When the people of the Tai Cang Continent, trapped in terrifying illusions, glimpsed a mysterious sword shadow, the Dark War Emperor also saw it in reality.
The sword shadow confronting the Dark War Emperor was colossal and awe-inspiring, brimming with overwhelming might.
The dark, cloud-filled sky was pierced by the sword's radiant light. Thunderclouds parted as a massive silver sword blade broke through the darkness. It seemed as if an unimaginable celestial being wielded the sword from beyond the heavens, its sheer size dwarfing mountains.
In contrast to the immense blade, the Dark War Emperor, clutching his spear with both hands, looked utterly insignificant.
For a moment, the Dark War Emperor was stunned, but soon, a manic expression twisted his face.
"What a domineering sword intent! I never expected anyone in this world to achieve such mastery in the Dao of the Sword!"
His voice thundered like rolling clouds as he laughed. With that, his aura surged, and the black flames around his spear intensified.
Without further hesitation, he gripped his spear tightly and thrust it forward.
The instant his spear struck, the cloud sea above shattered, fully revealing the gigantic, mysterious sword shadow.
The sword shadow was far larger than any mountain range in the world. Its hilt seemed to stretch into the celestial void, creating a visual impact so profound it defied description.
Boom!
Violent black flames surged like dragons toward the sword shadow. However, in an instant, the radiant sword tore through the illusionary fog, pulling all living beings back to reality.
The people instinctively raised their eyes, and what they saw would remain etched in their memories forever.
Above the heavens floated a silver sword shadow, so vast it defied imagination. It was a sight beyond the comprehension of mortal minds.
In Xuan Valley, Gu An stood with his disciples, all gazing at the sword shadow in awe.
This was the Eternal Boundless Divine Sword!
The mighty blade had formed through the ascension of the Boundless Celestial Sword of Star Suppression
!
This was also the first time Gu An had ever unleashed this sword technique.
Amidst the disciples, Gu An maintained a look of astonishment, hiding any trace of connection to the celestial blade in the heavens.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord's divine sense vanished abruptly, likely captivated by the majestic spectacle above.
Gu An's expression turned sharp as the Eternal Boundless Divine Sword burst into dazzling brilliance. Its light eclipsed all creation, scattering the black flames as it drove straight toward the Dark War Emperor.
The Dark War Emperor's face twisted in horror. He immediately employed his divine abilities, transforming his physical body into black mist. Yet, the Eternal Boundless Divine Sword swept through him, obliterating the mist in an instant.
Beyond the world.
In the dim, starlit void, the Dark War Emperor reappeared, turning to glare at the distant Heavenly Spirit World. His grotesque face betrayed a rare hint of fear.
"This sword intent… it's imbued with powerful karmic force…"
The Dark War Emperor's thoughts churned with alarm. Only his exceptional mastery of divine techniques had allowed him to escape the sword's suppressive force and flee into the cosmos.
A sudden realization struck him, and he instinctively looked up. His eyes widened in shock.
The Eternal Boundless Divine Sword had appeared above him, plummeting downward with relentless speed.
Terrified, he activated his divine abilities again. Yet no matter where he fled, the sword remained overhead, growing closer with every leap through space.
For the first time, the Dark War Emperor tasted the despair that had gripped the people of the Tai Cang Continent moments before—only magnified tenfold.
It was as if he were trapped by inescapable fate.
On the continent, the Eternal Boundless Divine Sword vanished from view, but its aftermath remained. Fierce winds howled, forests swayed like ocean waves, and mortal beings shielded their faces.
When the chaos subsided, the people looked up to see the ominous blood-red light in the sky fading away. The horizon, once bathed in malevolent crimson, now resembled the onset of twilight.
In Xuan Valley, after a brief silence, the disciples erupted into cheers. The entire Tai Xuan Sect buzzed with excitement, their voices rising like a mighty wave.
"That sword just now… was it real? Did I imagine it?"
"What an awe-inspiring sword intent! I never thought the Dao of the Sword could reach such heights!"
"Did anyone see the dark shadow? I think I was pulled into an illusion, and then the sword saved me."
"I saw it too! It was the same for me."
"It must have been the Sword Master of the Dao! Only he could wield such sword intent. He's saved us once again!"
Across every city in the Tai Xuan Sect, disciples were jubilant. The fear instilled by the Dark War Emperor's sorcery had shown them just how terrifying he was. But the Sword Master of the Dao's power left them in awe, renewing their faith.
The mere sight of the colossal sword shadow had reshaped their understanding of the Dao of the Sword.
Just how powerful was the Sword Master of the Dao?
And how far did the path of the sword extend?
Amidst the lively discussions, Gu An joined the disciples, sharing in their excitement. However, a system notification suddenly appeared before him:
[You have successfully taken 207,632 years of lifespan from the Dark War Emperor (Dao Void Profound Immortal Realm, Level 2).]
Gu An calculated inwardly. The system allowed him to extract 10-20% of his opponent's lifespan, meaning the Dark War Emperor still had over two million years left.
Just how long could a Dao Void Profound Immortal live? Gu An wondered.
His mood lifted. His first use of the Eternal Boundless Divine Sword had exceeded all expectations.
It was proof of his progress in the cycle of reincarnation and his mastery over the power of rules. By comprehending and integrating the laws of the universe into his abilities, he had refined his divine techniques to new heights.
The Eternal Boundless Divine Sword locked onto the karmic aura of the Dark War Emperor. No matter where he fled, the sword followed relentlessly, as though tied to his destiny. The only way to escape was to sever his karma—but such a feat would require time and clarity, something the Dark War Emperor lacked in the midst of this calamity.
Even if he had the means to erase his karma, it was far too late.
From a distance, Gu An could sense another Dao Void Profound Immortal observing. He paid it no attention, keeping his focus steady.
Moments later, the hidden observer withdrew its gaze.
After giving a few words of guidance to the disciples in Xuan Valley, Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley, where the excitement was palpable. Everyone was animatedly discussing the earlier events, their voices filling the air.
As Gu An stepped off the transmission platform, he noticed Shen Xin Zi staring blankly at the heavens, lost in thought.
Nearby, You Yingying was holding Long Qing, rushing toward him. Her face lit up when she reached him, exclaiming, "Did you see it earlier? The Sword Master of the Dao's techniques are beyond comprehension! That sword—it felt as if it descended from beyond the heavens…"
Her excitement grew as she spoke, her words tumbling over one another in her fervor.
Long Qing spread his arms wide, trying to demonstrate just how enormous the sword in the sky had been.
Gu An mirrored their enthusiasm, recounting his own experience in the illusory realm. Yet, inwardly, his thoughts turned to another matter—the looming shadow of Heavenly Prison.
The Dark War Emperor had been drawn here because Heavenly Prison had released individuals linked to the Heavenly Demon lineage into the Tai Cang Continent.
This was far from over.
"I wonder who that dark shadow really was," You Yingying murmured, her tone tinged with unease. "Will he return? I hope the Sword Master of the Dao has destroyed him completely."
Gu An offered reassurances, telling her to trust the Sword Master of the Dao.
Although he didn't know the Dark War Emperor's origins, one thing was clear: there was no karmic link between the Dark War Emperor and the Long family. Moreover, the Dark War Emperor's true form was not human.
After a lengthy conversation with You Yingying, Gu An finally excused himself. He then spoke briefly with An Xin, Ji Xiaoya, and others, maintaining his composed demeanor amidst the fervor.
The battle's impact would undoubtedly ripple across the heavens and the earth for a long time.
In unseen corners of the world, countless powerful cultivators had observed this confrontation. The strength of the Sword Master of the Dao had left many in awe.
While his annihilation of the Grand Cold Demon Sect had already caught the attention of major sects, they had only regarded him as a formidable cultivator. But now, things were different.
The Dark War Emperor had shaken the entire Heavenly Spirit World with his fearsome presence, his aura far surpassing that of the combined forces of the Grand Cold Demon Sect.
Those who had reached the realm of the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, or the Fifth Heaven of the Immortal Dao, bore witness to the Dark War Emperor's defeat.
To kill an entity of the Seventh Heaven of the Immortal Dao was an achievement beyond imagination, solidifying the Sword Master of the Dao's reputation as a figure of immeasurable power.
In the far reaches of the stars, where seven suns illuminated the void, seven mysterious beings concealed within the celestial bodies slowly closed their eyes, as though the events had never transpired.
Within a flickering firelit hall, two figures stood by a small pool, their silence heavy. The pool's surface reflected the cosmos, faint tendrils of black mist swirling within the water's depths.
One of the figures, a man clad in a black robe adorned with a crown of dragon bones, clenched his jaw, his expression grim. "This is trouble… The Sword Master of the Dao is this powerful? Even Heavenly Prison's schemes cannot escape his notice. It's only a matter of time before he comes for me."
He turned, his gaze seething with fury, and fixed it on the other figure beside him.
Domain Master Qingsongzi exhaled deeply. "The Sacred King must already know. For now, it's best for us to keep our heads low."
As the ruler of the Broken Sea Region, which included the Tai Cang Continent, Qingsongzi's complexion was pale. He clenched his hands tightly beneath his robes, striving to appear calm. Yet, the death of the Dark War Emperor felt like the sky itself was collapsing.
Without another word, he turned to leave.
The black-robed man's voice rang out behind him, icy and resolute. "If the Sword Master of the Dao comes, I will have no choice but to reveal the existence of the Sacred King. With his level of cultivation, I cannot hide the truth."
"Then pray he never comes," Qingsongzi retorted coldly, vanishing into thin air.
The black-robed man stared at the spot where Qingsongzi had disappeared, his fury shaking the entire palace.
Beneath a resplendent sea of stars, a small floating island remained suspended in space. The island was modest, its central area paved with white jade, forming an expansive plaza.
Figures began to appear on the jade plaza, one after another. Each figure radiated a dazzling light, their forms indistinct, their faces obscured, with only their eyes clearly visible.
They gathered silently, an oppressive stillness settling over the group.
A towering figure, radiating an icy aura, finally broke the silence. "Sacred Minister, releasing the Dark Entity—was that your decision?"
All eyes turned toward the Sacred Minister, a being enveloped in golden light that shimmered like a deity's glow.
The Sacred Minister's calm voice responded, "The world is rife with Heavenly Demons, hiding within reincarnation cycles to mask their identities. You are all aware of the disaster brewing within the Desolate Domain. My actions were a necessary precaution."
Others voiced their opinions in turn.
"Your intention was noble, but the Dark Entities are too violent to control."
"That one was likely the Dark War Emperor. His escape technique was exceptional, difficult to track. It's surprising he was defeated."
"Tai Cang Continent, the Sword Master of the Dao… The Heavenly Spirit World is vast, yet the Dark War Emperor found him. Strange."
"It is strange indeed. Every time the Sword Master of the Dao acts, it seems to be in self-defense. If the Dark War Emperor was targeting him, why involve two continents?"
"Sacred Minister, it seems someone is using you to manipulate the Sword Master of the Dao."
The golden light surrounding the Sacred Minister flickered faintly, and a glint of cold intent flashed in his eyes.