Chapter 143: Are You Really Pan An?

As soon as the masked elder finished speaking, the floating black flame stilled.

The six other elders bowed their heads, their expressions shifting. After the battle with Tai Xuan Sect, their fear of the Sword Master of the Dao, also known as Fu Dao Sword Immortal, had deepened.

The masked elder continued, "Over this period, the main sect has lost nearly twenty percent of its followers, including seventeen Body Fusion Realm cultivators. We still cannot ascertain the life or death of the Vice Sect Master. Sect Master, do you have any means to determine her status?"

Hearing this, Jing Tuxian's voice echoed from within the black flame, "The Vice Sect Master is a free spirit, even I am unaware of her whereabouts. But she could not have perished, unless a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm has emerged in the Nine Dynasties. Even if such a cultivator existed, it would not be easy to kill her. You would have sensed a disturbance beyond the Profound Heart Realm, wouldn't you?"

The masked elder replied, "Indeed, we have not felt such a powerful aura, but the Vice Sect Master's sudden disappearance gives us reason for concern."

"Rest assured, she may have been delayed by something, but she is not dead. Moreover, I have already cast a spell upon myself—there is no turning back now. Continue gathering more offerings, as many as possible. I am about to peer into the mysteries of fate!" Jing Tuxian's voice commanded, and the seven elders answered in unison, acknowledging his orders.

...

Shen Tang Dynasty, Three Purities Mountain.

This mountain, revered as a sacred site within the dynasty, was hidden within the mist of a vast lake. Its towering peaks were only partially visible, like a dreamlike illusion in the distance.

Under an ancient tree, Li Ya sat cross-legged, facing the edge of a cliff. Beside him stood the North Sea Greatsword, while his hands rested on his knees, his gaze focused intently on the chessboard laid out before him. His face revealed a look of frustration.

He let out a groan, rubbing his head in exasperation.

At that moment, a soul descended from the tree, none other than the soul of Li Ya's ancestor. His soul form appeared even more solidified than before.

"Hahaha, kid, didn't I tell you? The test here at Three Purities Mountain is exceptionally challenging—it requires great wisdom. Your comprehension isn't enough; you still have a long way to go before you catch up to me. Back in the day, I cracked this puzzle in just three years. Judging by your progress, you might need ten years," the ancestor gloated mischievously.

Li Ya scowled and retorted, "What kind of ancestor are you? Are you really happy that your descendant isn't as good as you? I refuse to believe I'm truly worse than you!"

The ancestor's laughter continued. "My master once predicted that a heaven-fated individual would emerge from the Li family to help me transcend my tribulation. At first, I thought it was you, but now, I suspect it's someone else. Kid, maybe you should stop cultivating and head down the mountain, get married, and have a child. The sooner you bring forth that heaven-fated person, the better."

Infuriated, Li Ya immediately stood, pulling the North Sea Greatsword from the ground, ready to swing it at his ancestor.

"Why are you two always at each other's throats?" A deep, ancient voice interrupted them.

Li Ya turned his head and saw a figure emerging from the clouds, an elderly man in a green robe, his white hair flowing. His hands gripped a fly-whisk, the strands of which seemed to merge with the surrounding mist, giving him an ethereal, immortal aura.

Li Ya quickly bowed. "Disciple greets Grandmaster."

The soul of Li Ya's ancestor also bowed, "Greetings, Master."

This elderly man, known as Daoist Tian Shu, was revered as a true sage, a celestial figure among men.

Daoist Tian Shu landed on the cliff and smiled warmly. "Who said the heaven-fated person has yet to be born? I recently divined that the Li family's fortune is on the rise, meaning the heaven-fated one has already arrived."

The ancestor chuckled, "I was just teasing this boy. He's too arrogant and needs some humbling. If I don't temper his spirit, he'll cause endless trouble once he leaves the mountain."

With a wave of his fly-whisk, Daoist Tian Shu caused the chessboard before Li Ya to disintegrate into dust, vanishing without a trace.

Li Ya frowned and asked, "Grandmaster, why did you destroy it?"

Anxiety gripped him. Could this mean his grandmaster believed he lacked the wisdom for the task?

Daoist Tian Shu smiled kindly. "The Nine Dynasties face a great calamity, and it's growing ever more perilous. It's possible that even Three Purities Mountain could fall. I can't waste time testing you any longer. The three main branches of our sect must descend the mountain to aid the world. Before I leave, I will teach you a mountain-guarding divine ability. Should Three Purities Mountain be destroyed, you will bear the responsibility of preserving its legacy."

"Descend the mountain!" Li Ya and his ancestor both paled at the words.

"Please, Grandmaster, teach me. I, too, wish to join the fight!" Li Ya said urgently.

Daoist Tian Shu shook his head. "Your cultivation is too low to influence the coming tribulation. If we fail, someone from the mountain will take you far from the Nine Dynasties, to a distant land. This continent has always belonged to the demon clans. We, the cultivators, have already lived beyond our fated time."

He stroked his beard, smiling serenely, as if he had seen through the mortal world and was untroubled by its uncertainties.

"But..." Li Ya began.

"There are no 'buts'. Listen to me."

Li Ya fell silent, his face filled with hesitation and inner conflict.

Seeing this, Daoist Tian Shu smiled. "Could it be that there is someone you are reluctant to leave behind?"

The ancestor teased, "He's been thinking about his junior brother, Gu An."

Daoist Tian Shu chuckled softly. "In life, those who can shape their own destiny have transcended. Work hard and do not force what cannot be."

Li Ya remained quiet, lost in thought.

…

Tai Xuan Sect, Third Medicine Valley.

The sky had darkened, and the disciples of the valley had gathered, all eyes turned toward the sky, watching a grand spectacle unfold. Gu An stood among them, also gazing upward.

In the sky, bolts of heavenly lightning struck continuously at the same spot—the center of Lu Lingjun's formation. Each bolt, as thick as a dragon, hit with immense force, causing the formations to shine brightly and send ripples across the heavens.

Far away, on the surrounding mountain peaks, numerous Tai Xuan Sect cultivators stood guard. These were not ordinary disciples, but elders and cultivators of the Core Formation Realm and above. They watched Lu Lingjun's tribulation, exchanging whispers.

The heavenly tribulation covered a vast area, spanning a hundred miles, and the clouds crackled with red lightning, like the eyes of the heavens watching over the valley. Despite the storm's intensity, it only focused on Lu Lingjun, leaving the valley itself untouched. Otherwise, the valley would have been obliterated.

Standing beside Gu An, Gu Zong sighed. "The Profound Heart Realm is truly extraordinary. Just witnessing someone endure a tribulation stirs deep emotions within me."

Lu Lingjun's tribulation had lasted for three days. Yesterday's heavenly power had been the most terrifying, but today it had lessened. Yet, each strike of lightning could still kill a Body Fusion Realm cultivator.

Throughout the battle, Body Fusion cultivators from Tai Xuan Sect had arrived to aid her. They helped maintain the formations, preventing them from breaking, and contributing their spiritual energy. Gu An saw firsthand the unity and strength of his sect.

Some had even questioned Lu Lingjun's true identity, suspecting she might be a demon cultivator, but Gu Zong's reassurance that even if she were a demon, she wouldn't be a match for the Sword Master of the Dao, had quelled any remaining doubts.

Gu An sighed. "Who would've thought that the servant disciple the Sect Master assigned to me would possess such formidable cultivation? I must be blessed with great fortune."

Gu Zong chuckled. "Perhaps you are a person of great destiny. After all, you wrote Investiture of the Gods, didn't you? Maybe the stories you write are from your own past lives."

Gu An shot him a glare. "You really can stretch a tale."

If they only knew that my past life was as a proud descendant of Yan and Huang!

Gu Zong laughed it off, but the curiosity of Gu An's fate lingered. Perhaps there was something more to this fortune.

As Gu An refocused his attention on Lu Lingjun's tribulation, he could sense that her breakthrough was imminent. Her Profound Heart was nearly refined, and once this final phase was completed, her cultivation would soar to new heights.

He couldn't help but sigh in awe. Enduring a tribulation is truly a perilous ordeal.

Without the numerous formations, spirit pills, and the assistance of Tai Xuan Sect's Body Fusion cultivators, Gu An believed that no one at the ninth level of Body Fusion could survive such a test. While the spiritual energy at this stage is vast, the amount consumed to resist the heavenly lightning was staggering. Though he hadn't been keeping track, he estimated that Lu Lingjun must have consumed an absurd amount of spirit pills throughout this process.

At several points, Gu An had almost been tempted to intervene himself. Lu Lingjun had teetered on the edge of failure, unable to keep pace with the strikes of heavenly lightning, let alone swallow the required pills in time. However, the other elders of Tai Xuan Sect had been quick to lend their strength, and more than twenty Body Fusion elders, along with the Profound Heart Realm expert, Elder Kusong, had all acted to stabilize the formation and ensure her safety.

The hardest part of the tribulation seemed to have passed. At dawn, Elder Kusong had left after the worst of it, but Gu An had sensed a hint of melancholy in the elder's retreating figure.

"Looks like she's made it through. Now that she's solidified her breakthrough, you should maintain a strong relationship with her," Gu Zong advised, standing beside Gu An. "Try to keep her here in the valley if possible. We can sort out the details when the Sect Master returns."

With those words, Gu Zong prepared to leave. He floated up into the sky, passing instructions to the other Body Fusion elders before flying away.

Though Gu Zong himself had only reached the Void Crossing Realm, his status was incredibly high within Tai Xuan Sect. Not only was he backed by the influential Gu family, but he also held significant administrative power within the sect. This, of course, came at a cost to his personal cultivation. Those who reached Body Fusion usually became reclusive, spending the majority of their time in seclusion to focus on their cultivation. Few involved themselves in sect matters.

Gu An cast a glance to the side and saw Shen Zhen, the Holy Maiden of Dao Tian Sect, busy sketching a portrait of Lu Lingjun during her tribulation. What a risky move! Even daring to immortalize a Profound Heart Realm expert during their breakthrough.

…

Two days later, the heavenly tribulation had completely dissipated. Lu Lingjun had successfully passed her trial and officially entered the Profound Heart Realm. As she dispelled the formation she had set up, a large crowd of Tai Xuan Sect Body Fusion cultivators surrounded her, offering congratulations.

Grateful for their assistance, Lu Lingjun responded with humility, a quality that further endeared her to the senior cultivators of the sect. Everyone present was excited—the Tai Xuan Sect had gained a new Profound Heart Realm cultivator at a critical time!

Truly, the heavens have blessed Tai Xuan Sect.

After some time, Lu Lingjun finally managed to slip away from the crowd and flew back toward the Medicine Valley. As she approached, she saw Gu An being pestered by Shen Zhen.

Seeing Lu Lingjun approach, Shen Zhen quickly stowed away her drawing scroll and greeted her with a slight bow.

"You were drawing me during my tribulation?" Lu Lingjun asked, her tone flat but her eyes sharp.

Gu An hurriedly interjected, "This is Shen Zhen, the Holy Maiden of Dao Tian Sect. She didn't mean any offense. She's just in awe of your strength."

Lu Lingjun's gaze softened slightly, though her attention remained on Shen Zhen. "Holy Maiden, in the future, I would ask that you maintain a respectful distance from Gu An."

Shen Zhen raised an eyebrow, surprised by the request. "Why? Could it be that you, a great cultivator, harbor feelings for him?"

Lu Lingjun didn't answer, but the look in her eyes was enough to silence Shen Zhen.

"Well, well. I must say, Gu An is quite an intriguing man. Surely you've heard of him by now?" Shen Zhen teased.

Gu An groaned inwardly. This is bad.

"I don't believe I've heard of him in any particular light," Lu Lingjun replied, her gaze flicking between the two.

Shen Zhen smirked and, without a hint of shame, added, "He's no ordinary man, after all. Gu An is the author of Investiture of the Gods, a man who goes by the name Pan An. Many women in the cultivation world admire him greatly."

She gave a quick, respectful bow to Lu Lingjun before turning and leaving the scene, leaving Gu An to deal with the fallout.

Gu An's heart sank. I'm in deep trouble now.

Lu Lingjun turned her full attention back to him, her eyes scrutinizing him carefully. "So, you are really Pan An?"

Gu An gave a nervous laugh, unsure of how to respond.