Looking at the strange condition of the thin man, Xuanmiao Zhenren furrowed his brows even tighter and immediately became alert.
Although the thin man's cultivation was not enough to threaten him, hearing the thin man's curse, Xuanmiao Zhenren felt a cold chill run down his spine.
The thin man, now transformed into a blood-like figure, had a hideous expression. His eyes, filled with hatred, stared at Xuanmiao Zhenren.
Soon, the thin man turned into a pool of blood, which quickly morphed into foul air, leaving behind only a shallow pit.
Xuanmiao Zhenren stared at the pit, his brows furrowed in confusion, a deep unease rising in his heart.
He felt a deep sense of wariness towards Tai Yi Immortal Lord, finding him even more terrifying than Xuan Su Immortal Lord.
Xuan Su Immortal Lord only deceived the masses, but Tai Yi Immortal Lord was someone who demanded absolute submission. Even his followers faced such ruthless treatment.
"Could it be that what the Mountain God said is true? Immortals and gods have no obligation to do good for mortals? Shouldn't mortal beings look at immortals from their own perspective of goodness?"
Xuanmiao Zhenren thought, his mind racing as he recalled the thin man's monstrous appearance, a cold shiver ran through him.
How could a Mahayana Realm cultivator dare to curse him, a Heavenly Immortal?
Just thinking about that mysterious Tai Yi Immortal Lord made him uneasy.
He could only divert his attention back to the herbs in the garden, trying to shake off the unease.
The battle in the distance continued for days. In the end, the Congenital Human Race's evil spirits were driven out, and the Tai Cang Dynasty once again defended its land.
For tens of thousands of years, without Gu An's protection, the Tai Cang Dynasty always managed to turn calamity into fortune, growing deeper in its foundations.
Although the hardships of the Tai Cang Dynasty had passed, Xuanmiao Zhenren's suffering only intensified.
Since being cursed, his cultivation had become increasingly restless, especially at night. His spiritual energy would surge uncontrollably, and he would see many illusions—visions of his family dying in horrifying ways.
He had his own family and loved ones. The royal family of the Tai Cang Dynasty, the Li Family, was of the same lineage as him. He even saw visions of Li Xuandao dying and the Tai Cang Dynasty descending into chaos, which only deepened his fear.
He could only wait for the Mountain God to arrive.
Over the years, he had seen the Mountain God two or three times every month, and that was his source of confidence.
He firmly believed that the Mountain God was stronger than the so-called Tai Yi Immortal Lord.
On the seventh day after the curse, Gu An finally arrived.
Gu An still appeared as the masked figure. Over the years, he had often guided Xuanmiao Zhenren in his cultivation. Although Xuanmiao Zhenren had already guessed that he was Fu Dao Sword Master, he still liked to appear to him in this form.
When Xuanmiao Zhenren saw the Mountain God leap down from the eaves, he immediately stood up, full of excitement, and said, "Senior Mountain God, I have been cursed!"
Gu An casually replied, "No need to rush. Let me pick some herbs first."
Upon hearing this, Xuanmiao Zhenren immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The Mountain God could certainly see through his condition. The fact that he wasn't rushing meant that the Mountain God didn't think the matter was difficult to resolve.
Half an hour later, after Xuanmiao Zhenren finished sowing the seeds, he approached Gu An.
Before he could speak, Gu An waved his sleeve, and a breeze blew towards him. After the wind passed, Xuanmiao Zhenren felt a refreshing sensation, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
It was strange. The sense of repression he had been feeling these days suddenly vanished.
Without hesitation, Xuanmiao Zhenren knelt down, deeply thanking Gu An for saving him.
"No need for such formalities. You were targeted by others because you have served me for so many years. Actually, you could have left. There's no need to stay here. I am not the immortal or god you imagine. Staying here, you might face more troubles in the future."
Gu An stared at Xuanmiao Zhenren, speaking softly. Now that he had shrunk in size, he had to look up at the kneeling Xuanmiao Zhenren.
Xuanmiao Zhenren looked at him and said seriously, "I know I was narrow-minded in the past. I am willing to serve you forever. You teach me cultivation, and I can help those suffering along the way. This life is very fulfilling for me now."
He spoke from the heart. He felt that without Gu An's guidance, he wouldn't have reached his current realm or even lived for so many years.
Following Gu An, he saw the hope for eternal life.
He no longer hoped for Gu An to become the immortal or god he envisioned because Gu An could bestow the power to fulfill his ideals.
Indeed, immortals and gods had no obligation to help mortal beings, but Gu An could. The reason was simple: he wanted to help.
Gu An leaped up, stepping on his head as he jumped onto the eaves, his back turned to him as he spoke, "Think carefully about the feeling of being cursed; perhaps this is an opportunity."
Xuanmiao Zhenren was momentarily stunned. Before he could respond, Gu An suddenly vanished into thin air.
He didn't ask whether the curse was completely removed. He sat down on the spot, closed his eyes, and began to recall the feelings of the past few days.
Gu An did not leave Tai Cang Continent, but instead arrived inside the palace of the Tai Cang Dynasty.
Li Xuandao was in the imperial study, cultivating. The study had been renovated, now a spacious room with a spiritual pool, allowing him to cultivate while reading imperial edicts.
A sound of footsteps reached Li Xuandao's ears. He opened his eyes and saw the visitor, a smile immediately appearing on his face. He stood up, his dragon robe rising with a spray of water, which quickly evaporated.
"You've arrived! Today, we must drink well."
Li Xuandao said to Gu An, his tone full of warmth.
Since tens of thousands of years ago, when Gu An sent Yang Jian to support Li Xuandao, they had formed a deeper bond. Every few decades, Gu An would visit Li Xuandao for drinks.
He no longer offered any substantial help, only engaging in casual conversations with Li Xuandao.
Li Xuandao did not expect much. In fact, just being able to see Gu An made him feel confident.
Whenever he thought of Gu An, he felt invincible, as though nothing in the world could scare him.
Gu An smiled and nodded. After a while, a group of palace maids entered, carrying wine and dishes, which they laid on the long table. They curiously stole glances at Gu An. It was the first time they had seen the emperor entertain someone in the imperial study, and this person was quite young.
While the maids were arranging the food, Li Xuandao began talking about Long Teng's recent developments.
He had put all his efforts into cultivating Long Teng, making him one of the most famous prodigies in the world. Now, Long Teng was the greatest pride of the Tai Xuan Dynasty.
He had his own suspicions. He guessed that Long Teng was Gu An's descendant because the divine manifestation summoned by Long Qing had resembled Gu An's too much.
Even if he was wrong, Long Teng was at least Gu An's disciple.
Although Gu An understood his thoughts, he didn't mind.
No matter the intention behind it, as long as the outcome was good and the process was pleasant, he was willing to accept it.
Moreover, he had a good opinion of Long Teng, feeling that this young man was better than Long Qing—his righteousness and integrity were even more outstanding than those of his other disciples.
When the maids left, Gu An spoke up, "Another immortal will appear in this world."
Upon hearing this, Li Xuandao's smile faded, and his brow furrowed.
Tens of thousands of years ago, he had actively told Gu An about recruiting followers of Xuan Su Immortal Lord. This showed how much he trusted Gu An.
The followers of Xuan Su Immortal Lord had given him great help, so he had not suppressed them. He had kept his promise by setting up many statues of Xuan Su Immortal Lord in the imperial court, but he had always been wary of him.
Now, another immortal had appeared, and he suddenly felt that the current calamities in the world were not as simple as they seemed.
Could the appearance of the Congenital Human Race not be a coincidence?
Gu An told him about Xuanmiao Zhenren's curse. Xuanmiao Zhenren and Li Xuandao were of the same bloodline, and over the long years, Li Xuandao had visited Xuanmiao Zhenren many times.
Upon hearing that Xuanmiao Zhenren had been cursed, Li Xuandao's expression darkened.
Gu An shared these events not because he wanted Li Xuandao to do something, but simply because he considered him a friend and wished to share the strange occurrences he had encountered.
Gu An was not afraid of Tai Yi Immortal Lord discovering this. He could alter Li Xuandao's fate, making him remember these things, but no one else would be able to trace them back to him.