Although Dao Master Lin had stepped back from the center of power, many Dao Masters still came to Hushan Pavilion to call upon him.
Dao Master Lin had previously turned away all visitors, but several Dao Masters kicked up a clamor outside, accusing him of cold indifference. Some among them had even died by his hand in the past and brought it up as leverage; pressed with no other choice, Dao Master Lin had to invite them in.
After that, visitors to Dao Master Lin gradually grew in number. Among them was Dao Master Shi Lan, who urged him, "Now Taiyi is acting against reason and justice, issuing an edict for the New Sacred Clan to make the pariahs of the myriad universes masters of the other shore! If this continues, our Sacred Clan will be eaten down to the bone by the New Sacred Clan! Brother Lin, you must take charge of the other shore on our behalf!"
Lin Chuanting paled in shock. "Fellow Daoist Shi Lan, how could you utter such words? Right now I am still bearing guilt—how could I possibly take charge of anything for the other shore? Do not drag me into dishonor!"
He drove Dao Master Shi Lan and the others out of Hushan Pavilion.
Yet a few days later, others came to plead with him, saying, "The other shore belongs to the people of the other shore, but now it is becoming the other shore of the myriad universes. Brother Lin, if this goes on, the other shore will change hands!"
Lin Chuanting sighed and said, "Currently Dao Master Taiyi is in charge, and I am powerless. Please return, everyone."
Some time later, more Dao Masters sought him out, urging Dao Master Lin to step out of retirement. "Only if your esteemed self steps forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Taiyi can we force Taiyi to show restraint and safeguard the power of our Old Sacred Clan!"
Dao Master Lin shook his head. "My heart is devoted solely to seeking the Dao; I no longer concern myself with the affairs of the realm. Please return, everyone."
Still other Dao Masters came, speaking vehemently: "To save the other shore before it collapses, we have resolved to take a risk and assassinate Dao Master Taiyi! Brother, once the assassination succeeds, we shall honor you as the leader of the other shore!"
"You seek to drag me into treachery!" Lin Chuanting turned furious, drove everyone away, and once again closed his doors to visitors.
Then disaster struck.
While Dao Master Taiyi was touring the realm, he was ambushed by more than a dozen masked experts. Dao Master Taiyi possessed formidable strength, wielding three thousand Great Daos with effortless mastery; every single Dao had attained the Dao Master level, and his divine powers in space-time, yin-yang, gods and fiends, life and death, and countless other Daos had reached miraculous heights.
In this battle, more than half of the masked experts were killed or wounded. Just as Taiyi was on the verge of breaking through the encirclement, more than a dozen innate numinous treasures suddenly descended from the heavens, blasting Dao Master Taiyi back.
At last, unable to draw upon Dao power from other universes, Dao Master Taiyi's Dao power ran dry, and he was struck down by the surviving masked experts.
Yet after Dao Master Taiyi was slain, there were no bones or corpse left behind, filling the surviving masked experts with terror.
"The one who died by our hands was not Taiyi's true body, but a Dao avatar!"
"Taiyi's true body still lives—we are dead for certain! Our only chance of survival right now lies at Hushan Pavilion!"
The seven survivors were terrified out of their wits. Knowing that aside from Dao Master Lin they had no way out, they went to Hushan Pavilion, kneeling and pleading for an audience, offering to become Dao Master Lin's hounds and swear fealty to him.
Dao Master Lin still refused to see them. He instructed Lu Yiren to go out and tell them: "My master is devoted solely to the Dao and harbors no desire for power struggles. The venerable master says that Dao Master Taiyi is now the common ruler of the other shore. In rebelling and plotting to assassinate him, you have acted against benevolence and righteousness. Now that Dao Master Taiyi has traveled far across the sea and left behind only an avatar, even before his return, Tianchengzi and Sacred King Xuannü alone will never spare you!"
Hearing this, the seven rose and conferred among themselves: "Taiyi is not on the other shore; he must have gone to other universes across the Chaos Sea. Tianchengzi and Sacred King Xuannü are Taiyi's closest confidants. Unless they are eliminated, there will be no way for us to live! In for a penny, in for a pound—let us send them to meet their tribulation! Then the remaining Daoists will stand united with us. With the combined might of twenty Dao Masters, how could we fail to kill Taiyi?"
The seven departed. Soon after, word arrived that Tianchengzi had been ambushed, his life or death unknown. Another report followed that Sacred King Xuannü had been attacked at Feixian Peak and fallen there.
The Taiyi Dao Sect was also purged, its many experts either killed or driven into flight, suffering grievous losses.
Numerous Dao Masters made their preparations, merely waiting for Dao Master Taiyi to return from beyond the sea so they could unleash a slaughter and remake the realm!
Tianjing.
Dao Master Tongtian and Jingningzi strained to maintain the cross-shaped sword marks to suppress the Heaven and Earth Great Daos, yet the reviving Dao power of heaven and earth grew ever stronger, finally reaching a point where even the two of them could no longer hold it back.
Right at that moment, the power of Dao Master Tongtian's Dao of Slaughter surged abruptly, while his calamitous destiny and Nirvanic Extinction Dao power also increased substantially!
At the same time, Jingningzi also sensed a massive surge of slaughter qi flowing from the other shore, leaving him both startled and overjoyed.
Startled that after several centuries, the calamitous destiny of the other shore had erupted anew with slaughter rising once more; overjoyed that they could draw upon this force to counter the backlash of Tianjing's heaven-and-earth Dao power and keep Dao Venerable suppressed for even longer!
Hainingzi gazed toward the other shore from afar and murmured, "An upheaval must have occurred on the other shore, though I know not whence it stems. I feel faintly uneasy in spirit."
"I too feel uneasy," Cenxizi said.
Yuxizi said, "As do I."
Dongxuanzi, however, felt little out of the ordinary.
Hainingzi questioned everyone around him and circulated his Dao of Calamitous Destiny, scrutinizing them closely with his Dao Eye, but found no abnormality.
Gong Jiexuan arrived, saying that for some reason she too felt an inexplicable restlessness. Hainingzi suddenly realized the truth and burst into loud laughter, a laugh that sounded like weeping. "To think I claim to be a Dao Master of Calamitous Destiny, only to have my Dao heart and Dao Eye blinded by calamitous destiny! Hahaha! Everyone, we are all in the midst of the calamity—none of us can escape!"
Gong Jiexuan was taken aback. "I am in the calamity as well? Has there not already been a Grand Primordium Dao Master?"
Hainingzi laughed for quite a while before steadying his Dao heart. "I fear that Grand Primordium Dao Master is not purely a Grand Primordium Dao Master of the other shore, but perhaps of other universes as well. What is more, he has not yet died, so you too are within the calamity, my lady."
He looked toward Dongxuanzi and said, "The only one among us free of calamitous destiny is Fellow Daoist Dong Xuan. Hua Shengsheng attained the Dao through Taiyi as well, and his death resolved the calamitous destiny upon Dong Xuan. Those who cultivate the Great Dao of Taiyi, apart from Dao Master Taiyi, should all have a glimmer of survival."
Dongxuanzi frowned slightly and asked, "Why does Dao Master Taiyi have no glimmer of survival? Your words defy logic!"
Hainingzi said, "Taiyi has immense karmic ties with the other shore. He attained his Dao through Taiyi outside the other shore, so that karma is minor. His calamitous destiny does not stem from the Great Dao of Taiyi, but from the myriad universes and Daoji Heaven. These karmic debts of calamity must be repaid! Furthermore, someone is deliberately scheming against him, saddling him with tremendous calamitous destiny, so he has not the slightest chance of survival!"
Dongxuanzi's brows knitted even tighter.
"Dongxuanzi, remain here," Gong Jiexuan said. "Everyone else, come with me. We return to the other shore to meet our tribulation!"
Jingningzi sat beside Dao Master Tongtian, unmoving. Dao Master Tongtian said, "You may leave to meet your slaughter tribulation."
Jingningzi hesitated, then shook his head. "Only by killing you would I have a chance at life. But I cannot kill you. The tribulations of the other shore picked the wrong persons. It should not have chosen you and me to be Dao Masters of Slaughter."
——
Dao Master Taiyi also sensed wave after wave of inexplicable palpitations. He knew not whence this sudden dread came, but it stirred an urge within him, prompting him to pick up speed as he sailed toward the other shore.
All around was vast, hazy chaos. The multi-decked vessel sailed through the Chaos Sea, gradually quickening its pace.
Under the pretense of seclusion, he had now been away from the other shore for more than a century, leaving only a single Dao avatar behind in Daoji Heaven.
For this past century, he had been traveling ceaselessly through the Chaos Sea, journeying from one universe to another, mastering the heaven-and-earth Great Daos of each world and becoming their Dao Master of Taiyi!
As the number of universes whose Great Daos he mastered grew, he drew ever closer to the true essence of the Dao of Taiyi.
Every universe had different Great Daos of heaven and earth, and the Great Dao of Taiyi would undergo wondrous transformations accordingly, never quite the same.
Yet with each accumulation, his comprehension of Taiyi deepened.
In name, there were only three thousand Great Daos of heaven and earth, but each universe differed; the count of Great Daos varied, some having fewer than three thousand while others had far more.
There was no lack of universes that possessed ten thousand Daos.
During this period, Taiyi had occasionally caught wind of the Void Assembly and knew it was Xu Ying's doing. He had wanted very much to visit, but lacked a token granting passage to the Void Realm.
Moreover, his whole heart was dedicated to delving into the Great Dao of Taiyi, leaving him no leisure to look into the matter.
"These palpitations that unsettle my spirit must have a cause!"
Dao Master Taiyi murmured, "Could the calamitous destiny of the other shore have shifted once more? With my current strength, I should be more than capable of handling it."
Just then, he saw immortal radiance swirling ahead; a beam of Dao light pierced the Chaos Sea and met his eyes.
Dao Master Taiyi was surprised. He slowed the vessel down and drew near, only to discover an immortal palace floating amidst the Chaos Sea.
This immortal palace was not bronze in hue, nor forged from rare treasures, but constructed merely with ordinary blue tiles and whitewashed walls. Viewed from afar, it resembled nothing more than a common Daoist temple, devoid of anything eye-catching.
Outside the palace grew an ancient tree with gnarled, twisting roots and an unyielding posture, stretching its boughs into the Chaos Sea without the slightest regard for the pressure or corrosion of the chaos.
A Daoist dwelled within this immortal palace. Seeing the vessel arrive, he stepped outside and came face to face with Dao Master Taiyi.
Taiyi looked closely and saw that the Daoist had a high, prominent brow and wisps of clear beard upon his chin. His demeanor was transcendental, holding a horsetail whisk, brimming with the air of an immortal sage.
Dao Master Taiyi was profoundly astonished. This immortal palace was not cast of emerald rock, merely blue tiles and white walls; how could it possibly withstand the scouring of the Chaos Sea?
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Daoji offers his salutations," that Dao Master said, resting the whisk across the crook of his arm as he greeted him.
Dao Master Taiyi returned the greeting with a smile. "Taiyi greets you, Fellow Daoist."
True Monarch Daoji invited him with a smile: "The Chaos Sea is boundless. Since we have crossed paths, it is destiny. Fellow Daoist Taiyi, pray enter my palace and sit for a while."
Dao Master Taiyi hesitated for a moment, but nonetheless stepped into the immortal palace.
In the courtyard before the palace, there was half a mu of pond water where fish were swimming and blowing bubbles.
Within those bubbles was chaos qi, leaving Taiyi clicking his tongue in marvel, wondering what sort of miraculous creatures these fish were to wield such power.
Entering the palace, he saw that no deity was enshrined within; there was only a single pale-flamed oil lamp and no embellishments whatsoever.
Sitting beneath the pale lamp, True Monarch Daoji smiled. "I have always been a rather dull fellow, so many hold grievances against me, considering me vicious and cold-blooded. Yet those are all slanders. In truth, I am quite an amiable person."
Dao Master Taiyi inquired, "I hail from the other shore in the Chaos Sea. May I ask where Brother Dao hails from?"
True Monarch Daoji smiled. "The universe of my birth fell into Nirvanic Extinction long ago; I no longer have a homeland. Fellow Daoist Taiyi, why do you take the Great Dao you cultivate as your Dao title?"
Taiyi said, "I believe the path of cultivating the Dao calls for utmost sincerity. Without utmost sincerity in one's heart, how can one prove the Dao? How can one attain the Dao? How can one grasp the Dao? My sincerity is pledged entirely to my Dao, so all names and surnames are fleeting illusions; only Taiyi endures forever."
True Monarch Daoji was moved. "Your innate talent is not top-tier, your gifts are modest, and your comprehension is merely ordinary; yet your Dao heart is unyielding. Thus, your Dao heart has carried you straight to the realm of Dao Master. You command great admiration, Fellow Daoist."
Dao Master Taiyi smiled. "You flatter me."
True Monarch Daoji said, "Since fate has brought us together, why not accompany me back to the Dao Alliance? I can guarantee your future achievements will surely surpass that of a Dao Master."
Dao Master Taiyi was shaken and asked in haste, "Brother Dao is a member of the Dao Alliance?"
True Monarch Daoji nodded gently and smiled. "Indeed, I come from the Dao Alliance."
Dao Master Taiyi was thrilled. The Dao Alliance was shrouded in mystery; previously they had never heard of it until Luo Taizong returned, only then learning that such an organization existed within the Chaos Sea!
Luo Taizong had gone to the Dao Alliance, and as a result, his cultivation and power had undergone an earth-shattering transformation, allowing him to single-handedly contend against all the Dao Masters and still hold the upper hand!
Entering the Dao Alliance was clearly no simple matter. Luo Taizong had possessed exceptional talent and extraordinary comprehension, which was why someone from the Dao Alliance took notice of him and recommended him.
Dao Master Taiyi had never imagined that he, too, would receive favor from the Dao Alliance!
True Monarch Daoji smiled. "Follow me to the Dao Alliance, cast aside the trivialities of the mortal realm, devote your entire heart to the Dao, and pursue its ultimate truth. Though your talent, gifts, and comprehension may not be exceptional, your Dao heart is truly unyielding, and great achievements surely await you. The Dao Alliance is your finest path to ascend in a single leap!"
Moved by his words, Dao Master Taiyi smiled and asked, "Could Brother Dao wait a moment? Once I settle matters on the other shore, I shall accompany you to the Dao Alliance."
Daoji's gaze rested darkly upon him. Though a smile played upon his lips, his eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion.
"Fellow Daoist, you have only this one opportunity."
He shook his head gently. "If you return to the other shore, there will never be another chance to enter the Dao Alliance. If you come with me, you must forsake the other shore."
Taiyi stood up and smiled. "If that is the case, then Taiyi takes his leave."
Daoji raised an eyebrow and rose to see him off.
Dao Master Taiyi boarded the multi-decked vessel and sailed toward the other shore.
True Monarch Daoji watched him disappear into the Chaos Sea, a flicker of Nirvanic Extinction Heavenly Fire dancing in his eyes.
"Taiyi... what a pity. The destiny was simply not there."
He did not depart, but remained where he was, as though awaiting something.
Dao Master Taiyi returned to the other shore, returned the emerald rock multi-decked vessel at the ferry crossing, and walked unhurriedly toward Daoji Heaven.
Failing to sense his Dao avatar, he frowned slightly. His steps hesitated for a moment, yet he still made his way toward Daoji Heaven.
Halfway there, a gust of eerie wind blew down. Flying sands and rolling stones filled the air, dust swirled, and the sky swiftly darkened.
Taiyi remained composed and said, "I am Taiyi. Which Fellow Daoist is playing a jest upon me? If Taiyi has caused any offense, I offer my apologies."
From within the eerie wind stepped Tianchengzi, his face ghastly pale. "Halt, Brother! You cannot go further down this road. Dao Master Shi Lan and the others have rebelled and laid an inescapable trap!"
Dao Master Taiyi smiled. "Fellow Daoist, they stood alongside me against the three great Dao Masters, sharing a common hatred for our foes. Why would they rebel against me?"
At that moment, Sacred King Xuannü walked out from the eerie wind and bowed. "Taiyi, I have come to bid you farewell; I can fight alongside you no longer. On the path ahead, the other Dao Masters have laid an ambush. Flee for your life at once!"
Dao Master Taiyi's expression dimmed, yet he smiled. "Everyone has their own aspirations. For the Sacred King to come and warn me is already utmost benevolence. If you wish to depart, I will not stop you."
Suddenly, Dao Lord Jiu Zeng drifted forward through the eerie wind and kowtowed before Taiyi. "Master, you cannot go down this road! This disciple implores Master to turn back, leave the other shore, and never return!"
With that, he knocked his head against the ground with loud thuds.
Dao Master Taiyi smiled. "Jiu Zeng, if Dao Masters were lying in ambush for me, how could you have discovered them? They would have killed you long ago—how could you still come to warn me?"
As he spoke to this point, he saw Dao Lord Jiu Zeng kowtow and say, "This disciple can serve Master no longer."
He rose, and all at once became covered in blood before dissolving into a pool of bloody water—his lingering obsession having finally dispersed.
Chapter 886