Chapter 725: The Battle of Wushi

Zhang Buku was still thinking about the future, and the other heavenly soldiers were also looking forward to what lay ahead. After enduring the trials of reincarnation, they had finally made it through. The storm had passed, and the skies were clear.

While they were still immersed in the strength brought by the Heavenly Dao’s fate, the oppressive might of the Heaven-Stabilizing God suddenly erupted, suppressing all one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers.

All the heavenly soldiers looked up, their smiles fading from their faces.

"You all have endured countless hardships and finally become true heavenly soldiers. Now, I have good news for you," the Heaven-Stabilizing God’s voice echoed above the sea of clouds, making all the heavenly soldiers tense.

Good news?

They didn’t believe it. Their first instinct was that another trial awaited. Some of them even showed looks of frustration.

Why was the path to immortality so hard?

"There are two Princes of Heaven who will use the Three Thousand Great Worlds as their chessboard in a great contest. You will follow me to support one of these princes. The princes are sons of the Heavenly Emperor. This contest will involve many immortals and gods. If the prince we support wins, you all will benefit. Some may even directly become heavenly gods. This is an extremely rare opportunity—I've never seen one like it."

The Heaven-Stabilizing God's words rang in the ears of all one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, and their minds ran wild. Some even started whispering among themselves.

"A struggle between the princes, tsk tsk, it’s starting again, never a moment’s peace," Xu You clicked his tongue and said with amazement.

Zhang Buku glanced at him and asked, puzzled, "You even know about the princes’ struggle?"

Xu You replied, "I heard it from an elder. The struggle of the princes always uses the Three Thousand Great Worlds as their chessboard because those worlds don’t have deep foundations and the heavens can easily restore them. Many princes want to prove they’re more suited to be the Heavenly Emperor, so they form alliances and start a grand battle to get the Heavenly Court’s attention."

Zhang Buku asked in surprise, "The position of Heavenly Emperor can be inherited?"

In his view, the Heavenly Emperor was the strongest of the immortals and gods. How could such a title be passed down?

Besides, mortal emperors passed on their throne because they would die, but the Heavenly Emperor was the strongest immortal, how could he die?

"Who knows, maybe the Heavenly Emperor is just toying with them. Some princes just believe it’s real," Xu You replied.

Zhang Buku felt strange hearing this, as if Xu You was mocking the Heavenly Emperor.

Standing on the golden clouds, the Heaven-Stabilizing God gave Xu You a deep look, then swept his gaze over the one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers. "The Three Thousand Great Worlds will be divided into two sides, led by heavenly gods. Before the contest begins, both sides will have equal strength, supervised by high-ranking immortals and gods. This is a fairness that is hard to find. You have a fifty percent chance of victory. The rest depends on your efforts."

His voice was like heavenly thunder, shaking the air.

A heavenly soldier couldn’t help but ask, "What happens if we lose?"

As soon as he spoke, many heavenly soldiers joined in, demanding an answer from the Heaven-Stabilizing God.

They had just become heavenly soldiers, and now another trial? Who could take that?

"If we lose, I will be punished along with you. Don’t worry, your Heavenly Court fate won’t be lost. You’ll just have to atone for your failure. With the Heavenly Court’s fate, you are all undying and indestructible."

The Heaven-Stabilizing God’s answer calmed the uneasy soldiers.

But Zhang Buku noticed that Xu You seemed to be mocking the Heaven-Stabilizing God too.

Could heavenly soldiers die?

Zhang Buku felt deeply worried. It wasn’t his own safety he feared, but the thought that even heavenly soldiers might fall in battle. What kind of disaster would that mean for the beings of the Great Thousand Worlds?

He still cared about the Heavenly Spirit Great World, about the old friends he had left behind.

"Before this great contest begins, I will personally teach you the Dao, helping you to rapidly increase your cultivation. I want all of you to reach the Free Immortal Realm before the battle starts!"

The Heaven-Stabilizing God's voice rang out again, and this time, it brought joy to the soldiers.

No matter what, being able to quickly improve their cultivation was an immediate benefit.

...

Time flew by.

Three hundred years passed quickly, and in the end, Qiankun Sect broke into internal chaos, leaving the Nine Spirits Continent in misery.

Gu An sent An Xin to drive all the cultivators of the Qiankun Sect out.

In the courtyard, Gu An was planting herbs. Li Xuanyu followed behind him, curiously asking, "Can An Xin really drive out the Qiankun Sect alone? The Qiankun Sect now isn’t simple."

It wasn’t just Li Xuanyu. Yi Qingshan and the other four had also moved into Wushi Dao Field, each establishing their own cave dwellings.

After arriving at Wushi Dao Field, Li Xuanyu, Yi Qingshan, and the others were shocked. They hadn’t expected so many powerful beings and talents hidden within.

Not to mention the strength of the Blood Prison Saint, Lü Xian, Tian Yao’er, and others, even the third-generation disciples had talents that were visibly extraordinary. Even in Qiankun Sect, they would be unrivaled.

Before Gu An could answer, brilliant golden light suddenly appeared at the horizon, like a heavenly curtain, catching Li Xuanyu’s attention.

Her expression changed slightly. She felt An Xin’s aura, along with a domineering power.

"Her own ability isn’t enough, but she has a Dao Treasure I refined," Gu An casually replied. Tomorrow, he could expand the Dao Field, covering the entire Nine Spirits Continent within its range.

From then on, all beings on the Nine Spirits Continent would benefit. With the rich spiritual energy and Dao intent inside the Dao Field, even without cultivation, they would grow stronger.

"Dao Treasure?"

Li Xuanyu was filled with curiosity. She had heard of Dao Treasures before. Many years ago, when Wushi disciples emerged to save the world, the power of Dao Treasures became renowned.

But could An Xin really drive out the whole Qiankun Sect with just one Dao Treasure?

Suddenly!

She felt an extremely terrifying and cold aura, as if it would tear the sky apart.

A face flashed in her mind—Yuan Luo. She was sure this aura came from Yuan Luo, but she hadn’t expected Yuan Luo to be this strong.

"Master Ancestor!"

A female voice called out, and Shangguan Xian’er came running.

Gu An immediately turned to Li Xuanyu and said, "Senior Sister Li, don’t worry, go back and cultivate first."

Li Xuanyu didn’t think too much. She saluted and left.

Shangguan Xian’er came up to Gu An, mysteriously pulling out a book, saying, "Master Ancestor, this is my painstaking work, you’ll be amazed for sure!"

Gu An gave her a glare, took the book from her, and said sternly, "Can’t you focus a bit more and cultivate properly?"

Shangguan Xian’er giggled, "I am cultivating properly! Just take a look first."

"I’ll read it later."

Gu An tucked the book into his robe and went back to planting.

Shangguan Xian’er rolled her eyes and leaned closer, "Master Ancestor, if you like it, can you teach me a divine ability? I want to fight for a better rank among the third-generation disciples."

There was always competition within Wushi, among both the second and third-generation disciples. Every thousand years they had a contest. Currently, the strongest among the third-generation was still An Zizai, and Shangguan Xian’er ranked among the bottom three.

"Why do you suddenly want to learn a divine ability?" Gu An didn’t agree immediately, instead he asked.

Shangguan Xian’er pouted, "Didn’t you tell me to cultivate seriously?"

Gu An smiled and said, "You want to go out and start your own sect?"

Shangguan Xian’er quickly explained, "Master Ancestor, I’m not going out now, maybe later. I still want to serve you for at least ten million years!"