Chapter 269: Waiting to die? Who said that?

All the cultivators within the Minor World turned their gaze toward the black rift hanging in the sky, their expressions tense as if facing a formidable enemy.

This was the hidden domain deep within the Starsea Sect, and the fact that Tian Wuchang had fought his way in meant that many Starsea Sect cultivators had already perished at his hands.

A figure flew out from the black rift—it was Tian Wuchang!

He was bare-chested, his hair disheveled, with a massive python coiled around his waist. The serpent's body was covered in black scales, its head slithering behind his back, emerging over his left shoulder, flicking its tongue as it surveyed the surroundings.

Dark, eerie patterns covered Tian Wuchang’s upper body, forming a strange design that made him look even more terrifying.

His gaze locked onto An Hao from afar.

An Hao frowned.

Tian Wuchang’s lips curled into an arrogant grin.

“Hurry up and form your battle formation. Let me see if the Starsea Primordial Flag is as formidable as it was in the past.”

His voice echoed, followed by a sweeping motion of his palm. A terrifying storm erupted, raging across millions of miles.

The floating islands around them activated their protective formations, forming shimmering barriers of light. But despite that, every single floating island trembled violently.

On the edge of a cliff, Da Mingtian stood, gripping the Starsea Primordial Flag with one hand, his stance unyielding in the howling wind.

With a cold snort, he raised the Starsea Primordial Flag high. The black banner soared into the sky, expanding rapidly until it was ten thousand feet tall, casting the entire floating island into darkness.

Not just that—the small banners atop Da Mingtian’s headpiece also shot into the air, aligning with the colossal black flag, swelling in size.

There were actually twelve Starsea Primordial Flags!

“Hmm, twelve banners? Not bad. But it’s far from enough.”

Tian Wuchang sneered. With another wave of his hand, a bloodstorm surged from the black rift, a torrential force that seemed unstoppable.

In an instant, the bloodstorm crashed against the twelve Starsea Primordial Flags!

The massive banners trembled, countless stars upon their surfaces erupting with blinding light. Below, the vast ocean churned, forming a colossal hand that reached for Tian Wuchang.

But as Tian Wuchang took a step forward, his right foot stomped down—and the giant hand of the ocean shattered instantly.

Da Mingtian’s brow furrowed, his eyes filled with caution.

“Eighth level of the Celestial Ascension Stage... Your cultivation is high, but it seems you've spent too much time on cultivation itself. Your mana is a little weak.”

Tian Wuchang’s laughter thundered through the heavens, making all the Starsea Sect cultivators turn pale.

Could this Divine Anomaly Wraith King be even stronger than their sect master?

“Hmph! Defeat me first before you start lecturing!”

Da Mingtian shot into the air, arms outstretched, casting spells at lightning speed. The twelve Starsea Primordial Flags whipped up fierce gales, their surfaces flaring as countless meteors rained down, vast and endless, all aimed at Tian Wuchang.

In an instant, the entire ocean dimmed, the sky covered by a sea of meteors, some crashing directly at Tian Wuchang, others orbiting him, forming a strategic array.

Tian Wuchang advanced, his mere presence shattering the incoming meteors.

With each step he took, his aura surged, visible shockwaves spiraling around him.

His gaze locked onto An Hao once again, his voice carrying through a secret transmission:

“Fiery Sun Treasure Body, are you ready to be eaten by me? You’d better resist—the stronger you are, the more excited I get. And when I’m happy, I’ll let you suffer a little less.”

Hearing his words, An Hao clenched his fists tightly.

He wasn’t afraid of Tian Wuchang, but he knew he wasn’t his match.

What terrified him was dragging the Starsea Sect into this.

Ever since stepping onto the path of cultivation, everyone had acknowledged his talent, yet he had always needed others to help him. It had been this way in the Taixuan Sect, and now in the Starsea Sect, it was the same.

His heart was filled with frustration.

Why wouldn’t the heavens give him more time?

If he had a thousand years—no, just five hundred—he was confident he could ascend to immortality. At that time, he wouldn't need anyone's protection!

To have unparalleled talent but still rely on others—what a cruel joke.

—BOOM!

A fierce gust of wind blasted toward An Hao. In his eyes, a blinding light flickered—the sect master, Da Mingtian, and Tian Wuchang had already clashed, their divine spells and mystical arts shaking the entire floating island.

Tian Wuchang wielded no treasures—he fought with pure physical strength, using sheer force to break through the Starsea Primordial Flags’ magical attacks.

Chi Jiuxiao turned to An Hao, commanding, "Get back inside! Don’t come out!"

An Hao gritted his teeth but didn’t move.

Chi Bei spoke instead: “The enemy has already reached our doorstep. Hiding won’t change anything. Let him watch the battle.”

He cast a sidelong glance at An Hao.

“An Hao, watch closely. Remember the power of an Ancient Treasure Body. Today, many disciples may die because of you—but we don’t regret it. We will support you on your path to greatness.”

Hearing this, An Hao was overcome with guilt.

He wanted to repay the Starsea Sect, but would he even get the chance?

At that moment, he thought of his master.

If anyone could match Tian Wuchang, it would be him.

His master had once swept through the Seven Star Spirit Realm—even if he couldn’t kill Tian Wuchang, he could at least hold him off.

But An Hao couldn’t call for him.

His master hated trouble, and he had already burdened him too many times...

Gritting his teeth, An Hao stared at Tian Wuchang, flames igniting across his body. His hair turned to fire, his entire being radiating a divine, sun-like presence.

—Elsewhere—

In another Minor World of the Starsea Sect.

A black-clad figure stood at the cliff’s edge, gazing into the distance. It was Li Ya.

The sky was filled with shifting light, changing unpredictably.

His brows furrowed as he murmured, “An Hao…”

The news that Tian Wuchang had come to seize the Fiery Sun Treasure Body had already spread.

Though Li Ya often lost to An Hao, he didn’t want him dead.

A talent like An Hao, if he couldn’t grow to his full potential, would be a tragic waste.

He could lose, but he couldn’t lose his reason to chase after greatness.

A shadowy figure appeared beside him—it was Xuantian Yi.

Seeing Li Ya still present, Xuantian Yi sighed in relief. He warned sternly, “Don’t even think about helping An Hao. You can’t control the full power of the Divine Anomaly City yet, and the Divine Anomaly Wraiths are watching you too.”

Li Ya remained silent before asking, “Senior, how do we stop the disaster the Divine Anomaly Wraiths bring? This is worse than the Demonic Cataclysm we faced on the continent. Just one Wraith King can breach our defenses…”

Xuantian Yi paused, then said, “A great power will intervene. This isn’t something for you or me to worry about.”

Li Ya’s eyes flickered, thoughts unreadable.

Then, he asked, “No news of Zhang Bukui?”

Xuantian Yi shook his head, gazing into the distance.

Worry wouldn’t change anything.

Because this wasn’t the continent—as a Grand Ascension cultivator, he was powerless here.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ocean surged with massive waves, towering tens of thousands of feet high. Floating islands shattered one after another, while the sky crackled with lightning and roared with flames. From all directions, black holes continuously appeared, pouring forth reinforcements from the Starsea Sect—Grandmaster cultivators rushing in to aid Da Mingtian.

Da Mingtian stood tall, both hands gripping the Starsea Primordial Flag, his body drenched in blood, yet still locked in fierce combat with Tian Wuchang.

With a mighty roar, Tian Wuchang threw a punch. Da Mingtian crossed his two banners to block, but the sheer force still sent him flying hundreds of miles back. His hands, gripping the flagpoles, trembled violently, his palms torn and dripping with blood.

Above, the ten Starsea Primordial Flags unleashed a torrent of divine lightning, weaving a net of energy that struck Tian Wuchang from all sides.

“Hahaha! Glorious! This is glorious!”

Tian Wuchang burst into wild laughter, his body trembling with excitement. The pain searing through his flesh only made his battle fervor rise, his power swelling with each blow.

His eyes gleamed with a savage, almost tangible bloodlust.

Then, his gaze shifted back to An Hao, filled with mockery.

“Come on, rage! Despair! But all you can do is watch as I rip them apart!”

His maniacal laughter drowned out all other noise.

An Hao was on the brink of losing control. He clenched his fists, prepared to charge—but was immediately held back by the surrounding cultivators.

“You’ll only make things worse for the Sect Master if you interfere!” Chi Jiuxiao said in a low voice, gripping his Dragon-Slaying Spear, pressing the cold metal shaft against An Hao’s chest.

He was stunned—this kid’s inner fire is insanely strong…

An Hao grasped the spear tightly, his eyes locked on Tian Wuchang, his voice trembling with frustration. "But—"

“No buts! If anyone dies first, it will be us!” An elderly cultivator snapped.

Around them, other Grandmasters echoed his words, their expressions unyielding. Not one of them blamed An Hao—instead, they stood beside him, ready to fight to the last breath.

That made An Hao feel even worse.

“Are we really just waiting to die…?” He gritted his teeth, his fury surging, the flames on his body blazing even more violently.

“Waiting to die? Who said that?”

A voice suddenly echoed in An Hao’s ears, sending a shudder down his spine.

Before he could respond, the surrounding cultivators whipped their heads around in shock.

Chi Jiuxiao’s expression shifted, his grip on the Dragon-Slaying Spear tightening before he suddenly let go.

He stared at An Hao’s back in disbelief, then his face lit up with overwhelming relief.

“Fu—Senior! You’re here?!”

An Hao’s body froze. His flames extinguished instantly.

Rigidly, he turned his head—and a familiar figure stepped past him, moving calmly toward the battlefield.

A dark purple aura flickered, causing every cultivator present—except for Chi Jiuxiao and Chi Bei—to recoil in silent fear.

Who was this?!

Where did he come from?!

No one had even sensed his arrival!

An Hao’s heart pounded. His voice trembled: “Master, he—”

“Enough.” Gu An cut him off without even turning his head. His voice was calm, but it made everyone around him hold their breath.

"A mere ant. Do you really need to introduce him to me?"

The air froze.

Everyone’s expressions changed drastically.

An Hao was momentarily stunned, then suddenly felt his entire body relax.

For the first time since Tian Wuchang appeared, he smiled.

“…Master.”

Across the battlefield, Tian Wuchang narrowed his murderous eyes.

"An ant? What an arrogant mouth. And who the hell are you?" His voice dripped with killing intent.

It was obvious—he had been infuriated.