“`
When Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley, it was dusk, and he called An Xin to return with him to his loft.
“Master, is there something you needed?” An Xin asked, curious.
Gu An seldom summoned her without a significant reason.
Gu An asked with a smile, “If I were to prepare to leave, what would you think?”
Upon hearing this, An Xin’s expression instantly turned serious. She knew her master was not joking; over the years, she too had felt something was amiss.
It was widely proclaimed in the world that all must believe in the Heavenly Dao and pursue the Celestial Mandate. At first, she didn’t feel much, but when she heard the disciples declaring that the fate of the world was predetermined by heaven, she sensed trouble.
She still remembered what He Qingsong had said, that the Heavenly Dao did not wish for her master to intervene.
Although she wasn’t sure if He Qingsong could represent the Heavenly Dao, she couldn’t help but think more about it.
“If Master wishes to leave, then we will leave. Where to and when?” An Xin asked, seemingly without any hesitation and even somewhat eagerly.
Gu An shook his head with a wry smile and asked, “Don’t you have people or things you would hate to leave behind?”
An Xin replied, “Although I am the major disciple of Medicine Valley and have close relationships with many disciples, I know where everything I have comes from. I only care about Master and my senior fellow disciple.”
She was gentle by nature, considerate in her interactions but that didn’t mean her heart was indecisive.
Gu An could hear the sincerity in her voice.
His lips curled up as he said, “Since that is the case, I entrust you with a task. Select a suitable disciple from the Third Medicine Valley to take over as the Valley Master in the future. Of course, do not reveal my intentions for now.”
An Xin immediately agreed. Then, she began to inquire where Gu An planned to go, but Gu An did not answer her.
For he was also hesitating.
The universe was vast, with many worlds. It was worth considering whether to head to Outer Heaven or stay in the Celestial Spirit Great World.
…
Under the mystical star-studded sky, the Celestial Dao Golden Core emitted endless light, illuminating the entire universe.
Boom!
A gust of wind rushed toward the Yang Immortal Emperor, causing his golden robe to billow intensely. He squinted, looking towards An Hao standing before him.
Ten feet away, An Hao stood with his back to him, his body enveloped in golden flames, his long hair fluttering, radiating a soaring aura.
“This aura is almost catching up to that of Celestial and Earthly Immortals. How has his strength increased so quickly? Something’s not right.”
The Yang Immortal Emperor’s eyes flickered with suspicion.
An Hao slowly turned around, glancing sidelong at the Yang Immortal Emperor, his expression indifferent and totally unlike his usual self, causing the Yang Immortal Emperor to frown.
“What’s wrong?” the Yang Immortal Emperor asked.
An Hao said, “A powerful being is targeting the Celestial Dao Golden Core. They are already waiting for its emergence.”
“Did the Celestial Dao Golden Core tell you that?” the Yang Immortal Emperor asked.
An Hao didn’t reply but instead fixed his gaze on the Yang Immortal Emperor and said, “The calamities of the Immortal Dynasty are approaching, the fierce battle you hope for is perhaps wishful thinking.”
“Calamities?”
The Yang Immortal Emperor’s brows furrowed tighter, his doubts about An Hao’s state growing.
An Hao said solemnly, “Your Majesty, if the Immortal Dynasty faces the danger of annihilation, would you sacrifice yourself to save it?”
Whoosh—
The Yang Immortal Emperor heard a noise behind him, and as he turned, he saw a ring of light emerging on the surface of the Celestial Dao Golden Core, quickly expanding to display the thriving scenes of the Immortal Dynasty.
As he watched, a hand descended from the sky, uprooting the continent where the Immortal Dynasty was located and moving it to Outer Heaven.
Next, this hand crushed the entire Immortal Dynasty into dust, leaving nothing behind.
The Yang Immortal Emperor’s face turned grim as the scene within the ring of light vanished, leaving only a vague figure standing inside, seemingly waiting for him.
“The Celestial Spirit’s arch-enemy has targeted this realm. Destroying the Immortal Dynasty is just the beginning, next is the Holy Court. What will you do? This being surpasses even the Free Immortal,” An Hao said, his tone indifferent, as if possessed by some supreme being.
The Yang Immortal Emperor looked at him again and asked, “Who are you really?”
An Hao’s expression didn’t change as he answered, “I am still An Hao, just that I have been tempered through the Celestial Dao Reincarnation over the years, making me different from before.”
“Heavenly Dao Reincarnation?”
“`
“Hmm, I kept experiencing the destruction of the Celestial Spirit Great World, where each time, all beings were annihilated, the world shattered, and the Heavenly Dao Golden Core was taken by a mysterious and powerful being. I kept changing the situation in the Reincarnation, but the outcome was always the same. As long as the world shattered and the light of the Heavenly Dao that enveloped the world dispersed, that mysterious being would make a move.”
An Hao said in a tone laced with inexplicable meaning, filled with sadness and resolution.
Yang Immortal Emperor was not startled but looked deeply into his eyes and asked, “If that’s the case, what good does my sacrifice do?”
An Hao looked toward the Heavenly Dao Golden Core and said, “The Heavenly Dao Golden Core will grant you strength that surpasses that of the Zi Zai Immortals, but from then on, you will become a puppet to the Heavenly Dao Golden Core. Your emotions will be erased; you will still be you, but there are many things you will no longer be able to do, and that is only if the transformation is successful.”
Yang Immortal Emperor, with a smile curling the corners of his mouth, responded, “That sounds a lot like the Celestial Sect wandering the Human World.”
He turned to look at the Heavenly Dao Golden Core, and the figure within the halo gradually became clearer—it was another him, as though he were looking into a mirror.
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Flames sparkled in Yang Immortal Emperor’s eyes, growing more intense.
…
Years flew by; another two hundred years had passed.
Third Medicine Valley.
Ancient Sect stood in front of Gu An’s loft, his face filled with complex emotions.
An Xin, standing beside him, said, “Elder Gu, go back. If master returns, I will inform you.”
Gu Yu, alongside Ancient Sect, couldn’t resist asking, “It’s been over a hundred and fifty years since he left, why hasn’t he returned? Could he truly be gone? The Qin Family has already been punished and even expelled; can’t he let go of his grudges?”
An Xin shook her head and replied, “It’s unrelated to that. Master left because of something else; you’re overthinking it.”
Ancient Sect stopped Gu Yu from saying more.
“Let’s go back. Perhaps we are overthinking it.” Elder Gu sighed, then turned and left.
Gu Yu could only follow in his footsteps.
Under a nearby tree, where the Blood Prison Great Saint was meditating, he opened his eyes and watched them leave, his face showing a mocking smile.
An Xin turned and left without lingering under the loft.
At the same time.
Inside the loft, Gu An had not left. He was lying on a chair reading a book.
He had merely concealed his own aura and fate, thus misleading others into thinking he wasn’t there; even if someone were to enter now, they wouldn’t see him.
After finishing the last page, Gu An pulled up his Attribute Panel.
[Name: Gu An]
[Life Span: 2,143/9,999,605,001]
[Physique: Primordial Infinite Body]
[Cultivation Level: Luotian Zizai Immortal Realm Perfection]
…
Ninety-nine billion years of life!
So close to one hundred billion!
Gu An was eagerly anticipating his new life abilities, hoping they wouldn’t disappoint.
The reason he feigned departure early was to prepare for his breakthrough.
The next breakthrough would surely shake heaven and earth, and he also wasn’t sure if his journey to the Land of Reincarnation would alarm the Celestial Spirit Great World, so he chose to hide himself in advance.
Now, other than the Celestial Spirit God, no one should be aware that he was still there.
He shifted and began to gaze into the distance.
He sensed a formidable power approaching the Celestial Spirit Great World.
Daoist Zang Zizai Immortal!
This being wasn’t seeking to destroy the Celestial Spirit Great World, but was targeting a corner of it.
That direction was the Immortal Dynasty!
Gu An started to look forward to the so-called Heavenly Dao Golden Core and whether it could truly help Yang Immortal Emperor defeat an enemy greater than a Zi Zai Immortal.
Because of An Hao, Gu An often kept an eye on the Heavenly Dao Golden Core.
Located in a special space, Gu An was able to perceive it partly because he had secretly left a Dao Destruction Destiny Seal on An Hao.
He could feel the changes in An Hao, his Celestial Dao Destiny far more intense than that of puppets like He Qingsong.