Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Jiang Qiong Returns, a Hand in the Night

Ancestor Kusong died?

Gu An heard Gu Zong’s words and felt a bit dazed.

Although he wasn’t very close friends with Ancestor Kusong, they had pleasant conversations whenever they were at the Inner Sect Book Collection Hall.

Hearing the news of Ancestor Kusong’s demise gave him an indescribable feeling.

The Supreme Elder has fallen. If I recall correctly, Ancestor Kusong was at the Mystic Heart Realm, right? Zhen Qin frowned and said.

When the Ephemera Sect attacked back then, Ancestor Kusong fought against Venerable Chi Qian, spreading his Dao name throughout the Supreme Sect. He had become the second most renowned Great Cultivator in the Supreme Sect, only next to Sword Venerable Fudao.

Even Zhen Qin, who had no interaction with Ancestor Kusong, felt sad upon hearing his demise.

Gu An looked up to the sky. He saw dark clouds, indicating that a storm was about to come.

Ancestor Kusong’s death shocked the entire Supreme Sect, and the news quickly spread through the Immortal Cultivation World.

Three days later, Gu An arrived at Inner Sect City as scheduled to attend Ancestor Kusong’s memorial service. Tens of thousands of disciples in the city mourned. Listening to the Sect Elders recount Ancestor Kusong’s life achievements, even newly inducted disciples felt sorrow.

After recounting Ancestor Kusong’s life, the Supreme Sect also disclosed for the first time the impending great calamity of demons that would erupt decades later, causing an uproar among the cities.

In the days that followed, various sects under the Taicang Dynasty also announced this matter. The peace of the Immortal Cultivation World was once again shattered, and all cultivators felt a sense of crisis.

A Mystic Heart Realm cultivator has already fallen; this calamity is far more terrifying than the previous Ephemera Sect turmoil.

Autumn faded into winter.

Winter snow gradually covered Mystic Valley.

On this day, Gu An waited early at the Mystic Valley Pavilion because he felt a familiar aura approaching.

Late at night, a figure appeared outside Gu An’s window.

Gu An went to open the window and let the visitor in.

It was a white-robed woman wearing a bamboo hat. After entering, she took off the hat and looked back at Gu An, who was setting up a restriction. She smiled and asked, “Did you miss me, obedient disciple?”

After finishing the restriction, Gu An turned around and curiously asked, “Where have you been all these years? Are you alright?”

He cast a Life Span Detection spell on Jiang Qiong.

[Jiang Qiong (Nascent Soul Realm Level Six): 243/700/5490]

Hmm?

Five thousand four hundred and ninety years of maximum life span!

Gu An remembered that Jiang Qiong’s maximum life span was around two thousand four hundred years.

It seems there were great opportunities on the Nine Nether Road!

Jiang Qiong smiled and said, “I went to a mysterious place and got great opportunities. How could your martial master not fare well?”

Seeing Gu An’s concerned expression warmed Jiang Qiong’s heart.

Someone still thought of her in this world.

Gu An invited Jiang Qiong to sit down first and then started brewing tea.

“Disciple, how have you been these years?” Jiang Qiong asked, her gaze sweeping over the room’s decor.

With his back to her, Gu An replied, “As usual, growing flowers and herbs, reading books. Oh, and in the last Golden List Tournament, I ranked among the top 500, thanks to the magic artifact bestowed by my sect seniors…”

Talking about the Golden List Tournament, he felt proud and intentionally boasted to Jiang Qiong.

In the past, Jiang Qiong might have been surprised, but after experiencing the Ephemera Sect turmoil and traveling the Nine Nether Road, her perspective had changed drastically.

Facing Gu An’s boasting, she found it amusing while also feeling gratified.

Seeing him living well made her happy.

After Gu An finished speaking, he carried some hot tea to the table. As he sat down, he poured tea while asking, “And you? Can you share a bit?”

Jiang Qiong smiled and said, “I offended a significant figure and have to hide in the Eight Scenic Caves for a while. Are you sure you want to know?”

Upon hearing this, Gu An immediately shook his head and said, “Then forget it. If you need to hide, just hide. I certainly won’t betray you.”

In the past, Jiang Qiong had taught him many things, and the Eight Scenic Caves belonged to her, so sheltering her was only natural.

More importantly, Gu An already knew who was hunting Jiang Qiong.

Before going to the Ancient Sky Sect, Gu An detected Jiang Qiong’s presence during a divine sense probe. He accepted the Sect Hierarch Token from the Ephemera Sect to give it to Jiang Qiong later.

Just in time, Jiang Qiong had ambitions!

Two Great Cultivators in the Void Crossing Realm were chasing Jiang Qiong, but they had lost her trail and were now wandering in the Great Yu Dynasty.

Hearing Gu An’s words, Jiang Qiong smiled, raised her hand, and produced a white jade bottle. She said, “The spirit juice inside is good stuff. Drink a mouthful each month, no more, to avoid Qi-Blood disruption. This juice can enhance your root bone quality.”

“How can I take this? You should keep it for yourself.”

“I’ve already consumed a lot. This is the leftover, and it no longer benefits me. You keep it, no refusals!”

With a stern face, Jiang Qiong said this. Hearing her words, Gu An had no option but to accept.

After chatting for an hour, they moved to the Eight Scenic Caves.

Gu An revealed that the Green Vine Tree had developed spiritual wisdom, but Jiang Qiong was nonchalant, stating that the Green Vine Tree in the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion also had spiritual intelligence.

Earlier, while in the pavilion, Gu An had already messaged the Green Vine Tree, instructing it on what could be said and what should be kept secret.

Back in the Eight Scenic Caves, Jiang Qiong sensed the spiritual energy was denser than before, making her very pleased with Gu An.

“Disciple, the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion has disbanded, and my kin have all perished. From now on, I will depend on you. You won’t mind, will you?” Jiang Qiong rested her hand on Gu An’s shoulder with a smile.

Gu An stepped to the side and said, “Why would I mind? I even want to learn formations from you.”

He then went to the Green Vine Tree and dug out the Divine Power Collection of the Ji Family, handing it to Jiang Qiong.

Jiang Qiong had robbed this item during a banquet at the Ji Family. It recorded the Heaven and Earth Path Gang divine skills.

Gu An had already mastered the Heaven and Earth Path Gang and upgraded it to Daoist Gang Primal Energy. Now, even if caught off guard, it would be hard for enemies of the same rank to kill him instantly. The Daoist Gang Primal Energy could autonomously protect his body.

Looking at the Divine Power Collection in her hands, Jiang Qiong felt mixed emotions. For some reason, her mood was quite complicated.

Seeing her expression, Gu An felt uneasy.

Don’t tell me she’s moved?

He immediately found an excuse and left.

Watching his departing figure, Jiang Qiong sighed and thought, “This kid is really foolish. He didn’t even research it thoroughly.”

She could sense that the restriction on the Divine Power Collection was intact, so she assumed Gu An hadn’t touched it.

Such foolishness would surely lead to trouble someday.

She needed to teach him!

…

Jiang Qiong’s return didn’t change Gu An’s life. Every seven days, he would visit the Eight Scenic Caves, bringing along various medicinal herbs for her, asking her not to pick any, leaving that task to him.

Jiang Qiong, aware of his habits, behaved accordingly upon returning to the Eight Scenic Caves. Since Gu An had prepared the herbs, why should she bother?

Due to Ancestor Kusong’s death, the atmosphere in the Supreme Sect was colder than in previous winters.

At the year’s end, a major event occurred: the Hanlu Dynasty surrendered. Thus, the Taicang Dynasty annexed the Hanlu Dynasty, breaking the millennia-old nine-dynasty balance.

Li Xuandao’s prestige soared, with even the Outer Sect of the Supreme Sect discussing him.

If he truly united the world, his name would be engraved in history!

Gu An heard in the Outer Sect that Li Xuandao had begun deploying troops against the Wuzhen Dynasty. This time, there were no public objections, but rather praises for Li Xuandao.

Rumor had it that the Tianwei Dynasty in the distant land also waged war, with the current emperor harboring ambitions no less than Li Xuandao’s.

Significantly, Ancestor Xingyan’s death hadn’t spread, and Tianwei made no inquiries with the Supreme Sect about Si Zong’s death, clearly determined to swallow this loss.

These matters were irrelevant to Gu An; he simply listened for entertainment.

With the New Year, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin came to spend the festival with Gu An.

Gu An divided the spirit juice given by Jiang Qiong into three portions, giving them to Ye Lan, Zhen Qin, and Xiaochuan individually, asking them not to tell anyone.

Right after the Spring Festival, the Supreme Sect began recruiting disciples to explore the Demon Land.

Facing the inevitable calamity, the Supreme Sect didn’t want to sit idle, so they offered generous rewards to attract disciples for reconnaissance.

Some disciples nearing their life’s end or faced with cultivation obstacles eagerly applied, but Gu An instructed Ye Lan and Zhen Qin not to participate, thankfully they listened.

In the following years, news about demons frequently reached the Supreme Sect.

Demons increased across the nine dynasties, clearly a precursor to the demon calamity.

Time flew like a white steed’s shadow passing a crevice.

Two years later, during late autumn.

In a mountain forest under the night sky, Di Xie walked.

He stopped as black crows flew out from the darkness ahead. These crows swept past Di Xie, settled on a large tree behind him, and coalesced into a figure—dark and eerie, with no clear features.

The emperor is looking for you. Won’t you return? the mysterious figure asked.

What for? Isn’t the southward movement inevitable? Di Xie’s tone was full of sarcasm.

Why do you resist the emperor’s plan? the mysterious figure asked in a deep voice.

Di Xie mocked, This world isn’t big enough? Even in the Demon Lands, there are countless hills beyond his control. Why push humanity to extinction?

The mysterious figure snorted, Demons and humans cannot coexist. Eradicating humans is the only way to ensure our safety.

But humans exist overseas. When will the killing end? I think he’s been influenced by the Demon Master!

Don’t speak ill of the Demon Master!

Anyway, I won’t return. I’ll train at the Supreme Sect. Don’t seek me out again. If Sword Venerable Fudao discovers you, even if you die, I won’t lift a finger!

With these words, Di Xie left.

The mysterious figure coldly said, Sword Venerable Fudao? Ancestor Kusong of the Supreme Sect died by my hand. If I encounter Sword Venerable Fudao, I’ll ensure he meets the same fate, boiled into broth!

Di Xie continued without turning back and disappeared into the darkness.

The mysterious figure snorted, then transformed into black crows and flew north.

The crows flew swiftly, leaving the Taicang Dynasty behind in no time.

An hour later, they flew over the North Sea Mountain and arrived at the forest of the Taichen Dynasty.

The crows landed by a small river, reformed into a figure. This time, he showed his true form: a crow-headed humanoid covered in black feathers, wings folding back as he squatted and plunged his hands into the river water.

The night was chilly, and the river’s surface glimmered.

Thud!

A hand suddenly pressed on his shoulder, freezing his expression.