Shrouded beneath the Demon Ancestor's true form, Xu Ying radiated dazzling light from head to toe—the unmistakable sign of stepping into the Immortal City of Yujing from the Ascension Realm, having achieved the immortal path!
Once the immortal path was achieved and the heavenly tribulation summoned, one could open a Dao domain. By the standard of Xu Ying's new path, if he crossed into the Dao Domain Realm, he would possess twelve Dao domains—an achievement of absolute eminence!
Clouds gathered across the heavens amid flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder, presenting a spectacle markedly different from when he had crossed the tribulation in the Mortal Realm. The Mortal Realm lay shrouded in the dark mortal realm, where tribulation clouds could scarcely be seen. Here, however, everything was distinctly visible. The tribulation cloud spanning more than ten thousand li was magnificent beyond imagination.
The undulating mists within the cloud resembled towering mountains, its surging vapors mirrored galloping horses, and there were clouds taking the shapes of vegetation, flocks of sheep, and countless other forms, carrying the grandeur of all earthly phenomena.
Contrasting with this expanse was another dark tribulation cloud, where countless branch-like textures converged in the air, accompanied by soul-shaking bouts of Dao weeping that chilled onlookers to the bone.
As the two tribulation clouds met, they initially clashed against one another, but soon separated into yin and yang, slowly rotating across the sky.
Eventually, the two tribulation clouds shrank steadily, transforming into Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder.
"The Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder that only arch-villains are worthy to face!"
Seeing this tribulation thunder, even Lou Mingyu felt his scalp tingle, thinking, *Could Junior Brother Xu truly be a peerless arch-villain?*
Yet to his utter astonishment, the tribulation did not cease upon turning into Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder. It continued to evolve as clusters of the Qi of Grand Primordium spilled from the void, pouring directly into the tribulation cloud!
Accompanying the Qi of Grand Primordium were wondrous, indescribable Dao sounds, like voices echoing from future eras across vast spans of time into the present, singing praises to the peerless Grand Dao Ancestor of this age—praising his wisdom in pioneering a new path, praising his valor in crossing the heavenly tribulation, praising his boundless grace that shielded future generations!
In the depths of the void, the laws of the Great Dao operated of their own accord. The praises from future eras transformed into surging waves of Dao sound, fusing into one with the Purple Firmament Heavenly Tribulation.
Not only had Lou Mingyu never witnessed such a scene, but even Daoist Taiqing, Daoist Yuqing, Daoist Yuxu, the Demon Ancestor, and the others watching from a distance had never seen it before!
They had never even heard of it!
Even if the Ancestral God had come here, he would have had to admit that his eyes were opened today.
The Creation Supreme and the Immortal Emperor Supreme watched from afar as well, their expressions complex as they took in the sight. The Creation Supreme suddenly said, "Worthy nephew, in my opinion, you had better not harvest this leek. This man carries immense merit. If you harvest him, you will surely suffer a terrible backlash."
The Immortal Emperor Supreme's face darkened before returning to normal. "Martial Uncle, you and I are allies. How could you alone ever be a match for the Holy Venerable? My strength is lacking right now, and sixty myriad years of planning was all for today's harvest. Enhancing my strength will only aid you in achieving your grand ambitions, Martial Uncle!"
Knowing his nephew's mind was set and beyond swaying, the Creation Supreme could only let the matter rest.
In the sky, Xu Ying's tribulation clouds formed tribulation thunder orbs. The two orbs disturbed and circled each other, possessing even greater might than during his tribulation in the Mortal Realm.
Yet the Immortal Emperor was not worried about whether Xu Ying could survive. Blessed with immense merit, Xu Ying was certain to pass.
On the other side, however, the safety of the Dao Lord of Luofu was cause for grave concern.
The Dao Lord of Luofu was beset by numerous Wondrous Realm treasures—including the Last Lord of Ziwei's glass lamp, Daoist Taiqing's Eight Trigrams Alchemy Furnace, Daoist Yuqing's Taiji Diagram, Daoist Yuxu's Yuxu Fly-Whisk—as well as the Heaven-Mending Divine Artifacts. Even as an expert of the Wondrous Realm of Great Luo wielding a Wondrous Realm treasure of his own, he was in mortal danger.
"The Dao Lord of Luofu is utterly repulsive—a piece of scum, but he is our Immortal Court's scum. He cannot die at the hands of those old geezers from the Ancestral Court," the Creation Supreme said. "No matter how fiercely we fight among ourselves, even if we see red, it is an internal conflict—a struggle kept within bounds. But those old geezers wanting to slaughter our people? That simply will not do. Let us make them beat a retreat."
The Immortal Emperor Supreme nodded gently.
The Immortal Court was built upon the corpse of the Ancestral Court, and the Six Supremes and Twelve Wondrous Ones had all been beneficiaries of that uprising. They fought among themselves—battles that could overturn heaven and earth and leave rivers of blood—yet whenever they confronted the forces of the Ancestral Court, they would unite against them!
The present Immortal Court could never sit idly by and watch the Ancestral Court grow strong!
"Let us head over now, lest he be beaten to death," the Creation Supreme said.
The Immortal Emperor Supreme kept his eyes on Xu Ying, who was still undergoing the tribulation, and shook his head. "Wait a little longer, Martial Uncle. Offering coal in a blizzard is far better than adding flowers to brocade. If we go over now and help him rout the Ancestral Court's experts, it is merely adding flowers to brocade. But if we wait until he is beaten half to death before rescuing him, it becomes coal in a blizzard. A gravely wounded Dao Lord of Luofu will be far more obedient, and far more grateful."
The Creation Supreme praised, "If Qingxuan had possessed your methods back then, he would never have died."
The Immortal Emperor gazed at Xu Ying, watching his figure grow taller and loftier beneath the lightning strikes, as though he were gradually shaking off the shackles of the Earth Immortal Realm.
The Immortal Emperor suddenly said, "Martial Uncle, Xu Ying's realm is somewhat peculiar. He isn't following the traditional path of cultivation."
The Creation Supreme narrowed his eyes to look. After every lightning strike, a fresh surge of immortal spiritual qi arose within Xu Ying's body, giving the distinct impression of shedding his mortal frame.
With each strike, patterns of cultivation realms materialized behind Xu Ying, like projections cast by brilliant light.
They could see the Five Sacred Immortal Mountains, pass after pass, the tempering of water and fire, the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Twelve-Storyed Mansions...
Yet beyond those, there was so much more—things they had never seen before!
For instance, profound cave abysses that actually housed immortal mountains and blessed lands! There were twelve such cave abysses, corresponding to the twelve Grand Daos Xu Ying cultivated!
This was something they had never encountered.
Even more peculiar was that, with the progression of the heavenly tribulation, the power of these twelve cave abysses grew increasingly formidable!
With every bolt of tribulation thunder that struck Xu Ying, a few more immortal mountains and blessed lands appeared within the cave abysses, and the immortal spiritual qi they produced grew richer than before!
The spectacle even tempted the Creation Supreme, making him itch to harvest Xu Ying himself.
*What kind of immortality is this brat cultivating?* Both were baffled, yet each harbored suspicions they dared not voice with certainty.
Their guesses were simply too frightening for them to believe.
*If he truly did that, he would be the Dao Ancestor of a new path! But how could that be possible?*
Before long, the Dao Lord of Luofu could hold on no longer. Just as he was about to be battered to death by those Wondrous Realm treasures, the Immortal Emperor and the Creation Supreme finally struck, charging into the encirclement.
The Creation Supreme possessed the greatest cultivation and strength. With a single bare hand, he met the Eight Trigrams Alchemy Furnace head-on, sending it swinging backward. Raising his hand, he sacrificed the Returning Dao Jade Platter to repel the Taiji Diagram, then spun around and swept his sleeve, brushing aside one Heaven-Mending Divine Artifact after another and jolting Senior Brother Tian backward.
A supreme of a generation, displaying unbridled dominance.
The Immortal Emperor Supreme held his own against the Taicang Void True Glass Lamp and the Yuxu Fly-Whisk, not falling into a disadvantage, though he still paled considerably compared to the Creation Supreme.
The Last Lord of Ziwei channeled the glass lamp, using its light to slice off a leg of the Ziwei Demon-Subduing Cauldron, reducing it to a three-legged cauldron.
Yet the Last Lord of Ziwei did not press too hard; he simply collected the cauldron leg and ordered Nan Ziyan to retreat.
Nan Ziyan hurriedly steered the small boat away from the battlefield. The other Wondrous Realm treasures feinted and disengaged as well, choosing not to fight to the bitter end, and each departed.
The Creation Supreme and the Immortal Emperor did not pursue them. After all, the Ancestral Court had not unleashed its full might; the Demon Ancestor had never once intervened.
Had the Demon Ancestor entered the fray, victory, defeat, life, and death would have remained uncertain. Daoist Taiqing, Daoist Yuqing, and the others were Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits without true physical bodies, and the Last Lord of Ziwei was merely a remnant soul inhabiting a deceased vessel. Only the Demon Ancestor had preserved his fleshly form, and his strength was likely not inferior to Creation or the Immortal Emperor.
Filled with shame and embarrassment, the Dao Lord of Luofu stepped forward to offer his thanks. "Were it not for your rescue, I would have died without a burial place."
The Immortal Emperor bowed hastily. "You flatter us. Martial Uncle Gu, please do not misunderstand—what happened in Daming Palace was merely a momentary misunderstanding. I injured you, Martial Uncle, and I offer my sincere apologies."
The Dao Lord of Luofu's expression shifted before he broke into a generous laugh. "It was all a misunderstanding. A minor flesh wound is nothing. You injured me, but didn't you save my life as well? We are even."
The Immortal Emperor smiled. "Martial Uncle is magnanimous."
As they spoke, Xu Ying had already crossed the heavenly tribulation. A beam of ascension radiance fell from above, bathing him in its light. Creation, the Immortal Emperor, and the Dao Lord of Luofu were all taken aback. "This is already the Immortal Realm. Where could he possibly ascend to?"
All three were peerless talents of keen intellect, and a single possibility flashed through their minds at once: *The Heavenly Immortal Realm!*
Standing high above the Nine Heavens, one could indeed glimpse the shadow of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, but seeing it was one thing; none had ever been able to enter. Could someone truly enter that mysterious Heavenly Immortal Realm by undergoing tribulation and ascending?
Within the ascension radiance, Xu Ying remained seated cross-legged, unmoving, allowing the beam to envelop him as he flew beyond the heavens, seemingly heading straight for the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
A thought stirred in the Creation Supreme's mind, and he shouted, "Follow him! Find the gateway to the Heavenly Immortal Realm!"
Though all three bore injuries, catching up to Xu Ying was simple enough. The trio immediately leaped into the air, flying straight toward the Heavenly Immortal Realm in pursuit of Xu Ying!
"Not good!"
Seeing this, Lou Mingyu took to the sky at once, attempting to catch up and protect Xu Ying. Just then, a voice chuckled in his ear: "A disciple of the Holy Venerable can be this loyal? Doesn't sound like someone the Holy Venerable could teach."
The voice came from a grey-robed elder with branches growing from his head—the Demon Ancestor. Moving even faster than Lou Mingyu, he pursued Creation, the Immortal Emperor, and the others, likewise aiming to ensure Xu Ying's safety.
Propelled by the ascension radiance, Xu Ying flew faster and faster, soon leaving the Earth Immortal Realm, passing beyond the Nine Heavens and the Great Luo Heaven, and bursting out into the void beyond the skies!
The three pursued closely behind Xu Ying, only to find the surrounding void gradually growing viscous, the resistance mounting with every moment. As they flew on, the void became so thick that they felt like insects trapped in pine resin, finding each step forward harder than the last.
Yet the ascension radiance seemed entirely unhindered, carrying Xu Ying higher and higher toward the shadow cloaked in darkness.
The Creation Supreme and the others strained upward, their speed steadily declining until they could scarcely move, as though on the verge of being frozen solid in the void.
Filled with dread, they looked up, only to see Xu Ying drifting farther and farther away, drawing closer to the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
The Demon Ancestor caught up to this point and, seeing that Xu Ying was safe, finally felt at ease.
Just then, another great beam of ascension radiance shone out from parts unknown, cleanly severing the Heavenly Immortal Realm's ascension light and, before the horrified gazes of Creation, the Immortal Emperor, the Dao Lord of Luofu, and the Demon Ancestor, hijacked Xu Ying!
All the while, Xu Ying remained seated cross-legged, striking toward the next realm, completely unperturbed.
The crowd stood dumbstruck. Within that beam of ascension radiance, thirteen layers of Dao domains emerged around Xu Ying's body; he had evidently entered the next realm.
Yet why were there thirteen Dao domains?
*Could it be the effect of that Qi of Grand Primordium during his tribulation?* the Demon Ancestor thought to himself.
He had also noticed the oddity of Xu Ying's tribulation: that cluster of the Qi of Grand Primordium had seemingly entered Xu Ying's body alongside the lightning strikes.
The Creation Supreme sighed and shook his head. "There is no point in pursuing further; we cannot catch up. Let us return at once. This void is bizarre—I feel as if I am turning to stone."
The Dao Lord of Luofu shouted, "Look quickly, what is that over there?!"
Following the direction of his pointing finger, they saw a gleam of light shining from the shadow within the darkness. A colossal dragon skeleton stretched out from the Heavenly Immortal Realm, slowly "crawling" out along a fractured opening in the realm!
There was no telling how long the divine dragon skeleton was, but it moved like a living thing, sliding down along the path Xu Ying had just traversed during his ascension and steadily extending into the frozen void.
Though the four were among the most powerful beings in the world today, the sight filled them with horror.
The divine dragon skeleton was immensely powerful, yet a gaping hole was smashed into its skull, as though battered open by something. The shape of the hole was almost identical to the breach in the Heavenly Immortal Realm!
Observing closely, the Immortal Emperor Supreme suddenly recalled the emerald rock that had crashed into the Mortal Realm and blurted, "It's the emerald rock! The emerald rock smashed through the Heavenly Immortal Realm, punched through this frozen void, and slammed into the Mortal Realm! Along the path where that divine dragon skeleton is crawling, there must be a passage smashed out by the emerald rock!"
A thought struck the Creation Supreme, and he said, "Which means that by following the passage smashed by the emerald rock, we can enter the Heavenly Immortal Realm?"
Their hearts raced. Right now, the divine dragon skeleton was sliding out of the Heavenly Immortal Realm along the very passage created by the emerald rock, trailing downward!
The divine dragon skeleton had likely been disturbed by the ripples of radiance from Xu Ying's ascension, causing it to slide out of the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Gradually, a tyrannical aura emanated from it, pressing down so heavily that all four of them felt intensely uncomfortable.
The power this divine dragon skeleton had possessed in life was beyond imagination!
"Xu Ying has already ascended. Worthy nephew, your crop has departed."
Taking a measure of schadenfreude in the situation, the Creation Supreme chuckled and said, "Let us return for now and wait for this divine dragon skeleton to locate that passage to the Heavenly Immortal Realm for us!"
The Immortal Emperor Supreme looked utterly lost, his heart hollow, as if something vital had been torn from his life.
On the other shore.
The Buddha Ancestor and the others stared wide-eyed, watching helplessly as a beam of ascension radiance streaked past in the distance, bearing a familiar figure.
"Didn't we tell you: do not ascend, do not ascend, do not ascend?! Why have you flown back again?!"
The Buddhas were furious and were about to join forces to send Xu Ying back, when a grand voice rang out: "Fellow Daoists, your injuries from last time were severe. If you act, you will surely be discovered. Tend to your wounds for now—I shall send him back!"
"We trouble the Grand Dao Lord, then. Once you make your move, you must conceal your presence so as not to be found!"
Beneath the Heavenly Immortal Realm, just as the Creation Supreme, the Demon Ancestor, and the others were about to turn back, the void suddenly flared with brilliant light. A beam of ascension radiance swept Xu Ying up and sent him flying backward at an even faster speed!
The Creation Supreme and the others froze in a daze, watching helplessly as Xu Ying flew past the colossal dragon skeleton, past them, and went "ascending" straight back toward the Earth Immortal Realm!
And in the darkness behind Xu Ying, some titanic monstrosities seemed to be clashing in a ferocious struggle—a terror so profound that it made even beings of their caliber shudder in dread!
"This..." Everyone stood in utter bewilderment.
Chapter 612