After the Old Daoist Qingcheng finished speaking, the entire audience fell silent.
All eyes were on Ning Chenxin, awaiting his choice.
The Grand Elder's expression changed slightly. He immediately stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Young friend Ning, the Supervisory Sacred Hall is backed by the Holy Court. Its resources and status are incomparable to those of ordinary forces."
If you join me, I can make an exception and directly grant you the position of ' Inspectors,' enjoying elder-level treatment and free access to all the books on the first three floors of the Sacred Hall's library—including many High Antiquity orthodox methods and profound secret techniques."
The Supervisory Sacred Hall wields immense power in the Realm of the Soaring Realm.
Moreover, it has the Holy Court as its backer.
Therefore, it is quite normal for it to contain the true Dharma and its secrets.
These words caused an uproar in the audience.
" Inspectors? That's a position of real power, second only to the elders!"
"The first three floors of the library... it's said that even many inner sect elders need to perform great deeds to enter!"
"The Grand Elder really went to great lengths to keep this person here..."
"If you, at this age and with this level of cultivation, can dissolve Evil Cultivator formation that even a Peak of the Formless Realm expert like the Grand Elder couldn't break, then the Grand Elder will definitely treat you the same way!"
"Yeah... that's just too insane."
Yang Shao also looked surprised and whispered to Mu Fusheng, "Only three people among the younger generation of the Sacred Hall have obtained the position of Inspectors. All three of them are famous prodigies in the Soaring Realm."
If Brother Ning truly agrees, it would be a meteoric rise for him.
Mu Fusheng looked at Yang Shao and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Brother Yang is probably one of these three."
Yang Shao laughed and said, "That's right, but I'm ranked third."
Tao Yi's expression turned even uglier, but he dared not utter any more sarcastic remarks— Ning Chenxin's display of strength had completely stunned him.
The Old Daoist Qingcheng simply stroked his beard and chuckled, looking at Ning Chenxin: "I won't set any conditions. Mount Qingcheng doesn't have many rules or abundant resources. I only have a copy of the ' Heavenly Master's Orthodox Dao Scripture,' a Righteous Qi Pool, and a mountain full of gentle breezes and bright moonlight."
If you are willing to come, the old Daoist priest will personally preach to you for three years.
If you are unwilling, then let what you said today be forgotten.
These words, though seemingly casual, caused the Grand Elder's pupils to shrink slightly.
The Heavenly Master's Orthodox Dao Scripture is the treasure of Mount Qingcheng, and it cannot be read without the personal instruction of the abbot!
To personally preach for three years is a promise that has been rarely made by the abbots of Mount Qingcheng throughout history!
Ning Chenxin remained silent for a moment, then glanced at Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying, Mu Fusheng, and the others.
Ye Qiubai smiled slightly and transmitted his voice, "Junior brother, Mount Qingcheng is indeed more suitable for you."
Hong Ying nodded. "We can leave the Supervisory Sacred Hall to us. Besides, joining Mount Qingcheng will give us more confidence in the Soaring Realm in the future."
Mu Fusheng nodded slightly.
Ning Chenxin took a deep breath and bowed to the Grand Elder: "Thank you for your kindness, senior. The conditions of the Supervisory Sacred Hall are indeed tempting, but the path I cultivate focuses on understanding my true nature and the unity of knowledge and action."
The elders of Mount Qingcheng suppressed evil spirits with their Vast Righteous Qi, and their demeanor deeply impressed this junior. Moreover, their Daoist methods naturally aligned with this junior's understanding.
He turned to the Old Daoist Qingcheng and bowed solemnly. "This junior is willing to follow you to Mount Qingcheng to cultivate the righteous path."
The old Daoist Old Daoist Qingcheng laughed heartily, lightly waving his whisk. "Good! Good! From this day forward, you are the seventy-second generation True Disciple disciple of my Mount Qingcheng!"
The Grand Elder looked regretful but did not insist, only sighing, "Everyone has their own ambitions. However, young friend Ning, the doors of the Supervisory Sacred Hall will always be open for you."
Having said that, he looked at Ye Qiubai and the others. "And what about you young friends? Although the Supervisory Sacred Hall has lost a jewel, it is still willing to accept talented individuals."
Although Ning Chenxin's attack just now was quite dazzling.
But Ye Qiubai and his group were equally dazzling.
They're more than qualified to join the Supervisory Sacred Hall.
Ye Qiubai and Mu Fusheng exchanged a glance.
They need to use the intelligence network monitoring the Supervisory Sacred Hall to investigate the Holy Court's movements.
"This junior wishes to join the Supervisory Sacred Hall," Ye Qiubai said first.
Hong Ying, Mu Fusheng, Jiu Bailu, and Xu Yeming nodded in succession.
The Grand Elder's expression softened slightly, and he smiled, "Good! Yang Shao, you are in charge of arranging this matter. Upon returning to the Sacred Hall, immediately process their entry procedures and grant them the treatment of inner disciple."
Yang Shao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes!"
The Old Daoist Qingcheng looked at Ning Chenxin and said, "In that case, I will take you back to the mountain first. As for your friends... they are welcome to visit Mount Qingcheng in the future when they have free time."
Ning Chenxin nodded to Ye Qiubai and the others; their eyes met, and everything was understood without words.
With a flick of his sleeve, the Old Daoist Qingcheng enveloped Ning Chenxin in a beam of azure light. Their figures gradually faded, leaving only lingering echoes:
"Elder, today's matter is settled. This old Daoist takes his leave. I will take that Evil Cultivator back to Mount Qingcheng to suppress him. As for the remnants of the Withered Cloud Sect... the Sacred Hall can deal with them as it sees fit."
As soon as they finished speaking, the two had vanished without a trace.
The Grand Elder gazed at the sky and murmured, " Mount Qingcheng... with this child, I fear that for the next thousand years, the righteous path of the Soaring Realm will revere Qingcheng."
He shook his head, composed himself, looked down at the devastated Withered Cloud Mountain, and waved his hand, saying:
"Clean up the battlefield, confiscate the evil martial arts manuals, and deal with the disciples of the Withered Cloud Sect according to the law—those who resist will be killed, and those who surrender will have their cultivation abolished and be imprisoned in the Holy Prison."
"Yes!"
The members of the Supervisory Sacred Hall responded in unison and quickly sprang into action.
Ye Qiubai walked to Mu Fusheng's side and whispered, " Junior Brother Ning is safe now that he's gone to Mount Qingcheng. However, we must be even more careful when we are in the Supervisory Sacred Hall from now on."
Mu Fusheng nodded, his gaze deep. " The Sacred Hall has complex internal factions and is also backed by the Holy Court. We're new here, so let's get a feel for the situation first."
Hong Ying looked thoughtfully at the jade pendant left behind by Chu Yan in her hand.
Xu Yeming stretched. "Finally, I have a place to stay. But speaking of which, the conditions offered by that Grand Elder... are really frightening. Inspectors, tsk tsk."
Jiu Bailu chuckled, "It's a pity that Senior Brother Ning's ambitions lie elsewhere."
Yang Shao approached and said with a smile, "Everyone, let's return to Fish Leap City to rest first. In three days, you will come with me to the main hall of the Sacred Hall. There will be an entrance ceremony then, and there are some rules I need to inform you of."
He paused, then looked at Mu Fusheng: " Brother Mu, especially you—talisman masters are extremely rare in the Sacred Hall, and many elders will likely want to take you under their wing. You'll need to carefully consider your choices when the time comes."
Mu Fusheng smiled slightly, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Yang."
The group departed with the procession from the Supervisory Sacred Hall.
Withered Cloud Mountain gradually returned to silence, with only a trace of lingering bloodstains and the clarity that came after the cleansing of Vast Righteous Qi breeze.
In the distance, amidst a sea of clouds, the Old Daoist Qingcheng and Ning Chenxin stood on the clouds.
The old Daoist suddenly asked, "You chose Mount Qingcheng, is it truly only because your Daoist practices resonate with it?"
Ning Chenxin remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "Although the Supervisory Sacred Hall is backed by the Holy Court and has no shortage of orthodox methods and true techniques, I always feel that the path the Sacred Hall follows is not pure."
In this dog-eat-dog world, countless regulatory forces have intervened so deeply.
Ning Chenxin didn't believe that he had no ulterior motives.
The Old Daoist Qingcheng laughed heartily, his laughter piercing through the clouds:
"What a fine 'pure' word! Kid, I'm growing to like you more and more."
"Let's go back to the mountain!"
A streak of blue light pierced the sky and disappeared into the horizon.
After everyone left,
In a crevice in the cliff of Withered Cloud Mountain, there... lies the secret room.
Two red lights were flashing.
Like... a pair of eyes.