Chapter 166: The Green Hero Appears, The Nine Great Cultivators of the World

Looking at the stubborn-faced transformed demon in front of him, Gu An’s memories stirred.

He recalled his time with his senior brother, Zhang Chunqiu—memories spanning from youth to old age, representing an entire lifetime.

This transformed demon was none other than Zhang Chunqiu’s son, Zhang Buku.

The last time they met, Zhang Buku had still been a child, but now he had grown up.

Seeing his current miserable state, Gu An thought,

If Senior Brother were still alive, he would surely feel heartbroken.

Zhang Buku’s injuries weren’t inflicted by Gu An. Before Gu An intervened, Zhang Buku had been bullied by other demons. When Gu An started killing demons, Zhang Buku had lunged forward, only to be sent tumbling to the ground by a single kick. He remained there until all the other demons were slain, only barely managing to stand.

From the words of the rescued villagers, Zhang Buku had not committed any evil deeds.

But why did this kid seem so determined to die?

Gu An raised the Qinghong Sword and pointed it at him. “Do you really want to die?”

Zhang Buku didn’t hesitate. His face hardened, and he charged at Gu An.

Gu An reversed his grip on the sword, pressing the hilt against Zhang Buku’s chest while leaning back slightly, keeping his hands out of reach.

Before Zhang Buku could make another move, Gu An took off his mask and placed it over Zhang Buku’s face.

Instinctively, Zhang Buku stepped back and removed the mask. He was about to throw it at Gu An when his eyes widened in shock.

“Gu… Shishu (Martial Uncle)?”

He asked cautiously.

Gu An didn’t mind exposing his identity. The strength he had displayed while slaying demons was powerful but far from his true capabilities.

Besides, revealing himself was the only way to make Zhang Buku stop.

Gu An smiled. “Do you still remember me?”

Zhang Buku wiped the blood from his face and said excitedly, “Of course! You once gave me a

Spiritual Energy Pill

! How could I forget?”

Gu An sheathed his sword and handed him a healing pill. “Take this first and recover.”

Zhang Buku didn’t refuse. He swallowed the pill and sat down cross-legged, beginning to circulate his energy while watching Gu An collect demonic treasures left behind by the slain creatures. ɽ𝙖ŊǑBÊ𐌔

An hour later, the two arrived at a small river. Zhang Buku crouched down to wash his face and clean his wounds.

Once finished, he turned to look at Gu An, who had put his mask back on. “Gu Shishu, why are you dressed like this?”

He was no longer the naive boy he once was. After roaming the cultivation world for so long, he understood the Taixuan Sect’s status.

Within the Taicang Empire, Taixuan Sect disciples were revered wherever they went.

Gu An replied, “The world is in chaos with demons running rampant. I want to save people, but I also don’t want unnecessary trouble, so I wear a mask to keep my identity hidden.”

Zhang Buku suddenly understood. He recalled his father’s description of Gu Shishu:

Timid, cautious, but with a kind heart.

“Don’t spread the word about what I’ve been doing.” Gu An added.

Zhang Buku grinned. “Don’t worry, I can keep a secret. Besides, you just saved my life—why would I betray you?”

Gu An ruffled his hair. “How did you end up with these demons?”

Hearing this, Zhang Buku’s smile froze, and he lowered his head.

The night wind was warm, but Gu An sighed inwardly as he watched Zhang Buku’s slumped back.

He didn’t even need to ask—he could already guess Zhang Buku’s predicament.

Born from the union of a human and a demon, raised among humans but gradually exuding more and more demonic aura as he aged, he would have been rejected by the human world.

Yet, molded by Zhang Chunqiu’s teachings, he could not truly belong to the demon race either.

Gu An had overheard the demons mocking his “impure bloodline.” That meant even the demons did not accept him.

“I recently obtained a cultivation technique from the

Thousand Autumn Pavilion

,” Gu An suddenly said. “As a righteous cultivator, I can’t practice it. Why don’t you take it?”

He retrieved a book from his storage bag.

Its title read:

Demonic Shadow Divine Art

In reality, it was a method for cultivating the

Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body

Zhang Buku hesitated, staring at the manual in Gu An’s outstretched hand.

At sixty-six years old, he had experienced a lifetime of rejection.

Only this Gu Shishu had ever helped him without asking for anything in return.

He stood up, conflicted.

Gu An shoved the book into his arms. “Take it. And remember—don’t tell anyone you got it from me.”

Zhang Buku took a deep breath and looked up. “Gu Shishu, am I human or demon? Why won’t either accept me?”

Gu An raised an eyebrow. “Who said no one accepts you? I accept you.”

“As for whether you’re human or demon—does it matter?”

“Buku, your suffering isn’t just because of your bloodline. The world itself is in turmoil. Think of those people trapped in the valley earlier. Could they control their fates any more than you?”

“You’re lucky. You can cultivate. That alone makes you better off than ninety percent of the world.”

Zhang Buku fell into deep thought. He recalled the suffering mortals he had seen.

Gu An continued, “What matters isn’t what you were born as, but what you choose to become.”

Zhang Buku took a deep breath. “Thank you for your guidance, Gu Shishu.”

Gu An worried that Zhang Buku might lose himself in despair, so he added, “When your father was young, he always lamented his poor talent. He wished he could roam the world freely, explore every river and mountain, and reach the peak of cultivation to ask the heavens—do true immortals exist?”

“What you have now is already more than what your father could ever dream of. Train hard, and the path of cultivation will show you your purpose.”

Zhang Buku had a natural lifespan of 2,300 years. Even though he had demonic blood, his talent was not lacking.

Gu An patted his shoulder and tossed him a storage bag before leaving.

“Gu Shishu, where are you going?” Zhang Buku called out.

“To save others like you.”

Gu An waved without looking back.

Zhang Buku stared at his retreating figure, admiration filling his eyes.

He knew Gu Shishu’s past—an orphan born into servitude. Yet compared to himself, Gu Shishu had endured even greater hardships.

And yet, he still lived so freely.

If Gu Shishu can move forward, why should I wallow in self-pity?

Zhang Buku picked up the storage bag. Just as he was about to call out to Gu An, he realized he was already gone.

He peered inside the bag, his expression turning complex.

It was filled with the treasures left behind by the slain demons.

His grip tightened, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Yet, amidst his sobs, a smile formed.

“I’ll train hard, Gu Shishu. One day, I’ll repay you. I’ll make you proud.”

Over the past year, many powerful cultivators returned from overseas. Their heroic exploits were spread far and wide, inspiring countless cultivators.

The

Demonic Cataclysm

was terrifying.

But as Pan An had once written in

Shattering the Void

—

The human race is indomitable. We will survive any tribulation.

During this time, Gu An lived a fulfilling life.

When he wasn’t gathering herbs, he was out saving people.

If he encountered oppressed demons, he helped them too.

Gradually, stories began circulating about a lone swordsman, a mysterious hero known as the

Green Hero

Xuan Valley

, Gu An was sparring with Chu Jingfeng.

Ye Lan watched from the side.

In the end, Gu An barely won.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he sighed. “Fighting Chu without spiritual power is tough.”

Chu Jingfeng, panting, grinned. “Your swordsmanship is remarkable. I don’t mind losing.”

Afterward, Gu An took Ye Lan upstairs, where they discussed the rising tide of demons.

But no matter what, Gu An was determined—before the world united, he would break through to the Second Realm of the Immortal Path!