Upon hearing Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's words, Xunxian Daoist's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Why did you choose to emerge at this moment?"
He gazed up at Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's towering figure, his voice filled with suppressed fury. He knew that now was not the time for resentment or questioning past grudges.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign did not answer but instead turned his head to look toward Heavenly Spirit World, his eyes filled with deep meaning.
At the same time, deep within the universe, a brilliant light surged forth. It was Heavenly Spirit God, his figure illuminated with divine radiance. He held the Heavenly Dao Divine Axe, stepping forward with the weight of Dao principles beneath his feet. With each step he took, ripples of energy spread through the cosmos.
Under his presence, the universe seemed illusory, as if it could collapse at any moment.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign turned back, his gaze locking onto Heavenly Spirit God. Raising his right hand, palm facing upward, strands of golden flame appeared out of thin air, swiftly converging into a colossal cauldron. The cauldron rapidly expanded until it surpassed his own form.
Upon its surface, a swirling vortex appeared, filled with stars, magnificent yet mysterious, like an unfathomable realm, drawing all toward it with an irresistible pull.
The moment this cauldron manifested, all beings felt their strength being drained. Countless people collapsed to the ground, their bodies too weak to stand. Those flying in the sky—cultivators and demons alike—plummeted into oceans and mountains below.
Heavenly Spirit World fell into complete silence.
Inside a grand palace, Jiang Qiong lay helplessly on the steps, staring toward the entrance with despair in her eyes. She could feel that her spiritual power, her very essence of cultivation, had been drained in an instant. Even her divine consciousness had disappeared.
She had spent nearly ten thousand years cultivating this strength. How could it be taken from her so effortlessly?
She could not comprehend what was happening, nor the identity of the being behind this calamity.
Suddenly, from the corner of her vision, she noticed a pair of feet beside her. Her pupils widened in shock. Just as she was about to look up, a hand reached out and grasped her arm.
An endless surge of spiritual power poured into her body, rapidly restoring her strength.
Feeling this familiar energy, Jiang Qiong immediately let down her guard, even without seeing the person's face.
She lifted her head and smiled.
"As expected, it's you," Jiang Qiong murmured softly, a dazed look in her eyes.
Gu An helped her up, smiling as he asked, "Do you know why your spiritual power vanished?"
Jiang Qiong took the opportunity to lean against him, her voice gentle as she asked, "Why?"
"Because the power you cultivate, your very existence, is a creation of heaven and earth. If heaven and earth wish to reclaim everything from you, it would be as simple as flipping a hand." Gu An let out a helpless chuckle as he spoke.
Even now, this woman was still playing her little tricks.
Jiang Qiong frowned at his explanation. Straightening herself, she asked, "Heaven and earth? Are you saying that heaven itself is punishing us now? What did we do wrong?"
"You did nothing wrong," Gu An replied. "It's just that heaven and earth are not what you think they are. It is actually a person—or rather, a cultivator. His emotions are not dictated by those he created."
Jiang Qiong was stunned. Her beautiful eyes widened as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Because it was Gu An who spoke these words, she believed them.
And because she believed them, her understanding of the world was completely overturned. She suddenly found everything to be absurd.
While Gu An explained the true nature of heaven and earth to Jiang Qiong, Heavenly Spirit God had already arrived before Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign. His figure was just as towering and immense.
Before these two supreme beings, Heavenly Spirit World seemed as insignificant as a stepping stone, no longer the grand and magnificent realm it once was.
The Heavenly Dao Divine Axe in Heavenly Spirit God's hand radiated a dazzling celestial light, blindingly brilliant. He stared at the cauldron in Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's hands and spoke, "The Purple Qi Creation Cauldron. It must be suffering, staying with you. Today, I hope you will allow it to display its true power."
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign narrowed his eyes at him and responded, "You have grown stronger."
Heavenly Spirit God raised the Heavenly Dao Divine Axe and pointed it toward him. "After I kill you and destroy your World, I will shed the name of Heavenly Spirit and ascend to a higher heavenly divine rank."
"Hmph! If not for your ambush back then, the outcome of our battle would have been uncertain!"
As soon as Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign finished speaking, the Purple Qi Creation Cauldron erupted with an endless ocean of spiritual energy. The silver starry sea expanded instantly, engulfing the entire universe.
His aura soared as he absorbed the power of the universe, including the energy of the vast worlds.
Yet, Heavenly Spirit God remained motionless.
From a distance, Xunxian Daoist's soul hovered, watching the scene unfold with a deep, unshakable gaze.
He could tell that Heavenly Spirit God held no regard for Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign.
"Has he already reached an even higher realm?" Xunxian Daoist furrowed his brows, his heart filled with unease.
Not only him, but even Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign could sense Heavenly Spirit God's indifference.
At that moment, within Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's body, in a dark and vast space, An Hao and Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign stood side by side.
They looked ahead, where a screen of light floated a hundred meters away, displaying the figure of Heavenly Spirit God.
Seeing how still and unshaken Heavenly Spirit God remained, An Hao felt uneasy.
He turned his head to look at Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign and asked, "Do you have confidence in winning?"
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign, dressed in a white robe, bore an uncanny resemblance to An Hao, though his face carried the weight of years.
"I can only do my best," Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign replied. "Besides, do I have any other choice?"
Hearing this answer, An Hao's expression darkened.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign turned to him with a smile and said, "Don't worry too much. With my abilities, even if I cannot defeat him, helping you escape should not be a problem."
An Hao did not look happy. Instead, he asked, "Why… are you treating me this way?"
There was a thought in his mind, but he dared not voice it aloud.
"You guessed correctly, but it's not exactly what you think," Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign said. "You can indeed be considered my child, but not in the way you understand. You were conceived through my own Dao. I chose where you would be born. As long as you exist within my World, I can even ensure that you never die. I have always been watching over you."
An Hao did not appear shocked. During the thousands of years he had spent comprehending the Heavenly Dao Golden Core, he had already sensed that his fate was extraordinary. He had long felt the weight of his destiny.
He fixed his gaze on Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign and asked, "Was the change of epochs your choice, or was it dictated by the Heavenly Dao?"
If not for the shift in epochs, which weakened the light of the Heavenly Dao, how would Heavenly Spirit God have dared to act?
During his enlightenment of the Heavenly Dao, he had felt the suppression it exerted on so-called immortals and gods.
"Yes, it was my choice," Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign replied, his gaze never leaving the figure of Heavenly Spirit God within the light screen.
An Hao suddenly grew anxious. "Why? You knew I needed time to grow. If you had given me enough time, I would have been able to kill Heavenly Spirit God for you and help you return!"
He had absolute confidence in his own talent.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign turned to look at him, his expression complex. "Child, you are indeed my most perfect creation. You make me prouder than my entire World. But it's not that I didn't want to give you time—it's because there exists a being in this world even more terrifying than Heavenly Spirit God."
An Hao frowned. "What kind of existence?"
At this moment, countless powerful beings were rampaging across Heavenly Spirit World. Names flashed through his mind one after another.
Just then, in the real world, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign raised his right hand. The Purple Qi Creation Cauldron shot into the air, spinning as it moved, its opening aimed directly at Heavenly Spirit God.
Boom—!
A vast power that shook the entire universe erupted from the cauldron's mouth. A massive silver-blue ocean of energy surged out, its boundless momentum overwhelming the heavens and illuminating the sky above Heavenly Spirit World.
Countless beings, previously lying weakly on the ground, looked up. The sky had vanished, replaced by a vast, silver-blue river, filled with countless stars shining brilliantly. Their eyes reflected nothing but endless specks of silver-blue light.
They saw Heavenly Spirit God and Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign, standing like two primeval deities. At this moment, all living beings felt their own insignificance. Even those at the level of the Immortal Dao were filled with nothing but endless reverence.
The divine power of the Purple Qi Creation Cauldron fell upon Heavenly Spirit God but was blocked by a layer of white light.
The silver river was incomparably domineering, capable of annihilating everything in its path. Even the space around it was torn apart, creating vast voids of darkness. Yet, despite its overwhelming force, it could not shake Heavenly Spirit God's figure in the slightest.
"Is this the best you can do?"
Heavenly Spirit God's voice rang out, carrying a hint of disappointment.
Inside the dark space, An Hao witnessed this scene, his brows furrowing tightly.
"As for what that existence is," Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign said, his gaze fixed forward, his expression once again turning indifferent, "I cannot tell you. Right now, our enemy is him—Heavenly Spirit God, a true heavenly god."
As his words fell, the Purple Qi Creation Cauldron trembled. From the silver river, countless silver figures emerged. They surged toward Heavenly Spirit God at an incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, their numbers reached an astronomical level, surrounding Heavenly Spirit God completely. The size disparity between them was immense—like specks of dust trying to engulf a towering mountain. But there were simply too many of them, swarming him like an unending tide.
Boom—!
A terrifying burst of axe energy erupted, obliterating billions of silver figures. The energy from the axe cleaved through the silver river, slamming into the Purple Qi Creation Cauldron. The mighty cauldron, an ancient treasure of unparalleled power, was sent flying.
The cauldron vanished into the depths of the universe, and everything fell silent once more.
With a single strike, Heavenly Spirit God had crushed Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's divine ability and even sent his most powerful treasure soaring into the void.
Heavenly Spirit God remained in his stance, having just swung his axe. His right arm shifted slightly before he swung his axe again.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign immediately raised his palm to block. The immense power of a thousand Worlds erupted from his body, trying to resist Heavenly Spirit God's attack.
Boom—!
A deafening explosion resounded in the ears of all living beings. It was followed by a sharp, crystalline cracking sound, like a shattering gemstone.
Against Heavenly Spirit God's strike, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's immense spiritual energy crumbled instantly. His body was covered in deep, terrifying wounds, his injuries gruesome beyond compare.
"Measuring the Heavens Golden Immortal!"
Xunxian Daoist, floating in the void, looked horrified. He struggled to utter those four words.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign, now grievously injured, furrowed his brows. His expression as he looked at Heavenly Spirit God was complicated.
In the dark space, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign took a deep breath.
An Hao was tense, his entire being on edge. He had not expected the gap between Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign and Heavenly Spirit God to be so vast.
"You…" An Hao hesitated, his voice careful.
He did not know what to say, because right now, he was powerless to do anything.
"It seems I cannot stop him," Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign murmured as he exhaled. "I will send you away. Once Heavenly Spirit World is destroyed, you and I will have no more karmic ties. Live well. Witness the greater world in my place."
Hearing this, An Hao panicked. He was about to speak when Heavenly Spirit God's voice echoed through the dark space.
"Hmph? Trying to escape? Do you really think things are the same as before?"
Before the words had even fully fallen, Heavenly Spirit God swung his axe once more. This strike did not merely land upon Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's towering form but also shattered the light screen and the dark space. A blinding radiance flooded in, enveloping both An Hao and Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign.
An Hao was horrified to find himself completely suppressed by an unimaginably powerful force, rendering him unable to move. He could only glance toward Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign.
Yet what truly made him despair was the look of panic on Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's face.
"What realm… have you reached?" Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign gritted his teeth as he spoke, his body also immobilized.
He had always known that Heavenly Spirit God was strong, but he had never imagined the gap between them would be this vast.
Before Heavenly Spirit God, he had no power to resist.
Amidst the blinding light, Heavenly Spirit God walked forward step by step, just as he had before—each step like an embodiment of divine judgment, unstoppable and absolute.
"Measuring the Heavens Golden Immortal, mid-stage."
Heavenly Spirit God's voice echoed through the collapsing space, causing Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign to freeze in shock.
Even after establishing Heavenly Spirit World, he had only barely managed to reach the realm of Innate Golden Immortal. The realm of Measuring the Heavens Golden Immortal had always seemed impossibly distant, a near-unattainable dream.
And yet, Heavenly Spirit God had already achieved it—and not just its initial stage.
In a daze, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign suddenly recalled a distant memory of when his master had taken him to the Immortal Palace. He had seen Heavenly Spirit God there for the first time, back when Heavenly Spirit God was still his junior. The only reason he had been allowed into the Immortal Palace was that its master had taken an interest in his talent.
Having risen from the mortal world and grown into the Vast Heaven Free Immortal, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign had paid him no mind at the time. No matter how gifted Heavenly Spirit God was, there was no way he could surpass him.
And yet, in the end, he had died at Heavenly Spirit God's hands.
Now, Heavenly Spirit God had surpassed him by an unfathomable margin.
Through the endless years of death, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign had always been able to sense Heavenly Spirit God's presence. Heavenly Spirit God had never left.
In other words, Heavenly Spirit God had relied on nothing but his own meditation and enlightenment to ascend to the realm of Measuring the Heavens Golden Immortal.
Realizing this, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's pride was utterly shattered, leaving him devoid of any fighting spirit.
"Senior… senior…"
A faint voice echoed in his ears, but it could not awaken his resolve.
"Father!"
Suddenly, Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign felt a thunderous shock in his mind, jolting him awake. Instinctively, he turned his head and saw An Hao staring at him, his face twisted with rage.
"Father! Since you are my father, you cannot just surrender! Even if you must die, you should die in battle!" An Hao roared through gritted teeth. Bound by the oppressive force, even speaking was a struggle.
He could accept defeat. He could accept death. But he could not accept Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign losing his confidence.
Ever since his parents died when he was a child, he had often fantasized about what life would have been like if they were still alive.
Back then, when he had faced a demon beast, his father—just an ordinary mortal—had thrown himself into harm's way to lead the beast away, protecting him at the cost of his own life. His father's courage in the face of certain death had given him the resolve to risk his life to protect the safety of his fellow villagers.
Later, he met Gu An and encountered the most important teacher of his life. His master's strength and fearlessness had always guided him forward.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's fear infuriated An Hao. He could not allow Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign to lose himself in despair.
So what if he died?
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign was stirred by the determination in An Hao's gaze. He took a deep breath and turned back to face Heavenly Spirit God, his eyes growing resolute.
He struggled to raise his right hand. Faced with the overwhelming might of a Measuring the Heavens Golden Immortal, his hand trembled uncontrollably—not out of fear, but because he could barely withstand the pressure.
"Even if I die, I must protect him…" Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign clenched his teeth, this thought anchoring his will.
Suddenly!
Heavenly Spirit God abruptly appeared before them, raising the Heavenly Dao Divine Axe high above his head, ready to cleave An Hao in two.
He wanted to kill An Hao right before Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's eyes!
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's pupils contracted. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. He felt as though he were moving in slow motion. Though An Hao was right beside him, his hand could not reach him in time.
The blinding radiance illuminated An Hao's face, but his expression remained fierce. His eyes burned with unyielding fury as he glared at Heavenly Spirit God.
He was prepared to die, but he refused to die as a coward.
Boom!
Darkness engulfed An Hao's vision. A raging wind howled around him, and the oppressive force that had bound him suddenly disappeared. However, an even more immense and indescribable presence descended upon him, forcing him to shut his eyes.
"Hm?"
Heavenly Spirit God's voice carried a hint of doubt.
Startled, An Hao opened his eyes, and the sight before him made him tremble.
Between Heavenly Spirit God and himself stood a lone figure, blocking the path of the Heavenly Dao Divine Axe. The massive axe hovered just ten inches above the figure's forehead, unable to fall any further. It was as though that minuscule gap was an unbreakable barrier preserving An Hao's life.
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign, too, felt his restraints vanish. When he turned his gaze to the one who had suddenly appeared, his expression tightened, his eyes filled with shock and dread.
"Master!" An Hao cried out in astonishment.
The newcomer was none other than Gu An!
Dressed in black, Gu An stood before An Hao, his back straight and unwavering. His robes fluttered in the wind, and at his waist hung the Azure Swan Sword. His right hand rested lightly on the hilt, and his expression remained calm as he stared at Heavenly Spirit God.
Their gazes met.
Heavenly Spirit God's eyes carried an assessing glint, while Gu An's remained still as the surface of a tranquil lake.
Gu An had imagined this confrontation countless times, yet now that it had arrived, his heart was incomparably serene.
At this moment, Gu An was not the only one facing Heavenly Spirit God.
Standing alongside him were Ji, Yang Xian, and Black Xuan Emperor.