As dusk descended, the sky turned crimson, and massive meteors wreathed in blazing flames streaked across the heavens, painting a spectacular yet foreboding scene. With each meteor's fall, a vast ocean of fire descended from the sky, giving all living beings the sense that the heavens were collapsing.
"What is that?"
"Why is there such a massive fire in the sky?"
"Will it affect us here?"
"No worries, we're in the Tai Xuan Sect, protected by the sect's barrier."
"Could it be the demonic cultivators from the Grand Cold Demon Sect causing trouble?"
Within the Third Medicine Valley, disciples discussed the unfolding spectacle. Meanwhile, the senior cultivators who had been leisurely playing chess stood up abruptly and vanished into the void.
Nine-Finger Divine Lord raised his gaze, his brows furrowing.
Sitting across from him, Qie Wuxing sighed in amazement. "What a formidable divine ability."
Nine-Finger Divine Lord turned to Qie Wuxing, his expression questioning. "You've been wandering outside frequently these years. What exactly have you been searching for?"
Faced with the inquiry, Qie Wuxing simply smiled and pointed a finger toward the sky, offering no other explanation.
At the valley's entrance, Gu An sat atop the Blood Prison Saint, watching the sky intently. He could sense that the meteors and sea of fire above were all manifestations of powerful magical energy, wielded by a Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal. The vast scope of the divine ability encompassed everything.
It seemed that the century-long ultimatum issued by the Grand Cold Demon Sect was not merely a warning. During this period, they would take constant action, pressuring all beings to flee.
Alternatively, it could be a ploy to flush out the person they sought.
Using personal vendettas to harm countless innocent lives gave Gu An a deeper understanding of the Sacred Court.
While the Sacred Court's overall intentions were benevolent, there were undoubtedly rotten elements within it.
Perhaps the Sacred Court's philosophy differed from Gu An's. They might protect living beings, but they also had no qualms about turning a blind eye to their suffering.
Yang Jian glanced at Gu An and, seeing his calm demeanor, felt reassured.
With Master present, there was nothing to fear, even if the sky fell.
Li Lingtian sidled up to Yang Jian, starting a discussion about the strange phenomena in the sky.
Gu An patted the Blood Prison Saint on the neck, signaling him to continue forward.
The Blood Prison Saint had just taken a step when glowing barriers rose from the horizon. Looking around, they could see similar barriers forming in all directions. These were the Tai Xuan Sect's protective formations.
Quick work.
Gu An nodded in silent approval. The Tai Xuan Sect had not faced such challenges in years, yet their vigilance showed that the leadership was not overly reliant on Sword Master of Dao.
Soon, the entire Tai Xuan Sect was enveloped by the barrier's radiant light, putting the disciples at ease.
Across the lands, other sects and cities activated their protective arrays. However, many places remained unprotected, and the countless lives in those areas were left vulnerable.
In the North Sea Mountain Range, within the Mountain God Temple, Xuanmiao True Person sat cross-legged, gazing at the fiery spectacle in the sky with a heavy heart.
His concern wasn't for his own safety but for the fate of all beings.
How could ordinary mortals withstand this all-encompassing inferno?
Xuanmiao True Person turned to look at the stone statue of the Mountain God in the courtyard, a figure he had personally sculpted. Though he saw the Mountain God once a month, he always felt an insurmountable distance between them.
He bowed deeply before the statue, his reverence clear.
As meteors crashed into the horizon and the fiery sea loomed ever closer, dyeing the world in hues of flame, an extraordinary phenomenon began to unfold.
Across the continent, every blade of grass, every tree, began to emit faint green light. These lights ascended into the sky, spreading like sparks into a growing inferno of green brilliance.
A farmer in the mountains, gripping his hoe, was suddenly surrounded by the glowing green light, leaving him terrified and confused.
In cities, fleeing civilians stopped in their tracks, watching as the trees in their courtyards trembled and released luminous green orbs that floated upward.
In the imperial palace, Li Xuandao stood at the doorway of the royal study, gazing at the courtyard where plants emitted the same eerie green light. His expression was thoughtful, a mix of awe and contemplation.
At that moment, all living beings across the continent were astonished by the spectacle, including demons and monsters. No place was untouched, as flowers, grasses, and trees existed everywhere.
Back in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An dismounted from the Blood Prison Saint. The vegetation within the Tai Xuan Sect had not produced the green light, leaving the disciples puzzled by the celestial phenomenon and unaware of the spectacular scene unfolding beyond the sect.
However, as the green light rose to a sufficient altitude, the disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect began to notice the radiant display.
Speculation and debates erupted, filling the air with noise.
Gu An stood under the pavilion, gazing at the scene in the distance. Ji Xiaoyu stepped out of the house and joined him.
"It seems someone is protecting this continent," Ji Xiaoyu remarked. Her eyes reflected the glow of the ascending green light as it met the descending inferno of fire from the heavens, creating a breathtaking image of two worlds on the brink of collision.
Gu An's face was illuminated by the flames above, while the lower half was bathed in a green glow. He looked astonished and asked, "Are you saying this phenomenon was caused by cultivators? Just how powerful must they be?"
Ji Xiaoya gave him a sideways glance, clearly unimpressed. Although she didn't think Gu An was secretly hiding some immense cultivation level, it was impossible for someone like him to be so ignorant.
Usually, Gu An took Yang Jian out with him, and Yang Jian's rapid growth spoke volumes about Gu An's capabilities. No matter what secrets he harbored, his understanding and knowledge surpassed that of ordinary cultivators.
"Maybe it's Sword Master of Dao's doing," Ji Xiaoya said softly, her gaze shifting back to the horizon.
Spot on!
Gu An silently gave her a thumbs-up in his mind but kept his eyes fixed on the heavens.
Under the watchful eyes of all living beings, the massive green light clashed with the blazing inferno in the sky. A moment later, the heavens erupted with an intense brightness, like an endless display of fireworks bursting into the void.
After the brief silence that followed, the earth trembled, and strong winds descended, though not enough to threaten the land and mountains.
All across the land, creatures let out a collective sigh of relief. By this point, they understood that the mysterious green light was protecting them, preventing the descending fire from wreaking havoc.
What they didn't know was that not all continents and islands had such protection.
Gu An only shielded the continent he stood upon. As the creatures here rejoiced and celebrated their fortune, countless others elsewhere perished in despair.
At the peak of the Soul-Suppressing Tower.
The white-robed cultivator abruptly opened his eyes, letting out a startled sound. He performed a divination, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't deduce anything. His expression grew increasingly peculiar.
His interest piqued, he vanished from the spot.
Back in the Tai Xuan Sect, Gu An was chatting with Ji Xiaoya when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching rapidly. He sighed.
Why are there always fools seeking death?
"I'm heading to Xuan Valley. We'll talk later," Gu An said, walking toward the teleportation platform.
Ji Xiaoya wasn't curious. She simply continued gazing at the sky, admiring the extraordinary divine ability displayed by Sword Master of Dao.
Underneath a large tree, Qie Wuxing and Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who had been playing chess, were also looking at the sky, paying no attention to Gu An's movements.
Qie Wuxing remarked, "The trouble's finally drawn in. He's coming."
Nine-Finger Divine Lord turned to him, asking, "Who is 'he'?"
"Bai Hong True Person, one of Immortal of Death's disciples. He's a renowned prodigy in the Grand Cold Demon Sect, with cultivation levels so deep they're hard to fathom," Qie Wuxing replied.
Nine-Finger Divine Lord's face shifted slightly, revealing that he had heard of Bai Hong True Person before.
Qie Wuxing grinned mischievously. "This will be entertaining. Prodigies all share the same flaw—they're too confident."
Not far away, Shen Xin Zi seemed focused on the sky, but his ears were attuned to Qie Wuxing and Nine-Finger Divine Lord's conversation.
He couldn't help but recall the hand that had once rested on his shoulder that night. Now, he felt a twinge of sympathy for Bai Hong True Person.
This world had many hidden powerhouses. No matter how high one's cultivation level was, it would be unwise to underestimate it.
Underneath the crimson sky, Bai Hong True Person flew swiftly through the air. The blazing inferno around him couldn't halt his advance. Vast seas passed beneath him, but he didn't look down.
His gaze was locked on a distant continent.
In his divine sense, countless great cultivators had intervened to shield living beings from his divine abilities. Yet, one particular continent stood out—the techniques used there intrigued him, and their power seemed immune to karmic deduction.
Perhaps the one who acted there was connected to the person his master was searching for.
At this thought, Bai Hong True Person's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
He wasn't just carrying out his master's orders; he was also seeking an opportunity for himself.
Suddenly, a hand rested on Bai Hong True Person's shoulder, bringing his rapid flight to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop disrupted his mana and blood flow, leaving him with an intense feeling that his primordial spirit might be forced out of his body.
When he tried to struggle, he was horrified to find that he had lost control over both his physical body and his soul.
He couldn't even attempt to separate his spirit from his body, and this realization filled him with an overwhelming sense of dread.
In that moment, countless thoughts raced through Bai Hong True Person's mind.
[Bai Hong True Person (Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal, Ninth Layer): 150,908/500,000/800,000]
A Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal with a lifespan of 150,000 years. What a pity—he'll die here.
Gu An observed Bai Hong True Person's information and thought to himself.
Instead of using the Soul Capture Technique, Gu An prepared to end him directly.
He deliberately allowed Bai Hong True Person to linger for a few breaths longer, giving him time to savor his despair as a punishment for his crimes.
Just as Bai Hong True Person sensed the pressure on his shoulder lighten and prepared to speak, the hand suddenly clenched.
In an instant, Bai Hong True Person disintegrated into ash, his soul obliterated without a sound.
Gu An vanished from the spot immediately after.
Returning to the forest near Xuan Valley, Gu An pretended to inspect some herbs. A notification appeared before his eyes.
You have successfully acquired 38,000 years of lifespan.
Not bad.
Gu An wasn't worried about Immortal of Death seeking revenge. If he came, he'd kill him too.
Could a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal threaten a Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal?
And if an even stronger presence emerged, Gu An was ready to flee if necessary.
So far, it seemed the Sacred King wouldn't act directly, lest he tarnish his image. If he were willing to get his hands dirty, why not come and find his enemy's reincarnation himself?
The Sacred King's use of the Grand Cold Demon Sect indicated caution.
The firestorm in the sky lasted for the duration of an incense stick before finally dissipating. The green glow that had shrouded the continent turned into a mist, dissipating with the wind as night fell.
The heavens darkened, yet the hearts of the living remained stirred, unable to calm.
When Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley, Ji Xiaoya had already retired to her quarters. He instead headed toward the chess area, where many disciples were gathered, discussing the earlier phenomena. With Qie Wuxing and Nine-Finger Divine Lord present, the disciples gained rare insights, marveling at the unfathomable techniques of Sword Master of Dao.