Inside the pavilion.
Gu An was reading a book while his divine sense followed Zhu Xi as she left Third Medicine Valley.
This girl's temperament…
Gu An found it difficult to describe. If she were someone on the same path as him, then why was she so timid?
Did he ever act this cowardly?
He had no intention of forcibly stopping Zhu Xi. Perhaps he truly could protect her, but it was clear that she had felt deeply uneasy over the past years. Now that her identity as Divine Sovereign was exposed, she was even more conflicted.
Gu An could hear the turmoil in her heart.
Forget it.
Let her go.
After all, she was the reincarnation of Divine Sovereign. She would always find a way to survive in desperate situations.
But… did this mean she believed he was incapable of resisting Heaven's will?
That thought crossed Gu An's mind, but he wasn't upset. Instead, he pondered deeply.
He had never been arrogant enough to think he was invincible.
There were still many things he could not do.
Every time he faced something beyond his ability, it only fueled his drive to become stronger.
He could continuously save the Heavenly Spirit Great World, but he still couldn't see through the hidden workings of the Heavenly Dao.
The Vast Heaven Free Immortal might be able to act unrestrained within the universe, but that was only within the universe itself.
What lay beyond the universe?
As Gu An read his book, he continued to reflect on this.
He didn't try to divine Zhu Xi's future.
Ever since witnessing Xiao Chuan's cycle of reincarnation, he had tried to avoid predicting the future.
Knowing too much would only tempt him to intervene.
Interfering too often would invite unpredictable consequences.
In fact, not knowing the future was a blessing.
At the very least, it left room for anticipation.
Previously, Gu An had seen too much.
It had made life dull.
"Perhaps in the next era, I should find a new place to stay."
Gu An smiled slightly.
For the first time in a long while, he looked forward to the future.
Seasons changed.
Autumn faded into winter.
A blanket of white snow covered the mountains and valleys.
In the North Sea Mountain Range, within the Mountain God Temple.
Xuanmiao Zhenren stood upon the rooftop, gazing at the distant battlefield on the horizon.
The howling wind tore through the mountain forests.
The trees swayed violently, forming waves of rolling greenery, a magnificent sight.
Yet, Xuanmiao Zhenren stood firm—unmoved by the raging storm.
His eyes gleamed with divine light.
For over a thousand years, he had remained here, meditating.
His Dao heart had become more unshakable than ever.
But deep inside, his blood still burned for power.
He was once the greatest genius in the history of Three Purities Mountain.
Unfortunately, Li Ya had overshadowed him.
Li Ya became the most celebrated prodigy of both the Li Family and Three Purities Mountain.
However, Xuanmiao Zhenren's cultivation never stagnated.
With the Mountain God's aid, he had already stepped into Nirvana Realm.
As he stood upon the rooftop, his presence exuded an undeniable aura of an Immortal.
Within the courtyard, a twelve or thirteen-year-old Dao child was crouching by a pill furnace, fanning the flames.
Wisps of blue smoke curled into the air.
From time to time, the boy would wipe the sweat off his forehead and steal glances at Xuanmiao Zhenren on the rooftop.
After a long while—
The Dao child couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore.
"Master, what are you looking at?"
He squinted at the sky.
To him, it just seemed like a coming storm.
"Could this strong wind be part of the Heaven and Earth's breath?"
The dense forest blocked his view of the distant battlefield.
So he assumed the storm was merely a natural occurrence.
Xuanmiao Zhenren chuckled faintly.
"It's nothing."
He spoke with an air of tranquility.
"I was merely watching two sparrows fight."
"As for the wind… The strange tempests of the North Sea Mountain Range are nothing unusual. You'll encounter many more in the future."
The young Dao child's eyes widened with curiosity as he asked, "A wind this strong, yet sparrows are fighting? I've never seen sparrows fight before—I want to watch too!"
"Focus on your alchemy," Xuanmiao Zhenren replied casually. "Don't forget why you're here."
Hearing this, the Dao child could only pout and continue fanning the flames under the pill furnace.
Still unwilling to give up, he asked, "Master, why hasn't the Mountain God appeared yet?"
"He will appear when it is time," Xuanmiao Zhenren said indifferently. "Perhaps your heart is not sincere enough."
The Dao child frowned. "Then, Master, is it true what those people said the other day about True Immortal inheritance? Why don't they believe in the Mountain God?"
Xuanmiao Zhenren's tone was calm, yet his words carried deep wisdom. "When you grow older, you will understand. Many people do not pursue the responsibility of immortals and gods; they only seek the power of immortals and gods. You must think carefully about what kind of person you truly wish to become."
His words were like a breeze sweeping through the Dao child's heart, bringing a moment of clarity.
Despite the raging storm outside, the courtyard remained tranquil.
At that moment, a figure stepped into the Daoist temple—He Qingsong.
He first glanced at Xuanmiao Zhenren, who stood on the eaves of the roof, then at the Dao child.
Xuanmiao Zhenren turned his gaze toward He Qingsong, his brows furrowing.
For some unknown reason, the moment he laid eyes on He Qingsong, he felt an overwhelming sense of discomfort.
Even he found this reaction strange.
"You feel uneasy around me, don't you?" He Qingsong said, his sharp eyes locking onto Xuanmiao Zhenren.
Xuanmiao Zhenren suddenly appeared in front of him, as if he had teleported.
The Dao child was startled, glancing nervously at He Qingsong.
Could this man be a demon?
"Who are you? Why have you come?" Xuanmiao Zhenren asked coldly.
He Qingsong responded, "My name is He Qingsong, but my name is unimportant. What matters is that my existence represents the will of Heaven and Earth."
"You have walked too closely with those whom the Heavenly Dao does not tolerate—which is why you instinctively reject me. This feeling you have is not mere intuition—it is the consequence of having been rejected by the Heavenly Dao itself."
Xuanmiao Zhenren's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? Who is it that the Heavenly Dao does not tolerate?"
He Qingsong remained expressionless.
"You already know who," he said. "I can only tell you this—true immortals do exist, but he is not one of them.
"Immortals stand high above all. Mortal beings cannot fathom them.
"You have already stepped into the Nirvana Realm, embarking on the path toward Immortality—so you should learn to respect True Immortals."
Xuanmiao Zhenren's voice turned cold. "Aren't immortals supposed to protect all living beings? Why must they distance themselves from mortals?"
"That is merely a belief held by mortals." He Qingsong's expression remained unchanged.
"Who ever said that immortals must protect mortals?
"Immortals create life, create worlds, and create all things.
"But in the eyes of an immortal, everything is equal.
"Your resentment is misplaced.
"The suffering of living beings today is not because immortals have abandoned them—but because living beings have placed too much burden upon Heaven and Earth.
"This world is merely trying to protect itself.
"The countless calamities are simply Heaven and Earth attempting to ease its burden.
"To Heaven and Earth, mortals are that burden.
"And True Immortals approve and support the world's need to relieve itself."
Xuanmiao Zhenren's expression darkened.
His Dao heart trembled slightly.
Was this the truth of Immortality?
Was this truly what immortals were?
He Qingsong raised his right hand.
A fractured white jade appeared in his palm.
"This jade is called Heavenly Dao Jade," He Qingsong said solemnly. "You possess a heart of great compassion—something rare in this world.
"You have a destiny connected to immortality.
"This jade can save all tragedies—but it comes at a cost.
"I give it to you freely. Whether you use it or not, and how you use it, is entirely up to you."
With that, the Heavenly Dao Jade floated toward Xuanmiao Zhenren, landing in his hand.
As He Qingsong turned to leave, Xuanmiao Zhenren suddenly called out,
"You chose me… because of him, didn't you?"
He Qingsong did not stop walking.
Without turning back, he said,
"Your longing for Immortality—immortals can sense it too.
"As you told your disciple just now, you cannot feel immortals—because the time has not yet come.
"If you want to become an immortal, you must first understand all things.
"You must experience the tribulations of the mortal world.
"Only when your emotions no longer control you—only then will you be qualified to ascend to True Immortality."
With those words, he stepped out of the temple gates and vanished into thin air, as if he had never been there.
Xuanmiao Zhenren lowered his gaze.
He looked at the Heavenly Dao Jade in his hand, his brows deeply furrowed.
The Dao child walked up beside him, curiously staring at the jade.
"Master," he asked, "was what he said true?
"Isn't the Mountain God an immortal?"
Xuanmiao Zhenren gripped the jade tightly.
Taking a deep breath, he said,
"Disciple, today I will teach you a lesson."
"Do not listen to what people say.
"Instead, watch what they do.
"Your faith should not be defined by others."
"What you choose to believe in—that alone is what is true."