Chapter 754: Invitation to Become Sect Master

Ding Huan felt profound disappointment—he had done everything within his power, yet still failed to preserve the Life Tree.

The peeled-off cosmic fascia was sealed by Ding Huan in a jade box and placed aside.

Though he did not obtain the Life Tree, he gained the complete Dao principle of Life.

Again activating the Great Cosmos Art, Ding Huan still felt the Life Tree existed—only he did not yet know where it truly lay.

As Ding Huan continued his cultivation, he sensed the Dao rhythm of Life gradually taking root and forming within his cosmic world.

After ten years passed, Xiao'e of Ding Huan reached the third layer of the Union Soul Realm.

It's time to leave.

Though cultivating within the Chaos Region accelerated his progress, once he fully comprehended its Chaos Dao principles, staying longer held little meaning.

With his cultivation now at the Union Soul Realm, the Cosmic Cauldron's speed increased once more; Ding Huan reached the protective array's exit in less than an hour.

I trained inside for ten years—surely no one is still waiting outside?

This protective array is merely a Level Nine Divine Array, primarily meant to warn others not to enter the Chaos Zone casually.

In truth, even without this divine array, no one sane would enter the Chaos Zone at will.

Any cultivator who enters this Chaos Zone will truly be annihilated—every Dao will be erased.

When Ding Huan emerged, he still wore the disguise of Wuliang; if possible, he wouldn't mind causing some trouble for the Divine Woman Sect.

As soon as he stepped out of the protective array, Ding Huan's divine sense swept the area—and found no one outside.

Of course—the Divine Vein struggle ended ten years ago; who would wait here for a decade?

Moreover, after ten years in the Chaos Region, even the strongest would have been annihilated.

Just as Ding Huan felt safe and prepared to vanish, a divine sense landed upon him.

Ding Huan immediately swept his divine sense toward it—a young, frail female cultivator, her cultivation merely at the late World God stage.

This woman had been hiding within a concealment array disc—he had failed to detect her at first.

Ding Huan had no intention of engaging her; once he left, he would restore his true appearance.

As for the troubles Wuliang had caused, someone else would deal with the Divine Woman Sect.

"Big Brother, please wait…" Ding Huan hadn't sought out this World God cultivator, yet she had come to him.

Ding Huan stopped and calmly regarded the frail woman before him.

The woman first bowed to Ding Huan in a cultivator's salute, then said: "Big Brother must leave quickly, or the Jia Baihe Sword Dao will seal off this area."

"Who are you? Whether I leave quickly or not has nothing to do with you," Ding Huan studied her closely.

The woman urgently said: "I am Seeing Zhuo Hong, from the Holy Rune Dao. If I'm not mistaken, Big Brother is not Wuliang—you're someone else in disguise."

Ding Huan's eyes narrowed, but before he could speak, Seeing Zhuo Hong continued: "Jia Baihe Sword Dao purchased Cosmic Essence and Holy Soul Dao Roots—if they acted swiftly, Ji Bucheng should already have been rescued."

Ding Huan's heart sank—if Ji Bucheng was rescued, it would not bode well for him.

At the very least, he could no longer continue impersonating Wuliang.

Jia Baihe Sword Dao possesses three-transformation Holy Ancestors; with Cosmic Essence and Holy Soul Dao Roots, they could surely revive Ji Bucheng using even a trace of his soul fragment.

Seeing Zhuo Hong dared say this—meaning she knew Ji Bucheng was killed by him.

Ding Huan immediately summoned his Cosmic Cauldron: "Get on. We'll talk after we leave."

"Yes." Seeing Zhuo Hong acted decisively, without hesitation, leaping onto Ding Huan's Cosmic Cauldron.

Ding Huan activated the Cosmic Cauldron, and it vanished from the spot in an instant.

…

Jia Baihe Sword Dao.

Sect Master Fang Wuqiong, pale-faced, stared at the faint soul fragment wrapped in the Dao rhythm of the Holy Soul Dao Root.

He had done everything possible; barring unforeseen mishaps, Ji Bucheng would be revived within half a stick of incense.

As Fang Wuqiong had predicted, it took less than half a stick of incense.

Within mere dozens of breaths, the figure in the void gradually solidified, and its Dao aura grew ever clearer.

Before Ji Bucheng could react, Fang Wuqiong instantly flung a set of robes over him.

Ji Bucheng finally came to his senses—he opened his eyes and saw the Sect Master, the heads of each hall, and the elders; he instantly understood what had happened.

He quickly knelt to the ground: "Ji Bucheng thanks the Sect Master, all elders, and hall masters for saving my life."

Fang Wuqiong exhaled in relief and nodded: "Tell me—what exactly happened?"

After this brief respite, Ji Bucheng was fully lucid; he wept as he spoke:

"I was betrayed by Si Anlun of the Great True God Dao—he lured me into chasing him, only for me to discover he had reached the half-step Union Soul Realm.

We both suffered heavy injuries in battle, but then Wuliang of the Divine Woman Sect ambushed me—he killed me and tore open my world…"

Although during his battle with Si Anlun, their strengths were roughly equal,

in truth, they had not fought to a mutual stalemate—Ji Bucheng was utterly outmatched by Si Anlun.

Yet Ji Bucheng knew he was the top genius—he could not admit his strength was merely equal.

Otherwise, why would the Sect Master and elders exert themselves so desperately to save him?

"Wuliang opened your world?" Fang Wuqiong frowned.

Wuliang was merely a lowly Divine King—how could he open Ji Bucheng's world?

Even he, a three-transformation Holy Ancestor, could not open every Divine King's world.

More often, he simply relied on luck, tearing through the opponent's world by brute force.

Wuliang's cultivation was nearly equal to Ji Bucheng's—how could he open Ji Bucheng's world?

If Wuliang truly could do this, then his cultivation art must be extraordinarily powerful.

It must be the Great Opening Dao.

Fang Wuqiong's eyes narrowed.

If he could obtain the boundless great Dao art, he might even have a chance to attain the Fourth Transformation Saint Realm.

"Describe the situation at that time in exact detail," Fang Wuqiong said, his tone softening somewhat.

Ji Bucheng did not see his master Feng Zishan; at this moment he dared not ask casually, so he said:

"That boundless cultivation I suspect has already reached the Union Spirit Realm—he concealed himself within the God-King Realm just to ambush me. He must have set his eyes on the Heaven-Earth Bow I carry…"

"So the Sunset Arrow is also on the boundless one's person. Ding Xiaotu vanished without reason—he was killed by the boundless one," murmured one elder.

Everyone, including Sect Master Fang Wuqiong, nodded; only this explanation matched the circumstances best.

Otherwise, how could Ding Xiaotu have vanished without cause?

"Sect Master, if we go to the Divine Maiden Sect and capture the boundless one, we'll know everything," Ji Bucheng said urgently.

One elder sighed: "The boundless one perished in the Divine Vein Struggle Arena and never emerged."

Ji Bucheng froze, then shouted loudly: "Impossible! The boundless one could not possibly have perished inside. He either never came out—or someone else emerged in his place."

Fang Wuqiong's expression sharpened slightly upon hearing this; the boundless one had opened Ji Bucheng's world, which meant the boundless one's cultivation art was no ordinary thing.

If the boundless one's cultivation art was no ordinary thing, could it be assumed that he could survive and cultivate within the Chaos Region?

"Qin Sa, take a few people to the Great True Divine Path and demand they hand over Si Anlun. Chang Chang Tingxi, come with me to the Chaos Region," Fang Wuqiong immediately decided.

"Sect Master, where is my master?" Ji Bucheng finally asked.

Fang Wuqiong sighed: "Elder Feng also never emerged from the Chaos Region—he was ambushed."

Ji Bucheng's heart turned cold; his master was gone, and the promises his master had made to him were certainly gone too…

…

"Speak—why did you stay outside? Were you waiting for me specifically?" Ding Huan stood atop the Cosmic Cauldron, coldly eyeing Zhuo Rong.

Zhuo Rong quickly rose: "Yes, I heard Ji Bucheng and Feng Zishan were killed, so I knew the killer was still inside the Chaos Region and had not emerged."

"Why?"

"Because anyone who kills a member of the Baihe Sword Dao bears a Baihe Dao Mark on their back for seven years. This Baihe Dao Mark is visible only to the Spirit Eye—I happen to possess the Spirit Eye."

I waited outside but saw no one with the Baihe Dao Mark, so I knew the killer must still be inside."

Ding Huan said calmly: "It's also possible they died together."

"Impossible. I trust my intuition," Zhuo Rong affirmed.

"Then why do you think you're not the boundless one?"

"If you were the boundless one, you would never truly emerge under that identity—you would only bring endless trouble to the Ancient Desert Divine Maiden Sect."

Ding Huan nodded: "You've helped me, then. Tell me—what do you want me to do for you?"

Ding Huan knew good from evil; Zhuo Rong's help was nearly negligible, but since she had helped, he owed her thanks.

"I am the sole heir of the Holy Symbol Dao Sect. I ask Elder Brother to become the Sect Master of our Holy Dao Symbol Sect," Zhuo Rong said respectfully.

Ding Huan blinked: "You haven't even seen what I look like, nor do you know my character—yet you want me to be Sect Master?"

Zhuo Rong declared firmly: "Elder Brother killed a member of the Baihe Sword Dao—you are our benefactor. We share a common enemy: the Baihe Sword Dao."

As for character—those who cultivate the Dao seek only to settle grudges swiftly and pursue eternal life. Who cares about character? The Baihe Sword Dao destroyed our Holy Symbol Sect; you and I share the same enemy."

Zhuo Rong was desperate; no matter whom she sought to become the Holy Symbol Sect's Sect Master, no one would accept.

Think about it—the Holy Symbol Sect was wiped out by the Baihe Sword Dao. Who in their right mind would become its Sect Master?

"If Elder Brother agrees to become our Holy Symbol Sect's Sect Master, I will hand over the Holy Symbol Great Dao's legacy to you," Zhuo Rong said resolutely.

"So long as I destroy the Baihe Sword Dao, is that all?" Ding Huan thought wryly.

His philosophy differed entirely from Zhuo Rong's; she believed he killed Ji Bucheng of the Baihe Sword Dao because he was a bloodthirsty outlaw.

He would never become Sect Master.

Zhuo Rong did not perceive Ding Huan's thoughts; she spoke earnestly: "My lifelong goal is to destroy the Baihe Sword Dao. But I know I may never accomplish it in my lifetime."

Whether I succeed or fail, I must try."

"Then go ahead. I won't join you," Ding Huan said flatly.