MTLNOVEL Chapter 942: Each Their Own Path
Old friends continue to arrive in Central Heaven, but Gu An does not personally receive them. However, he helps them in secret, turning peril into opportunity and misfortune into blessing.
After Lu Lingjun ascended to Central Heaven, roughly a million years passed, and Li Xuandao also ascended. He ascended alone, roaming Central Heaven before settling in a Human Race tribe, where he began establishing the order of an Imperial Dynasty.
Li Ya started founding a religion upon receiving guidance from the White-haired Ancestor. He and his disciples traveled across the land, providing relief to those in distress, and his name became increasingly renowned.
Later, he reunited with Zhang Buku and also met Zhang Chunqiu once. He did not reveal Gu An's true identity; when Zhang Buku inquired, he merely said he hadn't seen Gu An in many years.
Although surprised to meet Zhang Chunqiu, Li Ya didn't feel much emotion. Compared to Zhang Chunqiu, he cared more about Zhang Buku.
Today, Zhang Buku is known as the Evil Emperor, having established a sect and occupying a portion of the land. His reputation is widespread. He invited Li Ya to stay, but unfortunately, Li Ya refused.
Li Ya has his own path to follow. After reuniting years later, both men are no longer the impetuous and reckless individuals they once were. Each has their own aspirations, and their feelings cannot sway their resolve.
Central Heaven is vast, and aside from Zhang Buku and Martial Resolution, Li Ya has yet to encounter other old friends.
Time flies, and over a billion years pass by in the blink of an eye.
Central Heaven hasn't changed much after a billion years. Although there are conflicts, they don't affect the entire world. Whenever beings who have achieved the Daluo Dao Fruit engage in battle, they relocate to the Outer Void. This is a Celestial Rule decreed by the Heavenly Court, and all Daluo experts must abide by it.
During this billion-year span, many Wushiji disciples have departed, and family clans that pass down through generations have arisen on the Wushishi Continent. Wushiji disciples conceal themselves within the mundane world, while the Mountain of No End remains shrouded in mist, impervious to forced exploration.
Due to the sin of the Supreme Demon God, the talent of the Human Race has declined with each generation. Mortals have begun to appear on the Wushishi Continent. These mortals are somewhat stronger than those of the Three Thousand Great Worlds, but ultimately, they are still mere mortals.
On this day, Gu An is practicing swordplay in the courtyard. As many disciples have departed, the mountains surrounding the Mountain of No End seem tranquil, rarely showing the presence of disciples.
Shen Zhen is not in this courtyard but is instead reflecting alone in the woods on another mountain.
As of today, the vast majority of Second Generation Disciples have already stepped into the Taiqing Golden Immortal Realm, including Shen Zhen.
After achieving the Taiqing Golden Immortal level, Shen Zhen's understanding of the Path of Cause and Effect deepens. She can even divine fortunes for other Second Generation Disciples.
Gu An examines his Attribute Panel while practicing swordplay.
[Name: Gu An]
[Life Span: 542,089,114/100,528,477,008,124,642,309]
[Physique: Creation Eternal Life]
[Cultivation Level: Mid-stage of Primordial Taiyi True Saint Realm]
...
His life span steadily increases, albeit not as quickly as through killing and plundering, yet it continues to rise.
Now, the life span on the Attribute Panel feels more like an experience bar to him. Even if it resets to zero, he could still survive, having already surpassed the physical and soul limits of Saints, reaching higher realms.
Gu An cares more about his age than his life span.
Unknowingly, he is already over 5.4 billion years old, quite ancient indeed, explaining why past events feel so distant to him.
Looking back on these years, Gu An does not find anything particularly memorable. The only significant changes are the departure of the Wushiji disciples and the True Yuan Ancestor.
The True Yuan Ancestor has already left Inch Island, continuing his journey through the Human World to deepen his understanding of the Dao.
He is not in a hurry to reach the Dao Extreme DaLuo Immortal Realm; he aims to create his own Great Dao.
As Gu An reflects on the swift passage of time, Lv Xian and Zui arrive from outside the courtyard.
Zui still appears as a youth, yet exudes confidence and sharpness, making it impossible to see him as a child, while Lv Xian beside him shares a similar haughty demeanor.
Both are fond of combat and frequently spar; with the power of the Immortal Emperor's Eye, Zui is already the strongest among the Second Generation Disciples. Even the Blood Prison Great Saint can't defeat him, let alone An Xin.
"Master, we want to venture out, but we don't want to graduate. Is that okay?"
Lv Xian asked nonchalantly, without any burden, because he knew that as long as they didn't want to sever ties with Wushi, Gu An wouldn't abandon them. They were different from later-generation disciples.
Gu An didn't stop his sword dance but asked, "What are you going to do?"
Lv Xian smiled and replied, "Rumor has it that the Origin Great Vein plans to hold a Tao Fruit Conference. We brothers want to give it a try. Rest assured, we won't flaunt the name of Wushi."
Zui added, "I won't use any Divine Skills that I shouldn't."
Gu An indeed treats the Second Generation Disciples differently from others. He doesn't see it as an issue, as these disciples have been with him longer and have a closer bond with him.
"Then go ahead. Zui, you must keep an eye on your senior brother," Gu An casually responded.
Lv Xian became anxious and said, "Shouldn't it be the other way around, with me looking after him?"
Gu An chuckled without explaining.
Zui retorted humorously, "Master is afraid you'll be too arrogant and get killed. If you act recklessly, I won't accompany you to the end."
Lv Xian glared at him and said, "Who's arrogant? Nonsense!"
The two began bickering, and Gu An wasn't bothered by the noise, letting them continue.
After a while, they both departed.
Shortly after they left, the Celestial Demon Child came to find Gu An. She showed him the Magical Treasure she had refined, and after he offered his suggestions, she quickly flashed away back to her work.
Gu An sheathed the Cyan Hong Sword back into its scabbard.
This sword was a gift from Ye Lan. He kept it by his side, and even though Xiao Lan had awakened Ye Lan's memories, it couldn't replace the feelings this sword evoked in him.
He went to a wooden table nearby and poured himself a cup of tea. The tea on the table was prepared by the Ghost Mother of Ephemera, who delivered a pot of Spiritual Tea every few days.
The tea was still steaming as it filled the cup.
"Roar——"
A resonant dragon's roar suddenly reverberated through the Celestial Vault, audible to all living beings in the world.
Lv Xian and Zui, who were frolicking among the mountains, instinctively looked up. All creatures on the continent did the same, hoping to find the dragon, but regrettably, they found nothing.
Gu An gazed at the tea in his cup, where the reflection showed a Golden Dragon tumbling through the sea of clouds. Upon closer inspection, a man clad in Golden Armor stood on the dragon's head, clutching its whiskers while laughing with an air of disdain.
The man in Golden Armor was a Celestial God, his father a Supreme Immortal in the Celestial Court. He was one of the rare Innate Immortal Gods, born with Destiny and an Immortal Position.
His purpose in coming to Central Heaven was to subdue a True Dragon as his steed, to accompany him in his conquests of the Heavenly Dao across the heavens.
However, this True Dragon had significant origins, destined to trigger the first conflict between all living beings in Central Heaven and the Heavenly Court Immortals.
Gu An foresaw that this conflict would affect the Wushishi Continent, and he understood that if he intervened, similar situations would keep occurring.
He felt no hesitation, but rather a sense of anticipation.