https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-33-Startling-the-Outer-Sect-Sealing-the-Divine/12574054/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-35-Fei-Ye-Jianxian-The-Transformation-of-the-Divine-Realm/12574056/
Chapter 34: Three Millennia of Lifespan, the Purple Microcosm Array
Chapter 34: Three Millennia of Lifespan, the Purple Microcosm Array
Gu An intended to use the name of Xu Zhonglin, the original author of The Investiture of the Gods, but as he planned to write other books for extra income, he decided to come up with a different name.
Liu Chang and Zhu Qinglu, on the other hand, didn't think too much of it. Compared to Gu An, Pan An's name change only involved altering the surname, which they could understand.
Subsequently, Liu Chang began to instruct Gu An, mainly reminding him of the things he shouldn't write. Covertly and overtly, he urged Gu An to include the Tai Xuan Sect in the story and create a positive image for it.
Even if the sect wasn't explicitly mentioned, it could be alluded to. In any case, the more the novel praised the Tai Xuan Sect, the better the treatment he would receive in the future.
Gu An could only agree to this, but whether he would actually do it or not was another matter, to be decided later.
Writing was just a pastime for him, and he wasn't going to spend too much time and effort on it.
After Liu Chang finished speaking, Gu Yu, who had been standing by, stepped forward excitedly and asked, "Brother, have you written any other books?"
Gu An shook his head. "This is my first time."
"Hahaha, not bad, not bad at all. I have high hopes for you. Who knows, you might even surpass Qing Xia's status within the Tai Xuan Sect," Gu Yu said, patting Gu An's shoulder with an overly familiar expression.
Upon hearing this, Gu An became intrigued and asked, "Do you know Qing Xia?"
Gu Yu raised an eyebrow. "You like his travelogue too? I don't know him personally, but I know he's a cultivator from the Tai Xuan Sect. I asked Elder Liu about him, but he refused to tell me anything."
Liu Chang laughed and, taking Zhu Qinglu by the hand, started to walk out, saying, "Come, walk with me, and let's catch up. Let the youngsters chat among themselves."
Zhu Qinglu nodded, and the two of them soon left the main hall.
Gu Yu then proceeded to question Gu An about the details of writing The Investiture of the Gods. Sensing that Elder Liu's attitude towards him was not ordinary, Gu An patiently answered his queries.
A full hour later, Gu An finally left the library with Zhu Qinglu.
"That disciple named Gu Yu has an extraordinary background. It's rare to see Elder Liu treating a junior like that," Zhu Qinglu remarked meaningfully.
Gu An nodded, but he had no intention of becoming close friends with Gu Yu. Such people tended to bring unrest to his peaceful life.
The two of them didn't stay together for long and parted ways soon after. Gu An then went to purchase medicinal herb seeds and also bought some clothes.
It was only when night fell that he returned to Xuan Valley.
Time passed day by day.
Soon, another New Year arrived, and the second Spring Festival in Xuan Valley went even more smoothly than the first, without any hiccups. The atmosphere was more joyous than the previous year, and as usual, Gu An sent food to Jiang Qiong.
He started to count the days, preparing for Jiang Qiong's departure.
After she left, he would be able to spread his wings in the Eight Scenic Heaven and fill it with spirit flowers and medicinal herbs.
Following the New Year celebrations, Gu An took Wu Xin to the outer sect and selected three more handymen disciples. This time, it was two girls and one boy, named Yan Mei, Yang Min, and Ye Yan, respectively.
The three of them were the same age, only eighteen years old, and they looked forward to their new life in Xuan Valley.
Becoming a handyman disciple meant not only earning spirit stones but also having the opportunity to inherit their master's magic.
This time, Gu An's purpose in recruiting handymen disciples was twofold: to not only gain more help but also to help Wu Xin fully adapt to his position as the first disciple so that he could run errands for him in the future.
Upon returning to Xuan Valley, Gu An asked Wu Xin to take the three new disciples to get acquainted with the others in the valley, while he himself entered the northern forest to plan something.
He intended to fill the surrounding forests with medicinal herbs. The herbs he had submitted last year had placed him among the top ten in the outer sect's Medicine Valley, and Zhu Qinglu had come to value him even more, improving his treatment. Now, with nine handymen disciples under his care, he had more than enough help, and he even considered recruiting more.
People often found it hard to be content with their current situation, and Gu An was no exception when it came to his annual lifespan income. If his lifespan growth this year fell short of last year's, he would feel disappointed.
Standing under a tree, Gu An scanned the forest, his mind already drawing up plans for the park.
Suddenly, the white spirit mouse scurried out from the forest, and seeing it, Gu An felt a mix of headache and anticipation.
He feared that it would find some precious treasures, but he also hoped that it would.
The mouse jumped straight to Gu An's feet and spat out a jade ring.
Gu An reached down and plucked the ring from the mouse's mouth, tucking it into his waistband, intending to inspect it later in private.
He scooped up the white spirit mouse and prevented it from running off.
"Good job. I'll feed you a Qingfeng Fruit tonight," Gu An said with a smile.
As if understanding his words, the white spirit mouse stopped struggling and lay quietly in his arms.
Gu An stood there for a while longer, then turned and left the forest. He stood on the grass next to the park, awaiting someone's arrival.
Before long, a sound of tearing through the air could be heard.
An outer sect disciple flew over on his sword and landed beside Gu An, his appearance drawing the attention of the other Xuan Valley disciples.
"Big Brother! I'm back!"
It was Lu Jiujia, who had previously gone to participate in the outer sect assessment. Dressed in the outer sect robe, he looked like a completely different person.
Gu An smiled. "I thought you weren't coming back."
Lu Jiujia scratched his head. "How could I not? As soon as I obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill, I began my seclusion. After successfully establishing my foundation, I rushed back to share my joy with all of you."
Gu An smiled and reached out to pinch Lu Jiujia's shoulder, feeling the strengthened bones.
At that moment, the other disciples crowded around, excitedly asking him about his experiences in the Foundation Establishment stage, to which he proudly replied, full of vigor.
When Gu An had first met Lu Jiujia, the boy had only been fifteen years old. Now, seeing him in his glory, Gu An felt nothing but contentment.
On the path of longevity, one often walked alone, and it would lessen his regrets if those he befriended could also reach a good ending.
The return of Lu Jiujia brought liveliness to Xuan Valley, and the newly arrived Yan Mei, Yang Min, and Ye Yan were greatly inspired, for they saw a path to advancement within the outer sect.
Working hard in Xuan Valley brought hope for promotion and advancement. That night, Gu An examined the jade ring retrieved by the white spirit mouse. With his spiritual sense, he forcibly broke through the restrictions and discovered that it was filled with spirit stones.
Unexpected wealth?
Gu An's expectations of the white spirit mouse grew, and it successfully gained the right to eat the Qingfeng fruits.
Lu Jiujia stayed in Xuan Valley for a month before leaving. Everyone knew that this departure might be their last meeting in this lifetime, unless they, too, could become outer sect disciples.
...
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, two years passed. Gu An was now thirty years old, but having taken the Youthful Appearance Pill, he only appeared to be in his early twenties.
His lifespan had exceeded three millennia! Xuan Valley was expanding, and the number of outer sect disciples seeking his help in managing their caves had reached eleven. His monthly lifespan income was also on the rise.
Life was busy and fulfilling, but far from exhausting. Instead, he felt energized and driven.
Summer arrived, and on a starry night, fireflies lit up the quiet mountains.
In the mountains, Jiang Qiong, clad in white, walked ahead, her bare feet untouched by the branches on the forest floor.
Gu An followed silently behind.
"Alright, that's enough for today," Jiang Qiong said as she turned to face Gu An.
Gu An nodded and hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Master, please be careful on your journey. After all, this is still within the range of Tai Xuan Gate."
Having spent so many years together and with Jiang Qiong teaching him countless spells, it would be a lie to say that there weren't any emotions involved.
However, compared to these feelings, Gu An wished for her to leave even more.
Jiang Qiong nodded and raised her right hand, holding a blue-covered book. She tossed the secret manual to Gu An.
"Study this well. Next time I come back, I'll examine your cultivation. If you disappoint me, Master will beat you up," Jiang Qiong threatened in a playful tone, even making a fist to emphasize her point, leaving Gu An both amused and exasperated.
Before he could respond, Jiang Qiong vanished into thin air, her demonic energy quickly fading from Gu An's senses.
In the dim forest, Gu An's lips curved into a slight smile as he turned and made his way back to Xuan Valley, his eyes falling on the manual in his hand.
The Purple Microcosm Array!
He flipped through the pages, discovering that each one was protected by a unique restriction. The pages introduced the array with text, but the cultivation method required probing with spiritual sense.
This was something!
Gu An thought of the arrays in the Eight Scenic Heaven. It was those arrays that prevented the many powerful cultivators of Tai Xuan Gate from detecting the existence of the Qingfeng trees as they flew over Xuan Valley.
Although Jiang Qiong was only at the ninth layer of the Golden Core realm, her mastery of arrays and pill refining far surpassed that of a typical cultivator at her level. After all, she had reached the Golden Core realm at the age of forty and had dedicated herself to studying arrays and pill refining ever since. She mentioned that even during her feigned death, she had continued to contemplate arrays.
Holding the Purple Microcosm Array manual, Gu An suddenly felt its weight.
The moon set, and the sun rose.
Dawn arrived.
Jiang Qiong's departure only affected Gu An; life in Xuan Valley continued as usual.
After leading the disciples in their morning exercises, Gu An returned to his loft with Ye Lan.
He took out a small wooden box that he had prepared beforehand and handed it to Ye Lan. The box was meticulously crafted, as if it held precious jewels.
Ye Lan was taken aback for a moment before her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the box. Inside, she found a single pill.
"Big Brother, what kind of pill is this?" Ye Lan asked.
Gu An sat at the table, pouring himself a cup of tea as he smiled and replied, "Foundation Establishment Pill. It's specially prepared for you, so don't tell anyone else. In the future, if any disciple in the valley reaches the ninth layer of the Energy Refinement realm, I'll give them one as well. But for now, they mustn't know that I have Foundation Establishment Pills to avoid any trouble."
Foundation Establishment Pill! Ye Lan's eyes widened, and she instinctively wanted to refuse, but Gu An was quicker. "Rest assured, I've kept one Foundation Establishment Pill for myself. Once you successfully establish your foundation, you may become my backer in the outer sect in the future. Working hard in your cultivation is the best way to repay me."
"I..." Ye Lan's heart was filled with mixed emotions, and there were many things she wanted to say, but the words stuck in her throat.
Gu An spoke with a solemn tone. "Life is long, and one will always have many thoughts. Don't forget what your greatest pursuit in this life is."
Although Ye Lan hadn't frequently pestered him in recent years, whenever he caught her gaze, it was always filled with tenderness. Occasionally, he would even overhear the other disciples' discussions, and it was clear to everyone how she felt about him.
Gu An's feelings for Ye Lan were only that of a brother, and they hadn't reached the point where he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Moreover, his heart was solely focused on the path of cultivation.
Upon hearing his words, Ye Lan nodded firmly and softly replied, "Big Brother, don't worry. I'll definitely work hard in my cultivation and won't let you down. I'll strive to climb higher and take care of you in the future."
As she said this, she even winked at Gu An.
Gu An smiled and waved his hand, indicating that she could leave.
Ye Lan kept the Foundation Establishment Pill safely and turned to leave. As she reached for the door, she suddenly said, "Big Brother, no matter where I go in the future, I won't have feelings for any other man. There will only be you in my heart."
With that, she quickly shut the door and hurried away as if she were running from something.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
