After slaying the Dread Emperor of Calamity, the Realm of Nine Abysses did not dissipate; it remained in its worldly form. The beings trapped within illusions began to wake up one after another.
When Ye Lan regained consciousness, she instinctively turned around. Seeing that Gu An was unharmed, she heaved a sigh of relief.
An Xin opened her eyes and, upon spotting Gu An, immediately moved closer to him. She patted her chest with a lingering expression of fear.
Once all the disciples of Tai Xuan Sect had awakened, they gathered to discuss what had just happened. Everyone was tense, bracing for the Dread Emperor to strike again.
Little did they know, the master of the Realm of Nine Abysses had already been reduced to ashes.
Having finished probing the Dread Emperor's soul, Gu An's gaze subtly shifted. He glanced at Long Qing and sighed inwardly.
Long Qing was unexpectedly the last surviving scion of the Dragon Clan. The Dread Emperor had come under orders to eradicate the Dragon Clan's bloodline entirely.
The black-robed elder on Qingtian Peak had been one of Long Qing's subordinates. Long Qing's reincarnation was a desperate measure to avoid being hunted down by the forces backing the Dread Emperor.
War Court!
The current War Court was no longer under the control of the Dragon Clan's descendants. Precisely because of this, the War Court's ruler had sought to eliminate Long Qing, fearing the possibility of the Dragon Clan's resurrection through their bloodline.
Years ago, Long Qing's reincarnation had been hidden well. To escape the War Court's pursuit, his subordinates had sneaked into Qingtian Peak, secretly making their way into Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven.
However, the turmoil in the Desolate Domain years ago had drawn the Dread Emperor's attention.
The Dark War Emperor, sent by the Dread Emperor, was actually one of his creations. The Dark War Emperor's inheritance from the War Court had originated from the Dread Emperor, and his reckless actions had led the Dread Emperor to suspect Divine Sovereign's reincarnation.
For a Free Immortal at the Ninth Layer, advancing further required undergoing the Tribulation of Reincarnation—a cycle of a hundred lives before attempting to ascend to the Dao Fruit Realm.
This was the Tribulation of Reincarnation.
In the Dread Emperor's memories, he had once been defeated by Divine Sovereign and had narrowly escaped death.
This was why the Dread Emperor had hesitated to enter Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven directly. The Dark War Emperor was merely one of his pawns. Even the Sacred Court's Sacred Minister was unaware of the true figure behind the Dark War Emperor.
Knowing that Long Zhan's descendants had dwindled to Long Qing alone left Gu An feeling a trace of melancholy.
However, Gu An had no fear of the War Court's retaliation. Based on the Dread Emperor's memories, the War Court's stronger entities were unable to reach this universe. Only Free Immortals could traverse the barrier, which was why the Dread Emperor had been dispatched. Even he did not know the exact reason for this limitation.
The Dread Emperor had been in this universe for tens of millions of years. During that time, Long Qing's parents had been alive but had ultimately perished at his hands.
Millions of years later, the Dragon Clan's bloodline across various universes had been eradicated, leaving only Long Qing.
As the disciples discussed the Dread Emperor's machinations, Gu An remained silent. With a single thought, the scarlet sky began to silently collapse.
"Look at the sky!" someone exclaimed.
The others quickly raised their heads. Seeing the sky twisting unnaturally, panic spread among them. Before they could process the sight, the dizziness they felt upon entering the Realm of Nine Abysses returned, forcing them to shut their eyes.
Unable to move or perceive their surroundings, the disciples felt a growing sense of unease.
Only Gu An kept his eyes open. Under the force of his divine sense, the Realm of Nine Abysses began to crumble. He channeled its karmic power into rules of fortune, bestowing a stroke of providence upon everyone.
Through karma, Gu An sent all the beings back to their original places within Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven.
At the same time, the great cultivators in the wider universe watched in alarm as the massive black sphere trembled and turned into black mist. Their anxiety over the safety of their younger generation reached its peak.
But as the mist dissipated, they sensed familiar presences. Turning to look, their expressions shifted to relief.
Their descendants were alive. Whatever the Dread Emperor's schemes, at least the younger generation had survived.
The Ancient Immortal Emperor and Sacred Ancestor exchanged puzzled glances, seeing the same confusion reflected in each other's eyes.
"What just happened?"
Meanwhile, on Tai Cang Continent, in a branch of Tai Xuan Sect.
Ye Lan jolted awake. Seeing Gu An sitting across from her, eyes still closed, she exhaled deeply. Looking around, her face lit up with surprise.
Zhen Qin woke shortly after, followed finally by Gu An.
"We're back? Does this mean the Heavenly Demons have all been wiped out?" Zhen Qin asked cautiously.
Gu An took a deep breath and replied, "I'm not sure. Did you notice anything new in your minds?"
He had used the Dread Emperor's karmic power to enhance everyone's comprehension of the Dao of Karma. Since this had no direct connection to him, he wasn't worried about anyone tracing it back. Besides, his Dao Aspect Divine Sense Technique naturally shielded him from karmic deductions.
Ye Lan and Zhen Qin nodded and began discussing their newfound insights. It wasn't just them; all the beings who had returned from the Realm of Nine Abysses were curious about the karmic techniques now imprinted in their minds.
After a long discussion, Gu An stood up. "We've delayed too much already. I need to go back."
Ye Lan seemed about to say something, but Gu An turned and walked away, disappearing into the horizon, his contributions hidden and unacknowledged.
"It's okay. We're back now. Listen to the sounds outside," Zhen Qin said reassuringly. With their level of cultivation, they could hear the distant murmur of voices outside the residence, confirming their return.
Ye Lan furrowed her brow, uneasy about being pulled back into the Realm of Nine Abysses. But after considering it for a moment, she dismissed the idea. If that mysterious presence intended to trap them again, why release them in the first place?
As soon as they returned to the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An was intercepted by An Xin and Long Qing, both eagerly chattering about the insights they had gained. Their excitement quickly drew a growing crowd of disciples around them.
Hearing the extraordinary encounters of the past half-day, the disciples were utterly fascinated.
Long Qing turned to the approaching Shen Xin Zi, asking, "Master, what exactly is the Realm of Nine Abysses?"
Shen Xin Zi frowned. He hadn't been chosen and therefore had no firsthand knowledge. He replied, "I don't know. Tell me everything that happened."
Long Qing nodded and recounted their journey into the Realm of Nine Abysses in detail. When he described the battles with the Heavenly Demons, his tone grew animated.
While Long Qing absorbed everyone's attention, Gu An quietly slipped away to his room.
With the Dread Emperor of Calamity now dead, the disaster brought by the Heavenly Demons seemed to have reached its conclusion. A period of peace was likely to follow—assuming there were no internal conflicts between the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Court.
Gu An noticed the return of numerous great cultivators from beyond the stars. Each sect was busy questioning their disciples about what had transpired.
As for the karmic opportunity Gu An had distributed, he wondered how it would influence this realm in the future. After all, those selected to enter the Realm of Nine Abysses were extraordinary talents and bearers of immense destiny. In a few millennia, they would undoubtedly shape the future of Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven.
Millennia... It felt like an eternity.
Gu An, who had reached the age of 425, mused about this in his heart.
Above a sea of clouds, a woman dressed in yellow soared gracefully. It was Zhu Xi, gifted with the Primordial Devouring Origin Physique.
Her eyes glimmered with anticipation as she gazed at the towering peaks in the distance, shrouded in mist.
"Mortal Peak, I've finally arrived," Zhu Xi murmured to herself.
It had been fifty years since her journey into the Realm of Nine Abysses. During that time, she had wandered the world. Recently, she'd heard that Mortal Peak was recruiting mortal spirits, and she had come to try her luck.
Mortal Peak was a top-tier sect, renowned throughout the land. If she could gain a foothold here, she wouldn't have to keep drifting aimlessly.
Meanwhile, atop Ding Tian Peak, Gu An was sitting in a courtyard, reading. When he sensed Zhu Xi's presence, he was mildly surprised.
"Is this a coincidence?" he thought.
He had no intention of assisting Zhu Xi. Instead, he was curious to see how she would fare after joining Mortal Peak.
Nearby, An Xin, who was cultivating the Dao Gang Primordial Qi, turned toward Gu An with a panicked expression.
"Master, the qi in my body is surging out of control! I can't stop it!" she cried, her voice trembling.
Still reclining in his chair, Gu An didn't move. He raised his left hand and flicked a finger.
A burst of energy shot through the air, entering An Xin's body. Instantly, her turbulent qi calmed, resuming its normal flow.
Relieved, An Xin exhaled deeply and looked at Gu An with admiration.
"Master, you're incredible! When will I be able to cultivate to your level?" she asked in awe.
"About a hundred million years," Gu An replied casually, flipping the page of his book.
"A hundred million years? That's ridiculous! Who can live that long?" An Xin grumbled, feeling like her master was teasing her.
Gu An ignored her, engrossed in the forbidden book he'd found at Mortal Peak. It was a tale of a disciple's love affair with a demoness, filled with intrigue and emotion. The demoness had reincarnated multiple times to reunite with the protagonist, tugging at the heartstrings.
Though not as intricately written as Xuan Tianyi's works, it was captivating nonetheless.
As dusk approached, Gu An finally stood, stretched, and motioned for An Xin to follow him.
Back at Tai Xuan Sect, they landed in a forest and began walking toward Xuan Valley. An Xin chattered about her day's cultivation, full of energy and excitement.
Gu An listened attentively, occasionally offering guidance.
When they arrived at Xuan Valley, Gu An spotted a familiar figure.
It was Jiang Qiong, standing by a wooden fence, admiring the vibrant flowers in the garden.
"Go on to the Third Medicine Valley," Gu An instructed An Xin. "I'll catch up later."
An Xin glanced curiously at Jiang Qiong's back but didn't linger. She made her way toward the Teleportation Array Platform.
"How long have you been here?" Gu An asked, his voice drifting toward Jiang Qiong.
She didn't turn around immediately, her gaze fixed on a single flower. "About two hours," she replied.
When Gu An reached her side, she finally turned to look at him.
"All these years, and you're still in the Nascent Soul Realm? I sensed your presence in the Realm of Nine Abysses. Didn't you gain any opportunities?" Jiang Qiong asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Raising an eyebrow, Gu An retorted, "And what realm are you at now, to look down on the Nascent Soul Realm?"
Jiang Qiong smirked. "I'm preparing to break through to the Body Fusion Realm. Before my tribulation, I thought I'd visit you."
"Body Fusion Realm?" Gu An widened his eyes in mock surprise.
Jiang Qiong's lips curved into a proud smile. "It's only the Body Fusion Realm. Honestly, it feels slow. Nowadays, the Body Fusion Realm isn't such a big deal."
Gu An remained silent.
Thinking she had struck a nerve, Jiang Qiong changed the topic. "You should talk some sense into your disciple. Zhen Qin's been hunting down the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother for revenge. If I hadn't intervened, she'd already be dead."