Facing Xiao Chuan's inquiry, Gu An countered with a question: "Is this really so important to you?"
Xiao Chuan caught the underlying meaning in Gu An's words and sighed. "I suppose not. Honestly, three hundred years ago, I already felt my time drawing to an end. These past years, I've often found myself slipping into indescribable moments of enlightenment. I think it was because you were secretly helping me."
"Senior Brother, thank you," he said solemnly, looking at Gu An.
Gu An's lips curled into a faint smile. "Just a verbal thank you?"
Xiao Chuan sighed helplessly. "That's all I can offer. What else can I possibly do for you now? If you need my soul, feel free to take it."
Gu An shot him a glare and said irritably, "You make it sound like I'm some kind of demon cultivator."
"Wasn't the Sword Master of the Dao initially mistaken for one?"
"Funny you should mention that. I happen to have a soul artifact here. I could use you as the main soul, trapping you for eternity without release."
"Great! I'd love that!"
Although Xiao Chuan still appeared as an aged figure, his soul exuded vitality, as if he had regained his youthful vigor.
The two continued to exchange banter as they drifted closer to the majestic Reincarnation Whirlpool.
The only reason Xiao Chuan could see Gu An was because Gu An had employed the power of causality. Even a Free Immortal wouldn't be able to perceive Gu An in this state.
After some time, Xiao Chuan tilted his head upward, gazing at the imposing whirlpool. "So, entering there means I'll reincarnate and be reborn?"
"Yes, that's right. This is as far as I can take you," Gu An replied softly, also looking up at the swirling vortex.
Turning his gaze to Gu An, Xiao Chuan said, "Senior Brother, you should head back now. Just being escorted here has already fulfilled my heart's desires."
Gu An looked at Xiao Chuan with a smile. "See you in the next life."
"The next life?" Xiao Chuan blinked, not doubting Gu An's words. Instead, he marveled inwardly, wondering just how profound the cultivation of the Sword Master of the Dao must be to see through the cycle of reincarnation.
After pondering for a moment, he said, "If, in my next life, I still have mediocre talent, Senior Brother, don't bother looking for me. Let me live a peaceful, ordinary life. But if I'm born with exceptional aptitude for cultivation, come find me again. I'll still watch over the Medicine Valley for you."
Gu An nodded with a smile and then raised his right hand, extending two fingers toward Xiao Chuan.
In an instant, Xiao Chuan's body froze, his eyes losing their spark.
Gu An used his own power of causality to seal Xiao Chuan's memories, ensuring they wouldn't be erased by the cycle of reincarnation. He also left a Extinguishing Dao Fate Seal within Xiao Chuan's soul.
The Extinguishing Dao Fate Seal would leave an eternal mark, making it easier for Gu An to locate Xiao Chuan's reincarnated self in the future.
After finishing, Gu An paused and watched as Xiao Chuan was drawn into the Reincarnation Whirlpool.
He had gained a preliminary understanding of the laws of reincarnation. The Heavenly Dragon Reincarnation Divine Aspect of Long Zhan incorporated some principles of reincarnation, though it relied heavily on connecting past lives through causality. However, Gu An was still far from grasping the essence of reincarnation itself.
In the Great World of Divine Origin, there was no fully established reincarnation system. After death, a soul would ascend into the heavens, and once it reached a certain height, it would be devoured by the laws of reincarnation, disappearing without a trace. How the process of rebirth occurred was unknown, and tracing the paths of reincarnation was nearly impossible. Still, those with immense karmic fortune could cause celestial phenomena when they reincarnated.
Once Xiao Chuan vanished into the whirlpool, Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley.
A few days later, nearing midday, Gu An was sitting inside his residence, reading. An Xin approached, seeking him out.
"Master, Xiao Chuan-shishu passed away. He didn't want to trouble you, so he specifically instructed his descendants to deliver this letter a little later," An Xin said, handing over a sealed envelope while carefully observing Gu An's expression.
Gu An, without the need to feign emotions in front of An Xin, took the letter directly and opened it to read.
The content was not much different from what Xiao Chuan had said before entering reincarnation. Still, after reading it, Gu An felt a sense of melancholy.
He had already done everything he could to help Xiao Chuan, but unlike Ye Lan, Zhen Qin, or An Xin, Xiao Chuan lacked the fighting spirit to truly strive for something greater.
To be more precise, Xiao Chuan's natural talent was much worse, no different from an average mortal. This lack of aptitude was also why his determination waned over time.
However, Gu An did not feel deeply saddened. Knowing the existence of reincarnation tribulations, his resistance toward reincarnation had lessened significantly.
Cultivators who reached the Free Immortal Realm would inevitably face the tribulation of reincarnation. Not everyone could, like Gu An, rely on extending their lifespan to surpass such barriers. Nor could Gu An use his own lifespan to help others skip their reincarnation tribulations.
He was curious about the nature of reincarnation tribulations: Did it only count from the Free Immortal Realm, or were previous cycles also included?
Rumor had it that reincarnation tribulations were unpredictable. Reincarnation didn't necessarily place one in the same era or even the same world, which was why even traces of entities like the Divine Sovereign were so hard to find.
Setting the letter down, Gu An looked at An Xin and asked, "Is there anything else?"
An Xin hesitated before asking, "Master, are you doing okay?"
Gu An chuckled and replied, "What? Do you think I'll drown myself in sorrow? Hurry back to your cultivation. I don't want to receive a farewell letter from you next."
Hearing this, An Xin stuck out her tongue, saluted, and quickly left the room.
Gu An pondered for a moment, then walked over to a nearby bookshelf and retrieved an ornate box. He carefully placed Xiao Chuan's farewell letter inside before closing it securely.
Xiao Chuan's passing didn't disrupt Gu An's daily life, even though Xiao Chuan's descendants still resided within the Third Medicine Valley.
As for his descendants, they didn't feel overly sorrowful either; the generational gap was far too vast for them to share a strong emotional connection.
Autumn gave way to winter, and the temperature across the land began to drop.
One day, after harvesting the latest batch of matured herbs in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An returned to the pavilion feeling quite satisfied.
Currently, his annual average lifespan earnings had exceeded 3.5 million years, a remarkable feat. Regarding the feature that required 10 billion years of lifespan to activate, Gu An didn't feel rushed. When he eventually gathered enough lifespan to break through, he wouldn't delay.
The sheer scale of 10 billion was daunting. Surely, he wouldn't resort to stealing herbs again, would he?
After assigning tasks to the disciples accompanying him, Gu An made his way to the area designated for chess matches.
The growing interest in chess was undeniable. As the birthplace of chess and Go, the Third Medicine Valley naturally attracted numerous visitors eager to engage in strategic games.
Many cultivators claimed that playing chess here felt fundamentally different, almost transformative.
At that moment, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord was dominating his matches, defeating opponents left and right. Gu An arrived at the outskirts of the crowd and began watching from a distance.
His attention was soon drawn to a man nearby. The man's cultivation was at the Nascent Soul Realm, and he wore a simple green Daoist robe. His appearance was ordinary, but something about him stood out.
[Zhang Shi (Nascent Soul Realm, Stage Three): 681/1100/1800]
Zhang Shi's maximum lifespan wasn't particularly high. Yet for reasons unknown, Gu An felt a peculiar attraction to him upon first glance, as if the man exuded a certain uniqueness.
Sensing Gu An's gaze, Zhang Shi turned his head and nodded politely.
Gu An approached him with a smile. "You're not a familiar face. First time here?"
Zhang Shi nodded and replied, "I arrived at the Tai Xuan Sect a few days ago, specifically for the chess. This trip has been worthwhile—the level of play here is exceptional."
As he spoke, Zhang Shi glanced toward the chessboard with fervent eyes. "If I were to face that senior, I estimate I'd only have a thirty percent chance of winning."
His gaze was fixed on the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, and his words clearly irritated the latter.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord turned around and glared at Zhang Shi. "Thirty percent? You arrogant brat! After my next match, you're up. I'll crush you completely!"
Despite the Nine-Finger Divine Lord's challenge, Zhang Shi remained calm, even showing an eager expression.
Gu An studied Zhang Shi intently, his thoughts churning. Something about this man stirred an unplaceable feeling within him, a faint flicker of recognition or significance.