After Ji Xiaoya left, Gu An sat down, picked up the book she had left behind, and began to read. He was quickly immersed in its contents.
The book primarily recounted the legend of the Dragon Clan's ancestor, Long Xin, who was known as the Dragon Emperor, a peerless powerhouse in the cosmos. Long Xin established the War Court, swept across the grand universe, and roamed the cycles of Samsara.
The book didn't mention Long Zhan, as though Long Xin was the true founder of the Dragon Clan.
From Long Xin onward, generation after generation, the Dragon Clan produced numerous remarkable figures. One of Samsara Dao Emperor's masters hailed from the Dragon Clan, which was also the origin of the Heavenly Dragon Demon-Suppressing Aspect in Ji Family lore.
At its zenith, the Dragon Clan faced suppression from a mysterious force. The book speculated that this might have been a curse or a punishment from the Heavenly Dao. While the Dragon Clan's accomplishments were extraordinary, their unchecked arrogance had amassed equal guilt. In a short span of time, the Dragon Clan declined, its members scattered across different universes.
The saga of the Dragon Clan—from its founding to its rise and ultimate fall—was a tale of triumph and tragedy, evoking deep emotions.
The author maintained an objective perspective throughout, presenting the rise and fall of the Dragon Clan without personal judgment.
After finishing the book, Gu An sighed deeply.
Before Long Xin, under the leadership of Long Zhan, the Dragon Clan had also experienced similar cycles of rise and decline.
Based on the content of the book, Long Xin rebuilt the War Court and revitalized the Dragon Clan after Long Zhan's death. From the very beginning, Long Xin was a formidable figure.
Gu An recalled the last meeting between Long Zhan and Long Xin, when the father and son parted ways in discord. Long Xin couldn't understand Long Zhan's actions, but in the end, he chose to carry on Long Zhan's legacy, reconstructing the Dragon Clan and the War Court. This conveyed Long Xin's longing and respect for Long Zhan.
Countless epochs had passed. Whether it was Long Xin or the Dragon Clan, both were now relics of the past, their traces slowly being erased.
In the path of cultivation, just how high a realm must one reach to truly achieve eternal life and immortality?
Gu An turned his head to gaze out at the sky, his thoughts adrift.
It wasn't until evening that he put the book away, stood up, and headed downstairs.
As soon as he descended, he heard Long Qing shouting and playing in the distance. Despite being over a hundred years old, Long Qing still behaved like a child.
Gu An chuckled, then approached the Blood Prison Saint and had him carry him as he patrolled the Third Medicine Valley.
"Master, that brat Long Qing is getting more and more outrageous. Can you boost my cultivation? Otherwise, I'm going to be bullied to death by him! And that White Spirit Mouse—what's with that fat rodent? It's getting faster, yet its cultivation hasn't improved much. It can't even speak human words…"
The Blood Prison Saint complained bitterly. Despite his status as a Mahayana realm cultivator, being bullied by Long Qing was intolerable.
Gu An resisted the urge to explain that Long Qing had been born at the Nirvana Realm, so it was natural for the Blood Prison Saint to be no match for him.
"Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone walks a different path. Focus on your future." Gu An's tone was calm but carried weight.
The Blood Prison Saint's eyes lit up, and he immediately grew excited.
Did this mean his master intended to prioritize nurturing him in the future?
The more he thought about it, the more exhilarated he became. He no longer dwelled on being bullied by Long Qing or the White Spirit Mouse. Instead, he began fantasizing about his future dominance.
He would become the strongest saint in the world, sweeping across the realms! If any powerful beings from beyond the heavens dared invade and he couldn't handle them, his master would step in, shocking the universe. Just the thought of it thrilled him!
Outwardly, he would appear as the ultimate powerhouse, while his enemies would waste their efforts scheming against him, never suspecting the terrifying force behind him!
Inside a grand, resplendent hall, a saintly figure, known as the Sacred Minister, sat on a chair. Behind him was a set of steps leading to a vacant dragon throne.
A row of figures stood in the hall, including the Traversing World Sacred King, who had previously negotiated with the Dark War Emperor.
Yang Jian stood beside the Traversing World Sacred King, clad in silver battle armor. Behind him hovered a three-pronged, two-edged blade. Although his cultivation wasn't as high as some of the others, his aura was commanding.
The people in the hall were all Sacred Kings of the Sacred Court. Despite the presence of the Sacred Minister, they didn't appear overly reserved.
The Sacred Minister's gaze swept over the seventeen Sacred Kings in the hall, lingering on Yang Jian for two breaths before moving on.
"Everyone, the calamity of the Heavenly Demons fifty years ago should still be fresh in your minds," the Sacred Minister began nonchalantly.
A burly Sacred King immediately responded, "It's not something we could forget so soon. Whatever you need, Sacred Minister, just give the order. His Majesty has decreed that in his absence, we are to heed your every word!"
The other Sacred Kings echoed their agreement.
Yang Jian remained silent, but his gaze was fixed on the Sacred Minister.
The Sacred Minister smiled and said, "That catastrophe was likely just the precursor. The Immortal Dynasty's Yuanxu Immortal Ancestor opened the Samsara, and the whirlpool of reincarnation still hangs in the heavens. I intend to send you into Samsara to search for His Majesty. Who knows when you'll return from such a journey? Think it over carefully."
As his words settled, the expressions of the Sacred Kings shifted.
The whirlpool of reincarnation was beyond the Sacred Court's control. No one knew what lay within it.
The hall fell into a heavy silence. No one immediately volunteered.
The Sacred Minister showed no signs of urgency, patiently waiting. He raised his right hand, and a golden sphere of light formed in his palm. He stared into it, as if peering into its depths.
"I'll go!"
A voice rang out. It wasn't loud, but its tone was resolute, drawing everyone's attention.
The speaker was none other than Yang Jian.
One of the Sacred Kings sneered, "Of course, the Sacred King Zhu Shi is the perfect candidate for this mission, having just emerged from Samsara himself."
The Traversing World Sacred King glanced at Yang Jian thoughtfully.
The Sacred Minister, still gazing at the golden sphere, asked indifferently, "Anyone else?"
"I'll go too," said the Traversing World Sacred King.
This surprised the other Sacred Kings. They hadn't expected him to agree—this wasn't typical of his behavior.
Yang Jian glanced at the Traversing World Sacred King.
The Sacred Minister nodded and continued to wait.
As the Sacred Minister lingered, the Sacred Kings realized what was happening. Their expressions darkened.
One of the Sacred Kings asked, "Sacred Minister, must we agree to this?"
"It is entirely voluntary," the Sacred Minister replied.
The Sacred Kings sighed in relief, but their respite was short-lived as the Sacred Minister added, "I believe you will all voluntarily step forward. Surely, I have not misjudged you?"
The Sacred Kings were aghast, staring at the Sacred Minister in disbelief.
Yang Jian remained calm, as if he had foreseen this outcome.
The Sacred Minister raised his right hand, the golden sphere of light in his palm glowing brilliantly. The icy light it cast only made his expression colder.
"Entering Samsara is an opportunity for you—a chance to ascend to higher realms. Of course, that is contingent on your survival. The Samsara is fraught with peril, filled with countless powerhouses undergoing tribulations. Be cautious in your actions and avoid provoking those unrelated to the Sacred Court."
The Sacred Minister's tone was indifferent, his declaration unyielding. This left the Sacred Kings visibly upset.
It was late autumn.
In the courtyard of his residence, Gu An was leisurely drinking wine, while Xiao Chuan swept the ground nearby.
"With so many servants in the household, and you being capable of using spells, why do you sweep the floor yourself?" Gu An asked, his divine sense extending to the heavens.
He saw seventeen figures from the Sacred Court flying toward the Samsara Whirlpool. Among them was Yang Jian.
Without hesitation, these individuals plunged into the vortex, and their auras vanished entirely. This piqued Gu An's interest in the Samsara Whirlpool.
What kind of reincarnation lay within it?
Xiao Chuan chuckled as he swept the ground. "It's just a habit I picked up. Didn't you teach me this, Senior Brother?"
Gu An turned his gaze to Xiao Chuan and asked, "Have you not been cultivating these years?"
Xiao Chuan's cultivation had stagnated for decades, and his lifespan had not increased significantly.
"It's hard to keep going as I grow older. Besides, my descendants are constantly creating trouble for me," Xiao Chuan replied with a helpless smile.
He added, "I'm already 472 years old. I'm content. Back then, I never imagined I'd live this long."
He began recounting his childhood memories.
Every time Gu An visited, Xiao Chuan would indulge in nostalgia. However, this time, Gu An wasn't paying close attention. His thoughts wandered.
Watching Yang Jian and the others enter Samsara had sparked a bold idea.
If he sealed Xiao Chuan's memories and imprinted an Extinguishing Dao Fate Seal within him, then no matter how many lifetimes Xiao Chuan experienced in Samsara, Gu An could find him and restore his memories. Wouldn't that allow them to reunite?
Despite his efforts to guide Xiao Chuan in cultivation, Xiao Chuan's maximum lifespan still increased very slowly. Even if Gu An elevated Xiao Chuan's cultivation realm, it didn't affect this limit.
The higher Gu An's cultivation grew, the more he sensed the terrifying inevitability of the Heavenly Mandate.
"Xiao Chuan, if you had another life, would you want me to find you again?" Gu An asked suddenly.
Xiao Chuan paused his sweeping and turned to Gu An with a smile. "Senior Brother, if you can find me, then you must have achieved immortality by then. If you're willing, of course, I'd want to see you again. But you don't have to burden yourself. Everyone has their destiny. I'm only grateful to you."
If not for Gu An, Xiao Chuan wouldn't have the life he had today. His only regret was that he couldn't repay his Senior Brother in this lifetime.
"I'm just saying. If I ever reach that level, I'll think about whether I should spare you from the suffering of Samsara," Gu An said with a chuckle.
Xiao Chuan laughed and replied, "If I have the chance, I'd certainly be grateful. So, I'll thank you in advance for your care, Senior Brother."
Immortality?
How distant it seemed!
Xiao Chuan had heard of the Immortal Dao realm but never of someone who had achieved true eternal life. Nor had he encountered any genuine deities.
Those who were said to be godlike were, at best, immensely powerful cultivators.
"If you were to reincarnate, what kind of life would you wish for in your next life?" Gu An asked, pouring himself another cup of wine.
Xiao Chuan, intrigued by the question, set down his broom and sat beside Gu An, pondering deeply.
His wishes were simple: to be born into a family with loving parents and to have better talent for cultivation.
As the sun set and the moon rose, the two chatted late into the night. At Xiao Chuan's invitation, Gu An stayed overnight at the residence and only left the next morning.
Supported by a young girl, Xiao Chuan watched Gu An depart.
The girl, her eyes full of curiosity, stared at Gu An's receding figure. Turning to Xiao Chuan, she asked, "Great-Grandfather, who is he? Is he really your Senior Brother? He looks so young!"
Xiao Chuan stroked his beard with a laugh. "Yes, he's my Senior Brother. But as for who he truly is, I don't know. My Senior Brother is very mysterious. Perhaps…"
The girl pressed on. "Perhaps what?"
Xiao Chuan shook his head and walked away.
The girl glanced one last time at Gu An disappearing into the distant street, then quickly turned to follow her great-grandfather, continuing her barrage of questions.