Chapter 143: Are You Really Pan An?

Chapter 143: Are You Really Pan An?

The masked elder’s words had just fallen when the floating black flames trembled slightly.

The other six elders all lowered their heads, their expressions dark and uncertain.

After the battle at Taixuan Sect, their fear of the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path had deepened even further.

The masked elder continued, “Over this period, the main branch has lost nearly twenty percent of its followers, including seventeen Integration Stage cultivators. We are unable to determine the fate of the Vice Sect Master. Sect Master, do you have any way to confirm it?”

A deep voice echoed from within the black flames—it was the Sect Master of the Nightshade Sect, Jing Tuxian.

“The Vice Sect Master is a free spirit. Even I am unaware of her whereabouts. However, it is impossible for her to have perished—unless a Grand Ascension cultivator has appeared in the Nine Dynasties. Even if one had, killing her wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Have any of you sensed battle fluctuations beyond the Profound Mind Realm?”

The masked elder answered, “No. But the Vice Sect Master’s sudden disappearance makes it necessary for us to consider all possibilities.”

“Don’t worry.” Jing Tuxian’s voice was calm yet firm. “She may have been caught up in something, but she wouldn’t just die silently. Moreover, I have already placed a curse upon myself—there is no turning back. Continue gathering sacrificial offerings, as many as possible. I am preparing to peer into the Mandate of Heaven!”

The seven elders responded in unison, “Understood!”

Nestled within a vast lake, the Three Pure Mountains were revered as a sacred land of immortals. Towering peaks loomed above, their summits barely visible through the mist, resembling mirages.

Beneath an ancient tree, Li Ya sat cross-legged, facing a precipice.

His Northern Sea Heavy Sword was planted beside him.

With his hands resting on his knees, he frowned at the chessboard before him, his expression troubled.

With a groan, he ruffled his hair in frustration.

At that moment, a spectral figure descended from the tree—it was the spirit of the Li Family’s Ancestor.

Oddly, his soul had become even more corporeal compared to before.

“Hahaha! Boy, I told you— the trials of the Three Pure Mountains are incredibly difficult! They require intelligence and wisdom! You’re still lacking in comprehension! You’re nowhere near my level. Back in my day, I cracked this chess puzzle in just three years! Judging by your miserable state, I doubt you’ll solve it even in ten years!”

The Li Family Ancestor laughed gleefully.

Li Ya glared at him, snapping, “What kind of ancestor are you? Hoping your descendants will be dumber than you?! I refuse to believe I’m worse than you!”

The Li Family Ancestor grinned. “My master once foretold that someone from the Li Family would be destined by the Mandate of Heaven and help me transcend my tribulation. At first, I thought it was you. But now, I realize… it’s probably someone else.”

He sighed, then patted Li Ya’s shoulder.

“Kid, maybe you should just give up on cultivation. Go down the mountain, get married, and have kids. Maybe your son will be the destined one.”

Li Ya shot to his feet, grabbed his heavy sword, and swung at his ancestor!

“You’re looking to die again, aren’t you?!”

“What are you two bickering about this time?”

A calm yet powerful voice suddenly rang out.

Li Ya turned to see a figure emerging from the mist—an elderly Daoist in a blue robe, with a crane-like beard and a whisk shimmering like clouds.

Instantly, Li Ya straightened up and respectfully bowed.

“Disciple greets the Grandmaster.”

Even the Li Family Ancestor bowed as well.

“Greetings, Master.”

This blue-robed elder was none other than Daoist Tianxu.

He possessed the aura of an immortal, his demeanor as refined as a transcendent sage.

Daoist Tianxu gracefully stepped onto the precipice and smiled. “Who says the Heaven’s Mandate has not yet been born? I recently performed a divination— ℞ΆꞐоꞖЁŞ

The Li Family’s fortune has begun to soar. This means the destined one has already arrived.”

The Li Family Ancestor chuckled, “I was just teasing the boy. He’s too arrogant and needs to temper his temperament, or he’ll cause trouble after leaving the mountain.”

With a flick of his whisk, Daoist Tianxu instantly erased the chessboard from existence.

Li Ya panicked.

“Grandmaster! What are you doing?!”

Was he being denied the opportunity to prove his worth?!

Did his Grandmaster also think he lacked wisdom?

Daoist Tianxu smiled.

“The great calamity of the Nine Dynasties is upon us. And the danger is even greater than before— even the Three Pure Mountains could face destruction.

Therefore, I can no longer test you.

All three branches of our sect must descend the mountain to save the world.”

Descend the mountain?!

Both Li Ya and the Li Family Ancestor were stunned.

“Please grant me the sacred technique, Grandmaster! I want to fight as well!” Li Ya immediately declared.

But Daoist Tianxu shook his head.

“Your cultivation is too weak. You will not make a difference in this tribulation.

If we fail, there are people in the mountains who will take you far away—to another world.

After all, this land originally belonged to the demon race. Our sects have stood here for centuries, but our time is running out.”

His voice was calm, without a trace of worry.

He smiled, as if he had already transcended worldly concerns.

“But—”

“No buts. Obey.”

Li Ya wanted to say more, but he hesitated.

Seeing his struggle, Daoist Tianxu chuckled, “Do you have someone you can’t bear to leave behind?”

The Li Family Ancestor teased, “He’s thinking about his junior, Gu An.”

Daoist Tianxu softly said, “In life, those who can control their fate are already beyond mortality. Do not force destiny—just do your best.”

Li Ya fell silent.

The sky darkened, and disciples gathered in the valley, watching a spectacular heavenly phenomenon.

Gu An was among them, observing closely.

Golden lightning, resembling celestial dragons, rained down upon Lu Lingjun’s tribulation array, unleashing radiant rainbow light across the sky.

On the distant mountain peaks, countless Taixuan Sect cultivators and elders—all at least Core Formation Stage—stood vigil, watching the tribulation unfold.

The thunderclouds stretched for a hundred miles, glowing ominously red—like a massive celestial eye overlooking the valley.

Even though the tribulation was focused on Lu Lingjun, the sheer power of the lightning was enough to obliterate an Integration Stage cultivator instantly.

Gu An’s expression was solemn.

“Tribulations are terrifying…”

Without formations and pills, he doubted an Integration Stage ninth-level cultivator could survive.

Nearby, Elder Guzong stood beside him, sighing, “The Profound Mind Realm is truly profound. Even watching someone endure a tribulation fills me with insight.”

Three days had passed since Lu Lingjun began her tribulation.

Yesterday had been the most dangerous, but today’s lightning had weakened—though each strike was still strong enough to kill an Integration Stage cultivator.

Even so, many high-ranking elders had helped Lu Lingjun by reinforcing her formation with their own spiritual power.

This display of unity within Taixuan Sect had been impressive.

Gu An watched closely.

Lu Lingjun had succeeded in forming her Profound Mind.

Her cultivation was about to skyrocket.

The spiritual power of a ninth-level Integration Stage cultivator was indeed vast, but the consumption required to withstand heavenly tribulation was equally terrifying.

Gu An didn’t bother counting how many pills Lu Lingjun had consumed, but the number was undoubtedly astronomical.

At one point, Gu An even considered stepping in to help, as she was on the verge of collapse, barely able to take her pills in time.

Fortunately, the Integration Stage cultivators of Taixuan Sect acted swiftly, and with over twenty elders, along with Elder Kusong of the Profound Mind Realm, joining forces, they managed to safeguard Lu Lingjun through the ordeal.

Once the most dangerous phase of the tribulation had passed, Elder Kusong left at daybreak.

Gu An wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Elder Kusong’s departing figure looked rather lonely.

“Looks like the tribulation was a success,” Elder Guzong remarked. “I should be going too. Once her cultivation stabilizes, you should try to build a good relationship with her. See if you can keep her in Medicine Valley until the Sect Master returns.”

With those words, Elder Guzong took his leave, first transmitting a few messages to the other Integration Stage Elders before departing into the sky.

Though Elder Guzong was only at the Void Transformation Stage, his status was extremely high.

First, he was backed by the Gu Family, and second, he held authority over the sect’s administration, a responsibility that had hindered his own cultivation progress.

For those who reached the Integration Stage, most would retreat into seclusion, focusing on their own advancement rather than sect affairs.

Nearby, Shen Zhen was furiously sketching a painting of Lu Lingjun’s tribulation.

Gu An nearly choked on his own breath.

Is she insane?!

Even a Profound Mind cultivator dares to be offended?!

The heavenly tribulation finally dissipated, and Lu Lingjun successfully ascended to the Profound Mind Realm!

As soon as she retracted her formation, the Integration Stage cultivators of Taixuan Sect rushed over, eagerly greeting her.

Grateful for their assistance, Lu Lingjun maintained a humble demeanor, which greatly pleased the elders.

Taixuan Sect had gained another Profound Mind cultivator!

Especially at such a critical moment!

Truly, the heavens were favoring Taixuan Sect!

After a long exchange of formalities, Lu Lingjun finally escaped the sea of flattery and flew toward Medicine Valley—just in time to see Gu An being pestered by Shen Zhen.

The moment Lu Lingjun landed, Shen Zhen immediately stuffed her painting into her storage pouch.

Lu Lingjun looked at her and asked calmly, “Were you drawing my tribulation?”

Gu An quickly jumped in, “This is Shen Zhen, the Saintess of Dao Tian Sect. She meant no offense—she simply admires your strength.”

The key point was that she was from Dao Tian Sect!

Lu Lingjun’s expression darkened slightly when she noticed how close Shen Zhen was standing to Gu An.

She spoke in a cold tone, “Miss Shen, please maintain a respectable distance from Gu An in the future.”

Shen Zhen blinked in surprise. “Why? Could it be that someone as powerful as you…”

Lu Lingjun didn’t answer.

She simply stared at Shen Zhen with an expressionless face.

Shen Zhen tilted her head in curiosity, then suddenly asked, “Gu An—doesn’t that name sound familiar to you?”

Hearing this, Gu An immediately blurted out, “This is all your fault! You used my name to write that ridiculous book, tarnishing my reputation!”

Lu Lingjun had already read

The Secrets of Taixuan

and had even suspected him before—so Gu An took the initiative to expose himself before she could question him!

Shen Zhen, however, wasn’t the least bit offended.

She smiled and said, “Tarnish your reputation? Please—

Didn’t you profit handsomely from it?”

Lu Lingjun’s gaze turned strange.

She stared at Gu An, and he could feel her silent judgment—she was probably calling him greedy in her head.

Shen Zhen continued with a playful smirk, “Senior, don’t underestimate Gu An. He’s no ordinary person—

He’s the author of

Romance of the Gods

—the legendary writer, Pan An.

You’d best keep an eye on him. There are countless women who admire him.”

With that, she politely bowed to Lu Lingjun and turned to leave.

Gu An’s heart skipped a beat.

This is bad.

Lu Lingjun ignored Shen Zhen.

Instead, she turned to Gu An and stared at him with a piercing gaze.

“You’re really Pan An?”