Saint Who Lay Low

"You can teach it to others, but whether they succeed depends on them. This technique requires a large amount of spiritual herbs to temper the body. I only passed it to you because you have the resources of the Medicine Valley," Ji Xiaoya said as she stood up and turned to leave.

"You're leaving already?" Gu An couldn't help but ask.

"I need to cultivate," Ji Xiaoya replied without turning her head. This time, she left the door open as she exited the room.

Gu An chuckled to himself and murmured, "Still just a girl at heart."

He didn't dwell on it and carefully stored the technique she had written down.

In truth, he had similar techniques in his repertoire. He had only asked casually earlier.

Techniques to alter one's physique often required an immense amount of rare materials to achieve their full potential. Just possessing the technique itself wasn't enough.

Gu An shifted his focus and used his divine sense to scan the mortal world, seeking a suitable place for his next breakthrough.

Considering the immense commotion his last breakthrough caused, he was cautious about his choice. He wanted to avoid affecting the surrounding people and alarming nearby sects.

His gaze fell on the Deep Sea Rift. He could sense the vast and dense spiritual energy within.

Perhaps breaking through within the Deep Sea Rift would work?

Once his lifespan reached 30 million years, he decided, he would go there to break through.

Inside a grand hall, An Hao sat meditating in a pool. His brows were furrowed, and his thoughts were restless.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, bloodshot, as the world around him began to shake violently. Everything in his vision blurred and trembled, leaving him dazed.

He vaguely saw a mass of black energy seep into the hall, swiftly approaching him.

The black energy stopped at the edge of the pool and condensed into a humanoid figure. An Hao tried to stand, but found himself unable to move.

"A Fiery Sun Treasure Body. Though acquired later in life, it surpasses innate ones. Remarkable," a voice echoed.

If Gu An or Yang Jian were present, they would instantly recognize it as the voice of Tian Wuchang.

An Hao stared intently at Tian Wuchang. Though immobile, he displayed no fear.

The black energy churned, revealing a handsome yet sinister face. Tian Wuchang looked down at An Hao with a greedy smile.

"Supreme Treasure Body, you too acquired yours later in life," An Hao said calmly.

Tian Wuchang's pupils contracted sharply. His gaze deepened, and he sneered. "It seems you're not ordinary. Perfect. Devouring you will bring me one step closer to finding the Abyssal Tyrant Body."

An Hao remained silent, sitting motionless in the pool and staring at him.

"Let the Star Sea Sect prepare itself. I'll see if it still holds the glory it once had," Tian Wuchang declared before disappearing into smoke.

An Hao suddenly awoke, gasping for breath as his body regained sensation.

Propping himself up in the pool, his face was drenched with cold sweat, but his eyes glinted with a savage light.

"Supreme Treasure Body... Why..." he muttered under his breath, his voice akin to a beast's low growl.

Two years flew by in an instant.

Gu An, having just finished harvesting spiritual herbs, returned to his pavilion. Pulling up his attribute panel, he saw that his lifespan was only 100,000 years short of 30 million. A smile spread across his face.

Once he reached 30 million years, he would break through!

Seated at his desk, Gu An began to daydream about what lay beyond the Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm. What kind of realm could it be?

His thoughts were interrupted as a figure briskly entered, accompanied by a fragrant breeze that pulled his divine sense back to the present.

Shen Zhen walked to his desk, pulled out a book, and placed it on the table with a triumphant grin. "Take a look at this!"

Gu An picked up the book without hesitation and began flipping through it.

As he read, his brows furrowed.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Zhen grew nervous. "Is it that bad?" she asked.

The book was a novel clearly inspired by Journey to the West. The protagonist was also a demon, though not on a pilgrimage for scriptures. Instead, he embarked on an adventure to search for an immortal treasure capable of granting wishes.

Objectively, it was well-written.

But Gu An felt a pang of regret.

Shen Zhen had gone straight.

Gu An found himself torn. He had complained when she wrote before, but now that she had stopped, he somehow felt it was a loss.

"It's good. Keep at it," he said, closing the book and returning it to her with a casual remark.

Shen Zhen's grip on the book tightened as she stared at his indifferent demeanor.

At that moment, footsteps echoed up the stairs.

Dressed in white, Ji Xiaoya entered. At eighteen, her elegance had become even more striking. Her features had fully matured, with her captivating eyes and the thin red line on her forehead adding an air of mystique. She was breathtaking.

Even Shen Zhen found herself momentarily stunned by Ji Xiaoya's beauty.

Although Ji Xiaoya had lived in the Third Medicine Valley for years, the two women had never crossed paths. Shen Zhen hadn't attended the Spring Festival in years.

Ji Xiaoya's gaze settled on Shen Zhen as she studied her carefully.

Shen Zhen suddenly smiled, turning to Gu An. "Gu An, do you dislike this kind of book? Do you only enjoy reading the Tai Xuan Secrets?"

Gu An's expression changed drastically, and he quickly replied, "How could that be? I love this kind of book. I've never even touched Tai Xuan Secrets!"

He gave Shen Zhen a meaningful glance.

Shen Zhen immediately placed the book on the table and said, "Then you better read it carefully. Next time I visit, I'll be quizzing you."

"Of course, I will. I enjoy it a lot. By then, I'll have it memorized backward and forward," Gu An replied seriously.

Shen Zhen shot him a look that seemed to say good that you know your place before leaving. As she passed Ji Xiaoya, she gave her a friendly nod, leaving Ji Xiaoya frowning slightly.

Ji Xiaoya approached the desk and asked softly, "Is she threatening you? Tell me, and I'll deal with her."

At eighteen years old, Ji Xiaoya had already reached the eighth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm. She was confident in her abilities.

Gu An chuckled. "Not at all. I've known her for over a hundred years. She just enjoys bickering with me. Let's not talk about her. Why are you here?"

Ji Xiaoya looked at him and said, "I'm planning to leave for a while. I have something I need to handle back at the Ji family."

"Go ahead. Do you need me to take you to see the Vice Sect Master?"

"Yes."

Hearing this, Gu An stood up immediately.

Having been to the sect's main city before, he knew where Ji Hantian lived.

Nowadays, Gu An could access any part of the Tai Xuan Sect, but he preferred visiting the outer sect cities. The disciples there were more approachable. Inner sect disciples often had an air of distance, and those in the main sect city carried a palpable arrogance. As a Core Formation Realm disciple, Gu An often received odd looks from them when he visited the city.

As they walked, Gu An and Ji Xiaoya chatted casually. Their conversation wasn't particularly deep; they simply spoke their minds. Even if there were lulls, neither felt awkward.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the gate of the Ji family residence. Gu An stopped and said, "Go ahead."

Ji Xiaoya nodded and began walking toward the gate.

Gu An turned to leave, but Ji Xiaoya stopped and watched him go, her brows slightly furrowed as if deep in thought.

Gu An could feel her gaze on him, but he didn't dare turn around, fearing she'd ask about Tai Xuan Secrets.

This life's Ji Xiaoya was far more inquisitive than in her previous incarnation. As their relationship grew closer, her curiosity about his affairs had only deepened.

Using the sect's main teleportation array, Gu An arrived at an inner sect city. Almost immediately, he sensed an intense battle aura emanating from the south. One of the auras was far stronger than most Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals.

Close to Unrestrained Primordial Immortal level, but not quite there!

Gu An extended his divine sense and scanned the scene. His expression turned peculiar.

It's him?

Realizing what was happening, Gu An's expression shifted to one of understanding. He continued walking forward without stopping.

As he walked through the streets, Gu An observed the bustling disciples. Over the years, many inner sect disciples had become demons, marking the initial stages of a successful integration between humans and demonkind.

Gu An habitually used his lifespan investigation ability on the disciples he passed, occasionally checking their karmic threads. It had become a small amusement for him over the years.

Boom!

A deafening rumble echoed outside the grand hall where An Hao sat meditating in the pool, his brows deeply furrowed.

Ten or so powerful cultivators, both male and female, stood in the hall. Their presence exuded an extraordinary aura. Among them were Chi Bei and Chi Jiuxiao, who had brought An Hao into the Star Sea Sect.

"How is this guy so strong? Can he really break into the Star Sea Sect?"

"He's a Spectral Wraith King of legend. If he weren't formidable, he would've been killed long ago."

"The audacity! How dare he storm the Star Sea Sect to abduct someone?"

"Hmph, luckily the Sect Master is here. We have nothing to worry about."

"Even so, his aura is alarmingly overwhelming…"

As the elders muttered among themselves, An Hao's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Tian Wuchang to be so brazen as to directly attack the Star Sea Sect.

The oppressive aura grew stronger, signaling that Tian Wuchang was drawing closer—and had already locked onto him.

Outside the palace, the azure sky churned with violent winds, swirling the sea of clouds into a massive vortex. Below, the floating islands appeared as insignificant specks of dust.

On each floating island, cultivators took to the skies, brandishing their spiritual artifacts in preparation for battle.

The doors of An Hao's palace swung open, and everyone stepped outside, An Hao included.

"The Sect Master is here!" a female cultivator exclaimed in relief.

The other elders also breathed a sigh of relief.

From the swirling vortex above, a shimmering flag emerged. A streak of radiant light shot down, landing at the edge of a cliff outside An Hao's palace.

When the light dissipated, a man in flowing white robes stood there. His waist was adorned with numerous jade ornaments of varying shapes, which swayed gently in the wind. His broad back exuded an aura of dominance. Even as he faced away from An Hao and the others, his overwhelming presence left them awestruck.

Da Mingtian, the Sect Master of the Star Sea Sect, stood there—a cultivator at the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm!

His expression was solemn, his long beard flowing with the wind. His hair was tied neatly beneath a crown, which was adorned with small Flags. Raising his right hand, one of these Flags detached itself, growing larger until it landed in his grasp.

It was none other than the legendary Star Sea Primordial Flag, an immortal treasure of great renown.

The Flag shimmered with starlight, emanating a boundless and majestic power that shook the heavens and earth.

"Star Sea Primordial Flag. It's been a while!"

Tian Wuchang's cold laughter echoed across the sky. As his voice fell, a massive black rift suddenly tore through the heavens. Stretching hundreds of miles, it resembled a sword slash that had split the sky apart—a sight both magnificent and terrifying.