Watching Taiyin Star Lord's departing figure, Li Ya still felt uneasy. He remained in place, thoroughly examining himself. Only after confirming that nothing seemed amiss did he finally accept that Taiyin Star Lord had disappeared without a trace.
A strange celestial spirit suddenly appeared out of nowhere and landed on his shoulder. With curiosity, it asked, "Were you able to see through that person's cultivation just now?"
Li Ya regained his composure, furrowing his brows. "No, I couldn't."
"If that person truly intended to help you, then your fortune is unbelievably strong. You just walk along the road and bump into great opportunities like this." The celestial spirit sighed in admiration.
After hearing Taiyin Star Lord's words earlier, the celestial spirit had already started believing them.
There was indeed a benefactor watching over Li Ya—though they remained hidden in the shadows, never directly interfering. Yet, somehow, Li Ya continuously stumbled upon fateful encounters and great opportunities. This made the celestial spirit reconsider the nature of Li Ya's destiny.
Could it be that Li Ya's fate had already evolved into something extraordinary?
Meanwhile, Li Ya was lost in thought, trying to deduce Taiyin Star Lord's true identity.
In recent years, he had sensed the world changing more and more. More geniuses and powerful cultivators were emerging, making him feel like an ordinary person once again, vulnerable and insecure.
Taking a deep breath, Li Ya leaped into the air and soared toward the vast ocean.
The sea breeze howled, and the celestial spirit, standing on his shoulder, tugged at his earlobe while asking, "Li Ya, are you really going to Dao Court? I've heard that it was founded by the top cultivators from different great worlds. If you cause trouble there, things could get messy for you."
"What do you mean by that? Am I the type to stir up trouble?"
"Oh? Do you not have any self-awareness?"
"I never act recklessly—it's just that those people keep pushing me too far!"
"Yes, yes, you're always right. You can't stand watching others get bullied, but when you suffered hardship, who was there to lend you a hand?"
"Isn't today's fortune a kind of repayment? Do good deeds, and don't ask for rewards."
Li Ya snorted, unwilling to continue the topic. He swiftly changed the subject. "Do you really think that Tian Hao is as powerful as they say? Born in some unknown minor sect, yet he's famous across the world? A millennium-wandering immortal? That sounds ridiculous."
The celestial spirit teased, "He's not just a wandering immortal anymore—he's already in the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm."
"If An Hao were still here, how could he let this Tian Hao flaunt his power like this?" Li Ya sighed in frustration.
He had always seen An Hao as his greatest rival in life. But An Hao was gone now. Every time he thought about it, it pained him, filling him with regret.
The celestial spirit fell into deep thought.
An Hao… Tian Hao…
Both had Hao in their names. Could that really just be a coincidence?
Elsewhere.
Seeing that Li Ya was fine, Gu An wrapped an arm around Xiao Lan's waist and finally responded to her affectionate advances.
After a while, Gu An suddenly pushed Xiao Lan away, speaking somewhat awkwardly, "Broad daylight… isn't this inappropriate?"
Xiao Lan hooked her arms around his neck, her eyes filled with playful seduction. She licked her lips and whispered, "Gu-ge, don't be afraid. This is my cave realm—it's just the two of us here. The sunlight is perfect… I can see and enjoy everything clearly."
With that, she once again pressed her lips against Gu An's.
The tension in Gu An's tightly clenched hands slowly melted away.
Oh well…
After meeting with Li Ya, Taiyin Star Lord left Heavenly Spirit Great World. He flew straight toward the world gate, exchanged a few words with Heavenly Spirit, and then stepped into the portal.
Gu An had witnessed the entire process and felt that the threat from the Heavenly Court was temporarily resolved. The coming years would likely be peaceful.
And indeed, that was the case.
The mortal world surged like tides, but these waves could no longer shake Gu An. As a result, time seemed to flow even faster for him.
In the blink of an eye, more than six thousand years had passed.
On this day, while picking herbs in Wushi Dao Field, Gu An suddenly paused. Three lines of text flashed before his eyes.
[You have successfully extracted 30 years of lifespan from the Fourth-Grade Hushacao.]
[Your lifespan has surpassed one trillion years for the first time, unlocking the Lifespan Projection function.]
[Lifespan Projection: You can expend lifespan to project a Dao manifestation, forming up to three thousand projection bodies to explore different Dao Worlds. Before projection, you can only choose one Dao to pursue. The projection bodies cannot be divined, and while you will not retain their memories, you will receive their insights into the Dao.]
This function…
It felt similar to Lifespan Reincarnation, yet distinctly different.
Lifespan Reincarnation was like personally experiencing another life, where the outcome remained unknown. Lifespan Projection, however, seemed more like a Dao comprehension technique, a way to grasp the essence of different Daos.
Gu An decided to test it later. Since projection bodies could not be divined, there was no risk of causing trouble.
He continued picking herbs while reflecting on the lifespan functions he had unlocked so far.
Lifespan Investigation, Lifespan Barrier, Lifespan Divination, Lifespan Forewarning, Lifespan Fusion, Lifespan Reincarnation, Lifespan Simulation, Lifespan Dao Field, Lifespan Breakthrough, Lifespan Projection.
Although he rarely used half of these functions, he never rejected more lifespan abilities.
He might not need them often, but he had to have them!
Feeling content, Gu An smiled. At his current level of cultivation, he no longer relied on simply absorbing Qi; instead, his growth depended on comprehending the Grand Dao. The stronger his Dao Will, the higher his cultivation would rise.
This was a non-material cultivation method, something that ordinary beings could never comprehend.
Seeing Gu An in a good mood, Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother hesitated before cautiously asking, "Master, if Tian Hao encounters an immense crisis outside, will you intervene?"
Over the past six thousand years, Tian Hao had remained in the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm, but his reputation had grown exponentially because of his ability to battle across realms.
There was one particular event—while following Qiankun Sect on a training expedition, Tian Hao had slain the Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal's physical body. That battle had spread his name across the world, firmly establishing him as the number one genius of this era. No one could match him.
But fame always attracted trouble.
More and more geniuses sought to challenge Tian Hao, only to be utterly defeated. Likewise, many powerful factions wanted to recruit him. Each rejection resulted in new grudges being formed.
Recently, Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother had been feeling uneasy. Staying within Dao Field, she was completely safe, so the only explanation for her anxiety was that Tian Hao might be in danger.
Gu An chuckled. "An immense crisis? There's no such thing."
"What if…?"
"Relax. He's different from the so-called 'geniuses' you've encountered. He won't fall. His destiny is to become the strongest. You have no idea what he represents. Even without me, his light will shine across the heavens."
Gu An reassured her. Since Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother was closest to Tian Hao, and Tian Hao even regarded her as a mother, Gu An didn't mind revealing a bit of cause and effect to her.
Hearing this, Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother finally felt at ease.
She didn't fully understand how powerful Tian Hao's fate was, but since Gu An said so, she believed him.
"Don't spend too much effort managing the Dao Field every day," Gu An advised. "You need time to comprehend the Dao too. The Dao Treasure I gifted you is your best aid in cultivation."
The Dao Treasure he had crafted for Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother was called the Nine Nether Heaven-Defying Banner.
This banner contained Yin-Yang Dao, capable of reversing heaven and earth, overturning all existence, and was extremely domineering.
"I won't neglect my cultivation."
Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother nodded earnestly.
But in her heart, she silently added another thought—
She wouldn't slack off on managing the Dao Field either!
She knew exactly why she had everything she did today. She couldn't relax. She couldn't abandon the path she had taken.
She had to work even harder!