Ji Qiankun felt deeply uneasy under Ji Xiaoyu's penetrating gaze. At some point, he realized he could no longer see through his daughter. Despite having a cultivation level higher than hers, he often sensed an inexplicable danger from her. He had even suspected she might have been possessed, but a thorough investigation revealed no such traces.
Ji Xiaoyu finally spoke, her tone calm yet chilling. "Father, do you know the origin of the Innate Dao Rune?"
Ji Qiankun frowned and replied, "The Innate Dao Rune is an ancient legacy left behind by immortals. It chooses its master in cycles of reincarnation. Those who possess it are extraordinary talents. With every breakthrough into a higher major realm, the rune grants its inheritor additional powers."
"Xiaoyu, I was the one who introduced you to the Innate Dao Rune back then. Of course, I understand its importance. But the rune is not unique in this world. The Ji family has reached a bottleneck in its development. Aligning with Seven Star Spirit Realm to open overseas paths is a necessary sacrifice. The family will not mistreat you for this."
Ji Xiaoyu stood up, walking to the edge of the pavilion and gazing coldly at Ji Qiankun.
The moonlight poured down like water, and a chilling autumn wind rustled through the courtyard.
Ji Qiankun, uneasy under Ji Xiaoyu's piercing stare, opened his mouth to speak, but Ji Xiaoyu cut him off.
"The Innate Dao Rune within me has granted me a Heavenly Eye. Do you know what I've seen with it?"
Her tone was calm, but Ji Qiankun couldn't shake a growing sense of dread. He forced himself to ask, "What did you see?"
Ji Xiaoyu stepped down from the pavilion, moving past the stone table as she approached Ji Qiankun. With every step, her aura surged higher. Her icy demeanor was akin to that of an Immortal goddess, her gaze locked on Ji Qiankun like a blade.
"I saw the heavens and earth of Seven Star Spirit Realm shattering, with corpses piling up and rivers of blood flowing."
"I saw the Ji family meeting its doom, with the qilin mourning its demise."
"I saw you, Father—your head severed from your body, and your eyes wide open in death."
Her voice was not loud, nor was her tone agitated, but every word struck Ji Qiankun like a thunderclap, shaking his heart and mind.
The Innate Dao Rune, a crystallization of the ancient immortals' cultivation, contained unfathomable power. Even the Ji family did not fully understand the extent of Ji Xiaoyu's rune's abilities.
Stopping at the pavilion's steps, Ji Xiaoyu looked back at Ji Qiankun. "If the Ji family merely wanted me to hand over the Innate Dao Rune, I might have agreed. But you intend to sacrifice my life as well. How can I possibly comply?"
Ji Qiankun remained silent. He wanted to argue but found his words hollow when faced with Ji Xiaoyu's unrelenting gaze.
"No matter what nonsense you spout, this decision is final. Your time is running out," Ji Qiankun declared, flinging his sleeves as he stormed off.
Watching his retreating figure, Ji Xiaoyu showed no anger. Instead, a trace of disdain appeared on her face.
Early Morning in the Forest
Yàn Qitian opened his eyes, finding himself still in the forest. The Sword Master of the Dao was nowhere to be seen.
As he sifted through the newfound knowledge in his mind, his expression became conflicted.
"Path-Crushing Divine Light..."
He hadn't expected the Sword Master of the Dao to bestow such a powerful divine ability upon him. Yàn Qitian had already told him he required no compensation, yet the Sword Master's actions showed unparalleled magnanimity. This generosity left Yàn Qitian deeply impressed.
At the same time, he understood the consequences of leaking this secret. The Sword Master of the Dao would not forgive betrayal.
He marveled at the immense power of the Path-Crushing Divine Light. It was undoubtedly a rare and invaluable opportunity—an unparalleled stroke of fortune!
After much thought, Yàn Qitian decided to visit Tai Xuan Sect.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Sword Master of the Dao's reclusion within Tai Xuan Sect made it a prudent move to foster goodwill with the sect. Moreover, Yàn Qitian sensed that this connection could be his opportunity to ascend further on his cultivation path.
Resolved, he turned and flew toward Tai Xuan Sect.
Training in the Third Medicine Valley
Meanwhile, in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An was leading a large group of disciples in a morning training session. Over nine hundred disciples moved in unison, their exercises forming an impressive spectacle. Even Yang Jian was diligently practicing alongside them.
The crisp autumn air, rich with spiritual energy, invigorated everyone present.
Gu An's good mood was evident in the bright smile on his face. Seeing their master's cheerful demeanor, the disciples felt their own spirits lifted.
After the exercises concluded, Gu An did not immediately leave. Instead, he invited Xiao Chuan for a game of chess. The other disciples gathered curiously but were swiftly shooed away.
Sitting down across from Gu An, Xiao Chuan spoke with enthusiasm. "Senior Brother, I won't go easy on you. Recently, I've had a streak of seventeen victories in chess!"
He quickly sorted the black and white pieces, placing the first move confidently.
Gu An responded by placing his own piece without hesitation. Smiling, he asked, "How has your cultivation been progressing lately? Have you been taking the pills I gave you on schedule?"
Xiao Chuan, three years younger than Gu An and nearing the limits of his lifespan, was someone Gu An planned to help advance his cultivation significantly in the next two years.
Unlike Li Ya or Zhen Qin, Xiao Chuan lacked ambition in the cultivation world, preferring to focus on managing the medicinal herbs of the valley. Yet, in Gu An's heart, Xiao Chuan held unparalleled importance.
In this lifetime, Xiao Chuan had been his longest companion, their bond closer than family.
Xiao Chuan responded absentmindedly, "It's fine. I've been taking them as instructed."
He was preoccupied with strategizing how to win this game and surprise his senior brother.
But as Gu An's moves continued, Xiao Chuan found himself under mounting pressure. Gu An's rapid responses left him flustered. Worse, Gu An kept asking questions, forcing Xiao Chuan to answer and distracting him further.
Noticing Xiao Chuan's irritation, Gu An smiled inwardly—he was doing it on purpose.
Looking at Xiao Chuan struggling under pressure, Gu An found it incredibly amusing.
Suddenly, Gu An asked, "Xiao Chuan, have you ever thought about going down the mountain to marry and have children?"
This unexpected question made Xiao Chuan lift his head in alarm. "Senior Brother, are you trying to get rid of me?"
Gu An rolled his eyes. "Life is short; you should experience all kinds of joys. I'm just suggesting you marry and have children. If you want to come back later, you're always welcome. Of course, if you're not interested in women, that's fine too."
Xiao Chuan, at 138 years old, had never experienced any kind of romantic relationship. As his senior brother, Gu An felt it was his duty to help him out.
Although Gu An himself had never pursued such experiences in this life, he had already tasted the nuances of love in his previous life. It wasn't novel to him, but Xiao Chuan was different. Xiao Chuan didn't even read books like The Adventures of Green Hero, which made Gu An slightly worried.
Xiao Chuan's face turned bright red. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it? I'll give you money to buy a house when you go down the mountain. Matchmakers will come knocking on your door. Living an ordinary life for twenty or thirty years might not be a bad thing," Gu An said casually, placing another chess piece. His move immediately turned the tide of the game, causing Xiao Chuan's face to turn green.
How shameless!
It was just a game of chess, so why resort to underhanded distractions?
Xiao Chuan's thoughts were in disarray, yet Gu An's words struck a chord.
In truth, Gu An had ulterior motives. He wanted Xiao Chuan to experience life among the common people, hoping that through this, Xiao Chuan might gain an epiphany about the Dao.
Achieving enlightenment was a profound matter, one even a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal like Gu An couldn't force upon others. The reason enlightenment could extend one's lifespan was that it aligned with the essence of creation itself. Life and destiny were dictated by the heavens, and the Dao could be understood only when the time was right.
In the end, under Gu An's relentless persuasion, Xiao Chuan was utterly defeated—both in chess and in resolve.
Standing up, Gu An smiled and said, "Take your time to think it over. Once you've decided, come find me. Don't hesitate. No matter what, you and I will always be brothers, and I'll protect you for life."
Hearing this, Xiao Chuan felt a little better. As he turned to look, Gu An was already walking away.
For some reason, Xiao Chuan felt that this arrangement might mean his time was nearing its end.
It seemed that Senior Brother really did care about him.
A smile appeared on Xiao Chuan's face.
Gu An, on the other hand, was also smiling as he walked away, thinking to himself, Still trying to beat me? Come back after eight hundred more years of practice.
Later that day, Yàn Qitian visited Tai Xuan Sect, causing a stir among its leadership. Lü Baitian personally greeted him, and the two sides exchanged much during their discussions.
Three days later, Yàn Qitian departed, and Tai Xuan Sect announced that the second-ranked cultivator on the Heavenly Ranking, Yàn Qitian, had been appointed as a guest elder. This news thrilled the entire sect.
It was said that Yàn Qitian left behind numerous techniques and spells and promised to assist Tai Xuan Sect in times of trouble, should they use a special artifact to call for him. In gratitude, the sect began spreading stories of Yàn Qitian's deeds, portraying him as the most remarkable cultivator associated with Tai Xuan Sect.
Yàn Qitian's affiliation with Tai Xuan Sect sent shockwaves through the cultivation world. Dynasties and sects alike felt the pressure and hastened to establish diplomatic ties with Tai Xuan Sect. Meanwhile, the Cangtian Sect remained uncharacteristically silent, their morale at an all-time low.
Autumn turned to winter, and snow blanketed the earth.
In Xuan Valley, Gu An stood by a window, admiring the snowy landscape. His divine sense covered the entire continent.
Dealing with Seven Star Spirit Realm would require more than brute force. The sect was vast, with additional branches like the Five Elemental Star Caverns overseas. A direct attack risked alerting other powerful forces or cultivators in those regions.
Gu An planned to first eliminate the Six-Star and Seven-Star Caverns on the mainland. Using his divine sense, he could pinpoint their hidden realms, waiting for the right moment of internal strife within Seven Star Spirit Realm to strike and eradicate their top cultivators in one fell swoop.
Since the rise of the Divine Anomaly City, numerous oceanic cultivators had traversed the continent, including many from the Starsea Cult. Battles frequently broke out between the Starsea Cult and Seven Star Spirit Realm.
Gu An intended to wait for the Starsea Cult to create a significant disturbance before intervening in Seven Star Spirit Realm, wiping out their leadership entirely. With the mainland purged of Seven Star Spirit Realm's presence, the Starsea Cult would likely press northward, tightening the borders and forcing Seven Star Spirit Realm to focus elsewhere.
Today, Gu An sensed a unique power gathering within Seven Star Spirit Realm. This piqued his interest.
As he probed deeper, he discovered the source of this power. The revelation made him even more curious about what was to come.
"This world is truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The forces lurking in the shadows are far more numerous than I expected," Gu An mused silently. He turned back to his desk, sat down, and opened the Tai Xuan Secrets.
The more books one read, the clearer the distinction between fleeting trends and timeless classics. The books that never tired the reader—those were the true classics.
Page by page, Gu An immersed himself in the text, as if turning through the rings of time itself.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Gu An's lifespan had once again exceeded ten million years. On this day, he closed the Tai Xuan Secrets and placed it into his storage pouch before stepping out of the pavilion.
The summer sun was blazing, cicadas chirped incessantly, and the light illuminated Gu An as he recalled his first day in Xuan Valley at the age of fifteen. He glanced toward the training ground, where Lu Jiujia was instructing the newly inducted servant disciples.
In Gu An's eyes, Lu Jiujia's silhouette merged with that of Zhang Chunqiu, evoking memories of days long past.
A hundred years had gone by. While much had changed, certain impressions remained.
Gu An chuckled softly to himself, turning his thoughts to the impending conflict. He began considering which artifacts to use. Simply relying on raw power seemed a bit dull.
Let's make this interesting.