I Can Upgrade Everything Infinitely

"You wish to continue forward?"

Chang Mei Daoist asked.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded.

Taiyi True Monarch and Heaven-Reaching Daoist sized up Xu Qing.

"There is no one further up. Do you realize that if you continue on, you will be rejecting us? You will miss out on a great opportunity," Chang Mei Daoist said.

"I wish to continue forward to the very end of these nine-colored stairs. Regardless of whether there is anyone else up there, I want to see this path to its conclusion," Xu Qing said.

"Very well."

A smile appeared on Chang Mei Daoist’s face. He waved his hand and said, "Then go on."

"Yes."

Xu Qing bowed deeply.

BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!

A brilliant light flowed.

Chang Mei Daoist, Taiyi True Monarch, and Heaven-Reaching Daoist—the three of them turned to leave. After taking a single step, they vanished completely.

Xu Qing took a deep breath. Without the slightest hesitation, he continued forward, climbing step by step. His expression was calm as he slowly walked to the end of the nine-colored stairs.

"I can’t believe it! Xu Qing actually gave up the chance to become a Supreme Elder’s disciple!"

"Tell me about it."

"Perhaps Xu Qing is truly fated to be with the Sect Leader."

"Yeah!"

"..."

Nearby, the Shushan Elders had witnessed everything unfold.

At the end of the nine-colored stairs.

Xu Qing arrived. As he stood there, he saw an incredibly majestic figure ahead, standing in the Void with his hands clasped behind his back.

CLANG!

A sword hummed in his ears.

With just a single glance, Xu Qing felt as if he had seen the very limit of the Sword Dao, its true and magnificent manifestation. That one look seemed to reveal all of its countless mysteries to him.

Xu Qing stood in silence for a moment.

"Xu Qing."

The figure turned around. It was none other than the Sect Leader of Shushan, Chen Wangu. His gaze was calm as he watched Xu Qing, and he spoke slowly, "You’ve done well to make it here."

"I am Chen Wangu, the Sect Leader of Shushan."

Xu Qing’s pupils contracted slightly. "This disciple, Xu Qing, pays his respects to the Sect Leader!"

"Mm."

A slight smile appeared on Chen Wangu’s face. He said, "The fact that you could make it here proves you and I are fated. Moreover, your ability to comprehend the Sword Stele and obtain the Ancestral Inheritance shows your profound connection to Shu Mountain. Your aptitude is arguably the greatest in the history of our sect."

"Therefore."

"I wish to take you as my Direct Disciple. Are you willing?"

"This..."

Xu Qing frowned slightly.

"What are you hesitant about?" Chen Wangu asked.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, when I first entered the sect, I already took Elder Xu Jingtian as my master. If I were to take you as my master now... would that be appropriate?" Xu Qing answered truthfully.

"Hahaha..."

Chen Wangu laughed. "Don’t worry about that. I will speak to Xu Jingtian on your behalf."

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded. He pondered for a moment. Since the Sect Leader of Shushan had said as much, Xu Qing no longer hesitated and knelt.

"Disciple Xu Qing pays his respects to Master."

Xu Qing performed the ritual bow.

"Good, good, good."

Chen Wangu laughed heartily three times.

From this day forward.

Xu Qing was now the disciple of Chen Wangu, the Sect Leader of Shushan.

SWISH!

Chen Wangu waved his right hand, and a streak of light shot through the air, flying straight to Xu Qing. It was a sword-shaped, violet-gold Token.

"This is the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciple Token."

Chen Wangu said, "From today onward, you are my Direct Disciple—the Sect Leader of Shushan’s Direct Disciple. Your status is equivalent to that of a Shushan Elder."

"Ninety-nine percent of Shu Mountain’s resources will be open to you."

"This..."

Xu Qing’s mouth fell open, his heart filled with shock and joy. ’I never expected this... To think I’d go from being a Shushan Outer Disciple, leapfrogging Inner Sect Disciple, True Disciple, and Direct Disciple, to become the Sect Leader of Shushan’s Direct Disciple.’

In other words,

a status like this,

a position like this,

was equivalent to that of a Shushan Elder.

This also meant

he was now second only to the Sect Leader of Shushan and the Shushan Supreme Elders. With ninety-nine percent of Shu Mountain’s resources available to him, Xu Qing would never have to worry about running out of Stones of Law again.

"This disciple thanks you, Master."

Xu Qing bowed again.

"Mm."

Chen Wangu nodded slightly.

"Return to Chixia Peak for now. Nine days from now, Shu Mountain will have completed the construction of your Dao Field. At that time, a disciple acceptance ceremony will be held at your Dao Field."

Chen Wangu continued, "When the ceremony begins, you will also have the chance to meet the leading figures of Shu Mountain’s new generation: the nine great Direct Disciples and the one hundred and eight True Inheritors."

"This disciple obeys."

Xu Qing clasped his hands and bowed.

BUZZ!

As soon as he finished speaking,

Chen Wangu was already gone.

"Respectfully sending off Master."

Xu Qing bowed.

Afterward, Xu Qing had to return to Chixia Peak. The nine-colored stairs had already vanished. The Sect Leader of Shushan taking a disciple was no small matter.

He believed it wouldn’t be long before his name spread throughout the entire Central Tang Dynasty.

Nearby, after the three Supreme Elders witnessed Chen Wangu accept Xu Qing, they left without lingering long, despite their slight regret.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The other Shushan Elders also dispersed.

Before long, the area was deserted.

By this point, Xu Qing had also left, making his way back to Chixia Peak.

"Master, you’ve returned."

SWISH!

The moment Xu Qing returned, Lan Yun came out to greet him.

"Mm."

Xu Qing glanced at Lan Yun and nodded calmly.

SWISH!

Just then,

Xu Qing saw a familiar face. It was the Shushan Elder Xu Jingtian, who was also the first master Xu Qing had acknowledged after joining Shu Mountain. Although Xu Jingtian hadn’t taught him much, he had still helped Xu Qing a great deal.