The first Immortal King, the first Immortal Treasure…
Gu An felt an overwhelming power emanating from the Immortal King—a will strong enough to defy the Heavenly Dao, transcending the boundaries of time.
Tian Zong's gaze remained fixed on Gu An as he continued, "After the Immortal King fell, the world was submerged under vast oceans, entering an era of declining spiritual energy. Yet, from destruction comes creation. Even the harshest environments will birth new life. Over countless eons, others sought to emulate the Immortal King, and the title he claimed became a badge of honor for cultivators, inspiring new generations of Immortal Kings who also dared to challenge the heavens. However, with each act of defiance, the Heavenly Dao tightened its grip, laying down even more restrictions upon this realm."
"As eras passed and ages shifted, only with the emergence of the Sacred Court did living beings gain the chance to transcend beyond the heavens. I inherited the legacy of the Tian Zong, bearing its name, which can only pass to one individual. I wish to take you as my disciple, making you the next Tian Zong."
The winds in the forest suddenly ceased, and the swaying grass and trees stilled as Tian Zong finished speaking.
Gu An widened his eyes in shock and blurted, "Me? Can I really do it? My aptitude is quite mediocre!"
"Aptitude is meaningless. The Tian Zong's legacy has its own methods to break all barriers. The Immortal King's Crown chose you, which means you possess extraordinary qualities—either a primordial treasure body or a soul imbued with immense potential. The Dao patterns on your forehead are proof of this," Tian Zong said, his gaze burning with intensity.
Gu An hesitated. "But I don't understand what the Tian Zong stands for. What are its principles?"
"The Tian Zong adheres to the Heavenly Dao. All you need to do is follow the Heavenly Dao. By doing so, you will continually surpass your limits and even achieve immortality."
"If immortality is attainable, why give it to me?" Gu An asked skeptically.
"Because I carry regrets and no longer wish to follow the Heavenly Dao."
Tian Zong's words only confused Gu An further. If you're trying to trick me, couldn't you at least lie more convincingly?
Seeing Gu An's doubt, Tian Zong lifted his gaze to the moon and said, "I've lived for 780,000 years. Every decision I've made was to align with the Heavenly Dao. For the Heavenly Dao, I abandoned my wife and children, my closest friends. I gained immortality and was revered by the world, but as time went on, regrets took root in my heart. Immortality no longer holds allure for me. But you, I imagine, still yearn for it."
Hearing this, Gu An's first thought was about leaving a legacy for those around him.
Tian Zong continued, "I don't have much time left. After this Heaven Rankings tournament ends, I will relinquish the position of Tian Zong. You have no choice in this. What you must do now is to adjust your Dao heart during the time remaining."
With those words, Tian Zong vanished into thin air.
Gu An frowned, standing still in the forest.
"Don't tell anyone. Revealing this will upset the balance of fate and bring disaster to others."
So cryptic, Gu An thought, silently complaining. Yet, he couldn't deny the mysterious, familiar aura emanating from Tian Zong—an aura reminiscent of the light shrouding the Great Celestial World.
Could the Heavenly Dao truly exist?
Gu An stood pondering for a while before leaving the forest.
In the following days, one powerful cultivator after another rose to fame during the Heaven Rankings tournament. Among them, Tian Zong stood out the most. He referred to himself simply as "Tian Zong," and no one knew anything more about him.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord also displayed exceptional strength, though his momentum did not yet suggest he could take the top spot.
Time passed swiftly.
Two months flew by, and the Heaven Rankings tournament continued. During this period, the Tai Xuan Sect was abuzz with activity, as lively as a New Year celebration.
One day.
Shen Xin Zi, seated beneath a tree with a book in hand, sensed something unusual. He looked up and saw a white-haired elder walking toward the valley entrance.
"Hm? That aura…"
Shen Xin Zi frowned thoughtfully.
Tian Zong sensed the gaze directed at him and glanced back.
Their eyes met briefly, but in that instant, Shen Xin Zi felt an overwhelming dread that compelled him to lower his head instinctively.
Tian Zong withdrew his gaze and continued walking.
His eyes swept over the Medicine Valley before quickly locking onto Yang Jian, who was in the middle of a discussion with some disciples.
Yang Jian, as if sensing something, turned his head. When his gaze landed on Tian Zong, he instinctively frowned.
This person is no ordinary cultivator!
As someone in the Void Crossing Realm, Yang Jian's perception far surpassed others of his realm. The moment he laid eyes on Tian Zong, he knew he stood no chance against this figure.
Despite this, Yang Jian remained calm. After all, his master was still present in the Medicine Valley.
Tian Zong made his way to Yang Jian without hesitation, while Shen Xin Zi observed closely, debating whether he should intervene.
"Abyssal Tyrant Body… Have you felt the weight of your soul?" Tian Zong's first words sent a shiver down Yang Jian's spine.
Yang Jian instinctively glanced around.
"No one can hear our conversation or even see me. Only the Heavenly Demon from the Bitter Sea Buddhist Sect noticed me earlier, but that was intentional," Tian Zong explained expressionlessly.
The mention of "Heavenly Demon" made Shen Xin Zi's face pale, and he immediately lowered his head.
Yang Jian, however, wasn't distracted by those words. Suppressing his tension, he asked, "What do you want from me?"
Tian Zong raised his right hand, revealing a golden jade stone in his palm. "Take this. Once you crush it, your past life memories will resurface, and you will recall your true identity. You've already experienced a hundred reincarnations. For someone to help you awaken your Abyssal Tyrant Body again is a rare blessing. If you reincarnate again, you might not have this chance."
Yang Jian instinctively caught the golden jade stone, but he still pressed, "Who are you really? What's your goal?"
"We once fought side by side. I was gravely wounded, and you perished, your Dao vanishing with you. I could never harm you. Once your memories return, I will come to you again," Tian Zong said before turning to leave.
Yang Jian stared at the golden jade stone in his hand, his thoughts in turmoil.
A past life?
Having read Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West, Yang Jian naturally believed in reincarnation. But now that such an event had landed on his shoulders, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Taking a deep breath, he looked up and saw Tian Zong heading toward his master's pavilion.
I wonder if Master can detect this person's presence.
Previously, Yang Jian firmly believed his master to be invincible, but Tian Zong's abilities defied his understanding. No one in the valley besides himself and Shen Xin Zi had even noticed Tian Zong's movements.
What kind of divine ability is this?
Yang Jian couldn't comprehend it, but his apprehension toward Tian Zong deepened.
He hesitated about whether to warn his master but worried that his interference might disrupt whatever his master was planning. After some thought, he decided to use his divine sense to observe.
When his divine sense entered the pavilion, Gu An showed no reaction. This reassured Yang Jian, and he withdrew his senses.
Tian Zong reached the pavilion and glanced briefly at the ground floor rooms. Speaking to himself, he murmured, "The Samsara Dao Emperor? Such immense karma… I shouldn't meddle. To think so many great karmic threads are hidden here. Could it be that the Sword Master of the Dao is nearby?"
He then ascended the staircase.
Upon entering Gu An's room, he materialized his true form before Gu An's desk. His gaze fell on the Tai Xuan Secrets in Gu An's hands, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
For a moment, Tian Zong regretted choosing Gu An.
But there was no turning back now.
"Ahem."
Tian Zong cleared his throat, prompting Gu An to look up. Upon seeing him, Gu An shot up from his seat as if he had seen a ghost.
"You… How did you get here?" Gu An asked in alarm.
Tian Zong replied irritably, "You are the future Tian Zong, destined to carry the will of all living beings. Stop indulging in such decadent reading."
Closing the Tai Xuan Secrets, Gu An explained, "This book is different…"
"Enough!"
Tian Zong interrupted sharply. His gaze shifted to the Immortal King's Crown atop Gu An's head, and his expression turned grave. "You wander around wearing the Immortal King's Crown so carelessly. Are you not worried about trouble? Not everyone is as indifferent as I am toward Immortal Treasures. The Immortal King's Crown is unique—it is one of the few Immortal Treasures unbound by the Sacred Court's fate."
"Unbound by the Sacred Court? What does that mean?" Gu An asked, puzzled.
After all, nearly every major sect on the seas possessed an Immortal Treasure. He had even claimed the Seven Stars Mirror from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. The Sea Sect Alliance had their own treasures too. Yet, few attempted to seize these items. This suggested some powerful force was restraining the greed of the mighty.
Tian Zong explained, "Most Immortal Treasures in the world are bestowed by the Sacred Court to assist sects in governing their domains. However, a few, like the Immortal King's Crown, exist outside the Sacred Court's control."
"The Sacred Court can track any treasure bound by fate. This is why they are more wary of treasures beyond their grasp. If anyone discovers the Immortal King's Crown on your head, it will spell trouble. Even the Tian Zong's fortune won't save you."
Gu An thought to himself, If only you knew I have another Immortal Treasure hidden on me. You didn't even recognize it!