Naturally, Xu Ying was unwilling to become sworn brothers with him, let alone swear an oath to the Chaos Master. Nowadays, just hearing the words "Chaos Oath" gave him a terrible headache.
Ji Cang barked, "I am a Dao Master, and of the pure Saint race of the other shore! Becoming sworn brothers with a lowly pariah of the Three Realms like you, and you actually turn up your nose?"
Xu Ying paid him no heed, turning instead to Xuhuang. "Brother Dao, it has been some time since we last met, and your cultivation has surged tremendously—truly admirable. From what I can see, you are not in the least inferior to Grand Dao Lord Taiyi."
Xuhuang laughed. "Taiyi is a Grand Dao Lord, and I too am a Grand Dao Lord. How could I fall behind him? Even so, our tremendous progress during this period is largely thanks to the Tianjing Dao Venerable. That Dao Venerable is truly extraordinary. Proficient in all manner of Dao arts, he has imparted various Grand Daos to us, benefiting each and every one of us immensely."
Hearing this, Xu Ying could not help being moved. Xuhuang, Taiqing, Taiyi, and the others each cultivated different Grand Daos, especially Xuhuang, who cultivated over a dozen innate Grand Daos. To guide these Indestructible masters and raise them to such heights in a mere hundred years—this Tianjing Dao Venerable's cultivation of the Dao was almost frighteningly profound.
The Ancestral God stepped forward and said, "The Tianjing Dao Venerable is indeed astonishing. Though he is also at the Dao Master realm, in my estimation, his peak combat strength was likely superior even to the three Dao Masters of the other shore!"
Xu Ying bowed in greeting, and the Ancestral God returned the courtesy, asking in puzzlement, "Ah Ying, how is it that you still haven't attained the Indestructible realm?"
Xu Ying smiled. "Soon. I cultivate all nine innate Grand Daos simultaneously, and I'm only one or two short of perfection. When that time comes, I will make a push for the Indestructible realm."
Dao Ancestor Taiqing walked over and said, "If you still have two Grand Daos left to complete, you must meet the Tianjing Dao Venerable! With his guidance, you will master those two Grand Daos much faster!"
Xu Ying could not help feeling a surge of yearning, looking forward to meeting this foremost master of the Dao in Tianjing.
"It's just that ever since his rebirth, the Tianjing Dao Venerable has never recovered to his peak."
Dao Ancestor Yuqing walked over and said, "This time Dao Master Hua came with menacing momentum. To protect Dao Master Ji Cang, he had no choice but to intervene, and he suffered severe injuries as a result. Junior Brother Taiqing and I both received his guidance and managed to make some headway in the Dao of Wuji."
Xu Ying bowed and smiled. "Congratulations to both Dao Ancestors. No more disputes, then."
Taiqing and Yuqing exchanged a glance, both frowning deeply with worry.
Clearly, their comprehension of Wuji had run into issues somewhere.
Xu Ying had only cultivated the Grand Dao of Wuji to the Supreme realm, still some distance from Indestructible, so he sought guidance from the two of them. At first, when Taiqing and Yuqing advised him, their views were still aligned. But as Xu Ying's questions grew increasingly profound and subtle, their opinions began to diverge.
Then the two old men started bickering. One argued, "You are deducing Wuji in reverse from Taiji, using the outcome to infer the cause. Along the way lie the shifts of Taisu, Taishi, Taichu, and Taiyi—there will inevitably be errors!"
The other retorted, "You are deducing the Five Tais forward from Wuji! But you are interpreting innate Wuji through human cognition, so the Grand Dao of Wuji you arrive at is no longer innate, but merely your personal post-celestial understanding. Using that as a foundation to derive the shifts of the Five Tais is bound to be incomplete, straying from the innate!"
The two old men argued fiercely, neither yielding an inch. Beside them, Ji Cang chimed in, "Empty words prove nothing. Truth lies in the hands! Why don't you two fight it out to see who is right?"
"Makes sense!"
Dao Ancestor Taiqing and Dao Ancestor Yuqing immediately went to battle, clashing until heaven and earth turned dark.
Left with no choice, Xu Ying walked over to Dao Ancestor Yuxu and smiled. "Patriarch, I trust you have been well?"
Dao Ancestor Yuxu chuckled. "Thanks to your blessing, Tianjing has been peaceful and safe all these years, without much danger. Dao Ancestor Xu, I have cultivated the Dao of the Void and made some headway. If you cannot master those two Grand Daos, why not learn the Dao of the Void from me?"
Xu Ying was originally an heir to the Kunlun lineage, but his ancestor Xu You had turned to the Taiyi lineage back then, abandoning the original heritage.
Dao Ancestor Yuxu felt he had failed Xu You and his descendants, so he always felt indebted to Xu Ying and looked for ways to make amends.
Xu Ying smiled. "Patriarch, what I cultivate now are the Nine Innate Daos, nine exceedingly formidable innate Grand Daos. I cannot take advantage of you. How about I pass several of the Dao arts I cultivate to you in exchange for your Dao of the Void?"
He also felt some guilt toward this patriarch; after all, his own ancestor had abandoned Kunlun's heritage and disappointed Dao Ancestor Yuxu's hopes. Moreover, Dao Ancestor Yuxu had always treated him exceptionally well, yet he had failed to pick up the Kunlun lineage.
'The Patriarch's Dao of the Void certainly cannot compare to the Nine Innate Daos. By taking this opportunity to pass the Nine Innate Daos to him, I can bolster his strength,' Xu Ying thought to himself.
Dao Ancestor Yuxu said happily, "That works out well, too."
For people of the Three Realms, imparting the Dao was vastly simpler than for those of the other shore. Ever since Xu Ying and the others improved the new Dao patterns of the Three Realms, the mysteries of the Grand Daos were encapsulated within them. The higher one's cultivation of the Dao, the fewer new Dao patterns were needed.
For almost all of Xu Ying's Grand Daos, he had reduced the new Dao patterns to fewer than ten, with only Wuji and Calamitous Destiny yet to reach that level.
Xu Ying taught Dao Ancestor Yuxu the Dao patterns of eight Grand Daos—Chaos, Hongmeng, Wuji, Taiyi, Samsara, Karma, Calamitous Destiny, and Slaughter—while Dao Ancestor Yuxu taught him the Void Dao patterns he had comprehended.
The Void Dao patterns Yuxu had grasped were also very few in number: only five patterns.
After Xu Ying learned these five patterns, Dao Ancestor Yuxu said, "This Dao of the Void is very difficult to cultivate. Even the Tianjing Dao Venerable mentioned that in ancient Tianjing, they didn't know much about this Dao either. I count as having the highest attainment in the Void, so even he could not instruct me. You are sharp-witted; be sure to study and comprehend it diligently."
Xu Ying assented.
As he examined them roughly, his expression gradually grew solemn. He realized that these Void Dao patterns were not in the least inferior to those of the Nine Innate Daos!
Yet how was that possible?
The Nine Innate Daos were nine supreme Grand Daos. How could there exist another Grand Dao outside of them that stood on equal footing?
'The Nine Innate Daos already encompass the entire progression from Chaos to Hongyuan, to the universe, and finally to Nirvana. Nine Grand Daos, unmistakably supreme! By what virtue can the Void stand alongside them?'
Xu Ying felt immense curiosity. He had originally intended to eavesdrop on the conversation between Taiyi and Dao Master Hua, but now he was irresistibly captivated by the Void Dao patterns and immersed himself in them.
Seeing him forget to eat and sleep as he threw himself wholeheartedly into researching the Void Dao patterns, Dao Ancestor Yuxu could not help showing a gratified smile, thinking, 'The Xu clan has finally picked up my lineage's heritage after all.'
As Xu Ying delved deeper, more and more subtleties of the Dao of the Void were uncovered by him, yet the questions in his heart only deepened.
The Void did not refer to the starry sky, but to empty space utterly devoid of matter—a realm of nothingness. Wherever matter existed, it could not be called the Void.
When cultivators unleashed their primordial spirits, they often placed them within the Void, precisely because there was no matter there. A primordial spirit in an energy state placed within it could appear and vanish unpredictably, transforming at will, all without occupying physical space in reality.
During battles, cultivators sometimes also used the Void as a foothold. When space was shattered and offered nowhere to stand, the Void could provide a fleeting refuge.
Aside from that, however, there were few other applications of the Void, and divine powers of the Void were exceedingly rare.
Yet the five Void Dao patterns taught to him by Dao Ancestor Yuxu expounded far more marvelous uses of the Void. The Void was divided into multiple layers; the deeper the layer of the Void, the stronger its repulsion toward matter, and the greater its affinity for attracting energy.
If this Dao was cultivated to an advanced realm, activating divine powers could directly dissolve all matter—including enemies!
Likewise, one could achieve creation from the void, utilizing energy to forge matter.
'This Dao is so powerful, yet it is not contained within the Nine Innate Daos. It seems the Nine Innate Daos do not encompass all Daos after all!'
Xu Ying was suddenly stunned. He used his post-celestial Martial Dao to accommodate the Nine Innate Daos precisely so that every Grand Dao in the world would reside within his Martial Dao.
His Martial Dao transformed into a Hongyuan, thereby possessing all Grand Daos and mastering all Dao arts.
Yet the Dao of the Void demonstrated that even if he mastered Calamitous Destiny and Nirvana, there might still be Grand Daos wandering outside.
'My Martial Dao has still failed to touch the essence of the Dao,' he thought silently. 'Then, suppose my Martial Dao integrates the Void—could it encompass all Grand Daos and master all Dao arts? Most likely still not.'
He pondered bitterly, sensing that there must be something fundamental beneath it all that he had yet to discover.
—
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi followed Xuhuang to a realm of glazed glass. Heaven and earth had become incomparably smooth and flat, like a mirror reflecting all light and color.
His heart skipped a beat. This was where Dao Master Hua had slain Grand Dao Master Xuanhuang in the past!
'Tianjing Dao Venerable trapped Dao Master Hua here, clearly intending to avenge Xuanhuang,' he thought. 'Still, Dao Master Hua is truly formidable to have survived. It seems Tianjing Dao Venerable is indeed far from recovering to his peak.'
Xuhuang said, "Dao Master Hua is up ahead. Please, Brother Dao."
Taiyi thanked him and walked forward.
The mirror surface was exceptionally smooth, absorbing no light at all; every ray of light and color was refracted outward, so any hue reflected by the mirror into human eyes appeared strikingly vibrant and gorgeously dazzling.
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi walked toward the center of the mirror before he knew it, when he suddenly noticed a stalk of green bamboo reflected within the mirror surface, lush and emerald-green as though carved from viridian jade.
He looked up, yet saw no sign of where the green bamboo actually was.
"An innate numinous treasure!"
Grand Dao Lord Taiyi steadied his thoughts. The green bamboo was the Chaos spirit root of the Saint Realm universe, incomparably powerful, and had fallen into Dao Master Hua's hands long ago.
Now, this stalk of green bamboo was like an engraved pattern inside the mirror, not resembling a physical object.
He continued forward and saw a massive cauldron, four-legged and square. This cauldron was also a Chaos spirit root and an innate numinous treasure; legend had it that the Hongyuan of the Zheng Realm universe had been born from this very cauldron.
This four-legged cauldron naturally drew upon the power of the Chaos Sea, refining it within the vessel to serve as nourishment for the Hongyuan!
Taiyi moved further ahead and saw other innate numinous treasures. Without exception, all of them had turned into engraved patterns within the mirror, sealed inside the glass surface.
Such exquisite divine power was incomprehensible even to a Grand Dao Lord like him who stood infinitely close to the Dao Master realm!
'The Tianjing Dao Venerable made a move...' he thought silently. 'Only Master Dao Venerable could wield such unbelievable methods to suppress even innate numinous treasures.'
After a moment, he finally spotted Dao Master Hua. Dao Master Hua was also inside the mirror, though compared to those innate numinous treasures that had turned into carved reliefs, Dao Master Hua was in far better shape.
Around him, four innate numinous treasures resisted the Tianjing Dao Venerable's divine power, keeping him from being reduced to a mere relief.
Yet at the same time, he was trapped in the space propped up by those four innate numinous treasures, unable to step outside, let alone escape.
At this moment, Dao Master Hua was drawing his last gasps of breath, gravely wounded. The Falling Petals Divine Axe lay outside the four treasures; its blade was battered and chipped, its handle snapped, and it too had turned into an engraved relief in the mirror, shorn of all power.
Seeing this, Grand Dao Lord Taiyi felt a slight tremor in his heart. To seal so many innate numinous treasures—the Tianjing Dao Venerable's attainment in the Dao was truly terrifyingly high!
"Dao Master Hua, I have come to ransom you back to the other shore."
Taiyi spoke slowly, relaying the three conditions Xuhuang had laid out, and asked, "Brother Dao, do you have any objection to these three conditions?"
Though Dao Master Hua was severely injured, he still possessed an extraordinary demeanor. Raising his head toward Taiyi outside the mirror, he said calmly, "Of these three conditions, I can grant the first two, but the third I flatly refuse. Taiyi, the only reason they raised these three conditions is because they fear Dao Master Lin and Dao Master Luo will find this place and annihilate Tianjing. The advantage is not on their side!"
Taiyi was silent for a moment, then asked, "What if they decide to kill you?"
Dao Master Hua frowned slightly. "I am protected by four great numinous treasures. How can they kill me?"
Taiyi said, "Others may not be able to kill you, but Master Dao Venerable certainly can."
Dao Master Hua fell silent.
The Tianjing Dao Venerable was indeed Tianjing's Dao Venerable, but he was also the master who had once taught these Dao Masters their arts.
"Tianjing's heavenly and earthly Grand Daos have not fully revived, and he is far from returning to his peak. Moreover, his injuries are severe," Dao Master Hua said. "He may not necessarily be able to kill me."
Taiyi replied, "The next calamitous destiny of the other shore will arrive in three thousand years. If Dao Master Hua does not consider the welfare of the other shore, then I shall lend Master Dao Venerable a hand to refine you to death right here. If you do care for the other shore, then enter a three-point pact with them for three thousand years: within three thousand years, do not encroach upon Tianjing and do not come seeking vengeance. Leave everything until after the other shore's calamitous destiny has passed."
Dao Master Hua's eyelid twitched. He raised his head and locked eyes with him.
Taiyi showed not the slightest fear, meeting his gaze directly.
After a moment, Dao Master Hua withdrew his gaze and said, "You want to rescue me so I can heal my injuries and prepare to confront the calamitous destiny three thousand years from now. Taiyi, you truly are considering the good of the other shore, without much selfish desire."
He let out a cold snort. "Yet you do not hesitate to threaten me for it. Are you not afraid of facing retribution when you attempt to break through and become a Dao Master?"
Taiyi said slowly, "Brother Dao, prioritize the bigger picture. As for whether I can attain the Dao Master realm, that is a matter for the future."
Dao Master Hua exhaled a breath of turbid air and said, "Very well. Tell Xuhuang that I agree to the three-point pact, with a limit of three thousand years. Three thousand years from now, we will contest supremacy once more and settle our grudges!"
Taiyi bowed slightly. "Thank you for accommodating, Brother Dao."
He returned to find Xuhuang and recounted the outcome. Xuhuang laughed. "A three-thousand-year limit is naturally best. Tianjing and the other shore share a blood feud; we cannot possibly give up vengeance over a single Dao Master Hua. The other shore wants to flatten Tianjing three thousand years from now, and Tianjing also wants three thousand years to rest and recuperate, striving to exact vengeance and wipe away our humiliation three thousand years later."
"I have troubled you, Fellow Daoist."
Xuhuang then led him to meet the Tianjing Dao Venerable. Both parties arrived at the place where Dao Master Hua was suppressed and established a Chaos Oath.
The Tianjing Dao Venerable released Dao Master Hua, but the innate numinous treasures pinned inside the mirror surface were not returned.
Nor did Dao Master Hua demand them back. He simply said, "I hope the Dao Venerable looks after them well. Three thousand years from now, I will come to retrieve them in person!"
The Tianjing Dao Venerable waved his hand, signaling Taiyi to take him away.
Dao Master Hua was too severely wounded, and lingering here risked unforeseen complications. Grand Dao Lord Taiyi immediately went to find Xu Ying, but Xu Ying was entirely immersed in the Void Dao patterns and had entered the Void alone. Unable to find him, Taiyi had no choice but to depart first, taking Dao Master Hua away from Tianjing.
On this day, Xu Ying entered the twenty-eighth layer of the Void. Sensing that his Dao of the Void had advanced considerably once more, he felt great joy.
Raising his head, he saw a youth in yellow robes standing in the Void with hands behind his back, looking at him with an air of profound age and experience.
Chapter 803