“This is... a Tribulation Crossing?”
Gu An looked out the window at the thunderclouds, his brows gradually relaxing as a look of curiosity spread across his face.
He wasn’t worried because he sensed that the heavenly might was far from Xuan Valley.
Tang Yu, Su Han, and Zhen Qin, who were sweeping the snow in the garden, all turned their heads to look. Ye Lan, who was meditating in the forest, also opened her eyes. Xiao Chuan walked out of his room, gazing up at the rolling thunderclouds.
Wu Xin, sitting cross-legged at the mountain’s peak, was untouched by the flying snow that failed to conceal his figure. He looked toward the sky, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Such powerful sword intent...”
Wu Xin muttered to himself. Though his cultivation was low, his experience, as someone from the Thousand Autumn Pavilion, was considerable.
The entire sky was quickly covered by thunderclouds, like an endless ocean, surging with massive waves. The snow-covered forest and earth fell into darkness. The winds between heaven and earth grew stronger, causing the forest to sway, shaking off layers of accumulated snow.
The overwhelming heavenly might made it impossible for Gu An to concentrate on his writing. He stood up, went downstairs, and instructed the disciples to keep an eye on the various garden areas.
An hour later, several cultivators flew over Xuan Valley, rushing in the direction of the heavenly might, disappearing into the snowy wilderness.
This scene made the valley disciples even more nervous, unsure of what was happening.
As dusk approached, a thunderclap resounded across the sky.
Standing atop a mountain, Gu An saw lightning flickering in the distant sky, thunderbolts intertwining and striking down at a single point on the ground, forming a massive fan-shaped display. It was truly spectacular. The light from the lightning illuminated his face, and his black robe fluttered in the wind.
“The Tribulation Lightning is terrifying... No wonder I failed so many times during my simulated cultivation.”
Gu An sighed internally, finally releasing the resentment that had built up over the years.
Although simulated cultivation consumed more life essence than reality, it had the advantage of being safe. Looking back on his achievements, being a Nascent Soul ninth-level cultivator at twenty-eight, could the Tai Xuan Sect find a second person like him?
Afterwards, he turned and descended the mountain, ready to continue writing.
That night, the continuous rumble of thunder kept everyone in Medicine Valley from cultivating in peace.
By noon the next day, the thunder continued, and the wind between heaven and earth grew fiercer, as if a blizzard was approaching. Gu An periodically led the disciples out to tend to the spirit herbs.
After three days and nights, the thunder finally stopped. As the thunderclouds dispersed, sunlight broke through, bringing a sense of relief to the disciples of Xuan Valley.
However, their joy was short-lived. Not half a day later, a fierce pressure enveloped the land, making everyone feel as though a heavy weight was pressing on their chests, their hearts filled with unease.
Inside the pavilion.
Gu An set down his brush and looked out the window, his brows furrowed.
He could feel a powerful sword intent coming from the distant sky, though it was difficult to determine how far away it was.
“What is he doing?”
Gu An was perplexed. Having just crossed the Tribulation, was he now trying to comprehend sword intent?
So desperate?
Gu An could only pray that this person wouldn’t affect his Medicine Valley.
Although the sword intent was strong, after some comparison, Gu An felt that it was inferior to his own Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword.
After all, he had invested two thousand years of life essence into mastering the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword!
How many people in this world could live for two thousand years?
...
Late at night, in the Eight Views Heavenly Cave.
Gu An arrived to visit Jiang Qiong, making his way to the Ancient Vine Tree and raising his hand to salute her.
“For the next while, don’t come inside. Otherwise, you might be noticed by Zuo Yijian,” Jiang Qiong said without opening her eyes.
Zuo Yijian?
Gu An remembered this person—it was Zuo Lin’s father. Back when they had flown over Xuan Valley, he had used his life essence to investigate both of them.
He looked up at his father, his brows furrowing, and his eyes filled with admiration.
They say that dragons give birth to dragons and phoenixes to phoenixes, so why hadn’t he inherited his father’s talent for swordsmanship?
Feeling the powerful sword intent emanating from his father, Zuo Lin’s heart raced.
Even though his spiritual root aptitude was excellent, allowing him to absorb Qi far faster than his peers, all he wanted was to become a powerful sword cultivator like his father.
If it weren’t for his desire to comprehend swordsmanship, his cultivation would be much higher than Foundation Establishment stage level two.
“Sigh...”
Zuo Lin sighed, preparing to continue comprehending swordsmanship. He refused to believe that he couldn’t make any progress in the path of the sword.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, he noticed his father rising, leaving him stunned.
Is it over?
Zuo Yijian stood on the mountain peak, facing Zuo Lin’s direction, but his gaze was focused even higher, locked onto a distant, taller mountain. In the dim night, no figures could be seen, but he could feel a sword intent targeting him.
The five swords in front of him began to tremble, as if facing a formidable foe.
Opposite, Zuo Lin stood up, calling out loudly, “Father, what’s wrong? Have you succeeded?”
Zuo Yijian didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “I wonder which fellow Daoist has arrived? Why not show yourself?”
Ten li away.
Dressed in white, Gu An stood atop a mountain, a wooden mask covering his face, and spiritual energy shrouded his face beneath to prevent detection by divine sense.
His white robes blended into the snow behind him.
In his right hand, he played with a single leaf, from which tendrils of sword energy radiated.
From his high vantage point, Gu An could clearly see Zuo Yijian, and he also spotted Zuo Lin.
Before releasing his sword intent, he had already scanned the hundred li around him, ensuring that no other powerful cultivators were present before arriving at this peak.
Gu An wasn’t one to kill indiscriminately, but Zuo Yijian was a threat to his Medicine Valley. He had to be driven away.
“Blame yourself for choosing the wrong place,” Gu An muttered. He had already activated his technique, infusing the leaf with spiritual energy.
At the same time.
Upon hearing his father’s words, Zuo Lin turned around. But with his Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, he couldn’t see ten li away, especially in the dark of night, with snow falling heavily, obscuring his vision.
Unable to see the approaching enemy, Zuo Lin grew nervous.
Zuo Yijian felt the opponent’s sword intent rising and knew there was no avoiding this battle.
“A demonic sect spy? Or could it be... one of their people?”
Zuo Yijian’s eyes flickered. His right hand gripped one of the swords in front of him, a long, thin sword with a fiery red blade. As soon as he grasped it, the blade ignited, becoming the brightest thing in the night sky.
He swung the sword, and a wave of fire shot across the sky, hovering like a burning river.
“In the cold of winter, he’s using the Flame Devouring Sword Technique. It seems his comprehension of the sword has grown greatly these past days...” Zuo Lin turned his head and, seeing the swordfire in his father’s hand, gazed with admiration.
No matter who the opponent was, he believed his father wouldn’t lose.
“Since you refuse to speak, Daoist friend, I can only assume you intend to disrupt my comprehension of the Dao. Let this icy landscape bear witness to whose sword intent is stronger!”
Zuo Yijian’s cold voice echoed through the heavens. As his words fell, a soaring sword intent erupted from his body, causing the mountain he stood on to tremble violently. Snow cascaded down, and even the mountain Zuo Lin stood on began to shake.
Ten li away.
“Too much talk.”
Gu An muttered softly, his voice barely audible to himself. As he spoke, he suddenly flung the leaf from his hand.
It didn’t seem like a leaf at all—it was as if a divine sword had cut through time and space!