Chapter 88: Become My Disciple, and You Will Be the Next Sect Master

What a show-off!

Gu An stood there staring at the overly arrogant Lü Baitian, thinking to himself.

Lü Baitian raised his chin even higher, assuming that his imposing presence had completely overwhelmed Gu An.

"Are you the former sect master who went mad after suffering from qi deviation?" Gu An asked, pretending to be shocked.

Qi deviation...

Lü Baitian's face twitched. He snorted coldly, "That was intentional on my part."

"But you're only at the Qi Refining stage right now. How do you plan to annihilate the demonic sects?"

"Foolish boy! I merely compressed my spiritual power into my primordial spirit to disguise myself as someone who suffered from qi deviation. I wanted those people to see what Tai Xuan Sect would become without me," Lü Baitian replied with a sneer, his disdain aimed clearly at the Elder's Hall.

Gu An fell silent.

How many innocent disciples have to die because of Lü Baitian's grudge with the Elder's Hall?

"Let's go," Lü Baitian said, raising his hand to grab Gu An by the shoulder, startling him into stepping back.

"I'm not going. It's too dangerous," Gu An shook his head. He had to stay and guard the Medicine Valley.

Lü Baitian chuckled mockingly. "Aren't you curious about how this battle between righteousness and evil will end?"

Gu An shook his head furiously like a rattling drum, waving his hands. "I'd rather stay and watch over the valley."

"Don't worry. Your valley will be fine. I've already released my aura, and powerful cultivators are on their way," Lü Baitian's tone softened, and he stopped referring to himself in a grandiose manner.

Gu An could indeed sense the approach of a Void Crossing Realm cultivator.

Tai Xuan Sect really has a deep foundation. How many Void Crossing Realm experts are hidden within the sect?

Lü Baitian reached out again. This time, though Gu An could see his movements, he couldn't dodge in time. He had no choice but to go along with it.

As Lü Baitian grabbed his shoulder and the two of them vanished from the spot, Gu An quickly activated his Mysterious Yellow Dragon Qi Technique to its fullest, concealing his Golden Core and Primordial Spirit, making himself appear as nothing more than a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.

However, Gu An was overthinking it. Lü Baitian didn't even bother to inspect his body.

After about ten breaths, Lü Baitian stopped and brought Gu An to a large hall.

The hall was vast, with massive pillars wrapped in carvings of true dragons, phoenixes, qilins, and divine beasts Gu An didn't recognize.

Lü Baitian released Gu An, took a few steps forward, and casually said, "Wait here. My strength has yet to fully recover."

Though Gu An could see from his Lifespan Investigation that Lü Baitian hadn't yet returned to his peak, hearing this line still felt ridiculous coming from his mouth.

You're not fully recovered, yet you're acting all high and mighty?

Releasing your aura so casually—aren't you worried your enemies will seize the chance to kill you?

Wait a minute...

This reckless behavior... Could he have figured out that I'm actually the Sword Master of the Dao?

Gu An suddenly broke into a cold sweat at the thought.

He watched as Lü Baitian ascended the steps and sat cross-legged on a golden throne, exuding the aura of a supreme ruler.

It was clear that Lü Baitian was indeed cultivating, as spiritual energy within him surged rapidly.

The hall fell into silence as Gu An pondered Lü Baitian's intentions.

After a while, Gu An sensed two auras rapidly approaching. One of them felt familiar.

An Hao!

The other aura had reached the Body Fusion Realm!

Without turning around, Gu An moved to stand near one of the pillars, waiting.

In a few breaths, two figures flew into the hall.

Gu An looked up and used Lifespan Investigation immediately.

[Lei Zhen (Body Fusion Realm, First Stage): 1465/2700/2750]

Lei Zhen?

Gu An hadn't heard of this name before, and he had assumed that it would be Sect Master Chu Tianqi arriving.

If Lei Zhen was here, then Chu Tianqi's cultivation must be even higher.

Suddenly, Gu An felt that his goal of reaching the ninth stage of the Body Fusion Realm wasn't as stable as he thought.

Once this crisis was over, he needed to work even harder to accumulate lifespan.

Reaching the top of the Tai Xuan Sect wouldn't be enough. He needed to survive the great catastrophe of demons and monsters. Just thinking about it made Gu An feel the weight of responsibility.

"Lü Baitian, you're still alive!" Lei Zhen called out as he approached Lü Baitian, his voice booming like thunder.

Lei Zhen was tall and muscular, wearing a resplendent black robe embroidered with a fierce and mysterious beast's head on his back, holding thunder in its mouth. The design made him look even more intimidating.

Sixteen-year-old An Hao had grown much taller, now wearing a blue robe that accentuated his slender frame. His long hair was tied up high, and two strands of black hair swayed like sword winds. His handsome face radiated sharpness and determination that couldn't be hidden.

Seeing An Hao now, Gu An felt a surge of pride.

What a handsome kid. He looks just like me.

An Hao noticed Gu An's gaze and nodded slightly.

"Lei Zhen, do you wish for me to be alive, or dead?" Lü Baitian's voice echoed through the hall, still cold and indifferent. He didn't even bother to open his eyes.

Lei Zhen, standing in the center of the hall, sized up Lü Baitian and narrowed his eyes. "You've only reached the Void Crossing Realm. It seems you're still affected by the past."

Lü Baitian didn't respond.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

An Hao moved over to Gu An's side and asked through voice transmission, "Brother, who is this Lü Baitian?"

Gu An was surprised.

You came here without knowing who he is?

An Hao quickly added, "I was dragged here. My master told Lei Zhen to protect me, and we were in the middle of evacuating when Lei Zhen suddenly turned against us and brought me here."

Gu An couldn't help but ask through voice transmission, "In front of these two, do you really think our voice transmission technique is going unnoticed?"

An Hao glanced toward Lei Zhen.

Lei Zhen's robe was slightly fluttering as if an overwhelming force was building up within him, ready to burst at any moment.

"Lü Baitian, since you've already faked your death, why return? The Tai Xuan Sect no longer needs you," Lei Zhen said as the great hall doors slammed shut, and an immense pressure filled the room, causing An Hao to catch his breath.

"Are you planning to attack me, the former sect master, in front of these juniors?" Lü Baitian's voice remained calm, his eyes still closed.

Lei Zhen stepped forward. "Perfect timing. Let them witness the true brutality of the cultivation world!"

In an instant, Lei Zhen charged toward Lü Baitian, his right palm raised to strike down on Lü Baitian's head.

Boom!

Two immense forces collided, sending shockwaves throughout the hall. The entire structure trembled violently. Gu An pretended to struggle under the pressure.

An Hao quickly stepped in front of Gu An, using his own spiritual energy to shield him.

This kid...

Gu An smiled inwardly, feeling proud.

Despite being only sixteen, An Hao was already at the fifth stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. His aura alone felt comparable to someone at the eighth stage.

Too bad he was up against a Body Fusion Realm expert.

An Hao gritted his teeth but was still being pushed back by the sheer force of the two combatants.

Gu An sensed something odd and focused ahead. Lei Zhen, the attacker, was trembling, his aura weakening rapidly while another force was rising at an alarming rate.

Lü Baitian!

"You... This can't be..." Lei Zhen's voice suddenly cracked with disbelief and despair.

Lü Baitian slowly stood up, levitating off the ground as he glared down at Lei Zhen.

His expression was as cold as ice.

Void Crossing Realm, Ninth Stage!

Lü Baitian's cultivation had surged several stages. In fact, he was now pushing beyond the Void Crossing Realm into the Body Fusion Realm. It was clear that Lü Baitian wasn't regaining power but rather revealing his true strength.

Even An Hao was mesmerized by Lü Baitian's imposing figure, his eyes full of astonishment.

"You tricked me... Inverse Life Divine Art!" Lei Zhen's voice quivered, his tone a mixture of fury and disbelief.

Lü Baitian sneered down at him. "Lei Zhen, you've always been reckless. How many have died because of your carelessness? Today, you will pay for your mistakes."

"I was hoping for Chu Tianqi to show up, but it seems you've come to deliver yourself first. Fine, I'll take your cultivation. Don't worry, Chu Tianqi will join you soon enough."

With that, Lü Baitian reached out, pressing his palm against Lei Zhen's forehead.

Lei Zhen struggled, but to no avail. Gu An could see that even Lei Zhen's primordial spirit was being subdued.

Lü Baitian was suppressing both Lei Zhen's body and soul with an unimaginable technique, draining his spiritual energy.

Gu An watched, horrified.

What kind of technique is this?

Boom!

Lü Baitian's aura surged to an even greater height, while Lei Zhen collapsed to the ground, his body withering away, his once jet-black hair turning white in an instant.

Body Fusion Realm, First Stage!

As Lü Baitian absorbed Lei Zhen's cultivation, Gu An and An Hao felt the immense pressure lift. Lü Baitian was careful to suppress his aura so they wouldn't be affected.

An Hao exhaled in relief, still standing protectively in front of Gu An.

Gu An sighed inwardly. He had taught An Hao too little. Instead of escaping when things got dangerous, the boy stayed to watch the show. It was both impressive and frustrating.

Lü Baitian's power continued to climb as Lei Zhen's strength faded. The hall trembled less and less as the battle's intensity waned.

Finally, after some time, Lü Baitian drained the last of Lei Zhen's spiritual energy. As he withdrew his hand, Lei Zhen's lifeless body tumbled down the steps.

Lei Zhen's gaunt face twisted in agony as he reached out toward Lü Baitian in a final plea for mercy.

But Lü Baitian coldly flicked his finger, sending a blood-red energy blast that pierced through Lei Zhen's forehead, obliterating his primordial spirit.

Divine Finger Of Spirit Gathering Technique!

Gu An could sense that Lü Baitian's cultivation had risen to the third stage of the Body Fusion Realm, but there was still an overwhelming amount of energy flowing within him.

Clearly, Lü Baitian's true cultivation far exceeded even this.

Gu An grew more wary, fearing that Lü Baitian might suddenly turn on him.

After all, Lü Baitian's son, Lü Xian, wasn't exactly known for being mentally stable either.

Ignoring An Hao, Lü Baitian turned to Gu An, a smirk forming on his lips. "So, do you think I'm qualified to wipe out the demonic sects now?"

Gu An pretended to be nervous and replied, "You are the sect master, of course..."

He stepped forward, placing himself between Lü Baitian and An Hao.

"Gu An, become my disciple, and you will be the next sect master!" Lü Baitian declared, looking down at Gu An with an authoritative air, leaving no room for argument.

Gu An felt his head spin. With a wry smile, he replied, "Sect Master, my talents are mediocre. No matter how much you nurture me, I will never reach a level that would earn the respect of the entire sect. If you were to pass the sect to me, it would only lead to chaos within Tai Xuan Sect."

Lü Baitian sneered and said, "What if, before I reach my end, I transfer all my cultivation to you?"

This...

Gu An was completely caught off guard by the offer.

But becoming sect master was the last thing he wanted!

Even Lü Baitian, with all his power, had been forced into faking his death to pass on the title. Gu An had no intention of inheriting such a disaster.

Besides, by the time Lü Baitian's lifespan was nearing its end, his cultivation would likely be insignificant to Gu An!