"There is also the Jing Realm. There is a Zhong Yuliu, a Dao Master who was once a disciple under the Taiyi Sect," Xu Ying said.
Zhangsun Shenghai's eyes brightened, and he smiled. "I heard Master Tongtian mention this Dao Master Yuliu. Back before Master attained Dao Master, he heard others speak of Dao Master Yuliu attaining the Dao and being plotted against! Later, contact with the Jing Realm was lost, causing quite a stir on the other shore."
"I did that," Xu Ying said, unable to hide a touch of pride.
Zhangsun Shenghai suggested, "Since we rebels all hail from Taiyi's lineage, why not call it the Taiyi Dao Alliance?"
Xu Ying shook his head. "If word of this gets out, it won't be long before we have to attend Teacher Taiyi's funeral."
"The name doesn't matter much. We can change it when we think of a better one."
Knowing he was not good at naming things, Zhangsun Shenghai smiled. "Very well. We must have a way to keep in touch, and we need to gather often."
Xu Ying pondered. "I recently cultivated the Great Dao of the Void, which will make traveling through the void convenient in the future. I suspect the various universes can be connected through the void. If we can verify this, it may facilitate our communication."
He retrieved a Void pendant and handed it to Zhangsun Shenghai, teaching him the method of refining it without holding anything back. "This jade pendant allows entry into the Void Realm, a small world I set up in the twenty-eighth fold of the void. The pendant can carry your primordial spirit back and forth to the Void Realm. I intend to return to my homeland to take a look, so I won't accompany you back."
Homesickness weighed on him, and having finally ventured out into the sea, he naturally had to make a trip back to the Three Realms.
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "The location of the Three Realms is a secret; the fewer who know, the better. Lend me a ship, and I will return to the other shore."
Xu Ying still had plenty of emerald rock multi-decked vessels, so he handed him the one beneath their feet and retrieved another multi-decked vessel for himself.
Zhangsun Shenghai was in no rush to depart, asking, "I saw you transform into a Nirvanic Extinction Hongyuan, weaving through the Nirvanic Extinction Tribulation. Your attainment in the Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction is exceedingly high. I wonder if you have encountered the Nirvanic Extinction paradox?"
Xu Ying asked, "What is the Nirvanic Extinction paradox?"
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "My Dao of Nirvanic Extinction was also comprehended in the Emperor Realm. When I was comprehending the Dao of Nirvanic Extinction, my cultivation was still shallow. Upon entering meditation, I felt only as though I would transform into the Dao of Nirvanic Extinction, destroying everything to repay karma. This desire for destruction seeks to destroy oneself along with everything else. When cultivating this Dao, I was frequently plagued by this desire for destruction. Because cultivating this art carries a tendency toward self-destruction, the moment one masters this Dao is the moment of self-destruction. Hence, I call it the destruction paradox."
Xu Ying thought it over. When he had first entered meditation, he had indeed felt such an impulse, but after transforming into a Nirvanic Extinction Hongyuan, that thought had vanished.
"Perhaps your trance was not deep enough," Zhangsun Shenghai conjectured. "This time, you relied on devouring other Nirvanic Extinction Hongyuans to seize immense Dao strength and profound Dao insights, yet you have never thoroughly and meticulously comprehended them."
Xu Ying said slowly, "In other words, if I truly comprehend it, I might also fall into the Nirvanic Extinction paradox."
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "Even if you do not destroy yourself, you are very likely to be unable to rein in the urge to destroy everything and go on a killing spree. When cultivating this Dao, you must take utmost care. It is best to have an expert protect you. Otherwise, do not cultivate it lightly, and if you do, absolutely do not enter the Dao! Once you enter the Dao, you will be utterly incapable of controlling yourself!"
Xu Ying nodded solemnly.
The two bid each other take care and went their separate ways.
Toying with the Void pendant, Zhangsun Shenghai murmured, "The Void Realm? If it is truly concealed and convenient for coming and going, then our little alliance can indeed be established."
His spirits were buoyed. "First, return to the other shore, find Qingxuan, the Holy Venerable, and the others, and make thorough plans!"
More than ten years later, he returned to the other shore. By now, the other shore had plunged into utter chaos, everyone caught in the killing tribulation, teetering on the brink of ruin and struggling to protect themselves.
Zhangsun Shenghai searched far and wide, inquiring into the whereabouts of Qingxuan and the others. Several years passed before he finally found them.
When he spoke to them of forming an alliance to oppose the other shore, everyone gladly joined.
Zhangsun Shenghai brought out several Void pendants he had refined and handed them to everyone.
Their primordial spirits ascended and entered the Void Realm. Only then did they realize that such a marvelous place existed deep within the void, broadening their horizons immensely.
Zhangsun Shenghai also went to invite Zhuo Daochun. Gathering in the Void Realm, everyone engaged in visualization together, jointly opening up space to construct an immortal palace.
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "Does anyone have a resounding name?"
The Holy Venerable said, "We have come to overthrow the other shore, hailing from different universes. This is an act of great righteousness, so let us call ourselves the Righteous Alliance."
Qingxuan shook his head. "We are only seeking survival; there is no need to place ourselves on the pedestal of righteousness and tie our own hands and feet. If overthrowing the other shore requires committing evil, will you do it?"
"Naturally," the Holy Venerable answered without hesitation.
Zhuo Daochun said, "In my view, we belong to different universes and share a common goal, making us fellow travelers on the Dao. We should be called the Dao Alliance—an alliance of fellow travelers. Moreover, we all hail from Taiyi's lineage, so why not call it the Taiyi Dao Alliance?"
"Do not bring dishonor upon our teacher—let us call it the Other Shore Dao Alliance."
Amid chattering voices, they settled on the name Other Shore Dao Alliance.
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "Since it is the Other Shore Dao Alliance, it also carries the meaning of an alliance for transmitting the Dao. Therefore, we should imprint the Dao methods we have gathered onto the Void Realm to facilitate our exchanges."
Everyone smiled and chimed in, "Precisely so."
Each of them imprinted their Dao methods, transforming them into stone steles covered in inscriptions.
During this time, Dao Ancestor Yuxu, Dao Ancestor Taiqing, and others visited several times. Seeing this scene, they could not help shaking their heads with a laugh. "These young folks have their heads filled with bizarre ideas. Let them be."
The Other Shore Dao Alliance was thus established within the Void Realm. Everyone frequently ascended in primordial spirit to this place, imprinting the various Dao methods they had collected.
A few months later, the primordial spirit of a woman suddenly appeared in the Void Realm. Surprised, everyone turned to look, and Qingxuan hurriedly asked, "What brings Madam Dao Ancestor here today?"
The woman surveyed her surroundings in surprise, exclaiming, "Ah Ying wasn't lying to me—the void truly does connect the various universes!"
The Holy Venerable and Daoist Wukong also stepped forward to greet her, inviting the madam to take a seat.
Madam Dao Ancestor smiled and said, "Ah Ying returned to the Three Realms and spoke of creating the Void Realm in the void. He also mentioned that the void might link different universes, though it hadn't been verified. So I stole his Void pendant and visited in primordial spirit. I didn't expect I could truly reach this place."
The Holy Venerable frowned slightly and said, "Madam Dao Ancestor was far too reckless. If something had gone awry along the way, wouldn't you have suffered harm?"
Speaking of what she had seen on her journey, Madam Dao Ancestor said, "In the void, once one leaves the Three Realms universe, one enters a gel-like substance, though it was quite thin. The Void pendant carried my primordial spirit straight through the gel to arrive here. It seems the distance between the Three Realms and the other shore is already remarkably close, resulting in very little of that gel substance in the void. It took me only half a year to arrive."
Everyone exchanged glances, their expressions turning solemn.
To cross the amber zone between the two universes in merely half a year meant that the distance between the two universes was likely already very close.
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "Over these years, the other shore has continued searching for the whereabouts of the Three Realms, constantly sending out new scouts..."
Madam Dao Ancestor did not stay long in the Void Realm before heading back, saying she would assemble the elites of the Three Realms to come to the Void Realm and comprehend the diverse Dao methods here.
Two years later, several hundred Supreme realm beings from the Three Realms descended in primordial spirit upon the Void Realm, comprehending the Dao methods and mastering supreme techniques.
Hearing of guests from their homeland, Emperor Xu, Yuqing, and others also hurried to the Void Realm to meet their fellow countrymen, making the place bustling and lively.
Seeing this, Zhangsun Shenghai felt a stir in his heart and came to Biyou Palace to request an audience with Dao Master Tongtian.
However, Biyou Palace had already closed its gates, shrouded in a beam of sword qi, preventing him from entering.
Zhangsun Shenghai could only leave behind a Void pendant, bowing toward Biyou Palace as he reported the arrival of guests from the Three Realms before turning to leave.
Not long after, the Void pendant flew up and entered Biyou Palace.
The Sword Classic was a cultivation manual of an acquired Dao, and both techniques were extraordinary.
Madam Dao Ancestor was also alerted and came to examine them, saying to Immortal Emperor Xu Jing, "Judging by the style of the techniques, the one who left them should be Daoist Tongtian of the Earth Immortal Realm of old."
Over the course of a century or so, the Supreme realm masters of the Three Realms thoroughly comprehended the various Dao methods before returning to the Three Realms.
They went to the Mortal Realm, Earth Immortal Realm, and Heavenly Immortal Realm, disseminating the Dao methods they had learned and comprehended.
Others went to the Origin Realm Ruins to teach Dao methods and divine abilities.
Seeing this scene, Xu Ying was moved and said to Madam Dao Ancestor, "Weiyang, for the first time, the Three Realms has surpassed the other shore in its younger generation."
Hearing this, Madam Dao Ancestor Yuan Weiyang nodded gently, her own heart surging with emotion.
Since Xu Ying had first departed the Three Realms for the other shore, more than three hundred and fifty years had passed. From its initial poverty and weakness to its present flourishing of Dao methods, although the other shore remained more comprehensive, it was now inferior to the Three Realms in foundational Dao patterns and in the profundity of Dao methods. At present, the Three Realms lagged far behind the other shore only in peak combat power.
The other shore had Dao Masters, thousands of Immortals, True Kings, Dao Lords, and Grand Dao Lords, backed by countless universes with a ceaseless supply of talent at its disposal.
Before this colossal behemoth, the Three Realms remained as weak as an ant.
"Yet with the passage of time, all of this will change."
Xu Ying wrapped his arm around Yuan Weiyang and drew her into his embrace, inhaling the fragrance of her hair. His hand reached into her robes as he smiled. "Once the three-thousand-year term arrives and the other shore's calamitous destiny erupts, as one waxes and the other wanes, the Three Realms then will not be something the other shore can underestimate."
Yuan Weiyang grew soft beneath his touch, her passions unwittingly stirred. "Indecent. What if an outsider sees?"
Xu Ying laughed heartily. "With my current attainment, who could see?"
Even so, the two boarded an emerald rock multi-decked vessel and ascended together to supreme bliss.
After their pleasure, Xu Ying felt as though he had entered the sage-like state of being free of desires, and quietly slipped away.
He came to the Immortal Court to see Empress Lan Suying.
Over these years, Empress Lan Suying had been contemplating the past and future. Especially after Xu Ying transmitted the Reincarnation Great Dao and the Dao of Karma to her, her attainments in this path had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Lan Suying glanced at him and said, "Where has the Crown Prince been fooling around? Stinking of rouge and powder."
Xu Ying quickly said, "How could I have? Mother, how is the progress of your profound art?"
Lan Suying had originally been proficient in the Dao of Karma, the foremost diviner of the Three Realms, only growing slack after becoming Empress. Over these years, with Xu Ying transmitting the Reincarnation Great Dao and the Dao of Karma to her, she had finally begun cultivating in earnest. "Unifying the past and future is simply too difficult. With my current achievements, I still cannot manage it."
She shook her head. "I reckon I won't succeed. How about having your father abdicate the throne to you and letting the woman in your house become Empress? She is capable, and I can just enjoy a life of leisure."
Xu Ying smiled. "I have no desire to claim the throne."
Lan Suying said meaningfully, "If you become emperor, wouldn't you have three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines? Just think: all those girls who caught your heart or whom you missed out on in the past could return and be placed in the imperial harem."
Xu Ying was sorely tempted and asked, "Mother, then why doesn't Father have three palaces and six courtyards?"
"Xu Jing? He wouldn't dare! His imperial throne was earned for him by my son. Let him dare try taking a single concubine! Even if this old woman didn't lay a finger on him, my son would scalp him and send his head to the other shore for bounty money!"
Xu Ying stayed in the imperial palace, guiding his mother in reincarnation Dao methods. Yuan Weiyang also moved into the palace, cultivating alongside them in their leisure.
Yuan Weiyang was exceptionally interested in the legacy of Kunlun, delving into void Dao methods. Her attainments in the Dao of the Void grew higher and higher, soon surpassing Xu Ying.
Xu Ying did not head to the other shore, nor did he concern himself with how the killing tribulation was progressing there. Enjoying a rare period of leisure, he and Yuan Weiyang shared tender affection and blissful romance.
Yet the advancement of his cultivation slowed not in the slightest.
After several more decades of contemplating the Dao of Calamitous Destiny, he finally cultivated calamitous destiny to the immortal level.
Xu Ying turned his efforts toward working painstakingly on the Great Dao of Wuji. However, the system of the Great Dao of Wuji was intricate, encompassing the Five Tais. To cultivate this art to the Immortal realm, all Five Tais had to be elevated to the Immortal realm.
He could only advance them one Great Dao at a time, and his progress was bogged down.
'I cultivated the Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction in the Emperor Realm, transforming into a Nirvanic Extinction Hongyuan and devouring other Hongyuans until I became a giant Hongyuan. The Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction and nirvanic extinction Dao strength stored within my body should, by rights, be sufficient for me to cultivate to the immortal level. Since the Great Dao of Wuji cannot be mastered in the short term, why not try the Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction?' At this thought, Xu Ying remembered Zhangsun Shenghai's warning and the Nirvanic Extinction paradox, feeling some hesitation.
If his Dao heart was not steadfast enough, it was very likely he would plunge entirely into the paradox, his Dao heart devoured by nirvanic extinction, turning him into a slave of the Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction.
If that happened, he would lose control of himself, in which case he would likely go on a killing spree and endanger the living beings of the Three Realms!
That was definitely not something he wanted to see.
Xu Ying departed the imperial palace and came to the Origin Realm, speaking of the matter to Dao Zongyuan, the Dao Master of the Origin Realm: "Cultivating the Dao of Nirvanic Extinction requires an expert to protect me. In the Three Realms, only you, Dao Brother, possess such dharmic power. Hence, I have brazenly come to ask."
Dao Zongyuan was astonished. "Fellow Daoist Xu has actually advanced to such an extent? Since you have asked, how could I refuse?"
Min Bo, Guo Daozi, and the others hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "Dao Master, our Origin Realm is caught in calamitous destiny, merely scraping by to survive. If nirvanic extinction is cultivated here, should calamitous destiny catch up with you..."
Dao Zongyuan smiled. "It matters not. His calamitous destiny is different from that of our Origin Realm and will not taint us. Moreover, if Fellow Daoist Xu masters the Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction, it will actually be a boon for us, helping us evade calamitous destiny and stay far from nirvanic extinction."
Only then did Min Bo and the others drop the matter.
Xu Ying thus sat before Dao Zongyuan's peerlessly colossal physical body, gradually entering meditation and sinking into nirvanic extinction.
Dao Zongyuan, who had originally worn a smile and looked thoroughly at ease, suddenly experienced an abrupt change of expression upon seeing Xu Ying enter the Dao.
"Not good!" His consciousness hurriedly occupied his Dao Master body, and without another word, he pointed a finger straight toward Xu Ying!
Chapter 808