"I want to personally end him!"
Gu An's voice reverberated through the grand hall. The flickering flames danced more violently as if trembling at his words.
The Punishment Demon Lord, whose shoulder was firmly pressed under Gu An's hand, felt a chill coursing through his heart. Even under the Sacred Minister's overtures, the Sword Master of the Dao remained this domineering. It became clear that this was someone who did not let grievances go unaddressed.
Hearing Gu An's declaration, the Sacred Minister fell into silence.
Gu An, however, was in no rush. He patiently awaited the Sacred Minister's response. His intent wasn't driven by rage but was instead a deliberate move to establish his boundaries with the Sacred Court. Moreover, this was a chance to prove that his enmity extended solely toward the Great Ming Sacred King.
"The Sacred Kings of the Sacred Court are figures of profound virtue. Even if they are to perish, it is the Sacred Court's prerogative to handle their fate," the Sacred Minister finally replied, his earlier genial tone now replaced with one devoid of warmth.
The Punishment Demon Lord grew tense. If these two clashed, both he and Heavenly Prison would be doomed.
The Sacred Minister then shifted his tone, saying, "However, if you, Sword Master, are willing to join the Sacred Court—even in name alone—I will personally deliver the Great Ming Sacred King to you. You will not be required to accept a position bound by fate nor will you need to undertake missions. All I ask is that you stand with us when the Heavenly Spirit World faces annihilation."
Join in name alone?
Gu An immediately thought of the Immortal Dynasty, which had similarly sought to recruit him in the past. With such a rival looming, it made sense for the Sacred Court to feel uneasy about an unaffiliated powerhouse.
Even though the Sacred Court might not fully know the Sword Master of the Dao's identity, that was secondary. The primary objective was ensuring that the masses saw the celebrated Sword Master standing under the Sacred Court's banner.
Gu An didn't inherently oppose joining the Sacred Court. After all, without allegiance, one often amassed a greater number of enemies. What he rejected was the binding aspect of fate that came with many such affiliations.
"Fine," Gu An said, his voice calm.
The Sacred Minister raised his hand, and a golden token flew toward Gu An. Lifting his right hand, Gu An caught the token effortlessly.
The token was light as a feather, nearly 20 centimeters long and four fingers wide. Its edges were intricately carved with dragon forms, and at the top were two fiery phoenixes, their claws interlocked in perfect symmetry. Its craftsmanship exuded an aura of unparalleled elegance.
Engraved upon the token were three words:
Sacred Sword Three!
"This title, Sacred Sword, is one I bestow upon you," the Sacred Minister explained. "The number three denotes your rank within the heavens. The Sacred Kings themselves are of the third rank. A figure like yourself, already in the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm, would typically warrant a higher position. However, since you refuse the bond of fortune, the Sacred Court cannot fully entrust its power to you. I hope you understand."
"This token," he continued, "is crafted from the same material as other Sacred Court tokens, but I have refrained from adding restrictive formations to it, so as not to provoke your suspicion. Its sole purpose is to signify your identity. The token's unique composition ensures that no other faction can replicate it."
Hearing this, Gu An inwardly smirked. So this Sacred Minister had everything planned before even arriving?
But he had to admit, the Sacred Court's resources and foresight were unparalleled. It was an organization that had the clout to demand such audacity.
The Sacred Court was led not only by the Sacred Kings, who could reach the Dao Void Profound Immortal Realm, but also the elusive Sacred Gods rumored to be in the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm. Above them all was the enigmatic Divine Sovereign. Combined, the Sacred Court's power was terrifying to contemplate.
What made it even more formidable was its depth across all cultivation realms. The sheer number of high-level cultivators at its disposal dwarfed any single faction.
Gu An, now capable of perceiving Qi Fortune, noted that the Sacred Court's fortune far exceeded that of every other faction in the Heavenly Spirit World, even when combining the likes of the Immortal Dynasty.
"From this day forward," the Sacred Minister declared, "you are the Sacred Sword of the Sacred Court. This title has been crafted solely for you. In due course, it will be proclaimed across the realms. As a sign of our good faith, I will ensure your Sacred Court stipend is delivered to the Tai Cang Continent, sparing you the need to appear at court. Are you satisfied?"
Gu An replied, "Naturally, I am. My thanks to the Sacred Minister."
The Sacred Minister's demeanor softened. "From now on, let us address one another as equals, as fellow Daoists. Although Heavenly Prison does not share in the Sacred Court's fortune, it remains under our jurisdiction. If you find this Warden unsuitable, feel free to end his life, and I will assign someone else."
Hearing this, the Punishment Demon Lord's face turned pale with despair. He fell to his knees, trembling, and began pleading for mercy. "Please spare me, my lord… I beg you…"
Gu An released his grip on the man's shoulder, allowing him to collapse to the floor. The Punishment Demon Lord immediately knelt, bowing repeatedly until his forehead struck the ground.
This once-proud Unrestrained Primordial Immortal was now a picture of humiliation, stripped of all dignity.
"Let him keep the position," Gu An finally said.
The Sacred Minister smiled faintly before his form dissolved into golden light. The light coalesced and disappeared into the void.
The Punishment Demon Lord let out a deep breath of relief, his body trembling with gratitude. "Great Ming Sacred King, your day has come!"
The thought of the Great Ming Sacred King's impending downfall filled the Punishment Demon Lord with glee. Turning his attention back to Gu An, his heart swelled with profound gratitude. Though the Sacred Minister had clearly abandoned him, the Sword Master of the Dao had chosen mercy. How could he not be grateful?
In his heart, he vowed to do everything possible to curry favor with this terrifying yet magnanimous figure.
Perhaps this could be my chance to rise again.
Returning to Xuan Valley, Gu An entered the Eight Views Heavenly Cave and settled beneath the Azure Vine Tree. Taking out the golden token, he examined it thoughtfully.
After thorough inspection, he confirmed that the token was free of traps or hidden mechanisms. It wasn't even a functional artifact.
He had to admit that the Sacred Minister had shown remarkable sincerity. Even though Gu An remained critical of the Sacred Court's past decisions, he couldn't deny that the Sacred Minister's overtures had succeeded in winning him over.
"This Sacred Minister… rising to such heights is no accident."
Gu An didn't want to get too close to the Sacred Minister. Agreeing to join the Sacred Court was merely a means to reduce trouble.
The Sacred Minister's cultivation at the ninth level of the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm was a significant pressure for Gu An.
He had no intention of testing his combat ability against someone of the same realm. His philosophy was simple: higher realms crush lower realms. The next step was clear—accumulate lifespan and break through to the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao as soon as possible!
Having lower cultivation than others gave Gu An a constant sense of insecurity.
Given the Sacred Court's methods, there was no guarantee they wouldn't turn against him one day. With that in mind, he needed to grow stronger, quickly.
The Azure Vine Tree seemed to sense Gu An's unease. It extended two vine tendrils and gently massaged his shoulders.
Gu An closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax.
Now, it was only a matter of waiting for the Sacred Minister to deliver the Great Ming Sacred King.
If the Sacred Minister was indeed willing to give him up, the Great Ming Sacred King would not surrender without a fight. It would be quite the spectacle.
By the time night fell, Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley.
The autumn night sky was studded with stars, shimmering like a painted canvas.
Standing outside the building, Gu An admired the moonlight.
Long Qing ran to his side and stretched out his arms. "Carry me!" he demanded.
Gu An picked up Long Qing and chuckled. "Aren't you a bit old for this? Aren't you supposed to be a little man?"
At five years old, Long Qing wore an exquisitely tailored blue outfit. His face was adorable, with bright eyes that radiated mischief.
Hearing Gu An's words, Long Qing playfully pulled down his eyelid with his finger and stuck out his tongue. "I don't care! I want Master to carry me!"
Gu An couldn't help but pinch Long Qing's small nose. Why did it feel like An Xin had raised him with a bit of a girlish streak?
"Master, have you ever been to the stars?" Long Qing suddenly asked, pointing to the sky.
"No, I haven't," Gu An replied absentmindedly. "Do you want to go?"
"Yes! I dreamed about it recently. I was flying among the stars…" Long Qing said, his face full of wonder.
Gu An patiently engaged with him, though his thoughts wandered to Long Xin and Lu Qiuxian during their childhoods.
Chu Lu had a child as well, but the infant was barely a year old when Chu Lu was killed by the Black Xuan Emperor.
While Gu An carried the memories of those lives, he didn't dwell on them obsessively. They were too distant from his current reality.
Gu An firmly believed that the person he was now was his truest self. The cycles of reincarnation were merely a tool for becoming stronger.
He was the main body; all other selves were reflections.
Perhaps at a certain level, reincarnation trials were necessary—like the ones Ji Xiaoya had experienced.
As Gu An's thoughts meandered, he suddenly felt the presence of a Dao Void Profound Immortal's aura flaring in the distance.
Focusing his gaze, he saw a Dao Void Profound Immortal flying out of the Sacred Court and swiftly heading toward the cosmos.
However, a massive hand of void emerged from the darkness above the cosmos. In an instant, it seized the Dao Void Profound Immortal.
The Profound Immortal was nearly at the edge of the Desolation Domain, just shy of escaping into it.
Gu An could discern that the void hand was a manifestation of divine thought.
The Sacred Minister!
The aura of the void hand matched that of the Sacred Minister Gu An had encountered before—only much stronger.
Once the Profound Immortal was captured, the void hand vanished, taking the captive along with it.
Gu An noticed many powerful divine senses probing from within the Heavenly Spirit World, including those of Divine Thought True Immortals. However, only two places emitted such senses—the Sacred Court and the Immortal Dynasty.
Indeed, the world was filled with hidden powerhouses.
Gu An mused silently. Thankfully, he hadn't offended too many people, and each breakthrough was protected by a lifespan barrier. Otherwise, he might have been crushed long ago.
The public capture of a Dao Void Profound Immortal seemed almost too convenient, leading Gu An to suspect it was a deliberate demonstration by the Sacred Minister.
A display of power!
After all, without the Sacred Minister's intervention, the Dao Void Profound Immortal wouldn't have stood a chance of escaping the Sacred Court.
Even Gu An felt a twinge of fear. Lesser factions, lacking such powerful elders, would be even more cowed.
Of course, only those in the Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal Realm or higher could truly grasp the magnitude of what had just occurred.
Those at the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm might have sensed the aura but lacked the speed to follow the events.
Gu An withdrew his divine sense and carried Long Qing upstairs.
Listening to the child's recounting of his dream, Gu An found it both abstract and amusing.
An Xin rolling on the stars? The Bull Demon King fighting against a star? The imagery was utterly absurd.
Five days later.
Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley from Nian Chu Cave Residence. He was in a good mood and sought out Shen Xin Zi to discuss Journey to the West.
Shen Xin Zi already knew that Gu An had authored the tale. However, Gu An insisted it was something he had heard and adapted from his dreams, which only deepened Shen Xin Zi's reverence for the story.
Because of this, even when Shen Xin Zi's interpretations differed from Gu An's, he held firm to his own views and often tried to persuade Gu An.
Their debates were lengthy.
"Do you think you understand Journey to the West better than Pan An?" Gu An finally said, exasperated.
Shen Xin Zi responded indifferently, "What's so special about Pan An? He's just a writer. What does he know about the journey?"
Gu An could only roll his eyes and sarcastically give him a thumbs-up. "You win!"
With that, Gu An turned and left.
Shen Xin Zi didn't seem to mind, resuming his reading.
Gu An flew toward the outer sect city. He sensed two powerful presences at the edge of the continent, both at the Dao Void Profound Immortal Realm.
One of the auras belonged to the Dao Void Profound Immortal who had been captured by the Sacred Minister five days prior. Now, however, the aura was weak, indicating severe injuries.
Gu An hadn't expected the Sacred Minister to act so quickly—delivering the Great Ming Sacred King already.