When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!-Chapter 519: The Dao Tree, The Emperor’s Chess Piece
In the depths of the universe, the Realm Gate stood tall, untouched by time. Here, the passage of hours did not exist, and the great gate remained impervious to the erosion of years.
At this moment, a blinding light radiated from within the Realm Gate, and a figure slowly emerged from the brilliance. Clad in black armor, his face hidden in the abyss-like darkness beneath his helmet, he exuded an aura of overwhelming mystery and power.
It was none other than the Annihilation God Emperor.
In his right hand, he held a golden token that floated above his palm. The token was long and sharp like a blade, its surface exquisitely carved, radiating a dazzling golden light that illuminated the void.
As he stepped out of the Realm Gate, he halted and turned his head toward a distant figure—the Heavenly Spirit God.
One after another, seven more figures emerged from the gate. Some were male, some female, all possessing extraordinary bearing and auras that marked them as no ordinary beings. Their gazes also locked onto the Heavenly Spirit God.
"No matter what your intentions are, you must not destroy this Great Thousand World. Otherwise, even the Heavenly Decree in your hands will not protect you," the Heavenly Spirit God spoke, his tone indifferent yet firm, allowing no room for negotiation.
Before the Annihilation God Emperor could respond, a man in white robes stepped forward from behind him, cupped his hands in salute, and said with a smile, "Please rest assured, Heavenly God. We are merely here to capture a single individual and will not disrupt the balance of this world."
The Heavenly Spirit God remained silent. The Annihilation God Emperor then strode deeper into the void, with the seven others closely following him.
Soon, silence returned to the vast space. The intense radiance of the Realm Gate faded, and the surrounding void dimmed, leaving only the light emanating from the Heavenly Spirit God, maintaining the balance of the realm.
Despite noticing the arrival of the Annihilation God Emperor, Gu An made no move. He could clearly sense that the emperor was also at the Golden Immortal level.
A confrontation between two beings of the same realm? Not ideal.
Reclining on a tree branch, Gu An slowly sat up.
Forget it, let’s simulate lifespan instead.
【You need to consume 5,000,000,000 years of lifespan. Proceed?】
Hmm? Five billion years of lifespan?
That’s way too expensive!
Gu An instantly chose to refuse. There was no need to waste his lifespan on this. After all, the Annihilation God Emperor’s presence did not make him feel even the slightest fear.
Moreover, the emperor wouldn’t be able to locate Wu Shi Dao Field, unless he intended to outright destroy the Heavenly Spirit Grand World.
Though many had seen Gu An before, he had already altered their karmic imprints, ensuring that no one could trace Wu Shi Dao Field back to him.
Lying back down, he resumed reading. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
If the sky collapses, I'll deal with it then.
To be honest, Xuan Tianyi’s writing had significantly improved over the years. The depth of emotion in his words was masterful, enough to stir the heart.
As Gu An read, the vivid descriptions brought the story’s characters and their burning passions to life in his mind.
Day turned to night, and five full days passed. One by one, An Xin, Tian Yao’er, Tianqing, Tianbai, Lu Xian, Blood Prison Saint, Jiang Shi, and the others awoke from their meditation. Their awakening was triggered by Gu An’s withdrawal of his Dao Intent.
Seeing him reclining on the tree, they stood and saluted before quietly leaving in small groups, exchanging their newfound insights.
Once they were gone, Gu An finally opened his eyes.
His gaze lifted toward the sky.
The Annihilation God Emperor, along with his seven subordinates, had descended upon the Heavenly Spirit Grand World. However, they had not headed to Tai Xuan Sect as expected. Instead, they had joined the Sacred Court.
Could it be that their true objective was not to kill Long Qing?
Long Qing’s identity had already been exposed, even Zhu Xing was aware of it, meaning that the Annihilation God Emperor must have known as well.
Perhaps the emperor was planning to possess Long Qing once again.
After watching for a while and confirming that the Annihilation God Emperor did not intend to make a move yet, Gu An leapt down from the tree and headed toward the herb fields.
Whatever scheme the emperor was brewing, Gu An’s priority remained the same—getting stronger.
Once he reached a lifespan of 100 billion years, he would be able to peer into even higher realms.
Strengthening oneself was never the wrong choice.
Meanwhile, in the Sacred Domain, within the Great Hall of the Sacred Court, the Sacred Minister sat at the head of the chamber, his gaze fixed on the Annihilation God Emperor and his seven subordinates.
He remembered the Annihilation God Emperor well. This was the same man who had once fought against the Sword Master of the Dao. Although he had been defeated in a single strike, the aura he had exuded back then was still unforgettable.
"What brings you all here?" the Sacred Minister asked.
He did not know how the Annihilation God Emperor had survived, but with the Sword Master of the Dao gone from Heavenly Spirit Grand World, he had no choice but to be cautious in dealing with these foreign Dao Realm experts.
As he looked at the Annihilation God Emperor and his seven followers, a sense of unease weighed heavily on his heart.
The white-robed man behind the Annihilation God Emperor stepped forward with a smile. "In the current Immortal Dynasty, an existence surpassing the Free Immortal Realm has appeared. Once he fully integrates the Immortal God Fate, the Sacred Court’s demise will not be far off."
Upon hearing this, the Sacred Minister’s face darkened. This was a matter that had weighed on him for a long time, yet he had been powerless to change it. Now, having it bluntly pointed out by an outsider, how could his mood be good?
It was clear that these people wanted to use the Sacred Court.
The problem was that the Sacred Court was indeed on a path of decline. Though it did not currently face an immediate crisis, its downfall was only a matter of time.
Because he had no way to refuse their manipulations, the Sacred Minister struggled to maintain his composure.
The white-robed man continued with a slight smile, "Even if the Sun Immortal Emperor fully integrates the Immortal God Fate, he is no match for us. We can assist the Sacred Court, and you need not worry about the Sacred Court becoming a mere puppet in our hands. After all, we will not stay here forever. We have only come to this world for one reason—to cultivate someone."
The Sacred Minister asked cautiously, "May I ask who this person is? Are they within the Sacred Court?"
The white-robed man shook his head. "No, but we need the Sacred Court to create challenges for him, to sharpen him, to make him grow stronger."
The Sacred Minister fell into silence.
The white-robed man continued, "We will not help you eliminate the Sun Immortal Emperor directly. You should already understand the existence of Heavenly Tribulations and the Will of the Heavenly Dao. If the Sun Immortal Emperor takes action against the Sacred Court, we will intervene. Until then, we will remain within the Sacred Court."
This offer was tempting to the Sacred Minister.
He could feel that these people were immensely powerful—even a random one among them gave him the same oppressive feeling as when he faced the Sword Master of the Dao.
More importantly, he had no option to refuse. If he rejected them, things would only escalate into an even worse situation, possibly leading to his own death.
As the Sacred Minister sighed internally, the Annihilation God Emperor raised his hand. From his palm, a wooden staff flew out. It was a redwood staff, its top curved like a serpent, and apart from its crimson hue, it did not appear to have any other unusual traits.
The Annihilation God Emperor spoke, "This staff is a fragment of the Dao Tree. Not only will it grant you unparalleled power, but it will also help you comprehend the Great Dao. Consider it a gift."
The Sacred Minister was about to speak when the redwood staff suddenly shot toward him. The overwhelming pressure radiating from it caused his expression to change drastically. As he sensed the vast Dao intent within the staff, his eyes widened in shock.
Such a priceless treasure...
The Sacred Minister turned to look at the Annihilation God Emperor and asked in a solemn tone, "You… who exactly are you?"
The Annihilation God Emperor’s face remained shrouded in darkness, like the most enigmatic existence in the world. He answered, "The so-called Desolation Domain was created by me. Annihilation is my name."
The Sacred Minister’s mouth opened slightly, his face filled with utter disbelief.
Somewhere within a remote mountain valley, Xunxian Daoist sat by a lake, gazing at the distant sun. He muttered under his breath, "So you still can’t let go, huh? Who exactly is pulling your strings?"
From the center of the lake, Zhu Xi, who had been meditating, opened his eyes slightly and glanced at him sideways. "Who are you talking about?"
"The one who created the Annihilation Qi."
"The Annihilation God Emperor? Someone like him is also a pawn?"
"Of course. He has been running around tirelessly for the Dragon Clan’s bloodline. Either someone is secretly controlling him, or a greater force is pressuring him. The waters of this world are getting murkier. Once the Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth appears, your burden will only grow heavier."
Hearing this, Xunxian Daoist smirked playfully.
Zhu Xi snorted. "Your Dao Supremacy Art is as powerful as ever. With my talent, what do I have to fear?"
