Chapter 694: The First Hunyuan Dao Emperor

After arguing with Gu An for quite a while, Shangguan Xian’er left with a frustrated expression.

“Master, is there a scheme from immortals or gods behind the conflict between Dao Court and the hundred sects of the mortal world?”

An Xin’s voice came from nearby. She opened her eyes, gazing at Gu An from a distance.

Gu An turned his head and asked with a smile, “What’s this? Are you worried about Qiankun Sect?”

An Xin shook her head and replied, “No matter who wins or loses, it’s just natural selection—destiny at work. I’m just worried there’s interference from karmic forces beyond the heavens. If that’s the case, then wouldn’t it be a great shame for all the mortal sects?”

No matter who emerged victorious in the internal conflict within the Heavenly Spirit Great World, it wouldn’t truly matter. A new order would always rise to take its place.

But if the changes came from immortals or gods, it was different—those could destroy the entire Heavenly Spirit Great World. Such things had happened before.

“You don’t need to worry. The current conflict is just part of the mortal realm’s own progression.”

Facing An Xin, Gu An was still willing to reveal a bit of Heaven’s secrets.

The schemes of immortals and gods were always present, but not the root of the current conflict.

An Xin nodded slightly, then walked over to Gu An’s side and began asking about some difficulties in her cultivation. She too had stepped onto the path of the Hunyuan Emperor, though her usual cultivation still focused on her Immortal Emperor Eyes.

The two of them chatted for quite a while before Gu An finally left.

As he walked through the forest, his gaze turned toward the road of the Grand Dao.

Someone was about to achieve the Hunyuan Dao Emperor realm!

This would be the first Hunyuan Dao Emperor!

And that person was none other than Fang Xuan!

Right now, on the current path of the Grand Dao, more than three thousand beings had stepped onto the road of the Hunyuan Emperor. Once the first Hunyuan Dao Emperor was born, the fortune of the Hunyuan Dao Emperor would skyrocket, spreading throughout the Three Thousand Great Worlds. At that time, Hunyuan Crystals would also appear across all heavens and realms.

Currently, the fortune of the Hunyuan Dao Emperor was still in its growth phase. If someone were to slay Gu An now, this fortune would completely vanish. But once a Hunyuan Dao Emperor emerged, even if Gu An fell, the fortune would remain—just like the Dao itself, eternal and undying.

That was exactly why Gu An looked forward to Fang Xuan’s success.

At this moment, Fang Xuan was meditating within a pocket of isolated void. Within this space, only he and the Blood Prison Saint were present. The Blood Prison Saint kept his distance, not daring to disturb him.

Once this cycle of reincarnation projection ended and all the insights from his past reincarnations were fully integrated, Fang Xuan would truly become a Hunyuan Dao Emperor.

When Gu An’s gaze landed on him, Fang Xuan opened his eyes.

A brilliant light burst forth from his eyes, so dazzling it looked like it could illuminate the entire void.

Seeing this, Gu An’s lips curved upward. He withdrew his gaze.

He knew—Fang Xuan had succeeded.

And no one would come to stop him.

…

As the sun set in the west, a man in black walked across the grassy plain by the river, wearing a straw hat and carrying a broad sword on his back. Three treasured swords hung from his waist, and he held a wine gourd in his hand, drinking as he walked.

Behind the man in black trailed a young boy in coarse clothing. Thick hemp ropes were tied to his body—two ropes even thicker than his arms—dragging behind him a broken log more than one zhang in diameter.

It was quite the sight.

The boy’s small frame looked so mismatched against the enormous log that people couldn’t help but be amazed at the strength hidden within his body.

The boy was already drenched in sweat, panting heavily. He looked ahead at the man in black and grit his teeth.

“Master, I’ve been dragging this thing for a hundred li. Aren’t we stopping yet?”

“This? We’re just getting started.”

Li Ya replied casually. He flipped the wine gourd upside down and gave it a shake.

Only a single drop came out.

As the drop of wine fell, he caught it in his other hand and tossed it into his mouth.

His behavior was completely unrestrained, making it hard to imagine he was a Free Immortal.

In the mortal world, the tides always rise and fall, and there are always new prodigies making waves. Li Ya might not be a renowned name, but his growth speed had always been among the best of his generation. Opportunities kept coming his way, and now, he too had stepped onto the Hunyuan Emperor Path.

The boy in coarse clothes, upon hearing his master’s words, couldn’t help but ask, “Is it really useful to keep tempering my body like this? When will you finally teach me cultivation methods? Master, I really want revenge—you’re not messing with me, are you?”

Li Ya didn’t look back. He snorted, “You brat, I’m not some idle old man with time to waste teasing you. Your physique is special and needs to be awakened. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Hearing that, the coarse-clothed boy could only swallow his frustration.

After a while—

He couldn’t hold back and asked again, “Master, where are we going?”

“To the Sword Sect. I want to visit my junior brother’s disciple and see how he’s doing these days.”

“Sword Sect? Master uncle is in the Sword Sect too?”

Over the years following Li Ya, the coarse-clothed boy had heard of the Sword Sect—it was a supreme sect said to house immortals. Just the thought that his master might have ties to such a place made him excited.

After so many years together, he only knew his master’s name was Li Ya, but nothing of his origins. He had always been curious, but no matter how much he asked, Li Ya never gave a clear answer.

“Your Master uncle isn’t there. The founder of the Sword Sect is his disciple.”

Li Ya’s reply made the boy’s eyes go wide with shock.

He was genuinely stunned.

The Sword Sect had existed for who knew how many years. In the legends he had heard, only Dao Court was older than the Sword Sect in the entire cultivation world.

If Li Ya wasn’t lying, then how many years had he lived?

“Your Master uncle’s disciples aren’t few. Of course, I’ve taken in quite a few myself. Unfortunately, mine don’t measure up to his.”

Li Ya let out a soft snort, intentionally provoking the boy.

Sure enough, the moment he heard that, the boy immediately shouted, “Master, don’t worry! I won’t let you down! I’ll cultivate with the goal of surpassing the founder of the Sword Sect!”

“All talk, as expected.”

That’s what Li Ya said, but the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

He truly saw boundless hope in the coarse-clothed boy. It reminded him of An Hao in the past!

At his current level of cultivation, further progress required a vast amount of time. That’s why he took on disciples—to pass the time. He’d accepted more than ten disciples, but none had measured up to the disciples of Gu An.

He liked to compare his own disciples with those of An Hao and Yang Jian.

To shift the topic, the coarse-clothed boy asked about that mysterious Master uncle’s full name and current whereabouts.

But no matter how he asked, Li Ya always gave vague, half-hearted answers, which made the boy start to worry.

Could it be that his master didn’t get along with his Master uncle?

Just then, the boy spotted an old man fishing by the riverside up ahead, which puzzled him.

There weren’t any towns within a thousand li radius—why would someone be fishing here?

Could he be a hidden expert?

He’d heard many tales of great fortune, where those blessed by destiny would meet powerful cultivators living in seclusion and receive inheritance or fortune from them.

Li Ya had noticed the old man too. He seemed indifferent, but was actually on high alert.

Because he couldn’t see through the man’s cultivation level!

Without showing any change in expression, he maintained his pace.

But just as he passed behind the old man, the elder suddenly spoke.

“Li Ya, from the Tai Cang Dynasty. Your father was the Heavenly Son of Tai Cang. In your youth, you were sent to cultivate in Tai Xuan Sect.”

The moment he heard that, Li Ya halted in his tracks.