Returning to the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An's face broke into a smile.
In just one night, he had undergone a transformative leap from the Ninth Layer of the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm to the Ninth Layer of the Free Immortal Realm. His strength had experienced an earth-shattering change.
If it weren't for the arrival of dawn, he might have continued pushing for another breakthrough.
The breakthrough had cost nearly fifty million years of lifespan, leaving Gu An with a little over six hundred million years remaining. Despite this, he still felt optimistic about the possibility of reaching higher realms.
Having achieved the Free Immortal Realm, Gu An's perception of the Heavenly Spirit World had become remarkably clearer. He could now discern that both the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Court harbored Free Immortals. If these beings were to engage in open warfare, the resulting destruction could engulf the entire world. For Gu An, surpassing the Free Immortal Realm became an imperative to secure his peace of mind.
Descending from the teleportation platform, Gu An raised his head, gazing into the void. There, beyond the cosmos, he spotted a vast gray river flowing through the ether—a place unreachable by mere flight but only through alignment with the Grand Dao's rules.
The River of Destiny.
It was the very location where Lu Han had perished.
Gu An refrained from advancing toward the River of Destiny. For now, he merely observed it from afar, harboring no immediate intent to tread upon its mysterious waters.
Shifting his focus, his gaze fell upon Wu Jue, who had come to find him. It was rare for Wu Jue to make the effort, so Gu An naturally chose to greet him.
Nearby, You Yingying was cradling a rabbit. Catching sight of Gu An, she instinctively turned her head. At first glance, she froze, unable to resist rubbing her eyes in disbelief.
Gu An's attire was the same as yesterday, his appearance and hairstyle unchanged. Yet, You Yingying felt that something about him had transformed.
It was a change she couldn't articulate. Looking at Gu An, she felt an inexplicable urge to draw closer to him. However, the longer she stared, the more she felt a deep desire to submit to him.
These conflicting emotions were hard to describe, leaving her at a loss.
It wasn't just her. Other disciples who glimpsed Gu An also found themselves instinctively taking a second look.
Gu An approached Wu Jue just as the latter was passionately recounting examples of Liu Bei's benevolence.
Sensing a presence behind him, Wu Jue turned his head. Seeing that it was Gu An, the anger on his face immediately dissipated.
"You're finally back! Come on, let's go drink!" Wu Jue exclaimed, grabbing Gu An's arm and leading him away.
Gu An didn't resist. With a quick shout, he instructed An Xin to prepare food and drinks.
The two made their way to Gu An's pavilion and sat down across from each other.
"Gu An, I've reached the Body Fusion Realm!" Wu Jue announced enthusiastically, his face brimming with pride.
Gu An couldn't help but chuckle. Reaching the Body Fusion Realm was certainly impressive, but it was amusing how oblivious Wu Jue was to Gu An's overwhelming presence. The fact that he hadn't even sensed Gu An standing behind him spoke volumes.
Even though Gu An had suppressed his aura to the Nascent Soul Realm, he hadn't completely hidden it. This demonstrated Wu Jue's carefree and inattentive nature—traits that could very well land him in trouble someday.
"Really? That's incredible…" Gu An feigned shock, widening his eyes dramatically.
Wu Jue, encouraged by Gu An's reaction, grinned proudly. "At four hundred and twenty-one years old, do you even understand what this level of strength means?"
Gu An opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself, thinking that silence would better convey his point. After all, what was the Body Fusion Realm at four hundred and twenty-one years old compared to the Ninth Layer of the Free Immortal Realm at four hundred and nineteen years old?
Just then, An Xin arrived with the food and drinks. Overhearing Wu Jue's boast, she couldn't help but smirk. Showing off in front of my master?
She placed the dishes on the table without comment and quietly left.
Wu Jue had deliberately spoken loudly, hoping to impress An Xin. However, her lack of reaction puzzled him. He frowned, wondering why she seemed so indifferent.
Gu An noticed this and silently blamed An Xin for her lack of theatrical commitment. She's far too relaxed for someone playing along.
"It's surprising you've come this far," Gu An said, steering the conversation back to Wu Jue. "I always knew you weren't simple, but I still underestimated you."
Wu Jue beamed at the praise. "If it weren't for your encouragement back then, I wouldn't have made it this far. You've got the potential, Gu An. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll reach the Body Fusion Realm too."
Gu An shook his head. "That's not happening."
"Why not? You need to believe in yourself."
Oh, I believe, which is exactly why it's not happening.
"Do you think you're on par with An Hao or my Senior Brother Li?" Gu An asked, changing the subject.
Wu Jue's eyes lit up at the mention of those names. "I'm not sure, but I've always aimed to surpass them. Unfortunately, I don't know how strong they really are. Once I've exceeded their realms, I'll challenge them."
Well, aren't you ambitious!
Gu An couldn't help but laugh. While he appreciated Wu Jue's boldness, he also understood the importance of caution. Strength, no matter how great, didn't make one invincible.
The two continued chatting, their conversation mostly revolving around Wu Jue's plans for the future. Gu An played the role of an attentive listener, offering just the right amount of encouragement to keep Wu Jue animated.
Meanwhile, life in the Third Medicine Valley and the Tai Xuan Sect continued peacefully. No one had yet noticed the disturbances occurring beyond the boundaries of the world.
Outside, in the layer of light encasing the Heavenly Spirit World, countless powerful cultivators had gathered. The weakest among them were at the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm, all staring intently at the Desolation Domain.
Fu Shenxiu and Bai Ziya stood atop Mortal Peak, accompanied by over a dozen Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals.
"The tension between the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Court is truly palpable," Bai Ziya murmured.
The Immortal Dynasty's cultivators and the Sacred Court's experts stood at opposite ends, separated by a vast expanse, their mutual animosity palpable. Even the neutral sects could feel the tension radiating between them.
Fu Shenxiu gazed into the distance, his expression thoughtful. "Let's hope this phenomenon can encourage both sides to temporarily lay down their grievances."
Bai Ziya tilted his head upwards, a hint of melancholy in his tone. "The Heavenly Spirit World may be strong, but it's nothing compared to the Desolation Domain. If not for the existence of the Sacred Heaven, the Heavenly Demons would have already overrun us."
Fu Shenxiu glanced at him. "You've been to the Desolation Domain before. Is it truly filled with only Heavenly Demons?"
"How could that be possible?" Bai Ziya shook his head. "The so-called Heavenly Demons are merely how we label them. While there is indeed a Heavenly Demon clan within the Desolation Domain, we have come to associate every living creature born there as a Heavenly Demon. The Desolation Domain is vast beyond comprehension. I don't even know its true boundaries—there might be entire worlds hidden within it."
His voice trailed off, and his eyes darkened as though recalling an unpleasant memory.
While the two spoke of the Desolation Domain, other sects discussed their own experiences within that enigmatic region, sharing observations and speculations.
Meanwhile, the source of the disturbance, Gu An, was still in the Medicine Valley, sharing drinks and laughter with his close friends.
As night fell, Gu An's resolve sharpened, and he prepared to act once more.
The gap between the Free Immortal Realm and the next stage was immense, representing a major leap in cultivation. He couldn't be certain that the remaining six hundred million years of his lifespan would suffice. To guarantee success, he resolved to extend his lifespan to an even one billion years.
"This will be the last time," Gu An muttered to himself. "Once I reach one billion years, I'll stop. This behavior is unbecoming of me."
Determined not to draw suspicion, Gu An first targeted the herbs on Mortal Peak. By making the Mortal Peak a fellow victim, it would help obfuscate his involvement.
However, as he stealthily harvested herbs, Gu An detected the presence of a Mystical Spirit Immortal cultivating on Mortal Peak's main summit. The figure was surrounded by the peak's protective fortune, likely an elder who had recently returned from beyond the Heavenly Spirit World.
Gu An restricted his activities to the main summit's medicinal plants before quietly departing. Despite his efforts, his actions still managed to alert Mortal Peak.
By dawn, the Mystical Spirit Immortal stood silently before a patch of harvested herbs, his expression inscrutable.
It wasn't until the morning sunlight illuminated his figure that he finally exhaled deeply.
"The world remains as enigmatic as ever…" he murmured with genuine admiration.
Ten days later, Gu An succeeded in accumulating a lifespan of one billion years.
Now, it was time to make his breakthrough.
Gu An directed his gaze toward the Desolation Domain, which lay near the Heavenly Spirit World. The presence of many powerful entities traversing the domain made it difficult to choose a suitable location for his advancement. He certainly couldn't delve too deeply into the Desolation Domain—it wouldn't do to encounter a being akin to Black Xuan Emperor waiting for him there.
Seated on a large rock within a forest, Gu An stared through the gaps in the canopy at the boundless sky above. A crisp autumn breeze rustled the leaves.
The Blood Prison Saint sprawled lazily nearby, while An Xin focused on practicing her Time-Striding Dao Step.
Her movements were significantly more fluid than before, each step exuding an otherworldly grace. The Blood Prison Saint watched her, his eyes wide with amazement.
He too wished to learn the technique, but merely observing An Xin's practice provided no insight. He surmised that mastering such an ability would require direct instruction from Gu An.
Still, the Blood Prison Saint refrained from making a request. In his current form, he wasn't suitable for cultivating divine abilities. As long as he performed well, he believed Gu An would eventually teach him when the time was right.
Shifting his attention, Gu An gazed toward the distant seas.
The theft of medicinal herbs had indeed caused a stir. The sects affected by the theft couldn't identify the culprit and sought assistance from the Sacred Court. As the Sacred Court consolidated reports, they dispatched several cultivators to investigate.
Some Sacred Court cultivators speculated that the theft was linked to the celestial anomaly, even theorizing it was part of a Heavenly Demon conspiracy.
This conjecture made Gu An chuckle. The initial assumptions were accurate, but the latter conclusions were wildly off-mark.
Still, he wasn't worried about being exposed. He had no intention of stealing again. Once this breakthrough succeeded, he would return to his prior low-profile state, observing the ever-changing tides of the world with a calm demeanor.
Peaceful times had one drawback: an overly stable order made it difficult for beings at the bottom to rise. Disrupting these rules often invited trouble.
In the Heavenly Spirit World, most resources were divided among various sects. Areas rich in natural treasures were either guarded by sects or occupied by powerful demons, leaving very few unclaimed lands. Where sects didn't govern, formidable monsters did.
Despite this, Gu An still preferred peace over chaos. Though opportunities were rarer in tranquil times, the risks were significantly reduced.
If not for the Sacred Court maintaining order, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm would have razed the Tai Xuan Sect before Gu An could mature.
The rules of the world imposed constraints. Even a realm as powerful as the Seven Stars Spirit Realm had to resort to underhanded methods, unable to act openly.
Suddenly, Gu An's divine sense focused on Zhu Xi, who resided near Falling Moon Divine Lake.
The world was vast, yet among those Gu An had personally encountered, only a select few had reached the extreme lifespan of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years before the Nirvana Realm. They included An Hao, the Evil Emperor, Yang Jian, the Blood Prison Saint, Ji Xiaoya, and Zhu Xi.
The Evil Emperor, leader of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, had been trapped beneath the Immortal King's Crown and ultimately crushed by Gu An.
Surely, others who reached this extreme lifespan existed somewhere in the world—they had simply not yet appeared before Gu An.
Divine sense alone could not investigate lifespan, making such individuals difficult to identify.
Gu An observed Zhu Xi, who was still immersed in cultivation. Her progress remained unchanged from the last time he saw her.
"What kind of heights can this Primordial Devouring Origin Physique achieve?" Gu An mused curiously.
In the Heavenly Spirit World, ancient treasure physiques were exceedingly rare. Above treasure physiques lay Dao physiques, and above those, sacred physiques. The Primordial Devouring Origin Physique was on par with the Primordial Causal Physique, surpassing sacred physiques.
In terms of raw potential, Zhu Xi's physique far exceeded that of An Hao and Yang Jian.
Of course, physique was only one aspect of talent. Figures like An Hao possessed extraordinary comprehension abilities as well.
Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years represented the lifespan limit for humanity below the Nirvana Realm, but it did not signify the limit of talent.