Chapter 631: Because She is the One Most Like Me

Hearing Tian Hao’s choice, Gu An smiled with satisfaction and said, “My little disciple has indeed grown up. He knows how to take responsibility for himself now.”

With that, he took a step forward, brushing past Tian Hao.

Tian Hao turned around, his gaze following Gu An. Just as he was about to ask something, he heard Gu An’s voice.

“I leave you in the hands of your father now.”

Hearing this, Tian Hao stopped in his tracks and turned his head toward Heavenly Spirit God, his brows furrowing.

He felt nothing but resistance toward this so-called biological father.

From childhood to now, he had never lacked fatherly love. To him, his master had always been like a father. He had always been happy, and he didn’t need some sudden, inexplicable family bond to disrupt that.

Heavenly Spirit God saw through his thoughts. His expression remained indifferent as he said, “I have no intention of bonding with you over kinship. I merely want you to grow stronger before you go to the Ethereal Immortal Court. I will teach you divine abilities. Before you leave, you may bid farewell to your old friends and meet your mother.”

Tian Hao was taken aback. “My mother? Where is she?”

“She is in Qiankun Sect.”

“What?”

Tian Hao was shocked, suddenly feeling at a loss.

Heavenly Spirit God raised his right hand, and a dazzling light enveloped Tian Hao’s face. In that moment, Tian Hao felt as though Heavenly Spirit God had become something completely different.

…

The terrifying shadow that had loomed over the Heavenly Spirit Great World for thousands of years had finally dissipated. The Xiantian Human Race’s demonic forces quickly vanished from all corners of the world, and celebrations erupted everywhere.

Under the joint efforts of Dao Court and various major sects, the legend of the Sword Master of the Dao spread throughout the cultivation world within mere decades, to the point where even mortals had heard of him.

His reputation quickly surpassed that of Xuan Su Immortal Lord.

Despite cultivating followers for tens of thousands of years, Xuan Su Immortal Lord’s influence still could not compare to the Sword Master of the Dao making a single move.

The people of the world were not fools. They had personally experienced the horrors of the Xiantian Human Race. They truly felt gratitude toward the Sword Master of the Dao, whereas Xuan Su Immortal Lord had never protected them. How could the two be compared?

There were even claims that the Xiantian Human Race had been sent by Xuan Su Immortal Lord and his faction of celestial beings—only through suffering and despair would mortals desperately long for the salvation of celestial gods.

This idea was incredibly persuasive and quickly spread like wildfire.

Thus, time passed in this climate.

Neither Xuan Su Immortal Lord nor Tai Yi Immortal Lord sent any celestial forces to interfere. As the years went by, the influence of the Sword Master of the Dao's actions gradually began to fade. The world was ever-changing, and there were always new figures capturing the curiosity of the people.

Three hundred years later.

Within Wushi Dao Field, the day was bright, the mountains serene, and even the breeze carried a refreshing coolness.

In the courtyard, Gu An was instructing Shen Zhen in refining weapons.

Shen Zhen was using Gu An’s personal refining cauldron. Though Gu An himself no longer forged Dao treasures, the cauldron, having refined countless supreme treasures, had itself become no different from a Dao artifact. Its capabilities were unparalleled.

Looking across the entire Heavenly Spirit Great World, there was no refining cauldron superior to Gu An’s.

An Xin suddenly appeared behind Gu An out of thin air and asked, “Master, Tian Hao says he’s going beyond the heavens. He said you already agreed—Is that true?”

Her voice carried a trace of urgency.

Although Tian Hao had matured, the dangers beyond the heavens were unimaginable. He was not yet strong enough to disregard those threats entirely.

Moreover, from the way Tian Hao spoke, it seemed as if he was bidding farewell, as though he might never return.

Since childhood, An Xin had never been particularly warm toward Tian Hao—mostly because it felt awkward. Every time she saw him, she would think of An Hao.

Now that she knew Tian Hao was An Hao’s reincarnation, her feelings toward him had naturally changed.

An Xin’s senior brother had always been like this—she had already bid farewell to him more times than she could count.

If not for their master, she feared that An Hao would have died countless times over. She couldn’t understand it, nor could she accept it. She wanted to stop him.

Gu An stood with his back to An Xin and said, “This time, he isn’t leaving for himself.”

“What do you mean?”

An Xin asked, but just as the words left her mouth, something clicked in her mind.

Could it be that the Xiantian Human Race had come because of Tian Hao?

She thought back to An Hao in his past life—he had died for the sake of this world. It seemed that An Hao had never lived for himself. His very existence had always been tied to some great mission.

Perhaps to the An family, he was an irresponsible ancestor. But to the world, he had no debts to repay. If anything, he had the merit of saving it.

Gu An didn’t answer her. He simply continued instructing Shen Zhen in weapon refinement. Though Shen Zhen was curious about Tian Hao’s departure, she did not ask.

Ever since following Gu An, she had seen many people come and go.

In Shen Zhen’s eyes, only An Xin, Tian Yao'er, and herself could stay by Gu An’s side indefinitely. Everyone else, to some extent, longed for the outside world. In fact, many of them endured staying here only to grow stronger.

An Xin stood still, quickly coming to terms with everything.

Her master saw things far more clearly than she did, and Tian Hao’s fate was something beyond her comprehension.

She and An Hao had never been on the same path. They had merely been born in the same place as children.

After a long while, when An Xin had finally let go of her lingering thoughts and was about to turn and leave, Gu An suddenly called out to her.

“An Xin, in a little while, come with me on a trip.”

An Xin was puzzled. “Where to? Xunxian Island?”

Gu An looked at her and smiled. “To the place Hao'er wants to go.”

Hearing this, An Xin’s eyes widened in surprise and excitement.

Shen Zhen also turned her head abruptly to look at Gu An. Just as she was about to speak, he pressed his left index finger against her lips, silencing her. All she could do was stare at him with wide, aggrieved eyes.

“Alright!”

An Xin quickly agreed, then disappeared on the spot.

Gu An turned and walked toward his room.

Shen Zhen hesitated before asking, “Aren’t you afraid she’ll tell Tian Hao now that she knows?”

Without looking back, Gu An said, “She won’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because she is the one most like me.”

Shen Zhen froze, carefully contemplating the similarities between An Xin and Gu An.

…

Under the night sky, atop a towering peak, stood a vast stone hall with no ceiling.

Seated on a high platform inside the hall was a lone figure—Zhang Buku.

The current Zhang Buku was completely different from before. His aura had grown immeasurably powerful, and his physique had become more imposing. He wore a black robe embroidered with a golden dragon, his long hair drifting slightly in the wind. Even while sitting with his eyes closed, he exuded an incredibly dangerous presence.

A ragged figure suddenly appeared within the hall.

It was a man in tattered clothing—Xu You, the very same person who had once shared hardships with Zhang Buku.

Even though he had gained immense power following Zhang Buku, Xu You still maintained his beggar-like appearance, making it impossible to discern his true cultivation.

“Oh, my great Demon Emperor, you’re still here studying divine abilities? Have you forgotten our agreement?” Xu You sneered with a mocking tone.

Zhang Buku opened his eyes and looked at him, but instead of getting angry, he simply asked, “So soon?”

“There’s a powerful figure recruiting talents. It’s the lowest rank of a Heavenly Dao Immortal position, but the chances are high. It’s much easier than going through the trials of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Stone.” Xu You grinned.

Zhang Buku hesitated. “If we go, how long before we return? What about our empire?”

“We go there, establish ourselves first, then talk. That powerful figure wants to take down someone who offended him. This trip will likely involve subjugating an entire Great Thousand World—it’s hard to say how long it will take. As for this Demon Empire, what are you so worried about? No calamities will befall it for at least ten thousand years. You should have more confidence in yourself. You and I together are an immense deterrent.” Xu You’s tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction toward the end.

Zhang Buku always had a way of getting on his nerves.

Xu You had seen many Demon Emperors and Demon Monarchs from other Great Thousand Worlds. He had even witnessed those who stood at the pinnacle of demonic fate itself. Compared to them, Zhang Buku was still lacking.