As Gu An gazed at the dragon-like creature, he felt its aura to be somewhat familiar. He focused his senses to investigate.
"Huh?"
It wasn't the aura of the Sky Dragon.
The Sky Dragon was still the holy beast of the Gu Hao Sect, currently dozing off as confirmed by Gu An's spiritual sense sweep.
He began probing the karmic threads of the creature and quickly uncovered its origins.
This was actually a snake demon that had gained the true blood of the Sky Dragon, thus evolving into a dragon-like creature and significantly elevating its aptitude.
Gu An's attention shifted to the young man standing atop the dragon's head. He cast a lifespan investigation spell.
[Xu Jin (Foundation Establishment Realm, Stage Nine): 32/350/3080]
With a maximum lifespan of 3080 years, this young man would have been considered an extraordinary genius in the past. But in today's world, he was only considered a talented individual, far from reaching the pinnacle of innate potential.
Xu Jin wore a luxurious white robe and an intricately crafted hair crown. His demeanor radiated youthful confidence, making him appear around sixteen or seventeen years old.
The dragon under his feet spanned a length of ten zhang, stirring up gusts of wind as it flew low. The turbulence sent roof tiles flying from houses and palaces alike, while lanterns and awnings on the streets were swept away. The chaos it left in its wake caused widespread panic.
Ji Xiaoya frowned at the sight. She raised her wine cup, clearly preparing to act.
Gu An pressed her hand down gently, smiling. "No need to hurry."
Ji Xiaoya glanced at him and said, "This is a mortal city. Although there are a few cultivators here, their numbers are too sparse to handle that beast…"
Before she could finish her sentence, the sharp sound of a sword unsheathing echoed throughout the city. The dragon emitted a piercing cry as blood spurted from its back, causing it to crash down onto the street.
The townsfolk fled in all directions as Xu Jin, alarmed and panicked, leapt from the dragon's head and landed on a nearby rooftop.
The moment his feet touched the roof, a sword was already at his neck. His pupils dilated in terror, and cold sweat streamed down his face.
"Who… who are you? What do you want?" Xu Jin stammered.
Behind him, a cold voice sounded. "Such reckless behavior—are you attempting to disregard the laws of the Tai Cang Dynasty?"
Back at the inn.
Gu An withdrew his gaze and turned to Ji Xiaoya with a smile. "See?"
The one who intervened was a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator, whose presence had been hidden using a concealment technique, which was why Ji Xiaoya had not noticed him.
Ji Xiaoya gave the swordsman a deep, contemplative look before shifting her focus back to Gu An. "The current emperor is truly competent. I had thought his laws against reckless cultivators were mere posturing, but I didn't expect them to be enforced so seriously. That swordsman's aura is remarkable—his sword intent was quite strong the moment he struck."
Gu An nodded. "The Tai Cang Dynasty is now home to countless hidden dragons and crouching tigers. You never know where a great cultivator might be hiding."
"But both of us are in the Core Formation Realm. Why were you able to detect his presence while I wasn't?"
"Good question. Do you want me to say that you're just not as good as me? For heaven's sake, I'm 156 years older than you."
"I've heard that you were once a top-ranked prodigy on the Golden Rankings, but you always downplay your own aptitude. Could it be that you're actually just pretending to be ordinary, hiding your true strength?"
"Bingo. In fact, I'm a reincarnated celestial being, deeply concealed in the mortal world."
"Oh, really?"
Ji Xiaoya rolled her eyes but couldn't help chuckling at his words. Her previously tense mood lightened.
The two resumed drinking and chatting, no longer paying attention to Xu Jin and the dragon.
In the end, both Xu Jin and the dragon were taken away by the Nascent Soul swordsman, much to the cheers of the townsfolk.
For the next two days, Gu An and Ji Xiaoya wandered the city. They even visited Xiao Chuan's residence but only observed from the rooftop without disturbing him.
Xiao Chuan had built a life for himself, complete with a wife, concubines, and children. It was a life of contentment and fulfillment.
After staying in the city for two days, Gu An and Ji Xiaoya departed, continuing their journey to other places.
Because Gu An's primary focus was still on medicinal herbs, the journey only lasted half a month. For Ji Xiaoya, however, it was already a deeply fulfilling experience.
With Gu An's company, she witnessed the myriad facets of life. His insights and experiences helped her resolve many of her inner doubts, leaving her greatly enlightened.
Time flew by.
By late summer, Gu An and Yang Jian arrived at Xunxian Island.
Since his last venture into the Supernatural Realm, Xunxian Island had ceased to be invaded by Spectral Wraiths. While the seas still harbored many Spectral Wraiths, their numbers had significantly dwindled, and most now acted alone.
As soon as they entered the city, Gu An and Yang Jian overheard cultivators discussing the battle at the Great Rift of the Broken Sea.
The battle had been raging for over a year, and even Shen Xinzi, who had once attempted to eliminate You Yingying, had joined the fray on behalf of the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect.
"Those Spectral Wraith Kings are truly difficult to deal with. They're practically indestructible."
"Yeah. I heard that over a thousand Loose Immortals have perished in the rift over the years. As for cultivators below the Loose Immortal level, who knows how many have fallen?"
"Falling isn't the scariest part. The terrifying thing is that once they die, they turn into Spectral Wraiths and fight against us."
"It's hard to see how we can ever resolve this calamity."
"The Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect can purify Spectral Wraiths, but they just don't have enough people. Their most powerful monk, Shen Xinzi, was cursed and is now missing—his life or death remains unknown."
Yang Jian's ears perked up at the mention of Shen Xinzi's name, and he turned to Gu An for confirmation.
Gu An transmitted a thought. "Yes, it's the monk who visited Medicine Valley earlier."
Yang Jian had sensed back then that Shen Xinzi was not an ordinary individual. However, he hadn't expected the monk's reputation to be so prominent.
Soon after, Hu Xiaojian approached Gu An and Yang Jian, offering his usual respectful greeting before leading them toward the herb procurement area.
"Senior, I heard that Tang Hai and the others encountered danger at the Great Rift of the Broken Sea and are now unaccounted for…" Hu Xiaojian spoke cautiously, his tone tinged with apprehension.
Gu An remained composed, replying calmly, "Every individual has their destiny. Different choices lead to different outcomes. Those who choose to walk the path of cultivation must already have prepared themselves mentally."
Hu Xiaojian nodded in agreement but couldn't help lamenting over the immense power of the Spectral Wraith Kings.
Currently, aside from the Sword Master of the Dao, there was no other person—or demon—capable of suppressing a Spectral Wraith King single-handedly.
The longer the calamity of the Great Rift of the Broken Sea persisted, the more it highlighted the Sword Master of the Dao's incredible strength. Though the Sword Master had not joined the ongoing war at the rift, many believed that the reduction of Spectral Wraith activity at sea and the retreat of Spectral Wraith Kings into the rift were linked to his influence.
Gu An made no comment, letting the conversation flow between Hu Xiaojian and Yang Jian.
"By the way, have you heard about the book Journey to the West? It's become a sensation across the seas. Have you read it?" Hu Xiaojian suddenly asked with evident enthusiasm.
Yang Jian nodded, saying, "I've read it. Why?"
Inwardly, Yang Jian felt a swell of pride. His master wasn't just a cultivation expert but also a literary genius whose work had spread far and wide.
Gu An was slightly taken aback as well. He silently calculated, discovering that the spread of Journey to the West had been significantly bolstered by the efforts of Star Sea Sect and, surprisingly, Shen Xinzi himself.
How amusing.
Gu An wasn't particularly concerned about trouble brewing over the book's popularity. At his current level, he had the ability to protect himself.
That said, he wouldn't mind if things stayed peaceful for now.
Hu Xiaojian continued to gush about Journey to the West, detailing its widespread acclaim among sea-faring cultivators and major sects. Almost everyone active in the region seemed to have read it.
Opinions on the book varied—some praised its imaginative depiction of the immortal and demonic realms, while others saw it as a reflection of reality. A few even speculated that it was a historical account.
Although not as popular as Journey to the West, Investiture of the Gods also gained traction among readers who were drawn in by the former.
Hu Xiaojian was one such reader. His enthusiasm extended to discussions of prominent sects and powerful cultivators across the seas, filling Yang Jian with a sense of wonder.
Just how vast was this world?
After two hours of lively conversation, Gu An and Yang Jian returned to Tai Xuan Sect.
As they strolled through the forested paths leading to their destination, Yang Jian seemed unusually talkative.
"Master, who is stronger—Tian Wuchang or the Spectral Wraith Kings?" he asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
The question had been on his mind ever since Hu Xiaojian mentioned that the Sword Master of the Dao had once intervened to fend off a Spectral Wraith King at Star Sea Sect. The details were murky, as Hu Xiaojian's knowledge was limited, but the idea lingered.
Although Tian Wuchang no longer haunted his dreams, Yang Jian still felt an invisible pressure, as if destiny would eventually pit him against the formidable entity.
Gu An replied offhandedly, "I don't know. You'll understand when you face them yourself someday."
"I hope that day doesn't come too soon."
"For someone at Tian Wuchang's level, 'soon' could mean centuries or millennia. Don't let it weigh on your mind."
"That's true. I won't slack off, Master!"
Yang Jian's eyes burned with renewed determination. He hesitated before asking another question that had been nagging at him.
What was Master's true cultivation level?
Although Gu An claimed to be a Loose Immortal, from what Hu Xiaojian had said, the Sword Master of the Dao seemed far beyond that realm. And then there was the matter of the senior disciple…
Yang Jian suppressed his curiosity, reasoning that if Master didn't speak of such matters, it must be for a good reason.
Inside a grand hall, An Hao slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
A figure appeared by the poolside without warning. It was Chi Jiuxiao.
Chi Jiuxiao studied An Hao with interest, clicking his tongue in admiration. "Level Nine of the Void Crossing Realm. Not bad, kid. You're only a little over a hundred years old and already this strong. Terrifying. Although our sect invested heavily in you, the speed at which you've absorbed it all is proof of your unparalleled talent."
An Hao looked at him calmly and replied, "Above Void Crossing is Body Fusion, then Profound Heart. To reach the Mahayana Realm by five hundred years old, my progress is nothing extraordinary."
Chi Jiuxiao rolled his eyes. "With the pace you're going, reaching Mahayana within five hundred years will be a breeze. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if you achieved Nirvana before then. Your innate aptitude is beyond belief."
His voice betrayed a hint of envy.
An Hao shook his head. "My master has another disciple who, according to him, is no less gifted than I am. Honestly, I fear being surpassed."
The mention of the Sword Master of the Dao made Chi Jiuxiao sit cross-legged in curiosity. "Who exactly is your master? What sect does he hail from? Don't tell me Tai Xuan Sect—it's hard to believe someone of his caliber isn't from the Sacred Court or a top-tier sect."
"I truly don't know," An Hao said, exasperated.
Even if he did know, he wouldn't reveal it.
Chi Jiuxiao shot him a look before pulling a book from his robes. "Here, have a read of Journey to the West. It's another gem from Tai Xuan Sect. This book has taken the seas by storm. I'm tempted to visit Tai Xuan Sect myself."
Journey to the West?
An Hao glanced at the book in Chi Jiuxiao's hands. He'd heard of it before—written by someone named Pan An from Tai Xuan Sect.
And who was Pan An? An Hao knew the answer—his junior sister was a disciple under Pan An.
An Hao couldn't help recalling his first meeting with Gu An, witnessing Lü Baitian's resurgence and dominance.
Gu An's cultivation and aptitude were unremarkable, yet such a seemingly ordinary person had gained fame even across the seas. Truly remarkable.