Xu Ying scrutinized Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing for a long moment, lost in thought. Finally, he said, "Once you reach the other shore, you certainly won't harbor immense ambitions like the Holy Venerable, nor will you brim with murderous intent like the Far Ancestor. They wouldn't survive there, but you can. Very well, you may come with me."
Overjoyed, Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing boarded the vessel.
The emerald rock multi-decked vessel glided into the Chaos Sea. Xu Ying remarked, "I am currently the eldest senior brother under Grand Dao Lord Taiyi. I can arrange an identity for you so that you become a disciple of the Taiyi lineage as well. That way, even if you get into trouble, no one will dare provoke you."
Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing asked excitedly, "Is that really possible?"
Xu Ying chuckled. "I am the eldest senior brother under Taiyi. Arranging a few spots is no big deal. Once we reach the other shore, I plan to bring Daoist Wukong and Shi Tianyang in as well."
On the vessel, Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing meditated on the Chaos Great Dao, while Xu Ying carefully studied the new Dao patterns. Back then, Zuo Lian, Qu Hong, and Shentu Lun had debated the Dao together, spending a century deducing the spirit rune system, which elevated the magical arts and divine abilities of the Spirit Realm to a level unattainable even by the principle runes of the other shore.
Although Xu Ying and his allies were more numerous, only Lord of Great Dao Dao Zongyuan possessed an attainment on par with Qu Hong and Shentu Lun. By pooling their collective wisdom and efforts, they had spent eighty-six years piercing through the textures of all Daos, thereby creating the new Dao patterns.
Whether these new Dao patterns could rival the spirit runes and principle runes remained to be seen, but when placed before them, the new Dao patterns would no longer be superseded.
Xu Ying systematically replaced his previous Dao runes with the new Dao patterns, feeling his cultivation steadily rise. By the time every pattern had been exchanged, the ship had neared the other shore without him even noticing.
Rising to his feet, Xu Ying walked to the bow and looked out at the ferry of the Sea of Chaos, which grew clearer by the moment. He thought silently to himself, 'The Martial Dao must unify all Daos before the acquired can reverse to the innate. Yet to this day, I still haven't integrated the Taiyi, Chaos, and Hongmeng Great Daos into my Martial Dao. Now, with the new Dao patterns, Daos like Taiyi and Chaos have become even stronger than before. Doesn't that make them even harder to assimilate?'
He fell deep into contemplation.
His Martial Dao had already assimilated many Daos, becoming extraordinarily powerful and serving as a major pole among his cave abysses. Yet assimilating cave abysses like Taiyi and Chaos into the Martial Dao Cave Abyss still fell just short of perfection.
What Xu Ying truly wanted to prove was whether an acquired path like the Martial Dao could reverse into the innate, forging a path where the acquired could encompass the innate.
Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing walked up beside him and asked, "Dao Ancestor Xu, why the furrowed brow?"
Xu Ying explained the dilemma he faced in his cultivation, concluding, "I no longer know whether this path of mine is correct, nor do I know if the Martial Dao can truly contain these innate Great Daos."
Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing pondered for a moment, then said, "Dao Ancestor Xu, once your Martial Dao integrates these innate Great Daos, is it still the Martial Dao? In my view, it merely retains the name of the Martial Dao, while in reality, it has long transcended it."
Xu Ying was taken aback.
Qingxuan continued, "The moment your Martial Dao Cave Abyss integrated its very first cave abyss of an innate Great Dao, you had already reversed the acquired to the innate. From that point on, your Martial Dao ceased to be ordinary martial arts—it became an innate Great Dao called the Martial Dao. You are currently cultivating this innate Great Dao, fusing other Daos into it to make it increasingly formidable." He paused, then smiled. "Never mind integrating Taiyi and Chaos; even if you merely made it stand alongside the Taiyi Great Dao and Chaos Great Dao, that alone would make your name resound throughout the world and carve your legacy into history!"
Hearing this, the knot in Xu Ying's heart dissolved. He chuckled. "It was I who clung to stubborn attachments. Many thanks for the guidance, Brother Good-for-Nothing."
A wave of relief washed over him. He finally had absolute confidence in how to cultivate his Martial Dao.
As the emerald rock multi-decked vessel emerged from the Chaos Sea, the ferry guards' tractor light caught it, drawing the vessel toward the docks.
The Ancestral God and Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing instantly grew tense. The Ancestral God whispered, "Ah Ying, should we silence them?"
Xu Ying chuckled helplessly and shook his head. "You two shouldn't always think of killing. If we can avoid hurting anyone, we shouldn't."
As the vessel entered the ferry, Xu Ying activated the Golden Wheel of Karma, altering the karmic ties between the guards and their ship. The vessel sailed directly past the guards without facing a single query.
Both the Ancestral God and Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing were utterly astonished.
Instead of heading toward Daoji Heaven, the emerald rock vessel set course for the Tianjing Ruins.
All around them, deep silence reigned. The Great Dao tide was still surging, strengthening the Daos of heaven and earth throughout Tianjing. Tianjing was transforming from a wasteland into a realm increasingly hospitable to life. Many people from the other shore had already migrated here to settle.
"Rebels, I've found you!"
Deep within Tianjing, a titanic figure suddenly rose between the mountains, swinging a colossal hammer that crashed downward!
Beneath that massive hammer sat Mount Sumeru. The Buddha Ancestor's body loomed vast and magnificent atop the mountain, surrounded by floating Buddhas whose cave abysses whirred and rotated behind their heads.
"Dao Lord Wuchen, you have pursued me time and again, yet what have you ever accomplished against me?"
The Buddha Ancestor and the myriad Buddhas raised their hands to forcefully meet Dao Lord Wuchen's giant hammer. The impact shook the surrounding mountain ranges, fracturing the earth and causing thousands of volcanoes to erupt, sending plumes of smoke and magma soaring skyward!
The Buddha Ancestor and the Buddhas had long refined Mount Sumeru into a treasure. They immediately brandished it, using Mount Sumeru as a seal to strike at Wuchen.
The Buddha Ancestor's cultivation was far less profound than Wuchen's; Wuchen had harvested practitioners from myriad universes, granting him boundless, ceaseless magic power. But when the Buddha Ancestor arrived at the other shore, he had brought the tens of thousands of Buddhas from Greater Mount Sumeru. With their assistance, he managed to hold his ground for the time being.
As the fierce battle raged, the Buddha Ancestor was steadily forced backward.
Elsewhere, Dao Lord Hongxi was locked in combat with the Ancestor of Earth Immortals; Dao Lord Panyan confronted the two Dao Ancestors, Yuqing and Taiqing; and Dao Lord Qingzai engaged Yuxu and Taiyi.
They were not the only ones who had entered Tianjing; other Dao Lords were besieging Great Dao Lord Xuhuang.
The other shore had mobilized in full force specifically to flush out Xuhuang and the other rebels, eradicate them in one fell swoop, and claim the revived Tianjing entirely for themselves.
Just as everyone found themselves in dire straits, an abnormal shift suddenly occurred in the worldly Daos of Tianjing, giving pause to both sides of the battle.
The revival of the worldly Daos of the Tianjing universe had originally progressed at a sluggish pace, recovering only a tiny fraction even after over a century. Now, however, the revival of the Heavenly Dao abruptly accelerated. The power of the Heavenly Dao grew ever stronger; thunder rumbled across the sky, clouds churned, and rain began to pour.
While the Buddha Ancestor, Wuchen, and the others continued their desperate clash, another unexpected change took place: the power of the Heavenly Dao began accelerating the recovery of the other Daos, dramatically increasing their speed of restoration.
The Buddha Ancestor, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, and the others had always cultivated the techniques and divine abilities of Tianjing, and their attainments had been validated within Tianjing. As the worldly Daos rapidly revived, their cultivation and strength soared alongside them.
Sensing this cataclysmic shift, Wuchen, Qingzai, and the other Dao Lords of the other shore were shaken. Suddenly, the heavens and earth trembled, and the Dao energy permeating Tianjing seemed to gain life and consciousness, surging frantically into the bodies of the Buddha Ancestor, Taiyi, and their allies, continually magnifying their might.
"A drastic upheaval has struck Tianjing! Let us retreat at once!"
Not daring to delay, Dao Lord Wuchen abandoned the Buddha Ancestor and fled immediately.
Surprised and delighted by their surging power, the Buddha Ancestor and the Buddhas did not know what had caused this, but they naturally seized the opportunity. They immediately gave chase. Wuchen and his allies suffered heavy blows and were driven back in defeat, their footholds in Tianjing completely uprooted by the Buddha Ancestor, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, and the others.
Fleeing Tianjing, the invaders were both shocked and furious, utterly bewildered by what had caused such a drastic shift.
Just then, an emerald rock multi-decked vessel emerged from Tianjing. Dao Lord Wuchen looked closely and frowned deeply. "How is it this kid?"
The vessel was indeed Xu Ying's, carrying not only him but also a somewhat indolent young human.
Dao Lord Wuchen did not know that Xu Ying had been ordered to the New Universe and had been away for a century, so seeing him did not come as a total shock. Landing directly on Xu Ying's deck, he asked in a heavy voice, "Xu Ying, what are you doing here? And who is this boy?"
Xu Ying was not in the least flustered. He smiled and said, "This is my junior brother, Qingxuan, a new disciple taken in by Master Taiyi."
Dao Lord Wuchen bristled with irritation and sneered, "What is wrong with Grand Dao Lord Taiyi? Taking disciples haphazardly—two in a row, and both are human! Has he been possessed by Haoyi?"
Unbothered, Xu Ying replied, "We came here hoping to pick up a few benefits, perhaps finding some artifacts, manuals, or stone steles. We never expected the Heavenly Dao to suddenly revive, so we fled."
With a grim expression, Dao Lord Wuchen stared back toward the Tianjing Ruins. "It is a miracle you managed to escape alive; you really possess stubborn luck. This sudden revival of the Heavenly Dao in the Tianjing Ruins definitely has something sinister behind it."
Qingxuan the Good-for-Nothing glanced at Xu Ying, who was looking up at Wuchen with an expression of deep concern.
Dao Lord Wuchen said gravely, "The Heavenly Dao in the Tianjing Ruins revived, and the worldly Daos seemed to possess a will of their own, resembling the resurrection of an ancient god governing the Heavenly Dao. Yet I've never heard of ancient gods existing in Tianjing. Strange... what on earth is this suddenly emergent worldly will?"
He racked his brains in vain, unaware that the true culprit stood right before him.
Taking advantage of the chaotic battle between Wuchen's forces and Xuhuang, the Buddha Ancestor, and the others, Xu Ying had brought the Ancestral God to the Tianjing Ruins. The Heavenly Dao of the Tianjing Ruins shared the exact same origin as the Heavenly Dao of the dark Mortal Realm.
Back then, Xu Ying had been struck by lightning in the dark Mortal Realm and underwent his tribulation there, leading to his ascension to the Tianjing Ruins, where he was turned away by the Buddha Ancestor.
At that time, the Ancestral God had also been in the Mortal Realm, entering the dark Mortal Realm to comprehend its Heavenly Dao. As a result, he had mastered the dark Heavenly Dao—the very Heavenly Dao of the Tianjing Ruins.
Arriving at the Tianjing Ruins was like a fish returning to water for him. He swiftly mastered the Heavenly Dao here, becoming the sovereign ruler of this desolate, dead universe's Heavenly Dao.
It was precisely with his aid that the Buddha Ancestor and his comrades were able to turn defeat into victory and drive Wuchen's forces out of the ruins.
Dao Lord Wuchen frowned and muttered, "I fear we can no longer remain in the Tianjing Ruins. Our only option now is to return to Daoji Heaven and seek instructions from the Grand Dao Lords... Cast off! Return to Daoji Heaven!"
***
Meanwhile, within the Tianjing Ruins.
"Ancestral God! It really is you!"
Daoist Taiqing approached the Ancestral God, both surprised and delighted, and asked urgently, "Dao Brother, how did you reach the other shore?"
Yuxu and the others rushed over as well, overjoyed to see the Ancestral God and clamoring to know where he had come from. The Ancestral God's cultivation was remarkably profound, and his Dao power was astonishing. The worldly Daos of a mature, complete Tianjing universe had granted him an enormous boost, allowing his aura to rival that of the Buddha Ancestor and his peers—and this was before the Heavenly Dao of Tianjing had even fully recovered. Once fully restored, his cultivation would surely be even more terrifying.
The Ancestral God recounted how Xu Ying had brought him over. Everyone was amazed, saying, "Dao Ancestor Xu is still alive? What stubborn luck! We thought he had perished long ago."
The Ancestral God chuckled. "Not only is he alive, but he also returned to the Three Realms and stayed there for eighty-six years, helping us establish the new Dao patterns. He also asked me to bring a copy of these new Dao patterns to all of you."
Everyone exchanged glances. They had always wished to return to the Three Realms carrying the Dao methods and divine abilities of the other shore to pass them on to their people, but they had never found an opportunity. Who would have thought that Xu Ying, having arrived at the other shore not long ago, had already made a round trip?
The Ancestral God retrieved the new Dao patterns left by Xu Ying and said, "A Grand Dao Lord must be present to open this."
Great Dao Lord Xuhuang arrived, saying gravely, "Dao Brother, feel free to open it. I am here."
Only then did the Ancestral God unfurl the new Dao patterns Xu Ying had left behind, warning, "This Great Dao structure is extraordinarily profound. Everyone, beware of turning into Dao ash!"
Yet no sooner had he spoken than Dao ash began to drift down. Whether it was the Buddha Ancestor, Taiqing, Yuxu, Taiyi, or the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, their own Daos struggled to resist the trend of turning to Dao ash.
Fortunately, they were all beings of the Indestructible realm whose Daos were one with their bodies and whose cultivations were boundless. They promptly suppressed the ashification, drastically slowing its spread.
Great Dao Lord Xuhuang intervened personally, suppressing the Dao ash so that everyone was freed from its threat.
With lingering fear, everyone turned their eyes toward the new Dao patterns.
The Ancestor of Earth Immortals inquired, "Is this new Dao pattern framework designed by Dao Ancestor Xu?"
The Ancestral God replied, "It was not his work alone. It was crafted together with the experts of the Three Realms, two hundred and seventy-two Indestructibles from the Yuan Realm, and the consciousness of a Lord of Great Dao. Of course, my contributions were also monumental."
The crowd tacitly filtered out the last sentence, their hearts deeply shaken.
Xuhuang murmured, "With these new Dao patterns, why should we stay at the other shore and Tianjing? Mastering these patterns, along with the techniques we have gathered, will be more than enough to let the Three Realms rise."
Taiqing, Yuqing, Yuxu, and the other Dao Ancestors could hardly suppress the burning yearning to return home. Indeed, with the new Dao patterns and the techniques they had gathered over the past six hundred thousand years, returning to the Three Realms would vastly elevate their homeland's Dao methods and divine abilities!
Standing on equal footing with the other shore would be well within reach!
"We must return home. We must," the Ancestor of Earth Immortals said, his voice somewhat hoarse.
Just then, Dao light rippled within Tianjing, and the figure of a youth walked slowly out from the glow.
Great Dao Lord Xuhuang and the others straightened up, looking toward the young figure in unison.
During the other shore's repeated encirclements, they had come close to total annihilation multiple times. Fortunately, a voice had consistently guided them from the shadows, allowing them to escape death time after time.
Xuhuang had therefore suspected that the one guiding them was a Dao Lord of Tianjing.
Yet every time they tried to pursue that voice, they could catch only a faint glimpse of a youth's silhouette, never able to catch up no matter how hard they chased.
They had not expected that now, just as they resolved to return home, the youth in the Dao light would step forward of his own accord.
The youth possessed crimson lips, white teeth, and delicate, clear features. From his mouth resonated the sound of the Dao:
"Fellow Daoists, please save Tianjing."
Chapter 766