"The Dao Supremacy Art is indeed powerful. If one can grasp its essence, dominating a great world would be effortless. But this technique isn't so easy to cultivate."
Xunxian Daoist spoke casually, his thoughts lingering on the Sacred Court in the distance.
He was well aware of how strong the Annihilation God Emperor was. Precisely because of this, he felt that the world's balance was slipping out of control.
Having only a reincarnated body, he could not interfere with the operation of the Heavenly Dao. His only option was to assist others.
No matter how many opportunities he provided for Zhu Xi, it was impossible for her to attain the power needed to contend with the Annihilation God Emperor before the epoch changed.
As soon as Zhu Xi mentioned the Dao Supremacy Art, confusion surfaced in her mind again. She asked, "What exactly is the origin of this Dao Supremacy Art? During my cultivation, I saw many figures. If they were all cultivators of this technique, do they belong to the same sect?"
Xunxian Daoist looked at her and smiled. "The Dao Supremacy Art is not something anyone can just cultivate. It has only ever been passed down through a single lineage. I merely obtained its scripture, but I have never cultivated it myself."
Hearing this, Zhu Xi fell into deep thought.
Xunxian Daoist stood up and said, "You continue your cultivation. I'm heading out for a while."
Zhu Xi did not ask where he was going but simply closed her eyes and continued comprehending the Dao Supremacy Art.
Even though she had regained the memories of Divine Sovereign, she still found the Dao Supremacy Art fascinating. With her talent, she should have had no difficulty comprehending any technique, yet this one remained elusive, proving just how profound and unfathomable it was.
The arrival of Annihilation God Emperor and his group did not change the grand trend of the world. In the ongoing struggle between the Sacred Court and the Immortal Dynasty, countless heaven's chosen ones continued to rise, while long-secluded great cultivators broke through their limits and ascended to greater realms, shaking the heavens and the earth.
The number of living beings in the world was dwindling. Cultivators were gathering toward the central region of the Heavenly Spirit Great World, while mortal beings fled toward the edges of the world.
On the Nine Spirits Continent, the mortal population was growing rapidly. As a result, sects sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, and even monsters began claiming territories for themselves.
Since Wu Shi Dao Field was near Qiankun Sect, it had not encountered much trouble.
On this day, Yi Qingshan and his four companions ventured deep into the forest to meet An Xin. All five of them had successfully reached the Nirvana Realm, yet they remained cautious before An Xin.
They had never been able to perceive An Xin's cultivation level, which made them certain that her realm far exceeded theirs.
"A missing sect-defining legacy?" An Xin frowned.
Yi Qingshan looked slightly embarrassed. He coughed lightly and forced himself to speak. "That's right. The oceanic sects have begun appearing on the fringes of the continent. Their foundations run deep, and they have been poaching cultivators from the mainland sects. Even within our Qiankun Sect, families and promising talents have been lured away. At the root of it, it's because our sect lacks a true core advantage."
He felt ashamed to ask An Xin for help. But after knowing each other for thousands of years, and under the urging of the sect's higher-ups, they had no choice but to swallow their pride and come.
Qiankun Sect was no longer just their personal sect—it was a sect of a million disciples.
For the sake of the sect's future, what was a little loss of face?
In fact, Yi Qingshan was already prepared for rejection.
At this moment, Cheng Meng stepped forward and added, "Senior, we dare not demand such a legacy from you. Even if you could just point us in a direction, that would be enough."
The other three nodded in agreement.
The five of them had wandered the world for a thousand years, but even now, in the grand scale of the heavens, they remained at the bottom. Their techniques, spells, and divine abilities were considered mediocre at best when compared to those at the Immortal Dao Realm.
An Xin quietly watched them, making them feel ashamed enough to lower their heads, wishing they could just disappear into the ground.
Suddenly.
An Xin pursed her lips into a smile and said, "I do have a suitable legacy for you."
The moment these words left her mouth, the five of them lifted their heads in surprise, their eyes filled with joy.
An Xin raised her right hand and lightly flicked her fingers. Five manuals appeared in her palm.
The covers of these five manuals bore no titles, and coupled with An Xin's casual manner, Yi Qingshan and his companions exchanged wary glances.
In the Immortal Dao Realm, techniques, divine abilities, and doctrines were vast and profound—it was impossible for such profound knowledge to be contained within just five simple books.
However, they dared not question An Xin, only keeping their thoughts to themselves.
"Choose one. Let's see what fate has in store for you." An Xin smiled, inwardly feeling pleased.
So this is what it feels like to pass down teachings?
Before coming here, her master had handed her these five manuals. At first, she had been puzzled. But now, after hearing Yi Qingshan's request, she deeply admired her master's foresight.
"This…" Yi Qingshan hesitated. Could such a casual selection process really lead to a powerful legacy?
An Xin raised an eyebrow at him. Without another word, Yi Qingshan stepped forward and pulled one of the manuals from her hand.
Seeing this, An Xin immediately stored away the remaining four manuals into her sleeve. Turning around, she left, leaving behind only a single sentence:
"This technique will now be your Qiankun Sect's Sect-Defining Method. I hope you will use it for the path of righteousness."
Upon hearing this, Yi Qingshan and the others hurriedly bowed in gratitude, watching as An Xin's figure disappeared into the depths of the forest. Only after she was completely gone did they gather together to examine the manual.
Yi Qingshan opened the first page and read aloud, "Heaven and Earth Qiankun Innate Technique…"
"Qiankun? It matches the name of our sect, but…" Gu Changsheng hesitated.
He wanted to say, "Is An Xin messing with us?" but feared that she might still be listening.
Yi Qingshan flipped to the second page, and in an instant, a golden light burst forth from the pages, enveloping the five of them. Their expressions changed immediately, and soon, their gazes turned unfocused.
By a lake, Gu An was sparring with Chen Chuan in swordsmanship.
At the Immortal Dao Realm, techniques and moves no longer mattered. However, Gu An could use them as a means to guide Chen Chuan in comprehending the Way of the Sword.
Chen Chuan possessed an exceptional talent for swordsmanship. Every year, he felt himself growing stronger, but each time he sparred with his master, he realized how childish his own swordsmanship was. In front of Gu An, his techniques posed no threat whatsoever.
Gu An held the Azure Swan Sword in his hand, but the blade remained unsheathed. With just the scabbard, he neutralized Chen Chuan's sword strikes and guided him into different movements.
At first glance, it seemed as if Chen Chuan was nothing more than a puppet on a string, effortlessly maneuvered by Gu An.
Sitting under a nearby tree, Lu Xian observed this scene intently, his eyes never leaving them. He was trying to comprehend Gu An's swordsmanship.
Even though Lu Xian did not specialize in swordsmanship, he believed that the Three Thousand Great Dao were interconnected. If he could grasp the essence of this battle, he could apply it to his own cultivation.
After some time, Gu An pressed the scabbard against Chen Chuan's forehead, rendering him unable to move. With this, the sparring session was over.
Chen Chuan let out a breath of relief, a smile appearing on his face. "Master, I understand now!"
Gu An withdrew his sword, then waved Lu Xian over. The moment Lu Xian saw the gesture, he immediately ran over.
"What do you two think? How about we hold a tournament in the Dao Field every thousand years? Everyone except me will participate." Gu An smiled as he asked.
Hearing this, Lu Xian and Chen Chuan's eyes lit up with excitement. Both of them were competitive by nature. The chance to prove themselves in front of their master and compete against other disciples was too tempting to refuse.
Without hesitation, they agreed—they were already eager to begin.
The reason Gu An suggested this was because all disciples in the Dao Field had already reached the Nirvana Realm. There were no weaklings left among them.
More importantly, each of them had received his personal guidance. Their mastery of techniques, divine abilities, and Daoist laws varied, but all were formidable.
Of course, aside from allowing his disciples to feel pressured, Gu An had another reason for this tournament—he wanted entertainment.
"There's no need to determine a strongest disciple. For every tournament, I'll personally select your opponent. You'll only need to fight one match each time. Over the next ten thousand years, you'll eventually face everyone." Gu An chuckled.
Neither Lu Xian nor Chen Chuan had any objections. In fact, they were already looking forward to it.
"Since you're so eager…" Gu An grinned mischievously. "Your first opponent… is each other."
Hearing this, Lu Xian and Chen Chuan instinctively looked at each other. After a brief moment of shock, battle intent ignited in their eyes.
Both were equally confident that they would win.