The Sacred Minister's breakthrough and the descent of the Annihilation God Emperor shook the heavens!
Gu An attempted to calculate the trajectory of fate again, only to find the future shrouded in a dense fog. Many events were now beyond his comprehension.
Most troubling was Gu An's inability to discern the purpose behind the Annihilation God Emperor's arrival in the Heavenly Sprit Grand World.
Long Zhan's era was a distant memory. Even the Battle Court, once established by Long Zhan, had become a legend of the past. The Annihilation God Emperor, having existed since then, was likely even stronger now. Gu An couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Even though the aura of this Annihilation God Emperor was only at the level of the ninth layer of the Free Immortal Realm, Gu An was convinced that his true form was an extraordinarily difficult existence to contend with.
Under Gu An's watchful gaze, the meteor carrying the aura of the Annihilation God Emperor rapidly approached the Heavenly Sprit Grand World.
The powerful beings within the Heavenly Sprit Grand World were also alarmed by the arrival of the Annihilation God Emperor. Their divine senses stretched out to investigate, yet none dared to obstruct his descent.
In the Sacred Domain of the Sacred Court, a vast sea of thunder blanketed the sky, stretching for tens of thousands of miles. The Sacred Minister, standing amidst the tribulation lightning, gazed upwards, his eyes filled with trepidation.
He had anticipated that his tribulation would attract trouble but had not foreseen the arrival of such a formidable presence!
The aura of the Annihilation God Emperor reminded him of the Primordial Immortal King. Cursing the heavens for their injustice, he gritted his teeth and pressed forward with his breakthrough.
Once the tribulation began, there was no turning back. It was a battle of life and death—either he succeeded or perished!
The Sacred Minister relied on the Sacred Court's destiny to attempt his breakthrough. He could not afford to fail, for his failure would deal a devastating blow to the entire Sacred Court, whose destiny was intertwined with every soul within it.
Layer upon layer of great formations shielded the Sacred Minister, radiating dazzling light and exuding boundless pressure as they resisted the heavenly might. The chaotic interaction of these forces disrupted the natural order, causing natural disasters to erupt across the surrounding mountains, rivers, and seas.
As the Sacred Minister kept his gaze fixed on the sky, a meteor streaked across the heavens. Its blazing light pierced through the rolling thunderclouds, rendering the lightning insignificant in comparison.
It was not only the Sacred Minister who saw the meteor. Cultivators and demons across the realms bore witness to its fiery trail.
In the Ye Residence.
Ye Lan, standing in the courtyard, also caught sight of the meteor streaking across the distant sky. For reasons she couldn't explain, a chill ran through her as she watched.
Turning to Gu An, she asked, "Did you see that meteor just now?"
Gu An nodded. "Did you make a wish?" he teased.
Ye Lan rolled her eyes, her brows knitting with worry. "I don't know why, but the sight of that meteor filled me with dread. Could it be another extraterrestrial demon descending upon us?"
Gu An chuckled lightly. "What's there to fear? When has the Tai Xuan Sect ever faced true calamity? Everything always feels peaceful. If there's any danger, it's usually out in the overseas heavens."
"You can't think that way forever. You can't always place your hope in others. Even the Sword Master of the Dao won't stay forever," Ye Lan replied, shaking her head.
Gu An reassured her with a grin. "But I am the Sword Master of the Dao. Don't worry."
Ye Lan burst out laughing. "Really? Then, mighty Sword Master, can you teach me some divine abilities?"
"That's not out of the question," Gu An said, his tone playful. "But you'll have to say something nice first."
"Oh, you want flattery?" Ye Lan smirked, flashing a coquettish smile as she rose from her seat and approached him.
Gu An quickly raised his hand in surrender. "I was joking!"
"Oh no, I'm taking it seriously now!" Ye Lan teased.
Boom!
The fiery meteor tore through the sea of clouds, carrying a terrifying aura as it plummeted toward the mountains below. Upon impact, it obliterated everything within a radius of ten thousand miles, including towering mountains and dense forests. A blinding light erupted, and massive clouds of dust rose, forming colossal walls of debris that swept outward, destroying everything in their path.
The ground quaked violently, as though the apocalypse had arrived.
As the shockwave spread across the horizon, the epicenter of the explosion erupted in a wave of flames so intense they seemed capable of tearing through the heavens.
This otherworldly power wreaked havoc on everything in its wake with merciless cruelty.
Time passed—how long was unclear.
The deafening roars of the explosion eventually faded, though the earth still churned with clouds of dust, obscuring the skies. The once thunderous noise gave way to an eerie silence.
From within the billowing clouds, a figure emerged.
Clad in a black cloak, with black-scaled armor gleaming coldly beneath it, the figure donned a helmet adorned with sharp, blade-like horns that jutted toward the sky. Beneath the helmet lay a void of pure darkness, like a black hole devoid of life.
With every step the figure took, the ground beneath him crumbled into dust, and cracks filled with molten lava spread across the surface, radiating an oppressive heat.
He halted his stride and lifted his head. Though no eyes were visible beneath the helmet, his gaze seemed to pierce through the heavens, as if sensing something unseen.
With a slight shift of his left foot, a powerful force swept away the dust from the heavens and the earth, revealing the devastation left in his wake. The earth lay in ruin, riddled with fractures and scars. He stood at the center of an immense crater spanning over a hundred miles in diameter. Beyond its edges, the barren land stretched endlessly, littered with shattered stones and deep fissures.
As the dust cleared, even the skies regained their clarity.
The Annihilation God Emperor turned his gaze toward a distant point, staring silently for several breaths before pivoting and striding forward. With a single step, he traversed tens of thousands of miles in an instant.
The land beneath him was boundless. After five strides, he had yet to reach the edge of the continent.
Finally, he arrived at a precipice. Beneath the cliff lay a city in the throes of collapse. The cries and wails of its inhabitants echoed as they fled, their despair piercing the heavens.
The Annihilation God Emperor stood motionless for a moment before raising his sleeve. With a wave, the earth stilled. Fragments of stone and shattered timber floated upward, merging seamlessly as they flew into the distance.
Once the scene was restored, he vanished from the cliff without a trace.
Below the cliff, the cries of agony abruptly ceased. A profound silence enveloped the land, as if the world itself had been frozen in time.
As dusk fell, Gu An stepped into the Third Medicine Valley. His mind remained focused on the movements of the Annihilation God Emperor, who was traveling across the other side of the Heavenly Sprit Grand World. For now, the Annihilation God Emperor's intentions remained an enigma.
The fact that he had not headed directly toward the Sacred Court indicated that his arrival was not spurred by the Sacred Minister's tribulation. Instead, it seemed he was searching for something specific.
Perhaps it wasn't mere coincidence—perhaps he feared the tribulation's impact on whatever he sought.
Just as Gu An entered the valley, Long Qing approached him in haste. His demeanor was fawning, and he began asking after Gu An's well-being with ingratiating fervor.
"Get lost!" Gu An snapped, casting Long Qing a cold glance. "If you can't comprehend it, it means the timing isn't right. Your mindset is still too unstable."
Many in the Tai Xuan Sect believed Gu An to be the disciple of the Sword Master of the Dao. However, within the Third Medicine Valley, there were countless disciples, including Long Qing, who believed that Gu An was the Sword Master of the Dao himself.
Long Qing had confirmed his suspicions through Shen Xin Zi, who now treated Gu An with immense respect, fully embracing the role of a junior before him.
"How long must I wait? Why do I have to wait?" Long Qing asked indignantly, his tone carrying a hint of defiance.
Gu An suddenly thought of something.
Could the Annihilation God Emperor have come for Long Qing?
It was entirely possible.
Gu An's face darkened, and his tone grew severe. "You're already aware of your unique physique. Can't you guess that you might be carrying a massive karmic burden? If you can't settle your mind, you'll face unimaginable calamity. Even I won't be able to protect you. Worse, the entire world might end up buried with you."
The weight in his voice left Long Qing stunned.
As Long Qing mulled over Gu An's words, an unsettling sense of fear and panic took root in his heart.
This reaction wasn't entirely natural. Gu An was subtly using the influence of his Dao intent to heighten Long Qing's emotional response.
He needed to scare some sense into the boy!
Without absolute certainty, Gu An dared not allow Long Qing's true identity to be exposed. The karmic entanglements surrounding the Long Clan were too vast, capable of drawing not only the true form of the Annihilation God Emperor but also the remnants of the Battle Court into the fray.
Long Qing's expression shifted between fear and confusion, but Gu An didn't linger to escalate matters further. He brushed past Long Qing and continued on his way.
Not long after, An Xin approached him, reporting that two disciples had come to blows and needed his intervention.
When Gu An heard the names of those involved, he immediately understood why An Xin had sought him out.
Two prodigies.
Both were among the most talented in the valley, their abilities ranking among the best. Though they had yet to officially graduate, their reputations had already drawn the attention of major sects and noble families seeking to recruit them.
Prodigies like these were often proud, and when their pride clashed, conflicts were inevitable.
Following An Xin's lead, Gu An made his way to the scene, though his thoughts remained preoccupied with the Annihilation God Emperor.
The setting sun painted the skies blood-red, casting an ominous hue over the Third Medicine Valley. Yet, despite the grim lighting, the valley brimmed with vitality.
The Sacred Minister's tribulation ultimately escalated into an all-out war. Forces from the Immortal Dynasty, Xuan You Divine Dynasty, the Heavenly Demon Sect, and other factions harboring grievances against the Sacred Court united to besiege it.
The battle was a spectacle of immense proportions, so much so that even Gu An couldn't resist watching from afar.
Although the Sacred Court faced harrowing odds and countless casualties, it managed to weather the storm. The Sacred Minister succeeded in his breakthrough, and the conflict culminated in a fierce duel between him and the Sun Immortal Emperor.
Despite his reputation as a scholar, the Sacred Minister demonstrated formidable combat prowess, matching the Sun Immortal Emperor blow for blow. This unexpected display left Gu An genuinely impressed.
Ultimately, the Sun Immortal Emperor chose not to prolong the confrontation. Had he joined forces with the Free Immortals of Xuan You Divine Dynasty and the Heavenly Demon Sect, they might have stood a chance of slaying the Sacred Minister. However, he opted to retreat.
This clash had concluded, but it sowed the seeds for greater calamities to come.
Thus, a fleeting peace settled over the Heavenly Sprit Grand World.
Eight years passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, Gu An took An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint to Tianya Valley. Lü Xian had returned, and it appeared he had come specifically to seek out Gu An.
Before meeting Lü Xian, Gu An made sure to finish gathering medicinal herbs. Only then did he head to the meeting.
Lü Xian, upon seeing him, wasted no time pulling Gu An into his cave abode. After activating its protective barriers, he leaned in conspiratorially, his expression tinged with both excitement and anxiety.
"You're the Sword Master of the Dao, aren't you?" Lü Xian whispered.