I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

Gu ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yan’s mind sank inward as he carefully comprehended the new divine ability, Five Elements Great Luo Heavenly Palm — Immortal Nation Within the Palm.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍comprehension lasted five years.

Five ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍years later, deep within the cave abode on Longevity Peak, Gu Yan slowly opened his eyes.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍raised his right hand, spreading his palm.

Within ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his palm, faint streams of light circulated, as if an entire world were being nurtured within it.

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a thought, the light receded.

Gu Yan nodded slightly.

Five Elements Great Luo Heavenly Palm — Immortal Nation Within the Palm had already been fully comprehended.

During these five years, not only had he completely mastered this divine ability, his cultivation had also advanced further—from Human Immortal First Layer to Human Immortal Second Layer.

It had to be said that after breaking through to the Human Immortal Realm, the speed of cultivation growth had indeed slowed considerably.

And this was still with the support of the Nine Qi Returning to Origin Tree, as well as the numerous treasures gathered by Dragon Lord from various Secret Realm Small Worlds that enhanced spiritual energy.

Without these, Gu Yan felt that even a hundred years might not be enough to advance a single layer.

However, this was the difference between a player with cheats and one without.

He had cheats—he was happy.

Others cultivated bitterly for a hundred years; he only needed a few years.

Others fought desperately for resources; he could sit or lie down while his cultivation rose on its own.

That was the gap.

......

Spirit Realm, Western Wilderness.

Human forces were scarce here, but those who could take root were all powerful.

Because the weak had already been eaten by demonic beasts.

This was the territory of the demon race. Being able to establish a sect under the watchful eyes of the demon race showed just how deep these forces’ foundations were.

Taibai Sword Sect was one of the top major sects in the Western Wilderness.

The sect’s ancestor was a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert who had guarded the sect for tens of thousands of years, deterring all demons from invasion.

At this moment, atop a certain mountain peak within Taibai Sword Sect, inside a pavilion.

A young man sat cross-legged, cultivating in meditation.

His features were refined, his temperament cold, and faint sword intent circulated around him.

If a cultivator from the Eastern Continent were present, they might find him somewhat familiar.

He was none other than Wu Nian of the past, also once known as Ling Wuchen.

Back then, when he was still a heaven’s favored disciple of Mystic Sword Sect, he had roamed the Eastern Continent, challenging cultivators of the same level.

From several demonic cultivators of Demon Blade Sect, he learned of Azure Wave Sect and went to challenge its ancestor.

At the same time, he learned of a genius disciple named Lin You in that sect and intended to take him as a disciple.

After being rejected, he flew into a rage and injured others, only to be killed by Lin You with a single move.

Fortunately, he was reborn through a secret technique. With various fortuitous opportunities, not only did he return to the Nascent Soul Realm, but his Sword Dao cultivation also advanced further.

Later, by chance, he passed through a Secret Realm Small World to the Western Wilderness, entered Taibai Sword Sect, and cultivated in seclusion until now.

The door suddenly opened.

A man walked in.

He had a dignified appearance, sword-like brows and star-like eyes, like a banished immortal.

The man walked to the table, sat down, and smiled. “Ling Wuchen, have you still not figured it out?”

Ling Wuchen opened his eyes and looked at the man, a trace of respect in his gaze.

This person was a senior of Taibai Sword Sect, with unfathomable cultivation, and had given him much guidance.

After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, “Thank you for your guidance, Senior. Though I am now a disciple of Taibai Sword Sect, I was once also a disciple of Mystic Sword Sect in the Eastern Continent.”

“Now that the Eastern Continent faces a great demonic overlord from the Southern Region, and my sect is in danger, I must return to assist.”

Hearing this, the man lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said leisurely, “You are only at the Nascent Soul level. What can you do by returning to the Eastern Continent? You would merely be cannon fodder.”

“You should know, that evil being who unified the Southern Region is only at the late Great Ascension Realm, not yet having broken into the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Yet even the mid-stage Tribulation Crossing ancestor of my Taibai Sword Sect does not dare to confront him lightly.”

“That evil being’s magic treasures are wicked, and his techniques are strange and unpredictable. It is said he once killed three early-stage Tribulation Crossing experts who attacked him together—all by himself.”

“What can you, a mere Nascent Soul, accomplish by going back?”

Ling Wuchen fell silent.

The man continued, “You possess an unparalleled Sword Dao talent. Given time, you will surely ascend to the Immortal Realm and become a true Sword Immortal. Why throw your life away for a sect that no longer has anything to do with you?”

Ling Wuchen remained silent.

A Sword Immortal?

He could not help but recall that scene from the past.

That man named Lin You had killed him with a single move.

The other had disguised himself as a disciple of Azure Wave Sect—what his true intentions were, he did not know.

Nor did he wish to know.

He only knew that that single strike had left an indelible mark in his heart.

He wanted to become stronger.

Strong enough to never again be killed in one move.

But now, he could not even protect his former sect.

Ling Wuchen lowered his gaze and said softly, “Senior is right. It’s just that…”

Before he could finish, suddenly, the heavens and earth changed color.

A dazzling sword light shot up from an extremely distant place, piercing through the clouds.

Within that light, a supreme sword intent faintly circulated, suppressing heaven and earth.

At once, the treasured sword by Ling Wuchen’s side began to tremble violently.

Not only his sword—even the sword on the table before the man trembled as well.

Ling Wuchen and the man leapt out of the pavilion, standing atop the mountain peak, gazing at the sky.

Between heaven and earth, wind and clouds shifted.

That sword light was not a killing blade, but a blade of Dao rhythm.

It was as if someone, in this moment, had imprinted a supreme sword principle into heaven and earth, causing resonance in all directions.

Ling Wuchen’s sword continued to tremble—not just his.

The entire Taibai Sword Sect.

Indeed, throughout the entire Spirit Realm, every sword carried by sword cultivators trembled lightly, as if paying homage.

Ling Wuchen took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, “Senior, this is…?”

The man stood with hands behind his back, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

This man was known as Ji Xuanjun, his cultivation already at the peak of Great Ascension, only one step away from Tribulation Crossing, holding extremely high seniority within Taibai Sword Sect.

He gazed at the sword light, fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

“Someone has comprehended a supreme Sword Dao great divine ability.”

Ling Wuchen was startled. “A supreme Sword Dao great divine ability?”

Ji Xuanjun nodded slightly, his voice calm yet tinged with emotion:

“Sword Dao divine abilities are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.”

“Lower-grade divine abilities can kill enemies.”

“Middle-grade divine abilities can sever Dao.”

“Upper-grade divine abilities can break realms.”

“But a supreme Sword Dao great divine ability does not fall within these three grades.”

“Look at that sword light—does it carry killing intent?”

Ling Wuchen focused and looked, then shook his head. “There is no killing intent. Instead… there is an indescribably profound Dao rhythm.”

“Correct,” Ji Xuanjun said calmly.

“A supreme Sword Dao great divine ability is not a killing technique, but a manifestation of Dao.”

“The one who comprehends such a divine ability must possess astonishing Sword Dao talent, along with great fortune and great comprehension, to touch the origin of Sword Dao in that instant.”

“The origin of Sword Dao…” Ling Wuchen murmured.

Ji Xuanjun continued, “There are countless Sword Daos. Some cultivate killing swords—one strike can leave millions of corpses.”

“Some cultivate guardian swords—one strike can block thousands of troops.”

“Some cultivate emotionless swords—severing worldly ties, achieving supreme detachment.”

“But no matter the path, all have a source. That source is the origin of Sword Dao.”

“One who comprehends a supreme Sword Dao great divine ability has, in that instant, touched a fragment of that origin.”

“Though only a fragment, it is enough to make their future Sword Dao path smooth, without bottlenecks.”

Ling Wuchen listened, entranced, a trace of yearning flashing in his eyes.

Ji Xuanjun glanced at him and said softly, “You need not envy. With your unparalleled Sword Dao talent, given time, you may not be unable to reach that step.”

After a moment of silence, Ling Wuchen asked, “Senior, do you know who has comprehended such a divine ability?”

Ji Xuanjun shook his head. “The sword light rose from the direction of the Central Lands, but the exact person cannot be determined.”

“With such a phenomenon, any cultivator in the Spirit Realm with some level of attainment can sense it.”

“I imagine that at this moment, countless great experts are deducing the secrets of heaven, trying to find this person.”

He paused, then chuckled lightly. “However, with such a genius emerging, I’m afraid another storm of bloodshed is about to rise.”

......

Southern Sea No. 73 Mortal World.

Taiyi Dao Sect, Longevity Peak.

Gu Yan stood with hands behind his back outside his cave abode, gazing at the void above.

Just now, in that instant, he had sensed an indescribably profound fluctuation of sword intent.

That fluctuation had pierced through the boundary between realms—even this mortal world could sense it.

“Interesting.”

Gu Yan murmured softly.

Now at Human Immortal Second Layer, his perspective was far beyond what it once was.

Though that sword intent came across endless void, he could tell someone was comprehending an extremely profound Sword Dao divine ability.

For it to even interest a cheat-enabled player like him, it was clearly extraordinary.

With a thought, Gu Yan flipped his hand and took out an ancient mirror.

It was the supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure—the Haotian Mirror.

This mirror could illuminate all heavens and deduce all things.

Ever since Gu Yan obtained it, anything he wished to investigate would appear within the mirror—it had never failed.

Gu Yan flicked his finger, sending a stream of mana into the mirror.

Ripples spread across its surface, forming an image.

It showed the Central Lands of the Spirit Realm.

The image zoomed in continuously, crossing mountains and rivers, cities and sects, finally settling on an unremarkable small mountain.

The mountain had no name. The small sect upon it had no name either.

Behind the sect, in a simple thatched hut, a young man sat cross-legged.

The young man wore a plain gray Daoist robe, his appearance ordinary, his aura unremarkable.

His cultivation was only at the early Transformation Spirit stage—the kind that would vanish into a crowd without notice.

Yet at this moment, faint sword intent circulated around him.

That sword intent was extremely faint—almost imperceptible without careful observation through the Haotian Mirror.

“A Transformation Spirit cultivator comprehending a supreme Sword Dao divine ability?”

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Now that was interesting.

A Transformation Spirit cultivator was a regional powerhouse in the Eastern Continent.

But in the Central Lands of the Spirit Realm, such a person was merely a beginner.

Yet such a cultivator had comprehended a Sword Dao divine ability that shook the entire Spirit Realm?

Gu Yan’s interest was piqued.

With another thought, the mirror’s light flashed, beginning to deduce this person’s origins.

However—

The mirror surface blurred. Nothing appeared.

Gu Yan was slightly startled.

He injected another stream of mana and activated the Haotian Mirror again.

Still nothing but a blur, as if this person’s origins were shrouded in an invisible fog, impossible to discern.

“Hmm?”

Gu Yan frowned slightly.

This was a supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure—never had it failed in his hands.

Let alone a Transformation Spirit cultivator—even Immortal King-level experts could be investigated to a considerable extent.

Yet this person could not be deduced?

Gu Yan stared at the figure in the mirror, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Either this person possessed a treasure that concealed heavenly secrets, of a grade no less than the Haotian Mirror.

Or this person himself was the problem.

Just as he was thinking, the young man in the mirror suddenly moved.

He slowly opened his eyes.

He raised his head and looked toward the void.

His gaze was calm as water, yet seemed to pierce through endless space, meeting Gu Yan’s gaze across realms.

Gu Yan’s expression remained unchanged, nor did he avert his eyes.

He did not believe the other could see him.

He possessed Body Without Self and Form · Red—this was a top-tier ability that even the Great Dao and Heavenly Dao could not perceive.

Let alone a Transformation Spirit cultivator—even an Immortal Emperor face-to-face, without special means, could not detect his observation.

As expected.

After looking for a moment, the young man shifted his gaze.

He seemed to detect nothing unusual, merely frowning slightly as if pondering something.

Gu Yan was about to continue deducing when the young man suddenly stood up.

He raised his hand and wiped across his face.

An identical face appeared.

Another him materialized out of thin air, standing at the hut’s entrance.

Then again—another wipe.

A third him appeared, sitting cross-legged on a stone in the courtyard.

Another wipe.

A fourth him appeared, strolling around the courtyard with hands behind his back.

Another wipe.

A fifth him appeared, entering the hut and closing the door.

Meanwhile, the real body of the young man, after creating four puppets, flashed and vanished from the spot.

Moments later, one of them walked out from the hut and sat cross-legged in the courtyard to cultivate.

Five of him—five puppets.

Each with different movements, different expressions, yet indistinguishable from the real person.

If not for Gu Yan witnessing the entire process through the Haotian Mirror, even divine sense alone would have assumed it was just one person cultivating in the courtyard.

Watching this scene, Gu Yan chuckled. “This kid has some skill.”

Clearly a peerless genius who had comprehended a supreme Sword Dao divine ability—if it were someone else, they would likely be brimming with pride, eager to let the whole world know their name.

But this one, instead of consolidating his realm or comprehending Sword Dao further, first created a bunch of puppets to hide himself.

Gu Yan looked at the five identical figures in the mirror, and the real body hidden who knew where, and thought—

This was a smart man.

In the Central Lands of the Spirit Realm, where great experts were everywhere, a Transformation Spirit cultivator comprehending a supreme divine ability was like a three-year-old child holding a gold brick in a busy market.

If he didn’t hide, was he waiting to be taken in as a disciple by some great expert?

But who could know whether those great experts were good or evil?

“This kid… is one who walks the path of concealment.”

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