542: Arrangements before seclusion

Inside the main hall of the Xu Family's Ancestral Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and respectful.

Xu Qing sat in the main seat, his gaze calmly sweeping over the hall filled with high-ranking clan members.

Grand Elder Xu Ming, Xu Liang of the Clan Law Hall, Xu Jie of the Hall of Merit, Xu Qiao of the Internal Affairs Hall, Xu Song of the External Affairs Hall, and other core figures were all present, each radiating profound Qi, at least at the Immortal Monarch Realm.

"Greetings, Clan Chief!"

Everyone bowed in unison, their voices filled with heartfelt reverence. The person before them was the true pillar of their Xu Family, a supreme existence whose might shook the Chaos Sea.

"All of you, be seated." Xu Qing slightly raised his hand, and a gentle yet irresistible force lifted everyone. "These years I've been away, you all have worked hard managing the clan's affairs."

Grand Elder Xu Ming was the first to speak, his tone filled with relief. "Reporting to the Clan Chief, thanks to your immense fortune, our Xu Family is now doing very well. Although we haven't added another Dao Ancestor for now, the Half-Ancestor Realm Cultivators have increased to twelve, and there are also one hundred thirty-five Immortal Monarchs. The clan's fortune is prosperous, far surpassing the past."

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Xu Qing's eyes.

A few hundred years were but a flick of a finger in the Cultivation World. For the Xu Family to achieve such development showed the dedication and effort of these high-ranking members.

"Excellent."

He nodded, then with a wave of his sleeve, the entire Ancestral Hall was instantly enveloped in a shimmering treasure light. Countless Heaven And Earth Treasures, divine materials, immortal metals, and exotic treasures from other races, all emitting astonishing fluctuations, emerged and piled up like mountains.

The dense Dao rhyme was almost palpable, shocking all the high-ranking members present, each breathing rapidly.

"These resources are what I've acquired in recent years. They are no longer useful to me, so I'll hand them over to the clan's treasury, to be managed and distributed by Third Grandpa, to help our Xu Family's younger generation greatly advance their cultivation."

The resources within ranged from those suitable for Dao Lords to Fourth Step Dao Ancestors. This time, he needed to enter a long period of secluded cultivation, so he might not be able to look after the clan internally.

Xu Ming's beard trembled slightly with excitement as he quickly bowed and said, "We respectfully obey the Clan Chief's decree! This old man will not fail your trust and will ensure every single resource is used effectively!"

Xu Qing nodded, his expression changing as he said solemnly, "The reason I gathered you all today is to announce one more thing. After returning to the clan and making some arrangements, I need to enter secluded cultivation to comprehend the Great Dao."

"This seclusion concerns the foundation of my Dao path, and it might take a very long time. It could be as short as ten thousand years, or as long as... millions or even billions of years, it's unknown."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Billions of years? For many Dao Lords, this was an incredibly long period. In the past, Xu Qing had never entered such a prolonged seclusion.

However, they all knew that Xu Qing's current seclusion was extraordinary. Perhaps when he emerged again, he would be powerful enough to shake the world.

"During my seclusion, all major clan affairs will be jointly discussed and decided by Xu Yuan and all of you present. If an irresistible external force is encountered..." Xu Qing's gaze swept over everyone, "you may crush this jade talisman."

He flicked his finger, and a seemingly ordinary green jade talisman landed in Xu Ming's hand. This jade talisman could contact Earth Sovereign, who had given it to him before leaving.

"We will remember!"

The high-ranking members, knowing the gravity of the matter, responded in unison.

With his instructions given, Xu Qing said no more. His figure slowly dissipated within the main hall, as if he had never appeared.

After leaving the Xuanhuang Great World, Xu Qing's figure appeared directly in the Nether Territory of the Eternal Dao Realm.

The current Nether Territory had long lost its former order.

Since the Yin Court officially raised its banner and began to contend with the old overlords, the Nether Palace and the various ancient Nether clans, the flames of war had almost never ceased.

As far as the eye could see, many Dao Domains were ruined, and resentful souls wailed everywhere.

However, amidst this Chaos, the one hundred eighty Dao Domains controlled by the Yin Court were relatively stable.

This was thanks to Xu Qing's three Dao Bodies of Nether, Yellow Springs, and Reincarnation growing increasingly powerful. He had intervened several times, crushing invading enemies with overwhelming force, establishing the Yin Court's illustrious reputation, and naturally attracting a group of powerful Cultivators and forces to pledge allegiance.

The Nether Dao Domain now presented a situation of three-way division.

The Alliance led by the Nether Palace occupied three hundred twenty-three Dao Domains; the Yin Court controlled one hundred eighty Dao Domains; and the remaining hundred-plus Dao Domains maintained neutrality, observing the situation.

Xu Qing stood in the Void Realm, overlooking the Nether Territory, his eyes profound.

He knew that those old forces would never accept defeat. If direct confrontation failed, they would resort to external tactics.

Indeed, just a few days ago, they used the righteous name of the "Qingming Pass" to resist external enemies, employing a strategy of luring the tiger away from its mountain by forcibly conscripting the Yin Court's powerful Cultivators to guard the pass.

If the Yin Court refused, it would be defying righteousness and making an enemy of all factions in the entire Eternal Ruins; if it accepted, its core strength would be drained, putting its foundation in the Nether Territory at risk.

However, breaking this situation was not difficult; Xu Qing already had a plan.

With a thought, Xu Qing's three powerful beings, radiating the Qi of Second Step Dao Ancestors, stepped out from the void, respectfully standing behind him.

At the same time, dozens of Cultivators, ranging from First Step Dao Ancestors to Half-Ancestors, were also summoned.

He said nothing more, raising his hands, and vast Ancestral power surged forth, stirring the Nether Origin.

Countless profound Dao runes formed out of thin air, then intertwined, their nodes beginning to merge into the core of the earth pulse of the one hundred eighty Dao Domains controlled by the Yin Court.

This was a grand and peerless Dao Formation, its rank comparable to the power of a Fourth Step Dao Ancestor, sufficient to defend the territory with the power of the Formation after the three Dao Bodies departed, resisting the invasion of the Nether Palace and its allied forces.

After the Formation was complete, Xu Qing instructed the three Second Step Dao Ancestor beings, "From today onwards, you three shall wield the authority of the Yin Court. All matters shall be jointly decided by you."

"We respectfully obey our Lord's decree!" The three beings bowed and accepted the order.

Then, Xu Qing looked at the group of summoned cannon fodder, saying indifferently, "You all, immediately report to Qingming Pass and await deployment. There must be no delay."

"Yes!"

That group of beings responded, and then, led by the three Dao Bodies, transformed into streaks of light, rushing towards the distant border pass.

Having completed all this, Xu Qing looked at the three individuals behind him again. With these three Second Step Dao Ancestors in charge, the territory in the Nether Territory was secure.

And the three Dao Bodies, along with that cannon fodder, would be enough to silence all criticisms.

After dealing with the hidden dangers in the Nether Dao Domain, Xu Qing's true body returned to his fundamental place—the Qiankun Great World.

Standing outside the world barrier, he overlooked this world he had personally created. This world had now propagated countless beings, its Dao principles were complete, and life flourished everywhere.

A trace of complexity flashed in Xu Qing's eyes.

"The rise and fall of all things, Reincarnation in cycles... This seclusion, to reforge earth, water, fire, and wind, and reopen Chaos, all this prosperity will return to nothingness..."

He sighed softly.

His current seclusion was to recreate Chaos, and this meant that, apart from those Transcendent beings who had already jumped out of the world's Reincarnation, the vast majority of beings within the world, whether immortal, mortal, god, or demon, would return to Chaos in the collapse of the old world.

This was an unavoidable, immeasurable calamity sweeping across the entire Qiankun Great World.

"Where the Dao lies, even if a hundred million people oppose it, I shall still go forth."

Ultimately, all sentiment transformed into resolve.

Xu Qing took a step, and his figure merged into the deep Origin of the Qiankun Great World, beginning a long seclusion of unknown years.

The entire world seemed to sense something, falling into a peculiar calm before a storm.