Chapter 144: Prepare to Welcome the Descent of Immortals!

Gu An managed to deal with Lu Lingjun for a while before she left, needing time to adapt to her new cultivation in the Profound Heart Realm. However, Gu An still felt uneasy—now that Lu Lingjun knew about his identity as Pan An, would she become even more entangled with him?

He recalled how Lu Lingjun loved reading Investiture of the Gods in her free time.

In the following days, Lu Lingjun's name quickly spread throughout Tai Xuan Sect, greatly boosting the morale of all the disciples.

The mere mention of the words "Profound Heart Realm" was enough to make the entire sect feel reinvigorated!

News of her breakthrough also swiftly spread to the Tai Chen Dynasty.

All the cultivators at the Tai Xuan Sect headquarters were elated upon hearing the news.

During this period, they had come to understand just how terrifying the Profound Heart Realm was. It was no exaggeration to say that the deciding factor in battle was now entirely dependent on the Profound Heart Realm! No matter how many Body Fusion cultivators there were, they were no match for a single Profound Heart expert!

Lu Baitian was particularly thrilled, proudly proclaiming that it was he who had personally recruited Lu Lingjun into Tai Xuan Sect. This revelation helped ease the doubts of the sect's higher-ups, who had been suspicious of this unfamiliar new powerhouse appearing at such a critical time.

Soon after, they began urging Lu Baitian to summon Lu Lingjun to join the frontlines in battle.

After all, relying solely on Elder Kusong wasn't enough. Tai Xuan Sect's contributions to the alliance of the Nine Dynasties had been minimal, leaving the sect with little influence. For a sect that had just hosted the Gold Ranking Tournament, this was a humiliating blow.

Lu Baitian, however, temporarily suppressed these requests, wanting to give Lu Lingjun some time to consolidate her new cultivation realm.

In the meantime, under the leadership of Cang Tian Sect, the alliance of the Nine Dynasties repeatedly launched assaults on Wanji Forest. Great cultivators led the charge, mid-tier cultivators worked to rescue captured prisoners, and the lower-ranked cultivators focused on supply and logistics.

Despite their best efforts, the alliance's forces were unable to break through the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's Six Paths Grand Array.

News of the conflict spread far and wide, making it clear to everyone that the great calamity of the Nine Dynasties had arrived—this was a crisis that would affect all under heaven.

…

Autumn arrived, and Lu Lingjun had been in seclusion for a month. During this time, Gu An had not disturbed her.

Gu An continued to shuttle between the various Medicine Valleys, overseeing his domain. Meanwhile, Nian Chu Cave Residence was also running smoothly, and he was increasingly satisfied with the work of Tian Yao'er. He hadn't visited Nian Chu Cave in six days.

One day, Gu Zong came to visit Gu An, asking him to relay a message to Lu Lingjun: once she finished her seclusion, she was to immediately head to Wanji Forest to assist. Gu An agreed to pass on the message.

The situation at the Wanji Forest battlefield was growing increasingly dire. Gu An used his divine sense to survey the battlefield, where fierce fighting continued. In all directions, hundreds of thousands of cultivators were arrayed in battle formations, their clashes shaking the heavens and earth, with spiritual energy from the entire Tai Chen Dynasty converging on the forest.

The scene was truly tragic.

After watching for a while, Gu An retracted his divine sense.

The number of sacrifices continued to increase, likely preparing for that mysterious Mahayana cultivator. Bai Xia Fairy's death had clearly not impacted the plans of that powerful figure.

As the evening approached, Lu Lingjun emerged from her courtyard and came to visit Gu An at the pavilion.

Gu An relayed Gu Zong's message, leaving the decision to Lu Lingjun herself—after all, as a Profound Heart Realm cultivator, no one could order her around.

"Hmm, I already heard about it. I'll be heading out soon," Lu Lingjun replied with a nod. Her expression was cold and distant, perhaps revealing her true nature.

Now that she no longer needed to hide her cultivation, she no longer felt the need to mask her true self.

Gu An looked at her, puzzled as to why she hadn't left yet.

Lu Lingjun stared back at him and said, "I can sense many Profound Heart Realm auras at Wanji Forest, and there's even one that fills me with dread. This trip may not end well."

Her eyes were beautiful, but also deep and filled with the wisdom of countless years, staring directly into Gu An's soul, making him feel inexplicably guilty.

Gu An quickly responded, "You should act within your abilities. If the situation becomes hopeless, prioritize your own safety."

Lu Lingjun smiled, her lips curling slightly. "Of course. I won't die for Tai Xuan Sect. But since I'm about to go to such a dangerous battlefield, don't you have anything you'd like to say to me?"

Gu An cleared his throat and put on a serious expression. "Lu girl, what happened when I held your hand before was purely unintentional. Don't overthink it. As for matters of love, such things can't be decided on a whim. A relationship must be built on mutual feelings, not just because we touched hands."

"And to be honest with you, Investiture of the Gods wasn't written by me. I only heard it from a Taoist named Xu Zhonglin."

Lu Lingjun chuckled. "If it really were someone else's work, would you have been allowed to bask in the fame for decades as Pan An?"

Gu An was speechless.

I can't exactly tell her that the original author isn't from this world, can I?

"Honestly, it doesn't matter if you wrote Investiture of the Gods or not. After so many years together, I've seen your true nature. Despite your greed, you always act courteously and respectfully. You're neither overly arrogant nor excessively humble," Lu Lingjun began praising him, making Gu An feel somewhat smug.

Am I really that good?

But then Lu Lingjun's tone shifted. "The only problem is that your cultivation is far too weak. If you ever want to be my Dao companion, you'll need to reach the Void Crossing Realm first. Until then, I'll keep an eye on you. When you do reach that realm, I have a cultivation technique that we can practice together."

Practice together?

Gu An's mind suddenly flashed back to the scenes from Tai Xuan Sect Secrets, and a wave of heat surged through his body.

This isn't right! Is she trying to sabotage my Dao heart?

Looking at Lu Lingjun again, her smile seemed so cunning and treacherous.

A two-thousand-year-old woman trying to seduce a seventy-year-old man like me?

"You'd better give up on that thought. There's no way I'll ever reach the Void Crossing Realm," Gu An said sternly.

Lu Lingjun chuckled, then stood up and placed a red-jade-inlaid ring on the table. "This is the Twin Heart Ring. Once you refine it, if you're ever in danger, I'll be able to sense it immediately. I might even save your life."

Before Gu An could respond, she disappeared from the room.

Gu An stared at the Twin Heart Ring on the table, silent.

He glanced at the Azure Swan Sword nearby and couldn't shake the feeling that this situation felt eerily familiar.

Damn this heavenly will! Why are so many women drawn to me?

Afraid that I might survive in peace?

…

The night passed quickly.

The next day at noon, Gu An visited Tianya Valley, only to find that the valley was now nearly empty, with only Luo Hun remaining.

He found Luo Hun and asked where Lu Xian and Yi Liuyun had gone.

"They went with His Majesty to join the war effort against the Tai Chen Dynasty. His Majesty said that as the emperor, he must contribute to the cause when the world is in peril," Luo Hun explained, his face full of admiration. Had it not been for Li Xuandao ordering him to stay behind, he too would have gone to the front lines.

Gu An hadn't expected Li Xuandao to be so noble. He gave a slight nod without commenting further and turned to leave the courtyard.

And so, Gu An waited for another half month.

Standing by the window of the Xuan Valley pavilion, his divine sense stretched toward Wanji Forest. Lu Lingjun was in the midst of battle with another Profound Heart Realm cultivator, while other battles raged nearby. The landscape within a thousand miles had been reduced to ruins, dust clouds rising into the sky.

Everywhere he looked, the ground was littered with corpses—a sight both shocking and tragic.

Still, the mysterious Mahayana cultivator had yet to appear!

He can't stay hidden forever!

If the sacrificial formation were to activate and that figure still hadn't shown up, Gu An knew he would have no choice but to intervene—he couldn't let all the cultivators of the Nine Dynasties be slaughtered.

After all, there was still the demon calamity to worry about afterward.

Gu An's gaze shifted toward the Nine Nether Path, which had already become part of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's territory, its thousand-mile radius blooming with flowers.

Once they dealt with the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's leader, those flowers could finally be harvested.

This time, the Ephemeral Blossom Sect must be annihilated, so they can never rise again.

…

Wanji Forest, within the Six Paths Grand Array.

The seven leaders of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect opened their eyes simultaneously, their gazes gleaming with cold resolve. The masked elder at the forefront stood up first and spoke, "Everyone, the auspicious time has arrived. Prepare to activate the formation and welcome the arrival of the Sect Master."

The others stood up in unison.

"Finally, the time has come."

"I've heard rumors of a divine beast, the Chen Serpent, in the Tai Chen region. I wonder if this sacrificial ceremony will provoke it."

"That's just a legend. How many have died already? Yet, there's been no sign of the Chen Serpent."

"And it seems the mysterious Sword Master of Dao, hasn't made an appearance yet. I'm relieved. It seems he's wary of us and only guarding Tai Xuan Sect because we threaten him."

"Even without us, the Nine Dynasties would still face their doom. Cultivators like him only seek longevity. To live forever, one must first survive, and that's why he won't risk it."

They spoke lightly, as if success was already within their grasp.

Then, they each retreated to their respective positions and began to cast spells.

Rumble—

The ground beneath them cracked open as massive roots burst from the earth, spiraling upward. The seven of them stood atop these roots, rising high above the ground, distancing themselves from the earth.

At the same time, all the great cultivators battling in the distance sensed a profound and terrifying aura.

Lu Baitian turned his head, his brows furrowing as he muttered, "The Ephemeral Blossom Tree!"

This time, the Ephemeral Blossom Tree was far more terrifying than the one encountered near the Nine Nether Path!

The aura it emitted was like that of the Nine Nether Yellow Springs, causing dread to settle in the hearts of all who sensed it.

On the battlefield, countless human captives stared in horror at the colossal tree rising from the earth. They were so small, even compared to the leaves of the tree.

Miles away—

Lu Lingjun, dual swords in hand, stood in mid-air, her golden scarf swirling around her like a dragon. She turned her gaze toward the horizon and saw the silhouette of the Ephemeral Blossom Tree rising in the distance.

A small snake slithered out from her hairpin, flicking its tongue nervously. "What a terrifying aura! This is no joke. We've fought long enough; it's time to retreat!"

This small snake was none other than the White Spirit Demon Emperor, who had ascended with her. Its cultivation had reached Body Fusion Realm, eighth level!

Several hundred feet away, the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's Profound Heart cultivator, whom Lu Lingjun had trapped in a formation, struggled to break free. Amidst his efforts, he laughed maniacally and said, "Thinking of running? It's too late. Prepare to welcome the arrival of an immortal!"

"An immortal?" Lu Lingjun's brows furrowed, and even the White Spirit Demon Emperor was startled. Looking at the trapped cultivator, it asked, "If you really had an immortal, wouldn't you have already conquered the Nine Dynasties?"

The trapped cultivator maintained his sinister grin without offering further explanation. He intensified his efforts to break the formation.

Elsewhere on the battlefield, other Profound Heart cultivators also paused their fights. The cultivators of the Nine Dynasties were filled with dread as they stared at the towering Ephemeral Blossom Tree, while the forces of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect grew more and more excited, as if victory was assured.

...

Back at Tai Xuan Sect's headquarters, Gu An stood by the window, still observing the battle from afar. His mind raced with thoughts of the terrifying presence he had just sensed in Wanji Forest.

That immense aura could only be the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree, a being that dwarfed the Nine Nether Ephemeral Blossom Tree he had encountered before. It was evident that the Ephemeral Blossom Sect had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

Even though Lu Lingjun had broken through to the Profound Heart Realm, Gu An worried for her safety. He knew that with the tree fully awakened, the battlefield would soon be overwhelmed. Still, the biggest threat—the Mahayana cultivator—had yet to appear.

"How long will they hide?" Gu An muttered to himself, frustrated.

He knew that if the sacrificial ceremony succeeded and that hidden Mahayana cultivator didn't show up, he would have to intervene. He couldn't just stand by and watch all the Nine Dynasties' cultivators be slaughtered. There was still the demonic calamity to consider, and they needed every cultivator they could save for that.

Looking back toward the Nine Nether Path, Gu An saw that the territory had become entirely overrun by the Ephemeral Blossom Sect. Fields of flowers bloomed for miles around, forming a domain of their own.

Once the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's leader was dealt with, those flowers could be harvested.

"This time, the Ephemeral Blossom Sect must be annihilated, so they never rise again," Gu An said to himself, his resolve hardening.

...

In Wanji Forest, the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's Six Paths Grand Array was in full effect. The seven leaders of the sect stood atop the massive roots, continuing to channel their spells. The masked elder, who led them, looked out over the battlefield with cold determination.

"Everything is ready. Let the ceremony begin," he said.

The air around them seemed to thicken with power as the formation began to pulse with dark energy. In the distance, Lu Lingjun and the other cultivators of the Nine Dynasties could feel the shift in the battlefield's atmosphere. The immense pressure of the Ephemeral Blossom Tree bore down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.

"Something is happening!" Lu Lingjun said, her eyes narrowing as she watched the tree's roots writhe and grow.

From all around the battlefield, the remaining forces of the Nine Dynasties could do nothing but watch in horror as the tree continued to rise. It seemed unstoppable, an ancient force of nature that was beyond anything they had faced before.

The Ephemeral Blossom Sect's forces, meanwhile, erupted into cheers. They knew what was coming. The culmination of their plans was at hand, and with it, the arrival of the being they had been waiting for—an immortal.

The masked elder's voice rang out across the battlefield as the formation reached its peak. His words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

"Prepare to welcome the descent of the Immortal!"