Chapter 644: The Strange Invasion

Zhao Rushen seeking out Tian Hong Emperor was a minor matter in Gu An’s eyes. Ever since Zhao Rushen’s birth, Tian Hong Emperor’s karmic fate had shifted. Though Tian Hong Emperor would eventually defeat Zhao Rushen, the road ahead would be filled with countless tribulations. It would take multiple lifetimes for him to finally triumph over Zhao Rushen.

Sitting by the lake, Gu An plucked the strings of his guqin, his thoughts drifting along the currents of Zhao Rushen’s karma.

Zhao Rushen was not the reincarnation of an immortal or a deity, but his fate was undeniably powerful. He was destined to stand at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Spirit Great World, and his very existence would one day bring forth a great catastrophe. However, the one who eventually defeated him—Tian Hong Emperor—would ascend to immortality as a result.

Was Zhao Rushen born from the natural workings of heaven and earth, or was he a piece in a celestial scheme?

If it were the latter, it likely had nothing to do with Tai Yi Immortal Lord. Even though Gu An couldn’t fully perceive Tai Yi Immortal Lord’s karmic ties through the veil of the Heavenly Dao, he could still sense his lingering presence.

Perhaps other immortals and deities had already set their sights on the Heavenly Spirit Great World. Fortunately, none of them had made the decision to descend in person.

As he played his guqin, Gu An kept part of his attention on Xiao Lan.

It had been ten thousand years since the Dao Court had led its disciples onto the Path of the Great Dao. The journey had been filled with endless trials, and their numbers had dwindled to less than thirty percent of the original group. Had Gu An not intervened multiple times, they would have been completely wiped out within the first hundred years of their expedition.

The Path of the Great Dao had no absolute order—only chaos and slaughter. There were no moral codes here, as every being that ventured onto this path had come for the sake of the Epoch.

Under Yuan Songzi’s guidance, Xiao Lan had already begun her pursuit of Dao Sovereignty.

To become a Dao Sovereign, one not only needed to comprehend the laws of the Great Dao, but also to continuously battle and defeat opponents of the same realm and even higher realms. Only by seizing the Qi of Fate from others and strengthening oneself could one truly rise.

Every Dao Sovereign was forged through countless life-and-death battles. That was why, at every stage of their cultivation, they were able to suppress all other beings.

Xiao Lan’s talent in this life was already remarkable. Coupled with being constantly enveloped in Gu An’s Dao Intent, she had an innate familiarity with the Great Dao’s laws.

Yuan Songzi, unable to fully perceive the truth, mistakenly believed that Xiao Lan possessed an even stronger comprehension of the Great Dao than both Tian Hong Emperor and Zhao Rushen. As a result, he changed his plans at the last moment and decided to do everything in his power to help Xiao Lan become the Dao Court’s first Dao Sovereign.

If she succeeded, Xiao Lan would inevitably be drawn into the conflict between Zhao Rushen and Tian Hong Emperor. However, because she was currently on the Path of the Great Dao, her actions had yet to affect the fate of the Heavenly Spirit Great World. Thus, for now, the world's destiny remained unchanged.

"The Dao of Obsession, the Great Dao of Thought…"

Gu An murmured to himself, surprised by the revelation.

He had originally believed that, given Xiao Lan’s cultivation in the Innate Reincarnation Technique, she would walk the path of the Reincarnation Dao, the Soul Dao, or even the Karma Dao. After all, he had frequently used the Karma Dao to guide her cultivation.

But it seemed that regardless of one’s initial path, those who sought Dao Sovereignty would ultimately be led by fate toward the Great Dao most suited to them.

For the first time, Gu An felt genuine anticipation for Xiao Lan’s future.

Before this, Xiao Lan’s journey had been smooth sailing, entirely under his protection. Her fate was something he could foresee at all times. But now, she had begun to forge her own destiny, a path beyond even his grasp.

For those close to him, Gu An naturally hoped they would continue to thrive. If they could carve out a unique destiny for themselves, that would be even better.

With that thought, his mood lightened, and the melody of his guqin grew more ethereal, flowing like the rivers and mountains before him, bringing a sense of tranquility to all who listened.

Gu An had learned the art of the guqin from Shen Zhen, though he had never been particularly devoted to it. Over the long years, he would occasionally dabble in different arts to pass the time.

The elegant melody of the guqin resonated across the mountains, carried by the wind as days turned to nights, stars shifting across the sky.

Another five thousand years passed.

Gu An had spent thirteen thousand years in this world, but his desires and pursuits remained a mystery to those around him.

In these past five thousand years, apart from Chen Chuan, An Shengtian and Lü Xian had also left the Dao Field to explore the outside world.

Chen Chuan founded the Sword Sect, which quickly rose in prominence.

An Shengtian, despite having severed karmic ties with his family, chose to return and mentor a chosen descendant of the An Clan, guiding them in cultivation.

Meanwhile, Lü Xian wandered the lands, challenging the most talented cultivators of various sects. As long as his opponent remained within the same major cultivation realm as himself, he refrained from using Dao Treasures, relying solely on his own strength to achieve victory. Over time, his reputation soared, and after five thousand years, he had become one of the foremost prodigies of the current era.

Yet even now, the most renowned name under heaven remained Zhao Rushen. He had successfully mastered the Dao Court’s Supreme Divine Art, and his battle prowess had reached unfathomable levels.

That year, at the turn of the new spring, Tian Hong Emperor was still kneeling in the forest on the outskirts of Wushi.

At dawn, Gu An set out to harvest the ripened spirit herbs, working tirelessly until dusk. Later that evening, he traveled to a secluded island belonging to Gathering Flower Sect.

Jiang Qiong had already prepared a feast, waiting for his arrival.

By now, Jiang Qiong had reached the realm of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal. Although her cultivation fell short of Wushi’s disciples, she had not spent her years by Gu An’s side. Even so, she was already the strongest cultivator in the surrounding seas.

Not only was she the most formidable presence in this region, but she had also become a near-mythical figure to the disciples of Gathering Flower Sect. Tales of her achievements spread far and wide, blurring the line between reality and legend.

Though she was not the sect master, she still played a pivotal role behind the scenes, making crucial decisions and offering guidance to Gathering Flower Sect.

In a small pavilion halfway up a mountain, beside a cascading waterfall, Jiang Qiong poured a cup of wine for Gu An, smiling as she spoke.

"Lü Xian's name is everywhere now. His feats have spread across the Seventy-Two Seas, and even the disciples of my sect frequently discuss Wushi. They wonder just what kind of sect it truly is."

The waterfall crashed onto the cliffside, sending a fine mist into the air, blending harmoniously with the lush greenery. The setting was breathtaking, filled with a tranquil beauty that made time seem to slow.

Gu An smiled. "Wushi is not a sect. I don’t manage them at all."

Jiang Qiong continued serving food as she asked, "You’ve stayed in this world for thirteen thousand years. What exactly are you after? Or rather, are you hiding from someone?"

Like many others, Jiang Qiong believed that Gu An had possessed the power to overturn heaven and earth long before they met. To her, his actions seemed more like an elaborate act of restraint.

She had no idea that, in truth, Gu An was far younger than she imagined.

But he didn’t bother clarifying. Even if he spoke the truth, no one would believe him. Worse, it might even sow unnecessary troubles in the future.

"Pursuits, huh? I suppose I just want my days to continue like this, uninterrupted, until I grow tired of it." Gu An said earnestly before downing his cup of wine.

"Is that so?"

Jiang Qiong gazed at him, as though attempting to see through his words.

Gu An reached into his sleeve and retrieved a scroll, handing it to her. "This is a formation I created. Study it carefully. If you manage to master it, Gathering Flower Sect will remain protected for a million years."

"A million years?"

Jiang Qiong’s eyes lit up with excitement. She had always held a strong interest in formations, something evident from her past endeavors in Eight Views Heavenly Cave.

Without hesitation, she spread the scroll open and began scanning it with her divine sense. At first, she responded to Gu An’s words absentmindedly, but soon, her entire focus was drawn into the contents of the scroll.

Gu An simply shook his head, chuckling to himself, not minding her distraction.

Lifting his gaze, he looked toward the sky, his expression growing profound.

Lately, an eerie force had been creeping closer to the Heavenly Spirit Great World. It was an unknown power, something deeply unsettling—something that could bring catastrophe.

Following the trail of this strange energy, Gu An deduced that multiple Great Thousand Worlds had already been tainted by it. Chaos had spread through those worlds, plunging them into turmoil.

Any living being that came into contact with this force became violent and bloodthirsty, losing all rationality.