The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor walked steadily through the Third Medicine Valley, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. Having lived for over fifteen million years, he wasn't curious about the details of his environment; he merely glanced indifferently as he advanced.
Noticing Ji Xiaoya's gaze, he turned his head and their eyes met. A faint smile appeared on his face.
As for Gu An, who stood silently behind Ji Xiaoya, he was entirely ignored by the Emperor.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor quickened his steps and stopped before Ji Xiaoya. Bowing with clasped hands, he said, "Your Majesty, it has been a long time."
Your Majesty?
Gu An's heart stirred with curiosity but was soon relieved.
He's here for Ji Xiaoya!
As long as he's not targeting me, that's good!
Ji Xiaoya nodded slightly and said, "Let's talk inside."
She turned toward Gu An and asked, "Do you want to listen in?"
Hearing her question, Gu An immediately shook his head, quickly descending the stairs. As he passed the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, he gave a respectful bow.
The Emperor merely glanced at him and gave a faint nod.
Ji Xiaoya pouted slightly before saying, "Bring him in as well."
With that, she turned and entered the room.
As Gu An moved further away, the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Come in with us," the Emperor commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Gu An sighed inwardly but could only comply.
The two followed Ji Xiaoya into her room. The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor waved his sleeve, casting a mysterious barrier to seal the room.
Gu An moved to sit quietly on a stool at the side.
The Emperor sat at the table opposite Ji Xiaoya, smiling as he asked, "Your Majesty, have you regained your memories?"
Ji Xiaoya replied calmly, "I've recovered some, but not entirely. Why have you sought me out so early?"
Gu An carefully observed Ji Xiaoya, unsure how much of her memory had truly returned or how close she was to reclaiming her full self.
The thought of the young girl who had once clung to him transforming into the lofty Samsara Dao Emperor left Gu An feeling melancholic.
The origins of the Samsara Dao Emperor were extraordinary, entangled with profound karmic ties. Once she restored her true identity, she would undoubtedly leave the Third Medicine Valley.
The arrival of the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor signaled that Ji Xiaoya's departure might not be far off.
Over the years, Gu An had bid farewell to many capable individuals. Each departure brought a touch of sentiment, no matter how prepared he was.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor glanced at Gu An before answering Ji Xiaoya. "A great upheaval has occurred in the Yin-Yang Immortal Domain, so I came early to find you. Earlier, I went to the Sacred Court and retrieved your Soul Jade."
With that, he flipped his right hand, revealing a radiant purple crystal emitting a dim light. The crystal hovered above his palm.
The moment the purple crystal appeared, it flew into Ji Xiaoya's forehead. She closed her eyes, seemingly absorbing it.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor turned his gaze to Gu An, asking, "Do you know her identity?"
Feigning hesitation, Gu An replied, "I knew her in her past life. I've heard that one of her previous incarnations was the Samsara Dao Emperor, but I don't know much about what that entails."
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, having lived so long, must surely know the true age of Ji Xiaoya's original self. Could the Ji family's history possibly stretch back that far?
Or perhaps the earliest Ji Xiaoya wasn't even part of the Ji family. If so, why had she been reincarnated into the Ji family twice in succession?
What secret could the Ji family be hiding to make it so captivating to her?
"The Samsara Dao Emperor's status is far beyond your imagination," the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor said calmly. "She has lived for over twenty million years. Her current reincarnation is merely a trial."
Gu An's face paled, his mouth opening and closing in stunned silence.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor chuckled, seemingly pleased by Gu An's reaction.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
After a moment, Ji Xiaoya opened her eyes. Her gaze had shifted, carrying an aura of cold detachment that reminded Gu An of the Ji Xiaoya who had once caused an uproar in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Her entire demeanor exuded an imposing frostiness.
A few breaths later, her expression and temperament reverted to their usual calm state. Looking at the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, she asked, "Stealing the Soul Jade from the Sacred Court must not have been easy?"
The Emperor replied, "I suffered some injuries, but I'll recover in about ten thousand years."
To him, ten thousand years was but a fleeting moment.
"I'm not ready to leave just yet," Ji Xiaoya said thoughtfully.
The Emperor smiled warmly. "No rush. Staying a few hundred years is fine. I'll use the time to recover. Besides, the fools in the Sacred Court surely wouldn't expect me to remain within the Heavenly Spirirt World."
His eyes glanced briefly at Gu An, as if casually reading all of his karmic ties and discerning his lifespan. In his view, Gu An's cultivation wouldn't allow him to live beyond a thousand years. Once Gu An died, Ji Xiaoya's current reincarnation would naturally come to an end, and he could welcome the true Samsara Dao Emperor.
Gu An held back the urge to tell them they could leave right now. He couldn't bear to speak up after seeing Ji Xiaoya's gaze.
"Alright, I'll step out for a bit," the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor said as he stood and walked toward the door.
He didn't lift the barrier around the room, likely suspecting that Ji Xiaoya might wish to reveal some things to Gu An that couldn't be overheard by others in the valley.
Once the Emperor shut the door behind him, Ji Xiaoya exhaled deeply.
Gu An asked, "Why so tense? Isn't he your subordinate?"
For someone capable of commanding a Divine Thought True Immortal as a follower, the Samsara Dao Emperor's cultivation must be unimaginable.
"He respects my previous incarnation," Ji Xiaoya said with a deep breath. "I've dreamed of his battles—they were terrifying. He's probably even stronger than the Sword Master of Dao."
"Stronger than me? Impossible!"
Gu An couldn't help but think so. After all, his cultivation was one small realm higher than the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's, and the latter couldn't discern his exact level. If Gu An launched a sneak attack, the Emperor would undoubtedly be caught off guard.
Of course, this was merely a passing thought. Gu An had no enmity with the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor and naturally couldn't act rashly.
"Where exactly is the Yin-Yang Immortal Domain?" Gu An asked curiously.
Beyond the heavens lay the Desolation Domain, encircling the Heavenly Spirirt World. Gu An had long suspected that there were even vaster worlds beyond the Desolation Domain—Dark World, Divine Origin World, Primordial World...
Now, hearing about the Yin-Yang Immortal Domain only intensified his curiosity about the world beyond.
How high does the pinnacle of the immortal path truly reach?
Ji Xiaoya's expression turned introspective as she responded, "The Yin-Yang Immortal Domain is far from here. To reach it, you must cross a region teeming with demons and monsters—a perilous journey. I remember dreaming about fighting for many years before finally arriving there. My memories of the Yin-Yang Immortal Domain are fragmented, but I recall it being shrouded in darkness, with no sun in the sky."
Her tone carried a hint of melancholy, as if she were lost in the echoes of distant memories.
Gu An hesitated before asking, "I've always been curious—what's your connection with the Ji family? Why were you born into it again in this life?"
Ji Xiaoya's brows furrowed slightly at the question.
Gu An waited patiently for her answer.
After a while, Ji Xiaoya finally spoke, "The Ji family was founded by one of my adopted sons. I only remember that he died in my place and, before passing, entrusted me with the care of his children. That was over twenty thousand years ago. From then on, the Ji family came to be."
Gu An nodded in understanding, then probed further, "So the Ji family shares your surname?"
"Yes. The surname Ji seems to have significant origins, but I haven't fully recalled them yet," she replied, glancing at him. "Anything else you want to ask?"
Gu An quickly shook his head. "No, nothing more."
The more you ask, the more trouble you invite.
Ji Xiaoya laughed softly, "Relax, we're close enough for such questions. Ask whatever you want; it might expand your horizons. After all, even the higher-ups of Tai Xuan Sect wouldn't have access to this knowledge."
Gu An felt a tinge of unease, as if she were plotting something. Standing up, he excused himself hastily.
Ji Xiaoya watched him leave. Only when the door shut behind him did her smile fade, and her expression turned contemplative.
The addition of the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor brought little change to the Third Medicine Valley. Unlike the Nine-Finger Divine Lord or Shen Xin Zi, the Emperor disdained interacting with mortals. After Gu An arranged a residence for him, he immediately entered seclusion.
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye, and the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor never stepped out of his room. His prolonged absence sparked a slew of rumors among the valley disciples.
One day, Gu An visited Xiao Chuan.
Xiao Chuan, who was busy hosting Gu An, was suddenly interrupted by an urgent matter that required his attention. Gu An waited in the courtyard.
[Name: Gu An]
[Lifespan: 367/638,909,402]
[Physique: Primordial Supreme Dao Body]
[Cultivation: Divine Thought True Immortal Realm, Ninth Layer]
As Gu An reviewed his status panel, he began calculating how long it would take to reach a lifespan of one billion years.
Currently, his annual lifespan income ranged between 1.5 million and 1.8 million years—a figure he considered quite satisfactory.
Once he reached the one-billion-year mark, he planned to undergo comprehensive upgrades and then attempt a breakthrough to the next cultivation level.
His next goal was the ninth layer of the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao.
But how many more years would it take to surpass the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao entirely?
Pouring himself a drink, Gu An snapped back to reality. He overheard the squabbling of Xiao Chuan's descendants.
The quarrel stemmed from an arranged marriage. The current family head wanted to establish ties with another influential clan, but the chosen woman was unwilling, and her parents were hesitant to force her. The head, however, was adamant, sparking a heated dispute.
Gu An merely listened without interfering. Matters like this were none of his concern.
Half an hour later, Xiao Chuan returned.
He sat down, poured himself a drink, and sighed, "These ungrateful brats! If I were to leave one day, the family would surely crumble in their hands."
Gu An chuckled, "Each generation has its own blessings and hardships. You can't solve all of their problems for them."
Xiao Chuan gave him a meaningful look. "Senior Brother, you've always encouraged me to start a family, yet you remain unattached. Was this all a ploy to see me suffer?"
Gu An rolled his eyes. "If you find it so unbearable, why not leave them behind? The world is vast—go wherever you please. If nothing else, come back to the Third Medicine Valley."
Xiao Chuan shook his head, laughing. He had only been jesting. Though life had its frustrations, he had no regrets and cherished what he had.
The two continued drinking, their conversation drifting to the Tai Xuan Sect. Many of Xiao Chuan's descendants were members, and a few had returned to the Xiao family estate, bringing with them tales of the sect. These stories filled Xiao Chuan with nostalgia.
The Tai Xuan Sect had been his home for most of his life. How could he not feel a pang of longing?
As they reminisced, Xiao Chuan suddenly said, "Senior Brother, how about letting one of my family members become your disciple in the future?"
In the past, Xiao Chuan had been reluctant to impose on Gu An. However, Gu An's frequent visits and camaraderie with his family had softened his reservations. He figured it would only strengthen their bond and provide his descendants with a reliable pillar.
"Of course. But I'll choose for myself," Gu An replied with a sly smile.
He already had someone in mind. After all, he could see Xiao Chuan's karmic ties.