Gu An pushed open the door and saw Shen Zhen seated in his chair, leisurely flipping through a book. He noticed a noticeable improvement in Shen Zhen's cultivation and decided to perform a lifespan investigation on her.
[Shen Zhen (Core Formation Stage, Ninth Layer): 130/760/2560]
"Hm?" Gu An frowned slightly. "Her maximum lifespan increased?"
He distinctly remembered that her maximum lifespan had been just over a thousand years. Now it had doubled.
"Could she really have gained enlightenment from those paintings?" Gu An closed the door behind him, walked over to the desk, and asked, "What brings you here?"
Shen Zhen set down the book and smiled mischievously. "Why? Am I not allowed to visit? It seems your life with your Dao companion is so harmonious that you don't want me around."
Gu An rolled his eyes. "I don't have a Dao companion."
"Isn't that female cultivator in your valley trying to make you her Dao companion? She's powerful and stunning—most men wouldn't be able to resist." Shen Zhen smirked as she teased him, her eyes scrutinizing him.
Gu An raised an eyebrow and retorted, "I'm not 'most men.' If someone wants to become my Dao companion, she'll have to become an immortal first."
Shen Zhen chuckled. "And when she becomes immortal, you think she'll still be interested in you? By then, you might not even exist. Don't tell me you're dreaming of an immortal descending from the heavens to bless you."
Gu An leaned back in his chair, laughing. "I'm an author. You are too. Writers are the best at dreaming, aren't we?"
Shen Zhen nodded in agreement. "True. For instance, I dream of the Sword Master of the Dao taking me as his Dao companion." She gazed at Gu An with amusement, trying to gauge his reaction.
Gu An feigned seriousness. "Well, you never know. It could happen."
Shen Zhen pursed her lips in a slight smile and then said, "Recently, I've been sensing the aura of a treasure from a painting I've been studying. I plan to go treasure hunting. Care to join me?"
"Treasure hunting?" Gu An shook his head quickly. "The world is in chaos right now. Going out is just asking for trouble. I'll pass."
Shen Zhen frowned slightly. "The painting was a gift from the Great Yu Dynasty's imperial palace to my father, and it's over six thousand years old. I can sense multiple treasures connected to it—this kind of opportunity is rare. I'm offering to share it only with you."
Gu An replied politely, "I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to decline. With my cultivation level, I'd just hold you back."
Shen Zhen's expression soured, but just as Gu An thought she was about to argue, she changed the subject. "What's your relationship with Lu Lingjun? Do you think she's trustworthy?"
"Are you planning to invite her to join you on this treasure hunt?"
"Yes. I can sense that this place isn't something I can tackle alone."
"She should be trustworthy, but I can't guarantee it. As you know, people can be unpredictable."
"Then introduce me to her. With you as a mediator, if she tries anything underhanded, it'll damage her reputation with you."
Shen Zhen's subtle smile made Gu An realize that this had been her true intention all along. He considered for a moment and finally agreed.
Shortly after, Gu An brought Shen Zhen to meet Lu Lingjun. Most of the time, Lu Lingjun could be found meditating under the Mysterious Clear Tree, though she occasionally ventured out.
When Shen Zhen showed Lu Lingjun the painting, the latter's composed demeanor shifted slightly, revealing interest. Even Gu An could sense a faint aura of Mahayana Stage energy from the painting, confirming the presence of treasures in the location it depicted.
Not long after, the two women set off together. Gu An stayed behind, reclining under the Mysterious Clear Tree to rest. He let his thoughts drift, reflecting on the bloodshed he'd witnessed in recent days.
As night fell, Gu An left the Third Medicine Valley.
Under the cool moonlight, a faint, eerie breeze rustled through the forest.
Ji Xiaoya sat cross-legged beneath a tree, meditating. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she opened her eyes and spotted Gu An, now in his guise as the Sword Master of the Dao.
Ji Xiaoya quickly stood and greeted him with a respectful bow. "Senior, I've gathered some intelligence about the Seven Stars Spirit Realm."
"Speak," Gu An said in a calm, detached tone.
Ji Xiaoya began to recount what she had learned. The Seven Stars Spirit Realm was preparing to seal off the surrounding seas of the continent. At the same time, they had established a dynasty in the northern part of the continent, composed entirely of descendants of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm's cultivators. This dynasty had already existed for four hundred years. Within the Spirit Realm, this was justified as a necessity to preserve the "lineage" of humanity without directly intervening in the continent's development.
This practice wasn't new—the current three great dynasties had been formed by the descendants of Seven Stars cultivators in ancient times.
The Seven Stars Spirit Realm was divided into seven distinct celestial factions. The most powerful was the One Star Cave faction, while Ji Xiaoya's family could only maintain contact with the weaker Seven Star Cave faction. Ji Xiaoya revealed that the most formidable cultivator in the Seven Star Cave faction was its cave master, rumored to be an immortal. Additionally, the faction boasted twenty known Mahayana Stage elders, likely with more hidden in the shadows.
Hearing this, Gu An couldn't help but marvel at the strength of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
Even the weakest faction had twenty Mahayana Stage cultivators and an immortal. The full power of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm was unimaginable.
"I came to see you now because I noticed that Seven Star Cave has started monitoring me. While I was cultivating, I could clearly sense spiritual awareness fixed on me, so I seized the chance to escape. Going back will likely be impossible from now on," Ji Xiaoya said as she looked toward Gu An.
She was aware that the information she brought wasn't extensive enough to ensure a cooperative relationship with the Sword Master of the Dao. Ever since learning that he had struck down the Demon Master with a single blow, her confidence in him had only grown.
If anyone in this world could overturn the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, it would have to be the Sword Master of the Dao.
Gu An spoke, his tone measured, "If you can't return, then stay in the Tai Xuan Sect. Once the Great Demon Catastrophe ends, opposing the Seven Stars Spirit Realm will require the combined effort of all three dynasties."
Ji Xiaoya nodded. "I've visited the micro-world within Seven Star Cave. It houses nearly two million disciples, and their cultivation levels are generally higher than those of the wider cultivation world. Seven Stars Spirit Realm is already its own self-contained world. Combating it will indeed require the united force of the three dynasties."
"When you contact the Ji Family, do so subtly. We can't afford to alarm them. Confronting the Seven Stars Spirit Realm is not something to rush into," Gu An reminded her.
Ji Xiaoya nodded again, her expression serious.
Without another word, Gu An disappeared into thin air. Ji Xiaoya watched him leave, then turned and walked deeper into the forest.
As summer neared its end, the northern frontier faced an alarming crisis. The cultivation world had been unable to resist the advancing forces of the Great Demon Catastrophe. The Human Alliance was forced to retreat, as was the Tian Wei Dynasty. To survive, humanity had no choice but to adopt fragmented, guerrilla warfare strategies.
Though the Tai Cang Dynasty had not been hit directly by the wave of demonic forces, the number of demons within its borders steadily increased, seemingly endless no matter how many were slain.
Each month, Gu An's tally of slain demons grew higher. His lifespan had already surpassed four million years.
Though he was still far from accumulating the one hundred million years lifespan he desired, Gu An was no longer so fixated on unlocking the next feature of his lifespan system. The threat posed by the Seven Stars Spirit Realm loomed too large. Should any rogue immortal appear on the continent, Gu An would break through immediately, regardless of how many years of lifespan he had saved.
After all, numbers were just that—numbers. Surviving was what truly mattered.
One day, Gu An returned to Xuan Valley. After changing into his usual robes, he descended the stairs and gazed toward the distant horizon.
He sensed a demonic aura nearing the Tai Xuan Sect. The aura hovered in a forest about five thousand miles from Xuan Valley, as if waiting for something. Meanwhile, another, even stronger demonic aura was closing in from tens of thousands of miles away.
It seemed there would be a commotion tonight.
By dusk, Emperor Xie left the city, heading toward the source of the demonic aura.
One hour later.
Under the cover of darkness, Emperor Xie arrived at the forest, his gaze settling on a crimson-scaled snake coiled on a tree branch. He frowned and asked, "Why are you here? Where's the Black Crow Demon Envoy?"
The crimson-scaled snake replied, "After he sought you out, he disappeared. He was likely slain by the Sword Master of the Dao."
Emperor Xie's expression darkened.
At last, he understood why he was still alive. The Sword Master of the Dao must have overheard his words at the time, choosing to spare him as a result.
The Sword Master of the Dao was terrifyingly perceptive. Even though they had concealed their demonic aura and remained far outside the Tai Xuan Sect, he had still detected them.
"And yet you still dared to come here?" Emperor Xie sneered.
The crimson-scaled snake flicked its tongue and said, "The Emperor sent me. He wishes me to deliver a message to the Sword Master of the Dao regarding the Great Demon Catastrophe. However, I have no idea where the Sword Master of the Dao might be."
"And so you called me here? Don't tell me you believe I've met him already?" Emperor Xie scoffed.
The crimson-scaled snake hissed. "Emperor Xie, there's no need for such hostility toward your father. Many of his actions are beyond his control. Do you think he willingly initiated the plan to revive the Demon Ancestor?"
"Isn't that exactly what he wanted? Or do you mean to tell me that the Demon Master could coerce him?"
"Exactly. He could."
The snake's revelation deepened Emperor Xie's frown.
It continued, "While the Demon Master's cultivation was indeed weaker than the Emperor's, he served a far more formidable being—one even the Emperor dared not provoke. The Emperor has already lost control of the Great Demon Catastrophe. If you leave the Tai Xuan Sect and venture outside, you'll see it for yourself. The invading demons have all succumbed to madness, their natures utterly warped. Even the great demon kings are no exception."
Emperor Xie fell silent, his mind racing.
The snake pressed on, "The Demon Master claimed that the Demon Ancestor was merely a hollow shell with no consciousness of its own. But the truth is different. The Emperor cannot control the Demon Ancestor, nor can he command the demonic horde. He fears that this catastrophe threatens not just humanity but also the demon race itself."
Emperor Xie drew a deep breath. "So he wishes to negotiate with the Sword Master of the Dao? To face the Great Demon Catastrophe together?"
"Exactly," the snake confirmed.
Before it could say more, it suddenly turned its head toward the depths of the western forest, its voice sharp. "Who's there?"
Emperor Xie followed its gaze, and from the shadows emerged a figure.
As the two demons glimpsed the newcomer's true form, their expressions shifted dramatically. The crimson-scaled snake trembled violently.
"Black Yàn Demon King… you…"
The snake's voice wavered with fear.
Emperor Xie tensed, his nerves on edge.
A man dressed in red emerged from the darkness, his hair disheveled and his feet bare. Though he looked human, with no obvious demonic traits, his pale complexion and sinister aura betrayed his identity.
The Black Yàn Demon King sneered coldly, his voice dripping with mockery. "The Great Demon Catastrophe has been raging for so long, yet the Emperor hasn't made a move. I grew curious and followed you here to the Tai Xuan Sect. To think the Emperor intends to bow to humanity. I won't allow it. Tonight, I will…"
Before he could finish, a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder.