At 70,000 years old, achieving the Free Immortal realm through sheer meditation—remarkable!
Gu An grew even more eager for Yang Xian's future. Based on past experiences, surpassing the Free Immortal realm often signaled the arrival of a tribulation of death. Whether Yang Xian could overcome it remained uncertain.
After reaching the Free Immortal realm, Yang Xian returned to the Great Hong World. Along the way, he met several cultivators from the Great Hong World who shared the current state of affairs. For the past ten thousand years, Great Hong Heavenly Dao had been executing bloodbaths across one region every millennium. With the Great Hong World comprising fewer than a hundred regions, this terror spread fear among cultivators, prompting many to leave for the Outer World to establish sanctuaries.
Parting ways with those cultivators, Yang Xian ventured alone into the Great Hong World. His first destination was his birthplace, the Purple Micro Immortal Mansion. What he found was desolation—Great Hong Heavenly Dao had annihilated the region, leaving Purple Micro Immortal Mansion in ruins. Only a few crumbled walls remained of his once-vibrant homeland.
The hatred of the people, combined with the loss of his own family, stirred even Gu An's emotions. He couldn't help but worry: would Yang Xian go on a killing spree against Great Hong Heavenly Dao? Though Great Hong Heavenly Dao harbored beings surpassing the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao, Yang Xian had the ability to manipulate lifespan evolution—though he rarely relied on it.
The following year, Yang Xian visited the former site of Blood Deer City, where he sought traces of Fang Meng's remains. To his dismay, Blood Deer City had disappeared entirely, leaving no evidence of its existence. It was as if the memories of those days had been conjured from nothing.
At this moment, Yang Xian made his decision—to draw his sword against Great Hong Heavenly Dao!
Two years later, Yang Xian descended upon the Hong Tian Realm, the central domain of Great Hong Heavenly Dao. His goal was to sever their luck, dismantle their foundations, and bring their reign to an end. In doing so, he faced relentless assaults from Great Hong Heavenly Dao's forces.
During these battles, Yang Xian's swordsmanship advanced by leaps and bounds. Gu An speculated that he might have resorted to lifespan evolution.
Great Hong Heavenly Dao's Free Immortals soon took notice, and ten of them joined forces to confront Yang Xian. Yet, Yang Xian held his ground, wielding all of creation as his sword. His power shook the ancient and the present, as he summoned the force of the River of Sword Dao.
The River of Sword Dao, akin to the Rivers of Fate and Time, was a manifestation of the Great Dao, imperceptible to ordinary beings. It was the pure condensation of swordsmanship itself.
With the blessing of the River of Sword Dao, Yang Xian obliterated the physical forms of all ten Free Immortals, forcing their souls to scatter in retreat.
Just as Yang Xian prepared to destroy Great Hong Heavenly Dao's Dao Foundation, their ancestor descended—a being who had surpassed the Free Immortal realm. Against such overwhelming power, Yang Xian could barely hold his own.
As he teetered on the brink of defeat, Myriad Sword Immortal Ancestor, arrived to aid him. Tragically, Myriad Sword Immortal Ancestor fell in the battle, sacrificing himself to protect his disciple.
Fury consumed Yang Xian. His sword heart resonated with the heavens, causing the world to tremble.
The notifications vividly depicted the dire circumstances of the moment. Free Immortals clashed with Dao Repository Free Immortals. Without the protection of the River of Sword Dao, even Yang Xian's incredible strength would not have sufficed.
But this time was different. Yang Xian had an unexpected ally. After countless millennia apart, Yang Ping'an returned to his master's side. Now a Free Immortal himself, Yang Ping'an joined forces with Yang Xian. Their swordsmanship merged as one, wounding the Great Hong Heavenly Dao ancestor and forcing him to retreat beyond the heavens.
Together, Yang Xian and Yang Ping'an destroyed the Dao Foundation of Great Hong Heavenly Dao. The Heavenly Dao recognized their efforts, bestowing upon them a grand tide of karmic virtue. Their cultivation levels surged, and both ascended to the realm of Dao Repository Free Immortals.
Two Dao Repository Free Immortals, both under 100,000 years old, and master and disciple at that!
Gu An sighed deeply. If not for accepting Yang Ping'an as a disciple all those years ago, Yang Xian might have perished at the hands of Great Hong Heavenly Dao.
With the collapse of Great Hong Heavenly Dao's luck, its followers scattered. The news swept through the world, cementing the legend of the Sword Saint and the Sword God. They became immortalized in the history of the Great Hong World.
Afterward, Yang Xian chose to leave the Great Hong World. Yang Ping'an, however, declared his intent to establish a new order. He vowed to personally protect all living beings. Yang Xian gave his disciple a long, meaningful look before departing alone into the vastness of the Outer Cosmos.
In a shattered realm beyond the stars, Yang Xian entered seclusion to comprehend the mysteries of the Dao. His battle with Great Hong Heavenly Dao had provided him with immense insight.
Gu An witnessed notifications detailing his understanding of the Dao of Karma, the Dao of Fate, the Dao of Luck, and the Dao of Creation.
[At the age of 103,004, a mysterious figure intruded upon your domain. He introduced himself as the Black Xuan Emperor and challenged you to a duel. Do you choose to accept?]
Hmm? The Black Xuan Emperor?
Seeing those three words, Gu An immediately grew alert.
But he couldn't determine whether Yang Xian's current time period was in the past or the future, making it impossible to gauge the Black Xuan Emperor's cultivation level.
For now, better to decline.
"I'll deal with him myself someday!"
Gu An mused to himself as he made the decision.
[You chose to reject the Black Xuan Emperor's challenge. However, he attacked without warning. With a single counterstrike, you destroyed his physical body. The Black Xuan Emperor's soul emerged in shock, leaving behind a threatening remark before fleeing. His escape method was so profound that you couldn't track him, leaving you staring in contemplation at the direction he vanished.]
Huh?
Victory?
And with a single strike!
Gu An couldn't contain his delight. Yang Xian's strength had clearly surpassed that of Lu Han, Xiao Shengtian, and even Chu Lu.
Still, it was a pity the Black Xuan Emperor managed to escape.
Judging by the events of this lifetime, the Black Xuan Emperor was undoubtedly hunting Yang Xian's reincarnations.
But why?
What grudge could drive the Black Xuan Emperor to pursue Yang Xian's reincarnated forms across lifetimes?
Gu An couldn't figure it out but felt anticipation rising for Yang Xian's next encounter with the Black Xuan Emperor.
After withstanding the Black Xuan Emperor's ambush, Yang Xian spent a thousand years in seclusion, meditating on the mysteries of the Dao. Once ready, he ventured deeper into the cosmos, entering the Desolate Domain, a desolate realm filled with destruction and peril. There, he encountered a succession of powerful figures whose names alone evoked awe.
Despite his isolation, female cultivators—some at the Dao Fruit realm—sought to become his Dao Companion. As always, Gu An intervened, rejecting them on Yang Xian's behalf.
At the age of 300,000, Yang Xian achieved the Xuan Yuan Free Immortal realm. His chivalry and commitment to alleviating suffering made him a renowned figure across the universe, earning him a new title:
Sword Dao Patriarch!
[At 327,134 years old, you were teaching the younger generation of various sects the principles of the Sword Dao. Suddenly, the Black Xuan Emperor attacked again, attempting to obliterate your entire Dao Field. You summoned the stars as your blade, weaving the sword intent of a billion celestial bodies into a Sword Dao Heavenly Net to ensnare him. Though you struck him down, you received no notification of stealing his lifespan, deducing that the Black Xuan Emperor still lives.]
That wretch is really hard to kill!
Gu An gritted his teeth in frustration.
The notifications continued.
After 350,000 years, Yang Xian set out to explore the vastness of the universe.
Eventually, he arrived at the Realm Gate.
Gu An felt a surge of unease but found himself powerless to intervene.
[At 350,008 years old, you reached the Realm Gate. While immersing yourself in its profound Dao essence, a figure emerged from within and attacked without warning. The assailant obliterated your physical body in an instant. Clinging to your sword intent, your soul barely resisted the final blow. However, the figure struck again, extinguishing your soul entirely.]
[You died at the hands of the Heavenly Spirit God.]
[The Samsara has ended.]
Gu An's expression darkened.
He knew it would end like this!
The Black Xuan Emperor had been an insurmountable obstacle in Yang Xian's earlier life, and just as he overcame it, the Heavenly Spirit God appeared to end him.
Why couldn't Yang Xian suppress his curiosity?
If he had just avoided the Realm Gate, he wouldn't have died!
Gu An vanished from his chair and materialized within the cosmos, standing atop an asteroid. He activated a Lifespan Barrier, bracing himself as he absorbed Yang Xian's memories.
Living through Yang Xian's life was a profoundly stirring experience.
Yang Xian's refusal to rely on lifespan evolution throughout his existence left a deep impression on Gu An. Unlike others, Yang Xian never relied on shortcuts. There were no sudden bursts of power or miraculous improvements in a single moment—apart from the Heavenly Dao's reward of karmic virtue.
His restraint was astounding, killing fewer than a hundred sentient beings across his entire life.
Such unwavering willpower!
Fang Meng's death had left Yang Xian in profound grief, a sorrow Gu An could fully empathize with.
The destruction of the Purple Micro Immortal Mansion and the fall of Myriad Sword Immortal Ancestor left Gu An similarly distressed, but his resolve remained unshaken.
Gu An paid special attention to Yang Xian's battles with the Black Xuan Emperor. Each time, the latter remained shrouded in black mist, his true form hidden.
Though the Black Xuan Emperor was never Yang Xian's match in combat, he was extraordinarily cunning and resilient.
The Heavenly Spirit God, however, was an entirely different matter.
It was worth noting that in his final moments, Yang Xian left behind something. This ignited a spark of curiosity within Gu An.
Would he ever encounter those remnants?
They were coming.