Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Named Holy Land, Actually Demon Cave
The Supreme Sect under the night sky was serene and peaceful. Gu An's divine sense encompassed the entire Supreme Sect. He saw the hidden spaces seemingly exposed before his eyes, each cave residence laid bare. There were even small realms similar to the Manifest Holy Cave, though those small realms were far less extensive than the Star-Master Cave.
The Supreme Sect had four Mystic Heart Realm cultivators!
Ancestor Xuan Quan, Lu Lingjun, and two Supreme Elders whom Gu An had never seen before. One was a woman whose presence he had sensed in the Inner Sect's Book Collection Hall.
One had to admit, the foundation of the Supreme Sect was strong!
Gu An noticed Lv Baitian practicing energy in his cave, seemingly still striving to break through to the Mystic Heart Realm.
Lv Baitian treated Gu An well. Gu An started to consider secretly assisting him during his next tribulation crossing.
Then, Gu An returned to the Mystic Valley.
He stepped into the pavilion, sat on a chair, and stretched lazily.
Home was always the most comfortable!
Gu An closed his eyes and began to savor the experiences of the past two days.
The mysteries of the Wandering Immortal Realm, the vastness of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Skill, and the wonders of the Mystic Holy Body—too many things were worthy of reflection and appreciation.
Until morning came, Gu An went downstairs to lead his disciples in exercises, then returned to his room.
The disciples did not notice Gu An's changes because the gap in cultivation levels was too vast.
The disturbances in the ocean did not reach the continent, and over the next three days, Gu An did not sense the divine senses of Nirvana or Loose Immortals sweeping across the continent, which put him at ease.
After three days, he continued harvesting medicinal herbs.
His lifespan was just over 1.4 million years, with the life span barrier alone consuming hundreds of thousands of years.
For the next life span function activation, he would need to accumulate 100 million years of life span. The mere thought made Gu An's scalp tingle.
A hundred million years of life span was no easy task, certainly not the work of two or three decades.
At his current rate of 200,000 years of life span income per year, it would take about five centuries.
He had to strive harder to increase his annual life span income!
In the morning, he went to the Third Medicine Valley. In the afternoon, he visited Tianya Valley. By evening, he headed to the Demon Land to meet Ji Xiaoyu.
In the underground cave, the black-clad Ji Xiaoyu was still seated in meditation, cultivating energy. Her Spiritual Power had recovered by thirty percent, and she had consumed quite a number of Spirit Energy Elixirs during this period.
Gu An appeared out of thin air ten steps away. Ji Xiaoyu did not detect his presence.
After watching quietly for a while, Gu An finally spoke up, "There is a powerful force within you. After depleting your Spiritual Power, this force has actually enhanced your cultivation level."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu quickly opened her eyes, then stood up and faced him with a clasped fist in courtesy.
"I have ties with the Ji Family and wish to teach you a divine skill. Would you like to learn?" Gu An asked calmly.
He intended to impart the Daoist Gang Primal Energy to Ji Xiaoyu.
The Daoist Gang Primal Energy, transformed from Heaven and Earth Path Gang, was stolen from Ji Xiaoyu by Jiang Qiong. By returning it to Ji Xiaoyu, Gu An repaid the debt of her past rescue.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu asked, "May I ask, senior, what divine skill is it?"
"The Daoist Gang Primal Energy. Have you heard of it?"
"The Daoist Gang Primal Energy?"
Ji Xiaoyu was moved, her eyes showing a mix of surprise and doubt.
Gu An said softly, "It seems you have heard of it."
Through her mask, Ji Xiaoyu could not discern his true appearance. She suppressed her inner shock and asked with furrowed brows, "May I ask, senior, who exactly are you? The Daoist Gang Primal Energy is an ultimate skill of the Ji Family that has been lost.
There is no related transmission within the family, and to master the Daoist Gang Primal Energy, one must first cultivate the Heaven and Earth Dominator Body. To achieve the Heaven and Earth Dominator Body is enough to be included in the main family's lineage."
Gu An replied, "There is no need for you to know my identity. You only need to answer whether you want to learn."
"Then please, senior, teach me!" Ji Xiaoyu replied without hesitation.
Gu An waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind blew towards Ji Xiaoyu. She had no time to dodge and was immobilized. In her pupils, a figure continuously changed stances.
While Ji Xiaoyu was entranced, Gu An observed her, equally curious.
Besides the Primordial Daoist Talisman, Gu An sensed she had other secrets.
She possessed an indescribable composure; even facing Gu An, she did not lose her poise.
Gu An recalled the first time he saw Ji Xiaoyu in his youth. She was different from her peers even at a few years of age. At that time, he even guessed she might have been possessed by someone, with an old soul inside her body.
An hour later.
Ji Xiaoyu's eyes became clear. She took a deep breath and turned to look at Gu An, who was standing not far away by the mountain wall. She said, "Thank you, senior, for your guidance. How can I repay you?"
She was sure the Daoist Gang Primal Energy she just acquired was genuine!
The Daoist Gang Primal Energy shared many similarities with her Heaven and Earth Path Gang. She could even see the signs of the Heaven and Earth Path Gang evolving into Daoist Gang Primal Energy.
This person's Dao level surely exceeded her imagination!
He might even be the strongest person she had ever encountered in her life!
"I do not need your repayment. I am only considering your surname, Ji. Tell me, what are your impressions of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm?" Gu An replied casually.
In fact, in his heart, Ji Xiaoyu was more important than the Ji Family.
Although the Ji Family raised him, years ago, they intended to cut off his hand. It was Ji Xiaoyu who spoke up to save him. His acceptance into the Supreme Sect was also Ji Xiaoyu's idea, unrelated to the Ji Family. Over the years, the medicinal herbs Gu An had contributed were enough to repay the Ji Family.
This time, rescuing Ji Xiaoyu was also repaying her past kindness.
At least in Gu An's mind, he and the Ji Family, including Ji Xiaoyu, were even in grace.
The Ji Family was about to leave the Supreme Sect. To Gu An, it meant that the Ji Family would have no relation to him in the future, becoming strangers.
Ji Xiaoyu looked at Gu An and calmly said, "A place named Holy Land but in reality, a Demon Cave."
Gu An was surprised. He did not expect Ji Xiaoyu to recognize this.
Ji Xiaoyu continued, "It seems senior also has a different view of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Otherwise, you would not have asked me. Perhaps we can stand on the same side."
"Oh? Why should we stand on the same side?" Gu An's tone was intriguing.
Ji Xiaoyu frankly said, "I want to overthrow the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. My power alone is too weak. I hope senior can assist me."
Gu An inquired, "Reason?"
"It has nothing to do with the sake of the people. The Ji Family wants to marry me off to a disciple of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. For the sake of blood relations, I cannot oppose the Ji Family, so I intend to eliminate the Seven Stars Spirit Realm." Ji Xiaoyu's expression remained calm.
"Though I was born in the Ji Family, I will not choose to sacrifice myself for the family. Between me and the family, I will always choose myself. If senior harbors animosity towards the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, then we can join forces. I will gather as much information about the Seven Stars Spirit Realm as possible."
Listening to her, Gu An could sense the coldness emanating from her bones, causing him to reassess her.
In Gu An's impression, Ji Xiaoyu had been merely calm and composed. Only this time did he truly understand who Ji Xiaoyu was.
Although her words seemed selfish, Gu An did not dislike her for it.
A person must prioritize themselves, and Ji Xiaoyu had not harmed her clansmen. The Seven Stars Spirit Realm was indeed not a decent entity.
Gu An said, "Alright."
Ji Xiaoyu immediately raised her hand in salute to Gu An.
"Do you know that the root cause of the demon calamity comes from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm?" Gu An suddenly asked.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu frowned and said, "I only know some of the evil deeds the Seven Stars Spirit Realm has done. I guessed there might be a connection, but I don't know the specific reasons."
Gu An then told her what he had learned.
As she listened, Ji Xiaoyu's brows furrowed more and more tightly.
After he finished speaking, Ji Xiaoyu coldly said, "If what you say is true, then destroying the Seven Stars Spirit Realm could indeed save the populace."
"The Seven Stars Spirit Realm is deeply rooted and strong. To destroy them is extremely difficult. For now, you should lie low. Once humanity prevails over the demon calamity, then make plans against the Seven Stars Spirit Realm." Gu An replied.
Ji Xiaoyu nodded.
Then Gu An waved his sleeve, taking her to the edge of the Great Jiang Dynasty.
In the land of five dynasties, there must be a Transmission Array leading to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Delivering her here made Ji Xiaoyu safer.
Before Ji Xiaoyu could speak, Gu An disappeared from the spot.
Ji Xiaoyu spread her divine sense and soon caught sight of cultivators. Her expression grew complex.
To cross such a vast distance in such a short time...
"Who exactly is he…"
...
As autumn ended, winter snow finally arrived.
After parting with Ji Xiaoyu, Gu An returned to his usual farming life. Even though he had reached the ninth layer of the Wandering Immortal Realm, he did not act recklessly.
However, the changes brought by Wandering Immortal could not be completely hidden, so he began to elevate his apparent cultivation level.
He planned to pretend to reside in the Core Formation Realm using elixirs.
In the future, he could slowly improve his cultivation, creating the image of someone dependent on elixirs. This would make others think him lucky and not strong.
Gu An aimed to be perceived as harmless to the Supreme Sect and other factions, making everyone believe there was no point in killing him, nor any harm in keeping him alive.
This day.
In the Third Medicine Valley.
Gu An was playing chess with Lu Lingjun. Snow drifted down but could not cover their bodies or the chessboard.
Gu An placed a piece and smiled, "You've lost again."
Lu Lingjun frowned, puzzled. She had calculated countless scenarios; how did she still lose?
It didn't make sense, she thought. She was in the Mystic Heart Realm!
Unable to restrain herself, she asked, "Why can't I beat you?"
"You're too hasty. Being hasty leads to flaws." Gu An replied.
Chess was something he brought to this world. How could he lose?
He had to defend the dignity of Huaxia people!
Lu Lingjun couldn't help but ponder.
At that moment, a figure flew over—Elder Gu Zong's son, Gu Yu.
He quickly landed beside Gu An, excitedly saying, "Gu An, the true inheritor disciple has returned. He's planning to lecture in the Inner Sect after the New Year. You have to listen. They say he's now in the Mahayana Realm!"
Hearing this, Lu Lingjun grew interested too.
For Mystic Heart Realm cultivators, the most intriguing subject was how to reach the Mahayana Realm.
Gu An couldn't help but ask, "Really? What is the true inheritor disciple's name?"
Yesterday, he had sensed a Mahayana Realm cultivator enter the Supreme Sect. As elders had personally received the person, he hadn't paid much attention.
"Of course, it's true. His name is Xuan Tianyi. With a Mahayana cultivator like him, we'll have a better chance against the demon calamity. He said if he'd come back earlier, dealing with the Six-Headed Sea Dragon, another Mahayana cultivator, would have taken just a single move!" Gu Yu said excitedly, his face full of admiration.