Behind Xu Ying, the corpse of Dao Lord Nie Xuan was also gradually turning into Dao ash, but Xu Ying did not care in the slightest. Instead, he watched the root tendrils of the shala tree being assimilated by the Chaos.
"Destroying the shala tree likely cannot prevent the other shore's invasion. The scouts from this expedition had already found the Three Realms and returned; the other shore will know the journey between the Three Realms and the other shore takes only a little over three years."
When Xu Ying first traveled to the other shore, he had spent four to five years aboard the ship, but when he returned to the Three Realms last time, he discovered it took only three years.
This indicated that the universe of the Three Realms was growing, becoming larger and larger. It also showed that the trajectory of the Three Realms through the Chaos Sea was gradually drawing closer to the other shore.
At this rate, in merely sixteen hundred years, the other shore running aground would play out!
At that time, the universe of the Three Realms would run aground on the shores of the Chaos Sea at the other shore!
Sixteen hundred years seemed long, but in the Chaos Sea it was merely the snap of a finger. What was more, knowing that the Three Realms was nearby, the other shore would surely dispatch a steady stream of scouts to search.
The perimeter of the Three Realms' universe was so vast that it was utterly impossible to have enough manpower to guard its borders. Being discovered again by scouts was only a matter of time.
This time, it was by sheer coincidence that Xu Ying had arrived at the Tianjing Sea, but whether he could rush over in time when the other shore invaded next was difficult to say.
Xu Ying sat down here, waiting quietly to see if any more invaders from the other shore would arrive following their momentum.
A few months passed. Yuan Weiyang, the Far Ancestor, and Dao Zongyuan were the first to reach the Tianjing Sea. They had also been searching for the whereabouts of the shala tree; having searched nearby, the commotion from Xu Ying clashing with the Immortals was simply too massive, drawing them over.
Xu Ying said, "We still need to stand guard here for another two and a half years to be certain whether the other shore still has the coordinates of the Three Realms."
The other shore shala tree actually served as an anchor. First, the coordinates of the Three Realms were anchored via the other shore shala tree, and after entering the Chaos Sea, one could continuously advance along this heading.
If, after entering the Chaos Sea, the opposing side felled the shala tree, one could still continue forward along that heading even without the shala tree's guidance. Provided there was no deviation, they could still find the Three Realms.
This was precisely what Xu Ying worried about.
Everyone frowned. Yuan Weiyang said, "So you mean the journey between the other shore and the Three Realms is only three years?"
Xu Ying nodded gently and said, "Four hundred years ago when I set out for the other shore, it took four to five years."
As soon as he said this, their brows furrowed even tighter.
The distance between the other shore and the Three Realms was narrowing, and this closing of distance was by no means a good thing.
Yuan Weiyang pondered, "I fear it won't be long before the powerhouses of the other shore can sense the tidal forces emanating from the Three Realms' universe. If so, it will be even easier for the other shore to pinpoint the location of the Three Realms!"
Dao Zongyuan sighed and said, "There is no dodging it. We can only prepare for war to face unforeseen emergencies."
The Far Ancestor said in a deep voice, "If only we give the Three Realms a few more years, there will be more and more experts in the Three Realms. If a few Dao Masters can emerge, we will have the power to put up a fight!"
Having said this, he only felt the hope was slim. The Immortal realm was already extraordinarily difficult, weeding out the vast majority of people. And the Dao Master realm was easier said than done.
Moreover, even if one attained the Dao Master realm, compared to existences like the three great Dao Masters of the other shore, one would likely still fall far short. Not to mention, the other side possessed who knew how many innate spiritual treasures.
"Is there a way to stall the other shore?" he asked.
Yuan Weiyang and Dao Zongyuan had also thought of this, each sighing inwardly.
"There is," Xu Ying suddenly said.
Everyone looked over, their faces showing hope. Yuan Weiyang asked, "What way?"
Xu Ying's eyes glinted as he said, "If the other shore has no time to spare for us, even if they detect the location of the Three Realms, they won't invade."
Everyone frowned deeply. How could they make the other shore have no time to spare for the Three Realms?
The other shore was eyeing the Three Realms hungrily like a tiger stalking prey; they would never pass up any opportunity to annex the Three Realms!
The moment the other shore could sense the Three Realms, they would definitely launch an attack!
Xu Ying's eyes gleamed. "An opportunity may be granted by Heaven, or it may be created by man. My journey to the other shore this time is precisely to create an opportunity to leave them with no time to spare for the Three Realms!"
Yuan Weiyang realized and said, "You intend to rebel?"
Xu Ying shook his head and laughed. "If I were to rebel, there would be no need for a Dao Master to intervene—dispatching someone wielding an innate spiritual treasure would be enough to finish me off. But if a Dao Master rebels, the Dao Masters of the other shore will find neither peace nor sleep. At that time, they will have no time to spare for the Three Realms."
He said with a relaxed demeanor, "So long as the Dao Masters of the other shore do not intervene, no one else—not even Grand Dao Lords—can hope to lay a finger on the Three Realms!"
He immediately prepared to depart by ship for the other shore, and said to Dao Zongyuan, "Brother Dao, after I leave, remain stationed here for two and a half years. There must be no mishaps. If no experts from the other shore arrive within two and a half years, we can consider this calamity averted. But if more experts do come, you must wipe them out to the last man, leaving no survivors!"
Dao Zongyuan smiled. "Rest assured, I will only be more ruthless and decisive than you, Fellow Daoist."
Xu Ying bid farewell to the Far Ancestor Big Dragon, wishing him well, and felt like sharing a tender moment with Yuan Weiyang before leaving, but Dao Zongyuan and the Far Ancestor Big Dragon happened to be right there.
Seeing his expression, Yuan Weiyang understood his thoughts. Sending a divine sense transmission, she murmured, "Husband, do you wish to be tender together before you go?"
Xu Ying nodded quietly.
Thereupon, Yuan Weiyang put on a serious face and said, "Ah Ying, there are still some points about the Void Grand Dao that I don't fully understand. Let us take a trip into the void; I wish to seek your guidance."
Xu Ying said cheerfully, "Very well."
The two then vanished into the void.
The Far Ancestor Big Dragon widened his eyes with effort, peering into the void, yet could see nothing at all. The void held boundless profundity: the Underworld was established in the first layer of the void, where incense qi formed various ghosts and gods, and the power of thought formed various buildings, vast rivers, the Nether Sea, and the Yin Mountains.
Higher-level Underworlds were established in the second and third layers of the void.
Yet deeper into the void, no one had ever set foot. The Far Ancestor Big Dragon strained for a long while, but still could not see where Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang were.
"Old Dragon, they are husband and wife sharing intimacy. What are you looking at?" Dao Zongyuan said, eyes fixed on his nose and nose on his heart.
The Far Ancestor Big Dragon chuckled. "What intimacy? They are seeking answers to difficult questions about the Void Grand Dao! Brother Dao, don't think so filthily!"
Dao Zongyuan gave a cold sneer and paid him no further heed, thinking to himself, "As if I haven't lived through it myself."
After their intimacy in the void drew to a close and the clouds parted, Xu Ying stepped out of the void neatly dressed and turned to Yuan Weiyang. "No more questions now?"
Yuan Weiyang lowered her eyes and smiled. "Everything is clear and thoroughly connected."
"Then, I'm off."
Xu Ying activated an emerald rock multi-decked vessel and sailed into the Tianjing Sea.
The Far Ancestor Big Dragon sized up Yuan Weiyang and suddenly said, "Madam Dao Ancestor, Dao Zongyuan said you two weren't seeking guidance on the Void Grand Dao, but sharing intimacy."
Yuan Weiyang was overcome with embarrassment. Stamping her foot, she vanished into the void, disappearing without a trace.
The Far Ancestor Big Dragon was baffled and muttered, "Why run? When we dragons share intimacy, it's usually in broad daylight, never avoiding anyone."
Xu Ying rode the emerald rock multi-decked vessel forward, also hoping to see whether there were other powerhouses from the other shore rushing toward the Three Realms.
Traveling all the way, more than a year passed without encountering anyone. Xu Ying couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief, murmuring, "It seems no one else is coming."
Upon arriving at the other shore, Xu Ying stowed the multi-decked vessel. Rather than returning to Daoji Heaven, he sent his Primordial Spirit into the Void Realm to ask Zhangsun Shenghai and the others what restricted areas existed on the other shore.
Zhangsun Shenghai and the others were familiar with the subject. They quickly compiled an overview of the restricted zones across the other shore and handed it to him, saying, "The restricted areas of the other shore are numerous, as many as seventy-six places. They are perilous in the extreme; even if a Grand Dao Lord enters, they would likely be trapped within!"
Xu Ying accepted the geographical map and carefully studied the locations of these restricted zones, then suddenly set off for the nearest one: Lingxing Gate.
"Among these restricted areas, many surely inter the Dao Masters of the other shore's past. Rather than waiting for the other shore to knock on our door, I might as well throw them into disarray first so they have their hands full!"
He walked through the lower realm of the other shore, only to find the people there filled with ferocious malice. War and slaughter raged everywhere; nations waged endless warfare against one another, all raising the banner of overcoming the killing tribulation while seizing the chance to burn, slaughter, and pillage rival states.
Among cultivators, it was even worse. Major sects waged war against one another, and among them were disciples of Dao Lords and Grand Dao Lords. Worse yet, some Dao Lords personally took part, stirring up storms in whole territories.
The Immortals and True Kings of Daoji Heaven also descended to the lower realm one after another, each answering the killing tribulation to dissipate their tribulation fortune, fighting for their future lives.
Their methods were vicious: wiping out entire kingdoms at a whim, or destroying whole worlds at worst.
On his way to the Lingxing Gate restricted zone, Xu Ying saw Immortals clashing beyond the heavens, shattering thousands of stars in their battle and extinguishing suns one after another across the starry sky—a truly magnificent spectacle. Yet the mortals and beings who died as a result were surely beyond count.
Witnessing this, Xu Ying praised mockingly, "By making those at the bottom slaughter one another to dissipate tribulation fortune, the lords of Daoji Heaven can sleep soundly without worry. These lords truly are masters of manipulating the human heart."
A few days later, he found Lingxing Gate. Here stood a star gate shaped like a window lattice, entirely wooden, towering high between heaven and earth, its aura sweeping through the constellations.
Looking into the gate from afar, stars darted and drifted inside like fireflies, swimming ceaselessly.
The starlight was overwhelming, dense and countless.
Xu Ying inspected the gateway and saw that the wood used to construct it was extraordinarily peculiar, unlike any wood he had ever seen.
Xu Ying frowned slightly and muttered, "As a restricted area, Lingxing Gate certainly cannot be an ordinary portal. Could this gateway be an innate spiritual treasure?"
He couldn't tell whether it was an innate spiritual treasure or not. After observing for a moment, he stepped inside Lingxing Gate.
Upon stepping through the portal, even more stars filled his vision, like an ocean of stars, and amid this sea of stars drifted an immortal palace, bobbing up and down.
Xu Ying surveyed his surroundings, still unable to discern whether the sea of stars was an innate spiritual treasure or if Lingxing Gate was the innate spiritual treasure.
After a moment, he stepped into the sea of stars and headed toward the immortal palace at the center of the stars.
He walked amid stars that were like grains of sand, wading through the river of stars. In an instant, countless stars slammed into his body, battering him until his frame grew sore and numb.
He continued forward. The impacts grew increasingly violent, yet they could not injure him.
Xu Ying activated his Samsara divine ability, sweeping up countless stars and drawing them into Samsara, making his Samsara Dao Wheel shine ever brighter.
"It seems Lingxing Gate is the true innate spiritual treasure."
Xu Ying's pressure diminished greatly, and he pressed forward until he reached the front of the immortal palace.
"Fellow Daoist in the immortal palace, I am Xu Ying, here to form a karmic bond of goodwill!" Xu Ying called out.
The immortal palace remained silent. After a moment, a voice spoke eerily: "Your cultivation is not bad. You actually crossed the sea of stars to reach here. An existence of your strength could barely be counted among the Grand Dao Lords on the other shore. But to form a karmic bond of goodwill, you are not yet qualified."
Xu Ying walked forward into the hall and saw a black coffin suspended from the hall's caisson ceiling.
Xu Ying approached the coffin and said solemnly, "Does Brother Dao wish to cast off your fate of suppression, or remain suppressed here? I can save you from your confinement, and I can also revive you through sacrifice."
The voice inside the coffin fell silent once more.
Just as Xu Ying was about to speak further, the voice suddenly asked, "You intend to rescue me?"
Xu Ying smiled faintly.
Before long, news quietly spread that an extraordinary treasure had emerged within Lingxing Gate. Tens of thousands of radiant beams shone, and spiritual light gathered like clouds; it was a lotus-shaped treasure, inhaling and exhaling indestructible spiritual light.
Most alluring of all was that atop the lotus sat a glowing object that, from a distance, looked like a Hongyuan!
When this news broke, an uproar erupted, drawing countless powerhouses of the other shore to head toward Lingxing Gate.
Dao Lord Hunyuan also heard the news and could not help looking suspicious: "A Chaos Lotus, a Hongyuan... Why does this sound so familiar? Doesn't Xu Ying have a Hongyuan? It seemed to look just like that..."
Having heard about the tribulation fortune, he had intended to hide in Daoji Heaven, unwilling to venture out and join the slaughter to dissipate his tribulation.
Yet the Chaos Lotus and Hongyuan were simply too tempting.
"Could it be that Xu Ying died inside Lingxing Gate, and the Chaos Lotus and Hongyuan burst out of his corpse?"
Dao Lord Hunyuan was thoroughly tempted. Few people knew that Xu Ying had a Hongyuan; he had shared this secret only with his closest friend, Dao Lord Daosheng.
"If I can obtain this Hongyuan, this life will not have been in vain! Whatever tribulation fortune, whatever killing tribulation, I could handle it with ease!"
He departed at once, leaving Daoji Heaven and rushing straight toward Lingxing Gate.
When he arrived at Lingxing Gate, he saw the area was already an ocean of people, packed so tightly there wasn't even room to set foot.
Dao Lord Hunyuan did not stand on ceremony either. He directly crushed a swath of people from the other shore into dispersing qi of Chaos, prompting others to make way and clear out a large open space.
"Brother Dao Hunyuan truly acts overbearingly."
Dao Lord Hunyuan looked toward the voice, only to see True Sovereign Duyu, who had risen to power by cultivating the Primordial Grand Dao. This True Sovereign Duyu was also a Dao Lord, and the might of his Primordial Grand Dao was not inferior to Hunyuan's Chaos Grand Dao in the slightest.
Paying no heed to True Sovereign Duyu, Dao Lord Hunyuan peered into the gateway, his heart jolting. "It really is the Chaos Lotus and the Hongyuan! It seems that fellow surnamed Xu truly died here!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out: "Waiting out here, who knows when our chance will come! Let us charge in together—I refuse to believe we cannot overcome the sea of stars and seize the precious lotus!"
Dao Lord Hunyuan heard this voice and thought it sounded somewhat familiar.
Right then, people began charging into Lingxing Gate. The moment they stepped into the sea of stars, countless people met gruesome deaths, unable to withstand the starry sand.
Dao Lord Hunyuan was also gripped by tribulation fortune, and he surged into the sea of stars along with the crowd.
True King Yushao had also arrived here. He took a single look from afar, turned around, and walked away without lingering, thinking to himself, "I thought I might try my luck, but this is blatantly a harvest!"
At the center of the star sea, beside the coffin in the immortal palace, Xu Ying said leisurely, "Brother Dao, how do you find my methods?"
Chapter 812