From within the grand palace echoed the resonant voice of Daoist teachings, captivating the cultivators seated in the vast square outside, drawing them into deep meditation.
Carrying both swords, Gu An stepped forward. His goal in dealing with the Seven Stars Spirit Realm wasn't to annihilate everyone but to decimate the upper echelon, scattering their influence across the continent.
If he obliterated the entire Seven Stars Spirit Realm, the surrounding major powers would undoubtedly grow more wary of him, possibly even provoking stronger entities.
As Gu An walked among the Seven Stars Spirit Realm disciples, each step radiating defiance against the palace's overpowering Daoist aura, the disciples in his wake began to stir, startled awake by his presence.
When they turned to look at him, they were shocked and scrambled to their feet, hastily summoning their magical tools and divine weapons in preparation for battle.
Yet Gu An continued walking as though oblivious, not even sparing them a glance.
"Who is he?"
"What's he trying to do?"
"I can't discern his cultivation level. We should tread carefully—after all, the Divine Lord is within the palace."
"Could he be from the Star Sea Sect?"
"No... this seems like the Demon Shadow Divine Art, a technique from the Thousand Autumn Pavilion of the Tai Cang Dynasty. I've seen it once before. The only one who could have mastered it to this degree is the legendary reclusive expert of Tai Xuan Sect—Sword Master of Dao!"
Sword Master of Dao!
The name struck the crowd of disciples like a thunderbolt, sending chills through their hearts.
The reputation of Sword Master of Dao was well-known to them. This was the man who had once forced the Shenhun True Person, master of the Six-Star Cave, to retreat!
After that fateful battle, the Shenhun True Person vanished without a trace. Some within the Seven Stars Spirit Realm speculated that he had been killed by Sword Master of Dao.
Regardless of the truth, the strength of Sword Master of Dao left an indelible fear in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
The disciples present were no ordinary cultivators; they were either geniuses or scions of noble houses within the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Many had heard whispers of other tragic tales, such as Lin Jinxian of the Lin family meeting his end at Sword Master of Dao's hands.
As more disciples awoke and became aware of Gu An's presence, a chilling realization spread among them. None dared to approach, let alone attempt to stop him.
It wasn't long before Gu An reached the grand staircase of the palace.
Standing closer, he could better sense the imposing grandeur of the structure. A profound Daoist intent radiated from the palace, its aura facilitating the comprehension of Daoist principles for those nearby. It was evident that the materials used in its construction were extraordinary, possibly infused with a powerful formation.
Inside the palace resided only one person—another Flying Immortal.
This one was even stronger than the previous Di Gang Divine Lord.
Previously, the strongest figures of the Six-Star and Seven-Star Caves had barely reached the Wandering Immortal Realm. But now, two Flying Immortals had emerged, a testament to how well-prepared the Seven Stars Spirit Realm was.
Fortunately, Gu An hadn't acted hastily in the past. His confidence in coming here today stemmed from the certainty that there were no Carefree Immortals present in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
The Star Sea Sect had assured him of this. After all, if the Seven Stars Spirit Realm did possess a Carefree Immortal, they wouldn't have tolerated the Star Sea Sect's provocations.
"Sword Master of Dao, what irreconcilable grudge do you hold against the Seven Stars Spirit Realm?"
A deep, aged voice resonated from within the palace, echoing across the vast square. At its sound, the restless disciples grew quiet and composed.
This was a senior from the Five-Star Cave, renowned across the seas. Surely, he could suppress Sword Master of Dao!
The Seven Stars Spirit Realm's subspaces were isolated from one another, preventing most from sensing the battle that had transpired within Ji Xiaoyu's realm. The disciples here had no idea that a Flying Immortal had already fallen to Gu An's sword.
However, the Flying Immortal within the palace was fully aware!
"You harbor the Demon Ancestor, create Fierce Demon, and toy with the lives of mortals across the continent. What grievance could I possibly lack?"
Gu An's voice rang out, cutting through the stillness, leaving the disciples pale-faced.
Though many had heard rumors, hearing these sins laid bare by Sword Master of Dao left them reeling in disbelief.
After all, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm prided itself on being the epitome of righteousness!
Boom—
The palace doors swung open, unleashing a gust of fierce wind that rippled through Gu An's demonic aura and pushed the gathered disciples back.
From the depths of the palace emerged a figure clad in a feathered robe. The man's features were bold and commanding, his presence otherworldly as white crane phantoms danced behind him. Ascending the steps, he gazed down upon Gu An with an air of superiority.
"You reek of demonic energy, yet you come to this sacred land seeking justice. Don't you find that laughable?"
The feather-robed man's voice was calm, his demeanor unperturbed.
[Wan Li Divine Lord (Flying Immortal Stage, Level 3): 158,082/260,000/310,000]
Gu An regarded the prompt before him without reaction.
He could sense that Wan Li Divine Lord was stalling for time. Several other Flying Immortals were approaching rapidly, but that was precisely what he wanted.
Gu An responded, "Demon or Immortal, it makes no difference. If the heavens won't judge you, I will."
At this, Wan Li Divine Lord burst into laughter, as if he'd just heard the most absurd joke.
"That Demon Ancestor is a manifestation of heavenly destiny. It can be killed but never eradicated. The Seven Stars Spirit Realm has stationed countless disciples here for generations to suppress it. As for the Fierce Demon, they are cursed abominations. Do you know how many lives the Seven Stars Spirit Realm has sacrificed to seal them?"
"Sword Master of Dao, do you have any idea how much we've sacrificed to protect this continent, to fend off external threats? How many of our disciples lie buried beneath the ocean?"
"You see only the suffering of mortals, but have you considered how much the Seven Stars Spirit Realm has endured?"
Wan Li Divine Lord's voice grew increasingly agitated, his expression twisting with rage. His words struck a chord among the disciples, stirring their emotions.
Indeed, while outsiders might not know, as disciples of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, how could they be unaware of the sacrifices their realm had made to safeguard the continent?
They each had close relatives or friends who had lost their lives fighting against the sea forces and demons.
Their gazes toward Gu An were filled with anger, as though he was the true villain.
Standing motionless, Gu An calmly looked at Wan Li Divine Lord. After Wan Li Divine Lord finished speaking, Gu An suddenly asked, "The demons on the mainland have already been eradicated by me. Why, then, are there still demons inside your palace?"
These words caused the square to fall into an eerie silence. All eyes turned toward Wan Li Divine Lord.
Wan Li Divine Lord coldly responded, "Utter nonsense. Do you expect me to let you into the palace to verify your claim?"
Boom—
Rolling thunderclouds rapidly blanketed the sky, and waves of oppressive auras descended. Wan Li Divine Lord visibly relaxed, letting out a small breath.
"The Seven Stars Spirit Realm, decreed by the Heavenly Dao as a holy sanctuary, will not tolerate slander from a demon like you!" he declared.
"Ridiculous. A shadowy figure hiding behind falsehoods dares to challenge the Seven Stars Spirit Realm?"
"You've killed a Divine Lord of our realm. Today, you will be reduced to ashes, erased even from the cycle of reincarnation!"
"For tens of thousands of years, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm has saved countless lives. You think you can shake that foundation?"
"Who is righteous and who is demonic is not for you to decide!"
One after another, commanding voices boomed like thunderclaps, shaking the heavens and reverberating throughout the square. The disciples looked up in astonishment, faces pale with disbelief.
From the thunderclouds emerged piercing beams of light that penetrated the sky, illuminating the world.
At the same time—
Snow began to fall across the mainland.
Under the blazing summer sun, delicate snowflakes descended, stirring the awe and discussions of all living beings.
Third Medicine Valley.
The disciples paused their tasks, gazing upward at the falling snowflakes.
Yang Jian stood at a wooden railing, extending his hand to catch a snowflake. It quickly melted, not into water, but into a wisp of white vapor.
"This..." Yang Jian furrowed his brows. He felt an inexplicable, ineffable sensation emanating from the snowflakes, compelling him to investigate further. He immediately reached out to catch more snowflakes.
Meanwhile, An Xin, playing chess with You Yingying, raised her head.
"Summer snow? What kind of omen is this? We've never encountered anything like it before," An Xin muttered to herself.
You Yingying extended her hand to catch a snowflake. It dissolved into white vapor, her expression changing subtly as a thought crossed her mind. In a low voice, she murmured, "Heavenly snow, dissipating upon touch—this is not normal. Could it be the rumored phenomenon of an Immortal's fall?"
At this, An Xin curiously asked, "What's an Immortal's fall phenomenon?"
You Yingying explained, "I've heard that when a powerful Flying Immortal perishes, heaven and earth manifest this phenomenon, as if marking their life's accomplishments."
"An Immortal's fall? Is it on this continent or overseas?" An Xin asked, her interest piqued.
Looking up with a complex expression, You Yingying replied, "I fear it's here on this continent."
Throughout the Tai Xuan Sect, all cultivators exposed to sunlight were discussing this sudden, otherworldly phenomenon.
Ye Lan also stepped out of her room, gazing at the sky with tightly furrowed brows.
Several miles away, Wu Jue did the same, though he seemed to be on the verge of an epiphany. Caught in a mystical state, he stood utterly still.
Great Jiang Dynasty, Gathering Flower Sect.
Jiang Qiong and the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother stood at the edge of a cliff, reaching out to catch the snow.
"An Immortal's fall phenomenon... It seems the conflict between the Seven Stars Spirit Realm and the Star Sea Sect has escalated to an irreconcilable point. A Flying Immortal has fallen," the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother remarked, her expression full of worry.
Jiang Qiong, on the other hand, smiled faintly. "The fiercer their battle, the better it is for us."
Though she said this, an inexplicable unease stirred in her heart, as if a great calamity loomed.
Within the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
The thunderclouds expanded into a massive vortex. At its center floated a golden mirror, its edges engraved with intricate patterns of divine beasts. The mirror's surface glowed with a ghostly blue hue, enveloped by crimson flames.
It was the Seven Stars Mirror, a supreme treasure of the Immortal Dao.
Before the Seven Stars Mirror hovered a figure. Clad in a violet robe, his shoulders bore two fiery orbs resembling suns, while a crescent moon shimmered behind him, radiating tendrils of spiritual energy that formed a halo of colorful clouds around him.
He gazed down at Gu An with an air of divine authority.
[Tianyi Realm Lord (Flying Immortal Stage, Level 7): 187,034/420,000/490,000]
Gu An looked at Tianyi Realm Lord's lifespan and felt a slight sense of satisfaction.
Seven Flying Immortals had appeared in this realm. Except for Tianyi Realm Lord, none had surpassed the sixth level, with only one reaching the fifth level of the Flying Immortal Stage.
The emergence of the Seven Stars Mirror sealed the entire pocket dimension, preventing any lifeforms from entering or escaping.
The disciples on the square bore an immense, crushing pressure, forcing them to their knees. They writhed in agony, casting desperate gazes toward the heavens.
The six Flying Immortals towering above them, however, remained utterly indifferent to their suffering.
Wan Li Divine Lord, standing at the palace's entrance, was no different. Producing a divine weapon—a silver spear over ten feet long with a black flag tied beneath its spearhead, depicting a demon's shadow—he stepped forward.
The gazes of all seven Flying Immortals locked onto Gu An.
At that moment, Gu An appeared as though standing against the entirety of heaven and earth.