Luo Taizong stared at the three Dao Alliance Tokens in Xu Ying's hands, utterly dumbfounded. A single Dao Alliance Token would have been unremarkable enough; after all, members of the Dao Alliance frequently roamed across various universes in search of promising individuals, often bestowing a token upon anyone they found with exceptional talent.
Yet Luo Taizong had never heard of a single person possessing three Dao Alliance Tokens. Since when had Dao Alliance Tokens become something one could casually produce three of?
Observing his reaction closely, Xu Ying took out Luo Taizong's token and said with a smile, "So you are a Fellow Daoist. If Brother Dao feels it improper for me to possess three Dao Alliance Tokens, please take this one back."
Luo Taizong shook his head impassively. "Once a Dao Alliance Token is given, it can never be taken back. Keep mine as well. In the future, when you arrive at the Dao Alliance, heh heh, others will surely praise my eye for talent." His implication was that two people from the Dao Alliance had favored Xu Ying, and he had favored Xu Ying too, showing that the strong shared the same discernment—flattering himself in the process.
Xu Ying therefore pocketed all three Dao Alliance Tokens, thinking to himself, *It seems these Dao Alliance Tokens are pretty much handed out to everyone; they aren't rare at all.*
Luo Taizong inquired, "Might I ask which two Fellow Daoists gave you those other two Dao Alliance Tokens?"
Xu Ying replied, "One of them was Daoji True Monarch, who cultivates the Great Dao of Nirvanic Extinction. As for the other, I do not know his name."
*Daoji!* Luo Taizong felt a chill in his heart. *It was actually him? Someone he favors must be extraordinary. Whoever dares touch Xu Ying offends Daoji—and one can offend anyone rather than Daoji.*
"Since Fellow Daoist is also of the Dao Alliance, the Dao injury upon my son... could it have been Fellow Daoist's doing?" Luo Taizong asked, wearing an amiable smile.
Xu Ying shook his head and said solemnly, "It was not my doing."
Luo Taizong muttered, "Could it truly be Taiyi? But Taiyi does not seem like someone with such capability... Perhaps it was that Zhangsun Shenghai..." Shaking his head, he returned to Anyou Palace alongside Xu Ying.
Seeing that Xu Ying was not dead, Dao Master Luo breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he moved forward to welcome them, Luo Taizong said to him, "Unfilial son, address him as Martial Uncle."
Dao Master Luo was dumbfounded and stammered, "Wh-what?" His mind went blank. Just moments ago, Xu Ying had been addressing himself respectfully as a disciple before him, while he magnanimously called Xu Ying a fellow daoist. How could it be that, in the blink of an eye, he was supposed to call him Martial Uncle?
"This is your Martial Uncle Xu. He is a fellow daoist of your father."
Luo Taizong then said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, my son's injury relies upon you!"
Xu Ying quickly said, "I dare not accept such praise. With Brother Dao's strength, purging the Dao injury is effortless; I am merely taking on the light chore that Brother Dao did not deign to bother with."
Luo Taizong nodded slightly, then suddenly glared with furious eyes and barked, "Vile creature, did you hear that? Treat Fellow Daoist Xu well, or your father will strike you dead right now!"
Feeling aggrieved to no end, Dao Master Luo repeatedly acknowledged the command.
Luo Taizong let out a breath and said apologetically to Xu Ying, "I entrust my son to you, Fellow Daoist. You need not act humbly before him. You are a member of the Dao Alliance, a figure strongly vouched for and recommended by three Dao Alliance fellows. If you lower your posture, wouldn't that drag down the generational standing of our Dao Alliance?"
Xu Ying agreed.
Luo Taizong said, "My son is obstinate. If he needs disciplining, discipline him; if he needs killing, kill him. There is no need to spare my feelings!"
Dao Master Luo's face fell instantly!
Xu Ying inquired, "Where is Brother Dao headed?"
Luo Taizong said, "My return this time is to resolve the problem of calamitous destiny on the other shore. First, I shall meet that Zhangsun Shenghai, and then I will go see that outcast of the Dao sect. Farewell!"
Xu Ying saw him off.
Dao Master Luo followed behind him to respectfully bid his father farewell.
Once Luo Taizong had gone far, Xu Ying finally let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Luo, your venerable father commands such immense majesty that he strikes awe into my heart!"
He had switched to addressing Dao Master Luo as "Fellow Daoist" with utter fluidity and naturalness, without the slightest hesitation.
Dao Master Luo snorted. "Is Martial Uncle a member of the Dao Alliance just like that old bastard?"
Xu Ying nodded and smiled warmly. "Fellow Daoist, although your father and I are fellow daoists of the same alliance, you and I are also fellow daoists. We can each maintain our own terms—you may simply address me as Fellow Daoist!"
Dao Master Luo fell silent for a moment before asking, "Why didn't you mention earlier that you were from the Dao Alliance?"
Xu Ying smiled. "After all, few people know of the Dao Alliance, and why should I rely on the alliance's name in my dealings? Besides, my cultivation and strength are humble; I have no ranking or standing on the other shore, and I would only bring shame upon the Dao Alliance's reputation!"
Dao Master Luo sighed. "Brother Dao possesses noble integrity... You occupy high status without arrogance; you are truly a role model for our generation. Shizong admires you deeply."
Xu Ying felt light-headed with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist jokes!"
"Not at all." Dao Master Luo wore a solemn expression, speaking with grave sincerity. "Brother Dao Xu is clearly a member of the Dao Alliance, yet you travel incognito like a white dragon disguised as a fish, mingling and getting along with those of humble status. You are down-to-earth and free of arrogance, peerless in talent, and upright and magnanimous. Compared to Brother Dao, I am truly ashamed of my own inadequacy."
Feeling even more elated, Xu Ying smiled. "Fellow Daoist Luo is truly a wonderful person who makes me feel as refreshed as a spring breeze. I have never felt so comfortable conversing with anyone else."
Dao Master Luo smiled. "Could Brother Dao introduce me to the Dao Alliance in the future?"
Xu Ying suddenly snapped alert, laughing heartily. "Of course, of course!"
In the days that followed, Dao Master Luo's flattery was so consummate that Xu Ying was left pleasantly dizzy and floating on air. Fortunately, however, Dao Master Luo's Dao injury was thoroughly purged. Xu Ying rose to take his leave, saying with a smile, "Fellow Daoist may rest easy without worry from now on."
Xu Ying, his heart preoccupied with how to eliminate him, quickly declined further hospitality. Dao Master Luo did not insist either, personally seeing him off with great warmth all the way beyond Mount Jiuqiu before stopping. "Brother Dao, please do not mention to outsiders that my legs have recovered."
Xu Ying agreed.
Dao Master Luo added, "And the Dao Alliance..."
Xu Ying caught his drift and said with a smile, "You can rest assured. Once I return to the Dao Alliance, I will definitely recommend you."
Dao Master Luo waved farewell, returning to Anyou Palace only after Xu Ying had flown out of sight.
*Should I kill him or not?* Dao Master Luo sat on his jade couch as usual, his expression shifting between dark and light. He murmured, "Kill him, and no one can leak the news that my Dao injury is healed. This could serve as a major trump card of mine; springing it suddenly when necessary, I doubt Hua Shengsheng and Lin Chuanting could withstand it either. But killing him would be equivalent to offending the Dao Alliance."
Hesitating, he suddenly recalled Luo Taizong's words and thought, *Even a scoundrel like my father treated Xu Ying with great courtesy. I had best not court trouble. As long as Xu Ying does not stand in my way, I shall let him be.*
He hesitated again. Xu Ying had also sworn an oath to him; could that matter also offend Xu Ying? *If I take the initiative to release the oath, will he think I fear him?* Dao Master Luo wavered. *If I don't release it, will he think I'm threatening him? On one hand is face, on the other is the Dao Alliance—it is truly hard to choose.*
*Wait! Could I have Taishi quietly activate an innate numinous treasure to strike him dead, and then kill Taishi myself? That way, it would be done without anyone ever knowing!*
At this thought, he raised his hand to summon Taishi, thinking, *Taishi knows my legs have fully recovered; this is the perfect opportunity to get rid of him as well.*
Taishi arrived before him and asked, "What does Great Master command?"
Dao Master Luo said, "Follow me."
Taishi followed him into Mount Jiuqiu. Dao Master Luo lightly beckoned with his hand, and an ancient peach tree was uprooted, its branches and leaves fluttering as the fragrance of peaches filled the air.
"This treasure is called the Peach Mother Tree. It is a Chaos spirit root, an innate numinous treasure born within a universe, feeding on Chaos to evolve the mysteries of longevity. Once activated, its might is boundless."
Dao Master Luo instructed, "Take this numinous treasure and catch up to Xu Ying. Do not meet him face to face; simply activate this treasure and sweep it at him. He will be reduced to ashes by the Hunyuan Dao power of an entire universe."
Taishi felt a chill in his heart and bowed. "Disciple obeys the command."
Dao Master Luo waved his hand. "Go."
Taishi thus departed with the Peach Mother Tree. Once he walked out of Daoji Heaven, he reached up and plucked an immortal peach from the tree, devouring it cleanly until only the peach pit remained. Taishi silently chanted an incantation, and the peach pit began to sprout and transform, swiftly growing into a Peach Mother Tree. He then plucked another immortal peach, swallowing it whole—skin, flesh, and pit. A moment later, Taishi opened his mouth, and a tiny Taishi dropped to the ground, babbling, and quickly shot up in height. Within mere moments, this Taishi transformed to look identical to him.
Taishi then channeled the Dao of the Soul, circling his duplicate and the newly grown Peach Mother Tree while chanting under his breath. After a moment, one Taishi took the newly grown Peach Mother Tree and pursued Xu Ying, while the other Taishi became slender, changing his clothes and appearance to turn into a tall, lean youth, hurrying toward the Chaos Sea with the genuine Peach Mother Tree.
*Great Master's senses are sharp. Using the Dao of the Soul to confuse his perception will not fool him for long. Now it all depends on whether he is blinded by calamitous destiny,* Taishi thought.
By the time he reached the Chaos Sea, his avatar had caught up with Xu Ying carrying the counterfeit Peach Mother Tree. Taishi let out a shout, activated the Peach Mother Tree, struck down several ferry port guards, seized a multi-decked ship, and surged toward the Chaos Sea.
"Farewell, Dao Master Luo!" Taishi was ecstatic and laughed aloud. "Now, I am finally free and unbound!"
On the other side, Taishi's avatar caught up to Xu Ying and, without a word, activated that fake spirit root, sweeping it down toward Xu Ying's head. Unexpectedly, before the fake Peach Mother Tree and Taishi's avatar could even get close to Xu Ying, they were blasted apart with loud bangs by his aura.
Seeing this, Xu Ying was astonished, but soon realized: *That kid Taishi came to kill me on Dao Master Luo's orders, yet used an avatar to conjure a fake spirit root? I wonder if he managed to escape. His timing for fleeing right now isn't very good.*
Dao Master Luo's gaze had been tracking Xu Ying's trail all along. He thought, *Taishi activating the innate numinous treasure might not necessarily kill him. Let me lend him a hand to boost the treasure's power.*
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Taishi catch up and sweep the Peach Mother Tree at Xu Ying. Without hesitation, Dao Master Luo immediately channeled the Peach Mother Tree. At that exact moment, he suddenly sensed that the Peach Mother Tree was not there at all, and he froze. Then he watched as Taishi and the Peach Mother Tree blew apart, turning into two peach pits.
Dao Master Luo was thoroughly enraged. Immediately sensing for the true location of his Peach Mother Tree, he sneered, "Taishi, how bold of you, daring to deceive me!"
Just as Taishi was about to plunge into the Chaos Sea, the Peach Mother Tree beside him suddenly shone with blazing light, and he instantly knew things had gone terribly wrong.
*Whoosh!*
The Peach Mother Tree shimmered with radiant Dao light. In an instant, the Chaos Sea shook, surging with violent waves, and Taishi, along with the ship, was reduced to ash beneath the Dao light, leaving nothing behind.
"Daring to fool me—you had it coming!" With a thought from Dao Master Luo, the Peach Mother Tree flew back toward Daoji Heaven. He muttered, "Xu Ying, consider yourself lucky. I'll spare you this once."
"Taishi should have fled into the Chaos Sea by now, right?" Xu Ying frowned slightly. Departing from Daoji Heaven to reach the Chaos Sea was truly far; if the timing was off even slightly, one would fail to escape into the Chaos Sea.
*He should have chosen a better moment. Still, he had a chance to escape. As long as his true body had already fled into the sea when he moved to kill me, he could have survived.*
The stranding of the Three Realms was imminent. If Taiyi became the sole ruler of the other shore, the Three Realms would still have a way to live. But if Taiyi became merely one of the rulers of the other shore, the Three Realms would have no way out—because Taiyi would have no final say; those who could truly make decisions would still be Hua, Lin, and Luo.
*How can this be avoided?* Xu Ying hesitated for a moment, but his resolve quickly hardened, his expression turning fierce. *Then we can only take out Dao Master Luo first! Taiyi joining hands with the other Dao Masters of the other shore to eliminate Dao Master Luo will make reconciliation between Luo Taizong and Taiyi's faction impossible. But how to take down Dao Master Luo is a massive problem.*
At this moment, Taiyi's voice rang out: "Xu Ying, we are here."
Xu Ying looked toward the sound and saw Dao Master Taiyi arriving side by side with ten other Dao Masters, though all eleven of them had altered their appearances so their previous looks were unrecognizable.
"Everyone arrived at just the right time." Xu Ying cleared his throat and said with a solemn face, "Dao Master Luo has found a helper who resolved his Dao injury."
Bright King Lingyan asked in surprise, "You mean Cripple Luo isn't crippled anymore?"
Xu Ying nodded. "His Dao injury has completely healed. With the assistance of this expert, his cultivation has returned to its peak, and he has already laid a trap. If we attempt to travel back to the past to eliminate him, the trap will be triggered and slay us all."
Taiyi frowned. "Who is his helper?"
Xu Ying said, "Luo Taizong."
Hearing this, everyone was astonished. "He's still alive?"
Xu Ying nodded.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Luo Taizong strolled toward the pure land created by Zhangsun Shenghai, Qiyan Suspended Ridge. Suddenly, ahead of him appeared an emaciated elder clad in green robes, standing sideways toward him. A killing intent that soared above all under heaven surged forth.
Luo Taizong smiled faintly. "Dao Master Tongtian."
Chapter 846