Inheritance

A short while later, Long Dai, an elder of the dragon race from the Heavenly Immortal Realm, arrived at the imperial palace for an audience with the Immortal Emperor Supreme. Having caught wind of the visitor, Creation Supreme, Dao Master Yuanying, Fairy Huoling, and several others hurried over to gather in the hall. They all glared at Elder Long Dai, their eyes brimming with murderous intent. Elder Long Dai was utterly indifferent, paying these figures no mind whatsoever. Glancing around, he saw neither the woman who had attacked him aboard the World-Crossing Golden Ship that day nor the dragon-headed big bell. He mused, "It seems the Immortal Court has very little real authority as ruler of the Earth Immortal Realm. If experts of that caliber do not reside in the Immortal Court, it means this court never truly ruled the entire Earth Immortal Realm at all." Without realizing it, a hint of disdain seeped into the way he looked at the Immortal Emperor. "Your Majesty, the Immortal Emperor. I have come on an embassy to the Earth Immortal Realm by order of the Dragon Emperor to convey His Majesty's greetings." After offering this polite greeting, Elder Long Dai continued, "His Majesty the Dragon Emperor has decreed that both the Mortal Realm and the Earth Immortal Realm are lower realms subordinate to the Heavenly Immortal Realm. They lost contact with the Heavenly Immortal Realm ten million years ago due to unforeseen catastrophe. Now that the Three Realms Tide has brought the Heavenly, Earth, and Mortal Realms close once more, the Earth Immortal Realm has at last been recovered, so it must return beneath the governance of the Heavenly Immortal Realm. The Dragon Emperor intends to open ferries connecting the Three Realms, allowing immortals and mortals to travel back and forth, and to impart supreme arts from the other shore to you—so that you may cast off your ignorance and step into enlightenment." The moment he uttered those words, Creation, Yuanying, and the others knitted their brows. The Immortal Emperor frowned deeply as well, thoroughly displeased. "Cast off our ignorance and step into enlightenment?" Fairy Huoling sneered. "Why are we the ignorant ones while you are enlightened?" Elder Long Dai glanced at her and said unhurriedly, "Back then, humans and demons were mere subjects under the banner of our dragon race. It was our dragon race that imparted the Dao and arts to you, paving the way for the later demon and human civilizations. In those ancient days, you were savages mired in unrefined ignorance, and it was our dragon race that taught you the Dao, bringing you into civilization. Young lady, your words betray only your shallow ignorance." "You!" Choked with fury, Fairy Huoling took a step forward. Dao Master Yuanying held her back with a smile. "Elder, times have changed. In the era of the Dragon Court, the dragon race ruled heaven and earth, cultivating advanced Dao methods and divine abilities. But down to this day, the Earth Immortal Realm has undergone ten million years of progress. The Dao methods of the Earth Immortal Realm now fall short of nothing from the Dragon Court era." Elder Long Dai burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Summer insects speaking of ice—what shallow vision! In your entire Immortal Court, you have barely three or four weaklings at the eighth realm of the Dao. Is this the proud fruit of ten million years of development in your Earth Immortal Realm? What an absolute laughingstock! Back in our Dragon Court era, those at the ninth realm of the Dao presided over the world as Indestructible beings, great emperors across all eternity! Dragons at the eighth realm of the Dao numbered in the hundreds! As for other races, such as demons and humans, they too boasted numerous eighth-realm masters—far outnumbering your present Immortal Court many times over! Do you feel no shame uttering such words?" Dao Master Yuanying clenched her fists tightly and stole a glance at the Immortal Emperor, holding back her anger. Creation Supreme spoke up. "Elder, what you praise is the Dragon Court of ten million years ago. How does the Dragon Court of today compare to back then?" Elder Long Dai answered solemnly, "The Dragon Court of today surpasses the past by far. Today's Heavenly Immortal Realm boasts two Indestructible experts holding sway, while others like myself exist in numbers beyond count. What is more, experts from the other shore descend from time to time to guide the cultivation of our Dragon Court's warriors." The immortals exchanged quiet glances, their brows deeply furrowed. If what Elder Long Dai said was true, did that not mean two existences in the Indestructible Realm oversaw the Heavenly Immortal Realm? A chill ran through the Immortal Emperor's heart. The Indestructible Realm was an existence of legend; whether it even truly existed was still a subject of dispute. Some claimed that the Ancestral God at his peak had stood in the Indestructible Realm, while others argued that the Ancestral God had possessed no formal cultivation realm, only combat prowess comparable to it. Still others said that the Far Ancestor of the dragon race had cultivated to the Indestructible Realm. Yet detractors pointed out that only his primordial spirit had reached it while his physical body had fallen short, forcing him to abandon his flesh and plunge his primordial spirit into the Abyss Sea. Were the Indestructible experts of the Heavenly Immortal Realm genuinely in the Indestructible Realm? How did they compare to the Far Ancestor and the Ancestral God? Creation Supreme asked, "Elder, you repeatedly claim that the Dragon Court's other shore methods surpass the Earth Immortal Realm. Do you have any proof?" Elder Long Dai chuckled. "What proof does my little Dao friend require?" "Spoken words carry no weight; facts serve as proof," Creation Supreme said with a smile. "Incompetent though I am, I too stand in the eighth realm of the Dao, having presumptuously assumed the title of Supreme. I am merely the lowest in cultivation among our Immortal Court's Dao Eight experts. I would gladly learn from Elder Long Dai's other shore methods." Elder Long Dai glanced at him. "Very well. An exchange of techniques does no harm." Creation Supreme suggested, "This place is cramped. Let us take the fight beyond the heavens." "No need for such trouble," Elder Long Dai replied indifferently. "Here is just fine. Strike with everything you have. Whatever you break, I will pay for." Creation Supreme kept smiling, but anger flared in his chest. Ever since his path had reached fruition, few had dared look down on him. After Emperor Qingxuan and the Holy Venerable had attained the Dao one after another, he had done so on his own as well. He had attained the Dao with ten great Dao scenes, possessed a supreme-grade cave abyss, and wielded supreme-grade treasures! Back then, to evade the Holy Venerable, he had been forced to feign death and flee to that wretched place, the Mortal Realm, where his cultivation had been undermined by the dark Mortal Heavenly Dao, stalling his progress for six hundred thousand years. Had he been able to cultivate throughout those six hundred thousand years, he believed his prowess would not have been inferior to the Holy Venerable's! For Elder Long Dai to look down on him was sheer suicidal ignorance! Suddenly, Creation Supreme urged his cave abyss into motion, pushing his Dao power to its absolute limits, multiplying his cultivation and combat strength tenfold in an instant. This cave abyss originated from Xuandu Jade Capital Mountain and was known as the Creation Cave Abyss—the very cave abyss he had stolen from Great Dao Lord Xuhuang. Lord Xuhuang possessed vast divine abilities, and there had been other supreme-grade cave abysses upon Xuandu Jade Capital Mountain. Ever since the Creation Cave Abyss was stolen, the remaining ones had flown away in succession, their whereabouts unknown. Behind Creation Supreme's head, the Wheel of Creation spun. His physical body retained the appearance of a man in his thirties, radiating youth and bursting with explosive power. His Supreme realm was remarkably complete. Even without the Returning Dao Jade Platter upon his person, it did not impede the full display of his strength! Stepping forward, his surging Dao of Creation manifested as a supreme-grade divine ability, taking the shape of a massive bell. Its creative power unfolded a universe of magnificent majesty, as if a cosmos were housed within its bronze shell. Inside the bell, galaxies coiled, stars burned brilliant, and various Dao methods were enacted through the Dao of Creation. Countless stars even harbored myriad living beings and creatures, bursting with vital breath! To deduce the Dao of Creation to such an extent was truly breathtaking! A flash of surprise crossed Elder Long Dai's face, clearly astonished by Creation Supreme's attainments. Suddenly, that astonishment turned into wild excitement. Long Dai summoned his Heavenly Treasure Dao Wheel, and branching patterns immediately fluttered and swirled behind him. In the blink of an eye, the dragon-headed elder transformed into a colossal, sinewy monstrosity of grotesque proportions! His body looked as though cast from molten bronze and liquid iron. Branching patterns surfaced upon his dragon scales. With a ferocious green visage and protruding fangs, he grew utterly terrifying, his body sprouting numerous extra branches resembling exposed, jagged bones jutting in every direction. Behind his back, an immensely thick Heavenly Treasure Dao Wheel rose into view. It appeared to be carved from solid bone, completely inscribed with branching principles expounding the Great Dao of the other shore. In an instant, the cries of Dao weeping struck the imperial palace! Under the weight of that Dao weeping, the great hall began to decay at horrifying speed! *Whoosh!* His sharp claws thrust forward, piercing through the Creation Bell divine ability. With a deafening boom, he punched straight through the Wheel of Creation behind Creation Supreme's head. As the colossal Dao power vibrated, the Wheel of Creation shattered to dust! Everyone's faces drained of color. This Elder Long Dai was overpowered beyond all reason. With a single, simple punch, he had obliterated Creation Supreme's divine ability and shattered the Dao method Creation Supreme had cultivated painstakingly over countless years! Those present were all remarkable figures of formidable cultivation, possessing keen, elevated insight. They recognized at once that the moment the two Dao methods clashed, Long Dai's Great Dao was of a higher order. It had crushed the internal runic structure that formed the Dao of Creation, preventing its might from ever taking effect. Their hearts sank. Creation Supreme had the highest cultivation among them, with magic power more boundless even than the Immortal Emperor's. If even he could not withstand the opponent's Dao method, the rest of them stood no chance at all. After shattering the Wheel of Creation, Elder Long Dai's fist did not stop. Changing from fist to palm, he brought it crashing down heavily toward Creation Supreme! Though defeated, Creation Supreme did not lose his composure. His cave abyss spun as Dao power surged forth, altering his technique to counter the blow. Yet when Long Dai's palm slammed down, it severed his connection to the Creation Cave Abyss and seized his head firmly! "Stop!" the Immortal Emperor Supreme and the others shouted in alarm. Ignoring them completely, Elder Long Dai hoisted Creation Supreme up by the back of his head, suppressing all counteraction. Extending a razor-sharp claw from his other hand, he traced a line across Creation Supreme's forehead, circling his entire skull. Fairy Huoling, Dan Xuanzi, and Dao Master Yuanying moved to launch a rescue, but Creation Supreme gritted his teeth against the agony and shouted, "I am fine! None of you may interfere!" The Immortal Emperor Supreme stepped in front of the three, shouting, "The Dragon Court envoy bears no malice. Stand down!" Elder Long Dai pinched Creation Supreme's scalp between two claws and gave a gentle tug, peeling the entire scalp away with immense satisfaction. Tossing Creation Supreme aside, Elder Long Dai carefully smoothed out the scalp and refined away the bloodstains upon it. His face covered in blood, Creation Supreme kept his expression unchanged. He signaled for Fairy Huoling and the others not to act rashly, then said, "Elder's divine abilities are vast and profound. You have my utmost admiration." Elder Long Dai laughed heartily. "Little Dao friend, you have not cultivated the Great Dao of the other shore, yet you reached this stage—it was no easy feat. Scalping is an ancient tradition of our Heavenly Immortal Realm. Whenever we encounter an opponent we admire, we carve off their scalp and tan it to keep as a trophy. Forgive me if I startled you." Creation Supreme swallowed the blood rising in his throat and shook his head. "I am unharmed. Thank you, Elder, for showing mercy." His creation arts were exquisite; soon, new scalp and hair grew back, and the internal injuries healed considerably, though he would still need several days of recuperation. Elder Long Dai turned his gaze toward the Immortal Emperor Supreme and smiled. "Your Majesty, Emperor of the Earth Immortal Realm, you have witnessed my divine abilities. What do you think?" The Immortal Emperor looked toward Creation Supreme. Enduring his pain, Creation Supreme said, "Your Majesty, this minister believes this matter warrants careful deliberation. The methods of the other shore are indeed marvelous, but requiring us to open a conduit to the Heavenly Immortal Realm may not be a blessing." The Immortal Emperor hesitated. Creation Supreme added, "Your Majesty, the Ancestral God is currently steering the golden ship toward the gelatinous zone to intercept the powerhouses of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, putting his life on the line. How could we turn around and defect to the enemy?" Hearing this, Elder Long Dai let out a cold laugh. "Little Dao friend, I fear there is a misunderstanding. That Ancestral God of yours is thoroughly wicked. Our envoys from the Heavenly Immortal Realm were following the Dragon Emperor's orders, steering emerald rocks to establish a passage to the Earth Immortal Realm for peaceful passage between our worlds. Yet that Ancestral God ambushed them midway with an army, inflicting catastrophic casualties upon our Dragon Court's emissaries! Your Majesty, Emperor of the Earth Immortal Realm, I urge you to issue an order at once to execute that villain!" The Immortal Emperor glanced at Creation Supreme. "Martial Uncle, what do you think...?" Elder Long Dai sneered, "The wickedness of this Ancestral God does not end there. When immortals of the Earth Immortal Realm ascended to the Heavenly Immortal Realm to learn higher Dao methods, he sealed and obstructed them! Not only is this Ancestral God morally bankrupt, but there is also a scoundrel named Xu Ying, who barged into the Heavenly Immortal Realm, rammed people with a ship, and slaughtered many peace-loving dragon immortals of our Heavenly Immortal Realm! These two villains must be captured by the Earth Immortal Realm and delivered to the Heavenly Immortal Realm to be tried and punished!" The Immortal Emperor smiled. "Martial Uncle, the Heavenly Immortal Realm shares our enemies. Why not go with the flow?" Creation Supreme's brow twitched slightly. Fairy Huoling cried out, "Your Majesty, you must not! Our dispute with the Ancestral God and Dao Ancestor Xu is an internal struggle! If you invite outsiders in to deal with the Ancestral God and Dao Ancestor Xu, what if they refuse to leave once they arrive?" The Immortal Emperor replied, "Martial Aunt Huo speaks sense. However, if we do not invite them in, what shall we do when they force their way in?" Dao Master Yuanying said coldly, "If they force their way in, we resist them with our lives, of course! What does Your Majesty propose?" The Immortal Emperor's brow remained tightly furrowed, lost in indecision. Elder Long Dai chuckled. "Long ago, seeking a glimmer of survival, the Dragon Court built forty World-Crossing Golden Ships, fled the Three Realms, and sailed out of the universe in search of the other shore. Forty ships, carrying tens of thousands of powerful dragons, and only one returned, bringing back the supreme arts of the other shore. Our Dragon Court sacrificed so much to attain these arts, and now that we wish to bring the civilization of the other shore to the Earth Immortal Realm, we are met with suspicion. The Earth Immortal Realm truly disappoints me. Your Majesty!" His physique shrank back to its original form, and he said indifferently, "If you do not trust me, I shall take my leave!" "Elder, stay your steps!" The Immortal Emperor's eyes flickered. He stopped him and smiled toward Fairy Huoling and Dao Master Yuanying. "The Heavenly Immortal Realm might not necessarily intend an invasion. How can we claim they intend to annex our Earth Immortal Realm before even understanding them? That would be far too rash." Fairy Huoling and Dao Master Yuanying were furious and about to speak when Creation Supreme coughed and said, "Huoling, Yuanying, I believe His Majesty speaks reason." Both startled and enraged, Fairy Huoling and Dao Master Yuanying exclaimed in unison, "Brother Creation, have you lost your mind too?!" Creation Supreme replied gravely, "Not at all. Rather, our Dao methods and divine abilities truly fall far short of the other shore. The elder has traveled from afar to bring us the arts and abilities of the other shore, aiming to enlighten us, lead us out of our ignorance, and cure us of our conceit. This is a blessing! Your Majesty, what do you think?" Suppressing his murderous intent toward Huoling and Yuanying, the Immortal Emperor smiled. "That is precisely my view. Martial Uncle's words speak straight to my heart." Creation Supreme turned to Elder Long Dai. "How should we learn from the Dragon Court?" Elder Long Dai beamed. "With a single decree from His Majesty: abolish your existing Dao patterns and runes, comprehensively study the Li patterns of the other shore, cast away your current Dao methods and divine abilities, and learn the Dao methods and divine abilities of the other shore." Huoling and Yuanying trembled with indignation. Creation Supreme smiled. "That is precisely what should be done. Our Dao methods are crude, and our Dao patterns and runes cannot compare to the other shore. If we do not learn, we will be exterminated sooner or later. We must learn, without question! Only..." He put on a troubled look. "Could the elder wait a few days to allow us to discuss the details? Furthermore, in just over ten days, His Majesty faces that villain Xu Ying in a decisive duel. How about this: after His Majesty defeats and captures Xu Ying in that battle, we will present Xu Ying to you, Elder. It will not be too late to ally against the Ancestral God after that." Elder Long Dai laughed heartily. "Little Dao friend, you are truly a reasonable man! Then, Your Majesty, it is settled!" The Immortal Emperor Supreme smiled. "A favorable outcome for everyone is indeed for the best. Elder, why not stay here and await the good news?" Elder Long Dai nodded and took up residence in the imperial palace. Creation Supreme bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, I carry injuries and must take my leave." The Immortal Emperor courteously saw him off. Fairy Huoling and Dao Master Yuanying departed in resentment. Dan Xuanzi hesitated for a moment before remaining at the Immortal Emperor's side. Fairy Huoling and Dao Master Yuanying hurried to Creation Supreme's estate, but Creation Supreme kept his doors firmly shut and refused all visitors. The two women had no choice but to leave. *** In the Ancestral Court, Zhenwu Temple. Young Master Ning Qing was cultivating when the Returning Dao Jade Platter suddenly stirred. A youth clad in black stepped slowly out from the jade platter—it was none other than the mirrored incarnation of Creation Supreme. He woke Young Master Ning Qing and said with a smile, "Ning Qing, your master comes today to bid you farewell." Ning Qing was furious and shouted, "You brutalized the New Dao Ancestor, and you still have the gall to see me? I have no master like you!" The black-clad youth said, "I have resolved to undertake a momentous deed, and I fear I may not return alive. Thus, I have come to take my leave. Disciple, when I go, and you hear my name spoken once more across the world, you shall be proud to have been my disciple!"