"The sword intent of the Grand Sword of the Great Hong…"
The white-robed elder gazed at Zuo Yijian, his heart filled with surprise at the sight.
Zuo Yijian's piercing gaze locked onto the elder, and as their eyes met, a flicker of mutual wariness passed between them.
After a brief exchange of silent acknowledgment, the white-robed elder broke eye contact and continued on his way. Zuo Yijian, too, refrained from approaching him, for they had no grievance or enmity between them.
In the Samsara Tribulation, encountering other Free Immortals was inevitable. If he chose to provoke each one, even the Grand Sword of the Great Hong might not be able to protect him.
With that thought, Zuo Yijian turned toward the myriad swords of Wan Jian Mountain.
The influx of visitors to the Third Medicine Valley grew with every passing hour, and Wan Jian Mountain quickly became a focal point of attention. To prevent any disturbance, An Xin had dispatched over a hundred disciples to guard the area, ensuring no one trespassed upon the sacred site.
"The sword intent emanating from this mountain is unmistakable—it belongs to the Sword Master of the Dao!"
"There are so many unique sword intents. If you concentrate, each one carries a distinct resonance. What could the Sword Master be planning?"
"Perhaps he's establishing a legacy site."
"This mountain is far too short—it doesn't befit his grandeur. The sect leader should intervene and construct a taller peak."
"You're absolutely right. The Sword Master's swordsmanship deserves the loftiest summit in existence."
As Zuo Yijian approached the crowd, he overheard their discussions and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
It wasn't that he was upset about their praise of the Sword Master of the Dao's unparalleled swordsmanship—on the contrary, he agreed wholeheartedly. What amused him was the shamelessness of these mortals, attempting to curry favor with such blatant flattery. Did they truly think the Sword Master would spare them a glance for their words?
Ridiculous!
Zuo Yijian made his way to the back of the crowd and finally spoke, his voice carrying a calm yet commanding presence. "A mountain's height is irrelevant. The swordsmanship of the Sword Master of the Dao stands unparalleled. His strength is such that even a single sword left on this peak would be enough to suppress all sword daos in the world and command reverence from all."
The moment his words fell, the crowd turned their attention toward him. Those who had been shamelessly praising the Sword Master felt a shiver of unease.
Another master?
With a proud demeanor, Zuo Yijian elaborated further, describing the Sword Master of the Dao's swordsmanship in vivid, reverential detail.
Inside his study, Gu An, who had been busy writing, couldn't help but chuckle at Zuo Yijian's words. "This guy really knows how to talk."
He was well aware of Zuo Yijian's intentions but had no plans to accept him as a disciple. The complexities of seniority and hierarchy alone were enough to make the prospect unappealing.
However, guiding Zuo Yijian in swordsmanship? That was an entirely different matter.
Placing down his brush, Gu An stood, deciding it was time to greet the esteemed guests who had come to the valley. It would be impolite to remain cooped up in his study for too long, especially when such a prime opportunity to showcase his grandeur presented itself.
After tidying his desk with practiced efficiency, he descended the stairs.
On his way out, Gu An cast a subtle glance at the Blood Prison Saint, who immediately sprang to his feet and eagerly followed like a loyal shadow.
Along the path, countless cultivators and disciples greeted Gu An with smiles and bows. He responded to each one with a warm nod and a courteous smile, his demeanor humble yet commanding respect.
Meanwhile—
From the courtyard assigned to her by An Xin, Zhu Xi stepped out with the intent of exploring the valley.
Even from a distance, she caught sight of Gu An, surrounded by an adoring crowd, his presence impossible to ignore. When her eyes fell upon his face, she froze in shock.
"It's him…"
Zhu Xi's thoughts instantly flashed back to their brief encounter on the Mortal Peak. At the time, she had regarded him as a mysterious senior and suspected him of playing tricks on her. However, after successfully cultivating the Time-Striding Dao Step, she realized the profoundness of the divine ability he had imparted to her.
Even after centuries of cultivation and exploration, she had yet to encounter a divine ability more powerful than the Time-Striding Dao Step.
At this moment, all her unease dissipated.
If this man truly was the same senior from that fateful encounter, then his interest in her might be genuine. Perhaps he truly intended to take her as his disciple.
Zhu Xi had harbored doubts about Gu An's motives, suspecting he might have ulterior reasons for bringing her here. But now that she knew Gu An was the legendary Sword Master of the Dao, all her apprehensions vanished like mist under the morning sun.
She saw Gu An nod and smile at her from afar, which left her feeling flattered and overwhelmed. She quickly raised her hands to return the gesture with a bow.
Gu An, however, didn't approach her. Surrounded by the crowd, he continued toward the Dao arena, which allowed Zhu Xi to let out a sigh of relief. Facing Gu An in such a public setting was still nerve-wracking for her.
Now, her anticipation for life in the Medicine Valley began to grow. She was also curious about the grand ceremony that the disciples in the valley had been discussing so fervently.
"Gu An, are you still refusing to disclose who you're planning to help ascend to the immortal realm?" Lü Baitian asked, walking beside Gu An with a playful tone.
Others joined in, teasing Gu An with carefully measured words, none daring to offend him.
Feigning surprise, Gu An replied, "How did you all find out?"
"The news has already spread. Come on, tell us—who are you planning to elevate to the immortal realm? Is it one of your disciples?" Lü Baitian pressed further, his curiosity unhidden.
Even in the prestigious Tai Xuan Sect, the prospect of achieving the Immortal Realm was an unparalleled lure. More significantly, the implication that Gu An had the ability to create an immortal was of extraordinary importance to the sect. After all, if one immortal could be forged, why not a second—or even a third?
Moreover, they believed Gu An would directly elevate someone to the Immortal Realm rather than simply provide them with opportunities to slowly cultivate toward that level.
Gu An chuckled. "The time will soon come. Be patient."
Lü Baitian didn't want to give up, but no matter how much he prodded, Gu An refused to reveal anything.
A figure flew in from the distant horizon, descending quickly to stand before Gu An. It was Lü Xian, donned in a finely crafted garment infused with the aura of mystic energy, designed by Li Xuandao himself. Lü Xian exuded a commanding presence, akin to that of a celestial lord descending to the mortal realm, prompting the surrounding cultivators to instinctively step back.
When Lü Baitian saw him, his eyes lit up with delight. Could it be that Gu An intended to elevate his son?
If that were the case, it would be fantastic!
"Gu An, come with me. Let's chat. What's there to discuss with this bunch of old-timers?" Lü Xian said bluntly, his words immediately earning the displeasure of many.
"Watch your manners! Have you learned nothing about respect while following Li Xuandao?" Lü Baitian rebuked, his tone stern.
When the surrounding crowd heard, through their communication spells, that Lü Xian was Lü Baitian's son, their irritation quickly dissipated.
Lü Xian was no ordinary figure. He was one of Tai Xuan Sect's most exceptional prodigies, and his reputation was well-earned.
Currently, Lü Xian had reached the Mahayana Realm, and his aura was notably stronger than most cultivators in the same realm.
Ignoring Lü Baitian's reprimand, Lü Xian grabbed Gu An by the arm, pulling him away with a determined stride. Gu An could only offer apologetic gestures to the others before reluctantly following Lü Xian.
After they had left, the crowd began to congratulate Lü Baitian, speculating about the connection between Gu An and his son. Although Lü Baitian waved off their guesses, his radiant smile betrayed his joy.
An hour later.
Everyone had gathered around the pavilion area in the Third Medicine Valley. Gu An stood atop a temporarily constructed platform, addressing the crowd.
From his vantage point, he could see the sea of people below, a bustling scene of excitement and curiosity.
In the audience were Zhu Xi, Xu Jie, Wu Jue, Shen Zhen, and many others, all staring at Gu An with keen interest. They were eager to witness the process of "creating an immortal."
"I have prepared a grand ceremony for this Spring Festival. I thought I had done a good job keeping it a secret, but it seems the news still managed to spread. Yes, you heard correctly—I plan to create an immortal today," Gu An announced with a smile.
Laughter rippled through the crowd, and many exchanged amused glances. In the corner, Long Qing maintained a serious expression, pretending not to know who had leaked the information.
"Today, I will demonstrate the process of transcending the mortal realm. I hope it will serve as inspiration for your future cultivation journeys," Gu An said earnestly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.
He noticed Ji Xiaoya standing among the crowd, her sharp eyes fixed on him. Playfully, he winked at her, but she didn't respond, her focus solely on her curiosity about the upcoming ceremony. She silently wished he would skip the pleasantries and get to the main event.
After speaking for a while, Gu An finally transitioned to the main subject. "Bull Demon King," he called out.
At his summons, the Blood Prison Saint leaped onto the platform with a single bound, walking toward Gu An with a proud and confident stride, relishing the attention directed at him.
The audience, however, paid little mind to the Blood Prison Saint. They assumed he had been summoned for some unrelated task. After all, how could a demon beast at the Core Formation Realm have anything to do with the creation of an immortal?