Hearing that Li Ya was injured, Gu An felt rather displeased.
This guy was not only heavy-handed but also demeaning Li Ya right now!
Previously, Gu An had thought that even if Lv Xian defeated Li Ya, he would hold back in consideration of Li Xuandao’s face, but it turned out this guy was so arrogant that he didn’t even regard Li Xuandao highly in his tone.
Yi Liuyun appeared out of nowhere in front of Lv Xian and frowned as he asked, “Why did you hurt His Highness? Isn’t knocking him out enough?”
Clearly, Li Xuandao often mentioned Li Ya in his presence as well.
“What’s wrong? Can’t he be hurt? He’s not the Crown Prince, and he’s far from comparable to the Crown Prince,” Lv Xian retorted with a frown, his tone very dissatisfied.
“Even if he’s not the Crown Prince, he’s still a prince cared about by the Emperor!” Yi Liuyun’s tone was somewhat heavy.
Luo Hun was silent, and from his expression, it was clear that he was also displeased.
Lv Xian snorted, “Not allowed? Then beat me up and break my limbs!”
At that moment, he saw Gu An approaching and immediately became excited, rushing up to greet him.
“Valley Master, I’ve won the first place in the Hundred Tribes Conference. How about it? Will you cultivate with me?” As Lv Xian spoke, he took out a golden token from his storage bag, on which was written ‘Leader of the Hidden Dragon List.’
Gu An nodded, “Then let’s learn.”
Upon hearing this, Lv Xian immediately pulled him to the side.
Yi Liuyun looked at Luo Hun and asked, “Should we inform His Majesty about this?”
Luo Hun thought for a moment and said, “There’s no need, His Majesty definitely has people watching over Prince Li Ya.”
Yi Liuyun sighed, shook his head, and then disappeared on the spot.
Gu An followed Lv Xian to an open area where three monkey demons followed and curiously watched from the side.
“What kind of spell do you like?” Lv Xian asked as he rubbed his hands together, eager to begin.
“Anything but swordsmanship.”
Gu An replied, as this had been agreed upon before, and he did not want to go back on his word.
However, one thing at a time, he could not let go of Lv Xian injuring Li Ya.
“Then shall I teach you a hand technique? I have a very strong hand technique, and it was with this move that I broke Li Ya’s limbs,” Lv Xian said with a proud laugh, and after finishing, he even glared at Yi Liuyun in the distance, clearly meaning for Yi Liuyun to hear.
Gu An nodded, “Let’s start the teaching, and let’s see how powerful it is.”
Lv Xian immediately began to teach the hand technique, demonstrating the moves and explaining the mental method as he went.
Mystic Tortoise Surging Wave Palm!
The name sounded very imposing!
Gu An watched carefully.
Preparing to give Lv Xian a hard time.
The sun shone brightly, gradually setting to the west.
By the evening, Lv Xian, looking frustrated, said, “Are you really unable to remember, or are you messing with me?”
His voice was loud, startling Luo Hun and Yi Liuyun, who rushed over, fearing he would start a fight.
Gu An sighed, “I’ve already said that my talent and understanding are very poor. You didn’t believe me and insisted on teaching me, and now you are upset.”
“But… surely you can’t be that bad?”
Lv Xian could not understand, but it didn’t seem to him that Gu An was pretending.
Yi Liuyun spoke up, “The Valley Master’s cultivation level is all due to stacking elixirs, which is understandable. I’ve told you before, stop always persuading others; everyone’s situation is different.”
Luo Hun reminded, “What the Emperor values is his planting ability.”
He emphasized the word ‘values.’
Lv Xian took a deep breath and said, “I don’t believe it. I must teach him!”
Gu An hastily said, “Next time, I need to go back.”
“You’re not allowed to leave!”
Upon hearing this, Gu An turned and walked away, while Yi Liuyun and the other person quickly stopped Lv Xian.
“Damn it, Valley Master, you must come back! Once you master the Mystic Tortoise Surging Wave Palm, you’ll have the power to protect yourself, even compete for Heavenly Destiny, and reach higher levels!”
Lv Xian shouted at the back of Gu An.
Gu An didn’t understand him; why was he cruel to his opponents yet liked teaching cultivation?
Was he suffering from a split personality in his dreams?
As Gu An pondered this, he controlled his sword and left, quickly disappearing into the twilight.
In the days that followed, every time Gu An visited, Lv Xian would teach him spells, and no matter how he taught, Gu An could never master them. But Lv Xian didn’t give up—if not this spell, then another.
Time flew by.
The end of the year arrived.
Heavy snow covered thousands of miles of forest.
Dressed in a white robe and wearing a mask, Gu An walked out of the forest, followed by two people, An Hao and An Xin.
The normally lively An Hao was also silent now.
Gu An halted his steps, gazing at the continuous snow-capped mountains ahead, and said, “Several hundred miles further and we will reach the Outer Sect of the Supreme Sect. Once you reveal your Spiritual Power, they will take you into the city to test your Spirit Roots.”
An Xin, with her eyes red, couldn’t help but ask, “Master, when will we see you again?”
“I saved you merely because it was convenient on my way; this was a destined encounter not meant to be. Henceforth, we shall not meet again, and you must not mention me to anyone,” Gu An said with his back to them.
He had taught An Hao and An Xin how to cultivate without any ulterior motives, simply on a whim.
He did not need their repayment and hoped that their relationship would end there.
Suddenly, An Hao knelt down, and An Xin followed, kneeling on the ground; both of them kowtowed towards Gu An.
This time, Gu An did not stop them and accepted their three resounding kowtows. An Hao’s forehead was chafed raw, his skin a bloody pulp, but he felt no pain, his gaze steadfastly fixed on his master’s silhouette.
He would never forget the terrifying experience in the demon’s cave and the despair when facing the wolf demon.
“Master, no matter who you are, I will forever remember your kindness. I will strive in my cultivation, become known throughout the world as the most formidable person. If a time comes when you hear my name and need my help, just ask, and I will not hesitate to die a thousand times over!”
With a solemn voice, An Hao, who had just turned fourteen, exuded a determination stronger than that of grown men.
Gu An waved his sleeve, and a swift snowstorm swept in from the horizon, causing An Hao and An Xin to instinctively raise their arms to shield their faces.
“If you want to help me, try living a thousand years first!”
The voice of Gu An faded in the wind, and as the snowstorm passed, they looked up to find his figure gone.
An Xin looked to An Hao, waiting for him to make a decision.
He stood up, looking towards the horizon and softly said, “An Xin, we must not let our master down!”
An Xin nodded firmly, and the siblings stepped forward, the flying snow seemingly devouring them.
Gu An, on the other hand, returned to Mystic Valley.
First, he checked the herbs in Mystic Valley, then walked back to his loft. Throughout, his Divine Sense remained locked on An Hao and An Xin.
Even though the pair were less than three hundred miles from the Supreme Sect, he was still somewhat worried, given the chaotic mix at the Supreme Sect nowadays.
In the following days, no matter where he went or what he did, he would keep part of his Divine Sense fixed on An Hao and An Xin until they safely reached the Outer Sect of the Supreme Sect.
When the young An Hao revealed his Qi Cultivation Realm with Nine Layers, it startled the Elder of the Outer City, who personally received them.
The main reason for choosing this particular Outer City was because it was filled with Great Cultivators, ensuring An Hao wouldn’t be easily ambushed or his body seized.
…
A new year arrived during the Spring Festival.
Mystic Valley.
Gu An, Ye Lan, Zhen Qin, Wuxin, Xiaochuan, Tang Yu, and others were seated around a long table celebrating, while other Servant Disciples sat at another table, each merrily interacting.
“Have you heard? Recently the Outer Sect recruited a disciple with a Heavenly Spirit Root, even the Elders of the Main City of the Sect were astonished. That person is An Hao, only fourteen this year, and already almost at the Foundation Establishment stage. It’s incredible.
Compared to him, I feel like my cultivation has been applied to a pig,” Zhen Qin said while pinching a wine bowl, clicking his tongue in wonder.
Heavenly Spirit Root!
The others were captivated, Wuxin couldn’t help asking, “Really? The Taicang Dynasty hasn’t seen a Heavenly Spirit Root in hundreds of years.”
“It’s true. We from the Law Enforcement Hall even guarded him for a few days until the Sect Leader took him away,” Ye Lan nodded, more composed than Zhen Qin.
The discussion about the Heavenly Spirit Root continued non-stop, with Wuxin narrating many legends, causing Ye Lan to frown.
“How does this kid know so much? Could there be a problem?”
Ye Lan watched Wuxin, silently pondering; though she had known Wuxin for many years, people can change.
No, she must check Wuxin’s entry records.
As Gu An listened to everyone discuss An Hao, a smile couldn’t help but appear on his face.
His days of farmland life had just gained a new source of anticipation, which was watching how high An Hao could grow.
After chatting for a long time, the topic finally shifted to the Immortal Cultivation World. Reportedly, Cangzhou’s Changluo was suffering a demon calamity with demons attempting to assassinate the Emperor, who survived by luck. Enraged, the Emperor was thoroughly investigating the matter, with families already being executed.
Knowing that Li Xuandao concealed a Cultivation Level of Divinity Transformation Realm Nine Layers, Gu An was not at all concerned; instead, he listened with relish.
The Spring Festival, a time of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, this night’s festivities continued until dawn. When the morning sun rose, Ye Lan and Zhen Qin departed.
Gu An did not immediately leave Mystic Valley but quietly entered the Eight Scenic Caves, bringing delicacies for Sky Dragon.
Beneath the Green Vine Tree, seeing Gu An’s arrival, Sky Dragon was very happy, rapidly swimming around him. Now nearly two zhang in length with fully grown dragon horns, it looked like a True Dragon, its black dragon scales shimmering with a cold gleam.
“Master, when can you take me out?” Sky Dragon nuzzled Gu An’s face, pleading pitifully.
Gu An rubbed its head and laughed, “Haven’t I told you? When you are fully grown. There are many people outside eyeing your flesh, just like you eye lamb meat.”
“How big is fully grown? I feel I’m already very strong now, and you might not even be my match, Master,” Sky Dragon complained.
Although Gu An had practiced swordsmanship under the tree, he had never revealed his real strength, and even Sky Dragon was unaware of it.
Hearing this, Gu An felt that he indeed needed to come up with a solution.
“I’ll think of something,” Gu An pondered.
He decided to visit Jiang Qiong to see if she understood the Transformation Skill, allowing Sky Dragon to transform into a snake, which would then accompany him outdoors.
Upon hearing this option, Sky Dragon immediately became excited, even cheering, eliciting laughter from Gu An.
After spending an ancient hour in Eight Scenic Caves, Gu An left, his departure so swift because he captured a familiar aura approaching Mystic Valley.
Gu An returned to his loft and pretended to read.
Before long, a figure leapt through the window. Before touching the ground, their voice rang out, “Junior Brother Gu, guess what treasure I’ve brought back for you?”