I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

His figure quickly disappeared into the glow of the teleportation array.

Qin Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked up at the darkening sky.

With the War God Temple expedition concluded, a new chapter for the Taiyi Sect begins, and the gates to the Southern Continent are faintly visible through a crack ahead.

But his path was never one that was pushed along.

He chose to go to Nanzhou not because there were stronger opponents or a higher level of achievement there.

Rather, it's because—

That was the place he had to go.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three days, Qin Yuan hardly left his residence. Ostensibly, he was "stabilizing his realm," but in reality, he was doing three things:

First, by absorbing the residual energy of the Battle Soul Core, the cultivation progress of the second level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars" was pushed from 80% after the tribulation to 87%.

Secondly, he digested the Heavenly Punishment Sword Intent, initially integrating the three sword essences of "slaughter," "decisiveness," and "punishment" into his own combat system. Now, in addition to directly breaking evil, his "Mysterious Origin Demon-Slaying Finger" has gained a more sharp and decisive killing intent.

Third, reflection.

The true meaning of the Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul, the whereabouts of the War God's Manual, Lin Qing'er's situation, the unknown of the Southern Continent, and—the origin of the system.

The system experienced an unusual fluctuation the moment he successfully transcended the tribulation.

It wasn't an upgrade, nor was it the completion of a mission; it was an extremely slight, almost hallucinatory... emotional fluctuation.

It seemed like a sense of relief.

It sounded like a sigh.

Qin Yuan was focused on fighting off the ninth heavenly lightning bolt and had no time to investigate further. Afterwards, he tried to communicate with the system to inquire about the cause of the fluctuation, but the system only replied with one sentence:

[Insufficient host permissions to retrieve this information.]

This is the first time the system has refused to answer due to "insufficient permissions".

Qin Yuan didn't press the matter. He simply kept this unusual occurrence in mind and continued his cultivation.

Some answers will be revealed when the time is right.

On the morning of the third day, at the main peak of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, in the Taiyi Hall.

In the square in front of the palace, banners fluttered and mythical birds circled.

The Taiyi Immortal Sect has been established for ten thousand years, and the ceremony for ordaining a Daoist disciple is second only to the enthronement of the sect leader and the ascension of the Supreme Elder. Although today is only "re-establishing" Qin Yuan's status as a Daoist disciple, all the necessary ceremonies are still present.

Seventy-two Taiyi Breaking Formation Flags stood on either side, while thirty-six Nascent Soul stage disciples, dressed in dark blue Daoist robes, stood solemnly like pine trees. Nine tolls of the bell resounded through the mountains, their echoes lingering in the valleys for a long time.

Messengers from all five major sects were present.

The one from the Myriad Swords Pavilion was Jian Wuming—he was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, yet he represented the sect at such a formal occasion, demonstrating the Myriad Swords Pavilion's high regard for Qin Yuan. Jian Wuming still maintained his cold and aloof demeanor, but when he looked at Qin Yuan, the fighting spirit in his eyes was even more intense than it had been three days ago.

The Xuan Tian Sect sent Lei Dong and Ling Shuanghua. Lei Dong, unusually, did not display his arrogance, but stood silently in a corner, his lightning almost completely subdued. Ling Shuanghua's face was still veiled, but her clear, cold eyes lingered for a long time when Qin Yuan stepped into the hall.

The one from the Green Wood Sect was Mu Changchun. Mu Wanqiu didn't come; it was said she went back to take care of her injured junior brother, but Qin Yuan knew it was more likely to avoid a direct conflict with Mu Sangzi's faction in a formal setting. Mu Changchun's expression was somewhat solemn, but when his eyes met Qin Yuan's, he still managed a sincere smile.

The Netherworld Palace also sent people.

It wasn't Li Wanhun, but an old man with a withered face and a chilling aura. He was an elder of the Netherworld Palace, surnamed Yin, given name unknown. This man didn't utter a single word from beginning to end, simply standing in the corner like a withered tree, occasionally glancing at Qin Yuan before lowering his eyelids again.

Besides the five major sects, some affiliated sects that were on good terms with the Taiyi Sect also sent representatives. Qin Yuan spotted Wen Ruohai from the Shujian Sect among them. This steward from Qing Shi City was still dressed in a scholar's robe, exuding a refined and scholarly air, but when he looked at Qin Yuan, his eyes were full of emotion and satisfaction.

Qin Yuan nodded slightly in greeting.

Wen Ruohai quickly returned the greeting, bowing even deeper than he had done back in Qing Shi City.

The ceremony itself did not involve many formalities.

Under the guidance of the Abbot, Qin Yuan first bowed three times to the ancestral tablets of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and then received the Xuan Yu Dao Tablet and Taiyi Dharma Sword, which symbolized his status as a Dao Child, from the Abbot.

The head of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, whose Daoist name is "Qingwei," is a powerful cultivator at the Dao Integration stage who appears to be around forty years old but has actually cultivated for over three thousand years. He is extremely ordinary-looking, so ordinary that he would be completely lost in a crowd. The only thing that is special about him is his eyes—those eyes are too deep, like two bottomless ancient wells, reflecting three thousand years of history.

When the Qingwei Sect Leader handed the Dao tablet and the magic sword to Qin Yuan, his movements were very slow.

His gaze lingered on the hidden nine-colored Dao seal between Qin Yuan's brows for a full three breaths.

"Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul." His voice was soft, but everyone present heard it clearly. "In my three thousand years of cultivation, I have only ever seen such a foundation in the scriptures. You are the first, and the only one."

Qin Yuan bowed his head: "Sect Leader, you flatter me."

"That's not praise," Sect Leader Qingwei shook his head, "it's a statement."

He pushed the magic sword forward, making Qin Yuan grip it tightly.

"From this day forward, you will be the seventy-third Dao Child of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. The position of Dao Child does not involve you in the daily affairs of the sect, but you have the right to access the sect's core classics, the right to mobilize disciples below the Refinement Void stage to carry out sect missions, and the right to take charge of part of the mountain-protecting formation when the sect encounters external enemies."

He paused.

"At the same time, you also have obligations. As Daozi, you should set an example for the sect and not tarnish the prestige of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. You should protect the younger generation and not allow the sect's talents to be tarnished. Daozi should—"

His voice suddenly dropped to a very low hue, so low that only Qin Yuan could hear it.

"—Hold fast to your principles and don't let power blind you."

Qin Yuan looked up and met the deep eyes of the Qingwei Sect Leader.

There was no scrutiny or probing in those eyes, only an extremely calm and gentle warmth that came from seeing through the ways of the world.

Qin Yuan said in a low voice, "This disciple will remember."

The Qingwei Sect Leader nodded, took a step back, and resumed his normal voice: "The ceremony is complete."

The bells rang again.

This time there were eighteen shots, which were longer and more resonant than the nine shots at the beginning.

Outside the hall, seventy-two formation-breaking flags rose simultaneously, fluttering in the morning breeze. The thirty-six disciples in charge of the ceremony offered their congratulations in unison, their voices surging into the hall like a tidal wave.

Qin Yuan turned around, facing the gradually brightening sky outside the hall.

He gripped the Taiyi Dharma Sword, a Xuanyu Daoist tablet hung at his waist, and wore a dark blue Daoist robe symbolizing his status as a Daoist disciple. The hem of the robe was embroidered with cloud patterns of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, which faintly shimmered with spiritual light in the sunlight.

At this moment, he officially became a Daoist disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

At this moment, countless eyes were fixed on him—some with admiration, some with fear, some with envy, some with jealousy, and some with murderous intent.

At this moment, he finally had the right to have a truly equal dialogue with the five great sects.

But he knew very well that this was just the beginning.

After the ceremony, Sect Leader Qingwei indeed summoned him privately.