The sword cultivator in the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm exuded an unparalleled presence. His sword intent reverberated throughout the heavens, shaking the entire world. However, the idea of him blocking the momentum of Grand Sword of the Great Hong was nothing short of wishful thinking.
Gu An's attention shifted back to Grand Sword of the Great Hong. From the depths of the Reincarnation Whirlpool, a steady stream of figures emerged, each radiating formidable sword intent. Leading them were two cultivators at the Free Immortal Realm.
To Gu An, these faces were unfamiliar—none of them appeared in the memories of his previous life as Yang Xian. Yet, one fact was certain: Grand Sword of the Great Hong had been founded by Yang Xian's disciple, Yang Ping'an.
In the past, Grand Sword of the Great Hong had remained hidden. Its sudden appearance now could be attributed, at least in part, to Gu An spreading the teachings of the Sacred Heart Sword Dao. Still, the scale of this emergence hinted at deeper motives, possibly related to schemes targeting the Heavenly Spirit World.
After a brief negotiation, the Sacred Court and the Immortal Dynasty began a coordinated assault on Grand Sword of the Great Hong, and the battle quickly escalated into chaos.
Long Qing, unable to see the conflict beyond the heavens, was lost in a whirlwind of imagination.
The sword intent from the Immortal Dynasty's cultivator had stirred up the Tai Xuan Sect. Discussions abounded regarding the source of such an overwhelming aura.
After observing for a while, Gu An turned and walked away. Long Qing hurriedly followed, pestering him with questions about the battle beyond the heavens.
Gu An didn't conceal anything, giving a concise explanation of the situation. Long Qing listened intently, his heart surging with excitement and his longing to achieve the Immortal Dao intensifying.
Upon returning to the Third Medicine Valley, Long Qing hurried to his room, determined to cultivate diligently. He wanted to prove himself to his master and become a figure capable of shaping the world.
Meanwhile, Gu An returned to his chamber. He wasn't overly concerned that Grand Sword of the Great Hong would cause significant upheaval—their current strength wasn't enough to threaten the Heavenly Spirit World.
Sitting at his desk, Gu An's gaze drifted toward the window, his thoughts returning to distant memories.
On that small island, only Yang Ping'an had accompanied him. Always challenging him and seeking to surpass him—it was a time worth reminiscing about.
Judging from the abundant fortune now surrounding Grand Sword of the Great Hong, it was evident that a considerable amount of time had passed since Yang Ping'an established it.
How strong was Yang Ping'an now?
Gu An's anticipation grew, but so did a sense of urgency.
Time changed many things, but vigilance against others was a constant necessity. Yang Ping'an's true intentions in pursuing the Sacred Heart Sword Dao remained uncertain.
Beyond Yang Ping'an, there was also Annihilation God Emperor, who loomed as a hypothetical adversary Gu An needed to surpass through relentless effort.
Moreover, the vast reaches of the universe still held the Heavenly Spirit God, a colossal obstacle in his path.
The road ahead was daunting!
With a sigh, Gu An reached for the latest volume of the Tai Xuan Secrets, using its teachings to settle his state of mind.
The Tai Xuan Secrets still released new texts, but these were no longer available to the public. Only Gu An had access, a personal gift from Shen Zhen, the Immortal Lord of the Tai Xuan Sect.
At dawn, waves crashed against the cliffs.
Sword energy manifested out of thin air at the edge of the precipice, swirling into a vortex that rapidly expanded. Moments later, a figure stepped forth from within, descending onto the cliff.
Under the light of the rising sun, the man's figure became clear. He wore black armor beneath a white outer robe, his long hair tied under a white jade crown. A treasured sword hung from his waist. His face was strikingly handsome, and his sharp brows exuded an air of supreme arrogance.
As his feet touched the ground, the vortex of sword energy behind him contracted and dissipated.
After scanning his surroundings, the man raised his right hand, summoning sword energy that condensed into a silver mirror. Within the mirror's surface, the image of a gentle and graceful woman appeared.
"Sword Master, the Heavenly Spirit World's Heavenly Fate is in chaos. This allowed me to aid your infiltration, but it also means unpredictable dangers ahead. Proceed with extreme caution," the woman in the mirror said, her face full of concern.
The man, known as the Jue Luo Sword Master from Grand Sword of the Great Hong, dismissed her worries with a sneer.
"The Heavenly Spirit World is no longer the same as before. After that great war, it's but a shattered remnant. No one here can threaten me. Rest assured."
The woman frowned deeply, her concern evident. "Now can you tell me why you insist on infiltrating the Heavenly Spirit World?"
The Jue Luo Sword Master gazed into the distance and replied, "The Sacred Heart Sword Dao has reemerged. Those above seek to locate the Sword Dao Patriach's reincarnation or successor and offer allegiance. I disagree. I will defeat them and prove that Grand Sword of the Great Hong doesn't need the Sacred Heart Sword Dao. I will create a mightier Sword Dao."
His words caused the woman's expression to shift drastically. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, the Jue Luo Sword Master crushed the silver mirror in his hand, dispersing it into fragments of sword energy.
Without hesitation, he chose a direction and stepped forward. Transforming into a streak of sword light, he shot across the horizon toward the farthest reaches of the sea. The trail of residual sword energy he left behind shimmered like a mirage in the vast ocean sky.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Sea Mountain Range.
Gu An, wearing his usual mask, sat on the eaves of the house, reading quietly. His divine sense was locked onto the movements of the Jue Luo Sword Master.
The Sword Master, at the ninth level of the Free Immortal Realm, was enveloped in a dense web of Reincarnation Karma, a sign that his tribulation was nearing its end. He was only half a step away from entering the Dao Fruit Realm.
When the Jue Luo Sword Master descended into the Heavenly Spirit World, Gu An had immediately sensed his arrival and overheard his words.
Gu An didn't regard the Sword Master as a threat. What caught his attention was the implication in his statements.
Grand Sword of the Great Hong sought to serve the inheritor of the Sacred Heart Sword Dao?
Gu An recalled that while Yang Xian had once imparted the Sacred Heart Sword Dao to Yang Ping'an, the latter had not appeared overjoyed. Instead, he had confidently stated that his own sword path was no weaker than the Sacred Heart Sword Dao.
At that time, the Sacred Heart Sword Dao was still in its infancy, far from the might it attained during Yang Xian's battle against the Heavenly Spirit God. Over countless years, the Sacred Heart Sword Dao had flourished in the River of Sword Dao, reaching unimaginable heights. Could it be that Yang Ping'an, frustrated by setbacks in his path, now deemed his own swordsmanship inferior to the Sacred Heart Sword Dao?
Gu An speculated on the events that might have transpired in the years following Yang Xian's death—events that had instilled such reverence for the Sacred Heart Sword Dao in the hearts of Grand Sword of the Great Hong.
As for the Jue Luo Sword Master's intention to trouble him, Gu An remained indifferent. What could a Free Immortal stir up? If the Sword Master dared to strike, Gu An wouldn't hesitate to kill him, regardless of past ties.
He wasn't Yang Xian; his actions were unrestrained by rigid principles.
In the courtyard below, Xuanmiao Zhenren, cradling a jade manual in his hands, looked up at Gu An with frustration. "Mountain God, this manual is far too profound for me to comprehend."
Though once a prodigy on the Three Purities Mountain, Xuanmiao Zhenren had always been able to master any Dao technique after a single reading. Yet, the manual bestowed by the Mountain God eluded his understanding no matter how he studied it.
Gu An responded lazily, "If it were that easy to comprehend, becoming an immortal wouldn't be so difficult."
Centuries had passed, and Xuanmiao Zhenren had already reached the Profound Heart Realm. His innate talent was undeniable, but Gu An had not prioritized his cultivation.
Xuanmiao Zhenren gave an embarrassed laugh and returned his focus to the manual in his hands.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed from the heavens, startling Xuanmiao Zhenren. He looked up to see a massive sphere of light forming in the sky, rapidly expanding. Strong gales swept through the mountain forests below.
Rising to his feet with a furrowed brow, Xuanmiao Zhenren looked toward the Mountain God. Although the chaotic winds disheveled his hair, his composure remained steady in Gu An's presence.
"Mountain God, some months ago, I sensed a surge of sword intent rising to the heavens. Now, such a phenomenon appears. What could it mean?" Xuanmiao Zhenren asked, his voice tinged with unease.
"It means people are fighting, naturally," Gu An replied without much interest.
Xuanmiao Zhenren fell silent.
Although he lived in isolation, travelers occasionally passed through, providing him with glimpses of the world's current state. He knew that turmoil plagued the seas, a rare upheaval spreading chaos.
He hesitated to ask why the Mountain God didn't intervene to end this chaos, fearing his question might be too bold.
To him, the Mountain God was a true immortal, fundamentally different from mere powerful cultivators or demons.
Still, he believed the Mountain God had his own reasons, perhaps aligned with some cosmic law of evolution, beyond the intervention of even immortals.
Gu An rose to his feet, tucking his book into his robe. Gazing down at Xuanmiao Zhenren, he said, "Cultivate diligently. These days will last long. When you become strong enough, I'll let you descend the mountain to aid those in need."
With that, Gu An disappeared from the eaves.
Xuanmiao Zhenren didn't react with wild excitement. Instead, he looked at the manual in his hands with renewed determination.
Above the endless mountains, dust clouds billowed as An Hao stood proudly in mid-air. His traveler's robe billowed wildly in the wind. Suspended behind him were nine blazing suns, circling in a radiant orbit. The firelight bathed him in a divine glow, making him appear like a deity.
All around, cultivators and demons watched the spectacle. They remained beyond the formation, their gazes filled with astonishment as they looked at An Hao.
For the Tai Xuan Sect's side, their spirits surged with excitement. Waves of exhilaration coursed through them as they witnessed An Hao's awe-inspiring might.
Wu Jue, observing from a distance, could barely hide his shock. He instinctively clenched his right fist.
An Hao had effortlessly defeated a Loose Immortal, but could Wu Jue's fist even match a cultivator at the Nirvana Realm?
For the first time, Wu Jue felt the vast disparity between himself and An Hao. It was a chasm like that between a mortal and an immortal.