Saint Who Lay Low

Inside the inn.

Gu An and Wu Jue finally squeezed into their seats, continuing their conversation about the earth-shattering battle they had just witnessed.

Although brief, it was enough to leave all the spectators' blood boiling with excitement.

Gu An smiled in agreement, though there was a trace of disappointment in his heart.

Killing the Heavenly Sword Daoist only granted him ten years of lifespan. The reason being that the Heavenly Sword Daoist had less than two hundred years of lifespan remaining, which is why Gu An had described him as "withered."

The Heavenly Sword Daoist had likely reached the Profound Heart Realm long ago. Seven hundred years ago, he must have realized there was no hope for further cultivation, so he secluded himself deep in the mountains. Unfortunately, despite sitting in meditation for seven hundred years, he never found his path.

This time, the Heavenly Sword Daoist had come seeking death!

Gu An didn't dwell on it much. His attention soon shifted to An Hao, who was now in a state of Dao comprehension atop the Heaven Mending Platform.

An Hao was comprehending the Dao!

Elders from the sect had gathered around him to protect him.

Good boy, Gu An thought, feeling gratified. The stronger An Hao became, the more pleased Gu An felt.

An Hao was his true disciple, unlike the disciples in Medicine Valley. The more impressive An Hao became, the prouder Gu An would feel.

With so many powerful cultivators protecting him, Gu An was at ease.

He returned his focus to drinking and laughing with Wu Jue.

Not long after, a figure approached and sat beside Gu An, handing him a sheet of paper as if no one else were present.

"What do you think? How's my drawing?" Shen Zhen asked with a smile.

Gu An looked closely. The drawing depicted the Heavenly Sword Daoist with his arms spread wide, bearing the descending sword light. The style was dark and sharp, exuding a tragic beauty.

"Not bad, as expected from you," Gu An praised casually.

Shen Zhen pouted, sensing his indifference.

Wu Jue hesitated before asking, "Brother Gu, this lady is…?"

Although Shen Zhen wore a veil, her attire and demeanor hinted that she was undoubtedly a beauty, and her status was likely high.

Gu An laughed, "This lady is Shen Zhen. You can address her as Miss Shen, just like I do."

He then introduced Wu Jue to Shen Zhen.

Seeing that Shen Zhen's attitude remained reserved, Gu An added, "My brother here is no ordinary person. In time, he will undoubtedly make a name for himself in the Tai Xuan Sect…"

"Don't say such things!" Wu Jue quickly interjected, his face flushing bright red.

"Oh? Is that so?" Shen Zhen glanced at Wu Jue again, making him feel even more uneasy.

Gu An laughed, "Let's drink and chat."

In his mind, Wu Jue would eventually reveal his talents, and since Shen Zhen was the saintess of a great sect, it was only a matter of time before the two met. Establishing a connection early on would allow them to take care of each other in the future.

Shen Zhen joined the conversation about the earlier battle and quickly dominated the conversation. Gu An continued to play the role of a polite listener, while Wu Jue, feeling out of place, could only respond with awkward smiles.

An incense stick of time passed.

Shen Zhen eventually stood up to leave, planning to make a few more sketches of the battle.

After she left, Wu Jue let out a sigh of relief.

Gu An teased, "Why were you so nervous? Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to her?"

"Don't talk nonsense! It's obvious she has her eyes on you. As your brother, how could I have any improper thoughts? Besides, I'm not good at talking to women. You know I only have one friend, and that's you," Wu Jue said, his tone deadly serious.

There it is again!

"I only have one friend!"

Gu An chuckled and shook his head, "The more friends you have, the more paths you'll open for yourself. Traveling alone in the cultivation world is exhausting."

"I know, I'm just not good at making friends…"

"Then what about us?"

"You and I were drawn to each other from the start. This isn't making friends; it's fate!"

"Hah, you sure know how to talk when it comes to me."

Gu An laughed, noticing how Wu Jue felt perfectly comfortable with him.

The two chatted until dusk before finally parting ways.

Gu An returned to Xuan Valley to check on his disciples. He noticed Chu Jingfeng sitting in meditation atop the mountain, but Gu An had no intention of disturbing him.

If Chu Jingfeng could comprehend the Dao, that would be a good thing.

However, comprehending the Dao wasn't easy. An Hao and Wu Jue were one-in-a-million talents; not everyone could be compared to them.

After spending half an hour in Xuan Valley, Gu An headed to the Third Medicine Valley.

The Third Medicine Valley was much livelier than Xuan Valley, as it housed ten times the number of disciples.

Gu An chatted briefly with his disciples before retreating to his pavilion to read and calm his mind.

Late at night, footsteps sounded from outside the door, followed by a voice:

"Master of the Valley, I wish to speak with you."

Lu Lingjun!

And she was using a sound transmission technique!

Gu An set down the Tai Xuan Secrets in his hands and covered it with Investiture of the Gods. He said, "Come in."

Lu Lingjun entered, closing the door behind her and casting a spell to seal the room.

Gu An's expression shifted as he looked at her in surprise.

Lu Lingjun turned to face him, bowing with a hand gesture of respect. "Master of the Valley, I apologize for hiding something from you earlier."

"Your cultivation…?" Gu An asked nervously.

Lu Lingjun replied, "The truth is, I'm in the Void Crossing Realm."

Void Crossing Realm!

Gu An shot to his feet.

Lu Lingjun quickly said, "Master of the Valley, I mean no harm. Please hear me out."

Gu An's expression fluctuated, but he eventually sat down again.

Seeing him seated, Lu Lingjun smiled and continued, "I've been concealing my cultivation because I don't fully understand the Tai Cang Dynasty. I come from a faraway land and was transported here by a mysterious formation while exploring a great cultivator's cave. I've been unable to find a way back, so I intend to settle in the Tai Xuan Sect. I hope the Master of the Valley can introduce me."

Gu An, still puzzled, asked, "With your cultivation, you could openly join the Tai Xuan Sect. Why would you need my introduction?"

"The Tai Xuan Sect has strict rules. Someone of my cultivation level would only be allowed to become a guest elder, a position that could take many years to prove myself. I noticed that the Master of the Valley has connections. With your help, I could avoid decades of waiting," Lu Lingjun said seriously.

As she spoke, she pulled out three bottles from her sleeve. "These are Heavenly Spirit Waters, a token of my gratitude."

Gu An frowned and said, "Nonsense. If I accept these gifts in exchange for my help, what will people say about me?"

He swiftly pulled the bottles toward him.

Lu Lingjun chuckled. "Of course not. These Heavenly Spirit Waters are simply to thank the Master of the Valley for your care."

"Very thoughtful," Gu An smiled, feeling satisfied as he motioned for her to sit down.

He began advising her on various matters, mostly explaining the structure of the Tai Xuan Sect and the influence of noble families to ensure that Lu Lingjun wouldn't make enemies.

At first, Lu Lingjun seemed unconcerned, but as Gu An continued, she realized he was genuinely looking out for her. She began to listen attentively.

…

Autumn turned to winter, and snow covered the Third Medicine Valley.

One day, Lü Baitian came to visit Gu An. Upon seeing him, Lu Lingjun knew her opportunity had arrived.

Gu An did not disappoint her. After a long conversation, Gu An and Lü Baitian came downstairs, and Gu An waved at Lu Lingjun from afar.

She quickly approached the two of them. Lü Baitian looked her over and said, "Gu An has told me about you. Come with me to change your disciple token."

Lu Lingjun immediately bowed to thank Lü Baitian and then respectfully saluted Gu An.

Gu An smiled and nodded, watching as the two flew away.

Xiao Chuan came over, astonished. "Why did Lu Lingjun leave?"

"Didn't you notice how quickly she flew away?" Gu An asked.

Xiao Chuan hesitated, then caught up to Gu An's pace. "What do you mean? Wasn't it Senior Lü who carried her?"

"Xiao Chuan."

"Yes, Senior Brother?"

"Sometimes having a simple heart is a good thing. Hold on to that."

"Huh?"

Gu An didn't explain further, heading toward the Heavenly Spirit Pool.

Watching the koi fish in the pool had become one of his pleasures.

Earlier, Lü Baitian had come to discuss the Gold List Tournament and the World's Number One Sword Tournament with him. Not wanting to become a strategist, Gu An hadn't offered too many suggestions, so Lü Baitian hadn't stayed long.

Gu An believed that the coming days would be peaceful for many years.

That's what he hoped, at least.

As winter deepened, news of Sword Master Of Dao defeating the Heavenly Sword Daoist with a single strike began to spread across the Nine Dynasties. Riding this wave of fame, the Tai Xuan Sect began negotiating with other dynasties, preparing to expand into new territories.

The process was difficult, but the high-ranking members of the Tai Xuan Sect didn't feel fatigued. From top to bottom, everyone felt a surge of energy, knowing that the Tai Xuan Sect was about to soar.

With the world's number one cultivator supporting them, how could the Tai Xuan Sect not dominate the Nine Dynasties?

…

Time flew by.

Five years passed quickly, and now sixty-seven years old, Gu An emerged from the Pill Hall.

He paused at the entrance, turning to glance back, sighing softly.

Zhu Qinglu was no longer there, having retired. The new elders treated him with respect, but Gu An still felt somewhat out of place.

The old ones were gone, and now new people had arrived.

Gu An turned back and merged into the bustling streets.

In these five years, the Tai Xuan Sect had flourished, as evidenced by the growing number of disciples in the Outer Sect city.

The Gold List Tournament had spread throughout the world, and in five years, it would be held at the Tai Xuan Sect. It was said that the sect had invited noble families from all over the Nine Dynasties to participate, ensuring that future participants in the tournament would include more and more talented cultivators.

Gu An speculated that the Ji and Gu families had played significant roles in this effort. Of course, other families were eager to invest in the Tai Xuan Sect as well, as it was always beneficial to open up new avenues.

As Gu An walked through the crowded streets, he overheard disciples discussing various geniuses, with An Hao's name mentioned most frequently.

Last year, An Hao had gone down the mountain to train and ended up clashing with the demonic sects. As a Core Formation cultivator, he killed a Nascent Soul Realm expert, earning him widespread fame in the cultivation world.

The title of Tai Xuan Sect's number one genius was now firmly attached to An Hao, with no one able to challenge him.

As for Lü Xian, though he had emerged as the champion of the Hundred Tribes Assembly, the tribes remained aloof from the cultivation world, leaving An Hao to reign supreme.

During these five years, Gu An's life had remained peaceful, but his lifespan had increased by more than 700,000 years, surpassing the two million mark. The goal of reaching tens of millions no longer seemed so far off, and so he maintained a strong sense of motivation, never feeling tired or bored.

"Brother Gu! Long time no see!"

A voice called out from a street corner, and Gu An turned to see Zhou Tongyou, the genius of the Jueshan Sect, walking toward him.

Following Zhou Tongyou was an old, chubby man holding a feather fan, his expression cheerful and friendly.

Before Zhou Tongyou could reach Gu An, Lu Lingjun appeared out of nowhere, standing before Gu An.

Years ago, after following Lü Baitian away, Lu Lingjun had returned the next day. She now held the position of an Inner Sect elder, though her primary task was to protect Gu An—a duty that had frustrated her for quite some time. If not for her fear of Sword Master Of Dao, she might have drawn her sword and struck Lü Baitian down long ago.