Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Long Qing was already five years old.
Gu An stood by the window, watching Long Qing ride on the Blood Prison Saint while chasing after the White Spirit Mouse. A faint smile appeared on his face.
This kind of peaceful life was truly pleasant.
Unfortunately, such tranquility was destined to be short-lived.
Gu An could sense that the deep crimson coffin in the distance was beginning to tremble, startling the nearby sects into forming defensive formations.
The Dark War Emperor was about to emerge!
The Dark War Emperor had inherited the War Court's legacy, yet he sought to eliminate the descendants of its creator. This paradox sparked countless speculations in Gu An's mind.
In any case, he held no goodwill towards the Dark War Emperor. The man had slaughtered countless innocents upon his arrival. If he dared set foot in the Tai Cang Continent, Gu An wouldn't show him any mercy.
With the reputation of the Sword Master of the Dao spreading far and wide, even the Sacred Court would likely think twice before directly targeting him.
The Great Ming Sacred King had been particularly quiet of late, seemingly letting go of past grudges and daring no further schemes against Gu An.
After gazing at the distant horizon for a while, Gu An turned and descended the stairs.
Just as he reached the bottom floor, the skies outside turned blood-red, with streaks of sinister light cutting across them, a chilling sight.
The disciples of the valley noticed the phenomenon and began discussing it among themselves. Yet, none seemed particularly alarmed. To them, the Tai Xuan Sect was the safest place in the world.
Ji Xiaoya approached Gu An, speaking in a hushed tone, "I've seen this kind of scene in my dreams before."
Gu An wasn't surprised; after all, the Samsara Dao Sovereign had traversed the Desolation Domain.
Following her lead, he asked, "What's the meaning behind it? What's going to happen?"
Ji Xiaoya stared at the sky, a trace of unease in her eyes. "I'm not sure, but whenever this kind of phenomenon appears, a massacre follows."
Gu An shuddered at her words, asking nervously, "Not another calamity, right? I've only lived for a little over three hundred years, but I've already faced so many once-in-ten-thousand-years catastrophes. Is the heavens targeting me?"
Ji Xiaoya shot him a sideways glance and quipped, "What calamities have you faced? You've never even fought. With the Sword Master of the Dao and the Tai Xuan Sect shielding you from harm, what's there to fear? All you have to do is sit back and watch the show."
Ha! Who's shielding whom, really?
If she knew the truth, it would frighten her to death!
Gu An thought to himself but outwardly let out a relieved sigh, patting his chest. "You're right. Why should I worry? If immortals are fighting, what's it got to do with mere mortals?"
Ji Xiaoya, amused by his exaggerated gesture, chuckled and asked, "Want me to teach you some spells? Interested?"
"Forget it. You know me—I'm not into combat."
"Really? Then why do you love sparring with the disciples?"
"That's teaching, not fighting. High-level cultivators sparring with lower-level ones isn't dangerous."
"Careful, or one day you'll meet a peerless genius and embarrass yourself."
"Would a peerless genius come to my Medicine Valley?"
"Isn't Yang Jian one?"
"His cultivation's progress isn't exactly rapid."
As their banter continued, Ji Xiaoya's unease gradually faded. She had approached Gu An about the ominous signs because she felt restless and needed to talk it out.
Conversations with Gu An always managed to put her at ease.
Meanwhile, in a distant corner of the world, a terrifying surge of demonic energy erupted, originating from the deep crimson coffin that had descended from beyond the heavens.
The coffin stood upright, trembling violently as the formation surrounding the enormous crater solidified into a translucent barrier that encircled the pit.
Despite the barrier, the cultivators outside were deeply unsettled.
The weakest among them were at the Loose Immortal Realm, yet the aura emanating from the crimson coffin made them feel as though they were staring death in the face. Many longed to flee immediately.
Crack!
The coffin lid suddenly shifted. A pale, decayed hand reached out, clutching the edge of the coffin.
Bang!
The lid was flung open with a resounding crash. A surge of black mist poured forth, rapidly spreading and forming a thick fog.
Within the black mist came the sound of heavy, labored breathing, sending chills down the spines of nearly all the gathered cultivators.
"Is this the Heavenly Spirit World?"
A hoarse voice echoed, each word landing like a hammer on the hearts of the cultivators present.
A white-robed man from the Sacred Court responded, his voice booming and clear, "Indeed. Please eradicate the heavenly demons in this world, but do not harm innocent lives!"
His words rang out, audible to all nearby.
The gathered sects erupted into murmurs. The Sacred King of the Sacred Court knew the entity within the coffin? And what was this about eradicating heavenly demons?
Many cultivators grew uneasy, particularly those from sects like Human Peak, which had previously dealt with heavenly demon disturbances. They feared that the Sacred Court might use this as an excuse to suppress them.
The Sacred Court always acted in the name of the common good. Any individual or force deemed an enemy of the people would face its unrelenting wrath.
"Eradicate heavenly demons? Hah."
The hoarse voice spoke again, its chilling tone making everyone shudder.
Boom!
A terrifying shockwave erupted from the massive pit, instantly shattering the formation and hurling cultivators in all directions.
The white-robed man remained suspended in midair, unmoving. In all directions, Unrestrained Primordial Immortal experts used their power to shield themselves, while those further out, primarily Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals, managed to avoid harm. The weakest Loose Immortals, however, were flung clear off the continent.
"If you want me to deal with the heavenly demons, this emperor will require a feast first."
The hoarse voice was laced with murderous intent.
The white-robed man's expression remained emotionless. The sect leaders and elders nearby were horrified, their gazes shifting to the white-robed man to gauge the Sacred Court's stance.
After a moment of silence, the white-robed man uttered a single word.
"Agreed."
The word sent shockwaves through the gathered sects, their expressions shifting to disbelief.
Meanwhile, at the Tai Xuan Sect, within the Third Medicine Valley.
"Absolutely terrifying."
Gu An muttered to himself as he felt the Dark War Emperor's oppressive aura.
The Dark War Emperor's power had reached the level of a Dao Void Profound Immortal. His overwhelming presence could be felt across the entire Heavenly Spirit World.
Neither the Immortal Dynasty nor the Sacred Court took action. Meanwhile, sects across the land were in turmoil, with many activating defensive arrays and bracing themselves for what was to come.
Gu An turned his gaze toward Xunxian Island. Their response had been swift, as they too began forming a protective formation.
"This aura…" Ji Xiaoya, standing beside him, frowned, her face filled with worry.
Gu An remained silent and walked over to Long Qing instead.
The sudden oppressive force had scared Long Qing to tears. No matter how much You Yingying tried to console him, her efforts were in vain.
Beneath a tree, Shen Xin Zi put down the book in his hands and gazed at the blood-red sky. His Buddha-like serenity was shaken, replaced by an unshakable sense of foreboding.
"What on earth is this…" Shen Xin Zi murmured, his brows furrowed.
Gu An had just reached Long Qing when he sensed the Dark War Emperor's aura shifting to a new location. Moments later, the flourishing vitality of that land vanished without a trace.
The Dark War Emperor's power grew ever so slightly, but even such a minor increase made Gu An frown.
What infuriated him most was the Sacred Court's inaction, allowing such havoc to unfold.
He was thoroughly disappointed with the Sacred Court.
"Master!" Long Qing cried out and immediately leaped into Gu An's arms.
Gu An patted his back, holding him gently. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Master is here."
For some reason, You Yingying's fear began to subside as Gu An approached. She instinctively moved closer to him.
Seeing her pale face, Gu An asked, "Are you alright?"
You Yingying grasped his sleeve with both hands and shook her head lightly.
At that moment, Gu An sensed a large number of cultivators entering the Tai Cang Continent. Their cultivation levels varied widely, with the strongest barely reaching the Profound Heart Realm.
Although their strength was beneath his notice, the timing of their arrival was anything but coincidental.