Chapter 224: Gu An and the Sword Master of the Dao

In the Xuan Valley Pavilion:

Bang!

Li Ya slammed a miniature city onto the table. The city was only palm-sized, but its intricate and sophisticated structure immediately caught attention.

It was none other than a scaled-down version of The Mysterious Divine City! Li Ya tilted his chin up, exuding pride.

Gu An looked at the miniature city curiously and asked, "What is this? A decorative carving?"

Li Ya's face twitched. He glared and retorted, "This is The Mysterious Divine City!"

Hearing this, Gu An put on an expression of shock, which immediately satisfied Li Ya's pride. However, Gu An's next words nearly made him faint from anger.

"Incredible, Senior Brother! You even managed to replicate The Mysterious Divine City!"

"Replicate?! This is the real thing! Don't believe me? I'll summon the Celestial Spirit to prove it!" Li Ya declared.

He closed his eyes and called out to the Celestial Spirit in his mind. However, no matter how hard he tried, the Celestial Spirit didn't respond.

Li Ya began to panic. What's going on? Why are you playing dead at such a critical moment?

Gu An almost burst into laughter but managed to suppress it. Years of honing his acting skills paid off as he pretended to examine The Mysterious Divine City. He placed his hand on it and immediately feigned a dramatic struggle.

His expression changed as the entire pavilion began to tremble. He appeared unable to lift the city.

"Could it really be genuine?" Gu An muttered.

Li Ya ignored his internal frustration with the Celestial Spirit and took the opportunity to boast. "Do you have any idea how many powerful cultivators are inside The Mysterious Divine City?"

He then launched into a detailed recounting of his exploits, carefully omitting the fact that the Celestial Spirit had approached him first. Instead, he fabricated a story of enduring trials and challenges to earn the Celestial Spirit's approval.

Gu An listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with expressions of amazement, fully indulging Li Ya's vanity.

In truth, Gu An found Li Ya's storytelling impressive. If I hadn't handed The Mysterious Divine City to you myself, I might've believed you earned it through trials!

While Gu An silently mocked Li Ya, he outwardly expressed admiration, further inflating Li Ya's ego.

Li Ya's most dramatic recounts revolved around his battles against the immortals of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Gu An feigned shock at all the right moments, keeping the atmosphere lively.

The two chatted for two full hours before Li Ya finally stopped, looking immensely satisfied. This was fantastic! No one else could appreciate my tales like a brother can!

Unlike his casual interactions with ordinary sect members, Li Ya felt comfortable boasting around Gu An. Watching Gu An pour him tea, Li Ya's grin widened.

From his storage bag, Li Ya retrieved a jade ruler about two feet long, gleaming in a bluish-white hue.

"This is a top-tier magical artifact. I originally intended to give you an Immortal Treasure, but with your current cultivation level, it would only invite trouble," Li Ya said seriously. He then laid out several heavenly materials and treasures on the table, explaining their uses one by one.

Gu An was genuinely touched.

Although The Mysterious Divine City belonged to him, Li Ya's generosity, despite being unaware of the truth, showed his unwavering regard for Gu An. This reaffirmed their bond.

While Gu An was known for his generosity to those close to him, he only truly gave back to those who had also extended kindness toward him.

"I'll be heading to the Star Sea Sect soon. It may take a century before I return. Don't miss me too much," Li Ya said with a mix of pride and reluctance.

The thought of being away for a hundred years tugged at his heart. No one could predict the future, and Li Ya worried about what might happen to Gu An in his absence. However, he had his own path to follow.

Gu An nodded and replied, "A century from now, if you return, you'll find me here waiting. Though living for a millennium is difficult, I've already formed my Core. Living a few hundred years should be manageable."

Li Ya's smile brightened. He reminisced about their younger days, their carefree moments before stepping onto their cultivation paths.

Another hour passed, and Li Ya finally climbed out the window to leave. Gu An watched him go, noticing the footprints deliberately left behind.

This guy did it on purpose, didn't he? Gu An thought with a smirk. Fine. I'll have the Celestial Spirit give him a hard time later—let's call it a lesson!

As the sun set, Zhang Buku arrived at Gu An's residence. He had coordinated with Li Ya to visit separately.

Zhang Buku explained his reasons for coming alone: he had things he wanted to say in private, and having all three of them together felt unnecessary. Also, he jokingly mentioned that having three people in the same room felt cramped and disrupted the hierarchy.

True to form, Zhang Buku began teasing Li Ya, exposing the fact that the Celestial Spirit had approached him first. However, there was no jealousy in his tone. On the contrary, he was genuinely happy for Li Ya.

"Honestly, if Li Ya weren't strong enough, I'd worry about us dying on the road during our adventures!" Zhang Buku said with a grin.

Toward the end of their conversation, Zhang Buku also brought out several heavenly materials and treasures to gift Gu An, expressing his gratitude.

Gu An tried to decline, but Zhang Buku insisted. In the end, Gu An had no choice but to accept.

Zhang Buku left feeling elated, glad to have repaid Gu An's kindness. He began reminiscing about his childhood, expressing regret that his father hadn't lived to see his accomplishments.

The two continued talking until evening before Zhang Buku took his leave.

Winter snow blanketed the ground as the Tai Xuan Sect's large contingent returned. Zhen Qin was among the first to visit Gu An, bringing with her numerous treasures as gifts.

Gu An couldn't help but laugh at the gesture but ultimately didn't refuse.

Four days later, on a snowy evening, another visitor arrived—Jiang Qiong.

The two entered the Eight Views Heavenly Cave to converse.

"How have you been these years?" Gu An asked softly, sitting beneath the towering Ancient Vine Tree. Two thick vines extended from the tree, gently massaging his shoulders as he reclined with an air of ease.

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, Jiang Qiong couldn't suppress a roll of her eyes.

From her storage bag, Jiang Qiong retrieved a medicinal cauldron. She kindled a fire and began adding water to the cauldron before finally replying, "Not bad. I recently ventured into The Mysterious Divine City and made significant gains."

As she began placing herbs into the cauldron, Gu An quickly congratulated her.

"Do you know whom I'm working for now?" Jiang Qiong asked casually.

Gu An shook his head. "How would I know? I'm just a humble cultivator in the cultivation world. The number of powerful figures I've met can be counted on one hand."

"Sword Master of Dao," Jiang Qiong declared.

"What?!" Gu An feigned shock, but internally, he cursed. Didn't I tell you to keep quiet about this? Why are you so quick to blurt it out?

If Jiang Qiong was this careless in confiding to him, she could easily reveal the connection to others. While this posed no direct threat to Gu An, it could bring calamity upon Jiang Qiong.

"This stays between us," Jiang Qiong said firmly, glaring at Gu An to emphasize her point.

Gu An sighed. "You shouldn't have told me. What if he finds out? Won't I be in trouble then?"

Jiang Qiong chuckled. "Don't worry. The Sword Master of Dao doesn't kill nobodies. I'm just sharing this with you."

She swiftly shifted the topic to recount her experiences in The Mysterious Divine City.

"I narrowly escaped death several times there. If it weren't for the Sword Master of Dao intervening, you wouldn't see your elder here today," Jiang Qiong said with a hint of melancholy.

Gu An reassured her, "But you survived, didn't you? You have a guardian spirit. Perhaps one day, you'll ascend to become an immortal."

Jiang Qiong shook her head. "Immortal? That's an impossibility. The higher you rise, the greater the dangers. Speaking of which, why do you think the Sword Master treats me so well? Could it be that he's taken a liking to my mortal shell?"

She glanced slyly at Gu An, clearly enjoying the prospect of a reaction.

Gu An frowned. "I doubt it. A man of his caliber, famed throughout the world, certainly doesn't lack admirers."

I helped you because of the techniques you taught me! How could you think so poorly of me? That's insulting! Gu An fumed internally. How shallow do you think the Sword Master of Dao is?

Despite his frustration, Gu An maintained a calm expression. However, his furrowed brows gave Jiang Qiong some satisfaction, though his words dampened her mood.

"Sure, there are many women in the world, but have you seen one as outstanding as me?" she challenged, stepping closer to Gu An. Her piercing gaze locked onto his as she leaned in, their faces mere inches apart.

Caught off guard, Gu An leaned away instinctively, attempting to create distance. Jiang Qiong raised her left foot, brushing it past Gu An's ear before resting it on the Ancient Vine Tree behind him, effectively blocking his retreat.

"Why are you avoiding me? Do you dislike your elder that much?" Jiang Qiong huffed.

Gu An smiled awkwardly. "How could I dislike you? I'm merely trying to avoid offending you."

His eyes darted downward for a moment.

Jiang Qiong was wearing a skirt, and though she had pants underneath, her posture was undeniably inappropriate.

"Offend me?" she repeated, withdrawing her leg and crouching down. Without warning, she began tugging at Gu An's robes.

"What are you doing?!" Gu An exclaimed in alarm.

Jiang Qiong smirked. "If the Sword Master truly fancies me, how could I refuse? But before that, why not fulfill your wish?"

Though she admired the Sword Master of Dao's strength, Gu An held a far more important place in her heart.

Panicking, Gu An scrambled to retreat. But Jiang Qiong's grip was firm, and he couldn't risk exposing his true cultivation. For a moment, he was genuinely at a loss.

"Stop… This isn't right…" Gu An's robes were now disheveled, his hair undone. His face flushed with embarrassment.

Jiang Qiong burst into laughter and finally let go. "Even if you don't cooperate, I'll just have to force you!" she teased.

"You—" Gu An began, panic evident in his voice. Is she serious? How could I betray my self-restraint? Even with my juniors, I've never crossed this line, let alone with a demoness like her!

Just as he was about to summon the Sword Master of Dao for help, Jiang Qiong suddenly stood up, exasperated. "Relax, you coward. I'm not actually interested. I've prepared some high-quality body-tempering herbs for you. Now strip and get into the cauldron."

Gu An blinked in disbelief, the tension dissipating. He quickly got to his feet and stepped past her, only to be met with a swift kick to his backside.

"Hurry up and strip!" Jiang Qiong barked impatiently. Her frustration seemed genuine, though beneath it lay a tinge of embarrassment.

In truth, she'd been tempted by her earlier impulse, but Gu An's frightened reaction had softened her resolve. His clear discomfort left her feeling both annoyed and amused.

This brat really doesn't think much of me, does he? she thought. Maybe it's because of his upbringing. He's grown up in the righteous sects, bound by etiquette and propriety.

The thought reassured her. She began to rationalize his behavior. Still, if he truly felt nothing, why did his gaze falter earlier?

A sly smile crept across Jiang Qiong's face.

Meanwhile, Gu An approached the cauldron. After quickly removing his outer garments, he leaped inside, sending a splash of water over the edges.

"It's a bit hot," Gu An remarked from within.

"Bear with it. You're supposed to be a man, aren't you?" Jiang Qiong snapped.

Gu An fell silent, choosing not to argue further.

The Eight Views Heavenly Cave grew quiet. Jiang Qiong methodically added the rest of the medicinal herbs into the cauldron. Once finished, she retrieved a crimson tower from her storage bag and sat down to examine it closely.

Curious, Gu An poked his head out of the cauldron. "What's that treasure?"

Jiang Qiong glanced at the blood-red tower in her hands and replied, "This is the Blood Domain Soul-Suppressing Tower. It's an Immortal Treasure—exceptionally powerful. I only acquired it by sheer luck."