Yang Jian noticed Lu Xianyi's expression and immediately realized he had heard of Journey to the West but hadn't actually read it. Judging by his demeanor, it was likely Lu Xianyi hailed from some overseas region.
Without hesitation, Yang Jian took out a book from his robes and handed it to Lu Xianyi.
"This is my favorite book. It's the greatest masterpiece in history. I'll give it to you, Senior."
Hearing this, Lu Xianyi quickly extended his hand to accept the book, even bowing slightly in gratitude. This display of politeness made Yang Jian feel uneasy.
What's going on?
Did this man notice the cultivation I've been concealing?
Lu Xianyi, sensing Yang Jian's wary gaze, said calmly, "Thank you. I'll read it now since I have nothing else to do."
With that, he turned and left.
Yang Jian watched as Lu Xianyi walked away, hesitated briefly, then resumed his weeding.
It wasn't until nightfall that Xuan Tianyi finally departed.
Gu An glanced at the book on the table, his face alight with anticipation.
The latest volume of The Adventures of the Green Hero!
Xuan Tianyi truly deserved to be hailed as a saint in Gu An's heart. Even amid the chaos of recent years, this guy still managed to write another book.
It was well known that The Adventures of the Green Hero was based on true experiences and heavily emphasized romantic drama. This meant that Xuan Tianyi must have had quite a few new romantic escapades in recent years.
Gu An took a deep breath and picked up The Adventures of the Green Hero with both hands.
Outside the window, the moon was bright and round, and the valley was alive with the sound of chirping insects. This serene atmosphere made his reading experience all the more enjoyable.
Gu An wasn't the only one reading in the valley. Over in the guest house, Lu Xianyi was also immersed in his reading.
Lu Xianyi held Journey to the West in one hand, his brows tightly furrowed. His other hand moved as he calculated something with his fingers.
Seven days later.
Gu An, riding the Blood Prison Saint, traveled to Tianya Valley to collect medicinal herbs. The valley was nearly empty, with only Luo Hun, Lü Xian, and three demon monkeys present. Yi Liuyun, Ji Ruolai, and Li Lingtian had not yet returned.
High above, Lu Xianyi observed Tianya Valley from the clouds, his brow furrowing deeply.
Listening to Gu An's conversation with Luo Hun, Lu Xianyi finally let down his guard.
So this brat is content planting grass for the Tai Xuan Sect and even serving the royal court. Clearly, he doesn't have any significant background. His humility is born of necessity—an outcome of lacking support.
Lu Xianyi turned away, deciding to explore the Tai Xuan Sect instead. He had heard that Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West were connected. He was curious to see what Investiture of the Gods was about.
Meanwhile, Gu An smirked faintly as he plucked weeds.
Nearby, Luo Hun continued to press him. "So, have you made up your mind?"
"Forget it. I really don't want to leave the Tai Xuan Sect. Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty and the Crown Prince for their kind invitation, but I won't be visiting the capital," Gu An replied.
Luo Hun smiled and said, "The Crown Prince still dreams of defeating Yang Jian. He's been training rigorously for years, and I've heard he's even receiving guidance from a powerful ocean cultivator. You should prepare Yang Jian for the challenge."
Gu An nodded. "Alright, Old Luo, you've aged."
"Aged? What do you mean by that?"
"You've become so chatty. Back when you borrowed The Adventures of the Green Hero from me, you hardly said a word."
"Look who's talking! You still haven't found Tai Xuan's Secret Chronicles, the book I asked you for. Meanwhile, there's no new volume of The Adventures of the Green Hero either!"
"Read more Journey to the West. It'll help you cultivate your inner peace."
As Gu An picked herbs, he and Luo Hun bantered lightheartedly.
Time continued to pass.
Autumn gave way to winter, and the heavens began to blanket the land in snow.
One day, while reading in the Eight Views Heavenly Cave, Gu An suddenly sensed something. He immediately retrieved a jade token—the Mortal Jade, a symbol of the Mortal Peak master's authority and a unique magical artifact.
Channeling his divine sense into the jade, Gu An quickly learned that the Millennium Summit was about to begin.
After some thought, he rose from his seat and disappeared from his original location.
Although the Mortal Jade provided directional guidance, Gu An didn't need it. He had already memorized the location of the Mortal Peak.
The Mortal Peak was far from the Tai Xuan Sect, situated in a vast, mist-shrouded ocean. There were no islands or continents in the area, only towering peaks that rose straight from the ocean floor and pierced through the clouds.
Gu An appeared at the edge of the Mortal Peak and floated forward atop a cloud.
Before long, he began noticing the silhouettes of other cultivators, their numbers increasing steadily as they all headed in the same direction.
Gu An didn't speed up. Instead, he maintained a leisurely pace, enjoying the scenery along the way.
As he flew, he pondered whether he should plant medicinal herbs on his peak after becoming its master.
When he assumed the position of Peak Master, he couldn't be seen harvesting herbs himself—that would be far too suspicious, especially considering his status as a Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal.
"Daoist friend, please wait!"
A voice called out from behind. Gu An stopped and turned, noticing two cultivators approaching on flying swords—a man and a woman, both at the Nirvana Realm.
Casting his Lifespan Investigation ability, Gu An saw their details clearly. The man was named Xu Ruohai, and the woman was Xu Xi. Their maximum lifespans weren't exceptional, but they were also far from mediocre.
The two landed in front of Gu An. Xu Ruohai cupped his fists in greeting and said, "I am Xu Ruohai, and this is my younger sister, Xu Xi. May I ask your name, Daoist friend?"
Gu An returned the gesture politely and replied, "I am Meng Lang. What can I do for you?"
Xu Ruohai smiled warmly. "Daoist friend, are you heading to pledge allegiance to the Mortal Peak? My sister and I are also going there. Would you like to travel together?"
Although Xu Ruohai couldn't discern Gu An's cultivation level, he didn't feel any threat from him. Moreover, he noticed Gu An's unhurried flight and frequent glances around, which made it obvious that this was Gu An's first visit.
Behind him, Xu Xi was quietly studying Gu An. When their eyes met, she quickly turned away, her ears turning slightly red.
Interesting. To think someone over 8,000 years old could still blush.
Amused by the observation, Gu An nodded.
This made Xu Ruohai even more enthusiastic. As the three of them flew together, they struck up a conversation.
Gu An asked questions about the Mortal Peak, and Xu Ruohai eagerly answered, further convinced that this was indeed Gu An's first time visiting.
Xu Xi didn't speak much, leaving most of the talking to her brother, though she occasionally chimed in with a few additions.
Through the siblings, Gu An gained a clearer understanding of the Mortal Peak.
At the same time, he was reminded of a pair of siblings Xiaosheng Tian had encountered at the end of his life. Their shared adventures resurfaced in his memory, filling him with a sense of regret. This gave Gu An a faint sense of warmth toward Xu Ruohai and Xu Xi.
After half an hour, the trio passed through a thick fog and were met with the sight of an enormous mountain ahead.
It was a massive peak, far grander than any of the mountains they had encountered along the way. Its base stretched for at least a thousand miles in diameter, and its towering height seemed to pierce through the heavens, its summit hidden from view.
The mountain's surface was lush with dense forests, brimming with vitality. Cultivators could be seen flying toward it from all directions.
As they approached, the area grew lively with the hum of voices and the occasional roar of spirit beasts and mounts in the distance.
Xu Ruohai gazed up at the peak, awestruck. "As expected of the Mortal Peak, one of the oldest sects in existence. I've dreamed of joining them since I was a child. I wonder if I'll succeed."
Gu An chuckled and said, "With your cultivation, you should have no problem. Don't worry."
Xu Ruohai gave a wry smile. "Brother Meng, you may not know this, but the Mortal Peak has very stringent requirements for one's aptitude—"
"Haha! Daoist Meng, you've finally arrived!"
A loud, hearty laugh rang out, interrupting Xu Ruohai mid-sentence.
Gu An didn't need to look up to know who it was. Bai Ziya had arrived. Gu An had intentionally released a hint of his Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal aura earlier. Though Xu Ruohai and Xu Xi couldn't sense it, Bai Ziya, who had been waiting for him, detected it immediately.
Bai Ziya descended from the sky, grabbed Gu An by the hand, and began pulling him toward the peak.
"If you were any later, your position as Peak Master might've been taken!" Bai Ziya huffed.
Gu An quickly responded, "I want to bring them along."
Bai Ziya glanced at Xu Ruohai and Xu Xi, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
Xu Ruohai and Xu Xi froze, stunned.
Peak Master?
Did they hear that correctly?