“I choose the Qinglian(Azure Lutos) Inheritance!” Qin Ruqing’s resolute voice echoed through the space.

The Dao Sovereign Fusheng nodded, his long eyebrows fluttering slightly, as if neither surprised nor particularly pleased.

“And why is that?”

Why indeed.

Qin Ruqing sat properly, her eyes lowered as she replied earnestly, “I inferred from what the Dao Sovereign previously mentioned that the key to saving the world likely lies in whether the Dao Ancestor can return or in the Azure Lutos Inheritance itself. As the only one with the Azure Lutos Dao Physique, I bear an unavoidable responsibility toward the impending calamity that will befall the human race.”

This answer was, of course, flawless, but it inevitably came across as somewhat lacking in sincerity.

The Dao Sovereign Fusheng remarked, “I have already used the art of retrospection to observe your life. You do not seem like someone who places the grand cause of the nation and its people above all else.”

His implication was clear: Qin Ruqing’s reason wasn’t convincing enough.

Qin Ruqing took a deep breath, acknowledging the truth in the Dao Sovereign’s words.

“I am indeed not that person!”

“But at this point, it is no longer entirely up to me. I feel as though a force is pushing me forward. I desire glory, the elevation of my family’s status, and the freedom to live unrestrained in the world. But these desires come with conditions: absolute power and a peaceful environment. And right now, I possess neither.”

“If I want to achieve my desires, I must bear the responsibilities that come with them.”

“I understand this reasoning very well!”

Qin Ruqing had heard about the concept of “momentum” long ago.

The times create heroes, and great momentum cannot be defied.

Momentum can either elevate a person or destroy them.

But before, it was just something she’d heard; now, she was experiencing it firsthand.

In this era of rising heroes and countless talents, she had gained glory she never dared to imagine before.

This era allowed heroes to shine brightly, but the darkness behind that brilliance naturally required those same heroes to bear it.

If she didn’t want to bear it, she could simply exit the stage.

But Qin Ruqing was unwilling.

Since she had stepped onto the stage, she wanted to stand in the center, to be the most dazzling and eye-catching figure.

The burden she had to carry was indeed heavy.

But fortunately, her ambitions could bear it.

As her voice resonated through the space, Qin Ruqing listened to it and found it pleasing.

The Dao Sovereign Fusheng remained silent for a while before uttering a single word: “Good.”

It was unclear whether he was merely acknowledging her reasoning or praising her.

Qin Ruqing then asked, “However, I would request that the Dao Sovereign share any clues regarding the Azure Lutos Inheritance.”

If the inheritance didn’t exist, so be it; she would accept her fate.

But if there were no clues at all, she truly wouldn’t know what to do.

Fortunately, the Dao Sovereign provided her with a clear direction.

Pointing towards the east, he said, “While it is uncertain whether the Dao Ancestor left behind the inheritance, based on the notes left by the first generation of the Dao Ancestor’s disciples, we—myself and Yue Ming—have speculated that, having foreseen the impending calamity for the human race, the Dao Ancestor likely left behind a contingency plan. And this plan should be in the Sixth Domain.”

The Sixth Domain!

The place where traces of immortals were said to have appeared!

Qin Ruqing felt a sense of inevitability.

She candidly remarked, “It is said that the Sixth Domain is the residence of immortals. There were mortals who accidentally entered it and ascended to immortality in one step. Nowadays, the noble families in the cultivation world compete fiercely in the Hundred Clans Tournament and for places in the Void Realm, all seemingly for the Sixth Domain!”

To put it simply, everything revolved around the traces of immortals in the Sixth Domain and the opportunity for ascension!

However, for some reason, an odd expression appeared on Fusheng’s face. “A single step to ascension… So the current world of cultivation has fallen this far? Even ascension hasn’t been seen for a long time, and people have to scramble to the Sixth Domain, a place of certain death, to seek it.”

The Land of Death!

Qin Ruqing was good at catching the key points.

She didn’t care about the decline of the cultivation world—of course it would decline!

How could it not when it was beaten so badly by the Beast Tribe?

She carefully asked what she was concerned about: “Dao Sovereign, what does the Land of Death mean?”

If people went there just to die, then why would she bother with all this effort?

Fusheng looked at her and surprisingly smiled. “Naturally, it means a one-in-a-million chance of survival. So, you need to quickly enhance your strength.”

This little girl’s current level didn’t match the status of being a Dao Ancestor’s heir.

Enhancing strength…

Qin Ruqing bitterly smiled, hinting openly, “Dao Sovereign might not know, but because of the Dao Ancestor’s second commandment, not only is his name rarely mentioned in the cultivation world, but even information about the Azure Lutos Dao Physique is scarcely recorded.”

“I’ve gone through countless hardships, barely managing to develop the Dao Physique to its second stage, but as for further development, I have no clue where to start.”

Qin Ruqing knew her situation well.

What was holding her back wasn’t her cultivation level—after all, with the Qinglian Dao Physique, her cultivation speed was incredibly fast.

She had been suppressing her progress all along.

What was truly blocking her was the Dao Physique itself.

Each time the Dao Physique advanced to a new stage, it brought a qualitative leap in her power.

Her true combat prowess emerged after she developed the second stage in the small floating world, awakening her life flame and innate divine abilities.

But as for how to advance to the third stage, Qin Ruqing truly had no idea now.

Even the Celestial Grade library couldn’t help, so Qin Ruqing’s only hope rested with the Dao Sovereign before her.

Don’t think she didn’t know that this mighty being just wanted her to choose Qinglian.

Now that she had chosen, she deserved a little reward, didn’t she?

So, Qin Ruqing’s words were quite straightforward.

Fusheng pondered for a moment, then told Qin Ruqing something that shocked her immensely.

“The sparse records about the Azure Lutos Dao Physique in the present world, especially the saying about the three stages, were actually spread by me.”

“I made the description vague, but that was the best I could do without going against the Dao Ancestor’s wishes.”

“Since you brought it up, I’ll tell you—The Azure Lutos Dao Physique, also known as the Chaotic Dao Physique, strictly speaking, only has two stages.”

“Your current stage can only be considered as a preliminary awakening; it hasn’t undergone a true divine transformation.”

A true divine transformation…

Qin Ruqing’s feelings were indescribable at the moment.

If she had to describe it, it would be like:

She thought she had mastered a craft to perfection, and that achieving mastery was just around the corner.

Then one day, a highly respected person told her, “Little girl, you’re just at the beginner’s level.”

Under normal circumstances, Qin Ruqing’s temperament would have led her to argue a bit, but the one advising her was an expert in this field.

So, Qin Ruqing… got stuck.

Perhaps her expression was too vivid, as Fusheng smiled, his long eyebrows curving into an S-shape.

“There’s no need to think too much. Considering the resources you had access to, developing the Dao Physique to this extent already shows you’re exceptionally gifted.”

“I just mentioned that the Qinglian Dao Physique has only two stages. The first stage is the ultimate exploration of the physical body. But at this stage, you are still just an ordinary mortal.”

“The second stage, if you complete it, will make you truly possess the body of an immortal.”

The body of an immortal!

Qin Ruqing’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

Was it what she thought it meant?

As long as she fully awakened the Qinglian Dao Physique and caused it to undergo a divine transformation, she could obtain an immortal body before ascension?

“What must I do?” Qin Ruqing earnestly inquired.

“There are three conditions,” Fusheng replied.

“First, you must at least master five types of rules, with one as your primary Dao path, and cultivate it to the pinnacle.”

“But this condition, you’ve already met.

Qin Ruqing was initially shocked.

Mastering five types of rules?

That sounded incredibly difficult.

But then she heard the powerful figure mention that she had already met the requirements.

“When did I meet them…?” she thought. Suddenly, her eyes widened as a realization struck her: it had to be the six rule caves she had previously conquered!