Gu An set down the Qingtian Peak, reattaching it to his belt. While he did not fully trust the black-robed elder's words, he was certain the technique imparted to him was free of traps.
As the Blood Prison Saint carried him through the Medicine Valley on patrol, Gu An weighed the risks and benefits of taking action. After much consideration, he decided to give it a try.
The Dark War Emperor had already proven his cruelty and volatility by slaughtering an entire population upon arrival. His ruthlessness could not be underestimated. Even if he were somehow aligned with the Sacred Domain, Gu An knew such trust was misplaced.
He resolved to observe the Demon Fetus's response upon awakening. If it proved dangerous, he would destroy it. Offending the Heavenly Demons was a small price to pay.
With this decision made, Gu An did not act immediately. The Dark War Emperor had yet to emerge from the coffin, and Gu An could feel the escalating energy within it. It was unlikely the entity would surface anytime soon.
An hour later, Gu An stealthily arrived at a cave at the base of Dingtian Peak.
Standing before a massive stone pillar, Gu An extended his divine sense inward. The Demon Fetus remained curled within, unchanged from decades earlier.
He activated the Lifespan Barrier, encapsulating the entire chamber. Only then did he perform the technique the black-robed elder had taught him.
As black mist emanated from the stone pillar's surface, a powerful heartbeat began to echo within. The sound grew increasingly intense, filling the space.
Time slipped by as Gu An worked, his focus unwavering.
Unlike most beings, the Demon Fetus did not draw upon the world's spiritual energy to awaken. This reduced the Lifespan Barrier's consumption rate, providing Gu An with some relief.
Half an hour later, Gu An extracted the Demon Fetus from within the pillar. The once-massive form had shrunk to the size of a typical newborn. Though still cloaked in demonic energy, its true form was now faintly visible.
Gu An immediately initiated a Lifespan Investigation on the creature.
[Long Qing (Qi Refining Realm, Stage Nine): 0/1000/9999]
Gu An frowned. "Long?"
The sudden appearance of the Dark War Emperor, coupled with this child's lineage, caused unease to ripple through his thoughts.
Peering deeper into Long Qing's soul, Gu An sought clarity on the karmic ties woven within. The connections were intricate and layered. Fortunately, having inherited all of Long Zhan's memories, including his extensive research into karmic pathways, Gu An was able to decipher them.
After prolonged observation, he discerned a profound link between Long Qing's soul and Long Xin, Long Zhan's son. It became evident: Long Qing was a descendant of Long Xin.
Though Long Zhan was born into the Long Family, the War Court was a creation of Long Zhan himself, not his ancestors. This confirmed that Long Qing was indeed his descendant, tracing lineage to the past rather than the future.
Could this be an example of reincarnation influencing the past?
Gu An couldn't help but wonder if this was preordained or if his actions had rewritten history. He distinctly remembered finding the Demon Fetus at Dingtian Peak after his reincarnation process. The sequence of events felt uncanny.
As Long Qing continued to absorb the surrounding demonic energy, his cultivation swiftly rose to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Could this child be like the celestial beings of the Immortal Court, born with innate cultivation prowess?" Gu An speculated.
In mere hours, Long Qing's cultivation climbed to the Mahayana Realm and surged into the Nirvana Realm, First Stage, with his lifespan extending to an astronomical 999,999 years.
Gu An frowned. "If he emerges now, he'll certainly attract a heavenly tribulation."
To prevent calamity, Gu An employed the Return to Origin Dao, suppressing Long Qing's cultivation and masking his presence to that of an ordinary mortal. This technique also severed karmic ties, ensuring Heavenly Demons couldn't track him down.
With the suppression complete, the demonic energy surrounding Long Qing dissipated in a surreal manner, vanishing without a trace.
Moments later, Long Qing opened his eyes. They were wide and luminous, filled with childlike innocence. His small hands clenched into fists, and upon seeing Gu An, he broke into a joyous smile, giggling softly.
For reasons unknown, Gu An was struck by how closely Long Qing resembled Long Xin as a newborn. The similarity was uncanny.
A smile crept onto Gu An's face as he gently teased the infant, his memories of Long Xin's birth flooding back.
Yet beneath his fondness lay a kernel of vigilance. The emergence of the War Court and the Long family's lineage in Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven felt far too coincidental. He resolved to remain cautious, keeping his true cultivation hidden even from those closest to him.
"A cultivator must always keep an ace up their sleeve," Gu An reminded himself.
Carrying Long Qing, he utilized the Time-Striding Dao Step, instantly arriving outside the Tai Xuan Sect. There, he dismissed the Lifespan Barrier and retrieved a robe from his storage pouch to wrap the child.
The sunlight streaming down seemed to exhilarate Long Qing. He laughed heartily, his tiny hands grasping at the air in excitement. Despite his efforts, his short arms couldn't reach anything.
"Good thing he's not an ordinary infant, or I'd need to start worrying about feeding him," Gu An thought wryly.
Sitting beneath a nearby tree, Gu An continued to amuse Long Qing. Bringing an unexpected child back to the sect would undoubtedly raise questions. He decided to linger for the night, preparing a plausible explanation before returning.
As the forest came alive with birdsong and floral fragrances, Gu An let the sound of Long Qing's laughter blend with the serenity of the moment, his thoughts drifting far and wide.
He envisioned the memories obtained through Reincarnation Projection.
In the grand hall of the War Court, Long Zhan stood with his back to Long Xin, who confronted him. "Why have you become so cruel?" Long Xin demanded, his voice filled with sorrow.
Long Zhan did not answer.
"Father," Long Xin continued, his tone laced with disappointment, "I preferred the version of you who took me hunting in the mountains. You weren't invincible then, but at least you felt like a father."
With that, Long Xin turned and walked away. They never met again—until Long Zhan's final moments.
Reflecting on this scene, Gu An couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
He resolved to heed the lesson. Obsessing over power would only lead to alienation. His current approach—steadily growing stronger while maintaining connections—felt far better.
Gu An raised his gaze, looking toward the heavens above the forest. From his vantage point, the sky seemed endlessly high.
At dawn.
The disciples of the Third Medicine Valley had just finished their morning exercises. An Xin turned her head and noticed Gu An descending from the Teleportation Array Platform, holding something in his arms.
Curious, she hurried over, soon joined by a few disciples close to Gu An. As they drew nearer, their curiosity turned to surprise upon seeing that Gu An was carrying an infant.
"Master, where did this child come from?" one disciple asked, wide-eyed.
"Wow, he's so cute! Can I hold him?" another chimed in excitedly.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Master, does he have a name?"
"He's smiling at me!"
Faced with this barrage of questions, Gu An calmly explained, "I found this boy abandoned in the forest. Unable to locate his parents, I decided to bring him back and raise him."
None of the disciples doubted his explanation—such kindness was entirely in line with their master's character.
An Xin's thoughts turned inward. She couldn't help but recall her own past. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at Long Qing with a newfound sense of closeness.
Despite their enthusiasm, Gu An did not let the disciples hold Long Qing. Instead, he carried the child back to his pavilion.
As he approached the pavilion, Ji Xiaoya emerged from her room. Her curious gaze fell on the infant in Gu An's arms.
"He looks quite like you," Ji Xiaoya remarked almost absentmindedly, her expression filled with a peculiar intrigue.
Gu An shot her an annoyed look. "You don't seriously think someone secretly had this child with me, do you?"
Ji Xiaoya simply smiled, offering no reply.
Gu An decided not to engage further, heading upstairs with Long Qing.
From afar, Shen Xin Zi observed the situation. Calculating Long Qing's karmic ties, he found that they matched Gu An's account. Satisfied, he dismissed the matter.
Though the disciples were intrigued by Long Qing, their curiosity soon subsided. However, they couldn't ignore that Gu An now carried the infant wherever he went, prompting quiet speculation.
Months passed.
Autumn arrived.
The Deep Red Coffin that housed the Dark War Emperor remained sealed. Yet, a multitude of cultivators had gathered on the desolate continent where it landed. Some had even constructed powerful formations around it.
One day, Ye Lan arrived at Gu An's pavilion with Zhen Qin in tow.
They were stunned to see Gu An holding an infant. Upon learning that the child wasn't Gu An's, Ye Lan visibly relaxed.
"This child seemed destined to cross my path," Gu An said with a smile. "I've decided to take him in as my disciple."
Zhen Qin held Long Qing, marveling at how endearing he was. "Master, have you named him yet?" she asked.
"I have," Gu An replied. "His name is Long Qing. There was a clear stream near where I found him, and his eyes remind me of that water's clarity. Hence, 'Qing.'"
"But why the surname Long?" Zhen Qin pressed.
"Take a look at his back," Gu An said.
Curious, Zhen Qin gently unwrapped Long Qing's swaddling cloth. On his back was an intricate black mark that resembled a coiled dragon.
"This little one must have an extraordinary origin," Zhen Qin said, her voice tinged with awe.
Ye Lan, having also seen the mark, relaxed further and smiled. She took Long Qing from Zhen Qin, her demeanor softening.
Gu An issued a gentle warning. "Do not spread word of this. He's been abandoned, so let's keep him away from worldly strife. As for the mark on his back, let's just say I placed it there."
Both women nodded, impressed by his foresight.
Ye Lan and Zhen Qin stayed at the Third Medicine Valley for three days before departing. Their sect duties were pressing, and they wouldn't return for years.
By the time Long Qing reached six months old, he could walk. At a year, he began to speak, his childish chatter bringing joy to everyone around him. Dressed in fine, tailored clothes, he became the little darling of the Medicine Valley.
A year had passed since the Deep Red Coffin descended upon the Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven. Though it remained sealed, its presence had become widely known. Cultivators across sects referred to it as an "Otherworldly Malevolence", and even within the Mortal Peak, discussions about it were frequent.
In midsummer, Gu An sat within his pavilion, holding the Qingtian Peak. He infused his divine sense into it, transporting himself to the dilapidated temple.
No sooner had he arrived than the black-robed elder appeared, his expression tense. "Why are you only coming now? Where is the Great Emperor?"
Gu An took a deep breath before answering. "It failed. Just as I was about to use the technique you taught me, he vanished. I couldn't catch up. I don't know where he is now."
The elder's face turned ashen, his body trembling.
"There is some good news," Gu An continued. "The Dark War Emperor hasn't emerged from his coffin. It's been a year—why hasn't he made any moves?"
The elder's expression softened slightly as he pondered. "Perhaps he's preparing something. Senior, could you release me? I need to find the Great Emperor!"
Gu An shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't fully trust you. Let's revisit this in ten thousand years. For now, survive this calamity."
"Ten thousand years?"
The elder nearly cursed aloud but swallowed his words upon remembering Gu An's inscrutable cultivation level.
No matter how critical the Great Emperor's whereabouts, his own survival took precedence.