Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jue Luo Sword Master trembled uncontrollably, unable to utter a word. All gazes were fixed on Gu An's hand, which firmly gripped Jue Luo Sword Master's wrist. At that moment, Jue Luo Sword Master's overwhelming aura had completely collapsed, leaving him appearing as if he might kneel at any moment.
Gu An's expression was as cold as ice, and his gaze struck terror into Jue Luo Sword Master's heart.
"How could this be…"
Jue Luo Sword Master couldn't comprehend what was happening. With Gu An's grip on his wrist, his sword intent had scattered in an instant. His internal spiritual energy was suppressed, leaving him unable to draw upon any of his power.
He was like a mere mortal, unable to resist or even muster the strength to pull free.
Dao Fruit Realm!
This man must have surpassed the Free Immortal Realm and stepped into an even higher realm!
Jue Luo Sword Master, who had long declared himself to have reached the pinnacle of the Reincarnation Tribulation, couldn't even find a spark of hope to break through. This was precisely why he sought to challenge the Sacred Heart Sword Dao.
He believed that only by exchanging blows with someone who had mastered it could he surpass his own limits.
The stronger the inheritor of the Sacred Heart Sword Dao, the greater his excitement.
Only under enough pressure could he break free from his shackles!
Gu An stared at him and asked, "Now tell me, do you still wish to challenge me?"
Jue Luo Sword Master gritted his teeth, struggling to respond. But without the courage to back up his words, he couldn't force them out.
To admit defeat felt worse than death!
Damn it!
Why was the gap so immense?
Jue Luo Sword Master cursed inwardly. He didn't hate Gu An; he hated his own weakness. How could the disparity be so vast? How could he have been so foolish as to provoke Gu An? It was laughable.
He had always looked down on those who were blind to their own weakness yet arrogant beyond measure. Now, he had become the very type of person he despised.
Humiliation surged through him like a tide as he screamed internally, trying to push his sword dao beyond its limits.
Yet, Gu An's power was like an unyielding Dao Fruit Realm barrier, suppressing him completely. No matter how furious he became, he couldn't shake it.
The atmosphere froze.
The oppressive pressure suffocating everyone dissipated, replaced by shock.
Could Gu An truly be the Sword Master of the Dao?
They still couldn't sense any immense aura from Gu An—he still seemed no stronger than a Nascent Soul cultivator. But his ability to suppress Jue Luo Sword Master made it clear: this was no act. Jue Luo Sword Master's earlier aura and arrogance were undoubtedly genuine.
An Hao stood stunned, his gaze fixed on Gu An's back. His expression was a mix of shock, delight, and apprehension.
Just then, Gu An released his grip, smiling faintly. "Since you're not speaking, I'll take it as your concession. As a guest, stay in the Third Medicine Valley for a few days."
The suffocating pressure vanished instantly, and Jue Luo Sword Master resisted the urge to flee.
But if he ran, wouldn't it disgrace Grand Sword of the Great Hong even further?
"I…"
Faced with Gu An's calm and gentle smile, Jue Luo Sword Master found himself at a loss for words. He wished he could disappear into the ground.
Gu An turned and beckoned to An Xin, who quickly ran over.
"Find a place for this Daoist friend to stay," Gu An instructed before turning to leave.
Ji Xiaoya stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. Once again, she had been astonished by Gu An's strength.
Jue Luo Sword Master was even stronger than her true self, yet Gu An had subdued him so thoroughly that he couldn't even speak.
How powerful was Gu An's cultivation, really?
The others were equally shaken by Gu An's display, their minds racing with speculations about his realm.
Jue Luo Sword Master's face turned red as he watched Gu An walk away. When An Xin politely invited him into the valley, he nodded stiffly and followed her.
Though he had been thoroughly suppressed, no one dared mock him. As he passed, even the grand cultivators stepped aside, wary of provoking his wrath.
An Hao followed behind Gu An, keeping a measured distance instead of directly catching up.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor stood beside Ji Xiaoya, sighing with emotion. "Who exactly is this person?"
Ji Xiaoya didn't answer, and the others were even less able to respond.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord was quietly thankful that he had never underestimated Gu An based on his perceived cultivation level.
Shen Xin Zi's thoughts went further. Watching Gu An spare Jue Luo Sword Master when he could have killed him, he recognized the breadth of Gu An's magnanimity. Such a demeanor was something extraordinary, far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.
This was the ideal path Shen Xin Zi should pursue!
On another path, Long Qing hurried to walk alongside Gu An, matching his pace. He occasionally glanced back at An Hao, noting how his demeanor suggested he wanted to speak with Gu An but hesitated.
"Master, what just happened back there?" Long Qing asked curiously.
His gaze turned toward Jue Luo Sword Master, who exuded a mighty presence even as he walked. This person carried an unshakable aura, as if not even the heavens could confine him.
Gu An smiled faintly. "Nothing much. Just a quick exchange. If you're curious, you can chat with him directly. He's a senior, so don't forget your manners."
Hearing this, Long Qing seriously considered paying his respects to Jue Luo Sword Master.
After a while, Gu An ascended a tower alone, while An Hao hesitated at its base. After a brief pause, he made up his mind and followed.
Just as he reached the door, Gu An's voice came from within. "Close the door behind you."
Hearing this, An Hao felt an immediate sense of calm.
All his doubts vanished in an instant.
There was no mistake—this was definitely his master!
Suppressing his excitement, he carefully closed the door behind him and strode to the table. Dropping to his knees, he bowed deeply to Gu An.
Gu An didn't stop him, instead accepting the gesture with quiet composure.
Looking up, An Hao's face was filled with excitement. "Master, you… you've hidden so much from me! No wonder you took An Xin as a disciple. It turns out you've been watching over her all along. Did she know about this from the beginning?"
Gu An chuckled. "She didn't know at first. When she did find out, she was just as excited as you are. Now, get up and speak."
An Hao quickly stood, too full of thoughts to know where to start.
Gu An gestured for him to sit down and began asking about his experiences over the years. An Hao didn't dare to hide anything, recounting his hardships and achievements without embellishment.
After a long conversation, Gu An finally asked, "What are your goals for the future?"
Unlike An Xin, who was more reserved, An Hao had spent years venturing into the outside world. His ambitions were bound to be higher, and Gu An had no intention of holding him back.
Taking a deep breath, An Hao replied, "Master, I want to be the Heavenly Emperor, like the Jade Emperor you wrote about!"
Gu An laughed lightly. "Those two words shouldn't be used carelessly. True gods and immortals do exist."
The ancient texts spoke of immortals being hunted and besieged by celestial beings. True gods and immortals were far more terrifying than mortals could imagine.
Where there is order, there must be a ruler. It was highly likely that the leader of celestial beings bore the title of Heavenly Emperor.
An Hao paused, his expression turning cautious. "The Immortal Dynasty?"
"They're far from reaching that level."
Gu An's simple answer left An Hao feeling both relieved and even more awestruck.
If the Immortal Dynasty wasn't considered part of the celestial pantheon, just how powerful were the true gods and immortals?
Gu An studied An Hao carefully, his gaze discerning. He could see through An Hao's destiny.
A person's destiny was a combination of fate and fortune. The stronger the destiny, the greater the fortune and longer the lifespan.
An Hao's fortune was robust and enduring, his lifespan appearing almost infinite. It was the first time Gu An had encountered such a profound destiny.
As expected, the limit of 9,999 years was merely the upper boundary for mortal cultivation, not An Hao's personal limit.
Upon reaching the Nirvana Realm, An Hao's maximum lifespan had extended to 999,999 years. Gu An speculated that as An Hao continued to break through higher realms, this limit would only increase further.