After Lü Baitian left, Gu An descended the stairs, blending back into the lively crowd.
At that moment, battles between cultivators of the Profound Heart Realm were being showcased. The clashes were projected onto the sky, captivating the disciples of the Third Medicine Valley, who were fervently discussing the spectacle.
"How incredible! So this is the Profound Heart Realm?"
"This is nothing! Wait until the Mahayana Realm battles start. That's where the real excitement is! And then there's the Immortal-level duels—just witnessing them, even from the valley, will leave you breathless."
"Such a display broadens our horizons. I wonder if we'll ever reach such heights?"
"Of course, we will! With dedicated cultivation and entry into the Third Medicine Valley, our starting point already surpasses ninety percent of the disciples in the sect."
"That's true. Even those from noble families—if they lack the talent—have to start as service disciples. You've heard of Li Ya from Divine City, right? He's our master's junior and entered the valley on the same day."
"I've heard the stories. My master said Li Ya used to cry all the time, feeling hopeless about his future. It was our master who kept encouraging him."
As the disciples chatted, their conversation gradually veered off course. In recent years, the rate at which the Third Medicine Valley welcomed and replaced disciples had accelerated. Every year, a significant number of new disciples joined, keeping the valley vibrant.
Currently, the recorded number of disciples in the valley had exceeded 1,800.
Gu An naturally merged into the group, sitting unnoticed among the disciples. They didn't stand to greet him, nor did they second-guess each other's intentions, a harmonious atmosphere fostered by Gu An's approachable demeanor. His attitude had a profound impact, subtly reshaping how the disciples carried themselves and interacted with others.
Seated beside An Xin, Gu An inquired about the earlier battles.
Before An Xin could respond, You Yingying eagerly sat on Gu An's other side, chiming in with excitement as she described the battles.
Her enthusiasm stemmed from the fact that a renowned elder from the Star Sea Sect, whom she greatly admired, had also joined the tournament. She was convinced that this elder would claim first place in the Heaven Rankings.
Gu An only smiled faintly in response.
This year's Heaven Rankings tournament was a gathering of extraordinary talents. Many participants had hidden their true cultivation levels and identities. Taking the top spot would not be easy.
Among the competitors was a Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal, whose participation puzzled Gu An.
Why would a Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal join the Heaven Rankings tournament? It seemed beneath their status and could even provoke the Sword Master of the Dao, potentially leading to disaster.
Gu An couldn't make sense of it.
Representatives from the Immortal Spirit Empire and the Sacred Court were present, and now this enigmatic Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal had appeared.
Regardless, he decided to let it be.
For now, the Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal remained a mysterious figure, rarely seen or interacted with. For most cultivators, a Unrestrained Primordial Immortal was already the pinnacle of existence they could comprehend. As for a Dao Void Profound Immortal, a level above the Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal, no one of that caliber had yet made an appearance.
An Xin confidently believed the Nine-Finger Divine Lord would take first place. Naturally, this led to a spirited argument between her and You Yingying. Given An Xin's reserved personality, she was no match for You Yingying's sharp tongue.
Gu An couldn't stand by and let his cherished disciple be bullied. He joined the argument, turning the tables and causing You Yingying's face to flush red in embarrassment.
Two days passed quickly.
On the morning of the third day.
Although the sun had only just risen, the streets of the city were already bustling with activity.
In a quiet alley, Zhang Xianwang of the Immortal Spirit Empire paused his steps. Tilting his head slightly, he used his peripheral vision to glance at the figure trailing behind him.
"Why are you following me?" Zhang Xianwang asked calmly.
Standing behind him was an elderly man dressed in white, his hair as white as snow. His aura was dignified and ethereal, exuding an air of transcendence that caught the attention of passing cultivators, who couldn't help but steal glances at him.
The white-haired elder fixed his gaze on Zhang Xianwang and asked, "Why has someone from the Immortal Spirit Empire come here?"
Zhang Xianwang turned to face the elder, his expression indifferent as he retorted, "If you won't answer me first, how do you expect me to answer?"
The elder replied, "You may call me Tian Zong."
Tian Zong!
Zhang Xianwang's expression changed dramatically. His face was filled with shock and disbelief as he stammered, "Tian Zong? That's impossible. Fifty thousand years ago, weren't you already…"
The elder interrupted, "Now it's your turn to answer."
Zhang Xianwang's eyes flickered, and he remained silent for a moment.
"You probably don't want a conflict to break out here. I'm sure the Sacred Court has their people within the Tai Xuan Sect," Tian Zong said, his tone devoid of emotion, sending a chill down Zhang Xianwang's spine.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xianwang replied, "I came to recruit the Sword Master of the Dao. And you?"
Tian Zong responded, "I'm here for an old acquaintance."
"An old acquaintance? Who?"
"Since our goals don't conflict, let's not interfere with each other."
With that, Tian Zong turned and prepared to leave.
At that moment, a voice rang out. "Daoist Zhang, what brings you here?"
The speaker was none other than Gu An, who walked straight toward Tian Zong. As the two crossed paths, Gu An's gaze lingered briefly on Tian Zong.
[Tian Zong (Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal, Level 7): 789023/1700000/1750000]
A creature who had lived for 780,000 years!
A Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal, Level 7. Truly terrifying—almost catching up to me.
Gu An thought silently as he looked at Zhang Xianwang, his face lighting up with a smile of delight.
Zhang Xianwang couldn't help but smile back when he saw Gu An.
When Tian Zong left the alley, Gu An asked Zhang Xianwang, "Who was that just now? Was he giving you trouble? Should I contact the Law Enforcement Hall?"
Hearing this, Zhang Xianwang's smile grew wider. He chuckled helplessly and said, "No trouble. Do you know his cultivation level?"
"What cultivation level? Divine Transformation Realm? Void Crossing Realm? Or Body Fusion Realm?" Gu An's tone grew increasingly dramatic as he spoke, his expression feigning alarm.
Zhang Xianwang shook his head with a wry smile and shifted the topic. "What brings you here?"
"I came to buy some herb seeds. And you?" Gu An replied.
The two began chatting casually. Zhang Xianwang, harboring a favorable impression of Gu An, treated him as an equal despite their differences in cultivation.
After some conversation, Gu An asked with genuine curiosity, "You seem pretty impressive. Did you sign up for the Heaven Rankings tournament?"
"No, I'm here for another matter."
"What matter? Can I help?" Gu An offered.
"That won't be necessary," Zhang Xianwang replied.
"Alright, then I'll leave you to it." Gu An cupped his hands in a polite gesture before turning to leave.
Zhang Xianwang watched him go, a trace of hesitation flickering across his face.
Meanwhile, Gu An pondered Zhang Xianwang's motives. The idea of the Immortal Spirit Empire recruiting him seemed far-fetched. Their notorious exclusivity meant this was likely about something else—perhaps a specific plan or scheme.
Leaving the alley, Gu An resumed wandering through the city. He intended to buy something fun for Tian Yao'er to lift her spirits. Managing a secluded domain was taxing, and Gu An believed in making an extra effort to keep her happy.
After walking through a couple of streets, he spotted Tian Zong again.
As they were about to pass each other, Tian Zong abruptly raised a hand and placed it on Gu An's shoulder.
Gu An raised an eyebrow, feeling oddly uneasy at this unexpected gesture. He turned to look at Tian Zong and asked in surprise, "You… wait, weren't you the one from earlier?"
Tian Zong's gaze locked onto the Immortal King's Crown on Gu An's forehead, his eyes cold and piercing.
Gu An's heart sank. Had he seen through the crown's disguise?
"Leave the Tai Xuan Sect tonight," Tian Zong said. "I will find you and give you a chance to be reborn."
With that cryptic statement, Tian Zong turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Gu An was left bewildered.
From his tone, Tian Zong didn't seem to have identified him as the Sword Master of the Dao. But what could he possibly mean by "reborn"?
Gu An watched him leave before continuing his walk, deep in thought.
A hundred paces away, amidst the bustling crowd, Zhang Xianwang frowned. After a moment's hesitation, he sighed and walked off in the opposite direction.
The Heaven Rankings tournament reached its peak that afternoon as two Nirvana Realm cultivators faced off. One of them was a Tai Xuan Sect disciple, though both hailed from maritime sects.
The two Nirvana Realm cultivators displayed an array of techniques, including spells, divine abilities, beast summons, formations, and other mystical arts, giving the audience a full display of what it meant to be a true cultivator.
At this level, defeating an opponent was difficult, let alone killing them outright. Battles often dragged on into stalemates.
Gu An watched with keen interest. While the participants' cultivation levels were unimpressive to him, their diverse fighting styles were genuinely entertaining.
As someone who typically resolved conflicts in an instant, Gu An couldn't help but envy the elaborate clashes he witnessed.
As night fell, Gu An left Xuan Valley and flew toward a distant horizon.
To make it seem as though he was fleeing in fear, he furrowed his brow and flew faster and faster, portraying his supposed desperation.
Half an hour later.
Gu An sensed a surge of magical power approaching. He immediately prepared himself to feign submission.
In an instant, he plummeted to the ground, landing in a dense forest.
He quickly scrambled to his feet, feigning panic. When he saw Tian Zong's figure emerging from the darkness, he forced himself to calm down.
Tian Zong approached slowly and spoke with an approving tone. "You have courage. No wonder you dared to accept the Immortal King's Crown. I don't know why the crown hasn't consumed you, but it seems you've earned its recognition. Do you have a master?"
Gu An shook his head. "No. The Immortal King's Crown—is that this headdress? I found it by chance at an auction."
Gu An had already altered his karmic ties. Even someone of Tian Zong's level would be misled.
Through karmic divination, Tian Zong saw Gu An buying the Immortal King's Crown from an auction house at a suspiciously low price. The crown appeared ancient and decrepit, as though it had just been unearthed.
Not even a Wondrous Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal could discern the intricacies of a Divine Thought True Immortal's methods.
"Do you wish to know the origins of the Immortal King's Crown? Once you learn, you may never find peace again," Tian Zong said, his voice calm yet tinged with an eerie weight.
Gu An chuckled bitterly. "Then can I leave now?"
"No. Once you're here, there's no turning back."
"Then why ask?" Gu An retorted, his tone exasperated.
"The Tian Zong follows the way of the heavens. And the heavens abide by human will," Tian Zong replied.
"Even this counts?"
"You're already here, so it counts."
Gu An thought the old man was being deliberately difficult. Still, sensing no malice, he decided to hear him out. A little excitement amidst his usual routine of tending plants wasn't unwelcome.
And he was confident that Tian Zong posed no real threat to him.
"The Immortal King's Crown was forged by the first Immortal King of the Great Celestial World. He existed during the primordial era of creation, long before the Sacred Court or the rules of heavenly law…"
Tian Zong's voice carried a profound, otherworldly resonance, and Gu An found himself glimpsing fleeting visions of an ancient world.
The land was vast and untamed, inhabited by colossal beasts. There were no systems of governance, no sects, no empires.
Gu An saw the figure of the Immortal King—a hazy silhouette radiating a terrifying aura that reminded him of Long Zhan.
It was a reminder that the Immortal King stood on the same level as Long Zhan.
The Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao!
When the Immortal King declared himself ruler of the immortals, the heavens roared with thunder, and the earth was wracked with cataclysms.
"The Immortal King was arrogant, seeking to defy the heavens, unify the world, and breach the boundaries of existence. In doing so, he incurred the wrath of the heavens. Cursed by fate, he sealed his path within the Immortal King's Crown before his demise. The crown became the first supreme Immortal Treasure of the Great Celestial World," Tian Zong continued, his tone as indifferent as ever.