"Awakened past life memories? You could say that," Gu An replied casually as he glanced at Ji Xiaoya, smiling faintly. Indeed, he now possessed many memories of his past lives.
Ji Xiaoya's expression turned complex upon hearing his answer.
She could sense that Gu An had ended the match early, likely to prevent her from expending too much of her life force. In doing so, he had even been forced to reveal some of his own cultivation. This filled her with a mix of emotions—joy, surprise, resentment, worry, and even regret.
Gu An saw through her thoughts and shrugged with a smile. "Don't feel bad about it. It's not like we won't have more matches in the future. You'll have plenty of chances."
"I'm afraid I won't have much time left…" Ji Xiaoya murmured softly.
Gu An turned his head to look at her, his tone calm yet probing. "Then what do you plan to do with the time you have left?"
Ji Xiaoya was the reincarnation of the Samsara Dao Emperor, and the Samsara Dao Emperor was her. Their shared soul ensured this connection, even if their memories differed, creating temporary discrepancies in personality.
If Gu An chose, he could extract Ji Xiaoya's current life memories and transfer them to another vessel. Yet such an act would fail to sever the bond between Ji Xiaoya and the Samsara Dao Emperor because the essence of the soul was singular and immutable.
While memories and experiences shape personality, true nature is innate and unchangeable.
Ji Xiaoya understood this principle as well, which was why she had never truly considered escaping the identity of the Samsara Dao Emperor. Her unease stemmed from her inability to imagine how her current life's will would merge back with her true self upon this life's conclusion. When she recalled memories of her past lives, she felt detached from the emotions that had shaped her then.
"What I want to do… I really need to think about it," Ji Xiaoya said, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy.
Gu An offered no advice, giving her the space to decide for herself.
The two of them returned to Gu An's residence while back at the Dao Discussion Hall, the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor disappeared. The onlookers quickly gathered around the Go board to analyze the previous match.
From afar, Shen Xin Zi gazed at Gu An's pavilion, taking a deep breath. "Your master is no ordinary person."
Beside him, Long Qing couldn't help but roll his eyes at the remark. "You don't say! Anyone could see that!" he muttered internally, feeling a similar mix of emotions.
As someone close to Gu An, Long Qing had always regarded him as a father figure. Yet in Long Qing's heart, Shen Xin Zi had always seemed stronger.
He had dedicated much of his time to cultivating under Shen Xin Zi's guidance, spending less and less time with Gu An as a result.
But after what he had just witnessed, it was clear that Gu An's aura even overshadowed that of the mysterious master who had shaken the heavens moments ago.
A figure who surpassed the Fourth Heaven of the Immortal Dao—someone stronger than Shen Xin Zi?
The thought struck Long Qing as absurd, almost impossible to believe.
If it were true, why hadn't he chosen to cultivate under Gu An's direct tutelage from the start?
As his gaze followed An Xin walking away in the distance, he suddenly felt that she might know something.
"I have to ask her!" he decided, his thoughts swirling. How could the person closest to him hide such profound strength?
In the days that followed, news of Gu An's confrontation with the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor spread quickly. The term "Divine Thought True Immortal" also began to circulate among certain circles.
Three days later.
Lü Baitian and Ji Hantian visited Gu An's residence. Gu An welcomed them warmly, gesturing for them to take a seat while he busied himself pouring tea.
"I heard there was someone in the Medicine Valley whose cultivation surpassed the Fourth Heaven of the Immortal Dao. Is that true? And did you really suppress him?" Lü Baitian asked nervously, his expression filled with disbelief.
When he first heard the story, his initial reaction was outright denial. Yet, when his subordinates swore they had witnessed it firsthand, he was forced to take the matter seriously.
At present, Tai Xuan Sect had no cultivator at the Fourth Heaven of the Immortal Dao. Not even Sword Master of the Dao was confirmed to hold such a level of power—his true strength remained shrouded in mystery.
Now, not only did someone of that level emerge, but Gu An, whom Lü Baitian greatly admired, had managed to suppress such a figure?
How was that even possible?
To Lü Baitian, the whole situation felt absurd, as if he had fallen into an illusion brought on by a cultivation mishap.
Ji Hantian felt much the same. Gu An was a former servant of the Ji family—no amount of serendipity could explain how he had grown this strong.
"Since you already know, why bother asking me?" Gu An replied offhandedly.
Ever since achieving Profound Origin Free Immortal, Gu An had decided there was no longer any need to hide his strength as he had before. So long as his true capabilities weren't revealed, he was content.
Even the Immortal Dynasty and Sacred Court would never imagine that Sword Master of the Dao had transcended the realm of Free Immortals, standing two full major realms above it.
The strongest cultivators in the Sacred Courts were still striving to break through to the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm.
Hearing Gu An's nonchalant response, Lü Baitian and Ji Hantian exchanged wide-eyed glances.
Ji Hantian gave Lü Baitian a meaningful look. After a moment's hesitation, Lü Baitian nodded subtly.
Without warning, Ji Hantian sprang to his feet and struck at Gu An from behind with his palm.
But before his attack could land, he found himself frozen in place, unable to move.
His eyes widened in shock as he realized his predicament.
Gu An turned around, carrying two cups of tea. His gaze locked with Ji Hantian's, whose face was filled with disbelief.
When Gu An reached him, Ji Hantian felt a terrifying pressure radiating from him, as if Gu An's aura alone could crush him entirely.
"Try this again, and you'll die—even if I don't lift a finger," Gu An said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion as he stared at Ji Hantian.
Cold sweat streamed down Ji Hantian's face.
Lü Baitian quickly stood up, speaking in a conciliatory tone. "He only wanted to test your strength. He meant no harm."
He also felt his heart racing, his gaze towards Gu An filled with a mix of awe and fear.
That presence—it was undeniably at the level of a being within the Immortal Dao!
To say Lü Baitian was shaken would be an understatement. In his entire life, he had never encountered such an overwhelming aura. Figures like Sword Master of the Dao and Qiu Xi Immortal Lord emanated their pressure over vast realms, far removed from Lü Baitian's immediate presence. But here, Gu An's terrifying presence was up close and personal.
Gu An withdrew his aura, placing the two cups of tea on the table.
He calmly sat down, leaning back in his chair. With a relaxed expression, he looked at Lü Baitian and Ji Hantian and asked, "Now that you've confirmed what you wanted, what will you do next?"
His tone was casual, with no trace of the immense power he had displayed moments earlier. Yet, Lü Baitian and Ji Hantian still felt an almost suffocating pressure.
They had never imagined this seemingly unremarkable young man could possess such gravitas.
At the same time, they were trying to decipher the meaning behind Gu An's question. Was he suggesting that he had been intentionally concealing his strength, or was he implying that his strength was now beyond hiding? Should they assist him in dealing with the aftermath, or simply stay out of his affairs entirely?
Gu An waited patiently, showing no sign of urgency. His calm demeanor only amplified the tension between the two men, sweat beginning to bead on their foreheads.
Lü Baitian looked at Gu An with a mix of disbelief and hesitation. Over the years, he had always tried to take care of and favor Gu An, yet now he realized just how incomprehensibly powerful Gu An truly was.
An unsettling thought struck him—had Gu An always been this strong from the very beginning?
The more he pondered, the more likely it seemed. Ever since he had known Gu An, the man had never shown fear in the face of hardship, nor had he ever been fazed by any obstacles. Perhaps his pursuit of a quiet life was because he had already explored the pinnacle of the world's wonders.
Was it possible that Gu An was actually Sword Master of the Dao himself?
This thought alone made Lü Baitian shiver.
As his eyes met Gu An's, he was startled to find Gu An looking at him with an amused, almost knowing smile.
Lü Baitian broke out into a cold sweat. Memories of their past interactions flooded back—Gu An's casual advice, his insights, and his consistent calmness in the face of challenges. Everything began to click into place.
No wonder Gu An once said that he would never step into the Body Fusion Realm in this lifetime—it wasn't because he lacked the ability, but because he viewed such a realm as beneath him.
Meanwhile, Ji Hantian was far less introspective. His mind was consumed by one simple thought: How could Gu An be so powerful?
To him, Gu An was a mere servant of the Ji family, someone he had investigated thoroughly in the past. Was this truly the same man? Or had some powerful cultivator taken over his identity?
There was no other explanation.
After all, how could a seven-hundred-year-old junior possess such strength? Not even An Hao, had likely reached the Nirvana Realm yet!
Taking a deep breath, Lü Baitian finally spoke. "We won't reveal anything about your cultivation, nor will we interfere in your life."
Ji Hantian snapped out of his daze, nodding quickly in agreement. The arrogance that once colored his demeanor was gone, replaced by a mix of awe and fear.
Gu An thought to himself that it wouldn't matter even if they did reveal anything. Still, the prospect of peace and quiet was welcome. He said lightly, "Drink the tea. This is a rare brew I've kept for a long time."
The two men quickly nodded and reached for their cups, their hands trembling slightly.
After the span of a single incense stick, they finally left Gu An's pavilion. Gu An stepped outside to see them off.
From a distance, Long Qing, who had been chatting with the Blood Prison Saint, noticed the sect master and vice sect master bowing respectfully to his master. His brows furrowed in confusion.
As the two men left, Gu An turned and glanced at Long Qing, offering him a faint smile. Before Long Qing could say anything, Gu An slipped back into his house and shut the door with a resounding thud.
Long Qing opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. He could tell that his master was intentionally avoiding him.
Memories of his past arrogance surged forward—how he had once boasted to his master about the strength of his second master. His face flushed with embarrassment.
Elsewhere, Lü Baitian and Ji Hantian flew through the clouds, speaking in hushed tones.
"What do we do now?" Ji Hantian asked, his expression conflicted. He truly didn't know how to approach Gu An anymore. He couldn't treat him as a mere servant, but their past relationship made it equally difficult to openly curry favor with him.
Lü Baitian gazed into the distance and replied, "We pretend we know nothing. But in the future, we'll treat those close to him with the utmost respect. Gu An has worked tirelessly for Tai Xuan Sect, and anyone he values is likely to have made significant contributions as well. We can't allow them to be neglected."
Ji Hantian's eyes lit up with admiration for Lü Baitian's foresight.
Indeed, there was a clear difference between a sect master and a vice sect master!
In the days that followed, rumors about the events in the Third Medicine Valley were suppressed. However, within the valley itself, Gu An's reputation as a mysterious, peerless cultivator grew. Disciples redoubled their efforts in their duties, hoping to win his favor.
Time passed swiftly.
As autumn set in, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin came to visit Gu An. The two women entered his residence, brimming with excitement.
"Master, we've both been appointed elders of the branch sect's Elder Council! In the branch sect, we're practically second only to the sect master!" Zhen Qin exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. Though this had been decided months ago, she still couldn't contain her excitement whenever she talked about it.
Gu An raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That's impressive!"
Ye Lan, however, fixed him with a sharp gaze. "This must have something to do with you, right? No matter how much credit we've earned, our cultivation levels alone shouldn't have been enough to secure positions in the Elder Council."
Hearing this, Zhen Qin turned to Gu An, expecting him to deny it modestly. Instead, he replied matter-of-factly, "Maybe someone wanted to curry favor with me."
Zhen Qin's eyes widened in shock. "Who could possibly offer two seats in the Elder Council just to win your favor?"
Gu An grinned smugly. "I won't lie—I'm very strong. To be completely honest, I could defeat anyone in Tai Xuan Sect. From now on, you two can walk around like you own the place."