The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor proceeded, glancing around Medicine Valley without much curiosity. Having lived for over fifteen million years, nothing much about his surroundings intrigued him; he was merely browsing.
He felt Ji Xiaoyu’s gaze and couldn’t help but turn to look. As their eyes met, a smile appeared on his face.
As for Gu An behind Ji Xiaoyu, he was ignored.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor quickened his steps and came before Ji Xiaoyu, bowing with his fists, “Your Majesty, it has been a long time.”
Your Majesty?
Gu An was curious, yet he sighed in relief at the same time.
He was here for Ji Xiaoyu!
As long as it wasn’t for him, it was alright!
Ji Xiaoyu nodded slightly, “Let’s talk inside the house.”
She turned to Gu An and asked, “Do you want to listen?”
Upon hearing this, Gu An hurriedly shook his head and then went downstairs, bowing with his fists when he passed by the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor just gave him a brief nod.
Ji Xiaoyu pouted and then said, “Bring him in too.”
After speaking, she turned and entered the house.
While Gu An was walking, the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor grabbed his shoulder.
“Come in with us,” the Emperor said in an undeniable tone.
Gu An had no choice but to turn around.
The two of them entered Ji Xiaoyu’s house, one after the other. Following them, the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor waved his sleeve, casting a mysterious restriction.
Gu An sat down on a stool to one side.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor sat down at the table and looked towards Ji Xiaoyu, smiling, “Your Majesty, have you remembered?”
Ji Xiaoyu replied, “I have recovered some memories, but not all. Why have you come to find me ahead of time?”
Gu An eyed Ji Xiaoyu, uncertain how much of her memory was restored and how far she was from her true self.
He felt a twinge of melancholy thinking of the little girl who used to cling to him, who aspired to be the lofty Reincarnation Path Emperor.
The identity of the Reincarnation Path Emperor involved numerous major destinies. Once she regained her true form, she would certainly not remain in the Third Medicine Valley.
The arrival of the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor signified that Ji Xiaoyu’s departure was imminent.
Anyone with a little ability wouldn’t stay in Medicine Valley. Gu An had seen off many people; each time, it was somewhat poignant.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor glanced at Gu An, then responded, “A major change occurred in the Yin Yang Immortal Domain, so I came earlier to find you. I recently retrieved your Soul Jade from the Holy Court.”
After saying this, he flipped his right hand, revealing a purple Crystal Stone glowing with a dim light, floating above his palm.
As soon as this purple Crystal Stone appeared, it burrowed into Ji Xiaoyu’s forehead, and she closed her eyes.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor looked again at Gu An and asked, “Do you know her identity?”
Gu An feigned hesitation, “I knew her in a former life, heard she was once the Reincarnation Path Emperor in one lifetime, but I’m not clear about what that entails.”
With so many years lived by the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor, Ji Xiaoyu’s original age must be even greater. Could the Ji Family have such a long history?
Could it be that the initial Ji Xiaoyu didn’t belong to the Ji Family? Then why was she birthed into the Ji Family for two consecutive lifetimes?
What is hidden within the Ji Family that fascinates her so?
“The status of the Reincarnation Path Emperor is even higher than you think, she has lived for over twenty million years, and the current reincarnation cycle is merely her way of gaining experience,” said the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor calmly.
Gu An’s face drastically changed, his mouth opened, but he couldn’t speak.
The Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor smiled, thinking he had struck a blow to Gu An.
Silence fell in the room.
After a while, Ji Xiaoyu opened her eyes. The change in her gaze reminded Gu An of the Ji Xiaoyu who once caused a stir in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, exuding a cold demeanor.
A few moments later, Ji Xiaoyu’s gaze and demeanor returned to how they were before. She looked towards the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor and asked, “Snatching the Soul Jade from the Holy Court must not have been easy, right?”
“It cost me some injuries, but ten thousand years of recovery should suffice,” the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor replied.
Ten thousand years seemed like just a day to him.
“I don’t want to leave just yet,” Ji Xiaoyu mused.
“No worries, no rush, staying a few hundred years is fine. I’ll heal my wounds, and those fools in the Holy Court definitely won’t guess that I’m still within the Great Heavenly Spirit Land.”
He sized up Gu An’s entire karma in a glance, aware of Gu An’s age, and felt that given Gu An’s Dao Level, he wouldn’t live past a thousand years. Once Gu An died, Ji Xiaoyu’s current cycle of reincarnation should also end, and then he could welcome the real Reincarnation Path Emperor.
Gu An really wanted to say that they could leave now, but seeing Ji Xiaoyu’s expression, he held back.
“Alright, I’ll go out for a walk,” the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor said, standing up and walking towards the door.
He did not remove the restriction inside the house; he guessed that Ji Xiaoyu still had many things to reveal to Gu An, things that the Immortal Path beings in Medicine Valley should not overhear.
After the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor closed the door, Ji Xiaoyu sighed.
Gu An asked, “Why such tension? Isn’t he one of your people?”
Those capable of subordinating a Divine Thought True Immortal, the Dao Level of the Reincarnation Path Emperor must be incalculable.
“He respects my past life. I’ve dreamt of his battles; he is terrifying, maybe even stronger than Sword Venerable Fudao,” Ji Xiaoyu took a deep breath and answered.
Stronger than me?
How could that be!
I’m a whole minor realm above him, and he can’t see through my Cultivation Level. If I sneak attack, he surely won’t be prepared!
Such were Gu An’s thoughts, which, of course, were just thoughts.
He had no grievances or quarrels with the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor, so naturally, he could not make a move.
“Where is the Yin Yang Immortal Domain located?” Gu An curiously asked.
Beyond the outer reaches, there is the Silent Destruction Domain, which surrounds the Great Heavenly Spirit Land, and he always suspected that beyond the Silent Destruction Domain lay more vast worlds.
Dark Great Heaven and Earth, Divine Origin Great Heaven and Earth, Primordial Great Heaven and Earth…
Now having heard of the Yin Yang Immortal Domain, Gu An grew increasingly curious about the outer reaches.
How high is the pinnacle of the Immortal Path?
“The Yin Yang Immortal Domain is very far from here, and one must traverse a region rife with Demons. It’s extremely dangerous. I’ve dreamt that it took me many years of battle to arrive here. I have not recalled much about the Yin Yang Immortal Domain, only that it is very dark, devoid of the sun.”
Ji Xiaoyu immersed herself in reminiscences, her tone tinged with subtle melancholy.
Unable to help himself, Gu An asked, “I’ve always been curious, what exactly is your relationship with the Ji Family, and why were you born into it again this lifetime?”
Ji Xiaoyu frowned upon hearing this.
Gu An waited for her response.
After a moment, Ji Xiaoyu finally spoke, “The Ji Family was founded by a sworn son of mine. I only remember that he died for me. On his deathbed, he asked me to look after his children. That happened over twenty thousand years ago, and thus the Ji Family came to be.”
Gu An suddenly understood and pursued the topic, “So, the Ji Family shares your surname?”
“Yes, the Ji surname seems quite significant, though I haven’t recalled all the details yet,” Ji Xiaoyu said, looking at Gu An, then asked, “Anything else you’d like to ask?”
Gu An quickly shook his head, “No, I have nothing more to ask.”
Asking too much only leads to more trouble!
“It’s fine, who are we but to each other? Ask away and broaden your horizons. Know that even the high-levels of the Supreme Sect don’t have access to these things,” Ji Xiaoyu looked at Gu An, her expression a half-mocking smile.
Gu An always felt she was scheming something; he immediately stood up, bid his farewell, and left.
Ji Xiaoyu watched Gu An’s departing back, and only after he had closed the door did the smile on her face fade.
She furrowed her brows and sank into deep thought.
…
The addition of the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor didn’t change the environment of the Third Medicine Valley. Unlike Nine-Finger Divine Lord and Shen Xinzi, he disdained interacting with mortals. Once Gu An arranged his residence, he began his reclusion.
Ten years blinked by and the Sun and Moon Netherworld Emperor remained within his own room, sparking much speculation among the disciples in the valley.
One day.
Gu An went to visit Xiaochuan.
Just as Xiaochuan was receiving Gu An, an incident occurred in the residence that required his attention, leaving Gu An waiting in the courtyard.
[Name: Gu An]
[Life Span: 367/638,909,402]
[Physique: Primordial Ultimate Body]
[Cultivation Level: Divine Thought True Immortal Realm Nine Layers]
Looking at his Attribute Panel, Gu An started calculating how long it would take to reach one billion years of life span.
Currently, his lifespan income per year ranged between 1.5 and 1.8 million years, which was quite considerable.
He planned to aim for a comprehensive upgrade after reaching one billion years, then break through to the next realm.
The next step would be the ninth level Cultivation Level of the Ninth Heavens of the Immortal Path.
He wondered how many more years of lifespan would be required to surpass the Ninth Heavens of the Immortal Path.
Gu An poured himself some wine, his thoughts returning to the present; he heard Xiaochuan’s descendants arguing. It was about a marriage alliance; the current family head wanted to ally with a certain noble family. The chosen girl was unwilling, and her parents could not bear to force her, but the family head intended to compel her, leading to the quarrel.
Gu An just listened, without any intention to intervene. After all, what place did he have to interfere in such matters?
An hour later, Xiaochuan finally returned.
As he sat down and poured himself some wine, he sighed, “These good-for-nothing things. If the day comes when I’m gone, the family will surely be ruined by them.”
Gu An chuckled, “Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; don’t worry about it. You cannot solve all of life’s challenges for them.”
Xiaochuan looked at Gu An and said, “Brother, you advised me to establish a family and career, yet you haven’t done so yourself. Did you foresee this situation and intentionally torment me?”
Gu An glanced at him and said, “If you find it painful, then just abandon them. The world is vast; if it comes to it, come back to the Third Medicine Valley.”
Xiaochuan shook his head with a wry smile, his words were in jest. Although life was full of annoyances, he didn’t regret his choices and cherished what he had.
The two continued drinking, their conversation shifting to the Supreme Sect. Xiaochuan had more than a dozen descendants in the Supreme Sect, some of whom had returned to the Xiaochuan household. They brought back various news about the sect, making Xiaochuan nostalgic for it.
The Supreme Sect was where he had spent most of his life; how could he remain indifferent?
As they talked, Xiaochuan suddenly said, “Brother, could I perhaps choose someone from the Xiaochuan household to be your disciple in the future?”
He had always been hesitant to bother Gu An, but Gu An kept visiting him, even bonding well with the Xiaochuan descendants. He thought he was being overly cautious and decided to establish a closer relationship, giving his descendants a source of support.
“Of course, but I’ll make the choice,” Gu An said with a smile.
He already had a target in mind, after all, he could see Xiaochuan’s fate.