Xu Ying sensed the fluctuation of divine arts behind him and looked back, only to see a stretch of azure sky suddenly decay, mottle, and gradually shatter to pieces.
"Is that Mingman's grandfather, Ming Xun?"
Xu Ying grew thoughtful and felt quite gratified. "He must have achieved something in the Heavenly Dao. My efforts weren't in vain."
From Man Kongming, he had learned many of Imperial Son Mingxi's divine art maneuvers, which filled him with profound admiration for the prince. Mingxi had fought so few real battles, yet he was capable of pioneering so many formidable divine arts. His natural aptitude and comprehension were truly extraordinary.
"To trade blows with such a figure is a great blessing. What a pity," Xu Ying said, shaking his head.
Had they clashed today, Imperial Son Mingxi might still have matched him. But by the time they crossed hands in the Dragon Court Imperial Capital, Imperial Son Mingxi would be far from his match.
This was because the Great Daos Xu Ying was comprehending—Creation, Heavenly Heart, Heaven-Burning, Karma, Qianyuan, Space, and others—were steadily growing, and his cave abysses were expanding continuously.
The longer Imperial Son Mingxi delayed, the more advantageous it would be for Xu Ying.
Over this period, Xu Ying's cultivation grew more profound by the day. By the time he reached the Dragon Court Imperial Capital, he would far surpass what he was today!
He slowed his pace and traveled unhurriedly toward the Dragon Court Imperial Capital. Along the way, he admired the magnificent scenery of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, cultivating while instructing Mingman in her practice, and discussing Dao methods with Man Kongming, finding an indescribable ease and comfort in the journey.
"This is the first time I've felt so relaxed since coming to the Heavenly Immortal Realm," Xu Ying said with a smile to Man Kongming. "When I first arrived, I was hunted relentlessly, running for my life day after day. Now all is calm and peaceful. It seems dragons have courtesy after all."
Man Kongming laughed. "We dragons are no barbarians! Aside from the inheritance of Dao methods from the other shore, we also inherited the etiquette of the other shore. Never mind that you've come to issue a challenge—even if you came to dig up our ancestral graves, we would still uphold the code of hospitality and treat you with proper courtesy!"
"Really?" Xu Ying's eyes lit up, his breathing growing slightly hurried.
The mention of digging up ancestral graves gave him an immediate itch to put his skills to use.
Man Kongming hesitated, not daring to make any promises. He always felt there was something shifty about this barbarian, whose eyes gleamed like a thief's.
***
In the Dragon Court Imperial Capital, Elder Yuan Bugui manifested a minor All Heavens and attacked Imperial Son Mingxi within it. Both men executed unpredictable movement techniques like bolts of lightning; even a distance of ten thousand li could be crossed in an instant as they clashed.
Yuan Bugui was one of the twenty-seven powerhouses who had defeated the Holy Venerable. This time, Yuan Heng had invited him specifically to hone Imperial Son Mingxi.
Both sides exhausted their techniques. Facing such a mighty opponent for the first time, Imperial Son Mingxi was pushed to break through his limits again and again, comprehending deeper Dao methods that manifested into divine arts, remarkably holding his ground under Yuan Bugui's onslaught time and time again.
*Ten exchanges! I must hold out for ten exchanges!*
Just as this thought crossed his mind, on the tenth move, Yuan Bugui struck him squarely on the shoulder with a palm.
Yuan Bugui pulled his power in time, leaving him uninjured.
Imperial Son Mingxi looked crestfallen and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder."
Yuan Bugui laughed heartily. "There is no need for this, Your Highness. Your cultivation and strength have already far surpassed mine back in those days. Back then, I possessed nothing close to your prowess. Growing in the midst of battle is immensely difficult, yet your talent is exceedingly rare, allowing you to grasp even more extraordinary divine arts. Your future is limitless."
Imperial Son Mingxi bowed in gratitude.
Yuan Bugui said, "Rest for now, Your Highness. Organize what you have gained, and then we shall continue our sparring. Before that Xu Ying arrives, you will engage in a life-and-death struggle with that other barbarian named Holy Venerable Yuan Yu. Use Yuan Yu's head to awaken your killing momentum, and riding that wave, slay Xu Ying!"
Imperial Son Mingxi agreed and saw him off.
Leaving the minor All Heavens, Yuan Bugui found Yuan Heng waiting outside, having stood vigil for quite some time.
Upon seeing him, Yuan Bugui was startled. "The Prime Minister is injured?"
Heavenly Prime Minister Yuan Heng said, "I encountered the Retired Emperor."
Yuan Bugui's expression changed dramatically, and he blurted out, "Is that true? The Retired Emperor is truly not dead?"
Rumors had long circulated throughout the Heavenly Immortal Realm that Former Emperor Ming Xun was still alive, his face ruined, looking neither dragon nor ghost. Former Emperor Ming Xun roamed the Heavenly Immortal Realm like a phantom. At times, people would gaze upon undulating mountain ranges in the distance, only to draw near and discover an incomparably vast silver dragon sprawled in slumber.
At other times, people discovered traces of him in the seas. Rumors claimed Former Emperor Ming Xun was plotting a restoration, intending to alter the current Heavenly Dao, return to the archaic era, overthrow his son Emperor Mingdao, and reclaim the throne of the Dragon Emperor.
Other rumors whispered that Emperor Mingdao had led many dragon immortals deep underground to search for his whereabouts, intending to send him on his final journey. Others still said that another dragon Immortal, True King Cangzhu, had crossed blows with him.
"It was indeed him," Yuan Heng said. "Back then, I followed Emperor Mingdao to search for him and saw him from afar. At that time, his appearance was indeed ruined, with Dao ash constantly drifting from his face. But when I saw him this time, his appearance had been restored."
Yuan Bugui asked, "Where did you see him?"
Yuan Heng replied, "Beside the barbarian Xu Ying."
Yuan Bugui was thoroughly shaken, muttering, "So that's how it is. No wonder that human brat possesses such skill—it turns out the Retired Emperor taught him personally. The Retired Emperor instructed a human to challenge us, most likely aiming to smash our dragon race's confidence in burialization to rock bottom, forcing us to abandon burialization and follow him in cultivating the archaic arts!"
Yuan Heng said, "It will be difficult for His Highness Mingxi to secure a certain victory over Xu Ying, and with the Retired Emperor guarding his side, even I was wounded by him. For the sake of the Dragon Court's state and altars, I had no choice but to come and ask for your help, Daoist Friend."
Yuan Bugui said, "If even you were injured by him, what hope do I have?"
"That is why I have invited twelve other experts," Yuan Heng said with a smile. "Bi Youzhen, Yu Wendao, Long Tingyu, Meng Santong, Ying Wudi, Qiu Shaoyu, Jiao Wen, Cang Lan, and the rest. The twelve of them, like you and me, all defeated that minor barbarian Yuan Yu within ten moves. With the fourteen of us top-tier experts of the Dao Realm eighth fold, once we undergo burialization, we will certainly be able to see the Retired Emperor off to his grave!"
Yuan Bugui's face darkened and cleared uncertainly. "This is regicide..."
Yuan Heng said, "Daoist Friend, if we do not slay the monarch and heavily injure Xu Ying, should His Highness Mingxi be defeated in the future, do you know what the consequences will be?"
Yuan Bugui still hesitated.
Yuan Heng continued, "The consequence will be that His Majesty will no longer insist on comprehensive burialization and will inevitably promote the archaic arts and old Daos! Doing so will only plunge the Dragon Court into civil strife, giving the other shore the opportunity to intervene in the Heavenly Immortal Realm! When that happens, the elders will surely take the initiative to invite the Immortal True Kings of the other shore to descend just to protect their power and status!"
Yuan Bugui let out a long breath of turbid air and said, "If the Immortal True Kings of the other shore refuse to leave once they arrive, they will be the masters of this world, and we will be mere slaves... Did you inform His Majesty of this?"
Yuan Heng shook his head. "His Majesty is indecisive. He would certainly never agree."
Yuan Bugui said grimly, "Then we should indeed keep him in the dark. In this matter, we shall act first and report later. Let's go! Let us escort the Retired Emperor's funeral!"
The two strode outward. Outside the Dragon Court Imperial Capital, twelve experts at the Grand Completion realm, including Bi Youzhen, Yu Wendao, Long Tingyu, and Meng Santong, were already waiting. Seeing the two arrive, the group set off immediately.
When they drew near Xu Ying, Yuan Bugui said, "Prime Minister, your injuries have not yet healed. Stay behind to find Xu Ying and severely injure him. We will besiege the Retired Emperor and send him on his way."
Yuan Heng bowed deeply. "My deepest gratitude to you all!"
The crowd returned the bow in unison. "It is our duty. For the sake of the Dragon Court's state and altars, why should we fear infamy?"
Heavenly Prime Minister Yuan Heng took the lead, striding toward Xu Ying and the others.
***
Xu Ying, Mingman, and Man Kongming were currently admiring the scenery at Danxia Mountain. This mountain was a range formed after the ancient Dragon Court had been buried. Certain places emitted dragon qi that surged outward year-round. Because the spewing dragon qi manifested as shimmering golden-red glow, it was named Danxia—Cinnabar Clouds.
There were even rumors that people had witnessed the ghosts of dragon immortals who had died wrongfully during the ancient Dragon Court era wandering here.
Xu Ying knew the imperial mausoleums were likely situated near the ancient Dragon Court, which was why he had suggested lingering around Danxia Mountain for a while.
The places where dragon qi surged were likely not haunted by ghosts of dragon immortals at all, but rather the tombs where deceased dragon emperors were buried, their coffins preserving their corpses. Influenced by the Heavenly Dao of the other shore, the restrictions and seals on these tombs had turned to Dao ash. This erosion had already penetrated the coffins.
Looking at the terrain of Danxia Mountain, Xu Ying thought to himself, *Cracks in the coffins allowed the Great Daos within the dragon emperors' corpses to leak out, giving rise to the cinnabar clouds. Therefore, to locate the imperial tombs, one only needs to trace where the cinnabar clouds emerge.*
Just as this thought struck him, a voice rang out:
"'The Huanghua Water Curtain is a marvel beneath heaven; of it I first heard from the Old Man of Snowy Brook. Danxia's emerald cliffs house palaces of lofty mirth, where the Milky Way cleanses the azure lotus below.' This place was once the ancient capital of the old dynasty. Alas, buried in dust for tens of millions of years, it will never have the chance to see the light of day again."
Xu Ying turned toward the voice and saw an elderly man with an antique, gaunt countenance walking forward. He was in an outlander form, with a human head and human body, though rugged in bearing.
Man Kongming grew tense at once. "Heavenly Prime Minister Yuan Heng!"
Watching Yuan Heng draw near, Xu Ying smiled faintly. "Has the Heavenly Prime Minister also come to admire the scenery of Danxia?"
Yuan Heng chuckled. "Xu Ying, you did not come to Danxia to sightsee, and naturally, neither did I."
Xu Ying uttered an 'oh' and turned wary. "Could it be I've run into someone of the same trade? Mojin, Banshan, Faqiu, Xieling—might I ask which sect the Heavenly Prime Minister hails from?"
Yuan Heng was taken aback. He pondered the meaning of those words for a good while but could make nothing of them, so he chuckled and said, "The purpose of my trip is to accomplish a great deed. Once, there was a Great Emperor of the dragon race. After the previous Dragon Emperor was assassinated, the realm fell into turmoil. Rising from adversity, he fought battles to quell the chaos and eventually ascended to the imperial throne. After becoming the Dragon Emperor, he was diligent in governance and loved his people, never committing any grave error."
Xu Ying realized inwardly, *As expected, he's also eyeing the imperial mausoleums!*
Yuan Heng continued, "During that Dragon Emperor's reign, the Three Realms were at peace. Even among the human and demon races, numerous brilliant talents emerged. In his Dragon Court, many demon immortals and human immortals served as officials. Yet the weather in heaven is unpredictable; suddenly, one day, all the divine diviners of the Dragon Court foresaw a terrifying outcome: the Three Realms were about to face extinction, the Dragon Court was about to collapse, and the dragon race was doomed to perish. That Dragon Emperor possessed grand talent and bold vision, exhausting every means to prolong the life of the Dragon Court."
At this moment, Xu Ying noticed another group of people walking unhurriedly toward Danxia Mountain.
Mingman and Man Kongming were gradually drawn in by Yuan Heng's tale and did not notice them. Xu Ying, however, sensed that these thirteen dragon powerhouses were extraordinarily formidable, far superior to ordinary dragon elders.
He frowned slightly.
Yuan Heng said, "Though that Dragon Emperor was incomparably powerful, he was helpless in the face of this extinction. He conceived three plans to prolong the Dragon Court's life. The first was the Ten Thousand Dragon Banner Project."
Xu Ying's heart stirred. The Ten Thousand Dragon Banner Project had nearly failed. Many Ten Thousand Dragon Banners had been left behind back then, but only the one Xu Ying obtained remained intact; the others had perished along with the annihilation of the Dragon Court within the Heavenly Sea.
Even Xu Ying's Ten Thousand Dragon Banner had once been seized by Immortal Emperor Meng Shanming, and after Meng Shanming died, it fell back into Xu Ying's hands before he gifted it to the Far Ancestor.
"The second plan was the Stealing Heaven Project: gathering the finest immortal gold in the Immortal Realm to construct forty of the swiftest ships, carrying the Dragon Court's most promising seeds—dragon immortals, demon immortals, and human immortals alike—to break out of the Three Realms universe and seek out the other shore to multiply and thrive."
Yuan Heng continued, "The third was the Revival Project, divided into two parts. First, when ten million years had passed after the extinction, the Dragon Court would revive, the Ten Thousand Dragon Banners would activate, and dragon souls would seize bodies to perpetuate dragon civilization. Second, the dragons on the other shore would return to the Three Realms after the Great Extinction to restore the Dragon Court."
Xu Ying's gaze fell upon those thirteen mighty figures. Ahead of these thirteen dragon powerhouses, the tall silhouette of an old man suddenly appeared.
Xu Ying recognized him—it was Mingman's grandfather, Ming Xun.
"That Dragon Emperor can be said to have saved the dragon race. Without him, there would be no Dragon Court today, nor any revival of the dragon race," Yuan Heng said. "He earned the admiration of all of us dragons. He built forty World-Crossing Golden Ships, yet he did not board one himself. Instead, he chose to stay behind and await the arrival of the extinction alongside the remaining dragons. He wanted to fight against this Great Extinction."
On the other side of Danxia Mountain, Xu Ying saw Dao snow fall from the heavens. Those thirteen incomparably powerful beings stepped into Ming Xun's Dao realm, each manifesting an ancient god Primordial Spirit to suppress Ming Xun's Dao realm, remarkably halting the descent of the Dao snow!
"Only, he failed," Yuan Heng said. "All his subjects, all his kin—whether he knew them or not—perished in that Great Extinction. He, too, should have died, but he was simply too powerful. He is an Immortal, and against all odds, he survived to this day."
Xu Ying asked, "What was his name?"
He already knew the answer, but he still wanted to ask.
Yuan Heng said, "His name is Ming Xun. He is the father of the current Emperor Mingdao, and the Retired Emperor of our Dragon Court."
Mingman's heart tightened. She looked hastily at Xu Ying, feeling apprehensive inside. *Has my identity been exposed? Will barbarian master still teach me?*
Xu Ying asked, "Yet now you wish to kill this Retired Emperor. What is the reason for this?"
Yuan Heng sighed and said, "Times have changed. For the Retired Emperor to seek the restoration of tradition is a betrayal of the present Dragon Court. Xu Ying, you were taught by him, weren't you? If you defeat His Highness Mingxi, the Retired Emperor's scheme will succeed, and our Dragon Court will fall into civil strife. Therefore, we have no choice but to take action against the Retired Emperor and see him on his way."
Xu Ying suddenly burst into laughter. "Your Dragon Court and all you dragons exist today solely because of the Retired Emperor's blessings! Without his three Dragon Court projects, where would any of you be now? Yet you repay kindness with enmity and seek to kill him? Heavenly Prime Minister, is this the etiquette and morality you learned from the other shore?"
A look of disappointment appeared on his face as he shook his head. "You have truly disappointed Emperor Ming Xun. Disappointed him utterly."
Yuan Heng shook his head. "You do not understand the Dragon Court's predicament, nor do you know the power of the other shore, let alone our difficulties..."
"Utter nonsense!"
Xu Ying said coldly, "Heavenly Prime Minister, who do you think you are? I know your objective: eliminate Ming Xun, injure Xu Ying, and ensure Mingxi's victory. But you have underestimated an Immortal, and you have underestimated me."
The moment his voice fell, the battle of the thirteen Grand Completion experts besieging Former Emperor Ming Xun erupted!
Heavenly Prime Minister Yuan Heng's face flickered. He heard the sound of breaking bones—and that was definitely not Emperor Ming Xun's bones. In the very first exchange, someone's bones had been shattered by Emperor Ming Xun!
"You have burialization, but Emperor Ming Xun also has his True Dragon form. Furthermore, having received my guidance, his cultivation and strength far exceed what they were before."
Xu Ying's gaze settled upon Yuan Heng's face, and he said calmly, "You underestimated Ming Xun, and you underestimated me. You should not have come before me with an injured body."
A sudden chill ran down Yuan Heng's spine, making his hair stand on end. He roared urgently, "Burialization!"
Almost at the exact same moment, Xu Ying activated burialization as well, and two figures surged into the air!
Chapter 691