A thousand years!
It sounded like an eternity, but in the Primordial World, it was no more than a flick of the fingers.
On the path of cultivation, anyone who reached the Earth Immortal realm could enjoy everlasting life, with no limit to their lifespan.
Time, one could say, was the least consequential thing of all.
Over those thousand years, winds rose and clouds surged throughout the world.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Di Jun and Tai Yi wielded the authority of the Demon Court, ruling over countless billions of demons. Their power blazed like the sun at its zenith, and their fortune flourished.
At the foot of Mount Pangu, the Witch Clan held sway, proclaiming themselves the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Their physical might dominated the universe, and their power was unrivaled.
Clashes frequently erupted between the two races, with great battles raging day after day, striking terror into all living beings.
Yet no matter how turbulent the outside world became, it could scarcely disturb the peace and tranquility of a Saint's lineage.
More than a hundred thousand Interception Sect disciples cultivated on Golden Ao Island, untouched by karmic entanglements.
Within the Interception Sect, however, Gu Changqing's name was now on everyone's lips.
The disciples still delighted in recounting everything that had happened during the sermon, telling the stories over and over without tiring of them.
One day, inside Biyou Palace.
Tongtian's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open.
In an instant, sword intent swirled within his gaze, shattering the space before him.
Tongtian emerged from seclusion with a hearty laugh and murmured to himself:
"Ha ha, excellent!"
"Through this seclusion, my mastery of the Sword Dao has advanced another step."
"This time, I truly must thank my disciple Gu Changqing."
Had any other cultivator heard those words, their jaw would surely have dropped in disbelief.
Why would a majestic Saint ever need to thank someone else?
Much less an Outer Sect disciple of his own.
But Tongtian knew perfectly well that at his level, even the most negligible improvement required an opportunity of unfathomable profundity.
A single remark from Gu Changqing had spared him thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, of years of cultivation. The credit was immense.
With that thought, Tongtian immediately gave an order:
"Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal, summon my disciple Gu Changqing at once. Have him come to Biyou Palace to meet his master."
Hearing this, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal, one of the Seven Attendant Immortals, appeared. He immediately bowed in acknowledgment and departed to carry out the command.
At the same time, thoughts could not help stirring in his mind.
The first thing Master Tongtian did after emerging from seclusion was summon Gu Changqing.
It seemed that fellow really was about to soar into the heavens in a single flight.
Elsewhere!
Inside Gu Changqing's cave abode.
To everyone else, Gu Changqing appeared to be drunk into unconsciousness.
But over those thousand years, the power of the wine had transformed into surging magical power and Dao resonance, flowing through his flesh, bones, sinews, and every meridian in his body.
His aura had climbed steadily as well.
The richer the wine's power, the longer Gu Changqing needed to digest it.
Likewise, the improvement after digesting it was all the more astonishing.
Just as Tongtian emerged from seclusion, Gu Changqing, who had been dead drunk for a thousand years, slowly awakened as well.
"Myriad Swords Saint Art..."
He murmured the words as though talking in his sleep.
During this thousand-year drunken slumber, not only had his cultivation advanced steadily, but his understanding of the Sword Dao had also deepened.
In addition, Gu Changqing had comprehended a divine Sword Dao technique called the "Myriad Swords Saint Art."
Once cultivated to its pinnacle, it allowed him to borrow all the sword intent between heaven and earth with a single thought and make it his own.
Just imagine-how many billions of swords did the living beings of the world carry?
If he could seize all their sword intent, it would surely become a supreme force capable of shaking heaven and earth and grinding the universe to pieces.
Its power was truly unparalleled.
Seeing Gu Changqing awaken, Duobao and the others were delighted.
"Junior Brother Changqing?"
Golden Spirit Holy Mother called softly.
But Gu Changqing seemed not to hear her.
He rose with vacant eyes, his expression blank and lifeless.
Instinctively, he reached out and summoned a jar of fine wine from the depths of his cave abode.
Breaking its clay seal, Gu Changqing gulped it down, draining the entire jar in just a few swallows.
Every movement flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.
Only then did the light and vitality gradually return to his empty, dull eyes.
Everyone watched, frozen like wooden chickens.
What was that supposed to be?
He had only just awakened, and he drained an entire jar of wine?
No!
Rather, only after drinking that jar of wine had Gu Changqing finally awakened for real.
Could it be that only wine could truly clear his head?
Was this what "sobering up" really meant?
Everyone: ...
Gu Changqing certainly had a unique way of waking up.
Still, no one said anything. They were already growing accustomed to the bizarre.
This fellow had dared to carry a jar of fine wine even during a Saint's sermon.
What he was doing now was merely routine.
With his mind fully clear again, Gu Changqing casually glanced around and only then noticed Duobao and the others.
"Senior Brother Duobao? Senior Sister Jin Ling?"
"Senior brothers and sisters, why are you in my cave abode?"
Gu Changqing asked, somewhat taken aback.
At his words, everyone immediately felt a little embarrassed.
After all, entering Gu Changqing's cave abode while he was sound asleep had hardly been proper etiquette.
Duobao gave an awkward chuckle and replied:
"Heh, we had intended to discuss the scriptures and the Dao with you, Junior Brother, but we never expected you to stay drunk for a thousand years."
"Besides... the divine resonance of the Sword Dao in your cave abode far surpasses that outside."
"So the few of us stayed here to cultivate for a while."
Duobao offered his explanation, his voice brimming with excitement.
Throughout those thousand years inside Gu Changqing's cave abode, the divine resonance of the Sword Dao had flowed without end, as vast and deep as an abyss.
Even Duobao, the strongest among them, had gained profound insights and benefited greatly.
Zhao Gongming, the Three Xiao, and the others had also comprehended deeper mysteries of the Sword Dao.
Everyone had gained a great deal, and they now felt even closer to Gu Changqing.
Hearing his explanation, Gu Changqing did not mind. Instead, he said with a hint of disappointment:
"Mm... I thought you had some fine wine you wanted to share with me, Senior Brother."
Everyone was at a loss for words.
Their little Junior Brother Changqing truly could not say three sentences without bringing up wine.
Unfortunately, none of them shared his passion.
Just then, a voice rang out from outside the cave abode.
"Junior Brother Gu Changqing, Master Tongtian summons you to Biyou Palace."
Needless to say, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal had arrived.
Hearing this, Gu Changqing froze. Only after a moment did he seem to finally grasp what Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal meant.
Duobao and the others immediately rose, their expressions solemn.
"Master has emerged from seclusion?"
"How strange. Master was in seclusion for only a thousand years this time. Such a short period is rare."
"Since Master has summoned him, let us hurry there with Junior Brother Changqing."
As they spoke, everyone prepared to head to Biyou Palace at once.
Gu Changqing, however, remained entirely unruffled, showing no inclination to move.
"Mm... let me bring a few jars of fine wine, and then I'll go to Biyou Palace."
With that, Gu Changqing strolled leisurely into the depths of his cave abode to fetch the wine stored there.
Duobao and the others were dumbfounded, standing rooted to the spot.
Outside the cave abode, Gu Changqing's response nearly made Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal cough up a mouthful of blood.
This was a summons from a Saint.
Even Duobao and the others would not dare delay in the slightest.
Yet Gu Changqing remained utterly carefree, without the least hint of urgency.
And what did he mean by bringing a few jars of fine wine?
Was this fellow planning to keep drinking inside Biyou Palace?
For a moment, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal wore a peculiar expression.
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