The Buddha Immortal's muttering sent chills down Zhang Buku and the others' spines. They could sense the urgency in his voice, and the more desperate he seemed, the more dangerous their situation became.
The massive Buddha statue that the Buddha Immortal had transformed into trembled slightly, as if it was about to crack open.
"Run!"
The Shen Yi Realm Lord immediately gave the order. Almost instantly, the temple doors were blasted apart, and Zhang Buku, along with the Shen Yi Ghost Kings, shot out like bolts of lightning, vanishing into the swirling sands outside.
"You think this place is just anywhere? Run? You will soon realize that killing each other is far easier than escaping. I have already severed the karmic bonds between you. From now on, you are all independent beings."
The Buddha Immortal's voice echoed ominously. Zhang Buku and the Shen Yi Ghost Kings could feel it—the bindings that had once connected them had been erased. They had finally obtained the freedom they had long yearned for.
Yet none of them felt joy.
Instead, they were consumed by fear.
To effortlessly sever Shen Yi Karma—just how terrifying was the Buddha Immortal's cultivation?
Even Zhang Buku, who feared nothing in heaven or earth, felt a deep despair creeping into his heart.
For thousands of years since leaving the Heavenly Spirit World, he had faced countless trials and dangers. Could it be that his journey would end today?
The faces of Gu An and Li Ya flashed through his mind. He wondered how they were faring now.
But the thought was fleeting. He had no time to dwell on such things.
After slaying the Annihilation God Emperor, Gu An's life returned to its usual calm. Even the Heavenly Spirit God remained motionless, still seated beneath the World Gate.
The Annihilation God Emperor's seven subordinates noticed nothing unusual. To them, it was simply inconceivable that their master could have fallen. Moreover, their cultivation was far below that of the Annihilation God Emperor, making it impossible for them to divine his fate.
Thus, the death of a being powerful enough to shake the entire Heavenly Spirit World passed without causing the slightest ripple.
The tides of history rise and fall, the stormcallers of one era vanishing while new figures emerge to take their place.
Time passed swiftly.
Two thousand years went by in the blink of an eye, ushering in a new chapter for the mortal realm.
It was the year just after the New Year celebrations.
Xunxian Island.
Gu An strolled leisurely through the bustling streets, with An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint following closely behind. Hu Xiaojian walked ahead, slightly hunched over, constantly pointing out interesting sights and introducing them to Gu An.
Now over eight thousand years old, Hu Xiaojian had already undergone Nirvana. His status on Xunxian Island was exceedingly high. Many cultivators recognized him, and seeing him personally guiding a group with such reverence made them glance curiously at Gu An.
However, the moment they turned away, their minds went blank—Gu An's face disappeared from their memories entirely.
They were confused at first, but soon, even that confusion faded.
Gu An's expression remained relaxed and content as he observed the lively scene of Xunxian Island.
Even after leaving Tai Xuan Sect, Gu An maintained a strong connection with both Renjian Peak and Xunxian Island. These two factions viewed him as an elusive yet powerful hidden cultivator. No one ever associated him with the legendary Sword Master of the Dao.
The world was vast, and the number of great cultivators was as countless as the sands in a river. The name Sword Master of the Dao had long since faded from public memory.
Hu Xiaojian, while continuing to narrate details of the island, stole glances at Gu An's expression. Seeing his master in a good mood, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Though he frequently met Gu An, today was different. Xunxian Island was currently hosting its grand Centennial Gathering, an event he personally oversaw. The streets were lined with stalls trading all kinds of rare treasures and cultivation artifacts.
Everything in sight was a testament to his efforts, and deep down, he yearned for Gu An's approval.
Truthfully, at this point, he no longer needed anything from Gu An. However, he knew that everything he had today was because of him. He cherished it deeply and had long made up his mind to follow Gu An unwaveringly for the rest of his life.
Gu An wasn't afraid of giving Hu Xiaojian tasks—he was only afraid that Gu An would forget about him.
"You did well, keep it up," Gu An said with a smile.
For him, Xunxian Island was an important place. Almost all the herb seeds he needed came from here, and the rewards he gave his disciples were also sourced from this island.
Although his cultivation was high, he no longer wished to operate in secrecy.
If he wanted to accelerate his growth, it wouldn't be difficult. However, he preferred to grow stronger in a stable and steady manner, without regrets weighing on his heart.
"I will do even better!" Hu Xiaojian was instantly energized, as if he had been injected with pure excitement.
Gu An's gaze landed on a particular stall. Sitting on the ground was an elderly man with unkempt hair, a young boy crouching beside him.
That old man looked familiar. Gu An had paid attention to him before.
[Chi Jiuxiao (Wandering Immortal Realm, Third Layer): 9,737/130,000/700,000]
Chi Jiuxiao, a former genius from the Star Sea Sect, had once fought over Mysterious Divine City on Tai Cang Continent. Back when Gu An had saved An Hao, he had also conveniently saved Chi Jiuxiao and his companion, Chi Bei.
This man was extraordinary. He had reached Nirvana Realm at just five hundred years old—a remarkable feat. In terms of early cultivation speed, he had even surpassed An Hao. Of course, that was largely due to the abundant resources of the Star Sea Sect.
However, if achieving Nirvana Realm first determined talent, then the Immortal Spirits born within the Celestial Dynasty—who started at Nirvana Realm—should all be stronger than An Hao, which was clearly not the case.
Gu An could tell that Chi Jiuxiao was injured. His cultivation level remained intact, but his internal mana was scattered and unfocused.
The boy beside him was his mortal descendant, whom he had brought along.
Thousands of years had passed, and the mortal world had changed drastically. The Star Sea Sect had also undergone internal upheaval. Many of its powerful families had been purged, including the Chi family.
To Gu An, the Star Sea Sect was irrelevant. He had no reason to care about its fate.
If not for An Hao, Xuan Tianyi, Li Ya, and Zhang Buku once training there, he wouldn't have even bothered to notice its existence.
After a single glance, Gu An lost interest and continued walking.
Chi Jiuxiao hadn't noticed Gu An's gaze. His mind was burdened, and the bustling streets around him did nothing to ease his worries.
"Master, how long will we be staying here?"
The boy beside him asked, his eyes fixed on Gu An and his companions. He could tell that they were no ordinary individuals—their presence felt entirely different from the other cultivators passing by.
Chi Jiuxiao kept his head down and replied softly, "Until the Xunxian Gathering ends."
The boy sighed. Looking at the lively, bustling streets, his eyes were filled with yearning.
Since birth, he had been alone and destitute. It was only last year that he had become Chi Jiuxiao's disciple. He cherished his current life, but he also longed for a greater path in cultivation.
After spending half a day wandering Xunxian Island, Gu An and his companions left. An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint had purchased a good number of items to bring back to their sect.
Upon returning to the sect, Gu An went to Myriad Sword Mountain and planted the swords he had carefully selected from Xunxian Island, embedding them into the mountain.
Now, Myriad Sword Mountain was covered with swords, each radiating a unique sword intent.
After placing the final sword, Gu An admired his creation.
Over the years, in addition to comprehending the Grand Dao, he had never neglected his pursuit of swordsmanship.
He had already formed a connection with Yang Xian's Sacred Heart Sword Dao. After all, Yang Xian was a part of him, so controlling the Sacred Heart Sword Dao came naturally to him.
The Sacred Heart Sword Dao had become eternal and indestructible within the River of Sword Dao, which intrigued Gu An greatly.
If a Grand Dao could form a river and attain eternity, what deeper truths lay hidden within?
Gu An hoped that one day, his Myriad Sword Mountain would also reach that state of immortality.
As he continued gazing at the mountain, he suddenly sensed something. His pupils flickered, reflecting a vision within them.
A battle was taking place atop the River of Sword Dao!
The two combatants were both Profound Origin Free Immortal, their swordsmanship peerless—on par with the Sword Annihilation Patriarch.
Gu An observed their duel closely, glimpsing the intricate karmic threads behind them.
These two hailed from different Worlds, both devout believers in the Way of the Sword. Yet despite their distant origins, they both revered the Sacred Heart Sword Dao.
The years had passed, and Yang Xian was no longer present. But his sword dao had become an eternal and indestructible force.