After staying in Tianya Valley for an hour, Gu An left with the Blood Prison Saint and Yang Jian, while Li Lingtian remained behind, preparing to head south to set sail.
For Li Lingtian, this was likely a farewell for life. He doubted he would ever see Gu An or Yang Jian again.
Before parting, Li Lingtian asked Gu An to pass on a message to Ji Xiaoya—words of blessing and well wishes.
"Master, is there truly no force in this world willing to stand against the Grand Cold Demon Sect?" the Blood Prison Saint asked, his tone filled with resignation.
In the world he came from, there was no such overwhelmingly powerful sect.
Yang Jian also turned to Gu An, his expression calm. As long as his master remained unshaken, he feared nothing.
"How could there not be?" Gu An replied. "Plenty of people have thrown themselves at the Soul Suppression Tower, only to be met with defeat. The problem isn't courage; it's strength."
Gu An wasn't lying. Every so often, groups of cultivators and even demons would charge at the Soul Suppression Tower, facing death without hesitation. Even as they perished, others would rise to follow their will.
This world wasn't simply divided into good and evil. The lines were often blurred, but one thing was certain—there were always cultivators who valued justice above the pursuit of immortality.
Gu An looked out into the distance.
Grand Cold Demon Sect, you'd better have enough strength to make me take you seriously. Otherwise, not even your Sacred King can save you.
Sacred Court? So what? If they dared to provoke him, he would kill without hesitation. Worst case, he'd flee beyond the heavens and start over.
If trouble sought him out, he wouldn't tolerate it. Throughout his journey, countless arrogant individuals had fallen to his blade.
Gu An understood well how terrifying his ability to seize lifespans was. In the hands of someone else, such power would have plunged the world into chaos.
His restraint was simply a reflection of his character. Everyone had their own path to walk, and he was determined to walk his without regret.
But the more chaotic the world became, the more Gu An felt an urge to unleash his wrath.
His target? The Grand Cold Demon Sect.
The vast ocean stretched endlessly, with the Great Rift of the Broken Sea splitting it in two like a jagged scar. Beside it, the Soul Suppression Tower stood tall, its peak seemingly brushing the heavens.
The sky above was shrouded in oppressive thunderclouds, with occasional faint rumbles echoing through the air.
Inside the grand hall of the Soul Suppression Tower's first level:
The Immortal of Death sat cross-legged on a lotus throne. Beside him were three others, their auras no less formidable than his. Hundreds of cultivators from the Grand Cold Demon Sect stood below, their atmosphere festive. Many were chatting and laughing, appearing nothing like the typical image of demonic cultivators. They wore elegant robes, exuded a dignified air, and some even looked ethereal and refined.
A woman in a crimson robe seated to the right of the Immortal of Death opened her eyes and glanced at him. "Senior Brother, how much longer are we going to wait? Is there anyone in this mortal realm capable of opposing the four of us?"
The other two Unrestrained Primordial Immortals also opened their eyes, their expressions indifferent as they turned their gaze toward the Immortal of Death.
He slowly opened his eyes and said, "Caution ensures survival. Bai Hong's death was too suspicious. We cannot afford to be careless. Let's not forget what this land conceals."
The three Primordial Immortals fell silent. Having lived for hundreds of thousands of years and weathered countless storms, the Immortal of Death's words extinguished any lingering arrogance in their hearts.
The more dangerous the situation appeared, the more caution was warranted.
At that moment, a figure stepped forward from the hall and spoke loudly, "Respected ancestors, why not unleash another calamity to test the limits of that mysterious presence? At the same time, it would drive more people to flee, clearing the way for us."
The hall erupted into agreement. Almost everyone voiced their support, some even clamoring for revenge against Bai Hong True Person.
The Immortal of Death's gaze fell on the one who had spoken first—a Daoist in azure robes, a sword at his waist, and a folding fan in hand. His body radiated sword intent so powerful that merely standing near him made others feel its sharpness.
"Qingxin, what do you propose?" the Immortal of Death asked.
The hall fell silent in anticipation.
Qingxin True Person's lips curled into a confident smile. "I have a sword that can sever seas and cut moons. Why not let me cleave that continent in two with a single stroke?"
He raised his arms and turned to the crowd, prompting thunderous applause.
The majority of the cultivators present showed no fear or apprehension. On the contrary, they seemed amused, eager to see who dared stand in the way of the Grand Cold Demon Sect.
In any other mortal realm, they might have been cautious. But here? They felt like tigers among chickens—why would they fear?
Seeing Qingxin True Person's spirited demeanor, the three Unrestrained Primordial Immortals couldn't help but smile. They had watched him grow, master his Dao, and now stand as a formidable force in his own right.
After a brief hesitation, the Immortal of Death nodded.
Qingxin True Person's smile deepened. "If that's the case, I shall set out now. Fellow disciples, come watch the spectacle!"
The Immortal of Death added, "Do not stray too far."
"Rest assured, Ancestor!" Qingxin True Person bowed and then turned to leave, followed by a large crowd.
The woman in crimson looked at the Immortal of Death and said, "You should act as well. Accelerate the process to avoid any unforeseen changes."
The Immortal of Death hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.
Tai Xuan Sect, in a bright and expansive hall.
All the elders had gathered. Lü Baitian, Nine-Finger Divine Lord, and nearly every prominent figure of the Tai Xuan Sect were present, most wearing deep frowns.
Lü Baitian sat in the sect master's seat at the head of the hall, flanked by five Supreme Elders, each appearing equally troubled.
Vice Sect Master Ji Hantian stepped forward and broke the tense silence. "Sect Master, what are your intentions? Speak quickly, so we can make our preparations. We can't wait until disaster is upon us to start planning our response!"
His words sparked murmurs of agreement throughout the hall, with many urging Lü Baitian to decide quickly.
Lü Baitian took a deep breath and said, "I fear that if we retreat now, we will sever all karma with the Sword Master of the Dao, and that will be irreversible."
A few elders nodded in agreement. However, one elder stepped forward and retorted, "Surviving is what matters most! To this day, we have never even seen the Sword Master of the Dao. We don't know his stance on this matter, nor can we possibly compare ourselves to him. If he wishes to flee, he can flee without consequence. How can his cultivation level be something we aspire to?"
This argument resonated with most of the assembly. Their concerns weren't merely for themselves but for their disciples, descendants, and extended families.
Every person standing in the hall carried the weight of a vast network of relationships, families, and clans behind them.
Currently, the Tai Xuan Sect had millions of disciples scattered across the land, with countless others affiliated with its name.
Gu Zong sighed deeply. For once, he refrained from supporting Lü Baitian outright.
Lu Jiujia, too, wished for the Tai Xuan Sect to retreat. Her reasons were rooted in her attachment to the people of the Third Medicine Valley; she couldn't bear to see them perish in the looming catastrophe.
Lü Baitian's face grew increasingly grim. Taking another deep breath, he declared, "Anyone who wishes to leave may do so, but the Tai Xuan Sect cannot retreat. The sect can be left without people, but it must remain on this continent. This is our stance. Without the Sword Master of the Dao, the Tai Xuan Sect would not exist today!"
Having made his decision, Lü Baitian's expression relaxed, a faint smile breaking through. The weight of indecision lifted from his shoulders.
If the price was death, so be it.
His words sent shockwaves through the hall.
"Sect Master, reconsider!"
"If nothing else, consult the elder with the Heaven-Sundering Axe. We can't be so hasty!"
"Yes! What do you mean, the Tai Xuan Sect can exist without people but not leave? What kind of face does that leave us with?"
"A sect is a collective! It must rise and fall together."
"Sect Master, let's all leave together. Perhaps we can even invite the Sword Master of the Dao to join us."
Listening to their pleas, Lü Baitian felt nothing but disdain. Cowards. None of you dare to take responsibility, yet you fear death.
Just as he was about to speak again, a voice suddenly resounded across the heavens:
"From this day forth, my disciple Qingxin True Person will obliterate one continent each day. All beings of the world, your time is running out. Let us see which realm of living beings is the most unfortunate to become the first to perish."
The voice of the Immortal of Death echoed, its final note chilling the blood of everyone in the hall.
It wasn't just the Immortal of Death's words that froze their hearts. A terrifying sword intent had descended upon them, locking them in place.
To be precise, all beings across the continent—anything with intelligence—felt the oppressive weight of this sword intent. Many felt their courage shatter entirely.