“Daoist Friend, you seem unfamiliar. Is there something you need help with?”
Gu An’s voice came from behind, interrupting Jue Luo Sword Monarch’s thoughts.
Jue Luo Sword Monarch half-turned, glancing at Gu An with the corner of his eye.
Looking at Gu An, he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Logically, such a mortal shouldn’t merit his attention, but somehow, as soon as Gu An spoke, he had turned around involuntarily, drawn to him.
He had only ever felt this way in the presence of those stronger than himself.
While sizing up Gu An, he deduced that Gu An had some karma with An Hao—though not closely connected, it indeed existed.
Jue Luo Sword Monarch asked, “Are you the Valley Master of this Medicine Valley?”
Gu An smiled and replied, “I am Gu An. May I know your esteemed name?”
Jue Luo Sword Monarch answered, “I am Jue Luo Sword Monarch, from Da Hong Sword Heaven.”
“Da Hong Sword Heaven? I have not heard of it, but it sounds grand and powerful—certainly the force of a Holy Land, and it must be far from the Taicang Continent,” Gu An feigned surprise.
Jue Luo Sword Monarch was not in the mood for probes, and directly asked, “Are you a disciple of Sword Venerable Fudao? Call out your master.”
As he spoke, he also emitted a trace of Sword Intent, instantly enveloping the entire Third Medicine Valley.
Ji Xiaoyu appeared out of nowhere in front of Gu An, staring warily at Jue Luo Sword Monarch, the Dao Patterns on her forehead igniting into fierce flames.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor appeared as well, frowning at Jue Luo Sword Monarch.
An Hao, Nine-Finger Divine Lord, and Shen Xinzi also quickly appeared; those Great Cultivators, who had been playing chess in the dojo, promptly arrived as well.
Gu An could feel that Jue Luo Sword Monarch’s Sword Intent was to isolate the Third Medicine Valley from the outside world—was he intending to create a battlefield?
An Hao stared at Jue Luo Sword Monarch, asking in a deep voice, “Senior, what are you trying to do?”
An Xin swiftly ran over, curiously looking at Jue Luo Sword Monarch, her eyes filled only with anticipation.
Jue Luo Sword Monarch ignored An Hao, his gaze settling on Ji Xiaoyu; he squinted and said, “Yin Yang Four Emperors, long time no see, Reincarnation Path Emperor, I didn’t expect you to undergo Reincarnation Tribulation here.”
Ji Xiaoyu, with a composed expression, replied, “Jue Luo Sword Monarch, it seems Da Hong Sword Heaven has no intentions of invading the Great Heavenly Spirit Land, are you acting alone?”
Jue Luo Sword Monarch laughed, “Among the Yin Yang Four Emperors, I only fear the Sixth Tao Dust Emperor. Has his Reincarnation Tribulation ended?”
Yin Yang Four Emperors!
Reincarnation Path Emperor!
Sixth Tao Dust Emperor!
The surrounding cultivators listened in astonishment—these names sounded impressive.
“You can go find him; he indeed mentioned you,” Ji Xiaoyu coldly replied.
Jue Luo Sword Monarch shook his head with a rueful laugh, ignoring the stares of others. He said, “Enough of this, I’m here to find Sword Venerable Fudao and challenge him to a battle.”
Hearing the name Sword Venerable Fudao made everyone tense.
Daring to challenge Sword Venerable Fudao, he must be extraordinary!
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor couldn’t help but ask, “Did Da Hong Sword Heaven come for Sword Venerable Fudao?”
He had also witnessed the great battle outside of heaven before; Da Hong Sword Heaven’s might had alarmed him—they managed to fight simultaneously against the Immortal Dynasty and the Holy Court, and Jue Luo Sword Monarch hadn’t even participated in that battle.
Just how many Free Immortals did Da Hong Sword Heaven possess?
Jue Luo Sword Monarch did not answer the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor; despite being only a single Great Realm apart, he simply looked down on the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor.
The scene suddenly quieted down, turning the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor’s face an iron-blue.
Gu An gave a cough and said, “So, it seems you want to challenge me?”
At these words, everyone turned to look at him.
Jue Luo Sword Monarch’s expression changed; he stared intently at Gu An and asked, “Are you Sword Venerable Fudao?”
So that was it!
No wonder he had such an unusual reaction!
In his eyes, no matter how one looked at it, Gu An seemed like a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm with no trace of the Immortal Path Realm.
An Hao heard Gu An’s words and wanted to speak but stopped himself.
He had a suspicion in his heart.
Could it be that Martial Master was secretly watching, which is why Gu An dared to be so reckless?
He also hadn’t noticed Gu An concealing his cultivation level, so he didn’t think Gu An had the ability to fight.
More and more disciples watched from a distance, not daring to get closer, only able to discuss from afar.
Gu An walked around Ji Xiaoyu and approached the Jue Luo Sword Monarch.
Ji Xiaoyu grabbed his wrist, trying to persuade him, but Gu An just smiled at her and gently pulled his hand away.
“Well, I am. How do you want to challenge me?” Gu An looked at the Jue Luo Sword Monarch and asked with a smile.
He was giving the Jue Luo Sword Monarch a chance, if he answered poorly, he would perish along with his cultivation.
After all, Da Hong Sword Heaven was Yang Ping’an’s Daoist tradition, and by seniority, the Jue Luo Sword Monarch was also his disciple. As a Martial Master, how could he kill a fellow sect member upon meeting?
The Jue Luo Sword Monarch raised his right hand, condensing Sword Intent in his palm, resembling a thread of lightning, neither dazzling nor enormous, yet it made everyone terrified.
This thread of Sword Intent contained extremely terrifying power, making people shudder!
Ji Xiaoyu, the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, and others didn’t even dare to move, feeling a terrifying sensation that any movement could lead to death.
An Hao clenched his fists inside his sleeves, ready to make a move.
Long Qing stood at a distance, on tiptoe, watching. He couldn’t feel the Sword Intent of the Jue Luo Sword Monarch, but with so many people gathered, how could he not be curious?
“Naturally, we’ll compare the Sword Dao to see whose Sword Dao is stronger. Show your Holy Heart Sword Dao!” the Jue Luo Sword Monarch coldly stated.
Holy Heart Sword Dao!
Ji Xiaoyu and the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor both drastically changed their expressions, looking at Gu An in astonishment.
They had heard of the great fame of the Holy Heart Sword Dao, a supreme inheritance of Da Hong Sword Heaven, able to dominate across three thousand worlds and be invincible.
Gu An had actually inherited the Holy Heart Sword Dao?
No wonder Sword Venerable Fudao refused to show his true self; it turns out he was a Great Cultivator from Da Hong Sword Heaven.
In any Great Heaven and Earth, there was no one who could silently reach the Free Immortal Realm; just the Heavenly Tribulation from Divine Thought True Immortal to Free Immortal would shake the universe. How could one hide?
Hearing the words of the Jue Luo Sword Monarch, Gu An showed a faint smile.
His smile, however, appeared as a provocation in the eyes of the Jue Luo Sword Monarch.
Just then!
Gu An suddenly shifted, appearing instantly in front of the Jue Luo Sword Monarch, the gust of air lifted the Jue Luo Sword Monarch’s cloak, and he widened his eyes.
“Challenge the Holy Heart Sword Dao?”
Gu An slightly raised his chin, looking at the Jue Luo Sword Monarch with indifferent eyes, as if he were looking down on an ant.
With his left hand, he then grabbed the Jue Luo Sword Monarch’s wrist.
The entire process went unchallenged by the Jue Luo Sword Monarch; it wasn’t that he couldn’t react, but he was unable to resist.
With Gu An holding him, the Jue Luo Sword Monarch’s pupils dilated, and his heart was struck with shock.
Gu An looked at him and slowly said, “Let’s not first discuss whether I possess the Holy Heart Sword Dao; to you all, what status does the Holy Heart Sword Dao even have?”
“Are you even qualified to challenge the Holy Heart Sword Dao?”
These words struck the Jue Luo Sword Monarch like a hammer, causing his body to tremble, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Everyone else could feel Gu An’s dominance, and what surprised them most was how the usually arrogant Jue Luo Sword Monarch had suddenly become mute.
An Hao was the most shocked and unable to stay composed.
He knew too well how strong the Jue Luo Sword Monarch was; a mere breath from him could annihilate a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm.
Although he hadn’t felt Gu An’s aura now, he knew something must have happened that made the Jue Luo Sword Monarch dare not retaliate.
Or rather, the Jue Luo Sword Monarch simply couldn’t retaliate!
