Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 342 - 216: Timeless Brilliance, He Alone is Talented

Chapter 342: Chapter 216: Timeless Brilliance, He Alone is Talented

The following day, at dawn.

Thud, thud, thud!

The door was being knocked, waking Gu Wen from his sleep. He groggily opened the door.

Outside, two men with somewhat demonic appearances stood; one with tiger eyes and sharp teeth, dressed in animal hides, remarkably burly. The other wore green clothes adorned with scales, with dragon horns atop his head and vertical pupils, a section of reverse scales visible around his neck.

Were these demons seeking him out?

Gu Wen rubbed his eyes, showing not the slightest fear, his casual demeanor in stark contrast to the days when he would have braced for a mighty battle.

"After such a long time, you’ve fallen into such a state," said the dragon-horned youth as he surveyed the humble abode, with wind leaking through the walls and rotten wood around the doorway letting light through the tile gaps, unable to help but sigh.

In reminiscence, Gu Wen had once been awe-inspiring, overpowering many noble demons of the Devil Clan, putting them, including these two, in a place where they could hardly lift their heads. Yet now, he had fallen to such humble living, alone in this remote and desolate place.

With a smile on his lips, Gu Wen said indifferently, "After so many years, you’ve really turned into a worm, I could slap you dead with one hand."

At these words, the dragon-horned youth was stunned for a moment, then, without getting angry, laughed and said, "You’re still the same as before."

In the past, he would definitely have become angry, but now Gu Wen had battled the Twelve Demon Ancestors and even compelled the Saint Venerable to intervene. He was undoubtedly the unparalleled, unique champion of the world, on par with the Qingcang Immortal.

For a strong man like him, the demons were infinitely tolerant.

"Baidi Xun, Ao Heng, why have you two demons come looking for me?" Gu Wen spoke their identities, both hidden champions of the White Tiger and Azure Dragon clans, equivalent to the likes of Jun Yan and Chi Yu Zi.

Ao Heng especially was only slightly less powerful than the Three Pure Daoist and had also exerted tremendous pressure on Gu Wen. Now, Gu Wen could kill him with one hand.

He answered his own question, "Have you come seeking death?"

"In a sense, we’re seeking death," Ao Heng said candidly. "We have grievances, and you have every reason to kill me. But the simplest, most boring thing in the world is life and death. Indeed, the longer you live, the more chances for transcendence, but now your existence is more precious than transcendence itself."

"Missing out on you, the only ninth level fulfilled one through the ages, I would feel a lifetime of regret."

"I feel the same, but more so, I’ve come to say thanks," Baidi Xun said in a deep voice. "You once said that losing to you should not be a humiliation, but an honor. Now it seems to be truly so."

Then he revealed a level of Daoist cultivation that made it seem as if a White Tiger from an era long past was faintly present in the void.

Nine level foundations, eighth level perfection, in the form of a Demi Immortal.

He had reached the standard of becoming the master of a Grotto Heaven, and even exceeded his own expectations. The existence of Gu Wen had driven him to cultivate diligently for decades, night and day, constantly recalling his battles with Gu Wen, which almost became his Heart Demon.

But when he heard about Gu Wen’s feat of monopolizing the Twelve Demon Ancestors, his Heart Demon disappeared, and all his cultivation bore fruit effortlessly.

This was why he desired to participate in the grand conflicts of the world, for only an existence of the same caliber could serve as a whetstone, and a supreme being like Gu Wen even more so as a furnace. If one survived his challenge and didn’t die, future achievements would undoubtedly be tremendous.

Decades ago, he would have been unwilling, for who wouldn’t want to be the unparalleled under heaven?

But after adopting a calmer mindset, he came to understand the sincere intentions of his own Devil Ancestor.

"...."

Gu Wen’s expression was strange, finding it difficult to comprehend the other party’s thoughts.

Had they risked their lives to bid him farewell? Were they really not afraid he would slap them dead?

"Very well, you’ve said enough now, it’s time to die."

As soon as he spoke, in the eyes of the two, Gu Wen’s figure seemed to grow tens of thousands of feet high, his eyes like the sun and moon, carrying a trace of killing intent.

These two demon champions would definitely achieve great things in the future. According to what Gu Wen knew, most of the Demon Ancestors were half-baked selections made by Jianmu, and many times, one could "become an Immortal" just by being willing to become a puppet.

In the future, they might lead to the deaths of many humans, causing trouble for his master.

Raising his hand, he utilized the Jade Purity Human Immortal Dharma Form, creating a shadow as vast as the heavens.

Ao Heng and the other were so frightened they turned pale, only truly understanding the fear experienced by the Demon Ancestors of the past when faced with Gu Wen’s might.

He hurriedly took out a letter from his bosom and said, "Wait, we’re not enemies, we’re not enemies, we’ve come to deliver a letter."

The next moment, the giant vanished, their vision suddenly returning to the courtyard, where an ordinary man stood in front of the broken house without any peculiarities.

The power to retract and release at will, a return to the truth.

The two exchanged glances, seeing each other’s eyes filled with terror.

Their gap was so enormous that it was undetectable, and they could only tremble in fear once he showed his killing intent.

"You should have said that earlier instead of beating around the bush," said Gu Wen, grabbing the letter and sensing a familiar aura akin to his own, undoubtedly from his own master.

"Why is my master’s letter in your hands?"

His master was the one who had declared humans and demons could not coexist, yet daily interactions didn’t seem so extreme.

To be more precise, Qingcang had an extremely pure hostility toward Jianmu, having said "a human without virtue becomes a demon."

Ao Heng replied, "The Fox Fairy convinced Qingcang Immortal to let bygones be bygones, joining forces with some of the Devil Clan. Among us, many of the Devil Clan did not wish to be controlled by Jianmu any longer, and now with Jianmu greatly weakened, it is a good opportunity."

"Let bygones be bygones?"

Gu Wen’s brows furrowed slightly.

His master had been a complete idealist; how could he possibly let bygones be bygones? If that had been the case, he wouldn’t have died all those years ago.

Opening the letter, beautiful characters came into view.

[Long absent from the celestial estate, ever present in my thoughts]

[Your master is well, having found a solution, worry not....]