Hearing You Yingying's question, Gu An hesitated momentarily before replying, "I am. Do you know me?"
You Yingying's eyes lit up. "I'm You Yingying. Senior Brother Xuan recommended I come to find you. I was originally planning to head straight to your Medicine Valley but couldn't resist checking out Journey to the West first."
"Brother Xuan Tianyi?"
"That's right. We're both from the Star Sea Sect. You might not be familiar with it, but the Star Sea Sect is a prominent sect on the ocean..." She began explaining the origins of the Star Sea Sect while Gu An listened attentively, pondering why Xuan Tianyi had sent her.
The more Gu An observed, the more certain he became that You Yingying was indeed a woman. She must have used some peculiar technique to alter her aura and appearance to resemble a man.
Such a technique was truly remarkable. Without the use of divine sense, it even fooled a cultivator like Gu An, who was at the ninth stage of the Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal Realm. That alone spoke volumes about its ingenuity. Given her Star Sea Sect background, this was plausible. With its long-standing history, the sect surely had divine techniques capable of deceiving even cultivators at Gu An's level.
You Yingying seemed to have a fondness for Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West. Her words were laced with genuine praise.
After a while, Gu An asked, "Surely you didn't come all this way just to find me?"
It was hard to believe someone would traverse the seas solely for two books.
You Yingying nodded, admitting, "To be honest, Senior Brother Xuan sent me to the Tai Xuan Sect to act as a deterrent. He worried I'd be bored, so he recommended you. I really am interested in your books."
"A deterrent?" Gu An grew even more curious.
You Yingying explained, "Senior Brother is concerned that the Seven Stars Spirit Realm might act against the Tai Xuan Sect. With me here, they wouldn't dare move recklessly."
Impressive. A mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator could serve as a deterrent to the Six Star Cave?
What kind of background did she have to command such influence?
Gu An probed further, but You Yingying refrained from divulging more.
When Gu An extended an invitation to visit the Third Medicine Valley, she politely declined, saying she had already rented a residence in the outer sect city and would visit him if she ever felt bored.
Gu An was merely being polite, so her refusal did not bother him.
Suddenly, You Yingying waved her sleeve, transforming into a slender woman clad in blue robes. She was pale, elegant, and possessed a pair of mischievous, bright eyes. Her long hair cascaded to her calves, the ends tied with a red ribbon.
While she was undeniably beautiful, Gu An wasn't stunned. After all, the most beautiful women he had seen were Tian Yao'er and Ji Xiaoyu, each possessing unique, incomparable temperaments.
"Remember, this is my true form."
She winked at Gu An before waving her sleeve again, reverting to her previous masculine appearance.
Feigning surprise, Gu An's exaggerated reaction greatly pleased You Yingying. She left her address before turning and leaving.
Once she was gone, Gu An finally allowed a smile to surface.
"Let's hope this woman truly becomes the Tai Xuan Sect's trump card."
Five years passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, the Tai Xuan Sect encountered no major crises and continued its steady development. Gu An's routine remained unchanged. He frequently traveled between the various Medicine Valleys, making an annual visit to the Xunxian Island.
He also succeeded in forming his Core, officially becoming a Core Formation disciple, which caused quite a stir in the Third Medicine Valley.
One evening, Gu An returned to Xuan Valley atop the Blood Prison Saint and casually remarked, "From today, you shall ascend to the second tier."
With that, he channeled a sliver of his Return to Origin Dao into the Blood Prison Saint, allowing it to recover its second-tier cultivation equivalent to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Feeling the surge of spiritual energy coursing through its body, the Blood Prison Saint's heart swelled with excitement. It wanted to let out a mighty roar but restrained itself.
"Thank you... Master..." The Blood Prison Saint spoke in a raspy voice, barely concealing its excitement.
It had endured suppression for far too long.
Seated on its back, Gu An continued to issue instructions, which the Blood Prison Saint absorbed attentively, fearful of offending its master.
Once Gu An finished speaking, he placed his hand on the bull's head, imparting the Innate Reincarnation Technique to it.
The Blood Prison Saint's eyes glazed over, its body freezing in place as the profound technique took root in its mind.
Gu An wasn't in a hurry. He began admiring the scenery.
They were in a sparsely wooded mountain range. From the ridge, he could see the majestic peaks of surrounding mountains, awe-inspiring and serene.
Suddenly, Gu An sensed a powerful aura heading toward the Tai Xuan Sect.
"Isn't that the Nine-Finger Divine Lord I encountered on Xunxian Island?"
Gu An's curiosity was piqued. The Divine Lord's 800,000-year maximum lifespan had left a deep impression on him.
What could such a formidable figure want with this remote and backward continent?
Compared to the surrounding seas and continents, the land on which the Tai Xuan Sect resided was undeniably underdeveloped. And the culprit for this backwardness was none other than the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
Every 10,000 years, they orchestrated a catastrophic demon calamity. How could humanity thrive under such circumstances?
After the demon calamity subsided, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm remained unusually quiet. They refrained from causing further chaos but instead sent more disciples down the mountains to establish stronger connections with the mortal world. Because of this, their standing in the cultivation world remained lofty, with many sects aspiring to form friendly ties with them.
Gu An silently pondered these developments.
After some time, the Blood Prison Saint finally awakened. It exclaimed excitedly, "What an overbearing technique! Master, if I cultivate this for a thousand years, could I step into the Immortal Dao?"
For the next millennium, it would serve as Gu An's steed, and during this period, its suppressed cultivation was perfect for practicing the Innate Reincarnation Technique.
"That depends on how hard you work," Gu An replied with a smile.
The Blood Prison Saint wanted to say more, but Gu An tapped its head lightly, transmitting a warning through divine sense that someone was approaching. Startled, it immediately fell silent.
"Let's keep moving," Gu An said.
The Blood Prison Saint obediently stepped forward. The mountain path wasn't steep, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds, making the journey pleasant.
As they emerged from the forest, a figure appeared ahead. It was none other than the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, still wearing his bamboo hat and looking travel-worn.
Standing in the Blood Prison Saint's path, he asked, "Might I ask if you are a disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect?"
The Blood Prison Saint halted, studying the man. It couldn't gauge his depth.
"I am Gu An, a disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect. May I ask what business brings you to our sect?" Gu An cupped his hands and asked politely with a smile.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord had identified Gu An as a Tai Xuan Sect disciple because his cultivation was the highest in the area.
The Divine Lord raised his gaze toward Gu An. For some reason, he felt as though he had seen this young man before. However, Gu An's cultivation was merely at the Core Formation stage—a level he had encountered countless times in his travels. Thus, he didn't dwell on it.
"I am the wandering cultivator Nine-Finger Daoist. I've heard of the Tai Xuan Sect's renown and wish to join its ranks. Might I trouble you for an introduction?" the Divine Lord asked politely.
Gu An, of course, did not refuse and readily agreed, leading the way.
The Blood Prison Saint maintained a leisurely pace, and the Divine Lord showed no urgency, using the opportunity to inquire about the Tai Xuan Sect. Gu An answered each question thoroughly, his forthright manner leaving a favorable impression on the Divine Lord.
Over time, their relationship grew closer.
"Daoist, may I know your cultivation level so I can determine whether to guide you to the outer or inner sect?" Gu An asked.
The Divine Lord had observed during his journey that to enter the upper echelons of the Tai Xuan Sect, one needed at least a cultivation at the Body Fusion stage.
"To be honest, I am at the fourth stage of the Body Fusion Realm," the Divine Lord replied hesitantly.
"What? Body Fusion Realm?"
Gu An exclaimed in shock, his exaggerated reaction almost making the Blood Prison Saint roll its eyes.
The Nine-Finger Divine Lord, however, remained composed in the face of Gu An's astonishment, finding no satisfaction in impressing him. After all, his true cultivation was at the second stage of the Wandering Immortal Realm.
From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Void Crossing, Body Fusion, Profound Heart, Mahayana, Nirvana, Loose Immortal, and finally Wandering Immortal, the Divine Lord's concealed cultivation placed him a full nine stages above Gu An.
Despite Gu An's heightened curiosity during the remainder of their journey, he refrained from excessive flattery. This restraint earned the Divine Lord's respect.
By nightfall, they arrived at Xuan Valley. Gu An invited the Divine Lord to stay the night, and the Divine Lord readily accepted.
As they entered the valley, dozens of miscellaneous disciples gathered to greet Gu An warmly. Watching these Qi Refining disciples interact casually with a Core Formation cultivator, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord noticed how Gu An treated his juniors kindly without a hint of arrogance.
Gu An instructed Lu Jiujia to arrange accommodations for the Divine Lord and then retired to his quarters.
Later, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord meditated in his assigned room, extending his divine sense to observe the Tai Xuan Sect.
The sect's strongest cultivator was at the Mahayana stage, posing no threat to him. He even discovered the existence of the Eight Views Heavenly Cave but paid it no mind. Everyone had secrets, and Gu An's private cavern wasn't of interest, nor were the herbs within it.
As the night deepened, Chu Jingfeng was meditating atop a mountain, facing the wind and absorbing spiritual energy.
"What technique are you cultivating?" The Nine-Finger Divine Lord's voice startled Chu Jingfeng, who turned sharply to find him standing nearby.
An hour earlier, Chu Jingfeng had seen Gu An respectfully address this man as "senior." Hastily, he rose and saluted, saying, "Just a basic Qi Condensation technique, unworthy of mention."
The Divine Lord studied him and remarked, "Your foundation is decent, but it's a pity you didn't start with the right fundamentals. The technique you're practicing now has the potential to refine your aptitude, but its effects are limited."
Hearing this, Chu Jingfeng felt a mix of relief and frustration.
How dare he belittle the Dao Yan Technique?
The Divine Lord continued, "I can help you rebuild your foundation and restore your cultivation. In return, you would become my honorary disciple. What do you say?"
Chu Jingfeng hesitated and asked, "May I know the senior's true identity?"
The Divine Lord's eyes shone with approval. "I am a wandering cultivator from the seas. I met your valley master today and plan to join the Tai Xuan Sect tomorrow. According to your valley master, my Body Fusion cultivation qualifies me as an elder."
Body Fusion Realm!
Chu Jingfeng was stunned. To him, such cultivation levels were lofty and unattainable.
He clenched his teeth and said, "I must discuss this with the valley master first. When I was at my lowest, he took me in, and I cannot leave without informing him."
"Hahaha! Then tell him tomorrow." The Divine Lord laughed and left.
This naive boy had no idea what a great opportunity had just landed on his lap.