Gu An manipulated his Immortal Qi, transforming it into a gentle breeze that safely carried Xuanmiao Zhenren, Zhen Qin, and the other disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall back to the border of the Tai Cang Dynasty. Only after ensuring their safety did he retract his divine sense and vanish from the scene.
The main reason for his intervention was Zhen Qin. However, the act of using such power felt surprisingly satisfying, giving him a deeper understanding of the strength of the Immortal Dao.
No wonder the Nirvana Realm is so special. Without crossing this realm, human cultivators are unable to surpass a lifespan of ten thousand years. The gap between Nirvana and the Mahayana Realm is not just in the strength of their spiritual power but a complete disparity in all aspects.
After returning to Tai Xuan Sect, Gu An resumed his purchase of medicinal herbs, preparing to cultivate them in his Nian Chu Cave Residence. Before planting them, he needed to give further instruction to Tian Yao'er.
Now that he had initially grasped the methods of an immortal, there was no need for hands-on teaching. A mere tap of his finger on her forehead would be enough to transmit vast amounts of information directly into her mind. However, in order to conceal his true strength, Gu An decided to teach her slowly. After all, he had plenty of time.
Meanwhile, at the riverbank, the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall stood around Xuanmiao Zhenren, hesitant to speak.
They had already set aside the joy of surviving the ordeal and were now more worried about Xuanmiao Zhenren's mental state. If it weren't for saving them, how could Xuanmiao Zhenren have ended up in such a weakened condition?
Washing his face with river water, Xuanmiao Zhenren stood up and smiled at the group. "You don't need to worry about me. My cultivation has only been sealed for a year by the Mountain God. It was my own fault for breaking the promise, and this tribulation is well deserved."
The disciples tried to take the blame upon themselves, but Xuanmiao Zhenren waved it off with a lighthearted smile.
Having his cultivation sealed down to the Foundation Establishment stage didn't distress him. Instead, he felt more exhilarated.
Now, he fully believed that the Mountain God was a true immortal, with unfathomable methods beyond human comprehension. This realization filled him with renewed excitement.
The path of Immortal cultivation can truly be achieved!
"Alright, everyone, now that we've returned to the Tai Cang Dynasty, it's time to part ways. Remember, do not reveal the existence of the Mountain God to anyone!" Xuanmiao Zhenren cupped his hands in farewell.
The disciples hurriedly bowed in response, swearing to never disclose the secret.
If even someone as strong as Xuanmiao Zhenren had his cultivation sealed, how could they dare anger the Mountain God?
Their emotions mirrored Xuanmiao Zhenren's—an overwhelming sense of excitement. They had witnessed hope like never before.
The path to immortality stretched far and wide. The question of whether immortals truly existed had long been a debated topic within the cultivation world. Having witnessed such power with their own eyes, they would now walk the path of cultivation with greater determination than anyone else.
…
Autumn turned to winter, and soon, the snow began to cover Xuan Valley.
Zhen Qin visited him once more, recounting tales of the chaos outside.
"The forces of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect are overwhelming. Even the combined might of the Nine Dynasties isn't enough to exterminate them all..." Zhen Qin sighed deeply.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her understanding of the overall situation was limited.
Gu An, however, frequently observed battles between Grandmasters of the Profound Heart Realm.
Now, each region of the Nine Dynasties had its own Profound Heart Realm experts stationed. Altogether, the Nine Dynasties had more than twenty such experts, and their numbers continued to grow. The same could be said for the Ephemeral Blossom Sect. The Profound Heart Realm experts were evenly matched, resulting in a long, drawn-out war.
This would undoubtedly be a protracted conflict, lasting for years.
Gu An wasn't in any particular hurry. He was simply waiting for that Mahayana expert from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect to make an appearance. Once that person showed up, he would strike.
His divine sense could cover the entire Nine Dynasties, but the Ephemeral Blossom Sect's main forces were hidden within the Nine Nether Path, making it impossible for him to detect that Mahayana expert's movements.
He wasn't planning on venturing into the Nine Nether Path to capture them. Instead, he would wait for the expert to surface. Once the news of the expert's demise spread, the leaderless forces of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect would scatter.
After Zhen Qin finished speaking, Gu An poured her a cup of tea and smiled. "You seem quite excited. Compared to before you left, your energy is completely different."
Zhen Qin chuckled. "Although the world outside is full of bloodshed, this recent experience has given me a greater drive to cultivate."
"Master, I plan to enter seclusion soon. Our group of disciples has completed our tasks, and the Law Enforcement Hall has granted us a period of rest."
Gu An retrieved several bottles of pills from his storage pouch and handed them to her. "Train hard. Your master will be relying on you for protection in the future."
Zhen Qin accepted the pills without hesitation, grinning as she said, "When I become an immortal, I'll refine an elixir of eternal life just for you, Master!"
Her confident words made Gu An want to laugh.
Ever since Su Han and Ye Yan left, Zhen Qin often visited Xuan Valley, still treating it as her home.
Gu An never found it bothersome. In fact, every time she came to visit, he felt quite happy.
After Zhen Qin departed from Xuan Valley, Gu An took a leisurely walk around, inspecting the fruits of his cultivation efforts.
Time flowed on.
Although the world of cultivators was engulfed in chaos, Tai Xuan Sect remained untouched, and Gu An's days within the sect were peaceful.
At the end of the year, the Spring Festival arrived. However, unlike previous years, this festival was far quieter. Gu An celebrated with the outer sect disciples, but by late night, he quietly slipped away to Nian Chu Cave Residence.
Standing on the grassy field, he sensed the dense spiritual energy in the cave and couldn't help but feel pleased. The Spirit-Gathering Formation he had personally set up was finally showing results.
Just then, Tian Yao'er scurried over, excitement brimming in her eyes. "Master, did you bring any meat?"
Ever since Gu An had roasted meat for her a month ago, she had developed a deep fondness for barbecue. Every time he came, her first question was always about the meat.
Nian Chu Cave Residence had no entrance, meaning Tian Yao'er couldn't leave. All she could do was cultivate and wait.
"I brought some, but we have to finish planting first. Depending on your performance, I'll decide how much meat you get." Gu An replied teasingly, making Tian Yao'er widen her eyes.
Afterward, Gu An guided Tian Yao'er in planting herbs, teaching her carefully and methodically.
After teaching her once, Gu An stepped back to watch her handle the planting. Time flew by, and half the night was spent. He realized Tian Yao'er did indeed have a talent for cultivation, despite her sometimes foolish demeanor. Her attention to detail made her quite adept at it.
When the planting was finally complete, Gu An pulled out a leg of lamb and his specially prepared seasonings. Tian Yao'er's eyes lit up as she eagerly gathered firewood.
An incense stick's time later…
Tian Yao'er crouched by the fire, gnawing on a succulent, sizzling leg of lamb, her eyes fixed on the other leg roasting on the spit.
"Don't worry, it's all yours. Eat slowly." Gu An said with a smile.
Why did this feel like raising a cat?
In truth, Tian Yao'er wasn't a cat demon but a bird demon. Based on her exceptional lifespan, Gu An suspected she had the bloodline of a phoenix.
Chewing her food, Tian Yao'er mumbled through a mouthful of meat, "Master, why did you come to Tianhuang Mountain?"
Even after months of companionship, she still knew little about Gu An. With him in a good mood today, she mustered up the courage to ask.
"Tianhuang Mountain is vast and abundant in resources. I'm here mainly for the herbs. Everything we're planting now comes from this mountain."
"Master, do you know how to refine pills?"
"Of course."
"Back when I was with the Demon Mother, there was a demon who could refine pills and was highly favored by her. Can you teach me how to refine pills someday?"
"That depends on your performance."
"Master, where did you come from?"
In the quiet cave, the conversation between the man and the demon continued. The flickering firelight cast their shadows on the cave walls, gently swaying.
Tian Yao'er looked at Gu An, feeling a sense of calm and safety she had never experienced before.
Though still trapped within the cave, she no longer feared for her life. She found peace in Gu An's presence.
In the days that followed, Tian Yao'er diligently memorized all the cultivation techniques Gu An had taught her. This allowed Gu An to stop visiting the cave every night.
In his absence, Tian Yao'er worked hard at her cultivation. Afraid of disappointing Gu An and being abandoned, she never slacked off.
In the blink of an eye…
Half a year had passed.
Now seventy-four years old, Gu An's lifespan had surpassed two million years, and everything seemed to be progressing in a positive direction.
One day, Gu An went to the outer city to submit the annual harvest from Xuan Valley.
After leaving the Pill Hall, he overheard some disciples discussing the latest news from the cultivation world.
It was said that the Ephemeral Blossom Sect had constructed a massive sacrificial altar in the Wanji Forest of the Tai Chen Dynasty. The altar was being used for live human sacrifices, and people from various dynasties were mysteriously disappearing. All the other eight dynasties were mobilizing their sects to Tai Chen, as everyone sensed a final showdown was imminent.
Using his divine sense, Gu An observed the sacrificial altar. It was indeed enormous, spanning over a hundred miles. At the center of the altar was a large cauldron, with a giant flag inserted in it. Countless resentful spirits were trapped within the flag.
Surrounding the altar were over forty Profound Heart Realm experts from the Ephemeral Blossom Sect. It was clear that they were making a desperate final move.
This could only mean that the Mahayana expert from the sect would soon show up.
Retracting his divine sense, Gu An headed towards Wu Jue's residence.
Wu Jue had become an inner sect disciple, but he hadn't sold his courtyard in the outer sect city. Though he rarely stayed there, Gu An could sense his presence, indicating that Wu Jue was specifically waiting for him.
Upon entering the courtyard, Gu An saw Wu Jue practicing his martial arts. When Wu Jue noticed Gu An's arrival, he smiled warmly. "You're finally here. I was worried I wouldn't get to see you before I left."
Though Wu Jue's lifespan had not extended, his cultivation had already reached the first layer of the Golden Core Realm.
After closing the door, Gu An turned to Wu Jue and asked with a smile, "Why were you waiting for me?"
"My master is taking me to the Tai Chen Dynasty to eradicate the Ephemeral Blossom Sect. Tai Chen is far from Tai Cang, and who knows how long it will be before I return, so I wanted to say goodbye." Wu Jue replied, withdrawing his fists from his practice.
Although he tried to appear composed, Gu An could see the tension and fear in his eyes.
Wu Jue had yet to experience life-and-death combat, and he harbored a deep-seated fear of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect, especially since his previous master had been killed by them.
"A genius like you could probably stay behind if you wanted to, right?" Gu An asked.
Wu Jue shook his head. "The Ephemeral Blossom Sect is too powerful. The Tai Xuan Sect must devote all its strength to eradicating them, and I have my own reasons for going."
His eyes filled with determination.
He needed to avenge his master.
Though he didn't know which specific member of the Ephemeral Blossom Sect had killed his master, it didn't matter. As long as the entire sect was wiped out, he would consider it revenge.
"Then you must be careful. The techniques of the demonic path are strange and varied. Their strength isn't always reflected in their cultivation level..." Gu An began advising him.
Wu Jue listened attentively, his smile widening despite the lengthy lecture.
With a brother like this, how could he not go?
If the Ephemeral Blossom Sect succeeded in their sacrificial rites, their demonic forces would eventually invade the Tai Xuan Sect. If that happened, Gu An would be in danger.
Afterward, Wu Jue spoke about the scale of Tai Xuan Sect's expedition. The sect leader had sent one-third of the inner disciples to Wanji Forest, showing just how seriously they were taking this threat.