The Most Powerful Bodyguard

Lin An hurriedly supported Yang Yan to prevent his injuries from worsening.

Once Yang Yan was sent back to the ground, those who survived the battle surrounded him, fearing he might suffer further harm.

The Soul Shepherd was assisted over by the Marquis of Nanchuan and immediately used Spiritual Sense to assess Yang Yan’s injuries.

After a cautious probe, his face involuntarily changed, shocked by Yang Yan’s terrifying resilience.

Yang Yan’s Spiritual Power was exhausted, his body nearly shattered, although outwardly it appeared slightly intact.

Yet even so, his hands were already fractured, and his internal organs were cracked.

The Soul Shepherd sighed and said to everyone, "The calamity that swept across Wandering Dragon Star is finally over, but the price was too great. All Supreme Elders are heavily injured, nearly all seven Sect Leaders perished, and the fallen Golden Core cultivators were... alas, there are countless other cultivators and millions of mortals."

The Soul Shepherd gently patted his shoulder, comforting him, "However, this calamity also heralded the emergent age of cultivation. Consider the newly risen Golden Core and even Nascent Soul cultivators; they are our hope for a more prosperous future!"

With that, the Soul Shepherd weakly waved his hand and said to everyone, "Let’s first clear the battlefield, and after resting, rebuild our world. Injured cultivators should seek healing first."

After speaking, he solemnly walked towards the dilapidated Ancient Abyss Sect.

Everyone exchanged glances and, with heavy hearts, went to heal themselves and left some lightly injured to clear up the battlefield.

Nascent Void then took the slumbering Yang Yan to retreat for closed-door cultivation...

Spring passes, autumn comes, flowers bloom, leaves fall.

A decade swiftly passed.

The once ruins of the city were rebuilt, but the effects of the calamity had not yet faded.

The sparse population cannot recover in a mere ten years.

Thus, every corner of the Wandering Dragon Heart feels the emptiness born of solitude.

The seven major sects, through ten years of recuperation and mutual progress, finally restored a fraction of their former glory...

In a secluded area behind Ancient Abyss Sect’s mountain, Yang Yan sat in meditation.

The wounds from those years were all healed, and there was even progress.

He felt himself just a step away from the Nascent Soul Stage, already in the Half-step Nascent Soul realm.

This peculiar feeling made Yang Yan sigh.

Gazing at the distant horizon, he muttered to himself, "It’s been ten years since that calamity, and now I’m stuck at the half-step Nascent Soul stage. Continuing this secluded meditation yields no progress. Perhaps I should venture out, and it’s also time to return to Earth."

Yang Yan made up his mind and turned to the Nascent Void beside him, asking, "How is the Celestial Demon King you sealed being refined now?"

"I completely refined it a year ago and crafted a small artifact for you in passing."

Nascent Void spoke while taking out a treasure.

It was a marble-sized bead of black and gold, predominantly black with golden patterns floating on its surface, appearing very exquisite.

Yang Yan played with it for a while, chuckling, "What use does this little thing serve?"

Nascent Void lightly laughed, "This is formed by the evil energy and Wish Power of the Celestial Demon King. It can rival a full-powered strike of the late Divinity Transformation stage. When used, just toss it towards the enemy."

Yang Yan was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t conceal the joy in his heart.

It’s truly a good thing, equivalent to an extra life-saving card for himself.

Just then, a cultivator dressed as a disciple came to find Yang Yan.

Upon seeing Yang Yan, he reported anxiously, "Alliance Leader, Sect Leader Lin An has urgent matters to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yan immediately spoke solemnly, "Where is Sect Leader Lin An now?"

The disciple quickly responded, "Sect Leader Lin An is in the main hall, discussing matters with the elders."

Yang Yan immediately flew away, and the disciple only felt a breeze as the Alliance Leader Yang vanished.

At this time, the atmosphere in the main hall was solemn, with only Sect Leader Lin An’s grave voice echoing, "Half a month ago, someone sent word that there has been an anomaly at the Demon Cave recently, so I dispatched a team led by Golden Core cultivators to investigate."

"A few days ago, the dispatched cultivators reported that the sky above the Demon Cave has been swirling with evil energy, ominous and eerie sounds intermittently echoing. As they drew near, they even heard cries for help from the Demon Cave."

Lin An paused for a moment, scanning everyone’s faces.

Seeing the somber expressions, he could not help but frown and continued, "When they returned, several strands of evil energy emerged from the Demon Cave, pulling some of them into the cave."

"Seeing the situation turn grim, the Golden Core cultivator immediately returned with the remaining people to our base. What do the elders think has happened at the Demon Cave?"

After Lin An finished, the elders remained silent for a long time.

At this moment, Yang Yan entered the hall.

Observing the worried faces and heavy atmosphere, he chuckled, "Why the concern, elders? Why the long faces? Perhaps the sect’s cultivators are stubborn and unwilling to learn, eh? Haha!"

Seeing Yang Yan’s arrival, the elders stood up to greet him respectfully, "Greetings, Alliance Leader."

Lin An’s expression notably brightened seeing this.

Unable to resist standing, he cupped his hands and said, "Alliance Leader, please have a seat. Did you break through to the Nascent Soul Realm? Allow me to explain today’s predicament."

Yang Yan replied, "I haven’t broken through yet, but I owe it to Sect Leader to explain the recent events to me."

Lin An felt a pang of regret hearing Yang Yan hadn’t broken through.

Quickly regaining composure, he began detailing the events concerning the Demon Cave to Yang Yan.

...

As Lin An narrated, Yang Yan soon grasped the whole story, his expression growing increasingly serious, his brows furrowing.

Once Sect Leader Lin An finished, Yang Yan sank into prolonged contemplation.

After a while, Yang Yan came back to his senses.

Gazing at the expectant eyes of everyone, he spoke somberly to the assembly, "The remnant spirit of the Celestial Demon King has been refined by me, but the Demon Cave is an ancient relic, and it houses more than just the Celestial Demon King. There are numerous other deceased Great Power remnants sealed within. Without visiting, I cannot say for certain what may happen, but I fear the seals could be compromised, leading to other demonic beings emerging, which would surely herald another catastrophe for Wandering Dragon Heart, leaving beings in devastation."

Upon hearing these words, everyone started whispering among themselves, faces filled with worry.

Yang Yan turned to Lin An, saying, "Sect Leader, I must go to the Demon Cave to investigate. I ask that you convene the other sects immediately, and prepare for battle, just in case."

Lin An quickly replied, "It’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Let me gather the sect leaders, and if needed, call upon the Supreme Elder to hold the frontline, only then can we go safely."