"The power of the other shore is simply too vast after all, blazing like the sun at its zenith. If Dao Master Tongtian had not joined the other shore, it would have been certain death."
Xu Ying felt a surge of emotion. "Presently, the Three Realms has yet to grow strong and is far from being able to match the other shore. Under these circumstances, people of the Three Realms who arrive here have no choice but to become people of the other shore."
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi still had not emerged, remaining deep in closed-door cultivation.
Now that Xu Ying was the Eldest Martial Brother, his word was law. When he arranged for Qingxuan to join the Taiyi Sect, none of the other disciples dared to speak out against it.
Qingxuan was far from useless; he was a powerhouse in the Immortal realm. During his study of the Xuanhuang Dao Realm Scripture, he had even grasped the method of refining the Great Dao into a realm.
What he lacked was a true lineage of teachings. By joining the Taiyi Sect, he sought first to secure an identity that allowed him to move freely on the other shore, and second to study the vast collection of ancient texts Grand Dao Lord Taiyi had gathered, using his status as a disciple to consult them.
Furthermore, Grand Dao Lord Taiyi had many disciples in the Immortal realm. As senior martial brothers, offering guidance to a junior who was still progressing was only natural.
Yet to the others, Qingxuan was in the Immortal realm, and Taiyi was also in the Immortal realm. For one Immortal to take another Immortal as his master seemed to carry an obvious ulterior motive.
"Is our Taiyi Sect a nest of rebels?" one Taiyi disciple grumbled indignantly. "From Haoyi to Zhangsun Shenghai, then Xu Ying, and now this Daoist Qingxuan! Not a single one of them looks like a good person!"
Another disciple, Senior Brother Luo, chimed in, "Brother Shenghai was one thing—he merely defected from the Taiyi Sect. But Haoyi, Xu Ying, and Qingxuan are clearly rebels from the Three Realms! Is the Taiyi Sect supposed to be the Three Realms' lodge on the other shore?"
"I think our master, Grand Dao Lord Taiyi, definitely has a problem!"
"Silence!"
Dao Lord Jiuzeng went to find Xu Ying. Sizing up Qingxuan with a few glances, he saw that Qingxuan's Great Dao had already achieved completion. He had likely joined the sect merely to gain standing on the other shore, rather than out of a sincere wish to become Taiyi's disciple. Jiuzeng could not help but frown.
He possessed the highest cultivation and greatest strength among Taiyi's disciples, serving as Taiyi's right-hand man. Yet with Xu Ying placing such a powerful figure here, even he was powerless to object.
After all, when Taiyi entered seclusion, he had instructed that Xu Ying could do whatever he pleased, and no one was to harm him in the slightest.
*We'll decide after Master emerges,* he thought to himself.
Putting the matter aside for the moment, Jiuzeng spoke to Qingxuan, "If you commit evil, I will not spare you. But if you conduct yourself honestly and encounter difficulties in your cultivation, you may ask me freely."
Qingxuan voiced his compliance.
Jiuzeng then asked, "Junior Brother Xu, back then tens of thousands of you boarded ships and ventured into the Chaos Sea to pioneer the new universe. What on earth happened? Why did only you and Shenghai return?"
Xu Ying concealed nothing and replied, "The framework of the Great Dao in the new universe far surpassed that of the other shore. The moment we entered, we encountered Dao weeping and began turning into Dao ash. Shenghai and I were fortunate enough to survive, while everyone else had already turned to Dao ash. Luckily, I still knew the path back to the Three Realms, so I made a trip there and brought back Junior Brother Qingxuan."
Jiuzeng frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, he warned, "Your return from the new universe is bound to cause a tremendous uproar. If anyone asks, you can tell them everything else, but under no circumstances are you to mention your trip to the Three Realms."
Xu Ying looked up at him in surprise. Jiuzeng said no more, leaving in haste to find True King Zongyi and True King Yuquan, recounting the whole affair to them.
True King Zongyi said, "If Master were out of seclusion, this wouldn't be a major issue. But Master happens to be in secluded cultivation. With our abilities, can we truly protect Junior Brother Xu?"
True King Yuquan replied, "Even if we can't, we must! Master instructed that no harm must come to him!"
Dao Lord Jiuzeng looked toward the depths of Daoji Heaven, watching dark clouds gather. He murmured in a low voice, "A storm is brewing..."
***
Qingxuan's entrance into the Taiyi Sect caused quite a stir within the sect itself, but it created no ripples whatsoever in the outside world.
What had recently captured the attention of the other shore was the fourth Dao Master: Dao Master Tongtian. The emergence of a new master of the Great Dao naturally stirred up immense discussion, especially since this Grand Dao Master hailed not from the Old Sacred Clan of the other shore, but from the New Sacred Clan—a fact that greatly energized the latter.
In recent years, the friction between the Old and New Sacred Clans had grown increasingly intense. Among the Old Sacred Clan, there was no shortage of senior powerhouses like the four Grand Dao Lords, and many terrifyingly formidable figures among their Immortals.
However, their numbers were few.
The New Sacred Clan, on the other hand, was growing ever larger. These people arrived from the Myriad Realms of the Heavens, and though they had become sacred clan members and spoke the sacred tongue, in the eyes of the Old Sacred Clan, they remained outsiders.
As more and more experts emerged within the New Sacred Clan, many in the Old Sacred Clan felt the mounting pressure. Among Immortals, matters were relatively restrained, but outside Daoji Heaven, incidents of the Old Sacred Clan beating members of the New Sacred Clan to death occurred frequently.
Now that Dao Master Tongtian, a member of the New Sacred Clan, had become a master of the Great Dao, the resentment of the New Sacred Clan was somewhat appeased.
The second major event was that the expedition into the new universe from over a century ago finally had an update.
Back then, scouts searching for the Three Realms had discovered a new universe, planting a suoying tree to mark its celestial coordinates before rushing back to deliver the news.
The various Immortals had selected outstanding disciples as pioneers, boarding emerald rock multi-decked vessels to head into the new universe.
Unexpectedly, once they departed, all communication ceased. The life and death of more than ten thousand pioneers remained unknown. The Immortals of the other shore had even assumed the expedition was a failure.
Yet over a century later, two pioneers had returned from the new universe: Zhangsun Shenghai and Xu Ying.
"Jiuzeng, hand over Xu Ying!"
Dao Lord Hunyuan arrived at the Taiyi Sect, blocking the entrance outside She'an Palace. His resonant voice echoed throughout the palace grounds. "Xu Ying is tied to the lives of more than ten thousand pioneers from the new universe, as well as the wealth of an entire new cosmos! Your Taiyi Sect cannot shield him—hand him over!"
True King Yuquan stood guard at the gateway of She'an Palace, intercepting Dao Lord Hunyuan with a smile. "Brother Hunyuan, Junior Brother Xu is one of the few survivors of the new universe. By keeping him in the Taiyi Sect, we will naturally have him explain what transpired there and give everyone an account."
In an unhurried, calm manner, he added, "As for handing Junior Brother Xu over, I don't believe any Dao Lord has the audacity to come to the Taiyi Sect demanding a person, do they?"
Dao Lord Hunyuan was one of the few who knew Xu Ying possessed the Hongyuan. Dead set on seizing it, how could he back down? He sneered, "The new universe involves the lives of the disciples of various Immortals, including those of the other three Grand Dao Lords! Beyond that, a new universe is equivalent to a new colony of immense wealth. Could it be that the Taiyi Sect intends to monopolize the riches of the new universe?"
Right then, another voice drifted over leisurely. "Indeed. Today, the Taiyi Sect must give us an explanation! Only by surrendering Xu Ying can the Taiyi Sect preserve its face. Otherwise, we can only force our way in and take him!"
True King Zongyi was infuriated and strode forward quickly. "Who dares speak with such insolence, claiming they will snatch someone from our Taiyi Sect?"
The newcomer was none other than another of Xu Ying's enemies, Yu Xuantong of the Taishang Dao. He glanced at True King Zongyi and True King Yuquan with disgust and said, "Neither of you has the right to speak here. Summon Jiuzeng!"
Back then, he had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Emperor Haotian, sustaining severe injuries that had left his Taishang Cave Abyss unhealed to this day. Haotian had been a disciple of the Taiyi Sect, making Yu Xuantong despise the members of Taiyi all the more.
Hearing the commotion outside, Xu Ying was about to step out to see what was happening when Dao Lord Jiuzeng walked up and said calmly, "Junior Brother Xu, this does not concern you. Go back."
Xu Ying looked at him in surprise.
Jiuzeng strode outward, his voice growing booming and solemn. "Yu Xuantong, you were wounded by Senior Brother Haoyi all those years ago. Do you need me to help heal your wounds?"
Yu Xuantong laughed aloud, his killing intent chilling to the bone. "The disciples of Taiyi are truly arrogant and overbearing! Is this how your Grand Dao Lord taught you?"
Jiuzeng stepped forward and replied indifferently, "If you come to our Taiyi Sect to cause trouble, then we disciples of Taiyi will be just this arrogant and overbearing."
For a moment, Yu Xuantong dared not make a move. Having been severely injured by Emperor Haotian, he was deeply wary of the techniques and divine powers of the Taiyi lineage.
Dao Lord Hunyuan was also wary, having suffered damage to his strength after being wounded by Xu Ying's chaos lotus.
Suddenly, loud laughter echoed out: "Two disciples of the Taiyi Sect returned from the new universe—Zhangsun Shenghai and Xu Ying! Today, no matter what, the Taiyi Sect must hand one over!"
Jiuzeng looked toward the arrival and frowned slightly. *Daoshengzi is here too? This is going to be troublesome.*
The newcomer went by the Daoist name Daoshengzi, also known as Dao Lord Daosheng. He cultivated the Samsara Great Dao, having reached the level where his Great Dao stood equal to his very person. The Samsara Great Dao was immensely formidable, making him the opponent Jiuzeng was least willing to face.
True King Yuquan called out, "Daoshengzi, Zhangsun Shenghai has long defected from the Taiyi Sect. If you want to know what happened in the new universe, why don't you go demand him from Dao Master Tongtian?"
Daoshengzi shook his head. "Dao Master Tongtian is erratic and has slaughtered countless people. Only someone tired of living would go demand a person from him."
True King Zongyi sneered, "Then you are tired of living to dare demand someone from our Taiyi Sect? Has our Taiyi Sect not slain countless people as well?"
Daoshengzi roared with laughter. "Grand Dao Lord Taiyi has been in seclusion for more than one hundred and ten years, yet he still hasn't breached the profound pass to become a Dao Master. Clearly, Brother Taiyi lacks the foundation to reach that realm! Since we are all Immortals together, who stands higher than anyone else?"
Just as Jiuzeng was about to speak, several more True Kings rushed over, shouting, "Xu Ying is tied to the new universe! Today, the Taiyi Sect must give an account!"
At that moment, another Dao Lord arrived from afar, leading a group of True Kings. "Xu Ying used the Xuanhuang Dao Realm Scripture as bait to sacrifice multiple Immortals, True Kings, and Dao Lords to revive the Dao of Slaughter! An explanation must be given for this as well!"
Jiuzeng focused his gaze and saw that it was Dao Lord Nie Xuan from the lineage of Grand Dao Lord Shenmo. His heart sank. *I'm afraid I won't be able to settle this.*
Yet another Dao Lord stepped forward leading several True Kings, projecting his voice, "Out of more than ten thousand pioneers to the new universe, only Xu Ying survived! I suspect he murdered those pioneers!"
Jiuzeng's heart pounded again—the newcomer was Dao Lord Rongku, a disciple of the Grand Dao Lord of Life and Death!
Just then, Dao Lord Zuoqiu under Dao Lord Yinyang arrived as well, declaring, "Today, even if Grand Dao Lord Taiyi emerges from seclusion, he must surrender Xu Ying!"
Dao Lord Jiuzeng's heart sank deeper and deeper. He thought, *Nie Xuan, Rongku, Zuoqiu... Their arrival means the three Grand Dao Lords—Shenmo, Life and Death, and Yinyang—are nearby. The Taiyi Sect cannot stop them. We definitely cannot stop them!*
He possessed the highest cultivation among Taiyi's disciples and genuinely wished to protect Xu Ying. But too many people had come demanding an explanation. With his strength and that of his fellow disciples, holding them off was completely impossible.
*Master has not yet emerged. If these lawless scoundrels force their way into the Taiyi Sect, Master will lose all face!*
Dao Lord Jiuzeng cast a glance at True King Yuquan. Understanding the signal immediately, True King Yuquan went straight to Xu Ying and said, "Senior Brother Jiuzeng fears we cannot hold them off. He sent me to escort you away from the other shore to lay low for a while. You can return after Master comes out of seclusion!"
Xu Ying felt touched and said, "Why should my senior brothers risk their lives over my affairs? I will go out and explain the truth to them."
True King Yuquan shook his head. "It's useless even if you go out! Some want you to come out not to hear explanations, but to force you to surrender the coordinates of the new universe and the Dao Master cultivation method! And others simply want your life!"
Xu Ying smiled. "These True Kings and Dao Lords are reasonable people. Once matters are explained clearly, they will naturally withdraw."
Hearing this, Yuquan hesitated.
Xu Ying walked outside, and Yuquan hastily followed him. Seeing Xu Ying approaching, Jiuzeng was startled and blurted out, "Yuquan, didn't I tell you to send him away?"
Yuquan said helplessly, "Junior Brother insisted on coming over to explain his experiences in the new universe publicly."
Jiuzeng was furious. "Do you think these people came for the truth? They are here to strip the Taiyi Sect of its prestige, to hold us accountable! Junior Brother, I will have Yuquan escort you out. Flee through a cave abyss to another universe to avoid the storm!"
Xu Ying smiled. "If I leave, wouldn't that leave you all to risk your lives for me? Senior Brother, if we can put an end to this conflict, why not try?"
Jiuzeng said in anger, "You are too naive! You don't know what they are thinking! They devour people without even spitting out the bones!"
Xu Ying stepped forward and said with a smile, "Senior Brother, let me try. If it doesn't work, I will share the fate of the sect."
Helpless, Dao Lord Jiuzeng allowed him to step outside She'an Palace to face the True Kings and Dao Lords who had come to demand answers.
Outside She'an Palace, figures of True Kings and Dao Lords either stood in the void, sat upon clouds, manifested immortal halls, prayer mats, or reed shelters, or rested upon chariots. Their auras were overwhelmingly powerful, creating a myriad of imposing spectacles. As Xu Ying's gaze swept over them, pairs of eyes locked onto him in turn.
Dao Lord Hunyuan was beside himself with excitement and prepared to seize Xu Ying, but seeing that none of the surrounding True Kings or Dao Lords had moved, he hastily checked his stride.
"Xu Ying, your crimes have come to light,"
Dao Lord Nie Xuan coughed lightly and said, "You slaughtered over ten thousand pioneers, cultivated the Dao of Slaughter, and sought to monopolize the new universe. Now that the truth is out, what more do you have to say?"
"A monumental misunderstanding!"
With utmost sincerity written across his face, Xu Ying called out loudly, "Everyone, this is a monumental misunderstanding! Back then, our journey to the new universe went without incident. Only upon arriving did we discover that the new universe was terrifying beyond measure, with Dao methods and divine powers surpassing even those of the other shore! The architecture of their Dao patterns was far more formidable than our principle text framework! Caught off guard, we were invaded by their Dao pattern architecture, and every single pioneer was reduced to Dao ash! Shenghai and I only barely escaped with our lives..."
"Utter nonsense!"
Daoshengzi took a step forward, sneering. "Everyone else was turned to Dao ash while only you survived. Dead men tell no tales—this excuse of yours is far too childish!"
Xu Ying replied, "Zhangsun Shenghai of Biyou Palace also survived. He can testify for me."
An Immortal scoffed, "Both of you hail from the Taiyi Sect; you could easily have colluded!"
The crowd voiced their agreement one after another. Left with no choice, Xu Ying shouted, "I brought back a Dao pattern from the new universe! If you don't believe me, one look will make it clear!"
"I don't believe it!" Dao Lord Zuoqiu sneered in a mocking tone. "If you truly brought back a Dao pattern, take it out and let us see if it can kill us! If you can't, you are lying!"
Xu Ying sighed and turned to Jiuzeng. "Senior Brother, lead our fellow brothers and sisters to withdraw back to Yaoguang Hall where Master is in seclusion. I fear they won't be able to bear it. Also, Senior Brother Jiu, Senior Brother Yu, you must not look back either."
Jiuzeng was bewildered upon hearing this. *Does he really possess such a Dao pattern?*
He dared not delay, swiftly joining Yuquan, Zongyi, and the others to gather the Taiyi disciples and hurry toward Yaoguang Hall.
"Why haven't you shown this new universe Dao pattern yet? Could it be you don't have one?" Dao Lord Rongku sneered. "Xu Ying, you are a habitual liar! Today, I shall capture you!"
Hearing this, Jiuzeng was about to turn back to rescue Xu Ying when, at that very moment, flakes of Dao snow suddenly drifted down from the sky in a dense flurry.
Seeing this, Jiuzeng felt his scalp tingle with absolute dread. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Everyone face Yaoguang Hall! Do not look back!"
Chapter 772