An Xin led Ye Yan to Gu An's pavilion and went upstairs to inquire.
Gu An had already sensed Ye Yan's presence but deliberately refrained from showing it. He waited until An Xin knocked on the door before inviting her to bring Ye Yan inside.
When Gu An saw the aged Ye Yan, he greeted him with a warm smile. "It's been a long time. Please, take a seat."
An Xin was curious but did not linger. She respectfully closed the door behind her and left.
Ye Yan approached the table and sat down, emotions surging in his heart. After so many years, his master was still as youthful as ever, even more refined and dignified than before.
Gu An wore the Immortal King's Crown, a golden mark glowing faintly on his forehead. Just sitting there, he exuded the air of a celestial Divine Lord.
Ye Yan could sense that Gu An, like himself, was still in the Core Formation Realm. However, the stark difference in their vitality and spiritual energy was impossible to ignore.
"How did you…" Gu An furrowed his brows, hesitating to finish his sentence.
Fifty years ago, Ye Yan had been vibrant and youthful, one of Li Xuandao's most capable generals. Now, he looked frail and withered, a shadow of his former self.
Gu An could see that Ye Yan's lifespan was nearing its end, but he couldn't say it aloud. Instead, he waited for an explanation.
In reality, Ye Yan's maximum lifespan had increased slightly over the years, but not by much.
Ye Yan smiled gently. "Every person has their destined limit. Mine is approaching. Before my time comes, I wanted to return and see this place one last time."
Hearing this, Gu An sighed deeply, then rose to pour tea for his old disciple.
Ye Yan's gaze followed Gu An. "Master, there's no need to feel sorrow for me. My life has been fulfilling, without regrets."
He recounted his accomplishments: following Li Xuandao to conquer the world, achieving the unification of the Tai Cang Dynasty, and being honored with the title of Marquis. Over the decades, he had enjoyed wealth, power, and even the joy of family, with many wives and children. Truly, he had no regrets.
"You returning to visit is already a great comfort to me," Gu An said as he placed the tea before Ye Yan.
He knew that even if he expounded the Dao to Ye Yan now, it would only extend his life by a few more years. Besides, Gu An was cautious about revealing too much of his cultivation level. In the Third Medicine Valley and Xuan Valley alone, dozens of disciples graduated each year—he couldn't afford to intervene in everyone's fate.
"Without your guidance, Master, I wouldn't have lived such a remarkable life. If not for His Majesty assuring me of your well-being, I would've returned long ago to repay your kindness," Ye Yan said, smiling as he accepted the tea.
Years of war had tempered his once-fiery demeanor, leaving him as calm and gentle as a mountain stream.
Gu An sat back down and began asking Ye Yan about his experiences over the years.
Ye Yan spoke openly, recounting his journey from the time he left the valley. Gu An listened intently.
The conversation lasted through the night.
As dawn approached, Ye Yan made a request: he wished to be buried in the Third Medicine Valley.
Gu An remained silent for a long moment before finally nodding in agreement.
Thus, Ye Yan stayed in the valley. Gu An sent An Xin to find Zhen Qin, and by evening, Zhen Qin had returned. Seeing Ye Yan's white hair and aged face, she was overcome with sadness.
The two stood by a wooden railing, gazing at the snow-covered landscape and reminiscing about the past.
When the Third Medicine Valley was first established, it had only been Zhen Qin, Su Han, and Ye Yan. Back then, Zhen Qin's aptitude was the most mediocre, and her strength paled compared to the other two.
Three hundred years had passed. Su Han was long dead, and now Zhen Qin was preparing to bid farewell to Ye Yan. How could she not feel sorrow?
When Ye Yan brought up Su Han, Zhen Qin didn't hide the truth. Upon learning of Su Han's death, Ye Yan fell silent.
Su Han, who had mastered the Heaven-Hating Divine Sword, was once renowned throughout the Tai Cang Dynasty. Ye Yan had heard tales of his exploits but never knew how his story ended.
"Life's path is truly unpredictable," Ye Yan said with a sigh.
Approaching death, he found himself strangely at peace, incapable of lingering sadness.
Looking at Zhen Qin, he smiled warmly. "Don't grieve. When I see him in the afterlife, I'll pass along your regards."
Tears welled in Zhen Qin's eyes at those words.
From the window, Gu An watched their figures against the snow, lost in thought.
Downstairs, Long Qing scooped up a handful of snow and prepared to throw it at Gu An. But upon seeing Gu An's somber expression, he hesitated, holding the snowball aloft for a moment before ultimately tossing it at the Blood Prison Saint instead.
The massive ox demon, roused from its nap, opened its eyes just in time to see Long Qing sprinting away.
"You little brat!"
The Blood Prison Saint bellowed in rage, leaping up to chase after Long Qing, his immense form stirring up a cloud of snow in his wake.
The snowfall grew heavier, as if determined to bury the Third Medicine Valley in a thick, pristine blanket.
As the year drew to a close, Gu An stood before Ye Yan's grave on a snowy mountaintop at the edge of the valley. The falling snowflakes evaporated before they could touch him.
His gaze was calm, devoid of sorrow.
Gu An wasn't grieving but reflecting on his past life, revisiting old emotions and memories.
Ye Yan was not the first disciple he had seen off. Standing there, Gu An pondered a question:
In the Heavenly Spirit Great Realm, what becomes of a person's soul after death? How does reincarnation work?
What are the rules governing reincarnation?
Why do so many high-level cultivators choose reincarnation? Is its purpose merely to experience karma and fate?
Gradually, Gu An entered a profound state of realization.
Enlightenment.
The heat of summer bore down on the Tai Xuan Sect's branch sect.
At the Ye Manor.
Gu An and Ye Lan sat indoors, drinking wine. After hearing Gu An's account, Ye Lan remained calm.
"Everyone dies eventually. It's only a matter of how long we live. One day, I'll face the same fate. When that time comes, senior brother, don't grieve too much," Ye Lan said softly, her gaze fixed on Gu An.
Gu An set down his cup and asked, "If you were given a chance to achieve immortality, but it required you to sacrifice much and adhere to strict rules, would you take it?"
The experience of Ye Yan's death had unsettled Gu An. He feared his own ability to prolong lives through Dao lectures couldn't keep pace with the relentless passage of time.
While Gu An's lectures had extended the lifespans of Ye Lan, Xiao Chuan, and others, the gains were diminishing. For Ye Lan, he had only managed to extend her lifespan by 200 years over time. His last two lectures had added just one year.
The mysterious decrees of Heaven were terrifyingly immutable and merciless.
Ye Lan pondered the question. "Would those rules separate me from you?"
Gu An hesitated. "It's hard to say."
He recalled the Tai Zong Ancestor once saying that becoming a Tai Zong required forsaking many connections, including family.
"Then forget it," Ye Lan said, shaking her head. "Such immortality might as well be a curse. I'm not interested in that."
Gu An fell silent.
Noticing his unease, Ye Lan placed her hand on his and smiled. "Senior brother, don't forget our pact for the final century. If I can spend my remaining years with you, that's enough. A hundred years is actually a long time."
Gu An smiled and asked, "Is a hundred years truly enough?"
"Maybe. Over the years, I've chased power and ambition. Now I'm tired of it. Lately, I've been focusing on cultivation and contemplating other pursuits, like your writing," Ye Lan said, beginning to recount her own experiences.
Now over 300 years old, Ye Lan had developed her own insights and philosophies about life.
As a cultivator in the Divine Transformation Realm and a prominent figure in the Tai Xuan Sect, her aspirations had evolved.
Listening to her, Gu An's smile deepened. He was genuinely happy for her.
Life should never revolve around a single goal. Ye Lan's decision to enrich her life was itself a form of enlightenment.
"Senior brother, if you ever encounter that chance, leave it for someone who truly craves cultivation. I've realized that the highs and lows of cultivation aren't everything," Ye Lan said with a laugh.
Gu An chuckled. "But if you pass on and I'm left alone chasing immortality, wouldn't that be lonely?"
Ye Lan blinked playfully and replied, "I haven't given up yet. I'm just saying there's no point in obsessing over things beyond our reach. Don't let us—me, Zhen Qin, or your disciples—become burdens on your heart if we go before you. Don't let it consume you."
Hearing this, Gu An couldn't resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. She didn't dodge.
"For our final century, what do you want to do? Where do you want to go?" Gu An asked.
Ye Lan raised an eyebrow. "Are we free to imagine?"
"Of course. Daydreams are best during the day," Gu An replied.
"Then I want to see how vast the world truly is. I've heard there are other continents beyond the sea. I'd also like to fly to the heavens and see how high the sky really is—and what lies beyond it," Ye Lan said, her voice brimming with excitement.
Gu An listened intently, his thoughts drifting far away alongside her words.
Two days later.
Gu An ventured to the North Sea Mountain Range to gather herbs, then spent an hour in Xuan Valley.
When he returned to the Third Medicine Valley, he was in good spirits and played two rounds of chess with the Nine-Finger Divine Lord.
As dusk approached, Shen Xin Zi and Long Qing strolled along the paths of the herb garden. Long Qing hung his head in frustration, his eyes darting nervously toward his master, his expression timid.
Shen Xin Zi appeared composed, but internally he was puzzled.
Despite his prolonged guidance, Long Qing had yet to cultivate even a trace of spiritual energy.
Even the most mediocre aptitude shouldn't be this slow…
Could it be his teaching methods that were flawed?
"Master, is there still hope for me?" Long Qing asked hesitantly. He had lost his initial resolve and had begun to fear cultivation itself. Most of all, he dreaded disappointing his master.
Without turning, Shen Xin Zi replied, "Perhaps your constitution is unique. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you body cultivation instead."
"Body cultivation?"
"Indeed. The path of cultivation isn't limited to Qi refinement. Perhaps your constitution requires prolonged tempering to achieve a breakthrough…"
As he spoke, Shen Xin Zi's tone grew more confident.
Whether Long Qing believed it or not, Shen Xin Zi convinced himself first.
Yes, that must be it!
After all, the legendary Yang Jian also possessed immense physical strength. Perhaps Gu An had chosen Long Qing for his resemblance to Yang Jian.
Hearing this, Long Qing perked up immediately and began skipping along the path.
When they returned to the pavilion area, An Xin approached with a smile. "Senior, why have you been spending so much time with this child lately?"
Shen Xin Zi pressed his palms together. "Amitabha. This child and I share a karmic bond. I'm merely showing him around."
After all, Long Qing lacked spiritual power, so no one would suspect he was secretly cultivating.
"Why do you care so much, senior sister?" Long Qing retorted unhappily.
Hmph! Once I succeed in body cultivation, you'll never boss me around again!
An Xin smiled sweetly at Long Qing, thinking, This brat is getting cocky. Let's see what you can learn from him.
Out loud, she said, "Fine, I won't interfere."
With that, she bowed to Shen Xin Zi and took her leave.
Shen Xin Zi watched her retreating figure thoughtfully. Though her cultivation hadn't advanced, something about her presence felt subtly different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.