Luo Hun stared at Gu An, a dazed look in his eyes. "Gu An… Pan An…" he muttered to himself.
Gu An noticed his expression and found it irritating.
"What's with that look? Disappointed?"
At this point, Gu An wasn't afraid of his identity as Pan An being exposed. Setting aside his cultivation, the alliances and relationships he had built were enough to shield him from any trouble.
Although Gu An had killed many powerful individuals, none of them had personal vendettas against him. As things stood, his enemies would likely only be in the Divine Transformation Realm, far from being a genuine threat.
Even Lü Xian, who was meditating in the distance, looked astonished. Gu An was Pan An?
Lü Xian had known that Gu An possessed extraordinary talent in cultivation, but he hadn't expected him to have such creative genius as well.
In that moment, Lü Xian felt the full weight of his mediocrity. True prodigies didn't flaunt their gifts—they had no need to compare themselves to others.
Ji Ruolai studied Gu An carefully. "My younger sister wrote to me, asking that I look after you. She admires your decision to remain with Tai Xuan Sect rather than following the Ji family elsewhere."
Gu An nodded and replied, "I've committed to cultivating in the Tai Xuan Sect. In times of crisis, I can't simply flee. Besides, I'm not heading to the battlefield myself. Staying here to contribute in my own small way is the least I can do."
Ji Ruolai's gaze softened with appreciation.
After chatting briefly, Gu An excused himself and left.
As they watched him depart, Ji Ruolai chuckled quietly. "To have sworn brotherhood with Xuan Tianyi, his cultivation is no longer what defines him. From now on, I'll have to treat him like a major figure."
Luo Hun didn't respond, instead muttering, "How could he write Investiture of the Gods… I can accept that The Adventures of Green Hero is his work…"
Though he now enjoyed The Adventures of Green Hero and Daoist Seeking Spring, Luo Hun considered Investiture of the Gods to be unparalleled.
The former satisfied his fantasies; the latter embodied his ideals.
As winter began, the Tai Xuan Sect was abruptly shaken by a wave of terrifying demonic energy emanating from the distant north.
In Xuan Valley, Gu An's disciples, who were practicing their exercises with him, all froze and turned toward the source of the ominous aura. Fear was etched on their faces.
Never before had they encountered such a horrifying presence—it triggered a primal terror deep within them.
Gu An, too, felt the surge of energy. Calmly, he instructed, "Continue your exercises. Remember your place in this world—don't worry about things beyond your control."
Hearing his words, the disciples forced themselves to suppress their fear and resumed their training.
Even Chu Jingfeng and Lu Jiujia, both seasoned cultivators, frowned deeply as they trained.
They recognized that this demonic aura far surpassed that of Six-Headed Jiao Luo, whose presence alone had once brought humanity to the brink of despair. Now, with an even greater menace on the horizon, how could they possibly endure this catastrophe?
The demonic energy lingered ominously in the atmosphere for seven days.
On the seventh day, Gu An visited the outer sect city. By then, rumors about the Demon Ancestor had spread like wildfire.
"Have you heard? The progenitor of the demon race, the Demon Ancestor, has revived. He's the true source of the demon catastrophe."
"They say Six-Headed Jiao Luo was merely one of the seventy-two Great Demon Kings. Above him stands the Demon Emperor, and now even the Demon Ancestor is back. What hope do we have?"
"Don't lose heart. With Senior Xuan Tianyi, Dao Monarchs, and the Nine Great Cultivators of the realm fighting for us, there's still a glimmer of hope."
"They may be powerful, but who can slay the Demon Emperor or the Demon Ancestor?"
"Regardless, if even great cultivators from overseas have returned to aid us, we, as cultivators, must not falter. We'll fight to the end, even if it costs us our lives!"
Even the Foundation Establishment Realm disciples in the outer sect city were brimming with resolve, ready to head into battle at any moment.
Gu An made his way to the edge of the Heaven Mending Platform. There, he saw Emperor Xie, the son of the Demon Emperor, standing silently by the platform's edge, gazing at the heavens with an inscrutable expression.
Above, the sky churned with dark clouds, and the snow fell heavier and faster, as if attempting to bury the vast earth.
Gu An looked up as well, catching a snowflake in his palm. The flake melted instantly upon contact, evaporating into wisps of white vapor.
"A Loose Immortal," Gu An thought silently, judging the cultivation of the revived Demon Ancestor.
It was indeed terrifying. If not for the return of Xuan Tianyi and the Dao Monarchs, the human realms—protected only by Profound Heart Realm cultivators—would have no chance against a Loose Immortal-level Demon Ancestor.
Even with their return, the disparity in strength was staggering. The Demon Ancestor could crush them effortlessly.
As Gu An observed, the swirling clouds in the sky began to take shape, forming the outline of a pair of immense eyes.
The eyes gazed coldly down upon the countless beings below, radiating an oppressive power.
More and more people noticed the eerie phenomenon. As they looked skyward, an overwhelming dread gripped their hearts.
Before those eyes, all living beings felt their insignificance.
One name surfaced unbidden in their minds:
The Demon Ancestor.
A heavy silence fell over the outer sect city, suffocating and absolute.
"Hmph! So what if it's the Demon Ancestor? I, Xuan Tianyi, will surely strike him down! Watch closely, young ones. In this world, it is humans who rule the heavens and the earth!"
Xuan Tianyi's domineering voice reverberated throughout the Tai Xuan Sect, as loud and clear as thunder, echoing endlessly. Those who heard it felt their blood surge with passion and determination.
Gu An couldn't help but smile upon hearing it.
There was no denying that Xuan Tianyi truly had the bearing of a savior. In this regard, Lü Baitian fell short.
Lü Baitian's dominance was rooted in his governance, whereas Xuan Tianyi radiated an invincible sharpness, a quality that instilled boundless strength in others during times of catastrophe.
Gu An could sense Xuan Tianyi leaving the Tai Xuan Sect and heading north at incredible speed.
Turning around, Gu An quietly departed.
The endless wave of demons and monsters was advancing southward. It wouldn't be long before the full-blown demon catastrophe erupted!
He decided to let the world struggle and clash first. Only through experiencing despair could humanity come to cherish peace.
At Tianhuang Mountain's Nian Chu Cave Residence, Gu An sat at a stone table, drinking wine. Beside him, Tian Yao'er perched barefoot on a stone bench, her face tense as she gazed at the sky.
Demons and monsters were surging past Tianhuang Mountain, heading south. The sheer numbers caused the Nian Chu Cave Residence to tremble lightly.
Tian Yao'er turned to Gu An with a furrowed brow. "Master, I don't know why, but I feel an uncontrollable anger, like I want to tear something apart. I've never felt this way before."
Gu An, too, could sense a peculiar force in the air.
The demons and monsters of the demonic lands were falling into frenzy and losing their sanity. This wasn't merely due to orders from the Demon Emperor or the Demon Ancestor. A strange and sinister force seemed to be manipulating them.
Curiously, the effect was confined to the demons of the demonic lands. The creatures of the three human empires were unaffected.
Gu An pondered the source of this force. Could it be related to the blood of the Demon Ancestor?
He recalled that the demons of this continent were said to have originated from the blood of the Demon Ancestor.
"Your cultivation is too low," Gu An remarked expressionlessly. "Would you want to be controlled by other demons someday?"
Tian Yao'er shook her head emphatically. "Of course not! I only allow you to control me, Master!"
Gu An said nothing, standing up to reinforce the protective barriers of the cave residence. He needed to ensure that Tian Yao'er didn't go berserk and damage his medicinal herbs.
Meanwhile, at the northern border of the Great Jiang Dynasty, near the battlefield where Six-Headed Jiao Luo had once been defeated, the landscape was dominated by massive ravines carved into the ground. Along the edges, sects and clans had established extensive strongholds.
Lü Baitian hovered in mid-air, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his expression grim.
Across the ravine, the demonic fog churned ceaselessly, shrouding the other side in darkness. The stark contrast made the area occupied by the cultivators feel like a different world.
Ji Hantian flew up to join Lü Baitian, his own face equally grave. "This battle won't hold for long."
Lü Baitian glanced at him. "Didn't the Ji family decide to withdraw?"
"Yes, most of our younger disciples have already left the Tai Xuan Sect."
"Then why are you still here?"
"Because I am the Deputy Sect Master of the Tai Xuan Sect. Others can leave, but you and I cannot."
Ji Hantian's gaze remained steady, his tone light yet full of conviction.
Lü Baitian shook his head with a wry smile, then stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ji Hantian, both staring at the ominous horizon.
The storm of demonic fog on the horizon surged like a maelstrom from the abyss, pressing inexorably closer. The oppressive weight of the gathered demonic energy seemed to crush the very air.
In the former lands of the Shen Tang Dynasty, near Three Purities Mountain in the Tian Wei Dynasty, Su Han sat beneath a tree, his hand gently stroking the bone sword resting on his lap.
Scattered around him were the Nine Nether Thirteen Fiends. Further away, Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother lounged atop a coffin, her eyes closed in repose.
Li Sanyou broke the silence. "Ghost Mother, the great cultivators of Three Purities Mountain have all gone to the northern border. When do we make our move?"
Without opening her eyes, Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother replied, "There's no rush. We'll act when the battle fully erupts."
Su Han raised his head and looked at her. "Who is our target this time?"
"Li Ya, the prince of the Tai Cang Dynasty," she answered without hesitation.
Su Han frowned. He knew of Li Ya's connection to Gu An. "Why him?"
"He practices the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword. That sword art originates from our Ephemeral Blossom Sect. Although An Hao stopped us from taking Heaven Palace Mountain, his mastery of that sword technique inspired me. You, too, must master the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword. Its power resonates with all living beings and could further unleash the true might of the Heaven-Hating Divine Sword."
Her tone was calm, as though Li Ya's fate was already sealed.
Su Han took a deep breath. "Pick someone else. The Li family has other disciples. I won't strike against Li Ya."
"He's the only one in the Li family who knows the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword. Even Li Xuanmiao of Three Purities Mountain doesn't practice it."
"I can't. Li Ya is my senior uncle—I can't do it!" Su Han's voice was firm, an unusual display of defiance toward the Ghost Mother.
Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother opened her eyes, her hollow gaze falling on Su Han. Even in broad daylight, her stare made him instinctively avert his eyes.
The Nine Nether Thirteen Fiends exchanged amused glances, remaining silent.
Finally, Ghost Mother spoke slowly. "If you refuse to deal with Li Ya, then you must be prepared…"
A deafening clap of thunder interrupted her words. Lightning flashed across the sky, drawing their attention upward.
From the gathering storm clouds, a colossal figure began to emerge.
"Daoist of Longevity, it's time to settle our grudge!"
A thunderous, ancient voice boomed from within the clouds.
Far away, back in Xuan Valley within the Tai Xuan Sect, Gu An was using his divine sense to survey the three great dynasties. He noticed spatial fluctuations in the deep mountains of these territories—numerous ancient teleportation formations were activating, transporting demons into the heart of human lands.
These formations were remnants of ancient ruins and forbidden grounds, and it was clear that the Seven Stars Spiritual Realm was assisting the demons.
The Seven Stars Spiritual Realm had indeed set a masterful trap!