Saint Who Lay Low

"I owe Sword Master of the Dao a great debt. Naturally, I must repay it. Moreover, the Tai Xuan Sect has treated me well over these years!"

Han Ming responded firmly as he pulled the sword case from his back, readying himself for battle.

At that moment, three figures appeared out of thin air, surrounding Ghost Mother of the Ephemeral Flower. These three were all Void Crossing Realm cultivators, tasked with guarding the Heaven Mending Platform.

However, the Ghost Mother of the Ephemeral Flower, being a Body Fusion Realm powerhouse, was unfazed. She shook her head slightly and muttered to herself, "What a nuisance... but it's about time."

Suddenly, she transformed into a cloud of ghostly mist and vanished without a trace.

The three Void Crossing Realm cultivators disappeared as well, clearly pursuing her beyond the outer gate.

Han Ming didn't chase after them. Revealing the identity of the Ghost Mother was already a significant feat, and pursuing her was the responsibility of the Tai Xuan Sect.

He turned to the still-shaken Gu An and reassured him, "Don't worry, that ghost won't be returning after she escapes."

Gu An nodded but couldn't help scanning the area nervously, as if afraid there were more ghosts lurking nearby.

Acting requires commitment to the role!

Han Ming walked over, patted Gu An on the shoulder, and pulled him toward Zuo Lin, recounting his past tales of slaying demons and banishing evil spirits.

Gu An internally groaned, realizing he had overplayed the part, and now escape was impossible. He was stuck listening to Han Ming's long-winded stories.

Meanwhile, Zuo Lin, glad to see Gu An, engaged in hushed conversation, which only provoked a loud scolding from Han Ming.

The incident with the Ghost Mother of the Ephemeral Flower was only a brief distraction.

Gu An waited for the Lifespan Forewarning system to signal any hostility. If it did, the Ghost Mother wouldn't leave alive today.

Fortunately, no such warning appeared. It seemed that she harbored no suspicion toward him.

It was also possible that the Ghost Mother had no malicious intent. After all, she had been at the Tai Xuan Sect for years without causing trouble, and even during the havoc caused by the Huangquan Demon Emperor, she hadn't taken part.

Now that a Profound Heart Realm cultivator from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect was approaching, if she had ill intentions, she could easily have wreaked havoc in tandem with that cultivator.

Perhaps she wasn't aligned with the Ephemeral Blossom Sect at all?

As Gu An silently pondered, he continued listening to Han Ming's exaggerated tales.

...

Under the blue sky, the autumn landscape of withering yellow leaves covered the land and mountains.

On the peaks, numerous figures stood. Among them were Lü Baitian and Ji Hantian. In total, thirty-two figures—all Body Fusion Realm cultivators of the Tai Xuan Sect—stood ready, each exuding an extraordinary aura.

Standing beside Lü Baitian, Ji Hantian whispered, "Has the opponent surpassed the Body Fusion Realm?"

Lü Baitian stared into the distance, his face grim. "He must have. His spiritual aura is beyond anything I've ever sensed—vast and boundless. And it doesn't feel like he's newly ascended."

"Profound Heart Realm..." Ji Hantian's face darkened.

The other Tai Xuan Sect cultivators could hear Lü Baitian's words, and though their expressions grew tense, none showed fear.

"So what if he's Profound Heart Realm? With so many of us at Body Fusion Realm working together, we might still have a chance!" scoffed a short elder.

"Exactly! What's there to fear?"

"My Ji Family has reinforcements coming, and no matter how many of them come from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, they're going to die!"

"Too bad my Gu Family's ancestor is nowhere to be found. If he were here, what risk would there be?"

"Hahaha, our ancestors are rarely summoned. Why would they intervene so easily?"

"Indeed, the Tai Xuan Sect's elders might even have Profound Heart Realm powerhouses among them, but such beings are always in pursuit of celestial fate, cherishing their remaining years."

The cultivators chatted amongst themselves. Many had been in seclusion or off on personal missions for years, so this gathering felt like a rare reunion.

Lü Baitian pulled out a bottle of pills from his storage ring, downing them swiftly. His complexion improved immediately, with faint wisps of heat rising from his body.

The other great cultivators prepared similarly, taking out pills and magical treasures. Some even began setting up formations. The world quieted, bracing for the coming battle.

"So many Body Fusion Realm cultivators. Truly worthy of being a sect that has stood strong for thousands of years."

A light, mocking voice echoed through the sky, causing all their expressions to change.

It was the Purple-Robed Man from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect!

Though the man himself hadn't arrived yet, his laughter carried an immense pressure, pressing down on all the Body Fusion Realm cultivators.

...

In the outer sect city, Gu An stepped down from the Heaven Mending Platform, breathing a sigh of relief.

Han Ming was way too talkative!

If Gu An hadn't claimed to have urgent matters, Han Ming would have continued rambling about his legendary deeds.

Though Gu An usually enjoyed conversation, Han Ming's endless boasting was too much to bear. Most of it was dull, and he had little choice but to humor him.

After leaving the platform, Gu An made his way to a familiar inn, planning to enjoy some wine and watch the unfolding battle.

However, before he had gone more than a few steps, a deafening boom sounded from the horizon. Five breaths later, a violent gust of wind swept through, causing the protective formation of the outer sect to become visible.

Gu An quickened his pace, not wanting to miss the fight.

He rushed to the inn he frequented and ordered wine and meat from the innkeeper.

Due to the Tai Xuan Sect's war preparations, the inn was almost empty, with only two or three patrons scattered about.

Gu An sat by a window, watching the distant sky as his divine sense stretched across vast distances, locking onto the battlefield.

Thirty-two Body Fusion Realm cultivators had surrounded a single Profound Heart Realm opponent. The scene was awe-inspiring, with the ground for thousands of miles being razed into wasteland.

Gu An savored the spectacle. Battles of this magnitude were rare, perhaps once in several centuries.

Even if he engaged in battle, he seldom witnessed such scenes, as he usually ensured overwhelming dominance before fighting.

The Profound Heart Realm was indeed powerful, far beyond the Body Fusion Realm. The Purple-Robed Man alone was holding off thirty-two of the Tai Xuan Sect's finest, with an overwhelming and tyrannical strength.

Gu An noticed that on a mountaintop about a thousand miles from the battlefield, Su Han stood.

Su Han had led the Purple-Robed Man to the sect.

Gu An had sensed this earlier and now couldn't help but frown at Su Han's failure to flee.

That kid has no sense of self-preservation!

Gu An had saved Su Han once before and had no intention of doing so again.

As a master, he had already done his part. Even if Su Han were to be killed today, Gu An would not intervene.

He refocused his attention on the battle.

Before long, the waiter arrived with food and drink.

Just as Gu An began drinking, a voice interrupted, "So, you're here drinking."

Shen Zhen.

Gu An ignored her. Recently, the Tai Xuan Chronicle she authored had become increasingly ridiculous. Even he couldn't help but skim through it now and then, shaking his head at the absurd embellishments.

An insult to his name.

Surely, there were other people named Gu An in the Tai Xuan Sect who had grown to despise her writings.

Shen Zhen walked right up and sat across from him. Wearing a veil as usual, she drew even more attention. The few patrons in the inn couldn't resist glancing her way.

"The battle's about to start, and it'll be fiercer than the last war between the righteous and demonic paths. I'm going to paint the entire battle scene. You should join me. I've recently been meditating on my past works and have gained new insights. Who knows, I might achieve enlightenment from my paintings!" Shen Zhen said, her tone brimming with pride.

She had come specifically to find Gu An, chasing him all the way from the Third Medicine Valley to here.

Gu An responded, "No thanks. I'd rather not. The battlefield is too dangerous, and someone like me could easily be caught up in the crossfire and obliterated."

"No worries, I'll protect you."

"And what's your cultivation level? Can you really protect me?"

"I'm at least at the Core Formation stage!"

"In a battle like that, even Core Formation cultivators are just cannon fodder. You'd only twitch a bit longer than I would under the fallout."

"You... Fine, you have a point."

Shen Zhen huffed, but poured herself a bowl of wine anyway. She, too, turned her gaze toward the distant horizon.

The pressure from the distant battlefield grew stronger, causing her heart to pound.

What kind of battle could cause such earth-shaking commotion?

Using his divine sense, Gu An was deeply engrossed in the spectacle. Lü Baitian was indeed strong, clearly standing above the other Body Fusion Realm cultivators. Ji Hantian was impressive as well, his Kirin Step fully mastered, allowing him to come close to the Purple-Robed Man.

However, it hadn't been long since the battle began, and already, many from the Tai Xuan Sect had been injured, some even losing their physical bodies, forced to retreat and fight in spirit form.

The Purple-Robed Man was surrounded by numerous magical treasures, wielding a powerful spear that allowed him to fight effortlessly.

Gu An could tell that the man hadn't even unleashed his full power yet.

At this rate, the Tai Xuan Sect would be wiped out.

Sigh!

Not enough... Looks like I'll have to step in!

For the sake of his peaceful life of cultivating herbs, Gu An couldn't allow the Tai Xuan Sect to lose so many high-level cultivators. Unless an enemy appeared that even he couldn't handle, he'd intervene.

Gu An stood up and said, "Miss Shen, I need to step out for a moment. I'll be back soon, so wait here and don't leave."

Before Shen Zhen could reply, Gu An swiftly exited the inn.

She didn't seem to mind, more curious about the battle in the distance.

Gu An moved quickly through several streets, ensuring no divine sense was tracking him. Then, stepping into his Infinite Vanishing Celestial Step, he vanished from the outer gate.

Five steps later, he appeared within the Xuan Tian Cave Mansion!

Entering the wooden cabin, he grabbed the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe, his body shrouded in dark purple demonic aura.

Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body!

With a single step, he vanished from the cave mansion.

The next second, Gu An appeared on a mountaintop, a thousand miles from the cave mansion.

He swung the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe experimentally, recalling the Heaven-Sundering Divine Axe's techniques.

Forget it!

Do I really need fancy techniques to kill?

With that thought, Gu An headed toward the battlefield, axe in hand.

He planned to act under the guise of Xuan Tian Elder, the former master of the cave mansion. The news of an ancient Tai Xuan Sect elder returning would certainly spread across the cultivation world, forcing anyone who wished to challenge the sect to reconsider.

Meanwhile...

Within the Tai Cang Dynasty...

Boom!

Mountains crumbled, sending dust flying.

Another Body Fusion Realm cultivator fell, their fate uncertain.

High in the sky, Ji Hantian and two other great Ji Family cultivators unleashed their Heavenly Dragon Demon Subjugation Aspect, working together to pin down the Purple-Robed Man. All three were panting heavily, their spiritual energy nearly depleted.

Golden dragon shadows surrounded the Purple-Robed Man, but he stood tall in the air. A golden halo hovered behind his head, radiating brilliant light. Any dragon shadows that came within ten feet of him were shattered by an invisible force.

"Your Heavenly Dragon Demon Subjugation Aspect is impressive, I'll give you that. Since you're from the Ji Family, I'll spare your lives. But if you persist, don't blame me for disregarding your family's honor!"

The Purple-Robed Man's voice was cold, his words laced with murderous intent, a far cry from his earlier disdain and mockery.