At the summit courtyard of the main peak of Mortal Peak, Gu An was gathered with a group of Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals. Everyone present was either a Peak Master or an elder of the main peak.
The courtyard was simple and ancient, not overly spacious, yet filled with vibrant flowers and trees. A faint aroma of sandalwood lingered in the air. Gu An mingled with the others, engaging in polite exchanges with each one.
Regardless of cultivation level, social interactions were inevitable.
Gu An didn't resist. After all, he planned to stay at Mortal Peak long-term, a place he envisioned as an important source of extended lifespan in the future.
The overall atmosphere was harmonious, with no signs of political scheming for the moment.
The Master of the Main Peak, just as Gu An had guessed, was a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal, and not a low-level one at that.
[Yongnian Dao Lord (Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Level Six): 267,907/780,000/1,500,000]
One and a half million years of maximum lifespan!
This was far beyond Shen Xin Zi's 999,999 years. It seemed that reaching the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal realm brought about a qualitative transformation in lifespan.
With the sixth level of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal yielding a lifespan of 780,000 years, it was evident that a Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal must exceed a million years. Similarly, higher realms like the Dao Void Profound Immortal likely had lifespans in the millions, if not higher.
Compared to them, Gu An was akin to an infant.
After making contact with everyone present, Gu An stepped back and became a quiet observer.
During the Millennial Summit, a grand banquet would be held, allowing major sect leaders to exchange insights on the Dao. Additionally, various peaks would engage in friendly competitions. These events not only fostered healthy internal rivalry but also showcased the might of Mortal Peak to the world. As for recruiting disciples, that was merely a side endeavor. With the current foundation of Mortal Peak, they didn't particularly care about the number of new disciples.
After some time, the meeting of Mortal Peak's upper echelon concluded. Gu An left on his own and flew back toward Dingtian Peak.
As his divine sense expanded, he quickly located the figures of Lu Lingjun and Shen Xin Zi.
Shen Xin Zi was doing well, as expected of someone at the ninth level of the Loose Immortal realm. Wherever he went, he was treated with respect. Lu Lingjun, on the other hand, was less fortunate. Her cultivation, still at the Profound Heart realm, left her isolated. Without Xi Ling Sacred Mother's company, she was left to remain in her temporary residence.
She stayed on a mountain peak with a wide view. As she sat, many passing cultivators and monsters cast curious glances her way, making her face darken with discomfort.
Gu An glanced at her briefly before withdrawing his gaze, paying her no further attention.
Upon returning to Dingtian Peak, Gu An wandered about leisurely. Since the disciples didn't recognize him, he was free to explore.
Dingtian Peak had many winding mountain paths, and along the way, he spotted various courtyards. Some disciples were planting flowers and herbs; others had barren courtyards. Some even kept spirit beasts or insects, which piqued Gu An's interest as he walked.
There were several mountain cities on Dingtian Peak, resembling the cities within Tai Xuan Sect. Here, one could purchase nearly anything needed, though these cities weren't as crowded as those in Tai Xuan Sect.
As Gu An passed by one mountain city, a voice called out in surprise.
"Master!"
Turning his head, Gu An saw Xu Xi hurrying toward him.
When she stopped before him, her ears turned red, and she shyly lowered her head. The sight reminded Gu An of An Xin, though An Xin's demeanor wasn't shy but gentle.
Gu An chuckled. "Where's your brother? Why are you here alone?"
Lowering her head, Xu Xi twisted the hem of her sleeve and whispered, "He went to the Discourse Peak to see if he could meet any acquaintances or clansmen."
Discourse Peak was designated for hosting guests. With the Millennial Summit underway, the once-quiet peak had become lively.
Gu An smiled more warmly at her bashful behavior. After some thought, he pulled out a manual and handed it to Xu Xi. "Since we've met, it's fate. Consider this spell a gift for your initiation. You can also share it with Xu Ruohai."
Startled, Xu Xi instinctively took a step back and waved her hands. "Master, without you, we might not have entered Mortal Peak. How could we accept more spells? We'll work hard and earn them through our own efforts."
Gu An's expression hardened, and he glared at her. "What kind of master would I be if I didn't offer this? Take it."
Left with no choice, Xu Xi accepted the manual, fumbling awkwardly with it.
Seeing her discomfort, Gu An chuckled. "If you're embarrassed, why don't you help me with something? Are you busy these days?"
Xu Xi quickly shook her head. "Not busy! Not at all!"
"Good. Go to Discourse Peak, to the area where the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect is staying, and find someone named Lu Lingjun. Stick with her for the next few days, accompanying her wherever she wants to go. If she asks, just say your master arranged it, but don't mention my name. If she has any requests you can fulfill, help her. I promise you won't lose out for doing this," Gu An instructed. Then, with a slight gesture, he transmitted Lu Lingjun's appearance into Xu Xi's mind.
Xu Xi blinked in surprise before nodding earnestly.
Satisfied, Gu An waved her off. She bowed and left promptly.
Watching her retreating figure, Gu An chuckled softly.
The arrangement served two purposes: to broaden Lu Lingjun's horizons and to give Xu Xi some experience. It was an idea that had come to him on the spot.
Gu An continued his descent, taking in the scenery along the way.
In a courtyard.
Lu Lingjun sat at a stone table, listlessly flipping through a book. The White Spirit Demon Emperor lounged on the table, equally bored.
Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky. Instinctively, Lu Lingjun looked up and immediately stood.
"Lu Lingjun?" Xu Xi asked softly, her tone carrying a respectful air.
Lu Lingjun instinctively nodded, feeling somewhat uneasy.
Xu Xi was dressed in the standard robes of Mortal Peak, her appearance graceful and dignified, with an ethereal presence that exuded a natural air of superiority. Standing before her, Lu Lingjun couldn't help but feel pressured, a sensation stemming from the inherent difference between their statuses—one celestial, the other mortal.
Although Xu Xi might appear shy in front of Gu An, her demeanor was confident and poised when dealing with someone like Lu Lingjun. This composure allowed the aura of her Nirvana Realm cultivation to naturally radiate, intensifying the pressure on the Profound Heart Realm Lu Lingjun.
Lu Lingjun's thoughts raced as she considered whether she had inadvertently offended someone.
"My master sent me," Xu Xi continued. "Do you have anywhere you'd like to go? I can accompany you. If you have any requests, feel free to ask me. I'll assist you until the Millennial Summit ends."
Xu Xi couldn't help but feel puzzled. Why would her master concern himself with such a seemingly ordinary cultivator?
After a moment of reflection, she realized that she and her brother were no different in her master's eyes than this woman. Perhaps her master had also encountered Lu Lingjun on the way here and found her pleasing.
"May I ask who your master is?" Lu Lingjun cautiously inquired.
"My master is the Peak Master of Dingtian Peak," Xu Xi replied.
The Peak Master of Dingtian Peak!
As an ascended cultivator, Lu Lingjun could no longer remain calm. Even the White Spirit Demon Emperor widened its serpentine eyes in shock.
They had heard from Xi Ling Sacred Mother that the Peak Masters of Mortal Peak were extraordinary beings, especially those of the Divine Peaks like Dingtian Peak. To hear that one of these exalted figures knew of her was beyond comprehension.
For a moment, Lu Lingjun was filled with unease.
As dusk approached, Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley.
Ji Xiaoyu approached him, curiosity written on her face. "Why have you been going out so often these past few days?"
Gu An replied casually, "A friend of mine is hosting a banquet. I had to attend as a guest."
Ji Xiaoyu nodded, then added, "Today, while cultivating, I had another dream. Want to talk about it?"
Don't get me involved in your karmic entanglements, Gu An thought to himself, feeling a pang of helplessness. Out loud, however, he said, "Sure, no problem."
The two ascended to the pavilion.
After setting a restriction to ensure privacy, Ji Xiaoyu sat at her writing desk, her brows furrowed as she began recounting her dream. "I dreamed of being in a dark void. Stars surrounded me from every direction, some of them incomprehensibly massive. I was besieged by numerous demonic entities and found myself locked in battle…"
The outer realms?
Gu An listened intently. Since the mortals of this world had never ventured to the outer realms, Ji Xiaoyu could only describe it as a dark void. From her description, however, it was evident to Gu An that she was dreaming of Heavenly Demons.
Had she lived a past life in the Void Extinction Zone?
While Gu An wasn't surprised—he had long known that Ji Xiaoyu's identity was far from ordinary—what intrigued him was that her past life hadn't merely fought against the Heavenly Demon Army. She had also mentioned encountering a terrifying figure who led the demons.
"He said that no matter how many times I reincarnate, he would await my challenge…" Ji Xiaoyu took a deep breath, her hand gripping her teacup tightly as she recalled the brutal conflict from her dream.
Gu An thought for a moment before attempting to reassure her. "Don't worry. If you ever grow strong enough to challenge him, it will likely take countless years. Perhaps it won't even happen in this lifetime. Honestly, I can't imagine how anyone could destroy a star with a single strike. How is that even possible?"
Though his words were blunt, they somehow comforted Ji Xiaoyu.
At that moment, a voice interrupted them.
"That would be the Heavenly Demon Emperor, a being who once single-handedly suppressed the Heavenly Spirit World."
The voice belonged to Qie Wuxing.
As the words fell, he appeared in the room as if from thin air.
Ji Xiaoyu frowned but chose not to speak.
Qie Wuxing had been the one to reveal Ji Xiaoyu's identity as the Samsara Dao Emperor, so Gu An didn't prevent him from entering.
"Suppressed the Heavenly Spirit World? Just how powerful is he?" Gu An asked cautiously.
Qie Wuxing's expression turned grave. "Inconceivably powerful. The Samsara Dao Emperor once confided in me that her destiny was to challenge the Heavenly Demon Emperor. However, she reincarnated soon after, and her destiny was cast into the cycle of reincarnation."
"Does that mean the Heavenly Demon Emperor won't attack our world?" Gu An probed further.
"Correct. The establishment of the Sacred Court has kept the Heavenly Demons at bay. As long as the Dao of the Sacred Heavens remains intact, the Heavenly Demon Emperor cannot act. Those I serve have ventured into the domain of the demons and returned cursed—it's an unimaginably dreadful place. However, based on her current rate of growth, it will take at least thirty thousand years before she can even encounter the Heavenly Demons."
Qie Wuxing glanced at Ji Xiaoyu as he finished speaking.
Gu An chose not to respond further, instead adopting a suitably shocked expression.
It was natural for a mortal to be stunned upon hearing about the existence of the Heavenly Demons. At least, that's what Qie Wuxing assumed.
Ji Xiaoyu, on the other hand, regained her composure.
Qie Wuxing continued to elaborate on the power of the Heavenly Demons, speaking for quite some time before finally departing.
The room fell into silence.
Gu An let out a sigh. "He said that even Sword Master of Dao couldn't defeat the Heavenly Demon Emperor. That's actually a good thing. At least you don't need to worry about this for now."
Ji Xiaoyu regarded him with a steady gaze. "I had planned to live this life peacefully. But after hearing what he said, I've changed my mind. I want to cultivate to a level where I can confront the Heavenly Demon Emperor myself."
Gu An blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Having a greater goal is naturally a good thing."
Ji Xiaoyu rose from her seat and began walking toward the door. As she reached the threshold, she turned back and said, "Why don't you reconsider as well? I've dreamed of countless people—some who rose from nothing to shine brilliantly. If you could stand by my side and fight the Heavenly Demon Emperor, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
With that, she turned and left, pushing the door open without looking back.