"Could Luo Taizong have realized that Taiyi is actually strong on the outside but brittle within, completely ignorant of the Nine Innate Daos?"
Xu Ying felt uneasy.
Taiyi currently possessed both the Taiyi Dao and the Grand Primordium Dao, though his Grand Primordium had not yet reached the Dao Master realm and remained only at the Immortal realm. For other Dao Masters, this was already exceptionally rare, but to Luo Taizong, such a Taiyi had no qualifications whatsoever to teach disciples as outstanding as Xu Ying and Zhangsun Shenghai.
In that case, who had traveled back into the past to kill and cripple Dao Master Luo became self-evident.
Luo Taizong suddenly sensed something and glanced in Xu Ying's direction. Xu Ying's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly steadied himself. *I have three Dao Alliance Tokens.* He wouldn't dare kill me. He wouldn't dare... But he just might...
Just then, Zhangsun Shenghai's voice came from behind Xu Ying, sounding surprised: "Uncle Master Xu, why are you here?"
Xu Ying turned his head to see Zhangsun Shenghai walking over. Having not seen him for many years, Zhangsun Shenghai's cultivation had grown even more profound, yet he had steadily suppressed it, not breaking through into the Immortal realm. He was the founder of Qiyan Suspended Ridge, sheltering an entire region, and his formidable strength was on par with a Grand Dao Lord! However, Xu Ying was now an entire realm above him, leaving him behind in cultivation.
Yet as Xu Ying carefully examined Zhangsun Shenghai's cultivation realm, he discovered that Zhangsun Shenghai had also comprehended the mysteries of the self-sufficiency of one's nature, unifying the various Daos within his body. To grasp the self-sufficiency of one's nature within Taiyi was exceedingly difficult; it had taken Grand Dao Lord Taiyi a full six hundred thousand years from his defeat by Emperor Haotian to finally comprehend it. Zhangsun Shenghai, on the other hand, had likely heard of how the nature is inherently self-sufficient from Qingxuan, the Holy Venerable, and others, and achieved his enlightenment from that.
He was also in the other shore's Dao Alliance, and its members were in frequent contact; the concept of the self-sufficiency of one's nature had also spread to the Three Realms via the Dao Alliance. *As expected of Eldest Senior Brother! Although I'm a realm higher than him, it wouldn't be hard for him to catch up!* Xu Ying secretly praised him.
When Zhangsun Shenghai looked at Xu Ying, he could not help but be moved. In the past, he could read Xu Ying as clearly as a flame illuminating the dark, but looking at Xu Ying now, he gave off a hazy, fathomless aura.
"Shenghai, Qiyan Suspended Ridge is too close to this place," Xu Ying whispered. "A single shockwave from their clash could destroy your sanctuary!"
Zhangsun Shenghai chuckled. "The Suspended Ridge cannot be destroyed!"
Xu Ying froze. He looked back, only to find that Qiyan Suspended Ridge had vanished into thin air. He instantly realized: "You took the Suspended Ridge into your Hongyuan?"
Seeing his astonishment, Zhangsun Shenghai smiled with a touch of pride. "Qiyan Suspended Ridge has been inside my Hongyuan all along. Uncle Master, though my realm is lower than yours now, my Nine Proofs Hongyuan Grand Cavity Sutra has forged a Hongyuan Grand Cavity. As my cultivation deepens, the Hongyuan grows ever larger; it isn't impossible that it could eventually evolve into a universe."
Xu Ying was moved and hurriedly asked, "Could Eldest Senior Brother explain the mysteries of the Hongyuan Grand Cavity in detail?"
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "You walk the Hongyuan path as well, but mine is more radical. Once my path reaches the Great Circle of the Immortal realm, I must accomplish the Hongyuan Opening of Heaven to step into the Dao Master realm. Truth be told, the traditional Dao Master realm can hardly encompass my Nine Proofs Hongyuan Grand Cavity Sutra anymore."
Xu Ying was deeply shaken. Pondering carefully, Zhangsun Shenghai indeed thought farther and more radically than he did. His Hongyuan Opening of Heaven was an absolute grand feat. In the traditional Dao Master realm, attaining mastery over the Great Dao was merely reaching unblemished unity of the Dao into a primordial whole, but only limited to the Daos one had mastered. Zhangsun Shenghai's Hongyuan Opening of Heaven, however, sought to open up Daos he had not yet mastered at the instant of creation.
*Eldest Senior Brother is still Eldest Senior Brother,* Xu Ying praised from the bottom of his heart. "I fall far short of you."
Beaming, Zhangsun Shenghai said, "For my Hongyuan Grand Cavity, hiding away the Suspended Ridge is nothing! Stashing thousands of galaxies wouldn't be an issue at all!"
Xu Ying was filled with admiration, and in the blink of an eye, he had already absorbed this line of thinking. He thought to himself: *His path places the Great Dao outward, drawing upon the majesty of heaven and earth to evolve the Hongyuan Grand Cavity! My path places the Great Dao within. Though different, I can also perform the Hongyuan Opening of Heaven to explore the mysteries of the Dao!*
Zhangsun Shenghai said, "The only thing I lack is a Chaos spirit root capable of unifying my cultivation method!"
The reason Xu Ying had been able to unify the Nine Innate Daos was that he had obtained a seedling of the Ginseng Fruit Tree, nurturing it from the beginning so it grew alongside him and bore various Ginseng Dao fruits. The Ginseng Fruit Tree was the cosmic spirit root of the Three Realms, which made it capable of unifying the nine Daos.
Xu Ying's heart stirred, and he smiled. "That's simple! With so many innate numinous treasures present, whichever one catches your eye, I'll fetch it for you."
Zhangsun Shenghai laughed. "Don't joke around!" That said, his gaze still roamed across the innate numinous treasures held by the various Dao Masters. These treasures came in different forms: some took traditional magic treasure shapes, others were flora and vegetation, and still others were vast rivers or mountain ranges. Each treasure possessed astonishing power, and some even radiated fluctuations surpassing those of Dao Masters.
Zhangsun Shenghai's eyes fell upon an extraordinary tree behind Dao Master Lin, and he said, "This treasure can bear Dao fruits, making it quite suitable... Wait."
He suddenly spotted another innate numinous treasure belonging to Dao Master Lin, and his heart leapt violently. That innate numinous treasure was a spear—not the one currently held in Dao Master Lin's hand. Nirvana Heavenly Fire coiled around the spear, and its shaft bore a natural spiraling whorl structure, intricate and exquisite, representing a bizarre Dao structure constantly swimming and tempering within the heavenly fire.
At first glance, he was helplessly captivated. "This spear must have been formed from the Chaos spirit root of my Emperor Realm! The Emperor Realm was never destined for extinction, but the other shore shifted its calamitous destiny onto it, driving it into nirvana. This spear survived without being destroyed, instead being stained with the Nirvana Heavenly Fire." Zhangsun Shenghai gritted his teeth, his eyes locked onto that nirvanic spear.
Xu Ying followed his gaze, immediately understanding. He smiled and said, "You want that one? All right, I'll find an opportunity to get it for you."
Zhangsun Shenghai gave him an astonished look, seeing Xu Ying's eyes gleam with unknown schemes.
Luo Taizong glanced around. Without mentioning Dao Master Taiyi, he laughed and said, "Is this how all of you welcome an old friend? After all these years, you still resort to ganging up on me. How disappointing!"
Sacred King Xuannü took a step forward and shouted coldly, "You bear undeniable responsibility for why the other shore's calamitous destiny is so severe! Luo Taizong, you shoulder far too much tribulation. Today, you will meet your doom to dispel disaster for our other shore!"
Luo Taizong threw his head back and laughed loudly. Suddenly, he charged straight for Xuannü. The moment his body moved, Dao Masters Hua, Lin, Luo, Taiyi, and the others unleashed their numinous treasures, generating power that could truly be called world-ending.
Beneath that blanket of supreme might, all worldly Great Daos—including time and space, yin and yang, life and death, and gods and fiends—were reduced to nothingness. There was only the innate Dao power of a universe nurtured by Chaos spirit roots, manifesting Dao phenomena and bursting with Dao might. At that moment, the waves of the various treasures stacked upon one another, compounding into terrifying Dao light. Like a Hongyuan Opening of Heaven, like nirvana destroying the world, like the tides of the Chaos Sea, it crashed toward Luo Taizong.
Zhangsun Shenghai's expression changed drastically. He hastily channeled his divine abilities, only to discover in horror that none of his Daos could be used. His attainments in the Nine Innate Daos were undeniably profound, not inferior to Xu Ying's and even surpassing Xu Ying's in certain Daos. Yet those making their moves were all Dao Masters. Before a Dao Master, even the most profound Immortal-grade Daos could easily be suppressed and controlled.
*I shouldn't have stayed so close!* Zhangsun Shenghai inwardly regretted. After stowing away the Suspended Ridge, he had intended to flee far into the distance, but upon spotting Xu Ying nearby, he had walked over. He never anticipated this battle would be so perilous that even someone of his Grand Dao Lord combat power could not spectate.
Yet just then, immeasurable space continuously extended around the two of them. Not only was space stretching, the void was also expanding, cleaving that terrifying shockwave away from them.
Not only that, the space around them warped while time flowed faster or slower, causing the might of those numinous treasures to swerve around them. For what truly could not be avoided, Reincarnation spun, dragging terrifying strands of innate Dao power into its cycle, while other forces had their karma and calamitous destiny altered, leaving them completely unaffected!
Beyond this, innate Dao power crashed against them from time to time, only to be converted into the Innate Five Tais and subsequently into Wuji Dao power, which Xu Ying directly absorbed. Even more frightening, Zhangsun Shenghai could sense countless Nirvanic Hongyuans, large and small, surrounding them, continuously swallowing the Dao light that breached the immeasurable spacetime into these invisible Hongyuans.
He could feel Xu Ying's cultivation and magic power steadily rising. Advancing one's cultivation in the Immortal realm was unimaginably difficult; without millions or tens of millions of years, progressing a single step was out of the question. Yet Xu Ying, standing right beside him, used Daos such as Wuji, Reincarnation, and Nirvana to continuously absorb the Dao power and Dao light of the innate numinous treasures, gaining a substantial boost in cultivation in just a brief moment.
*Just what kind of cultivation method is he using? It is vastly different from my Nine Proofs Hongyuan!* Zhangsun Shenghai was filled with shock and doubt.
The two of them actually remained where they stood, observing this unprecedented battle from close range. Amidst the dazzling Dao light, Luo Taizong neither dodged nor evaded, mobilizing all his strength to meet the might of those innate numinous treasures head-on. Xu Ying and Zhangsun Shenghai stared with wide eyes, and in the next instant, both felt as though they were tumbling toward Luo Taizong.
They were indeed tumbling. Not only the two of them, but the nearby spacetime, the landmass of the other shore, and the stars beyond the heavens were all falling toward the battlefield. Xu Ying could no longer keep his footing and immediately channeled his Dao methods, pulling Zhangsun Shenghai with him as he retreated. Yet the speed of their plunge was simply too swift; even with his cultivation, he could not resist it.
Xu Ying decisively activated the Apricot-Yellow Flag and waved it vigorously. The banner snapped with a rustle as boundless Dark-Yellow Qi surged forth, checking their falling momentum for an instant. This flag was also an innate numinous treasure, and though it was one of four banners, it was the most potent among them.
In the past, Xu Ying had been unable to unleash this treasure's true might, but his cultivation and strength were now incomparably greater. After raising the flag, while it was insufficient to contend with the clash's colossal force, halting it for a split second was within his power. The two immediately seized the chance to retreat. Xu Ying waved the flag again and again as they fell back repeatedly, watching countless stars stretch and twist as they whistled past them, while the continent of the other shore was torn apart and shattered, turning into raging Nirvana Heavenly Fire and trailing into the vortex...
In a brief span, countless people on the other shore died, plunging into the battlefield and turning straight to ashes. Xu Ying looked forward, only to see that the epicenter had become a chaotic torrent, grinding down the inbound stars and turning everything into Chaos Qi. The Chaos Qi formed a ring, inside of which lay the innate numinous treasures of the Dao Masters shining like brilliant stars. Yet Luo Taizong alone withstood so many innate numinous treasures, actually halting their onslaught! Xu Ying watched in stunned disbelief. Even as horror gripped him, the second wave of attacks from Dao Masters Hua, Lin, Luo, Tongtian, Taiyi, and the rest arrived, erupting with world-destroying power.
"Go!" Xu Ying's face changed drastically. He frantically waved the Apricot-Yellow Flag, pulling Zhangsun Shenghai further and further back. The Chaos Qi expanded rapidly, making their tumble even more violent. Even an entire galaxy in the other shore's starry sky was dragged inward, billowing stars pouring like water into the chaos ring. The Apricot-Yellow Flag could no longer hold.
Seeing this, Xu Ying knew disaster was imminent. With a sharp shout, he summoned the lotus pond. The Chaos Lotus hoisted the Hongyuan, appearing before them. But seeing the dire situation, the spirit root also knew trouble when it saw it and ducked back into the Hongyuan within Xu Ying's physical body.
"Master Lotus, we rise and fall together!" Xu Ying barked. The Chaos Lotus seemed to understand his words, realizing that this was a matter of life and death from which it could not hide, and stopped immediately!
"Shenghai, Master Bell, lend me a hand!"
The big bell flew out and channeled its profound arts, cave abysses whirling around its body with vast, astonishing magic power. Though Zhangsun Shenghai was surprised, there was no time to think; he channeled the Nine Proofs Hongyuan Grand Cavity Sutra and mobilized his Dao power, pouring it all into the Chaos Lotus!
Empowered by them, petal after petal of the lotus bloomed. With a deep hum, a brilliant burst of Dao light surged forward. When this light collided with the residual might generated by the innate numinous treasures and Luo Taizong, it managed to briefly halt the pull. Feeling the tumble stall, Xu Ying immediately rose up with them, activating Reincarnation to carve open the spacetime behind them and flee.
Yet right at that moment, the third collision between Luo Taizong and the Dao Masters erupted. Shocked, Xu Ying looked toward the starry sky, only to see the entire universe of the other shore seemingly warping and spinning, plunging into the chaos ring created by the battle.
"We can't escape..."
The two men and the bell desperately channeled the Chaos Lotus, blasting toward the chaos ring. The Chaos Lotus also knew it had to stake everything, unleashing its strongest strike by mobilizing the boundless spiritual light within the lotus pond. After this blast, the falling momentum was paused for a mere split second, but in the next instant, they resumed tumbling toward the chaos ring.
Xu Ying, Zhangsun Shenghai, the big bell, and the Chaos Lotus had resigned themselves to their fate, watching the encroaching battlefield in despair!
*Luo Taizong is too strong...*
Just as the thought crossed their minds, Luo Taizong suddenly coughed up a huge mouthful of blood and leapt violently out from the siege. The instant he leaped out, spacetime shuddered violently, and the plunging momentum rebounded sharply backward. The continents, stars, and galaxies of the other shore that had not yet been swallowed by chaos abruptly snapped back to their original positions, leaving only a pitch-black, empty expanse of space where the battle had occurred—save for the furiously spinning chaos ring, which remained in place, unyielding and undissipated.
Chapter 848