"You can hold onto it and accept the inheritance when your strength is sufficient," Gu An said seriously as he looked at Lü Xian, concerned that he might abandon this rare opportunity.
Based on the current situation, the position of a Heavenly Dao Immortal was more powerful than anything from the Sacred Court, the Immortal Dynasty, or even the Desolation Domain. As a mortal, if Lü Xian missed this chance, it would be nearly impossible to find a better opportunity in the future.
Lü Xian wasn't like Gu An, who could rely on seizing lifespan to grow stronger.
Lü Xian raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean? Do you think I can't rely on myself?"
"You can't. At least not enough to surpass this inheritance," Gu An replied bluntly.
"Ridiculous!"
Lü Xian erupted in fury, his terrifying aura bursting forth like a volcanic eruption, shaking the entire Tianya Valley.
Gu An suddenly raised a hand, pressing it firmly onto Lü Xian's shoulder, instantly dispersing the overwhelming aura.
Lü Xian's eyes widened in shock. He knew Gu An was stronger than him, but being completely subdued in a single move was beyond what he had expected.
In that moment, he was reminded of their battle hundreds of years ago.
The feeling now was exactly the same as it had been then.
Gu An looked at him calmly and asked, "So, can you hold onto this stone tablet now?"
Lü Xian was speechless, unable to say a word.
"If you agree, blink," Gu An said.
Upon hearing this, Lü Xian blinked furiously.
Gu An withdrew his hand, and Lü Xian, relieved, began taking deep breaths as if he'd just escaped a life-and-death struggle.
He stared at Gu An with a mixture of fear and amazement. From Li Xuandao, he had learned that Gu An was younger than him, yet his cultivation had reached such a terrifying level.
Compared to Gu An, Lü Xian felt like nothing but a failure.
Gu An smiled and said, "Hurry up and put it away. When you ascend to immortality, if I can't keep up with you or run into trouble, you'll be my backup."
Hearing this, the awkwardness on Lü Xian's face was replaced by pride. He patted his chest and declared, "Of course. I might not be as strong as you now, but sooner or later, I'll surpass you. One day, I'll be the one protecting you."
Although Gu An had never been overly kind to him and often scared him, Lü Xian couldn't deny that this was also a form of care.
He had provoked Gu An in the past, yet Gu An never held a grudge. If anyone else treated him the way Gu An did, he would never have let it slide.
Moreover, for Gu An to return such an important inheritance to him proved that he was someone worthy of respect.
Lü Xian carefully stored the stone tablet as Gu An wrapped an arm around his shoulder and led him toward the cave entrance.
"By the way, your father misses you a lot. When will you visit him?"
"My father? That old fossil. If I go back to see him, I might end up killing him," Lü Xian said dismissively.
"Stop talking nonsense. Blood is thicker than water. He didn't torture or abuse you, so why kill him? If you really wanted to, do you think he could stop you with your cultivation? You're hundreds of years old—why are you acting like a child?"
"You wouldn't understand," Lü Xian retorted.
"Of course, I wouldn't. I have no parents," Gu An replied plainly.
"Then I envy you," Lü Xian muttered.
"Hey, you little brat, are you looking for a fight?" Gu An teased. "Go back to the Tai Xuan Sect and visit your father. He's been kind to me and always talks about you. My ears are practically falling off from all the nagging. If you go, I'll teach you a divine ability that will take your strength to a whole new level."
"Really?"
"I, Gu An, never lie."
With that promise, the two chatted as they made their way out of the cave.
Returning to the valley, Gu An resumed his disguise as an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, while Lü Xian maintained the prideful aura of a prodigious talent.
A month later, Lü Baitian visited Gu An, elated as he dragged him off to drink. Lü Xian had finally come to see him.
Though the reunion between father and son wasn't particularly warm, it was at least a step toward reconciliation.
Lü Baitian learned from Lü Xian that it was Gu An who had persuaded him to visit. This revelation deeply moved Lü Baitian.
Despite Gu An's usual impatience with his rambling, he had clearly kept his concerns in mind—a gesture that justified all the care and affection Lü Baitian had shown him.
Looking at Gu An with a doting expression, Lü Baitian's gaze carried the affection of a father toward another son.
Gu An, on the other hand, was in no mood to refuse. He had been looking for an excuse to drink anyway.
Maybe this was what it meant to have great power and great responsibility—not only saving the world but also helping people solve their family problems.
The cultivation world was truly fortunate to have me.
Feeling self-satisfied, Gu An engaged in a drinking battle with Lü Baitian. In the end, Lü Baitian succumbed to the effects of their high-grade spiritual wine.
The liquor wasn't ordinary; it was a spirit wine of high rank. Gu An thought it wouldn't hurt to flaunt his strength a bit, especially since Lü Baitian wasn't exactly a powerhouse in the Tai Xuan Sect.
Once Lü Baitian was thoroughly drunk, Gu An made his way downstairs.
As soon as he descended, Ji Xiaoya emerged from a nearby room and said to him, "Come inside!"
Gu An shook his head. "No way. You're not strong enough yet—go practice some more."
Previously, Gu An had taught Ji Xiaoya a lesson by playing a half-hour game of chess in her room, utterly defeating her and leaving her with no room to argue. Since then, she had been obsessed with refining her chess strategies during cultivation.
"Let's play another round, and I'll show you if I'm strong enough!"
"Ha!"
Ignoring her, Gu An walked off into the distance.
Ji Xiaoya watched his retreating figure, taking a deep breath. The memory of the forfeit she owed him after her last defeat still made her teeth itch with frustration.
Before they had played, they'd agreed on terms: if she won, Gu An would commit to cultivating diligently. If he won, he'd pinch her cheek.
A pinch? Fine, but this guy actually dared to put in effort!
Watching Gu An leave, she couldn't help but feel confused.
How is his chess skill so ridiculously strong?
Finally, she understood why even the Nine-Finger Divine Lord couldn't maintain his composure around Gu An despite being an immortal.
After walking a fair distance, Gu An leapt into the air, flying toward the outer sect's city.
It had been too long since his last stroll around the city.
Today, he would also take the opportunity to reinforce the sword intent on the Heaven Mending Platform.
Far too many people had been meditating on his sword intent there, causing it to gradually weaken. Recently, even cultivators at the Wondrous Mystical Spirit Immortal level had come to comprehend it.
...
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, another decade passed.
That day.
Deep beneath the sea, within the Submerged Spirit Palace.
Gu An reclined on a chair in an open space, holding a copy of the Tai Xuan Secrets in his hand.
Nearby, the Deep Sea Dragon Koi was diligently cultivating the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi Technique.
Though the technique had advanced to a high level, its complexity made it less suitable. Moreover, all of Gu An's disciples practiced it—how could the treatment of the Deep Sea Dragon Koi surpass theirs?
When it came to subordinates among the demon kind, Tian Yao'er remained the most important.
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi opened its eyes and flew over to Gu An, asking cautiously, "Master, I feel like I'm about to transform. What form do you think I should take?"
Gu An turned away, his back to the creature. "Whatever you want."
He didn't care whether a male demon took on a humanoid form or not. It wouldn't make a difference to him either way.
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi caught sight of an illustration in the Tai Xuan Secrets and appeared deep in thought before turning to leave.
Two hours later, Gu An left the area.
When he returned half a month later, he froze in his tracks.
Standing at the entrance of the Submerged Spirit Palace was an unfamiliar silhouette. For a moment, Gu An thought he was seeing the bare form of Mo Bian'an.
But this was clearly no female demon!
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi turned to face him, its breathtakingly beautiful face breaking into a radiant smile. With waist-length hair and skin as pale as snow, it radiated an allure that seemed almost otherworldly. The creature swayed its hips as it walked toward Gu An.
Without hesitation, Gu An flung a robe at it, striking it squarely.
"Put this on, now!"
Gu An nearly cursed aloud. A male demon transforming into a female form? What was this nonsense? It was utterly disgusting!
Hearing the displeasure in Gu An's tone, the Deep Sea Dragon Koi quickly donned the robe. Its movements were hesitant, as if it had done something terribly wrong. Its exquisite face was filled with an expression of grievance.