The innate Dao rune's power continued surging through Ji Xiaoya, radiating the aura of the Samsara Dao Emperor and significantly strengthening her divine sense.
Both Ji Xiaoya and the Nine-Finger Divine Lord understood that Go was a battle of calculation and strategy. The fact that Gu An, with his lower cultivation, had consistently defeated them left them both unwilling to concede.
As Ji Xiaoya's aura grew increasingly powerful, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord watched with mounting unease.
More and more high-level cultivators were drawn to the spectacle. Even Shen Xin Zi and Long Qing joined the crowd.
Gu An and Ji Xiaoya played rapidly, their moves brimming with lethal intent. The atmosphere around the board became so tense that the spectators dared not breathe too loudly.
A figure appeared silently beside Ji Xiaoya—it was the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor. He frowned as he looked at the board but held his tongue.
Meanwhile, An Xin and You Yingying had also arrived, quietly observing the match from the sidelines.
Even low-level cultivators could feel Ji Xiaoya's ever-increasing aura, a phenomenon that deeply surprised You Yingying. She had always been curious about Ji Xiaoya's origins but only knew she hailed from the Ji Family.
Among the disciples of the Third Medicine Valley, Ji Xiaoya was undoubtedly the most mysterious figure. She was always in seclusion, interacting closely only with Gu An.
An Xin, too, was intrigued by Ji Xiaoya's strength. Gu An had once told her that Ji Xiaoya's talent rivaled even that of An Hao, the Solar Star Lord. How could she not be curious?
As Ji Xiaoya's aura continued to surge, storm clouds gathered on the horizon. The sky darkened rapidly, and the sound of thunder echoed ominously.
Disciples in the valley looked up, startled by the phenomenon. Even cultivators from other cities and medicine valleys under the Tai Xuan Sect were drawn by the commotion.
"What's going on?"
"Is someone undergoing a tribulation?"
"It seems like something is happening at the Dao Arena. Can you feel it? There's an aura growing rapidly stronger."
"Indeed. Many people are heading there. Should we go too?"
"Why not? We're in the Tai Xuan Sect—what's there to fear, even if the sky falls?"
Discussions broke out among the disciples, and many rushed toward the Dao Arena to witness the spectacle.
Holding a white piece between his fingers, Gu An glanced at Ji Xiaoya and asked, "Do you really need to go this far?"
Excessive use of the innate Dao rune's power would inevitably provoke rejection from the laws of reincarnation. Gu An could see Ji Xiaoya's lifespan rapidly decreasing.
Ji Xiaoya met his gaze and replied calmly, "I have to defeat you at least once—only then will I have no regrets. Battling on the chessboard is as good a place as any."
Gu An stared at her and chuckled. "Even so, I won't concede. In my entire life, I've never truly lost. Even if I were to lose, it could only be to myself."
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord couldn't help but interject, "You're really putting on a show. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're the Sword Master of the Dao."
Gu An cast him a sidelong glance and retorted, "How dare a defeated dog bark at me? Just wait—I'll crush you later."
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord turned red with anger but couldn't think of a fitting response.
The onlookers found the exchange amusing but dared not openly mock the Nine-Finger Divine Lord.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, observing Gu An's moves, wore an increasingly peculiar expression.
He refrained from stopping Ji Xiaoya, as his allegiance was to the Samsara Dao Emperor, not Ji Xiaoya personally. He even wished for Ji Xiaoya to fully awaken as the Samsara Dao Emperor sooner.
The match continued. Ji Xiaoya's aggressive and sharp tactics were met with Gu An's unyielding defenses. Though her moves were fierce and relentless, Gu An effortlessly neutralized each one.
The spectators, many of whom were seasoned Go players themselves, watched in awe. Ji Xiaoya's skills were astonishing; every move was meticulously calculated and full of unexpected brilliance.
And yet, Gu An countered each attack with calm precision. His strategies, while less flashy, exuded an unassailable stability.
A deafening crack of thunder broke the tension. Lightning streaked across the storm clouds, startling many of the onlookers.
Ji Xiaoya remained focused on the board, her expression icy. Her gaze, filled with determination, bore down on Gu An. With each move, her aura grew more oppressive.
In stark contrast, Gu An appeared entirely unbothered. His expression was relaxed, and his moves were measured and unhurried.
As time passed, Ji Xiaoya's movements grew slower.
The innate Dao rune's power had greatly enhanced her calculations, but no matter how fast or deeply she thought, she couldn't turn the tide.
This mounting pressure weighed heavily on her. For the first time, she felt an overwhelming sense of inevitability—an unshakable belief that Gu An was undefeatable.
Ji Xiaoya looked up at Gu An. His calm smile stood out sharply against the tension gripping the audience.
Unlike the crowd, who watched with bated breath, Gu An remained as composed as ever, as if he were utterly detached from the situation.
The more confident he appeared, the less sure Ji Xiaoya felt.
Would she truly have to reveal her true self?
Her brow furrowed, and hesitation flickered in her eyes.
Suddenly, Gu An placed a piece on the board with a loud click. "That's enough," he said, his voice steady. "You've lost."
Ji Xiaoya's frown deepened, and she opened her mouth to argue. Before she could speak, Gu An raised his hand. The container of Go pieces moved to his side.
Before anyone could react, Gu An waved his right hand. The black and white pieces from both containers floated into the air, landing one after another on the board in rapid succession.
The spectators were stunned, unsure of what he was doing.
Ji Xiaoya stared at the board, her expression shifting rapidly.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord and the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor also watched in astonishment, their faces betraying their inner turmoil.
The black and white pieces continued to land on the board, one after another, while additional pieces rose into the air. Judging from the trajectory of the black pieces, they mirrored Ji Xiaoya's playing style precisely.
After ten breaths, the pieces stopped moving. The result of the game was clear: the white pieces had won.
The spectators gradually realized what had happened.
"Did Gu An just simulate Ji Xiaoya's strategy?"
They were all cultivators with extraordinary memories. Recalling the previous sequence of moves, the higher their cultivation level, the quicker their expressions shifted.
Their gazes toward Gu An were filled with disbelief.
"He figured that out too?"
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, with the highest cultivation among them, quietly analyzed the simulated moves. He concluded that the Ji Xiaoya Gu An mimicked was incredibly skilled. Were he in her place, victory would not have been so easily attainable.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord opened his mouth but ultimately found himself speechless.
Gu An turned toward him and smiled. "How about a match?"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord's expression stiffened. "Forget it. Another day. You've played well today. I've learned a lot. I need time to reflect."
Gu An chuckled. This elder really knew how to keep up appearances.
He shifted his gaze to Ji Xiaoya, smiling slyly. "What's wrong? Can't handle losing?"
Ji Xiaoya took a deep breath and met his gaze. "I lost."
The innate Dao rune within her began to settle, and her surging aura dissipated.
She stood up and walked to the side.
Taking the opportunity, the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor sat down. "Let's have a game!"
Gu An looked at him and asked, "Do you even know how to play?"
"Of course I do. I've played here a few times," the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor retorted, shooting Gu An an irritated look. This kid was far too arrogant.
Ji Xiaoya moved to stand beside Gu An, her eyes complicated. She seemed lost in thought.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord had only encountered the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor once before but had always regarded him as a figure of unfathomable cultivation. Now, his curiosity was piqued—could this high-level figure actually defeat Gu An?
Naturally, Gu An accepted the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's challenge without hesitation.
The match began quickly, and their battle on the board was fierce.
Spectators gathered closely, captivated by the unfolding contest.
Half an hour later.
Gu An rose from his seat. Under Ji Xiaoya's stunned gaze, he looked down at the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor and said, "Go isn't as simple as you think."
The surrounding disciples erupted in cheers. Although they had no idea who the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor truly was, they were firmly on Gu An's side.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord, Shen Xin Zi, and several Immortal Dao cultivators stared at the board in silence, unable to recover from their shock.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor trembled, his face a picture of disbelief.
"Impossible…"
He muttered to himself, unable to accept that he had lost.
When Gu An turned to leave, the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor suddenly stood and demanded, "Wait! Who are you? You're not Gu An!"
His declaration caused a ripple among the crowd. Everyone, including Shen Xin Zi and the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, turned to look at Gu An.
Long Qing broke the tension, sneering, "What's that supposed to mean? Lost to my master and now you're throwing a tantrum?"
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor fixed his gaze on Gu An's back. "My cultivation surpasses the Fourth Heaven of the Immortal Dao. How could someone of his level defeat me? The moves I calculated could not be comprehended by a mere mortal!"
The Fourth Heaven of the Immortal Dao?
Above the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm?
Even the Nine-Finger Divine Lord and Shen Xin Zi were taken aback. Their expressions turned wary as they regarded the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor.
Gu An turned slightly, glancing at the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor with disdain. "The Fourth Heaven of the Immortal Dao? Why don't you just claim you're a Divine Thought True Immortal?"
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's expression darkened. Ji Xiaoya's demeanor also shifted as she looked at Gu An with a sense of estrangement.
Gu An's tone was calm, yet it carried immense pressure as he continued, "Since you already know I'm stronger than you, how dare you speak to me like this while hiding in my domain?"
The disciples stared at their master in awe; they had never seen this side of him.
Even Shen Xin Zi and the Nine-Finger Divine Lord were pondering the term "Divine Thought True Immortal." What kind of realm was this?
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's face grew even more unsightly. Under Gu An's piercing gaze, his heart pounded wildly, more tense than during his ventures into the Sacred Court.
"You're…" The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor gritted his teeth but found himself unable to utter the words Sword Master of the Dao.
Gu An turned away and addressed Ji Xiaoya with a smile. "Let's head back. We can talk inside."
Ji Xiaoya nodded instinctively and followed him.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor remained rooted in place, staring at their retreating figures.
The spectators exchanged confused looks, their minds filled with questions.
Long Qing leaned toward Shen Xin Zi and asked in a low voice, "Master, what's a Divine Thought True Immortal?"
Shen Xin Zi didn't answer. He was wondering the same thing.
One thing was clear: if the Divine Thought True Immortal realm was above the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm, then Gu An might be even stronger than that. Otherwise, how could he intimidate the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor so thoroughly?
An Xin was the only one unfazed by the events. She was brimming with excitement.
She dreamed of becoming as dazzling as her master, of showcasing her brilliance to the world. This newfound motivation spurred her to return to her cultivation chambers without hesitation.
On the way back to the pavilion, Ji Xiaoya stole glances at Gu An. Her mind was filled with countless questions.
"Have you awakened memories of your past life?" Ji Xiaoya finally asked.
She had long suspected that Gu An might be the reincarnation of a Free Immortal. Now she was more convinced than ever. How else could he suppress the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor?
As for whether Gu An could be the Sword Master of the Dao, Ji Xiaoya found it unlikely.
The Sword Master of the Dao had intervened multiple times in the past, and using one's true power as a reincarnator would inevitably draw rejection from the laws of reincarnation.