Chapter 578: Chapter 573: Battle Court Mythology, Confronting Destiny
In the early morning, the sunlight cut through the smoke-filled ruins of the Imperial City, where corpses and broken walls stained with bloodstains could be seen everywhere.
Bai Sheng, covered in dust and ash, stood atop the debris, staring at the horrific scenes in all directions, his pupils trembling, unable to accept what was before him.
The city he considered the most prosperous had turned into ruins overnight, and the sight of the half-remaining mask of the sword-wielding Daoist he’d seen earlier touched him even more deeply.
“How could this happen…”
Bai Sheng muttered to himself, his voice trembling.
He felt as though he was in a nightmare, a nightmare from which he could not awaken.
…
He looked up into the distance, then immediately rushed down, beginning his search for Gu An, combing through bodies along the way, fighting back fear and disgust.
As the sun continued to rise, reaching high noon, he still hadn’t found Gu An, his hands now covered in fresh blood.
Exhausted, he collapsed onto the street, lacking even the strength to lift his head.
After a morning of searching, his heart knew no fear, only numbness.
A figure appeared before him, he saw the person’s shoes but couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Su Jin looked down at Bai Sheng and sighed, “Didn’t you say you’d rather die in the jaws of demons and ghosts, than live a dull life? Last night, you witnessed a Great Demon that most mortals will never see in their entire lives. Shouldn’t you feel fortunate?”
Bai Sheng hung his head and asked weakly, “Are you such a demon as well…”
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“I do not delight in killing as they do, but I have killed people, killed demons,” Su Jin responded, her answer plunging Bai Sheng into silence.
Su Jin continued, “Since you’ve witnessed supernatural powers, why not cultivate immortality with me in the future?”
“Help me…find…Brother Gu…”
Bai Sheng struggled to speak, and after uttering those five words, he completely lost his strength and fainted, toppling forward, but fortunately, Su Jin caught him in time.
Su Jin held Bai Sheng in her arms, a smile appearing on her face; she had fantasized about this moment for ten thousand years and had finally achieved it.
“Don’t worry, in this life I will surely protect you, just as you desperately protected me ten thousand years ago.”
Su Jin murmured softly to herself, lifting Bai Sheng up and then soaring into the sky.
Her Divine Sense enveloped the entire city before continuing outward.
“Strange, where on earth did he go? Could a demon have devoured him?”
Su Jin wondered aloud to herself, but she didn’t dwell on it—after all, she had already searched for Bai Sheng on behalf of him, if he couldn’t be found, it wasn’t her fault.
She flew off into the distance with Bai Sheng in her arms, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
The clouds above had scattered, and the sunlight spilled over the devastated Imperial City, and gradually, a hint of murky energy began to dissipate.
…
Within the Daoist Field of the Beginningless.
In the courtyard, Gu An lay in a rocking chair reading a book, occasionally instructing Shen Zhen on how to control the Taiqing True Fire beneath the Artifact Refining Cauldron.
It had been ten years since he had parted from Bai Sheng.
Shen Zhen turned her head to look at Gu An and asked, “Gu An, what’s the origin of that Dao Court? Within the Qiankun Sect, it’s widely rumored that the Dao Court will become the Sect that unifies the entire world.”
Gu An answered casually, “Just like the Holy Court, the Dao Court was once the ruler of a part of the Great Heaven and Earth. After the Great Thousand World was reconstructed, they grew rapidly. Of course, they were able to do this because they had the backing of a highly practiced and powerful being.”
“How strong is he, compared to you?” Shen Zhen asked with a raised eyebrow.
Gu An laughed, “Haven’t fought, hard to say.”
“Yeah, right, with you talking like that, that person definitely isn’t your match.”
Shen Zhen rolled her eyes at Gu An, who could hear her admiration for him in her heart, amazed by his strength, though her tone suggested otherwise.
Gu An, while turning the pages of his book, said, “Nevertheless, it’s still too early for the Dao Court to dream of unifying the Celestial Spirit Great World.”
“How far into the future can you see?” Shen Zhen asked curiously.
In fact, she was extremely curious about Gu An’s cultivation level but had always restrained herself, feeling too embarrassed to ask. Given the chance to probe, she wouldn’t miss it.
“Don’t ask anymore, the will of heaven cannot be revealed.”
Gu An brushed off the question, and then turned over, his back to Shen Zhen.
Shen Zhen huffed and then focused on comprehending the Dao Treasure within the Artifact Refining Cauldron.
Silence returned to the courtyard, with only the occasional wind passing through.
The Three Pristine True Fire beneath the Artifact Refining Cauldron flickered ceaselessly, as if it would never go out. As it wavered, time swiftly passed by.
Spring came and went, and autumn arrived.
Five hundred years had passed.
Five hundred years later, Gu An still lay on the same chair, while Shen Zhen remained seated in front of the Artifact Refining Cauldron.
Gu An turned over and rose, tucking the Green Hero Travelogue into his chest, picked up the Cyan Hong Sword, and drew it from its scabbard.
The sound of the blade sliding from its sheath startled Shen Zhen; she turned her head towards Gu An, watched him handling the sword, and was about to ask what he was doing when suddenly her expression changed, and she looked up sharply.
Not just her, everyone in the dojo was alarmed and looked up.
Above them, the azure Celestial Vault began to pepper with black dots, which quickly expanded like black holes, riddling the vault with a thousand gaping wounds.
“What is that?” Shen Zhen furrowed her brow and asked.
Gu An did not look up; he gently swung the Cyan Hong Sword, replying, “It’s a transcendent force from beyond the Great Thousand World, known as the Battle Court.”
“The Battle Court?”
Shen Zhen had never heard of this name before; she asked in surprise, “Why do all these major sects like to name themselves ‘court’, Holy Court, Dao Court, Battle Court… your book’s Celestial Court can’t possibly be real, can it?”
She had always suspected The Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West to be true, and now, thinking about it, it seemed very possible—after all, Gu An’s Dao Practice was beyond her imagination.
“It cannot be said, it cannot be said,” Gu An said with a meaningful smile.
He was thinking about what sword technique to use to sweep away the Battle Court.
At that moment, he felt something and turned his head towards the distance, a flicker of unusual light in his eyes.
He was looking in the direction of the Supreme Sect.
At the same time, on the remote Tai Cang Continent.
Candle Star and Ye Cang appeared beneath Long Qing’s attic, while the Soul of the Heaven-Supporting Ancestor emerged from within Long Qing’s body; he gazed up at the Celestial Vault, his brow deeply furrowed.
“The Battle Court is truly fearsome…” murmured the Heaven-Supporting Ancestor to himself.
Candle Star, too, looked up at the Celestial Vault, his face showing disbelief.
The Heaven-Supporting Ancestor turned to him and asked, “Aren’t you also from the Battle Court? I heard you wanted the Supreme Sect to take the Battle Court’s place?”
Ye Cang looked at Candle Star as well, detecting the sarcasm in the Heaven-Supporting Ancestor’s voice.
Taking a deep breath, Candle Star said, “I didn’t expect the Battle Court to have such depths. It seems that the existence has finished its seclusion and has called back those Great Powers who have been gone for so long.”
“It’s odd; he clearly despises the Long Clan, and it was just those War Gods targeting them…”
The Heaven-Supporting Ancestor speculated, “After all, even the Celestial Spirit God has fallen, and yet the Battle Court still dares to come—it must have some confidence.”
Candle Star couldn’t answer; his heart was in turmoil.
The oppressive force of the Battle Court’s arrival made him tremble with fear; he dared not imagine the sight of facing those War Gods, especially that existence.
That existence was the myth and legend of the Battle Court. Even though he had reached the Profound Yuan Free Immortal Realm, he had never seen that existence.
Clang—
The door of the attic flew open, and Long Qing walked out, descending the stairs at a steady pace, his expression calm.
A figure abruptly appeared at the base of the stairs; it was Long Qing’s son, Long Teng.
“Father, what is the origin of the anomaly in the sky? Why do I feel my Qi-Blood surging uncontrollably? I even feel…”
Long Teng asked with a furrowed brow.
Long Qing reached the landing and looked down at him, “Even feeling hostility, murderous intentions?”
Long Teng’s eyes widened in shock as he pressed, “Father, do you have the same feeling?”
Long Qing continued down the stairs, his gaze shifting towards the Celestial Vault, “Some things are too late to tell you, and there is no need for you to know. Just watch.”
“Just watch? Father, what are you going to do?” Long Teng’s eyebrows knitted again, an intense unease building within him.
Long Qing stepped in front of him, giving the unnerving feeling that he could disappear at any moment, which instinctively made Long Teng reach out, attempting to grasp Long Qing’s robe.
Candle Star, Ye Cang, and the Heaven-Supporting Ancestor, all aware of the Long Clan’s destiny, kept silent, their eyes fixed on Long Qing.
Ye Cang clenched his fists tightly, filled with reluctance.
He had not expected the Battle Court to come so swiftly.
Five hundred years was a long time for mortals, but for him, it was insufficient for his Cultivation Level to break through, far from enough to aid his master.
Just feeling the vast oppressive force enveloping heaven and earth told Ye Cang that he could not meddle in this karmic destiny.
But…
How would his master face it?
Ye Cang knew that his own Cultivation Level was not much higher than his master’s, but his master’s composure filled him with anticipation.