Gu An channeled his spiritual power into the earth, drawing the Five Elemental Spiritual Qi toward Heaven Mending Platform.
On the platform, where the oppressive force made it impossible for the disciples to lift their heads, they could see threads of spiritual energy converging at a single focal point. Using the corners of their eyes, they glanced toward it.
The Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe.
Kneeling beside the axe, Zuo Yijian felt the change most intensely. His pupils dilated with exhilaration.
The elder is finally going to make his move!
Heaven and earth's spiritual energy swirled around the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe, forming a vortex that rapidly coalesced into a dark purple shadow.
It was none other than Gu An's Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body!
Under the illumination of the golden light, the manifestation of the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body exuded an awe-inspiring dominance, igniting hope among the surrounding disciples.
The Sword Master of Dao had revealed himself!
The immense golden face in the sky locked its gaze onto the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body. The golden formation once again erupted with beams of golden light. This time, it was like a torrential downpour covering the entire firmament, a breathtaking spectacle for those on the Heaven Mending Platform.
Under Zuo Yijian's peripheral watch, the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body reached back and gripped the handle of the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe.
The weapon that no Tai Xuan Sect disciple could move, no matter their strength, was effortlessly lifted by this figure as though it weighed nothing.
The Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body stood alone, holding the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe. Despite its small silhouette against the vast backdrop of cascading golden light, its presence was unshakable.
At that moment, every disciple kneeling on the platform fixed their gaze upon him.
With his emergence, the oppressive pressure over the outer sect city eased. For the first time, disciples could move their necks and look around.
No one knew why, but as they looked at the Sword Master of Dao gripping the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe, all their fear dissipated.
Time seemed to slow.
Zuo Yijian raised his head, his expression fanatical.
Though he remained kneeling, his posture was more akin to one worshipping the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body.
With the axe in his right hand, the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body adjusted it to his left waist, then raised it high with a swift motion.
Heaven-Sundering Strike!
With a single swing, the entire world lost its color.
The countless golden beams of light evaporated in an instant. The vast golden formation spanning the heavens was cleaved in two. Even the massive face dissolved into nothingness. A jagged rift split the sky, a stark and shocking scar in the heavens.
"Who are you? How could you wield the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe to such a degree?" A cold, trembling voice echoed. For the first time, fear tainted the once-imposing tone.
Boom!
The sundered golden formation detonated, releasing an explosion of gale-force winds that tore through the land. Zuo Yijian instinctively lowered his head and shut his eyes.
In the Third Medicine Valley, the sudden gust swept all disciples into the air. Gu An's main body was among them. Protective barriers over the valley's gardens activated, forming glowing domes to shield the area. The forest beyond the valley trembled as trees swayed violently, threatening to be uprooted.
Similar scenes played out across Xuan Valley, the outer sect cities, and the inner sect cities. All eyes turned skyward, where the golden formation had been cleaved apart. Though none could see the details, the massive spatial rift left behind told the story of a titanic clash.
On a rooftop, Ji Xiaoyu braced against the winds, her spiritual power stabilizing her footing as tiles shattered beneath her. Squinting at the heavens, her gaze was filled with astonishment.
The sky, bathed in golden light, looked as if it had been torn to shreds.
"The Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe..." she murmured, her eyes fixed on the spectacle above.
She was well aware of the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe's reputation as one of the Nine Great Legacies of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Initially, she assumed the Sword Master of Dao had merely inherited this artifact from Xuan Tian Ancestor.
But now it was clear the Sword Master of Dao had fully mastered the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe.
Judging by the mysterious adversary's fearful tone, the Sword Master of Dao hadn't just mastered it—he had reached an unparalleled realm with it.
Could the Sword Master of Dao's animosity toward the Seven Stars Spirit Realm mean he was once part of it?
The violent winds subsided after some time.
Zuo Yijian struggled to open his eyes and saw the Sword Master of Dao calmly return the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe to its original position. Then, the Sword Master of Dao approached him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.
Zuo Yijian froze, overwhelmed by sheer joy. His mind went blank as his heart raced with exhilaration.
Before he could react, the Sword Master of Dao vanished into thin air.
As the winds completely died down, more and more disciples rose to their feet. Looking up, they saw only the remnants of golden clouds and a vast spatial rift stretching across the sky.
"We're saved!"
"That person must also be of the Immortal Dao Realm. The Sword Master of Dao vanquished him with a single strike!"
"He must be dead; otherwise, why hasn't he spoken again?"
"Who was that man, daring to oppress the Tai Xuan Sect? Thank heavens we had the Sword Master of Dao."
"Didn't you hear? The Sword Master of Dao is also in the Immortal Dao Realm. Even the Mahayana Realm is far from reaching that height!"
The outer sect city erupted in cheers.
Suspended in the air, Lu Lingjun and Su Xin Fairy were profoundly affected.
The single swing of the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe had left them trembling with a cold dread even after the fact.
The mysterious enemy they could not resist had been eradicated so effortlessly?
Su Xin Fairy glanced at Lu Lingjun, a trace of awe in her tone. "It seems the Profound Heart Realm is still tethered to the mortal plane."
Lu Lingjun remained silent, her emotions complicated.
Reaching her current realm had been her aspiration before her ascension. Yet, ever since achieving the Profound Heart Realm, she often felt a sense of helplessness. Though her cultivation had grown stronger, she felt weaker than ever before.
In a distant forest, a figure materialized. The newcomer was a man clad in golden robes. As he landed, he stumbled forward, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
The droplets of his blood scorched the grass beneath him, reducing it to ash.
Struggling to steady himself, the man began circulating his energy to suppress the violent spiritual power rampaging within him.
"Damn it… how is his power so overwhelming? And why does it contain multiple attributes?" he muttered through gritted teeth, his handsome face twisted in pain.
But it was no use. He couldn't suppress it.
He turned to flee back to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
But before he could take a step, a hand clamped down on his shoulder. His eyes widened in shock.
Before he could turn around, a soul force far surpassing the Loose Immortal Realm invaded his consciousness. His eyes went blank.
The greatest strength of a Wandering Immortal lies in the power of their soul, far beyond their physical strength.
Standing behind the golden-robed man was Gu An's true form. He had delayed his pursuit to stabilize the valley, allowing the golden-robed man to reach the forest.
This time, Gu An didn't bother with soul-searching. Instead, his soul force obliterated the man's primordial spirit, killing him instantly.
[You have successfully claimed 1,709 years of Lin Jinxian's lifespan (Loose Immortal Sixth Layer).]
Gu An took the man's storage bag and incinerated the body with Taiqing True Fire.
And so, the Loose Immortal perished in silence, his death unnoticed by the world.
Roughly half an incense stick later, several figures arrived at the site. They studied the patch of grass scorched by Lin Jinxian's immortal blood, their brows furrowed.
Eight individuals—both male and female—stood there, each emanating an extraordinary presence.
"Lin Jinxian is dead?" one of them asked grimly.
"We're not sure. Let's return and check his soul jade to see if he's still alive," one of the figures said.
Another added, "I didn't expect the Sword Master of Dao to be so powerful. The Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe he wields feels nearly as formidable as Elder Lin's weapon."
"His skill may not surpass Elder Lin's, but his spiritual power is undeniably superior," another voice reasoned.
"If Lin Jinxian is truly dead, how will we explain this to Elder Lin? And as for the Tai Xuan Sect, how should we deal with them next?" The group fell silent at this.
Though they hadn't entered the Tai Cang Dynasty, the oppressive aura of the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe had thoroughly shaken them. None of them dared venture toward the Tai Xuan Sect now.
A black-robed elder broke the silence. "Let's retreat before the Sword Master of Dao decides to come for us."
At his words, the group's expressions changed, and they disappeared instantly.
Back at the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An had been observing the entire exchange.
Eight Loose Immortals...
The Seven Stars Spirit Realm's hidden strength was astonishing, even intimidating to Gu An. No wonder the likes of Heaven-Hating Ancestor dared not set foot on the mainland.
However, it was clear they feared him just as much.
Gu An's gaze turned northward.
The Demon Ancestor was approaching fast.
After dealing with Lin Jinxian, he still had to handle the Demon Ancestor.
Today is truly a troublesome day.
Just as Gu An contemplated his next move, Lu Lingjun returned to the valley. Spotting him, she quickly dragged him upstairs into a pavilion, leaving him temporarily unable to leave.
After shutting the door behind them, Lu Lingjun turned to him. "I've made a decision. Once the Great Demon Catastrophe is over, I'm leaving the Tai Xuan Sect to explore the secret realm that Shen Zhen discovered."
Gu An raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so confident we'll survive the Great Demon Catastrophe?"
Rolling her eyes, she replied sharply, "You didn't see the Sword Master of Dao in action today, did you? With just one swing of his axe, he eradicated the enemy. With the Sword Master of Dao here, how can the human race of the Three Dynasties not endure this calamity?"
Gu An hid his satisfaction behind a concerned expression. "No matter how strong the Sword Master of Dao is, he can't possibly eliminate all the demons."
"He doesn't have to," she countered. "As long as he takes care of the Demon Ancestor and the Demon Emperor, the Great Demon Catastrophe will naturally end. I've gained a new level of respect for him after seeing him fight today. It was my first time witnessing the Sword Master of Dao wield the axe…"
She began recounting the scene with awe, describing every moment of the Sword Master of Dao's overwhelming display of power.
Meanwhile, in the Great Jiang Dynasty, northern frontier.
Xuan Tianyi stood on a cliff's edge, surrounded by towering figures. These were great cultivators from various sects. Their collective gaze was fixed on the desolate plains ahead, where demon energy churned like an approaching storm.
Liang Canghai, a leader from Cang Tian Sect, turned to Xuan Tianyi. "Earlier, a terrifying aura emanated from the direction of the Tai Xuan Sect. Do you think something's happened?"
The others also looked toward Xuan Tianyi.
Calmly, he replied, "If it came and went so quickly, it means the matter is already resolved. If it was an enemy, with the Sword Master of Dao there, anyone foolish enough to invade the Tai Xuan Sect would meet their end."
Despite his composed demeanor, Xuan Tianyi's heart was in turmoil.
The oppressive force from Lin Jinxian alone had been enough to unsettle him, a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm.
It could only have been an immortal who descended upon the Tai Xuan Sect.
As the highest-ranked cultivator among the group, Xuan Tianyi had felt the depth of the clash most keenly. Not long after the mysterious immortal arrived, an even more terrifying force obliterated them. This suggested a swift and decisive battle at the Tai Xuan Sect.
The implications sent chills down his spine.
What is the Sword Master of Dao's true realm?