If he didn’t immediately go to recruit a disciple after leaving seclusion, and waited a few more days until the news of his exit spread, Xinghuo Xunyi might come to take the initiative to become his disciple! That wouldn’t be ideal. After all, the other sacred lands had all extended invitations proactively—even the Heart Image Sect Master had personally come to recruit a disciple. If Dongbo Xueying casually waited for Xinghuo Xunyi to come begging to be his disciple, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to the Heart Image Sect Master and the others?
He had to extend an invitation proactively, just like the other sacred lands. If Xinghuo Xunyi chose the Tai Void Heavenly Palace among the Six Great Sacred Lands, no one would have anything to say about it.
“This Xunyi boy is too reckless, making things difficult for Elder Dongbo,” Xinghuo Divine Emperor quickly added.
“It’s nothing serious,” Dongbo Xueying replied casually before immediately inquiring about Xinghuo Xunyi’s cultivation progress over the years. The master and disciple promptly began discussing the Path of the Void Realm.
Beside them, Xinghuo Divine Emperor watched in silent amazement.
If it were any other Unity realm cultivator, after the Heart Image Sect Master’s recruitment had been rejected, they likely wouldn’t dare to take Xinghuo Xunyi as a disciple. Yet Dongbo Xueying accepted him with complete calm—no excitement, nervousness, or hesitation—as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
To be so composed, one was either arrogantly overconfident or truly had the capability!
“Elder Dongbo doesn’t seem the arrogant type, so he must truly have the confidence. Could it be that he’s already certain of breaking through to the Chaos realm?” Xinghuo Divine Emperor speculated inwardly. “If he truly reaches the Chaos realm in such a short time, that would be extraordinary. How long has he even been cultivating?”
What he didn’t know was that Dongbo Xueying had already reached the seventh level of the Star Tower in the Unity realm. Breaking through to the Chaos realm held no difficulty for him. Before long, he would stand at the peak of the Chaos realm—though not yet on par with Xinghuo Divine Emperor, the gap wouldn’t be too large.
—
Dongbo Xueying took the initiative to recruit Xinghuo Xunyi, and the news of Xunyi joining the Tai Void Heavenly Palace as his disciple soon spread.
“He actually chose that Unity realm kid.”
“This Xinghuo Xunyi, what was he thinking? Instead of becoming a disciple of the Heart Image Sect Master, he’d rather follow a Unity realm master.”
Other top-ranked geniuses like Cangqiong Tianyun couldn’t help but feel envy and resentment. After all, the Heart Image Sect Master hadn’t come to recruit them. Even if they joined one of the Six Great Sacred Lands, becoming a disciple of the Heart Image Sect Master required his personal willingness!
Soon, the Star Conference entered its final stage. Countless cultivators from all over gathered, their numbers even greater than at the start of the event. Today, a special “Public Dao Lecture” awaited them—an opportunity most ordinary cultivators could only dream of, to receive guidance from masters of such caliber.
Just being able to listen to their teachings was a tremendous fortune. A single moment of enlightenment might elevate a True God Ruler to the Void God realm or push a Nascent realm cultivator into the Unity realm!
“Rumble—”
Beside the Star Tower, ten names hovered in midair—the final ten disciples selected in this Star Conference. They could freely choose any sacred land to join and would be nurtured as core disciples.
On a massive battlefield spanning a hundred thousand miles, Xinghuo Xunyi and the other nine stood side by side.
“You ten may now make your choice—which sacred land you wish to join,” the Heart Image Sect Master announced from the high platform.
“I choose the Tai Void Heavenly Palace.”
“I choose the Blade Emperor City.”
“I choose the Void Temple.”
“I choose the Blade Emperor City.”
…
Under the watchful eyes of countless cultivators and the envious gazes of other geniuses, the ten disciples declared their choices. In truth, three of them had already received invitations beforehand, but publicly announcing their allegiance was part of the Star Conference’s formal procedure.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh— The ten transformed into streaks of light, flying toward the high platform and standing behind their respective masters.
Behind Dongbo Xueying stood only Xinghuo Xunyi.
Behind General Tianguang stood three, including Cangqiong Tianyun. As the strongest among the Six Great Sacred Lands, Blade Emperor City typically attracted the most disciples. Three out of ten was normal—sometimes even five or six would join them.
Behind Palace Master Jiangfu also stood three, a testament to his influence this time.
Behind Island Master Zitu stood one.
Behind Ancestor Wuze stood two, both of whom were Voidborn beings—such beings usually chose the Void Temple.
As for Star City? Not a single disciple chose it. Star City was the most unique among the Six Great Sacred Lands, rarely sending representatives to recruit disciples—hence only five masters were present. Even if someone did choose Star City, they would regret it, as the city had too few experts to provide proper guidance. Receiving teachings from the legendary Lord Luo was nearly impossible.
“Honored masters,” the Heart Image Sect Master addressed the five, “the next step is the Public Dao Lecture. Once concluded, the conference will officially end. The earlier matches were competitions among geniuses, but this lecture is what countless ordinary cultivators yearn for. You must deliver it well—traditionally, no lecture lasts less than three days.”
“Understood,” Palace Master Jiangfu nodded.
“Naturally,” General Tianguang agreed.
Island Master Zitu, Ancestor Wuze, and Dongbo Xueying had also long prepared.
“Then shall we begin with Elder Dongbo’s lecture?” the Heart Image Sect Master suggested.
Dongbo Xueying rose with a faint smile.
This was standard procedure.
Among the five masters, the lecture order was determined by strength. The strongest, Palace Master Jiangfu, would naturally be the finale—his insights in certain areas rivaled even those of a Cosmic God. As the sole Unity realm among them, Dongbo Xueying would naturally speak first.
Whoosh— Dongbo Xueying stepped into the air and descended gracefully onto the battlefield.
At this moment, countless cultivators fixed their gazes upon him.
“Let’s see just what this Dongbo Xueying is capable of.”
“Why would Xinghuo Xunyi refuse the Heart Image Sect Master yet choose him?”
Above, the Chaos realm overlords also prepared to listen carefully, while the masses below held their breaths in anticipation.
Dressed in white robes, Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged and swept his gaze across the sea of cultivators. “This lecture will focus on two paths—Illusion and Slaughter.”
His mastery of the Void Realm Path and the Slaughter Path had reached the sixth level of the Star Tower, and he had even fused Slaughter seamlessly into the Void Realm to create a seventh-level technique. Though he took greater pride in the Void Realm Path, very few cultivators specialized in illusions, whereas “Slaughter” was a field many had studied.
After all, conflict and killing were inevitable in the outside world.
“Illusions? Slaughter?” The countless geniuses below stirred with excitement. Slaughter intrigued them, and even if they couldn’t master illusions, understanding them would be valuable.
Among the Chaos realm overlords, the gaunt Palace Master Bayun smirked coldly. “Slaughter? He dares to lecture on Slaughter? Good. Then don’t blame me for humiliating him later.”
A lecture wasn’t a solitary affair—many cultivators would seek guidance, and Dongbo Xueying would select some to instruct individually.
There would even be challengers.
“I cultivate the Balong Legacy, specializing in Slaughter,” Palace Master Bayun thought with icy amusement. Having been outright rejected and dismissed by Dongbo Xueying earlier, he bore no goodwill. Moreover, Dongbo Xueying’s recent prominence—first with Xinghuo Xunyi’s victory, then his refusal of all other masters—only deepened Bayun’s resentment.
And now, Dongbo Xueying dared to lecture on Slaughter?
Palace Master Bayun, a Chaos realm overlord who had ascended through the Balong Legacy—a path of pure slaughter—listened with razor-sharp focus.
“Hmph.” He scrutinized every word, waiting for his moment.
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