Xu Jie had initially felt frustrated, but when Jue Luo Sword Master gave him a second glance, a spark of hope reignited within him.
"Do you want to learn the most advanced sword techniques?" Jue Luo Sword Master asked seriously.
Upon hearing this, Xu Jie immediately responded, "Of course I do. Senior, are you willing to teach me?"
Jue Luo Sword Master raised his right hand, and a silver-white jade slip appeared between his fingers. With a casual toss, he sent the jade slip flying toward Xu Jie, who instinctively caught it.
"If you can comprehend the sword techniques within this jade slip, I will impart my swordsmanship to you. In the future, dominating the Heavenly Spirit World will be within your grasp," Jue Luo Sword Master said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Xu Jie bowed deeply to express his gratitude.
Jue Luo Sword Master waved dismissively, signaling that Xu Jie could leave.
Xu Jie didn't dare linger and turned to leave. However, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Gu An. He wasn't naive—Jue Luo Sword Master had clearly been impatient earlier, but his attitude shifted after glancing at Gu An. It was evident that Jue Luo Sword Master had decided to teach him swordsmanship out of respect for Gu An.
This realization left Xu Jie with a complicated mix of emotions.
He felt immense gratitude toward Gu An and even wanted to thank him directly. Yet, there seemed to be an invisible wall between them that he couldn't cross.
Meanwhile, Gu An remained atop Myriad Sword Mountain, immersed in the calculation of fate and causality. He could see many figures moving at the foot of the mountain, images of distant futures.
Having inherited Yang Xian's memories, Gu An had gained profound insights into the intersection of swordsmanship and destiny. By channeling his comprehension through the sword intent of Myriad Sword Mountain, he was able to glimpse into far-off futures.
Suddenly, he saw a figure standing at the base of the mountain, looking up at him.
Gu An raised an eyebrow, focusing on the figure. A hint of surprise flickered in his gaze.
He calculated that this person was deeply intertwined with the fate of Myriad Sword Mountain. They would inherit the entirety of the mountain's sword intent and propel its fortune to unprecedented heights.
He even discerned the person's name and identity through his calculations.
"A prodigy of the new era," Gu An murmured to himself, a touch of amazement in his heart.
The sword talent of this individual was terrifying, reminiscent of Yang Xian. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say their aptitude surpassed even that of An Hao.
Unfortunately, this person was not born in the same era as An Hao. By the time they emerged, An Hao would already be a radiant sun at the zenith of the heavens.
Gu An did not dwell on this future prodigy for too long. Instead, he continued his calculations, not to pry into secrets but to deepen his understanding of causality and the Dao of destiny.
Gu An remained atop the mountain for an entire day. Although many disciples in the valley were curious about what he was contemplating, none dared to interrupt.
Regardless of external opinions, within the Third Medicine Valley, all disciples held Gu An in the highest regard. Many believed him to be the legendary Sword Master of the Dao, leading to an increasing number of disciples choosing to stay in the valley after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even those who had left often returned to visit.
In response to the growing numbers, Gu An established additional steward positions in the valley to help manage the disciples.
An Xin also introduced more hierarchical roles, inadvertently creating a structured division of power within the Third Medicine Valley, making it resemble a miniature cultivation realm.
The next morning, Gu An rode the Blood Prison Saint toward Tianya Valley.
Over the years, Tianya Valley had also expanded. Its steady contributions to Gu An's lifespan had remained consistent, while its cultivators—many nurtured by Li Xuandao—continued to excel, fostering strong ties with Gu An.
Gu An loved interacting with geniuses. No matter what they played, even if they lost, they wouldn't give up easily. Instead, they would come back to challenge him again.
Currently, Gu An's outward cultivation level was displayed as the Divine Transformation Realm, but the disciples of Tianya Valley all knew he was much stronger than that. His calm demeanor and ever-evolving presence hinted at depths far beyond his supposed realm.
Despite not explicitly concealing his strength, Gu An refrained from revealing the full extent of his abilities. For now, it was unnecessary. In Tianya Valley, he had never lost a sparring match. Thinking about the Marquis who was preparing to challenge him again, Gu An couldn't help but smirk.
The Blood Prison Saint walking beside him was also excited about the upcoming battles in Tianya Valley. The prospect of watching those self-proclaimed elites fail never ceased to amuse him.
Gu An admired the scenery as they traveled. Chuckling lightly, he said, "When the next Spring Festival arrives, I'll lift your seal. Are you ready?"
The Blood Prison Saint didn't seem overly thrilled, having long anticipated this moment. Bowing his head slightly, he responded in a low voice, "Master, I've been ready for a long time. Even after regaining my cultivation, I'll never betray you. I'll follow you forever!"
He had already been practicing the Innate Reincarnation Technique. Once unsealed, his cultivation would skyrocket. He might even achieve Nirvana in one leap!
Gu An smiled and replied, "Then focus on your cultivation. Your strength reflects on my reputation."
Hearing this, the Blood Prison Saint was overwhelmed with emotion. He had been waiting for these words! All he ever wanted was to stay by Gu An's side. Over the years, he had realized something. Those who left Gu An often struggled to find success, while those who remained achieved far more than they ever imagined.
An Hao was an exception. Had he stayed by Gu An's side, his achievements would have been even greater. Nevertheless, the Blood Prison Saint believed that someone with even greater talent than An Hao would eventually appear.
"Master, rest assured! I will train with unyielding determination. I'll take An Hao as my benchmark!" the Blood Prison Saint declared, his body trembling with excitement.
Gu An said no more, letting him continue forward. The journey ahead filled the Blood Prison Saint with a lightness, his thoughts drifting into boundless aspirations.
As autumn set in, at the Tai Xuan Sect's branch, in the Ye Residence—
Gu An sat at a table sipping tea, observing as Ye Lan instructed a young girl on spell techniques. The autumn breeze swept through the courtyard, creating a serene and pleasant atmosphere.
Turning to face Gu An, Ye Lan asked, "Senior Brother, is there something you'd like to say?"
The young girl in training glanced at Gu An with suspicion. Despite her master's claims of Gu An's exceptional strength, she only saw a handsome figure who didn't seem particularly formidable.
Gu An responded with a smile, "You're teaching her well. I have nothing to add."
"How could I compare to you? The Third Medicine Valley's reputation for producing prodigies has already spread far and wide. Your ability to guide disciples is unparalleled," Ye Lan said, shaking her head. Her words carried genuine sincerity; with their relationship, there was no need for flattery.
"It's all the disciples' hard work. I don't deserve much credit," Gu An replied humbly. He showed no particular interest in Ye Lan's new disciple, Ye Qingxue. While the girl had a lifespan potential of around three thousand years and could be considered talented, she paled in comparison to another prodigy who was rapidly approaching the Tai Xuan Sect branch.
Zhu Xi.
This extraordinary talent, possessing the Primordial Devouring Origin Physique, was someone Gu An had been quietly observing. He had watched her cross vast oceans to arrive at the Tai Cang Continent.
Her goal was straightforward: the Tai Cang Continent was known as one of the few true sanctuaries in the world. Zhu Xi sought to train safely under the protective strength of the legendary Sword Master of the Dao.
Years ago, Gu An had granted her the Time-Striding Dao Step. Now, she had achieved minor mastery of the technique, even employing it in combat. Although her usage appeared clumsy in Gu An's eyes, the fact that she had cultivated such a profound ability before the age of six hundred spoke volumes about her astonishing talent.
Ye Lan noticed Gu An's dismissive attitude toward Ye Qingxue and couldn't help but purse her lips. It was clear to her that Gu An didn't think much of her new disciple. Compared to prodigies like Xu Jie, Ye Qingxue was indeed ordinary.