Watching as Zhu Mo teetered on the edge of collapse, Gu An couldn't be bothered to explain further. With a single stroke of the Pen of Destiny, Zhu Mo disintegrated into ash, vanishing without a trace.
Throughout the entire process, Hao Long remained silent, staring blankly at Gu An. It wasn't until Zhu Mo was completely gone that the dragon snapped out of his daze.
Swallowing hard, Hao Long's gaze fell upon Gu An, his eyes now filled with a mixture of awe and fear.
Gu An's strength exceeded Hao Long's wildest expectations. It had been many years since they had last interacted, and the power Gu An displayed today was far beyond what Hao Long remembered. How could he not feel a sense of terror?
Seeing the expression on Hao Long's face, Gu An found it amusing. He decided to have a little fun, fixing his gaze coldly on the dragon without saying a word.
Under the weight of Gu An's stare, Hao Long instinctively took a step back, his fear deepening.
"What happened today…" Gu An began slowly, deliberately pausing to draw out the tension.
"I swear I won't tell anyone!" Hao Long blurted out in panic. "Master, please believe me!"
Twirling the Pen of Destiny in his hand, Gu An's lips curved into a faint smile. "This pen of mine can kill from very, very far away. If you ever break your promise… you know what will happen."
Hao Long shivered, his entire dragon form trembling as he repeatedly assured Gu An of his loyalty.
Gu An turned and walked toward the Ancient Vine Tree. His actions today had primarily been a test to verify whether the Pen of Destiny could directly extract lifespan.
The result? Exactly as he had hoped.
The Pen of Destiny was a weapon of his own creation, crafted without relying on any external materials. Moving forward, he would be able to siphon lifespans with even greater ease.
In dealing with Zhu Mo, Gu An had eliminated over a hundred individuals, all of whom were directly connected to him. These people were destined to become entangled in a web of karmic grudges, but Gu An had ensured their paths ended here.
Such was the Dao of Karma.
The ability to perceive the evolutionary trajectory of all things, to participate in the workings of fate—this was the foundation of mastering karma.
The Dao of Karma was profound and inscrutable. Gu An had only just begun to scratch the surface, yet even now, his abilities were beyond the comprehension of mortals and spirits alike.
This confrontation alone had netted him over 40,000 years of lifespan. While it was a significant gain, it was not an amount that particularly impressed someone at his level.
Hao Long, having shrunk his form, cautiously approached Gu An.
"Master… you… are you the legendary Sword Master of Dao of the Tai Xuan Sect?" Hao Long asked hesitantly.
Without turning, Gu An replied, "The less you know, the safer you'll be. Do you understand?"
Hao Long was so frightened by this statement that he hurriedly nodded in agreement.
Man and dragon made their way beneath the Ancient Vine Tree, whose vines extended outward to gently massage Gu An's shoulders. Hao Long watched in stunned silence, his jaw slack.
Two hours later, Gu An and Hao Long left the Eight Views Heavenly Cave. Gu An set out for Tianya Valley, while Hao Long went in search of the cultivators of the Gu Hao Sect.
Within the bustling Tai Xuan Sect, no one was aware that a Profound Heart Realm cultivator had been reduced to ash.
After the Lunar New Year, Gu An's life returned to its usual calm. He traveled between the various medicine valleys, occasionally bringing An Xin to Mortal Peak or visiting Ye Lan and Zhen Qin alone.
The sects that had suffered mysterious thefts of their spiritual herbs gradually found peace again. Even the Sacred Court, unable to trace the culprit, had given up its investigation. Recently, there had been no further incidents of this kind.
Although Gu An had already reached the Free Immortal Realm, he did not intend to halt his progress. He continued to expand the inventory of high-grade spiritual herbs within his hidden cave realm.
Time flowed swiftly.
In the blink of an eye, five years passed.
Beyond the heavens, the number of celestial demons had swelled to over five million. These demonic forces loomed menacingly in the cosmos, as if ready to tear the Heavenly Spirit World to pieces.
The Sacred Court, Immortal Dynasty, and other sects stood vigilant, dispersing their forces across the world to prevent the demons from finding any opportunity to infiltrate.
On a massive meteor, two men shrouded in dark energy stood side by side. Their faces were eerily similar, both clad in black scale armor. One of them was noticeably taller.
"The Sacred Court remains motionless. It seems the intelligence we received was accurate," said the shorter one.
"The disturbance earlier… could it have been the reincarnation of the Sacred Heavenly Emperor?"
"Highly likely. In the Heavenly Spirit World, only the Sacred Heavenly Emperor could possess such power."
"If that's the case, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"His Majesty's target is the Great Emperor. We mustn't forget our purpose."
The two dark-armored men spoke in hushed tones, their eyes fixed on the Heavenly Spirit World, brimming with murderous intent.
As they conversed, they suddenly sensed something amiss. Turning in unison, they saw a thick, rolling fog advancing from the depths of darkness.
Their expressions shifted, and without hesitation, they vanished from sight.
It was the season of spring transitioning into summer.
Beneath the shade of a tree, Gu An and Xuan Tianyi shared drinks, discussing the art of writing.
Xuan Tianyi was particularly fond of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, believing it to rival the brilliance of Journey to the West.
"I used to think Investiture of the Gods was the pinnacle of literature," Xuan Tianyi said, gazing at Gu An with admiration. "But then you came along with Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. How are you this talented? Why can't I write books like these?"
Gu An shook his head with a faint smile. "Your Adventures of the Green Hero isn't bad. Don't worry about writing other books; just focus on this one. If you make it long enough, it could very well become a classic."
Xuan Tianyi's attempts at writing serious literature had been lackluster, producing numerous works that failed to gain traction.
"Really? But most people are too embarrassed to admit they like Adventures of the Green Hero," Xuan Tianyi replied, skepticism etched on his face.
Gu An asked, "Do you want to write a book that many people will read but rarely discuss, or a masterpiece that a select few will treasure for a lifetime?"
Hearing this, Xuan Tianyi fell silent, pondering deeply.
As the two conversed, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the heavens, startling both of them into looking up. They weren't alone—everyone in the valley also turned their eyes skyward.
What they saw was a breathtaking yet terrifying sight: a vast cluster of meteors falling from the sky, trailing long plumes of scorched smoke as they pierced through the clouds. The scene was apocalyptic, sending waves of unease through anyone who beheld it.
"What is that?" Gu An frowned, though inwardly he mused, It's finally begun.
The invasion of the Heavenly Demons had commenced. Led by a Free Immortal, they had easily broken through the outer defenses. Hidden within the meteors were countless Heavenly Demons, each carrying destruction in their wake.
"I'm not sure, but I'll go check," Xuan Tianyi said before vanishing into thin air.
Gu An rose from his seat and headed toward his residence.
An Xin ran up to him, her face full of worry. "Master, what exactly is happening?"
"I'm not sure," Gu An replied, his tone calm. "But as long as we're within the Tai Xuan Sect, we'll be safe."
Hearing this, An Xin let out a sigh of relief. She understood the hidden meaning in her master's words—whatever was coming from beyond the heavens could never pose a threat to him.
As Gu An walked, he glanced upward. From his vantage point, he could see a massive meteor hurtling straight toward the Tai Cang Continent.
High in the sky, Shen Xin Zi was already making his move, preparing to shield the continent from harm.
Gu An had no intention of intervening. Following his breakthrough, he had sensed the coming of this calamity. It was likely a calculated scheme.
As long as the continent could withstand this tribulation, there was no need for him to step in. It was, after all, a perfect opportunity for others to sharpen their skills.
In truth, the Sword Master of Dao had refrained from taking action for quite some time. Despite the frequent conflicts within the Tai Xuan Sect, Gu An remained detached, choosing not to meddle in every minor affair.
This established a clear understanding among the world: as long as the foundation of the Tai Xuan Sect and the safety of the continent remained intact, the Sword Master of Dao would not interfere.
Once Gu An returned to his study, Shen Xin Zi shattered the meteor in the sky. From within the meteor burst forth a swarm of Heavenly Demons, the strongest among them at the Wandering Immortal Realm. They encircled Shen Xin Zi, forcing him into a fierce battle.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord quickly arrived to provide support, and other cultivators across the continent joined the fray.
The Tai Cang Continent was just one of many battlefronts. Across all regions of the world, defensive wars had erupted.
Beyond the heavens, the scale of battle was even more staggering. The Ancient Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Ancestor of the Sacred Court joined forces against the Free Immortal Heavenly Demon, their struggle reaching a stalemate. Divine Thought True Immortals unleashed their full power, while seven radiant beings emerged from the sun itself to join the fray.
Phoenixes, True Dragons, Kirins, White Tigers, Black Turtles, Azure Birds, and Kun—each magnificent creature engaged in combat against colossal beasts from the Desolation Domain.
The scope of the battlefield rapidly expanded. With the Heavenly Spirit World as its center, battles raged in all directions, filling the skies with clashing figures.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor stepped out of his dwelling, his gaze calm as he looked toward the heavens.
At that moment, Long Qing happened to pass by. His eyes were fixed on the distant battle, his brows tightly furrowed in thought.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's gaze fell upon Long Qing, and his expression suddenly darkened.
Following the descent of the Heavenly Demons, Long Qing's mood had grown increasingly volatile and irritable. Unable to suppress his inner turmoil, he wandered aimlessly, seeking relief.
"Why is the karma surrounding him changing…" the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor wondered, astonished.
And during such a pivotal moment!
This child must have a connection to the Heavenly Demons!
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's interest in Long Qing deepened. He had always sensed that Long Qing's physique was extraordinary.
Not long after, fierce winds swept through, stirred by the ongoing battles.
Seated at his desk, Gu An held a copy of Adventures of the Green Hero in his hands while his divine sense extended across the entire world.
The Heavenly Spirit World's foundation was proving formidable. In such a short time, numerous Divine Thought True Immortals, Dao Void Profound Immortals, and Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortals had emerged to join the fray.
For now, the Heavenly Demons posed no threat to the Heavenly Spirit World.
Once the battle between the Free Immortals concluded, the invasion would likely come to an end.
However, Gu An noticed that many Heavenly Demons had chosen not to engage in combat upon descending. Instead, they infiltrated the mortal world—some possessing living beings, others dissolving their forms and merging with the cycle of reincarnation, drawn into the swirling vortex of heavenly samsara above.
A sudden thought struck Gu An. These Heavenly Demons might not be a unified force. Those abstaining from battle appeared to share intricate karmic ties with Long Qing, suggesting they had come for him.
Gu An's divine sense shifted to focus on the Falling Moon Divine Lake.
The lake was under siege by Heavenly Demons, their predicament dire due to the presence of a Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal Realm Heavenly Demon.
Gu An's interest in the lake stemmed from Zhu Xi, the bearer of the Primordial Devouring Origin Physique.
Under his watchful eye, Zhu Xi fled the Falling Moon Divine Lake alone, flying on her sword while holding an oil lamp that rendered her invisible.
By dusk, the crisis on the Tai Cang Continent had been resolved. Zhu Xi landed on a secluded island, hiding among its dense woods while keeping the oil lamp burning.
Unbeknownst to her, the island harbored a Heavenly Demon. Though its cultivation was only at the Loose Immortal Realm, it was a foe far beyond her capability to defeat.
Her oil lamp was incapable of hiding her from the Heavenly Demon's gaze.
The demon drew closer.
Sensing imminent danger, Zhu Xi, who had been meditating, abruptly opened her eyes. She scanned her surroundings, her heart racing with panic.
A chilling premonition gripped her—disaster was closing in. Trusting her instincts, she knew she was surrounded by threats with no path of escape.