Chi Jiuxiao noticed An Hao's nervousness. With a casual wave, he took out a scroll and tossed it to An Hao.
An Hao instinctively caught it, then heard Chi Jiuxiao say, "Take a look. This is a divine ability I stumbled upon."
Without further explanation, Chi Jiuxiao sat cross-legged and began to meditate, channeling his energy to heal.
An Hao hesitated for a moment before finally inserting his divine sense into the scroll. Moments later, his expression changed drastically, his hand clutching the scroll trembling uncontrollably.
He withdrew his divine sense, then reached into his storage bag, producing an eighth-grade spiritual treasure—a vivid crimson flower. With utmost care, he presented it to Chi Jiuxiao.
Chi Jiuxiao extended his hand, and with a single motion, the spiritual flower flew into his grasp. Rising to his feet, he retrieved a large cauldron, a full ten feet tall, and threw the flower inside along with several other rare medicinal herbs.
After kindling a flame beneath the cauldron, Chi Jiuxiao pulled out a small vial and began pouring water into the cauldron. The vial seemed to contain a boundless reservoir, its contents flowing endlessly.
Once the cauldron was filled, he capped the vial and placed it back into his storage artifact. Then, turning to An Hao, he said, "You can leave now."
With that, he leapt into the air and landed inside the cauldron himself.
An Hao hesitated, choosing not to leave. Instead, he sat beneath a nearby tree, beginning to meditate and contemplate the divine ability Chi Jiuxiao had given him.
"Nine Transformations of the Soaring Dragon…"
Merely reading the description of the divine ability in the scroll filled An Hao with excitement and passion.
Days passed.
Seven days later, Chi Jiuxiao leapt out of the cauldron. As he landed, steam rose from his body, his damp robes drying instantly under his overwhelming spiritual energy.
He shrank the cauldron to a small size and stored it away. Then, tipping it over, he used his power to cleanse the remaining residue within the cauldron. His gaze fell toward the distance, through the gaps in the trees, where a green dragon writhed in the sky just beyond the forest.
"This boy's comprehension is exceptional," Chi Jiuxiao thought to himself, astonished. In just a few days, An Hao had not only understood the divine ability but successfully practiced it.
Such talent was rare, even within the illustrious Star Sea Sect.
After storing the cauldron, Chi Jiuxiao disappeared from where he stood, reappearing in the sky to block the path of the green dragon.
The dragon, measuring thirty feet long, was not large, but its aura was imposing. Upon seeing Chi Jiuxiao, the dragon transformed back into An Hao, his excitement evident.
"This divine ability is incredible!" An Hao exclaimed. "When I transform, it feels like I become a true dragon, and my speed increases dramatically!"
Chi Jiuxiao smirked, pride flickering across his face. "Of course. I am Chi Jiuxiao, wielder of the Dragon-Slaying Spear. How could I deceive you? Boy, the value of this divine ability far surpasses that of the eighth-grade spiritual herb you gave me. You should be thanking me."
Hearing this, An Hao quickly bowed in gratitude, offering his sincere thanks.
Chi Jiuxiao, though smiling, couldn't help feeling a tinge of bitterness. He had assumed that even if he gave An Hao the Nine Transformations of the Soaring Dragon, it would be too advanced for the boy to master, allowing him to appear generous without any real loss.
He never expected this outcome.
Chi Jiuxiao studied An Hao intently. "Boy, join me in the Star Sea Sect. The Tai Xuan Sect is too small for someone like you. With your talent, you could reach the Mahayana Realm within five hundred years in the Star Sea Sect."
An Hao furrowed his brows slightly.
Was the Mahayana Realm within five hundred years really that remarkable? He had always believed his talent was unparalleled, so he didn't see it as an insurmountable feat. After all, even Xuan Tianyi was only a few centuries old.
Chi Jiuxiao continued to boast about the Star Sea Sect, listing its unparalleled strengths. When he mentioned Xuan Tianyi, An Hao's interest was piqued.
He had a close relationship with Xuan Tianyi, and in Chi Jiuxiao's narrative, Xuan Tianyi was merely another talented disciple of the Star Sea Sect. The only reason Chi Jiuxiao mentioned him was because Xuan Tianyi also hailed from the Tai Xuan Sect.
"Forget it. I won't join the Star Sea Sect. I want to stay in the Tai Xuan Sect," An Hao said, shaking his head.
Chi Jiuxiao didn't press the issue. After all, he wasn't the Star Sea Sect's sect leader. Extending the invitation was already enough.
"What brings you to this area?" Chi Jiuxiao asked.
An Hao replied honestly, "I was training when I heard rumors about the Immortal Treasure, so I decided to investigate."
Chi Jiuxiao chuckled. "Want to team up? We can work together, but when the time comes, it's every man for himself."
An Hao hesitated. "Can I really be of any help to you with my cultivation level?"
"I'm not too familiar with this land. You can brief me on what's been happening here, and I'll guide you in mastering the Nine Transformations of the Soaring Dragon. How about that?"
"Thank you, Senior!" An Hao agreed eagerly. He had stayed behind precisely to learn more from Chi Jiuxiao.
The two then flew off in the same direction.
As autumn settled in, the sweltering heat of the land gradually dissipated. The influence of the Immortal Treasure continued to grow, drawing more cultivators northward in search of fortune.
Gu An, however, remained unaffected, continuing his peaceful and entertaining routine.
Occasionally, Gu An would visit the Outer Gate City to chat with his friends about the storms stirred by the Immortal Treasure.
One particular day, Ye Lan came looking for Gu An, bringing more tales of the cultivation world.
"The Tian Wei Dynasty's sect was flattened overnight by a great cultivator from overseas, throwing the cultivation world into disarray. Luckily, Tai Xuan Sect has the protection of the Sword Master of Dao, keeping those overseas cultivators at bay," Ye Lan remarked with a sigh.
That battle had occurred late at night, and Gu An had sensed it. However, he had chosen not to intervene.
After all, the Tian Wei Dynasty had no ties to him, so why bother? Incidents like this were common in the cultivation world—one large sect with hundreds of thousands of disciples toppled overnight by a single cultivator at the Mahayana Realm.
Gu An advised her, "You'd best stay within the sect and focus on cultivating. Don't go wandering about."
Ye Lan nodded. "I'm stationed at the Law Enforcement Hall now. The work is mostly mundane, and I spend most of my time taking pills and cultivating spiritual energy."
At 101 years old, Ye Lan's lifespan limit was only 130 years, leaving her with little time.
Gu An, apart from tending to his garden, spent much of his time urging her to cultivate. Unlike Xiao Chun, Ye Lan was diligent and eager to improve, so Gu An was willing to help her.
Their conversation shifted to Zhen Qin, who had recently gone to the demon lands with elders and senior disciples. Tai Xuan Sect had reportedly discovered a secret realm there—a rare opportunity.
"That girl is soaring to new heights. She might become a great cultivator of Tai Xuan Sect someday. To think, she was just a reckless kid when she first came to the Inner Sect. She was rash, brash, and spoke without thinking," Ye Lan mused, reminiscing about decades past.
Gu An listened intently, then teased her. "Feeling envious? How about I practice Reverse Life Divine Art and pass my cultivation to you before I die?"
Ye Lan rolled her eyes. "Not interested. Without you, what's the point of living?"
As they talked, the teacups on the table began to tremble, ripples forming in the tea.
Ye Lan frowned as she noticed the disturbance.
The ground beneath them began to shake, startling cultivators across the city.
Gu An's gaze shifted to the distance, toward the wilderness deep within the continent, where a colossal city was emerging from the earth. Spanning over a thousand miles, the city rose amidst a blinding cloud of dust, its sheer scale awe-inspiring.
That's…
Gu An could feel the immense power radiating from the city. It wasn't just a structure; it was a treasure—a treasure of unimaginable might.
His mind conjured a single name.
Immortal Treasure!
The prohibitions surrounding the city were not only advanced but extraordinarily intricate. Gu An even sensed traces of karmic laws intertwined within.
A city spanning a thousand miles, with walls towering over a hundred feet, housing countless buildings, palaces, and towers resembling mountain peaks—its ancient and desolate appearance spoke of its journey through the river of time.
As the city emerged, cultivators across the continent flocked toward it, including Chi Jiuxiao, An Hao, Li Ya, and Zhang Buku. Even distant figures like Zhen Qin joined the gathering.
"I'm going to take a look," Ye Lan said abruptly, leaping into the air and summoning her flying sword as she departed.
Gu An remained seated, lifting his teacup to continue sipping tea while observing the commotion.
He noticed a group of Seven Stars Spirit Realm cultivators entering the city first. The moment they crossed the threshold, their figures disappeared, and their presences became faint and indistinct.
Even with Gu An's cultivation at the ninth level of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm, he could barely sense them. Lesser cultivators wouldn't detect anything at all.
No matter how many cultivators entered, the city remained silent. There were no signs of activity or life within.
Suddenly, a thunderous and ancient voice echoed across the heavens, reaching every corner of the continent:
"The Mysterious Divine City has opened. All beings under the heavens may enter to seek their immortal fate!"
A voice of such magnitude could only belong to a Wandering Immortal!
Gu An raised an eyebrow. The Six-Star Cave had only one Wandering Immortal, but now a second had emerged. Could the death of True Lord Shenhun have been discovered?
A short while later, Ye Lan returned.
"It seems the commotion originated far away. This Mysterious Divine City sounds extraordinary. I'd love to see it for myself," Ye Lan said longingly as she took her seat across from Gu An.
Gu An shook his head. "Such immortal fates aren't meant for cultivators like us."
"I know. Don't worry, I won't go courting death. With my cultivation, I'd probably die before even reaching the city," Ye Lan said with a wry smile.
Gu An offered no words of comfort, for what she said was the truth.
After spending another half an hour with Ye Lan, Gu An finally left despite her protests.
In the days that followed, tales of the Mysterious Divine City spread throughout Tai Xuan Sect.
Shen Zhen visited Gu An, bringing with her a wealth of stories about the legendary city.
"I once heard a senior say that the Mysterious Divine City is an ancient celestial city, elusive and mysterious. Every time it appears, it reshapes the heavens and the earth. Our Dao Tian Sect ancestors once uncovered ancient texts mentioning the Mysterious Divine City, describing it as a legend older than time itself," Shen Zhen said excitedly.
Gu An chuckled. "Are you planning to join the commotion?"
Every day, Gu An observed the city. By now, over ten thousand beings had entered, yet not a single one had emerged.
Shen Zhen nodded. "I'm planning to take a look. I won't go inside, just observe from the outside and sketch its appearance. Are you coming? The Deputy Sect Master and Supreme Elders are leading the way."
Gu An shook his head. "Count me out. If something goes wrong and I die there, it's not worth it."
"Don't talk nonsense! Are you cursing me?" Shen Zhen glared at him.
Despite her repeated efforts to persuade him, Gu An remained resolute, forcing her to give up.
After Shen Zhen left, Gu An descended to his garden to harvest herbs.
Meanwhile, his divine sense observed Li Ya and Zhang Buku entering the city.
Another figure was also on her way to the Mysterious Divine City: Ji Xiaoyu.