Chapter 145: Take This and Save the World
The Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree burst forth from the ground, its massive branches unfurling, and innumerable leaves quickly sprouted, covering the entire Wanji Forest. Its sheer size reached thousands of miles in circumference, and its trunk stood as towering as a mountain.
A terrifying, grotesque human face emerged from the tree's trunk, with only its five features—eyes, nose, and mouth—visible. It revealed a greedy and cruel smile, sending waves of terror through the countless captives below, their fear palpable.
At that moment, an untold number of people fainted from sheer terror. Their bodies were marked with talismans that rendered them unable to speak, heightening their sense of dread to unimaginable levels.
Seeing the human face sprout from the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree, the grand cultivators of the Nine Dynasties were driven to desperation.
"Brothers! We can retreat no further! Think of your descendants, your disciples. If we fall today, there will no longer be a place for humanity on this earth!"
A bold voice thundered across the heavens, deafening as a clap of thunder.
As the voice faded, a brilliant golden light shot forth from the horizon, unstoppable in its momentum.
The four Profound Heart cultivators of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect appeared in mid-air, casting spells in unison to stop the golden light.
Yet, just before they could collide, the golden light split into thousands of beams, continuing its assault forward.
Behind the beams, a vast azure river surged toward them, led by a man in black robes standing on its crest, holding a monk's staff. His immense spiritual power churned up waves and wind.
In other directions, other grand cultivators joined the fray, each displaying their divine abilities in a scene of grandeur.
On the Nine Dynasties' side, all the Profound Heart cultivators charged at full force, determined to reach the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree.
Lu Baitian, holding his banner high, led the charge of the inner sect's hundred thousand disciples. Together, they summoned their artifacts, forming a shifting formation. Dragons made of spiritual energy soared into the sky—some of fire, others of ice—entwining as their roars echoed across the heavens.
Lu Lingjun rode atop a white python, flying through the sky. She let go of her twin swords and took out a massive bow, drawing its string until it formed a perfect circle. Spiritual energy condensed into an arrow.
The world's spiritual energy rushed toward the arrow, condensing its power to the point where its aura surged, and the brilliant light from her right hand dazzled the sky.
Elsewhere, the Daoist Tian Shu from Three Purities Mountain led dozens of fellow Daoists into the fray, flying swiftly toward Wanji Forest.
A battle even greater than any before had erupted!
...
Boom!
Back at the Xuan Valley, Gu An stood atop a mountain, listening to the distant rumbling of the battle. Next to him, Chu Jingfeng's heart was pounding, and he struggled to remain calm.
"This commotion..." Chu Jingfeng muttered, frowning. He could sense that the sound came from far away, which made him think of the Wanji Forest in the Tai Chen Dynasty.
The battle in Wanji Forest had been raging for some time, but for it to suddenly erupt in such a terrifying way... it was hard to imagine what was happening.
Dark clouds began to gather in the sky, rolling in like an unstoppable force, threatening to blot out the sun.
Gu An gazed into the distance, his voice soft. "The moment of life and death for the Nine Dynasties has arrived. Alas, there's nothing you or I can do, but pray that the heavens favor the righteous."
Chu Jingfeng took a deep breath. "What kind of cultivation would it take to save the world on one's own?"
Gu An turned to him, amused. "What, do you have such aspirations now?"
"The Sword Master of Dao has saved Tai Xuan Sect time and again on his own. As a sword cultivator, he's someone I've always aspired to be. But the longer I cultivate, the more I realize how average my talent and comprehension are," Chu Jingfeng replied, his gaze distant.
Gu An chuckled. "If you've realized that, then you'd better focus on practicing the Dao Yan Technique I passed to you. Although this technique comes from the Thousand Autumn Pavilion, I haven't mastered it, but I believe you can. Maybe one day you'll witness the world a thousand years from now on my behalf."
Chu Jingfeng looked at him, frowning. "You're always telling me not to give up hope. Why have you given up on yourself?"
Gu An turned away, patting him on the shoulder. Without another word, he began walking down the mountain.
"Where are you going?" Chu Jingfeng called after him.
"If tomorrow is the end of the world, I'd like to spend it with the herbs I love most," Gu An replied before disappearing into the forest.
Chu Jingfeng stood there for a moment, then let out a bitter smile.
"Compared to him, I really am worrying over nothing..." he muttered to himself, once again gazing toward the distant horizon.
A gust of wind suddenly swept in from the heavens, rustling his robes and forcing him to squint.
The winds were picking up.
...
After walking around Xuan Valley for a while, Gu An returned to his study, closed the door, activated the room's protective formation, and extended his divine sense toward Wanji Forest.
He could sense space fluctuations within the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree. These fluctuations were subtle, but Gu An had detected them because he felt a foreign aura within the tree.
It was the aura of a Mahayana cultivator!
Having dwelled in the Mahayana Realm for many years, Gu An was very familiar with its aura.
At last, it was coming!
Just then, Gu An felt someone calling for him again. He focused his attention.
It was Xuanmiao Zhenren once more!
This guy really doesn't learn, Gu An thought.
Far to the north, in the mountains of Beihai, Xuanmiao Zhenren knelt in the same forest where he had previously met the Mountain God, kowtowing repeatedly.
After what seemed like ages, Xuanmiao Zhenren had lost track of how many times his forehead had hit the ground. When the Mountain God's voice finally reached his ears, his body froze.
"Hey, brat. What kind of trouble are you bringing me this time? Do you have enough treasures to offer me?"
Xuanmiao Zhenren looked up and saw the Mountain God perched on a tree branch, staring at him with its head tilted.
"Great Mountain God! The Nine Dynasties are facing total annihilation! When all the people are dead, and demons invade, there will be no one left to offer you tribute!" Xuanmiao Zhenren cried out desperately.
"Who told you that only humans can offer tribute? And who said I only protect the human race?" the Mountain God asked, its voice calm but dangerous.
Xuanmiao Zhenren was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.
Gu An's voice turned cold. "If you want me to act, it's not impossible. But..."
"But what? What do you want?" Xuanmiao Zhenren asked, his tone anxious and desperate.
Gu An's voice was icy as he said, "I want you to serve as my eternal slave, tending my temple, guarding it for life, never to know freedom again."
Xuanmiao Zhenren's face went pale, and he fell silent.
Gu An had come with the intention of using the Mountain God's identity to slay the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's Mahayana cultivator.
He had considered using his identity as Sword Master of Dao, but feared bringing too much future trouble to Tai Xuan Sect. Thus, he opted for the Mountain God's guise.
After all, the situation this time was different. The opposing Mahayana cultivator's power was nearing the peak of the Mahayana Realm, far surpassing any of the opponents Gu An had faced before.
Killing such a powerful foe would have far-reaching consequences.
The Mountain God was a mysterious and elusive figure. Even if the Ephemeral Blossom Sect had hidden allies, they would think twice before retaliating.
Gu An had no desire to be entangled in endless troubles.
Sword Master of Dao could guard Tai Xuan Sect, while the Mountain God would protect the people of the Nine Dynasties!
Taking Xuanmiao Zhenren as his servant served two purposes. First, it punished him, and second, Gu An needed Xuanmiao Zhenren to help him establish a herbal garden.
Xuanmiao Zhenren's talents, ranked second on the Gold List, were more than enough to defend such a garden.
After a few moments of struggle, Xuanmiao Zhenren gritted his teeth and said, "Very well. I am willing to be your slave for life, as long as you save the people of this world!"
Gu An waved his hand, and a small wooden figure appeared in Xuanmiao Zhenren's grasp.
The figure was carved in the likeness of the Mountain God.
Xuanmiao Zhenren looked up, but Gu An had already vanished.
"Take it and go save the world," Gu An's voice echoed through the forest as Xuanmiao Zhenren's cultivation was restored, bringing a smile to his face.
The seal on his Return to Origin Dao had been lifted!
Without hesitation, Xuanmiao Zhenren leaped to his feet and sped toward Wanji Forest with the speed of a Nascent Soul cultivator, disappearing over the horizon in the distance.
...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed from all directions around the Six Paths Mahayana Formation, shaking the earth and deafening all who heard them. The seven grand elders of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect hovered in front of the colossal Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree, standing side by side and kneeling in midair.
Their gazes were fixed on a black crack that had appeared on the forehead of the human face on the Mother Tree. Black flames roiled within the crack, as if something horrifying was about to emerge.
Looking down at the ground, they saw the captives surrounded by blood-red runes, the markings glowing ominously and creating a dazzling light. It was a hauntingly beautiful scene.
The Six Paths Mahayana Formation was activating!
The formation's terrifying pressure gripped the hearts of the Nine Dynasties' cultivators stationed at the outskirts of Wanji Forest. The battle had driven the warriors of the Nine Dynasties to madness; they fought relentlessly, charging forward without regard for their own lives, with deaths occurring every moment.
Lu Lingjun was also fighting with all her might, yet she couldn't break through the defensive line formed by dozens of Profound Heart Realm cultivators. The sheer number of her enemies held her back.
The sky grew darker, thunderclouds rolling in as lightning flashed across the sky. It was as if even the heavens were mourning the earth.
Suddenly, from within the thunderclouds, a massive claw reached out, gripping one of the branches of the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree and attempting to pull it from the ground. The tree quivered violently in response.
"How dare you!"
The seven elders of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect shouted in unison, their voices echoing like a command from the heavens. They unleashed their divine powers together, striking the massive claw and forcing it to retreat.
Immediately following, a gigantic red serpent descended from the sky. The serpent had clawed limbs and a human-like face, its visage resembling a woman's, smeared with red makeup and wild, flowing hair. In the dim light of the overcast sky, the serpent appeared terrifying.
Its body was hundreds of meters thick, and its length stretched for miles.
"It's the divine beast of the Tai Chen Dynasty, the Chen Serpent!"
One of the Nine Dynasties' cultivators shouted with joy, raising the spirits of all who fought alongside them.
The Chen Serpent's aura was ancient and overwhelming, far surpassing that of any normal Profound Heart Realm cultivator. Its arrival rekindled hope for the Nine Dynasties.
The serpent opened its massive maw, spewing forth a torrent of lava that surged toward the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree.
But in that instant, from the black crack on the forehead of the tree's human face, a beam of blood-red light shot out. The light pierced through the oncoming lava, cutting across hundreds of miles, and struck the Chen Serpent in the throat. Scalding, molten blood sprayed from the wound, and the serpent let out a thunderous wail as it plummeted to the ground, raising a cloud of dust and causing the earth to tremble.
A power far greater than the Profound Heart Realm's oppressive aura blanketed the entire Tai Chen Dynasty.
"You dare call yourself a divine beast?"
The voice of Jing Tuxian, the leader of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, resonated across the battlefield. His tone was cold and dripping with murderous intent, like the voice of a demon god from the depths of the Nine Hells. All who heard it felt a chill run down their spines.
Lu Lingjun, in the midst of combat, turned to look at the source of the voice, her face paling as disbelief filled her eyes.
In the presence of this overwhelming power, her own spiritual energy felt stifled, as though it was being suppressed.
The entity emerging from the Mother Tree was of a realm far beyond the Profound Heart Realm!
"The immortal of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect has descended! Bow before the divine and receive his blessing!"
One of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's grand cultivators cackled maniacally, his voice full of deranged glee.
The grand cultivators of the Nine Dynasties no longer had the luxury of retorting. Terror filled their hearts as they all stared at the Ephemeral Blossom Mother Tree.