Chapter 581: Want to Recognize the Sword Ancestor as Master?

Outside the Qianyang Dao Palace.

Xu Xing walked slowly, with figures clad in golden-white dao robes passing by occasionally, or streaks of light darting across the horizon.

Their cultivation bases varied—some were Golden Core or Nascent Soul, others Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment.

Most cultivated the Qianyang lineage founded by Xi Yun, or other yang-affiliated dao paths; their internal qi ranged from violent and scorching to gentle and calm.

Waves of yang-affiliated qi rose and merged with the protective arrays of the Qianyang Dao Palace, forming a vast, special yang field spanning ten thousand li.

Looking up, faint golden law rings, woven from swirling runes, could be seen—eighteen layers in total.

The closer to the inner layers, the more intricate they became.

The law rings repelled demons and evil spirits, preventing any malevolent presence from drawing near.

Even cultivators of yin-affiliated dao paths suffered partial suppression within the field.

Within the field, a majestic, blazing, sunlike will permeated every inch of space.

Scorching, wild, inspiring awe.

“Though influenced by the lingering essence of Xi’s dao, he himself has also forged new insights.”

Pure Xi dao essence belonged to the ‘ultimate yang,’ yet leaned more toward ‘protection’ and ‘purification.’

In contrast, the Qianyang lineage now founded by Xi Yun leaned more toward ‘offense’ and ‘clarifying the heart.’

If he continued down this path, it might be harder than for others—but breaking free from the lingering influence of Xi’s dao essence was not impossible.

Precisely because of this, Xu Xing laid out the pros and cons and let him choose for himself, rather than giving direct advice.

Not long after, he arrived outside the Qianyang Dao Palace and looked toward the distant city.

Light streaks flew back and forth; crowds thronged the streets without end.

In the final battle between humanity and the Beast God Clan in the Earth Immortal Realm, humanity suffered heavy losses, and many cities were still in reconstruction.

But the Qianyang Dao Palace was now one of the largest powers in the Earth Immortal Realm, so surrounding cities had not suffered severe damage.

“Just a single avatar…” Xu Xing sighed softly.

Previously, Xuan’s avatar had come to this world to lay plans, leaving behind the ‘Dao Origin’ lineage.

Though his ultimate goal was to create the ‘Return Source Dao Anchor,’ he had also casually planted a side move.

His sword-intent spiritual body had immediately severed most of Xuan’s influence, but it had been too hasty—some traces remained.

And as Xuan’s master in this world,

Xi Yun inevitably had been affected.

This was the reason for the conflict, 113 years ago, between Xi Yun and other human Reversal experts in this world.

Otherwise, even with differing opinions and the Beast God Clan’s provocation, it would never have escalated to open warfare, shattering the sacred site of the lineage bearers.

At that time, Xu Xing had been barred from returning to the Tai Xuan Realm due to its repelling force, and could not intervene.

Only after returning did he re-deploy his sword-intent spiritual body to completely purge the lingering influence…

Suddenly!

Xu Xing halted, withdrew his gaze from the distant city, and turned to look back.

“Have you decided?”

Above the Qianyang Dao Palace, the eighteen hidden law rings trembled in unison, erupting in boundless radiant light.

Hummm~!

Solid, sacred golden radiance spread in Cengceng layers, like golden waves cascading down from the heavens.

Everyone inside the Qianyang Dao Palace looked up, witnessing this wondrous, majestic sacred spectacle.

Following it, a vast voice echoed through every corner of the Qianyang Dao Palace.

“I shall enter seclusion to comprehend the Dao’s mysteries. The position of Qianyang Dao Palace Master is hereby passed to Deputy Master Hongjing.”

After this simple declaration, the cascading sacred golden radiance flowed to the eight directions, transforming into dense yang-affiliated spiritual energy that filled every corner of the Qianyang Dao Palace.

The eighteen law rings high above shone brilliantly, exceptionally radiant.

The entire Qianyang Dao Palace fell utterly silent…

Whoosh!

Then erupted into chaotic uproar.

The Dao’s mysteries?

Is the Master finally about to break through Reversal and ascend to Union?

The majestic will permeating every space of the Qianyang Dao Palace rapidly contracted, sinking back to its deepest core.

The blazing fireball sealed itself, leaking not a single trace of qi; within, a subtle, strange transformation quietly emerged.

Seeing this, Xu Xing merely shook his head and smiled.

“So you’ve decided to accept after all.”

Whether to abandon and start anew, or to accept and pursue Union, both required immense courage.

Xi Yun’s choice to directly ascend to Union did not surprise him.

Even after he clearly explained the risks and benefits.

But for Xi Yun, the Qianyang dao path was the very path he had spent his entire life cultivating, pouring all his heart and soul into creating.

Abandon it and start over?

To him, it felt like denying his own past.

Yet…

It was rather interesting, really.

Before, he had not known what was happening to him—only vaguely sensed something amiss, fearing that rushing forward might harm his future cultivation, so he hesitated.

Yet once he learned the full truth, he still chose this path that would affect his future cultivation.

Sometimes, fear of the unknown far outweighs fear of cost.

“Looks like it won’t be him,” Xu Xing withdrew his gaze.

Once Union begins, it cannot be stopped.

Except for a tiny few like Yuan, Union is always a long and perilous process.

Moreover, Xi Yun’s situation was particularly unusual.

His chance at Union came entirely from the lingering essence of Xi.

Following the conventional path, his chance of success would be relatively higher—but if he wished to forge his own Dao, it would be far from simple.

“Then… it’s time to begin.”

Xu Xing took another step forward, and his form vanished.

Not long after he departed from the Qianyang Dao Palace,

Brilliant light erupted in the high heavens.

Rolling golden clouds surged, spreading endlessly across the entire Earth Immortal Realm.

Ten thousand crimson rainbows rolled, a thousand thousand auspicious rays shimmered.

A grand, resonant Dao voice echoed from the world’s depths.

All beings within the realm felt as if bathed in enlightenment, as if swallowing hundreds of thousands of Creation Elixirs—spiritual thoughts surged, their laws strengthened, their spirits clarified!

The scale of this spectacle far surpassed the earlier tremor of the eighteen law rings above the Qianyang Dao Palace.

Following it came a vast voice, echoing through heaven and earth, audible to every single being in the realm:

“Today, I establish the Ascension Platform. Those who attain Reversal, and accumulate three thousand external merits, their merit and fruit complete, may ascend to the ‘Immortal Realm’ and seek the Great Dao.”

Deploying an Ascension Platform—this was something he’d done many times before.

Doing it again now came naturally.

Because before deploying the Ascension Platform, Xu Xing had granted the Earth Immortal Realm additional benefits, so the realm cooperated wholeheartedly, spontaneously manifesting wondrous phenomena.

As a True Realm, its foundation was naturally extraordinary.

The manifested phenomena were not only gorgeous and majestic, but carried profound mysteries and boundless creation.

The hollow, showy spectacles of the former Fuli Realm could not compare.

All beings of the Earth Immortal Realm were stunned.

The disciples of the Qianyang Dao Palace, meanwhile, gazed upward, eyes vacant.

Today…

What is going on?

…

…

Meanwhile, in the Tai Xuan Realm.