...

Two years later.

Li An emerged from seclusion, having replenished the arrays, talismans, pills, and other items on his person.

The current Li An could be described as a super tycoon!

Just the Tier Six talismans alone numbered three thousand placed within the celestial coffin, with thirty sets of arrays, and over five hundred Tier Six talismans and a dozen sets of arrays on him.

When it comes to pills, Tier Six Antitoxic Pills and Recovery Pills have been refined, which, while not usable within the Dao Sect, can be freely used outside.

There was no need to worry about resources like Spirit Stones.

In a certain sense, the moment Li An enjoyed the privileges of a Great Dao disciple, his life could be said to be among the most elite of the entire Spirit Realm.

A man among men among men.

"Hmm?"

To Li An’s surprise, no one had yet probed into his secrets and such.

Some high-ranking officials had sounded off, actively covering for Li An!

Originally, he was prepared that if he could not conceal it, he would reveal a piece of the "incomplete Evergreen Immortal Skill."

He had set several layers of protection on the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill!

Cyan Wood Immortal Skill -- incomplete Evergreen Immortal Skill -- complete Evergreen Immortal Skill -- Life Nourishing Immortal Skill.

The ultimate trump card must be kept well-hidden.

For this, Li An could not help but feel that the Dao Sect still had many good people.

He went to pay respects to Gui Changshou.

"Disciple wishes to journey to the New Continent once more for training."

He said.

Gui Changshou looked at him with great interest and said, "Very well, you may go."

"By the way, in a few decades, there will be great chaos over at the New Continent, and the sect has laid a shocking plot to obstruct a great enemy... be extra cautious."

He took out a jade pendant, handed it to Li An, and said, "This is a Talisman of Substitution for Death. Keep it with you, and if you encounter danger, it can save you from certain death."

Talisman of Substitution for Death!

Li An’s heart quivered sharply.

As a Great Dao disciple of the Dao Sect, he naturally understood... Even within the Dao Sect, such items could only be crafted by Immortals, and only Peak Master level figures could possibly possess them.

As the name implies, a Talisman of Substitution for Death can take the place of a cultivator’s death and is a truly immortal means!

This item, Gui Changshou likely only had this one piece.

"Such a grand gift, this disciple dares not accept!"

Li An spoke respectfully, "Peak Master’s great kindness, Li An will remember."

Gui Changshou merely smiled slightly and said, "I won’t hide it; this was passed on to me by the old Peak Master the year I became Peak Master."

"The old Peak Master said that this Talisman of Substitution for Death has been passed down for dozens of generations at our Evergreen Peak, and the first Peak Master once walked a defiant path, holding high status within the sect, hence this item, and we are merely beneficiaries of our predecessors."

"It can be considered the token of our Evergreen Peak."

"The great calamity of the Southern Sea is approaching, and I, these old bones, wish to follow the path of the first Peak Master and give it a try, though it’s a nine in ten chance of death."

"Giving you this item in advance allows me to die without regret, so my heart won’t linger in the fight, do you understand?"

He spoke earnestly. Even though Li An held a sense of caution, his heart couldn’t help but be touched, filled with mixed feelings.

Gui Changshou indeed once "plotted" against Li An with the Sect Leader, but the current earnest emotions were not false.

He truly was preparing to hand Evergreen Peak over to Li An.

To be honest, Evergreen Peak... Li An really didn’t want it.

After becoming a Peak Master, how much responsibility must one bear? Like now, simply enjoying privileges without being responsible for others is the most enjoyable.

But, this Talisman of Substitution for Death... truly alluring.

With this item, many things in the New Continent he wouldn’t have dared to attempt now could be tried with confidence...

Li An hesitated for a moment, eventually gritting his teeth and nodding, saying, "Disciple will do my utmost, not to disappoint the Peak Master’s expectations!"

Gui Changshou smiled, placing the jade pendant in Li An’s hand, giving his hand a firm shake, and said, "With you here at Evergreen Peak, I am assured."

He seemed truly at ease.

"Also, after all, Song Qingsong is your senior brother, don’t torment him too severely; in the secret realm, you almost played him to death."

Gui Changshou advised another solemn instruction.

Clearly, he had also heard of the details of Li An’s previous battle, seeing through Li An’s intention to give Song Qingsong the remaining Immortal Dao material.

Song Qingsong, having obtained the Immortal Dao material, would inevitably be driven by greed to seek monopoly, thus bringing about the calamity of his own demise.

"In the future, when you have charge of this peak, you will still need some formidable talents to assist you."

Li An hesitated a moment, and finally said, "Disciple obeys!"

...

Leaving Evergreen Peak, Li An headed to the teleportation array.

As the light of the teleportation array spun, Li An felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation!

Upon leaving the Dao Sect, he would be able to open the celestial coffin to see for himself.

...

Not long after,

Li An arrived at the Emperor Origin Realm.

After landing, he inquired with Zeng Xueyao about the latest situation in the New Continent.

The greatest change was that the celestial wind of the Southern Sea had grown increasingly intense!

Once only the Taiqing Realm and the other four major realms were affected by the celestial wind of the Southern Sea, but now most of the New Continent was being impacted.

Major forces were increasingly investing more in this area, with the atmosphere of impending chaos growing ever more intense.

Li An did not linger long, quickly departing.

He concealed his identity and aura, first making a trip to the Seven Yin Sect!

Lin Fangping, this chess piece, had a connection with Jun Yelin and naturally required focused attention.

Observing in secret, after many years, Lin Fangping was only a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul.

When Li An first set out from Daozhou, the difference in cultivation between them was not large, but now it was worlds apart!

Li An instinctively felt his progress was slow, but he quickly realized it was not that Lin Fangping was slow, but rather, within the Dao Sect, after seeing various geniuses aplenty, he developed the misconception that geniuses were as common as dogs and powerful individuals roamed everywhere.

Lin Fangping, having had fortuitous encounters and practiced the Demon Skill, yet unable to advance much over many years, was more representative of the norm among cultivators in the world.

Not everyone can enter the Dao Sect, nor become a true disciple or Great Dao disciple; even within the Dao Sect, like Zeng Xueyao, some find themselves stuck at Divinity Transformation without further progression, reflecting the true nature of the masses.

As for his former acquaintances, such as the sisters Shee Anqi and Shee Anrong, they had long returned to dust and soil.

It was just that Li An’s circle was too elite, leading to the misunderstanding of "Why not eat minced meat porridge."

"Hmm? The Spirit Medium is refining quickly, perhaps in seven or eight years they will become competent Spirit Mediums!"

After checking the status of these Spirit Mediums, Li An’s heart moved slightly.

He contemplated... whether or not to make a move!

...