Chapter 227: Immortal Kings

Gu An reclined at the stone table, enjoying Tianqing and Tianbai's attentiveness as they massaged his shoulders and legs. His gaze rested on Tian Yao'er as she practiced the Infinite Carefree Step, occasionally interjecting with corrections. The scene was tranquil and comfortable.

Tian Yao'er, however, wore a look of frustration, but she couldn't afford to ignore his guidance.

After a while, Gu An ceased his instructions and spoke, "Tianqing, Tianbai, today I'll teach you a divine ability. Are you interested in learning?"

The two cat demons immediately nodded, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Gu An raised his hand and touched their foreheads with his fingers. In an instant, both froze as their pupils reflected a figure demonstrating the divine ability's complex movements. The divine ability he passed on was Dao Gang Primordial Qi, a profound skill that would require years of dedicated practice to master—perfect for tempering their playful natures.

Though their massage was enjoyable, their wandering hands were a bit much for Gu An. Teaching them this demanding ability served as a small but fitting punishment.

Tian Yao'er watched curiously, her interest piqued. "Master, what kind of divine ability is this?" she asked.

Gu An briefly explained the essence of Dao Gang Primordial Qi, and Tian Yao'er's curiosity turned into eagerness. She began pleading with him to teach her as well.

Over their time together, Gu An had grown accustomed to her antics and found it increasingly difficult to refuse her requests. Relenting with a nod, he agreed, causing her to beam with delight. Her mind seemed to race with mischievous ideas, her excitement almost uncontainable.

Once Tianqing and Tianbai regained their clarity, Gu An instructed them to focus on their training. As they departed, Tian Yao'er eagerly approached, pressing her forehead against his finger and closing her eyes, ready for the transfer.

Seeing her playful, almost flirtatious demeanor, Gu An sighed inwardly, calling her a little minx under his breath. He then began transferring the divine ability to her as well.

When the process was complete and Tian Yao'er was lost in absorbing the inheritance, Gu An took the opportunity to tend to his herb garden. However, Tianqing and Tianbai, despite their orders to train, hovered nearby, chatting incessantly and playfully interacting with him.

It wasn't until dawn that Gu An finally found some peace, departing to prepare for the day ahead.

As autumn arrived, the air grew cool and crisp. Gu An crossed numerous seas to return to Xunxian Island.

Unsurprisingly, the news of the massive ocean fissure had spread like wildfire across the island. Everywhere, cultivators gathered in groups, discussing the event in hushed, anxious tones.

Reports suggested that the fissure was still expanding, its length impossible to measure, while its width had reached over a hundred miles. The sight of it filled people with unease, as though the world itself were being torn apart.

Gu An had even heard of Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals approaching the fissure, only to leave empty-handed, unable to make sense of the phenomenon.

"Senior, I've heard an interesting tale," said Hu Xiaojian, who accompanied Gu An as they strolled through the island's bustling market. The young servant leaned closer, his voice hushed and mysterious. "It's said that long ago, the entire human realm was submerged under the sea. Countless sects and traditions were lost during that time. After the oceans receded, humanity returned to land and began rebuilding, their sects flourishing like bamboo shoots after the rain. Among them was a sect known as the Hongchen Sect."

"The founder of the Hongchen Sect was said to have created a peerless immortal treasure, The Mysterious Divine City, to rule over the human realm. They ultimately achieved the title of Immortal King."

"Before their death, the Hongchen Sect leader split the ocean in two and plunged their mortal body into the depths, leaving behind a legacy so immense that their realm was unfathomable. Some speculate that the fissure we're seeing today is caused by the residual power of their corpse."

As Hu Xiaojian finished his tale, Gu An's expression darkened. Hongchen Sect, The Mysterious Divine City…

He couldn't help but connect the dots, suspecting that this oceanic fissure might have ties to the Seven Star Realm. First, they released The Mysterious Divine City into the world, and now this fissure? What exactly were they plotting?

"Gather every record you can find on Immortal Kings from ancient times," Gu An ordered. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Hu Xiaojian eagerly nodded, thrilled to serve. Over the years, he had come to view his service to Gu An as a privilege. Having such a powerful benefactor was an opportunity few could hope for.

That evening, Hu Xiaojian encouraged Gu An to attend an upcoming auction on Xunxian Island. Among the items listed was a seedling of a Nine-Rank Spirit Tree.

Gu An's interest was piqued, and he agreed without hesitation.

Half a day later, Gu An left the auction with the coveted tree seedling in hand. Despite a few bold attempts by wandering cultivators to track and intercept him, none could keep up with his movements.

Returning to Hidden Paradise Cave Heaven, Gu An planted the Nine-Rank Spirit Tree seedling in the fertile soil of his hidden valley.

[Luo Hai Tree (Nine Rank): 56/80,000/500,000]

With a maximum lifespan of 500,000 years, the Luo Hai Tree held incredible potential. Even harvesting it prematurely would grant Gu An an additional 8,000 years of lifespan. But such short-term gain held no appeal for him.

The Luo Hai Tree would eventually create a Luo Heaven Qi Sea, enhancing the spiritual energy of its surroundings and improving the growth of all plants within its range. The Qi Sea could even generate spiritual rain, which was rumored to bestow enlightenment upon those fortunate enough to be caught in its downpour.

For Gu An, such a treasure was invaluable. In ten thousand years, this cave would be fully cultivated, becoming a secluded sanctuary. If his old friends were gone by then, he would retreat here to cultivate for millennia. With Tian Yao'er for company, loneliness would not be an issue.

Gu An spent a long time admiring the young tree before finally leaving.

When he returned ten years later, the Luo Hai Tree had grown considerably.

Tian Yao'er sat beside him, both of them gazing at the magnificent tree as its branches swayed gently in the breeze. In the distance, Tianqing and Tianbai were frolicking, their laughter ringing through the air. Gu An had initially taken them in to assist Tian Yao'er, but her frequent seclusion left them largely unsupervised, allowing their lively, mischievous natures to flourish.

In the decade that had passed, Tian Yao'er had reached the second layer of the Nascent Soul Realm. She had become a steadfast presence at Gu An's side, and her growth brought him a quiet sense of satisfaction.

"Master, you've been standing here for so long. Shall we leave now?" Tian Yao'er's gentle voice broke the silence.

Gu An snapped back to reality, nodding slightly before turning to leave with her.

Tian Yao'er had urged him to move on because she didn't want to waste any more time. There were so many things she wanted to discuss with him. However, she could sense that Gu An's mood was somewhat subdued.

This heaviness lingered even after they departed.

Back in Xuan Valley, Gu An sat at his desk, flipping through The Adventures of the Green Hero. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't calm his restless heart. He sighed inwardly, frustration seeping into his thoughts.

The source of his unease was clear: tonight, Ye Lan would release the cultivation suppressions imposed by the Innate Reincarnation Technique.

Gu An was already 122 years old, while Ye Lan was 117. With only thirteen years remaining before her maximum lifespan, Gu An had carefully chosen this timeline to avoid any unforeseen accidents. By leaving a buffer of thirteen years, he hoped to prevent catastrophe.

Over the years, he had provided Ye Lan with countless pills, which should have helped her accumulate substantial cultivation power.

With this thought, Gu An felt slightly reassured.

He focused his divine sense on Ye Lan's residence within the outer sect city. She was seated on her bed in a meditative pose, diligently cultivating. Gu An could sense the fluctuations in her cultivation base, which seemed on the verge of breaking free.

The night passed quietly.

When Ye Lan finally released her suppressed cultivation, the energy burst was immense. Gu An had preemptively set up numerous formations around her residence, but even with those precautions, her aura alarmed many nearby cultivators. Gu An couldn't deploy formations beyond the limits of what his apparent cultivation allowed, making it impossible to fully contain the commotion.

As a result, a growing number of people began gathering near Ye Lan's residence. Fortunately, Lu Songhan, the Grand Elder of the outer sect, arrived in time to disperse the crowd and stationed disciples to guard the area.

This arrangement had been pre-coordinated by Gu An.

He could sense that Ye Lan was entering the Core Formation stage. A sense of relief washed over him.

As dawn broke, Ye Lan's energy surged again—this time indicating her transition toward the Nascent Soul stage.

The sheer dominance of the Innate Reincarnation Technique left Gu An inwardly astonished.

However, Ye Lan's rapid progress wasn't solely due to the technique. It was largely thanks to the countless precious pills Gu An had provided over the years. Their combined value exceeded the lifetime savings of most Nascent Soul cultivators.

By the second day, Ye Lan's cultivation finally stabilized.

However, the disturbance had drawn the attention of the inner sect and the main city of the sect. Gu An had no choice but to personally guard the entrance to her residence.

It wasn't long before Lu Baitian, the sect leader, arrived. Spotting Gu An, Lu Baitian approached him immediately.

Facing the sect leader, Gu An chose not to conceal the truth. He explained the origins of the Innate Reincarnation Technique and revealed that the commotion was due to Ye Lan breaking through after he had poured years' worth of rare herbs and pills into her cultivation.

Lu Baitian had heard of the Innate Reincarnation Technique before. It was said that Wu Xin, who now stood as one of Li Xuandao's closest confidants, had made this technique famous throughout the cultivation world.

What surprised Lu Baitian the most was Gu An's unwavering dedication. Owning three herb valleys, Gu An's annual harvest of rare herbs was incalculable, yet he had been willing to invest it all into Ye Lan's cultivation.

"Well, leave it to me. You just focus on her recovery," Lu Baitian said, signaling to Lu Songhan.

Lu Songhan quickly declared that a Divine Transformation cultivator was in closed-door cultivation within the residence and ordered everyone not to disturb them.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator achieving Divine Transformation within two days would undoubtedly spark a massive uproar. But if the story was reframed as a Divine Transformation cultivator meditating in seclusion, the event's impact would be greatly diminished.

Gu An remained stationed outside Ye Lan's residence.

It wasn't until evening, after Ye Lan's aura had fully stabilized, that Lu Songhan withdrew with his men.

Gu An stepped into the residence and made his way to Ye Lan's room.

He stopped in front of the door, hesitating for a moment.

"Senior Brother, why aren't you coming in?" Ye Lan's voice came from within.

Taking a deep breath, Gu An pushed open the door and stepped inside.

His gaze fell upon Ye Lan, who was seated on her bed. Without hesitation, he used his Lifespan Investigation ability to assess her condition.

[Ye Lan (Nascent Soul Stage, Fifth Layer): 117/600/600]

Six hundred years? That's it?

Gu An's brows furrowed as a heavy weight settled on his heart.

Ye Lan, however, met his gaze with a radiant smile. "Senior Brother, I've reached the Nascent Soul stage! It's unbelievable!"

Her excitement was palpable. She had no idea that her maximum lifespan was only 600 years.

In her understanding, Nascent Soul cultivators could easily live for a thousand years. With her newfound strength, she believed that her future breakthroughs would further extend her life.

The Innate Reincarnation Technique was indeed capable of increasing one's maximum lifespan, but it couldn't enhance the natural lifespan gained from breakthroughs. The technique was fundamentally designed to defy fate, not grant boundless life.

Gu An forced a smile. "Really? That's amazing! Junior Sister, you'll have to look out for me from now on."

Ye Lan chuckled. "The technique came from you, Senior Brother. Once you release your suppressed cultivation, I'm sure you'll surpass me."

Gu An hadn't cultivated the Innate Reincarnation Technique himself, but seeing her confidence, he decided to go along with her assumption.

Ye Lan rose from the bed and joined Gu An at the table. She began animatedly sharing her experience of breaking through.

Meanwhile, Gu An's mind was preoccupied, pondering how to help Ye Lan comprehend Dao Insight.

At present, it seemed that achieving Dao Insight was the only way to significantly extend her lifespan. But comprehending the Dao was no small feat—it was akin to touching the heavens themselves.