Upon hearing Gu An’s words of comfort, Wu Jue could only offer a bitter smile.
An amused chuckle came from a nearby cell.
“Covering the sky with one hand? The Sheng Family really has such capability!”
Gu An turned his head to look and saw an old man with white hair approaching the edge of the prison cell, his hands bony and clutching the mahogany bars. He looked at Gu An with a face full of scorn.
Gu An feigned a frown and asked, “Could it be that you are also from the Sheng Family?”
The old man laughed and said, “If I were from the Sheng Family, how would I have ended up like this? Like your friend, I offended the Sheng Family, and even the Hall of Elders told me to lay low for a while. I’ve been locked up for a century now, and I fear I will spend the rest of my days here, waiting for the day the Sheng Family sheaths their butcher’s blade.”
After listening, Wu Jue slightly lowered his head.
Gu An angrily said, “I refuse to believe it, is the Sheng Family really so tyrannical? I am going to find the Sect Leader now!”
With those words, he left with a swish of his sleeve.
Wu Jue opened his mouth but in the end said nothing. Deep down, he too harbored a glimmer of hope.
The Third Medicine Valley was a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; the socially adept Gu An might indeed find a way.
After Gu An’s presence faded from the dungeon level, Wu Jue began to worry.
He suddenly feared that if this did not succeed, it might instead implicate Gu An.
“Wu Jue, isn’t it? I didn’t expect you to have such a naive friend. Shouldn’t the side of a genius be surrounded by hypocrisy?”
The old man said in a mocking tone. Wu Jue didn’t respond, too weary to engage with him.
Wu Jue was already familiar with the man’s toxic tongue, and he disdained to argue with such people.
He seemed dejected, yet deep down, he held a confidence.
He was still capable of enlightenment!
If no one stood up for him, one day, he would uphold justice for himself!
Meanwhile, after leaving the dungeon, Gu An did not go directly to find Lv Baitian.
Considering Wu Jue could find enlightenment, it was better to let him reflect for more time.
Gu An wandered around the Inner Sect City, meeting disciples who had graduated two hundred years ago and probing information about the Sheng Family.
He could divine outcomes, but he preferred to immerse himself in this grudge and investigate in an ordinary capacity. If that failed, then he could only win by virtue.
Gu An’s disciples were spread throughout the Supreme Sect. While it was said he was discerning about the Sheng Family, in reality, he was enjoying free meals and drinks.
Having wandered all day, he felt satisfied body and soul.
From today’s findings, the Sheng Family indeed held significant power. There were many clans within the Supreme Sect, but few could stand out and incite fear as they did.
The disciples were fearful that Gu An would offend the Sheng Family. Upon understanding why he was investigating the Sheng Family, they all advised him to stay out of it.
When Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley, it was already night.
Lights shone brightly in the valley, and from a distance, Gu An could hear the laughter and cheer of the disciples.
Gu An felt relieved; thankfully, the powerful clans within the Supreme Sect had not jeopardized his Medicine Valley.
If they had, blood would have flown like rivers.
Gu An stopped at the base of his own building but didn’t go up immediately. Instead, he knocked on Ji Xiaoyu’s door.
“Come in.”
Ji Xiaoyu’s pleasant voice echoed from inside, and Gu An pushed the door open, then closed it behind him.
As he approached Ji Xiaoyu, she curiously asked, “It’s rare for you to seek me out proactively, is something the matter?”
“What kind of question is that? Can’t I visit you without a reason? Weren’t you the one who blamed me for not taking the initiative to see you for decades?” Gu An said dissatisfiedly, about to turn around and leave.
Sitting on the bed, Ji Xiaoyu quickly grabbed his wrist.
“Of course you can visit. Come, sit down,” Ji Xiaoyu said gently with a smile, pulling Gu An to sit next to her.
Gu An grunted, “I saw your place was bright and lively, and something just drove me to come have a chat with you, but your first words angered me quite a bit.”
“Oh my, can’t I admit my mistake?” Ji Xiaoyu replied helplessly.
How could he suddenly become so childish?
But it was quite amusing.
Such were Ji Xiaoyu’s thoughts as her lips curved upward involuntarily.
Gu An then smiled and said, “That’s more like it. Today, I saw Wu Jue, you know, and he…”
He began to recount Wu Jue’s trials, with Ji Xiaoyu listening attentively because she remembered Wu Jue well.
After Gu An finished talking about Wu Jue’s situation, he continued with his interactions with other disciples.
For the first half-hour, Gu An did all the talking.
Ji Xiaoyu then figured out his intention; surely, he wasn’t seeking her help, was he?
In the end, Gu An lamented, “Even within the Supreme Sect, injustice exists. Fortunately, our Medicine Valley keeps a low profile and serves the Supreme Sect undisturbed. Why are these clans so overbearing, and might they one day surpass the Supreme Sect?”
Ji Xiaoyu responded, “It’s possible, but difficult. If it comes to that, the Supreme Sect might just become one of their subordinate forces.”
“The stronger the Supreme Sect, the more hopeless it becomes for those disciples caught in dire straits,” Gu An sighed.
He then stood up and said, “We’ve talked for so long, you should continue cultivating now. Your future is not limited by the Supreme Sect.”
After speaking, he walked away.
Ji Xiaoyu watched his departing figure, wanting to say something but hesitated.
Once the door was closed, she couldn’t help but mutter, “He only visits when he needs something, and he even expects me to apologize while seeking my help?”
She shook her head and chuckled, then took out a piece of talisman paper and began to write.
As soon as Gu An sat down, he saw a white dove’s phantom flying away through the window, disappearing into the night sky in the blink of an eye.
Gu An’s mouth curved up, he thought to himself, ‘Not bad, quite sensible.’
…
Several days later, Lv Baitian came to Gu An, accompanied by an old acquaintance, Vice Sect Leader Ji Hantian.
The three sat down in the room.
Bang!
Ji Hantian suddenly slammed the table and cursed, “The Sheng Family truly goes too far, those overseas families really haven’t integrated the principles of the righteous path of the Supreme Sect into their ideology!”
Lv Baitian’s eyelids twitched, and he said in a deep voice, “Why are you yelling?”
“I’m outraged! You give the order to suppress the Sheng Family, and I’ll absolutely support you.”
“Why don’t you give the order?”
“The Ji Family has good relations with the Sheng Family; I’m caught in the middle, it’s difficult for me.”
“It sounds as if the Lv Family hasn’t benefited from the Sheng Family either; we are both in tough positions.”
Watching them pass the buck, Gu An found it amusing but also felt that the Supreme Sect had become somewhat superficial.
Indeed, with the rapid expansion of the Supreme Sect, the cultivation levels of native high-ranking members couldn’t keep up with the pace of the sect, naturally diluting their power.
Gu An spoke up, “Suddenly, I feel like writing a book.”
Ji Hantian’s eyes lit up, “That’s a good idea, Pan An’s influence is still considerable.”
Gu An glanced at him and said, “Hmm, I’ll write that the Sheng Family is a powerful clan that the Ji Family and Lv Family fear.”
Ji Hantian glared and said, “Gu An, don’t joke around!”
Gu An asked, “I understand why the Sect Leader is here, but Elder Ji, why have you come?”
Ji Hantian huffed, “It’s all because of you. That girl Ji Xiaoyu is actually helping you, so I had no choice but to come myself.”
Gu An immediately felt somewhat annoyed, “When the third Miss was forced to go to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, you couldn’t stop it; now Ji Xiaoyu asks you for help, and you face difficulties again. The Ji Family is strong, but it feels like it’s all about making compromises?”
At this remark, Ji Hantian’s expression instantly darkened.
Gu An then opened a drawer, took out the Fate Determining Pen, and from a stack of papers beside him, he pulled out a sheet of white paper.
Seeing the two argue, Lv Baitian intervened, “I also trust in Wu Jue, but the Sheng Family lost a disciple, one considered among the top three talents of this generation; we must provide an explanation to the Sheng Family, and I assure you I won’t let anything happen to Wu Jue.”
Regardless of his relationship with Gu An, in the years where Gu An had strategized, he truly felt that the strength of the Supreme Sect today could not be separated from Gu An’s contributions.
Gu An remained silent, writing down names on the paper — all individuals related to the Wu Jue incident, including those from the Sheng Family and others. They knew the truth but were pushing Wu Jue towards an abyss.
If they were compelled, that would be one thing, but the conflict began with them following the Sheng Family genius in insulting Wu Jue and even attacking him. Their lies were to protect themselves.
Choosing to be lapdogs and bullying others, they should prepare for the backlash. Read latest chapters on empire
“What are you doing?” Lv Baitian frowned and asked, Gu An continued writing without speaking, making him genuinely afraid that Gu An might do something foolish.
He solemnly said, “The Sheng Family has a Loose Immortal; do you know how high a Loose Immortal’s cultivation level is? If the path of immortality were smooth, you’d have to cultivate for tens of thousands of years, the Supreme Sect hasn’t had an Immortal live that long.”
Tens of thousands of years!
This phrase weighed heavily, making Lv Baitian and Ji Hantian feel immense pressure just thinking about the age of the Sheng Family’s Loose Immortal.
Gu An lifted his pen, gazing down at the names on the paper, and said with discontent, “I hate my own powerlessness. If I were an Immortal, how could I stand by and watch my close friend suffer?”
After saying this, he gripped the Fate Determining Pen and made two strokes on the paper, drawing a large ‘X’ as if to vent his frustration.
Lv Baitian tried to comfort him, “Don’t think like that, and besides, the Sheng Family is just angry but hasn’t pressed me any further.”
Gu An looked at him, “Do you remember what I told you hundreds of years ago, when you were still Elder Tian?”
Upon hearing this, Lv Baitian immediately fell silent.
Ji Hantian spoke earnestly, “Gu An, don’t act impulsively. If we mess up, all three of us could be in trouble. We could be abandoned by our families, you could be abandoned by the Supreme Sect. All these are possible.”
Gu An said, “Fine, I understand, I’ll pretend I don’t know about this matter.”
Seeing his indifferent expression, Lv Baitian was somewhat uneasy and asked, “Really?”
“I am but a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator; I can’t break into dungeons or step through the Sheng Family’s gate. What can I do?” Gu An replied.
Lv Baitian, after hearing this, could only sigh.
“I won’t see you out, but I’ll remember what you’ve said.”
While speaking, Gu An pulled out a book from beside him.
Lv Baitian wanted to say more, but Ji Hantian tugged at him, and after exchanging glances, they stood up and left.
Although Gu An felt somewhat disappointed, he could also understand; not everyone had the same confidence as him.
Nonetheless, he had already taken action; what happened next depended on how these two responded. If they didn’t handle it well, they too should consider moving aside.
This had nothing to do with personal connections; the Supreme Sect’s Sect Leader and Vice Sect Leader needed people with greater breadth of spirit to take on these roles, for the Supreme Sect was not just any clan’s sect, but a sect of millions of disciples.
