When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!

Chapter 161: The Grand Ascension Demon Attack—The Only Way Out!

Hearing the words of the Nightshade Ghost Mother, Su Han fell silent. He didn’t refute her because, deep down, he knew she was right—he was weak.

Throughout his journey, he had narrowly escaped death many times, yet none of those escapes were due to his own strength.

He was well aware that he was merely a pawn. Even the Nightshade Ghost Mother, who had been helping him earnestly, must have her own agenda. But he had no other choice.

"You don’t have much time left. The Demonic Cataclysm is drawing closer. The Reverse Fate Divine Art can only absorb the spiritual energy of cultivators, not demonic energy. When the Cataclysm arrives, if you refuse to abandon your principles, you’ll be left struggling while all other cultivators are busy fighting off the demons. You will find it nearly impossible to grow stronger." The Nightshade Ghost Mother spoke.

Hearing this, Su Han asked, "You seem quite anxious. What exactly do you want me to do?"

The Nightshade Ghost Mother replied, "That depends on how strong you can become. The one who should be anxious isn’t me—it’s you. From the moment you began cultivating the Hatred Heaven Divine Sword, your lifespan was set. No matter how high your cultivation reaches, your lifespan won’t increase—unless you attain the legendary Immortal Realm."

Su Han frowned.

The Nightshade Ghost Mother brought up the drawback of the Hatred Heaven Divine Sword once again. On the surface, she seemed to be reminding him out of goodwill, but what Su Han felt was pressure—an unrelenting force weighing down on him.

"I will do my best." Su Han sat down cross-legged and began cultivating.

The Nightshade Ghost Mother observed him for a moment before turning into a wisp of ghostly energy and dissipating.

Su Han raised his head to look at the full moon outside. For some reason, an overwhelming sense of sorrow and confusion welled up in his heart.

There was probably no one in this world who truly cared about him anymore.

Winter had arrived.

The Third Medicine Valley was blanketed in white snow, making everything appear vast and desolate.

Standing on the balcony, Gu An admired the snow while contemplating the next volume of Shattering the Void.

Shattering the Void had become a massive hit—far beyond what Gu An had anticipated. In just five volumes, its sales had already surpassed those of Taixuan Immortal Venerable in its entirety.

Like Taixuan Immortal Venerable, Shattering the Void was essentially a power-fantasy novel, but its theme resonated deeply with cultivators across the world.

The Demonic Cataclysm was imminent. Every major sect had begun sending disciples to gather intelligence, and as the information poured in, the entire cultivation world grew increasingly tense.

More and more people felt that the path of cultivation was coming to an end.

If only they could shatter the void and escape this world...

In the distance, a White Spirit Mouse darted through the snow, with Xiao Chuan chasing after it. Despite his efforts, he failed to catch it and even ended up getting a face full of snow.

Watching this, Gu An couldn’t help but chuckle.

He didn’t understand what was so special about that fat mouse, but for some reason, Xiao Chuan adored it.

At that moment, Lu Lingjun approached the building and looked up at Gu An.

"Lord Valley Master, do you feel it?" she asked.

Gu An glanced down at her. "Feel what? The cold?"

"That too, but more than that—a powerful demonic aura is approaching from the north. I wonder if it signifies the beginning of the Demonic Cataclysm." Lu Lingjun turned her gaze toward the northern horizon.

Gu An had already sensed it.

A Grand Ascension Stage demon beast was heading south, rapidly closing in on the Land of the Eight Dynasties.

But Gu An did not intervene. He wanted to see if the Eight Dynasties harbored any hidden experts.

When the Demonic Cataclysm truly erupted, he alone wouldn’t be able to turn the tide. It wasn’t just a matter of risk—if he acted too prominently, he would become a major target, possibly even marked by the Seven Star Spirit Realm.

Although Gu An’s divine sense could cover the entire Nine Dynasties, the world was vast. There would always be people hidden in the shadows—like the Star-Seizing Celestial Realm, which had eluded his divine sense before.

Gu An asked, "If the Demonic Cataclysm truly arrives, what will you do?"

Lu Lingjun replied, "Naturally, I will fight alongside the Taixuan Sect. But if we are overwhelmed, if all hope is lost, I will head south in search of Immortal Fate."

Having ascended from another realm, she had long since grasped the deeper truths of this world.

Since ancient times, when powerful cultivators hit a bottleneck, they would venture south. Even though the Southern Sea was more perilous than the Demonic Lands, they still forged ahead without hesitation.

As an ascended cultivator, Lu Lingjun would not perish alongside the Taixuan Sect.

Gu An gave a slight nod but made no comment.

Lu Lingjun then turned to him and asked, "Valley Master, what about you?"

Gu An pretended to hesitate before answering, "I will focus on cultivating medicinal herbs and doing my part."

"And if the Taixuan Sect is on the verge of destruction?"

"Then I’ll kill myself rather than be eaten by demons."

Hearing this, Lu Lingjun rolled her eyes at him, feeling that he was beyond saving.

Gu An merely smiled and changed the subject, avoiding further discussion to prevent unnecessary panic among the errand disciples.

But deep down, he was wondering—how would the cultivation world deal with the incoming Grand Ascension Stage demon?

That night.

Gu An arrived at Nianchu Cave Dwelling on Phoenix Mountain.

As soon as he entered, he saw Tian Yao’er crouched in front of a pill furnace, warming herself by the fire. She was hugging her knees, shivering, her head buried in her arms.

He walked toward her, deliberately making his footsteps audible.

Startled, Tian Yao’er lifted her head.

The moment she saw Gu An, her face lit up with joy. Like a gust of wind, she dashed forward and threw herself into his arms.

"What’s wrong?" Gu An didn’t push her away, sensing that she was genuinely afraid. He gently asked, concerned.

Tian Yao’er buried her face against his chest and whispered, "I’m scared... I feel like something terrifying is approaching..."

She clung tightly to Gu An’s waist, afraid he might leave.

Gu An patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don’t be afraid. That thing isn’t heading toward Phoenix Mountain. It’s still far away from us."

Hearing this, Tian Yao’er hesitated and asked cautiously, "Really?"

"Really. Besides, am I not here with you?"

"But... you couldn’t even defeat the Demon Mother. I feel like that terrifying presence is even stronger than her."

"You’re right—I can’t. But I can take you and escape."

"Then promise me... If you ever leave here, you’ll take me with you."

"I promise."

Gu An responded seriously.

Without his intervention, Tian Yao’er would have been devoured by demons long ago. She had no one else to rely on—how could he possibly abandon her?

Yet, her reaction surprised him.

As a demon herself, why was she so terrified?

He pulled her down to sit beside him and asked her to explain her fear.

But no matter how much he pressed, Tian Yao’er stammered and failed to give a clear answer.

Based on the Black Crow Demon Envoy’s memories, Gu An already knew the identity of the approaching demon.

The Six-Headed Flood Dragon, Luo—one of the Seventy-Two Great Demon Kings.

A tyrant ruling over a hundred thousand miles, commanding countless demon soldiers and generals. Ruthless and infamous, even the Black Crow Demon Envoy had to tread carefully around him.

And now, Luo was leading millions of demons south, gathering more forces along the way—including other Demon Kings willing to follow him.

His overwhelming demonic aura had already alarmed the human cultivation world.

The war had begun.