Wei Xu had long wanted to beat Xu Ying to death.
When he escaped from the Immeasurable Sea of Fire, barely a tenth of his cultivation and strength remained. Yet Xu Ying had repeatedly provoked him, using him as a mere tool to temper his Leakless Golden Body, and had even beaten him black and blue, bloodied and utterly humiliated.
Had Mingzun not rescued him, he likely would have met his end at Xu Ying's hands. It was a monstrous disgrace, which was why the moment Qingxuan mentioned Xu Ying, Wei Xu wanted nothing more than to crush him.
Useless Qingxuan chuckled. "As long as you have the ability to beat him to death, by all means, strike. Just be careful—his cultivation and prowess now are nothing to scoff at."
"You said it!"
Wei Xu was inexplicably thrilled. He rubbed his hands together and growled viciously, "I'm going to wring his neck and drink him like fresh juice!"
He was about to dash out to kill Xu Ying when he suddenly remembered Zulong Zhao Zheng and hesitated. Wei Xu was a wicked villain, cruel and ferocious by nature, yet he genuinely treated this martial nephew remarkably well.
He was more like a true teacher to Zulong than the Immortal Emperor had ever been, teaching by word and deed and passing along everything he knew.
Useless Qingxuan glanced at Zulong Zhao Zheng. Taking a keen interest in the string of realms suspended behind him, he said, "Since he is my granddisciple, let him stay by my side for a while. I will instruct him for a few days."
Wei Xu was overjoyed. "In that case, I entrust him to Master!" With that, he rose into the air and surged toward the exit of the Heavenly Abyss.
Useless Qingxuan looked Zulong Zhao Zheng up and down, then stepped behind him to examine the realms crafted out of magic treasures. Suddenly, he remarked, "Your path of cultivation is quite fascinating. In your journey, treasures lead the way—they remain a realm or two ahead of you at all times, acting as guides to help you break through barrier after barrier. This path ought to be called attaining the Dao through magic treasures."
The realms behind Zulong were pieced together from magic treasures of various mechanical mechanisms, forming a total of fifteen realms—from Qi Gathering to Ascension, and from Human Immortal to Heavenly Monarch.
Not only that, but he also possessed six cave-heavens—similarly constructed out of treasures, with ingenious designs.
The other end of his six great cave-heavens connected directly to the Other Shore of the Great Void. When the cave-heavens operated, immortal herbs were reeled in ceaselessly from the Other Shore and refined within these six mechanical realms, transforming into six pure forces: origin qi, divine consciousness, vitality, soul power, and the like!
Even with his vast knowledge and experience, Useless Qingxuan found this peculiar method of cultivation refreshingly novel and intriguing.
Moreover, Zulong's cultivation had reached the Immortal King realm. He had already established his bodhimanda, formed his Dao seed, and was on the verge of planting his Dao tree.
In truth, he was the first person in forty-eight thousand years to ascend by confronting the Heavenly Tribulation head-on—the only one who took no backdoors, achieved a legitimate ascension, and walked the Heavenly Road properly to the very end.
Scarcely more than a decade had passed since his ascension, yet he had forged a path to attain the Dao through magic treasures.
Reaching the Immortal King realm in just over ten years was even more outrageous than Xu Ying's rise back in the day; such brilliance genuinely moved Useless Qingxuan.
"If this were the twilight of the ancient era, you could have made a name for yourself with this method, attaining an exceptionally high realm. You might even have secured a seat among the Supremes! But now that the New Dao has spread, everything is about to be upended. It is truly a pity for your current cultivation."
Useless Qingxuan sighed with emotion and asked, "Do you still wish to switch to the New Dao?"
He too was deeply interested in the New Dao. After the Immortal Emperor sought him out, he had ventured to the Ancestral Court to investigate it, marveling in awe. He knew that now that the New Dao had emerged, replacing the original Immortal Dao was merely a matter of time.
All the current Supremes and Great Luo Golden Immortals, if unable to adapt and change with it, would sooner or later be overthrown by the rising generations.
Zulong asked, "Patriarch, how does the New Dao compare to the original Immortal Dao? If it is vastly superior, I will discard my entire cultivation and start anew. If it is no stronger than the original Immortal Dao, then continuing along my current path will also allow me to reach the highest realm."
Useless Qingxuan replied, "The New Dao was founded by Dao Ancestor Xu Ying. The original Immortal Dao can only reach the Supreme realm, which is equivalent to the Wondrous Realm of Great Luo. Yet the Supreme realm of the New Immortal Dao surpasses the Wondrous Realm of Great Luo, and upon reaching Great Perfection, it can rival the Ninth Realm beyond the Wondrous Realm! The potential of this New Dao is boundless. If one can conquer the realm beyond Supreme and attain immortality, they could rightfully be hailed as the foremost figure in all of history."
Zulong declared resolutely, "This disciple is willing to discard my former cultivation and begin afresh. In the past, those ancient predecessors were born hundreds of thousands of years before me; their cultivation far exceeded mine, their renown towering beyond reach, leaving later generations no chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. But if everyone returns to the starting line and sets off together, I too can walk beside them—or even surpass them!"
He reflected upon everyone he had ever encountered; aside from Xu Ying, none stood above him.
As for the Master of the Mud Pill Court, Foolish Ah Fu, and the Son of Heaven of Zhou, they were at best his equals, or perhaps slightly inferior.
Even if he were to compete on the same stage against Immortal Emperor Mingzun, the Changsheng Emperor, or the Heavenly Venerable, he would by no means be inferior to them—he might even be stronger!
Useless Qingxuan admired him all the more and praised, "With such spirit, you will surely make rapid strides! Follow me. I will take you to see someone who can push your path of attaining the Dao through magic treasures a step further!"
"Patriarch, whom are we going to see?"
"Someone extraordinarily skilled at crafting magic treasures."
Zulong Zhao Zheng followed Useless Qingxuan as they quietly departed the Heavenly Abyss and arrived at the Heavenly Sea Ferry. There, Three Realms ferries were being hauled onto the dry docks one after another, where Heavenly Craftsmen labored diligently to repair them.
After Xu Ying's second ascension, the Immortal Emperor and his cohort had discovered the entrance to the Immortal Realm and returned after sighting the dragon bones; thus, repairing the Three Realms ferries had become the Immortal Court's utmost priority.
These vessels could cross frozen space-time and served as the paramount tool for reaching the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Zulong Zhao Zheng noticed that there were several brand-new ferries moored at the ferry crossing—clearly not salvaged from the sea, but newly built!
Bang! Bang!
A crisp, rapid knocking sound echoed. Following the noise, they saw a woman with the youthful face of a maiden leaping into the air, her figure graceful and supple. She suspended a massive vessel midair, using her fists like hammers to pound against its surface.
Every fist she brought down carried tremendous magic power; brilliant Dao light burst forth whenever her blows struck the hull, sending the enormous ship spinning.
In mere moments, the maiden drove various imprints into the hull. Her techniques were sweeping and bold, displaying astonishing might!
"She is the legendary Ancestor Chanchan—the ruthless figure who nearly buried the Son of Heaven of Zhou in Haojing!"
Zulong Zhao Zheng had also heard of Zhu Chanchan's formidable reputation. He knew of the Battle of Haojing, where she had struck without warning while the Son of Heaven of Zhou was undergoing heavenly tribulation to ascend, nearly finishing off Ji Man. Ji Man had been crippled by her blows and forced to spend many years in a wheelchair.
Zhu Chanchan had originally excelled at controlling magic treasures, but without treasures, her combat strength suffered drastically. Now, however, she had somehow refined weapon-crafting techniques into divine abilities. Every stance and strike possessed startling power, capable of forging treasures as well as slaughtering foes!
At this moment, Zhu Chanchan seemed completely transformed, her cultivation and strength having skyrocketed!
Could the person Grandmaster wants me to meet be her? Zulong thought.
Useless Qingxuan smiled at Zhu Chanchan. "Ancestor Bangbang, we've come looking for your master, Daoist Yu Ji."
Zhu Chanchan glared at him fiercely, raising her fists to shake them in demonstration. "It's not Ancestor Bangbang, it's Ancestor Chanchan!" she snapped in annoyance. "Master, that fellow who calls himself useless is here looking for you again! Follow me—Teacher Yu is probably down in the sea salvaging second-hand goods."
As she led the two forward, Heavenly Craftsmen bowed repeatedly in greeting: "Greetings, Eldest Senior Sister!" "Greetings, Eldest Senior Sister!"
She had not been Daoist Yu Ji's disciple for long—less than a year, in fact—yet her progress was astonishingly swift, far surpassing all the craftsmen in the Immortal Court's Ministry of Heavenly Works. Hence, she was revered as their Eldest Senior Sister.
Seeing this, Useless Qingxuan laughed. "Bangbang, we don't need your master anymore. When he forges treasures, he burns through too many materials. I think you'll do just fine."
Zhu Chanchan's eyes lit up, though she acted a bit bashful. "I consume quite a lot of materials too..."
Useless Qingxuan looked at Zulong Zhao Zheng. Zulong held his head high and chest out, saying calmly, "In reply to Patriarch, this disciple has traveled far and wide with Martial Uncle Wei Xu all these years, and I possess considerable wealth."
Overjoyed, Zhu Chanchan punched him playfully in the chest and beamed, "Fellow townsman, for real?"
Clatter!
With that single punch, Zulong Zhao Zheng felt the treasures within his Realm of Xiyi jolt violently. In the next instant, countless magic treasures burst out behind him—pavilions and towers, bells, cauldrons, pagodas, and pavilions, sabers, spears, battleaxes, and halberds, zithers, go boards, scrolls, and paintings filling the sky!
Among them were even the Twelve Golden Men modeled after Xu Ying, taller and far more formidable than the Twelve Golden Men cast back in the Yuanshou world!
Zhu Chanchan stared wide-eyed, muttering, "So you were telling the truth... Fellow townsman, you've struck it rich! Wait, no—I've struck it rich!"
Zulong was also startled by her, and he hurriedly gathered the treasures away.
Over the years, as the myriad worlds merged into the Earth Immortal Realm, various blessed lands had emerged. While none were as astounding as the appearance of Wuzhuang Temple, they were still remarkable.
Zulong had accompanied Wei Xu on expeditions to explore and temper himself in these blessed lands. His martial uncle took great care of him, allowing Zulong to claim the lion's share of the treasures found within. It was only during this latest expedition to the Heavenly Abyss that they stumbled, and Wei Xu ended up stuffed into the Sea Eye.
Near the Heavenly Abyss, the crowd waited with bated breath for the arrival of Immortal Emperor Mingzun.
Yet the Immortal Emperor was slow to appear.
Suddenly, violent ripples surged within the Heavenly Abyss, as though a colossal beast were stirring up storm and wave from within—a sight that rattled the soul, something even the Heavenly Abyss could scarcely contain!
On both shores of the Heavenly Abyss, the onlookers grew uneasy. One after another, they rose into the air to peer into the abyss, only to see the surging waters of the Heavenly Sea plunging down from both sides in a breathtaking spectacle.
A few found their heads spinning and tumbled straight down from above the Heavenly Abyss, plunging toward the abyss where survival was all but impossible.
"Those of low cultivation, do not fly above the Heavenly Abyss!" an aged voice called out.
Looking down into the abyss, the crowd felt their senses swimming. Across the opposite side of the Heavenly Abyss, seawater seemed to plunge toward them as well, and in the air on that far side hovered a figure gazing back—bearing their very own appearance!
Everyone peering into the Heavenly Abyss saw another self, leaving them marveling in astonishment.
It was the Sea Eye opening its gaze, like the eyes of the Heavenly Sea, captivating and bewitching.
Just then, a terrifying aura surged within the Heavenly Abyss, shredding everything in its path as it formed a gargantuan vortex swallowing and spewing the seawater!
At the center of that vortex lay absolute darkness, which suddenly erupted with lightning and thunder. A towering, burly figure burst upward from the vortex, clutching an immortal in hand—none other than the one who had just slipped and fallen into the abyss.
The immortal had barely caught his breath when he hastily thanked the giant: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for saving my life... Y-You... you're Wei Xu!"
Scared out of his wits, the immortal thought to himself, My life is over! He had long heard that Wei Xu was savage and cruel, devouring people to aid his cultivation. Who could have imagined that his savior would be none other than this fiend?
He saved me only because he wanted a fresh bite...
Wei Xu flew to the bank of the Heavenly Abyss, set the immortal down, and said pleasantly, "I'm in a great mood today, doing my good deed of the day. As for eating people..."
The immortal turned ash-gray. He leapt, throwing himself back into the Heavenly Abyss, and screamed shrilly, "I'd rather die than be eaten by you!"
"...I won't be eating any..." Wei Xu froze in bewilderment as he watched the man plunge down. Puzzled, he muttered, "Was he just looking to die? I thought he had slipped into the abyss, but it turns out he jumped on purpose."
He did not bother to rescue him a second time, letting the immortal plummet away.
Wei Xu swept his gaze around until it fell upon the various masters of the Ancestral Court. A ferocious gleam entered his eyes, and he sneered, "All the monsters and demons of the Ancestral Court are gathered here. Heh, now that Master is dead, these freaks crawl out again, dreaming of restoration! I'll beat Xu Ying first, and then I'll thrash these old bastards!"
Whether it was the Last Lord of Ziwei, or Taiqing, Yuqing, and the others, all sensed his ferocious aura and felt mildly unsettled. They stood up one after another, their eyes tracking Wei Xu's movements closely.
This fearsome god was the foremost figure beneath the Supreme realm in the Immortal Court, possessed of terrifying combat strength, and the oppressive aura he exuded lately had grown even heavier. Given a Supreme cave abyss, he could likely attain the Supreme realm on the spot!
Paying no heed to their stares, Wei Xu walked straight toward Xu Ying and said in a heavy voice, "Xu Ying, how is your Leakless Golden Body coming along? Someone sent me to spar a few moves with you, so you can familiarize yourself with my senior brother's divine abilities!"
At those words, the crowd was filled with astonishment, and murmurs broke out among them.
Xu Ying stood up and asked in surprise, "Which fellow daoist or senior asked you to help me?"
Wei Xu burst out laughing. "Help you? I'm here to beat you to death! Better you die by my hand than by my senior brother's!"
Without another word, he struck. A thunderous roar erupted like the splitting of heaven and earth. A swath of void near the Heavenly Abyss was torn wide open by his strike, revealing eight great anomalies: the Sea of Chaos, the Two Qis of Xuanhuang, the Pure Glazed Void, and more!
The reach of these eight Dao landscapes was immense, each one like a world of the heavens. Wei Xu's eight landscapes spanned as vast as eight full worlds, shoving the spectators near the Heavenly Abyss far into the distance!
At this juncture, the depth of each person's cultivation became apparent. Figures as powerful as the Last Lord of Ziwei and the Demon Ancestor manifested their dharma idols and remained seated right beside Wei Xu, treating hundreds of millions of li of space as mere inches; every motion between Wei Xu and Xu Ying was as clear as day to them.
Those slightly weaker, such as the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits of Taiqing, Yuqing, and Yuxu, sat with massive forms like towering gods high upon the firmament, able to see everything clearly.
Other experts, such as Heavenly Monarchs like Xu Jing and Ning Zhong, summoned their primordial spirits and could likewise observe the two.
Yet those with lower cultivation could no longer catch sight of Xu Ying and Wei Xu at all. They could only see the colossal Dao landscapes drifting slowly past their eyes like grand, looming worlds.
From the far shore of the Heavenly Abyss came Dao Lord Luofu's surprised voice: "That little rascal was stuffed into the Sea Eye for over half a year, yet his cultivation barely took any damage."
Wei Xu heard Dao Lord Luofu's voice as well. His eyes widened like bronze bells as he glared toward the opposite shore, sneering, "I'll kill Xu Ying first, and then I'll finish you off! Xu Ying, every divine ability of my Qingxuan lineage is evolved by gathering the Dao power of various Dao landscapes! Dao landscapes are not mere decorations! This move is called Towering Peaks of Kunlun!"
Dao power erupted from the landscapes behind him, blending seamlessly in an instant into a singular, pure force of the Great Dao as he struck toward Xu Ying!
He possessed eight Dao landscapes in all. Their eight powers coalesced to form the majestic scenery of Kunlun, as though recreating the entire realm of Kunlun itself. His crushing palm strike bore down with awe-inspiring force!
Wei Xu was no Supreme, yet the combat prowess he unleashed in this moment reached directly into the realm of a Supreme!
"The explosive might of the Qingxuan lineage is truly astounding!"
Across the Heavenly Abyss, faint figures emerged in the haze, unable to restrain their gasps of admiration.
Taiqing, Yuxu, and the others could not help but recall how Qingxuan, the Holy Venerable, and the righteous army had stormed the Ancestral Courts back then, their expressions changing instantly.
The Last Lord of Ziwei and the Demon Ancestor recalled the bloody slaughters of that era even more vividly, each letting out a cold snort.
Just then, a premonition struck them, and they turned their heads simultaneously in the same direction.
There, a tall, burly old man had appeared beside the Heavenly Abyss at some unknown moment, his gaze resting upon Wei Xu.
Behind him followed a delicate young woman—none other than Primordial Monarch Zitong.
The Immortal Emperor Supreme had finally arrived!
Chapter 621