Joining the Nether Emperor Holy Sect!

Luo Qiushan continued, "He cultivated for three hundred years to reach the Peak Eternal Realm and also mastered several rules to their limits, capable of condensing the Great Dao at any time. Such talent is top-tier even in the entire Hongmeng Holy Realm."

She leaned forward slightly, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes. "However, before you condense your Great Dao, I have a question for you. Which Great Dao do you intend to cultivate first?"

Before the kneeling woman could answer, Luo Qiushan continued, "I can tell you very clearly that the first Great Dao you have chosen will be the cornerstone of your future Dao Path, influencing you for your entire life. It can make you successful, or it can limit you. Therefore, you must be cautious."

Xu Qingying, who was kneeling in the hall, slowly raised her head.

She wore a long, dark-colored dress, her face was aloof, and her eyes held an unyielding sharpness.

Three hundred years have left no trace on her face, but the things in her eyes are much deeper than they were back in the Nine Directions and Ten Domains.

She took a deep breath, her voice calm yet firm. "Reporting to Master, this disciple wishes to cultivate the Great Dao of Ruthlessness!"

Luo Qiushan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"The Great Dao of Ruthlessness..." she repeated the four words, her tone tinged with contemplation.

"The Great Dao of Ruthlessness is indeed far superior to ordinary Great Dao. Once mastered, its combat power is astonishing, making it virtually unmatched among those of the same level. But... are you truly certain you want to walk this path?"

Her gaze fell on Xu Qingying's face, as if confirming something. "You must know that the foundation of the Great Dao of Ruthlessness lies in severing the threads of emotion. The more single-minded and cold-hearted a cultivator is, the stronger the power of the Great Dao becomes. But you are still young. In the long years to come, if you encounter someone who can move your heart..."

"Then the power of your Great Dao of Ruthlessness will be greatly diminished," Luo Qiushan's voice turned cold. "It might even backfire on you, causing your Dao foundation to collapse. At that point, it won't be as simple as just a decline in cultivation."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Xu Qingying knelt on the ground, her back ramrod straight, without the slightest tremor.

Her gaze met Luo Qiushan's; in her clear, cold eyes, there was no hesitation, no wavering, only an almost obsessive determination.

"No man will be able to influence my resolve to cultivate."

She spoke each word slowly and deliberately, each syllable seeming to be carved into stone. "Absolutely not!"

Luo Qiushan remained silent for a few moments, then her eyes suddenly lit up and a genuine smile bloomed on her face.

"Good!"

She rose from her throne, her long robes trailing on the crystal floor with a soft rustling sound, "What I value in you is your courage! Once you've made up your mind about something, you never look back—that's the mindset one should have when cultivating the Great Dao of Ruthlessness!"

Her tone was filled with undisguised admiration. "Don't worry, now that you've chosen this path, I will naturally do my best to help you. For the foreseeable future, focus entirely on mastering the Great Dao of Ruthlessness. I will personally prepare the relevant sacred texts for you; just study them diligently. In addition, I will find several powerful individuals who have cultivated the Great Dao of Ruthlessness to instruct you and answer your questions, so you can avoid taking detours."

Xu Qingying's eyes were slightly red, and she kowtowed heavily, her forehead hitting the ground with a crisp sound.

"Disciple is grateful for Master's guidance and cultivation! This kindness and affection will never be forgotten!"

Luo Qiushan waved her hand, sat back on her throne, and looked at her gently. "There's no need for that. You are the most talented and steadfast person I have ever met. I have high hopes for you. Cultivate diligently and do not waste this talent."

Xu Qingying stood up, bowed respectfully, and turned to walk out of the hall.

Her steps were steady, and her back was straight as a sword.

The moment I stepped out of the sect hall, a cold wind rushed towards me, carrying the chilling aura unique to the Underworld Land.

Xu Qingying slightly raised her chin, gazing at the hazy horizon in the distance. Something churned deep within her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

"I, Xu Qingying, will definitely make a name for myself in this stronger world."

Her voice was very soft, as soft as a sigh, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.

On the horizon at the edge of the field of vision, thick clouds churned and surged, as if something was spying on this land from behind the clouds.

Xu Qingying withdrew her gaze, her hands hanging at her sides slowly clenching.

"Lu Qing'an... how are you all doing in the Nine Directions and Ten Domains?"

The moment that name surfaced in her heart, she almost instinctively extinguished the faint ripple that stirred within her.

The temperature in his eyes cooled rapidly, returning to a deep, still pool.

If we meet again someday...

She whispered in a low voice, and her voice was carried away by the wind and dissipated in the vast world of the underworld.

You probably find me quite unfamiliar.

After saying that, she didn't linger and stepped into the cold wind.

The dark figure gradually receded into the distance, eventually disappearing at the end of the long stone steps outside the main hall.

Behind her, in the magnificent hall, Luo Qiushan remained seated on her throne, gazing thoughtfully in the direction her disciple had departed. After a long while, she finally let out a soft laugh.

"The Great Dao of Ruthlessness... it truly is the most difficult path to traverse."

She murmured to herself, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of the throne. "However, the more difficult the road, the more different the scenery becomes once you've traversed it."

She raised her head, her gaze piercing through the dome of the hall, looking towards a distant direction, the curve of her lips carrying a profound meaning.

"My disciple, I am very much looking forward to seeing just how far you can go."

On the other side of the Hongmeng Holy Realm.

Lu Qing'an and Li Wensong stood side by side outside a majestic city. The city walls soared into the clouds, and four ancient characters were engraved above the city gate, each stroke containing a powerful Daoist charm.

The Underworld Emperor Holy City!

Li Wensong said with a wry smile, "So it was near the Nether Emperor Holy Sect. How did we end up here?"

Lu Qing'an: "What happened to the Nether Emperor Holy Sect?"

Li Wensong: "This place is in the far north of the Hongmeng Holy Realm. It's not very practical to travel to the Central Land Great Domain by the regular Great Dao. We need a cross-domain array, and my few remaining friends are in the Central Land Great Domain. I don't know a single person here."

He wanted to bring back some powerful figures to show off, but now look what's happened—he's come all this way.

Lu Qing'an: "Since we're here, let's make the best of it. Let's look around first. Tell me about this Nether Emperor Holy Sect. From what you've said, this sect seems to be quite formidable even in the entire Hongmeng Holy Realm."

Li Wensong nodded. "Yes, Brother Lu, the Nether Emperor Holy Sect is a top-tier sect ranked among the top 100 in the Hongmeng Holy Realm, and it has cooperative relationships with many Heavenly Dao. Over the years, it has cultivated many Great Dao Realm experts by relying on its relationships with these Heavenly Dao."

Lu Qing'an laughed, "Which Heavenly Dao do I have good relations with? If possible, I'd like to join the Nether Emperor Holy Sect first, and try cultivating a few Great Dao there."

Lu Qing'an had thought it over. It seemed a bit too domineering, even unreasonable, to find a Heavenly Dao to force someone to pass the test before they had even reached the Great Dao Realm.

He is the kind of person who wins people over with virtue.

A person who will reason with others when possible and speak politely when appropriate.

Of course, if you're unreasonable and don't speak politely, then fists are still quite effective.

Li Wensong: "The Heavenly Dao of the Five Elements all have good relations with the Nether Emperor Holy Sect! And there are several other more unorthodox Heavenly Dao as well."

"The Five Elements? That's fine. Let's see how to join the Nether Emperor Holy Sect first." Lu Qing'an smiled calmly.