The height of summer had arrived, and under the blazing sun, Gu An was busy gathering medicinal herbs in Xuan Valley.
With the number of demons in the world sharply declining, the skies grew clearer and bluer. The Three Dynasties, Sacred Land, and the Demon Emperor's forces were all vigorously exterminating the remaining demons, which had significantly slowed Gu An's lifespan-harvesting progress.
Still, this gradual return to peace was a good thing for him.
Peaceful times meant farming in silence and growing stronger quietly—this was the true path to dominance.
Lu Jiujia approached Gu An and softly asked, "Senior Brother, will you participate in the alchemy competition at year's end?"
After the Demon Ancestor's death, Lü Baitian had once again started making waves. First, he pushed Xuan Tianyi to write another book; now, he was organizing the world's first alchemy competition, promising bountiful rewards to attract the attention of cultivators everywhere. Even Tai Xuan Sect disciples were encouraged to participate.
In Lu Jiujia's opinion, Gu An's alchemy skills were more than sufficient. He had already helped countless outer disciples achieve breakthroughs to become official disciples. Just in Xuan Valley alone, over twenty disciples had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage under his guidance, leading to new faces appearing in the Medicine Valley every year.
"I'll skip the fanfare. My name on the Golden Rankings is enough for me to get by comfortably," Gu An replied casually.
There would be more competitions like this in the future. If there were ever a calligraphy competition, though, he might join, as practicing his handwriting was one of his favorite pastimes.
Lu Jiujia began marveling at how far Tai Xuan Sect had come.
Compared to the sect he had joined years ago, Tai Xuan Sect had undergone a complete transformation. The atmosphere was more upright, the sect itself more powerful. In the past, it was rare even to spot a Nascent Soul cultivator, but now the Heaven Mending Platform often hosted Divine Transformation, Void Crossing, and Body Fusion experts. Stories about cultivators in the Profound Heart Realm were becoming increasingly common.
The stronger Tai Xuan Sect grew, the more opportunities there were for its disciples. For instance, even just helping organize the alchemy competition came with significant rewards, making it an excellent opportunity for disciples with ample free time and limited cultivation resources.
Gu An continued plucking herbs while attentively listening to Lu Jiujia's thoughts.
Listening to how rank-and-file cultivators viewed Tai Xuan Sect often revealed whether the sect was truly on the right path.
Wait a minute.
Why was he thinking like a sect master again?
Damn Lü Baitian!
But Gu An had grown accustomed to playing Lü Baitian's behind-the-scenes advisor. It was a satisfying arrangement—he got to call the shots without having to lift a finger. His craving for control was fulfilled, but without the hassle.
Lü Baitian was equally satisfied. Over time, he hoped Gu An might be persuaded to formally take the reins of the sect.
Several months had passed since the Demon Ancestor's fall. While Tai Xuan Sect dispatched inner and outer disciples to eradicate demons, master-disciple pairs and core disciples were sent to explore the Demon Lands.
The Demon Lands were vast and uncharted territory for the sects of the Three Dynasties. Even Profound Heart Realm cultivators couldn't resist the allure of the potential treasures.
Lu Lingjun had also left the Third Medicine Valley, though her departure had little impact on its daily activities.
After Lu Jiujia finished his musings, Gu An offered a measured response: "The technique Wuxin left behind—you should cultivate it well. Tai Xuan Sect's rise signifies a changing era. Both you and I have opportunities."
Lu Jiujia nodded, his imagination running wild.
After handing the harvested herbs to Lu Jiujia and giving him a few parting instructions, Gu An left Xuan Valley.
Next on his list were Tianya Valley, Xuantian Cave Mansion, Mountain God Temple, and Nian Chu Cave Residence. He planned to spend the evening in Eight Views Heavenly Cave. The workload was substantial but fulfilling.
Although the number of demonic creatures dwindled by the day, Gu An's herbal harvests continued to provide him with a steady supply of lifespan.
He even considered expanding Nian Chu Cave Residence, partly to house two new female demons he intended to find for Tian Yao'er.
Nightfall.
In Nian Chu Cave Residence, Gu An sat at a stone table, sipping tea while watching Tian Yao'er tend to two small cat demons.
The Demon Lands were brimming with demonic creatures. Gu An had deliberately sought out those who were suffering.
These two small cat demons were twin sisters whose parents had been devoured by corrupted demons the previous month. After barely escaping with their lives, they had endured numerous injuries during their month-long flight. Tian Yao'er was carefully cleaning their wounds with a mix of tenderness and sorrow.
Watching her, Gu An couldn't help but think of An Xin.
Was it universal? Did all women love keeping pets?
His spiritual sense extended into the depths of the Demon Lands, probing the source of the increasingly prevalent legends surrounding Li Mo. The mysterious being had become a nightmare for humanity, a menace more terrifying than the Demon Ancestor, untouchable even by the millennia-old Sacred Land.
Li Mo's demonic energy continued to expand, and even Gu An, now at the Ninth Layer of the Wandering Immortal Realm, required significant time to locate its origin.
After a stick of incense had burned, Gu An locked onto a mountain range deep within the continent, nearly ten million miles from Tianhuang Mountain. The area was shrouded in dense demonic energy, blanketing a region spanning a million miles.
Sending his spiritual sense deeper, Gu An noticed a group of mysterious cultivators in the heart of the mountains. Their cultivation levels were anything but ordinary—the weakest among them were in the Mahayana Realm. They were stationed in a secluded temple within the forest, cultivating in silence with no interaction.
So, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm intended to guard against Li Mo's escape?
Soon, Gu An's spiritual sense encountered a powerful barrier—impassable to anyone below the Wandering Immortal Realm. He sensed he could breach it, but doing so would alert both the Sacred Land and Li Mo. Reluctantly, he withdrew his probe.
No rush.
If he could reach a lifespan of 10 million years before Li Mo broke free, so much the better. If not, he would simply advance his cultivation early.
Gu An summoned his status panel, observing that his lifespan was close to reaching 9 million years. He felt no anxiety.
After a moment, Gu An turned to Tian Yao'er. "Have you thought of names yet?"
The two small cat demons, still in the early stages of intelligence, merely tilted their heads. They were still within the first tier of development.
Tian Yao'er hesitated briefly before replying, "Master, why don't you name them? By the way, I still don't know your name."
As she spoke, her tone carried a hint of grievance, and her gaze toward Gu An was filled with a sense of injustice.
Gu An, unfazed by her expression, said, "Let's call them Tianqing and Tianbai."
Both cat demons were white, and the names Tianqing and Tianbai came to Gu An's mind because of his Azure Swan Sword and Ye Lan's White Spirit Sword.
Tian Yao'er immediately flattered him, saying, "What wonderful names! As expected of Master."
Gu An stood up, leaving her with a parting instruction. "Remember, don't let them trample on the herbs."
As he vanished into thin air, Tian Yao'er pouted and then scooped up the two small cat demons, carrying them to the stone table. She suddenly noticed two books placed there.
"The Myth of the Sword Master?"
Her interest piqued, she put the two cats on the table and picked up one of the books, flipping through it.
As summer drew to an end, the oppressive heat of the season persisted.
In the Third Medicine Valley, Xuan Tianyi sat on a chair with a gloomy expression. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Why doesn't The Myth of the Sword Master sell as well as your books?"
Gu An, focused on his calligraphy, replied without looking up, "Probably because the market is saturated with similar books, so the impact is minimal."
Forget other sects—Tai Xuan Sect alone had published dozens of books about Sword Master of Dao. How could a work by Qingxia, without Pan An's legendary reputation, gain traction?
Xuan Tianyi sighed heavily, feeling that he was still better suited for writing travelogues.
He picked up a freshly written sheet of paper from Gu An's desk and read aloud:
"Chaos was not yet divided into heaven and earth; the vast void concealed all. When Pangu split the primordial mist, clarity and impurity were thus discerned…"
Just the opening lines of the poem captivated him.
This was undoubtedly a Investiture of the Gods-style book!
The more he read, the more intrigued he became. By the time he finished the first page, he wanted more, but Gu An hadn't written the second page yet.
Gu An wasn't only recalling the story—he was meticulously considering the aesthetics of each character, perfecting every stroke.
"Fine, take your time writing. I actually came today to say goodbye," Xuan Tianyi said as he set down the paper.
Gu An didn't even look up. "Where are you headed?"
"To the Demon Lands, to search for Li Mo. The Sacred Land is leading the expedition."
Gu An nodded. "Be careful. Don't let your cultivation level make you careless."
"You cheeky brat, giving me advice? I've roamed the oceans, unlike you, who hides in Tai Xuan Sect all day. Don't worry—I'm invincible below the Immortal level," Xuan Tianyi said with a bold grin, standing tall with confidence.
Gu An glanced at him and asked, "What if you encounter an Immortal?"
"Then I'll die a glorious death!"
With that, Xuan Tianyi turned and strode away. At the door, he looked back and urged, "Write faster. I want to see if your book can surpass Investiture of the Gods."
He stepped out, and Gu An made no move to see him off.
Surpass Investiture of the Gods?
Gu An chuckled and resumed his writing.
By dusk, he finally left the Third Medicine Valley.
Late Night, in the Mountains.
Zhang Buku, clad in beast pelts, wandered through the forest. A stone axe hung from his waist as he gazed toward the mountaintop, where a flickering firelight emanated from a temple. There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about the aura emanating from the light.
He had left his cave a month ago and had been traveling northward toward the Demon Lands in search of opportunities. Along the way, he had minimal interaction with either cultivators or demons, which left him cautious yet tense as he carefully ascended the mountain.
Before long, he entered the expansive temple grounds. Standing in the outer courtyard, he hesitated. The firelight was just beyond the wall.
"Since you've come, you might as well step inside," a voice called from beyond the wall.
Hearing this, Zhang Buku exhaled in relief before leaping over the wall. He landed by the firepit and studied the man sitting opposite him—a cold-faced man dressed in black. Beside him lay a strikingly eye-catching heavy sword.
As Zhang Buku assessed Li Ya, the latter scrutinized him in return.
"My name is Zhang Buku. May I ask for your name?" Zhang Buku cupped his fists respectfully.
He could sense that this man was powerful, but unlike before, he wasn't scared. Though he was nervous, he was no longer the same person he once was.
Li Ya replied, "My name is Li Ya. Why do you carry half the aura of a demon?"
Zhang Buku explained, "My father was human, and my mother was a demon. Are you like me?"
Li Ya?
Where had he heard that name before?
Li Ya glared at him coldly, snorting. "How could that be? I merely consumed a demonic treasure and gained some demon blood power."
Hearing this, Zhang Buku looked a little crestfallen.
Li Ya noticed the stone axe at Zhang Buku's waist, stood up, and smiled. "Kid, how about a spar?"
Ever since witnessing Sword Master of Dao's Boundless Celestial Sword of Star Suppression, Li Ya's understanding of Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword had deepened. After months of intense training, he was itching to test his progress.
Zhang Buku instinctively touched the stone axe at his waist and asked, "It's really just a spar?"
Li Ya nodded. "Just a spar, no harm to lives. I've been honing my swordsmanship for half a year and want to see the results."
Zhang Buku's eyes lit up, and a smile spread across his face. "To be honest, I've been training hard recently, too. Alright, let's do this!"