When the thought of searching for Gu An emerged within Jin Dong's Seventy-Two Immortals, he immediately sensed it.
He didn't mind. He had long since erased his karmic ties from the world—there wasn't a single trace of him left, not even on his disciples or old acquaintances.
Of course, if Jin Dong's Seventy-Two Immortals came to Qiankun Sect, they might still be able to find him.
But even if they did, it wouldn't end well for them.
Gu An glanced at An Xin, who had resumed her cultivation, and his thoughts drifted toward Tian Hao.
It seemed that what Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign stole from Ziwei Immortal Palace wasn't just the World-Extinguishing Dao Pearl—it was An Hao himself.
Or rather, An Hao was the real objective all along.
The Heavenly Spirit God had yet to destroy Heavenly Spirit Great World, and the Heavenly Court was in no hurry to force the matter. Perhaps a deeper power was obstructing Heavenly Spirit, and Ziwei Immortal Emperor was also involved.
A greater force was restraining the Heavenly Court from annihilating Heavenly Spirit Great World. This fact didn't make Gu An feel fortunate.
If not for these karmic entanglements, Gu An would have never crossed paths with the Heavenly Court so soon.
Of course, that was merely an assumption. He had already formed ties with An Hao and Heavenly Spirit Great World, and he wouldn't flee from it—unless the enemy proved truly unbeatable.
With Jin Dong's Seventy-Two Immortals descending, the fate of Heavenly Spirit Great World had once again shifted.
Gu An foresaw the arrival of Xuan Su Immortal Lord and Tai Yi Immortal Lord. Once they descended, this Grand Thousand World would meet its end.
Due to the fluctuations of Heavenly Dao Qi, many aspects of the future remained obscure, but the overall trajectory and timespan could still be seen.
"Celestial Gods, Star Lords, Immortal Lords..."
Gu An pondered the hierarchy of the Heavenly Court, uncertain how high one needed to ascend to be free from its threat.
He began to sense Heavenly Dao Qi.
With the descent of Jin Dong's Seventy-Two Immortals, the presence of Heavenly Dao Qi in the world had become far more intense. The layer of Heavenly Dao Light that covered the Grand Thousand World had condensed into infinite golden radiance, illuminating the universe in dazzling brilliance.
Gu An had always been curious about Heavenly Dao Qi. From what he had observed, Heavenly Dao Qi was even harder to comprehend than the Grand Dao itself. This was because the Grand Dao lacked will, while the Heavenly Dao seemed to possess some form of consciousness, one with an intense sense of rejection toward foreign influences.
…
After Golden Extreme God was devoured by Jin Dong's Immortals, the Congenital Human Race did not vanish. They continued to wreak havoc across the mortal world, impossible to fully eradicate.
Although eliminating them completely in a short time was impossible, the warriors who fought against them had also grown stronger, building their own reputations.
More and more prodigies were rising. To the common people, this was the worst of times, but for cultivation sects, it was the best of times—they began using the Congenital Human Race as training grounds for their disciples.
Time flowed on, and another one thousand years passed.
In the extreme north of the world, snow filled the skies, blanketing the mountains and valleys in ice.
Lu Xian, Blood Prison Saint, Chen Chuan, Tian Yao'er, Tianqing, Tianbai, An Shengtian, and Jiang Shixing walked along a mountain ridge. The wind and snow fell upon them, but it instantly evaporated into mist before it could touch their bodies.
"You actually came too?" Blood Prison Saint looked at Lu Xian and chuckled.
Lu Xian snorted. "Of course. I am also a part of Wushi, so naturally, I must stand with you all."
Over the years, he had fought alone, building a fearsome reputation. Though he was not as renowned as Tian Hao, he was still among the world's top prodigies. Upon hearing that Wushi was gathering to save the world, he had come without hesitation.
Between Dao Treasures, there was a mutual resonance. They could even communicate with each other, making their reunion effortless.
Hearing Lu Xian's words, the others joined in.
"Indeed, it's time for the cultivators of the world to witness the strength of Wushi."
"The Canghai Xuan Yin Sect actually dared to ambush me and Blood Prison Saint—they need to be taught a lesson."
"Our first priority is to eliminate the root cause of the Congenital Human Race. We can settle scores with the sects once this calamity is over."
"With eight Dao Treasures working together, there is no force in this world that can stop us. The only unknown is the being lurking behind the Congenital Human Race. Let's hope we won't need to disturb Master."
As Wushi's members discussed, their confidence was unwavering. The presence of Dao Treasures filled them with an unshakable sense of security.
Through thousands of years of battle, they had grown immensely. Nearly all had made significant progress—at the very least, their cultivation had reached the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm, while Blood Prison Saint and Tian Yao'er had even stepped into the Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal Realm.
The Dao Treasures carried different Grand Dao Intent, constantly assisting their comprehension of the Dao. Especially during battle, the Dao Intent would surge to its peak, making every confrontation a profound enlightenment.
As Wushi's members advanced, distant figures flickered through the snowy mist, disappearing toward the same destination. Their direction aligned with Wushi's but none of Wushi's members bothered to glance at them.
As time passed, more and more cultivators overtook them, vanishing into the mist ahead. Wushi's members, however, moved at an unhurried pace, using the time to discuss their personal grudges and the ever-shifting tides of the world.
After a long while, they finally passed through layers of dense mist and arrived at the edge of a towering cliff.
They stood side by side, looking ahead. A vast, surging ice lake stretched before them. The lake, nestled among the mountains, stood at an incredibly high altitude. If it were to overflow, the floodwaters would bring catastrophic destruction to the lands behind them.
Looking around, the surrounding cliffs were packed with countless figures, gathered in clusters by faction. Even the rolling clouds above held enormous demonic creatures, their colossal bodies twisting through the sky, creating a scene of overwhelming grandeur.
Lu Xian gazed down at the ice lake and asked, "So this is the source of the Congenital Human Race? Why haven't any fiends emerged from it recently?"
Tian Yao'er replied, "Not sure. But the entire world is talking about this. With so many sects gathered here, there must be truth to the rumors."
The others extended their divine senses toward the ice lake. Soon, they all sensed a vast and boundless presence stirring deep within, blocking any attempt to probe further.
Feeling the unfathomable might hidden within, Wushi's members became solemn.
It wasn't just them—many of the newly arrived cultivators from other sects were also visibly shaken.
Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, landing right behind Wushi's members.
They turned to look and immediately broke into delighted smiles.
It was none other than Tian Hao!
Tian Hao grinned and said, "Senior brothers, senior sisters, it's been a long time! As expected, you've all come!"
The group quickly surrounded him, chattering excitedly.
In the distance, disciples from Qiankun Sect observed the scene with curiosity, exchanging glances as they wondered about Tian Hao's connection with Wushi's members.
Leading them was Gu Chengdao, who remained expressionless as he guided his disciples toward an unoccupied mountain peak.
All the gathered sects were discussing what might be hidden beneath the ice lake. But because of Tian Hao's presence, Wushi's members drew widespread attention.
Before long, news spread that Tian Hao was part of Wushi, causing waves of astonishment. This revelation made many sects even more wary and intrigued by Wushi.
The Dao Treasures of Wushi were already legendary, undefeated to this day. Even those whose cultivation far surpassed Wushi's disciples had failed to overcome them.
For years, Wushi's presence had been striking enough. Now, with the revelation that Tian Hao had emerged from Wushi, reverence toward the group grew exponentially.
Could Wushi be even more powerful than the Dao Court, considering they had produced the world's strongest prodigy?
Just then, an immense pressure descended upon the land.
A voice echoed through the ice and snow:
"I am Elder Fu Chun of the Dao Court. I will now open the seal beneath the lake. Those who have reached the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao may enter with me. The rest shall remain outside to defend against any attacks from the Congenital Human Race."
As his voice fell, the clouds above churned violently, forming a massive vortex.
Wushi's members looked up. At the center of the vortex, a colossal sword appeared—larger than a mountain.
It was a broad blade, its edge incomparably sharp, its body ancient and worn, radiating an aura of boundless antiquity.
As the sword descended, its hilt was revealed, upon which stood an old Daoist, his right hand pressed against his chest as he performed an incantation.
"That's Breaking Sky Sword, one of the Four Great Divine Swords of the Dao Court!"
Someone cried out, recognizing the legendary blade.