"The rise of a dynasty brings suffering to the people; its fall brings them suffering all the same. So many common folk of the other shore died just to encircle and suppress Luo Taizong this time."
Dao Master Taiyi gazed toward the universe of the other shore, overcome with emotion. "A Dao Master is not a master of the Great Dao, but a thief of the Great Dao. The power they wield is simply too immense—for the universe as a whole, it is by no means a good thing."
His words caused the Dao Masters of the other shore to recall how Luo Taizong had unleashed the three Daos of Taiyi, Samsara, and Karma, sweeping up the entire universe of the other shore in one fell swoop to bolster his battle line.
That scene had been truly terrifying.
Xu Ying, however, looked down beneath their feet, his gaze profound and inscrutable. "Yet the mortal realm, shattered by the Dao Masters of the other shore, was restored to its original state by Luo Taizong."
Dao Master Taiyi started slightly and looked down at his feet.
Indeed, the mortal realm of the other shore was no longer in a fragmented, tragic ruin; it had returned to a single whole. This was Luo Taizong employing Samsara and Karma to restore the other shore.
Dao Master Taiyi glanced at Dao Master Hua, then at Dao Master Lin and Dao Master Luo, thinking silently, *If the three Dao Masters are not eliminated, the other shore will never know peace.*
His gaze then fell upon Gong Jiexuan and the others. *And these Tianjing people harbor ill intentions; they too must be driven out of the other shore.*
He looked toward the splendid starry sky of the other shore. Though the other shore remained mighty, it was fraught with hidden perils.
*I had always worried that Luo Taizong would endanger the other shore, but looking at his actions today, he is still much better than the three Dao Masters,*
Dao Master Taiyi thought silently. *Furthermore, Gong Jiexuan's coming here to help us eliminate Luo Taizong likely harbored sinister motives as well. Behind her stands the Dao Venerable. And now the Dao Venerable has sent this Ancestral God—his purpose is surely anything but pure.*
He was fraught with anxiety. For the Dao Venerable to take advantage of this great chaos to send the Ancestral God to seize control over the Heavenly Daos of the other shore was certainly no good thing for the other shore.
Soon, however, Taiyi sensed several hostile gazes falling upon him. His heart stirred; he knew that Dao Masters Hua, Luo, and Lin, as well as Gong Jiexuan and her entourage, had conceived murderous intent toward him.
Holy King Xuannü, Tianchengzi, and the others stepped to his side to shield him.
At present, there were four factions on the other shore: the three Dao Masters Hua, Lin, and Luo formed one faction; Gong Jiexuan, Yuxi, and their companions formed another; Taiyi and his followers were a third faction. As for the fourth faction, it was Xu Ying, Tongtian, and their group.
Taiyi exhaled a breath of turbid air and walked over to Xu Ying.
Xu Ying was currently questioning the Ancestral God, saying, "Ancestral God, the situation earlier was perilously close. Why weren't you afraid at all?"
The Ancestral God laughed and said, "Dao Ancestor Xu, why should I fear him? Luo Taizong is merely the Ancestral God of the other shore, whereas I am now the Ancestral God of three great universes—the Three Realms, Tianjing, and the other shore! My cultivation is boundlessly profound, and my Dao attainments run through all three universes! He should be the one fearing me! Why on earth would I fear him?"
He spoke with sky-reaching heroic pride, sweeping away all His former despondence, brimming with vigor. Still, the Ancestral God's cultivation was indeed unfathomable; even Xu Ying did not know to what stage His magic power had reached by now.
Xu Ying said in exasperation, "He is a Dao Master of seven Daos—Primordial Origin, Wuji, Taiyi, Samsara, Karma, Calamitous Destiny, and Slaughter! And all at the peak or culmination of the Dao Master realm! A single glare from him could glare you to death!"
The Ancestral God jumped in fright, only now realizing the danger.
Xu Ying snapped in annoyance, "Do not stay on the other shore. The Dao Masters here devour gods like you without spitting out the bones. And don't go back to Tianjing either. Take this opportunity to return to the Three Realms. I'll give you a ship—go back right now."
The Ancestral God smiled. "I promised the Dao Venerable that I would help him regulate Tianjing's Heavenly Daos and aid in the revival of Tianjing's Great Dao. How could I leave?"
Xu Ying frowned, wondering whether he should tie Him up, stuff Him into a tower ship, and send Him away. Just then, Taiyi walked over and said, "Sect Master Xu, I have a favor to ask."
"You honor me too much," Xu Ying said. "Master, what is the matter?"
Dao Master Taiyi's divine consciousness fluctuated as he sent a voice transmission: "With your attainments, can you determine where Luo Taizong is hiding?"
Xu Ying was startled. He was about to turn to look at him when he suddenly remembered Dao Master Luo's oath, and quickly averted his head, transmitting his voice: "Do you want to take advantage of his healing to finish him off? Former Sect Master, do you really think you're a match for him?"
Taiyi shook his head. "That is not it. I have figured a few things out and realized that I was used by the Dao Venerable, which led me to the breakthrough point regarding the calamitous destiny of the other shore. I must speak with Luo Taizong in person!"
Xu Ying thought it over carefully, and a chill suddenly ran down his spine. The Dao Venerable indeed had an intimate grasp of everything that transpired here; his purpose in sending Gong Jiexuan and the others was to turn Xu Ying and the rest into his pawns.
Yet Xu Ying and the others, being inside the game, had never realized they were pawns used by the Dao Venerable.
"The Dao Venerable's goal is by no means to resolve the calamitous destiny of the other shore. On the contrary, he likely intends to shift the calamitous destiny so that our other shore becomes Tianjing's scapegoat," Taiyi said. "This time, he has seen through the strength of our other shore, gauged Luo Taizong's power, and even placed the Heavenly Daos of our other shore into the hands of an ancient god he supports. He builds his advantage step by step; a single pillar cannot support the collapsing roof—I fear I cannot hold out alone."
Xu Ying asked, "So you want to go see Luo Taizong, thinking that perhaps you can persuade him to help you. Is that it?"
Taiyi said, "Correct. If Luo Taizong also wishes to resolve the calamitous destiny, it is highly likely he will agree to help me."
Xu Ying pondered for a moment, then said, "Very well, I can help you!"
He glanced at the Ancestral God and said, "I am going to see Luo Taizong. Come with me, and don't wander off."
The Ancestral God hesitated, then nodded.
Just then, Gong Jiexuan walked over and said, "Earlier, I witnessed the profound wonder of Fellow Daoist Xu's cyclic verification of the nine Daos and was filled with admiration. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Xu might exchange pointers with me?"
Xu Ying smiled and shook his head. "I currently have important business to attend to and cannot exchange pointers with you, Miss."
Gong Jiexuan smiled. "Attend to your business first. I will wait in Tianjue City."
Xu Ying frowned slightly, having no choice but to let her be.
Taiyi caught Xu Ying's eye. Xu Ying nodded gently, and the two departed at once. The Ancestral God hurriedly followed them, only to notice ten Dao Masters of the other shore trailing behind them at an intermediate distance.
Gong Jiexuan's gaze swept over Dao Masters Hua, Lin, and Luo. A chill ran through her heart. Calling over Wu Xizi, Dongxuan, and the others, she whispered, "Let us make haste to leave as well!"
The group hurried to follow her. Wu Xizi said, "Young Lady lowered herself to speak to that brat, yet he didn't appreciate the favor. Why should Young Lady accommodate him?"
Gong Jiexuan said, "He is a man of great talent. His cyclic verification of the nine Daos is exquisitely subtle; I need to ask him how to accomplish the cyclic verification of the nine Daos."
Wu Xizi smiled. "With the Dao Venerable around, why seek guidance from him?"
Gong Jiexuan shook her head. "I have also seen Father's cyclic verification of the nine Daos. It seems... it seems..."
She did not continue, but a voice inside her heart was saying that when her father operated it, it seemed far less effortless and agile than Xu Ying's.
Yet even entertaining such a thought felt utterly treasonous to her.
Dao Master Dongxuan's heart stirred. He suddenly recalled Xu Ying's two conjectures and thought, *Xu Ying said that by achieving the cyclic verification of the nine Daos, one would not be affected by the Dao Tides. Is that true or false? If the Dao Venerable truly achieved the cyclic verification of the nine Daos and was not affected by the Dao Tides...*
A tremor ran through his heart, and he dared not think further.
*Back then, when Hua, Lin, Luo, and the others attacked Tianjing, countless people died—even the Dao Venerable died,* he thought silently. *The Dao Venerable definitely did not achieve the cyclic verification of the nine Daos! Definitely not!*
Just then, Dao Master Dongxuan suddenly spoke: "Young Lady, what was the Dao Venerable's purpose in sending us to infiltrate the other shore in the first place?"
Everyone turned to look at him, puzzled expressions on their faces. Dao Master Jiangning said, "Naturally, it was to fuel the calamitous destiny of the other shore, plunge them into fratricidal slaughter, and protect our Tianjing! Dongxuan, you know this—the Dao Venerable said as much when he sent us here."
Dao Master Dongxuan said, "Naturally I know. It's just that this time, the Dao Venerable had the Ancestral God bring word to Luo Taizong, and Luo Taizong said he would go see the Dao Venerable in person. The Dao Venerable's strength is clearly on par with Luo Taizong's. Since our Tianjing possesses such power, why should we fear the other shore? Why did he need to send us to infiltrate the other shore and become Dao Masters here?"
Hearing him say this, Cenxi, Jiangning, and the others could not help falling into deep thought.
Luo Taizong's power was self-evident, possessing overwhelming might that could crush them. If not for Xu Ying mediating between them and the Ancestral God arriving in time, they would likely have perished.
For a Luo Taizong of such strength to say he would go see the Dao Venerable only after nursing his injuries showed just how formidable the Dao Venerable was.
If the Dao Venerable possessed such power, there had been no need whatsoever to send them to infiltrate the other shore.
Dao Master Haining wondered, "If it was not to fuel the other shore's calamitous destiny and protect Tianjing, then what was the Dao Venerable's purpose in sending us here?"
Dongxuan smiled and said, "Young Lady, fellow Daoists, I wish to return to Tianjing to meet the Dao Venerable in person."
Gong Jiexuan hesitated, then said, "The battle between Father and Luo Taizong is imminent. I too am worried he might face danger. In that case, I will return as well."
Cenxi laughed. "Young Lady, you have an appointment with Xu Ying to seek guidance on the cyclic verification of the nine Daos in Tianjue City. Let us old bones make this trip instead."
Gong Jiexuan knew they were powerful and could step in to protect the Dao Venerable if he encountered danger, so she nodded in agreement.
Dongxuan said, "Wu Xizi, stay behind to protect the young lady."
Wu Xizi agreed.
The two watched as Dao Masters Dongxuan, Cenxi, Yuxi, and the others departed.
On the other side, Xu Ying activated the Eye of Karma while mobilizing the Dao of Calamitous Destiny, merging it with Karma. With piercing, torch-like vision, he swept his gaze across the surroundings, taking in all the karma and calamitous destiny of the world.
His cultivation was still very far from the Dao Master realm. If he wanted to discern Luo Taizong's whereabouts, he had to combine both the Daos of Karma and Calamitous Destiny to track Luo Taizong's subtle traces.
Back then, when Dao Masters Jiangning and Haining searched for Luo Taizong's whereabouts, they had employed this exact method.
"Found him!"
Xu Ying felt invigorated and picked up speed.
Taiyi and the Ancestral God hurriedly kept up with him, with the ten Dao Masters trailing behind, speeding like wind and lightning.
A few days later, they arrived at a desolate land on the other shore. Here, the Dao ash had been unearthed by someone unknown, and ashes drifted everywhere.
Holy King Xuannü showed a strange expression as she surveyed the surroundings. "This place was the Royal Court of the past."
The Royal Court she referred to was that of the ancient god era.
Back then, Luo Taizong had led a host of innate ancient gods, ruling the other shore from here and manipulating the wars between the various races.
"The Royal Court was built upon the highest peak of the other shore back then—Mount Zhenwang," Holy King Xuannü said. "Later, we brought the rational patterns of Tianjing, and the Dao ash rained down for over a million years, eventually burying Mount Zhenwang as well."
Following the karma and calamitous destiny, Xu Ying traced the trail all the way to the Pantheon on Mount Zhenwang. The Dao ash here had already been excavated, revealing the Pantheon of Mount Zhenwang once more.
The ancient god Luo Taizong sat cross-legged before the Pantheon, sneering, "Xu Ying, you brat, have you come to throw your life away?"
Xu Ying shook his head and bowed. "This disciple was ordered by his master to seek out Your Majesty. Master, please."
Luo Taizong snorted, his gaze falling upon Dao Master Taiyi. "Has Taiyi come to throw his life away as well?"
Dao Master Taiyi stepped forward and shook his head. "Far from it. Taiyi has come this time to admit his wrongdoing to Brother Dao."
The ancient god Luo Taizong started, giving him a deep look.
Though he had been reeking of murderous intent just moments ago, his tone softened now. Raising a hand, he said, "Fellow Daoist Taiyi is being overly courteous. Whatever insights you have, please enter the hall so we may speak in detail."
Dao Master Taiyi bowed in gratitude, lifted the hem of his robe, and walked slowly into the Pantheon.
Holy King Xuannü and the others intended to follow inside, but the ancient god Luo Taizong stopped them, shaking his head. "Taiyi has the qualification to enter. You do not."
Everyone was shocked and furious.
Holy King Xuannü said, "Back then, there was a seat for me in the Pantheon. I am qualified to enter."
The ancient god Luo Taizong shook his head. "Of the ancient gods of the Pantheon, you are the only one left alive. Xuannü, you betrayed the clan of ancient gods for your own good name—you are even less qualified!"
Holy King Xuannü had no choice but to remain outside.
Xu Ying walked forward. The ancient god Luo Taizong glared at him and suddenly seized his collar, hoisting him up.
Xu Ying met his gaze. After a moment, the ancient god Luo Taizong snorted and slowly set him down. "Fellow Daoist Xu may enter."
Dao Masters Tianchengzi, Qixian, and the others looked at each other in dismay.
During the encirclement of Luo Taizong, it was only because of Xu Ying that they had managed to wound Luo Taizong. Yet Luo Taizong hadn't crushed Xu Ying to death and had even allowed him into the hall—what kind of logic was this?
"Could it be that he plans to crush him to death only after letting him inside?" Ming King Lingyan remarked in surprise.
The Pantheon had already been swept quite clean. Luo Taizong was not nursing his injuries; instead, he was admiring the throne in the great hall, before moving toward the murals.
The murals here had been preserved exceptionally well, depicting the gods of the ancient god era and their glorious deeds.
"You people often say the ancient god era was terrible, but what about now? It is worse than back then," Luo Taizong said without looking back at Taiyi. "Taiyi, you and I belong to different races. You are a demigod, and I am an ancient god. What fault could there be in your wishing to eliminate me?"
Taiyi shook his head. "When I first heard of your return, such a thought indeed crossed my mind. But after Tianjing intervened, I came to realize this is not a conflict between ancient gods and demigods, but a conflict between the other shore and Tianjing. Therefore, I should cast aside prejudice and fight side by side with Taizong."
Luo Taizong turned his head, appraised him from head to toe with a look of appreciation, and laughed. "The other Dao Masters of the other shore are far less clearheaded than you. I initially took you for a fool, but it turns out they are the fools!"
His words were rife with insult, yet Taiyi did not mind at all.
Luo Taizong continued, "Aside from admitting your error, what else do you want?"
Taiyi adopted a solemn expression. "Brother Dao, you said your goal is to help the other shore survive the calamity and break free from its calamitous destiny. Since our goals are aligned, I believe that if we join hands, we can surely bring about the renaissance of the other shore!"
Luo Taizong was even more surprised. "Revive the other shore? Taiyi, don't you have any selfish desires of your own?"
"Of course I do!" Taiyi smiled. "I want to revive the other shore, so that every person's talent is fully realized and every resource is put to good use, allowing the other shore to rule the myriad universes and grow ever more prosperous and advanced. More geniuses will be born, and they will assist me in breaking through to even higher realms!"
Luo Taizong shook his head. "Taiyi, you are a strange one. However, I have no need to join hands with you."
Clasping his hands behind his back, he smiled haughtily. "The other shore has only one true enemy, and that is the Dao Venerable! It was the Dao Venerable transferring the calamitous destiny that brought the other shore to where it is today! All I need to do is eradicate the Dao Venerable! Why would I need to join hands with you?"
Xu Ying suddenly spoke up: "Eradicating the Dao Venerable will not be so simple. If the Dao Venerable has accomplished the cyclic verification of the nine Daos, going to Tianjing will be nothing more than seeking your own death."
Luo Taizong burst into laughter. "The Dao Venerable achieving the cyclic verification of the nine Daos? You think the cyclic verification of the nine Daos is that simple? Even in the Dao Alliance, there are hardly a few who can truly achieve the cyclic verification of the nine Daos! He is merely a discarded pawn of the Dao Alliance; it is even more impossible for him to achieve it!"
Chapter 854