Gu An couldn't help but use the Lifespan Investigation feature on Shen Zhen.
[Shen Zhen (Divine Transformation Realm, Second Layer): 329/1200/5800]
Her maximum lifespan had increased by more than a thousand years! Could it be that she also possessed an innate Enlightened Dao Sacred Physique? Gu An's curiosity deepened, and he decided to observe Shen Zhen more closely in the future.
As Shen Zhen eagerly recounted the process of her imaginative creation, Gu An attentively studied the scroll before him.
It seemed to depict mortals pleading for the mercy of celestial beings, but the scene carried a bizarre twist. The mortals kneeling on the ground were smiling, while the celestial beings high above frowned deeply.
The outlines of the clouds, the shapes of the mountains, and the currents of the rivers—all subtly revealed the manifestation of heavenly laws. When the scroll was fully unfurled, even the real-world heavenly rules seemed to be quietly aligning themselves with the painting. To Gu An, with his Divine Thought True Immortal cultivation, the world momentarily became surreal and kaleidoscopic.
Shen Zhen, oblivious to the shifts in the heavenly laws around her, continued passionately recounting the creative journey that led to the painting.
Gu An began to probe Shen Zhen's karma and saw all the threads of her life experiences.
Unexpectedly, he discovered that he had unwittingly become the person most deeply tied to Shen Zhen's karma.
Shen Zhen's ties to the Dao Tian Sect were growing increasingly tenuous. Although she was the daughter of the sect's leader, her father had many children, and their relationship had grown distant over the years due to prolonged separation. Her mother had long since passed away.
Gu An suddenly entertained a bold hypothesis.
Could Shen Zhen's accomplishments have been influenced by his presence?
After all, he was a Divine Thought True Immortal. Even though he concealed his cultivation, his very essence of life was fundamentally different from that of the surrounding disciples.
Over the years, the time it took for disciples to advance from entering the valley to completing their training had shortened significantly. This too might have been due to his influence.
Shen Zhen's achievements certainly owed much to her innate talent, but without Gu An's presence, she might not have reached her current level.
Gradually, Gu An's understanding of the Dao of Karma deepened.
In reflection, Gu An realized his presence had profoundly impacted the entire Tai Xuan Sect. Regardless of the reasons, the sect had entered an unprecedented phase of rapid development.
A moment later, Shen Zhen's voice pulled Gu An out of his thoughts.
"Hey, are you even listening?"
Gu An turned his head to look at her. She was wearing an expression of mock anger, gritting her teeth in a way that looked more endearing than intimidating. It made Gu An want to reach out and pinch her cheeks.
"I'm listening. You're really impressive. Honestly, I can't quite grasp how you managed this. If what you're saying is true, then maybe you do have a gift for comprehending the Dao," Gu An praised sincerely.
Hearing this, Shen Zhen's face lit up with a radiant smile. She replied smugly, "This scroll is yours now. I'm heading back to meditate!"
With that, she turned and left.
Gu An didn't see her out. Instead, his gaze returned to the scroll on the table.
He noticed the auras downstairs had returned to normal—Ji Xiaoya had resumed her cultivation. Gu An paid it no mind.
Seated in his chair, Gu An studied the scroll, his thoughts drifting.
He realized that his influence extended not just through his conscious actions but also through the assistance of the heavenly momentum. This realization deepened his comprehension of the Heavenly Dao.
A curious feeling arose within him—while he wanted to remain hidden, the Heavenly Dao seemed determined to ensure his presence was felt. This might explain why his surroundings were always affected by his existence.
The great tides of heaven and earth were like surging waves, and the entanglements of karma were like an inescapable net. No one could resist or escape them.
Every situation brought both advantages and disadvantages. While Gu An helped improve the environment around him, he also entangled himself in ever more complex karmic webs.
At that moment, Gu An suddenly understood why so many powerful cultivators chose to seclude themselves for centuries. Perhaps it wasn't just about pursuing enlightenment—it was also a means of survival.
Take the Great Cold Demon Sect, for instance. It was likely filled with many hidden, reclusive masters. By remaining in seclusion, they had managed to escape calamities. In its own way, this was a form of survival.
Gu An did not feel fear at this realization. Instead, he began to ponder the workings of karma, the Dao of fate, and how these formed one of the most terrifying and immutable rules of existence.
Fate.
Gu An never believed fate was truly unalterable. The perception of inevitability stemmed from being trapped within the rules. If one could surpass the rules, how could they be bound?
As for how to transcend fate and the Heavenly Dao itself, that was the direction Gu An knew he needed to explore.
He sat in silent contemplation all night. By dawn, he was once again riding the Blood Prison Saint, heading to the outer city for entertainment.
A night had passed, yet Zuo Yijian remained immersed in enlightenment. Over a hundred senior Tai Xuan Sect cultivators stood guard around him, suspending the trial of the Heaven-Sundering Axe to prevent anyone from disturbing him.
Zuo Yijian's cultivation level was insignificant compared to the current Tai Xuan Sect's standards. However, receiving the Sword Master of the Dao's sword intent was an entirely different matter. It carried immense significance and was enough to command the sect's utmost respect, as an acknowledgment of the Sword Master himself.
Shortly after Gu An arrived in the outer city, he encountered a man—a middle-aged figure accompanied by several young men and women. They wandered through the bustling crowd, their eyes filled with curiosity as they took in the lively scene.
"Chuan Yue, it's been a long time."
A voice called out, prompting Chuan Yue to instinctively turn his head. His gaze landed on the Blood Prison Saint and its rider, Gu An.
The Blood Prison Saint's shoulder height rivaled that of an adult man, exuding an intimidating presence just by standing still. However, Chuan Yue had seen even larger and more ferocious beasts, so he wasn't particularly alarmed.
Looking at Gu An, Chuan Yue asked warily, "And you are…?"
The man riding the fierce mount was clearly a cultivator, and Chuan Yue had to tread cautiously.
The young members of the Chuan family accompanying Chuan Yue curiously observed Gu An. None of them expected that someone within the Tai Xuan Sect would know their grandfather.
Gu An smiled and said, "Did you forget? I visited your family back then. You were fifteen years old and pestering your grandfather to teach you cultivation."
Chuan Yue froze for a moment, then his eyes widened in shock as he stammered, "You're the one who came to see my grandfather back then? How are you so..."
So young!
Gu An asked, "How is your grandfather these days?"
Chuan Yue quickly replied, "He's doing very well. He spends his days cultivating and drinking tea, without a care in the world."
Behind him, the younger members of the Chuan family exchanged puzzled looks. Their ancestor? Wasn't their grandfather's grandfather the legendary founder of their family?
These younger members had only seen Chuan Yue's grandfather once or twice. To them, he was a figure both kind and distant, commanding profound respect but remaining an enigma.
After some conversation, Gu An learned that Chuan Yue was escorting his descendants to broaden their horizons and perhaps seek some fortuitous opportunities.
From his sleeve, Gu An pulled out a token and tossed it to Chuan Yue. "If your descendants lack exceptional talent or other avenues, they can join the Miscellaneous Service Hall as disciples. This token will grant them entry into the Third Medicine Valley."
Chuan Yue instinctively caught the token. Just as he was about to ask for clarification, the Blood Prison Saint stepped forward, brushing past him.
Turning to watch Gu An's retreating back, Chuan Yue called out, "Senior, may I know your name?"
Gu An simply raised his hand in a dismissive wave without answering.
Chuan Yue looked down at the token in his hand, his brow furrowed in thought.
At that moment, a male cultivator approached with a grin. "Brother, you've struck fortune! Gaining a connection to the Third Medicine Valley is a massive boon. With this opportunity, reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm is practically guaranteed. It's a solid foundation for your cultivation journey."
Foundation Establishment!
The eyes of the Chuan family descendants lit up in unison, their breathing quickening with excitement.
Chuan Yue immediately bowed to the male cultivator and asked about the Third Medicine Valley.
The cultivator provided a brief overview. The valley housed thousands of service disciples, countless medicinal herbs, and frequently hosted Tai Xuan Sect elders. These details left Chuan Yue dazed and bewildered.
Just who was the man from earlier to wield such influence?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Chuan Yue asked, "Do you know who that person was?"
The cultivator chuckled, shook his head, and patted Chuan Yue on the shoulder before walking away. This only deepened Chuan Yue's reverence and curiosity toward Gu An.
Meanwhile, on a different street, Gu An smiled wryly to himself. That boy still loved to play his little tricks.
The cultivator who had introduced the Third Medicine Valley to Chuan Yue was none other than a disciple who had completed his training there.
To this day, tens of thousands of disciples had graduated from the Third Medicine Valley and Xuan Valley. It was no surprise that Gu An frequently ran into familiar faces.
Gu An's reputation among disciples was unparalleled. When tallying up the resources needed for Foundation Establishment Pills, who else within the Tai Xuan Sect's inner or outer circles could match Gu An's generosity?
Moreover, over the years, Gu An had never imposed extra demands on the service disciples, which was one of the reasons he commanded such respect.
Gu An soon arrived at the Scripture Pavilion, intending to chat with the book-loving disciples inside.
Seven days later.
The Heaven Ranking Tournament officially began! The Nine-Finger Divine Lord represented the Tai Xuan Sect in the competition. Since Li Ya was unable to return, the sect needed the power of a Wandering Immortal. How they persuaded the Nine-Finger Divine Lord to join was unknown to Gu An, as he hadn't paid attention and wasn't particularly interested.
That day, Lü Baitian came to see Gu An, pulling him into a pavilion mid-way through the tournament. Most of the valley's disciples were used to Lü Baitian's sudden appearances, and the newer disciples were merely curious.
Once seated inside, Lü Baitian uncharacteristically steered the conversation away from official matters, choosing instead to talk about his son, Lü Xian.
"That brat is completely loyal to Li Xuandao. I can't figure out what he's thinking. No matter how the Tai Cang Dynasty develops, it'll always be under the Li family's rule. What does he stand to gain?" Lü Baitian said with frustration.
Gu An didn't comment on their family issues.
To be fair, Lü Baitian and Li Xuandao were remarkably similar, both in their methods and their father-son dynamics.
Back in the day, Li Ya had also resented Li Xuandao, and now Lü Xian still harbored thoughts of killing Lü Baitian.
Gu An had no interest in untangling the karma of their family. These matters might be crystal clear to outsiders, but ultimately, they were of no use in resolving such deeply rooted conflicts.
"Recently, Li Xuandao assigned him to the main city of the Broken Sea Region. I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse. The establishment of the Broken Sea Region's main city feels like a direct response to the Sword Master of the Dao," Lü Baitian said with concern.
Gu An asked, "Why do you think so?"
"Before the Great Cold Demon Sect emerged, that region didn't exist. It shows that while the Sacred Court enforces order, it doesn't concern itself with specific regions. From the Sacred Court's perspective, the creation of the Broken Sea Region was likely for defense—and possibly to investigate the Sword Master of the Dao."
"If that's the case, why not go to the Heaven-Sundering Axe and ask the Sword Master of the Dao to leave?"
"Ridiculous! Never say such things again!" Lü Baitian snapped, his glare stern and voice commanding.
Gu An chuckled helplessly. This man was so quick to anger.
Lü Baitian shifted the topic to Li Lingtian, who had gained considerable fame in recent years. Li Lingtian had taken first place in both the Golden Rankings and the Hundred Tribes Assembly, surpassing even the renown of An Hao and Lü Xian in their prime.
Gu An had little opinion on the matter. It was evident that Li Lingtian's return to the Tai Cang Continent was driven by his pursuit of Yang Jian. As for the younger generation's disputes, Gu An found it difficult to muster any interest.
What truly intrigued him was the arrival of a mysterious grand cultivator at the Tai Xuan Sect that day.