After exchanging light-hearted banter with Wu Jue, Gu An watched him leave in a rush. The Tai Xuan Sect had only received word about the event today, but due to the considerable distance, they had to set off immediately.
The elders of the Tai Xuan Sect were equally eager to witness An Hao's strength, and thus the matter was arranged with urgency.
Over the next three days, news of An Hao challenging a Loose Immortal spread throughout the Third Medicine Valley, sparking heated discussions among the disciples. As An Hao's junior sister, An Xin naturally became the center of much attention.
Descending from his loft, Gu An caught sight of An Xin in the distance. She was surrounded by dozens of female disciples, their chatter forming a lively, chaotic buzz.
Just as Gu An stepped downstairs, Ji Xiaoya pushed open her door.
Initially, Gu An thought she had come to find him, but instead, she merely cast him a glance before leaping into the air, flying swiftly out of the Third Medicine Valley.
Gu An instinctively calculated Ji Xiaoya's fate. After discerning her intentions, he felt at ease.
He strolled toward the training grounds, but this time, it wasn't to play chess.
As he approached, he paused at the edge of the grounds, observing disciples and cultivators engaged in games of strategy.
For a moment, he found it strange not to see the Nine-Finger Divine Lord at his usual spot.
Suddenly, Long Qing emerged from the valley's entrance. Spotting Gu An, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over.
"Master, are you here to play chess? I'll play with you!" Long Qing asked eagerly as he arrived by Gu An's side.
Gu An cast him a sidelong glance and replied, "A lousy player like you wants to challenge me? I told you to focus on cultivating your comprehension, yet here you are, fooling around with that White Spirit Mouse again."
Long Qing scratched his head in embarrassment. "It said it found a treasure and wanted me to join it."
"And?" Gu An raised an eyebrow.
Long Qing's face darkened with frustration as he clenched his fists. "It tricked me into a cave, then blocked the entrance with... dung! I was furious! I swear, I'll settle the score with it later. Master, that thing is just too wicked!"
Hearing this, Gu An took a subtle step back.
Long Qing continued venting his grievances about the White Spirit Mouse. It was widely disliked across the Third Medicine Valley, save for An Xin. However, despite its mischief, the mouse had never caused any real harm. Occasionally, it would even gift treasures to those it had tormented, leaving the disciples with no choice but to tolerate it.
Gu An listened to Long Qing's complaints with a faint smile but offered no comment.
Though the White Spirit Mouse was mischievous toward others, it was always respectful and eager to please Gu An. How could he reprimand it?
Once Long Qing finished his tirade, Gu An suddenly asked, "I'm planning to establish a Sword Mountain. Where do you think it should be located?"
"Sword Mountain?"
Long Qing froze, his face betraying his surprise.
Wait a moment.
Master was the famed Sword Master of the Dao. Could this Sword Mountain be akin to the Heaven Mending Platform, imbued with his profound sword intent?
It had to be!
Long Qing's eyes gleamed with excitement. He immediately turned to survey the area, searching for the ideal location.
The inspiration to create Sword Mountain stemmed from Gu An's memories of the Myriad Swords Immortal Ancestor.
The Myriad Swords Immortal Ridge remained vivid in his mind—a landscape blanketed in countless swords, each of extraordinary quality and containing unique sword intent.
When all these sword intents converged, they formed a domain akin to the laws of heaven and earth, a self-contained world of Sword Dao. It was the Myriad Swords Immortal Ridge that had inspired Yang Xian to develop the Sacred Heart Sword Dao.
Brimming with enthusiasm, Long Qing began offering suggestions, and Gu An decided to let him accompany him for a walk around the valley.
The chance to explore the mountains alone with Gu An thrilled Long Qing. Master and disciple set off toward the valley's outer edge, their pace leisurely.
Not far away, An Xin noticed their departure. A smile appeared on her face.
She had watched Long Qing grow up and always regarded him as a younger sibling. Over the years, Long Qing had often confided in her privately, voicing his frustrations.
He believed Gu An held the answers to his struggles but deliberately withheld guidance to temper his Dao Heart. At times, he even wondered if Gu An disliked him.
An Xin naturally wished for harmony between Gu An and Long Qing. Seeing the two spending time together now, she assumed Gu An was finally preparing to help Long Qing.
Half an hour later.
Gu An and Long Qing stood atop a mountain peak, gazing at the vast expanse of forest beyond the valley. The breathtaking scenery was invigorating.
"Do you still think I'm deliberately making things difficult for you?" Gu An asked abruptly, his gaze lifting skyward.
The Reincarnation Whirlpool stirred again. From its depths emanated the aura of countless living beings, suggesting the approach of a significant force. At such a pivotal moment, it was clear their intentions were far from benign.
Long Qing quickly shook his head. "How could I? Master, you saved me from becoming a meal for some beast. Without you, I wouldn't even be here today."
In the past, he had doubted whether his master truly cared for him. But after Gu An had explained the heavy karma Long Qing carried and the calamities it could attract, he no longer harbored such thoughts.
Now, his only hope was that Gu An would guide him in cultivation.
After all, his master was the Sword Master of the Dao. A few casual pointers from him would suffice for a lifetime.
Hearing Long Qing's earnest response, Gu An smiled approvingly. "If that's truly how you feel, then I'm gratified. Rest assured, I have high hopes for you. One day, I'll train you properly—but not yet. Do you know the origins of the Bull Demon King?"
"The Bull Demon King? He has a backstory?"
Long Qing was taken aback. To him, the Blood Prison Saint was the second-most mischievous being in the Third Medicine Valley, surpassed only by the White Spirit Mouse.
Gu An explained the origins of the Blood Prison Saint, leaving Long Qing utterly stunned.
"The Blood Prison Saint is that powerful? A mortal ascender from the lower realms? And most shockingly, he was originally human but transformed into a bull by absorbing divine beast blood?"
Long Qing felt as if the ground beneath him had collapsed. His master concealing his true cultivation was already astonishing, but now even the Bull Demon King had such an extraordinary background? He began to wonder about the others around him—An Xin, You Yingying, and the other familiar faces in the valley. Did they all have hidden histories or secretly concealed strength as well?
"The Blood Prison Saint has endured nearly a thousand years in this form, and most of that time has already passed," Gu An said meaningfully.
Long Qing's expression shifted multiple times before he finally took a deep breath and said, "Master, I understand. I'm already fortunate. I need to settle myself and stop being so impatient."
Gu An nodded in approval. "Your second master treats you well. Spend more time meditating with him to calm your heart."
As Gu An spoke, his gaze lifted once again to the heavens.
The Reincarnation Whirlpool began to churn, ejecting countless figures. Forces from the Sacred Court and the Immortal Dynasty could no longer remain passive, quickly joining hands to intercept them.
Over the years, these two factions had been locked in an escalating conflict with the Xuan You Divine Dynasty and the Heavenly Demon Sect. The growing strength of the latter two made it increasingly difficult for the Sacred Court and the Immortal Dynasty to prevail, further plunging the world into chaos.
For ordinary people, these turbulent times were unbearably harsh. But for prodigies like An Hao, such upheaval presented a rare chance to rise to prominence, offering countless opportunities to gain fame and fortune.
"Master, are you looking at something? Is there movement beyond the heavens again?" Long Qing asked curiously.
Though he had never left the Tai Cang Continent, he knew the world beyond was vast and home to demons descending upon the mortal realm. With his master's abilities, it was certain that he could see far beyond.
Gu An replied calmly, "The Reincarnation Whirlpool, established by Yuanxu Immortal Ancestor, connects many realms similar to our Heavenly Spirit World. Right now, forces from one of those realms have arrived. The Sacred Court and the Immortal Dynasty are trying to block them. A great battle is inevitable."
Long Qing's eyes widened. "There are other realms like ours? Why are they coming here?"
"Who knows?" Gu An answered offhandedly.
Yet his gaze deepened as a subtle realization dawned on him.
This mysterious force emerging from the Reincarnation Whirlpool bore an unexpected connection to him—or, more precisely, to Yang Xian.
Many among this force carried sword intents derived from the Sacred Heart Sword Dao. Though far inferior to Yang Xian's, their origins were undeniable.
Before Yang Xian's death, he had imbued his sword intent into the River of Sword Dao, ensuring its eternal flow. Anyone who cultivated the Sacred Heart Sword Dao thereafter would contribute to that intent, gradually elevating it into a Great Dao.
An eternal sword path!
This was the terrifying foresight of Yang Xian. Before confronting the Heavenly Spirit God, he had anticipated his demise and left his sword intent in the River of Sword Dao—not to seek resurrection but to immortalize his Sword Dao and prove his existence.
Gu An couldn't help but wonder: could Yang Xian have foreseen himself as a reincarnated soul?
Even with Yang Xian's memories, Gu An couldn't access Yang Xian's thoughts every moment of his past life.
Turning his focus to the mysterious force, Gu An began deducing their origins.
The Grand Sword of the Great Hong.
The name bore a striking resemblance to Grand Hong Heavenly Dao, the sect destroyed by Yang Xian and his disciples. Despite the similarity, it was evident that Grand Sword of the Great Hong hailed from the Grand Hong World.
"Master, have you visited other realms? How does our world compare to the others?" Long Qing asked, brimming with curiosity.
Before Gu An could respond, an immense sword intent erupted from the distant horizon. It surged skyward, slicing the heavens as though splitting the firmament itself, extending rapidly until it reached the zenith.
"What's that?" Long Qing exclaimed, his voice tinged with shock. He could feel the overwhelming sword intent, an aura so majestic it compelled him to kneel in reverence.
Gu An remained silent, his gaze fixed on the source of the sword intent. He had already discerned the identity of its wielder.
A cultivator from the Immortal Dynasty—a Divine Thought True Immortal!