The entire Lanyan Royal School was united in their efforts, and naturally, Gu Lan was not idle either.
After returning to the Immortal Realm, he activated the Azure Lotus of rits, allowing Mu Yuyan to enter it for cultivation. However, he himself did not use it to recover; instead, with his strength restored by a fraction, he could begin the path of severing his own "self."
Unlike severing evil or severing good, severing one's self required him to comprehend much more. Without delaying further, he imdiately summoned the Three Clarity Avatars, then transford them into countless manifestations, spreading himself across the Three Thousand Realms of the Six Realms.
This journey was much like Zhongren's enlightennt in the Tianji Ancestry Land, and also resembled Elder Nightfall's transformation into three thousand forms to travel among mortals. Yet, Gu Lan's pursuit differed from the other two; Zhongren sought transcendence, while Elder Nightfall aid for breakthroughs. Gu Lan, on the other hand, sought to find and sever his true self.
This path was destined to be long. Mu Yuyan could not accompany him, and no one else could either.
In the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm, there were avatars of Gu Lan among the cultivators fighting against the Bright Clan. In the three thousand Earthly Realms, avatars of Gu Lan could also be found battling extraterrestrial entities. So avatars grew stronger, while others perished, with all of their insights rging into his spirit.
Starlit distances and fleeting ti—this period of enlightennt lasted a full ten years. During these ten years, the battle between the Immortal Realm and the Bright Clan concluded, ending with the Bright Clan retreating to defend Chengtian World. The Immortal Realm's various clans had been significantly drained, and thus dared not pursue further. After all, Chengtian World was the Bright Clan's stronghold, and their Divine Son was in seclusion for recovery. If pressured too much, and the Divine Son Arthur erged, there would be no one who could stop him.
At this ti, people rembered Gu Lan, the unparalleled genius who had once wounded the invincible Divine Son of the Bright Clan.
"Who knows if the head of Lanyan Royal School has recovered his strength in these past ten years? If he hasn't, and the Divine Son of the Bright Clan recovers, won't our ten years of hard-fought battle be in vain?"
"It's said the Divine Son was seriously injured and needs a hundred years of seclusion to recover. However, the Bright Clan has secret techniques for sacrificing destiny to restore power, which might halve his recovery ti."
"Ah, we Imperial Realm cultivators should not speculate on battles between Divine Realm experts. Let's handle our own duties; if the sky falls, there will be soone taller to hold it up."
All across the worlds, people began to rest and recover, with cultivators discussing the future of the Immortal Realm. So were pessimistic, so optimistic, yet none could predict the future.
…
"Amitabha! Benefactor, you have a connection with the Buddha. Why indulge in the fox demon, a futile pursuit of feminine beauty? Why not co to my Justice Virtue Temple, where the light of Buddha may accompany you to seek the Dao?"
In a mortal city within the Immortal Realm, a monk was pulling a downcast scholar aside, preaching to him. The scholar, with dark circles and a look of utter despair, angrily shook off the monk's hand.
"Get lost, you stinking monk! I indulge because I want to! My wife may be human or demon, but it's none of your concern!"
With that, the scholar ran toward the outskirts of the city, where he had first t his beloved Honey. Tonight, he was determined to see her again.
"Amitabha! A mortal soul trapped in delusion!" The monk, wielding his staff, leapt dozens of ters in an instant, catching up with the scholar. The surrounding people appeared unaware of this, as if nothing unusual was happening.
Only a swordsman in a green robe sitting by a tea stand quietly watched.
"A monk from Justice Virtue Temple… intriguing!" The swordsman tossed two copper coins on the table. In an instant, his figure vanished.
The server looked over, only to see the two coins spinning in place and scratched his head, saying, "That custor sure left quickly, like he was blown away by the wind."
As the sun set over the western hills, painting the sky in radiant colors, the scholar sat in an old, broken-down temple, clutching his books and reciting ancient poems:
"Frost covers the lake for ten miles,
Every inch of longing fills the years…"
By the ti he finished, he was in tears. Clutching his head, he cried out, "iniang! My wife! Why haven't you co to see yet?"
Suddenly, a chilly wind rose. The decrepit door creaked and groaned as if haunted by sothing sinister. Rather than being afraid, the scholar's face lit up with joy.
"Honey!" He cried, rushing toward the door, only to trip over a wooden stick and almost fall—saved just in ti by a woman in a red dress.
"Honey! You didn't lie to . You really ca to see !" Overjoyed, the scholar gazed at the woman's stunning, seductive face. Yet, her expression was devoid of any smile.
"Xiao, I am a fox demon. I'm here to harm you. I cannot be your wife."
"No!" the scholar protested. "iniang! No matter if you are human or demon, you're my wife!"
"Aren't there plenty in this world who live as demons or monsters? I don't care; I only want you!"
"But… but my grandmother will kill you…"
"I'm not afraid of death!"
Just then, a cold laugh echoed from outside. A tree branch shot toward the couple with frightening speed. But before it could reach them, a golden light descended from above, cutting it in half.
"Amitabha! Tree demon! You dare take soone from ?"
"Old bald monk! Don't think I fear you just because you're from Justice Virtue Temple!"
Outside, demonic energy clashed with the monk's golden light. Inside, the scholar and fox demon clung to each other, trembling.
On the roof, the swordsman in the green robe took a swig from his flask, then leapt down to stand before the couple.
"Who are you? Do you an to tear and iniang apart too?" the scholar asked, spreading his arms protectively in front of the fox demon.
The swordsman ignored him, lifting his hat with his sword, revealing a face even more striking than the fox demon's, causing both the scholar and fox demon to look on in astonishnt.
This swordsman was one of Gu Lan's avatars, who had been wandering this realm for a decade, witnessing countless farewells and reunions. He wasn't about to miss another good scene.
Approaching the scholar, Gu Lan pressed his sword to his chest.
"If I kill you and spare the fox demon who's draining your life force, would you be willing?"
"If you let my wife go, I'd do anything!" the scholar declared, unwavering.
The fox demon at his side cast a complicated look.
"Very well." Gu Lan nodded. With a flash of his blade, he pierced the red-robed fox demon's chest, sending a piercing scream through the air as she reverted to her true form.
"I've shattered your thousand-year cultivation to restore this scholar's life. Do you accept?"
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