Chapter 223: Gu An’s Vision
Jiang Qiong grew increasingly uneasy. She retrieved a pill from her pouch and began accelerating her recovery of spiritual energy.
The sky remained dim, with only the distant sound of magma crashing against the cliffs echoing through the desolate landscape. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to press down on everything.
After half a day, Jiang Qiong's spiritual energy was significantly restored. She stood, her gaze fixed on the direction where the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother had disappeared, and flew toward it.
Meanwhile, Li Ya had gained control over the power of The Mysterious Divine City. Though he couldn't fully perceive every corner of the vast city, he felt overwhelmingly powerful.
Before entering The Mysterious Divine City, he had harbored doubts about the legends surrounding the Immortal Dao treasures. Could they truly be as extraordinary as people claimed?
"Let's go! There's a huge battle outside the city. Let's see what all the fuss is about!" Li Ya stood up, brimming with confidence.
Zhang Buku rose to follow him, staring at Li Ya in disbelief.
As Li Ya moved his shoulder, the Celestial Spirit leapt out from within him, landing atop his shoulder with its hands on its hips, exuding an air of pride.
Zhang Buku's expression turned peculiar as he observed the small, childlike entity. It was hard to reconcile this seemingly insignificant creature with its status as the spirit of an Immortal Dao treasure.
Li Ya raised his right arm, and the Celestial Spirit mimicked him.
Boom!
The ground trembled, and the sky seemed to darken. Zhang Buku looked around in alarm as waves of spiritual force surged outward.
From the earth, countless ghostly spirits burst forth, uprooting towering trees and hurling them skyward. Everywhere he looked, spectral armies emerged, the sheer scale of it forcing both Li Ya and Zhang Buku to stabilize themselves with their own spiritual power.
"This… is my divine army," Li Ya declared triumphantly. "Prepare yourselves. We're about to take over the world!"
Zhang Buku looked at him, incredulous, just as the ground beneath them began to shift violently. With a deafening rumble, a colossal shadow rose into the sky. It was a terrifyingly massive figure, one hand holding a chunk of land—a forest perched atop it—while the other gripped an enormous axe. The two of them were like ants in comparison to this behemoth.
This terrifying giant, the same ten-thousand-foot figure that had earlier fought the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, exuded a divine and awe-inspiring presence. It stood as if it could split the heavens with a single swing of its axe.
Zhang Buku looked down, his face pale with shock.
In stark contrast, Li Ya was ecstatic. With such an army at his command, what enemy could possibly stand in his way?
He could sense the ongoing battle outside The Mysterious Divine City—an intense clash of powers. Amidst the chaos, he spotted disciples from the Tai Xuan Sect. He had to make his presence known.
"Ancestor, this time I'll be the hero!" Li Ya exclaimed, his excitement causing his entire body to tremble.
Then, a thought struck him: What if Gu An were here?
It would be perfect. But no, if Gu An were present, Li Ya would have to worry about his safety instead.
Better to wait until the battle was over. Then, he could boast to Gu An.
Li Ya began considering what treasures he might bring back for Gu An. The Mysterious Divine City was vast, its treasures innumerable. Just a few items from here would be enough to help Gu An defy fate itself!
Elsewhere, Gu An was in one of The Mysterious Divine City's secluded realms, methodically harvesting celestial herbs and divine treasures. With every harvest, his lifespan increased, filling him with satisfaction.
As he worked, he noticed the gates of The Mysterious Divine City open. From within, Li Ya emerged, accompanied by a seemingly endless tide of ghostly spirits. Their appearance immediately altered the battlefield dynamics. The twenty or so Wandering Immortals from the Star Sea Sect and the Seven Stars Spirit Realm quickly pulled back, visibly alarmed.
The colossal ten-thousand-foot figure leapt from the city, landing on the barren plains. Its thunderous roar echoed across the land, sending shivers through every soul.
The sheer force of the roar alone could break the will of lesser beings.
Gu An, however, remained unfazed. He wasn't worried about Li Ya's safety; the Celestial Spirit possessed strength at the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm, a power far beyond ordinary comprehension.
Content, Gu An continued harvesting treasures. That day, he had already accumulated an additional eighty thousand years of lifespan. He decided not to deplete all the resources, leaving some for the Celestial Spirit to replant and cultivate.
After all, The Mysterious Divine City now belonged to him. He planned to have the Celestial Spirit establish rules for Li Ya, ensuring he wouldn't plunder recklessly. Instead, the spirit would periodically prepare mature herbs for Li Ya, who would undoubtedly accept them with unbridled enthusiasm.
Watching Li Ya's bold and confident demeanor, Gu An couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
When this battle ended, Li Ya would surely seek him out to brag.
Gu An let his mind wander, imagining a scene a thousand years in the future: Li Ya, believing Gu An's lifespan to be nearing its end, returning to bid farewell, The Mysterious Divine City in tow. The thought amused him greatly.
As he indulged in his musings, a sudden disturbance caught his attention. His expression turned serious, and he vanished from the realm without a sound.
In another part of The Mysterious Divine City, thunderclouds rolled across the sky, their ominous presence casting the landscape into shadow. In a basin surrounded by towering peaks, Jiang Qiong slowly rose to her feet, one hand clutching a wound on her shoulder. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.
Her gaze was fixed on the mountain slope ahead.
Dozens of figures clad in black robes lined the ridge. At the summit, an elder sat cross-legged, leaning on a wooden staff from which wisps of black energy emanated, coiling around the suspended form of the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother.
The Ghost Mother, now reduced to a faint and fragile soul form, struggled to keep her eyes open. Through the haze of her weakened state, she glanced toward Jiang Qiong below.
"You have quite the fighting spirit, little girl," the elder said, his voice raspy but filled with malice. "Perfect. I'll use you to lure out the Hell Ghost King."
The black-robed elder's voice carried a mocking tone as he addressed Jiang Qiong.
The other black-robed cultivators stood coldly, gazing down at her as if she were already dead.
"Hell Ghost King? What are you looking for?" Jiang Qiong gritted her teeth, trying to suppress her panic as she racked her brain for an escape plan. The gap in strength was far too vast—any one of these people could crush her with ease.
"The Hell Ghost King is the strongest ghost king hidden within this realm. It guards an Immortal Treasure," the black-robed elder explained nonchalantly.
One of the black-robed cultivators began descending the mountain, step by step, approaching Jiang Qiong.
As Jiang Qiong's anxiety peaked, a fierce gale suddenly blew in from the distance, startling her into closing her eyes reflexively.
The wind howled around her, and for a brief moment, Jiang Qiong thought it might be her imagination, but she felt her injuries inexplicably heal somewhat. Opening her eyes quickly, she was stunned to find that the mysterious cultivators had vanished without a trace.
The spectral form of the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother was now floating in mid-air, slowly descending toward the ground.
Before Jiang Qiong could react, a sharp sound pierced the air from the horizon. A blood-red pagoda descended from the sky, landing directly in front of her. The sheer impact forced her to retreat several steps in fright.
The pagoda emitted a powerful energy, transforming into a mist of blood that swiftly enveloped Jiang Qiong, pulling her toward the structure.
Jiang Qiong's face showed utter terror, but then, a calm voice echoed in her ears: "Do not fear."
The sound of that voice instantly calmed Jiang Qiong's panicked heart.
The Sword Master of the Dao!
He was here!
Before she could process what was happening, she was pulled into the blood-red pagoda. Her figure disappeared without a trace.
The Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother, now on the ground, turned her head to look, her face full of worry.
As twilight fell, the majestic The Mysterious Divine City stood proudly amidst the barren plains. All four of its gates were wide open, and cultivators were being flung out one after another, as if expelled by some unseen force.
Li Ya stood on a high slope near the city ruins, with the Celestial Spirit perched on his shoulder like a guardian.
Two figures approached him. One was Chi Bei, the master of Chi Jiuxiao, and the other was a middle-aged man clad in an opulent white robe. His imposing aura radiated authority.
"I am Nan Fengtian, Sea Lord of the Star Sea Sect. After this battle, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm will surely hold a grudge against you. With the Immortal Treasure in your possession, relying on your own strength alone will not be enough to protect yourself. Come with us to the Star Sea Sect. We will treat you as a core disciple, with privileges exceeding those of Xuan Tianyi," the white-robed man offered.
Chi Bei added, "The Star Sea Sect is a righteous and esteemed sect. Many Tai Xuan Sect disciples have joined us over the years; they are your senior brothers and sisters. You can join with confidence."
Li Ya gazed at the towering The Mysterious Divine City in the distance before responding, "Thank you for your kind offer, seniors. I am willing to join the Star Sea Sect. However, before that, may I return to the Tai Xuan Sect for a visit?"
He wasn't foolish. After this battle, he had to choose a faction for support. Even Lu Baitian had secretly advised him to align himself with the Star Sea Sect.
Nan Fengtian smiled. "Of course, that's not a problem. In fact, we've been meaning to visit the Tai Xuan Sect ourselves. Rumor has it that the sect harbors a cultivator stronger than a Loose Immortal—a figure called the Sword Master of the Dao. If true, it speaks volumes about the sect's fortune and potential."
Li Ya smiled inwardly, thinking, The Sword Master of the Dao is my ancestor! It's not the Tai Xuan Sect's fortune; it's the Li family's fortune that has graced the sect!
Naturally, he didn't voice these thoughts. He didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to Gu An.
The three continued discussing as Li Ya considered bringing along Zhang Buku and Gu An.
However, upon hearing that Gu An was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, Nan Fengtian advised against it, explaining that joining the Star Sea Sect prematurely without reaching the Core Formation Realm would only hinder Gu An's development. After all, Li Ya wouldn't always be around to protect him.
As for Zhang Buku, his robust vitality marked him as a promising recruit.
Li Ya frowned, visibly displeased.
Chi Bei chimed in, praising the supportive environment within the Star Sea Sect and persuading Li Ya with great patience. Finally, Li Ya relented.
Far away, in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An scoffed as he picked herbs.
"Foundation Establishment Realm?" Gu An muttered under his breath. "I've already reached the Core Formation Realm!"
He dismissed their concerns with disdain. Joining the Star Sea Sect held no appeal for him.
The sect was crawling with ancient powerhouses and dangerous figures. It was far less safe than the Tai Xuan Sect, where Gu An reigned supreme. Staying there gave him unparalleled confidence.
Now that Li Ya had allied with the Star Sea Sect, Gu An felt relieved.
In the past few days, Gu An had harvested a staggering 1.5 million years of lifespan within The Mysterious Divine City. His total lifespan had now surpassed 10 million years, leaving him in an excellent mood.
He planned to return to The Mysterious Divine City after some time to gather even more treasures.
Even if Li Ya left for the Star Sea Sect, his connection to The Mysterious Divine City ensured that Gu An could track him no matter how far he roamed. Their shared soul bond meant that Gu An's awareness would always encompass the city and its movements.
Li Ya had already begun expelling rogue cultivators from The Mysterious Divine City. Meanwhile, Gu An had gifted Immortal Treasures to both Jiang Qiong and Zhen Qin.
These treasures, capable of fusing with their hosts' bodies, were nearly impossible to detect.
Once Ye Lan's sealed potential was fully unlocked, Gu An planned to grant her an Immortal Treasure as well.
The Mysterious Divine City's treasures were vast and abundant. With complete control over the city, the scope of Gu An's rewards was beyond measure.
Humming a cheerful tune, Gu An marveled at his own generosity.
Though he remained hidden in the Third Medicine Valley, his actions ensured that those around him thrived. Truly, he thought, he was a man of unparalleled selflessness.
"Such quiet magnanimity!" Gu An mused. "One day, when they discover the truth, how deeply will they thank me?"
He couldn't help but chuckle as he imagined their reactions.
Night fell, and a new day dawned.
The next morning, Gu An saw from a distance as Li Ya absorbed The Mysterious Divine City into his body. Under the guidance of Nan Fengtian and Chi Bei, Li Ya began his journey back to the Tai Xuan Sect.
Their goal was to leave the continent swiftly, avoiding any unforeseen complications.
Meanwhile, Gu An quietly made his way to Xuan Valley, blending in with the sect disciples as they performed their morning exercises.
Just as they finished, Li Ya descended from the sky, flying directly into Xuan Valley.