Above the Dragon Court, winds and clouds surged violently. The Abyss Sea obscured more than half the sky of the Heavenly Immortal Realm. This immensely magnificent cave abyss truly lived up to the name "Abyss Sea"—an ocean of cave abysses.
The Abyss Sea was permeated with the Dao power of a higher-order Great Dao. Yet even the Far Ancestor could scarcely mobilize such power; otherwise, his battle against Yinyuanzi would not have been so humiliating.
Inside and outside the Dragon Court, all dragons raised their heads and looked up.
The sheer size of this cave abyss surpassed the sum of all the cave abysses the dragon race had ever summoned in the past!
Even seeing this cave abyss again, Xu Ying still felt deeply shaken.
"During the Dragon Court era, an existence at the eighth layer of the Dao Realm had to command tens of thousands of immortal mountains and blessed lands across the Three Realms. Every day, the immortal spiritual qi produced there had to be surrendered to them."
Cultivating to the ninth layer of the Dao Realm demanded nearly thirty percent of the entire Three Realms' spiritual qi output.
Looking toward the Abyss Sea in the sky, the Far Ancestor said, "When I attained the ninth layer of the Dao Realm and became indestructible, I realized that in a single breath, I consumed forty to fifty percent of the immortal spiritual qi of the Three Realms. If my cultivation continued to increase, I feared it would soon reach sixty, seventy, or eighty percent! I had become a behemoth holding back the entire dragon race. As long as I existed, no one else could ever cultivate to the ninth layer. So I searched the universe, found the Abyss Sea, and came up with an idea."
His idea had been to abandon his physical body and have his Primordial Spirit ascend to the Abyss Sea.
Back then, he had never encountered the methods to summon cave abysses, nor did he know that the Abyss Sea could be summoned.
The Abyss Sea existed in another spacetime, and a physical body could not ascend there. Thus, so that the dragon race and all living beings in the Three Realms might have a chance to multiply and thrive, the Far Ancestor cast off his flesh.
His physical body became a vast river bridging the Mortal Realm and the Earth Immortal Realm.
After the Far Ancestor's Primordial Spirit ascended to the Abyss Sea, he discovered that descending to the Three Realms had become exceedingly difficult. It required sacrifices from others just to descend, making coming and going an ordeal.
Thereafter, whenever the dragon race faced catastrophe, they would summon the Far Ancestor to descend. Once the disaster passed, he would return to the Abyss Sea.
When the Emerald Rock brought world-ending destruction, Emperor Ming Xun, who ruled back then, knew that even summoning the Far Ancestor could not stop the apocalypse; it would only drag the Far Ancestor down to his death. Overriding all objections, Ming Xun laid out the Revival Plan, intending to summon the Far Ancestor when the dragon race revived.
At this moment, Emperor Ming Xun, Emperor Mingdao, and the others walked over. Looking up at the Abyss Sea, astonishment crept onto their faces.
Having replaced his entombment and cultivated the new dragon runes, Emperor Mingdao's cultivation and power had actually decreased rather than increased, yet he remained exceptionally formidable.
He had not cultivated the New Dao, still retaining the ninth layer of the Dao Realm.
This was because the Heavenly Immortal Realm was not yet stable; he still needed to maintain his Indestructible realm to deter those disloyal elders within the dragon race.
Emperor Ming Xun, on the other hand, had already switched entirely to cultivating the New Dao. His current strength was far below what it once was, and after five years of cultivation, he had yet to attain the Supreme Realm.
In truth, he could have completely forgone the New Dao and continued along the Far Ancestor's path, cultivating the Dao Realm. But the Dao Realm could not summon cave abysses. In order to blaze a path for the dragon race, he had voluntarily severed his cultivation to start anew.
"Master, Mistress!" Princess Mingman bounded over cheerfully. In her excitement, she tried to throw herself into Xu Ying's arms, but her vision blurred, and she ended up burrowing into Yuan Weiyang's embrace. Still, she took the opportunity to cuddle with her mistress for a bit.
"Master, my granddad's no good," Princess Mingman whispered. "Did he tell you he hasn't attained the Supreme Realm yet? In truth, he's only in the Ascension stage—he isn't even an immortal!"
Emperor Ming Xun's old face flushed, and he gave a huff. "I am simply a late bloomer."
Not having seen her for five years, Princess Mingman had already cultivated to the Dao Landscape Realm—equivalent to a major expert at the seventh layer of the Dao Realm among the dragons.
She had received personal guidance from Xu Ying and had listened to Yuan Weiyang and Useless Qingxuan expound the *Hunyuan Cave Abyss Calamity Dispelling Scripture* in the Earth Immortal Realm. After returning to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, her progress had been rapid.
"Grandpa Bell!" Spotting the big bell, Princess Mingman rushed over to it. By now, the cave abysses great and small around the big bell were extraordinary, growing ever larger in scale, its body bathed in spiritual luminescence tinged with emerald-green radiance.
"Grandpa Sword!" Spotting the Immortal Slaying Sword, Mingman hurried over to greet it as well.
Xu Ying explained to Emperor Mingdao his plan to venture into the Abyss Sea to explore the cave abyss's mysteries. Hearing this, Emperor Mingdao smiled. "Dao Ancestor Xu, we dragons must also pay a visit to the Abyss Sea to investigate the mysteries from before the primordial era."
Xu Ying smiled. "The Abyss Sea was originally an object of your dragon race. If Your Majesty wishes for company, we can go together."
Emperor Mingdao laughed heartily. "Now that Heaven and Earth are connected, many cultivators travel between the two realms to seek learning. Let Zhen make arrangements first before we head into the Abyss Sea." With that, he hurried away.
Not only was the Abyss Sea suspected to be a tenth-layer cave abyss, but it also represented an immensely glorious civilization that existed before the primordial era. Such a momentous matter was naturally not an opportunity Emperor Mingdao would pass up.
Emperor Ming Xun was also eager and sorely wanted to go to the Abyss Sea. Seeing this, Mingman said, "Grandpa, save yourself the trouble! If you had ascended, I could make the call to take you along. Who told you to fail to cross your tribulation and ascend even now?"
Ming Xun's beard quivered with anger. Mingman hastily stepped forward to smooth his chest and soothe his temper, giggling, "Don't be mad, don't be mad, I'm only looking out for you! You were taught by me, yet you still haven't ascended after all this time. It's quite embarrassing for your granddaughter too..."
Once Emperor Mingdao had finished his preparations, Yuan Weiyang's heart stirred. She gave Xu Ying's arm a gentle nudge. Jostled by her soft chest, Xu Ying's thoughts wandered, and thinking she wanted a tender moment, he was about to revert to his flirtatious nature.
Yuan Weiyang slapped his hand away and pointed ahead. Xu Ying looked over to see Emperor Mingdao leading around a hundred dragon experts toward them, accompanied by a massive multideck ship floating overhead.
These dragon experts possessed more than mere formidable martial might; not a few were erudite scholars. Clearly, Emperor Mingdao harbored great ambitions for this exploration and intended to reap far greater benefits.
Xu Ying smiled slightly and sent a voice transmission: "People say he's indecisive, but whenever there are benefits to be had, he runs faster and strikes harder than anyone."
Coming before them, Emperor Mingdao smiled. "I have entrusted the affairs of the Dragon Court to the Heavenly Chancellor. We can depart right now."
The Far Ancestor Big Dragon hesitated, then said, "In the past, I could not ascend to the Abyss Sea in the flesh. I do not know whether the physical matter of the Three Realms can enter the Abyss Sea now that it has been summoned. If it cannot, you will all have to abandon your physical bodies."
Xu Ying smiled. "We will know once we try."
Soaring into the air, he flew toward the Abyss Sea. His figure vanished into it, and after a moment, he flew back out and transmitted via divine consciousness: "The Abyss Sea is just like other cave abysses; the physical body can enter and leave."
Hearing this, Emperor Mingdao and the others boarded the multideck ship. Emperor Mingdao called out, "Mingman, come over here."
Mingman had no choice but to leave Yuan Weiyang and board the multideck ship.
Yuan Weiyang also spurred the World-Crossing Golden Ship to sail toward the Abyss Sea.
The two great ships sailed side by side. Many dragon experts looked across, and one clan elder said, "That is our dragon race's ship! And that woman is the one who committed violence in Longhua City!"
Emperor Mingdao said, "She is Dao Ancestor Xu's Dao partner. Speak no more of this matter from now on."
Xu Ying landed on the World-Crossing Golden Ship. Yuan Weiyang whispered, "Ah Ying, some of the dragons on the ship across from us seem displeased with me."
Her senses were exceptionally acute; the dragons' words could not escape her notice.
Xu Ying smiled. "With Emperor Mingdao keeping them in check, it won't be a problem."
One after the other, the two ships sailed into the Abyss Sea. The instant they entered, everyone felt surging Dao power washing over them, yet none could distinguish what kind of Great Dao of Heaven and Earth it was.
The dragons had acquired many fragmentary supreme arts from the other shore, touching upon all kinds of Great Daos, yet the Dao in the Abyss Sea was distinct from every single one of them.
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang were greatly astonished; they too had never seen such peculiar Dao power.
Within the Abyss Sea, Dao power and spiritual qi blended together to form extraordinary, magnificent sights: towering mountains, flowing water, sun and moon, vast seas, clouds and rain, thunder and lightning, nebulas, and more.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship slowed to a halt before a river rushing incessantly through the air. Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang examined it closely, growing increasingly amazed. This river was composed of the Dao of Water!
Yet standing outside the river, they had clearly sensed that the Dao power was by no means the Dao of Water!
The World-Crossing Golden Ship then sailed into the clouds. Thunder and lightning clashed within, formed purely from the Great Dao of Thunder, yet the Dao power itself was not that of the Dao of Thunder!
The two observed with keen senses and found that within the Abyss Sea, myriad things were manifestations of the Great Dao. Different entities possessed different Daos, yet what comprised these Daos was all the same kind of Dao power!
Such a phenomenon was something they had never encountered before!
"This cave abyss is extraordinary. If it were functioning, the various Great Daos within would surely transform endlessly, and the scenery inside the cave abyss would constantly cycle."
Xu Ying recalled the words of the True Heritage of Taiyi and felt a quiet pang of regret. "If the master of this cave abyss were still alive, we could stand right here and comprehend all the mysteries of the True Heritage of Taiyi."
Aboard the other ship, Emperor Mingdao and the others were also surveying their surroundings and noticed the marvels of this place. Alas, the cave abyss's master had died, and the abyss no longer functioned, preventing them from witnessing the magnificent spectacle of this tenth-layer cave abyss in operation.
The two ships sailed at an unhurried pace, searching for any further discoveries.
However, the Far Ancestor had lived here for untold tens of thousands of years. Even if there had been any prehistoric ruins, he would likely have unearthed them long ago.
Xu Ying's heart stirred. Through the spiritual light channel in his sea of consciousness, he suddenly contacted the Far Ancestor: "Grandpa Dragon, send the Abyss Sea back to the space where it originally belonged!"
A moment later, the Abyss Sea violently shuddered. The various Dao powers within flared with blinding radiance, erupting in full force and nearly capsizing both ships!
Everyone rushed to steady their ships as they tossed endlessly amidst the terrifying ocean of Dao power. Using every means at their disposal, they resisted the impact of the Dao power, drifting in this boundless Abyss Sea!
Seeing a colossal wave crashing toward them, a dragon elder hastily unleashed a divine ability to defend. His divine ability was exquisitely brilliant—a technique born of the other shore's Dao of Slaughter, its staggering might surging like a blade of light to meet the wave.
Emperor Mingdao hurriedly shouted, "Do not collide head-on with the Abyss Sea's Dao power!"
*Boom!* The instant the wave clashed with the elder's divine ability, his flesh was stripped and hurled backward, leaving only bare white bones standing where he had been!
Everyone was horrified.
"Everyone, push the ship forward with all your might and steer clear of this Dao power!" Emperor Mingdao poured everything into reinforcing the ship with his own magic power. The vessel weaved through waves of unimaginably formidable Dao power. The towering mountains, flowing rivers, sea of clouds, and astral rivers they had seen earlier had all transformed into lethal divine abilities!
As they threaded through these Great Dao divine abilities, whenever evasion was impossible, Emperor Mingdao struck out boldly to clash against them. Yet even as an existence of the Indestructible realm, the impact left his qi and blood churning wildly.
*If even I am struggling like this, how are Dao Ancestor Xu and the others faring?* At this thought, Emperor Mingdao looked toward the World-Crossing Golden Ship. He saw the golden ship diving and soaring; despite its immense bulk, it moved with astonishing agility, dodging the anomalies formed by the Dao power.
When evasion was impossible, Xu Ying personally stepped in, meeting the Dao power head-on!
*In these five or six years, Dao Ancestor Xu has actually advanced to this level!* Emperor Mingdao was beyond shocked.
The cultivation and strength Xu Ying currently displayed were still inferior to his own, but the gap was no longer wide.
Just then, the Abyss Sea abruptly settled. All the surging anomalies of Dao power suddenly became calm and tranquil, with not a ripple in sight.
From extreme motion to absolute stillness, it happened in a mere instant.
Their racing hearts only just steadying, the two ships continued forward. Suddenly, with a loud crumble, the multideck ship Emperor Mingdao was on disintegrated into powder, drifting away in the void.
Losing their footing, everyone quickly took to the air, feeling thoroughly embarrassed.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship sailed over, and Xu Ying invited them: "This ship is quite sturdy and may withstand the attacks of the Abyss Sea's Dao power. Why not come aboard my ship so we can weather the storm together?"
Emperor Mingdao voiced his thanks and led the dragons aboard the World-Crossing Golden Ship.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship sailed forward in a single direction. The subsequent journey was peaceful, without any recurrence of the terrifying ordeal earlier. It seemed that this tsunami of Dao power only occurred while the Abyss Sea was in transit back to that mysterious spacetime.
The Big Dragon had probably never encountered this phenomenon himself, which was why he hadn't warned them.
After sailing like this for several months, they still had not reached the edge of the Abyss Sea.
Mingman murmured, "No wonder the Far Ancestor lost track of time here. There are so many places to play."
Several more months passed before the World-Crossing Golden Ship finally reached the edge of the Abyss Sea. Ahead, a wasteland of Dao power unexpectedly emerged. The myriad Daos were dead and silent; here, the Dao power of the Abyss Sea had turned into dust and barren rock.
Here, the Great Dao did not exist, and all was dead silence. As the World-Crossing Golden Ship sailed into this expanse, its speed suddenly slowed to a crawl. It swayed precariously, threatening to plummet from the sky at any second.
Everyone aboard felt an uncanny force suppressing the Dao within their bodies, making it hard to muster their cultivation.
The further forward they went, the more desolate it became.
It looked like the ruins of some ancient epoch, with the Abyss Sea happening to sit at its perimeter. Its bizarre power clashed against the Abyss Sea's Dao power, carving out a zone devoid of the Dao.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship pressed forward with great difficulty. After an unknown amount of time, a wave of chaotic qi surged ahead like ocean swells. The closer they drew, the more clearly they felt their Daos and cultivation levels plummeting!
"This is the Chaos Sea!" Emperor Mingdao blurted out. "We have arrived at the edge of the Chaos Sea!"
He had once steered a World-Crossing Golden Ship out of the universe of the Three Realms and ventured into the Chaos Sea, so he was no stranger to it.
Emperor Mingdao's expression fluctuated. His past ordeal in the Chaos Sea still haunted his mind like a nightmare, sending shivers down his spine whenever he recalled it.
"Over there! Look over there!" Princess Mingman's voice rang out as she pointed to the left, her tone trembling with sharp excitement. "There is another World-Crossing Golden Ship!"
The others had been transfixed by the Chaos Sea, but her shout snapped them back to attention. Hurriedly looking over, they indeed saw another World-Crossing Golden Ship wedged diagonally into the ground.
This colossal golden ship was riddled with holes from erosion, lodged there for untold tens of thousands of years.
Judging by its orientation, it seemed to have sailed out of the Chaos Sea and plunged headlong into this spot.
Yuan Weiyang steered their World-Crossing Golden Ship closer to the derelict vessel. Looking across, everyone saw that its layout was identical to the golden ship beneath their feet. Onboard were the skeletal remains of numerous dragon experts, scattered haphazardly all over the deck.
As the two ships drew closer, Xu Ying scrutinized it carefully and said, "This ship must be one of the forty golden ships that fled the Three Realms back then, only it wasn't as fortunate. It failed to find the other shore in the Chaos Sea; the dragon experts aboard died in the sea, and the golden ship was washed back here by the Chaos Sea."
"Not necessarily!" Emperor Mingdao's voice shook as he stared fixedly at the ship. A voice in his heart was screaming: *It's also possible that this ship is the very golden ship beneath our feet, and the dead aboard are none other than ourselves!*
His experience in the Chaos Sea had been too horrifying. There, time and causality ceased to exist; cause and effect could be inverted, and time itself could flow backward!
"We must never sail into the sea, or something terrible will happen!" Emperor Mingdao said.
Xu Ying cast a surprised glance at him, then nodded.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship sailed past the derelict vessel, skirting out of the Abyss Sea's canopy. At that moment, the Three Realms came into view.
A solemn mood settled over them as they walked to the prow one by one and looked toward the Three Realms.
Xu Ying casually glanced back and saw that the Chaos Sea was being held in check by a stone stele, preventing it from encroaching any further. His curiosity piqued, he leaped down from the golden ship and landed in front of the stele.
The stele was not large, standing roughly ten feet tall. It was densely carved with bizarre script. Xu Ying studied it for a long while, but could not recognize a single word.
Yuan Weiyang's voice called out: "Ah Ying, there are skeletal remains over here! It must be the master of the Abyss Sea!"
Xu Ying's heart stirred. He quickly memorized the writing on the stele as pictorial patterns and hurried back to the World-Crossing Golden Ship.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship drifted slowly, turning its prow around.
The crowd finally saw the Abyss Sea in its entirety. Beneath the Abyss Sea sat a skeletal colossus of unfathomable size, facing the Three Realms with its back to the Chaos Sea.
His colossal stature was in no way inferior to the ox-headed skeleton in the Nether Sea of the Underworld!
"Before the primordial era, a glorious civilization truly did exist!"
Chapter 711