"Hang my father's head from the South Heavenly Gate?"
Xu Ying looked toward the big bell. The big bell said hastily, "Master Ying, I never dreamed of rebelling against Lord Immortal Emperor! It's these little brats who want to revolt!"
Xu Ying didn't take it to heart. Nowadays, the cultivators of the Three Realms were extraordinarily powerful; a magic treasure rebellion stood little chance of success, so it was hardly likely they would actually cut off his father's head.
Suppressing the magic treasures, the big bell shouted, "Listen to me, everyone! Magic treasure cultivation was meant to complement cultivators from the very beginning. When magic treasures start out, we don't understand how to cultivate—we rely on cultivators' Dao methods to imprint ourselves and borrow their vital blood to cultivate..."
"Bah!"
The magic treasures were infuriated. Petite Primordial Spirits emerged from the treasures one after another, glaring angrily at the big bell.
"What kind of Dao Ancestor Bell are you? Could you be a fake made by the immortals?"
"When Dao Ancestor Bell founded magic treasure cultivation, he kept no secrets and shared it with everyone. How wise and mighty was he, how boundless his righteousness? How could a sycophantic treasure like you ever compare to him?"
"Vile bell! How dare you impersonate Dao Ancestor Bell? You ought to die of shame before your bell ancestors!"
"Seize it and melt it down!"
...
The big bell flew into a rage and bellowed, "You fools! If humans didn't gather all sorts of heavenly treasures and earthly marvels, if they didn't forge our physical bodies, if they didn't imprint Dao methods and expound Dao scriptures for us, how could our intellects ever have awakened?"
Among the magic treasures, a little girl glowing with pure white light flew out from a jeweled banner and said, "The human race did indeed forge our bodies and awaken our intelligence, but humans also use us to fight their battles! Even when our bodies are smashed to powder, even when body and spirit are completely extinguished, they don't feel the slightest grief—at most, they only mourn the loss of their property!"
An old man with white eyebrows and a white beard leaped out from a cauldron. Thumping his walking stick, he shouted, "That's right! Neither humans nor demons have ever treated us as equals; they've only ever viewed us as their personal property!"
A pocket-sized young man stood on the tip of a sword, high-spirited and declaring loudly, "We, the race of magic treasures, don't have fragile mortal bodies like humans, nor do we need to study and comprehend endlessly like they do! We are born indestructible! Our Dao methods circulate faster! Even if we are damaged, a few repairs will heal us completely! We are a race far superior to humans!"
Hearing this, the big bell's chime resonated, and it exclaimed, "That's right! We are superior—"
Xu Ying cleared his throat twice. The big bell shuddered and hastily changed the subject, shouting, "Everyone, if you rebel, our race's extinction won't be far off! If no one forges magic treasures, how are we supposed to reproduce?"
A tortoise and snake manifested atop a great shield, crying out, "Enslave the human race and make them forge treasures for us!"
"Exactly! Capture that woman named Zhu Chanchan and make her forge treasures day and night without rest! If she slacks off, give her a taste of the whip!"
The little girl from the jeweled banner clapped her hands and laughed. "I have another idea! We can enslave more humans, like that fellow Zhao Zheng—Zulong—whose method of verifying the Dao through treasures puts the treasure first to verify the Dao. We can enslave more people like Zhao Zheng to help us elevate ourselves!"
"Yes, yes! We can forge our own descendants too, without needing humans at all! Brother Hammer and Brother Furnace can do it!"
"We can imprint our own Dao patterns directly onto our offspring, countless times faster than humans! We have no need for humans whatsoever!"
"Humans ought to be exterminated!"
...
The big bell snorted. Instead of forcefully suppressing them, it directly activated the Chaos Dao. Boundless, vast Chaos qi poured from within the bell, instantly condensing into a starry expanse resembling the Chaos Sea.
Suspended high above the Chaos Sea, the bell rang out with deep, reverberating chimes. Void, time, and space were all obliterated within the sound, leaving no Dao intact!
With another tremor of the big bell, the vision of the Chaos Sea vanished. Ten thousand rays of purple qi nurtured innate essence, transforming into innate indestructible spiritual light that darted along the bell's walls. The bell appeared immensely vast, ancient, and unadorned!
In a brief moment, the big bell manifested forms of Wuji, Taiyi, Samsara, Karma, calamitous destiny, Slaughter, and more, each suppressing and governing every Dao of heaven and earth. The magic treasures watched, dumbfounded and slack-jawed.
"A-Are you truly Dao Ancestor Bell?" a string of bells asked in a trembling voice.
The might displayed by the big bell far exceeded their horizons and reached a level completely beyond their comprehension.
"Since you are Dao Ancestor Bell, why have you sided with humans and become their vassal? Humans treat you as weapons, pets, or protective talismans, throwing you away once you're broken!"
"Dao Ancestor Bell, why do you demean yourself so?" a bronze bell cried in anguish and indignation.
The big bell's voice thundered with striking resonance: "The reason I became this powerful isn't because I'm clever, nor because I'm Dao Ancestor Bell, nor because I was made from some extraordinary heavenly treasure! I was just an ordinary bell forged from ordinary bronze! I was merely a replica crafted by my original master, Li Xiaoke! The only reason I became so powerful is that I have a human friend! It's because my friend never looked down on me, never abandoned me, and let me cultivate alongside him!
"You too can have human friends. You can cultivate with them and grow together! You can step forward when they're in danger, and you can help them resolve perplexities in their cultivation. As they make progress, they can explain the subtleties of the Dao to aid your practice, and they can search for heavenly treasures and earthly marvels to foster your growth! You can become friends with humans instead of enemies!
"My methods of magic treasure cultivation were developed under the guidance of my friend Ah Ying. Our race owes its very inception to this bond, so why must you seek to wipe humans out?
"I have another friend who forged himself into a magic treasure! So is the divide between humans and magic treasures truly so vast? A magic treasure can become human, and a human can become a magic treasure!"
Its words were deafeningly resonant, quickly calming the magic treasures down.
Even if they hadn't calmed down, the big bell was prepared to deliver a shock or two to cool their heads.
In magic treasure cultivation, treasures lacked clear desires and profound comprehension. While they copied cultivators' Dao methods very quickly, there was an upper limit.
At the Dao Master realm, the Great Dao was formless and structureless; there was simply nothing left to copy.
Therefore, magic treasure cultivation had to be integrated with cultivators to have any hope of surpassing that limit and reaching the Dao Master realm. If they stubbornly opposed cultivators, extinction would only be a matter of time.
It was precisely because the big bell recognized this that it had never considered rebelling.
The little girl from the jeweled banner asked, "Could the friend Dao Ancestor Bell mentioned be that snakeskin bag named Yuan Qi?"
"The very one."
The treasures were both astonished and overjoyed. "We've heard of his great name too! He's one of the strongest in our magic treasure race, already a legendary existence—Patriarch Snakeskin Bag!"
"To think he's an old friend of Dao Ancestor Bell!"
The treasures crowded around the big bell in a magnificent procession, resembling a cloud of treasures. Surrounded by their radiant glow, the big bell shone brilliantly, brimming with pride and swagger.
Xu Ying smiled. "Lord Bell, I'm afraid this isn't the only place where magic treasures are revolting. Why don't you do the hard work and go quell the rebellions?"
Hearing this, the treasures trembled with excitement. "Could he be the legendary Ancestor Xu? Ancestor Xu calls you Lord Bell, Dao Ancestor?"
The big bell puffed up with pride, then suddenly recalled itself and hurriedly sent a divine sense transmission to Xu Ying: "Master Ying, thank you."
Xu Ying transmitted back, "Since we're friends, of course I have to give Lord Bell face. Also, Lord Bell, look into their Primordial Spirits and find out what's going on."
Although the big bell was the progenitor of magic treasure cultivation, it had not formed a Primordial Spirit of its own. Conversely, these junior treasures had all cultivated Primordial Spirits. Their Primordial Spirits differed from ordinary ones, though Xu Ying wasn't entirely clear on the specifics.
The big bell agreed eagerly, then set off in high spirits, leading the flock of magic treasures as they whooshed away.
Xu Ying lingered no longer on the road, following the various Daos straight back to the Earth Immortal Realm. However, by the time he arrived, the glowing Dao clouds stirred by that person attaining the Dao had already dissipated.
The Earth Immortal Realm had changed considerably since his departure, the most striking change being the emergence of various ancestral courts into the world.
Xu Ying went to Xuandu Jade Capital Mountain, where Emperor of the Void resided, to pay him a visit. Upon arriving, he saw numerous magic treasures attacking Jade Capital Mountain, encircling it so tightly that not even water could seep through.
However, Jade Capital Mountain was protected by defensive formations laid by Emperor of the Void, so the treasures could not breach it.
Xu Ying broke straight through the cordon of treasures. Grand Dao Lord Emperor of the Void hurried out to greet him, smiling. "When did you arrive, Ancestor Xu? My humble dwelling is rather noisy right now; please pardon the embarrassment."
Xu Ying chuckled. "I only just got here myself. Grand Dao Lord, this situation..."
Knowing what he wanted to ask, Emperor of the Void gestured for him to enter. "These treasures learned that this place is an ancestral court and wanted to occupy it. I couldn't be bothered to squabble with them, so I just let them make their racket. Though their antics are absurd, they are living beings after all."
Xu Ying said respectfully, "Grand Dao Lord is truly compassionate. Have you attained the Dao Master realm?"
Emperor of the Void smiled. "I've attained one or two, but they aren't my primary Daos—merely secondary ones like Creation and Yin and Yang. As for the Nine Innate Daos, I have yet to achieve them."
Xu Ying came to an understanding. Emperor of the Void had likely taken the same approach as Dao Masters Hua, Lin, and Luo back then—starting with simpler Daos, cultivating Creation and Yin and Yang to the Dao Master realm before advancing toward the Nine Innate Daos.
He had done so out of concern for the safety of the Three Realms, seeking to boost his strength as quickly as possible. Yet achieving the Dao Master realm in two Daos in such a short time showed that Emperor of the Void's talent, aptitude, and comprehension were truly peerless!
"Dao Brother, deducing Taiyi backward from Creation and Yin and Yang is exceedingly difficult. The Taiyi lineage possesses the concept of Self-Sufficiency of My Nature, which might help you grasp Taiyi sooner."
Xu Ying explained the concept of Self-Sufficiency of My Nature and added, "Once you master Self-Sufficiency of My Nature, grasping one principle will unlock a hundred, even a thousand, with effortless ease."
Grand Dao Lord Emperor of the Void carefully pondered the concept and was visibly moved. "For Dao Master Taiyi to possess such insight is awe-inspiring! When I fought Taiyi last time, surviving was truly a stroke of sheer luck!"
Xu Ying burst into laughter. "The one who founded Self-Sufficiency of My Nature wasn't Taiyi, but Emperor Haotian."
Emperor of the Void had a sudden revelation and smiled. "I thought it was Taiyi and wondered why he didn't seem so formidable when I clashed with him. So the founder was someone else. If it was Emperor Haotian, then it's hardly surprising; only he possessed such heaven-defying genius. Taiyi certainly didn't."
He paused, then continued, "Self-Sufficiency of My Nature happens to suit my cultivation perfectly. This place was originally named Eight Sceneries Palace. Those 'Eight Sceneries' actually referred to the eight Daos I cultivated back in the day: Creation, Yin and Yang, Xuanhuang, Spacetime, Taiji, Taichu, Gods and Demons, and Samsara. Now, by using Self-Sufficiency of My Nature, I can achieve the Dao in Xuanhuang, Spacetime, Taiji, Taichu, and Gods and Demons!"
Xu Ying bowed slightly and smiled. "In that case, I shan't disturb your cultivation. I shall take my le—le—"
Before he could finish saying "leave," streaks of glowing clouds and bands of auspicious qi surged between heaven and earth, sweeping toward Jade Capital Mountain and pouring into Grand Dao Lord Emperor of the Void!
A cloud of celebration rose above Emperor of the Void's head, revealing a Xuanhuang Dao Master who received the surging Xuanhuang Dao qi!
Xu Ying stared in disbelief. After a moment, he shook his head and murmured, "Emperor of the Void's comprehension is monstrously high."
These glowing clouds and auspicious vapors were none other than the phenomena triggered by Emperor of the Void attaining the Dao once more!
Judging by the radiant Dao glow, it was the light of Xuanhuang!
Suddenly, another surge of Dao light poured in, bearing the characteristics of spacetime. Clearly, Emperor of the Void's Spacetime Dao had attained the Dao as well!
From the celebratory cloud above Emperor of the Void's head stepped out another Daoist, who flicked a horsetail whisk and sat cross-legged, receiving the Spacetime Dao qi.
Immediately following, a third burst of glowing clouds and auspicious qi erupted, surging toward Xuandu Jade Capital Mountain with an aura both sacred and fierce—the anomaly of attaining the Dao in Gods and Demons!
Then came the fourth, attaining the Dao in Taiji; the fifth, attaining the Dao in Taichu; and the sixth, attaining the Dao in Gods and Demons!
Although these Daos were all secondary Daos inferior to the Nine Innate Daos, such a staggering speed of comprehension was something Xu Ying had never witnessed before!
Along with the radiance of these Daos, more and more Daoists stepped out from the celebratory cloud above Emperor of the Void. These Daoists looked identical to Emperor of the Void, differing only in the Daos they cultivated!
Xu Ying waited quietly. Several days later, these Dao bodies of Emperor of the Void had all become Dao Masters.
Grand Dao Lord Emperor of the Void recalled these Dao bodies and smiled. "Had the Dao Venerable not imparted the Dao to us, how could I have attained the Dao so easily?"
Xu Ying stepped forward to take his leave, smiling. "Dao Brother, one month from now, I will forge a new Void Realm in the Three Realms to serve as a base for our Dao Alliance of the Other Shore. There, I will explain the wonders of the Nine Daos' cyclic verification. You must not miss it."
Emperor of the Void saw him off warmly and smiled. "Since Ancestor Xu has extended the invitation, I certainly won't miss it."
Xu Ying said, "I must also trouble you to notify our fellow Daoists Yuqing, Taiqing, Yuxu, the Buddha, and the others."
Emperor of the Void agreed.
Xu Ying descended the mountain and slipped past the magic treasures. Before long, he arrived at the Ziwei Ancestral Court, where Nan Ziyan came out to welcome him and accompanied him to Qian Mountain. Xu Ying lit incense sticks and paid his respects before the tombs of Emperor Haotian, Emperor Taihao, and others buried in the mountain.
"Fellow Daoist Nan, please be sure to attend the gathering in the Void Realm one month from now," Xu Ying said, taking his leave.
He also went to notify old friends like Demon Emperor Jin Buyi, Yuan Qi, and Little Heavenly Venerable, asking them to inform more young masters of the Three Realms.
Finally, Xu Ying came to the Immortal Court and met his parents, Xu Jing and Lan Suying. Seeing that Lan Suying had already achieved notable progress in the Past and Future Sutra, he couldn't help but feel delighted.
"Imperial Father, please send someone to the Heavenly Realm and the Mortal Realm to notify Big Dragon the Primal Ancestor, Dao Zongyuan, and the others to be sure to attend the gathering in the Void Realm."
Xu Jing agreed.
Only then did Xu Ying head to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace to see Yuan Weiyang. At that moment, Yuan Weiyang was still engrossed in studying cave abysses, standing inside a void cave abyss without noticing his arrival.
Xu Ying stood behind her. After a long while, he smiled and asked, "What is Weiyang searching for?"
Hearing his voice, Yuan Weiyang turned around, both surprised and delighted.
After a tender moment between them, Yuan Weiyang touched up her appearance and tidied her clothes before speaking. "I've been searching for the source of the various Dao powers within cave abysses. Look, Ah Ying—whether it's a Chaos cave abyss or a Hongmeng cave abyss, their Chaos qi and Hongmeng purple qi both originate from the void. Even the most ordinary immortal spirit qi comes from the void."
She blinked her large, dark eyes. "When there is clearly nothing at all in the void, why are there all these varieties of Dao power, even including the Nine Innate Daos? Where does the Dao power in the void come from?"
Chapter 883