Chapter 283: Reincarnation Dao Emperor

Chapter 283 Reincarnation Dao Emperor

Faced with Ji Xuanyu’s questioning gaze, Gu An naturally agreed.

The three of them then found an inn and sat down. Gu An chose a seat by the window on the second floor—he liked chatting in that spot while watching the bustling streets below.

Qie Wuxing glanced at Gu An and Ji Xuanyu, then picked up his teacup, staring into the tea’s surface. He spoke, “Though this is our first meeting, this young lady should have an innate Dao Sigil within her. That said, you and I could be considered old acquaintances. In one of your past lives, we were once friends.”

After saying this, he first looked at Gu An, then at Ji Xuanyu. He wasn’t sure about their relationship, so he chose his words carefully.

Gu An saw through his concerns and said, “Fellow Daoist, feel free to speak. She’s also quite curious about her past life.”

Ji Xuanyu nodded and asked, “How long ago was that?”

Qie Wuxing smiled wistfully and said, “Almost twenty thousand years.”

Twenty thousand years?

Both Gu An and Ji Xuanyu’s expressions changed. Gu An was only pretending to be surprised, but Ji Xuanyu was genuinely shocked—after all, even the Ji family’s recorded history didn’t stretch back twenty thousand years.

“Who exactly were you twenty thousand years ago? And why have you come to Taixuan Sect?” Ji Xuanyu asked warily.

Gu An could sense that Qie Wuxing had already placed a restriction around them, preventing others in the inn from overhearing their conversation.

Qie Wuxing replied, “To be frank, I came to Taixuan Sect specifically because of you. I could sense your reincarnation. In terms of seniority, I should call you ‘senior.’ If it weren’t for you back then, I wouldn’t even exist today.”

As he spoke of the past, his expression was full of emotion, his gaze drifting as if lost in distant memories.

Ji Xuanyu frowned. “Why was I reincarnated?”

Qie Wuxing said, “I only know that you underwent a great tribulation. You weren’t forced to reincarnate due to hatred or enmity, so you don’t need to worry about that. In this world, no one could truly harm you. In fact, I believe you were the strongest being I’ve ever encountered.”

This revelation genuinely surprised Gu An. After all, he had visited Divine Anomaly City, and Qie Wuxing had seen him fight. Yet, despite this, Qie Wuxing still thought Ji Xuanyu’s past self was stronger.

It seemed that back in the Seven Star Spirit Realm, the innate Dao Sigil hadn’t yet revealed its true power. Even so, it had already been enough for Ji Xuanyu to exact her revenge.

Qie Wuxing continued describing the strength of Ji Xuanyu’s past life.

That past self called herself the Reincarnation Dao Emperor. The two had only met once, but because of the Reincarnation Dao Emperor’s kindness, Qie Wuxing had always wanted to repay the favor. Only in recent years had he finally regained his freedom.

He did not reveal his true identity—after all, the title Divine Anomaly Wraith King was infamous across the world, and he was well aware of his own bad reputation.

From Qie Wuxing’s words, Ji Xuanyu only learned how powerful she had been in the past, but the mystery of her reincarnation remained unsolved.

She looked at Qie Wuxing and asked, “So why are you looking for me? I’m afraid I can’t help you with anything right now.”

She was extremely cautious. Precisely because she was powerless to help Qie Wuxing in her current state, she feared he might try to kill her to force her past self to awaken.

Gu An remained silent, merely listening. He mentally noted the name Reincarnation Dao Emperor, planning to investigate it next time he visited Seeker’s Island.

Twenty thousand years was an unfathomable time for mortals, but for grandmasters, it wasn’t that long. At the very least, the Roving Immortals and Celestial Ascension Realm cultivators of the world had all lived through the era before the Reincarnation Dao Emperor’s fall.

Qie Wuxing hesitated for a moment before speaking. “A catastrophe that will affect all living beings is about to erupt. When it comes, many oceans and continents—including this one—will be destroyed. I will also be caught up in it, unable to escape. The Reincarnation Dao Emperor had a divine ability that could set me free. Even if it means being reincarnated, I would willingly accept it.”

Gu An was surprised by this.

If what Qie Wuxing said was true, then the Lord of the Divine Anomaly Realm was likely to die. But why would those who opposed him seek to annihilate all living beings?

He had always felt that the emergence of the Divine Anomaly Realm was no coincidence. The Lord of the Divine Anomaly Realm clearly feared something—otherwise, with his strength, he could have crushed any invaders with ease.

“But I’m not the Reincarnation Dao Emperor…” Ji Xuanyu hesitated.

Qie Wuxing waved a hand dismissively. “You don’t need to worry. I’m not here to force you to help me right now. When the catastrophe arrives, no one will be able to protect themselves. At that time, you will surely awaken your true essence. As long as you remember me, that will be enough.”

Ji Xuanyu furrowed her brows even deeper.

Qie Wuxing turned to Gu An and said, “It’s best not to spread word of this. Even Taixuan Sect, let alone the great oceanic powers, wouldn’t be able to prepare in advance. It’s better to let cultivators enjoy their lives while they can, rather than stirring up panic and hastening the catastrophe’s arrival.”

Gu An nodded. “I understand. I just want to know—how long until the catastrophe begins? If it’s still a few hundred years away, then I won’t worry about it.”

Qie Wuxing chuckled. He suddenly found this Core Formation junior to be quite amusing.

Ji Xuanyu rolled her eyes at Gu An, but she had to admit that his casual attitude eased some of the pressure weighing on her heart.

“The shortest estimate is a few decades; at most, a few hundred years. There are forces beyond imagination playing a game behind the scenes. All I can say is, when the sea level begins to rise, that will be the sign of the catastrophe’s arrival.”

Ji Xuanyu frowned again.

With that, Qie Wuxing stood up and said, “That’s all I have to say. I won’t disturb you two any longer.”

He raised his hand in a respectful salute before departing.

As soon as he left the floor, the invisible restriction vanished.

Gu An turned to Ji Xuanyu with a grin. “You have quite the background. From now on, I won’t even dare joke around with you.”

Ji Xuanyu scoffed. “Aren’t you joking right now?”

“What do you think after hearing all that?”

“I’m not happy. I already suspected that I was the ‘Third Young Miss’ you mentioned, but I never really wanted my suspicions to be true. And now, learning about even more past identities just makes me feel worse.” Ji Xuanyu spoke calmly, her voice devoid of emotion.

Gu An studied her, his expression subtle.

He had always unconsciously regarded Ji Xuanyu’s current and past selves as the same person. Even though their personalities were different, he still thought of them as one.

But different memories and experiences shape different people, even if the soul remains the same.

A person is more than just a soul.

Gu An reassured her, “If you’re unhappy about it, then just cultivate well—make this life last longer, or achieve enlightenment.”

Ji Xuanyu shook her head. “I won’t achieve enlightenment. Eventually, I’ll still die. I cultivate only to extend this life and experience more. I cling to you simply because I want my life to be more interesting.”

She paused, then smiled. “Besides, you’ll only live for a few hundred years. Why are you even trying to comfort me? It’s fine. Even if I’m not happy, I’ll accept this reality.”

Accept it?

Gu An didn’t press further. Instead, he called for a waiter and ordered a table full of fine food and wine. He and Ji Xuanyu then shifted the topic to the upcoming Alchemy Tournament.

And just like that, their conversation with Qie Wuxing seemed to have never happened.

The Alchemy Tournament eventually came to an end. The champion was a cultivator from overseas, a disciple of Purple Pill Palace. This was the first time the disciples of Taixuan Sect had even heard of Purple Pill Palace. Through this tournament, the ancient alchemy sect introduced many new alchemical techniques.

Purple Pill Palace even extended an invitation, offering to take a group of Taixuan Sect disciples to their sect to study alchemy, which sparked great excitement throughout Taixuan Sect.

Gu An, however, remained most concerned about Qie Wuxing. This man had not left Taixuan Sect. Instead, he had officially become an Inner Sect disciple.

Apart from Gu An, no one knew his true cultivation level.

Even Shen Xinzi and Nine-Fingered Divine Lord couldn't see through him, which frustrated them to no end. By late summer, Qie Wuxing had become a regular in the Third Medicine Valley’s Chess District.

One day.

Gu An had just returned from the Northern Sea Mountain Range. After arriving at Xuan Valley, he discussed valley affairs with Lu Jiu Jia.

Suddenly, he sensed an overwhelming battle aura surging from a great distance.

It was coming from within the Severed Sea Rift!

The pressure emanating from it had already surpassed the Celestial Ascension Realm!

This meant that the Lord of the Divine Anomaly Realm had likely made a move.

It seemed that Qie Wuxing’s warning was not baseless.

“I agree. I'll bring it up with the sect and arrange for Xuan Valley’s expansion,” Gu An nodded.

Lu Jiu Jia's face immediately lit up with joy. Every year, Gu An shared a portion of Xuan Valley’s revenue with him, and the larger the valley grew, the more he would earn.

Ever since he started cultivating the Dao Yan Technique, Lu Jiu Jia had regained his fighting spirit. However, this technique required a vast amount of medicinal herbs for cultivation.

A thought crossed Gu An’s mind, and he suddenly said, “At the end of this year, release your suppressed cultivation. Take all the pills you have and break through.”

Lu Jiu Jia frowned. “Why? Can’t I wait a little longer?”

Why?

Because you only have a lifespan of one hundred ninety years.

Gu An didn’t expose the truth. Instead, he simply said, “I’ve obtained a higher-level cultivation technique. Once you break through, I’ll pass it to you. With it, you can suppress and release your cultivation multiple times.”

Hearing this, Lu Jiu Jia was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

Gu An patted him on the shoulder before leaving.

Watching him go, Lu Jiu Jia began to imagine what kind of transformation he would undergo after breaking his cultivation restrictions.

Gu An made his way to Third Medicine Valley, heading straight for the Chess District.

At that moment, Nine-Fingered Divine Lord was facing off against a formidable opponent—Qie Wuxing.

Qie Wuxing had mastered the rules of Go and quickly rose to dominate the Taixuan Sect chess scene. Nine-Fingered Divine Lord, unable to see through Qie Wuxing’s hidden cultivation, was increasingly frustrated.

Of course, in his heart, Nine-Fingered Divine Lord was convinced that Qie Wuxing was no ordinary person. Gu An’s origins were easy to trace—he had entered Taixuan Sect at the age of fifteen, and before that, he was merely a household servant in the Ji Family. His history was clear and verifiable.

But Qie Wuxing?

Qie Wuxing came from overseas.

Nine-Fingered Divine Lord looked at him, feeling a growing sense of unease.

Who exactly is this guy?

Meanwhile, Qie Wuxing simply smiled, leisurely shaking his fan.

He wasn’t afraid of Nine-Fingered Divine Lord’s suspicions. Given his hidden cultivation, there was no way Nine-Fingered Divine Lord could see through him.

In all of Taixuan Sect, there was only one person he feared:

The Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path.

But as long as he didn’t cause trouble, it seemed even the Sword Sovereign was willing to tolerate his presence.

“I lost,” Nine-Fingered Divine Lord exhaled deeply, speaking in a low voice.

He had now lost to Qie Wuxing six times in a row. It was humiliating.

The surrounding disciples erupted in cheers, which only made his mood worse.

Qie Wuxing stood up, smiling. “To celebrate my victory, how about I teach everyone a self-defense technique?”

The disciples cheered even louder, and their excitement quickly drew the attention of others from across the sect.