Chapter 156: Innate Divine Ability

Persecute me?

Gu An almost laughed.

Anyone who wanted to persecute him must have been tired of living.

With his ability to predict threats based on his lifespan, he could sense any hostility directed at him in an instant.

At least for now, no one had shown any malice towards him.

Gu An was known for his friendly demeanor, and aside from Tai Xuan Sect, not many people knew of his existence.

Under Lü Baitian's gaze, Gu An furrowed his brow and muttered, "It's hard to say. I've always treated him well, but back then, when Sword Sect was chasing after him, I advised him to give up the Heaven-Hating Divine Sword. Perhaps he harbors some resentment against me because of that."

Lü Baitian nodded. "Having resentment towards you is actually good. At least you won't become his weakness. But you'd better hope he doesn't hate you. If he rises to power and holds a grudge, things could get troublesome."

By the end of his words, his tone had turned somewhat playful.

Gu An shrugged. "I trust that Tai Xuan Sect will keep me safe. If I encounter any danger while staying here, then it's not just my problem — it means something's seriously wrong with the sect."

"Cheeky brat, are you trying to provoke me?"

"Of course not. I believe in you, Sect Master, so please stop teasing me. I'm just a low-level cultivator trying to avoid unnecessary trouble. Whatever it is—Ephemeral Blossom Sect, Heaven-Hating Divine Sword—the less I have to do with them, the better." Gu An sighed helplessly.

Seeing his expression, Lü Baitian suddenly felt a twinge of guilt, thinking that perhaps he shouldn't be poking fun at Gu An.

After all, Gu An didn't possess the Body Fusion Realm's ninth-level cultivation. Facing the threat of the Heaven-Hating Divine Sword would definitely make him anxious, even if he was putting on a brave front.

Lü Baitian's expression became more serious. "As long as you stay within Tai Xuan Sect, you'll be safe. At least within these walls, I promise to keep you protected."

It was clear that he was subtly hinting at Gu An's trips to Tianya Valley.

Although Lü Baitian wasn't sure where Tianya Valley was, he knew that Gu An often left Xuan Valley, but he didn't press for details.

Lü Baitian shifted the conversation to Li Xuandao.

The Tai Cang Dynasty's aggressive expansion had allied with the Great Yu Dynasty, and they had opened up at least five battlefronts. Neighboring dynasties were struggling to hold on.

Lü Baitian didn't particularly like Li Xuandao, but he had to admit that the man was exceptionally skilled at finding talent and capable generals, always able to unearth prodigies and competent commanders.

From Gu An's perspective, he hoped that Li Xuandao would unite the Nine Dynasties. Only with unification could they better fend off the impending demon catastrophe.

Once the land was unified, they could establish order. Only then would peace reign across the world — which was the ideal path for him to continue living his quiet life.

For low-level cultivators, peace was also a blessing. Though they might have fewer opportunities to rise through chance encounters, how many truly managed to turn their fortunes around through such strokes of luck?

Far more low-level cultivators died in pursuit of these so-called opportunities than those who succeeded.

The two of them talked for a long time. By evening, Lü Baitian finally left.

Gu An couldn't help but wonder if it was his imagination, but Lü Baitian no longer seemed to possess the sharpness he once had.

...

In Su Xing Cave Mansion.

Wearing his mask, Gu An appeared on a cliff, his divine sense scanning the area below. He spotted An Hao resting in a cave, where he was cultivating in a blood pool that was strengthening his blood energy.

Meanwhile, Si Yan'er was in the forest, practicing her footwork.

After spending two years in this cave mansion, both An Hao and Si Yan'er had gained various legacies, and their strength had skyrocketed. But to fully inherit Su Xing Daoist's legacy would take many more years. After all, Su Xing Daoist was a Mahayana Realm cultivator, and his lifetime of accumulated techniques was vast. Even with An Hao's unparalleled talent, it would take considerable time to absorb it all.

Gu An merely glanced at them before heading into the forest to gather herbs and treasures.

He concealed his presence, ensuring the spirit beasts within the cave mansion didn't notice him.

The Body Fusion Realm spirit beasts had grown friendly with An Hao and Si Yan'er, but Gu An preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble, so he moved quietly.

Half an hour later, Gu An left, satisfied with his harvest.

This trip had netted him another fifty thousand years of lifespan.

Since no one tended the herbs in Su Xing Cave Mansion, Gu An was cautious about overharvesting, fearing that cultivators from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm might take notice. He only harvested a portion of the treasures, allowing the rest to continue growing naturally and produce seeds.

Afterward, he quickly traveled to Nian Chu Cave Residence.

Last month, under Gu An's guidance, Tian Yao'er had successfully passed her tribulation and reached the Core Formation Realm. Since then, she had been focusing on stabilizing her cultivation.

Upon landing, Gu An could sense that her demonic power had calmed down, indicating that her foundation was solid.

He deliberately made his footsteps louder as he walked into the garden.

Tian Yao'er dashed out of her chamber, moving like the wind as she rushed to Gu An's side. Hugging his arm, she exclaimed, "Master, I've fully condensed my demonic core, and I've even awakened a divine ability!"

Feeling her soft touch on his arm, Gu An couldn't help but marvel at how, despite her slim appearance, Tian Yao'er's figure was incredibly exaggerated.

Naturally, he pulled his arm back, took a few steps forward, and crouched to gather some herbs while asking, "What kind of divine ability?"

Tian Yao'er crouched beside him, resting her hands on her knees with a gleeful grin. "It's a transformation ability! I'm really powerful now."

As she spoke, a wave of demonic energy surged from her body, enveloping her form.

Gu An turned to look. When the demonic energy dissipated, Tian Yao'er had transformed into his exact likeness, right down to the aura, with no trace of demonic energy.

This surprised him.

What a remarkable divine ability!

Gu An placed the herbs he'd collected into his storage bag. Standing up, he curiously asked, "Can you teach this ability to me?"

Tian Yao'er shook her head. "I wish I could, but there's no mantra or cultivation method for it. This divine ability seems to be something I was born with. I can use it as easily as speaking, but I have no idea how to pass it on."

With a flick of her body, she reverted to her original form, her demonic energy swirling around her and brushing against Gu An's mask.

Gu An took a step back. Dressed in red, Tian Yao'er placed her hands on her hips and beamed proudly. "Master, isn't my divine ability amazing?"

Her bright, crescent-moon-shaped eyes were so lively that Gu An couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair, messing it up.

After praising her a few times, Gu An encouraged her to return to her cultivation.

Tian Yao'er didn't want to resume training since her master was finally visiting, but she obediently stood nearby, chattering non-stop about trivial matters, like a crooked flower or how she'd accidentally run into a tree while practicing the Infinite Free Step.

She rarely had contact with other demonic creatures and had spent years confined to Nian Chu Cave Residence, so there was little else for her to talk about.

Gu An didn't mind her rambling, instead listening attentively and occasionally responding, which made her even happier.

After some time, they both went to sit at the stone table, where Gu An took out bottles of pills for cultivation and guided her on how to use them.

"When you master the Infinite Free Step, I'll take you outside to explore," Gu An told her earnestly.

Tian Yao'er had never once asked to leave the cave, and her attitude toward herb cultivation had always been diligent. Gu An couldn't find fault with her.

Having spent so many years in Nian Chu Cave Residence, Gu An no longer regarded her as merely a demonic servant.

Surprisingly, Tian Yao'er wasn't overjoyed. Instead, she pouted. "The Infinite Free Step is so hard to master. I don't know how many years it'll take me."

"The Tianhuang Demon Mother didn't become powerful after just a few decades of training. Every powerful being in this world has endured long, lonely years before they could act as they pleased," Gu An said, offering her words of wisdom.

Tian Yao'er nodded vigorously. "I understand. I'll work hard at my cultivation!"

Gu An noticed that she no longer mentioned her desire for revenge. He wasn't sure if she had buried the thought deep inside or if she had abandoned it altogether.

Gu An didn't dwell on Tian Yao'er's potential change of heart. Instead, he stayed with her a little longer, sitting down to teach her the principles of the Innate Celestial Immortal Art.

Core Formation was only the beginning. Tian Yao'er still had a long path ahead of her, and Gu An had high hopes for her growth. If he could nurture a formidable demon with unparalleled strength, it would undoubtedly give him a sense of accomplishment.

Tian Yao'er had a maximum lifespan of eighteen thousand years, meaning she would be the one to accompany him the longest, far surpassing any other disciple or ally.

Perhaps it was this thought, this desire to stave off future loneliness, that motivated Gu An to invest so much time and care in guiding her, teaching her with the same dedication he showed to his other disciple, An Hao.

...

The sky was covered with a blanket of dark clouds. The land below stretched with uneven terrain, and the sparse trees that dotted the horizon were mostly withered, their branches bare of leaves.

The entire scene radiated desolation, devoid of life.

Two figures walked through the mountainous landscape. One of them was none other than Gu An's disciple, Su Han.

Decades had passed, and Su Han had undergone a complete transformation. His demeanor had hardened, and the once youthful aura was now replaced by a cold, sharp presence. Dressed in a dark robe, he carried a bone sword strapped across his back. A red cord tied his hair in a simple knot, keeping his black locks out of his face. His features now held a trace of malevolent energy, and his eyes carried a constant air of menace.

Walking ahead of him was a frail old man, who occasionally glanced back nervously as he led the way, hunching in submission.

"Master Su, just ahead is where the Sky Dragon resides. It may not be a century old, but it's incredibly temperamental. Please, proceed with caution," the old man warned, his voice trembling.

Su Han's cold gaze remained fixed ahead. The dim light cast shadows over a towering mountain, faintly revealing its silhouette in the darkness. From the distance, a faint roar could be heard, echoing ominously through the bleak terrain.

Without looking at the old man, Su Han gave his order, "You go first and lure it out. I'll follow."

The old man's face paled instantly. He hesitated, stammering, "B-but with my cultivation level, I—"

Su Han's eyes narrowed dangerously, sending a chill down the old man's spine. Realizing he had no choice, the old man quickly agreed, his voice quivering as he said, "Y-yes, right away, Master Su!"

With that, he sped off into the darkness, disappearing from sight.

Moments later, a thunderous roar split the air, shaking the ground beneath them. The Sky Dragon had been awakened.

Unfazed, Su Han reached for the bone sword strapped to his back. His seven orifices began to emit ominous black mist, enveloping him in a sinister aura that made him look like a demon possessed.

Suddenly, an angry shout echoed through the mountains. "Who dares trespass on the ancient lands of the Sky Dragon Sect?"

A large man dressed in a gray robe flew down from the mountain top, charging straight toward Su Han.

Su Han, however, did not even glance back. He continued walking forward, seemingly oblivious to the incoming threat.

But before the man could reach Su Han, a ghostly figure materialized out of thin air. With a simple wave of its hand, a massive black wing of demonic energy condensed and lashed out, sending the gray-robed man flying backward.

The gray-robed man's eyes widened in terror as he struggled to defend himself, his spiritual energy no match for the overwhelming force.

"Consider yourself warned. If you value your life, I suggest you stay out of this. It would be a pity to meet your end here," a cold, feminine voice said from within the ghostly figure.

If Gu An had been present, he would have immediately recognized the voice.

It was Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother.