Mo Bian'an's memories were vast and intricate. The most significant revelation for Gu An was her profound understanding of the Reincarnation Tribulation.
The Reincarnation Tribulation indeed allowed one to reincarnate across time and space, even into the past. However, whether in the past or future, the original body's power could not intervene. If the reincarnated body died or used the original body's powers, the Heavenly Dao would forcibly eject them back to their proper time.
This brought Gu An back to Ji Xiaoya's mysterious use of innate Dao runes in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, which was followed by her abrupt disappearance. It seemed she had been expelled by the Reincarnation Tribulation.
This insight deepened Gu An's understanding of the Heavenly Dao.
The Heavenly Dao resembled a vast amalgamation of rules and principles—meticulous and overwhelmingly authoritative.
Gu An put these thoughts aside and surveyed the grand hall before him. The space was immense yet carried an eerie atmosphere of disparity. Each massive stone pillar was inlaid with various unique spirit stones, their glow adding to the hall's foreboding ambiance.
This was the Demon City. According to Mo Bian'an's memories, similar Demon Cities were scattered throughout the Desolation Domain. Although Mo Bian'an lacked a higher commanding figure, all these Demon Cities were remnants of the once-dominant Ultimate Demon Realm. At its peak, this realm aimed to consume the Grand Heaven and Earth. However, its Realm Lord was eventually slain by an enigmatic figure, causing the once-mighty realm to fracture. Mo Bian'an had not yet reached her prime during that time.
Each Demon City housed millions of demons. While they resembled celestial demons to ordinary beings of the Grand Heaven and Earth, in the Desolation Domain, they were but one of many factions. They coexisted uneasily with the forces of the Huangquan Demon Emperor, adhering to a tacit non-interference agreement.
Gu An decided to root them out entirely. These demons posed a constant threat to travelers from the Grand Heaven and Earth who strayed near the Demon Cities. Mo Bian'an herself had attacked passing Free Immortals, although most of her targets escaped by leveraging their abilities.
One such victim was the Ancient Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Dynasty.
By midday, Gu An had returned to the Third Medicine Valley.
He opened his attribute panel to review his progress.
[Name: Gu An]
[Lifespan: 650 / 1,954,210,604]
[Physique: Hunyuan Refining Void Physique]
[Cultivation: Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm, Perfected Stage]
Slaying the million demons within the Demon City had yielded nearly five hundred million years of lifespan—a monumental gain from a single endeavor.
His lifespan now approached two billion years, filling Gu An with satisfaction.
More importantly, he had resolved a lingering threat to his peace of mind.
Along his way through the valley, Gu An greeted disciples with a warm smile, leaving them awestruck and flattered.
The Third Medicine Valley now housed over three thousand disciples. Even those who had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm often chose to stay. With the Tai Xuan Sect's rise in power, the valley's resources and benefits had surpassed even those of many inner sect halls.
The disciples revered Gu An not just for his cultivation and status but for his humility and approachability. Stories of his fondness for mundane books further endeared him to them. Unlike some figures of power, he was neither tyrannical nor exploitative—a fact universally praised among the disciples.
When Gu An reached his own pavilion, Ji Xiaoya suddenly appeared, her expression curious and slightly amused.
"What now?" Gu An asked, feigning exasperation.
"The deathly aura around you has vanished. Who did you meet this morning?" Ji Xiaoya asked pointedly.
Glancing around as if to check for eavesdroppers, Gu An stepped closer and whispered conspiratorially, "I was so scared by your warning that I sought out the Sword Master of the Dao. He performed a ritual to protect me. The cost was three hundred years of my lifespan."
Ji Xiaoya initially believed him, but the last sentence made her roll her eyes in exasperation.
"A mortal remains a mortal. Do you think someone like the Sword Master of the Dao would care about your measly three hundred years of lifespan? Your imagination is laughable."
Ji Xiaoya's sharp tongue was precisely what Gu An had aimed for.
"You look down on me? Just wait—thirty years east, thirty years west. Don't underestimate a poor youth!"
"Make it thirty thousand instead."
"Get inside. You're asking for it!"
Gu An pushed Ji Xiaoya into her room. She didn't resist, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
Half an hour later, Gu An exited her pavilion.
Passing by, An Xin gave him a knowing look, raising her eyebrows suggestively. Gu An returned the gesture with a mock glare.
Under a nearby tree, the Blood Prison Saint observed the exchange and sighed inwardly. "Master truly enjoys life. When my thousand-year sentence is over, I'll have to savor the local culture of the Heavenly Spirit World myself."
The spring breeze brought a refreshing coolness, the earth awakening with renewed vitality. Even the oppressive clouds shrouding the Tai Cang Continent seemed to dissipate somewhat.
Under the shadow of the Sword Master of the Dao's reputation, the Tai Xuan Sect continued to thrive. However, the world beyond grew increasingly turbulent.
Every moment, battles erupted between cultivators of the Immortal Dynasty and Sacred Courts, dragging more regions and factions into their conflict.
Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
Standing by a window, Gu An watched Long Qing leave the valley alongside Shen Xin Zi. Apart from his earlier trip to the Realm of Nine Abysses, this was Long Qing's first time leaving the Tai Xuan Sect. Though the training would take place on the Tai Cang Continent, the boy's excitement was evident.
"Reluctant to see him go?" Ji Xiaoya's teasing voice floated up from the courtyard below.
"How could I be?" Gu An replied with a chuckle. "I was just reminded of some old acquaintances."
"Do you wish for the people around you to stay by your side forever?" Ji Xiaoya's voice carried a trace of teasing.
"Not really. If they leave, so be it. New people will always come. I'm just amazed at how fast they grow. In the blink of an eye, they're already able to stand on their own."
"Hmm? What's this about new people? I leave, and then there are new ones?"
"What are you even saying? You haven't even outlasted the old ones yet."
The pavilion trembled lightly. Outside in the courtyard, the Blood Prison Saint, resting under a tree, turned his head briefly before ignoring the movement entirely. He was far too accustomed to such occurrences to care.
An hour later, Gu An left the Third Medicine Valley with An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint. Today, their destination was Tianya Valley.
On the way, An Xin mentioned the recent surge of young prodigies across the continent. Every so often, a new peerless talent emerged, causing figures like An Hao, Li Ya, and Wu Jue to fade from public memory. It was reminiscent of how Gu An himself hadn't known of Xuan Tianyi in the past.
Gu An rode atop the Blood Prison Saint's back, a book in hand, occasionally responding to An Xin's musings. He still kept a light eye on the fresh developments in the world.
Compared to centuries ago, the benchmark for a so-called prodigy had risen significantly. In An Xin's words, anyone regarded as a genius now was at least in the Void Crossing Realm.
Centuries ago, the Void Crossing Realm was considered the domain of great cultivators—powerhouses and ancient figures. Now, even the Nirvana Realm was no longer a well-kept secret.
As An Xin spoke of worldly matters, her tone lacked envy, containing only a sense of determination. She had no desire to leave; she merely wanted to prove that staying by her master's side was the best decision she could make.
Their journey was filled with lighthearted banter, making the long road less tiresome.
When they reached Tianya Valley, a group of cultivators caught their attention. All of them were young, brimming with arrogance and vigor.
Gu An's arrival naturally drew much of their focus. Among the group, Gu An spotted Lü Xian.
It had been a long time since Gu An had last seen him. Lü Baitian constantly mentioned Lü Xian whenever they met, which often led to Gu An keeping a casual eye on the younger man's progress.
Lü Xian's talent had always been exceptional, and his experiences only further propelled his growth. Now, he had reached the Profound Heart Realm.
From a distance, Lü Xian's face lit up upon seeing Gu An. Gu An gave him a subtle nod before dismounting the Blood Prison Saint and heading toward Li Xuandao's courtyard.
An Xin, meanwhile, took the Blood Prison Saint to visit the trio of monkey demons in the valley.
Gu An walked into the courtyard and approached a table where Li Xuandao sat. After clasping his hands in greeting, he followed Li Xuandao's gesture to sit.
Li Xuandao studied Gu An for a moment before smiling. "It feels like you've changed again."
Gu An replied lightly, "What, do I look older?"
Over time, the dynamic between Gu An and Li Xuandao had evolved. Their relationship had shifted from one of clear hierarchy to one of camaraderie. It wasn't that Gu An's cultivation on the surface had surpassed expectations; rather, both were now centuries old. Among those who lived for millennia, a five-hundred- to one-thousand-year age gap blurred into insignificance, fostering a sense of peerhood.
The two began exchanging pleasantries, catching up after years apart.
While Lü Xian was undoubtedly a rare prodigy, Li Xuandao was equally extraordinary. His cultivation had already reached the Mahayana Realm.
Having advanced to the Mahayana Realm, Li Xuandao had far surpassed Lü Baitian, who had once held the higher cultivation. However, Lü Baitian's failure during his Tribulation had left him stuck at the ninth level of the Body Fusion Realm.
Observing Li Xuandao's remarkable progress, Gu An couldn't help but feel gratified. They were kindred spirits, and seeing a fellow cultivator thrive brought him genuine joy.
In a world where millennia passed in the blink of an eye, Gu An couldn't predict how many of his old friends would still be alive to share the journey. Yet, he had a strong feeling Li Xuandao had a good chance of enduring.
After all, emperors who lived for tens of thousands of years were not uncommon. Take Yang Xian Emperor of the Immortal Dynasty or Divine Sovereign of the Sacred Court—both had ruled for over a million years.
The conversation eventually shifted to grander topics. Li Xuandao sighed, his tone tinged with frustration. "How many years do you think it will take for the Tai Cang Dynasty to rival the Immortal Dynasty? The current chaos across the world is the perfect opportunity, yet our foundations are still lacking. I fear we'll miss this chance."
The world was changing rapidly, but a dynasty's accumulation of resources and influence could not progress so quickly. This left Li Xuandao anxious.
If they missed this rare opportunity, a new hegemon would rise amidst the chaos, relegating the Tai Cang Dynasty to a mere regional power at best.
Gu An hadn't expected Li Xuandao to harbor such ambitious aspirations, openly coveting the positions of Yang Xian Emperor and Divine Sovereign. His boldness was truly audacious.
Given Li Xuandao's current status, he must have a clear understanding of the immense power of the Immortal Dynasty and Sacred Court. Most would only feel awe and reverence in the face of such a gap. The idea of surpassing them wouldn't even cross their minds.
"What if this upheaval lasts for many years?" Gu An offered calmly. "This is chaos on a global scale. Compared to the rest of the world, the Tai Cang Continent is but a drop in the ocean."
Li Xuandao looked intently at Gu An before posing a sudden question. "There's a powerful faction willing to support me. However, accepting their help will create future problems. If you were the emperor, what would you choose?"
"A powerful faction?" Gu An's mind turned as he quickly deduced the answer. Li Xuandao was referring to one of the great sects—one of the top-ranked factions of the mortal world. Their interest in the Tai Cang Dynasty likely stemmed from a desire to establish connections with the Sword Master of the Dao.
Should they gain control of the Tai Cang Dynasty, they would have both the justification and opportunity to approach the Sword Master of the Dao.
To them, the Sword Master of the Dao was a figure on par with Yang Xian Emperor, a potential game-changer in their bid to surpass the Immortal Dynasty and Sacred Court.
Without a Free Immortal, unifying the world was merely an empty dream.
Having pieced together Li Xuandao's predicament, Gu An responded, "That depends on what you want. Is it peace for the common people, or do you prioritize achieving your ambitions?"