Under the sunlight, the vast dust storm between heaven and earth refused to dissipate for a long time. The sect leaders of the nine-dynasty alliance gathered together, perched on the immense roots of trees, looking at the surrounding scenes with unspeaking glances.
Lv Baitian felt the same, even though the high ranks of the Ephemera Sect had been dead for some time, the shock in his heart had yet to fade.
They had battled for so long, unable to break through the Ephemera Sect’s defenses, yet in a matter of mere moments, the sect hierarch of the Ephemera Sect and the Great Cultivators in the Mystic Heart Realm had all perished?
What on earth had happened?
These towering figures who stood at the pinnacle of the nine-dynasty Immortal Cultivation World were all feeling a complex, unsettled emotion at this moment.
Their survival from the calamity had brought them joy, but once they calmed down, they also felt fear.
Could the mysterious force that had so easily obliterated the Ephemera Sect also easily obliterate them?
The Cangtian Sect’s sect leader, Liang Canghai, looked towards Daoist Tianshu of Three Pure Ones Mountain and asked, “Daoist Friend Tianshu, do you know what force this might be?”
Everyone’s gaze turned towards Daoist Tianshu, their eyes filled with hope.
Being the oldest sect among the nine dynasties, Three Pure Ones Mountain’s understanding of heaven and earth was surely beyond theirs.
Daoist Tianshu’s face was a picture of complexity, and taking a deep breath, he said, “I also do not know which being has intervened, perhaps it is heaven and earth punishing the Ephemera Sect.”
Heaven and Earth?
The sect leaders’ expressions fluctuated with uncertainty.
Zhong Wujin, the sect leader of Jueshan Sect from the Taicang Dynasty, looked into the distance with a sigh, “If heaven and earth have a spirit, why would they wait for so many people to die before intervening?”
Following his gaze, disciples from various sects were escorting the captives who had become sacrifices. Their figures were numerous like stars, yet appeared so insignificant within the sea of trees.
No one answered Zhong Wujin’s question, the battle had shattered their pride.
Having witnessed such a fearsome power, they finally realized that the Unification Realm meant nothing, and even Cultivators in the Mystic Heart Realm were merely somewhat stronger ants.
The Great Cultivators of the Ephemera Sect had died without the slightest resistance, and they could not forget the despairing looks on the Great Cultivators’ faces before death.
“It was the Mountain God! The Mountain God intervened!”
A voice came through, startling everyone to turn their heads, only to see Sage Xuan Miao flying swiftly towards them.
Lv Baitian remembered this man, the prodigy ranked second on the Golden List, the only one who could force An Hao to give his all.
Sage Xuan Miao flew over quickly, landing in front of Daoist Tianshu and gesturing a salute with his hand.
An elder Taoist of Three Pure Ones Mountain asked him hurriedly, “Xuan Miao, what Mountain God? What do you know?”
Sage Xuan Miao took a deep breath, looked towards the sect leaders, and said, “The being that annihilated the Ephemera Sect was the Mountain God. It’s hidden deep in the mountains, elusive to track. I was fortunate to have seen it. Previously, the Mountain God gave me a wooden effigy, instructing me to save the common folk with it. All this was caused by that wooden effigy.”
Speaking of these matters, his face was full of nothing but reverence.
The sect leaders bombarded him with questions, chattering away noisily, making the area rowdy.
Liang Canghai of the Cangtian Sect seemed to recall something and immediately waved in the direction of a figure in the distance. Soon, a cultivator flew rapidly towards him, clutching a wooden effigy.
Liang Canghai beckoned from afar, grabbing hold of the wooden effigy, then asked Xuan Miao, “Young friend, could it be this wooden effigy?”
Sage Xuan Miao nodded immediately, saying, “This is the wooden image of the Mountain God – you must not offend it.”
All eyes fell on the wooden effigy in Liang Canghai’s hands, making him feel as if it were burning hot.
While some were still skeptical of Xuan Miao’s words, Daoist Tianshu suddenly cast a spell, immobilizing Xuan Miao and swiped his horsetail whisk across his forehead, conjuring a spectral image.
Everyone saw Xuan Miao kneeling in the woods, and in front of him on a tree branch sat a white-robed figure.
Seeing this white-robed figure, Liang Canghai was so startled that he dropped the wooden effigy from his hands.
They were identical!
The diminutive stature of this Mountain God somehow convinced the onlookers of his divinity.
“The lands of the nine dynasties will soon face a catastrophic disaster, and when all the people of the nine dynasties are dead, and demons invade, there will be no one left to worship You!”
“Who told you only humans can worship me, and who informed you that I only protect the Human Race?”
“I am willing to intervene, but…”
“But what? What do You desire?”
“I want you to be my servant for all eternity, to build a Daoist Temple for me, to guard my Daoist Temple, and never have your freedom again!”
Hearing the Mountain God’s words, everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
The previous dialogue left them puzzled about the Mountain God’s intent, but the latter remarks revealed the Mountain God’s frightful capriciousness.
Dealing with an Immortal God, the price was steep.
As everyone waited tensely, the spectral image showed Xuan Miao looking up, his reply causing a profound shock to all who heard.
“Good, I am willing to be the Mountain God’s servant, if only the Mountain God would save the commonfolk!”
“Take it and save the commonfolk.”
The Mountain God tossed a wooden effigy to Xuan Miao, who stood up, bowed, and took the wooden effigy before departing.
The vision broke off at this point.
Daoist Tianshu’s expression shifted subtly. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of reverse blood, his face paling.
Xuan Miao recovered his freedom and looked at Daoist Tianshu with a frown.
The other sect leaders looked at Xuan Miao with complex eyes.
Xuan Miao’s dedication of his spirit for the common folk earned their deep respect from the depths of their souls – truly worthy of being the sole disciple of the Taiqing Lineage of Three Pure Ones Mountain.
Knowing of the Mountain God’s existence, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared to the so-called power of Great Heaven and Earth, the Mountain God was more reassuring to them.
Furthermore, from the words of the Mountain God, it seemed that the Mountain God didn’t care much about the mundane world.
“The Mountain God…cannot be deduced or speculated…”
Daoist Tianshu, supported by his fellow disciples, spoke these words.
Liang Canghai took a deep breath and said, “Fellow Daoists, we must not offend the Mountain God, to avoid bringing disaster upon the Nine Dynasties, but we also must not forget the Mountain God’s merits. Everyone, remember the Mountain God’s image; when you return, set up statues and shrines in your respective sects to extol the Mountain God’s virtues to all under heaven!”
Upon hearing this, all the sect hierarchs nodded in agreement, endorsing his opinion.
Sage Xuan Miao approached Liang Canghai and took hold of the wooden figure floating in the air.
He turned to face the people of Three Pure Ones Mountain, raised his hand in salute, and said, “My esteemed teachers and uncles, please inform my master when you return that from now on, I am no longer the successor of the Taiqing Lineage of Three Pure Ones Mountain. I will not return, and I hope the sect can forgive my wilfulness.”
Daoist Tianshu and the other Daoists of Three Pure Ones Mountain all sighed, but no one tried to stop him.
“A man without credibility is worthless. Serving the Mountain God is not necessarily a punishment. Xuan Miao, henceforth, no matter what happens to Three Pure Ones Mountain, you must not go against the will of the Mountain God. Do you understand?” Daoist Tianshu said earnestly.
Sage Xuan Miao nodded, then turned and left.
Some sect leaders hesitated, their eyes flickering with the thought of sending someone to follow Sage Xuan Miao, but considering the terrifying scenes around them, they eventually gave up the idea.
At least for now, it was best not to provoke the Mountain God!
In the distance.
Lu Lingjun stood on a towering tree, with the White Spirit Demon Emperor curled up on her shoulder, having shrunken in size.
“The Mountain God… truly a spirit of the Great Heaven and Earth, indeed an Immortal!” the White Spirit Demon Emperor exclaimed excitedly.
They watched the sect leaders’ discussion from afar and even saw the illusion that Daoist Tianshu had drawn out.
It wasn’t just them; the Mystic Heart Realm Cultivators from various sects were also watching, having witnessed the recent events unfold.
The existence of the Mountain God shook the understanding of the Mystic Heart Realm Cultivators.
Lu Lingjun recalled the little white figure from the illusion.
…
In Mystic Valley, within the pavilion.
Gu An was in a pleasant mood; his recent actions had garnered him a lifespan of one million one hundred twenty-seven thousand years.
Among them, Butcher Immortal Jing from the Mahayana Realm’s Nine Layers contributed six hundred forty-nine years to his lifespan, while the eighth-tier Origin Tree of Ephemera granted him seven thousand five hundred years.
The other Cultivators of the Ephemera Sect could only provide him with dozens of years of lifespan each, while those from the Mystic Heart Realm often contributed less than forty years each.
This time, he had slain nearly thirty thousand Cultivators from the Ephemera Sect. Though they weren’t all the sect’s members, they were definitely its elite forces. After this battle, the Ephemera Sect was bound to dissolve.
He himself had slain seventy-two Mystic Heart Realm Cultivators!
Seeing that his total lifespan had now exceeded three million three hundred thousand years, Gu An felt even happier. He immediately took out his Green Hero Travelogue, ready to cultivate his mind.
After the fall of the Ephemera Sect, there should be peace for several decades.
He wondered if, before the great Demon calamity arrived, he could push his lifespan past ten million years.
The news of the battle in Wanji Forest had not yet reached Supreme Sect, which was still in a tense atmosphere.
Only when night fell did Gu An start to act, going to pick Ephemera flowers.
Just like before, these Ephemera could each provide only one year of lifespan, but he didn’t mind at all.
Three days later.
The Supreme Sect was astir!
The news of the demise of the Ephemera Sect spread throughout the Immortal Cultivation World.
At noon, Ye Lan came to visit Gu An and told him about the great battle at Wanji Forest. As a Disciple of Law Enforcement Hall, she had access to more comprehensive information. She also mentioned the Mountain God.
“The power of the Mountain God can destroy heaven and annihilate earth, indeed beyond the reach of mortals. The Ephemera Sect was strong, but with a single intervention from the Mountain God, the sect was eradicated in a moment. Tsk, the Mountain God is really that powerful. In mythical stories, aren’t Mountain Gods only capable of protecting a piece of land?
Our Mountain God seems too exaggerated; even if you said it was an Immortal from heaven, I would believe it,” Ye Lan said with great excitement, quite unlike her usual composed self.
For Cultivators, the existence of the Mountain God was certainly exhilarating news.
There really are Immortals in the world!
Gu An pretended to be excited, eagerly inquiring further, satisfying Ye Lan’s desire to share.
As for the spread of tales about the Mountain God by Sage Xuan Miao, Gu An had been prepared for it. Sage Xuan Miao simply wouldn’t reveal his whereabouts but would sing the praises of the Mountain God to anyone he met.
Gu An had even noticed when Daoist Tianshu drew upon Sage Xuan Miao’s memories.
Such is the capability of the Immortal Path!
He had used his Divine Sense to punish Daoist Tianshu from a distance, a small reprimand and also a warning to the other sect leaders.
Daoist Tianshu, unaware that it was an assault by Divine Sense, thought he had suffered backlash and grew even more reverent toward the Mountain God.
After a chat of two Ancient Hours, Ye Lan finally left.
Her entire being was ignited with fighting spirit. The world now had a Mountain God, so what was impossible?
Gu An had still underestimated the Mountain God’s influence.
In the following period, every time Gu An went to the Outer City, he could hear people discussing the Mountain God. The Outer City had already built a Mountain God Daoist Temple for people to offer incense and kneel in worship—it was bustling with activity.
At the same time, the Nine Dynasty Sects were clearing out the Ephemera flowers throughout the world.
Within a month, ninety percent of the Ephemera widespread across the world had vanished, leaving only scattered remnants, which Gu An couldn’t be bothered to pursue.
Even so, his gains were still substantial!