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

Pei Xuandu's mind went blank for a moment; the instant that voice came, he already had the answer in his heart.

But he dared not admit it, nor was he willing to admit it.

Gu Changjin?

Impossible! Didn't that old man just advance to the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm?

The Nascent Soul Ceremony was held just a few days ago, and the news spread throughout the Western Wilderness. No matter how exaggerated it was, he was just a newly promoted Nascent Soul Supreme.

How could he suddenly become a Nascent Soul cultivator?

Could it be that all the information I received was false?

Wait a minute? The Xuan Yang Sect can't just sit around idly by disguising a Nascent Soul cultivator as a newly promoted Core Formation cultivator and playing around with a rogue cultivator like him, can they?

Pei Xuandu's mind raced with thoughts.

Unfortunately, that aura didn't give him much time to think.

Three breaths later.

A figure in black appeared in the sky above the Sunset Mountain Range.

This man had white hair that reached his shoulders, and his black robe fluttered in the wind. His face still looked old, but there was no trace of the decaying air that indicated his lifespan was coming to an end.

He simply stood there, and it was as if a whole world was pressing down on him.

Behind them, the Xuanming Guixu Cave slowly emerged, with black water flowing and dark mountains rising and falling.

Deep within the grotto, a Taoist in black robes, identical to him, sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, suppressing the entire small world.

That was neither a Dharma image nor an illusion, but a true manifestation of the Dao in the grotto-heaven.

In an instant, the entire landscape of the Luoxia Mountains, spanning thousands of miles, was enveloped by the oppressive power of that grotto-heaven.

The Nascent Soul cultivators, who were barely able to stand in mid-air, fell one after another like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

boom.

boom.

boom.

Some crashed into the forest, some landed on rocks, and one rogue cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage fell face-first into the mud, without even having time to activate his spiritual energy to protect himself.

But no one dared to laugh, because everyone was trembling.

A Nascent Soul cultivator! A true Nascent Soul Dao Lord!!

The three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Luo Bai Sect also landed back on the ground. Bai Wujiu, who was in the lead, only glanced at Gu Changjin's face before his expression suddenly changed.

He's a shrewd person; he's cultivated to the mid-Nascent Soul stage and can even represent the Luo Bai Sect to compete for the Meteorite Ancient Ruins. He's definitely not a fool.

The next moment, he turned around and glared at Pei Xuandu.

"Pei Xuandu!"

"You rogue cultivator, how dare you!"

Pei Xuan was completely stunned.

what?

Bai Wujiu spoke with righteous indignation.

"What kind of sect is my Fallen White Sect? How could we tolerate a rogue cultivator like you, who is so vindictive and dares to offend a Nascent Soul Dao Lord, entering our ranks?"

"I only gave you a chance to turn over a new leaf because I saw that you were all alone and helpless."

"I never expected you to harbor such resentment and dare to speak ill of Lord Gu here!"

"My Luo Bai Sect has never had any connection with you whatsoever!"

Pei Xuan almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

No?! You invited me!

We've already given you the guest advisor token and received all the benefits, and now you're saying it's okay?

Does your face change faster than turning the pages of a book?

But he couldn't say a word, because Bai Wujiu had already turned around and bowed deeply to Gu Changjin in the sky.

"Bai Wujiu of the Luo Bai Sect pays respects to Daoist Gu!"

"Congratulations to Daoist Gu on attaining the Dao and transforming into a deity!"

"My Luo Bai Sect and Xuan Yang Sect are both major sects that pioneered the Western Wilderness, and have always been closely connected."

"Our ancestor was a close friend of that Nascent Soul senior from the Xuan Yang Sect."

"The arrival of the Dao Lord in the Western Regions today is a great honor for our Luo Bai Sect!"

Without hesitation, Bai Wujiu presented a storage ring with both hands.

"Our Luo Bai Sect is willing to offer three Nascent Soul magic treasures, 100,000 top-grade spirit stones, 30 thousand-year-old spirit herbs, and various other refining materials."

"Just to congratulate Lord Gu on attaining the Dao and becoming a deity."

"I hope you will not find this gift too meager."

Upon hearing this, the hearts of all the other Nascent Soul cultivators around them skipped a beat.

Damn it, it's too slow again. No wonder it's a major sect!

They change their attitude quickly, and they give gifts just as quickly.

This whole set of knowledge is enough for us to learn.

Several Nascent Soul cultivators from minor sects immediately reacted and stepped forward to pay their respects.

"This junior congratulates Daoist Gu on attaining the Dao and transforming into a deity!"

"Our Qingmu Sect is willing to offer 30,000 top-grade spirit stones and three thousand-year-old spiritual herbs!"

"Our Cold Sand Sect is willing to offer a piece of our treasured Meteorite Cold Jade Essence!"

"This junior cultivator, Zhao Xuan, also wishes to offer a rare ancient treasure that I acquired by chance, hoping only to congratulate the Dao Lord!"

They offered their congratulations, but their hearts were bleeding.

But there was nothing we could do; we were already standing there.

I just heard Pei Xuandu's reckless and suicidal remarks.

If we don't spend money to buy peace now, who knows if the Dao Lord will just kill them all when he remembers them?

Gu Changjin remained calm, only nodding slightly.

"That's very thoughtful."

The moment those four words were uttered, everyone felt a sense of relief.

The Luo Bai Sect is sensible, and these smaller sects are also quite reasonable.

Gu Changjin didn't bother to argue.

Then, his gaze finally fell on Pei Xuandu.

"You're Pei Xuandu?"

Pei Xuandu's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

He had cultivated for a thousand years and was a well-known Nascent Soul cultivator in the Western Wilderness. Wherever he went, people would call him Senior Pei.

But now, being looked at by Gu Changjin, he felt like an ant being stared at by the sky.

He moved his lips for a long time before finally managing to speak.

"It is...it is indeed this junior."

"Junior Pei Xuandu greets Daojun Gu."

Gu Changjin smiled.

"I've heard you wish to discuss philosophy with me."

"Now I have arrived."

"What principles do you wish to discuss with me?"

Pei Xuandu's face turned deathly pale.

He knew that things wouldn't end well today.

Gu Changjin appeared to be smiling, but the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator had already locked onto him.

That's not curiosity; that's a cat watching a mouse. When the cat stops laughing, that's when the cat will die.

Pei Xuandu was both shocked and furious.

And that damned Luo Bai Sect!

I looked for a powerful backer but ended up feeling lonely!

He had barely gotten close when they kicked him away.

He could even imagine how the cultivation world of the Western Wilderness would spread the word about him in the future.

The renowned rogue cultivator Pei Xuandu invited the Daoist Master of the Transformation Realm to discuss the Dao.

I'm afraid I'll be infamous in the Western Wilderness, but also remembered for my infamy for eternity!

We can't wait any longer, or we'll really die.

Pei Xuan lowered his head, as if to confess his guilt.

But in the next instant, a bronze seal suddenly flew out from his sleeve.

That was his natal magic weapon, the treasure he had kept hidden away for thousands of years during his cultivation.

"burst!"

boom!

The ancient bronze seal exploded on the spot, the natal magic weapon of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator bursting open with terrifying power.

The blinding spiritual light engulfed all directions, causing many Nascent Soul cultivators to retreat in fear.

Taking advantage of this moment, Pei Xuandu directly burned his lifespan, origin, and nascent soul essence, causing even his physical body to begin to wither.

escape!

We must escape!

What magical artifacts, what inheritances, what bloodline feuds—none of it matters.

Life is the most important thing!

He transformed into a streak of crimson light and vanished a thousand miles in an instant.

In another breath, three thousand miles.

Another breath, and ten thousand miles away.

Pei Xuandu finally breathed a sigh of relief only when the pressure from the Nascent Soul stage behind him gradually faded.

His face was ashen, most of his hair had turned white, and fine lines had appeared on his nascent soul.

The losses were too great, but at least I survived.

"Gu Changjin..."

"It seems this person isn't one to hold grudges."

"Perhaps they don't take me seriously at all."

Pei Xuandu fled while giving a bitter smile.

We can't stay in the Western Wilderness anymore. We need to run towards the ancient road to the Central Plains or escape to other reclaimed lands.

In short, the farther away from Xuan Yang Sect and the Western Wilderness, the better.

But just when he thought he had escaped a disaster.

Suddenly, a black ripple appeared in the void ahead.

Pei Xuandu suddenly stopped.

A phantom image of a Taoist priest in black robes slowly emerged.

The Taoist priest sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, and looked exactly like Gu Changjin.

It was the Divine Transformation Daoist figure that suppressed the small world within the Xuanming Guixu Cave Heaven.

The Taoist didn't even open his eyes, but Pei Xuan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"you……"

The next instant, the power of the Void erupted.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a hundred miles seemed to be swallowed by an invisible abyss, collapsing madly in front of the Taoist.

The mountains crumbled, the vegetation withered, and Pei Xuandu's physical body, nascent soul, divine soul, and origin were all pulled toward the void at the same moment.

"No!"

He only had time to let out a scream before he was swallowed up by the dark vortex.

Ten thousand miles away, at the Luoxia Mountains.

Everyone was still staring blankly in the direction Pei Xuandu had fled.

Some were shocked, while others speculated amongst themselves.

This Gu Daojun actually let Pei Xuan go?

Is the Dao Lord of the Nascent Soul stage really that magnanimous?

Or is it that they're simply too lazy to kill even a Nascent Soul insect?

Bai Wujiu suddenly heard a click from the storage bag.

He probed with his divine sense, and the next instant, his face turned even paler.

Pei Xuandu's soul tablet shattered.

Even if you only join a major sect as a guest member, you must leave behind your life tablet and soul tablet.

Everyone thought Pei Xuandu, who had just fled thousands of miles away, was dead.

Bai Wujiu bent down even lower, and his smile became much more sincere.

This Gu Daojun... really is a senior.

Even the seniors were somewhat at a loss for words when it came to his evaluation.

In the sky, Gu Changjin acted as if nothing had happened.

After Guixu devoured Pei Xuandu, it transferred all of Pei Xuandu's nascent soul essence and original magic power into Gu Changjin's body.

Instead of refining the spiritual energy of the cave, he casually poured it into his natal spirit sword.

The spirit sword, which had been fused with the star-shaped sword embryo, trembled slightly deep within the cave, and a wisp of starlight faintly appeared on its blade.

Gu Changjin looked at the crack in the ancient ruins of the meteorite.

Starlight flowed within that crack, and the Milky Way seemed to hang upside down.

"The secret realm of the Star Dao Lord..."

"It seems there really are some things inside that are suitable for my sword."

A slight smile appeared on his lips, and then his gaze fell on the crack in the secret realm, and his mood suddenly improved.

Next, we just wait for those two little brats to come out.

I wonder if they'll be moved to tears when they emerge from the secret realm and see that I, their ancestor, have come to greet them personally.

Ugh.

Our ancestors went to such lengths.

She is so kind.