"He's already in the Void Crossing Realm," Gu An replied casually, as though it was a trivial matter.
An Xin was once again stunned. Her mouth hung open in disbelief, and her hands involuntarily cupped her cheeks as she tried to process this revelation.
She had started cultivating on the same day as An Hao, so she was well aware of how astonishing his progress was. Because of this, she also knew that Yang Jian's cultivation speed was no less extraordinary than An Hao's.
She had watched Yang Jian join the sect and grow up. In the beginning, he was so ordinary, yet now, under her very eyes, he had advanced at an unimaginable speed.
It was absurd!
An Xin suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
Gu An observed her reaction and chuckled. "Focus on your cultivation. Strive to surpass those who came before you."
An Xin hesitated. "But my aptitude…"
She trailed off. She had trained under Gu An before and had long since come to terms with the vast gulf between herself and An Hao. Her confidence had eroded over time.
"That was then. If I didn't let you temper yourself, how could you develop the determination you have today? Do you think your senior brother had it easy? Over the years, I've intervened countless times because of the trouble he caused me," Gu An said with a snort.
An Xin was taken aback. Her master had helped her senior brother before?
Why hadn't An Hao ever mentioned this?
That sly senior brother! Hiding things from her!
An Xin clenched her teeth in frustration before looking at Gu An with a glimmer of hope. "So, do I have a chance to surpass my senior brother?"
Gu An's tone became serious as he replied, "That depends on how much resolve you're willing to show. No one is destined to be stronger than another."
These words ignited a fire within An Xin. Her eyes seemed to burn with determination.
Meanwhile, the Blood Prison Saint grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Wasn't it his turn to show off?
Back at the Third Medicine Valley, An Xin was in high spirits. She strolled through the valley, greeting everyone she met. As the senior disciple of the valley, she commanded respect from all the other disciples.
"Senior Sister, why are you so happy today?" asked Chuan Yue as he passed by, grinning.
An Xin beamed. "Because the moonlight tonight is so beautiful."
Chuan Yue looked puzzled, but An Xin didn't elaborate. She simply walked past him with a smile.
Meanwhile, in the pavilion.
Gu An picked up The Adventures of Green Hero. He had only just started reading when Ji Xiaoyu entered the room.
"Where were you during the day?" Ji Xiaoyu asked, her sharp eyes fixed on him.
"Out training," Gu An replied without looking up.
"Oh? What could you possibly teach her?"
"I managed to train Yang Jian, didn't I? Just wait. One day, he might become a name known throughout the world."
Ji Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, silent for a moment, before asking, "You don't happen to know the Sword Master of the Dao, do you?"
Gu An's expression shifted dramatically. With a feigned shock, he exclaimed, "How do you know?!"
"Is it true?" she pressed.
"To tell the truth, I'm actually a disciple of the Sword Master of the Dao!"
"Ha."
"What, you don't believe me? Fine, I'll admit it—I am the Sword Master of the Dao."
Ji Xiaoyu rolled her eyes at him. "I knew you were full of nonsense. Every time I ask about your secrets, you dodge the question. Yet I've shared everything with you."
Her tone carried a hint of grievance as she spoke.
Gu An sighed helplessly. "My dear sister, do you think I want to know? Every time you blurt things out, it gives me chills. I'm constantly worried that an old enemy from your past life will come looking for us. It's not death I fear, but the idea of being tortured for information. Even if I confessed, they might not believe me…"
He rambled on and on, leaving Ji Xiaoyu feeling a twinge of guilt.
From his perspective, she realized, the pressure must have been immense.
When he finally finished, Ji Xiaoyu asked, "Should I stop telling you these things?"
"Really?" Gu An asked, his tone hopeful.
"Of course not. I'll keep sharing. We only live once, and I'm not saying these things just to say them."
Gu An sighed in exasperation, knowing he couldn't win against her stubbornness.
After Ji Xiaoyu left, her figure carrying a lonely air, Gu An couldn't help but chuckle. This girl's temperament was truly amusing.
Shaking his head, he picked up The Adventures of Green Hero again. However, he couldn't get far before his thoughts wandered. Recently, Xuan Tianyi hadn't published any new works, which made Gu An feel a little disappointed.
"Should I find a chance to pat him on the shoulder and remind him to get back to work?" Gu An mused.
But he dismissed the idea. "No, that'd be beneath my dignity."
Still, having Shen Zhen return to writing wouldn't be a bad idea. She had the potential to surpass Xuan Tianyi in talent, after all.
Under the vast blue sky and above the drifting white clouds, Gu An sat astride the Blood Prison Saint. Beside him stood An Xin, clad in white robes and wearing a jade mask. Her delicate fingers lightly brushed the mask on her face.
"Master, where are we heading?" An Xin asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she sensed a majestic power enveloping her, carrying her forward like an unstoppable tide.
"We're going to visit a branch of my teachings," Gu An replied.
Hearing this, An Xin's excitement grew. She eagerly asked, "Master, what's your true realm? Even seniors like Nine-Finger Divine Lord can't see through your disguise!"
"I'm just a little stronger than Nine-Finger Divine Lord, Wu Xing, and Shen Xin Zi," Gu An replied ambiguously.
Seeing that he wasn't willing to elaborate, An Xin didn't push further. Instead, her attention turned to the destination ahead, her curiosity piqued.
A sea breeze suddenly swept over them, causing An Xin to turn her gaze forward. Her expression changed drastically.
Before her, towering peaks loomed one after another, their grandeur overwhelming and awe-inspiring.
Gu An glanced at her, noting her astonishment. Inwardly, he smiled.
Since their reunion, An Xin seemed like a different person—cheerful and lively, as if she had returned to her teenage years. This only reaffirmed to Gu An how much she now regarded him as family.
Having a parent gave a child the freedom to be carefree; without one, they had to learn how to navigate the world on their own.
Seeing An Xin like this filled Gu An's heart with warmth. After all, he had watched her grow up, and she had accompanied him for so many years. To him, An Xin was no less than a daughter.
"Look at you, acting like you've never seen anything before. This is the Mortal Peak, and its master is the Peak Master of Dingtian Peak!" the Blood Prison Saint declared proudly, as if the Dingtian Peak Master were his own subordinate.
"Dingtian Peak? I've heard of it. Senior Lu once came to participate in the Millennium Summit… No wonder!" An Xin's eyes sparkled with understanding. Then, turning to Gu An, she teased, "Master, if Senior Lu knew it was you who secretly supported her, with the feelings she has for you, she'd probably want to pledge herself to you on the spot."
Gu An's handsome face flushed slightly. He coughed lightly and said, "Nonsense. Women should maintain their dignity. I have no intention of taking her as a Dao companion."
"Exactly! As if she's worthy!" the Blood Prison Saint added disdainfully. He had long harbored a grudge against Lu Lingjun, a fellow ascendant, for calling him a "stupid ox."
An Xin covered her mouth and laughed. "Now I see why Master never accepts those admirers of his. It's true, they'd only hold you back."
Her admiration for Gu An deepened. Her master's selflessness and charm were undeniable—what woman could resist him?
And who would have guessed that the Sword Master of the Dao had hidden himself as a mere Valley Master in Tai Xuan Sect? Such humility!
Her master's tolerance truly astounded her.
Inwardly, An Xin resolved to follow in her master's footsteps. If she could one day surpass her senior brothers, she would hide her cultivation and quietly observe them as they contended with one another.
The mere thought of it filled her with anticipation.
At that moment, a mighty aura descended, scattering the sea of clouds. The gust of wind blew through An Xin's hair and robes, making her look up in surprise.
Her beautiful eyes widened.
Before them, the silhouette of a cyan mountain loomed against the sky, dwarfing all the surrounding peaks in sheer size and majesty.
Gu An's expression remained calm. His purpose for visiting today was this very object.
It was an immortal-grade treasure belonging to the Mortal Peak!