Chapter 417: Does the Dao Brother Really Think It

During the cultivation of a cavernous heaven, you attained a divine art?

Gazing at the jade slip, its five colors swirling in clear alignment with the "Five Elements" divine art, Chi Jiuyu's heart stirred with doubt.

"Could this be the 'Grand Void Expanding World Contemplation Method' that my uncle gave me?"

Very likely!

This technique is incredibly useful—she herself stumbled upon a bit of it while cultivating her cavernous heaven, never used it when fighting Xiao Zhao, and planned to save it as a secret weapon for the upcoming Xian Sect Grand Competition…

Though Xiao Zhao broke one of her legs, she's surely hiding something too…

After all, she hasn't even used her innate divine art yet.

Sigh~

These days, being an honest fisher is truly hard to survive.

Everyone covets her title of "Number One of the Young Generation" as Hehuan Laozu.

Zhao Ruohan didn't think much of it—she merely felt the divine art's compatibility with herself was quite good.

If she learned it, it might help her in the upcoming Xian Sect Grand Competition…

The ability to sense the compatibility between any technique or divine art and one's own nature is one of her innate talents.

"This divine art is still in its infancy and riddled with crude flaws." Here Li Ming paused, then spoke in a voice Zhao Ruohan and Chi Jiuyu could not hear, "Moreover, I am not well-versed in the divine arts of the Taixuan Xian Realm—please, Master, correct me."

His earlier words did not conceal his original intent to keep this Five Elements divine art for the Xiang Jianzong.

This latest statement, however, was a different kind of declaration.

And as he said, it did carry a hint of seeking guidance.

After all, he was fundamentally a cultivation art practitioner—the Xiang Jianzong's insights into Dao Union were thorough, yet overly biased toward sword cultivators.

"This divine art…" Cheng Junming took the jade slip, glanced over it briefly, then nodded slightly in satisfaction, "It's quite excellent. Does it have a name?"

"I haven't thought of one yet."

"Then we'll decide after returning to the sect." Cheng Junming returned the jade slip to him, "At that time, you may choose to submit it to the Ten Thousand Methods Pavilion—or keep it for yourself."

"You are now preparing for Dao Union. After returning to the sect and completing formalities, you will gain access to the Ten Thousand Methods Pavilion and the Legacy Hall."

"Our Taishang Daozong, for all else, boasts the most vast collection of divine arts and scriptures in the world—when you return, verify them one by one and refine your divine art yourself."

In the Taixuan Realm, reaching the peak of Deva Return makes acquiring information on Dao Union incredibly simple.

Whoever you are—whether a lone cultivator or a Xian Sect disciple—once you reach Deva Return's peak, you may go to the local Xianzong Sect's outpost and apply to view Dao Union-related materials.

As long as you're not a heinous demonic cultivator guilty of unspeakable atrocities, you'll generally be approved.

More Dao Union…

This is the will of the Immortals—no amount of people could ever shake it.

But the Legacy Hall is not accessible to ordinary people—each sect's Legacy Hall imposes extremely strict reviews.

"Disciple understands."

Li Ming tucked away the jade slip and said no more.

Yet inwardly, he couldn't help but marvel.

The Xian Sects of the Taixuan Xian Realm—no matter which one—were all extraordinary in grandeur.

Immortals, external enemies…

His thoughts drifted far, but he immediately snapped back, swiftly suppressing thoughts he shouldn't have.

Soon, a figure appeared, eyes sweeping over the crowd.

"Greetings, Xiang Jianzong!"

"Uncle!"

Xu Xing nodded slightly, his gaze pausing on Chi Jiuyu.

His eyebrows had already regrown; his front teeth could have too—but she found it amusing this way, so she left them as they were.

And on top of that, he shamelessly begged to accompany her to Taishang Daozong.

Said he was just seeing off his newly made friend…

"Let's go."

With a faint utterance, everyone vanished in the next instant.

…

…

Taishang Daozong.

Like the Xiang Jianzong, its outer gate was built amid rolling mountains, its overall layout similar to the Xiang Jianzong's outer gate.

High in the sky floated many islands, large and small.

Each was not particularly large, but combined, they surpassed the Xiang Jianzong's inner gate in total area.

Amid the endless clouds and swirling spiritual mist, pavilions flickered in and out, radiant auspicious light streaming in ten thousand rays, rainbow beams stretching in a thousand threads.

Two were especially magnificent, adorned with spiritual jade and lapis lazuli, wreathed in crimson nebulae and purple auroras—these were the ancestral masters' residences.

Broad, level roads extended from all directions, converging here.

Before a mountain gate.

Vehicles and aerial shuttles streamed in and out, cultivation lights crisscrossed, crowds surged back and forth, bustling beyond words.

Every time before the Xian Sect Grand Competition, Taishang Daozong was at its busiest.

Taishang Daozong would launch a series of new products for offline sale, boosting tourism.

As the most "comprehensive" Xian Sect in the Taixuan Realm, Taishang Daozong operated in countless fields—and excelled in all of them.

Its sold medicines, spiritual tonics, and even spiritual herb seeds were slightly inferior to those of Jishi Valley, yet superior to those of other major Xian Sects.

The performance of its new magical devices fell short of Shenji Lianbao Pavilion's, yet still surpassed those of other Xian Sects.

In array techniques, it is only slightly inferior to the flagship series of Ling Yin Fang.

The same is true for flying swords—only slightly behind the Xiang Jianzong.

As for Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect…

Let's not mention that.

Beyond all the above, Taishang Daozong remains the leader of the talisman industry.

The mass production and industrial standardization of low-tier talismans were pioneered by Taishang Daozong, turning former talisman masters—once envied for their exorbitant profits—into laborers.

Thus, on the Divine Net there is this saying: "Alchemizing ruins a lifetime; talisman-making impoverishes three generations."

Of course, the reality isn't quite that extreme—you still make money, but it's nowhere near what it used to be.

It's just that the massive drop is hard for some to accept…

As visitors chatted and laughed, discussing their plans…

Not a single person noticed.

Several figures appeared out of thin air among the crowd, as if they had always been there.

Around them, voices surged in excitement; a few still wore dazed expressions, but Cheng Junming smiled calmly, utterly composed.

He looked at Li Ming beside him: "Let's go. I'll take you to complete your Ru Sect formalities."

Li Ming snapped out of his daze, suppressing the urge to bow, and merely nodded slightly: "Thank you, Sect Master."

"It's my duty," Cheng Junming said, then turned to Zhao Ruohan and Chi Jiuyu. "Little Uncle, I'll leave it to you…"

"Rest assured, Sect Master," Zhao Ruohan said softly.

Her injuries had fully healed—after all, they couldn't let her return to Taishang Daozong with a bruised face and a limp.

Nodding, Cheng Junming stepped forward and vanished with Li Ming—directly entering to process the Ru Sect formalities.

Seeing them disappear, Zhao Ruohan turned to the dazed Chi Jiuyu: "Where is the Xiang Jianzong?"

Chi Jiuyu came to: "Oh, Master said he went to meet Hong Zun, and told me to accompany you around."

So the Xiang Jianzong went to see Father…

Thinking this, she looked at the person before her and said seriously: "I'll show you around properly."

"Mm-hmm."

This little Zhao isn't bad, but she's stubborn as hell.

Rubbing the extra storage ring in her hand, seeing the mountain of spirit stones inside—more than ever before—Chi Jiuyu couldn't help but laugh.

Coming out with Master was definitely the right choice!

But soon, she noticed Zhao Ruohan staring at her oddly.

"..." Her smile faded, and she coughed. "Cough! Little Zhao, what's fun in Taishang Daozong?"

!

"Follow me."

Zhao Ruohan was used to Chi Jiuyu's erratic thinking and immediately walked ahead, Chi Jiuyu following behind.

It was impossible to tell they'd fought just moments ago.

Actually, back at the Xiang Jianzong, both had realized the other was the idiot they'd met online.

Zhao Ruohan hadn't planned to fight then—she intended to wait until the Xian Sect Grand Competition to settle it.

But Chi Jiuyu couldn't hold back and immediately cursed and dragged her into a fight.

In her words, this was called "settling scores with swift satisfaction."

…………

Meanwhile, Hong Palace.

Also known as the residence of Hong Zun, the founding ancestor of Taishang Daozong.

From outside, it appeared merely a grand palace, but inside, one discovered a world apart.

The bright sun hung high, revealing an elegant classical side pavilion.

Outside the corridor, a thousand purple bamboo stalks filtered the sunlight into scattered fragments of jade.

Delicate bronze bells hung from the eaves, chiming softly with each sway—"Ding ling"—while the blue phoenix shadows resting on the carved window frames spread their wings.

Inside the pavilion, thirty-six sandalwood screens depicted ink-wash landscapes; clouds and mist seeped from the paintings, condensing into half-inch-high mist streams on the blue jade tiles.

A Daoist in black-and-white robes sat quietly before a latticed moon gate, a half-unrolled, yellowed scripture resting on a blue jade table before him.

Beside him stood a woman with painterly features, clad in a wide-sleeved long gown, a deep blue six-sided seal glowing on her pale brow, smiling sweetly as she poured wine for him.

What a luxurious life!

Xu Xing stepped forward: "Hong Zun, Qian Shuang."

Hadn't he just angered Qian Shuang not long ago? How did he soothe her so fast?

… Definitely faking it!

"Long time no see, Xiang Jianzong," Qian Shuang nodded slightly.

Hong Zun smiled faintly: "Please sit."

He then took the wine flask from Qian Shuang's hand, poured a cup for Xu Xing, and placed it before him.

Their eyes met during this, and they exchanged a knowing smile.

"..."

You're both adults—still playing these games? How childish!

"The Xian Sect Grand Competition is imminent. Hong Zun, you must quickly establish the Tai Xuan Divine Net nodes so the juniors can begin testing."

"Thank you for the reminder, Dao Brother. I'll act swiftly." Then Hong Zun's gaze drifted to a certain direction, and he sighed lightly: "I hope the young cultivator who ascended can change Taishang Daozong's atmosphere a little."

In the first round of selection, disciples from other sects fought desperately for a single spot, terrified they'd be left out.

Our own sect is fine—except for a few, the rest of the disciples defer to each other, even shouting "Friendship first, selection second," afraid of being chosen.

When not in selection, you all polish your transformation arts to perfection—why don't you ever use them now?!

Aah~

It's truly exhausting.

"By the way, did you bring the world your disciple selected?"

That young one is busy with merging with the Dao; dealing with the sect's atmosphere can wait for now.

"Mm."

Xu Xing opened his palm, and the tiny, marble-sized Xuanxiang Realm floated up, hovering above the blue jade table.

Hong Zun's gaze settled on the frozen everything within the Xuanxiang Realm, and his brows soon knitted: "This 'Celestial Orbit Absorbing Spirit System' is truly vile…"

Whether the 'Xuanxiang Celestial Orbit' or the 'Pastoral Spirit' lineage within the Xuanxiang Realm, their root is the 'Pastoral Spirit, Nourish Myself Scripture.'

But unlike the 'Pastoral Spirit, Nourish Myself Scripture,' which enhances one's inner foundation, the 'Pastoral Spirit' lineage in this world focuses entirely on external plundering—it's essentially a corrupted version of the 'Pastoral Spirit, Nourish Myself Scripture.'

And not improved in any positive direction.

"And that 'Transformation to the Heavens Ceremony,'" added Qian Shuang, frowning slightly beside Hong Zun, "Ninety percent of the cultivators in this realm are no longer human. This issue must be resolved."

Though she has not yet attained Immortal status, Qian Shuang is already of the Profound Truth realm—seeing through a world at the Return-to-Void level is no challenge.

Notably, the Taishang Dao Sect has fewer cultivators at the Merging Dao and Penetrating Mystery realms, but the most by far are those at the Profound Truth level.

Profound Truth cultivators are rare to begin with, yet Hong Zun's consort is entirely composed of Profound Truth cultivators.

"What do you think, Shuang'er?" Hong Zun drew her close by the waist, asking with interest.

Qian Shuang shot him a glare, signaling him to be serious—but she answered anyway: "If it cannot be remedied, we must erase them all."

All of them came from that era; leaving behind a hazard is something everyone understands clearly.

"Indeed, if it cannot be remedied, then we must do as Shuang'er says."

Xu Xing: "..."

In that instant, he felt strangely superfluous...

Who is the real protagonist here?!

"It's only 'half-Cang'—there's still a way to fix it," said Xu Xing. "In that previous world, Xiang Yuanjun gave the Spirit Dao's Taiyin Star Lord the 'Taiyin Purifying Spirit, Sheddng Divine Essence True Law,' helping it transform from 'spirit' into 'human.' A slight modification would suit this realm."

"The 'Taiyin Purifying Spirit, Shedding Divine Essence True Law'..." Qian Shuang murmured, then suddenly asked, "So, did the Xiang Jianzong and my husband really attend the Dao Assembly in the Spirit Dao's Celestial Palace in that world?"

"Indeed," Xu Xing said, lifting his cup and taking a sip. "When Hong Zun said, 'Since we came this far,' I went along. The sight of the gods offering treasures and the goddesses dancing was quite pleasant."

Hong Zun: "..."

"Do you really think it was pleasant?"

A voice as soft as spring wind came from behind.

Xu Xing's hand holding the cup trembled—and then a serene, beautiful woman with white gauze over her eyes sat down beside him.

"Sister Qian Shuang, Brother."

It was Xiang Yuanjun.

"Little sister has returned," Hong Zun nodded slightly, then went straight to the point: "In that previous world, I gained some insight—I believe it would suit well as a trial ground for the Xian Sect's Grand Selection."

He brought up the matter himself.

After all, continuing further would benefit neither the Dao Brother nor himself...

(End of Chapter)