Saint Who Lay Low

Gu An wasn't sure what exactly Li Ya had gone through. Every few days, he would use his spiritual sense to sweep through the Tai Cang Dynasty. Li Ya was diligently practicing swordsmanship at the border of the dynasty, and it seemed like his body now contained an additional soul. It appeared that the Jing Hongke hadn't deceived him.

Now, Gu An just had to wait for the Ephemeral Blossom Sect to gather so he could wipe them all out in one strike.

Ever since Gu An had destroyed the Ephemeral Blossom Tree, the Ephemeral Blossom Sect remained active as if unaffected. Clearly, there was more than one Ephemeral Blossom Tree. The real threat to Tai Xuan Sect wasn't the current Ephemeral Blossom Sect, but the powerful cultivators of the sect's main lineage who had yet to arrive.

Gu An planned to take the opportunity to raise his cultivation to Mahayana Realm, Ninth Layer. A difference of even one small realm at such high levels could be immense.

After the Spring Festival, life returned to normal.

Lu Lingjun stopped seeking out Gu An. She spent her days working, and at night, she cultivated beneath the Mysterious Clear Tree. Whenever Gu An looked at her, it felt like she was deliberately avoiding his gaze. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.

An Xin quickly adapted to life in the Third Medicine Valley. In this valley, the disciples were friendly, and the atmosphere was far from competitive, which made her feel at ease.

Time passed, and the spring turned into summer. On this particular day, Gu An's age ticked up to sixty-one years old.

Tang Yu had just received a Foundation Establishment Pill from Gu An, and the entire medicine valley was abuzz with excitement. Tang Yu represented the future of the valley, and the other disciples saw their own hopes of breaking through to Foundation Establishment reflected in his success.

This even made Lu Lingjun glance at Gu An a few more times, and An Xin completely let down her guard. She realized she had misunderstood Gu An—he was truly a good person.

Gu An wasn't just kind to his disciples; he spoke gently, never using harsh words, and rarely showed any anger. He was always smiling, making others feel as though they were basking in the warmth of spring.

Sending off disciples meant recruiting new ones. As usual, Gu An entrusted Xiao Chuan with the task, a way to help Xiao Chuan build his authority.

By midday, Ji Xiaoyu came to visit Gu An. She, along with the other nine prodigies, was still honing her heart and mind in the medicine valley. They rarely interacted with the regular outer sect disciples, keeping a respectful distance.

"I'm preparing to leave and participate in the Sacred Land Examination," Ji Xiaoyu said softly as she sat down inside.

Sacred Land?

While pouring her tea, Gu An couldn't help but ask curiously, "What kind of force is this Sacred Land, and where is it located?"

Ji Xiaoyu replied, "The Sacred Land is the oldest force on this continent, with a legacy stretching back over ten thousand years. It lies beyond the Nine Dynasties. The Sacred Land does not concern itself with worldly affairs or conflicts. Once every hundred years, they recruit disciples. However, after entering the Sacred Land, no one can stay longer than one hundred years. How long you can remain depends on your own fortune. My family, the Ji Family, rose to prominence through the legacy of the Sacred Land."

After hearing this, Gu An became even more intrigued. "Why does the Sacred Land not retain its disciples? What is its purpose?"

Ji Xiaoyu shook her head. "No one knows. Even those family elders who have returned from the Sacred Land have said little about it. They only mention that entering the Sacred Land offers the possibility of seeking the Immortal Dao."

How mysterious! Gu An thought.

He then asked, "I've heard rumors about an impending Great Catastrophe of Monsters and Demons. Why does the Sacred Land not intervene?"

Sipping her tea, Ji Xiaoyu explained, "There was a Great Catastrophe of Monsters and Demons before the Nine Dynasties were established. Back then, demons ruled the continent, while the human race struggled to survive, reduced to mere livestock for the demons. Even during that time, the Sacred Land did not intervene. Yet, without their help, humanity eventually rose again and founded the Nine Dynasties. My family elders say that the Sacred Land has transcended mortal concerns. They care not for the lives of individuals but for the continuity of the Immortal Dao."

Hearing this, Gu An gained a newfound respect for the Sacred Land. It truly seemed like an entity beyond the world's conflicts.

He asked no more questions and instead offered Ji Xiaoyu his best wishes for a smooth and successful examination.

Ji Xiaoyu did not stay long. She had to leave that very day.

Gu An escorted her downstairs and watched as she departed.

As she walked away, Lu Lingjun approached and curiously asked, "Valley Master, who was that young lady? She doesn't seem ordinary."

Lu Lingjun had long noticed the ten prodigies cultivating in the medicine valley. She knew they had been placed under Gu An's care by the sect master himself, which made her hold Gu An in even higher esteem.

Among the ten, Ji Xiaoyu intrigued her the most.

She could sense the innate Dao Talisman aura emanating from Ji Xiaoyu, and at one point, she even felt the urge to seize it. But she suppressed that desire.

"She's one of the sect's true disciples and a lady of the Ji Family. Her name is Ji Xiaoyu, and she's one of the top talents in the sect," Gu An explained.

In truth, Ji Xiaoyu was one of the best. Among all the sect's disciples, only An Hao had a higher potential lifespan.

An Hao had successfully reached the Core Formation Realm and was already a legend in the inner sect. No one could rival him, and Gu Yu had even compared him to the true disciple who was currently away on a training mission.

There were many paths in life. Not all prodigies needed to participate in the Hundred Tribes Assembly or join the Sacred Land.

Lu Lingjun nodded thoughtfully and then asked, "Valley Master, have you ever read Tai Xuan Secrets?"

Gu An's smile froze instantly. He frowned. "Why are you reading something like that?"

Good heavens!

When will the corrupt wind in Tai Xuan Sect be cleaned up?

Even the newly ascended cultivators are falling prey to it!

Gu An couldn't help but silently curse Shen Zhen a few more times in his heart.

"Someone in the outer sect recommended it to me. Is it not your work, Valley Master? I noticed that the protagonist's name is also Gu An…" Lu Lingjun explained.

Gu An was furious. "Do I look like that kind of person?"

"You don't, so that's why I'm asking."

Seeing his reaction, Lu Lingjun finally let go of her suspicions and smiled. Gu An suddenly seemed much more pleasant to her.

She had been holding back this question for a long time and had only now mustered the courage to ask it.

"I'll have to visit the Scripture Pavilion and deal with this. They're clearly not monitoring things closely enough. You should destroy that book," Gu An said sternly.

It was rare for Lu Lingjun to see him so serious, and it inexplicably lifted her spirits. She smiled and asked, "Valley Master, which do you think is better: Tai Xuan Secrets or The Adventures of Green Hero?"

This question caught Gu An off guard.

Before he could respond, Lu Lingjun had already turned and walked away.

Watching her leave, Gu An sighed, holding back words he wanted to say. In the end, it all turned into a heavy sigh.

My reputation is ruined!

He shook his head, turned, and headed back to his room, pulling out his copy of The Adventures of Green Hero from his robe as he did so.

Since my reputation is already ruined, there's no point in hiding it anymore!

...

That night, under the starry sky, in the Xuan Valley.

Gu An was sitting in his study, reading through cultivation manuals. It was a basic fire-element cultivation technique. He had previously bought manuals for various elements from the inner sect, as it seemed there were no complete Five Elements Techniques available. He was preparing to comprehend the Five Elements on his own.

After all, I have a lot of time on my hands. Who knows? I might figure something out.

His comprehension might be poor, but with enough time, anything was possible.

As the night deepened, Gu An suddenly detected a presence entering the Xuan Valley within a hundred-mile radius.

A Void Crossing Realm cultivator!

It was never a good sign when a cultivator of such high caliber concealed their presence and approached the Xuan Valley.

Gu An didn't act immediately, as he suspected someone.

Sure enough, after a short while, Yang Ni quietly left her courtyard and swiftly moved in the direction of the Void Crossing Realm cultivator.

They met in a forest more than thirty miles away.

In the dim moonlight, Yang Ni stopped and looked at the figure standing under a tree. The figure was a woman illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

"You're slow, Yang Ni. Why are you still lingering in the outer sect? Has Li Xuandao not arranged for you to enter the inner sect?" the woman asked coldly.

This woman was dressed in a long, purple gown. Her hair was tied in a bun with several jade hairpins, giving her an elegant and dignified appearance. Her face was stunning, and despite the coldness in her gaze, there was still an alluring charm in her eyes.

"Li Xuandao assigned me to protect an outer sect disciple. He is closely connected to his son, Li Ya," Yang Ni replied.

"Has Li Xuandao discovered your true identity?" the woman asked.

"He shouldn't have, otherwise, he wouldn't have tasked me with protecting Li Ya."

"The Ephemeral Blossom Tree was destroyed by a mysterious cultivator, and even our sect leader has perished. It's likely a high-ranking cultivator from Tai Xuan Sect. You must find out if Tai Xuan Sect has any cultivators above the Body Fusion Realm, Fifth Layer besides their sect leader," the woman demanded coldly.

Body Fusion, Fifth Layer!

Yang Ni's face tensed. "With my cultivation, how could I possibly come into contact with Body Fusion cultivators?"

"The information we received from the elders' council states that Lü Baitian has failed his tribulation, so he couldn't have been the one who killed our sect leader. This mysterious person is likely the Flying Leaf Sword Immortal. Ever since his rise to fame, our sect has been investigating him. After eliminating all other possibilities, we believe that he is a cultivator who has concealed his true strength, possibly hiding within the outer sect, where Heaven Mending Platform is located."

The woman's words made Yang Ni furrow her brows.

"Of course, Flying Leaf Sword Immortal is only a theory. Regardless, you must find a way to investigate the outer sect," the woman ordered.

"I've been busy cultivating the Ephemeral Blossom and can't afford to leave right now," Yang Ni argued.

"Can't afford to leave?"

The woman hesitated for a moment before releasing her spiritual sense to probe the distant Xuan Valley.

After a few moments, she scoffed. "That boy certainly has a handsome appearance."

Yang Ni's expression changed instantly, and she quickly warned, "Don't you dare harm him!"

"What is your relationship with him?"

"He's not only someone Li Xuandao wishes to protect, but also a disciple I've just taken under my wing!"

"Your disciple? What if I take him for myself instead?"

"Shut up!"

Yang Ni was furious, immediately drawing her sword.

The woman gave her a contemptuous glance. "I'll return next year. If you don't provide me with satisfactory information by then, that boy will be mine. After I drain him of his life force, I'll turn his bones into a pendant for you to remember him by."

With that, she turned and left.

Yang Ni watched her retreating figure, her eyes full of rage. Yet, despite her grip on her sword's hilt, she couldn't draw it.

Taking a deep breath, she turned back and rushed toward Xuan Valley, moving as fast as she could, fearing for Gu An's safety.

As she hurried back, the purple-clad woman walked slowly through the forest. Thinking back on Yang Ni's reaction, a mocking smile crept across her face.

Smack!

A hand suddenly pressed down on the woman's shoulder, freezing her in place, her pupils dilating in shock.

Instinctively, she tried to turn, catching a glimpse of a dark, purple shadow out of the corner of her eye.

"Thou—"

Boom!

A terrifying spiritual force invaded her mind, leaving her gaze vacant.

...

Back in Xuan Valley, Yang Ni stood beneath Gu An's pavilion and saw that the light inside was still on. Sensing his presence, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside, Gu An sat at his desk, and before him knelt the purple-clad woman. His right hand rested on her head as he performed the Soul Capture Technique.

His spiritual energy enveloped her, his Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body masking her presence. Unless someone physically entered the room, even a spiritual sense sweep wouldn't detect her existence or sense her aura.