After being slapped in the face by Gu An, Old Demon Mark's expression was one of utter disbelief. He hadn't expected Gu An to be so audacious.
Though they were both at the level of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, the disparity in cultivation did not mean they weren't peers!
Grinding his teeth, Old Demon Mark growled, "Who exactly are you? Which sect do you belong to?"
The others present stared at Gu An, awaiting his response.
Could this newly joined member of the Mortal Peak actually be a hidden Unrestrained Primordial Immortal?
Everyone was incredulous, some even beginning to suspect Gu An might have ulterior motives.
Even Bai Ziya, who had personally recruited Gu An to Mortal Peak, began to waver. Could it all have been an elaborate setup? But after thinking back to their initial meeting, it didn't seem like a trap.
Gu An coldly stared at Old Demon Mark and replied, "Does it really matter? If I'm just an ordinary Peak Master of Mortal Peak, what will you do to retaliate?"
At that moment, Gu An had already decided—Old Demon Mark was as good as dead.
Hearing this, Dao Lord Yongnian narrowed his eyes.
Old Demon Mark's face twisted even further, caught between rage and uncertainty. He couldn't answer.
"Could this man also be after the Dingtian Peak?"
Old Demon Mark's thoughts swirled with fury. There was no way he believed this was all coincidence.
How could a random member of Mortal Peak turn out to be such a deeply hidden powerhouse?
Now, he was riding a tiger he couldn't dismount. Backing down would stain his reputation with inescapable karma, yet doubling down might only end in disgrace.
Unexpectedly, Old Demon Mark forced a smile and cupped his fists. "If that's the case, then I'm even more inclined to join Mortal Peak. Forget about Dingtian Peak; I'll take Chengtian Peak instead."
The room collectively exhaled a breath of relief.
Dao Lord Yongnian finally spoke, "Enough. Fellow Daoist, perhaps you should consider another sect instead."
All eyes turned to him, surprised at his abrupt shift in attitude. Old Demon Mark, on the other hand, looked utterly humiliated.
Gu An turned to glance at Dao Lord Yongnian. Seeing him give a slight nod, Gu An's face broke into a faint smile.
At least he's reasonable.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Old Demon Mark flicked his sleeve and left without another word.
No one dared stop him, fearing the situation might escalate further.
Gu An raised his right hand, drawing everyone's attention. None could understand what he intended.
Three breaths later, Gu An suddenly clenched his fist, swiftly tucking his hand into his sleeve. The motion was so fast, no one caught a glimpse of what he had grabbed.
[You have successfully drained 8,709 years of lifespan from Old Demon Mark (Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, Level 4).]
Reading the prompt, Gu An felt nothing—not even a flicker of accomplishment.
The other Unrestrained Primordial Immortals in the room turned pale, their gazes filled with dread as they realized Old Demon Mark's aura had completely vanished.
Meanwhile, the Earthly Flying Immortals were left speculating about what Gu An had just grasped.
Returning to Bai Ziya's side, Gu An watched as Dao Lord Yongnian gave him a deep, meaningful look before signaling for the banquet to resume.
Bai Ziya stared at Gu An, words catching in his throat.
Gu An smiled. "Bai Ziya, let's keep things as they were before. Does that work for you?"
Bai Ziya instinctively nodded, but his demeanor had become far more reserved.
How could it stay the same?
That's terrifying!
If I had acted arrogantly when we first met, would he have crushed me like an ant?
Bai Ziya dared not ask, but the answer already weighed heavily on his mind.
As the banquet continued, Gu An became the focal point. Everyone was eager to establish ties with him. Even the Unrestrained Primordial Immortals began addressing him as "Senior," a stark contrast to the earlier dynamics.
At Discourse Peak, a courtyard filled with banquet tables, Lu Lingjun, Xi Ling Sacred Mother, and Xu Xi were seated together. In another corner, Shenxin Zi discussed Buddhist teachings with a group.
The Xi Ling Sacred Mother turned to Xu Xi and asked curiously, "Miss Xu, might it be possible for us to meet your master? I'd like to personally thank him for his care of Lingjun."
Lu Lingjun looked toward Xu Xi as well. Over the past few days, Xu Xi had taken her around Mortal Peak, greatly broadening her horizons and imparting invaluable insights into cultivation philosophy.
Whenever Lu Lingjun wanted something, Xu Xi would purchase it for her without hesitation. Though Lu Lingjun harbored some wariness regarding the intentions of the Dingtian Peak's Peak Master, her favorable impression of Xu Xi remained intact.
Xu Xi shook her head and replied, "My master has not instructed me to meet with you, nor has he indicated a desire to keep Miss Lu. Once the summit ends, you may return without worry."
Her words caused the Xi Ling Sacred Mother and Lu Lingjun to exchange puzzled glances, both sensing a deeper meaning.
At that moment, a cultivator landed in the courtyard.
"Old Demon Mark offended the Dingtian Peak's Peak Master and perished shortly after leaving Mortal Peak!"
The man's excited announcement drew everyone's attention.
Hearing it was related to Dingtian Peak's Peak Master, Xu Xi and the others couldn't help but show interest.
The man eagerly recounted the events of the cloud banquet. Similar scenes played out across Mortal Peak, as news of Old Demon Mark's demise spread rapidly.
Once a prominent elder of the now-fractured Great Cold Demon Sect, Old Demon Mark's death served as a potent display of Mortal Peak's dominance.
From Old Demon Mark's attempt to coerce Dingtian Peak's Peak Master into stepping down, to the latter showcasing superior cultivation and publicly slapping Old Demon Mark, the entire sequence of events stirred the crowd's blood.
When news spread that Old Demon Mark had perished mere moments after leaving Mortal Peak, Dingtian Peak's Peak Master became a figure of both awe and dread in everyone's minds.
The message quickly reached the disciples of Dingtian Peak, reinvigorating their spirits and washing away the bitterness of their lower ranking.
Upon learning of the incident, Lu Lingjun felt even more uneasy.
This Dingtian Peak Peak Master is truly formidable!
Such a person lending their aid might bring either fortune or disaster.
The clash between the Dingtian Peak Peak Master and Old Demon Mark had made this Millennium Summit even more intriguing. As more details about Old Demon Mark's identity and past deeds were uncovered, all the attendees became keenly aware of Mortal Peak's overwhelming power.
After the cloud banquet concluded, Gu An returned to the Tai Xuan Sect.
Although he had heard about the commotion at Mortal Peak, he knew that the rapid spread of the news was no accident—it was being deliberately circulated by Mortal Peak. Thankfully, his name, "Meng Lang," wasn't explicitly mentioned, which he took as a sign of respect.
Back in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An encountered An Xin and stopped to chat with her.
Their conversation revolved around mundane matters in the valley, and Gu An found such topics far more enjoyable than the grand discussions about the Great Dao or the fate of the world.
Those Unrestrained Primordial Immortals, always preaching lofty ideals—utterly pretentious.
In the Supernatural Realm, beneath a blood-red sky, Zhang Buku was training in divine arts by the sea.
Behind him, the Master of the Supernatural Realm sat before the Monument of Divine Fate, gazing up at the heavens with an unfocused expression.
Finishing his exercises, Zhang Buku turned to his master and asked, "Master, the great tribulation has ended, and you've even brokered agreements with the sea's sects. Why do you still look so troubled?"
Whenever he thought of the Sword Master of the Dao obliterating the Great Cold Demon Sect, Zhang Buku couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, he had always heard tales of the Sword Master's unparalleled exploits. No matter where he went, the Sword Master remained a figure revered by all.
The Master of the Supernatural Realm slowly lowered his gaze. "The Great Cold Demon Sect, like me, was merely a pawn. This matter won't end so easily. The disturbance was too great; the Sacred Court is bound to investigate. Once the storm calms, new troubles will surely emerge."
Zhang Buku dismissed his master's concerns. "If the entity behind the Great Cold Demon Sect could rival the Sword Master, wouldn't they have acted already?"
"Perhaps they're still assessing the Sword Master's identity and cultivation."
"Master, you're overthinking this. You should focus on cultivating and striving to free yourself from fate's shackles."
Zhang Buku's tone was earnest. Since his father's passing, he had faced countless hardships and developed an unwavering heart. He knew that fretting over the future was futile; dedicating oneself to cultivation was the key.
The Master of the Supernatural Realm chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not like you. I can't grow stronger through cultivation. The more spectral wraiths I control, the more powerful I become."
Hearing this, Zhang Buku frowned. "But with peace reigning over the world, won't it be impossible for you to increase the number of wraiths?"
The master nodded and then, with a glint in his eye, gazed back at the heavens. "Not in this realm, no. But, my disciple, would you like to explore other worlds?"
"Other worlds? Where?"
"A very dark realm."
The Master's words puzzled Zhang Buku. What could be darker than the Supernatural Realm?
Time passed, and seven years slipped by in the blink of an eye.
One day, Lu Lingjun returned.
She saw Gu An engrossed in another chess game and couldn't help but shake her head with a smile. What's so fascinating about Go?
Her gaze fell upon Shenxin Zi. Why is this prominent figure from the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect still here? What is it about the Third Medicine Valley that holds such appeal for a cultivator of his stature?
She sent a telepathic message to Gu An. Upon receiving it, Gu An immediately gestured for Yang Jian, who was standing nearby, to take over his game.
As Yang Jian moved to play, Lu Xianyi, a representative of the Sacred Court, came over to observe. Over the years, he had consistently tried to ingratiate himself with Yang Jian. While Gu An had his suspicions about the man's motives, he kept them to himself, pretending not to notice.
Excusing himself from the crowd, Gu An approached Lu Lingjun and greeted her.
"Let's talk in your room," Lu Lingjun suggested with a nod.
Gu An had no objections, and the two chatted as they made their way to the pavilion.
Inside, Lu Lingjun seated herself comfortably, her gaze wandering around the room. Spotting certain books on the shelves, she couldn't help but smirk.
Some habits never change.
Gu An brewed tea for her as she recounted her experiences from the past years.
"I attended the Millennium Summit at Mortal Peak—it was an eye-opener. Have you heard of Mortal Peak?" she asked.
Gu An nodded. "I've heard of it. Shenxin Zi went as well, but I wasn't privy to any details. The senior cultivators said I wasn't qualified to know."
Lu Lingjun chuckled. "They're not wrong. But I was lucky enough to go and can share what I learned. Interested?"
Gu An handed her a steaming cup of tea and said, "Of course! Tell me everything."
Let's see if you'll brag about me.
Lu Lingjun began recounting the events of the Millennium Summit from the start. Gu An listened intently as she spoke, leaving out nothing—especially her interactions with the Dingtian Peak Peak Master. Her tone was laced with subtle hints, as if probing for Gu An's reaction.
Gu An maintained a composed expression, though inwardly, he couldn't help but scoff.
Are all women like this?
Jiang Qiong had also used the Sword Master of the Dao to test me.
As Lu Lingjun concluded her tale, she sighed. "The strength of the Dingtian Peak Peak Master is unimaginable. He killed a Great Cold Demon Sect elder as easily as snapping a twig. Who knows if I'll ever reach such heights?"
Gu An smirked. "Give it a hundred or eighty million years."
Lu Lingjun glared at him. "You make it sound so simple! A million years wouldn't even scratch the surface. You have no idea how vast the immortal path truly is!"