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

Hearing Gu An's words, Jiang Qiong fell into silence.

She felt somewhat lost inside. She had always been faced with choices: she had escaped from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion to the Supreme Sect, then from the Supreme Sect to the Nine Nether Road, and even after establishing the Juhua Sect, she still had to flee to the Great Cold Demon Sect?

Could it be that all her choices had been wrong?

It seemed that no matter when she returned, Gu An never changed.

Gu An saw the mood she was in; he was afraid of saying too much, after all, she didn't have the confidence he did - how could he judge everyone by his own standards?

"My nature dictates that I cannot travel far and wide; you are much stronger than I am. You can go on adventures, but you must never fully trust anyone, especially the Demon Sect," Gu An said.

Jiang Qiong snapped to attention upon hearing this.

What was she thinking?

If she hadn't fled, she'd already be dead!

Even compared with Gu An, her cultivation level was rising rapidly. Although the path seemed difficult and bitter, her cultivation was her achievement.

She was now at the seventh floor of the Divinity Transformation Realm!

Thinking of this, Jiang Qiong smiled. She glared at Gu An and said, "You've refused me time and again. Be careful, or I might stop caring about you. When you run into trouble and think of me, it will be too late."

Gu An solemnly said, "As long as you are safe, it doesn't matter if you forget about me. Meeting and knowing each other in this life is a destiny forged over a hundred lifetimes."

Touched by his words, Jiang Qiong thought to herself, this brat knows how to talk. If his cultivation were higher, how many girls of heavenly pride would he lead astray?

Of course, she believed that Gu An truly thought this way and wasn't just trying to please her.

After knowing him for so many years, she never heard Gu An ask her for anything.

Jiang Qiong looked at Gu An, wanting to tease him, but no words could pass her throat.

That's because this time, the situation was truly different!

She felt that Gu An had underestimated the power of the Great Cold Demon Sect. Indeed, in the past few years, when the Heavenly Fire calamity that covered the skies was blocked by Sword Venerable Fudao, the common beings on the mainland did not see the tragic scenes over the seas, where many creatures died in agony.

The one who had acted was only a Cultivator from the Great Cold Demon Sect, and now, a large group of Cultivators from the Great Cold Demon Sect was on their way. Just the thought filled her with despair, seeing no glimmer of hope for victory.

Who in the world could stand against the colossal presence of the Great Cold Demon Sect like this?

Jiang Qiong looked at Gu An's gentle smiling face and suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

Silly boy, what is written in books is not necessarily true.

Indeed, since ancient times, good has triumphed over evil, but if evil wins, it can become the new good.

...

Jiang Qiong did not immediately leave after returning but stayed within the Eight Scenic Caves. Gu An would visit her every other day, each time trying various ways to persuade him, whether by tempting him with legends of the Great Cold Demon Sect or by teaching him spells.

Gu An steadfastly refused, but since he didn't want to confront her directly, they were at a stalemate.

Half a month passed.

The weather was still scorching hot.

As Gu An came down from the loft, he was confronted by Ji Xiaoyu at the foot of the stairs.

"Who is that woman?" Ji Xiaoyu asked, staring at Gu An. Her expression was calm, but her eyes seemed rather sharp.

Gu An was surprised and asked, "What woman?"

"There's a scent of another woman on you."

"So what if there is? What about it?"

Gu An didn't seem to care, chuckling. After all, in this world, it's the explanations that are suspect; the less you care, the less significant it seems.

In fact, nothing had happened between him and Jiang Qiong, but he couldn't betray her by revealing her plan to defect to the Great Cold Demon Sect!

Gu An hadn't urged Jiang Qiong to give up on joining the Great Cold Demon Sect because he wasn't sure of the sect's strength himself. If the Great Cold Demon Sect turned out to be powerful enough that even he couldn't deal with it, he'd have to flee too.

Ji Xiaoyu looked at Gu An and said, "Haven't you noticed a change in the atmosphere of the Mortal World?"

Gu An looked around and said, "How has it changed? Those who should be sweeping are sweeping, those who want to play chess are still playing chess. Look, there's even a rat leading an ox."

Ji Xiaoyu followed his gaze and couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle.

"Nevermind, it's just as well. In life, cherishing the present is enough," she said softly before turning back to her room to continue her cultivation.

Gu An didn't try to retain her. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on Medicine Valley.

He saw much more than Ji Xiaoyu did, and much clearer too!

Ever since the Real Bai Hong displayed Heavenly Fire, the entire sea had been engulfed by a frenzy of escape, which gradually affected the mainland. Many noble families began to venture across the seas or rush to the Nine Nether Road.

Moreover, many were spreading rumors that the Great Cold Demon Sect was about to launch a massive invasion, all of which Gu An knew were minions hastily recruited by the Great Cold Demon Sect Cultivators, intended to sow panic in this part of the Mortal World.

At the Sea-Breaking Rift, the Soul Calming Pagoda was already crammed with countless Cultivators from the Great Cold Demon Sect, the least of whom were at the Nirvana Realm, with the number of Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals surpassing a hundred. Besides the Life-Seizing Immortal, there were even three Carefree Primordial Immortals!

A total of four Carefree Primordial Immortals!

This force was absolutely overwhelming in this part of the Mortal World, unstoppable.

The key was that the Great Cold Demon Sect was still sending reinforcements!

Gu An hadn't made a move yet because he didn't know the full extent of the Great Cold Demon Sect's resources. However, he wasn't just waiting idly; he had already used his Divine Sense to scan the Great Heavenly Spirit Land, looking for a safe place far from this part of the Mortal World. If he really couldn't stand against them, he would take everyone he cared about with him and leave, ready to start life anew.

Of course, this was a last resort.

It all depended on whether the Great Cold Demon Sect had a Divine Immortal of Wondrous Dharma.

So far, the highest level among the Carefree Primordial Immortals was only the fifth floor.

Before a Divine Immortal of Wondrous Dharma appeared, Gu An, who was at the ninth floor of the Divine Immortal of Wondrous Dharma Realm, wouldn't panic.

After watching for a while, Gu An turned and left.

An ancient hour later.

Riding on the Blood Prison Great Saint, he arrived at Tianya Valley with Yang Jian and Li Lingtian following behind. Li Lingtian wore an impatient expression; it was clear he was not keen on coming to Tianya Valley.

Li Xuandao was waiting inside the valley.

Gu An, accompanied by the two men, entered the courtyard where Li Xuandao was.

By now, Li Lingtian's cultivation had reached the eighth floor of the Core Formation Realm, pleasing Li Xuandao, who complimented him for not neglecting his cultivation.

"Let's get one thing straight; I don't want to go back. Besides, Father Emperor, you're still in good spirits, so there's no need for me to act as the Crown Prince!" Li Lingtian said immediately.

Li Xuandao shook his head with a smile, while Gu An actually found this quite amusing.

Li Xuandao planned to reign as Emperor for eternity. Naturally, the Crown Prince was the most feared threat; the only reason Li Lingtian became the Crown Prince was on behalf of Empress Yang and the Yang Family.

Li Lingtian's words made Gu An look at him with newfound respect.

This youngster seemed to have the wisdom of playing the fool.

Li Xuandao became serious, "It's not about you returning to the palace, but to your mother's family to sail with them. There's no room for discussion; your mother has given a strict order."

Li Lingtian was taken aback; he instinctively wanted to ask why, but he quickly understood.

For a time, the atmosphere in the courtyard fell silent.

Li Xuandao turned to Gu An and asked, "The Supreme Sect has yet to formulate a strategy, do you want to join Lingtian in leaving?"

The reason the Supreme Sect had no strategy was something Gu An had heard from Lv Baitian; the Hall of Elders had debated multiple times about whether to evacuate, fearing that it might offend Sword Venerable Fudao, who had been willing to protect them. How could they run away now?

Sword Venerable Fudao took action not for himself, but to save them, the Mortal Spirits.

Lv Baitian also consulted Gu An, asking his opinion on whether they should evacuate.

This time, Gu An offered no advice.

He wanted the Supreme Sect to make their own decision.

If the Supreme Sect chose to flee, he certainly wouldn't follow them but would find a place to hide instead. From then on, his connection with the Supreme Sect would be severed.

Gu An had no burdens regarding the Supreme Sect; he owed them nothing, quite the contrary, the sect owed him a lot.

"I'll pass. Let the Supreme Sect decide. I can't leave the Supreme Sect," Gu An answered.

Upon hearing this, Li Lingtian quickly said, "Father Emperor, I can also..."

"Shut up!"

Li Xuandao barked, his eyes sharply intimidating.

For a moment, Li Lingtian felt afraid.

Yang Jian and the Blood Prison Great Saint looked at Li Xuandao in shock.

Why did this Emperor seem no ordinary man?

"This situation is different from before. If you follow the Supreme Sect to evacuate, chances are you will never see your mother again in this life. You must go back!" Li Xuandao took a deep breath and said coldly.

His mood had been bad all this time; he'd merely been suppressing it.

He had worked hard for many years to secure his empire, and now a calamity threatened to destroy it. How could he not feel indignant?

Yet, compared to the immense depth of the Great Cold Demon Sect, Taicang Dynasty had no intention to resist.

Gu An looked at Li Xuandao and asked, "Uncle, what about you?"

Li Lingtian turned his gaze angrily to Li Xuandao.

Li Xuandao looked at his own teacup on the table and said softly, "Everyone can escape, except me. Even if I have to die, let me die alongside my subjects."

With so many people in the Taicang Dynasty, not all could escape; if he thought of leaving, the Dynasty would surely descend into chaos.

Li Lingtian froze, his eyes softening as he looked at Li Xuandao.

Yang Jian also grew solemn out of respect for the Emperor who had gifted him a divine weapon.

The Blood Prison Great Saint hadn't expected Li Xuandao to be so resolute, and he rose from his crouch in surprise.

Gu An addressed Li Xuandao, "Uncle, have you forgotten the goal you once sought?"

Li Xuandao replied, "Without my subjects, what is an Emperor's throne worth? An Emperor who cannot protect his empire is bound to fail. Even if the empire were to be rebuilt, it would be meaningless."

His words inspired admiration in everyone present.

Luo Hun even knelt down, expressing with a heavy voice, "Your Highness, I am willing to follow and serve you unto death without regret."

Li Xuandao merely waved his hand, not saying much more.

Sure, he spoke sincerely, but he hadn't resigned himself to fate.

He was gambling!

He was betting on the Sword Venerable Fudao to overturn the Great Cold Demon Sect!

He couldn't forget the shock Sword Venerable Fudao had brought him during past calamities.

He couldn't forget that day when the skies were filled with fierce flames pressuring the living beings, and countless green lights rose up, giving him hope.

He felt Sword Venerable Fudao was different, a difference that perhaps even transcended cultivation levels. Despite many Great Cultivators in the world, he just felt that Sword Venerable Fudao was the most special.

From Sword Venerable Fudao, he sensed an aura.

That was the aura of invincibility!

Should Sword Venerable Fudao's heart be kind, then peace would reign throughout the land!