Boom—
Dust and debris filled the air. Xuan Tianyi emerged from the rubble, ascending high into the sky. From above, he peered forward, his eyes widening.
Beyond the fissure carved by Changsheng Daoist, the land on the other side was a swirling chaos of dust and demonic mist. The previously overwhelming aura of the Demon Ancestor had completely dissipated, leaving only an eerie and formless void.
"Was that a sword formation just now?"
Xuan Tianyi frowned. The Sword Master of Dao had not appeared in person, yet with one move, he annihilated the Demon Ancestor. The sheer power left him shaken.
This was his first real glimpse into the Sword Master of Dao's might. The grandiose sword formation was something even the vast seas could not rival.
Other great cultivators began converging from all directions. None of them had been injured—merely flung away by the immense shockwave. Excitement now gleamed in their eyes.
"The Demon Ancestor is dead! Does this mean the Demon Catastrophe is ending?"
"Hahaha! We finally won, and we didn't even have to sacrifice our lives!"
"The Sword Master of Dao is unbelievably powerful. Even among immortals, there are levels of strength."
"If he's so strong, why does he keep his identity hidden?"
"Isn't it obvious? A person of his stature stepping in once or twice is already a favor. If his identity were public, everyone would bother him for every little matter."
The great cultivators were animated, some even laughing uproariously. Years of pent-up frustration and despair were finally being released.
Liang Canghai, Sect Master of the Cang Tian Sect, raised his voice. "Everyone, I propose that the Three Dynasties and all sects erect statues in honor of the Sword Master of Dao—not to curry favor, but to ensure the world forever remembers his grace!"
His words were met with enthusiastic agreement from the other sect leaders.
Xuanquan Ancestor frowned, his lips twitching as if to object, but he ultimately remained silent.
Xuan Tianyi shot Liang Canghai a cold glance and snorted but chose not to comment.
Under Liang Canghai's leadership, the cultivators began scouring the battlefield to ensure the Demon Ancestor had truly fallen.
Far away in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An extended his divine sense to probe the battlefield. After the Demon Ancestor's death, no demonic core or treasures remained.
This guy died without leaving anything of value.
Could he resurrect later?
Suppressing his doubts, Gu An joined the disciples in discussing the Sword Master of Dao's unparalleled strength.
Now it was a waiting game to see how the Seven Stars Spirit Realm would react.
The self-proclaimed "Sacred Land" was unlikely to act recklessly. After all, even Lin Jinxian's identity had remained unknown to the Tai Xuan Sect disciples.
The Demon Ancestor Falls!
This news swept across the land in just two days. The speed of its dissemination was due to the Demon Ancestor's infamous challenge to the Sword Master of Dao before his demise.
The Sword Master of Dao's reputation reached unprecedented heights, revered across the Three Dynasties as a legendary protector.
Though roaming demonic beasts still plagued the lands, the once-formidable demon kings had begun retreating, boosting the morale of humanity.
Songs praising the Sword Master of Dao echoed across cities and villages.
As Gu An roamed the land disguised as the "Green Hero," he noticed that every town and hamlet buzzed with talk of the Sword Master of Dao. He hadn't anticipated how quickly the news had spread.
Despite the Demon Ancestor's fall, demons and beasts continued to surge forth. This suggested that someone—or something—else orchestrated the catastrophe.
Still, with the demon kings in retreat, victory for the Three Dynasties seemed inevitable. Gu An kept busy, seizing the opportunity to accumulate more lifespan.
His life-stealing ability remained his greatest secret. Using the Sword Master of Dao's identity to slaughter demons en masse would only draw suspicion. As the Green Hero, his actions were more justifiable—after all, he wasn't the only vigilante in these troubled times.
Days turned into weeks.
One month later, Gu An's lifespan crossed the eight-million-year mark.
On this day, Lü Baitian visited him in the Third Medicine Valley. Gu An hosted him in his loft.
Beaming with joy, Lü Baitian couldn't stop singing praises of the Sword Master of Dao. Under Lü Baitian's leadership, the Tai Xuan Sect had successfully retained the Sword Master of Dao, garnering immense favor from the Grand Elders. Even Xuan Tianyi had publicly declared he wouldn't vie for the sect master's position.
"The Demon Catastrophe is effectively over," Lü Baitian said, gently swirling his tea. "Besides the Sword Master of Dao slaying the Demon Ancestor, the Sacred Land has also intervened, dispatching disciples to aid the world."
"The Sacred Land?" Gu An raised an eyebrow. "I heard from Miss Jiang Qiong that the Sacred Land rarely meddles in worldly affairs. Why now?"
Lü Baitian explained, "It seems the Demon Catastrophe stems not only from the Demon Ancestor but also from an ancient fiend called the Fierce Demon. The Sacred Land had sealed him underground long ago. Although the seal remains intact, demonic energy has been seeping into the world through the spiritual veins, corrupting beasts into monsters."
"Since the Three Dynasties lie in the southernmost part of the continent, farthest from the Fierce Demon, humanity has been spared from complete corruption. However, the Sacred Land has warned that the Fierce Demon grows stronger. If he ever breaks free, another calamity will surely follow. They've vowed to stand with humanity against him, claiming it's their duty to correct their past failure."
Hearing this, Gu An nearly laughed aloud at the cunning of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
A flawless narrative!
Had he not sifted through so many memories, he might have genuinely admired the Sacred Land's supposed righteousness.
But he knew this was all orchestrated by the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
Still, their involvement was a positive sign. Their decision to intervene meant they cared about their reputation and wouldn't act recklessly.
Gu An mulled over Lü Baitian's words, his expression unreadable.
The Sacred Land's calculated move to align with humanity was both opportunistic and prudent. For now, it seemed, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm would remain predictable allies rather than adversaries.
This development revealed that even the Seven Stars Spirit Realm was wary of the Sword Master of Dao, unwilling to confront him directly. This, in turn, bought Gu An more time to grow.
Still, Gu An couldn't afford to let his guard down; he needed to remain vigilant in case the Seven Stars Spirit Realm secretly investigated him.
Upon hearing the news, Gu An feigned joy and asked, "That's certainly good news. The Sacred Land must be quite formidable. Have the other sects been informed of this?"
Lü Baitian nodded. "Yes, the Sacred Land emissaries have informed all sects. It's estimated that within five years, there won't be any more corrupted beasts in the world. The Three Dynasties might even expand into the Demon Lands. However, this brings some complications for the Tai Cang Dynasty and the Tai Xuan Sect."
Gu An raised an eyebrow, curious. "What complications?"
Lü Baitian sighed. "The Great Jiang Dynasty and the Tian Wei Dynasty stand between us and the Demon Lands. This makes it difficult for us to mine spirit ores or seek opportunities there. Over time, the Tai Cang Dynasty could be swallowed by the other two dynasties. When that happens, the Tai Xuan Sect's influence in the cultivation world will weaken. I'm considering backing Li Xuandao's plans."
Hearing this, Gu An wanted to roll his eyes.
The Demon Catastrophe wasn't even over yet, and they were already scheming over the Demon Lands' division?
He refrained from voicing his thoughts, knowing that the Tai Xuan Sect's growth was essential for his own survival.
Lü Baitian then delved into the Tai Xuan Sect's future strategies, speaking with heartfelt sincerity. It was clear that he hadn't given up on recruiting Gu An as his disciple.
According to Lü Baitian, once the Demon Catastrophe was resolved, the Grand Elders would no longer journey south. Instead, they would lead the Tai Xuan Sect disciples to explore the Demon Lands, bolstering the sect's foundation.
They even viewed the Cang Tian Sect as a potential rival. Lü Baitian expressed disdain for the Cang Tian Sect's incessant praise of the Sword Master of Dao.
"They're dreaming if they think they can win over the Sword Master of Dao! Gu An, why don't you write a book about the Sword Master of Dao? With Pan An's fame, it would spread across the land!" Lü Baitian suggested, looking serious.
Write a book about myself again?
Gu An suppressed his irritation and quickly shook his head. "No way. I don't want to write another book about someone else. Besides, the Sword Master of Dao carries immense karma. If I write about him and the book becomes popular, it'll only bring trouble. Sect Master, are you trying to get me killed? Even you wouldn't be able to shield me from the Sword Master of Dao's enemies."
Lü Baitian pondered for a moment and realized the logic in Gu An's words. He reluctantly dropped the subject.
After chatting for a while longer, Lü Baitian left with a hint of regret.
Gu An didn't linger in the Third Medicine Valley for long either. After spending half an hour in Xuan Valley, he once again disguised himself as the Green Hero and ventured into the mortal world.
Time passed swiftly, and another month slipped by.
Gu An celebrated his ninety-fifth birthday, inching closer to the century mark.
On this day, Xuan Tianyi visited Gu An. Pulling him away from his gardening, Xuan Tianyi brought him into the loft, acting unusually secretive.
"What's so urgent?" Gu An asked, watching Xuan Tianyi set up a restrictive barrier inside the room.
Xuan Tianyi smirked and walked to the desk. From his storage pouch, he pulled out a book and dropped it on the table.
Gu An glanced at it, his eyelid twitching.
Sword Master of Dao's Travelogues!
Good heavens!
"You're insane!" Gu An blurted out. "You dare make fun of the Sword Master of Dao? Aren't you afraid he'll come after you?"
Xuan Tianyi raised an eyebrow. "It's just a book. What could he do?"
"Watch out, or the Sword Master of Dao might tap you on the shoulder in the middle of the night!"
"Huh, that's a good idea! It would add some suspense."
"I'm serious! Don't mess around!" Gu An's frustration mounted.
The Tai Xuan Secrets already sullied his real name, and he didn't want another identity tarnished.
Lü Baitian must be behind this. Failing to find me, he roped in Xuan Tianyi?
If I'd known, I would've just written it myself!
Seeing Gu An's genuine worry, Xuan Tianyi felt a surge of gratitude. What a loyal brother!
"Relax," Xuan Tianyi reassured him. "This time, I've taken a different approach. I'm mimicking your writing style. Take a look."
Gu An picked up the book and began flipping through it with a critical eye.
Meanwhile, Xuan Tianyi wandered to the bookshelf, curious about what Gu An typically read.
After a while, Gu An set the book down, exhaling deeply. He turned to Xuan Tianyi. "Not bad. It's certainly less romanticized. With the Sword Master of Dao revered by all cultivators, you can mythologize him, but avoid giving him any degrading traits."
Xuan Tianyi spun around and glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying the Green Hero is disgraceful?"
"Speaking of which," Gu An retorted, narrowing his eyes, "was the The Adventures of Green Hero purely fictional, or was it based on true events?"
"Half and half."
Hearing this, Gu An's annoyance morphed into disbelief.
Half true? Really?
Does this man even remember his "Purple Maiden"? That night in the ruined temple was so…!
Gu An suddenly felt the urge to grab a sword and stab Xuan Tianyi.
Sensing the shift in Gu An's mood, Xuan Tianyi cleared his throat. "Let's focus on this book. Don't get sidetracked. Give me some pointers. You know Pan An's style better than anyone. I've heard that other sects are planning to write their own books to emulate Pan An's success and win over the Sword Master of Dao. Our Tai Xuan Sect cannot lose in this regard!"