222: An era without saints?! (Twenty-one)

The many Elders looked at each other, their eyes filled with wariness, and even... fear.

Gu Tianxing's brow furrowed tightly.

He looked at his son, who stood in the center of the hall with a calm expression, and hesitated to speak.

If it were twenty years ago and Gu Yun wanted to go to the Heavenly Dao Ruins, he wouldn't have said a word.

Though dangerous, that place was the Five Domains' publicly recognized Holy Land for enlightenment; it was the largest remnant left after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, harboring countless opportunities.

But now... the Second Elder, who was responsible for intelligence, braced himself and stepped forward, bowing as he spoke in a dry tone.

"Dao Child, please listen. The current Heavenly Dao Ruins... cannot be entered."

Gu Yun's gaze shifted slightly and landed on him.

"Why?"

"Because that place has become a true 'Forbidden Zone for the Living'."

"In the year the Dao Child entered secluded cultivation—shortly after the Falling Star Mystic Realm closed."

"Inside the Heavenly Dao Ruins, a bizarre anomaly occurred that no one can explain."

"The Laws, which were originally broken but relatively stable, completely collapsed and twisted overnight."

"Over these twenty years, whether it be the Ji Family, the Wang Family, or other top powers of the Central Region, they have all sent people in to investigate."

"The result..."

"Few survived."

"This even included a Grand Elder from an Immortal Dao Lineage whose Lifespan was nearly exhausted and who wanted to gamble for a final chance at life; that was an existence who had stepped into the Venerable Realm."

"His life tablet shattered immediately after he entered the Heavenly Dao Ruins."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was horrified.

Gu Yun's expression remained unchanged.

"Since it is so dangerous, I have all the more reason to go and see."

His voice was not loud, but his will was firm.

Everyone was speechless.

Moreover, with Gu Yun's current status in the clan—holding the Heaven-Patrol Command and possessing a status second only to the Saint Ancestor—even the Family Head Gu Tianxing had no right to forcibly command him.

Just as Gu Tianxing was full of anxiety and prepared to persuade him further...

Buzz!

A vast and ancient majestic will directly penetrated the layers of the Gu Family's Restrictions and descended upon this place.

"The journey to the Heavenly Dao Ruins shall be postponed."

All the Elders, including Gu Tianxing, instantly bowed in salute, their demeanors extremely respectful.

"We respectfully welcome the Saint Ancestor's decree!"

Gu Yun also bowed slightly.

Toward this Elder who had given him infinite support and allowed him to walk his own path, he maintained absolute respect.

But respect did not mean blind obedience.

"Ancient Ancestor, why is this?"

"It is not that this Junior is arrogant, but this Heavenly Dao Ruins concerns my subsequent path of the Dao."

That will was silent for a moment.

After a long while, the Ancient Ancestor's voice rang out again, his tone solemn.

"Because the things born there specifically counter your Primordial Chaos Sacred Body."

Gu Yun's eyes narrowed.

Specially counters my Sacred Body?

"The root of the anomaly twenty years ago perhaps lies in the 'deterioration' of the Heavenly Dao fragments themselves."

The Ancient Ancestor explained slowly.

"Perhaps the resentment of this withered small world is too heavy, eroding the already broken Laws of the Heavenly Dao."

"In the depths of the Heavenly Dao Ruins, an unprecedentedly bizarre creature has been bred."

"We call it—the Dao-Devouring Beast."

"Dao-Devouring Beast?"

Gu Yun repeated the name in a low voice.

"Correct."

"They feed on a Cultivator's 'Dao'."

"The stronger the Physique and the more perfect the Dao foundation, the more they are considered a supreme delicacy in their eyes."

A hint of warning permeated the Ancient Ancestor's voice.

"Gu Yun, you possess the Primordial Chaos Sacred Body and were born with the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart; the perfection of your Dao foundation is peerless in this world."

"Once you step into the Heavenly Dao Ruins, to those countless Dao-Devouring Beasts..."

"You will be like a bright lamp in the dark of night."

"You will instantly become the prey of the entire Heavenly Dao Ruins."

"Until you reach the God Realm, or even become a King, this seat will not allow you to go to the Heavenly Dao Ruins."

Gu Yun fell silent.

He was not afraid of death, nor was he afraid of powerful enemies.

But he was not a fool.

Facing such bizarre creatures that specifically countered him and existed in infinite numbers, charging in was indeed not a wise move.

"Then in the Ancient Ancestor's opinion, where should this Junior go?"

Since the Ancient Ancestor had stepped in to stop him, he must have already thought of an alternative for him.

Sure enough.

The will in the void fluctuated, and an appreciative chuckle came through.

"Doing what one knows is impossible is recklessness; assessing the situation is the way of a hegemon."

"I like this temperament of yours."

"You can go to the Northern Plains."

The Northern Plains.

Upon hearing these two words, Gu Tianxing's expression changed slightly, as if he had thought of something.

The Ancient Ancestor continued.

"An extraordinary new Demon Saint has emerged from the Yao Race; he is ambitious and has torn up the ceasefire agreement that held for a thousand years."

"The current Northern Plains has turned into a meat grinder."

"The Human Race and the Yao Race are slaughtering each other day and night on the 'Two-Race Battlefield' there, and blood flows like rivers."

At this point, the Ancient Ancestor's tone shifted, laden with implication.

"Gu Yun, although I cannot see through that Cultivation Technique of yours, I can feel its overbearing nature."

"It needs battle to undergo transformation."

"Although the Gu Family is wealthy, those are dead things."

Gu Yun's eyes lit up.

He understood.

The Ancient Ancestor's observation was extremely accurate.

During his twenty years of secluded cultivation, he had only barely managed to reach the Guiyi Realm by plundering the free energy between heaven and earth.

But at this Realm, ordinary Spiritual Qi could no longer satisfy the appetite of the Azure Heaven Indestructible Art.

A battlefield.

That was the destination of death, and it was perfectly suited for his overbearing Cultivation Technique.

"Furthermore."

The Ancient Ancestor's will swept over Gu Zhan, who had been standing behind Gu Yun.

"This kid Gu Zhan's 'Primordial Chaos War Body' is a Physique born for battle."

"Keeping him at home to work behind closed doors will not nurture it."

"Only by throwing him into a true mountain of corpses and sea of blood, letting him kill, letting him go mad, and letting him hover on the edge of life and death..."

"Can his War Body truly reach Major Achievement."

"Once the two of you finish your tempering there and then turn back to go to the Heavenly Dao Ruins, that will be the superior strategy."

With things said to this point, there were no more doubts.

Gu Yun took a deep breath, his Battle Intent rising even higher.

He bowed deeply toward the void.

"Thank you for the guidance, Ancient Ancestor."

"This Junior shall go to the Northern Plains."

"Good."

The Ancient Ancestor left one final word, and his vast will subsequently withdrew.

Inside the hall, the pressure decreased abruptly.

All the Elders breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the Dao Child didn't go to the Heavenly Dao Ruins to seek death, he could go anywhere else.

Although the Northern Plains was chaotic and dangerous, those were open swords and spears; with the Gu Family's foundation and the Dao Child's strength, it would be enough to cope.

"Yun'er, since you've decided to go to the Northern Plains, your father will arrange a warship and Dao Protectors for you right away."

Gu Tianxing said immediately.

"Over in the Northern Plains, our Gu Family also has several strongholds, although..."

"No need, Father."

Gu Yun raised his hand and interrupted Gu Tianxing's arrangements.

He turned around and looked at Gu Zhan behind him.

"Too many people will only get in the way."

"This time, it will just be the two of us."

Upon hearing this, a fierce light appeared in Gu Zhan's eyes.

"Yes, Master."

Gu Tianxing wanted to say more, but seeing his son's firm back, he eventually just opened his mouth and turned it into an exhortation.

"Be careful in everything."

"Also... when you return from the Northern Plains, perhaps..."

Gu Tianxing paused, a brilliant light flashing in his eyes.

"The anomaly in the Heavenly Dao Ruins might see a turn for the better."

Gu Yun nodded... A few days later.

The Northern Plains border.

The earth presented a shocking dark red color; it was the color of being soaked by blood over countless years.

The air was permeated with a thick, nauseating smell of blood, as well as chaotic and violent Demonic Qi.

Space distorted for a moment.

Two figures appeared out of thin air on this desolate land.

Gu Yun stood with his hands behind his back, his white clothes fluttering in the wind.

He took a deep breath of this air filled with the smell of rust and slaughter.

Inside his body, the Azure Heaven Indestructible Art, which had been silent for a long time, began to circulate at high speed on its own.

"A good place."

Gu Yun praised softly.

"Master, where do we go first?"

Gu Zhan asked.

Gu Yun's gaze was calm as he looked at that chaotic world.

"Since we are here, let's first send a meeting gift to the masters of these Northern Plains."

With his Minds Eye opened, his gaze locked onto a troop of Yao Race cavalry a hundred miles away that was currently plundering a human village.

"A hundred miles ahead, there are Yao slaughtering villagers."

"Go."

"Leave none alive."