The world was in chaos, and flames of war rose everywhere!
Immense demonic energy rose from all over the realm, threatening to engulf the entire land.
The winter snow was colder than in past years. Gu An donned a rough raincoat, transforming into the Green Hero, wandering the mortal world.
In the mountains, within a small town shaped like a crescent moon, flickering flames, and curling green smoke rose. Black crows circled the sky densely above, their cries interwoven with the sounds of screams, wails, and roars, echoing relentlessly.
Gu An rushed out of the forest, leaping like an eagle from the cliff toward the town. Following his gaze, the town was filled with numerous demons and ghosts, wantonly slaughtering the common people. Some were gnawed alive from the feet by demons before they even died, a scene of cruelty and horror.
In less than half an hour, only the sound of weeping remained in the town.
Gu An walked out of the town, shaking off the demon blood from his sword, then sheathed the Qinghong Sword.
Despite the anguish left behind, he did not look back.
It had been ten days since the revival of the Demon Ancestor. Battles had erupted in the Northern Territory of the Great Jiang Dynasty, with Mahayana Realm cultivators still engaged in fierce fighting. Not only the Great Jiang Dynasty, but even the borders of Tianwei were also under the impact of the demonic tide.
Although the Taicang Dynasty did not need to guard its borders, demons wreaked havoc internally, presenting a crisis no less severe than in the other two dynasties.
The Demon Emperor had not yet taken action, nor had the Demon Ancestor appeared. Gu An was naturally not in a hurry. Judging from the current scale, even if the Demon Emperor and Demon Ancestor were killed, the human race of the three dynasties would still suffer for a long time under the demonic turmoil.
Rescuing people while accumulating life span was a rare opportunity for Gu An.
Gu An did not use the Limitless Freedom Step but flew by controlling his sword. Along the way, he saw many disciples of the Supreme Sect.
Unconsciously, in the immortal cultivation world of the Taicang Dynasty, the number of Supreme Sect cultivators had reached one-third. No matter where one went, Supreme Sect disciples could be seen, showcasing the rapid development of the Supreme Sect over the years.
It was evening when Gu An finally returned to the Mystic Valley.
He sat at his desk, took out pen and paper, and began writing, using the act of writing to dispel the malevolence in his heart.
Too much killing would foster a heart inclined toward slaughter, and seeing too many tragic scenes left him in a poor mood, necessitating self-adjustment.
Though he was a Wandering Immortal, he had yet to possess the Daoist Heart of an immortal.
And he was shaping his Daoist Heart.
No matter how high his cultivation level, he was still a person who had lived for less than a hundred years. A person’s mindset needed to change gradually. Which true immortal had not gone through thousands of years of worldly tumult?
As the moon set and the sun rose.
The next morning, the bell of the Supreme Sect sounded, summoning the Inner Sect disciples. Though Gu An’s status had already been elevated to the level of an Inner Sect Disciple, he did not need to participate in the various affairs of the Inner Sect but only needed to focus on cultivating medicinal herbs.
Gu An went to the Third Medicine Valley and began harvesting the mature herbs.
Suddenly, he sensed a cataclysmic battle erupting in the distance. The immense pressure transmitted across millions of miles to the Supreme Sect.
One of the combatants was Xuan Tianyi!
Xuan Tianyi was fighting against three Great Demon Kings, each at the Mahayana Realm!
Gu An could sense that the demonic energy of two of the Great Demon Kings was unstable, seemingly freshly broken through.
Was it the work of the Demon Ancestor or some trickery from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm?
The battle among four Mahayana Realm powerhouses was immensely grand, and the pressure shaken the cosmos. The disciples in the valley were uneasy. Ever since the full outbreak of the demonic catastrophe, even if they did not participate in the fighting, they would occasionally feel the terrifying pressure, making them inevitably fearful.
Gu An, however, remained calm and continued picking herbs.
Currently, relying solely on the herbs from the Mystic Valley, Eight Scenic Caves, Third Medicine Valley, Tianya Valley, Mystic Heaven Cave Mansion, Nianchu Cave, and Mountain God Temple, Gu An reaped at least twenty-five thousand years of life span annually, with occasional bursts.
If the demonic catastrophe ended and the Seven Stars Spirit Realm made no further moves, Gu An would not proactively act against them.
To him, the longer time dragged on, the greater the benefit.
After Gu An finished harvesting the herbs, just as he was about to leave, he sensed something, and his gaze turned toward the direction of the Outer Gate City.
He gave some instructions to Xiaochuan, then flew towards the Outer Gate City.
Half an hour later.
Gu An arrived at the edge of the Heavenly Repair Platform, looking towards Di Xie.
Di Xie was meditating beneath the two characters “Righteous Path”, striving to comprehend sword intent. Over the years, Gu An could feel that a sword intent had already accumulated within him.
A demon practicing the sword, a Sword Demon?
Gu An mused silently, his gaze shifting to the others on the Heavenly Repair Platform, constantly performing life span detection.
He waited for someone to arrive.
Specifically, he waited for a demon.
After a while, a figure stepped onto the Heavenly Repair Platform, passing right in front of Gu An.
[Demon Master (Nirvana Realm Second Layer): 30290/90000/170000]
Nirvana Realm Second Layer!
Demon Master!
Gu An recognized the existence of the Demon Master, a peerless Great Demon second only to the Demon Emperor in the Demon Land. To the Black Crow Demon Envoy, the Demon Master was unfathomable, his cultivation level unknown.
The Demon Master certainly had another name, but the name shown in the life span detection may have used an alias, just as Li Xuanmiao appeared as Sage Xuan Miao.
Gu An speculated it related to the name’s renown.
Most people only knew Sage Xuan Miao’s name but not Li Xuanmiao’s, hence the life span detection showed the name “Sage Xuan Miao”.
The Demon Master had transformed into a middle-aged man in plain robes, with a refined and handsome appearance, devoid of any demonic energy. His cultivation seemed only at the Core Formation Realm.
He did not notice Gu An, distracted by the numerous cultivators on both sides.
He walked straight towards Di Xie, eventually standing behind him, silently observing the two characters, “Righteous Path”.
After a while.
The Demon Master spoke, admiringly, “What a domineering sword intent. The Sword Venerable Fudao lives up to his name.”
Di Xie suddenly opened his eyes, turning to look at him, an incredulous expression on his face. He quickly stood up, facing him, and asked in a low voice, “Why are you here?”
The surrounding cultivators only glanced at them briefly, showing little concern.
The Demon Master chuckled lightly, saying, “I came to see you, and to check out the Supreme Sect.”
Di Xie took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
He knew the Demon Master’s strength. His father had said that even seventy-two Great Demon Kings together could not match the Demon Master.
In other words, the Demon Master’s realm exceeded the Mahayana Realm!
Although the Supreme Sect had the enigmatic Great Cultivator Sword Venerable Fudao, if a fight broke out, it would definitely level the Supreme Sect.
Living in the Supreme Sect for so many years, Di Xie had grown fond of it and did not wish for its early demise.
The Demon Master surveyed the Heavenly Repair Platform, smiling, “The Supreme Sect is truly magnificent. No wonder it harbors the Heavenly Destiny.”
“Heavenly Destiny? What Heavenly Destiny?” Di Xie asked, frowning.
He was cautious, fearing someone would discover the Demon Master’s true identity.
The Demon Master chuckled, saying, “In my calculations, the celestial order has changed, yet I cannot discern the reason for the shift in Heavenly Destiny. But I found that the celestial order of the human race in the three dynasties has altered, with the Supreme Sect undergoing the most significant change.”
Di Xie asked in a low voice, “What is your purpose in coming here?”
The Demon Master grinned, his smile growing increasingly sinister and cold.
They did not notice someone leaving the Heavenly Repair Platform.
Gu An arrived in an alley, then instantly appeared in the Mystic Heaven Cave Mansion in the North Sea Mountain Range.
He stood under the Heart Clearing Tree, pulled the Heaven-Cutting Axe from the ground, then flashed to a mountaintop miles away.
He raised the Heaven-Cutting Axe, aiming it at the Heavenly Repair Platform of the Supreme Sect.
This axe left in the Mystic Heaven Cave Mansion was a waste, better to leave a legacy for the Supreme Sect.
After aiming, he lightly tossed the Heaven-Cutting Axe. Though it seemed casual, the moment the axe left his hand, it erupted with terrifying power. The space visibly distorted, creating a strong visual impact. The violent wind crushed all the surrounding forests, even dispersing the clouds in the sky.
The wind stirred Gu An’s black hair. He smiled, his divine sense trailing the Heaven-Cutting Axe.
…
On the Heavenly Repair Platform.
Facing Di Xie’s inquiry, the Demon Master spread his hands, smiling, “What purpose could I have? It’s just…”
Suddenly!
His face changed dramatically. Instinctively, he tried to dodge, but his reaction was a moment too slow.
Boom!
Accompanied by a thunderous sound, an axe fell from the sky, striking the Demon Master. Blood and flesh splattered, instantly drenching Di Xie in blood.
Di Xie stood there, dumbfounded, his eyes widening in shock.
The surrounding cultivators were also splattered with blood. The terrifying blast wave sent everyone except Di Xie flying.
The Heavenly Repair Platform shook violently, startling everyone, who all turned their heads to look.
Everyone was terrified at the sight, seeing a black axe embedded in the Heavenly Repair Platform with a pool of mangled flesh beneath the blade. The axe blade was surrounded by wisps of strength energy, burning like flames.
Blood bubbles formed at the base of the axe blade, with demon energy continuously emerging. Gradually, a skeleton appeared, its specific race indistinguishable, but it was definitely not human.
Di Xie still stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, unable to move.
One by one, figures appeared out of nowhere, including the Supreme Elder, Xuan Quan.
Xuan Quan’s face changed dramatically. In a solemn voice, he said, “This is a demon, and one at a higher realm than the Mystic Heart Realm!”
His words startled everyone.
“A Great Demon infiltrating the Supreme Sect?”
“Oh my god, I just looked at him, wondering what he meant by Heavenly Destiny. Who knew he was a demon…”
“What’s the origin of this axe?”
“Does anyone in the Supreme Sect use an axe?”
“Carefully feel it. There’s sword intent on the axe. Isn’t that the sword intent of Sword Venerable Fudao?”
Recognizing the sword intent on the Heaven-Cutting Axe, everyone’s panic turned into excitement and joy.
The Sword Venerable Fudao was always protecting them secretly!
“Sword Venerable Fudao…”
Di Xie stared blankly at the Heaven-Cutting Axe, the sight of the Demon Master’s crushed body terrified him.
The Sword Venerable Fudao could see that the Demon Master was a demon, and naturally, he could see Di Xie’s true form.
Why had the Sword Venerable Fudao spared him?
Was it because he had not caused trouble?
At that moment, Di Xie’s reverence for the Sword Venerable Fudao reached its peak.
He was certain that the Sword Venerable Fudao was undoubtedly stronger than his father!
Without showing himself, being able to kill the Demon Master instantly was beyond his father’s ability.
Xuan Quan stepped forward, grabbing the handle of the Heaven-Cutting Axe, trying to lift it. His face changed dramatically.
He began cultivating energy, causing the entire Heavenly Repair Platform to tremble.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the Heaven-Cutting Axe stood motionless, undisturbed.
Everyone’s eyes fixated on Xuan Quan, the Supreme Elder’s face extremely grave.