The two Sect Master Heavenly Accesses remained standing where they were, looking at each other coldly.
Calm slowly returned to the surroundings. However, no one forgot about the earlier clash. It had been overly ferocious, as the ruined landscape already proved. Borderless Heavenly Capital even got shifted some distance away.
Far away, some of the dragons and black tortoises were still vomiting blood from the shock waves.
The two Sect Master Heavenly Accesses merely stood there, coldly facing each other. No one in the surroundings dared to approach.
“Is that a cloud beast? It is that powerful?”
“He blocked Sect Master Heavenly Access’s sword strike? How can this be?”
Prime Feng Yue and Ao Sheng goggled in horror.
Far away, the Mosquito Daoist felt utterly shocked. What is going on? Gu Hai manifested a cloud beast that can fight on equal terms with Sect Master Heavenly Access? That’s impossible, right?
The Mosquito Daoist suddenly felt even more fearful of Gu Hai.
“Never believe that he is in the Middle Heavenly Palace Realm. Otherwise, you would not even know how you died,” the Mosquito Daoist muttered to itself as it suppressed the shock in its heart.
Far away, the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access hid his right hand in his sleeve. He had already put away the Immortal Executioner Sword. No one could see that his right hand was currently trembling. It was not trembling out of fear but because the immense force of the earlier clash had numbed it.
Nearby, the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access also hid his hand in his sleeve. He must have suffered great damage as well.
The two did not show any fear. Instead, their eyes blazed with a surging battle hunger.
Fight again?
Gu Hai did not want them to continue fighting.
“Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Sect Master Heavenly Access!” Gu Hai suddenly shouted.
“Huh?” The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access’s gaze was chilly as he turned his head to Gu Hai.
Now, the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access no longer looked down on Gu Hai. With just this cloud beast, Gu Hai was worthy of taking seriously.
Manifesting another Sect Master Heavenly Access? How did he do that?
“I ask that the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s sect master fulfill your promise!” Gu Hai said gravely.
“Promise?” The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access’s face suddenly sank.
Earlier, he had looked down on Gu Hai’s strength. That was why he dared to say that as long as Gu Hai could handle his sword strike, he would immediately leave.
However, the other party had to be qualified before he would honor his promises.
If it were an ordinary person, Sect Master Heavenly Access would just continue killing, regardless of any promise. However, there was this strange Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access that he had to be careful about, which induced him to raise his evaluation of Gu Hai to the highest level. Even if Gu Hai was not as strong as himself, Gu Hai still had a certain level of strength.
Fight? Fight? Fight?
The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access looked at the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access with battle hunger blazing in his eyes. Leaving now was not his style. He wanted to ignore Gu Hai and kill the counterfeit before him. However, he remained extremely cautious.
“Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s sect master, the Revival Convention is at hand. We ask that you stop fighting first. If you still have any doubts after the Revival Convention, you can seek us out again. How about that?” Gu Hai suggested seriously.
The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access narrowed his eyes at Gu Hai.
The Revival Convention? The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access naturally placed great importance on it. The Revival Convention was still a few months away, but he had already set out in advance—this showed how seriously he took it.
Figure out who is stronger after the Revival Convention?
The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access pondered this for a while. Then, he showed a faint, cold smile. “Very well. This sect master will come and test you again after the Revival Convention.”
The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access snorted coldly as he flung out his wide sleeves, then vanished.
As the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access left, he stared at the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access. Seeing that the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access showed no signs of making any further moves, he left quickly.
Since the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access stopped fighting, the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access also stopped fighting.
Thus, the battle came to an abrupt conclusion.
However, the sword strikes of the two Sect Master Heavenly Accesses deeply impressed everyone. No one dared to comment on it.
When the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access left, Xuan Du’s expression immediately turned to horror.
The sect master left? Even the sect master could not do anything to Gu Hai?
“Sect Master, wait for me!” Xuan Du shot towards the northeast in horror. He did not dare to linger. What if Gu Hai—no, that cloud beast that he manifested with the ritual array—kills me? That is something that could rival the sect master’s sword strike!
Xuan Du fled in fear, but Gu Hai did not stop him.
——
The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access left, showing no intention to wait for Xuan Du. Along the way, he thought about every detail he noticed about the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access.
“He is practically the same as me? Furthermore, although the core of my killing Dao had been passed on for many generations, none of the substitute Sect Master Heavenly Access had it. However, this cloud beast does? Even the unique Immortal Executioner Sword is exactly the same? No, there are some slight differences. His Immortal Executioner Sword does not have the ancient treasure fragments fused into it.” The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access entered deep thought.
“He said he was from the Severed Sect? That’s odd. What is the Severed Sect? The Myriad Age Daoist Sect has my Heavenly Access’s Severed line of inheritance. It is a line of inheritance, not a sect?” The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access frowned heavily.
Even after leaving, the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access still felt confused. He turned his head back to glance at the distant Borderless Heavenly Capital.
Everything was simply too strange. What is going on? How could there be someone so similar to me?
——
Outside Borderless Heavenly Capital, the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access coldly watched the Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access leave, not saying anything. Then, he stepped forward and flew into Borderless Heavenly Capital.
Boom!
Gu Hai waved his hand, and surging fog appeared around the ritual array, hiding everything.
When the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access arrived, the surrounding Han Nation guards made way.
At the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access approach, Kong Xuan’s eyelids twitched wildly, showing a guarded expression.
“Kong Xuan, there’s no need to worry.” Gu Hai smiled while shaking his head.
Whoosh!
A black figure rushed over from a distance. It was the Mosquito Daoist approaching.
When the Mosquito Daoist saw the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access, he felt incredibly shocked.
“Gu…Gu Hai, this is?” the Mosquito Daoist prompted with some fear, gulping.
The Mosquito Daoist did not dare call the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access a cloud beast, as the Sect Master Heavenly Access seemed like a real person, having flesh and blood. The Mosquito Daoist even found the smell of the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access’s blood extremely enticing. However, he sensed incredible danger.
“I mentioned it to you before. This was the purpose of leaving Borderless Heavenly Capital this time.” Gu Hai smiled.
Purpose? Recruitment?
The Mosquito Daoist gaped. Initially, he had already considered recruiting Kong Xuan very ridiculous. However, now… This… That’s not right. He is not a cloud beast. He was recruited? However, from where?
“This is the Mosquito Daoist. You should have heard of him before,” Gu Hai introduced.
“The Mosquito Daoist? The Mosquito Daoist who consumed this sect master’s disciple, the Spiritual Tortoise Holy Lady?” Sect Master Heavenly Access’s gaze suddenly turned cold.
The Mosquito Daoist’s expression immediately changed. “Sect Master, please forgive me. It’s not— It’s not…”
The Mosquito Daoist felt horrified. His disciple? Not the earlier Sect Master Heavenly Access’s disciple? Could they be the same person?
Many thoughts flashed through the Mosquito Daoist’s mind, horrifying him for some reason.
“What are you afraid of? I’m not referring to you,” Sect Master Heavenly Access said coldly.
After saying that, Sect Master Heavenly Access ignored the Mosquito Daoist.
The Mosquito Daoist immediately felt like he was pardoned of a great crime. However, another conflict started in his mind. What do you mean by not referring to me? Could it be that there is another Mosquito Daoist who consumed the Spiritual Tortoise Holy Lady?
The Mosquito Daoist felt confused but did not dare to voice it.
Then, Gu Hai gestured with his hand.
Sect Master Heavenly Access nodded and followed Gu Hai into the Soaring Palace Hall.
Creak!
The palace hall’s doors closed, leaving everyone else outside. However, no one dared to enter.
Only Gu Hai and Sect Master Heavenly Access stood in the Soaring Palace Hall.
Only now did Sect Master Heavenly Access take a deep breath and extend his right hand.
The web between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand had split and was bleeding a bit.
“You are injured?” Gu Hai exclaimed.
“The impact just tore the skin. It’s fine,” Sect Master Heavenly Access said with an unsightly expression.
The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Heavenly Access’s hands had only numbed, but the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access’s had bled.
“He is stronger than you?” Gu Hai asked with a frown.
“There is something off with his sword. His Immortal Executioner Sword is stronger,” the Severed Sect’s Heavenly Access replied with an unsightly expression.
“Oh? I recall now. His Immortal Executioner Sword is different from yours. He fused the fragments of the Heaven Splitting Ax, the Primal Chaos Bell, the Universe Cauldron, and the Cross Annihilation into it,” Gu Hai said.
“Oh?” Sect Master Heavenly Access’s expression changed.
“Truly, many thanks for earlier,” Gu Hai said in gratitude once more.
“There’s no need to thank me. My true self, Laozi, gave me instructions. I just did not expect to meet my counterpart. Hah! How powerful! However, I wonder what his Immortal Executioner Sword Ritual Array is like. I have to try his Immortal Executioner Sword Ritual Array next time,” Sect Master Heavenly Access said, intense anticipation flashing in his eyes.
“Sect Master Heavenly Access, do you need to return? Or will you remain for now?” Gu Hai asked.
“It’s a rare opportunity to come here. Why would I go back so quickly?” Sect Master Heavenly Access replied; then, his expression changed. “By the way, Zang Yulian is pregnant with your child.”
“Ah? Really?” Gu Hai’s eyes lit up.
“That’s right. However, there is still a long way till birth. Only ten-odd days have passed since you left. When you sent Sun Wukong back, we knew that you would be summoning someone else soon. Unexpectedly, I was the first,” Sect Master Heavenly Access said with satisfaction.
“From what I remember, you showed the strongest combat prowess in the Investiture of the Gods, so…,” Gu Hai said with a smile.
“When Sun Wukong returned, it seemed to have gone mad as though it had been greatly humiliated. It wanted to go to the eighteen layers of hell to train itself. However, that is good. That saved us trouble.” Sect Master Heavenly Access nodded.
“Sun Wukong? It had the courage to pick itself up after being shamed. I hope it can realize its potential. After I left? I have been back for more than a year already, yet only ten-odd days have passed on Earth?” Gu Hai said.
“No, only twelve days have passed in Earth’s immortal realm,” Sect Master Heavenly Access explained.
“Huh?”
Gu Hai felt slightly startled. Then, he showed a faint, bitter smile. Indeed, Zang Yulian was still far from giving birth.
A son? A son?
An eager light flashed in Gu Hai’s eyes. He had sons in the Six Paths Immortal Firmament: Gu Qin, Gu Han, Gu Tang, and Gu Ming. However, they were adopted. Even though he raised them as though they were his own children, he still felt excited at having a child of his blood. He wished he could immediately return.
However, it was difficult to return to the Sa’s Immortal Firmament.
“Find someone to explain this place to me. Everything here is unfamiliar. You mentioned the Revival Convention earlier. Is that for the Old Mister Guan Qi you spoke of? Is he coming back to life?” Sect Master Heavenly Access said.
“I will explain everything to you. I will send someone to do it if I do not have the time. Old Mister Guan Qi? Indeed, he is coming back to life. Furthermore, he seems to be doing so with surging momentum. I feel that his preparations are complete and are awaiting the day of the Revival Convention for the initiation of his plan,” Gu Hai said seriously.
“Opposing Heaven? Hah! Hahahaha! I arrived at a good time. How can I miss such an event?” Sect Master Heavenly Access said with some excitement in his eyes.
