Under the serene night sky of Tai Xuan Sect, the silence was only broken by the occasional rustle of the wind. Gu An's divine sense expanded outward, covering the entire sect. Within his perception, every hidden space and chamber lay exposed. Even small pocket realms, akin to the Xu Xing Cave Heaven, were visible, though far inferior in scale and grandeur.
To his surprise, Tai Xuan Sect housed four Profound Heart Realm cultivators.
The familiar Xuanquan Ancestor and Lu Lingjun stood out, along with two Supreme Elders he had never encountered. One of them, a woman, bore an aura he had once sensed in the Scripture Pavilion of the inner sect.
"The Tai Xuan Sect's foundations run deeper than expected," Gu An thought.
He shifted his gaze to Lü Baitian. Within his secluded chamber, Lü Baitian was diligently practicing cultivation, his determination unwavering. Clearly, he had not abandoned his aspiration to ascend to the Profound Heart Realm.
Gu An felt a faint admiration for Lü Baitian. The man had always treated him well, and he began to consider secretly aiding Lü Baitian during his next tribulation.
Satisfied with his observations, Gu An returned to Xuan Valley.
Effortlessly, he stepped into his pavilion and sank into a chair, stretching lazily.
"Home is always the most comfortable place," he muttered, closing his eyes.
His thoughts lingered on the insights of the past few days: the mysteries of the Wandering Immortal Realm, the vastness of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Technique, and the wonders of the Mysterious Sacred Body. These concepts were profound and worthy of deep contemplation.
As dawn broke, Gu An resumed his usual routine. After leading the disciples through their morning drills, he returned to his chambers.
The disciples, unaware of the vast gulf between their cultivation levels and his, failed to notice any change in their master.
The calm persisted for three days. During this time, no signs of Nirvana or Loose Immortal cultivators scanning the continent reached Gu An's awareness, allowing him to relax slightly.
On the third day, he resumed his herb harvesting routine. His lifespan hovered at just over 1.4 million years. However, the Lifespan Barrier had consumed hundreds of thousands of years in maintaining his protection.
"I'll need to accumulate one hundred million years of lifespan to activate the next system feature," Gu An mused, feeling a twinge of anxiety at the monumental goal.
With his current average lifespan income of 200,000 years annually, achieving this would require at least five centuries.
"I must find ways to increase my lifespan income," he resolved.
In the mornings, he worked in the Third Medicine Valley. Afternoons found him tending to the herb gardens of Tianya Valley, and by evening, he ventured to the demon-infested lands to check on Ji Xiaoya.
Deep within an underground cavern, Ji Xiaoya sat cross-legged, her black robes blending into the shadows. Her spiritual energy had recovered to 30% of its peak, bolstered by several Spirit Qi Pills.
Gu An appeared silently within ten paces of her, his presence undetected. He watched quietly for a moment before speaking.
"Your body harbors a potent power. Even as your spiritual energy depletes, this power aids in your cultivation, pushing your level higher."
Startled, Ji Xiaoya opened her eyes and quickly rose, bowing deeply toward him.
"I have a connection to the Ji family and wish to teach you a divine ability. Are you interested?" Gu An asked, his tone calm and measured.
He intended to pass down the Dao Gang Primordial Qi to Ji Xiaoya. This divine ability, refined from the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, had been stolen from her by Jiang Qiong. Returning it would also settle his debt for her past kindness.
Hesitant but curious, Ji Xiaoya asked, "What is this divine ability, Senior?"
"Dao Gang Primordial Qi. Have you heard of it?"
Ji Xiaoya's expression shifted. Surprise and doubt flickered across her face.
"It seems you're familiar," Gu An observed lightly.
Through her mask, Ji Xiaoya's true emotions were hidden, but her voice betrayed her shock. "Senior, may I ask your identity? The Dao Gang Primordial Qi is a lost art of the Ji family. It's said that only those who master the Heaven and Earth Tyrant Body can cultivate it, and such individuals are rare enough to be included in the main lineage's records."
"You do not need to know who I am. Simply decide whether you wish to learn it," Gu An replied evenly.
Ji Xiaoya didn't hesitate. "Please, Senior, teach me!"
Gu An waved his sleeve, releasing a gentle breeze that enveloped Ji Xiaoya. She froze in place, her pupils reflecting an ever-changing figure demonstrating intricate techniques.
While she was in this trance, Gu An studied her closely. He sensed there was more to her than met the eye.
Beyond her Innate Dao Talisman, Ji Xiaoya seemed to possess another secret. Her composure, even in the face of his overwhelming presence, hinted at an unusual resilience.
He recalled his first encounter with her as a child, when she already seemed markedly different from her peers. At the time, he had even suspected her of being possessed by an ancient soul.
An hour later, Ji Xiaoya's gaze cleared. She took a deep breath, then turned toward Gu An.
"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance. How can I repay you?"
Her tone was resolute; she could already tell that what she had just received was the genuine Dao Gang Primordial Qi.
Its connection to her innate Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was undeniable. She even sensed the signs of its evolution toward the Dao Gang Primordial Qi.
The figure before her was clearly far beyond her comprehension, possibly the most powerful individual she had ever encountered.
"I require no repayment. I acted because of your Ji lineage. Instead, share your thoughts on the Seven Stars Spirit Realm," Gu An replied nonchalantly.
To him, Ji Xiaoya was more important than the Ji family.
Years ago, when the Ji family had threatened to maim him, it was Ji Xiaoya who had intervened to save him. Her idea had led to his entry into Tai Xuan Sect, unrelated to the Ji family's influence.
The debt of gratitude he owed the Ji family had long been repaid through the herbs he had provided over the years.
With their imminent departure from Tai Xuan Sect, the Ji family would soon become irrelevant to him. Ji Xiaoya, however, had earned a special place in his heart.
"That so-called holy ground is nothing but a devil's lair," Ji Xiaoya replied coldly.
Gu An was surprised but impressed by her insight.
"You seem to share my view of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Perhaps we stand on the same side," Ji Xiaoya continued, her voice steady.
"Why should we ally?" Gu An asked, his tone teasing.
"I wish to overthrow the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. My strength alone is insufficient. Senior, if you hold animosity toward them, we can work together. I will gather intelligence on their weaknesses," she offered without hesitation.
Her words revealed a chilling determination that made Gu An regard her in a new light.
Though selfish in her motivations, Ji Xiaoya had not harmed her own kin, and the Seven Stars Spirit Realm was far from benevolent.
"Very well," Gu An agreed.
Ji Xiaoya bowed deeply in response.
"Are you aware that the root of the demon calamity lies in the Seven Stars Spirit Realm?" Gu An suddenly asked.
The conversation, layered with subtle tension, took a darker turn.
Ji Xiaoya frowned slightly as she listened, saying, "I only know of some of the atrocities committed by the Seven Stars Spirit Realm and have suspected that the demon calamity is related to them, but I don't know the specific reasons."
Gu An proceeded to share all the information he had uncovered with her.
As Ji Xiaoya listened, her frown deepened with each word.
By the time Gu An finished, her expression had turned cold. "If what you say is true, destroying the Seven Stars Spirit Realm would indeed save countless lives."
"With their vast resources and deep foundations, eradicating the Seven Stars Spirit Realm is no easy task. For now, lie low. Once humanity overcomes the demon calamity, it will be time to act against them," Gu An replied calmly.
Ji Xiaoya nodded in agreement.
With a wave of his sleeve, Gu An transported Ji Xiaoya to the edge of the Great Jiang Dynasty.
"This region, shared by five dynasties, surely contains a transmission array leading to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. You'll be safer here," he said.
Before Ji Xiaoya could respond, Gu An vanished into thin air.
She extended her divine sense and quickly sensed the presence of nearby cultivators. Her expression turned complicated.
"To cross such a great distance in an instant... Who exactly is he?"
As autumn ended, the snows of winter finally arrived.
After parting ways with Ji Xiaoya, Gu An resumed his usual farming routine. Despite reaching the ninth level of the Wandering Immortal Realm, he refrained from any reckless displays of power.
However, the changes brought by the Wandering Immortal Realm could not be completely hidden, prompting Gu An to begin enhancing his apparent cultivation.
He decided to feign a breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm, using alchemy as a cover. By crafting this persona of a cultivator reliant on pills, Gu An aimed to be seen as harmless—neither a threat to Tai Xuan Sect nor a target for external forces.
He wanted to be someone so inconsequential that no one would find value in killing him, yet not worth the effort to eliminate.
One day, in the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An played a game of chess with Lu Lingjun. Snowflakes danced around them, yet they melted before touching their bodies or the chessboard.
Gu An placed a piece and chuckled. "You've lost again."
Lu Lingjun frowned, puzzled. She had calculated countless possibilities, yet the result remained unchanged—she still lost.
Something was off. She was, after all, a Profound Heart Realm cultivator!
Unable to hold back, she asked, "Why can't I beat you?"
"You're too impatient. Impatience leads to mistakes," Gu An replied with a smile.
Chess was a game he had brought from his previous world. There was no way he would lose—he had to defend the dignity of his heritage!
Lu Lingjun fell into thoughtful silence.
At that moment, a figure approached through the air. It was Gu Yu, the son of Elder Gu Zong.
He landed swiftly beside Gu An, his excitement evident. "Gu An, the True Disciple has returned! He's planning to lecture in the inner sect after the Spring Festival. You have to attend! Rumor has it he's already reached the Mahayana Realm!"
Lu Lingjun's interest was piqued. For a Profound Heart Realm cultivator, nothing was more intriguing than learning how to reach the Mahayana Realm.
Gu An raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? What's the True Disciple's name?"
The day before, Gu An had sensed the presence of a Mahayana Realm cultivator entering Tai Xuan Sect. However, since the elders were personally hosting the newcomer, he hadn't paid much attention.
"Of course, it's true! His name is Xuan Tianyi. With a Mahayana Realm cultivator like him, our chances against the demon calamity are much higher! He even said that if he'd returned earlier, he could have defeated the Six-Headed Jiao Luo—a fellow Mahayana Realm demon—in just one move!" Gu Yu exclaimed, his face brimming with admiration.