Gu An's gaze remained fixed on the burning scroll atop the table, while his divine sense stretched outward beyond the heavens.
Suspended above the Heavenly Spirit World's great domain, seven suns loomed. From within one of these blazing celestial bodies, a colossal and mysterious entity opened its eyes, its gaze locking onto Gu An's pavilion.
The scroll's combustion was no accident; it was caused by this entity's actions!
Despite this revelation, Gu An remained composed. The beings within the seven suns were all at the level of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, incapable of posing a direct threat to him. Yet, he sensed they carried immense karmic burdens, tied to even greater powers lurking in the shadows.
It was logical. If the Sacred Court tolerated their presence, either these entities were backed by the Sacred Court itself, or their patrons were forces the Sacred Court dared not confront.
Whatever the case, Gu An had no intention of provoking unnecessary conflict.
Before long, the burning scroll reduced itself to ashes, leaving the surface of the table untouched—a phenomenon both strange and remarkable.
Shen Zhen, visibly shaken, asked hesitantly, "What was that just now?"
Although she had reached the Divine Transformation Realm, she couldn't discern the origin or nature of the flames. In that moment, she felt as if she had offended the heavens themselves.
Gu An inhaled deeply before responding, "I'm not entirely sure, but it seems yesterday's phenomenon shouldn't have been depicted."
Shen Zhen frowned, her expression troubled. "Was it only because of yesterday?"
"Most likely," Gu An replied. "After all, you've painted other scenes before without incident."
Reflecting on this, Gu An deduced that Yang Jian's hidden karma was indeed tied to the seven suns.
Shen Zhen exhaled slowly, her voice tinged with resignation. "In that case, I should tread carefully. My cultivation is far too weak to handle such matters."
As her words faded, Gu An noted the mysterious entity within the sun closing its eyes.
Shen Zhen had narrowly avoided disaster. This was merely a warning, which suggested that the entity within the sun was neither excessively bloodthirsty nor unreasonably domineering.
Settling back into his chair, Gu An teased, "You must be something special to paint a piece capable of provoking immortal wrath."
Shen Zhen didn't take the bait. Instead, she responded seriously, "Whenever I paint, I enter a profound state of enlightenment. After completing a piece, my cultivation feels smoother, and many of my spiritual dilemmas are resolved effortlessly."
"It seems you're on the verge of transformation," Gu An remarked enviously.
Shen Zhen's lips curved into a faint smile. "You'd better treat me with respect. Who knows? I might ascend to immortality any day now."
"Of course, Immortal Shen."
"That's better."
"You're shameless!"
"Oh? Do you dare offend a future immortal?"
Their playful banter dispelled the lingering fear in Shen Zhen's heart. She resolved to be more discerning in her choice of subjects, mindful of what should and shouldn't be depicted.
Half an hour later, Shen Zhen departed.
Gu An leaned back in his chair, shifting his focus to Yang Jian and Tian Zong.
Since awakening his past life memories, Yang Jian's cultivation hadn't undergone a dramatic transformation, but his demeanor had changed subtly yet profoundly.
After observing for a while and confirming that Yang Jian was unharmed, Gu An withdrew his gaze.
In the following days, Yang Jian and Tian Zong remained on the isolated island, protected by Tian Zong's array formation. Even powerful cultivators passing nearby failed to detect their presence.
As the summer season arrived, Gu An descended from the teleportation platform, riding atop the Blood Prison Saint. He appeared relaxed, his mood visibly lifted.
Just as he was about to leave, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord approached, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"Gu An, your disciple An Xin has changed significantly recently. What exactly have you been teaching her?"
Recalling that Gu An had previously taken Yang Jian under his wing, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord couldn't shake the feeling that An Xin's transformation had something to do with him. It only deepened his curiosity about Gu An's mysterious background.
To the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, the most enigmatic and formidable figure in the Tai Xuan Sect was none other than the Sword Master of the Dao.
He had long suspected a connection between Gu An and the Sword Master. Even Gu An's unmatched skill in chess seemed to point to some form of tutelage from the sect's reclusive master.
Still, the possibility that Gu An himself could be the Sword Master was dismissed outright. After all, Gu An's age didn't align with such a notion.
Gu An smirked as he looked down at the Nine-Finger Divine Lord from atop his mount. "It's a unique Dao technique. I can't say more unless you're willing to become my disciple."
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord rolled his eyes. "Do you even realize how high my cultivation is? You dare suggest I become your disciple?"
Gu An shrugged. "True mastery is not limited to cultivation. Aren't there areas where you fall short? Must your life's pursuit be solely about spiritual power? Is the Dao confined only to the absorption of qi?"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord fell silent, his expression contemplative.
With a light pat on the Blood Prison Saint's head, Gu An signaled him to continue forward.
Though the Blood Prison Saint's cultivation remained sealed, his relentless dedication to practicing the Innate Reincarnation Technique filled him with hope for the future.
When the millennium passed, he was determined to ascend to immortality!
As Gu An rode off, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord turned to ask, "Can playing chess lead to enlightenment in the Dao?"
"Who can say for certain? Whatever path you choose, as long as you pour your heart into it, everything becomes possible," Gu An replied casually without looking back.
Watching Gu An's retreating figure, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Gu An's demeanor exuded a transcendence, as if he had already surpassed the entanglements of worldly desires—a quality that seemed more fitting for an immortal than most actual immortals.
Such a possibility dawned on the Nine-Finger Divine Lord—was the Sword Master of the Dao staying at the Tai Xuan Sect because of Gu An?
The thought grew in his mind, and the more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed.
It seemed that remaining at the Tai Xuan Sect had indeed been the right decision.
He shifted his gaze toward Shen Xin Zi, who sat under a tree reading. Previously, he thought Shen Xin Zi was straying into madness. Now, looking again, there was a glimmer of potential in Shen Xin Zi—a faint possibility of achieving enlightenment.
His attention wandered to the Third Medicine Valley. An inexplicable sensation struck him—a certainty that this valley would produce figures destined to shake the heavens and earth in years to come.
The thought intrigued him, stirring a sense of anticipation deep within.
Let him see what kind of talents this chosen sanctuary of the Sword Master of the Dao could nurture.
Elsewhere, Gu An ascended to his private quarters.
He shut the door and sat in his chair. Reaching for his waist, he unhooked the ornament into which the Qingtian Peak had been miniaturized. Carefully, he placed it on the table.
Today, he sensed an unusual ripple within Qingtian Peak—a disturbance connected to the mysterious Heavenly Demon.
That entity was losing its patience.
Gu An sent his divine sense into Qingtian Peak, an artifact that contained its own vast domain. While it was smaller in scale than the realms housed within the Mysterious Divine City, the expanse within Qingtian Peak was still greater than the Tai Cang Continent.
Within this internal world, Gu An's consciousness materialized and ventured into a dilapidated temple.
Sunlight pierced through the temple's weathered walls, casting long shadows that trailed behind Gu An's figure.
He stopped before a crumbling wall, its surface etched with ancient, weathered carvings. The marks were uneven, their history long buried in the sands of time.
"Come out," Gu An said calmly, his gaze unwavering on the wall. "Speak your case. Convince me, and I might spare you."
His voice echoed through the silent temple, yet it carried a weight that made even the stagnant air tremble.
In response, wisps of demonic energy seeped from the wall's cracks. Despite the bright daylight streaming in, the aura was chilling and foreboding.
Moments later, a frail, black-robed elder emerged from the thickening darkness, as though stepping out of a different era.
Bloodshot eyes fixed on Gu An as the elder straightened his crooked frame, his voice hoarse yet threatening. "Who are you, really? And what do you want from me?"
Gu An replied with an even tone, "You caused Qingtian Peak to crash into my mountain. Shouldn't I be the one asking what you want?"
The elder's expression darkened further. He remained silent, his eyes flickering as if calculating his next move.
"You came for the demon fetus, didn't you?" Gu An's voice was cool, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
The elder's face twisted in alarm. His body trembled involuntarily as though a long-buried secret had been unearthed.
"What have you done to it?" the elder demanded, his voice edged with desperation.
"Nothing yet," Gu An replied. "But the trouble it's causing me is growing by the day."
The elder's face contorted in frustration. Struggling to maintain composure, he spoke cautiously. "You and I bear no enmity."
Gu An remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Seeing no immediate hostility from Gu An, the elder took a gamble. "If you wish to avoid becoming entangled in this colossal karma, I advise you to leave this place. That demon fetus is the reincarnation of an emperor from the Realm of Silence. It has gestated for tens of thousands of years and cannot be moved. More will come—Heavenly Demons, drawn to it."
Gu An's gaze sharpened. "What if I report this to the Sacred Court?"
The elder snorted derisively. "And how do you think the Emperor's reincarnation managed to enter the Heavenly Spirit World? The absence of the Divine Sovereign should tell you enough. Your so-called Sacred Court is neither righteous nor pure."
"The Divine Sovereign is gone?" Gu An echoed, his mind turning over the revelation.
The elder took a measured step forward. "You should ask no further. The more you inquire, the more likely you are to draw attention from entities you'd rather not encounter."
It was clear from his response that the elder had concluded Gu An was unaffiliated with the Sacred Court. Thus, his attitude softened; he had no desire to provoke Gu An unnecessarily.
The display of power with which Gu An had subdued Qingtian Peak had already established him as someone the elder couldn't afford to antagonize.
"What's your goal in infiltrating the Heavenly Spirit World? Surely it's not to harm its inhabitants—otherwise, where could I possibly hide?" Gu An asked, his voice steady, but the subtle edge hinted at an internal decision-making process.
The elder hesitated before answering. "The universe is vast; there will always be places to hide. Besides, our plans cannot commence in the short term."
Hearing the elder's words, Gu An's mind whirred with calculations. Was it time to leave the Mortal Peak altogether?
Rationally, leaving to avoid trouble made sense.
"What level of cultivation did the demon fetus possess in its past life?" Gu An asked finally.
The elder hesitated, then replied, "The Emperor was at the Eighth Heaven of the Immortal Dao in his previous life. This time, reaching the Seventh Heaven is almost certain."
The revelation made Gu An's brow furrow. However, internally, he felt some relief.
The Seventh Heaven corresponded to Dao Void Profound Immortal, while the Eighth Heaven aligned with his current level—Divine Thought True Immortal. Gu An himself was at the peak of the Ninth Stage of the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm.
The elder mistook Gu An's reaction for fear. Sensing an opportunity, he added, "If you leave now, even if the fetus fully manifests, it would take thousands of years to mature. You would have ample time to find a safe place to cultivate."
"Thousands of years?"
Gu An's heart relaxed further. If it would take thousands of years with the elder's help, wouldn't the process take tens of thousands without it?
He nodded slightly. "Allow me a few more years to consider. Surely that much time is permissible?"
The elder's demeanor softened at Gu An's apparent agreement. He cupped his hands respectfully. "Of course. I only hope you'll come to the right decision and not waste your future."
Bound by Qingtian Peak's suppression, the elder couldn't escape or send word outside. His best option was to maintain cordial relations with Gu An and employ a mix of persuasion and veiled threats.