The distant future!
An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint were deeply shocked by Gu An's words. They did not doubt him; instead, their hearts filled with boundless awe and yearning.
For Gu An to obtain such profound Dao techniques from the future—how extraordinary must his cultivation be?
An Xin pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Master, if you can see the future, what is it like? How far into the future can I survive?"
The Blood Prison Saint, equally curious, also turned his gaze to Gu An. Who wouldn't want to know their own future?
Gu An casually flipped a page of his book and replied, "The future is not set in stone. If you learn too much about it, it will change."
Unwilling to give up, An Xin pressed further. "Then is our destiny good or bad?"
Gu An glanced at her and said, "Following me—could it be bad?"
A bright smile broke across An Xin's face as she began to flatter Gu An.
The Blood Prison Saint was just as elated. Silently, he admired Gu An even more, thinking that even his master's words carried unparalleled confidence and dominance.
"Keep practicing. We'll head back later," Gu An instructed without looking up, continuing to read his book.
An Xin, now brimming with excitement, turned her focus back to her recent Dao enlightenment.
Through the Extreme Dao Combat Method, her lifespan had extended slightly, though not by much.
The lifespans of An Xin, Ye Lan, and Zhen Qin were all increasing at a slow pace. Gu An could only hope to guide them to the Nirvana Realm as soon as possible, where a breakthrough would offer them a significant turning point.
For now, they relied mainly on the Innate Reincarnation Technique and Gu An's alchemy to sustain their lives. The only consolation was their unrelenting dedication to cultivation, with none of them ever showing signs of giving up.
Night fell.
Gu An descended from the tree and began guiding An Xin in her cultivation.
The training continued until dawn. Only then did they journey to Tianya Valley to harvest spirit herbs. Afterward, they returned to Xuan Valley.
No matter what other activities occupied their time, collecting spirit herbs to prolong their lives remained Gu An's top priority. It was a task he would never delay or neglect.
Recently, however, Gu An had been mulling over another matter.
Where should he go to make his next breakthrough?
He felt that breaking through in the Desolate Domain would inevitably attract immense trouble to Heavenly Spirit World.
Thinking about the immortal gods that Ji had confronted, Gu An couldn't help but feel a looming pressure.
He would have to find a more remote location to make his breakthrough.
This universe was vast, after all. Though it would likely bring trouble to another world, sacrifices had to be made. If another world had to bear the burden, so be it—it was necessary to safeguard his current domain.
Two years passed.
Gu An, now 730 years old, was a guest at the Leaf Residence of the Tai Xuan Sect's branch sect.
He sat with Ye Lan, listening as Zhen Qin animatedly recounted a harrowing battle from a few years ago. The girl was so immersed in her storytelling that she occasionally climbed onto her chair for emphasis, her emotions fluctuating with the highs and lows of her tale.
Gu An was an attentive audience, not only listening intently but also reacting with various expressions of surprise, awe, and amusement.
Ye Lan, on the other hand, didn't interrupt. She simply watched Zhen Qin boasting to Gu An with a gentle smile. The spring breeze rustled the courtyard as Ye Lan's heart filled with contentment.
For her, moments like this—where everyone she cared about was safe and sound—were the greatest blessings in life.
When Zhen Qin finally finished, she sat down and placed her hands on the table. Looking at Gu An, she asked, "Master, is there any truth to the recent rumors about the Divine Path? The way the Mortal God speaks, he sounds so self-important, yet he hasn't made any significant moves in all these years. Still, the rumors are everywhere."
Talk of the Divine Path had even reached the Tai Xuan Sect. According to the rumors, those who believed in the Divine Path could receive divine power and survive the impending Age of Darkness. The tales were nothing short of miraculous.
Gu An had heard the same claims while at the Third Medicine Valley, but he hadn't paid them much mind.
The future would only grow more chaotic. The Mortal God's Divine Path was merely one of the many currents in the torrent of the times and was unlikely to determine the world's ultimate fate.
The Mortal God spoke boldly, but in reality, he was nothing more than a pawn of the Sacred Court. As a pawn, how could he ever compare to the Sacred Court itself?
More Free Immortals would emerge in the future. Gu An had encountered two Free Immortals sneaking into the Reincarnation Whirlpool during his last breakthrough. Their intentions remained unclear.
"Who can say what's true or false? But I've heard that the overseas regions are in chaos. If the Divine Path can truly help people in need, then even if it's a lie, I'd still be willing to believe it's real," Gu An replied.
His words were sincere. To him, strength alone did not define immortals or gods. If they were truly divine, they should prioritize saving the common people.
In both his past and present lives, tales of immortals and gods had always been associated with righteousness and great virtue. This wasn't mere mortal fantasy but a concept perpetuated by the immortals and gods themselves.
Since they had conveyed this idea, it was a responsibility they had bestowed upon themselves.
Zhen Qin nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Immortals and gods who don't help the people are no different from the Immortal Dynasties or the Sacred Court."
The world didn't need another Immortal Dynasty or Sacred Court.
Ye Lan finally spoke. "These matters are far removed from us. Why dwell on them? Instead, why not focus on achieving Nirvana?"
At this, Zhen Qin's expression turned bitter. "Nirvana? Is there even a chance for us?"
Despite being a great cultivator in the Void Crossing Realm, she still felt that the Nirvana Realm was an unattainable dream.
She couldn't even fathom how others had reached it.
"Of course, there's hope. Keep faith, and you'll succeed. I believe in you," Gu An said with a cheerful smile.
Both Ye Lan and Zhen Qin had already reached the Void Crossing Realm. A century ago, during a release of their cultivation power, it was revealed that their maximum lifespans had exceeded 1,200 years.
Ye Lan gazed at Gu An, her eyes lingering on his forehead.
Gu An's outward cultivation level still appeared to be at the Nascent Soul Realm, but both An Xin and Zhen Qin knew he was concealing a far greater power. After all, the Innate Reincarnation Technique had been taught to them by Gu An himself.
Over the years, Gu An's demeanor and aura had grown increasingly profound. There was no way he could be mistaken for an ordinary cultivator.
"Master, if you unleashed your full power, could you ascend directly to the Nirvana Realm in one go?" Zhen Qin asked curiously.
Gu An chuckled and replied, "Nirvana Realm? You underestimate me. I could go straight to the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao."
"Master, how many drinks have you had?" Zhen Qin teased.
"Do you think I'm bluffing?"
"Then wouldn't that make you stronger than Yangxian Emperor?"
"Perhaps a fifty-fifty chance."
"What does that mean? You'd only have a fifty percent chance of winning?"
"Exactly," Gu An said nonchalantly.
"Pfft!" Zhen Qin burst into laughter at Gu An's playful boast, and soon, she joined in the exaggeration.
Ye Lan observed their banter with a soft smile. She didn't take Gu An's claims too seriously, given that they had grown up together. After all, those at the Immortal Dao's higher levels were typically over a thousand years old, ancient beings with unimaginable experience.
However, Ye Lan's thoughts turned to Sword Master of the Dao, the elder supporting Gu An.
If that venerable elder were to face Yangxian Emperor, perhaps a fifty percent chance would be accurate.
Gu An's bold words likely stemmed from having consulted with Sword Master of the Dao himself, arriving at this realistic estimation.
The three chatted for quite some time. When Gu An felt the conversation had reached its natural end, he rose to take his leave.
Though Ye Lan tried to persuade him to stay, Gu An politely declined, saying he wished to explore more of the branch sect.
Gu An wandered the streets of the branch sect on his own.
Compared to the orderly main sect of Tai Xuan Sect, the branch sect felt much more chaotic. Stalls lined the streets, selling practical goods aimed at disciples preparing to train in the Demon Lands.
Many disciples passing through bore visible injuries, evidence of the dangers they faced.
In these turbulent times, many demons and ghosts had infiltrated the Tai Cang Continent. While these intruders posed a threat, Gu An saw no reason to intervene. Their presence served as both an opportunity and a challenge, pushing human cultivators to grow stronger. Of course, it also increased the risk, but such was the way of the world—survival of the fittest.
Powerful demons didn't just bring conflict; they also brought treasures. Their demon artifacts provided cultivators with invaluable resources.
Gu An himself no longer needed to hunt. Simply gathering spirit herbs was enough to rapidly extend his lifespan.
As Gu An strolled, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
Zhang Shi!
This man, burdened with the cause and effect of reincarnation, was a Free Immortal undergoing a Reincarnation Tribulation. His connection to the Samsara Dao Emperor suggested an extraordinary identity.
Gu An even suspected Zhang Shi to be a reincarnation of Divine Sovereign itself.
Approaching with a smile, Gu An blocked his path and hesitantly called out, "Brother Zhang?"
Zhang Shi recognized Gu An instantly. He had a vivid memory of the man who invented the game of Go and served as the Valley Master. Returning the smile, he said, "Daoist Gu, long time no see. I'm surprised you still remember me."
Noticing that Zhang Shi's cultivation and lifespan hadn't significantly changed, Gu An warmly invited him, "It has been a long time indeed. How about we find a pavilion to catch up?"
Though puzzled by Gu An's sudden enthusiasm, Zhang Shi didn't decline the offer.
The two chatted amicably as they made their way to a nearby inn.
After the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the two were seated opposite each other in a private room.
After exchanging pleasantries, Gu An poured Zhang Shi a drink and casually asked, "What brings you to the branch sect?"
Zhang Shi replied, "I'm investigating an enemy. They've hidden their identity and may have joined Tai Xuan Sect."
Hearing this, Gu An frowned slightly. "Do you need my help?"
Zhang Shi chuckled. "Aren't you curious about the nature of our grudge? What if I was the one in the wrong?"
"If that were the case, your enemy wouldn't need to hide. The Tai Xuan Sect is a righteous sect. If your enemy had joined them, the sect would seek justice for them," Gu An said earnestly.
Zhang Shi laughed and shook his head. "You place a lot of faith in the Tai Xuan Sect."
"Thank you for your offer, but I'll handle this myself. I can't trouble others, and I certainly won't risk involving innocents," Zhang Shi said firmly.
As they spoke, Zhang Shi's gaze lingered on Gu An's forehead.
"Brother Gu, have you ever considered the meaning of the golden patterns on your forehead?" Zhang Shi asked.
Gu An touched his forehead and replied, "A friend from the Immortal Dynasty once told me it's a Dao Mark, formed through enlightenment."
Zhang Shi smiled. "You're quite knowledgeable. It is indeed a Dao Mark, but not one formed through ordinary enlightenment."
He studied Gu An closely before continuing, "Your past life must have had an extraordinary background."
Gu An's eyes widened in surprise. "Past life?"
"That's right. Your previous incarnation was undoubtedly one of the most powerful beings in existence. But as for who you were, even I cannot discern that yet," Zhang Shi said, his gaze growing more profound.
Caught off guard, Gu An frowned and asked, "Then what should I do? Am I reincarnated for some kind of mission?"
Zhang Shi shook his head. "There's no need to overthink it. Your task is simply to live this life well. Knowing about your past life is meant to give you confidence, not burden you with unnecessary worries."
Zhang Shi's fondness for Gu An grew. Upon hearing about his past life, Gu An's first thought wasn't about his own greatness but about the purpose of his reincarnation.
Such introspection was itself a sign of enlightenment.
Gu An breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. "That's a relief. I've grown accustomed to a peaceful life and wouldn't want to suddenly shoulder some grand mission."