At the summit of Mortal Peak, atop a rugged cliff, Fu Shenxiu and Yongnian Dao Lord stood silently gazing at the heavens, their expressions solemn.
"Master, what level of the Immortal Dao has the Sword Master of the Dao reached?" Fu Shenxiu finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
Yongnian Dao Lord let out a bitter laugh. "I've merely lived a few years longer than you. I only know the Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal Realm. As for the realms beyond that, I cannot even fathom their names."
Fu Shenxiu sighed in awe. "The aura of that otherworldly fiend felt even more terrifying than Senior Meng's, and yet he was obliterated in an instant. Truly, there are always stronger people, and higher heavens."
Yongnian Dao Lord furrowed his brows, his tone heavy. "I have a feeling that the Sacred Court is courting disaster. To let in such a fiend… This world is on the cusp of a once-in-a-million-years upheaval."
Fu Shenxiu nodded, sharing the same unease.
"Still," he said, his voice tinged with anger, "the fact that the Sword Master of the Dao destroyed that fiend is a blessing. That demon hadn't even begun his massacre of the Heavenly Demons before he turned on mortals indiscriminately. The Sacred Court's foolishness knows no bounds—collaborating with such an abomination!" His fists clenched as he thought back to the dialogue between the Sacred King and the Dark War Emperor. "When did the Sacred Court fall to this state?"
Yongnian Dao Lord remained silent, unwilling to voice certain thoughts.
Across the realm, the events were the topic of heated discussion—not just among the disciples of Mortal Peak but also within countless sects, royal courts, and even the Immortal Dynasties. The ripples of this confrontation were spreading rapidly.
As summer gave way to autumn, the Third Medicine Valley bustled with life.
Gu An sat at a table, listening to Shen Zhen, who sat opposite him, her voice lively with excitement. Months had passed since the battle between the Sword Master of the Dao and the Dark War Emperor, yet the tales of that clash continued to grow in fervor.
"They say that fiend from beyond was summoned by the Sacred Court. Hah, it's the same everywhere—shady dealings and hidden agendas. Whether it's the Dao Tian Sect, the Tai Xuan Sect, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, or the Sacred Court, no one's hands are clean," Shen Zhen remarked with a mocking tone.
Gu An sighed. "My dear lady, could you perhaps be a bit more discreet? These cultivators are as powerful as gods. Aren't you worried someone might overhear?"
"What's there to fear?" Shen Zhen retorted. "It's already spreading everywhere that the Sacred Court invited the otherworldly fiend. Word is that eight continents' worth of living beings were devoured by the Dark War Emperor. Such sins are beyond redemption!"
"Criticize all you want, but don't write it down or paint a picture," Gu An warned her.
She rolled her eyes. "Do I look that reckless? Besides, I'm not so righteous as to start crusading. It's just nauseating to see the Sacred Court claim to stand for justice, only to commit such atrocities in secret."
Outside, the chess players in the valley were also lambasting the Sacred Court. The fervent denunciations echoed everywhere.
Gu An, however, sensed the faint undertone of a conspiracy. With the Sacred Court's resources and capabilities, how could they have allowed the rumors to spiral so wildly? Their reputation mattered deeply to them, especially under the reign of the Sacred King.
Reputation wasn't mere vanity. When it reached a certain point, it influenced the luck and destiny of individuals and factions. Through the intricate rules of Heaven and Earth, even a faction's reputation could be used to divine their standing.
Of course, whether the Sacred Court was truly good or evil depended on the nature of the Divine Sovereign they served.
With this in mind, Gu An decided he needed to investigate Heavenly Prison. Whether these rumors were fabricated or part of a larger scheme, there were debts he needed to settle.
An hour later, Shen Zhen, her frustrations vented, departed in high spirits. Gu An walked her out and bid her farewell before heading toward the teleportation array.
Inside the grand hall, flames flickered faintly.
A man clad in black robes sat upon a throne, his brows furrowed deeply, his mind clouded with unease. The dragon-bone crown atop his head emitted faint traces of dragon souls, intertwining like snakes.
Months had passed since the fall of the Dark War Emperor, yet the Sword Master of the Dao had not descended upon Heavenly Prison. This should have brought him a sigh of relief, but instead, it deepened his dread. A sense of impending doom lingered over him.
Heavenly Prison, a micro-world hidden deeply within the folds of reality, was a place difficult to find. Yet for someone like the Sword Master of the Dao, such concealment was meaningless.
Snap!
Suddenly, he felt a hand gripping his shoulder, causing his heart to stop momentarily. Instinctively, he opened his eyes wide.
Out of the corner of his vision, he saw a figure shrouded in deep purple demonic energy. His pupils dilated in shock, his body freezing like ice. The sight plunged him into an abyss of despair.
The figure before him was Gu An, the Sword Master of the Dao.
Gu An looked down at him coldly, casting a Lifespan Investigation upon the trembling figure.
[Punishment Demon Lord (Eighth Layer of the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm): 590,328/800,000/1,500,000]
Gu An's voice, altered to a hoarse tone, carried a bone-chilling coldness. "You've lived over five hundred thousand years. That's no small feat. Now, will you speak voluntarily, or should I extract the truth myself?"
The Punishment Demon Lord shivered uncontrollably, gritting his teeth as he spoke, his voice trembling with fear. "It was the Domain Master Qingsongzi who approached me! He claimed it was at the order of the Great Ming Sacred King, commanding me to release a batch of Heavenly Demons into the Tai Cang Continent. I had no choice—it was the Sacred King! I was only following orders. I have no personal enmity with you, my lord. Please… spare me."
Gu An's gaze shifted upward, his hand still firmly gripping the Punishment Demon Lord's shoulder.
As his eyes locked on the ceiling of the hall, a golden light appeared, splitting the air as though space itself had been torn. The light rapidly expanded until a figure stepped out, enveloped in dazzling radiance.
The newcomer's body was entirely shrouded in golden light, making it impossible even for Gu An to discern their true appearance. Calmly, Gu An cast another Lifespan Investigation.
[Sacred Minister (Ninth Layer of the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm): 0/0/0]
No lifespan? Not the true body.
The Punishment Demon Lord also noticed the appearance of the Sacred Minister, his face twisting in panic. Although he had never seen the Sacred Minister before, he knew that their sudden arrival boded ill for him.
The Sacred Minister's voice echoed, calm and authoritative: "I can depose the Great Ming Sacred King."
The first sentence alone made the Punishment Demon Lord's expression pale even further.
Such bold words!
Within the Sacred Court, there were only two individuals who had the authority to remove a Sacred King. Whichever one the Sacred Minister was, the Punishment Demon Lord could not afford to provoke them.
Gu An's voice broke the silence. "And who might you be?"
The Sacred Minister responded evenly, "I am the Sacred Minister of the Sacred Court, overseeing all its affairs. The descent of the Dark War Emperor was my decision. It was an effort to cleanse the mortal realm of Heavenly Demons, though I admit it resulted in unforeseen chaos."
Gu An hadn't expected such a direct admission, leaving him momentarily unsure of the Sacred Minister's intentions.
The Sacred Minister continued, their tone devoid of emotion, "Sword Master of the Dao, you have rejected the Sacred Court's offer of a position tied to its fortune. I won't question your reasons, but I do wish to clarify your stance toward the Sacred Court to avoid any future misunderstandings. From your actions, it is clear that you are neither of the Evil Dao nor the Demonic Dao."
After a brief pause, Gu An replied, "I harbor no desire to make enemies of anyone. My actions were merely to protect the continent I reside upon. I benefit from its spiritual energy, so it's only right to defend it in return."
The Sacred Minister nodded at his response and said, "I see. Such an attitude is admirable. Throughout history, there have been many like you—solitary cultivators with their eyes solely on the path ahead. That you shielded countless lives is their great fortune. Henceforth, the Sacred Court will not disturb your cultivation."
This time, their tone carried a faint trace of goodwill.
Gu An tilted his head slightly before asking, "May I make a request?"
"Speak," the Sacred Minister replied.
"Bring the Great Ming Sacred King to me. I want to personally end him."