Daoist Wukong seemed intensely wary of anyone touching his scalp. Xu Ying had no idea what had happened to him, but surmised it could not have been anything pleasant.
Seeing him dodge, Xu Ying thought suspiciously, *Could he have been scalped before?*
Daoist Wukong had arrived in the Heavenly Immortal Realm very early, six years ago. Lu Yiren had mentioned meeting Daoist Wukong when the monkey traveled to the Mortal Realm.
His willpower was staggering. As long as a blow failed to kill him, he only grew stronger. He had actually swum through the River of Spiritual Light all the way, and even crossed the cosmic cesspool.
However, entering the Heavenly Immortal Realm from the Mortal Realm was exceedingly difficult. One either had to ascend and let the ascension glow carry them across the gelatinous zone, or find the passage pierced by the Emerald Rock.
"Fellow Daoist, how did you find the Emerald Rock passage?" Xu Ying inquired.
"Simple. Divide into hundreds of millions of incarnations, and one is bound to find it."
Daoist Wukong examined the golden ship curiously and remarked, "Had I known this ship could travel to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, I would have taken it instead."
Xu Ying was startled. *Dividing into hundreds of millions of incarnations across different directions to comb through the gelatinous matter?*
It was the clumsiest method, yet also the most effective.
"How did you create hundreds of millions of incarnations?" Xu Ying asked.
"Do you have hair on your body? Refine your hairs into incarnations."
"I have body hair too."
"You definitely don't have as much as I do."
Xu Ying then asked about what Daoist Wukong had experienced over the past few years. Daoist Wukong hid nothing and said, "After entering the Heavenly Immortal Realm, I traveled everywhere and discovered that the Dao methods here flourish far beyond the Earth Immortal Realm, outstripping both the Demon Court and the Immortal Court. So I paid visits to the virtuous and mighty experts across the realm, requesting guidance on their Dao methods to hone my skills."
He spoke with a refined, literary flair—a golden ape, yet remarkably urbane.
Yet Xu Ying knew that this monkey's 'visits' were never warm, smiling social calls bearing gifts. Most likely, he had kicked down their doors to let fists and cudgel settle the score.
As the founder of the Leakless Golden Body, his physique of bronze sinew and iron bone could not be broken by anyone.
Xu Ying laughed. "Your journey to the Heavenly Immortal Realm must have been one long battle cry. Since you survived, it seems your Leakless Golden Body has only grown stronger."
Daoist Wukong shuddered and mumbled, "I did meet with a small setback once."
Xu Ying pressed for details, but Daoist Wukong refused to say another word. On that occasion, he had been captured by a dragon elder aboard the dragons' ancient World-Crossing Golden Ship. The elder had manifested a Heaven-and-Earth Primordial Spirit whose eyes shot out snow-white beams of light meant to sever his head.
The white light had whirled three times around his neck, slicing through skin and flesh and nearly decapitating him!
He had escaped by pure luck, and looking back now, lingering dread still kept him from speaking of it.
Xu Ying smiled and said, "Daoist, I've found the flaw in the Leakless Golden Body. Let us compare notes."
Daoist Wukong looked surprised. "You found it too? I was just about to tell you that while consulting dragon experts on the Great Dao of the other shore, someone exposed my flaw and nearly killed me."
At this, he recalled his miserable encounters in the Heavenly Immortal Realm. When he had challenged an eighth-rank Dao expert of the Supreme realm, the other party had used the art of Zangification to exploit the flaw in the Leakless Golden Body and nearly struck him dead.
He had run into similar situations many times. Only after suffering did he bitterly reflect and begin tracing where the flaw of the Leakless Golden Body lay.
"I practiced the Great Dao of the other shore and gained great enlightenment, using the opportunity to mend the flaw in the Leakless Golden Body. I'll pass it to you," Daoist Wukong said.
Xu Ying was stunned. He had originally intended to tell Daoist Wukong the flaw he had discovered so the two could study how to fix it together. He never expected the monkey had already perfected it on his own!
Xu Ying had wanted to mend the Leakless Golden Body himself, but his attainments in the Dao of Taishang were insufficient, preventing him from completing it and forcing him to set the matter aside for the time being.
Daoist Wukong passed the perfected Leakless Golden Body to Xu Ying, then walked over to the Last Lord of Ziwei. He bowed deeply and said, "Greetings, old gentleman."
The Last Lord of Ziwei recalled his thick booklet filled with tally marks from this monkey. But considering he was already dead, and that even wielding a lethal treasure like the Glazed Lamp he probably could not subdue the ape, he adopted an open-minded demeanor and smiled. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Having traveled to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, what insights have you gathered?"
Daoist Wukong stood with him at the prow, his robes fluttering in the wind. Watching the Earth Immortal Realm draw ever nearer, the golden fur on his face ruffled gently as he murmured, "Experts gather in droves, far surpassing the Earth Immortal Realm. Resources are abundant and inexhaustible. Yet it is linked to the other shore, harboring grave perils. If the Earth Immortal Realm wishes to survive, it must unite; otherwise, facing the Heavenly Immortal Realm, it could fall at any moment."
The Last Lord of Ziwei was moved. "Could you elaborate in detail?"
Daoist Wukong suddenly transformed into a golden rainbow and shot away, his laughter trailing behind. "I am used to living untethered. Being around officials like you always makes me squirm. We'll talk another day!"
"That monkey never can sit still!" The Last Lord of Ziwei flared up in annoyance, his brush flying as he slashed several more tally marks into his booklet.
Beside them, the White Bone Divine Dragon steered the World-Crossing Golden Ship with the golden key like a seasoned helmsman, finally arriving in the Earth Immortal Realm.
Suddenly, the divine dragon snapped awake, staring blankly at the golden key, unable to process what was happening.
Xu Ying took over the golden key, glanced at the beast, and said to Big Dragon, "Lord Dragon, this fellow is bizarre. Take a look and see if you can restore its memories."
Big Dragon had also noticed the extraordinary nature of the White Bone Divine Dragon. It promptly transformed into indestructible spiritual light and drilled into the dragon's skull.
Taking the helm of the World-Crossing Golden Ship, Xu Ying looked back toward the Heavenly Immortal Realm and said in a low voice, "Let's go. We must see the Ancestral God!"
The Last Lord of Ziwei's expression turned solemn. "Indeed, we must see the Ancestral God. And ideally, the Holy Venerable as well. If the Earth Immortal Realm remains as it was—a loose sheet of scattered sand—it will never stand against the Heavenly Immortal Realm."
Silently, he added in his heart, *When that day comes, no one will keep their scalp!*
The World-Crossing Golden Ship flew toward the Ancestral Court.
Xu Ying gazed into the distance. The Ancestral God was the strongest entity on the Ancestral Court's side, while the Holy Venerable was the strongest on the Immortal Court's side; both possessed the power to hold down all other contenders.
*Only if the Ancestral God and the Holy Venerable join hands and unite their factions can we stand a fighting chance against the Heavenly Immortal Realm. And even then, it will merely be a fighting chance.*
The World-Crossing Golden Ship arrived at the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court. Xu Ying moored the vessel and led the group inside.
Senior Brother Tian waited before the gates, gesturing politely. "Teacher already knows of your arrival and commanded me to await you here. Please follow me."
Xu Ying, Yuan Weiyang, the Last Lord of Ziwei, and the others hurried after him. Before long, they came to a river, where the Ancestral God was fishing amidst the currents.
This river was the Earth Immortal Realm's River of Spiritual Light. In the past, Xu Ying had washed his nightstool here without ever noticing anything peculiar. Standing here again today, he realized just how unfathomable the Ancestral God truly was.
The Ancestral God held his fishing rod with absolute composure. When Xu Ying had cast the three Demon Sovereigns into the cosmic cesspool, it was here that the god had hooked them back out.
Xu Ying hurried to his side and recounted everything they had witnessed in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, concluding, "As matters stand, the only way forward is for You to unite the strength of the Ancestral Court, while the Holy Venerable unites the Immortal Court. Only sincere cooperation will give us a fighting chance."
The Last Lord of Ziwei nodded. "And merely a fighting chance. Ancestral God, in this world, Your strength and that of the Holy Venerable reign supreme; none can surpass you. Yet while being pursued, I sensed three individuals in the Heavenly Immortal Realm capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you two. And that is merely the tip of the iceberg. How many such experts the Heavenly Immortal Realm truly harbors remains unknown."
The Ancestral God sighed. "Tian, go invite the Holy Venerable so we may confer together."
Senior Brother Tian complied.
A moment later, Xu Ying saw Senior Brother Tian return, leading Lou Mingyu and a youth with ruby lips and pearly teeth. Xu Ying was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the youth.
"I told you before that I intend to cultivate the new Dao,"
the youth said nonchalantly to Xu Ying. "Since I am to cultivate the new Dao, naturally I had to sever my own cultivation."
Xu Ying quickly asked the Ancestral God, "Did You capture the Holy Venerable to kill him for revenge?"
The Ancestral God looked sheepish. "How do you know I captured him, rather than him coming as a guest?"
The Holy Venerable sneered. "Dao Ancestor Xu knows your petty nature all too well. Seeing that I had severed my cultivation, you naturally seized the opportunity to settle the score for when I slew you back then."
Xu Ying nodded repeatedly.
The Ancestral God chuckled. "I have no intention of killing him. It is just that the Holy Venerable is arrogant and incorrigible, having committed countless misdeeds. Thus, I invited master and disciples here to keep watch over him, lest he roam free and cause more harm."
The Holy Venerable sneered cold contempt.
Lou Mingyu could not swallow his anger and said, "If the Ancestral God is urging him toward virtue, why forbid him from cultivating?"
The Ancestral God made no answer. He certainly held a grudge.
Back then, the Holy Venerable and Qingxuan had led the other members of the Six Supremes and Twelve Marvels to join forces against him, beating him until he urinated blood continuously for six hundred thousand years. Only Xu Ying's arrival had finally cured him.
Such a grudge was not something to be brushed aside lightly.
Xu Ying spoke cautiously, "Ancestral God, the Heavenly Immortal Realm now hangs high above the Earth Immortal Realm. Sincere cooperation between both sides is essential to unite the Ancestral Court and the Immortal Court against them. Otherwise, once the Heavenly Immortal Realm's experts descend, not only will they take our scalps, but they'll scalp Your venerable self as well."
The Ancestral God cursed with a chuckle. "The Holy Venerable is not even an immortal now. He cannot cow the Six Supremes and Twelve Marvels; he is useless."
The Holy Venerable replied impassively, "My cultivation of the new Dao will only be faster than Dao Ancestor Xu's, never slower."
The Ancestral God's expression remained steady, yet the sky above the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court shifted between sunshine and shadow. Xu Ying, the Last Lord of Ziwei, and the others grew anxious, knowing the Ancestral God was wrestling with an internal dilemma.
After a moment, the sky cleared. The Ancestral God said, "The broader situation takes precedence."
Everyone let out a breath of relief.
Xu Ying pondered, "However, relying solely on the Ancestral God and the Holy Venerable is still far from enough. We need to find more experts! Among the Six Supremes and Twelve Marvels, Qiongtai and three other Marvel realm figures have yet to appear! Fairy Qiongtai should be suppressed within the Heaven-Measuring Ruler. But where are the other three?"
He frowned slightly. Even having Qiongtai and those three Marvels would not suffice; they needed even more power.
Suddenly, Xu Ying glanced at the great river, then over at Big Dragon, who was still examining the White Bone Divine Dragon's skull. An idea struck him. *Perhaps Big Dragon can return to his physical body. A complete entity of the ninth Dao realm might just be able to deter the Heavenly Immortal Realm.*
Yet with Big Dragon reduced to only a head, could he still command such a colossal frame?
*Big Dragon's primordial spirit was split into four portions, falling into the hands of Mingzun, Jiugong, Taiyuan, and Saint Luo respectively. They must be reclaimed from those four!*
Xu Ying's eyes flickered. *But the most critical piece lies with the Immortal Emperor. He took the largest share! Never mind him for now—I must rescue Fairy Qiongtai first!*
He raised the Landscape Heaven-Measuring Ruler and flew inside.
***
Within the River of Spiritual Light, another fleet from the Immortal Court followed the currents of indestructible spiritual light, finally reaching the Mortal Realm. At the ferry crossing of the Mortal Realm, the Immortal Emperor, Creation, Dan Xuanzi, and the others stood on the bank, quietly watching the approaching Three Realms Golden Ship.
Suddenly, the Immortal Emperor called out in a clear voice, "Dao Lord Jiugong, Daoist Taiyuan, Saint Luo—fellow Daoists, this is your last chance to leave the Mortal Realm. Do the three of you truly intend to hide here forever?"
Long after his voice faded, no answer came from the darkness.
The Immortal Emperor waited a moment longer. Creation Supreme chuckled and said, "They belong to the Holy Venerable's direct faction. Back then, they backed him against us; right now, they merely fear our retaliation."
He shouted into the gloom, "Fellow Daoists, step forth without worry! We will not take revenge on you."
Still, no reply echoed from the dark.
The Immortal Emperor and his retinue boarded a golden ship and issued the command, "All ships, depart immediately! Seal the River of Spiritual Light forever!"
The moment those words rang out, Dao Lord Jiugong's loud laughter burst from the darkness. "Your Majesty, the three of us are late!"
A smile crossed the Immortal Emperor's face. Turning to look, he saw Jiugong, Taiyuan, and Saint Luo emerging from the darkness, walking toward the ferry while waving their hands.
The Immortal Emperor ordered the ship halted to take the three aboard.
Once Jiugong, Taiyuan, and Saint Luo stepped onto the deck, Creation, Yao Luo, Dongshi, and the others sneered in derision.
Daoist Taiyuan chuckled. "Fellow Daoist brothers, from friction comes friendship. Though grudges existed between us, we were comrades in the uprising who once saved each other's lives. Surely we don't need to tear all pretenses apart, do we?"
The Immortal Emperor wore a mild expression and smiled. "Indeed, there is no need. However, since you fellow Daoists are the Holy Venerable's loyalists, it is difficult for us to rest easy."
Jiugong, Taiyuan, and Saint Luo exchanged glances. The Three Realms Golden Ship had already begun pulling away from the Mortal Realm, setting sail for the Earth Immortal Realm. If they leapt into the River of Spiritual Light now, their chances of survival were slim.
After a moment, Saint Luo sighed and said earnestly, "What must we do to earn everyone's trust?"
Creation Supreme smiled. "Fellow Daoists, His Majesty merely needs to leave an imprint upon your Dao Fruits."
Jiugong, Taiyuan, and Saint Luo's faces changed slightly, regret rising over having boarded this ship. To have someone else's brand etched onto one's Dao Fruit meant placing life and death entirely in another's hands!
Living in the Mortal Realm had been harsh, but at least their lives were their own. Boarding the Immortal Emperor's ship meant not even their lives belonged to them!
Even the Holy Venerable had never imposed such severe conditions. On the contrary, the Holy Venerable had granted them considerable freedom, only keeping resources out of their hands.
Patriarch Boshan spoke up, "Our Dao Fruits bear His Majesty the Immortal Emperor's imprint as well."
Suddenly, Saint Luo leapt into the air, plunging into the River of Spiritual Light while shouting, "My fate is determined by me, not by Heaven! If not even Heaven dictates my life, how could the likes of you? I would rather gamble with my life!"
He was engulfed by the River of Spiritual Light and vanished without a trace.
Jiugong and Taiyuan's expressions wavered between dark and light. Leaping down meant an uncertain fate; staying on board meant that as long as they stood in the Immortal Emperor's camp, they could still survive!
After a brief pause, Dao Lord Jiugong manifested his Dao Fruit and managed a strained smile. "Fellow Daoist brothers, please."
Daoist Taiyuan hesitated for a moment, then also manifested his Dao Fruit.
The Immortal Emperor Supreme smiled faintly, stepped forward, and said gently, "Worry not, martial uncles. I leave this imprint only as a precaution for emergencies; I will not use it to coerce you."
Dao Lord Jiugong and Daoist Taiyuan looked grim, remaining silent.
The golden ship raised its sails and forged ahead toward the Earth Immortal Realm. The Immortal Emperor Supreme felt thoroughly at ease. *Before embarking, my divination predicted great fortune for this journey, and so it proved. With Creation, Yao Luo, Boshan, and the others injured one after another, it gave me the perfect opportunity to bring them under my control. Is that not great fortune? Once I return to the Earth Immortal Realm, I will stand as one of three pillars alongside the Ancestral God and the Holy Venerable!*
Ambition surged in his chest. Remembering his duel against Xu Ying in a few months, he cast another divination. Once again, it read: Great Fortune.
His confidence soaring, the Immortal Emperor could not help bursting into hearty laughter.
Chapter 648