Chapter 646: Reunion with Old Acquaintances

The mountain ranges stretched endlessly, their peaks resembling the spines of dragons pressed together. On one of these ridges, Gu An stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing into the distance, while An Xin sat cross-legged beside him, immersed in meditation.

"Has it already begun?"

Gu An's thoughts drifted as he looked ahead.

It had been seven thousand years since he gifted Jiang Qiong the formation scroll.

Over the course of these seven thousand years, the mysterious and eerie force had inevitably seeped into the myriad worlds. However, rather than entering through realm gates, it infiltrated directly into the world's Dao principles, making it an unstoppable invasion. Tracking its exact path was nearly impossible—even the Heavenly Spirits were powerless to stop it.

On the continent where Gu An resided, he observed a bloodline descendant of the Long family—Long Lin. One of Long Lin’s closest friends had already been tainted by the eerie force. Over time, this friend would grow increasingly jealous and violent, bringing countless troubles into Long Lin’s life.

Gu An had no intention of intervening. Long Lin was too distant from him, practically a stranger. If he had to protect every descendant of the Long family, it would be far too exhausting. The Long family’s bloodline had already surpassed the hundreds of millions, with many having changed their names and assimilated into various lineages.

As for the young man named Yang Nian, though his path had been altered, he was not yet a direct threat to Long Lin’s life.

Even without the corruption of this eerie force, tales of brothers and friends turning against each other out of jealousy were not uncommon in the mortal world.

“Master, has another disaster descended upon the mortal realm?”

An Xin's voice broke the silence. Gu An turned his head and saw her open her eyes, her brows furrowed with concern.

Gu An asked, “What did you see?”

“My Immortal Emperor’s Eyes sensed an exceptionally sinister power. Moreover, my Future Self has warned me that an unprecedented catastrophe is approaching the mortal world, and this disaster will spread across countless great worlds.”

An Xin’s tone was filled with unease. Though her Future Self was a projection based on karmic evolution and not guaranteed to be absolute, it still reflected the overarching direction of future events.

Gu An nodded slightly, satisfied with An Xin’s progress in cultivation.

Her Immortal Emperor’s Eyes not only allowed her to devour and refine external powers for her own use, but also granted her the ability to borrow strength from both her past and future selves. This was somewhat similar to the Heavenly Dragon Reincarnation Technique, except her Future Self was a manifestation of karma. The moment it appeared, the corresponding future timeline would collapse, making the process deeply intertwined with the laws of causality. However, through summoning her Future Self, she could obtain insights into the greater movements of the world to come.

Beyond that, the Immortal Emperor’s Eyes possessed a natural suppressive force.

During her sparring session with Tian Hao, she had trapped him in an illusory realm, utterly shattering his Dao heart.

Once someone entered the illusion of her Immortal Emperor’s Eyes, their perception of reality became completely distorted, making them believe that all they experienced within the illusion was real.

This divine ability held an innate power that would continuously strengthen An Xin.

Even if she did not ultimately attain the rank of Dao Monarch, the Immortal Emperor’s Eyes alone would allow her to challenge Dao Monarchs on equal footing.

"You're right. In the coming era, the myriad great worlds will face calamity. However, given the vast scope of this disaster, even stronger beings will inevitably step in to suppress it. There’s no need for you to worry too much." Gu An reassured her.

As he spoke of Dao Monarchs, his thoughts drifted to the Path of the Grand Dao.

More old acquaintances had now embarked on the path of pursuing the Dao Monarch's throne.

Ji Xiaoyu, Zhang Buku, Tian Hao, Zhu Xi…

The Path of the Grand Dao was far vaster than any of the great worlds. With countless cultivators vying for supremacy, it was difficult for these individuals to encounter each other.

However, Ji Xiaoyu had already crossed paths with Xiao Lan—an encounter orchestrated by Yuan Songzi’s careful arrangements.

Yuan Songzi aimed to unite the forces of Heavenly Spirit Great World, fostering mutual cooperation.

Gu An continued to observe Ji Xiaoyu and Xiao Lan, while simultaneously imparting his insights to An Xin, guiding her deeper into the comprehension of the Dao.

An Xin was unaware that Gu An's attention had shifted elsewhere. She quickly immersed herself in her insights, forgetting the outside world.

...

In the dim void of space, a desolate asteroid drifted in the cosmos, suspended in silence. On its barren surface stood an ancient monastery.

Inside a grand hall, cultivators of Dao Court sat cross-legged before a towering Buddha statue, lost in meditation.

Xiao Lan gazed at the statue in quiet contemplation.

“This Buddha comes from Spirit Mountain. The former master of this monastery was a devoted follower of Spirit Mountain. To Buddhist cultivators, Spirit Mountain is the highest sacred land.”

A voice interrupted her thoughts.

Xiao Lan turned her head and immediately stood up to bow in respect.

A woman with exquisite features and an imposing presence, Ji Xiaoyu, approached her.

At present, Ji Xiaoyu primarily traveled under the title of Samasar Dao Emperor. Though her cultivation might not yet surpass that of Yuan Songzi, the latter still addressed her as a Dao friend, showing her great courtesy. This also made her highly respected among the geniuses of Dao Court.

“Senior, is Spirit Mountain truly so formidable? Where is it located?” Xiao Lan asked with curiosity.

Ever since meeting the Samasar Dao Emperor, she had received much guidance and kindness from her, which naturally fostered a sense of admiration.

Ji Xiaoyu turned her gaze back to the towering Buddha statue and replied, “Spirit Mountain is elusive and mysterious. I have only heard of it, but I am certain that it exists beyond the great worlds. The power of the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain is far beyond our comprehension.”

"That is indeed true. Spirit Mountain is extraordinary. In the great world where I was born, there once existed a Buddhist disciple from Spirit Mountain. With his strength alone, he saved countless beings, suppressing extraterrestrial demons. Even after his departure, many legends about him still circulate among mortals."

A voice joined the conversation as Yuan Songzi approached with a smile, stroking his beard as he spoke. His gaze toward the Buddha statue was filled with reverence and nostalgia.

Xiao Lan was captivated by his words.

This monastery, though abandoned, had still protected them during their stay. And yet, it was merely built by a single follower of Spirit Mountain. Then, how powerful must the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain be?

After many years on the Path of the Grand Dao, Xiao Lan’s knowledge and vision had expanded greatly. Yet, she continued to encounter things that astonished her.

Yuan Songzi shifted his gaze toward Ji Xiaoyu and asked, "Have you chosen your next opponent?"

The forces on the Path of the Grand Dao were as numerous as the stars in the sky. Many factions, like Dao Court, existed solely to nurture a future Dao Monarch. Thus, they often coordinated duels, setting a time and place for battles, where life and death were left to fate, without fostering grudges between their factions.

Both Ji Xiaoyu and Xiao Lan were contenders for the Dao Monarch’s throne, but Ji Xiaoyu’s cultivation was higher, placing her ahead on the path. Dao Court was currently supporting her, using her battles to gather experience, so that Xiao Lan’s own journey would be smoother.

“Hmm. A prodigy from Qianxia Great World. Their cultivation is nearly on par with mine,” Ji Xiaoyu replied calmly.

Yuan Songzi was about to continue the discussion when, suddenly, the entire grand hall began to tremble.

A vast and boundless pressure surged from outside the monastery, rousing the meditating Dao Court cultivators. They all stood up at once, alert and tense.

Yuan Songzi furrowed his brows and extended his divine sense into the void of the Grand Dao.

He saw two figures locked in battle in the depths of space, clashing like two radiant suns, shaking the very laws of the Grand Dao. The immense pressure caused the asteroid they stood on to tremble violently.

“That is…”

Yuan Songzi’s expression darkened as if he recognized one of them.

The cultivators of Dao Court grew even more uneasy. Yuan Songzi had remained calm even when facing celestial beings, yet now his expression had changed.

Could it be that an existence more terrifying than celestial beings had appeared?