Chapter 118: Sword Master of the Dao Takes Action!

The Dustless Wasteland, early morning.

Covered by thick clouds, this wasteland had not seen the sun or moon for a long time.

On the edge of a cliff, dozens of cultivators had gathered. Among them was Ji Hantian, the Vice Sect Master of the Tai Xuan Sect. They all gazed towards the distant horizon, their brows furrowed with worry.

"That demoness is far too powerful. Without a Profound Heart Realm cultivator, no matter how many of us join forces, it's useless."

"There isn't anyone in our dynasty at the Profound Heart Realm."

"Our sect had one, but he disappeared 800 years ago. His whereabouts are unknown."

"How many Profound Heart Realm cultivators stand behind the Ephemeral Blossom Sect?"

"We have no way out. We can't retreat!"

These people were the leaders of various sects from different dynasties, each at the Body Fusion Realm. Before the chaos of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, every one of them had been a legendary figure in the Nine Dynasties' cultivation world, possessing the power to influence the fate of nations. But now, after many days of gathering, they were at a loss, unable to make a move.

Several Body Fusion Realm cultivators had already died under the Ephemeral Blossom Tree. Some acted alone, while others launched group assaults, but all attempts ended in failure. The terror of the Profound Heart Realm loomed over them.

Suddenly, Ji Hantian raised his right hand. A ring on his index finger emitted a faint light that flowed into the space between his brows.

His expression brightened with excitement, and he lowered his hand, saying, "Everyone, the Grand Elder Xuanquan of our Tai Xuan Sect has returned and is on his way to join us. We can follow him into battle when he arrives! Our Grand Elder Xuanquan has already attained the Profound Heart Realm!"

At these words, the other sect leaders turned to him, similarly overjoyed.

For a moment, praises of the Tai Xuan Sect filled the air, causing Ji Hantian to straighten his back with pride.

Though the Tai Xuan Sect was the strongest sect in the Tai Cang Dynasty, it wasn't necessarily among the top three in the Nine Dynasties region. However, if they could play a pivotal role in resisting the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's threat, their fame would spread throughout the land, attracting more noble families and cultivators to join them in the future.

The atmosphere on the cliff lightened, and hope surged that they could defeat the demon of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away...

The towering Ephemeral Blossom Tree, several hundred feet high, loomed like a giant demon beneath the swirling dark clouds, its branches twisted and jagged.

Vines hung down from the tree, most of them bound to corpses. Some bodies still twitched faintly, their eyes bloodshot and neck veins bulging—a pitiful sight.

Among the crowd, Jiang Qiong frowned as she stared at the hanging cultivators.

She instinctively touched the blood-red Ephemeral Blossom imprint on her wrist, feeling a deep sense of unease.

At this rate, she feared she would either be killed by the Nine Dynasties' cultivators or be consumed by the tree itself. She couldn't just sit around and wait for death.

But what could she do?

The Ephemeral Blossom Seal had restricted her freedom.

Jiang Qiong glanced at the middle-aged man next to her and transmitted her thoughts, "Father, do you still trust the Ephemeral Blossom Sect?"

The man beside her was none other than her father, Jiang Lang, one of the leaders of the Thousand Autumn Pavilion. He had brought Jiang Qiong and many disciples with him into the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.

Jiang Lang's expression was grim, and he didn't respond.

How could he not know that they had been deceived? But what could he do now?

There were countless corpses of Body Fusion and Void Crossing Realm cultivators hanging from the Ephemeral Blossom Tree. With his abilities, how could he escape?

He turned to look at the other side, where four cultivators sat at the edge of the million-strong crowd of Ephemeral Blossom Sect members. The overwhelming aura radiating from these four kept the sect members in line.

Those who could leave freely either had close ties to the sect's leadership or were deemed trustworthy.

Jiang Lang was neither.

He had been one of Zhong Liang's men and should have enjoyed authority, but after Zhong Liang's fall, his subordinates had been scattered and treated like prisoners. Though accepted by the sect, they were not trusted.

Seeing her father's expression, Jiang Qiong knew there was no hope in relying on him.

It had always been this way. From the beginning, the only person she could count on was herself.

With renewed determination, she looked up at the Ephemeral Blossom Tree.

She wouldn't fall here!

As soon as this thought crossed her mind, a sudden light illuminated her face, causing her eyes to widen.

Not just her—everyone was bathed in the light.

Above the Ephemeral Blossom Tree, the dark clouds suddenly parted, revealing a massive hole in the sky, nearly a thousand miles in diameter. Sunlight poured through, mixed with light snowflakes.

The black-robed woman sitting on the formation platform below looked up, her eyes behind the mask flashing with cold intent.

It wasn't just her; the four Body Fusion Realm experts guarding the million-strong crowd also looked up.

Under the sunlight, the Ephemeral Blossom Tree began to tremble, seemingly displeased by the bright light.

"Who goes there? Show yourself!"

The black-robed woman stood up and shouted, her voice echoing throughout the sky.

A figure appeared out of thin air above the tree—it was none other than Gu An, using his Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body.

Looking down at the scene below, Gu An quickly spotted Jiang Qiong.

From his vantage point, the million-strong members of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect looked like prisoners, sitting on the ground while a few cultivators stood, clearly acting as their guards.

To trust the Ephemeral Blossom Sect and end up like this—what a pitiful fate!

Gu An swiftly scanned their lifespans.

One Profound Heart Realm, Second Layer cultivator and four Body Fusion Realm, Ninth Layer cultivators!

The lifespan of the Ephemeral Blossom Tree below him was similar to that of the one he had seen before, just over five hundred years.

How many lives had been fed to it to grow this fast?

Gu An raised his right hand, and a blue sword shadow condensed in his palm.

"Impudent!"

The black-robed woman let out a furious shout, and in an instant, she was beside Gu An, a blood-red longsword in hand, slashing towards him.

As the sword came down, thousands of evil spirits seemed to surge toward Gu An, turning the entire sky into a sea of blood.

But it only lasted for a moment!

Boom!

The black-robed woman was sent flying, soaring over the heads of the million Ephemeral Blossom Sect members before crashing into the ground, her fate uncertain.

Everyone watching was stunned.

How could this be?

All of them were internally screaming in disbelief.

Over the past few weeks, the black-robed woman had shown her overwhelming strength, almost invincible. No matter how powerful or famous the cultivators who came to fight her were, she had easily crushed them.

Yet here she was, unable to withstand even a single blow from this person?

Gu An lifted his left hand, and a burst of energy shot from his index finger, cutting through the sky and piercing the spot where the black-robed woman had fallen.

A notification appeared before Gu An:

[You have successfully taken 47 years of lifespan from Night Lotus Fairy (Profound Heart Realm, Second Layer)]

Not bad!

Gu An extended his left hand again, drawing the Profound Heart of Night Lotus Fairy from a distance.

Her Profound Heart scattered the dust as it flew into his hand, and he casually tossed it into his storage pouch.

Seeing the situation turn dire, the four Body Fusion Realm cultivators at the edges of the crowd attempted to flee in different directions.

Gu An raised his hand and pointed in four directions.

Path-Crushing Divine Light!

Four beams of energy shot out like falling meteors. The speed of the attacks was so fast that none of the million-strong sect members could track their movement, but everyone knew that those four were doomed.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

"So the Thousand Autumn Pavilion has such an individual…"

Jiang Lang muttered, still in shock.

Jiang Qiong was equally stunned, but inwardly relieved. It was fortunate that she hadn't made any rash moves against the Thousand Autumn Pavilion in the past.

Four consecutive notifications appeared before Gu An as he released the blue sword shadow from his right hand, pointing its tip directly at the Ephemeral Blossom Tree.

Sensing the threat, the tree trembled violently, releasing the corpses it had held, as its vines rose into the air.

Before the eyes of the million sect members, a twisted and terrifying face emerged from the tree's main trunk.

"What is that?"

"A demon tree… it's really a demon tree!"

"That face…"

"We've been deceived!"

"No… no way…"

The crowd erupted into chaos. Unlike Jiang Qiong, many still clung to hope, or perhaps they had no choice but to do so.

Boom!

The ground trembled as enormous vines erupted from the earth, lashing toward Gu An. The million sect members scrambled to flee, some taking the opportunity to escape the area.

But many, including Jiang Qiong, fearlessly rushed into the Nine Nether Path.

In Gu An's hand, the blue sword shadow unleashed a terrifying sword intent. Like a divine weapon descending from the heavens, it brought with it blinding light.

"That sword intent… Sword Master of the Dao…"

As she flew, Jiang Qiong glanced up at Gu An's figure, trembling with fear.

The Sword Master of the Dao was this powerful?

The blue sword shadow, imbued with the terrifying intent of the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword, descended upon the Ephemeral Blossom Tree.

Before the cultivators had even left the battlefield, the sword shadow had already struck the tree's crown.

This time, the sword intent was overwhelming, completely suppressing the Ephemeral Blossom Tree. The tree was reduced to ash from the top down.

When the sword shadow struck the ground, the earth shattered, creating massive cracks that spread outward like a giant spider web.

Gu An watched as Jiang Qiong fled into the Nine Nether Path, choosing not to stop her.

After today, even if she stayed, it would be hard for her to find a place to stand.

Sensing dozens of Body Fusion Realm cultivators approaching from afar, Gu An disappeared from the spot.

As for the million members of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, Gu An had considered killing them all but hesitated. Many of them were likely deceived or forced into the sect, much like Yang Min or Li Ya. There were too many entanglements, and he feared he might kill the wrong people.

Wanton slaughter—how would that be any different from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect?

He had no desire to be branded a great demon and be hunted down by the world.

Still, despite his restraint, many cultivators had been shaken to death by the force of his previous sword strike.

That wasn't Gu An's concern.

Everyone must bear the consequences of their own choices. The fact that he hadn't killed them all was already a testament to his mercy.

As numerous notifications popped up before his eyes, Gu An's form vanished into thin air.

The earth continued to crack and tremble as dust billowed into the sky.

Ji Hantian and the others arrived from afar, the gusting winds and dust hitting them in the face. Their divine senses had already detected the destruction of the Ephemeral Blossom Tree.

"Hahaha, the Sword Master of the Dao from our Tai Xuan Sect has finally taken action!"

Ji Hantian couldn't help but laugh loudly, proudly boasting of the Sword Master of the Dao's power.

Another Tai Xuan Sect cultivator?

The leaders of the various sects were deeply moved. The sword intent they had sensed just moments ago made their hearts pound in fear. No matter how hard they cultivated, they could never hope to reach such heights.

Now that the Ephemeral Blossom Sect had been eradicated, they would have to reassess the strength of the Tai Xuan Sect!