It had been half a month since the attack by Golden Spirit Venerable.
Ever since that day, the Supreme Sect remained on alert, recalling many disciples, who daily swept over Mystic Valley and the Third Medicine Valley.
Inside a pavilion in Mystic Valley,
Gu An was listening to Ye Lan talk about matters of the Immortal Cultivation World; she mentioned the Nine Nether Road.
“It’s said that there’s a path leading directly to the Underworld’s Nine Nether, known as the Nine Nether Road. The Ephemera Sect has opened the entrance to it, located in the Dustless Wasteland of the Great Zhao Dynasty. Now, cultivators from the Ephemera Sect are rushing to the Dustless Wasteland. It’s unclear whether the Ephemera Sect intends to retreat or has other plans.
The Supreme Sect has already dispatched a group of disciples to investigate,” she said.
As Ye Lan spoke of the Nine Nether Road, a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.
Curiously, Gu An asked, “You seem quite fond of the Nine Nether Road?”
Ye Lan responded, “Legend has it that the Nine Nether Road can cross boundless seas to reach another vast Mortal World, sheltering fortunes of immortality. To say I don’t harbor any thoughts would certainly be a lie. The Ephemera Sect has attracted many cultivators to join by using the Nine Nether Road, but with my qualifications, going there would likely bring more misfortune than fortune.”
Changing the topic, she began to talk about Sword Venerable Fudao.
From the information she had obtained in the Law Enforcement Hall, Sword Venerable Fudao had shown capabilities surpassing entire sects. It was said that without Sword Venerable Fudao’s intervention, the Supreme Sect might have faced total destruction.
As she spoke, she observed the changes in Gu An’s expressions.
Gu An listened with great interest, as if Sword Venerable Fudao had nothing to do with him.
An hour later, Ye Lan stood up to leave; she had to return to the Law Enforcement Hall to welcome her own mission.
After seeing her off, Gu An walked into the forest and arrived at Yang Ni’s garden.
Yang Ni had gone to the Outer Sect again today; she was still investigating Sword Venerable Fudao’s identity. Gu An decided not to tell her that Su Shan was dead, letting her continue her investigation.
After a year, if Su Shan hadn’t come to seek her, she would probably understand her liberation.
Gu An looked at the Ephemera on the ground, carefully observing.
He could feel the Ephemera generating a unique kind of Spiritual Energy, but he couldn’t quite tell whether this energy was good or bad.
Every cultivator who joined the Ephemera Sect received a batch of Ephemera Seeds; planting Ephemera was also one way to establish accomplishments and reputation.
What exactly Ephemera was for, even Sect Hierarch Zhong Liang of the Ephemera Sect was unclear.
The Ephemera Sect left in the Nine Dynasties was merely a puppet of the main lineage, about which they knew nothing, yet each held their own expectations.
Gu An picked an Ephemera flower and then stepped into the Eight Scenic Caves, arriving in front of a Green Vine Tree.
He placed the Ephemera under the tree, allowing the Green Vine Tree to sense it.
“Get it away… get it away…”
The female voice of the Green Vine Tree sounded, gentle yet anxious.
Surprised, Gu An asked, “You’re a seventh-rank Spirit Tree, still afraid of a sixth-rank flower?”
“Its scent… is very annoying… I don’t like it…” the Green Vine Tree faintly answered.
Hearing this, Gu An raised his hand and put the Ephemera into his Storage Bag.
He then sat down and pulled a Storage Bracelet from nearby, starting to check the legacy of the Golden Spirit Venerable.
In the Eight Scenic Caves, there were many Storage Bags and Storage Rings—all spoils Gu An had collected from slain enemies; only here, his own territory, was suitable for storing secret objects.
However, after searching thoroughly, Gu An found no intelligence regarding the Ephemera. He had no choice but to give up.
But he did find an Elixir Record; he took it out and started flipping through carefully.
He had already mastered the Taiching Elixir Path, and his Alchemy skills had reached the master level. Given an Elixir Recipe, he could easily concoct Elixirs.
Halfway through, his hand stopped.
“Ephemera Demon Elixir?”
…
Eventually, the harsh winter arrived, and snow drifted toward the Mortal World, continuously erasing its colors.
In Tianya Valley,
Having just harvested a batch of herbs and gained nearly ten thousand years of lifespan, Gu An felt pleased.
Tianya Valley had a special Formation, preventing snow from entering, which spared a lot of trouble.
Gu An let Sun Da move all the herbs into the barn, while he walked to the courtyard where Luo Hun and Yi Liuyun were sitting, drinking and discussing the Nine Nether Road.
“The Nine Nether Road has now drawn the attention of the cultivators from the Nine Dynasties. It’s said that various dynasties and sects have sent people to investigate, but the entrance to the Nine Nether Road is encircled by Ephemera Sect cultivators, and all have returned defeated,” Luo Hun said with a furrowed brow.
Yi Liuyun glanced at Gu An walking toward them, then said to Luo Hun, “That’s also a good thing, at least the Taicang Dynasty doesn’t have to bear the pressure of the Ephemera Sect alone.”
Luo Hun nodded, adding, “The forces behind the Ephemera Sect will definitely cross the Nine Nether Road, and this will be a calamity for the Nine Dynasties. Moreover, I’ve received messages that Ephemera has appeared across the dynasties. Once the Ephemera ripens, it attracts demons and ghosts. It’s unclear what the Ephemera Sect’s purpose truly is.”
Gu An sat down beside them, listening to their discussion about the Immortal Cultivation World.
Curious, he asked, “Does the Ephemera have any sinister legends associated with it?”
Previously, he had thought that the Ephemera Sect was merely competing with the Supreme Sect for power and profit, but now he realized that their ambitions ran deeper.
Without understanding the strength of the Ephemera Sect Main Lineage, Gu An dared not venture into the Nine Nether Road.
Yi Liuyun frowned and said, “I have indeed heard of a legend; the Ephemera is a flower from the Underworld, symbolizing death and reincarnation. When the Ephemera appears in the Mortal World, it signifies that a great disaster is coming, and many lives will be lost.”
Luo Hun added, “Now, the Nine Dynasties have issued an order to eradicate the Ephemera, regardless of the Ephemera Sect’s intentions. The widespread emergence of the Ephemera must be curbed.”
Hearing this, Gu An immediately felt relieved.
The troubles of the world should be borne by all under heaven; he did not wish to worry alone.
With the entire world working to eradicate the Ephemera, he would join in the effort.
From now on, he would go out at night to eradicate the Ephemera, earning lifespan and also saving lives, an endeavor beneficial in every way.
As Luo Hun and Yi Liuyun continued discussing the Ephemera Sect, Gu An listened from the side, hearing many names mentioned.
Nine Nether Road had reappeared in the Mortal World, leading to tremendous upheaval in the immortal cultivation world of the dynasties as many Great Cultivators who had been in seclusion began to emerge.
The Ephemera Sect had become a scourge of the nine dynasties.
Even ancient beings who had lived for thousands of years declared their intention to eradicate the Ephemera Sect.
This was actually a good thing—the Ephemera Sect became an entity everyone wanted to eliminate. Those who had been recruited might waver and take the opportunity to break away from the sect.
By evening, Gu An returned to Mystic Valley.
His Divine Sense swept the area, his expression peculiar.
Yang Ni had burned all the Ephemera she had planted, leaving only ashes in the garden plot.
Could it be that Yang Ni had come to a realization?
Gu An did not go to ask Yang Ni but instead returned to his house.
Late at night, Gu An began to scan the Taicang Dynasty with his Divine Sense, searching for Ephemera.
This scan even scared him.
How had so many Ephemera sprouted so suddenly?
There weren’t any last month!
Gu An immediately vanished from inside the house, departing to eliminate the Ephemera.
Two steps later, he arrived in a forest thousands of miles away, near a village where the Ephemera were mostly concentrated.
He picked an Ephemera, gaining only a year of Life Span.
These Ephemera were growing very fast, clearly unnatural as if some force had drained their potential, leaving them with little remaining life span.
One year is one year—it adds up!
Gu An began to eradicate Ephemera.
…
At dawn.
Gu An came downstairs, his spirit incredibly vibrant.
Last night, he had harvested more than 40,000 years of Life Span, indicating just how abundant the Ephemera were everywhere.
He joined the disciples in practice, and Yang Ni was there too, but she was listless, clearly preoccupied with something on her mind.
After practice, Yang Ni approached Gu An and announced her intention to leave.
“Where are you going?” Gu An frowned and asked.
Yang Ni replied, “To take care of some matters.”
Gu An advised, “Recently, the Ephemera Sect has been causing chaos, and the nine dynasties are preparing to jointly punish them. You should stay away from this.”
Yang Ni nodded and said, “Don’t worry, I have no ties with the Ephemera Sect.”
Having said this, she gazed intently at Gu An.
Some things went unspoken, but both understood the underlying message.
Thirty minutes later, Yang Ni had packed her belongings and departed.
Gu An stood by the window, watching the direction of her departure, feeling that this farewell meant they would not meet again for many years.
Meanwhile.
On the distant dustless wasteland, ghostly mists pervaded, forming dark clouds that covered the sky, and crows flew across.
Li Ya, carrying the North Sea Heavy Sword, stood on a cliff, gazing down at the dense throng of people below, forming a vast sea of humanity, his brow furrowed.
He hadn’t expected the Ephemera Sect to have secretly recruited so many followers.
“That Nine Nether Road is quite sinister, containing an immense amount of ghostly and demon energy,” the voice of the Primordial Ancestor sounded in Li Ya’s ear.
Li Ya involuntarily looked towards the Traveler of Graceful Crane sitting on a rock in the distance, who was holding a scroll and deeply contemplating.
“No matter, when the Primordial Ancestor descends, we’ll capture them all in one net!” Li Ya thought to himself.
He now had full confidence in that mysterious Demon Shadow, feeling that the figure was an invincible presence in this world.
“It’s not that simple, no matter how powerful he is, his Spiritual Power will deplete. It’s nearly impossible for him alone to avert the calamity of the nine dynasties. If he were really that powerful, he wouldn’t need to practice the Demon Shadow Divine Skill from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion to conceal his identity,” the Primordial Ancestor sighed.
Li Ya was displeased to hear this; ever since encountering the Ephemera Sect, the Primordial Ancestor had become timid, no longer bearing the aloof and profound demeanor of the past, which made him feel like his fantasies had been shattered.
But remembering the caution of the Li Family’s Primordial Ancestor, Li Ya did not contradict the Primordial Ancestor’s words.
Just then.
The ground began to tremble, startling Li Ya into swiftly flying up, while the Traveler of Graceful Crane remained seated on the rock, unmoved.
Li Ya looked towards the entrance of the Nine Nether Road where he saw the Array Platform below the black crevice begin to break apart, and a tree branch emerged from the soil, followed by the trunk.
As all the followers of the Ephemera Sect retreated amidst their alarmed stares, a colossal tree shot up from the ground—it was indeed an Ephemera Tree.
This Ephemera Tree was even more enormous than the one Gu An had eradicated, towering over 500 meters tall, its top reaching into the dark clouds.
The massive Ephemera Tree standing behind the black crevice appeared even more horrifying.
“Hmph, they really planted an Ephemera Tree!”
A cold snort echoed throughout the heavens and earth, chilling everyone’s hearts.
Jiang Qiong turned his head to look and saw a dazzling sword light approaching from the horizon, cutting through the sea of clouds, unstoppable as it headed straight for the Ephemera Tree.
A figure appeared out of nowhere in front of the Ephemera Tree, a black-clothed woman wearing a mask, holding a golden mallet in her hand. With a forward push, immense Spiritual Power burst forth, forcibly blocking the sword light miles away, causing the space around the sword light to twist.