When the azure mountain shadow hung upside down on the heavens, disciples from all the surrounding peaks soared into the sky to witness the breathtaking spectacle.
Gu An continued forward, carrying the Blood Prison Saint and An Xin as they flew toward Dingtian Peak.
An Xin marveled at the imposing peaks and the powerful auras of the cultivators along the way, feeling a deep sense of awe. This Mortal Peak was indeed as unfathomable as Senior Lu had claimed.
The oppressive might of the azure mountain shadow lingered over the entirety of Mortal Peak, sparking widespread discussion among the disciples of various peaks.
As they approached Dingtian Peak, Gu An ascended directly toward the summit.
It was only upon nearing the peak that An Xin truly grasped the sheer scale of these mountains. The towering peaks stretched endlessly skyward, their grandeur dwarfing anything she had seen before.
The thought that such a colossal mountain belonged to her master filled An Xin's eyes with admiration as she looked toward Gu An.
Soon, they landed at the summit. Before they could proceed further, Dingtian Peak's first disciple, Zhu Xinglan, appeared to greet them and respectfully bowed toward Gu An.
"What's going on?" Gu An asked without preamble.
Zhu Xinglan replied, "Fu Shenxiu of the main peak is currently subduing an immortal-grade treasure. He is the next master of the main peak and the most talented disciple of Mortal Peak in a million years."
When mentioning Fu Shenxiu, Zhu Xinglan's tone carried a complex mix of respect and apprehension.
Gu An raised his gaze toward the azure mountain shadow hanging in the sky and smiled. "Quite the commotion."
For a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal to struggle so much in subduing an immortal-grade treasure? It seemed this treasure was something extraordinary.
Zhu Xinglan explained, "This immortal-grade treasure was retrieved from beyond the heavens by the main peak. Without the suppression of the Sacred Court's providence, subduing its spirit inevitably stirs such a spectacle. Others have even failed before."
Gu An nodded in understanding. He then inquired about the recent state of affairs on Dingtian Peak. Upon confirming that there was nothing requiring his intervention, he began heading toward the herb garden.
Trailing behind him, An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint followed closely, while Zhu Xinglan accompanied them. However, Zhu Xinglan's gaze frequently wandered skyward, filled with longing for the majestic azure mountain shadow.
Who wouldn't desire an immortal-grade treasure? Unfortunately, such treasures were finite, unattainable by mere wishful thinking.
As they moved through the herb garden, Gu An took the opportunity to introduce An Xin to the various herbs. Most of the herbs were entirely unfamiliar to her, prompting her to listen attentively, unbothered by the celestial phenomenon unfolding above.
Zhu Xinglan, observing from the side, couldn't help but feel curious about An Xin's identity. There was something different in how their master treated her compared to others.
An Xin's jade mask, forged by Gu An himself, concealed her features so thoroughly that even Zhu Xinglan, at the ninth layer of the Wandering Immortal Realm, couldn't discern anything through it. He didn't dare use his spiritual sense to probe either.
An hour later, the immense pressure enveloping Mortal Peak began to dissipate. However, the azure mountain shadow remained in the sky, becoming even more vivid. The trees on the mountain swayed gently in the breeze, so lifelike that they seemed real.
"You can return to your duties. There's no need to follow us further," Gu An said as they exited the herb garden. His tone was calm but commanding.
Zhu Xinglan bowed deeply before vanishing into thin air.
An Xin, intrigued by his sudden disappearance, turned to Gu An and asked, "Master, what is his cultivation level?"
Gu An casually replied, "Ninth layer of the Wandering Immortal Realm."
Behind her mask, An Xin's eyes widened. She had heard of Wandering Immortals before—the famous Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who had claimed first place in the Heaven Rankings Tournament, was also at the Wandering Immortal level.
To reach the ninth layer of the Wandering Immortal Realm… didn't that mean this disciple might surpass even the Nine-Finger Divine Lord?
An Xin felt a growing sense of pressure. Dingtian Peak housed countless disciples, each seemingly as formidable as the next. Yet her master still chose to nurture her with such focus. How could she not feel the weight of that trust?
At the very least, she couldn't afford to disappoint her master!
Walking along the mountain path, master and disciple chatted while the Blood Prison Saint trailed behind. The sea breeze swept past, and the vastness of the world made them seem so small.
Gradually, the azure mountain shadow in the sky began to fade, until the heavens returned to their usual breathtaking blue.
"Master," An Xin finally asked, "how does that immortal-grade treasure compare to Senior Li Ya's Mysterious Divine City?"
When Li Ya had participated in the Heaven Rankings Tournament, the power of the Mysterious Divine City had left a profound impression on her.
"The strength of an immortal-grade treasure depends on its wielder's cultivation. Li Ya has yet to fully unleash the power of the Mysterious Divine City," Gu An explained.
The most remarkable feature of immortal-grade treasures was their eternal nature. In the present world, many such treasures existed, passed down through countless generations. Each immortal-grade treasure represented the legacy of a ninth-layer Immortal Dao cultivator's life.
Hearing this, An Xin's curiosity about immortal-grade treasures deepened.
Gu An had brought her here today to broaden her horizons, to help her understand the world's balance of power, and to witness what it meant to wield an immortal-grade treasure.
"What's that?" the Blood Prison Saint suddenly asked.
An Xin turned her gaze toward the direction he was staring, only to see a streak of azure light racing toward them from the horizon, leaving massive waves in its wake.
Gu An's lips curled into a faint smile. As expected.
The spirit of that immortal-grade treasure was no ordinary existence. This was precisely why Gu An had decided to witness the event firsthand.
An immortal-grade treasure retrieved from beyond the heavens? It undoubtedly carried a hidden agenda.
The treasure surged toward Dingtian Peak, likely drawn by the demonic entity sealed within its domain.
As the azure light neared, both An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint felt a profound and indescribable fear arise within them—a primal terror that seemed to grip their very souls. But just as the fear took hold, it vanished as swiftly as it came.
Gu An had taken a single step forward.
Both An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint instinctively turned their gazes to him.
With a calm expression, Gu An raised his hand, clenched his fist, and the distant azure light dissipated instantly.
An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint turned to look but found no trace of the azure light. It was as if the earlier scene had been a mere illusion.
The two instinctively shifted their gaze to Gu An's outstretched right hand, but unfortunately, his fist was tightly clenched, concealing whatever he had caught.
A figure descended from the sky, landing near the cliff edge, maintaining a distance of ten steps from Gu An. The newcomer's brows furrowed as he studied Gu An.
[Fu Shenxiu (Fifth Layer of the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm): 168,487/750,000/2,500,000]
Noticing Fu Shenxiu's lifespan, Gu An mused inwardly, Truly deserving of the title as the greatest prodigy of Mortal Peak in a million years. With such talent, surpassing even the likes of Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal was not out of the question.
Fu Shenxiu spoke first, "Are you Senior Meng Lang?"
Meng Lang?
An Xin's expression turned peculiar at the mention of the name.
Gu An, however, chuckled lightly. "This treasure flew straight to my Dingtian Peak. Doesn't that mean it has a destined connection with me?"
Fu Shenxiu's face immediately darkened. After all his efforts, was this treasure now claimed by someone else?
Although he had not personally participated in the Millennial Summit, Fu Shenxiu was well aware of the formidable presence of this newly emerged master within Mortal Peak. The one who had eradicated the Old Demon Mark—such an unfathomable power was not something Fu Shenxiu could hope to contend with.
Furthermore, the ease with which the other party had captured the immortal-grade treasure left Fu Shenxiu acutely aware of the disparity in their abilities.
For a moment, Fu Shenxiu hesitated, unsure of his next move. His master, Yongnian Dao Lord, had specifically instructed him to build rapport with Meng Lang. But gifting away an immortal-grade treasure for free? That was a different matter entirely, especially one that remained intact and beyond the influence of the Sacred Court.
"Senior…" Fu Shenxiu gritted his teeth, hoping to gauge Gu An's intentions.
Gu An suddenly opened his hand, revealing a miniature azure mountain hovering above his palm. It shimmered faintly, exuding an indescribable allure.
The moment Fu Shenxiu laid eyes on the mountain, he couldn't look away.
An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint, although unclear about Fu Shenxiu's cultivation level, could tell from his bearing and presence that he was no ordinary individual.
Could the small azure mountain in her master's hand truly be an immortal-grade treasure?
Grasping an immortal-grade treasure with nothing more than an outstretched hand?
An Xin's heart surged with admiration.
"If I release it, are you confident you can catch it?" Gu An asked with a playful grin.
Fu Shenxiu immediately replied, "I will do my best."
Without further ado, Gu An casually tossed the miniature azure mountain far into the distance. Despite the nonchalant gesture, the mountain landed over a million miles away.
Fu Shenxiu vanished in an instant, reappearing beside the azure mountain. His right hand, enveloped in a vortex of mystical power, reached toward the treasure.
Boom!
A terrifying surge of energy exploded outward, sending Fu Shenxiu flying. His face turned ashen with embarrassment and frustration.
The azure mountain transformed back into a streak of azure light and once again darted toward Dingtian Peak.
Fu Shenxiu barely had time to turn around before the light disappeared entirely.
As he hastily returned to Dingtian Peak and landed by the cliff's edge, his gaze fell upon Gu An. To his dismay, the azure mountain was once again hovering in Gu An's palm.
At that moment, several figures appeared behind Fu Shenxiu, hovering in midair. Each one was a leading figure of Mortal Peak. Even the master of the main peak, Yongnian Dao Lord, had arrived.
Bai Ziya's gaze swept over the azure mountain in Gu An's hand before shifting toward Fu Shenxiu. A hint of amusement flickered across his face.
Gu An turned toward Yongnian Dao Lord and smiled. "Peak Master, this treasure kept crashing toward my Dingtian Peak. I had no choice but to catch it."
Yongnian Dao Lord's eyes flickered with a strange light, as if recalling something. He then broke into a hearty laugh. "This is Qingtian Peak, a treasure discovered by one of my junior brothers beyond the heavens. If you fancy it, consider it a gift."
Hearing this, Fu Shenxiu panicked and turned to his master. "Master—"
"That's enough," Yongnian Dao Lord interrupted firmly. "In the future, we'll find you another immortal-grade treasure. This one clearly has no affinity with you; you cannot blame others."
Though Yongnian Dao Lord was only a minor realm higher than Fu Shenxiu, he had raised Fu Shenxiu personally. His decision was final, and Fu Shenxiu had no choice but to comply.
Taking a deep breath, Fu Shenxiu cupped his hands respectfully toward Gu An before turning to leave.
The other peak masters exchanged glances, each harboring their own thoughts.
Yongnian Dao Lord looked back at Gu An and said, "This treasure is indeed fated to be with Dingtian Peak. I hope you will protect Dingtian Peak well."
Gu An nodded. "If Mortal Peak requires my assistance, I will step forward."
Yongnian Dao Lord smiled warmly before bidding farewell.
One by one, the other peak masters offered their courtesies and dispersed.
As the area emptied, Gu An noticed with mild regret that Bai Ziya hadn't approached him for a conversation. It seems our relationship has grown distant, he thought.
Once everyone had departed, An Xin couldn't help but exclaim, "Did we just acquire an immortal-grade treasure that easily?"
This was the first time she had seen her master act so decisively and assertively.
Indeed, the Sword Sovereign's methods were inherently domineering; Gu An's gentleness only extended to cultivators of lower realms.
Meanwhile, the Blood Prison Saint stared intently at the Qingtian Peak in Gu An's hand, his heart swelling with determination. If I perform well, perhaps I too will one day gain such a treasure.
Gu An began walking toward the mountain summit, using his spiritual sense to probe the Qingtian Peak as he moved.
The treasure had already nurtured a spirit, indicating it had existed for many years. Its power far surpassed that of the Mysterious Divine City, evidenced by its ability to break free from the restraint of a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal.
Soon, his spiritual sense detected a concealed demonic entity hidden within the Qingtian Peak. It resided within the crumbling walls of an ancient temple, completely motionless.
"Cultivate diligently. Once you're strong enough, I'll entrust this treasure to you," Gu An said with a soft smile, glancing at the curious An Xin beside him.