Gu An immersed himself in Ji’s memories, marveling at his thrilling and unparalleled experiences.

Simultaneously, Gu An’s understanding of the Extreme Dao Combat Method deepened. Though called a “combat method,” it was essentially Ji’s Dao, integrating all his techniques, divine abilities, and spells into a unified battle system.

Through these memories, Gu An confirmed that the Tai Chu Era was unimaginably distant, far beyond the scope of even a million or ten million years.

The Tai Chu Era, Primeval Era, Desolate Era, Initial Dao Era, Middle Era, Later Era, and Heavenly Origin Era…

Each of these epochs spanned countless ages. Figures like Li Ya, Li Xuandao, and Lü Xian still existed in the Tai Chu Era, but by the time of the Primeval Era, their legends had already faded.

Yang Jian, too, could not have survived into the Tai Chu Era.

Gu An pondered these timelines but did not conclude that the future was predetermined, nor did he worry about those absent from Ji’s life.

Instead, he focused on the richness of Ji’s life.

Ji’s combat strength within the same realm was terrifying. Outside of battles, he devoted all his time to cultivation. Judging by how rapidly his Extreme Dao Combat Method evolved, it was clear that Ji had invested the majority of his lifespan into perfecting it.

Even after attaining the Free Immortal Realm, Ji did not become complacent. Instead, he felt a strong sense of unease, prompting him to use the River of Time for further refinement through battles.

Unlike the River of Fate, the River of Time allowed one to traverse the past or future. Ji chose to venture into the past, believing that engaging with bygone existences would ease his conscience.

In reality, Ji didn’t indulge in mindless slaughter. He even admired many of his opponents. Letting countless adversaries live showed that his accumulated lifespan was not as vast as Gu An initially imagined.

Though he was a battle-hardened individual, Ji lived a life of no regrets. He never killed innocent beings or harmed those with no grievances against him, though he might leave them to their fate.

Recalling Ji’s battles, Gu An concluded that in terms of combat talent, Ji was undoubtedly superior. Gu An had never encountered a being stronger than Ji.

Had Ji not been pursued by Immortal Gods, his potential would have been unimaginable.

Upon reaching the Dao Fruit Realm, Ji’s talent in combat grew even more pronounced. The ten thousand Immortal Gods who hunted him were all of higher cultivation levels, each possessing extraordinary divine abilities. Every one of them presented a pressure far greater than any previous opponent in Ji’s life.

Yet, Ji managed to break through their ranks, even as they closed in.

As for the Heavenly Spirit God he encountered at the edge of the universe, that being was undeniably terrifying, clearly operating on a level far above Ji.

Gu An opened his eyes but did not immediately return to the North Sea Mountain Range. Instead, a new idea took root in his mind.

He wanted to fight Ji.

Even though Ji was essentially himself, the prospect of sparring with his other self was irresistible.

Ji’s aura was unparalleled. Even when facing death at the hands of the Heavenly Spirit God, there had been no fear or hesitation in him.

“Let’s do it,” Gu An decided.

[Simulating a battle with Ji will consume 1,000,000 years of lifespan. Do you wish to proceed?]

Proceed!

Gu An’s eyes narrowed, and his consciousness was drawn into the simulation.

Both he and Ji were in the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm, but Gu An had already achieved perfection within this level.

Although Gu An favored the idea of fighting opponents of lower realms to establish dominance, this time he sought to test his combat strength to the fullest.

The battle raged for several hours, continuing until nightfall.

When Gu An opened his eyes, his brows were furrowed tightly.

He had lost.

He couldn’t defeat Ji.

Ji’s Extreme Dao Combat Method was overwhelming. No matter what technique Gu An used, Ji found a counter in mere moments.

Gu An felt frustrated. For the first time, he had fought with all his might and still tasted defeat.

It wasn’t that losing to himself was humiliating, but the defeat left him unsettled.

“I need to delve deeper into the Extreme Dao Combat Method,” Gu An resolved.

He stood and gazed toward the North Sea Mountain Range, where Xuanmiao Zhenren was meditating, seemingly unaware of his brief absence.

Deciding not to disturb anyone, Gu An teleported back to the Tai Xuan Sect.

A stick of incense later, Gu An was seated in the pavilion of the Third Medicine Valley. Reflecting on the earlier battle, he replayed every moment, searching for a way to surpass Ji.

While his raw power surpassed Ji’s, it was evident that Ji had invested significantly more of his lifespan into the Extreme Dao Combat Method than Gu An had into refining his Dao techniques. Ji’s combat talent was overwhelming, and his precision in battle left no room for error.

Gu An sat in contemplation from night until dawn.

Only when the sound of disciples beginning their morning routines reached him through the window did he stir from his thoughts.

He chuckled wryly.

“I’ve let Ji’s influence get to me. Why am I so obsessed with winning?”

He had always prided himself on defeating lower-realm opponents, yet here he was, consumed by a single loss.

“Once I reach Ji’s Heavenly Origin Era, my strength will eclipse his. By then, Ji’s prowess will seem insignificant.”

Smiling faintly, Gu An closed his eyes and began to meditate once more.

Gu An realized that the process of reincarnation simulation absorbed personality traits and characteristics, albeit only the positive ones. Thankfully, he had not inherited Long Zhan’s brutality.

“Now, I finally have a clear goal,” Gu An thought silently. He resolved to delve into the Extreme Dao Combat Method while considering Long Zhan’s divine ability.

Heavenly Dragon Reincarnation Divine Aspect!

This divine ability could condense incarnations of one’s past lives to fight alongside them. It was particularly suitable for those undergoing lifespan reincarnation.

Gu An understood that his reincarnations were always battle fanatics. The more past lives he accumulated, the stronger the Heavenly Dragon Reincarnation Divine Aspect would become.

In essence, the more cycles of reincarnation, the more powerful this divine ability would grow.

The incarnations formed by the Heavenly Dragon Reincarnation Divine Aspect retained their original combat will but lacked independent thought. They existed solely for battle and couldn’t function as avatars.

Imagining the future, Gu An raised his hand. Thousands of past lives standing behind him—it would be an awe-inspiring sight.

Much like the Extreme Dao Combat Method, Long Zhan’s self-created divine ability had unfathomable potential.

Gu An took a deep breath, no longer fixating on his defeat to Ji.

“Failure is good; it means I have room to grow.”

It was a chance to temper his arrogance and curb any budding complacency.

Standing up, Gu An left the building, intending to join the disciples for their morning exercises.

As soon as he stepped downstairs, Ji Xiaoya emerged as well, asking to join him. Gu An saw no reason to refuse.

During the exercise session, Gu An could feel Ji Xiaoya closely observing him.

After merging Ji’s memories, his temperament had inevitably changed. Though Gu An couldn’t completely revert to his pre-fusion state, he wasn’t concerned about Ji Xiaoya discerning the difference. After all, he could always deny everything. What could she do about it?

When the session ended, Ji Xiaoya invited Gu An to her quarters for a chat. Gu An, curious, agreed.

Inside her room, the two sat facing each other at a small table.

Ji Xiaoya stared at Gu An intently and said, “You have a trace of reincarnation energy on you. Where did you go yesterday?”

Gu An replied casually, “I was out saving the world. Why? Can you see who I was in my past life?”

A small Samsara Dao Emperor, could she even compare to Ji?

Speaking of which, Ji had once ventured into the future’s Yin-Yang Domain, sweeping through its strongest figures and compelling them to erect an Emperor’s Monument in his honor.

Ji Xiaoya shook her head and answered, “I can’t see through you. But I suddenly suspect that you’re like me—a reincarnation of a great power.”

She smiled as she spoke, her expression surprisingly lighthearted.

Gu An raised an eyebrow. “Impossible. I haven’t received any past-life memories, and I’ve never dreamed of anything unusual.”

“That’s because your karmic ties to reincarnation are still dormant. You’re simply cultivating too slowly.”

Ji Xiaoya chuckled, but her smile soon faded as another thought occurred to her.

If Gu An was truly like her, wouldn’t that mean their futures were already predetermined?

Both of them would ultimately become mere fragments of another’s memory—vessels of past-life experiences rather than individuals who had truly lived.

This realization made Ji Xiaoya’s gaze toward Gu An shift subtly, tinged with a complex mix of emotions.

In that moment, she felt the pull of destiny.

Was fate the reason she had met Gu An?

Noticing her sudden somberness, Gu An changed the subject. “Alright then, take a guess. Who do you think was stronger in their past life—you or me?”

Ji Xiaoya, being the reincarnation of the Samsara Dao Emperor, was intrinsically connected to him. Even Gu An couldn’t separate her from the Emperor’s soul.

If she had only memories but no soul, she wouldn’t truly be herself.

This was an unsolvable conundrum. Only time could ease such frustrations.

“Of course, I’m stronger,” Ji Xiaoya declared with confidence. “From the perspective of reincarnation karma, I’ve undergone far more cycles than you. For beings of that level, the number of reincarnations reflects the depth of one’s Dao.”

Her reasoning was so natural that Gu An nearly laughed.

The Samsara Dao Emperor hadn’t even transcended the Reincarnation Tribulation. How could she compare to his past lives?

Forget Ji and Long Zhan; the Samsara Dao Emperor probably couldn’t even best Lu Han.

The two continued chatting, with Ji Xiaoya recounting vivid battles she had dreamt of—epic clashes involving the Samsara Dao Emperor and formidable enemies. Her narration was so detailed and animated that Gu An couldn’t help but feign excitement.

He had to maintain her dignity, after all.

As they spoke, Gu An contemplated introducing Ji’s training methods to his disciples. Perhaps this approach could make them stronger.

He decided to start with An Xin.

No one could replicate Ji’s innate combat talent, but if An Xin could achieve even a fraction of Ji’s mastery, she would dominate her peers in the same realm.

Unfortunately, Ji’s life had never intersected with An Hao. Gu An couldn’t predict how far An Hao might go in the future.

At present, An Hao was far from comparable to Ji. Yet their vastly different circumstances left the future uncertain.

Late at night, within the Submerged Spirit Palace, Gu An was instructing the Deep Sea Dragon Koi in cultivation. Having taken human form, the dragon koi wore white robes and tied its dark hair into a bun, exuding an unexpectedly graceful femininity.

Initially, Gu An intended to reprimand the koi. However, its refined appearance softened his resolve, and he refrained from being harsh.

The Deep Sea Dragon Koi, thrilled to receive personal guidance from Gu An, was exceedingly polite. Its gentle demeanor surpassed even that of An Xin and Ye Lan, occasionally prompting Gu An to steal a glance.

After completing the lesson, Gu An reclined on a chair, flipping through a copy of The Adventures of Green Hero.

Nearby, the Deep Sea Dragon Koi practiced its footwork and asked, “Master, I’ve also read the book you gave me. Do you think I’ll have the chance to transform into a true dragon someday?”

It bore the bloodline of an ancient true dragon, fueling a deep yearning for the majestic form of its ancestors.

Without looking up from his book, Gu An replied nonchalantly, “Focus on your cultivation. If you work hard enough, you can achieve anything you desire.”

Encouraged by his words, the Deep Sea Dragon Koi dove into practicing the Time-Striding Dao Step, its determination renewed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep