"He's certainly powerful. In fact, he's probably the strongest being in my memory," Ji Xiaoya said, her gaze fixed on Gu An. "I don't even know how high his cultivation has reached, but one thing is certain—if he discovers your true identity or if you provoke him, you won't stand a chance."
Her tone carried a cold undertone, and her seriousness was palpable.
Gu An didn't react with anger; instead, he raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "That strong? Do you admire him?"
Ji Xiaoya frowned slightly. "Of course not. I'm only worried about your safety. He's bound to make further moves, so you must stay low, keep yourself hidden, and avoid exposing your existence. Do everything you can to avoid taking action."
"What kind of action could I even take? I'm just an ordinary farmer who practices cultivation," Gu An replied with a shrug.
His casual attitude only made Ji Xiaoya more frustrated. To her, his nonchalance seemed overly arrogant and dismissive.
Seeing her on the verge of losing her temper, Gu An quickly added, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. And honestly, I'm not the person you think I am."
Ji Xiaoya took a deep breath, calming herself. "It's good if you understand."
With that, she deactivated the innate Dao rune's power and brushed past Gu An.
Gu An turned to watch her leave and called after her, "You're just going like that?"
"Mm. I still have to cultivate," Ji Xiaoya replied without looking back.
Gu An didn't try to stop her. He sighed inwardly. I'm really not a descendant of the Long Clan.
As for the Annihilation God Emperor, Gu An indeed felt some wariness, but it wasn't directed at the avatar he'd encountered—it was toward the true body of the Annihilation God Emperor.
Gu An sat down on his chair, pulled out a book, and tried to focus his mind elsewhere.
One thing was certain: the Annihilation God Emperor hadn't recognized him or mistaken him for Long Qing. Furthermore, the Annihilation God Emperor hadn't even seen through Long Qing's true identity. This was good news. It meant Gu An still had time to grow stronger.
This time around, he wouldn't act as recklessly as Long Zhan had in the past.
A year later, Gu An, now nine hundred years old, arrived at the Submerged Spirit Palace. His first task was to harvest medicinal herbs, with the Deep Sea Dragon Koi following closely behind, carrying a basket for him.
"This herb should be suitable for Junior Sister," Gu An muttered to himself as he picked a plant.
"And this one can go to Jiang Qiong. She's had it tough."
"These should go to Tian Yao'er—she eats a lot."
As he harvested herbs, he continued mumbling under his breath.
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi was already used to this behavior and didn't interrupt. His long hair fell gracefully past his feet, and his white robes gave him a refined and elegant demeanor. His soft features and tender eyes made him look almost like a gentle maiden. Few would guess that he was, in fact, a male spirit beast.
When Gu An finished gathering the herbs, he handed the basket over and gave the Dragon Koi a bag of seeds.
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi started sowing the seeds diligently, while Gu An made his way to the front of the Submerged Spirit Palace. There, he settled into his rocking chair, pulling out a book to read.
Above him, the water shimmered with soft waves, casting rippling reflections across the serene dojo. It was the perfect environment for reading, accompanied by the occasional deep whale song resonating in the background and stirring the soul.
After about half an hour, Gu An closed his book, placing it on his chest as he leaned back in thought.
"Chivalry… such a rare and noble spirit. Who says cultivation is only about self-interest, with no place for righteousness?" Gu An mused aloud, his tone filled with emotion.
The book was a tale of swordsmen and heroism, and it had stirred something in him. For a moment, he felt the urge to venture into the mortal world, wield his sword, and bring justice to the land.
But reality soon caught up to him. He had a strict schedule of harvesting herbs to maintain, and delegating the task to an avatar or fitting it in between other duties wouldn't offer the same experience.
Forget it.
It was just a fleeting thought. Nothing more.
Gu An's eyes snapped open as an idea formed in his mind. What if I used the lifespan reincarnation to experience a life of chivalry?
Without hesitation, he sat up, tucking the book he was holding into his robes. It's time to begin another round!
This wasn't just a frivolous use of lifespan. The reincarnation simulation was a profound method to deepen his understanding of the Grand Dao's rules. This time, though, Gu An made a silent vow: Let's aim for a personality of compassion, not one overly strong-willed.
With this determination, he activated his thought, and a series of prompts appeared before his eyes:
[You have consumed 10 million years of lifespan to initiate a reincarnation simulation.]
[Connecting to the rules of the Grand Dao…]
[Searching for a world of reincarnation…]
[You have the following world choices. Please select one:]
[1. Dark World]
[2. Great Hong Realm]
[3. Xuanqing Great World]
The Dark World again? Gu An frowned slightly. While the prospect of meeting Black Xuan Emperor was tempting, his instincts warned him that this choice would likely lead to even more dangerous encounters than before. Forget it. There's no need to act recklessly!
Since he sought a life of chivalry, choosing a lower-intensity world seemed more appropriate. After a moment's consideration, he decided: The Great Hong Realm should be weaker than the Great Worlds.
[You have selected the Great Hong Realm for reincarnation.]
[As the rules of this world's Grand Dao cannot completely suppress your innate talent, you will retain the ability to absorb lifespan, but stage-specific functions will be locked.]
[Initiating reincarnation simulation…]
[Year 1: You are born into the Purple Micro Immortal Mansion. Your parents name you Yang Xian.]
[Year 5: Your father begins to teach you the methods of cultivation. On the first day, you display extraordinary comprehension, shocking the Purple Micro Immortal Mansion.]
[Year 8: You master the family's sword techniques to perfection, attaining a comprehension of sword intent.]
[Year 12: The Purple Micro Immortal Mansion hosts a grand banquet, inviting cultivators from across the sects. During the event, you meet an elderly man who claims you possess an extraordinary destiny and offers to read your fortune. Do you accept?]
Again with someone wanting to tell my fortune? Gu An chuckled to himself, shaking his head. He didn't want to risk any unintended consequences and chose to refuse.
[You decline the fortune reading. The elderly man expresses slight regret but bids you farewell politely.]
[Year 15: You successfully form your Golden Core. The core contains sword intent, marking you as a once-in-a-millennium prodigy within the Purple Micro Immortal Mansion.]
[Year 17: The Purple Micro Immortal Mansion sends you to the Myriad Sword Immortal Ridge for further trials. During your journey, you encounter a family attacked by demonic cultivators. Their wife and children are slain, and though your traveling elders advise against interference, you feel compelled to act. Do you intervene?]
Gu An's heart stirred. This is it—the beginning of a heroic life. Let's save them!
[Ignoring the elders' warnings, you intervene. The demonic cultivators retaliate, even attempting to surround and kill you. In a moment of desperation, you unleash your sword techniques, slaying the leader of the demonic cultivators. You accidentally absorb 87 years of lifespan in the process, marking a pivotal moment in your destiny.]
Finally! Gu An realized why there had been no lifespan absorption prompts earlier. His reincarnation self hadn't killed anyone until now.
A heart of great kindness truly influences the simulation. He marveled at the possibility: Does the state of mind I hold before initiating the reincarnation affect the nature of the experience?
It seemed so. In his previous simulations, his primary goal was survival, leading to a more paranoid and cautious personality. This time, with compassion in his heart, the results had been different.
[Year 18: You arrive at the Myriad Sword Immortal Ridge and emerge as the most outstanding candidate among thousands of trial participants. You receive your first immortal sword, the Jinghong Sword.]
[Year 19: By comprehending the sword intent of the Myriad Sword Immortal Ridge, you gain the favor of the Myriad Sword Immortal Ancestor. He offers to take you as his disciple. Do you accept?]
Of course, Gu An didn't hesitate. Why wouldn't I? Time to get stronger!
[You accept the Myriad Sword Immortal Ancestor as your master and begin studying the Myriad Sword Immortal Dao under his guidance.]
[Year 21: You officially step onto the path of the Myriad Sword Immortal Dao. The swords across the entire Myriad Sword Immortal Ridge resonate with your presence. The Myriad Sword Immortal Ancestor is delighted and begins to personally instruct you in swordsmanship.]
Hold on a second. The level of talent in this reincarnation felt absurdly high. Gu An frowned. Isn't this a bit too much?