Chapter 26 ·Ten Years Pass, Encountering a Bottleneck

Half ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a year had already passed since the conclusion of the True Martial Assembly.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍afternoon, the sound of footsteps came from outside Gu Yan’s small courtyard.

“Brother ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Gu, Xu Gang has come to visit!”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍voice was full of vigor, yet carried a trace of barely perceptible awkwardness.

Xu ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Gang stood outside the bamboo fence with cupped fists, Ye Chen standing beside him.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had not originally intended to visit Gu Yan; their acquaintance was shallow, only having met a few times.

However, Ye Chen had persistently pestered him, insisting that he lead the way.

“Senior Brother Xu need not feel troubled,” Ye Chen said with a hearty smile. “Senior Brother Gu is broad-minded and surely won’t blame us for this unannounced visit.”

After a few breaths, the courtyard gate slowly opened.

“Senior Brother Xu, Junior Brother Ye, please come in.”

The two stepped into the elegant courtyard and sat down on the stone stools.

Gu Yan poured clear tea for them and asked, “What matter brings you two fellow disciples here?”

Ye Chen took a sip of tea and spoke directly: “Senior Brother Gu, to be honest, we came this time to invite you to undertake something together.

Recently, the Extreme Yin Demon Sect has had increasing friction with our Taiyi Dao Sect. Several of the sect’s external industries have been repeatedly attacked, and a great battle may be inevitable.

Senior Brother Xu and I have discovered the exact location of one of their branch outposts and wish to join forces to uproot it.”

“If successful, not only would we render merit to the sect, but the resources obtained would also greatly benefit our cultivation.”

His words were sincere, yet he harbored other calculations in his heart.

On the surface, Gu Yan was only at the early stage of Martial Dao Third Revolution, but Ye Chen had always felt that this person was unfathomable. He wanted to use this opportunity to probe his true depth.

After listening, Gu Yan slowly shook his head. “Thank you for your kindness. However, I have recently gained some insight and intend to enter seclusion to cultivate, to break through to the next stage. I fear I cannot spare the time.”

“Seclusion?” Xu Gang was startled.

“Indeed.” Gu Yan nodded. “I feel the bottleneck loosening and must calm my mind to achieve a breakthrough.”

Ye Chen blurted out, “Senior Brother Gu is about to break through to the mid-stage of Third Revolution?”

Martial Dao Third Revolution required opening eighty-one acupoints within the body and filling them with internal force.

The mid-stage required completing nearly half of them. Even with medicinal assistance, it was far from easy.

Gu Yan slightly nodded.

Ye Chen grew somewhat anxious and persuaded, “Senior Brother, while medicinal pills are important for opening acupoints, real combat tempering is equally indispensable!

Shutting oneself in and working in isolation is ultimately not the best approach.

If this mission succeeds, not only will we render great merit to the sect and elevate our status, but we can also make a name for ourselves in the Great Qian!

A true man born into this world—how can he remain unknown?”

Xu Gang also chimed in, “Junior Brother Ye speaks reasonably. Cultivation is a lifelong pursuit, and opportunities must be fought for.

Junior Brother Gu possesses extraordinary talent and should not let it be buried here.”

Gu Yan’s expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, “What you say is reasonable. However, my aspirations do not lie there. I only wish to devote myself to the Martial Dao.”

Ye Chen tried to persuade him several more times, and Xu Gang also supported him from the side, but Gu Yan remained unmoved.

After half a cup of tea, the two had no choice but to stand and take their leave.

After walking quite a distance, Ye Chen could not help but shake his head. “This Senior Brother Gu truly has a heart as firm as a rock when it comes to bitter cultivation.

However… blindly cultivating without experiencing trials will ultimately make it difficult to achieve greatness.”

Xu Gang patted his shoulder. “Everyone has their own path. Since Junior Brother Gu has chosen this road, why should we force him?

The path of cultivation is long, opportunities must be seized, but one’s Dao is chosen by oneself.

We should simply do our own part.”

Ye Chen nodded, and a spark rekindled in his eyes.

He clenched his fist secretly. If this mission succeeded and he obtained resources, he would surely break through to the Third Revolution.

At that time, when he challenged Gu Yan again, he would definitely show those senior sisters and junior sisters in the sect that he, Ye Chen, was no mediocrity!

……

Time flowed like water, and six years passed in the blink of an eye.

Gu Yan sat cross-legged indoors, spiritual energy circulating around him like surging rivers.

Now thirty-five years old, he had reached the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment. The liquid spiritual energy within his Dantian had become extremely dense.

Yet it still could not condense and solidify into a Golden Core.

Gu Yan had tried several times. Each time, just as the spiritual energy was about to solidify into a core, an invisible barrier would block it, causing the energy to collapse and return to liquid form.

“As expected, I am still lacking an orthodox cultivation technique…” Gu Yan sighed inwardly.

He had originally thought that using Martial Dao techniques to reverse-engineer the path of immortal cultivation would be easy. From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, everything had gone smoothly. Unexpectedly, he encountered an obstacle before the Golden Core stage.

The path of immortal cultivation was indeed not as simple as he had imagined.

Sensing that he could no longer progress, Gu Yan decided to go out and search for higher-level Martial Dao techniques in this world. Perhaps he could find an opportunity to break through to the Golden Core.

His primary target was the Imperial Library of the Great Qian Dynasty, which gathered martial arts from across the world.

He stood up and first went to Pill Glow Peak to bid farewell to Lin Wei.

Six years had passed, and under Gu Yan’s continuous supply of specially made pills, Lin Wei’s cultivation had soared rapidly.

She had now reached the early stage of Martial Dao Fourth Revolution and was undoubtedly the number one among the younger generation of the Taiyi Dao Sect.

To outsiders, she only claimed that she had accumulated strength over time and encountered extraordinary opportunities, perfectly keeping Gu Yan hidden behind the scenes.

Hearing that Gu Yan was going out, a trace of worry flashed in Lin Wei’s eyes. “Junior Brother must be careful when traveling.

I heard from Senior Sister Su Zhi that the Great Qian is not very peaceful now. The dynasty’s conflicts with several major demon sects have intensified. There is war along the borders, and bandits are rampant. The Extreme Yin Demon Sect is especially rampant.”

“Senior Sister, rest assured, I know my limits,” Gu Yan said gently to comfort her.

“Then when will you return?”

“As short as a few months, as long as several years.”

Gu Yan paused, then added, “Focus on your cultivation. If you run out of pills, there are still some in the hidden compartment in my room.”

After leaving the inner sect, Gu Yan made another trip to the outer sect’s C-Grade Herbal Garden, taking a distant look at the situation within.

Old Chen was now at the mid-stage of Martial Dao Third Revolution.

The sect had invited him multiple times to enter the inner sect as an elder, but he had declined each time.

He only said that he had stayed in this herbal garden of the outer sect for too long, had grown accustomed to it, and could not bear to leave the plants he had personally tended.

As for his improvement in cultivation, he simply described it to others as “late blooming,” never revealing anything about the pills given by Gu Yan.

Seeing that he was well, Gu Yan did not appear to disturb him and quietly left.

From then on, Gu Yan departed alone from Qingzhou, where the Taiyi Dao Sect was located.

He traveled north all the way toward the central region of the Great Qian Dynasty, Central Province.

He was neither hurried nor slow. At first, the journey was relatively peaceful, but the further north he went, the more desolate the scenery became.

Along the official roads, abandoned villages could occasionally be seen. Farmland lay barren, overgrown with wild grass.

Groups of refugees wandered about, their faces sallow and bodies thin. Upon seeing a lone traveler, they would avoid him from afar, their eyes wary like startled beasts.

Bandit scouts appeared from time to time. Seeing Gu Yan alone and plainly dressed, they assumed he was easy prey—only to meet their end.

After entering Youzhou territory, the situation grew even more tragic.

Gu Yan once passed by a small town where more than a dozen corpses hung from an old tree at the entrance.

There were both old and young. All had been disemboweled, their internal organs missing.

The town was completely deserted, with only dried bloodstains covering the ground and a lingering stench of decay in the air.

In a corner crouched a surviving old woman, her eyes hollow.

Seeing this, Gu Yan left behind some dry rations and turned away.

That night, he sat alone on a hillside outside the town for a long time.

Above him, the galaxy of stars shone brilliantly; below, the human world resembled hell.

The next day, passing through a market, he bought a set of black clothing and a ferocious ghost mask with green face and fangs.

From then on, along the roads and wilderness paths from Qingzhou to Central Province, there appeared a figure clad in black with a ghost mask.

Gu Yan began to actively seek out bandits and demonic sect members to kill.

With his divine sense spread out, no presence within a thousand miles could escape detection.

Anyone tainted with bloodshed and burdened with resentment fell within his targets.

At first, he kept count.

In the first month, he eliminated eighteen groups of bandits, killing a total of three hundred and eighty-three people.

He destroyed two outer outposts of the Extreme Yin Demon Sect, killing twenty-seven cultists.

In the second month, he wiped out five strongholds of varying sizes along the way, killing more than five hundred bandits.

He encountered a demonic sect ritual site, rescued seventy-two boys and girls, and killed thirty-four cultists, including one Martial Dao Third Revolution practitioner.

In the third month…

The fourth month…

The count gradually blurred.

There were too many evildoers—impossible to kill them all.

Destroy one group today, and another would emerge tomorrow.

The branch outposts of the Extreme Yin Demon Sect were well hidden. It took him three months to locate one deep within the northern mountains of Youzhou.

Afterward, he uprooted it entirely, rescuing over a thousand imprisoned civilians and killing more than a hundred demonic sect members.

In that battle, he encountered an old demon at the Fourth Revolution whose lifespan was nearing its end and whose vitality had declined.

That old demon cultivated a blood-path evil technique and had lived for over two hundred years. To prolong his life, he slaughtered entire villages to refine their blood essence.

The two fought.

Gu Yan used only a single palm strike to shatter his heart meridians.

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