The Great Dao Pen Master let out a soft sigh, his voice heavy with helplessness.
Ye Xuan asked, “So, who are you planning to choose?”
The Great Dao Pen Master remained silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Can’t say?”
The Great Dao Pen Master shook his head slightly, saying nothing, and continued walking forward.
Ye Xuan glanced at him and followed.
Soon, the Great Dao Pen Master led Ye Xuan to a life imprint.
Ye Xuan noticed this imprint was different. It was deep purple, and within a ten-mile radius, there were no other life imprints.
The Great Dao Pen Master looked at the imprint, a complex emotion in his eyes. After a long pause, he turned to Ye Xuan. “From now on, you will control the order of this universe. You are the master of the Dao Sect.”
Ye Xuan blinked. “So, the Place of Return is mine?”
He couldn’t help but feel excited.
The Place of Return!
If he could control it, it meant those who believed in him would gain eternal life.
But the Great Dao Pen Master shook his head. “I can’t give you the Place of Return. I need to take it with me.”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened. “So, you’re making me do the work without any reward?”
The Great Dao Pen Master smiled. “There will be rewards.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “What rewards?”
The Great Dao Pen Master opened his palm, revealing an ancient book. “Know what this is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No idea.”
The Great Dao Pen Master smiled. “The Great Dao Scripture.”
Ye Xuan was curious. “What’s it for?”
The Great Dao Pen Master laughed. “The highest cultivation method in this universe! Remember that woman in purple? She cultivated the Great Dao Scripture, but only the upper part, not the middle or lower parts. What I’m giving you is the complete version.”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Can you give me something even better?”
The Great Dao Pen Master was stunned. “This isn’t good enough? Look at that woman in purple. Just her clone was so powerful. I’m giving you the complete Great Dao Scripture. Imagine…”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “I think my vision should be bigger. Being invincible in this universe… it’s not enough. I want to be invincible in the next universe too. Is there a technique for that?”
The Great Dao Pen Master was silent for a long time before saying, “Trust me, this will keep you busy for a long, long time.”
Ye Xuan said earnestly, “Don’t be so stingy.”
The Great Dao Pen Master sighed softly. “Your current level isn’t high enough. Even if I gave you something better, you couldn’t use it.”
Ye Xuan said, “I don’t need to use it now, but I need to have it.”
The Great Dao Pen Master fell silent.
Ye Xuan gave a bitter smile. “Look at me this time. My Dao heart was shattered, my cultivation plummeted. How miserable is that?”
The Great Dao Pen Master glanced at him, then said, “Fine.”
He opened his palm, and countless ancient characters flew into the Great Dao Scripture.
Moments later, he withdrew his hand and looked at Ye Xuan. “Once you master the Great Dao Scripture, this peerless technique will unlock automatically.”
Ye Xuan was silent.
Damn it.
You’re really good at this game.
The Great Dao Pen Master continued, “Later, I’ll take the Place of Return with me.”
He turned to the deep purple life imprint, hesitated, then opened his palm. The imprint slowly drifted into his hand.
After looking at it for a long time, he turned and handed it to Ye Xuan. “Take it out.”
Ye Xuan looked at him. “Revive it?”
The Great Dao Pen Master nodded.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Isn’t this playing favorites?”
The Great Dao Pen Master laughed. “I created the Place of Return. What’s wrong with a little favoritism?”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Got it.”
He opened his palm, and the deep purple imprint floated before him.
The Great Dao Pen Master looked at Ye Xuan. “After revival, her memories will awaken gradually. During that time, protect her.”
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Don’t tell me this will bring trouble.”
The Great Dao Pen Master said seriously, “What trouble? There’s no trouble.”
Ye Xuan looked at him. “Really?”
The Great Dao Pen Master nodded. “Of course. Just protect her for a bit. Once her memories recover partially, she won’t need you anymore. Then you can let her go.”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why don’t you take her out yourself?”
The Great Dao Pen Master smiled faintly. “I’m busy, aren’t I?”
Ye Xuan glanced at him, then said, “Taking her out is fine. Any benefits?”
The Great Dao Pen Master said gravely, “This kind of behavior isn’t great.”
Ye Xuan gave him a flat look. If we’re not talking benefits, are we talking feelings?
The Great Dao Pen Master glanced around, then took out a storage ring and handed it to Ye Xuan. “This is for you.”
Ye Xuan looked at the ring. A mysterious force blocked his view of its contents.
The Great Dao Pen Master said, “After I leave, you’ll be able to open it.”
He opened his palm and waved gently. Instantly, the surrounding space became illusory.
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Wait.”
The Great Dao Pen Master looked at him. Ye Xuan said gravely, “I want to take one more life imprint.”
The Great Dao Pen Master looked at him. “Whose?”
Ye Xuan said, “Mu Tiandao’s.”
Mu Tiandao.
This Heavenly Dao had followed him. Though it hadn’t helped much, it had helped some. Now that he was here, he didn’t mind seeking a good outcome for it.
The Great Dao Pen Master shook his head slightly.
Ye Xuan was stunned. “Why not?”
The Great Dao Pen Master opened his palm, and a soul slowly emerged from Ye Xuan’s body.
It was Mu Tiandao’s soul.
Seeing the Great Dao Pen Master, Mu Tiandao bowed respectfully, trembling. “Master.”
The Great Dao Pen Master looked at Mu Tiandao, a complex emotion in his eyes. “Come with me.”
Mu Tiandao quickly nodded. “Alright.”
The Great Dao Pen Master looked at Ye Xuan. “It’s easy to enter, but not everyone can leave. Leaving here means carrying the karma of their past life, which most can’t bear. You’ve survived this long because your sister and father shielded you from too much karma. Otherwise, your grave would already be overgrown.”
Ye Xuan looked at the purple imprint in his hand. “Who was she in her past life?”
The Great Dao Pen Master smiled faintly. “Don’t worry too much. No matter how big the karma, you can handle it. If you can’t, your sister can help.”
With that, he turned and vanished.
The Place of Return grew more illusory, about to disappear.
Ye Xuan looked at the purple imprint, his instincts telling him he’d been tricked.
After a moment of silence, he sighed softly and turned to leave.
As he was about to exit the Place of Return, he turned and saw a life imprint floating nearby, trembling as if trying to say something.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “Do you want to leave?”
The imprint trembled violently.
Ye Xuan was speechless.
This imprint was something else.
Other imprints were still, but this one reacted. Had it cultivated into a spirit, or did it retain past-life memories?
He glanced around, hesitated, then walked to the imprint. It looked ordinary, no different from the others.
The imprint kept trembling.
The Place of Return was about to vanish.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then grabbed the imprint and tossed it into Little Tower. He quickly left the Place of Return. As he exited, he turned to see it disappear completely.
Gone.
Dao Ling and the others appeared behind him.
All the Dao Sect’s powerhouses were there.
Dao Ling looked at the empty space and murmured, “Has the Master left?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “From now on, I’m in charge of the Dao Sect in this universe.”
He turned to Dao Ling and the others. “Any objections?”
They shook their heads.
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Everyone, return to your duties.”
As they prepared to leave, Ye Xuan added, “I won’t pursue past matters, but from now on, if there’s any nonsense in the Dao Sect, I won’t hold back.”
The crowd fell silent.
Who among them hadn’t done something shady?
Ye Xuan sighed softly. “This isn’t my idea—it’s your Master’s. Do you know why he didn’t meet you?”
They looked at Ye Xuan, who said softly, “He’s very disappointed in you.”
Their expressions dimmed.
Ye Xuan continued, “Why did he let an outsider like me manage the Dao Sect? Because he’s truly disappointed in you. He was ready to give up on you, but at my request, he decided to give you another chance. I’m not bluffing—I’m serious.”
They looked at Ye Xuan. Dao Ling said gravely, “What else did the Master say?”
Ye Xuan said, “From now on, listen to me, and we’ll manage this universe together.”
Dao Ling hesitated, then asked, “Anything else?”
Ye Xuan said, “Nothing for now…” He quickly corrected himself, “Nothing else for now.”
The crowd: “…”
