When the furious declaration of Yang Xian Emperor echoed throughout the world, it marked the official beginning of an era of great contention.
Having successfully transcended his tribulation, Yang Xian Emperor descended upon the Sacred Court, accompanied by other powerful experts of the Immortal Dynasty. Together, they launched an unprecedented offensive against the Sacred Court.
However, the Sacred Court, blessed with immense fortune, managed to consolidate its qi of destiny into a massive formation that could resist even the might of a Free Immortal, leaving Gu An marveling in awe.
The Dao of Destiny had an incredibly versatile application, rivaling even the profound Dao of Karma. In truth, among the three thousand Daos, there was no absolute strength or weakness—everything depended on the practitioner's mastery.
In the end, the Sacred Court held off Yang Xian Emperor's assault. Forced to retreat, the emperor returned to the Immortal Dynasty and entered seclusion.
Despite surviving the ordeal, the Sacred Court suffered heavy losses, compelling it to pull back its forces scattered across the many domains.
When the world's factions saw that the Sacred Court was not as invincible as previously believed, many sects and empires began to stir.
After all, who wouldn't want to become the next Sacred Court? Their submission to the Sacred Court was born of its strength, not genuine loyalty.
As autumn descended, the entire Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven plunged into turmoil.
During the late autumn, Gu An brought An Xin to Mortal Peak. The atmosphere was tense, and they could immediately sense the weight of anxiety permeating the air.
The world was in chaos. Sects and empires alike were carefully observing the situation. Even those without ambition found themselves compelled to choose a side. This was a once-in-a-million-years upheaval, and every faction was treading cautiously.
After harvesting medicinal herbs at Dingtian Peak, Zhu Xinglan approached Gu An with a message: the main peak had summoned him to a summit of the peak masters. Gu An, without protest, set off to attend.
All the sacred peak lords had gathered. Upon Gu An's arrival, he received numerous greetings and overtures from the others. In their eyes, Gu An was a being whose cultivation far surpassed that of a Wandering Immortal. Naturally, they sought to win his favor.
Once all the peak lords were present, Yongnian Dao Lord began to explain Mortal Peak's precarious situation. The Sacred Court had reached out, requesting Mortal Peak's support in attacking territories under the Immortal Dynasty's control.
The Immortal Dynasty, riding the wave of its victory over the Sacred Court, had expanded aggressively, displaying a ferocious ambition to dominate the world.
Yongnian Dao Lord now sought to deliberate whether Mortal Peak should support the Sacred Court and, if so, how they should go about it.
Gu An remained silent throughout, merely observing.
The majority of the peak lords were against rashly supporting the Sacred Court. The Immortal Dynasty's recent display of strength had left them in awe, especially Yang Xian Emperor, whose dominance had shaken their understanding of power. With Divine Sovereign absent, Yang Xian Emperor appeared to stand unmatched.
Mortal Peak's reluctance to act was understandable. Without Divine Sovereign, the Sacred Court could not hope to prevail against the Immortal Dynasty's two Free Immortals.
The peak lords' discussion lasted for an hour, culminating in a decision to tentatively agree to the Sacred Court's request but to delay any concrete action until further deliberation.
Gu An returned to Dingtian Peak, where he resumed instructing An Xin in cultivation.
It wasn't until dusk that the two finally departed Mortal Peak and began their journey back to Tai Xuan Sect.
As they strolled through the forest surrounding Xuan Valley, Gu An casually observed the nearby bamboo grove while walking forward.
"Master, who do you think will win in the end—Sacred Court or the Immortal Dynasty?" An Xin asked with eager curiosity. Walking beside Gu An, she felt no fear of the impending conflict between these great powers. She trusted her master would shield her from all harm.
"It's hard to say, but one thing is certain: this calamity will last for a long time," Gu An replied, his tone calm, as though he wasn't concerned in the slightest.
An Xin, undeterred, pressed on. "Master, just how powerful is Yang Xian Emperor? I overheard disciples at Mortal Peak calling him the strongest of this era, the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao."
"He is indeed immensely powerful. Even with Hao'er's talent, reaching his level would take at least a million years," Gu An answered.
A million years.
An Xin was left speechless, her imagination running wild at the sheer scale of time.
After recovering from her shock, she began to wonder: would she still be alive a million years later?
Her gaze turned toward her master.
For someone who could so casually mention a span of a million years, just how long had he lived?
To Gu An, a million years likely felt like a decade—or perhaps even less.
No matter how powerful Yang Xian Emperor was, he couldn't possibly rival her master.
As Gu An pondered these thoughts, he noticed Zhu Xi stealing medicinal herbs and putting on a pitiful act, even going so far as to cry before her master. He couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Given time, the Primordial Devouring Origin Physique would undoubtedly grow into a peerless force, surpassing even Yang Xian Emperor.
But Zhu Xi was born too late, in an era of upheaval, where such talent might prove to be both a blessing and a curse.
Wait.
Could this timing be more than coincidence?
Was she born to answer this calamity?
Gu An's eyes glinted with interest as he began to calculate Zhu Xi's destiny.
The Primordial Devouring Origin Physique was notoriously difficult to decipher, yet as a Dao Repository Free Immortal, Gu An could still catch faint traces of her karmic threads.
Time flowed on, marked by the escalating war between the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Court. Smoke and fire consumed the world, and the night skies were lit with countless falling stars.
Refugees from distant lands flooded into Tai Cang Continent, bringing with them countless feuds and grievances, further fanning the flames of conflict.
Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.
In late summer, Gu An stood on the edge of a cliff, shoulder to shoulder with Lü Jiujia, gazing out at the horizon.
Lu Jiujia's hair had turned completely white, and the aura of decay around him grew heavier with each passing year. The effects of the Rejuvenation Pill had long since worn off.
"These years, the atmosphere within the Tai Xuan Sect has grown increasingly tense. Even the sky no longer seems as blue as before. It's always so overcast," Lu Jiujia remarked with a sigh.
Above them, layers of dark clouds spread across the sky. Though they didn't block out the heavens entirely, there was no sign of rain or wind either.
Gu An responded, "Indeed, it's truly an eventful autumn. Tell me, do you think we've lived fortunate lives or unfortunate ones? We've faced countless calamities, and yet, with the Tai Xuan Sect's protection, we've managed to come through unscathed."
Lu Jiujia chuckled. "Of course, we've been fortunate. Even our predecessors probably thought their lives were riddled with hardships. Everyone believes they weren't born in the best of times."
"Surprising to hear you say that," Gu An glanced at Lu Jiujia, his tone tinged with approval.
As he looked at Lu Jiujia, whose life seemed to be nearing its end, Gu An's thoughts drifted to Xiao Chuan.
Why hasn't Xiao Chuan reincarnated yet? Could it be that he has entered the cycle of rebirth in another world?
The thought of the Immortal Dynasty summoning so many powerful celestial spirits from the whirlpool of reincarnation only made Gu An more certain that the Reincarnation Whirlpool was far from ordinary.
"That's all thanks to you, Senior Brother," Lu Jiujia shook his head, smiling faintly. "Besides, I won't live much longer. The tribulations in my life were mostly of my own making. I have no one to blame. In any case, I'm content with the life I've lived."
Gu An snorted. "Why is it that all of you, when your time comes, have no regrets left? Are you all trying to avoid burdening me?"
He had already seen many people off. Each one had left with a smile, leaving him with little sadness. Yet, on occasion, the memories would surface, filling him with nostalgia.
"Haha, Senior Brother, don't overthink it," Lu Jiujia laughed heartily before continuing with sincerity. "Perhaps, under your care, we truly lived good lives. We've all ventured out into the world and witnessed its dangers. It's because of that that we cherish the lives we have now. You've done more than enough. No one is responsible for another's life."
Gu An chuckled. "You make it sound so noble. In truth, I'm just selfish. I don't want to end up old and alone. If all of you are gone, how lonely would that be?"
Lu Jiujia replied with a laugh, "Everyone must die eventually. It's inevitable."
"True enough. Let's talk about the Great Sun Divine Sect. Who knows, they might strike at any moment."
"Impossible! The Broken Sea Domain is under the Sacred Court's protection. Can the Great Sun Divine Sect really be stronger than the Great Cold Demon Sect of the past?" Lu Jiujia frowned. Recently, rumors about the Great Sun Divine Sect had been rampant. Even mentions of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm had begun to penetrate the knowledge of Tai Xuan Sect disciples.
All the speculation pointed to one thing: the Broken Sea Domain was about to face an unprecedented crisis. For the Tai Cang Dynasty, located within the Broken Sea Domain, survival seemed unlikely.
Gu An grinned. "Why don't we place a wager? If the Great Sun Divine Sect comes, will they be able to defeat Sword Master of the Dao?"
Lu Jiujia raised an eyebrow. "I bet they won't stand a chance against Sword Master of the Dao!"
Gu An's smile froze. "No, that won't do. Let's draw lots to decide the order."
"No."
"You brat, feeling rebellious now? Don't think I won't discipline you just because you're old!"
"Ah, but the disciples are watching. We must maintain the dignity of the senior disciple! How else will the next generation of senior disciples command respect?"
The two began to bicker, their laughter echoing.
Amid a range of towering mountains, a series of pavilions was nestled within a forest.
A young boy knelt in a courtyard, his face set with defiance. His gaze remained fixed on the closed gates before him.
"No matter how long you kneel, I will not hand over the silk pouch left by your ancestor," a woman's voice emerged from beyond the gates.
The boy gritted his teeth. "Why not? My father and grandfather's blood debts—are you really going to ignore them? They were your kin too!"
"Precisely because of that, I cannot let you throw your life away. What's so wrong about living as a mortal? Stepping into the cultivation world will only bring ruin."
"Living as a mortal means being nothing more than fish on a butcher's block, at the mercy of cultivators!"
The boy's voice grew louder and more desperate, nearly breaking into a shout by the end.
Inside the gate, the mysterious woman fell silent.
After a long pause, she spoke again, her tone laced with sorrow. "The bloodline of the An family is cursed. Your ancestors all met tragic ends. Even my son didn't live past thirty. The deeper you delve into cultivation, the worse the outcome. Are you still determined to proceed?"
"The silk pouch left by the ancestors might be the key to resolving this!"
"It's useless."
"I refuse to believe that! Just hand it over to me. Let me decide for myself. Someone has to try!"
The boy's voice trembled. His prolonged kneeling had sapped his strength, and his blood surged erratically as he grew emotional.
Bang—
The gates suddenly opened, and a silk pouch flew out, landing before the boy.
The boy's face lit up with joy. He immediately picked up the pouch and opened it, revealing a single piece of paper inside. His hands trembled as he unfolded the paper to read its contents.
On it were written two words:
Accept Fate.
The boy stood as if struck by lightning, his eyes wide and uncomprehending. He was utterly stunned.
"Why… why…"
He muttered to himself, his fists clenching tightly around the paper. His nails dug into his palms, drawing blood, staining the crumpled note.