"Dragon-Slaying Spear Chi Jiuxiao? Dragon-Slaying?"
Such arrogance!
The Blood Prison Saint's curiosity was piqued upon hearing You Yingying's words. He raised his gaze and saw the southern sky bathed in a golden radiance, increasingly magnificent, as though the heavens themselves were changing color.
Gu An also turned to look. In truth, he had already noticed the approaching figure.
A Nirvana Realm Ninth Layer cultivator!
Golden light gradually enveloped the sky above the Tai Xuan Sect, drawing countless cultivators to take flight and gaze into the distance.
The dragon's roar grew louder and more resonant, signaling that the entity was drawing near.
Moments later, a thousand-foot-long five-clawed golden dragon soared into view, its imposing and majestic form causing a stir throughout the outer sect city.
Gu An's eyes fixed on the golden dragon's head, where a long spear was embedded. The spear glowed with a golden brilliance, and its shaft was entwined by a golden dragon, its mouth releasing a sharp spear blade—a truly domineering sight.
It was no ordinary magical artifact.
This might be the Immortal Treasure You Yingying had mentioned.
The golden dragon was an entity manifested by the spear, not a true dragon.
Atop the dragon's head stood a man clad in a white robe embroidered with golden patterns, a crimson sash tied around his waist. His broad shoulders and upright stance exuded a natural air of authority. His handsome face was framed by hair tied beneath a crown, with two locks of black hair swaying near his ears in the wind.
Chi Jiuxiao, standing high above, gazed disdainfully at the Tai Xuan Sect below. A wild smirk played at the corners of his mouth, and his eyes gleamed with an untamed arrogance.
Gu An locked onto Chi Jiuxiao, his gaze cold as he activated his Lifespan Investigation.
[Chi Jiuxiao (Nirvana Realm Ninth Layer): 998/25000/700000]
A lifespan of seven hundred thousand years!
Astounding!
This man wasn't yet a millennium old. A Nirvana Realm Ninth Layer cultivator under a thousand years?
No wonder his pride knew no bounds.
"Who is this person?" The Blood Prison Saint couldn't help but ask. He could sense that Chi Jiuxiao was a being far beyond the Mahayana Realm.
You Yingying, her gaze fixed on the heavens, softly replied, "He's a disciple of the Star Sea Sect, an unparalleled genius. At five hundred years old, he had already stepped into the Immortal Dao. The golden dragon beneath his feet is the Dragon-Slaying Spear. It was forged by an ancient immortal and, while not an Immortal Supreme Treasure, is still immensely powerful. Even a wandering immortal would struggle to kill him while he wields it."
High above, Chi Jiuxiao looked down, his gaze piercing the heavens as he spotted You Yingying.
His brow arched slightly before he suddenly leapt into the air.
The city's protective array activated instantly, but it was shattered upon contact with Chi Jiuxiao's aura, proving utterly ineffective.
Like a bolt of lightning, he descended into You Yingying's courtyard. The impact startled the Blood Prison Saint and Gu An, prompting both to stand.
Chi Jiuxiao ignored them entirely, his gaze settling on You Yingying as he grinned and said, "Little girl, what are you doing here?"
"Little girl? Is this how your master taught you to speak?" You Yingying shot back with a glare.
Chi Jiuxiao chuckled. "So this is the Tai Xuan Sect that Xuan Tianyi hails from?"
"Yes," You Yingying replied tersely.
"It's so pitifully weak. I hear he plans to challenge the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, but even with all his efforts, the higher-ups remain unmoved."
Chi Jiuxiao chuckled lightly before adding, "How about I go ahead and probe the depths of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm for you?"
You Yingying glared at him. "With your cultivation? Don't end up dead in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm."
"Hahaha! Just watch how I seize the Immortal Treasure!"
With that, Chi Jiuxiao leapt into the air, the golden dragon transforming into a radiant streak that shot across the sky, disappearing without a trace.
Throughout his visit, Chi Jiuxiao hadn't spared Gu An a single glance.
You Yingying huffed, her frustration evident. "That man is insufferable. His arrogance will be his undoing."
Gu An sat back down, his curiosity evident. "What's your relationship with him?"
"We're just sectmates. He and I don't see eye to eye," You Yingying replied, shaking her head. It was clear she didn't want to divulge more about her past.
A Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer cultivator claiming she had no connection with a Nirvana Realm Ninth Layer cultivator? While technically true, her words felt oddly contradictory.
Gu An grew increasingly suspicious of You Yingying. No wonder Xuan Tianyi had asked her to come to the Tai Xuan Sect.
He directed his divine sense to observe the threads of karma surrounding You Yingying, attempting to glimpse her past twenty years.
Yet all he saw were scenes of You Yingying throwing tantrums and acting domineering, with even Xuan Tianyi humoring her whims.
"Let him stir up trouble for now. It's not like the Tai Xuan Sect is on good terms with the Seven Stars Spirit Realm," You Yingying said casually.
Gu An remained silent, unwilling to respond.
You Yingying seemed to pick up on his reluctance to engage. Xuan Tianyi had mentioned that Gu An preferred to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
"Let's talk more about Journey to the West," she said with a playful smile.
At that moment, the Tai Xuan Sect was abuzz with excitement. Discussions about Chi Jiuxiao dominated every corner of the sect.
In the sect's main city, within a private residence, Qiao Dai stood under the eaves, his brows furrowed.
"The Dragon-Slaying Spear… Why is he here? Could it be true that the Seven Stars Spirit Realm has discovered an Immortal Treasure? But why bring it to this continent?"
Qiao Dai's mind was clouded with confusion. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't a coincidence—there had to be a deeper calculation by the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
Chi Jiuxiao's appearance seemed to mark the opening act in the battle for the Immortal Treasure. In the days that followed, powerful auras frequently swept past the Tai Xuan Sect, and occasionally, divine senses probed the sect's perimeter.
This tense atmosphere unsettled everyone within the Tai Xuan Sect. They feared becoming collateral damage in the escalating conflicts.
Five days later.
Lü Baitian visited Gu An, and the two secluded themselves in Gu An's residence to converse. After casting restrictions around the room, Lü Baitian couldn't help but sigh.
"In recent days, more and more great cultivators from overseas are arriving. The peace of this land is likely coming to an end."
He sounded bitter.
The foreign cultivators brazenly probed the Tai Xuan Sect, acting without any courtesy, as though the sect wasn't even worth acknowledging. The worst part was that the Tai Xuan Sect had no choice but to endure the indignity.
It wasn't just the Tai Xuan Sect—every sect and dynasty on the continent felt similarly helpless.
After surviving the Demon Catastrophe, the various factions had been gearing up for growth. Yet, in just a few years, Immortal Dao cultivators had flooded in, making them feel like mere weeds in the grand scheme.
"Before the Demon Catastrophe, I lived for hundreds of years without ever seeing a Mahayana cultivator, let alone someone at the Immortal Dao level. Why are they suddenly everywhere?" Lü Baitian lamented.
Gu An reassured him, "Don't worry. For now, no one seems intent on harming the Tai Xuan Sect. Their goal is likely that so-called Immortal Treasure."
Lü Baitian nodded. "I just wanted to vent a little. The Elder's Hall is on edge, fearing another catastrophe could erupt at any moment."
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed from the distance, startling Lü Baitian so much that he flinched, cutting his words short.
Gu An extended his divine sense to investigate. Far beyond Tianhuang Mountain, Chi Jiuxiao was locked in combat with a Nirvana Realm cultivator.
The opponent appeared to hail from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. His aura didn't originate from overseas, as if he had emerged suddenly.
Chi Jiuxiao was undoubtedly formidable, already suppressing his foe completely.
Gu An sensed another presence—an aura belonging to a wandering immortal—approaching the battlefield. This newcomer also seemed to emerge from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm's pocket dimension.
"I'd better head back," Lü Baitian said, rising abruptly before disappearing from the room.
Gu An also stood and descended the stairs. Outside, disciples were gathering, clearly shaken by the earlier commotion.
Lu Lingjun stepped out of her quarters as well, her gaze aligning with the Blood Prison Saint's.
For a moment, she seemed puzzled. Was the Blood Prison Saint looking in the same direction as her?
The Blood Prison Saint, noticing her gaze, glared back.
"Stupid ox," Lu Lingjun muttered with a faint smile before turning to approach Gu An.
The Blood Prison Saint couldn't hold back. "You're the stupid one!" he retorted.
"Hmm?" Lu Lingjun shot him a sharp glance, her killing intent locking onto him. His massive body froze in place.
Even Gu An glanced at him, prompting the Blood Prison Saint to lower his head in submission.
The mighty Mahayana cultivator found himself utterly humiliated.
Now, he genuinely resented Lu Lingjun.
A thousand years from now, there's no way I'm joining your Ascension Sect! I'll even compete with you for recruits!
Lu Lingjun smirked, satisfied, before walking up to Gu An.
"Why are you arguing with him?" Gu An asked with mock exasperation.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know he had such a short temper," Lu Lingjun said with a chuckle. She spent most of her time in seclusion and wasn't aware of what the Blood Prison Saint had endured.
"Forget it. Be kinder to him in the future. After all, he's my mount," Gu An said with a shake of his head, his words moving the Blood Prison Saint deeply.
Lu Lingjun smiled. "That ox is too weak. If you want a proper mount, I can catch something far stronger for you."
The Blood Prison Saint's temper flared again.
To prevent his mount from dying of rage, Gu An pulled Lu Lingjun aside to a quieter spot.
She had come to him out of curiosity about the recent events. Gu An didn't hide anything, recounting the rumors about the Immortal Treasure. Hearing this, Lu Lingjun's interest was piqued, and without hesitation, she flew north.
Such recklessness!
Do all Ascenders act like this? Gu An thought, feeling a bit helpless.
He redirected his focus to Chi Jiuxiao, who was now clashing with the wandering immortal.
The wandering immortal appeared to be the master of the Nirvana Realm cultivator Chi Jiuxiao had been fighting earlier. He repeatedly warned Chi Jiuxiao, but the latter, ever defiant, responded with a flurry of attacks.
Chi Jiuxiao's Dragon-Slaying Spear proved extraordinary. Capable of both offense and defense, it prevented the wandering immortal from easily subduing him.
Still, Gu An noticed that the wandering immortal was holding back, hesitant to deliver a killing blow.
Eventually, Chi Jiuxiao was forced to retreat, his Immortal Treasure unable to turn the tide against a wandering immortal.
After the battle concluded, Gu An retracted his divine sense and returned to his room.
Late at night.
An Hao navigated through the forest, holding a map he had stumbled upon. It was said to detail the location of an ancient cultivator's cave abode.
As he walked, a sudden feeling of unease washed over him. Quickly, he stowed the map and drew his sword, his eyes scanning the dark surroundings.
Footsteps echoed from the shadows, revealing a figure stepping into view.
It was Chi Jiuxiao.
An Hao didn't recognize Chi Jiuxiao but could sense the immense power radiating from him.
Chi Jiuxiao's face was grim as he fixed his gaze on An Hao. "Hey, what's your name? Which sect are you from?"
An Hao frowned but replied politely, "I am An Hao of the Tai Xuan Sect."
Chi Jiuxiao's eyes narrowed. "The Tai Xuan Sect? Well, that gives you some relevance. One of my junior sisters is in your sect. In honor of that connection, hand over the eighth-grade spiritual herbs in your storage bag to heal my wounds. I promise you won't regret it."
An Hao's face turned pale. How did this man know he possessed eighth-grade spiritual herbs?