In the dense mountain forest, Gu An sat meditating under a tree, leaning against its sturdy trunk while toying with the Seven Stars Mirror.
Despite its immense power, the mirror, capable of rivaling even a Wandering Immortal, appeared refined and delicate in Gu An's hands, completely at odds with its status as an immortal-grade treasure.
Snowflakes trickled through the gaps in the branches, landing on him and dissolving into vapor.
The fall of seven Divine Lords had plunged the heavens into mourning, and snow continued to cascade.
As Gu An idly fiddled with the Seven Stars Mirror, his divine sense followed the trail of the Innate Dao Talisman.
His curiosity about Ji Xiaoya's origins and her miraculous abilities had grown insatiable.
When the Innate Dao Talisman had fled, he had intentionally traced its path. Although it had traversed the laws of the world and concealed itself in realms unreachable by ordinary beings, Gu An had managed to pinpoint its location.
It hadn't left the mainland but had returned to the Ji Family—not the branch family where Ji Xiaoya had been born but a subsidiary located in the Great Jiang Dynasty.
Gu An recalled Ji Xiaoya's resolute demeanor during their final confrontation and couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
He hadn't expected Ji Xiaoya to unleash such a monumental force. That mysterious golden silhouette was likely her past incarnation. It seemed she was practicing a cultivation akin to the Innate Reincarnation Technique. Unlike the standard method of amassing destiny and aptitude through repeated lives, Ji Xiaoya had summoned immense power directly across time and reincarnation.
What kind of cultivation level would Ji Xiaoya have reached at her peak?
Even Gu An couldn't guess.
Her sacrifice in this life felt like a poignant tragedy.
"Third Miss, may you find peace and freedom in your next life, no longer shackled by your family's schemes," Gu An silently mused.
Seeing the Innate Dao Talisman lingering with the Ji Family, he felt puzzled. What deeper connection did Ji Xiaoya have with her clan? If it were merely a bond from this lifetime, why didn't her soul choose another family for reincarnation?
Perhaps he could interrogate the lingering spirits of Ji Zhan in the Ji family's branch, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
This was Ji Xiaoya's karmic entanglement with her family; he had no cause to interfere, no right to pry into their affairs.
Gu An had always been this way—respectful of the pasts of those around him, treasuring only the moments they shared in the present.
This battle had left him looking forward to the future. Would his next encounter with Ji Xiaoya be with a reincarnated stranger or a faint shadow of her former self?
The reflective surface of the Seven Stars Mirror captured Gu An's calm, handsome visage. His eyes seemed to peer through the tides of time, glimpsing the distant shores of destiny.
Turning his focus to the mirror, Gu An was filled with quiet awe. This treasure, far stronger than Mysterious Divine City, was an intact relic of the immortal path.
Despite enduring his relentless attacks, the Seven Stars Mirror remained unscathed. He sensed its true potential had yet to be unlocked, limited only by the capabilities of Tianyi Realm Lord and the others.
Melding his mind with the mirror's celestial spirit, Gu An watched as the mirror transformed. Its ornate edges, once adorned with divine beasts, morphed into simple floral patterns, its luster dimming into a rustic hue.
Now, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary antique—a far cry from a peerless treasure.
A satisfied smile crossed his lips as he tucked the mirror into his robe.
Standing under the canopy of falling snow, Gu An felt the sky had become brighter and clearer than before.
"It's time to go home."
...
The summer snowfall lasted for seven days. Even as the celestial phenomenon faded, the news of the Seven Stars Realm's demise had yet to spread. However, the Tai Xuan Sect and the cultivation world of the Three Dynasties were already in turmoil. Investigators had been dispatched, with a steady stream of overseas cultivators heading toward the Seven Stars Realm.
This time, however, no senior cultivators dared to fly over the Tai Xuan Sect's territory.
A storm was brewing.
Returning to the Tai Xuan Sect, Gu An resumed his serene life as if nothing had happened, occasionally checking on the Innate Dao Talisman to see if Ji Xiaoya had reincarnated.
The days passed peacefully. With the Seven Stars Realm gone, Gu An felt a sense of relief.
Yes, gone! Completely obliterated!
Gu An's divine sense swept over the ocean, witnessing the Star Sea Sect cultivators ruthlessly hunting down the remnants of the Seven Stars Realm. Other factions joined in, carving up the realm's lands and devouring its fortune—a ruthless display of natural selection.
One day, a visitor arrived at Gu An's secluded mountain home.
It was none other than the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, an Elder Guest of the Tai Xuan Sect. Despite his Wandering Immortal Realm cultivation, he boasted a lifespan of 800,000 years, with his current age at 180,000. Gu An suspected that the Divine Lord had suffered a severe decline in his past cultivation level.
Gu An had guided the Divine Lord when he first entered the Tai Xuan Sect, fostering a friendship. Even now, Chu Jingfeng studied under the Divine Lord's tutelage.
Under the shade of a tree, Gu An and the Divine Lord sat facing each other, while Anxin served tea.
The Divine Lord smiled at Anxin in gratitude before chatting with Gu An, praising his impeccable management of the Medicine Valley.
Since meeting Gu An, the Divine Lord had found an unexpected peace within himself.
In the chaotic, cutthroat world overseas, Gu An's Medicine Valley felt like an oasis of calm. Its tranquil atmosphere, he believed, reflected Gu An's own demeanor—a sentiment Chu Jingfeng had echoed in private conversations.
"He probably has no idea I've reached the Wandering Immortal Realm. Given his fleeting mortal life, he's likely never even heard of such realms," thought the Divine Lord with a smile as he sipped his tea.
Gu An returned the smile, raising his cup in a gesture of camaraderie.
"If this old fellow knew I was at the ninth stage of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, would he still act this composed?" Gu An mused, finding the situation amusing.
Breaking the silence, the Divine Lord spoke. "The world grows restless. Be cautious, Gu An, and avoid leaving the valley if you can."
Gu An frowned slightly and asked, "Senior, has something significant happened?"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord hesitated briefly before speaking in a low voice. "To tell you the truth, the holy land of this continent, the Seven Stars Realm, is on the verge of collapse. This will inevitably disrupt the balance of both the mainland and the oceans. Without the suppression of the Seven Stars Realm, it's only a matter of time before more senior cultivators flood into this continent."
Surprised, Gu An asked, "How is that possible? Isn't it a sacred land?"
He had considered the potential downsides of destroying the Seven Stars Realm.
However, every action has its pros and cons. Even if he hadn't destroyed the Seven Stars Realm, who knew what catastrophe they would have caused next?
Without his intervention, the cultivation world of the Three Dynasties and the mainland's common people would have long succumbed to the Great Demon Catastrophe. In that sense, Gu An felt no guilt.
While ensuring his own safety, he had extended his efforts to protect the world. But he had never considered himself a savior.
He was a man first and an immortal second.
"It's truly inconceivable," the Nine-Finger Divine Lord said with a sigh. "That's an entity that has stood tall for hundreds of thousands of years. No one knows who could have orchestrated its fall..."
Gu An remarked, "If the world is about to descend into chaos, why don't you stay within the Tai Xuan Sect, Senior? Surely the ocean is far more treacherous than the mainland, isn't it?"
Gu An hoped to draw the Nine-Finger Divine Lord fully into the Tai Xuan Sect's fold. That way, he wouldn't have to deal with every random threat on his own.
Truth be told, killing didn't hold much appeal for him. The steady lifespan gained from cultivating herbs was far more reliable.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord nodded. "I do plan to stay for a while. Besides, I have a theory in mind."
"What theory?" Gu An pressed.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord chuckled. "Ah, that I cannot share. It might drag you into unnecessary karmic trouble."
"Fair enough," Gu An replied with a smile. "Though I don't know your true cultivation level, your world is far beyond my reach."
"Hahaha!"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord laughed heartily.
Over the years, he had encountered countless people, but few were as composed and easygoing as Gu An.
Even though he hadn't revealed his true cultivation, his apparent level was enough to make most Core Formation cultivators scramble to curry favor. But Gu An was different. Their relationship was one of mutual respect, free from any interests or obligations, which the Nine-Finger Divine Lord found refreshing.
Gu An didn't push for answers. Instead, he occasionally shared stories about the happenings in the Medicine Valley. Though mundane, these tales were delightful in their simplicity to the Nine-Finger Divine Lord.
After spending too long at the pinnacle of the world, even a glimpse into the lives of mortals felt like a rare treat.
Eventually, Gu An invited the Nine-Finger Divine Lord to play a game of Go. After a single explanation of the rules, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord grasped the fundamentals.
At first, his moves were scattered and disorganized. But by the fortieth turn, he had begun developing strategies, shifting from passive defense to deliberate setups. His progress was astonishing.
Intrigued, Gu An began playing seriously.
In the end, Gu An won.
However, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord wasn't upset. Instead, he gazed intently at the board, savoring the intricacies of Gu An's strategies.
"Interesting. Let's play another round," the Nine-Finger Divine Lord said, looking up.
Gu An called out to Xiao Chuan, who happened to be passing by, and invited him to take over, claiming Xiao Chuan was even better than himself. The boy beamed with pride at the compliment.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord didn't mind who his opponent was, as long as they could play.
And so, another round began. Their game quickly attracted a crowd of disciples eager to watch the match unfold.
Yang Jian stood beside Gu An, observing the board. He wasn't particularly interested in Go, preferring the more dynamic strategy of chess, with its dramatic river crossings and simple rules.
But he could sense the profound and unfathomable aura emanating from the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, indicating the man's extraordinary strength. That alone was reason enough to join the crowd.
By the time evening fell, Xiao Chuan looked utterly drained from the intense game.
Satisfied, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord rose from his seat and turned to Gu An. "Alright, I must head to the sect's main city. Let's play again sometime. This game of Go is fascinating—there's a hint of the Dao hidden in its intricacies. Excellent game!"
His gaze then shifted to Yang Jian, lingering for a moment.
"Hmm?"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord's expression changed slightly.
Though Yang Jian had concealed his cultivation, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord instantly recognized the boy's unique physique.
Before he could say more, Gu An interjected. "You've already taken Chu Jingfeng. Don't even think about taking my disciple. He's with me for life."
The surrounding disciples turned their attention to Yang Jian, their expressions tinged with curiosity.
Could it be that Yang Jian was truly a prodigy?
Yang Jian stepped forward confidently. "That's right. I've pledged my life to serve Master Gu. I will never take another master."
Anxin, standing nearby, looked on with a hint of envy. She thought back to her own youthful days under her master's tutelage.
If she had been as gifted as Yang Jian, would her master have allowed her to stay?
Then again, her older brother An Hao had extraordinary talent and still couldn't remain by their master's side. With that thought, she let go of her momentary envy.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord cast a deep glance at Yang Jian before turning back to Gu An. "Your disciple is exceptional. Make sure he stays within the Medicine Valley. Don't let him wander down the mountain. He could bring you unnecessary trouble."
With that, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord leapt into the air, his figure resembling a white crane as he disappeared into the horizon.
His words left the surrounding disciples looking at Yang Jian with even more curiosity. Yet Yang Jian remained calm and unperturbed.
"Cause trouble for my master?"
Anyone daring to provoke my master would be courting disaster on an unimaginable scale!