238: Please teach me, ancestor

Shu Mountain.

Immortal clouds lingered, and countless Cultivators shouted in unison.

"Welcome, Old Ancestor!"

"Congratulations to the Old Ancestor!"

Gu Changsheng, returning to Shu Mountain as a Yang Spirit Realm Cultivator, naturally caused widespread astonishment.

"Excellent! Our Shu Mountain has produced another Yang Spirit Realm mighty figure; we can enjoy thousands of years of prosperity."

"Haha, who said our Shu Mountain is about to decline?"

"It's clearly on the rise!"

"Those restless vassal Sects should also be disciplined as a warning to others."

"Not only that, with two Yang Spirit Realm mighty figures now in Shu Mountain, our territorial reach should expand another million miles."

A group of Sect Disciples excitedly said.

Hundreds of years ago, Shu Mountain suffered a demonic disaster, losing many True Disciples and Elders. Coupled with the aging Sword Ancestor, who hadn't shown his face in a long time, things were looking grim.

Now, Gu Changsheng's Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm was like a potent shot in the arm for everyone.

"Fortunately... we didn't conflict with this person back then..."

"Alas, who could have imagined that this one would actually Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm..."

"Forget it, from now on, this Shu Mountain will be the domain of the Li lineage."

Many Elders within the Sect who had secretly ostracized Gu Changsheng bowed their heads, issuing orders that from this day forward, no one was to disobey Le Xiaoyao in any way.

No other reason than that he had a Yang Spirit Realm Revered Master backing him.

"Welcome back, Revered Master, for stepping onto the Grand Dao of the Yang Spirit."

Le Xiaoyao and Qian Ya both had beaming smiles on their faces, cupping their fists in congratulation.

Their Qi intermingled; how could it escape Gu Changsheng's Dharma Eye?

However, he was not surprised in the slightest.

"Fang Yu, come and meet your two Junior Brothers."

Gu Changsheng pointed to Fang Yu behind him.

"Greetings, Junior Brothers. This humble Daoist is Fang Yu."

"Senior Brother, my name is Le Xiaoyao, and this is my wife, Qian Ya.

If Senior Brother ever needs anything in the future, please be sure to tell Junior Brother. Le Xiaoyao will naturally go through fire and water for you."

"Haha, in that case, many thanks."

After exchanging greetings, the few settled into their Immortal Cave.

Soon, news of Li Daoyi's return to Shu Mountain and his Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm spread outside the Sect.

The vassal Sects within a million-mile radius were utterly shocked.

"Another Yang Spirit... this..."

An old man, resembling a farmer in the fields, stood stunned, a look of distress on his face. He steeled his heart and made a decision.

"For the next few millennia, Shu Mountain's position will be unshakable.

Li Sheng, from now on, you must sever all ties with those rebellious Sects..."

"Yes, Sect Head."

The black-clad youth beside him was about to leave when he heard the old farmer call out, 'Wait.'

"Does Old Ancestor have any other instructions?" the black-clad youth asked, cupping his fists.

"I've thought about it. Instead of merely severing ties, it's better to directly lay a trap and ambush those rebels, using their heads as a pledge of allegiance to Shu Mountain."

The old farmer's face was as dark as a venomous snake.

"You go spread the word that Old Ancestor I will host a banquet tonight..."

"Yes."

Soon, a bloody storm erupted. Within a million-mile radius, many Sects turned to dust overnight, or were favored by Shu Mountain and rose rapidly.

Countless Cultivators perished.

And the mastermind behind this Karma, Gu Changsheng, was currently in the Forbidden Ground of the back mountain.

"Tsk tsk, I never thought that the outsider who impersonated someone else would reach such a stage..."

Sword Ancestor said mockingly.

Gu Changsheng was slightly startled, but not surprised: "Indeed, Sword Ancestor, you've known all along that I wasn't Li Daoyi."

"From the very first time you met me, I saw through everything.

But, so what?

You cultivate the Sword Arts Divine Abilities of our Shu Mountain, and you rendered great service during the demonic disaster.

Besides that skin, who dares say you are not a Shu Mountain Disciple?"

Speaking, Sword Ancestor lowered his voice: "Let me quietly tell you a secret, when I first entered Shu Mountain, I also used the same method as you... Back then, Shu Mountain was still chaotic, a medium-sized side-Dao Sect... Inner Disciples, True Disciples, Elders... A thousand years passed in a flash, and even the names grew so old I forgot them. They only call me... Sword Ancestor."

A hint of nostalgia appeared on Sword Ancestor's face.

Gu Changsheng looked up, his gaze containing a touch of strangeness.

So Sword Ancestor was also a 'Lao Liu' (schemer).

He couldn't help but feel a bit more favorably towards him.

Who would have thought that the two mighty Yang Spirit Realm figures behind the grand Shu Mountain Sect were both latecomers to the Sect.

"Cough cough."

Gu Changsheng lightly coughed, organizing his thoughts, and said seriously: "May I ask Sword Ancestor for your views on this world?"

"Oh, you're referring to the pollution of this world, I presume."

Sword Ancestor also put away his earlier mockery, pondering for a moment before saying: "Since you've Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm, you should understand.

All the myriad worlds are but the Immortal Realm's garbage dump.

Pollution continuously emanates from the Immortal Realm, flowing along the Starry Sky Ancient Road. We, who are revered as Yang Spirits, standing at the Peak of many worlds, still merely struggle to survive.

There's always the possibility of mutation and madness.

Furthermore, the rumor that Undergoing Tribulation nine Heavenly Tribulations allows one to Ascend to the Immortal Realm is also a conspiracy of the Immortals.

After all, over countless years, only two individuals had the potential to Undergo Tribulation nine disasters.

One is Immortal Master Wanling, who achieved Dao through a strange stone.

The other is Emperor Yellow Springs.

But where are these two now?"

As he spoke, Sword Ancestor's face showed sorrow, then his eyes blazed with fierce light: "Therefore, the greatest enemy of our Human Realm is not the Holy Realm, or any other myriad worlds.

It is... the Immortal Realm."

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng lowered his head and remained silent.

These remarks coincided with his previous conjectures.

'Holy Ancestor Jialan, why does she manipulate the Holy Realm to devour myriad worlds?'

A new question arose in his heart.

After a long while, Gu Changsheng rose, his aura surging, and he said word by word: "Gu has newly advanced to the Yang Spirit Realm and has never crossed swords with a fellow Daoist.

I hope Sword Ancestor will make a move and spar with me."

"Yang Spirit Realm Early Stage Peak!"

Sword Ancestor's eyes widened, almost disbelieving what he saw.

"I never thought... you just Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm, and your cultivation is already comparable to a Yang Spirit Realm Cultivator who has Undergoing Tribulation three times."

"Comparable to Undergoing Tribulation three times?"

"Exactly. Immortal Spiritual Energy is scarce in the Human Realm.

Only the ice springs of Beiyuan and the auspicious and ominous caves of Nanhuang have small yields.

Each opening attracts a large number of Yang Spirit Realm Cultivators to contend for it.

Typically, improving cultivation relies entirely on slow, persistent effort.

Moreover, cultivation also requires dedicating a significant amount of mental energy to resist the ever-present pollution.

Therefore, the primary opportunity to obtain large amounts of Immortal Spiritual Energy is during the Undergoing Tribulation of the Three Disasters.

Improving cultivation, nurturing Dao Artifacts... Immortal Spiritual Energy is simply not enough."

"So that's how it is."

Gu Changsheng nodded slightly, cupped his fists, and said: "Please enlighten me, Old Ancestor."

A moment later, the two escaped into the depths of the Void Realm.

"Three moves... This Lord will suppress my cultivation to the Yang Spirit Realm Early Stage Peak."

In the Void Realm, Sword Ancestor's expression was solemn, his green robes fluttering and rustling in the fierce winds.

His wide sword robes billowed, and a sharp Sword Qi rapidly expanded.

"The first move is a Sword Art I created when I Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm, inspired by my feelings at the time. It is called 'Destroying Mountains and Seas'.

Kill!"

Clang—

Sword Ancestor extended a finger, from which a Sword Qi bloomed, surrounded by countless illusory images of mountains and seas overturning, streaking across the sky like a meteor with a long tail flame.

"Good!"

Gu Changsheng's hunting instinct was aroused. He extended a palm, and the Void Realm gathered into a giant hand that covered the sky, gripping the incoming Sword Qi like a cage.

Sizzle sizzle—

The Sword Qi and the giant hand annihilated each other, erupting in a muffled roar.

After a long while, both vanished into thin air.

"What profound magical power..."

Sword Ancestor's eyelids twitched.

With his eyesight, he could naturally see that Gu Changsheng's Divine Ability just now emphasized using brute force to break all techniques, but its subtlety was inferior to 'Destroying Mountains and Seas'.

It was merely the profoundness of his magical power that ground down the Sword Qi.

In his opinion, this would consume a considerable amount of magical power, which was not cost-effective in combat.

Little did he know, Gu Changsheng's magical power was far more profound than he imagined, and he had no fear of consumption.

"The second move was created when this Lord Undergoing Tribulation the Three Disasters for the second time, when I was two thousand six hundred and thirty-six years old.

Splitting Heaven and Earth!"

Sword Ancestor suddenly took a deep breath, his palms shining with brilliant light, as if melting into a pair of treasured swords in the unseen.

Slash!

A streak of white light swept across the heavens and earth, and the Void Realm seemed to be split open, revealing a long, narrow chasm into which countless air currents madly poured.

Gu Changsheng's blood and Qi surged, his right arm glowing with an emerald green luster, and he punched out fiercely.

Boom—

The Void Realm exploded, the sound reverberating for a hundred thousand miles.

The clouds dissipated, and Gu Changsheng's bare hands were crystal clear like jade, with green light flowing, without a single scratch.

Immediately, Sword Ancestor was stunned.