Gu An set down the Qingtian Peak and, after his conversation with the man in black came to an end, his heart grew calm.
In situations where the threat was not that great, he naturally wouldn’t run away; he would only preserve himself when utterly powerless.
Moreover, there was a time difference between higher and lower realms; ten or a hundred years might be lengthy for beings of lower realms, but for Immortal Path Life, it was but a fleeting moment.
Anyway, the man in black couldn’t run away. Gu An decided to keep him for the time being to see what sort of realization he would come to.
Gu An raised his hand and beckoned, attracting a piece of paper from across the space; he was ready to write another secret book.
The sun set, and the moon rose.
Time turned its pages day by day.
Winter snow inevitably arrived. Before the world fell into a blanket of white, Gu An went to the wooden fence to enjoy the snowscape.
He hadn’t stood there long before Ji Xiaoyu walked over, standing side by side with him.
Ji Xiaoyu didn’t look up at the sky but fixed her gaze on a distant An Xin.
An Xin was carrying a plump White Spirit Rat, constantly moving her little mouth, clearly saying something to the White Spirit Rat.
“She’s progressing so fast,” Ji Xiaoyu whispered.
Could she not?
Whenever Gu An had time, he would assist An Xin in entering the Way. Although her lifespan didn’t increase rapidly, it made her cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.
He genuinely intended to cultivate An Xin to surpass An Hao and Yang Jian.
“It’s alright. Her cultivation level is growing very slowly,” Gu An spoke. Due to the Primordial Reincarnation Skill, An Xin’s cultivation level was always suppressed. Even if she were to release her cultivation level in the future, it would be concealed, with her apparent cultivation level controlled at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
It seemed that Gu An would have to tell An Xin to restrain herself a bit more, since more and more people had started to notice the changes in her.
“The Ji Family recently discovered an Undersea Secret Realm and invited me to go. I could take your disciple along, what do you think?” Ji Xiaoyu asked.
Upon hearing this, Gu An hurriedly shook his head, “An Xin is timid; there’s no need to take her.”
“I’ll be there; she won’t encounter any mishaps.”
“It’s unnecessary. It’s not something I wish to see, to burden you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I just feel that her aptitude is improving. Staying in Medicine Valley might bury her talent.”
“I don’t like to hear that. Would I delay her?”
Gu An glared at Ji Xiaoyu. He had intentionally said this to make Ji Xiaoyu believe that the high-level cultivator guiding An Xin was someone else.
Ji Xiaoyu’s mouth lifted into a smile, “Alright then, I won’t invite her. I want to see what you can make of her.”
Gu An smiled, “Then when are you leaving? And for how long?”
This was not the first time Ji Xiaoyu had set out, but Gu An felt that the Undersea Secret Realm would again cause trouble.
Perhaps this was what it meant to be a Great Fortune of Energy Movement: continuous trials and tribulations, always narrowly escaping disaster and turning peril into safety.
“I leave tomorrow morning. The competition for sea resources among the noble families is quite fierce…” Ji Xiaoyu started talking about the situation at sea.
Despite the vastness of the ocean and the richness of its resources, the coveted areas had long been divided by the major powers, making it difficult to gain a foothold at sea. The Ji Family, wanting to occupy a region of their own and lay down roots for development, eyed the Secret Realm.
That oceanic Secret Realm was the source of abundant spiritual energy nearby. Immortal Path beings didn’t care about such a realm, but those in the Mystic Heart Realm would fight tooth and nail over it.
She shifted the conversation from the Ji Family to other significant happenings at sea as Gu An listened with keen interest.
During their conversation, a powerful Divine Sense swept across the Taicang Continent.
Gu An was used to this; the other party was probably searching for Yang Jian.
Yang Jian, having awakened memories from past lives, shocked many cultivators of the Holy Court, who were still searching for him.
Yang Jian didn’t run around but focused on cultivating on that island.
“At sea, only those in the Immortal Path Realm have the power to protect themselves. Even if one achieves Nirvana, walking the seas still requires great caution,” Ji Xiaoyu remarked, her cultivation having grown higher and allowing her to perceive more. The experiences from her past life’s dreams only deepened her reverence.
Gu An smiled, “With your talent, you’ll achieve Nirvana sooner or later.”
Let alone at sea, right now there was a Divine Sense of a Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal sweeping the continent.
Most beings were completely unaware of this.
“What about you?” Ji Xiaoyu turned to look at Gu An, asking with a calm tone.
“Nirvana? I’m afraid I won’t have the chance.”
Gu An shook his head and chuckled freely, devoid of any constraints.
Ji Xiaoyu offered no consolation, knowing that Nirvana was a threshold for Mortal Spirits to break through fate, a challenge that no one else could assist with.
She followed Gu An as they both looked up at the snow falling from the sky.
The snowflakes began to fall more heavily.
…
On the sprawling seas, Li Ya sat on the back of a black eagle that sped along, flapping its wings. The sea breeze tousled Li Ya’s long hair, but his eyes remained fixed on the horizon, unblinking.
The Divine Exotic Immortal Spirit perched on Li Ya’s shoulder, head tilted, asked, “Have you really thought this through? Without using my power, it will be difficult for you to cross the waters ahead. I can sense a dense demon energy there, hiding a Great Demon of the Immortal Path.”
Li Ya’s expression was stoic as he answered softly, “Save me when I’m close to death.”
Ever since his last visit to the Divine Exotic Realm and learning about the origins of Divine Exotic City, Li Ya’s pride had shattered.
He didn’t blame the Primordial Ancestor but was rather more grateful. However, he was filled with resentment towards himself.
Li Ya, oh Li Ya, what have you been raging about all these years?
All this time, he had always needed the Primordial Ancestor, needed others’ help—without Divine Exotic City, what was he?
Upon returning to the Star Sea Congregations, Li Ya secluded himself for cultivation and pondered over this question.
This seclusion lasted for many years.
He had now made up his mind: what he needed to do was improve his physical constitution and insight. If An Hao could cultivate the Ancient Treasure Body, why couldn’t he?
So, he embarked on the journey to pursue the Treasure Body.
He learned from an elder that a Treasure Body had once fallen in a certain sea region, possibly leaving behind an opportunity related to the Treasure Body.
“Li Ya, actually, you’re still young, and you’re already quite formidable,” the Divine Exotic Immortal Spirit consoled, scratching its head. Having spent many years with Li Ya, it had grown fond of him and didn’t want him to take extreme measures.
“Don’t worry, I will measure my abilities and refrain from making the Primordial Ancestor take action again,” Li Ya said calmly, his eyes resolute.
Following his gaze, dark clouds appeared at the far end of the sea horizon, small but clearly an ominous sign.
Meanwhile, on the path of Dingtian Peak on Mortal World Peak.
Gu An rode the Blood Prison Great Saint while An Xin walked in front of the Blood Prison Great Saint, occasionally looking back and sharing a laugh.
The sea breeze blew, stirring Gu An’s hair by the temples. He withdrew his gaze from spying on Li Ya and looked towards An Xin, “How many of the medicinal herbs did you memorize today?”
It had been eight years since Ji Xiaoyu left for the Undersea Secret Realm.
She had not returned for eight years, but as Gu An saw she wasn’t in mortal peril, he allowed her to face the ordeal alone.
During these eight years, Gu An taught An Xin no other spells or Divine Skills. Aside from Qi Absorption Cultivation, she only practiced the Stepping Path of Ages Step daily.
Wearing a mask, An Xin turned back and said, “Master, rest assured, I remember them all.”
“Good, go back and write them into a book, so other disciples can increase their knowledge in the future,” Gu An nodded.
An Xin was about to reply when two figures descended from the sky and landed on the stone steps ahead.
Upon seeing these two people, An Xin immediately tensed up.
They were Daoist Lord Yongnian and Fu Shenxiu from the Main Peak.
An Xin thought they were there to demand the Immortal Path Supreme Treasure.
Daoist Lord Yongnian raised his hand in salute, saying, “May I inquire if Daoist Friend has time? My disciple and I have a matter to request.”
Upon hearing this, Gu An responded, “Speak directly, what’s the matter?”
Daoist Lord Yongnian glanced at Fu Shenxiu and said, “Since Qingtian Peak has no affinity with my disciple, I have found another great opportunity for him, located within the Sea Demon Thunder Domain. It is a treasure left by an Ancient Great Power named Earth Element Spirit. Every hundred thousand years it congeals one spirit, and its appearance is not fixed, but it can be confirmed to only appear within the Sea Demon Thunder Domain…”
Earth Element Spirit!
It was the first time Gu An had heard of this, and he also became interested.
According to Daoist Lord Yongnian, that Ancient Great Power was unfathomable in his cultivation. Before passing away, he used some Great Divine Power to refine his Immortal Path Supreme Treasure, submerging it into the Sea Demon Thunder Domain, merging it with the ocean, rendering it unfindable.
It was only when someone accidentally acquired the Earth Element Spirit that the veil of this opportunity was lifted.
The Earth Element Spirit could strengthen the soul of a cultivator, and even demons were eager to obtain it.
Later on, the Holy Court took charge of the Sea Demon Thunder Domain and a Holy God decreed that the Thunder Domain was land without an owner. No sect was allowed to occupy it, and regarding the Earth Element Spirit, it all relied on one’s power.
Mortal World Peak had also sought the Earth Element Spirit, either fate was there but the affinity was not, or they found the Earth Element Spirit but lacked the power to fight for it.
Hearing about the anomaly in the Sea Demon Thunder Domain, which might signal the birth of an Earth Element Spirit, Daoist Lord Yongnian thought of Gu An.
“Daoist Friend Meng, if you could take action, I would be deeply grateful,” Daoist Lord Yongnian sincerely said, convinced that Gu An had surpassed the Carefree Immortal Realm. Such a Great Cultivator aiding them would surely clinch the Earth Element Spirit without difficulty.
Gu An feigned hesitation, “Will this offend other sects?”
Daoist Lord Yongnian replied, “The worthy receive treasures, don’t they? I’ve heard that Daoist Friend enjoys cultivating medicinal herbs, so I’m willing to transplant a batch of Immortal Path medicinal herbs to Dingtian Peak from the Main Peak. How about that?”
“Daoist Friend is too kind. I’ve already said that if Mortal World Peak encounters an issue, I’ll take action. When do we set out?”
Gu An spoke earnestly, bringing a smile to Daoist Lord Yongnian’s face.
Fu Shenxiu’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing. Having had Qingtian Peak taken by Gu An, it was impossible for him not to feel resentment, yet now he could only maintain courtesy.
“How about in three days?” Daoist Lord Yongnian asked. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
“No problem, we’ll set out after three days then,” Gu An nodded.
Daoist Lord Yongnian thanked him again then left with Fu Shenxiu.
An Xin turned back and looked at Gu An, wanting but hesitating to speak.
Gu An glanced at her, asking casually, “Want to go and see?”
An Xin instinctively wanted to nod but after thinking it through, she shook her head, “Better not, I might cause you trouble. I won’t go.”
“I could take you there…”
“Really?”
Surprise sparkled in An Xin’s eyes.
Gu An replied, “If you go, you must diligently practice the step technique I taught you. No slacking off.”
Upon hearing this, An Xin hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded.
The Stepping Path of Ages Step was indeed exquisite, and even after so many years of practice, she still found it very uncomfortable each time she performed it. So, whenever Gu An wasn’t prompting her, she preferred Qi Absorption.