Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Prepare for the Arrival of the Immortal!

Gu An spent quite a while dealing with Lu Lingjun before sending her away. Of course, another reason was that Lu Lingjun also needed time to adapt to the Mystic Heart Realm.

He felt uneasy, knowing that Lu Lingjun, who knew his true identity as Pan An, might entangle him even more.

He remembered that Lu Lingjun loved reading Investiture of the Gods when she had nothing else to do.

In the days that followed, Lu Lingjun’s name spread throughout the Supreme Sect, invigorating all the disciples.

The three words “Mystic Heart Realm” were enough to boost the morale of the entire sect!

The news quickly reached the Taichen Dynasty.

All the cultivators in the Supreme Sect’s main stronghold were very excited upon hearing this.

During this time, they deeply realized the terror of the Mystic Heart Realm. It was no exaggeration to say that the only factor determining the outcome of the battlefield now was the Mystic Heart Realm!

No matter how many Unification Realm cultivators there were, they couldn’t match up to the Mystic Heart Realm!

Lv Baitian was very pleased, explaining that he had personally recruited Lu Lingjun into the Supreme Sect. This also reassured those higher-ups who felt unfamiliar with Lu Lingjun.

A mysterious great cultivator of Mystic Heart Realm suddenly appearing, especially at this critical moment, naturally aroused suspicion among the authorities.

They began to request Lv Baitian to summon Lu Lingjun to join the battle.

Solely relying on Ancestor Xuan Quan was too weak an involvement for the Supreme Sect in this war; within the Nine Dynasties Alliance, they hardly had any significant voice. It was an incredible humiliation for the Supreme Sect, which had just held a Golden List competition.

Lv Baitian temporarily suppressed these requests, wanting to leave Lu Lingjun time to consolidate her cultivation level.

Later, under the leadership of the Cangtian Sect, the Nine Dynasties sects occasionally launched attacks on Wanji Forest. Great cultivators charged in, middle-level cultivators tried to rescue captured prisoners, and lower-level cultivators handled supply and logistics tasks.

No matter how hard the Nine Dynasties sects tried to break through, they could not penetrate the Mahayana Array of the Ephemera Sect.

News kept spreading, making more and more people in the world realize that the great calamity of the Nine Dynasties had arrived, a crisis that concerned all of humanity.

…

Autumn arrived; Lu Lingjun had been in seclusion for a month, and during this time, Gu An did not disturb her.

Gu An still traveled back and forth to various Medicine Valleys. Now, Nianchu Cave had also entered a smooth track, and Tian Yao’er did things more and more to his satisfaction. He hadn’t gone to Nianchu Cave for six days.

On this day.

Gu Zong came to visit Gu An. He asked Gu An to convey to Lu Lingjun that she should head to Wanji Forest to provide support as soon as she came out of seclusion. Gu An agreed.

The battlefield in Wanji Forest was becoming even more severe. Using his divine sense, Gu An saw that Wanji Forest was still in the midst of a great battle.

Tens of thousands of cultivators were arrayed in every direction, shaking the heavens and the earth, causing the entire Taichen Dynasty’s spiritual energy to surge toward Wanji Forest.

It was extremely tragic!

Gu An watched for a while before withdrawing his divine sense.

The number of sacrificial offerings continued to increase, most likely prepared for that Mahayana cultivator. The death of Fairy Bai Xia didn’t seem to have affected that Mahayana cultivator’s plan.

Gu An continued his inspection of the Third Medicine Valley.

Until evening, Lu Lingjun walked out of her courtyard and came to the pavilion to visit Gu An.

Gu An conveyed Gu Zong’s request. It was up to Lu Lingjun to decide whether to go or not; as a Mystic Heart Realm cultivator, no one could control her.

“Hmm, I heard about it earlier. I will depart shortly.” Lu Lingjun nodded, her expression cold and aloof, perhaps revealing her true self.

She was the strongest cultivator in the lower realm. No longer hiding her cultivation, she didn’t disguise her nature anymore either.

Gu An looked at her, wondering why she hadn’t left yet.

Lu Lingjun stared at him and said, “I can sense many Mystic Heart Realm auras in Wanji Forest, and there’s even one that makes my heart palpitate. This journey likely holds great danger.”

Her eyes were beautiful yet deeply profound from years of experience, fixing on Gu An in a way that made him inexplicably guilty.

Gu An responded, “Do what you can. If you can’t turn the tide, then protect yourself.”

Lu Lingjun smiled and said, “Naturally, I won’t sacrifice myself for the Supreme Sect. However, I am about to join such a dangerous war. Do you have anything you want to say to me?”

Gu An cleared his throat and said seriously, “Ms. Lu, the previous time I held your hand was unintentional. Don’t overthink it. As for matters of love, they can’t be decided lightly. Two people need mutual affection to commit for life, not just a brief touch.”

“And, to be honest with you, I didn’t write Investiture of the Gods. I just heard it from a Daoist named Xu Zhonglin.”

Lu Lingjun laughed and said, “If it was really someone else, how could you bask in this false reputation for decades?”

Gu An was at a loss for words. He couldn’t exactly say the original author wasn’t from this world!

“Actually, it doesn’t matter whether you wrote Investiture of the Gods. After being with you for so many years, I know your nature is indeed good. Although greedy, it was always consensual. You always treat people politely, neither humble to those above nor arrogant to those below…” Lu Lingjun began to praise Gu An, making him feel a bit euphoric.

Was I really this good?

Lu Lingjun turned her tone and said, “You are excellent in every aspect except your cultivation level. If you want to be my Daoist friend, first cultivate to the Void Crossing Realm. Before that, I will keep an eye on you. Once you reach the Void Crossing Realm, I have an untested cultivation technique we can practice together.”

Practice together?

Gu An suddenly thought of some scenes in the Supreme Secret Records, and a surge of heat rose in his heart.

Something’s off!

Trying to destroy my Daoist Heart?

Gu An looked at Lu Lingjun again, feeling that her smile was so sinister.

A two-thousand-year-old woman wanting to lure this seventy-year-old youngster?

“Then you better give up. I won’t reach the Void Crossing Realm for the rest of my life,” Gu An said seriously.

Lu Lingjun smiled, then stood up. She placed her right hand on the table, leaving a ring set with red jade, and said, “This is the Double Heart Ring. Refine it, and I can detect if you’re in danger and might save your life.”

Without waiting for Gu An to respond, she disappeared from the room.

Gu An looked at the Double Heart Ring on the table, silent.

He couldn’t help but glance at the Qinghong Sword also on the table, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

Damn Heavenly Dao, why arrange for one woman after another to like him?

Afraid I’ll keep hiding?

…

One night passed.

The next day at noon, Gu An arrived at Tianya Valley. He found only Luo Hun left in the valley.

He found Luo Hun and asked where Lv Xian and Yi Liuyun had gone.

“They followed His Majesty on a campaign to the Taichen Dynasty. His Majesty said that since the world is in trouble, as an emperor, he must contribute,” Luo Hun replied, his face full of admiration. Had Li Xuandao not left him to guard the valley, he too would have wanted to join the battle.

Gu An didn’t expect Li Xuandao to have such a sense of duty. He didn’t comment much, just nodded, then turned and walked toward the park.

So, Gu An waited for another half a month.

He stood at the window of the Mystic Valley Pavilion, using his divine sense to look at Wanji Forest. Lu Lingjun was fighting a Mystic Heart Realm cultivator, with several others battling nearby. The mountainous area within a thousand miles had become a wasteland, covered in dust.

As far as the eye could see, there were corpses everywhere, a shocking sight.

That Mahayana cultivator still hadn’t shown up!

Gu An couldn’t believe it. Could he really keep hiding forever?

If that mysterious sacrificial array started and the enemy still hadn’t appeared, he would have to act to prevent the Nine Dynasties cultivators from being entirely wiped out.

After all, there was still a demonic calamity to deal with later.

Gu An looked towards the Nine Nether Road, which had already become the territory of the Ephemera Sect. Within a thousand miles, ephemera flowers could be seen everywhere.

Once the Ephemera Sect’s hierarch was dealt with, those flowers could be harvested.

This time, the Ephemera Sect must be eradicated to prevent any future resurgence.

…

Wanji Forest, within the Mahayana Array.

Seven authorities of the Ephemera Sect opened their eyes simultaneously, their gazes fierce. The masked elder at the lead spoke first, “Ladies and gentlemen, the auspicious time has come. Prepare to activate the formation and welcome the hierarch.”

He stood up, and the other six followed suit.

“Finally, we’ve waited long enough.”

“Rumor has it Taichen harbors a divine beast, Chen Snake. Who knows if this sacrifice will attract it?”

“Such an ethereal legend, so many have died, yet Chen Snake has never appeared.”

“Speaking of which, the Sword Venerable Fudao hasn’t shown up. I’m somewhat relieved; it seems he is wary of us. He guards the Supreme Sect only because it threatens him.”

“Even without us, the Nine Dynasties would face extermination. Great cultivators like him pursue longevity; to live long, one must avoid peril, naturally not subjecting themselves to danger.”

Their tone was relaxed, feeling confident that their plot was about to succeed.

Then, they each stepped back and began casting spells.

Rumble—

The ground beneath them split apart, and massive tree roots broke through the earth. They stepped on the roots and rose into the air, distancing themselves from the ground.

Meanwhile, all the great cultivators fighting in the distance sensed an ominous aura.

Lv Baitian turned and looked, his brows furrowed. He muttered three words, “Ephemeral Tree!”

This Ephemeral Tree was far more terrifying than the one on Nine Nether Road!

The aura, as if from the Nine Nether World, struck fear into everyone’s hearts!

On the ground, countless human prisoners stared in horror at the colossal tree rising, dwarfed even by its leaves.

Thousands of miles away.

Lu Lingjun, wielding dual swords and surrounded by a golden sash like a coiling dragon, turned her head to see the silhouette of the Origin Tree of Ephemera on the horizon.

A small snake emerged from her coiffure, flicking its tongue, “What a terrifying aura! This is no joke. Having fought this long, we’ve repaid our debts—it’s time to flee!”

This little snake was none other than the White Spirit Demon Emperor who had ascended with her, bearing Unification Realm Eighth Floor cultivation!

Hundreds of feet away, a Mystic Heart Realm great cultivator of the Ephemera Sect, trapped by Lu Lingjun’s formation, laughed maniacally while resisting, “Thinking of fleeing? It’s too late. Prepare to welcome the immortal!”

Immortal?

Lu Lingjun frowned, and the White Spirit Demon Emperor was also startled. Looking at the great cultivator, it asked, “If you had an immortal, wouldn’t you have conquered the Nine Dynasties long ago?”

The great cultivator kept a smile without explaining and began to break the formation with all his might.

Elsewhere, Mystic Heart Realm cultivators also paused their battles. The Nine Dynasties cultivators looked in horror at the Origin Tree of Ephemera, while the Ephemera Sect members grew excited, confident of their victory.