Facing the Annihilation God Emperor's veiled threat, the Heavenly Demon Emperor smiled faintly and said, "God Emperor, you should understand my intent. Without your guidance, how could I have reached this point? It is precisely because of this sentiment that I wish to remind you of the cost of your decision."
The Annihilation God Emperor gazed down at him and asked, "Have you pledged allegiance to the Battle Court?"
The Heavenly Demon Emperor replied calmly, "The Dread Demon Emperor did approach me, but the Battle Court cannot breach the realm gates. I have no reason to join them. However, you are different. You do not belong to this universe and will inevitably leave one day."
The Annihilation God Emperor remained silent.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor's eyes glimmered with intrigue as he continued, "Perhaps I could deal with that individual for you. That way, you wouldn't be betraying Dragonheart Emperor."
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted from the Annihilation God Emperor, crashing against the Heavenly Demon Emperor with overwhelming pressure. The surging power caused the demonic energy around the latter to scatter and reassemble repeatedly.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor lowered his head slightly, his expression darkening.
"It seems you lack the confidence to destroy the Heavenly Spirit Great World and instead seek to rely on my strength?" The Annihilation God Emperor's voice was cold and detached.
Taking a deep breath, the Heavenly Demon Emperor responded, "Our Heavenly Demon Clan exists to eradicate the Heavenly Dao Great Worlds—it is our mission. If I do not act, I will eventually vanish into nothingness, my Dao dissolving into emptiness. Currently, the Heavenly Spirit Great World is protected by the power of Xuan You, the swordsmanship of The Grand Sword of the Great Hong, and an unknown origin Free Immortal. I cannot claim absolute certainty in overcoming them.
"God Emperor, though you have transcended, you are still tied to the chaos. This position inherently opposes the beings of the Heavenly Dao. The descendants of the Dragon Clan have aligned themselves with reincarnation and joined the Heavenly Dao's side—they now stand against you."
The Annihilation God Emperor withdrew his oppressive aura and pondered briefly. Raising his right hand, he made a subtle gesture. From the darkness behind him, a towering figure emerged, its entire form entwined with blazing firelines, concealing its true appearance.
The moment the Heavenly Demon Emperor saw this figure, his expression shifted drastically. Unable to contain his shock, he exclaimed, "Xuanhuang Demon God?! How could this be… How did you bring him here…"
The Annihilation God Emperor gave no answer. Instead, he waved his hand lightly, and the Xuanhuang Demon God behind him opened its eyes. They blazed like twin suns of divine might, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Before those piercing eyes, the Heavenly Demon Emperor appeared as insignificant as a speck of dust.
He inhaled deeply, his face twisting into a manic and feral grin.
"With such power, we will undoubtedly eradicate the Heavenly Spirit Great World!"
Tai Xuan Sect was steeped in the lively atmosphere of the Spring Festival, but the Third Medicine Valley had been isolated by a formation. Within the grand array, the Blood Prison Saint was undergoing tribulation. Violent heavenly lightning struck him relentlessly as he floated in midair. Yet, rather than feeling pain, he twisted his neck as if enjoying the sensation.
Gu An stood on the high platform, using his Dao intent to accelerate the Blood Prison Saint's Heavenly Tribulation.
By this point, the Blood Prison Saint had already entered the Loose Immortal Realm and was undergoing profound internal transformations.
All the cultivators in the valley gazed upon this scene with awe, each engaged in their own thoughts.
Unbeknownst to them, they were all experiencing various forms of enlightenment. This was due to Gu An's Dao intent enveloping the entire Medicine Valley, allowing everyone present to benefit from its essence.
This so-called grand ceremony was not merely for observing the Blood Prison Saint's breakthrough. Those invited to the Medicine Valley were either close friends of Gu An or honored guests of the sect. It was, in essence, Gu An's gift to them for the Spring Festival.
Many believed Tai Xuan Sect relied entirely on the Sword Master of the Dao. However, Gu An felt the sect had helped him in many ways, such as concealing his identity and showing him genuine respect. Even when schemes were involved, they remained outside the Third Medicine Valley and never disturbed his cultivation.
Over the millennia, Tai Xuan Sect had endured trials and upheavals but always corrected its mistakes. Overall, Gu An was satisfied with the sect. This was why he was willing to present them with such a grand gift.
"Cultivating immortality and pursuing the Dao requires enlightenment just as much as it does practice. Many of you are preoccupied with absorbing energy and strengthening yourselves, turning this fixation into an obsession that could birth inner demons.
"This mount of mine has spent years sitting quietly, attuning itself to the natural world. That is why it has been able to ascend to immortality…" Gu An's voice rang out, calm yet resonant, carrying the weight of profound truth.
Gu An's voice resonated through the valley, each word clear and precise, reaching everyone's ears and prompting them to reflect deeply.
What Gu An said was not baseless. While the Blood Prison Saint's strength increase wasn't directly tied to enlightenment, understanding the natural order was indeed a valid path, one with a higher ceiling than merely absorbing spiritual energy.
If one could truly comprehend the Dao, power would naturally follow.
The majority of cultivators obsess over absorbing energy and advancing their cultivation, neglecting the importance of comprehending the natural world. This obsessive focus fosters impatience, which, in turn, leads many down extreme paths.
The enlightenment Gu An spoke of wasn't like Wu Jue's specific insights but rather a comprehension of the Great Dao itself. The Dao exists everywhere. A single moment of understanding can surpass a millennium of arduous cultivation.
Even if one cannot achieve full enlightenment, occasional meditation can calm the heart, smoothing the path forward and ensuring steadier progress.
There's an old saying from Huaxia: "Haste makes waste." This adage is equally applicable to the path of cultivation.
Gu An's tone was calm and deliberate as he gently guided the gathered guests with his Dao. Even those as powerful as Jue Luo Sword Master and the white-robed elder found themselves lost in thought.
Standing amidst the crowd, Xu Jie gained newfound clarity.
For years, he had felt restless, carrying a growing aggression in his heart. If left unchecked, it could one day transform into an inner demon. However, as he listened to his master's words, an unprecedented tranquility washed over him, leaving him deeply at peace. This sensation was comforting beyond measure.
Time passed quickly.
Under Gu An's guidance, the Blood Prison Saint progressed through his tribulation with extraordinary speed.
By the time evening arrived and the tribulation clouds dispersed, the Blood Prison Saint had successfully completed his ascension, stepping into the First Stage of the Loose Immortal Realm!
His ability to leap directly past the Nirvana Realm was entirely due to the countless herbs and pills Gu An had invested in him over the years.
As he felt the immense power of the Loose Immortal Realm surging within him, the Blood Prison Saint was overcome with a strong urge to roar to the heavens, but he restrained himself.
Descending from the sky, he landed before Gu An, half-kneeling in reverence. Clasping his fists, he declared in a booming voice, "Thank you, Master, for your grace! I will serve by your side for eternity!"
His voice echoed through the valley, jolting many out of their reflections. This was a public pledge of loyalty, affirming that his path to immortality was entirely thanks to Gu An's benevolence.
Though the tribulation clouds above had yet to fully dissipate, streaks of crimson light adorned the edges of the sky. Twilight was descending, and the festival atmosphere thickened.
Gu An reached out to lift the Blood Prison Saint to his feet. Turning to the crowd below, he noticed that most of them had already regained their senses. Smiling, he raised his hand and said, "Everyone, it's the Spring Festival. Let's drink and celebrate!"
As his words fell, An Xin gestured to the disciples, who promptly sprang into action.
Boom! Boom! Boom…
Fireworks erupted from the surrounding mountains, their thunderous explosions pulling everyone back to reality. Those who had been immersed in their newfound enlightenment felt a pang of loss, wishing they could recapture that fleeting sensation.
For the first time, many began to truly consider Gu An's words about connecting with the natural world.
With this, the Spring Festival in the Third Medicine Valley officially began. Gu An descended from the platform with the Blood Prison Saint, immediately becoming the center of attention. The Blood Prison Saint, too, found himself surrounded by admirers eager to ask about his experience of ascension.
Standing with his hands on his hips, the Blood Prison Saint exuded confidence. Radiating an aura of triumph, he shared every detail about the strength of the Loose Immortal Realm without reservation.
His gaze eventually drifted to the distance, where the plump white spirit mouse sat beneath the Mysterious Clear Tree. Sensing the Blood Prison Saint's gaze, the mouse panicked and burrowed underground, disappearing from sight.
The Blood Prison Saint smirked. With his crimson hair and prominent horns, he looked like a demon god reborn, his grin as unsettling as it was intimidating.