Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

Gu Changjin had just withdrawn his divine sense from the Silver-Eyed Ancient Ape's sea of ​​consciousness when he sensed someone approaching outside the valley.

The newcomer made no attempt to conceal his aura; he was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator and carried a familiar aura of Xuan Yang Sect techniques.

A moment later, a beam of light descended, and Xu Heng strode into the valley. Upon seeing Gu Changjin, he immediately bowed in respect.

"Disciple greets Master."

Gu Changjin glanced at him, slightly surprised.

Three years later, this eldest disciple, who was still stuck in the Foundation Establishment stage back then, has actually cultivated to the late Golden Core stage.

The speed wasn't outrageous. After all, Xu Heng was known as "one of Gu Daojun's three personally taught disciples." As long as the people in the Dao Alliance and Xuan Yang Sect weren't out of their minds, they wouldn't mistreat him in terms of resources.

Moreover, the Dao Alliance has been expanding continuously in recent years.

Xu Heng also worked in the Foreign Affairs Hall and the Dao Alliance Affairs Hall.

They have no shortage of cultivation techniques, no shortage of pills to increase their cultivation level, and they have an unparalleled network of connections.

It's normal to reach the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

Gu Changjin didn't care how many resources he consumed; after all, it was all earned through the reputation he left behind.

Having stronger disciples would be another foundation for him within the Dao Alliance, even though this foundation was dispensable to him.

"Get up. How has the sect fared these past three years?"

Xu Heng stood up and reported on the recent events one by one.

The Dao Alliance is operating normally, and Gu Qingxiao and Gu Xiaolou have made many contributions on the front lines.

The other two Foundation Establishment disciples of Lingdao Peak have also formed their Core Formation one after another.

Li Chenyuan returned to the Chixiao Sect to go into seclusion half a year ago and has not emerged since.

Hearing this, Gu Changjin chuckled.

"That old man has probably finally reached the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage."

Li Chenyuan was a smart man to begin with, and in addition, the Western Wilderness Dao Alliance had gathered resources from the seven sects over the years, and he also had the Blood River Return to Ruins True Scripture to study.

It would be strange if they remained stuck in the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

The Dao Alliance is a tool for Gu Changjin to harvest resources, but for the entire Western Wilderness, it is indeed a rare opportunity.

Previously, the seven sects were extremely protective of their own resources, keeping their cultivation techniques hidden and their resources locked away, leaving independent cultivators and small sects with no access to even a drop of soup.

Now that the Taoist system has been established, it has actually enabled many people to find a way out of paths that were previously impassable.

After Xu Heng finished recounting these trivial matters, his expression suddenly became serious.

"Master, there is another important matter."

"The Nascent Soul Ancestor of our sect who left via the ancient road to Central Plains a thousand years ago has returned."

Gu Changjin's eyes flickered slightly.

"You're back?"

"Yes."

Xu Heng said in a low voice, "Our patriarch just arrived at Xuan Yang Sect today, and he seems to be injured. Elder Zhou, Elder Qin, and others have already checked the portrait, soul lamp mark, and old secrets left by the sect."

"His identity should be correct."

"It's just that the Nascent Soul Ancestors of the other six sects haven't returned."

"The elders dared not make a decision on their own, and ordered their disciples to come and invite their master back to the sect."

Gu Changjin gently rubbed his knuckles.

He didn't come back earlier, he didn't come back later, but he just happened to come back when the Crimson Abyss Secret Realm was about to open.

Where do so many coincidences come from in this world?

"interesting."

With a flick of his sleeve, Xu Heng felt the world spin before his eyes, and he was instantly absorbed into the sleeve.

In the next instant, Gu Changjin took a step forward, and his figure disappeared outside the valley.

……

The main hall of the Xuan Yang Sect.

Zhou Xuanyue, Qin Wenyue, the Crimson-Robed Supreme Elder, and the few remaining Nascent Soul cultivators of the sect were all seated inside the hall.

But the main seat was empty, and no one dared to sit there.

On the left side of the main hall, an elderly man in a gray robe sat quietly.

His hair was dry and white, his face was weathered and worn, and there was a black wound on his right shoulder that had not yet healed.

Although its aura was weakened, it still steadily overwhelmed all the Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall.

A true Nascent Soul cultivator!

Zhou Xuanyue looked at the gray-robed old man, his expression still showing some excitement.

"Ancestor Xuanchen, back then you and the Dao Lords of the Six Sects embarked on the ancient road to Central Continent together. The sect has always believed that..."

The old man in the gray robe sighed.

"You thought I was dead?"

"That's normal. The ancient road to Zhongzhou is much more dangerous than you imagine."

He raised his hand, revealing an ancient Xuan Yang seal in his palm.

The Dharma Seal echoes the founding prohibitions in the ancestral hall of the Xuan Yang Sect.

In addition, the secrets known only to the sect's high-ranking members throughout the ages have almost confirmed his identity.

However, Zhou Xuanyue and the others still had doubts.

Why did only the founder of the Xuan Yang Sect return?

What about the Nascent Soul Dao Lords of the other six sects?

They immediately sent a message to inquire.

The answers received were all negative.

The old man in the gray robe appeared exhausted, but inwardly he was sneering.

Xuan Chen Daojun? He's long dead.

A thousand years ago, the seven cultivators, all at the Divine Transformation stage, embarked on an ancient journey through the Central Plains.

Before they had even truly reached the Central Plains, they encountered a hunting party of the Faceless Clan.

Seven human skins, seven fragments of divine memories, all eventually became part of the clan's collection.

He was one of the participants in that hunt.

The Faceless Clan has no fixed face. They like to collect the skins of the strong and can also wear those skins to imitate bloodlines, souls, and even a part of cause and effect.

Unless one encounters a true master of the Dao of Cause and Effect, ordinary methods of verifying identity will not reveal any flaws.

If the Holy Church hadn't suddenly issued a decree, he wouldn't have dug out this old leather cover that had been stored away for a thousand years.

The Crimson Jade Token is a key that allows entry into the core area of ​​that dimensional secret realm.

The Holy Church ordered him to retrieve it quietly, without alerting the plans of the human and demon races.

He originally thought that the Western Wilderness was still the same as it was a thousand years ago.

With several Nascent Soul cultivators absent, and the Nascent Soul cultivators becoming their ancestors, obtaining the Crimson Jade Token would be a piece of cake for him, given his own perfected Nascent Soul strength.

As soon as he entered the Western Wilderness, he heard about Gu Changjin.

The newly promoted Dao Lord of Xuanyang Sect, and the leader of the Western Wilderness Dao Alliance.

She suddenly went into seclusion three years ago and has not appeared in public since.

The old man in the gray robe didn't feel much fear.

He's just a newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator. No matter how strong his talent is, how strong can he be?

He's only a hair's breadth away from reaching the Void Return realm.

If Gu Changjin is sensible and cooperates by handing over the Crimson Jade Token, that would be best.

If they don't know what's good for them...

The Faceless Clan wouldn't mind adding another skin belonging to the leader of the Western Wilderness Alliance to their collection.

Just as his thoughts were turning.

Suddenly, the area outside the main hall fell silent.

The next moment, a gentle voice rang out from the palace gate.

"I've heard that the founder of my Xuan Yang Sect has returned."

"I have come here specifically to pay my respects."

The old man in the gray robe raised his head.

Gu Changjin, dressed in black with white hair hanging down to his shoulders, stood outside the door with a half-smile on his face.

Their eyes met for the first time in the main hall.