As the Blood Prison Saint reveled in his fantasies of grandeur, the door to Ji Xiaoyu's chamber opened suddenly.
Dressed in a flowing black robe, Ji Xiaoyu stepped out with an air of quiet composure. Her sharp gaze fell directly on the approaching Samsara Dao Emperor, revealing a flicker of uncertainty in her otherwise calm demeanor.
The Samsara Dao Emperor, now standing within the valley, met Ji Xiaoyu's gaze without a hint of emotion. His piercing eyes seemed to carry the weight of countless aeons, sending an unspoken pressure rippling through the air.
At this moment, the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor appeared beside Ji Xiaoyu, his aura brimming with vigilance. His expression darkened as he locked eyes with the Samsara Dao Emperor.
"Who are you?" the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor demanded in a low, cautious tone, his wariness apparent. Despite his formidable cultivation at the Divine Thought True Immortal Realm, he couldn't discern even a trace of the Samsara Dao Emperor's cultivation level, which deeply unsettled him. The aura he exuded was strikingly reminiscent of Gu An's own unfathomable power.
The Samsara Dao Emperor responded with a faint smile, speaking with an air of authority. "Samsara Dao Emperor. Surely you recall me?"
Ignoring the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor entirely, his words were directed at Ji Xiaoyu, as though dismissing the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor as irrelevant.
Ji Xiaoyu's expression shifted drastically upon hearing the title. Her disbelief was evident as she struggled to keep her composure. Her entire body trembled as she worked to steady her breath and reign in her surging emotions.
The Blood Prison Saint observed her reaction with keen interest, noting her uncharacteristic loss of composure. In all his years following Ji Xiaoyu, he had never seen her appear so shaken.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Ji Xiaoyu bowed deeply and addressed the Samsara Dao Emperor with solemnity. "Junior greets the Annihilation God Emperor. May I inquire as to the reason for your esteemed presence in this small world?"
"Annihilation God Emperor?" the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor murmured, startled as the realization hit him. He instantly lowered himself to one knee, bowing deeply with his head lowered, his arrogant demeanor replaced with profound reverence.
The Blood Prison Saint's interest only deepened. If this figure was indeed the Samsara Dao Emperor, then the chances of his grand future, as prophesied by this being earlier, might actually come to fruition.
The Samsara Dao Emperor's gaze remained fixed on Ji Xiaoyu, his voice calm yet commanding. "I have come to seek out one individual—a descendant of the ancient Dragon Clan."
"Descendant of the Dragon Clan?" Ji Xiaoyu asked, her voice laced with astonishment.
"Yes," the Samsara Dao Emperor replied, his tone firm. "A survivor of the Dragon Clan's legacy, carrying their ancient bloodline. You should be familiar with the dangers their presence entails. Their hatred, should it awaken, would birth a calamity far beyond what any of us can imagine."
"This calamity would transcend the bounds of a single domain, threatening the stability of the entire universe."
Ji Xiaoyu lowered her gaze in contemplation, her voice measured as she responded. "If there is truly such a survivor, then I know nothing of their existence. Additionally, my current state of tribulation allows me only fragmented memories, without the clarity of my full self."
The Samsara Dao Emperor's gaze swept across the Third Medicine Valley, lingering momentarily on Gu An, who lay beneath a Mysterious Clear Tree with a leaf shielding his eyes, seemingly asleep.
For a brief moment, his gaze softened.
Ji Xiaoyu followed the Samsara Dao Emperor's line of sight, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes landed on Gu An. However, the Samsara Dao Emperor's gaze soon shifted, once again scanning the valley.
The tension lingered in the air, the silence unbroken as everyone awaited his next words. Even the usually composed Sun and Moon Nether Emperor dared not speak.
The moment stretched on, yet the Samsara Dao Emperor offered no further clarification.
The Annihilation God Emperor turned to Ji Xiaoya and said, "This world indeed lacks his aura or karmic ties, but I will draw him out. When you finish this lifetime, come assist me—I won't let you down."
With that, the Annihilation God Emperor reverted to his original form. His black robes billowed ominously, and the scales on his armor gleamed coldly, while the darkness beneath his helmet made the Blood Prison Saint's bull-like eyes widen in shock.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor instinctively glanced over, equally shaken by the sheer majesty of the Annihilation God Emperor's true appearance.
Without warning, the Annihilation God Emperor vanished from the spot.
In the distance, Shen Xin Zi, though unable to hear their conversation, caught a glimpse of the Annihilation God Emperor's true form. Startled, he unconsciously stood up.
He wasn't alone. Some curious disciples who had been lingering also witnessed the transformation, though the Annihilation God Emperor's sudden disappearance left them wondering if it had all been an illusion.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor stood up and took a step forward, lowering his voice as he asked, "Could he be the legendary figure from the Desolation Domain?"
Ji Xiaoya looked up at the sky and replied softly, "Yes, that's him."
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor's expression turned dazed. Struggling to process what he had just seen, he asked, "Wasn't he just a myth? Could he truly exist? Your Majesty, what is your connection to him?"
Ji Xiaoya explained, "I once inherited his legacy and communicated with his soul fragment. In that sense, he could be considered one of my masters. However, this was my first time seeing him in person. What we just encountered was likely just one of his avatars."
"An avatar?" The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor was stunned.
"Yes," Ji Xiaoya confirmed, her tone tinged with awe. "An avatar. He has countless avatars spread across different worlds, all in search of his Dao."
Her gaze grew distant, as though yearning for something beyond her reach.
The Sun and Moon Nether Emperor remained silent, overwhelmed by the revelation.
The Blood Prison Saint, however, scoffed inwardly. For all his supposed greatness, why didn't he dare to confront the master of the valley—Gu An?
To the Blood Prison Saint, the Annihilation God Emperor's avoidance of Gu An was a clear sign of fear.
Time passed.
As dusk approached, Gu An sat up and stretched, feeling fully rested.
He had even had a dream where he experienced a cycle of lifespan reincarnation, though the memories from it didn't feel as vivid as those left by the real thing.
This gave him the urge to initiate another round of lifespan reincarnation.
Rising to his feet, he began heading toward his pavilion. Along the way, he noticed the White Spirit Mouse staring at him with an expression of grievance.
He observed that one of its legs was twitching slightly, a clear sign of injury.
It must've gotten into trouble with Long Qing, Gu An thought with amusement.
"Good thing I enhanced their Return to Origin Dao after breaking through," Gu An mused, a smirk playing on his lips. Better to be cautious than regretful!
When he reached his pavilion, Ji Xiaoya emerged from within.
"We need to talk upstairs," she said softly as she approached him.
Without waiting for a response, she ascended the stairs, and Gu An followed.
Once inside, Ji Xiaoya began casting spells to set up barriers around the room, even going so far as to employ the power of innate Dao runes to ensure no one could eavesdrop.
"Is it that serious?" Gu An asked, feigning surprise.
Ji Xiaoya stared at him, her expression complicated.
Gu An touched his face and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Have you already awakened memories of your past life? Or perhaps you never underwent the tribulation of reincarnation? Who exactly are you?" Ji Xiaoya asked in a low voice.
Gu An chuckled and replied, "Who do you think I am?"
Ji Xiaoya's gaze remained fixed on him. "You've taken in orphans and given them the surname Long. Is your real surname Long as well?"
Suspect I'm Long Qing? Gu An thought, barely suppressing a laugh.
Wrong guess. I'm actually the ancestor of the Long Clan!
Shaking his head, Gu An replied, "That's impossible. My surname is Gu. I gave Long Qing the surname Long because of the dragon on his back. Didn't you already know that?"
Ji Xiaoya responded, "I've always known, but I've also always had my doubts. Whether you admit it or not doesn't matter. Just don't ever confirm it in the future, because a powerful being who seeks to hunt you has arrived. That existence is a figure from the ancient legends of the Desolation Domain, whose presence predates even the Heavenly Spirit World itself. He is convinced you're hiding here and will stop at nothing to find you."
Gu An sighed helplessly and said, "I really am not who you think I am. But I am curious about the existence you mentioned. Is he truly that powerful?"