While Xuan Tianyi was reeling from his inner shock, the other great cultivators fixed their gaze on the distant horizon. The overwhelming demon aura of the Demon Ancestor grew closer with each passing moment. Whatever concerns they had about the internal affairs of the Three Dynasties were set aside. The coming battle would be one of life and death, and they knew the odds of survival were slim.
A figure appeared beside Liang Canghai, materializing out of thin air. The newcomer was clad in a cyan Daoist robe, radiating an air of refined composure. His black-and-white hair framed a face marked by a detached serenity, as if he had long transcended mortal concerns.
The moment he appeared, the surrounding cultivators offered him respectful salutes.
Xuan Tianyi snapped out of his thoughts and cast a sidelong glance at the newcomer.
This was none other than the Dao Monarch of Cang Tian Sect!
One of the three remaining Mahayana Realm cultivators in the land of the Three Dynasties. Now that the Sword Master of Dao was recognized as someone who had surpassed the Mahayana Realm, only Xuan Tianyi and the Dao Monarch remained to represent this realm.
The two rarely met, as each was responsible for overseeing a different major battlefield.
Liang Canghai addressed the Dao Monarch with deference. "Master Ancestor, can you discern the Demon Ancestor's cultivation realm?"
All eyes turned to the Dao Monarch, their faces tense with worry.
The Dao Monarch replied calmly, "Immortal Realm. As for the specific level, I cannot tell. What is certain is that even if we join forces, we are no match for him."
His voice was soft, but his words hit like a hammer, draining the color from everyone's faces.
Fight to the death.
These words had often been spoken casually, but now, faced with an invincible foe, they felt the true weight of such a declaration. Fear gnawed at their resolve.
"Even if we cannot defeat him, we must hold him back until the Sword Master of Dao arrives to aid us," Xuan Tianyi declared, his tone light and nonchalant, even carrying a hint of humor.
His words were like a beacon of hope, reigniting the spirits of the other cultivators. Their eyes gleamed with renewed determination.
One couldn't help but voice the doubts plaguing many: "Will the Sword Master of Dao really come? Over the years, he has only acted within the Tai Xuan Sect. He might not be one of them at all, but rather someone from overseas who's been hiding within the sect to cultivate. Perhaps he simply doesn't want to interfere with the mainland's larger conflicts, acting only when provoked."
This remark brought hesitation back to their faces.
Xuan Tianyi raised a hand, summoning a green lotus into his palm. His gaze was fixed on the horizon as he said, "Fellow Daoists, stop overthinking. Trust in the Sword Master of Dao and the Tai Xuan Sect. If the Sword Master of Dao had no connection to the sect, the words 'Righteous Path' would not grace the Heaven Mending Platform."
"We cultivate to seek immortality, yet even the Immortals of the seas are not truly immortal. Immortality is but a longer lifespan. Since death is inevitable, why waste away in a secluded cave? To shine brightly in the face of such a calamity is to honor one's cultivation."
His words resonated deeply, helping the other great cultivators adjust their mindset. They began readying themselves for the battle to come.
Meanwhile, 100,000 miles away, across the barren plains.
The Demon Ancestor strode forward, his pace steady. Behind him, a rolling tide of demonic fog surged, blotting out the sun and sky. The fog consumed every bone on the ground as it advanced.
His white hair billowed in the wind, and his tattered robes fluttered around him. His four crimson eyes gazed into the distance, his brows slightly furrowed.
From the fog behind him, a bird emerged—a pure white dove. It swiftly landed on his shoulder, tilting its head curiously. "Demon Ancestor, you seem hesitant," it chirped in a childlike, melodic voice.
The Demon Ancestor continued looking ahead, replying, "Moments ago, I sensed the aura of a Loose Immortal, along with another, even stronger presence. However, both disappeared too quickly for me to gauge their strength."
The dove tilted its head further, asking, "Do you think there are beings in the world stronger than you?"
"Of course there are. If there weren't, why would I need to be resurrected?"
"In that case, why head south at all? The world is vast—there's no need to eradicate everything. If you're hungry, we could go to the sea. The ocean is teeming with creatures—so many of them!"
The dove began to chatter excitedly about the majesty of the ocean, its voice brimming with wonder.
The Demon Ancestor listened patiently but did not halt his steps.
The barren landscape stretched endlessly before him, littered with bones. Each step he took was mirrored by the rolling demonic fog, plunging half the world into darkness. He seemed like a harbinger of the apocalypse, wielding darkness to banish the light.
After a while, as the dove's chattering faded, the Demon Ancestor finally spoke in a low voice, "Little creature, in this world, sometimes being strong is a curse. I cannot leave this continent."
The dove froze, its tiny body still as it stared at him.
"Still, though I am not the strongest and cannot escape the land, none can destroy me completely. Since death is inevitable, I might as well see what strength the southern humans truly possess."
His face contorted into a menacing grin, his four eyes gleaming with greed and cruelty.
With a shrug of his shoulder, he startled the dove into flight.
"Little creature, fly north. If the sea is your dream, go find it. Though the ocean is more dangerous, it holds greater hope."
With those words, the Demon Ancestor took a step forward, instantly traversing several miles. The demonic fog behind him surged forward, swallowing the white dove whole.
Boom!
An overwhelming aura erupted from him, shattering the ground beneath his feet. Surrounded by swirling demonic energy, he moved forward, dragging the massive fog along. Within the fog, countless spectral forms of demonic beasts could be seen, giving the impression that he led an army of the entire demon race.
This oppressive sight sent shockwaves through Xuan Tianyi, the Dao Monarch, and the other great cultivators.
Across the lands of the Three Dynasties, humans shuddered in terror.
The Tai Xuan Sect had barely caught its breath after surviving the calamity of Lin Jinxian, when another oppressive silence fell upon them.
This time, however, the disciples of Tai Xuan Sect were not overcome with fear. Instead, they awaited the next development with eager anticipation.
In the Third Medicine Valley, inside the pavilion.
Lu Lingjun turned her head to look out the window, her elegant brows furrowed. "This must be the aura of the Demon Ancestor. It's truly terrifying. I wonder if the Sword Master of Dao will act this time. No other cultivators can withstand such a demonic presence."
Feigning confusion, Gu An asked, "Is the Demon Ancestor really that strong? Not even Xuan Tianyi can stop him?"
Lu Lingjun shot him a glare, replying irritably, "Do you think your sworn brother is invincible? Compared to the Sword Master of Dao, he's far behind."
Gu An was tempted to declare on behalf of the Sword Master of Dao that his second brother is indeed invincible, but he restrained himself.
He sighed instead. "When will this world be free of calamity? Is it so hard to find some peace?"
Lu Lingjun chuckled, amused. "Haven't you had enough peace? You don't even need to fight in these battles."
"But seeing all of you get hurt, how can I be at ease?" Gu An said sincerely.
Seeing his expression, Lu Lingjun felt a twinge of guilt.
She knew his nature well—he genuinely worried about the people around him. How could she mock his concerns? Though Gu An did not fight directly, every cultivator around him benefited from the herbs and pills he provided. His contributions were no less than those of the combatants.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Lingjun said, "Don't worry. It's almost over. Everything will depend on the battle between the Sword Master of Dao and the Demon Ancestor."
Gu An nodded. "Let's head down and reassure the other disciples. At this critical moment, we must stand united."
He extended his divine sense across the Three Dynasties, sensing the Demon Ancestor drawing ever closer to the northern frontier.
The two of them descended to the valley.
In the valley below, the disciples had already gathered together. Upon seeing Gu An and Lu Lingjun approach, they immediately surrounded them, voicing their concerns to Lu Lingjun. They asked how far the demonic aura was from Tai Xuan Sect and whether it was headed their way.
Their cultivation levels were too low to pinpoint the location of the aura, and they feared it might be targeting their sect again.
"No need to worry," Lu Lingjun reassured them. "This demonic aura likely belongs to the Demon Ancestor. It is far from us, and the great cultivators of the cultivation world are already preparing to face him."
The name of the Demon Ancestor shocked the disciples, sparking a flurry of hushed conversations.
Xiao Chuan turned to look at his senior brother, who stood at the edge of the crowd, gazing at the sky, lost in thought.
He approached, asking, "Senior Brother, are you worried?"
Gu An nodded. "Of course I'm worried. I can't help but think I should have trained harder. If my cultivation were stronger, I'd feel more at ease now."
Xiao Chuan replied earnestly, "You're right, Senior Brother. You should cultivate more diligently. You have far greater talent and status than I do, so don't give up."
Gu An laughed lightly. "I was talking about you, too, you idiot. Why don't you put more effort into the techniques I've taught you?"
"Senior Brother, even if I did train harder, do you think I could reach the Core Formation Realm in this life? Could I possibly achieve the Nascent Soul Realm? You and I both know that's unlikely. Even if I live an extra hundred or two hundred years, what's the point if all my time is spent cultivating? Didn't you once tell others the same thing? I'd rather enjoy life, and who knows—maybe in my next reincarnation, I'll be a genius like Senior Brother Li Ya."
Xiao Chuan grinned, his face lighting up with genuine hope.
Gu An glanced at the wrinkles near Xiao Chuan's eyes and felt a pang of self-reproach.
I always say I respect everyone's choices, yet when it comes to those close to me, I care too much.
He patted Xiao Chuan on the shoulder before turning his gaze to the horizon.
The priority now is to figure out how to kill the Demon Ancestor.
With Lin Jinxian dead, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm would undoubtedly turn its attention to the Sword Master of Dao.
If that's the case, there's no need to keep up the charade anymore.
It was time to let the world witness swordsmanship that surpassed the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword!
Gu An's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through the skies as if peering into the heavens themselves.
In the Northern Territory of the Great Jiang Dynasty.
On a cliffside, Xuan Tianyi, the Dao Monarch, Xuanquan Ancestor, Liang Canghai, and other notable cultivators stood shoulder to shoulder. Their robes fluttered violently in the wind.
Their eyes were fixed on the distant horizon, which was now shrouded in an overwhelming demonic fog. Their divine senses had already locked onto the Demon Ancestor.
The Longevity Daoist of Three Purities Mountain, dressed in a white robe and holding a horsetail whisk, waved it downward from the edge of the cliff.
Boom!
The ground trembled as the cliffside cracked apart. The mountain's body separated from the barren plain, forming a deep fissure that stretched into the depths of the earth. A surge of spiritual energy erupted from the fissure, creating a towering barrier of light that scattered the clouds above.
Xuan Tianyi cast a sidelong glance at the Longevity Daoist before refocusing on the Demon Ancestor.
"Fellow cultivators…" Liang Canghai began, but he suddenly froze, his gaze snapping upward. The other great cultivators followed suit, all reacting to the same phenomenon.
The sky was darkening rapidly, and a starry night emerged where daylight had once been. Countless stars twinkled in the heavens, and streaks of meteors crossed the celestial dome.
The Dao Monarch frowned deeply, calculating with his fingers.
The Demon Ancestor also noticed the transformation. Behind him, the dark demonic fog churned, while the half of the sky before him was illuminated by the resplendent starlight.