In the depths of the universe, countless meteors engulfed in flames streaked through the vast mist of the Grand Dao, surging toward a single destination with unstoppable momentum, an awe-inspiring sight to behold.
The emergence of these meteors sent shockwaves throughout the cosmos, alarming the most powerful beings in existence. Divine senses and spiritual wills extended from all directions, probing the mysterious phenomenon.
On a stationary asteroid, Bai Ziya of Mortal Peak was seated in meditation. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto the approaching meteor shower.
He could sense the terrifying power contained within these meteors—a force so overwhelming that it triggered an instinctive fear within him.
Without hesitation, he activated a protective spell, forming a barrier around himself and concealing his presence.
One by one, the blazing meteors streaked past above him, their oppressive aura causing the asteroid beneath him to tremble violently.
"That is…"
Bai Ziya's pupils contracted sharply as he caught sight of a figure standing atop one of the meteors.
Could this be an army?
Following the trajectory of their flight, Bai Ziya's expression darkened.
Their destination was none other than Heavenly Spirit World!
Over the years, Heavenly Spirit World had experienced countless upheavals, and Bai Ziya had long suspected that the true source of these calamities lay not within, but rather from an external force that had been orchestrating everything in secret. The death of Sun Immortal Emperor had been the clearest proof of this.
As the last of the meteors vanished into the depths of darkness, Bai Ziya hesitated for a moment before ultimately turning and flying in the opposite direction.
He chose to preserve himself.
Meanwhile, in the far reaches of Heavenly Spirit World, the most supreme existences had already sensed the encroaching danger from beyond the heavens.
At the Third Medicine Valley, Long Jun stood atop a cliff, gazing toward the sky with a calm expression.
Zhu Xing appeared beside him, speaking in a low voice, "That is the Supreme Demon Realm's army. I can sense the aura of Supreme Demon Emperor among them. He is the current ruler of the Supreme Demon Realm."
Long Jun let out a long sigh. "A grand game is unfolding before us. It seems they intend to eliminate all the thorns in their path. The destiny of this world has changed."
"Changed? What do you mean?" Zhu Xing asked, confused.
Long Jun replied, "The future I once foresaw no longer aligns with reality. At the very least, the Supreme Demon Realm should not have appeared at this point in time."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Xing frowned.
In his eyes, Long Jun's cultivation was unfathomable. His ability to observe the flow of time and transcend the past to the present placed him on par with, if not above, Annihilation God Emperor. After all, even Annihilation God Emperor lacked the ability to traverse through the epochs.
"In the face of this disruption to the Heavenly Dao, what should we do?" Zhu Xing asked.
He had already placed all his hopes on Long Qing. There was no turning back now, and as Long Jun was Long Qing's ancestor, they stood on the same side. At this moment, he deeply trusted Long Jun's judgment.
"Remain hidden. Wait for that boy to master the Heavenly Dragon Reincarnation Divine Aspect," Long Jun replied, his tone steady.
Zhu Xing hesitated before asking, "Should we start preparing wives and concubines for him?"
Long Jun pondered for a moment before nodding. "It is time. Even I cannot fully discern the future now, so it is best to make preparations in advance."
"Understood. I will begin the selection process immediately."
…
In the endless mountains, Li Ya and Sword Annihilation Patriarch walked to the edge of a dense forest, gazing at the magnificent mountain range ahead.
Li Ya turned to look at Sword Annihilation Patriarch and asked, "Master, did you sense it?"
Sword Annihilation Patriarch's brows furrowed as he said solemnly, "That aura belongs to the Supreme Demon Realm. Their goal has always been the devouring of entire worlds, and now, they have set their sights on Heavenly Spirit World. Something must be at play behind the scenes."
"Supreme Demon Realm? Is it that powerful?" Li Ya asked curiously.
Sword Annihilation Patriarch then began explaining the history of the Supreme Demon Realm.
The Supreme Demon Realm had originated before the collapse of Heavenly Spirit World. Back then, it had been a dominant force, a hegemon among the heavens. When the Grand World shattered, they established the Supreme Demon Realm, constructing demonic cities across various worlds, invading celestial realms, and refining entire worlds into artifacts. They utilized the life essence of all beings in these realms as sacrificial offerings to fuel their cultivation.
Even the so-called demons within the Desolation Domain paled in comparison to the Supreme Demon Realm's true horror.
Li Ya listened to the terrifying strength and methods of the Supreme Demon Realm and felt a deep sense of unease.
A force like this descending upon Heavenly Spirit World was undoubtedly ill-intentioned.
Sword Annihilation Patriarch turned to Li Ya and said, "I will teach you one final divine ability. After this, I will truly leave."
The two of them had parted ways many times before, yet each time Li Ya encountered danger, Sword Annihilation Patriarch would always intervene.
But this time, his words carried a grave finality, making Li Ya sense his unwavering resolve.
Li Ya couldn't help but ask, "Master, where are you going?"
"Back to where I came from," Sword Annihilation Patriarch said calmly.
"Then what about the karmic debt you mentioned before? How should I repay it?"
Hearing Li Ya bring up the condition of their master-disciple relationship, Sword Annihilation Patriarch gave him a deep look and said, "Do not think about it too much. As you grow stronger, my karma will naturally intertwine with yours."
"Remember, this divine ability must never be used unless you are at the brink of life and death."
Seeing his master speak so solemnly, Li Ya could only nod, indicating he understood.
However, deep inside, he was filled with anticipation.
The Supreme Demon Realm…
He wanted to see for himself just how powerful they were and why they had made even his master retreat.
Boom!
The heavens and earth trembled, alarming everyone within Wushi Dao Field. They gathered in Gu An's courtyard, discussing the strange disturbances in the world.
They could see the sky filled with meteors descending from beyond the heavens, a grand and spectacular sight. But along with it came an apocalyptic aura, an oppressive force so terrifying it felt as if the world itself was on the verge of collapse.
"Is this demonic energy?"
"Could it be another invasion by the Heavenly Demons?"
"It doesn't feel the same as the Heavenly Demons' aura. This scent of blood is far too thick."
"I wonder if anyone aside from our master and Sun Immortal Emperor can save this ever-troubled world."
"There are countless powerful cultivators in this world, but very few are willing to shoulder the burden of protecting all beings."
As they discussed the state of the world, the door to the house opened, and Gu An stepped out. The crowd immediately turned toward him and greeted him with respectful bows.
Gu An swept his gaze over them and asked, "Why don't you all go out and save the world yourselves?"
At his words, the atmosphere instantly turned awkward. The loudest voices among them, An Shengtian and Chen Chuan, flushed red with embarrassment. However, the Blood Prison Saint merely grinned shamelessly, laughing without a care.
Shen Zhen, who had not participated in the discussion, simply smirked, watching the scene unfold without feeling embarrassed.
"Go back to your cultivation," Gu An instructed. "The calamities outside will not affect the Dao Field."
With those words, he turned and walked out of the courtyard. Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, all letting out a breath of relief.
The presence of the Supreme Demon Realm was overwhelmingly oppressive. Even though they were inside the Dao Field, their instincts warned them of the incoming catastrophe, making it difficult to focus on cultivation.
But after Gu An's reassurance, all their worries vanished.
Compared to the fear brought by the Supreme Demon Realm, their trust in Gu An was much stronger.
Shen Zhen quickly followed behind Gu An, and the two of them left the courtyard, walking along the mountain path into the woods.
Gu An's courtyard was located atop the mountain, surrounded by lush greenery. Towering ancient trees lined the path, and as they walked into the forest, dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a serene and mystical atmosphere.
"If I were to paint the demons outside right now, do you think it would cause trouble?" Shen Zhen stepped forward to walk beside Gu An and asked in a soft voice.
Gu An chuckled. "So you do get scared? If you want to paint, then paint."
Hearing this, Shen Zhen's face lit up with a smile. She asked curiously, "Even with such terrifying demonic energy, you still remain unfazed? What kind of existence would actually qualify as your opponent?"
A gentle breeze passed through the trees, brushing against Gu An's face, bringing a refreshing coolness.
"My opponent has already appeared," Gu An said.
His words only deepened Shen Zhen's curiosity.
Unfortunately, her cultivation was too low. During the past worldly disasters, she had not witnessed the figures of those unparalleled demonic beings.