Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses

"Escape quickly?"

When Yang Immortal Emperor heard An Hao's words, he couldn't help but frown and asked, "Why escape? And to where?"

An Hao was about to speak when suddenly, from within the Celestial Dao Golden Core, fierce golden flames erupted, rapidly burrowing into An Hao's brow.

In an instant, An Hao's eyes widened. He then raised his hand, grabbing his head. He tilted his head back, and a golden, thread-like line appeared on his brow, resembling the slit of an eye.

Yang Immortal Emperor was horrified and instinctively turned to look at the Celestial Dao Golden Core.

The Celestial Dao Golden Core stood motionless in front of him, radiating an ancient aura as if it were the oldest existence in the world. It had witnessed changing seas into mulberry fields and the shifting of constellations. Endless experiences had shaped its now unfathomable presence.

An Hao knelt on the ground, his body trembling and his face contorted in obvious, unimaginable pain.

Yang Immortal Emperor flashed to his side, intending to help him but was repelled by a powerful force.

He was thrown hundreds of yards away, stumbling several steps upon landing. He looked at his right hand to see it badly burnt and bleeding profusely.

He looked up at An Hao, his brows furrowed deeply.

An Hao kneeled, face downward, as wisps of aura leaked from between his fingers. His body shook, unable to make any sound.

"Could he really be the Chosen One?"

Yang Immortal Emperor murmured to himself, his eyes filled with complexity.

He had chosen An Hao due to An Hao's special Destiny Pattern, but there was another reason. He wanted to bind him with Supporting Dao Sword Venerable.

An Hao was, after all, the only openly acknowledged True Disciple of Supporting Dao Sword Venerable.

But never had he imagined that upon An Hao's arrival, without having yet done anything, he would receive the recognition of the Celestial Dao Golden Core. Throughout the ancient and modern times of the Immortal Dynasty, he had never heard of such an event.

"An Hao, just who are you indeed?"

An Hao couldn't hear Yang Immortal Emperor's words. At that moment, he was in a realm of pain unimaginable to ordinary people, enduring not only intense physical agony as if his body was tearing apart but also immense destruction to his soul.

He saw many scenes, all of which were his greatest fears.

He saw his wife and children brutally killed, his junior sister suffering terribly, even his master's tombstone–all these things tormenting him.

"If you do not escape, you will end up just like them."

A cold, indifferent voice echoed persistently in his ears, provoking his spirits.

...

Thirty-seven years later, just after the New Year.

Gu An walked within Outer Sect City, with Blood Prison Great Saint and Long Qing following behind him.

Three hundred years ago, Shen Xinzi returned to the Buddhist Sect of the Sea of Suffering, and since then, Long Qing had completely become Gu An's follower. Wherever Gu An went, as long as he saw him, he would eagerly follow.

Along the way, wherever Gu An went, people greeted him, mostly his close friends or graduated disciples.

Over four hundred years had passed, the impact brought by Supporting Dao Sword Venerable had eventually calmed down. Under the suppression of the Dark Hall of Supreme Sect, people aware of Gu An's identity no longer spoke carelessly, and Supporting Dao Sword Venerable once again became a legend.

Even without the title of Supporting Dao Sword Venerable, as the Valley Master of Third Medicine Valley, Gu An still held great renown.

"Master, is there really a legacy with the Heaven-Splitting Axe? Or did you leave it there as a mere prank?" Long Qing quickened his pace to walk beside Gu An, curiously asking.

He would occasionally visit the Heaven-Repairing Platform to try to pull out the Heaven-Splitting Axe, but unfortunately, he could never budge it.

Nowadays, those who try the Heaven-Splitting Axe generally want to experience the power of Supporting Dao Sword Venerable, not to actually acquire the legacy.

Gu An looked ahead and responded, "There certainly is, you will feel it eventually."

Long Qing was about to ask more when he suddenly looked up.

Not just him, Blood Prison Great Saint did the same.

Above in the cerulean Celestial Vault, numerous silver meteors appeared, countless, all moving in the same direction, creating a magnificent scene.

The cultivators passing through the streets also started noticing the anomaly in the sky.

"What is that?"

"Is it Sword Qi?"

"Not right, there's someone inside, might be someone from a Major Sect passing overhead."

"People? This doesn't seem like they flew over our heads, more like they descended from the sky."

"Don't worry, this place is the Supreme Sect. Maybe the Supreme Sect isn't the strongest, but it certainly is the safest. In these years, the Holy Court and Immortal Dynasty have been fighting each other relentlessly, both attacking and defending, yet the flames of war have never reached the Supreme Sect."

The cultivators were chattering, Gu An glanced then withdrew his gaze and continued forward.

Blood Prison Great Saint and Long Qing caught up, and they began discussing the origins of those meteors.

Blood Prison Great Saint's Divine Sense captured that those meteors were indeed a group of people enveloped in Sword Qi and moreover, from Outer Heaven, which piqued Long Qing's curiosity about Outer Heaven.

Although Long Qing still hadn't cultivated Spiritual Power, with age, he could feel that he originated from Outer Heaven and that some mission awaited him.

He was no longer as anxious, but began to enjoy life, having a premonition that once he knew his mission, such life would be his luxury for the rest of his days.

Gu An saw through the origin of that group of Sword Cultivators with one look.

Great Hong Sword Heaven!

Summoned by Jue Luo Sword Monarch.

Great Hong Sword Heaven was ready to establish a Sect in the seas near the Tai Cang Continent and support Gu An at any time.

Gu An didn't care much about it, he was more concerned about another thing.

That was, Xiaochuan's Dao Destruction Destiny Seal had appeared!

Meaning, Xiaochuan was soon to be born in the Celestial Spirit Great World!

After many years, Gu An finally awaited Xiaochuan.

The thought of soon reuniting with his junior made Gu An very happy, he even started humming a tune.

Seeing his good mood, Long Qing boldly inquired about the origins of the Sword Cultivators they had just seen.

"There will be many opportunities to interact in the future."

Gu An casually answered, now even more so like an enlightened person, knowing everything but unwilling to say, letting others experience for themselves.

Not to mention, this feeling of foreseeing the future and witnessing fate was pretty good.

At the same time.

Among the mountains, a wooden house was situated halfway up the slope, and a couple stood in front of a cliff, gazing at the green mountains and blue waters.

The woman held a baby in her arms, looking down at her son with worry visibly covering her beautiful face.

She turned to her husband next to her and said, "Husband, you haven't named our child yet, you don't want to go back, do you?"

Her husband, dressed in black with slightly grayed temples beside his handsome face, looked mature yet had a sense of vicissitude.

"It's precisely because he was born that I must go back—Ling'er, you should understand. If we don't return, our family of three will never have peace. Those enemies will not let me go," the man in black said gravely.

His name was Chen Luo, and his wife's name was Xu Ling. As they spoke, they moved closer to each other.

Xu Ling rested her head on his shoulder, confusedly asking, "Is there truly no place for us within the Sacred Domain? What if we leave the Sacred Domain?"

Chen Luo sighed, "It's more chaotic and dangerous outside. Without a support, even with our Mahayana realm Cultivation Levels, it's enormously difficult to protect our son. Let's go back. At worst, I will kneel and apologize to my mother. You have given birth to a child for me; she surely won't make things difficult for you."

"But…" Xu Ling hesitated.

Chen Luo turned around, grabbed her shoulders, and said, "Ling'er, trust me, I would rather die than not protect you and our son. I can't stand to see you hurt, nor do I want our son to be born with resentments."

The baby in Xu Ling's arms opened his eyes—his bright eyes nearly melted her heart.

"Yes, we can't let him bear any resentments…" Xu Ling murmured to herself as if convincing herself.

Chen Luo showed a smile, saying, "When I first saw this little guy, I felt he would bring good fortune. Don't worry, I heard my father just returned from the Saint Minister's side. With him presiding over the family, my mother certainly won't dare to act rashly."

Xu Ling took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

Seeing her agree, Chen Luo finally breathed a sigh of relief, then embraced his wife tightly.

"I swear, I will ensure you live a peaceful life, and I will also help you avenge the destruction of your family," Chen Luo said seriously as he stared at the horizon.

Xu Ling trembled slightly without responding, but slowly closed her eyes.

Across the mountains, cranes flew out from the forest, flapping their wings towards the horizon, forming a V-shape. The sunlight fell on them, and they seemed like celestial cranes, as if carrying hope flying towards the ends of the earth and sea.