At the break of dawn, a thick mist shrouded the world, with towering peaks piercing through like the tips of swords, creating an ethereal scene akin to a celestial paradise.
Atop one such peak stood a secluded courtyard adorned with lush flora. A slender white dog lay sprawled on the ground, fast asleep.
Suddenly, the door to the courtyard swung open. A woman in a flowing white dress, Li Xuanyu, stepped out. Sunlight cascaded over the distant mountaintops, casting a soft golden glow on her figure.
Raising her right hand, she caught a falling petal in her palm, lowering her gaze to observe it with a calm, unreadable expression.
From beyond the rolling clouds, a female disciple rode a sword through the mist, swiftly descending into the courtyard. Before landing, the flying sword shrank into her sleeve. Taking two steps forward, she bowed and said with a bright smile, "Master, a peerless talent has emerged in Qiankun Sect recently. All the branches are vying for him. Master, we must not miss this chance."
As Dao Court's influence continued to expand, Qiankun Sect had begun to emulate its structure, establishing multiple branches to foster competition and refine its internal governance.
Li Xuanyu, now the leader of one such branch and a revered elder of Qiankun Sect, remained in the sect even after Tang Cai's departure.
Hearing the disciple's words, Li Xuanyu remained indifferent. "There are countless geniuses in the world. Why compete over one?"
"This one is different! He comes from a forbidden land! And he was personally brought to Qiankun Sect by that immortal!" the disciple hastily explained.
A forbidden land!
Li Xuanyu's expression shifted slightly. She knew of the forbidden lands, just as she knew that "that immortal" referred to An Xin.
"Why would the immortal bring a disciple to Qiankun Sect?" Li Xuanyu asked.
"I was confused at first as well, but now I understand. That disciple, Tian Hao, is truly extraordinary. He is undoubtedly a gift from the immortal to Qiankun Sect! The Sect Master has already designated him as the next Sect Master!"
The disciple's eyes glowed with excitement as she spoke, admiration evident in her expression.
Li Xuanyu's interest was piqued. "Is he really that exceptional?"
The disciple nodded fervently. "They say that the moment he entered the sect, he glanced at the Inheritance Pillar once and immediately mastered its supreme divine abilities. It's simply unbelievable!"
Li Xuanyu fell into deep thought.
Tian Hao…
She hesitated. Should she try to establish closer ties with Gu An? But at the same time, she feared disturbing him.
It wasn't that she sought anything from Gu An. Rather, she simply wanted to understand him.
How had Gu An come to such a distant land? Why did he possess such unparalleled cultivation? What kind of trials had he endured?
The disciple continued speaking, elaborating on the benefits of bringing Tian Hao into their branch, but Li Xuanyu's thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
The thunderclouds that had long shrouded the skies above Qiankun Sect finally dissipated. Within the grand city below, Gu An and Li Xuanyu sat in a second-floor tavern, sipping wine. Seated by the window, they had a clear view of the bustling streets below, where countless cultivators gazed toward the heavens in awe.
"Is Tian Hao even human? In just a thousand years, he leaped from the Mahayana Realm to the Wandering Immortal Realm—that's insane!"
"He must be the reincarnation of an immortal!"
"Most likely! After all, he was brought into the sect by an immortal herself!"
"No matter what, a genius like him is a boon to us all. He will lead Qiankun Sect to heights it has never reached before!"
"Exactly! Instead of being jealous, we should look forward to what he will achieve!"
Listening to the chatter from nearby tables, Li Xuanyu glanced at Gu An. She wanted to ask something but hesitated.
Gu An swirled his wine lazily, then chuckled. "I had a feeling he was different the moment I found him. Turns out, even I underestimated him."
Li Xuanyu spoke softly, "Is that so? I don't believe in such coincidences."
Judging from An Xin's immense power, it was clear that Gu An was an exceptional teacher. Thus, she attributed all of Tian Hao's extraordinary talent to Gu An, convinced that he must have been secretly guiding him.
She had the right to make such claims. When Tian Hao became her disciple, she had earnestly taught him in the beginning. But soon, his comprehension of Dao techniques surpassed hers entirely, as if he were divinely blessed.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel emotional.
She would never forget Yi Qingshan's expression when he entrusted Tian Hao to her.
It wasn't just Tian Hao she had received. Because of him, her branch within Qiankun Sect had been granted better resources. In just one thousand years, her branch had risen to the top ten rankings within the sect. Not only could she recruit more talented disciples, but even prestigious families willingly offered their assistance, sending powerful cultivators to her service.
She was fully aware that everything she possessed today was because of Gu An.
"Why did you place him under my tutelage? You know well that I can't teach him anything." In the end, Li Xuanyu still voiced her doubts.
Gu An emptied his cup and smiled. "It wouldn't have made a difference who taught him. No one can truly teach him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime fortune. As long as he joined Qiankun Sect, the sect itself would benefit. As for choosing a master, I had to select someone I could trust. It wasn't just because of our past ties—I also wanted to leave Li Ya with a karmic favor."
Hearing Gu An mention Li Ya, Li Xuanyu finally felt at ease.
She nodded slightly before asking, "Why don't you visit my Dao Mountain for a while?"
Gu An looked out the window. "I prefer places like this, full of life. You've spent years in seclusion—don't you find it dull?"
As he spoke, he propped his left hand against his face, his gaze lazy yet profound.
Li Xuanyu followed his gaze to the bustling street outside. The endless crowd coming and going—perhaps it was just an illusion, but for a brief moment, she too felt a fleeting sense of enlightenment.
Gu An might have appeared to be watching the streets, but in reality, his divine sense had already reached beyond the heavens.
The boundary gate trembled.
Within the powerful divine light of the gate, a figure slowly emerged.
A voice filled with laughter echoed from within, "Heavenly Spirit God, finding this Grand Thousand World wasn't easy. Was it your doing, or is that Heavenly Spirit Immortal Lord not entirely dead yet?"
A Daoist in a gray robe stepped out. Though his hair was white, his face was youthful, exuding an aura of transcendence. He held a floating dust whisk in one hand and a white jade bottle in the other, celestial mist swirling around him. The mist shimmered with silver starlight, as though it contained entire constellations.
Heavenly Spirit God rose from his seat and turned to face the newcomer. The divine radiance around him dissipated, revealing his true form—a youthful, white-haired figure.
"Greetings, Taiyin Star Lord."
Although his tone was indifferent, Heavenly Spirit God still offered a respectful bow.
Taiyin Star Lord smiled faintly as he approached. "How many years has it been? Have you still not found that supreme treasure?"
Heavenly Spirit God replied calmly, "What treasure? I am unaware of any such thing. The only reason I have not destroyed this realm is that I have foreseen a great destiny here, one that benefits the Heavenly Court."
Taiyin Star Lord glanced into the vast expanse of the universe. "Indeed, the Heavenly Dao's fortune is rising, and the name of the Heavenly Court is spreading. But I know what you truly seek."
Heavenly Spirit God's expression remained unchanged as he silently stared at Taiyin Star Lord.
After a moment, Taiyin Star Lord withdrew his gaze and looked back at him. "With your talent, your cultivation shouldn't be stagnating like this. When will you break through?"
Heavenly Spirit God replied, "That depends on fate. My duty is only to guard my immortal position and wait for the Heavenly Will."
Taiyin Star Lord chuckled coldly. "Hah, if you refuse to bow your head, how can he grant you Heaven's favor?"
Heavenly Spirit God fell into silence once more.
Taiyin Star Lord's gaze turned sharp. "Help me with something, and in return, I will cover up your sins. That way, you and this Grand Thousand World can continue to exist."