Hearing their words, Dao Master Ji Cang felt both irritated and amused. He barked, "You four bastards each took one of my banners, and now he wants to learn my techniques! Every last bit of my savings has been swindled away by you lot! Did you not intend to leave me anything at all?"
Xu Ying hastily replied, "We merely feel that we will be able to attain the Dao Master realm on our own in the future, so there is no need to study another's techniques. If the Dao Master is reluctant to part with these four banners, we can forgo them."
"Take them!"
Dao Master Ji Cang was generous after all. He planted the four great banners before the four of them and chuckled. "Mere worldly possessions, that is all. I am not like Dao Master Hua—I do not hold them so dearly. These four banners are renowned far and wide. They originated from a chaos spiritual root in the Hong Realm Universe, which was later claimed by our other shore. The one bearing the azure lotus motif is called the Green Lotus Precious Color Banner."
The one in Qingxuan's hands was precisely the Green Lotus Precious Color Banner.
"The one bearing the radiant flame motif is called the Off-Ground Flame Light Banner." The Holy Venerable examined the banner in his grasp, sensing that within it lurked a blazing inferno capable of incinerating an entire universe.
"The one bearing the cloud motif is called the Plain White Cloud Realm Banner." The banner in Daoist Wukong's hands was this very one, wrapped in ethereal, drifting clouds.
"And this final banner is called the Chaotic Dao Apricot Yellow Banner." The apricot-yellow banner had fallen into Xu Ying's hands.
Explaining the origins of these banners, Dao Master Ji Cang said, "These banners all derive from a single chaos spiritual root, divided into four. Brought together, they form a complete set of innate numinous treasures. Each one possesses astounding might, and when combined, their miraculous effects are greater still."
Having said this, he grabbed Shi Tianyang by the collar and hauled the youth of the Stone Clan toward the stern. "Since you four chose innate numinous treasures, you cannot learn my techniques. No eavesdropping at the stern!"
At the stern of the vessel, Dao Master Ji Cang laid down a sealing ward and truly began imparting his own cultivation technique to Shi Tianyang.
The Holy Venerable and Qingxuan watched this unfold, both harboring suspicions. They turned to Xu Ying. "Dao Ancestor Xu, looking at this posture, could Dao Master Ji Cang truly intend to pass down his true heritage to Shi Tianyang?"
They had chosen the innate numinous treasures right away precisely because they feared Ji Cang would teach a technique meant for harvesting leeks. After all, innate numinous treasures were tangible and real, whereas his techniques might not suit them. Moreover, whether it was the Holy Venerable, Qingxuan, or Daoist Wukong, all held themselves in high esteem. Qingxuan and the Holy Venerable had fought their entire lives, neither ever yielding to the other, while Daoist Wukong had always walked alone and was equally aloof and proud.
All of them believed that by continuing along their own paths, they would certainly attain the Dao Master realm without needing to learn anyone else's techniques.
Xu Ying surmised, "Perhaps upon reviving, Dao Master Ji Cang felt he needed a successor, which is why he is giving Shi Tianyang his true heritage."
He paused, then added, "To make it convenient to seize his body in the future."
The Holy Venerable nodded. "Only that fits the image of a Dao Master. If Shi Tianyang cultivates his technique, shaping himself inside and out to mirror Ji Cang's form, he'll be thoroughly seasoned and marinated, making possession all the easier."
Daoist Wukong asked, "Could it be possible that Dao Master Ji Cang is genuinely nurturing Shi Tianyang as a disciple?"
Xu Ying, Qingxuan, and the Holy Venerable sneered in unison, completely unconvinced.
This monkey had never been harvested before, so he had no concept of how sinister hearts could be.
"I'm not entirely at ease with this innate numinous treasure either." Xu Ying inspected the banner before him. It was woven from a mass of apricot-yellow radiance. When unfurled, it could travel through chaos, its fabric expanding wider and larger, churning the Chaos Sea.
Wherever the banner swept, the Chaos Sea parted, forming a torrent of the two qi of Xuanhuang that flowed alongside the cloth—a truly wondrous sight.
Xu Ying stopped brandishing the banner and lowered it into the Chaos Sea. "I always felt there was something strange about Dao Master Ji Cang reclaiming these banners so easily. We had best nurture them in the Chaos Sea for now. Perhaps that will cleanse the Dao Master imprint left within them."
The Holy Venerable, Qingxuan, and Daoist Wukong each stepped forward as well, plunging their respective banners into the Chaos Sea to let the chaotic depths erode them.
Daoist Wukong asked, "Won't it erode them to pieces?"
Xu Ying smiled. "These items were originally spiritual roots born within chaos, growing in chaos, drawing nourishment from chaos to enrich a Primordial Source. Naturally, soaking them won't ruin them."
Only then did Daoist Wukong feel somewhat relieved.
In between teaching Shi Tianyang, Dao Master Ji Cang frequently stepped outside the seal. Seeing the four of them washing their banners in the Chaos Sea, he could not help shaking his head. "These four bastards are far too cautious."
Yet he too had feared the imprint Dao Master Hua had left within the four banners and had not dared keep them. When Xu Ying and the others asked, he had simply handed them over.
***
Elsewhere in the Chaos Sea, another multi-decked vessel was sailing toward the Zhao Realm.
Aboard were two men and one woman—Dao Master Hua's three disciples.
The two male disciples were named Bian Chen and Chu Tu, while the woman was Li Xiao. The three drifted through the sea, locked onto the shala tree of the Zhao Realm, though the journey was exceedingly long.
Li Xiao smiled and remarked, "The Zhao Realm was one of the earliest universes ruled by the other shore. Back when the other shore encountered it, they were met with fierce resistance."
"Did you two Junior Brothers know about this?"
Bian Chen and Chu Tu exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
Bian Chen smiled. "Could Senior Sister tell us the story behind it?"
Secretly, he sent a voice transmission to Chu Tu: *Li Xiao is our Senior Sister. She joined our master's tutelage earlier than us and learned far more skills from him. If she enters the Zhao Realm with us, I fear the one who ultimately claims the calamitous destiny will be her, not us!*
Chu Tu replied in kind: *Her cultivation is higher than ours. Only by joining hands in a surprise attack do we stand a chance.*
Completely unaware of their plot, Li Xiao smiled and said, "I happen to know a bit about this. Back then, scouts traveled aboard a multi-decked vessel. Passing by the Zhao Realm, they placed three emerald rocks inside, nearly wiping it out. Yet to everyone's surprise, the Zhao Realm had Grand Dao Masters—two of them, in fact! They actually captured the scouts alive, boarded the vessel, and fought their way back to the other shore..."
Bian Chen and Chu Tu had never heard this tale before, and they became involuntarily engrossed.
Chu Tu asked, "Senior Sister Li, what happened next?"
"The other shore had far more Dao Masters back then than it does today. Wasn't an attack by two Zhao Realm Dao Masters merely seeking death?"
Li Xiao smiled. "Naturally, they were defeated by Master and the others, dying on the other shore. Seeing this, the Immortals of the Zhao Realm surrendered. The other shore merely wanted to preach and harvest them, never intending to wipe them out completely, so they took in the Zhao Realm. Little did they expect that this would plant the seeds of disaster."
Bian Chen and Chu Tu listened intently, the murderous intent in their hearts quietly waning.
Bian Chen asked, "What disaster?"
Li Xiao explained, "While the Immortals of the Zhao Realm allowed the other shore to preach and harvest there, they also sent a vast number of their own people to study on the other shore. They learned the true Daos of the other shore, and very soon, a large cohort of experts emerged. Some Zhao Realm natives even secretly smuggled the genuine teachings back home."
Hearing this, both men bristled with fierce intent, a cold ferocity gleaming in their eyes. They sneered:
"People of the Zhao Realm truly are base and wretched!"
"Those Zhao Realm dogs ought to crawl back where they belong!"
Li Xiao continued, "During that period, Zhao Realm experts on the other shore grew ever more numerous, and the Zhao Realm itself flourished. Not only had we failed to harvest them, we had nurtured them instead. When Master and the others discovered this, they were infuriated, and so they personally descended upon the Zhao Realm."
"What happened after that?" the two asked eagerly, utterly captivated.
"After that, Master arrived."
Li Xiao suddenly looked behind them and gasped, "Master, why are you here too?"
Both men instantly turned to look. At that exact moment, Li Xiao raised her hairpin. Small and delicate, one end was a pin while the other was a tiny axe. With a sway in the wind, it expanded into a massive battle-axe ten feet long.
With a single chop, Li Xiao cleaved Chu Tu dead!
Bian Chen was shocked and drifted backward, not daring to take her battle-axe head-on. Behind Li Xiao, her Primordial Spirit manifested, both palms thrusting forward. Instantly, space across the deck shifted, shoving Bian Chen straight into the Chaos Sea! Bian Chen let out a wretched scream as the Chaos Sea swallowed him whole, his fate unknown.
Li Xiao retrieved the battle-axe, gave it a gentle flick to turn it back into a hairpin with an axe handle, and pinned her hair up. Smiling, she said, "After that, Master slaughtered their Immortals down to the last few, whom he brought to Qionghua Island to sign the Qionghua Island Agreement. It dictated that the Zhao Realm was only permitted to spread harvesting techniques, never genuine Daos. From that point on, the Zhao Realm declined, never to recover."
She picked up Chu Tu's corpse and tossed it into the Chaos Sea as well. Once everything was cleaned up, she exhaled a breath of relief and murmured, "Junior Brothers, do not blame your Senior Sister for being ruthless. Weren't you two preparing to make a move against me as well?"
"No matter what, I must become the Master of Calamitous Destiny on this journey to the Zhao Realm!"
She whispered, "I have witnessed too many of Master's methods. In his eyes, everything can be used, and everything can be sold. If I do not wish to be used and sold by him one day, if I do not wish to die by his hand, then my only choice is to raise my value in his eyes as high as possible!"
***
Time was lost in the chaos, yet aboard the emerald rock multi-decked vessel lay solid, tangible space. Before anyone realized it, six or seven years slipped by.
During this time, Dao Master Ji Cang taught his technique to Shi Tianyang, while Xu Ying and the other three repeatedly tempered the four banners in the Chaos Sea.
Having received direct guidance from a Dao Master, Shi Tianyang's cultivation and strength advanced by leaps and bounds, showing faint signs of doubly proving his Dao and stepping into the Immortality Realm.
Finally, the pressure upon the multi-decked vessel abruptly vanished as it sailed out of the Chaos Sea, arriving beneath the shala tree of the Zhao Realm Universe. Beneath the tree stood a lavish, magnificent temporary palace built by the people of the Zhao Realm. Inhabitants of the palace immediately stepped forward to welcome Ji Cang and the others, ushering them inside with attentive hospitality.
This overflowing warmth made Xu Ying and the rest wonder whether they were refugees on the run or guests arriving to enjoy a life of luxury.
Dao Master Ji Cang remarked, "Back then, the Zhao Realm was remarkably formidable. Even under the emerald rock extinction, they still had Dao Masters who struck out to counterattack the other shore—truly extraordinary. Even after becoming slaves of our other shore, they still possessed the ability to turn the tables."
A trace of admiration surfaced on his face. "At that time, Zhao Realm experts on the other shore were as numerous as ox hairs, nearly matching the numbers of the Sacred Clan. It sent a chill through the entire Sacred Clan. Had the Zhao Realm been left to develop unchecked, never mind a cuckoo taking over the nest—even the Dao Masters would have had no peace. Thus, the Zhao Realm was purged. Though today's Zhao Realm remains strong, with numerous Immortals, all of them have been castrated by flawed harvesting techniques, rendering them incapable of advancing further to become Dao Masters."
Shi Tianyang asked, perplexed, "Castrated?"
Dao Master Ji Cang laughed boisterously. "Not that their balls were literally cut off! Rather, flawed techniques were used to restrict their achievements, ensuring they could only cultivate up to the Immortality Realm. Moreover, whenever we wish to kill or harvest these Immortals, we can do so at will, without any lingering dangers."
Understanding dawned on everyone.
Just then, the palace master overseeing this domain hurried over and bowed in homage. "This disciple, Dongfang Zhi of the Zhao Realm, was late to welcome the exalted immortals. I beg for your forgiveness!"
He clapped his hands, and several hundred female cultivators of the Zhao Realm filed out in succession. Some were slender, some voluptuous, each alluring and graceful.
Dongfang Zhi smiled. "A modest gift, hardly worthy of respect."
Ji Cang looked over these women. All possessed fair features, and each boasted impressive cultivation. Evidently, to properly serve these distinguished guests from the other shore, this palace had painstakingly selected top-tier female cultivators from across the Zhao Realm. Their eyes were brimming with affection and their lips curled with demure smiles; clearly, they considered it an honor to attend upon the Sacred Clan of the other shore.
Dao Master Ji Cang roared with laughter. "It seems Daoist Hua has domesticated you all very well over these years! Good, very good!"
Dongfang Zhi bowed and beamed with flattering smiles.
Ji Cang was about to speak when his expression suddenly flickered. He looked toward the sky, his countenance turning solemn. "Did you feel that?"
Xu Ying, Qingxuan, and the others focused their senses, but perceived nothing.
Dao Master Ji Cang muttered, "Have you truly sensed nothing? A vast, unfathomable power has connected with the Zhao Realm! Such immense strength must be Dao Master Luo! Has that crippled wretch sensed I am here? We are leaving!"
He strode out of the palace at once, intending to pilot the emerald rock multi-decked vessel back into the Chaos Sea. Yet when the vessel reached the universe's border, an inexplicable force pressed against it, barring further progress.
"That cripple Luo truly sensed I was here!" Ji Cang was about to forcefully shatter that power when an unprovoked palpitation seized his heart, sending chills down his spine. "That cripple Luo has activated an innate numinous treasure! The moment I make a move, the treasure will lock onto me and strike to kill!"
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He barked hurriedly, "Dongfang Zhi, prepare carriages! We depart at once!"
Before long, Dongfang Zhi had the carriages ready. Dao Master Ji Cang had no leisure to enjoy the lovely maidens of the Zhao Realm; he swept Xu Ying and the others aboard, hastily speeding toward the Zhao Realm Celestial Court.
Qingxuan the good-for-nothing glanced back repeatedly, lamenting the wasted opportunity.
Ji Cang's expression darkened and cleared unpredictably as he muttered, "That cripple Luo's strength has actually reached such a terrifying degree! What does he intend by punching through to the Zhao Realm? If it is to capture me, why does he not strike right now?"
Eager to restore his strength, he reasoned, *I must hide in the Zhao Realm first. The people here have the deepest servility; if I order them to prepare all manner of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, they won't dare resist! That will greatly accelerate my recovery.*
***
Meanwhile, on the other shore, in Daoji Heaven, atop Mount Jiuqiu, stood Fengya Pagoda.
Dao Master Luo sat inside his carriage, hovering before the pagoda. Beneath him lay a sacrificial altar.
Three Dao Masters—Hua, Lin, and Tongtian—stood at three corners of the altar, watching Dao Master Luo weave his technique.
Behind Dao Master Luo's head appeared the grand vision of the myriad universes. Abruptly, he locked onto the Zhao Realm within it. Behind him, the Zhao Realm grew ever larger and vaster!
In a matter of breaths, the Zhao Realm expanded to the point where it swallowed the spacetime behind him!
Dao Master Luo raised a hand lightly. The Fengya Pagoda took flight, descending into the Zhao Realm and anchoring its spacetime, halting any further flux.
That Fengya Pagoda was actually a chaos spiritual root, an innate numinous treasure!
"Within this pagoda lies the corpse of the Zhao Realm's former Dao Master, as well as the imprint left from the Zhao Realm's defeat. Nothing could be more fitting to bridge the connection to the Zhao Realm."
Dao Master Luo exhaled deeply, turning to Hua, Lin, and Tongtian. "Now, it is time to shift the calamitous destiny."
The three agreed. Each began directing the calamitous destiny lingering across the other shore, sending it cascading toward the Zhao Realm.
Chapter 790