Hearing Emperor Xie's words, Gu An could only sigh along with him.
Escape to the ocean? What a joke!
Gu An didn't know what Emperor Xie was thinking, but he felt that after the extermination of the human race in the Eight Dynasties, the next ones to suffer would be the demons.
The previous legends had proven this point: when the world is overrun by demons, powerful cultivators will appear.
Using humans to raise demons, and demons to raise humans?
If you twist it around, it's no longer the same race fighting each other, and the Sacred Land would still be revered by both races.
Gu An chatted idly with Emperor Xie, but his eyes never left the Heaven Mending Platform. He was also weighing whether or not he should take action.
After all, he still had some time before he reached the lifespan limit of ten million years.
If he broke through now, he could certainly break into a higher realm, but he was more interested in unlocking the next lifespan feature.
He feared that his intervention would accelerate the progression of the Great Demon Catastrophe.
…
The Great Jiang Dynasty, located at the northernmost edge of the Eight Dynasties, was a land of towering mountains and rugged landscapes, famous for its natural wonders.
Bordering the demon lands, the cultivators of the Great Jiang Dynasty faced harsher survival conditions, which had forged the strongest dynasty.
In the northern borders, mountain ranges stretched endlessly, and heavy snow obscured the sky. The majestic snow fog made the peaks appear faintly, like the spine of a true dragon, grand and imposing, as if forming a natural barrier that split the world in two.
On a mountain ridge, Lu Lingjun sat cross-legged on a massive rock, her spiritual energy rippling outwards, causing the surrounding snow fog to dissipate, forming wisps of white smoke rising around her.
She slowly opened her eyes, gazing toward the horizon.
In front of her, the mountain ranges rose and fell, and at the far edge of the world, a faint firelight flickered, barely concealed by the falling snow. Every so often, a fierce wind blew toward her, carrying with it the stench of blood and death.
The terrifying demonic aura of the Six-Headed Jiao Luo blanketed the entire land. Even Lu Lingjun and the White Spirit Demon Emperor on her shoulder were deeply uneasy.
"What is he waiting for?" the White Spirit Demon Emperor asked in a low voice.
Lu Lingjun remained calm and said, "It might have something to do with the Mountain God. After all, a Mahayana-level cultivator has already died at the hands of the Mountain God."
"Will the Mountain God make a move? The number of demons in the north is overwhelming. This catastrophe far surpasses anything the Ephemeral Blossom Sect could handle. From any angle, it seems like the human race is doomed." The White Spirit Demon Emperor muttered.
Being a demon himself, he naturally wouldn't side with the human race. He hoped that Lu Lingjun would leave this troublesome place.
Lu Lingjun remained silent, staring into the distance, her thoughts unclear.
Unable to resist, the White Spirit Demon Emperor urged her, "Lingjun, why not head south? Perhaps the ocean isn't as dangerous as we think."
Lu Lingjun said softly, "Do you remember when the Tai Xuan Sect cultivators stood by me during my breakthrough?"
The White Spirit Demon Emperor opened his mouth but was left speechless.
He understood Lu Lingjun too well.
If she weren't someone so deeply loyal and compassionate, would he have followed her?
The White Spirit Demon Emperor lowered his snake-like head and mumbled, "Let's see how powerful the Mountain God is. Also, Tai Xuan Sect has Sword Master of Dao. He should make a move, right?"
Roar—
A powerful dragon roar pierced the sky, shaking the heavens and earth. The wind carried a scent of blood, mixed with snow, and even the mountain beneath Lu Lingjun trembled.
A thousand miles away.
Battle raged endlessly, the ground scorched black, and lava flowed through the charred land. Fire floated in the air, and mountains were leveled, leaving behind vast craters. Countless cultivators hovered in the sky, and grand, imposing formations filled the heavens.
The earth was split in two by a bottomless chasm. On one side stood the human cultivators, casting their spells, while on the other, hordes of demons crowded the cliffs, their faces twisted and ferocious. The sound of their roars and howls filled the air, turning the world into a living hell.
A terrifying giant demon stood at the rear of the demon army, his body towering into the clouds, clad in black heavy armor, with sharp fangs protruding from his shoulder plates like mountain peaks. His waist was adorned with the skulls of powerful demons.
This was the Six-Headed Jiao Luo, a peerless demon of the demon lands!
On his shoulder perched a figure shrouded in black demonic energy, small by comparison, but revealing a goat's head with eyes as red as blood beads.
"Great King, it seems the human race has no Mahayana-level cultivators, and that so-called Mountain God dares not cause trouble," said the goat-headed demon. His voice burrowed into the ears of the Six-Headed Jiao Luo.
Upon hearing this, an overwhelming pressure erupted from the Six-Headed Jiao Luo, causing the demons ahead of him to scatter in panic, clearing a path for him.
In the presence of the giant Six-Headed Jiao Luo, most demons were as insignificant as ants.
As he stepped forward, ghostly energy rose around him, forming countless graceful, seductive female ghosts. They danced around him, their laughter blending together, casting a spell of confusion over the distant cultivators.
"The Six-Headed Jiao Luo is coming!"
A burly man in a gray robe roared angrily, his voice as loud as thunder.
Liang Canghai, the leader of the Cang Tian Sect, flew to the front of the formation. Raising his sword high, he shouted, "Disciples of the Cang Tian Sect, take your pills and fight to the death!"
At his command, the million disciples of the Cang Tian Sect took out their pills without hesitation. The pills were a deep brown color, and upon consuming them, the cultivators' spiritual energy surged, their bodies radiating blood energy. Their veins bulged, and their eyes turned bloodshot.
Leaders from various sects issued similar orders, all prepared to fight to the death. The Tai Xuan Sect was no exception.
Xuanquan Ancestor flew across the battlefield, reaching the cliff's edge. Holding a whisk in his hand, he drew talismans with a single stroke. One by one, talismans formed from spiritual energy appeared in front of him, lined up in a row.
More and more Profound Heart Realm cultivators gathered above the cliff separating the battlefield, all ready to face the approaching Six-Headed Jiao Luo.
Sword Mad Han Ming was also present on the Great Yu Dynasty's battlefield, prepared to fight to the death.
Lu Lingjun arrived, standing atop a hundred-zhang long white python. She held her sword in both hands, her aura overwhelming, with no fear in her eyes.
"It seems the human race has no Mahayana-level cultivators. In that case, they should be nothing more than livestock for the demons!"
The cold voice of the Six-Headed Jiao Luo echoed across the land, followed by the simultaneous roar of his six terrifying dragon heads, shaking the heavens.
The dragon roars merged into one, reverberating far and wide, spreading toward the Eight Dynasties.
The battle erupted once again!
And this time, the approach of the Six-Headed Jiao Luo signaled the true beginning of the Great Demon Catastrophe!
…
Tai Xuan Sect, outer city.
When the dragon roar from afar reached them, the falling snow seemed to freeze in midair. Tens of thousands of disciples on the Heaven Mending Platform opened their eyes in unison.
In the center of the platform, Gu Zong's face changed drastically, filled with worry.
Disciples across the city's streets and in the secluded courtyards were equally disturbed. Even though they couldn't see what was happening in the northern border, the sound alone was enough to fill them with dread.
What kind of earth-shattering demon could produce such a terrifying roar?
Even the various Medicine Valleys outside the outer city were shaken.
On the mountain peak in Xuan Valley.
Gu An stood side by side with Chu Jingfeng, both gazing toward the north. The wind and snow whipped their robes.
When Chu Jingfeng heard the Six-Headed Jiao Luo's dragon roar, he frowned and asked, "Valley Master, do you think the Tai Xuan Sect can survive this calamity?"
While using his divine sense to observe the battle, Gu An replied, "Of course. Trust in the Tai Xuan Sect and in our cultivation world."
As the Six-Headed Jiao Luo crossed the gorge, countless Profound Heart Realm auras erupted from the Eight Dynasties, rushing toward the northern border.
And it wasn't just the Eight Dynasties!
Even from the southern ocean came powerful auras!
In this moment, Gu An felt the deep foundation of the Eight Dynasties human race—thousands of years of accumulation.
Some people had journeyed to the ocean in search of immortal fate, but many still held their homeland in their hearts, even from afar.
Gu An touched the Twin Heart Ring on his right hand, though he didn't need it to feel Lu Lingjun's peril.
Even from a distance, Lu Lingjun was severely injured. The Six-Headed Jiao Luo was simply too powerful, his attacks capable of destroying the heavens and earth, forcing the human race into constant retreat.
"Alas, I'm a useless man now. Otherwise, I'd be on the battlefield too, even if it meant dying there," Chu Jingfeng sighed.
Gu An patted his shoulder and said, "You're not useless. As long as you're alive, there's hope. You can turn your current frustration into motivation. Maybe one day, the Tai Xuan Sect will need you to save it, and then you'll be its hero. I hope to see that day in my lifetime."
Chu Jingfeng turned to look at him and asked, "Do you really think I can do it?"
Gu An smiled and said, "Of course! Brother Chu, in my eyes, you are a chosen one. Whatever I can't achieve, you will certainly accomplish."
A chosen one?
Chu Jingfeng was dazed, but looking at Gu An's smile, he felt a surge of strength within him.
Over the years, Gu An had always encouraged him.
If there had been any pretense, it wouldn't have lasted this long.
This proved that Gu An genuinely had high hopes for him!
"Call upon Sword Master of Dao!"
From afar, they heard the desperate shout of Gu Zong, and a gust of snow and wind swept over them.
Before Chu Jingfeng could respond, another shout echoed, followed by tens of thousands of cultivators' voices, all shouting in unison, even the sound of the wind and snow couldn't drown them out.
"Call upon Sword Master of Dao!"
"Call upon Sword Master of Dao!"
The voices grew louder, as more people joined in.
Chu Jingfeng sighed, "I'm not sure if I'll ever be a hero, but right now, Sword Master of Dao is the hero of the Tai Xuan Sect."
In the distance.
In the outer city.
On the Heaven Mending Platform, tens of thousands of disciples sat cross-legged, shouting with all their might. Even the disciples on the streets joined in, pleading for Sword Master of Dao to take action.
Amidst the shouts, Gu Zong suddenly felt something. He looked down to see his sword trembling, as if it wanted to unsheath itself.
He took the sword in his hand, and it wasn't just him—other disciples experienced the same, with some even pulling their swords out of their storage bags.
On the streets, disciples stood still, staring in amazement at the swords on their waists or in their hands.
All the swords were trembling, and a vast sword intent seemed to envelop them from above.
Could it be...
A bold guess arose in the hearts of the Tai Xuan Sect cultivators.