Chapter 141: A Sword Cultivator Must Always Remain Composed

Watching Lu Lingjun fall silent once again, Gu An could sense that she had already grasped the opportunity for a breakthrough.

Lu Lingjun had been stuck at the ninth layer of the Body Fusion Realm for a long time, her spiritual energy already unable to grow any further.

As Gu An led her deeper into the valley, he spoke, "Tell me, what do you think the Profound Heart Realm truly entails? It sounds so powerful—'Profound Heart, Profound Heart.' Does it mean that there is something special about the heart in this realm?"

Hearing this, Lu Lingjun's expression shifted.

Her heart began to undergo subtle changes as a trace of special power surged within it.

This special power, of course, came from Gu An's own energy. He wielded it skillfully, and with the vast difference in their cultivation levels, Lu Lingjun could not detect that it was his power. She simply believed that she was on the verge of transformation.

The trace of power circulated through Lu Lingjun's heart before returning to Gu An's body. To her, it felt like a fleeting sense of loss.

At this moment, other disciples in the valley gathered around, asking about the identity of the female demonic cultivator they had just seen.

Gu An, still covered in blood, answered their questions briefly before retreating to his pavilion to clean up.

Lu Lingjun returned to the wooden fence and raised her head to watch the thunderclouds, continuing to observe the battle.

For the Third Medicine Valley, Bai Xia Fairy was just a minor episode. Even the outer disciples didn't pay much attention, unaware that the deceased demonic cultivator had wielded power unmatched by almost anyone across the Nine Dynasties—except for Gu An, she had been the most powerful being.

...

Tai Chen Dynasty, Wanji Forest

Rows of banners stood along the forest's edge, encircling a hundred miles of open land. Across the clearing, numerous trenches formed a complex pattern, and from the sky, they resembled intricate runes.

This was the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's grand formation—Six Paths Mahayana Formation!

At the center of the formation, seven figures in black robes sat cross-legged in a circle. All of them were in the Profound Heart Realm, and each had surpassed the fifth layer. These were the top seven of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's Hundred Masters!

An elderly woman opened her eyes and said, "I sense the energy of a Profound Heart Realm battle coming from Tai Xuan Sect. It seems the Vice Sect Master and Red Qian Zun have already made their move. I wonder if the Sword Master of the Dao will intervene."

Upon hearing this, the other six opened their eyes as well.

"Tai Xuan Sect is on the brink of destruction. Naturally, the Sword Master of the Dao will act."

"They say his cultivation is at least at the eighth layer of the Profound Heart Realm. I wonder if that's true."

"It doesn't matter. With the Vice Sect Master taking action, Tai Xuan Sect can only rely on the Sword Master of the Dao."

"We must admit, we underestimated the factions of this land. Though it seems desolate and backward, they've managed to gather so many Profound Heart Realm cultivators."

"After standing strong for thousands of years, it's no surprise that some would reach the Profound Heart Realm."

The seven masters of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect spoke casually, as if the fall of Tai Xuan Sect was already a foregone conclusion.

...

Thousands of miles away, in the mountain ranges

Tai Xuan Sect's forces were stationed here, with every mountain peak within a thousand miles watched over by a group of disciples, carefully monitoring their surroundings.

Inside a temporary grand hall in the main camp, Lü Baitian, Xuanquan Ancestor, and dozens of Tai Xuan Sect's high-ranking members had gathered.

An Hao and Wu Jue were also present. An Hao stood beside Lü Baitian, while Wu Jue stood behind Elder Zhou Yu.

Lü Baitian sat with an imposing presence, looking more like a demonic overlord than the master of a righteous sect. His expression was dark as he asked, "What does this mean? Does Cang Tian Sect want to become the alliance leader?"

Ji Chen, representing the Ji Family, responded helplessly, "Indeed. With over forty sects from the Nine Dynasties gathered, chaos is inevitable if we act without coordination. So, Cang Tian Sect has proposed selecting an alliance leader, and since they've sent a force of a million disciples along with four Profound Heart Realm Grand Elders, they believe they should take the lead."

Four Profound Heart Realm cultivators—an incredible force!

Before the calamity brought by the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, the highest realm in the Nine Dynasties was the Body Fusion Realm. Who would have thought that when disaster struck, Cang Tian Sect could summon four Profound Heart Realm elders!

Not every sect that came to assist had even one Profound Heart Realm expert.

Moreover, this was just the force sent for the battle. Cang Tian Sect likely still had Profound Heart Realm cultivators defending their sect, just as Tai Xuan Sect had.

Tai Xuan Sect, on the other hand, could only dispatch one Profound Heart Realm Grand Elder. In terms of power, they couldn't compare to Cang Tian Sect.

Ji Chen's words cast a heavy silence over the hall. Many of the elders wanted to object, but there was no argument they could make.

The Ji, Zhou, and Gu families were the three great families of the Tai Cang Dynasty, but on the scale of the Nine Dynasties, they might not even rank in the top three.

Lü Baitian took a deep breath and stared at Ji Chen. "What about your Ji Family's Grand Elder? When will he arrive?"

Ji Chen replied, "He should arrive in the next few days, but we've only managed to contact one elder."

Just like the sects, family elders of the Profound Heart Realm rarely stayed with their clans, as they traveled far and wide in search of greater opportunities.

Lü Baitian looked to Elder Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu immediately said, "Our family elders are currently preoccupied, but the clan leader is doing everything possible. We should be able to summon one Profound Heart Realm elder within a month."

Lü Baitian frowned, displeased. One of the four great elders from Cang Tian Sect bore the surname Zhou.

He then turned his gaze to Elder Gu Gua of the Gu Family.

Gu Gua remained calm and said, "It's hard to say. Our family elders have peculiar temperaments. I can't guarantee how many will come, but the Gu Family is duty-bound to defend the Nine Dynasties, so someone will step forward."

Lü Baitian chuckled.

An Hao watched this scene unfold, quietly astonished. It was his first time witnessing the influence of the three great families.

As powerful as Lü Baitian was, even he had to be diplomatic.

Though Lü Baitian was known for his domineering ways, he knew whom to target. When it came to the Chu Family, he could suppress the entire clan, but with the three great families, he had to be polite.

Below the Profound Heart Realm, Lü Baitian was invincible. But in these times, the Profound Heart Realm ruled, thanks to the crisis created by the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.

"When I become sect master, all families will have to obey me!" An Hao silently vowed.

In his view, Lü Baitian's difficulties stemmed from not being strong enough!

If he were strong enough, he wouldn't care about anyone's opinions!

Wu Jue, on the other hand, wasn't thinking too deeply about these matters. He simply wanted to eradicate the Ephemeral Blossom Sect as quickly as possible. Every moment they delayed meant more danger for Tai Xuan Sect.

Just then, a messenger elder rushed into the hall, holding a jade slip. He quickly reported, "The sect is under attack by a Profound Heart Realm cultivator from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect!"

The hall erupted into chaos. An Hao's brow furrowed as he thought of his sister, An Xin.

Wu Jue clenched his fists, thinking of Gu An.

Lü Baitian asked calmly, "How many Profound Heart Realm experts?"

"One."

"That's all the information we have for now."

"No matter. Even if Elder Kusong is no match, the Sword Master of the Dao is still with us." Lü Baitian chuckled, his words easing the tension in the room.

One female elder couldn't help but mutter, "Will the Sword Master of the Dao really intervene?"

Though the Sword Master of the Dao had helped Tai Xuan Sect several times before, his mysterious identity made many doubt whether he was truly part of the sect.

Especially when the survival of the sect was at stake.

...

Tai Xuan Sect

Beneath the rolling thunderclouds, Red Qian Zun and Elder Kusong were still locked in battle. Both wielded powerful magical artifacts and cast grand spells, their fight causing the clouds above to churn violently.

At this moment, Red Qian Zun felt a growing sense of confusion.

"Why hasn't the Vice Sect Master acted yet?"

Though his cultivation was higher than Elder Kusong's, as fellow Profound Heart Realm cultivators, it was difficult for him to land a killing blow. On top of that, he had to remain vigilant for any sudden intervention by the Sword Master of the Dao. The longer the battle dragged on, the more his confidence wavered.

"What are you waiting for?" Elder Kusong asked as he waved his dust-whisk, sending a torrent of green energy beams hurtling toward Red Qian Zun. The beams spanned hundreds of miles, forcing Red Qian Zun to dodge repeatedly.

For Elder Kusong, this battle was incredibly strenuous. However, he could sense that his opponent was wary, as if expecting someone else to intervene. This made it difficult for Red Qian Zun to focus completely on the fight.

Elder Kusong couldn't help but think of the mysterious Sword Master of the Dao.

Red Qian Zun didn't respond. Instead, he abruptly changed direction, heading toward one of Tai Xuan Sect's outer cities.

Elder Kusong followed closely behind.

...

Third Medicine Valley

Gu An had just changed into a fresh set of robes and descended the stairs to join Lu Lingjun.

Lu Lingjun had once again entered a state of epiphany, her right hand resting on the wooden railing. Seeing this, Gu An placed his hand on the railing as well.

Even though Gu An had reached the Nirvana Realm, he couldn't directly alter someone else's fate. However, with someone like Lu Lingjun, who already had one foot in the Profound Heart Realm, he could give her the necessary nudge to achieve her breakthrough sooner.

Through his guidance, her spiritual energy gradually flowed into her heart, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to be drawn into her body as well.

Just then, Gu An sensed something amiss. He looked up, his brows furrowing, and a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

Red Qian Zun was heading toward the Third Medicine Valley, or rather, toward the outer city near it.

"Where is the Sword Master of the Dao? If you don't act now, your fellow disciples will die within your sect!"

Red Qian Zun's voice echoed through the Tai Xuan Sect, brimming with killing intent. His words reverberated in the ears of millions of Tai Xuan Sect disciples.

Near the Heaven Mending Platform, Ye Lan and the other Law Enforcement Hall disciples stood guard in one corner. She looked up at the rolling thunderclouds in the sky, feeling the oppressive force approaching them.

She could sense the overwhelming pressure from Red Qian Zun growing stronger and stronger.

Her grip tightened around her White Spirit Sword.

On the Heaven Mending Platform, thousands of cultivators were gathered. Only a few remained calm, sitting in meditation.

Among them, Sword Maniac Han Ming had already returned to his dynasty. Zuo Lin, standing beside his father, Zuo Yijian, nervously asked, "Father, aren't we leaving yet?"

Zuo Yijian held a copy of Investiture of the Gods in his hands and calmly replied, "Where can we go?"

"But—"

"Trust in the Sword Master of the Dao."

Hearing this, Zuo Lin wanted to curse out loud, "You're not trusting the Sword Master of the Dao; you're trusting Investiture of the Gods! He wanted to rip apart the copy of Investiture of the Gods his father held so dearly.

Back in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An had already used his divine sense to scan the outer city. He locked onto his target.

It was time to act.

Zuo Yijian, seemingly sensing his son's anger, turned the page of his book and said, "Lin'er, never rush into things. A sword cultivator must always remain composed…"

At that moment, the sword lying next to Zuo Yijian began to tremble violently, instantly drawing his attention.

A vast and overwhelming sword intent emanated from the sword, causing Zuo Yijian to shudder in excitement.

"This is…"

Zuo Yijian was so overcome with excitement that his entire body trembled, and all thoughts of educating his son were forgotten.