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Chapter 46: Primordial Dao Talisman, Devilish Ambitions
Chapter 46: Primordial Dao Talisman, Devilish Ambitions
"It's Gu An!"
Du Ye pushed Gu An, who stumbled slightly before turning to the messenger and acknowledging, "I am Gu An."
"Follow me," the messenger replied, turning and walking towards the mansion.
Gu An kept up with his pace, his mind filled with questions. What did Ji Xiaoyu want with him? In his childhood, their interactions had been limited due to their vastly different social statuses.
After Gu An left, the Ji family cultivators guarding the door surrounded Du Ye, curious about Gu An. Du Ye's face turned slightly uncomfortable as he answered their inquiries one by one.
On the other side.
Gu An followed the messenger for two miles before they arrived at Ji Xiaoyu's courtyard.
The messenger stopped at the gate and gestured for Gu An to enter before turning and leaving.
Gu An could already sense Ji Xiaoyu's presence. According to his judgment, she was also at the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage, but her strength far surpassed Ji Lin's.
He stepped into the courtyard, which was filled with a bamboo grove and a vibrant spring-like atmosphere, despite it being autumn.
Following a path through the bamboo grove, he soon came upon a pond surrounded by white spiritual mist. Within the mist sat a figure cultivating, faintly discernible as a woman.
As Gu An approached, he bowed and greeted, "Gu An pays his respects to the Third Miss."
Ji Xiaoyu, dressed in a blue robe, sat cross-legged, floating above the surface of the pond. Her hands were clasped in a intricate gesture on her knees, and her long hair was pinned atop her head with three bejeweled hairpins. Two strands of hair framed her cheeks, and her forehead shone like white jade, with a faint red line running across it. In Gu An's opinion, only Jiang Qiong could rival her exquisite features.
Unlike Jiang Qiong's ambiguous charm, Ji Xiaoyu seemed like a celestial fairy who had descended from the heavens. Her face was devoid of any emotion, exuding an air of holiness that deterred impious thoughts.
Gu An recalled the first time he had met Ji Xiaoyu as a child. Even then, he had felt that she didn't seem like a child; her eyes seemed to carry the weight of a lifetime's experiences.
He immediately sent out a lifespan probe:
【Ji Xiaoyu (9th Layer of Foundation Establishment): 34/830/8900】
What the hell?
A maximum lifespan of eight thousand nine hundred years?
More importantly, how did she have eight hundred and thirty years of lifespan at just the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment?
Gu An was astonished. Suddenly, he felt that Ji Xiaoyu was more than just a dual spirit root cultivator.
"You did well earlier. After the banquet, go and see Gu Zong. You can take him as your master." Ji Xiaoyu said without opening her eyes, her voice melodious, gentle yet commanding respect.
This guy actually eavesdropped on the conversation at the front door!
Gu An scoffed inwardly but replied, "Third Miss, to be honest, I really don't want to take him as my master. I can tell that he's not ordinary, and his cultivation is surely high. But with my mediocre talent, becoming a famous master's disciple would only bring me trouble. I just want to stay in my medicine valley and live out my days in peace, contributing a batch of medicinal ingredients to you every year. That would be enough to satisfy me."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu opened her eyes, and the mist in front of her dissipated. She turned her head slightly to glance at Gu An.
The corners of her eyes seemed to be etched with an invisible stroke, lifting them slightly and adding a touch of majesty to her soft eyes. Those bright eyes seemed to want to see through Gu An's heart.
Gu An lowered his head slightly, avoiding her gaze.
Not because he was afraid, but because he was currently masquerading as a ninth layer Qi Refining servant, and he had to play his part well.
"Then you don't have to take him as your master. But since Gu Zong wants to see you, you should still pay him a visit. This matter has indeed put you in a difficult position. Tell me, what can I do for you? As long as it's within my ability, I will definitely do it," Ji Xiaoyu said softly.
Perhaps because Ji Xiaoyu had saved him when they were children, Gu An had a favorable impression of her. Hearing her words, he didn't hold back and said, "Third Miss, the medicine valley I'm in is too small, and I want to plant more medicinal herbs. Can you help me acquire another medicine valley? Of course, please don't transfer me away from my current valley. It holds my heart and soul, and I can't bear to leave it."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoyu fell silent.
Gu An didn't mind the silence.
If she couldn't do it, he would find a way to get Gu Zong to make it happen.
He could guess why Gu Zong wanted to see him.
What could a writer like him be useful for?
Ji Xiaoyu spoke, "Regarding the medicine valley, I can't make any promises. After all, this isn't the Ji family's territory, and you don't want to leave your current valley. I'll try my best, but in addition, you can make one more request."
Gu An immediately said, "Can you give me a set of teleportation array formations? I want to connect the two medicine valleys to facilitate travel between them."
"That's not difficult. After the banquet, I'll have someone bring it to you," Ji Xiaoyu replied.
"Thank you, Third Miss!" Gu An smiled and bowed again.
Ji Xiaoyu closed her eyes and asked, "By the way, what exactly did you write that made Gu Zong value you so much and even want to take you as his disciple?"
Gu An thought about it and felt that it would be impossible to keep it a secret. After today, Ji Xiaoyu might investigate him, so it was better to be frank. That way, the Ji family might continue to protect him in the future.
"The Investiture of the Gods."
When Gu An uttered these four words, Ji Xiaoyu's eyes snapped open, and she turned to look at him, her eyes revealing surprise for the first time.
"You wrote the Investiture of the Gods? How do you know so much?" Ji Xiaoyu asked, knitting her brows.
Gu An sighed, "It was just my wild imagination; it's not real."
"Many people now claim that the Investiture of the Gods depicts an ancient historical event. Zuolin, Woxin, and the others think so too, and he was once quite anxious about it. If he hadn't checked the Outer Library and found no records related to Huaxia, he might have believed that the Investiture of the Gods was real."
"Wild speculation? But the world of Immortal Sealing you depicted is so vast, and the Taoist methods you described are so alluring." Ji Xiaoyu said softly.
It was obvious that she also enjoyed reading Investiture of the Gods.
Gu An pretended to be flustered, looking unsure of how to respond.
"You mustn't mention this to anyone else. The impact of Investiture of the Gods is immense, and the name of Pan An has spread throughout the Tacang Empire. Other sects are all trying to find you," Ji Xiaoyu cautioned.
She paused for a moment, then lifted her right hand. The jade ring on her middle finger shone, and a bronze sword appeared in her palm.
"This is a primordial talisman. All you need to do is infuse it with spiritual energy to activate it. This treasure can kill Foundation Establishment cultivators, so keep it with you for protection."
Ji Xiaoyu's words made Gu An take a second look at the bronze sword.
This was the first time he had come across such a primordial talisman. Previously, Jiang Qiong had mentioned that primordial talismans couldn't recognize their masters and required stored spiritual energy to function. They were often left by powerful cultivators to their descendants for protection. He never expected to receive one himself.
He didn't refuse and accepted the bronze sword.
"Go back and rest. You don't need to guard the door anymore."
Ji Xiaoyu closed her eyes again, and her tone returned to its previous indifference.
Gu An raised his hand in a salute and then turned to leave.
After leaving the courtyard, Gu An was secretly curious. He had sensed a vague and indescribable aura from Ji Xiaoyu, an aura that made him inexplicably desire to possess it.
He didn't think too much about it and continued toward his own courtyard.
As more guests arrived, the interior of Ji Manor became livelier, with people everywhere.
Nascent Soul cultivators chatted animatedly, accompanied by their Golden Core companions, while Foundation Establishment cultivators scurried about. The status gap brought about by cultivation levels was evident within Ji Manor.
As he walked, Gu An suddenly spotted someone.
Jiang Qiong.
The two of them met in a corridor, face to face. Gu An remained calm, his expression unchanged, and Jiang Qiong mirrored his composure.
They brushed past each other, staying half a meter apart. Suddenly, Gu An felt something slipped into his left hand—a jade pendant.
"Go back to your room and use your spiritual sense to examine it. Pretend we don't know each other," Jiang Qiong whispered into Gu An's ear, using a voice transmission technique.
Gu An clutched the jade pendant tightly and walked away without turning back. They crossed paths like strangers, as if they had never met.
...
Inside his room, Gu An sat cross-legged on the bed, his left hand clutching the jade pendant with the back of his hand facing up. Even within the privacy of his room, he didn't expose the jade pendant.
He extended his spiritual sense into the jade pendant and soon furrowed his brows.
Within the jade pendant was a fragment of Jiang Qiong's consciousness, left there to convey why she had come to Ji Manor.
Jiang Qiong's target for this trip was none other than Ji Xiaoyu herself.
And she wasn't alone. Qianqiu Pavilion and other demonic sects had also sent spies, all aiming to seize the Primordial Dao Talisman within Ji Xiaoyu's body.
The Primordial Dao Talisman was a very special power, akin to bloodline, innate, and present from birth. However, once the possessor reached the Golden Core stage, the Primordial Dao Talisman would manifest on their golden core. At that point, if their golden core were taken, the Primordial Dao Talisman would leave the cultivator's physical body.
According to Jiang Qiong, the Primordial Dao Talisman was a rarity encountered only once in ten thousand years, even rarer than a heavenly spirit root. It was a grand opportunity that could alter one's destiny.
No wonder Ji Xiaoyu's lifespan was so astonishing; it was all due to the Primordial Dao Talisman.
Gu An was now in a dilemma. On one hand, there was Jiang Qiong, and on the other, Ji Xiaoyu. Whom should he support?
Ah, forget it!
He decided not to get involved. After all, Jiang Qiong wouldn't make a move until the banquet ended. By then, Gu An would already be back at Xuan Valley.
Gu An was curious about the Primordial Dao Talisman. Was the unique aura he had sensed from Ji Xiaoyu related to it?
Even he, a Crossing Tribulation cultivator, couldn't help but feel greed for it, indicating the immense power contained within the Primordial Dao Talisman.
As time passed, the banquet proceeded smoothly, and the hidden demonic cultivators didn't make any rash moves.
At noon, Ji Xiaoyu demonstrated her Qilin Step to the guests, and Gu An witnessed this spectacle from the courtyard.
Ji Xiaoyu stepped out into the courtyard, and with each step, she ascended higher. Every time she took a step, a Qilin phantom appeared beneath her feet. After seven steps, the Qilin phantoms enveloped her body. At first glance, it appeared as if seven dark red Qilins stood in the air, a majestic sight.
With Gu An's eyesight, he could tell that Ji Xiaoyu could take two more steps. Nine steps was her limit with the Qilin Step.
However, the limit of the Qilin Step wasn't nine steps. If one cultivated it to the utmost extreme, they could take a thousand steps, summoning a thousand Qilin phantoms that could either attack an opponent or confuse them.
Regardless, it was impressive that Ji Xiaoyu had mastered the Qilin Step at the age of thirty-four. With this technique, she could sweep through cultivators of the same realm.
In the evening, Du Ye brought Gu Zong and Gu Yu to find Gu An.
After leading the way, Du Ye left, not wanting to disturb them.
An hour later, Gu Zong left with a satisfied smile on his face.
Gu An saw them out to the courtyard gate, and Gu Yu turned back, winking at Gu An. "Remember, in the book, I must have many female confidantes. Within half a year, I'll come to find you, and the medicine valley you desire will definitely not be small!"
(End of Chapter)
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