After returning to the Third Medicine Valley with Yang Jian, Gu An didn't head upstairs immediately. Instead, he sought out An Xin, inquiring about her well-being and progress in cultivation.
An Xin's maximum lifespan was two hundred and thirty years, and she could still wait a few decades before releasing the restrictions on her cultivation.
Over the years, Gu An had given her numerous pills, and perhaps with time, she could surpass Ye Lan.
"Master, have you heard any news about my senior brother, An Hao, recently?" An Xin suddenly asked.
Although she hadn't seen An Hao for a long time, their relationship had never grown distant. After all, they had grown up together and faced life-and-death situations side by side.
She knew that her future and An Hao's were worlds apart, but she couldn't help caring about him occasionally, as long as she knew he was doing well.
Gu An picked up the teacup on the table and replied, "He's doing well. He's now the number one genius of Star Sea Sect, cultivating the extraordinary Fiery Sun Treasure Body…"
These details were things Lü Baitian had mentioned before, so Gu An could repeat them without revealing his true cultivation level.
An Xin listened intently, her face filled with a smile.
She didn't harbor any jealousy toward An Hao's achievements, even though they had started cultivating on the same day. The difference in their talents was simply too vast, so much so that she sometimes wondered if she truly knew An Hao. As a result, she rarely mentioned her connection to him.
Now, life in the Medicine Valley was carefree and fulfilling. While she had no hope of pursuing the immortal path, her days were rich and enjoyable.
After Gu An finished speaking, An Xin propped her cheeks with her hands and smiled. "My senior brother is truly amazing. I can't imagine what kind of great figure he'll become in the future."
Gu An chuckled and said, "Then work hard on your cultivation so you can witness even more of the future."
An Xin nodded, then brought up the White Spirit Mouse with an expression of annoyance.
As the White Spirit Mouse's cultivation grew stronger, it became increasingly difficult for her to control. The mischievous creature only listened to Gu An and had become something of a tyrant in the Medicine Valley, often playing pranks on the disciples.
Of course, the White Spirit Mouse's mischief never caused harm, which was why Gu An didn't bother to intervene. There had been an incident when the mouse accidentally scratched An Xin, leading to a severe scolding from Gu An. Since then, it had never dared to harm anyone.
Gu An spent the day chatting with An Xin about the trivial matters of the Medicine Valley. Earlier, he had concerned himself with the grand affairs of the world; now, he was focused on the small, mundane details of the valley. The contrast amused him.
The days passed one after another.
The autumn breeze swept through the Medicine Valley.
Inside his room, Gu An reclined in a chair, holding a book on talismans. Nowadays, he occasionally read books on Daoist techniques. With his current cultivation level, most Daoist techniques of the mortal world seemed straightforward.
The reason geniuses enjoyed reading was simple: understanding brought pleasure.
Suddenly, Gu An frowned.
Li Ya was channeling the power of the Mysterious Divine City!
Wasn't Li Ya supposed to be in closed-door cultivation at Star Sea Sect?
Gu An closed his eyes and discovered that Li Ya was in the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, being suppressed by a Spectral Wraith King.
Li Ya wasn't alone; he was surrounded by numerous cultivators from various sects.
Even with the Mysterious Divine City in hand, Li Ya couldn't possibly defeat a Spectral Wraith King. While the power of an Immortal Dao Supreme Treasure was immense, it was tied to the wielder's cultivation. The higher the wielder's realm, the greater the treasure's potential.
Gu An had no intention of intervening. As long as Li Ya didn't die, a little suffering was normal. The path of cultivation was never smooth sailing.
However, another presence caught his attention, prompting him to sigh. Fate truly was a terrifying force.
In the Supernatural Realm, within a pocket of small heavens.
Beneath a blood-red sky, the ground churned with dust, like dragons and phoenixes in flight. Countless Spectral Wraiths swirled in the air, resembling swarms of moths. Their sheer number made one's scalp tingle.
A Spectral Wraith King stood proudly in the sky. His face was twisted with malevolence, symmetrical blood-red markings ran across his cheeks, and his long, white hair billowed like flames. He had six arms, each wielding a different weapon, and stood atop a thousand-zhang-tall ghostly beast.
The ghostly beast, hovering in the air, had a lion-tiger-like body and a leopard-like head. It possessed three tails that whipped through the clouds and fog with each movement.
Following the Spectral Wraith King's gaze, one could see a massive city amidst the churning dust below. This was the Mysterious Divine City, spanning a hundred li and standing as a barrier against the relentless advance of countless Spectral Wraiths. Inside the city, thousands of cultivators gazed at the heavens with a mixture of anger, fear, and hatred etched on their faces.
Atop the tallest tower in the city stood Li Ya, dressed in black. On his shoulder perched a small, pitch-black figure—none other than the Mysterious Divine Celestial Spirit.
Li Ya's brows furrowed deeply, his expression grim.
"How laughable that the Mysterious Divine City has fallen into the hands of a mere Nascent Soul cultivator. Boy, do you feel the weight crushing you yet? The Mysterious Divine City is strong, but your feeble mortal body cannot withstand its divine power," the Spectral Wraith King sneered.
His name was Zhen Liudao, a cultivator at the peak of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm. To him, Li Ya was no more than an ant.
Li Ya remained silent. Arguing was meaningless; his focus lay on surviving this ordeal.
His hands, hidden within his sleeves, were tightly clenched, and blood trickled from his nose.
Many cultivators in the city noticed this, including Shen Xinzi, who was seated cross-legged on the street. Shen Xinzi's brows furrowed as he observed the distant figure of Zhen Liudao, a glimmer of hesitation flickering in his eyes.
Zhen Liudao mocked for a while longer, but when Li Ya remained unresponsive, his frustration grew. He raised one of his six arms, holding a black mirror. From the mirror's surface, black mist began to swirl and coalesce.
A figure emerged from the black mist, rapidly enlarging until it was the same size as Zhen Liudao.
It was a white-haired man.
The moment Li Ya saw him, his pupils constricted, and his expression changed dramatically. A storm of emotions surged through him, eventually distorting into rage. His eyes blazed with fury.
"How dare you turn him into…" Li Ya ground his teeth, trembling with anger. A loud explosion echoed as his aura erupted, blood seeping from his pores.
"Mysterious Divine Celestial Spirit, channel the full power of the Mysterious Divine City! I will kill him!" Li Ya roared inwardly, unable to contain his wrath.
The white-haired man was none other than Zhang Buku.
Now, Zhang Buku had been transformed into a Spectral Wraith. His once pristine attire was in tatters, and his expression was cold and emotionless. From his vantage point, he gazed down at Li Ya, his eyes devoid of any hint of recognition or emotion.
Seeing Li Ya's furious reaction, Zhen Liudao laughed heartily. "This sovereign merely plucked some threads of causality from you and your kind. I didn't expect he held such importance in your heart. So, how about it? Would you like to join him? This is an immortal opportunity—you could become eternal, unkillable!"
Li Ya did not respond. Instead, he turned to the Mysterious Divine Celestial Spirit perched on his shoulder and bellowed, "Didn't you hear me? I want him dead!"
The Mysterious Divine Celestial Spirit shuddered, startled by Li Ya's rage. It immediately channeled more of the Mysterious Divine City's immense power.
A deafening rumble followed as the Mysterious Divine City quaked. Countless beams of radiant light erupted from the barrier enveloping the city, shooting directly toward Zhen Liudao.
The three-tailed ghost beast beneath Zhen Liudao roared in defiance, its cry shaking heaven and earth as it forcefully blocked the incoming rays of light.
Blood spurted from Li Ya's mouth as he staggered, his body trembling. "Keep going!" he commanded, his voice hoarse but resolute.
The Mysterious Divine Celestial Spirit hesitated for a brief moment before summoning even greater energy. The beams of light intensified, each one glowing brighter than before, and began to press through the ghost beast's defensive cries, inching closer.
Zhen Liudao's expression shifted slightly as he raised an eyebrow in interest.
By now, blood streamed from Li Ya's eyes, nose, and ears. His back arched under the immense strain, but his gaze never wavered. He stared daggers at Zhen Liudao, as though willing him to be torn apart.
"Amitabha! Layman Li, you must not push yourself any further. It will do no good!" A solemn voice echoed through the battlefield, resonating with clarity.
A beam of golden light shot up from within the Mysterious Divine City, piercing through the protective barrier and striking the neck of the three-tailed ghost beast. The beast struggled and thrashed but was unable to shake off the radiant golden energy.
Zhen Liudao's eyes narrowed as he directed his attention toward the source of the light.
From within the golden radiance emerged a gleaming staircase, and ascending it was Shen Xinzi. His form radiated divine Buddhist light, and the prayer beads in his hand burned with an intense flame.
Li Ya turned to him, his expression marked with surprise.
"Layman Li, you are still young. Allow this humble monk to take your place. As Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once said in Journey to the West, 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' Do not let the death of a loved one cloud your judgment. Instead, harbor this fury in your heart and transform it into strength."
Shen Xinzi's voice was firm and resolute, leaving no room for argument.
With that, he stepped beyond the Mysterious Divine City's protective barrier.
As he moved, the Buddhist light around him surged, spreading like tidal waves toward Zhen Liudao and the three-tailed ghost beast.
In the eyes of Li Ya and the thousands of cultivators within the city, a massive golden Buddhist bead materialized in the sky. With an unfathomable force, it encased both Zhen Liudao and his monstrous mount within its shimmering boundaries.
The bead glowed brilliantly for a moment before vanishing, taking Zhen Liudao and the ghost beast along with it.
The once-clamorous battlefield fell eerily silent. The countless Spectral Wraiths paused in their movements, as though frozen in time. Moments later, as if responding to an unseen command, they scattered in every direction, vanishing like schools of fish into the sea.
Li Ya, still kneeling atop the tower, lowered his head slowly. His lips trembled as he whispered, "Zhang… Bu…"
Before he could finish, his body collapsed, his consciousness fading.
Dusk fell over a desolate shoreline.
Zhen Liudao dragged Shen Xinzi's battered body across the sandy beach, stopping in front of the Spectral Fate Stele. He tossed Shen Xinzi onto the ground with a scowl.
"Why not let me devour him? Just because he's from the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect? Is there any need to be so cautious?" Zhen Liudao grumbled in dissatisfaction.
From within the Spectral Fate Stele came the voice of the Lord of the Supernatural Realm. "He bears great karma and cannot be killed. Furthermore, anyone closely tied to Zhang Buku must also be spared."
Zhen Liudao's expression darkened, and flames of anger flickered in his eyes. "Why?" he demanded.
"The one who vanquished Tian Wuchang personally instructed me to protect Zhang Buku."
Zhen Liudao froze, his anger abruptly extinguished. He fell silent, standing motionless for several moments.
With a deep breath, he turned away, retreating into the shadows without another word.
After his departure, the Lord of the Supernatural Realm emerged from the stele. He knelt beside Shen Xinzi's unconscious form, staring down at him with a contemplative expression.
"The reincarnation of a Heavenly Demon… What is the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect scheming?" he muttered.
Raising his hand, the Lord of the Supernatural Realm channeled his energy to heal Shen Xinzi's injuries.
Back in the Medicine Valley, Gu An withdrew his attention from the scene. The Lord of the Supernatural Realm had acted wisely. If he had dared to overstep, Gu An would not have hesitated to intervene, even at the cost of offending the higher powers behind the Supernatural Realm.
Yet the thought of Zhang Buku's transformation into a Spectral Wraith brought a sigh from Gu An.
He couldn't watch over Zhang Buku at every moment. By the time he sensed Zhang Buku's presence in the Supernatural Realm, the man had already become a Spectral Wraith. Thankfully, a fragment of Zhang Buku's will remained intact.
As long as the Lord of the Supernatural Realm existed, so too would the Spectral Wraiths. In essence, Zhang Buku's fate was now tied to that of the Lord of the Supernatural Realm.