Grandpa, times have changed.

Chapter 569 doesn't look like a proper cultivator at all.

The Way of the Underworld.

As one of the world's top powers, its scale far surpasses that of the Thousand Sun Sect.

Furthermore, since it was originally established by the Celestial Venerable of the Divine Path, its specifications are no different from those of the Celestial Venerable's Divine Court when the Divine Path was at its peak.

All that could be seen were magnificent palaces and towers, with pearl palaces and shell pavilions scattered everywhere.

A special spiritual jade staircase, tinged with a deep purple hue and interspersed with wisps of gold, runs straight upwards through the area!

The crimson spider lilies on both sides sway in the wind, stretching for nearly a hundred miles.

At the end of the steps, a deep, mysterious light intertwined, manifesting in the sky as a great river surging with withered, yellow water.

Beneath the surging, withered Yellow River lies a sinister ancient city, heavy with yin energy, where countless dark shadows seem to linger, and the shrill cries of demons and ghosts can be heard in the shadows.

Outside the city stands a pitch-black iron monument with three large golden characters inscribed on it—

The Way of the Netherworld!
"Judging from its appearance alone, it seems to be even more magnificent than the sect headquarters of your seven great immortal sects."

On the steps, Xu Xing and Huo slowly walked upwards.

Around the two men were some dressed in rags, others in fine clothes, and still others in burly, robust figures.

His eyes shone brightly, and his blood and qi were burning hot, clearly indicating that he possessed martial arts skills.

There are even demons and ghosts.

only……

Compared to the ease and comfort of Xu Xing and Huo, the other climbers struggled to ascend the steps, each panting and drenched in sweat.

Each step felt like it took all my strength to take, and I swayed precariously, as if I might tumble down the stairs at any moment.

Even so, no one gave up.

“This has always been the way of the gods, so it is not surprising.”

Xu Xing looked at the eerie ancient city at the end of the steps.

After all, it's just a world at the Nascent Soul level. Although the gods have tried their best to adorn themselves, it's still far inferior to the Heavenly Court of the Divine Path that I saw in the Taiping Realm.

Huo nodded slightly.

Although none of you fellow cultivators talk much in the group.

But he had also heard that the world where his fellow Daoist and the others had stayed before seemed to be a divine world...

His bewitching gaze swept over the climber beside him, while he toyed with a shiny black bead in his right hand.

"But then again, these remnant gods are quite clever."

What these ascenders are currently undergoing is the 'Selection of Great Immortals of the Underworld' that the Underworld Path conducts before carrying out a new round of cleansing.

Unlike the usual 'celestial selection'.

The Great Immortal of the Underworld chooses to serve all living beings under the rule of the Underworld Dao.

They don't ask about one's background, one's family history, or even one's origins!

Anyone who can come here, climb to the top and enter the City of the Underworld can become a member of the Underworld Path and be granted the cultivation method.

On these steps, corresponding illusions will arise to test the climber's karma and merits.

The higher one's karmic obstacles, the more difficult the trials.

Conversely, the higher one's merit, the simpler the test becomes.

That's right!

Although the world's order itself is somewhat distorted, it still has a complete mechanism for assessing 'merit' and 'karma'.

This is why deities above the level of Divine Emperor go to such great lengths and rarely take action themselves.

After this group of people who successfully reached the summit completed their cultivation.

They can then travel to various places in the Underworld to clean up the excess demons and ghosts, as well as the gods who have become wandering ghosts due to the decline of their incense offerings and the degeneration of their authority.

Those who distinguished themselves in battle were granted divine titles until the next purge began.

Just keep repeating this set of rules.

Over the years, the gods have changed batch after batch.

However, deities of the same caliber as the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld and the Emperor remain high above, enjoying the offerings of the people and maintaining their authority.

"Although their energy level isn't high, there are indeed many outstanding individuals among them." Huo nodded slightly.

If we disregard other factors, the way these deities and spirits responded was indeed quite ingenious.

"Unfortunately, this is not the right path," Huo sighed.

Ok?
Xu Xing looked at him strangely.

Right or wrong...

Is it really appropriate for the ancestor of demonic cultivation to make such a judgment?!
Huo didn't care about Xu Xing's strange look, and instead said:

"Brother Dao, who do you think would be the most suitable recipient of this 'fortune'?"

A million lives and deaths in an instant, spanning ten years.

The demons and spirits in the ghost town would never have survived.

Even the city lords with the highest cultivation levels are no exception.

Of course, it's different with his protection.

All demons, ghosts, and spirits can endure all punishments while fully conscious.

In this way, these little demons, ghosts, and alien gods are somewhat useful, barely better than the previous 'Hidden Dragon Lord'.

"Fellow Daoist, you can decide for yourself, but..."

"I understand, I understand, I'll keep things in check," Huo said with a smile. "Just don't deduct my good disciple's reward, brother."

He had already eradicated that ghost town from its very source.

Furthermore, the world was slightly altered to make its disappearance completely 'rational'.

Therefore, there is no need to worry that the chain reaction caused by the arrest of the ghost town will affect Xiao Fan's mission.

"As for this... it depends on what you do next, fellow Daoist."

"Don't worry, brother, I know exactly what I'm doing."

"hehe."

While talking.

The two had surpassed all the climbers and arrived at the gates of the City of the Underworld.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Underworld, who was guarding the finish line, was somewhat surprised.

Wow, someone's already reached the finish line so quickly?
……

……

Compared to Xiao Fan being thrown into a world where gods reside and order is distorted.

The second batch of ascended messengers also had their own unique circumstances.

For example, Zhang Yunlu was placed in a world where the source of the extraordinary was gradually fading, the cultivation system was completely missing, but the world as a whole had already developed into the steam age.

Major powers are fiercely competing for their right to speak in the world.

Even the most powerful superhumans only activate the power inherited from the bloodline of cultivators, having completely lost the ability of individual strength to surpass the number.

Zhang Yunlu's mission is to stop the conflicts between the major powers, guide the spiritual tide to revive, and establish a reasonable supernatural order.

Lin Changsheng, on the other hand, was placed in a rather special world.

In that world, humans were not the darlings of the world.

It's as if they're restricted, unable to strengthen themselves through any means.

All sorts of strange beasts are the beings favored by the world; they possess all kinds of powerful abilities and wield various powers of nature.

Wind, fire, lightning...

Even space, time, and destiny!

Strangely, the vast majority of these beasts showed no malice towards humans; on the contrary, they would deliberately try to get close to them.

Therefore, under these circumstances, humans also used their wisdom to create a container similar to a 'contract' to tame all kinds of strange beasts for their own use.

A peaceful world that seems like a fairy tale, yet also somewhat absurd.

Lin Changsheng's mission is to find and investigate the reasons behind it, create a suitable cultivation method, and establish a reasonable supernatural order.

……

……

Taixuan Realm, Sword Sect.

The outer gate, the Ascension Hall. Inside the hall, Du Ruoheng, through the central control of the Ascension Platform, confirmed the status of the second batch of Ascension Envoys one by one.

"Whoo~"

I breathed a sigh of relief; I could finally relax.

Compared to the first campaign, this second campaign is much larger in scale.

Ascension is a major event that the ancestors are all concerned about, and he dares not be negligent in the slightest.

Feeling much more relaxed, Du Ruoheng glanced at the mission world 1 where his apprentice was located.

only……

When he saw what had happened, his eyes twitched slightly.

In the current mission world 1, after the 'reborn' Zhou Xian experienced great ups and downs, he used his 'modified' supernatural powers from his memories—

The "Yin Yang Refining Spirit and Seizing Source Technique" has been passed down.

This also caused the art style of that world to completely collapse.

After learning the "Yin Yang Refining Spirit and Seizing Source Technique", newly born Star Spirits will seek out individuals with special talents to "absorb and replenish" them after reaching a certain stage of cultivation, thereby seizing their talents and refining them into supernatural power seeds to build their foundation.

Most of them are various kinds of magical beasts and spirits with extraordinary talents.

A small number of them also wanted to learn from Zhou Xian and seize the special talents of the creatures of the Yangyuan civilization.

Unfortunately, they didn't have Zhou Xian's cheat code; those who tried either died or were injured, and none of them succeeded.

Of course, some people have figured out the true use of 'sexual cultivation', harmed several people, and greatly increased their cultivation!
However, he was still discovered and was eventually killed by an extraterrestrial railgun.

The wondrous art of love, the practice of absorbing and replenishing one's essence, and the acquisition of innate talents to cultivate supernatural abilities and build a foundation...

He doesn't look like a proper cultivator at all!
Du Ruoheng was speechless when a mocking voice suddenly rang in his ears.

"Tsk tsk! If others saw this, they would think that the sect leader's disciple was from the Hehuan Sect."

Looking up, one could see that the speaker was a cultivator with profound knowledge, dressed in black sportswear, and holding an ordinary-looking, ancient longsword.

She has delicate features with a touch of baby fat, and she's wearing pigtails.

She looks to be about 1.6 meters tall, and her figure doesn't show much curves.

Du Ruoheng twitched the corner of his mouth, then said seriously:

"Senior Sister Yue is joking. Everyone is different, let alone a complete world."

"Kongming merely provides guidance; the choice is ultimately theirs."

"Moreover, the Hehuan Sect is now one of the immortal sects, and the 'Yin Yang Qi Gathering and Hehuan Wonderful Technique' is not an evil method."

“I did not feel there was anything wrong with Kongming transmitting the true Dharma.”

Yue Yue, in the early years when he was competing for the position of sect leader, Senior Sister Yue was one of his rivals.

After losing the election to herself, she has been at odds with herself ever since.

However, upon hearing this, the twin-tailed swordsman with the profound sword technique suddenly changed his expression and said in a sarcastic tone:
"The sect leader must have a very high level of skill in the 'Yin Yang Qi Gathering and Harmony Technique.' I wonder who he studied with in the Harmony Sect?"

Du Ruoheng: "???"

no? !
How did you come to this conclusion?
I've had a pure Yang body for so many years, what's the point of practicing this method!
"Senior sister, please don't talk nonsense. These jokes are just for us to hear. If our fellow practitioners in the Hehuan Sect hear them, it might cause unnecessary trouble."

"You still care about her?!" Yueyue exclaimed angrily.

Du Ruoheng was even more confused.

"Why do you say that, Senior Sister? I'm just worried that someone might use this as an excuse to target you."

So he was just concerned about himself...

"Oh, I see." Yueyue instantly calmed down, but still added, "I'm not afraid of her!"

"of course."

Although he was a little confused, Du Ruoheng still smiled and replied.

Being the sect leader for the past few years has brought many troubles, so Sister Le's unreasonable behavior is nothing compared to that.

Other profound and mysterious old gods are above.

Each of them seemed to be focused on the mission world, but in reality, they were secretly watching the two of them.

Gee!

It's quite strange, really. The sect leader oversees everything in the Sword Sect and handles every aspect very meticulously.

Unfortunately, I'm not very good at this kind of thing.

Yue Shimei has liked him for a long time, how come she hasn't realized it after all these years?

emm...

In fact, the proportion of sword cultivators who find a Daoist partner is much lower than that of other types of cultivators.

……

……

Outside the Sword Master's Hall, within the inner sect of the Sword Sect.

The night is deep, and the bright moon hangs quietly in the night sky, adorned with stars.

Three figures stood facing each other outside the hall.

"Now that the second batch of Ascension Messengers has been deployed, I shall take my leave," Yuanjun said with a light laugh.

The moonlight, like a veil, quietly fell upon the palace, making the already beautiful and gentle Yuanjun appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

It would vanish as if a gentle breeze were to blow by...

“If we stay, it might affect the Sword Sect. We can’t keep troubling you to isolate them.”

The calamity afflicting her has not yet subsided, and if she stays in one place for an extended period, the place she stays in will also be affected by the 'calamity'.

Xu Xing could indeed isolate him, but it was ultimately only a temporary measure.

It does not do anything to 'dissolve' the calamity.

"That's nothing," Xu Xing said first, then paused and continued, "Give me some more time, and I should be able to resolve it completely."

Now, many things are on the verge of being resolved at this crucial step.

Hearing this, Yuanjun stopped smiling and nodded seriously:
"I'll be looking forward to that day."

She certainly trusted Xu Xing, just as he trusted her when she made her decision after achieving enlightenment.

Then, Yuanjun looked at Bie Xuening, who stood to the side with a calm expression, and said the exact same words she had said when she left the bamboo forest years ago.

"I'm leaving, but I'll come back again in the future."

"..." Bie Xuening paused for two seconds before saying calmly, "Take care."

Seeing that she didn't give him a cold rebuke like she had back then, Yuanjun smiled nonchalantly.

After taking out the small banner printed with "Fortune and misfortune are up to me," he vanished like a wisp of smoke in the moonlight.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, yet there was no chill in the air.

Xu Xing turned his head to look at Bie Xuening, meeting her eyes which were as clear as autumn water:
"Senior sister, let's go back."

After bidding farewell to Yuanjun, the condition of the second batch of ascending envoys still needs to be observed.

Let's see how they perform so we can adjust the missions for the third batch of ascended envoys.

"Ah."

Then, the two left the front of the hall and walked into it.

Haven't taken a few steps yet.

Didi~!

A crisp notification sound echoed throughout the hall.

"Who?"

"It's that traitor."

Bie Xuening handed her phone to Xu Xing to look at.

The Rebellious Disciple: "Nine Fishermen's Cultivation Diary"

Traitor: "/video"

Because Chi Jiuyu was making good progress in her cultivation of talismanic arts, she decided to report to her master once a day.

Soon another message appeared.

The rebellious disciple said, "Master, I think you could talk to your uncle about this. That would prove that your disciple hasn't let him down."

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(End of this chapter)