Saint Who Lay Low

The sky was clear, and the early autumn breeze lifted everyone's spirits.

At the Third Medicine Valley.

Gu An was busy picking medicinal herbs, while Lu Lingjun followed closely behind, carrying a bamboo basket, collecting the herbs he had gathered.

"I don't see you doing anything significant most of the time, so why do I need to guard you?" Lu Lingjun said, sounding somewhat resentful.

A dignified elder of the inner sect, protecting an outer sect disciple? If word got out, it would disgrace the inner sect elders of Tai Xuan Sect!

"Most of the time, I don't trouble you much. You enjoy the benefits of an inner sect elder and can comprehend the Dao beneath the Mysterious Clear Tree. There are many elders who envy you," Gu An responded nonchalantly, unable to suppress a smile at the corners of his mouth.

What he was harvesting now were sixth-grade herbs, each of which granted him an additional sixty to one hundred years of lifespan!

Growing herbs was much more enjoyable!

Killing a Body Fusion Realm cultivator would likely yield a similar amount of lifespan but would involve countless entanglements and grudges!

Upon hearing Gu An's words, Lu Lingjun felt that he had a point. Still, she felt that her current position was beneath her, as if Lu Baitian wasn't showing her enough respect.

Lu Lingjun had already devised a new goal in her heart.

That was to become the Sect Master of Tai Xuan Sect!

Since Lu Baitian had tied her fate to Gu An, she figured she might as well build a stronger relationship with him.

Gu An had his advantages—just this medicinal valley filled with high-grade herbs gave him a significant influence.

In the future, she could protect Gu An, borrow his herbs to build alliances, and create a power faction centered around the two of them, then gradually make her move.

As she thought about this, a bright smile spread across Lu Lingjun's face, like a blossoming flower. Gu An happened to catch sight of this and immediately got goosebumps.

"What's with that expression? You're not plotting something against me, are you?" Gu An asked, suddenly alert.

Lu Lingjun chuckled, "How could I possibly plot against you? You're my Valley Master. Without your connections, how could I have my current position?"

"Ahem, I don't even restrict your time meditating under the tree anymore. Isn't that a good deal for you? After all, Tai Xuan Sect only has a handful of seventh-grade treasure trees."

Gu An coughed awkwardly, continuing to pick herbs without looking at her.

"Yes, yes, you're right. Anyway, I owe you a favor, and I'll repay it someday."

"That's more like it."

Lu Lingjun fell silent and didn't disturb Gu An any further while he worked.

A short while later, after one incense stick of time had passed, the two of them made their way back.

As they walked, Lu Lingjun suddenly asked, "Valley Master, don't you want to improve your cultivation level? You made it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking, which means your aptitude isn't bad. It's just that you're not very diligent with your cultivation."

The stronger Gu An became, the more it would benefit her ambitions!

"Even if my aptitude isn't terrible, I'm definitely not a genius. I only made it onto the list thanks to my magical tools. Don't bother persuading me. Hard, painstaking cultivation might get me to live seven or eight hundred years, but if most of my life is spent in seclusion, why not just enjoy life? If I don't cultivate, that's just avoiding detours. My talent is nowhere near as good as yours."

Gu An spoke with conviction, but for some reason, Lu Lingjun sensed a trace of sadness in his words.

As someone who had ascended in her past life, she had indeed seen countless people fail to escape the grasp of fate.

How many had spent their entire lives cultivating, only to die during their tribulation, at the hands of enemies, or overcome by inner demons?

Even for herself, as she reflected on her life, had she really experienced more joy than Gu An had in his?

In that moment, Gu An's image shifted in Lu Lingjun's mind.

Despite his low cultivation, he seemed to possess a broader view of life, a serenity that was beyond reach for most.

Catching up to Gu An's pace, Lu Lingjun asked, "Valley Master, do you think I should follow your example?"

"Follow me? That's a joke. Your cultivation level already proves your talent. In this world, it's about striving for more. I lack the talent, so I strive for a fuller life. You, on the other hand, should aim for a longer one."

Gu An casually responded. He had no intention of letting anyone follow his path, as he had the ability to extend his lifespan through unique means—others didn't.

His words were meant to conceal his true abilities rather than serve as guidance for others.

Hearing this, Lu Lingjun felt even more admiration for Gu An.

As they continued their conversation, they eventually arrived back at the pavilion area.

That evening, Gu An made his way to the Xuan Tian Cave Mansion.

It had been half a month since his exchange of divine techniques with Xuanmiao Zhenren.

Gu An planted the seven seventh-grade heavenly treasures that Xuanmiao Zhenren had gifted him in the Xuan Tian Cave Mansion. He wasn't concerned about the cave mansion being discovered. If it ever were, he would simply move it. With his Size Manipulation ability, he could shrink the entire mountain and relocate it elsewhere.

Because these seeds were of such high grade, Gu An visited every couple of days to ensure they didn't grow crooked or interfere with each other.

After verifying that everything was fine, he smiled in satisfaction.

His life was now spent constantly harvesting lifespan, and the back-and-forth traveling was not exhausting but rather enjoyable.

For his next breakthrough, he planned to open a new cave mansion in a different location, recruit someone to manage it, and continue focusing on harvesting. Whoever managed the cave would need to be someone who could tolerate solitude.

But that was a plan for the future.

He walked over to the wooden hut, took out the Ziwei Formation Manual and a pile of array materials, and began practicing setting up formations.

His new cave mansion would need multiple formations, so he had to prepare in advance.

Meanwhile, several thousand miles away, in a hidden Taoist temple deep within the mountains.

Xuanmiao Zhenren sat before an alchemy furnace, cultivating the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body. His hands continually formed seals, and strands of dark green demonic energy seeped from his body, circling around him.

Knock knock—

A soft knock came at the door. Without opening his eyes, Xuanmiao Zhenren said, "Come in."

The door creaked open, and the young fox demon entered the room.

He knelt before Xuanmiao Zhenren and said quietly, "Master, I just had a nightmare."

"A nightmare? What kind of nightmare?"

"I dreamed the sky split open, and countless demons and cultivators descended, slaughtering all living things. There was a massive, terrifying tree, and on it was a face..."

As the fox demon described his dream, he couldn't stop trembling, unsure if it was from fear or the cold wind that blew in from outside.

Xuanmiao Zhenren opened his eyes, dispersing the demonic energy around him. He took out his compass and began divining the meaning of the dream.

The fox demon watched intently, fascinated by the compass in his master's hands.

As the compass emitted beams of light, stars floated up from it. Xuanmiao Zhenren raised his other hand, pointing at the fox demon's forehead.

The fox demon immediately froze, his eyes widening as his gaze shifted upward.

Xuanmiao Zhenren's finger hovered above his disciple's forehead, drawing out strands of light from it, which he then guided into the starlight above the compass.

Boom—

A burst of energy erupted from the compass, and the starlight expanded into a vision—a perfect recreation of the fox demon's nightmare.

In the vision, the sky tore apart, black cracks appearing above the forest. Countless demons and black-robed cultivators surged forth, ravaging everything in their path. A black mist spread wherever they went, draining the life from all it touched. Living beings turned into skeletons, and the scene became a grotesque display of horror.

The terrifying images caused Xuanmiao Zhenren to furrow his brows.

After watching for a while, his face turned pale as he recognized the Northern Sea!

The fox demon trembled with fear. Even though it was his dream, he couldn't bear to recall it.

After some time, Xuanmiao Zhenren put away the compass and left the temple. He went to the courtyard and took out a piece of yellow paper, quickly writing several lines on it before folding it up. Using his own spirit fire, he burned the paper, and as the ashes flew into the air, they glowed faintly before disappearing completely.

Behind him, the fox demon asked, "Master, what are you doing?"

"I'm sending a message to the sect."

"To the Three Purities Mountain that you always talk about?"

"Yes."

"Master, when will you take me to Three Purities Mountain?"

"Focus on your cultivation. Outsiders have to pass many tests to enter Three Purities Mountain. Your cultivation and temperament are not yet up to par."

Xuanmiao Zhenren responded casually, offering a brief word of encouragement before leaving the courtyard.

The moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting its glow on the fox demon. As he watched Xuanmiao Zhenren leave, the innocent look on his face gradually gave way to a cold, stern expression, with a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Mountain Spirit…"

In the Xuan Tian Cave Mansion, Gu An set down his brush and the talisman paper, his expression darkening.

[Huangquan Fox Demon has developed hostility towards you. He fears your power. Do you wish to investigate his lifespan?]

Fear?

What kind of hostility was this? Should he eliminate the threat?

The thought of the fox demon's fourteen-thousand-year maximum lifespan left Gu An feeling uneasy.

Though demon creatures had much longer lifespans compared to humans of the same cultivation level, any creature living over ten thousand years was considered a supreme demon.

Gu An lifted his gaze, sensing Xuanmiao Zhenren approaching him.

He decided to meet Xuanmiao Zhenren first.

After one incense stick of time had passed, Xuanmiao Zhenren arrived in the forest. He knelt down and called out, "I, a humble Daoist, seek an audience with the Mountain Spirit."

His words had barely left his lips when Gu An appeared on a nearby tree branch, his sudden presence startling Xuanmiao Zhenren into further reverence for the Mountain Spirit's abilities.

Before Gu An could speak, Xuanmiao Zhenren took out his compass, explaining his disciple's dream as he performed a spell.

Once the compass had fully displayed the vision, Xuanmiao Zhenren said, "The dream featured the Northern Sea, and it could be a forewarning of a calamity coming to the Northern Sea."

Gu An mentally cursed.

Ephemeral Blossom Sect again!

The tree in the dream was an Ephemeral Blossom Tree, which meant the sect's main branch was preparing to launch a full-scale invasion of the Nine Dynasties.

How many of these Ephemeral Blossom Trees were there?

Gu An began to seriously consider exterminating the sect to avoid them disrupting his peaceful life.

But before that, Gu An decided to put the Huangquan Fox Demon in check.

"Your disciple is not an ordinary one. Whether he brings fortune or calamity remains to be seen," Gu An said slowly.

Hearing this, Xuanmiao Zhenren's face changed drastically.

It seemed he had recalled something, and cold sweat began to form on his brow.

Gu An was surprised by such a strong reaction.

Could my words really have that much impact?

Xuanmiao Zhenren recalled his master's words from long ago: "Xuanmiao, you will face nine tribulations in this lifetime. Each one will be a life-or-death crisis, brought about by your connections to the mortal world. You cannot avoid them or escape them. Only by overcoming these tribulations can you achieve true transcendence."

Looking at Gu An again, Xuanmiao Zhenren's eyes were filled with reverence.

No wonder the Mountain Spirit could see through fate and karma so clearly.

He took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and respectfully bowed to Gu An. "Thank you, Mountain Spirit, for your guidance. I will proceed with caution!"

With that, he turned and left.

Gu An tilted his head, his face behind the opera mask filled with confusion.