past when an immense shadow abruptly swept over him. He hastily looked up to see an ancient multistoried vessel several hundred li long hurtling overhead. The vessel was like a small continent, adorned with orderly palaces and ancient cities, resembling an immortal paradise. Many immortals were driving skiffs, carriages, clouds, rainbow light, floating leaves, and various other magic treasures, displaying their divine powers as they pursued the gigantic vessel! "That's a vessel from the primordial era! Legend says it's a relic from before the ancient era!" An Immortal King spread his fingers wide, his hand instantly expanding into a massive palm hundreds of li across as he reached toward the vessel, shouting, "Out of my way! This treasure belongs to me!" Suddenly, the Immortal King's fingers exploded, blood splattering everywhere as he cried out, "This ship has magic treasures protecting it!" "That ship again!" Xu Ying's eyes lit up, and he hurried to give chase. The last time he had come here with Jijue and Ningqing, they had also encountered this ship as it brushed past Yingzhou. But back then, their cultivation had been low, and they couldn't keep up. Now, Xu Ying mobilized his nine great magic treasures and channeled his bodhimanda, elevating his cultivation and Dao attainment to their peak as he chased after it like a fleeting shadow. Unleashing nearly his full strength—short of utilizing the Taiyi Cave Abyss—he quickly overtook the crowd of immortals. The immortals felt a figure flash past, only to see a streak of rainbow light leave them far behind, filling them with shock and suspicion. The multistoried vessel seemed to have a life of its own. Sensing his pursuit, its speed increased considerably, and it even banked sharply through the void to evade him. Just as Xu Ying was about to catch up to the vessel, a flash of light suddenly shot toward the space between his brows. Startled, Xu Ying dodged to the side, watching a crimson sword graze past his cheek. He pressed forward, only to see beam after beam of light shoot from the vessel—incredibly sharp swords that had transformed into streaks of rainbow light, moving with astonishing speed. Xu Ying tried several times, but finding himself unable to break through the sword formation, he had no choice but to give up. *There's no one aboard, yet so many magic treasures guard it. It seems the Realm of the Great Void holds more than just the other shores; there are other bizarre secrets here!* Abandoning the ship, he rushed toward Yingzhou. Two days later, he finally caught up to Yingzhou and landed upon an immortal mountain. Yingzhou also had many immortals searching for treasures everywhere. Some occupied immortal mountains, some mined immortal metal veins, and others sought immortal herbs and plants. "This place somewhat resembles the legendary Yingzhou!" Suddenly, an immortal recognized the land and cried out in astonishment, "Fifty thousand years ago, the rebel Xu Ying held the prestigious position as head of the Dou Department's Three Realized Ones and seized the Yingzhou Cave Abyss. Afterward, Yingzhou vanished without a trace!" "Silence!" A nearby immortal hurriedly scolded, "Since you recognized it, why shout it aloud? If we refine the Yingzhou Cave Abyss, we'll have hope of becoming Immortal Monarchs!" Those few immortals acted suspiciously, looking around furtively, only to spot Xu Ying nearby. He had clearly overheard their words. The immortals exchanged glances, and one of them drew a hand across his throat. Understanding each other without a word, they walked toward Xu Ying. Suddenly, one of them caught sight of Xu Ying's face. His complexion instantly turned pale, and he turned on his heel to leave. Seeing this, the others hesitated before following, asking, "Brother Zhang, what's wrong?" "Xu Ying!" With a ghastly expression, the immortal whispered, "We can't stay here! We must leave immediately and return to the Immortal Realm!" The others shivered and prepared to depart, but Xu Ying's polite voice came from behind them: "Fellow Daoists, please wait." Their bodies stiffened, frozen in place, not daring to move. The immortal who had recognized Xu Ying turned around with a forced, placating smile. "Brother, how may we assist you?" Xu Ying asked genially, "Did you recognize me?" "No!" The immortals shook their heads in unison, chiming in, "We definitely did not recognize you!" "I've been blind since childhood! Don't go slandering innocent people!" Xu Ying nodded gently and smiled. "You said just now that this place is Yingzhou, which shows you have some knowledge. Do you know Yingzhou's origin?" The immortals were surprised, but answered truthfully, "We've heard that Yingzhou is the cave abyss of the Dou Department's Three Realized Ones, which can help one achieve the Immortal Monarch Realm. After Old Xu... Celestial Venerable Xu was promoted to head of the Dou Department's Three Realized Ones, he took charge of this cave abyss." They exchanged glances, and one gathered the courage to say, "Rumors in the Immortal Realm say the Yingzhou Cave Abyss is incomplete. It was once damaged in battle, losing two parts. If those missing parts can be found, Yingzhou can be upgraded to a Heavenly Monarch cave abyss." Another immortal added, "Some suspect that the two immortal mountains Old Xu... Celestial Venerable took away back then, Penglai and Fangzhang, are the two missing pieces of Yingzhou." Xu Ying was surprised, thinking silently, *It seems the Eastern King didn't tell the whole truth about certain matters.* He waved his hand, and the immortals felt as if granted a general pardon. They immediately soared into the air, fleeing back to the Immortal Realm through the sky's fissures. *The Eastern King only said Yingzhou wasn't inferior to a Heavenly Monarch cave abyss, but didn't mention that it must be combined with Penglai and Fangzhang to rival one! Penglai is in my hands, but Fangzhang was given to Zulong. Ah well, I'll take Yingzhou first!* Following the method taught by Daoist Yuxu, Xu Ying sensed Yingzhou's Heavenly Daos and connected with the Yingzhou Cave Abyss. After a long while, he finally resonated with Yingzhou's immortal Daos. Sensing Yingzhou was not difficult for him. Forty-eight thousand years ago, Yingzhou had been his cave abyss and bore the imprint of his first life. Re-establishing the connection now was naturally effortless. As the connection deepened, Xu Ying felt that as he inhaled and exhaled, Yingzhou also cast off the old and took in the new, sending an unending surge of immortal spiritual energy rushing toward him. This was the immortal spiritual energy of the entire Yingzhou, truly vast, boundless, and inexhaustible! *Still, it falls far short of the Taiyi Cave Abyss.* By this time, hundreds of immortals had arrived on Yingzhou, fighting over territory and immortal mountains, entirely unaware that Yingzhou already had an owner. Suddenly, the sky shook violently, and a deep voice boomed, "The Dou Department's Heling Dugu Heavenly Palace has arrived to reclaim Yingzhou! Unrelated persons, disperse immediately to avoid harm!" Yingzhou instantly fell silent. Then, a voice sneered, "The Dou Department? The Dou Department has long fallen from grace! What kind of authority are you putting on?" "The Dou Department today isn't even a match for the Thunder Department, the Fire Department, or the Wealth Department!" In the sky, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends of Heling Dugu Heavenly Palace revealed themselves. Immortal Kings and Heavenly Immortals appeared one after another, their presence weighing upon the heavens. With grim faces and murderous aura, they held all manner of magic treasures. The immortals on Yingzhou felt a chill in their hearts. Surrounding the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends were eighty-four thousand Dou Fiend immortals and gods, looking ferociously menacing. At the center of the Dou Fiends, white gauze drifted to form a vast curtain, within which the vague silhouette of a celestial venerable sat. The immortals dared not delay, hastily taking to the air to flee Yingzhou. "Everyone must leave Yingzhou!" Immortal King Tiankui pointed toward Yingzhou and barked, "You, boy! I'm talking to you! Why haven't you left Yingzhou yet?" Xu Ying looked up at the Dou Fiend vanguard in the sky. When Immortal King Tiankui saw his face, his expression changed drastically, and he stammered, unable to speak. Behind him, Immortal Kings and Heavenly Immortals of the Dou Fiends—Tiangang, Tianji, Tianxian, Tianyong, and the others—all paled, staring blankly at the youth. Moments before, the immortals and Dou Fiends of Heling Dugu Heavenly Palace had suppressed heaven and earth, but now their imposing aura vanished completely! Perfected Lord Yang Yanlong sat within the center army's gauze tent, his face partially obscured, savoring the thrill of suppressing the heavens. When the Dou Department's imposing aura suddenly vanished, he felt bewildered. He stood up and looked down, only to see the massive continent of Yingzhou gradually tilting, slowly rising upright. Countless immortal mountains, rivers, and even the vast ocean tilted along with it. A youth stood before Yingzhou, walking slowly toward the immortals of the Dou Department. The Yingzhou continent formed a realm of its own, shifting with his movement as it rose higher and higher, gradually transforming into the shape of a cave-heaven, hovering diagonally behind and above the youth. Immortal King Tiankui's lips twitched. He dropped to one knee and bowed his head: "Xiao Yulou, Tiankui of Heling Dugu Palace, pays homage to Celestial Venerable Xu of the Dou Department." Immortal King Tiangang lowered his immortal weapon, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head: "Fu Qingye of Tiangang pays homage to Celestial Venerable Xu." *Clatter.* One immortal weapon after another was set down. The Immortal Kings and Heavenly Immortals of the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends knelt on one knee, lowering their heads: "Greetings, Celestial Venerable Xu!" As the youth walked forward, all eighty-four thousand Dou Fiends dropped to their knees in homage, ten thousand voices converging into a heart-stirring torrent! "Greetings, Celestial Venerable Xu!"