Saint Who Lay Low

"Such bone structure is rare, truly rare," Nine-Finger Divine Lord remarked, scrutinizing Ji Xiaoyu with fascination.

Ji Xiaoyu frowned slightly, stepping around Nine-Finger Divine Lord to stand beside Gu An. She leaned toward him, her gaze wary as she continued to watch the Divine Lord.

Gu An couldn't help but chuckle. "Senior, don't scare the child," he said with a smile.

Nine-Finger Divine Lord straightened up and turned to Gu An, his expression serious. "Gu An, this girl's talent is extraordinary. You should cultivate a good relationship with her while she's young. Who knows? She might save your life someday."

Gu An replied nonchalantly, "I never leave the Tai Xuan Sect. What danger could possibly come my way?"

"True," the Divine Lord said with a laugh. He cast one last glance at Ji Xiaoyu before turning and departing.

Gu An turned his attention to Ji Xiaoyu. "I'm Gu An. From now on, you can call me Valley Master," he said warmly.

Ji Xiaoyu nodded lightly, her gaze calm and detached as she looked at Gu An. It was as if she truly did not recognize him.

A faint sense of regret rose in Gu An's heart. This Ji Xiaoyu was ultimately not the same person as the one from her previous life.

Taking her small hand in his, Gu An led her toward the cluster of pavilions.

Ji Xiaoyu's expression flickered slightly with discomfort, but she did not pull away.

Once they reached the residential area, Gu An arranged for Ji Xiaoyu to stay with Anxin, instructing Anxin to look after her.

His decision was not without ulterior motives. Ji Xiaoyu was destined to rise to prominence one day, and if she could form a close bond with Anxin, she could become a strong ally for his disciple in the future.

After all, Anxin was his apprentice, and he naturally considered her well-being.

But less than half an hour later, someone knocked on Gu An's door. A youthful voice called from outside, "Valley Master, may I come in?"

Hearing the voice, Gu An responded, "Come in."

The door opened, and the young Ji Xiaoyu walked in. She was dressed in a lotus-white dress, her hair neatly tied, giving her the appearance of a little fairy descending from the heavens.

Approaching the table, she looked at Gu An and said, "Valley Master, can I have a room to myself?"

Her voice, though tinged with youthful naivety, carried a mature and steady tone.

"Why?" Gu An asked with a smile.

"I prefer living alone, and I don't want to be disturbed when I cultivate," Ji Xiaoyu replied.

After a moment's thought, Gu An suggested, "Why don't you stay in the room below mine?"

The pavilion Gu An resided in had two floors. The first floor was meant for lodging, but he was the sole occupant. Most of the time, he stayed in the study on the second floor.

Ji Xiaoyu hesitated briefly before nodding slightly.

Gu An smiled warmly. "If you need anything, just let me know. Though my surname is Gu, I was born into the Ji Family."

Hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu tilted her head curiously. "You're from the Ji Family?"

"Indeed. I used to serve as a servant in the Ji Family," Gu An said, recounting his background and how he came to join the Tai Xuan Sect.

However, he deliberately avoided mentioning Ji Xiaoyu's name, instead referring to her past self as the third young mistress of the Ji Family. He wanted to test whether Ji Xiaoyu retained any memory.

She listened intently. When he finished, she asked, "Did you ever look into who your parents were? The Ji Family keeps detailed records of all its servants."

Gu An froze for a moment.

In truth, when he had reached the realm of Unrestrained Primordial Immortal Realm, he had returned to the Ji Family, hoping to uncover the karma of his past and learn about his parents. Unfortunately, he found nothing. Whether it was due to the passage of time or other reasons, his attempts to trace his early life had come up empty.

"No, I haven't. Whatever their status may be, if they want to find me, they'll come on their own, won't they?" Gu An replied.

He had fantasized about meeting his parents in this life, but as someone who had lived through two lifetimes, he was not deeply affected by their absence. He had already experienced familial love in his previous life.

Ji Xiaoyu pulled a chair over to the table and sat down, placing her hands on the table as she looked at Gu An. "It's strange. I've always felt a distant relationship with my parents. Other children in the family have wonderful relationships with theirs, but whenever my mother comes close to me, I feel uncomfortable…"

She began to share her thoughts, and Gu An listened attentively.

In his previous life, Gu An had overheard other servants and attendants discussing this very topic. The third young mistress's distant relationship with her parents often left her mother heartbroken. However, because of her extraordinary talent, everyone in the family, including her parents, treated her with deference.

Gu An speculated that while Ji Xiaoyu did not retain the memories of her past life, her temperament had carried over. Her intelligence and maturity remained intact; she only needed time to adapt.

As Ji Xiaoyu recounted her childhood experiences and inner feelings, Gu An occasionally chimed in with observations, offering insights from a third-party perspective. Despite the age difference between them, their conversation flowed smoothly and comfortably.

Gradually, a smile appeared on Ji Xiaoyu's face, softening her usually stoic demeanor.

As dusk fell, Ji Xiaoyu stood up and said, "It's getting late. I should go cultivate."

Gu An nodded with a smile.

This little girl was even more talkative than in her previous life.

Occasionally chatting with a child could be quite pleasant.

Ji Xiaoyu suddenly said, "Valley Master, I don't know why, but whenever I see you, I feel a sense of familiarity, as if I've known you for a long time."

Gu An replied, "It just means we are fated to meet. Welcome to my Medicine Valley."

Ji Xiaoyu smiled lightly and then, like a little adult, performed a formal bow before him.

After she closed the door behind her, Gu An picked up the book on the table and continued reading.

When night fell, he sensed Ji Xiaoyu downstairs beginning her cultivation by absorbing spiritual energy. The innate Dao rune within her resonated, releasing an incredible, unfathomable power to assist her cultivation.

Gu An didn't observe her for long. Soon, he focused back on his book.

…

Beneath the vast blue sky and endless sea, islands floated in midair. Birds soared gracefully, and cultivators traveled to and fro between the islands.

On one such floating island, resplendent palaces stood tall, their interiors lit brightly. The ground shimmered like an ocean's surface, reflecting a deep, cerulean glow.

In a pool of water surrounded by mist, An Hao sat cross-legged, meditating. Steam rose around him as strands of fiery light glowed faintly on his skin, resembling embers in a flame.

A figure materialized at the edge of the pool—a white-haired man dressed in a long robe, his demeanor exuding an ethereal quality. He held a dust whisk in one hand, and three flying swords, each uniquely designed, hovered behind him.

"Disciple," the man began, his voice calm yet firm, "you are forbidden from leaving the Star Sea Sect in the coming days. I must travel to the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, and I don't know when I'll return."

This man was Fu Chen True Person, known as Floating Dust True Person, An Hao's mentor within the Star Sea Sect.

An Hao opened his eyes and frowned. "Why can't I leave? I'm not confined to the Divine City."

Clearly, he was frustrated by the restrictions imposed upon Li Ya, his fellow disciple from Tai Xuan Sect. As someone from the same sect, An Hao found it difficult to see his peer treated so unfairly.

Fu Chen True Person shook his head. "Your situation is different. Your trouble is far greater. In the depths of the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, there's a Spectral Wraith possessing an ancient treasure body. It was once a transcendent immortal, capable of traversing the heavens, named Tian Wuchang. Tian Wuchang seeks to devour every treasure body in the world and will inevitably target you. His cultivation surpasses that of wandering immortals."

His cultivation surpassed wandering immortals!

An Hao's expression darkened. He already understood much about the immortal path, but his knowledge only extended as far as the realm of wandering immortals. Anything beyond that was a taboo among sects, forbidden to investigate recklessly.

Fu Chen True Person offered reassurance. "As long as you remain within the Star Sea Sect, he cannot harm you. So stay put until the sects join forces to eradicate the Spectral Wraiths in the rift's depths."

An Hao nodded. He was not so foolish as to defy this warning and challenge Tian Wuchang's power on his own.

Though his talent was exceptional, he was painfully aware that his current strength was no more than that of a low-level cultivator in this vast oceanic domain.

After giving a few more words of advice, Fu Chen True Person departed.

Raising his right hand, An Hao conjured a small flame in his palm. The fiery light condensed into a miniature sun, its glow illuminating his stoic face.

"Tian Wuchang, Supreme Treasure Body… Why do I feel an urge to devour you?"

…

The summer heat was stifling.

In the Third Medicine Valley, Gu An rode the Blood Prison Saint down from the teleportation platform. Earlier that day, he had traveled to Tianya Valley to harvest a batch of herbs, lingering briefly in Xuan Valley before returning.

Raising his gaze, Gu An looked toward the distant Mysterious Clear Tree.

Beneath its verdant canopy, Ji Xiaoyu stood gazing up at the tree. Beside her, Li Lingtian was speaking animatedly, though she appeared entirely uninterested.

Gu An patted the Blood Prison Saint's side, signaling it to head toward the Mysterious Clear Tree.

"Little girl, my swordsmanship is truly amazing. Are you sure you don't want to learn?" Li Lingtian coaxed.

"Come on, you've got talent. You need a strong technique to protect yourself."

"Why won't you respond? Don't you know I'm the crown prince?"

Despite his persistence, Ji Xiaoyu ignored him entirely, frustrating Li Lingtian to the point of stomping his foot.

At that moment, Gu An's voice drifted over. "Show your swordsmanship to Jian'er first, then we'll talk."

Hearing this, Li Lingtian turned, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Gu An dismounted and walked toward Ji Xiaoyu, saying, "Don't disturb her, or I'll have Jian'er take you to train."

Li Lingtian's face paled, and he quickly scurried away.

When Gu An reached Ji Xiaoyu's side, she was still staring intently at the Mysterious Clear Tree.

Behind them, the sounds of bickering between the Blood Prison Saint and Li Lingtian filled the air. The saint's sharp retorts never failed to leave Li Lingtian flustered.

Gu An studied Ji Xiaoyu silently, marveling at her.

It had been only a month since she entered the valley, yet she was already comprehending the Dao?

This was astonishing!

Not wanting to disrupt her, Gu An stood quietly by her side, ensuring no one else disturbed her focus.

Only when the sun began to set did Ji Xiaoyu finally snap out of her trance.

Gu An suspected that her physical instincts were kicking in—her body compelled her to cultivate as night approached.

Noticing Gu An, Ji Xiaoyu smiled brightly. "Valley Master Brother, why are you here? Have you finished your work for the day?"

Gu An ruffled her hair affectionately. "Of course, I've already finished. What were you thinking about just now?"

The reason Ji Xiaoyu addressed him as "Brother" was due to Gu An's suggestion. Initially, she found it awkward, but after half a month, she had grown accustomed to it.

Ji Xiaoyu pondered for a moment before replying, "I think I saw some memories. They felt like mine, but I've never experienced them."

"Oh? What did you see exactly?" Gu An asked with interest.

"I saw myself standing in the sky, with countless monsters and people kneeling before me," Ji Xiaoyu said hesitantly.

Her expression turned slightly unnatural as she spoke, as if unsure whether to believe her own words. It sounded like a dream, yet it had felt so vivid.