"A cultivation method of a Grand Dao Master?"
Dao Lord Hong was startled to hear this. "How can the Grand Dao Lord be so certain that with the revival of Tianjing's Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, a Grand Dao Master's method will emerge?"
A Grand Dao Master was a sovereign of the Great Dao. Such cultivation methods were exceedingly rare—even the Grand Dao Lords had never encountered them.
Concerning Grand Dao Masters, legends said that only in the early prime of the other shore had a few extraordinary beings obtained such inheritances.
Yet afterward, no heritage of a Grand Dao Master was ever passed down again.
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi had come to the Tianjing Ruins this time and declared outright that he came for a Grand Dao Master's heritage. He certainly was not speaking on empty air.
Still, where would an inheritance of a Grand Dao Master come from?
The imperial carriage drove onward. A long time passed before they finally arrived at the immortal palace where Dao Lord Wuchen resided.
Dao Lord Wuchen and True King Daoji hurried out to welcome them, bowing deeply in greeting. "We pay our respects to the Grand Dao Lord."
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi did not alight from the carriage. He merely nodded slightly from within and asked, "Have the other three Dao brothers arrived?"
"Not yet," Dao Lord Wuchen replied.
"Then let us wait a little," said Grand Dao Lord Taiyi.
After another day or two, three more imperial carriages rolled up one after another. They were the other three Grand Dao Lords of the other shore.
No one knew the true names of these three Grand Dao Lords; people addressed them solely by the Great Daos they practiced.
The first was the Grand Dao Lord of Life and Death, the second was the Grand Dao Lord of Yin and Yang, and the third was the Grand Dao Lord of Gods and Demons.
Upon their arrival, the three Grand Dao Lords gazed into the depths of the Tianjing Ruins. They watched the reviving Great Dao, which had breathed a touch more vitality into the ruins as light pulsed beneath the pitch-black horizon.
Taking in the sight, the three Grand Dao Lords remarked repeatedly, "Treacherous, truly treacherous!"
The Grand Dao Lord of Yin and Yang held dominion over Yin and Yang. Behind him, one could no longer see the sight common to ordinary True Kings and Dao Lords, whose cave abysses floated in the darkness. All that could be seen was the Qi of Yin and Yang cascading like a waterfall. With a grave expression, he said, "The tide has begun to rise in the Tianjing Ruins, and the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is steadily reviving. This bodes ill for our other shore. If we do not intervene, it will inevitably brew a lethal tribulation!"
The Grand Dao Lord of Life and Death said, "Our other shore preserved Tianjing's karmic destiny and carried on its civilization; we ought not to suffer such a slaughter. Fortunately, we discovered it early, so there is still room to maneuver."
He had cultivated the Two Qis of Life and Death, one azure and one black, intertwined like a Taiji diagram.
The Grand Dao Lord of Gods and Demons turned his gaze upon Grand Dao Lord Taiyi and said, "Dao Brother Taiyi's presence here must mean you have absolute confidence in securing a Grand Dao Master's method."
He cultivated the Two Qis of Gods and Demons. He had one body with three faces: one in front and two on either side, one divine and one demonic. The divine face was full of benevolence, while the demonic face was ferocious and grim.
His two Qis of Gods and Demons were divided into light and darkness, forming twin realms of light and dark that did not encroach upon each other.
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi smiled faintly. "I have modest calculations. Coming here, the three of you must also possess absolute certainty."
The Grand Dao Lord of Life and Death chuckled. "Had we no certainty, there would be no need to come. Even so, while I am confident in obtaining a Grand Dao Master's method, I have no confidence in actually cultivating to the realm of a Grand Dao Master. In that, I cannot compare to the three of you."
The Grand Dao Lord of Yin and Yang laughed. "Likewise, likewise. I fancy it will not be difficult to acquire a Grand Dao Master's method, but achieving the realm of a Grand Dao Master holds little hope for me."
The four exchanged humble words.
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi said, "Since that is the case, let us first pay homage to the virtues of Heaven from years past."
The other three Grand Dao Lords nodded in agreement. "We share the same intent."
The four Dao Lords stationed here—Wuchen, Hongxi, Qingzai, and Pan Yan—had prepared long ago. They had erected an altar and arranged the sacrificial offerings.
Straightening their robes, the four Grand Dao Lords mounted the altar with solemn countenances. Lighting incense, they intoned a prayer:
"In the primordial year, the month of Chen, destitute and starving people fled unto Tianjing. Great blight blighted our fields; great bitter cold chilled our bones; great famine starved our bellies; great turmoil burned down our homes.
"Grateful for Heaven's grace, gifting us Tianjing. Heaven bestowed fertile fields and the five grains, filling our granaries; bestowed fine silks and warm garments, clothing our frail bodies; bestowed precious delicacies, filling our five viscera; bestowed an era of peace and prosperity, multiplying our kin.
"Grateful for Heaven's grace, imparting unto us cultivation methods, granting us divine powers, bestowing upon us lands, strengthening our souls. Humbly receiving Heaven's favor with sincere awe and trembling, we burn incense to worship Heaven's grace, praying for eternal prosperity throughout ten thousand generations!"
With that, the four Grand Dao Lords bowed upon the altar. Dao Lords Wuchen, Hongxi, Qingzai, and Pan Yan each stepped forward bearing a red platter. Upon each platter rested the scalps of powerful experts.
The four Grand Dao Lords offered these scalps up between heaven and earth. They coalesced into the forms of gods and demons, suppressing the Tianjing Ruins.
When the rite was complete, the four Grand Dao Lords rose. Wuchen, Hongxi, Qingzai, and Pan Yan attended them from behind.
True King Daoji stepped forward and said, "Grand Dao Lord, the kun bird has yet to be released."
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi recalled and chuckled to the other three Grand Dao Lords. "Look at my memory. When we first arrived in Tianjing, starved and helpless, it was thanks to the kun birds roaming everywhere. They were rare delicacies that filled our stomachs and preserved our lives. We ate so many kun birds back then; today, in offering thanks to Heaven, we must make a gesture."
The Grand Dao Lord of Yin and Yang nodded. "A gesture is indeed warranted."
The four Grand Dao Lords followed Wuchen down to a mountaintop below. There, a flock of large birds was kept in an enclosure. These were native creatures of Tianjing. Because of their large size and inability to fly, they were also called ground-running fowl. Later, after Tianjing became the Tianjing Ruins and was stripped of all life, only the other shore still reared this species.
Seeing this, the four Grand Dao Lords privately praised True King Daoji for his thoughtfulness.
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi stepped forward and selected a sturdy kun bird. "Back then, to survive, we had no choice but to eat your kind. We have always been grateful to you. Today, by setting you free, it is as though I am freeing the spirits of the kun birds we devoured in those years. On behalf of your flock, forgive our transgressions. Go, kun bird, I grant you freedom!"
With that, Grand Dao Lord Taiyi released the kun bird.
Once set free, the bird took three steps, looking back with each one. It glanced at its captive kin and clucked a few times.
The other kun birds clucked in response without pause.
The kun bird took a couple of tentative steps forward. Seeing that none of these people moved to stop it, it grew delighted and scurried off with hurried clucks.
However, this was a mountain summit after all. Before the kun bird had run very far, it took a misstep and plunged straight down the cliff. Unable to fly, it perished on the spot.
—The Tianjing Ruins offered little illumination, and the sky was far too dark. The bird was nothing more than a mortal fowl, unable to see the path clearly.
None of the crowd paid this scene the slightest heed.
The three Grand Dao Lords, together with Hongxi, Wuchen, Daoji, and the others, admired Grand Dao Lord Taiyi's act of mercy and heaped praise on it. "Our other shore is sheltered by Heaven and understands gratitude—how could our shore fail to flourish?"
Grand Dao Lords Taiyi, Yin-Yang, Life and Death, and Gods and Demons exchanged glances. The Grand Dao Lord of Yin and Yang laughed. "Now that we are free of sin, it is time to make preparations for our respective Grand Dao Master methods. Gentlemen, after you!"
"After you!"
The Grand Dao Lords of Yin and Yang, Life and Death, and Gods and Demons departed in their own directions.
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi, taking Dao Lord Hong with him, also walked into the depths of the Tianjing Ruins.
True King Daoji watched them vanish into the murky shadows of the ruins and asked the other Immortals, "Fellow Daoists, why do you think the four Grand Dao Lords are so certain they can obtain the Grand Dao Master methods?"
Dao Lord Wuchen said, "Do not pry into what should not be pried into, lest you invite trouble."
True King Daoji smiled. "Are you telling me you aren't curious?"
The others hesitated. Though they were still far from the realm of a Grand Dao Master, obtaining such a method would still be a great boon to their own cultivation.
"I think the reason the four Grand Dao Lords believe a Grand Dao Master's method will emerge is the Great Dao tide of Tianjing,"
Dao Lord Qingzai paused briefly before continuing, "Tianjing's rising Dao tide and the revival of its Great Dao of Heaven and Earth should expose the arrangements left behind by the original Grand Dao Masters of Tianjing. The inheritances of those Grand Dao Masters will emerge into the world because of this."
Dao Lord Pan Yan remarked, "Even if the Dao tide causes Tianjing's Dao to revive, those methods should only be obtained by someone who carries Tianjing's karmic destiny. Outsiders wouldn't be able to get them, would they?"
Dao Lord Hongxi's eyes flashed meaningfully. "When Tianjing's Great Dao began to revive this time, before the Grand Dao Lords even arrived, they had their disciples come ahead of them. Did the people of Tianjing truly go extinct back then? I suspect not."
Dao Lord Wuchen cleared his throat. "Back then, some Tianjing natives did intermarry with the sacred race of our other shore, and some Tianjing natives fled to our shore as well..."
The crowd exchanged glances. Dao Lord Hongxi said, "Perhaps among the disciples of the four Grand Dao Lords, there is someone of Tianjing descent. The purpose of the Grand Dao Lords nurturing such disciples was naturally for today."
Dao Lord Wuchen said, "They foresaw long ago that the Great Dao of Tianjing would one day revive. Early on, they chose a person of Tianjing as a disciple and raised them to excellence. Once Tianjing's Great Dao tide surged, they sent these disciples out to draw forth the Grand Dao Master inheritances using the karmic destiny of Tianjing's people. What an ingenious move."
The other Immortals' eyes gleamed as they looked into the depths of Tianjing.
What a pity that such karmic destiny and fortune had nothing to do with them.
The Tianjing Ruins were exceedingly dangerous. The surge of the Great Dao and the revival of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth were utterly chaotic. The Dao slowly released its power from the gloom, creating numerous perilous domains. Stepping into one and triggering that Dao power could easily result in one's death and the destruction of their Dao.
Xu Ying navigated through the expanse, steering clear of such hazards.
Just then, a reviving domain caught his attention. While other areas were cloaked in darkness, this place alone was bathed in brilliant light, like another world entirely.
It was situated between two mountains where the terrain grew steep, the peaks framing a gateway. Passing through led into an expansive clearing, where a mass of the Qi of Creation was steadily swelling in tandem with the surging Great Dao tide.
Around the Qi of Creation, mountains, waters, and trees were constantly growing—undoubtedly an effect of the Qi of Creation. The release of its Dao power was exceptionally conspicuous.
Many of the reviving areas Xu Ying had encountered earlier displayed nothing near so prominent a phenomenon!
Xu Ying's understanding of the Dao of Creation had come from the cultivation method taught to him by Mingman, a flawed and incomplete scripture that had also originated from the other shore.
*The Qi of Creation is extraordinarily rare, containing the Dao of Creation within it. If I can claim this mass of Qi of Creation, it will be immensely beneficial to advancing my Dao of Creation!* he thought.
The Dao of Creation was a supremely exalted Great Dao. As the saying went: endless creation, the genesis and evolution of life in an unbroken stream—all of it resided within the Dao of Creation!
Very few Great Daos surpassed Creation.
At that moment, however, three figures were heading toward the domain of Creation between the two mountains. Presumably, they had also noticed the wonders of this place and sought to claim the treasure within.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Ying followed behind them.
The trio consisted of two men and one woman. Hearing footsteps behind them, they turned to look. One of the men barked, "Who are you? Why are you sneaking around behind us?"
Xu Ying replied, "I am Xu Ying, under the tutelage of Grand Dao Lord Taiyi. And you three gentlemen and lady?"
Hearing that he was a disciple of Grand Dao Lord Taiyi, the trio did not dare act insolently. The woman said, "Senior Brother Xu, I am Yu Jun. These two are my senior brothers, Ning Hua and Yan Kui. The three of us are disciples of True King Duanmu. We accompanied Senior Brother Wei Yi, a disciple of the Grand Dao Lord of Life and Death, to this place in search of opportunity."
Xu Ying did not know who Wei Yi was, but he thought, *The Grand Dao Lord of Life and Death? Another Grand Dao Lord! This person must cultivate the Dao of Life and Death. I wonder how his strength compares to Grand Dao Lord Taiyi's.*
Seeing that Xu Ying continued forward even after hearing Wei Yi's name, Yu Jun thought, *The disciples of Taiyi are truly arrogant! He isn't even afraid of Senior Brother Wei Yi!*
Noticing that Xu Ying was not taking the hint, Ning Hua cleared his throat and said, "Could it be that Senior Brother Xu has never heard the saying: 'Below Immortality, I am invincible; above Immortality, a life for a life'?"
Xu Ying shook his head. "I haven't."
Ning Hua said, "That saying refers to Senior Brother Wei Yi."
Xu Ying's eyes lit up with delight. "This Senior Brother Wei Yi is truly formidable! If the opportunity arises, I must certainly meet him!"
The three hastened their pace forward, fearful that Xu Ying might beat them to it. Xu Ying thought nothing of it and kindly offered a reminder: "Fellow cultivators, the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is reviving here, but the Dao power is exceedingly chaotic. One careless slip and you could easily fall victim to it. Be careful!"
Hardly had his voice fallen when Yan Kui suddenly cried out in horror, "The Dao of Creation has invaded me! The Dao power here is too strong—I can't suppress it!"
The other two were startled and hurriedly activated their cave abysses, marshaling the power of the Wood Dao to protect their bodies!
Yu Jun said, "Senior Brother, do not panic! Our heritage is not the least bit inferior to the Dao of Creation! As long as you maintain your Dao heart, you can withstand the intrusion of the Creation Dao power!"
Just as she said this, the tip of Yan Kui's left index finger twitched. The first joint transformed into a golden fish that swished gently, detached from his finger, and swam into the domain of Creation.
Yan Kui stammered in terror, "Junior Sister, Senior Brother Ning, I can't hold it back..."
Before he could finish, his physical body collapsed. Flesh and muscle peeled away from his skeleton, transforming into a school of fish that swam through the air toward the domain of Creation!
In the blink of an eye, nothing was left of Yan Kui but a standing skeleton.
Then, with a sudden clatter, the skeleton collapsed as well. Upon hitting the ground, the bones turned into hopping green frogs that leaped into the domain of Creation and vanished.
Yu Jun and Ning Hua were terrified, not daring to advance another step.
Xu Ying caught up and strode past them. Yu Jun could not help calling out, "Senior Brother Xu, it is perilous ahead!"
Xu Ying looked back with a smile. "I studied the Dao of Creation for a few days, so I should be able to suppress it. You need not worry."
Yu Jun and Ning Hua watched as Xu Ying walked toward the gap between the two mountains without any hindrance, completely unaffected—neither turning into swimming fish nor hopping frogs.
"What should we do? Do we follow him?" Yu Jun hesitated.
Right then, a figure appeared behind them. The two hurried to look, their fear turning into pleasant surprise as they bowed. "Senior Brother Wei Yi!"
Wei Yi was a tall man who had not undergone Zangification. He wore a tailored white robe that swept down to conceal his footwear.
Wei Yi's gaze fell upon the two mountain peaks, and he exclaimed in surprise, "The Gate of Creation, the Dao of Creation, the Qi of Creation! There must be an extraordinary treasure here!"
He strode forward, suppressing the intrusion of the Creation Dao power, and smoothly made his way into the Gate of Creation without incident.
His eyes settled on Xu Ying, and he said, "Brother, this place shares an affinity with me. Please step aside."
Xu Ying replied, "I arrived first."
Wei Yi said, "This object indeed shares an affinity with me. Just now, I sensed it calling out to me. If you could yield it, Wei Yi would be immensely grateful."
"Wei Yi?"
Xu Ying sized him up and down. "Are you that Wei Yi who is 'invincible below Immortality, and trades a life for a life above Immortality'?"
Wei Yi answered modestly, "Forty years ago, I clashed with True King Shang Kun of the Immortality Realm and narrowly lost by a single move. That was why others praised me with that phrase, claiming that with my cultivation, I could trade my life for an Immortal True King's. But after that duel with True King Shang Kun, I recognized the shortcomings in my cultivation. Had it been a fight to the death, I wouldn't have merely lost by a move; I would have lost my life."
Seeing his candor, Xu Ying found himself liking the man. He laughed and said, "You say this place has an affinity with you. How about this: let us each attempt to claim the Qi of Creation. Whoever can take it is the one who truly shares an affinity with it. What do you say?"
Wei Yi hesitated briefly, then said, "I can sense that the Creation Dao power here naturally favors me. If we both attempt to claim it, I fear the Dao of Creation here may turn against you."
Xu Ying did not believe a word of it. He chuckled, "The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is impartial and selfless. Whence comes this notion of it 'naturally favoring' you? If the Great Dao harbored selfish bias, could it still be called the Great Dao?"
Without another word, he reached out to seize the mass of the Qi of Creation!
Yet to Xu Ying's wide-eyed shock, the Qi of Creation slipped away from under his hand with a sharp *whoosh* and darted straight toward Wei Yi!
Enraged, Xu Ying unleashed the eighth technique of the Eight Immortality Methods—the Chaos Hun Tian Hand!
This was a divine power he had recently developed by studying Emperor Haotian's divine powers and gaining insights into the Chaos Great Dao!
With a single palm strike, his Chaos Dao power severed space and time, cut off karma, destroyed reincarnation, and extinguished ten thousand Daos. No matter what, he was determined to take this Qi of Creation into his grasp!
At that very moment, the Dao power within the domain of Creation surged violently, almost boiling over. A deafening roar of Dao resonated, converging entirely upon Xu Ying!
Xu Ying's hair stood on end. He felt as though he were under attack from an Immortal True King who cultivated the Dao of Creation! Unable to spare attention for seizing the Qi of Creation, he immediately summoned the big bell!
*CLANG!*
Struck by the immense Creation Dao power, Xu Ying and the bell were both blasted backward. Meanwhile, the mass of the Qi of Creation surged toward Wei Yi, who stood motionless where he was!
Both shocked and furious, Xu Ying swung the Zhuxian broken sword with full force. A single slash cleaved the Qi of Creation cleanly into two halves, one large and one small!
"Today, even if it's a mosquito's leg, I'm biting off two liang of meat!"
Chapter 738