https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-164-Slaying-the-Great-Demon-King-the-Terrifying-Sword-Sovereign-/12575537/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-166-Eight-Million-Years-of-Lifespan-/12575547/
Chapter 165: Demon Invasion, Descending the Mountain to Hunt!
Chapter 165: Demon Invasion, Descending the Mountain to Hunt!
As the year drew to a close, Gu An arrived at the outer city and found the streets abuzz with disciples discussing the exploits of the Sword Venerable Fudao and his slaying of the Six-Headed Flood Dragon. Some stalls were even selling puppets and paintings depicting the creature, including scenes of its death.
Gazing at the paintings, Gu An found himself thinking of Shen Zhen.
Shen Zhen was still in seclusion, and he wondered if she would be exhilarated by this news had she not been in isolation.
It had been many years since he had seen her, and he found himself missing her a little.
However, it wasn't her he missed, but her creative talent.
He hoped she wouldn't give up writing, as long as she didn't use him as a subject for her next book.
Gu An began wandering the city, listening to the disciples praising Sword Venerable Fudao. He felt a secret thrill, and the lingering worries in his heart dissipated.
The demons in the Northern Border of the Great Jiang Dynasty had been swept away, and no demon king as powerful as the Six-Headed Flood Dragon had appeared. Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
Yet, Gu An was aware that the demon tribulation was still approaching. At present, not only the Northern Border but also the entire realm of the human race was under threat, as demons were infiltrating from east to west, wherever they bordered the demon territories. The scale of the incursions was not significant, but it was enough to prevent the various sects from completely blocking them.
Fortunately, the number of demons that had currently infiltrated was not large enough to shake the foundations of the Eight Dynasties, and Gu An could continue to survive.
After wandering for a long time, Gu An finally made his way to the library to return some books.
What happened next left Gu An in a state of bemused exasperation.
Elder Feng Shang hoped that Gu An would include Sword Venerable Fudao in his book, "Broken Void," and portray him in a positive light. This was the wish of the sect.
Gu An pretended to be hesitant, and Elder Feng Shang said that the sect had prepared a hundred seeds of sixth-grade medicinal herbs for him, so he reluctantly agreed.
...
The new spring arrived, and during this Lunar New Year, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin did not return. Gu An spent the festival with his disciples, feeling that it lacked some of the flavor of previous years.
This sudden loneliness made him feel a little anxious.
Many years from now, if all his acquaintances had passed away, would the Spring Festival cease to be a joyous occasion and instead fill him with sadness?
As midnight approached, he arrived at Nianchu's cave abode, and this feeling began to fade.
Regardless, Tian Yao'er could accompany him for at least eighteen thousand years, and if he could achieve nirvana within that time, he could stay with her even longer.
However, he also needed to learn to regulate himself and let go of worldly affairs to attain enlightenment.
By the stone table, Gu An and Tian Yao'er began roasting mutton legs, chatting and laughing. Tian Yao'er always had a lot to say to him, and her lively presence added to the festive atmosphere.
"By the way, Master, lately, I've been hearing a strange sound, like it's coming from outside. Do you think a demon might have discovered our cave?" Tian Yao'er suddenly asked, her mouth full of grease and her face smeared with sauce, her furrowed brow making Gu An want to laugh.
"Don't worry, no demon will break in," Gu An reassured her. "I've met the owner of that sound, and it's just temporarily residing in Tianhuang Mountain."
Hearing this, Tian Yao'er immediately relaxed.
"By the way, Master, where do you go when you leave the cave? Do you return to live among humans?" Tian Yao'er asked.
"Yes, I have other cave abodes that need tending to."
"Huh? Master, do you have other beasts besides me?"
"There are a few, but none as powerful as you."
"Are there any female demons?"
"How is that possible? Those beasts have low aptitude and can't even take human form."
"That's good, Master. Do you have a Dao companion?"
It seemed that Tian Yao'er had opened a floodgate of questions.
Gu An's eyebrows twitched under his mask, and he asked, "Where did you learn about Dao companions?"
Tian Yao'er took a bite of mutton and mumbled through her mouthful, "From the books you left behind. Do you have a Dao companion?"
"Of course not," Gu An replied.
Tian Yao'er's face lit up, but Gu An's next words made her little face fall. "However, there are a few women who might become my Dao companions, and I'm quite troubled because I don't know who to choose."
Tian Yao'er put down her mutton leg, wiped the stains from her face, and asked seriously, "Master, what about me? Do I meet your requirements?"
Gu An glanced at her and said impatiently, "What? Are you trying to climb up the ranks?"
"No... I was just looking at the criteria for Dao companions in the book, and I feel that I meet them too. Moreover, I would never betray you like the Dao companion in the book. In the future, I will definitely live and die with you!" Tian Yao'er hastily explained.
"You want to live and die with me, but I certainly don't want that."
"Because I intend to live forever!"
Gu An was determined to live longer than the heavens and the earth, so he wouldn't be moved by such words.
"Focus on your cultivation, little demon. Don't let your imagination run wild. Whether it's a human or a demon, cultivation should always come first. Emotions are, at most, a secondary pursuit," he said, slightly annoyed.
"Okay, then, Master, what are your requirements for a Dao companion?"
"I was just teasing you earlier. I don't intend to find a Dao companion. If I did, I would have to bury her one day, and that would be very sad."
"That does make some sense."
"I let you read those books to broaden your horizons and understand the ways of the world, not to encourage you to think about emotional entanglements."
"Yes, yes, I won't think about emotions, but if Master wants to, I'm always ready!"
As he looked at Tian Yao'er's earnest expression, Gu An's gaze unconsciously drifted downward, but he quickly averted his eyes.
He changed the subject and began discussing matters related to cultivation.
Tian Yao'er pouted, feeling sullen inside, but she still listened attentively. She could only meet with Gu An twice a month, so she cherished their time together.
...
After the new spring, the name of Sword Venerable Fudao had spread throughout the world. Tai Xuan Gate was also busy, issuing numerous demon-slaying missions, and more and more disciples began descending the mountain to save the common folk.
In the Xuan Valley, inside a tower.
Gu An was weaving a robe for himself. On regular days, he didn't need to meditate and absorb qi, so he had plenty of time to indulge in his hobbies, and sewing was once one of them.
The reason he was weaving a robe was that he planned to descend the mountain to slay demons.
First, to rescue the common folk, and second, to take the opportunity to accumulate longevity, striving to reach a lifespan of ten million years as soon as possible.
He also wanted to experience the life Ye Lan and Zhen Qin led.
In the end, Gu An finished weaving the robe. He stored it in his storage bag and then took out the Qinghong Sword, leaving the tower.
He bid farewell to Lu Jiujia before departing from Xuan Valley.
Lu Jiujia wasn't curious about where he was going. After all, Gu An would leave the valley every few days, and in the eyes of the valley's disciples, their master was a very busy person.
...
Under the blue sky and white clouds, Gu An stood on a mountain cliff. He wore a deep purple robe, with a waist-cinching belt and an embroidered dark red phoenix on the robe. At his waist hung the Qinghong Sword.
He took out a dramatic mask and put it on, then took out a straw hat and placed it on his head.
After adjusting his outfit, he used his divine sense to observe his appearance.
He had a great figure and an imposing aura!
He looked like a chivalrous swordsman from the Jianghu!
Gu An leaped into the air and disappeared into the mountain forest.
A hundred miles away, in the wilderness, a battle was taking place. Several escort carriages were parked, and more than ten escorts were fighting against the demonic beasts attacking from all directions. Behind the carriages was a horse-drawn carriage, with a frightened horse neighing incessantly. Inside the carriage was a mother and her child, clinging tightly to each other.
These escorts were not cultivators but mere martial artists and were no match for the demonic beasts.
Just as the escorts were about to despair, a gust of wind blew in.
Immediately afterward, a figure rushed out from the nearby forest. Like a cunning rabbit, the figure's swordplay was as swift as the wind, and in less than three breaths, the nine demonic beasts were all dead.
The escorts turned to look, only catching a glimpse of an embroidered dark red phoenix on the figure's back before he quickly departed.
"So powerful!"
"That person just now must have been a cultivator, right?"
"Of course. Martial artists don't have such skills."
"Indeed, he's incredible. I didn't even see how he made his move."
"Me neither. I wonder which sect he's from. When I was younger, I went to Guhao Zong to become a disciple, but I was rejected because I didn't have spiritual roots."
On the other side, in the forest, Gu An heard their conversation and smiled slightly behind his mask.
Saving people like this felt pretty good, and it might even be more satisfying than the sense of accomplishment he felt after slaying the Six-Headed Flood Dragon.
And so, Gu An began his journey of hunting demons and beasts. Each time he killed a demon, he saved people.
Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I wonder if this saying holds true in this world?
In any case, Gu An felt that by slaying one demon and saving one person, the good and evil would balance out, and he wouldn't be burdened by sins.
...
Late at night.
A group of cultivators meditated in the forest, with bonfires scattered around. There were five or six people sitting around each fire.
Ye Lan and Zhen Qin were among them. Ye Lan was meditating with her eyes closed, while Zhen Qin was discussing the demons and the cultivation world with the other disciples.
"I wonder what the Six-Headed Flood Dragon looked like. I heard that it devoured five Grand Cultivators at the Xuan Heart Realm," Zhen Qin said softly, her face filled with curiosity and fear.
Upon hearing her mention the Six-Headed Flood Dragon, the other disciples became excited and started talking about Sword Venerable Fudao.
After slaying the Six-Headed Flood Dragon, Sword Venerable Fudao's reputation in the cultivation world had reached its peak, and everyone wondered just how strong he was, making him the subject of much curiosity.
It seemed that no matter how strong the opponent was, Sword Venerable Fudao could always defeat them with ease.
As they chatted, they began to discuss some of the recent events in the cultivation world.
"That hateful Heavenly God Sword, Su Han, recently devoured the spiritual power of twenty Golden Core Realm cultivators. It's said that he's about to enter the Transformation Realm. I wonder what kind of demonic art he's practicing?" a male disciple said worriedly.
Since they often went out to slay demons, they were naturally concerned about encountering Su Han.
Hearing them discuss Su Han, Zhen Qin's mood sank.
"What? Do you want to know what kind of cultivation technique Su Han is practicing? Well, you're in luck because tonight, you'll get to find out."
A cold laugh suddenly echoed through the forest, startling the disciples of the Enforcement Hall, including Ye Lan, who drew her White Spirit Sword and stood ready for battle.
"Prepare for combat!"
Ye Lan's voice was deep and commanding. The disciples quickly gathered together, each holding their magical artifacts.
Looking around, the forest was quiet in the night, with mist swirling in the depths, hiding any figures that might be there.
Ye Lan suddenly looked in one direction, her eyebrows furrowed, and the others did the same. In the darkness, they saw several figures carrying a coffin!
(End of Chapter)
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