“I have learned from my master’s past mistakes; Wei Xu would not dare to be careless in the slightest. The grudges between myself and all of you have also been kept firmly in mind. Never forgotten!”

As the voice fell, the fissures in the separated world multiplied.

Some of these cracks even spread into the mountains below, slicing the massive peaks here into fragments.

A moment later, the aged voice spoke again, tinged with a wry chuckle: “If your master were alive and knew he had a disciple like you, he would surely be immensely pleased. However, the events of that year had little to do with the six of us.”

“Who can say? One day the truth will come to light!”

Wei Xu’s voice was faint as he spoke, simultaneously clapping Zong Shou on the shoulder: “This is my junior martial brother. Though he has not formally entered the sect, he will most likely become the seventh direct heir of the second generation of the Cangsheng Dao. I brought the six of you out today using the Demon Mountain Sect precisely to state clearly: Do not try any tricks or schemes on my junior brother. Do not force me, Wei Xu, to go mad and disregard all consequences!”

“Enough!”

This time, the voice was grand and immense, belonging to someone seemingly in his forties, filled with indignation.

“How could we, as World Sovereigns, engage in such sordid acts? The six of us have lived openly our entire lives! We do nothing that weighs on our conscience. Wei Xu, your words are simply an insult to our ears!”

“Is that so?” Wei Xu merely smiled, unconcerned. “All the better. Oh, and concerning my Cangsheng Dao. Do you truly think I, Wei Xu, have been unaware of the shabby tactics the six of you have employed over these past few millennia? Don’t assume only that fellow from the Sword Sect will explode at you. If you truly provoke me, I can dismantle your nests just as easily!”

Those few powerful wills bristled with sudden rage. The spiritual consciousnesses fluctuated ceaselessly, and after an instant, they each let out a cold snort, withdrawing their intent from this space.

It was only after a short while that the entire thousand-mile sky finally returned to calm. The spatially split realms rapidly reverted to normal. However, the giant mountains previously cleaved by the 'fissures' could not be restored.

Just as Zong Shou looked upon his senior brother with an expression bordering on reverence, Wei Xu raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his brow and sighed softly, “It was truly difficult to scare those six away. This charade today was fraught with peril.”

Seeing Zong Shou’s gaze shift back to confusion, Wei Xu did not prolong the suspense. Shaking his head, he explained, “These six are ancient relics who have existed since the Cloud Wasteland Era ten thousand years ago. They are the only ones here who can operate without restriction. While I do not fear them—and could even defeat them—a true battle against them would certainly lead to major repercussions later. Yet, I absolutely had to draw them out and let them see you. This is because your situation, while it may be hidden from others, absolutely cannot be concealed from them. Therefore, if I didn’t intimidate these few into silence, the more outstanding your cultivation becomes in the future, the more dangerous and perilous your circumstances would be. That is why I brought you here…”

Zong Shou seemed to half-understand, merely nodding along. However, he did grasp the part about them knowing everything. From that female voice earlier mentioning he was a murderer, he realized these individuals likely knew his circumstances as if they were written on their palms.

But he still did not understand their exact identities or why they called themselves World Sovereigns. He only knew that since they could make even Wei Xu feel troublesome and wary, they must be figures of the same caliber.

Perhaps even the baffling events of this era during his previous life suddenly made sense when the factor of these six individuals was included. Wei Xu didn't expect him to understand immediately, speaking plainly: “What was done today was also for the sake of the Three Sects and Six Factions of the Cangsheng Dao. You must know that people like us have always been viewed as part of the Demonic Path or as heretics, yet we are enemies of the true demonic sects. Furthermore, due to the great battle several millennia ago, our relationship with those other sects is strained; our position is precarious. If you become a disciple of the Cangsheng Dao, the path ahead will undoubtedly be immensely difficult, full of dangers exceeding your imagination. Thus, I ask you one more time: Are you willing, from the bottom of your heart, to join my Cangsheng Dao lineage? If you are unwilling, I will not make things difficult for you. I will certainly recommend another worthy master for you and secure a good connection.”

Zong Shou blinked, unsure whether Wei Xu’s words were genuine or merely a façade. He had already spent nearly half a year quarreling with the Sword Sect for Zong Shou’s sake, even giving up a truly gifted disciple who possessed both spiritual and martial cultivation. Could he really let go now? He suspected if he said no, Wei Xu would probably just swat him into a pulp. Such a blatant test seemed rather crude.

“I know you don’t believe me, but these words come straight from my heart, utterly without falsehood.”

Seeing Zong Shou’s expression of disdain, Wei Xu couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Do you want me to take another Soul Oath? Actually, for me, having a disciple like you join the sect willingly, without resentment towards the sect, is the most crucial thing. Talent is actually of secondary importance.”

Zong Shou pondered for a moment, not immediately agreeing or refusing, only hesitating: “The doctrines and principles of your Cangsheng Dao—I can’t learn them, nor do I wish to.”

“You don’t need to learn those.” Wei Xu had long anticipated this, his tone carrying a hint of weariness. “The Cangsheng Dao was originally founded by my master, Xi Zi, to promote equality among people and unite like-minded individuals. However, by now, the sect is no longer pure. More than half the disciples joined for the sake of power or cultivation. Having one more of you makes no difference. I only ask that you adhere strictly to the sect rules in the future and be willing to lend your strength when the Cangsheng Dao faces peril.”

Zong Shou’s eyes brightened instantly. To ask him to study the doctrines and ideals left by Xi Zi would be worse than killing him. This Senior Brother Wei Xu truly understood people’s hearts and seemed quite sincere.

His mind settled somewhat, and he brought up his second condition: “After entering, I want to see all the canonical texts of your main sect, the Three Sects, and the Six Factions.”

Wei Xu nodded again: “Naturally! Even if you didn’t ask, I would pile those texts before you.”

“And Senior Brother, you won't force me to do things against my conscience?”

“No. I cannot speak for the disciples of the other Three Sects and Six Factions, but within the main body of the Cangsheng Dao, everyone is equal. All actions are guided by one's true heart.”

“Does Senior Brother have the confidence to maintain the prestige of our Cangsheng Dao and not follow the precedent set by the Demon Mountain Sect?”

“The Demon Mountain Sect? What is that?” Wei Xu was beginning to understand Zong Shou’s intent, chuckling self-deprecatingly. “I have sufficient confidence in your senior brother in that regard.”

Zong Shou immediately pursed his lips into a slight smile. “Then what reason would I, Zong Shou, have to refuse?”

Wei Xu burst into loud laughter, shouting a single word of approval. Then, he swept his hand forward, actually cutting a rift in the void and stepping through first.

Zong Shou followed without much hesitation.

Just as the rift was about to vanish, a figure suddenly stepped out from the ground at the foot of the mountain. His expression was grim, laced with endless malice.

However, just as this person was about to flee by soaring away, a vast, immense force surged wildly into this space, directly blasting his head and body into dust. As his primordial spirit only just separated from his body, a golden flame ignited, burning his soul form to ashes as well.

At this moment, Zong Shou found himself inside a grand hall. It appeared to be an ancestral shrine, but it was extraordinarily vast and spacious.

Above, several thousand ancestral tablets were carved. Occupying the absolute center was the founder of the Cangsheng Dao, Xi Zi; next to him was another spiritual tablet, sharing the same stature. This one must hold an extremely revered identity, yet the tablet bore no inscribed name—it was blank.

The place was empty yet spotlessly clean, swirling with incense smoke. Wei Xu lit three sticks of incense, handed them to Zong Shou, and then led him to the blank tablet, his expression solemn. “Junior Brother, please perform the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows!”

Zong Shou was speechless for a moment, wondering if his deceased master didn't even have a name. Nevertheless, his expression turned solemn, and he bowed three times, kowtowing nine times. He then planted the incense sticks into the three-legged golden cauldron before the spiritual tablet, saying aloud, “Disciple Zong Shou pays respects to Teacher!”

Wei Xu nodded slightly, bowing once as well, then straightened up. “The ceremony is complete! From this day forward, Junior Brother is the seventh direct heir of our main Cangsheng Dao lineage!”

Hearing this, Zong Shou froze. Was the initiation ceremony finished just like that? He had expected this entry into the sect to be a formal affair, perhaps with witnesses? At least figures on the level of the Cangsheng Dao Ancestors. For righteous sects like the Lingyun Sect, it would not be excessive to proclaim this to the world.

Wei Xu offered no explanation. First, he forcibly drew a small amount of blood from the wounds on Zong Shou’s body. Then, he took out a golden talisman, inscribed Zong Shou’s name and his birth date and year upon it.

This talisman then burned without wind, transforming into a ball of spiritual light that surged upwards toward the heavens.

Zong Shou looked up and saw that suspended from the dome was a Golden Book of Profound Fates, which was currently flipping open page by page. As the spiritual light seeped in, a new page was generated, clearly bearing the characters: Lin Xuanshuang’s Eldest Disciple, Zong Shou, followed by his birth details. This golden book was very thin, containing only a little over two hundred and forty pages, and his page was positioned at number seventeen.

“This is the supreme treasure of our Cangsheng Dao: the Golden Book of Profound Fates! As long as a true name is recorded here, then no matter where the person is, as long as they are not killed instantly and their soul utterly annihilated, their true spirit can be preserved using the power of this book. If the golden page remains undamaged, an expert at the Ultimate Realm who is willing to sacrifice vitality can preside over the Book of Profound Fates and even defy heaven to restore the soul. Furthermore, it serves as a warning: if any registered member suffers a grave injury or death, all other fellow disciples, no matter how far, will sense it and rush to rescue them. I recall that in the Cangsheng Dao’s zenith, this Golden Book had four hundred and ninety-nine pages. Now, more than half are gone. The remaining two hundred-plus pages mostly belong to companions my master gathered back then—they have either perished or scattered; fewer than one in ten remain!”

At this point, Wei Xu frowned again. “I’ve said too much. Why am I telling you all this? Junior Brother, remember this: Lin Xuanshuang is your master’s name, and she was the original wife of Master Xi Zi. The current Seven Spirit Sect and Taiyuan Sect were both founded by her sisters. About two thousand two hundred years ago, news of her death suddenly spread. The only fortunate thing is that the golden page in the Book of Profound Fates did not disintegrate; only her true name vanished, turning into a blank page, waiting for more experts of the Ultimate or True Realm within our sect to defy heaven, summon her soul, and reconstruct her Dao body.” (To be continued)