Chapter 322: The Evil Tree
Chapter 322: The Evil Tree
The events within the Broken Sea Rift remained undisclosed, and a Marvelous Technique Spirit Immortal silently disappeared without a trace.
Ever since, Gu An had noticed a significant decrease in the number of people inquiring about the Sacred Path Auxiliary Blade within the continent, indicating that the Broken Sea Dominion City had made its choice.
If the Holy Court truly stopped plotting against Gu An, he would naturally not bother with it.
Peaceful coexistence was what he desired! The Broken Sea Domain welcomed a peaceful era, and the world continued to produce prodigies and powerful beings. Gu An, on the other hand, hid within the Taixuan Sect, observing the world's turmoil with amusement.
Time flew by.
Fifty years passed in the blink of an eye.
Gu An returned to the Third Medicine Valley and examined his attribute panel, a smile spreading across his face.
【Name: Gu An】
【Lifespan: 293/470,569,402】
...
Today's harvest in the Tranquil Void had increased his lifespan by nearly forty million years in one go!
It felt incredibly satisfying! This was the first large-scale harvest of medicinal herbs in the Tranquil Void. From now on, he would plant high-grade medicinal herbs there every year, and his lifespan income would only continue to increase.
Fifty years had passed, and the Taixuan Sect was thriving. Currently, in terms of paper strength, it was already one of the top few major sects on the continent, second only to the Seven Star Spirit Realm.
The menial disciples in the Third Medicine Valley had also been replaced by more than half. Some left, while others arrived, but the scenery in the valley remained unchanged from fifty years ago.
Along the way, Gu An greeted the disciples continuously.
Ji Xiaoyu, standing in front of the pavilion, felt a bit dazed at this sight.
After being away for decades, the Medicine Valley remained the same as before. How could she not be moved? Gu An walked up to the pavilion, examining Ji Xiaoyu with a smile, and said, "You've become even more formidable over the years."
Ji Xiaoyu wore an azure robe, her graceful demeanor unchanged. The azure robe she wore resembled a skirt, and as it fluttered in the wind, it created the illusion of floating clouds.
She stared at Gu An and said, "After all these years, you're still at the Core Formation Realm, while I've already reached the Incarnation Realm. Do you regret it?"
Regret?
Impossible!
Is it always dangerous when you go out with him? Gu An thought to himself. Over the years, he often used his Divine Mind to check on Ji Xiaoyu and even intervened a few times, always turning her dangers into safety. He was well aware of what she had been through.
"I don't regret it. I've been doing well these years. As for cultivation, I'll take it slow. I'll eventually condense my Primordial Spirit," Gu An replied nonchalantly.
Ji Xiaoyu stared at him closely, confirming he wasn't lying, and then a smile appeared on her face.
What she admired most about Gu An was his temperament. She had never seen him angry or jealous; he always seemed to be smiling.
"Shall we go upstairs and chat?" Gu An asked with a smile, knowing that Ji Xiaoyu had a lot to say.
For Gu An, the journey Ji Xiaoyu had taken over the years was not even a step away compared to his own. But for her, these decades had been long, and occasionally, Gu An could hear her murmuring to herself by the fire.
The Steal Five Elements, who had been tracking Ji Xiaoyu, had not revealed himself. He had only secretly escorted her for a portion of her journey.
After going upstairs and entering the room, Ji Xiaoyu began to recount her experiences over the years. Her stories were rich, filled with slaying demons and monsters, thrilling adventures, and even encounters with grudges.
Gu An listened attentively, occasionally interjecting to keep Ji Xiaoyu's desire to confide from subsiding.
After more than an hour, Ji Xiaoyu finally finished her story.
Gu An sighed, "So exciting, just like the stories in storytelling."
Ji Xiaoyu smiled, "I obtained the inheritance left by one of my past lives. It wasn't a wasted trip, but I don't know how far I can ultimately go."
It should be the second heaven of the Daoist Immortal Realm.
Gu An had seen that secret realm, which was created by a Loose Immortal. In other words, Ji Xiaoyu's cultivation in that past life had reached the Loose Immortal Realm.
For the current Ji Xiaoyu, a Loose Immortal was incredibly powerful and difficult to approach.
Gu An asked with a smile, "What are your plans now?"
Ji Xiaoyu replied, "I'll consider going out after settling down for a few decades."
"The Heavenly Rank Tournament is about to begin. It's a great opportunity to watch the excitement. The Taixuan Sect is no longer the same as before, and this Heavenly Rank Tournament will surely be lively. I heard that a few years ago, a Loose Immortal joined the Taixuan Sect. Have you heard of Loose Immortals?" As Gu An talked about the tournament, his words became more frequent.
Ji Xiaoyu looked at him, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.
This guy still loves watching the excitement.
Listening to Gu An's highlights of the tournament and the sounds of insects and people outside the window, Ji Xiaoyu's heart sank into tranquility.
Having experienced the outside world's storms and rain, she now felt a sense of harmony and had not a shred of pressure or worry in her heart.
After spending an afternoon with Ji Xiaoyu, Gu An finally left the Third Medicine Valley. He arrived at the Eight Sceneries of the Tranquil Void, located at the bottom of the Mystical Valley.
He made his way to the Caelum Vine Tree, where a Great Cauldron stood, surrounded by various machinery.
In the past thirty years, he had been studying the art of forging. He didn't aim to create an extraordinary Magical Treasure, but rather to gain enlightenment through the process of forging.
The Magical Treasures he forged now were enough to make the Taixuan Sect compete for them, but he didn't hand them over to the sect. Instead, he sent them to Xunxian Island to be sold, using the acquired spirit stones to buy seeds and forging materials.
With his Divine Mind True Immortal cultivation, it wasn't difficult for Gu An to forge Immortal Treasures. However, creating Daoist Immortal Treasures was still beyond his capabilities.
Only powerful beings standing at the Ninth Heaven of Daoism could create Daoist Immortal Treasures, which were the crystallization of their Dao cultivation.
Looking across the Heavenly Spirit Great World, the forces possessing Daoist Immortal Treasures were all regional overlords, and those who could truly unleash the full power of Daoist Immortal Treasures were few and far between. At least, Gu An hadn't seen any yet.
Dragon War possessed a Daoist Immortal Treasure. When he reached the Ninth Heaven of Daoism, this treasure could suppress an entire universe, an incredibly formidable power.
Gu An had just arrived before the Great Cauldron, and the machinery at its base and surroundings began to ignite.
Two vines extended from behind, starting to massage Gu An's shoulders.
"Master, that guy... Are you really not going to do anything about him?" Caelum Vine Tree's voice sounded, still resembling Jiang Qiong's, but softer.
Gu An replied, "It's fine. There's no way he can set foot here."
Due to the presence of the Dao Support Sword, Taixuan Sect's reputation far exceeded its actual strength. This time, the Heavenly Rank Tournament also attracted a large number of overseas cultivators and demons.
Among them was a presence that made the Caelum Vine Tree fearful, and Gu An had already located this aura.
It was a tree demon in human form, with cultivation at the Wanderer Immortal Realm. Currently, it was hiding its cultivation and participating in the Heavenly Rank Tournament as a Great Enlightenment Realm cultivator.
A single Wanderer Immortal couldn't threaten Gu An, so he didn't pay any attention.
What concerned him was another person—someone from the Celestial Spirit Dynasty had arrived at Taixuan Sect. This person's cultivation had reached the Freedom Primordial Immortal realm, and they were also concealing their true strength, appearing as an ordinary Loose Immortal.
Of course, even the cultivation of a Loose Immortal was enough for Taixuan Sect to treat them as an honored guest.
Gu An was curious about the Celestial Spirit Dynasty's purpose for coming.
This year's Heavenly Rank Tournament promised to be an exciting event.
"Master, can you subdue him?" Caelum Vine Tree asked cautiously.
Gu An thought it was worried, so he hummed in response.
He clearly felt the vine on his shoulder tremble, and immediately, he heard Caelum Vine Tree's voice: "Then can you catch him and let me eat him?"
Gu An was stunned. He turned around and looked at Caelum Vine Tree in surprise. It had been so scared just a moment ago, and now it wanted to eat someone?
He almost forgot that Caelum Vine Tree came from the Thousand Autumn Pavilion, a demonic cultivation sect. It was only natural that it might be an evil tree.
"Don't get any ideas. Be careful, or I'll eat you!" Gu An said, exasperated.
Caelum Vine Tree had always loved eating lamb. If Gu An didn't curb its bloodlust, he feared his disciples might suffer.
He kept Caelum Vine Tree mainly for its Caelum Vine Fruits. For him now, Caelum Vine Tree wasn't an indispensable asset.
Seemingly sensing Gu An's displeasure, Caelum Vine Tree stopped talking and carefully massaged his shoulders with the two vines.
The next day at noon, Gu An rode Blood Prison Great Saint into the outer city.
The city was packed with people, and even in the air, there were numerous cultivators and demons coming and going.
After fifty years, Gu An knew even more people in the city, and wherever he went, someone would greet him.
He even met Zuolin, the son of Left One Sword. Zuolin was also Li Ya's childhood friend, and even without cultivating the sword path, he was a genuine genius.
Nowadays, Zuolin had completely given up on the sword path and had become a well-known talent.
The two met every year, and their relationship remained good. Zuolin started complaining about his father.
It was all because of the Dao Support Sword Master, offending many cultivators. Day and night, Left One Sword stood guard before the Heaven-Shattering, numerous people. This also led to the Zu family frequently being infiltrated and investigated. Fortunately, with the Dao Support Sword Master's presence, no one dared to cause trouble, but the Zu family lived in constant fear of impending disaster.
Gu An suddenly wondered if he should give Left One Sword some advice. To be honest, Left One Sword's attitude, as Gu An observed, was that of a true believer.
Hmm, he should find an opportunity to guide him. He couldn't let Left One Sword's efforts go to waste.
After chatting for a while, the two parted ways. Gu An communicated with Blood Prison Great Saint through his divine sense, and the latter changed direction.
The crowd surged, and vendors on both sides shouted incessantly. Riding on Blood Prison Great Saint's back, Gu An's gaze shifted from side to side, curious about everything along the way.
The feeling was like going to a bustling market.
Unlike other gatherings, the Heavenly Rank Tournament was held once every hundred years, making it the most important event for Taixuan Sect and even the entire Taicang Continent. Its liveliness far surpassed any other occasion, and the arrival of various sects also brought many new things.
After a stick of incense's time, Blood Prison Great Saint stopped in front of a pavilion. Gu An dismounted and entered the building, named Odd Treasure Pavilion.
Upon entering the main hall, he saw countless treasure shelves filled with dazzling items. His gaze, however, was drawn to a person.
[Zhang Xianwang (Freedom Primordial Immortal, Seventh Layer): 359098/700000/2500000]
A limit lifespan of 2.5 million years! Gu An predicted that he had the qualifications to reach the Dao Void Profound Immortal realm.
This person was the Freedom Primordial Immortal from the Celestial Spirit Dynasty, standing before a treasure shelf, toying with a broken flute in his hand.
Gu An took a step forward and walked past him.
Zhang Xianwang didn't pay him any attention, and the two stood before the same row of treasure shelves, admiring the treasures.
After a while, Zhang Xianwang glanced at Gu An, and with just that glance, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Little brother, where did the golden mark on your forehead come from?" Zhang Xianwang asked, his tone gentle and lacking the assertiveness of a powerful cultivator.
Gu An touched his forehead and smiled, "One night, I woke up, and this golden mark appeared. Do you know its origin, fellow cultivator?"
(End of Chapter)
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