Since Gu An revealed his potential, Long Qing stopped focusing on cultivating his physical body. Instead, he calmed his mind and began to delve into his innate foundation. Shen Xin Zi, who observed this shift, offered no objections.
In truth, Shen Xin Zi felt unworthy to guide Long Qing. Outwardly, he maintained composure, but internally, he was lost.
For hundreds of years in the Third Medicine Valley, he had failed to uncover any profound truths or achieve meaningful progress.
As autumn turned to winter, snow began falling from the heavens, blanketing the world in a vast, white expanse.
One morning, after completing his daily routine, Gu An stood by a wooden railing, admiring the snow-covered landscape. Snowflakes landed on him but immediately transformed into a mist, curling around him like an ethereal shroud.
Though his gaze rested on the courtyard, his divine sense extended far beyond—to the outer reaches of the heavens.
The Reincarnation Whirlpool was showing signs of abnormal activity.
Since Gu An's breakthrough, the laws within the Reincarnation Whirlpool had been shifting constantly. He wasn't sure if this was due to his actions or if he had coincidentally encountered such a phenomenon.
The more likely explanation, however, was that his repeated crossings through the Reincarnation Whirlpool had disrupted the cosmic order, causing a violent upheaval in the Grand Dao and indirectly affecting the Whirlpool.
Still, Gu An felt no concern. No matter how chaotic the Reincarnation Whirlpool became, it posed little threat to the likes of a Profound Origin Free Immortal.
However, he speculated that beings from other universes might soon descend upon the Heavenly Spirit Great World. For this world, such an event would undoubtedly be a disaster.
As he contemplated these matters, An Xin approached, standing quietly beside him. She brought up Long Qing, who had been sitting motionless beneath the Mysterious Clear Tree for an entire month. She feared he might lose himself to obsession.
"It's nothing," Gu An replied casually. "A month is hardly any time at all. Sometimes, reflection is a good thing."
Unbeknownst to An Xin, Long Qing had been born with the Nirvana Realm but had his cultivation sealed by Gu An. What appeared to be rapid progress now was merely the restoration of his original strength.
An Xin, still concerned, asked, "Master, just how great is his potential? Compared to my senior brothers and sisters, where does he stand?"
Gu An replied calmly, "In terms of innate talent, he surpasses them all. But your senior brother's comprehension is far superior."
In Gu An's eyes, An Hao's true brilliance lay in his unparalleled comprehension. His cultivation speed was astonishing, and his mastery over spells and divine abilities was equally remarkable.
Despite being imprisoned by the Immortal Dynasty, An Hao's progress had not faltered. He was now on the brink of the Nirvana Realm.
Gu An had even calculated the chaos An Hao would unleash upon reaching the Nirvana Realm within the Immortal Dynasty. The thought amused him, and he looked forward to the spectacle.
"Really?" An Xin's eyes widened in shock.
Before Gu An revealed Long Qing's potential, she had always felt sympathy for him.
After all, what good was immense strength if one couldn't cultivate spiritual energy?
"But why is he like this?" An Xin asked cautiously.
Gu An glanced at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You're not wrong—I sealed his potential on purpose."
So it was true!
An Xin immediately thought of Gu An's mastery of sealing techniques. The Blood Prison Saint was living proof: a Mahayana cultivator reduced to such a state, and no one could discern Gu An's method.
Relieved, she laughed. "That kid is already so arrogant. If you hadn't limited him, he'd have likely caused no end of trouble by now."
Gu An raised his eyes to the expanding Reincarnation Whirlpool.
As An Xin continued to comment on Long Qing's personality, figures began to emerge from the Whirlpool.
They were humanoid in appearance but carried demonic, ghostly, and monstrous auras.
In an instant, they spread out, their gazes fixed upon the Heavenly Spirit Great World.
Their cultivation levels were extraordinary. While none had reached the Free Immortal stage, the weakest among them were at the Dao Void Profound Immortal Realm.
Gu An could sense a Free Immortal making their way through the Whirlpool.
He began calculating the grand trajectory of this world's fate. Countless future scenes flashed before his eyes.
Among them, he saw ominous outcomes.
"Destiny…"
Gu An murmured the word under his breath but continued conversing with An Xin, pretending nothing was amiss.
After a while, An Xin bowed and left, careful not to disturb him further.
Gu An resumed his observation of the heavens. He saw the Sacred Court and Immortal Dynasty dispatch large groups of cultivators to investigate the situation.
The three major forces formed a standoff beneath the outer layers of heavenly light. Though no direct conflict had occurred yet, it was clear that they were testing one another.
Gu An turned and flew toward the outer sect city.
He planned to release the cultivation-themed version of Dream of the Red Chamber. Following the success of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, countless cultivators eagerly awaited Pan An's next masterpiece.
For Gu An, writing books was no longer about profit. It had become a way to share memories and keep the works of his previous life alive. Through these tales, he allowed the cultivation world to remember what he cherished.
An hour later, Gu An left the Library Pavilion amidst the respectful farewells of its disciples.
Instead of leaving the city immediately, he decided to stroll around.
Wandering the streets had become one of his hobbies. It allowed him to observe the karmic threads of passersby, deepening his understanding of causality and fate.
As always, he encountered familiar faces along the way.
Though his outlook on life had shifted, his attitude toward others remained the same—friendly and warm.
Gu An slowly made his way toward the Heaven Mending Platform. From a distance, he noticed a crowd gathered around the Heaven-Sundering Axe. On the platform, even a Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal was present, though they had concealed their cultivation, appearing unremarkable and failing to draw attention.
Standing beside the Heaven-Sundering Axe was Zuo Yijian, his posture upright and unwavering. For ten years, he had maintained his vigil in the same manner. Though Zuo Yijian had brought no tangible benefits to Gu An, his sincere dedication and persistence left a deep impression on him.
Regardless, the stronger Zuo Yijian became, the more it underscored the might of the Sword Master of the Dao.
Gu An ascended the Heaven Mending Platform, weaving through the crowd as he approached the Heaven-Sundering Axe.
Even on the platform, Gu An encountered acquaintances, exchanging polite greetings along the way. By the time he reached the Heaven-Sundering Axe, half an incense stick's worth of time had passed.
Zuo Yijian noticed Gu An, and his usually stoic face softened with a rare smile. He greeted him eagerly, "What brings you here today?"
Gu An replied, "I made a stop at the Library Pavilion."
Zuo Yijian's eyes lit up. "A new book, perhaps?"
Being a devoted reader of Investiture of the Gods, Zuo Yijian admired Pan An deeply. While Investiture of the Gods remained his favorite, he had also enjoyed Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Gu An nodded without hesitation, confirming Zuo Yijian's suspicion. The news visibly excited him.
At that moment, a cultivator attempting to lift the Heaven-Sundering Axe failed. He let go, stepped back three paces, and sighed, "As expected, inheriting the Sword Master of the Dao's legacy is no simple feat. Even as a Wandering Immortal, I couldn't succeed."
The words "Wandering Immortal" sparked murmurs throughout the crowd.
Some whispered doubts began to spread: "Is this inheritance even achievable?"
However, such remarks were immediately met with rebuttals from nearby cultivators.
"Can't you sense the Sword Master of the Dao's sword intent on the platform?"
"Even if you don't obtain the inheritance, just feeling the sword intent is a tremendous blessing."
"The Sword Master of the Dao was unmatched in his era. If someone were to claim his legacy within a few centuries, it would cheapen its worth."
"It just means the fated one hasn't arrived yet. I look forward to the day when someone finally lifts the Heaven-Sundering Axe—surely it will shake the heavens and earth!"
Listening to the discussions around him, Gu An reflected inwardly. Had he been too strict?
He hadn't imposed overly stringent talent requirements, but to lift the Heaven-Sundering Axe, a cultivator would need to at least reach the Free Immortal level of cultivation.
After the appearance of the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor, Gu An had discreetly reinforced the enchantments within the Heaven-Sundering Axe. Now, without attaining Free Immortal cultivation, the axe was immovable.
Initially, he had planned to lower the bar once he encountered someone he deemed suitable. But at this rate, finding such a person seemed unlikely.
Then again, perhaps it was better this way. If no one could obtain the inheritance, it would remain a legend for tens of thousands or even millions of years, gaining unparalleled mystique.
"Do you want to give it a try?" Zuo Yijian asked Gu An.
As he spoke, another cultivator approached the axe, gripping its handle. Despite exerting all his strength, he couldn't budge it.
For most, the trip to the Heaven Mending Platform wasn't about succeeding but about experiencing the Sword Master of the Dao's greatness. Even in failure, they left exhilarated, carrying newfound admiration.
Gu An smiled at Zuo Yijian. "Not today. I'm more curious—what keeps you here after all these years? Do you have a goal?"
Zuo Yijian shook his head solemnly. "I don't have grand ambitions. Staying here allows me to meditate on the Dao of the Sword, and for that, I'm content."
"The Dao of the Sword, huh?"
Gu An echoed the phrase, cupping his hands in farewell before turning to leave.
Zuo Yijian watched Gu An's retreating figure, puzzled by his sudden departure. Just as he was about to speak—
Boom!
A majestic surge of sword intent erupted beneath his feet, engulfing his entire body. His robes billowed violently, as if about to be torn apart.
Zuo Yijian's expression changed drastically, his eyes brimming with astonishment and joy.
He instinctively turned his gaze toward Gu An's back.
Gasps echoed from the surrounding crowd as everyone stared at Zuo Yijian in disbelief. Gu An, however, didn't look back, his figure seemingly detached from the commotion around him, as if existing in a different realm.
Could it be...
Zuo Yijian's eyes widened. It wasn't a coincidence that the sword intent manifested just after Gu An's question.
At that moment, Zuo Yijian sensed a familiar power emanating from Gu An—the sword intent of the Sword Master of the Dao.
And it was far stronger than his own.
There was no doubt about it.
Zuo Yijian's shock mingled with elation. He felt no resentment at being outmatched, only joy at the revelation.
As an avid admirer of Pan An's writings, Zuo Yijian had harbored romanticized notions about the author. When he discovered that Gu An and Pan An were the same person, it had left him disheartened.
But now that Gu An was revealed to be the Sword Master of the Dao, his admiration soared to new heights.
Surely, Gu An wasn't some mere junior. He must be an ancient being in disguise.
Recalling how he had always treated Gu An with respect, Zuo Yijian's heart raced with excitement.
Perhaps, just perhaps, he might have a chance to become the Sword Master of the Dao's disciple.
Watching Gu An walk against the flow of the crowd, Zuo Yijian's heart brimmed with anticipation.
A cultivator of such unimaginable power, yet humble enough to mingle here, displayed an otherworldly demeanor.
Meanwhile, surrounding cultivators marveled at Zuo Yijian's fortune. The immense sword intent enveloping him was a clear acknowledgment from the Sword Master of the Dao.
More and more disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect appeared, materializing atop the Heaven Mending Platform. Upon witnessing Zuo Yijian surrounded by the sword intent, their faces lit up with delight.
To them, anyone favored by the Sword Master of the Dao was a priceless asset to the Tai Xuan Sect.
Rumble!
A low, oppressive sound rolled across the sky, causing all beings in the heavens and earth to look up. However, the cultivators on the platform paid it no mind, assuming it was an aftereffect of the Sword Master of the Dao's sword intent.
Amid the crowd, Gu An halted and gazed skyward, his brow furrowing.
"Is this a power from the past?"
Intrigued, Gu An extended his divine sense beyond the heavens, probing the Reincarnation Whirlpool.
A mighty force was descending—one capable of threatening the safety of the Heavenly Spirit Great World.