"Again!" Zhou Tongyou gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe it. How could he lose to a labor disciple? Even if Tai Xuan Sect's fortunes had soared in recent years, it was absurd to think their luck was so overwhelming that even a random labor disciple could defeat him.
What nonsense! Zhou Tongyou was the number one genius of the Zhou family!
Yang Jian waved him forward with a taunting gesture, which only made Zhou Tongyou angrier.
The two clashed again. Gu An observed calmly. Zhou Tongyou had a unique physique, but unfortunately for him, his opponent was Yang Jian. Yang Jian's physique was comparable to an ancient treasure body. According to the Xunxian Daoist, an ancient treasure body, if allowed to grow properly, could surely ascend to become a king among immortals.
As formidable as Zhou Tongyou's talents were, they still fell short of Yang Jian's overwhelming advantages. Two centuries ago, there weren't even rumors of Mahayana Realm cultivators on this continent, and even knowledge of the Profound Heart Realm was rare.
Zhou Tongyou's Golden Body of Evil Suppression was worlds apart from Yang Jian's physique—like comparing mortal and immortal realms. There was no real threat.
Their movements blurred together as they exchanged rapid punches and kicks, swift as the wind and equally relentless.
Attracted by the commotion, the Blood Prison Saint approached, leisurely making his way to the edge of the forest to watch the duel unfold.
Zhou Tongyou, growing desperate, accidentally unleashed a burst of spiritual energy, forcing Yang Jian to retreat.
Yang Jian steadied himself, shaking his right hand slightly as he furrowed his brows.
Facing Yang Jian's piercing gaze, Zhou Tongyou's face flushed deep red. Finally, he gritted his teeth and admitted, "I concede!"
Hearing this, Yang Jian's expression softened. This was his first sparring match since beginning his cultivation under Gu An's guidance. He cared deeply about the outcome. Losing would have felt like letting his master down.
Gu An chuckled. "This kid's raw strength gave him an edge, but cultivation is more than just brute force. Victory or defeat doesn't matter. Jian'er, hurry and thank the senior for his guidance."
Yang Jian immediately cupped his hands in salute, his tone earnest as he expressed his gratitude.
The more sincere Yang Jian appeared, the darker Zhou Tongyou's expression grew.
Zhou Tongyou's gaze shifted to a certain figure in the distance: a large, oddly sneaky-looking demonic bull wandering about. "Is that your pet?" he asked.
Gu An smirked inwardly. Don't tell me you're thinking about sparring with a bull now?
"Yes. What do you think? Isn't it impressive?" Gu An replied with a faintly proud tone, hoping to steer the conversation away from the sparring match and give Zhou Tongyou a chance to save face.
Zhou Tongyou snorted. "It looks decent, but its posture is a bit odd."
Hearing this, the Blood Prison Saint widened his bull-like eyes. He was about to hurl an insult but caught Gu An's warning glance and reluctantly swallowed his words.
Gu An invited Zhou Tongyou into the valley for a chat, but Zhou Tongyou declined, citing other matters to attend to. After the sparring session, he needed to leave immediately.
Gu An didn't insist and saw him off.
Once Zhou Tongyou was out of sight, Yang Jian scratched his head and asked, "Master, did I offend him?"
Gu An watched Zhou Tongyou's departing figure. "Don't worry. Learning that there's always someone better out there isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Despite their friendly spar, Gu An held Zhou Tongyou in high regard. Although heavy-handed in his methods, Zhou Tongyou's willingness to guide even passing strangers showed a fundamentally kind nature.
Gu An couldn't let his personal conflict with the Zhou family affect his rapport with Zhou Tongyou. The latter's visit to Tai Xuan Sect might even signal the Zhou family's intent to mend their relationship. Since the two factions were not mortal enemies, reconciliation remained possible in the future.
"Master, do you think there was anything wrong with my fighting technique earlier?" Yang Jian asked earnestly.
Gu An didn't hold back, offering a detailed critique of his performance.
Meanwhile, the Blood Prison Saint sauntered over, his expression full of grievance. Only after Gu An patted his head affectionately did his mood improve.
"He's just a mortal. Why take it so seriously?" Gu An's words brought a grin to the Blood Prison Saint's face.
Jueshan Sect was a righteous sect within the Tai Cang Dynasty. During the last great demonic catastrophe, they had fought valiantly, forging strong ties with Tai Xuan Sect. This time, their talented disciples had come to exchange pointers with Tai Xuan Sect's disciples, creating a stir throughout the sect.
Pan An's Immortal Lord of Tai Xuan remained famous within Tai Xuan Sect. The character of Zhou Tongyou in the book, modeled after Jueshan Sect's Zhou Tongyou, was no secret. Many eagerly followed Zhou Tongyou's performance.
True to form, Zhou Tongyou swept through Tai Xuan Sect's disciples with the same dazzling prowess he'd shown decades ago—until he encountered Wu Jue.
Facing Wu Jue with neither party suppressing their cultivation, Zhou Tongyou was thoroughly defeated. This victory cemented Wu Jue's reputation as a rising star.
Wu Jue, a prodigy Tai Xuan Sect had heavily invested in following An Hao's rise, progressed at an astonishing rate. A former Golden Ranking talent, his triumph over Zhou Tongyou dispelled lingering doubts about his potential and further boosted the morale of Tai Xuan Sect's disciples.
Under the full moon's glow, Lü Baitian and Gu An shared drinks inside a quiet room.
"Wu Jue sees you as his only brother. Li Ya regards you as the most important person in his life. That Zhang Buku guy treats you like the sole elder he can rely on. And then there's An Hao—his sister is your disciple. Ji Xiaoyu grew up with you. Even Gu Zong's son, Gu Yu, calls you a friend. You dare tell me you have no aspirations to be the next sect master?" Lü Baitian said, glaring at Gu An.
He couldn't help but admire Gu An's ability to form close bonds with so many geniuses.
Of course, Lü Baitian understood why. Gu An treated everyone with genuine sincerity, a quality not easy to maintain. This made Lü Baitian respect him all the more.
People often judge based on appearances. Even Gu An, who frequently reminded himself to treat his disciples equally, wouldn't spare a glance at an ordinary disciple passing by.
Gu An smiled faintly, saying, "Heaven has treated me kindly. I truly don't aspire to be the Sect Master. With Tai Xuan Sect producing so many geniuses, how can it lack a leader?"
"A sect can't just pick anyone, no matter how many talents there are. The Sect Master must command respect."
"My current cultivation level hardly qualifies me to command respect."
"Before I die, I'll transfer my cultivation to you, helping you directly ascend to the Profound Heart Realm."
"By the time you're about to die, I'll have reincarnated ten times over."
"Oh? So you're hinting I should pass my cultivation to you sooner?"
The two began to bicker playfully, but Gu An had no interest in receiving his cultivation.
I, the exalted Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, need your Body Fusion Realm cultivation?
With just a breath of spiritual energy, I could surpass your lifetime's achievements.
That night, after Lü Baitian left, Gu An quietly disappeared as well.
Under the Moonlit Sky
Yàn Qitian had finally arrived!
Under the cover of night, Yàn Qitian traversed the clouds, his figure silhouetted against the full moon like an immortal descending to the mortal realm. Yet, his thoughts were uneasy as he pondered how to face the enigmatic Sword Master of the Dao. Even though he was helping this legendary figure, the mere idea of standing before him weighed heavily on his mind.
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder, freezing his heart.
With a resounding boom, the clouds beneath him dissipated. He plummeted into the forest below, his feet hitting the ground with a force that sent shockwaves through his chest. His breath caught in his throat as he realized that his spiritual power had been entirely sealed, leaving him immobile.
The sheer pressure was terrifying.
It was his first time experiencing such an overwhelming force, and fear crept into his heart like an insidious fog.
Thankfully, the hand on his shoulder withdrew. Yàn Qitian turned around hastily and, upon recognizing the Sword Master of the Dao, bowed respectfully. "Senior, don't you think this is a bit—"
He trailed off, struggling to compose himself. Memories of a popular book within the Star Sea Sect came to mind—a tale about the Sword Master of the Dao where he supposedly pressed down on his enemies' shoulders before striking. At the time, he'd dismissed it as an embellishment by Xuan Tianyi, but now he wasn't so sure.
Wait a minute—
Could the Sword Master of the Dao intend to kill him? Was this to silence the witness?
Yàn Qitian's face turned ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably. The composed demeanor of a revered Wandering Immortal and second-ranked on the Heavenly Rankings was nowhere to be found.
The higher one climbed, the more one feared the fall. Knowing that the Sword Master of the Dao could suppress him with a single hand, Yàn Qitian could only shudder at the immensity of the other's power.
"Where is it?" Gu An's calm voice cut through the tension.
Yàn Qitian hurriedly retrieved a scroll from his storage ring, holding it out with both hands. His voice quivered as he replied, "This is all I could gather using my family's and master's resources. It's not entirely clear, but it gives a rough outline of Seven Star Spirit Realm's strength."
Gu An flicked his fingers, and the scroll flew into his hand. With a sweep of his divine sense, he obliterated all the restrictions within it.
Yàn Qitian stood nervously, praying that the Sword Master of the Dao wouldn't suddenly attack him. Running wasn't an option, so he resolved to do his utmost to appear cooperative.
After a long silence, Gu An finally spoke, "Well done. You haven't leaked our deal, have you?"
Yàn Qitian quickly responded, "Only my master knows, and I described you as a mysterious senior with a grudge against Seven Star Spirit Realm. He didn't press for details. No one knows it's you."
Gu An nodded.
Yàn Qitian hesitated briefly before continuing, "Senior, dealing with Seven Star Spirit Realm requires caution. Why not join forces with the Star Sea Sect? According to my intelligence, the master of One Star Cave has reached the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm, and achieved it fifty thousand years ago. Even our sect master doesn't have absolute confidence in defeating him."
"Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm—so what?" Gu An's casual response left Yàn Qitian speechless.
So what?
Yàn Qitian opened his mouth to argue but stopped as realization struck him. Could it be… the Sword Master of the Dao fears no one, not even those in the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm?
His gaze toward Gu An shifted drastically, filled with reverence and awe. Kneeling on the spot felt almost appropriate.
"You've done well," Gu An said flatly. "But remember, tonight's conversation must remain secret. Should you dare mention it to anyone, no matter where you hide, I will find you. Nothing and no one can stop me."
Yàn Qitian shuddered violently and immediately bowed low, pledging his silence.
As he finished, Gu An stepped closer, pressing two fingers against his forehead. Yàn Qitian froze, his eyes unfocused, as Gu An's power coursed through him.
A Quiet Courtyard Under the Moon
In a serene courtyard, Ji Xiaoyu sat in a pavilion, practicing a mysterious technique. Her hands moved rhythmically as she formed intricate seals, spiritual energy coalescing around her.
A middle-aged man in a grand robe approached from the shadows, his expression solemn. Stopping at the edge of the pavilion, he regarded Ji Xiaoyu with a heavy sigh. "Xiaoyu, have you made up your mind yet?"
Ji Xiaoyu didn't respond.
"The innate Dao rune is of great significance," he continued. "But the Ji family cannot protect it. Now that we've aligned ourselves with Seven Star Spirit Realm, we have no choice but to trust them."
Opening her eyes, Ji Xiaoyu gazed at him calmly, her piercing stare making the man shift uncomfortably.