Facing Taiyin Star Lord's gaze, Heavenly Spirit God remained silent for a moment before finally asking, "What do you want?"
Taiyin Star Lord raised the white jade bottle in his hand. A glow emanated from its mouth, rapidly expanding and forming an invisible barrier.
He locked eyes with Heavenly Spirit God and slowly uttered four words, "Preach and bestow fortune."
Heavenly Spirit God furrowed his brows, a flicker of something strange appearing in his eyes.
"Think it over first. I'll take a trip through the Great Thousand World while I'm here. It's rare to visit, so I might as well enjoy the journey."
Leaving behind these words, Taiyin Star Lord turned and departed.
Heavenly Spirit God did not stop him, merely standing still and watching as Taiyin Star Lord left.
Far away in Qiankun Sect, Gu An had been listening to their conversation. The means of Taiyin Star Lord could not prevent Gu An from eavesdropping.
This so-called Taiyin Star Lord possessed a cultivation at the mid-stage of the Taiqing Golden Immortal Realm, his body shrouded in Heavenly Dao fortune.
Because of what he said, Gu An found himself even more intrigued by Heavenly Spirit God.
It seemed Heavenly Spirit God had an even more mysterious background than he had anticipated.
As for Taiyin Star Lord's arrival in the Heavenly Spirit Great World, Gu An had no concerns that Tian Hao would be discovered. He had already sealed Tian Hao's fate, leaving only his talent and comprehension intact.
If his fate were unsealed, Tian Hao's strength would reach an absurd level—so great that no one in his realm would be able to match him. The very Heavens and Earth would assist him.
Tian Hao was not only an Innate Celestial God but also the Child of Heaven and Earth. Within the Heavenly Spirit Great World, no one could kill him. Even if he left this world, he could still borrow the power of Heavenly Dao fortune. This was his destined fate, one that allowed him to stand above all living beings from birth.
Even with his fate sealed, stripped of Heaven's assistance, Tian Hao was still the most gifted and insightful being in existence.
Gu An retracted his divine sense and returned his attention to his conversation with Li Xuanyu.
Since an old acquaintance was nearby, he naturally wanted to chat for a while. The two of them drank, sharing stories of the world, completely at ease.
Even Li Xuanyu's Dao heart found relaxation.
For the first time, she began to wonder—perhaps enjoying leisure from time to time could actually enhance cultivation?
A few days later, a tall, imposing Tian Hao strode into Gu An's courtyard. His figure was upright, his posture exuding natural confidence. He wore a Qiankun Sect robe custom-made for him, which automatically absorbed spiritual energy. As he moved, celestial mist surrounded him, and his flowing sleeves fluttered in the breeze. There was an air of freedom and transcendence about him.
"Master, I've reached the Wandering Immortal Realm! Do you know what 'A Thousand Years as a Wandering Immortal' means?"
Tian Hao stood beside Gu An, hands on his hips, grinning smugly.
Gu An never restricted his movements, so even after joining Qiankun Sect, he often returned here.
Gu An, who was reading a book, didn't even lift his head. "It means you reached Wandering Immortal Realm at one thousand years old?"
Thinking back, he himself had achieved the Wandering Immortal Realm before reaching one hundred years old.
Not only that—
At the age of ninety-six, he had already broken through to the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm.
Hearing Gu An's response, Tian Hao's eyes widened. He shouted, "Master, can't you praise me just once?"
Gu An sighed, finally looking at him with amusement. "You're already grown, and yet you're still yelling like a child."
There was another person in the courtyard—Shen Zhen. However, Shen Zhen was sitting before a refining cauldron, not paying attention to Tian Hao.
Hearing Gu An's words, Tian Hao instinctively glanced at Shen Zhen. Seeing his slightly furrowed brows, Tian Hao scratched his head in embarrassment.
Quickly changing the subject, he lowered his voice and asked, "Master, is The Adventures of Green Hero a good read? Lend me a copy. I couldn't find it anywhere in Qiankun Sect."
Without hesitation, Gu An tucked the book into his sleeve, stood up, and fixed Tian Hao with a serious gaze. "Do you think your cultivation is sufficient?"
Tian Hao responded confidently, "Not yet, but I'll become stronger."
His tone brimmed with absolute self-assurance, as though cultivation was the easiest thing in the world.
Gu An studied him for a moment before saying, "Want to spar with me?"
Tian Hao's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?!"
He had been dying to test his master's strength!
Having achieved Wandering Immortal Realm, he could now manifest a sun so vast that it covered the sky, and any spell or divine ability he saw, he could instantly master. This meant his defensive techniques were nearly endless.
Shen Zhen turned his head toward the master and disciple duo, interest flashing in his eyes.
Several figures suddenly appeared in the courtyard—An Xin, Tian Yao'er, Chen Chuan, and others. They had all overheard the conversation, and the moment they realized that Tian Hao dared to challenge Gu An, their excitement surged.
"Brat, you better go all out!" Blood Prison Saint jeered.
An Shengtian laughed, "After sparring with Master, you can have a match with me next."
He, too, had reached the Wandering Immortal Realm and wanted to test Tian Hao's strength.
Chen Chuan and Lu Xian followed suit, each issuing their own challenges. Without hesitation, Tian Hao accepted them all.
Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother hesitated for a moment, wanting to warn Tian Hao. However, in this place, she had no right to interfere.
Instead, she glanced at Gu An, and seeing that he wasn't displeased, she sighed in relief.
Gu An stretched his neck slightly, then snapped his fingers. In an instant, the entire environment around them transformed. The group found themselves in a vast, desolate wasteland, the sky above replaced by the boundless expanse of the cosmos. The stars gleamed brightly, illuminating the darkness.
Tian Hao was completely stunned by Gu An's method. He stared in awe at the vast surroundings, unable to comprehend how they had suddenly arrived here.
The others were equally shocked, unable to hide their amazement.
"This isn't an illusion—it's real!"
"There's even spiritual energy here, though it's a bit thinner than in the Dao field."
"What kind of divine ability is this? It's incredible, completely imperceptible."
"What a great place! Only in a setting like this can one truly fight without holding back. That small barrier before was too restrictive for a real battle."
"Hah! Why? Are you planning a life-and-death fight with your own people?"
Laughter and chatter filled the space as the group marveled at their new battlefield.
Gu An floated into the air, turning slightly before gazing down at Tian Hao. He smiled and said, "Go ahead, show me what you've got."
The moment his words fell, a terrifying aura erupted from Tian Hao's body, surging upward like an unstoppable force. The others instinctively gathered their spiritual energy, forming protective shields to withstand the impact.
Even An Xin, who usually remained calm, was momentarily dazed.
They all knew Tian Hao's cultivation speed was monstrous, but actually experiencing the pressure of his aura left them shaken.
In just one thousand years, this brat had surpassed them?
Those who had spent their time in seclusion especially found it absurd.
It felt as if they had merely taken a nap, and when they woke up, the once-helpless baby had already outgrown them all.
Tian Hao took a step forward, approaching Gu An. Heavenly Dao True Fire surged from his body, blazing fiercely. Nine massive fire dragons coiled around him, and behind his head, a brilliant sun rapidly expanded. His black hair billowed wildly, his expression filled with arrogance. His lips curled into a smirk, exuding an air of absolute confidence.
Gu An stared down at him, and for a moment, Tian Hao's figure overlapped with the image of An Hao in his mind.
"Master, I will surprise you!" Tian Hao's voice echoed through the starry sky.
At Qiankun Sect, nestled among the mountains, a clear river flowed peacefully. By the riverbank stood a small pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, Yi Qingshan, Lin Chuan, Cheng Meng, Gu Changsheng, and Gu Chengdao sat together. These five individuals were the highest authorities of Qiankun Sect—Yi Qingshan was the Sect Master, while the others were elders with immense power. Despite their high positions and being entangled in endless responsibilities, they always found time to gather whenever possible.
"Big Brother, Tian Hao's talent is truly beyond comprehension. Now that he has broken through to Wandering Immortal Realm, I don't think we can keep him hidden any longer," Gu Changsheng said with concern.
Lin Chuan let out a sigh. "More than his fame, I'm worried that he will become arrogant. To be honest, the last time I faced him, I couldn't suppress him anymore. Everything has gone too smoothly for him—he's never truly struggled. It's hard to imagine what kind of person he will become in the future."
Cheng Meng rolled her eyes. "What's there to be afraid of? He's not just backed by Qiankun Sect—he has Senior Gu An guiding him."
"That's true, but you've also met Tian Hao. While he isn't reckless or domineering, he's incredibly proud. Once he decides on something, no one can change his mind," Lin Chuan replied.
As the four of them discussed, Yi Qingshan remained silent, sipping his spiritual tea as if lost in thought.
At that moment—
A figure suddenly descended from the sky, landing just outside the pavilion.
The five of them turned their heads, and upon seeing who it was, they all stood up in shock.
It was Tian Hao.
At this moment, Tian Hao's expression was dark, his gaze exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
The five of them felt their hearts skip a beat—had he overheard their conversation just now?
Tian Hao took a deep breath and said, "Sect Master, Elders, I want to become stronger. From today onward, I want all of you to teach me. No matter what it is, I will learn it!"
Lin Chuan frowned and asked, "What could we possibly teach you? Before long, you will surpass us."
"My master told me to experience Qiankun Sect with my own heart. You don't have to teach me spells or divine abilities—just teach me how to deal with the world," Tian Hao said, clenching his fists tightly.
He wasn't feeling angry.
He wasn't feeling defeated.
He was afraid.
The memory of his spar with Gu An still sent chills down his spine.
Cheng Meng seemed to notice something off about him and asked, "What happened to you? Did something go wrong?"
Tian Hao shook his head. "I'm fine. After breaking through, I returned to the forbidden ground and had a spar with my master."
Hearing this, the five of them exchanged glances.