After some time, Gu An looked at the Deep Sea Dragon Koi, now dressed in white, but he still found it unsettling.
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi had tied its hair up, giving it the appearance of a woman disguised as a man. Since it had already taken on this form, it couldn't alter its humanoid appearance, leaving it with no choice but to adapt.
The more Gu An looked at it, the more familiar it seemed.
Wait a minute, isn't this the same figure from Tai Xuan Secrets, the woman Gu An had once encountered in the text?
Gu An said, "Stop pretending to be a woman from now on. There's no need to try to please me like this. I don't like it."
The Deep Sea Dragon Koi quickly nodded but couldn't help feeling puzzled. If he didn't like it, why did he read such books?
Seeing the demon's pitiful expression, Gu An began teaching it some spells to practice.
Hearing that it would be learning magic, the Deep Sea Dragon Koi's face lit up with excitement, quickly sweeping away its previous dejection.
Although the Deep Sea Dragon Koi's transformation was bizarre, it didn't disrupt Gu An's life. After all, he had already raised three female demons, and no matter what form the Deep Sea Dragon Koi took, it couldn't arouse his interest.
After spending half a day at the Submerged Spirit Palace, Gu An left for Tianhuang Mountain. Today, a batch of high-grade herbs in the Hidden Paradise Cave Heaven was ready for harvest, which would grant him several million years of lifespan.
In the Hidden Paradise Cave Heaven, there was no concept of day or night.
After harvesting the herbs, Gu An spent some time instructing Tian Yao'er and the other two demonesses in their cultivation.
Over the years, Tian Yao'er's cultivation had reached the ninth level of the Profound Heart Realm, and she was on the verge of breaking through to the Mahayana Realm.
With her exceptional talent and Gu An's generous supply of high-grade herbs, her progress had been nothing short of extraordinary.
In contrast, Tianqing and Tianbai, though less talented, had recently broken through to the Body Fusion Realm.
Despite their slower cultivation, the speed of their progress far exceeded that of ordinary demons. Unlike human cultivators, demons generally progressed more slowly but lived longer. However, under Gu An's guidance, the three demons were advancing at a pace comparable to top-tier human geniuses.
After a half-hour sparring session, the three demons were thoroughly exhausted, their demonic energy depleted.
Despite their relatively abundant energy reserves, which were considered robust for their level, facing Gu An required them to exert themselves fully.
As they collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, Gu An hovered above them, pointing out their shortcomings.
After a while, the three demons gathered around him, asking about the situation in the outside world.
The incident involving the Qiu Xi Immortal Lord was still fresh in their memories. His domineering declarations and oppressive aura had left a lasting impression, and they were curious about the ongoing developments in the world beyond.
"Right now, the Immortal Dynasty and Sacred Court are locked in fierce conflict. Just recently, an immortal single-handedly lifted an entire sea, holding billions of lives in his grasp as he battled a grand cultivator from the Sacred Court. The clash was earth-shattering..."
Gu An casually recounted an incident, captivating the demons with the tale.
What he described had genuinely happened. As time passed, casualties mounted on both sides, intensifying their mutual hatred.
If things continued at this rate, it was inevitable that the two factions would engage in a war that would engulf the entire world.
Gu An made a few calculations and concluded that such a battle would likely shatter the heavens and earth. However, there were too many variables. He couldn't predict all the choices of the Free Immortals, nor could he account for the Divine Sovereign within the Cycle of Reincarnation.
For now, it was impossible to determine who would emerge victorious.
Gu An, however, wasn't too concerned. The Tai Cang Continent, where he resided, hadn't been significantly affected by the conflict, which was enough for him.
Listening to the upheavals of the outside world, Tian Yao'er felt a deep yearning. However, she didn't express a desire to venture out, knowing her current strength was insufficient. Her curiosity was purely out of wonder.
Seeing their interest, Gu An shared a few more stories.
Anything that could ignite their passion for cultivation was something Gu An was happy to provide.
...
Snow fell softly as the year drew to a close.
Lü Jiujia's time had come.
Gu An and Lü Jiujia sat at the edge of a cliff, overlooking Xuan Valley.
"Senior Brother, six hundred years ago, did you ever imagine that Xuan Valley would flourish like this?" Lü Jiujia asked with a smile, stroking his beard as countless memories surfaced in his mind, becoming vivid once more.
From their vantage point, they could see the forests beyond Xuan Valley filled with disciples, domesticated beasts, and vibrant trees in every shade of red. For miles around, the thriving valley stood as a testament to its success.
Gu An replied, "Honestly, it doesn't feel much different from the past because some things haven't changed—namely, you're still here."
To Gu An, Xuan Valley's significance would fade once Lü Jiujia passed. The place wouldn't hold the same meaning without him.
Lü Jiujia turned to look at Gu An, noting how his senior brother's side profile appeared untouched by time. It was as though the years had left no mark on him.
"Senior Brother, do you remember Su Han?" Lü Jiujia asked suddenly.
Gu An glanced at him and replied, "How could I forget? To this day, no other disciple has strayed as far off the path as he did."
The mention of Su Han brought a flood of emotions to Gu An's mind.
As they talked about Su Han, Gu An began to better understand the memories Lü Jiujia shared about him.
The snowfall grew heavier, surrounding Xuan Valley in a thick mist that obscured the mortal eye.
Lü Jiujia's head drooped lower, and his voice became weaker.
In the valley below, Jiang Shi stood by the wooden fence of the garden, gazing up at the cliff where Lü Jiujia sat, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Last night, Lü Jiujia had already spoken with Gu An, making it clear that today would be his final day.
Though they addressed each other as senior and junior brothers in the Medicine Valley, in Jiang Shi's heart, Lü Jiujia was like a second father to him.
Jiang Shi was deeply distressed, gripping the wooden fence so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
An Shengtian emerged from the nearby woods, initially intending to greet Jiang Shi. However, upon noticing his somber expression, An Shengtian followed his gaze.
When his eyes fell upon Lü Jiujia and Gu An's figures sitting at the edge of the cliff, An Shengtian fell silent.
He had a fondness for Lü Jiujia, who had always looked out for him. The thought of Lü Jiujia passing away left An Shengtian feeling a heavy weight in his chest.
It even brought to mind memories of his own father and grandfather.
The atmosphere throughout Xuan Valley was thick with sorrow and solemnity. All the disciples had a sense of what was happening, yet no one dared to speak of it. Instead, they buried themselves in their tasks, avoiding unnecessary conversation.
The somber air persisted until dusk.
At sunset, Gu An carried Lü Jiujia down the mountain on his back. Disciples gathered quietly along the path, silently watching as their senior brother descended.
Once they reached the burial ground, Gu An began to lay Lü Jiujia to rest. The entire valley's disciples stood vigil as the grave was prepared. When the tombstone was finally erected, they collectively knelt in respect to honor Lü Jiujia.
Under the night sky, snow piled high on the pavilion near Gu An's residence. Suddenly, a layer of snow slipped off the roof, collapsing onto a weed growing beside the steps, flattening it.
...
Forty years later, in the early summer.
In the outer sect city, the seven-hundred-year-old Gu An was drinking at an inn with Wu Jue, who was seven hundred and two.
Wu Jue had just broken through to the Profound Heart Realm and was in excellent spirits, animatedly recounting the experience of his breakthrough. With the support of the Tai Xuan Sect, the process had been relatively smooth.
"You wouldn't believe how terrifying the tribulation was! Without the sect's assistance, I would've been reduced to ashes. The sect spent countless spirit stones, and I used up every last one of my Spirit Qi Pills..." Wu Jue exclaimed, gesturing wildly as Gu An occasionally let out surprised exclamations to humor him.
Profound Heart Realm—it's a bit slow!
Even with the special attention Wu Jue received after being exonerated, his cultivation speed still lagged far behind that of Li Xuandao, Lü Xian, and Li Ya.
Gu An couldn't help but think Wu Jue still had a long way to go compared to those three. Moreover, their lifespans were all shorter than his.
After a while, Wu Jue set down his wine cup and asked with a smile, "What about you? How have you been these years? Have you run into any trouble?"
Gu An didn't hold back, telling him about Lü Jiujia's passing. Since Lü Jiujia's death, Gu An had spent less and less time in Xuan Valley.
With Ye Lan and Zhen Qin wandering the outside world, Xuan Valley felt filled with nothing but juniors. Their deference and restraint made staying there dull for Gu An.
Wu Jue fell silent upon hearing this, unable to shake the thought that if Gu An were to pass away, he would feel just as heartbroken.
Fixing his gaze on Gu An, he said, "Brother Gu, you have to take cultivation seriously. With your age and current level, there's still hope for you to reach Nirvana."
Gu An rolled his eyes and retorted, "You're talking as if you've already achieved Nirvana yourself."
"Heh, with my talent, do you think it'll be hard for me to reach Nirvana?" Wu Jue replied smugly.
"What if you run into trouble again? Inside the Tai Xuan Sect, I can find a way to help. But outside, who will save you?"
Gu An shook his head as he spoke, leaving Wu Jue momentarily speechless. Feeling awkward, Wu Jue poured himself another drink to cover his embarrassment.
This brat dares to mock me with that tone? Tonight, I'm going to get him so drunk he won't know up from down!
Determined, Wu Jue called the waiter and ordered the most expensive spiritual wine the inn had to offer.
Two hours later.
Gu An placed the thoroughly drunk Wu Jue into a guest room to rest before heading downstairs. He mounted the Blood Prison Saint and continued exploring the city.
"Master, what kind of wine was that, to even knock out someone in the Profound Heart Realm?" the Blood Prison Saint asked curiously. Ever since it began cultivating, it hadn't experienced the sensation of intoxication, making it particularly intrigued.
"It's a spiritual wine imported from overseas. Later, we can stop by the restaurant to place an order," Gu An replied nonchalantly, his eyes scanning the streets ahead.
Every year, the outer sect city showcased a variety of new creations, a testament to the Tai Xuan Sect's growing influence.
Since the Sheng family had been dealt with, the Tai Xuan Sect's development had accelerated. More and more factions sought to trade with the sect, a trend that peaked after the Sword Master of the Dao defeated Qiu Xi Immortal Lord.
Along the way, Gu An greeted familiar faces with a friendly smile that never seemed to leave his face.
As he walked, Gu An suddenly spotted someone in the distance. Raising his hand in greeting, he called out, "Jiang Qiong! What brings you here?"
Of course, Gu An already knew why she was there, but he had to play dumb.
Jiang Qiong, dressed in a flowing red gown and wearing a light veil, had just stepped out of a pavilion.
She met his gaze with a crescent-eyed smile and approached the Blood Prison Saint. "If I said I came to find you, would you believe me?"
"I wouldn't. I don't live here," Gu An replied with a shake of his head.
Noticing that Jiang Qiong had reached the eighth level of the Body Fusion Realm, Gu An was quite pleased. With a maximum lifespan of over five thousand years, Jiang Qiong had a good chance of reaching Nirvana.
In other words, she could accompany him for tens of thousands of years.
Although many old friends had passed away, Gu An took solace in the fact that many were still alive, preventing him from feeling entirely alone.
Dismounting, Gu An walked side by side with Jiang Qiong.
Jiang Qiong didn't conceal her purpose for the visit. A few disciples from the Gathering Flower Sect had clashed with Tai Xuan Sect disciples and ended up being detained. She had come to negotiate their release.
However, the situation was tricky. The Tai Xuan Sect claimed that it was the Ji family who had captured the Gathering Flower Sect disciples due to a blood feud, making it difficult for the sect to intervene.
"It's a minor issue. When it comes to connections, I'm not lacking. That drunk fool upstairs is alive today thanks to me," Gu An said with a smirk.