Chapter 167: Breaking Through Ten Million Years of Lifespan!

Dark clouds churned in the sky, casting the land below into shadow. Rivers of molten lava crisscrossed the cracked earth, making it look like the surface itself was splitting apart. The air was thick with scorching heat, and demonic mist, laced with sparks of fire, surged across the terrain.

A vast volcanic range stretched endlessly, with some volcanoes still actively erupting. In the mountains, countless demons roamed, and even fish-like creatures leapt from the lava, their movements stirring submerged bones to the surface.

Atop a towering volcano sat an altar, and on that altar, a black-robed man meditated. His robe was oversized, and his long, wild hair made it seem as if he occupied a third of the altar’s space.

Emerging from beneath his robe was a serpent’s tail covered in black scales, draped over the edge of the altar.

In front of him stood a massive skeletal frame, upon which rested a bronze mirror. The mirror was filled with swirling demonic energy, its surface rippling as if countless evil spirits were struggling to break free.

Suddenly, a tiger-headed humanoid demon soared through the air, stepping off a demonic cloud as he landed beside the altar.

“Master Demon Scholar, His Majesty the Demon Emperor is preparing to enter the Demon Ancestor’s Tomb. He wishes to know if you will accompany him.”

The Demon Scholar—second in authority only to the Demon Emperor—responded lazily, “Tell His Majesty I am at a critical juncture in my divinations. I cannot leave.”

The tiger-headed demon hesitated before pressing on. “His Majesty also asks—if the Demon Ancestor regains his consciousness ahead of time, what should he do?”

The Demon Scholar fell silent. His serpent’s tail, which had been lazily swaying, suddenly stilled. The tiger-headed demon grew even more nervous.

After a long pause, the Demon Scholar murmured, “If he truly regains his mind… tell His Majesty to destroy him.”

“Understood!”

The tiger-headed demon, relieved, bowed and quickly departed.

Once he had disappeared into the horizon, the Demon Scholar slowly raised his head.

His face was terrifying—half of it was stripped to bare bone, with only a single bloodshot eye remaining. Two fangs, as sharp as daggers, jutted from his mouth.

Staring into the bronze mirror, he muttered, “Why… has the fate of the heavens changed?”

Gu An climbed to the third floor and approached Elder Xu Lu.

“Another batch of overseas disciples has returned, including a Supreme Elder. Have any ocean maps been brought back?”

Elder Xu Lu looked up with a knowing smile. “This is the third time you’ve asked. Well, you’re in luck.”

He opened a drawer and retrieved a jade slip. “The map is here. You can read it with your divine sense, but you can’t take it out of the library.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Gu An expressed his gratitude and took the jade slip to a nearby seat.

He wasn’t worried about being suspected—if anyone questioned him, he could simply use his Pan An identity as an excuse.

Collecting research for my book—completely reasonable!

Currently, his lifespan has reached 9.95 million years. He was just 50,000 years away from breaking through ten million years.

At his level, that was no longer a problem.

If he waited another month, he could accumulate it naturally.

If he wanted to speed things up, he could simply head to the Star-Seizing Celestial Realm and collect natural treasures.

Gu An injected his divine sense into the jade slip.

Immediately, he saw the vast ocean, stretching far beyond the borders of the Taicang Empire. At the map’s edges, thick mist obscured the unknown.

From a macro perspective, no continent larger than this one seemed to exist—only numerous islands of varying sizes, some as large as the Taicang Empire itself. 𝘙á𝐍ÖᛒÈṨ

By focusing on a location, he could zoom in and see the ocean’s actual surface, its rolling waves, and even the silhouettes of sea beasts swimming beneath.

The cultivator who created this jade slip must have been extremely powerful—perhaps even a Supreme Elder.

After an hour, Gu An withdrew his divine sense.

Standing up, he returned the jade slip to Elder Xu Lu.

“The ocean is truly vast,” he sighed.

Elder Xu Lu chuckled as he stored the jade slip away. “You’ve been very interested in the sea lately. You’re not thinking about running away, are you?”

Gu An straightened his expression and replied righteously, “Of course not! I believe in Taixuan Sect. We’ll survive the Demonic Cataclysm. Why would I need to flee? I’m just… curious.”

“Oh? You’re not alone. Many disciples, even True Legacy Disciples, have been asking for ocean maps lately. Makes me wonder if Taixuan Sect is about to disband.”

Gu An smirked. “What about you, Elder? If Taixuan Sect truly called for an all-out war, what would you do?”

Elder Xu Lu smiled. “This old bag of bones is already prepared to die for Taixuan Sect. I even have my tombstone ready.”

Gu An couldn’t help but feel respect for him.

After chatting for a while, Gu An bid farewell and left.

That night, Gu An traveled to the Xuantian Cave Dwelling, harvesting and replanting medicinal herbs.

A few moments later, he appeared at Phoenix Mountain’s Nianchu Cave Dwelling.

Nearby, Tian Yao’er was practicing the Infinite Free Step, her body flickering unpredictably. Though her progress was remarkable, achieving true one-step-thousand-mile mastery would take many, many years.

Gu An only glanced at her briefly before turning to pick herbs.

Noticing him, Tian Yao’er’s face lit up with joy, and she immediately charged toward him.

A fragrance filled the air as she wrapped her arms around him, rubbing her face against his chest.

Gu An sighed.

Why is this girl getting clingier?

“Why do you suddenly smell so nice?” Gu An raised an eyebrow.

Tian Yao’er giggled. “I don’t know. Maybe it's a natural fragrance? Do you like it, Master?”

Gu An pressed a hand against her forehead and pushed her away.

“It’s… acceptable. Now go back to training. I have work to do.”

His true priority tonight was breaking through ten million years of lifespan!

Tian Yao’er ignored his command and followed him, bombarding him with questions about his preferences.

Gu An responded absentmindedly, his mind already drifting overseas—imagining even higher realms of power.

Then, he sensed something.

Pausing momentarily, he expanded his divine sense beyond the Nianchu Cave Dwelling.

In the distant mountains, a colossal creature stirred in the darkness.

A group of cultivators was besieging a massive ancient beast, shaking the very ground.

This Primeval Offspring had a turtle-like body, a volcanic mountain growing from its shell, and three serpent-like heads breathing demonic fire.

Among the attackers, one familiar figure stood out—Ji Xuanyu!

Why is she here?

Ji Xuanyu had reached the Seventh Level of the Nascent Soul Stage, and her companions—all twenty-seven of them—were at least Transformation Stage cultivators.

A Profound Mind Stage cultivator stood on the sidelines, observing.

Gu An also sensed a demonic aura approaching—the Fifth Level of the Profound Mind Stage.

Could these cultivators be from the Seven Star Spirit Realm?

As he pondered, the battle erupted.

The Profound Mind Stage demon engaged the cultivator, forcing Ji Xuanyu’s group to retreat.

Seeing that the fight was evenly matched, Gu An ignored it and continued picking herbs.

Finally, a notification appeared before him:

【Your lifespan has surpassed ten million years for the first time. Unlocking the

Lifespan Fusion

ability.】

【Lifespan Fusion: Consume lifespan to break the rules of heaven and merge different techniques, abilities, and powers. The lifespan cost depends on the fusion.】

Fusion?

Gu An’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

Finally—I can merge my Five Elements techniques into a single supreme art!