Gu An stepped into the Wushi Dao Field. From a distance, he could see two figures battling high above the mountain peaks—it was Lu Xian and Chen Chuan.
These two were the most combative among them, even more so than the Blood Prison Saint. However, since they were only sparring and not truly fighting in earnest, Gu An never intervened.
Watching Chen Chuan's graceful and commanding presence in the sky, Gu An felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
In his memories, he had never seen Xiao Chuan so spirited and full of life.
He pondered when it would be the right time to help Chen Chuan recover his past-life memories. But he knew this wasn't something that could be rushed—letting things unfold naturally was best.
A figure suddenly appeared beside him—it was An Xin. She looked at him with a hint of grievance and said, "Master, why didn't you tell me before you left yesterday?"
"Hm? Who is the master here, you or me?"
"Aiya, I just wanted to go out with you."
"If you're bored, you can go visit Qiankun Sect. There will be many new developments there soon, and I plan to go watch the excitement as well."
"Really?"
"Really."
Gu An wasn't lying. With the restructuring of Heavenly Spirit Grand World, various grand heavens were now merging, and sects had begun traveling across the land. In the coming years, the entire world would flourish with prosperity.
A new era had begun. Sects were striving for supremacy, and different great heavens had their own cultivation ideologies. When these ideas clashed, they would spark new developments.
An unprecedented golden age was about to unfold.
The powerful figures who had survived from the previous era would rise to the peak of authority. Meanwhile, this newly strengthened world and its evolving laws would nurture even more prodigies, elevating the potential of geniuses to unprecedented levels.
Gu An could already sense the shifting fate of the heavens, foreseeing the emergence of countless cultivators with the pinnacle lifespan limit of 9,999 years.
He was looking forward to it.
As the two walked along the mountain path, chatting, a gentle breeze rustled past, causing An Xin to feel a moment of trance-like clarity.
Unknowingly, she had already lived for 9,521 years. She didn't feel that her life experiences were particularly rich, but in a way, that signified that she had lived a peaceful and fulfilling life.
She turned to glance at her master beside her. His profile filled her heart with a deep sense of calm.
She, too, was filled with anticipation.
A thousand years from now, a million years from now, or even ten million years from now—would she still be able to walk alongside her master?
If she remained by his side, what wonders would she witness?
The Spring Festival of Qiankun Sect had just passed, and figures of cultivators could be seen moving throughout the mountains. Most of them were heading in the same direction—toward a grand city, surrounded by mountains, its radiance shining like a mirage. It carried the grandeur of an immortal city.
This city was the main stronghold of Qiankun Sect. Since the restructuring of the Grand World, a thousand years had passed, and the sect had seized the opportunity to rapidly expand. Not only had it become the dominant righteous force on the Nine Spirits Continent, but it had also established a formidable reputation across various surrounding sea regions.
This year, Qiankun Sect was hosting the Hundred Sects Assembly, inviting over a hundred righteous sects from across the lands to exchange and discuss Daoist teachings. This was the first time Qiankun Sect had held such a grand event, making the city livelier than ever before.
Inside the main city, the Scripture Pavilion was packed with people.
Under An Xin's guidance, the structure of Qiankun Sect had become nearly identical to Tai Xuan Sect. However, due to the vast distance between them, the two sects had yet to cross paths.
"Why is Qiankun Supreme sold out again? With Qiankun Sect's deep foundations, can't they just print more copies?"
A young male disciple stood at the counter, staring at the attendant of the Scripture Pavilion with wide eyes.
The attendant merely shrugged and said helplessly, "Senior Brother, shouting at me won't help. I only handle sales."
The young man shot him a glare before flicking his sleeve and leaving.
Soon after, another disciple approached the counter, inquiring about Qiankun Supreme.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Gu An, dressed in blue, stood before a row of bookshelves, casually flipping through a book.
Tian Yao'er leaned in to peek at the title and couldn't help but curl her lips in disdain.
"Master, you're interested in reading something like this?"
Before leaving the Dao Field, Gu An had instructed her not to call him 'Master' in public but instead to address him as 'Young Lord.' Tian Yao'er didn't fully understand the reason, but she rather liked the title—it made them seem more equal, which fueled her imagination.
Gu An looked down at the book in his hand—Nine Spirits Heroes' Chronicles—and chuckled softly.
"As long as it's a book, it's worth reading."
Since he had begun writing novels within Qiankun Sect, a wave of literature had swept through the sect, leading to the rise of countless fictional tales. Nine Spirits Heroes' Chronicles was one such novel, an adventure story clearly influenced by his own writing style.
Hearing his words, Tian Yao'er curled her lips again before turning to leave. She planned to explore the city. With her cultivation at the Loose Immortal Realm, she was considered a high-level cultivator within Qiankun Sect, so there was little chance of encountering danger—especially with Gu An here.
After she left, Gu An continued reading.
Before long, two women stepped onto the second floor—Li Xuanyu and Tang Cai.
Ever since An Xin had rescued them, they had been residing on the Nine Spirits Continent. Seeing the growing influence of Qiankun Sect, they had voluntarily joined, now officially disciples of the sect.
Given their backgrounds, they could have assumed elder positions, but they preferred not to be too deeply tied to the sect. After all, they knew they would eventually leave.
"Sister, why did we come here?" Tang Cai asked in confusion. The Scripture Pavilion mostly contained miscellaneous books; if they wanted to pursue Daoist teachings, the Sutra Pavilion would be a better choice.
Li Xuanyu replied, "Just to look around. Your heart is too restless—this is good practice for you."
Her gaze swept across the second floor, pausing briefly on each disciple, as if searching for someone.
However, after looking around, Li Xuanyu still did not find the person she was searching for. A trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.
Tang Cai, hearing her sister's words, felt indignant. She had just finished an 800-year-long seclusion, and she was still considered impatient?
She was about to retort but saw that Li Xuanyu had already started walking toward the stairs leading to the third floor.
"I am not impatient! These past years—" Tang Cai quickly caught up with Li Xuanyu, trying to defend herself.
"Senior Sister Li."
A voice called out, causing Li Xuanyu to pause. She turned around and saw Gu An walking between two bookshelves, holding a book in his hands.
After ten thousand years, seeing him again left her momentarily dazed. Gu An seemed completely different from the image in her memories.
In her recollection, Gu An had always been cautious and restrained. But the man standing before her now was handsome beyond words, exuding an otherworldly aura, as if a celestial being had descended upon the mortal world.
Tang Cai looked at Gu An with a hint of curiosity.
At first glance, she had to admit—he was an extraordinarily good-looking man.
However, she did not instantly fall for him. She had traveled extensively and met countless people, but she had never encountered a cultivator whose aura surpassed Gu An's.
Even her beloved Li Ya paled in comparison when it came to sheer presence. Li Ya had won her heart through his boldness and unwavering loyalty, but Gu An possessed a different kind of charm, one that set him apart from anyone else she had ever met.
Gu An approached Li Xuanyu with a smile and asked, "Senior Sister Li, do you not recognize me?"
Li Xuanyu came back to her senses and sighed. "Of course, I recognize you. To be honest, I came here just to find you. After all, your disciple is also on this continent, and Qiankun Sect bears a striking resemblance to Tai Xuan Sect. I suspected that you were involved."
She was unaware that Gu An was the legendary Sword Master of the Dao, but the strength of An Xin had already proven that Gu An's cultivation had far surpassed hers.
She had sought Gu An out solely to personally express her gratitude.
She wasn't foolish. An Xin's rescue had undoubtedly been at Gu An's behest.
"I don't have that much influence. Why don't we find an inn and catch up?" Gu An suggested with a smile.
Li Xuanyu naturally had no objections.
Gu An also did not ignore Tang Cai and introduced himself courteously.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three of them headed downstairs.
As they exited, Tang Cai couldn't help but cast a strange look at Gu An when she saw him purchase a copy of Nine Spirits Heroes' Chronicles.
After learning that Gu An was An Xin's master, she had grown to respect him. But she had never expected such a great cultivator to read such mundane books.
Shouldn't someone of his caliber be focused on comprehending the Dao?
Li Xuanyu, however, was unfazed. She had known before that Gu An enjoyed reading.
Seeing that he still maintained this habit made her feel a sense of familiarity, as if the distance between them had subtly lessened.
Soon, the three of them found a nearby inn and sat down to chat. After exchanging stories about their recent experiences, Gu An shifted the topic to Li Ya. After all, Li Ya was the common link between all three of them.
At the mention of Li Ya, Tang Cai immediately lit up with excitement. His name had already spread far and wide across the Nine Spirits Continent.
Li Ya wielded the Nine Absolute Sacred Heart Sword. While he was not yet recognized as the number one sword cultivator in the world, his strength was undeniable. Furthermore, his habit of roaming the lands had made him a widely renowned figure.
"I heard that he had a falling out with the Holy Son of the Yaoguang Sacred Sect and is currently being hunted by them. I wanted to go help him, but my sister said I would only be a burden. Gu An, you're Li Ya's junior brother—can you help him?" Tang Cai looked at Gu An, her voice carrying a hint of pleading.
She had been through countless hardships with Li Ya and understood that beneath his glorious reputation lay an immense struggle.
He must have been gravely injured, or he wouldn't have reached the point of making enemies with the Yaoguang Sacred Sect.
Before Gu An could reply, Li Xuanyu spoke coldly, "Tang Cai, don't trouble Junior Brother Gu with Li Ya's affairs. That was his own choice. Junior Brother Gu has already saved our lives—how could we trouble him further?"
"But—"
"No buts."
Li Xuanyu's tone was firm, leaving Tang Cai no choice but to nod reluctantly.
Gu An found her reaction amusing but simply said, "The Yaoguang Sacred Sect is indeed formidable. I've heard that they have a Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal in their ranks, someone who has reached the sixth heaven of the Immortal Dao. Not an opponent to be taken lightly."
The sixth heaven of the Immortal Dao!
Li Xuanyu's expression grew tense, and Tang Cai became visibly anxious.
Gu An reassured them, "Don't worry. Senior Brother Li holds the divine treasure Shen Yi City and the Nine Absolute Sacred Heart Sword. He is blessed with great fortune and will surely overcome this crisis. That sword is known as the greatest divine sword in existence."
Hearing his words, Li Xuanyu nodded, while Tang Cai remained lost in deep worry.
The conversation then shifted to the upcoming Hundred Sects Assembly at Qiankun Sect. Although Li Xuanyu continued responding, the atmosphere had noticeably changed.
After half an hour, Gu An bid farewell to the two women.
Standing at the entrance of the inn, Li Xuanyu and Tang Cai watched as he walked away.
"Sister, if he's Li Ya's junior brother, then he must also be from Tai Xuan Sect. Why would he travel so far alone?" Tang Cai asked curiously.
Li Xuanyu gazed at Gu An's fading silhouette and said, "Perhaps he carries a burden that forced him to leave his homeland. In life, there are always things beyond our control."
Hearing this, Tang Cai felt that Gu An's figure was filled with countless untold stories, just like Li Ya.
Just then, they noticed a breathtakingly beautiful woman emerging from the crowd. She quickly rushed forward and clung to Gu An's arm. The two of them laughed and chatted as they walked away together, displaying an unmistakable closeness before disappearing into the bustling city streets.
Tang Cai opened her mouth, as if she wanted to ask something, but in the end, she said nothing.
Li Xuanyu remained silent as well.