Chapter 140: The Arrival of a Ninth-Layer Profound Heart Realm
After bidding farewell to Wu Jue, Gu An spent the next several days watching as countless disciples from Tai Xuan Sect flew over the Third Medicine Valley and Xuan Valley.
Tai Xuan Sect had officially mobilized!
Standing on the balcony, Gu An gazed into the distance, where he could see the battles erupting in Wanji Forest. The first factions to arrive had already launched assaults on the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.
However, with forty Profound Heart Realm experts from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect joining forces, they were nearly invincible. In the end, the cultivators from the various dynasties were forced to retreat, needing to gather more strength.
Gu An turned his attention to the Dustless Wasteland, which the Ephemeral Blossom Sect had reclaimed. From the entrance of the Nine Nether Path, waves of cultivators from the sect were flying out, heading toward the Tai Chen Dynasty.
The Nine Dynasties consisted of Tai Cang, Great Yu, Shen Tang, Tian Wei, Tai Chen, Han Lu, Great Zhao, Great Jiang, and Wu Zhen.
The Tai Chen Dynasty was relatively weaker compared to the others, located in the central region of the Nine Dynasties with vast territory, which had already been occupied by the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.
From a grand perspective, Gu An could see cultivators streaming in from all directions toward Tai Chen Dynasty to support the battle. The sight was magnificent.
Watching it, Gu An felt his blood boil, tempted to join in the action.
However, he knew his duty was to protect his Medicine Valley, as that was the most important task at hand.
Besides, if he acted too early, the Mahayana expert from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect might never show up.
The fact that this expert hadn't made any moves yet meant they were surely planning something.
The enormous sacrificial altar in Wanji Forest looked like a giant target to Gu An, leading him to suspect that the Ephemeral Blossom Sect might be planning to launch a surprise attack on Tai Xuan Sect.
He wasn't the only one with such suspicions. Tai Xuan Sect was also clearly on guard. Currently, a Profound Heart Realm expert remained stationed in the sect, though it wasn't Xuanquan Ancestor.
A month later...
The number of patrolling cultivators in Tai Xuan Sect's cities had increased, and an air of tension permeated the sect. Even the outer disciples in the Third Medicine Valley and Xuan Valley could feel the pressure.
Lu Jiujia, being the chief disciple of Xuan Valley, began organizing rotations of disciples to stand watch on the mountain peaks surrounding the Medicine Valley, preparing for any potential approach by Ephemeral Blossom Sect cultivators.
The Third Medicine Valley was similarly vigilant, with overseers taking turns leading patrols with disciples.
That morning, in the Third Medicine Valley...
After morning exercises, Gu An was heading back to his pavilion when he suddenly sensed something. His expression shifted slightly, though he did not stop walking.
Boom!
A thunderous roar echoed through the heavens, startling everyone in the valley. They turned to look, fear flashing in their eyes.
In the direction of the inner sect, dark storm clouds gathered, rolling toward the Third Medicine Valley, threatening to blanket the entire sky.
"What was that sound?"
"Could it be an attack by the Ephemeral Blossom Sect?"
"Aren't they supposed to be in Tai Chen Dynasty?"
"Given that Tai Xuan Sect is one of the most prominent factions in the Nine Dynasties, if they wipe us out, it would be a massive blow to morale across all the dynasties."
"I just hope it doesn't spread to our Medicine Valley..."
Disciples clustered together, murmuring nervously amongst themselves.
Gu An, too, paused, standing by the wooden fence bordering the garden, his eyes fixed on the distant sky as he observed the battle unfolding near the sect's main city.
The sect's main city was Tai Xuan Sect's largest, where inner disciples could enter but were not permitted to live. Only the sect's elite resided there.
At that moment, two Mahayana cultivators were locked in combat in the city. As they clashed, more and more cultivators joined the fray, escalating the fight into a large-scale melee.
It wasn't an attack from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect but an uprising from their infiltrators within the sect.
Gu An watched for a moment longer, realizing that the traitors all seemed to be from the same family.
Lu Lingjun approached Gu An and spoke, "Valley Master, you mustn't leave the Medicine Valley from now on."
She, too, was watching the battle toward the sect's main city, her eyes filled with concern.
She could already sense at least five Mahayana-level cultivators engaged in battle.
While Mahayana cultivators alone weren't enough to frighten her, she had a premonition that something far more terrifying was on the horizon.
Gu An nodded lightly and continued observing.
The Third Medicine Valley rapidly darkened as though night had suddenly fallen.
Rumble...
The deep rumbling of thunder filled the sky, as if an ancient beast were roaring from within the sea of clouds, shaking the heavens.
"It's time for you to show yourself. Our battle will determine the fate of Tai Xuan Sect!"
A cold, indifferent voice echoed across the entire Tai Xuan Sect, sending a heavy pressure into the hearts of all who heard it.
Lu Lingjun's face paled. She was certain that the owner of this voice had surpassed the Mahayana stage.
Gu An could already see a figure walking through the clouds. The man wore black robes and a purple crown, with eighteen golden short swords floating behind him. As he moved, his sleeves billowed with the wind, sending waves of energy rippling outward like a dragon's presence—imposing and powerful.
This was a Profound Heart Realm cultivator at the fifth layer!
This man was likely one of the higher-ranking members of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, outclassing the Profound Heart Realm experts within Tai Xuan Sect by three sub-stages.
Meanwhile...
In the sect's inner city, inside the Scripture Pavilion...
Elder Xu Lu stood at the counter, watching as a figure descended the staircase. He couldn't help but ask, "How confident are you?"
The figure, an elderly man with an immortal demeanor, dressed in black robes and holding a dust-whisk, descended the stairs without pause. He left behind a single response:
"I'll do my best."
Xu Lu turned to look out the window, where the rolling storm clouds resembled a black ocean, surging with terrifying waves. His eyes filled with concern.
"For the first time since reaching the Profound Heart Realm, I will face another Profound Heart cultivator. May I ask your name? I am known as Elder Kusong."
The elderly man's voice echoed throughout Tai Xuan Sect, bringing a sudden hush to the anxious atmosphere in the cities.
Profound Heart Realm?
This was the first time Lu Lingjun had heard of this stage.
Was it true that the stage beyond Mahayana was the Profound Heart Realm?
Lu Lingjun's divine sense locked onto the figure in the clouds, her eyes filled with envy.
She had to reach this realm!
No!
She had to surpass the Profound Heart Realm!
"This seat is Red Qian Zun of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect. Dying by my hand will be a worthy end for one who has attained the Profound Heart Realm!"
The previous voice rang out again, brimming with arrogance, making the cultivators of Tai Xuan Sect feel anxious for Elder Kusong.
Boom!
A mighty pressure descended, enveloping all of Tai Xuan Sect. The storm clouds in the sky churned violently as protective formations in each city flared to life, activating defenses against the overwhelming battle above.
Red Qian Zun and Elder Kusong had begun their fight!
Though the battle raged thousands of feet in the sky, well beyond the ground, the pressure was immense, causing the mountains and valleys below to tremble.
Lu Lingjun's gaze remained locked on the heavens, determined not to miss any detail of the battle between these two Profound Heart Realm cultivators.
Gu An glanced at her.
Hmm?
Could she be on the verge of some kind of enlightenment?
After a while...
While Lu Lingjun was still deeply absorbed in the battle, Gu An turned and began walking toward the valley's entrance.
The Ephemeral Blossom Sect hadn't just sent Red Qian Zun—they had also dispatched an even stronger presence, who had already arrived at the entrance to the Third Medicine Valley.
From a distance, Gu An saw a woman dressed in white, wearing a wide-brimmed hat. She appeared elegant and mysterious, with her hands folded neatly before her abdomen. Her skin was as pale as snow, and her poised demeanor made her seem like an immortal descending to the mortal world. It was hard to associate her with the demonic path of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.
[Bai Xia Fairy (Profound Heart Realm, Ninth Layer): 2180/4900/6500]
A ninth-layer Profound Heart Realm cultivator!
They truly intended to annihilate Tai Xuan Sect in one fell swoop!
Gu An marveled at the audacity of their plan as he quickly approached the woman.
Soon, he stood before Bai Xia Fairy and cupped his hands in greeting. "The Ephemeral Blossom Sect is causing havoc. May I ask what brings you here, Senior?"
Bai Xia Fairy's wide-brimmed hat had a veil, behind which her lips, painted a deep crimson, could barely be seen. She had used some sort of secret technique to conceal her true cultivation, making it appear as though she were merely at the first layer of the Golden Core Realm.
"You, little brother, this Medicine Valley is so full of spiritual energy, you must have an important identity. Why don't you tell me who you really are?" Bai Xia Fairy asked, her voice melodious and enchanting.
Gu An reached out and grabbed her wrist. "I'm just an ordinary outer disciple of Tai Xuan Sect."
Bai Xia Fairy chuckled coldly. She did not resist his grasp but instead used a voice transmission technique to speak privately: "Rumor has it that the Sword Sovereign of the Dao only appears within a thousand miles of this area. If you have any information about his whereabouts, I might just spare your life."
Gu An had anticipated her attempt at using a secret technique, so he allowed her to finish speaking.
With a stern expression, Gu An said, "It seems you really are a demonic cultivator!"
In an instant, Bai Xia Fairy felt an overwhelming force invade her body. Her face, hidden behind her veil, turned pale in shock. She tried to shake off Gu An's grip, but to her horror, she found she couldn't.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
What terrified her even more was that she couldn't speak, nor could her primordial spirit leave her body.
She had never experienced anything so horrifying.
Her cultivation level began to plummet rapidly, her primordial spirit suppressed deep within her soul. In mere moments, her cultivation was reduced to the first layer of the Golden Core Realm, matching the false appearance she had presented.
"Impossible..."
Bai Xia Fairy was nearly driven mad. The sheer power of her opponent and her rapid loss of cultivation caused her to lose all rationality.
As she stared in despair, Gu An took out a small pearl.
It was the Thousand Shadow Pearl that Lü Baitian had given him!
With his left hand gripping her wrist, Gu An placed the Thousand Shadow Pearl against Bai Xia Fairy's abdomen with his right hand.
"Demon cultivator! Take this!"
With a loud shout, the Thousand Shadow Pearl erupted with dazzling light, releasing waves of energy that reduced Bai Xia Fairy to a bloodied corpse, her blood splattering all over Gu An.
The Thousand Shadow Pearl couldn't kill a Profound Heart cultivator, so before using it, Gu An had already shattered her soul with his power, ensuring her immediate death.
His shout had attracted the attention of many outer disciples nearby.
Lu Lingjun appeared in front of Gu An in an instant. Seeing him covered in blood, she frowned and asked, "Are you alright? Why didn't you call for me earlier?"
Feigning fear, Gu An replied, "I thought she was just an inner disciple, but she turned out to be a demonic cultivator from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect! Quick, we need to destroy her body, or the Ephemeral Blossom Sect might come after us!"
His hands, still clutching the Thousand Shadow Pearl, trembled visibly.
Killing Bai Xia Fairy had netted him an additional 495 years of lifespan, not bad at all!
Lu Lingjun, seeing the terror-stricken Gu An, immediately cast a spell, summoning spiritual flames to incinerate Bai Xia Fairy's corpse. The remnants of her power within the body triggered a surge of energy that quickly consumed her remains.
Lu Lingjun couldn't detect the profound nature of Gu An's power, as it belonged to an entirely different realm.
However, she could confirm that Bai Xia Fairy had indeed been at the first layer of the Golden Core Realm, just as she had appeared.
As the flames turned Bai Xia Fairy to ash, Gu An let out a sigh of relief and muttered, "Too bad... She didn't even have a storage bag or storage ring..."
Lu Lingjun shot him a glance and snapped, "Looks like you weren't too scared after all. For someone as talented as you, a newly entered Golden Core cultivator shouldn't scare you to this extent!"
Meanwhile, Lu Lingjun continued to reflect on the battle she had witnessed earlier.
Deep down, it felt like she had grasped something profound.
The Profound Heart Realm was truly a realm to aspire to!
The gap between the ninth layer of the Body Fusion Realm and the Profound Heart Realm was unfathomable.
She suddenly realized that only by reaching the Profound Heart Realm could one truly be considered a mighty cultivator!