Gu An's eyes gleamed with a hint of appreciation. He hadn't expected Lu Lingjun to have such self-awareness.
Lu Lingjun, catching Gu An's gaze, sighed internally. This guy is way too calm!
She glared at him, her tone edged with annoyance. "So after hearing all this, don't you feel even a little bit envious?"
Gu An replied casually, "Of course I do. But over the years, I've heard so many tales of immortals that I can only take them as entertainment. What else am I supposed to do—fantasize that every great man should aspire to be like them?"
Lu Lingjun found his words strange but decided not to dwell on them. She continued to recount her experiences at Mortal Peak.
Even though Gu An had been there too, hearing the story from her perspective offered a fresh view of the events.
The two chatted for over an hour, after which Lu Lingjun expressed her desire to stay temporarily in the Third Medicine Valley. Gu An agreed without hesitation.
Stretching lazily, Gu An turned his gaze to the window.
Tomorrow, it'd finally be time to visit Dingtian Peak to harvest herbs.
Under his orders, Zhu Xinglan had established a medicine garden, and the first batch of herbs had now matured.
When it came to the garden, Gu An had decided against restricting access to other disciples, lest it raise suspicion. After all, Mortal Peak was already one of the leading sects of the time, closely tied to the Sacred Court. He had to tread carefully.
Besides, Dingtian Peak was vast enough. Even if other disciples helped themselves, he'd still manage to harvest plenty.
Thinking about this, Gu An's eyes lit up with anticipation.
The next afternoon.
At Dingtian Peak, Gu An strolled leisurely along the mountain path to its summit, Zhu Xinglan trailing respectfully behind him.
As Dingtian Peak's senior disciple, Zhu Xinglan now knew the truth—that Gu An was a supreme cultivator surpassing even Unrestrained Primordial Immortals. Naturally, he was determined to hold tight to such a powerful benefactor, which showed in his diligent behavior.
"I need a disciple in the Wandering Immortal Realm to oversee an island for me. Can you find someone suitable? I won't let them go unrewarded," Gu An said offhandedly.
Having gained over three hundred thousand years of lifespan today, he was in a particularly good mood.
Zhu Xinglan responded promptly, "If you plan to leave today, Master, I'll arrange it immediately."
"Go ahead."
With Gu An's permission, Zhu Xinglan vanished in an instant.
Gu An made his way to the courtyard, seated himself on a bench, and gazed upward.
Ever since his recent breakthrough, cosmic battles had become frequent, with an increasing number of Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals traveling to and from the realm.
Gu An had also caught sight of the Heavenly Demons.
At first glance, Heavenly Demons resembled ordinary sentient beings, with many appearing human. However, their most defining trait was the demonic aura they exuded—far more sinister than that of magic cultivators or demonic beasts native to the Grand Celestial World. It was a presence that instinctively provoked rejection.
At that moment, on the periphery of the Void Extinction Zone, two Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals were engaged in combat, vying for a treasure. In the shadows, Unrestrained Primordial Immortals lurked, watching and waiting.
Half an incense stick's time later.
Zhu Xinglan returned, bringing another individual with him.
[Xun Hanfeng (Wandering Immortal Realm, Fourth Layer): 89,034/140,000/280,000]
Gu An examined Xun Hanfeng. The man, clad in a black robe, had an air of shadowy cunning. His hair was unkempt, and his expression hinted at deep scheming.
Feeling Gu An's gaze, Xun Hanfeng lowered his head, not daring to meet his master's eyes.
He was visibly tense. Stories of the new peak master's immense strength and domineering ways had already reached his ears, but this was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
"Disciple Xun Hanfeng greets Master!" Xun Hanfeng bowed deeply, his voice respectful.
Zhu Xinglan followed up with a summary of Xun Hanfeng's background. Born and raised at Mortal Peak, Xun Hanfeng had long shared a strong rapport with Zhu Xinglan.
"Let's go," Gu An said simply.
With a flick of his sleeve, Gu An enveloped Xun Hanfeng and vanished.
Zhu Xinglan, left behind, marveled once more at his master's boundless abilities.
The strength of Dingtian Peak's peak master was a hot topic of discussion within Mortal Peak. Zhu Xinglan had obtained one critical piece of intelligence—Yongnian Dao Lord himself believed that the Dingtian Peak peak master's cultivation surpassed his own.
Such an assessment left Zhu Xinglan's imagination running wild.
Elsewhere.
Gu An and Xun Hanfeng descended upon Xunxian Island.
As they landed, Xun Hanfeng stumbled, nearly falling. Thankfully, Gu An steadied him in time.
"Are you alright?" Gu An asked.
Flustered, Xun Hanfeng straightened up quickly. "I'm fine, Master. Forgive me for embarrassing myself."
Gu An nodded and strode toward a nearby building. Xun Hanfeng hurried to follow.
As they walked, Gu An began explaining the island's setup and its operational details. Xun Hanfeng listened intently, visibly relieved upon learning of the island's modest scale.
A place easily managed by a Wandering Immortal held little to no real pressure for him.
"It's quite a coincidence that both you and this island share the name 'Xun,'" Gu An remarked with a smile.
Xun Hanfeng chuckled awkwardly, offering no further comment.
Before long, Hu Xiaojian and a group of elders from the Sea Protectorate arrived to greet them.
Gu An motioned for Xun Hanfeng to introduce himself.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Xun Hanfeng from Mortal Peak. I will be working with all of you moving forward, and I hope for your utmost cooperation," Xun Hanfeng announced, his voice calm and steady. Immediately afterward, he unleashed the aura of a Wandering Immortal, causing everyone in the hall to feel short of breath.
Over the years, they had harbored doubts about Gu An's bold claims. But today, witnessing a true Wandering Immortal in person left them utterly stunned.
Hu Xiaojian was the most excited of all, looking at Gu An with eyes filled with admiration.
"That's all. From now on, Xun Hanfeng will oversee Xunxian Island. Carry on," Gu An said nonchalantly before departing.
Everyone turned to look at Xun Hanfeng, their expressions filled with apprehension. Xun Hanfeng's demeanor seemed aloof and unapproachable.
After Gu An left, Xun Hanfeng seated himself with an imposing air, his earlier nervousness completely gone.
"May I ask, Senior, does the Island Master also hail from Mortal Peak?" a cautious loose immortal ventured.
The name of Mortal Peak carried significant weight. Even if they weren't fully familiar with it, they had certainly heard of its reputation.
"Of course," Xun Hanfeng replied.
Everyone relaxed visibly, their faces breaking into smiles. If Xun Hanfeng shared a close connection with the Island Master, it meant he wasn't an outsider.
"The Island Master is my mentor," Xun Hanfeng said with pride. "You can rest assured. Together, we'll manage Xunxian Island well. That's our foremost duty—to ensure we don't disappoint him. Let me also tell you this: his cultivation level is unimaginably high, far beyond anything you've ever heard of. To serve under him is the greatest fortune of your lives."
Xun Hanfeng's words left everyone wide-eyed in astonishment.
Hu Xiaojian was particularly stunned.
The Island Master's background was so extraordinary?
Wasn't he just a loose immortal?
Wait, wasn't that something the Island Master had said about himself...?
Overwhelmed by the revelation, Hu Xiaojian could barely process the conversation that followed among the elders.
Xun Hanfeng noticed Hu Xiaojian's absent-mindedness but didn't mind. Gu An had specifically instructed him to look after the young man.
Seasons changed, and another year passed.
After the New Year, Gu An made his way to the Tai Xuan Sect's branch.
It was his first time visiting the branch, arriving via the teleportation array in the main city of Tai Xuan Sect. Each year, the sect grew stronger, and its connections with the branch sect became increasingly robust.
As Gu An surveyed the branch city, he marveled at the density of spiritual energy. It was almost on par with the main city of Tai Xuan Sect, which explained why so many disciples flocked there.
Not only was the spiritual energy abundant, but it also offered opportunities for disciples to train, hunt demons, and search for heavenly treasures.
The Tai Cang Dynasty had yet to conquer the entire continent, and the same applied to cultivation sects. There were still countless unexplored mountains and rivers.
Gu An wasn't in a hurry to find Ye Lan. Instead, he wandered around the city.
During his stroll, he encountered an old friend from his time in the Outer Gate City, someone he'd often shared food and drink with. They exchanged greetings and reminisced for a while.
Further down the street, he ran into a disciple who had built their foundation in the Third Medicine Valley.
This was the depth of experience a 227-year life could offer.
Gu An engaged in lively conversations with his old acquaintances, maintaining the relationships without any sense of estrangement.
In the next hour, he encountered two more familiar faces, proof that the branch sect had become the first choice for many average disciples seeking opportunities in demon-infested territories.
For Gu An, it was a momentary reflection. He wouldn't meddle in the lives of others unless they truly mattered to him.
For instance, his junior sister, Ye Lan.
When Gu An arrived at Ye Lan's residence, she appeared out of nowhere, her face lighting up with delight.
"Senior Brother! What brings you here?" she exclaimed as she rushed forward to embrace him.
"Mind your manners; we're in public!" Gu An hastily raised his hands in protest.
Ye Lan stopped in her tracks but quickly grabbed his hand and led him inside her residence. As they walked, she eagerly updated him on the state of the branch sect.
The residence housed several female disciples tasked with maintaining it. They watched with curious eyes as Ye Lan pulled Gu An along.
Once they were out of sight, Gu An could hear the young women gossiping about them.
Eventually, Ye Lan brought Gu An into her quarters and closed the door.
They sat down to chat, and after sharing her experiences, Ye Lan asked Gu An about his life over the years.
Gu An recounted his days, though they sounded mundane. Yet Ye Lan's face remained adorned with a smile.
Thinking back to when they were in their twenties, who would have imagined that two centuries later, they'd still be sitting together, talking like this?
Gradually, Ye Lan's thoughts began to drift, and she entered a peculiar state of tranquility.
This shift was no accident; Gu An was guiding her comprehension of the Dao.
With his divine sense enveloping the room, he subtly directed Ye Lan to attune herself to the principles of heaven and earth. This method, beyond the grasp of ordinary cultivators, was so seamless that even Ye Lan, sitting right in front of him, remained unaware.
Lost in a dreamlike state, Ye Lan's eyes grew vacant.
Gu An stood up, gently carried her to her bed, and helped her sit cross-legged to meditate.
He then returned to his seat, silently watching her cultivate.
As he observed, his heart filled with anticipation.
If he could help extend Ye Lan's lifespan to its maximum potential, he would send her to Mortal Peak to train.
If not, bringing her to Mortal Peak with a limited lifespan of mere centuries would only add to her burdens.
Greater exposure often led to heightened expectations, which in turn bred anxiety and stress.
Even the most powerful Immortals couldn't escape the cycle of life and death. A mysterious force seemed to suppress all beings.
What exactly was this force? Gu An pondered.
Time passed swiftly.
Gu An, feeling a bit bored, found himself itching for excitement again.
How about another round of reincarnation simulation?
This time, he thought, he'd avoid a dark world and see how far he could go. If he could live for a millennium or more and master extraordinary abilities, it might increase his chances of success in his next tribulation.
Moreover, the memories gained from reincarnation simulation could strengthen his Dao Heart.
It seemed that advancing to certain realms necessitated such training. Why else would this function exist?
"Just one more round!" Gu An decided, trying to suppress his excitement.
After all, it cost ten million years of lifespan per attempt. It wasn't something he could afford to overindulge in.
Looking at Ye Lan, he silently prayed, "Junior Sister, please bless me with a good reincarnation!"