The Universe Within the Temple

Next to Shuikou Temple was a village, but now it was a scene of utter devastation. The emergence of the new lands in the Underworld had greatly impacted the area, tearing the village apart.

Several houses from the east side of the village now appeared on a high cliff in the distance, while others were below the cliff, and a few were precariously perched over the great chasm.

Xu Ying looked up. The cliff was incredibly flat, and on the other side of the chasm was another cliff. The two cliffs seemed to be part of the same whole, as if split apart by someone.

Below the chasm was a bottomless abyss, and a cold wind wailed within it!

The Yin energy here was extremely heavy, with many new mountains from the Underworld appearing. They were grim and exuded a chill; some mountains were even formed from piles of bones!

Atop one mountain peak sat a giant skull, seemingly human but impossibly large, with a sword hilt stuck in it.

Xu Ying withdrew his gaze. It was daytime now, but if night fell, this place would likely become the domain of specters and demons, with countless monsters running rampant!

And Shuikou Temple was situated right on the centerline of the great chasm.

The centerline of this dilapidated temple's entrance perfectly overlapped with the centerline of the great chasm!

Upon seeing this, Xu Ying's vision was instantly filled with an image of a vast and powerful sword energy, cleaving the sky, tearing the earth, and splitting a mountain in two!

Upon arriving here, the sword intent within the great chasm suddenly intensified by dozens of times. The closer he got to Shuikou Temple, the stronger the sword intent became!

Xu Ying could even vaguely sense a sword light, like a rainbow from beyond the heavens, seemingly about to pierce his Realm of Serenity!

More people had come here than he had imagined. Besides ghosts and deities, there were many Nu Masters, some in official Nuo attire, and others who seemed to belong to various martial arts schools.

"Why have so many people come here?"

Xu Ying wondered, and asked a Nu Master who appeared to be from a martial arts school. The Nu Master told him that this was a new territory, rich with treasures and rare herbs, which drew people like moths to a flame.

Another Nu Master told him, "The Zhou family and the Underworld Court are both hunting a wanted criminal named Xu Ying. It's rumored that this person is skilled at deciphering the cultivation techniques of the Demon Race, and the news somehow spread. Several major families are taking this seriously and have sent people to capture Xu Ying, hoping for a stroke of luck. What do you call yourself, young brother?"

"I am Ding Quan."

Seeing the incredibly giant snake beside him, the Nu Master felt a sense of dread. Though he had his suspicions, he dared not ask further.

The entrance of the dilapidated temple hung in the center of the great chasm. Despite being suspended over the chasm, the temple remained intact. Someone had used Nu Art to catalyze green vines, forming a long bridge that led directly to the temple's entrance.

Xu Ying stepped onto the long bridge and saw people observing the great chasm. Beside them were brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. They had even taken out rulers to measure the chasm, though it was unclear what they were doing.

Xu Ying walked closer. The person was a young gentleman, appearing only one or two years older than Xu Ying. He had fair skin and was about the same height.

However, Xu Ying had a broad frame and large hands and feet, giving him a rough appearance. This young man, though tall, had a smaller bone structure, and his eyes, eyebrows, nose, and lips were much more refined.

He wore white robes with cyan trim and embroidered with light cyan Chi Dragon patterns. His attire was elegant, without any superfluous ornaments.

Beside him was an old man in traditional servant attire, wearing a blue robe and cloth shoes, with graying hair. He looked wary as Xu Ying and Yuan Qi approached.

Xu Ying paid him no mind and focused his gaze on Shuikou Temple. Standing outside the temple, he could still see the ancient palaces and temples within, as well as several large trees, unchanged from when he had first visited two years ago.

However, when he looked inside from the temple entrance, he saw a completely different scene!

Through the temple gate, two majestic mountains came into view. The mountains towered high, shrouded in mist, floating in the sky like a painted landscape.

Behind the green mountains, the sun hung high, bright and pure, without any scorching heat or dazzling glare, revolving around the two immortal mountains!

Xu Ying was utterly astonished. These two immortal mountains and that sun were actually rising from within the temple!

He could even see an invisible light screen around the floating mountains, like a barrier of the world, separating it from the outside!

If giant rocks fell from these immortal mountains and landed within the barrier, they would float in the air. If they fell outside the barrier, they would crash down!

In other words, the inside and outside of the temple were two different worlds!

"How is this possible?" Xu Ying was stunned.

Yuan Qi murmured, "Has this world regressed to its origins?"

Suddenly, the world within the dilapidated temple shook violently, and the ground outside also swayed from side to side. A third majestic immortal mountain was slowly rising from within the temple!

Xu Ying looked up at the rising immortal mountain and muttered, "This world has gone completely mad."

Suddenly, he had an epiphany and exclaimed, "I understand! The temple gate was a portal split open by that peerless sword cultivator with his sword energy! This portal connects to another world! The sun and immortal mountains we see are objects from another world!"

"Don't be loud!" the old servant in the blue robe whispered threateningly.

Xu Ying paid him no mind, his mind racing with possibilities.

In the distant past, a peerless expert had split mountains and cracked the earth with his sword, forging a path into another world. Later, someone built Shuikou Temple at the entrance to this other world!

But for some reason, the world behind the temple gate was hidden. Someone built another great temple near the original one, until the invasion from the Underworld shattered the seal, bringing this great temple back into the world!

Yuan Qi was somewhat disbelieving and asked, "Master Zhong, can anyone do such things?"

Although Great Bell had experienced ancient times and witnessed the legends of ancient Qi Refiners, it was also uncertain. "Theoretically, it's possible. But since my birth, I've never heard of anyone being able to transcend tribulation and ascend."

Its voice held a hint of sadness. "The path of ascension has been blocked. No one can ascend anymore... Could it be that someone truly managed to break through the barriers between two realms with the Way of the Sword and ascend from nothing?"

Yuan Qi asked, "If he ascended, what kind of world did he go to?"

Zhong's voice echoed leisurely, "The Immortal Realm."

"The Immortal Realm?"

The man and the snake looked on with longing.

Xu Ying looked at the great chasm, the cliffs, and the temple gate, understanding the trajectory of this sword strike.

As he sensed the Sword Box, that sword light, like a rainbow from beyond the heavens, its sword intent gradually permeated, entering his Realm of Serenity. The sword energy within the box also rejoiced and leaped restlessly.

Xu Ying stood silently before the temple gate, unmoving for a long time. Yuan Qi was about to step forward and ask him something when he suddenly saw invisible sword energy subtly pulsing around Xu Ying.

As he got a little closer, several of his scales broke off silently!

Yuan Qi was startled and dared not approach.

Suddenly, the Great Bell vibrated with a soft clang, as if struck by a wave of invisible sword energy.

The Great Bell felt strange and only then noticed that a sword light, like a rainbow from beyond the heavens, had appeared in Xu Ying's Realm of Serenity without him realizing it!

"Mastered the manifestation of the Great Dao without a teacher?" The Great Bell was greatly alarmed.

The Maiden in the Coffin had mentioned the relationship between visualization and the manifestation of the Great Dao to Xu Ying, but had not explained in detail, nor had she said what the manifestation of the Great Dao was, or how to visualize it after discovering it.

But unexpectedly, Xu Ying had intuitively grasped the manifestation of the Great Dao hidden in this great rift!

Internal observation and visualization were essential paths to cultivation, and Xu Ying could be said to have already begun!

"With just a little guidance, he has achieved internal observation and visualization. I fear it won't be long before he transforms and achieves sudden fame."

The Great Bell thought to itself, "His talent and comprehension seem, seem... to surpass my master's..."

"Little Qi, have you comprehended the manifestation of the Great Dao?" The Great Bell transmitted its divine sense to Yuan Qi.

Yuan Qi was a bit confused: "Great what Dao?"

"The manifestation of the Great Dao, it's the sword dao hidden within this great rift... Never mind, you can rest."

The Great Bell swayed its body and thought, "This kid, like A Ying, has seen Yuan Tian Gang's sword and has also come to this great rift, yet he sensed nothing. It shows that some people's brains are actually brains, while some people's brains are just called brains."

The sword intent on Xu Ying's body grew stronger and stronger, spreading outwards. Suddenly, a crisp sword hum echoed from the sky. It was his overflowing sword energy encountering other sword energy, and the two collided, producing the sound of swords.

The delicate young man finished his painting and was immersed in comprehending the hidden scene. His sword energy grew, and their sword energies collided. One was wild and overbearing, while the other was continuous and long, with a certain toughness and hidden killing intent.

Their energies interacted, and their sword energies intertwined and clashed, becoming more and more intense. Just the sensing of their auras revealed the principles of attack and retreat in the sword dao.

However, neither of them was aware of it, still immersed in their own comprehension.

Seeing the clash between Xu Ying's and the young man's energies, the old servant in green clothes worried that the young man's comprehension would be interrupted and was about to attack and kill Xu Ying, his eyes flashing with ferocity.

But he then saw that the young man's hidden scene was constantly consolidating under Xu Ying's pressure, comprehending more changes in the hidden scene, and he forcibly suppressed his killing intent.

"This young man's comprehension is quite good, actually contending with Young Master." He showed a look of surprise.

He could see that Xu Ying was also improving rapidly, his sword energy attacks were well-ordered, and his understanding of the sword dao hidden in the great rift was deepening.

"It's been a long time since Young Master met someone who could be his equal."

The old servant in green clothes was filled with doubt and thought, "Could this young man be a young expert cultivated by some great aristocratic family? His clothing is not fancy, he probably wants to pretend to be a country boy, but his temperament is extraordinary, how could a country boy possess such a temperament?"

Xu Ying wore plain clothes, but his demeanor was refined, with a noble bearing, and a defiance hidden between his brows that erupted like a blade's edge!

After killing the Jiang family's god, he went on to slay gods and officials, breaking his inner superstition towards gods and authority. His words and actions naturally carried an extraordinary air.

Even standing there, without any gestures or words, one could see his extraordinary nature.

"Moreover, he possesses such a magnificent mount, which indicates an extraordinary origin."

The old servant in green clothes glanced at Yuan Qi and thought, "But his energy is entangled with Young Master's. If they cannot separate, I fear there will be casualties. At that time, no matter his origin, I will deal with him!"

Xu Ying's and the young man's energies became more and more deeply intertwined, finally reaching a point of life and death. The old servant in green clothes' eyes flashed with ferocity, and just as he was about to deliver a fatal blow, he suddenly heard a bell chime, and their energies dispersed.

"There's a master hiding beside him!" The old servant in green clothes was shocked, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

Xu Ying heard the bell and knew that the Great Bell had dispersed the energies of their battle. He saw the young man pack up his paintings and walk towards the temple. He quickly said, "Brother, I am Xu Ying, what is your name?"

The refined young man turned back and said politely, "I am Yuan Weiyang." After speaking, he walked into Shuikou Temple with the old servant in green clothes.

"Yuan Weiyang."

Xu Ying repeated the name and said to Yuan Qi, "I originally thought I could fully grasp the sword dao within the manifestation of the Great Dao and clash with his energy, but I saw an aspect I had not comprehended. This person is truly remarkable."

In his Realm of Serenity, a sword energy was imprinted, extremely bright, which was the manifestation of the Great Dao he had comprehended.

If it weren't for the interaction of energies with Yuan Weiyang, he wouldn't have been able to comprehend the sword energy to the point of imprinting it in his Realm of Serenity in such a short time!

Yuan Qi urged, "While we were at the temple gate, many people have already entered. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid they'll even gnaw off the ground!"

At this moment, a voice came from the temple: "There are immortals! There are immortals in the temple!"

Xu Ying quickly walked into the dilapidated temple. The moment he entered, he felt as if he had passed through something, but he couldn't see it.

Xu Ying looked up and saw three immortal mountains floating in the sky, as well as floating giant rocks, like pearls on a necklace, arranged in a regular pattern around the immortal mountains.

Many people were climbing up the giant rocks, intending to reach the immortal mountains in the sky.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and Xu Ying and Yuan Qi lost their footing, almost being thrown off!

Xu Ying quickly activated the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist, rooting himself like a divine elephant, and stood firm. Yuan Qi imitated him, but still struggled to maintain his balance. Fortunately, he had an extra tail, which he wrapped around a large tree to avoid being flung away.

Not far away, the deities and Nu Masters who had just entered the world of the dilapidated temple took action. Green vines flew out, and roots broke through the soil, coiling around the people who were being flung away and pulling them back.

As everyone was in shock and uncertainty, the ground tremor intensified, and the earth rose higher and higher. Another immortal mountain actually rose from beneath their feet!

Someone shouted, "We're ascending to heaven! How do we get down?"

As they spoke, the immortal mountain from underground finally broke free of the earth, carrying them towards the sky!

The first to bear the brunt were the large rocks floating in the sky. These were mountain rocks that had fallen when the previous two immortal mountains were floating. Now, as this immortal mountain floated, it collided with those rocks, creating a terrifying spectacle!

The people on the immortal mountain found it difficult to even steady themselves, let alone avoid the falling rocks. Instantly, many deities and Nu Masters were struck by the rocks and smashed into pulp!

Others were crushed by rolling boulders, their bodies mangled!

Even worse, some lost their footing and slid off the immortal mountain, only letting out a long, agonizing scream in mid-air, their cries reaching their limit before they even hit the ground!

The immortal mountain rose into the sky, higher and higher, ascending into the heavens. Many large rocks also broke off from the mountain body, falling from the sky!

The immortal mountain finally stabilized. Xu Ying's muscles tensed and then slowly relaxed. He turned to look at Yuan Qi, who was still holding onto the large tree, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Ying looked down. He couldn't tell how far they were from the ground now. Faintly, he could even see a few figures who had fallen from the immortal mountain.

Those were the Nu Masters who couldn't keep their balance. It was estimated that it would take some time before they hit the ground.

"There's a temple within this temple, and immortals are preaching within it!" a resonant voice called out from afar.

"Are there really immortals?"

Xu Ying was both surprised and delighted. He followed the sound and indeed saw four immortal mountains encircling a magnificent and grand temple. Many people were leaping through the sky, stepping on floating giant stones, heading towards the grand temple.

"A Ying, let's hurry over there too!" Yuan Qi said excitedly.

Just as Xu Ying was about to reach the edge of the immortal mountain and step onto a giant stone, an old man in dark purple silk robes, with his hands behind his back and a somber expression, appeared before him.

"My son died a tragic death." Zhou Yihang spoke, neither crying nor laughing.

Xu Ying's heart leaped in alarm, but he quickly calmed himself and said, "So it's Old Master Zhou. Your son died so tragically, why don't you go down and join him? I'll send you off."