As twilight approached, Gu An stood and stretched lazily, his gaze lifting toward the heavens.
The crimson coffin had now neared the outer skies of Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven and was about to descend into the realm.
An Xin approached him, asking softly, "Are we heading back now?"
Gu An nodded slightly. An Xin immediately turned to gather her belongings.
She had purchased several small trinkets at Dingtian Peak and planned to bring them back to the Third Medicine Valley. As long as it didn't expose the connection between Mortal Peak and Gu An, he never objected to her indulgences.
An Xin moved quickly, finishing her packing in no time. She hurried back to Gu An, only to find her master gazing skyward. She instinctively followed his line of sight.
A streak of light tore across the firmament like a falling star, hurtling toward the distant earth.
"What is that…" An Xin murmured to herself.
Gu An did not answer. He merely watched the streak disappear into the distance before sweeping his sleeve, enveloping An Xin in a wave of energy. They vanished from their spot in an instant.
Upon their return to the Third Medicine Valley, master and disciple each retreated to their own quarters.
Gu An sat by the window, seemingly admiring the moonlit night, but in reality, his divine sense was locked onto the crimson coffin's movements.
The coffin had landed on a continent ten times the size of Tai Cang Continent, unleashing an apocalyptic calamity upon the land.
In a matter of moments, the entire continent was consumed by a sea of fire. Nine-tenths of its inhabitants perished, while the survivors fled desperately into the surrounding oceans.
The impact of the coffin's descent continued to expand outward, devastating the land and sea alike.
Though the destruction was far removed from Tai Cang Continent—and even farther from Mortal Peak—it was evident that the coffin wasn't targeting the Heavenly Demon Fetus.
When the coffin struck the earth, it embedded itself at the bottom of a massive crater, remaining motionless. The lid showed no signs of opening.
By the time dawn broke, the coffin had yet to stir. Satisfied, Gu An put the matter out of his mind and descended the stairs to join the disciples for morning exercises.
Morning exercises were a long-standing tradition of the Third Medicine Valley. Even visiting grand cultivators would occasionally join in.
The atmosphere during these exercises was relaxed and convivial, with disciples free to chat and socialize as they trained.
After the exercises concluded, You Yingying approached Shen Xin Zi, her expression hesitant.
Shen Xin Zi, seated beneath a tree with a copy of Journey to the West in hand, didn't even look up before speaking. "You've felt an inexplicable sense of unease since last night, haven't you? A feeling of dread you can't shake?"
You Yingying nodded quickly. "I've never felt this way before. If… if I'm about to transform into that… please, kill me in advance."
Shen Xin Zi finally lifted his head, his expression one of surprise.
Misunderstanding his reaction, You Yingying hastened to explain, "Heavenly Demons don't die easily, and suicide wouldn't work for me. But you're a monk of great attainment—you know how to exorcise demons. I don't want to harm anyone."
Shen Xin Zi studied her intently for a moment before replying, "Don't worry. In this lifetime, it's unlikely you'll ever transform into a Heavenly Demon. The dread you're feeling isn't due to an impending transformation—it's the result of a natural predator of Heavenly Demons descending."
He had sensed the disturbance last night as well. Given his higher cultivation level, the unease he experienced far exceeded You Yingying's, prompting him to pick up Journey to the West in an attempt to distract himself.
"Really? What kind of predator are we talking about? What should I do?" You Yingying asked urgently.
Shen Xin Zi lowered his gaze and said calmly, "There's nothing for you to do. Just continue your cultivation as usual. You'll get used to it."
You Yingying stood frozen for a moment before leaving, her thoughts in turmoil.
Elsewhere, Gu An, astride the Blood Prison Saint, patrolled the Medicine Valley. Overhearing the exchange between You Yingying and Shen Xin Zi, he couldn't help but reflect.
Gu An took the Qingtian Peak from his waist and raised it. Infusing his divine sense into the artifact, he activated its powers.
In an instant, he arrived at a dilapidated temple within the artifact's internal space.
As he gazed at the wall, preparing to speak, the black-robed elder materialized from the shadows, his expression stern. "Have you made your decision?"
Gu An shook his head. Instead, he diverted the topic. "Do Heavenly Demons have natural enemies?"
The elder's brows furrowed deeply. His voice turned cautious as he asked, "What do you mean by that? Heavenly Demons have no natural enemies."
Without a word, Gu An waved his sleeve, summoning a vivid illusion between them. The image of the crimson coffin appeared in the space. Upon seeing it, the elder's expression darkened, and alarm filled his eyes.
Gu An remained calm, silently observing, waiting for the elder to speak.
The elder's hands, hidden within his sleeves, balled into fists. After taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth and said, "That figure has come for the Great Emperor, but his arrival will also bring calamity to this world. His presence here means the Sacred Court intends to use him to eradicate all Heavenly Demons within Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven."
"Who is he?" Gu An asked.
The elder hesitated before answering, "He is known as the Dark War Emperor, though no one knows his origins. He once caused a bloodstorm in the Desolate Domain. All I know is that he comes from the ancient War Court."
War Court?
Could it be the force established by Long Zhan?
Suppressing any visible reaction, Gu An probed further, "And what exactly is this War Court?"
The elder cast a wary glance at Gu An and explained, "The War Court is a legend from the Desolate Domain. It's said to have once ruled over countless worlds, standing at the pinnacle of the immortal path. Whether it was destroyed or simply disappeared remains unknown. That's all I know."
"What is the cultivation level of the Dark War Emperor?" Gu An asked again.
"I don't know… but it's definitely extremely high."
As he spoke, the elder's voice trembled faintly, as if just recalling the name of the Dark War Emperor filled him with dread.
Gu An suddenly said, "From what you've told me, it seems I don't need to intervene. I should wait for the Dark War Emperor to eliminate the Heavenly Demons. The Sacred Court will naturally dismiss him afterward, correct?"
Hearing this, the elder visibly panicked. "The Dark War Emperor is a being of capricious wrath! His violent nature will inevitably bring disaster to Mortal Peak. If he devours the Great Emperor Demon Fetus, he may even wage war against the Sacred Court! You won't escape the chaos either!"
Gu An remained composed, his calm gaze boring into the elder.
Seeing no immediate reaction from Gu An, the elder dropped to his knees and pleaded earnestly, "Senior, I implore you to aid the Great Emperor. If you can assist in his birth, my clan will owe you an eternal favor. I promise to bring this matter back to my people. With our friendship, you will have an ally when traversing the Desolate Domain!"
"Are you joking?" Gu An's tone turned cold. "What if this so-called Great Emperor turns against me?"
The elder looked up and hurriedly explained, "You needn't worry. He has already forgotten his past life's memories and is currently in his reincarnation phase. This is when he is at his weakest. When he is reborn, he will be a new being. You could even accept him as your disciple. If he attains enlightenment in the future, he will surely remember your kindness!"
Gu An listened quietly, his thoughts in turmoil.
The elder seized the moment to press further. "If you do nothing, the Dark War Emperor will certainly track him down. Once the Great Emperor is born, he will undergo the cleansing of reincarnation, erasing all connections to the Heavenly Demon lineage. The Dark War Emperor will lose his trail."
The elder's words were frantic, as if the Dark War Emperor was moments away from descending upon them.
After a brief hesitation, Gu An finally asked, "How can I help?"
The elder's face lit up with surprise. Without delay, he taught Gu An a peculiar technique, explaining it in meticulous detail.
Gu An listened attentively, committing every word to memory after a single recitation.
The elder urged with urgency, "You must act quickly! If the Dark War Emperor finds the Great Emperor Demon Fetus, he will sever its path to ascension. We cannot let him succeed!"