Steadily becoming a saint, the immortal officials hired me to tend the horses

After Gu An spoke up, the Blood Prison Great Saint abandoned his plan to scare the White Spirit Rat. He wasn't upset; if Gu An cared so much for the White Spirit Rat, he would naturally do the same for him.

Gu An continued wandering around the Outer Gate City until dusk, and before leaving, the Blood Prison Great Saint voluntarily transformed into a Bull Demon to carry him away.

The Blood Prison Great Saint had not forgotten his duty as a mount, and although Gu An told him it wasn't necessary, he insisted on doing it.

He wasn't foolish; if Gu An said he didn't need him to be a bull, and he actually believed it, Gu An could easily find another bull to replace him the next day.

Gu An was very pleased with the Blood Prison Great Saint's attitude; he could guess what the Blood Prison Great Saint was thinking.

Indeed, with Gu An's current capabilities, finding a mount was easy, and he wouldn't even have to look for one himself; people would rush to offer one if they saw he needed it.

Gu An wouldn't force the Blood Prison Great Saint, but if the Blood Prison Great Saint wanted to stick by him, he wouldn't reject him either. At least by following him, his efforts wouldn't be in vain.

Sitting on the back of the bull, with the breeze on his face, Gu An took out the "Heavenly Dao Theory" again and continued to read.

Although the book was a copy, through its words, Gu An could feel a special Daoist Intent.

If it possessed Daoist Intent, it likely meant its creator was in the Tao Fruit Realm.

There were many Great Heaven and Earth realms beyond the Outer Heaven, and Gu An had even sensed the presence of the Taoist Hidden Immortal, though it was deeply hidden and fleeting. He hadn't yet encountered the Xuan Yuan Zizai Xian.

The "Heavenly Dao Theory" didn't just appear by chance. After deducing, Gu An found that it descended around the world in the same year, indicating that some powerful entity had set its sights on the Great Heavenly Spirit Land.

Now there were more than ten Free Immortals within the Great Heavenly Spirit Land. They fought subtly in the shadows, and though they occasionally met, they moved their combat to the Outer Heaven without disturbing the world's situation.

The emergence of another Taoist Hidden Immortal didn't worry Gu An; it posed no threat.

Besides, he had already started planning his next breakthrough.

The Blood Prison Great Saint wasn't flying fast. By the time they reached the Third Medicine Valley, the moon had already risen.

Upon landing, Gu An didn't go inside; instead, he walked towards a distant courtyard.

The number of disciples in the Third Medicine Valley exceeding five thousand had forced An Xin to establish a set of criteria for those who wished to stay; thus, nowadays, the real challenge wasn't finishing one's training but managing to remain.

Of course, this set of rules was for new disciples after its implementation, although the older disciples could choose to stay as well, and Gu An still treated them the same as before.

Along the way, Gu An continuously responded to the disciples' salutations.

He arrived at that quiet courtyard, sensing Zhu Xi was cultivating inside.

He surveyed the courtyard, then walked to the door and raised his hand.

The door was knocked, and soon Zhu Xi opened it. Seeing Gu An, she immediately bowed.

"May I come in to chat with you?" Gu An asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xi hurriedly stepped aside, inviting Gu An inside.

Having known him for a hundred years, she respected Gu An deeply and wasn't worried he might harm her.

She thought that if Gu An were hypocritical, he couldn't possibly maintain it for so long, especially not a Great Power cultivator interacting with others daily, could he continue to behave with such equality?

Moreover, from Gu An's perspective, there was no need to pretend; he could now make the whole world submit to him—who could stop him?

Compared to reckless strongmen, Zhu Xi admired Gu An more, a man who could restrain his emotions and desires.
Stay tuned to empire

Gu An entered the room and noticed Zhu Xi's room was clean and simple, with no excessive furnishings, and a refreshing fragrance wafted through the air, refreshing the senses.

Gu An took a seat at the table, and Zhu Xi closed the door and began to pour him tea.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhu Xi sat opposite Gu An and asked, "Master, is there something you need?"

She was now a disciple of the Third Medicine Valley, and it was only proper to address Gu An as her master.

Gu An smiled and asked, "Did you recently acquire a book?"

Zhu Xi, puzzled, inquired, "What book?"

"Heavenly Dao Theory."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xi's expression changed slightly. She immediately took out a copied version of the "Heavenly Dao Theory" and asked, "Is it this book? Master, do you want it?"

Previously, when Gu An was calculating the "Heavenly Dao Theory," he deduced that one of the true copies was in Zhu Xi's possession, which she had found by chance during an outing several months ago.

But such coincidences were too many.

Gu An did not take the "Heaveny Dao Theory" from her hands but rather said slowly, "Zhu Xi, I have actually known what kind of person you are for a long time. I noticed you back when you were still at the Moonfall Divine Lake—you liked to steal medicinal herbs."

Zhu Xi widened her eyes and instinctively stood up and stepped back.

Gu An stared at her and said, "You are wary of everyone, so I did not expose you. The reasons I accepted you as a disciple were firstly because of your talent, secondly because you had not committed grave evils and there was still hope for you, and I can provide you with endless medicinal herbs. However, I also need you to trust me. The reason I focused on your early on was only because of your unique physique. Have you always wanted to know the origins of your bloodline?"

Hearing this, most of Zhu Xi's panic dissipated. She cautiously approached the table and said, "Master, I have not stolen any medicinal herbs within the Third Medicine Valley."

What she said was true because the treatments in the Third Medicine Valley were good. The words An Xin had previously spoken to her alone had spread, and many families were trying to win her over, thinking she might become the direct disciple of Sword Venerable Fudao.

Gu An said, "I know, so I never questioned you. Today, I sought you out because this book, 'Heavenly Dao Theory', is extraordinary and could bring trouble to both you and the Third Medicine Valley."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xi immediately took the "Heavenly Dao Theory" out.

The real "Heavenly Dao Theory" was a red-covered book, almost as if it was stained with blood, emanating a sinister aura upon its appearance.

Gu An flicked his finger and the "Heavenly Dao Theory" in Zhu Xi's hands flew out, landing on the table close to Gu An's arm.

Zhu Xi thought to herself, "What an impressive skill."

Her cultivation level wasn't low as she had only concealed her true strength, but in front of Gu An, she felt her Spiritual Power was fragile and couldn't react in time.

Gu An said, "This book probably comes from beyond the Outer Heaven and is the work of someone who surpassed the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Path. It will continuously integrate with your causation and Qi Fortune. The more you use it, the more dependent you become, eventually becoming manipulated by it. To be unaffected, you need to surpass the Free Immortal, even surpass its creator."

Surpass the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Path?

Zhu Xi, frightened to pallor, cautiously asked, "Master, what should I do?"

Gu An smiled and asked, "Do you like this book?"

"I do, no, I just like its power," Zhu Xi honestly replied. She had mistakenly thought it was an Immortal Path Supreme Treasure, which is why she had hidden it so carefully.

Gu An smiled and said, "I can let you keep it, but you mustn't use it. I'll teach you how to control its power, and if any entity tries to contact you, you must tell me."

Zhu Xi agreed without hesitation; she had no reason to side with the entity behind the "Heavenly Dao Theory."