Chapter 110: The Nine Forms of Heaven-Splitting and a Distant Aura

“Eight hundred years of painstaking cultivation, countless pills and elixirs consumed, only to reach the Profound Heart Stage and face a Heart Demon Tribulation at life’s end. I hate… hate…”

Gu An read aloud from the anonymous book, his brows furrowing deeply.

The hatred of the Xuantian Ancestor seemed to leap off the page, a palpable resentment towards the heavens.

He loathed the heavens for allowing him to attain the Profound Heart Stage, only to be afflicted with a heart demon before he could enjoy his achievement.

Gu An immediately connected this to the concept of lifespan limits.

It felt as though an invisible fate bound all beings. Perhaps the Xuantian Ancestor’s lifespan limit only allowed him to reach the Integration Stage, but he forcibly advanced to the Profound Heart Stage through immense resources. However, his lifespan did not extend, ultimately leading to his heart demon wreaking havoc and bringing about his death?

The more Gu An thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

The path of cultivation, rather than a battle against the heavens, seemed more like a struggle against fate.

Gu An firmly believed that fate could be broken, and he was living proof.

The lifespan limits he perceived might merely serve as reminders of fate’s existence.

Aside from his unique ability to seize lifespan, there must exist fortuitous encounters that could help others break through these limits, though he had yet to discover them.

It was precisely because immortality was so difficult to achieve that so many were willing to risk everything in pursuit of it.

He mused over the Dao Yan Technique. If it proved effective, he could consider using a portion of his lifespan to enhance it.

Gu An felt hopeful because Wu Xin’s lifespan far exceeded that of others at the same stage.

He continued reading. The latter part of the book detailed the Xuantian Ancestor’s life, from joining the Taixuan Sect to competing for leadership, written like a novel, with brief descriptions that sparked vivid imaginations.

After finishing the will, Gu An tossed the book into his storage pouch and picked up the manual for the Heaven-Splitting Divine Axe.

As he read, he became deeply engrossed, his pupils reflecting a figure wielding a massive axe.

The Heaven-Splitting Divine Axe consisted of nine forms: Sever Life, Sever Demon, Sever Ghost, Sever Mountain, Sever Sea, Sever Law, Sever Immortal, Sever Deity, and Sever Heaven!

The names sounded domineering, but could they truly sever immortals and heavens?

These nine forms were not levels of mastery but distinct techniques. The Xuantian Ancestor had mastered all nine and remained undefeated until his downfall from inner demons.

He swept through the Nine Dynasties’ cultivation world, establishing the Taixuan Sect’s reputation as the orthodox sect of the realm. However, he did not leave the Heaven-Splitting Divine Axe in the Taixuan Sect, as it was a sacred land’s inheritance, not to be passed to outsiders. This was explicitly noted in his will, as discovery by the sacred land would result in him being stripped of his cultivation.

After scanning the manual, Gu An tossed it into his storage pouch.

Turning, he entered the dilapidated wooden house. Everything inside was in disrepair, with weeds growing through the floorboards. In the center stood an axe covered in dust.

He approached the axe and blew lightly, scattering the dust to reveal a black axe.

The Heaven-Splitting Axe—a supreme-grade artifact—was forged from Northern Sea Darksteel that had aged for a million years, making it heavier and more potent than Li Ya’s Northern Sea Heavy Sword in containing spiritual energy.

Gu An gripped the Heaven-Splitting Axe, raising an eyebrow.

It was heavy!

Despite being a Grand Ascension cultivator with immense strength from practicing the Innate Flexibility Technique, he could feel its weight. This attested to its extraordinary mass.

Forget employing its techniques—simply smashing someone with it could be lethal.

Gu An hefted the Heaven-Splitting Axe. Once he exerted effort, the axe felt light and easy to wield.

Attempting to store the treasure in his storage pouch, he was met with resistance from its spatial restriction.

It wouldn’t go in!

Interesting!

Gu An set the axe aside and inspected the house further. Finding nothing of value, he stepped outside the Xuantian Cave Dwelling and sealed the cracks in the mountain wall.

As a cultivator with the Five Elements Physique and perfect earth attribute aptitude, he gathered spiritual energy to form earth and completely sealed the fissures.

Satisfied, Gu An declared this dwelling his own.

In high spirits, he smiled and re-entered the Xuantian Cave Dwelling.

Time to cultivate!

At the end of autumn, disciples of the Third Medicine Valley were sweeping fallen leaves.

Lu Lingjun suddenly looked up at the sky and saw a figure rapidly approaching.

Her brows furrowed as she inwardly marveled.

Ninth Level of the Integration Stage!

The figure was none other than Lü Baitian.

He swiftly arrived at the pavilion where Gu An resided and ascended the stairs.

Lu Lingjun retracted her gaze, curious about the man’s identity.

Though Lü Baitian had visited the Third Medicine Valley several times, he had never revealed his true identity. When An Hao and An Xin spoke of him, they merely referred to him as a senior of the sect.

Entering the room, Lü Baitian closed the door and set up a barrier to prevent eavesdropping.

Gu An set down the book in his hand and smiled. “Sect Master, what brings you here?”

He rose to make tea.

“No need to trouble yourself. Sit; let’s talk,” Lü Baitian said, waving his hand. He pulled a chair over with a casual gesture and sat down.

Gu An followed suit and asked, “What about?”

What could we possibly talk about? Don’t tell me it’s about accepting me as a disciple again!

Gu An inwardly scoffed. As a Grand Ascension cultivator, becoming someone’s disciple was unthinkable.

“Let’s talk about Li Xuandao,” Lü Baitian said, fixing his gaze on Gu An.

Surprised, Gu An asked, “What about him?”

“Crown Prince Li Dai had his Golden Core extracted, his Nascent Soul and cultivation crippled. A Void Transformation cultivator accompanying him was also killed.” Lü Baitian’s words left Gu An astonished.

He was genuinely taken aback.

The Taixuan Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall had only just left, and Li Xuandao had already acted?

To slay a peer upon first entering the Void Transformation Stage?

Quite extraordinary!

The Methods of Void Transformation Grandmasters and a Mysterious Aura

The techniques of Void Transformation Grandmasters were numerous. Even if they were outmatched in combat, escaping shouldn’t have been difficult.

While Gu An could easily kill Void Transformation cultivators, this was only because his higher cultivation level allowed him to suppress their power before they could escape.

Lü Baitian asked, “Does Li Xuandao have any Void Transformation cultivators by his side?”

Gu An shrugged. “I wouldn’t know if he did or not.”

Lü Baitian paused, realizing the point was valid. His expression softened.

“With the crown prince dead, the Taixuan Sect can only support Li Ya. The throne must be held by a prince of the Taixuan Sect, but unfortunately, Li Ya has been away for years,” Lü Baitian sighed.

“If not for the looming threat of the Nightshade Sect, I’d have deposed Li Xuandao already.”

Surprised, Gu An asked, “Why would you want to depose him?”

Lü Baitian explained, “He’s been emperor for nearly two hundred years. During his reign, Taicang has been plagued by demonic chaos and rampant evil, leading to widespread discontent. Replacing the emperor to offer sacrifices to the heavens might change the nation’s fate. But he’s drawn several elders from the Elder Hall to his side, making it difficult for me to force his abdication. Just as I was recovering my strength, the Nightshade Sect emerged again—truly a series of endless troubles.”

Speaking of the Nightshade Sect, Lü Baitian’s face turned grim with frustration.

Gu An couldn’t discern whether Lü Baitian truly cared for the people or simply held personal animosity toward Li Xuandao.

Both men provided Gu An with high-grade herbs, so he refrained from taking sides, preferring to watch their conflict unfold.

Li Xuandao was undeniably capable, able to hold off a Ninth-Level Integration Stage cultivator like Lü Baitian while continuing to grow rapidly.

If Lü Baitian discovered that Li Xuandao had already reached the Void Transformation Stage, he would likely act immediately to eliminate him.

The conversation shifted to the Nightshade Sect. Lü Baitian shared intelligence from the Venerable Pavilion indicating that there were spies from the Nightshade Sect within the Elder Hall—more than one.

This revelation enraged Lü Baitian. Only a few years ago, he had purged a batch of demonic infiltrators, yet remnants persisted, including his most hated enemy: the Nightshade Sect.

“I received news that the Nightshade Sect’s leader, Zhong Liang, is dead. No one knows who killed him. The sect is now lying low, awaiting reinforcements from its main bloodline. They suspect I killed Zhong Liang, which is laughable. I think it’s more likely they turned on each other,” Lü Baitian said with a sneer.

Curious, Gu An asked, “Why are the Nightshade Sect and the demonic factions concentrating their battles in the Northern Sea Mountain Range?”

Lü Baitian replied, “Most of the Nightshade Sect’s leadership is there, searching for a certain opportunity. This opportunity is related to our sect.”

“What kind of opportunity?”

“A Supreme Elder from our sect meditated in the Northern Sea Mountain Range a thousand years ago, surpassing the Integration Stage before vanishing. According to legend, when he left, he did not take the Taixuan Sect’s treasured Heaven-Splitting Axe. That axe cannot be stored in spatial artifacts and is tied to a grand inheritance. The Nightshade Sect has been searching for this inheritance ever since.”

So that’s the truth!

Gu An felt secretly triumphant. The Nightshade Sect had searched for years without success, yet he had stumbled upon it by chance.

Perhaps the sinking of spiritual energy had its benefits after all.

“The Heaven-Splitting Axe is no ordinary artifact. It’s said to be connected to the sacred land. Over three millennia, only that Supreme Elder managed to inherit such a grand legacy from the sacred land. He was also my master’s master,” Lü Baitian said wistfully.

The Xuantian Ancestor was indeed remarkable.

Reflecting on the axe’s immense weight, Gu An found this plausible.

Lü Baitian clearly admired the Xuantian Ancestor, recounting his deeds. Though he had never met the ancestor, he often heard tales from his master.

According to his master, the Xuantian Ancestor had never tasted defeat. Regardless of the number of enemies, he always emerged victorious. He even ventured south to explore, reportedly returning with immortal techniques before entering seclusion.

Gu An, however, knew the truth. The Xuantian Ancestor had not obtained any immortal techniques. His southern expedition nearly ended with his death at the hands of a Demon King, forcing him to retreat and await reaching the Profound Heart Stage before trying again. Unfortunately, he never succeeded.

Gu An suddenly thought of the True Legacy First Disciple, who had also ventured out for training. Could he have gone to the sea as well?

It was rumored that this disciple was even more powerful than Lü Baitian and might have already reached the Profound Heart Stage.

When Gu An brought up the True Legacy First Disciple, Lü Baitian’s mood soured, and he avoided further discussion.

Their poor relationship was obvious.

As Lü Baitian spoke, he suddenly fell silent.

Gu An, too, sensed a powerful aura emanating from the north. Pretending ignorance, he maintained a calm demeanor, especially with Lü Baitian present.

Lü Baitian turned to gaze out the window at the heavens and muttered, “So, it’s finally here?”

Puzzled, Gu An asked, “What’s here?”

Lü Baitian stood abruptly. “It’s nothing. I have urgent matters to attend to.”

He quickly departed. Gu An rose to see him off, escorting him to the balcony.

From there, Gu An noticed Lu Lingjun also sensing the distant aura, her brows tightly knit.

Sensing Gu An’s gaze, Lu Lingjun glanced at him briefly before resuming her leaf-sweeping.

Gu An watched Lü Baitian’s retreating figure, curiosity bubbling within.

What was the origin of that aura? It didn’t feel like a cultivator’s energy—there was something indescribably strange about it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep