Gu An sensed an extraordinary aura of reincarnation emanating from Zhang Shi. He speculated that Zhang Shi was a reincarnated being, and not just any ordinary reincarnation—there was something distinctly familiar about it, reminiscent of Ji Xiaoya's situation.
Could Zhang Shi be a formidable figure currently undergoing the trials of reincarnation?
Such thoughts crossed Gu An's mind, but he refrained from staring too long at Zhang Shi.
Not long after, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord concluded his match with a triumphant victory, immediately beckoning Zhang Shi over.
This brazen fellow had dared to claim a thirty percent chance of defeating him in chess—a declaration that the Nine-Finger Divine Lord took as a direct provocation.
A Nascent Soul cultivator imagining he could win against him? Who did he think he was, Gu An?
Amidst the raucous cheers of onlookers, Zhang Shi calmly approached the chessboard and took his seat opposite the Nine-Finger Divine Lord. The game commenced with Zhang Shi being offered the first move, and an intense battle of wits began.
Gu An watched briefly before stepping away to find a more casual match with another player.
Whether Zhang Shi could defeat the Nine-Finger Divine Lord was of no concern to Gu An—he simply wanted to relax.
Half an hour later, after winning two consecutive games, Gu An decided to leave the chess area.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shi and the Nine-Finger Divine Lord were still locked in a fierce contest. Zhang Shi furrowed his brow, caught in a moment of indecision, while the Nine-Finger Divine Lord smirked smugly, even mocking Zhang Shi for dragging out the game to wear him down.
Gu An chuckled to himself and walked toward the distant Mysterious Clear Tree.
Beneath its shade, the White Spirit Mouse was lazily napping, while An Xin was meditating and absorbing qi. The tree had become their regular cultivation spot, a privilege rarely shared with other disciples unless they demonstrated exceptional merit.
Another incense stick of time passed.
Zhang Shi placed his piece down and admitted defeat with a calm, "I lost."
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord erupted in triumphant laughter. "Want to beat me? Try again in another hundred thousand years!"
Zhang Shi stood, bowed respectfully, and excused himself.
Losing interest, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord vacated the seat, making room for other challengers. The onlookers were unsurprised—after all, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord was the second-best player in the Third Medicine Valley, second only to its founder, Gu An.
Zhang Shi began to wander the valley, walking along the wooden fences and admiring the orderly, vibrant medicinal gardens.
As he strolled, a figure brushed past him, causing Zhang Shi's expression to subtly shift.
He turned to look back, seeing Long Qing striding purposefully toward Shen Xin Zi, seemingly unaware of his presence.
"This aura... someone from the Dragon Clan…" Zhang Shi murmured softly, his voice barely audible. Yet, far away, Gu An—who was playfully teasing the White Spirit Mouse—caught his words.
Without revealing his thoughts, Gu An grew more curious about Zhang Shi's true identity.
Zhang Shi watched Long Qing leave before continuing his own leisurely exploration. Eventually, his path brought him near Gu An's pavilion.
As Zhang Shi neared the open doors, a figure abruptly appeared before him—it was the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor.
Zhang Shi wasn't startled; instead, he scrutinized the imposing figure before him.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, his expression icy, activated a protective barrier with a flicker of divine thought. The shield ensured that only Gu An could overhear their conversation.
"Who are you?" the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor demanded coldly.
Zhang Shi responded with a faint smile. "Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, if you are here, then the Samsara Dao Emperor—one of the Yin-Yang Four Emperors—must also be in this place, undergoing reincarnation, correct?"
The words sent a surge of killing intent through the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's gaze.
Zhang Shi continued nonchalantly, "There's no need to be alarmed. The fact that the Samsara Dao Emperor is undergoing the trials of reincarnation is no secret. Even the Sacred Court wouldn't interfere."
Hearing this, the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's expression softened slightly.
Taking a deep breath, he asked, "May I know your name, senior?"
Zhang Shi shook his head. "There's no need to burden you or the Samsara Dao Emperor with my origins. I'm merely passing through, here for the chess."
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, allowing Zhang Shi to pass.
As Zhang Shi walked on, he remarked, "This valley's fortune is nearing eruption. Advise the Samsara Dao Emperor—if they are truly undergoing reincarnation—to refrain from clinging to worldly attachments. The greatest taboo in the reincarnation trial is playing the savior."
With that, Zhang Shi departed without a backward glance.
Overhearing the exchange, Gu An's interest in Zhang Shi diminished slightly.
Zhang Shi had mistaken Ji Xiaoya for the Sword Master of the Dao!
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor made no effort to correct him and soon vanished from sight.
In the following days, Zhang Shi completed his tour of the Third Medicine Valley and flew off toward the outer gate city.
Seeing that Zhang Shi bore no malicious intent, Gu An decided to stop monitoring him.
Life in the Third Medicine Valley remained peaceful as usual. Occasionally, a figure of great significance would visit, but for Gu An, these moments were mere fleeting episodes in his daily routine.
Twelve years later.
Boom!
A figure descended from the sky, crashing into the forest with devastating force. The impact uprooted towering trees and sent grass and debris flying in all directions.
Dressed in pristine white, An Xin landed gracefully atop a fallen tree trunk. She gripped a treasured sword tightly, her brows furrowed, her trembling hand betraying her exhaustion.
In the distance, the Blood Prison Saint clung to the edge of a cliff, enduring the fierce winds. Teeth clenched, he gazed intently at the battle unfolding ahead.
Hovering midair, Gu An wielded the Azure Swan Sword, looking down at An Xin with an amused smile. "Is this the best you've got?"
An Xin's eyes flashed with a cold light. She took a single step forward, appearing behind Gu An as if by teleportation. Her sword slashed horizontally, and the powerful sword intent she unleashed seemed almost tangible.
Gu An casually turned his sword to block the incoming sword intent. Following the trajectory of her blade, the distant sea of clouds was swept apart by the clash.
Observing An Xin, a cultivator at the ninth level of the Divine Transformation Realm, wielding such refined sword intent, Gu An felt a sense of satisfaction.
This girl's relentless cultivation had not been in vain. In terms of sword intent alone, she was already comparable to someone in the Void Crossing Realm. Combined with her mastery of the Eight Directions Mystical Step, her overall strength far exceeded the Divine Transformation Realm, showing the early signs of a true prodigy.
Realizing her sword intent could not shake her master, An Xin stepped again, appearing above a grove several miles away. The treasured sword in her hand had already disappeared.
Her gaze turned sharp as she raised her right hand, forming a sword with two fingers, pointing it at Gu An.
Boom!
A majestic, domineering sword intent descended from the sky. Gu An looked up, seeing a beam of sword light slicing through the heavens, as though it had come from beyond the mortal realm. The sword light erupted, creating an enormous sword shadow a hundred zhang long, radiating blinding brilliance.
Gu An's lips curved upward. This girl had finally succeeded.
It wasn't in vain that he had lectured her so many times over the years.
The radiant sword shadow descended with astonishing speed, engulfing Gu An's figure. It crashed into the mountains and rivers below, causing the ground to tremble violently. Dust billowed into the air, fierce winds ravaged the land, and the entire vast island seemed to quake as if the apocalypse had arrived.
The Blood Prison Saint, observing from a distance, was inwardly shaken. He, too, could see that An Xin's sword intent had already surpassed the Divine Transformation Realm.
"The master has truly cultivated this girl to her peak!"
In that moment, the Blood Prison Saint grew even more convinced that Yang Jian's ancient treasure body must have been bestowed by their master.
An Xin, panting heavily, felt the violent winds ruffle her hair. Her sharp gaze was fixed on the area where the sword intent had landed. She didn't believe her sword could hurt her master, but she was on high alert, watching for his sudden reappearance.
Slap!
A hand suddenly landed on An Xin's shoulder, making her heart leap. Her aura immediately dissipated, and her momentum disappeared entirely.
Gu An withdrew his hand, smiling as he said, "Not bad. Today's performance finally meets my expectations. You're now worthy of pursuing Hao'er and Jian'er."
Turning to face her master's smile, An Xin suppressed her lingering panic and forced a grin. "It's all because of your guidance, Master. None of them received such dedicated teaching from you."
Her thoughts suddenly shifted to the legends about the Tai Xuan Sect.
It was said that the Sword Master of the Dao enjoyed tapping someone's shoulder before delivering the fatal blow.
She had always dismissed this as baseless rumor, but now it didn't seem so unlikely.
"This is terrifying!"
Just one tap had left her feeling breathless, as if her soul was about to scatter.
Gu An sheathed the Azure Swan Sword and looked at An Xin, saying, "You're missing a sword that truly suits you. But I won't help you find one. Use your sword intent to refine a blade that's uniquely yours."
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, An Xin asked, "Sword intent can be used to refine a sword?"
"Of course. Once you're strong enough, your sword can become a treasure of the Immortal Dao."
"An Immortal Dao treasure?"
An Xin's eyes lit up, and her breathing grew rapid.
As Tai Cang Continent gradually aligned with the greater cultivation world, the unparalleled power of Immortal Dao treasures had become widely recognized. These treasures were the pinnacle of what cultivators could pursue—artifacts so extraordinary they often served as a sect's cornerstone. Even Li Ya's Mysterious Divine City was only a pseudo-Immortal Dao treasure.
The mere thought of one day refining her own Immortal Dao treasure filled An Xin with excitement.
What level of cultivation would she need to reach by then?
She began eagerly anticipating that day.
What kind of reaction would An Hao have when he saw her with such power?
"Come on, it's time to head home."
Gu An flew toward the Blood Prison Saint, and An Xin quickly followed.
"Master, you seem to know a lot about Immortal Dao treasures. You're not secretly an Immortal King, are you? At the very least, you must be at the seventh level of the Immortal Dao Realm. No, wait, the eighth level!"
An Xin's excitement bubbled over as she spoke. Stories of beings at the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao had reached even the Tai Cang Continent's cultivation world. She had heard that the most powerful individuals were only at the fourth level, so guessing her master's cultivation at the seventh level was already an extreme overestimation.
Gu An chuckled. "I'm not that strong. I'm just a loose immortal."
"I get it, I get it! A loose immortal without any formal affiliations, right?"
An Xin grinned mischievously. The Sacred Court had honored the Sword Master of the Dao with the title of Sacred Sword, the Mortal Peak had named her master as their Peak Master, and the Tai Xuan Sect had reserved the position of Honored Pavilion Master for him. Even the overseas Xunxian Island revered him. She suspected her master had even more connections yet to be revealed.
Gu An smiled faintly, choosing not to explain further.
From An Xin's perspective, the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao was the peak. How could he explain to her that he had already surpassed that limit?
"Summer insects cannot discuss ice."
After an incense stick's time, Gu An rode the Blood Prison Saint back to the Third Medicine Valley, with An Xin following closely.
As soon as they returned, Gu An sensed a familiar aura.
It had been a long time since he'd seen this person.
Zhou Tongyou.
Gu An had once written Zhou Tongyou as the second protagonist in Tai Xuan Immortal Sovereign. Zhou Tongyou had been one of the Tai Cang Dynasty's top geniuses. After suppressing his cultivation and losing to Gu An back then, the two had formed a deep bond.
The last time Zhou Tongyou visited, he had wanted to challenge Gu An but ended up losing to Yang Jian instead.
Following that, during the Golden Rankings Assembly, Zhou Tongyou lost to Wu Jue, which helped Wu Jue cement his rise as a genius.
Since then, Gu An hadn't seen Zhou Tongyou again.
Centuries had passed. Back then, Gu An was merely at the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm. Time had truly flown.
Even before meeting Zhou Tongyou, Gu An was already reminiscing.
Dismounting, he gestured for An Xin to follow as they went to find Zhou Tongyou.
Zhou Tongyou was watching a chess match, seemingly unaware of Gu An's approach.