Tai Xuan Sect, the Third Medicine Valley.
All the disciples outdoors raised their heads in unison, their pupils dilating as they stared at the terrifying scene unfolding in the sky. Fear crept onto every face.
Above, the rolling black clouds churned endlessly, obscuring much of the monstrous figures of the Xuanhuang Demon Gods. Even so, the faint glimpses of their feet were enough to strike terror into the hearts of all.
"What on earth is that?"
"There are so many… Are those the Heavenly Demons?"
"How can they be so massive?"
"Are they here for the Tai Cang Continent?"
"Don't panic! With Sword Master of the Dao protecting us, what do we have to fear?"
The disciples in the valley whispered among themselves, desperately trying to suppress the terror in their hearts. Those hiding inside their houses also stepped out, unable to ignore the ominous spectacle.
An Xin stood amidst the crowd, gazing up at the terrifying scene above with furrowed brows. She turned her attention to Gu An's pavilion and, sensing her master's presence, felt an immediate sense of relief.
As long as her master was here, even if the heavens were to fall, it wouldn't matter!
Inside the room.
Gu An sat with a book in one hand and idly played with the Pen of Destiny in the other. His brow arched slightly as he muttered to himself, "You've already noticed, haven't you?"
Before Ji Xiaoyu had left, Gu An had divined her future. Back then, she was destined to face a single Xuanhuang Demon God. After exhausting her full strength and emerging victorious, she would be confronted by the actions of the Annihilation God Emperor.
Now, with the number of Xuanhuang Demon Gods skyrocketing to 120, it was clear that the Annihilation God Emperor had deduced something. His target was not just Ji Xiaoyu or the Immortals of the Heavenly Spirit World but Gu An himself.
After Gu An had eradicated so many Heavenly Demons, it was impossible for the Annihilation God Emperor to remain unaware.
However, the Annihilation God Emperor likely hadn't deduced the mastermind behind the events. That was why he sent so many Xuanhuang Demon Gods to descend. If he had known it was Gu An, he would have directly attacked the Third Medicine Valley.
Gu An's mastery of techniques that sever cause-and-effect divination ensured that the Annihilation God Emperor's Immortal Avatar could not detect him.
Looking at the incessant notifications of lifespan gains flashing before him, Gu An's lips curled into a smile.
In the past two days, his crusade against the Heavenly Demons had earned him a staggering two billion years of lifespan!
Once this ordeal was over, he planned to focus on breaking through to higher realms as soon as possible, ensuring his peace of mind.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the door.
"Come in," Gu An said.
Shen Zhen had just reached the doorway when Gu An's voice reached her. Pushing open the door, she quickly stepped inside, closing it behind her. She approached the table and slammed a rolled-up painting onto it.
"Well? How did it turn out?" Shen Zhen asked smugly.
Gu An looked at her curiously, then turned his attention to the painting on the table. It depicted the figure of a Xuanhuang Demon God, vividly lifelike.
Raising an eyebrow, Gu An shot Shen Zhen a surprised look. "How did you manage to paint this?"
With Shen Zhen's cultivation level, she wouldn't be able to discern the full form of a Xuanhuang Demon God even if she stood directly in front of one. Could it be another dream vision?
Gu An quietly performed a divination but found no traces of external influence on Shen Zhen.
Previously, the existence of Mo Bian'an choosing Shen Zhen had been no coincidence. It had sensed her extraordinary potential before making the selection.
Gu An had initially thought that his own Daoist will had influenced her, but now it seemed her innate comprehension was equally remarkable.
Shen Zhen beamed proudly. "I listened to its roars and imagined what kind of existence it might be. Then I visualized it in my mind and painted it. After I finished, I felt a surge in my blood essence. This sensation is incredible—I haven't felt like this in years! It seems my talent is finally returning."
Gu An couldn't help but praise her efforts, prompting an even more smug expression from Shen Zhen.
Meanwhile.
On the battlefield on the other side of the world, the oppressive tension was almost unbearable. One by one, the colossal Xuanhuang Demon Gods descended from the sky, shaking the earth with each arrival. Many landed in the vast oceans, their proximity to one another shockingly close. Even a continent several times the size of the Tai Cang Continent could only accommodate ten of them standing side by side.
An Hao and the others had already been forced to retreat. Not just them—every cultivator below the level of Free Immortal had begun to withdraw.
The Sun Immortal Emperor, Sacred Minister, and the others stood back to back, scanning their surroundings with grave expressions.
Ji Xiaoyu, now fully transformed into the Samsara Dao Emperor, was similarly surrounded. Her hundred-zhang-tall figure appeared like a mere pebble at the base of a mountain compared to the towering forms of over a hundred Xuanhuang Demon Gods.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor stood within the formation. Behind him, the three massive shadowy figures providing power to the Samsara Dao Emperor began to dissipate into the wind. His body trembled uncontrollably. He didn't even dare to look at the Xuanhuang Demon Gods directly, keeping his head down and eyes wide with fear.
An indescribable killing intent locked onto him, rendering him incapable of movement.
"How could it come to this…" the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor muttered with difficulty. He tried to warn Ji Xiaoyu, but the words wouldn't leave his mouth. He could only drown in his own terror.
Suddenly, a vast and overwhelming pressure descended upon the entire world.
"The fate of the Heavenly Spirit World has already been sealed. Forcibly intervening is an act against the heavens!"
The booming voice of the Annihilation God Emperor resonated across the Heavenly Spirit World, reverberating clearly in the ears of all living beings.
The words "sealed fate" filled most with despair, yet the mention of intervention reignited hope in their hearts.
"Is it the Sacred Court's Divine Sovereign? The Red Dust Immortal Emperor? Or perhaps the Reincarnators hidden among mortals? Whoever you are, do you truly intend to resist the majestic will of the heavens?"
The Annihilation God Emperor's voice echoed once more. As his words ended, the 120 Xuanhuang Demon Gods erupted with unparalleled pressure. Their overwhelming aura shattered continents, churned the oceans, and sent tidal waves soaring like dragons ascending to the heavens.
The suffocating pressure caused the Free Immortals to plummet from the skies. Even Ji Xiaoyu could not escape its effects.
Although Ji Xiaoyu's masked face concealed her eyes, her gritted teeth betrayed her struggle to withstand the pressure.
The world began to fracture, and even the Tai Cang Continent trembled violently.
Panic spread throughout the Tai Xuan Sect. The immense pressure left no room for faith in Sword Master of the Dao. Fear overtook their instincts.
In the pavilion, Shen Zhen's face turned pale as she gazed at Gu An with apprehension. "Who was that speaking just now? It wasn't one of the Demon Gods I drew, was it?"
Gu An glanced at her briefly and replied, "It wasn't the Demon Gods from your painting. It was a far more powerful existence."
Each Xuanhuang Demon God possessed strength at the peak of the Free Immortal Realm. When combined, their collective aura was too much for the Heavenly Spirit World to bear.
The destiny of sects across the land began to unravel. Mountains crumbled, rivers were torn asunder, and the heavens themselves seemed to collapse.
Lava surged from the fissures in the earth, forcing mortals to flee. Yet no matter how swiftly they ran, they could not match the speed of the calamities. Like floods overwhelming an anthill, life itself became fragile and insignificant in this moment.
Ji Xiaoyu, the Sun Immortal Emperor, and other Free Immortals were pressed beneath the Xuanhuang Demon Gods' aura, sinking into the depths of the sea. It felt as though they had descended into the lower realms. Looking up, they saw the Xuanhuang Demon Gods standing imposingly atop the ocean, gazing down at them as if observing ants.
"Damn it…"
The Sacred Minister gritted his teeth, his fear overshadowed by anger at the Annihilation God Emperor's words.
Heaven's will?
To him, the Sacred Court represented the true will of the Heavenly Spirit World!
The Sun Immortal Emperor shared the Sacred Minister's defiance. Even if he were to die, he would never accept that the so-called heavens were represented by their adversary.
What made this moment most tragic was that not only the cultivators but the entire populace of the Heavenly Spirit World had no voice in their fate.
Before the resounding voice of the Annihilation God Emperor, they were no different from mere grass and trees.
"If this is truly heaven's will, then tell me, why does heaven not allow the world to perish on its own, but instead sends these lifeless puppets to slaughter the living?"
Suddenly, another voice echoed.
For reasons unknown, all living beings felt a sense of relief the moment this voice resounded.
In an instant, all the natural disasters ceased. The only ones able to move were the living beings, while the Xuanhuang Demon Gods' oppressive force dissipated rapidly.
It was Gu An's voice!
An Hao exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the distant figures of the Xuanhuang Demon Gods. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
He wanted to see how his master would obliterate this horde of Demon Gods!
Within the Third Medicine Valley, thousands of disciples simultaneously turned toward Gu An's pavilion.
On the mountaintop, Long Qing and You Yingying also shifted their focus.
In front of the Myriad Sword Mountain, Jueluo Sword Master turned his head, his expression a mix of tension and excitement.
Such an unparalleled battle was rarely witnessed!
The entire Tai Xuan Sect fell into silence.
In the branch sect, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin, who were suspended in mid-air and maintaining a formation, froze when they heard Gu An's words.
"Senior brother…"
"Master!"
The two women instinctively looked toward the sky. At this moment, the massive shadows of the Demon Gods no longer seemed as terrifying as before.
Far away in the Gathering Flower Sect, Jiang Qiong also froze in place. The Annihilation God Emperor's words had filled her with fear, and she was contemplating abandoning the Gathering Flower Sect. But then, Gu An's voice rang out.
She would never mistake it. That voice had to be Gu An's!
"So, it's you, Sword Master of the Dao. I thought you had secluded yourself here, but it seems you have other plans." The Annihilation God Emperor's voice returned.
In the distant universe, the Black City trembled violently. Its massive gates burst open.
The Annihilation God Emperor stepped out from the rolling black mist, exuding an ancient and boundless aura, as if he had emerged directly from the primordial void of chaos.
"I have no desire to meddle in worldly affairs, but your self-righteousness and the words you speak are unacceptable to me. The fate of this land should be determined by the people of this land. Even if they must die, they should die at the hands of this world's forces, not by the hands of an outsider like you."
Gu An's voice reverberated again, directly confronting the Annihilation God Emperor without the slightest hint of fear. His tone carried a firmness that stirred the hearts of all who heard it.
His words resonated deeply with the populace.
Yes!
Why should their lives and deaths be dictated by the Heavenly Demons?
Inside the pavilion of the Third Medicine Valley.
Shen Zhen stared at Gu An, her emotions in turmoil. The two of them were separated only by a single table. Gu An sat there leisurely, glancing at her painting while casually conversing with a mysterious and powerful enemy capable of destroying the entire heavens and earth. She was utterly awestruck.
The scene in front of her wasn't hard to draw, but the overwhelming impact of Gu An's presence left her unable to capture it.
Gu An placed the painting aside and raised the Pen of Destiny, turning to Shen Zhen with a smile. "Would you like me to inscribe something on your painting?"
Still in a daze, Shen Zhen instinctively nodded.
Gu An immediately gripped the Pen of Destiny with precision and began writing on the painting.
"If you insist on meddling, then destroy the Demon Gods and face me in battle beyond the heavens!"
The tone of the Annihilation God Emperor suddenly shifted, becoming oppressive and sinister. It was as if he had torn away his façade of dignity and revealed a malevolent, domineering presence.
"A battle beyond the heavens!"
His challenge caused every living being to hold their breath in anticipation.
All awaited the response of Sword Master of the Dao.
After a few seconds of tense silence—
"Fine!"
Gu An's voice rang out sharply, a single word that brought boundless hope to the masses.
At the same time, inside the room, Gu An finished writing the final stroke. The Pen of Destiny flicked forward, its ink scattering like starlight, brushing past Shen Zhen.
Shen Zhen instinctively turned her head, trying to follow the path of the ink.
This stroke carried the weight of Gu An's karmic power.
The terrifying karmic force of a Profound Origin Free Immortal spread out undetectably, sweeping over mountains, rivers, and lakes, crossing vast oceans and countless archipelagos. It passed through innumerable birds in flight and even through panicked cultivators and fleeing demons.
Beneath the sea, Ji Xiaoya, the Sun Immortal Emperor, and others raised their heads to gaze at the towering figures of the Demon Gods above. Their expressions were tense as they awaited Sword Master of the Dao's action.
Suddenly—
All Free Immortals felt their souls tremble. An inexplicable sense of fear washed over them, overwhelming their hearts like a tidal wave.
Then, they witnessed something they would never forget.
The towering Xuanhuang Demon Gods above seemed to be swept away by an invisible storm. One after another, they disintegrated into ash and vanished entirely!
It happened so quickly that even the Free Immortals couldn't react in time.
In an instant, all 120 Xuanhuang Demon Gods ceased to exist.
Inside the pavilion—
Gu An stood and walked around the table.
Shen Zhen's gaze followed him instinctively, watching as he approached her.
Pointing to the blank sheet of white paper now lying on the table, Gu An smiled and said, "Can you paint me next? Make sure to paint me handsomely."
Hearing this, Shen Zhen reflexively grabbed Gu An's arm. She snapped out of her earlier fervor, looking at him with apprehension as she gritted her teeth. "Are you confident?"
For some reason, as she watched Gu An preparing to leave, Shen Zhen felt a deep unease.
Her mind was flooded with thoughts of heroes in stories who made their final stands in moments of glory.
She didn't fully understand who the Annihilation God Emperor was or how powerful he might be, but judging by his previous words, it was clear he had no fear of Sword Master of the Dao.
Gu An chuckled. "Confidence? Even if I'm not confident, someone still has to step forward. Otherwise, who else will stand for the world? Don't forget, you're part of this world too."
With a gentle motion, he freed himself from Shen Zhen's grip and walked to the window.
Shen Zhen turned to follow his movements. The previously dim and overcast sky outside the window was now pierced by sunlight, which fell directly on Gu An.
Bathed in light, Gu An's figure became increasingly ethereal until he finally vanished, leaving with the rays of the sun.
Shen Zhen clutched her chest tightly, overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of sorrow.
Outside the pavilion—
The thousands of disciples who had been watching the pavilion were stunned as they witnessed Gu An's transformation into light. They instinctively looked upward.
The sea of black clouds that had covered the sky was now pierced by a gaping hole, through which the sunlight poured down.
Under the Mysterious Clear Tree—
An Xin gazed at the opening in the clouds with infinite admiration in her heart.
Master, is this the moment you spoke of—the time to turn the tides?
Gu An had often told her to cultivate diligently. He explained that the purpose of cultivating wasn't just for personal strength but to be able to stand against crises that no one else could overcome. The fulfillment in such moments, he said, would far surpass the rewards of mere power.
In the past, An Xin hadn't understood. Why bother helping others?
But now, she understood.