Chapter 157: Diverging Paths, A Great Fall

Deep in the night, beneath Xuan Valley, within the Eight Views Celestial Realm.

Gu An sat under the Spirit Tree, reading a book while leaning against its massive trunk. Two vines draped over his shoulders, gently kneading them.

Suddenly, he put down his book and straightened up.

“What’s wrong, Master? Was the pressure too much?” The Spirit Tree’s voice was soft and delicate, sounding pitiful.

Gu An replied, “No, I just have something to take care of. I have to go.”

The Spirit Tree trembled slightly and quickly said, “Master, don’t forget to bring some lamb next time!”

Gu An waved his hand dismissively before vanishing from the spot.

Outside Taixuan Sect, atop a mountain peak.

As autumn neared its end, the night wind was harsh, rustling Gu An’s robes as he gazed into the distance.

He could sense that Hao Long was in danger.

Though they had never formed a contract, ever since Hao Long’s birth, a strange connection had developed between them—something similar to what he felt when Xuanmiao Zhenren summoned him.

Following this faint link, Gu An extended his divine sense.

Soon, he locked onto a sect. His divine sense bypassed multiple layers of barriers and pierced into a small hidden world—one much like the Star-Seizing Celestial Realm.

The Nightshade Ghost Mother… and the Thirteen Fiends of the Nine Nether Path!

These people were battling the Grandmasters of Gu Hao Sect!

Gu An’s divine sense locked onto Hao Long, and his expression turned odd.

His opponent… was Su Han!

Su Han’s aura was already nearing the Nascent Soul Stage, yet it was unstable, as if he could descend into madness at any moment.

Though Hao Long was lazy and rarely cultivated, his innate bloodline talent was powerful enough that Su Han couldn’t easily subdue him.

The twenty-zhang-long dragon writhed through the mountains, spitting scorching flames.

Meanwhile, Su Han moved like a specter, dodging effortlessly and swinging his sword. His attacks left bloody gashes across Hao Long’s body, dragon blood splattering everywhere.

In his other hand, Su Han held a cloth bag, carefully collecting the dragon’s blood.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Gu An decided to intervene.

In the dim night, within the wilderness—

Hao Long fled frantically through the mountains, while Su Han pursued with his bone sword in hand.

“Damn it! Who the hell are you?! This lord won’t let you off in the future!”

Hao Long’s voice rumbled through the mountains, still carrying the tone of a young boy despite his massive size.

From behind, Su Han’s voice was cold as ice.

“Hatred Heaven Divine Sword. Su Han.“

Hao Long’s pupils shrank in fear.

He had heard of Hatred Heaven Divine Sword’s name before.

A deep terror surfaced in his eyes, and his escape speed increased, his sinuous body moving like a slippery eel.

Suddenly—

Su Han leaped high into the air, raising his sword.

Sword energy surged forth, forming seven sword shadows that slashed toward Hao Long. At the end of each shadow, wailing ghosts clung to the blades, their eerie cries filling the night.

At that moment—

A dark-purple demonic silhouette suddenly materialized above Hao Long’s head.

With a casual pinch of its fingers, Su Han’s sword energy shattered into nothingness.

Su Han’s eyes widened in shock.

It was him!

He would never forget the mysterious demonic figure that had slaughtered his master, Zhong Ti.

BOOM!

A terrifying divine sense attack struck his mind, knocking him unconscious instantly.

He plummeted into the forest below.

Hao Long also succumbed to the same spiritual impact, his massive body crashing into the ground, sending a dust cloud billowing into the air.

Gu An walked up to the unconscious Su Han, staring down at him.

At that moment, the Nightshade Ghost Mother appeared out of thin air, kneeling before Gu An with a respectful bow.

“Please forgive us, Holy Lord! We were unaware that Hao Long was connected to you!”

The demonic aura around her dispersed, revealing a pale-faced woman. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she looked at Gu An.

Gu An’s tone remained indifferent. “So, you’re the Nightshade Ghost Mother?”

Though he had met her before, the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path had not. He needed to maintain the act.

“This humble one is indeed the Nightshade Ghost Mother!” she answered reverently.

Gu An continued, “Gu Hao Sect is under my protection. Hao Long is their sacred beast. You are not allowed to seize him.”

By framing it this way, it would seem that he had intervened for Gu Hao Sect, not just for Hao Long.

The Nightshade Ghost Mother hesitated before cautiously asking, “Why do you protect both factions?”

Gu An countered with his own question. “The Nightshade Sect has been destroyed. Why haven’t you returned to the Nine Nether Path?”

She sighed. “We wish to return, but the Seven Star Spirit Realm cultivators have blocked the way. We had no choice but to retreat.”

Seven Star Spirit Realm?

Hearing this, Gu An became even more certain that the Seven Star Spirit Realm was orchestrating the Demonic Cataclysm.

“Is this boy your disciple?” Gu An asked.

The Nightshade Ghost Mother hesitated for a moment before replying, “Not a disciple—just a pawn. With the Demonic Cataclysm approaching, all beings will face calamity. I hoped to cultivate him into a weapon strong enough to help us break through the Nine Nether Path.”

Using Su Han to fight the Seven Star Spirit Realm?

Gu An couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for Su Han.

But he had no intention of saving him.

Su Han’s obsession with power had already turned into a twisted fixation.

Even without the Nightshade Ghost Mother, he would still walk this dark path. In his own mind, he wasn’t committing evil—he was simply striving to grow stronger.

Gu An had no reason to personally eliminate him.

As far as he knew, Su Han had never slaughtered innocent mortals.

The ones who had died by his hands were mostly those who sought to kill him first.

And the Hatred Heaven Divine Sword was, after all, his family’s ancestral sword technique.

He and Gu An were never truly master and disciple.

The only thing Gu An had ever given Su Han was a few pills.

Their past ties were already severed.

Su Han’s fate had nothing to do with him anymore.

However, Gu An was curious to see how his story would unfold.

Unlike Gu An, who stayed hidden and planned carefully, Su Han cut his way through the world, leaving a bloody reputation wherever he went.

At this moment, the Nightshade Ghost Mother spoke of the Reverse Fate Divine Art—its effects were identical to what Gu An knew.

She likely had no idea that the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path also possessed the technique.

Perhaps she truly intended to make Gu An the new Nightshade Sect Leader.

Autumn’s end, Xuan Valley.

Gu An watched his disciples sweeping fallen leaves across the courtyard.

His divine sense, however, was elsewhere—watching the battle between the Taicang Empire and the Hanlu Dynasty.

Just as he was absorbed in the fight, Zhen Qin flew in on her sword, landing beside him.

“Master, Senior Brother Su Han has been declared wanted by Gu Hao Sect!” she whispered.

Gu An barely reacted. “I told you—he’s not your senior brother.”

Zhen Qin pouted. “I know, but we grew up together. How could I just sever all ties with him?”

Before she could argue further, their sect tokens lit up.

A somber voice echoed:

“Supreme Elder Kusong fell while investigating the Demonic Domain. In three days, all disciples must gather in the affiliated cities to mourn our ancestors!”

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