Chapter 197: Tai Xuan Sect's Ambition

Gu An proudly displayed his newly acquired mount, the Blood Prison Saint, eliciting a flurry of curiosity from the disciples, who eagerly reached out to touch the "majestic" ox. Blood Prison Saint, however, felt utterly humiliated but didn't dare resist Gu An's authority, so he could only endure.

Even Chu Jingfeng, who usually practiced swordsmanship on the mountaintop, came down to see the commotion. Though he had seen many mounts before, it was his first time seeing an ox that looked so imposing. Its large horns and the way its dark red fur swayed like flames in the wind left a deep impression.

After lingering in Xuan Valley for half an hour, Gu An led the Blood Prison Saint back to the Third Medicine Valley.

He decided that from now on, he would take the Blood Prison Saint with him everywhere within the Tai Xuan Sect's territory.

The number of cultivators in the Tai Xuan Sect had grown significantly. It was now common to see figures soaring through the sky on various mounts.

The disciples of the Third Medicine Valley were equally fascinated by the Blood Prison Saint. Meanwhile, the Saint himself was astonished by the valley's abundant spiritual energy. Such a dense concentration of energy was rare even in the Spirit Realm. For a fleeting moment, he found himself looking forward to his new life.

But that sentiment vanished overnight, replaced by sheer anger.

In the valley, there lived an enormous and infuriatingly mischievous white mouse.

While the Blood Prison Saint was napping below the building, the White Spirit Mouse sneakily bit his rump. The shock jolted him awake, and as a once-invincible Saint, he could hardly tolerate such humiliation.

But what truly broke him was his inability to catch the mouse!

That night marked the darkest moment of his life.

The following day, Gu An brought the Blood Prison Saint to Tianya Valley.

"Why are you riding a cow?" Luo Hun approached, eyeing the Blood Prison Saint with curiosity. He couldn't resist reaching out to feel its fur.

Gu An grinned. "I just bought it. How does it look? Pretty majestic, huh?"

"It's quite impressive. What breed is it?"

"I don't know either. I've been calling it Bull Demon King."

"Bull Demon King? That's… quite a name." Luo Hun shook his head, laughing, while the Blood Prison Saint lowered his eyes, resigned to his misery.

Lu Xian and Ji Ruolai were also drawn to the scene and came over to greet Gu An.

The world had countless demons and beasts, so they didn't think much of the unusual mount.

"Have you seen my third sister lately?" Ji Ruolai asked Gu An.

Gu An shook his head. "No, I rarely visit the inner sect. Why? Do you need me to deliver a message?"

Ji Ruolai nodded. "The family wants her to return to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Please pass the message if you see her."

Gu An agreed readily and then went off to collect herbs.

Meanwhile, three monkey demons circled the Blood Prison Saint with curiosity.

The way they scratched their heads and chattered made the Blood Prison Saint feel mocked, which only worsened his frustration.

By the third day of his "ascended" life, the Blood Prison Saint's misery reached new heights.

Late in the autumn season, Lü Baitian visited Gu An.

Upon entering the building, Lü Baitian habitually closed the door and set up a barrier. Only after ensuring their privacy did he sit at Gu An's desk and glance out the window. "Is that ox downstairs yours? Its potential seems mediocre, just a first-tier beast. It's not very useful. Want me to get you a third-tier mount instead?"

Gu An chuckled. "No need. I don't have any serious enemies, so I don't need a powerful mount. Besides, I like this one; we get along well."

"Get along well? From its expression, it looks like it's ready to drop dead."

"Heh."

Gu An chuckled, neither confirming nor denying the observation.

Lü Baitian didn't press further about the Blood Prison Saint and instead brought up sect matters.

Though the World's First Sword Dao Tournament hadn't yet started, Lü Baitian was already envisioning the next big endeavor.

Gu An's passion for teaching and mentoring surfaced as he eagerly shared his ideas. He discussed strategies and painted vivid pictures of a promising future, captivating Lü Baitian with his vision.

After some time, as Gu An paused to sip his tea, Lü Baitian asked, "What do you think about how Tai Xuan Sect should treat demons?"

During the Great Demon Catastrophe, the Demon Emperor had sent a group of powerful demons to the sect. These demons now resided within Tai Xuan Sect, following Emperor Xie's lead. The sect had treated them fairly, even assigning them caves to cultivate.

Gu An replied, "Sometimes, human hearts can be darker than those of demons. Since we cultivate the Dao, why cling to racial prejudices? Why not recruit demons as disciples of Tai Xuan Sect?"

Lü Baitian nodded thoughtfully but sighed. "Wouldn't that pose a risk?"

"Every action has risks and rewards. Fear of failure shouldn't stop us from trying. If it works, Tai Xuan Sect could set an example, fostering harmony between humans and demons. If it fails, it would be an opportunity to train our forces—after all, isn't suppression your specialty?" Gu An said calmly.

His perspective was clear: this wasn't just about harmony but about strengthening Tai Xuan Sect's power.

The sect would inevitably face the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.

Though Ji Ruolai represented the Seven Stars Spirit Realm's attempt to recruit Tai Xuan Sect, the elders' refusal to bow showed their stance.

The upper echelons of the Tai Xuan Sect had grown increasingly ambitious. They were already envisioning becoming the continent's second Sacred Land—perhaps even surpassing the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.

With Gu An's support, Lü Baitian's confidence soared. His face lit up with a brilliant smile as the two discussed various possibilities.

The two of them conversed for hours before Lü Baitian left, thoroughly satisfied.

As he descended the stairs, his gaze fell on the Blood Prison Saint, who lay sprawled on the ground. A spark of curiosity gleamed in Lü Baitian's eyes, and he approached to pat the Blood Prison Saint on the head.

"Little beast," Lü Baitian chuckled, "if you cultivate well, perhaps one day you can even become a disciple of Tai Xuan Sect. Reaching the Nascent Soul realm might not be impossible."

The Blood Prison Saint shot him a disdainful look, too indifferent to respond.

Lü Baitian paused, stunned for a moment, as though doubting his own eyes.

Then he shook his head and walked away, muttering, "Why bother taking offense at a beast?"

The Blood Prison Saint watched Lü Baitian's departing figure, his heart seething with resentment.

Old fool!

Just you wait! A thousand years from now, I'll have you kneeling before me, begging for mercy!

Winter brought drifting snow. Gu An, mounted on the Blood Prison Saint, roamed leisurely through the Third Medicine Valley. Though it seemed like he was patrolling, in truth, his divine sense was scouring the distant seas, searching for a place to advance his cultivation.

An Xin ran over, her curiosity piqued. "Master, why are you riding that ox everywhere? Isn't it slow?"

Gu An smiled lightly. "I'm strengthening its body. Though it's my mount, I don't intend to mistreat it. One day, I'll release it."

The Blood Prison Saint's ears perked up at these words, and his spirits visibly lifted. His posture straightened, no longer resembling a weary old ox.

An Xin nodded thoughtfully but was about to ask another question when two figures appeared on the horizon.

It was Lu Lingjun and Shen Zhen.

The two landed before Gu An, with Shen Zhen greeting him warmly.

Lu Lingjun's gaze swept over the Blood Prison Saint but lingered only briefly before she paid it no further mind.

Shen Zhen excitedly recounted their recent adventures, his exuberance drawing even An Xin's attention.

Gu An played along, feigning admiration and envy, which only added to Shen Zhen's satisfaction.

By now, Shen Zhen had reached the fifth layer of the Nascent Soul realm, a testament to the fortuitous encounters they had experienced.

After some time, Shen Zhen prepared to leave. Before departing, she mentioned her plans to write a book, which caused Gu An's heart to skip a beat.

After Shen Zhen left, An Xin, sensing the subtle tension, excused herself as well.

Lu Lingjun stayed behind. She tapped her foot lightly, creating a barrier of spiritual energy that encompassed a radius of three feet, ensuring their privacy. Even the Blood Prison Saint glanced at her with a flicker of interest.

"Gu An," Lu Lingjun said directly, "I heard rumors about an ascended being appearing in the northern lands. Since you have close ties to the sect master, have you learned anything?"

An ascended being!

The Blood Prison Saint's ears drooped, and he lowered his head in embarrassment.

How humiliating!

Gu An considered for a moment before shaking his head. "I haven't heard anything about it. Why are you so interested in this ascended being?"

Lu Lingjun hesitated briefly before confessing, "To be honest, I'm an ascended being myself. That's why I urged you to write Shattering the Void."

Gu An's eyes widened in shock, his face reflecting disbelief.

The Blood Prison Saint lifted his head again, this time with tears brimming in his eyes.

Lu Lingjun seemed emboldened by her recent experiences and continued, "I want to build connections with other ascended beings within the Tai Xuan Sect. It would be a network of our own. What do you think?"

She knew Lü Baitian frequently visited the Medicine Valley and that Gu An often relayed Lü Baitian's plans. She hoped to use Gu An to subtly influence Lü Baitian.

Gu An nodded eagerly. "That's an excellent idea. It would strengthen the Tai Xuan Sect immensely. Unfortunately, I truly don't have any information about this particular ascended being."

Hearing this, the Blood Prison Saint felt thoroughly bewildered.

By now, it was clear to him that no one realized the true identity of the person riding his back.

The cultivators he had encountered so far were all weak—far from what he considered first-rate in the Spirit Realm. He couldn't fathom why someone as powerful as Gu An would hide among such a seemingly insignificant sect.

"Keep an ear out for any news," Lu Lingjun said. "I'll make sure to reward you for your efforts."

She had been dedicating most of her time to cultivation, driven by the pressure of encountering beings at the Mahayana and even immortal realms. The Profound Heart realm felt insufficient.

Gu An smiled and nodded.

After exchanging a few more words, Lu Lingjun took her leave.

Gu An gave the Blood Prison Saint a pat, signaling him to move forward.

"People always long for places they've never been," Gu An said softly. "But when they arrive, they find they're all the same. And by the time they wish to return, it's often too late."

The Blood Prison Saint felt as though Gu An's words were meant for him.

If only he could speak, he would have argued.

If not for you, would I be in this miserable state?

Snow continued to fall, accumulating into a thick, white blanket. The Blood Prison Saint trudged through the snow, leaving behind deep hoofprints as he carried Gu An into the fading light of dusk.

In the Demon Lands.

On a desolate plain, Xuan Tianyi and An Hao sat across from each other by a fire. Snow fell gently but couldn't touch them, as the ground within ten feet of the fire was free of frost.

Xuan Tianyi held a book, speaking softly. "The demonic energy in this area is unusually dense. We might uncover the hiding place of the Fierce Demon at any moment."

An Hao, who had been practicing his techniques, opened his eyes. "Senior, what should we do if we find the Fierce Demon?"

Since the northern wind of ambition had swept through the land, An Hao had felt restless. After bidding farewell to Si Yan'er, he had embarked on a solitary journey northward.

His goal was to achieve immortality; he couldn't tether himself to one place for anyone.

Xuan Tianyi replied calmly, "When the time comes, you'll deliver the information back, and I'll stay behind."

"Why would you stay?"

"I want to be a hero for once. I can't always rely on Sword Master of Dao, can I?"

With that, Xuan Tianyi turned another page and resumed reading.