Emperor Jiuyou trembled from head to foot, his voice shaking. "Boss Yang, does he look like him? Does he look like him?"
Emperor Yanglong stared unblinkingly at the man in question, his heart clenching, unable to speak.
A young man robed in green had gathered several immortals and set up a steamer at the ferry. Steam billowed into the air, lending the scene an earthy, mundane warmth.
Those immortals each held a steamed bun, craning their necks in eager anticipation, waiting for Xu Ying and Emperor Changsheng to fight to the death so they could dip their buns in heart's blood and eat them.
Emperor Taixiao's white hair quivered, and he murmured in a trembling voice, "He looks like him. He looks far too much like him... But it cannot be him..."
Emperor Quelin chuckled. "It certainly isn't him. He has been dead for nearly six hundred thousand years! His Dao scenes are still drifting within the Realm of the Great Void..."
Emperor Yanglong finally spoke, though his throat was so parched he could barely produce a sound. "Ev—*cough*, everyone, do not panic. Even if he came back to life, the Sacred Venerable is still here. That fellow is merely someone who happens to resemble him. Let us not frighten ourselves."
The eight emperors each steadied their composure, but the youth selling blood-soaked steamed buns bore far too close a resemblance to the man whose name dared not even be spoken, leaving their hearts suspended in anxiety.
Just then, the arrival of Xu Ying and Emperor Changsheng drew their attention.
Emperor Changsheng appeared as a youth, save for his snow-white hair. Xu Ying was likewise no more than fourteen or fifteen in appearance, merely with a complexion slightly sun-bronzed.
As one of the emperors of the Nine Heavens, Emperor Changsheng stood high above the masses. Xu Ying, on the other hand, had topped the wanted list as a fugitive for tens of thousands of years, had his name cleared only a few years ago, and remained without an important post.
These two figures, who seemed to have nothing in common, were now poised to duel at the Heavenly Sea Ferry, sending shockwaves across the world and naturally stoking immense curiosity.
Wild rumors swirled, detailed and vivid. Some claimed Emperor Changsheng was the Imperial Monarch, who had faked his death to escape, intentionally indulging the Eastern King's mischief to ruin him; indignant over his uncle's death, Xu Ying had challenged Emperor Changsheng to avenge him and defend the honor of the imperial family.
Xu Jing was the imperial son-in-law, and Xu Ying was the imperial grandson.
Others claimed Emperor Changsheng was scheming to usurp the throne, and that the Eight Emperors of the Nine Heavens had been hoodwinked by him and nearly elevated him to the seat of Immortal Emperor, only for Xu Ying to turn the tide at the eleventh hour, exposing Emperor Changsheng's true colors and saving the crumbling edifice of the Immortal Court.
Still other rumors alleged that Emperor Changsheng had gravely wounded the Eight Emperors of the Nine Heavens and coerced them in preparation for a coup, only for the imperial grandson Xu Ying to rescue the eight emperors and confront Emperor Changsheng in a duel.
In short, every version held that Emperor Changsheng was committing treason and usurpation, while Xu Ying had answered the call of duty in the hour of peril to fight him to the death.
Upon learning of these rumors, Emperor Taixiao fumed, "Which bastard spread such nonsense?"
The other emperors shook their heads one after another. Over the past few days, they had been recuperating within the Wealth Department, terrified that someone might seize the opportunity to finish them off, and had not ventured outside at all.
A vast multitude had gathered to witness the duel. Beyond the Eight Emperors of the Nine Heavens, there were officers and soldiers from the Dou, Taisui, Wealth, Thunder, Fire, and Water Departments. In addition, Primordial Monarchs, Imperial Monarchs, Immortal Monarchs, and Immortal Kings had assembled from every quarter.
Independent cultivators were even more numerous—tens of times greater than the titled immortal officials—forming an endless sea of people. Among them were retired masters of the Immortal Court, experts forced to resign after falling in political struggles, and immortal rebels on the run after failed uprisings, creating a thoroughly mixed crowd.
Aside from them, experts from the Ancestral Court were also exceptionally conspicuous.
Among them, the Four Saints of the North Pole and Young Master Ning Qing drew the most attention, especially with the unveiling of the supreme treasure, the Returning Dao Jade Platter, which attracted countless covetous gazes.
Meanwhile, Heavenly Lord Pingnan from the Corpse Ghost Immortal Domain and Sword Monarch Jinhe were just as striking.
Furthermore, odd figures such as the Ancestral Court's Little Heavenly Venerable, Demon Emperor Jin Buyi, the giant snake Qi, Foolish Ah Fu, the Four Saints of the Ancestral Court, and the Four Evils of the Ling Family drew countless eyes.
More importantly, each of the ancestral courts had dispatched representatives.
Only now did the Immortal Realm realize that, without anyone noticing, the Ancestral Court had coalesced into an immense force comprising both old-era restorationists and new-era elites, already posing an invisible threat to the Immortal Realm's dominion.
"Ah Ying! We're back!"
Lan Suying's voice rang out. "Your parents and wife are all safe and sound!"
Xu Ying looked in the direction of the voice, only to feel a terrifying tremor. The figure of the evil Buddha Bodhi emerged from shattered void, treading on red lotuses, bathed in karmic fire and draped in chains, launching an attack toward Xu Jing!
Having obtained some unknown fortune, this evil Buddha had cultivated the Bodhi Fire Tree and forged the Red Lotus Karma Fruit, beating Xu Jing into continuous retreat.
Heavenly Venerable Xu Jing mobilized his Dao fruit, resisting with all his might. Lan Suying, the Divine Mother, Gushe, and Yuan Tiangang worked frantically inside the Yingzhou cave abyss behind Xu Jing's head, deducing the evil Buddha's divine powers and guiding Xu Jing to counter them.
The six great Nuo ancestor cave-heavens behind Xu Jing operated at their absolute limits, yet still fell far short compared to the evil Buddha Bodhi.
At that moment, three more Heavenly Monarchs charged in, joining forces with the evil Buddha Bodhi to besiege Xu Jing!
Primordial Monarch Zitong hovered within Yingzhou, doing everything in her power to help repel the incoming divine powers. She also possessed an azure Dao fruit, presumably formed from cultivating the Ginseng Dao fruit that Xu Jing had gifted her in Xu Ying's name.
However, Primordial Monarch Zitong's cultivation realm remained too far beneath the three Heavenly Monarchs, leaving everyone's situation precarious.
Seeing this, Emperor Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief and thought, *Now Xu Ying's composure is bound to unravel. Bodhi truly is my capable helper!*
Xu Ying called out loudly, "Bodhi, I wonder how my parents have offended you, Old Buddha? Please grant me a shred of face and let them go!"
Bodhi chuckled. "Since Young Master Xu asks, I cannot fail to grant you face. Imperial Monarch, I have pursued Xu Ying's parents for ten days on your behalf. Consider your kindness repaid!"
He pulled back from the battle but did not depart, clearly intending to stay and watch the duel.
Faced with Xu Jing alone, the three Heavenly Monarchs—Yan Shuihan, Feng Louchun, and Li Wanzhong—instantly fell into a disadvantage. Though their strength placed them among top-tier experts, Xu Jing possessed the six great Nuo ancestor cave-heavens, a Dao fruit forged from a Ginseng Dao fruit, and the assistance of divine diviners like Lan Suying and the Divine Mother, making it effortless to contend with all three.
Sustaining repeated wounds, the three were forced to flee separately, vanishing without a trace.
Emperor Changsheng's expression darkened slightly.
Buddhist Child Jijue stepped up to Bodhi, bowed, and inquired, "Evil Buddha, why have you ceased your pursuit? Have you turned back from the precipice?"
Bodhi replied, "The Imperial Monarch is callous and ungrateful. If he wins and becomes Immortal Emperor, he will stop at nothing to eliminate me to keep his dark past from coming to light. Xu Ying may be exasperating, but if he wins, he will not do such a thing. Instead, he will grant our Buddhist path a place."
He glanced at Jijue, noting that Jijue had made rapid strides recently and already stepped into the Buddhist realm, filling him with great hope. *Jijue truly lives up to being the Buddhist child favored by the Buddha Ancestor and the elders. In the future, he will surely accomplish great things and bring glory to the Buddhist path.*
Seeing that his parents were unharmed, Xu Ying was also put at ease and walked toward Emperor Changsheng.
Emperor Changsheng maintained an indifferent expression, showing no discouragement despite having been beaten by Useless Qingxuan, Daoist Yuxu, and the others.
"Yuxu, Xuhuang, the Demon Ancestor, Taiqing, and that mysterious mantou seller," Emperor Changsheng said placidly. "Xu Ying, having those five attack me on the eve of our decisive battle was no setback for me; rather, it was a rare opportunity to temper myself. I am a blade, and through their tempering, I have only grown sharper. You ran hither and thither begging them to act, which must have cost you immense energy. One waxes as the other wanes—your defeat is certain."
Xu Ying smiled faintly. "The man you sent after me was quite capable as well. Emperor Yantian, was it? Three strikes. In just three strikes, I battered him into critical condition. Heaven knows where he is hiding to heal his wounds right now."
Emperor Changsheng's eyelid twitched. Then he chuckled. "Xu Ying, not a single word from your mouth is ever true. If you defeated Emperor Yantian in three strikes, you would be in the Supreme realm, yet you are not."
Xu Ying sneered. "The Supreme realm? Why would I need the Supreme realm to kill a prisoner fresh out of jail? Where is Emperor Yantian right now? Why does he dare not show his face? Isn't it precisely because I routed him in three strikes, leaving him too ashamed to see you?"
Emperor Changsheng swept his gaze around, and indeed, found no sign of Emperor Yantian.
Xu Ying smiled. "Right now, rumors fill the Immortal Court that you are plotting treason and usurpation. Your reputation is utterly ruined. Imperial Monarch, your path to the throne is finished, and today you will die by my hand. A double blessing, you might say."
Emperor Changsheng said, "You certainly managed quite a few tasks over the past few days. Xu Ying, scurrying about and expending so much effort on trivialities guarantees your downfall! As for the so-called hearts of the people, I have never cared for them. So long as one is strong enough, even without popular support, one remains the Immortal Emperor!"
Xu Ying chuckled. "You blundered a move. You shouldn't have discarded your identity as the Imperial Monarch. Had you remained the Imperial Monarch, you could have ordered the immortals under your command to spread rumors about me far and wide. Without the title of Imperial Monarch, you, the Emperor of Changsheng, are merely a painted clay idol on an altar—nothing more than decoration."
Emperor Changsheng laughed loudly. "Xu Ying, oh Xu Ying! The you of old was a man of honor, a hero, a true gentleman. But today, your conduct is entirely that of a petty scoundrel, without a trace of honor, heroism, or greatness! The Xu Ying of the past was willing to endure the Immortal Emperor's manipulation for his mother's sake and boldly ascend; even upon entering enemy territory, he talked and laughed freely, commanding the board, swearing brotherhood with Heavenly Venerables, befriending me, and frequenting the Primordial Monarch's palace chambers without heeding idle gossip.
"The Xu Ying of old was far-sighted and brilliant. At barely twenty, he attained the rank of Immortal Monarch, charging in and out seven times to establish his Supreme foundation. He could be versatile in every direction, bear humiliation meekly, bide his time in silence, and appreciate beauty without succumbing to lust.
"He considered defeat before victory, planning far in advance—ascending seven times and descending the heavenly path seven times, searching for his father and rescuing his mother, concealing the three mountains to await his resurgence!
"He was so resilient that, facing my Purple Nether Saber, enduring the agony of scraped bone and pared flesh, and bearing the injury of fallen cultivation realms, he never once furrowed his brow. Even after enduring forty-eight thousand years of my deception, he still rose up time and again, striving to break free from my control."
Righteous and stern, Emperor Changsheng rebuked, "Had the man standing before me today been that Lord Xu, even if I fought him, I would still revere his character. Yet the one standing before me now is you, stirring nothing in me but contempt and disgust!"
Xu Ying's face remained calm, and he smiled. "That is because the great man of honor, hero, and true gentleman of back then was murdered by all of you. The man who came back to life is just as filthy as the rest of you, which is why you feel contempt and disgust, isn't that right?"
Emperor Changsheng's breath hitched, rendering him speechless.
Xu Ying had changed, becoming just like him. How could he comfortably curse himself?
"The Immortal Realm of today has no room for a hero like Xu Ying,"
Xu Ying said, his eyes resting upon Useless Qingxuan, who was holding a warm bun and preparing to dip it in heart's blood to treat tuberculosis. "In truth, it could no longer tolerate such men six hundred thousand years ago. Qingxuan failed to see that, which was why he fell.
"Over these six hundred thousand years, how many honorable men, heroes, and true gentlemen have you crushed? Even those of you who were once heroes slowly transformed into what you are today. Your admiration for Xu Ying is merely nostalgia for who you used to be. Xu Ying is dead—you killed him. And dead alongside him is the you of the past, the former selves of every one of you.
"The way you look now is something I witnessed back in the Yuanshou world. Sickle in hand, you wait to harvest the leeks. Seated comfortably upon the fishing platform, you wait for the fish to bite. I have seen you wearing different masks—some painted with smiles, some with flattery, some dripping with sycophancy and obsequiousness. Some masks are inscribed with 'Honorable Official,' some with 'Justice,' some with 'All Living Souls,' and some with 'The Common Folk.' Yet beneath them all, your sole purpose is to reap."
Xu Ying's gaze turned dark, and the smile faded from his face. "I have seen you before, out on the outskirts of Yongzhou. With black bodies and white markings, what you conceal beneath that beautiful exterior is a venomous heart. You hide within caves, crouch among the weeds, coiling your bodies and watching every movement outside in silence, waiting for the chance to strike.
"Once the opportunity arrives, you prey upon your adversary, sinking venomous fangs into their flesh to inject a fatal venom. And when your foe is dead, you unhinge your jaws and swallow them bit by bit, digesting them slowly, without even needing to spit out the bones."
Qi the Snake excitedly nudged Ling Siyi beside him. "Wife, Ah Ying is talking about me!"
Ling Siyi rolled her eyes at him. "He is not talking about you! He means people like the Imperial Monarch and the Heavenly Venerables!"
Qi could hardly contain his excitement. "He's talking about me either way!"
"I cannot catch strange snakes like an honorable man, for that would lead only to death by venom. I cannot duel strange snakes fairly like a hero, for a hero inevitably perishes in the jaws of a cunning serpent. Nor can I act like a true gentleman, for a true gentleman fails to notice the venomous viper at his feet,"
Xu Ying said, fixing his gaze on Emperor Changsheng. "I must be more cunning than you strange snakes, more cautious than you, and my strikes must be far more ruthless. I must ensure you are thoroughly dead, not merely stiffened in false demise. Only then can I survive."
Emperor Changsheng fell silent for a long moment, then sighed. "Xu Ying, we are the same kind of person. Long ago, I too harbored dreams of being a man of honor, a hero, only to discover how laughable that was upon arriving in the Immortal Realm. I had to change; had I not, I would only have been battered to pieces."
"No. We are not the same."
Xu Ying looked toward the Little Heavenly Venerable, toward Qi, toward Xu Jing and Lan Suying, and toward all those familiar faces, smiling. "Though I am just as cunning, just as ruthless, just as patient, and just as eager to seize opportunities as you, we are not the same kind of person. Inside my heart there still lives a man of honor, a hero, a true gentleman whom people admire. None of you have that."
Emperor Changsheng was silent again for a long while before suddenly laughing. "Xu Ying, all I ever wanted was to ascend. I have the ability to ascend to the Supreme realm, the power to become a Supreme! Why should I be forced to become a Grand Luo Golden Immortal? Why should I be reduced to a mere ornament? The Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens are nothing but ornaments!"
The expressions of the other eight emperors changed drastically, anger flaring within each of them. Suddenly, nine tiers of heavens and ten realms of earth manifested behind Emperor Changsheng, towering high, exuding absolute majesty and tyranny!
Those nine heavens were nearly identical to the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm!
*I should have guessed long ago that Emperor Changsheng was the Imperial Monarch,* Xu Ying mused inwardly as he gazed at the exquisitely crafted nine heavens behind him.
Chapter 596