Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses

When Zuo Yijian trembled, Zuo Lin also noticed the unusual movement of his treasured sword; the vast Sword Intent made the sword sheath shudder violently. Under Zuo Lin's shocked gaze, the sword sheath, along with the treasured sword, began to levitate.

Zuo Yijian then stood up, looking at his own sword, trusting that his Perception had not been mistaken.

This was the Sword Intent of Sword Venerable Fudao!

Above the Heavenly Repair Platform, more and more people felt the Sword Intent of Sword Venerable Fudao, including Ye Lan.

She turned her head, her gaze stretching far toward Zuo Yijian, her expression one of astonishment.

Boom——

Suddenly the thunderclouds were ripped open, and the Outer City was instantly illuminated. A violent wind descended from the sky, making the buildings in the city shake. Outer Disciples and Servant Disciples with lower Cultivation Levels were pushed to the ground, and everyone struggled to look up.

They could only see a gigantic hole in the thunderclouds above the Outer City, with a diameter of several dozen miles.

The thunderclouds could not reconverge, and as the sunlight shone down, Venerable Chi Qian and Ancestor Kusong were locked in an indecisive battle. The two were a hundred yards apart, constantly casting Spells. The impact of their magic collided, generating strong winds and bright lights.

The terrifying pressure caused the protective light screen around the Outer City to twist violently, threatening to shatter at any moment.

"Father... what is this..." Zuo Lin couldn't believe what he was seeing and turned to Zuo Yijian, his voice trembling.

Could his father be the mysterious Sword Venerable Fudao?

The others also harbored the same thought, for the Sword Intent was just too powerful.

In the midst of their heated battle high above, Venerable Chi Qian also felt this burst of Sword Intent. He glanced over, focusing on Zuo Yijian and frowning deeply.

Could this man be Sword Venerable Fudao?

Just then.

Zuo Yijian suddenly knelt on one knee and looked at his continuously trembling treasured sword, and cried out loud, "Please, Sword Venerable, save our Sect!"

As his words fell.

Clang!

The sound of the sword blade being drawn from its sheath tore through all other noise between heaven and earth!

Venerable Chi Qian abruptly leaped to the side, moving above the thunderclouds, distancing himself from Ancestor Kusong. Looking down at the Heavenly Repair Platform, he gathered eighteen golden daggers in front of him into one long blade. With a manic grin, he shouted loudly, "Come out, Sword Venerable Fudao, let this Sect witness your prowess!"

His voice echoed throughout the entire Supreme Sect!

He was not only provoking Sword Venerable Fudao but also signaling the Vice Sect Hierarch to come quickly.

With his Cultivation Level at the fifth stage of the Mystic Heart Realm, even if he could not defeat Sword Venerable Fudao, stalling for some time should be no difficult feat.

However, the only response he got was the sound of a breaking wind!

Right as Venerable Chi Qian finished speaking, the treasured sword in front of Zuo Yijian suddenly struck at Venerable Chi Qian. The terrible Sword Intent burst forth in an instant, tossing everyone around it through the air.

The entire city saw a streak of cold light shoot out from within and soar into the sky, unstoppable!

In the process of being thrown backward, Zuo Lin saw the cold light tearing through the sea of thunderclouds on the horizon as if it was a sword splitting the sky, cleaving the firmament in two, stunning his eyes.

Venerable Chi Qian was also caught off guard by the sudden attack.

So fast!

Unable to evade in time, he instinctively lifted his great blade, but his lifting speed was far from matching the approaching speed of the treasured sword.

With a boom!

The great blade in his hands shattered, and as the sword tip reached his face, the fearsome Sword Qi of the Taicang Divine-Shocking Sword suddenly erupted, crushing his physical body.

As the sword flew past, there was no longer any sign of Venerable Chi Qian!

In the path of the sword blade, the sea of clouds split open, leaving behind a magnificently stunning mark of Sword Qi across the sky.

The Great Cultivator of the Mystic Heart Realm didn't even have the chance to flee with his Primordial Spirit, let alone unleash his Mystic Heart Divine Power!

The disparity was simply too vast!

Venerable Chi Qian didn't have the slightest chance to fight back!

Ancestor Kusong, hovering in the high sky, his robes fluttering and white hair flying wildly, stared in the direction of the Sword Qi. This Supreme Elder was dumbstruck, struggling to maintain his composure.

He, who had engaged in combat with Venerable Chi Qian, knew full well the terror of this Demon Cultivator, feeling as if it was bottomless.

Was such a powerful being truly killed in an instant by a single strike from Sword Venerable Fudao?

And all this time, Sword Venerable Fudao had never shown himself!

Whoosh!

The sound of the air being split came again, as the treasured sword flew back from the edge of the sky, tracing a perfect arc as it fell from the heavens, finally plunging into the Heavenly Repair Platform.

Clang!

The sword blade stabbed into the platform, sparks flying, the sword body quivering intensely, creating afterimages.

Lying on the ground, Zuo Yijian was also gazing at his treasured sword, his mouth agape equally wide.

The city fell silent!

In the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An's mouth curled up, the prompt for claiming a lifespan appeared before his eyes, confirming that Venerable Chi Qian had indeed died completely.

Gu An turned to look toward the Main City of the Sect, where the battle was still ongoing, but he had no intention of intervening.

He had already taken action twice today, and three's the charm!

The Supreme Sect also needed to face its Tribulation!

Soon, a thunderous cheer erupted from the Outer City, audible even to the Servant Disciples in the Third Medicine Valley. They couldn't make out what was being shouted on the other side, so they were all nervous.

Gu An, meanwhile, stayed beside Lu Lingjun, afraid that other disciples might disturb her Path Enlightenment.

...

In the Outer City, more and more people rushed onto the Heavenly Repair Platform. Ancestor Kusong descended from the sky and landed in the midst of the crowd, right in front of Zuo Yijian.

At that moment, Zuo Yijian was clutching his sword tightly, unwilling to sheath it, let alone hand it over to someone else.

"Junior, may I take a look at your sword?" Ancestor Kusong asked with a smile, his voice gentle.

Zuo Yijian looked at him as if guarding against a thief, without agreeing.

"Wait, the sword intent beneath our feet is intensifying!"

An elder suddenly exclaimed, causing everyone to look down; they saw a stream of sword intent flowing within the sword marks of the two characters for 'righteous path'.

Just a moment ago, as the sword fell, Gu An's sword intent also entered these two characters, enhancing the intent within them, which served to increase the deterrence of Sword Venerable Fudao.

Ancestor Kusong turned around, his gaze fell on the characters for 'righteous path', feeling the sword intent flowing within them, he slowly closed his eyes.

Zuo Yijian turned and stepped back, he transmitted a message to Zuo Lin, saying, "Lin'er, pick up the 'Investiture of the Gods' for your father."

In the distance.

Ye Lan stood on the edge of the Heavenly Repair Platform, surrounded by excited Disciples of Law Enforcement Hall discussing the might of Sword Venerable Fudao, while she thought of Gu An.

With such a formidable backer, elder brother should be quite safe, right?

...

The sun set and the moon rose; after the moonfall, a new day began.

A whole day and night passed, and the battle at the Main City of the Sect finally drew to a close.

In the early morning, after the morning drills ended, Gu An and Xiaochuan stood on either side of Lu Lingjun.

Xiaochuan leaned against a wooden railing, five steps away from Lu Lingjun, and curiously asked, "Elder brother, what exactly is she doing?"

All disciples had discovered Lu Lingjun's abnormality, and Gu An did not allow anyone to disturb her, which is why she was able to remain undisturbed for the whole night.

Gu An speculated, "Perhaps she is performing some sort of extraordinary technique; she is a Great Cultivator, we cannot fathom her realm."

"What kind of cultivation technique could have her motionless all night like that?" Xiaochuan was quite curious.

"It's not a cultivation technique, I just had an enlightenment," Lu Lingjun suddenly said, Xiaochuan blinked, quickly retreating several steps.

Lu Lingjun didn't look at him, instead, she glanced at Gu An, who also stepped back, at the same time signaling Xiaochuan with his eyes, prompting Xiaochuan to immediately slip away.

Gu An asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

"I am fine, thank you for staying by my side all night," Lu Lingjun replied calmly.

Gu An feigned an expression of relief, then said, "You should go rest now, standing for a day must be tiring."

"I just remembered, when you came back yesterday, did you hold my hand?" Lu Lingjun stepped forward and asked.

At that time, she was immersed in recalling her enlightenment and actually didn't shake off Gu An's hand, which she found absurd upon reflection.

Gu An coughed awkwardly, saying, "I was scared at the time, no offense meant."

"No man has ever held my hand before," Lu Lingjun stared at Gu An, her voice carrying a deeper meaning.

Heh!

You think I believe that?

You've lived for two thousand years and you're playing the naïve one with me?

Gu An's expression hardened, and he said seriously, "What? Is the Valley Master not allowed to touch your hand?"

He had helped Lu Lingjun avoid a hundred years' detour, so what was a touch of the hand in comparison?

Lu Lingjun's lips curled upwards with a compelling smile fraught with significance, "Alright then, from now on you are my man."

After speaking, without waiting for Gu An's response, she turned and left.

Gu An was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed after her, saying, "Ms. Lu, I was just joking, please don't take it to heart. In a while, I'll speak with the Sect Leader and have him transfer you out."

"It's too late now."

Lu Lingjun pushed Gu An away, continuing forward.

Gu An inwardly cursed his bad luck.

"By the way, I am preparing to undergo tribulation crossing above Medicine Valley, what do you think?" Lu Lingjun's voice came, as she stopped in her tracks, her back to Gu An.

Gu An frowned, asking, "Tribulation crossing requires much preparation. Why not wait for the Sect Leader to return? I can have him take you to the tribulation area."

"I can't wait. With your strong relations in the Supreme Sect, if anyone comes, you speak for me. Don't worry, I won't affect the medicine herbs of Medicine Valley," she said before leaping into the sky, a thousand feet high. A blue lotus flew out from her sleeve, growing rapidly. She stepped into the lotus and sat down to meditate.

This spectacle caused the Servant Disciples to exclaim in surprise, while Xiaochuan once again approached Gu An, inquiring what Lu Lingjun was intending to do.

Gu An looked up at Lu Lingjun and answered, "She is about to cross her tribulation."

Under his watch, Lu Lingjun continuously waved her hand, as magic artifacts flew out, rapidly forming one circle of formations after another around her.

He suddenly became interested, wanting to see for himself how fearsome the tribulation of the Mystic Heart Realm could be.

"Tribulation crossing?" Xiaochuan stood frozen, his gaze involuntarily shifting to the Lu Lingjun above.

...

Wanji Forest, within the Mahayana Array of the six paths.

Where the seven venerables were seated, a sphere of black flames suddenly appeared from nowhere among them, startling them into opening their eyes and rising to pay their respects.

"Greetings to the Sect Hierarch!"

The seven venerables spoke in unison, drawing sidelong glances from the cult members who were placing offerings around.

The offerings were all living people, stuck with talisman papers and unable to move. They were precisely enclosed by the array, and each of their faces bore expressions of terror, some even fainting from fear.

"Where is the Vice Sect Hierarch?"

The voice of Butcher Immortal Jing, the Sect Hierarch of the Ephemera Sect, emerged from the black flames, tiredness seeping through his tone.

An old man wearing a mask replied, "He has yet to return, but the attack plan against the Supreme Sect has failed. We lost seventy percent of our spies within the Supreme Sect. According to the messages sent back, Venerable Chi Qian was killed by a single sword strike from Sword Venerable Fudao, but the Vice Sect Hierarch did not make an appearance and his whereabouts remain unknown."

As he mentioned this, his tone grew heavy.