"Really? You think you can even defeat the Sword Master of the Dao?"
Zhen Qin laughed and teased Gu An, her tone clearly joking yet filled with curiosity.
Gu An raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. "This fist carries the power of ten million years. Do you think Sword Master of the Dao could withstand it?"
"Hey, don't say such nonsense! Be careful, he might actually hear you!" Zhen Qin jumped up in alarm. She hurriedly faced the window, bowed deeply, clasped her hands together, and muttered apologies on Gu An's behalf.
Gu An couldn't help but chuckle. He made no attempt to stop her, watching her exaggerated performance with amusement.
Ye Lan, on the other hand, seemed unbothered. She had always suspected that Gu An had a close relationship with Sword Master of the Dao. The way Gu An spoke casually about the sword master only reinforced her belief. It hinted at a bond so strong that they could jest about such matters, which made her quite happy.
The closer her senior brother was to Sword Master of the Dao, the safer their future would be.
After Zhen Qin apologized profusely for a while, Gu An finally urged her to sit back down.
Gu An shifted the topic, asking about their experiences in the Elder Council. Neither Zhen Qin nor Ye Lan held back, recounting everything.
When they first joined, they faced significant hostility and even public humiliation. But by the next morning, those same people came to apologize to them personally. From that point on, the Elder Council's attitude toward them underwent a dramatic change.
Instead of suppression, Ye Lan found herself able to grow her influence unimpeded. In fact, it felt as though someone had paved the way for her. Reflecting on the situation, the only person capable of orchestrating such support in Tai Xuan Sect was undoubtedly Gu An.
They reasoned that among the many talented and beautiful women in the sect, none had drawn the attention of a powerful Immortal Dao cultivator. The conclusion was simple—Gu An had been protecting them.
Gu An smiled faintly. "Just focus on your duties as elders. Don't let the pressure get to you. If you encounter anything you can't handle, come find me."
His tone was serious, a marked change from his usual casual demeanor. It wasn't just because he had grown stronger—it was because of Ji Xiaoya's situation. Gu An had realized that the time he had with those close to him was fleeting.
While his own lifespan spanned billions, the lives of others were but brief flickers in comparison. How many centuries could they endure?
The world was chaotic. It was possible that someone he cared about was suffering in silence, unnoticed. If so, why shouldn't he make things easier for them now?
Ye Lan nodded. "We'll definitely come to you if we need help."
Zhen Qin also agreed with determination.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, with the two women sharing amusing stories from the branch sect. Gu An listened attentively, occasionally laughing along with them.
As dusk settled, Zhen Qin bid farewell and left, while Ye Lan decided to stay the night.
That evening, as Gu An sat reading The Adventures of the Green Hero, Ye Lan casually asked, "Senior Brother, what do you think of Ji Xiaoya?"
Gu An's gaze remained fixed on the book as he replied, "Why do you ask?"
He could sense a subtle shift in the atmosphere downstairs. Ji Xiaoya was eavesdropping again.
"I just think you two are a good match. With her talent, she could have sought fame and glory but chose to remain in the Medicine Valley. It's obvious she stayed for you," Ye Lan said softly, her eyes studying Gu An for any reaction.
Gu An's response was calm. "I know."
Ye Lan's expression flickered, a trace of surprise in her eyes.
Gu An looked up at her and continued, "Her decision to stay has something to do with me, yes, but there are always other factors. Life is full of responsibilities, especially for cultivators. There are things more important than personal feelings, wouldn't you agree?"
Ye Lan smiled at his words. "You're right. When I was younger, I only thought about love and relationships. But now, I have bigger ambitions. More than titles or recognition, I care about being alive and sharing this journey with you."
She paused for a moment before adding, "I brought her up because I want you to think about her feelings seriously. I won't always be here with you, Senior Brother. Don't hold on to old memories forever. It's better to form new connections, no matter what kind. That way, you won't feel lonely in the future."
Ye Lan believed that with his connection to Sword Master of the Dao and his mastery of the innate reincarnation techniques, Gu An would live for a very long time. She accepted that her own presence in his life was fleeting. More than having him to herself, she wanted him to find happiness in the years to come.
To her, Gu An deserved all the joy the world had to offer.
Gu An studied her silently before responding with a smile. "What's wrong with being alone? Loneliness isn't scary—it's the idea of being endlessly lonely that's troubling. Don't worry about me. Your senior brother has plenty of friends, and when have you ever seen me wallowing in despair?"
"As for Ji Xiaoya, she won't be able to stay with me for long, either. Don't focus on how long any of you can stay with me. Instead, think about how much time I can spend with you and what I can do for you during that time."
Ye Lan instinctively wanted to ask what was wrong with Ji Xiaoya but stopped herself. If even Gu An and Ji Xiaoya couldn't solve the issue, what could she possibly do?
There was no point in souring the mood.
"You're right. For someone like me to have the chance to be part of your life, I'm already blessed beyond measure," Ye Lan said with a laugh, her tone light but sincere.
Without Gu An, she wouldn't have her current status or power. In fact, she likely would have died hundreds of years ago.
Every extra day she lived was a reminder of Gu An's kindness.
Gu An shot her a look. "Don't say such nonsense. Fate isn't about rank or status. Meeting you has been my good fortune, too."
"Really?"
Ye Lan's eyes curved into a smile, her face radiant.
Gu An placed his palm on the table, facing up.
Ye Lan hesitated before reaching out, letting him take her hand.
"Focus on your cultivation and stop overthinking. I'll be with you on your path to immortality. If you can't reach the Immortal Realm in this life, I'll find you in the next. Even if you forget me, it's enough that I'll remember you," Gu An said, his tone steady and sincere.
Ye Lan's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time she had ever heard Gu An speak such words.
"Senior Brother..."
Her voice trembled with emotion as she looked at Gu An, her gaze filled with warmth.
Gu An picked up a book and handed it to her with a calm smile. "Here, I've been working on this recently. Care to take a look?"
Her eyes landed on the cover. The title read: Dream of the Red Chamber.
As autumn drew to a close, Gu An descended from the transmission platform astride the Blood Prison Saint. An Xin followed at his side.
Suddenly, a figure rushed out and blocked the Blood Prison Saint's path.
It was Long Qing.
His face was flushed with anger, and there was a trace of grievance in his eyes as he stared at Gu An.
Seated atop the Blood Prison Saint, Gu An regarded him with a lazy gaze. "What do you want now?"
An Xin found the scene amusing but restrained herself from laughing.
In the past, she might have spoken on Long Qing's behalf. But after witnessing his brash attitude countless times, she felt he deserved some tempering.
Just look at how composed An Shengtian from Xuan Valley was!
"I..."
Long Qing opened his mouth but faltered under Gu An's gaze, unable to articulate his feelings.
The Blood Prison Saint, however, wasn't as patient. "Don't block the way. Someone is already guiding your cultivation. Do you think my master has the time to teach you too?"
Long Qing's face turned beet red as he stood there, hands clenched and unsure of what to do.
Gu An, being the one who had raised him, chose not to make things too difficult. He said, "You already possess an exceptional foundation—something few others have. In fact, you're inherently strong. Your real task isn't blindly pursuing power but instead understanding yourself and unlocking what lies within."
In the distance, Shen Xin Zi, who had been secretly observing, was struck by Gu An's words.
He had long suspected that Long Qing was extraordinary. Despite lacking spiritual energy, Long Qing's physical vitality and blood essence had grown at an incredible rate. While he was technically a "waste" in spiritual terms, his physical prowess made him an unparalleled genius.
Could Long Qing truly harbor a strength even he couldn't perceive?
Long Qing was stunned. He couldn't tell if Gu An's words were meant to console or provoke him.
An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint exchanged surprised glances. They both knew Gu An wouldn't lie, which made his statement even more startling.
"Do I really have untapped potential?" Long Qing blurted out, his expression a mix of nervousness and hope.
Gu An dismounted and walked over, placing a hand on Long Qing's shoulder.
In an instant, Long Qing's complexion changed, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"How does it feel?" Gu An asked.
Long Qing gritted his teeth. "It... it hurts a little."
"A little" was an understatement. He felt like his entire body was on the verge of breaking apart. But he couldn't show weakness in front of his master.
Confused and unsure of Gu An's intentions, Long Qing wondered if this was some sort of test.
Gu An's lips curved into a faint smile. The moment he did, Long Qing's face turned ashen. His trembling grew worse, and even his lips quivered.
Large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. In that instant, he felt as though his body no longer belonged to him.
It was as if his flesh and blood had disintegrated. His senses dulled, and his mind went blank, unable to form a single coherent thought.
Noticing his state, An Xin instinctively stepped forward but hesitated. She trusted that Gu An would never harm Long Qing.
Finally, Gu An withdrew his hand. Long Qing collapsed to the ground like a pile of mush.
He instinctively looked up at Gu An, his eyes filled with fear.
Nearby disciples passing by cast curious and puzzled glances their way. They assumed Gu An was disciplining Long Qing and wondered what he could have done wrong.
Standing over him, Gu An asked, "What did you feel just now?"
Long Qing gasped for breath, struggling to lift his head. With a face still pale, he stammered, "I... I felt like I was about to die."
"But you didn't," Gu An replied coldly, his indifferent gaze sending shivers down Long Qing's spine and forcing him to lower his head instinctively.
"If you had been a Mahayana Realm cultivator just now, you would have been reduced to ashes," Gu An said before walking past Long Qing without a second glance.
Long Qing froze in shock, staring at Gu An's departing figure with disbelief.
An Xin and the Blood Prison Saint were equally stunned. To An Xin, the Mahayana Realm was still a distant goal. Meanwhile, the Blood Prison Saint was a Mahayana cultivator himself.
Was Long Qing really stronger than a Mahayana cultivator?
The notion seemed absurd to them both.
Shen Xin Zi suddenly appeared beside Long Qing. Squatting down, he began examining his body.
It wasn't long before Shen Xin Zi's face filled with astonishment.
"This... this is impossible..."
He muttered to himself, his worldview seemingly shattered.
Long Qing had no idea what his master was thinking. Gu An's words kept echoing in his mind.
If you had been a Mahayana Realm cultivator, you would have been reduced to ashes...
Recalling the terrifying sensation from moments ago, Long Qing began to think it might not have been so frightening after all.
At the same time, Gu An's image in his mind grew even more awe-inspiring.