The Black Yàn Demon King felt a hand press down on his right shoulder. Instinctively, he attempted to leap away, but his demonic energy froze in an instant, completely immobilized.
His expression shifted drastically as a deep-seated fear overtook him.
The crimson-scaled snake and Emperor Xie also widened their eyes in shock as they saw a shadow materialize behind the Black Yàn Demon King. It was a figure enshrouded in dark purple demonic energy, radiating an aura of unparalleled dominance.
The Sword Master of the Dao!
Emperor Xie immediately identified the shadow's true identity. His body stiffened, frozen in place, as though even the slightest movement might invite calamity.
Emperor Xie's immobility was a choice born of fear, but the Black Yàn Demon King simply couldn't move.
Gu An stood behind the Black Yàn Demon King, his gaze calm yet brimming with disdain. Originally, he had intended to let the demon king speak and glean some intelligence, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Why bother listening when he could extract everything through a soul search?
All Gu An needed to confirm was whether the Black Yàn Demon King harbored hostility toward humanity.
Despite exerting all his strength, the Black Yàn Demon King found his demonic energy unresponsive, and his soul trapped within his body. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Gu An's silhouette, and his fear reached an unprecedented peak.
Though he had lived for thousands of years, nothing had ever filled him with such dread—not even when he lost to the Demon Emperor in the past.
This fear wasn't rooted in defeat but in the unknown.
The opponent had shattered his understanding of power by subduing him with just one hand.
The Black Yàn Demon King struggled to open his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, an overwhelming surge of divine consciousness invaded his mind. His eyes instantly dulled, stripped of life and clarity.
The crimson-scaled snake immediately jumped from its perch and prostrated itself on the ground. Trembling, it stammered, "I... I mean no harm... Please, mighty senior, spare my life..."
Emperor Xie said nothing. Though he knew the Sword Master of the Dao wouldn't kill him, the sudden appearance of such a terrifying figure left him deeply shaken. Memories of the Demon Master's demise replayed vividly in his mind.
What level of cultivation had the Sword Master of the Dao reached?
The Black Yàn Demon King, while not one of the seventy-two Great Demon Kings, was a force to be reckoned with. His cultivation was barely inferior to that of the Demon Master. The territory under his control had long resisted assimilation by the Demon Emperor.
With no response from the Sword Master of the Dao, Emperor Xie and the crimson-scaled snake dared not act rashly.
Running was futile. If even the Black Yàn Demon King was suppressed so easily, what hope did they have of escaping?
As for the idea of attacking the Sword Master of the Dao, that would be pure folly.
The crimson-scaled snake shuddered internally. So the rumors were true after all...
When news spread that the Sword Master of the Dao had slain the Demon Master with a single strike, the crimson-scaled snake had dismissed it as exaggeration. But witnessing the current scene, even if the tale wasn't entirely accurate, the truth was frightening enough.
When the Demon Emperor had assigned this mission, the snake had nearly broken down in despair.
It had taken all its willpower to adjust its mindset before embarking on this journey. Now, faced with the Sword Master of the Dao, it felt itself unraveling once more.
Too terrifying!
No, it wasn't just terrifying—it was terrifying for a demon!
This was worse than facing the Demon Ancestor. At least the Demon Ancestor wouldn't appear out of nowhere.
Two agonizing hours passed. Every second felt like an eternity to the two demons, their nerves frayed beyond measure.
Finally, Gu An's right hand ignited with a blue flame, quickly enveloping the Black Yàn Demon King.
Under the horrified gazes of the crimson-scaled snake and Emperor Xie, the Black Yàn Demon King was reduced to ashes within moments, leaving no trace of his soul.
[You have successfully extracted 7,090 years of lifespan from the Black Yàn Demon King (Nirvana Realm, third level).]
Gu An smirked inwardly. Not bad. At least it wasn't a wasted effort.
The Black Yàn Demon King's memories revealed that he had once been a prodigy of the demon race, his brilliance overshadowing even the Demon Emperor. However, the Demon Emperor's fortuitous encounters eventually allowed him to surpass the demon king.
Had the Black Yàn Demon King avoided coming to the Tai Xuan Sect, he might have lived for another seventy thousand years.
Why couldn't they just enjoy living? Why stir up trouble?
Gu An thought to himself, shaking his head. He turned his gaze toward the crimson-scaled snake.
The Black Yàn Demon King's demon core now rested in Gu An's hand. He tossed it into his storage pouch for future use. Unfortunately, the demon king carried no storage items of his own, a testament to his arrogance and disdain for material possessions.
The crimson-scaled snake immediately spoke up, "Senior, are you the Sword Master of the Dao?"
Though it had already guessed as much, it needed confirmation. This was a matter of utmost importance for its mission from the Demon Emperor.
"Yes," Gu An replied curtly.
The snake heaved a sigh of relief and continued, "The Demon Emperor sent me to request an alliance with you. He hopes to join forces against the entity behind the Demon Master, as well as the Demon Ancestor. Once the Great Demon Catastrophe is over, the demon race is willing to coexist peacefully with humanity. After all, this continent is vast enough for both races; there's no need for mutual destruction."
"Who is behind the Demon Master?" Gu An asked.
The Black Yàn Demon King's memories contained no information about the Demon Master's benefactor. Nor did they reveal any interaction with cultivators from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. The demon king had been one of the Demon Master's trusted confidants, cultivated as a secret weapon to counter the Demon Emperor's growing power.
The crimson-scaled snake replied, "His Majesty said this entity refers to himself as Tianming Ancestor. Whether he's human or demon is unclear, but his cultivation is extraordinarily powerful. He can easily seal His Majesty's demonic power. Tianming Ancestor is very likely a rumored 'Loose Immortal,' two major realms above the Mahayana Realm!"
Loose Immortal!
This was the first time Emperor Xie had ever heard of such a realm. Standing off to the side, he appeared visibly tense.
Gu An asked, "What kind of collaboration does he propose?"
He needed to see sincerity.
The crimson-scaled snake explained, "His Majesty is confined to the demon lands and cannot directly wage war. However, he is willing to dispatch demons to support humanity. These demons were cultivated in secret, and they could fight as Tai Xuan Sect's demon companions under Emperor Xie's command. His Majesty could even publicly declare Emperor Xie a traitor."
"How many demons, and at what cultivation level?"
"Three Mahayana Realm demons, ten Profound Heart Realm demons, and a thousand demon troops, all at least at the Void Crossing Realm."
Hearing this, Emperor Xie looked at the crimson-scaled snake in astonishment. He had no idea his father had secretly cultivated so many powerful demons.
It seemed his father had been planning this for a long time!
A rare smile appeared on Emperor Xie's face, marking the first time he felt aligned with his father's actions.
Gu An also acknowledged the Demon Emperor's sincerity. This force could indeed help humanity in their time of need.
Noticing Gu An's silence, the crimson-scaled snake added, "Throughout history, demons have destroyed humans, and humans have destroyed demons, in an endless cycle. Only the sacred lands remain untouched. His Majesty finds this peculiar and wishes to break this pattern. As stated in your Tai Xuan Immortal Lord texts, 'An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.'"
Gu An turned to leave, his voice echoing faintly: "Have him take you to the elders of Tai Xuan Sect."
He disappeared into the shadows, as though he had never been there.
"Thank you, Sword Master. If peace reigns on the continent, the demon race will always remember your kindness!" the crimson-scaled snake exclaimed, its voice filled with relief and gratitude.
Emperor Xie bowed deeply toward Gu An, his posture respectful.
It was only after a long silence that the crimson-scaled snake heaved a sigh of relief and muttered, "The Sword Master is terrifying. That was the Black Yàn Demon King, and he was killed without even a chance to resist."
Emperor Xie's gaze was resolute. "As you said, 'An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.' Perhaps the Sword Master of the Dao is the savior destined to end the continent's suffering."
The crimson-scaled snake nodded in agreement. It felt the same.
As autumn blanketed the mountains and rivers, Gu An wandered through the Third Medicine Valley, inspecting various garden areas. An Xin followed closely behind him.
A month had passed since the night he slew the Black Yàn Demon King.
The Tai Xuan Sect remained peaceful, but Gu An noticed many disciples constructing teleportation arrays near the sect's borders. Emperor Xie was among them, signaling the sect's willingness to cooperate with the demon race.
With humanity continually retreating and the situation growing increasingly dire, the Tai Xuan Sect was making a bold gamble—a gamble rooted in their trust in the Sword Master of the Dao.
After a while, Gu An paused and gave An Xin a few instructions before leaving on his own.
An Xin watched her master's retreating figure, blinking. She felt that his demeanor had become even more remarkable, though she couldn't quite articulate why.
This newfound presence made her increasingly attached to Gu An. Whenever he appeared, she felt an irresistible urge to be near him. Even in silence, she found his presence comforting and fulfilling.
Gu An flew swiftly on his sword, heading for a teleportation platform and traveling to Xuan Valley.
Upon arriving, he quietly departed again, this time heading to a distant border of the Tai Cang Dynasty.
In a forest where trees lay toppled and blood and flesh were strewn about, the scene was gruesome beyond words. It was a battlefield littered with the corpses of demons.
Zhang Buku, drenched in blood, leaned against a mountainside, panting heavily. His long hair clung to him in matted clumps, sticky with congealed blood. His chest was riddled with horrific wounds, and his eyes were filled with exhaustion.
He had just survived yet another brutal battle.
Since the outbreak of the Great Demon Catastrophe, Zhang Buku had been relentlessly hunted by demons who sought to devour him, as well as by malevolent spirits who craved his destruction.
Every three or four days, he was forced into combat.
He had suffered countless injuries, recovered repeatedly, and narrowly escaped death time and again. The constant cycle had left him utterly drained.
Many times, he had considered giving up. But each time, the encouragement of his shishu, Gu An, reignited his determination and gave him the strength to persevere.
"I wonder if Shishu is still safe. The demons rampaging across the land are growing more powerful. I hope he doesn't encounter any danger..." Zhang Buku thought, staring at his bloodied hands. He used these thoughts to distract himself from the pain.
Unbeknownst to him, a figure hovered silently above, observing him.
It was Gu An.
His aura had completely vanished, making it impossible for Zhang Buku to sense his presence.
Seeing Zhang Buku's injuries, Gu An felt a pang of guilt.
Ever since their last meeting, Gu An had occasionally used his divine sense to check on Zhang Buku.
Through his observations, he knew that Zhang Buku was kinder than most. He never bullied anyone, human or demon, and often went out of his way to help the weak. Yet, few were willing to accept his kindness. Even those he saved would part ways after only a few days of companionship.
Zhang Buku had spent his life searching for camaraderie, yearning to escape loneliness. Despite countless injuries and rejections, he never grew resentful. The only time he had truly despaired was when he had contemplated suicide during their last meeting.
Moved by Zhang Buku's resilience and compassion, Gu An decided to intervene.
He used his divine ability, Heaven and Earth's Nine Transformations, to transform into a sparrow. Descending from the sky, he landed in front of Zhang Buku.
Chirping a few times, he caught Zhang Buku's attention.
Zhang Buku looked up and forced a smile. "Little sparrow... Are you worried about me?"
Gu An hopped forward, then turned back to chirp again.
When Zhang Buku didn't respond, Gu An hopped forward once more and repeated his call.
This time, Zhang Buku understood. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "You want me to follow you?"
The sparrow chirped again. Zhang Buku mustered his strength, forcing himself to stand. Despite his pain, he limped after the sparrow, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
As sunlight streamed through the trees, illuminating his battered form, the blood on his body began to glisten faintly.