Disciples

Xuhuang and the others watched as Xu Ying steered his ship closer, exchanging glances with one another. Dao Ancestor Taiqing whispered, "Borrowing the name of the Chaos Master's bell to scare off that being—I'm afraid that incurs no small amount of karma. To provoke the Chaos Bell, is he not afraid of dying?" Xuhuang exhaled a breath of turbid air and called out to Xu Ying, "Dao Ancestor Xu, put that bell away quickly! There is no need to strike it any longer!" Xu Ying ceased tolling the bell. The big bell rapidly shrank and darted back into his cave abyss. Dao Ancestor Yuxu hurriedly looked all around. Only when he saw no Chaos Bell flying in to crush Xu Ying to death did he breathe a sigh of relief. "Fellow Dao brothers, I shall see you off no further," Xu Ying bowed in farewell. "Fellow Daoist Xu, please stay your steps!" Xuhuang and the others returned the salute in succession. The two vessels passed each other. Xu Ying waved, his heart surging with emotion. With Xuhuang, Taiqing, and the others returning, bringing back supreme arts of the other shore and Tianjing, they would surely elevate the Three Realms' Dao methods to another realm! "In fifteen hundred years, the Three Realms will meet the other shore and run aground upon it. Yet the three-chapter pact between the other shore and Tianjing will only expire in twenty-nine hundred years." Xu Ying frowned slightly. That meant the clash between the Three Realms and the other shore would arrive earlier than the conflict between the other shore and Tianjing. *His calculations are still a cut above,* Xu Ying thought. Just then, Dao Master Tongtian returned by ship. Xu Ying stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I have troubled you, Dao brother." Dao Master Tongtian's expression was as placid as an ancient well, and he remarked impassively, "I could not enjoy myself to the fullest." Xu Ying looked up and examined the gaunt elder. Seeing no Dao injuries on him, he finally let out a sigh of relief. The Zhuxian Sword flew beside the big bell, bragging about how awe-inspiring it had just been. The big bell sneered, "With just a few clangs, I scared that man off! I was far more majestic!" Xu Ying sailed on the same ship with Dao Master Tongtian and asked, "Dao brother, having fought that man, what did you think?" "His Dao was luminous, profound and unfathomable," Dao Master Tongtian said. "His Great Dao has not yet fully recovered. Were he restored, I would fall far short of him." Xu Ying pressed, "How vast is the difference?" Dao Master Tongtian fell silent for a moment before answering, "Incalculable." Xu Ying composed himself and inquired, "Of the Nine Innate Daos, how many has he mastered?" "All nine." Xu Ying's brow furrowed deeply. Once the world's Great Dao in Tianjing fully revived, that would likely be the very moment that man regained his peak. How terrifying would he be then? "The trajectory of the Three Realms is truly unfortunate." Xu Ying rallied his spirits and smiled. "Dao brother, how do you think my current strength compares to Taiyi's?" Dao Master Tongtian looked him up and down. After a moment, he said, "Do you fancy offering your neck to the blade?" Xu Ying paid him no more heed, thinking to himself, *Taiyi is strong, but surely not to such an extent? We are both in the Immortal realm. I cultivate all nine Daos simultaneously and am also proficient in the Void Dao. How could I be inferior to him?* His pressure mounted abruptly. After departing the Chaos Sea, the two parted ways. Dao Master Tongtian summoned the Zhuxian Sword and returned to Biyou Palace. The old man instructed, "Zhuxian, go guard outside Biyou Palace. Let no one enter." The Zhuxian Sword flew out of Biyou Palace and hung high above. Only after it left did Dao Master Tongtian finally lose his hold. With a cough, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. He hurriedly circulated his profound art to heal his Dao injuries. "Clashing with him this time and verifying our Dao methods has benefited me immensely. It turns out there is still a path to tread ahead." *** On the other shore, within Yuluan Palace. Tianjing Dao Venerable sat quietly, motionless. After a long while, he opened his eyes and sighed. "How could the Chaos Master's bell appear near Tianjing?" His gaze was somber as he looked down at the jade medallion in his hand. It was identical to the Dao Alliance Token in Xu Ying's possession. "Did the Chaos Master take notice of Tianjing, or was he merely passing by the other shore? I could not judge, so I could only withdraw." Worry clouded his face. He considered activating the jade medallion, but after hesitating for a long while, he put it away. "If I can avoid alerting the Dao Alliance, it is best not to do so. As for the Three Realms..." He pondered for a moment and murmured, "Since they did not see my face, our cordiality is not yet broken. As for the present other shore, Dao Master Luo pursues Tian Chengzi and is trapped within the calamity; Dao Master Hua has meddled too deeply in worldly affairs and is also in the calamity. Only Dao Master Lin Chuanting has yet to enter the calamity." He rose to his feet and said leisurely, "Lin Chuanting must also enter the calamity soon so that the calamitous destiny of the other shore can bloom in full." *** Xuhuang and the others drifted through the Chaos Sea for nearly three years before finally sailing out, whereupon the Three Realms came into view. Tears welled in their eyes. Having wandered in foreign lands for so long, their homeland had lingered in their souls, appearing in their dreams time and again. Now, they were finally able to return to their native land and see their kin and countrymen once more. Yet of the old friends from those days, few were likely still left alive. Just then, a fleet of more than a dozen tower ships approached from afar, bearing the heads of various Dao sects. Aboard the leading ship stood a noble couple, sumptuously dressed and of extraordinary bearing. Stepping forward, they asked, "May I ask if you are Great Dao Lord Xuhuang, Dao Ancestor Taiqing, Dao Ancestor Yuqing, and your esteemed company?" Xuhuang and the others nodded one after another. Looking toward the other ships, they sensed very familiar auras radiating from the people aboard. The young couple smiled. "We are the Immortal Emperor and Empress of the Earth Immortal Realm's Immortal Court, Xu Jing and Lan Suying. We have come today upon hearing of the Dao Ancestors' return, specifically to welcome you." Dao Ancestor Taiqing paid little heed to formalities, hurrying forward to board one of the tower ships. He looked at the cultivators aboard and saw that what they practiced was indeed the techniques of his own lineage. The youth at their head was fair and plump, appearing non-human—evidently a beast cultivator. Yet he too carried the heritage of the Lihen Heaven lineage, and seemed to be the leader of this group. Seeing Dao Ancestor Taiqing arrive, the fair, plump youth hurriedly bowed, raising the Diamond Snare high above his head, and called out loudly, "Disciple Yuan Qi pays respects to my revered master!" Seeing that he was of the demon race, Dao Ancestor Taiqing felt a twinge of displeasure. "Rise. Are these the disciples you have taken in?" Yuan Qi stood up and said solemnly, "Master's Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit sacrificed himself generously for righteousness. Before his departure, he entrusted the orthodox lineage of Lihen Heaven to this disciple. How could I fail to carry Master's lineage forward and make it flourish?" Hearing this, Dao Ancestor Taiqing grew fonder of him the more he looked, chuckling, "You are quite fine indeed." Meanwhile, Dao Ancestor Yuqing found Daoist Yuan, Yun Hai, and the others of the Shangqing Dao Sect. Daoist Yuan and Yun Hai led the disciples in hurriedly paying homage to the Dao Ancestor. Seeing that his sect had not been ruined by the Dao weeping, but had instead grown more prosperous—and that the disciples practicing the new techniques were advancing by leaps and bounds, each remarkable—Dao Ancestor Yuqing was both surprised and overjoyed. He laughed, "Good, good!" Xuhuang also stepped onto a tower ship, which held the father and son Ning Zhong and Ning Qing, along with many immortals who practiced the legacy of the Xuandu Seven Treasures Palace. Ning Qing stepped forward and said, "On behalf of my revered master, Yin Yuan, this disciple pays respects to the Grandmaster." Behind him, the others kowtowed one after another, saying in unison, "Greetings, Grandmaster!" Xuhuang started slightly, asking softly, "Yin Yuan? Where is he?" Ning Qing said, "He is no longer among the living." Xuhuang fell silent. After a moment, he asked, "What of his virtue and vice?" Without waiting for Ning Qing's reply, he said, "You need not tell me. In my heart, he has always been my most beloved disciple." The Buddha Ancestor led the various Buddhas to the ship belonging to the Buddhist order. Greeting them at the forefront was none other than the Buddha Child Jijue, who stepped forward to pay homage to the Buddhas, bringing joy to all. Jie Puti was not on the ship, but called out loudly from a distance, "Buddha Ancestor, I am a Buddha Ancestor now as well!" Hearing this, the Buddha Ancestor smiled. "The Buddha is merely a journey of cultivation; why concern oneself with becoming a Buddha or an Ancestor?" Unable to out-argue him, Jie Puti burst into laughter. "Old Buddha, since you have returned, sooner or later we shall have a match to determine who is superior!" He set a date for a duel and drifted away with his disciples of the heretical Buddha sect. Taiyi Savior Heavenly Venerable had left no lineage behind in the Three Realms, so no disciples or followers came for him. Seeing Dao Ancestor Yuxu standing solitary and forsaken, he chuckled, "Yuxu, you are all alone as well. Fortunately, you and I can keep each other company." Dao Ancestor Yuxu sighed. Just then, Xu Jing and his wife came forward, saying, "Disciples Xu Jing and Lan Suying pay respects to Grandmaster Yuxu." Dao Ancestor Yuxu was pleasantly astonished. Hurriedly supporting the couple to their feet, he smiled and asked, "Has your Xu family returned to my Kunlun lineage?" Xu Jing said solemnly, "The Xu family has always remained to guard Kunlun; we have never left." Dao Ancestor Yuxu's heart surged with emotion, his eyes glistening with moisture as he murmured, "You've returned... It is good that you've returned, wonderful that you are back..." *** Xu Ying returned to the other shore, cultivating while searching for the whereabouts of Grand Dao Lord Taiyi. On this day, without realizing it, he arrived at Tianjue City. Tianjue City was the wealthiest immortal city on the other shore. Back then, the imperial capital of the Heavenly Immortal Realm's Immortal Court had been modeled after it. Upon arriving in this city, Xu Ying realized that Emperor Mingdao's imperial capital truly had been a mere imitation. The grandeur of the genuine Tianjue City was far more magnificent than that of the imperial capital. Ancient and colossal architecture, towering and ferocious statues of gods, temples dating back to the era of the ancient gods—none of these could be replicated by the imperial capital. "Do not let the rebel Taiyi's disciple get away!" Suddenly, shouts of slaughter rang out within the city. "Kill him, scalp him to collect the bounty!" The city fell into chaos. With a slight stir of thought, Xu Ying appeared in the thick of the fray. A disciple of the Taiyi Dao Sect was surrounded, struggling desperately against divine powers assailing him from all directions. Xu Ying strode toward him. The surrounding space-time severed instantly; everyone else seemed to recede at high speed, leaving only Xu Ying and that Taiyi Dao Sect disciple in place. "Are you... Senior Brother Jiu Zeng's disciple?" Xu Ying looked at the disciple, feeling he had seen him before, though he did not know his name. The disciple hurriedly answered, "This disciple is Qiao Cheng, under the tutelage of Master Yuquan." Xu Ying asked, "Where is Senior Brother Yuquan? Why is he not with you?" Qiao Cheng's expression darkened with grief. "Master has already passed away. Ever since Patriarch Taiyi rebelled against the Dao sect, everyone has been baying for our Taiyi Dao Sect's blood. In order to protect us, Master fought bloody battles against our pursuers, but ultimately could not hold out..." Xu Ying's heart sank. "Who else remains of Yuquan's lineage besides you?" Qiao Cheng replied, "Four junior martial brothers and sisters were originally hiding in the city with me. When our presence was discovered, I stayed behind to cover their retreat." He had resolved to die to cover their escape, never expecting to run into Xu Ying. This Martial Uncle Xu was notorious within the Taiyi Dao Sect as a rebel; everyone knew he was bound to revolt. He had never imagined he would be rescued by this very rebel uncle. Xu Ying exhaled a breath of turbid air, his expression turning chillingly grim. "Taiyi became a rebel, but our Taiyi Dao Sect has already severed ties with him and has nothing more to do with him. Now, going with the flow, I have become the sect master of Taiyi. Heh, to dare slaughter my disciples—what insolence!" With a slight thought, his divine consciousness surged in all directions. Its coverage expanded ever wider, blanketing tens of millions of li in an instant and continuing to spread frantically! On this day, across the skies of the other shore, a thunderous voice suddenly boomed: "I am Xu Ying, Sect Master of the Taiyi Dao Sect, establishing a new Dao arena in Tianjue City!" "All disciples of the Taiyi Dao Sect, gather at Tianjue City at once!" "Any disciple who encounters peril on the journey back, chant my true name, and I shall surely respond!" "Any meddlers who dare lay a hand on the disciples of my Taiyi Dao Sect shall be executed without mercy!" ... The voice reverberated across the heavens, lingering for a long time before fading. Disciples of the Taiyi Dao Sect scattered across the other shore, hiding in fear, heard Xu Ying's words and began hastening toward Tianjue City from all quarters. "Chant Xu Ying's true name, and he will perceive your plight and come to rescue you?" On the borderlands of the other shore's mortal realm, in the Great Wilderness, several dozen cultivators had surrounded two female disciples of the Taiyi Dao Sect. The lead outlander laughed mockingly, "What is Xu Ying? Could he possibly possess such vast divine abilities?" Just moments earlier, the two female disciples had chanted Xu Ying's name, drawing uproarious laughter from the crowd. Before the laughter faded, the sky abruptly plunged into darkness. A colossal dark cloud formed across the heavens, and within the churning clouds, a face spanning thousands of li emerged! Next, a massive hand pressed down from the clouds. In an instant, the land for hundreds of li around the two maidens was completely annihilated! The dozens of cultivators who had just been laughing were pulverized as though evaporated into nothingness, leaving behind only the two Taiyi Dao Sect maidens. "Enter my sect, and I shall keep you safe!" A voice echoed from the sky. Then, the clouds swiftly dispersed, and the sky cleared once more. And on that day, across the other shore, nearly a hundred similar occurrences took place. Whenever Taiyi Dao Sect disciples were in mortal danger and called out Xu Ying's name at the brink of life and death, miraculous divine powers and Dao methods would descend from the heavens! The enemies were either reduced directly to flying ash, twisted and shattered, slain by sudden sword light, withered away into death from rapid aging, or vomited Dao ash and perished on the spot—their deaths taking a myriad of bizarre forms. The disciples of Taiyi scattered across all lands gradually converged toward Tianjue City. They could never return to She'an Palace in Daoji Heaven; Tianjue City had become the final sacred ground in their hearts. "Brother Shenmo, Xu Ying boasts quite brazenly, actually claiming he will shield everyone in his Taiyi Dao Sect from the slaughter of calamitous destiny." Grand Dao Lord Shenmo and True King Gu Yan stood atop Mount Gangdu, looking into the distance at the migrating Taiyi disciples. True King Gu Yan asked, "Brother Shenmo, do you truly intend to sit by and watch the Taiyi Dao Sect remain untouched outside the calamity?" Grand Dao Lord Shenmo shook his head. "No one on the other shore can escape the calamity. I have already seen through it—this is the calamitous destiny laying a trap for me." True King Gu Yan was puzzled. Grand Dao Lord Shenmo thought to himself, *The moment I dare take action to slaughter these Taiyi Dao Sect disciples, Xu Ying will appear immediately to slaughter me! This is the conspiracy of calamitous destiny!* Though Xu Ying's slaying of Grand Dao Lord Life and Death had not been broadcast to the world, Grand Dao Lord Shenmo was well-informed and had learned of it, leaving him terrified to make a move. "In this calamitous destiny and slaughter, the more disciples of other Dao sects die, the better. The more of them die, the fewer of our own sect will perish! Xu Ying wants to preserve the entire Taiyi Dao Sect, but I fear he will surely suffer a backlash!"