This year’s Spring Festival felt warmer than in previous years for Gu An, thanks to the company of Ye Lan. The day after the festival ended, Ye Lan left. She did not wish to become lost in the presence of her senior brother, as cultivating her immortal path was a major life event for her. At this stage, her main task was to diligently practice her cultivation.
Despite the declarations of the Life-Seizing Immortal from the Great Cold Demon Sect casting a shadow over the lands, it had not impacted the overall structure of the world. By the following year, the Immortal Cultivation World had returned to its former state, though various sects had begun dispatching more disciples to explore overseas.
Years passed one after another, sunsets followed by moonrises, Third Medicine Valley saw disciples advancing each year, with new disciples joining, constantly increasing in number. This was because the Supreme Sect itself was growing stronger, which led to an increase in the number of servant disciples. These servant disciples needed positions to earn Spirit Stones.
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.
Gu An stood by the window, using his Divine Sense to survey a distant great battle.
A Great Cultivator had gone to challenge the Life-Seizing Immortal, even a Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal, alas, he did not even get to see the face of the Life-Seizing Immortal, being suppressed by his disciple.
This battle was watched by countless cultivators and demons. Not all beings wished to flee this region of the Mortal World, especially sects that followed the Righteous Path, shouldering the responsibility to protect all living beings.
Over the past decade, more than once had Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals challenged the Life-Seizing Immortal, each time without exception being overwhelmed by the Life-Seizing Immortal’s disciple. Advancing to the tower had become a mere wishful thinking.
The name of Life-Seizing Immortal’s pagoda spread far and wide, known as the Soul Calming Pagoda, it was also an Immortal Path Supreme Treasure.
Gu An shook his head as he watched, the defeat of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal obvious, proving that he was not the Savior of this region of the Mortal World.
He turned and went downstairs, feeling a presence entering the valley.
It was the Holy Mother of Western Spirit from the Bitter Sea Buddha Sect.
The Holy Mother had found Shen Xinzi, taking him to a secluded corner to speak, for which Shen Xinzi had even set up a Restriction.
Inside the Supreme Sect, no one’s Divine Sense could penetrate the Barrier created by Shen Xinzi’s Restriction, except for Gu An.
“Did you get that clear?” Shen Xinzi asked, referring to matters concerning the Great Cold Demon Sect.
The Holy Mother of Western Spirit took a deep breath and said, “This matter involves a Holy King from the Holy Court, and though he cannot represent the entire decision of the Holy Court, this Holy King has far-reaching connections and even the Buddhism Sect does not wish to offend. After all, no one knows when Shengtian will emerge from seclusion.”
Holy King!
Shen Xinzi frowned and then asked, “What in this region of the Mortal World could be of interest to a being like the Holy King?”
The Holy Mother responded, “I am not entirely sure myself; I only found out that it has something to do with the reincarnation of a Great Power from the Holy Court, that Great Power might be a rival of the Holy King, reincarnated here in this region of the Mortal World.”
Shen Xinzi’s frown deepened.
Looking at him, the Holy Mother continued, “The situation has gone beyond redeeming. The Buddhism Sect does not wish to risk involvement. Let’s head back soon.”
Shen Xinzi scoffed, “The Buddhism Sect doesn’t want to risk involvement? What a joke, whatever happened to universal salvation?”
The Holy Mother was taken aback by Shen Xinzi’s tone, clearly detecting the sarcasm in it.
Something was off.
Shen Xinzi, who used to take pride in being part of the Bitter Sea Buddha Sect, had never spoken this way before.
“You go back, I am staying at the Supreme Sect,” Shen Xinzi stated seriously.
The Holy Mother wanted to persuade him otherwise, but Shen Xinzi took his leave with determined steps.
“What as actually happened?” The Holy Mother stared at Shen Xinzi’s departing figure, filled with confusion.
Her cultivation level was lower than Shen Xinzi’s, and her status was not as prominent, so she couldn’t forcefully take Shen Xinzi back. Thus, she refrained from further persuasion and could only take the news back to the Bitter Sea Buddha Sect.
Elsewhere.
Gu An, walking towards a certain garden area, was also pondering the intelligence brought by the Holy Mother of Western Spirit.
Holy King, reincarnation of a Great Power…
Upon hearing about the reincarnation of a Great Power, his first thought was Ji Xiaoyu.
However, upon reflection, it might not be Ji Xiaoyu; Ji Xiaoyu had reincarnated countless times, and if it truly were the rival of that Holy King, why hadn’t the Holy King acted sooner?
Moreover, he was curious about which role the Master of Divine Exotic Realm played in this feud.
Perhaps he needed to seek an opportunity to discuss this with the Master of Divine Exotic Realm.
…
Inside a dimly lit chamber, Zhang Buku put down his great axe. The Strength Energy around him began to dissipate, and his constantly swirling white hair gradually settled.
He exhaled deeply, eyeing the great axe in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
At that moment, footsteps approached. Zhang Buku clenched the axe tightly, causing it to vanish as he turned to look toward the entrance of the cave.
He saw the Master of Divine Exotic Realm approaching slowly, and perhaps it was Zhang Buku’s illusion, but he felt the Master seemed weaker than before.
“Master!” Zhang Buku raised his hand in greeting and spoke.
Throughout these years, the Master of Divine Exotic Realm had been conscientious in teaching him. At least Zhang Buku believed the Master truly treated him like a Direct Disciple, not only instructing him in cultivation but occasionally also bringing him heavenly materials and treasures to enhance his Ghost Body and resist the backlash of exotic forces.
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm stopped before him, sizing him up, and nodded slightly, saying, “Not bad, you are mastering the exotic powers.”
Zhang Buku couldn’t help but ask, “Master, are you alright?”
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm revealed a smile, though it was a chilling one, as he said, “Master is naturally fine, but there is something I need to ask of you, may I?”
“What is it?” Zhang Buku did not agree immediately but asked instead, his mind alert as he feared the Master of Divine Exotic Realm might be plotting against the mysterious being that had been helping him in secret.
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm lifted his right hand, within which a golden flame appeared, the light brightening the chamber.
Zhang Buku’s expression shifted slightly as he stared at the golden flame, unable to look away.
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm spoke, “This is the Nine Profound True Fire, a flame of an extraordinary being. After inheriting it, you will possess a Divine Skill that will help you survive better. When you encounter the reincarnation of that being, the Nine Profound True Fire will act uniquely, letting you know at that time.”
“Who is that being?” Zhang Buku couldn’t help but ask.
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm responded, “He is a being whose cultivation far surpasses mine, and his status in the Mortal World is beyond your imagination. I am passing this flame to you, hoping that you will find him in the future and protect him as much as possible. He will be the chance for us to overturn our fate.”
Zhang Buku was stunned.
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm looked at the flame in his hand, his gaze wandering, then said, “The truth is, my existence is also for dealing with this being. But now that my backing is prepared to forsake me, I have no choice but to turn against it.”
Zhang Buku frowned and asked, “Master, who is your backing?”
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm sighed, “It is an existence that can manipulate beings at will, akin to an Immortal God in the hearts of the masses. Not only me but many forces serve him, including the continent you come from. The Holy Land of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm also serves him and helped me break the heaven and earth barriers, opening up the Sea Breaking Rift.”
The Seven Stars Spirit Realm!
Zhang Buku naturally knew of this power; he hadn’t imagined that the long-destroyed Seven Stars Spirit Realm was still connected to the Sea Breaking Rift.
“Well, I can’t tell you too much, lest you invoke temporarily insurmountable karma. Just remember, when you encounter someone that causes the Nine Profound True Fire to act unusually, you must support him. He will be the greatest opportunity you will ever encounter, and the only hope for you to be free of exotic forces,” the Master of Divine Exotic Realm said, squinting at Zhang Buku with a serious look.
Zhang Buku frowned and asked, “And what about you, Master?”
The Master of Divine Exotic Realm placed his palm on Zhang Buku’s chest, injecting the Nine Profound True Fire into his body.
The true fire wafted, numerous sparks flashing across the Master of Divine Exotic Realm’s face, making his expression look even more terrifying. He spoke in a sinister tone, “I have become a discarded piece, and fate has already presented itself before my eyes.”
Zhang Buku opened his mouth to say something, but the raging Nine Profound True Fire surged through his body, rendering him speechless. Soon, his consciousness drifted into confusion.
…
In a grand hall flickering with firelight, an old man in a black robe sat on a lotus pedestal, which was a black lotus swirling with dark red flames. He had a powerful presence, his unbound hair adding to his imposing aura.
Looking up at the ceiling of the grand hall, one could see dark red flames churning like an inverted ocean, constantly surging.
This was inside the Soul Calming Pagoda!
And this black-robed old man was the Life-Seizing Immortal of the Great Cold Demon Sect!
Suddenly, the Life-Seizing Immortal spoke, “Disciple, put some pressure on them.”
His voice echoed within the hall, as if many people were shouting in unison.
Soon a voice came from outside the hall, “Yes!”
Simultaneously.
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At the top of the Soul Calming Pagoda, a white-robed Daoist who had been meditating slowly stood up. Holding a horsetail whisk, he was tall and emaciated with white hair arranged under a Daoist hat.
He looked down at the vast sea, his expression indifferent.
The Soul Calming Pagoda was located directly above the Sea Breaking Rift, a massive rift that stretched dozens of miles wide, with no visible ends.
The white-robed Daoist looked into the distance, raised his left hand to his mouth, and began to chant softly. As he chanted, visible ripples spread out in the space around him.
Seconds later, his right hand suddenly waved the whisk.
With this motion, the seas on either side of the Sea Breaking Rift abruptly rose, forming towering waves with the potential to engulf the heavens.
He waved the whisk again, and the terrifying waves on both sides swept uncontrollably toward the distance.
After doing all of this, the white-robed Daoist paused, then looked up at the sky and waved his whisk toward the heavens three times.
…
At dusk.
Gu An rode on the Blood Prison Great Saint into the entrance of the Third Medicine Valley, followed by Yang Jian and Li Lingtian, who walked behind with a bruised face, resembling a defeated rooster.
“Master, won’t this lad be ruined?” the Blood Prison Great Saint couldn’t help but ask. His tone was not one of concern, but rather filled with mockery.
Li Lingtian, hearing this, glared at him.
Gu An spoke, “If he can’t endure, he can leave on his own.”
Years ago, when he had visited Tianya Valley, Luo Hun had even asked him to bring a message, hoping Li Lingtian would return to the palace. However, Li Lingtian did not wish to go back.
Although he often got beaten, he was indeed getting stronger.
Defeating Yang Jian had become his obsession.
Just as Li Lingtian was about to speak, he suddenly sensed something and looked up, his eyes widening in shock.
Gu An, Yang Jian, and the Blood Prison Great Saint all looked up, and the disciples in the valley did the same, their expressions increasingly changing, as if they were witnessing something terrifying.