When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!

Chapter 131: Can the Sword Sovereign Withstand Grand Ascension Power?

Chapter 131: Can the Sword Sovereign Withstand Grand Ascension Power?

As a mysterious voice echoed through the heavens and earth, the massive azure gate roared open. A colossal hand emerged from within, reaching out across the void and seizing a fleeing Void Transformation Grandmaster.

The captured cultivator was terrified, struggling frantically to break free, but it was futile. Even when he attempted to escape with his primordial spirit, he found himself utterly trapped.

"Y-You… who exactly are you?!"

The Void Transformation Grandmaster's voice trembled with fear.

Suddenly, the giant hand clenched, crushing him into a mist of blood. His primordial spirit and golden core were completely annihilated—erased from existence.

The remaining Transformation Stage cultivators fled in terror. However, the mysterious hand made no further moves and merely withdrew into the azure gate.

Under the night sky, the fierce winds howled relentlessly.

The green sigils surrounding Xuanmiao Zhenren began to dissipate, and the azure gate above his head vanished.

Xuanmiao Zhenren spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura rapidly weakening. He immediately focused on regulating his breath, struggling to recover.

—

Far away in Xuantian Cave Dwelling, Gu An idly toyed with a teacup, a look of intrigue flashing across his face.

That mysterious hand… it was undoubtedly from someone in the Profound Mind Realm, and not just any level—it had to be at least the fifth level or higher.

No wonder Xuanmiao Zhenren dared to attend the Golden Ranking Tournament alone. So, he had a way to summon powerful reinforcements.

Gu An found himself particularly interested in this divine ability.

It was both formidable and capable of shielding one's juniors—a technique that even someone like him, the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path, was tempted by.

At the same time, he grew more curious about Three Pure Mountains.

A force strong enough to conceal a Profound Mind Realm cultivator at the fifth level or above—not quite at the Grand Ascension Stage, but still enough to surprise him.

The Land of the Nine Dynasties was truly filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers!

No wonder the Nightshade Sect only dared to stir up trouble within the Taicang Empire instead of sweeping through the Nine Dynasties outright.

Gu An recalled what Ye Lan had once mentioned—Three Pure Mountains did not have many disciples, barely over a thousand. Yet, despite their small numbers, they still held the position of the strongest sect in the Shen Tang Dynasty.

Clearly, their strength lay not in their quantity, but in their overwhelming number of high-level cultivators.

As for the Shen Tang Dynasty, it was anything but simple.

It was named "Shen Tang" because its predecessor, the Heavenly Tang Dynasty, once came close to unifying the entire Nine Dynasties. However, the emperor of that era committed such heinous acts that the heavens themselves cast down an unending deluge, submerging the empire in a great flood. This natural disaster led to a shift in power, and the dynasty's rule was replaced.

As a result, the Shen Tang Dynasty became a land of lakes, where most of its cities and sects were built upon islands.

Though the flood had drowned an empire, it had also vastly enriched the spiritual energy of the region, shrouding it in mist year-round.

Among the Nine Dynasties, the Shen Tang Dynasty was the most mysterious and steeped in legend—many believed that immortals resided within its countless isolated isles.

Gu An withdrew his gaze.

Although Xuanmiao Zhenren’s divine ability fascinated him, he had no intention of befriending or provoking the man.

After all, the mysterious backer behind Xuanmiao Zhenren was an entire major realm above him. Gu An was not so foolish as to be complacent.

Careful growth—no reckless risks!

A thousand years from now, how many major realms above the Nine Dynasties would he stand?

He was eager to find out.

—

Dark clouds loomed over the land, casting shadows across mountain ranges and forests. The dense trees, their twisted shapes resembling demonic figures, lined the path to a massive palace nestled between two peaks.

The grand hall stood ominous and bloodstained, with red pillars and eaves soaked in crimson, exuding a sense of foreboding terror.

Inside, a group of black-robed figures knelt in submission. Some were humans, others were demons, and even wandering spirits.

At the forefront knelt a masked man, his face obscured. He spoke in a hoarse voice, spectral energy seeping from beneath his mask.

"Master… the Nine Dynasties have joined forces and stationed troops along the Nine Nether Path. This is beginning to interfere with our grand plan. Should we retreat or continue to bide our time?"

Standing at the head of the hall, on the raised platform, was a towering figure draped in a billowing black robe, a blood-red dragon coiled upon its fabric, its fangs bared, as if ready to leap out at any moment.

His long white hair swayed gently. Upon his head sat a crown of bone, adorned with two sharp, gleaming horns, radiating an icy glow.

This was the Nightshade Sect Leader, Jing Tuxian!

Jing Tuxian slowly turned around, revealing a pale, emotionless face. His crimson pupils glowed ominously, and upon his forehead were the markings of two wicked spirits, merged into one, their razor-sharp claws striking fear into the heart.

"The Nine Dynasties… laughable. They actually dare to set foot in the Nine Nether Path? They're courting death."

His chilling voice swept through the hall like an icy gust, causing the robes of every cultist to flutter in its wake.

A black-robed white tiger-headed cultist stepped forward.

"Master, the Nine Dynasties all possess Profound Mind Realm Grandmasters, and the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path from Taixuan Sect is especially unfathomable. If we wish to conquer the Nine Dynasties before the Demonic Cataclysm, I fear our chances are slim."

Another black-robed spirit entity added,

"The Golden Spirit Lord and Nightshade Fairy both perished at the Sword Sovereign's hands. He is our greatest obstacle in unifying the Nine Dynasties. His cultivation is at least at the fifth level of the Profound Mind Realm—perhaps even the eighth!"

Boom!

A low rumble of thunder echoed outside, like the roar of a ferocious beast.

"Heh… the eighth level of the Profound Mind Realm?"

Jing Tuxian sneered, his white hair billowing as his blood-red pupils flickered with malice.

"Then tell me… can the Sword Sovereign withstand the power of the Grand Ascension Stage?"

Grand Ascension Stage!

The masked cultist at the forefront hesitated before responding.

"The Nine Dynasties haven't seen a Grand Ascension Tribulation in nearly ten thousand years. He wouldn't be your match, Master. But if you make a move now, wouldn't it interfere with your recovery?"

"Tch. If only you all weren't such useless trash."

Jing Tuxian’s gaze grew cold.

"Summon the cultists. Once everyone is gathered, we shall sweep through the Nine Dynasties! And bring the Nightshade Mother Tree!"

His words shook the grand hall.

"Master, you don’t mean to—"

"I've made my decision. Leave."

With a wave of his sleeve, Jing Tuxian vanished into the darkness.

The remaining cultists exchanged uneasy glances.

—

Another night passed.

Gu An returned to Xuantian Cave Dwelling. It had been half a month since his last visit.

As usual, he tended to his herbs, planting new ones after harvesting. But instead of leaving immediately, he decided to spend half the night here, enjoying the tranquility.

Lying on a net he had woven between the branches of an old tree, he exhaled in satisfaction.

"Comfortable…"

As he flipped through a travelogue, something unusual caught his spiritual sense.

Xuanmiao Zhenren… was still here?!

Gu An observed for a while before finally withdrawing his gaze.

By the time dawn was approaching, he had already returned to Xuan Valley.

—

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.

It was the end of summer, and a heavy rain had just swept through, leaving Xuan Valley feeling hot and humid.

That morning, Li Ya came to visit Gu An—once again entering through the window. Gu An had no choice but to play along, pretending to be startled.

"Look at you acting all scared. You're at least ranked within the top 500 of the Golden Ranking Tournament this time," Li Ya snorted as he landed lightly on the ground.

Gu An rose to greet him with a chuckle.

"My top 500 ranking was pure luck. You, on the other hand, could have easily placed in the top ten, if only you hadn’t run into An Hao so soon."

Hearing this, Li Ya's mouth twitched.

He suspected that Gu An was deliberately rubbing salt in his wound, yet the guy wore such a genuinely regretful expression that he had no way to argue back.

Little did he know—Gu An had absolutely done it on purpose.

Stepping on my window ledge again, huh?!

Li Ya pulled out a chair at the desk and sat down before finally speaking.

"I'm leaving."

"Where to? And for how long?"

Gu An asked casually as he walked over to the tea table, beginning to prepare tea.

"My father has ordered me to go train at Three Pure Mountains in the Shen Tang Dynasty. I probably won’t be back for several decades," Li Ya replied.

Three Pure Mountains—again?!

Gu An’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So Li Xuandao had such a close connection with Three Pure Mountains? First Xuanmiao Zhenren, and now he was sending Li Ya as well.

He couldn't help but remark, "That is a worthwhile destination, given that a disciple from Three Pure Mountains took second place in the Golden Ranking Tournament."

"Xuanmiao Zhenren really is impressive," Li Ya agreed. "Even if I fought him, I doubt I could win."

During the Golden Ranking Tournament, Xuanmiao Zhenren was the only one who had managed to last a full incense stick’s time against An Hao.

Gu An brought over the freshly brewed tea, placing it on the table.

"Since you're going to Three Pure Mountains, you’d better train properly. Don’t go meddling in other people's business and end up getting yourself injured again."

Li Ya coughed. "Aside from getting beaten up by An Hao, I haven’t been injured at all these past few years."

"Oh, really?"

"Would I lie to you?"

The two chatted idly, discussing Xuan Valley, the Golden Ranking Tournament, and various sect matters.

By the time midday arrived, Li Ya finally stood up.

"I should get going," he said. "Gu Shidi, I hope that when I return, your cultivation will have improved significantly. Making it into the top 500 isn’t something you can just chalk up to luck—I’m sure you've already found your own opportunities. Don’t waste the years ahead. Do your best to catch up to me!"

With that, he strode toward the window, leaped out—and left another footprint on the windowsill.

Absolutely intentional!

Gu An sighed helplessly.

Li Ya usually acted serious and proper, so why did he always pull these childish stunts around him?

Gazing out the window, Gu An’s expression turned contemplative.

Did Li Xuandao have another reason for sending Li Ya away at this time?

And what about the soul within Li Ya—why did it feel so weak, as if it might fade away at any moment?

Gu An shook his head.

If he couldn't figure it out, then he wouldn’t bother thinking about it for now.

—

That evening.

Gu An returned to Xuantian Cave Dwelling once more.

Just as he was about to start harvesting medicinal herbs, his brows furrowed slightly.

Xuanmiao Zhenren? Why is he nearby?

His Daoist temple was 8,000 miles away from here—there was no way he had come this far by coincidence.

—

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, ten miles away.

Xuanmiao Zhenren held a compass in his hand, carefully advancing while muttering to himself.

"This should be the place… I wonder what kind of blessing is hidden here…"