https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-139-The-Mountain-God-Descends-Punishment/12575488/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-141-The-Ninth-Layer-of-the-Xuan-Heart-Realm-Approaches/12575493/
Chapter 140: Immortal Techniques, On the Eve of the Decisive Battle
Chapter 140: Immortal Techniques, On the Eve of the Decisive Battle
Gu An manipulated the spiritual energy, transforming it into a gentle breeze that safely carried Xuan Miao Zhenren, Zhen Qin, and the others to the borders of the Tai Cang Imperial Court. Only then did he withdraw his powers and vanish from his original spot.
This display of power was primarily for Zhen Qin's sake.
However, the feeling of wielding such abilities was exhilarating, giving him a true taste of an immortal's might.
No wonder the Nirvana Realm was so extraordinary. Without experiencing Nirvana, a human cultivator's lifespan couldn't exceed ten thousand years. The gap between the Nirvana Realm and the Great Vehicle Realm wasn't just about the strength of one's spiritual power but a comprehensive disparity.
Upon returning to Tai Xuan Gate, Gu An continued to procure medicinal herbs, preparing for the planting in Nian Chu's cave abode.
Before sowing the seeds, he needed to properly instruct Tian Yao'er.
Now that he had a rudimentary grasp of immortal techniques, he could transmit large amounts of information directly into her mind with just a touch to her forehead, instead of having to teach her step by step. However, to hide his strength, he decided to teach her slowly; after all, he had ample time.
Elsewhere.
By the side of a mighty river, the disciples of the Enforcement Hall looked at Xuan Miao Zhenren, hesitant to speak.
Their relief at surviving such a calamity was overshadowed by their concern for Xuan Miao Zhenren's well-being.
If not for his efforts to save them, Xuan Miao Zhenren wouldn't have ended up in such a state.
Xuan Miao Zhenren washed his face, stood up, and smiled at everyone. "There's no need to worry about me. My cultivation has been sealed by the Mountain God for a year, and it's true that I failed to keep my promise, so this tribulation is justified."
The disciples spoke up one after another, taking the blame upon themselves, but Xuan Miao Zhenren just laughed it off.
Having his cultivation suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Realm didn't distress him; instead, it excited him even more.
Now, he firmly believed that the Mountain God was a true immortal, and the methods employed by the Mountain God filled him with awe and inspiration.
The path of cultivation towards immortality was indeed possible!
"Alright, everyone. Since we've returned to the Tai Cang Imperial Court, it's time for us to part ways. Remember, do not reveal the existence of the Mountain God to anyone!" Xuan Miao Zhenren said, cupping his hands.
The disciples hastily returned the gesture and vowed to keep the secret.
Even someone as powerful as Xuan Miao Zhenren had his cultivation sealed, so they dared not incur the wrath of the Mountain God.
They shared the same emotions as Xuan Miao Zhenren—excitement and enthusiasm. They had witnessed the existence of immortals, and this gave them unprecedented hope.
The path to immortality was vast and uncertain, and the existence of immortals had always been a subject of debate in the cultivation world. But now, having witnessed an immortal themselves, their conviction would be stronger than ever.
...
As autumn turned to winter, heavy snow gradually covered Xuan Gu.
Zhen Qin returned for a visit and recounted the chaos unfolding outside.
"There are just too many people from the Tianhua Sect. Even with the combined efforts of the Nine Courts trying to eradicate them, we can't eliminate them all..." Zhen Qin sighed.
As a mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, her understanding of the situation was limited.
Gu An, on the other hand, often witnessed battles between Xuan Heart Realm cultivators.
Currently, Xuan Heart Realm masters were stationed across the lands, and the number of such cultivators among the Nine Courts had already exceeded twenty and continued to grow. The Tianhua Sect also had its fair share of Xuan Heart Realm experts, resulting in a stalemate where neither side could claim victory.
This would be a war that dragged on for years!
But Gu An wasn't worried. He was biding his time, waiting for that Great Vehicle Realm cultivator to show himself, so he could strike!
His spiritual sense could cover the Nine Courts, but the main vein of the Tianhua Sect was within the Nine Yin Road, so he hadn't discovered the whereabouts of that Great Vehicle Realm cultivator yet.
He didn't plan to venture into the Nine Yin Road to hunt the enemy down. Instead, he wanted to wait for his opponent to reveal himself, so that news of their death would spread. Only then would the leaderless Tianhua Sect fall into disarray and retreat.
After Zhen Qin finished her report, Gu An poured her a cup of tea and asked with a smile, "You seem quite excited. Compared to when you left, your spirit and demeanor seem completely different."
Zhen Qin laughed. "Although there's slaughter everywhere, this experience has helped me find a greater drive to cultivate."
"Master, I plan to enter seclusion next. Our batch of disciples has completed our task, and the Enforcement Hall has granted us some rest."
Gu An took out several bottles of pills from his storage bag and handed them to her. "Cultivate well. I'll be relying on you to protect me in the future."
Zhen Qin gladly accepted the pills and said with a smile, "Wait until I become an immortal. Then I'll refine the elixir of immortality for you, Master!"
Her confident declaration made Gu An want to laugh.
Ever since Su Han and Ye Yan left, Zhen Qin had frequently visited Xuan Gu, still considering it her home.
Gu An never found her presence bothersome. Instead, he was always happy to see her seeking him out.
After Zhen Qin left Xuan Gu, Gu An began wandering around the valley, admiring the fruits of his labor.
Time continued to flow.
Although the cultivation world had descended into chaos, Tai Xuan Gate remained untouched, and Gu An's days within the sect were still peaceful.
The end of the year brought the New Year celebrations, but this year's Spring Festival wasn't as lively as in previous years. Gu An could only celebrate the holiday with the other menial disciples.
Late into the night, he quietly made his way to Nian Chu's cave abode.
He appeared on the grass, sensing the abundant spiritual energy within the cave. A satisfied smile appeared on his face as the spirit-gathering array he had set up himself started to show its effects.
At that moment, Tian Yao'er approached him excitedly and asked, "Master, did you bring meat?"
Ever since Gu An had grilled meat for her last month, she had developed a fondness for barbecue. Every time Gu An came to visit, she would ask if he had brought any meat.
Since Nian Chu's cave abode had no entrance, Tian Yao'er couldn't leave, so she could only wait and cultivate.
"I did, but first, we need to plant the seeds. Depending on your performance, I'll decide how many pieces of meat you get to eat," Gu An replied.
Gu An replied, causing Tian Yao'er to stare at him in surprise.
Afterward, Gu An began sowing the seeds with Tian Yao'er by his side, teaching her through words and actions.
After instructing her once, Gu An watched as Tian Yao'er planted the seeds, which took up half the night.
Gu An discovered that Tian Yao'er had a talent for gardening; she appeared rather slow, but she was meticulous and dexterous.
After they finished sowing, Gu An took out a mutton leg and various seasonings he had prepared himself, causing Tian Yao'er's eyes to light up. She eagerly went to gather firewood.
Time passed as incense burned.
Tian Yao'er squatted on the ground, gnawing on a juicy, oily mutton leg while keeping a close eye on the other leg still roasting over the fire.
"They're both for you, so take your time," Gu An said, unable to hold back his laughter.
He couldn't help but feel like he was raising a cat.
In truth, Tian Yao'er was not a cat spirit but a bird spirit. Judging from her lifespan, Gu An suspected she had phoenix blood.
With her mouth full, Tian Yao'er mumbled, "Master, why did you come to Tianhuang Mountain?"
Even though several months had passed since they met, she still knew nothing about Gu An, and seeing that he was in a good mood, she plucked up the courage to ask.
"Tianhuang Mountain is vast and resource-rich. I came here specifically for the medicinal herbs, and what we're planting now are all herbs I gathered from here," Gu An replied.
"Master, do you know how to refine pills?"
"Of course."
"The Demon Mother has a subordinate who knows how to refine pills and is highly favored by her. Can you teach me how to refine pills in the future?"
"It depends on your performance."
"Master, where are you from?"
The voices of the man and the spirit echoed within the quiet cave abode, and the firelight cast their shadows on the cave walls, swaying with the flames.
Tian Yao'er looked at Gu An, feeling a sense of relaxation like never before.
Even though she was still confined to the cave, being with Gu An made her feel safe and eased her fears.
In the following days, Tian Yao'er memorized all the details of cultivation, which meant that Gu An no longer had to visit Nian Chu's cave abode every night.
During the days when Gu An was away, Tian Yao'er diligently cultivated. She was afraid of disappointing Gu An and being abandoned, so she never slacked off since she started cultivating.
Time flew by.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Gu An, now seventy-four years old, once again broke through the limit of his lifespan, reaching two million years. Everything was developing in a positive direction.
One day, Gu An arrived at the outer sect's city and submitted last year's harvest of Xuan Gu to the Danyao Hall.
After leaving the hall, he overheard disciples discussing major events in the cultivation world.
Rumor had it that the Tianhua Cult had built a massive altar in the Wanji Forest of the Great Chen Dynasty to sacrifice humans. Now, people were going missing in all nine dynasties, and cultivators from the other eight dynasties were rushing to the Great Chen Dynasty. Everyone felt that a decisive battle was imminent.
Using his spiritual sense, Gu An saw the altar, which was indeed huge, occupying a hundred square miles. At the center of the altar stood a large cauldron with a flag inserted inside, containing countless resentful souls.
Forty Xuan Heart Realm grand cultivators surrounded the altar, indicating that the Tianhua Cult was going all out.
This also signified that the Great Vehicle Realm cultivator would soon make an appearance.
Gu An retracted his spiritual sense and made his way to Wu Jue's residence.
Wu Jue had become an inner sect disciple, but he hadn't sold his courtyard in the outer sect's city. He just didn't stay there often.
Gu An sensed that Wu Jue was waiting specifically for him.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Gu An saw Wu Jue practicing his fists. Wu Jue looked toward the entrance and smiled as he said, "You're finally here. I thought I wouldn't see you before I left."
Wu Jue's lifespan limit hadn't increased, but his cultivation had reached the first layer of the Golden Core Realm.
After Gu An closed the door, he turned to Wu Jue and asked with a smile, "What are you waiting for me for?"
"Master plans to take me to the Great Chen Dynasty to destroy the Tianhua Demon Path. Since it's far from the Great Cang Dynasty, I don't know when I'll be back, so I wanted to bid you farewell," Wu Jue replied, stopping his practice.
He pretended to be calm, but Gu An could see the tension and fear in his eyes.
To be honest, Wu Jue had never experienced life-or-death battles, and he had a fear of the Tianhua Cult, as his master had died at their hands.
"With your talent, if you want to stay, it shouldn't be difficult, right?" Gu An asked.
Wu Jue shook his head. "The Tianhua Cult is powerful, and the Great Xuan Gate must do its best to eliminate the demon path. Plus, I have my own reasons for going."
His eyes shone with determination.
He wanted to avenge his master! Although he didn't know which Tianhua Cult member had killed his master, he felt that it didn't matter. As long as the Tianhua Cult was destroyed, he would consider his vengeance fulfilled.
"Then you must be careful. The demon path's methods are unpredictable and extreme. You can't judge their strength solely by their cultivation..." Gu An began to admonish him.
Listening to his lengthy lecture, Wu Jue didn't find it tedious at all; instead, he smiled.
Having such a brother made him even more determined to go!
If the Tianhua Cult's sacrifice succeeded, demon cultivators would eventually invade the Great Xuan Gate, and Gu An would be in danger.
Subsequently, Wu Jue started talking about the scale of the Great Xuan Gate's expedition this time. The sect leader had dispatched a third of the inner sect disciples to the Wanji Forest, indicating the importance they attached to this mission.
(End of Chapter)
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