Profound Origin Free Immortal.
What is Profound Origin? What is being "free"?
Gu An felt his mind enveloped by countless visions, crashing into his consciousness relentlessly. Images of the past and glimpses of the future interwove, growing increasingly chaotic and violent.
It was unclear how much time had passed.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes. His awareness found itself within a vast and resplendent starry sky. The disordered and convoluted images that had once filled his mind had completely vanished.
The world around him felt serene, as though it had returned to a state of quiet.
His gaze grew clear, and one by one, figures emerged from within him, stepping forward and turning to face him.
Five figures in total!
They were Chu Lu, Xiao Shengtian, Long Zhan, Lu Han, and Ji of Yan Tribe—his five past reincarnations!
Gu An looked at them, his gaze gradually firming with resolve.
Behind the five figures, shadows began to emerge from the depths of the starry sky. Gu An couldn't discern their identities, but he could feel that they too were his reincarnations.
Once his journey through reincarnation was complete, these embodiments would assume their own identities.
Their presence signified that Gu An had not yet severed the ties to his reincarnated heart.
Each wore different attire, but their figures bore a striking resemblance to Gu An's. With every step they took, they moved forward in leaps, closing the distance rapidly.
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands—
The number of shadows surged, and before long, the vast starry expanse in front of Gu An was filled with countless figures, densely packed.
Still seated cross-legged, Gu An calmly watched the endless procession of his past selves.
He observed his reincarnated embodiments, and they, in turn, gazed back at him. It was as if he were facing his innermost heart directly.
In that moment, Gu An's Dao Heart began to gain clarity.
It was not the "initial heart" that represented one's true self, nor were the attachments gained later obstacles.
What he thought in the present moment was his true self. Any time he followed his will, it aligned with his innermost heart.
As long as his heart did not conflict with his principles, then it guided what he ought to do.
Even if some decisions led to unfavorable outcomes—so what?
The only life he could truly pursue was his own. He could only offer assistance to others; he could never control their wills.
Even if destruction was the end, if there was joy to be found before the end, wasn't that a form of fulfillment?
Setting aside the bonds of karma and fate, Gu An turned his thoughts inward, focusing on his own desires.
Immortality?
It felt far too abstract.
Through his cultivation journey thus far, Gu An had come to understand that the Dao had no true endpoint. Just how high a realm must one reach to achieve true immortality?
And if he encountered a stronger being, could he still hold on to this so-called eternal life?
Reflecting on all his memories, including those from his cycles of reincarnation, Gu An's eyes began to shine with brilliance.
With a thunderous roar, the vast universe within his mind collapsed, and his consciousness returned to reality.
He remained seated on the broken continent, shielded by the Lifespan Barrier.
Profound Origin Free Immortal Realm, Early Stage!
The breakthrough continued unabated!
Gu An's perception of the Dao grew sharper and more profound. His understanding of karma, destiny, and reincarnation deepened significantly.
This transformation was not merely a change in his essence of life. In terms of power, his cultivation far surpassed that of the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm!
Taking advantage of the continuous influx of Dao spiritual energy, Gu An began to explore the universe around him.
His divine sense extended further than ever before.
In the depths of the cosmos, he caught sight of a colossal gate. Its appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to the one in the Extreme Annihilation Lands, where Ji of Yan Tribe had fallen. It was the same type of gate guarded by the Heavenly Spirit God that had slain Ji.
A Realm Gate!
When the Heavenly Spirit God had killed Ji, he had spoken of this gate, declaring that anyone who approached it would be violating the Heavenly Dao and would face annihilation in both body and spirit!
Could it be that every universe possessed such a gate?
Gu An observed the Realm Gate, which stood eerily silent, devoid of life.
His intuition warned him that approaching the gate would invite trouble.
Redirecting his gaze, he focused on a nearby Grand World. His divine sense encompassed its myriad beings, capturing even their conversations.
This world was named Tai Xu Grand World. Within it dwelled three Free Immortals, and like many other realms, it was embroiled in chaos and tribulation.
The disturbances from outside had sparked unrest within the Tai Xu Grand World, prompting its various sects to work tirelessly to stabilize the situation.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Gu An sighed inwardly. "Forgive me, but I cannot leave this place for now."
Determined to make amends, Gu An raised his right hand. In his palm, his spiritual energy coalesced into tiny seeds.
He scattered the seeds toward the Tai Xu Grand World. As they left his hand, they vanished into thin air.
"Consider this my compensation," Gu An thought, watching the seeds disappear.
As he turned his gaze back to the Tai Xu Grand World, he noticed subtle changes in its future.
The fates of the heavens and earth branched endlessly, some collapsing while others expanded and grew, forming a web of countless possibilities.
Gu An even saw that in the distant future, the Tai Xu Grand World would collide with the Heavenly Spirit Grand World. Although this event lay far in the future, its inevitability was apparent.
Indeed, any variable carried both blessings and misfortunes.
Gu An merely sighed inwardly, without regret.
Even if he hadn't intervened, the Tai Xu Grand World would have eventually encountered similar variables.
What are variables?
They are forces beyond the constraints of a world's rules—anything from beyond the heavens could potentially become a variable.
Time continued to flow as Gu An's power rose rapidly.
Though his Lifespan Barrier continued consuming his lifespan at an astonishing rate, his remaining years, displayed as an astronomical number, hardly shrank in comparison.
After half an hour, Gu An's power reached the pinnacle of the Profound Origin Free Immortal Realm, leaving him with over 100 million years of lifespan.
Standing up, he stretched his neck, his entire body glowing with a radiant golden light—the brilliance of the Hunyuan Dao Golden Physique.
In the next moment, he vanished from the spot, diving directly into the Wheel of Reincarnation Vortex, and began his journey back toward the Heavenly Spirit Grand World.
With a single step into the vortex, another into the void, and a third, he appeared near the Tai Xuan Sect.
This was the power of the Eternal Vast Measuring Dao Step!
The distance between the Tai Xu Grand World and the Heavenly Spirit Grand World was unimaginably vast. Even for a Free Immortal, it was a journey fraught with difficulty.
Although the Wheel of Reincarnation Vortex provided a shortcut, the boundless expanse of reincarnation often left many wandering aimlessly, unable to find their way back in a short time.
Breathing in the fragrance of the flowers and grass from the mountains and forests around him, Gu An smiled.
This place always put him at ease.
The sun was approaching its zenith, and in just one night, Gu An had ascended beyond the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm to reach the even loftier Profound Origin Free Immortal Realm.
Within the Heavenly Spirit Grand World, amidst its vast universe, Gu An had yet to encounter another cultivator at the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm.
Of course, this excluded the Heavenly Spirit God, who guarded the Realm Gate.
Raising his gaze, Gu An spotted the silhouette of the Heavenly Spirit God in the distance.
Having survived since Ji of Yan Tribe's era, the Heavenly Spirit God's existence was a testament to his overwhelming strength.
In the eyes of countless cultivators, the Heavenly Spirit God was the embodiment of immortality—eternal and indestructible.
Not wishing to draw attention, Gu An quickly averted his gaze, careful not to provoke him.
Challenging the Heavenly Spirit God with his current strength would still be perilous. More importantly, he bore no grudge against the Heavenly Spirit God—there was no need to invite trouble unnecessarily.
With his current power, Gu An was confident he could face any challenges within the Heavenly Spirit Grand World.
Although he no longer needed to be excessively cautious, he chose to keep certain abilities hidden.
While the world might come to know him as the Sword Master of the Dao, no one would be allowed to understand the full extent of his strength.
He wasn't fighting for momentary glory but for the countless millennia to come.
No matter how the heavens and earth transformed or how the stars shifted in their courses, he intended to witness it all.
He would live longer than the heavens and surpass the longevity of the Dao.
Gu An's ambitions burned brightly within his heart.
He sought to become the eternal representative of existence itself, embracing the solitude of immortality.
With a faint smile, Gu An lightly brushed his hand across the flowers and grass along his path. Wherever his fingers grazed, the plants thrived, swaying as if they were on the verge of gaining sentience.
An hour later, Gu An leisurely entered Xuan Valley.
The valley buzzed with life. Disciples weeded fields, sowed seeds, and practiced spells, creating a scene reminiscent of a small sect.
As soon as the disciples saw Gu An, they greeted him enthusiastically.
After lingering in Xuan Valley for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley, his current home and the heart of his activities.
No sooner had he arrived than a figure appeared before him.
It was Ji Xiaoya.
Ji Xiaoya was about to speak but froze when her gaze settled on Gu An. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
Gu An's clothing hadn't changed from the previous day, but his aura was profoundly different, leaving Ji Xiaoya momentarily speechless.
"Where to? Shall we play chess in your room or at the Dao Arena?" Gu An asked with a smile.
The so-called Dao Arena was an open space filled with dozens of chess tables, frequented daily by disciples for matches.
Ji Xiaoya hesitated briefly before responding, "The Dao Arena. Lately, I've been wanting to experience life more fully."
Her tone carried a subtle hint of deeper meaning, which Gu An noted but chose not to address. Instead, he guided her toward the Dao Arena.
"What were you doing last night?" Ji Xiaoya asked, unable to suppress her curiosity. She glanced sideways at Gu An, her mind filled with questions.
"I was practicing my techniques," Gu An replied casually, his tone lighthearted. "I had some insights."
"Clearly, those insights weren't minor," Ji Xiaoya remarked.
Gu An smirked. "Of course. After all, it's me we're talking about."
Ji Xiaoya found his smugness irritating but, strangely, also comforting. His attitude dissolved the distance she had felt between them moments ago.
Studying Gu An carefully, Ji Xiaoya asked, "Are you hiding your true cultivation?"
Though his cultivation level hadn't visibly increased, his shifting aura suggested otherwise.
Gu An chuckled. "You're perceptive. To tell you the truth, I'm incredibly strong right now. Even if your true self awakened, you might not be my match. In fact, the legends of the Bodhi Patriarch? They're all about me."
Ji Xiaoya rolled her eyes, unimpressed by his exaggerated claims.
By the time they reached the Dao Arena, all the chess tables were occupied. However, upon seeing Gu An, two disciples immediately vacated their seats, making way for him and Ji Xiaoya.
Other cultivators at the arena turned their attention toward Gu An, intrigued by his presence.
Among them was the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who regarded Gu An with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
This boy… could he be connected to the Sword Master of the Dao?
The Divine Lord still couldn't fathom how Gu An had managed to best him at chess. A bold thought crossed his mind:
Could it be that the Sword Master of the Dao had been guiding Gu An in secret?
Yes, that had to be it!
The Divine Lord's expression grew increasingly grim as he watched Gu An, filled with resentment. This kid is truly unscrupulous!
Gu An invited Ji Xiaoya to take the first move, which she did without hesitation.
Seven moves in, Gu An noticed Ji Xiaoya subtly channeling the power of an innate Dao rune.
She had come prepared!
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord watched her in astonishment, his heart pounding. What kind of power is this?