"We are the price?" Jingningzi burst into wild laughter.
All of them—sent by the Dao Venerable to cultivate on the other shore—were the price the Dao Venerable had paid.
As that very price, they had known nothing of it. Yet when Dongxuanzi spoke those words, Dao Master Cenxi showed little violent emotion.
Yuxizi had still been engulfed in towering rage, but he too gradually calmed down.
Jiangningzi and Hainingzi settled their tempers as well.
Only Jingningzi went on laughing hysterically. "We thought our infiltration of the other shore was meant to plunge this ancient rival into the irrecoverable Nirvanic Extinction Tribulation. Who could have imagined that we were the price!"
His voice was filled with grief and indignation, killing intent boiling as he sneered, "Fellow Daoists, let us slaughter our way back to Tianjing right now to settle scores with that old dog Dao Venerable!"
Cenxi coughed lightly. "Jingningzi, calm down."
"Calm down for what?!" Jingningzi roared, beside himself with fury. "That bastard Gong played us for fools! I would rather die with dignity in battle, would rather plunge into boiling water and walk through fire for Tianjing, than be blinded and deceived by someone! Fellow Daoists, my devotion to my Dao is absolute! For the sake of the Great Daos we cultivate, we should fight our way back and make that Gong pay the price he owes!"
Yuxizi gave a dry cough and said, "Jingningzi, calm yourself!"
Jingningzi snapped, "You don't want to fight our way back and avenge the people of Tianjing who died back then? What is there to be calm about?!"
Jiangningzi said, "Jingningzi, don't be impulsive!"
Hainingzi chimed in, "That's right, calm down!"
Jingningzi stared at them, fury searing his chest, unable to fathom why every one of them was telling him to calm down.
Dongxuanzi said softly, "Jingning, haven't you realized it yet? We have no way out. The last time Sect Master Xu traveled back to the past to kill people, in order to guard against him killing us, we linked our karma to the Dao Venerable's Great Dao."
Jingningzi froze.
Back then, Wuxi had brought back several jade talismans. To guard against Xu Ying's spatiotemporal killings, they had refined those talismans, binding themselves to the karma of the Dao Venerable's Great Dao. Except for Dongxuanzi, who was away at the time, every single one of them had refined a jade talisman.
At the time, they believed these were life-preserving charms bestowed by the Dao Venerable. Now it was clear that they were true death warrants. The moment they defied the Dao Venerable's will, he could snuff out their lives in an instant.
Cenxi let out a heavy sigh. "We lost our retreat long ago, and Tianjing has no way out either. If we wish to preserve Tianjing, only one path remains: we return to the other shore and enter the tribulation as Dao Masters of the other shore. Only when we enter the tribulation, and only when the Nirvanic Extinction Tribulation of the other shore erupts, can Tianjing be saved and the surviving people of Tianjing endure!"
Yuxizi's voice was hoarse. "No matter what, even if the Dao Venerable paid the price of most of Tianjing's people, even if he paid the price of the other shore, even if he paid the price of us... he preserved Tianjing. He preserved the people of Tianjing!"
"There's no turning back for us!" Haining chuckled bitterly. "Jingning, this is our calamitous destiny. We cannot return to Tianjing. The Dao Venerable calculated this down to the bone—he knew that even if we learned the truth, we wouldn't be able to turn back!"
Jiangningzi said in a strained voice, "If we go back, Tianjing might go extinct because of it. We cannot return!"
Jingningzi looked back blankly toward the direction of Tianjing. Cenxi stepped forward, slung an arm over his shoulder, patted him hard, and said in a low voice, "At least we were able to see our homeland!"
All strength seemed to drain out of Jingningzi in an instant. He said dejectedly, "Even if we turned back, we could never defeat him. He calculated every move we could make, leaving us not a shred of room to turn the tables."
"No, there is a way," Cenxi said, his spirits lifting. "We still have a sliver of hope. The other shore is not as feeble as the Dao Venerable imagines. They still have two Dao Masters cultivating the Nine Innate Daos—Dao Master Taiyi, who cultivates the Great Dao of Taiyi, and Dao Master Tongtian, who cultivates the Dao of Slaughter."
Yuxizi's eyes brightened. "Exactly! You cultivate the very same Daos. If Taiyi is killed, Dongxuan gains a chance of survival. If Tongtian is killed, Jingning has hope of living!"
Hainingzi looked toward Dongxuan and Jingning, his gaze burning with intensity. "The two of you can survive! Once you survive, there will still be a chance to bring down the Dao Venerable! This is a battle for survival. Force your counterpart to answer the tribulation and die within the calamitous destiny, and you will live!"
Dongxuanzi rose unsteadily to his feet, his voice slightly raspy. "Gentlemen, it is time for us to return to the other shore!"
The group stood up in silence, gazing back toward Tianjing. Only after a long while did they turn around and march toward the other shore.
"Should we tell Lady Gong about this? She has yet to attain the Dao. She isn't a Dao Master, so she still has a chance to escape!"
"Do not tell her. If she leaves, where will we find another Hongmeng Dao Master? To detonate Tianjing's calamitous destiny on the other shore, a Hongmeng Dao Master is required!"
"She is the price Gong the Dao Venerable paid."
In the void, the Dao Venerable silently watched them depart. "Fellow Daoists... have a safe journey!"
***
At the Pantheon of Mount Zhenwang, Luo Taizong, fully recovered from his injuries, stepped out of the hall. Ancient God Luo Taizong also rose to his feet and said to the Ancestral God, "I am going to battle the Dao Venerable. You should head back!"
The Ancestral God bowed. "I shall never forget the grace of my rebirth!"
Luo Taizong laughed. "Just remember that you are not only the Ancestral God of the Three Realms and Tianjing, but also the Ancestral God of the other shore!"
The Ancestral God was taken aback. "I am also the Ancestral God of the other shore?"
Ancient God Luo Taizong and Luo Taizong laughed heartily before tearing through the void and departing. The Ancestral God stood dazed for a long time before making his way toward Tianjue City, a tumult of emotions churning within him: *I am also the Ancestral God of the other shore...*
Upon arriving in Tianjue City and meeting Xu Ying, he recounted everything and said, "I truly do not know how I ought to conduct myself. Should I protect the living beings of the other shore against Tianjing and the Three Realms, or protect the living beings of the Three Realms against the other shore and Tianjing? Or should I remain neutral, aiding neither side? Dao Ancestor Xu, please enlighten me!"
Xu Ying replied in an elegant, scholarly manner, "When I was in Yuanshou, I once heard the ancients say: 'Good and evil are inscribed in the chronicles of history; praise and blame flow down through a thousand years; rewards and punishments hang from the Heavenly Dao; auspiciousness and misfortune are manifested by ghosts and gods!' Thus, I thought: Does the Heavenly Dao possess good and evil? Mortals have good and evil, but the Heavenly Dao has neither good nor evil!"
The Ancestral God blinked, studying him with some bewilderment. He confirmed that the Xu Ying before him was indeed the Xu Ying he knew—there was no possibility of an impostor!
Xu Ying continued, "How then does the Heavenly Dao determine good and evil when rewarding and punishing? By whether one conforms to or opposes the Heavenly Dao. Those who conform to the Heavenly Dao are good; those who oppose the Heavenly Dao are evil. Therefore, to uphold the Heavenly Dao is good, and to detest the Heavenly Dao is evil. Those in the Three Realms who do good shall be rewarded; those in the Three Realms who do evil shall be punished. Extend this to the other shore: those who do good on the other shore shall be rewarded, and those who do evil on the other shore shall be punished. And so it is for Tianjing as well!"
The Ancestral God understood the words, yet doubts still lingered in his mind. Seeking out the Holy Venerable, he asked, "Is Dao Ancestor Xu acting a bit strange? In the past, he was practically illiterate. Now, he's chewing over words and phrasing like a scholar, full of erudition!"
The Holy Venerable replied, "He is in closed-door cultivation... The one out here right now is merely his subconscious acting on instinct!"
The Ancestral God was struck with realization. "So that's how it is! I thought his temperament had truly changed. Still, his words carry great wisdom. As the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit of all three universes, I shall favor no side and judge solely by good and evil!" He looked toward Xu Ying, who appeared gentle, elegant, eloquent, and thoroughly charming. "When will he emerge from cultivation?"
The Holy Venerable shook his head. "I don't know either."
Just then, a young woman arrived, her expression full of sorrow. She spoke to Xu Ying, "I know you are not my Brother Xu, yet in my heart, you are none other than my Brother Xu! In these past days, I have never been able to forget you."
Xu Ying pulled her into his embrace, his demeanor soft as flowing water, and whispered, "Jiexuan, I too know that I am merely the butterfly in Master Xu's dream. I ought not harbor any extravagant fantasies toward you. Yet how could emotions ever be governed by what I wish or do not wish? Even if I am but a butterfly in Master Xu's dream, I still long to fly side by side with you! My only sorrow is that once Master Xu awakens, all will turn into a fleeting illusion!"
The Ancestral God craned his neck, looking at the Holy Venerable with a bewildered expression.
The Holy Venerable said helplessly, "The Dao Venerable's daughter has been enchanted by Dao Ancestor Xu's facade! She originally came to her senses, severed the threads of romance, and left, but in the end she could not bear to stay away. Every few days, she comes looking for her Brother Xu!"
The Ancestral God asked, "Does Dao Ancestor Xu know that his facade is so potent?"
"Who knows? Perhaps he does."
The Holy Venerable, looking forward to some drama, smiled and said, "Ancestral God, now that you are the Primordial Spirit of all three universes, could you make a trip to the Three Realms to bring the Dao Ancestor's wife here?"
The Ancestral God glared at him. "You just want to watch the world burn!"
Fortunately, Gong Jiexuan still retained some reason. With tears in her eyes, she reluctantly departed.
"That poor girl can't pull herself out of it!" Qingxuan remarked with schadenfreude.
Shortly after, Xu Ying set up an altar to lecture on the Great Dao, imparting the wonders of the Great Dao of Taiyi. In no time, a massive crowd gathered to listen, creating quite a lively scene.
The Holy Venerable sighed with feeling. "Right now, he gives a minor lecture every three days and a major lecture every ten days. He couldn't be more diligent! Dao Ancestor Xu hasn't preached as much Dao in his entire life as he has in these past few days!"
Qingxuan stepped forward and said, "Not only that, his manners in dealing with people are exceptionally refined. He makes everyone feel as though bathed in a spring breeze!"
Standing beside them, the Ancestral God watched Xu Ying preaching and expounding the Dao to the disciples of the Taiyi Sect. "His earlier discourse on the Heavenly Dao was profound, incisive, and couched in the most elegant phrasing!"
Jiu Zeng walked up to them and said, "The current Dao Ancestor Xu is far more suited to be the Sect Master of the Taiyi Dao Sect than Master Taiyi."
The same thought could not help but surface in everyone's mind: *If only this Xu Ying were the real Xu Ying, and that illiterate brute were just the subconscious—how wonderful that would be!*
At that moment, Dao Master Taiyi arrived with his retinue, requesting an audience with Sect Master Xu of the Taiyi Sect. Jiu Zeng hurried out to welcome him into the city.
Upon learning that Xu Ying was in closed-door cultivation, Dao Master Taiyi observed how this Xu Ying conducted himself and shook his head. "This Xu Ying won't do. He's not cunning enough and lacks a spark of instinct. He wouldn't last long on the other shore. He can only manage to remain unruffled by favor or disgrace, whereas Sect Master Xu can flatter himself and humiliate himself at will!"
Jiu Zeng asked, "What brings Master here today?"
Dao Master Taiyi said, "Now that Luo Taizong has departed for Tianjing, an epic battle against the Dao Venerable is imminent. This battle is a heaven-sent opportunity for us, which is why I have come to discuss important matters with Sect Master Xu!"
Jiu Zeng said, "Please wait a moment, Master. I shall inform Sect Master Xu of this!"
He stepped forward and whispered a few words into the ear of Xu Ying, who was in the middle of preaching. Xu Ying turned to look toward Dao Master Taiyi and nodded gently.
Jiu Zeng took his seat to preach the Dao in his stead. Xu Ying stood up, walked over, and said apologetically, "Please wait a moment, Master. I shall summon him forth right away!"
Taiyi said, "Much obliged!"
A moment later, Xu Ying slowly awoke.
Taiyi said, "I know Sect Master Xu's soul was wandering the outer realms, but having encountered a difficult predicament, I had no choice but to seek you out. I hope the Sect Master will forgive me."
Xu Ying smiled. "You are too polite, Dao Master! The matter I sought to comprehend was truly a supreme conundrum that I could not fathom in short order. Had the Dao Master not come to see me, I might have spent hundreds or thousands of years meditating on it. Please, tell me what problem troubles you."
Taiyi said, "With the battle between Luo Taizong and the Dao Venerable imminent, we should not simply look on as bystanders. We ought to seize this chance to take action."
Xu Ying pondered this and said, "Luo Taizong possesses peerless might. It would take all Dao Master-level entities of the other shore and Tianjing uniting together to match him. He commands seven innate Daos, yet he has failed to achieve cyclic verification of the nine Daos! The Dao Venerable, on the other hand, is very likely to have achieved cyclic verification of the nine Daos."
Taiyi said, "Even so, Luo Taizong's strength is not necessarily inferior to the Dao Venerable's. He also possesses an ancient god body, fighting two against one. Could he truly have no chance of victory?"
Xu Ying shook his head. "Lacking two Great Daos, and without cyclic verification of the nine Daos, Luo Taizong is bound to fall short of the Dao Venerable. Right now, it all depends on how severely Luo Taizong can wound him."
Taiyi's eyes flickered. "Can we seize this opportunity to do something?"
Xu Ying mused for a moment and said, "We can dispatch someone to Tianjing to attack it, breaking the three covenants—the Chaos Oath—established between Dao Master Hua and the Dao Venerable back then. We can use that to eliminate Dao Master Hua, removing one of the Grand Dao Masters."
Taiyi's eyes lit up, and he secretly praised: *This is the real Xu Ying.*
Xu Ying added, "Alternatively, we could use this method to blackmail Dao Master Hua, compelling him into our service!"
Dao Master Taiyi asked, "What else?"
Xu Ying continued, "Attack Wuxi and Gong Jiexuan. Strike at the two of them in the past to trigger the karmic link to the Dao Venerable's Great Dao. Back when I killed Pingyao, they feared I would use the same method to kill them, so they went to see the Dao Venerable. The Dao Venerable's solution was to link their Great Daos to his own through karma. That way, if I attacked them from past space-time, I would be killed by the counterattack of the Dao Venerable's Great Dao!"
Hearing this, both Qingxuan and the Holy Venerable frowned slightly.
The Holy Venerable murmured under his breath, "Why does this sound so much like harvesting chives?"
Xu Ying continued, "Because their Daos are linked by karma, his Great Dao will inevitably emit fluctuations to attack us. If this happens at the critical juncture of the battle between the Dao Venerable and Luo Taizong, it might very well enable Luo Taizong to turn defeat into victory!"
Dao Master Taiyi's eyes brightened, but he soon frowned. "The power of the Dao Venerable's Dao backlash must be extraordinary! Who could possibly withstand it?"
Xu Ying could not help but frown as well.
Just then, Cenxi's voice rang out clearly from outside: "If you alone cannot block the Dao Venerable's Dao backlash, what if you add us to the mix?"
Xu Ying was stunned. He quickly looked over and saw Cenxi, Yuxi, Jiangning, Jingning, Haining, and Wuxi walking in. The very last to enter was Dongxuanzi.
Xu Ying murmured, "You all?"
Dongxuanzi smiled faintly. "We have come to lend Sect Master Xu a helping hand."
Chapter 857