Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens,
Biyou Palace,
As the residence of the Sage Tongtian, Biyou Palace was more than just a palace. It was a small world in the midst of chaos.
It had mountains and rivers, rare birds and beasts, and plenty of fearsome creatures.
Xuanming followed the young Daoist attendant Yuguang along the path. As Golden Immortal and even Great Luo Golden Immortal-level beasts passed by, his heart surged with excitement.
Why had the Interception Sect, which once welcomed ten thousand immortals, been defeated?!
Because it was too strong?
Or because it wasn't strong enough!
If they'd crushed Chanjiao and Renjiao early on, then no matter how much those two baldies from the Western Teachings jumped around, it wouldn't have mattered, right?
"Master, Xuanming has arrived!"
Just as Xuanming's thoughts began to wander, the young attendant Yuguang stopped and bowed to a gray-robed Daoist who looked utterly ordinary.
"You may leave."
The gray-robed Daoist sat cross-legged by the edge of a sea of clouds. Without turning around, he spoke in such an even tone that it made Xuanming feel a little uneasy.
"Yes!"
Yuguang answered and respectfully took his leave, leaving Xuanming standing there, somewhat nervous.
"You're Xuanming, right? Come over."
"Yes!"
Xuanming took a deep breath and stepped forward, stopping about ten meters away from the gray-robed Daoist.
"Xuanming pays his respects to Grandmaster!"
"Mm."
The gray-robed Daoist—Sect Leader Tongtian—gave a soft acknowledgment. He still didn't turn around, but asked calmly, "Xuanming, if I remember correctly, your true form is that young dragon someone abandoned outside Three Immortals Island?"
"Grandmaster, that is indeed so!"
Xuanming answered respectfully. His true form was a young dragon, and a particularly rare one at that: a member of the Golden Dragon Clan.
"How strange. How curious."
A trace of surprise entered Sect Leader Tongtian's voice. "I couldn't discern your origins before, so I had the San Xiao sisters take you in for the time being. But I never expected that now even your future would be shrouded in mist."
As he spoke, Sect Leader Tongtian turned to look at Xuanming. "Xuanming, can you tell me what you've encountered recently?"
Xuanming was startled at first, but then he realized this was the perfect opportunity to speak up.
"To be honest, Grandmaster, that's exactly why I came."
"Oh?"
Sect Leader Tongtian's interest was piqued. But before he could signal for Xuanming to continue, Xuanming respectfully bowed.
"Grandmaster, please use your powers to ensure that no one can overhear us!"
"Who would dare?"
Sect Leader Tongtian raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a hint of authority. "This is my home. Who would dare spy on it? Speak freely, Xuanming!"
"Grandmaster!"
Xuanming gathered his courage and raised his head, meeting Sect Leader Tongtian's sharp gaze.
"What I'm about to say concerns the survival of the Interception Sect. I ask you to take precautions, in case there are ears on the other side of the wall!"
"..."
Sect Leader Tongtian's eyes narrowed slightly. He understood what Xuanming meant: he wanted him to guard against those old fellows?
"Whoosh!"
Though he thought Xuanming was making a bit of a fuss, Sect Leader Tongtian wasn't angered. With a sweep of his hand, four long swords wreathed in celestial energy appeared around them.
The Four Immortal Slaying Swords?!
Xuanming stared, wide-eyed. He hadn't expected Sect Leader Tongtian to go all out and bring out his most powerful magic treasure.
But that was all the better.
If anything stirred up a commotion later, outsiders wouldn't notice, and those fellows wouldn't grow suspicious.
With that in mind,
After Sect Leader Tongtian had set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, Xuanming wasted no time. He took a token from his spatial ring and handed it over.
"Grandmaster, this token bears the coordinates of another world. Could you first see whether you can connect to it?"
"The coordinates of another world?"
Tongtian's interest was immediately piqued. There were plenty of people in the primordial world capable of creating small worlds, but what they made were less small worlds than oversized storage spaces.
A world without living beings, where no faith could be generated—what kind of world was that?
As he took the token, Tongtian instinctively looked at Xuanming.
"Xuanming, do you know how large the world on the other side is? Does it have living beings? Are its cultivation methods complete?"
"The world is boundless, it has countless living beings, and its cultivation methods are complete!"
Meeting Tongtian's astonished gaze, Xuanming added, "Grandmaster, there's also an Interception Sect in that world, and its leader is likewise known as Sect Leader Tongtian!"
"?!"
Tongtian's hand froze. His gaze at Xuanming sharpened.
"Xuanming, do you know what you're saying?"
"Of course!"
Xuanming stood firm against the aura Sect Leader Tongtian was 'casually' releasing and raised a hand to swear. "If a single word I've said is false, Grandmaster may punish me as he sees fit!"
"Hmph!"
Tongtian gave a snort, then finally reined in his aura and picked up the token to examine it.
"Grandmaster, remember not to go over directly!"
As if he'd thought of something, Xuanming hurriedly cautioned him. "When you cross over, be sure to conceal your aura. The Sect Leader Tongtian on the other side isn't in a good situation."
"Hmm?!"
Sect Leader Tongtian paused again, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. "Could some calamity have befallen the Interception Sect over there?"
"That's right!"
Xuanming nodded but didn't elaborate. Instead, he gestured for Tongtian to continue examining the token.
Hearing about it from someone else was nothing compared to seeing it with his own eyes.
Besides,
If he told Tongtian how the Interception Sect met its end, but Tongtian couldn't figure out how to reach the other world, wouldn't he think Xuanming had made the whole thing up?
Fortunately,
The Sage's power didn't disappoint him. As soon as Sect Leader Tongtian began, Xuanming heard the system's alarm in his ear.
"Warning, warning..."
"An unknown-dimensional life form has been detected intruding into the mission world. Please confirm whether to close the passage. Closing the passage will be considered mission failure!"
"Don't close it!"
Xuanming hurriedly replied in his mind, then asked, "System, as long as Tang Sanzang can't reach the Western Heaven and obtain the scriptures, does that count as completing the mission?"
"Host, that is correct!"
"Good!"
Xuanming nodded in satisfaction. "System, leave what happens next to me. Do not interfere unless I give the order!"
"Understood!"
The system, which was nothing more than a program, answered without hesitation.
At the same time,
Tongtian followed the information on the token with his divine sense. After tracing it through the endless chaos, he finally found a mysterious place.
"There really is an unknown space?"
Feeling the feedback from his divine sense, Tongtian's expression grew complicated. If the coordinates were real, then what Xuanming had said was true as well?
Was there really another version of himself in another world?
And besides...
Recalling how Xuanming had acted from the start, Tongtian's expression darkened further. If he remembered correctly, that kid had said he had something to report that concerned the survival of the Interception Sect?
Before you continue