“What’s wrong with you?” Jiang Qiong frowned, her expression growing colder as she asked, “Did someone give you trouble?”

Hearing that, Gu An smiled. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about a story from a book.”

Jiang Qiong eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”

Gu An chuckled. “Really. Honestly, I was planning to leave before you came out of seclusion—so when you realized you missed me, maybe you’d feel a little guilty. But you showed up so fast, I wasn’t expecting it.”

After all, he was a Divine Soul Immortal, and although Lu Han’s memories were heavy and vast, he could still detach from them in a short time.

Lu Han was a past life—he was Gu An now.

Hearing his words, Jiang Qiong’s concern vanished. She rolled her eyes and huffed, “You sure like to scheme. I wouldn’t feel guilty.”

“Oh? I guess I overestimated our relationship.”

“Hmph. But since you came to see me, I am glad. It’s rare to see you leave Taixuan Sect.”

“I just thought of you. You’re always the one coming to visit—I figured it was about time I returned the favor. Besides, Taixuan and Gathering Flower Sect have a good relationship now.”

The two chatted, and as they talked, Gu An was secretly observing Jiang Qiong’s fate, peering into her destiny.

Anyone not at Nirvana Stage was still a mortal. Gu An could see the endpoint of Jiang Qiong’s life with just a glance.

Her fate was complex, filled with countless possibilities—many branching paths.

And in none of those futures did Gu An see himself. But he understood—the reason her fate was so variable was because of him. His choices would reshape her destiny. Yet every path led to the same ending: death.

Some paths showed natural death, some death in battle, some from going mad during cultivation. Her fate was like a tree, growing and branching—yet every leaf fell to the same conclusion.

Cruel. That’s what fate was.

Having fused with Lu Han’s life experience, Gu An’s understanding of the Dao of Destiny deepened. He realized that hidden beneath this cruelty was a mysterious force—a force that could dissolve fate at any time.

He guessed this was the sliver of hope left by the Three Thousand Daos—the single thread that allowed all beings a chance to transcend.

If Jiang Qiong could reach Nirvana, her fate could be shattered and rebuilt.

And what about his own fate?

He was within it—he couldn’t see it. Fate was the sum of all karma one had accumulated. While someone who could read fate couldn’t see their own, they could deduce related karmic threads.

If he could see Jiang Qiong’s fate, then surely someone stronger could see the fate of a Divine Soul Immortal like him. Fate was never set in stone—it only appeared so because most people lacked the power to change their paths and were swept along by the tides.

Those who stood above even the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Dao could surely see the forces shaping Divine Soul Immortals.

So how did one break free from fate?

That was the question Gu An pondered throughout his conversation with Jiang Qiong.

Two hours later—

Gu An stood and prepared to leave.

“Can’t you stay another couple days?” Jiang Qiong asked, trying to keep him longer.

“I’ve already been out for four. It’s time to go back. I’ve got several Medicine Valleys to manage,” he replied.

Jiang Qiong glared at him. “What’s the point of raising so many disciples, then? By that logic, as a Sect Master, shouldn’t I be even busier?”

“We’re not the same. Besides, I made it out once—visiting again will be easier. We’re both cultivators—we’ll have plenty of chances to meet again.” Gu An shook his head.

Jiang Qiong huffed but couldn’t change his mind. She personally escorted him to Gathering Flower Sect’s gate.

Even after he took off, she remained where she stood, watching the direction he left.

The disciples guarding the gate were quietly curious—who was that man, to have the Sect Master herself see him off?

On the way back, Gu An was targeted, but Jiang Qiong secretly intervened and dealt with the attackers.

Because she followed along in the shadows, Gu An’s return was delayed.

Once she stopped trailing him, he was still ten thousand miles from Taixuan Sect—so he stepped through space and returned directly.

From then on, he planned to spend time comprehending the Dao of Fate.

Time flowed. In the blink of an eye, twenty years passed.

To Gu An, those years flew by. Aside from harvesting medicinal herbs, he spent most of his time secluded indoors.

Many new disciples didn’t even get the chance to interact with him before reaching Foundation Establishment and graduating.

An Xin had become the Third Medicine Valley’s chief disciple, with authority to distribute Foundation Establishment Pills. She had twenty attendants working under her and managed the valley with impressive order.

That year, early summer—

Gu An pushed open his door and strolled downstairs. Gazing at the clear blue sky, he felt refreshed, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

His study of fate could be put on hold—it was time to relax for a few years.

In these twenty years, he’d mastered Lu Han’s strongest divine ability—Doomsday Fate Seal.

It was a technique Lu Han developed through contemplation of the River of Fate. It could strip away a target’s karmic bonds, causing the Laws of Heaven and Earth to reject them, and even leave behind an indelible wound—one that would forever remain a weakness.

Lu Han had once used this very technique to injure the Black Profound Emperor.

Should Gu An encounter that emperor again, he could identify him by the scar left by the Doomsday Fate Seal. No matter what divine ability the emperor used, it couldn’t cover up the damage.

Still, until he understood the Black Profound Emperor’s true strength, Gu An wouldn’t use techniques from Lu Han, Xiao Shengtian, or Chu Lu lightly.

This was the third time the Black Profound Emperor had tried to kill him—it couldn’t be coincidence. The man was clearly searching for him.

As Gu An pondered the Black Profound Emperor, Ji Xuanyu walked up beside him, scrutinizing him. “You’ve changed. I can’t explain how, but something’s different.”

Gu An glanced at her, smiled lightly. “Maybe I got more handsome?”

Ji Xuanyu seemed thoughtful.

Gu An could sense the destiny aura on her—her cultivation clearly involved studying the Dao of Fate. That might be why she noticed the change in him.

Fortunately, their cultivation levels were vastly different—there was no way she could see through his real power.

They chatted for a bit, then Gu An went to find An Xin and left Taixuan Sect with her.

Once they were sure no one was tracking them, Gu An took her to Renjian Peak.

An Xin blinked—and when she opened her eyes again, they were already there.

So fast!

At that moment, she felt just like Yang Jian had all those years ago.

The higher her cultivation, the more she realized just how powerful her master was.

“Master, what divine ability was that? That speed!” An Xin couldn’t help but ask.

Gu An flew on the clouds with her, eyes forward. “You guessed right. It’s the Time-Stepping Path you’ve been training in.”

An Xin’s eyes widened in surprise.

No wonder it was so hard to learn—once mastered, it could literally step across the mortal realm.

She now had new motivation to master it.

Soon, the two arrived at Dingtian Peak.

Gu An started picking herbs. Along the way, he greeted disciples, and news of his return quickly spread.

With Gu An around, Renjian Peak had grown more lenient toward Dingtian Peak. His personal disciples could negotiate more benefits for the entire mountain. Everyone knew—it was because their Peak Master was powerful.

Among the disciples, Gu An had already become a living legend.

He wandered the mountain, picking herbs here and there. It was obvious he was intentionally getting involved in their daily lives. Everyone he spoke to was thrilled.

Sometimes, he even helped them harvest herbs—taking nothing for himself—leaving them completely flattered.

Eventually, Gu An heard a piece of news—

The Immortal Dynasty was about to reveal itself!

On Renjian Peak, where he could access news from the Heavenly Spirit Great Realm, Gu An learned about the long-standing feud between the Immortal Dynasty and the Holy Court.

Their conflict had spanned countless years. It wasn’t until the current Saint Heaven took the throne that the world saw some peace.

Saint Heaven was said to be the strongest being in the Heavenly Spirit Great Realm—but no one knew how strong.

Now that the Immortal Dynasty was emerging, conflict with the Holy Court was inevitable. Once sparks flew, the peace would be over.

Despite everything Gu An had experienced, the Severed Sea was minuscule—it couldn’t shake the entire realm. All in all, the world had enjoyed peace for hundreds of thousands of years.

An Xin was fascinated. It was her first time hearing about the Immortal Dynasty. She hadn’t imagined a power capable of standing against the Holy Court.

After a while—

Gu An took An Xin to a mountaintop courtyard. She began cultivating, while Gu An relaxed, writing to ease his mind.

Today’s visit was just for leisure.

After a while, he sensed something and looked up.

His gaze pierced the sky—straight into the depths of space.

He felt a strange, ominous aura flying in from the Realm of Extinction.

It made him deeply uncomfortable.

Soon, a coffin emerged from the darkness. It was made of dark red wood, soaked in blood-like hues. Wisps of visible black mist swirled around it.

Something was inside!

Could it be after the Heaven Demon Embryo again?

Gu An had no intention of interfering. The coffin wasn’t hiding its aura or form—it must’ve been noticed by the Holy Court.

Sure enough, Gu An saw countless figures fly out from the Holy Domain where the Court resided. The weakest among them was a Free Soaring Immortal!

Such terrifying depth!

Gu An was once again in awe of the Holy Court’s strength. And that was just their first response—it was hard to imagine what they could do if they fully mobilized.

Then, he saw a Mystic Celestial Immortal intercept the red coffin. That cultivator used immense power to stop it—but in moments, his body turned to blood water, splashing onto the coffin and drying instantly.

His immortal soul barely escaped.

Such terrifying power!

Even Gu An couldn’t see how the red coffin devoured the immortal—that was a type of strength he’d never witnessed before.

One thing was clear: whatever was inside that coffin, it wasn’t a Heaven Demon. Or at least, not one he had seen before.

The coffin shot toward the Heavenly Spirit Great Realm—unstoppable.

What shocked him even more was that all the Holy Court cultivators stopped mid-air—and gave way.

What the hell?

Gu An frowned slightly.

Was the coffin related to the Holy Court?

As he mulled it over, he looked down and continued writing.

If the sky falls, let the tall ones hold it up.

The Holy Court was still in the realm—he’d just sit back and watch how it all played out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep