If I become a saint, a celestial official will summon me to raise horses.

Chapter 293 The World Has Changed
Upon hearing Gu An's words, Jiang Qiong fell silent.

She felt somewhat lost. She had always been making choices, escaping from Qianqiu Pavilion to Taixuan Sect, then from Taixuan Sect to the Nine Nether Road, and later founding Juhua Sect, but she also had to escape to Dahan Demon Sect.

Was she wrong all along?
It seems that no matter when she returns, Gu An will never change.

Gu An could see her mood. He was also afraid that he had gone too far. After all, she didn't have his confidence. How could he generalize and judge others by his own standards?
“My temperament dictates that I cannot roam freely. You are much stronger than me. You can go out and explore, but you can never completely trust others, especially the Demonic Sect,” Gu An said.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qiong immediately woke up.

What are you thinking about?

If she hadn't escaped, she would have died long ago!

Even compared to Gu An, her cultivation level is increasing rapidly. This path may seem difficult and arduous, but her cultivation level is her achievement.

She is now at the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Realm!
Thinking of this, Jiang Qiong smiled. She glared at Gu An and said, "You reject me every time. Be careful, or I won't care about you anymore. When you run into trouble, it won't do you any good to remember me."

Gu An said seriously, "As long as you live a peaceful life, it doesn't matter if you forget me. In this life, to be able to meet and get to know each other is a fate that has been cultivated for a hundred lifetimes."

Jiang Qiong was touched. This brat really knows how to talk. If his cultivation level were higher, how many beautiful women in the world would he have ruined?
Of course, she felt that Gu An genuinely thought that way, rather than trying to please her.

In all the years they've known each other, she's never heard Gu An make any requests of her.

Jiang Qiong looked at Gu An, wanting to tease him, but all the words stuck in her throat.

Because this time the situation is truly different!

She felt that Gu An had underestimated the power of the Great Cold Demon Sect. Indeed, the cataclysmic fire that blotted out the sky a few years ago was stopped by the Sword Venerable Fudao. The people of the continent were unaware of the tragic scene on the ocean, and how many lives had perished in agony.

The person who made the move was just a cultivator from the Great Cold Demon Sect. Now, a large number of Great Cold Demon Sect cultivators are on their way. Just thinking about it makes her feel hopeless, and she can't see any chance of winning.

Like the colossal behemoth that is the Great Cold Demon Sect, who in this world can withstand it?

Looking at Gu An's gentle smile, Jiang Qiong suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Silly boy, what's said in the book isn't necessarily true.

Indeed, good has never triumphed over evil throughout history, but evil can become good after it wins.

……

After Jiang Qiong returned, she did not leave immediately but stayed in the Eight Views Cave. Gu An would visit her every other day. Every time he went, she would try to persuade him, either by using the legend of the Great Cold Demon Sect to attract him or by teaching him magic.

Gu An kept refusing, but because he didn't want to confront the issue directly, the two reached a stalemate.

Half a month passed.

The weather remains hot.

Gu An came down from the attic, and as soon as he reached the bottom, Ji Xiaoyu blocked his way.

"Who is that woman?"

Ji Xiaoyu stared at Gu An and asked, her expression calm, but Gu An felt that her gaze was somewhat sharp.

Gu An asked in surprise, "What woman?"

"You now possess the aura of a woman."

"So what if there are a lot?"

Gu An said nonchalantly, "Just kidding. In this world, explanations only make things worse. The less you care, the less important it seems."

In fact, nothing had actually happened between him and Jiang Qiong, but he couldn't expose Jiang Qiong because she was already planning to switch allegiance to the Great Cold Demon Sect!

Gu An didn't advise Jiang Qiong to give up joining the Great Cold Demon Sect because he wasn't sure of the sect's strength. If the sect became so powerful that he couldn't handle it, he would have to run away himself.

Ji Xiaoyu looked at Gu An and said, "Have you noticed that the atmosphere in this world has changed?"

Gu An looked around and said, "What's changed? Those who should be sweeping are still sweeping, those who want to play chess are still playing chess, and look, there's even a mouse walking a cow."

Ji Xiaoyu followed his gaze and couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle.

"Never mind, that's true. We should cherish what we have in life," Ji Xiaoyu said softly, then turned and went back into the house to continue her cultivation.

Gu An did not try to stop him; he continued to gaze at the Medicine Valley.

He saw much more and more clearly than Ji Xiaoyu!

After the Heavenly Fire unleashed by Master Bai Hong passed, a wave of refugees swept across the ocean, and this trend gradually spread to the mainland, with many aristocratic families setting sail or heading towards the Nine Netherworlds.

Moreover, many people were spreading rumors that the Great Cold Demon Sect was about to launch a large-scale invasion. Gu An saw that these were all henchmen temporarily recruited by the Great Cold Demon Sect cultivators, in order to instill panic in this human region.

The Soul-Suppressing Tower beside the Great Sea Rift has gathered tens of thousands of Great Cold Demon Sect cultivators, the lowest of whom are at the Nirvana Realm. The number of Heavenly Immortals has exceeded one hundred, including not only the Life-Taking Immortals but also three Carefree Primordial Immortals!

There are four carefree immortals in total!

This power is absolutely overwhelming and unstoppable in this human realm.

Most importantly, the Great Cold Demon Sect is still sending more people!

Gu An did not act rashly, after all, he did not know the strength of the Great Cold Demon Sect. However, he did not wait idly. He had already used his divine sense to scan the Heavenly Spirit World and found a safe place far away from this human area. If he really could not stop them, he would leave with the people he cared about. At worst, he could start a new life.

Of course, this is a last resort.

It all depends on whether the Great Cold Demon Sect has any miraculous methods or immortals!
The highest cultivation level among the currently appearing Immortals is only the fifth level.

Before the appearance of the Mystic Immortal, Gu An, who was at the ninth level of the Mystic Immortal Realm, would not panic.

Gu An watched for a while, then turned and left. An hour later.

He rode the Blood Prison Great Sage to Tianya Valley, followed by Yang Jian and Li Lingtian. Li Lingtian looked impatient, clearly not wanting to come to Tianya Valley.

Li Xuandao was waiting in the valley.

Gu An led the two to the courtyard where Li Xuandao was.

Li Lingtian's cultivation has now reached the eighth level of the Core Formation Realm, which made Li Xuandao nod in satisfaction and praise him for not neglecting his cultivation.

"Let me make this clear first, I don't want to go back. Anyway, Father Emperor, you're still very motivated, so there's no need for me to go back to be the Crown Prince!" Li Lingtian said.

Li Xuandao shook his head and chuckled, but Gu An felt that he was genuinely laughing.

Li Xuandao wanted to be an emperor for all eternity, so the crown prince was naturally the most feared by him. The reason he made Li Lingtian the crown prince was also because of Empress Yang and the Yang family.

Li Lingtian's words impressed Gu An.

This kid seems to be a bit wise in disguise.

Li Xuandao said solemnly, "I'm not asking you to return to the palace, but to return to your mother's family and go to sea with them. There's no room for discussion on this matter; your mother has given a death order."

Li Lingtian was stunned. He subconsciously wanted to ask why, but he quickly figured it out.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard fell silent.

Li Xuandao looked at Gu An and asked, "The Tai Xuan Sect has been slow to come up with a strategy. Do you want to go with Ling Tian?"

Gu An had heard Lü Baitian mention that the reason why Tai Xuan Sect had no strategy was that the Elders' Hall had discussed many times whether to withdraw, but they were afraid of offending the Sword Venerable Fu Dao. After all, the Sword Venerable Fu Dao dared to protect them, but they wanted to escape. What kind of behavior was that?
The Sword Master Fudao's intervention was definitely not for his own sake, but to save these mortals.

Lu Baitian also consulted with Gu An, asking him whether he thought they should evacuate.

This time, Gu An offered no advice.

He wanted the Tai Xuan Sect to make their own decision.

If the Tai Xuan Sect were to flee, he would not follow them. Instead, he would find a place to hide, and from then on, his relationship with the Tai Xuan Sect would be over.

Gu An felt no burden towards the Tai Xuan Sect. He owed the Tai Xuan Sect nothing; on the contrary, the Tai Xuan Sect owed him a great deal.

"I'll pass. I'll wait for the Tai Xuan Sect's arrangements. I can't leave the Tai Xuan Sect," Gu An replied.

Upon hearing this, Li Lingtian quickly said, "Father, I can too..."

"Shut up!"

Li Xuandao shouted in a deep voice, his eyes becoming sharp.

For a moment, Li Lingtian felt afraid.

Yang Jian and the Blood Prison Great Sage looked at Li Xuandao in surprise.

Why does this emperor seem so unusual?
“This time the situation is different from before. If you leave with the Tai Xuan Sect, you may never see your mother again in this lifetime. You must go back!” Li Xuandao took a deep breath and said coldly.

He's been in a bad mood, he was just suppressing it.

He had worked so hard for so many years to build up his empire, only to have it destroyed by a catastrophe. How could he not feel resentful?
However, the level of the Taicang Dynasty was far inferior to that of the Great Han Demon Sect, and he had no intention of resisting at all.

Gu An looked at Li Xuandao and asked, "Uncle, what about you?"

Li Lingtian looked at Li Xuandao with anger in his eyes.

Li Xuandao looked at his own teacup on the table and said softly, "You can all escape, but I cannot. Even if I die, let me die with my people."

There are so many people in the Taicang Dynasty that it is impossible for them all to escape. If he wants to leave, the Taicang Dynasty will surely fall into chaos.

Li Lingtian was stunned, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Li Xuandao changed.

Yang Jian was equally respectful and felt even more favorably toward the emperor who had gifted him the divine weapon.

Even the Great Sage of Blood Prison hadn't expected Li Xuandao to have such courage, and he couldn't help but stand up from his prostrate position.

Gu An looked at Li Xuandao and asked, "Uncle, have you forgotten the goal you once wanted?"

Li Xuandao replied, "Without subjects, what is the point of the throne? An emperor who cannot hold onto his empire is destined to fail, and even if he rebuilds the dynasty, it will be meaningless."

His words earned the respect of everyone in the hospital.

Luo Hun knelt down and said in a deep voice, "This humble general is willing to follow Your Majesty to the death and will never regret it!"

Li Xuandao simply waved his hand without saying anything more.

He was speaking from the heart, but he did not accept his fate.

He is gambling!
He bets that the Sword Master Fudao can overthrow the Great Cold Demon Sect!
He could never forget the shock that the Sword Master Fudao had brought him during the past calamities.

He could never forget that day when raging flames oppressed the people, and countless green lights rose up, giving him hope.

He felt that the Sword Master Fudao was different from others, and this difference even transcended cultivation level. Although there were many great cultivators in the world, he felt that the Sword Master Fudao was the most special person.

He sensed a powerful aura emanating from the Sword Master Fudao.

That means I am invincible!
If the Sword Master of the Way is kind-hearted, then the world will be at peace!

(End of this chapter)