Li Ya stood at the peak of Mysterious Divine City, his long sword in hand, his expression grave.
The Mysterious Divine Spirit perched on his shoulder, exuding an air of smugness as it waved enthusiastically. Ever since Li Ya had uncovered the truth about it, the Spirit had ceased its pretense, acting as its true self.
Initially, Li Ya had felt uncomfortable with the change, but now his mind was occupied with far graver concerns.
The battle had raged on for some time, and Mysterious Divine City remained trapped. The monsters were not only incredibly powerful but also adept at formations, completely halting the city's advance. Worse still, more beasts kept joining the fray.
At this rate, Mysterious Divine City could be breached.
Li Ya's greatest fear was that their actions might provoke even more terrifying creatures to emerge, potentially forcing their Ancestor to intervene.
Clenching his teeth, Li Ya prepared to order a retreat, but just as he opened his mouth, the Mysterious Divine Spirit on his shoulder suddenly began to shriek.
"I'm about to unleash my divine might!" it declared, raising its tiny arm high with an excited, childlike voice.
Li Ya froze, momentarily stunned. He instinctively looked up, scanning the surroundings. His sharp eyes darted across the vast expanse of thunderclouds, which stretched endlessly in all directions. The more he searched, the faster his gaze moved, as if he were trying to find something specific.
Watching Li Ya's actions from afar, Gu An couldn't help but smile.
The burden on Li Ya had already been relayed to Gu An by the Mysterious Divine Spirit, but he hadn't commented. Some trials, after all, were best faced personally.
It was like Long Zhan, the indomitable warrior, who was always resolute and never hesitated.
Gu An reached for his waist and removed the Qingtian Peak. The peak, no larger than a palm, shimmered with ancient energy under the flashes of lightning, its presence so profound that it made An Xin inexplicably tense.
Under An Xin's watchful eyes, Gu An tossed Qingtian Peak upward. The tiny peak vanished into the sea of clouds.
In the next moment, an overwhelming aura descended, enveloping the entire ocean.
Both Li Ya and the Mysterious Divine Spirit sensed it instantly and looked up simultaneously.
The previously overconfident Mysterious Divine Spirit froze, its eyes widening in utter shock. Li Ya, too, was left dumbfounded, his mouth slightly agape.
The rolling clouds were suddenly blown apart, revealing a colossal green mountain that loomed above. Towering high, the mountain dwarfed everything around it. From the ocean below to the heavens above, its sheer magnitude made all else seem insignificant. Even the trees on the mountain appeared enormous, like divine weapons exuding an oppressive force.
Compared to Qingtian Peak, Mysterious Divine City seemed no larger than a pebble—a testament to the mountain's immense grandeur.
Gu An, with An Xin by his side, ascended to the summit of Qingtian Peak. An Xin looked up, her gaze captured by the dazzling starlit sky above. Amid the brilliance, seven radiant suns burned brightly, their reflections shimmering in her eyes.
The emergence of Qingtian Peak drew the attention of every monster in the area. They turned their sights to the mountain and froze in collective shock.
"What is that?"
"Such a massive mountain… no, it's a immortal treasure!"
"Damn it! Why is another supreme treasure appearing?"
"This aura… No, it's too dangerous!"
"Retreat! Run quickly!"
The monsters' cries of alarm echoed as they fled in all directions, scattering like fallen leaves in a gale. Their speed was nothing short of desperate.
Qingtian Peak hovered silently in midair, not descending to the ocean below.
Gu An glanced at An Xin and smiled. "It seems I can't demonstrate Qingtian Peak's true might today."
An Xin, quick to understand his intentions, shook her head. "That's because you're merciful, Master. Otherwise, they wouldn't have had the chance to escape."
Gu An chuckled softly at her words.
In truth, a fleeting thought of unleashing destruction had crossed his mind. Yet the memory of Long Zhan and Xiao Shengtian's past experiences tempered his resolve. Gu An decided to adhere to his principles: only those with clear enmity against him deserved retribution. This ensured that others wouldn't jump to unwarranted conclusions about his actions.
Besides, with an annual lifespan gain of 1.5 million years, Gu An saw no need to recklessly slaughter and risk entangling himself in unnecessary karma. He was content to bide his time and grow stronger steadily.
Gu An's one concession was his occasional disregard for vegetation and plants. But as living beings, people needed sustenance, and cultivators relied on herbs for alchemy. His path to power lay in making choices that suited him best.
It was precisely this pragmatic mindset that made Gu An dismiss An Xin's words of mercy with a smile. He didn't see himself as merciful; his decisions were driven purely by a calculated pursuit of benefits over risks.
With the monsters retreating en masse, the Mysterious Divine Spirit let out a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Li Ya stared at the majestic Qingtian Peak towering above, a profound sense of relief washing over him.
"So that's how it is…"
For the longest time, Li Ya had doubted whether he deserved to possess Mysterious Divine City. But seeing the magnificence of Qingtian Peak, he realized the Ancestor held treasures far beyond his imagination.
Why had he been so burdened?
He had no idea just how vast the Ancestor's cultivation truly was.
Rather than letting worry consume him, Li Ya resolved to grow stronger. He would repay the Ancestor in the future.
Right now, no matter how hard he tried, his efforts wouldn't be enough to help the Ancestor. The Ancestor's gamble was on his future potential, not his present abilities.
High above, Qingtian Peak began to ascend once more, shrinking rapidly as it seemed to vanish into the heavens.
Li Ya watched the peak's disappearance, his gaze lingering in hopes of catching sight of the figure behind it. Yet, no such sight graced his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, he finally turned to the Mysterious Divine Spirit. "Let's go."
The Spirit tilted its head, confused. "Go where?"
"Let's go to a place where we have the strength to compete. It's clear this place isn't suitable for us; otherwise, the Ancestor wouldn't have deployed another treasure to save us," Li Ya said calmly.
The Mysterious Divine Spirit scratched its head, unexpectedly finding his reasoning logical, and nodded in agreement.
Mysterious Divine City transformed into a streak of rainbow light and sped off in the direction they had come.
This scene caught An Xin's attention. Surprised, she asked, "Why did they leave?"
Gu An hadn't anticipated that his intervention would actually encourage Li Ya to retreat, leaving him amused yet exasperated.
"They've left, so let them go. We'll wander for another hour before heading back," Gu An replied.
An Xin had no objections and began questioning him about Mysterious Divine City and Li Ya. Gu An shared everything he knew.
After the journey to the Thunder Sea Monster Domain, An Xin trained with even greater diligence, her demeanor becoming more composed and restrained than before.
Witnessing a stronger, broader world had ignited a fierce determination within her. She no longer needed Gu An to urge her to cultivate. Whenever she had free time, she would independently practice the Time-Striding Dao Step.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord and Shen Xin Zi occasionally peeked at her movements. Unable to understand her steps and feeling embarrassed to keep spying, they gave up after a few attempts.
Nonetheless, in their hearts, both Gu An and An Xin had become enigmas, fundamentally different from before.
Years passed in a blink.
Five years later, Ji Xiaoya returned.
"Why do I sense another woman's aura on you again?" Ji Xiaoya asked, standing by the table with a frown.
Gu An set his book down and answered, "I visited my junior sister two days ago."
Her suspicion only deepened. "Why has her aura changed?"
Gu An raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised that Ji Xiaoya remembered Ye Lan's aura so distinctly.
"She recently had a breakthrough in her cultivation, so her aura changed," he replied nonchalantly.
It was true. In Gu An's heart, An Xin's position would never surpass Ye Lan's. Every time he visited Ye Lan, he made sure to lecture her on the Dao and invested far more resources in her cultivation than he did in An Xin's.
Watching Ye Lan's lifespan gradually extend brought Gu An a deep sense of accomplishment.
It felt like he was challenging the heavens themselves.
"Really?" Ji Xiaoya asked suspiciously.
Gu An shot her an annoyed glance. "I'm straightforward and upright in my actions. Why would I deceive you? Haven't you seen me interact with other women right in front of you? Besides, why do you care about such things? Don't get any ideas about me. The karma around you is too heavy—I'd hate for the enemies of the Samsara Dao Emperor to use me against you."
Ji Xiaoya glared at him indignantly.
Gu An crossed his arms and added, "Honestly, besides Ye Lan, Shen Zhen, and Lu Lingjun, whom you've already met, there's another woman interested in me. I'm still considering her because I already have three adorable female demon beasts in my care, so I don't feel the need for additional emotional entanglements."
Ji Xiaoya burst into laughter. "Don't tell me it's those three monkey demons?"
The cultivators of Tai Xuan Sect had grown in number, making it impossible for Tianya Valley to remain hidden. However, Lü Baitian and Li Xuandao had struck a deal, ensuring the valley's safety. Ji Xiaoya had learned about Tianya Valley's state through her family connections.
"Of course not!" Gu An retorted, rolling his eyes.
Ji Xiaoya pulled out a chair and sat down, beginning to recount her experiences over the years.
Gu An listened attentively.
They talked for two full hours before Ji Xiaoya finally left.
After leaving the room, Ji Xiaoya spotted An Xin speaking with five female disciples and decided to wait nearby.
Once the disciples left, Ji Xiaoya approached An Xin.
By this time, the sun was already setting.
Noticing Ji Xiaoya's approach, An Xin quickly stepped forward to greet her with a respectful bow.
In An Xin's eyes, Ji Xiaoya was one of the strongest contenders for the position of "Master's Wife." After all, living directly below Gu An's quarters was a privilege that demanded respect.
"Your aptitude is impressive. If you need anything, feel free to ask. The Ji family has some resources and can offer assistance," Ji Xiaoya said, her gaze fixed on An Xin.
Hearing this, An Xin quickly bowed again and politely declined. "Thank you for the Ji family's kind offer, but it won't be necessary. After all, I have my master..."
Ji Xiaoya interrupted her. "Don't worry about his attitude. My help is for his sake. The stronger you are, the better you can protect him."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Watching her retreating figure, An Xin couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Truly fitting of someone who might become "Master's Wife"—so domineering!
Comparing her own abilities, An Xin realized that despite her rapid progress, she still had a long way to go to match Ji Xiaoya.
Determined, she resolved to use Ji Xiaoya as her benchmark. Only by surpassing her could she chase after figures like An Hao and Yang Jian.
She refused to believe that Ji Xiaoya's natural talent could rival the likes of An Hao and Yang Jian!
Inside the room, Gu An, who was reading a book, smirked slightly. The golden glow of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting an ethereal light over him, as if he were draped in a robe of dusk.
As night fell, the sun set, and the moon rose.
The next morning, Gu An left Tai Xuan Sect alone. Riding his sword, he flew toward a distant location.
Once he was certain that no one was monitoring him with divine sense, he vanished.
Half an hour later, Gu An arrived at the gates of the Gathering Flower Sect. The sect stood amidst rolling hills, each peak adorned with vibrant seas of flowers—a breathtaking sight.
Presenting his Tai Xuan Sect disciple token, Gu An quickly gained entry. The disciples, seeing the city-level rank of his token, dared not delay and eagerly guided him toward the sect master.
Half an hour later, Gu An was shown to a private courtyard. Sensing that Jiang Qiong was in secluded cultivation, he noted that a disciple was guarding the entrance to her chamber.
Soon, the disciple returned with a message: the sect master was in seclusion and wouldn't be available for several days.
Gu An didn't mind. It gave him the perfect opportunity to secretly aid Jiang Qiong in her comprehension of the Dao before leaving. He imagined her reaction upon finding out he had visited without meeting her—embarrassment and self-reproach.
Just the thought of it made Gu An grin in anticipation.