Ebb and Flow of the Great Dao

"Grand Dao Lord Taiyi is coming to the Tianjing Ruins as well?" Xu Ying felt a chill in his heart, growing somewhat anxious. What business did this Grand Dao Lord have coming to the Tianjing Ruins? Could he be coming for the likes of Xuhuang and Taiyi? "Master is coming to the Tianjing Ruins? What for?" Xu Ying inquired. He said the word "Master" with such practiced naturalness, as though he had long been a disciple of Grand Dao Lord Taiyi, that Zhuo Daochun was momentarily dazed. Could this person truly have been his junior brother all along, just someone he had never met before? "Master has his own reasons for coming to the Tianjing Ruins. It is not something we disciples are permitted to question." Zhuo Daochun quickly regained his Dao heart and said, "Ever since the incident with Haoyi, Master has rarely shared his true thoughts with his disciples, and has seldom passed down his true teachings. Junior Brother, you will live longer if you refrain from asking about matters you shouldn't pry into." Xu Ying acknowledged the advice, though he mused inwardly: *If it were to deal with rogues like Xuhuang and Taiyi, us disciples certainly wouldn't be of any use—those Immortals would come themselves. Yet they specifically had us disciples come this time. It seems Grand Dao Lord Taiyi and the others have a target other than Xuhuang and his group.* True King Daoji cautiously steered the tower ship into the Tianjing Ruins, navigating along a winding path high above the ruins. Seeing this, Xu Ying felt suspicious: *What exactly is in the Tianjing Ruins that makes even them so exceedingly cautious upon arriving here?* True King Daoji was beyond merely cautious—he gave the impression of someone terrified to step even half a step out of line. "Senior Brother, what kind of place is the Tianjing Ruins?" Xu Ying asked a cultivator on the same ship. Flattered, the cultivator hurriedly replied, "I dare not accept the title of Senior Brother! I heard from my master that the Tianjing Ruins is a mysterious place stranded on the other shore during the Great Dao tide. Extraordinary treasures often appear here, and one can even find supreme cultivation methods." Xu Ying was slightly taken aback. The Great Dao tide? Stranded by the tide? Treasures and techniques appearing? The man's words only added to the mystique of the Tianjing Ruins. "Senior Brother, what is the Great Dao tide?" Xu Ying asked with modest curiosity. The cultivator hurriedly said, "Please, I truly dare not accept being called Senior Brother. If Senior Brother Xu doesn't mind, simply call me Junior Brother Qu. My surname is Qu, given name Wei, and I am a disciple of Dao Lord Qinglan. The Great Dao tide is an ancient legend. It is said that all universes within the Chaos Sea experience the waxing and waning of the Great Dao in tandem with the tides of the Chaos Sea. People call this phenomenon the Great Dao tide." "The waxing and waning of the Great Dao?" Xu Ying became even more curious. "What does that mean? How does the Great Dao wax and wane?" Qu Wei did not know much about it either. A female disciple beside them chimed in, "The waxing and waning of the Great Dao means that when the Chaos Sea is at high tide, the Great Daos of heaven and earth across all universes become exceptionally active. The Daos grow stronger and stronger, cultivators' cultivation and strength grow greater, and the power of their divine powers increases. But when the Chaos Sea ebbs, the vitality of heaven and earth's Great Daos grows lower and lower, the might of Dao methods and divine powers diminishes, and it can even lead to all the heavens being devoid of the Dao, with the Great Dao withering and dying out." Xu Ying was stunned. Such a wondrous phenomenon existed in the Chaos Sea? "Once the tide reaches its lowest point, all myriad Daos are extinguished, all the heavens are devoid of the Dao, and everyone turns into mere mortals. When the Chaos Sea rises again, the Great Dao revives, and divine powers follow close behind. One such rise and fall is called a Great Dao tide." The female disciple added, "However, the rise and fall of the Great Dao accompanies the tides of the Chaos Sea, and the interval between such ebbs and flows is unimaginably vast—often counted in hundreds of millions of years. We don't need to worry about such things. Our other shore is still far from experiencing an ebb and flow of the Great Dao!" Xu Ying laughed aloud. "True enough. With such a vast time span, how could it be so coincidental that it happens to us?" The surrounding cultivators, all disciples of various Immortals, broke into laughter upon hearing this, chiming in agreement. Qu Wei continued, "As for being stranded by the tide, it means that during the ebb and flow of the Great Dao, the Chaos Sea washes things from the sea up onto the shore. Whatever gets pushed onto the shore is called stranded by the tide." Understanding dawned upon Xu Ying, and he smiled. "So the Tianjing Ruins is something that was washed up from the Chaos Sea onto the other shore, right?" Everyone nodded in agreement. Just then, True King Daoji's voice drifted over: "Your understanding might not be entirely correct." Xu Ying looked over. True King Daoji stepped down from the tower pavilion and walked to the bow of the ship, gazing into the murky depths of the Tianjing Ruins. "In truth, the Tianjing Ruins predates the other shore; it is far more ancient." Everyone froze upon hearing this. True King Daoji said, "Why was it named the Tianjing Ruins? Because long before the birth of the other shore, the Tianjing Ruins already existed. Back then, the other shore and the Tianjing Ruins were still joined together, not separated by such a distance. People had no idea how to cultivate. It was when they discovered cultivation methods within the Tianjing Ruins that they embarked upon the path of cultivation, ultimately establishing the other shore." Xu Ying blurted out, "The Dao methods of the other shore originated from the Tianjing Ruins?" Suddenly, he thought of the Emerald Rock that Great Dao Lord Xuhuang had sent down to the Earth Immortal Realm. The cultivation method recorded upon that rock was called the Hunyuan Cave Abyss Calamity Dispelling Scripture. Where Great Dao Lord Xuhuang had obtained such an exalted scripture had always been a mystery to Xu Ying. Now it seemed that Great Dao Lord Xuhuang had actually found an Emerald Rock engraved with the Calamity Dispelling Scripture right here in the Tianjing Ruins! The numerous cultivators aboard the ship were equally astonished. They had originally believed that the Dao methods of the other shore were so formidable because the Immortals were peerless geniuses of heaven, never imagining that they, too, had inherited their methods from elsewhere! True King Daoji said, "The Li framework originated from the Tianjing Ruins. This Great Dao framework is extraordinarily potent—the strongest framework in the universe, unmatched by any rival!" A hint of pride crept into his tone as he spoke. "However, there is one thing you got wrong earlier. The waxing and waning of the Great Dao across the universes in the Chaos Sea does not occur simultaneously. Every universe has its own ebb and flow of the Great Dao." True King Daoji explained, "At times, your universe may experience a rise of the Dao, while another universe may suffer a decline. When one universe undergoes a decline, nothing at all might happen to the universe right next to it. The waxing and waning of the Great Dao is not like the rising and falling tides of the Chaos Sea, but rather like tides rising and falling within each individual universe. We have recently observed the myriad universes and discovered that two of them have already begun to ebb. Clearly, the waxing and waning of the Great Dao is unrelated to the tides of the Chaos Sea." His insights were far more profound than those of the others; clearly, the Immortals of the other shore were also researching this phenomenon. "An internal waxing and waning within each universe?" Xu Ying pondered for a moment, then said, "Martial Uncle Daoji, if the rise and fall of the Great Dao isn't caused by the tides of the Chaos Sea, then what causes it?" True King Daoji conjectured, "Very likely, it is caused by calamity destiny. Different universes possess different calamity destinies. Under the suppression of calamity destiny, the Great Dao experiences waxing and waning. This is merely my guess, not an absolute certainty." Xu Ying asked again, "Then what happens when the Chaos Sea itself rises and falls?" True King Daoji chuckled. "The tides of the Chaos Sea are merely a conjecture made to explain the rise and fall of the Great Dao. To this day, we have never actually observed the Chaos Sea itself waxing or waning." Perplexed, Xu Ying said, "If the Chaos Sea doesn't have tides, why would the Tianjing Ruins be stranded?" True King Daoji laughed heartily. "It was our other shore that became stranded upon the Tianjing Ruins, not the Tianjing Ruins stranded upon the other shore! Perhaps this so-called being stranded by the tide does not exist at all! The connection between the other shore and the Tianjing Ruins was simply a coincidence." Everyone nodded in agreement. Yet Xu Ying wondered inwardly: *Whether the other shore was stranded on the Tianjing Ruins or the Tianjing Ruins was stranded on the other shore, both are strandings. Doesn't that prove there truly are tides in the Chaos Sea?* However, having only just arrived, his knowledge was limited, and he didn't know whether his judgment was right or wrong. The tower ship gave a gentle shudder and slowly descended. Xu Ying looked down and saw several ancient immortal palaces floating amidst the mountains below. Incredibly ancient, they were inscribed with branch-like Li patterns. The tower ship landed before one of the immortal palaces. Xu Ying stepped off the ship, only to see a burly man sitting cross-legged before the palace. He had a curly beard and a muscular, sinewy build, his upper body bare. His eyes were wide, staring unblinkingly into the murky depths of the Tianjing Ruins. Xu Ying's gaze fell upon him, and he felt a sense of familiarity. When he caught sight of the mountains behind the palace, where an enormous hammer head was wedged diagonally into the void—a hammer head larger than the mountains themselves—his heart jolted violently. *When I first ascended toward the other shore, the giant of the other shore I saw swinging a colossal hammer at the Buddha Ancestor was him!* The bearded, muscular giant sat solemnly, paying no heed to their arrival. "Dao Lord Wuchen, we have come to train here by order of Grand Dao Lord Taiyi," True King Daoji greeted the burly man respectfully. "We hope Dao Brother will grant us passage. If we encounter danger, we ask for Dao Brother's assistance." Dao Lord Wuchen remained silent. True King Daoji said to the crowd, "I have greeted Dao Lord Wuchen. You may go down to search for treasures now." His words left everyone slightly hesitant. Dao Lord Wuchen clearly hadn't said a single word—could that really count as greeting him? True King Daoji chuckled. "Worry not. I am stationed here as well. If you encounter danger, Dao Lord Wuchen and I will naturally step in to ensure your safety." Suddenly, Zhuo Daochun looked toward the other three immortal palaces, raised his eyebrows, and said, "True King, other Grand Dao Lords have sent people here as well." True King Daoji looked over at the three immortal palaces and was momentarily taken aback. Before each of the three palaces was also an anchored tower ship, but the ships were already empty. "It seems the other three Grand Dao Lords also hold lingering thoughts about the Tianjing Ruins. They have beaten us to it and sent people ahead." True King Daoji raised his brows and smiled. "Everyone, we must hurry as well." Xu Ying's eyes flickered. The four immortal palaces here likely corresponded to the four Grand Dao Lords of the other shore. That the other three Grand Dao Lords had also dispatched people gave much food for thought. "True King, why did the other three Grand Dao Lords send people here as well?" Xu Ying inquired. At the sound of his voice, Dao Lord Wuchen's gaze suddenly flashed like lightning, snapping toward him. Xu Ying's heart skipped a beat. *When the Buddha Ancestor sent me back to the Three Realms, did Dao Lord Wuchen notice me in that ascension glow?* He abruptly realized that quite a few people on the other shore seemed to recognize him—and every one of them was a colossus. Dao Lord Wuchen said, "You look familiar." Xu Ying smiled. "I must have a common face. Many people say they have seen me before when we first meet." Dao Lord Wuchen looked away and resumed staring into the Tianjing Ruins. True King Daoji laughed. "If Grand Dao Lord Taiyi could send people, naturally the other three Grand Dao Lords could as well. There is no conspiracy here. Don't let your imagination run wild. Go on, quickly." The crowd took to the air, flying out from the immortal palace toward the lands below. True King Daoji's gaze fell upon Xu Ying, and he said with a grin, "Little Brother Xu, you are the Grand Dao Lord's disciple. If he didn't even tell you, how could he tell me? Hurry along down." Helpless, Xu Ying had no choice but to take flight. Inwardly, he thought: *All four Grand Dao Lords of the other shore have sent people, and Grand Dao Lord Taiyi is even coming in person. Whatever is happening in the Tianjing Ruins is definitely no small matter! The other three Grand Dao Lords might even descend in person as well. This place is definitely not safe! A wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall—it's best to leave as soon as possible!* Before the immortal palace, Dao Lord Wuchen suddenly spoke: "I remember him. Back during the harvest in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he held a sharp sword carrying the aura of Daoist Tongtian and pierced my brow." True King Daoji chuckled. "It is indeed him. When I descended via a dragon clan Primordial Spirit and was busy harvesting all around, he slew me with a single sword strike, preventing me from completing the deed." Dao Lord Wuchen said, "He actually dared to come to the other shore, thinking we hadn't recognized him." True King Daoji couldn't help but laugh. "During the harvest of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he killed the Primordial Spirit avatars of hundreds of Immortals. To naively think we wouldn't recognize him—how laughable." Dao Lord Wuchen raised his eyes to glance at him. "Why didn't you kill him?" True King Daoji said helplessly, "Grand Dao Lord Taiyi wants to take him as a disciple. How would I dare kill him?" Dao Lord Wuchen remained expressionless. "The Grand Dao Lord has grown muddled." True King Daoji laughed. "If you have the guts, say that to his face." Dao Lord Wuchen said, "The Grand Dao Lord has suffered losses twice in his life, and both times it was at the hands of people from the Three Realms. I hope he doesn't stumble a third time. If he stumbles a third time, he might as well surrender his title of Grand Dao Lord and let me take his place!" Seeing him speak with increasing bluntness, True King Daoji quickly changed the subject: "Dao Brother, have you discovered anything these past days?" Dao Lord Wuchen said, "I have. Something in the Tianjing Ruins is rekindling from the ashes! And bandits from the Three Realms are trying to collude with those things." True King Daoji's expression grew solemn. "Rekindling from the ashes? How could that be? Back then, we cleaned them out thoroughly. Could it be that the Great Dao tide has truly arrived?" He gazed into the distance, muttering, "This time... is it rising, or is it ebbing?" Having landed, Xu Ying did not continue flying forward. Instead, he intended to withdraw. He thought to himself: *Taiyi Heavenly Venerable will definitely come to the Tianjing Ruins to look for me. There's no need for me to stick with Zhuo Daochun and the others. It's better to meet up with Taiyi Heavenly Venerable and those rebels first.* Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly spotted an emerald-green stone monument. Xu Ying halted his steps, drawn toward the monument as if guided by ghosts and gods. Before he could reach the emerald-green stone monument, a loud clattering rustled beneath his feet. He looked down hastily, only to find that he had stepped on several skeletons. Xu Ying took a step back and looked around. Countless white bones were piled around the emerald-green monument—so many that the sight made one's scalp tingle! He crouched down and noticed that some of the skulls bore cut marks. Xu Ying raised his head to look at the stone monument ahead and murmured softly, "Before these people died, someone sliced off their scalps."