Who Goes There? Dao Ancestor Xu!

Xu Ying's heart skipped a beat as he looked toward the dragon emperor. An existence of the Immortal realm. Previously, when he inhabited the body of the Big Dragon in Emperor Mingdao's presence, he had felt no pressure whatsoever. But now, arriving in his true form, he could sense from afar the overbearing Dao pressure radiating from immortality! Imperial Son Mingxi said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I will accompany you to see His Majesty." Xu Ying shook his head. "I have long resolved to pay a visit to Emperor Mingdao myself. There is no need for you to accompany me. Please stay." He followed the guard toward Emperor Mingdao. Imperial Son Mingxi could only watch him go. Xu Ying did not know what others felt, but the closer he drew to Emperor Mingdao, the heavier the pressure became. It weighed down upon his physical body, primordial spirit, divine consciousness, Great Daos, and cave abysses, reducing the lively, surging Daos within him to utter silence. This pressure was even heavier than the oppressive presence of Former Emperor Mingxun! Xu Ying was already far stronger than when he first met Former Emperor Mingxun, yet facing Emperor Mingdao, he still found the other's aura difficult to bear. Looking completely composed, Xu Ying arrived before Emperor Mingdao and bowed in greeting, still observing the etiquette of the Earth Immortal Realm. At this moment, Heavenly Prime Minister Yuan Heng, Yuan Bugui, and others walked over. Yuan Heng said, "Xu Ying, before His Majesty, you use the etiquette of the Earth Immortal Realm. That is sheer insolence." Xu Ying looked up in surprise. "Why does the Heavenly Prime Minister say that? The etiquette of my Earth Immortal Realm was originally handed down from the era of the Dragon Court. In using the etiquette of the Dragon Court era to have an audience with His Majesty, how is it anything less than solemn and respectful? If I had used the etiquette of the other shore, would that mean I have come to have an audience with an outlander Dragon Emperor of the other shore?" Yuan Heng's momentum faltered, and he snapped, "Xu Ying, your tongue is sharp indeed! Our Heavenly Immortal Realm flourishes and prospers, far mightier than in the era of the Dragon Court, precisely because we transformed our customs and changed our attire! We study the Dao methods and culture of the other shore; we erect their architecture, wear their clothes, speak their language, and observe their etiquette! That is why we are strong and prosperous, surpassing antiquity. By using etiquette from a barbaric age to greet His Majesty, you stand suspected of insulting His Majesty!" Xu Ying laughed aloud. "Why is the Heavenly Prime Minister's vision so shallow? Could it be that I battered your brains addled?" Yuan Heng flared with anger. Emperor Mingdao said, "What do you mean by that?" Xu Ying said, "Your Majesty, is the other shore mighty because of its Dao methods and divine abilities, or because of its clothing and architecture, or its language and customs? If the other shore's might lies in its Dao methods and divine abilities, then learn their Dao methods and divine abilities! If you discard this essence and instead turn to wholesale adoption of their language and customs, even copying all of their garments and architecture, then are the dragons truly still dragons, or are they outlanders?" Yuan Bugui laughed heartily. "A barbarian will always be a barbarian! The other shore's greatness certainly stems from its Dao methods and divine abilities, but could its architecture, clothing, language, customs, and etiquette be any less magnificent?" Xu Ying glanced at him and said coolly, "The towers of the other shore are built taller, but they are crude and lack beauty. Why not learn their crafting methods to build the pavilions and terraces of the dragons? They could be built just as tall while preserving the beauty of the dragon race. The clothing of the other shore is sleek and succinct, but dragon robes can be made just as streamlined, with far more exquisite patterns. The language of the other shore is complex and contains the meaning of the Dao, but the dragon tongue can likewise absorb its essence. Why discard your own tongue to learn theirs entirely? As for customs and etiquette, what do they have to do with strength?" Yuan Bugui sneered, "The customs and etiquette of the other shore possess far more depth and flavor than the traditional customs of the dragon race! You are merely quibbling!" Xu Ying said, "You are no longer a dragon, but an outlander wearing a dragon's skin. What right do you have to call me a quibbler?" Yuan Bugui raged, "You aren't one of our dragon race either!" Xu Ying's expression turned solemn. "I am a descendant of the Dragon. Though the era of the Dragon Court fell, my human race inherited the dragon legacy, enduring endless hardships to achieve what we have today." Long Tingyu stepped forward and said, "Barbarian, we will not haggle with you over these petty trivialities; let us speak only of Dao methods and divine abilities! The Dao methods and divine abilities of the other shore are unquestionably powerful. Confronted with an other shore this mighty, complete Zangification is the only path forward. What brilliant alternative do you claim to possess?" Xu Ying sneered. "In my youth, I could not defeat that little barbarian, the Holy Venerable. I thought the Holy Venerable unimaginably formidable, an insurmountable peak I could never best. When I grew up and looked at the little barbarian Holy Venerable again, I suddenly felt that I could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Why? Because my body was still growing, making me stronger; I was still studying Dao methods, broadening my mind. And did I undergo wholesale Holy Venerablization? No." His gaze swept across the faces of Long Tingyu and the others as he said, "It is precisely because I did not emulate the Holy Venerable in everything that I did not become a 'Little Holy Venerable,' but rather Dao Ancestor Xu! The Heavenly Immortal Realm's complete Zangification merely turns you into a 'Little Other Shore'—not the true other shore. The Earth Immortal Realm has never undergone complete Zangification. We hear their principles, study their Daos, and comprehend their divine abilities, advancing step by step. In the future, we will surely run neck and neck with the other shore!" Meng Santong took a step forward and mocked, "You say neck and neck and so it shall be? The Dao methods of the Earth Immortal Realm merely pick up the scraps left by the dragons. After the Dragon Court was destroyed, you barely escaped with your lives, surviving by sheer luck to this day without a single great achievement. What qualifications or ability do you possess to rank yourselves alongside the other shore?" Xu Ying fixed his gaze on Meng Santong's face and said, "If we cannot do so now, does that mean we never can in the future? Where there is a will, there is a way. If one lacks even ambition, one is nothing more than a walking corpse devoid of a soul—and how would that be any different from you?" Meng Santong was infuriated and wanted to lash out, but before Emperor Mingdao, he did not dare make a scene. Yuan Heng said, "Xu Ying, you ramble on and on, but it is nothing more than sophistry. At the end of the day, isn't the Earth Immortal Realm's Dao still inferior to that of the other shore? This point alone settles the verdict!" Xu Ying burst out laughing. "Heavenly Prime Minister, were we not just discussing the matter of my etiquette? How did the conversation suddenly shift to the Earth Immortal Realm's Dao methods being inferior to the other shore's? What verdict could possibly be settled?" His expression turned serious, and he said in a heavy voice, "Princess Mingman studied the Dao methods of the other shore for ages without making any headway. Yet after studying with me for merely a few days, she advanced by leaps and bounds, to the point where she could sweep through her brothers and sisters across the imperial palace! Does this not prove the Dao methods of the Earth Immortal Realm surpass those of the other shore?" "I thought you had some profound insight, Xu Ying, but your understanding amounts to nothing more than this!" Yuan Heng laughed heartily and said, "The golden body technique Princess Mingman cultivates clearly originates from the Supreme Dao of the other shore! The divine abilities she utilized also come from the other shore—they are the heritage of the other shore! You merely modified this heritage, translating the principle patterns into dragon runes! And yet you dare attempt to deceive His Majesty—a crime worthy of ten thousand deaths!" Xu Ying scoffed. "I once thought the Heavenly Prime Minister would possess a broad mind and extraordinary wisdom, but who knew you were this ignorant? Your rotten views would make even rustic fools laugh their teeth out. I stated just now that if the other shore's Dao methods are powerful, then we learn from them—when did I ever deny that? Princess Mingman is proof of this very fact!" Yuan Heng sneered, "Princess Mingman merely tapped into the Far Ancestor's bloodline to grow so strong in such a short time. That hardly counts as proof! Had she utilized principle patterns, her strength would be even greater!" Xu Ying shook his head. "The opinion of rotten wood. The dragon race consists of the Far Ancestor's descendants; every one of them carries the Far Ancestor's bloodline. The other imperial sons and princesses possess that bloodline as well—so why, when using principle patterns, are they not stronger than Mingman?" Ying Wudi took a step forward and said in a low voice, "Barbarian, cease your sophistry! The Far Ancestor's bloodline is potent, but it conflicts with principle patterns! The reason we abandoned the bloodline and underwent complete Zangification back then was that no matter how strong the bloodline is, it can never surpass the Far Ancestor!" "Precisely!" Another dragon elder said, "The Far Ancestor is strong, but he is no match for His Majesty! His Majesty captured the Far Ancestor within ten moves. This proves that His Majesty, having cultivated the Dao methods of the other shore and attained immortality, possesses cultivation and prowess far exceeding the Far Ancestor!" Xu Ying smiled and said, "When His Majesty defeated the Far Ancestor, how many cave abysses did he deploy? And how many cave abysses did the Far Ancestor deploy? If the Far Ancestor had been given just as many cave abysses to contest again, I do not believe His Majesty would have prevailed." As the crowd continued to argue, Emperor Mingdao raised a hand, silencing everyone. "Clever debate accomplishes nothing; arguing like this will never determine a victor. Xu Ying, you call yourself a barbarian and came to issue a challenge. I grant you this chance for a fair battle." Yuan Heng, Yuan Bugui, and the others were rather reluctant, but with the Dragon Emperor having spoken, they had no choice but to comply. Xu Ying offered his thanks. Emperor Mingdao waved his hand, dismissing Yuan Heng and the others, and inquired, "Is Holy Venerable Yuan Yu truly ranked outside the top hundred in the Earth Immortal Realm?" Xu Ying raised his head to meet Emperor Mingdao's bright gaze. His heart tightened. 'Emperor Mingdao knows it was I who spoke with him from inside the Far Ancestor's body that day!' He pondered carefully and said, "Holy Venerable Yuan Yu's strength would place him between tenth and twentieth in the Earth Immortal Realm." The Earth Immortal Realm had once boasted a great host of masters, such as the Buddha Ancestor, Dao Ancestor Taiqing, and Dao Ancestor Yuqing, who followed the Emerald Rock on their distant journey to the other shore. If those figures were included, Holy Venerable Yuan Yu's strength would indeed fall outside the top ten. Emperor Mingdao misunderstood his implication and was momentarily lost in thought. After a short silence, he said, "Even outside the top ten, the Earth Immortal Realm is truly remarkable. Though Holy Venerable Yuan Yu is a barbarian, he managed to decipher the wonders of the other shore's Great Daos purely from his own Dao injuries. For a man of such talent to be ranked outside the top ten..." He could not help sighing in admiration. "If the masters of the Earth Immortal Realm obtain the Dao methods of the other shore, there is no telling how astonishing their progress would be." Xu Ying said, "Your Majesty, the Dao methods passed down from the other shore inevitably conceal flaws. One cannot fail to guard against them." The moment the words left his mouth, he felt the pressure suddenly skyrocket. A chill struck his heart. 'Did I say something wrong?' Killing intent flashed in Emperor Mingdao's eyes as their gazes locked. A realization stirred in Xu Ying's mind, and he blurted out, "Your Majesty already knew that the cultivation methods of the other shore contain a backdoor!" Emperor Mingdao's aura had already locked down the surrounding space-time, preventing Xu Ying's voice from leaking outside in the slightest. He said grimly, "You saw through the backdoor in the other shore's methods? Impossible. You haven't even cultivated to the eighth level of the Dao realm, nor touched upon immortality. You could not possibly see the backdoor in their cultivation methods!" Xu Ying felt the crushing pressure mount ever higher, making it difficult even to circulate his cultivation to resist. Thoughts flashed through his mind at lightning speed, and he instantly understood Emperor Mingdao's intentions. "Your Majesty, after attaining immortality, you realized the methods transmitted from the other shore contained flaws, yet you did not dare breathe a word of it, terrified that if the other shore found out, they would reap the dragon race ahead of time!" Xu Ying's eyes grew brighter and brighter, while the killing intent in Emperor Mingdao's gaze flared ever sharper. "Xu Ying, I took you for a mere barbarian. I never imagined you would know so much." Emperor Mingdao exhaled slowly and said, "How can I possibly dare let you live?" Xu Ying seemed entirely unbothered and smiled. "The reason I know so much is simply because I have lived through far too many reapings. The tricks the other shore plays were played long ago in the Earth Immortal Realm. The other shore may have started earlier, but we are by no means amateurs. Your Majesty, please rein in your killing intent—I can hardly breathe." Emperor Mingdao did not pull back his killing intent in the least. That the Dao methods of the other shore concealed backdoors was the greatest secret of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, known to only two people. Both were existences of the Immortal realm: one was himself, and the other was True King Cangzhu! If this secret leaked out, the world would descend into turmoil. He would never permit a third person to know it—much less a barbarian from the Earth Immortal Realm! Right at that moment, Princess Mingman came sprinting toward them, blood dripping from her fists, bubbling with exhilaration. "Imperial Father! Little Master! I won! I beat up all the brothers and sisters who used to bully me!" Behind her, at least a thousand imperial sons and princesses lay battered across the imperial palace, with more than a few imperial concubines among them. Many other princes and princesses cowered in dark corners, shivering in terror lest she hunt them down. Yet Emperor Mingdao doted heavily on this youngest daughter. He promptly retracted his killing intent. As Princess Mingman dashed up, he stroked her head and said with a smile, "Man'er, well fought! When others bully us, we strike right back, regardless of whether they are outsiders or our own siblings. Go wash the blood off first; your Little Master and I still have a few words to discuss." Princess Mingman chirped in assent and bounded off to bathe and change. Having caught his breath, Xu Ying smiled. "Your Majesty may resume releasing your killing intent." Emperor Mingdao let out a cold snort, though he did not unleash his killing intent as suggested. "You taught Man'er well, but I will not agree to this marriage." Xu Ying was left completely baffled, having no idea why the conversation had suddenly veered into marriage proposals. Casting aside stray thoughts, Xu Ying analyzed, "Since Your Majesty already knows the Dao methods of the other shore have backdoors, you must have tried everything to uncover them. Yet the Daos and cultivation arts transmitted from the other shore to the Heavenly Immortal Realm are simply too numerous. Even Your Majesty's wisdom is finite; it is impossible for you to master every single Dao and art, let alone elevate each of them to the Immortal realm to uncover their respective backdoors." Emperor Mingdao clasped his hands behind his back. "The other shore boasts three thousand Great Daos. Trying to master them all is utterly impossible, and cultivating every one of them to the Immortal realm is nothing short of a fool's dream!" "Which is why Your Majesty needs me, this 'barbarian,' to beat the dragon race of the Heavenly Immortal Realm awake." Gauging his intentions, Xu Ying continued, "Your Majesty needed to find a path to survival from me—no, from the Earth Immortal Realm. That is why Your Majesty captured the Ancestral God, the Holy Venerable, and the Far Ancestor, yet stayed your hand from executing them." Emperor Mingdao was silent for a moment before saying, "I must forge a way out for the dragon race. But the Dao methods and divine abilities of the Earth Immortal Realm are not my first choice." He shook his head. "Back then, the Emerald Rock was capable of destroying the Three Realms. If I tread the old path and the other shore hurls another Emerald Rock our way, we will still be unable to escape extinction." Xu Ying smiled broadly. "And so, when I charged into the Heavenly Immortal Realm under the moniker of a barbarian, Your Majesty took an interest, wishing to see from me whether the Dao methods of the Earth Immortal Realm could replace those of the other shore." Emperor Mingdao's eyes flickered. "You are mistaken. What I want to see is whether, by studying the Dao methods of the other shore through the teachings of the Earth Immortal Realm, you can resist their reaping! Only if the other shore cannot reap you will I consider replacing their Dao methods." Xu Ying asked, "And if I am reaped by the other shore?" Emperor Mingdao replied, "Then I will continue pretending not to know about the backdoors in their methods, letting the other shore reap as they please. After all, the other shore never reaps every last blade; they always leave behind a portion of seeds, waiting for the next harvest to reap again." Xu Ying asked, "And if the other shore cannot reap me?" Emperor Mingdao said solemnly, "Then I will promote the Dao methods of the Earth Immortal Realm, decipher the methods and Great Daos of the other shore, seal off every cave abyss, and sever all pathways to the other shore! Whoever dares object, I will exterminate nine generations of their clan!" Xu Ying gave a slight smile and said leisurely, "Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor, do you know who stands before you?" Emperor Mingdao paused, then asked tentatively, "The barbarian Xu Ying?" "Standing before you is the Dao Ancestor of the New Dao of the Earth Immortal Realm: Xu Ying, Dao Ancestor Xu." Xu Ying's eyes crinkled with amusement as he said calmly, "Your dragon sons and dragon grandsons—including Your Majesty yourself—will one day have to address me as Grandmaster. Ever since I rose from the grave, I will never again give anyone the chance to reap me!"