Xu Ying scanned the surroundings, but found no trace of Primordial Monarch Ling Su's cave abyss.
"Could someone have killed her for the Changzhou cave abyss?"
Xu Ying was deeply puzzled. To take the massive risk of killing someone like Primordial Monarch Ling Su for a single Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abyss, and even massacre a million female immortals to silence all witnesses—such methods were utterly vicious.
Ling Su was the leader of the female immortals personally invested by the Immortal Emperor. Every primordial monarch in the world answered to her command, and every female immortal looked to her as their leader!
She was virtually a Female Emperor in all but imperial title. With such renown and standing, truly few dared lay a hand on her.
The only reason Xu Ying had dared to hunt her down was because he was notorious in the Immortal Realm as a rogue and a reckless brute who had staged rebellions in the past, someone who shrank from nothing.
Yet for anyone else to murder her was an act of unthinkable insolence against all under heaven. If exposed, total disgrace and ruin would be the mildest consequence!
"Was it really necessary to be so cruel just for a mere Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abyss?"
Xu Ying shook his head gently. Looking at the corpses of the female immortals scattered across the gloomy region, a pang of sorrow struck his heart. Every single one of their souls had been shattered.
Emperor Changsheng crouched beneath the willow tree, staring at Primordial Monarch Ling Su's body. After a long silence, he reached out, gently closed her eyes, and murmured, "Rest easy. I will not let your death go unexplained."
After all, they had once shared a bond of romance.
As he recalled the past, that distant affection welled up once more, and an inexplicable sorrow suddenly gripped his heart.
Emperor Changsheng began to understand why the Immortal Emperor, the Imperial Monarch, the Heavenly Venerable, and the others had severed the stray thoughts in their minds. Troubled by sorrow at this moment, he felt somewhat sentimental—as though his Dao heart were in danger of being blinded by emotion.
Back when he first met the Primordial Monarch, she was merely a newly ascended female immortal, and he was not yet the Emperor Changsheng of today. They had met by the Dao Sea, gazing at one another across Yingwuzhou. From then on, they were like duckweeds swept apart by the islet.
When they met again, the emotions within them overflowed like duckweed upon the water, thick and tangled, smothering their Dao hearts until they came together.
Xu Ying glanced at him in surprise, detecting the emotional fluctuation within Emperor Changsheng. For a supreme being like him, such emotional shifts were extraordinarily rare.
*To stir the emotions of a Daluo Golden Immortal, perhaps the bond between Emperor Changsheng and the Primordial Monarch was far more important than he let on,* Xu Ying mused to himself.
Emperor Changsheng also realized his lapse and promptly steadied his composure, saying, "Although the Primordial Monarch's cave abyss was only Heavenly Monarch–grade, capable merely of fostering a Heavenly Monarch and sustaining their daily cultivation and living, a Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abyss remains exceedingly rare and precious. For such a cave abyss, killing to seize treasure and slaughtering a million female immortals might still be deemed worthwhile."
He seemed to be muttering to himself, yet also answering Xu Ying's confusion. "In the past, no one dared because the Immortal Emperor was still present; doing so meant setting oneself against the entire Immortal Court. But now that the Immortal Emperor is exiled to the cosmic dark domain and Daluo Heaven has no master, people can no longer sit still before such an opportunity."
To Xu Ying, a Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abyss had never seemed exceptionally precious, for he had already obtained the Supreme-grade Taiyi cave abyss through the six hundred thousand years of planning and guidance from the Immortal Emperor Supreme.
Yet for the rest of the Immortal Realm, a Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abyss was something they might never attain in a lifetime.
Counting the Yingzhou cave abyss in Xu Ying's hands, there were only ten Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abysses openly recognized in the Immortal Court.
With so many monks and so little gruel, more than a few pairs of eyes were fixed on these ten cave abysses.
Xu Ying asked, "Does Dao Brother have a suspect in mind?"
Emperor Changsheng's gaze flashed like lightning, snapping onto him. Xu Ying said sheepishly, "Dao Brother's first suspect is me?"
Emperor Changsheng nodded. "Just now, I sensed a terrifying surge of magic power here. I was the first to move, yet you were only half a beat behind me. That proves you sensed it too. The difference in cultivation between us might only be that half-step. We reached this tree almost simultaneously, which proves you possess the strength to kill the Primordial Monarch."
His gaze sharpened. "Therefore, I suspect the one who injured Jiuyou Emperor that night was you!"
Xu Ying flatly denied it: "I am merely a Heavenly Immortal. How could I possibly injure Jiuyou Emperor?"
Emperor Changsheng did not argue the point, continuing, "However, you were by my side at the time and could not have been in two places at once. Thus, the killer is not you. With you ruled out, the second suspect is myself."
Xu Ying froze.
Emperor Changsheng said, "The Primordial Monarch and I were once lovers. I know her Dao methods and divine powers intimately, and I even know her cultivation manuals inside and out. She would never have guarded against me. Had I wanted to kill her, I could have slain her in the shortest possible time! I had an affair with her and fathered an illegitimate child, so I possess both the ability and the motive to kill her."
He laid it out so convincingly that Xu Ying could not help but nod repeatedly.
"However, you were by my side at the time," Xu Ying said.
Emperor Changsheng replied, "Therefore, both of us are ruled out. The third person with both the strength and motive is the Imperial Monarch. He was very close to the Primordial Monarch. Ever since you were defeated and perished, he frequently visited her estate to exchange Dao methods and divine powers and discuss affairs of the realm."
Xu Ying raised an eyebrow and studied Emperor Changsheng's face. Though the emperor looked as impassive as ever, Xu Ying suspected his heart was far from calm.
"Xu Ying, leave this place," Emperor Changsheng said, producing a bolt of azure gauze. The gauze unfurled, spreading across the canopy of the sky. "The Primordial Monarch was the head of all female immortals under heaven. Her death is no small matter; the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens will all mobilize to investigate the cause of her demise."
Hearing this, Xu Ying bowed slightly and departed immediately.
He had heard from his mother, Lan Suying, that the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens had once challenged the Immortal Emperor Supreme over the death of the Heavenly Venerable, shattering the imperial palace in the confrontation. If he lingered here, it would only invite needless trouble.
*In today's Immortal Realm, there truly aren't many who possess both the strength and the suspicion. The Imperial Monarch is the most suspicious of all. If his goal is to gather all Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abysses to charge into the Supreme realm, he will inevitably clash with Xu Ying,* Emperor Changsheng thought silently as he watched Xu Ying vanish into the distance. *After all, the Yingzhou cave abyss is still in Xu Ying's hands. Letting Xu Ying go will surely draw out the true culprit!*
Soaring into the air, he departed the Underworld. After his departure, the azure gauze descended from all directions, draping over the bodies of the Primordial Monarch and the million female immortals, forming a seal.
Not long after, auspicious light descended from the heavens, and Emperor Changsheng along with eight other Daluo Golden Immortal emperors stepped forth from the glow.
Emperor Changsheng pulled back the azure gauze. The emperors walked beneath the old willow tree and surveyed the surrounding corpses of the female immortals, each furrowing their brows.
It was too tragic, too brutal.
Even some among them who had lived through ancient wars found the sight hard to stomach.
Some of the nine emperors gathered scattered remnant souls, some coalesced spiritual radiance, and others examined physical wounds. In the end, they reconvened, shaking their heads one by one.
The killer had struck with overbearing ferocity, striking directly at the Primordial Monarch's weak point to take her life in a single blow.
The Primordial Monarch's greatest strength had been her primordial spirit, yet this assailant had precisely detonated it—something that could only be done with an intimate understanding of her primordial spirit.
Suddenly, the gazes of Emperor Qinghua, Emperor Caiwei, Emperor Fuyue, and the others snapped onto Emperor Changsheng in unison.
The most suspicious suspect, naturally, was Emperor Changsheng.
Emperor Changsheng maintained an indifferent expression. "It was not me. Whom do you suspect? Speak freely."
The eight emperors exchanged glances before Emperor Yanglong said, "The Imperial Monarch."
Emperor Taixiao said, "After he obtained the Heavenly Venerable's cave abyss, the Immortal Emperor allowed him to use that Zuzhou cave abyss to nurse his injuries in recognition of his great service. Once he tasted sweetness, his greed naturally grew."
The Imperial Monarch originally possessed the Fenglinzhou cave abyss, which was also Heavenly Monarch–grade. He had been injured in the battle against the Heavenly Venerable, and using both the Heavenly Venerable's Zuzhou and Fenglinzhou together to heal was an arrangement granted by the Immortal Emperor.
Two Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abysses doubled the supply of immortal spirit qi, and distinct cave abysses contained distinct Heavenly Monarch–grade Great Daos. The Imperial Monarch's cultivation and strength would undoubtedly surge as a result.
Driven by ambition, it was entirely possible he would take such a desperate gamble.
The nine emperors took to the air, returning toward the Immortal Realm. Emperor Qinghua said, "There are ten great Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abysses in the Immortal Realm, and the Imperial Monarch has already claimed three. Of the remaining seven, Heavenly Venerable of the Water Department Xie Qingshan holds Xuanzhou; Heavenly Venerable of the Fire Department Li Sixue holds Yanzhou; Heavenly Venerable of the Wealth Department Guan Zhaicai holds Jukuzhou; Ning Zhong of the Taisui Department holds Shengzhou; Ji Man of Daluo Heaven holds Yuanzhou; and Xu Ying of the Dou Department holds Yingzhou. The final cave abyss is Changzhou, originally in the hands of the Immortal Emperor Supreme, who later bestowed it upon the Eastern King."
Emperor Lühe remarked, "The Eastern King is also suspicious. And then there is the wild man Wei Xu—six hundred thousand years ago, he had the chance to charge into the Supreme realm, so he is highly suspicious as well."
Emperor Yanglong mused, "Wei Xu? Wasn't he eliminated back then precisely because he had the opportunity to push into the Supreme realm?"
Emperor Quelin replied, "Indeed. He was sent down to wipe out remnants of the Ancestral Court. There were several formidable figures among those remnants, and he was taken down."
Emperor Yanglong nodded slightly. "Let us find the Imperial Monarch first!"
***
Xu Ying returned to the Domain of Samsara, where the Four Emperors and the Ten Hall Yamas were all gathered. Seeing his return, they bowed one after another to express their gratitude for his rescue.
Xu Ying returned the courtesy, saying, "We are fellow Daoists; it was only right. There is no need for such formalities. Furthermore, there is another matter: the Primordial Monarch is dead."
Everyone was startled. Great Emperor Dongyue asked hurriedly, "Did you kill her?"
Xu Ying shook his head, recounting his encounter in broad strokes, and said, "Her death is likely the result of infighting within the Immortal Court. Competition in the Immortal Court is cutthroat; for limited cave abysses, they will stoop to anything. This matter has nothing to do with us, but the slightest misstep could easily bring disaster upon us."
He pondered for a moment, then added, "In a little while, I will return to the Immortal Court and have my father, Old Heavenly Venerable Xu, lead the Dou Department here to subjugate you. You should take that opportunity to surrender."
The Underworld emperors—Dongyue, Cangwu, Beiyin, and Samsara—were stunned. "What?"
Xu Ying smiled. "Surrendering to Old Heavenly Venerable Xu is surrendering to the Immortal Court. Afterward, you will be subordinates of the Immortal Court. If anyone in the Immortal Realm wishes to touch you, they will be committing rebellion, setting themselves against the Immortal Court itself. In this way, you can preserve yourselves."
The four emperors looked at one another. Great Emperor Cangwu muttered, "If you can't beat them, join them?"
The Ten Hall Yamas exchanged glances, reaching a silent consensus, and said, "We shall do as Young Master Xu advises."
The enemy of the four Underworld emperors had originally been the Primordial Monarch. Now that she was dead, continuing to oppose the Immortal Court would surely end in their annihilation. Old Heavenly Venerable Xu hailed from a family of loyal righteousness; submitting to him to draw stipends from the Immortal Court was undeniably the best path forward.
Having arranged everything properly, Xu Ying departed the Underworld and headed for the Immortal Court.
The moment he flew into the Immortal Court, he gazed toward Wangxiang Platform in the distance. The influence of Xuandu Jade Capital Mountain was growing ever greater; various forces—such as the Immortal Dao and ancient Daos—twisted across Wangxiang Platform, creating a bizarre spectacle.
Great Dao Lord Xuhuang's Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit still sat enthroned there, as though awaiting something.
Xu Ying did not linger. Returning to the Immortal Court, he went straight to the Dou Department to find Xu Jing and explained his plan.
Xu Jing was shocked to hear that the Primordial Monarch was dead. He said hastily, "Could it have been the Imperial Monarch's doing? Or Wei Xu... it must be Wei Xu! Yet calculating the Primordial Monarch's escape route with such flawless precision sounds more like the Eastern King..."
Xu Ying said, "Now that the Primordial Monarch is dead, I fear the Immortal Realm will vent its fury on the Underworld. Father, you must head there as soon as possible to bring the Underworld under the Immortal Realm's jurisdiction."
Xu Jing immediately summoned the other two Perfected Beings, as well as commanders of the Northern Dipper's Seven Stars and the Southern Dipper's Six Offices, mustering their troops. Xu Jing himself rallied eighty-four thousand Dou Fiends in full armor, bringing along the palace-guarding treasures of twenty-five heavenly palaces in a grand, imposing display.
Immortal officials waved formation banners to cleave through the barrier between the Immortal Realm and the Underworld, preparing to descend.
Suddenly, an uproar swept through the Immortal Court. Cries surged like an incoming tide, rapidly spreading in all directions. In the distance, immortals took to the air one after another, shouting ceaselessly as though some horrifying event had unfolded.
Xu Ying, Xu Jing, Si Chuanzhao, and the others looked outward, watching the disturbance infect the crowds, growing louder and more chaotic by the moment.
"Dead! The Imperial Monarch is dead!"
Xu Ying caught the sound of someone screaming.
For a moment, he thought he had misheard, but then the clamor surged toward them like rolling thunder: "The Imperial Monarch is dead! Fenglinzhou and Zuzhou have vanished into thin air!"
"The Imperial Monarch was murdered in his secluded cultivation grounds!"
Xu Ying felt his scalp tingle. He said urgently, "Father, lead the host to the Underworld. I will go inspect the Imperial Monarch's residence!"
Xu Jing warned hastily, "Be careful! Whoever did this is after Heavenly Monarch–grade cave abysses!"
Xu Ying gave his assent and flew away. The surrounding immortals were likewise rushing toward the Imperial Monarch's estate like a surging tide. As they blocked the way, Xu Ying willed his thoughts outward, inverting heaven and earth around him to sweep the immortals aside, making his way directly into the Imperial Monarch's residence.
The Imperial Monarch's place of secluded cultivation was a small Immortal King–grade cave abyss—barely a thousand li across, dotted with a few dozen immortal mountains, just large enough for an Immortal King to cultivate.
Yet within this Immortal King cave abyss, the Imperial Monarch had hidden two great cave abysses: Fenglinzhou and Zuzhou. That made it anything but ordinary.
Xu Ying stepped into the cave abyss and saw that its immortal mountains were shattered, the land battered into a raging torrent of earth, water, fire, and wind that howled in turbulent gyres. The battle had clearly been exceptionally gruesome.
Emperor Changsheng and the rest of the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens stood atop an intact mountain peak—the only peak remaining of that shattered range. Lying before them was the Imperial Monarch's corpse, blood drenching the ground.
As Xu Ying walked forward to inspect the scene, Emperor Changsheng's voice rang out: "The primary suspect has arrived."
Xu Ying's heart skipped a beat. The other eight Daluo Golden Immortal emperors turned their gazes upon him simultaneously.
"Indeed. In the Imperial Monarch's death, the most suspicious person is his mortal enemy," Jiuyou Emperor said darkly. "Xu Ying is his enemy. To avenge forty-eight thousand years of torture, Xu Ying took advantage of the Imperial Monarch nursing his wounds in seclusion to murder him and steal both cave abysses."
Xu Ying said, "Is the dead man truly the Imperial Monarch? He underwent four hundred and eighty-two reincarnations and possessed four hundred and eighty-two avatars. Could he have faked his death to escape?"
Emperor Changsheng stepped aside. Xu Ying drew a deep breath, braced himself, and walked over to view the body.
On the other side of the mountain slope, shattered corpses of the Imperial Monarch lay strewn everywhere.
Immortals were tallying the heads. After a moment, one immortal called out, "Reporting to Your Majesties: four hundred and eighty corpses have been found on the mountain slope."
The nine emperors nodded one after another.
Emperor Taixiao said, "The Imperial Monarch reincarnated four hundred and eighty-two times. Four hundred and eighty corpses lie dead on the slope, and beneath our feet rests his true body. One is still missing."
Xu Ying could not help but chime in, "The missing one died at Wuzhuang Temple. I killed it."
Emperor Yanglong said, "Then the tally is complete."
Chapter 585