Gu An could hear the thoughts of the Spirit, and though they could communicate telepathically, he rarely paid it any mind.
The main reason was that the Spirit was simply too annoying. In the past, Gu An had responded a few times, which only resulted in the little creature chattering nonstop, disturbing his peace.
As for Li Ya's plan to seize the divine sword, Gu An wasn't worried in the slightest. He wasn't afraid that Li Ya might bring trouble upon himself, nor did he fear that Li Ya would implicate him.
At most, he would save Li Ya's life, but he would not help him fight for the sword.
Saving someone's life was as easy as exhaling a single breath for Gu An.
He continued to fish, sitting quietly by the lake. Only after an entire hour had passed did he finally stand up and leave.
Blood Prison Saint hurriedly followed behind, while Chen Chuan remained by the lake, his eyes shut tight as he meditated, trying to comprehend his Sword Intent.
He wanted to resist the pull of that divine sword, believing that if he could withstand its allure, his own Sword Dao would ascend to a higher level.
Elsewhere…
Several dozen miles away, An Shengtian sat atop a cliff, practicing breath control, letting the wind ruffle his hair.
Ten more miles ahead, Jiang Shi, his master, was sowing seeds in a field. He did not use magic—instead, he planted each seed by hand, treating the act as a form of cultivation.
Further east, Tian Yao'er was engaged in a Dao discussion with Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother, exchanging their cultivation insights.
Meanwhile, other cultivators remained within their respective cave dwellings, each one treading steadfastly along their own Dao paths.
The winds of the Wushi Dao Field swept across the sky, shifting the seasons.
As the next summer neared its end, the inevitable battle for the divine sword finally erupted.
The sword's presence drew sword cultivators from all corners of the world.
Despite being at the Nirvana Realm, Li Ya stood no chance of competing.
Forget seizing the sword—he wasn't even qualified to lay eyes on it.
The battle between two Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortals had completely blocked his path.
Li Ya and the Spirit were forced to watch from a distance, unable to proceed.
And as time passed, Li Ya not only failed to advance—he was forced to retreat, as even more powerful sword cultivators joined the fray.
Dusk in a Flourishing City…
As the sun set, a bustling city glowed in golden light.
A young woman in yellow robes, Zhu Xi, walked along the streets, her expression full of curiosity as she took in the sights. She looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, her youthful face brimming with childlike wonder.
No one would have imagined that this seemingly innocent girl was once the Divine Sovereign of the Sacred Court—the former strongest cultivator in the world.
As she strolled along, an unfamiliar figure suddenly appeared in her path.
"Young lady, hold your steps."
A lighthearted voice called out, making Zhu Xi pause.
She lifted her gaze and found a young monk clad in a kasaya standing before her.
This monk was none other than the Xunxian Daoist—the one who taught the profound Dao of Enlightenment(Dao Yan Technique).
It was thanks to the Dao of Enlightenment's evolution into the Innate Reincarnation Method that Gu An was able to extend the lifespans of those he cared about.
Zhu Xi's cheerful expression faded, replaced by calm indifference as she studied Xunxian Daoist.
Xunxian Daoist chuckled, "I see that your destiny is extraordinary. Tell me, would you like to attain immortality? I can help you."
Zhu Xi's gaze sharpened. "A monk calling himself a Daoist? You sure you're reliable?"
The Xunxian Daoist grinned. "Of course, I am. The Divine Sovereign of the Sacred Court is a being born of Heaven's fate. Even if you have reincarnated, those eyes of yours can still see through everything, can they not?"
At the mention of Divine Sovereign, a passing cultivator hesitated, casting a wary glance at the monk.
However, the stranger quickly vanished into the crowd.
In the midst of the bustling city, Zhu Xi and Xunxian Daoist stood facing each other, completely indifferent to the gazes of mortals.
Her expression grew cold.
It was as if her entire demeanor had changed—her gaze now carried an undeniable air of authority, an aura of absolute dominance, as if she were a sovereign standing above all.
She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Celestial Being?"
Xunxian Daoist chuckled. "As expected of Your Majesty."
Zhu Xi lifted her right foot and took a step forward.
The moment her toe touched the ground, the world around them shifted dramatically.
The bustling streets and the crowd vanished in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, they were transported into a desolate wilderness under a dark sky, thick storm clouds looming above, distant thunder rumbling ominously.
Yet, Xunxian Daoist remained completely unshaken, still watching Zhu Xi with an amused expression.
"Are you sure you have something I want?" Zhu Xi asked, her tone calm yet filled with an unmistakable sharpness.
As she raised her right hand, the ground trembled.
From all directions, the earth split open, and massive roots surged into the sky, intertwining at an incredible speed.
A colossal wooden sword took shape, towering over the landscape, its tip locked onto Xunxian Daoist like a divine executioner.
The wooden sword was so enormous that it dwarfed even the tallest mountains, seemingly consuming half the sky.
Xunxian Daoist smiled.
"You seek the Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth," he said, his voice steady.
"But you don't just want to unify the Heavenly Spirit Grand Heaven—you want to conquer the entire Heavenly Spirit Grand World… don't you?"
Zhu Xi narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
Xunxian Daoist continued, his voice growing more deliberate.
"The Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth will appear sooner or later, but… a being beyond Free Immortal Realm has already surfaced. When that moment comes, Your Majesty, how do you plan to fight for it?"
Zhu Xi snorted coldly.
"Then that means you have nothing to offer me," she said dismissively.
"Are you merely here to warn me?"
Xunxian Daoist shook his head, his voice calm yet cryptic.
"Not at all. I'm here to save your life."
Zhu Xi's expression darkened slightly.
Xunxian Daoist continued without pause.
"The Golden Core of Heaven's Dao left behind by the Gatekeeper is nothing but bait."
"The Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth is even more forbidden. If your cultivation level isn't high enough, simply touching the Dao Fruit will cause it to devour you completely."
"Inside that fruit… lies a terrifying karmic force—even the Gatekeeper himself doesn't know its true origins."
Zhu Xi's gaze sharpened.
"Then tell me," she said, her voice carrying a trace of skepticism.
"What realm must one reach to even approach it?"
Xunxian Daoist smiled, his eyes carrying an unfathomable depth.
"One must reach the absolute peak of the Free Immortal Realm."
Zhu Xi frowned.
"Are you saying that above the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao, there is still more… and it's all still within the Free Immortal Realm?"
"Indeed."
"There are three additional levels beyond what the world knows as the Free Immortal Realm," Xunxian Daoist replied.
"For thousands of years, the strongest cultivators that have appeared… none of them have reached that level."
"Not even Sword Master of the Dao ever unleashed such an aura."
At the mention of Sword Master of the Dao, Zhu Xi's expression grew cold.
Even though she had fully regained her past-life memories, she still remembered the debt of mentorship from this lifetime.
Deep in her heart, she respected Gu An greatly.
She believed Gu An to be an ancient being from beyond the heavens, whose cultivation had long surpassed her understanding.
Not only had he taught her, but he had guided her cultivation, and for that, she owed him a debt of gratitude.
But now…
Even Sword Master of the Dao isn't qualified to touch the Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth?
For the first time, Zhu Xi fell into silence.
Xunxian Daoist studied her quietly, letting the weight of his words settle in.
Finally, after a long pause, he spoke again.
"I have a method," he said.
"A way to ensure that you won't be devoured."
Zhu Xi's gaze lifted.
She stared at him, her expression filled with doubt.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Xunxian Daoist chuckled.
"It's simple. Before you even think about the Dao Fruit, you must surpass the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao."
"You must become a being that can roam freely across all existence."
"Can you achieve that?"
Zhu Xi's expression hardened.
"I've long been capable of doing so," she replied coldly.
"I've merely been suppressing my breakthrough."
"I can feel it—there are beings beyond the heavens watching me."
"If I ascend too soon, I will face disaster."
"Some Free Immortals require a thousand or even ten thousand lifetimes of reincarnation to overcome this calamity."
"But I only need one."
Xunxian Daoist looked surprised.
For the first time, his expression changed.
He took a deep breath, before sighing.
"Truly… a child chosen by the fate of the Heavenly Spirit Realm."
"If that's the case, then I shall pass you a technique," he said.
"Master this technique first, then break through."
Zhu Xi lowered her raised hand, and the colossal wooden sword hanging in the sky disintegrated into nothingness.
She stared at Xunxian Daoist intently.
"Who are you, really?" she asked.
"And why do you wish to help me?"
Xunxian Daoist turned his back to her and looked into the distant sky.
"I do come from beyond the heavens," he admitted.
"But unlike those arrogant fools, I do not stand with them."
"The only reason I'm helping you…"
"…is because I have a regret to resolve."
Zhu Xi's eyes narrowed.
"A regret?"
Xunxian Daoist's voice softened, as if recalling a painful memory.
"My disciple died in this Great Thousand World."
Zhu Xi was momentarily taken aback.
"Your disciple's death requires you to orchestrate all this?" she asked.
"Are you asking me to avenge them?"
Xunxian Daoist glanced at her and smirked faintly.
"If you can merge with the Dao Fruit of Heaven and Earth, it will be enough."
Zhu Xi's brows furrowed.
She didn't quite understand his meaning, but…
Xunxian Daoist offered no further explanation.
Suddenly—
A realization struck Zhu Xi.
Her expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared at Xunxian Daoist.