Gu An's words hung in the air, "Is it peace for the common people, or do you prioritize your ambitions?"
Li Xuandao fell into deep thought, while Gu An refrained from offering further opinions. After all, both choices had their merits and flaws for the people.
To maintain the current state of peace would bring future risks, yet to pursue ambition would place heavier burdens on both the present and future generations.
Gu An was already benevolent enough to shield the beings of this continent, but he wasn't about to fret over the daily lives of its people. When it came to worldly matters, he provided options without imposing decisions, leaving the choice—and the consequences—to Li Xuandao. He had no intention of bearing the karmic repercussions himself.
While Li Xuandao pondered, Gu An glanced outside the courtyard. There, Lü Xian was instructing disciples in their cultivation, though his gaze repeatedly flicked toward Gu An. The excitement in Lü Xian's eyes was evident whenever their gazes met.
Gu An felt a tinge of curiosity but was in no rush. He decided to finish his conversation with Li Xuandao before addressing the matter.
With his slow-paced life, Gu An rarely felt pressured to hurry. He didn't need to dedicate extensive time to cultivation, allowing him to approach matters one at a time with ease.
Li Xuandao eventually snapped out of his thoughts and turned the topic to Li Ya, a common link between them. Speaking of him brought a natural flow to their conversation.
After half an hour, Li Xuandao remarked suddenly, "Lü Xian keeps talking about you. He even returned from overseas just to meet you, though he insisted I accompany him. He wants to meet you but also seems afraid of you. What's going on?"
Feigning surprise, Gu An asked, "Why would he want to meet me? And why would he fear me? It doesn't make sense. Have I treated him poorly?"
As he spoke, Gu An glanced curiously at Lü Xian, who immediately offered him a bright smile in return.
Li Xuandao fixed Gu An with a knowing look. "Gu An, we're close enough that you don't need to hide things from me."
Gu An's expression shifted subtly. After a deep breath, he said solemnly, "To be honest, there are indeed certain connections behind me. If I were to reveal them, I'd face punishment, and those who learn the truth would also die."
He punctuated his statement by patting his own shoulder meaningfully.
Li Xuandao's eyes narrowed as he smiled faintly. "Then we won't talk about it."
Yet inwardly, waves of shock rolled through him. This kid…
The pieces began to click into place as Li Xuandao thought it through. Gu An had joined Tai Xuan Sect not long before the Sword Master of the Dao made his first appearance. The Sword Master's early activities had also occurred in proximity to Gu An.
Then there was Li Ya's rapid advancement in those years—a puzzle that had long baffled him. Now, it made sense. Gu An must have sought the Sword Master's favor to aid Li Ya.
Li Xuandao's gaze toward Gu An grew fervent, making Gu An feel a bit uneasy.
There was no need to guess; Gu An could already tell what Li Xuandao was contemplating.
He chose not to expose him. If Li Xuandao intended to leverage the Sword Master of the Dao's name, Gu An didn't mind playing along—so long as Li Xuandao knew his limits.
"You should go see Lü Xian. I don't have much else to discuss for now," Li Xuandao said, waving him off with a smile.
Gu An rose, clasped his hands in salute, and left the courtyard.
The moment he stepped outside, Lü Xian eagerly approached and pulled Gu An toward a secluded corner of Tianya Valley.
"What's with all the secrecy?" Gu An asked.
Lü Xian lowered his voice and said, "I've found something incredible. You won't be disappointed."
"Incredible?"
Intrigued, Gu An followed him.
Lü Xian led him into a cave—the personal cultivation abode Lü Xian had constructed during his time in Tianya Valley to avoid prying eyes. The restrictions on the cave were advanced, ensuring complete isolation.
Once inside, Lü Xian activated the formations, sealing the cave from the outside world.
Gu An raised an eyebrow. "Is this really so secret that even His Majesty must be kept in the dark?"
"Of course!" Lü Xian replied, his face alight with excitement. "If he knew about this, he'd go crazy."
Lü Xian guided Gu An to the innermost chamber of the cave and approached a stone table. From his storage artifact, he retrieved a jagged stone tablet, its edges uneven, resembling a large shard of some greater whole. At first glance, the tablet appeared unremarkable—its surface bare of inscriptions or runes.
But as soon as Lü Xian placed the tablet down, Gu An's expression shifted. His gaze turned peculiar.
The stone tablet emanated a distinct aura of Heavenly Dao Fortune!
It was purer and more oppressive than any Heavenly Dao inheritance he had encountered, even surpassing the legacies obtained by Tian Zong or An Hao. Its mere presence exuded an indescribable weight, stirring an instinctive sense of both dread and desire within Gu An.
He found himself wanting to possess this Heavenly Dao Fortune!
But as soon as the thought surfaced, his wariness intensified.
Something was off about this object.
"What is this?" Gu An asked, his tone grave as he stared at the tablet.
Even his divine sense failed to deduce the tablet's origins or its karmic connections.
That alone indicated the tablet's provenance was far beyond that of a Free Immortal.
Thinking of this, Gu An couldn't help but want Lü Xian to take this thing far away from him.
What kind of cursed object is this? Is Lü Xian trying to harm him?
Lü Xian, wearing an excited grin, said, "This is a legacy I came across by chance. You might not believe me, but this contains the legacy of the Immortals and Gods. Genuine Immortals and Gods—not something the Immortal Dynasty or Sacred Court can compare to!"
The legacy of Immortals and Gods?
Gu An frowned. Whether it was Lu Han or Long Zhan, neither had encountered genuine Immortals or Gods in their long lifetimes. They had encountered many who claimed to be of the Immortal or Divine races, but these claims had always seemed inflated.
This led Gu An to believe that so-called Immortals and Gods were merely extraordinarily powerful beings.
Lü Xian continued, "The legacy within this doesn't rely on cultivation but talent alone. I failed, but I think you might succeed."
"Why me? There are plenty of geniuses," Gu An asked hesitantly.
Lü Xian rolled his eyes and said, "Sure, there are many geniuses, but how many of them are close to me? Just you. I wouldn't give this to An Hao. You, with your unmatched talent, choose to live quietly here without seeking fame or victory. I think you becoming an Immortal or God would be better. At least you won't become a threat to me, and you've always been kind to your friends."
Although curious, Gu An couldn't shake the feeling that this thing was dangerous. He replied, "Actually, His Majesty's talent is also exceptional."
Hearing this, Lü Xian's eyes lit up. "You've noticed too? I thought I was the only one."
"Yeah, but don't tell him I know."
"Hahaha, don't worry. He still thinks he's hiding it well. But it's clear to anyone with sense. Think about it—why would the Sword Master of the Dao remain in Tai Xuan Sect for so long? Clearly, it's to groom you. An Hao may call himself the Sword Master's disciple, but he left, and the Sword Master stayed behind. It's obvious he's just basking in your glory."
Lü Xian chuckled. He genuinely believed Gu An outshone An Hao.
Having fought both, the pressure Gu An exerted and the psychological shadow he left were far greater. Lü Xian even considered Gu An to be the greatest genius in the world.
Gu An fell silent, his gaze fixed on the stone tablet.
Wait a moment. Why not simulate the outcome with his lifespan first?
Gu An deemed this approach safer. Directly touching the stone tablet seemed too risky.
With a thought, he initiated a simulation.
[To simulate the legacy, 1,000,000 years of lifespan are required. Continue?]
So much?
Gu An hesitated, but the allure of the stone tablet was undeniable.
Fine!
Just this once!
As Lü Xian continued to ramble on, Gu An confirmed the simulation. In an instant, his consciousness entered a vast, white void.
In this blank space, the first thing to materialize beneath his feet was a field of grass, rapidly expanding outward. In all directions, mountains began to rise, forming a majestic landscape.
The heavens stretched vast, the sky radiating grandeur.
In the distance, atop the mountain range, a brilliant orb of light emerged. It was enormous, towering over any mountain in existence.
Within the light was a colossal figure, standing ten thousand zhang tall. Its form was clad in divine armor, wielding an immense divine weapon. The figure exuded an overpowering aura that seemed to dominate all living beings.
At first glance, Gu An felt a deep sense of danger. He couldn't help but recall the Black Xuan Emperor encountered by Lu Han and the Annihilation God Emperor faced by Long Zhan.
Their auras were comparable!
What kind of realm were they in?
"Being of the mortal world, you stand before the Heavenly Dao. Why do you not kneel?"
A voice filled with majesty echoed. Gu An didn't kneel; this was just a simulation, after all. He responded instead, "What kind of legacy is this?"
"This is the Heavenly Dao Immortal Seat's legacy. To receive my recognition, you must defeat me."
Defeat him?
Gu An was taken aback. If Lü Xian had faced this figure, he would have stood no chance, lacking even the will to fight.
Wait. Didn't Lü Xian say the legacy depended only on talent? Could it be that the power of this figure adjusted according to the challenger's cultivation level?
Lü Xian had failed, facing an opponent one major realm higher than his own. Now, Gu An was up against someone one realm higher than the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm!
No wonder he felt a sense of danger, though not one of utter despair.
"What is the Heavenly Dao Immortal Seat?" Gu An pressed further.
The figure offered no reply.
Gu An tried asking other questions, but none were answered.
Fine!
If nothing else, he would test his strength by fighting. It would reveal whether he could pass the legacy's trial!
In the cave, Lü Xian waved his hand before Gu An's face. Suddenly, Gu An's eyes regained clarity.
"What were you thinking about? I called you several times, and you didn't answer," Lü Xian complained.
Gu An smiled faintly. "Nothing much. I was just wondering if true Immortals and Gods exist."
He had passed the trial.
To say the least, the being was formidable. Gu An had to exhaust his full strength and take dozens of moves to completely defeat the figure.
Even after passing, however, Gu An still couldn't understand the origins of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Seat.
One thing was certain, though: the stone tablet's legacy could see through his true cultivation. If any Immortal or God forces were behind it, they would also be able to discern his actual strength through this stone tablet.
The one thing Gu An wanted least was for someone to uncover his true abilities.
"Forget it. I can't accept this legacy. But don't worry; I won't tell anyone about it," Gu An said, shaking his head.
Lü Xian's eyes widened. "This is the legacy of Immortals and Gods! If you accept it, you'll soar to unimaginable heights!"
Gu An replied, "I only trust the power I cultivate myself. Power granted by others always comes with strings attached, leaving you vulnerable to their control."
Lü Xian frowned.
He had to admit that Gu An made a valid point.
Hearing this, the initial excitement in Lü Xian's heart began to fade.
He turned his gaze toward the stone tablet on the table and muttered softly, "You're right. Maybe failing to obtain this legacy is a blessing in disguise."