Seeing that Qie Wuxing was willing to teach the disciples a technique, Gu An was secretly satisfied. This guy knew how to conduct himself, far more tactful than the Nine-Finger Divine Lord.
With the growing number of disciples in the Medicine Valley, Gu An had become more distant from them. Though they shared the title of master and disciple, there wasn't much substance to their relationship. Even so, Gu An hoped they could live better lives and seize more opportunities in their cultivation journey.
Qie Wuxing sprang into action immediately. As he passed by Gu An, he even greeted him warmly.
After they left, Gu An approached the chess table, looked at the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, and grinned. "Shall we have a game?"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord snorted. "No. If you're so confident, go challenge him."
"Then never mind. He seems pretty skilled. I'm not certain I could win, so I'd better not start a game lightly."
"What's that supposed to mean? You think you can definitely beat me?"
"Have I ever lost to you?"
"You…"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord was so furious that he almost slammed the table. But seeing Gu An's smiling face, he realized Gu An was deliberately provoking him.
Gu An casually asked, "By the way, you've been back for a while now. What about Chu Jingfeng? Are you not keeping an eye on him anymore?"
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord replied, "Don't worry, he's doing fine. He's in seclusion right now. When he emerges, you'll have to look up to him."
Just imagining Gu An being surpassed by his own disciple brought the Nine-Finger Divine Lord immense joy.
Gu An sighed, "If that really happens, it would be wonderful. I don't have any hope of becoming an immortal. If he ascends, at least I'll know an immortal in this lifetime. I'd have no regrets."
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord wanted to declare himself an immortal right then and there, but seeing Gu An's genuine expression, he felt a pang of guilt.
What's wrong with me?
Why am I being so petty?
Gu An noticed the subtle change in his expression and smirked inwardly. Old fox, you wanted to provoke me? Let's see how you like my feigned retreat.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord began talking about Chu Jingfeng's sect. He had sent Chu Jingfeng to an overseas sect. While it wasn't as renowned as the Star Sea Sect, it was still far superior to Tai Xuan Sect.
Gu An listened with interest as the Nine-Finger Divine Lord spoke about the affairs overseas.
As evening approached, Gu An returned to his loft.
Lately, he had noticed more and more Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm cultivators returning. Most of them seemed to be gathering near the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. Clearly, a massive battle was brewing.
Sitting in his chair, Gu An focused his mind, and his primordial spirit left his body.
The Primordial Spirit of a Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal could not be detected or touched by others. Even Unrestrained Primordial Immortals couldn't perceive it.
Gu An swiftly infiltrated the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. Along the way, he saw even more battles than before. It seemed like nearly every dimension was embroiled in combat.
He stepped into the largest realm, the hiding place of the Supernatural Realm Lord.
At this moment, the Supernatural Realm Lord wasn't engaged in battle, but the space was still filled with the lingering aura of another Unrestrained Primordial Immortal. Whoever it was had already left.
Gu An landed before a mountain cave. The cave's interior was dim, with faint gusts of wind echoing through.
He stepped into the cave without making a sound. The wind passed through his Wondrous Mystical Primordial Spirit without the slightest resistance.
Navigating the winding passage, he entered a cavernous chamber where Zhang Buku, now transformed into a Spectral Wraith, sat cross-legged. On his lap rested an axe—not a magical treasure, but a weapon forged from the Spectral Power itself.
Zhang Buku's eyes were shut tight, his brows furrowed as if enduring great pain.
Although his original soul consciousness remained, he was constantly subjected to the corrosion of the Spectral Power. This process was irreversible, even for the Supernatural Realm Lord. The Spectral Power instinctively devoured the soul, a process impossible to halt.
Seeing Zhang Buku in such agony, Gu An couldn't help but sigh.
If Senior Zhang saw this, how heartbroken would he be?
With a shake, Gu An transformed into a sparrow and perched on a nearby rock.
The sparrow chirped softly, prompting Zhang Buku to instinctively open his eyes. Seeing the sparrow, Zhang Buku froze in shock.
"It's…"
A look of joy spread across Zhang Buku's face. Just as he was about to speak, the sparrow shook its wings in a distinctly human gesture, signaling him to stay silent.
Zhang Buku immediately understood, though his eyes remained filled with excitement.
While he didn't know the sparrow's origins, he was deeply grateful to it.
It had guided him to a cave when he was near death, where he had consumed a demon pill and learned an unparalleled axe technique.
Ever since, he had harbored a faint hope that he might one day encounter the sparrow again. To see it now filled him with immense happiness. Regardless of its origin, someone or something had been watching over him all along. How could he not be grateful?
The sparrow suddenly darted toward him. Zhang Buku didn't flinch.
He felt a sharp peck on his forehead, followed by a surge of memories flooding his mind, leaving him in a daze.
Time seemed to pass in a blur.
When Zhang Buku regained consciousness, his mind was brimming with the profound knowledge of a divine ability.
"Infinite Free Step…"
He murmured the name of the technique, sensing its unparalleled depth and complexity even as he recalled it.
It was perfect for redirecting his focus and alleviating the physical pain he endured.
As the Supernatural Realm Lord had once told him, he had to adapt to the corrosion of the Spectral Power; otherwise, he would inevitably become a true Spectral Wraith.
Perhaps this sparrow intended to help him achieve just that.
Zhang Buku felt a warm sense of relief in his heart, and suddenly, the pain coursing through his body seemed insignificant.
How many had perished in the Supernatural Realm, reduced to nothing but Spectral Wraiths? Yet he had been granted a chance—how could he not be grateful?
"I must focus on cultivation and get out of here as soon as possible. I can't let Li Ya worry. And Uncle Gu... if I remain trapped here for hundreds, or even thousands of years, I might never see Uncle Gu again in this lifetime," Zhang Buku thought to himself, feeling an intense sense of urgency.
He had always believed Uncle Gu to be extraordinary, likely hiding his true cultivation level. However, no matter how much Uncle Gu concealed his abilities, his age was still younger than Li Ya's. It was impossible for him to surpass Li Ya by too wide a margin—especially considering Li Ya had encountered the extraordinary opportunities within the Mysterious Divine City.
Zhang Buku stood and began to cultivate the Infinite Free Step.
Inside the chamber, he moved fluidly, shifting his footwork as time faded from his awareness. Immersed in training, he even forgot the pain in his body. And because he was cultivating, his mind grew increasingly sharp and focused.
In the blink of an eye, two years passed.
Zhang Buku remained in the cave, tirelessly practicing the Infinite Free Step without rest. For him, training the divine ability brought no exhaustion; instead, it slowly revealed methods for resisting the corrosion of the Spectral Power.
A set of approaching footsteps echoed through the cave, snapping him out of his concentration.
Turning his head, Zhang Buku saw the Supernatural Realm Lord slowly entering the chamber.
Having seen the Supernatural Realm Lord before, Zhang Buku wasn't frightened, though he remained wary as he watched him approach.
The Supernatural Realm Lord observed him for a moment before speaking. "The divine ability you're cultivating is remarkable—possessing great fortune and potential. Keep practicing, and your future achievements will be far from ordinary."
Hearing this, Zhang Buku couldn't hide his surprise.
Despite clearly perceiving the nature of his divine ability, the Supernatural Realm Lord did not press him for its origin.
Could it be that this guy knows the sparrow?
Zhang Buku was about to ask when the Supernatural Realm Lord continued. "Your friend, although fortunate enough to obtain the Mysterious Divine City, has not yet mastered its true power. The Mysterious Divine City has another master. Would you consider becoming my disciple? Inheriting my mantle, you could one day claim the Mysterious Divine City as your own. Of course, even if you're not interested, the teachings I'll impart would make conquering an immortal treasure of equivalent power a trivial matter in the future."
A disciple?
Zhang Buku's mind reeled at the suggestion. He could feel the oppressive aura emanating from the Supernatural Realm Lord, making it clear that he was utterly powerless to resist. Not even lying would be an option under such pressure.
Given the circumstances, why would the Supernatural Realm Lord bother with pretense if he intended to harm him?
The Supernatural Realm Lord seemed to sense his thoughts and explained, "It's not you I value, but the presence behind you. Now that we share a fate, my demise would mean yours as well. At the very least, we're aligned. Aligning with your backer is nothing but beneficial to me."
"My backer? Who is it?" Zhang Buku asked, startled.
The Supernatural Realm Lord wasn't surprised by his reaction. He had already sifted through Zhang Buku's memories, but some were obscured by an unseen force, preventing further intrusion. Even he didn't dare probe further after witnessing the power of the presence behind Zhang Buku.
"If you don't know, then don't ask. Sometimes ignorance is a blessing. Just understand this—neither that presence nor I would need to go to such lengths to harm you. Your value isn't that high," the Supernatural Realm Lord said calmly.
Zhang Buku fell silent. He wasn't angry; instead, his gratitude toward the sparrow grew even deeper.
Even if it was all manipulation, he would willingly accept it. One day, he vowed to repay the sparrow.
As for the Supernatural Realm Lord, Zhang Buku harbored no personal enmity. His death in the Supernatural Realm wasn't anyone's fault but his own. He had chosen this path; no one had forced him.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Buku nodded. "Alright."
Then, kneeling on one knee, he clasped his hands together and bowed. "Master, please accept my bow as your disciple!"
With that, he lowered his head.
The Supernatural Realm Lord's face lit up with a rare smile. "How many years has it been? It's been so long since anyone called me 'Master.' My last disciple now sits high and mighty, afraid to even acknowledge his ties to me."
His tone carried a hint of bitterness.
Zhang Buku looked up and asked, "Who is your previous disciple?"
The smile vanished from the Supernatural Realm Lord's face. He snorted coldly. "Him? Nothing but a dog of the Sacred Court!"